Merry Christmas!

My family started Round 1 last night with the Secret Santa exchange, and today we shall move to Round 2 with presents for the kiddies and a very long day of eating. Yes, that's the family specialty.

I'm giddy to announce that I GOT A STOCKING this year!!!!!!! I love, love, love a stocking filled with goodies all for me, and would trade it for just about anything except diamonds. Of course, in the best of situations diamonds are *in* the stocking.

Gargantua (brother #4) awakened me this morning with news of breakfast fully prepared (it truly is a holy day), so I dined on a bit of filet mignon, eggs and fresh croissants while I prepared myself for an afternoon with small hyper children.

Shortly I shall unveil the Gift of Gifts to my darling sous chefs (the nephews), who prominently placed an Easy-Bake oven on their Christmas list. A loving aunt, who am I to refuse, particularly when I have inspired such wanton cooking lust? Thankfully the contraption comes in boyish colors of silver and blue, because there was no way I was unveiling a pink and purple one -- the men in my family would simply turn shades of green, and we have enough of that with the tree and lights.

If you are celebrating Christmas today, I wish you the merriest of Christmases with your loved ones. Remember, it's only once a year, and if I can be nice so can you. If you are not celebrating this day, enjoy your day off and take-out, and we'll see you for a week of New Year's Eve preparations!

gilded fork, food, food writing, Christmas

Food Philosophy #34: Pairing Wine with Food

Food Philosophy #34: Pairing Wine with Food

At last, the heady realm of food and wine pairing is demystified for the hungry (and thirsty) layman. Mark and I chat with Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page about their new book, What to Drink with What You Eat, and discover their philosophy about a sensual approach to it all (yes, I'm giddy).

www.becomingachef.com

Music: Beau Hall (www.beaurocks.com)

Food Philosophy is a production of The Gilded Fork (www.gildedfork.com).

www.culinarypodcastnetwork.com


food, food podcast, sensuality, Food Philosophy, Culinary Podcast Network, Gilded Fork, Jennifer Iannolo, PodShow, Andrew Dornenburg, Karen Page, food wine pairing, what to drink

Little Drops of Heaven

My bottle of Allure Estates Olio Nuovo 2006 just arrived, and I don't know what to do with myself. They've outdone themselves, because this year's vintage is even better than last year's; I won't even use this one for cooking, as it is to be enjoyed solely for dipping and drizzling. More than once since it arrived, I've found myself sitting down to dinner with a a healthy drizzle of olio nuovo and a piece of bread, ignoring most of my meal to focus on the elixir.

There is something so pure and exquisite in a perfect bottle of olive oil -- one whose potency hits the back of the throat with a peppery punch and tastes like olives at their very best moment of ripeness. Olio nuovo is the first pressing of the olives, bottled and presented immediately for consumption. Its pungent flavor and aroma is likely not for the consumer accustomed to mass-produced olive oils with little more than a bland flavor and aroma, so I like to see this as the connoisseur's oil.

Laurie and her husband Alex shared their story with us in last year's Artisan's Corner article, Adventures in a Pile of Dirt, and it is one of risk, toil and soil. I hope it pays off for them in spades, because of all the olive oils I have tasted from around the world, this one is the very best.

gilded fork, olive oil, olio nuovo, Allure Estates

Food Philosophy #33: Tasting Wine with the Senses

Food Philosophy #33: Tasting Wine with the Senses

You’ve probably tasted wine with your tongue, but have you ever engaged all of your senses in the process? How about your retronasal passage?

Explore along with me as I learn how to approach wine more sensually – and how the mind can trick us along the way. Rosina Tinari Wilson is back with a lesson in tasting, which happened during an impromptu gathering in the tasting room at Fontanafredda Winery in Piemonte. (www.fontanafredda.it)

We’ve also got lots of wine advice for the holidays at the Gilded Fork, including wines for under $10, food and wine pairings and a complete cocktail party how-to. ‘Tis the season, people! (www.gildedfork.com)

If you find yourself in a bind, you can also call our friends at ChefsLine, the live cooking hotline, for advice and comfort. Chef Mark might even pick up the phone! We’ve made special arrangements for Food Philosophy listeners, so you can get 30 free minutes of consultation with a live chef through January 1st, 2007.

ChefsLine: 800-977-1224 enter code 986445#
www.chefsline.com

ChefsLine memberships are also available in the Gilded Fork Boutique, and make a perfect holiday gift! (https://shop.gildedfork.com)

Music: Beau Hall (www.beaurocks.com)

Food Philosophy is a production of The Gilded Fork (www.gildedfork.com).

www.culinarypodcastnetwork.com

food, food podcast, sensuality, Food Philosophy, Culinary Podcast Network, Gilded Fork, Jennifer Iannolo, PodShow, wine tasting, senses, ChefsLine, holiday entertaining

Food Philosophy #32: The Stress-Free Holiday Host

Food Philosophy #32: The Stress-Free Holiday Host

If you want to avoid a feeling of overwhelm this holiday season, consider some of our hosting tips for remaining calm and collected -- and that means cocktail parties, people! Mark and I discuss the ins and outs of hosting a fun evening without panic, as well as the protocol for hostess gift giving and receiving.

Listen for our final Golden Ticket Moment!

Folgers Gourmet Selections Flavor: Vanilla Biscotti
www.folgers.com/gourmet

Featured Recipe: Vanilla Cafe Cocktail

Listener Comment: Foie Gras Ban

Music: Beau Hall (www.beaurocks.com)

Food Philosophy is a production of The Gilded Fork (www.gildedfork.com).

www.culinarypodcastnetwork.com


food, food podcast, sensuality, Food Philosophy, Culinary Podcast Network, Gilded Fork, Jennifer Iannolo, PodShow, entertaining tips, holiday entertaining, holiday parties, etiquette, hostess gifts, stress-free entertaining