Category — Cooking Craze

Hi all

Have you ever been to a restaurant and had the wine by the glass? Ever wonder how long that wine has been open? Well you should. The taste of the wine changes after it has been open for an hour or two. Some restaurants even serve wine opened the day before!

Always ask for your glass of wine to be served from a new unopened bottle, especially for the higher priced wines. If you are paying $12-14 a glass for a really nice bottle of wine you deserve to have it from an unopened bottle. If the server is so clueless as to refuse, ask to speak to the manager. Best case scenario have the bottle opened in front of you.

This is a wine tasting tip that I learned from restaurant connoisseur and owner of Christinis restaurant - Chris Christini, a man that has opened 19 hotels and restaurants across the country, and who also happens to be my dad. Growing up in the restaurant business I learned a lot about food and wine, but my best education has always been found dining in other people’s restaurants with my dad.

Every once in a while I will throw in a wine or food tip. Beauty, after all, is not just about how we look but how we feel. A good meal can sometimes be all it takes to change our outlook on life or in a more finite way our entire feel for the day.

Bon Apetite

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Hi all

Looking for French bakeries in central Florida but finding only pre-frozen over sugary processed confections? Well get ready to take a little trip to Paris, right here in Central Florida.

This weekend a friend of mine and I discovered a real French pastry shop not too far from home. The chef bakes dozens of mouth watering pastries like opera cake, capuccino cheesecake, freshly prepared chocolate mousse and much much more. Plus they serve home cooked soups, and freshly prepared sandwiches and salads Monday through Saturday.

Oh and did I mention that they create the most amazing wedding cakes that I have seen outside of a wedding magazine?

Not having a wedding but still want to impress your friends? You can hire Bruno took cook dinner in your home, while you entertain and relax.

The couple who owns this delightful pastry shop run it with the same high standard as the finest bakeries in Paris and they are both very warm people with a real passion for food. His wife graciously ignored my mangled French and took the time to tell me a bit about how certain foods are eaten and prepared in France.

I tried a freshly prepared curry soup and my friend had the lentil. Mine was so good I was tempted to actually lick the bowl clean. I then tried the Pralineige which is a light chocolate mouse like cake over a hazelnut crust that was out of this world. The coffee was also fresh, and smooth and capped off the meal perfectly.

Now finding this little shop is a bit tricky. It is actually located in a slightly run down neighborhood in Sanford, Florida at

2533 S. Laurel Avenue

Sanford Florida 32773

(407)323-9300

http://www.brunosgourmetkitchen.com

Definitely put this one into your gps or mapquest. When you arrive it will look like you are in a neighborhood, this cafe is located at the end of a row of houses. Just keep your eyes open and call them if you need further directions. Believe me once you discover this place your taste buds will have you on automatic pilot for the rest of your life.

Bon Apetit!

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls