Food & Restaurants Archives | Blueprint for Style

Food & Restaurants

can you choose wine based on your style ethos?

I say, “Why not?!” Now, as I understand it, the bigger/bolder the wine, the more a meatier piece of protein is called for but, alas, I didn’t have that so drank it alone! As I was sipping [diligently], it occurred to me that some of the nuances and personality of wine and whether it’s “your” wine, could possibly be related to one’s personal style, so here we go… I am simple and classic to the eye but actually pretty complex

2023/06/08

Food & Restaurants

wine time!

What else can I do while I’m home to unwind in the evening? “They” say you’re supposed to maintain some type of schedule or normalcy so, a glass of wine sounds right! The issue for me is that when I think of opening a bottle, I remember that I cannot drink the entire thing in one or two sittings….so some gets wasted (smh). The solution hit my inbox two weeks ago with VineBox, a quarterly wine subscription service. Unlike the other

2020/05/01

Food & Restaurants

Autumn Drinks

It’s just about that time…..to think sweaters, layering, fire pits and fall drinks (something to add a touch of warmth to the mix). The options are endless but as a big non-drinker drinker, this Old Fashioned is a winner! And quite easy to make…. Ingredients 2 parts Jameson Black Barrel 0.75 Benedictine liqueur 2 dashes Angostura Bitters 2 dashes Orange Bitters And if you have another drink that is floating your boat and keeping you warm, just make sure you’ve

2016/09/07

Food & Restaurants

Highberry Sauvignon Blanc

It won’t be long before I’m headed back to South Africa (fingers crossed it’s sooner than later) but in the meantime, I’m soaking up the culture including the wine. I had a chance to sample the Highberry Sauvignon Blanc wine from new winery owned, in part, by Jabulani Ntshangase (a big shot in South Africa’s wine world). It’s not something I would normally buy at $55 a bottle so the chance to taste the crisp and refreshing white was welcome. I’m

2016/05/17

Food & Restaurants

2015 in Review: Top Food Crazes

2015 saw lots of “cool” terms and the rise of a number of food trends. The top ones included: “locally sourced” – if it wasn’t local or nearby apparently it was no good…. kale – it was in almost everything you ate…for the earlier part of the year pomegranate – one of the super foods outsourced grocery shopping – we are a nation of conveniences so the idea of ordering food that could be delivered in the right portion size was awesome sauce! Yay Blue

2016/01/19

Food & Restaurants

Mockingbird Hill: Wine, Sherry, Ham

Those are all lovely words to feast on… And apparently can all be found at Mockingbird Hill, a new Sherry and ham bar. If my girlfriend Sandra were reading this right now, I think she’d be happy! The owners are the same fab folks who own the Columbia Room and the Passenger so that says a lot. Not only are there 50 Sherries to try out but each glass comes with free snacks and your cured ham starts at $5

2015/12/21

Food & Restaurants

Using My Birthday Gift For The Holidays

Y’all know I got a crock pot (aka slow cooker) for my birthday right? My sister got me a fancy one from Cuisinart and I’ve been doing “lazy cooking” now for almost two full months. I got an email from PureWow and now my entire family will be regaled with how far I’ve pushed the limits of my crockpot skills! Head to PureWow to get 10 cocktails you can make with a crock pot! I’m down for at least four of

2015/12/10

Food & Restaurants

On The Road: Carry-on Cocktail Kit

On your next long flight (mine is coming up next week so I’ve already put my order in…), skip the coffee, tea, and soft drinks for a real cocktail! Thank Carry-on Cocktail Kit for creating three lovely travel-size tins to mix a real drink at 30,000. You have the choice of an Old-Fashioned, Gin and Tonic, or Moscow Mule (I chose the later). Ready. Set. Off we go!

2015/10/07

Food & Restaurants

On The Road: Food Market in Denver

Acorn. Babettes. Beet & Yarrow. Boxcar Coffee. Roasters. Collegiate Peaks Bank. Comida. Crooked Stave. Jennifer Olson Photography. Slow Food Denver. The Proper Pour. Super Ordinary. Wunder Werkz. Yacht Club. All at The Source…in Denver. It’s supposed to be THE place if you’re a foodie. Not to mention several other hot spots and boutique lifestyle retailers. It’s the Denver version of Union Market!

2015/08/28

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Wine-o: Belle Glos Pinot Noir

It’s dark, yummy and full-bodied without being tannin-y (if that’s a word). During a recent three-day trip to Kent Island, myself and two girlfriends spent time in a lovely bay house, taking in scenery, laughing and doing quite a bit of drinking. Two of the bottles we tore up were Belle Glos Pinot Noir (2013 Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County) and I’m in love…although I likely cannot afford to be since it runs almost $50 a bottle online! You’ll get

2015/08/19

Food & Restaurants

On The Road: Wilhelmina in Amsterdam

Next time you’re in Schiphol Airport or passing through, look for and purchase the old-fashioned, Wilhelmina peppermint candies. Stamped with the Dutch queen’s face and made with pure peppermint oil, they’re really good. I tried them many years ago and haven’t seen them since….

2015/08/13

Food & Restaurants

On The Road: New York City Drug Cocktails

We all love the Big Apple and there’s always something new to discover while moving about the overcrowded, opportunistic city. Next time, head to Stanley’s. It’s a full service pharmacy-meets-wellness kind of bar. Imagine a soda fountain, prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies, and a mix of “….teas, sodas, kombucha and coconut water paired with pharmaceuticals…” [departures, pg.60] and you’ve got Stanley George’s creation. It’s at 31 Ludlow St.

2015/07/27

Food & Restaurants

On The Road: Buenos Aires’ Secret Staircase

Buenos Aires is known for its meat and rightly so. It’s so yummy, tender and tasty. Their newest addition for the city of foodies is cheese thus, the go-to place is Bar du Marche. Bar du Marche is in the city’s Palermo Hollywood neighborhood. Argentina already has great wine so throw in the cheese and it’s a marriage made in heaven. Chillax long enough and, of course, you’ll need to order a steak. Here’s what to do next: look

2015/07/09

Food & Restaurants

Travel Too….Vietnam: Let’s Talk Fa-la-la-la-la Vietnamese Pho

Pho, pronounced “fa” or “fuh”, is a traditional Vietnamese soup with flavorful garnishes. I had it as part of just about every meal while in Vietnam and I’m now a fan (wink, wink Maggy)! It’s traditionally made with beef but chicken or pork can work too. Try it, be amazed and…it’s healthy!

2015/04/13

Food & Restaurants

The Perfect Cup of Iced Coffee

I like coffee (see previous post about “Morning Beats & Reading Treats“) so when I saw this video on PureWow, I was convinced I had to share. Warm weather is around the corner and why blow that $728 at Starbucks when you can do it at home and make it just the way you want it? This just means I need to make sure I have the perfect mug…!

2014/05/23

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News, Articles & More

can you choose wine based on your style ethos?

wine time!

Autumn Drinks

Highberry Sauvignon Blanc

2015 in Review: Top Food Crazes

Mockingbird Hill: Wine, Sherry, Ham

Using My Birthday Gift For The Holidays

On The Road: Carry-on Cocktail Kit

On The Road: Food Market in Denver

Wine-o: Belle Glos Pinot Noir

On The Road: Wilhelmina in Amsterdam

On The Road: New York City Drug Cocktails

On The Road: Buenos Aires’ Secret Staircase

Travel Too….Vietnam: Let’s Talk Fa-la-la-la-la Vietnamese Pho

The Perfect Cup of Iced Coffee

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