The Wine Country Lifestyle

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     Have you ever dreamed of living in a home that's adjacent to a vineyard and working winery?

     But have the multi-million-dollar prices in the Napa Valley virtually guaranteed that your dream will never become a reality?

     Tom Swarthout, a Chicago area developer, may have the solution. He's planning to develop just under three dozen homes on land in Lake Forest, Ill., north of...

Have You Ever Had Real Mozzarella?

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    We've all enjoyed mozzarella cheese on a pizza, or perhaps melted over roast beef as part of a submarine sandwich.

     But once you've had the opportunity to taste fresh buffalo-milk mozzarella, you'll be tempted to say, "Hold the tomatoes and basil," when you order your next Caprese salad.

     The real thing is that good.

     Take a drive around the outskirts...

Gourmet Burgers from Coast to Coast

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     Special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame-seed bun.

     You know these as six of the seven ingredients of McDonald's Big Mac hamburger.

     With all of those divergent flavors competing for tongue time, why even bother with the beef? When you think about it, pairing wine with a hamburger is much more about the condiments than...

The Wonders of French Cheese

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     The language of cheese has a decidedly French accent: Brie... Camembert... Roquefort... Chevre...

     In fact, the French have created more kinds of cheese, or fromage, than any other country. There are hundreds of cheeses to choose from, enabling you to experience an amazing variety of flavors, styles and aromas - each a product of the land, the traditions and the terroir of its region.

     French cheeses offer an array of tastes and textures. They are unrivaled in their ability to excite and tempt the palate. Enjoying French cheese with...

Three Unique Wining-and-Dining Destinations

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    "Style" comes in many guises, especially when dining out.

     We checked out new restaurants in three wine-centric countries, and enjoyed three very different -- all delightful -- dining experiences.

     * ITALY -- Tuna in Rome is attracting seafood lovers from all over the city.

     The restaurant is particularly popular among couples or...

Chocolate as an Art Form

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    The "Chocolate Research Facility" may sound a bit too academic to be enjoyable... until you realize that you are the one doing the "research."

     The CRF is located in Singapore, which may be home to more foodies per capita than any other country on the planet. That makes it the perfect spot for a specialty shop that carries 100 flavors of chocolate treats.

     Just like at ice cream king Baskin Robbins, some of the flavors -- such as Cognac (for the adventurous) and strawberry yogurt (for the kids) -- are on...

Olive Oil: One Fat That's Good for You

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    Lots of people are incorporating olive oil into their diets because of the health benefits associated with it.

     High in monounsaturated fat, it's believed to contribute to lowering levels of "bad cholesterol." Or, to put it another way, it's one of the few fats still considered good for you.

     There are several different styles of olive oil on the market, and this...

Chocolate Talking Points

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    People are beginning to talk about chocolate the same way they talk about wine.

     And that makes sense, since both are among life's great pleasures - and are being served together by more and more restaurants. Among the more popular pairings: dark chocolate with Port, and chocolate cake with fruit-forward Zinfandel.

     Here are a few fascinating facts about chocolate that you can use to impress your friends...

The Gourmet Approach to Vinegar

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    Remember when one could go to a restaurant and order a simple salad with a simple oil-and-vinegar dressing?

     Good luck with that now. Selecting a vinegar for a salad can be just as challenging as selecting the right wine to accompany a meal. Grapevine Trading makes a hibiscus vinegar. New York Mutual Trading makes a vinegar called Benimosu out of sweet potatoes - but not just any sweet potatoes: these are organic purple sweet potatoes. B.R. Cohn, a noted Sonoma County wine estate that also makes wonderful olive oil, offers a pear-Chardonnay vinegar.

     According to Maggie Green, an editor of The Joy of Cooking, circa 2006, every kitchen should be stocked with...

Would You Like Some Wine With That Massage?

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    There's a lot to love about The Meritage Resort in the town of Napa.

     The Sienna Restaurant. The Trinitas Tasting Room. The Meritage Bar. Exceptional concierge service.

     And then there's the piece de resistance - a French term we...

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