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I recently visited Willem Boot in his coffee lab in Mill Valley, California, for a coffee tasting.  Willem founded Boot Coffee Consulting in 1999.  He has been in the coffee industry since age 14.  He was co-owner of his family’s coffee business in The Netherlands.  Willem has also been managing several coffee development programs in Ethiopia, El Salvador, Columbia, Panama and Papua New Guinea. Boot Coffee Consulting offers consulting services and training to professionals in the coffee industry. 

We tasted 11 different coffees and talked about the attributes of each - the aroma, the taste, the body, the acidity, etc. We analyzed each of the 11 beans to see the extent to which they were roasted. I learned that I could detect the most aroma and taste in the beans that had been roasted to medium darkness. It makes sense that if the roast is too dark, it can destroy some of the taste and aroma of the beans. My favorite picks were two different beans from Kenya and a bean from Ethiopia. I had so much fun that I now want to figure out food and coffee pairings.

If you know of anyone in the coffee industry who would like to enhance their knowledge and skills, please pass on the information on Boot Coffee Consulting. 

I was in Sonoma Valley recently and discovered the most gorgeous luxury vacation rentals!  The historic Chauvet building in downtown Glen Ellen has converted six spacious luxury condominiums into gorgeous vacation rentals for visitors to Sonoma Valley. 

The three-story yellow brick building itself is quite unique, and no detail has been spared in the extensive renovation.  The luxury 2000 square feet condominiums each include three bedrooms, two baths, a chef’s kitchen, a formal dining room,  and a large living room with beautiful brick walls.   Each unit has been exquisitely furnished with antique pieces, artwork from well-known local artists, custom tables, live plants and the latest in electronics, such as I-Home Ipod players, flat screen television sets in each bedroom and the living room, on-demand movies and WiFi.  The linens are luxurious and feature 650-thread count sheets, as well as fine duvet covers and shams.   

I was truly amazed at the level of detailed planning that went into each unit.  The units are available for daily (3-night minimum), weekly or long-term rentals. 

The Chauvet is within walking distance of Zagat-rated restaurants, a gourmet market, a fabulous cheese shop, one of the best chocolate shops in Sonoma Valley, an olive press, and a deli specializing in locally-produced gourmet items.  And, of course, hundreds of wineries are within an easy drive from Glen Ellen. 

The Chauvet Vacation Rentals
(707) 996-6720
www.chauvetvacationrentals.com

Have you ever wanted to know more about wine and food topics such as: why wines have sulfites, what makes wines balanced, what does it take to plant a vineyard and get it into production, what is barrel building, why hang-time is such an issue, what are the latest trends in wine barrels, are “wine legs” a good sign, how olive oil is made, how artisan honey is produced, what are the Thanksgiving traditions in various parts of the country, and many other food and wine related topics? If so, you must tune into Napa Valley Wine Radio. You don’t just go there and read about these topics - you actually listen to experts explaining the subject matter in a fun and educational interview format. David Topper and the folks at Napa Valley Wine Radio are diligent about the quality of these broadcasts. They make sure that each session is packed with interesting and useful information for the listener. These broadcasts come out on a bi-weekly basis, are normally kept to about 20 minutes in length and are so informative and fun. Be sure to check this out!

You simply must check out this site! Food411.com is a fantastic resource for everything on the web related to online food shopping opportunities and more. For example, gourmet foods, recipes, food blogs, ingredients and regional specialties. Use them as a resource for hard to find kitchen tools, special spices and memorable food gifts. I just learned about several new places from which to order organic ingredients, just by browsing their site. What a great resource!