Author Archives: JC home

“Fruit of the vine and work of human hands.” taken from the Catholic Mass. FANTINI wines are part of the larger wine producing family, Farnese. Based in Abruzzo, Italy, this family has vineyards and wineries in various places around the boot. This sangiovese is a product of the region known as the “Terre di Chieti,”Continue reading “FANTINI SANGIOVESE”

“What came first, the chicken or the egg?” says he.“Who cares?” says I.“Chickens lay eggs. Eggs produce chickens. Chickens are self-propagating.” Chicken. Just the word paints a picture. Bad handwriting becomes chicken scratching. A person who lacks courage is called a chicken. Then of course there is the age old question,”What came first, the chickenContinue reading “STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH BRUSSELS SPROUTS”

“Beware the Ides of March.” Shakespeare“March comes in like a lion, out like a lamb.” ? Today is a cloudy, cold day here in Coastal North Carolina. It is supposed to rain any minute now, so they say on tv, and the rain is expected to last and stick around for a while. But itContinue reading “BEAT THE RAINY DAY BLUES”

“Hey brother, can you spare a dime for a cup o’ Joe?”Watch almost any film noir from the 1930’s, 40’s or 50’s and this line will appear somehow, some way. At the time some down-on-his-luck guy would be asking this of a man who appeared to be better off than he was so a dimeContinue reading “Wine by JOE”

Throughout my entire life I have been a fan of good comedy, especially old time comedies. Laurel and Hardy, Hope and Crosby, Martin and Lewis on and on and on. But there is one particular scene I remember from the old Abbott and Costello tv show when Bud Abbott is trying to explain to MrContinue reading “THE CLASSIC MEATBALL”

First, let me apologize for not having written in such a long time. Family commitments and a few personal situations came up and I just didn’t find the time. But, we’re here now, so here we go… This column is about food and its counterpart, wine. You put those two things together and you haveContinue reading “The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship”

Bordeaux wines refer to any wines produced in the Bordeaux region of southwestern France. Most Bordeaux are reds, but also produced in the region are some whites and a small smattering of rose. Winemaking in this region was originally introduced by the Romans for local consumption, mostly Roman soldiers, and production has been continuous sinceContinue reading “CHATEAU de MACARD BORDEAUX SUPERIOR 2015”

Sundays always meant church, then food…and lots of it. Sunday was a day of rest for most people, but Grandpa had to work at least 1/2 day at the ravioli store. And Grandma (nonna), well, she didn’t have that luxury. Her day started early with the cooking and what women in those days did. Gravy,Continue reading “MY NONNA’s BEEF BRACIOLE”

Tuscany is a region in central Italy which is known for many things. The mediterranean climate with beautiful temperate summers, mild winters and long sunny growing seasons make it a perfect region for farming and for vacationing. Tourism is a staple of the region’s economy. The scenery is breathtaking with lush, green rolling hills, tree-linedContinue reading “THE RISE OF THE “SUPER TUSCAN””

Tony Bennett sings a bittersweet song about it. Kenney Chesney learns about it at a bar after a fight with his wife. The good life. That’s what this column is supposed to be about. But what is it exactly. How do you get it, maintain it. Well, here are a few ideas… Coming home afterContinue reading “WHAT’S THE REAL GOOD LIFE”