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Online Wine Classes from Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator School

Wine Spectator School offers on-line wine courses for the beginner to the experienced wine drinker. How do they do it? Well, each course includes multimedia presentations with class materials and course work that is downloaded and printed. After you've completed the course, you'll finish with a tutored tasting following a supplied tasting guideline. All you need is to purchase a range of wines that you studied in your class from your local wine shop.

Wine Spectator School even offers a free sample course so you can try out their online class format. Classes start at $49, and currently feature a course on California Cabernets.

October 30, 2003 in All Things Wine, Education | Permalink | Comments (2)

Bidding on Wine Auctions at WineCommune.com

WineCommune.com

If you are familiar with eBay, then you'll feel right at home bidding on WineCommune.com for your favorite wines. This site is dedicated strictly to wine and auctions include wine ratings by Robert Parker. Be a bidder or seller, and you'll find it all here from special bottles to cases, from France to South Africa, California to Australia.

Take a look around, and you just might catch the wine auction bug.

October 29, 2003 in All Things Wine | Permalink | Comments (0)

Save 50% with Restaurant.com Gift Certificates

Restaurant.com

Restaurant.com offers 50% off gift certificates to 1000's of restaurants across the country. Available in $25 or $50 amounts, give these certificates as gifts for friends or buy them to use yourself. Restaurants are easily searched and include brief information on menu and wine lists. After purchasing your certificate, you easily print them on your home computer.

Visit Restaurant.com to see the cities and their member restaurants.

October 29, 2003 in A Food & Wine Gift Guide, Restaurant News | Permalink | Comments (0)

Vintage Storage Looking Hip

Vintage Jars

Whether you're looking for that perfect storage container that looks great on your counter top or one that is roomy enough for all your essentials, you've found it in the Vintage Storage Containers from Stonewall Kitchen. This canister is elegant and classic in its simplicity and can hold just about anything you've got in mind.

Stonewall Kitchen also has begun their holiday promotion for 10% off on orders placed before Dec. 10. Shop early to save!

October 26, 2003 in Kitchen Essentials | Permalink | Comments (0)

Special Delivery - Online Gifts For Foodies

Nonnie's Pound Cake

With the holiday season fast approaching we created a new category called Special Deliveries. We hope this section will not only make the usually hectic season a little less so, but also introduce the wonderful world of online mail order gifts to those of you who have not yet discovered this time saving phenomenon! A little impersonal you say? Not so! Time and thought go into every gift, whether you shop in a brick and mortor shop or you surf the world wide web. Check out Special Deliveries as we feature interesting and unique gourmet food items for this holiday season.

To start, here are some finds:

Nonnie's Traditional Southern offers wonderfully scrumptious pound cake presented in an elegant, reuseable hatbox. A perfect hostess gift or great for a holiday get together dessert. Poundcake...simple and familiar.

Gourmet bacon--why?? Because we can and because nothing else rings in a holiday morning like the scent of frying bacon. Who else can say they belong to a bacon of the month club?? "The only club like it on the planet (as far as we know)" Check out The Grateful Palate for more info.

October 25, 2003 in A Food & Wine Gift Guide, Special Delivery | Permalink | Comments (0)

Capture the Flavors of Shanghai with Chinablue

Chinablue

In recent years, Shanghai has recaptured its pre-war stature of the most cosmopolitan city in the Far East. On the lifestyle front, Chinablue founder, Richard Wong, brings his vision of Shanghainese elegance and sophistication with new culinary food products, home furnishings, and future destination concepts that include retail locations, restaurants, and boutique hotels.

The Chinablue culinary product line was inspired by Richard's memories of growing up in Shanghai and his treasured family's recipes. The flavors of Shanghainese cuisine have been captured in his line of sauces, dressings, glazes, oils, and teas. Enjoy these uniquely Shanghainese blends of soy sauce, sesame oils, scallions and ginger, sherry, and black beans.

Chinablue Shanghai Glazes available online thru Sur La Table.

October 25, 2003 in A Food & Wine Gift Guide, Cooking, Food | Permalink | Comments (0)

Free St. Supery Meritage Label Poster

St. Supery Meritage

For a limited time, you can get a free poster of all the St. Supery Meritage label illustrations over the years. Just pay five dollars for shipping and handling.

Visit the St. Supery website to get the poster.

October 24, 2003 in All Things Wine | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dust Off Your Cookbooks

101 Cookbooks

Photographer Heidi Swanson loves cookbooks and by her count, owns over 100 cookbooks. Since early this year, she decided that it was time to "stop buying, and start cooking". Her weblog, 101 Cookbooks, is her personal diary of trying new recipes from her cookbook library. Her writing about each new recipe experience may inspire you to look into your own cookbook collection and try something new. Every diary entry is categorized by recipe and cookbook, even down to the page number. Enjoy!

October 23, 2003 in Cooking | Permalink | Comments (0)

For Sushi Newbies or Old Timers

Sushi

New to sushi? Or are you a seasoned veteran at all the sushi bars around town? Newbie or pro, we've found a fun and great read for all your Sushi FAQ at the Miyamoto SushiLinks site. You'll also find great questions on their Sushi Question of the Month page.

And finally, invite your friends to have a virtual sushi party!

October 22, 2003 in Food | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get Your International Chocolate Fix

Who hasn't bought great chocolates while travelling in Europe? Or received wonderful gifts of chocolate from friends returning from their trips? Well, now you get all your French, Swiss, or Belgian chocolates online from Chocosphere. This internet only chocolate shop offers a grand assortment of all your favorite chocolates from abroad. Get your fix today.

October 20, 2003 in A Food & Wine Gift Guide, Food | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ghoulish Halloween Food Gifts

Sometimes it's fun to send someone a little something for a holiday that doesn't usually warrant a gift of any kind--like Halloween! We at dailyolive.com love our sweets and treats just as much as the next guy (or gal!) and have found a couple of nifty gift ideas.

Mrs. Beasley's offers wonderful Halloween ideas from a Halloween Tower to other tasty snacks. Check them all out at www.mrsbeasleys.com

Popcorn for Halloween
For all you other foodies out there who can appreciate the gift giving--and receiving!--but don't have much of a sweet tooth, we have something for you too! Log on to www.popcornfactory.com to see the latest and greatest Halloween gift ideas. They have something for everyone in every price range! We've found some truly ghoulish ideas here!

October 9, 2003 in Halloween | Permalink | Comments (0)

Restaurants We Love (Around the World)

Gourmet

Travel with Gourmet Magazine around the world and read about "the hippest, the weirdest, and the just-plain most delicious" restaurants they loved. From Shanghai to Texas, St. Bart's to the Italian Alps, here's a read that'll spread your wings and appetite.

Read the full story - Restaurants We Love.

October 9, 2003 in Restaurant News | Permalink | Comments (0)

14th Annual Bon Appetit Wine and Spirits Event - Los Angeles & Dallas

Bon Appetit

Bon Appetit hosts their 14th Annual Wine and Spirits Focus events in Los Angeles, on October 26, and Dallas, on November 30th. Experience the signature dishes from the top restaurants in each city, and taste over 125 wines, champagne, spirits and microbrews. Billed as "A Lifestyle Experience", these events will benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Visit the Official Focus Website for further details and ticket information.

October 9, 2003 in Food & Wine Country Travel, Gourmet Food Events | Permalink | Comments (1)

Maybe It's The Sugar?

Bakers Sugar

C&H Baker's Sugar has been the sugar of choice for professional bakers and chefs for years. Mentioned in many Cook's Illustrated recipes, Baker's Sugar's superfine sugar crystal just might be the one missing ingredient that will make your recipes the super hit of the holidays.

Visit the Baker's Sugar Website. Look for Baker's Sugar at your favorite grocery store, or buy online directly from C&H.

October 7, 2003 in Food, Kitchen & Cooking Tips | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jerry Garcia's Art and Wine

Snail Garden Jerry Garcia Wine

Greatful Dead's late singer Jerry Garcia's art has inspired Clos du Bois winery to launch J. Garcia wines featuring his art on the labels. The initial release includes three wines--2002 Sonoma County Chardonnay, 2000 Sonoma County Merlot, and 2000 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon.

Official J. Garcia Wine Website

J. Garcia available online at wine.com.

October 7, 2003 in All Things Wine | Permalink | Comments (0)

Got Wine Smarts? Get WineSmarts!

Play The Adult Trivia Game All About Wine


Wine Smarts Game

Designed as a stylish and useful addition to any coffee table, WineSmarts makes a great gift for someone who has just tasted their first glass or teaches their own wine class. You can use these question-and-answer cards by yourself, like traditional flashcards, to learn more about wine and test your knowledge. Or get competitive and use the cards as a party game.

Click here to order online thru Wine Enthusiast.

October 5, 2003 in A Food & Wine Gift Guide, All Things Wine | Permalink | Comments (1)

Halloween Gifts from Red Envelope

gingerbread house

Haunted gingerbread houses, personalized Halloween treat bags, mini cookie gift tins and more from one of my favorite gift websites.

Click here to see Red Envelope Halloween gift ideas.

October 5, 2003 in Halloween | Permalink | Comments (0)

Black Vodka--The Spooky Halloween Spirit

black vodka screwdriver

Black vodka?? This spooky spirit arrives just in time to help serve up a little black magic. Mix Blavod Original Black Vodka with a little orange juice for the perfect Halloween drink.

Official Blavod Website

Click here to purchase online at www.internetwines.com

October 5, 2003 in Halloween | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sharpen Your Kitchen Skills With Cooking Classes From Sur La Table

Sur La Table

Need a little help in the kitchen? Want to get back to basics? Come join a host of popular chefs, cookbook authors and master instructors in Sur La Table's on-site kitchen. Whether you're new to the kitchen or you want to build on your creative expertise, these classes have something for everyone.

Register for a class and receive a coupon for a 10% discount on your Sur La Table purchase!

Download the full catalog from the Sur La Table website.

October 5, 2003 in Education | Permalink | Comments (0)

Make Your Pumpkin A Masterpiece

The Ultimate Pumpkin Carving Kit

jack-o-lanternscarving_kit

To do any job right, you need the right tools, and here's the best tool kit to make your pumpkin the talk of the neighborhood. This carving kit comes with 9 different cutting tools, reusable template designs, 2 mini-lights, and a detailed instruction booklet to make your own unique and amazing jack-o-lanterns.

Available exclusively online thru Martha Stewart Living.  No longer available.

October 3, 2003 in A Food & Wine Gift Guide, Halloween | Permalink | Comments (0)

Everyone's Favorite Corkscrew

Screwpull

Le Creuset's Lever Model Classic Screwpull has been a classic elegant corkscrew for wine lovers since it was introduced 20 years ago. Designed by an aircraft engineer and inventor, the Stainless Steel model makes a great gift.

Also, recently named in Food & Wine Magazine's 125 Reasons We Love Wine.

Available thru:
Amazon | Sur La Table

October 2, 2003 in A Food & Wine Gift Guide, All Things Wine | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Biggest and Best Party in Texas

seal.gif

Save the Date!

March 31 to April 4

Saveur Magazine's 19th Annual Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival in Austin Texas.

This annual event takes over Austin and nearby Hill Country featuring a wine auction, wine tastings, seminars, cooking demonstrations, grilling competitions, and Sunday Food Fair. Visit with special guests from noted restaurants and wineries, including principals, chefs, winemakers and others. Headquarted at the Four Seasons Hotel on Town Lake, start making your plans now.

For more information, visit the Official Festival Website.

October 1, 2003 in Food & Wine Country Travel, Gourmet Food Events | Permalink | Comments (0)