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MarkG
Seared Scallops with Butternut Squash Risotto - Mastering Seared Scallops
Last week we talked about how to create the perfect risotto as a stand-alone dish or as the base for a main meal. This week we’ll finish...
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ALL POSTS
MarkG
Mar 15 min read
Seared Scallops with Butternut Squash Risotto
I love risotto in all of its variations! Most people don’t bother with risotto because they think it’s too time-consuming and difficult...
8 views
MarkG
Feb 24 min read
Simply Grilled Snapper with Beurre Blanc Sauce
Even though there is little difference between my weekday and weekend routines, I do usually set aside the weekends to try my hand at the...
48 views
MarkG
Jan 266 min read
Chef's Choice - What to Choose When You Have a Choice
It seems as though there are hundreds of choices out there every time I go food shopping for the week. Organic vs. non-organic, generic...
16 views
MarkG
Nov 24, 20234 min read
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Crispy Pancetta
The perfect antidote to a cold, winter evening is a nice hot bowl of homemade butternut squash soup. This recipe trades sweet for savory...
42 views
MarkG
Nov 10, 20234 min read
Tasting Our Way Through the Newest Restaurants in the Sarasota Area - Part 2
Last week I reviewed four restaurants that recently opened in the Sarasota area. This week I’ll continue where I left off by reviewing...
28 views
MarkG
Nov 3, 20235 min read
Tasting Our Way Through the Newest Restaurants in Sarasota
It seems as though a new restaurant opens every week here in the Sarasota area. Laurie and I absolutely love all of the dining options...
28 views
MarkG
Oct 27, 20235 min read
Why I Absolutely Hate Halloween!
Why do I hate Halloween as a holiday? Let me count the ways!! I took myself on a deep psychological journey to explore all of the...
33 views
MarkG
Oct 13, 20235 min read
The Cottage Cheese Comeback
What do cottage cheese, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dr. Pepper, the German dish Case Noodle, Oklahoma, and my Uncle Don all have in common?...
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MarkG
Oct 6, 20236 min read
Applying the Art and Science of Pairing Food and Wine
Now that you have all mastered the guiding principles for pairing food and wine properly based on my last two blogs, let’s take it to the...
35 views
MarkG
Sep 29, 20234 min read
The Art and Science of Pairing Food and Wine - Part 2
Last week we covered the “basics” concerning the art and science of pairing food and wine, as well as my first my five guiding principles...
23 views
MarkG
Sep 22, 20234 min read
The Art and Science of Pairing Food and Wine - Part 1
Pairing food and wine is both an artistic and scientific endeavor. But that statement makes the whole idea of pairing food and wine sound...
22 views
MarkG
Sep 15, 20236 min read
Silver Bells - Cheers to 25 Years of Marriage!
We finally hit silver!! Laure and I are celebrating our 25th anniversary as a couple this week, our Silver Anniversary. To commemorate...
48 views
MarkG
Sep 1, 20234 min read
Plant-Based Meats - Disgusting or Delicious?
Plant-based “meats” are all the rage right now as many of us work to embrace healthier lifestyles and diets. But what are these odd...
21 views
MarkG
Aug 25, 20235 min read
An Unforgettable Summer Caprese Salad
Nothing screams summer more than a caprese salad with ripe juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella cheese, and homemade basil pesto! Here are...
29 views
MarkG
Aug 11, 20234 min read
The Perfect Three-Day Weekend in the Willamette Valley
United Airlines’ in-flight magazine always had a monthly feature that I loved called “Three Perfect Days in (insert city here)” where...
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MarkG
Jul 28, 20236 min read
The Absolute Best of the Willamette Valley
Our two weeks in Oregon’s Willamette Valley were filled with wine tastings, great meals, hiking, and lots of relaxing. If you’ve never...
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MarkG
Jul 21, 20235 min read
The Ultimate Burger on the Grill
What do you think of when someone mentions they are making “burgers on the grill”? For me, it brings back memories of my childhood...
32 views
MarkG
Jul 14, 20235 min read
The Beauty and Bounty of the Willamette Valley
13 days. 12 nights. 12 restaurants. 7 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). 21 wineries and tasting rooms. 142 wines. Our long-delayed...
26 views
MarkG
Jul 7, 20235 min read
Pearls of Wisdom from Two Years of Retirement
I actually can’t believe I’ve been retired for two years now! Time has flown by, and Laurie and I have enjoyed every minute of our new...
51 views
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