It seems as though fancy gadget aerators for wine have become a trendy gift to give to people with a mutual benefit- makes you look like a bit of a wine connoisseur, and, your friend gets to try out a fancy gadget-fun! But is it necessary? Is it money well spent on enhancing your favourite wine, or, is it money wasted that could otherwise be used to buy one of those expensive bottles you have been eyeing? Why Does Wine Need Oxygen.... Just like us, to breathe, well sort of...

Making homemade pasta sounds daunting; but in reality it is very easy. It takes some time and patience, so perhaps not something you do on a Tuesday. But for me, it is a nostalgic experience that brings me back to my Nonna’s kitchen table, where I assisted the culinary master in creating something mouth-wateringly delicious. Gnocchi’s origin comes from the Italian word nocca, meaning knuckle, and when you look at these little pillows of softness, they have the imprint on them

Dear Restaurant Owner, While I understand there is a cost associated with updating your menus and wine lists; the vintage of the wine you are selling DOES matter! And, you CANNOT tell me that a 2-year difference in a Spanish Tempranillo doesn’t make a difference, because it does, and I am going politely explain why.... The Situation I ordered my first choice wine and after 10 minutes of waiting for the bottle to arrive, the waitress politely told me that they did not have tha

With summer fast approaching, wedding season is upon us, and with that, comes a lot of clinking glasses and sipping sparkling wine. It can be daunting to pick something that doesn’t break the budget, but also doesn’t give you a headache and terrible hang over (Bambino- I am thinking of you!). With Champagne being quite costly, let’s look at some delicious alternatives for your celebrations! How sparkling wine is made... It is important to understand the differences in method

Fresh peas in the grocery store always mean Spring is here! To celebrate this delicious vegetable, why not make a delicious carbonara pasta? Delicious with a Sancerre from France or a Fresh Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Ingredients: 1 Bag of Fresh Spring Peas (frozen if you can't find them) 1 yellow onion 2 cloves of garlic 1/4 cup of fresh Italian parsley 4 eggs 1/2 cup of 2% milk 1 package of thick cut bacon 1 pkg of Linguine Pasta 1 1/2 cups of Parmesan Cheese Salt Pep

If you are like most people, you tend to run into the LCBO (Liquor Store for all those out of Province readers) and grab your go to bottle of wine. It’s a safe bet, you know you like it, and you know what shelf it will be on. Furthermore, you have probably cast a wide net on a number of grape varieties that you “just don’t like”. Everyone is entitled to his or her preferences, but are you willing to step out of your wine comfort zone and try something new? Here are a few tips

Understanding wine tasting notes can be daunting.... I know that for most people, you just "like what you like" when it comes to wine, and don't give too much thought on what it is that you actually really like about your favourite wine. I once asked my brother to smell a glass of Chianti Classico and tell me what he smelled, and his smart-@ss remark was "I smell wine". But without really knowing those characteristics about your wine preferences, you might never get to try so

2013 Tawse Chardonnay: A Cool Climate Masterpiece If you are a Chardonnay drinker who typically reaches for a California Chard, I urge you to give this one a try, if you normally don't choose Chardonnay, you should still try this! Amazing complexity and balance. Tasting Notes: Rich and lush on the pallet, this is a medium bodied white wine, citrus and peach with notes of toasted almond, and a slight minerality. The oak is noticeable but in a tastefully restrained manor. What

1. I will always be completely honest In the nicest way possible- now who sounds like a Nonna? What does this mean? If I don’t think something is as good as it should be or lacks in some capacity, I am going to be honest about it. It may sound odd to some (most of whom are being paid copious amounts of money to grin and bare it) but; I can’t put my stamp of approval on something that I don’t truly believe in. Honesty is number one; let me be clear, it doesn’t mean I have to b