Columns by Doc Lawrence:

A Feast For My Father
My father remains my hero. A combat soldier in World War II who still hates war. A decent guy who did his best to give his family a wonderful life and never thought of expecting anything in return. But, my dad also enjoys good food, particularly things that are farm fresh, often advising me during my adolescent “know-it-all” days that home grown tomatoes would extend my life. Now, I pray he’s right.

A Toast To Mothers
My dear departed mother left a trove of priceless memories. She remains the best self-taught cook I’ve known - a kitchen magician who could transform things ordinary into a feast for angels. All moms are special and all things possible begin with them. Alabama’s tough and crusty coaching legend, Bear Bryant, always ended his weekly television show with a command: “Call your mama!”  He meant each day.  of character. Her favorite hobbies were family and friends. She loved flowers and chocolate.

April Mean Warm Weather Wines
Trends obviously influence the American palate. A movie proclaims all domestic Pinot Noir the superior red wine, and by golly, almost on cue it’s ordered at restaurants coast to coast. Years ago, few enthusiasts seemed to express a preference for any red wine, Pinot Noir or otherwise, often gratuitously stating that white wines avoided headaches, allergies and the like. A Southern Hush Puppy recipe is included.

Celebrating the Red, White and Blue
Wine, farm-fresh food, and friendship - A mighty powerful combination for the 4th of July celebration. Recipe for Blackberry Barbecue Sauce is included.

Champagne for Breakfast
During each visit to New Orleans over many years, I enjoyed flutes of Champagne with Creole eggs, shrimp and grits, biscuits, ham and andouille sausage. I came to expect it, but always thought that this noble custom was confined to the French Quarter, Quebec City, and Paris.

Chef John Folse - Louisiana Cuisine With Wine
Chef John Folse is revered as one of the great American chefs from Louisiana. His eight cookbooks, particularly the monumental Encyclopedia of Cajun & Creole Cuisine, spread the gospel of indigenous Louisiana cooking to the world. The PBS mainstay, “A Taste of Louisiana,” is Folse’s masterfully produced international television series. Includes a recipe for Trout En Papillote.

Dog Days and Pink Relief - Wines for Late Summer Enjoyment
It’s torture chamber hot where I live, but no one wants to give in and quit enjoying life. Wine drinkers learn to adjust to the seasons and the best wine for this time of year arguably is rosé wine.

Everlasting Love - Noble Wines
The saddest rehearsal dinner scene is wonderful food served alongside wine unfit for marinating. Dirt-cheap sparkling wine served at the reception and poured for toasting the newly weds stain the divine moment. Invoking wine’s “purple rule,” that cheap is the opposite of value and quality, is your fail-safe.

February - Wine, Feasts and Love
February features Valentine’s Day, our gentle ritual, at midpoint. For now, even dreams seem delicious. Tradition strongly suggests red roses, chocolates, candlelit dining and a card with a personal proclamation of love. Wine fits here like a hand in glove. Not just any wine, mind you. Nothing falls flatter that the wrong wine. 

Julia the Great - A Movie and Memories
Her one-liners could be as hilarious as Rodney Dangerfield’s. She was quotable like Mae West and as beloved as Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Julia Child is forever in the American fabric, a California girl who took French cooking into the American kitchen and literally started television cooking. 

Kosher Wine for Everyone
September features the Jewish High Holy Days, observed during the 10-day period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It’s an appropriate time to become more familiar with the delights of Kosher wines.

Light Wines For Gentle Autumn Food
Inspired by the delightful autumn wines of New Zealand and because autumn is here, I asked Chef Derek Barnes who owns the award-winning Derek’s Culinary Casual restaurant in Sarasota, Florida to provide an October recipe that pairs with the white wines of New Zealand. Includes a recipe for Roasted Pumpkin Bisque with Lavender Marshmallows.

Spanish Wines Begin the New Year
When I think of wines, everything seems to be intellectually connected to the Old and New World. The overall enjoyment of wine and dining seems more rewarding when I think this way, and more often, there is a deeper appreciation by just being mindful of these venerable but still evolving and fascinating relationships. Spanish wines continue to intrigue me in the same way the food of Spain has a nice place in my memory where treasured experiences are stored.

Summer Pairings By The River - Wine and Food Pairing
The bookstore shelves are filled with wine and food pairing “how-tos.” They serve a purpose, of course. But, in the end, everything becomes a matter of personal preference. It’s like a painting. I love everything by Picasso, but some may not. We are all different, but we do have some common threads and an open mind might be the secret ingredient in the fun and games of wine and fine dining.

Sweet Wines For The Holidays
For this special time of year, let’s take a stroll down the wine path less traveled, sampling some classic wines that have a prominent place during the holidays.

Tailgating - An All-American Tradition
Tailgating is part of our cultural landscape, an open-air culinary ritual inexorably bound to sports and anchored to stadium parking lots and racetrack infields coast to coast. Where beer once dominated, wine is making inroads, not so surprising when the best known tailgaters include celebrity chefs and wine enthusiasts are joined by some NASCAR legends. Also includes a recipe for Mini Muffalettas.

Tailgating – The Football Feast Returns
Once dominated by burgers, chicken wings, and beer, tailgating 2011 has a brand new look, sporting nicely decorated tables, flowers, plates of food prepared ahead by great home chefs, and bottles of wines. You can almost feel an appetite coming on thinking about it. Also includes a recipe for Shrimp and Grits.

Thanksgiving Wines
Enjoying life, friendship, and love is very American. Thanksgiving is the All-American homecoming, centered on food, wines, family, and friends. And, there’s always room at the dinner table for those who are alone. We open doors and welcome others on Thanksgiving. Also includes a recipe for Cornbread Stuffing with Fresh Figs, Morels, and Foie Gras.

Wine and Food in Original America: Beautiful Beaufort - Nantucket With A Southern Drawl
After a few glasses of wine here, there are some recreation options: you can plunge into the nearby Atlantic waters or have another pour and begin devouring the seafood. This ancient and very lovely city sits along the southern Outer Banks, North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, and a genuine American treasure that must be considered for the perfect vacation.

Wine and Texas Chocolates - 25 Years Of Liquid Center Wonders
Love, wine and gourmet chocolates never go out of style. Summer is perfect for losing those recession blues according to Lecia Duke who for over 25 years gained national fame with her one-of-a-kind liquid center chocolates. I entered a delicious world of chocolate and wine: Willy Wonka meets Robert Mondavi.

Wine, Barbeque and Liberty - The All-American Partnership
Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and one of the most complex and fascinating men this nation has produced, introduced the great wines of Europe to this part of the New World. It’s hard to imagine a celebration at Monticello where the gifted host Mr. Jefferson would be serving barbeque with anything but fine wines from his acclaimed Monticello cellar. Also includes a recipe for Georgia Brunswick Stew.

Wine For My Valentine
Valentine Dinner with Doc Lawrence - Chocolate Caramel Amaretto Budino Recipe
Nothing triggers my imagination more than travel, particularly where wine is part of the destination. Since the beginning of the year, two journeys spurred new visions of wine for the dinner table and the celebration of love on Valentine’s Day. I believe the entire month of February, with the 14^th literally the epicenter, should be devoted to honoring romantic love.

Wine On The Half Shell - The Magic Of Oysters And Wine
Oysters are for the chosen few. Not exactly in the mainstream, they do provoke passion. About as many love them as flee from their sight. Traveling early on to New Orleans where oysters ruled-raw, baked, in stews or soups- was a great leap forward to wines as part of the oyster ritual. Includes a recipe for Oysters Fonseca from the Brennan’s Bourbon House in New Orleans.

Wine with Thomas Jefferson
The wine cellar at Monticello provides a glimpse into the daily living and dining customs of one of the Founding Fathers. Thomas Jefferson's cellar and the bottles shelved there make the statement for the ages that this remarkable man was a champion of style and grace who placed entertaining right alongside farming, governing, architecture, and law. Dining with fine wine was de rigueur wherever he lived.