Food & Drink Writing

Morgan Calcote weekly wine goes great with ‘heat and humidity’

“A bottle starts a conversation,” says Morgan Calcote, general manager and beverage director of FIG Restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina. She says what first drew her to wine—and what keeps her in the industry—is “how it connects you to other ...
view the article

Which food subscription box should you try?

If you’ve been reading Grok Nation for the past few months, you’ve probably seen my biweekly We Tried It reviews of meal delivery services. When I started this recurring feature, I didn’t realize just how many boxes are on the ...
view the article

WineGame’s Sarah Munson says the new app allows for wine exploration

“Don’t overthink it.” That’s WineGame Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Munson’s no. 1 piece of advice about drinking wine. And it’s solid advice. Too often people feel overwhelmed when making selections at wine stores or when browsing a restaurant’s wine list. ...
view the article

11 recipes for rum cocktails crafted by mixologists around the U.S.

You may associate “rum” with beach drinks and college kids—and while that might be true, rum is much more than that. It’s actually an excellent spirit for making cocktails at high-end bars or at home. The truth is, if you’ve ...
view the article

Charles Krug winemaker Stacy Clark highlights a ‘lovely’ summer wine

It might not have been his intention, but Stacy Clark’s high school biology teacher prepared her for a life in the wine industry. The winemaker for Charles Krug first dipped her toe in that world when Mr. Holm took his ...
view the article

Marley Spoon delivers Martha Stewart-approved dishes that anyone could make

If you’ve ever dreamt of cooking like Martha Stewart, well, Marley Spoon is the food box service for you. The service is similar to those we’ve tried at Grok Nation in the past, with one catch: the recipes get the ...
view the article

Wine Access VP Vanessa Conlin on a ‘new generation’ Napa wine

Like many young people, Vanessa Conlin was led to New York to pursue a passion. She was on a “hard-core path to be a classical musician,” so she went to the Manhattan School of Music. But once she was in ...
view the article

Try this rose-gold rosé that’s like summer in a bottle

Karen Van Guilder Little is first and foremost a learner. She’s always had a passion for knowledge and taking classes “of any sort.” After earning her bachelor’s in Clarinet Performance and a master’s degree in Musicology, she moved to NYC ...
view the article

Sun Basket meals offer a healthy alternative in the food delivery market

One of the perks of trying so many different meal kits is getting to taste a variety of dishes. Sun Basket advertises itself as a “healthy” delivery service option. It offers an abundance of dietary options, such as gluten-free, vegan ...
view the article

Kosher winemaker Alicia Wilbur created a ‘gorgeous’ wine in a ‘happy accident’

Winemaker Alicia Wilbur grew up around wine. Her family drank it at dinners and during the holidays—but it was the “boxed refrigerated variety or the syrupy sweet Kosher variety.” It wasn’t until she started bartending at upscale restaurants in her ...
view the article