Vintage Eve Circa Dec 2018: Scotland Part One – Loving Edinburgh

October 13, 2020 by evebushman

Besides my articles on touring and tasting at The Scotch Whisky Experience and Edinburgh Gin there were many other adventures my husband Eddie and I had during our first magical trip to Scotland.

The whisky ride that starts the Scotch Whisky Experience.

Eddie had arrived ahead of me for business in London, so I met him there when he was through to travel to Edinburgh together. We desperately wanted to take the train, as we heard that the views were incredible, but due to other factors we had to fly. And that turned out to be the least eventful part of the trip. We told ourselves that since we had a three-day bus tour through the Speyside region we would be rewarded then. But first we started with touring a bit of Edinburgh, Scotland’s capitol.

And by the second day in Edinburgh, when my husband had to resort to spooning to keep me warm at night even though I was wearing flannels, I had more than warmed to Scotland. These are just some of the memories from our trip – in three parts – I wanted to share with readers, most are whisky-based while some share our thoughts on the people, the landscape, food and tourism:

On day one in Edinburgh we utilized some of our research. We knew we wanted to tackle the steep climb to the highest point of “Arthur’s Seat” so we made sure we selected the best day when no rain was expected, and none had arrived the day before to wet the rocky path.

This ideal day turned out to be our first day in Edinburgh. But FYI, I have a fear of heights. I battle it (love the Soarin’ Disneyland ride but my legs go numb from the knees down each time) so I knew what I’d have to do for the climb: not look down, ever. However, as it was as steep as promised, I still battled the numb-below-the-knees feeling as well as a pounding in my chest and some panting.

It was incredibly worth it. A 360 degree view of Edinburgh. And on a day a rally had been planned, with people from all over Scotland carrying/wearing/waving the blue and white Scottish flags all in the name of secession from the UK. We have no opinions on what Scots need best, that is up to them and their vote, but what an incredible sight. One we will never forget. (And, I know you are dying to know: Yes, there was an easier way down!)

Once we climbed down from Arthur’s Seat we started our walk back to our hotel by taking the Royal Mile route. This is a famous path for its many pubs, restaurants, shops and mingling with locals. We popped into many shops to look at woolen kilts, gloves and cashmere scarves, as well as the usual souvenirs. (I really wanted the coasters that pictured Scottish men with their kilts flowing up from the Scottish wind, but couldn’t imagine that they would be appreciated as much at home.)

Other highlights from our time in Edinburgh included a reservation to tour the Edinburgh Castle, fittingly perched on the top of the Royal Mile – and the view is breathtaking. Several buildings make up the castle and each had its own museum or display, including the crown jewels, the former prison, Mons Meg (giant cannon) and the great hall. The museums included both the National War Museum and the Regimentals Museum. These museums are not to be missed; we were awed learning about the battles and the history in scenes, writings, paintings and clothing. Learn more here.

We had fun checking out the various restaurants for local ale, cocktails, single malt whisky as well as fish n’ chips, oysters, steaks, fresh salads, Sunday Roast, gamey charcuterie and sharp cheeses. One bar, the Devil’s Advocate, was located on one of the many narrow “clos” between main streets that you have to climb down (or up depending on where you start) to reach. We were rewarded with a killer bar menu with cocktails slightly different than our own, as well as some people-watching.

We had two special dinners while in Edinburgh, the first was at the highly recommended Balmoral Hotel, in the Prince Bar, where we happily snagged an unreserved table, ordered very dry martinis (whisky would soon be the name of the game and martinis seemed to overflow with vermouth or brine in the UK) paired with oysters and charcuterie. We had a second round of drinks before we walked back to our hotel.

The other restaurant that we were referred to is Kyloe’s, which happened to be just steps away from Edinburgh Gin. The menu proved a bit more gamey than we were adventurous enough to try but our meal, filet mignon, and a nice split of Bordeaux, was spot on. Both restaurants were also perfect for people watching.

If I’ve interested you, next week I will share Scotland Part two: Granton-on-Spey and the last installment will be the week after that, Scotland Part Three: Speyside Whisky and The Views.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

MY LIFE IN GLUTTONY: A CULINARY ADVENTURE

September 12, 2020 by evebushman

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FLA. (PRWEB) – Our fascination with food was confirmed on April 19, 1993 when Americans were introduced to the Food Network. Along with increased numbers of celebrity chefs and food-oriented reality television shows, there’s been an ever-growing demand for cookbooks and culinary storytelling.

In his latest book, My Life in Gluttony: A Culinary Adventure, Jeffrey Spear confesses “Living to eat is no longer an admission of gluttony or a problem with self-control. It has, in fact, become a badge of honor.” With this in mind, Spear gives readers a glimpse into his lifetime of culinary obsessions sparked by a willingness to eat just about anything and a job that takes him to some remarkable destinations around the world.

While his adventures in Malawi, Georgia, and Guyana are a bit off the beaten path, Spear also includes culinary encounters right here in the U.S. Readers will find Spear’s obsession with hot dogs in New York and flourless chocolate cake in Washington DC as compelling and engaging as his discovery of char-grilled mouse in Malawi and bunny chow in South Africa.

Over 306 pages, starting from his childhood home in Maryland to exotic destinations around the world including Ghana, Lebanon, Serbia, Hawaii, Paris, Russia, Montenegro, Buenos Aires, and Malawi (grilled mouse is a roadside treat), Spear describes the foods that made indelible impressions along the way. Including 96 crowd-pleasing and easy-to-follow recipes, from the familiar to the esoteric, this book is a gastronomic delight.

My Life in Gluttony is available nationwide on Amazon.com

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeffrey Spear is an accomplished visual artist, graphic designer, cookbook author, food stylist, television personality, journalist, and cook. He is also a globally recognized food marketing consultant working with growers, manufacturers, chefs, and restaurateurs on every continent except Antarctica; helping them develop and introduce a wide variety of ingredients and brands to buyers around the world. Along the way, he also writes about food for a variety of trade and consumer magazines and online publications.

It goes without saying that Spear is exceptionally well travelled. He has enjoyed countless exotic and intriguing culinary encounters, most recently in Palestine, Malawi and the country of Georgia. He derives his greatest pleasures from everything and anything associated with food. Whether he’s eating, writing, or talking about it, wandering the aisles in a grocery stores, or preparing lavish dinner parties, food is his idea of a really good time.

My Life in Gluttony – A Culinary Adventure is his third and most ambitious cookbook preceded by The First Coast Heritage Cookbook and Yum! Tasty Recipes from Culinary Greats.

When not engaged with food, Jeffrey can be found relaxing on the sand, reading a good book, swimming in the surf, watching the passing wildlife, and enjoying the sun in his hometown of Jacksonville Beach.

Vintage Eve Circa Jan 2018, “Wine 101: The Demise of the Dinner Party”

August 25, 2020 by evebushman

Cruising a foodie group on Facebook one member’s query kind of stuck out in my mind. It was something like, “Does anyone do dinner parties anymore?” About half of the comments, if not more, said no. Due to pets, small dining spaces, children, busy schedules and a lack of ideas.

Bushman Kitchen – overlooking our Napa Valley vineyard (We wish!)

That lack of ideas on what to do for a dinner party got my mind racing. I never run out of ideas. Granted we have a kitchen made for entertaining, and a home that has managed events for up to 75 people, but the size of our kitchen isn’t where our dinner party ideas stem from.

It stems from our interests not only in food preparation and presentation, but also with the wine and/or spirits we want to serve to complement our meals.

If we go back a few decades we began as young married couples often do: experimenting in the kitchen. I happened to share my kitchen with a firefighter that was used to cooking for a dozen or more crew members. Hence, we always had too much. (Truth be told this is still a problem!) We had pals that lived close by that were more than willing to come up for a ready made meal, bring wine, and our Thursday Night Dinners began.

Every other week we walked over to see the Andrews, and they came over to our house on the weeks when it was our turn. Eventually other friends got wind of our dinners and they grew – with more couples and more wine than we really wanted to partake in on a week night.

Fast forward to our third home in Awesometown. Our kitchen prep area is probably four or five times greater than the kitchen was in our starter home was. And now we knew that the kitchen was where the action was. Ed had become an excellent cook, as most fire fighters are, and I was happy to be his sous chef.

Now we plan monthly dinner parties, with a rotating set of pals (as we are all so busy everyone is not always free) and still enjoy the menu planning as well as pulling wines from our cellar to pair. Over the years I have also enjoyed hosting meetings for the different events I’m working on, as well as a monthly Brainstormer’s Group – and these are mostly potluck with some kind of wine or spirit tasting I throw in for fun.

These are the different ideas we’ve tried over the years:

We did a large wine event with five different tasting stations where guests moved from room to room, outside to inside, and returned to the kitchen for the final pairing.

Hosted a jam-making class!

The “Buck Bar” idea borrowed from Lesley and David Solmonson’s book “The Twelve Bottle Bar” where guests are prompted to replace the vodka in a Moscow Mule with rye, bourbon or scotch, and the lime with orange or lemon. Just crafting your own cocktail with all the bartender tools is fun!

Pot lucks with everyone bringing one of their prized homemade dishes – can’t ever go wrong with that.

Gin or vodka tastings – those are not so usual – after dining.

After dinner put on a movie like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that you can talk over.

I’ve done chocolate tastings where I’ve guided guests to go from dark to light, with some wine and port as well, to see how the chocolate flavors develop and change when we study them.

An adult Pinata with tiny plastic booze bottles.

Make friends with restaurant owners – they make you want to up your game!

Play Apples to Apples, or any easy to play game for families, after dinner.

Single malt scotch tastings, with minor pairings like grilled sausage and Snicker bars!

Wine and Junk Food pairing. We like popcorn and sparkling wine and chocolate candy with Zinfandel – with a lot in between. You have to do some experimenting before you plan this one.

After a dinner: blind wine tastings, single varietal tastings, aroma lessons…

So if you were on the fence about planning a fun dinner party I hope this article helped to get your creative juices working. And if you need more assistance, or a really fun guest, you know where to find me!

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Roundup: The Best Santa Clarita (Outdoor) Dining

July 24, 2020 by evebushman

Seems to be that everyone in my ‘hood is searching for patio dining. Pretty great that locals want to support local businesses, considering it’s blazing hot outside. There are existing patio spaces that have expanded, new “pop ups” that have added fencing, wood flooring or AstroTurf, potted plants, misters, barricades, umbrellas, lighting and other décor. A pretty amazing feat considering that these restaurants are nowhere near full capacity – pre-covid standards – and are pretty much forced to invest in infrastructure that may only be needed for a few more weeks to quite a few more months. It’s not like any of us have lived through a pandemic before to know exactly how long this will last. (And if to-go or delivery is your preference, that’s great, just keep it up!)

The Social Restaurant: Custom Wood Deck and Arcum Structure, by 24/7 Events.

So, as your yet-to-be-announced unofficial Beverage and Food Ambassador of the Santa Clarita Valley, I’ve been watching over this trend. There are quite a few restaurants I have dined at myself, but I wanted to get as many listed in one place to help locals out. So you know what I did. I asked this on Facebook:

Looking for patio dining options? Please comment on a positive experience you had outdoors at Piccola Trattoria, Salt Creek Grille, Olive Terrace, The Social, Old Town Junction, Newhall Press Room, Marstons, Slaters 50/50, El Trocadero, Dario’s Newhall, Saddle Ranch, Don Cuco, The Local Pub and Grill, Wolf Creek Restaurant and Brewery, Casa Canela, Cheesecake Factory, Bricks Newhall, Smokehouse on Main, Nealie’s Skillet, The Way Station and Egg Plantation (the last three for breakfast and lunch only) and any other SCV outdoor dining you have discovered. Hopefully your experience will drive some much needed traffic to our favorite local restaurants!

Renee K: Add the Backyard Grub and Brews! That Nashville Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Donuts are the bomb!

Larry M: Old Town Newhall has the market cornered on outdoor dining. Had a lovely sidewalk dinner at The Old Town Junction. Then, dinner on the back patio at El Trocadero Mesquite Grill & Cantina, though they have a front patio as well, and they have the best hard shell tacos I have ever had.

Candice M: Olive Terrace outdoor seating arrangement is my favorite in town!

Michael G: Don’t forget Wolf Creek, CPK, Sabor, Lucille’s, Lazy Dog, Lucille’s, Catch 21, Wokcano and Tokai Sushi. So many options! Specifically, Wolf Creek Restaurant (on McBean) is always spot on. Plenty of room and safe distancing, staff all wear masks and face shields, busser and serve handle specific tasks. Tokai Sushi (in the same center with Catch 21 and Olive Terrace) has new owners, and take the same precautions. All the soy sauce is single use, there is plenty of open air space outside.

Michele G: The Backyard Grub N Brews had really good food and a great patio. They also have a fabulous brunch on the weekends with bottomless Mimosas.

Dawn A: A wonderful location for a great evening…The Social.

Michael P: Marstons has always been our favorite patio hang out in the SCV. Nothing like relaxing on their patio with a bottle of wine and their delicious food. Great servers too.

Meredith M: We had a magnificent meal last Friday night at the Old Town Junction. Reservations are highly recommended. New menu, exceptional service and a great wine list!

Lorenzo B: Olive Terrace is the bomb!

Laina M: While following all health code guidelines, we have full service available outside! But don’t sweat… We also have shade from a roll down screen and umbrellas, full roof covering, mister fans, and plenty of beer to quench your thirst! Visit for lunch now or Reserve for dinner until 8pm.

Laura R: The Newhall Press Room has been open all week long for outdoor dining including the new extended patio!

Meredith A: Went to Dario’s in Canyon Country last night. They have a front and back patio. It was great to eat outside and enjoy their food!

Jeanie C: We had a lovely time last night at The Social! The weather was beautiful and the new outdoor dining was just right, as was our dinner and Martinis!

Kerri E: For patio dining, Wolf Creek and Olive Terrace so far. Looking forward to trying as many others as we can…

From me: The first night that the restaurants pushed into Main Street in Newhall, five minutes from home, I enjoyed patio dining at both Newhall Press Room (cute wine barrels as fencing and cooling AstroTurf) and The Old Town Junction (a bit bigger space but just as nice). We love El Trocadero’s two patios, front and rear, too. Since then I’ve made a GIANT mental note to visit The Social as their space – see photo – is very welcoming and also to return to Olive Terrace where the sidewalk seating now stretches around a huge fountain. We’ve been to the existing patios at Slaters 50/50 three times and Salt Creek Grille’s new HUGE three-patio area. Will be hitting up Nealie’s Skillet, Wolf Creek Restaurant, The Local, Bricks, Dario’s, Way Station and Egg Plantation too!

On more thing from me: alfresco dining is the one change I hope we keep post-Covid. We love our trips to Europe and spending hours in outdoor cafes, with our wicker seats lined up, side by side, facing the street for people watching. I want that. Somebody make that happen!

Please note that what may be listed here now could be open for dine-in or completely shuttered when you visit – so call first. Looks like reservations are the way to go as all only have the outdoor socially-distanced spaces available.

Vintage Eve Circa Jan 2018: Call it What Happy Hour Really Is…A Precursor For Dining in Our Old Age (With new photo of courtyard at Salt Creek Grille!)

July 14, 2020 by evebushman

I was at one of my regular Happy Hour haunts, The Social in Newhall, when I noticed that the bar was completely packed at 5pm, much like it is at Olive Terrace Bar and Grill and Salt Creek Grille when we venture over to the other side of the valley and Le Chene when we want to go even further.

And then I noticed that the people that were packing these bars weren’t 20 somethings…not even 30 somethings…they were people that have “cultivated” their palates for a couple of decades longer than that.

There are lots of great Happy Hours all over Awesometown and we used to do a round-up of their menus annually just to share what they offer. (The last one is our 2016 version you can read here.) The four that I mentioned just happen to be the ones we have been going to of late…at least the past 10 years or so.

So why do we prefer these bars over others? They aren’t particularly loud or noisy, have comfortable seating and, as drinking at 5pm is a precursor to dining at 6 or 7, it seems to work for our seasoned age group.

Of the Happy Hours we go to – the ones that specifically were full very early in the evening – they also offer small bites for free or nominal prices, and some larger plates culled from the main menu. The libations extend from beer and wine to excellently crafted cocktails; one even doesn’t offer any kind of price deal on the drinks at all, just a Happy Hour menu of food. (And that one just happens to be our favorite. Why? Well we can walk there – we’ve said this many times, and yet we never actually have walked there! It’s the neighborhood bar and we often run into people we know. The owner gives us a welcome hug, maybe a peck on the cheek, and we know some of the servers and bartenders. Maybe at a certain age we just like to feel welcome…)

So, as we dined on dishes from appetizers to pastas we noticed how nice it is to dine early, have a well-made cocktail, linger a bit, then go home and…be asleep by 9pm. (And well on our way before the young’uns took over the bars.) However many younger people do go out to Happy Hour – when we were younger these were places with deep discounts, we could get a little rowdy with pals and we would end up staying for dinner as well. (Many were/are family friendly – we weren’t really hip on the idea of bringing our daughter to a bar or winery, but to each his own.) Back in the day that meant the party was to be found at places like TGI Fridays and El Torito. (The latter, if you stayed long enough even offered dancing in the bar. Anyone else remember the Discos of SCV? LOL.)

I feel like the next step for us will be the early bird dinners at iHop, and no cocktail at all…? I hope not. I do know that older friends of mine have pulled back from wine club memberships – at least from wines that are meant to sit in our cellars for 10 years or more – because my pals in their 70s are buying more splits (half bottles), trying to drink through what they already do have and/or are looking for wine brokers to sell their wines to. They do go out…or at least join us for wine on the porch sometimes!

Life is an every changing highway. I’m hoping by the time we start dining at 4pm we’ll be in a place like Atria assisted living, where my mother has happily camped for nearly a year now, and be having cocktails by 2pm and up to two glasses of wine with dinner…now that doesn’t sound too bad does it?

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Vintage Eve Circa Oct 2017: Live at Whisky Live LA 2017

June 30, 2020 by evebushman

Thrilled to attend Whisky Live LA this past October with my husband Eddie, I found many new spirits beyond single malt whisky to sample and met up with many whisky people that I’ve seen enough times now to call friends.

Newcomer Brenne Whisky from France, and fellow wine/spirits writer Judi Laing.

If you don’t have time to read this article you can view 18 of my pictures in two little grids here. This caption on one of the photos will tell you a little of how much fun there was to be had, “Ran into lots of pals from LA Scotch Club, LA Wine Writers, That Boutique-y Whisky Company, JVS Wines Import, Inc. and dead center is SENIOR WHISKY MASTER STEPHEN BEAL. OMG I met him at the end of the night, in the VIP lounge, where I almost didn’t get in…but you can see how welcoming Stephen looks! If you don’t know him Google him. He has built up an AMAZING wealth of knowledge spanning decades. I had just read an article about him in Artisan Spirit Magazine. — with Monique Huston, Ries Michael, Kerry Moynahan, Chris Uhde and Judi Laing.”

Let’s Begin

Treated to VIP tickets we had early access to whisky sampling, a very nice VIP Experience Area, souvenir etched crystal tasting glasses, a full-sized event program with articles, a dinner buffet that included many items made with whisky and even some nice live entertainment.

What We Tasted

From this VIP Pour List below, many were also available in the main tasting area. I will bold the ones that I had time to taste (at this event and/or previous events) and enjoyed.

Glenfarcias 25 Years
Al Young 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch
2017 Limited Edition Four Roses Small Batch – ranked 96 points by Fred Minnick
Evan Williams Single Barrel – limited special Whisky Magazine bottling
Breckenridge Dark Arts Malt Whisky
Garryana Single Malt by Westland Distillery
Aberfeldy 21
Bladnoch Talia 25 Year Old Port Pipe Finish
Master’s Keep Decades
Glen Grant 18 years
Four Roses Single Barrel – limited Whisky Magazine bottling – Al Young Celebration
Maker’s Mark Private Selections
Woodford Single Barrel Special Selections by Whisky LIVE
Kentucky Peerless Single Barrel
Brenne 10
Johnnie Walker Blue
Old Forester 1920
Tobermory 21 years
Deanston 20 years
Jack Daniel’s #27 Australia Exclusive – Double Matured in Maple Barrels
– (Australia/Euro-Asia Duty Free Exclusive)

The Main Arena Tasting (all listed here are the ones I was lucky enough to taste, maybe one third of what was available!)

The Spirit of Mulholland Distilling had a tasty gin distilled from corn; Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company had a bourbon and rye, Kavalan single malt both the sherry and bourbon oak finishes; Nikka Coffee Malt Whisky; Old Portrero straight rye; everything I sampled from That Boutique-y Whisky Company*; Johnnie Walker Blender’s Batch 10-year-old; everything from Balcones distillery in Texas that included Baby Blue made from roasted blue corn, Rumble made from wildflower honey, turbinado sugar and mission fig spirit that was more spice than it was sweet, their Texas Single Malt and Brimstone which is labeled as Texas Scrub Oak Smoked Whisky; Mixwell ginger ale; Widow Jane’s lineup that were all made with “pure limestone mineral water from the Widow Jane mine in Rosendale, NY” and included a whiskey distilled from rye mash aged in American oak, another whiskey aged in oak and apple wood, a 10-year-old straight bourbon; then I got a totally different nose and flavor in the sweet Brenne 10-year-old that had been finished in cognac barrels; Peerless Kentucky straight rye whiskey; Few Rye Whiskey and finally, Deanston 20-year-old single malt.

*The event actually also had several classes concurrent with the tasting. I was able to snag a seat in one, led by Monique Huston who I had met earlier this year at the Nth show. She had a line-up of whisky that were not only new for me that I had never seen or tasted before, they were also rare. Stop in on this site next week to see the story on “That Boutique-y Whisky Company” U.S. launch.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Two Bottle Post: Entourage by Two Papas 2019 Grenache Blanc and 2018 Syrah

June 26, 2020 by evebushman

Honestly can’t remember when I first met winemaker Rick Pratt, it could’ve been at Sunset in the Vineyard, benefitting the work of our Assistance League, or one of many events he has poured wine at over the years. Rick has donated wines to many non-profits and some that I’ve been involved with, besides Sunset in the Vineyard, include Garagiste Festival, Wine on the Roof and most recently he was extremely generous with Circle of Hope for Vine 2 Wine, To Go.

After this recent Vine 2 Wine event Rick sent me home with two of his latest wines. I waited less than a week after the event to wrap my palate around these two:

2019 Grenache Blanc

Thompson Vineyard, Santa Barbara County, 12.9% alcohol

Picked September 2019, in stainless six months.

Pratt said this wine drinks more like a Sauvignon Blanc and I could definitely see that. I got aromas of lemon and lime peel, white peach, Mandarin orange and a slight powdery creaminess. In the mouth I got that same bursting citrus fruit, homemade lemonade, fresh green apple, a medium acidity that carried over to a medium finish. We enjoyed this wine before dinner, and due to the Sauv Blanc qualities – the bright citrus and mild acidity – it was a great aperitif.

2018 Syrah

Thompson Vineyard, Alisos Canyon, Santa Barbara County

14.2% alcohol

Rick had advised me to decant the wine for two hours before drinking, and I might’ve gone closer to three. From the nose there was sweet black cherry, plums, blueberry, milk chocolate, white pepper, earth, dried leaves and caramel while the taste delivered a lovely balance of spice, dark fruit, tannin and another medium finish. I did my tasting notes just after I cleansed my palate with a sample of our Bolognese spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove. We had the wine just before sitting down to dinner, with dinner and after dinner.

We would definitely like to have both of these wines again. Rick gets great fruit and makes great wine with it. My biggest takeaway is that these wines worked well with and without food, making them accessible to all palates whenever the mood strikes.

I also checked in with Rick during the tasting, and asked him to share his thoughts on the Thompson Vineyard, which he happily supplied, as well as more info on his new Syrah:

Thompson Vineyard sits deep within Alisos Cyn. in northern Santa Barbara County. The canyon runs West to East allowing cool ocean air to flow in over the Solomon Hills, keeping the daytime temperatures mild. As a result, hang times on the fruit are 2-4 weeks longer than your normal SB Rhône Vineyard, fruit is picked no earlier than mid October and often going as long as November 1st. This long hang time, when handled properly, results in wines with big fruit, great balance and neutral acidity. Thompson, along with their neighbor, Sine Qua Non, are among the most sought after grapes in the state. Thompson produces Grenache Blanc, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah and their only non-Rhône, Chardonnay. With the heavy rains this year, the soils received a good cleansing and the 2020 harvest looks again to be a great one. According to Vineyard manager, Jason Grupp, the crop is looking outstanding!

A little info on the Syrah. The Syrah vines were originally smuggled into the country in 1974 from the Hermitage region of France. In 1988 David Thompson purchased cuttings from the original ‘smuggler’. He took those cuttings and just shoved them into the ground. A very risky move, leaving the cuttings susceptible to disease and insects. Luckily the cuttings survived. As a result of this process you get the purest form of expression from the Estrella clone of Syrah.

Meet The Winemaker (From website)

Rick and Teresa

Rick’s interest in wine-making began in the 70’s but it wasn’t until over twelve years ago that his hands-on education began. Thanks to a high-school classmate who was making wine in his garage, a life-long dream would one day be realized. His journey to becoming a garagiste taught him the skills he would one day need to be able to create wines for all to enjoy.

“Along the road I have had the good fortune to experience mentoring from two of the best. I am most grateful to Wes Hagen and Greg Brewer for their support and insight. The fact that our wines have been so well received is due in large part to their guidance.”

Today we are finally able to share our wines with you. A lot of love went into crafting each one and in creating each label. May you enjoy them as much as we did making them!

https://twopapaswines.com

Westchester Magazine’s Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Popular Wine and Food Festival June 9-14

April 29, 2020 by evebushman

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. – Westchester Magazine celebrates the 10^th anniversary of the popular Wine & Food Festival with two new exciting events taking place this year at iconic Westchester locations – Party on the Pier at Rye Playland on June 10 and the Wine Collector’s Dinner on June 12.

“We are thrilled to add two new events at iconic Westchester landmarks to our 10th anniversary lineup of fantastic events,” said Sam Wender, publisher, Westchester Magazine. “What better way to celebrate all of Westchester than expanding our mark to offer residents of the Hudson Valley and Sound Shore something exciting right in their own backyard.”

Party on the Pier at Rye Playland

Wednesday, June 10 | 6-9 p.m.

The brand-new Party on the Pier at Rye Playland will feature the third annual Bartender Shake-Off in addition to top restaurants sampling summer/seafood favorites alongside beautiful views of the Long Island Sound. Price includes all food and drink at the event.

Location: Playland Park, 1 Playland Parkway, Rye

Price: $50 in advance and $60 at the door.

Wine Collector’s Dinner

Friday, June 12 | 6:30-11 p.m.

This special evening will be a celebration and tasting of truly unique wines provided by local wine aficionados. Each attendee is required to bring one magnum of their best and rarest from their cellar to be shared during the event. The evening kicks off with a special Champagne toast featuring a 10-year-old vintage in honor of 2020 being the 10th Anniversary of the Westchester Magazine Wine & Food Festival. A special four-course meal will be prepared by the top chefs of Westchester County—Peter X. Kelly of X20 Xaviars on the Hudson, Ron Gallo of The Inn at Pound Ridge by Jean-Georges, Glenn Vogt of RiverMarket Bar & Kitchen, Dave DiBari of The Cookery, and John Paidas of Apropos Restaurant & Bar at The Abbey Inn & Spa. Between each course guests will have the opportunity to sample wines from other table guests.

Location: The Abbey Inn & Spa, 900 Fort Hill Road, Peekskill

Tickets: Ticket price is $150 per guest. *Includes tax and gratuity

Returning fan favorite events include:

Italian Wine Experience with Kevin Zraly

Tuesday, June 9, 2020 | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Sip, swirl, and savor a variety of fine Italian wines and savory and sweet Italian delicacies at this walk-around tasting event. Renowned wine expert, author and founder of Windows on the World Wine School, Kevin Zraly, will lead wine seminars for those interested in learning more about the nuances of Italian wine.

Location: Gigante Restaurant & Bar, Eastchester, NY

Price: $95

Burger & Beer Blast

Thursday, June 11 | 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Burgers, beer, music, wine, spirits, food trucks and the best grilling on this side of the Hudson River come together at Westchester’s ultimate block party! Top local chefs present their unique take on the all-American burger as they compete for the Best Burger Award.

Location: Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla

Price: $75

Grand Tasting Village

Saturday, June 13, 2020 | Noon- 4:00 p.m.

The signature event of the Wine & Food Festival, the Grand Tasting Village features tastings from 50+ local restaurants and 150+ wines, beers and spirits. Chef demonstrations and a variety of food trucks create a gastronomic delight for food and wine lovers.

Location: Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla

Price: $85

Party Line Connoisseurs Tent at the Grand Tasting Village

Saturday, June 13, 2020 | Noon – 4:00 p.m.

Spend the day like a VIP in the Party Line Connoisseurs Tent! This private area features an exclusive lounge for relaxing while you sample the event’s highest quality wines along with dishes from the area’s top restaurants. Wine expert, author and educator Kevin Zraly will be leading Wine Seminars throughout the day focusing on the vintages being served in the Party Line Connoisseurs Tent. Entrance to this exclusive area and the wine seminars are only for guests purchasing Party Line Connoisseurs Tent tickets and includes access to all Grand Tasting Village events. *First come, first serve

Location: Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla

Price: $125

**No one under 21 will be admitted.

No Infants, Children, Strollers, or Pets allowed. **

For the complete lineup and to purchase tickets, visit here.

Westchester Magazine’s 10th Annual Wine & Food Festival is a celebration of gourmet food, exceptional wines, beer, spirits, mouth-watering burgers, and award-winning chefs. Guests will sip and savor, enjoy the county’s finest plates and pours and mingle with Westchester’s top chefs, sommeliers, and specialty food purveyors as they attend exclusive dinners, tastings, and demos. The festival is a not-to-be missed experience recognizing the culinary spirit of Westchester County with 100+ top local restaurants and a selection of world-class wines. The event draws more than 7,000 people from across the New York Metro area including New York City, Westchester County, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut. For additional information or to purchase tickets visit here.

Top L.A. Restaurants Introduce Tasty & Bountiful Take-Out & Delivery Options For Delicious and Healthy Dining at Home!

March 18, 2020 by evebushman

Drago Bakery (Culver City): Owner and Executive Chef Celestino Drago has created a special Take-Out Menu at Drago Bakery in Culver City that will feature freshly baked and freezable essentials that guests can pick-up and prepare at home. Chef Drago and the Drago Bakery team will be offering the following Take-Out Menu every Monday through Friday for pick-up from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm – Fresh Pasta Package($55) which will include a choice of Lasagna Bolognese, Chicken and Mushroom Lasagna, or Vegetarian Lasagna that will serve up to 10 guests and be packaged cold. Main Proteins such as the Chicken Breast with Marsala and Mushrooms ($80), and a Beef Stew with Red Wine & Spices ($95), will also be packed cold and serve up to 10 guests. Side Orders will feature 2-pound containers of Assorted Roasted Vegetables, Roasted Potatoes, and Brussels Sprouts with Ginger & Shallots ($18 each). Fresh Soups include a choice of Minestrone, Pumpkin, and Lentil, and will be packaged in 32-ounce deli-cups and offered cold or frozen ($12 each). Executive Chef Celestino Drago will also have plenty of Bakery Goods available such as Breads featuring a Ciabatta Loaf (1 ½ lbs., $3.50), Pagnotta Sourdough (2 ½ lbs., $5), Rustic Baguette ($2.50), and Whole Wheat Harvest (2 lbs., $5). The Cakes will include a Cheesecake ($28), and a Chocolate Flourless Cake ($28). Lastly, a selection of Fresh Breakfast Pastries will include Plain Croissants ($2.25 each), Chocolate Croissants ($3.00 each), Almond Croissants ($3.75 each), Ham & Cheese Croissants($3.75 each), and Coffee Muffins, Banana Muffins, Walnut Muffins, and Blueberry Muffins ($3 each). To place a special Take-Out Order please call Drago Bakery directly at 310.280.6004 or stop by Drago Bakery anytime Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Drago Bakery will be offering Take-Out Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; 3828 Willat Avenue, Culver City, CA 90232; 310.280.6004; www.DragoBakery.com

Georgia’s Restaurant (Anaheim & Long Beach): Grab a delicious bucket of savory Southern Fried Chicken for the family or any savory Southern dish from Georgia’s Restaurant at both the Long Beach Exchange and Anaheim Packing House locations. Georgia’s Long Beach is offering Curbside Pickup all day until close, and delivery through Grubhub. Georgia’s Anaheim is available for delivery through DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats. They are offering incredible Family Packages at both locations featuring an 8-Piece Fried Chicken Dinner with 2 Large Soulful Sides for $20.00. They are also offering a Soulful Dinner with a choice of two of the following Georgia’s Restaurant Plate-Ups – Fried Chicken, Grilled Tilapia, Fried Catfish, Smothered Pork Chops, or Specialty Dishes including Blackened Chicken Pasta or Jambalaya. The Plate-Up and Specialty Dish selections will be served with two Georgia’s House Salads and Georgia’s house-made Cornbread for $30.00. If guests prefer to order off the menu they can never go wrong with the St. Louis BBQ Ribs, a half-rack of slow-roasted pork ribs in Georgia’s Restaurant signature house-made BBQ sauce, and a tasty Soulful Side such as the Collard Greens, Baked Beans, Mac & Cheese, or Nana Gretchen’s famous Cornbread served with house-made honey butter.

Georgia’s Restaurant at the Long Beach Exchange offers Take-Out and Delivery Monday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, and Sunday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm; 4101 McGowen Street, Suite 115, Long Beach, CA 92630; 714.906.1900; www.Georgias-Restaurant.com

Georgia’s Restaurant at the Anaheim Packing House offers Take-Out and Delivery Monday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, Friday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, and Sunday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm; 440 South Anaheim Boulevard #209A, Anaheim, CA 92805; 562.420.5637; www.Georgias-Restaurant.com

Gus’s Barbecue (South Pasadena, Claremont & Porter Ranch): Gus’s Barbecue in South Pasadena, Claremont and recently opened Porter Ranch offers Take-Out at all locations and online ordering through their website for both Lunch and Dinner. Gus’s Barbecue in Claremont and Porter Ranch each offer Delivery through Postmates and Grubhub, and Gus’s Barbecue in South Pasadena offers Delivery through Postmates. Each restaurant has a special Take-Out Menu at each location that can be found at www.GussBBQ.com. Guests can order some incredible BBQ for the entire family with Gus’s Real Pit BBQ including Memphis Baby Back Ribs, BBQ Brick Chicken, Texas Beef Brisket, St. Louis Spare Ribs, Peppercorn Crusted Tri-Tip, Smoked Sausage and the Carolina Style Pulled Pork, each seasoned overnight and then smoked low and slow for up to fourteen hours over whole pecan logs in order to create Gus’s signature smoke flavor. Do not forget Gus’s Barbecue’s Cast Iron Cornbread served with jalapeño jelly and honey butter, or their Smokehouse Chili prepared with Nebraska ground beef, cheddar cheese, red onion and pickled jalapeños.

Gus’s Barbecue South Pasadena offers Take-Out and Delivery Monday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Friday from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, Saturday from 8:30 am to 11:00 pm, and Sunday from 8:30 am to 10:00 pm; 808 Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena; 626.799.3251; www.GussBBQ.com

Gus’s Barbecue Claremont offers Take-Out and Delivery Monday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, Friday from 11:00 am to 12:00 Midnight, Saturday from 8:30 am to 12:00 Midnight, and Sunday from 8:30 am to 10:00 pm; 500 W 1st Street, Claremont, CA 91711; 909.445.0931; www.GussBBQ.com

Gus’s Barbecue Porter Ranch offers Take-Out and Delivery Monday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 am to 12:00 Midnight, and Sunday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm; 818.341.3000; www.GussBBQ.com

Il Pastaio (Beverly Hills): Il Pastaio will be offering Take-Out for both for Lunch and Dinner every Monday through Sunday from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm to support their community and guests’ in-home dining needs. Il Pastaio will be offering a slightly reduced Take-Out Menu, but guests will still be able to order many of their favorite Drago Family dishes. To place a Take-Out Order directly, please call Il Pastaioat 310.205.5444 and feel free to utilize Il Pastaio’s Curbside Pickup as the City of Beverly Hills has made it possible for guests to pull right in front of Il Pastaio during this time.

Il Pastaio will be offering Take-Out and Delivery Monday through Sunday from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm; 400 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; 310.205.5444; www.IlPastaioBeverlyHills.com

Burrata Pizza, Courtesy of Il Segreto

Il Segreto (Bel Air): Il Segreto will be offering Take-Out every Monday through Sunday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm to support their community and guests’ in-home dining needs. Il Segreto will be offering a slightly reduced Take-Out Menu, but guests will still be able to order many of their beloved traditional Italian dishes. To place a Take-Out Order directly, please call Il Segreto at 310.474.8644. Guests can also order from Grubhub if they prefer delivery.

Il Segreto will be offering Take-Out and Delivery Monday through Sunday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm; 2932 Beverly Glen Circle, Bel Air, CA 90077; 310.474.8644; www.IlSegretoRistorante.com

Open Face Food Shop (Los Angeles): Open Face Food Shop’s delicious and nutritious, vegetable-filled Danish-inspired dishes will be available for Take-Out for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner every Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, and on Saturday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm startingWednesday, March 18th. Open Face Food Shop will be offering Executive Chef Lene Houck’s Traditional Menu and an expanded HYGGE-TO-GO Menu including special Family Boxes that will be changing daily and feature fresh Farmers Market produce. Associated with relaxation, indulgence, and gratitude, Hygge has long been considered a part of the Danish national character. Guests can enjoy fresh and delicious items such as the Egg Salad & Pork Danish Open Face Sandwich offering a curried egg salad with leek and pickled herring sandwich paired with a pork loin, apple, braised cabbage, and pickles for a delicious and nutritious Lunch. Meat lovers are in luck with the Hakke Bøf, a Danish-style open-faced burger made with grass-fed beef, caramelized onions, shaved Brussels sprouts, and quick-pickled cucumber on top of Nathan’s Artisan Sourdough. For something sweet, Chef Lene’s Almond Cake is scrumptious and served with homemade labneh and blueberry compote. Open Face Food Shop will soon be offering Online Ordering and will have updates at www.OpenFaceFoodShop.com when this is available. Since quantities may be limited, Open Face Food Shop recommends that guests call 855.676.3223 ahead of time (preferably by 12:00 Noon) for that evening’s Take-Out Pickup.

Open Face Food Shop offers Take-Out Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, and on Saturday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm; 5577 West Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016; 855.676.3223; www.OpenFaceFoodShop.com

Panzanella Ristorante (Sherman Oaks): Panzanella Ristorante will be offering Take-Out every Monday through Sunday from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm to support their community and guests’ in-home dining needs. Panzanella Ristorante will be offering a slightly reduced Take-Out Menu, but guests will still be able to order many of their favorite Italian comfort dishes. To place a Take-Out Order directly, please call Panzanella Ristorante at 818.784.4400 and feel free to request Curbside Pickup as that has now been made available at Panzanella Ristorante. Guests can also order from Grubhub and Postmates if they prefer delivery.

Panzanella Ristorante will be offering Take-Out and Delivery Monday through Sunday from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm; 14928 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403; 818.784.4400; www.PanzanellaRistoranteBar.com

Piccolo Paradiso Ristorante (Beverly Hills): Piccolo Paradiso Ristorante will be offering Take-Out for both for Lunch and Dinner every Monday through Sunday from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm to support the community and their guests in-home dining needs. Piccolo Paradiso Ristorante will be offering a slightly reduced Take-Out Menu, but guests will still be able to order many of their favorite classic dishes. To place a Take-Out Order directly, please call Piccolo Paradiso Ristorante at 310.271.0030.

Piccolo Paradiso Ristorante will be offering Take-Out and Delivery Monday through Sunday from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm; 150 South Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; 310.271.0030; www.PiccoloParadisoBeverlyHills.com

SHU Sushi House Unico (Bel Air): SHU Sushi House Unico will be offering Take-Out every Monday through Sunday from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm to support their community and guests’ in-home dining needs. SHU will be offering a slightly reduced Take-Out Menu, but guests will still be able to order many of their favorite Japanese-Italian fusion dishes. To place a Take-Out Order directly, please call SHU at 310.474.2740.

SHU Sushi House Unico will be offering Take-Out Monday through Sunday from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm; 2932 ½ Beverly Glen Circle, Los Angeles, CA 90077; 310.474.2740; www.ShuSushi.com

Tacocita (Pasadena): Pasadena’s newest taco stop, Tacocita, featuring tacos and smoked chicken made with incredible flavors from regions all over Mexico and California is here to provide some Mexican goodness for Lunch and Dinner Take-Out by calling Tacocita directly, ordering online or for delivery through Grubhub, Postmates, and DoorDash. Tacocita wants to offer every guest some scratch made value-driven Take-Out Packages for their loved ones to help support families and the community during this time. Tacocita’s full Take-Out Menu is accessible online along with their newly created Take-Out Packages for Pickup or Delivery.

For groups of 4 People, Tacocita is offering the Hen House including 4 Citrus-Marinated & Smoked Boneless Half Chickens, Black Beans and Poblano Rice, 1 Tacocita Salad, and 12 Hand-Pressed Tortillas for $55.00; The Taco Party includes 8 Tacos, 2 Bags of Chips & Salsa, Guacamole, Black Beans, and Poblano Rice for $40.00, or the Burrito Bash served with 2 Tacocita Burritos, 4 Tacos, 1 Tacocita Salad, and 2 Bags of Chips & Salsa for $40.00.

For groups of 6 People the Hen House offers 6 Citrus-Marinated & Smoked Boneless Half Chickens, Black Beans and Poblano Rice, 2 Tacocita Salads, and 18 Hand-Pressed Tortillas for $85.00; The Taco Party includes 12 Tacos, 3 Bags of Chips & Salsa, Guacamole, Black Beans, and Poblano Rice for $65.00, or the Burrito Bash is served with 3 Tacocita Burritos, 6 Tacos, 2 Tacocita Salads, and 3 Bags of Chips & Salsa for $65.00.

For larger groups of 10 People, the Hen House offers 10 Citrus-Marinated & Smoked Boneless Half Chickens, Black Beans and Poblano Rice, 3 Tacocita Salads, and 30 Hand-Pressed Tortillas for $135.00; The Taco Party includes 20 Tacos, 5 Bags of Chips & Salsa,Guacamole, Black Beans, and Poblano Rice for $100.00, or the Burrito Bash is served with 5 Tacocita Burritos, 10 Tacos, 3 Tacocita Salads, and 5 Bags of Chips & Salsa for $100.00.

Tacocita offers Take-Out and Delivery Monday through Sunday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm; 203 South Rosemead Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91107; 626.460.8669; www.EatatTacocita.com

The Original Top’s (Pasadena): The Original Top’s, a classic Pasadena institution and long-standing restaurant has been serving comforting and approachable scratch made food since 1952 and they are now offering Take-Out and Drive-Thru to help feed families during this time. The Original Top’soffers Breakfast Take-Out until 11:00 am which includes selections such as the Steak & Egg Burrito made with Carne Asada, scrambled eggs, homestyle potatoes, jack and cheddar cheese, and for Lunch Take-Out, guests can opt for the Famous Pastrami with a slowly marinated special au jus, piled high on a French Roll with mustard and pickles. For something warm and hearty, guests can order the Chili Bowl made with The Original Top’s signature chili and diced onions, Zucchini Sticks or French Fries. For something sweet, save room and order a vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry Old Fashioned Shake.

The Original Top’s offers Take-Out and Drive-Thru from 6:30 am to 11:00 pm; 3838 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91107; 626.449.4412; www.TheOriginalTops.com

The Raymond 1886 (Pasadena): The Raymond 1886, Pasadena’s beloved Craftsman Cottage is offering Take-Out and Delivery for families to share at home for Lunch and Dinner during the week, and for Brunch and Dinner on the weekend. They are offering a 10% discount on all takeout orders when calling the restaurant directly and curbside pickup. The Raymond 1886 will offer Delivery through DoorDash and Grubhub, and they are working on becoming available via Postmates as well. The Raymond 1886’s Take-Out Menus can be found atwww.TheRaymond.com. For some tasty comfort, guests can order The Cuban Sandwich prepared with pork belly, black forest ham, Dijon, mojo sauce, swiss cheese, pickles, served on Cuban bread with Parmesan fries, or the restaurant’s famous Raymond Currymade with marinated chicken breast, sautéed vegetables, rice, and golden raisins, peanuts, and fresh coconut shavings served on the side. The Bolognaise made with veal, pork belly, beef, rigatoni, pomodoro, Grana Padano and crispy sage, is another top Take-Out choice for a delicious meal that feels homemade without all the fuss!

The Raymond 1886 offers Take-Out and Delivery every Tuesday through Friday for Lunch from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, for Dinner from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm, for Brunch and Lunch every Saturday through Sunday from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, and for Dinner from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm; 1250 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105; 626.441.3136; www.TheRaymond.com

Via Alloro (Beverly Hills): Via Alloro will be offering Take-Out for both for Lunch and Dinner every Monday through Sunday from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm to support the community and their guests in-home dining needs. Via Alloro will be offering a slightly reduced Take-Out Menu, but guests will still be able to order many of their favorite Drago classics. To place a Take-Out Order directly, please call Via Alloro at 310.275.2900 and the restaurant will also be offering Curbside Pickup. Guests can also order from Postmates if they prefer delivery. Via Alloro will be offering Take-Out and Delivery Monday through Sunday from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm; 310 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; 310.275.2900; www.ViaAlloro.com

Yojisan Sushi (Beverly Hills): Yojisan Sushi will be offering Take-Out every Monday through Saturday for Lunch from 12:00 noon to 2:30 pm and for Dinner from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm to support their community and guests’ in-home dining needs. Yojisan Sushi will be offering a slightly reduced Take-Out Menu, but guests will still be able to order many of their favorite fresh fish dishes. To place a Take-Out Order directly, please call Yojisan Sushi at 424.245.3799. Guests can also order from Postmates if they prefer delivery.

Yojisan Sushi will be offering Take-Out and Delivery Monday through Saturday for Lunch from 12:00 Noon to 2:30 pm and for Dinner from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm; 260 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; 424.245.3799; www.Yojisan.com

Culinary and Cultural Journey through the Tennessee River Valley

February 23, 2020 by evebushman

KNOXVILLE, TENN. (PRWEB) – According to the World Food Travel Association, “food tourism is the act of traveling for a taste of place in order to get a sense of place.” The Tennessee River Valley region, while an outdoor mecca with its beautiful scenery and endless recreation opportunities, is also very much a place for a cultural and gastronomic adventure with its diverse culinary scene.

Photo: Sean Pavone

“Dining out should be much more than just eating and drinking. Here in the Tennessee River Valley, living is centered around meals and this should be no different when visiting a destination. Mealtime should be about creating memories while offering an authentic and unique experience that cannot be obtained anywhere else,” said Julie Graham, spokesperson for the Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council.

The Tennessee River Valley Mapguide has put together a must taste and experience list to showcase the region’s diverse culinary scene. Each of these locally owned establishments provide a unique culinary experience while connecting visitors to the local culture.

Housed in a historic 1800s log home, Old 23rd Restaurant in Big Sandy, Tenn. is a unique destination for visitors looking for authentic southern fare. Meals are made from scratch using old family recipes and local antiques and memorabilia are displayed throughout the restaurant.

Serving homestyle favorites, Clinch Mountain Lookout Restaurant’s claim to fame is its vinegar pie. For almost 60 years, the restaurant has been serving this unusual treat. The pie first appeared during the depression when lemons were relatively rare and expensive and resourceful homemakers learned to substitute vinegar for the tart flavor found in lemon pie.

Litton’s Market and Restaurant is a Knoxville favorite dating back to the 1940s, and today, the old-time diner style restaurant is known for its burgers featuring freshly-ground beef and buns made in house.

Located in a historic trolley barn in downtown Chattanooga just steps away from Ross’s Landing on the Tennessee River, Big River Grille and Brewing Works pays tribute to the riverboat heritage of the city and features made from scratch regional cuisine and beer made on-site by the on-site local brewer.

Dinner on the Diner allows patrons to enjoy fine dining while the train travels through the scenic Tennessee countryside on a railroad excursion.

Dutch Maid Bakery in Tracy City is on the historic registry for being the oldest family owned bakery in the state of Tennessee. Serving breakfast and lunch daily, the bakery uses the same traditional recipes that the Baggenstoss family has carried on for several generations.

While in Murray, Kentucky, stop by the Maple Street Market for unique made in Kentucky products and locally produced goods. Cooking classes featuring locally grown produce and goods are also offered throughout the year.

Led by chef/proprietor Sara Bradley, runner-up on season 16 of Bravo’s competitive cooking show Top Chef, Freight House’ s rotating menu features locally sourced meats, dairies, fruits and vegetables and Kentucky Blue Snapper sourced from the region’s rivers for a farm-to-table dining experience. The building that houses the restaurant was originally a freight depot.

This fifth-generation German bakery features traditional Old-World methods and family recipes. With roots dating back to 1873, Kirchhoff’s Bakery, Deli and Market has been a part of Paducah’s history, supplying the daily bread for locals’ tables through 1957. The deli reopened in 1997 and uses ingredients from the local farmer’s market to make fresh artisan breads, pastries, sandwiches, soups and salads.

Located in Grand Rivers, Ky., Patti’s 1880’s Settlement is famous for their two-inch thick pork chops, mile-high meringue pies and flower pot bread. With six gift shops in a recreated log cabin village, beautiful gardens, winding streams, miniature golf, remote control boats and a 26-foot tall rock wall, the restaurant is a destination in itself.

Nestled in the valley between the Cumberland and Blue Ridge mountains, downtown Dalton is Georgia’s fifth largest downtown district. From Southern cuisine, to pizza and beer, to quaint cafes, to Mexican and fine dining, Downtown Dalton has no shortage of culinary offerings to tickle any taste bud.

With its focus on nature and fresh ingredients, Wildflower Café is the go-to place in Mentone, a cozy little town located atop Lookout Mountain. The restaurant is featured in the book “The Southern Foodie: 100 Places to Eat in the South Before You Die.” Be sure to visit the Country Store for local artwork, handmade cards and other gift items and mementos to take back home.

Main Street Café is housed in the town’s old City Hall in downtown Madison, a suburban-Huntsville city. Enjoy lunch in one of the two previous jail cells while feasting on homemade casseroles such as Poulet de Normandie, Georgia Chicken and Cheesy Meatloaf.

Rattlesnake Saloon is a unique eatery nestled beneath a natural stone bluff that once sheltered Native Americans in northwest Alabama. Known as the watering hole under the rock, this is a place the whole family can eat, relax and enjoy connecting to local history.

The Freight House, located in the historic L&N freight depot in downtown Hartselle, Ala., offers views of passing trains and an opportunity to learn about the role of the railroad industry in North Alabama.

Save trip ideas and plan a trip easily with the Tennessee River Valley Geotourism MapGuide, an online guide of authentic places and adventures that have been recommended by locals. For additional dining options, click here.