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-Northern Kentucky’s Fall Wine Festival
Saturday turned out to be colder than predicted, but the atmosphere at MainStrasse was warmly inviting. Over 2000 visitors enjoyed the event. The wine and good times were in abundance. It was really fun connecting with old friends, meeting new ones, and talking about wine.
It is always nice to meet people who have enjoyed my book on Kentucky wine, as well as those who are interested in getting their own copies. I was able to talk to many interesting wine lovers. Getting to catch up with some of those in the industry that I haven’t seen for a while was also fun.
Thanks to those of you who were able to attend, even though the weather wasn’t at its best. Wine lovers who were not able to make it, I recommend marking your calendars for next fall. This is one of the state’s premier wine events.
by admin with No Comments–Northern Kentucky Wine Festival
Don’t forget tomorrow’s festival at MainStrasse, from 3 to 10 pm. Wine lovers will enjoy a typical fall day tasting and buying Kentucky wines, from some of the finest wineries in the state.
I hope to see you there.
by admin with No CommentsUnbridled Spirits at the Friendly Market
Unbridled Spirits just keeps adding more selections of Kentucky wines, bourbons, and microbrews. The store at Friendly Market is an excellent spot to shop for Kentucky’s alcoholic products.
When they first opened at the beginning of September, they had wines from around Kentucky that one does not generally find in a Northern Kentucky store. This past weekend, I stopped by and their choices have grown and more are expected to be added soon. Some of the choices are wines from Millanova Vineyard and Winery in Bullitt County, Old 502 Winery in Louisville, Chrisman Mill Vineyard and Winery in Nicholasville, Lovers Leap Vineyard and Winery in Lawrenceburg, Elk Creek Vineyard and Winery in Owenton, and Horseshoe Bend Vineyard and Winery in Willisburg. Of course, this is just a few examples of those you can find there.
If you stop by on Saturdays, you might find one of the wineries offering tastes. Elk Creek was there pouring selections this past weekend.
Wine lovers who love Kentucky’s wines but don’t have the time for travel can still enjoy many of the state’s offerings at this one spot in Northern Kentucky.
by admin with No CommentsNorthern Kentucky Wine Festival
This coming Saturday sounds like it is going to be a nice fall day in Northern Kentucky. A perfect way to spend the late afternoon and evening would be a visit to MainStrasse in Covington, at the Northern Kentucky Wine Festival.
If you’ve visited the festival in the past, you know that this is a great time to taste wines from wineries across the state: Atwood Hill Winery, Morning View, Baker-Bird Winery, Foster, Black Barn Winery, Lexington, Elk Creek Vineyards, Owenton, First Vineyard Winery, Nicholasville, Generation Hill Winery, Inc., Alexandria, Horseshoe Bend Vineyards, LLC, Willisburg, Lovers Leap Vineyards & Winery, Lawrenceburg, Old 502Winery, Louisville, Purple Toad Winery, Paducah, Redmans’ Farm Winery, Morning View, Rose Hill Farm Winery, Butler, Serendipity Winery, Florence, Seven Wells Vineyard & Winery, LLC, California, Smith-Berry Vineyard & Winery, New Castle, StoneBrook Winery, Melbourne, The Little Kentucky River Winery, Bedford, and Verona Vineyards, Verona.
Wine lovers will be able to enjoy good Kentucky wine, food, local artisans, and entertainment; and at the same time relax in one of Northern Kentucky’s historic neighborhoods.
Look for me at a table with my books, I’d enjoy meeting you and talking about wine.
by admin with No CommentsKentucky Proud Incredible Food Show-2013
For the 5th year, Kentucky is putting its food products on display. Culinary exhibits from famous chefs, such as Jamie and Bobby Deen this year, is only one of the reasons food lovers attend each year. The Marketplace features booths from over 100 of producers of Kentucky Proud products, putting their foods on display, answering questions, and giving samples.
On Saturday, October 26, from 9 am to 5 pm, food lovers will be able to enjoy strolling through the aisles and stopping by to taste and savor what Kentucky farmers and Kentucky’s specialty food producers have to offer. From food products such as Browning’s Hams, Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese, or Grandma Carolyn’s Ketchup to Appalachian Mtn Crafts or Salt of the Earth, the food products and the artisan items will appeal to visitors. Joseph-Beth Booksellers will provide visitors to the show a chance to purchase books related to food and Kentucky. A special aisle is devoted to Kentucky wineries, with many of the states wineries offering samples and selling their wines to those over 21.
I’ve attended the show for years and have enjoyed each visit. My husband and I find products each year that keep us looking forward to next year and keep us coming back. I do recommend not stopping for breakfast before the show. You will want to try the many samples of the products. Hope to see you there.
by admin with No Comments
Northern Kentucky Wine Festival
Wine lovers will want to make time, on October 19, to attend the Northern Kentucky Wine Festival at MainStrasse Village. From 3 pm to 10 pm, wineries from around the state will be pouring tastes of their wines for visitors. The $10 admission includes a souvenir wine glass and 4 sample tickets, additional tickets may be purchased. (You must be 21 to attend.) Wines may be purchased by the bottle or the case from the wineries.
Participating wineries this year are from many of the state’s regions. From Northern Kentucky Atwood Hill Winery, Elk Creek Vineyards, Generation Hill Winery, Redman’s Farm Winery, Rose Hill Farm Winery, Serendipity Winery, Seven Wells Vineyard & Winery, StoneBrook Winery and Verona Vineyards will be there. From just outside of the Northern Kentucky region near Augusta, Baker-Bird Winery will be offering their wines at the festival. Bluegrass wineries will be represented by Black Barn Winery, First Vineyard Winery, and Lovers Leap Vineyards & Winery. From the Louisville region, Smith-Berry Vineyard & Winery, Old 502 Winery, The Little Kentucky River Winery, and Horseshoe Bend Vineyards will be pouring tastes. Wine lovers will also get a chance to taste the wines of a Western Kentucky winery because Purple Toad Winery will be traveling from Paducah to the festival once again.
Visitors to the festival on the Sixth Street Promenade at the Goose Girl Fountain will also enjoy live entertainment throughout the hours of the festival and be able to purchase local foods. Along with the wineries, local artisans will have booths with items available for sale.
Once again, I’ll be there with my book. Anyone purchasing a book will receive a wine lover’s original recipe card. I’d love to see you there.
Having attended this festival for many years, I have to say it’s one of the best in the state. Not only does the MainStrasse Association do an excellent job with the festival; the Sixth Street Promenade is a really nice setting for relaxing and enjoying an autumn evening also. Wine lovers will have a great time.
by admin with No Comments
The Friendly Market of Northern Kentucky
Friendly Market had its grand opening today and from my point of view, it was a resounding success. It is true that not all of the vendors are completely stocked, but that didn’t seem to faze the large crowd. Everyone I saw seemed to be having a great time.
The vendors outside in the Farmer’s Pavilion had fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as some pastries and crafts. This time of year the farmer’s markets are a wonderful source of green beans, lima beans, potatoes, tomatoes, ears of corn, and fruits. The local farmers did not disappoint. Inside, visitors seemed to be enjoying the different offerings and tastings, from flavored olive oils to a Kentucky wine. I couldn’t resist the butter infused olive oil, some coarse ground sea salt, the fresh made spinach pasta, and a freshly baked baguette.
The Kentucky Proud General Store is still looking for vendors but was welcoming those who came in to see the products they have.
Unbridled Spirits is a definite hit. While I was there talking to the owner and their wine manager about Kentucky wine , the shop was crowded with interested shoppers. Both B. J. Gallenstein and Scott Miller have done an excellent job in bringing the Kentucky wines, Bourbons, and micro-brews together in one place for Northern Kentuckians.
The Friendly Market hours are Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 7 pm, Saturday 8 am to 6 pm, and 10 am to 4 pm on Sundays. The seasonal hours for the Farmer’s Pavilion are Tuesday to Friday 1:30 to 4:30 pm, Saturday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and Sunday 10 am to 3 pm. Both are closed on Mondays.
It’s just off I-75, next to the Mt. Zion Kroger. I strongly recommend it. I know I’ll be back often.
by admin with No CommentsFlorentine Crusted Chicken Breasts
After discovering spinach flakes at Colonel De’s Gourmet Herbs and Spices, I began thinking about how I wanted to use them. I decided that they would be perfect for a chicken dish and created this recipe. The meat dish was delicious and would pair well with wild rice, pasta, or roasted potatoes
Florentine Crusted Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
4 Chicken Breasts – trimmed and cut into halves
- 2 cups white wine (Pinot Grigio)
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1/2 cup spinach flakes
- 1 T. Mediterranean oregano
- 1 t. Celtic sea salt
- 1 t. Tellicherry Black Pepper
In a shallow glass baking dish, combine the wine, oregano, sea salt, and pepper, add the chicken and cover. Place in the refrigerator to marinade for 2 & 1/2 hours.
When ready to cook, mix parmesan cheese and spinach flakes in a small bowl. Cover the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish with olive oil. Remove chicken from marinade and bread with the parmesan and spinach mixture, and place in the baking dish making sure that the pieces are not touching. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Most of the ingredients in the recipe are from Kentucky. The spinach flakes, the Mediterranean oregano, and the Tellicherry black pepper were purchased from Colonel De’s Gourmet Herbs and Spices, at the Friendly Market, in Boone County. The Pinot Grigio was from Elk Creek Vineyards and Winery. The olive oil was from Stuarto’s in Lexington.
by admin with No Comments
Northern Kentucky Wine Festival
The MainStrasse Village, in Covington, will once again host the Northern Kentucky Wine Festival. The festival will feature Kentucky wines and wineries. This year’s event will be from 3 to 10 PM, on October 19, 2013.
Look back later for more information on who will be there. This festival is one of the state’s finest. Mark your calendars.
by admin with No Comments
Friendly Market
The market off Mt. Zion Road in Boone County is not officially open yet and I’m already a fan. Shoppers in Northern Kentucky will soon be able to buy Kentucky Proud products, Kentucky wines and spirits, blended olive oils, balsamic vinegars, pastas and sauces, gourmet herbs and spices, artisan ice creams, locally raised meats, and fresh produce at the Friendly Market. The style of the market will be familiar to those who have shopped at Findlay Market in Cincinnati.
Owner Jack Berberich has been working on this project for several years and the interior market is nearly ready for its grand opening. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, an official opening is scheduled for September 7. Uncle Buck’s produce will have many local products but will also sell produce not grown in Kentucky. The Flying Olive, formerly in Ft. Mitchell, will be selling flavored olive oils and vinegars. Artisan ice cream and ice cream specialties will be offered by the Colonel’s Creamery. Friendly Meats will be offering locally raised products with many coming from Brooks Meats in Walton. Fresh, locally produced pastas, pestos, and sauces will be available at Brocato’s Italian Market. Unbridled Spirits will feature Kentucky wines, bourbon, and micro brewed beers. A Kentucky Proud General Store will feature vendors selling their Kentucky proud products.
Colonel De’s Gourmet Herbs and Spices, already open, is one reason I’m a fan. Visitors to the market are treated to a wide array of spices and herbs from around the world. Colonel De Stewart features over 500 spices and blends. I was extremely impressed by his Mediterranean Oregano and his Tellicherry peppercorns. I love experimenting with herbs and spices in my cooking, as you know from my recipes, and found a new one I can’t wait to try, spinach flakes. Watch for my new recipe.
Outside is a Farmer’s Pavilion featuring local farm produce. The local farmer’s market offers local fruits and vegetables. Visitors have been enjoying shopping here at the Farmer’s Pavilion for most of the summer.
When Friendly Market is fully opened, it will provide Northern Kentucky with a unique shopping experience. I will be there a lot.
by admin with No Comments