How to Tailgate: NOLA-Style

If you're a damn Yankee, you probably have no idea how to tailgate. The first step is admitting you have a problem.

First of all, in the Northeast, it's usually too cold during football season, you have too much work to do to stand around drinking in a parking lot and generally, none of your friends has a car.

But down South, tailgating is a way of life. It's a mobile party! Everyone loves to drink in a parking lot! Football seems truly besides the point. (And we love any excuse to party.)

Given that the Super Bowl takes over New Orleans Feb 3, the Daily Meal thought it wise to check in with the commissioner of tailgating himself for tips on how to tailgate, NOLA-style.

http://www.thedailymeal.com/how-tailgate-new-orleans-style

Navigating New Orleans

New Orleans is on a roll...We've got the Super Bowl AND Mardi Gras occurring at the exact same time! In addition to general fanfare and festivity, that means road closures! Gridlock! Pedestrian mania!

Wondering how to make tracks in the Big Easy? We map it out for the Travel Channel here:

http://www.travelchannel.com/destinations/new-orleans/articles/navigating-new-orleans

So grab your "go cup" and let's hit the road!

What is a Pop Up? Chef Ludo Lefebvre Explains

If we had to vote for the most ubiquitous dining term of 2012, it would be "pop up." But does that mean the pop up trend is dead??

Mais, non! At least, not according to Chef Ludo Lefebvre of LudoBites, and of LudoBites America fame, the hit Sundance Channel TV show chronicling the chef's ascent in the dining world.

Read about the past, present and future of the pop up in this piece for Wine Enthusiast:

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Best-Of-Year-2012/The-King-of-Pop-Ups/

Hot 7: New Orleans Restaurants

There's a lot of hot stuff going on in Nola these days, especially in our restaurant scene, as I was happy to report in this round up for Fodor's.

Wondering which hot 7 New Orleans restaurants made the cut? Which eatery had a chef shuffle and which new restaurant offers "face bacon"? Scope the list here:

http://www.fodors.com/news/7-restaurants-to-watch-in-new-orleans-6260.html

How to Pair Wine with Herbs

No, this isn't a story about how herb is legal in several states. But cheers to that!

This piece for Wine Enthusiast Magazine delves into the plethora of plants Mother Nature has provided us...from basil and thyme to lemon verbena, adding spice and depth of flavor to cuisine for centuries. This Pairings story ponders the age-old question, how can we approach wine when we've got so many kick-ass flavors?

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Best-Of-Year-2012/A-Wine-Lovers-Guide-to-Herbs/

We talked to top chefs and their sommelier cohorts around North America about how to match wines to any herb-centric dish, and scored their secret recipes. Mission accomplished.

Timbaland on....Drinking

Extra Extra! Timbaland launches a spirit line! It's a ready-to-drink liqueur, Le Sutra, with a wine base. Naturally, we covered it for Wine Enthusiast Magazine in a brief Q&A session with the superstar hip hop mogul:

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Web-2012/Timbaland-Toasts-His-New-Liqueur/

Timbaland and Flo Rida are pictured here with Le Sutra in hand. Good to know P Diddy doesn't have a corner on the market.

Beyond Wine: New Food Pairing Partners

We got some great tips from sommelier Justin Kuruvilla of elements in N.J. about what's next in the restaurant world: Nontraditional pairings dinners. That's right: Because we always suspected Bourbon goes with just about everything.

For tips on how to pair food with spirits, beer and sake, read my article for Wine Enthusiast here.

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Best-Of-Year-2012/Sommelier-Tip-Embracing-the-Occasional-Wine-Free-Pairing/

Perfect Pairing: Blue Crab Dip and Vouvray

Stealing things from restaurants, like salt and pepper shakers (you know who you are) is wrong, so we're borrowing a recipe instead.  Did we mention it's from one of the hottest restaurants in Baltimore, Wit & Wisdom?

This creamy crab dip makes for a perfect party snack and can be made in under 1 hour! So much for slaving in the kitchen. Oh, and we scored the perfect wine pairing to boot.

Read my Wine Enthusiast article here:

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Best-Of-Year-2012/Maryland-Jumbo-Crap-Dip-Pairs-With-Vouvray-Sec/

Art Basel, Meet Champagne...

In my story for Wine Enthusiast, "Form Meets Function", Hervé Van der Straeten talks about his new piece of artwork, "Miroir", designed to celebrate Ruinart Champagne. The piece will debut at Art Basel Miami Beach.
What is Miroir, you ask? You'll have to read the story to find out!

Aww Shucks! Best Oyster Bars in New Orleans

Everywhere you turn in New Orleans, someone's serving up briny bivalves. With so many killer seafood spots to explore, we thought it was time to round up New Orleans's best oyster bars for neworleans.com.

Read my story here...napkins not included.

http://www.neworleans.com/la/restaurants/articles/top-oyster-bars-in-new-orleans/