Grilling Good Eats

By Mike Thayer

I recently joined a wine club and I'm digging it!   Thank you Lori!  Shopping online at my leisure in the comfort of my own home, discovering new and exclusive wines and having them shipped directly to my door = Happiness in Every Sip.  I borrowed that line from WineShop at Home, the club I joined, it's a true statement.  

WineShop At Home, founded in 2005, is headquartered in the legendary Napa Valley. The winery, owned by the Fredrick family of Dallas, Texas, produces award-winning, exclusive, artisan wines across 50 brands.  Their wines have won over 200 awards in national and international wine competions!  And they've got everything to please any wine preference, choose from sweet and bubbly to dry and crisp whites, smooth and supple to bold and intense reds.   WineShop at Home features artisan wines for every occasion, palate and personality.

Included in my last shipment for a hosting party was an excellent rose', here's the description from the WineShop at Home website:

No wine rack or cooler is complete without a Rose' in it and the Table Rose' Wine is a palate pleaser. The sweet citrus notes from nose to finish is very enjoyable and the beauty about a good Rose' is that it's so versatile.  It easily pairs with a number of main dishes, as well as being a great pick for the classic charcuterie board.

The Table Rose' Wine is another MUST TRY and I'm giving it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. 

How much charcoal should I use? How long does charcoal stay hot? What kind of grill should I buy? Which is better, gas or charcoal? Do I put the lid on or leave it off? Are those wood pellets any good?

These are all great questions. Whether you’re new to grilling or are looking to expand on your grilling expertise, you’re reading the right source. The answers are here.

This is a grilling 'how to' website for beginners, weekenders and experienced hands alike.  There's something for everyone here, consider this a source  as a blueprint for backyard grilling.

I take great pleasure in grilling good eats!

~ Mike Thayer

Shop at the Grilling Good Eats Online Store for some great grilling tools and accessories!

By Mike Thayer

I recently joined a wine club and I'm digging it!   Thank you Lori!  Shopping online at my leisure in the comfort of my own home, discovering new and exclusive wines and having them shipped directly to my door = Happiness in Every Sip.  I borrowed that line from WineShop at Home, the club I joined, it's a true statement.  

WineShop At Home, founded in 2005, is headquartered in the legendary Napa Valley. The winery, owned by the Fredrick family of Dallas, Texas, produces award-winning, exclusive, artisan wines across 50 brands.  Their wines have won over 200 awards in national and international wine competions!  And they've got everything to please any wine preference, choose from sweet and bubbly to dry and crisp whites, smooth and supple to bold and intense reds.   WineShop at Home features artisan wines for every occasion, palate and personality.

Included in my last shipment for a hosting party was an excellent red, here's the description from the WineShop at Home website:

Out of the five fantastic wines sampled at my hosting party, this one was the consensus favorite.  You get those fruits from nose to finish and it's that finish that really makes this wine sing when those toasted oak and and brown sugar notes kick in.  I have also tried the Royal Mama Mimi's Blend, also very good, WineShop has knocked it out of the park with this new brand.

The Royal Mama Queenie's Blend is another MUST TRY and I'm giving it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. 

By Mike Thayer

Yes, the outside of the grill needs cleaning too.

Today I'm taking advantage of a light rain, there's not a better time to wipe down the Weber with some warm, soapy water and let the light rain do the rinsing!

After last night's grilling adventure - which ended around midnight - the grill was still too warm to cover.  And this morning, it was already starting to sprinkle by the time I got outside and since covering a wet grill is a big NO NO (hello premature rust!), I broke out the sponge and a bit of soap.

This will help maintain the exterior of the grill, removing any greasy residue, dust, etc., all those things that would contribute to a faded or tarnished finish if allowed to remain on the grill.

And if you and your grill are located in an area that's a harsher than normal environment like exposure to salt water, acid rain, high soot or chemicals... You'll want to do the soap down and rinse more often.  Don't use any abrasive chemicals or things like brillo pads to clean the exterior of your grill, that will do more harm than good.

Regular wipe downs of your grill will keep that finish looking shiny good for years and it only takes about 5 minutes of your time to do.

Grill on!

Have you checked out the Grilling Good Eats Online Store yet?  Shop Now

By Mike Thayer

Food is my passion and sharing it is my pleasure.  It’s no secret that cooking and grilling are a very big part of my leisure time life, that I thoroughly enjoy slicing, dicing, flipping and ultimately, seeing the smiles on peoples’ faces when they take a bite of what I’ve created.

Partnering with that passion is a new experience, WineShop At Home.  It couldn’t be a better fit.  C’mon, we’re talking food pairings and wine!  What's not to like, right?.....  And what WineShop At Home provides is an awesome wine delivery plan.  You pick out the kinds of wine you like from the comfort of your home and everything gets delivered direct to your door.  Included with those shipments are food pairing suggestions along with some fantastic recipes!  Seriously, what WineShop At Home has made it so very easy for you to do, is sip and cook!  You don’t have to be a wine expert, a grill master or a 5 star restaurant chef to put together some truly great food and wine combinations!

Wines are perfectly paired by WineShop At Home with cheese, meat, dessert and entrée suggestions – it’s all there for you in every carefully packed and shipped delivery box from the Napa Valley.  Think about that.  How many times have you tried to put a meal together for a date or a casual dinner party and you weren’t quite sure what wine to have with the meal, or when it came to serving dessert thinking, "Does the same wine served with the main dish work with the sweetness of the dessert?"  And then there's, "Do I serve a red or a white wine with this?"

WineShop At Home makes it all extremely easy for you with beautiful and colorful food paring suggestions and recipe cards.  They include pro tips like chill the wine or don’t chill, what appetizers are good with a particular wine and of course, the entrée all laid out in easy to follow recipe directions.  And bonus – the recipe cards are keepers!  Save the cards because you’ll be making these dishes again, they’re THAT good!  Meal planning couldn’t be easier, just grab a few items from your pantry or pick up a few items from the grocery store and viola! A great meal complimented by great wine!

Like I said, you don’t have to be a grill master, a 5 star restaurant chef or a wine aficionado to appreciate what you get shipped so conveniently and direct to your door.  WineShop At Home is so informative with what they deliver, all you have to do is read a bit to create a truly great wine & dine experience!  Incredible wine and meal options are at your fingertips in every box!

WineShop At Home delivers Happiness in Every Sip.  I borrowed that line from the WineShop at Home, website, it's a true statement.  

Currently offering some great discounts, I highly recommend WineShop at Home, they've got award winning wines at every price, exclusive wines delivered right to your door! 

Contact Lori and set up your wine tasting today!

By Mike Thayer

I recently joined a wine club and I'm digging it!   Thank you Lori!  Shopping online at my leisure in the comfort of my own home, discovering new and exclusive wines and having them shipped directly to my door = Happiness in Every Sip.  I borrowed that line from WineShop at Home, the club I joined, it's a true statement.  

WineShop At Home, founded in 2005, is headquartered in the legendary Napa Valley. The winery, owned by the Fredrick family of Dallas, Texas, produces award-winning, exclusive, artisan wines across 50 brands.  Their wines have won over 200 awards in national and international wine competions!  And they've got everything to please any wine preference, choose from sweet and bubbly to dry and crisp whites, smooth and supple to bold and intense reds.   WineShop at Home features artisan wines for every occasion, palate and personality.

Included in my last shipment was an excellent white, here's the description from the WineShop at Home website:

Our new Royal Mama Mimi’s Blend is a sweet mix of three different white wine varietals: 44% Chardonnay, 31% French Colombard and 25% Chenin Blanc.  The nose is very aromatic and straightforward, presenting notes of citrus, like lime, lemon and grapefruit. Then, we have warm flavors of toasted brown sugar or caramel. In the mouth, this sweet white blend from California combines all three varietal’s strengths and abilities. Like a mother’s caress, the approach is very smooth with fruit aromas like grapefruit, orange and lemon. A juicy mouthfeel, a hint of acidity, a medium-intensity and a fairly long finish conclude our new Royal Mama Mimi’s Blend.

I have enjoyed all the wines I've sampled so far from WineShop, but this one is my clear favorite.   Having poured a couple glasses for a shrimp dinner Sunday night, my girlfriend and I both took a sip and we were like, "Oh wow, that's good!"  I like this wine because it doesn't come off as sweet, it is indeed very smooth and I'll be including not just one, but a couple more bottles of Royal Mama Mimi's Blend in my next monthly wine club shipment.

Suggested pairings include creamy pasta, Chinese dishes, crab cakes, shrimp or light desserts.  I made shrimp two ways for that aforementioned dinner, a classic lemon and garlic butter preparation, along with a smoked paprika, garlic and bacon preparation.  This wine was a perfect compliment to both dishes. 

The Royal Mama Mimi's Blend is a MUST TRY and I'm giving it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  If I could give it 6 stars I would - it's that good! 

By Mike Thayer

I recently joined a wine club and I'm digging it!   Thank you Lori!  Shopping online at my leisure in the comfort of my own home, discovering new and exclusive wines and having them shipped directly to my door = Happiness in Every Sip.  I borrowed that line from WineShop at Home, the club I joined, it's a true statement.  

WineShop At Home, founded in 2005, is headquartered in the legendary Napa Valley. The winery, owned by the Fredrick family of Dallas, Texas, produces award-winning, exclusive, artisan wines across 50 brands.  Their wines have won over 200 awards in national and international wine competions!  And they've got everything to please any wine preference, choose from sweet and bubbly to dry and crisp whites, smooth and supple to bold and intense reds.   WineShop at Home features artisan wines for every occasion, palate and personality.

Included in my first order was an excellent red blend, Moderna Artist’s Palette Red Wine, here's the description from the WineShop at Home website:

Our Moderna Artist’s Palette Red Wine was grown in the Lodi area and is a blend of 45% Zinfandel, 25% Petit Verdot, 25% Tannat and 5% Muscat of Alexandria. 

By Mike Thayer

I recently joined a wine club and I'm digging it!   Thank you Lori!  Shopping online at my leisure in the comfort of my own home, discovering new and exclusive wines and having them shipped directly to my door = Happiness in Every Sip.  I borrowed that line from WineShop at Home, the club I joined, it's a true statement.  

WineShop At Home, founded in 2005, is headquartered in the legendary Napa Valley. The winery, owned by the Fredrick family of Dallas, Texas, produces award-winning, exclusive, artisan wines across 50 brands.  Their wines have won over 200 awards in national and international wine competions!  And they've got everything to please any wine preference, choose from sweet and bubbly to dry and crisp whites, smooth and supple to bold and intense reds.   WineShop at Home features artisan wines for every occasion, palate and personality.

Included in my first order was an excellent Riesling, here's the description from the WineShop at Home website:

Our Credia 2018 Riesling (cred-ee-aah reez-ling) has rich aromas of passion fruit, papaya, mango and ripe pineapple.  This white wine is light, sweet and very round.

If you like white wines that are a bit on the sweeter side, you'll really enjoy this one.  The fruit aromas teasingly slap you in the face and the taste pleasantly lingers on the tongue.  What I like about this wine is that it's so well-balanced.  It's not overly sweet making it a truly versatile Riesling, pairing well with savory dishes, a Charcuterie board and desserts! Meal suggestions include dishes such as coconut shrimp, scallops or pork tenderloin. 

The Credia 2018 Riesling is a great add to your wine selection and I'm giving it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  This is a repeat order for me and another nice little bonus you get with every shipment from WineShop at Home includes food pairing suggestions and recipes for each wine ordered, like Springtime Salmon and Pasta Primavera.  Does that sound fantastic or what?!

By Mike Thayer

I recently joined a wine club and I'm digging it!   Thank you Lori!  Shopping online at my leisure in the comfort of my own home, discovering new and exclusive wines and having them shipped directly to my door = Happiness in Every Sip.  I borrowed that line from WineShop at Home, the club I joined, it's a true statement.  

WineShop At Home, founded in 2005, is headquartered in the legendary Napa Valley. The winery, owned by the Fredrick family of Dallas, Texas, produces award-winning, exclusive, artisan wines across 50 brands.  Their wines have won over 200 awards in national and international wine competions!  And they've got everything to please any wine preference, choose from sweet and bubbly to dry and crisp whites, smooth and supple to bold and intense reds.   WineShop at Home features artisan wines for every occasion, palate and personality.

Included in my first order was an excellent Red, here's the description from the WineShop at Home website:

This Sun Fish Petite Sirah was produced with fruit mainly from the central Coast of California. This is a young, powerful wine offering a very dark color in the glass, signaling its richness. In the nose, there is an abundance of fresh, intense dark fruit, like blackberry, black cherry or black currant. Later, smoky and balsamic characters present themselves. There is a good amount of intensity in the attack from this dry, red wine. In the mid-palate, some smoky, almost meaty tones develop. Oak tannins anchor the structure all the way to the finish.

Even though this wine is considered a red on the dry side, it really doesn't drink that way.   The intensity of the fruit and the balanced finish makes this a wine you'll really enjoy at meal time.  Pairing suggestions include cheeses such as Swiss, Brie or Gruyere and a great recipe to try is a Grilled Sweet and Savory Pork Tenderloin.  Grilled pork and wine?!  You can't beat that!

The Sun Fish 2018 Petite Sirah is a fine add to your wine selection and I'm giving it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  This is a repeat order for me and is a wine that will impress.  The old wine adage of don't cook with a wine you don't like to drink.....  Well this wine fits that adage to the 'T"...  Enjoyed as a stand-alone glass, it's fantastic to cook with and it pairs well with meat/cheese trays as well as hearty meals.