Category: Wine and Spirits

Stories covering the beer, wine and spirits industry. This includes wineries, breweries, tasting rooms and more. This category will also feature stories about craft beer, distilleries and spirits like whiskey and tequila.

Page 1

Page 18

Excerpt from a story in the Wine category

One of the biggest highlights of my recent trip to Chicago was dining at Michelin star restaurant Temporis, After all, Temporis is just one of only 23 restaurants in Chicago to hold this coveted distinction. What’s more, I knew going in that Chef Troy Jorge would create some of the most beautiful dishes I’ve ever seen. That’s because this elite chef and I follow each other on Instagram. As a result, I’ve seen quite a number of his masterful creations on his and the restaurant’s social media pages. With this in mind, please take a look at some of his most dazzling expressions of contemporary American cuisine. By the same token, you can see what you can expect from a Michelin star restaurant in Chicago.

Temporis

933 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 697-4961

Seasonal Tasting Menu $195, Wine Pairing $115, $175, $325, Sprit Free Pairing $75

Chef Troy’s current seasonal tasting menu features 10 extraordinary dishes that push the boundaries of creation and taste. However, Chef Troy took my culinary experience at Temporis an even higher level, with not 10, but 13 dishes. That’s not to mention the complimentary wine pairing and some noticeable upgraded ingredients. Be that as it may, there is no doubt your dishes will be just as enticing as any of mine. In light of this, I’ll try to focus on items that appear on the current menu. On the other hand, there are a few that deserve additional merit. As much as this tasting menu will exceed your expectations, please know that a new seasonal tasting menu may appear very soon. Despite this, you will not be disappointed.

Canapés

Chef Troy kickstarts off your immersive Chicago Michelin star experience with a trio of canapés, in addition to a vial of hibiscus tea. Although my items were slightly different, you can expect a delicious morsel of wagyu wonton along with premium Osetra caviar. The hibiscus tea also had an intriguing presentation, with a chemistry lab-like vial supported from a metal stand and stone base. By all means, consider pairing these bite-sized gourmet items with the superb champagne blend from Champagne Louis Nicaise. Similarly, you can always check with the sommelier for any of your wine selections, whether you like elegant, opulent etc.

Foie Gras

There is very good chance that you have never tried foie gras such as this. In this case, you’ll have a delicate foie gras parfait that’s served inside of an eggshell. For this reason, you’ll have to be careful when placing your spoon through this delectable treat. Once you get past the thin blueberry powder, enjoy the incredible flavors of blueberry, granola and Yuzu fruit. There is no doubt that you’ll agree that it’s superb. In fact, it’s one of the more memorable highlights of this evening full of gourmet surprises.

Caviar

One dish that wasn’t on the seasonal menu but worthy of mentioning is Chef Troy’s Caviar. Indicative of the Michelin star quality of the cuisine, Caviar is a tantalizing variation of the Vietnamese dessert Chè chuối. Remarkably tasty and inventive, it’s a gourmet soup with Thai banana, tapioca, lime gel and splashes of coconut cream. It’s also coupled with a miso banana bread crouton, edible floral accents and of course, your caviar. Lastly it features a dash of chili oil, contributing to its savory edge. Caviar can be paired with Bourgogne-Aligoté, a white wine from the Bourgogne appellate region in France.

Tomato

Although each item is as delicious as it’s delightful, I’m hopeful that Tomato or its variation will appear in the next tasting menu. That’s because of its vividly colorful presentation along with an item that bursts with natural flavors. This offering is a yellow tomato gazpacho with a flavorful brioche, cucumbers and basil. On the other hand, it’s a supremely elevated version, precision crafted inside a lowball cocktail glass. Tomato pairs exceptionally well with the sweet, golden colored Kracher wine from Burgenland, Austria.

Corn

The simplicity of its name belies its true intentions. Indeed, corn is truly one of the Chef Troy’s signature dishes. Indeed, it’s so enticing, it’s the first dish lauded in the Michelin Guide’s Point of View in the section on Temporis. A very playful take on an American staple, your star chef will bring out this dish with a lather of butter amid sprinkles of Espelette pepper. But the proverbial icing on the cake is when the chef grates a generous amount of black summer truffle. Lastly, don’t forget to sample the husk as it’s deliciously edible as well.

Basil (Mousse)

The last of the 10 items from the seasonal tasting menu, but certainly not the least is the Basil dessert. Although Chef Troy came out with one last surprise dessert, Basil stood out among the dessert creations. A decadently delicious finale, Basil has dark chocolate, black mint, Meyer lemon gelée and chocolate crumbs. That’s to say nothing of the finely placed basil leaves and additional accents. After it’s brought to your table, the chef or your server will then pour warm dark chocolate across a portion of this delicacy. This lofty grand finale is another example of why Temporis has consistently been awarded a Michelin star in Chicago. In fact, you shouldn’t be surprised if a second Michelin star is eventually bestowed upon Temporis restaurant. After all, Chef Troy’s cooking is by all means, certainly worth a detour and maybe even a special journey. He is truly a master of gastronomy and someone worthy of further accolades.

Another excerpt from a wine story:

Did you know that several well-known celebrities own wineries in the California Wine Country? Indeed, celebrity chef Guy Fieri has one in Sonoma County, as does CBS sports announcer Jim Nantz. Of course, Napa Valley has its own share of celebrity owners, like Ayesha and Steph Curry and David Beckham. On the other hand, are celebrity-owned wines worth a try? After all, collaborations between California wineries and celebrities haven’t always been so successful. Yet at the same time, some celebrity wines like Yao Family Wine and Inglenook have received rave reviews from wine critics like Robert Parker. Even though most wineries with famous owners are closed to the public, here are a few you can visit.

Andretti Winery

Feast It Forward Tasting Room

1031 McKinstry St.
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 819-2403

Private Wine Tasting

(707) 259-6777

If the name Andretti sounds familiar, you might be a fan of auto racing. That’s because this winery is named after racing legend Mario Andretti. After a successful career in motorsports, including an Indianapolis 500 victory, Andretti founded his Napa Valley winery in 1996. Unfortunately, in the midst of the pandemic, the celebrity owned winery closed its doors in March 2021. In spite this, Andretti Winery is again offering wine tasting, albeit at a different location. On the other hand, this new location is quite convenient. In fact, it’s not far from the popular Ox Bow Public Market in downtown Napa.

Andretti Winery Wine Tasting at Feast it Forward

You can visit Feast it Forward’s website for additional information. If you’re interested in a private tasting, you can call or email staff representing Andretti Winery. Of course, you can also purchase wine selections directly online. With this in mind, you may like the 2018 Cabernet ($72) or 2015 Montana Merlot ($75).

Claypool Cellars

Pachyderm Station
5425 Gravenstein Highway North
Sebastopol, CA 95472
(707) 820-1263

Celebrity-owned wineries in the Napa/Sonoma area are not restricted to just actors, celebrity chefs and sports personalities. For instance, Les Claypool, the founder of the rock band Primus, has had his own label since 2007. What’s more, he has his own wine tasting facility, Pachyderm Station. If that’s not enough, Claypool’s wine tasting room has a perfect, five-star rating on Yelp. If you go, make sure to try the Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir Rosé. Additionally, you can make purchases online for selections like the 2016 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($55).

Les Claypool On Tour

When Les Claypool isn’t busy at his tasting room, you can find him on tour with Primus and Les Claypool’s Bastard Jazz. Primus has an upcoming appearance at the Redding Civic Auditorium, June 15. Additionally, he has three upcoming Bay Appearances with Bastard Jazz in late July. The Primus singer and bassist also collaborates with Sean Lennon, the son of the late music icon John Lennon.

Finale Wines

999 Foreman Lane
Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 239-3621

Another celebrity rock musician with his own wine label is Jonathan Cain, keyboardist for the popular rock band Journey. He collaborates with Dennis and Tina De La Montanya, with tastings at their namesake winery. As a matter of fact, you can try selections like their 2018 Finale Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast and 2018 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley. Likewise, you can order Finale online, including the 2010 Grand Finale, Napa Valley Blend ($125). While the Finale wines are recommended, there may be wines from another celebrity owner. Namely, former Boston Red Sox star pitcher Roger Clemens and his Rockets Red Glare. Although Jonathan Cain isn’t the original Journey keyboardist, he has been a part of several memorable songs. For instance, you are probably familiar with his intros to “Don’t Stop Believing” and “Who’s Crying Now”.

Housley

1038 Clinton St.
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 690-9192

Do you still need more convincing that celebrity owned wineries are worth a visit? If so, then you should take a closer look at Housley Napa Valley. What’s more, their wine tasting room has nearly a perfect five-star rating from Yelp, TripAdvisor and Google. That’s not to mention that Housley has been named Napa Valley’s Best Tasting Room. Furthermore, Housley has not one, but two celebrity owners. Second generation co-owner Adam Housley is an Emmy award-winning journalist while his wife is popular actress Tamera Mowry. It should also go without saying that their wines are phenomenal and affordable. Lastly, the staff at the tasting room is likely the most diverse in the entire Napa Valley.

Inglenook

1991 St. Helena Highway
Rutherford, CA 94573
(707) 968-1100

Of all the celebrity owned wineries in the Napa Valley, you might like Inglenook best of all. For one thing, it’s owned by Oscar-winning director Francis Ford Coppola and his wife Eleanor. In fact, the Coppolas have been making wine here since the mid-1970s. In like manner is the high quality of their wines, notably Rubicon, a red blend named after a small river in Italy. Inglenook offers a variety of tasting options, including the Estate Library Experience. Similarly impressive is the estate’s Bistro Experience with wine avaiable by the glass or bottle.

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Another winery you may wish to visit in Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville, north of Healdsburg. However, the Coppolas sold this family-friendly property last year to Delicato Family Wines. Also included in the purchase were two other wineries – Francis Ford Coppola Winery Too! and Virginia Dare Winery. While these two wineries are currently closed, you can still wine and dine at the primary Geyserville property. Despite the sale of the properties, Francis Ford Coppola is a member of Delicato’s board of directors

August 11, 2022April 30, 2023 Randy Yagi Restaurants and Food, San Francisco Bay Area, Wine and Spirits

Empress by Boon: Michelin-Caliber Dining In Chinatown

When considering a romantic San Francisco restaurant, is Empress by Boon on your list of choices? If not, then maybe it should, and maybe even at the top of your list. After all, none other than the 2022 California Michelin Guide lists this Chinatown restaurant among the Bay Area’s most romantic restaurants. What’s more, that … Continue reading Empress by Boon: Michelin-Caliber Dining In Chinatown

August 3, 2022January 6, 2023 Randy Yagi Hotels, Restaurants and Food, Transportation, Wine and Spirits

America’s Best Train Station Hotels

Back when the railroad were the only means of long distance transport, there were railway hotels built to accommodate visitors to a city. What's more, these historic hotels were owned by railroad companies in an effort to boost local tourism. For example, among railway hotels still operating are Canada's Fairmont Le Château Frontenac and Hotel … Continue reading America’s Best Train Station Hotels

July 19, 2022April 26, 2023 Randy Yagi Restaurants and Food, San Francisco Bay Area, Wine and Spirits

iChina Restaurant: High-Tech Fine Dining In Silicon Valley

There is a good chance you have never visited a Chinese restaurant quite like iChina. Not only is it the most extravagant Chinese restaurant you’ll likely dine in, it might also be the largest. In fact, it's enormous, occupying two levels across over 12,000 square feet. Moreover, iChina is Silicon Valley's first New American Chinese … Continue reading iChina Restaurant: High-Tech Fine Dining In Silicon Valley