Today is an exicting day here at LENNDEVOURS. First, you’ll notice three new articles in the "Read Me In Print" list to your left. These articles are in Dan’s Papers: Over the Barrel…With Lenn Thompson: Five Turkey Day Wine Tips Gold Coast Grapes Holiday Host/Hostess Gifts: What Wine Should You Bring? Even more exciting, I was asked by Josh at The Food Section to offer my thoughts on Turkey Day wine pairs for his piece titled "Chasin’ The Bird 2004, Part 1: Wine Bloggers Talk Turkey." I love his site, read it every day, and the fact that he asked…
Posts Written OnNovember 19, 2004
Over The Barrel…With Lenn Thompson: 5 Turkey Day Wine Tips
(This column appeared in the 11/19 issue of Dan’s Papers) Five Turkey Day Wine TipsChoosing wines to serve with your Thanksgiving Day spread can seem a monumental task. Typical Thanksgiving dinners include a plethora of different flavors and textures—turkey (white and dark meat), stuffing that can contain almost anything, rich gravy, sweet potatoes, tart cranberry sauce and sweet pumpkin pie. Add other possibilities like ham, prime rib or even Italian food (like we have) and it can be overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be and it shouldn’t be. There’s only one rule for matching wines with Thanksgiving: there are no…
Holiday Host/Hostess Gifts: What Wine Should You Bring?
(This articled appeared in the 11/19 issue of Dan’s Papers) With Thanksgiving less than a week away, “the season” is almost here. No, I’m not talking about Thanksgiving Day itself or any other specific holiday. I’m talking about holiday party season. You know exactly what I’m talking about, too – because chances are you’ll be invited to at least a few parties between now and the beginning of 2005. It’s a great time of year and offers ample opportunities to enjoy good food and good wine with the best of friends. Personally, I never go to a party empty handed,…
Gold Coast Grapes-Old Brookville Vineyards Survive Despite Natural Disasters
(This article appeared in the 11/19 issue of Dan’s Papers) There are many environmental factors that can adversely affect or even destroy a vineyard’s grape crop. From extreme temperatures to phylloxera to animals eating the fruit, vineyard managers have a lot of things to worry about. And over the past several years, Old Brookville Vineyards, the only commercial vineyard in Nassau County, has succumbed to more of these factors than any other Long Island vineyard.
Thanksgiving Barrel Tasting at Peconic Bay Winery
This Sunday afternoon, Nena and I are heading out east to Peconic Bay Winery for their 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Barrel Tasting. I’m covering it for Dan’s Papers and have a column due the next day…so I guess I can’t have too much wine when we’re there! I’m looking forward to it. It’s outside in a heated tent and we’ll be tasting barrel samples of their 2003 Merlot, 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2003 Cabernet Franc along side some great food made by some of the top local chefls. I’d also like to meet winemaker Greg Gove and their new Culinary Director,…
Stuffing is the STUFF!
Stuffing. It’s far and away my favorite part of any Thanksgiving dinner. Always filled with strong flavors, including sage, sausage…and even oysters in some parts of the country. The New York Times has a great article describing how personal stuffing recipes can be. And it got me thinking…have I ever made stuffing that wasn’t quick and easy out of a box? Isn’t it pathetic that the answer is no? Even sadder still is the fact that without a real oven in our current rental, I’m not sure it is forthcoming. I picture myself making one with bread and corn bread…adding…