Here is a little bit about the folks who write for Tavola Rosso:

ELIZABETH O’CONNOR (liz@tavolarosso.com) ~
A native of Washington, Elizabeth discovered her passion for cooking (and eating) at a very young age. Diary entries as early as the third grade, seemed to consistently center on food and the experiences associated with memorable meals. Upon studying at Cornell University and from Arizona State University, she returned to her roots and moved back to the Northwest in 2002. As an account executive with Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, Elizabeth is currently providing counsel to T-Mobile’s corporate communication team. She has also consulted with other high profile clients such as Microsoft, Amazon, and HTC. Food and wine are her true calling and she enjoys writing about both.

MARK STOLTZ (mark@tavolarosso.com) ~ First became interested in the art of wine at the age of 17 while living in Aix-en-Provence, France. A few years later, his interest deepened during a college summer abroad spent in Florence, Italy. Two recent events expanded his American wine exposure: a recent stint in the northwest, where both Washington and Oregon are producing top-quality wines and a honeymoon trip to the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Mark’s passion in life can be summed up best by California wine pioneer and the namesake of his favorite winery, Joseph Swan: “There are few more civilized pleasures in life than good company, good food and good wine.”

SEAN O’CONNOR (sean@tavolarosso.com) ~ Born in the backwoods of Montana, Sean’s wine awakening came in 2000 when he arrived in Florence, Italy with the Gonzaga in Florence program. He returned from Italy with purple stained teeth, and a deep apreciation for the zest with which Italians enjoy their wine, food, and time with family and friends. Since, he has sought both the unique stories that go into the making of every bottle, and to create his own stories over each bottle of wine he shares with his family and friends.

EMILY RESLING (aka THE OEANIST) ~ An unlikely wine connoisseur trapped in the body of a bright, young woman– Emily Resling’s wine curiousity piqued early. Unamused by passionate declarations of “leather, tobacco, and hazelnut,” a then-teenaged girl often countered “but you’re just talking about grapes, right?” Then a kind Sommelier gave her a taste of an old Barolo, and the light turned on. Blazing down the restaurant trail from her first job at age 14, until present day (early) thirtysomething, Emily quickly transitioned from wait staff, to wine staff, to sommelier. In her 20’s, she was instrumental in starting The Tasting Room Wine Cafe in Houston, TX. Ultimately landing the coveted position of Wine Director at Zagat-rated Top Ten in America restaurant Mark’s American Cuisine. Although her relocation to the great Northwest has taken her out of the wine biz, she couldn’t pass up the chance to use her archaic liberal arts degree, proving to her parents that college wasn’t just about bouncing quarters off her nose into a tumbler of Champagne.

NICK BENZ ~ A long-time enthusiast of food and wine, Nick ran from the marketing world into the kitchens of the renowned French Culinary Institute. After graduation and a few years in the trenches of New York City’s highly competitive culinary world, Nick has relocated to San Francisco. He currently works for Landmark Vineyards as a Culinary Consultant and Manager of their new wine lounge in the city. As a wine drinker, he loves supporting lesser-known varietals and growing regions. Hopefully through this support, karma will reward him with eager investors for his restaurant project.