george hirsch blog

George Hirsch in the Garden

Consider the American 'Green Giant' Thuja (standishii plicata) It is an ideal evergreen screening tree and is a great substitute for the Leyland Cypress (it's cousin within the Cupressaceae family); which is bit more delicate to the extreme outdoor elements and deer love to snack on.
The Green Giant Thuja is fast growing, hardy, disease and pest resistant.
I planted nearly eighty of the Green Giants a few years ago and they are nearly double in size and maintain their full green beauty all year long.

For the George Hirsch How-to Garden TV segment: George planting a little 'Green Giant' Thuja

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Today’s Weather Forecast Calls for Soup

According to the Weather Channel it’s a “rainy, chilly Mid-Atlantic. A cold, wet, windy day is expected for parts of the Northeast today. Much of the rest of the country will be dry…”

Whip a up my quick “Chive and Potato Soup” to warm you up on this chilly May day.
For those fortunate enough to be in the sun, just chill and serve cold.
For this easy recipe read page 13 of the spring issue of ‘George Hirsch Lifestyle eMag’.

Enjoy,
George

Last Minute Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Sunday May 11th is Mother'€™s Day. The question is, what do you buy for the woman who has everything?
Do you buy her that putter she's always wanted; or maybe a new turbo-drive grill?
Just in case that just won't do, here are some thoughtful suggestions from the Spring Issue of George Hirsch Lifestyle eMagazine:

- Serve her Berry Crepes for Mother'€™s Day Breakfast
- Give her some flowering vines and train them over an arbor
- Buy Mom a new piece of luggage for an upcoming trip
- How about giving her a bird house that attracts lovely early morning singing birds
- Send Mom on a trip to Italy, or prepare savory Tuscan Risotto & Sgroppino recipes

Recipes and Mother's Day Gift inspirations are available in our Spring Issue of George Hirsch Lifestyle eMag

See how-to Risotto Recipe Video

Subscribe your Mom up for the Advanced Free Subscription to George Hirsch Lifestyle eMag.

The Summer Issue is coming in June to your email inbox. Be sure your signed up!

To receive George's TV series Video Podcasts in iTunes

Happy Mother's Day!
Enjoy,
George

MOTHER'S DAY & SPRING ENTERTAINING

5 Easy steps for Spring Entertaining
With Mother's Day this weekend and spring well underway,
be spontaneous and have an impromptu gathering with family and friends.
Being spontaneous means there isn'€™t much planning or fuss
before the party. Having guests all-chip-in takes the
pressure off of the host for all of the pre preparation tasks.
For get great recipes and tips from this article 'George Hirsch Lifestyle' eMagazine
enjoy,
George

TV Update on Rock Star Tour

On Feburary 22, 2008 I wrote about Rock Star on Tour, 10 Cities 2 Weeks. Joe ‘Coach’ Hanna and his tour with Gavin DeGraw.

Coach passed this on to all his fans, “Gavin's first single is doing REALLY well, and the shows have been going great. We start up a crazy run between here and Europe on Thursday, and I look forward to either catching up with each and every one of you on the road, or when I finally get home!
See you soon!

Upcoming TV Appearances: Coach with Gavin Degraw Tour:

Here's the latest TV:
May 5th CBS early Morning Show
May 6th Regis and Kelly
May 7th Ellen (airs May 8th we are told)
May 8th Jimmy Kimmel show
May 12th Carson Daly

Letterman has a date in June, but I can't say it yet, and The View as well.”

Coach,
Pack light, cheers to your success!
Enjoy,

George

Two Great Italian Restaurants, East and West

title translation:Due ristoranti, est ed ad ovest italiani grandi

Rose, my Nana, taught me the fundamentals of preparing and serving “true” Italian food. The secret is simple, prepare the food with your heart and serve with love! Sure, it’s easy during my travels throughout Italy to find endless great restaurants that serve dish after dish following my Nana’s rule. However, can you find an Italian restaurant that can deliver in this country?

Read my previous BLOGS and watch my TV show and you will know my favorite hometown restaurant is famed eatery Nick & Toni’s, in East Hampton, NY led by the team of Mark Smith and Chef Joe Realmuto. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a rustic Tuscan farmhouse, where there’s seasonal outdoor dining and many dishes that come from their own organic gardens, local fisherman catches and local farms. Expect fresh ingredients, unpretentious sophistication and always a delicious experience. Nick and Toni’s has mastered Nana Rose’s golden rule.
What about when I travel west?

After flying west for more than five hours, there’s one option that will make me drive a couple hours to reach in Northern California. Bistro Don Giovanni crafted by partners, Donna and Giovanni Scala. Located on the fringe in the heart of Napa you will think you just traveled to Tuscany as you walk through the gardens surrounded by majestic Italian Cypress trees; you know, those tall 'creepy Italian trees' as they were referred to in 'Under the Tuscan Sun'. Surrounding the herb garden is a hedge row of rosemary that is up to my waist with a huge fountain overlooking a sea of vineyards, vegetable and herb gardens. They also produce their own olive oil from the olive trees located on the property.

Specializing in Rustic Italian and Southern French food, one of my favorite dishes is the Roasted Beet and Fennel Salad with Haricots Verts, Avacado and Roquefort Vinaigrette. Also not to be over looked is one of the best frito mistos with crisp fennal, beans, calamari and shellfish; include any pasta especially the cavetille with braided duck bolognese, seared salmon with buttermilk mashed potatoes; whole roasted fish; and any contorni.

Service at these restaurants are first rate and both of these highly acclaimed restaurants would make Nana Rose smile.
You can read more about Bistro Don Giovanni in my next travel tour, in the upcoming SUMMER ISSUE of George Hirsch Lifestyle this June.
In case you missed the SPRING ISSUE: George Hirsch Lifestyle’ eMagazine
sign up to receive the next complementary issue

Enjoy!

George

Wine and Roses

Wine and roses are just not for a first date or to show appreciation to your loved ones. The combination of wine and roses is available at your local winery right now. May is a wonderful time to visit wineries. Spring reaches full bloom in the months of April and May.

Plants everywhere are displaying their blooms. Rose blooms while at their peak offer a visual treat out in the vineyard while sipping wine. Take time for a picnic lunch and the visual show that the roses perform during their peak of perfection.

You may think that roses are just a decoration in front of the vine rows throughout the growing season; but it serves so much more. Roses are used at the head of the rows of vines to alert the vineyard of possible problems with insects. Any damage by unwanted pests can rapidly move to the vines.
Roses will show any abuse by pests allowing wine growers to treat any problem quickly saving the vines from destruction.

While the roses are serving the vintners, you can sit back and sip a Chard or Zin and let all your senses enjoy the beauty of Spring!

Enjoy,

George

Spaghetti Expected to Reach $10 a Pound as new Technology Turns Pasta into Fuel

We have all been plagued with an increase in fuel prices at the pumps. This has led to an increase in everything from eggs to corn. Corn has many by products for fuel and related items. We are seeing across the board a rise in all grocery foods. A new technology breakthrough released today has come up with a way to turn pasta in fuel. This is sure to drive up the price of pasta.

Please Note: Before you run off to the market to begin hoarding Barilla Pasta you may want to know that this news item is based on one of the greatest April fools days hoaxes of all times from the BBC.

In 1957 the British news show Panorama convinced many of its viewers that spaghetti grows on trees.
For the full story read on…

Happy April Fool’s Day!

Enjoy!

George

140 Years Old and Still Looking Hot!

Outside, it was a chilly evening in NYC. But inside for a reception at the historic Old Homestead (also 140 years old), Tabasco warmed up the room with great tasting hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef John Harris of Lilette of New Orleans, LA. At 140 years, I may say Tabasco pepper sauce is still looking hot to me!

A pleasant surprise, Paul McIlhenny, President and CEO has just released a special Avery Island Reserve sauce. A small batch of Tabasco sauce made from the finest Avery Island peppers, that has historically been made available only to family and close friends.
Paul is so passionate on sharing the history and high quality that goes into making of each and every bottle of the hot pepper sauce, he is releasing 2500 bottles made from these finest peppers.

Tabasco is still made on Avery Island, an island rising above a natural salt deposit in the bayous of Louisiana, much the same way it was 140 years ago. Time has stood still on this picturesque family location as it still looks like it did back in the late 1800’s.

If you share Paul’s passion for innate bland food you’ll want to visit Tabasco. While there check out his new book Tabasco: An Illustrated History, featuring the iconic status in the rise of Tabasco and the McIlhenny family.

I have my calendar marked for March, 2018 it’s going to be a HOT party for the 150th celebration.

Enjoy,

George

George Hirsch Lifestyle eMagazine

Hi Everyone,
So excited to bring to you the Premier Issue of George Hirsch Lifestyle
my online quarterly publication with features on food, travel, recipes & home.

enjoy,
George