Bacon Freak Blog

For many of us most dedicated gourmets, connoisseurs and aficionados, the name John Williams often brings to mind the amazing classical compositions and film scores that we so closely associate with some of the greatest movies of all time, from Star Wars to E.T. and from Indiana Jones to Jurassic Park.

But in the world of Napa Valley wine making, there is a John Williams whose celebrity status and notoriety is perhaps equal to the renown and respect held by “The Maestro” in the music and entertainment scene.

Introducing the world of wine’s very own John Williams, owner and proprietor of Frog’s Leap Winery the Napa Valley’s majestic and near magical, Rutherford, CA.

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According to The Today Show’s expert nutritionist and diet editor; Joy Bauer MS, RD, CDN, regularly drinking wine in moderation is not only OK, it’s actually good for you and can help you to prevent various catastrophic illnesses, from numerous types of cancer to various forms of heart disease!

Apparently, both the alcohol content itself, as well as the naturally occurring “phyto-chemicals” or organic plant compounds, found in wine, have been clinically proven to reduce the risk of various forms of heart disease and cancer, as well as effectively slow the progression of numerous neurological and degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.

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It seems that all the latest fashion is gourmet cupcakes. Every time I turn around I see a new boutique cupcake shop sprout up, with exotic and familiar flavors varying on a daily basis. With this new trend comes yet another delicious item that costs three dollars a craving, which in the end can run up a hefty bill. Also how many times can you visit any of those little shops, sit underneath the multi-colored umbrellas and not seek a different scene or a new adventure with the same delicious treats.

A few solutions have actually already been presented to the general cupcake loving public to these two problems. One is the surge in cupcake cookbooks with everything from Martha Stewart to simple designs to easy bake. I’ve read a few articles and recommendations on cookbooks, the easiest way to save money on my newest addictive habit is clearly baking them at home. The second answer, the part about a new twist to an old adventure I discovered when reading about a new little cupcake shop in Palm Springs. This new place has decided to pair their trendy gourmet cupcakes with wine, a great little nook for an afternoon getaway.

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Face it, wine is something to be enjoyed, not scientifically dissected in a laboratory by a specially trained team of clinicians.

Mankind did not spend hundreds, if not thousands of years, constantly seeking to perfect the process of “vintnering” a vast and veritable variety of vibrant vintages, each uniquely delightful and delectably delicious wines, just so some up tight, “uber-serious,” straight-laced, pucker-faced aficionado could show up and “out-connoisseur” the rest of the gangly gaggle of snooty snifters.

NO … wine was meant to be enjoyed because it tastes good, makes you feel good and you simply like it!

So, it should be no real surprise to discover that wine tasting is meant to be more of a fun and exciting adventure, not a University Final Exam with your chance of you graduating, hanging on each and every academically correct answer.

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Swine and Wine Club

With the ever-growing popularity of baconfreak.com’s Swine and Wine Club, I was thinking, how could we get as many people together to enjoy two of the finest things in life; bacon and wine. Why not try a Swine and Wine Party.

First, set the date, time and location. I was thinking a Sunday afternoon, not so late that you and your guests are feeling the effect the following morning.

Second, you need lots and lots of bacon.
Baconfreak.com has a wide variety of different bacon products. One specific kind of bacon that caught my eye was sun-dried tomato bacon. Why not pair the bacon with fresh mozzarella, on a toasted baguette for an easy light snack. Another easy and tasty bacon appetizer was something I found on Cooks.com. This recipe combines scallops, bacon and a sweet and sour sauce. Also, choose a few types of bacon to cook up and serve by themselves for your guest to enjoy, because what party isn’t complete without a few sweets to go along with the other food. Keeping with the theme of bacon, how about trying Bacon Chocolte Sueyts. These delectable delights pair the salty, savory flavors of bacon with the sweetness of dark chocolate for an unmistakable taste.

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