Category — The Green Palate

Written by: Tom Pellicane

New Belgium Brewing shared three of their craft beers with the Green Palate to experience. They shared their Mothership Wit Organic Wheat Beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale and Enlightened Black Ale. We were all excited to get started with our tasting and thought we’d fine tune our process for this tasting since it was now our third time together as a panel. We all agreed on a couple of changes that would enhance the experience. First, we decided not to read anything about the beers before we tasted. We wouldn’t even let Katie, our keeper of knowledge, begin to speak. Second, we agreed that after each initial action taking in the nose, savoring on the palate there would be no talking for one minute. These were both instituted to avoid subliminally affecting our interpretations of the beer. [Read more →]

Written by: Tom Pellicane

On this evening we chose to taste two wines, 2007 Sustainable White and 2007 Pinot Noir, from the Mendocino Wine Co. in California, under the Parducci labels. We already knew from their delivery packaging that they were different from many others who have shared their products for review by the Green Palate. Everything within the packaging could be recycled, no Styrofoam peanuts protecting bottles here. [Read more →]

Written by: Tom Pellicane

On Tuesday, April 28 we conducted the first of our Green Palate group tastings. Our goal of the Green Palate is to bring a lay person’s point of view, sprinkled with some expert opinions to reviews of Local/Organic/Natural Grapes, Grains and Brews or as some might know them Wines, Spirits and Beers.  For the evening we tasted UK5 Organic Vodka, which is according to its makers “The world’s first certified organic & biodynamic vodka.” [Read more →]

We’ve been talking about doing some type of review of sustainable alcoholic beverages here at canvas for some time. As with many things in life this took time to come together. Our first panel tasting is tonight and we’re all excited. As we ready for the evening the jitters creep in.

Although we have our format together, the first tasting will be a work in progress since most of us are lay people in this vain. We hope to share some great new sustainable products with our readers. As with any review beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I hope our first tasting is a beauty that I’d want to drink myself or share with my friends. [Read more →]

The Green Palate’s tagline—“our take on grapes, grains, brews & bites”—lends itself to the down-to-earth approach of the reviews, which will be conducted in a panel format providing “man on the street” reviews from its core panel made up of members from our team who are passionate and somewhat knowledgeable about their favorite tastes and libations. Additionally, we’ll be inviting local experts to review and share their opinion in order to provide a mix of information for you on the website. These tastings will be supported by Whole Foods Market, who will supply the ingredients for pairing and mixing drinks.

The Green Palate intersects with growth in the Green Market as well as the growth in micro wineries, breweries and distilleries. Once a month we’ll be conducting the panel and the core panelists will be providing additional blog posts on the topic throughout the month in order to keep you connected to the topic as well.

The Green Palate’s core panel consists of Adele, Diana, Katie, Matt, Tara, and Tom. Through what we share in The Green Palate, you come to learn who we are, and what’s new in the world of Grapes, Grains and Brews. Our bios are a work in progress and a guidepost for where we are headed.

Adele
A passionate vegetarian foodie who loves to try new things, and is famous for concocting “signature” drinks at themed parties. Generally, I am a vodka person—Crop, Ketel One, Effen Black Cherry, and Stoli Blueberry–and my drink of choice Ketel One, Soda & 2 Lemons. When it comes to wine I enjoy medium-bodied red wines, and white wines that are light and crispy, like a Sauvignon Blanc. When enjoying a brew my current choices are Hoegarden and other unfiltered whites. In party mode I drink Tequila—no salt or lemon—or Stoli Blueberry.

Diana
Has a deep personal passion for and long professional background in the culinary arts, and loves nothing more than preparing, enjoying, talking, and reading about good food and drink. My drink of choice is Ketel One, ginger ale and lemon. When drinking red wine I prefer a dry, smooth, berry Cabernet, Chianti, or Sangiovese and when drinking whites a smooth, oaky fume. My preferred brew is hard cider, such as Woodchuck Granny Apple Smith Draft Cider. For party mode I like Patron Silver margaritas on the rocks—no salt.

Katie
A food lover who balances a passion for taste with a love for comfort food, and one who enjoys cooking and eating alike. Also, a trained barista who has experience in food and drink pairing. Sharing a passion for craft beers, I have collaborated with a few friends in a brewing a number of delicious beers. My drink of choice is red wine—usually bold and earthy, though I enjoy many blends depending on the mood (and the food.) When considering white wine I gravitate toward Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. When it’s party time, I enjoy a Tequila Gimlet, Mojito, or Espresso Vodka.

Matt
An amateur food lover, and chef. Passionate about organics, local and sustainable. A professional mixologist and imbiber, currently bartender at East Village Tavern in NYC. My brew preference usually leans towards a big hoppy beer, Troegs Nugget Nectar, Chimay, Dogfish 60 Minute, big IPA’s or delicious smoky, slightly sweet Bourbons. When drinking wine I love big bold, earthy reds and for whites gewürztraminer, Riesling. Other things I enjoy are Baggo, Bourbon and Coke, Chilled Stoli Orange shots, Jameson and Bushmills.

Tara
A professional full time elementary school teacher (and former shot girl!), and an amateur party planner and lover of all things that are ‘A good time!’. Tara’s palate is dynamic, she used to be a big lover of desert wines and has since moved into a more complex wine area, enjoying Cabernet Sauvignon, and Barolos. She favors local steel fermented chardonnays, and other summery whites. Her brew palate favors IPA’s, but appreciates Belgian style brews as well. She is an expert ‘flip cup’ player and has been known to enjoy Jack n Coke, Margarita’s and the local favorite, ‘Rocket Fuel’ on Fire Island.

Tom
A former corporate road warrior who developed his palate and preferences thanks too many client meals and a boss who was a connoisseur of fine wine and foods. My drink preference is Kettle One, Rocks and Olives. When I’m drinking reds I generally lean toward bolder reds Cabernets, Syrah’s or even Barolos, but have affection for Spanish wines often a nice Rioja. My white preference falls to either Sauvignon Blanc or White Bordeaux’s. My grain preference is generally vodka. My affection for craft beer has been assisted by my cousin; I’m a big fan of nice porters and various ales. When in the party mode I’ll usually stick to my drink of choice but have been known to don a sombrero and go down the Tequila highway.