About This Town by Artez | Calle de Fuencarral 31, Madrid
Puerta del Sol, Madrid
A brief visit to Puerta del Sol in Madrid was Instagram
worthy, but crowded with shoppers. The stores were mostly American and there
were the familiar fast food restaurants. I was disappointed.
About This Town by Artez
However, my eye caught sight of this colorful mural. “About This Town” depicts a girl holding a pile of books with a bird and its birdhouse balanced on top. There’s a plant behind her or maybe she’s holding that too. The eye happily travels up and away from the crowded street to appreciate the blue sky above.
Born in Serbia, Artez painted this mural in four days to be a part of the 2019 Urvanity Art Fair. On his website, he explains: “This mural tells us the story of Madrid, a place where visitors from all around the globe are welcome to come and enjoy the vivid artistic and cultural content that this city has to offer. Positioned in the very centre of the town, this mural creates a contrast with the pedestrian shopping street in which it is located. Instead of carrying shopping bags, girl depicted on the mural is holding a pile of books important for the history and culture of the city, and a plant with a small birdhouse that is inviting all the “birds” to come and feel like home!”
A closer look reveals the title of one book Miau by Benito
Pérez Galdós (considered to be one of Spain’s most famous writers since Cervantes)
and another references the painter Francisco Goya. Possibly this reference is a
commentary about the maladies of society.
I would say that a deeper reading surfaces from Artez’
mural. Possibly, the tourist should spend more time getting to know Madrid’s
history and culture. Or, maybe it’s the Spaniards
who should pay more attention to Madrid which may be selling its soul to the
tourist industry. Who knows?
In any case, she’s my soul sister. I’ll give up shopping bags for a pile of books any day. And, if my nose isn’t in a book, I’ll be birdwatching with my zoom lens pointed to the sky.
El hombre de pensamiento descubre la Verdad; pero quien gozan de ella y utiliza sus celestials dones es el hombre de acción.
~ Benito Pérez Galdós
The man of reflection discovers Truth; but the one who enjoys it and makes use of its heavenly gifts is the man of action.”
Miami, FL…October 3, 2019…The Italian Wine School based in Miami, Florida is pleased to announce that it will offer
the first course certified by Vinitaly International Academy (VIA): Maestro
Italian Wine Course certification study program. Designed for wine industry professionals and
aficionados, the eight session course will distinguish itself from other wine
certifications in that it not only provides a comprehensive look at the major
wine producing regions in Italy, but will delve into learning about indigenous
grapes and wine regions not commonly discussed.
Italy has 500+ wine regions and to date, 590 officially recognized
native wine grape varieties which sums up to more varieties than France, Spain
and Greece combined.
The Maestro Italian Wine Course will provide groundbreaking
materials which wine industry professionals can use when crafting their wine
lists. That is a key tool in communicating to clients and will offer a new and
different narrative.
“The Maestro Italian Wine
Course will expose a wealth of unknown information which they can in turn,
present to their clients,” states Stefano Campanini, Italian Wine
Ambassador and founder of the Italian Wine School. “Through the digital
landscape, VIA is providing updates on industry developments by the minute.
This will be key to crafting a broad wine list and communicating a new and
different narrative. As a Vinitaly Italian Wine Ambassador, I must constantly
be out in the field rather than just inside a textbook. It’s my objective to help
people navigate through this labyrinth of Italian wine with the most current
information and curated selections.”
Course Information
The Italian Wine Maestro course is the intermediate level from the
Vinitaly International Academy (VIA). A number of outstanding students from the
VIA Maestro course may be eligible for direct entry to the VIA Ambassador
Certification Course.
The complete course consists of 24 hours of lessons and tastings
and is divided in 8 sessions of 3 hours each and concludes with a written exam
and tasting component.
Introduction: families and groups and focus on Italian sparkling
Piedmont’s native grapes
Native grapes of and Valle d’Aosta
Native grapes of Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Trentino-Alto Adige
Native grapes of Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and Umbria
Native grapes of Le Marche, Abruzzo and Puglia
Native grapes of Lazio, Campania and Calabria
Native grapes of Sicily and Sardegna
The sessions
included guided tastings of 85 wines representing the best producers and every
region, while also exploring culture, history and regional food.
The first session will take place in January, 2020 and costs
$895.00. Students who successfully pass the Italian Wine Maestro level course
and wish to further their study may apply to enroll in the rigorous VIA study
program held annually in Verona and abroad, wherein students pursue either the
Ambassador or Expert credentials.
Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) aims to be the gold standard
of Italian wine education. VIA offers a complete educational path with
standardized courses that will teach professionals and educators to master the
diversity of Italian wine in a rigorous, organized manner. VIA’s main objective
is to foster a global network of highly qualified professionals such as Italian
Wine Ambassadors and Italian Wine Experts: in turn, they will support and
promote Italian wine throughout the world. VIA’s ecosystem comprising the main
institutional bodies and associations in the Italian wine industry strives to
be the conduit between the leading players in the Italian wine scene and
international professionals.
There are currently three levels of certification available
through the VIA program:
Italian Wine Maestro
Italian Wine Ambassador
Italian Wine Expert (VIA’S Highest Qualification Level)
About Stefano Campanini, IWA
Founder of Italian Wine School, Stefano Campanini is one of the
216 Italian Wine Ambassadors representing 33 different countries and one of
only twelve people to receive the Italian Wine Ambassador pin of the
thirty-nine people who wrote the exam in New York this past June.
Campanini ’s discerning palate was cultivated in his birthplace,
Parma, Emilia Romagna named by Forbes: “Italy’s Greatest Gastronomic Treasure”
and has travelled extensively in different wine regions. He has a strong expertise in French and
German wines. Campanini’s dream of sharing pleasure at the table began in 2011
when he opened Wine by the Bay. Since then, it has quickly become recognized as
one of South Florida’s leading Champagne and boutique wine stores and was most
recently awarded Wine-Searcher Gold in Overall and French lists in Miami. “Wine is an education and not just a drink,”
he’ll say while handcrafting a ‘tale of wine cities’ to both novices and
aficionados alike.
Miami, FL…October 7, 2019…Etra Fine Art
is pleased to announce its Art Basel Miami/Miami Art Week exhibition, Ciudades.
This multimedia exhibition will be made up of paintings, music, an installation,
sculptures, photography, videos, poetry and essays. Etra Fine Art will hold an
Opening Reception for Ciudades from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Sunday,
December 1, 2019 and have special hours during Art Basel. Etra Fine Art,
6942 NE 4th Ave, Miami, FL 33138, www.etrafineart.com,
info@etrafineart.com, 917.370.2907.
Alicia Restrepo, Curator and
owner of Etra Fine Art, uses the cities as symbols, differently represented by
world known artists, to stimulate a dialog over the most pressing issues of
today. In fact, cities are a descriptor of today’s sacrifice of natural
resources, centers of communication, synthetic containers of our history, a
confluence of religions, languages and ideologies; technology and alienation coming
from it; social iconography, migration, selfishness and egoism.
Different expressions about the subject will create an interesting
dialog between artists from diverse representative cities of the world such as
New York, Milan, Kiev, Bogota, Miami, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, among
others.
Ciudades will include works by:
Paintings
Andriy Halashyn (Kiev)
Juan Raul Hoyos (Miami)
Ana Maria Gutierrez (Bogota)
2501 (Milan)
Installation
Juan Raul Hoyos (Miami)
Sculptures
Valeria Yamamoto (Buenos Aires)
Juan Raul Hoyos (Miami)
Francis Hines (New York)
Photography
André Cypriano (Rio de Janeiro)
Videos
2501 (Milan)
Juan Raul Hoyos (Miami)
Music, Poems and Essays
Ciudades, fundadas para odiar
Ciudades, tan altas, ¿para qué?
Ciudades, cada vez de pie
Ciudades, al polvo volverán
Music arrangement: Astor Piazzolla- Buenos Aires; Lyrics: Horacio Ferrer – Buenos Aires; Vocals: Amelita Baltar – Buenos Aires
The haunting and powerful, La Ciudades by Astor Piazzolla
(Argentina) (that will be played as part of Ciudades,) not only
highlights the literal connection to the exhibition’s theme, but will serve as
a celebration of Piazzolla’s career who faced intense criticism for breaking
tradition to create a nuevo tango (new tango.)
Restrepo will also have excerpts from poetry and the essay,
“Transhumance” by Elizabeth Rogers, Critic, writer, Harvard-Radcliffe,
B.A. Yale University, M.A. East Asian Studies, M.F.A. Poetry Director, Tibetan
Museum of Art, New York, displayed alongside some of the works.
2501, “Untitled (Triptych)”, ink on linen, 15 x 10 ft
2501 (Jacopo Ceccarelli) began his
career as a street artist when only 14 years old. He would continue to develop a
new style which combines wall painting, painting on canvas, sculpture,
installation, photography, video, and documentary. With respect to his work in
relation to Ciudades, he states: “Nature has been ingested and hidden in
the cracks of the city, in the abandoned factories, in the discarded buildings,
in the shantytowns, in the landfills, along railroad tracks. It survives solely
in the spaces of the collapse of policies and memory.”
Juan Raul Hoyos, Compound: Installation of 513 recycled paper bags; serigraphy/silk screen painting; 500 x 500 cm; 2009-2010
Juan Raul Hoyos’ installation, Compound is currently on view at Narrativas y Procesos Del Arte Contemporáneo De Medellín/Colombia presented by Fundación Rozas-Botrán. In addressing the theme of Ciudades (cities) Oscar Roldan Alzate, Curator and Director of The Museum University of Antioquia -Colombia writes of Hoyos’ work: “To build, to install, to destruct, to dismantle, to arrange, to reassemble, to reorder, to project, to build, to reform, to modify, to deform, to form, to demolish: these are the collective actions that recall the image of ‘CITY.’ Beyond its execution we have seen the birth, the upbringing, and the disappearance of civilizations, empires and towns.”
Ana Maria Gutierrez, Carrera 11 2015 , wall fragments from Bogota, mounted on canvas, 57 x 84″, 145 x 214 cm
Ana Maria Gutierrez takes pieces of posters found on the walls of her city, Bogota, Colombia and reinterprets them to form a new narrative. She says, “Each piece is composed of fragments of our urbanity, which come together in a masterful wall. A wall that invite us to get out of the obvious and to think of the capacity that we, as human beings, have to transform our environment and leave a mark in history.”
Additional Images and Artist Information By Request.
About Etra Fine Art
Now located in Little Haiti (Little River Art District) and
previously rooted in the renowned Miami Design District for nearly 10 years and
Wynwood for two years, Etra Fine Art focuses on representing and promoting a
wide variety of mid-career and established international artists whose work
represents modern and contemporary styles. The gallery exhibits paintings,
drawings, prints, sculptures, photography and installations that reflect
progressive concepts while incorporating traditional and non- traditional
materials. Because of its location at the crossroads of the Americas and
Europe, Etra Fine Art has made it a priority to connect artists and collectors
from both regions.
In addition to promoting and exhibiting artists, Etra Fine Art
works with private collectors, corporations and interior designers to build
collections by researching, locating, acquiring and installing an array of
artwork.
Alicia Restrepo graduated in Economics first and Art later, and
has been in the art business since 1983. She was recognized as co-owner of one
of the most important galleries in Soho in the eighties and nineties, before
moving her business to Miami in the early 2000’s.
The Miami Home Design and Remodeling Show will
showcase over 150,000 square feet of home improvement products and services,
plus seminars, Family Day and feature areas that enable homeowners and renters
to focus on their life “style” and lifestyle. The Miami Home Show returns March 1-3 to the Mana Wynwood Convention Center. An early bird admission savings is
available online until February 28th at www.homeshows.net.
Here’s what you can find and do:
Decorate or Renovate
Whether the job is big or small, the Miami Home Show offers everything needed for: kitchen and bathroom remodeling; closet design and storage; furnishing or decorating; hurricane protection; home security; lighting; flooring; doors; outdoor living including pools and hot tubs, turf, patio furniture; and much more.
“Sold” and Selfie
Josh Flagg of Bravo TV’s “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” speaks at the Home Improvement Stage at 2 and 4 pm on Saturday, March 2ndand 2 pm on Sunday, March 3rd. Only 35 years old, Flagg has sold over 2 billion dollars in residential real estate in just 15 years! Whether you’re a homeowner or realtor, learn tips on selling for top dollar. Flagg will be available for photos and autographs following each seminar.
Design and Influence
Get home décor advice from the Home Show’s featured Interior Designers. Each designer has made a room vignette dedicated to a Miami Influencers. Follow the red carpet and visit, Francy Arria who will design for Lauren Diaz @Fluent_In_Food; Perla Lichi for Miami Herald’s Daisy Olivera @DaisySociety; Elyse Santoro for Ines Hegedus-Garcia @Miamism; and Roberta Marcelino for Amanda Brooke @FromAppletoOrange.
Taste and Learn
Pre-register for A
Taste-Full Experienceand
learn food and wine pairing basics with Antonio
Braschi, owner of Costa Med Bistro + Wine and Stefano Campanini, wine educator and owner of Wine by the Bay. An
advance admission with seminar pass is only available online. Seating is
limited and participants must be 21+.
Create and Connect
Sunday, March 3rd is Family Day and a great time to
connect with the young ones and the community! Make mixed media, Truffala Trees
and Mustaches inspired by Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax” and a tribute to the beloved
author’s birthday on March 2nd presented by the Miami Children’s Museum. Plus, enjoy story and craft activities
presented by the Miami Dade Public
Library System.
Live Tiny or a Life you Love
Living in a micro
apartment or small space? Learn tiny living tips with Jasmine Nicole of Jazzin it up w/ Jasmine Nicole. Plus, discover
simple ways to integrate the principles of Modern Feng Shui into your entire
life with Elyse Santoro, Feng Shui
Design Alchemist and Chad Welch,
Lifestyle and High-Performance Coach.
If you’ve landed on my page and happen to be looking for Miami’s best Art Basel (Miami Art Week) parties, you’ve come to the wrong place. I’ve been writing about art fairs for the last four years and to me, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Why? Because for less than the price of an airfare, you have a chance to see art from all over the world, talk to the gallerists and sometimes meet the artists.
If you spend too much of that time attending parties, you won’t have the energy to survive the art trek mileage.
So here I go, jumping into the Google pool of listicles with an “A to Z” where I’ll be this year. Put on some comfortable shoes and join me on the trip!
Art Basel 2017
Art Basel
If you’ve never been to an art fair before, start with Art Basel in Miami Beach. After all, Miami would not be the western hemisphere’s premier destination for art collectors that it is, if Art Basel had not debuted in 2002. Besides a chance to visit 268 leading galleries representing 35 countries, you’ll get to see the completed renovation of the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Rather than walk in and figure it out, I suggest you download the Art Basel app and mark the galleries that you wish to visit ahead of time. If there is a particular artist who you like, search by his/her name and it will show you which gallery represents that artist.
As a journalist, I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to attend the press conference and preview, but if you want to try to beat the crowds, attend one of the morning Conversations and then enter the fair. There will still be a line, but this quiet time sets the tone for an inspiring visit.
I was disappointed to know that there won’t be a Public sector (the outdoor art installation at the Bass Museum) this year, but you may want to check out the multidisciplinary installation, ‘Autorreconstrucción: To Insist, to Insist, to Insist…’ by Abraham Cruzvillegas. The project which is an Art Basel partnership with curator Phillipp Kaiser and The Kitchen, takes place in the Grand Ballroom and is free and open to the public: December 6 – 9 at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 6, 2018, 3pm to 8pm; Friday, December 7, 2018, 12noon to 8pm; Saturday, December 8, 2018, 12noon to 8pm; Sunday, December 9, 2018, 12noon to 6pm
This year, Art Miami and its sister fair CONTEXT Art Miami are presenting their 29th edition and the second year located at the site of the former Miami Herald building. It’s impressive to say the least, and there’s something about the infiltration of natural light and bay views that makes this new setting very relaxing. Now although Art Basel in Miami Beach did change Miami’s art world landscape, did you know that Art Miami is the original and longest-running contemporary art fair in Miami?
Expect to see significant artworks, projects and installations from over 160 galleries from almost 30 countries.
Although I have yet to visit CONTEXT, I have visited Aqua Art Miami located at the Aqua Hotel. If you’re not in the art collecting big leagues, here’s a great place to start your art collection. You’ll find works by young, emerging and mid-career artists.
I love Design Miamiand if I had an unlimited interior design budget, here’s where I’d be home shopping! Focused on high-end design, areas are aesthetically pleasing and full of inspiration. If you’re lucky enough to afford it, whatever you buy will be collectible and often a one-of-a-kind investment. I know that nobody seems to like the term: “functional art,” but to me there’s nothing nicer than owning a piece of art that can be enjoyed in many ways and not just looked at.
This year, plan to visit the Curio exhibitions which are small-scale, immersive installations presented by brands, galleries, and designers alongside the gallery program. There will be eleven new presentations.
Pedro Reyes and Carla Fernández, recipients of the 2018 Design Miami/Visionary Award will present a retrospective of their work that focus on design with a social dimension such as addressing social justice and peacemaking, as well as the emphasizing the importance of handcrafted products in a world where automation is replacing humans.
There will also be about thirty-two galleries from all over the world with booth exhibitions.
Wednesday, December 5, 12–8PM; Thursday, December 6, 10AM–8PM; Friday, December 7, 11AM–8PM; Saturday, December 8, 12–8PM; Sunday, December 9, 12–6PM
I visited NADA (New Art Dealers Alliance) for the first time last year. I enjoyed the smaller venue (Ice Palace Studios) and the intimate feel. Although it’s been years since I visited New York, there is an urban vibe to NADA and it feels like walking through a gallery district on a warm, summer evening.
NADA will have 125 exhibitors representing 23 countries of which 37 are first time exhibitors, 64 are NADA Member galleries and 26 project spaces.
Here is another fair to begin your art collection or continue supporting emerging. The NADA Miami International Gallery Prize is awarded to galleries based outside of the US that often have not participated in a US art fair before. The award minimizes the gallery’s financial risk and encourages experimentation. This year’s recipients are, CARNE Gallery (Bogotá) and Galeria Dawid Radziszewski (Warsaw.)
Thursday, December 6, 2–7pm; Friday, December 7, 11am–7pm; Saturday, December 8, 11am–7pm; Sunday, December 9, 11am–5pm
Ice Palace Studios (1400 N Miami Ave) | NADA Website
PINTA Miami
I have yet to visit PINTA Miami and am looking forward to it! PINTA is in its 12th edition and in its main section, will include 60 galleries from Latin America, United States and Europe. PINTA Countries will have sections dedicated to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico, and for the first time will include Spain.
Other areas to visit are: Project Section; Proyecto Visible; Collections Program; PINTA Platforms; and PINTA Editions.
Thursday, December 6, 12pm–8pm: Friday, December, 12pm–8pm; Saturday, December 8, 12pm–8pm; Sunday, December 9, 12pm–7pm
This will be my first visit toPULSE Contemporary Art Fair. I’ve tried in past years, but being set apart from the other fairs on Miami Beach and not contained like the mainland ones made visiting a challenge. However, that’s just me and no reason for you not to visit. The 14th edition of PULSE exclusively showcases contemporary art, from over 70 galleries from countries including: China, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa, Switzerland and Ukraine.
Like Untitled and SCOPE art fairs, PULSE is situated right on the Miami Beach sand. Whereas the North Tent houses the galleries, the South Tent presents SOLO exhibitions and CONVERSATIONS which are dual artist shows that encourage galleries to explore conceptual dialogues between artists who they represent.
Friday, December 7, 10am – 7pm; Saturday, December 8, 10 am – 7pm; Sunday, December 9, 10am – 5pm
I have been secretly admiring SCOPE Miami Beachfor the past few years. As a marketer, SCOPE is at the top of their promo game and, this fair and the way it’s presented is just outright cool. Gallerists are approachable, people look engaged and you can find some really unique and gutsy art at affordable prices. If you’re looking for a rest stop, SCOPE should be one of your top choices for light bites, libations and stellar views.
Celebrating its 18th edition, expect to see a diverse range of over 130 contemporary exhibitors. There’s also a New Contemporary section; a 360° experience of VIP Programming; Special Projects; Panel Discussions; Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series; Superchief Gallery; and publication, HI-FRUCTOSE will transform the SCOPE tent with ambitious projects featuring artists Okuda, Hot Tea, and AJ Fosik.
Here’s another fair that does an outstanding job of marketing its event. Because of my job, I notice these things, but even if I didn’t, I believe, Spectrum Miami and Red Dot may be a great place for emerging and local artists to gain some exposure and hopefully, sell their art. Side by side, both fairs offer 100,000 square feet of exhibition space. Red Dot Miami is a curated gallery-only contemporary art show and Spectrum Miami features the work of more than 160 exhibiting artists and galleries from the Florida region, U.S. and around the globe. Here is the perfect opportunity to engage with the artists directly and “shop local.” I’m looking forward to my first visit!
Thursday, December 6th: 1:00PM – 9:00PM; Friday, December 7th: 1:00PM – 10:00PM; Saturday, December 8th: 1:00PM – 9:00PM; Sunday, December 9th: 12:00PM – 5:00PM
Superfine! presents its fourth Miami edition presenting 38 solo artist booths and 11 galleries. If you find a work of art that you don’t want to live without, this fair helps to make it affordable offering tools like Art Money: zero interest loans and low monthly payments. 75% of the art ranges in price from $300 to $5000. In a press release, Superfine Director, Alex Mitow says, “Art should be about experiencing wonder and discovery, being enlightened and excited. Too many fairs and galleries get wrapped up in art world politics and forget their prime duty: to connect the work of talented artists with people who love and appreciate it. That’s the mindset we are seeking (and succeeding) to correct.” Don’t miss out on the Young Collectors; Ice Cream Social and other fun events.
Thursday December 6, 11am-10pm; Friday December 7, 11am – 10pm; Saturday, December 8, 11am – 10pm; Sunday, December 9, 11am – 8pm
It’s impossible to pick a favorite art fair because each one has its own character and of course, caters to different types of collectors. However, I love Untitled, Miami Beach! From the hot pink tent entrance and ocean view; to the vaulted (tent) ceilings and bright natural light; and beautiful and intellectually stimulating gallery presentations, it’s one fair that I could return to each day. This year is Untitled, Miami Beach’s 7th edition presenting 133 international exhibitors from 30 countries (46 exhibitors are new.)
I am particularly interested in seeing the artist-focused special projects which explore themes such as collectiveness, displacement, migration, and precarious presence, transpiring from the artists and artworks presented by exhibitors.
If you are a VIP member, be sure to check out the Podcast, Special Programs and Events. And, if you live close to Miami Beach, definitely take the mid-Miami Art Week Sunrise Yoga class break offered at the north end of the Untitled, Art tent.
Wednesday, Dec 5, 11am – 7pm; Thursday, Dec 6, 11am – 7pm; Friday, Dec 7, 11am – 7pm; Saturday, Dec 8, 11am – 7pm; Sunday, Dec 9, 11am – 5pm
It’s not a typo, but a fascinating detail behind the story of Fantesca wine. I love wine stories! So, before we begin, take a sip of “Hope” (or one of the other four wines) and know that’s there’s a lot of history and some interesting tidbits that went into each drop. For me, that’s the journey from yummy to captivating.
DLynn Proctor, Director of Fantesca Estate & Winery and Stefano Campanini, Owner of Wine by the Bay (Miami)
Somm Kind of Wonderful
DLynn Proctor is the Director of Fantesca Estate & Winery in St. Helena (Napa Valley), California. You may know him as one of the protagonists in all three SOMMfilms. Among the many accolades, DLynn was named, ‘Best Sommelier in America’ by Wine and Spirits Magazine in 2008, a finalist in The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Société Mondiale du Vin ‘Best Sommelier in America Competition’ in 2008 and 2009, and named to the National RUDD Scholars of 2011.
DLynn has amazing style and finesse, but is approachable. He makes you feel like you’re his dearest friend and has an uncanny ability to remember people’s names and personal details.
I first met DLynn in 2014 while promoting an event for Wine by the Bay that was featured in the Miami Herald. Owner Stefano, his assistant Julieta and Corian of Unfiltered Unfined Wines and I had a chance to sit down and chat with him about his newest endeavor. Most importantly, we watched him pour while unveiling the story behind the wine in the most eloquent way.
If you are fortunate to live somewhere in the tropics like me, it’s wrong to complain about the weather. However, we do and I’m going to right now. It’s October and the sun’s position says fall back, but it feels like July with no cool breeze to be felt.
I’m originally from the north, so at this time of the year my biological or more likely, my psychological clock says, store the cotton/linens and bring out the knits. My stomach says, stop grilling and eating salad and start slow cooking.
As a child I loved to go apple picking and have fond memories of tractor rides, ladders and picking apples off the ground. Yes, you don’t need a ladder to pick apples off the ground. My mother was a practical woman and she knew that windfalls were cheaper and could be stewed and the ones we could climb up the ladder to pick would be packed into lunches. Oh the smell, of stewed apples and cinnamon!
Here’s some more ways to not let windfalls go to waste.
Fall in the Pot
This evening’s recipe, Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder with Caramelized Onions is a tribute to my apple picking memories. There are many versions to be found and plenty of video tutorials too. Choose the one you like best. I tried to find the origin of this recipe and although there are Italian, German and French versions, I’d like to conclude that my dinner is American and the hard cider that I chose is, Angry Orchard Crisp Apple.
True to my practical roots, I am choosing the cheapest cut, pork shoulder. You could do chops or tenderloin, but if you are cooking slow, there’s no need to spend a lot.
From just five simple ingredients, a sumptuous autumn aroma will permeate your house!
Au gratin potatoes; roast turnips; and apple cider braised pork.
Why Riesling and Why Not Red?
Once again, I gave into #TheWineTherapist’s recommendation. I’ve always preferred red over white, but according to Stefano, I’ve been cheating my taste buds by not choosing any good ones. The conclusion is, listen to your wine consultant!
On my door step with enough time to be chilled, was the 2009 Peter Jakob Kühn Quarzit Riesling Trocken. I took enough German in high school to pronounce it correctly (I hope), but not enough to understand the website, so finding information was a challenge. Here’s one review and some tasting notes on this 89 Point wine (Wine Advocate) can be found here.
Riesling is the 18th most planted varietal in the world and 20% of all grapes are planted in Germany. The one that I’m drinking today is from the Rheingau region. Do you know what distinguishes Riesling from the Rheingau and Mosel regions apart from other areas in the world? Hint: Slope, south, sun.
Catch Me If I Fall
This week I became a member of the Society of Wine Educators and am enrolled in the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) course. I have a year to get through a large textbook, participate in online tutorials, take notes and complete exercises in preparation for the certification exam that consists of 100 questions. Of course, theory must be supplemented with practice and I’ll be tasting my way through regions and vineyards from around the world!
I’m an art enthusiast and not a critic; love to cook, but not a chef; a wine enthusiast, but not a sommelier. When I write about art or wine, my goal is to be easily understood and, hopefully, enjoyed by many.
As I embark on this wine adventure, if my approach ever becomes unapproachable, “catch me if I fall” and send me your feedback.
We first taste to enjoy and the joy of tasting allows us to tap into our memories or create new ones.
Until next time, remember that seasons are a state of mind. While you may have to wait before wearing the sweater, nothing stops you from Fall-ing in the pot.
My life as PR and Marketer is one never-ending deadline. I can’t go 12 hours without checking emails unless I want to spend a whole day responding to a pile of unanswered requests. I use Hootsuite to keep up with clients’ social media accounts and stalk for Instagram followers all day long. I plow through headlines and the latest issues of luxury magazines with the morning espresso and track the Miami events scene, plus national and international news at night.
Comfort in Food
When I’ve had enough, I turn to food.
I’m in love with cooking slow. Not the electric pot you throw everything into and leave it for 8 hours. I mean researching the dish and its origin, going to the market to buy the best quality and if possible locally-sourced ingredients, washing, chopping, searing, reducing, simmering, stirring and waiting.
Yellow Green Farmers Market in Hollywood, Florida
I’m Not Original
I recently found out that there’s an international movement called Slow Foodthat originated in Italy. The organization’s predecessor Agricola formed in 1986 to protest the opening of a McDonalds in front of the Spanish Steps. (Funny, because two years ago, while I sat on the Spanish Steps I thought: behind me is so much history and in front of me is an American mall. Such a shame.)
Slow Food is so much more than my cooking fantasy, it’s a way of life. Check it out here.
Wine Friday
I’m obsessed with food and wine pairings. While only at the infancy of wine knowledge, I count on #TheWineTherapist for advice. Stefano doesn’t spare a lecture if I get the pairing wrong, but if you tell him your recipe ahead of time, the right wine will be at your door in no time. Tonight’s selection: Marcel Servin – Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 2014.
Miami, FL…July 18, 2018… Four South Florida Interior Designers will design room vignettes for local TV News Journalists and reveal their creations to the respective celebrity “client” at the Miami Home Design and Remodeling Show. The Miami Home Show will take place, Labor Day Weekend, from Friday, August 31st to Monday, September 3rd (Labor Day) at a NEW LOCATION, Mana Wynwood Convention Center, 318 NW 23rd St, Miami, 33127.
The Home Show’s “Designer Rooms for the Stars” is a popular annual tradition that begins with the selection of the featured Interior Designers by way of submission process; matching each designer with a TV news personality; and executing the project initiated with just one meeting between the Interior Designer and “client.” Some design hints will be posted on the Home Show’s social media, but the final design is revealed to the celebrity and show-goers during the Home Show.
This year’s “Designer Rooms for the Stars” designers and celebrity matches are:
