“A bottle of white, a bottle of red, perhaps a bottle of rosé instead.” – Billy Joel, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant “Trey, I was like yo, Trey, do you think you could buy me a bottle of rosé?” – Nicki Minaj/Trey Songz, Bottoms Up In the wine world, nothing says Summer like rosé! This coppery-pink elixir is currently being consumed... Read More
The post Summertime Giveaway: Win a bottle of Château D’Esclans Garrus Rosé! appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
“A bottle of white, a bottle of red, perhaps a bottle of rosé instead.” – Billy Joel, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
“Trey, I was like yo, Trey, do you think you could buy me a bottle of rosé?” – Nicki Minaj/Trey Songz, Bottoms Up
In the wine world, nothing says Summer like rosé! This coppery-pink elixir is currently being consumed by the case in hot spots ranging from East Hampton to St. Tropez. It’s crisp, refreshing and incredibly versatile as demonstrated by mentions from artists ranging from Billy Joel to Trey Songz. In keeping with the season, we’re giving away a very special bottle of rosé this month to one lucky winner, the Château D’Esclans Garrus Côtes de Provence Rosé – a $100 value!
This wine is from one of my favorite Provençal producers, Château D’Esclans (for more about them and our visit, please click here) and is the crown jewel of the Chateau’s portfolio. Proprietor Sacha Lichine has elevated the “glamour factor” of rosé, taking it from an “everyday wine” to something exceptional with his artisanal approach. The grapes for Garrus come from very old Grenache and Rolle vines which produce concentrated fruit with lots of flavor. The juice undergoes fermentation in both new and second year demi-muids and Burgundian style bâtonnage occurs twice weekly for 10 months. The result is a full-bodied rosé with heady aromas of strawberry, ginger and spice. On the palate, flavors of red berries, vanilla and clove are framed by ever so balanced tannins and acid. This sublime bottling will pair with dishes ranging from pan seared scallops to filet mignon or…nothing at all!
To enter the giveaway for the Château D’Esclans Garrus Rosé, simply leave a comment at the end of this post and tell us your favorite Summer vacation spot. From your own backyard to Martha’s Vineyard we want to know which place you love to escape to this time of year. Entering the giveaway is that simple and for additional chances 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 Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 8:00pm EST when a winner will be randomly drawn. The lucky winner will be contacted immediately to arrange expedited shipping and the cost of 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,
For those of you who enjoy traveling with your dogs, have I got a find for you! This edition of Glamorous Getaways features The Park On Main in Highlands, North Carolina, a hotel that not only allows guests to bring their dogs but was designed with man’s best friend in mind. Our two dachshunds, Louis and Coco, joined us on... Read More
The post Glamorous Getaways: The Pet Friendly Park on Main – Highlands, North Carolina! appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
For those of you who enjoy traveling with your dogs, have I got a find for you! This edition of Glamorous Getaways features The Park On Main in Highlands, North Carolina, a hotel that not only allows guests to bring their dogs but was designed with man’s best friend in mind. Our two dachshunds, Louis and Coco, joined us on this adventure which entailed a 12-hour drive from South Florida, but it was well worth the trek to discover this wonderful respite from the sweltering South Florida Summer heat!
Louis surveying our new digs!
The Park on Main is located at the western end of Highland’s tony Main Street which features a delightful selection of restaurants, art galleries and boutiques. Originally built in the 1980’s, the hotel operated as the Highlands Suites Hotel until it was purchased in 2013 and closed for a year long renovation. The hotel reopened in July 2014 as The Park on Main and the result is an elegant, yet relaxed 24-suite hotel whose rooms surround a beautifully landscaped garden terrace, inspired by New York City’s Central Park.
The hotel entrance is flanked by Mackenzie-Childs Courtly Check water bowls and stone statues of a dachshund and the hotel’s mascot, Mr. Pickles, a spunky black Scottish terrier, which made our pups feel right at home! The beautiful black and white lobby features a gorgeous crystal chandelier, sumptuous drapery, and beadboard paneling adorned with floor to ceiling canine oil paintings. The hotel staff was also very helpful and welcoming led by General Manager, Michael Hammond who’s been with the hotel since it re-opened a year ago. “This is a hotel built by animal lovers,” Hammond shared, “we’re also the second hotel in the nation to partner with a rescue organization to help shelter animals get adopted.” The Park on Main partners with the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society and features a dog on-site every month that’s available for adoption. “Clyde was our dog who just got adopted and we’re waiting to get another one.” It’s nice to know a hotel which caters to pets also goes the extra mile to help shelter pets in their community find loving, forever homes.
Upon entering our room, Louis and Coco bounded into the beautifully appointed (Superior King) guest suite which featured the hotel’s hallmark Mackenzie-Childs dog bowls, cozy Orvis dog bed, lovely white marble bathroom and extremely comfortable bed which Louis approved after performing his rigorous quality check (watch above video to see him in action). Amenities included in every hotel suite at Park on Main are a refrigerator, Keurig coffee maker and generously sized flat screen TVs in both the living area and bedroom. Our Superior King Suite had plenty of room for the pups to run around and fit all of our “gear” comfortably. While the hotel does not have an onsite restaurant, they do offer a selection of breakfast items in the morning (yogurt, croissants, English muffins, milk and cereal etc) and there are plenty of dining options available on Main Street just steps outside the front door.
The Park on Main is a true gem in North Carolina’s beautiful Highlands and we’re already looking forward to our return. If you decide to go and bring your dog(s), here are 5 things you won’t want to miss during your visit:
1.) Stroll down Main Street: While only a few blocks long, Main Street is perfect for a stroll with your pups – there’s so much for them to sniff and savor! Just be prepared to stop every few minutes for people as well as shop keepers to love on your pooches and give them treats.
2.) Ice Cream at Kilwin’s: An afternoon scoop at Kilwin’s became part of our daily routine during our stay. The courtyard out front is a social gathering place full of delightful folks and their children and pets seeking to socialize and enjoy the beautiful day – not to mention the ice cream!
Shrimp & Grits with Applewood Smoked Bacon & Garlic Toast at Bistro on Main!
3.) Dine al fresco at Bistro on Main: This delightfully dog friendly eatery is perfect for enjoying lunch or dinner outside with your pup(s). Summer daytime temps seldom break 75 degrees and evenings are in the low 60’s, making it the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the delicious food and ambiance. The Bistro’s delicious Southern-inspired cuisine will also delight your palate!
4.) Curl up on a rainy afternoon: Highlands experiences abundant rainfall, averaging about 100 inches per year, so chances are you’ll experience some rain during your visit. When a storm blows in, be sure to seize the opportunity to curl up with your pup and read a favorite book or magazine and enjoy the moment.
5.) Enjoy a glass of wine at the Mountaintop Wine Shoppe: We fell in love with this adorable wine store located across the street from The Park on Main in one of the oldest historical buildings in Highlands. So leash the hounds and trot them over for a delicious glass of wine on the front terrace under the oak trees. Be sure to check their calendar of events as well!
The Park on Main
205 Main Street
Highlands, NC 28741
800.221.5078
Cheers,
In France, the fourteenth of July is referred to as Le Quatorze Juillet, otherwise known as Bastille Day. This important date commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on July 14th, 1789. In solidarity with the French, I like to prepare a special Bastille Day Menu that brings the Champs-Élysées to Chez Miskew! The... Read More
The post Bastille Day Menu: Frisée aux Lardons & Honey Fleur de Lys! appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
The French refer to it as “Le Quatorze Juillet” and in the US the Fourteenth of July is known as Bastille Day which commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on July 14th, 1789.
The Bastille was a fortress-like prison used by the King and Queen to imprison those who challenged their authority and was viewed by many as a symbol of all that was wrong with the royalty. Finally, on July 14, 1789, a large number of French citizens gathered together and stormed the Bastille. Just as citizens of the United States celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence as the beginning of the American Revolution, so the French celebrate the storming of the Bastille as the beginning of the French Revolution. Two days after the storming of the Bastille, the King officially recognized the tricolor flag; the blue, white and red said to symbolize liberty, equality and brotherhood. Festivities and official ceremonies are held all over France on Bastille Day and the oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe is held on the morning of July 14th on the Champs-Élysées.
On Bastille Day here in the US, I like to prepare a French-inspired meal that brings the Champs-Élysées to Chez Miskew! One dish we can never get enough of when we visit France is Frisée Aux Lardons, a salad that’s a mixture of frisée lettuce, bacon (aka lardons) and a poached egg with a perfectly oozy, runny center. Once the salty nuggets of bacon are browned, shallots, Sherry vinegar, olive oil and fines herbes are added to the fat in the pan to create a deliciously tangy, sinful concoction that is the perfect dressing for the hearty, bitter frisée. Once the salad is assembled, it is topped with a perfectly poached egg tiara and the result…sheer deliciousness! I love the recipe for Frisée Aux Lardons from The Balthazar Cookbook which is from one of my all-time favorite restaurants in New York City. This cookbook is a must for all Francophiles who enjoy bistro-inspired food.
Pair this decadent salad with a delightfully refreshing Sancerre like the Michele Redde Sancerre Les Tuilières and you are in for a real treat! This wine has a mouth watering acidity that stands up nicely to the richness of the bacon fat and complements the Sherry vinegar “tang” perfectly. One of our favorite Frisée Aux Lardons/Sancerre pairings was enjoyed in the beautiful lobby bar of Le Meurice hotel in Paris well after midnight after a full day of walking “The City of Lights.” We eased into the sumptuous leather chairs enjoyed our meal and planned our next trip back!
As for something sweet, I love these Honey Fleur de Lys cookies I discovered on Laura Calder’s show “French Food at Home.” They are extremely easy to make and the key is to bake the cookies until they are a rich brown color which makes them taste like the burnt sugar topping of a creme brulée just not as intensely sweet – ooh la la! I ordered a fleur de lys shaped cookie cutter from eBay and a few days later voilà – Bastille Day cookies!
I hope you enjoy these Bastille Day-inspired recipes and I’d love to hear what you think. Please let me know in the comment section below and I’d also love to know if you have any favorite French-inspired dining experience or recipes you enjoy so please do tell!
Joyeux Le Quatorze Juillet,
“Frisee Aux Lardons”
from The Balthazar Cookbook, Keith McNally, Riad Nasr & Lee Hanson
Serves 6
Ingredients
6 slices of stale brioche
4 heads of frisée, cored, rinsed, spun dry, and torn into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 cup sherry vinegar
1/2 pound slab bacon (rind removed), cut into 1/2-inch lardons
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
3 tablespoons fine herbs (parsley, chervil, chives, and tarragon finally chopped together)
6 large eggs
Sea salt
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Trim the crusts from the bread cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Place on a sheet tray and bake in the oven until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Shake the pan halfway through to toast evenly. Combine the croutons in a large bowl with the clean frisée.
Prepare the pan for poaching the eggs: Fill a wide-straight-sided saute pan with water (about two-third fulls) and add the tablespoon of vinegar. Over a medium-high flame, bring to a gentle simmer, and adjust the heat to maintain it.
In a dry skillet or saute pan over medium heat, brown the lardons well on all sides, about 10 minutes. Add the minced shallots and continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes, to soften and lightly brown them. Without pouring off the fat, add the 1/2 cup of vinegar to the pan. Bring to a boil, using a wooden spoon to scrape any delicious bits that have caramelized on the surface of the pan. When the vinegar has reduced by half, about 3 minutes, turn off the flame. Add the olive oil, salt and pepper, and stir well to combine. Pour this warm vinaigrette with bacon into the bowl of frisée, along with the croutons and fine herbes. Toss well to combine. Divide the salad among 6 serving plates, piled into small heaps.
Crack the eggs, one at a time, into a small saucer and then slide them into the simmering water. Poach for 4 minutes, resulting in a set white and a cooked but runny yolk. With a slotted spoon, scoop out the poached eggs, one at a time, drain, and position on top of each pile of frisée. Sprinkle with crunchy sea salt (like Maldon) and a few turns of a peppermill. Serve immediately.
"Summertime, and the livin' is easy..." - Ella Fitzgerald
Summer's in full swing and to get you in the spirit (as if you aren't already), here are five of our favorite things we love to enjoy during this delicious time of year:
1.) Round Pond Estate Meyer Lemon Olive Oil ($36): If you're a fan of all things citrus (I can't get enough!), this olive oil is not to be missed. In addition to making fabulous wines from California's Napa Valley (for more info click here), Round Pond Estate also produces a delicious assortment of olive oils, fruit syrups and vinegars from fruit grown on their extensive, organically farmed land. This delightful Meyer lemon olive oil is made by crushing Meyer lemon peels with a selection of olives which have been carefully chosen to enhance the beautiful fruit. This oil is perfect for salads, marinades or as a finishing oil, and will add a delicious depth of flavor you're sure to enjoy!
2.) Rosé wine: Nothing says Summer in the glamorous regions of the globe like rosé. Not to be confused with the cloyingly sweet White Zinfandel, "Provençal style" rosé is essentially its stylistic opposite. Dry rosés are are rife with notes of red berries and cherries followed by a clean, dry, mineral-tinged finish. These wines are incredibly food friendly and pair brilliantly with just about any Summer fare (think Tuna Niçoise salad - yum!). They also make the transition from beach to elegant evening soirée effortlessly. So embrace the vinous equivalent of Summer and click here for a list of some of our favorites.
3.) Calypso St. Barth Boutique: No store's couture embodies Summer quite like this special boutique with outposts in such glamorous getaways as St. Tropez, the Hamptons and Honolulu. Founded by French-born Christiane Celle, Calypso's colorful, linen tunics; flowy maxi dresses; and butter-soft cashmere dusters have that certain Summer je ne sais quois that exudes comfort and elegance. In addition to the eclectic mix of fabulous clothing, be sure to check out Calypso's home collection and assortment of fragrant candles and perfumes, for Summer Mimosa is an enduring favorite.
4.) The Mad Delicious Cookbook ($27, Amazon.com): We're all looking to whittle our waistline for bathing suit season but if you hate giving up all semblance of flavor, grab a copy of Keith Schroeder's Mad Delicious cookbook. This 2015 James Beard Award Winner, with foreword by Alton Brown, showcases Schroeder's witty approach to food and is dedicated to "the science of making healthy food taste amazing" - boy does it succeed! This book is chock full of healthy, yet flavorful recipes including some of our new faves: Pollo a la Brasa, Butter-seared Sea Scallops with Pan-fried Sweet Corn Hash and Black Bean Soup with Habanero Crema. Healthy never tasted so good!
5.) Stephanie Johnson Travel Bags: If you aspire to travel in style, pick up some of Stephanie Johnson's fabulous bags for your Summer vacay! I have long been a fan of Johnson's intuitive approach to design based on her own years of experience traveling the globe. Each piece anticipates your organizational needs whether you're caching makeup, toiletries, beach accessories or jewelry. Stylish details such as decorative tassels, metallic zippers and colorful fabrics set these bags apart and allow them to effortlessly transition from functional piece to glamorous accessory. We especially like her Tamarindo Pink (seen above), Nolita Purple and Miami Pink collections.Cheers,
Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more …
© 2025 The Wine Atelier
