Subscribers to "The Public Palate" will recall Recollection #1 where Lou told us about (what many would later remember) as his early influence on the acting style of classmate James Gandolofini.
Girolamo "Jimmy" Palermo (May 16, 1938 – February 6, 2014) was an Italian-born American mobster and longtime underboss of theDe Cavalcante crime family in Elizabeth New Jersey, under the imprisoned boss Giovanni "John the eagle Riggi."
On September 13, 1960, Palermo allegedly murdered Alphonso "Zeeny" Colicchio. Colicchio was the owner of a bar and grill in Elizabeth, New Jersey who had been disrespectful to DeCavalcante boss Nicholas Delmore. On Delmore's orders, Palermo and other DeCavalcante mobsters entered Colicchio's bar and started beating him. When Colicchio resisted, Palermo allegedly shot him to death. Palermo kept the murder quiet for the sake of fellow DeCavalcante mobster Riggi, who was Colicchio's brother-in-law.
It’s time to update Thanksgiving wine traditions and acknowledge what consumers want today. Critics have long said, for example, that Cabernet Sauvignon does not work for Thanksgiving. Despite years of suggesting Pinot Noir or Beaujolais, according to Instacart, Cabernet Sauvignon remains the most popular wine for Thanksgiving. What works is what you enjoy.
Start anew by avoiding buying your wine where you buy dinner. Shop at an independent wine merchant. Someone at Metro Wines has tasted every wine on the shelf or it would not be there. This is not necessarily—in fact, probably is not—the case at Big Box. And we took notes. For the multitude of flavors and palates at Thanksgiving, we want to offer you versatile wines with low tannins. We check our notes. Big Box doesn’t take notes.
The Blackbird Wine Dinner- Tuesday October 28th 6:30pm Fall Harvest 5 Course Pairing Menu
Please join us at The Blackbird on Tuesday, October 28th for our Fall Harvest Dinner!
We will be celebrating the Changing of Seasons with a carefully curated 5 course pairing menu. The pairing menu features creative dishes designed to support local Appalachian farmers and producers by featuring seasonal offerings from the region. We will also have accompanying conversations from several of our local farmers and purveyors including the Mushroom Man, Rama Malinak and Sunburst Trout Farm. Each dish is paired with a wine from family owned, sustainably certified wineries from around the world. Presented in partnership with Metro Wines and Juniper Cooper of Johnson Brothers-Mutual Distributing of North Carolina.
Welcome Pour: Cuvee Francoise Brut Cremant Course 1: Autumn Bisque- paired with Terras Gauda Abadia De San Campio Albarino Course 2: Beet and Pickled Apple Salad, blue cheese, candied pecans and garden herb pistou- paired with Harvey + Harriet Paso Robles White Course 3: Cured trout filet, smoked sweet potato puree, roasted root vegetables and charred leek vinaigrette- paired with The Ned Marlborough Pinot Noir Course 4: Cheshire Pork Chop, roasted carrots, collard style braised greens and mushroom gravy- paired with Vall Llach Embruix Priorat Course 5: Pumpkin Tiramisu- paired with Neyers Vineyards Vista Norte Zinfandel
The Blackbird 5 Course Pairing Menu- $125 per person ( exclusive of tax and gratuity) Seating at 6:30pm, Tuesday, October 28th , 2025 47 Biltmore Avenue Asheville, North Carolina, 28801 828.254.2502
The relationship between wine and health has been a subject of fascination for centuries. From ancient medicinal practices to modern scientific research, the potential health benefits of wine—particularly red wine—continue to capture public interest. Today, as our understanding of nutrition and preventive health evolves, so too does our knowledge about how moderate wine consumption might influence our wellbeing.
While excessive alcohol consumption clearly poses serious health risks, emerging research suggests that moderate wine consumption may offer certain health advantages when incorporated into an overall healthy lifestyle. This blog explores the latest scientific findings on wine's potential health benefits, with a particular focus on its cardiovascular, metabolic, and cognitive effects.
Starting a wine collection is one of the most rewarding journeys a wine enthusiast can undertake. Whether you're looking to invest in bottles that appreciate in value or simply want to have special wines on hand for celebrations, building a thoughtful collection allows you to explore the vast world of wine while creating something uniquely your own.
