"O what an ugly sight the man who thinks he’s wise and never drinks sake!”--Otomo no Tabito (c. 662-731)The Japanese have long valued Sake, for its taste, medicinal use and even as a beauty product. For at least 2000 years, Sake has occupied a special place within Japanese culture. I have often tried to promote the benefits of drinking Sake and recently learned about a historical list of the "Ten Merits of Sake." This was a fascinating list of the benefits of Sake and I wanted to share it with my readers, to give you more reason why you should...
Friday, 30 November 2012
Thursday, 29 November 2012
I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I briefly highlight some interesting wine and food items that I have encountered recently.**********************************************************1) At Ashmont Grill, Chef-owner Chris Douglass and his kitchen team have rolled out a late fall brunch menu to savor, made better with one of their Bloody Marys:· Spiced Apple Buttermilk Pancakes with local apple compote· Egg Strata with pumpkin, leeks and pears· Autumn Hash with...
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Why is Pinotage still such a divisive grape? In the past, there might have been some Pinotage wines that evidenced a nasty, burnt rubber aroma and taste, but that has largely vanished. Today's Pinotage wines have never been better, offering intriguing and compelling flavors and aromas. I have long been a fan of this grape and strongly recommend that all wine lovers check out these wines. Forget your old prejudices and give Pinotage another chance.For...
Monday, 26 November 2012
No one denies the exquisite flavor of Bluefin tuna sushi, from simply maguro to the fatty otoro. Though it is not a traditional type of sushi in Japan, it has become almost an obsession in that country and it is estimated that Japan consumes as much as 80% of the world's supply of Bluefin tuna. The problem though is that stocks of Bluefin tuna have decreased significantly in recent years and many consider it to be in grave danger of extinction.Can the Bluefin tuna be saved? It is possible and recent news articles are reporting a surprising recovery...
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!Today, many of us will gather together with family and friends, enjoying food and drink, conversing, watching television, and savoring the good things in our lives. It is also a time for reflection, to think not about what we do not possess, but to be thankful for all that we do. For no matter what our troubles or adversities might be, I am sure there is also much to bring us joy. Financially, I am sure many of us...
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Welcome to a special Wednesday edition of Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I briefly highlight some interesting wine and food items that I have encountered recently. As Thanksgiving is tomorrow, I decided to post Sips & Nibbles a day earlier.**********************************************************1) The ancient Mayans were master astrologers and timekeepers, tracking the stars and planets and developing a cyclical calendar that has proven even more accurate than its modern day predecessors. Thousands of years ago the Mayan’s...
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
And the winners are......Last week, I posted about a contest to win a pair of tickets to the Boston Wine Expo Sunday Grand Tasting event. To enter, you only had to leave a comment on my post and two lucky winners, drawn at random, would each receive a pair of tickets. There were 29 commenters, all desirous of winning, but unfortunately only two of them can win. Thanks to everyone who entered!The first winner is...Rachel Halko.The second winner is....CatherineC.Congratulations...
1) Join me on Monday, December 3 at 6:30pm, for a tasty and interesting Sake Dinner at AKA Bistro in Lincoln. For only $55 per person, you will be treated to a four course meal, each course paired with a different Sake. During the course of the dinner, I will talk about Sake, from its history to its rituals, giving you a basic foundation in this intriguing beverage. I'll help demystify this exotic alcohol and hopefully entice you to seek our more...
Monday, 19 November 2012
"If you want to enjoy wine more, the trick is to learn more about wine."--Paul BloomDoes more knowledge about wine enhance the pleasure you derive from it? On the other hand, can you truly enjoy a wine you know almost nothing about?The "pleasure theory" of Paul Bloom, author of How Pleasure Works: The New Science of Why We Like What We Like, is based on a number of studies of which many of us may already be familiar. We have heard of how wine lovers have been fooled into raving about a $90 bottle of wine, which actually turns out to be a $10 bottle....
Sometime in the near future...Previously, New York City banned "sugar-sweetened" drinks, mainly soda, in cups larger than 16 ounces though it did not apply to drinks containing alcohol. The idea behind the ban was to help fight obesity. Then a government study determined that alcohol consumption actually contributes nearly as many empty calories as soda. In response, Mayor Bloomberg pushed though a ban on cups of beer and other alcohol larger than 16 ounces. Where will those bans end?The soda ban is real and something which I oppose....
Thursday, 15 November 2012
I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I briefly highlight some interesting wine and food items that I have encountered recently.**********************************************************1) The City of Boston and Boston Common welcome Earl of Sandwich, created by the direct descendant of John Montagu, the Earl who invented the sandwich in 1762. Earl of Sandwich had a grand opening earlier this week on November 12.“We are looking forward to the grand opening of our newest location on...
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Would you like to win a free pair of tickets to the Boston Wine Expo?The Boston Wine Expo will be held in three months, February 16-17, 2013, but it isn't too early to start making plans to attend. The Expo will showcase approximately 200 wineries, from more than 15 countries, so there probably will be over 1000 wines for you to taste. This is a huge wine event, presenting an opportunity for you to taste a diverse selection of wines...
Monday, 12 November 2012
There may be a conspiracy at hand, a cabal of evil vegetarians engaged in biological warfare against those who enjoy the taste of meat. If you love sinking your teeth into a juicy steak or thick hamburger, consider the terror you would face if you suddenly found yourself allergic to meat. You could no longer savor a fine pork loin or leg of lamb. The idea sends shivers up my spine, a nightmare that would tear my life apart. And my fear possesses...
Sunday, 11 November 2012
John Gauntner, the famed Sake expert and "Sake Dendoushi" ("Sake Evangelist"), is holding the 10th Annual Sake Professional Course in Japan from January 21-25, 2013.The course runs for five days and finishes with an optional exam, which if you pass will garner you a Certified Sake Professional certification. The course costs approximately $2250, which includes the five days of instruction, materials, all Sake for tasting, four brewery visits,...
Saturday, 10 November 2012
The Tipsy Sensei series continues in a new novel, Demons, Gods & Sake, which is the fourth installment in the adventures of Nate Randall, a Sake Expert from Boston. The novel is now available both as an Ebook as well as a Trade Paperback through Amazon. The Trade Paperback is 252 pages long and sells for $14.95. It will make an excellent holiday gift this season!The stakes for Nate Randall, a Sake expert from Boston, couldn't be higher....
Friday, 9 November 2012
Sake is an alcohol made from rice that is extremely food friendly, and pairs well with a wide variety of cuisines. While it is popular in many parts of the world, many are unfamiliar with the nuances of the different varieties and drinking traditions. On Wednesday, November 28, 6:30pm-9pm, China Blossom Restaurant & Lounge, located in North Andover, is dedicating a night to educating guests on the wonders of this unique drink with a three-course...
Thursday, 8 November 2012
I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I briefly highlight some interesting wine and food items that I have encountered recently. This week, I am offering a number of Thanksgiving suggestions.**********************************************************1) dbar hosts a four-course wine dinner featuring different regions of the world on the first Wednesday of each month, with November’s dinner bringing a taste of Spain to the normally French influenced restaurant. On November 7, at 7pm, there...
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
When is the last time you ate a sunflower head? I am sure plenty of people may have eaten sunflower seeds, yet that is not the only edible portion of the sunflower plant. In fact, most of the plant is edible and Native Americans have been using sunflowers as food for thousands of years. My first experience eating a sunflower head was at Erbaluce, a creative Italian restaurant which I have long recommended, and it was paired with Sangiovese-based...
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