FOOD & WINE
Australian Chardonnay: Penfolds
If you're a Chardonnay lover, consider exploring Australian Chardonnay. From bright and fruity flavors, to complex and rich oak-aged expressions - this variety is sure to tantalize your taste buds. Let’s explore what makes it so unique. Australia is renowned for its...
Discover South African Chenin Blanc
Want to expand your wine horizons? Consider exploring South African Chenin Blanc! Whether you prefer a dry white or something more sweet, there’s a wide variety of styles on offer from this region. Let’s explore why they are so special. Chenin Blanc Overview Chenin...
How To Curate A Cellar
Think of curating a wine cellar like curating your wardrobe. When it comes to having a well-curated collection, both wine cellars and closets share some common elements. First and foremost - every single wine cellar should be unique to the person who owns it. As...
Hi! I'm Sydney,
nice to meet you!
I left a marketing career in Hollywood to go to the Culinary Institute of America. After a few years of working in restaurants, I am now a private chef and sommelier in the 30a area.
Wine FAQ’s – Answered!
Is Wine Vegan?
Is wine vegan? Is it not? I think it depends on the vegan. Here's the deal. Clarifying wine happens a few different ways. Some of these processes are vegan, and others may not be. Fining is one process of clarification. Fining occurs by adding a "fining agent" to a...
Why Wine Contains Sulfites
Why do wines have added sulfites? What do Sulfites do, anyways? SO2, Sulfur Dioxide is a naturally occurring part of the winemaking process. It is a byproduct of making alcohol. However, it can also be added at a few different winemaking points to preserve the...
Wine Structure: What is Tannin in Wine?
Tannin is a characteristic found in red grape skins and seeds as well as oak. They cause an astringent or bitterness when either too much is extracted from grapes or when young. As a wine matures, either in a fermenting vessel such as oak or stainless steel, the...
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Strawberry Sorbet
It's almost Memorial Day Weekend! Strawberry sorbet made from fresh strawberries is one of my favorite dessert components of all time. I love using this strawberry sorbet recipe for client dinners. The sweet and refreshing sorbet pairs so well with so many different...
Classic Tiramisu with Marsala and Mascarpone
I love tiramisu in all forms, but the classic combination of ladyfingers, chocolate, coffee, and custard is my favorite. This recipe deviates from the original by adding masala to the custard, and by soaking the ladyfingers in espresso and marsala rather than just...
Homemade Ladyfingers or Sponge Cake
Homemade ladyfingers are quite easy to make. To make things even easier, I take this recipe and spread it out onto a prepared 1/2 sheet tray. This way you don't need a piping bag or tip. You can cut squares using a knife, or cut with biscuit cutters to fit whatever...
The Best Easy Pizza Dough
Easy Pizza Dough? Is there really such a thing? Nancy Silverton talks in her Chef's Table episode about how she spent 10 years perfecting the Mozza Pizza Dough.... so can it really be easy? (PS if you haven't gone to Mozza in LA -- add it to your bucket list). While...
Cinnamon Ice Cream
This is a classic cinnamon ice cream. Egg yolks and a mix of heavy cream and half and half make this rich and decadent. So I'm giving you the disclaimer now: if you're the type of person that likes the "light" or "fake" ice cream stuff -- go get some fro-yo. This...
Review of Martha Stewart Wine Co
As a wine educator, Martha Stewart Wine Co sounded really interesting to me for a number of reasons. I'll let you know that I am an affiliate with Martha Stewart Wine Co, but I only started recommending her products after going through this experience. This blog post...
Portuguese Wine Travels: Villa Rosa Bairrada Baga Wine Review
Portuguese Wine is some of the best and most memorable wine I've ever tasted. One of the most memorable experiences I've had was perhaps at a Michelin Star restaurant, at The Yeatman, in Porto. Every course was served with a Portuguese wine to match. And every wine...
Easy Flourless Chocolate Cake
If you're looking for an easy flourless chocolate cake recipe, look no further! This dense and fudgy cake is best served cold with a light dollop of sweetened whipped cream and fresh berries. A client of mine asked for this as an add-on to a wine tasting and tapas...
Fall Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato
Sometimes I just crave a good, hearty fall kale salad. Do you? This salad is paleo-friendly, gluten-friendly, dairy-free, allium-free, and grain-free. Whew! That's a lot of "free's" If you want to spice up the salad - I won't be offended, see below for my...
Viura: Spanish White Wine Intro
Viura (also known as Macabeo) is a native Spanish white grape that has quite a history! In Penedes, and a few other areas of Spain, this grape is known as Macabeo. You can also find Macabeo in Rousillion, France! In Valencia, Rioja, and Rueda, this grape is called...
