Perfect Price

People have been tightening their purse strings in the past year. So indulgences such as a night on the town often come down to one big item on the menu, price.

At least week's third annual Pebble Beach Food and Wine event sponsored by American Express Publishing, I talked with Dana Cowin, the Editor-in-Chief of Food and Wine Magazine. Cowin says over the past year people focused on price and in the process discovered they could get great food and great wine for a lot less money. Cowin says the recession appears to finally be lifting but to get patrons to pay more now, chefs and winemakers need to get creative.

"The food and the wine needs a story attached to it. And the more that a winemaker or a chef or an artisan can tell a story with their food the more successful they will be."

And for everyone enjoying the fine delicacies at a fraction of the cost Cowin says now it the perfect time to indulge, especially in wine. To find out why click on the video link. You'll be surprised how the recession that's hit winemakers might be a blessing for your palate.