Barbara is loving this rosé from Menfi, Sicily. This is summer wine! Almost an orange tint; subtle strawberry and peaches; a great food wine. Thank you, Marilena! La Bambina, from winemaker Marilena Barbera, is a pleasant expression of the Nero d'Avola grape (ever heard of that one?), which is harvested at night to preserve the freshest aromas and to give birth to a very exciting wine that reflects the personality of Menfi's terroir. How do you gazpacho? I'm gazpachoing with fried Serrano ham, shrimp, avocado, and olive oil. And, of course, a glass or three of La Bambina. [...]

My favorite burger in town is from Bistro Georgette, and whenever I make them at home I attempt to capture that insanely delicious balance of richness and acidity. For me, what that boils down to is a patty of equal parts ground beef and pork, and a healthy hunk of red onion that is pickled, then grilled. I stole that from them. I'll tweak some of the other toppings, try different sauces maybe, but I need the extra fat and some vinegar-y, pickle-y goodness as a foundation. Fries are nice on the side, but this time of year I [...]

Fleur loves this rosé for the complexity that emerges after those first upfront flavors knock you for a loop. Being all of 5-foot-nothing, I have always had a great affection for the old adage: "Dynamite comes in small packages." This sherbet-colored Gamay rosé from the Loire Valley is the definition of understated beauty. Behind this guy's soft side of powdery chalkiness, bubblegum, and overripe apricot, you'll find even more dynamic layers: golden plum, yellow raspberry, and earthy marigold flowers. Complex and vibrant, the finish lingers and forces you to close your eyes for just a moment to let [...]