Author: John Brown

I spend a considerable amount of time cruising around our town and state in search of the perfect dining experience. Of course, an essential component of any excellent meal is an appropriately matched wine that is reasonably priced. We are blessed in the Kanawha Valley to have several fine dining establishments with very good wine…

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads and grand dads everywhere! And since I qualify in both categories, I put in my request for a Father’s Day meal a few weeks back. As a matter of fact, I actually cooked the delicious dish I am sharing with you today back then. I want it again!…

Can anyone find spring? I think Mother Nature must have benched spring this year for not showing up with more energy and intensity. It seems like we have sprung directly from winter to summer. Anyway, Memorial Day weekend is upon us and, while this is a solemn holiday, it also heralds the official start of…

If you’re a fan of ramps and willing to forego the traditional Mountain Mama recipes for this less than delicate lily, then boy do I have a culinary treat for you to consider. Right now, many towns in the state are holding ramp feeds. However, I am not a fan of the traditional manner in…

Now that winter is in the rear view mirror (I hope) and spring has arrived, it’s time to plan a few nice-weather getaways. And, surprise, all of these jaunts I’m recommending involve exposure to and consumption of good food and wine. Let’s start close to home. Taste of Parkersburg This gourmet extravaganza kicks off on…

I’ve always stressed the importance of pairing your favorite wine with a complimentary food – or vice-versa. Why? Well to quote Aristotle : “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” In other words, if you think that thick, bone-in rib-eye is culinary nirvana, pair it with the right wine and the whole…

Wine can be a pretty complicated hobby. So much of the language of wine is foreign and intimidating, and the incredible number of choices can be overwhelming. That’s why I try to simplify the process of wine appreciation as much as possible. Heck, I’ll even make fun of the whole wine snobbery thing from time…

Most of us will be out celebrating on New Year’s Eve.  When we wake up the next morning it will be 2018 and, after the obligatory New Year’s morning headache, guilt will set in and we’ll probably begin to think about resolving to seek self-improvement in the year ahead. Sure, you could go to the gym, cut…

Unlike Thanksgiving, the Christmas day meal does not have a universally accepted main course. In these United States, turkey is the traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece around which we prepare a whole host of other edible goodies such as bread stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. But the Christmas day repast is a more diverse culinary undertaking…

Right about now, you’re probably scratching your head and fretting over what special wine or related gift to give your favorite wine lover this holiday season. Well, fret no more! You’re intrepid wino has a few recommendations for your consideration and I’m sure one or more of these vinous gift ideas just might work. Wine…