Jonathan Cepelak

A nice glass of wine can accompany almost any meal, and for many, it’s become not just part of a fancy meal out or a celebratory toast, but a hobby. A burgeoning industry has cropped up around wine tourism in recent years. Winery tours, wine festivals and tasting events, and even classes, fermenting kits, and recipes for making your own wine at home have become quite common. Many people enjoy these types of activities for entertainment and recreation. However, for those who are serious about ...

The holidays are just around the corner, which means it’s time to start thinking about the most important part- the food! If you want to put out the perfect spread, try these tips.
Turkey
The star of the meal needs to be juicy, tender, and delicious. Achieve that by:
Crisping up the skin at 450 degrees for the last 5 minutes of cooking.
Separate the legs from the breast to cook them longer, so the breast doesn’t dry out.
Cover sliced meat with chicken stock and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minu...

Seasonal cocktails can make a fun addition to any autumn menu. Incorporating squash into cocktails can be a great way to celebrate the season. That may sound unusual. Traditionally, the most popular cocktails tend to either have a refreshing, astringent taste or a sweet, fruity one. But squash has a sweet, mellow flavor. Squash-based cocktails also pair very well with seasonal autumn dishes.
One tasty cocktail for the autumn season is the Smashing Pumpkin. This is made with roasted pumpkin an...

When a person owns a bar, one of the most important aspects of making it successful is training the bartenders. Certain things need to be done to ensure the training is effective.
The first rule of training is always to use an employee handbook. Anyone that works as a bartender needs to have a copy of the handbook for him or herself. This employee manual should clearly explain company policy as well as the company’s culture. It also needs to explain to employees how to best deal with any conf...

Tequila’s earthiness can be mixed with many different things to give it a new and unique taste. This agave-based alcohol can be spruced up in many ways to make this classic the centerpiece of any gathering.
Margarita–Revamped
One of the first drinks you probably think of when it comes to tequila is a margarita. The traditional margarita includes triple sec and lime juice, but you can revamp it by adding other fruits like strawberry, kiwi, or blood orange. You may not think cucumbers belong in...

Quarantine has us all cooking at home more, so you might be getting tired of cooking the same dish over and over again. These recipe apps will provide some inspiration and help you up your dinner game.
Allrecipes
A free app available on both Android and IOS, Allrecipes includes photos, ratings, and an ingredient list to make your recipes even easier to prepare.
Yummly
If you want an app that’s personalized to your taste, Yummly is the one for you. It will ask you your favorite foods during th...

The internet is full of restaurant reviews, both positive and negative. If you want your review to stand out, you need to grab the reader’s attention right off the bat and keep them engaged throughout the entirety of it. Here are some tips to help you write the best restaurant review possible.
One: Grab them with the opening line.
In Google searches, the first line or so is all the reader will see to start. You want to grab their attention with the opening line so that they click on the link ...

As the summer months roll on, you may be looking for that next refreshing drink. If you are bored with the margaritas, vodka sodas, and beers that you usually find, consider one of the cocktails below to add some intrigue to your time outdoors.
Moscow Mule
This classic drink is sure to delight your taste buds. But be sure to serve it in a copper mug; it adds a certain tang that makes all the difference!
Ingredients:
2oz Vodka
½ oz Lime Juice
6oz Ginger Beer
How To:
In a separate cup, squeeze ...

This summer is an excellent opportunity to practice your culinary skills. However, cooking when it’s sweltering is no fun. For 2020, let us take a very close look at some summer salad ideas for when it’s too hot to cook.
Sun-dried tomato salad
To start things off, nobody can turn down a sun-dried tomato salad. As opposed to regular chopped tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes have a more delicate texture that melts in your mouth. Sun-dried tomatoes go well with many dressings, so you can customize th...

Have you ever looked at pictures of food on Instagram and wondered how it could look so good? Believe it or not, the Instagram users who post almost impossibly appetizing images of food probably aren’t eating all that much different than you are. The secret is in the photography techniques used, rather than in the food itself. Here are three tips that will help you take killer Instagram-worthy food photos.
Shoot From Directly Overhead and Make Sure Your Shot Is Level
When taking pictures of f...

Nothing completes a rustic night out like a delicious and perfectly cooked steak. Yet there is no reason to have to spend a lot of time and money to get one at a restaurant when it is possible to make something just as impressive at home. With any of these top five steak recipes, you can impress your friends and family, or create the perfect date night without breaking the bank.
If you’re looking for a traditional steak, the Grilled Strip Steak with Compound Butter from The Spruce Eats is the...

Some of the most lauded authors of all time began their careers by submitting to magazines. Whether you write short stories, poetry, or nonfiction, being published by a legitimate literary magazine can open doors for you and establish you as an artist to watch. If you want to be successful, you should consider a few things before firing off emails or putting your writing in the post.
Put Your Best Work Forward
Editors are overwhelmed with submissions. They receive more than they will ever be ...

By all accounts, COVID-19 hit restaurants pretty hard. From February to early in March, restaurant lovers began canceling their restaurant reservations and slowing down casual in-store restaurant visits. According to Eater.com, there was an 8% to 12% decrease in casual dining by late February. Additionally, the online reservation app Open Table saw a 31% decrease in reservations in the Seattle area, and the numbers continued to fall until both Seattle, and San Francisco saw declines of 49% an...

In the past decade, India Pale Ales, or IPAs, have become one of the most popular beers. How did this extra-hoppy beer become the trendiest option at craft breweries all over the world? Its fascinating history started centuries ago.
The Beginnings of IPAsThe first recorded instance of the phrase “India Pale Ale” first occurred in 1835, when Hodgson’s Bow Brewery advertised their East India Pale Ale. This has led many people to credit Hodgson’s with the discovery of IPAs. However, the first re...

Right now, many people are struggling their way through the COVID-19 self-quarantine to protect themselves and loved ones from the virus. Feelings of loneliness and anxiety are natural and, for many, are at an all-time high. There are many resources people can turn to for help in coping, but one that costs little to nothing and is readily available for most individuals is writing. Writing can help people deal with emotions and process experiences. Some individuals find that writing and other ...