Perlis and Haig Pick: South Bay Beer & Wine Festival

July 1, 2017 by Michael Perlis Leave a Comment

Recently, thanks mainly to the efforts of my sister-in-law Elizabeth (Liz) Haig, we attended the 4^th Annual South Bay Beer & Wine Festival. Our spouses Karen and Brian tagged along.

Since Liz went to all this trouble. I’d like to share her thoughts on the event and introduce you all to the person who has really been like my sister for about half [geez!] of my life.

Here’s Liz…

The South Bay Beer and Wine Festival in Rolling Hills Estates is a fundraiser for the El Segundo, Palos Verdes Peninsula and South Bay Sunrise Rotary clubs who volunteer and contribute to many worthwhile charities in our community.

It was a sold out event with nearly 1,300 guests. There were about 30 breweries and almost 20 wineries scheduled to pour and many local restaurants and other vendors serving up great food. I enjoyed several tastings that I thought I’d comment on a few that I really liked. I couldn’t get to all of them.

Kinship Winery in Paso Robles had a very nice Pinot Noir, it was light and refreshing and not too sweet. The Chardonnay was mild and had a fruity after taste. A portion of their proceeds goes towards helping children in Guatemala.

I tasted a flavored cognac, vodka and fruit juice blend called Mascarade with club soda and a mint leaf. It was very good and reminded me of a Mai Tai. And I really like Mai Tais.

Common Cider Company had several interesting flavors and their drinks were about 8% alcohol. We tried the Hibiscus Saison and Blackberry Sangria. Hibiscus Saison tasted like a mild cranberry drink without the tartness. The Blackberry Sangria was fruity and smooth.

Tito’s Vodka was serving up cool, refreshing cocktails and since it was extremely hot, it helped cool things down.

As for the beers, there were so many to choose from with a wide variety to sample. Absolution, Arts District, Knee Deep, RIPP Beer, Ironfire, Mother Earth Breweries and Scholb Premium Ales had some interesting new beers.

Red Car Brewery, Rock & Brews and Truxton’s had delicious sliders. Wa Dining, Pei Wei Asian, Silvio’s Brazilian BBQ, Tamiza’s Treats and Luna Grill had very tasting offers and it was nice to have a variety of different food choices.

Live music from the band, Detour, who played pop rock classics made us feel like dancing and really added to the atmosphere. I would definitely go again next year!

Thanks Liz.

I have a few more things to add.

On the day of the event [May 21^st] we were experiencing unseasonably warm weather, which made it a perfect day to get out of the Santa Clarita Valley and head down to the South Bay. It was somewhat warm down there too [although not like here] so it was a perfect day to focus on beer, which is what I did.

I had no idea there was such a craft beer movement going on in the South Bay. That area was well represented as well as other parts of LA and beyond.

Here were some of my favorites…

Arts District Brewing Company

Avery Brewing

Brouwerij West

Eagle Rock Brewery

House Beer

Iron Triangle

Phantom Carriage

Smog City Brewing Company

Three Weavers Brewing Company

Iron Triangle’s Dark Ale got my nod a second time [see my Masters of Taste article] for my favorite beer.

Also, Phantom Carriage gave me a good education on the purposeful use of brettanomyces in beer, which is usually a no-no for wine. They are definitely worth a trip to Carson to check out.

All in all, a nice way to spend a warm day out of the SCV.

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com.

Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza Unites the Best in Craft Beer and Legendary Blues

May 24, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Mammoth Lakes, CA (PRWEB) – The 22nd Annual Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza in Mammoth Lakes, California is gearing up for its High Sierra summer party with four days of music and two days of craft beer tasting. It’s Mammoth’s strongest rockin’ blues lineup yet, August 3rd-6th, outdoors among the pines at The Woodsite.

More than 20 internationally known bands will perform on two stages. On the Bluesapalooza Main stage, the Beyond Blues Thursday Night (5:15pm-10:00pm) kicks off with Robert Randolph and The Family Band with special guests Flow Tribe and Dreddie Poppins and The Professionals. Friday Night Rock ‘N Blues (3:00pm-10:00pm) features headlining performances from Mavis Staples, Valerie June, Eric Sardinas & Big Motor, Jason Ricci & The Bad Kind, and Saturday’s Bluesapalooza (11:30am-9:30pm) features Walter Trout, Sonny Landreth, Malina Moye, Samantha Fish, Dirty Revival, and Anthony Gomes. Festivalgoers can unwind, kick back and relax on Soulful Sunday (11:00am-5:30pm) with Vintage Trouble, Janiva Magness, Cedric Burnside Project, and Griff Hamlin & The Circle City Horns. On the Minaret Stage, RJ Mischo & Paris Slim, Brother Yusef, The Bald Eagles and additional special guests will have scheduled performances throughout the weekend.

“At 8,000 feet, we’re the highest elevation beer and music festival on the West Coast,” says Sean Turner of Mammoth Brewing Company, host brewery of the event. “And it takes place under the pines in one of the most beautiful venues in the West! It’s a great place to come find your new favorite band and your new favorite beer and meet some of the brewers.”

And when it comes to craft beer, attendees have a mammoth supply to choose from and taste. The Mammoth Festival of Beers features two days of beer tasting, both Saturday (12pm-5:00pm) and Sunday (12pm-4:00pm), showcasing more than 90 breweries pouring over 200 craft beers, such as Mammoth Brewing Company, Bear Republic, Figueroa Mountain Brewing, Firestone Walker, Green Flash, Hangar 24, Russian River Brewing, Santa Cruz Mountain, San Diego, Sierra Nevada, Stone, and many more. And for the progressive taster, this year’s new-dedicated Barrel-Aged Sour Beer Bar will serve specialty beers all four days of the festival. The event benefits the California Craft Brewers Association, The Infinite Music Foundation and many local nonprofit organizations. Along with the beer and blues, plenty of tasty food from some of Mammoth’s best restaurants will be served in the Blues Food Court satisfying the heartiest of appetites. The popular Cigar Bar returns. And for those that prefer grapes over hops, returning winery J. Lohr will offer their signature wines.

Multi-day tickets are the festival’s best buy and very important ticket holders, aka VIP ticket holders, receive early festival entry each day; special VIP bar lines with complimentary Sour Bar Beer tastings; a Lair of the Bear lounge access with special amenities; VIP porta-potties, and more.

Advance tickets are on sale now and this year’s event is again expected to sell out. Tickets are available online at http://www.vallitix.com or http://www.MammothBluesBrewsFest.com or phone at 888-825-5484; and locally at the Mammoth Brewing Company Tasting Room. For festival updates and additional information, visit the event’s responsive website, http://www.MammothBluesBrewsFest.com which features music videos; links to bands, breweries and ticketing; a photo gallery; email signup; live social media updates; FAQ section; an informative blog on festival happenings; and more. According to the event producers, this is the best place to obtain up-to-the-minute information about the festival. Or, contact the event hotline, 888-99-BREWS (992-7397).

The event venue, The Woodsite, is located at 5701 Minaret Road between Main Street and Meridian Boulevard. Mammoth Lakes is a mountain resort located near Yosemite National Park in the Eastern High Sierra off Highway 395, offering world-class golf courses, mountain biking, fishing, hiking, and resort facilities. For additional information about camping or local accommodations, call 800-GO MAMMOTH or visit http://www.visitmammoth.com or http://www.mammothbluesbrewsfest.com/lodging.

South Bay Beer & Wine Festival

May 11, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

South Bay Beer & Wine Festival

May 21^st 2017 at Ernie Howlett Park in Rolling Hills Estates

1 PM to 5 PM

VIP – 12 NOON to 5 PM

The South Bay Beer & Wine Festival invites you to enjoy the wares of approximately 70 Craft Beer, Wine & Restaurant exhibitors this May. The best of Southern California’s regional breweries, wineries and restaurants are featured, yet the Festival in its fourth year is a mecca for craft brewers from throughout the west. Tasting of all beer, wine and food is unlimited, and each festival attendee receives a great souvenir glass to take home.

The VIP upgrade adds tastings of assorted spirits, preferred parking, and entry to the Festival one hour before general admission. We applaud the generosity of all our exhibitors who energetically participate each year to raise money for our charitable beneficiaries. Treat your palate and have a blast with your friends this Spring on the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula.

All proceeds fund the community outreach programs of Rotary Clubs within the South Bay and Harbor cities of Los Angeles. It’s a Springtime event that can’t be missed.

Tickets Prices

Tickets for the South Bay Beer & Wine Festival includes unlimited tasting of craft beers, fine wines, delicious food, live music, and silent auction.

General Admission $75.00 online; Day of the event, if any are still available, $75.00 at the gate.
Your Ticket includes:

Festival Access from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Souvenir Tasting Glass
Unlimited Tastings of Craft Beer, Fine Wines, and Foods from ~70 Great Exhibitors
Live Music
Art Exhibition
Free Parking

Unlike many festivals, your ticket price provides an “all-inclusive” experience. No hidden costs (like food trucks or parking). It’s a great value!

VIP Upgrade $30; Limited; advanced online purchase only. Day of the event: Not available.

Access to VIP Tent with seating and shade for relaxing
Premium distilled spirits tastings
Preferred parking next to event field
Early entry to event. Access at 12 noon — 1 hour before General Admission
To be used with a General Admission ticket

Fine Print: You must be at least 21 years old to enter the Festival. No smoking in the Festival. And, please, no pets.

Music (and wine) Lover’s Williamsburg: The Best Festivals and Concerts

May 10, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Start counting the long list of famed musicians hailing from Virginia – including Patsy Cline, Bruce Hornsby, Dave Matthews and Pharrell Williams – and it’s no surprise that the state, and the Greater Williamsburg area, are home to an equally eclectic array of music events.

Among the highlights of this year’s spring and summer concert season are Bruce Hornsby’s Funhouse Fest that finds him reconnecting with old friend, Sheryl Crow, who headlines the first night of the three-day festival in June; and multi-platinum-selling artist, LeAnn Rimes, at Uncorked and Unplugged at The Williamsburg Winery, also in June.

Check out our round-up of the top music festivals and concert series in Greater Williamsburg to get on your calendar for 2017, and see more here. Be sure to make your plans early – tickets sell out far in advance.

Have Fun, Fun, Fun on the Big Lawn
Funhouse Fest, a three-day celebration of music curated by Grammy-winner Bruce Hornsby in partnership with the Virginia Arts Festival, is back for a second year after attracting more than 6,000 people. This year’s lineup means those crowds will be even bigger. Sheryl Crow and Hornsby, with his band The Noisemakers, open the fun on June 23, promising one hit after another. The following night, Hornsby returns to play the music of The Grateful Dead after sets by guests including Lake Street Dive, jazz man Kenny Garret, and The Staves, a British folk trio. On the final day, critically acclaimed singer Rhiannon Giddens, once part of Carolina Chocolate Drops and now a recurring character on the show “Nashville,” steps on stage, but — you guessed it — Hornsby is not finished. He will play a duo show with drummer Sonny Emory. It all takes place on the lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg from June 23 to June 25.

Williamsburg Winery

Unplugged in True Williamsburg Style
Go Uncorked and Unplugged at Greater Williamsburg’s classy update of that MTV Unplugged phenomenon at The Williamsburg Winery on June 10. LeAnn Rimes is headlining this year’s event, which is a magic merger of wine and song featuring intimate acoustic sets from major-league acts and world-class Virginia wines.

Hot Time, Hot Summer Songs
Cool evenings at Busch Gardens during July and August get a shot of hot songs with Summer Nights, featuring rock, pop, country and contemporary Christian performers under the stars at the Royal Palace Theatre. The schedule is evolving, but mark July 15 for a show with country mega-star Josh Turner.

Second Sundays of Song
Second Sundays, Williamsburg’s Art and Music Festival, kicked off with its first event in March and will run through Dec. 10 in Colonial Williamsburg. The festival showcases numerous local and regional acts on several stages while as many as 100 artists offer their creations for sale in downtown Williamsburg. The music starts at 11 a.m. and continues until 5 p.m. That’s more seconds of song than you can count.

Listen Along with the Symphonic Masters
The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra offers Masterworks Concerts in the Kimball Theatre in Merchants Square. On April 25 and 26, the symphony turns to hidden gems playing Verdi, Mozart and Neilson. The fireworks finale at Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall at the College of William & Mary on May 20 features violinist Elena Urioste and the symphony playing Falla, Korngold and Tchaikovsky.

A Triple Shot of Vitamin B
How better to get a shot of springtime energy than Yorktown’s fourth annual Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival May 6 from noon to 6 p.m. on Riverwalk Landing. Hear the best local blues bands. Quaff craft brews. And, of course, pick up extra napkins as you devour barbecue and other local favorites. Get your tickets early.

Sunset Songs on the Water
The Watermen’s Museum Yorktown Music Jamboree concert series starts Friday, May 5, and continues every Friday through August showcasing local musicians. What could be better than to watch the sunset and listen to songs echoing across the York River?

One Classy Coffee Concert
The Virginia Arts Festival has a sprawling calendar of events in southeastern Virginia throughout April and May. It brings the American String Quartet with pianist Andre-Michel Schub to the always-classy Williamsburg Winery in an intimate show where fans will be able to mingle with the artists following the performance. Make your escape from work for the 10:30 a.m. show on May 11.

Summer Breeze, Makes Me Feel Fine
Take a mid-week break at the Summer Breeze Concert Series on Wednesdays throughout July and August in Merchants Square with some of the best local talent. Shows start at 7 p.m.

To experience more culture in Greater Williamsburg, check out these fun cultural activities and plan your visit today!

Santa Clarita Valley’s Taste of the Town, aka TOTT, Returns May 7, 2017

April 30, 2017 by evebushman 2 Comments

Don’t miss Child & Family Center’s 29^th annual Taste of the Town coming Sunday, May 7. Held at the beautiful gardens of Mann Biomedical Park, guests enjoy delectable samples from 50 restaurants, caterers, and beer & wine purveyors for one all-inclusive price. All proceeds benefit Child & Family Center which provides therapy services each week for 650 children with emotional or behavioral issues. Guests who purchase the VIP Experience for $125 will enjoy a special one-hour pre-event reception from 12:00 to 1:00 pm, featuring access to all the booths and exclusive access to special beer and wine. General admission is from 1:00 – 5:00 pm and tickets are $75. The event is adults 21+ only.

Several exciting items are up for bid at the live auction including private catered dinners, Hollywood Bowl tickets, a week at a home in Maui, a week at a home in Mammoth and many more!

One lucky guest will win a $5,000 Princess Cruise premium vacation package. Princess Cruises is the destination leader sailing more than 150 itineraries visiting over 360 ports of call around the world. The package includes expert guidance from your own Princess Cruise Vacation Planner to make your vacation dreams, to the destination of your choice, come true. Tickets are $50 each or 3 tickets for $100 and are available now and at the event. You don’t have to be present to win. To buy tickets, contact Child & Family Center at 661-255-6847 ext. 3018.

Everyone knows that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Here’s your chance to win a beautiful diamond pendant courtesy of local jeweler Apo Yessayan of Classic Designs Jewelry. Just $25 per ticket and you receive a complimentary glass of champagne!

Back by popular demand, Mark LeVang has assembled his stellar group of musicians and singers for our event. Currently on a world tour with Neil Diamond, Mark will fly in to perform at the event! The band is highly acclaimed in the motion picture and recording session world.

The success of Taste of the Town relies a great deal on the generosity of our sponsors. This year marks the ninth time that Bank of Santa Clarita has been the Title Sponsor. Joining them for the fourth time are Whitening Lightning and Gerard Cosmetics, both owned by local entrepreneur and philanthropist Jennifer Gerard. Other sponsors include Mann Biomedical Park, Boston Scientific, Santa Clarita Studios, Princess Cruises, Lundgren Management, Alliance Building Solutions, Harold & Jacqulyn Petersen, Telacu Construction Management, Chiquita Canyon, Classic Designs Jewelry, Salon 7, Animal Specialty Group, Sweat it Out, G. Marshall Hann, Heffernan Insurance, Nick Rose Insurance, The Walt Disney Company, Julie Sturgeon CPA, Stifel, Valencia Acura, City of Santa Clarita, Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewery, Martin & Company Tax & Wealth Advisors, Kaiser Permanente, Bill & Valerie Cooper, Lentini Insurance & Investments, LBW Insurance, Six Flags, Bruce Fortine & Gloria Mercado Fortine, Jack & Doreen Shine, the Kreyenhagen Family, Magazine of Santa Clarita, Signal Multimedia, KHTS AM 1220, SCV TV, Spectrum Reach, Burrtec, Andy Gump, Thomas Graphics and L.A. Party Rents.

For a complete list of participating restaurants, sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets visit: www.tasteofthetown.com

# # #

HERE IS OUR EXCITING LINEUP OF PARTICIPANTS

An Indian Affaire

Angel City Brewery

Anheuser-Busch

Bella Cucina

Bergies Bar & Grill

Big Wangs

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

Casa Canela Restaurant

Castaic Lake Water Agency

Clarice’s Cake & Candy Supplies

College of the Canyons Culinary School

Fireman’s Brew

Henry Mayo Café

Honu Coffee

J. Lohr

Jersey Mike’s Subs

Jill’s Cake Creations

Kona Ice

Larsen’s Steakhouse

Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que

Nature’s Bakery

New Moon Restaurant

Newhall Refinery

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Olive Terrace Bar & Grill

Parashars’ Indian Kitchen

Pinot’s Palette

Pocock Brewing Company

Rita’s Italian Ice

Rubios

Salt Creek Grille Restaurant & Catering

Signal Wine Club

Sisley

Solita Tacos

Summerhill Villa

Sweet Beams

The Blaq Square

The Paseo Club

TPC Valencia

Valencia Country Club

Vines Restaurant & Bar

Wolf Creek Restaurant

Wood Ranch

2nd Annual Masters of Taste: L.A.’s Top Tastemakers Savor the Finer Things On Field of The Iconic Pasadena Rose Bowl!

April 13, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Los Angeles, CA: Spring has sprung and the time has come to celebrate and savor the finer things at this year’s 2nd Annual Masters of Taste, an outdoor, luxury food and beverage festival being held on Sunday, May 7th, 2017 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm on the field of the iconic Pasadena Rose Bowl!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Masters of Taste

The 2nd Annual Masters of Taste will bring over 2,500 food and beverage enthusiasts together from all over Greater Los Angeles for one afternoon to celebrate this exhilarating festival, which will include the finest fare from over 40 Culinary Masters and restaurants, delectable sweets prepared by L.A.’s top Sweet Masters, signature handcrafted cocktails and tastings from over 30 Beverage Masters, including L.A’s top bartenders and cocktail bars, local California wineries, local craft breweries, pressed juices, hand roasted coffee, live entertainment and much more.

100% of the proceeds from Masters of Taste 2017 will directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to helping homeless men, women and children rebuild their lives. Union Station is part of a premier group of human services agencies in Los Angeles County that are leading the way to end homelessness in our community and offers an array of services including street outreach, meals, shelter, housing, case management and career development. Last year, Masters of Taste 2016 raised over $435,000 for Union Station Homeless Services, and this year Masters of Taste hopes to grow that number to $560,000.

Some of this year’s Masters of Taste 2017 participating Culinary Masters and Restaurants include:

118 Degrees Chef Jenny Ross (Tarzana)
Alexander’s Steakhouse Chef Matt Bata (Pasadena)
Bacchus Kitchen & Eatery and Claude & Co. Chef Claud Beltran (Pasadena)
Bone Kettle and Komodo Chef Erwin Tjahyadi (Pasadena and Los Angeles)
CAST at the Viceroy Santa Monica Chef Larry Monaco (Santa Monica)
Celestino Chef Calogero Drago (Pasadena)
Church & State and Spring Chef Tony Esnault (Downtown Los Angeles)
Crossings Chef Lalo Sanchez (South Pasadena)
HACHÉ LA Chef Michael “Mick” Schepers (Silver Lake)
HokePoke Chef Lauren Haas (Downtown Los Angeles)
Hamasaku Chef Yoya Takahashi (Los Angeles)
Hyperion Public Chef Paddy Aubrey (Silver Lake and Studio City)
INTRO Art Gallery & Chef’s Table Chef Paul Shoemaker (North Hollywood)
Little Beast Chef Jose Perez (Eagle Rock)
Magnolia House Chef Evan Colter (Pasadena)
Mama Lion Chef Michael Hung (Koreatown)
Mexikosher Chef Katsuji Tanabi (Los Angeles)
Milk & Honey Chef Lulu Cai (Hollywood)
Miro Chef Gavin Mills (Downtown Los Angeles)
Momed Chef Alex Sarkissian (Beverly Hills and Atwater Village)
Nerano Chef Michele Lisi (Beverly Hills)
Prince of Venice
Ramen Tatsunoya (Pasadena)
SpireWorks Chef Kuniko Yagi (Westwood Village and Eagle Rock)
Redbird Chef Neal Fraser (Downtown Los Angeles)
The Raymond 1886 Chef Tim Guiltinan (Pasadena)
True Food Kitchen Chef Phil Noresetter (Pasadena)
Venice Whaler Chef Nick Liberato (Venice)
Sweet Masters: A select group of Los Angeles Top Sweet Masters will showcase an assortment of delectable desserts such as the gourmet single-origin chocolate and vanilla ice creams from Choctal, homemade premium sorbets from Helados Pops, the finest globally-procured cacao from Chocolate Stars USA, and much more from Café Dulce, Icy Rush, Lark Cake Shop, Magpies Softserve, Mignon Chocolate, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Sprinkles, Street Churros and The Dirty Cookie.

Some of this year’s participating Beverage Masters include:

Brewmasters: Beverage Masters who specialize in barley and hops will be presenting top-notch ales, lagers, pilsners and more for guests to sample, sip and savor all throughout the event, including Southern California favorites Bootlegger’s Brewery, Indie Brewing Company, Iron triangle Brewing, MacLeod Ale Brewing Co., Three Weavers Brewing Company and 101 Cider House.

Wineries: A specially curated collection of Wine Masters will be showcasing their finest varietals including premium boutique winery Ascension Cellars, Antelope Valley’s Golden Star Vineyards, Jardesca, St. Helena’s Hall Wines, Anderson Valley’s Navarro Vineyards, San Antonio Winery in Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Barbara County’s Tercero Wines, Napa Valley’s Trinchero Family Estates and Vinemark Cellars.

Bars & Spirits: Some of L.A.’s top bartenders and cocktail bars will be creating first-rate craft cocktails, including Peter Lloyd-Jones and 1886 Bar, Garrett McKechnie of Downtown L.A.’s Bar Mattachine and Bar Manager Bethany Ham of the newly opened 1950s inspired hidden cocktail den Birds & Bees. Top brands showcasing their finest spirits will also include American Born Moonshine, Dulce Vida Tequila, Mezcal El Silencio, Glenlevit, Kikori Whiskey, Martell Blue Swift and ZYR Russian Vodka just to name a few.

Non-Alcoholic Beverages: A variety of premium non-alcoholic Beverage Masters will also be on hand for those who wish to hydrate, caffeinate or regenerate, featuring the “bevolutionary” Bai who will be presenting their antioxidant juices, teas and water infusions, Boxed Water, Califia Farms Juices and Cold Brew Coffees, Dry Sparkling, Kombucha Dog, Milk+T, cold-pressed juices from Nekter Juice Bar, Philz hand roasted customized blended Coffee, and all natural, refreshing beverages from Zico Coconut Water.

More Culinary Masters, Sweet Masters and Beverage Masters to be announced.

Sponsors: Masters of Taste is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, which include HomeStreet Bank, Judith L Chiara Foundation, Western Asset Management, Capital Group, Floe Financial Partners, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Bank of America, Femino Family Foundation, Goldstar, HKG LLP, Kauffman Wealth Management, MUFG Union, Tournament of Roses, Wells Fargo, Westport Construction, Citizens Business Bank, Hahn & Hahn, LLP, Hybrid Foundation, Massage Envy, Tsan Tsun Memorial Foundation, Westmount Asset Management, RE/Max, Arroyo Insurance Services, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Individual FoodService, and California Linen Services.

Ticket Information: Masters of Taste will take place on Sunday, May 7th, 2016. A VIP Power Hour will be held from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and General Admission will be from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Tickets to this event are only available for guests 21+ and over. For more information on Masters of Taste or to book your tickets directly, please visit www.MastersofTasteLA.com/Tickets.

Location: Pasadena Rose Bowl – 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, CA 91103.

Transportation and Parking: Guests are encouraged to utilize car services – Lyft, Uber, Taxi, etc. – since this event does serve alcoholic beverages. To get 20% off your ride to and from Masters of Taste, please visit Lyft. Complimentary parking will also be available at the event.

Follow Masters of Taste for the latest updates on: Facebook: www.facebook.com/MastersOfTaste Twitter: @MastersofTaste

Instagram: @MastersofTaste

Masters of Taste

Pasadena Rose Bowl

1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, CA 91103

Masters of Taste Direct Line: 626.791.6677

E: info@MastersofTasteLA.com

www.MastersofTasteLA.com

Blues, Brews and BBQ to Kick Off Summer at BBQ & Beer Festival May 5-7

April 9, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

3-day festival kicks off the Southern California summer season by celebrating the best of BBQ and craft beer

(Santa Clarita, CA) – Celebrate the most refreshing craft beers and mouthwatering BBQ in the state at the BBQ & Beer Festival, California Beer Festival’s 2^nd annual end-of-spring celebration in Santa Clarita on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 5-7. This three-day event features the very best in BBQ and beer, served alongside some groovy beats from live, celebrated bands and musicians.

Friday evening at the BBQ & Beer Festival is a celebration of craft beer, bringing in a fresh wave of brews on tap and offering attendees the ultimate craft beer experience. With a multitude of microbreweries pouring over 50 different handcrafted beers and ciders on tap, beer enthusiasts are invited to discover new favorites and to enjoy established and well-loved choices.

Participating breweries include some California favorites such as House Beer, Santa Maria Brewing Company, MadeWest, Rincon Brewery, Poseidon Brewing Co., The Dudes Brewing Co., St. Killian Importing, The Bloody Cure, Angel City Brewery, Golden Road Brewing, Goose Island Beer Co., Sierra Nevada, Stella Artois, Wolf Creek Brewing, Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits, Pocock Brewing Co., Lagunitas Brewing Company, Island Brewing Company, Elysian Brewing, Coronado Brewing Co., Firestone Walker and more. Friday attendees must be at least 21 years of age to enter the festival, and will receive an exclusive souvenir tasting cup for sampling with entry.

Saturday at the BBQ & Beer Festival is a family friendly BBQ extravaganza, designed with chowing down on the best hot, delicious BBQ and BBQ sauces from around the state in mind – and, of course, refreshing craft beer pairings for interested adults. A perfect family outing, Saturday’s event will feature live entertainment and a fun Kid Zone to keep everyone in the family entertained to their hearts content. Saturday’s BBQ participants include Black Sugar Rib Company, Carter’s Smoked BBQ, BBQ Smokehouse, Cowboy John’s Smoken BBQ and It’s in the Sauce BBQ, among others to be announced. (Note: there is no craft beer sampling on Saturday.)

New this year, the BBQ & Beer Festival has added a 3^rd day of festivities. Sunday’s Blues, Brew & BBQ Festival will feature live bands including renowned blues band Tommy Castro & the Painkillers alongside its delicious and expansive BBQ and craft beer fare. (Note: there is no craft beer sampling on Sunday.)

Tickets are available for purchase online now. Tickets will also be sold at the door. Friday beer festival tickets range from $20 to $40 and BBQ Festival/Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival tickets are $10 (entry must be purchased per person for each day), with free entry for children 12 and under. Both days will feature a variety of live music and entertainment. Individuals must be 21 years of age or older with a valid ID to enter the Beer Festival on Friday and to consume alcohol for the duration of the festival. For more information, please visit www.BBQandBeerFestival.com.

About California Beer Festival
Since 2009, California Beer Festival has been hosting a variety of California’s favorite food and brew events. Though events such as California Beer Festival in Ventura, Marin, Santa Cruz and San Dimas, the Tequila and Taco Festival in San Diego, Santa Cruz and Ventura, the Winter Wine Walk in Ventura and Burbank, the Burbank Beer Festival, the BBQ & Beer Festival and the Champagne on Main Wine Walk & Spring Street fair, California Beer Festival shines a light on the craft beer movement and gets people together to celebrate and enjoy the best in craft brewing. California Beer Festival offers a chance for guests to expand their minds and educate themselves on new and old styles of craft beer. Individuals must be 21 years of age or older with a valid ID to sample beer.

L.A. Weekly Announces The Return of Burgers and Beer

April 5, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

L.A. Weekly is excited to announce the return of their signature event, Burgers & Beer, to their 2017 food festival calendar! Taking place on Saturday, April 29th, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in DTLA, this event is a slider and craft beer lovers dream!

Curated by L.A. Weekly’s editorial staff, this event will feature Los Angeles’ best burger restaurants serving their signature sliders and California’s best craft breweries sampling the brews that have made them famous!

As of press time, the following restaurants have confirmed attendance at this year’s event: Baldoria, Belcampo Meat Co., Burger City Grill, Button Mash, byCHLOE, Grill ‘Em All, Hinoki and the Bird, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Mascarpone Cheesecake by Chef Turok, Myke’s Café, Simmzy’s, Slater’s 50/50, The Pikey, The Upper West, Venice Whaler and WOLF with more to be confirmed.

As of press time, the following breweries have confirmed attendance at this year’s event: 101 Cider House, Absolution Brewing Company, Angel City Brewery, Arts District Brewing Company, Baja Brewing Company, Beachwood BBQ & Brewing, Boomtown Brewery, Brewyard Beer Company, Claremont Craft Ales, Coronado Brewing Company, Dry River Brewing, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, Fireman’s Brew, Inc., Golden Road Brewing, High Water Brewing Company, Homage Brewing, Indie Brewing Company, Iron Triangle Brewing, Kona Brewing Co., Ladyface Ale Companie, Lagunitas Brewing Co., MacLeod Ale Brewing Co., Noble Ale Works, Pizza Port Brewing Co., Scholb Premium Ales, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Simmzy’s, St. Killian Importing, Strand Brewing Co., The Bruery, The Dudes’ Brewing Co., The Lost Abbey, Transplants Brewing Company and Wolf Creek Brewery with more to be confirmed.

Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1429993

A portion of this year’s event proceeds will benefit Food Forward. Food Forward rescues fresh local produce that would otherwise go to waste, connecting this abundance with people in need, and inspiring others to do the same.

General Admission tickets will be available starting at $50 and include entry into the event, unlimited food samples from 20+ restaurants, craft beer samples from 40+ breweries, access to entertainment and vendor village. A limited number of VIP admission tickets will be available starting at $70. VIP Admission tickets include all general admission perks plus hour early entry into the event and a VIP gift bag.

Follow L.A. Weekly on Facebook facebook.com/LAWeekly, Twitter @laweeklystreet, Instagram @laweekly and foursquare for updates as they unfold.

Don’t miss out on L.A. Weekly’s third annual Burgers & Beer celebration!

About L.A. Weekly:

L.A. Weekly, and more recently laweekly.com, has Los Angeles covered, with investigative reporting, comprehensive calendar listings and forward-thinking cultural coverage, including daily blogs like the highly regarded Squid Ink, which covers the city’s food scene. We keep our readers loyal with stories by some of the country’s finest writers—now accessible through our mobile platforms. L.A. Weekly has won more awards from the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies than any other paper in the country, and in 2007 was the first newspaper to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for its food criticism.

SAVE THE DATE for the 33rd Annual Winesong event

March 5, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Please SAVE THE DATE for the 33rd Annual Winesong event, which will take place this year from September 8 to 9 on the breathtaking Mendocino Coast. Produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, this weekend of award-winning wine, spectacular food, exquisite art and charitable giving will be held at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.

Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect at this year’s Winesong event —

A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers

Friday, September 8, 2017 | 1 to 4 p.m.

Presented by Winesong and hosted by Little River Inn, this illustrious event features Pinot Noir from renowned Anderson Valley and other award winning pinot regions, plus tastes of Little River Inn’s finest culinary offerings.

Wine & Food Grand Tasting in the Gardens

Saturday, September 9, 2017 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Stroll through the lush Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens while enjoying vintages poured by world-class wineries from Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and beyond as well as beer, spirits, and food from 50 of Mendocino County’s finest food purveyors. The tasting is accented by various musical groups performing a variety of styles including jazz, classical, blues, calypso and folk rock.

Silent & Live Auctions

Saturday, September 9, 2016 | SILENT: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; LIVE: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The centerpiece of Winesong weekend is the Charity Auction, featuring both a silent and live auction. Nearly 200 lots will be on offer, featuring spectacular wines from the world’s most prestigious wine producers, rare vintages, large format bottles and special vertical and horizontal collections (including a Châteauneuf-du-Pape collection), as well as original art from acclaimed California artists and highly coveted international and domestic vacation packages.

Please visit www.winesong.org for details. Tickets to all events go on sale April 1, 2017.

L.A Loves (and Michael Perlis Picks) Alex’s Lemonade

October 1, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

One of our favorite annual events was held on Saturday, September 10^th at UCLA and Karen and I had the great pleasure of once again attending.

Larry Schaffer of Tercero.

Not only is L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade always extremely well organized in a great setting on the Royce Quad, with great wines, beers and other libations, but guests were treated to culinary treats from a veritable “who’s who” of star chefs, from restaurants both local and afar:

Nick Anderer (New York, NY) – Maialino
Thomas Bellec (Los Angeles, CA) – THE Blvd Restaurant
Chris Bianco (Phoenix, AZ) – Pizzeria Bianco, Pane Bianco, Bar Bianco
April Bloomfield (New York, NY) – The Spotted Pig
Josef Centeno (Los Angeles, CA) – Baco Mercat
Adam Cherney, Amy Deaderick, Javier Espinoza, Mercedes Rojas (Los Angeles, CA) – THE LUCQUES GROUP
Michael Cimarusti (Los Angeles, CA) – Providence
Josiah Citrin (Los Angeles, CA) – Melisse, Charcoal Venice
Derek Dammann (Montreal, QC, Canada) – Maison Publique
Giada De Laurentiis (Las Vegas, NV) – Giada
Eva Ein (Santa Barbara, CA) – McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams
Susan Feniger (Los Angeles, CA) – Border Grill
Michael Fiorelli (Los Angeles, CA) – Love & Salt
Ben Ford (Los Angeles, CA) – Ford’s Filling Station
Jeremy Fox (Los Angeles, CA) – Rustic Canyon
Neal Fraser (Los Angeles, CA) – Redbird, BLD, ICDC, Fritzi Dog
Ray Garcia (Los Angeles, CA) – Broken Spanish
Andrew Gavalla & Shannon Swindle (Los Angeles, CA) – Craft
Valerie Gordon (Los Angeles, CA) – Valerie Confections
Cosmo Goss (Chicago, IL)- The Publican
Jonathan Grahm (Los Angeles, CA) – Compartes
Maria Hines (Seattle, WA) – Tilth, Golden Beetle, Agrodolce
Timothy Hollingsworth (Los Angeles, CA) – Otium, Barrel & Ashes
Bruce Kalman (Los Angeles, CA) – Union Pasadena, Knead & Co Pasta Bar + Market
Anthony Keene (Los Angeles, CA) – The London Hotel
Sara Kramer & Sarah Hymanson (Los Angeles, CA) – Madcapra
David Lentz (Los Angeles, CA) – The Hungry Cat
Donald Link (New Orleans, LA) – Pêche, Herbsaint, Cochon, Cochon Butcher
Jenn Louis (Portland, OR) – Sunshine Tavern, Lincoln Restaurant
Tyler Malek (Portland, OR + Los Angeles, CA) – Salt & Straw
Matt Molina (Los Angeles, CA) – Everson Royce Bar
Walter Manzke + Margarita Manzke (Los Angeles, CA) – Republique
Ori Menashe (Los Angeles, CA) – Bestia
Zoe Nathan (Los Angeles, CA) – Huckleberry
Dahlia Narvaez (Los Angeles, CA) – Mozza Restaurant Group
Bryant NG (Los Angeles, CA) – Cassia
Nancy Oakes & Dana Younkin (San Francisco, CA) – Boulevard Restaurant
Adam Perry Lang (New York, NY + Los Angeles, CA) – Serious BBQ
Chris Phelps & Zak Walters (Los Angeles, CA) – Salt’s Cure
Zachary Pollack (Los Angeles, CA) – Alimento
Ari Rosenson (Los Angeles, CA) – CUT
Steve Samson (Los Angeles, CA) – Sotto
Aaron Sanchez (New Orleans, LA) – Johnny Sanchez
Michael Schwartz (Miami, FL) – Fi’lia, The Genuine Hospitality Group
Sahar Shomali (Los Angeles, CA) – Lucques Group
Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo (Los Angeles, CA) – Animal, Son of a Gun, Jon & Vinny’s
Nancy Silverton (Los Angeles, CA) – Mozza Restaurant Group
Frank Stitt (Birmingham, AL) – Highlands Bar and Grill
John Sundstrom (Seattle, WA) – Lark, Bitter/Raw, Slab Sandwich & Pie
Andy Sutton (Anaheim, CA) – Napa Rose

Suzanne Tracht (Los Angeles, CA) – Jar
Marc Vetri & Jeff Michaud (Philadelphia, PA) – Vetri
Bryan Voltaggio (Los Angeles, CA)? – Volt Restaurant
Michael Voltaggio (Los Angeles, CA) – ink.
Jonathan Waxman (New York, NY) – Barbuto
Rocco Whalen (Cleveland, OH) – Fahrenheit Charlotte
Jason Winters (Los Angeles, CA) – Urban Pie
Sherry Yard (Los Angeles, CA) – Ipic Group
Shiho Yoshikawa (Los Angeles, CA) – Sweet Rose Creamery

Impossible to pick food favorites. So many delicious bites that it was somewhat of a blur. A couple of standouts among a sea of standouts were the brunch burger from ERB, the pork belly from Redbird and the lamb belly from Bestia.

This is definitely a chef-driven/food focused event, but you can also see the whole lineup of wines, beers and cocktail providers here:

http://www.alexslemonade.org/static/lala/

Some of the wine highlights for us…

It was great to get a chance to visit with Larry Schaffer of tercero and taste several of his terrific wines before his table got too busy [as it always does]. An added bonus was he brought a couple juice samples from soon-to-be-this-year’s harvest.

Another winery based in Los Olivos, we especially enjoyed Habit Wine Company’s Gruner Veltiner and Cabernet Franc.

Hudson Wine Brokers continue to show that not all delicious wines from Australia need to be high alcohol fruit bombs.

Jamie Edlin of Hollywood & Wine poured several wines. Really liked the Archium Dissident GSM blend.

The Tyler Winery Pinot Noir and Chardonnay provided by high end wine merchant Chambers & Chambers were real crowd pleasers.

In addition to “star chefs” there were other stars in attendance as well, such as…

Jimmy Kimmel

Timothy Olyphant

Kumail Nanjiani

Annabeth Gish

Joe Mantegna

Ray Romano

Laura Dern

Kristen Vangsness

Nolan Gould

Pauley Perrette

…among many others.

Check out all the photos here from the event’s Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/alexslemonade/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10153743415086561

While you’re at it, you should check out their videos as well to see what you missed…

https://www.facebook.com/lalovesalexslemonade/videos

I just can’t wait until this event isn’t around anymore.

Wait? What?

I guess I should ‘splain myself.

For those who don’t know the story…

Alexandra Scott decided at age four that she wanted to set up a lemonade stand to raise money to help cure childhood cancer, not just for her but for all children. Others took up the cause as well and by the time Alex passed away in 2004 at eight years old [she’d been fighting the disease since before she was one], she and those inspired by her had raised more than $1 million. The following year, her parents Jay and Liz Scott founded the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to continue what Alex had started. More than $127 million has been raised since 2000, and one of the events that raises funds for this foundation is LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade. At this year’s LA event alone, which is hosted annually by Chef Suzanne Goin, her business partner Caroline Styne and Chef David Lentz, over $1 million was raised.

So wouldn’t it be great to not have to raise funds for this cause every year?

But in the meantime, this is about as deserving of a cause as one can possibly think of. If you missed it this year, we hope to see you there next time.