Ever wonder what the brightest minds in their field do in their off time? So do we. That inspired us to pick the brains of Michelin-starred chefs to see what they’re munching on at home. Now, we’re asking the top winos in the land what they like to drink away from the workplace.
It’s an irresistible question, sort of like asking which fellow athletes a star pro basketball player appreciates, or what hacks a sleep expert uses to snooze better. These people are at the top of their field for a reason, and we can’t help but want to be flies on their walls. In this case, we want to nose through their fridges, wine cellars, and home bars.
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Coly Den Haan is a sommelier and wine shop owner based in Southern California. Her store, Vinovore, is a bottle shop set along the edge of the Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles. It’s run by women and features women winemakers, along with selections from sake, beer, and cider producers. For Den Haan, when she’s off the clock it’s all about sipping on a classic.
“As much as I love wine and how it’s a major part of my life, at home I tend to go straight for an ice-cold martini,” she says. “My current favorite is two parts Future Gin, one part Dolin extra dry vermouth, a splash of dirty juice with an olive and a twist!”
Filippo Bartolotta is a seasoned wine expert, having logged many years in the circuit. He has served as a tasting judge for Decanter and has been dubbed the “sommelier of the stars,” having worked with Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, and the Obama family in Tuscany. Bartolotta jokes that while not working, he takes a break from booze. “Kidding,” he assures us.
“Usually I open samples that come my way and I enjoy sharing them later with friends and neighbors to hear what they think,” he says. “Occasionally I crack open some old vintages like, tonight, an Amarone 1971 for my best friend’s birthday.”
He’s definitely the kind of somm you hope to live in the neighborhood with, to take part in some of his frequent sampling parties. Bartolotta also appreciates some iconic go-to Italian sippers. “I love a taste of artisan amaro or some serious grappa in winter,” he admits. “A good craft beer to break the routine as well.”
Over in the desert in Arizona, Paola Embry is the wine director at the stunning Wrigley Mansion. The Chilean-born somm has earned quite a following, having created an amazing list at Wrigley along with several other outposts. Her esteemed and varied wines lists have earned her the “Best Award of Excellence” title from Wine Spectator multiple times.
“When I’m off the clock, I love drinking different Crus of Beaujolais from any of the ten Cru Villages,” Embry says. “They tend to go well with the many comfort foods that we eat during the numerous festivities of the holiday months.”
What kind of pairings? Embry is one step ahead of us. “For example, Juliénas pairs perfectly with game meat like lamb, duck, or a wild meat ragù Bolognese with pappardelle pasta—some of the most ideal comfort food, in my opinion,” she says. “I also love a more medium-bodied Chénas.”
Embry also can’t resist a good bottle of bubbles. “I also love to drink growers champagne, which I also like to refer to sometimes as ‘farmer fizz,'” she says. “These are bottles that are produced by very small, often family-owned, Champagne houses, leading to small batches of artisanal and incredibly delicious Champagne.”
She’s especially fond of NV André Couet No.3 Grand Cru Rosé, Bouzy, Champagne made from Pinot Noir. Also, a couple of 100% Chardonnay selections including NV Larmandier-Bernier ‘Latitude’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 1er Cru, Vertus, Champagne as well as NV Robert Moncuit ‘Les Grand Blancs’ Blanc des Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.
NV André Couet No.3 Grand Cru Rosé, Bouzy, Champagne
Take delight in this 100% Pinot Noir flavored with seductive notes of pomegranate, raspberry, wild strawberry, cherry blossoms, fresh red and pink flowers, crushed chalk, and orange zest.
Somm Erin Scala runs the wine program Birdie’s in Virginia. The oyster bar, cafe, and wine hangout touts a list of some 400 bottles. Scala likes a few options away from work, alcoholic and not, many unexpected.
“Parker Girard, our wonderful Bar Manager, introduced us all to Stappi—a red rhubarb bitter soda that is non-alcoholic but similar to Campari in flavor,” Scala says. “It is the perfect drink for when you want something amazing without the alcohol.”
Scala also loves tea. “I go crazy over high-quality Oolong Tea,” she says. “I love trying all the different iterations, and Oolong is one of those elegant, hand-made products that are not difficult to find.” Scala hunts specifically for the loose-leaf kind at nicer tea shops or natural food stores.
What about wine? Well, like a lot of somms, Scala is into Syrah. But she’s also into a lesser-known sparkling. “In Limoux, they’ve been making sparkling wine since 1531,” Scala says. “There are two main kinds, Blanquette and Crémant, and both are usually affordable and delicious. These are typically based on Chenin Blanc or Mauzac, and tend to have a lovely deep flavor that kind of reminds me of pears.”
So if you ever want to drink like the sommeliers do, now you know how.
Director of Nutrition weighs in on Atkins’ latest protein coffee drinks — what to know
Should you combine protein and caffeine?
New protein drinks are always hitting the market -- but what if you could combine protein with iced coffee? Turns out you can, with Atkins's latest protein coffee drinks. Called "Iced Coffee Shakes", the brand offers protein shakes that are made with real coffee. But should you consume coffee that has added protein to it? Are there benefits to combining your caffeine intake with your protein intake?
To get the scoop, we interview Dr. Jonathan Clinthorne, PhD – Director of Nutrition & Education at Simply Good. Simply Good is the parent brand for Atkins's low-carb products. Simply Good is focused on empowering and educating its customers on how to eat right and snack smarter by offering low-sugar, health-conscious products that make life easy.
Here's what he had to say when asked to provide more information about Atkins's new iced protein coffees.
What do people need to know about consuming protein coffee?
Starbucks to launch a “Wicked” drink collaboration
Grab a coffee on the way to the theater
Starting October 22nd, coffee and non-coffee drinkers have something new to look forward to on their Starbucks run. A circulating press release on social media has excited fans about Starbucks' new "Wicked' collaboration in preparation for the movie's release on November 22nd (with a sequel arriving in November 2025). The Starbucks and Universal Pictures collaboration will include two unique drinks inspired by the main characters: Elphaba’s Green Elixir and Glinda’s Pink Potion.
The Elphaba’s Green Elixir showcases Starbucks' classic cold brew, perfect for a refreshing and sweet treat. Paired with peppermint syrup, nondairy matcha cream cold foam, and colorful candy sprinkles, this drink looks like the perfect Halloween drink. For the non-coffee drinkers, Glinda’s Pink Potion is the second drink option, which will feature a mango dragonfruit refresher base, hand-shaken with coconut milk, ice, a scoop of real dragonfruit, non-dairy strawberry cold foam, and colorful candy sprinkles. Although Glind's Pink Potion does not contain coffee, the drink will still be made with green coffee bean extract for a boost of caffeine without a traditional coffee flavor.
What is black eye coffee? What to know about this simple, yet strong drink
It's even stronger than red eye coffee
If you like your coffee as strong as strong gets, you'll want to pay attention to an important menu item seen at coffee shops: the black eye coffee. The black eye coffee is even stronger than its cousin, the red eye coffee -- offering a solid choice when you need the strongest coffee on the menu. Whether you've had a late night or simply love the strong taste of espresso, you can't go wrong with the black eye coffee. This coffee is about as strong as it gets! Here's what you need to know about the black eye coffee before this simple yet strong drink.
What is black eye coffee?
A black eye coffee is made with only two simple ingredients: freshly brewed regular coffee and shots of espresso. Different than a red eye coffee which consists of one cup of coffee and one shot of espresso, the black eye coffee contains two shots of espresso mixed into a cup of coffee. To make this strong coffee/espresso drink, you simply pour two shots of espresso into a cup of coffee. This drink usually comes as a hot drink, however, it can be ordered over ice, if preferred.
Caffeine content
A typical cup of coffee is about 80 mg, on average (although it varies depending on brewing and the size of the cup). Plus, one shot of espresso is generally around 64 mg of caffeine. It only takes some simple math for you to realize this means the black eye coffee packs in a sizable amount of caffeine for just one coffee beverage. There's a wide variation of caffeine content that could be found in the black eye, so we recommend checking with a coffee shop before you order. After all, you don't want to end up consuming too much caffeine only to find yourself crashing at the 3 p.m. afternoon slump.