(©Image courtesy of Ron Bez for Paso Robles Wine Country)
Rich, spicy and full of dark fruit flavors, American Zinfandel is a red varietal that produces robust wines that go beautifully with the flavorful fare from the tradition of grilling steaks, fresh-caught seafood, and seasonal vegetables brushed with olive oil.
Mysterious Origins
In the 1880’s Zinfandel grapes were the most popular variety being planted in California, but their exact origin remains a mystery. The varietal was once believed to be America’s only indigenous grape capable of producing good wine, but its DNA indicates it may have roots in southern Italy. The mystery remains and there is no European equivalent.
Whatever its origins, Zinfandel is an American success story. It may not have a lineage traceable to noble roots, but neither do most Americans and quite a few have overcome humble beginnings to achieve greatness. Zinfandel has attracted a large and devoted following.
2010 Zinfandel Festival
A fair number of Zinfandel enthusiasts border on the fanatic, an amiable army worthy of the label Zinhead Nation. Some of them are certain to be in attendance at the 18th Annual Zinfandel Festival which will begin on Friday, March 19th and continue through the weekend. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country is the state’s fastest growing wine region. It encompasses more than 26,000 vineyard acres and more than 180 wineries.
Attendees will enjoy vast selections of Zinfandel and Zinfandel blends, as well as a Wine Country Auction featuring unique items only offered during the Zinfandel Festival. In addition to the Zin Tasting and Wine Country Auction, more than 140 area wineries offer a compilation of individual events such as winemaker dinners, barrel samples and musical entertainment throughout the weekend.
The ZIP Ticket Level is for Zinfandel enthusiasts who cannot get enough of this bold, bodacious berry. ZIP attendees may zip in early to the Zin Tasting and receive special benefits including an exclusive taste of the 2010 Zinfandel Collaborative Blend. ZIP ticket holders will also experience auction items exclusively for them and other special surprises throughout the evening.
“Zin fans will find new enhancements to a traditional walk around tasting integrated into a special Wine Country Auction,” said Stacie Jacob, executive director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. “We invite you to check out quality wines featuring Paso Robles’ heritage grape."
The newly formatted Wine Country Auction features items showcased at winery pouring booths, giving wine enthusiasts a chance to learn about the Zinfandel producers of Paso Robles. One-of-a-kind auction blocks include wine tasting retreats, dinners with Paso Robles producers, VIP tours, seminars and special large format bottles signed by the winemakers themselves. The area’s top chefs will also be serving Zinfandel friendly culinary creations.
For more information and to purchase tickets, go to: 2010 Zinfandel Festival, Zin Tasting and Wine Country Auction
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Founder Sondra Bernstein (Images courtesy of 'girl & the fig')
One of Sonoma County's most beloved destination restaurants, 'the girl & the fig' features a wonderful antique bar with French aperitifs and traditional cocktails, an award-winning "Rhone Alone" winelist, a seasonal menu, cheese and charcuterie platters, and lovely outdoor patio seating.
Serving counrty food with French passion, ‘the girl & the fig’ has been recommended by the New York Times, Wine Spectator, the Los Angeles Times, and Travel & Leisure for a taste of California wine country.
The San Francisco Chronicle says,
What makes the ‘the girl & the fig’ so interesting is the way it breaks out of the box by offering a completely Rhone-oriented wine list and various wine flights in an array of fun glasses (see wine box). This mix-and-match concept and the casual menu that also features a section of charcuterie and locally produced cheeses have served everyone well.
And of course, there are those magical figs. Founder and owner Sondra Bernstein says that "Because the real flavor of the fig is relatively unknown, it is really important to me to highlight the amazing taste and texture. I believe we are helping to increase the popularity of the fig - one taste at a time."
The fig flourishes in the fertile and sun drenched valleys of California, where vast orchards of fig trees can be found. As early as 2900 BC, in early Sumerian times, the medicinal use of figs was being stressed. Now as before, the fig offers a power-house of nutrition; a combination of fiber, minerals, and nutrients that are unequaled in nature.
The Antique Bar
Next time you're enjoying the area’s beautiful scenery be sure to visit 'the girl & the fig' restaurant on West Spain Street for some splendid Sonoma dining & wine. The menu is served daily from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm, with a late night brasserie menu served until 11:00 pm on Friday and Saturday. Sunday Brunch is served beginning at 10:00 am.
To make a reservation call 707-938-3634, or for further info send an e-mail to info@thegirlandthefig.com.
If you can’t make it to Sonoma, but would like to purchase a taste of wine country go to any of the following:
Apricot Fig Chutney
Black Mission Fig Jam
Dried Fig Compote
Sonoma Figs Variety Mix
‘the girl & the fig’ Cookbook
To follow American Feast on Facebook go to: American Feast on Facebook
To follow American Feast's Founder on Twitter go to: Jeff Deasy on Twitter
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
 
Day & Night at the Cafe Du Monde (Images courtesy of Original Cafe Du Monde)
Bring a bit of New Orleans home with this recipe using the coffee and chicory enjoyed by visiotrs and locals alike, whether it's served with beignets in the morning at the Cafe du Monde or to cap off a fine meal at one of the Big Easy's many great restaurants. Jules Alciatore created Café Brûlot Diabolique, at world-renowned Antoine's restaurant in the 1890s. His flaming concoction of coffee, brandy, and spices later became a popular way to disguise alcohol during Prohibition.
Chicory is made from grinding the roots of the endive plant. The practice of blending it with coffee was introduced to New Orleans by residents of French ancestry during the Napoleonic era, when nearly constant fighting made keeping supplied with coffee very challenging. Resourceful coffee lovers in France had crafted the blend in order to stretch those supplies and the uniquely flavored beverage became a tradition that has now been part of everyday life in New Orleans for two centuries.
A visit to one of the Big Easy's fine restaurants such as Antoine's in the French Quarter will afford an opportunity to see Cafe Brulot flambe'd on a gueridon at your table. But if you can't make the trip right away, you can use this recipe to get a taste of New Orleans in the comfort of home.
Ingredients for 8-10 cups
• One 4" Cinnamon stick
• 12 Whole cloves
• Zest of 2 oranges
• 1 Whole orange (optional)
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 6 Lumps of sugar
• 8 Ounces Cognac
• Ounces Curacao (optional)
• 1 Quart of Coffee & Chicory
Preparation
1. In a brulot bowl or 2-quart chafing dish, warm and mash together the cinnamon, cloves, orange zest, lemon zest and sugar.
2. Add brandy and Curacao and ignite.
3. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
4. Add in coffee, slowly mixing until flames die down.
Serve in demitasse cups.
To view a recipe for a classic New Orleans flambe'd dessert, a perfect accompaniment to Cafe Brulot, go to: Bananas Foster Recipe
To view all the recipes on the American Feast web site just scroll down after you go to: American Feast's Recipe Collection
To follow American Feast on Facebook go to: American Feast on Facebook
To follow American Feast's Founder on Twitter go to: Jeff Deasy on Twitter
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Eating Out (photo by Kevin Rosseel, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Authors David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding have revealed their “Worst Restaurant Foods in America,” as featured in their new book, Eat This, Not That! Restaurant Survival Guide. The list ranks the nation’s worst nutritional offenders at major fast food and restaurant chains across the country, while offering healthier alternatives at each establishment.
Eat This, Not That! Restaurant Survival Guide is the sixth installment in the popular book series, which currently has five million copies in print. The authors spent months analyzing menus, nutrition labels, and ingredients lists at the most popular chain and fast food restaurants in order to identify the “Worst Restaurant Foods in America.”
Zinczenko and Goulding start by evaluating calorie counts, but also take into consideration a cluster of other nutritional markers: fat, saturated fat, sodium levels and added sugar. As the authors release more “Worst Foods” lists, caloric offenders have been dropped from menus. Among them: Chili’s Awesome Blossom (2,710 calories) and Baskin-Robbins’ Heath Bar Shake (2,310 calories).
Topping the 2009 Restaurant list is the Outback Steakhouse Chocolate Thunder Down Under, which contains more calories than 44 McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets and an astounding four and a half days’ worth of saturated fat.
Among the list of the Top 20 Worst Restaurant Foods of 2009:
• Worst Sit-Down Kids’ Meal: Cheesecake Factory’s Kids’ Pasta with Alfredo Sauce (1,803 calories, 86 g saturated fat)
• Worst Sit-Down Burger: Applebee’s Quesadilla Burger (1,820 calories, 46 g fat)
• Worst Wrap: T.G.I. Friday’s BBQ Chicken Wrap (1,720 calories)
• Worst Pizza: Sbarro’s Stuffed Pepperoni (1 slice, 960 calories, 42 g fat)
• Worst Omelet: IHOP’s Colorado Omelet (1,890 calories, 47 g saturated fat)
To see the full list of 20 foods by category with nutritional information for each item, visit: The 20 Worst Restaurant Foods in America (Men’s Health Magazine)
To view a previous post on the topic, go to: Don't Get Super-Sized: Tips for Eating Healthy When Eating Out
To view all the previous posts on weight control on the American Feast web site (just scroll down) go to: American Feast's Weight Control Archive
To follow American Feast on Facebook go to: American Feast on Facebook
To follow American Feast's Founder on Twitter go to: Jeff Deasy on Twitter
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Star Anise (© Linda Macpherson | Dreamstime.com)
Our friend Evelyn Kimber of the Boston Vegetarian Society and the Boston Vegetarian Food Festival just sent us this dessert recipe. We were so delighted with it we wanted to waste no time in passing it on to you. It’s the creation of Emilie Hartman of The Conscious Kitchen, a popular vegan baking and cooking instructor, award-winning blogger, restaurant reviewer, and a contributor to many food magazines and websites. She’ll be teaching this recipe and more at the Festival this weekend.
Emilie brings the experiences of an international childhood and a background as a researcher to her love of food and thoughtful eating. She trained at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and the Natural Gourmet Institute. She is currently working on a cookbook of sophisticated, internationally inspired vegan desserts.
Emilie says of her recipe, “With a rich, comforting crumb, delicate spice and bright citrus, this is a ‘go to’ cake for the winter months. Don't shy from using a quality olive oil with lots of flavor for this recipe; my preference is for a fruity Spanish one. Be prepared for even confirmed olive oil and anise detractors to demand seconds.”
Ingredients
• 1 Cup unsweetened plain soymilk
• 1 ½ Teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• ½ Cup cane sugar
• 1/4 Cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 Teaspoon sea salt
• 1 Cup unbleached all purpose flour
• 1/3 Cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 Teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon baking soda
• 1 Teaspoon toasted and ground anise seed (toast in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant and lightly browned, cool and grind in a spice or coffee grinder, or use pre-ground)
• 1/4 Cup cocoa nibs
• 2 Ounces 70-80% dark chocolate (recommend Taza)
(See Blood Orange Macedonia Topping Recipe below.)
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350 and lightly oil an 8" round pan with olive oil and line the bottom with parchment.
2. In a medium sized bowl, whisk the soymilk and vinegar together until thickened. Add the sugar, olive oil, vanilla and salt to the soymilk and whisk well to combine.
3. In another medium sized bowl, sift the flours, baking powder and baking soda and whisk to combine. Add anise to the dry mix.
4. With whisk in hand, slowly pour the wet mixture into the dry, whisked vigorously until well combined and smooth.
5. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. Allow cake to cool on a rack for 10 minutes before removing from pan and allowing it to cool fully before serving.
To serve: Cut wedges of the cake and generously scoop Blood Orange Macedonia on top, sprinkle with 1-2 teaspoons of cocoa nibs and shave a sprinkling of dark chocolate
Blood Orange Macedonia Topping Recipe
Creator Emilie Hartman writes, “Use to top cakes or sweet biscuits, waffles, pancakes or crepes. Great as an unusual ice cream topping and an extra special mix-in for soy yogurt. Use any available citrus, but look for a mix of colors to get the most drama. Zesting the citrus before removing the skin and storing it in a little oil in the refrigerator for future use in other recipes will give the fruit double duty.”
Ingredients
• 4 Blood oranges
• 2 Tangelos or tangerines
• 2-4 Tablespoons orange muscat wine or orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier
Preparation
1. Supreme the citrus over a bowl to catch run-off juice. Toss the citrus segments with alcohol.
2. Keep covered in the refrigerator until ready to use.
The Boston Vegetarian Food Festival will take place this weekend, Saturday, October 31st and Sunday, November 1st. If you missed it last year, try and get there this time around. It’s a lot of healthy fun for the whole family and definitely worth the trip.
For more informationabout this weekend's Festival go to: The 14th Annual Boston Vegetarian Food Festival
To visit Emilie Hartman’s excellent veggie blog go to: The Conscious Kitchen
To view all the recipes on the American Feast web site go to: American Feast's Recipe Collection
To follow American Feast on Facebook go to: American Feast on Facebook
To follow American Feast's Founder on Twitter go to: Jeff Deasy on Twitter
For information related to the purchase of advertising space on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Portland, Oregon Skyline at Night (© Patricia Betts | Dreamstime.com)
Judging by the country’s burgeoning street food scene it seems that even in these challenging economic times America’s grassroots entrepreneurs remain undaunted. The food carts and trucks on the streets of New York City offer an impressive array of ethnic food choices at marvelous prices and the phenomena seems to be in full swing on America’s West Coast as well.
According to an article by Karen Brooks of the Oregonian, the ambitious vendors are pushing the city's curbside cuisine to the next level. Her report gives some insight as to why Portland is seeing such a healthy surge of quality food vendors on its streets:
Multnomah County has 450 carts, a 20 percent jump over last year, with another 32 carts under review. The surge comes with an ace in the hole: No other big city is friendlier to vendors, with affordable licenses (a mere $315) and unrivaled access to real estate (average rent $500 a month).
She writes that "the volume of experimenters, the variety, the pedigreed ingredients" make Portland the “new face of America's maverick food cart movement.” And, “Next Generation…food creatives are inventing their own model of modern restaurateuring.”
The volume of choices on Portland’s streets makes choosing a vendor difficult, but the article provides a listing of her Top Ten picks, with Addy’s Sandwich Bar on Southwest 10th Avenue between Alder and Washington streets topping the list. (I envy the tasty time she must have had during the research for this article!)
If you’d like to read Karen Brooks’ article as it was posted on OregonLive.com and see the rest of her Top Ten go to: Portland's top 10 food carts
To follow American Feast on Facebook go to: American Feast on Facebook
To follow American Feast's Founder on Twitter go to: Jeff Deasy on Twitter
For information related to the purchase of advertising space on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Pear Orchard (©photo by imagina, courtesy of morguefile.com)
In these challenging economic times families can really use a fun and healthy outdoor activity that actually saves them some money. Many are doing just that by visiting pick-your-own orchards this fall.
An article in the Chicago Sun-Times quotes Kathy McKay of the North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association as saying, “Because of the whole staycation-daycation thing, a lot of our members are saying business has been good. People are looking for things to do near home instead of getting on a plane.”
Having them pick their own is a great way to get children more enthusiastic about eating fresh fruit and kids are bound to enjoy the hay rides, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, animal petting areas and other activities at offered at many of the farms.
Pick Your Own is a nonprofit organization with a web site that helps folks around the world find such orchards within traveling distance of their homes. There are about 10,000 such places altogether, according to PYO’s John Slemmer. Want to find out when your favorite local crop will be ready to harvest? The organization’s web site makes it possible to see the crop calendar for your area. They offer 150 recipes, easy preserving directions and affordable home canning kits for those who bring home more bounty than the family can consume while it’s fresh. PYO also offers farmers the opportunity to add their farms, a nice opportunity for family farms looking for a little additional income.
To visit the nonprofit organization cited above go to: Pick Your Own Web Site
If you’d like to read the Chicago Sun-Times article cited above go to: Orchards a more popular pick than ever for produce
To follow American Feast on Facebook go to: American Feast on Facebook
To follow American Feast's Founder on Twitter go to: Jeff Deasy on Twitter
For information related to the purchase of advertising space on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Easy Street at Sunrise (Images courtesy of Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce)
The island of Nantucket, located 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, proudly hosts the 4th Annual Nantucket Fall Restaurant Week, from September 28th until October 4th, 2009.
Nantucket is a popular destination for travelers in the off season months where the mood is relaxed but the world-renowned culinary scene is full of life! Nantucket is home to some of the most celebrated chefs and award-winning restaurants on the east coast (including Wine Spectator, Zagat's, Best of Boston, Fodor's, Frommer's and James Beard Award nominees.) This festive week-long event offers special menus at nearly 30 of the island's exquisite culinary establishments with a 3-course dinners offered from $25 - $45.
Kicking off this exciting week is the fabulous Taste Nantucket! Opening Event Sunday, September 27th, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at The Great Harbor Yacht Club, 96 Washington Street. Taste outstanding cuisine from Nantucket's finest restaurants and food purveyors, sip champagne and wine, savor samples of oysters and caviar, and enjoy live music all in a beautiful harbor front setting. Tickets are $100 (call 508-228-1515 to reserve) with all proceeds benefiting the Nantucket Culinary Arts Foundation, which provides scholarships and educational opportunities to island students.
The week will close with an equally exciting event, the 2nd Annual Nantucket Junior Chef Competition on October 4th, from Noon to 2:00 PM at Cisco Brewery, 5 Bartlett Farm Road. Watch as island culinary students (paired with Nantucket's own top chefs) battle to create three courses featuring local ingredients for a panel of judges that includes James Beard Great Chef Northeast Nominees, Michael LaScola of American Seasons and Gabriel Frasca of Straight Wharf Restaurant. Hosted by NECN's TV Diner co-host Jenny Johnson, tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for students with again proceeds benefiting the Nantucket Culinary Arts Foundation.
Following Restaurant Week festivities is the ever popular Annual Chowder Contest, Saturday, October 17, 2009 from 2 - 3:30 PM. This delicious contest challenges island restaurants to compete for the title "Best Nantucket Chowder" as voted by the tasting public.
Some of the finest months on Nantucket are in off season, when the island's natural beauty takes center stage and its historic museums, shops, lodging and fine restaurants are open to accommodate visitors. Nature lovers, sports enthusiasts, history buffs and patrons of the arts will delight in the myriad activities available on Nantucket. Visitors can enjoy walking, bicycling, hiking, picnicking, nature study and scenic viewing. Birdwatchers will appreciate the number of rare and endangered species to be sighted.
Those who love architecture or history will be charmed by Nantucket Town, which recalls the illustrious past of a whaling empire with its cobblestone carriageways and narrow lanes. More than 800 houses built between 1740 and 1840 still grace the island's downtown core, and almost all are preserved in their original settings. Nantucket is the only community in America where the entire island is recognized as an historic district.
Visitors are encouraged to leave their cars behind, as all activities are accessible by walking, bicycle, or taxi. Now that's sustainablility!
To learn more about the week’s events and the Annual Chowder Contest that follows go to: Nantucket Fall Restaurant Week
For a full Calendar of Fall Events as well as Fall Travel Specials including discounted lodging packages, merchant sales and more go to: Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce
To follow American Feast on Facebook go to: American Feast on Facebook
To follow American Feast's Founder on Twitter go to: Jeff Deasy on Twitter
Windmills at Sunset (photo by Dan Tombs, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Missouri is nicknamed the “Show Me State" and droves of visitors want an up-close look at the twenty-seven wind turbines going strong on the Bluegrass Ridge Wind Farm in King City. As our friends at American Farmland Trust have pointed out, “Wind farms are just one way farmers are simultaneously helping to solve our energy needs while providing farms with a new source of income.”
“Busloads of senior citizens and school children from Kansas City and the surrounding area have already made trips to King City…a small town with only two restaurants,” according to an article in the High Plains Midwest AG Journal. The power generated by the wind turbines on the Bluegrass Ridge Wind Farm “is enough electricity for 20,000 average-size homes. The Journal reports that according to Gentry County Treasurer Linda Combs, the wind farm brought in $585,922 in additional tax dollars to be used for local schools and infrastructure improvements. The needed maintenance of the wind generators has created eleven full-time jobs. The article goes on to say that, “On the average, landowners receive $3,000 a year for each tower on their property.”
Interest from visitors traveling to see the wind turbines has been so high that a local group of residents has applied for a grant to build a wind farm education center.
If you’d like to read the article in the High Plains Midwest AG Journal cited above go to: Visitors center planned for Missouri wind farm
To view previous posts on the topic go to:
1. Texas Winds Are Reaping Energy & Jobs
2. Suburban Homeowners Turn to Wind Power
3. Greening the Rust Belt
4. An Ancient Idea
To follow American Feast on Facebook go to: American Feast on Facebook
To follow American Feast's Founder on Twitter go to: Jeff Deasy on Twitter
Looking for a fun evening out in Minneapolis that will benefit a couple of terrific causes? If that sounds enticing the non-profit Partnership Resources is joining with the American Culinary Federation, Minneapolis Chefs chapter to present a fantastic new fundraising event: A Taste of Art. Just weeks away, the gourmet event will raise much-needed funds for services for adults with developmental disabilities and the Chef's Scholarship Fund.
A Taste of Art will Feature:
Tasting stations featuring food from the American Culinary Federation's world-class chefs
• Artwork from Partnership Resources' artist on display and available for purchase
• Exhibits highlighting the dynamic programs of Partnership Resources, Inc.
• Silent and Live auctions
• Live Music
• Much, much more for foodies and all community-minded people...
Event Details:
• When: Sunday, September 13th, 2009, 5:00 to 8:00 pm
• Where: The Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis-Park Place
• Tickets: $75*
• V.I.P. Tickets: $125* and include:
- Early reception with Chefs & Artists from 4:00 to 5:00 pm
- Complimentary Wine & Champagne
- Exclusive Appetizers
- Gift Bag
• Attire: Business Casual
• Tickets Available: Online or by calling Partnership Resources at 612-331-2075 (Monday - Friday 8:00 am – 3:00 pm)
*$50 of ticket price is tax deductible
For further info and to purchase tickets go to: A Taste of Art
About Partnership Resources
PRI works to provide appropriate opportunities for individuals with disabilities to play a respected and valued role in community life. Although most clients served by PRI are seeking employment, their community development efforts promote the use of community resources as the natural place for clients involved in recreation, volunteer, seniors, employment or any combination of these opportunities.
About the American Culinary Federation
The American Culinary Federation (ACF) is the largest professional chefs organization in North America and is dedicated to "promoting the professional image of American chefs worldwide through education of culinarians at all levels."
To follow American Feast on Facebook go to: American Feast on Facebook
Grape Vines in Sonoma (photo by David Ellis, courtesy of morguefile.com)
The 2nd Annual Sonoma Wine Country Weekend will feature tastings, tours, demonstrations and seminars showcasing over 200 artisan wineries, growers, chefs and food purveyors. It is the area’s largest wine and food fundraiser, having donated more than $8 million to local charities that support students, children, farm workers and people in need.
One of the country’s premier food and wine events, the three days of activity includes the 30th Annual Showcase: Taste of Sonoma, which will take place Saturday, September 5th from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at Sonoma’s famed MacMurray Ranch vineyards in Healdsburg. Sonoma Wine Country Weekend will culminate on Sunday September 6th with the 17th Annual Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction at Cline Cellars in Sonoma.
“Taste of Sonoma is an epicurean event unlike any other,” said Executive Producer Maureen Cottingham, “offering boundless opportunities for wine lovers and foodies alike to sip and savor the diversity of our rich farm-to-table heritage alongside the growers, winemakers and chefs who’ve made Sonoma one of the world’s great food and wine destinations.”
Some of the Highlights
• Sonoma County Appellation Grand Food and Wine Tasting: An immersion experience, with more than 150 wineries pouring thousands of wines, and over 60 local chefs whipping up divine pairings. This is a rare opportunity to go one on one with artisan producers representing the four distinct appellations of one of the most diverse and bountiful growing regions in the world.
• Sonoma's Sommelier Stars Wine and Food Tasting Tours: Sonoma's own celebrity sommelier, Christopher Sawyer, has assembled an all-star team of nationally acclaimed sommeliers who will be on-hand to provide 30 minute guided tours through the Grand Tasting Tents. With their knowledgeable guidance, guests will discover hidden gems, try new varieties, and enjoy expert insights on expanding their wine appreciation and knowledge. Registration is taken the day of the event.
• The Gloria Ferrer Bubble Lounge: Located at the entrance to Showcase: Taste of Sonoma, the Gloria Ferrer Bubble Lounge offers visitors a chance to toast the day with a bit of bubbly paired with small bites, presented by Cindy Friedman, Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards Certified Wine Educator.
• The Crushpad: A unique “grape to glass” tasting and demonstration presented by local grape growers and winemakers. Guests will sample freshly picked grapes, juice from a basket press demonstrating and finally a taste of the finished bottled wine from the highlighted vineyard, presented by the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission.
• The Gourmet Kitchen: Steel Chef Competition and Cooking Demonstrations: Sonoma County's most celebrated chefs face off in a fast paced, fun and educational competition for the coveted title of Sonoma County's Chef of Steel. The audience will learn to flip, dip, chop and whip like the pros in the demonstration kitchen, where throughout the day Sonoma's top chefs will share the tricks of the trade, including new recipes, techniques and innovative ways to flavor food.
• Sonoma County Marketplace: Explore the bounty of one of the world’s most fertile food sheds brought to market by small, local family farms. Guests can browse, sample and purchase high-quality, artisanal ingredients used by local chefs and explore the new sustainable and organic area, to learn how to incorporate “green” foods and products into the home pantry.
• Silent Auction: Benefiting the Redwood Empire Food Bank: the Taste of Sonoma Silent Auction and Big Bottle Bid offers bidders a chance to take home prized bottlings from local winery cellars, one-of-a-kind etched bottles, and other terrific trips and packages.
• A Self-Guided Walk-Around Retrospective: “Legacy of the Land: 150 Years on a Russian River Valley Ranch”: Experience the living history of MacMurray Ranch through a never-before-seen exhibition detailing ranch life from the late 19th Century to today. The exhibit is displayed in the oldest structure on the ranch, called the Prune Shed in reference to the principal Russian River Valley cash crop of the early 1900s. From subsistence farming to elite Pinot Noir, the history of MacMurray Ranch tells a story of Sonoma County agriculture from the 1850s to the 21st Century. Experience this exhibition while enjoying MacMurray Ranch Wines!
Named one of the “Ten Best Wine and Food Events in the United States” by Celebrated Living magazine, Taste of Sonoma is a coveted ticket. General Admission is $150 per person. Visa Signature cardholders receive a special price of $95 per person, as well as other event perks when they use their card to purchase tickets. Grand Reserve tickets are $195 per person. Grand Reserve ticket holders receive additional privileges throughout the event and access to exclusive venues featuring rare wines, gracious hospitality and special behind-the-scenes benefits.
For more info and to purchase tickets go to: 2009 Sonoma Wine Country Weekend
To follow American Feast on Facebook go to: American Feast on Facebook
 
Tasting Room & Vineyard (photos courtesy of B.R. Cohn)
Located in beautiful Glen Ellen, California, in the heart of the Sonoma Valley, B.R. Cohn Olive Oil Company is committed to providing exceptional products that satisfy those hungry for new adventures in food. Since its founding the company has continued to garner numerous local and international awards as well as accolades from the gourmet world.
B.R. Cohn's Picholine olive trees, imported from France, are a rarity in a region dominated by Italian and Spanish varietals. They were planted in the 1870s as part of a growing olive oil industry that went into decline at the turn of the 20th century. In the early 1990s, Bruce Cohn and other pioneers brought about a renaissance in California olive oil leading to a new recognition of California olive oils as world-class offerings. As a natural complement to the olive oils, wine-inspired vinegars were added to the menu.
All B.R. Cohn extra virgin olive oils bear the Seal of Quality from the California Olive Oil Council, having passed a laboratory analysis and blind tasting to ensure they are free of defects. The award-winning gourmet wine vinegars handcrafted in Glen Ellen are naturally aged for 18-22 months in oak barrels using the centuries-old “Orleans process.”
During the Middle Ages wine shipped along France’s Loire River was often subjected to hot sun and compromised barrels caused some of the wine to spoil. Nestled along the river, the city of Orléans became an offloading point for this vin aigre, French for “sour wine.” Over the centuries, the local vinegar makers perfected a slow and delicate process of conversion from wine to vinegar, defining the art of superior vinegar making that came to be known as the “Orléans process.”
Vinegar is referenced in the Bible almost as often as wine, and is mentioned in Egyptian and Sumerian records dating back 5000 years. The Romans used it liberally and in 400 BC, Hippocrates prescribed it to his patients.
Planning a visit to the Sonoma Valley? Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the rare Picholine olive grove at the beautiful B.R. Cohn Olive Hill Estate Winery and discover their unique history. Just five miles north of the town of Sonoma and a 45-minute drive from San Francisco, the bucolic setting is perfect for an impromptu picnic. Stock up on supplies at the B.R. Cohn tasting room and head for the olive grove or one of their patios. Sample award-winning olive oils and ultra premium wines daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, or call to schedule a tour of the property at 800-938-4064, ext. 24. The B.R. Cohn Winery is located at 15000 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen, California 95442.
If you’d like to purchase some of B.R. Cohn’s artisanal offerings click on any of the following:
Trio Gift Box of California Oil & Vinegars
Pear Chardonnay Vinegar
Raspberry Champagne Vinegar
Stone Ground Mustard
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Come rain or shine, Hudson River Park’s annual Blues BBQ Festival is on for Sunday, August 23rd from 2:00 to 9:00 PM. As always, admission to the big family-friendly event is FREE!
The Festival brings some of the best blues bands from across the country together with 4 of the 10 Best New York City BBQ restaurants as rated by Citysearch. Held on Manhattan’s Pier 54 at West 14th Street, the event makes for a fantastic summer day on the historic Hudson River, a true feast for the senses with the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of a true southern BBQ experience!
Here’s the Entertainment Line-up for 2009:
2:30 Eden Brent
A native of the Mississippi Delta, Eden Brent is known for her vast repertoire of jazz and blues standards - and performs at special events throughout the Southern United States and around the globe.
3:45 Homemade Jamz Blues Band
Homemade Jamz’ Blues Band consists of three young siblings, the youngest blues band to sign with a major record label. Their 2008 debut album, Pay Me No Mind, features electrified Chicago- and raucous juke-joint-style songs. Blues legend B.B. King says, “These young kids have got energy, talent and do the blues proud with their own flavor. I believe they’ve got a GREAT future ahead.”
5:00 Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater
Tall, lean, and lanky Chicago southpaw Eddy Clearwater is a pioneer of West Side-style blues guitar and one of the Windy City's finest bluesmen. His exciting live performances have cemented his reputation as a masterful showman. Gospel, country, '50s rock, and deep-down blues are all incorporated into his slashing guitar attack.
6:15 Diunna Greenleaf
Diunna Greenleaf, the leader of Blue Mercy, is a native Texan (Houston) who has a background steeped in gospel music. She has developed "Diunna's style of Blues" in the same tradition as so many other great Texas blues men and women. She combines intricate patches of jazz, gospel and heartfelt soul to create a kind of blues that takes one on an emotional roller coaster ride. She has performed throughout the United States and at the Lugano Blues Festival and the Bern Jazz Festival, both in Switzerland, as well as the Cahors Blues Festival in France.
7:30 Michael Burks
“Michael Burks will singe the whiskers right off your face, kicking every tune in the butt with the chunkiest sustaining siren-wail of a tone this side of Albert King, by mixing back-snapping funk and traditional postwar blues grooves. He's a big, bad blues guitar slinger with a brawny tone. Fans of rompin', stompin' blues power are the beneficiaries of Burks' trials and tribulations, as his deeply emotional playing and singing derives from his personal experiences. In a blues world desperate for a post-Stevie Ray guitar hero, Michael Burks is an immensely talented guitarist and singer poised to fill the void... Big, fat guitar tone over modern funky blues...excellent” - GuitarOne
The BBQ Restaurants
Foodies who enjoy feasting with their hands should be well pleased with menu selections from 4 of the city’s best BBQ restaurants:
• Brother Jimmy's BBQ
• Dallas Jones Bar-B-Q
• Dinosaur Bar Be Que
• Mara's Homemade
Hudson River Park is the largest park to undergo construction in Manhattan since Central Park was created, and includes beautiful public piers, a waterside esplanade, and limited commercial activities at several sites. The Hudson River Park Trust is entrusted with completing the design and major construction phases, improving the park's Estuarine Sanctuary through public education, research and habitat enhancement, and providing free or low-cost recreational opportunities for both New York City residents and visitors.
If you’d like to learn more about the park & its recreational offerings go to: Hudson River Park Trust
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Grilled Oysters (Image courtesy of Bodega Seafood Art and Wine Festival)
Started over a decade ago, the Bodega Seafood Art and Wine Festival has become one of the Bay Area's most popular, attracting wine makers, foodies, art aficionados, and music lovers by the thousands. Home to Hitchcock's classic thriller, “The Birds,” Bodega proves the perfect locale for an unforgettable weekend with Sonoma County's top wineries, microbreweries, renowned seafood purveyors, talented artists, and world-class musicians.
The open-air event, which takes place on August 29th and 30th, 2009 at scenic Watts Ranch, invites wine lovers to participate in the wonderful festival tasting featuring approximately 30 locally produced wines and 24 micro brews. Celebrate summer's seafood bounty by enjoying festival favorites including barbecued oysters, crab cakes, and Key Lime calamari, as well as other delicacies, including vegetarian options.
The weekend Festival features dozens of events showcasing carefully selected original artwork, crowd-pleasing entertainers, a wild animal “safari,” and rubber duck races benefiting Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods.
Created by local artists Janet Ciel and Michael Ecton, the festival was born of their passion for the East Coast's plethora of traditional seafood festivals. While escaping the winter cold to exhibit in Florida during the mid-1990's, they discovered these celebrations-of-all-things-seafood. “We couldn't believe there weren't similar seafood festivals on the West Coast. So we decided to start our own to share with Northern Californians,” says Janet.
Not-to-be-missed Festival highlights include:
• The Bay Area's most popular band on the music scene, Pride & Joy, featuring their one-of-a-kind, electrifying, high-style shows of pop/soul music
• Live performance by the daughter of Blues legend John Lee Hooker and an exceptional Blues performer in her own right, Zakiya Hooker
• The rompin', stompin' leaders of cross-polinated Gypsy music,” Fishtank Ensemble featuring their mesmerizing blend of flamenco guitar, punk accordion, saw playing, and Japanese shamisen – “a young band that is one of the most thrilling live acts on the planet,” according to the LA Weekly
• San Francisco darling of the swing dancing set,Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums play jump blues, swing, jazz, and rare gems inspired by the '30s, '40s, and '50s.
• Tom Rigney and Flambeau, voted best cajun/zydeco band of 2004 and renowned as “a band that will tear the roof off of anyplace and raise the spirits of everyone around”
• George Cole and Vive Le Jazz's superbly crafted and sophisticated original music that evokes the best of George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Django Reinhardt a band that will tear the roof off of anyplace that has one and raise the spirits of everyone around.
• Lively fun for kids and adults who are kids at heart – an interactive “wild safari” show featuring alligators, armadillos, and wallabies, oh my!
• The first annual Bodega Seafood Festival Rubber Duck Races!! A waterway built on the festival grounds will be home to thousands of sunglasses-clad rubber duckies, vying for a grand prize of a Soft Tu!
The public is invited to enjoy Northern California's culinary creations, sublime summer weather, and world-class entertainment on August 29th from 10AM – 6PM and on August 30th from 10AM – 5PM. Admission is $12 for adults, and kids under 12 years are admitted free of charge. Festivities take place in the village of Bodega at Watts Ranch, located at 16855 Bodega Highway. For more information, please visit: Bodega Seafood Art & Wine Festival
As a salute to Sonoma County's nearby redwoods, proceeds benefit the Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, an organization that works in partnership with California State Parks to provide the public with opportunities for personal inspiration through environmental stewardship programs, and the Bodega Volunteer Fire Department.
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(photo courtesy of Windy City Wine Festival)
Epicurean Delights!
On Friday, September 11th and Saturday, September 12th, Chicago will become an epicurean’s delight when the Windy City Wine Festival brings in more than 250 fine wines from across the globe. Wine Seminars and cooking demonstrations will be conducted by Festival sponsors, exhibiting wineries, Chicago-area chefs and participating restaurants.
The Festival takes place at one of Chicago’s most lovely locales, Daley Bicentennial Plaza in Grant Park, located on Randolph Street, just over the Millennium Bridge. The Festival will run from 4:00 to 10:00 pm on Friday, and 3:00 to 10:00 pm on Saturday. A portion of the proceeds made at the Festival will be donated to the Grant Park Conservatory.
Entertainment
Wine Seminars and cooking demonstrations will be conducted by the Festival’s sponsors, exhibiting wineries, Chicago-area chefs and participating restaurants. As guests enjoy strolling through the park indulging their palates with outstanding wine varietals local musical talent will provide live Jazz, Blues and Lite Rock performances.
Fine Foods & a Global Selection of Wines
The Festival provides an opportunity to sample from more than 250 wines from around the world. Learn about new and exciting varieties from the experts in a relaxed festival setting. Participants can easily navigate their way throughout the park and make note of their favorite wines with the detailed map of the Festival vendors.
To complement the wine’s finish, many of the Chicago area’s finest restaurants will serve gourmet specialties. With the breathtaking vista of Lake Michigan’s shore and the Chicago skyline as the backdrop, the Windy City Wine Festival offers an event to remember not only for wine connoisseurs, but also interested new comers to the world of wine.
Tickets
Tickets are $25 in advance (purchase by 9/10/09) or $30 at the door. This ticket includes a souvenir wine glass, ten tastings, Festival Program, Food & Wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, musical entertainment, and the opportunity to purchase wine at a discount.
A Designated Driver Ticket is $10 in advance or at the door. This ticket includes two non-alcoholic drinks, Festival Program, Food & Wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, musical entertainment, souvenir wine glass upon departure.
Tickets are $22.50 per person for groups of 15 or more if purchased in advance. The Group Ticket Package includes all of the same amenities of the Adult Ticket, yet saves your party $2.50 off the advance price and $7.50 off the door price.
A $3.00 order processing/handling fee will be charged to each phone and online order.
Tickets can be purchased online at the Festival’s official web site: Windy City Wine Festival
Tickets can be purchased by phone at 847-382-1480.
Tickets will be available for purchase on-site at Daley Bicentennial Plaza.
To Volunteer at the event please call (847) 381-6774.
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(photo courtesy of Faces & Names Lounge & Bar)
We’ve always found Faces & Names is a place where you don’t have to be regular to get treated like one, making it one of our favorite watering holes to visit ourselves or recommend to others in need of a little lift. So we’re very pleased to have just heard from our friend Alex Berzins, who manages the place, that Citysearch has nominated it as the best lounge in New York City!
Conveniently located on Manhattan’s West 54th Street, right off Seventh Avenue, Faces’ unpretentious, relaxed atmosphere makes for a pleasant stop whenever you’re ready for a restorative drink. The mix of locals, visitors and the after-work crowd are made to feel at home by folks who know how to make their guests feel appreciated. Some say it feels like the Cheers of Midtown, with friendly bartenders hosting as well as entertaining, and regulars that always go to their special spot at the bar.
Here’s what one delighted guest quoted by Citysearch had to say about her visit to Faces:
This place is WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL!!!! $5 drafts all the time, so no need to worry about hitting this place at "happy hour." Bartender, "Lisa" is especially friendly and made our visit even greater! She took the extra time to converse about local dining (not just the bar) and made dinner recommendations for us. We chose this place because it was less than a block from our hotel, but found that we couldn't have had better service if we had gone 20 blocks.
The back lounge with sofas provides an intimate atmosphere, and a second, more secluded bar. Whether you go for the friendly atmosphere or the delicious food and drinks, Faces is open daily from 11:00 am to 4:00 am, and the kitchen serves food until 3:00 am every night. Give Faces Famous Mini Burgers served on potato rolls a try with one of their delicious draft beers.
Faces is an outstanding after-work gathering place with several private party packages available for groups of up to 100. Give Alex a call for more information at (212) 586-9311 and tell him his friends at American Feast say hi and we’ll be by very soon to celebrate the joint's good fortune!
If you’d like to vote for your favorite New York City lounge go to: Citysearch
For more info on one of our favorite watering holes in NYC go to their web site: Faces & Names Bar & Lounge
To follow American Feast on Facebook go to: American Feast on Facebook
The Plaza of New York City has unveiled its new signature drink, the Pomona, on NBC’s 10th annual Today Throws a Wedding contest reception. The drink will also be used to celebrate the wedding of former Olympic hopefuls who capture the hearts of viewers during The Plaza's 100-Mile contest this year.
The 100-Mile Menu is a culinary movement that marries seasonal fare with elegant style. "The bridal market's shift toward an interest in sustainable, green weddings inspires catering that is seasonal, local and always delicious. With fresh, organic ingredients, the 100-Mile Menu is the synthesis of robust flavor and modern dining and we're thrilled to complement our menu with this new cocktail. Pomona, the Goddess of Orchards and Abundance, is surely pleased,” said Liz Neumark, partner, CPS Events at The Plaza.
The Pomona is made from ingredients that hail from the 100-mile area around New York City, including American Fruits' Black Currant Cordial, Lieb Family Cellars Blanc de Blancs, New York sparkling wine and local honey. The beverage was commissioned by CPS Events, the partnership entrusted with the hotel's famed Grand Ballroom, and designed by mixologist Brittany Chardin of Atlanta's iMi Agency.
"Creating a signature drink for The Plaza was both an honor and a challenge,” said Chardin. "At the onset of the project, CPS Events required the drink be developed utilizing ingredients produced within a 100-mile radius of the city. I was thrilled and surprised by the interesting array of amazing products produced in New York City and the 100 miles that surround it. The enthusiasm of the local distilleries and producers to work on this project was infectious. I know guests will truly celebrate in a memorable way with this drink.”
Situated on Manhattan’s lovely Central Park, The Plaza is one of the city’s most venerable landmarks. Built in 1907, and said to be modeled after The Savoy of London, its celebrated patrons have included everyone from royalty to author F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Beatles. A statue of Pomona adorns the fountain outside The Plaza's main entrance.
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(Photo Courtesy The Courier-Gazette/www.MaineCoastNOW.com)
What do you get when you mix the world’s largest lobster cooker, a sea goddess, a big parade, entertainment that includes Celtic fiddling sensation Natalie MacMaster, a Seafood Cooking Contest, fine art, talented crafts people, a lobster crate race, marine heritage, road races, kids events, over 20,000 pounds of lobster, plus over 1,000 volunteers and a group of dedicated directors?
The Maine Lobster Festival!
For real small town fun with big time entertainment and events, The Maine Lobster Festival in Harbor Park Rockland has it all! This year's Festival will open on Wednesday, July 29th when King Neptune and His Court, along with the 2008 Sea Goddess, arrive from the Briny Deep to raise the flag. It will run through Sunday, August 2nd with a Wreath Ceremony commemorating fishermen lost at sea. After the Ceremony, King Neptune and His Court return to the Deep until next year.
The focus of the Festival is, of course, fresh hot Maine lobster! Enjoy your lobster dinner under the Maine Eating Tent. What could be better on a warm summer day than feasting on fresh lobster while taking in a spectacular view of Maine's Penobscot Bay?
During the 2008 Lobster Festival, 20,000 pounds of luscious lobster was prepared in the huge steamer on the shore. That's a show in itself! In addition to lobster, you can choose from steamed and fried clams, fried Maine shrimp, shrimp cocktail, steamed mussels in wine and vegetable sauce, and many varieties of traditional summer fair food, all prepared in the traditional Maine way.
For more on the Festival including the schedule of events & travel info go to: Annual Maine Lobster Festival
(photo courtesy of Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival)
Pack your bags for beautiful Portland, Oregon and join blues fans from around the world at the 2009 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, running from July 2nd to July 5th, 2009, on the grassy banks of the Willamette River at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
The 2009 Festival will feature more than 120 performances on five stages. Among the highlights will be performances by the legendary Johnny Winter, Etta James and the Roots Band, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Ryan Shaw, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Sonny Landreth, Robben Ford, and Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, to name just a few.
Since its grass-roots beginnings in 1988, the award-winning festival has grown to be the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi and the second-largest blues festival in the nation, attracting more than 120,000 blues fans.
Daily admission is a donation of $10 per person and two cans of food for the benefit of the Oregon Food Bank. All of the Festival’s proceeds benefit Oregon Food Bank’s work to eliminate hunger and its root causes in Oregon and southwest Washington.
This year the festival offers incredible value with its Blues Buddy Pass. For just $65 ($55 if purchased by June 8th), Blues Buddy Pass holders receive:
• Admission to 2 Wildhorse Super Jams at the Marriott Hotel Ballroom on July 3rd and 4th, featuring the bluesy soul of Karl Denson's Tiny Universe and the sacred steel of The Lee Boys on Friday night.
• A Battle of the 'Bones with Bonerama and Big Sam's Funky Nation on Saturday after the fireworks.
PLUS:
• Four-day admission to the festival
• Early access to place your blanket before gates open
• Guaranteed re-admission, even when gates are closed
• An official festival collector's button.
To get info for visitors and the most wanted foods visit the Festival's web site: Portland Blues Festival
Costume Parade (Image courtesy of Castroville Artichoke Festival)
Spring is the time for fresh artichokes and a wonderful time to visit California's beautiful Monterey County for the Castroville Artichoke Festival.
Every year, artichoke lovers from far and wide travel to Castroville to sample the many unique flavors of the artichoke in an atmosphere of fun, tasteful treats, musical entertainment and crafts. This year's Festival will take place on Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th. Festival goers enjoy a parade, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, a classic car show, and more for the whole family.
It's artichiokes galore everywhere you turn. The Agro Art Competition calls for 3-dimensional fruit and vegetable artwork. It's a quirky competition fostering imagination, creativity, and fun. There's a colorful parade and 2 days of live music. Everything from Swing to Mariachi, Country to 50's Rock & Roll. This year's performers will include the Average White Band, the Johnny Clay Band, and Los Lobos. For the kids there are games, face paints, clowns, stilt walkers, and puppets.
Foodies can sample artichokes fried, sautéed, grilled, marinated, pickled, fresh, and creamed in soup. Visitors can also taste foods from the many ethnic groups that give the area its character. You can watch the area's finest chefs showcase the versatility and unique techniques for preparing and using artichokes. The Festival is a great chance to enjoy the best from the area's award-winning producers.
For arts & crafts enthusiasts there are unique gifts and apparel crafted by artisans from throughout the country; plus artichoke souvenirs galore!
Artichokes in Garden (photo by Matthew Bridges, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Vist the Farmers Market and get yourself some artichokes and more, fresh from the heart of the nation's salad bowl. You might want to hop a bus and take a field tour of the artichoke patch for grower talks and photo ops.
The entrance fees are family friendly at $8 for adults and $4 for children. Enjoy!
For more info visit the Festival's official website: Castroville Artichoke Festival
Baltimore’s award-winning Sotto Sopra Restaurant serves contemporary Italian cuisine in their 19th century building located in Baltimore’s cultural district. The restaurant has won many awards over their 14 years and was recently chosen for the People’s Choice Award as Baltimore’s Best Italian Restaurant as listed in Baltimore Magazine in March, 2009
Dollar Pasta Night - Dine at Sotto Sopra Restaurant on tax night, Wednesday, April 15th, make a cash or check donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and/or Our Daily Bread and for just one U.S. dollar ($1.00) you can order from a selection of nine pastas - it is that simple.
Sotto Sopra wants to take the bite out of tax day woes as well as help the less fortunate along the way.
Dollar Pasta Menu
Spaghetti alla Bolognese
Penne with Salmon and Pernod
Rigatoni with Eggplant and Mozzarella
Cappellini al Pomodoro
Spaghetti Aglio Olio
Penne Zucchine
Spaghetti alla Carbonara
Spaghetti all'Amatriciana
Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
Where: Sotto Sopra Restaurant
405 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 625-0534
To visit the restaurant's web site go to: Sotto Sopra
When: Wednesday, April 15th -Tax Day, 5:00 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Why: Sotto Sopra Owner, Riccardo Bosio believes that we all must find ways to give back and help in these troubled times – this is one of his ways. Both charities have a special meaning for Bosio.
Contact: Dara Bunjon, Marketing Director, at (410) 486-0339 or (410) 625-0534 – dara@dara-does-it.com
Chuck Wagon (photo courtesy of Library of Congress, circa 1902)
Spring is here and vacation planning is on the agenda of many American families. Quite a few will likely choose travel in the U.S. for a vacation in these times of economic uncertainty. For those planning to blaze a trail for vacation this summer here's some advice from the American Dietetic Association on eating healthy when traveling:
Summer vacations are a time for both relaxation and travel. Whether you’re traveling by plane, train or automobile, being “on the road” can often disrupt a healthy eating routine.
As you plan your trip, take time to think about eating, physical activity and hydration. Keep meals and snacks three to four hours apart. If it means carrying snacks, plan accordingly. If you’re worried about airport food or eating on the road, pack nonperishables like peanut butter and crackers, nuts and dried fruit or trail mix.
And drink plenty of water or water-based beverages to stay well-hydrated.
For more tips on eating healthy from the ADA go to: American Dietetic Association
For times when you won't be on the road take a look at this excellent article by Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist
Renee Simon: What to Feed Your Kids this Summer
To listen to a podcast interview with Renee Simon go to: American Feast's Wellness Expert Renee Simon Podcast
To purchase Renee's book go to: Take Back Your Health, A Total Wellness Guide for You and Your Family
You can get a lot more info on healthy eating by visiting Renee Simon's web site: Total Wellness Nutrition
Boston Skyline (©andrebrilliant, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Boston attracts 12 million visitors each year and offers so many places of interest and sensory delights that multiple visits are needed just take in the most celebrated.
For history buffs the Old North Church that sent Paul Revere off on his famous ride, the Freedom Trail, the U.S.S. Constitution Museum, and the John F. Kennedy Library are virtually mandatory. The Massachusetts Historical Society dates to 1791, and offers a trove of material illuminating the Adams Family, the Antislavery Movement in Massachusetts, and a great deal more.
The culturally inclined can marvel at the priceless artwork on display at the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and listen to Bernard Haitink conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra. For families there is the Boston Children's Museum. According to the Museum’s web site, it is “Boston's First Green Museum" and has been “building innovative, meaningful, and fun exhibits for over 90 years.”
Health conscious foodies might want to attend the Natural Foods Expo in mid-September and the Annual Boston Vegetarian Food Festival (free admission) at the end of October.
Dining options in Boston are as rich as the rest of the city’s offerings. Traditional New England fare with its classic seafood dishes are complemented by New American restaurants where cutting edge chefs display their creativity. Overall, the wealth of dining choices is as diverse as the city’s multi-cultural population.
Even the city’s Boston Globe has historic roots, having published its first issue in 1872. In these times of tight budgets the newspaper has posted an article identifying “just a few of the worthy and affordable options” for devotees of sashimi and sushi. The Globe article is intended to be only a partial list of seven. At the top of that list is Blue Fin in Cambridge, where “Japanese families and Cambridge students rub elbows.”
If you’d like to read the Boston Globe article cited above go to: Raw deal, Sushi lovers in the market for good value have a world of possibilities
For helpful info on planning a trip to Boston go to: The City of Boston
Pittsburgh Skyline (photo by Derek Cashman, copyright holder)
Pittsburgh has the country’s most successful football team, but there are more delights to be had in the Steel City beyond the gridiron. For well over a century wealthy business people have been donating millions of dollars to make the city rich in art and culture and help it gain it recognition as one of America’s most livable cities.
Pittsburgh is home to the Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museum of Art, boasts a fine symphony, and has a long tradition of jazz, blues and bluegrass music. There are four resident companies of professional actors at the Pittsburgh Playhouse alone. If it’s family fun you seek, the beautiful Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh became the largest Silver LEED certified (eco-friendly) museum in the country in March of 2006, and the innovative design won awards from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Institute of Architects.
For foodies it’s also a place where dessert gets taken very seriously. According to China Millman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “…there are a growing number of pastry chefs in Pittsburgh who have both the skill and the necessary support to create desserts that are unmissable and unforgettable.”
Ms. Millman’s article identifies seven restaurants that will enchant foodies with their dessert offerings. Mio Kitchen and Wine Bar was noted for having emphasized dessert from the beginning. Executive chef and owner Matthew Porco is quoted, explaining, “As you eat rich and savory things and you move into something sweet I think it really complements everything and brings it all together."
If you’d like to read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article cited above go to: Here's to the restaurants that take dessert seriously
If you’d like to read a New York Times article on Pittsburgh's successful use of principles of sustainability to both preserve and revitalize its historic structures go to: The Greening of Pittsburgh
Birches in Winter (photo by Harri, courtesy of morguefile.com)
It is difficult to remember a time when some affordable family fun was more in order. If an outing amidst a wintry landscape sounds good, Upstate New York’s Maple Weekend is coming up. Families will be welcome free of charge at sugarhouses across the state on the weekend of March 21-22, and again on the weekend of March 28-29, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm each day.
Over 100 maple producers will be hosting free open houses to demonstrate how maple syrup and other maple products are made. Guests entering the sugarhouses will be struck by the amazing aroma of the syrup. While there they'll be able to sample and purchase maple delights. Some of the sugarhouses will provide a variety of other activities to make visits especially memorable.
Maple Syrup's Origin
The first people to make maple syrup were the Native Americans of the Northeast, who called their delicious syrup, "sinzibukwud," which means, "sweet buds." The Native Americans used it as a flavoring for breads, stews, teas, vegetables and cranberries. We’re all forever in their debt for teaching their trade to French and English settlers.
During the colonial period maple sugar became the principal sweetener in North America. When cane sugar was introduced, many colonists still preferred dried maple sugar because it did not involve West Indian slave labor.
For a list of participating maple producers sorted by county & maps to their locations go to: NYS Maple Weekend Locations
If you can’t make it to a sugarhouse but would like to purchase some of Upstate New York's fine syrup go to:
100% Pure Organic Maple Syrup
Old French Market (photo by William Henry Jackson, ca. 1880-1897, courtesy Library of Congress)
The Big Easy is a timeless treasure in so many ways, and one of its great strengths has always been the availability of unique and delicious foods at prices most anyone can afford. Gourmet meals that honor the tradition of Cajun and Creole cuisine are magnificently turned out at the city’s finest restaurants, but there is much to savor in some of the humblest establishments.
Oyster po’ boys go back to a time when an oyster sandwich was within the budget of a poor working man. You can still get an affordable po’ boy and there are plenty of varieties to choose from. Spicy crawfish boils, blackened catfish, red beans and rice, jambalaya, oyster stew and gumbo can be had today from folks that may not offer linen napkins and tablecloths, but boy do they know how to cook!
USA Today has come up with a list of five of New Orleans’ best restaurant bargains. According to the USA Today article, “Casamento's in the Magazine Street corridor is one of the oldest (it dates to 1919) and, judging from the lines that regularly form outside the door, most popular.”
The list of five is a great start, but we’re betting that additions to the list will go on for a long time to come.
If you’d like to read the USA Today article cited above go to: Best restaurant bargains in New Orleans
Pontabla Apartments, New Orleans (photo by Mike Rash, courtesy of morguefile.com)
I'm not surpised that people living in the Big Easy named Cajun and Creole as their favorite cuisine. It is certainly among my favorites, having just enjoyed a tur-duc-hen with shrimp and crawfish dressing for Christmas Dinner. I am surprised that the winning percentage was only 28%, according to Zagat's newly launched 2009 New Orleans Guide.
I was also a little taken back that 28% of the New Orleans residents surveyed said they "are looking for low-carb, low-fat, and heart-healthy options" when opening a menu. It's been a lot of years since I lived and worked there, but I don't recall a lot of attention to healthy eating when I was a resident. I do recall eating a lot of delicious jambalaya with Andouille sausage.
I was very pleased to see my former employer, Commander's Palace, continues its long streak as being named the city's most popular restaurant. I enjoyed every minute I worked at "the Jewel of the Garden District." There were plenty of customers with Paul Prudhomme serving as the Executive Chef back then. And we had a lot of late night fun after work. I saw Chef Paul at the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco many years later and he fondly remembered, "Those were good times."
It's been over a year since I've been to the Big Easy, but it's time to get back there and experience some of that creative city's newest offerings and enjoy some old favorites as well. Those will be some good times.
I could go for a muffaletta sandwich or oyster po' boy right now, followed by some coffee and chicory with hot, freshly made beignets at the Cafe Du Monde.
Classic Muffaletta (© Terry Poche | Dreamstime.com)
Laissez Le Bon Temps Roulet!
If you'd like to see the press release on which this item was based go to: Zagat Launches 2009 New Orleans Guide
For info on paying a visit to the Big Easy go to: The Official Tourism Site of the City of New Orleans
There's much to be done to overcome the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. If you'd like to aid New Orleans recovery efforts go to: Bush Clinton Katrina Fund
(photo courtesy of South Beach Wine & Food Festival)
“We couldn’t be more excited about the 2009 program of events in South Beach,” said Lee Brian Schrager, Founder and Director of the Food Network’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival. “…we’ll honor Emeril Lagasse, as well as pay special tribute to the culinary prowess of Spain. We’ll also be offering a brand new series of exclusive dinner experiences in addition to the return of our signature events.”
New Events
Celebrating its eighth year, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival will run from February 19th to the 22nd. The 2009 Festival kicks-off on Thursday, February 19th with an exclusive Salute to Spain Dinner at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, featuring a distinguished guest to be announced at a later date. From there, other new events include:
• Brunch at Miami Beach’s iconic Joe’s Stone Crab featuring magnums of champagne from Veuve Clicquot and La Grande Dame.
• A succulent seafood celebration at the Mandarin Oriental hotel brought to you by the islands of Turks and Caicos, accented by Kim Crawford wines.
• Luxurious brunch set to sizzle at the Delano Hotel; featuring Dolce wines and hosted by Katie Lee Joel and Chef Anne Burrell, the affair will be an elite opportunity to experience Dolce’s “liquid gold” in one of Miami Beach’s defining boutique hotels.
• The 2009 dinner series also includes an Indian dinner hosted by Madhur Jaffrey, an all-organic dinner at Paradise Farms hosted by Michael Schwartz, and the Wolfsonian Mouton-Rothschild Dinner held in the presence of Baroness Philippine de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild.
Tribute Dinner
Continuing the Festival tradition of recognizing extraordinary leaders in the culinary industry, the 2009 Tribute Dinner will honor Mr. BAM himself, Emeril Lagasse. In a prestigious parade of talent at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, a night emceed by none-other than Martha Stewart will feature dishes by Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, Charlie Trotter, Eric Ripert, Nobu Matsuhisa, and more as part of this very special night honoring Chef Lagasse’s energy and pioneering-style.
Late Night Parties
In true South Beach fashion, the 2009 Festival will also feature a selection of elite late-night soirees.
• The fun begins with a party produced by MIAMI magazine and hosted by Tyler Florence, host of Food Network’s Tyler’s Ultimate and Food 911.
• The return of Harrah’s Poker Party and Casino Night hosted by Paula Deen.
• A not-to-be missed late-night party sponsored by the spirits of Patrón.
• Stylish and creative, Sandra Lee – star of Food Network’s Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee – offers her own spin on the festivities by inviting everyone over for a good old-fashioned sunset pool party.
• A perfect ending to the 2009 South Beach Wine & Food Festival will be the ultimate closing party hosted by Bobby Flay and actress Stephanie March, complete with fabulous drinks and all manner of gourmet hors d'oeuvres and desserts.
Festival Classics
Festival classics will return with wine and culinary celebrities hosting dinners, tastings, wine seminars, interactive cooking lunches, and much more. The 2009 Wine Spectator Wine Seminar Series and the Bank of America Lifestyle Wine and Spirits Seminars will offer educational and entertaining tastings to satisfy the palettes of both novices and aficionados alike, expanding to take place at both the Miami Beach Convention Center and the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.
• The Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village featuring the American Express Grand Tasting tents returns with a wonderful blend of tasting, superstar chefs and fun.
• Celebrating its third year as part of the Festival, Amstel Light’s Burger Bash hosted by Rachael Ray serves as the perfect start to the entire line-up of the star-studded wine and culinary extravaganza.
• Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best sponsored by Bank of America will move into the illustrious new space of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach; utilizing over 25,000 square feet of newly renovated ballrooms and the outdoor terrace, highlighting a luxurious lounge presented by Cigar Aficionado. The event will continue to showcase the talents of the world’s greatest chefs; including John Besh, John Fraser and Patrick O’Connell, and winemakers from Jordan Vineyard & Winery, Joseph Phelps Vineyards and Schrader Cellars, among others.
• The Festival’s pairing of barbeque and champagne will be back as the Perrier-Jouët BubbleQ hosted by Tom Colicchio, featuring the talent of Adam Perry Lang, Clay Conley, Jonathan Eismann, Rick Bayless, Chris Lilly, Marcus Samuelsson, and many more.
Fun and Fit as a Family
The Festival’s childhood obesity prevention initiative, Fun and Fit as a Family, is returning for its second year at Jungle Island, one of Miami’s premiere theme parks. Fun and Fit as a Family brings together the best culinary, fitness, and health personalities and professionals straight into the backyard of the community. Kidz Kitchen will feature star–studded culinary demonstrations with a healthy focus that are created exclusively for children and their parents. Obstacle courses, relay races, garden exploration, discovery centers, and featured culinary demonstrations make this interactive learning experience a must for the whole family.
For more info on family activities go to: Fun and Fit as a Family
For more general information, visit: South Beach Wine & Food Festival
Airborne Sunset (photo by Alex DeClerk, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Hordes of Americans will be descending on airports over the next 24 hours. Getting there early to get through security, followed by seemingly inevitable flight delays will have many searching for something to eat while waiting to take off.
There can be slim pickings for discerning diners at some airports, but the New York Times has published an article by Matt Gross with the lowdown on some of his favorite finds at the nation’s terminals. The Internet helped with his searches for good food:
Virtually all American airports have their own Web sites, complete with lists of every dining place in the terminals, which helped me narrow down my options. But discussion forums such as Chowhound.com, FlyerTalk.com and AirlinePilotsForum.com proved even more useful.
Among Mr. Gross’ most satisfying meals were the Cuban sandwiches at La Carreta in Miami and the brisket at Cousin’s Bar-B-Q at Dallas–Fort Worth International. For Southern food he recommended Paschal’s in Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, where the sausage, grits and biscuits made for a “a nice cafeteria-style breakfast.”
If you’d like to read the New York Times article cited above and get more tips on eating well on the road, go to: Grabbing a Bite Between Flights
To view a previous item on eating well when traveling by air go to: Fine Dining in the Friendly Skies?
Sonoran Desert Scenery (photo by Ditte Lokon)
Slow Food Tucson will be presenting its 4th Annual Food and Film Festival from January 8th through the 11th in 2009. Classic food films, meals at premiere restaurants, guest speakers, and new food film screenings will be featured.
Classic Films & New Films
This year’s program includes three classic food films:
• “Ratatouille” - The animated Academy Award winner in which a rat (literally, not figuratively) teams up with a kitchen boy, who becomes a celebrated chef with hilarious consequences along the way.
• “Dinner Rush” - Starring Danny Aiello as a former bookie and owner of a hot spot Italian restaurant in New York, who faces unwelcome mobsters trying to muscle their way into the business. Mouth watering dishes are prepared in the kitchen and an all star cast includes John Corbett ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding") & Sandra Bernhard. For mature audiences: R rated: for language, some violence & sexuality.
• “On the Trail with Miss Snail Pail” - World Premiere, documentary short (12 minutes). A snail "collector" pursues her hobby & shares her interest and recipes. Director: Greg Young.
• “Eating Alaska” - Southwest Premiere, feature documentary (60 minutes). An exploration of food politics (not Vice Presidential) from our 49th state from an ex-vegetarian & city dweller, who goes north and marries a commercial fisherman, environmental activist and deer hunter. Share an adventure of regional food traditions, vegan cooking & home economic classes, natives & non-natives trying to find balance in the 21st century. Director: Ellen Frankenstein.
• “Bottle Shock” - A feature film, based on the true story of the celebrated blind 1976 wine tasting competition in which French judges were shocked to have awarded top honors to wines made in California. The story follows the trials, tribulations and passion of a family that struggles for recognition in the world of wine.
And there will be many more fine films to enjoy!
Culinary Events
The culinary events include an opening night dinner at Primo Restaurant at the JW Marriott, Star Pass. Pork saltimbocca with roasted garlic, grilled swordfish & chicken alla Milanese, accompanied with wine. It starts at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 8th, and will be followed by the screening of “Ratatouille” described above.
From 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 9th guests will enjoy Cuvee Bistro's three course French-inspired menu beginning with roasted beet salad with asparagus & goat cheese vinaigrette; then Champagne poached scallops & peers with whipped potatoes & ratatouille; ending with chocolate truffle set in vanilla creme Anglaise with raspberries. Limited to 40 people.
On Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. guests will sit down to Brunch at Vin Tabla: Poached eggs served with roasted salmon & sautee spinach & prosciutto chips; second course: a spiced pumpkin waffle with caramelized apples, toasted pecans & whipped ginger cream. Wine pairings with each course, beginning with an extra dry Prosecco. Limited to 40 people.
The Gala Closing Brunch will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Chef Albert Hall, winner of Tucson's 2008 Iron Chef Competition, will feature locally raised Wagyu Beef with locally grown produce from Wilcox & wines produced at the Keeling-Schaeffer Vineyards, out near the Chiricahua National Monument. The "Best of the Best" Tucson Slow Food & Film audience award will be presented to one of the nine new films screened during the festival.
Benefiting a Terrific Cause
Slow Food is a non-profit, eco-gastronomic organization that supports a biodiverse, sustainable food supply, local producers, heritage foodways, and rediscovery of the pleasures of the table. Carlo Petrini founded Slow Food in 1986 in response to the opening of a McDonald's in Rome's historic Piazza di Spagna.
Slow Food Tucson is affiliated with Slow Food USA, which supports Slow Food International, a worldwide movement with more than 80,000 members in 100 countries. Slow Food Tucson convivium was created in 1999 by Chef Barry Infuso, Director of the Culinary Arts Program at Pima Community College. Linda Berzok, vice-president, is author of the recently published "American Indian Food: Food in American History." Jashio Pei, secretary, is a reknowned Tucson artist. Bob Berzok, treasurer, is a member of the Williamstown, Massachussetts Film Festival board of directors.
More Info on the Event
For additional information go to the Festival's official web site: Slow Food Tucson
Thanksgiving arrives this week and the winter holidays are fast-approaching. It's the time of year when Americans tend to dine out more than usual and put on some extra pounds. Here are some tips from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for eating well when eating out:
• As a beverage choice, ask for water or order fat-free or low-fat milk, unsweetened tea, or other drinks without added sugars.
• Ask for whole wheat bread for sandwiches.
• In a restaurant, start your meal with a salad packed with veggies, to help control hunger and feel satisfied sooner.
• Ask for salad dressing to be served on the side. Then use only as much as you want.
• Choose main dishes that include vegetables, such as stir fries, kebobs, or pasta with a tomato sauce.
• Order steamed, grilled, or broiled dishes instead of those that are fried or sautéed.
• Choose a “small” or “medium” portion. This includes main dishes, side dishes, and beverages.
• Order an item from the menu instead heading for the “all-you-can-eat” buffet.
• If main portions at a restaurant are larger than you want, try one of these strategies to keep from overeating:
• Order an appetizer or side dish instead of an entrée.
• Share a main dish with a friend.
• If you can chill the extra food right away, take leftovers home in a “doggy bag.”
• When your food is delivered, set aside or pack half of it to go immediately.
• Resign from the “clean your plate club” – when you’ve eaten enough, leave the rest.
• To keep your meal moderate in calories, fat, and sugars:
• Ask for salad dressing to be served “on the side” so you can add only as much as you want.
• Order foods that do not have creamy sauces or gravies.
• Add little or no butter to your food.
• Choose fruits for dessert most often.
• On long commutes or shopping trips, pack some fresh fruit, cut-up vegetables, low-fat string cheese sticks, or a handful of unsalted nuts to help you avoid stopping for sweet or fatty snacks.
Get a quick estimate of what and how much you need to eat. Enter your age, sex, height, weight, and level of physical activity to get a personal eating plan: MyPyramid Plan
Golden Gate Bridge (photo by Kevin Connors, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Denizens of the beautiful City by the Bay share the country’s concerns about unsure times ahead, but in the city recently named one of the world’s top ten culinary destinations there are plenty of sweet comforts available.
The San Francisco Chronicle has provided a wonderful guide to offerings from Bay Area pastry chefs suited to “calming nerves” by satisfying the city’s collective sweet tooth. The Chronicle’s Stacy Finz took on the enviable task of seeking out traditional desserts, such as cupcakes, that folks turn to “when the world becomes an uncertain place.”
Among the places Ms. Finz notes for serving soothing desserts are Mill Valley’s Buckeye Roadhouse and San Francisco’s Candybar, Citizen Cake, Orson and Citizen Cupcake. She writes that they can expect plenty of worried though eager customers “at least until the economy rebounds.”
If you’d like to read the San Francisco Chronicle article cited above go to: Sweet dessert relief for diners
Hannah Kaminsky's Vegan Cheesecake (photo courtesy of Boston Vegetarian Society)
If you love great food that’s good for your health and the heath of our planet, get yourself to the 13th Annual Boston Vegetarian Food Festival on Saturday, November 1st, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center at 1350 Tremont Street. The longest-running event of its kind in the country, the Festival offers Free admission, Free food sampling, and Free parking!
Fantastic Food, Fun & Learning
With 120 exhibitors, the Boston Vegetarian Food Festival is a full day of fun, good food, and learning! It is a chance to explore and taste free samples of a great variety of delicious and natural vegetarian foods, talk to food exhibitors from all over the country, learn about the latest veggie products, and shop for special "show priced" bargains. There’s also fun with nonfood exhibitors such as a producer of high-fashion, animal-friendly women's dress shoes. Book and cookbook publishers, educational exhibits on protecting animals and the environment, and a children's activity center will round out the day.
Stellar Speakers & Cooking Demonstrations
The Festival also offers a stellar lineup of top national speakers and superb chefs. They will bring cutting edge nutrition information as well as the how-to's of delicious plant-based eating in presentations that are lively and often hilarious as well. The talented chefs will teach mouth-watering dishes and share kitchen tips, while other experts will speak on living in harmony with animals and the environment.
The Festival's national speakers:
• Sarah Kramer, hip British Columbian author of the cookbook "La Dolce Vegan!" and coauthor of "How It All Vegan!" and "The Garden of Vegan". Her latest book is "Vegan à Go-Go: A Cookbook & Survival Manual for Vegans on the Road".
• Hannah Kaminsky, 19-year old author of the cookbook "My Sweet Vegan" and the Bittersweet Blog, is passionate about dessert. She will give a cooking demo of some of her dairy- and egg-free desserts that will rock your world.
• jae steele, registered holistic nutritionist from Canada, and author of "Get It Ripe: A Fresh Take on Vegan Cooking and Living". In this cooking demo jae will teach whole foods breakfasts and lunches that will keep you energized for the day.
• Danielle Nierenberg, Senior Fellow with the Worldwatch Institute, expert on animal agriculture's impact on the environment and climate change.
• T. Colin Campbell, world-famous nutritional biochemist, author of "The China Study", leader of the renowned Cornell, Oxford, China study on how diet effects health. Topic: "Understanding the Scientific Evidence for a Plant-Based Diet"
• Michael Greger, MD, packs a ton of vegan nutrition information in a hilarious package. His talk, "The Latest in Human Nutrition-2008," will present cutting-edge nutrition research of the last 12 months in a lively style.
• Karen Dawn, author of "Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals", and creator of the animal advocacy media listserv DawnWatch, counts celebrities and critters among her personal friends in advancing the animal cause.
Delicious! (photo courtesy of Boston Vegetarian Society)
Sponsored by Boston Vegetarian Society
The sponsoring organization, the Boston Vegetarian Society, is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. The organization seeks to make a better world for people, animals, and the earth through advancing a healthful vegetarian diet and a compassionate ethic. It provides education, encouragement, and community support for vegetarians and for anyone wishing to learn more about a healthy, environmentally friendly and humane way of life.
To get more info on the Festival and learn more about the sponsoring organization go to: Boston Vegetarian Society
Creole Chicken (photo by Rick Tango)
iExplore has announced their list of Top Ten Culinary Destinations in the world as determined by their Adventure Travel Consultants. Seasoned foodie travelers will not be surprised to learn that San Francisco and New Orleans made the cut.
New Orleans was actually the top pick. Here's what iExplore had to say about the Big Easy, "Food in New Orleans is a way of life and a big part of the city's charm. Any visit here will mean getting your mouth around dishes such as catfish, jambalaya, gumbo and more." As for the City by the Bay, "San Francisco is the restaurant capital of the country and awash in culinary riches."
Having had the chance to sample the culinary creation of both of cities we can only say that the folks at iExplore made two delicious choices.
If you'd like to view the full list of iExplore's selected destinations go to: Top Ten Culinary Destinations
Portland Skyline at Night (© Patricia Betts | Dreamstime.com)
Amidst all the worrisome recent news we can all use a little comforting. Fortunately for folks in Portland, Oregon there are great comfort foods to sooth the nerves and please the palate.
OregonLive.com has surveyed Portland’s eateries and come up with a selection of the best of the local comfort foods. And a mouth-watering selection it is! The Chocolate Mousse at Navarre is described as “Rich but lighter than a cloud. Soft but thick and more intense than Christian Bale.” The Banana Pudding at Belly Timber is said to be “Sweet, simple, honest -- and awesome.”
The article on OregonLive.com made seven delicious selections in all, and they’ve got us ready to pay a tasting visit to the place called America’s greenest city. We’re more than ready to take their advice: “Spoon in!”
If you’d like to read the OregonLive.com article cited above go to: Portland's sweetest comfort food
Fun for All at the Festival (photo courtesy of Kona Coffee Cultural Festival)
"Kona Coffee Tradition of Excellence"
Join in the community celebration of Kona's gourmet brew at the 38th Annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival on Hawaii’s Big Island, beginning Friday, November 7th and ending Sunday, November 16th. Enjoy nearly 50 Festival events including contests, tastings, ethnic foods, two parades, a scholarship pageant, farm tours, art exhibits, an outdoor concert and more!
The award-winning Cultural Festival celebrates a 180-year-old tradition of the annual Kona coffee harvest. Kona coffee is carefully hand-picked to ensure each coffee cherry is ripe and ready for the perfect cup of Kona. Many Kona farmers can lay claim to being fifth generation coffee farmers, continuing the tradition and honoring their heritage with every harvest. Visitors can take tours of working and historical Kona coffee farms, mills and roasting operations.
At the annual Kona Coffee Cupping Competition Festival-goers can view judges selecting the very best Kona coffee and sample the coffee themselves, while learning from tasting experts how to critique a high-quality brew. The Kona Coffee Art Exhibit will feature a selection of paintings depicting views of the Kona coffee lifestyle, and the Kona Coffee Culinary Invitational will give talented Big Island chefs chefs the opportunity to enter their most robust creations using world-famous Kona coffee.
Kona Beans (photo courtesy of Kona Coffee Cultural Festival)
Ever attempted to pick coffee? Test your skills at the Kona Coffee Picking Contest on Sunday, November 9th in a timed competition for both beginners and masters. You can see forever from the slopes of this picture perfect coffee farm, but watch carefully when the seasoned pickers compete. Truly astonishing speed and skill. Cash prizes, entertainment and refreshments are all part of the fun.
For a full schedule of events and further info visit the Festival’s official web site: Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
Pontabla Apartments, New Orleans (photo by Mike Rash, courtesy of morguefile.com)
You might say that New Orleans’ food, music and culture is a gumbo made from “Dis Dat or D'Udda,” which happens to be the name of an album by a Big Easy native son, Dr. John. Creole cooking developed over centuries from many influences and it continues to evolve as succeeding generations make their contributions.
The city’s food scene boasts “a diverse group that now includes a Caribbean tapas bar, a Jewish deli…and a fine-cheese purveyor,” according an excellent Newsweek article by author Julia Reed. The Jewish deli is Stein’s, whose motto is "Looking for a po' boy, go somewhere else."
It seems the pride and spirit of New Orleans’ food community remains as strong as ever, despite the terrible toll taken on the city by Hurricane Kartrina in 2005. What explains all the culinary vitality? The arrival of some newcomers has helped, but there have been some gutsy efforts made by locals to overcome the city’s great tragedy. The Newsweek article provides a good example in John Besh, who opened Restaurant August about a month after the storm, “serving dinner only, which left his days free to feed an enormous oilfield cleanup crew, a contract he'd secured in order to keep his business afloat—days before the storm, he'd closed on the building that housed his restaurant.”
The article says Mr. Besh clocked 20-hour days to keep his business alive. His efforts paid off. Ms. Reed writes, “The first spring after the storm, Besh won the James Beard award for best chef in the Southeast.”
If you’d like to read the Newsweek article cited above go to: Viva the New Big Easy
Founder Marina Marchese and the rest of the folks at Red Bee are passionate about the culinary delights of honey. Their philosophy is that every bottle of their artisanal honey is a gourmet food and can be tasted and evaluated similar to wine, each one having a unique flavor profile determined by the kind of flowers visited by the bees.
The essence of a honey is dictated by the terroir, the unique combination of geographic location, climate, soil and temperature that gives each honey its complex composition and individual personality. As in winemaking, terroir dramatically affects the flavor profiles of the honeys produced.
Red Bee is a boutique honeybee farm located in the historical Bradley Tool section of Weston, Connecticut. The company’s charming red cottages were once the home of New York City ballerina Gelsey Kirkland, who partnered Mikhail Baryshnikov. There they are inspired to create the purest artisanal honeys and sustainable products. Using old world techniques, products are handmade in small batches using only plant-based ingredients to insure the finest quality. They never use pesticides, alcohol, paraffin waxes, petroleum or preservatives.
Red Bee’s organic gardens produce culinary and medicinal herbs, vegetables and flowers for cutting. They make their organic, free range chicken eggs available locally. Red Bee Honeybee products have been found at the New Canaan Farmers Market each summer for the last 6 years.
Marina Marchese is a second generation Italian sharing her love of crafting artisanal products. After graduating from the School of Visual Arts, Marina traveled to Europe and Asia as an illustrator and product designer. Her unique sense of style and love of color was defined in designs that have graced the cover of WWD and greeting cards sold worldwide by UNICEF including children's products, books and magazines. Her own Red Bee® cards were recognized by The National Honey Board after appearing in Victoria Magazine and the cover of American Bee Journal.
Today, Marina’s love of honeybees and painting has led her to the ancient technique of painting with beeswax, a technique known as encaustic painting made popular by the ancient Etruscans. Her unique and lovely artwork will be on display at the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens in Stamford, Connecticut through October 26th of 2008. Call Bartlett Arboretum at 203-322-6971 for directions and viewing hours.
Marina studied Honey Judging at the University of Georgia's Beekeeping Institute, is Charles Mraz Apitherapy Certified and serves on the Board of the Back Yard Beekeepers. Marina has just completed her first book about Red Bee ® to be released in 2008.
If you’d like to sample some of Marina’s superb artisanal honeys or send some as a very special gift, click on any of the following:
Chunk Honey
Clover & Creamed Honey Gift Box
Comb Honey
Creamed Honey
Spring Clover Liquid Honey
Wildflower & Comb Honey Gift Box
Wildflower Liquid Honey
Cajun Crawfish (photo by Robin May, courtesy of Festivals Acadiens et Creoles)
Laissez Le Bon Temps Roulet! (Let the Good Times Roll!)
Festivals Acadiens et Creoles started in 1972, as an effort to keep Cajun culture alive. Since then it has grown into a 3-day event that attracts people of many different nationalities from all over the world. Whether you're among the young or the young at heart, you can bet that Festivals Acadiens et Creoles has something that will tickle your fancy. From Friday, October 10th to Sunday the 12th you can join the folks in Lafayette, Lousiana for good music, good food, and good times!
C'est bon (That's good) is the best way to describe authentic Cajun and Creole cooking, and nowhere in the world is the variety greater than at the Bayou Food Festival in Lafayette. Try fried soft-shell crab, seafood and artichoke lasagna, barbecue boudin, crawfish fettucini, corn and crab bisque, meat pies, catfish courtbouillion, wild game jambalaya, bread pudding and pralines. You can find all this and more as the area's best restaurants and caterers turn out to showcase their finest specialties.
Festival de Musique Acadienne will showcase the best of Cajun and Zydeco music beneath the spreading oaks of Girard Park. Festival de Musique Acadienne, celebrating 32 years of entertainment, originated as the Tribute to Cajun Music Festival, an event that was designed to attract and educate the younger generation to the traditional values of the Cajun culture. Festival de Musique Acadienne now attracts Louisiana's best Cajun and Zydeco bands and draws thousands of people from across the country and around the world.
Louisiana Folk Roots presents Cajun and Creole Music Jam Sessions during Festival Acadiens et Creoles. Jam sessions will take place throughout Saturday and Sunday in Girard Park. Anyone can bring an instrument and join in or just hang around and enjoy the great music of others.
The Louisiana Folk Roots Workshop Stage will immerse you in these different aspects of culture that are unique to Louisiana. Whether it's the music, the dancing, the language and oral traditions, the natural history of beautiful Louisiana, or all these things, Louisiana Folk Roots is your connection at Festivals Acadiens et Creoles to explore these traditions.
The Louisiana Craft Fair will present traditional and fine artists and craftspeople from across Louisiana. The Louisiana Crafts Guild, a non-profit statewide organization created for the professional craftsperson, hosts the Louisiana Craft Fair. Craftspeople will be on hand selling their wares at dozens of crafts booths. Some of the crafts available include wood furniture, jewelry, Houma Indian crafts, gourds, pottery, kaleidoscopes, stained glass, soaps, musical instruments, photography, pen and ink drawings and silk.
Festivals Acadiens et Creoles 2008 invites all the little folks to La Place des Petits! Enjoy French games, crafts, and music focusing on the rich traditional culture of Acadiana. Be sure to check out the tent behind the Folk Roots Workshop near the playground at Girard Park both Saturday and Sunday for tons of fun and a great way for les petits to learn about the heritage of francophone Louisiana.
To get more info on the attractions go to: Festivals Acadiens et Creoles
St. Paul’s Cathedral (photo by Carolina Jimenez-Garcia, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Our friend and spirits expert Gary Regan has proved once again that he’s willing to travel far and wide for great cocktails, whether they be newly created or venerable classics. Gary recently made a trip to London, capital of the country of his birth and boyhood. He was there for the London Bar Show and writes, “It's a good time to be there. Parties tend to spring up out of nowhere, and it's not unusual to find three or four of the world's best bartenders making drinks for the crowd at someone or other's apartment.”
During the party Gary engaged Peter Dorelli, legendary head bartender emeritus at London's famed Savoy Hotel. The topic was the Hanky-Panky Cocktail, created at the Savoy for Edwardian actor Charles Hawtrey in the early 20th Century. Gary informs that the creator was “Ada Coleman, a woman who had Peter's job at the Savoy before he was a twinkle in his father's eye.” The actor had challenged Ada to come up with a drink just for him and after a taste of the new concoction he happily declared, “"By Jove! That is the real hanky-panky!" Gary was able to win a small wager with Peter by correctly identifying Fernet Branca as a key ingredient, which just happens to be one of our friend's favorite liqueurs.
London is not known for its sunny weather, but the simple Hanky-Panky Cocktail is sure to leave you with a sunny disposition.
Ingredients for 1 Cocktail
• 1 1/2 Ounces gin
• 1 1/2 Ounces sweet vermouth
• 2 Dashes Fernet Branca
• 1 Orange twist, as garnish
Preparation
1. Fill a mixing glass two-thirds full of ice, and add gin, vermouth and Fernet Branca.
2. Stir for approximately 30 seconds, strain into a chilled cocktail glass and add the garnish.
If you’d like to purchase Gary’s newest display of wit, charm & knowledge go to: the bartender's GIN compendium
If you’d like to purchase the book on spirits & cocktails that Gary Regan calls, “My Baby” go to: The Joy of Mixology: The Consummate Guide to the Bartender's Craft
If you’d like to purchase a terrific bartender’s guide authored by Gary's partner Mardee go to: The Bartender's Best Friend: A Complete Guide to Cocktails, Martinis, and Mixed Drinks
To visit Gary and Mardee’s wonderful web site and sign up for their very witty newsletter go to: Ardent Spirits
(photo courtesy of Windy City Wine Festival)
Epicurean Delights!
On Friday, September 5th and Saturday, September 6th, Chicago will become an epicurean’s delight when the Windy City Wine Festival brings in more than 250 fine wines from across the globe. Wine Seminars and cooking demonstrations will be conducted by Festival sponsors, exhibiting wineries, Chicago-area chefs and participating restaurants.
The Festival takes place at one of Chicago’s most lovely locales, Daley Bicentennial Plaza in Grant Park, located on Randolph Street, just over the Millennium Nridge. The Festival will run from 4:00 to 10:00 pm on Friday, and 3:00 to 10:00 pm on Saturday. A portion of the proceeds made at the Festival will be donated to the Grant Park Conservatory.
Live Music
As guests enjoy strolling through the park indulging their palates with outstanding wine varieties of the highest character, they’ll be serenaded by live jazz, blues and lite rock played by top local talent, including The Hearty Boys, Kim Massie, Dayna Malow and The Michael Heaton Band.
Fine Foods & a Global Selection of Wines
The Festival provides an opportunity to sample from more than 250 wines from around the world. Learn about new and exciting varieties from the experts in a relaxed festival setting. Participants can easily navigate their way throughout the park and make note of their favorite wines with the detailed map of the Festival vendors.
To complement the wine’s finish, many of the Chicago area’s finest restaurants will serve gourmet specialties. With the breathtaking vista of Lake Michigan’s shore and the Chicago skyline as the backdrop, the Windy City Wine Festival offers an event to remember not only for wine connoisseurs, but also interested new comers to the world of wine.
Tickets
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. This ticket includes a souvenir wine glass, 10 tastings, with additional tastings available at 10 for $5, a Festival Program, Food & Wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, musical entertainment and the opportunity to purchase wine at a 10% Festival discount.
A Designated Driver ticket is also available for $15 per person and includes two non-alcoholic drinks, a Festival Program, Food & Wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, musical entertainment and a souvenir wine glass upon departure. Attendees under 21 are admitted for free when accompanied by a paid adult.
Tickets are $22.50 per person for groups of 15 or more if purchased in advance.
A $3.00 order processing/handling fee will be charged to each phone and online order.
Tickets can be purchased online at the Festival’s official web site: Windy City Wine Festival
Tickets can be purchased by phone at 847-382-1480. Tickets will be available for purchase on-site at Daley Bicentennial Plaza.
Coffee in Hokkaido, Japan (photo by Daniel T. Yara, courtesy of morguefile.com)
It’s another Monday and all over the world people will be reaching for a cup of coffee to help get a week of work off to a good start. MSNBC reports that people in Moscow will pay the most dearly for a caffeine lift, “$10.19, including service, according to a new survey.”
That’s quite a bit more than the $3.75 people will be paying in New York City, but if you want to do better still you can visit Buenos Aires where a cup goes for $2.03. The figures come from a survey conducted by the London office of U.S. consulting firm Mercer.
It’s not just the coffee that’s expensive in Moscow. An international newspaper costs $6.00. According to MSNBC, “In addition to purveying the world's most ruinous roast, Moscow topped Mercer's overall cost of living index for the third year in a row, finishing ahead of Tokyo and London.”
If you’d like to read the MSNBC article cited above go to: Moscow tops most expensive cup of coffee list
Slow Food Nation, the largest celebration of American food in history, will take place in San Francisco over Labor Day weekend (August 29 to September 1, 2008). An unprecedented event, Slow Food Nation will bring together tens of thousands to experience an extraordinary range of activities highlighting the connection between plate and planet. The majority of Slow Food Nation’s events will be free and open to the public with certain events ticketed.
At the peak of harvest season, and on the eve of a Presidential election, Slow Food Nation will bring together local citizens and visitors, farmers and food artisans, political leaders, environmental advocates and health-care experts, community educators and artists. Participants will savor food from across the U.S. at Taste, a 50,000 square foot pavilion; meet farmers and producers at a marketplace surrounding a 10,000 square foot newly-planted urban garden in the heart of the City; learn from visionary speakers; and engage in political discourse to shape a more sustainable food system. Slow Food Nation will also feature a music festival, workshops, films, dinners, hikes and journeys.
“Slow Food Nation will catalyze a huge shift in how Americans perceive and prioritize food. Through the four-day event, we hope to build momentum and demand for an American food system that is safer, healthier and more socially just,” said Anya Fernald, Executive Director of Slow Food Nation.
“Our founder Alice Waters has set the stage for a delicious revolution through decades of leadership and advocacy and our parent organization, Slow Food U.S.A., has built a wide membership base across America. By creating a framework for a deeper environmental and community-based connection to our food and farmers, Slow Food Nation will help participants learn how everyday choices affect our well-being, our culture and the health of the planet.”
In collaboration with Victory Gardens 2008+, Slow Food Nation will herald the era of self-sufficiency through the creation of an ornamental edible garden in the heart of San Francisco’s Civic Center. Planted on the same site as 60 years ago during World War II, the Slow Food Nation Victory Garden demonstrates the potential of a truly local agriculture practice and brings together and promotes Bay Area urban gardening organizations, while producing high quality food for those in need. The Slow Food Nation Victory Garden will be introduced to the public on Saturday, July 12 in a ceremony with Mayor Gavin Newsom and Slow Food Nation Founder Alice Waters.
If you’d like to purchase tickets and get further info on events and scheduling go to: Slow Food Nation ‘08
(images courtesy of the Solar Living Institute)
Looking for some eco-friendly family fun? Then get yourselves to California's Mendocino County for the weekend of August 16th and 17th and visit SolFest 2008, the world’s premier two-day celebration of renewable energy and sustainable living. Since SolFest was created by the Solar Living Institute in 1996, over 100,000 people have learned how to change the world while having fun.
SolFest is a family affair with more programs and workshops for children added each year. The Family Stage features music, clowns, puppets and ‘edu-tainment’ for all ages. Musical acts New Monsoon, Maria Muldaur, Blane Lyon, Albino and more will be taking the stage this year.
The nearby Central Oasis features a fun zone where kids can cool off in the bubbling stream while learning about solar energy and the characteristics of life-giving water. The "flow-form," designed by Rudolph Steiner soothes the children's spirits while activating their imaginations. And the Solar Living Institute is also home to the world’s only solar-powered carousel featuring indigenous Mendocino County critters, and the kids love to take a spin on the ‘solar skunk!’
Saving the world can be hungry work, so be sure to enjoy the offerings of the many organic food vendors. Naturally, organic and sustainable beer is also on tap for those hot summer days, and the finest fair trade coffee will keep you going through the nighttime Moondance. SolFest now also features a wine tasting area where over a dozen local and organic wineries offer the fruits of their vines.
In an effort to make SolFest as waste-free as possible, food vendors are required to provide reusable or compostable utensils. If you can eat it, or eat from it, it goes into compost bins. Hard-working interns and volunteers turn it all into compost for next year’s garden! You are also encouraged to bring your own utensils and mugs for use throughout the event, and don’t forget a water bottle so you can fill up for free all weekend long!
 For more details click on: SolFest 2008
To see a previous post on the work of the Solar Living Institute go to: Inspiring Sustainable Living
(Photo Courtesy The Courier-Gazette/www.MaineCoastNOW.com)
What do you get when you mix 9 tents, the world’s largest lobster cooker, a sea goddess, a big parade, top notch entertainment, an international crate race, fine art, talented crafts people and vendors, U.S. Navy ship tours, all you can eat pancakes, free shuttle service, U.S. Coast Guard Station tours, professional and amateur cooking contests, marine heritage, road races, kids events, over 25,000 pounds of lobster, plus over 1,000 volunteers and a group of dedicated directors?
The Maine Lobster Festival!
For real small town fun with big time entertainment and events, The Maine Lobster Festival in Harbor Park Rockland has it all! This year's Festival will open on Wednesday, July 30th when King Neptune and His Court, along with the 2007 Sea Goddess Megan Ranquist, arrive from the Briny Deep to raise the flag. It will run through Sunday, August 3rd with a Wreath Ceremony commemorating fishermen lost at sea. After the Ceremony, King Neptune & His Court return to the Deep until next year.
The focus of the festival is, of course, fresh hot Maine lobster! Enjoy your lobster dinner under the Maine Eating Tent. What could be better on a warm August day than feasting on fresh lobster while taking in a spectacular view of Maine's Penobscot Bay?
During the 2007 Lobster Festival, over 20,000 pounds of luscious lobster was prepared in the huge steamer on the shore (that's a show in itself!). In addition to lobster, you can choose from steamed and fried clams, fried Maine shrimp, shrimp cocktail, steamed mussels in wine and vegetable sauce, and many varieties of traditional summer fair food, all prepared in the traditional Maine way.
Besides the great food there’s a terrific menu of events for the whole family to enjoy, including the "Great International William Atwood Lobster Crate Race," the Festival’s Seafood Cooking Contest with cash prizes, the Fine Art Tent, the Craft Tent, and plenty of activities for the kids to participate in.
For more on the Festival, including the full schedule of events & travel info, go to: The Maine Lobster Festival
Punch & Judy on the Beach (© Mrloz | Dreamstime.com)
We’ve received a reminder from spirits expert Gary Regan that the annual Tales of the Cocktail extravaganza is coming up in New Orleans. It will run from July 16th to 20th. We surmise that Gary’s been there before and knows of what he speaks, “Five days of cocktailian fun in the Big Easy. It's worth the trip.”
Readers may recall that our friend Gary hails from the United Kingdom, so it’s with some pride that he informs that the winner of the contest to create the 2008 official cocktail of Tales of the Cocktail is Charlotte Voisey, originally of Essex, England, now of the Big Apple.
Gary recalls, “It used to cost me sixpence to watch a Punch and Judy show on the beach in Cleveleys, the seaside resort on the northwest coast of England, where I was raised.” He’s betting that Charlotte also watched Punch and Judy shows on the beach, but that would have been some years after the passing of Gary’s boyhood, and at a cost somewhat higher than sixpence.
We’re betting those happy days on the beach provided some inspiration for the drink below. It will certainly bring a smile to those who sip it.
Ingredients for 1 Drink
• 1 Ounce Cognac
• 1/4 Ounce white rum
• 1/2 Ounce gin
• 1/2 Ounce orange curacao
• 2 Ounces pineapple juice
• 1/2 Ounce fresh lime juice
• 1/2 Ounce fresh orange juice
• 1/2 Ounce agave nectar
• 2 Dashes angostura bitters
• 4 Mint leaves
• 1 Lime wheel, for garnish
• Freshly grated nutmeg, for garnish
Preparation
1. Assemble all the ingredients except garnishes in a mixing glass with as much love and interest as is healthy (that is to say not in a obsessive fashion, but certainly passionate and perhaps as if you were preparing the drink for someone you respect, admire and love in a platonic fashion).
2. No need to muddle the mint, just throw it in.
3. Shake properly (hard) and strain over fresh ice in a highball glass.
4. Place the lime wheel on top of the Punch and Judy; add a hearty sprinkle of ground nutmeg on the lime.
If you’d like to purchase Gary’s newest display of wit, charm & knowledge go to: the bartender's GIN compendium
If you’d like to purchase the book on spirits & cocktails that Gary Regan calls, “My Baby” go to: The Joy of Mixology: The Consummate Guide to the Bartender's Craft
If you’d like to purchase a terrific bartender’s guide authored by Gary's partner Mardee go to: The Bartender's Best Friend: A Complete Guide to Cocktails, Martinis, and Mixed Drinks
To visit Gary and Mardee’s wonderful web site and sign up for their very witty newsletter go to: Ardent Spirits
(photo courtesy of Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival)
Pack your bags for beautiful Portland, Oregon and join blues fans from around the world at the 2008 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, running from July 3rd to July 6th, 2008, on the grassy banks of the Willamette River at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
The 2008 Festival will feature more than 120 performances on five stages. Among the highlights will be performances by the legendary Isaac Hayes, Charlie Musselwhite, Phoebe Snow, Canned Heat, The Mannish Boys, Joe Bonamassa, James Hunter, and Elvin Bishop, to name just a few.
Since its grass-roots beginnings in 1988, the award-winning festival has grown to be the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi and the second-largest blues festival in the nation, attracting more than 120,000 blues fans.
Daily admission is a donation of $10 per person and two cans of food for the benefit of the Oregon Food Bank. All of the Festival’s proceeds benefit Oregon Food Bank’s work to eliminate hunger and its root causes in Oregon and southwest Washington.
To get info for visitors and the most wanted foods visit the Festival's web site: Portland Blues Festival
It's Summertime and the Living is Easy!
……And it’s time for Great Grapes Festival to come back to Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville, Maryland. It’s the Festival’s 6th year and it is sure to be the most fun to date. Reserve your tickets right away and save money by purchasing them in advance. Tickets can be used for either of two great days, Saturday, June 21st and Sunday, June 22nd.
Bring your friends and family and picnic blankets and chairs to enjoy the weekend on the lawn and listen to some of your favorite tunes while you enjoy tasting an abundance of your favorite wines from Maryland. Or maybe you enjoy great food and the gourmet lifestyle...then you'll really enjoy strolling the exhibits or taking in one of the seminars.
Come celebrate the taste of over 150 unique, diverse and flavorful wines from 13 wineries and uncork the flavors that make up all of the fantastic vintages of The Old Line State.
Gourmet Live Cooking & Wine Demos
Be sure to check out the Gourmet Live! Sessions while sipping away on your new found Maryland wine favorites. Meet Food Network Chef Juan Carlos Cruz as he helps you prepare great foods that are not too rich in calories. (Save that for the wine.)
The Gourmet Live! Sessions include “Black Forest Ham and White Bean Panini and Cranberry Walnut Quinoa Salad”, "Everything Cheese", “Learn Your Personal Wine Palate”, “What's New in the Maryland Wine Industry", “Savory Cheese Gets Trendy with the Season’s Local Sweet & Zesty Preserves”, “Ginger Packet Salmon, Toaster Style”, and “Wine and Food 101.”
Live Music
The Main Stage will offer some great entertainment with the modern-rock sound of Judo Chop Rock and recreations of the sounds of the 1980s by The Reagan Years. The intersection of swing, rockabilly, and jump blues is where you'll find King Teddy. Their influences may be varied, including everyone from Louis Prima to Sam Cooke to Gene Vincent to the Beatles, but they are single-minded in their musical mission -- to swing, baby! If you're a fan of Jimmy Buffett music, island music, or just good music, Captain Quint is the band for you.
The Grape Stomp
Come have a rompin', stompin' good time and help celebrate the grape harvest with the 1st Annual Stomp Off. Watch as media personalities, local celebrities and festival attendees face off against each other as they dip their toes into barrels full of juicy grapes. The winner will be determined by the amount of juice created from each contestant's barrel after five minutes of stomping.
Great Kids Area
Bring the kids to enjoy the playground and kids area while you relax with your new found favorite Maryland wines. Kids 12 and under are admitted for FREE.
Win a Free Trip to Sonoma Wine Country!
One lucky winner will win a trip to Sonoma Wine Country in 2008. Make sure you join the mailing list at the entrance of the show to be entered to win. The lucky winners will be contacted in the fall. Keep your fingers crossed.
Admission
A General Tasting Glass: $18 in advance or $22 On-site and includes unlimited wine sampling, all performances, cooking demonstrations and a souvenir wine glass.
A $10 Designated Driver Ticket includes admission into the event only.
Group Tickets $16 (per ticket) for groups of 15 or more (must order by phone 800-830-3976)
Kids & Parking are Free!
For more info, schedules and tickets visit the official web site: Maryland Great Grapes Wine, Art & Food Festival
Downtown Buffalo (photo courtesy of The Taste of Buffalo)
The 25th Annual Taste of Buffalo will be held on the weekend of July 12th & 13th, 2008. Begun in 1984, the family-friendly Taste is the second largest food festival in the U.S., attracting more than 400,000 people annually. It has been voted Western New York's premier outdoor festival.
The Taste of Buffalo is filled with great food and entertainment. It’s held in the heart of Downtown Buffalo along Delaware Avenue beginning just South of McKinley Square by City Hall, and heading North almost all the way to Chippewa Street. It begins at 11:00 a.m. daily and there is no admission charge.
The Taste features dozens of Buffalo's best restaurants serving some of the most enjoyable foods the region has to offer. More than 150 culinary specialties are served by Western New York's best restaurants in "taste size" portions. All items are priced between 50 cents and $4.00. Pick your favorite food or sample something new like Peanut Butter Cup Brownie or JunkYard Dog (Loaded Fish Sandwich).
The music never stops with four stages providing continuous entertainment. From Jazz to Top 40, from Pops to Blues, the best local, regional and national artists are always showcased.
The Taste is a festival for the entire family. There is an exclusive children's area with special entertainment and activities. From clowns to an interactive playground, the Taste has the magical power to bring out the child in everyone.
Mark you calendar and join the fun on July 12th or 13th.
If you'd like to get more details on the entertainment and other info visit the official web site: 24th Annual Taste of Buffalo
On the evening of June 26th, Park Slope locavores will be mingling with Wall Street bankers, while learning about local wines, tasting organic food fresh from the farmer’s market, and interacting with local food expert Joan Gussow and Slow Food’s executive director Erika Lesser.
The benefit event will take place at the CUE Art Foundation at 511 West 25th Street in Manhattan. Proceeds will benefit Play 4 Life, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing cooking, gardening, nutrition and yoga programs for underserved youth.
During the event, renowned chefs such as Top Chef's Andrea Beaman, will be presenting local food entrees to donors and attendees and local wine vineyards will be providing the wine. Remarks will be given by Joan Gussow on the nutritional, environmental and societal benefits of supporting local farms. Ms. Gussow is a professor emeritus for nutrition at Columbia University Teachers College, a director of the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation and a member of the National Organic Standards Board.
Play 4 Life seeks to transform underprivileged communities’ ideas about nutrition and lifestyle by teaching both kids and parents about affordable healthy food. Through its nutrition, cooking, gardening and yoga programs, Play 4 Life teaches kids how to live a healthy life in a fun, playful way.
Carrot Break (photo courtesy of Play 4 Life)
“We’re very excited to have some incredible partnerships with local food experts for this event. Our intention is to introduce people to ways to get food that is good for the body and the planet. Of course, we want people to have fun while learning and experiencing healthy food that is mouth-watering-delicious. They will want to come back for more,” executive director Tanya Paluso said.
The festivities will run from 7:00 to 10:00 PM on Thursday, June 26th. Please contact Capera Clement at (619) 981-5111 or capera@play4lifeonline.org for more information.
To learn more about the terrific work of the nonprofit organization go to: Play4 Life, Inc.
Chicago’s Wrigley Field (photo by Donny Harder Jr., courtesy of morguefile.com)
The food available to fans enjoying the National Pastime has greatly improved, especially at the ballparks built relatively recently. That’s the message of a New York Times article written by Peter Meehan.
Mr. Meehan journeyed to 10 American cities and ate his way through 12 major league ballparks. As he put it, “My mission: to hoover down a shameful number of hot dogs and to sample the increasingly ambitious and occasionally delicious world of ballpark cuisine beyond peanuts and Cracker Jack.”
He was particularly impressed with the ambitious fare available to fans of the San Francisco Giants and the Seattle Mariners. There were also noteworthy presentations of local favorites such as the bratwurst at Milwaukee Brewer games and the cheese steaks enjoyed by fans rooting for the Philadelphia Phillies.
If you’d like to read the New York Times article cited above go to: Buy Me Some Sushi and Baby Back Ribs
To order the same Rocky Mountain Oysters that are served at Coors Field, home of baseball's Colorado Rockies, go to: Rocky Mountain Oysters
To order some of the best brats made in Wisconsin:go to: Applewood Smoked Bratwurst
Dallas at Sunset (Stephen Finn | Dreamstime.com)
Hailing from England and living in New York, author and spirits expert Gary Regan remains an adventurous traveler when it comes to the quest for better cocktails. On a trip to Dallas he emerged from a favorite watering hole proclaiming. “The Windmill, for my money at least, is the best little cocktail house in Texas.”
The bar at the Windmill is tended by one "Cowboy" Dave Wright, who earned Gary’s praise as a barman of distinction with a new twist on an old favorite, the Manhattan. During his visit Gary had the pleasure of sipping “a couple of very special Manhattans.” The story goes that Dave fashioned the recipe especially for a valued customer “who goes by the name of Bookie Bob.”
It seems Bookie Bob's Manhattans bring "a perfumed elegance" to the cocktail that Gary had never before encountered. The source of this wonder is the secret ingredient: black cherries marinated in Luxardo maraschino liqueur. Just one of the cherries will produce the desired effect. As long as they haven’t been packed in syrup, even frozen black cherries will do. Since it features bourbon and sweet and dry vermouths, Gary cautions that Bookie Bob's Manhattans are not “for the faint of heart.” So be careful that liquid courage doesn’t lead to the laying of a fool's bet!
Ingredients for 1 Drink
• 1 1/2 Ounces Booker's bourbon
• 1/2 Ounce sweet vermouth
• 1/2 Ounce dry vermouth
• 1 Dash Angostura bitters
• 1 or 3 (not 2) Black cherries that have been marinated in Luxardo maraschino liqueur for a minimum of 2 days, for garnish
Preparation
1. Fill a mixing glass two-thirds full of ice and add the bourbon, sweet and dry vermouths and bitters.
2. Stir for approximately 30 seconds, strain into a chilled cocktail glass and add the garnish.
If you’d like to purchase Gary’s latest display of wit, charm & knowledge go to: the bartender's GIN compendium
If you’d like to purchase the book on spirits & cocktails that Gary calls, “My Baby” go to: The Joy of Mixology: The Consummate Guide to the Bartender's Craft
If you’d like to purchase a terrific bartender’s guide authored by Gary's partner Mardee go to: The Bartender's Best Friend: A Complete Guide to Cocktails, Martinis, and Mixed Drinks
To visit Gary and Mardee’s wonderful web site and sign up for their very witty newsletter go to: Ardent Spirits
Tempranillo Grapes Growing in Colmenar de Oreja (Image courtesy of HG Marketing)
Crowds of visitors flock to Madrid each year for the city’s great plazas, the magnificent “Golden Triangle of Museums,” the historic Palacio Real, and the terrific tapas. While there they are also likely to savor some of Spain’s fine wines, some of which are crafted just a short distance from the city.
Many visitors are probably unaware that one of Europe’s most captivating capitals is in the heart of the Madrid wine region where some of the country’s many talented winemakers pursue their craft. The region’s winegrowers produce fine wines suitable to accompany platters of Spain's exquisite sheep’s milk cheeses and smoked meats.
We recently attended a tasting of some the Madrid region’s outstanding offerings. The production of these wines is deeply rooted in a tradition that dates back to the 13th Century. If you find yourself in the capital, a visit to a local winery should make for a lovely day trip, but we had a wonderful time sampling the work of Madrid’s winegrowers without ever leaving the U.S.
The Varietals
The red wines of the Madrid region are made using Tempranillo, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah grapes, with the first two of these being the most predominant and distinctive. The white wines are made using Malvar, Albillo, Parellada, Torrontes, Viura, Airen, and Moscatel small grain grapes. The Malvar and Albillo are the most widely grown and are native to the region.
The tasting presented us with more good wines than we can recount, but we marveled at the novel qualities of the Qubel Barrica 2002. It is a blend consisting of 80% of the Tempranillo varietal, with the remainder being 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Syrah. It is aged in French (Allier) oak barrels, giving it a smoked flavoring along with a slight bitterness. Only 3,500 bottles and magnums are produced each year.
Equally unique among the reds on hand was the Homet 2003. It too is a blend, with 70% Tempranillo, 10% Merlot, 10% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. It comes from the Charles III Royal Winery, founded by the King to supply the Royal Household. It is aged in oak barrels for 14 months with production limited to less than 4,000 bottles. The great cellar is made up of underground brick galleries that offer constant temperature and humidity year round. The extraordinary conditions produce a delightful young wine. As with France's Beaujolais, it is sometimes served slightly chilled in sunny Madrid.
And there were more red wines worth sampling to see which are best suited to an individual taste. If you’re feeling prosperous you might indulge in a pricey, but richly rewarding bottle of Bodegas Ricardo Benito 2002. It is produced with Tempranillo grapes grown on very old vines and aged in French oak barrels for 18 months at a winery resting 2,000 feet above sea level, just 25 miles from Madrid. Only 2,000 bottles are produced each year, but it should be easier to find at an American wine shop than ever before due to recent marketing efforts.
Sustainable Winegrowing
In 2002, the European Program for Integrated Pest Management created a winegrowers association (ATRIA) that provides a responsible agronomist and some Vegetal Sanity Government specialists to support winegrowers. It is one of ATRIA’s objectives to limit the use of pesticides to only the optimum moments, to reduce the number of treatments, and to choose the ones that are most respectful of the environment.
We asked Mario Bravo Cea, the man from ATRIA responsible for viticulture, about the Madrid region’s efforts to produce wine in a sustainable manner. He explained that pest management in Madrid is generally quite easy, making it possible to pursue almost organic production. Warm conditions provide high temperatures and low humidity in most of the vegetative cycle, making it difficult for vine pests and diseases to develop, leaving no need for the application of dangerous levels of pesticides. Indeed, one of the wines we tasted was certified organic.
We also asked Mario about methods of irrigation. He told us there are few vineyards in Madrid that are watered as most of the vines produce beautifully in conditions of dryness. Although using water in vineyards is allowed, it has to be with localized irrigation methods and the annual amount of water used is regulated by law.
The winegrowers also don’t spend a lot on vine fertilization. There are organic matter fertilizers from plants or animal residues that are being used, but the use of mineral complex are more extended. ATRIA is addressing the issue, working to limit the application of mineral products by adapting fertilizing programs to each type of soil.
For extending a long tradition of fine wine production and adapting the most sustainable agricultural methods we can only say Viva Espana!
(photo courtesy of Seattle Cheese Festival)
For a fourth year the Seattle Cheese Festival wil be running from Friday, May 16th through Sunday, May 18th fora mouth-watering celebration that just gets better every year. Visitors will be able to sample over 250 artisanal cheeses crafted both locally and internationally. The cheese tastings take place along the beautiful cobblestone streets of Pike Place Market in the heart of the city.
The three-day event offers the general public and the restaurant trade the chance to taste, celebrate and learn more about artisanal cheese through the Cheese Concourse, cooking demonstrations, and informative seminars. Then there's the Wine (and Beer) Garden where wines are specially selected to pair well with the artisanal cheeses on display. Visitors can sample up to five wines and the Pike Brewing Company will pour craft beers which are brewed on the premise at .Pike Place Market. The Truckle Relay will invite teams to get out their paddles and propel 18-pound barrel-shaped wheels of cheese along the cobblestone streets.
Fun for Kids
This year the Festival will be adding the Children's Costume Contest and Parade. Kids are invited to create a costume for a "milk animals" parade that will take place on the morning of Saturday, May 17th. Costumes must have a cow, goat, sheep or cheese theme. The most creative costume wins a prize. (There will be a few cow and sheep hats available for kids who forget their costumes that day.)
Plenty for the Thinking Foodie to Enjoy
The Festival is a foodies delight, but you don't have to be a gourmet to have a great time. There will be Chef Demos by some of Seattle's best chefs, inspired to create great dishes with cheese you can prepare at home after the Festival. Catch the Fresh Mozzarella Makking Demonstration that will take place several times on Saturday and Sunday. Seminars and cheese-themed cooking classes will be available for adventerous home cooks, including Northwest Terroir, presented by Jeffrey Roberts, author of the recently published "The Atlas of American Artisan Cheese." Foodies with a competitive spirit can enter the Grilled Cheese recipe conest. The top 10 finalists will have their recipes featured on the Seattle Cheese Festival web site.
(photo courtesy of Seattle Cheese Festival)
The Festival was the brainchild of DeLaurenti Specialty Food & Wine, which has served Seattle residents and visitors for close to 60 years. DeLaurenti was awarded the Gourmet News Retail Leadership Award in 2005 for establishing the Seattle Cheese Festival. DeLaurenti owner Pat McCarthy wanted to bring their renowned cheese counter to the street and offer free tastings. Mission accomplished !
To get more info, including schedules, event details, parking & directions, check the Festival's official web site: Seattle Cheese Festival
(photo courtesy of Memphis in May International Festival)
The organizers will tell you it's the Super Bowl of Swine. The College of Pig Knowledge. The Granddaddy of Grills. The Largest Pork Barbecue Cooking Contest on the Planet. Hyperbole? Maybe. If you head down to Tom Lee Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee for the May World Championship Barbecue Contest you can let your taste buds decide.
This year's event will run from Thursday, May 15th to Saturday the 17th. Over that span the sweetest smelling cloud will hover over Memphis Hickory, pork, tomato, mustard, vinegar, and more pork. Three stuffed days of smoked heaven where contestants eat, sleep, and live pig; trying to win more than $90,000 in prizes and coveted bragging rights.
Grillmasters and goodtimers will descend on Tom Lee Park for serious competition that's seriously fun. Even the grills dress up for this party like fire trucks, airplanes, piggy banks, pot bellied stoves; you name it, it will probably be there.
In 2007, visitors came from 49 states and 8 foreign countries. This year more than 90,000 pork lovers from around the globe will gather together to testify about their special sauces, rubs, ribs, and whatnot in Pig-dom.
And, there's the Sharp Stage, the site of world-class musical entertainment with nightly performances of country, R&B and blue grass music and the Ms. Piggie competition (grown men in snouts and tutus). It all takes place in a park along the shore with a skyline view.
A Single Day Ticket is $8. Children 6 and under get in for free.
Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the north (Beale St. and Riverside Dr.) and south (Riverside Dr. and Georgia Ave.) entry gates at Tom Lee Park.
To get tickets & more info from the official web site go to: Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Contest
Fresh Fernandina Shrimp (photo by Sandy Price)
Priates roaming the Atlantic are just one of Amelia Island's tales that will come to life 45th Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Fesital. The Festival begins on Friday, May 2nd and will continue through Saturday, May 3rd and Sunday, May 4th. You can treat yourself to a feast of the sea and enjoy some lively entertainment by getting to Florida's historic Fernandina Beach, the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry. Celebrating all things shrimp since 1964, the Festival will entertain visitors with pirates, special musical guests, and artists from all over the country.
Food, Antiques, Fine Arts & Crafts
What would a shrimp Festival be without shrimp? Seafood and shrimp dishes will abound, all prepared with a local flare and flavor by volunteer organizations from the area of Fernandina Beach. When not feasting on shellfish or other Festival fare, visitors can take in the works of more than 300 award-winning artists and craftspeople. Their creations in watercolor, acrylics, oils, sculpture, metalwork, photography pottery, and more, have all been fully juried to qualify for entry to the show. The Festival also boasts an excellent showing of fine antiques and collectibles, including furniture, depression glass, jewelry, crystal and coins.
The treats for the taste buds and eyes are rivaled only by the musical performances from regional and local acts that will fill the seaside air on two stages with the sounds of jazz, pop, rock, folk, country, and of course, beach music!
Family Fun
See colorful pirates swordfight, loot and plunder in the streets after they invade the Festival by a pirate shrimp boat, a throwback to the days when Amelia Island was ruled by foreign flags. Families can dress up like pirates for the adult and "Little Pirate" costume contests, and bearded visitors can compete for the title of "Best Beard" on Saturday. The "Blessing of the Fllet" and the "Best Decorated Shrimp Boat Parade & Contest" will entertain the crowd on Sunday. All weekend long visitors will be able to take a free tour of the Georgis Bulldog, a working shrimp boat that's also a research vessel for the University of Georgia. The Family Fun Zone will feature activities for kids of all ages and entertainment by Rick Hubbard's Kazoobie Show and JuggleSTUFF, along with performances by local dance schools and others. If you're feeling athletic. on Saturday morning you can participate in the YMCA 5-K run on the beach.
Pirate Parade
Join the locals for the pre-Festival parade on the evening of Thursday, May 1st at 6:00 as it takes over Centre Street in downtown Fernandina Beach. This year's theme is "Dawn of the Modern Shrimp Industry (Tribute to Shrimpers). Creative craftsmanship will abound with the imaginative floats and unique entries vying for "Best of Parade" honors.
This is a Festival that truly has something for everyone and with over 40 years of experience these folks know how to do it right!
Get schedule & travel info at the offical Festival web site: Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival
Fresh Oyster (photo by DT Creations, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Weighing in at just 105 pounds, Chicago’s own Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti has captured the Acme World Oyster Eating championship belt, one of the competitive eating world’s most prestigious prizes. He earned the prize by besting a field of a dozen professional eaters competing in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter.
According to a report from the Associated Press posted by the Houston Chronicle, the slender 22-year-old slurped down 35 oysters in the allotted 8 minutes. The article quotes the new champ as saying, "I could probably do a couple dozen more, especially if they were charbroiled...athough they're great raw."
Mr. Bertoletti also holds claim to the oyster-eating endurance title. In 2007, he downed 53 ½ dozen oysters to win that title.
If you’d like to read the Associated Press report cited above go to: Oyster-eating champ slurps 35 dozen in New Orleans
Beaujolais, France (© Andreas Karelias | Dreamstime.com)
The fanfare that accompanies each November’s release of Beaujolais Nouveau makes it easy to forget that the venerable French wine region produces more than a dozen wines capable of pleasing a variety of tastes.
Considering that the Beaujolais region’s viticulture dates to the Roman Empire, it’s no surprise the local vintners have gained enviable expertise. Some of the vines have been carefuly tended and growing in the schist and granite-based soils for centuries. The result is wine as unique and representative of its terroir as any in the world.
We recently attended a tasting of Beaujolais wines of 2007 at the Gordon Ramsey Restaurant n New York’s London Hotel. Georges Duboeuf, the Frenchman largely responsible for bringing that region’s appellations to the attention of wine lovers around the world, joined us to offer his thoughts. Now in his 70s, the energetic Mr. Duboeuf has been the most well known producer of Beaujolais and one of the world’s most creative wine marketers for decades. It was a real delight to hear his thoughts on the latest vintage at the luncheon that followed the tasting.
Georges Duboeuf Among the Vines
Tasting Notes
There were sixteen of Mr. Duboeuf’s newest wines made available for tasting. Among the four white wines we found the Pouilly-Fuisse, Flower Label to be particularly noteworthy. Made entirely from Chardonnay grapes, it had a pale gold color, brilliantly transparent. The nose had the floweriness typical of Beaujolais, while the flavor offered hints of vanilla and honey. Mr. Duboeuf described it as “fine” and “classy,” with great promise for the future. It is delicious now, but after three or more years of aging this Pouilly-Fuisse should pair beautifully with a dish of fresh oysters or poached sea bass.
As much as we enjoyed the Pouilly-Fuisse , it was a red made from Gamay grapes that made the greatest impression on us, the Julienas, Chateau des Captains. The full-bodied cru is based around a village named for Julius Caesar. The growers believe the area was the site of the first vineyards planted by the Romans after Caesar’s conquest of Gaul.
Floral and spicy in the nose with good body, complex flavors, and a long finish, the Julienas, Chateau des Captains has already captured prizes in Macon and Paris. Mr. Duboeuf explained that terroir, the age of the vine, and the talent of the winemaker determine the ability of a wine to age well. He assured us that his Julienas “will age beautifully.” Four to six years is the recommended time of aging. We're looking forward to drinking the mature version with a grilled New York steak.
Though we loved the Julienas, perhaps the last word should go to the Moulin-a-Vent, Domaine des Rosiers 2007. It won a Gold Medal in Paris and garnered a First Prize in Beaujolais. Only a small amount has been bottled for tasting. The Moulin-a-Vent may be young, but it is “well-built” and “refined” in the words of Mr. Duboeuf. He believes it will open up beautifully. It will be ready for bottling in two to three months, then aged five to six years to reach full maturity.
If it’s been a while since you’ve sipped a Beaujolais other than a Nouveau, it might be time to get reacquainted with the region’s more aged offerings. Remember, one of the appeals of Beaujolais is its affordability!
Classic Muffaletta (© Terry Poche | Dreamstime.com)
Being a journalist can be tough. Key people can be reluctant to provide information and answer questions. Those fingered by the media as miscreants can become hostile and even violent.
But there are rewards, and not just Pulitzer Prizes. Sometimes the getting of the story is a reward in itself, an experience many of us would relish. Recently, Mary Ellen Botter, the travel editor for the Dallas Morning News, covered just such a story. Displaying a determination to pursue the facts that would credit any reporter, Ms. Botter sampled sandwiches at 19 shops and restaurants recommended by locals in New Orleans. And she did it in 49 hours! Among the intrepid reporter's favorite finds was the Muffuletta served at Serio's Po-Boys & Deli at 133 St. Charles Avenue.
If you’d like to read Ms. Botter’s article on her findings during her fabulous feast in the Big Easy go to: New Orleans delivers great sandwiches
If you'd like some info on getting to New Orleans to sample those sumptuous sandwiches in person go to: New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau
Dallas at Night (photo by Jose, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Dallas’ most entertaining, inspiring, and enlightening Festival focusing on the pleasures of the table is just around the corner. From April 23rd through the 27th, the 24th Annual Dallas Wine and Food Festival will feature everything from how-to seminars on cooking and entertaining to sit-down dinners prepared by Dallas’ top chefs. The five days of events will also provide multiple opportunities to sample medal-winning wines. Tickets for the various events, which are open to the public, range from $30 to $100.
Pairing Great Film with Fine Wine & Food
This year’s Festival kicks off with Gourmet Cinema on Wednesday, April 23rd at the Dallas Angelika Film Center & Café. The ultimate wine lover’s movie “Sideways” is the Festival’s featured film. A wine tasting and a special dinner menu prepared by Chef Richard Chamberlain are included before a short walk upstairs at the Angelika for a private screening of the film. Will there be Merlot you ask? Attend and find out. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.
Catch a Rising Culinary Star
Thursday, April 24th belongs to the Rising Stars Chefs' Dinner at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. Enjoy an unforgettable evening at the Mansion and enjoy the award-winning specialties of Dallas' hottest new chefs; the top winners of the 11th Annual Rising Stars Chefs Contest. It will be a winemaker’s dinner unlike any other, featuring each of the winning chefs and their original dishes specifically paired with wines from Merryvale Vineyards. Reception begins at 6:30 p.m.
Tip Your Hat to the Best of Texas' Winemakers & Food Artisans
Grab your boots on Friday, April 25th and head down to Eddie Deen's Ranch to join the Texas Salute! It’s a Texas-sized happy hour where jeans are not only allowed, they are encouraged. The perfect casual evening where you can tip your hat to the very best of the West. You’ll be impressed by the increasing diversity and quality presented by the winemakers, artisan cheesemakers, and other local producers at this all-Texan affair. Hosted by Cathy Barber, Wine and Food Editor of the Dallas Morning News, and featuring home-grown live Texas music from the Randy Brown Duo to boot! The evening begins at 6:00 p.m.
Home Entertainment Tips from Talented Experts
On Saturday, April 26th guests will learn about Entertaining with Style at Milestone Culinary Arts Center & Viking Cooking School and surrounding shops and restaurants on Knox-Henderson. Dedicated to the celebration of entertaining at home, complete with do-it-yourself advice demos from talented chefs and wine experts. It’s an entire day of chef demos, food and wine tastings, reserve seminars, happy hour (separate admission), and entertaining tips, including a live session of the Dallas Morning News Taste Panel. The full day begins at 10:00 a.m.
Don’t Miss the Fun-Filled Climax: Taste of the World!
Sunday, April 27 the Festival comes to a fun-filled climax at the Rosewood Crescent Hotel with Taste of the World, which includes a Silent Auction benefiting Dallas Farmers Market Friends. Enjoy the evening as you stroll and sample award-winning wines from the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition, the largest of its kind in the Southwest. Bid on a variety of culinary and specialty items benefiting Farmers Market Friends, with live Latin Jazz by Mosaic to keep you moving as you taste prize-winning wines, savor specialty cuisine, and meet chefs from Dallas’ favorite restaurants. The Festival’s ultimate evening begins at 5:30 p.m.
To purchase tickets & get more info you can visit the Festival's official web site: 24th Annual Dallas Wine and Food Festival
To learn more about the good work ot the of the Dallas Farmers Market Friends go to: Farmers Market Friends
To listen to an interview with Stacey Caldwell, President of the Dallas Farmers Market Friends, go to: Podcast Interview
Reefs in Galley Head (photo by Enzo Cositore, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Here's an Old Irish Blessing for you:
May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live.
And an Irish Quotation:
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat. - Alex Levine
For travel info and special offers on trips to Ireland you can visit: Ireland.ie
Autumn Vineyard (© Rachell Coe | Dreamstime.com)
Oregonians are known to be big wine drinkers and over the last 10 years the number of wineries in the state has tripled. Some of the state’s smallest wineries have bootstrapped their way to profitability by carefully controlling quality and building close relationships with their wine-loving customers.
The Portland Business Journal reports that Prive Vineyard & Winery “produces about 500 cases a year on 2.5 acres, and produced just two high-end pinot noirs, which sell for $49 and $57.” The article in the Journal goes on to say, “The business was financed by a $125,000 investment by the owners, and today enjoys a profit margin of 40 percent.”
To keep in touch with customers, Prive Vineyard & Winery mails notices to a list of 1,000 contacts. Co-owner and winemaker Tina Hammond also hosts an annual party for the winery’s customers. All the wine produced sells out. She says folks have grown weary of visiting wineries that have gotten so large there’s never an owner in sight.
If you’d like to read the Portland Business Journal article cited above go to: Small wineries soar
To learn more about Oregon's fine wines & exploring the state's beautiful wine country go to: Oregon Wine Center
To view a previous post on the topic go to: Oregon's Wineries & Vineyards Are Growing Strong
Organic Maple Syrup (Image courtesy of Schoolyard Sugarbush)
New York State’s maple syrup producers are getting ready to open their sugarhouses for the Annual Maple Weekend on March 29th and 30th, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. About 110 maple producers across New York will be hosting open houses for the public to see maple production. The event is free to the public, a wonderful family outing in the country.
Participants will be boiling sap into maple syrup and many will demonstrate the making of maple products. Visitors can sample and purchase the maple products. Some of the sugarhouses will provide a variety of other activities to make your visit memorable. There are participating maple producers in 38 counties, including Schoolyard Sugarbush in Cayuga County (Phone:315-567-9900) .
The U.S. Department of Agriculture lists New York as the second-largest maple producing state after Vermont. New York’s 1,500 maple producers account for 18% of the syrup consumed in the U.S. The economic impact was an estimated $32 million in 2006. According to the N.Y. Agricultural Statistics Service it took almost 43 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup in 2006. Nationwide, more than a million gallons of maple syrup will likely be made this spring.
For more information on Maple Weekend locations and activities go to: Maple Weekend is a Family Event
If you can’t make it to a sugarhouse but would like to purchase some of Upstate New York's fine syrup go to:
100% Pure Organic Maple Syrup
The Great Wall (photo by pperrypembo, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Safety concerns about food from China have made regular news for some time and now the U.S. Olympic Committee is planning to bring much of its own food to Beijing this summer, according to an Associated Press report posted by the Houston Chronicle.
There are over 600 athletes on the U.S. team and more than 400 support personnel. The team says it is not concerned about the safety of the food in the Athletes Village, but support personnel are not eligible to eat there. Tons of food will be transported to a training center and support personnel will eat most of their meals there. Some local foods will be purchased and served at the training center.
The Associated Press report quotes Kang Yi, the head of the Food Division for the Beijing organizing committee, as saying, "I feel it's a pity that they (Americans) decided to take their own food."
If you’d like to read the AP report cited above go to: U.S. to bring its own food to Beijing Olympics
Day & Night at the Cafe (Images courtesy of Original Cafe Du Monde)
Established in the Old French Market of New Orleans in 1862, world renowned Cafe Du Monde has survived the American Civil War, the Great Depression, and Hurricane Katrina as a splendid place to relax, watch the world go by, and savor the rich blend of dark roasted coffee & chicory served with freshly made beignets. It’s a pleasure shared by both visitors and natives alike.
Coffee first came to North America by way of New Orleans back in the mid-1700's. It was successfully cultivated in Martinique about 1720, and the French brought coffee with them as they began to settle new colonies along the Mississippi. The taste for coffee & chicory was developed by the French during their civil war. Coffee was scarce and they found that chicory, the root of the endive plant, added body and flavor to the brew. The Acadians from Nova Scotia brought this taste and many other French customs to Louisiana. Chicory adds an almost chocolate flavor to the Cafe Au Lait served at Cafe Du Monde.
The location of the New Orleans French Market dates back to the Choctaw Indians, before the Europeans settlers arrived. The Choctaw used this natural Mississippi river levee location to trade their wares to the river traffic. The early European settlers came by boat to sell produce and dairy products. New Orleans was established on this location in 1718 by Jean Baptiste LeMoyne. This old New Orleans is called the "Vieux Carre" or French Quarter. The Quarter has a collection of buildings exhibiting the architectural styles of the countries that once held power in Louisiana. At one time or another, Louisiana has been under the influence of the French, Spanish and British governments. The building which now houses the Cafe Du Monde dates to 1813.
Cafe Du Monde is now owned by the Fernandez family. Hubert Fernandez bought the Coffee Stand in 1942. The Cafe is a traditional coffee shop. Its menu consists of dark roasted Coffee & Chicory, Beignets, White & Chocolate Milk, & fresh squeezed Orange Juice. The coffee is served Black or Au Lait. Au Lait means that it is mixed half & half with hot milk. Beignets are square French-style doughnuts, lavishly covered with powdered sugar.
Cafe Du Monde is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and closes only on Christmas Day or when the occasional hurricane gets too close for comfort. When you’re visiting New Orleans the Cafe Du Monde provides a great place to take in the local scene and savor some of the Big Easy’s truly unique treats.
Marching Band (photo by John MacCooey, courtesy of morguefile.com)
The movement for a healthier and more sustainable food system is changing the way people shop for food in Great Britain. Desires for better health, tastier food, a cleaner environment and livable incomes for family-scale farmers are all playing a part in the trend.
According to an article in Fortune,
The food industry is responding to pressures from environmentalists, consumers and British farmers of beef, sheep and pigs. Stores now promote meats and cheese made in Britain, which are shipped fewer miles, and therefore may generate fewer greenhouse gases than imported food. "It is encouraging that supermarkets are now falling over each other to paint themselves as the 'greenest', the 'most sustainable', or even the 'most responsible'," Peter Kendall, the head of Britain's National Farmers Union, said recently.
At London's vast new Whole Foods Market, “Employees wear organic cotton shirts, packaging is made of compostable sugar cane, and orders can be delivered via motor scooters powered by renewable energy.”
If you’d like to read the Fortune article cited above go to: Britain catches the foodie bug
English Pub (photo by Mirakel, courtesy of morguefile.com)
One of Britain’s most venerable institutions, the local pub, is in a struggle to survive according to an article in Time, “It's not that the British are necessarily drinking all that much less; it's where they're doing their drinking that's hurting the country's 98,000 pubs.”
Laws against drunk driving and underage drinking are being more strictly enforced. Heavier than normal summer rains drowned hops and barley and drove up the price of brewing. Energy costs rose during the cold, wet summer adding to heating bills. The implementation of a smoking ban during the cool wet weather is also being blamed for keeping folks away from the pubs.
The article in Time quotes the publican at the Greene King in Marylebone, "It is not just the smoking ban that is contributing to the closures, it is also how cheaply beer is sold at the supermarkets. It's cheaper to buy a can of beer than it is to buy a bottle of water."
Barman James Herring describes a new alternative to a pint at the pub: "Now, you've got Sky Plus [satellite TV sports channel] and a nice big plasma screen, a keg on tap; you invite a few friends around and you can smoke. Who needs the pub?"
Britain’s Campaign for Real Ale estimates that 60 pubs close every month. Serving food has become the survival strategy for many pubs, . The Office of National Statistics indicates that Britons spend an annual $60 billion on alcohol in bars, while the nation's eating out tab amounts to $84 billion.
The situation may not be all that dire. In New York City the first year of a ban on smoking hurt business at many bars, but afterwards new customers arrived to enjoy a smoke-free environment. Despite all the closings, new pubs are opening up, confident that Britons will be coming around to raise a pint for many years to come.
If you’d like to read the article in Time cited above go to: Why the Pub Is Empty
Airborne Sunset (photo by Alex DeClerk, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Is it time to give airline food another try? History has us skeptical but we’ll try to keep an open mind.
We gave up on airline food. First, it was just the poor taste. Airline meals always seemed to include some goop, not immediately identifiable, it could be the gravy or it might be the dessert. It was bound to include ingredients we couldn’t pronounce.
We tried ordering a kosher meal in advance, but that didn’t get us much of an upgrade in flavor or nutrition. Requesting a low fat or vegetarian meal was the last and probably the best strategy we tried. Then meals began to disappear altogether from some flights. Sometimes you could get a tasteless meal, if you were willing to pay for it. Having to pay for airline food struck us as a grave injustice. We were the ones bearing the health risks.
Then we found out the airlines would let us bring our own food. Soon we were enjoying gourmet tapenades, artisanal goat cheeses, smoked salmon and smoked pheasant, stone ground mustard, and various chutneys on fresh-baked bread during flights. (We bring the bread pre-sliced; airline security is understandably touchy about passengers carrying bread knives.) Dessert might be an old-fashioned fudge brownie, a slice of pumpkin cheesecake, or a single-origin chocolate bar.
An article in the Washington Post tells us the airlines are ready to have another go at pleasing palates. Famous chefs have been brought in to design meals that will again have foodies boarding without a bag of gourmet goodies; if they are willing to pay for first-class tickets on long international flights.
We’ll try to keep an open mind, but it sounds like we’ll be bringing our own food on most flights for a long time to come.
If you’d like to read the Washington Post article cited above go to: Celebrity Chefs Bring Plane Food to New Heights
Sonoran Desert Scenery (photo by Ditte Lokon)
Slow Food Tucson will be presenting its Third Annual Food and Film Festival from January 10th through the 13th in 2008. Classic food films, meals at premiere restaurants, guest speakers, entertainers, and international new food film screenings will be featured.
Classic Films
This year’s program includes three classic food films:
• “Like Water for Chocolate” (Mexican)—the magical realism saga of Tita, a young girl who is only able to express her passions through her food which has the power to make people experience what she feels.
• “Fried Green Tomatoes” (American)—the touching story of a woman in a troubled marriage who finds a new life cooking at the Whistle Stop Café.
• “The Wedding Banquet” (Chinese)—the hilarious tale of a gay man in America who tries to placate his parents back in Taiwan by telling them he is marrying. His plan backfires when his parents arrive in New York to plan his elaborate wedding banquet.
Culinary Events
The culinary events include an opening reception at the JW Marriott Country Club at Starr Pass; a Mexican mole meal at Miguel’s Restaurant where ethnobotanist Gary Nabhan will conduct a tequila tasting; a barbecue at The Last Territory Restaurant at the Hilton El Conquistador Hotel; Asian brunch at Vila Thai Restaurant; and a concluding gala organic dinner at the Ventana Room at Loew’s Ventana Canyon Resort.
A Re-Creation of Babette's Feast at Acacia Restaurant in 2007 (photo courtesy of Slow Food Tucson)
Keynote Speaker & New Film Screenings
On Saturday, January 12th, keynote speaker Dr. Maribel Alvarez, Research Social Scientist at the Southwest Center, University of Arizona, will speak on “Food as Intangible Heritage” on the West Campus of Pima Community College. Both on Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon, there will be screenings of new international food films, selected from over 50 submissions, including documentaries, animation, features and shorts. The audience will vote on the award for the “Best of the Best.”
Benefiting a Terrific Cause
Slow Food Tucson promotes eating local and seasonal foods from growers who practice sustainable agriculture, honoring culinary heritage and educating the public. As a non-profit, Slow Food Tucson donates proceeds from the Festival to local, worthy non-profit organizations that demonstrate Slow Food principles. The Tucson convivium is part of Slow Food USA, and affiliated with Slow Food International, headquartered in Italy with 80,000 members located in 50 countries worldwide.
Tickets & Info
The best price on the Festival is the full pass for $250 ($200 for Slow Food members) if purchased before December 31.
For order forms and additional information go to the Festival's official web site: Slow Food Tucson
Fun for All at the Festival (photo courtesy of Kona Coffee Cultural Festival)
"Kona Coffee Tradition of Excellence"
Join in the community celebration of Kona's gourmet brew at the 37th Annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival on Hawaii’s Big Island, beginning Friday, November 2nd and ending Sunday, November 11th. Enjoy nearly 50 Festival events including contests, tastings, ethnic foods, two parades, a scholarship pageant, farm tours, art exhibits, an outdoor concert and more!
The award-winning Cultural Festival celebrates a 180-year-old tradition of the annual Kona coffee harvest. Kona coffee is carefully hand-picked to ensure each coffee cherry is ripe and ready for the perfect cup of Kona. Many Kona farmers can lay claim to being fifth generation coffee farmers, continuing the tradition and honoring their heritage with every harvest.
At the annual Cupping Competition Festival-goers can view judges selecting the very best Kona coffee and sample the coffee themselves, while learning from tasting experts how to critique a high-quality brew. The Art Show will feature a selection of paintings depicting views of the Kona coffee lifestyle, and the Recipe Contest will give student and professional chefs the opportunity to enter their most robust creations using world-famous Kona coffee.
Kona Beans (photo courtesy of Kona Coffee Cultural Festival)
Visitors can take tours of working and historical Kona coffee farms, mills and roasting operations. Free coffee workshops help share insight into growing, roasting and brewing Kona coffee. Seasoned and first time participants as well as spectators are encouraged to join in the fun and festivities at the Kona Coffee Picking Contest on Sunday, November 4th.
A brand new Barista Training Workshop joins the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival event line-up on Thursday, November 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Hale Halawai. During this informative workshop, participants will learn the intricacies of how to taste and prepare espresso and to make popular specialty drinks using Kona coffee.
Take time to shop at the farmer's market for a favorite Kona estate roast and bring a little taste of the Festival home with you!
For further info visit the Festival’s official web site: Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
 
Good Times in Lexington! (photos courtesy of the Barbecue Festival)
The 24th Annual Barbecue Festival is all set for Saturday, October 27th, 2007. Barbecue from Lexington, North Carolina is so famous that the renowned gourmet & author Craig Claiborne once put it on the menu of the Williamsburg Economic Summit to give the world's leaders a taste of real American food. Some restaurants offer "air-express" barbecue delivery, where they overnight barbecue requests all over the United States.
They've been at it a long time in those parts. Lexington's first barbecue restaurant opened in 1919 - a tent in the middle of town set up by Sid Weaver. Soon after that, Jesse Swicegood opened a stand. Business was good and both Sid and Jesse trained BBQ chefs to serve future generations. Now, there are over 20 barbecue restaurants in Lexington (a city of some 17,000 people). Today's chefs use methods only slightly different from the ones Sid and Jesse used over 60 years ago.
Fun for the Whole Family
Today, the Barbecue Festival is an annual tradition in Uptown Lexington. Travel and Leisure Magazine calls it “one of the top ten food festivals in the U.S.A.” Over 400 exhibitors sell everything from exquisite handmade crafts to homemade fudge. More than 100,000 people will enjoy the family fun that includes carnival rides & games, vintage cars, 6 stages of live music, environmental exhibits artist demonstrations, a lumberjack show, racing pigs, and of course, some of the world's greatest barbecue!
What makes Lexington barbecue so special? The fare is pork, of course - and shoulder is the cut of choice in Lexington. The pork shoulders are cooked long and slow - about an hour a pound - over hickory wood until it is fall apart tender. The shoulders are basted with "dip", a mixture of vinegar, ketchup, water, salt, and pepper. As the dip and fat drip onto the coals, smoke is created that rises up, surrounds and permeates the meat, and gives it a rich, smokey flavor. The meat is served chopped, although sliced can be requested, with more of the basting sauce on the side. At the annual North Carolina Championship Pork Cook-Off Festival goers can watch the state's top whole-hog cooking experts—nearly all of them from the coastal plain—demonstrate their craft.
In addition to the festival, the City of Lexington and Davidson County officially have declared October as "Barbecue" month. Events are held throughout the month of October which lead to the grand finale, the Barbecue Festival. Events that are held during the month of October include the Tour de Pig - the annual cycling event benefiting the Mental Health Association in Davidson County. There’s also a Golf Tournament, a Tennis Tournament, the 5K Hawg Run, and the Hawg Shoot Air Rifle Tournament.
For more about events & attractions and travel info go to: The Barbecue Festival
A Veggie Feast! (photo courtesy of Boston Vegetarian Society)
With over 100 exhibitors, the Boston Vegetarian Food Festival is a full day of fun, good food, and learning! The longest-running event of its kind in the country, the Festival offers free admission, free food sampling, and ample free parking!
The Boston Vegetarian Society will be presenting the 12th Annual Boston Vegetarian Food Festival on Saturday, October 20th from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center, 1350 Tremont Street, Boston. That’s opposite the Roxbury Crossing Orange Line T-stop. There is wheelchair access to the Festival.
The Boston Vegetarian Food Festival is a chance to explore and taste free samples of a great variety of delicious, natural vegetarian foods, talk to both local food exhibitors and exhibitors from all over the country. Learn about the latest veg products, and shop at "show special" discounts. It’s a wonderful chance to meet exhibitors of products and services which support a vegetarian way of life. Restaurants will also be represented at the Festival.
The Festival offers a stellar lineup of national speakers and chefs. Among them is Chef & Cookbook Author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, Founder of Compassionate Cooks in San Francisco, contributor to National Public Radio, and columnist for VegNews Magazine. The speakers will bring cutting edge nutrition information as well as the how-to's of healthy plant-based eating in presentations that are lively and often hilarious as well. The chefs will teach mouth-watering dishes and share kitchen tips, and experts will speak on living in harmony with animals and the environment. All cooking demonstrations and all presentations are free. Book and cookbook publishers, educational exhibits on helping animals & the environment, and a children's crafts & activity center will round out the day.
Chef & Author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau (photo courtesy of Boston Vegetarian Food Festival)
The sponsoring organization, the Boston Vegetarian Society, is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. The organization seeks to make a better world for people, animals, and the earth through advancing a healthful vegetarian diet and a compassionate ethic. It provides education, encouragement, and community support for vegetarians and for anyone wishing to learn more about a healthy, environmentally friendly and humane way of life.
To get more info on the Festival and learn more about the sponsoring organization go to: Boston Vegetarian Society
  
Good Times at the Taste (photos courtesy of Georgetown BID)
Save some room for everything from crab cake sliders to smoked chicken ravioli, and the date for Washington D.C.’s premier food and wine event, the Taste of Georgetown. Once again the event is being presented by the Georgetown Business Improvement District as a benefit for the Georgetown Ministry Center’s work for the homeless.
Set to take place on Saturday, October 13th from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm along Wisconsin Avenue NW, the Taste of Georgetown promises to entice taste buds with samplings of high-end cuisine from regionally recognized restaurants.
This year’s tasting event features a New and Old World wine pavilion, children's activities, and the sounds of Blues Alley. Jazz fans will get the chance to hear Six String Theory when they take the stage at 11:00 am. The Tarea Anderson Trio follows at 12:15. Then it's the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra at 1:45 and the Blues Alley All-Stars at 3:00 pm.
The celebrity guest panel includes Marc Silverstein, the Host and celebrity Chef of “The Best Of” show on the Food Network, Nycci Nellis of TheListAreYouOnIt.com, and Amanda Clements of the Metrocurean. The panel will decide the Taste’s best appetizer, best entrée, best display, and best dessert. Attendees will also get a chance to vote for their favorites.
Participating restaurants will include 1789, Agraria, Cabanas, Café Bonaparte, Chadwicks, Chez Mama-San Filomena Ristorante, Hook, La Chaumiere, Kafe Leopold’s, Martin’s Tavern, Mie N Yu, Morton’s, The Steakhouse, Red Ginger, Rugby, Seasons, and more! Wine tastings will be free of charge, individual tasting tickets are $5, and a packet of five tasting tickets is $20.
Visiting food and wine lovers will be able to avoid parking and traffic headaches by riding free with the Georgetown Metro Connection on the day of the event, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The “Georgetown Blue Bus” wil pick up every 10 minutes at the Roslyn and Dupont Metro Stations.
For more info and Georgetown VIP and tasting tickets visit the Festival's offical web site at: Taste of Georgetown Festival
To learn more about the important work for the homeless that will benefit from the Festival go to: The Georgetown Ministry Center
Cajun Crawfish (photo by Robin May, courtesy of Festivals Acadiens)
Laissez Le Bon Temps Roulet! (Let the Good Times Roll!)
Festivals Acadiens started in 1972 as an effort to keep Cajun culture alive. Since then it has grown into a 3-day event that attracts people of many different nationalities from all over the world. Whether you're among the young or the young at heart, you can bet that Festivals Acadiens has something that will tickle your fancy. From Friday, October 12th to Sunday the 14th you can join the folks in Lafayette, Lousiana for good music, good food, and good times!
C'est bon (That's good) is the best way to describe authentic Cajun and Creole cooking, and nowhere in the world is the variety greater than at the Bayou Food Festival in Lafayette. Try fried soft-shell crab, seafood and artichoke lasagna, barbecue boudin, crawfish fettucini, corn and crab bisque, meat pies, catfish courtbouillion, wild game jambalaya, bread pudding and pralines. You can find all this and more as the area's best restaurants and caterers turn out to showcase their finest specialties. The Bayou Food Festival is in Girard Park adjacent to the Festival de Musique Acadienne and admission is free. All proceeds from the Festival will help fund the Lafayette Jaycees' community projects.
Festival de Musique Acadienne will showcase the best of Cajun and Zydeco music beneath the spreading oaks of Girard Park. Festival de Musique Acadienne, celebrating 32 years of entertainment, originated as the Tribute to Cajun Music Festival, an event that was designed to attract and educate the younger generation to the traditional values of the Cajun culture. Festival de Musique Acadienne now attracts Louisiana's best Cajun and Zydeco bands and draws thousands of people from across the country and around the world.
Louisiana Folk Roots presents Cajun and Creole Music Jam Sessions during Festival Acadiens. Jam sessions will take place throughout Saturday and Sunday in Girard Park. Anyone can bring an instrument and join in or just hang around and enjoy the great music of others. Louisiana Folk Roots is a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing the unique folkways and cultural resources that are of such legendary abundance in Louisiana. Its purpose is to foster, encourage, share and preserve traditional expressions of Louisiana folk culture, with an emphasis on Cajun and Creole heritage, through performances and other types of related educational activities.
The Louisiana Craft Fair is the newest addition to Festivals Acadiens, presenting traditional and fine artists and craftspeople from across Louisiana. The Louisiana Crafts Guild, a non-profit statewide organization created for the professional craftsperson, hosts the Louisiana Craft Fair. The Craft Fair will be held in Girard Park near Girard Park Lake and admission is free, making the entire Festival a free event. The Louisiana Craft Fair will feature dozens of crafts booths. Craftspeople will be on hand selling their wares. Some of the crafts available include wood furniture , jewelry, Houma Indian crafts, gourds, pottery, kaleidoscopes, stained glass, soaps, musical instruments, photography, pen and ink drawings and silk.
To get more info on the attractions go to: Festivals Acadiens
To get info on visiting Lafayette, including accomodations, go to: Lafayette Visitors Commission
Let's Have Some Fun (photo courtesy of Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival)
Join the Fun!
In just a short time the 30th annual celebration of fun for all ages will feature international headliners and popular regional entertainers, hundreds of arts and crafts booths, sky divers, environmental displays, children's activities and rides, palate-pleasing food, oystering exhibits, vintage vessels, harbor cruises and other attractions!
Thanks to 2,000 volunteers, plus sponsors, participants and tens of thousands of attendees the 30th annual Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival at Veterans’ Memorial Park will definitely be the place to be from Friday, September 7th through Sunday the 9th.
Live Music from Legendary Performers
Jay and the Americans, the Village People and Arturo Sandoval will be the Main Stage headline attractions at the Festival. Jay and the Americans will take the stage at 9:00 p.m. on Friday, September 7th, the Village People will bring their infectious show to the Festival at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 8th, and Arturo Sandoval, whose musical artistry encompasses Latin, jazz, pop and classical genres, will headline a Latin-Salsa-Jazz Fest on the Main Stage at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 9th.
Jay and the Americans, who were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002, features three of its original band members, founder Sandy Deane (nee Yaguda), Howie Kane (nee Kirschenbaum) and Marty Sanders (nee Kupersmith), who have been joined by “Jay” Reincke. Between 1962 and 1971, the group charted an unprecedented twelve Top-10 records
The Village People, who have performed with such artists as Cher, Madonna and Michael Jackson, features original members Alexander Briley (Military Rep/G.I.), David Hodo (Construction Worker) and Felipe Rose (Indian), plus newer members Eric Anzalone (Biker), Jeff Olson (Cowboy) and Raymond Simpson (lead singer and Cop). The show will include such hits as “San Francisco/In Hollywood,” “Macho Man,” “In the Navy,” “Go West” and, of course, “YMCA.”
Arturo Sandoval was a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning group Irakere, whose explosive mixture of jazz, classical, rock and traditional Cuban music caused a sensation throughout the entertainment world. Sandoval has been honored with four Grammy Awards and with an Emmy for the underscore of the HBO movie based on his life, “For Love or Country,” starring Andy Garcia. Afternoon performers on the Main Stage will include Esteban Latin Jazz and Karibe Mambo
In addition to the international headline acts on the Main Stage, the Festival will spotlight talented musicians, dancers and storytellers from throughout the region.
A Great Benefit for the Norwalk Community
Since its inception, the Oyster Festival has provided opportunities for nonprofit community groups to earn a significant portion of the income that allows them to continue activities benefiting the citizens of Norwalk and Fairfield County. According to the organizers, the NSA Oyster Festival has a financial impact on the greater Norwalk economy of more than $5.2 million annually.
In addition, the Norwalk Seaport Association contributes more than $30,000 to the financial support of 15 youth groups by hiring them to work at the Oyster Festival.
Proceeds from each year’s Festival also provide year-round funding of Norwalk Seaport Association environmental education programs that reach more than 20,000 preschool and elementary school children, and support the Seaport Association’s restoration and the operation of Sheffield Island Lighthouse.
Tickets & Info
For info on parking, entertainment, exhibiting, purchasing tickets & more visit the official Festival web site: Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival
The ever popular Seafood Art and Wine Festival, now in it’s 13th year, showcases some of the best of California’s wineries, breweries, artists, and craftspeople. This event also features outstanding regional musicians and of course, a delicious selection of seafood. A kid's funzone, environmental exhibits, and other fun and new aspects of the Festival make this an event not to be missed.
So set aside the weekend of August 25th & 26th, and get yourselves to the Watts Ranch, 6855 Bodega Highway, Bodega, California. On both days the Festival opens at 10:00 am, and closes at 6:00 pm on Saturday and at 5:00 pm on Sunday.
Food & Beverages
Barbecued oysters, crab cakes, cedar plank salmon, coconut shrimp, albacore wrapped in bacon, and seafood stew are just a few of the entrees which will be available at the Festival this year. Various non-seafood entrees including vegetarian dishes, desserts, and espresso drinks will also be offered. The expansive wine and microbrew tasting, features a wonderful selection of wineries and breweries from Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino counties.
Art & Crafts
There will be over 100 juried artists and craftspeople offering many original works for sale throughout the weekend. Exhibitors come from throughout California, and out of state as well.
Live Entertainment
There is an outstanding mix of entertainment on 3 stages at this event. Coming to the Main Stage for the first time, all the way from Austin, Texas, is the incomparable Marcia Ball. The Festival’s organizers are equally excited to bring back the beloved Pride & Joy who rocked the Festival last year. Other favorites are returning, and lots of new and exciting performers will be adding to the merriment this year.
Beneficiaries
Proceeds from the event will go to the Bodega Volunteer Fire Department, serving Bodega and it's surrounding communities, and Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, a non-profit organization working in conjunction with the California State Parks in the Russian River region.
Ticket Prices
Admission is $12 for Adults, $10 for Seniors over 60, and $8 for ages 12 -16. Kids under 12 get in for free! Sorry, no dogs allowed this year. There’s ample free parking in the ranch parking lot.
To get more info visit the Festival’s official web site: Bodega Seafood Art & Wine Festival
To learn more about the all volunteer fire department benefiting from the Festival go to: Bodega Volunteer Fire Department
To learn more about the environmental nonprofit benefiting from the Festival go to: Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods
Napa Vineyards in Flower (© Photographer: Christopher Russell | Agency: Dreamstime.com)
Want to enjoy some of America’s most cherished wines along with a superb dinner prepared by Executive Chef Peter Pahk of the Napa Valley’s famed Silverado Resort, and support sustainable agriculture at the same time? Then "Celebrate Sustainability 2007", Napa Valley's Sustainable Wine & Food Festival is perfect for you.
The festivities will open with wine tasting from 5:00 to 7:00 on Saturday evening, August 18th at Napa’s elegant and romantic Silverado Resort. Dinner will follow the wine tasting from 7:00 to 9:00. The event is a benefit for the nonprofit Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group, an organization dedicated to promoting sustainable farming practices to local grape growers and the community.
Those attending the event will have the pleasure of fine wine tasting from a large selection from sustainable growers. Over 20 local wineries will be participating and providing wines made from sustainably farmed grapes. The night is sure to deliver a sampling of wines to please every palate. The taste buds of guests will be further delighted by the gourmet dinner buffet comprised of sustainable and organic cuisine.
The food and wine alone would make for an impressive evening, but the entertainment will include live music and a silent auction. Opportunities to leave the event more enlightened than you arrive will be available from sustainable winegrowing information from all the participating wineries and watershed protection demos from local agencies and wineries.
To obtain further info about the event & order tickets go to: "Celebrate Sustainability 2007"
To learn more about Napa’s sustainable winegrowers go to: Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group
(photo courtesy of the Solar Living Institute)
Looking for some eco-friendly family fun? If you can get to California's Mendocino County for the weekend of August 18th and 19th you can check out SolFest 2007, a wonderful event sponsored by the Solar Living Institute. Since SolFest was born in 1996 over 100,000 people have learned how to change the world while having fun.
SolFest is a family affair with more programs and workshops for children added each year. The Family Stage features music, clowns, puppets and ‘edu-tainment’ for all ages. The nearby Central Oasis features a fun zone where kids can cool off in the bubbling stream while learning about solar energy and the characteristics of life-giving water. The "flow-form," designed by Rudolph Steiner soothes the children's spirits while activating their imaginations. And the Solar Living Institute is also home to the world’s only solar-powered carousel featuring indigenous Mendocino County critters, and the kids love to take a spin on the ‘solar skunk!’
Saving the world can be hungry work, so be sure to enjoy the offerings of the many organic food vendors. Naturally, organic and sustainable beer is also on tap for those hot summer days, and the finest fair trade coffee will keep you going through the nighttime Moondance. SolFest now also features a wine tasting area where over a dozen local and organic wineries offer the fruits of their vines.
In an effort to make SolFest as waste-free as possible, food vendors are required to provide reusable or compostable utensils. If you can eat it, or eat from it, it goes into compost bins. Hard-working interns and volunteers turn it all into compost for next year’s garden! You are also encouraged to bring your own utensils and mugs for use throughout the event, and don’t forget a water bottle so you can fill up for free all weekend long!
For more details click on: SolFest 2007
To see a previous post on the work of the Solar Living Institute go to: Inspiring Sustainable Living
 
The 1st Annual Delmarva Blue Crab Festival will be all about food, fun, education and the future. Mark your calendar, and get yourselves to 30045 Eagle Crest Road #2 in Milton, Delaware for the weekend of Friday, August 10th through Sunday, August 12th.
Fabulous Food
The central food focus of this Festival celebrating the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia (Delmarva) region is on crabs – specifically the blue crab, a flavor-packed seafood and longtime local favorite. Those who know will tell you that the flavor is unequaled. For those eager to find out why, the Festival will offer pot after pot of fresh steamed crabs along with plenty of space to spread out and “hammer claws,” “pull aprons,” and “eat mustard.” For those new to eating blue crabs, there’ll be free lessons on lingo and technique so that you’ll quickly become a crab pickin’ pro. (You do have to buy the crabs!) Some other seafoods that will be available include clams, oysters, shrimp and mussels. The Festival’s food is guaranteed not to disappoint!
Lots of Live Music
Eating crabs and being entertained is a natural fit. The family friendly entertainment will feature live musical acts on 3 Festival stages. Mike Hines, a suave new talent with a distinctive tenor/baritone voice, will be taking the stage on Friday night from 6:00 to 8:00. Keith Mack will be entertaining with acoustic finger-style guitar. Keith was a member of the band "Patty Smyth and Scandal" and has toured with Paul Young and Joe Cocker. The Watershed Blues Band is a Salisbury, Maryland-based band playing blues from the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Taj Mahall. It would be hard to find a band that has more fun than The Funsters. This 10-piece band hasn't had a personnel change in 12 years. The tightly knit Funsters will take the stage on Sunday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Banana Boom plays an amalgamation of rock, ska, and funk. Their original and indefinably unique sound will be heard on Saturday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
Comedy
Comedian Kelly Terranova will be performing on Friday & Saturday nights from 6:00 to 8:00. (Tickets for Kelly Terranova are separate from the Festival’s entry tickets.)
Environmental Awareness
An important goal of the Delmarva Crab Festival is to ensure that there are plenty of blue crabs available, now and in the future, so that those of us who enjoy them can continue to do so. So the Festival has chosen the Chesapeake Bay Foundation as a beneficiary of the event to receive a portion of the proceeds. As one of the region’s foremost nonprofit environmental stewardship organizations, the Foundation is uniquely positioned to show and tell us all what we can do to help improve bay and ocean water quality as we improve the environment overall. A healthier environment means more and better natural resources such as blue crabs.
To get more info & purchase tickets from the Festival's official web site go to: Delmarva Blue Crab Festival
To learn more about protecting the environment in the Delmarva region go to: Chesapeake Bay Foundation
(photo courtesy of the Maine Office of Tourism)
What do you get when you mix 9 tents, the world’s largest lobster cooker, a sea goddess, a big parade, top notch entertainment, an international crate race, fine art, talented crafts people and vendors, U.S. Navy ship tours, all you can eat pancakes, free shuttle service, U.S. Coast Guard Station tours, professional and amateur cooking contests, marine heritage, road races, kids events, over 25,000 pounds of lobster, plus over 1,000 volunteers and a group of dedicated directors?
The Maine Lobster Festival!
For real small town fun with big time entertainment and events, The Maine Lobster Festival in Harbor Park Rockland has it all! This year's Festival will open on Wednesday, August 1st when King Neptune and His Court, along with the 2006 Sea Goddess Monica Morrison, arrive from the Briny Deep to raise the flag. It will run through Sunday, August 5th with a Wreath Ceremony commemorating fishermen lost at sea. After the Ceremony, King Neptune & His Court return to the Deep until next year.
The focus of the festival is, of course, fresh hot Maine lobster! Enjoy your lobster dinner under the Maine Eating Tent. What could be better on a warm August day than feasting on fresh lobster while taking in a spectacular view of Maine's Penobscot Bay?
During the 2007 Lobster Festival, many tons of luscious lobster will be prepared in the huge steamer on the shore. That's a show in itself! In addition to lobster, you can choose from steamed and fried clams, fried Maine shrimp, shrimp cocktail, steamed mussels in wine and vegetable sauce, and many varieties of traditional summer fair food, all prepared in the traditional Maine way.
For more on the Festival including the schedule of events & travel info go to: 60th Annual Maine Lobster Festival
(photo courtesy of Porland Blues Festival)
Pack your bags for beautiful Portland, Oregon this July and celebrate 20 glorious years of blues, community and fighting hunger at the 2007 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, presented by First Tech Credit Union. The five-day festival will run Wednesday, July 4, to Sunday, July 8, 2007, on the grassy banks of the Willamette River in downtown Portland.
Since its grass-roots beginnings in 1988, the award-winning festival has grown to be the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi and the second-largest blues festival in the nation, attracting more than 120,000 blues fans.
The festival’s four stages will feature more than 125 stellar artist performances from throughout the world, including the Neville Brothers, Koko Taylor, Pinetop Perkins, Marcia Ball, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Carey and Lurrie Bell, Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks and many, many more.
Daily admission is a donation of $8 per person per day and two cans of food. All festival proceeds benefit Oregon Food Bank’s work to eliminate hunger and its root causes in Oregon and southwest Washington.
To get info for visitors and the most wanted foods visit the Festival's web site: Portland Blues Festival
Old French Market (photo by William Henry Jackson, ca. 1880-1897, courtesy Library of Congress)
It's been 200 years since the Old French Market of New Orleans opened for the first time. Even Hurricane Katrina couldn't keep it closed. After $5 million worth of renovations it's ready to open again.
The Market's venerable Cafe Du Monde has been open for some time. It will soon have 200 tenant neighbors, including a farmers market, a flea market, the Old U.S. Mint, and numerous entrepreneurs selling clothing and art.
At 200 years old, the French Market is a relatively recent addition to commerce at its Mississippi River locale. As a trading place the location dates back to the Choctaw Indians, before the Europeans settlers arrived.
In a report from the Associated Press, Patricia Henry, interim director of French Market Corporation is quoted as saying, "The most important change is in the farmer's market...We will have fresh food in the market again, fresh produce, meat, seafood, dairy, dry foods, spices, coffee."
As New Orleans may have the most distinctive indigenous food of any city in America, that's a farmers market we'll be sure to shop!
If you'd like to read the article from the Associated Press as it was posted on Yahoo! go to: French Market back in New Orleans
(photo courtesy of Washington Wine Center)
Did you know that the State of Washington was the 2nd largest premium wine producer in the U.S. after California? The state's rich volcanic soils, extensive sunlight and warm days with cool nights produce some of the best wines in the world. Those same conditions make for gorgeous landscapes to enjoy when touring Washington's wine country.
The state is home to 500 wineries producing 20+ varietals, with 57% of those being red wines. The leading red varietals are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, & Sangiovese. The leading white varietals are
Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, & Viognier. Washington's premium wines hail from 9 major American Viticultural Areas as recognized and defined by the U.S. government.
According to the Washington Wine Center the state has 30,000 acres devoted to growing grapes. The Commission also reports that the wine industry contributes $3 billion annually to the state's economy and provides 14,000 full-time jobs.
Tours of Washington wine country can begin from almost anywhere. Most visits start in Seattle but Washington wine country is a brief drive from Boise, Portland and even Vancouver, British Columbia. With more than 80 wineries in and around the Puget Sound area it is possible to tour and taste for many days in the Seattle and Woodinville regions. Within a 45 minute drive of downtown Seattle one can visit winery tasting rooms, enjoy summer concerts and other wine related activities.
To learn more about the state's fine wines & exploring its beautiful wine regions go to: Washington Wine Center
(photo courtesy of Oregon Wine Center)
The folks tending the vineyards of Oregon have good reason to raise a glass in celebration. Besides being utterly beautiful places to visit, Oregon's wine regions are expanding.
According to a new report from Oregon State University, the planting of 1,378 new acres of grapes set a new record in in 2006, a year that saw 49 new wineries open. Over the last 10 years the number of wineries in Oregon has tripled.
Oregonian wines continue to gain respect for their premium qualities. To cite one example, the sometimes difficult Pinot Noir grape does well in the cool climate of Oregon wine country, much as it thrives in the cool weather of the Burgundy region of France.
Last year, an economic impact study by the Oregon Wine Center indicated that the wine industry provides $1.4 billion in economic activity for the state. Wine grape sales grew to $46.7 million in 2006, a record 27.6% increase over the previous year.
To learn more about Oregon's fine wines & exploring the state's beautiful wine country go to: Oregon Wine Center
(photo courtesy of Telluride Wine Festival)
Celebrating its 26th Anniversary, the Telluride Wine Festival will be held in its magnificent Colorado Rocky Mountain setting from Thursday, June 28th through Sunday, July 1st. The Festival features a four-day celebration of food and wine with an assortment of wine tastings and food parings; seminars taught by the nation’s most prominent sommeliers; cooking demonstrations by top chefs; raffle programs, and live and silent auctions.
One of the nation's pre-eminent wine auctioneers and sommeliers, Tom DiNardo, will preside over the event's live auctions. All proceeds from the Festival benefit local art, youth, and scholarship programs.
Chefs from the world-renowned Broadmoor are lending a culinary hand during the events, including the Patron Gala Dinner featuring Broadmoor’s Executive Chef Siegfried Eisenberger. Summit and Penrose Room Executive Chef, Bertrand Bouquin, will be leading Friday’s cooking demonstration and participating in Saturday’s luncheon.
Executive Chef Siegfried “Sigi” Eisenberger is part of an elite fraternity as only the fourth Executive Chef in the 89-year history of the resort. For more than 45 years, the Austria native has honed his culinary career across the globe. The Patron Gala will begin with a champagne reception after which guests will be seated to an amazing 5-course dinner. Dinner will be complimented with special wines selected by Wines from Spain and Steve Olson. An exciting live auction will follow dinner.
At Friday’s cooking demonstration Chef Bouquin will demonstrate that fine dining doesn’t have to be a daunting task, but one that is fun and approachable—leaving guests with skills and recipes that they can use at home. During the Saturday Winemakers Luncheon Chef Bouquin will team up with Michelle Bernstein, and Karen DeMasco to present a spectacular 5-course luncheon featuring a range of styles, ingredients and techniques. Each course will be paired with 2-3 wines to compliment the flavors of each dish. Guests will be seated with Winemakers, to complete this incredible experience.
Notable events taking place throughout the town of Telluride and Mountain Village during the Festival include a Spanish Influence Luncheon hosted by Steve Olson, Andy Nusser, and Alexandra Raij; and a reserve wine tasting program that is comprised of four tastings, led by winemakers and limited to 50 people.
To purchase tickets and to view a complete schedule of events, visit the Festival's official web site: 26th Anniversary Telluride Wine Festival
Grand Tasting Tents (photo courtesy of Food & Wine Magazine Classic)
An impressive gathering of culinary superstars will assemble this June to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen—one of the country’s premiere epicurean events. From June 15th to the 17th, World Famous Chefs Thomas Keller, Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis, Jacques Pépin, Ming Tsai, José Andrés, Masaharu Morimoto and more will gather in Aspen to share their favorite recipes and techniques in this exclusive setting.
Featuring over 80 cooking and wine seminars, the Food & Wine Classic is considered the place to uncover the latest epicurean trends. Food & Wine’s signature event features the Grand Tasting Tents with over 50,000 bottles of wine to sample and the much-anticipated 2007 Best New Chefs Dinner. In celebration of the Classic’s 25th anniversary, the magazine has pledged to raise $1 million for its Grow for Good campaign, in support of Farm to Table, a national initiative dedicated to supporting local farms and encouraging sustainable agriculture.
Tickets to the Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen are $1,075. For the first time ever, there will be foodandwine.com/classic limited edition Silver Passes sold for $2,500 providing VIP access to the event, with $1,000 of the ticket directly donated to Grow for Good. Silver Pass holders will receive an invitation to the star-studded Welcome Reception and the Best New Chefs Dinner, plus a number of other exclusive benefits and gifts.
Cooking Demonstrations include:
• Thomas Keller of The French Laundry shares his restaurant secrets
• Mario Batali takes a side trip to a lesser-known area of Tuscany, exploring the foods of La Garfagnana.
• Emeril Lagasse delves into seafood with recipes from his latest, Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House.
• Giada De Laurentiis reveals delicious ways to make home-cooked pasta.
• Iron Chef America star chef Masaharu Morimoto make his debut appearance at the Food & Wine Classic with the art of sushi and sashimi.
Wine Highlights:
• An iconic tasting of the 1982 Bordeaux
• Screaming Eagle Reserve Tasting of seven vintages, a first for this cult producer
• Danny Meyer and Dan Philips showcase Green Grapes and Ham
• Josh Wesson pairs chocolate with wine
• Steve Olson celebrates 25 years of Wines from Spain
• Discover why Greek wines are the new hot buy with Michael Bonadies
• Uncover artisan wine selections from small producers with Richard Nalley
To register, call 877-900-WINE or visit: Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen
Consumers using their American Express® card receive a $25 savings.
(photo courtesy of Newport Habor Corporation)
Got Chowdah?
Chowder competitors from around the nation are making their plans for the 2007 Cook-Off. Recipes are being tested and perfected. The Newport Yachting Center is the place to be on June 2nd as top chefs throw down the oven mitts and get it on.
The first of Newport's array of summer festivals, the 26th Annual Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-off will feature over 3,000 gallons of chowder served up by over 30 of the nation's best restaurants and chefs! The restaurants compete for over $10,000 in prizes by entering into one of two Culinary Competitions:
First is the Chowdah competition where chefs enter their specialty chowder in one of three categories - best clam, seafood or creative chowder!
Second is the Clam Cake Competition where chefs fry up the fluffiest and heartiest Clam Cake recipes!
Advance Ticket Price will be $15 when ordered by May 18th, $20 after that date. Order early and save five clams!
Ticket includes all the chowder you can eat, and a voting ballot for each of the three chowder categories.
For directions & info on the live entertainment line-up go to: 26th Annual Great Chowder Cook-Off
For lodging information visit: Newport County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Downtown Santa Fe (photo by Jack Parsons)
Chef’s from Santa Fe’s leading restaurants and other food-related ventures will demonstrate their taste for history when they bring their best appetizers, entrées and desserts to the New Mexico History Museum/Palace of the Governors 24th Annual Taste of Santa Fe on Sunday, June 3rd.
Held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Lumpkins Ballroom at La Fonda Hotel in downtown Santa Fe, the popular museum benefit is a mostly volunteer project of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation. It is the largest annual fund-raiser for the historic Palace of the Governors, raising more than $200,000 for the Palace in the past seven years. As construction of the New Mexico History Museum gets under way, event proceeds for family education programs in New Mexico history and culture become even more valuable. The new museum is expected to open in 2009.
“The Taste of Santa Fe provides crucial funding to support exhibitions and educational collaboration between the Palace and the public schools,” says Palace of the Governors Director Fran Levine Levine. She went on to say, “The event also is a venerable Santa Fe tradition and a much-anticipated opportunity to gather with friends, family and visitors to sample the creations of our town's celebrated chefs."
While making the rounds of chef’s food stations, hungry history museum buffs will have the opportunity to vote for Best Appetizer, Best Entrée and Best Dessert, as well as the Best of the Taste of Santa Fe. Among the restaurants scheduled to participate this year are The Blue Heron, Ecco, Jinja, San Francisco Street Bar and Grill and La Boca.
In addition to the fine foods and cash bar, the Taste will feature the fun “Essential Non-Essential Live and Silent Auction,” offering a variety of unique and enticing items and experiences.
Tickets are limited and can be purchased in advance for $30 each from the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, 116 Lincoln Avenue, and at the locations listed below. Tickets will be $35 at the door.
• Museum of New Mexico Foundation, 116 Lincoln Ave., (505) 982-6366. ext. 112
• Palace of the Governors Shop, 105 W. Palace Ave., (505) 988-3454
• Museum of Fine Arts Shop, 107 W. Palace Ave., (505) 982-1131
• Colleen Cloney Duncan Museum Shop, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Museum Hill, (505) 982-5057
• Museum of International Folk Art Shop, Museum Hill, (505) 982-5186
• Lensic Performing Arts Center, 225 West San Francisco St., (505) 988-1234 or www.lensic.org
To get info on accomodations & a visitor's guide go to: Sante Fe Visitors Bureau
(photo courtesy of Philadephia Great Grapes Wine, Art & Food Festival)
You are invited to celebrate the taste of over 100 unique, diverse and flavorful wines! The Philadephia Great Grapes Wine, Art & Food Festival will be held at the Willowdale Steeplechase over the weekend of June 2nd & 3rd, from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. The Pennsylvania Wineries want you to sample the essences of their best grapes while expanding your tongue's tastes. The organizers say you are guaranteed to leave the festival as the newest wine connoisseur!
Exquisite wines and eclectic music are not the only attractions awaiting your arrival. While mastering the art of wine tasting, you're welcome to stop by the Gourmet Live Cooking Demonstrations and shop amongst the unique artists. Bring home gifts, goodies and wine for all your friends and family to enjoy!
Tickets are $20 on site and $18 if purchsed in advance. If you've got a group of 20 or more the price drops to $16 per ticket. A Designated Driver Ticket (Includes admission into the event) goes for $10. Children 12 and under get in for free. Show is rain or shine. Chairs and blankets welcome! No outside food or beverage allowed. No coolers allowed. No pets please.
Tickets are Non-Refundable. To purchase advance tickets you can call 800-830-3976.
You can aslo get tickets, directions & more info by visiting the Festival web site: Philadephia Great Grapes Wine, Art & Food Festival
(photo courtesy of The Great American Barbecue)
The Great American Barbecue has been dubbed the “Mardi Gras of Meat”, as well as the “World’s Largest Carnivore Carnivale” and is coming Memorial Day weekend to the Woodlands facility in Kansas City, Kansas. Over 300 competition cooking teams are expected to compete for $73,000 in prize money. 50,000 attendees are expected to attend one of the largest BBQ contests on the planet.
“With only two years of history, we are bursting at the seams” says Great American BBQ Executive Director Tracy Satterfield. “With over 70 paved acres to be used for the festival, we have filled them all, by enlarging our existing events, and adding even more rings to our circus”.
Some of the additions to the Great American this year, will be a giant kids carnival, cooking demonstrations by nationally acclaimed chefs, a second “Kidz Que”, and a nationally sanctioned competitive eating contest.
Great American Chair Kim Kobe gushes that they have “secured through the International Federation of Competitive Eating, the 'Daniels BBQ Rib Eating World Championship’. Competitors will include national celebrities, as well as local amateur eaters. It’s a very exciting event, and we are thrilled to have them at the Great American. There has never been anything like it in Kansas City”.
To take advantage of the holiday weekend, the Great American has moved their dates, and will kick things off with a Friday, “Apps, Wraps and Wings” contest, a Saturday invitational competition, and a Sunday Open contest.
In addition to the existing music festival, featuring “The Elders”, and their hot air balloon rally, the Great American has taken on a larger culinary flavor. They have increased the size of their “Sauce, Baste and Rub” sampling tent, and is bringing back the popular “Peoples Choice” sauce contest. The 3-day event will also have competition teams selling their best, as well as a bigger BBQ Expo to demonstrate BBQ gear, tools, widgets and anything you can eat – on a stick.
As a labor of love, Satterfield says that “In addition to building the Region’s Premier BBQ event, we have raised over $80,000 for community charities, and are looking to raise even more this Memorial Day. It’s not often that you see an all volunteer event come together with it’s teams, to do such good work for folks that need a helping hand.
The Great American Barbecue will open to the public at 5:00pm on Friday, May 25th. On Saturday & Sunday the grounds will be open to the public from 10:00am to Midnight.
Admission is $10.00 per day, children 12 and under admitted free. $15.00 for a weekend pass. Parking is free.
To get more info go to: The Great American Barbecue 2007
(photo courtesy of Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival)
Florida’s Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival promises shrimp, a variety of seafood and delicacies, and more food! Always held on the first weekend in May, the Festival’s 44th year will kick off on May 3rd with the Pirate Parade. The theme for this year’s parade is "Artist Images of Shrimp".
The Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is held on Historic Amelia Island. The Festival’s organizers say it is “Florida's Golden Isle that the French visited, the Spanish developed, the English named, and the Americans tamed. It is the only U.S. location to have been under eight different flags.” The Island's first recorded European visitor was France’s Jean Ribault on May 3, 1562.
Besides the great food, the Festival presents a Fine Arts & Crafts Show featuring over 300 juried artists and craftspeople. You can also take in the fireworks display, a 5K Run, and a 1-Mile Youth Run. For the kids there’s the Family Fun Zone with games, face painting, sand art, a rock-climbing wall, a food court, trampoline fun, superslide, and a live entertainment pavilion.
The final day, Sunday, May 6th, will be marked with the Blessing of the Fleet and the Best Decorated Shrimp Boat Parade.
Get schedule & travel info at the Festival web site: Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival
(photo courtesy of St. Michael's Food & Wine Festval)
Ready to enjoy food and wine worthy of a gourmet pallet at an event that helps fund the worthiest of causes? Then it's time to get tickets for the expanded 5th Annual St. Michaels Food & Wine Festival. The Festival will be held from Thursday, April 26th through Sunday the 29th on the grounds of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland.
The popular event attracted over 2,000 food and wine enthusiasts in 2006. The festival will celebrate its 5th year by expanding its pavilions to allow more visitors to comfortably sample distinctive foods, select fine wines and spirits, and attend educational food and wine programs and demonstrations.
In 2006, the Festival donated over $17,000 to charity. One of the chariites receiving proceeds from the event is the St. Michaels Food Bank, a non-profit organization that feeds people truly in need.
Advance tickets include several new packages, including a VIP Reception with chefs and VIP Weekend Tickets, which allow guests to take advantage of exclusive receptions and seminars. Watermark Cruises is offering a one-day cruise from Annapolis to the Festival on Saturday.
Internationally celebrated chefs will join with the region’s chefs at area restaurants to feature special wine dinners and programs. New guest chefs for 2007 include: Roberto Donna of Galileo and Bebo Trattoria, in Washington, DC; Brian McBride of the Park Hyatt Hotel, also in Washington, Bill McCarrick, former pastry chef at Harrods of London, and Tom Lewis, owner of the famous Monachyle Mhor Hotel, in Balquhidder, Scotland.
Many of the region’s finest restaurants and inns will participate in the Festival. Hotel and inn packages are available for out of town guests. They include accomodations ranging from bed & breakfasts to luxurious spas and resorts. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
For more information and to purchase tickets, including Weekend Pavilion Tickets and VIP Weekend Passes, visit the Festival's official web site: St. Michaels Food & Wine Festival
You can also make inquiries by phone (443) 205-2185 or write: St. Michaels Food & Wine Office, PO Box 824, St. Michaels, MD 21663
What’s better than sampling some of Louisville’s best dishes and helping a worthy cause? Not much. Perhaps that’s why each year the turnout increases for the Kentucky Derby's Taste of Derby Festival. This year's Taste of Derby Festival will take place on Tuesday, April 17th from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Louisville Slugger Field. All proceeds from the event benefit the Dare to Care Food Bank.
This is the 8th year for the Taste of Derby Festival, which features signature dishes from more than 45 of Louisville’s finest restaurants and beverage companies. There is also a Bourbon Tasting, a Finlandia Bloody Mary Contest, Wine Tasting and a Silent Auction. The event has became so popular it was expanded into Slugger Field’s concourse area.
“This event has gotten bigger and better every year,” said Lind |
