About Me

Instead of boring you with the details of my whole life, I’d rather just give you the parts that are relevant to this blog. When I was fifteen I got my first job working at Bagel and Bagel in Brookside, which is a neighborhood in Kansas City. For those of you who are familiar with Einstein Bros. Bagels, this was in fact the original store that went on to become a national chain. I worked there for a little over a year doing counter service, making cappuccinos, and even doing a bit of prep work in the kitchen.

When I left Bagel and Bagel I took at job at Macaroni Grill, which at the time was still fairly young. I was a busboy and food runner there, and later on I also did some work in the kitchen. I worked at Macaroni Grill until I left to go to college, although throughout college I would work there on and off when I needed money. Then, my final semester in college I became a server.

After graduating from college I took a job working in a Scotch and Cigar bar where I got my first introduction to “finer beverage options.” However, shortly thereafter I left and began waiting tables at Morton’s, one of the country’s highest-end corporate steakhouses. I was not quite 22 at the time. It was at Morton’s that I first began to learn about wine, and despite a long and very winding career path I have always remained interested in wine and have pursued that interest in varying degrees ever since.

That’s not to say that wine has always been my primary interest. I worked at Morton’s for about a year, and since then have been involved in the concert industry, attended graduate school in Europe and received a Master’s degree, worked at as a teacher and tutor, produced radio shows, edited books, been a freelance writer, and worked in the financial services field. Yet I would often drift back towards the food and beverage industry, and wine in particular.

In August 2006 I was approached by the owner of a liquor retailer with an extensive selection of fine wines about running his wine department. I now had a legitimate full-time job in the wine business, and it made me feel as though all the odd and awkward experiences of the past several years were finally serving a purpose. With wine now my primary focus, I felt it was appropriate to begin discussing my opinions and offering people my insights in various areas relating to wine and food.

A great deal of good fortune as well as lots of effort on my part have led to my current situation, but without a doubt the most important factor in getting me to where I am today has been the help and support of countless people I have met over the years. I don’t even know where to start when it comes to thanking them, but as I write this blog I’m sure those people will be mentioned, and hopefully they will be recognized for the contributions they have made.

I don’t pretend to be a great expert who has all the answers, but I am someone who has a lot of experience in these fields. I have seen the food and beverage industry from a variety of perspectives and I think I’m capable of telling people stories that will offer them an opportunity to get the most out of wine, dining out, and other entertainment activities related to wine and cuisine. Please enjoy this blog, and hopefully you’ll be able to enjoy wine more as well.