SCFTW (Screw Cap For The Win)! This Chardonnay by House of Brown is part of the Brown Estate family – Napa’s first Black owned estate winery (their Zinfandel is fire!). It’s a little hard to find but keep searching. It’s totally worth it! HOB’s motto is “Come one, come all.” That’s definitely the vibe we …
Food
Champagne isn’t just for special occasions…
Some think that Champagne should be popped or pfft (ha!) for only special occasions. Well, it shouldn’t be. I decided to open my little Thiénot to enjoy with a Jamaican curry veggie patty (not pictured). And why not open my little Gaston Chiquet to go with some curry chicken from Negril Jamaican Eatery. Yes! Why …
An interesting Champagne tasting…
A Champagne tasting with St Anselm Beverage Director, Vanessa Cominsky & Wine Writer, Educator and founder of Black Wine Professionals, Julia Coney. I picked up my bubbles and some snacks from St Anselm the day of the tasting. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how the bubbles were going to transfer from the restaurant to …
Pinot Noir Day…
I normally don’t celebrate wine holidays but yesterday was Pinot Noir Day! Well I couldn’t pass that up! I decided to Coravin a little of this hand harvested 2018 Pinot Noir from Oceano Owner/Vintner Rachel Martin (Marbue Marke is the Winemaker). It’s bright, earthy, cherry, strawberry with a hint of vanilla. I made a little …
Watermelon Sugar High…
Want some happiness on a plate and in your glass? This is it! Some watermelon with feta & mint and a glass of Domaine Tempier Rosé. Delicious, juicy watermelon all around! Talk about a good feeling. Happy, happy Sunday folks.
Getting crunchy…
Sometimes you need something crunchy & delicious and totally not healthy. I found that in my Roaming Rooster wing order. Great crunch with a little heat — I tried medium heat; not too bad. I think as I’ve gotten older, my heat tolerance has changed. I can’t do super spicy foods or I will feel …
A Tasty Detour…
On Thursday I took a quick detour into DC that led me to Cane on H Street. Cane is a family-owned business run by Chef Peter Prime and Jeanine Prime (a brother and sister duo). It’s based on popular street foods in Trinidad & Tobago. I almost ordered the entire menu! After I calmed down, …
An Absolute Happy Place…
Hey, don’t mind my heavy pour of Bodkin Sparkling Rosé. It’s dry, medium acidity and strawberries. These Bubbles deserve a pour like this. Made with 55% Zinfandel, 35% Syrah, 3% Albariño, 3% Chenin Blanc and 4% Sauvignon Blanc. Seriously, this is a cool grape combo. I definitely need more. I paired these Bubbles with a …
Cooking from the heart…
Jubilee: Recipes From Two Centuries of African American Cooking. This cookbook is visually stunning with great stories. “Through recipes and stories, we cook along with these pioneering figures, from enslaved chefs to middle- and upper-class writers and entrepreneurs.” More people need to hear and share these stories. They are important stories. American stories. If you …
Beyond, burgers…
Welp. I’m finally getting the hang of my Air Fryer (thanks Mom. thanks @vinemeup for posting about yours so often!). So yesterday, I decided to make some Beyond Burgers for lunch. (Beyond Burgers are plant-based, it’s good for Vegetarians and Vegans.) I’m not a Vegetarian so why Beyond Burgers? Eh, I wanted to try something …
Storytellers…
Before: So, I decided at the last minute to come to Story District’s Breaking Bread “Stories from Celebrity Chefs and Industry Insiders” by myself. Story District’s mission is to “build community, promote empathy, and enrich an understanding of our common humanity through the art of autobiographical storytelling.” At first, I wasn’t feeling it but thought …
Yup, there’s drinking in Morocco…
To be honest, prior to planning a trip to Morocco, I figured it was going to be mostly a “dry” trip. I prepared myself to be sober for a few weeks. Yikes! I naively thought that the North African country seriously frowned upon all drinking. Well, all things except Moroccan Whiskey aka Mint Tea. Ya’ll …
Dinner in a Fortress…
Getting around Morocco can be a nail biting experience. Whether it’s going around a traffic circle or bargaining for a taxi ride (bargain, bargain, bargain!). But hey, if there’s food involved, we’ll make it happen! Our first dinner out in Casablanca was at La Sqala. La Sqala is located in a 18th-century Portuguese fortress surrounded …
Txakoli sippin…
Pictures from Sunday’s Txakoli fest at Maxwell DC! There was unlimited Txakoli, Ciders, Porrons and delicious bites. The great thing about Txakoli is it’s high acid but low alcohol (9.5-11% ABV). So it’s an easy, all day sipping wine and goes great with food. The crowd favorite of the night was Ameztoi’s Rubentis Rosé. The …
Chillin by the Ocean…
La Corniche is a really popular area in Casablanca where you can find locals and tourists hanging out together. It sits along side the Atlantic Ocean with restaurants, hotels, pools and it’s also an excellent place to people watch. We decided to have a seafood lunch with wine at La Terrazza. In the background people …