James Clesi began serving his signature pop-up crawfish boils at venues around New Orleans in 2013 and expanded. Clesi’s Seafood Restaurant & Catering offers award-winning boiled crawfish, shrimp, fresh and chargrilled oysters and popular Louisiana fare like blackened redfish with dirty rice, jambalaya and fried catfish in a casual setting year-round. In 2024, Clesi’s was invited to be the official crawfish at NOLA JazzFest. Carlo Clesi runs the family business with siblings James and...

Chattanooga, Tennessee, is called Scenic City thanks to its location on the Tennessee River and its expansive mountain vistas. Popular with outdoor enthusiasts and Civil War history buffs, the city offers many family-friendly attractions. Chattanooga is also an historic Snack City where both Moon-Pies and Little Debbie Snack Cakes in nearby Collegedale were created in the early 1900s. Melanie grew up in Chattanooga. She and David share their dining recommendations and favorite...

Roussillon in SW France produces 80% of France’s vin doux naturels (VDNs). The centuries-old process for making these fortified sweet wines, known as "mutage," occurs when a spirit is added to stop fermentation early, enabling the wine to retain its natural sugars. Roussillon AOP vin doux naturels include Banyuls, Maury, Rivesaltes, and Muscat de Rivesaltes. Eric Aracil, co-director & export manager at the Conseil Interprofessional des Vins du Roussillon (CIVR), discusses the region and...

Looking for an off-the beaten track wine glamping getaway in Italy? Consider Abruzzo. Azienda Agricola Cirelli is an organically farmed winery located in the Gran Sasso Park, home to one of the highest peaks in the Appennine Mountains. Stay in one of two well-appointed cabins surrounded by vineyards, olive trees and jaw-dropping views. Founder Francesco Cirelli is a talented "new generation" Abruzzo producer making amphora-fermented wines with minimal intervention....

Alabama and Mississippi are both rich in music culture, notably the soulful sounds of the blues. TCT Hosts Melanie Young and David Ransom take you on a driving road trip from The Shoals of Alabama to Tupelo, Mississippi, to the visit the birthplace of Elvis Presley. Then, on to Oxford for a literary and dining stopover before heading to Highway 61's Mississippi Blues Trail. Here, they drive from Clarksdale to Vicksburg and share museums, historical landmarks, restaurants and hotels to...

Charles Massoud grew up in a family of fine wine importers in Lebanon and dreamed of making his own wine. When his career brought him to the U.S.A. in the 1970s, he saw the potential of Long Island to make wine. In 1983 Charles and wife, Ursula, founded Paumanok Vineyards in Aquebogue on the North Fork to produce fine wines from estate-grown vinifera grapes. The family-run winery has won The New York Governor's Cup and NY State Winery of the Year and is a top Long Island wine...

Caterina Dei continues the legacy of her grandfather, Alibrandi Dei, who planted his first vineyard, Bossona, in Montepulciano in 1964. Cantine Dei is now a leading producer of DOCG Vino Nobile di Montepulciano in Tuscany. Cantine Dei is a stunning winery built from travertine marble, conceived by Caterina’s late father, Glauco Dei. Honoring his memory. Caterina created Madonna Della Querce, a single cru wine. She discusses how she combines her love of music, art and wine as a vintner. The...

The noble Brandolini d’Adda family were respected military leaders serving Venice back to the 1600s. Vistorta, their 19th century country estate and winery in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, is known for its world-class gardens, Merlot wines and local varietals like Fruliano. Fourth generation family member, Brandino Brandolini, graduated Texas A&M and worked at Château Greysac before taking the reins at Vistorta in 1985. He has overseen its conversion to certified organic farming and...

Located between the Veneto and Friuli, Casa Paladin is a stately winery born from humble origins. At age 16, Valentino Paladin lost his parents He supported his family by farming, baking bread, and opening a grocery. In 1962 he founded Casa Paladin. Today, the Paladin family also owns Bosco del Merlo, Friuli; Castello Bonomi, Franciacorta; Casa Lupo, Valpolicella; Castelvecchi and Poggio Petroso, both in Tuscany. Export Manager Martina Paladin discusses her family, wine philosophy, and...

There's a world of wine to enjoy and many choices. As the executive wine editor for Food & Wine and the wine & spirits editor for Travel + Leisure, Ray Isle has access to many wines to recommend for his column “What to Drink Next.” In his book, "The World in a Wineglass: The Insider's Guide to Artisanal, Sustainable, Extraordinary Wines to Drink Now," (Scribner 2023) Isle spotlights independent producers around the word who are making environmentally friendly wines that won’t break...

Transparency is key in what we drink and eat. People want products made with all natural ingredients and no additives that taste great, says KLYR Rum Distiller Lexi Close. Hand-crafted in Pennsylvania, KLYR is the vision of three friends who wanted a clean tasting rum with zero grams of sugar, zero grams of carbohydrates and fewer calories. KLYR rum is distilled 12 times and filtered 18 times with pure reverse osmosis water. Close discusses KLYR Rum and its RTD canned cocktails....

The name Biondi-Santi is synonymous with the Brunello wines of Tuscany’s Montalcino. At Biondi-Santi family estate, Tenute Il Greppo, Ferrucio Biondi Santi first barrel-aged 100% Sangiovese Grosso in 1888, naming it “Brunello di Montalcino.” In 2017 family owner, Jacopo Biondi-Santi, sold the winery to French firm EPI. Many wondered what would change. Biondi-Santi CEO Giampiero Bertolini is a wine industry veteran committed to maintaining the tradition and high standards of this storied...

Stevie Kim is Managing Director of Vinitaly International, the world’s largest wine expo held in Verona where she's based. A self-proclaimed Italian Wine Evangelist, her impact spreading the gospel of Italian wine is widespread. Stevie has helped evolve Vinitaly from a trade fair to a global brand spearheading the Vinitaly International Academy, Wine2Wine Business Forum, Italian Wine Podcast and Opera Wine. Her many wine publishing projects include The Jumbo Shrimp Guide to Italian Wine. The...

Champagne Palmer was established in 1947 by seven grower families passionate about quality and sharing a vision to create a Grande Marque. Based in Montagne de Reims, Champagne Palmer encompasses 500 acres of Premier and Grand Cru vineyards throughout 40 crus. Champagne Palmer’s elegance and richness are enhanced by consistent blending and longer sur lie aging says Oenologist and Managing Director Rémi Vervier, who discusses a few cuvées. www.champagnepalmer.com. U.S. Importer:...

The Kautz family settled in California in 1926 from Germany to farm, eventually expanding into grape growing in the Lodi and Sierra Foothills appellations. Their Ironstone Vineyards located in Calaveras County is considered “the Queen of the Sierras” for its volcanic soils, optimum growing conditions and many grape varieties cultivated from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay to Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel. The family is recognized for its many innovations in the region....

Tor Kenward founded TOR Wines in 2001 after a 27-year career with Beringer Estates where he established Beringer's School for American Chefs with Madeleine Kamman and the American Institute of Wine & Food with Julia Child and Robert Mondavi. Kenward's memoir, "Reflections of a Vintner," spans his 50 -career from the 1970s when Napa had less than 50 wineries to today with more than 400 wineries and 1000 brands. TOR Wines embodies Kenward’s vision to work with Napa’s top growers and...

The Murúa of Bodegas Muriel is a venerable Rioja family. José Murúa founded his winery in 1926 in Elciego (Rioja Alavesa), an area known for exceptional terroir. His elegant, complex Rioja Reservas gained renowned. Bodegas Muriel, a compound of “ Murúa” and “Elciego,” is now run by 2nd and 3rd generations, Julian Murúa and son Javier Murúa Ganguitia. In the 2000s the family expanded, acquiring Conde de los Andes (Rioja Alta) and Luis Alegre (Rioja Alavesa). Importer:...

Want to learn the hottest trends in food, drink, dining, and hotels for 2024? Each year hospitality marketers, AF&CO and Carbonate, issue an annual trends report, and 2024 is jam-packed with a few "aha!" topics. Culinary cocktails, chilled red wines, invasive species cooking, sea ingredients like algae, kombu and uni, mortadella and meringue desserts are a few examples. Korean cuisine reigns, and Philadelphia is a top dining city. Candace MacDonald, Carbonate cofounder, discusses...

The Connected Table went to Italy to visit family-owned wineries in the Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC production areas of Veneto, Trento and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, collectively known as Triveneto. 82% of Italy's Pinot Grigio is produced here in four different styles: still, frizzante, sparkling and ramato. Learn what distinguishes Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC and discover producers to try, including Maso Poli, Rechsteiner, Casa Paladin, Bortoluzzi, Enotria Tellus and Tommasi Family...

Founded in 1880 as California’s 29th bonded winery, Geyser Peak has been at the forefront of quality wine production. Since 2020, the Kreps family of Quintessential have been stewards of this storied brand, continuing to reach for winemaking peaks. Geyser Peak sources its grapes from some of Northern California’s best vineyards for their AVA-specific and California- appellated wines which are acclaimed for being consistently fresh and over-delivering on quality. www.geyserpeakwinery.com The...

Narrow, winding roads lead to the hilltop vineyards of Le Ragose, a family-run estate in Valpolicella Classico (Negrar comune) in Italy’s Veneto. In 1969, Oenologist Arnaldo Galli, and his wife Marta began to research and experiment with new techniques in viticulture and winemaking. Their sons, Paolo and Marco, now run Le Ragose with Paolo’s daughter, Marta, involved. All fruit is estate grown. Wines include Valpolicella Classico DOC, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC and Amarone di Valpolicella...

"Quintessential" means “the best of its kind.” For Steve Sr. and Dennis Kreps, it meant focusing on small, family-owned wineries to establish Quintessential in 2003. Based in Napa, this family owned/operated import, marketing and sales company represents independent multi-generational winemaking families around the world. That’s currently 30 families and 41 wineries in 11 countries. The cofounders share the company’s quintessential milestones over the last 20 years....

Philippe Pascal traded a successful corporate career in fine wines and luxury goods working in successive CEO positions for Seagram and LVMH to work full time as a vigneron in Bourgogne. He and wife, Catherine, own Domaine du Cellier aux Moines, a nine-centuries- old wine estate in the Côte Chalonnaise which they have restored. In 2020, the Pascal family and Winemaker, Guillame Marko, established Domaine Mont Bessay to make cru Beaujolais wines. Pascal is a recipient of France’s Legion...

Emidio Pepe founded his namesake winery in 1964 in Abruzzo after working with his father and grandfather. He achieved renowned for producing some of Italy's most age-worthy wines made from native Trebbiano and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo varieties. The family-run wine estate is overseen by Pepe's wife, daughters and granddaughters, including Chiara Pepe who is involved with vineyard management. She discusses Emidio Pepe's commitment to biodynamic farming, minimal intervention and longer bottle...