Tastings that Rock at NYC's City Winery

When you think Led Zeppelin, you think rock and roll, amazing guitar solos and wine, right?  Well, maybe not the wine part. But if you think about how you would describe Led Zeppelin’s music, it’s not far from how you would describe wine.  In talking about songs like “The Ocean” and “Heartbreaker” you can use [...]

Cooking with Lavender

I love the smell of lavender.  Dried lavender, lavender soap, lavender moisturizer, lavender black tea, I have it all.  My most recent lavender purchase: a lavender cookbook. The Lavender Cookbook by Sharon Shipley is filled with recipes that incorporate this great smelling herb. Never tried food made with lavender?  You’ll be surprised at how good [...]

AG Pick Under $10: 2006 Dante Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

If you’re looking for a red wine to please a variety of palates, pick up a bottle of the 2006 Dante Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Lighter in structure than many California Cabs and fruit forward without being overly fruity, this wine is very versatile. On the nose are ripe red and black fruit flavors and rose.  [...]

Take a Bite Out of Bulldog Barbecue

This Memorial Day weekend leave the barbecuing to the pros.  It’s the perfect time to check out Bulldog Barbecue, the North Carolina-style ‘cue restaurant of Top Chef season 3 contestant Howie Kleinberg. If you’re looking for a greasy and gritty barbecue joint, this isn’t it.  You won’t smell like smoke when you leave and you [...]

River Lounge & Club 50: Downtown Miami's Newest Hot Spots

Who wants to deal with traffic on South Beach when there are new bars and lounges opening up all the time in downtown Miami?  For a fun evening out, skip the ocean and head to the river.  Right on the Miami River you’ll find River Lounge and Club 50, the latest in the downtown/Brickell nightlife [...]

AG Pick Under $15: 2005 Secreto Sauvignon Blanc

The label on Secreto Sauvignon Blanc will catch your eye but it’s the taste that will have you pouring a second glass. The 2005 Secreto Sauvignon Blanc from Viu Manent is made with grapes from the Colchagua Valley in Chile.  It’s 85% Sauvignon Blanc.  The other 15% is a secret — you’ll have to ask [...]

A Rum For Your Lifestyle

After three days of sipping rum with experts, mixologists, collectors and people who enjoy a good cocktail at the Rum Renaissance Festival, it’s clear that rum is more than just a drink — it’s a lifestyle. What exactly makes a rum right for your lifestyle?  That of course depends on your taste.  As UK Rum [...]

Rum Renaissance Kickoff Party

If your only real experience with rum is drinking daiquiris or mojitos, you’ve barely scratched the surface of this spirit. From light to dark, flavored to spiced, the flavors of rum can vary greatly.  At this weekend’s Rum Renaissance in Miami you’ll have the opportunity to try them all. Last night the rum celebration kicked [...]

Great Gables Wine Walk

Looking for a fun evening out in Coral Gables?  Bring your appetite and a comfortable pair of shoes to the next Great Gables Wine Walk. Think of it as a pub crawl for wine lovers.  You purchase $10 tickets in advance on winewalk.net, which gets you a glass of wine and light bites at one [...]

Cool Down with a Caipirinha

Caipirinhas are the perfect summer cocktail.  Part sour, part sweet, caipirinhas are replacing mojitos as the hottest drink in South Florida. The caipirinha is the national cocktail of Brazil.  Only recently has it been gaining popularity outside the country.  It’s a fairly simple drink: Cachaça (made in Brazil from fermented sugarcane juice), fresh lime juice [...]