Blog Archive
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Survival Baking in Snowmaggedon
0 comments | February 7, 2010
Snowmageddeon 2010 has hit the DC area, and I, like many others, have resorted to baking to have something to do. (Ironic, considering I don’t like sweets that much.) The task: chocolate chip cookies. The problem: No sugar.
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Want to Be a Food Network 'Restaurant Battle' Star?
0 comments | February 7, 2010
I wanted to pass on word of a casting call for “24 Hour Restaurant Battle,” the Food Network’s new restaurant competition series.
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The Thirsty Cook -- Cabernet Sauvignon
0 comments | February 5, 2010
As one of the most popular grapes — and wines, for that matter — in the world, Cabernet Sauvignon has a pretty massive following. The grape is grown in almost every wine growing region in the world, with Bordeaux and Napa keeping the Cab king.
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2005 Chateau Perrey-Jouannet Anjou Rouge
0 comments | January 27, 2010
Greetings from our mini ice-age, when my thoughts and yours turn to rich food and excellent, affordable red wine.
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Lallier Premier Cru Rose
1 comments | January 22, 2010
Day 22 and so far, so good. These New Year’s resolutions are not so tough to live by, in fact I rather enjoy living high-fructose-free, and oh, drinking less quantity and more quality. I’ll stick to something healthy and reasonable, like champagne.
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Asparagus Cheesecake or Olive Ice Cream, Anyone?
0 comments | January 14, 2010
As my husband and I eat our way across South America, I’ve been working on my food photography skills so that my meals don’t come out all looking like dog food in pictures.
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Les Dames d'Escoffier Plans 7th Salute to Women in Gastronomy
0 comments | January 9, 2010
“The $95 fee covers an extraordinary, fun, and educational day-long symposium offering 16 sessions, 40 speakers, hands-on cooking classes, a culinary expo with new products, samples, cookbooks and experts, [and] breakfast, lunch, and dessert & wine finale.
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Free Pizza and Winter Specials at HomeMade
0 comments | January 7, 2010
The folks at HomeMade Pizza Co., the bake-at-home shop with four DC-area locations, are opening up in Logan Circle — and there’s free pizza to be had.
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Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia
0 comments | January 5, 2010
A wonderful story of a journey to awakening and growth during a year of traveling abroad.
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Check Out Julia's Kitchen in the New Year!
0 comments | December 29, 2009
Santa Monica-based chef and HG writer Julia Swenson, my dearest childhood friend, has launched a fabulous website to complement her stellar catering & personal chef business.
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Emilian Gillet Vire Clesse 2004
0 comments | December 18, 2009
Allow me to introduce yet another wine cognoscenti and fellow Thoreauvian, Mike Drapkin, who has spent a good part of his career academically tasting dozens of wines. Former blogger of ‘The Schist,’ he contributes today a write-up of a wine that I love dearly and wholly endorse.
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Top Chef in DC? Share Your Quickfire/Elimination Challenge Ideas
0 comments | December 8, 2009
Our friends over at Capital Spice have a killer giveaway going on today.
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Magnificent Malbec NOT From Argentina
2 comments | December 6, 2009
Where could it come from, Venus? The third moon of Jupiter?
Well, no. It actually comes from a fairly important wine producing country: France.
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Whole Foods P Street: Brew Accused
4 comments | December 4, 2009
I feel that I have a very good relationship with beer. I make beer; beer makes me happy. I respect it; it respects me. So imagine my shock and chagrin when confronted by the beer manager at Whole Foods on P Street in Washington, DC, with this accusation: I’ve seen you here before, and don’t you remember what happened last time?
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Getting Closer to Your Winemaker
0 comments | December 3, 2009
More and more Americans are thinking locally & regionally when it comes to their food choices, but what about the wine they sip? If you lack the funds to hop a flight and meet your Burgundy producer, the next best thing is a visit to brand-new, tiny Ansonia Wines in DC.
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Domaine de la Madeloc, Collioure Rouge, ‘Serral’ 2006
0 comments | December 2, 2009
Upon arrival in Collioure, I saw the steep trellised vineyards coming down to the sea, little bridges and stone walkways, a Spanish-looking castle, and a big white — wha? — cruise ship; a sign that the imperialist Americans had rolled into town and parked their Cadillac of a ship for all the precise, polite French to carry on the cliché.
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'Cocktails for a Cure' and Fall Menus at Kimpton Restaurants
5 comments | November 16, 2009
Check out a Red Ribbon cocktail (with proceeds going to Whitman Walker Clinic) at DC-area Kimpton hotel restaurants, and drool over fall menu offerings such as spit-roasted Griggstown Farm poussin with wood-grilled figs, black garlic and Yukon gold potato purée.
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Marques de Tomares Crianza
2 comments | November 12, 2009
I suspect that you have tasted more than a few Riojas, Spain’s noblest and most elegant red wine. The problem with Rioja is that there are really three styles being produced, all of which are on the market.
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Uncle Bobby's Brine - For a Best-Ever Thanksgiving Turkey
2 comments | November 11, 2009
Folks, listen up: Alison is again stealing somewhat shamelessly from her family’s arsenal. This turkey brine recipe yields the most succulent, delightful bird around… Brining is worth the effort; give it a shot this year!
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2006 Sylvain Pataille Passetoutgrain
1 comments | November 9, 2009
During this past summer’s International Pinot Noir Celebration, Sylvain showed his top wine—a blend from old vines in several of his premier cru quality vineyards which he calls ‘L’Ancestral’ — and it stole the show.
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"Flavor Tripping" in DC
0 comments | November 9, 2009
EFN Lounge is throwing DC’s first party for transforming the taste bud, an experience that will “allow guests to twist their tongue on a West African berry called synsepalum dulcificum, or ‘trippy fruit.’”
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Brunch: Not Just for Sundays at Belga Café This Month
0 comments | November 3, 2009
For the entire month of November, chef and owner Bart Vandaele invites guests to sample Belga Café’s famous brunch menu everyday.
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Thanksgiving Pies for a Great Cause
0 comments | October 14, 2009
Food & Friends is trying to sell 6,000 pies to fund full Thanksgiving meals for all of its HIV/AIDS and cancer patients. The effort’s kickoff is next week, when the group hands out free slices of pie at two Marriott hotels downtown.
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Fun Halloween Goings-On at DC-Area Kimpton Hotels (Updated)
0 comments | October 13, 2009
We’re definitely weighing an entry in the dog costume contest. And check out that “Ghost Roast” menu - wow!
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A California Merlot You Can Drink with Pride and Pleasure (!)
0 comments | October 9, 2009
It wasn’t that long ago that Merlot was the most popular red wine in America. Besides, Merlot is the key grape in Pomerol, where it is the basis for a half-dozen of the sexiest, most expressive and expensive red wines made on this planet.
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Vintage Crystal Coming Up This Weekend
0 comments | September 17, 2009
This year — the third annual wine festival in Arlington’s Crystal City neighborhood — features a Latin twist with wines from Spain, Argentina, and Chile.
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Shaking Things Up
18 comments | July 29, 2009
Over the year and a half we’ve been publishing The Humble Gourmand, I’ve resisted any urge to use the magazine or its blog as my personal amplifier. Now I’m throwing that discipline out the window, because I’ve got some big news to share.
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Fear and Trembling (Chevalier Pere et Fils Ladoix 2005)
0 comments | July 22, 2009
Every time I encounter a Burgundy I haven’t tasted before I experience both anxiety and excitement. Why?
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Podio Alto 2005
2 comments | July 20, 2009
If you love wine (which you should) I would highly recommend grabbing a copy of Kermit Lynch’s fabulous book, Adventures on the Wine Route.
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Buy Local Challenge
0 comments | July 17, 2009
Stock up on produce this weekend — Sunday marks the start of the weeklong “Buy Local” challenge.
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$19 German Pinot Noir Embarasses French & American Counterparts
3 comments | July 16, 2009
The Becker estate is unique in that it owns vineyards in Alsace and Germany but makes all its wines at its estate in the town of Schweigen, which is a bike ride away from Strasbourg.
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Virginia Grilling & Wine Courses with Joe David
1 comments | July 13, 2009
Food author Joe David and two Southern chefs will hold interactive cooking classes this summer in Virginia’s wine district.
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July 4th Fireworks Not Enough for You?
2 comments | July 8, 2009
If you’re a DC-area resident who didn’t get enough last Saturday, head down to Old Town this weekend for round 2 of fireworks and merriment, this time celebrating the city of Alexandria’s 260th birthday.
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Taking Sunday Dinner Underground
0 comments | July 7, 2009
What’s the difference between a “private restaurant,” a normal restaurant, and dinner for friends?
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July HG Visits Asheville, Grills Like Mad
1 comments | July 6, 2009
With summer firmly upon us and the season’s best produce popping up in farmers’ markets around the country, we hope you’ll dive into the July issue.
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July Issue to Publish Monday, July 6
0 comments | July 2, 2009
Due to the July 4 holiday, our next issue will hit the virtual stands on Monday. See you then!
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Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc: This is France
0 comments | July 2, 2009
Dick Vermeersch, a former organic grocer in Antwerp, turned race car driver, then viticulturalist, has taken his former lives and brought them all into his winemaking philosophy.
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Anthony Bourdain, José Andrés to Co-Host Capital Food Fight 2009
0 comments | June 30, 2009
Check out the boldfaced names slated to appear at this year’s event, which benefits DC Central Kitchen.
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Brew's Reviews: SAVOR 2009
0 comments | June 30, 2009
I was nervous walking into the National Building Museum for the biggest DC-area craft beer event of the year. I don’t know if it was the fact that I was about to be in the same building as Tomme Arthur, Adam Avery, Greg Koch, and Sam Calagione or the daunting reality that I had 4 hours — and 68 breweries’ worth — of beer to get through.
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Wildfire Plans Virginia Harvest Dinner
0 comments | June 26, 2009
The Tysons Corner restaurant will feature Edible Chesapeake’s Renee Catacalos and Red White & Bleu’s James Roth on July 21.
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Amyana Sauvignon Blanc Leyda Valley 2007
4 comments | June 25, 2009
A genuine passion for wine has led me to France and beyond, where I’ve met vignerons; tasted, eaten, drunk with them in their world — and gained insight about the French perspective on flavor, timing, the simple art of each meal, and the ideas of subtlety and nuance.
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DIY: Roast Your Own Coffee
2 comments | June 23, 2009
In a world where people have re-appropriated the production of household goods (Hey, I make my own bread! Cheese! Beer!), why do we still rely on major coffee roasters for our coffee?
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Meat on a Spit: Poste Roasts This Summer
11 comments | June 17, 2009
Looking for a fun, alternative dining option downtown this summer? Check out Poste’s family-style dinners of spit-roasted local meats and summery side dishes. Read on for menus.
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Bacon Peanut Brittle
2 comments | June 16, 2009
Who knew bacon goes so well in this combination of sweet, salty, and savory?
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National Harbor Food & Wine Festival
2 comments | June 14, 2009
A few of us got to check out National Harbor’s second annual food and wine festival on June 6, and we left pleasantly stuffed with crackers, yogurt, Belgian beer, and some Top Chef competitor sightings.
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Joseph Voillot Pommard 1er Cru, 'Clos Micault' 2006
3 comments | June 11, 2009
Jean-Pierre Charlot was pulling out of the Voillot winery one morning, when a sweaty jogger mobbed him with an American accent: “On s’est rencontre a NY, je dois venir pour un degustation!”
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The Wine Leading the Blind: Californ-I-A
0 comments | June 4, 2009
The past year has pretty much been about all things France, but a recent trip to a wine store yielded some pretty solid Cali classics.
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Brew’s Clues XV: Homebrew Club
1 comments | June 4, 2009
Is it just me, or does everyone homebrew these days? Or at least someone everyone knows? It just seems to come up a lot. Observe.
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St. Urbans-Hof Estate Riesling 2008
0 comments | May 28, 2009
We know the cliche, that wine brings people together, and the more you grow your passion and knowledge for what you are drinking, the more you find yourself with friends who share a level of interest, thereby augmenting the excitement at each repast.
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Bake Sales to End Hunger
1 comments | May 22, 2009
Whip up some cupcakes, brownies, or pie for a great cause…
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Eyrie Estate Pinot Noir & Pinot Gris
0 comments | May 15, 2009
These last few glorious weeks of spring have found me back on Yankee soils, soaking up this verdant splendor – a bike ride in my lovely hometown of Concord, Massachusetts, drinking an illusory glass of lilacs, tulips, chirping soft winds, the perfume of spring – delighted to be back to my roots for a time.
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Brew's Reviews: Barrel Aged Beers with Garrett Oliver
0 comments | May 13, 2009
Ah, a beer event at the National Geographic Society. I pictured khaki clad safari-goers intrepidly plunging into the darkest vagaries of the brewing world.
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Domaso Scales Back
2 comments | May 12, 2009
Domaso, the upscale Italian gem in Rosslyn’s Hotel Palomar, just announced it will serve lunch and dinner only on weekdays and is shifting its menu toward more casual Italian foods. Domasoteca, the gourmet wine/cheese/chocolate shop on the hotel’s main floor, will close.
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For Your Calendar: National Harbor Food & Wine Festival
0 comments | May 11, 2009
A celebrity chef-studded cast of characters comes to Washington’s National Harbor next month for the second annual Food & Wine Festival.
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Domaine de l’Ecu Muscadet sur lie 'Expression de Gneiss' 2006
1 comments | May 5, 2009
Just in time for irrational and exuberant stock markets and a reported increase in consumer plonk-buying…
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Brew’s Reviews: 2009 Brewers’ Ball
0 comments | May 1, 2009
The event sounded suspiciously oxymoronic — just imagine hundreds of gown- and suit- clad ladies and gentlemen in a grandiose ballroom, not sipping Champagne and nibbling on caviar but guzzling beer and tearing into barbecue sandwiches.
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May Hiatus
1 comments | May 1, 2009
Hey everyone, the HG is on a bit of spring vacation this month and will be back in June with a fresh batch of mouthwatering content. As always, we’ll be posting to our blog, Victuals and Vittles, throughout the month.
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Eating Local: What Are Your Criteria?
15 comments | April 20, 2009
How do you define local? Here are some of the requirements in my world.
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Mini-Review: Ruth Reichl's Not Becoming My Mother
0 comments | April 16, 2009
A deep dive into the psyche of a daunting mother figure, with plenty of culinary intrigue.
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Jean-Francois Merieau Touraine Sauvignon 'L'arpent
0 comments | April 9, 2009
Golden-hued, both racy and creamy, balanced and pure – fruit that has finesse and energy (as opposed to dullness, which I am seeing too often lately in lower priced wines.
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The Seeds You Sow...
1 comments | April 8, 2009
In today’s NYT food section, Michael Tortorello gives an engaging and funny account of a jump on the recession-garden bandwagon. We’d love to hear from any home gardeners out there who started from scratch!
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Brews' Clues XIV: The Hops Bubble
0 comments | April 3, 2009
Recently, and very suddenly, everything changed. I tasted Slyfox Brewery’s Saison VOS, loved it, and immediately didn’t know who I was anymore.
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Gelato Coming to DC's Logan Circle, Reston 'Hoods
0 comments | March 31, 2009
Pitango Gelato will open two locations in DC’s Logan Circle and Reston Town Center this month.
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Domaine de Montcalmes Coteaux de Languedoc 2005
0 comments | March 30, 2009
I have been reading up on the idea of impermanence, which in wine terms aligns with the ethic that we should make our choices carefully. Perhaps rather than consuming vast amounts of plonk, we exchange that for smaller amounts of beautifully-made wine to be savored slowly.
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National Harbor Food & Wine Festival to Feature Top Chef's Spike, Carla, and Ariane
1 comments | March 25, 2009
Can’t get enough Top Chef? Here’s your chance to fill the void between seasons.
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Philippe Alliet Chinon 2006
1 comments | March 13, 2009
This past summer I found myself at a medieval fest in the ancient Loire Valley village of Chinon. The streets were packed with locals, musicians, and red-faced teenagers; cafés were bustling; long-haired men in old sheaths were parading wild boars on stakes headed for the rowdy feast to come that evening.
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Domenica Marchetti at Domaso Demo on Saturday, March 21
1 comments | March 11, 2009
One of the HG’s favorite Italian spots will play host to the Italian cookbook author in a night that is one part cooking demo, one part wine tasting, and one part book signing.
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Let's "ReCork America!"
0 comments | March 8, 2009
If you live on the West Coast, you can actually recycle your corks now.
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March Issue - Smoked Salmon, Strong Beer...
0 comments | March 6, 2009
It’s winter, all right.
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Dine Out Tonight for a Great Cause
0 comments | March 5, 2009
If you’re grabbing a bite, pick your nosh from 145 Washington-area restaurants participating in today’s “Dine Out for Life” event.
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Pernand-Vergelesses Blanc 'Les Belles-Filles' 2007
1 comments | March 5, 2009
Loichet wines are showing up some of the great producers — and the stodgy London merchants are taking interest. Here’s an excellent find.
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National Harbor: Dining Destination on the Rise?
1 comments | March 2, 2009
Sitting just south of DC, the newly developed National Harbor features a $1 billion resort — Gaylord National — and a couple of rather interesting dining destinations.
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Four Can't-Miss Culinary Destinations in New Orleans
1 comments | February 25, 2009
An ultra-quick culinary tour of the Big Easy.
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Domaine de Bellieviere (Eric Nicolas) Jasnieres 'Les Rosiers' 2006
8 comments | February 23, 2009
With depth and a pronounced acidity that greets considerable honeysuckle, apple, and earthy flavors, plus a rich golden color.
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Domaine Michel Gaunoux Beaune 1999
0 comments | February 18, 2009
The sun is shining over Burgundy for the first time in weeks — the cold, damp fog is lifting, bringing my spirits along with it.
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Life's Choices: Bloomy, Bleu, or Pondhopper?
0 comments | February 17, 2009
These cheeses at last week’s TasteDC festival were standouts. Anyone tried ‘em before?
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Olivier Merlin Macon La Roche Vineuse 2006
13 comments | February 10, 2009
Olivier Merlin, a humble and focused Maconnais winemaker, brings to the world wines I have loved since I started this wine trail a decade ago.
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The Infamous Bacon Explosion
10 comments | February 8, 2009
Perhaps you saw the NYT piece. Perhaps you’re a savvy backyard barbecue chef who’s already given it a whirl. Or perhaps you find yourself strangely drawn to a dish with the word explosion in the title. Regardless, read on.
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Brew's Clues: Episode XII -- Brooklyn Brewery
1 comments | February 6, 2009
Walking down a warehouse-lined and graffiti-laden avenue, looking for Brooklyn Brewery, I felt quite the country mouse in the big city.
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Must-Have: Domaso's Pork Belly
0 comments | February 3, 2009
We’ve been on a brief hiatus here at the HG, consumed with all things inauguration, bailout, and winter. I’m writing today, though, to tell you about a pork belly dish that’s worth dropping any distractions for, NOW.
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Crazy for Cupcakes?
0 comments | January 26, 2009
If you’ve got a killer, original cupcake recipe to share with the world, read on.
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Dinner Social III: Cozy Indeed
76 comments | January 20, 2009
We were short a cook and nearly frozen, but a hearty meal was had by all in the third installment of Eric Ripert’s Dinner Social.
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Catch a Sneak Peek of the Chicken Pot Pie Cookoff
2 comments | January 14, 2009
We came. We rumbled… err, cooked. Now you can watch.
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InaugurAle Picks Up Steam
2 comments | January 13, 2009
A week ahead of Inauguration Day, our Sam’s Obama beer is back in the virtual pages of our fair city’s Washingtonian, Washington CityPaper, and even MSNBC!
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Top Chef's Miss Congeniality Competition
0 comments | January 11, 2009
This week, I can only say two things: fish and Twitter.
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Foodie New Year's Resolutions
8 comments | January 7, 2009
Find more uses for sausage… Plan culinary travel adventures… Figure out a non-stupid way to incorporate food into lovemaking … and we didn’t make that last one up!
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Brew's Clues: InaugurAle
0 comments | January 2, 2009
On Tuesday, January 20, the Audacity of Hops, InaugurAle Edition, will officially be released to the world. It’s bigger than before, with a strapping ’09% alcohol by volume.
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The Wine Leading the Blind: The Wines of France -- Old World, New Spin
0 comments | January 2, 2009
It’s no secret that we at the HG love our French wine. However, we realize that our wallets — and many of yours, we’re sure — aren’t able to spend upwards of $30 a bottle for some of the great appellations, especially in this economy.
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Are You an Ecotarian?
0 comments | December 31, 2008
If you are a farmers’ market aficionado, you’ve heard the benefits of eating locally: fresher food, food with less of a carbon footprint, organic/”eco-ganic” agriculture, etc. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a new catchphrase.
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Your Favorite Beer? Whatever Chuck Norris is Drinking
2 comments | December 29, 2008
Chuck Norris knows about The Audacity of Hops, the beer brewed by the HG’s Sam. No, we’re not kidding. And you know what it’s like for this guy. When Chuck Norris drinks too much beer, he doesn’t get drunk. The beer gets Chuck Norris.
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Download This Dinner Party
0 comments | December 27, 2008
There are a few key components of any holiday spent with the family. There are the wacky relatives, the surplus of sweets on every available flat surface, and the occasional need for escape.
Cure the holiday boredom with a bit of the random, the eccentric, and the food-inspired. These guys had me at Tom Jones’ penguin joke and use of the Eels as segue music.
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It's a Top Chef Celebration
0 comments | December 25, 2008
There I was, Christmas morning, watching the rerun on my parents’ TV.
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New Year's Eve: Foodie Plans, Anyone?
5 comments | December 18, 2008
Whipping up a 5-course feast? Dining at a fabulous spot and sipping Champagne at midnight?
Let us know what you’re planning to do this New Year’s.
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Dinner Social II: Who Says You Can't Sample Three Cocktails Before Noon?
33 comments | December 15, 2008
The Dinner Social crew gathered yesterday for a second installment: shrimp and chorizo, deviled eggs with smoked salmon, some fabulous cider, bourbon, and Champagne cocktails… Read on for details and lots of mouth-watering photos.
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Albert Mann 2006 Pinot Gris Hengst
0 comments | December 12, 2008
Please accept my humble note about Alsace – the “zone” between the French and the Germans, (resentment so deep, an army of New York psychotherapists could never resolve).
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Win $200 to the Dream DC Dining Destination of Your Choice
0 comments | December 7, 2008
It’s your last night on Earth. You get only more supper in our nation’s capital. Where do you eat?
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Top Chef: Death By Dessert
0 comments | December 6, 2008
We say goodbye to Alex and Richard, the great dessert blunderers — reinforcing the notion that dessert and Top Chef can rarely be successfully married.
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Episode XI: Winter Brews
0 comments | December 5, 2008
Drinking beer is usually considered a social activity, but sometimes I feel that reviewing beers for this column can get a little lonely. Could it be my early Saturday morning tastings? Or the 3-page evaluation requirement?
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Everybody Loves the Obama Beer
0 comments | December 3, 2008
Our own Sam continues to win kudos for the beer he brewed in honor of our president-elect. Check out his interview with the fun folks at the aptly named Obama Foodorama…
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"Premier Rendez Vous" Montlouis Sec '07
0 comments | December 2, 2008
Eleven hundred winemakers were at a huge fair in Paris, where the public could go and taste for 6 euros a glass. As my friend said, this could never happen in the US, because too many people would go there to get drunk.
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The OCD Diet
0 comments | December 1, 2008
Like things to rhyme neatly? Then this diet’s for you.
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Top Chef: Where's the Line?
2 comments | November 24, 2008
Where is the line between experimentation and bad idea?
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Eric Ripert's Dinner Social Update -- Holy Cats, We Won
1 comments | November 21, 2008
One of my photos was selected in the “Dinner Social” photo competition. Go team!
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Cocktails for a Cure
0 comments | November 21, 2008
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is right in the middle of its annual Red Ribbon Campaign, which features themed cocktails from mixologist Jacques Bezuidenhout.
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Michel Gendrier Cheverny Rouge 'Le Pressoir' 2006
0 comments | November 20, 2008
Gorgeous, racy, red-berry, mineral and pure, and very interesting.
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Eric Ripert's Dinner Social - A Meal in Photos
4 comments | November 18, 2008
Via his wonderful site, Avec Eric, Le Bernardin chef Eric Ripert challenged food-lovers everywhere to throw a dinner party with a seasonally influenced menu, pair it with wine, and photograph the results. Here is a visual account of our delicious evening.
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A.F. Gros Vosne Romanee 'Aux Reas' 2005
43 comments | November 17, 2008
This is not my usual social diatribe, as I am up to my ears in homework tonight. But it would be shameful to bypass this excellent price on such a prize wine, as progressively tenuous as these are.
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Free Pie
0 comments | November 15, 2008
If you’re in the Potomac, MD area today, stop by for some free pie!
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"Eat and Drink Local" Wine-Dinner Series
0 comments | November 10, 2008
Looking for another way to get on board the local, sustainable train? Read on.
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The Wine Leading the Blind: Broke du Rhone
0 comments | November 7, 2008
In a better economy, I’d be blabbering on and on about the illustrious and much-coveted Châteauneuf-du-Pape. But for practical reasons, I feel compelled to cover a few wines that won’t set you back a weeks’ worth of gas.
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Small-Batch Bubbles Under $25
18 comments | November 6, 2008
Even though they might not yet know it, when people walk into your house, they want to be handed a glass of sparkly pink wine.
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Chef Tunes: An HG Soundtrack
5 comments | November 5, 2008
Way too many of us have TVs in our kitchens, and for seemingly practical reasons — it’s much easier to multitask, catching your evening news broadcast of choice while whipping up dinner…
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The HG's Sam Brews Up a Political Storm
1 comments | November 3, 2008
The Audacity of Hops, a beer brewed by our own Sam Chapple-Sokol in honor of this year’s Democratic nominee, has grabbed some limelight.
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Fulfill Your Civic Duty -- Don't Vote on an Empty Stomach
2 comments | October 31, 2008
Next Tuesday, throughout the day, throughout the country, Americans will be standing in line. When it’s your turn, don’t do something crazy like vote for a bill that will provide funding for espressos and puppies for kindergartners just because you were lightheaded from hunger and couldn’t read straight.
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2003 Ada Nada Barbaresco 'Valeirano'
2 comments | October 30, 2008
No chemicals, not acidified, no hangover, no bling. Elegantly ripe and sweet delicious dark cherry, earthy, rustic bit refined, structured but quite silky.
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We're Pun-Happy: Other Wines are Simply "Palin'" in Comparison
0 comments | October 29, 2008
Groan. You know I’ve been working out of my house for too long when I start throwing really bad puns out there.
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Or Perhaps a Charity Wine Tasting...
0 comments | October 29, 2008
Looking for something fun to do tonight? Head over to Domaso for appetizers paired with wines from Virginia’s Chrysalis, Delfosse, Jefferson Vineyards, Rappahannock, Virginia Wineworks wineries.
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Cocktail and Museum Outing, Anyone?
0 comments | October 27, 2008
Need something to do on one of these cold, unfriendly fall nights? Check out a new exhibit at the Phillips Collection and sip Firefly’s version of the Colorado Bulldog: espresso-infused vodka, vanilla bean syrup, heavy cream and cola. Sounds like a belly-warmer…
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What's in Your Freezer?
11 comments | October 23, 2008
I’ve always thought that the contents of a person’s freezer says a lot about what he or values as a cook.
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Toss Some Hearty Quinoa in Your Diet
2 comments | October 22, 2008
Tired of the same old rice or cous cous? It might be time for you to try quinoa.
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Battle Comfort Food is Raging (Behind the Scenes)
1 comments | October 20, 2008
Beer Can Chicken here with an update on Capital Cooking’s chicken pot pie challenge — a fierce face-off that will see the HG’s Alison throw down with 4 D.C. food bloggers.
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Back to Burgundy: Francois d’Allaines Saint Romain 2006
0 comments | October 16, 2008
With the electricity of New York slowly dissipating, I headed out with a group of harvesters to pick a young-vines Beaune vineyard. The fruit was between ankle and knee height — absolutely back-breaking work considering the bowed shape of the hillside.
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Episode M: The Beers of Morocco
0 comments | October 15, 2008
Morocco is not exactly the first country that comes to mind when you think of a beer-loving nation.
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Manners, Gender Roles and Dining Out
5 comments | October 14, 2008
We’d love to hear your thoughts on the gender piece in last week’s NYT dining section.
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Quick Hit: New Chef at DC's Urbana
0 comments | October 10, 2008
The subterranean spot is tucked into the snazzy Hotel Palomar, one block west of Dupont Circle, and features brick-oven pizzas, grilled meats, game, and house-made pastas.
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Kitchen Essentials, and Items to Pass By
21 comments | October 8, 2008
Mortar and pestle… instant-read thermomenter… fondue pot…. all those expensive knives…. What’s worth the money, and what’s worthless?
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Broke as a Joke Pasta
1 comments | October 7, 2008
Your 401(k) has tanked. The cost of everything has gone up. But just because you’re fishing for quarters in the sofa doesn’t mean you have to eat the three-year-old popcorn pieces you find in there.
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Chefs to Visit DC, VA High Schools
2 comments | October 6, 2008
If you’re a budding culinarian in a DC or Northern Virginia-area high school, you may be in for a treat next week.
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The Wine Leading the Blind: Am I a Snob?
4 comments | October 3, 2008
I’ve heard many a fellow wine lover refer to the “wine that did it,” the wine that got him or her hooked. Ultimately, it was the wine that catapulted the person to another plane of wine appreciation.
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D.C. Casting Call: The Next Food Network Star
1 comments | September 30, 2008
There’s an open call for cast members of “The Next Food Network Star” (Season 5) in Washington on Friday. If you think you’re up for the culinary challenge — to beat out your competition and win your own six-episode show — read on.
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Comfort Food Challenge Update: Battle Chicken Pot Pie and 'Casserole Crazy'
0 comments | September 26, 2008
The votes are in, and it’s chicken pot pie over lasagna, by a nose!
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Positive Eating: A Movement We Can Get Behind
2 comments | September 17, 2008
In a nation with obesity rates reaching what some health officials call epidemic, it’s so refreshing to read stories like this one in the NYT Dining & Wine section today.
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These Turbulent Times Call for a Cocktail
4 comments | September 16, 2008
Trust me, it’s much better to watch your 401(k) shrivel with a pomegranate martini in hand.
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DC's 'Greenest Restaurant' to Open on Sept. 18
0 comments | September 15, 2008
Founding Farmers purports to be the most eco-friendly restaurant in our nation’s capital, and it opens its doors this Thursday.
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Beets: They're What's for Dinner
3 comments | September 12, 2008
After an ambitious farmers’ market purchase last weekend, there’s a surplus of beets sitting in a bowl at home. What to do, what to do….
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Useless Kitchen Gadgets and Their Useful Counterparts
0 comments | September 9, 2008
Here you are in Overpriced Home Goods Store X, staring at the wall of kitchen gadgets. While most of the stuff seems like your normal everyday kitchenware, there are a few items that cause great mental anguish.
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The Wine Leading the Blind: Alsace Goes Green
11 comments | September 5, 2008
Alsace is one of the more obscure French wine regions and, upon first reading about it a few years in my gospel, The Wall Street Journal Guide to Wine, two questions immediately popped into my head: How the eff do you pronounce Alsace, and where the eff do you find Alsatian wine?
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Episode AB: Into the Belly of the Beast
1 comments | September 5, 2008
On a recent trip to AB global headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, your intrepid reporter risked his life by asking AB the hard questions: How big is the biggest Clydesdale in the world? What is the real purpose of beechwood lagering?
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Yuengling: The Biggest of a Dying Breed
0 comments | September 4, 2008
After visiting Anheuser-Busch’s St. Louis brewery last week, I can see what Yuengling and other small breweries are up against.
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Gordon Ramsay Opening Up in DC Area, But How Might He Be Truly Innovative?
3 comments | September 2, 2008
Gordon Ramsay is opening a restaurant just west of DC. But will it be a dose of the same old belligerence from the celebrity chef that helped make kitchen temper tantrums and diatribes into reality-TV “enjoyment?”
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Underground (Guerrilla?) Restaurants
0 comments | August 27, 2008
Butcher a boar? Sample a four-course meal crafted with local ingredients in the comfort of a stranger’s home? Meet like-minded foodies? In the “anti-restaurants” cropping up around the country, you can do just that, a NYT piece explains.
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Paul Jacqueson Rully 1er Cru Pucelles 2006
0 comments | August 22, 2008
To shed some light on a father-and-son team that has spent the last 70 years toiling the earth and ending each day with good food and wine: Why can’t we extend the same luxury to ourselves?
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Your Vote Matters: Which Comfort Food Should Food Bloggers Dish Up?
11 comments | August 18, 2008
I’ll be facing off with 4 other Washington-area food bloggers in Battle Comfort Food — and we want to know what dish YOU think is the perfect fit.
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Tackling the Tomato
1 comments | August 14, 2008
I’ve been kicking it with the tomato like Bruce Lee.
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How to Avoid Food Poisoning While Traveling
2 comments | August 12, 2008
I travel quite a bit to random and far-off places, and I am proud to state that the only time I’ve had the misfortune of food poisoning was from a bad chicken wing in DC.
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Sylvain Pataille Marsannay Clos du Roy '05
3 comments | August 2, 2008
I imagine most of you are on some extravagant vacation and care little to hear about the business of wine at this moment, but for the diligent ones who want to ensure their fall meals are amply enriched by perplexing aromas, tune in.
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Episode VII: Beer and Pizza: It's Not Just for Frat Boys Anymore
2 comments | August 1, 2008
Three choices for a beer-pizza love affair: late-night mischief, a quick afternoon slice ‘n’ pint, and a homemade grilled pizza with company.
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The Wine Leading the Blind: All Things Burgundy, and Kir Royales
3 comments | August 1, 2008
We’d be remiss to leave out mention of the region’s famous kir and kir royale, widely served as a gratis aperitif cocktail in restaurants across Paris and Dijon.
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Poached Peaches with Cassis
0 comments | August 1, 2008
A Burgundian treat that takes full advantage of the blissfully ripe peaches overflowing at farmers’ markets this time of year.
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Pepperoncini Martini
3 comments | July 29, 2008
Yes, this martini actually involves the brine from those nearly neon lime green peppers you find with pizzas, salads and sliced up on subs. If you are extremely adverse to a spicy kick, this cocktail’s not for you.
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Collectors' Series: Humbert Freres Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru "Le Poissenot" 2003
0 comments | July 25, 2008
With tension, verve, depth, and energy…. I just got word that a handful of these bottles are available immediately from a perfectly climatized cellar in New York, and no one in the US is coming close to this price.
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Domaine de La Grange Tiphaine Montlouis 'Les Grenouilles' Demi Sec 2005
2 comments | July 25, 2008
I’ve been hiding out in the Loire Valley, and have gotten my hands on something incredible and affordable.
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Good Stuff Eatery
0 comments | July 21, 2008
The food, conceived by Top Chef alumnus Spike Mendelsohn, is delicious and suited for a lunch on the go (if the line isn’t too long).
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Maison Camille Giroud, Grand Cru, Corton Rognets 2006
0 comments | July 10, 2008
Why did Napoleon refuse to drink anything else? Here’s the answer, direct from the winery to you.
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Summer in a Glass: Mint Juleps
0 comments | July 7, 2008
Think front porches dotted with rocking chairs, weeping willow trees and a cocktail as American as the Kentucky Derby.
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The Wine Leading the Blind: Summer Whites for the Bored and Broke Palate
0 comments | July 3, 2008
I wandered into Calvert-Woodley (a favorite wine shop) last week with the aim of finding something completely exotic and new, as I was both bored and impressionable. The catch: it had to be $10 or less.
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Brew's Clues: Episode VI, In Which Brew Has a Barbecue
3 comments | July 3, 2008
Barbecuing and beer: the quintessence of July 4th. Many a barbecue will be thrown over the holiday, and many a beer will be drunk, but which ones are best?
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Summer Days...
0 comments | July 1, 2008
The July issue of The Humble Gourmand is sitting in the wings and will be launched Thursday, just in time for 4th of July barbeques and other summer shindigs.
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Get Yourself a Gimlet
0 comments | June 27, 2008
It doesn’t get much simpler or fresher than gin with homemade sour mix. You can also serve this straight up in a martini glass.
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Cheers to the Old, Too
2 comments | June 25, 2008
After giving you a quick look at the new faces gracing the online pages of the HG last week, here’s a quick rundown of the rest of ‘em.
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Mix It Up With Lychee Cosmos This Weekend
1 comments | June 19, 2008
This isn’t your typical cosmo.
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Cheers to Our New Faces
0 comments | June 18, 2008
As we hope you’ve noticed, there are some new faces around the HG.
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Top Chef Rehash: And the Winner Is...
0 comments | June 12, 2008
Even though I should be excited that we have our first female Top Chef, I cannot help but ignore the fact that the person we all thought would wipe the floor with some poor sap actually ended up losing grip in the end.
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June Issue is Up
1 comments | June 6, 2008
As we’re greeted with record temperatures this June, the HG has prepared a slew of summer-ready recipes and features for you.
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The Wine Leading the Blind: Chablis Ain’t No Jug Wine!
0 comments | June 6, 2008
If you mention Chablis to a budding wine enthusiast, don’t be surprised if his or her nose wrinkles in feigned disgust. Many a jug white has been packaged under the misnomer of “Chablis,” doing nothing but harm to the patently genius-esque elegance that it exudes.
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Episode V: Vermont in a Bottle
0 comments | June 6, 2008
I am on location in Burlington, Vermont, to do a little of the investigative reporting that I love best: sampling local beers.
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Top Chef Rehash: Pork, Sweetness and Self-Importance
5 comments | June 5, 2008
I thought this episode would be difficult to watch considering that the no-rice-cooking-wonder known as Lisa had made it this far, but watching Richard and Stephanie aptly perform made me forget her — until they brought out the pigs.
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Lucien Muzard et Fils
0 comments | June 4, 2008
I’m sure I don’t have to bang you over the head with the tidbit that great wine becomes more elegant with a little rest, and age — like people.
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An Early History of Bread and Baking
2 comments | June 3, 2008
With all the new recipes, gadgets, and cooking techniques out there to explore, what can we say about the history of baking? How did hunters and gatherers become bakers?
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Tangy Guacamole
0 comments | May 30, 2008
Nothing calls my name in the summer like a margarita on the rocks (with salt, please), an outside patio with sunshine on my shoulders and friends around the table, and tangy, spicy, fresh guacamole with blue corn tortilla chips.
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Top Chef Rehash: It's Rice!
0 comments | May 22, 2008
Finally, a Quickfire that really speaks to me.
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Dining in the Din
0 comments | May 19, 2008
A: This pasta is fantastic.
L: What?
A: THIS PASTA IS FANTASTIC!
L: WHAT? -

Top Chef Rehash: The Break-Up
4 comments | May 15, 2008
I feel like Bravo dumped me this week.
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Catch a Glimpse of the Inner Workings at DC's Major-League Restaurants
0 comments | May 12, 2008
The WETA Guide to Fine Dining showcases menus, chefs, and the crafting of that little thing called ambiance at various big-name spots in our nation’s capital. Read on for a list of restaurants featured.
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Top Chef Rehash: Cheese With Your Whine?
2 comments | May 8, 2008
Let’s review Dale’s demeanor throughout the episode: Angry. Angry. Arrogant. Whiny.
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Brew's Clues: Episode IV, A Brief Introduction to Homebrewing
0 comments | May 2, 2008
The time has come for me to explain the root of my passion for beer.
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The Wine Leading the Blind: Champagne Country, Vol.1 -- Hey, Big Spender!
1 comments | May 2, 2008
As I write this, I am about to embark on a journey to ye Olde World. By the time you’re reading it, I’ll be at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich — but I wanted to write from the perspective of my naïve palate on the eve of sampling some of the finest Champagnes in the world.
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Top Chef Rehash: Curries for Kids
0 comments | May 1, 2008
Last night my heart broke a little. My curly-haired comrade from down under was sent packing, leaving the Top Chef kitchen without such exotic (and perplexing) ingredients as Marmite and Wattleseed.
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New Photos / May Issue On Its Way
0 comments | April 30, 2008
We know you’re on the edge of your seat…
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Champagne For All -- Just Don't Call It Champagne
0 comments | April 29, 2008
There was a great story in The New York Times over the weekend about the sometimes-wacky lengths France (and the EU) will go to to protect the “identity and integrity” of Champagne.
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Cowgirl Creamery/Pizza Paradiso Beer-Cheese Dinner
2 comments | April 23, 2008
Beer? Cheese? Beer AND cheese?
The HG’s Lynne and I thought we had died and gone to heaven at a pairing dinner this Monday at Pizza Paradiso in Georgetown. The cheesemongers of Cowgirl Creamery worked closely with Paradiso to craft a stunning 5-course menu that left us speechless (and very full).
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"Green" Wine: Nope, It's Not What You Think!
0 comments | April 22, 2008
There’s a lot more to Chile’s Cono Sur than its wine.
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What's Your Go-To Weeknight Meal?
3 comments | April 16, 2008
When you find yourself behind the 8-ball, putting together a weeknight supper can seem like a chore (or go by the wayside in favor of second-rate delivery pizza and Chinese).
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First Facebook, Now Flickr...
0 comments | April 9, 2008
We’re finally getting with the times.
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As-You-Like-It Paella
2 comments | April 8, 2008
Paella is a fantastic dish for a dinner party. There’s so much going on, and all the spices and flavors meld together to create a wonderful, welcoming aroma for your guests’ arrival.
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April Issue: Dinner Parties and More
2 comments | April 4, 2008
We focused on entertaining this time around, with tips to help you survive your first soiree, set your table, or choose the right libation to deliver to your host.
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The Wine Leading the Blind: The Enigmatic "Perfect" Dinner Party Wine
3 comments | April 4, 2008
Anyone seen the hilarious and marginally offensive “Stuff White People Like” blog? I’m guilty of at least half of the accusations laid against anyone of European-American descent, but two of my favorites are wine and dinner parties — coincidentally two of this issue’s focal points.
Not sure what to bring, or serve? Follow these simple rules, and you’ll be in good shape.
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Brew's Clues: Episode III, In Which Brew Attends a Dinner Party
0 comments | April 4, 2008
Dinner parties, it seems, are rarely six-pack events. Unless the hosts are diehard beer fans or recovering frat boys, normal brews — whether the Pabsts of the world, or the Magic Hats — are inappropriate. Hence, I’ve chosen three beers that come in 750ml corked bottles, looking more like Champagne than malt liquor.
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Highway Robbery at the Ballpark?
3 comments | April 2, 2008
Washington’s Nationals played their home opener in a sparkling-new stadium last weekend, but our chief curiosity is this: How’s the food?
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Rodents in Restaurants (Not the Cartoon Kind)
5 comments | March 24, 2008
Sure, Ratatouille was a great movie, but it didn’t convince me that rats, mice, or any other small, furry creatures belong in restaurants.
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Stylish Irish
0 comments | March 17, 2008
Sitting in a history-steeped tavern in the nation’s capital early one March 17 of a not-too-distant year, I chanced upon the singular character of Rusty Clark. He sat at a corner table and leaned his chair back lazily against the side wall. His left foot pushed gently on the table’s edge.
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The Learned Cook
3 comments | March 12, 2008
Some may not take pleasure in learning culinary techniques, I guess, but for me, it’s part history lesson, part sensual indulgence, and part science experiment, all rolled into one.
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Brew's Clues: Episode II, In Which Brew Finds Warmth in the Great Cold North
0 comments | March 7, 2008
I left political dead-spot Washington, D.C., to make a pilgrimage to the Great Lakes Brewing Company, a socially conscious, environmentally friendly brewery minutes from Lake Erie.
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The Wine Leading the Blind: Scaling Back (The Table Wine Edition)
1 comments | March 7, 2008
All this talk of tannins and vanilla and finish has my head spinning, and not because I’ve had too much to drink.
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Erin Go Bragh!
0 comments | March 7, 2008
We’re proud to announce the latest issue of The Humble Gourmand, launched today for your weekend reading and cooking pleasure.
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Cookbookery: A Few Recommendations
2 comments | March 3, 2008
Good cookbooks are handy resources, even if you don’t plan to follow the recipes to a T.
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Feel-Good Food
3 comments | February 28, 2008
What do you eat or drink to stay healthy in these sickly winter months?
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Finding a Great Wine Store
0 comments | February 25, 2008
So, you find yourself in a predicament: you’re invited to dinner at New Girlfriend’s house, and you’re asked to bring a bottle of wine. You either don’t know what she’s serving, or you don’t know the first thing about wine. Or both. Gasp. What to do?
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HG on the Interwebs
0 comments | February 22, 2008
Check us out today on Metrocurean, an ahead-of-the-tape food site that’s a fantastic source of DC restaurant news, and in The Bowdoin Orient, the oldest continuously published college weekly in the country!
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Farmers' Markets in Winter
0 comments | February 19, 2008
Sure, you won’t be browsing in flip flops and shorts, but there are excellent reasons to bundle up and seek out a year-round farmers’ market.
About The Humble Gourmand
The Humble Gourmand is published the first Friday of each month, edited by Alison L. McConnell, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and writer. It is designed to offer straightforward lessons and advice to aspiring cooks, oenophiles, and all other eaters and drinkers.
The Humble Gourmand encourages users to comment on any and all of its features, but reserves the right to remove any material deemed inappropriate.