Sip- Brumont in a Bottle or Box?

Brumont in a bottle- $15

I promise I don't make these suggestions based on wines that are difficult to pronounce, but here's another one where you need to put your French accent on.  Brumont Gros Mansang-Sauvignon Blanc from Cote do Gascogne in Southwest France.  This zippy little number runs about $15 and is a total crowd pleaser.  Possessing slightly more personality that your average Sauvignon Blanc, the addition of the lesser known grape Gros Mansang brings a bit of weight, depth of character, and texture to the party. Light golden in color, the Brumont has a particular lemon zestiness that mingles so nicely with notes of peach and honey. We're talking some serious wine yin and yang here with the grapefruit-like acidity and the subtle sweetness.  
It's an ideal aperitif but matches beautifully with grilled chicken, fish, or vegetables that are sometimes fussy to pair with wine such as zucchini, peppers, asparagus, or even portobello mushrooms. 
And here's the best of all- it also comes in a box!!  Yes, I said a box.  It's perfectly acceptable these days as more and more reputable producers are thinking outside the box (sorry, I couldn't resist) making it a no brainer for picnics, the boat, or backyard bashes.  
Now that is something my crabby recycling man can appreciate.  

Brumont in a box- 5L for $40

Get them both at France 44.

A Birthday Gift for Abbey

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer- BBQ's, backyard bashes, and the opening of many swimming pools across the country.  But before you let your children dive in for the season ask yourself this question- is your pool safe? Your answer would probably be a resounding, "of course!" How could it not be?  Well, you'd be surprised.  The dangers in and around pools go beyond the obvious. 


In 2007 six-year old Abigail Taylor became entrapped by the drain in a wading pool at her family's private swim and golf club.  After nine months of hospitalization and surgeries including a multiple organ transplant, Abbey passed away. Her death could have been prevented and Abbey's hope was that no child would have to suffer as she did.  Her parents, Scott and Katey Taylor are keeping that wish alive through the efforts of Abbey's Hope Charitable Foundation.  In her name they work fiercely to raise awareness and keep kids safe in and around pools, spas and open bodies of water.


Abbey was in a kiddy pool.  She knew how to swim.  This unforeseen danger could have been prevented with an anti-entrapment pool drain cover and safety vacuum release system.  Please make sure that the pools you and your children swim in this summer meet the anti-entrapment standards set in place by the Virginia Graeme Baker Act which requires all public pools meet these drain standards.  Unfortunately not all are in compliance and private pools and hot tubs pose huge dangers as well, especially for kids.  Be aware.  Be cautious.  Be safe.

*What can you do?  Plenty. 
First and foremost- Be Vigilant.  Make sure an adult is watching children in the pool or spa at all times. Become a "Water Watchdog".  Use this tag created by Abbey's Hope Foundation  and don't rely on lifeguards or other adults to be on alert.  Drowning is second only to car crashes as the leading cause of unintentional death among children.  It is fast, silent, and unfortunately happens way too often.  I encourage you to become a Water Watchdog by going online, taking the pledge, and helping to avoid accidents or drownings.   


What else?  Teach swimming and lifesaving skills.  Knowing how to swim well is essential.  Take classes in First Aid and CPR and have an emergency plan. When at the pool always have a cell phone on hand.


Install barriers.  Every pool should have an isolation fence surrounding it on all sides.  Gates should be self-latching and locking.  Keep spas and hot tubs covered and locked when not in use.


And finally, Know Your Drains!  Ask your pool if they are in compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act.  If you spot one that is non-compliant, loose, missing, or broken report it to the owner or operator immediately.

Every year Abbey's Hope does more than talk the talk about water safety.  They walk the walk. This year they awarded $35,000 in grants to The Greater Twin Cities YMCA Water Safety Instruction Program that allows local kids from immigrant and low income backgrounds to be equipped with basic water safety skills and awareness.  Now that is honoring Abbey's Hope.


And finally, today is what would have been Abbey's 11th birthday.  Two weeks from yesterday she should be walking in her 5th grade graduation ceremony with my own son.  Celebrate her memory by educating yourself, being vigilant and spreading the word about water safety.  Pass this post around, go to the Abbey's Hope website and do your part to make sure this never, ever happens to another child again.  


*water safety tips provided by Abbey's Hope Charitable Foundation

Haute Costco?

A cocktail party for $208.07?  Yeah right.  I can't even have a dinner party for that amount but according to high profile uberluxe party planner, David Monn, you can get it done at Costco.  Now I have been buying food at Costco for YEARS, but was always a little reluctant to reveal my source.  For a while there it had a little bit of a stigma, especially when it came to seafood, meat, and of course, wine.  Costco sort of had the reputation of being a "dumping ground" if you will; that they were not committed to top quality and sourcing.  That could not be further from the truth, people.  Being a loyal shopper since the Price Club days in California, I have always gotten a bit of a high from shopping there, so you can only imagine my giddiness and validation when I read this article about a Haute Costco cocktail party in the April issue of Town & Country.


Obviously I am a little behind in my blogging (da!!) which means I am behind in a whole lotta other stuff, like reading, which is why I am just now getting through an April magazine issue that was delivered to my doorstep in mid March.  I have a stack of magazines that come up to my knees, and I haven't even cracked that Mommy porn Fifty Shades of Grey yet, so clearly, you can tell that I'm buried.  But back to Costco.  I was actually there this morning and was so pleased to find they actually had everything on the shopping list!  I thought for sure some stuff would be seasonal or regional, or both, but nope, it was all there and the prices were exact.  The article doesn't include recipes but all the delicious sounding nibbles seem pretty easy to put together.  There is no cooking involved with the exception of maybe caramelizing some walnuts or deep frying some ravioli.  You can handle that, right?  Serve it all on silver platters alongside some Dom Perignon (did you know Costco sells more Dom than anywhere else in the country?) and you've got yourself a party!

The menu sounds absolutely delicious with brie and green apple bruschetta topped with caramelized walnuts, lime cilantro shrimp, Norwegian smoked salmon and scallions, pulled pork on mini corn cakes, and New Zealand lamp chops with a pistachio crust.  Anyone who has ever had the lamp chops from Costco knows how amazing they are.  Mr. C has favored them for years and according to the article some famous New York chefs swear by them as well.  


I can't wait to play with these recipes and don't be the least bit surprised if you see this exact menu at my next party.  I love, love, love Costco, not only for their food selection and sourcing, savvy wine choices, cameras, vacuums, and coffee, but the gratuitous selection of things that land in your cart that you don't necessarily need.  Like that otherwise sold out across the frickin' state Mommy porn, Fifty Shades of Grey.  

Sip.Savor.Style...

Simplify and streamline!!  

Please excuse the corny alliteration but sadly it's time to retire About Town and make everything that I'm doing just slightly more cohesive.  About Town gave me the confidence and motivation to write, and Sip.Savor.Style has given me a sharper direction of where I want it all to go so the two simply had to marry.  This blog site will still have the same feel or "voice" if you will but it was getting too complicated and time consuming to assume two identities.  And two Facebook pages, and two Twitter accounts.  You can imagine I was feeling just slightly schizophrenic, so it only made sense that the two ideas become one and I hope you will continue to follow and enjoy what you read.  Check out the website if you haven't had the chance and if you don't mind take a moment and please "like" the Sip.Savor.Style Facebook page and you can find me on Twitter as well.  

I have no idea why but this P!nk song (even if the video is sorta weird) seems to be my Sip.Savor.Style theme song.  It's fast, motivating and kinda says it all,  so raise a glass and enjoy! Cheers to the future!