Katic's Korner

10/27/2016

Geyserville Inn (Sonoma, CA)

The Geyserville Inn is nestled amongst the vineyards, mountains and rolling hills of Sonoma’s Alexander & Dry Creek Valleys. This Inn is the perfect wine country respite with the comforts of a cozy bed & breakfast and the amenities of a large chain hotel minus the enormous price tag. After staying in large scale hotels for most of my business and personal trips, the Geyserville Inn is a breath of fresh air.

To read more about the Geyserville Inn, visit Katic's Korner at www.kconsultingonline.com.

10/26/2016

Ferrari-Carano Vineyard and Winery (Sonoma, CA)

After years and years of drinking Ferrari-Carano wines and hearing about this property, I finally made my way up to the dry creek valley where this property resides. It is the concept and dream of Don and Rhonda Carano, who had just returned from a trip to Italy and were visiting the dry creek valley, when they fell in love with the area and with wine. A small parcel of land and vines were purchased in the mid 80’s and the property has grown into a booming business today with 1400 acres planted on 19 different estates. The property is stunning and serene with lush gardens, waterfalls and views of mountains and hills all around.

To read more about Ferrari-Carano, visit Katic's Korner at www.kconsultingonline.com.

09/28/2016

Outstanding in the Field (OITF) -- Otherwise Known as the Restaurant Without Walls

I was honored to be a guest at last night's table at Longview Farm in Accokeek, Maryland. Jim Denevan is Founder and CEO of OITF - a farm to table dinner experience that seeks to connect diners with the land and origins of their food. OITF honors those who produce and cultivate our food. Penelope Breese and Stevenson Mcllvaine, Longview's owners and our hosts were passionate, committed and energetic in their approach to farming and taking care of their small herd of livestock, pigs & chickens.

Chef Wozniuk of Washington DC's Maketto provided an outstanding five-course Asian-inspiried menu along with Early Mountain Vineyards of Madison, Virginia, which donated the wine for this special dinner. The guests were not disappointed. One of my favorite food and wine pairs was Early Mountain's "Block 9" Pinot Gris with the Thai beef laab with crookneck pumpkin, dill & toasted rice. The Thai beef showed a hint of spice which matched nicely with the evident fruit in the Pinot Gris. Divine!

If you have a chance to attend one of these dinners don't miss it. It's a memorable and enriching experience for those who value good food, special wine and making new friends!

http://www.outstandinginthefield.com

08/16/2016

I have often said that America has a national eating disorder! It astounds me how much I see people struggle with food and how we continually buy into the food fads of the day which are often very restrictive and negative toward basic eating. Mindful eating sounds so mundane and simple at first thought, but in practice is much more difficult and effective than it seems. Just try to get through one day of mindful eating which means paying attention to everything you put in your mouth. Setting an intention to eat something and being aware of the taste, texture, aromas, etc. while you are eating it. This practice can be far more important to your diet and overall health than you think or than we believe.

About three percent of the U.S. population meets the criteria to be diagnosed with an eating disorder. Many more people have disordered eating patterns. Make a normalized eating pattern a reality by challenging yourself to bring more mindfulness to your meals and snacks.

07/08/2016

Great examples of how healthy eating is both delicious AND nutritious around the world!
We can learn a lot from countries and cuisines that celebrate food in a way that doesnt create shame, fear or angst but highlights taste & texture; mixed with a bit of tradition.

Dietitians dish on their favorite international culinary traditions.

06/29/2016

This is exactly the philosophy of Katic's Korner! No rules, just thoughtful/mindful eating and making every bite delicious.

Have you ever decided to start a diet

06/16/2016

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Chimichurri and Bethel Heights Pinot Noir

Father’s Day is fast approaching and it’s time to show our dads the love and that you care about his tastes as well as his waist. This recipe from the National Pork Board is loaded with flavor and punch but no need to worry about the scale.

To read more about recipe and pairing, visit Katic's Korner at www.kconsultingonline.com.

06/07/2016

Black Olive Cake with Muscat of Patras

I was recently in Istanbul, Turkey when I received my Oldway’s Fresh Fridays newsletter focusing on spices! How timely since I was about to visit the spice market in the Sultanahmet district. When I returned home I hosted a gathering of friends to share stories from my trip and I thought Oldway’s black olive cake recipe would be a perfect fit for my evening offerings. I am not one for overly sweet desserts so this recipe met many criteria; namely that it included many ingredients that are popular in Turkey and the mediterranean and brought back great memories of my trip.

To read more about recipe and pairing, visit Katic's Korner at www.kconsultingonline.com.

05/18/2016

This study is an important reminder that both food intake and energy expenditure (exercise) are key contributors to weight loss and weight maintenance. Neither one can do it alone! And I dont think we can say that one is more important than the other. We have to look at them as equal and both needed to see a decrease in obesity rates and also to living a productive and healthy life.

17 May 2016 --- A study featured in the American College of Sports Medicine journal finds exercise has a more significant impact on metabolism and gut microbes, and decreasing fat tissue, than diet. 

05/17/2016

Right on target! Portion, portion, portion is the name of the game for all foods and beverages.

Is red meat bad for you? Do potatoes make you fat? Should you drink more red wine? TODAY diet and food editor Madelyn Fernstrom is in the studio to dispel widely believed myths about such favorite foods as meat, potatoes and wine (and she has good news for red meat lover John Cena).

05/12/2016

Michael David Winery (Lodi, CA)

When people think of California wine country they automatically conjure up images of Napa Valley or Sonoma. Not many consider or think to visit Lodi, but if you like to get off the beaten path when exploring wine regions then add Lodi to your list.

To read more about my visit to Michael David, visit Katic's Korner at www.kconsultingonline.com.

05/04/2016

This is just the beginning of understanding the relationship between our diets, our guts and our health!

Researchers find red-wine drinkers have more diverse gut microbiomes, which means better health.