When most of us hear the word, wino, we immediately have a picture of some old guy with a bottle wrapped in a paper bag, stumbling down the street. Take that vision out of your mind forever and replace it with food, wine and fun found at the Wine Institute of New Orleans.

As soon as you walk into W.I.N.O.,head straight for the counter where the delightful and knowledgeable Charlotte will take all of your money to add credit to a pre-paid slot card. It’s really a magic wand that allows you to float about and sample any wine from all around the world.

Wines can be purchased by the ounce, two ounces or a full glass. You can even purchase the whole bottle to take home or continue enjoying and sipping in their surprisingly cozy atmosphere.

If you are not a full-fledged wino, they offer nibbles, like olives or fruit and cheese plates. However, if you need something a little bit more substantial, have a sandwich or a roasted beet, goat cheese and walnut salad.

W.I.N.O. offers ongoing classes and certifications for serious wine lovers and professionals.

W.I.N.O. is the perfect destination to chill, talk and discover the wonderful world of wine. We guarantee you’ll be like a kid in a candy store.

For all of you foodies out there, this is a must-see film. Julie and Julia is a true story that simultaneously follows the lives of two women, Julia Child played by Meryl Streep and Julie Powell played by Amy Adams. Both women love to cook and both of them want to write about it.

The movie opens up with Julia Child arriving in Paris to live with her husband and Julie Powell moving from a tiny apartment in New York to a small apartment in Queens with her husband. The two women are embracing change and are in search of passion and purpose in their lives.

Julia ends up co-writing the book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a French cookbook written in English. Julie decides to cook every recipe in that book and blog about it, which takes her a whole year to pull off.

Streep’s performance was stellar and she has already won some awards and was nominated for many others for her role. The film is currently out on DVD.

We heard that one of Julia’s favorite things to cook with were eggs. Enjoy this easy recipe we found, but you have to promise to follow the directions to a T. Bon appetite!

Scrambled Eggs for Daphne

This is a perfect breakfast for a lazy Sunday morning. Serve it with toasted baguette, coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice and the New York Times Style Section.

Scrambled Eggs:

3 large fresh organic eggs

3 tbsps sweet butter

2 tbsps half and half

½ tsp kosher salt

2 tbsps pecorino romano, freshly grated

2 small sprigs basil

1. In a small heavy bottom skillet, over medium-low flame, heat 1 ½ tb sweet butter until just golden brown.
2. Crack the eggs directly into the skillet and pour in 1 tsb of half and half and add the ½ tsp kosher salt.
3. As the eggs cook scramble them gently with a fork. After a minute, grate the cheese directly into the skillet.
4. When the eggs are almost done, add the rest of the half and half and butter.
5. Mix everything together gently with the fork. Remove the eggs from the pan piling them in a fluffy pile in the middle of a warm plate. Garnish with very small sprigs of basil.
6. Serve immediately.

Restaurant: Dante’s Kitchen
Grade: A
Cuisine: American
Price Range: $9-$12
Address: 736 Dante St.
Phone: (504) 861-3121
Website: danteskitchen.com

Don’t let the long line formed outside or the fact that you can’t make a reservation keep you from enjoying one of New Orleans’s best kept secrets. The only reason there is a line is because people want to get in before the doors even open.

Dante’s Kitchen, a cozy bohemian mom and pop restaurant, located Uptown, off the beaten path, is a perfect choice for Sunday brunch. The bright colorful walls, original artwork and soulful reggae music playing sets the tone for a delicious dining experience.

A surprise spin is put on the traditional eggs Benedict that are served over a house made buttermilk biscuit drizzled with honey.  Instead of a plain old slice of ham, a pork loin is rubbed with roasted rosemary.  You can also create your own entree with breakfast staples like creamy buttery stone ground grits and apple smoked bacon.  If you want a more healthy selection, get the fruit plate made with plump juicy local seasonal fruit, like strawberries.

The tasty dishes are affordable and range from $9-$12.  At those prices, you can afford to treat yourself often.  The mimosa’s are made per order with fresh squeezed orange juice poured from its fully stocked bar.  The servers are personable thoughtful attentive and naturally friendly.  In fact, Dante’s is so casual and laid-back that they wear their own funky clothes as uniforms.  Outdoor seating is also an option on the flowery umbrella shaded patio.

Getting up on a lazy Sunday morning and standing in line for eggs is well worth it for a lovely brunch at Dante’s.  Its American food with a gourmet New Orleans twist that will meet the three expectations you look for most when eating out, great ambiance, impeccable service and yummy food.

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