From Chile, a red and a white for Dad

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Dad’s sock drawer is full. But there’s always room in the house for wine.

Pop will likely be delighted if you show up for the Father’s Day cookout with a bottle in each hand, a red and a white. Here are two great choices from Vina Ventisquero, a leading producer of estate and single vineyard wines from Chile’s most prestigious growing regions.

image005Queulat Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2012 is pale green to the eye and fruity on the nose, with tropical aromas of grapefruit, lime, pineapple and pear. This isn’t one of those wimpy, flowery Sauv Blancs. It has a pleasingly acid taste, with a slightly flinty finish. Serve this with the salad course or with grilled swordfish.

Ventisquero’s 2011 Pinot Noir Reserva is a gorgeous color, deep ruby tinted with violet. It’s velvety and fruity, with notes of strawberries and sour cherries and gently spicy tones of vanilla. I’d chill it slightly to about 55 degrees and pour it with pork tenderloin or grilled chicken.

Both wines have an MSRP of $17.99, offering both the quality and value we appreciate in Chilean wines. Plus, Dad won’t worry that you are spending too much money on him. Or if he thinks you spent more, that’s OK, too. After all, Dad is worth it.

 

Grenada’s delicious Spice Island resort

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Whether we realize it or not, we all keep a mental list of Places We Would Go Back to in a Heartbeat, simply because they are magical.

Spice08Spice Island Beach Resort on the West Indies island of Grenada is on my Top 10 list, by virtue of both its natural beauty and supremely civilized amenities. It’s glamorous, gorgeous and generously appointed. Just ask Britain’s Princess Anne, who arrived for a stay shortly after my memorable one-day visit.

Most folks are familiar with Grenada because the United States invaded the tiny island in 1983 in response to a perceived Communist buildup in the Caribbean.

Spice10Located in Georgetown, the capital city, Spice Island is a manicured oasis with 32 beachfront suites — actually, more like villas — and 17 equally sumptuous suites with private gardens and plunge pools, marble baths and bars stocked with full-sized bottles of top-shelf liquor.

It’s an all-inclusive resort and that doesn’t just mean drinks and a buffet. The daily rate, which starts at $806, includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus pre-dinner cocktails and afternoon tea. Oliver’s, Spice Island’s elegant open-air restaurant, serves Creole and international cuisine, capitalizing on the abundant seafood of the West Indies.

Spice13Burn off those calories with golf, tennis and cycling on land or snorkeling, kayaking or sailing Hobie-cats on the turquoise waters. And if you still aren’t relaxed, indulge in a massage at the salon and spa.

Owned by Sir Royston Hopkin and his family, Spice Island exudes an aura of both warmth and exclusivity that is difficult for hotel chains to match.

That said, drag yourself away from this luxurious oasis for at least a few hours to experience the considerable charms of Grenada, where the locals shop for fruits, vegetables and crabs in the market square. (Think twice about driving yourself. Roads are narrow, twisting and motorists drive on the left, a reflection of Grenada’s past as a British colony.)

An old air strip, built during the Communist regime in the 1980s, is deserted now. Goats nibble at the weeds sprouting between cracks in the asphalt.

 

Kiehl’s comes to skin’s rescue

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Even though it’s been around since 1851, Kiehl’s is not yet a household name.

$T2eC16h,!)EE9s2uiwzzBRq2L1UuvQ~~60_12Except in my house and other homes where folks have come to know the brand for its dedication toward keeping our skin healthy and looking good. I’ve written about Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution, a go-to solution for aging skin. I use it regularly on my hands.

Another secret weapon in the line’s arsenal of products to protect our skin from the damaging effects of internal stress is Kiehl’s Skin Rescuer Stress-Minimizer Daily Hydrator (MSRP: $40).

It’s formulated to soothe and calm our frazzled skin by both hydrating and drawing moisture from the air to keep skin plumped up rather than shriveled.

The goal is to break the cycle between our skin and stress and give skin a chance to replenish and heal. With a strong and healthy barrier, skin is far less vulnerable to the slings and arrows of daily life.

In consumer self assessments, 93% of consumers reported their skin felt soothed and comforted after four weeks of use. In clinical trials, 100% showed improvement in overall skin quality, 98% improved in dryness and blotchiness and 77% improved in redness.

 

 

Take Meow to the Ball Game!

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Quick! Buy Fluffy a catcher’s mitt!

Untitled-2It’s Take Meow to the Ball Game night at Wilmington’s Frawley Stadium. Today also is “National Hug Your Cat Day.”

Starting at 6:45, the night will be highlighted by such activities as a tribute to Garfield and other famous cats, a booth to pitch the importance of spaying and neutering your pet, and of course, minor league baseball.

No word on whether Little Friskies will be served. But expect a few cat calls when the Blue Rocks take on the Carolina Mudcats.

It’s not too late to get a good seat. Fans can take their pick of the litter.

“We have not seen a huge difference in sales leading up to the game, but we are hoping cat-lovers who wish to pay tribute to their favorite animals will make their way out to the stadium tonight,” Matt Janus, a spokesperson for the Blue Rocks, told CNBC.

The team says it doesn’t matter how many kitties show. It’s the thought that counts.

“Our focus is on honoring a great animal, and raising awareness about the need for cat adoption in the state of Delaware,” he says. “Cats are incredible pets, and we just feel like people will appreciate learning more about how to welcome one into their family.”

 

A stroll through Garvan Woodland Gardens

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Garvan Woodland Gardens sprang from the fertile imagination of Verna Cook Garvan, a construction mogul who wanted to spare the trees on a verdant, 210-acre swath on the shore of Lake Hamilton near Hot Springs, Arkansas.

129932506638398690Touring the renowned botanical gardens is a must-do for visitors to the Spa City. Bequeathed by Mrs. Garvan to the University of Arkansas, the garden has blossomed in only 10 years into a center for both recreation and research.

Among its many delights is the Garden of the Pine Wind, an Asian-inspired setting with a 12-foot waterfall, tranquil reflecting pond and plantings of Japanese maples and cedars, azaleas and dogwood. Warren’s Woodland Trail meanders for one mile through seasonal plantings of flowers and ferns, punctuated by occasional glimpses through the trees of the sweeping Ouachita Mountains on the other side of the lake. The 160-seat Anthony Chapel, with walls of glass and a ceiling of wood trusses, rises majestically in a tranquil stand of trees.

gwg_int_photo_waterfall05Through September, Garvan is celebrating Splash of Glass, a special event in which brilliantly colored pieces of art glass are interspersed like vivid flowers throughout the property, suspended like chandeliers from trees and bridges, bobbing in ponds and erupting from meadows. There are 225 pieces in all, the work of Pine Bluff artist James Hayes.

gwg_int_photo_chapel5The trails are wide and gently sloped, the better to serve people with disabilities. Visitors have the option of exploring on foot or renting a golf cart for an additional fee.

Garvan offers tours led by docents every Saturday morning at 10 a.m., March through May and September through mid-November. Visitors can learn about  the history of the gardens, as well as plants garden lovers can grow at home.

No reservation is required but groups are limited to no more than 20 people. Tours are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is free for members. Rates for non-members are: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $5 ages for children age 6-12. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

Sweet styling from ghd Candy

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$T2eC16R,!zcE9s4g3JJwBRnPFruuQQ~~60_35Nothing is sweeter than a good hair day.

Happily, ghd is serving up hair candy with zero calories, as in the ghd Classic 1-Inch Styler in three tasty colors: mint, lemon, and violet.

For years, stylists and stylish gals who know that great looking hair is of extreme importance have looked to ghd for professional caliber results. Although it looks like a flat iron, ghd’s artfully arched barrel facilitates a variety of looks to suit your mood and the occasion. Classic straight, curls, flips, waves, and more.

No worries about wrecking your hair in the pursuit of beauty. The ceramic plates glide easily over your tresses. No snagging; no dragging. And because we’re human, there’s an automatic shutoff feature. If you don’t use your ghd for 30 minutes, it turns off all by itself.

It’s easy to use, too, with an extra long cord so you aren’t tethered to the nearest electrical outlet — which might not be near the best mirror and light source.

Because ghd is a favorite on both sides of the pond, the styler features universal voltage. Because good-looking hair is a global concern.

Wherever you are, you can make certain your hair looks super with ghd. MSRP: $199. You can buy ghd from the company, Sephora and other purveyors of fine hair products.

 

 

The first rosé of the season

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imagesAs we glide toward summer, let’s uncork a rosé from the sunny vineyards of Portugal. I’m pouring Defesa Rosé, an intense, elegant wine with notes of red cherry and blackberry made by the Herdade do Esporão winery, in the Alentejo region, also a celebrated source of olive oil.

No shrinking violet, Defesa is robust for a rosé, with a slightly herbal feel. The color is the deep pink of a Mediterranean sunset.

If you shy away from rosé wines, I encourage you to give one a try the next time you light up the barbecue. Defesa is a good match for grilled chicken or spicy shrimp or perhaps a salad sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. Also think of a nicely chilled bottle of rosé as a thoughtful gift for your hosts, delivered with a bouquet of pink roses. Expect to pay about $14 for this well-made import.

Sock it to Dad

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No Father’s Day should pass without the patriarch of the family receiving a new pair of socks. After all, tradition is important.

ss13_charcoal_garden_dot_socks_crew_socks_mens_pact_1Granola grandpops and earth-friendly dads will appreciate PACT socks, fun and funky footwear made from organic cotton in a factory powered by wind power. If dad’s underwear drawer is bare, you also can buy him classic tees in crew and v-neck styles, as well as briefs.
Dad can feel good about you spending your hard-earned money on him because this spring  PACT helped build 100 urban gardens in low-income communities through its partnership with Whole Foods’ Whole Kids Foundation.
PACT gift options range in price from $12 to $48. You can find selected products at Whole Foods, Nordstrom and other retailers. To shop online or locate a store that carries PACT near you, visit www.wearpact.com

 

Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly Sale

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hero1_1Shine up your silver Nordstrom card.

The Half-Yearly Sale for women and children is on. You can save up to 40% on your favorite designer labels in clothes, shoes and accessories, as well as gifts and home goods. Also expect such added enticements a Clinique gift clutch filled with makeup and skin care goodies. Free with any $30 Clinique purchase.

And today, you can earn double Nordstrom points on your purchases, the faster to rack up rewards. The deal is good in stores and online. Free shipping, free returns.

Freekeh, the latest ancient grain

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Move over, quinoa.

Here comes Freekeh — rhymes with eureka! — the latest in ancient grains.

Freekeh means “to rub” in Arabic. Freekeh was created by accident nearly 2,000 years ago when a Middle Eastern village was attacked and their crop of young green wheat was set ablaze.

0Happily, the villagers managed to salvage their crop. They rubbed off the chaff, cooked it  and created Freekeh, a delicious roasted green wheat that is as easy and fast to prepare as rice.

At our house, we team Freekeh with many of the same foods we serve with other grains. We discovered it’s a nutty, tasty accompaniment to stir-fried shrimp and veggies. Even better, it’s bulletproof, cooking on the stovetop in 20 minutes.

Each 8-ounce package contains four servings with eight grams of protein, four grams of fiber and 130 calories each. No wonder Oprah and Dr. Oz like it. Freekeh comes in various flavors, packaged in resealable pouches. MSRP: $3.99.

You can find Freekeh in Whole Foods, Wegmans, health food stores and various websites.