34º Sweet Crisps: Indulging to a Lesser Degree

Compliment your party snacks with ultra-thin wafers that offer a touch of sweetness. Light flavors of Caramel, Chocolate, Cinnamon, and Graham do well on a cheese board, and contain only 60 calories for 7-8 crackers. Also great for doling out to kids looking for a sugar fix—top with peanut butter and slice of banana or ricotta cheese and drizzle of honey. 34º offers a full line of super low-cal cracker choices.

Bottles to Bring: Il Poggiolino Chianti

Introducing Il Poggiolino, a collection of traditional Chiantis debuting in the US. First an amusing little “history” lesson. In the Middle Ages, Florence and Siena both wanted to rule the beautiful Chianti region. To bring an end to their conflict, it was decreed that a knight from each city would leave at dawn (when the rooster crows), and the border would be established where they met. The Sienese chose a white rooster. The Florentines chose a black one, which they did not feed for days—causing the rooster to crow way before dawn on the day of the contest. The Florentine knight ended up only a short distance from Siena, thus bringing the Chianti region under Florentine rule. Today the symbol of a Black Rooster appears on the neck of bottles of wine from the Chianti Classico zone. If the seal has a red border, it’s considered “Standard” which means the wine is young and meant to be enjoyed shortly after purchase. A gold border represents a “Riserva” that can age for many years. I got to sample both varieties and thought they were all fantastic. There were also a sweet after-dinner wine, Il Vin Santo, that would make a great accompaniment to desserts or cheeses. The farm at Il Poggiolino also houses 5 acres of olive trees, and the olive oil produced is a pretty bright yellow, mellow, and amazingly fresh. (lately been coming across amazing olive oils, lucky me!) Bites were provided by The Leopard at Des Artistes restaurant, including the crostini with chicken liver, also with sauteed eggplant and red peppers. (correction: as of this writing, wines are not yet available in the US, stay tuned for their official launch coming soon)

Importer Dina Gianella at the helm.

Poggio alle Balze: a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, 15% Colorino grapes. A casual, young wine.

Il Classico: Loved this one, very soft, round, velvety and feminine. Nice to drink on its own. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino

La Riserva: Getting more complex, earthier, spicy, berries, dark nose, even overall. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino.

Le Balze: Uses only the best vintages of Sangiovese grapes. Full-flavored, intense nose, ripe tannins.

Vin Santo: From the best vintages of Malvasia, Trebbiano, San Colombano, and Canaiolo grapes, picked in October and dried before pressing. Aged 12 years. Only the best is taken from the barrels. A lovely, sweet wine, but not overly so.

Delicious olive oil, packaged with the perfect pouring top, come from the same land.

Italian bites provided by The Leopard, eggplant caponata, and chicken liver on toasts

Best Tasting Olive Oils: Euphoria and The Filling Station

Sometimes it seems that olive oil choices are endless, so many different terroirs, wonderful artisanal methods—how can you decide? I’ve made a few discoveries recently that are extraordinary, and will elevate whatever you put it on.

From Greece comes Euphoria, with a smooth, luscious taste that is absolutely heaven on earth. I have savored drops of it on the season’s harvest, made a fresh basil pesto from my terrace garden, plus separated a batch with lots of chopped herbs for drizzling purposes. This is the one to use for dipping bread, drizzling on fresh burata, or to made salad dresssings. The oil is made from the Koroneiki olive, which is known to be high in antioxidants and low in acidity. The dark bottle also makes for a nice gift to tote to your next dinner party.
Closer to home, i.e. Chelsea, come olive oils from The Filling Station, who encourage customers to return with their olive oil bottle and get a10% discount. I went absolutely nuts with the Lemon EVOO. Photo above shows heirloom tomatoes, slice of manchego, and basil on a whole wheat baguette slice, drizzled with the Lemon Olive Oil, which I served to last-minute guests. For a tasty snack, I added a few drops to a Wasa cracker before topping with hummus and tomato. Whatever I tried it on added a super-fresh, zingy lemon taste. I highly recommend keeping a bottle of this around. I’m planning to head back and try these oils one at a time: Black Truffle, Blood Orange, Persian Lime. Also, while at the store in Chelsea Market, my friend Derek and I sampled the flavored salts, and I came home with a bottle of the Strawberry Balsamic (great on baked squash, figs/goat cheese, ice cream, even in cocktails). Items can be purchased from the website, but you can get a taste of everything if you make a trip to the store.

SUMMER SIPPING: Greek Wine

I was not a big fan of Greek wine until I tried this one. Santorini from Santo Wines is 100% Assyrtiko, which has a lightly citrus quality, balanced by dry, mineral tones. Imagine a wine as beautiful as the island it comes from. Around $20 a bottle.

SUMMER SIPPING: Organic Prosecco

Start summer off without any chemicals in your wine. Pizzolato Fields Prosecco is made from handpicked 100% certified organic Prosecco Grapes. Dry, crisp and refreshing, with some honey and citrus notes, it costs a mere $13.99 a bottle. The wine is imported by Natural Merchants Selections who select superior wines from Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Greece and Portugal, which are grown in unique organic terroirs. Check out their other selections at the website.

Le Palais des Thés Cocktails for Spring

I love the idea of using tea as an ingredient in cocktails. First off, you have the ability to create gallons of mixes, straight out of your cabinet. Secondly, the antioxidants and subtle flavoring make for really nice combinations. As a bonus, the teas from Le Palais des Thés come beautifully packaged, and would be a standout presence on your bar or table. The company Le Palais des Thés began life with fifty tea enthusiasts wanting to guarantee the freshness and quality of their teas. They make regular visits to their tea estates to maintain local farming methods and to appreciate the rich cultures surrounding them. While traveling the world in search of rare teas, they discovered the leaves for making Fleur de Geisha in Japan, a refined green tea flavored with cherry blossoms, and Thé du Hammam in China, a green tea flavored with berries, rose, orange flower and green dates. Both these teas have a delicate balance of fruitiness, and work well in a cocktail. Important note: when brewing the teas, do not let the water come to a boil, as it will create a bitter tasting tea. If you are a tea enthusiast, I highly recommend purchasing Cuisinart’s temperature controlled tea kettle. Otherwise, keep an eye on your pot. When bubbles just start to form at the edges, remove from heat and prepare your brew. Photo above: the Fleur de Geisha cocktail, below: Champagne with Thé du Hammam

Fleur de Geisha Cocktail
This tea was inspired by the Japanese Hanami tradition of viewing cherry trees in bloom. Sho Chiku Bai Ginjo Sake was used to make this cocktail, but you can substitute any other that is meant to be chilled, with a fruity smooth taste. The bottle does have the cuteness factor. 
About 5 servings
4 rounded tsp (or 4 tea bags) Le Palais des Thés “Fleur de Geisha” tea
12 oz spring water
2.5 oz sake
2.5 oz pink grapefruit juice
3½ TB cane sugar
1.5 oz Triple Sec
ice
pinch of ground ginger
Infuse the tea in the simmered water for 3 minutes. Filter the leaves, let cool, then chill in the refrigerator for a half hour. When the tea is chilled, place into a cocktail shaker along with the sake, pink grapefruit juice and cane sugar. Shake. Add Triple Sec and a few ice cubes. Shake vigorously until the outside of the cocktail shaker appears wet. Garnish each glass with a tiny pinch of ground ginger and serve immediately.

Champagne with Thé du Hammam
The flavors in this tea evoke the characteristic fragrances used in a hammam.
About 5 flutes
3 rounded tsp (or 3 tea bags) Le Palais des Thés “Thé du Hammam”tea
10 oz spring water
10 oz Champagne
2 TB  peach liqueur
Infuse the tea in the simmered water for 3 minutes. Filter the leaves, let tea cool, then chill in the refrigerator for a half hour. Put chilled tea and peach liqueur in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Pour into flutes about half way, and top off with well-chilled Champagne.

SPIRITS OF THE HOLIDAYS: Best Bottles to Bring to the Party

Spread the holiday cheer with these unique choices, your host will thank you! (1) Spicy and sweet, with perfect flavors for the holidays, The King's Ginger was created in 1903 to warm and energize His Majesty King Edward VII. Delightful by itself as an after-dinner sip, or even more wonderful mixed with vodka or gin, the flavor is reminiscent of a candied, citrus-y ginger. Around $37. (2) No.3 London Dry Gin offers traditional gin lovers something to cherish. The No.3 refers to the address on St James’s Street, home to London’s oldest wine and spirit merchant (since 1698). No.3 also refers to its three fruits: Juniper, orange peel, and grapefruit peel—and three spices: angelica root, coriander seed, and cardamom pods. Check out the website for a beautiful cocktail video for making the perfect martini. You may leave the music playing while you are busy in the kitchen with holiday cooking. Around $37. (3) For those loving complex spirits, Bols Barrel Aged Genever fits the bill. Traditional genever, thought of as the original spirit, starts with a triple distillate of rye, wheat and corn, and is then blended with botanicals (hops, cloves, anise, licorice, ginger, juniper and many others). The barrel-aged limited edition is subsequently aged in French oak barrels, resulting in an an herbalishious-cognac-like taste. Around $50 (4) The Bitter Truth Apricot Liqueur is a preserved, sweet taste of world-class sun-ripened apricots—combining apricot juice and apricot schnapps together. Works as a fantastic addition to cocktails. Try the super Austrian mix of flavors in the cocktail below. Around $28.
HOCK MARTINI
1.5 oz Riesling Wine
.5 oz Gin
.25 oz The Bitter Truth Apricot Liqueur
1 dash The Bitter Truth Lemon Bitters
Stir in mixing glass with ice & strain in a cocktail glass.

TREAT YOUR GUESTS: Liquid Chocolate

Cask & Cream Chocolate Temptation
Thrill and delight your friends’ sweet tooth, with an after-dinner sip of Cask & Cream Chocolate Temptation—an absolute taste sensation. This delicious cream liqueur blends rich, dark chocolate flavors and a touch of brandy. Serve it up straight, over ice, in coffee or over cake or ice cream.

TREAT YOUR GUESTS: Decadent St. André

Fill up your guest’s bellies with a cheesy-oniony dip. Incorporating St. André’s intense taste and rich offering of 70% butterfat will have the brie-lovers going wild. Or just put this pretty wheel out for guests to help themselves. (Let the cheese sit out for an hour before serving, to show off its melty goodness.) The recommended pairing: beer or bitter ales.

SAINT ANDRE THREE ONION-JALAPENO DIP
by Chef Ash Fulk
Serves 8
1 lb Saint André cheese
4 oz sour cream
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 Spanish onions, diced and caramelized
1 bunch chives, chopped
1 roasted jalapeno (seeded and diced, please use gloves)
1 bunch scallions, chopped
juice of one lemon
salt and pepper
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts, crushed
Dice Saint André. In a food processor, pureé cheese, sour cream and cream. Add caramelized onion and pulse until incorporated. Dip should be thick, but not so thick that it would break a celery stick. Fold in chives, jalapeño and scallions, finish with a little lemon juice, salt and pepper. Top with toasted pine nuts. Serve with carrot sticks, celery sticks, asparagus, and green beans.

HOLIDAY HELPERS: Nawgan—Drink to Think

Have a tendency to forget? Pass on the soda and put Nawgan on your list of items to help get you through the hectic holiday season. Created by a professor of neuropsychology, its blend of natural-occurring chemicals combine to enhance concentration and focus. The drink is also low in calories. Comes in caffeinated, Red Berry (my favorite), Tarocco Orange (mild-tasting) and caffeine-free Berry. Available online, $49.99 for a case of 24 cans plus $12 shipping. I was doing a little experimenting, and came up with this cocktail combo: No 3 Gin, plus a little Bitter Truth Violet Liqueur, and half a can of Red Berries Nawgan.

CONSUMABLE HOLIDAY GIFTS: Artisanal Cheese

Artisanal, reknowned for its cheese selections, has sophisticated packages perfect for sending to the turophiles in your life. Choose from one of their interesting categories—Best of Paris, Italian Collection, Exotic & Rare Cheese Collection, Red Wine Collection, more—or have a custom selection created just for you. Each package comes beautifully wrapped and includes not only a sampling of the world's finest artisanal cheeses, but also the perfect accessories and accompaniments. They also offer a Cheese of the Month edition, which you can subscribe to for 3 months, 6 months, or a year, for $55 a month.

CONSUMABLE HOLIDAY GIFTS: Maine Lobster

Lobster lovers can get the best and sweetest specimens direct from Maine. GetMaineLobster.com specializes in overnight delivery of fresh caught live Maine Lobsters as well as a variety of other Maine goodies like crab or lobster cakes, lobster pie, mussels, clams, clam or seafood chowder. Now there’s an interesting package to recieve!

CONSUMABLE HOLIDAY GIFTS: Meat from the Farm

The Frost Family Farm Heritage, headed by Prescott Frost, great-grandson of the American poet Robert Frost, continues a centuries long tradition of family farming. Prescott is deeply committed to changing the current unhealthy factory-farm system in use today. Their USDA Certified Organic meats, come from animals fed on grass in the Nebraska Sandhills—not corn, and without hormones or antibiotics. These fine, flavorful meats can be ordered online. What meat lover wouldn’t be thrilled to receive the Filet Mignon (8oz for $21), or the NY Strip (12oz for $24) or the best All Beef Hot Dogs (12oz for $7.50). For those who are very deserving, there’s also a Gift Package which includes 2 Filet Mignon, 2 NY Strip, 4 Rib Eye, 6 Ground Beef, 2 packs Hot Dogs (at a savings of 24%) for $199.

Body Baring?

Reach for low-cal beverages to help keep weight on track. See the three posts below.

Bubbly Goodness: R W Knudsen Sparkling Essence

I love the pretty little cans, and always have a few in my fridge, which are great for adding sparkle to single-serving cocktails, providing a complexity of flavor with no calories whatsoever. The latest editions, from R W Knudsen Sparkling Essence, Coconut and Lime, are naturals in a cocktail. I suggest mixing them both, with a splash of pineapple juice and rum, for a low-cal refreshing take on the Piña Colada. i.e. put the lime in the coconut, and drink ‘em both together...

Good BAI extra calories!

Think about adding one of Bai’s exotic infusions into your next cocktail. At only 10 calories a bottle, you will be totally guilt-free! You may find it difficult to decide on which flavor, so it’s best to try them all: Panama Peach, Sumatra Dragonfruit, Costa Rica Clementine, and Congo Pear. See my earlier post and cocktail recipe at this link.

Honest Tea introduces Cocoa

If chocolate is on your mind, address your craving the healthy way with Honest CocoaNova, Honest Tea’s new line of low-calorie beverages. The three varieties, Mint Cacao, Mocha Cacao and Cherry Cacao each have a sophisticated, chocolate-y taste, and have only 50 calories a bottle. In addition, your drink comes packed with the natural antioxidants and theobromine found in their USDA Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified cacao beans. Available in health food stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, Whole Foods, and more—check the website to find a retailer near you.

Red White and Blue Cocktails for the 4th of JULY

Three cheers for the red, white and blue!!! Be sure to celebrate our country’s independent spirit with some incredible American brands.

Square One Organic Vodka: Basil
The makers of Square One are introducing their latest flavor for summer. This strongly herbaceous blend starts with100% organic American rye and is infused with the essences of 4 different organic basil varieties (Genovese, Thai, lemon, sweet) plus a little bit of coriander, honeysuckle and lemongrass. It will make a big statement in your cocktail. The Caprese Martini might be a good way to start your 4th of July party, instead of the typical Bloody Mary, and if you leave off the basil leaf from the garnish, you will have a red/white combo, so all you will need are dark blue napkins or a blue toothpick to tie into the celebration.

CAPRESE MARTINI
1.5 oz. Square One Basil
.75 oz. tomato juice or 5 cherry tomatoes cut in half
.5 oz. fresh lime juice
.25 oz. agave nectar or simple syrup
small pinch of salt
1/2 barspoon of Dirty Sue olive juice or 3 drops of Worcestershire sauce
cherry tomato, basil leaf and mini mozzarella ball as garnish
If using fresh tomatoes, muddle in mixing cup until pureed. Combine all other ingredients and shake with ice. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve with a “Caprese pick”–skewered cherry tomato, basil leaf and mini mozzarella ball. [I recommend using Calabro Mozzarella Fior Di Latte Bocconcini. It’s delicate taste and creamy texture will have you switching from your former brand. Plus it’s made only with the highest quality Grade A Vermont farm milk by an Italian-American family for over 50 years.]

American Harvest Vodka

From a family owned and operated organic wheat farm in Rigby, Idaho comes an exceptionally smooth tasting new vodka. This spirit is created without any compromise to the environment, from the recyclable glass bottle which uses only organic inks, to their use of wind power to provide for one third of their energy needs. American Harvest is perfectly handcrafted in small batches. If you live where its especially hot, this watermelon cooler recipe that follows might just do the trick for celebrating the 4th. Use blueberries for garnish to get the red, white and blue effect. For now, just available in the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Oregon, South Carolina.


HARVEST COOLER
2 parts American Harvest
1 part freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2  part agave nectar
5 cubes of fresh watermelon
Soda water
Combine all ingredients except soda water in a cocktail glass with ice and shake well. Strain over fresh ice in a tall cocktail glass and top with soda water. Garnish with a watermelon slice and lime wedge.

Wines of Israel: Don’t Pass them Over!

I went to a tasting back in November, and got to sample lots of very nice wines from Israel. I thought it would be a good time to mention some to bring along to your Passover seder, or, make up any excuse to celebrate with these fine selections. Barkan wines come from the Galilee region. The Altitude series are 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, whose labels refer to the actual altitude in which the grapes are grown. The +720 [meters above sea level] 2007 was good, but one you might want to hold onto till next year. A really superior choice, and my favorite of the entire tasting was the 2007 Barkan Reserve +624. Both cost around $40 a bottle. For a nice everyday, soft red, around $12 a bottle, go for the Barkan Classic Merlot-Argaman 2009, and you will not regret it! In the VEGAN category: I loved the 2007 Carmel Mediterranean, a mix of 5 grape varieties from the Shomron region. My tasting notes: like a fine Pinot Noir, feminine, soft, elegant; around $60 a bottle. My second favorite, especially for its bottle design, was the Carmel Appellation Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2006 from Upper Galilee Region, which goes for around $27 a bottle. Dalton Winery is working on getting organic certification. 2009 Fume Blanc was a mix of 95% Sauvignon Blanc with 5% Viognier. A nice, light, summery taste, from the Upper Galilee region, great buy for $15 a bottle. The 2009 Estate Shiraz was a blend of 4 grapes, which gave it a deep berry, full flavor yet still light in the mouth with a peppery finish. Not bad for $18 a bottle. The 2009 Shiraz Reserve was at the top of the price range ($30) and the most elegant choice, very earthy, with its combination of 96% Shiraz and 4% Viognier, also from the Upper Galilee region.