What once started out as a small gathering for a handful of wineries to pour at a Grand Tasting and a few intimate wine dinners hosted in friend’s homes has grown immensely to become one of the most highly regarded annual wine events in the country. With so much to celebrate during the fun-filled Nantucket Wine & Food Festival weekend held annually in mid-May, Advanced Sommelier Jenny Benzie offers a snap shot of highlighted events from a wine professional insider’s point of view that are worthy of your attention. AN EXPERIENTIAL WINE JOURNEY As a primer to all the excitement of this annual weekend, many of the seasonal finer dining establishments open the week before in order to be well prepared for the onslaught of thirsty people with satiable appetites. If you happen to be on island then, you get to sample this season’s newest menu items, chat with the Sommeliers about their winter wine travels and be the guinea...Read More >
STARS & STRIPES: PROVISIONING YOUR BAR AMERICAN STYLE There is no doubt that summertime is full of entertaining. The weather is warm which enables you to relax outside, the flowers in full bloom create for the most perfect table decor and the relaxed pace of this time of year is just right for sipping on something refreshing that will quench your vacation thirst. Whether it be a few friends just kicking it on the back porch, your annual July open-house fête at your summer residence or as a housewarming gift to a new Nantucket homeowner, there are a handful of essentials you should have on hand in order to stock your back bar for any discerning guest. It is always best to stock four key basics liquors for to get your party started. These are essential for your most basic cocktail of combining the spirit with a non-alcohol mixer garnished with a slice of fruit to having a solid base...Read More >
Not Just for Breakfast Anymore Having lived in the year-round warm weather of Florida for several years, I got more than a taste of what a significant difference there is between freshly squeezed orange juice and the kind my mother used to defrost from concentrate. She would whip it up with a handful of ice in the blender and serve it in a wine glass at Sunday Brunch as a well-gestured attempt to make an Orange Julius. Taking this example into the world of cocktails (and cooking), we know that using the best ingredients in a drink recipe can make your libation a slam-dunk when it comes to impressing your guests. In honor of National Orange Juice Day, grab yourself the best fresh-squeezed OJ you can find (I highly recommend Natalie’s Orchard Island Juice Company’s 100% Florida Orang Juice) and have fun as you experiment with these concoctions while getting your daily dose of Vitamin C. Mimosa of Champions Chances...Read More >