Cookbook Launch Dinner & New Apple TV Series

Cookbook Launch Dinner—

Success!

The below video highlights some scenes from my cookbook launch dinner for The Winemakers' Cooking Companion, held on September 16th, at La Cantine du Curé restaurant in Caunes-Minervois. Thanks to that restaurant, and also to restaurants L'Atelier and Le Cedrat, in Caunes-Minervois, for the preparation of meals. And to Domaine Taillandier, as well as to Domaine Jean-Baptiste Senat, for providing accompanying wines.

And—thanks to all who attended! Some 50 diners enjoyed four courses prepared by chefs from three restaurants, and wines from two local winemakers. The weather was wonderful, the ambience warm and the food and wines stellar. Some guests drove inland from the Mediterranean coast, and one even flew in from the U.K. for this event.

Recipe Review from Neighbors—

Neighbors Keith and Carolyn Penfold from the U.K.—living in Caunes-Minervois village—prepared for visiting family members the first recipe from my cookbook: Zucchini Cucumber Gazpacho. They sent the attractive photo below, with the words: "Blooming Delicious!!!"

If you cook a dish from the book, please send a photo!

Overview of Apple TV—"Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars - Season 2"

"Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars—Season 2" from Apple TV will premier this Friday, September 25th, when the first two episodes (out of a total of eight) are released. I have the fortune of having been given access to episodes in advance, and so on Friday mornings (Central Europe time) for the next seven weeks I will release a Vino Voices—Special Edition that includes a general review of each episode on the day of release.

Executive Producers are Chef Gordon Ramsay, Lisa Edwards, Lorraine Charker-Phillips and Jill Greenwood. James Callum directed the series. Host Jesse Burgess narrates as he travels, samples food and interacts with chefs. A total of 16 restaurants are followed during the series.

Episodes take place in rural Wales, the island of Guernsey, Florida and California in the USA, Brazil, France, Sweden and Germany.

As Apple TV describes the series: "Experience thrilling highs and crushing lows as the world's best chefs pursue the ultimate accolade: a Michelin Star. These anonymous inspectors have never let anyone in on their mysterious ways, until now."

I will soon provide reviews of specific episodes. Stay tuned for a first Special Edition Vino Voices this Friday. For each such episode, I will highlight:

• Restaurant and location, customer capacity and how many Michelin stars are the restaurants aiming for?
• Tensions/conflicts (interpersonal, and/or business related)
• Quotes (from chefs and anonymous Michelin inspectors)
• Culinary highlights (descriptions of mouth watering dishes)

Free Recipe from The Winemakers' Cooking Companion Cookbook

My cookbook titled The Winemakers' Cooking Companion was compiled over a ten year period. It includes 108 recipes from 18 countries—contributed by winemakers, winery chefs and winery owners. The book launch dinner took place on September 16th in my village in southern France, as described above. Fifty diners joined. There will also be an event at the Green Cat art gallery this autumn.

Recipe—

Below is a free recipe from my cookbook for a supremely seductive and delicious red wine and chocolate cake from a winemaker family in Austria.

More Free Chapters From The Book Vino Voices: Wine, Work, Travel, Life

Click below to download free copies of chapters twenty five and twenty six from my book Vino Voices: Wine, Work, Travel, Life. One chapter is about meeting—in Sydney, Australia—a sommelier who opened a wine bar in a city that loves beer, and the other tells of a magnificent winery built by a renowned French family into a mountainside within the gorgeous Colchagua Valley of Chile.

What's Next In Vino Voices—

I'll soon feature:

• Reviews—new AppleTV series "Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars - Season 2."
• Genoa Boat Show in Italy—what wines are being served?
• A young California couple's wedding in Antibes, Provence, France—what wines are favored, and which dishes are they paired with?

Vino Voices is growing and we APPRECIATE your interest.

Thanks for tuning in!