It's Time for Wine: Swanson, Benessere & Central Coast Wine Classic

By Monty & Sara Preiser In this article: Swanson is Sweet, Benessere Brings New Boss, Central Coast Wine Classic Continues Charity Arsene, Minuit, Tardif, Luminous, Crepuscule. Are these: a.  Jovian moons b.  Egyptian Gods c.  Chevrolet’s new line of fuel efficient motor vehicles? OK, OK. Last option: d.  None of the above. Well, good for [...]

Rethink Tequila – A Reintroduction to the Mexican Spirit

In my ongoing quest to go from amateur to expert in the world of wine, beer and spirits, I’ve attended tastings, taken classes, visited wineries, breweries and distilleries and made countless visits to liquor stores.  Even as I’ve delved more into spirits, I never really paid much attention to tequila.  Blame it on some not [...]

Brewers Association's Top 50 Breweries

The Brewers Association has released its annual list of the Top 50 Brewing Companies in the United States.  The lists were compiled from beer sales data gathered by the non-profit trade group that tracks U.S. breweries. The Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies list is comprised of small and independent craft brewers; the Top 50 Overall [...]

Praising the Lard at COCHON 555

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in downtown Atlanta a congregation rose to its feet, lifted glasses of Pinot Noir and exclaimed, “Praise the Lard!” The reason: COCHON 555, a 10 city tour bringing together 5 chefs, 5 pigs, 5 winemakers and hundreds of pork fans to celebrate and raise awareness for heritage breed pigs. As [...]

Snapshots from Atlanta's Dogwood Festival

The weather couldn’t have been nicer for the 74th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival.  Held over the weekend at Piedmont Park, the free festival attracted thousands of people and more than 250 artists from around the country. Here are some snapshots from the festival.  Click to enlarge

It’s Time for Wine: Petit Verdot – The James Dean of Wine

Kind of dark. Brooding. Powerful without being overpowering. Perhaps not for everyone’s taste. Such are the descriptors used by entertainment writers over the years for a number of distinctive actors, but the one that comes most immediately to mind is James Dean (though in Rebel Without a Cause Sal Mineo was the darkest character – [...]

AG Pick Under $15: 2007 Matchbook Cabernet Sauvignon

Looking for a bold red wine to add a little spark to your weekend?  Pick up a bottle of the 2007 Matchbook Cabernet Sauvignon. The name and the singed label hint at the smoke flavors in the wine, though it was owner John Giguiere’s pyromania as a child that actually inspired both.  Besides Cabernet Sauvignon, [...]

Tropical Brunch in the Redland

Take a break from the beach and drive out to Homestead on Sunday, April 25th for a great cause. Les Dames D’Escoffier International’s Miami chapter is sponsoring the “Tropical Brunch in the Redland,” with proceeds going to the LDEI Scholarship Fund that benefits food, beverage and hospitality industry students. The brunch will be held at [...]

Pig Out Sunday at Cochon 555

Update: Chef Sean Brock of McCrady’s Restaurant was crowned “Prince of Porc.”  Click here for photos from Sunday’s event and click here for the full article. Can’t get enough pork?  Go crazy for bacon?  Love washing down pork ribs with a fine wine?  Then you’ll want to check out COCHON 555 this Sunday in Atlanta. [...]

Atlanta's Annual Dogwood Festival Features New Restaurant Week

The Amateur Gastronomer is expanding to Atlanta just in time for the 74th Annual Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park!  It’s a celebration of the white and pink flowering trees that add splashes of color to the city’s green Spring landscape. The festival features a Fine Artist Market that includes sculpture, paintings, pottery, jewelry, photography and [...]