"A man dies too young if he leaves any wine in his cellar"

"Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost; united and well matched they are body and soul, living partners."

André Simon, a name that enthusiasms the love of wine and food alone, and needless to say one to take great notice of. He was "the charismatic leader of the English wine trade for almost all of the first half of the 20th century, and the grand old man of literate connoisseurship for a further 20 years."

He believed "a man dies too young if he leaves any wine left in his cellar" and left a bottle of Chateau Latour 1945 to be enjoyed on what would have been his 100th birthday in 1977, to his friends. He passed away in 1970 with two bottles of claret left in his personal cellar


"Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized."

"There's a battle between what the cook thinks is high art and what the customer just wants to eat."

"You know, when you get your first asparagus, or your first acorn squash, or your first really good tomato of the season, those are the moments that define the cook's year. I get more excited by that than anything else. "

“I travel around and instead of my showing someone how to cook, I walk in with a completely hands-off approach, and they show me their dishes.”

Mario Batali, his bright orange crocs stand out from out far and you cannot miss him on the streets of New York. A great chef and a man with great words of gastronomy and life. Thinking about food and the Thanksgiving holiday ahead, I felt it only appropriate to hear a few words from Chef Batali. For to experience and ability to continue to learn the riches of our wonderful food and growth is something I am very grateful for- what an amazing opportunity cherished each day.

"As they say in Italy, Italians were eating with a knife and fork when the French were still eating each other. The Medici family had to bring their Tuscan cooks up there so they could make something edible. "

“The objective... is to achieve a comfort level between the cook/artist/performer and the customer/viewer/diner. And if we can achieve that, and the customers are happy and the cooks are happy, then we have a great experience.”

“There are all kinds of myths going on in the Italian culture, and the way they celebrate is through their food. It's the tradition of the table where the Italians celebrate most of their triumphs and successes.”


“Once you become an elaborate and well-developed culture, anything from Rome or the Etruscans, for that matter, the food starts to become a representation of what the culture is. When the food can transcend being just fuel, that's when you start to see these different permutations.”

"To eat the boiled head of a pig sliced like salami is very strange. It may seem cutting edge, but it's actually a lot older than any of the other traditional salami. "

"We would load up the yellow Cutlass Supreme station wagon and pick blackberries during blackberry season or spring onions during spring onion season. For us, food was part of the fabric of our day. "

“The pink sheep of the family”

“If you ask any lady they want to be taller, they want to be slimmer, you know, and they want a waist. I'm not here to make people look like a sack of potatoes.”

With his newly announced participation in the International line at Target, I cannot help but also indulge in some words from the man as well- Alexander McQueen. His designs are fantastic and heavenly- simply gorgeous and I am quite anxious so see what he is creating next.


“I kind of like it the way it is right now, ... I believe in that one-on-one sell. I don't really believe in flooding the market with loads of goods that don't mean much, and (you) lose your identity.”

"The discovery of a new dish confers more happiness on humanity, than the discovery of a new star."

"The destiny of nations depends on the manner in which they are fed."

Some more luxurious quotes from Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.

"Those persons who suffer from indigestion, or who become drunk, are utterly ignorant of the true principles of eating and drinking."

"To say that we should not change our drinks is a heresy; the tongue becomes saturated, and after the third glass yields but an obtuse sensation."

"Gourmandise is an act of our judgment, in obedience to which, we grant a preference to things which are agreeable, over those which nave not that quality."

"The centuries last passed have also given the taste important extension; the discovery of sugar, and its different preparations, of alcoholic liquors, of wine, ices, vanilla, tea and coffee, have given us flavors hitherto unknown. "

"The number of flavors is infinite, for every soluble body has a peculiar flavor, like none other. "

"When I need a word and do not find it in French, I select it from other tongues, and the reader has either to understand or translate me. Such is my fate. "

“A woman's perfume tells more about her than her handwriting.”

“It is unforgiveable to do what one doesn’t love especially if one succeeds.”

Christian Dior, a designer I greatly admire and hold much respect to. With his designs he says more than necessary and with great appreciation. When words of fashion and genius are spoken, be certain Christian Dior's name will be mentioned time and time again.

“Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty that is attractive without zest.”

“Women will be good for you and bring about your success,”

“My dream is to save women from nature”

“I think that we have to be aware that people are allowed to make mistakes in their life,”

“Women are most fascinating between the ages of 35 and 40 after they have won a few races and know how to pace themselves. Since few women ever pass 40, maximum fascination can continue indefinitely.”

"Fashion is very important. It is life-enhancing and, like everything that gives pleasure, it is worth doing well. "

"I am attracted to people who make this effort in knowing what suits them - they are individual and stylish. "

Some words from designer Vivienne Westwood to reflect upon and get the thinking active.

"Feminists wish women to seem like men. They're not men. "

"I think feminists are unaware of the tremendous extent of the role of women in history. "

"I think it's important to vote."

"I think dress, hairstyle and make-up are the crucial factors in projecting an attractive persona and give one the chance to enhance one's best physical features. "




"I was still interested in the youth rebellion but never-the-less I stopped being a victim. Stopped trying to attack the establishment realizing that it takes too much of your energy. "

"I'm a very restless person. I'm always doing something. The creative process never stops. "

"I wanted this, I wanted to do this, but my work is me, and it has to be right. "

"If you want to establish an international presence you can't do so from New York. You need the consecration of Paris. "

Oscar De La Renta creates beautiful and classic designs that amaze and inspire all. Originally from the Dominican Republic, he moved to Spain at age 18 and soon after acquired an apprenticeship with Spain's most renowned couturier, Cristóbal Balenciaga (another fashion name icon of admiration). Oscar De La Renta's name alone speaks of style and class; I leave you here with some of his words.

"Gardening is how I relax. It's another form of creating and playing with colors. "

"Now is the most exciting time in fashion. Women are controlling their destiny now, the consumer is more knowledgeable, and I have to be better every single day. "

"We're dealing with sophisticated customers. What's most important to these women is individuality. I have to create things she'll want to wear, no matter who she is. "




"I like light, color, luminosity. I like things full of color and vibrant. "

"Dressing up. People just don't do it anymore. We have to change that."

"I'm an accomplice to helping women get what they want. "

John Galliano, a designer of great beauty, unique decadent style, and some delightful words as well. He is quite the character himself- transfered into his designs, that you can see in his creations and hear in his words. Someone who stands out with such bold statements as him is worth recognizing if not for curiosity alone.

I think his designs are not only gorgeous but incredibly inspiring. I admire his talents and boldness. Also, you can tell he is having fun which makes it even more inspirational. There is something to be learned here.


"Women are women, and hurray for that."

"My dresses are very reasonably priced, for dresses that are cut on the body. "

"Yeah, that's what I'm working for. The couture house of the future. "

"But I'm going to be a real good boy and take it day by day and try to concentrate on what's most important to me, and that's offering women a service. "

“Personality begins where comparison ends.”

"But if I have a lot of imagination, I could tell myself whatever I wanted, you know. I handle myself quite well. I'm kind of fascist with myself, you know. There's no discussion. There is an order. You follow it. "

I always find it interesting to hear what a designer has to say in words since they say so much in their designs. Karl Lagerfeld is no exception; and I will leave you here with some words from the man himself.


"I like today and perhaps a little future still, but the past is really something I'm not interested in. So, as far as I'm concerned, I like only the past of things and people I don't know. When I know, I don't care because I knew how it was. "

"I wanted to become a cartoon artist, a portrait artist, and an illustrator. This was my first idea."

"I'm not a marketing person. I don't ask myself questions. I go by instinct. "

"No, I'm not a French designer either. I'm from nowhere. I'm a European, old European is all I am. "

"Yes, and I can sit down on a white piece of paper and work because I don't believe too much into inspiration, only I'm waiting for inspiration, work and then inspiration may come. It's a little too easy to say that. "

"This is what I think is modern. It's like wearing a couture jacket with a pair of jeans."

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same. "

A man who has made an incredible impact in my life and continues to do so through his remembered acts and words is our fortieth President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. What an incredible man; his words continue to inspire me no matter how often I see them.

"Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States."

"Facts are stubborn things. "

"Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged."

"Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them. "

"Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves."

"Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives. "

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."

"How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin."

"Man is not free unless government is limited."

"Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music."

"Well done is better than well said."

More great words from Benjamin Franklin.

"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."

"Content makes poor men rich; discontentment makes rich men poor."

"Drive thy business or it will drive thee."

"Energy and persistence conquer all things."

"Genius without education is like silver in the mine."