Elk Cove Pairing at Sweetgrass Thursday February 2nd

Chef Ryan Trimm of Sweetgrass is creating a special small plates tasting to pair with the gorgeous wines of Elk Cove Winery. On Thursday February 2nd between 5 - 8 pm you can get a special tasting of small plates paired with 4 different Elk Cove wines. Todd Stewart will be on hand direct from the winery to engage with customers, answer questions & share stories about each unique wine. This is not a typical wine dinner. No hard start time. No single presentation or conversation. You can come anytime you want between 5 & 8 pm & order this unique pairing for only $35 plus tax & tip. This is a special opportunity to sample the delicious food of Chef Ryan Trimm paired alongside the excellent wines of Elk Cove. Come out to Cooper-Young on a Thursday & have an experience!

O Oregon

With a month away from the first annual Joe's Wines & Liquors Passport to Oregon we are nearly sold out. It's truly amazing to me that there has been so much support &, quite frankly, demand for this. It shows me that this region whose wines I love so dearly has fans all over this city. I can't wait to see the looks on people's faces when they take in a mouthful of earthy, sensual, gorgeous pinot noir. I can't wait to show the Oregon folks why I love this city so much. Get ready for some Oregon love Memphis!

Elk Cove Vineyards Tasting

One of my absolute favorite wineries is coming to town a couple of times in February. First they will be in town for one of the hottest tickets in town Cochon 555. Joe's Wines & Elk Cove will also be partnering up for a tasting at Sweetgrass that week but the details haven't been worked out yet. Stay tuned for that. Last but not least they will be here for Joe's Wines Passport to Oregon event on February 23rd. Tickets for that event are $40 & can be purchased at Joe's, 1681 Poplar, 901.725.4252. Tickets are almost gone so go get yours NOW!

Adelsheim Winery & Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen

Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen is hosting a dinner with Adelsheim Vineyards on Friday February 3rd. Adelsheim, founded in 1971, is one of the most respected & celebrated wineries in the U.S. Their pinot noirs are sensually textured and absolutely gorgeous and express so much of what is unique about the Willamette Valley. Chefs Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman will be preparing a 5 course tasting menu to not only match but amplify these elegant wines. Seating is extremely limited. This is a rare opportunity to taste wines with Michael Adelsheim himself paired with courses from 2 of the best chefs in Memphis. Don't miss this one! Cost to attend is $85/person plus tax & tip. Please call 901.347.3569 for reservations. Call now!

Bottles With Friends

When friends move away its very bittersweet. I'm always happy for my friends because they are most likely moving on because of a job or school. It's always for some good opportunity that can't be passed up. My friends Becca & Lee moved to Los Angeles last year because Lee was accepted to the American Film Institute. Yep I said AFI. The most prestigious film school on the planet! I was so proud of Lee but a little sad because I love both of them & I knew I'd miss them. Not surprisingly LA has been good for Becca too. She is teaching yoga & continuing her work as a doula. She's even been in LA Parent. I'm so proud of them both.

I'm so proud of them both.

Thankfully they both came home for the holidays to see family & friends. We luckily were able to have them over for dinner last night & they surprised us with a gorgeous bottle of Coldisole Brunello di Montalcino 2001. I absolutely adore Brunello. There really is nothing like it in the wine world. Earthy, hauntingly seductive, herbaceous. Aside from that it always seems to grab me by the you know whats.

My motto for 2012 is to use any excuse to open up good wine. With that being said I popped open an Argyle Blanc de Blancs 2007. Beautiful bubbles with beautiful people. Dinner consisted of macaroni & cheese with parmiggiano reggiano crumbs, Piave & Fontina cheeses with a tomato-white wine sugo & shiitakes roasted in truffle & garlic butter. May this be the first of many many wonderful meals in 2012.

Post Holiday

In my line of work the holidays are BRUTAL to say the least. It is wonderful to have such a great job & to be so busy but needless to say it wears me out. However, I have found a remedy to the stress that builds up during the holidays. A really, really, really good massage. I know, its not as if this is earth shattering news but it had been about 8 or 9 years since I had one. Working on my feet on terrazzo can be murder. I found a great masseuse that not only listened to what I said but also listened to my body. He worked out every little knot every ball of stress & every pool of tensity. Do yourselves a favor & make an appointment with this man. Tell him Michael Hughes sent you. Relax Revive Restore Massage Therapy Jon Michael Livaudais, LMT 901.270.3255