I was first introduced to Il Divo by a friend in 2008 with one song. Their interpretation of Ennio Morricone’s Nella Fantasia was powerful and beautiful. But I was not inspired enough to learn more about Il Divo. In March Chef Julie and I were at the Fox Theater to hear Celtic Women and we saw a promotional billboard for Il Divo’s July 1 Atlanta performance. Without knowing a lot about these boys, I responded immediately by purchasing tickets. Good thing because the house was sold out almost 4 months in advance.

The anticipation was almost as exciting as their performance. Julie and I were like two little girls waiting for Christmas until the big day finally came. We started our magical evening with dinner at Virginia Highland’s Mali Restaurant & Sushi Bar on Amsterdam Ave. Atlanta is extremely hot in July so cool sushi was perfect. We also enjoyed the evening special, halibut in a mild Thai sauce and topped the dinner with mango and sticky rice. Mali – live on!

The Fox Theater is without doubt the best place to hear or see an intimate performance in the entire Southeastern US. To think The Fox was a candidate for destruction in the 1980’s still makes me tremble. The Egyptian-Moorish architecture is unusual to this region, making the Fox that much more unique. Il Divo kept the stage simple with a 16 piece mini-orchestra, symbolic background images and a stage with just enough color and light to add to their performance – not take away from it.

Il Divo, meaning star or celebrity in Italian, is the brainchild of reality television star Simon Cowell…go Simon! American tenor David Miller, Spanish baritone Carlos Marin, Swiss tenor Urs Buhler and French pop singer Sebastien Izambard make up the quartet. I am not a music critic, but I know what moves me and can usually anticipate what will move others. What is unique about this group is their adaptation of popular songs with operatic technique. Adding to the mix is the singing in their various native languages. Very authentic! Because of Il Divo, thousands of people that would not approach operatic music can now introduce it to their music library with tunes they are familiar with.

One of my favorites during the performance was Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. Julie enjoyed Unchained Melody as this was a favorite her parents used to dance to. But without a doubt I was most moved by two special songs played back to back – Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s The Power of Love and Lucio Dalla’s Caruso.

That’s it for where it was, what they sang, etc., but really, how was it? Honestly, I cannot remember a more moving enjoyable concert. Words can’t describe the experience but feelings can. Performers like Il Divo have the ability to move us into the realm of “timeless”. You’ll know you were successful if you wake up the morning after the concert with a smile on your face, the sky is a little bluer, your breakfast pastry tastes a little sweeter or you see a little more love in your pet’s eyes. Yes, you can make it last. Just play that beautiful music, shut your eyes, and go to the Source. It’s always there waiting just for you.

It's summer. You're active. Very active. Sports, gardening, whatever - there comes a time when you need a pick me up treat. Do you go for the processed candy bars? Here's an alternative:

Sweet Potato Cooler

Cook 1 large sweet potato at 400 degrees F for 1.5 hours

Mash leaving skin in mixture

Add your favorite fruit like pineapple chunks or blueberries

Top with nuts - Chill 1 hours before eating - Keep a batch in the frig for just the right moment!

For exquisite food gifts, visit www.GourmetStation.com

Mother’s Day is usually the time we think about flowers and food gifts. But hey – what about Dad? Do you think he may be burned out on gadgets and trinkets? Maybe Dad would enjoy a good gourmet experience (especially if Mom has slowed down on the cooking).

This Father’s Day is the first time GourmetStation has promoted our new Certified Angus ®  Steak Dinner gifts. And we’re offering 15% off the steak dinner gifts, steak dinner gift certificate and steak dinner of the month. All these gourmet gifts are a great value not to mention the eating quality of the Certified Angus ® steaks.

What does Certified Angus ® mean? The animals are fed a high quality all vegetarian diet. No antibiotics or hormones are ever used. No artificial flavoring, coloring, chemical preservatives or other synthetic ingredients are used. And the meat is minimally processed.

Give Dad a certificate or steak of the month program and let him choose between these delicious cuts:

City Slickers Fillet Mignon

Delminoco Ribeye

Kansas City Strip

Baron of Beef Top Sirloin

Rustic Flat Iron

Wild West T Bone

We’re also offering the 15% discount on our Wagyu (Kobe Style) Steak Dinner Gift branded by Australia’s golf legend, Greg Norman.

Each steak dinner gift includes handmade appetizers, two steaks ready to pan sear or grill, whole baby potatoes with rosemary, garlic bread, chocolate truffle cheesecake and a packet of coffee. Price is $89.99 plus shipping. Check our website for the product code and more details.  Happy Father’s Day!

I dedicate this post to these wonderful people - my new friend from India, Ramesh and his lovely wife and family. Ramesh has shown me the warmth and kind nature of the Indian people. I also dedicate this post to my dear friend Johnny Naugle, an Atlanta peace advocate with a great appreciation for Indian culture and the works of Gandhi.

Several months ago my friend Johnny introduced me to Snatam Kaur. I knew she sang sacred music from India and I liked the peaceful emotions her music evoked. That was about it. When we learned she was on tour and Atlanta was a concert destination, it seemed appropriate that Johnny and I attend. I had no idea that I was in for an experience of a lifetime.

Our evening stared with dinner at a local Indian restaurant, Planet Bombay. The owners and staff provided an authentic experience from décor to cuisine. I enjoyed Vegetables Biriyani and Johnny had Tofu Tikka Massala. One taste of the yogart and tandoori spice sauce on Johnny’s entrée and I almost took it away from him. I didn’t; I behaved. But I am going back for this dish – all for myself.

The concert (I use this word loosely) was held at a local yoga institute. The performance room seemed large enough until hundreds of people arrived – most sitting on the floor in perfect yoga form. They knew why they were there and what to expect. Snatam performs Sikh devotional music; the practice of kirtan. In India’s devotional traditions, kirtan is call-and-response chanting. Although Snatam is Colorado born, the influences of her early exposure to India are very obvious. The musical experience was as authentic as the Indian culinary experience.

Now I must say, it was not a concert. When I think of a concert I think of a person or group sending music to the audience. We might hum a familiar tune, but for the most part we listen. Not so with kirtan. This is participatory at it’s best.  The beauty of the melodies, the integration of performers & audience and the nature of the lyrics, soulful praises to God, all create a feeling of Oneness that is beyond words. Oh to have discovered all this 20 years ago – but then I might not have appreciated it then like I do today.

What a nice surprise! The Food Team at Gourmet Gift of the Day Blog selected our International Soup Sampler as a winner. Here's what they have to say:

"I love to sample a number of foods when we go out for dinner.  I especially like buffet-style dining so I can try a little of this and a little of that before deciding what to eat.  That’s why I particularly like the samplers offered by Gourmet Station...." Read More

You know, soups at GourmetStation were an afterthought. When we launched our brand in May 2000 our core offering was a 4 course dinner for two featuring soups. The feedback on the soups was so positive that we launched an entire soup gift category including soup gift certificates and soup of the month clubs. Bon appetit!

Doris Dorrie, German filmmaker, documents a summer in the life of  Zen practitioner and cook Edward Espe Brown, as he teaches culinary classes in the Zen centers in Austria and California. Brown reveals the role food plays in our bodies and our spirits. Of particular interest is the time honored methods Brown uses in making bread. In addition to being informative, the film is humorous and thought provocative with Zen wisdom. The kitchen skills Brown demonstrates will bring delight to even the most advanced foodie. Below is a link to one of Brown's popular cook books. Enjoy!

The Complete Tassajara Cookbook

Recipes, Techniques, and Reflections from the Famed Zen Kitchen

Without occasions, life would be pretty boring. Would you not agree? Occasions give us something to look forward to, plan for and most importantly, celebrate. Problem is after many years of gift gifting, selecting gifts for these special occasions becomes more difficult. Did you ever ask the question “What can I give to make a lasting impressing and break the routine”? The answer is “experiential gifts.” Experiential means what it says. There are no gadgets or trinkets to gather dust. But there is a lovely experience that gift givers can turn into a memory and cherish forever. GourmetStation food gifts are definitely experiential gifts. When you’re looking to make an impression, break the mould, step out of the box – remember GourmetStation Dinner Gifts.

Save 15% On GourmetStation Gourmet Meals Delivered For These Occasions:

Birthday Dinners – Where is a better place to enjoy a birthday dinner than the most comfortable place on earth – home!

Anniversary Dinners – Bring a little romance to their next anniversary with our anniversary dinners delivered

Congratulations Gourmet Dinners –Say congratulations to the graduate. What about a New Baby Gift – give the parents a break with restaurant quality food delivered right to their door.

Thank You Dinners Delivered – Say thanks to a friend who did a special favor for you.

Thinking Of You Gourmet Meals – Show them you care. Get Well Gifts. Sympathy Gifts.

Romance Dinners – It does not have to be Valentines to celebrate romance with romantic dinners delivered.

Ok …this is a combo blog with interesting recipes for the last gasps of late winter/and the ongoing chilly springtime we seem to be having in many parts of the country.

After seven months of a business travel freeze, courtesy of the economic downturn of 2008-2009, I had a sudden trip to New York City come up. Well this gave me the ability to follow up on a “reunion” with coworkers from Intergold, the marketing arm of the chamber of Mines of South Africa, where we had all worked back in the early 80s. My former Associate Laura had actually tracked me down via Google, after 20 some years and found me of all places through the GourmetStation blog listing and after getting hold of Kathy “Hubie,” another coworker we were finally able to make the reunion happen for this planned trip.

The weather was chilly…the sky kind of grey…but our hostess for the event “Hubie” had planned on Dirty Martinis as a warm up drink with appetizers. I was put in charge as bartender for the night and after being introduced to the shaker...the Grey Goose vodka and a bottle of Dirty Martini olive juice, the stage was set.

Many people prefer Gin for their more traditional Martinis…but when using Vodka…one is correctly to refer to the drink as a Vodka martini. Dirty Martinis for me are a perfect choice as I often buy jars of olives, pour out the juice and replace with vodka to let the olives marinate in the vodka, which can also provide tasty appetizers.

Dirty Martini Recipe

Ingredients

2 oz. Vodka or Gin
3/4 oz. Dirty Martini Olive Juice
1/2 oz. Dry Vermouth

Chill a Swank martini glass in the freezer or add ice and water to get it "very" cold or use a silver shaker with ice and make the best darn Dirty Martini you have ever had. For an added flourish, check out the following website for some really cool contemporary Martini glasses

( http://swankmartini.com/home.htm )

Needless to say our happy little reunion trio knocked back a number of these Dirty Martinis…which led to some “Dirty Dancing” ...a popular Patrick Swayze movie that came out in the 80s and we were on our way. It can be said that some among us were feeling no pain and the memories from our former working environment 29 years ago came flooding back.

Kathy, who I had always affectionately referred to as “Hubie” from a former name- Huber, prepared a wonderful comfort food menu to go along with the Vodka Martinis. Since I don’t have her special meat loaf recipe….I thought I would substitute a regional “delicacy” for the purposes of this blog from my own hometown region.

Cincinnati is noted for its Skyline Chili and local hometown derivations. This following recipe was given to me in 2006 by my Aunt and she has used this recipe for over 50 years!

Cincinnati Chili recipe from Audrey Ankenbauer 

2 lbs ground beef

1- 8 ounce can of tomato sauce

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce

1 quart of water

3 ½ tablespoons of white vinegar

3 medium diced onions

4 tablespoons of chili powder

1 teaspoon of red pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all of the above ingredients till the beef is smooth.

Put in a cheesecloth bag 2 garlic “toes”, pickle spices from a small box or tin, red pepper and bay leaves and tie it all up tight and add to the mixture.

Cook the mixture for 3 hours along with the cheesecloth ingredients and if you like a more traditional chili, you can add red kidney beans. When you are finished cooking you can also serve with oyster crackers as a garnishment on the side.

The preferred serving style  for Cincinnati chili is often served over spaghetti and topped with cheese, onion and hot sauce and variations are referred to as “two-way”, “three-way” or “four-way chili.” You can Google Cincinnati chili at Wikipedia and learn its greater history and origins, ethnic derivations designed to expand the culinary base in Cincinnati history.

According to the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, the local populace consumes over two million pounds of chili each year! Combine that with Dirty Martinis, a DVD of Dirty Dancing …drink Martinis and commence your own Dirty Dancing and you then have a fun filled evening for any rainy chilly night!

I’ve often wondered what it would be like to see the world through the eyes of an artist. Are they born with insight – an ability to capture a glimpse of truth? Or are they conditioned through experience, as many of us are, to develop and channel ordinary talents? Perhaps both. Let me introduce you to Dapo Alade, his experience and his art. You decide for yourself.

Many highly creative people cannot limit their expression to a single canvass and Dapo is one of them. His passions extend beyond visual arts to peace efforts, forums designed to predict the Mayan calendar of 2012 and matters of our spiritual nature. It should come as no surprise that I met Dapo on a spiritual network of people studying A Course in Miracles. These efforts are Dapo’s output. So what then is the input, the source of these efforts?

To start with, that beautiful word “diversification”. Dapo is African, so his life experience and art experience started in Africa, extended to Europe and finally reached to the US (currently Atlanta GA). Dapo has over 30 years experience in advertising and marketing with visual communication skills including audiovisual, photography and illustrative drawings.

Art is communication. In the private esoteric world of the artist, art is a chat about the nature of reality; one’s perception of truth. However, in the public world of commerce, the chat is purely and simply about “persuasion”. Dapo’s global perspective, international experience and people skills allow him to be a master in both worlds; a rare talent.

So if you’re in the market to invest in art, engage a highly experienced artist in an existing commercial project or create a new and exciting project that needs the perspective of an artist, Dapo would like to meet you.

dapoartstudio@gmail.com

Sources To Learn More About Dapo Alade

http://www.linkedin.com/in/dapoalade

http://www.dapo.weebly.com

http://www.energypeace.ning.com   

This post was contributed by Courtney Phillips. Courtney writes about the grants for culinary. and she welcomes your feedback at CourtneyPhillips80@ gmail.com

The Gift of Wine Never Goes Out of Style

Birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, graduation – let’s face it, as long as the recipient is of legal age to consume alcohol the gift of wine never goes out of style.  And just because you’re going to reapply an old favorite doesn’t mean you can’t do it with some new pizzazz! 

It’s all in the presentation.

There’s more to giving a classy bottle of wine as a gift than just slapping a bow on the bottle and leaving it on someone’s counter.  One great way to really endow the wine you’re giving with special meaning is to include a hand written message about a particular bottle’s history.  You don’t have to buy expensive wine for it to taste great – that’s something everyone should know by now.  But the same goes with small batches of wine from smaller wineries. 

Explore your local area and interview the folks who make the wine.  You’ll find that they are more than willing to share the passion that goes into each squeezed grape.  A little quote from someone personally involved with the bottle you are giving away can really drive home your message.

The gift that keeps on giving, or for as long as it fits your budget!

Nowadays wine sellers are on to the notion that not all of us have thousands of dollars to keep our celebrated friends bathing in expensive wine.  To the contrary, almost all online wine sellers that offer repeated deliveries of seasonal wines offer multiple options to gift the opulent liquid. 

At www.goldmedalwine.com, a favorite of celebrities and the common folk alike, they offer terms as short as one single delivery, a delivery every three months for a year, or every month if you wish.  The choice is completely up to you, and the caliber of wine is also available for upgrade.  Are grandma and grandpa celebrating that Golden anniversary?  Then you may want to upgrade to the wines of the Diamond series which can go for as much as $189.00 a month!  Of course, the sky is the limit when it comes to hand picked tastes and mom and pop vineyards.

Some of my favorites 

Enthused?  Here are some favorite sites that have pleased many and offer lots of reasonable terms.  One of the easiest is to check out www.wine.com and search through their selection of wine clubs.  You may have to do a little homework but if you have an idea of the particular style or taste you’re looking for one great feature is lots of relevant reviews. 

Want to delve into other realms and clubs and pair them with the wine you’re giving?  Check out www.greatclubs.com where you can find clubs on everything from smoked sausage to cigars.  The possible pairings are endless and can have those on your list just counting the days till their next shipment.