Baseball Popcorn Tins“0 Comments”
steve | 11:27 pm | October 21, 2007 | Gifts for Sons, Popcorn, Gifts for Dads, Gifts for Friends, Gifts for Sports Fans
As I write this, the Boston Red Sox are up 5-2 in the bottom of the 8th in Game 7 of the 2007 ALCS. With all respect to Yogi, I think it’s over. So I will go ahead and write my blog entry now, and write my congratulations to the Red Sox and the Rockies.
It should be an interesting Series. As you’re rooting on your favorite team in the 2007 World Series, why not celebrate with an official licensed Major League Baseball Popcorn Tin from The Popcorn Factory?
Or, if you know someone (oh, say the writer of this blog) who is still in mourning after watching their young pitching phenom attacked by bugs, or if you know someone who watched their team crumble towards the end of the season or someone who watched their team get swept, swept, swept, or swept, why not buy them a popcorn tin of their own fulled with delicious popcorn? They can drown their sorrows in the delicious caramel, butter, and cheddar cheese flavored popcorn, and maybe that can help them get through the long, dark winter until pitchers and catchers in February.
The Popcorn Factory has a deal and a half on one tin in particular. Since The Popcorn Factory is based in Chicago, it appears that they may have produced a wee bit too many Chicago Cubs tins with special blue and red colored popcorn. The popcorn is actually butter flavored (the red and blue is food coloring), and is completely fresh and delicious. These tins would certainly have been part of many Chicago celebrations had the Cubs made it to the NLCS and the World Series. But alas, the celebrations will have to wait another year, and the popcorn can’t. So you can get a huge tin of Chicago Cubs red and blue popcorn, ordinarily $21.99, for only $10.99.
Choosing a great wine“0 Comments”
kristina | 6:43 pm | September 20, 2007 | Wine, Gifts for Friends
I live and work in the Napa Valley. Contrary to popular belief that doesn’t mean that my favorite movie is Sideways, that I have a license plate frame that reads, “Napa Valley, A Grape Place to Live” or that I spend my weekends wine tasting and soaking in mud baths.
What it does mean is that I know of all the great restaurants who charge little to no corkage fee and some great $20 red wines created from the same ultra premium grapes that are used in wines by wineries demanding $100+ per bottle. (It also means I have to get my jog in before the sun comes up because my dog is scared to death of hot air balloons.)
Working with an ever-changing selection of over 200 different wines I am asked daily, “Can you recommend a good wine?” and I usually respond with, “What’s your price range? What style wine do you prefer?”
Today I have decided on a new response. The new response will be, “Where and with whom will you be sharing this wine?” Because the universal truth is that memorable experiences cannot be bought or measured by the quality of a wine. If you’re putting that much emphasis on the taste of wine, frankly you need to reexamine your priorities. Don’t get me wrong. I see nothing wrong with spending upwards of $100 on a bottle of wine or taking a Robert Parker recommendation, but if that means you spend the entire time at dinner trying to determine whether that’s Rutherford dust you smell or stale cigar, life’s moments are probably passing you by.
So whether you decide to meet an old friend for lunch or just enjoy the final days of summer in your backyard, remember that food and wine are only as good as the company. Instead of spending your time searching out the perfect wine, spend your time searching out the perfect company.
To help you get started, I am recommending the Hahn 2005 Pinot Noir. At just $19 retail (forgive me, but I have to go into wine geek speak now) it’s full of lush blackberry, cherry, spice all wrapped together in a silky mouthfeel with just enough acid to put it all into balance.
It’s the perfect wine for sharing because like good friends, it’s direct without being intrusive and complexly stimulating yet not overwhelming. As always, enjoy it in good health and good company.
Cheers,
Kristina