Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 <a href="https://www.jamesbeard.org/awards">James Beard Awards!</a> These talented individuals and establishments have demonstrated exceptional skills and contributed to the culinary world in remarkable ways. Here&#39;s a praise for each winner:

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Outstanding Chef: Rob Rubba of Oyster Oyster in Washington, D.C., showcases a mastery of flavors and a commitment to sustainable and plant-based cuisine.

Outstanding Restaurant: Friday Saturday Sunday in Philadelphia, PA, captivates diners with its impeccable service, innovative dishes, and an inviting atmosphere.

Best New Restaurant: Kann in Portland, OR, brings a fresh and exciting culinary experience to the city, pushing boundaries and delighting taste buds.

Outstanding Restaurateur: Ellen Yin, the driving force behind High Street Hospitality Group, including Fork, a.kitchen + bar, and High Street Philly in Philadelphia, PA, has created a dining empire known for its exceptional quality and diverse offerings.

Outstanding Hospitality: The Quarry in Monson, ME, stands out for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, ensuring that guests feel truly cared for.

Emerging Chef: Damarr Brown of Virtue in Chicago, IL, has emerged as a rising star, showcasing culinary creativity and a deep passion for his craft.

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Margarita Manzke of R&eacute;publique in Los Angeles, CA, creates stunning desserts that are as visually captivating as they are delicious.

Outstanding Bakery: Yoli Tortilleria in Kansas City, MO, crafts artisanal tortillas that elevate any meal with their authentic taste and texture.

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Ototo in Los Angeles, CA, offers an impeccable selection of wines and other beverages that enhance the dining experience with every sip.

Outstanding Bar: Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu, HI, is a haven for cocktail enthusiasts, delivering exceptional libations with skill and flair.

Best Chef: Midwest: Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger of Fairchild in Madison, WI, create a culinary symphony, fusing local ingredients with inventive techniques.

Best Chef: Mountain: Kris Komori of KIN in Boise, ID, showcases the diverse flavors of the region, combining culinary traditions with contemporary flair.

Best Chef: South: Natalia Vallejo of Cocina al Fondo in San Juan, PR, celebrates the vibrant flavors of Puerto Rican cuisine with a modern twist.

Best Chef: Northeast: Sherry Pocknett of Sly Fox Den Too in Charlestown, RI, captivates diners with her creative dishes rooted in indigenous ingredients and traditions.

Best Chef: Southwest: Andrew Black of Grey Sweater in Oklahoma City, OK, dazzles diners with his innovative approach to regional ingredients and bold flavors.

Best Chef: Southeast: Terry Koval of The Deer and the Dove in Decatur, GA, showcases a deep understanding of Southern cuisine, blending tradition with contemporary techniques.

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic: Chutatip &ldquo;Nok&rdquo; Suntaranon of Kalaya in Philadelphia, PA, takes diners on a culinary journey through the flavors of Thailand, beautifully balancing authenticity and innovation.

Best Chef: New York State: Junghyun Park of Atomix in New York, NY, crafts refined and intricate dishes that pay homage to Korean cuisine with a contemporary twist.

Best Chef: California: Justin Pichetrungsi of Anajak Thai in Sherman Oaks, CA, showcases the rich and complex flavors of Thai cuisine, creating a memorable dining experience.

Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific: Vince Nguyen of Berlu in Portland, OR, presents a menu that celebrates the bounty of the Pacific Northwest, highlighting local and sustainable ingredients.

Best Chef: Texas: Benchawan Jabthong Painter of Street to Kitchen in Houston, TX, brings the vibrant and diverse flavors of Thai street food to the heart of Texas, creating an unforgettable culinary experience.

Best Chef: Great Lakes: Tim Flores and Genie Kwon of Kasama in Chicago, IL, craft innovative Filipino-inspired dishes that celebrate the flavors and traditions of their heritage.

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Special mentions for the wine-related categories:

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Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Ototo in Los Angeles, CA, impresses with its curated wine selection, showcasing a diverse range of varietals and regions.

Outstanding Bar: Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu, HI, offers an exceptional selection of wines, spirits, and cocktails, ensuring a memorable drinking experience for all.

&quot;At CorkRules we&rsquo;d like to congratulate&nbsp;the winners of the 2023 James Beard Awards! You inspire us with your passion and innovation. The restaurant industry continues to reimagine itself and these winners are leading the inspiration&rdquo;, Robert Tas, CEO/Founder of CorkRules.

Cheers to all the winners.&nbsp;

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 James Beard Awards! These talented individuals and establishments have demonstrated exceptional skills and contributed to the culinary world in remarkable ways. Here's a praise for each winner

2023 James Beard Award Winners Spotlight

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Masraff’s

Michaela Quinlan

Catch Steak

Catch Steak

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode,&nbsp;we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier.

Hello Michaela,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to be back together for another episode.

MQ: Hi Robert!

RT:

Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine list&rsquo;s because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: Today we are talking about Catch Steak. Globally inspired seafood and steakhouse with locations in NY, Aspen, LA, and Vegas. This is the place to see and be seen, all while enjoying an exquisite menu with a wine list to match.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: Catch continues to update their incredible wine list. What doesn&rsquo;t change, however, is the availability of large format and half bottles. They are always something to consider depending upon the size of your party, and varying palates. We have some unique and exciting old-world and new-world wines to feature today.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: &nbsp;We will begin with a visit to both the old world and new world. Let&rsquo;s first consider the Maison Belles Cotes &quot;Les Caillottes&quot; Sancerre, Loire Valley, France, 2019. Sancerre is the region in the Loire and this sauvignon blanc is exquisite. It combines all of the attributes of a dry, crisp white wine with bright acidity, citrus, grapefruit, gooseberry, with a hint of grass and herbs. A wonderful companion to light fish dishes, shellfish, and salads.

RT: That is making me thirsty! How about something from the new world?

MQ: Sure! I had the pleasure of visiting Elk Cove Vineyards a few years ago, and their pinot noir remains one of my favorites. This is the 2019 vintage, pinot noir grown in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. This pinot noir has excellent body and structure. You will certainly notice the classic raspberry and cranberry aromas and flavors, but you will also enjoy the added spice, and long, smooth finish. This would complement roasted chicken, salmon, and tuna.

RT: That is for sure unique.

So, Michaela, their list seems to have lots of range but was there anything that you would say is a &ldquo;must-try&rdquo;?

MQ: Let&rsquo;s begin with the Terlato Pinot Grigio, Friuli, 2019. This round, medium-bodied white wine showcases aromas of white flowers, stone fruit, such as fresh peaches and apricots with a light, mineral finish. Seafood, grilled vegetables, cheese selections, would all be perfect pairings with this wine.

RT: These are some great calls.

So you know I&rsquo;m getting thirsty and will need to order a bottle with my dinner, where would you guide us?

MQ: You bet! I would consider the Renato Ratti &quot;Ochetti&quot; Nebbiolo, Langhe, Italy, 2019. A food-friendly, and crowd-pleasing red, this nebbiolo is another stand out with aromas and flavors of fresh strawberries, ripe red cherries, plum, tobacco, with a hint of violets on the smooth finish. Any poultry, beef, or richly sauced dishes will make perfect pairings.

RT: Ooh, Terrific.

&nbsp;

Michaela, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind,&nbsp; any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

MQ: Here we have another personal favorite, a familiar producer to many of you, but a wonderful quality and value wine. The E. Guigal Gigondas, 2015 from the Northern Rhone of France. We have mentioned the importance of location many times, and this is another example. Gigondas is the neighbor to Chateauneuf du Pape. While you get to experience all of the same climate, soil composition for your grenache and syrah blend, you do not need to pay the Chateauneuf du Pape price. This blend is medium to full-bodied with aromas and flavors of cranberries, ripe red cherries, clove, with a note of licorice on the finish. Perfect for herbed dishes, meats, and rich sauces, all for an excellent price.

RT: For me personally&hellip;

&nbsp;

MQ: Absolutely!

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: I couldn&rsquo;t decide between two classics. The first, Orin Swift Mercury Head St Helena 2018 from Napa Valley. This flagship wine consisting of cabernet sauvignon from premier vineyards, along with a touch of cabernet franc and merlot, exudes plumb, ripe red cherries, blackberries, cassis and cinnamon, with some toffee and coffee on the finish. The elegant bottle is viewed by the winery as art and conversation piece, which I&rsquo;m sure you agree when it arrives at the table. A special selection from the best of vineyard locations. A wonderful addition to any celebration.

RT: That does sound like a wonderful addition. I&rsquo;m curious to see what else caught your eye.

MQ: I have to mention the Joseph Phelps Insignia 2016 also from Napa. The finest grapes from each vintage of cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, malbec, and cabernet franc are sourced from premier sites in Stags Leap and Oak Knoll districts. Bold tannins, blackberries, dark cherries, cassis, minerality, and coffee all add to the beauty and elegance of this wine. From the first sip, I&rsquo;m sure you will agree with the 99-point rating from the&nbsp; Wine Advocate. Another exceptional addition to any celebration.

RT: Michaela, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Catch Steak&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try them myself. &nbsp;

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.com">Info@corkrules.com</a> or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists.&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

End

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BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

R. Lopez de Heredia is a renowned family-owned winery in Rioja, Spain that has been producing high-quality wines using traditional winemaking techniques for over 140 years. The winery is known for its focus on aging its wines for long periods of time in oak barrels before release, resulting in complex and elegant wines.

Set in a refined country inn, this high-end venue offers French fare & a piano player some nights.

Dante

Geronimo

La Mercerie

Bar Primi

Kirby’s Steakhouse

The Grill

homepage

CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

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