2011 Wine Ride – Somm Spotlight – Austin’s Mark Sayre

December 21, 2010 in Austin, Events, TX, Wine | No comments

With the 2011 Wine Ride™ 1 month away, it’s about time you get to know that 5 Top Texas Sommeliers who will be competing on January 16, 2011 in The Race for the Perfect Pairing. We are fortunate to have some of the “industry’s best” along for the ride and now is their chance to prove it.

Mark Sayre, TRIO at Four Seasons – Austin

Mark Sayre, TRIO at Four SeasonsIf, like fine wines sommeliers only get better with age, Mark Sayre has a lot to look forward to. Already, the 31-year-old sommelier at Four Seasons Hotel Austin’s TRIO has made a name for himself with such designations as Wine & Spirits magazine’s “7 Best New Sommeliers in 2010″ (October 2010) and the title of Texas’ Best Sommelier (September 2007) crowding his impressive resume.

And the future looks just a bright since Mark is currently poised to become one of the youngest members of the international Court of Master Sommeliers, an elite group of wine professionals with a mere 170 members worldwide.

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2011 Wine Ride – Somm Spotlight – Dallas’ Jason Huerta

December 20, 2010 in Austin, Events, TX, Wine | 7 comments

With the 2011 Wine Ride™ 1 month away, it’s about time you get to know that 5 Top Texas Sommeliers who will be competing on January 16, 2011 in The Race for the Perfect Pairing. We are fortunate to have some of the “industry’s best” along for the ride and now is their chance to prove it.

Jason Huerta, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse – Dallas

Jason Huerta, Pappas Bros. SteakhouseJason Huerta has been an integral part of the Pappas Bros Steakhouse team since 1997.  Although an asset to the Texas wine scene, from 2002 – 2005, Jason also was the Bar Manager at The Shack Restaurant in Kapaa, Hawaii.  As a Certified Sommelier, he also performs as a Wine Writer for EscapeHatchDallas.com. Most recently, Jason has been celebrated for being awarded the title of 2010 Texas’ Best Sommelier, winner of the annual TEXSOM Sommelier Competition.

For more information about the Wine Ride, please visit our Wine Ride Information Page and follow Keeper Collection on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates and announcements. Tickets for the 2011 Wine Ride Finish Line Wine Tasting may be reserved and purchased by phone only. Please contact Keeper Collection at (512) 970-3456 for more information.

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2011 Wine Ride – Somm Spotlight – Houston’s Eric Hastings

December 17, 2010 in Austin, Events, TX, Wine | No comments

With the 2011 Wine Ride™ 1 month away, it’s about time you get to know that 5 Top Texas Sommeliers who will be competing on January 16, 2011 in The Race for the Perfect Pairing. We are fortunate to have some of the “industry’s best” along for the ride and now is their chance to prove it.

Eric Hastings, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood – Houston

Eric Hastings, Eddie V's Prime SeafoodA hospitality veteran of nearly 14 years, Eric Hastings began his career as a line cook before moving to the bar.  While not very wine-focused, the first restaurant of his employ had a significant impact on his passion for beverage, as they offered over 130 different labels of beer ranging from macro-brews to uniquely hand-crafted ales.

His first Sommelier position, in 1999, was at an immensely popular Italian restaurant in downtown Denver, Santino’s.  Here he learned about the culture of Italian food and wine.  From there he managed other bar/wine programs in restaurants and retail outlets before returning to the dining room as the Sommelier for the Denver Country Club.

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2011 Wine Ride – Somm Spotlight – Dallas’ Scott Barber

December 16, 2010 in Austin, Events, TX, Wine | No comments

With the 2011 Wine Ride™ 1 month away, it’s about time you get to know that 5 Top Texas Sommeliers who will be competing on January 16, 2011 in The Race for the Perfect Pairing.   We are fortunate to have some of the “industry’s best” along for the ride and now is their chance to prove it.

Scott Barber, Centennial Fine Wine & Spirits – Dallas

Scott Barber, Centennial Fine Wine & SpiritsScott Barber, like many wine professionals, came to wine indirectly after a career in fine art. After graduating from Middlebury College with a major in Art History and Italian he spent 10 years working out of New York selling 19th Century American Paintings with Sotheby’s, Christie’s and various galleries in Manhattan. He developed an interest in wine after moving to San Francisco to work for Butterfield’s auction house. This interest ran parallel to his art business as he worked in retail part-time, both with large chains and boutique shops, until he made the jump full-time into the wine business taking a position as wine director with Stephan Pyles restaurant in Dallas. Scott also spent 3 months as an extern at Read the rest of this entry »

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Dai Due Chorizo Makes for a Memorable Eat Local Week Finale

December 14, 2010 in Austin, Cooking, Recipes, TX | No comments

Inspired by hearing Michael Pollan live as part of Edible Austin’s Eat Local Week, the Keeper Team got more excited than usual about the Saturday Farmer’s Market.  An issue that Pollan clearly discussed was the valid concern that people have about the cost of locally grown food versus that from large agribusiness.  At first glance, one may be shocked at paying $10 for one pound of freshly made Chorizo Sausage by one of our local artisans, Dai Due.


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Barcelona Part 1

December 10, 2010 in Chefs, Restaurants, Reviews, Travel, Wine | No comments

The Keeper Team is continuing its walk down memory lane with a series of posts about some of the fabulous meals we enjoyed during a memorable trip to Barcelona over the holidays last year.

One of our first meals in Barcelona was at Restaurant Arola.  Inside the luxurious Hotel Arts in Barcelona in the Olympic Village, Arola is a widely admired restaurant and bar created by Chef Sergi Arola. With two Michelin Stars, Chef Sergi Arola has quickly become a well-known name in Spain’s culinary world.

We sat down, took in the quirky pop-art décor surrounding us with bright greens and purples, and then asked our lovely server for Cava suggestions.

Arola

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Piedmont Part 7

December 6, 2010 in Cooking, Recipes, Restaurants, Reviews, Travel, Wine | 1 comment

As we prepare to wrap up 2010, the Keeper Team is taking a look back at the many great trips we’ve taken over the past twelve months – all with the goal of giving you, our faithful readers, firsthand accounts of the culinary scene around the globe.  Where in the World has Keeper been?  We’ve wined & dined in Piedmont, Barcelona, New York, Charleston, Burgundy, Austin… It’s been quite a year!  In fact, we’ve enjoyed so many outstanding meals that we didn’t have the opportunity to share them all with you at the time.  So, we’re closing out the year with a few “bonus posts” – stories of experiences so delicious that we’re still savoring them months later!  And, since this week marks the one-year anniversary of our memorable trip to Piedmont, our first flashback post recalls our bittersweet last day in this awesome corner of Italy.

Our last day made us sad; we didn’t want to leave Piedmont.  Where did we go for our last morning coffee and pastry? Barolo of course.  While so close to the fresh pasta shop that had been closed for several days in Barolo, we zipped by to find it finally open.  It was interesting to see that the pastamaker’s shop did not have as many different types of his own pastas as there were in the small pasticceria in the nearby town of La Morra!

It was time to go back to the Scavinos in Castiglione Falletto for a tour and tasting with winemaker Elisa Scavino and Director of Marketing, Weston Howard.  We tasted 2005 Carobric, Cannubi, Bric del Fiasc, and Bricco Ambrogio, along with a 2003 Rocche dell’Annunziata.  Then we tasted a vertical of Bric del Fiasc  2006, 2007, and 2008 with 2005 for comparison.  Elisa then offered a blind tasting of 2008 Bricco Ambrogio that had been aged with three different fermentation methods in casks  – one as fermented in old time casks, one in new casks for 7 days and then another in new casks for 23 days! What an interesting comparison.

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Red Rover, Red Rover Send Sean Brock Right Over!

December 2, 2010 in Chefs, Restaurants, Reviews, Travel | No comments

Chef Sean Brock of McCrady’s had been on our radar screen for a long time – long before he won his recent James Beard Award for 2010 Best Chef Southeast. He works as a dedicated, modern “farm to table” chef. This work, growing fresh vegetables and grains at his own farm and in conjunction with other local purveyors of other local ingredients, is what inspired us to make a trek to Charleston for the Chef’s Tasting Menu.

As we walked the streets of Charleston to get to McCrady’s, we approached the awning on the main street of East Bay calling us to our destination.  Little did we know that we would take the next alleyway to be able to enter – we felt an adventure ahead.


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Great Wine Brings Good Luck – Words of Wisdom

November 29, 2010 in Austin, Chefs Under Fire 2010, Events, TX, Wine | No comments

After much-needed rest from the excitement of the 2010 Chefs Under Fire Culinary Competition, the Keeper team is excited to get back to the fun of blogging on “Where in the World is Keeper?”.  And, speaking of world travels, we hope 2010 Chefs Under Fire Champion Chef Christina Lee of Central Market Cooking School is looking forward to enjoying her grand prize trip to Cabo San Lucas. We can’t wait to find out what delicacies she created in her private kitchen in Cabo. Read the rest of this entry »

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Chefs Under Fire 2010 Grand Prize Announcement

August 10, 2010 in Chefs Under Fire 2010 | 1 comment

Chefs Under Fire 2010 Finals

Chefs Under Fire Grand Prize Announced! 7-night stay for up to 4 guests in a Grand Suite at The Grand Mayan Los Cabos exclusive luxury resort, December  10-17, 2010.

A visit to The Grand Mayan Los Cabos luxury resort is truly an intimate escape. Based upon the concept of a boutique hotel, everything about The Grand Mayan Los Cabos is unique, luxurious, and designed to provide the most romantic getaway possible. Located in the beautiful Los Cabos region, The Grand Mayan Los Cabos luxury resort is surrounded by beautiful Pacific views and is lulled by lush, tropical breezes.

At The Grand Mayan Los Cabos luxury resort, you can participate in exciting water sports like swimming with dolphins, or spend a day-or two-at Brio Spa enjoying rejuvenating treatments at this gorgeous destination. Los Cabos fine dining restaurants, nightlife from a chic cocktail bar to a sultry poolside bar, and total relaxation are all part of the ultimate indulgence found at The Grand Mayan Los Cabos luxury resort. Get a preview of what you can expect during your stay at this Los Cabos resort and spa by browsing the stunning Los Cabos photo gallery.

View the Grand Suite Accomodations

Airfare not included. Dates are non-transferable. Primary guest name must be 21+. Winner is responsible for any extra charges or damages.

More details about the Chefs Under Fire Final Competition soon to come!  Follow Chefs Under Fire on Twitter and Facebook for timely updates.

Event Sponsor:

Capital One Bank

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