It’s time to bid adieu to the wines of winter and embrace the fresh, fruity flavors of Spring! Here are ten fabulous wines that are sure to please your palate this delightful time of year without breaking the bank:1.) Badenhorst Secateurs Rosé, Swartland, South Africa, 2015 ($16): This blend of Cinsault, Shiraz, Grenache and Carignan exhibits a delightfully pale pink color while notes of strawberry, bergamot, blood orange and a hint of mint dazzle on the palate.2.) Benton-Lane Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2014 ($18): This lovely white wine from Oregon is 100% stainless steel fermented which simply means it’s bright, fresh and fruity with enticing notes of citrus, pineapple and mango.3.) Clos du Gaimont Vouvray, Loire Valley, France, 2014 ($20): Crafted from 100% Chenin Blanc, this lively white has delicate floral and lemon verbena aromas accompanied by poached pear, lime blossom, minerals and a bright acidity on the palate.4.) Biltmore Estate Sauvignon Blanc, North Carolina, 2014 ($12): Hailing from North Carolina’s historic Biltmore estate, this juicy Sauvignon Blanc will tickle your tastebuds with refreshing notes of juicy citrus, grapefruit and peach.5.) Zenato Lugana di San Benedetto, Veneto, Italy, 2014 ($14): This stunning white from Italy’s Veneto region is crafted from 100% Trebbiano di Lugana and displays gorgeous, unique notes of mandarin orange, ginger, almond and white flowers with a lengthy finish.6.) Paul Cluver Pinot Noir, Elgin, South Africa, 2013 ($20): The cool climate region of Elgin is producing enjoyable South African Pinots like this medium-bodied wine with notes of black cherry, earth and spice accompanied by a delightfully food friendly acidity.7.) Tasca d’Almerita Nero d’Avola Lamuri, Sicily, Italy, 2013 ($22): This juicy, aromatic red wine made from Sicily’s signature red grape has oodles of personality with notes of pomegranate, raspberry, herbs and spices with chewy tannins and a finish that will keep you coming back for more.8.) Domaine Chignard, Fleurie Les Moriers, Beaujolais, France, 2014 ($24): Rife with ripe red cherries and strawberries this medium-bodied wine is destined to be a Spring favorite! On the palate, notes of juicy red fruit and a bright acidity make it perfect for pairing with your favorite Spring dishes.9.) Vinaceous Red Right Hand, McLaren Vale, Australia, 2013 ($18): This medium-bodied blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Tempranillo exudes personality plus with vibrant notes of plum compote, black cherry, cassis and black pepper with a deliciously lengthy finish.10.) Château de Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône, Rhône Valley, France, 2014 ($20): For the more full-bodied red wine lover, this 100% Syrah features inviting aromatics of black fruit and violets, followed on the palate by juicy red currant, black cherry, plum and licorice.
It’s time to bid adieu to the wines of winter and embrace the fresh, fruity flavors of Spring! Here are ten fabulous wines that are sure to please your palate this delightful time of year without breaking the bank: 1.) Badenhorst Secateurs Rosé, Swartland, South Africa, 2015 ($16): This blend of Cinsault, Shiraz, Grenache and Carignan exhibits a delightfully pale... Read More
The post 10 Fabulous Spring Wines Under $25! appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
With social media playing such a big role in our lives these days it's hard to keep anything secret and if we're friends on Facebook you might have heard I had a birthday last week. If not, well, the jig is up and yes, it's true, I'm 29 (again) but more importantly I wanted to share a special birthday experience I had thanks to my thoughtful husband who booked an appointment for me at the fabulous Eau Resort & Spa in Palm Beach. This wasn't just any appointment, however, and instead of my usual Swedish massage I was treated to...something very special.
Let me start by saying since my first visit to Eau Spa - I was completely smitten! It's stunningly beautiful and glamorous and is one of my favorite places to relax and unwind after a stressful month or to celebrate a special occasion with my girlfriends. The spa's mantra is "Pause, Play and Perfect" which reflects the idea of taking time out, and treating yourself to some well deserved "me time" - what's not to love about that? The spa itself is an impressive 42,000 square feet consisting of a beautiful candle-lit wishing well (where you’re asked to pause and make a wish before your service), a "Self-Centered" courtyard garden, scrub and polish bars, hair and nail salon, fitness center, sauna, whirlpool and luxurious treatment rooms. It's easy to see why it is one of only 48 spas in the world to have received a Five-Star rating from Forbes Travel Guide.
The special birthday treatment Steve booked for me was The Imperial Geisha, a 90 minute experience consisting of, "a hand drawn bath of exotic florals, oriental teas, and precious oils combined with a hand washing and polishing of the skin, a delicate dry buff, and a warm butter and silk massage." One thing I love about the spa is that each treatment room has a whimsical name like Villa Vain or Villa Selfish. I received my treatment in Villa Play, a larger room complete with two massage tables, matching chaise lounges and an adjacent private outdoor terrace. After an invigorating 15 minute body polish, Val, my wonderful masseuse, drew a bath for me in the outdoor bathtub. It's not just every day you're taking a bath in your "birthday suit" in a gorgeous Victoria + Albert outdoor tub, but any sense of modesty quickly dissipated as I slipped into the tub and the mixture of warm water and fragrant oils melted every ounce of tension from my body. This special al fresco space also featured a soothing fountain, shower and lots of lush greenery to ensure privacy - I quickly grew attached to my private little oasis. After a glorious 15 minute soak, I heard Val discreetly knock on the sliding glass door, my signal to return inside, and I reluctantly reached for my towel.
A 60 minute massage followed but not before I was able to select the lighting color and music genre for the room – talk about customized services! Instead of regular massage oil, a rich, decadent Red Flower body butter was used for the Imperial Geisha which was a very welcome and luxurious change. The warm bath prior to the massage was so relaxing within minutes I was nodding off as Val worked her magic! When my service was over I floated out of Villa Play on a cloud and I was even further delighted by a plate of mini birthday cupcakes, a signature spa indulgence. I prolonged the Imperial Geisha-induced bliss by relaxing in one of the swinging chairs in the “Self-Centered” Garden while I waited for Steve to meet me for a late lunch and Champagne (see video below for some bubbly fun!) at Temple Orange, the hotel's Mediterranean restaurant. Needless to say it was the perfect ending to a very special birthday.The next time you're in the mood for a spa day, pop on over to Eau Spa for the fabulous Imperial Geisha, a 60 minute Swedish massage or whatever service suits your mood (for a list of spa services, please click here). You should also plan on arriving early and/or staying late since your spa service includes a free day pass to the spa grounds and amenities. You'll definitely want to take the time to linger for a soak in the whirlpool or enjoy an al fresco lunch in the garden - it is, after all, the perfect opportunity to pause, play and perfect - birthday or not.Eau Resort & Spa 100 South Ocean Boulevard Manalapan, Florida 33462 561.540.4960Imperial Geisha Treatment: 90 Minutes for $299
With social media playing such a big role in our lives these days it’s hard to keep anything secret and if we’re friends on Facebook you might have heard I had a birthday last week. If not, well, the jig is up and yes, it’s true, I’m 29 (again) but more importantly I wanted to share a special birthday experience... Read More
The post Glamorous Getaways: A Special Day at Eau Spa in Palm Beach, Florida! appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
Easter is one of my favorite holidays. In addition to its religious significance, it's also the holiday on which my husband proposed and it occasionally coincides with my birthday (March 31st) which is always fun. It also signals the arrival of Spring, a season rife with many of my favorite things not the least of which is some of the best weather we'll see all year here in South Florida. And while Steve and I have hosted Easter at our home (aka Chez Miskew) many times, this year was extra special because it was the first year we had the entire Miskew clan joining us!
Steve's brother Doug, his wife Tracy and their children, Nick and Abby, live in North Carolina, as does his mother Diane and while they've all come to visit us at various times over the years, we've never had them all at Chez Miskew together.So after putting in the request during our Christmas visit to North Carolina, it finally became a reality this year! We had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend showing them around town, visiting Delray hot spots including City Oyster (my Mother-in-law adores Wayne...but who doesn't?) and Saltwater Brewery (owned by our good friends the Goves) and spending time on the beach at The Seagate Beach Club. We also dined at home one night, feasting on delicious chicken wings and pizza from Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza in honor of the arrival of Steve's Uncle Barry and Aunt Audrey whose presence made the weekend even more special. You see, Uncle Barry is a Lutheran minister and married Steve and I almost 12 years ago - how time flies!
We decided on an Easter brunch this year in order to get the college kids home Sunday night so they'd be bright and bushy-tailed for their Monday morning classes. Luckily, brunch happens to be one of my favorite meals, yet with an Easter menu that usually consists of ham and lamb for us, we wondered how we could make it more...brunchy.We decided to replace the ham with an egg dish I recently discovered on Food52, the fabulous foodie website created by New York Times food writers and overall dynamic foodie duo, Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs. Eggs Gratin Crostini with Swiss Chard, created by Food52 Test Kitchen Chef Josh Cohen, was an ambition dish which required a bit of advance preparation (soft-boiling 2 dozen eggs, making a caramelized onion cream sauce, grating oodles of Gruyère cheese) but the minute I saw the cheese bubbling under the broiler (click here to view) and heard the rave reviews from the fam, I knew it was totally worth the effort!
Steve took the lead on the lamb which was a scrumptious butterflied leg marinated overnight in a savory mixture of yogurt, olive oil, rosemary, lemon zest and juice. The lamb retained the flavors of the marinade beautifully and Steve cooked it on the grill to sheer perfection!The dish that took the longest however was the Neiman Marcus Popovers and Strawberry Butter. I made the delectable strawberry butter the day before but the actual batter for these gorgeous, golden brown poofs needs to be made with room temperature ingredients and also needs to rest for one hour after the wet portion is mixed. Plus, each batch cooks for 45 minutes and I needed 2-3 batches. Despite the "popover drama," they turned out great and there wasn't a crumb left!
Uncle Barry led us in a beautiful blessing before we all sat down to feast. In addition to family, we were also fortunate to have our neighbors, who we consider family, Jackson Langford and his son Griffin join us. Since the day was extremely warm and we were eating al fresco, almost everyone opted for chilled white wine including sparkling Blanc de Blancs, Chenin Blanc from South Africa and California, and a Cotes du Rhone Blanc. For a full list of Easter recommendations, which are also immensely enjoyable this Spring (and under $25), please click here.For dessert, I served my Pink & Green Trifle, a dessert less inspired by haute cuisine as it is Lilly Pulitzer. The confection features layers of cubed strawberry cake (yes, the boxed kind) separated by bright green pistachio pudding (yes, the instant kind) and whipped topping (yes, Cool Whip), garnished with fuchsia pink Peep bunnies. Childish? Yes. Cavity-inducingly sweet? Yes! The perfect way to end a culinarily ambitious meal? You betcha! And, like the rest of the Easter meal, it was completely deserving of being served on late Aunt Mary's beautiful pink and ivory colored Wedgwood Williamsburg Husk china.
It was such a special day filled with great stories, delicious food and lots of laughs. I hope you enjoy the photos of our Easter fun and I've included the recipe below for the delicious leg of lamb. It will definitely be appearing at our next Easter feast and with any luck...so will the Miskews!Bon appetit, "Grilled Leg of Lamb with Rosemary & Lemon" Adapted from Ina Garten's show, "The Barefoot Contessa"Serves 8-101 5-lb. butterflied leg of lamb (it'll weigh more before the bone is removed)2 lbs. plain, unflavored yogurt1/2 cup good olive oil, plus more for grill1 lemon, zested1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (approx. 3 lemons)3/4 cup fresh whole rosemary leaves stripped from the stem (approx. 2 large bunches)2 teaspoons kosher salt1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1.) Combine yogurt, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a large non-reactive bowl or jumbo-sized plastic bag. Add the lamb, making sure it is covered entirely with marinade. Marinate in the refrigerator, covered, overnight or for at least 6 hours.2.) Before grilling, be sure to bring the lamb to room temperature. Just prior to cooking, heat grill and scrape the marinade off the lamb, wiping the meat with paper towels, and seasoning it generously with salt and pepper. Brush the grill with oil to keep the lamb from sticking, and grill on both sides until the internal temperature is 120 to 125 degrees for rare. This will take 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how hot the grill is.3.) Remove the lamb to a cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 20 minutes. Slice and serve arranged on a platter, garnished with additional rosemary sprigs and lemon slices.
Easter is one of my favorite holidays. In addition to its religious significance, it’s also the holiday on which my husband proposed and it occasionally coincides with my birthday (March 31st) which is always fun. It also signals the arrival of Spring, a season rife with many of my favorite things not the least of which is some of the... Read More
The post An Easter to Remember at Chez Miskew & a Delicious Grilled Leg of Lamb Recipe! appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
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