| If it's cool weather you'll find a fire burning, |
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| Photo By Ian Gleadle |
I believe food can be an adventure in gastronomic education. As you learn, your taste buds acquire
an new appreciation for culinary delights and you seek other taste adventures. Plus every seven days our taste
buds change, actually all of our cells do...as such each week we can build upon our repetroire of taste.
Our cooking classes are here to teach and stimulate you the student chef. Come and partake in our classes
and fulfill your wish to become a gourmet chef or indulge in your fantasy to learn to make dishes not readily available elsewhere.
Our Chefs will inspire you with their zest for cooking, tasting, testing, mixing and matching
of food and wine.
I believe that food and wine cannot be separated, that one compliments the other
so much that neither is complete alone.
Allow me to take you away from the stress of everyday life, where I will create a relaxing
and fun adventure in the kitchen that will demonstrate traditional and regional French cuisine, basics techniques and style
at it's best!
I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to learn what they want. If none of our classes look
appealing to you, create your own menu! I am here to be of serve you and to make your cooking class experience
one you will not soon forget. My objective is for you to have a fun time in a none threatening, totally
accepting fun environment.
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Our mission is very simple...
To Honor and Elevate the Wines of America
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If you share a love for wine...
In recognition of the quality of Washington State wines and the growing grape industry
in our state a new chapter of the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine will be opening up soon in Seattle.
If you have an interest in being on the ground floor of this Seattle Chapter and indulging in your passion for wine please
contact Nancy Gates Douglas and she will send you a member application. mailto:nancjane@comcast.net
MEMBERSHIP DUES:
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NEW MEMBER APPLICATION FEE
$225.00
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INDIVIDUAL ANNUAL DUES
100.00
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DUAL MEMBERSHIP ANNUAL DUES
150.00
- KOV differs from all other wine and food societies, as the members give to wine as well as receive. Wine brotherhoods
were formed not only for the personal enjoyment of members, but to return something to the vines and wines, in such ways as:
- To promote education, financially supporting enology and viticulture programs at universities and other learning centers.
- To support responsible grape growers and winemakers in improving their products, especially in the local area.
- To study medical effects of wine and promote wine as a healthful product of the grape.
- To protect wine from outside attack, such as misguided legal control, and unscrupulous competition.
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To teach knowledge of wine, with respect for all honest wine, while resisting snobbism and fads.
Challenges, similar to the above, are the foundation of wine brotherhoods. The brotherhoods were first
organized in Europe by vintners to promote their product. Enologists and viticulturists were, and remain irreplaceable
for a strong brotherhood. Gradually, non-professional wine advocates joined, and the brotherhoods grew. These
wine lovers make up the majority of members in American brotherhoods today.
Rights and Benefits of Membership
Knights shall, at the time of their elevation, receive a royal induction ceremony reception
and be offically enthroned in "Wine Knighthood." The official emblem of the Order will be solemnly presented.
They shall also receive the justly honored diploma of the Order attesting to their knowledge of an interest in wines and their
membership in the Order. They may nominate persons for membership; display the emblem and diploma of the Order.
Knights may purchase from the Order such items of interest bearing the emblem for the Order as maybe authorized by the Grand
Council.
Who is eligible to join the order
Both men and women (woman are called Gentle Lady of the Order) are eligible to become Knights of the
Order. To be accepted as a Knight, a candidate must be nominated by a Knight in good standing; have an interest in and
apreciation of the vines and wines; be selected for elevation to Knighthood by the Grand Council of the Order. Knighthood
is reserved to persons of distinction who know wine, appreciate it and pledge to serve it's cause well.
Nomination for membership must be accompanied by an application for membership and a check or money order payble
to the Knights of the Vine which will be refunded in full if the nominee is not accepted or withdraws his application.
Orginally...the rights to start an American Wine Brotherhood was given to my father Norman Gates
back in 1964...from The Universal Order of the Knights of the Vine from the town of Montpellier in southern France.
After Norman returned to America he established his first chapter in 1971.
The Universal Order of the Knights of the Vine traces it's existence to the ancient days in France when knighthood
flourished, rules of honor prevailed, and chivalry was the order of the day.
Until the 13th Century, poisoning was almost an occupational hazard of royalty and their guests. At this time,
the first wine knighthoods were established by royal decree. These were known as the "Conseil des Echansons,"
a council of Master Cup-Bearers. These first wine knights grew the vines, made the wines, and tasted the wines, guaranteeing
their purity for royality. Thus the wines they served became know as noble wines. Out of this beginning
evolved the etiquette of the table, the marriage of wine with food, and, even to this day, the tasting of wine at the table
before serving guests.
Wine knighthood ended in France with the French Revolution. The effect of this disaster was as severe as that felt
in American vineyards during Prohibition. By 1855 France realized the need for good and great wines and began the process
of classification of growths, and re-established the nobility of vine stocks. Through the years that followed, different
regulations were passed, including the "appellation controllee," which, in effect, meant a warranty of quality to aid wine
lovers. At the turn of the century, different wine regions were seeking ways to make their products better known and
better appreciated. On the first of July, 1901, France passed a decree that regulates associations of this type.
This regulation gave the right to seek, study and develop all appropriate means of promotion and publicity in order to focus
the attention of the consumer on wine.
Wine knighthood was once again established in France. One of the first orders established was the "Order Universel
des Chevaliers du Cep" --- The Universal Order of the Knights of the Vine. While other such organizations acknowledge
only the wines of their regions, the "Chevaliers du Cep" recognized from their beginning, the good wines of the world, and
became justly known as the true Universal Order of Wine Knights.
In 1964, Norman E. Gates was declared the Grand Commander for America, and he was given the responsibility and the rights
to the Order for North, Central and South America. In February 1965 in Paris, he was appointed a member of the
Committee to form the International Federation of Wine Brotherhoods of the World, "Federation Internationale des Confreries
Bachiques". This Federation today encompasses 38 brotherhoods from France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland and includes
the Knights of the Vine. In 1965 he was selected and served as a member of the jury of the wines of Beaujolais at Macon,
lower Burgundy. In 1966, two months before returning to California he was awarded the diploma of the "Cep d'Or" and
became the First Master in the United Sates of the famous Council of Cupbearers of France, thus he entered the intersanctum
of the most exclusive wine brotherhood of France. In June 1973 in Paris, he was presented his second "Cep d'Or" as he
was appointed Provost General for the United States of the Council of Cupbearers of France.
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| Nancy Gates-Douglas; Proprietress |
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Our History;
Even though we may be fairly new to the cooking school business, our Master Chefs
have years of experience from starting the 1st. training course for the cooking staff of the Sheraton Hotel Chain, cooking
with the late Julia Child, providing gourmet meals for the wine elite of the world, to even cooking meals for US Vice
Presidents and Presidents.
I have been around gourmet cooking all my life being raised in France and Morocco. My mother's
side of the family comes from Alsace, I was raised in Loire Valley and also in French North Africa, Morocco. The women
in my family are known for being excellent cooks. I truly believe that cooking is an art, part preparation and part
presentation, both equally important. It's much easier to cook if you have seen the dish prepared in front
of you, same for the serving presentation. I hope you will enjoy these classes as much as I enjoy picking
and choosing the recipes to share with you.
| Norman E. Gates looking over a vineyard in France |
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| Food and Wine cannot be separated! |
My Father, Norman E. Gates was respected world wide for his work in the wine industry. He is an internationally
known wine expert, wine consultant, author and wine columnist. For forty years, he worked with men and women of wine
around the globe. He was known as a valued colleague to many of the world's best-known wine makers, merchants, journalists
and aficionados. He was always curious about wine and wanted to share his knowledge. I often sought his advice.
He looked at wine as the platform that nurtures the qualities of friendship and recognizes a dedication to life's values through
the enjoyment of fine wine for the ultimate dining experience.
From his own private selection he has recommended for me these hand crafted wines with exceptional fruit
flavors from a small California boutique winery, where the price is right. He considers River Grove one of the
best of the best-- which California has to offer.
Disclaimer: Nancy does not sell wine through her association or affiliation
with a winery.
We are actually closer to Redmond then Woodinville, but our postal address is Woodinville, you figure?
Directions from Seattle:
Take Hwy. 520 to the end.
Stay on the continuation that becomes Avondale Road. Go to the end.
Avondale hits a T in the road, that road is called the Woodinville/Duval Road, make a right hand turn. There's a signal
light and a small mall in front of you. Continue till you get to the 2nd. signal light which is 212th., here turn right.
Go to the next intersection and turn left, you will then be on 165, go straight. In front of you the road will curve
to the right, once it has curved it will then be 216Ave. N.E.. You are then very close! Look on the left
for a long gravel drive way, with a street sign that reads "REMY WAY", there is also a green mailbox with the number 16400
on it. The property has a bright green metal roof that you can't miss. On each side of the long gravel drive way
are lavender plants and solar lights. Drive around to the front!
Visit our guesthouse website....
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