Show 217, April 1, 2017: Show Preview with Co-Hosts Andy Harris & Chef Andrew Gruel

Now an appetizing preview of this Saturday’s abundant show. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s probably a pretty good thing…

Franciacorta is considered by connoisseurs as the luxury Italian sparkling wine. The name identifies both the production method as well as its growing area in Italy. Brand Ambassador Laura Donadoni pops the cork for us.

Oceanside’s Beach House Winery is an award-winning winery with all wines produced onsite. The Winery offers unrivaled ocean and panoramic views of San Diego County. Proprietress Kimberly Murray is our guide through the vineyard.

One of our discoveries at the recently concluded Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim was Abby’s Better Nut Butter. Nut butters are a fast-growing category within natural foods. It’s a great product (only 5 ingredients and no peanuts) but, more unusually, it was started by a 15-year old entrepreneur out of Mooresville, NC. We’ll meet founder Abby Kircher.

Powerhouse blogger and online phenomenon Tess Masters (AKA The Blender Girl) offers up more incredible tasty vegan and gluten-free recipes that help you lead a vibrant healthy life in The Perfect Blend – 100 Blender Recipes to Energize and Revitalize. Tess is our guest to explain all that is delicious & healthy.

In 1988, four enterprising partners (including winemaker Aurelio Montes Sr.), sharing a common dream, embarked on a project to make high quality Chilean wines at a time when, strange as it may sound, such an idea was considered a high-risk venture. Starting from the ground up with modest resources Vina Montes led what became a new wave of producers making sustainable, premium-quality wines, and adhering to solid management principals. Aurelio Montes Sr., President of Montes Winery, is our guest.

King Solomon’s Table – A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World is just out from Joan Nathan, the James Beard Award-winning, much-loved cookbook author and authority. It’s a fresh, around-the-world collection of recipes from the global Jewish diaspora—an essential book of cooking and culture. Joan Nathan joins us and has upcoming book tour appearances next week in Los Angeles that are open to the public.

Time to catch-up with our always on the run Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish. He’s been in “Silicon Flats”, Utah opening the first Slapfish located outside of California. Do the locals appreciate fresh seafood in Lehi, Utah? Stay tuned…Also, a spirited discussion of a controversial topic…the basic Tuna Melt. Seems to be no middle ground in the appreciation (or lack thereof) of this staple item…

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s show!

Show 217, April 1, 2017: Aurelio Montes Sr., Montes Wines, Chile

Aurelio Montes SrIn 1988, four enterprising partners (including winemaker Aurelio Montes Sr.), sharing a common dream, embarked on a project to make high quality Chilean wines at a time when, strange as it may sound, such an idea was considered a high-risk venture.

Starting from the ground up with modest resources Vina Montes led what became a new wave of producers making sustainable, premium-quality wines, and adhering to solid management principals.

“Considered one of the most able practitioners in the cellar, Winemaker Aurelio Montes has always maintained that 80 per cent of good wine comes from the vineyards and only 20 per cent from the cellar. So vineyard care is paramount, enabling us to produce world-class wines. From the vineyard rows to the cellar, we meticulously study every variable in the winemaking process. Our commitment to method and process is almost obsessive. Nothing is left to chance.”

Aurelio Montes Sr., President of Montes Winery, is our guest.

April 1: Laura Donadoni, Beach House Winery, Abby’s Better Nut Butter, The Blender Girl, Montes Winery, Joan Nathan

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Hosts Andy Harris & Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Laura Donadoni, Brand Ambassador, Franciacorta
Segment Three: Kim Murray, Proprietress, Beach House Winery, Oceanside
Segment Four: Abby Kircher, Founder, Abby’s Better Nut Butter
Segment Five: Tess Masters, The Blender Girl
Segment Six: Aurelio Montes Sr., Montes Wines, Chile
Segment Seven: Joan Nathan, King Solomon’s Table: A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking
Segment Eight: Executive Chef Andrew Gruel

Now an appetizing preview of this Saturday’s abundant show. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s probably a pretty good thing…

Franciacorta is considered by connoisseurs as the luxury Italian sparkling wine. The name identifies both the production method as well as its growing area in Italy. Brand Ambassador Laura Donadoni pops the cork for us.

Oceanside’s Beach House Winery is an award-winning winery with all wines produced onsite. The Winery offers unrivaled ocean and panoramic views of San Diego County. Proprietress Kimberly Murray is our guide through the vineyard.

One of our discoveries at the recently concluded Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim was Abby’s Better Nut Butter. Nut butters are a fast-growing category within natural foods. It’s a great product (only 5 ingredients and no peanuts) but, more unusually, it was started by a 15-year old entrepreneur out of Mooresville, NC. We’ll meet founder Abby Kircher.

Powerhouse blogger and online phenomenon Tess Masters (AKA The Blender Girl) offers up more incredible tasty vegan and gluten-free recipes that help you lead a vibrant healthy life in The Perfect Blend – 100 Blender Recipes to Energize and Revitalize. Tess is our guest to explain all that is delicious & healthy.

In 1988, four enterprising partners (including winemaker Aurelio Montes Sr.), sharing a common dream, embarked on a project to make high quality Chilean wines at a time when, strange as it may sound, such an idea was considered a high-risk venture. Starting from the ground up with modest resources Vina Montes led what became a new wave of producers making sustainable, premium-quality wines, and adhering to solid management principals. Aurelio Montes Sr., President of Montes winery, is our guest.

King Solomon’s Table – A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World is just out from Joan Nathan, the James Beard Award-winning, much-loved cookbook author and authority. It’s a fresh, around-the-world collection of recipes from the global Jewish diaspora—an essential book of cooking and culture. Joan Nathan joins us and has upcoming book tour appearances next week in Los Angeles.

Time to catch-up with our always on the run Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish. He’s been in “Silicon Flats”, Utah opening the first Slapfish located outside of California. Do the locals appreciate fresh seafood in Lehi, Utah ? Stay tuned…

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s show!

Laura DonadoniFranciacorta is considered by connoisseurs as the luxury Italian sparkling wine. It’s a good value for the quality. The name identifies both the production method as well as its growing area in Italy. It’s also the Consorzio Del Franciacorta.

The Consortium was founded on March 5, 1990 in Corte Franca to guarantee and monitor compliance with the rules for producing Franciacorta wine. The name of the geographic region where its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc vines are grown is used to identify this wine, which is produced exclusively by the method of secondary fermentation in the bottle. In one word, Franciacorta describes an area, a production method and a wine. 

Having moved to its present site at Erbusco in 1993, the Consorzio Franciacorta has about 200 members including wine growers, wine producers, bottlers and others involved in the production chain for the designations Franciacorta DOCG, Curtefranca DOC and Sebino IGT.

Its distinctive logo with a castellated letter F distinguishes its wines and refers back to the ancient mediaeval towers that characterize 19 municipalities in the heart of Lombardy, by the shores of Lake Iseo: Adro, Brescia (part), Capriolo, Cazzago San Martino, Cellatica, Coccaglio, Cologne, Corte Franca, Erbusco, Gussago, Iseo, Monticelli Brusati, Ome, Paderno Franciacorta, Paratico, Passirano, Provaglio, Rodengo Saiano and Rovato,

The cultivation of vines has ancient origins on the hills of Franciacorta, as evidenced by the findings of prehistoric grape seed and the writings of classical authors such as Pliny, Columella and Virgil. Rich archaeological material dating from prehistoric times, such as the remains of stilt house foundations found in the bogs of Sebino, reveal how primitive populations settled here and gradually took over from the Cenomani Gauls, the Romans and the Lombards.

Vine cultivation has been a constant in Franciacorta, where grapes were grown from Roman times to late antiquity and the Middle Ages, thanks to its favorable climatic and soil conditions. Though good and bad periods alike, viticulture in these lands never stopped.

Brand Ambassador Laura Donadoni graciously pops the cork on the Italian bubbly for us.

Kimberly MurrayOceanside’s Beach House Winery is an award-winning winery with all wines produced onsite. The Winery offers unrivaled ocean and panoramic views of San Diego County, and is the first vineyard “Vigna al Mare” (Vineyard at the Sea) and winery established in this beautiful seaside community.

Beach House Winery’s pursuits are providing fine wines with time-honored processes to be enjoyed with family and friends.

Proprietress Kimberly Murray is our guide through the vineyard.

Abby KircherOne of our discoveries at the recently concluded Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim was Abby’s Better Nut Butter. Nut butters are a fast-growing category within natural products. It’s a great product (only 5 ingredients and no peanuts) but, more unusually, it was started by a 15-year old entrepreneur out of Mooresville, NC.

At the young age of 15, Abby Kircher created a product unlike anything else on the market. Hungry for a healthier alternative to peanut butter but unwilling to forgo flavor and variety, she decided to fill an unmet need on her own. After experimenting with different ingredients, including a variety of nuts, like cashews and pecans, to sweet add-ins, like dates, strawberries and coconuts, she landed on a product that didn’t only taste good—it was good for her, too. This was the beginning of Abby’s Better Nut Butters, and today, two years since its official launch, her product has successfully hit the shelves—and the pantries—of the in-demand health food market.

“My goal from the very beginning was to just make the best product I could find. I wanted to create something that was natural and pure but tasted amazing. When I realized my nut butters were something special, I had my family try it—I was surprised to hear that they actually preferred it over regular peanut butter. At that moment, I knew I had a real chance to share these flavors with even more people,” Abby said.

Abby’s Better Nut Butter boasts six unique blends: Coconut Cashew; Honey Almond; Date Pecan; Bourbon Maple Walnut; Coffee Almond; and Strawberry Cashew. Abby first began selling her product at local farmer’s markets in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina in 2015. By late spring in 2016, her nut butters expanded into the retail space, including all Lowes Foods location in the Charlotte area and beyond. Now, the clean eating brand is entering 2017 with an agreement with another major retailer—Whole Foods.

We’ll meet founder Abby Kircher.

Tess MastersPowerhouse blogger and online phenomenon Tess Masters (AKA The Blender Girl) offers up more incredible vegan and gluten-free recipes that help you lead a vibrant healthy life in The Perfect Blend – 100 Blender Recipes to Energize and Revitalize.

Anchored to a master list of nutrient-dense ingredients, each of the twelve chapters addresses specific health goals, such as gaining energy, optimizing protein intake, boosting immunity, losing weight, and reducing inflammation.

“I list (Tess Masters) the foods that help me stay in optimal health, and share a few top-line takeaways for each of them—practical information on their health benefits, and how to prepare, blend, and cook them for amazing textures and tastes.”

“There are three optional boosters listed for each recipe that enhance flavor and/or nutrition. I’ve chosen them to work separately or together, so you can supplement any base recipe with one, two, or all three.”

“There are mind-blowing dishes and drinks, like Red Basil Balsamic Blast, Sexy Celeriac Slaw, Shiitake & Asparagus Lettuce Cups, Artichoke Ace, Lick-Your-Plate Lasagna, and Blueberry & Lemon Cashew Cream Crepes.

“The food is functional and geared toward flexibility, so you can tailor the recipes to your own taste and requirements to find your perfect blend.”

Tess is our guest to explain all that is delicious & healthy.

Aurelio Montes SrIn 1988, four enterprising partners (including winemaker Aurelio Montes Sr.), sharing a common dream, embarked on a project to make high quality Chilean wines at a time when, strange as it may sound, such an idea was considered a high-risk venture.

Starting from the ground up with modest resources Vina Montes led what became a new wave of producers making sustainable, premium-quality wines, and adhering to solid management principals.

“Considered one of the most able practitioners in the cellar, Winemaker Aurelio Montes has always maintained that 80 per cent of good wine comes from the vineyards and only 20 per cent from the cellar. So vineyard care is paramount, enabling us to produce world-class wines. From the vineyard rows to the cellar, we meticulously study every variable in the winemaking process. Our commitment to method and process is almost obsessive. Nothing is left to chance.”

Aurelio Montes Sr., President of Montes Winery, is our guest.

Joan NathanKing Solomon’s Table – A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World is just out from Joan Nathan, the James Beard Award-winning, much-loved cookbook author and authority. It’s a fresh, around-the-world collection of recipes from the global Jewish diaspora—an essential book of cooking and culture.

Driven by a passion for discovery, King Solomon is said to have sent ships to all corners of the ancient world, initiating a mass cross-pollination of culinary cultures that continues to bear fruit today.

With King Solomon’s appetites and explorations in mind, here celebrated author Joan Nathan gathers more than 170 recipes that span the millennia: from classics like Yemenite Chicken Soup with Dill, Cilantro, and Parsley; Spinach and Feta Bourekas; Hummus with Preserved Lemon and Cumin; and Hamantaschen with Poppy Seed or Chocolate Filling…to contemporary riffs on traditional dishes such as Smokey Shakshuka with Tomatoes, Peppers, and Eggplant; Homemade Herbed Labneh with Beets and Puy Lentils; Baghdadi Chicken with Rice, Coconut, and Cilantro; and Roman Ricotta Cheese Torte.

We travel with Joan from India to France, from Italy to Mexico, from El Salvador to Israel and, of course, all across North America, in a gorgeously illustrated culinary exploration that is filled with fascinating historical details, personal histories, and fantastic recipes that showcase the diversity of Jewish cuisine

It is the most ambitious and satisfying book of Joan Nathan’s stellar, four decades-long career.

Joan Nathan joins us and has upcoming book tour appearances next week in Los Angeles.

Andrew and William GruelTime to catch-up with our always on the run Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish.

He’s been in “Silicon Flats”, Utah opening the first Slapfish located outside of California. Do the locals appreciate fresh seafood in Lehi, Utah? Stay tuned…

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Hosts Andy Harris & Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Laura Donadoni, Brand Ambassador, Franciacorta
Segment Three: Kim Murray, Proprietress, Beach House Winery, Oceanside
Segment Four: Abby Kircher, Founder, Abby’s Better Nut Butter
Segment Five: Tess Masters, The Blender Girl
Segment Six: Aurelio Montes Sr., Montes Wines, Chile
Segment Seven: Joan Nathan, King Solomon’s Table: A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking
Segment Eight: Executive Chef Andrew Gruel