The "Vineyard" of Boston & Elyse Winery

Who says Boston cannot produce great wine? It just takes a bit longer from "vineyard" to the bottle.The Elyse Winery, located in Napa, California, has celebrated 25 harvests however one could say that the original seeds of the Elyse vineyards were planted in Boston. Elyse Winery is owned by Ray and Nancy Coursen, and they grew up on opposite coasts, Ray on the East Coast in New Jersey and Nancy on the West Coast in the San Francisco Bay...

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Rant: Brand Loyalty & Wine Geeks

"...hard-core wine buffs...have no product loyalty. They like to sample a different wine every day, so they don’t support brands very well even when they love them."--Postmodern Winemaking: Rethinking the Modern Science of an Ancient Craft by Clark SmithHow much brand loyalty do you possess? How many bottles of the same wines do you buy every year? If you truly love a wine, do you buy multiple cases of it every year? Or, despite your love for specific wines, do you generally spend most of your time and money exploring new and different wines? Are...

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Restaurants & Liquor Licenses: Interesting Numbers

Sometimes it's revelatory to see the larger picture, to get a sense of the actual numbers covering an entire area or region. It can help place matters into perspective, giving you a better understanding of how everything interacts and intersects. In my recent researches, I found some fascinating statistics concerning restaurants and liquor licenses in New England, and more specifically Massachusetts. I think these facts contribute to the current discussions on lifting the liquor license cap in Boston.There are approximately 15,131 eating and drinking...

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Thursday Sips & Nibbles

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 Blue Room and neighbor Bon Me are uniting, on Wednesday, July 31 (rain or shine), from 6pm-9pm, for a collaborative pop-up picnic at the scenic Rings Fountain on the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway. Guests are invited to lounge on provided blankets and dine picnic-style on a four-course fusion feast prepped...

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How Restaurants Can Be More Sustainable

“To me, it’s about bringing community together. I look at what we do in our restaurants as being something bigger than just providing nutrition for people."--Rick Bayless Sustainability. It's a hot buzzword and its definition has been warped and twisted by many companies, trying to use it as a marketing tool. However, it's an important concept and a worthy goal to help some of the problems which plague our world. Restaurants need to pay attention to sustainability, but it can be a complex issue and restaurants can use all the help they can get...

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Rant: Andelman, Liquor License Quotas & Food Trucks

""Liquor licenses are a lot like food trucks, chefs and owners won't say that they bitterly resent that these trucks are pulling up right in front of them after they built up a restaurant and pay rent.""--Dave AndelmanIt seems that Dave Andelman, of the Phantom Gourmet and also President of the Restaurant & Business Alliance (RABA), has a seeming obsession with attacking food trucks, no matter what the topic of conversation. Andelman recently appeared with Boston Councilor Ayanna Pressley on Greater Boston, hosted by Emily Rooney....

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Decanter Power List: Omissions & Influence

Which individuals in the wine industry possess the greatest influence over the wines you drink?The answer depends on numerous factors, as well as what limitations you place upon that answer. For example, are you restricting your answer to only the United States, or do you include the entire world? How do you determine which individuals are influential? Is influence measured solely by how many bottles of wine are sold? This is a complex area, yet numerous people and companies have taken a stance on trying to answer the initial question. Decanter...

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Thursday Sips & Nibbles

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)  Abby Lane Chef/Owner Jason Santos introduces a weekend brunch to the theatre district. Abby Lane is now offering brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am through 3 pm.Menu highlights include:FIRST COURSE--Smoked Salmon Bagel “Nachos” made with house-made boursin, pickled onions and capers ($11)--Crispy...

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Gonzalez Byass & Taberna de Haro: Sherry Food Pairings

"Although it is indeed a rare pearl, the king of food pairings really exists, and it's fino sherry."--Taste Buds and Molecules: The Art and Science of Food With Wine by Francois Chartier Too many people in the U.S. still believe that Sherry is primarily a dessert wine, and that is partially due to the fact that primarily sweet Sherry is imported into the U.S. However, dry Sherries are wonderful wines, and extremely food friendly. More people need...

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Rant: Don't Drink & Durian

The infamous Durian fruit, native to Southeast Asia, has a reputation for possessing one of the most foul odors you will ever smell. However, there are plenty of people, especially in Southeast Asia, who love the taste, and even the smell, of this fruit. In Indonesia, Durian flavored condoms are even very popular. You can find Durians locally in some Asian grocery stores, and its thorny exterior is very distinctive and recognizable. For some people, they might have to be really drunk before they were willing to try a Durian.I was intrigued this...

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Thursday Sips & Nibbles

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)  51 Lincoln Owner Jeff Fournier and Chef de Cuisine Nate Gibson present Raw August, a month-long celebration of internationally influenced raw cuisine, featuring vegetables from 51 Lincoln’s own rooftop garden and proteins in their purest form.During the month of August, Jeff Fournier and Nate Gibson will...

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Tea Cuvee: Cold Brewed Pleasures

The South End is a cool area that abounds with restaurants and unique shops. I recently attended a Blog And Tweet Boston event, at Gifted, a gift shop with lots of funky items, from jewelry to art, greeting cards to tableware. At the event, we got to meet numerous local shop owners and artisans, showcasing food, drink, jewelry, candles, glassware and more. It was a fun evening and good to learn about some of the new places and purveyors in the South...

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Non-Rant: Family, Friends, Wine & Food

Though it is Monday, this is going to be a glorious week so I don't have a Rant in me. Instead, I just want to emphasize one aspect of wine drinking which is deserving of far more attention than it may receive. It's fine to read a wine review, to learn the history of a grape, to understand the life of the winemaker, and similar such items. However, when it comes down to it, nothing tops sharing wine with friends and family.For example, last week,...

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New England Authors Expo: Book Sale & The Tipsy Sensei

Would you like to meet me and obtain signed copies of my two Tipsy Sensei books? Would you also like the opportunity to meet other local authors and check out their books?If so, then you should attend a special Book Sale being held by the New England Authors Expo on Wednesday, July 31, from 4pm-9pm, at the Danversport Yacht Club. The Expo is FREE to the public and the first 100 attendees will also get a FREE gift bag.The Expo's Book...

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Thursday Sips & Nibbles

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)  Boston Nightlife Ventures announces that Griddler’s Burgers & Dogs is teaming up with Union Square Donuts to launch the first ever ‘Bronut’. This donut-burger ($6) will combine a Griddler’s burger patty finished with a sizzling fried egg on top, inside a sweet, yet salty maple bacon glazed Union...

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A New Craft Beer Cellar In Winchester

The Passionate Foodie walks into a beer store...I know, it sounds like the starting line from a joke but it isn't. On Monday, I checked out a newly opened beer store in Winchester. Yes, I went willingly. And even if you dislike beer, you should check out this store for its other offerings.Kate Baker and Suzanne Schalow used to work at the Cambridge Common restaurant and embraced the craft beer movement when it started becoming more popular....

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