Bonnat

Origin, Circa 1884 Southeastern France. The Bonnat Family are fourth generation chocolatiers, not milliners. Bonnat is French for cap. Their family tradition has spanned many lifetimes dedicated to the excellence of making something so simple, but gives so many people pleasure all around the globe. The very part of the process that makes their chocolates so special is going the extent of importing the very best cocoa beans and roasting them themselves in their factory; such as in the Java Bar - the best java beans are imported from Indonesia for this velvety smooth bar. Their dark roasted flavors go hand-in-hand, much in the same way a well made pot of french coffee is made.

Tunes For Ripening

Want to taste sweeter fruit? In July, the Hyogo Prefecture-based fruit company Toyoka Chuo Seika shipped out its first batch of "Mozart Bananas" to supermarkets in the local area. What does that mean? Unripened bananas were exposed to "String Quartet 17" and "Piano Concerto 5 in D major," -  among other works; playing continuously for one week in their ripening chamber. The result, sales are up on these sweeter, tastier bananas; so apparently the consumers agree. This works for tomatoes too.

Four Stuffings

I often ask people what part of Thanksgiving's meal they like the best - you'd be surprised how many people say the stuffing and the sides. Here's my favorite sausage stuffing recipe. I put a lot of love in to this recipe every year and those family members reaching for seconds are living proof. Stay tuned more sides tomorrow.

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13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one
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13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one
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AS SEEN ON PUBLIC TELEVISION & CREATE TV- SEASON ONE
FEATURING CHEF GEORGE HIRSCH DEMONSTRATING HIS SAVORY COOKING, BAKING AND GRILLING RECIPES; WITH HIS EXPERT CULINARY TIPS & TECHNIQUES, ALONG WITH VISITS TO HIS INSPIRING HAMPTON LOCATIONS.

Hospices de Beaune

2011 marks the one-hundred-fiftieth year for the Hospices de Beaune Charity Auction; an annual event in the midst of the Trois Glorieuses, Burgundy's most important three day wine celebration. Hospices de Beaune Auction has and continues to support the healing and the dedication to wellness at the hospice de Beaune, the way its benefactors intended since the 15th century. Most buyers will focus on barrels and not the cause though. This event is considered one of the most important wine events of the year held annually on the third Sunday in November. More than forty of Burgundy's Cuvées will be offered. If you are doing the math; buying a barrel corresponds approximately to 288 bottles, so 24 cases of 12 bottles, or 6 magnums.

November 21, 2011 Hospices de Beaune Charity Auction, Beaune France 

Grapes of Roth

Harvest has a few meanings in Hampton's farm country, but to Winemaker and Friend Roman Roth it means Halleluja! Time to toast! Picking has come to an end - for this year anyway. So what's happening at Grapes of Roth? I'm thinking, one more reason to give thanks and toast with Roth's 2004 Merlot and 2008 Riesling.

 The Grapes of Roth, Long Island, New York

Roth Merlot: The wine shows how wonderfully balanced yet intense the best Merlots from Long Island can be. It received the highest rating in New York with 92 points from Parker (David Schildknecht, Issue 188) and is a wine that can stand up to the best.

Riesling: This wine is very classic in style. Perfectly ripe fruit balanced by just the right acidity and minerality. The alcohol level is low at 10.8% and residual sugar is only 6 grams per liter making it very food friendly.