There is no better place to spend the holidays than New York City. The holiday spirit abounds. So much to do and see, much of it free, such as the decorations at stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Henri Bendel, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and the tree inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the toys at FAO...
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Winebow, an importer and distributor based in Montvale, NJ, has one of the bigger portfolio tastings in the fall. Here are some of my favorites at this year’s tasting in September. California has been getting a lot of press about its 2009 Pinot Noir vintage. But Oregon’s 2009 Pinots are no slouches. Chehalem 3 Vineyard Pinot...
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I’ve moved, all of two blocks! I’ve also changed my email address. Here’s the new contact info: Sam Gugino Contributing Editor, Wine Spectator Editor, SamCooks Newsletter 126 W. Gravers Lane Philadelphia, PA 19118 Phone, 215-242-4349 Fax, 212-202-3527 sam@samgugino.com Later this fall I’ll have an idea of what stories I’ll...
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Recession or no, Americans’ taste for steak seems to remain as strong as the Goldman Sachs’ bonus program. There’s a lot of steak out there and the good stuff isn’t cheap. A USDA Prime filet mignon can cost $50 a pound; Wagyu (the breed of cattle that produces Kobe beef) steaks can cost twice that. Though leaner grass-fed...
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Many people still have trouble cooking plain long grain rice, let alone risotto. And risotto in a hurry? “Fuggedaboudit,” as Tony Soprano might say. But you can make risotto in about 20 minutes any night of the week. In case you’ve been on another culinary planet for the past decade (or three), risotto is the Italian rice...
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While most Italian-Americans (like me) trace their roots to Southern Italy, much of what Americans know about Italian wine and food comes from Central and Northern Italy (Tuscany, for example). That’s changing. In September, I visited Calabria, the toe of Italy’s boot, with journalists and food and wine buyers as guests of the...
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Ground beef is one of the most versatile meats for quick meals that can satisfy almost any family member. A kid’s favorite is the sloppy Joe, ground beef sauteed with onions, and green peppers, then mixed with ketchup, chili sauce or better yet, canned tomato sauce or stewed tomatoes. Jazz this up with spices like chili powder and...
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