Everyone, meet Jen Cohen , my long time BFF and soon-to-be Harvard MBA (Class of 2008, baby). There are oodles of reasons she's a Hip Taster , but the main one is that Jen has never, ever turned down an invitation from me to drink some good wine . Heck, I'll even go out on a limb and let ... that makes her a perfect Hip Taste-r. Check out this very cute pic of her wearing her Harvard sweatshirt...

... the restaurant critic of The New York Times . This book details the history of the cocktail from ... . The book starts with an entire chapter dedicated to the Martini and then he explains how the colonial ... and marketing techniques in the spirits industry is especially interesting. He finishes the book ... it as a recipe book...

I don't write very many book reviews despite the fact that several publishers have sent me several books in the past. But, unless I really like a book and think it is worth reading, I don't feel ... the book, let me just say that I think food and wine pairing are much much easier than a lot of people ... pairing guidelines, the book has an extensive (most of the book) list of foods with good pairings...

(or seedless) to say, I was indelibly blessed when someone handed me the Wine for Dummies book ... it is a fantastic first book for wine neophytes, and that “reference for the rest of us” still...

... the "Hip Tastes " brand in San Francisco. She has put together what looks on the surface a very ... with something like  Hip Tastes.  Full disclosure: this was a press sample ... If you're reading this blog with any regularity, you probably don't need this book yourself ... that is so broad that an answer would fill a whole book? Well, this is the book. Courtney Cochran...

... to wine, you’ve found it in Courtney Cochran’s Hip Tastes: The Fresh Guide to Wine . Cochran is the brains behind the uber-popular San Francisco-based Hip Tastes events, where 20-somethings relish PB ... lists and shops, and wine gear must-haves. She’s pro foil cutters; anti Rabbit. Hip Tastes is one ... , Bon-Bon Shiraz Rose) and peppers the book with loads of boxed-off Hip Tips: the low-down...

... straight for the wine section.  I came across a great book called Hip Tastes, by Courtney Cochran.  She's a certified sommelier and founder of Your Personal Sommelier and HIP TASTES Events in San ... great feature of HIP TASTES is the appendix.  Cochran offers charts listing wines named for places ... .  Check out the links above to Courtney Cochran's websites if you're interested in her HIP TASTES...

I'm really pleased to announce that I was profiled this week (with a special shout-out given to the upcoming book launch!!!) on UK-based blog All the Best. Penned by Texas-raised expat Ronda Carman - pictured here, and who lives in Glasgow - the blog chronicles her favorite things, from books to antiques to personalities. She's got quite an impressive global following, and I'm super flattered...

... of the water, we wondered? What's the publicity stunt that will push the Hip Tastes book ... speed chase a la OJ in a van branded "HIP TASTES". His suggestion didn't merit a serious ... few weeks, so - if nothing else - I can get the image of the careening Hip Tastes van out of my mind ... upcoming trip to NYC for my splashy book party. But - perhaps more importantly - we were also...

Just want to give a shout out to the fabulous photogs from my San Fran book launch party last fall. Lensman-about-town John Curley - I swear this guy is everywhere! - did a fantastic job and is as entertaining as he is talented. Check out his Flickr page here - his Burning Man pics are especially cool. And Curley's pal Tracy Bugni - who goes by MS Trouble on Flickr - is terrific, too. Check...