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Riesling Rocks

The number one question I receive by a wide margin is “What’s your favorite wine?” More often than not, my answer is Riesling.

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A Few Things I Learned on my Trip to Catalonia

I’ve just returned from a trip to the Catalonia region in northeast Spain, as a guest of the EU’s “Taste the Difference: Quality Wines from the Heart of Europe” campaign.

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White Wine with Red Meat

I’m all about following rules: I stop at stop signs, I accept a breath mint when offered, and I’ll never again wear horizontal stripes on my hips. But there’s one rule I break often and it’s the most ...

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A Step-by-Step Guide with Video to Opening Champagne and Sparkling Wine

“Here’s to Champagne, the drink divine, that helps us forget all our troubles. It’s made from a dollar’s-worth of wine and three-dollars’-worth of bubbles.” (Anonymous)

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Wine & Cheese: Culinary Heaven or Eden?  You Decide

You say you adore sea salt caramels and suppose it’s because they’re just so darn delicious! Sort of. In fact, we’re hard wired to crave the nutritional necessities of salt, sugar and fat in modern ...

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Bubbles for Breakfast

Unless you drink for a living as do I, morning alcohol consumption may not be a recommended lifestyle choice. But in Chicagoland winters, when mornings-after don’t look much different than ...

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Questions Wine Lovers Want Answered

Most people go into hospitality because they love a good party! At The Chopping Block, we’re no exception and a good time was had by all during our recent party, a.k.a. the sold-out Lincoln ...

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New Wines for Fall Classes at The Chopping Block

Way last century, the hip sommelier closed their out-going voicemail with “Leave your message at the tone. And in case of emergency, serve dry Rosè.” Back then, Rosè meant White Zinfandel, sugary ...

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Enjoy the World's Best Rosè

Check out this fun video depicting world-wide wine consumption:

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I Never Knew I Liked…

I never knew I liked rice. Then I discovered authentic Indian cuisine with its basmati and jasmine rice, quite a contrast to the glop served up in 1950’s America when I was raised. Next, I discovered ...

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Most Recent Posts

A Wedding Cake Tale

  I love to bake, and I’m frequently asked to bake cakes and cookies for all sorts of...Read more

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    I'm back with another bean blog! It’s been a while since I’ve had the canned...Read more

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If you watched America's Test Kitchen: The Next Generation you already know the great news: our...Read more

Riesling Rocks

  The number one question I receive by a wide margin is “What’s your favorite wine?” More...Read more

Chinese Birthday Traditions

  Although my family comes from Burma, many of our traditions are deeply rooted in Chinese...Read more

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