Witbier

With the arrival of warmer weather it's timely for a refreshing ale to pair with that freshly grilled piece of locally caught fish. Here's my pick; Southampton Double White, my locally brewed boutique Belgian-style white ale. Frankly - any pick from Southampton Publick House gets my thumbs-up. You just have to try it. Have a look at the Living it UP! TV segment with Southampton's Brewmaster Phil Markowski.

Southampton Publick House

One of the most award-winning breweries in America— ranked in the top 20 for GABF medals won by a brewery in the last 10 years.

Living it UP! TV Segment

Simply Deviled

What's equally as good with high tea, sparking wine, or frosty beer at a tailgate? I have an egg of an idea - the deviled egg. It's one of those hors d'oeuvre platters that spans the occasion ladder from high brow to low brow; which always empties fast, because it is so difficult to have just one. The name deviled implies hot, but need not be. It is simply hard boiled eggs chilled and halved with the yolk whipped into a flavorful filling of a wide variety of flavors such as; mayonaise, sour cream, yogurt, Dijon mustard, etc. You can even spice it up with a touch of cayenne, hot sauce or wasabi. Use a touch of fresh herbs like dill, cilantro or chives, it's a nice touch. Make special occasion up-end garnishes such as chopped proscuitto, crisp chopped pancetta or with a sliver of smoked salmon, sour cream and caviar.

Cleveland's Famous

This is great story, and timely with the beginning of baseball season. We have all had a frank, pretzel and Cracker Jack. But add baseball at your home stadium and you have a memory for a lifetime. So what is it that makes that unforgettable experience? I have great memories of my Dad and I at Yankee Stadium. That is reason enough. But yes, that frank tasted great, a flavor you can't quite replicate at home. I am not sure that Bertman Ball Park Mustard graced the top of my frank, but for all the lucky kids in Cleveland, Ohio there is great history and heart behind the golden condiment pumped on their ball park frank. 

Three generations of Bertmans have been making their secret recipe Ball Park Mustard for Cleveland's ball park. Their grandfather developed this great product in his garage the 1920s and the rest is history. So if you attend a game at Progressive Field, the home of the Indians, get a frank or pretzel and top it with Original Bertman Mustard. And - don't forget Dad.

Picnic Ham

Since the early 1900s, American's proclaimed corned beef and cabbage to be their favorite Irish dish, even though it really never have graced dinner tables in Ireland. Since then, Americans has embraced it as the meal of choice for St. Patrick's Day, March 17. Corned beef got its name before refrigeration, when meat was preserved using coarse grains of salt, called 'corn'. Today, beef is corned with spices strictly for flavor, not for preservation, so the meat must be refrigerated. Whether you're a wee bit Irish or not, boost your luck by celebrating St. Patrick's Day with friends and a feast. 

Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe

The Original Flavor

What is the first sign of spring to you? Daffodils, birds singing, or is it the return of Major League Baseball? If it’s baseball, then that means there’s a seventh inning stretch with the legendary song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (by Jack Norworth 1908) accompanied by consumption of one of America’s oldest snacks. The popularity of that song, still sung today, with the line “buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack” will be heard throughout baseball stadiums in America this month.

But Cracker Jack is so much more than candy caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts. There is also that special little surprise in each box which still brings smiles to faces on kids of all ages. Did you know these one-of-a-kind prizes are sought after by collectors fetching north of 50k dollars? Hey that’s cool! - which by the way is the meaning behind the term ‘Cracker Jack’ in the 1890’s. I do think the name Cracker Jack is fitting, somehow ‘Cool Jack’ just doesn't have the same ring.

Watch this classic TV commercial from the 1960’s featuring Jack Gilford.