5 Reasons to Eat and Drink in St. Louis

Meet me in St. Louis!

Only if you want to eat and drink at really edgy, interesting and fascinating food spots!

Oh, you're too busy you say?

Read my top 5 Reasons to Eat and Drink in St. Louis story for Fodor's here instead, then. You already live vicariously through me anyway.

http://www.fodors.com/news/where-to-eat-and-drink-in-st-louis-6392.html

Why Sommeliers Drive Us Insane...And A Rebuttal

Sommeliers of the world, how we love you, depend on you, sometimes despise you. It's a love/hate relationship, and like any great relationship, communication is key. (No, we didn't pay a therapist to tell us that.)

We recently posed a question on the Wine Enthusiast facebook page about how sommeliers drive us crazy. We rounded up the top 5 complaints, then tapped New Orleans's rising star sommelier, Molly Wismeier, director of wine at Restaurant R'evolution, for her saucy rebuttal.

Drink it all in here:

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Web-2013/Somms-Drive-Me-Crazy/

Memphis Made Easy: Two Days in Blues City

It's possible that you have no clue how cool Memphis is. Seriously. And while we're not suggesting you attempt to discover its brassy clubs, historical monuments, fascinating art scene, musical heritage and satisfying soul food in a dizzying, 48-hour spin, Fodor's had us do exactly that.

You'd be shocked what you can do in two days' time. And if you don't come back from Memphis slightly more soulful, you need more help than this blog can provide.

http://www.fodors.com/news/48-hours-in-memphis-6380.html

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/