"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,
“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... Read More
The post The Livin’ is Easy: 5 Fabulous Finds for Summer! appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
“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,
Our latest Wine Word of the Week is "en primeur" which refers to the practice of purchasing wine in advance of its release date, usually while it is still in barrel. Also referred to as "wine futures," wines purchased in this manner aren't usually released until 2-3 years after they are sold. Why spend money on wine that far in advance, you might ask? Purchasing wine en primeur is done primarily for two reasons: (1) to obtain wines which are produced in limited quantities, and (2) to lock in the best pricing of a wine, usually lower than the release price.The practice of purchasing wines en primeur is most prevalent in France's Bordeaux region where it has existed for centuries. Every April the grand cru classé properties produce barrel samples of their wines for the international wine trade who gather in Bordeaux to assess them. Based on these tastings, wines are given scores or ratings which reflect what they will taste like once they are bottled and how well they will age. The estates then release a portion of their total production at special pricing to wine brokers, known as négociants, who then sell the en primeur offers. Selling to négociants helps producers mitigate the risk of decreased demand in poor vintages: négociants are obligated to purchase their allocations in poor vintages for fear of not receiving any allocation in good vintages. The en primeur system works best when global demand outstrips supply and with skyrocketing prices of Bordeaux over the past decade due largely to Chinese interest, many US collectors have lost interest in the en primeur process.Bordeaux is not the only region in the world to sell its wines en primeur; regions such as Burgundy, the Rhône, Port, Italy, and California also implement this practice. Consumers interested in purchasing wines en primeur from any country should consult a reputable wine merchant to handle the transaction since they'll be waiting 2-3 years to receive their wine.Thanks for checking out our latest Wine Word of the Week and to see previous "words," please click here. If there's a wine word you'd like to learn more about, please leave it in the comment section below - we'd love to hear from you.Cheers,
Our latest Wine Word of the Week is “en primeur” which refers to the practice of purchasing wine in advance of its release date, usually while it is still in barrel. Also referred to as “wine futures,” wines purchased in this manner aren’t usually released until 2-3 years after they are sold. Why spend money on wine that far in... Read More
The post Wine Word of the Week: “En Primeur”! appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
Our latest Wine Word of the Week is “en primeur” which refers to the practice of purchasing wine in advance of its release date, usually while it is still in barrel. Also referred to as “wine futures,” wines purchased in this manner aren’t usually released until 2-3 years after they are sold. Why spend money on wine that far in advance, you might ask? Purchasing wine en primeur is done primarily for two reasons: (1) to obtain wines which are produced in limited quantities, and (2) to lock in the best pricing of a wine, usually lower than the release price.
The practice of purchasing wines en primeur is most prevalent in France’s Bordeaux region where it has existed for centuries. Every April the grand cru classé properties produce barrel samples of their wines for the international wine trade who gather in Bordeaux to assess them. Based on these tastings, wines are given scores or ratings which reflect what they will taste like once they are bottled and how well they will age. The estates then release a portion of their total production at special pricing to wine brokers, known as négociants, who then sell the en primeur offers. Selling to négociants helps producers mitigate the risk of decreased demand in poor vintages: négociants are obligated to purchase their allocations in poor vintages for fear of not receiving any allocation in good vintages. The en primeur system works best when global demand outstrips supply and with skyrocketing prices of Bordeaux over the past decade due largely to Chinese interest, many US collectors have lost interest in the en primeur process.
Bordeaux is not the only region in the world to sell its wines en primeur; regions such as Burgundy, the Rhône, Port, Italy, and California also implement this practice. Consumers interested in purchasing wines en primeur from any country should consult a reputable wine merchant to handle the transaction since they’ll be waiting 2-3 years to receive their wine.
Thanks for checking out our latest Wine Word of the Week and to see previous “words,” please click here. If there’s a wine word you’d like to learn more about, please leave it in the comment section below – we’d love to hear from you.
Cheers,
There's nothing better on a hot Summer day than something delightfully refreshing, delicious...and pink! Our latest installment of Cocktail Couture features a Sparkling Strawberry Sangria that will delight your eyes as well as your palate.It also coordinates beautifully with your favorite Lilly Pulitzer outfit! For that reason I love serving it in these colorful Lilly Pulitzer acrylic glasses that are perfect for casual outdoor and poolside entertaining.While it doesn't quite fit the conventional recipe, this drink does meet certain sangria criteria including the presence of chopped fruit (strawberries and raspberries), a bottle of wine (a delightfully dry rosé), a sweetener (pomegranate juice), and Prosecco rather than seltzer for sparkle.Instead of brandy, I substituted Chambord, a delicious liqueur infused with black raspberry, Madagascar vanilla and Cognac which beautifully enhances the flavor of the berries.
Much like sangria, this drink should be prepared a couple hours in advance to allow the flavors to marry. Also, to prevent your pitcher of pinkness from getting watered down during your Summer soirée, use pomegranate juice ice cubes and more chilled Prosecco to keep your drink cold and flavorful.Feel free to adjust the ingredients to suit your own personal taste and I hope you enjoy this Sparkling Strawberry Sangria as much as we do!Cheers,
Cocktail Couture: Sparkling Strawberry Sangria!
Recipe Type: Cocktail
Author:
Serves: 6-8
This drink can be prepared 1-2 hours in advance which will allow the flavors to meld.
Ingredients