Summer is a great time to entertain at home - the weather is great, the days are long, and people are somehow more relaxed. Dinner with guests can be easy with the help of a grill and great summer produce and the focus is just...
Make a delicious batch of sangria for a spring day of staying in. Choose a red wine - it does not need to be an expensive vintage red, for sangria always turns out to be a refreshing concoction. Try a reasonably priced red from Valencia,...
3/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese Fresh basil, sage or terragan (optional) These delicious snacks are easy to make and will be the perfect accompaniment to just about any wine you are serving. Coarsely grate about 3/4 of a cup of Parmesan cheese and add fresh herbs, like...
If you have an outdoor area, even a small patio, host an intimate gathering under the fall night sky and serve this Austrian concoction that will infuse your body and heart with the kind of warmth that can only be felt during this time of...
by Claudia Melatini Born into a bed of artistic genius, one can't be surprised at the natural talent of seventeen year-old Sonya Kitchell. Yes, I said seventeen. Don't go trying to figure out what year it was that she was born (it was 1989,) because it...
by Claudia Melatini There are certain perfect situations I can think of in life - those specific places or times or feelings you wish you could recapture. One of mine involves an early June evening, when it's still light out at nine o'clock, the air is...
by Alex Palmer The new album "Takk" from the Icelandic band, Sigur Res, happily offers more of what they do best. Swooping strings, choral echoes, and elfish murmurs move in and out of this sixty-six minute set of songs, producing something that is more symphonic movement...
by Eve Brosnahan Zach Braff's phenomenal directorial debut can only be matched by this incredible assortment of unique songs on the "Garden State" soundtrack. This wonderful compilation consists of some of the most pensive songs which have me peering in to my past and future, as...
by Claudia Melatini "Spoil me." These are wise words for an eighteen year old songstress from Devon, England. Hearing Joss Stone's soulful voice pour from various speakers around the house transports me into the mellow, relaxed mood I need after facing the demonic roadways of interior...
An idea for a summer pairing party is to feature musical duets - enjoy some lovely wines with some classic and swinging sounds. See which duets you like the best, and which wines compliment the music most effectively. One timeless classic that is a must...