July Highlight Reel
Some favorite events, reads, sips, and obsessions from the previous month.
Here’s everything I’ve been waiting to share with you this month. Enjoy!
The Highlight Reel
A few of my favorite moments from the month.
A piece that I wrote has been published by JancisRobinson.com as part of this year’s Wine Writing Competition! The essay I wrote is now officially shortlisted as one of the top entries, which makes it eligible for more potential awards later this summer. I’m incredibly grateful to be able to share a little piece of my heart with the wine community, and it tickles me that a piece of writing about wine in movies, baseball, and my father was selected as a top pick.
The only thing better than seeing my writing and my photo on JancisRobinson.com? Hearing my parents react to the story I’d written. Both of my parents are avid readers of Brunello Bombshell, and it was a treat to be able to share my work with them. (Thanks, Mom and Dad!).
Last month, one of my highlights was watching Season 3 of The Bear. In July, I wrote another personal essay about “Forks”, Richie’s focal episode from Season 2. Really proud to announce that not only is it my most popular post of July, it’s the most viewed post I have ever published. Feeling so so grateful for you, the Brunello Bombshell readers, the Substack community, and fans of The Bear who have responded so kindly to this piece.
Left On Read
Books I devoured this month. This section contains affiliate links to Bookshop.org, so thank you for supporting your favorite Certified Sommelier AND your favorite independent bookstore when you shop this list.
We formally kicked off The Literary Cellar, a new wine-themed book club section of Brunello Bombshell, with Champagne Widows. Rebecca Rosenberg’s historical fiction novel about the rise of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin is just as frothy and intriguing as a glass of La Grande Dame. I can’t wait to see the movie soon!
Speaking of The Literary Cellar, readers got a second wine and book pairing in July per the request of
! Abby Jimenez’s Just For The Summer was the summer romance novel I didn’t know I needed, and it’s such a fun audiobook, too. And I will take any excuse to get some of Ryme Cellars’ excellent Vermentino, especially “Hers”.And while I haven’t been reading this in a cover-to-cover deep dive, Peter Liem’s seminal tome Champagne has been open a lot lately. Gives me an excuse to study and open more Champagne, which I am always down to do.
Somm Selections and Special Menu Items
My favorite bites and sips from the month.
When
took one for the team and reviewed NO HOLDS BARRED, I had to make a Hulk Hogan cocktail (all in the name of research). This is basically a vodka lemonade with a very American garnish (a firecracker popsicle), but hubby has proclaimed this the drink of the summer. Hooray to new traditions?
Italian Homemade Company is a Berkeley classic for a reason. I had a chance to try their cacio e pepe special recently, and it’s unexpectedly creamy - a nice balance to the hefty black pepper spice. Next time, I’m taking it to go and pairing it with this fun California Syrah from Bedrock Wine Co.
The fried calamari and shishito peppers at Beretta on Valencia in SF’s Mission District. Just the right amount of crispy coating some very fresh seafood. Dip into the Calabrese aioli with reckless abandon, and order a glass of Falanghina with it.
Dek Doi Cafe is one of the cutest spaces to cozy up with a coffee and pastry in the East Bay. This Thai iced coffee plus a citrus-infused morning bun? Heaven.
I’m Obsessed
Does this really need an explanation? I just like these things. Also, my birthday is next month. Just saying.
I am pretty loyal to my Moleskine notebooks, but this gorgeous chef notebook from Hedley and Bennett has ended up on my wish list. I love the color Shiso, but the Blueberry and Miso colors are also beautiful.
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