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A perfect pairing to holiday celebrations. 

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#SommelierSelection Bortolotti Rosado (sparkling Lagrein!)

Spicy crab #bocadillo ($16) with a squid ink bun!

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Not a bad month of new wine selections and reading.

#wine #newCalifornia #france #Loire #burgundy #Oregon #terroir #senseofplace

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Thanks to Levi Dalton for having me on the show, honored to be along side so many fantastic individuals from our wine community, because that's what it's all about!

Episode 201: Friday, September 19, 2014

Liz Mendez is a partner in Vera wine bar in Chicago.

Listen to this episode in iTunes

Download this episode directly as an .m4a file

Sponsored by SevenFifty, the easiest way to search for wholesale wine & spirits in many states, probably including yours. If Sevenfifty isn’t already available in your area, it soon will be.

#chicago #seven fifty #community #wine #vera #sommelier #small business #restaurateur

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Time Out Chicago ‘The 25 Essential Chicago Dishes …’ 

Our meatball dish recently made Time Out Chicago’s list of 25 Essential Dishes … thanks TOC! That bottle of Tenuta delle Terre Nere in this photo ain’t bad either!

http://www.timeout.com/chicago/food-drink/25-essential-Chicago-dishes-and-drinks

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#OITNB got me again with a song at the end of the show during credits. Valentine ... haunting, touching, and surprising. 

#music #orange is the new black #valentine #inspiration

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Urban gardening, Food52-style. (Regram via @sarahjampel)

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First of the season tomatoes.

#tomatoes #season #cooking #rosé food #tisTheSeason

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My grandmother taught all the grandchildren the importance of cleaning up after a great party. It was also a special time that you got to spend with GG, here my grandmother has that special moment with my Goddaughter.

#family #friends #love #lifelong

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Little gem salad, local radishes, egg, and lemon anchovy dressing. These greens come from Kinnikinnick farm in Caledonia Illinois, someone we have worked with for a long time. Theses greens taste so fresh and alive we didn’t want to throw too many things on here just some garnish so the flavor of the greens stands out. Sometimes people might not understand what the big deal is, why we get excited about some lettuce greens. All i can say is if you could taste these you would understand. Dave Cleverdon, the farmer is one of those rare people who puts quality above everything. He doesn’t grow a lot but what he brings us is always special. 

http://www.kinnikinnickfarm.com/

#Respect Dedication HardWork Farmers

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Madeira morning

#madeira #portugal

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Whiskey barrels getting the #Madeira treatment.

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If you’re coming to #ThePiglet party, come hungry. (#regram via @amandahesser) (at Food52 HQ)

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Taste one of the only single estate Sherry houses at this fantastic dinner.

Tapas Reception

La Guita Manzanilla & Inocente Found (cocktail)

First Course

Ajo Blanco, Jamon Iberico - Valdespino ‘Inocente’

Second Course

Smoked mackerel salad, marcona almonds, quail egg - Valdespino ‘Tio Diego’

Third Course

Paella, duck, foie gras, dates - Valdespino ’ Isabela’

...

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Ikan Balado (Padang-Style Grilled Mackerel with Sambal)

In Padang, restaurants grill and fry small whole mackerel before smearing them with sambal, a spicy chile-based condiment. We find that the skin-on filets of larger fish work just as well.

Photo: Ingalls Photography 

Get the recipe: http://bit.ly/1mQKnIZ

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