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Grab the Good Life with Rocco DiSpirito

October 18, 2005 - WOR 10/18/05

WOR 10/18/05

***IMPORTANT***
Rocco's Cookware has RETURNED to QVC! Please go to:

ROCCO'S KITCHEN

Grab The Good Life everyone! We have a show chock full of madness for you this fine Tuesday! First we have Samuel Adams Founder and Brewer Jim Koch on the show!

WOR News director Joe Bartlett is in the house trying the new beer!

Let's welcome Jim Koch to the show!
Rocco: Here he is, Jim Koch! How are ya Jim?
Jim Koch: Great Rocco thanks for finally having me in person!
Rocco: So here you are with babes, beer, hopes and good food!
Jim: Forget the milk I bring the beer!
Rocco: So Jim you're dressed in a blue suit white shirt-this is from your confirmation right?
Jim: Of course - haaaa Rocco
Rocco: So what did you eat for breakfast?
Jim: When I came into NY I had a nice bagel and locks and now I'm having beer for lucnh!
Rocco: That's a 40 ounce!
Jim: Nah it's a classical 24 ounce, we have drinkers who actual drink it outside the bag!
Rocco: So let's talk about the new Imperial Brew!
Jim: Ok this is a truly extraordinary beer - this was an experiment to use a reckless amount of hops in a beer. The Utopias we brought last time is different than this. This has the most hops per barrel, 12 pounds a berrel of hops verse 2 ounces per barrel which is normal for a beer!
Rocco: So this hits you right in the face right?
Jim: Yes and this demonstrates what hops tastes like. They are flowers that come from the oldest crop growing area in the world which is north of Munich called Bravaria. There are 5 species and they can only be grown in 5 acres. They are like a spice that can be used more and not get overpowering.
Rocco: Ok so Joe Bartlett is here to try the beer!
Joe Bartlett: This is a real thrill cause I am transitioning from the Summer Ale to the Oktoberfest to now trying this and this is a thrill for me!
Jim: Oh great thanks Joe. We love beer here!
Rocco: So Joe what are your impressions on beer and Sam Adams?
Joe Bartlett: I love beer and I am a beer conossiuer and I love Sam Adams so I feel regal having the Imperial Beer!
Rocco: What makes you a conossieur?
Joe: I have had a lot of beer and I tell you this - in the summer time up at cape cod only sumemr ale, and now oktoberfest, but Sam Adams beer you savor and enjoy.
Jim: Well the reason you savor is a suspension of proteins and sugar. The complex straches and sugars give it a mouth feel, a very good texture. Proteins and complex sugars cause all this. After the body of the beer you get sweetness of the malt, spicy feel of the hops and the bitter end of the hops signature.
Rocco: So youre getting the whole package, the hops being the ambience and spirit.
Joe Bartlett: This is romantic!
Jim: The hops are flowers and I give them to my wife for Valentines day!
Rocco: The hops are like truffles right?
Jim: Yes in a way - they are 50 cents to 5 dollars a pound, the most expensive thing in a beer.
Rocco: So you have two beers for us to try: Beer A and B. One golden and light, amber. And one that is a Cherry Wood dark.
Jim: Yes here they are, trying them out.
Rocco: Ok so what are we tasting?
Jim: It is a lager beer that is lught in front and a very dramatic beer. The second is a very dark nut thick lager, much better!
Rocco: Jim, let's take some calls!
Jim: My pleasure!

Frank in New York: Love the show Rocco! People who used to leave your restaurant used to go to my night club Pangea!
Rocco: I remember that!
Frank: Is a salad and pasta have the same carbs in calories?
Rocco: They are the same amount of calories but different types of carbs.
Frank: Are they the same carbs?
Rocco: They are considered good carbs, leafy greens and cucumbers are considered good carbs.

Robert in Long Island: Rocco it's great to hear your voice and we have to hang soon!
Rocco: This is my best friend Robert when I was young!
Robert: Hey you and know so much beer right?
Rocco: Yeah Ma Robert and I know more about beer than you did know while we were growing up!
Momma: Rocco!
Robert: We are in trouble!
Rocco: lata Robert!

Dave in New Jersey: I went to Camaje and experienced Dining in the Dark and it was an absolutely great experience! It was so great and at one point I started eating with my hands. There was music and was true to something that everyone has to experience. I thought it would bother me, but you get used to it quickly!
Rocco: Did you experience that sensation that your other senses were heightened?
Dave: I noticed the sound and that the restaurant was loud but the texture of the food was so intensified and smell also, the wine was great!

Layla in New Jersey: Do you make a cider Jim?
Jim: Yes we make a Hard Cider called Hardcore and it is great!
Rocco: Let me give you a good recipe for Apple Cider or Apple wine. 4 quartss of apples, 2 lemons, some cloves, gallon of boiling water, some ginger and sugar to taste. Crush the apples and pour over the boiling water. Cover it with a cheese cloth and leave it a couple of weeks. Then, strain it, add cloves ginger and half a pound of sugar to each pint that comes out. Then add the lemons, stir the sugar in and let it dissolve. You will see some impurities come to the surface and you will need to skim those off. The age it 6 months and enjoy!

Joe in New Jersey: I never had Sam Adams before this summer and then you had them on the show, I tried the Summer Ale and it was amazing. I drink it all the time!
Jim: Thank you so much! You are our kind of drinker.
Joe: I will never drink Bud again!
Jim: Well Budweiser is a good grade of rice.
JoeBartlett: And a good grade of MSG!
Rocco: Yeah that's about it!

Mary in New Jersey: Grab The Good Life my brother! You and Momma and all these recipes, it's so much fun to listen!
Rocco: Thank you so much!
Mary: I am a veteran of the Navy, 60 years and me and my om used to drink beers when I was younger. Nickel beers, do you remember those!
Rocco: No, I'm too young for that! Do you drink beer every Sunday?
Mary: No, I have red wine that's why I have lived so long darling, I am out of the service 60 years.
Momma: I like a spoon of cognac in the morning!
Mary: Aww, I love ya Momma!

Let's do the Food Fight!

Theresa In New Jersey: OK, it is three ingredients and done. I roast a head of garlic in the oven, take sun dried tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, put it in a food proccessor and it is done.

Melissa in New Jersey: I have a curry dip. This is great with marinaded garlic broccoli. Cup of mayo, sour cream, table spoon of curry powder and ketchup. Mix it all togbether and it is really great.

Rocco: And the winner is.....Theresa in New Jersey who gets to cook with me live Friday and wins tickets to Martha Stewart.

That's all for today, grab the good life and see ya manana!