http://dcrowley.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by David C. en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:32:21 GMT 2010-01-06T13:32:21Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977965520 Butcher Shop Bolognese, from Barbara Lynch's Stir , provides a straightforward starting point for my  cookbook recipe and wine pairing project .  I used the combination of ground veal, lamb . . . Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:59:47 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977965520 David C. 2009-12-28T12:59:47Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977957878 In these lean economic times, I feel a moral obligation to share about the good wine values I come across. I've tried three recently that would lend themselves nicely to a variety of holiday situations. . . . Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:49:40 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977957878 David C. 2009-12-22T01:49:40Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977946351 Our 4 year old son is quite the train maven.  In fact, he's got his career plan mapped out around trains.  He's planning to convert our town's Main Street into a high speed rail line.  Good . . . Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:15:20 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977946351 David C. 2009-12-14T13:15:20Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977921277 Of course, family, food and giving thanks are the central elements of Thanksgiving.  But if you're into wine, that also has a place on a day that revolves so much around a meal.   My preview . . . Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:58:45 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977921277 David C. 2009-11-28T13:58:45Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977917077 It's been a busy fall @ work and home, hard to believe Turkey Day is almost upon us. So I must get at least something posted about Thanksgiving wine. The last few years, I've covered a lot of . . . Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:58:38 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977917077 David C. 2009-11-25T11:58:38Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977879021 Halloween is certainly poses a challenge for kids with food allergies.  For the first few years, we just downplayed the day and visited a couple relatives homes where we new there would be . . . Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:18:58 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977879021 David C. 2009-10-31T12:18:58Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977876422 The majority of my posts here have to do with my leisurely pursuits around food & wine.  From time to time I share articles like this from my "day job".  I thought Boston area folks might . . . Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:44:42 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977876422 David C. 2009-10-29T19:44:42Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977845086 I've been pondering the question of whether the vitriolic debate over healthcare today is unprecedented or just another example of the rough-and-tumble nature of politics, played out in the 24-7 news . . . Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:52:56 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977845086 David C. 2009-10-09T00:52:56Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977836983 I'd come across Taste Live events in the Twittersphere (#ttl), seeing wine tasting notes fly back and forth.  Sounded like fun, so a few weeks ago I signed up for one.  I had a vague awareness . . . Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:18:54 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977836983 David C. 2009-10-03T18:18:54Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977832997 Really, don't let the leek top thing throw you off this one.  I first read about using leek tops in a frugality article encouraging the use of items like this that are often thrown away.  Here, . . . Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:01:23 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977832997 David C. 2009-10-03T14:01:23Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977830388 Lori and Ray Schaefer of Phoenix Wine & Food continue to put out a great sampling of food and wine pairings on a regular basis at Wine Country in Winchester, MA.  This past Saturday, they . . . Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:51:53 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977830388 David C. 2009-09-29T10:51:53Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977827500 We were having an enjoyable dinner at a nice local restaurant last night--the place will go unnamed as it is a good spot by and large. We ordered a 3 course prix fixe. The first two courses came out . . . Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:23:20 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977827500 David C. 2009-09-26T18:23:20Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977819425 It's been about a month since I've been home for a weekend, and not coincidentally, that's how long it's been since my last post here. Settling back into the more regular routine, which means more cooking . . . Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:09:57 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977819425 David C. 2009-09-20T12:09:57Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977758826 The sun was shining Friday morning, so it seemed like a good time to pull some ribeye out of the freezer to grill later, and get into the theme of the 5th Anniversary Wine Blogging Wednesday (WBW) . . . Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:59:08 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977758826 David C. 2009-08-13T00:59:08Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977742307 It's great to have Boston and Cambridge near by with their abundance of good restaurants to choose from.  But it's also nice to have a growing list of top-level restaurants within a 10 minute drive . . . Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:43:04 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977742307 David C. 2009-07-30T10:43:04Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977751065 My first attempt at grilled swordfish came out pretty well, I must say.  I'd sampled some with an Asian based sauce at Whole Foods and tried to replice something like what I'd had.  I liked . . . Sun, 26 Jul 2009 11:58:26 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977751065 David C. 2009-07-26T11:58:26Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977734807 My interest in cooking (and eating) led me to read  In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, yet I was struck by how some of the societal factors that require food to be defended also contribute to . . . Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:27:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977734807 David C. 2009-07-11T18:27:06Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977731575 I finshed Michael Pollan's  In Defense of Food  on the plane yesterday. I'll certainly be treating it more fully here, but one thing that I thought about today while shopping at Whole Foods . . . Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:22:15 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977731575 David C. 2009-07-07T23:22:15Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977719760 Fall foliage, Fenway Park and Cape Cod quickly come to mind when I think about New England.  Wine, not so much. Yet I have become aware that there are some good quality wines produced right here . . . Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:55:10 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977719760 David C. 2009-06-28T11:55:10Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977723035 I've become friendly with a wonderful couple that started developing the habit of bringing along cheese and other appetizers to local wine shop tastings in our area.  This afternoon they are "stepping . . . Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:08:48 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977723035 David C. 2009-06-27T18:08:48Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977722851 I'm usually content if a wine for around $10 is a pleasant, drinkable wine.  Once and awhile, I stumble upon something that makes me say, wow, this is only ____!  Great value wines are always . . . Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:37:12 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977722851 David C. 2009-06-27T11:37:12Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977717291 I imagine it started with soft tosses to build my confidence, but what I remember is your throwing hard fastballs and nasty curves so that I'd be ready for whatever others might throw at me. Shortly . . . Sun, 21 Jun 2009 10:43:54 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977717291 David C. 2009-06-21T10:43:54Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977717283 My Dad's a bit easier to please in the Father's Day beverage department.  Beer.  Guinness.  Happy. I suppose being a wine afficianado could make coming up with a special bottle as a Father's . . . Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:56:07 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977717283 David C. 2009-06-21T09:56:07Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977716524 Earlier this decade, Robert Putnam's  Bowling Alone indicted the television as one of the primary culprits for declining social capital.  Then in 2006 the study, " Social Isolation in America . . . Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:10:15 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977716524 David C. 2009-06-20T12:10:15Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977715155 Around the time our son turned one, we learned he was allergic to eggs, nuts and dairy.  This news was overwhelming at first, coming around the time he was just getting going on solid foods. . . . Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:29:39 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977715155 David C. 2009-06-19T00:29:39Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977711580 The 2007 Montgras Quatro ($16)from Chile blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Carmenere, and Syrah. With that lineup of grapes, not a surprise that this would be a big wine that benefits from decanting. . . . Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:58:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977711580 David C. 2009-06-15T10:58:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977703883 I've gotten pretty adept as a cook, yet I still find it a challenge to "scale up" my cooking for a crowd.  But it is fun trying, and I think I'm starting to develop some good approaches.  Last . . . Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:28:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977703883 David C. 2009-06-07T11:28:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977703143 I was pleased that one of the favorite dishes I served for a recent "Spring Sampler" fundraiser we hosted for Social Capital Inc. was a new one I concocted for the occasion.  I knew I wanted to . . . Sat, 06 Jun 2009 12:43:31 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977703143 David C. 2009-06-06T12:43:31Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977703130 Cafe Escadrille recently launched a new Tuesday Night Wine Club, and we couldn't pass up the chance to be at the first dinner.  The promise of a four course meal with excellent wine pairings for . . . Sat, 06 Jun 2009 10:19:00 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977703130 David C. 2009-06-06T10:19:00Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977680217 I first tasted the 2002 Larrikin Shiraz ($22)  from Australia's Barossa Valley this fall, and thought the big fruit forward wine would improve with a bit of time in the cellar.  On Saturday . . . Tue, 12 May 2009 01:09:41 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977680217 David C. 2009-05-12T01:09:41Z