Food, Wine, Culture TV - Episode 8: Two easy seafood dishes and Italian White Wines
August 28, 2008 by michael · Leave a Comment
Food, Wine, Culture TV- The Real Episode 8: Today we’re making fried calamari and lobster which I pair with a couple white wines from Soave (Veneto, Italy) that I tasted in Episode 7 (here). Join me for a 12 minute journey into some great seafood and good wines!
Food, Wine, Culture TV - Episode 7: Blind Prosciutto Tasting and Italian White Wines
August 26, 2008 by michael · 6 Comments
No news show this week! It was lost in the taping some how…so here’s an early Episode 7! (main page image: wikipedia.com wiki commons)
Episode 7: In what Michael refers to as episode 8, is really episode 7 (an episode was lost to the MiniDV Tape Gods!). Today we’re blind tasting three prosciuttos, and then tasting three Italian white wines. Join Michael to find out your best value Prosciutto and what wines to pair with it! Tune in to the next episode when we bring the wines back and pair it with two perfect seafood dishes!
First-time visitors guide to Montalcino
August 25, 2008 by michael · Leave a Comment
This past November Kim and I spent nine days dining and wine tasting in one of the most highly acclaimed wine regions in the world. On our trip to Montalcino, we abandoned the guide books that helped us in Florence, Siena and Bologna and decided that we would just find places that looked good and take our chances. The result was quite surprising: two of the more highly recommended establishments were let downs while many of the smaller, lesser known restaurants gave us great food, outstanding service and overall incredible dining experiences. This short guide will hopefully give you an idea on where to eat, drink and stay if you don’t have time to try every place out for yourself. For those of you who aren’t traveling to this beautiful hilltop town, you’re missing out on some of the best food and wine the world has to offer.
Related links:
Food, Wine, Culture TV- Episode 6: Cooking show- Mike’s Mama’s Schnitzel & Rieslings!
Wow…already at episode 6! If you missed the first five, click on the FWB-TV link above (or here!). Today we’re back in our “still being renovated” kitchen where I prepare my Mama’s schnitzel with pommes frites and a few Rieslings. Carlos L. is back this time with his electric guitar to provide music and expert food tasting skills. The schnitzel turned out great, the wines are good and Carlos keeps the music rocking. (Main image credit: wikipedia.com)
Food, Wine, Culture TV: Episode 5: German (and one Austrian) wines under $12 with Carlos L!
Food, wine, culture - TV: Episode 5: German Riesling! Michael Mohammadi of Foodandwineblog.com gives an overview of German wines and tastes a few Rieslings. An Austrian red wine is slipped into the mix to please the palate of guitarist and friend of foodandwineblog.com Carlos L. In this 5th episode, 2 of the Rieslings are good values, one is an OK value and the Zweigelt is a big pass. This show sets the stage for Episode 6 which features Michael’s mamas recipe for Schnitzel mit Pommes Frites and a pairing with German bier and wine!
Food, Wine, Culture TV: Episode 4: Tuesday, August 19 2008- The Wine News Show Inaugural Episode!
August 19, 2008 by michael · 2 Comments
Still working out sound with the new microphone and did this show solo (no cameraman!), but here’s the first episode of the Monday (a day late) Wine News Show! If you have news worthy you’d like to see broadcast, please send to Michael@foodandwineblog.com.
Enjoy 
Food, Wine, Culture TV: Episode 3- Food, wine, culture TV- Wine News Show! This first episode features Michael Mohammadi of foodandwineblog.com giving an overview of many of the top headlines in the wine world over the last week. Unedited and unscripted, the once-per-week show will take on issues from wine politics and wine region weather to new restaurants and wine gossip. Tune in to this first (rough!) episode and please come back for more! Read more
Food, Wine, Culture TV: Episode 3- Scallops, Pork, Wine and Beer- Cooking and wine pairing!
August 14, 2008 by michael · 7 Comments
Foodandwineblog.com’s Food, wine, culture TV Show! In this third episode, I make two simple yet delicious dishes (one is noblepig.com inspired!) and try a few different beverage pairings in our recently (and ongoing) renovated kitchen. Carlos L is back on guitar, the dogs are wandering around and dinner turned out great. So grab a glass of wine and join me for a night of cooking and wine!
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Food, Wine, Culture TV- Episode 2: WineBloggingWednesday 48 - Back to my wine “roots” in Detroit!
August 13, 2008 by michael · Leave a Comment
Today is WineBloggingWednesday (which I talk about in the video) and the theme is taking it back to you roots. My wine “roots” began in Detroit with some cheap “wine” and slowly progressed to high end California Cabernet. Join me (and special guest Carlos L) for a tasting, beginning where I began and ending where I was 5 years ago- Drinking big Cali Cabernet and Bordeaux Blends. (Links pertaining to this episode and truncated tasting notes are below the video)
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Food, Wine, Culture TV! - Episode 1: A cheap Malbec on the beaches of Block Island, RI
August 10, 2008 by michael · 7 Comments
Well here it is, my journey into the world of video blogging. This first episode is a basic introduction into where I’d like to take the show and features a Malbec that’s perfect for the beach. My plan is to put out 2-3 shows per week as time permits. I’m going to do some cooking, food and wine pairings, use my science/research background to address issues pertaining to wine and health, and of course, I’ll be tasting a good amount of wine. Another aspect of the show I’m excited for involves shooting “on location” at restaurants, wine bars and shops around Baltimore and around the world !
The resolution and sound in this episode aren’t great, yet, but I’m learning how to use the new software and hope to have the bugs worked out in a few weeks. Without further ado: Read more
Wine Tasting Etiquette
August 7, 2008 by michael · Leave a Comment
The following list is intended to be a guide those who are new to the world of wine and wine tastings. The guide is based on free wine tastings, which are common at local area wine shops and restaurants. This list is an excerpt from a full article I wrote which can be found at the online University of Maryland independent student newspaper. I’m most likely forgetting some important points and will update this if anything comes to me!
Tasting Etiquette
1. A 1 oz pour is traditional at these events, and is the state law maximum at free tastings. The premium tastings are usually more generous with pour volume.
2. You may ask to re-taste a wine, but don’t ask to try them all again, and again, and again! Also, only re-taste if you are serious about buying.
3. Keep in mind that the free tasting is designed to expose the customers to new wines with the hope they will purchase something. If you try a wine you really like, and it’s priced affordable, then support the tasting and buy a bottle. This way you’re getting a wine you know you like and the store has incentive for having more tastings.
4. A rinse in between pours is not necessary. Unless you are going from a red wine to a white wine or a red dinner wine to a dessert wine, there is no need to rinse your glass.
5. Ask questions. The person pouring the wine should know a lot about the particular wines on hand. If you like a wine, but it’s expensive, ask the staff to recommend something similar that is in a specific price range.
Where to practice your newly learned skills:
Calvert Wine and Spirits (www.calvertwine.com) – check website for details.
The Wine Source (www.the-wine-source.com) - Every Friday night, 4:30- 7:30 PM
Mt. Washington Wine Company - (www.mtwashingtonwine.com ) - Last Thursday of the month
Local Premium (not free!) Wine Tastings
Bin 604 (www.bin604.com), $29 for 8 wines, schedule varies
Chesapeake Wine Company (www.chesapeakewine.com), $25 every Tuesday 6:00 PM
A short hiatus: I direct your attention to these outstanding wine blogs and websites!
August 1, 2008 by michael · 6 Comments
Things have been busy in Baltimore lately as I’m working on a publication in lab, traveling quite a bit, and trying to work things out for my new internet show. That said, my writing has suffered the most as I have very little free time to sit down and fire away at the keyboard. Though I have many articles planned, it’s going to be a week or so before I get anything published.
Therefore, I’d like to suggest a few wine blogs to check out in the meantime:
My affiliate site:
http://wineinterview.com/
Wine Cellar Tracking Software (free and amazing!):
http://www.cellartracker.com
Baltimore/Local:
http://www.diningdish.blogspot.com/
http://thebaltimorebabe.blogspot.com/
http://www.howchow.blogspot.com/
http://www.vinotrip.com/
Wine and Culture/Politics:
http://www.drvino.com/
http://www.fermentation.typepad.com/
http://thepour.blogs.nytimes.com/
http://www.vinography.com/
http://lennthompson.typepad.com/
http://www.israeli-wine.org/
http://germanwines.us/
Wine Reviews:
http://tv.winelibrary.com/
http://goodwineunder20.blogspot.com/
http://www.redwinebuzz.com/
http://www.wannabewino.com/
Recipes, Wines, Anything Else:
http://www.catavino.net/
http://noblepig.com/
http://www.figandcherry.com/
http://chefforfeng.wordpress.com/
Literature/Music:
http://apointofnoreturn.com/
My first video/podcast is expected to go up next weekend. Details on the show are to follow. I hope everyone is enjoying good health and sharing great food and wine with family and friends!
Quick tips for ordering wine in a restaurant
July 29, 2008 by michael · 4 Comments
Baltimore’s Summer 2008 Restaurant Week is in full force and among the many restaurants participating this year there are endless types of cuisine and culinary treats to be devoured. But with a variety of restaurants, comes a variety of wine lists. For the casual diner who doesn’t want to go broke on a (bad) bottle of wine, here are some tips to ensure your next journey through a restaurant wine list ends with happy palates and a bank accounts. Read more
Good wine tastes even better when made by great people: An interview with Paul Romero of Stefania Wine
July 24, 2008 by michael · 3 Comments
One of life’s simplest pleasures is a well made glass of wine. A single glass of wine exemplifies the hard work put into the vineyard and winery, as well as the personality and passion of its winemaker. When it comes to making good wines that express love and appreciation of both the vineyard and the wine, not many folks do it as good as Paul (and Stefani) Romero of Stefania Wine. Read more
Tasting Report: 7 Wines of the Loire Valley paired with Sushi
July 23, 2008 by michael · 2 Comments
What wines go well with $360 worth of sushi? Well, for the 9 of us in attendance on Sunday at the Wine Club gathering (at Yamato Sushi- review to come), I think we’d agree that something from the Loire Valley (France)would work quite nicely.
Overall we had a great time working through the 7 wines (tough work but someone has to do it!). The only sparkling wine in the group came from Louis de Grenelle, a large estate in Saumur (home of some great red wines). We worked through 4 Vouvray’s and two other Loire whites, ending with my favorite wine from the Loire Valley, a red wine from Chinon (100% Cabernet Franc). There wasn’t a bad wine in the bunch, with two being great (89 pts!) and all being wines I’d gladly drink again. Read more
Should Wine Come With A Warranty?
July 22, 2008 by michael · 5 Comments
I recently purchased an HD Camcorder that I am going to use to do some video features for foodandwineblog.com (more to come!). I bought the camera from an online store and a few days after it arrived, I received an e-mail from the retailer offering an extended warranty plan at about 1/5 of the cost of the camera. After weighing in the cost of the coverage, the chance of the camera breaking, and the price of replacing this exact camera in 3 years, I decided to pass on the warranty. Read more
Monday Wine Headlines: Great sushi tasting and homemade blends, Foodandwineblog to go digital, Great Grapes in Annapolis this coming weekend.
July 21, 2008 by michael · 2 Comments
Sunday July 20, 2008 - Sushi and Wine Tasting: Yesterday’s sushi and wine tasting was more of a sushi and wine “filling.” Our group of 9 overtook a portion of Yamato Sushi in Timonium (review coming soon) for 3 hours of drinking, eating and story telling. We begin as a quiet group, with edamame, seaweed salad and a bottle of Sparkling wine from the Loire. We finished as a more vocal crowd, having devoured platters of raw fish, 9 bottles of wine from the Loire Valley (some very good wines), including a few homemade blends at the end of the night (which were surprisingly good) - pics can be found here. If you missed out on this month’s tasting, no worries, I’m already planning August. Look for something the week of August 18-25, involving grilled steaks and maybe, just maybe at our house again!
HD Camcorder Has Arrived!: Filming has begun for a new feature on this website to include wine tastings, food and wine pairings, restaurant reviews, winemaker and chef interviews, and more. Guest stars will include many familiar faces, winemakers, and more. Stay tuned over the next few weeks for the first release (once I figure out how to get my computer to recognize the camera!).
Great Grapes in Annapolis: As “Shar” pointed out in our forums, this coming weekend is the “Great Grapes” festival in Annapolis, MD. Hundreds of amazing wines will be poured over the two day event and many local and national winemakers and distributors will be on hand. For more information see the Great Grapes website.
RedWineBuzz wine Survey: To help out a good friend in the wine industry, please check out and complete this survey.
A Few Recipes From Around The Blogosphere: With wine pairings!
I read a lot of food blogs and am always impressed with the number of great home chefs (and pro chefs) out there! Since I love food and wine, and enjoy coming up with interesting wine pairings for any dish, I decided to feature a few recipes from around the internet each week and offer my wine pairing advice.
From FigandCherry.Com: Red wine lamb shanks with herb mash
If this dish doesn’t look or sound amazing to you, then I’m guessing your a vegetarian! With a nice red wine sauce, the obvious pairing here would be a medium to big bodied red with good structure and dark fruits- I’d look to the left bank of the Gironde river in Bordeaux to the Cabernet-heavy blends.
Free Advice To Restaurants: How to sell more wine and keep your customers coming back for more.
July 16, 2008 by michael · Leave a Comment
Two months back I was asked by a friend and restaurant manager who I’ve known for years for advice on her wine list. She asked how her restaurant (a mid-range restaurant in a nice area of suburban Detroit) could increase their wine sales and revenue since it had slowly been decreasing as the economy worsened. This was a great question and one that I feel is relevant for many fine dining restaurants in Baltimore and elsewhere in the US. In a time when the economy has many people eating at home and spending less on food and wine, how does a middle to high class restaurant survive? Here I offer advice some pretty simple advice for restaurants that either do not have a dedicated wine manager, or who could use a few ideas on how to sell more wine and make more money. Read more
Best places on the internet for (free) wine information.
July 15, 2008 by michael · 3 Comments
Here are some of my favorite online wine resources- from videos to forums to wine blogs and more. I’m compiling a list of my favorite “Lesser Known” wine blogs and websites as well and hope to publish these in the next week. I have no competing interests in any of the sites, except for www.wineinterview.com, where my blog is also published. That said, my only compensation is link-backs, so there is no financial motive for me to put them here! If you have suggestions on other great websites, let me know! (image from dreamstime.com) Read more
Monday, 7/14/08: Chefs and Wine Recap, Wines for Bastille Day, A few spots left for this weeks tasting!
Baltimore Chef and Wine Experience a Success: The 2008 Baltimore Chef and Wine Experience has come and passed. Dozens of food, wine and other related exhibits were on display for eating, tasting, reading and learning. Both national and local celebrities and chefs were on hand, as well as a couple Master Sommeliers, all sharing their recipes and experiences with those in attendance. The packed event was highlighted by talks given by television star and food writer and critic Ted Allen (my new close friend, see above!). I had a chance to meet Ted during the “VIP” tasting (which was crowded!)- a very down-to-earth, nice guy who definitely loves good food and wine. More on this event in the next few days while I recover my notes (from a husky mishap!) and put the pictures and film together.
What are you drinking this Bastille Day? French toast for breakfast with a French Roast coffee. French fries for lunch. Ladies walking around with French twists in there hair…what’s going on here? Ah! Today is Fête Nationale (”National Celebration”), the day on which the French celebrate the storming of the Bastille which took place on July 14, 1789. I hear it has something to do with the French independence or revolution or something. Whatever it is, it’s a great reason to open a French wine! So join me tonight in drinking a nice Bordeaux as we salute the republic of France!
A few spots left for this Sunday’s Wine Club Tasting- Sushi and Wine! So what are you waiting for? Go here to RSVP!
