Visiting Magical Minerve & Reviewing Apple TV Series

I'll Review Apple TV Series About Michelin Star Chefs—

Season Two of "Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars" produced by Gordon Ramsay and Jesse Burgess is being released on October 10th by Apple TV. I've been privileged to be given access to shows in advance so I can write a feature about them here on Vino Voices—which I'll publish on Tuesday, September 22nd. I will then begin reviewing episodes in advance, beginning Tuesday, September 29th. (Trailer for Season One is below; I'll post the Season Two trailer when it is released.)

(BTW - Season One is available here.)

Food Network 'The Line' Chef Talks About The Kitchen Saving Him—

The Food Network has a new series titled The Line coming out, and in this Wall Street Journal article Chef Bobby Flay tells how he offset failing grades with kitchen time.

Wine 'Master Class'—

I spent four and a half years living and working in Pakistan, until about a decade ago. There, several of us enjoyed cooking and drinking wine together in our apartments, as well as going out to local restaurants. Two co-workers, Jen from the USA and Blanche from France, read a hyperlinked Wall Street Journal article about wine and business networking that I referenced last week in Vino Voices. They then asked if I could provide them with a brief Master Class on wine. So, I agreed. We met online on Sunday, and I highlighted three aspects of what I consider to key to appreciating a wine: balance, complexity (or coherence of one particular flavor) and emotional impact.

Also—a few tips about pairing food and wine: pairings are generally complementary (such as Chardonnay and lobster; the wine's buttery texture matches the succulent meat, while oakiness complements butter sauce) or contrasting (spicy Thai food paired with Riesling; the wine's fruit contrasts against the coco and chili). And if you are pairing a dessert and sweet wine, the wine should be the sweeter of both.

Cookbook Endorsement from Author of 18 Books on Wine—

Gilles Berdin is a Bordeaux based author who has written 18 books about wine—each containing conversations he had with renowned winemakers while they shared glasses of wine (his latest will be released this month). Gilles and I have known each other for about ten years, since we serendipitously met at a book fair in the city of Bordeaux. Gilles has taken me to meet some of the greatest wine producers in Bordeaux, and I am deeply indebted to him for immersing me in French wine culture and personalities.

He provided a review for my cookbook, The Winemakers' Cooking Companion, below.

“Tom’s passion for the art of taste has culminated in a book that seamlessly combines the pleasures of food and drink. The idea of inviting prominent players from the wine industry to unveil some of their culinary secrets is simply delightful. Reading this book is a truly indulgent experience, made all the better by recipes exquisitely described—so tempting and easy to bring to life.”

— Gilles Berdin, French author of 18 books in the Bottle with Winemaker series

Free Recipe from The Winemakers' Cooking Companion Cookbook

I compiled the cookbook titled The Winemakers' Cooking Companion over a ten year period. It includes 108 recipes from 18 countries—contributed by winemakers, winery chefs and winery owners. A book launch dinner will take place on September 16th in my village in southern France at La Cantine du Curé wine bar/restaurant, when winemakers from two wineries and chefs from three restaurants cook up a storm of recipes. There will also be an event at the Green Cat art gallery this autumn.

Recipe—

Enjoy these fluffy dough balls with a glass of white wine before dinner. This is a CLASSIC French recipe that is a delight to share with bubbles or white wine . . .

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

I'm continuing to provide all chapters from my book Vino Voices: Wine, Work, Travel, Life for free here. Originally written over a decade ago, this book has been revised and is available as an e-book. It is 230 pages long and includes interviews with more than 45 professionals in a dozen countries who work in the world of wine, and explain why they love their work. It includes more than 100 photographs.

Click below to download chapters twenty one and twenty two, about a schoolteacher on the Portuguese mid Atlantic Azores island of Pico who struggled to get the strange, rocky and beautiful local vineyards designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; also—a visit to a cork maker on mainland Portugal who emphasizes how strict hygiene is essential to produce quality bottle sealers.

📥 Download Vino Voices Chapter 22—Cork