Vegansim is rapidly gaining acceptance in the food world as being not only a healthy choice, but an environmentally conscious one. However, if you’re used to using meats and cheeses as meal staples, attempting to create a meal revolving around plant based foods can take some getting used to. But don’t give up! Many vegan meals are actually easier to prepare than meals that involve meats. For one, cooking time can be cut way back since plant-based foods generally cook through much quicker than animal products. And you don’t have to worry about the dangers of consuming something that’s undercooked like you do with meat. In addition, your pocketbook will thank you for not having to spend so much money on expensive meats. At happyvegetable.com, a tasty vegan blog, you can learn a great deal about the vegan lifestyle including recipes (under the “yummies” category), nutritition information, and much more. I even discuss the raw lifestyle, provide some recipes, and take you on my journey of 40+ days when I ate only raw foods.
When I fell in love with wine I fell in love with Bordeaux. It seemed a natural course of events for me – the wine is a reflection of the soils, air, waters and above all the passion that it springs from. My father taught me to love wine and introduced me to Bordeaux reds and whites that he brought back from foreign business trips which we would have with our Sunday lunch. My interest in wine stayed with me through my days in catering and accountancy and remains one of my life’s greatest pleasures. I have been very fortunate to have travelled many continents and tasted wines from around the world. Bordeaux wine, however, remains my favourite for their food enhancement qualities, variety, complexity and lack of “the morning after” feeling.
I began seriously collecting and investing in blue-chip claret over a number of years for my personal cellar and after visiting Bordeaux on a regular basis, began to realise the sheer scale and potential of France’s largest fine-wine region. I was also honoured to be awarded the title of pru d’homme by the Jurade of Saint Emilion, an ancient brotherhood of wine dating back to 1199. I realised that there were an almost limitless number of petit châteaux producing wine of extraordinary quality, yet at bargain prices. The problem was that these wines never crossed the Channel. Realising this gap in the market, I established my online mail order company, Bordeaux-Undiscovered.
The wines which I discover in Bordeaux often have local cult followings which are usually unavailable to the rest of the world due to the huge number of thirsty enthusiasts who snap them up directly from the vineyards. These wines are made to traditional methods handed down from generation to generation, often from organic vineyards and often by award winning wine makers.
Bordeaux-Undiscovered buys straight from the châteaux which means that we are able to offer the wines at very reasonable prices. Many of our wines are exclusive to us and all are incredible value for money. The Daily Telegraph recently recommended one of our clarets - Château Chadeuil (£4.85) which is made by Dominique Hébrard and the Musset family. Dominique’s family are famous for the prestigious Château Cheval Blanc which took pride of place in the film Sideways.
Bordeaux-Undiscovered offers rosé and white wines as well as claret. The rosés are unusual in that they are Bordeaux Clairets. Bordeaux has been making Clairet for centuries – in fact it’s where the word claret originates from. These wines are steeped on the crushed grapes for longer using the saignée method which gives them superior fruit driven flavours. We also offer Champagne from Philippe Seconde whose vineyard is one of the top 17 Grand Cru vineyards with Champagne Houses such as Taittinger and Möet for neighbours.
I created Bordeaux-Undiscovered’s sister company, Interest in Wine, to bring the Classified Growths of Bordeaux to a new wave of lovers of fine wine – whether they were connoisseurs, enthusiasts, en primeur buyers, students or investors and collectors. Between 1995 and 2003, the value of my wine investment increased by over 43%, compared to a fall in the FTSE by nearly 6%. Moreover, the last three Bordeaux vintages have produced substantially better return than stocks and shares. I do not see why these wines should be kept only for those “in the know” and believe that every one should have access to them.
I have developed a new website for interestinwine.co.uk (to be released shortly) as I found that people wanted to know more about the châteaux, the people, appellations and wine makers who strive so hard to create perfection. interestinwine.co.uk has in-depth resumes of each Château we represent and comprehensive Tasting Notes from Robert Parker and Jancis Robinson, a Blog which updates you on the ever moving world of wine – including vintage releases and fine wine prices – as well as detailed notes and maps of the Appellations of Bordeaux.
I am blessed with a wonderful wife, Sue, and together we write daily blogs on the world of wine. Sue writes specifically for women at Ladies With Bottle and covers wine on the cat walk, beauty, health, food, film and in the lives of celebrities.
Together we hope to bring a little Bordeaux into every wine lover’s life.
Will your kids be as adventurous with food as you are? Make sure they are by introducing them to WonderToast! With this charming toasty character, they can explore the world’s great culinary delights and learn some really cool facts about the origins of exotic dishes. Check out WonderToast’s comic book/coloring book that teaches the ABCs through adorable illustrations such as “K is for Kimchi”, “Q is for Quesadilla”, and “Y is for Yorkshire Pudding”!
Put those COOL DESIGNS on KIDS CLOTHES, and you’ve got a recipe for success! Deck out your baby in an organic onesie that sports “N is for Nigiri” or for the pre-school set, try a t-shirt with “F is for Falafel”.
FOODIE PARENTS just can’t go wrong with WonderToast. For something extra special, pick up a gift set: shirt with an autographed book all wrapped up in a colorful chinese take-out box. Artist Anna Woltz will even include a fresh little drawing along with a personalization for your little one. Need a baby shower gift? Or maybe a child’s birthday is fast approaching? You’d be sure to impress with WonderToast!”
On Must Love Wine you can find a lot of good wine info, meet great well informed oenophiles and also learn a lot. Here are a few quick links to help you find what you want:
- Red Wine Reviews
- White Wine Reviews
- Food & Wine Pairings
- Wine Industry Colloquy (for wine professionals)
Does the title make you hungry? If not, some of the pictures will. Nibbles of Tidbits is a Food Blog published by Shelly Borrell, a Freelance Copywriter based in Costa Mesa, California. It specifically emphasizes the good, the bad and the funny regarding food, by featuring many terrific meals and recipes, as well as those dishes gone wrong. There?s no shame here. The writer hopes you?ll learn from her mistakes and others, and hopefully not your own. Nibbles of Tidbits includes restaurant reviews, cooking tips and experiments, taste tests, and stories about all things food-related. Shelly Borrell has been cooking and writing for more than twenty years and has extensive knowledge regarding food. She?s also been lucky enough to win a couple recipe contests. As a matter of fact, she won the Grand Prize in the Soup category in a contest sponsored by Milk. Her picture and recipe ended up in a Gourmet and Bon Appetite Magazine issue. Nibbles of Tidbits is updated daily, so check back for the many informative posts to come.
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