Wine & Cheese Pairing

There are three types of octopus eaters—those who love it, those who hate it, and those who are scared to try it. I love octopus, but only if it’s cooked well. And by well, I don’t mean “well done.” Octopus should more tender than a perfectly cooked shrimp. But if...

Everyone loves Bordeaux wine...but most casual wine enthusiasts don't like it enough to cough up the hundreds--or thousands--of dollars necessary to buy a bottle. If your eyes bulge at the ever-increasing prices, you may want to start looking at other options. Enter...

Spaghetti with Clams is one of the dishes I order whenever I’m in an Italian restaurant near the ocean. When it’s good, it’s food of the gods. When it’s mediocre, I’d rather skip the pasta and order a second bottle of wine! Spaghetti with Clams at Vinoteca Ristorante...

There are 4 S’s of Tasting Wine Like a Pro—See, Swirl, Smell, and Sip. This blog is dedicated to the second “S” … SWIRL. Have you ever wondered why wine geeks swirl their wine like they’re trying to start a tornado in their glass? It’s because they’re unlocking the...

If your mouth starts to water when you hear the word truffle but your pocketbook cringes, truffle powder is a great solution. Truffle powder is a less expensive way to get the umami flavor of truffles without the jaw-dropping expense of fresh truffles. Truffle powder...

Truffles are sought after by chef's around the world, both for their umami flavor and their rarity. Black truffles sell for about $95 per ounce while the rarer white truffles sell for about $165 per ounce.  Why do people love truffles? Because like a good wine,...

Codfish, known as Bacalhau in Portugal and Bacalao in other parts the world, is a low-fat, low-oil fish that has been preserved through an ancient preservation technique known as salting. Salt curing is an ancient food storage technique used before refrigeration....

Tuna Stuffed Avocado ticks all of the boxes in 2020–it is Keto, Paleo, Gluten-free, heart-healthy and even follows the Mediterranean Diet. In Panama, where I currently live, the avocados are at least twice the size of the Haas avocados grown in Mexico. Being an...

My husband and I recently went to a high-end restaurant and dropped a few hundred dollars on their tasting menu. The first course was Truffle Popcorn, served cold with truffle-flavored rice paper and homemade corn nuts. I was thrilled, as I enjoy popcorn and love...