Monday, June 23, 2008

Summer Wine Suggestions

People are always asking me for wine recommendations. The best advice I can give is "Drink what you like!" Of course, you may not have the chance to try before you buy. And then there are folks like my mom, who doesn't drink wine too often, but wants to know what to serve guests or give as a gift.
Here are my picks for summer:

Having a BBQ? The best pairing for a juicy cheeseburger is Syrah/Shiraz. It can even stand up to all the weird condiments you may pile on your burger. For steak, a rich Cabernet Sauvignon always fits the bill. With grilled chicken or seafood, you absolutely must try a dry rose! They are perfect for summer.
As an all-around perfect BBQ wine, try the Elyse Nero Misto. It's full of ripe dark fruit, perhaps because it is made with over 12 different grapes. This California-Italian styled wine is one of my absolute favorites. In the summer, don't be afraid to pop it in the fridge for about 20 minutes before opening.
For something cool and refereshing on a warm summer day, enjoy a glass (or two!) of prosecco. This is the Italian version of Champagne. It has smaller bubbles and a crisp finish. I like Zardetto Prosecco right now; it has a green apple flavor to it. You can add some juice - try cranberry, peach or strawberry, and make a refreshing bellini.
Cheers! Happy Summer!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Live La Dolce Vita


Aaron and I are proud to announce the completion of the cookbook we worked on for fabulous Oxnard restaurant La Dolce Vita. I wrote/edited the material and Aaron designed the beautiful pages. To order, visit http://www.ladolcevitadimare.com/. Trust me, you will just love this book. It is full of great Italian recipes with a California spin, like Pumpkin Risotto, Tomato Fondue, Chicken Marsala, Pasta Carbonara, Flourless Chocolate Cake with Fig Port Sauce, Antipasto Rolls, Iced Praline Torte and much more. Most of all, it is so stunning you will want to keep it displayed.

M & M = Love

Happy Marriage to Michael and Marissa!

Vegas, Baby, Vegas!

Vegas Round 1



I went to Las Vegas for Marissa's bachelorette party. For those of you who don't know, Marissa is a dear friend brought into my life via Aaron. He has been soul mate to her husband Michael for many years.

The first weekend in May was spent gallivanting through Las Vegas with 14 of Marissa's super fun and crrrrrrazy gals. We had a blast. I love these girls!

Vegas Round 2


After two days of Bachelorette Party Fun, the girls dropped me off at my next hotel, where I met up with BFF from college Monica and her mom Nancy. For two days we did lots of walking the strip, seeing the sights and eating our way through Vegas. This is Monica, I mean Sheila, with Karaoke King of Vegas Doug. We somehow always find ourselves in interesting situations when we get together . . . (actually we both find ourselves in interesting situations when we are just individuals, but it just gets MORE interesting when our odd luck combines.)