|
Join The WineKnitter in exploring the world of Wine, Spirits, Food, Travel and much more! |
|
With summer in full swing, outdoor activities abound, including trips to the beach, picnics, backyard barbecues, pool parties, and lazy days swinging in hammocks.  Photo credit: Lionel Gustave And if you’re like me, packing a picnic basket or entertaining by the pool should be simple and scaled down from the food to the beverages! After all, it’s summer and the “living should be easy!” And what better way to serve or transport wine and spirits than in RTD (ready-to-drink) single-serve cans! Global sales for RTD canned wines and spirits are rising, and sales are projected to expand in the coming years. Many wine and spirits producers are jumping on the bandwagon to sell their version of RTD beverages. Over the past several years I have tasted and reviewed premium RTD wines and cocktails that are pretty impressive. You can read my past articles and reviews by clicking “canned wines” or “canned cocktails” in the Categories section. Recently I had the pleasure of sampling a variety pack of Two Chicks RTD sparkling vodka cocktails, and they are worthy of a shout-out!  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Two Chicks is a women-owned and operated company. Meghan Hanna, co-founder, and Chief Inspiration Chick, came up with the concept in 2015 and joined forces in 2018 with Linda Cash, co-founder and Chief Executive Chick. In less than one year after they met, Two Chicks RTD cocktails in a can hit the market in the summer of 2019. Together they have become one of the top- selling RTD brands in the U.S. and the only female-owned company in the premium ($12 and up) RTD category.  Meghan Hanna & Linda Cash Photo courtesy of Two-Chicks. In addition to vodka, they offer gin, tequila, and whiskey cocktails. The packaging is festive and whimsical, with eye-catching designs that demand a closer look. Each 12-ounce can appears to be a logo of botanical-filled hearts. However, looking more closely, will disclose a creative take on the number “2.” Linda Cash said, “You have to catch people’s eye. They may initially buy it for the attractive packaging, but then they buy it again because it tastes great.” All Two Chick cocktails are sparkling with carbonation derived from adding CO2, rather than using seltzer or soda, so as not to dilute flavors. Only premium spirits are blended with all-natural fruits and botanicals for each cocktail. The cocktails are canned immediately after they are mixed to retain that “just-made” taste and freshness. Each 12-ounce cocktail is 5% ABV, 140 to 180 calories, and gluten-free and vegan-friendly! Only cans with BPA-free lining are used to avoid any metallic taste. (Two servings per can.) Two Chicks Vodka Variety 8-Pack SRP $25 This variety pack contains two of each of the following sparkling cocktails:  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Sparkling Lemon Strawberry Kiss is made with vodka, natural strawberry, lemon, and basil. Sparkling Melon Drop is made with vodka, natural honeydew, and lime. Sparkling Vodka Fizz is made with vodka and flavored with natural essence of pear and elderflower. Sparkling Watermelon Breeze is made with vodka, natural watermelon, and lime flavors. All of the above cocktails offer a unique and refreshing taste experience. They are juicy and balanced perfectly, with the right amount of vodka, fruit, and botanicals. They are also easy to drink and low in alcohol, which is a bonus. These grab-and-go RTD cocktails are perfect for any occasion and great to sip all year round. Or, grab and stay! I think a cocktail and hammock make for a perfect afternoon? How about you?  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com Now and then, I receive vodka samples to taste and possibly review. And as you all might know by now, I love vodka! However, this particular vodka caught my attention, not for its flavor but for its concept.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss In today’s world, many people are becoming more conscious about their alcohol consumption and waistline. We still want to “Vive la Vida,” but in a healthier manner. Bellion Vodka was founded in 2012 by Harsha Chigurpati and is located in California. After graduating college, Harsha worked for his family’s pharmaceutical company, focusing his research on reducing negative attributes in everyday consumption of food, alcohol, and drugs without removing any of the desired effects.  Harsha Chigurpati Courtesy of Bellion Vodka After many years of research, Harsha developed NTX, a proprietary blend of FDA-approved ingredients: licorice root extract, mannitol (manna sugar), and potassium sorbate (white salt), which is in Bellion Vodka.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss While we don’t know the amount of each ingredient in the vodka, we do know that it is six times distilled and 80 proof with 40% alcohol. Bellion advertises it as a “must-have functional spirit.” So, is this vodka a safer and healthier alternative to other vodkas on the market? I’m not convinced. Drinking in moderation seems to be the best path to take. My argument is if one consumes several glasses of Bellion, believing they are eliminating negative health attributes as opposed to drinking one glass of another vodka brand, what has the consumer achieved?
Regarding its taste, Bellion vodka is quite sweet, with licorice dominating the palate. However, the vodka is smooth and could make an interesting addition to a cocktail as long as you don't mind the added sweetness that the vodka contributes. The bottle is striking and an attention-getter, but the vodka is too sweet for this reviewer. SRP: $39.99 Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com It seems that every weather forecast of late is either snow, freezing rain, ice, or frozen tundra temperatures. So one can imagine my delight when I received a one-way ticket to a magical island where the sun always shines, and tropical breezes soothe the soul.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss My virtual airline ticket also included some delightful island cocktails in a can for easy transport to the beach. Biza calls it “a vacation in a can.”  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Biza is a brand developed by a group of friends aimed at catering to the millennial generation. (Those who fall in the range of 23 to 38 in 2019). However, Biza has also captured the attention of those beyond this group. These ready-to-drink vodka-based cocktails in a can are NOT “flavored malt beverages.” Biza cocktails are made with premium vodka produced from winter wheat and corn from southern Idaho. The drinks are naturally sugar and yeast-free. A touch of carbonation is added to give a little oomph to the cocktail. These sparkling cocktails are available in four flavors: Passion Fruit Peach, Coconut Pineapple, Pomegranate Vanilla, and Mango Jalapeño. My vacation package included all except for the Passion Fruit Peach.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Coconut Pineapple As listed on the can, the ingredients are Premium Vodka, Sparkling Water, Natural Flavors & colored with Beta Carotene. Aromas of coconut and pineapple segue onto the palate with the slightest effervescence and minimum sweetness. This is absolutely delicious! Where’s my beach chair? Alcohol: 6% SRP: $12.00/4-pack  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Mango Jalapeño As listed on the can, the ingredients are Premium Vodka, Sparkling Water, Natural Flavors & colored with Beta Carotene. Aromas of mango and other tropical notes tease the nose and set the stage for a surprise explosion of spice in the mouth. Yes, the jalapeño makes its presence known and blends well with the fruit. Minimum sweetness and light effervescence add to this light and refreshing cocktail. Alcohol: 6% SRP: $12.00/4-pack  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Pomegranate Vanilla As listed on the can, the ingredients are Premium Vodka, Sparkling Water, Natural Flavors and colored with Fruit and Vegetable juice. Strawberry and a hint of cherry are present on the nose. Vanilla and pomegranate come through on the palate with a little more sweetness than I prefer in a cocktail. However, it is light and a perfect quaff for the day at the beach. Alcohol: 6% SRP: $12.00/4-pack  Photo credit: Penny Weiss For added entertainment, just scan the QR code on the back of the cans. It will redirect you to the Biza Spotify page for a delightful playlist that will surely have you moving! Relax, sip, listen, and enjoy this virtual vacation!
Until next time, Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com It has been quite a while since I’ve reviewed vodka. There are several well-known distilleries throughout Texas that produce popular brands of vodka such as Tito’s and NUE (click on the menu at right for reviews). Western Son, another Texas-based distillery recently caught my attention and I thought their vodka was worthy of a “shout out”.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Western Son Distillery is located in Pilot Point, Texas, which is about 53 miles north of Dallas. The distillery was created in 2011 by a small group of men who formed the JEM Beverage CO. They decided that they’d had enough of the corporate world and so pursued a dream that was realized with the birth of Western Son Vodka. The distillery is situated in a 30,000 square foot building that was formerly the Russell-Newman Clothing Company and is affectionately referred to by the locals as “The Old Panty Factory.” In addition to Western Son Vodka, JEM also produces Brazos gin, Red River whiskey, South House moonshine and Southern Son vodka. Western Son Vodka is made from 100% Texas and Midwest yellow corn. For those of you who are interested in the distillation process, this is a nicely illustrated diagram, courtesy of Western Son.  The first distillation takes place in a copper pot still and then continues on in a 20 ft. vodka column still for a 10X-distilled vodka.  Photo courtesy of Western Son As always, I sample and enjoy drinking vodka neat and I tend to rank vodka into three groups. One: Only drink this vodka neat. Two: Only drink this vodka in a cocktail. Three: Vodka can be enjoyed neat or in a cocktail. Western Son Original Vodka falls into the third category. It is flavorful enough to stand alone, but I would most likely use it in a cocktail. Its appearance is clear and clean with aromas of sweet corn, pepper and vanilla. The palate offers an earthy quality infused with a sweetness that carries through to the end with a dash of pepper, heat and a mild alcohol burn. 80 proof Alcohol: 40% SRP: $19.99  Photo credit: Penny Weiss In addition to their original vodka, Western Son also makes eight flavored vodkas that I have yet to try. The cucumber vodka sounds quite refreshing and it might be worth exploring!  Photo courtesy of Western Son Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com About six months ago I discovered NUE vodka while browsing in a spirits shop. I was so impressed with this vodka after tasting it, I wrote a story about it. There are not that many types of vodka on the market under $14 that deserve my attention. But when I find them, I like to sing their praises!  Photo credit: Penny Weiss So, I’m back to sing again about NUE flavored vodka that I received as a “thank you” for my first story. But before I begin, here is a repeat performance about the company in case you missed the first one. From my last story about NUE: “Southwest Spirits is a full-service distillery located in Dallas, Texas and it is also the third-largest distillery in Texas. They have an impressive portfolio of over 25 brands that they produce, including their best selling brand and award-winning NUE Vodka. All spirit production is done on-site in their over 103,000 square foot facility that is fully equipped with pot stills and a 14’ column still for producing premium spirits. The distillery also has grain milling capabilities, tank farms and four high-speed bottling lines with multiple filling capabilities. NUE Vodka is crafted in small batches to control and ensure the highest quality that ultimately provides clean, smooth vodka. Ingredients are locally sourced high-quality corn and water that has gone through a process of Reverse Osmosis, which extracts mineral content and any impurities in the water. The vodka is 6x distilled through an advanced column process that also removes natural impurities.” As you might know by now, I’m a “purist” when it comes to drinking vodka. I tend to like it cold, neat and unflavored. However, I was pleasantly surprised by NUE Grapefruit and Peach vodka. They weren’t cloyingly sweet or medicinal as some flavored vodkas tend to be. Also, both vodkas are naturally flavored.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss NUE Grapefruit Vodka The color is clear with a fresh and pleasing aroma of freshly squeezed grapefruits. Ruby red grapefruit comes to mind when tasting this vodka. A gentle drop or two of grapefruit flavor allows for a touch of vanilla and citrus zest to come through on the finish with a dash of heat. This is a refreshing vodka that drinks well neat. Alcohol: 35%, 70 proof. SRP: $11.99  Photo credit: Penny Weiss NUE Peach Vodka The color is clear and clean with floral and stone fruit aromas. I found this to be a touch sweet, but it has nice flavors of fresh peach and hints of vanilla. It is smooth with much less heat on the finish than NUE’s other vodkas. Although I would not drink this one neat, it would make a fabulous ingredient in a cocktail. Alcohol: 35%, 70 proof SRP: $11.99  Photo credit: Penny Weiss The value to price ratio of NUE vodka is certainly going to give many imported vodkas a run for their money! And, I am happy to add NUE vodka to my growing collection.
Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com As a vodka lover, it’s always fun for me to scope out lesser-known vodkas on the market. I've stumbled across some amazing vodkas that tend to be dismissed by buyers who reach for the popular and well-known brands. So, once again, I was delighted to find yet another vodka that I had never heard of, reasonably priced and worthy of a review. I’ve written about many vodkas ranging from super expensive to under $10. Needless to say, my freezer has been taken over by a variety of vodkas from France, New Zealand, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Poland, Idaho, New York and Texas. And, NUE Vodka is my newest addition to the freezer!  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Southwest Spirits is a full-service distillery located in Dallas, Texas and it is also the third-largest distillery in Texas. They have an impressive portfolio of over 25 brands that they produce, including their best selling brand and award-winning NUE Vodka. All spirit production is done on-site in their over 103,000 square foot facility fully equipped with pot stills and a 14’ column still for producing premium spirits. The distillery also has grain milling capabilities, tank farms and four high-speed bottling lines with multiple filling capabilities. Above photos courtesy of Southwest Spirits NUE Vodka is crafted in small batches to control and ensure the highest quality that ultimately provides clean, smooth vodka. Ingredients are locally sourced high-quality corn and water that has gone through a process of Reverse Osmosis, which extracts mineral content and any impurities in the water. The vodka is 6x distilled through an advanced column process that also removes natural impurities.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss NUE Vodka has a clean, floral and slightly flinty bouquet. It is silky smooth on the palate with subtle hints of sweet cream, vanilla and a touch of heat on the finish. Drink well chilled and neat or add to your favorite cocktail recipe.
Alcohol: 40%, 80 proof SRP: $10.99 NUE Vodka is also available in all-natural grapefruit and peach flavors. All three vodkas are presently distributed in 35 states. This is definitely a vodka that can stand up to the higher-priced vodkas on the market and at this price I’m impressed! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com With the onset of summer, spending time outdoors is a must for me. In addition to swimming and hiking, I like to make the most of the warm weather preferring to dine outside when possible. The sunsets and cool evenings with wine or cocktail in hand are blissful. Having lived in Miami Beach for many years I literally sweated out the summer months. Being young and unsophisticated when it came to drinking wine and spirits, we would get quite creative with hot weather alcoholic drinks. One of my favorite concoctions back then was making homemade chocolate chip ice cream and then putting it in a blender with vodka, and pouring it into a well-chilled glass. Had I been more cognizant of sparkling wines and their versatility as an ingredient in cocktails, my drinks would have undoubtedly been much lighter, less fattening and lower in alcohol. I was young though and hadn’t begun to really explore the world of wine and spirits. Fortunately, since my Miami Beach days, I’ve moved on from ice cream and vodka to more interesting and tastier options to quench my summer thirst. A very popular and light alcoholic beverage is the Spritz, traditionally made with sparkling wine, an aperitif such as Aperol or Campari and a splash of soda water. The Spritz is refreshing and a great “warm weather” drink.  Enjoying a Spritz in Venice, Italy! Photo credit: Penny Weiss Another creative and delicious Spritz is one made with TrentoDOC and Disaronno. I received these bottles as samples, along with a cocktail recipe. It was easy to make and quite delicious, proving that one doesn’t have to stick to tradition. Think outside the box and have some fun!  Photo credit: Penny Weiss The Really Italian Spritz 2 oz Disaronno 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice Top with TrentoDOC Pour ingredients in a chilled flute and gently stir  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Cantina d’Isera 1907 Brut Trentodoc is 100% Chardonnay with delicate aromas of soft stone fruit and bread dough. Fine bubbles, bright acidity and stone fruit continue onto the palate. Serve as an aperitif or make your favorite spritz with it. Disaronno is a liqueur made in Italy with a very distinct aroma and taste of almonds called Armelline (the seeds of apricot stone), sweet fruit, Madagascar vanilla and pure caramelized sugar. Disaronno takes the lead in any mixed drink. It is refreshing to serve over ice as well. In stories past, I’ve shared unusual and very tasty cocktail recipes that are great to serve year round but are especially nice in warm weather. Just in case you missed the stories, here are a few fun cocktail recipes to make. Dirty French Cognac cocktail (Courtesy of Camus Cognac)  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Alambre Burbalas (Courtesy of Aldea Restaurant and José Maria da Fonseca) 1.5oz Alambre Moscatel 1 round of orange 2 dashes Angostura bitters .5 bar spoon honey 2oz dry sparkling wine Combine Alambre, honey, orange and bitters in mixing vessel, muddle lightly to express the orange into the combination Add ice and stir to chill and combine flavors Strain into wine glass Add dry sparkling wine Garnish with Orange rind  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Tequila Sunrise  Supposedly, this cocktail was created by Gene Sulit in the 1930s or 1940s and was first served at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. The original recipe contained tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice and soda water. In the 1970s Bobby Lazoff and Billy Rice of Sausalito, CA created a more modern version with tequila, orange juice and grenadine. It seems that Mick Jagger tried a Tequila Sunrise in 1972 during his American tour and liked it so much that he started ordering them all over America. Here is the recipe: 2.5 oz tequila 5 oz orange juice 1 tsp of grenadine Ice cubes Vodka Sunset This is my version of Tequila Sunrise because I enjoy drinking cocktails at sunset!  Photo credit: Penny Weiss The recipe is simple; mix vodka with fresh orange juice and pure pomegranate juice.
Serve over ice. The next time you’re craving a refreshing, and light cocktail, grab a bottle of sparkling wine and add a liqueur to it. Be adventurous, creative and enjoy! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com While visiting a wine and spirits store the other day I came across a bottle of vodka that I was not familiar with. It was slightly hidden amongst the high priced vodkas and what especially caught my eye was the price tag of $10. It was platinum premium vodka, 8x distilled and made in Ukraine. Intrigued, I decided to buy it.  The bottle is frosted from the freezer! According to Slavic folklore, the rusalka is a mysterious creature fashioned in the shape of a beautiful woman who lives inside rivers or lakes and supposedly has feet, not a fishtail.  Drawing credit: Linda Kindt These demon-like creatures sleep during the day and then sometimes appear in the evening hours to dance and frolic by the water’s edge or in the woods. The rusalki love to entice men to follow them into the water and once under the rusalki’s spell these unfortunate men meet an untimely death. There are many versions to this story, including the one printed on the back label of this vodka. “According to the old distillery tale. Rusalka (Mermaid) lived at the bottom of the Dnieper River. One night, Rusalka spotted a handsome master-distiller; she fascinated him with songs and dancing. Inspired by her beauty, he created a crystal clear and exceptionally smooth vodka. Our vodka tradition started with a selection of fine grain, natural artesian water and production process that passed on from generations to the present time. Maybe there is a Rusalka waiting for you?” Vodka is the primary spirit produced in Ukraine and most are produced in the Russian style to be flavorless and extremely smooth. I could not find the name of the distillery on the bottle. In fact, there is very little information to go on other than that it is a product of Ukraine.  Rusalka Platinum Filtered Vodka is made from selected grains and natural artesian water and is 8x distilled. The vodka was poured cold from the freezer and served “neat”. It is clear in color with slight aromas of floral, vanilla, pepper and a trace of fruit. This is an extremely smooth vodka with subtle flavors of fruit, vanilla, spice and just a trace of cherry on the finish. This is a perfect vodka to enjoy neat or in a cocktail. I’m quite impressed and you can’t beat the price! I'm definitely adding this bottle to my vodka collection.
Alcohol: 40% 80 Proof SRP: $10 I have lots of wines to share with you in the coming weeks! Stay tuned! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com A few weeks ago a friend of mine gifted me a gigantic bottle of Chopin Potato Vodka. The vodka is named after the composer Frederic Chopin who is quoted on the back of the bottle, “Simplicity is the final achievement”. It is the perfect quote for this vodka.  I like to keep my vodka in the freezer, but this 1.75-liter bottle is so large, I had a hard time making room for it. I must admit that the freezer is already holding quite a collection of vodkas. I classify vodka into two categories: drink neat or use as a mixer. Why? Because most premium spirits that go the distance in quality and flavor will ultimately be lost and buried in a mixed drink. Chopin Vodka clearly falls into the category of “drink neat”. Chopin Vodka is a family owned business located in the village of Krzesk, in the Podlasie region of Poland. Tad Dorda is the founder and CEO of Chopin. Tad and his children (second generation) are involved in the day-to-day operations of production, sales and marketing.  Tad Dorda with his children Alexandra, Piotr & Wojciech. Photo credit: Chopin Vodka Chopin vodka is made in a distillery that dates back to the 19th century, which the Dorda family bought in 2003. They restored the distillery’s operations and modernized the bottling and packaging facilities. In fact, the original copper column still is used for production.  Distillery Photo credit: Chopin Vodka The vodka is handcrafted in small batches and is naturally gluten and carb-free. Master distiller, Waldemar Durakiewicz, supervises every step of these farm to bottle vodkas and his signature is on all bottles produced. 100% of the alcohol produced at Chopin comes from raw, hand-selected ingredients. The majority of the ingredients are sourced from within 25 miles of the distillery, guaranteeing that only the freshest of potatoes, rye and wheat are used. Tad says, “we take great pride in the quality of the ingredients, our traditional techniques and in people who help us to make our vodkas”. Chopin Potato Vodka is 100% potato vodka. As already mentioned, the late-harvest potatoes are sourced from within a 25-mile radius of the distillery, including potatoes that Chopin grows. The potatoes are cooked whole with their skins prior to fermentation and only purified artesian well water is used. The vodka is 4x distilled in the original copper still.  I tasted the vodka cold and neat. The color is clear with clean aromas of earth and vanilla. It is smooth with a creamy texture and hints of vanilla bean and minerality on the palate. The finish is long and silky. Serve neat, on ice or as a martini without the “frills”.
Alcohol: 40% 80 Proof SRP: $59.99 (1.75-liter) If you like vodka, Chopin is worth adding to your collection! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com As many of you know, I love vodka!  So I was ecstatic when a friend brought me a bottle of Sobieski Estate Single Rye Vodka, hoping that I hadn’t tried it before. He was correct! And, I was thrilled to add another vodka to my collection.  Sobieski Vodka was introduced to the United States in 2007, but it wasn’t until 2016 that Sobieski Estate Single Rye Vodka was launched in the USA.  Sobieski Vodka is produced at the Lancut Distillery located in Koniaków, and it is the oldest distillery in Poland. The distillery was originally established in 1846 by H.A. Winkelhausen, but they didn’t begin distilling vodka there until 1864. Sobieski Vodka Sp now produces and sells the vodka and operates as a subsidiary of Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits SA. The bottle of Sobieski Estate Single Rye Vodka that I have has “produced by Polmos Lancut, S.A. “ written on the side. The Sobieski Estate Single Rye Vodka is produced in limited amounts and is made from 100% gold Dankowski rye, which only grows on the Mazovian Plains in Poland and pure water from the Carpathian Fore. Instead of going through a repeated distillation process, Sobieski Vodka is distilled in a process called continuous distillation using a continuous column still which adds to the vodka’s smooth texture. And no, I’m not going to delve into a distillation lesson today! Each bottle of Sobieski Vodka is hand-filled and hand-crowned guaranteeing its authenticity.  The Sobieski Estate Single Rye Vodka is smooth and easy to drink. The aromas are an interesting blend of floral, grain and a slight hint of fruit. The palate offers a bracing start that segues into subtle flavors of floral, a dash of spice and ends with a clean and faint sweet apple finish. This is a perfect vodka to drink as is. It would be a shame to bury it in a mixed drink. Enjoy it straight out of the freezer! 80 proof SRP: $22 - $28 My vodka collection is slowly taking over the freezer and many of my white and rosé wines are now occupying significant space in the refrigerator. Perhaps it’s time to invest in a second refrigerator/freezer!  Wow! This is perfect! Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com |
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed