Blog
Celebrate this Mother’s Day in Joy and Style
“Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.” What does Mother’s Day mean to you? One doesn’t have to be a Mother or even have a living mother to appreciate Mother’s Day. Sure, having a biological mother to celebrate this day with is indeed a privilege. I am eternally grateful to my mother…read more
Summertime and the Living is Easy
A Summer Living Recipe and Wine Pick Those of you who know me well know how much I love music. I frequently speak in musical metaphors. I also love to cook and put my own spin on traditional recipes. I call this dish “Hot Buttered Soul,” as a tribute to Isaac Hayes Some time ago, I…read more
Jamaican Joy
Made a Caribbean dinner of jerk chicken, rice and peas and a shaved Brussels sprouts salad tonight. I marinated the chicken in Walkerswood jerk marinade, before grilling it in a cast iron grill pan and finishing it off in a 250 degree oven to ensure it was cooked all the way through but not dried out. The shaved…read more
Memories of Father Figures
“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give a person. He believed in me.” — Jim Valvano “My father used to say it’s never too late to do anything you wanted to do. And he said, ‘You never know what you can accomplish until you try.'” — Michael Jordan These two quotes from…read more
Father’s Day Gift Ideas
Father’s Day is this coming Sunday. Let us help you put together a Father’s Day gift for the Father Figure(s) in your life. HELP DAD ENTERTAIN IN STYLE THIS FATHER’S DAY WITH A “SMOKE, SPIRIT & SAVOR” FATHER’S DAY GIFT BOX CUSTOMIZED WITH ANY COMBO OF THE FOLLOWING: * BARBECUE RUB * *…read more
Daddy’s Fried Chicken
Fried chicken is a comfort food that reminds me of my daddy. It’s his favorite meal, and as a bachelor he learned to perfect it. Daddy likes fried chicken so much that his friends nicknamed him “Yardbird.” Here’s how to make Daddy’s famous fried chicken: What you will need: A large skillet or Dutch oven 2…read more
Blackberry Lemonade
The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice… Whoever first said this was really onto something. It’s true that the deeper colored foods tend to have more flavor and nutritional value. Think of sweet potatoes versus white potatoes, brown rice versus white rice and dark leafy greens like collards and kale, compared to iceberg lettuce.…read more
How to Shuck Oysters on the Half Shell at Home
I love oysters, and one of my favorite summer snacks is oysters on the half shell with a crisp, “minerally” white wine like Muscadet, Dry Riesling, Sancerre or Gruner Veltliner If you enjoy oysters on the half shell or just like to use the freshest most flavorful oysters possible for your fried oysters or other cooked…read more
Groovy Gazpacho
It’s warming up outside and everyone is starting to think about summer. When the temperature goes up, we have to be careful to stay hydrated. One of my favorite summer snacks to hydrate and provide sustenance, without slowing me down is Gazpacho. I sometimes like to have a bowl before a workout. It gives me…read more
It’s Spring! Think Pink!
It’s spring, and that means everything is coming up Rosés. When the weather warms up I tend to want to lighten up in the wine department, but don’t always want to drink white wine. Here’s a to-the-point video on how to appreciate pink wine, a great middle-of-the road option..Click here to purchase great rosé Click…read more
Uptown Uncorked: Chef Roble’s “Mama’s Potato Salad with King Crab Tobiko & Beurre Blanc”
On the final day of Uptown Uncorked, we enjoyed a “Sips and Savors Chef Demo” led by Chef Roble and Adam Banks who generously shared this recipe with me for Chef Roble’s mother’s decadent potato salad made with King Crab, Tobiko and a Beurre Blanc. Serves 4 People Ingredients: 4 ea- Cooked king crab leg, taken out of the…read more