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16 Valentine’s Day Tunes to Set the Mood for L’Amour!

You’ve prepared a delicious meal (like our Barefoot Contessa-Inspired Valentine’s Day menu), selected the perfect bottle of wine (like one of our Valentine’s wine recommendations), yet something’s missing…it could be the right music! If you’re like me, music is a crucial part of any experience and Valentine’s Day is no exception. Below is The Glamorous Gourmet’s Valentine’s Day Playlist featuring... Read More

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16 Valentine’s Day Tunes to Set the Mood for L’Amour!

Heart Record, Turntable, Valentine's Day

You’ve prepared a delicious meal (like our Barefoot Contessa-Inspired Valentine’s Day menu), selected the perfect bottle of wine (like one of our Valentine’s wine recommendations), yet something’s missing…it could be the right music!

If you’re like me, music is a crucial part of any experience and Valentine’s Day is no exception. Below is The Glamorous Gourmet’s Valentine’s Day Playlist 2015 featuring 16 songs guaranteed to set the mood for l’amour! Our playlist features songs from the new Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack (it’s fabulous!) as well as some of our favorite artists throughout the years including Madonna, Beyoncé, Michael Bublé, Jill Scott, and The Bird and the Bee. I hope you enjoy our selections – to view any of the songs in iTunes, simply click the name of the song:

The Glamorous Gourmet’s Valentine’s Day Playlist 2015
1.) My Funny Valentine – Matt Damon
2.) L-O-V-E – Fisher
3.) Living for Love – Madonna
4.) He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat) – Jill Scott
5.) The Look of Love – Sergio Mendes & Fergie
6.) I Put a Spell on You (Fifty Shades of Grey Soundtrack) – Annie Lennox
7.) Muskrat Love – Captain & Tennille
8.) Oh L’Amour – Erasure
9.) Fever – Michael Bublé
10.) Peel Me a Grape – Diana Krall
11.) I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl – Baby Goes Bang
12.) How Deep is Your Love? – The Bird and The Bee
13.) If the Stars Were Mine – Melody Gardot
14.) L’Amour – Carla Bruni
15.) Slave to Love – Bryan Ferry
16.) Crazy in Love (2014 Remix from the Fifty Shades of Grey Soundtrack) – Beyoncé

What are some of your favorite romantic songs? Please let us know in the comment section below and hope you a very happy and romantic Valentine’s Day!

Cheers,

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The Results of The 8th Annual American Fine Wine Competition!

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of judging the 8th Annual American Fine Wine Competition. As many of you know, the competition was founded eight years ago by the fabulous Shari Gherman and dynamic duo of Monty and Sara Preiser and showcases some of the finest wines in the United States. While many of the highest scoring entries... Read More

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The Results of The 8th Annual American Fine Wine Competition!

Stephanie Miskew, American Fine Wine Competition, Florida International University, the Glamorous Gourmet

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of judging the 8th Annual American Fine Wine Competition. As many of you know, the competition was founded eight years ago by the fabulous Shari Gherman and dynamic duo of Monty and Sara Preiser and showcases some of the finest wines in the United States. While many of the highest scoring entries hail from California, Oregon, and Washington state, there are always some delightful surprises! Over the past few years, wines from Virginia, Ohio, and New York have definitely impressed and serve as reminders that, when it comes to wine, we should all think (and shop) outside the box.

The judging of over 700 vinous entries took place over two days at Florida International University’s state-of-the-art Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. Each day began promptly at 9am with all the judges divided into teams of four – palates primed and ready! We then sipped and spit our way through flight after flight of white, red, sweet, and sparkling wines, evaluating and assigning medals where appropriate. With our teeth-staining task complete, I’m happy to share the results with you (drumroll please!):

“BEST OF CLASS”
Dry Riesling – 2013 Glenora Wine Cellars, Finger Lakes
Cabernet Sauvignon – 2012 Peju Province, Napa
Chardonnay – 2012 Maldonado Los Olivos, Napa
Dessert Wine – 2014 Glenora Wine Cellars Riesling Ice Wine, Finger Lakes
Dry Rosé – 2014 Burbank Ranch Picnic Meadow Grenache Rose, Paso Robles
Merlot – 2010 Rombauer, Carneros
Other Red Blend – 2012 Cougars Leap, Black Rock Cuvée, Lake County
Other Red Single Varietal- 2012 Michael David, Inkblot Tannat, Lodi
Pinot Noir- 2011 Russian Hill, Ellen’s Block, Russian River Valley
Cabernet Franc- 2011 Cairdean, Napa
Red Bordeaux Style Blend – 2012 Arietta, H Block, Napa
Sauvignon Blanc – 2012 Arkenstone, Howell Mountain
Sparkling – 2012 Hagafen Cellars Brut Cuvée and 2008 Domaine Carneros Le Reve (tie)
Syrah – 2012 Cline Cellars, Carneros
Viognier – 2013 Russian Hill Estates, Russian River Valley
Zinfandel – 2012 Frank Family, Napa

“BEST OF SHOW”
Dry Rosé – 2014 Burbank Ranch Picnic Meadow Grenache Rosé
Dessert Wine – 2014 Glenora Wine Cellars Riesling Ice Wine
Sparkling – 2012 Hagafen Cellars Brut Cuvée and 2008 Domaine Carneros Le Reve (tie)
Red – 2011 Cairdean Cabernet Franc
White – 2012 Maldonado Chardonnay, Los Olivos Vineyard (second year in a row!)

I hope you enjoyed the results and I’d love to hear what you think: are you fans of any of our winners or did you make any new discoveries? Please let me know in the comment section below. Also, on April 24th, 2015 the American Fine Wine Competition Charity Gala will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. This promises to be another amazing evening filled with fabulous food, wine, and fun so be sure to mark your calendar! For more information and/or to purchase tickets, please click here and I hope to see you there.

Cheers,

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Valentine’s Day Giveaway: Win a Bottle of Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Champagne!

“I only drink Champagne on two occasions, when I am in love and when I am not.” – Coco Chanel Nothing says Valentine’s Day like Champagne – especially when it’s pink! And in honor of this most romantic holiday, we’re giving away a very special selection this month to a lucky winner, the Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Champagne (a $75 value)!... Read More

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Valentine’s Day Giveaway: Win a Bottle of Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Champagne!

Valentine's Day, Laurent Perrier Cuvee Rose Champagne, Wine Atelier, Stephanie Miskew, The Glamorour Gourmet

“I only drink Champagne on two occasions, when I am in love and when I am not.” – Coco Chanel

Nothing says Valentine’s Day like Champagne – especially when it’s pink! And in honor of this most romantic holiday, we’re giving away a very special selection this month to a lucky winner, the Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Champagne (a $75 value)!

In the 1960’s, making a non-vintage rosé Champagne was virtually unthinkable but Bernard de Nonancort, the charismatic Chairman and CEO of Laurent-Perrier at the time, was just the man to make it happen. Laurent-Perrier’s Cuvée Rosé was launched in 1968 in an elegant bottle inspired by those made in the time of French King Henri IV. This gorgeous sparkler is a lovely, salmon pink hue with seductive aromas of fresh red berries, minerals, and smoke. The palate is lively and layered with notes of strawberry, black currant, gingerbread, and a hint of anise followed by a delightfully lengthy finish. While perfect on its own, the Cuvée Rosé pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes including foie gras with red currants, roasted chicken with mushrooms, beef tenderloin – or whatever your heart desires!

To enter the giveaway for the Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Champagne, simply leave a comment at the end of this post and tell us your favorite romantic restaurant. Whether it’s in your home town or halfway around the world we’d love to know! Entering the giveaway is as simple as that and for an additional chance to win, you can (1) sign up to receive our weekly newsletter by clicking here and/or (2) leave a comment on another one of our blog posts. Each additional comment will count as one additional chance to win.

This giveaway is open to anyone 21 years of age or older who lives in the continental United States and ends Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 6:00pm EST when a winner will be randomly drawn. The lucky winner will be contacted immediately to arrange shipment in time for Valentine’s Day – the cost of standard ground shipping is included as part of the contest!

Best of luck and remember, you have to play to win so leave your comment now!

Cheers,

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Glamorous Getaways: The Epicurean Hotel in Tampa, Florida!

One of the many things I love about living in South Florida is if you’re in the mood to explore you can hop in your car, drive two hours in any direction (well, except east) and find yourself somewhere with a distinctly different “feel” and its own unique foodie vibe. As the Summer draws to a close, now is a... Read More

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