Holiday Sparklers

Love these great holiday cocktail ideas with using Mionetto Prosecco. Yes, this is the company that actually uses crown caps on one of it's bottles of bubbles. Enore Ceola, Managing Director for Mionetto USA explains the controversial move and gives some fun, festive ways to enhance your bubbly here:

https://soundcloud.com/gina-birch-live/enore-ceola

Pinot In The Park

While the weather this time of year can be uncertain and even uncomfortable in many areas of the county, it is the season those of us in South Florida have longed for; lower humidity and cool breezes capped with warm sunshine.

Seizing an opportunity to sit outside without breaking a sweat, I took some time to enjoy the fresh air with a silky bottle of Pinot Noir; 2010 Robert Mondavi Reserve, Carneros ($60). 

The grapes were handpicked from 40-year-old vines; low yields, high quality. They were then nurtured during the fermentation process to get delicate, yet full flavors; a nice balance. I loved the layers of dark fruit, spice and tannins. This wine reminds me of why I like Pinot Noir so much.

Each sip got better and better, especially with picnic goodies like brie and pate. It was the perfect wine to linger over, stretched out on the cool grass; peacefully watching people who were also enjoying their day along the bay.

50 Shades of "Gris"

50 Shades of Grey; even if you haven't read the book, in all probability you've at least heard of it.

"50 Shades of Gris" is a clever play on words for an enticing, pre-Halloween party at Blu Sushi in Fort Myers (FL).

Betting on the willingness to dress up and possibly dress up naughty, the restaurant is teaming up with Van Duzer Vineyards to give away a stay in the winery's fabulous guest house, to whoever wears the best "shade of grey" in the costume contest.

Guests will enjoy $5 glasses of Gris, Pinot Gris from Van Duzer, among other specials. When I was in Oregon a couple of months ago I drank my body weight in both Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, and Van Duzer was among my favorite. The winery sits far off of 99 West in Dallas, up on a hill. It is beautiful and the staff, so much fun!

Beside the Pinot Gris, the Rose is phenomenal and the single block Pinot Noirs are a must, especially the Flagpole ($50). It's smoky, full of cherry and dark fruit. A visit to Van Duzer is not to be missed if you find yourself wondering through the valley.

And the 50 Shades of Pinot Gris party is not an event to be missed either. The hype is hot. More party info here.

Rum and Redheads

What does "rum" mean to you? That was one of the in depth questions I asked contestants in the Miss Panama Red contest at Hemingways Island Grille over the weekend.

Panama Red is an overproof rum made by the owners of the Bonita Springs (FL) restaurant. Overproof  rums are typically higher in alcohol and not often consumed solo. However, Panama Red is different,  this overproof is made for sipping.

One of the highlights of the contest at Hemingways was not only being able to sip Panama Red, but more than a dozen delicious, aged rums. Miss Panama Red will represent the rum company as makers move into their second year of sales and distribution. Rum is not just for fruity beach drinks, some of it has great legs and can easily stand on it's own.

Congratulations Christina, enjoy your rum reign!

Smoky Wieners

I've participated in a lot of interesting food and wine events. I've been asked to judge everything from Chili to Mango recipes and lots in between. Yesterday, I added hot dogs to that distinguished list. The Fort Myers Miracle held it's first hot dog taste test and I was there, under the picnic pavilion with a lovely breeze and a few bees. The Miracle is a minor league baseball team in Southwest Florida, affiliated with the Minnesota Twins.


Joining me were other media representatives, Fort Myers Miracle Fans and even some long time employees. We were looking for the best dogs to sell at the park when the season kicks into full gear once again.

I was hoping we would get to sample beer with the franks but only water, lemonade and iced tea were provided; we had to keep our tasting wits about us after all.

This was a bun free affair; except for the ones we were sitting on. Limited condiments were provided. We were instructed to taste the meat on it's own merits; onions and relish can cover almost anything up.

Over the course of an hour, ten trays of freshly cooked hot dogs were brought out. They were cut into small bites and since I was taking the task seriously I took two; one to eat hot, the other to keep for a second try in case I needed to revisit.

Some of the dogs were salty and smoky, others moist and mushy. Some had a nice bronze color, others were pale and sickly looking. The wiener that was a winner to me had a good balance of seasoning, moisture, a mild after taste and a good "snap" to the casing. Unfortunately the votes were not tallied before we left so we don't know what brand took home the blue ribbon, but as soon as I find out, I will pass it on.

After yesterday's event, I don't think I'll ever look at a frank in the same fashion again. And I'm quite sure I wont eat another one until well into 2013. Here's to a successful year for The Miracle, not only on the field but in concessions.

Pumkin Pusher

I have friends who encourage me, love me, hug me and feed me....Bob Grissinger, owner of Bennett's Fresh Roast, does all of those things, then insults me; to keep me grounded. I expect it and in a strange way even look forward to it. After all, I put up with it for 15 years as his morning show partner on 969-9 WINK FM. But that's another story.

I shared that background so you will appreciate the torture I was put through today during my almost daily visit to his AMAZING coffee shop in Fort Myers, FL. I was quite proud of my early morning run, getting back into a good routine of health and fitness.


He rolled his eyes, nodded to an employee and within seconds his new Pumpkin Spice Donut was in my face, taunting me. I stared it down, but eventually gave in to it's evil temptation. The reward, a mouthful of creamy, delicious pumpkin custard. The seasonal treat is topped with vanilla icing, then a sprinkling of nutmeg.

It's only around for a limited time so be sure to stop in and give it a try. Pair it with a hot, rich cup of his freshly roasted Columbian Coffee and you will be set. Heavenly.

Bottles and Boobies

We all know that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink is everywhere, even on the football fields, as the push is made to raise funds for research and resources to help those fighting the disease.

ONEHOPE Winery donates to the National Breast Cancer Foundation year-round; half of all profits from the sale of its Chardonnay. This month, the winery has a goal of raising $100,000. In addition, for every eight cases of wine sold, one mammogram will be donated as part of the "1 in 8" campaign. The slogan represents the stats that 1 in 8 have a chance of developing breast cancer.

Many of you buy products simply based on the cause, not the quality. I'll vouch for both in this case. The wine by Rob Mondavi, Jr, is worth the $18.99 price tag, if you like a Chardonnay that has less oak and more acidity. It is blended with a little Chenin Blanc and Muscat to round out the flavors; citrus and honey, good for Southwest Florida cuisine and sipping. The wine is distributed in Florida through Southern Wine and Spirits.

ONEHOPE Wine not only donates to breast cancer but also autism, aids and the troops to name a few. To see all of the wines, the exact amount donated and to purchase, click here.

Prettyman is Pretty Cool

After taking nearly four years off from her music, Tristan Prettyman has a new CD. She called the show and talked to me about it today.  Her on again off again love affair and broken engagement with singer Jason Mraz provided lots of inspiration for her song writing. She talks about it a little here and about being resilient, whatever challenges you are facing in life.

Tristan Prettyman Talks To Gina

Reading and Drinking

The state of Oregon has lots of personalities and I wanted to experience as many as possible during my recent trip to wine country. An excursion to the coast was a must. My travel companion and I decided to let the winds guide us to a winery stop along the way. Driving through a small town by the name of Amity, a sign reading "Coelho Winery" immediately caught my attention. Could it be that one of my favorite writers, Paulo Coelho, has a winery in Oregon?

It wasn't the first time the people at the winery had been asked that question. Both are Portuguese but apparently there are no other ties. Coelho was one of my favorite finds in OR. It didn't hurt that we were the only ones in the tasting room on that Sunday morning; we got lots of attention and the wine was superb.

One of the most interesting was the Pureza Pinot Noir Blanc ($30). It smelled like roses and tasted like peach and citrus. The 2010 Paciencia Estate Pinot Noir ($45) was silky and spicy with that typical mushroomy, earthy nose of a Pinot. Another favorite for me was the Antecipacao Petite Sirah ($40). The color was rich and I was anticipating it to knock me over. It was bursting with flavors of dark berries and do I dare say, bacon? YUM. Needs a little more time in the bottle, so I bought some to store.

I love Coelho's book, "The Alchemist", about dreams and following your own "Personal Legend". I've been looking for a new, good book to sink my teeth into. But while writing this blog, I decided to pull my old friend off of the shelf. Lets see what new nuggets of inspiration I'll discover. Sweat pants (check), glass of wine (check), "The Alchemist" in hand (check). Part One: "The boy's name was Santiago....."

Spumante Surprise

At a wine tasting this week I saw the top of what appeared to be sparkling rose, and I couldn't wait to try it. That is until the wine rep pulled it out of the ice and I saw the word "Spumante". When I hear or see the word "Spumante", I automatically make a face inside of my head. My first thought is "this is going to be really sweet." I prefer my Prosecco or any bubbles for that matter, to be dry.

Looking at the other wines on the table, I knew there was quality at hand so I decided to let go of my pre-judgement and give it a go. I could always dump if it was a dud. I'm so glad I didn't have to. This Zardetto Spumante Rose from Veneto, Italy, was not only a beautiful raspberry color, but had a fresh raspberry flavor with a little spice. It's easy to drink and easy on the wallet; in the $15 range.

She's So Mean: But He's Not

Matchbox Twenty's new single "She's So Mean" may bring back bad memories of bad girlfriends (or boyfriends) but lead singer Rob Thomas says that was not the band's original intention. I talked to him yesterday, the release day of the new album "North". Smart guy, nice guy, a pleasure to interview.

Click here or listen below:

Port and Pate

Chocolate Pate that is.....

I often forget about ordering port with dessert. Seems I'm usually content to keep sipping whatever big red I typically have left in my glass. Or I go for a rich cup of espresso; keeps me going a little longer.

Bistro 41 (Fort Myers, FL) hosted a Women's Wine Dinner last night; serving a decadent Chocolate Pate, with fresh whipped cream and raspberry puree for the last course. Served with a  mild, young Nieport Tawny Port from Portugal, it was HEAVEN!

Chef Heath Higginbotham made a lot of women happy with that silky smooth pate; lite yet full of rich chocolate. The port was full of raspberry and raisins; a seamless pairing. BRAVO Bistro!

Getting Past The Packaging

I drank so many fabulous Pinot Noirs last week while exploring the Williamette Valley in Oregon. It's one of the most common grapes used to make Champagne and sparkling wines; so I was expecting to taste more bubbles than I did.

I asked one winemaker why more was not produced. Besides the fact that making a sparkling wine takes an entirely different effort, he confessed, in general, it is not as profitable. Bubbly takes longer to make and takes up valuable storage space.

When someone in the Eugene area suggested trying the sparkling at Domaine Meriwether, my travel partner and I were all about it. The tasting room was spacious, open and ruled by the Captain; the vineyard dog, who greeted us with a tennis ball in his mouth.

It was our last stop of the day, two sparkling wines were open along with some still wines. The NV Discovery Cuvee (blue label, $20) was acidic with flavors of pear; the Captain Clark Vintage Cuvee (green label $25) had some pleasant citrus notes and reminded me of sweet tarts. Both were enjoyable as well as affordable.

Too bad the thing we focused on while pulling away was the labeling. Yes you should buy wine based on what is inside of the bottle, but lets face it, packaging is important. Especially with the amount of good juice on store shelves. The font and text is classy, what one would expect from nice bubbly. The colored border is what my companion could not get past; wondering about the challenge of convincing someone to buy, when lined up next to other sparklers.

The point may seem petty to some, but not to those in the media, marketing, advertising, food and wine business. Looking back, if this was the only complaint of the day.....I'll take another please!

If you can get past the packaging, give Domaine Meriwether Cuvee's a try. I think you will like.

Good Morning Goodness

I woke up this morning to blustery, stormy weather from Tropical Storm Isaac. Dragging from the barometric pressure and the thought of fighting flooded roadways in to work, I willed room service to bring me a hot breakfast like the one I had at Daily Cafe in Portland, OR.

However, I'm in Southwest Florida and there is no room service.

So I found these photos closed my eyes and transported myself back a week. The Daily Cafe, in The Pearl District, was about a mile walk from my hotel downtown and well worth it.  I wish I had an entire table of people to sit with so we could each order something different and pass the plates. I wanted bites of everything on the menu but settled for the ricotta, fontina, broccolini whole grain tart, topped with an egg. A piping hot cup of Stumptown coffee in this bright, cheery space was not even an option; it was required drinking.

Daily Chef Kim Boyce is good with grains, in fact she wrote a cookbook filled with ways to incorporate them into your meals. She makes scones from buckwheat, creates her own granola and uses lots of local ingredients at the cafe. There are some regular menu items but the Daily chalkboard is where the action is. I've been told by locals that this is the best kept secret for a fabulous dinner as well. Check it out next time your in town.
(Thanks for the AWESOME tip Christopher!)

 

Sushi and Seminoles

One of the last places you might expect to find gourmet cuisine and fresh sushi is at a casino; at least outside of Vegas. Vegas is another story altogether.

When I was asked by TOTI Media to do a chef's profile at the Seminole Casino Immokalee, FL; I had to read the email again.

The Casino recently invested a million dollars to renovate the kitchen, hired Executive Chef Greg Rosace and contracted with Chef Jochen Morczinczyk to bring JABBA Sushi to the EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill. Rosace's food is tasty and ample. Morczinczyk sushi is delightful. Not only does he roll up the standards, like the California, but he also takes creative license with other ingredients such as crawfish and jalapenos.

I'm not a big gambler. However, when my friends want to take on the tables, now I know I can belly up to a good sushi bar and wait, while they win their mortgage payment.

Look for my review in the August issues of both RSW Living and Bonita Living, on the stands now. Or look for the digital version here. Don't delay, the September issue will be out before you know it.