Brian Cain

Our AWS Group has good reason NOT to cellar their wine!

We had a great opportunity at a Lakeshore American Wine Society tasting to see if our friends liked older or younger wines.

Brian Cain
Our AWS Group has good reason NOT to cellar their wine!
Brian Cain

Dead or Alive 2024

For 2024, I’ll continue digging up old wines from the cellar before both Alice and I are subterranean ourselves.

Brian Cain
Dead or Alive 2024
Brian Cain

MORE BARGAINS 2024

Lots more bargains from Trader Joe’s, Costco, Sam’s, Aldi and elsewhere for 2024

Brian Cain
MORE BARGAINS 2024
Brian Cain

Rude Tasters Cleans up the Party

The greatest sites from the best wineries are simply without pier.

Brian Cain
Rude Tasters Cleans up the Party
Brian Cain

OZ 2024

As the number of Zinfandels on the store shelves seems to be shrinking, the quality producers are still alive and well insuring a diverse offering of quality wines.

Brian Cain
OZ 2024
Brian Cain

More Great Wines 2024

We are getting too old to be hoarding wine. Time to drink them!

Brian Cain
More Great Wines 2024
Brian Cain

A Bucolic Ride through the Irish Hills

Michigan's lost highway, US-12, used to be full of tourist traps in the Irish Hills sort of like a mini Route 66.

Brian Cain
A Bucolic Ride through the Irish Hills
Brian Cain

Best of Both Worlds Technology

When Xfinity lost Bally Sports Detroit we did enjoy watching all the other nationally prominent teams play and see all of the great ex-Tigers in action. But, eventually we got homesick for Tiger baseball and started looking for a means to “have our cake and eat it too”.

Brian Cain
Best of Both Worlds Technology
Brian Cain

Summer Golf, Wine and Food Exploration

Michigan is a great place for a short or long vacation. Even if you only have a few days, there are so many pieces of it you can bite off. Here are a few good stops to make in your next trip to the north and west side of the state.

Brian Cain
Summer Golf, Wine and Food Exploration
Brian Cain

When Less is More and Simple is Profound

There is nothing like a simple meal with a simple wine. LIFE IS GOOD!

Brian Cain
When Less is More and Simple is Profound
Brian Cain

Cantoro Market & Trattoria

Today on a mid-week trek to Plymouth for some Italian goodies, traffic was light and the store not as busy as it usually is. We were surprised, however, that the trattoria was packed. It is no mystery why.

Brian Cain
Cantoro Market & Trattoria
Brian Cain

Dr. Zin Offers Up Some Dandies

As our warm-up warm-up we enjoyed a bottle of Zinphomaniac which offered a lighter easy balance to enhance lighter bodied foods.

Brian Cain
Dr. Zin Offers Up Some Dandies
Brian Cain

Old Ports Never Die

We had a pleasant surprise and got to relive an old wine story last night.

Brian Cain
Old Ports Never Die
Brian Cain

More Great Wines 2022/2023

Every now and then one encounters a wine that says to you that this might be a one time experience to fully enjoy.

Brian Cain
More Great Wines 2022/2023
Brian Cain

MORE BARGAINS 2022/3

These days it is impossible to find bad wine and very easy to find great wine under $10

Brian Cain
MORE BARGAINS 2022/3
Brian CainGarden

Presto! E A S Y Garden Pesto

This is an update from a blog I originally posted in 2017 because after all these years (since 1960) I finally got my grandmother’s stuffed artichoke recipe from my cousin at a recent family reunion. Pesto always brings fond memories

Brian CainGarden
Presto! E A S Y Garden Pesto
Brian Cain

DEAD or ALIVE?

Sometimes it isn’t even useful to rate wines that are very old. Often the only thing that matters is whether it is dead or alive.

Brian Cain
DEAD or ALIVE?
Brian Cain

Vinifera, Hybrids or Native Grapes? Rude Tasters Dive into, "What Makes a Good Wine?"

Is it possible to make a great wine out of Native or Hybrid Grapes? What about growing Vinifera in an area that is hotter or colder than the best regions of Europe?

Brian Cain
Vinifera, Hybrids or Native Grapes?   Rude Tasters Dive into, "What Makes a Good Wine?"
Brian Cain

Hot Costco Deals

Though by the time you read this, it may be too late, my guess is that if like the Bordeaux 4-pack, it is popular, you’ll see more of this case sale from Portugal next year and probably more and more similar deals in the future.

Brian Cain
Hot Costco Deals
Brian Cain

On a roll with Small Seafood

This is the second time this week we ran across a fish that we have not had before. Always worth a try.

Brian Cain
On a roll with Small Seafood
Brian Cain

Rude's Compares Some Great Cabs from Washington and Napa

When do you finally get around to breaking out some of your squirreled away favorite bottles with good friends? What better reason than a Rude Tasters meeting?

Brian Cain
Rude's Compares Some Great Cabs from Washington and Napa
Brian Cain

ANN ARBOR: A Few Reasons it is Considered the Most Desirable Place to Live in Michigan

Besides family, medical proximity and a condo perfect for our needs, there are lots of other reasons why people flock to this town.

Brian Cain
ANN ARBOR: A Few Reasons it is Considered the Most Desirable Place to Live in Michigan
Brian Cain

EUREKA! Head-on Shrimp; Part III

Finally, after 35 years, I think I stumbled upon the secret of great shrimp broth for making shrimp risotto.

Brian Cain
EUREKA!  Head-on Shrimp; Part III
Brian Cain

The Door Peninsula Seems to be Going Backwards

On the west side of Lake Michigan, you get great sunrises, but no visible sunsets. On our latest trip around the lake we spent a day in the Door Peninsula of Wisconsin to see what has transpired since our last visit ten years ago.

Brian Cain
The Door Peninsula Seems to be Going Backwards