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Alexandra Elman: The Blind Wine Taster

This is a compelling two-minute video from The New York Times online edition's "One In 8 Million" series about Alexandra Elman, a blind woman who is an expert in picking wines.  Her impressive list of current clients includes Solera, Tia Pol, Cru and The NY Athletic Club, to name a few. 

But is not her portfolio that is truly amazing.  It is her inner passion for wine that spills out in her calm and soothing voice.  Being a wine lover myself, listening to someone like her talk about wine is truly sublime.  The way she describes her "limitations" as advantages in her world.  Her lost sight is but one shuttered window in a world of so much light.  She lives through the wine creating vision from her memory and her palate.

The way she talks of wine reminds me of the scene in Sideways when Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Maya (Virginia Madsen) are talking of wine as a living being.  Ms. Elman, too, sees life in wine.  The life of the wine and her own.

Listen for yourself.  Watch the video, but then close your eyes and listen to her speak.  It feels as if she is in the very room.

Fire Up The BBQ!

Well, it is getting to be that time of year.  The mornings are warmin' up, the days are gettin' longer and the mosquitoes have made their triumphant return to the Bayou City.  It's May!  With Memorial Day just around the corner, it's time to pull the cover off the grill, break out tongs and open the outedoor kitchen for Summer business.

I love to BBQ.  Who in Texas doesn't?  It's definitely an event the whole family gets into.  My daughter likes to help get the fire going and then manages the affair from just inside the kitchen window.  My wife will prep the table and sides while my son plays gofer for Dad.

One of our favorite grilling traditions is the Famous Beer Can Chicken!  You're probably familiar with this Southern specialty.  Everyone loves it.  Except the poor bird.  Imagine!  But what a perfect fowl!  The dry heat of the fire makes a crispy, crunchy skin while the beer in the can keeps the meat moist and juicy.

I've tried many a recipe, but I first broke myself in with Steven Raichlen's technique described in his wonderful illustrated grilling manual, How to Grill: The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques.

This is a great book for the novice grillman.  I learned quite a bit from this book as a beginner.  Simple and straight-forward.  This step-by-step how-to guide details the execution of the recipes as well as different grilling techniques making them amazingly clear and fun.  Mr. Raichlen translates his years of experience in ways that even the most inexperienced backyard chef will find easy to understand and, more importantly, easy to execute.

What's even better is now you can make this wonderful backyard delicacy without the mess of fat drippings in your grill bottom or the risky task of manually unseating the piping hot bird from it's unfortunate steaming roost.  Mr. Raichlen now offers a snazzy gadget that makes both prep and clean-up a breeze.  Steven Raichlen's Best of Barbecue SR8016 Stainless-Steel Beer-Can Chicken Rack with Drip Pan.  With it's reusable rack and self contained drip pan, this is the perfect vertical chicken roaster.  Try tossing some veggies on the bottom to baste while the chicken roasts for a delicious, easy side.

What is your favorite Summer Grilling Tradition?  Got any great recipes?  Let me know what's on your grill!