What could be more delightful than sparkling wine, charcuterie, sunshine, and a fabulous vineyard view?
Wine
My appreciation for good wine goes back a long way, but it really took off after 2008, when I moved to the Midwest. Around the same time, I started reviewing restaurants for a Chicago website, which sparked a desire to understand wine, and the art of pairing it with food, much more deeply.
So I began studying with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, the WSET, whose program runs across four levels, from the Level 1 basics of types and tasting up to the Level 4 Diploma, an extensive study of the global wine industry for people pursuing wine professionally.
I took my studies through the American Wine School in Chicago and earned the Level 4 Diploma. That’s the serious part.
The fun part is what I do with it now. I host Solo Sips with Tommy Hensel, my YouTube channel about wine wisdom without the snobbery. Whether you’re swirling your first glass or sharpening your palate, it’s approachable, a little playful, and free of jargon and gatekeeping. Just honest sips, curious questions, and weekly Tipsy Tidbits on tasting, pairings, and wine travel. The whole idea is to take you from clueless to connoisseur, one glass at a time.
Food
When I moved to the Midwest in 2008, I fell for Chicago’s food scene and started exploring restaurants across the city and the suburbs, usually dining alone. I even reviewed restaurants for a local guide for a while. Dining solo isn’t a consolation prize for me, it’s the point: time, attention, and a good meal entirely on my own terms.
That same spirit runs through solo travel, which I love for the same reasons. I share the meals and the wandering on Instagram, where I post about the joys, and the occasional challenge, of doing it solo. To be honest, it’s almost entirely joys.