The Connected Table Live

Villa Maria is New Zealand’s most awarded winery, producing wine from every appellation of the country. Winemaker Tom Dixon shares Villa Maria’s 60-year (in 2021) history and legacy envisioned by its Founder, Sir George Fistonich, who was knighted for his contributions to the wine industry. Dixon discusses Villa Maria’s different wine production regions, its Four Pillars of sustainability and its...

Named among 2021's top new restaurants by The New York Times, Esquire Magazine and others, Contento NYC serves elevated Peruvian cooking in a relaxed setting designed with a focus on accessibility. Executive Chef Oscar Lorenzzi discusses Contento's menu and signature dishes such as Ceviche Clasico ,Salmon Tiradito and Octopus with Chimichurri. What to drink with these flavorful dishes? Consider a...

Ka'ana means "to share" in Hawaiian. At Ka'Ana Kitchen at the Andaz Maui at Wailea, Chef Chance Savell creates shareable dishes using ingredients from local farmers and fishermen. An Arkansas native, Chef Savell has his special version of buttermilk fried chicken with pineapple on the menu alongside delicious mains of Big Eye Ahi, Prime Sirloin Strip and fresh caught fish. Enjoy a spectacular Maui...

Top Hospitality Consultant Andrew Freeman, founder of af&co and cofounder of Carbonate Group, shares the latest trends for 2022 in hospitality and dining. Examples: 1. Hot dining destination is Nashville; 2. Trending cuisines are regional Asian food and drink from Singapore to India to Taiwan 3. Restaurants embrace robotics. 4. Motor lodges/ motels are popular thanks to people taking road trips. 5...

Mateja Gravner discusses her family's historic namesake winery in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia and philosophy for making world-class biodynamically-farmed natural wines. Award-winning wine writer, Alice Feiring, is an advocate for minimal intervention (natural) wines which she covers in her newsletter, The Feiring Line. She is author of "The Dirty Guide to Wine," "Naked Wine," "For the Love of Wine: My J...

Israel has a rich culinary history and culture, from its street food to its traditional dishes inspired by the Mediterranean sea and the mountains. Chef/Restaurateurs Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook take you on a culinary journey in their book, "Israeli Soul" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) to spotlight the dishes that define traditional and modern Israeli food and key ingredients. Solomonov and Coo...

Founded in 2005 by Orange Country, CA, entrepreneur Steve Olson, ONX (pron. onyx) cultivates 18 different grape varieties to make its blended wines. The winery’s name is a nod to the onyx calcite in the mineral-rich vineyard soil on the 127-acre estate. Jeff Strekas, Director of Operations & Wine Growing has worked at ONX for almost a decade, and formerly as winemaker. He discusses ONX’s wines and...

Visit Eberle Winery one afternoon and chances are you'll find Gary Eberle sitting at a small table outside sipping a glass of his Eberle Cabernet Sauvignon and greeting people, his standard poodles, Sangiovese and Barbera, by his side. Eberle founded his namesake winery in 1979 and co-founded the Paso Robles Appellation in 1983. Eberle was the first producer to list the Paso Robles Appellation on...

Michael Whiteman is president of Baum+Whiteman International Restaurant Consultants, famed for creating and developing high-profile projects for the hospitality industry around the world. His company’s best known projects include master planning and operation of the magical Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center and all the restaurants in the New York World Trade Center. Whiteman discusses his stori...

The Cote d'Azur meets Northern California at Mentone. Chef David Kinch, also owner of 3-star Michelin Manresa, brings a creative twist to Mediterranean flavors with seasonal local ingredients. Wine Director Alyssa Papierneick recommends a classic pairing: Tarte de Mentone, a Provençal “pissaladière” of caramelized onions, anchovies and olives on house-made crust, with Domaine de Sulauze Pomponette...

An elevator sweeps you to Adorn, located on the 7th floor of The Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. Chef de Cuisine Jonathon Sawyer delivers a menu inspired by his global travels in France, Italy and Japan with an embrace of local Midwest bounty. An example is Crispy Zucchini Blossom & Roasted Tomato paired with Whispering Angel Cave D’Esclans Rosé, Côtes de Provence. Not-to-be missed is Adorn Bar, wi...

Chef Christine Lau and Pastry Chef Clarice Lam are the dynamic duo behind the creative dishes blending tantalizing Italian and Japanese flavors at Kimika (40 Kenmare Street, New York City). Both chefs are daughters of parents who emigrated to the USA from Hong Kong. Both had prior careers before becoming full-time chefs- Lau in the corporate world and Lam as a fashion model. Lau and Lam discuss th...

Steven Kent Mirassou’s ancestors first planted grapes in what is now California’s Silicon Valley in the 1850s. Six generations later, Mirassou is still making wine in the Livermore Valley under the Steven Kent label and The Lineage Collection – his expert argument for Livermore’s ability to make outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon. Mirassou shares his life in wine, passion for viticulture and talent as...

Travelle is a casually elegant restaurant & bar/lounge on the second floor of the luxurious Langham hotel, one of Chicago’s iconic skyscrapers designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Chef de Cuisine Qi Ai discusses Travelle’s seasonal American menu and signature artisanal cheese board paired with AIX Vin de Provence Rosé, AOC Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence. Travelle was named Hemisphere’s magazine’s Read...

Co-founder of acclaimed DAOU Vineyards & Winery in Paso Robles, CA, Daniel Daou shares his family’s story which began in Beirut, Lebanon. After surviving a missile attack on their home during the nation’s civil war, the family moved to France. Brothers Daniel and Georges pursued engineering degrees in the U.S. and established DAOU Systems, a leading technology company. The brothers invested in lan...

The offspring of Mexican immigrants and eldest of 15 children, Joe Reynoso dreamed of owning his own vineyard after delivering a piano to Napa Valley as a young man. After finding success as a trader in Chicago, eventually running his own firm, Reynoso invested in 500 acres in Sonoma to grow grapes. In 2015 he and wife, Elena, launched Crescere Wines to produce small lot Bordeaux blend reds and wh...

Did you know more than 90% of Napa Valley's vintners are family-owned? Hear from two renowned family winery owners: Janet and John Trefethen oversee Trefethen Family Vineyards (est.1973) on their family estate. Daughter Hailey has worked on renovation of the winery's historic 1886 building. Bill Phelps and son Will, Joseph Phelps Vineyards (est. 1973), discuss the legacy of Founder Joseph Phelps,...

The Ricasoli family castle, Brolio, located in the Chianti hills, dates to 1141 and served as a fortress during many wars. Ricasoli is documented as the oldest winery in Italy and the fourth oldest family business in the world. Francesco Ricasoli, family steward and company president since 1993, discusses the Ricasoli family history and its role in creating the original formula to make Chianti Cla...

New Orleans is home to iconic bars, cocktail museums and signature drinks, such as the Sazerac, Ramos Ginn Fizz and French 75. New Orleans native and drinks historian, Elizabeth Pearce, founder of Drink and Learn, leads tours and talks on New Orleans cocktail culture & history. She is author of “Drink Dat New Orleans.” Bryan Dias, host / producer of “The NOLADrinks Show,” discusses where to imbibe...

Founded in 1997 by Francesco Illy, of the renowned Illy coffee family, Podere Le Ripi produces prestige, terroir-driven wines from Montalcino, including IGT, Rosso di Montalcino and Brunello di Montalcino. CEO & Winemaker Sebastian Nasello discusses Podere Le Ripi's decision to farm biodynamically and how the location of its vineyards in both the east and west of Montalcino impact the nuances of t...

Technology is changing how the publishing industry conducts business, yet some print magazines still flourish. Jacqueline Strum, President & Publisher of Wine Enthusiast Media, explains why hobby & niche publications (e.g., wine) are still popular, and how consumers' growing interest in learning about, buying and collecting wine has fueled demand for more and better designed wine storage, wine acc...

The term "terroir" is used in the wine world to describe how climate, soil, topography elevation, and other environmental factors deliver a unique expression to the final product. Veteran wine and spirits industry pro, Mark Reynier, is applying terroir to whisky with the 2021 introduction of Waterford single farm origin, barley-based Irish single malt whisky. Waterford sources barley from 97 farme...

Sommelier Yannick Benjamin opened 40-seat Contento NYC in East Harlem in June 2021 with a vision of inclusivity and acceptance. A wheelchair user since 2004 after a devastating car accident, Benjamin and his partners designed Contento to better accommodate customers living with disabilities. Benjamin discusses how he turned a tragedy into triumph and reveals the mentors who inspired him. Committed...

Vintner, physician, mom and "the face of Argentine wine" all refer to Dr. Laura Catena, managing director for her family's winery, Bodega Catena Zapata, and founder of the Catena Institute of Wine. She talks about her dual life on two continents both as a preeminent wine producer and working as an emergency room doctor. Catena discusses the family's approaching to selecting vineyards, researching...

Take notice of this black-woman-owned winery because the wines are exceptional! Theodora Lee leads a dual life as a lawyer and owner of Theopolis Vineyards in Mendocino County's. A native Texan used to farm life, Lee acquired land to plant vines in 2001 and released her first estate bottled wines in 2014. Theopolis Vineyards' Petite Sirah and Pinot Noir have received awards and top ratings, earnin...