How Was the 4th Cocktails on the Roof?

September 21, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Cocktails on the Roof News: Thanks to everyone that bought a ticket, volunteered, signed up as a vendor and participated in the 4th Cocktails on the Roof event held September 7.

The Day After

We are rocking that roof! Photo credit: The Signal newspaper.

Waking up to 71 notifications on Facebook = must have been a great night! Once I cleared those there were 76 new ones! Egads! It only got worse when I uploaded my photos here and here. “We raised nearly $40,000 in three hours and will be focusing on STEAM programs this year” stated Amy Daniels, Executive Director for the WiSH Education Foundation, “With an emphasis on the ARTS.”

Now, to announce the cocktail winners, share some of the raves and thank everyone that helped make our event a success.

Cocktail Winners

First Claim Jumper, Second Place Salt Creek Grille and Third Place went to Solita Tacos.

Raves

Judy: Another fabulous event, thank you for your vision so long ago.

Michelle: We had such a nice time tonight. Thank you Eve for putting together such a fun event. Looking forward to next time.

Eric: Third year in a row for us, and two new attendees we convinced to attend. They said they would be there next year.

Michael: 2muchfun w/someofthebest! Thx WiSH! Epic Evening! Always a great time w/ WiSH

Jason: An incredible event!!

Dawn: Cocktails on the Roof! So much fun seeing lots of friends and enjoying our VIP lounge – thank you Image-2000 and Joe Blatchford!

Tamar: Another fantastic event!!! Thanks Eve and Amy!

Jennifer: Great to see you all! Can’t wait til 2019!

Dana: VIP… oh yeah, the best way to do #cocktailsontheroof! See y’all next year!

Heidi: Our first time at Cocktails on the Roof!! What a fun event!! Met a lot of people I haven’t seen in a long time! Dancing, drinking a lot of cocktails…. thank God for Uber!!!

Jeannie: Fun being with you all!

Cheryl: Congratulations on an amazing event to support our community!

Sue: Excellent! Thanks for all you do for Hart District!

Amanda: Great job last night. The vendors were fabulous! Such a variety. It was also good to see you and share a moment.

Richard: What a great night.

Josh: Thanks for including us!! We had a blast.

Michael: Great event, as always Eve. You and your team should be very proud!

Alex: Love u eve!! Another amazing event!!

Steve: First off, last night was fantastic and you are to be congratulated, yet again. Truly Eve, that is an amazing civic event and I hope you get a special sense of accomplishment for what you created because it is really something worthwhile, fun and tasty too.

Patti: Great event!!! Good job everyone!!

Maureen: What a great night seeing so many friends for a great cause!

Alex: Another amazing event!

Judy: fabulous event thank you to all the volunteers who took time to help us last night! Lots of fun, drink and fun!!!

Michael: Awesome event. Another great job. So nice to see old friends and sample all the delicious food and drink.

Steve: Great event Amy, Eve, and all!

Stacey: So fun! What a great night with good friends.

Stephanie: It was really fun with great friends and an old boyfriend!

My goal in sharing the “lists” below is that you will go to the restaurants you enjoyed on our roof and frequent the businesses that chose to sponsor our event:

Pinups for American Heroes

Samantha Wade, Donna Carrion, Mary Bird, Kori Hawk, Kat Soto, Ashley Caldwell and Brittany Sanders.

Sponsors

The Magazine of Santa Clarita, Elite Magazine, Westfield Valencia, Littler, BrightView, California Credit Union, Oasis Associates, Andy Gump, SOS Entertainment, The Signal, SCVTV, Burrtec, Brightview Tree Company, Team House Real Estate, Eve Bushman Consulting, Image 2000, 24/7 Events and SCV Tax.

Vendors

Salt Creek Grille, Wolf Creek Restaurant and Brewery, Dulce Vida Tequila, Mammoth Coffee Roasting (Espresso Martini), JFC International (sake-based cocktails), Alchemy Valencia, Marston’s Valencia, An Indian Affaire, LA Scotch Club (the only event the club participates in), Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar, Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur, Vines Restaurant and Bar, Willow Creek Distillery (formerly the Distillery at Opolo), The Newhall Press Room, (Moscow) Mule 2.0, Nealie’s Skillet, Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ, Honu Coffee, The Local Pub and Grill, Smokehouse on Main, Impex Beverages (spirit brands), Claim Jumper Restaurant and Saloon, Figenza Fig Vodka, Sweet Beams Ice Cream Truck, Sweet T’s Treats and Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Committee

From the WiSH Education Foundation board: Amy Daniels, Richard Cohn, Lynne Secrest, Ed Masterson and Judy Penman. From WiSH Advisory Board: Eve Bushman and Marlee Lauffer. From our community: Dawn Begley, Mitch Russell and Jennifer Ramos. (Of special note: Ramos was recruited just weeks before our event and signed up no less than SEVEN restaurants in less than two weeks, warranting a special shout out from me!)

Volunteers

Amy Daniels, Noah Daniels, Josh Daniels, Christi Kessler, Mia Slotsve, Koren Young, Recyl Chapman, Mallany Carver, Whitney Wollin, Dennis Ward, Kathleen McGraw, Kathleen and Allen Marquart, Burt Ceroni, Diane Curtis, John Rogers, Holly Bellamy, Robin Wimsatt, Ellen Hawthorne, Carmel Farnsworth, Eileen Gunning, Judy Penman, Cheryl Gray, Carolyn Lodes, Jen Phelps, Nicole Stinson, Steve Portaro, Danise Davis, Mary Bradway, Taj Ambar, Damien White, Brittany Murrietta, Cindy Kirk, Larry and Christy Grable, Maggie-Mae Laufman, Rochelle and Terry Gallimore, Michael Farnsworth, Jennifer Primero, Talia Stern, Raymond and Cathie Baker, Joelyn and Robert Caprine, Steve Dole, Nicole Feast, Scott Fushi and Rich Daniels.

About WiSH Education Foundation

The WiSH Education Foundation supports the 23,000 students in grades 7-12 of the William S. Hart Union High School District. We fund programs and initiatives not paid for by tax dollars alone and our goal is to benefit as many students with our dollars as possible, directly in the classroom, where it’s needed most.

WiSH is important to everyone who lives in the Santa Clarita Valley, whether you have a student in our schools or not – great schools help keep our home values strong and educating our young people is vital to our community!

http://wisheducationfoundation.org/

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. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Our latest crush: Kelli White’s Napa Valley Then and Now

September 19, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Dear friends,

From time to time, we like to call out extraordinary things our friends are involved with. Perhaps the most inspiring project to come of out the Napa Valley in recent years is Kelli White’s encyclopedic book Napa Valley Then & Now. Those of you who have visited Press Restaurant in St. Helena may have had the pleasure of meeting Kelli and gaining her insights into Napa. Named as one of the top 10 sommeliers in the country by Food & Wine Magazine, Kelli and her husband Scott relocated to St. Helena to run the wine program at Press. Their goal? Build the world’s most comprehensive Napa Valley wine list. Coming from the francophilic restaurants of New York City, this mission became both her education and the foundation for Napa Valley Then & Now.

In building Press’s wine program to include over 1500 selections reaching back to the 1940s, Kelli was lead into the cellars of Napa to explore, learn, and ultimately educate the world about the people, history, and wines of this extraordinary place. While we locals can sometimes be a bit weary of outsiders, Kelli has become a leading authority on the Napa Valley, and the person I now turn to for questions and recommendations on my own home turf.

I first learned of Kelli’s book when she came to interview me about the history of Hourglass. Having grown up here, I was struck by her depth of knowledge, the detail of questions, and her passion for Napa. The breadth of tasting experience she has with older and modern Napa wines is a unique insight very few possess. What I learned later in receiving my copy was that this passion would well up into what may be the most definitive book on Napa ever written. The 3 1/2 inch tome chronicles the history of Napa winemaking by profiling 200 wineries. Each winery profile provides an overview of the winery, tasting notes of representative varietals, and vintage aging expectations. Her approach leads the reader through a historical timeline, a comprehensive look at the appellation system, then details each individual winery with interesting and useful insights. A book of this nature could drift into a matter-of-fact listing of details, yet Kelli writes with a structured rhythm, balancing poetic prose against the requisite technical language of our craft in a compelling fashion. For those more schooled in recent Napa releases and unsure of Napa wine’s ability age, her chronicling provides a unique insight not found anywhere else. The conclusion demonstrates Napa’s ability to age alongside the great wines of the world. And of course, her writing captures the most forward edges of this grand experiment unfolding before our eyes.

I can not recommend Kelli’s book highly enough. It is a monumental effort and a must have for Napa wine lovers. You can learn more and purchase the book directly from Kelli at Napa Valley Then & Now.

We hope this finds you well and we look forward to sharing more insights as they come across our radar.

All the best!

Jeff Smith

Hourglass Wine

St. Helena, CA

Enchanted Tickets To Go On Sale Oct. 15, 2018

September 3, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

La Cañada Flintridge, CA, August 8, 2018 – Descanso Gardens is excited to announce that tickets to its enormously popular light show, Enchanted: Forest of Light, will go on sale on Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. Enchanted will run from Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018 to Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019. Tickets to Enchanted have timed entry and must be purchased in advance at enchantedLA.com.

Starlight Garden © Cal Bingham.jpg

Enchanted is a gentle one-mile walk through Descanso highlighting the most beloved areas of the Gardens. There are a variety of large-scale light displays, many of which are interactive, allowing visitors to manipulate the lights and sounds. New expansions and enhancements will be made to popular displays such as “Celestial Shadows” by HYBYCOZO, the spinning polyhedral installations that explore geometry through light, shadow, and perception, as well as the “Lightwave Lake” light show at Descanso’s lake. Visitors can enjoy Jen Lewin’s popular flowing and glowing interactive landscape of meandering pathways, “Aqueous,” from new neon benches placed around the Main Lawn.

Enchanted will also feature new dining options in the Courtyard and a whiskey bar overlooking the “Lightwave Lake.” Maple, Descanso Gardens’ restaurant, will be open nightly exclusively for Enchanted ticket holders.

Be the first to experience Enchanted: Forest of Light at the 2018-19 Preview Party Nov. 17. For this one special night your magical ticket includes Golden Road Brewing beers, Cardinal Rule wines and a scrumptious feast from Patina Catering. The Flash Dance DJs will be spinning near the colorful “Aqueous” on the Main Lawn. Tickets are limited and go on sale Sept. 4 for $125.

Tickets for Enchanted will also be available to members in a pre-sale from Oct. 1–14. General admission tickets will go on sale on Oct. 15. Costs are as follows:

General admission (adults, seniors, children 2–18): $28–$30 (depending on date and time selected)
Children under 2 are free, but still require a ticket
Descanso Gardens members pay $23–$25 (depending on date and time selected)
During Enchanted, if you would like to dine at Descanso Gardens’ restaurant, Maple, you will need to purchase tickets that include entry into the show and a dinner reservation. The ticket price does not include the cost of your meal.
“Now in its third year, Enchanted has quickly become a beloved tradition in Los Angeles,” said Juliann Rooke, Executive Director of Descanso Gardens. “We’re excited to bring it back with enhancements and new experiences for visitors of all ages. We look forward to seeing all the Enchanted fans come to visit.”
For high-res photos of Enchanted, please visit: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/2CxrIOiHcy

About Descanso Gardens:
Founded as a public garden in 1953, Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011. Descanso Gardens is open daily (closed Christmas) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $9 for adults; $6 for seniors and students with a school I.D.; $4 for children 5 to 12, and free for ages 4 and younger. Descanso Gardens is a member-supported garden accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Join Descanso Gardens and enjoy free admission and early entry year-round. Information: (818) 949-4200 or descansogardens.org.

Tasting Through Turtle Rock at Napa Valley Grille

August 31, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

It isn’t a secret that I love Rhônes, whites and reds alike, so reading the wine list for a recent tasting with Turtle Rock Vineyards already whet my palate. Paired with another multi-course lunch created by Chef Kenny Spost of the Napa Valley Grille in Westwood for the #LAWineWriters group I’m in, the table was proverbially set. But first, we learn about and taste the wines.

From Turtle Rock owner, Claudia Burns, I quickly discovered that her husband Don Burns came from a caliber of winemakers to respect: He was and continues to be the assistant winemaker for Saxum Vineyards – obtaining many of his wine grapes from the same vineyards – and he works on both wines simultaneously in the Saxum caves. If it’s punch down day for Saxum it’s also punch down day for Turtle Rock.

There is no estate fruit in any of the Turtle Rock wines, however, they “control all of the farming” in the “handful of vineyards” they purchase their grapes from according to Claudia. It takes two years from grape to glass. Claudia herself “does everything else” other than winemaking at Turtle Rock, but she did tease us with the idea that she might like to try her hand at winemaking as well. (See more about the vineyards in the From the Winery section below.)

The Burns’ also co-own the Wine Shine distillery I visited a few years back. Both Turtle Rock and Wine Shine have tasting rooms in Tin City, Paso Robles.

(From our very own Contributing Editor Michael Perlis I learned that Don is Justin Smith’s childhood friend. He wrote about them here: evewine101.com/2012/08/04/michael-perlis-discovers-westberg-cellars/ and here: http://evewine101.com/2014/05/24/paso-robles-trip-part-one-paso-underground/ along with mentions in other articles in Eve’s Wine 101.)

If you are salivating already, check out the two photo grids here.

Tasting (Yep, I loved them all)

2016 Willow White

63% Grenache Blanc, 28% Roussanne, 5% Picpoul, 4% Viognier

On the nose I got lemonade, popcorn kernel, unsalted butter and toasted oak. The taste gave way to flavors of lemon, peach, apricot, kiwi, green apple with a mild acidity allowing for a lingering finish.

2016 Plum Orchard

68% Grenache, 32% Mourvedre

2015 was their first vintage from Plum Orchard, and the sandy soils allow for a “filtration system, a leaner wine…” they then added “stem tannins (to) accentuate the spice.” Aromas of black cherry, black pepper, plum, dark chocolate, forest floor, leaves and sage. On the mouth I got fresh dark fruit, killer spice notes, pepper, very rich.

2015 Willow’s Cuvee

45% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, 5% Carignon

Stewed fruit, plums again, creamy milk chocolate, white pepper and toasted oak on the nose, followed by flavors of ripe berries, spice and cracked black pepper.

2016 G2 Syrah

90% Syrah, 6% Grenache, 4% Mourvedre

A wonderfully balanced nose of both fruit and spice. Also felt a velvety quality, blue to black fruit, tri-color pepper, char, sweet chocolate candy, oak and a whiff of cigar wafting through it all. Tasting the wine, knowing from the nose I would love it, I found that it was filled with bold dark fruit, had a dusty quality, lots of spice and again, with a great balance.

Surprise Wine: 2016 “Maturin” (The name is an ode to a Stephen King horror series that references a turtle). 50% Syrah, 32% Graciano*, 18% Grenache. Wine Club Only. Aromas of blackberry, rich earth, mint and cream. On the mouth I loved the dry, richly layered qualities that also included lots of pepper and spice, dark fruit and tannin that allowed for no end to the finish. Seriously, the fruit and the spice just went on and on. That’s what I call a welcoming wine.

* Graciano was FKA Mourvedre in many Paso Robles vineyards until very recent. It shook things up a bit. This is just one article about it.

NAPA VALLEY GRILLE PAIRING MENU BY EXECUTIVE CHEF KENNY SPOST

For the Willow White: Harvest Salad, roasted butternut squash, green dragon apple, glazed walnuts, baby kale, feta cheese, maple-olive dressing. I couldn’t get enough of this salad. Every bite had so many enticing flavors. The wine was the perfect accompaniment; both had those notes of green apple. One of the other writers commented “good start” and I had to agree.

For the Plum Orchard: Cast iron seared Branzino, toy box summer squash, red plum jam, fennel-arugula salad. Loved the plum in the dish that matched up perfectly with the plum I had found in the nose of the wine.

For the Willow’s Cuvee: Oven roasted Duck Breast, roasted cauliflower, port wine glaze. Again the flavors Chef added – specifically the glaze – was perfect with predominately Grenache driven blend.

For the G2 Syrah: Petit filet, Bing cherry red wine demi glace, truffle mashed potatoes, fat rendered breadcrumbs. Oh boy, saving the biggest wine for the steak was, of course, perfect for my palate.

FROM THE WINERY

2016 Willow White:  Aged in 20% new French oak to give a touch of creaminess. The remainder was aged in 40/40 stainless and neutral French barrels to preserve the minerality and crispness. The nose gives way to fresh stone fruit, lemongrass and flower petals while the palate is of Granny Smith apple and dried kiwi. Cases produced 106. Drink now to 2022. Wine Advocate– 93 points G2 Vineyard, Plum Orchard, Windrock.

2016 Plum Orchard: The Plum Orchard vineyard is in the Templeton Gap District and is made up of sandy soils. It sits near a creek bed which provides minerality, spice, and purity of fruit. We did 50% whole cluster fermentation for added weight and complexity and aged for 22 months in neutral French 400L barrels. It’s a gorgeous wine with a silky texture, bright red fruit and a bit of white pepper and herbaceousness. Cases produced 104. Enjoy now until 2028. Plum Orchard Vineyard.

2015 Willow’s Cuvee: We added just a touch of Carignon for tannin and structure to our usual blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. We did 20% whole cluster fermentation on the Syrah and co-fermented the Grenache and Mourvedre in concrete. All was aged for 22 months in 50% new French and 50% neutral French barrels. This wine is soft with notes of blackberry jam and violets that are truly fresh and balanced. Cases produced 183. Enjoy now until 2028. Wine Advocate– 94 points James Berry, Kruse Vineyard.

2016 G2 Syrah: This vintage is beautiful and very deep in color. We did 30% whole cluster fermentation and aged for 22 months in new French oak which gives complexity and structure. Black and blue fruit coupled with smoked meats. There are lively herbal notes accented with warm spice. This unfiltered wine has great tannin, intensity, and a long finish. Cases produced 312. Enjoy now until 2032. G2 Vineyard.

WWW.TURTLEROCKVINEYARDS.COM

Carmel Part Two: Walking To and From Wine Tasting, 5th Avenue Deli Lunch in the Park and Tarpy’s Hanging (Vintage Eve Circa 7/2015)

August 28, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

I did the Carmel-by-the-Sea Wine Walk three years ago. At that time I stayed in nearby Monterey. What a difference not driving makes! Free to finish a taste and not pour out everything, I still split my tasting with my husband Eddie, but this time I enjoyed visiting MORE tasting rooms:

We started at the popular Wrath (named after Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath according to the tasting room staff) where we noted a nice 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, 2012 Chardonnay and found our favorite of the day: 2012 Syrah, San Saba Vineyard, Monterey.

Then came Scheid Vineyards where we enjoyed 2011 Triple Layer Red of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre.

Manzoni had several deep reds from the Santa Lucia Highlands: a 2012 Syrah, 2012 Zinfandel, 2012 Big Ped Red blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Tannat.

Enjoyed a limited release Tempranillo and a 2011 Zinfandel at Shale Canyon Wines, a winery from the Arroyo Seco AVA. Every wine they have in their current line-up is 100% the varietal on the label.

Blair Estate produced several wines in the cold climate region Monterey is known for: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.

Galante Vineyards, from the warmer region of Carmel Valley served up Malbecs, red blends, Cabs and Merlot.

Another I had visited three years ago, Silvestri, did not disappoint. This time we were happy with a 2013 Pinot Blanc, a Rose of Barbera and Pinot Noir grapes and a straight Barbera.

A tasting room that wasn’t there when I last visited (more tasting rooms keep springing up!) is De Tierra Vineyards. The young winemaker had several wine club members/fans to tell me what their favorites were. I had to agree that the 2013 Riesling was delightful: more akin to a dry German-style Riesling as this wine was not cloyingly sweet. The aromatics alone were worth savoring, and the taste was a great refreshing end to our day.

(In looking for lunch at the beach or park in a break from our tasting we checked out 5th Avenue Deli for supplies. Here we found more than enough: custom made-to-order sandwiches, a taco bar, salads and the usual necessities like candy, chips…and wine. We were given directions to a local park where we quietly picnicked, the scene complete when a bridal party served as a backdrop to both their photographer and a gift from the bride to the groom: the sudden appearance of a bagpiper in full regalia.)

Checking Out Tarpy’s Roadhouse

Never been to a 5-acre “roadhouse” restaurant before so I wasn’t even sure what to wear to Tarpy’s Roadhouse for our dinner ten minutes away in Monterey. The menu and photos online looked great though!

When you arrive in the parking lot you will see – and think, wow this was gorgeous – a pond, a non-working well and the entrance all surrounded by lush flowers and shrubs. Two hostesses greeted us and we were seated immediately.

Amy, our friendly, knowledgeable and solicitous waitress checked in with us, again almost immediately, and we were on our way perusing the bar menu and wine list on an iPad. Amy later recited the specials, which physically caused my salivary glands to go into overdrive, and we made our selections: We shared an appetizer of Deviled Eggs made with spicy tuna over a pepperoni/sausage paste (spicy goodness there that we will definitely try and duplicate at home!), I ordered the Angus Top Sirloin that came with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled Chard with bacon (couldn’t finish it but Eddie could!) and Ed had filet mignon wrapped in bacon, green beans and a decadently rich scalloped potatoes made with Gruyere cheese. He thought they were the best potatoes he had ever had. As we had been wine tasting all day we were pretty exhausted…so I just had a glass of Seghesio Zinfandel while Ed had a vodka martini.

When we were done we asked for a tour. Come to find that there are several private dining rooms for groups of 20, 40, or more. Weddings took place on the property as well as business meetings. The name, Tarpy, belongs to one Matt Tarpy, who, in his day, was well-liked until he turned himself in for killing his neighbor in a land dispute. He was publicly hanged on the same land on which the restaurant now stands.

Facebook album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10205958130979800.1073741920.1455706632&type=1&l=17edf95d76

About The Carmel Wine Walk By-The-Sea

The Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea is a self-paced self-guided stroll to the tasting rooms, which are all within a few blocks of each other on the both sides of Ocean Avenue. They are Blair Estate Artisan Wines, Caraccioli Cellars, De Tierra Vineyards, Figge Cellars, Galante Vineyards, Manzoni Cellars, Scheid Vineyards, Shale Canyon Wines, Vino Napoli and Wrath Wines.…(more)

About 5^th Avenue Deli & Catering Co

5th Ave. Deli continuously innovates to increase customer satisfaction by offering a quick service format that provides a high- quality” range of delicious sandwiches, salads, fresh made soups, with a salad & taco bar. We use fresh ingredients while also enabling customers to…(more)

About Tarpy’s Roadhouse

A Monterey Restaurant. Relax in this 1917 Roadhouse and enjoy creative, Five Star American Country Cuisine. The wood-burning grill provides wonderful flavors for wild game, the freshest seafood and prime steaks. Set on five landscaped acres, the patios and extensive gardens provide a refreshing backdrop for hearty sandwiches, vegetarian entrees and tempting salads. Tarpy’s has seven private and semi-private…(more)

Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 15k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and served as a judge for the L.A. International Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

The Night Is Bright At The Moon Bar At Lunetta: Santa Monica’s Stellar New Cocktail Bar Offers Evening Oasis For Thirst-Quenching Cocktails & Cool Coastal Ambiance!

August 13, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Santa Monica, CA – After a fun day of surf and sun, when the tide begins to rise and the moon makes its nightly arch, The Moon Bar at Lunetta opens its doors and welcomes guests to partake in an evening of progressive, chef-driven elevated New Californian Cuisine and masterfully Handcrafted Cocktails. Presented by Chef Raphael Lunetta and the Lunetta Team, The Moon Bar is coquettishly tucked inside Lunetta Dining, capturing the atmospheric California coast quiescence with the approachability of an evening neighborhood cocktail bar that welcomes guests from all over Greater Los Angeles!

Photo credit – acuna-hansen

Helming The Moon Bar beverage program is Beverage Director & Sommelier Kristine Bocchino, who contributes her expertise in food and wine to quarterly publication EdibleLA, Westlake Magazine, and has most recently served as a judge in Italy for the Cocktail & Bartending Competition at the Florence Cocktail Week 2018. Describing her approach to the House Libations, Bocchino says, “The cocktails are heavily influenced by Chef Raphael Lunetta’s menu, particularly his incorporation of produce from the Farmers Market.” Fortuitously, there is no need to vacate the alluring ambience of The Moon Bar once guests begin feeling peckish as the full menu from Lunetta Dining is always available.

Vodka + Gin employs the use of clear spirits to bring guests three light and revivifying cocktails beginning with the cheekily named Spicy Like a Sleepover, undoubtedly the star cocktail of the menu, and prepared with St. George Green Chili vodka, Becherovka, coconut cream, lemongrass, ginger, and lime; the East Side to the West Side featuring Fords Gin, cucumber, mint, lime, orgeat, and Angostura Bitters, and the Honey Ryder made with London Dry Gin, pamplemousse, lemon and bubbles. Creamy with a hint of spice, the Spirits from South of the Border sizzle things up with Tequila + Mezcal based cocktails such as the Mariposa Calor comprised of Espadin mezcal, Amaro Nonino Aperol, lime, Firewater bitters, or get a little pep in your step with the Tired but Wired featuring blanco tequila, Rhum Agricole, housemade chamomile-turmeric syrup, coconut cream, Blackstrap Bitters, and lime. What restaurant by the beach would be complete without a couple of Rum libations, starting with a creative twist on a beachy classic, the Oaxacan Mai Tai, comprised Plantation Pineapple Rum, mezcal, lime, Dry Curacao, orgeat, and Angostura bitters. Hang ten and bottoms up to the Gnarly Surfer, a mixture of Rhum Agricole, pineapple gomme, lime, Blackstrap Bitters, and vegan egg white. Three liquid amber cocktails await Whiskey enthusiasts, starting with the Salted Butter, featuring Japanese whisky, Cocchi di Torino, Suze, Italicus, and grapefruit bitters, while Bocchino breathes new life into two quintessential mixed drinks, first with the Pimms Cup 2420, with Buffalo Trace, lemon, honey peach bitters, and Pimms, and lastly, make no mistake this is Not Your Nonna’s Negroni, comprised of rye, Mr. Black Cold Brew, Cappelletti, and Cocchi di Torino.

If Wine is your pleasure, there is no better place to enhance your meal than The Moon Bar with eclectic varietals offered by the glass and by the bottle. Offering a tickle of Sparkling effervescence is the French Aubry Brut Rosé, and Hébrart Brut Cuvee de Reserve, or the Italian Ferrari Brut Sparkling. Pert and pink, Rosé includes the 2017 Liquid Farm “Vogelzang” Happy Canyon from Santa Barbara, as well as a Grenache based Rosé straight from the Sierra Foothills of California: the 2017 The Wither’s El Dorado. Essential for California coastal living, the White varietals start with a wine that Bocchino boasts is, “ideally paired with shellfish as it provides superb acid,” the 2015 Picpoul Forlorn Hope Rorock Vineyard, from Calaveras County, followed by a 2015 Viognier Yves Cuilleron from Condrieu, France, and all of the way from Kamptal, Austria the 2016 Gruner Veltliner Weinschlossl. Bold and sumptuous, a Red is sure to compliment the meal, such as the Spanish 2015 Grenache Palacios, Les Terrasses, or a bold and refreshing blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, uniting to create the 2015 Alpha Omega II Rutherford from Napa Valley. With the final Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend, the 2010 Phélan Ségur Saint Estephe is sure to please every Bordeaux lover. For the true connoisseur, the Cellar Selections provide unique vintages such as the Bordeaux-Style blend from Napa Valley, the 2001 Joseph Phelps Insignia, or a wine born from the Nebbiolo grape in the mountains of the famous Piemonte region of Italy, the 1998 Gaja Costa Russi, also offered from Champagne, France is the 1997 Salon Les Mesnil Blanc de Blancs.

Creating The Moon Bar look and feel of comfortable but lush beach city cocktail bar is De JONG & Co. For the interior, De JONG & Co. employed contrast and drama as the timeless navy blue of the exterior is carried through The Moon Bar. Cached in the richness of the elements, walnut, soapstone and satin brass accents lend a density to the environment that is at the same time sophisticated and cozy, with custom plush green velvet furniture in a sea of green and teal encaustic tile, and custom designed shelving to showcase all that The Moon Bar has to offer. The details on its casework draw the eye up to a wall-to-wall ceiling treatment of ornate foliage, as though the ocean of the walls rise up to the forested sea floor. A skylight centers the room, with a single exposed beam cutting through like a ship’s mast, and tasteful brass lighting serve as portholes in this stately ship’s cabin. Funneling into the adjacent Lunetta Dining, the night sky is revealed in the constellation-inspired tiling laid out by the firm’s principal designer Ruth De Jong. Look closely and you can spy the Big Dipper.

Warm in attitude while relaxing in composition, The Moon Bar at Lunetta is a new sultry getaway in Santa Monica where you can sip a handcrafted cocktail by a fireplace, meet up with friends, or unwind with your own thoughts at the bar!

The Moon Bar at Lunetta is open every Tuesday through Friday from 6:30 pm to 11:00 pm, and every Saturday from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm. For more information or to make reservations, please visit www.LunettaSM.com please call The Moon Bar at Lunetta directly at 310.581.9888.

Vintage Eve Circa 6/2015: California Pizza Kitchen – Reboot!

August 7, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Kind of excited…the restaurant I grew up with, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) has had a remodel…well…not exactly just a remodel.

Met by Susan Halstead, the General Manager of our local Valencia CPK, the first thing she told me was that people that now walk in the door don’t recognize that they’re in a CPK if they haven’t been to the Valencia location in the last two months.

Susan turned me over to Cole Brocato, bartender and trainer, who has been here at our local CPK for 9 years. Cole said that they were focusing more on California inspired fare and less on pizza alone. Fresh ingredients, like California fruits and vegetables, are now more emphasized.

Full Cocktail Program

In providing “unique spirited cocktails” we had to try the Blueberry Ginger Smash – refreshing, tangy, reminded me of a whiskey Buck plus fruit – and the California Roots – avocado colors the drink, while mint and agave sour takes center stage in this unique cocktail.

The California Crush reminded Cole of traditional Valencia flavors, and we enjoyed the citrus and mint flavors that made me think of a white wine Sangria – only better. Our teen had the Fresh Strawberry Mango Cooler – a nice virgin drink that was both sweet and light.

These cocktails are new at CPK Valencia and are only available in the remodeled stores. Cole said that eventually all of the restaurants will be re-done. And you can get all the classic cocktails, just like the BBQ chicken pizza, too.

The cocktail recipes, Cole said, are unique to CPK. Yes, they can make a Lemon Drop but they can also make a cocktail with Domaine de Canton Ginger liqueur or St. Germain Elderflower.

Cole said, “Local citrus in cocktails, California wines; we make it fresh, trendy, and organic when we can.”

Taste the Unique

With the new rollout, and as they have locations all over U.S., they “want visitors to be wowed on what California Pizza Kitchen is about.”

Don’t be concerned that the pizzas are now listed on a long “side bar” of the menu, your favorites, like BBQ Chicken, Thai Chicken, Hawaiian, etc., are still there. But you will also find, under “seasonally inspired” menu items, a Maine Lobster Flatbread (cool lobster, loved the dill, great with the California Roots cocktail) Roasted Garlic Chicken (super mist and flavorful) with Seasonal Vegetables, Ribeye (Another moist and “never frozen” with great marbling to give great flavor, liked the peppery spice and butter topped on this one, and Pinot Noir salt), California Fields Salad and Tricolore Salad Pizza.

Under “main plates” – this is the “middle section and where it’s really at” Cole said – the “Halibut is never farmed, always line caught, cooked on a cedar plank and that keeps it moist.” And it WAS! Delicious, great medley of spices, definitely would order again. And though we were stuffed, Ed couldn’t resist having one more bite before we wrapped up our leftovers.

Lunch Duos on the menu are geared to foodies that want quality and watch how much they are eating. Small Cravers fit that bill too, and have more a gastro pub like items. All the cheese, goat and cow, is pasteurized, Cole added. Originally guests had several menus, now it’s all in one plus a beverage menu, which is more standard.

“You’re a pizza place, why do you have this steak on the menu?” Cole says people sometimes ask and he tells them to go ahead, “have the steak”, and then they get it.

Final Touches

We sampled the seasonal-only-always-sells-out Strawberry Shortcake made with sweet biscuit, with a surprise touch of candied lemon zest glaze sprinkled over homemade whipped cream. The decadently rich Butter Cake is made with a sliver of cheesecake, warm and covered in ice cream and whipped cream; something Cole says people skip appetizers to save room for. The S’mores dessert is served with a jumbo graham, dark chocolate chunks, milk chocolate pudding and torched marshmallows – a sticky gooey all-consuming delightful mess.

Some of the restaurants build the bar around the kitchen as a showcase. We did enjoy sitting at the bar, it was definitely the center of the action.

All menus have different pizzas pictured on the cover, and according to Cole, the servers try to hand guests at the same table different ones – nice touch!

Cole added that they hire their staff based on them being the right person and not on having to have the two years of service experience. Our teen thought that was great.

Finally, when we glanced around the room completely sated and packed up leftovers we noticed both managers serving guests, people looking happy, and maybe some room for more.

Facebook album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10205601315099626.1073741918.1455706632&type=1&l=89fce8e12e

CPK-Bridgeport Marketplace

24061 Newhall Ranch Road

Valencia, CA 91354

661-259-2082

www.cpk.com/locations/bridgeport-marketplace

For the complete menu, visit www.cpk.com/reimagined.

Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a guest judge for the L.A. International Wine Competition. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Solvang Stomp: A “Footie” Wine Festival Debuts On Saturday, October 13, 2018

August 6, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Solvang, California, USA –Tracy Farhad, Executive Director of the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau, has announced the debut of the organization’s inaugural Solvang Stomp, a “Footie” Wine Harvest Street Festival, happening on Saturday, October 13, 2018, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. in downtown Solvang on First Street (between Mission Drive/Hwy 246 & Copenhagen Drive).

Farhad enthused, “Solvang is surrounded by world-class vineyards, wineries and tasting rooms. October is harvest time which means it’s a fun time to taste new wine and stomp grapes! Remember Lucille Ball’s famous grape stomp episode on her TV show? You’ll even be able to channel your inner Lucy or Ricky Ricardo in our Look-a-Like Contest! Solvang CVB is proud to present this event to celebrate our local wine heritage.”

Solvang Stomp guests will have the opportunity to stomp grapes barefoot in vats, sip tastes from dozens of area wineries, dance to a live band, drink pink in the “I Love Rosé Lounge” and be able to purchase food inside the festival area from popular area eateries including Cecco Ristorante, First & Oak and California Tacos as well as participate in the “Lucy & Ricky Ricardo Look-a-Like Contest.” All “Solvang Stompers” will receive a souvenir logo wine glass and foot towel plus a ticket to win wine-related prizes.

Admission for VIP Stompers (limited to only 100 guests includes early admission at 1:00 p.m. as well as a food taste ticket for $100 per person; and general admission from 2:00-5:00 p.m. is $75 per person. Guests must be ages 21 years and beyond. Advance ticket purchases are highly recommended
online at www.solvangusa.com/STOMP

The inaugural Solvang Grape Stomp is presented by the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau with main sponsorship support from Visit Santa Ynez Valley and the City of Solvang. Event production is by Cultivate Events. Ten percent net proceeds from the Solvang Stomp will benefit the Santa Barbara Vintners organization.

For more information about lodging, dining, wine tasting and attractions year-round in Solvang, visit www.SolvangUSA.com Tickets Available Now at www.SolvangUSA.com/stomp

PERLIS PICKS THE GARAGISTE FESTIVAL: URBAN EXPOSURE [Part One]

August 4, 2018 by Michael Perlis Leave a Comment

Saturday, July 21^st was a great day that ended on a very sad note.

Karen and I had a wonderful time at the latest incarnation of The Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure in Santa Monica and followed that with an early dinner at one of our new favorite restaurants, Lunetta, also in Santa Monica.

By the time we got home though, social media was blowing up with the sad news of the passing of Pulitzer Prize winning food critic Jonathan Gold.

Now, this article is not intended to be a tribute to Mr. Gold. Far better writers than I am, many who knew him personally, have penned heartfelt remembrances that you should seek out; his influence on the Los Angeles restaurant scene is incalculable and he will be sorely missed.

But it got me thinking that some of the traits that Jonathan praised in the restaurants he wrote about are also ones Karen and I look for in wineries: authenticity, creativity, risk-taking, passion. And nobody exemplifies these attributes better than the Garagistes.

The Garagiste Festival started in 2011 with its first event in Paso Robles, focusing entirely on the little guys – “the ultra- premium, hard to find, micro-wineries”. Since then, it has expanded to annual events in Solvang, Los Angeles and most recently, just prior to the latest L.A. event, an inaugural event in Sonoma County.

These wineries make less than 1500 cases per year, many much less. This means that in most cases, you won’t find them pouring in a tasting room. But where you can find them is at the Garagiste Festivals, where you will find the winemakers and winery owners pouring their own wines and telling their own stories. You’ll be able to sign up for their mailing lists and even order their wines at the events. Keep in mind that the productions are small and usually not available retail.

Each winery and winemaker has its own journey; some started as consumers, some as grape-growers, some are second generation in the wine business now doing their own thing. What they all share is that passion to make wine the best way they know how.

You should definitely sign up on The Garagiste Festival website for updates as well as follow our reporting.

Which brings us back to the most recent event held in L.A., specifically at the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club, with almost 50 California wineries pouring:

Alma Sol

Ann Albert

Ascension Cellars

Bellante Family Winery

Betwixt Wines

Brophy Clark

Byron Blatty

Caliza Vineyards

Cavelletti Vineyards

Cloak & Dagger

Cutruzzola Vineyards

Domaine Kreger

El Lugar Wines

Frisco Cellars

Golden Triangle

Gordenker Wines

Hoi Polloi

In Vino Musicas

Kaleidos Wines

Kitson Wines

LA Wine Project

Lavender Oak Ranch

Magna Vita Cellars

Malibu Ridge

Marin’s Vineyard

Mastro Scheidt

Metrick Wines

Monochrome Wines

Murder Ridge

On Your Left

Pulchella Winery

Record Family Wines

Siela Wines

Stolo Family Winery

Sweezter Cellars

Sycamore Ranch

The Blending Lab

Tlo Winery

Torch Wines

TW Fermentations

Vinemark Cellars

Volatus Wine

Wildwood Oak Winery

Next week’s article will report on the wines we enjoyed most this time around.

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.

Brentwood’s Mandeville Vineyard – Owned by Donna Mills and Larry Gilman – Paired with Napa Valley Grille

July 27, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Join us for a luncheon at Napa Valley Grille with vintners Larry Gilman and Donna Mills to learn about and taste Mandeville Vineyards Wine. Larry grows grapes in Mandeville Canyon in Brentwood. He produces two wines, a Malbec/Cabernet Blend and a reserve…

So you want to make wines in the hillside of your backyard, in Mandeville Canyon, Brentwood, California? On a steep hillside, that’s been covered with thick brush for 75-100 years, untouched? And this potential vineyard happens to be behind the home of Donna Mills (yes, that Donna Mills famous from a long tenure as the star of Knots Landing) and Larry Gilman (a name you may also know from his work in the film industry as an actor and producer, and even more so for his high demand as an international speaker for his company, The Mastery Workshops) – and now you are asking are they serious?

Donna Mills and Eve

Take a breath. It only gets better. (Want to go straight to see more photos? Go here.)

Mills and Gilman met at one of Gilman’s workshops, about 17 years ago. As they began their life together in Mills’ home, they also began growing their own vegetables. Soon Mills noticed that Gilman had an interest in wine and surprised him with a gift: viticulture classes at UCLA. From there, and being bit by the winemaking bug, Gilman took another look at their land and thought he could do much more than plant salad fixings. He wanted to plant grapes.

Mills said they sent soil samples to Davis and hired a geologist. And even though Gilman’s dream could possibly work, the hillside, in Mill’s opinion couldn’t and said, “I thought he was crazy!”

Mandeville Vineyard

Gilman…wow…all I could think when he started his slide presentation was, dude, you ARE the kid in the candy store. His excitement kept building as he showed us the before, during and after pictures of all of their work: beginning with clearing the brush and creating access on an extremely steep terrain, to having to give up their first winery name “Ethereal Wines” when they received a cease and desist order from a liquor company with the same name, to finally planting Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon – in the same year they had just begun the work.

During all of this the pair organized a large seated dinner in their new vineyard for friends, which ended with each guest writing a note and attaching it to a vineyard post.

Mandeville Tasting Notes

2016 Malbec/Cabernet Blend

With aromas of juicy plum, rich earth, lots from the spice rack, as well as char, oak, mint and pine needles. Well done. Then, in the mouth, I got very big and dark flavors of black cherry, blackberry, cracked pepper, tannic and dry. Wanted to swirl this one a bit, and I ended up enjoying throughout the entire luncheon.

2016 Reserve Malbec/Cabernet Blend

Hello blueberry and blackberry, richly layered on the nose along with toasted oak, and slight hints of rose petal, sage and eucalyptus. Very welcoming. Going in for a taste I got the same rich fruit, as well as a nice balance of dried cherry and spice, with a bit of milk chocolate to seal the deal. This one was also swirl-worthy. I enjoyed revisiting both wines several times as they opened up during our 4-course meal.

Notes: These are very small production wines. They have 431 plants – 287 Malbec and 134 Cabernet, both #3309C rootstock, drought and disease resistant. Their next release should be 2020.

Winery and consulting winemaker: B. Alan Geddes, The Village Winery

Napa Valley Grille – Tavistock Restaurant Collection proprietary wines – and Chef Kenny Spost

The restaurant is in the heart of Westwood, probably just a few minutes from the Mills-Gilman home. With several private rooms just itching for wine dinners, we settled into one, very expectantly and began by tasting the restaurant’s Tavistock proprietary wines: a NV Prosecco, Veneto; 2016 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie; and 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Monterey. Tasting notes were set in front of us and all I could do was agree, and proclaim that these are wines I would order again.

Our complete pairing:

Napa Valley Garden Salad: Sugarsnap peas, asparagus, white balsamic vinaigrette, feta, fried prosciutto with the Pinot Grigio. I especially liked how the prosciutto broke up easily so I could have a little bit with every bite.

Skull Island Tiger Prawns: Torched caramelized lemon, herb oil with the Sauvignon Blanc. Once I doused my prawns with lemon juice, and followed Gilman’s example on how to peel the shells away, these were quickly dispatched down the hatch, lovely with the Sauvignon Blanc.

Mushroom Broth Pappardelle Pasta: Spinach, goat cheese, walnuts with the 2016 Mandeville blend. Even though this was rich and heavenly, and the wine complemented the dish so very well…I couldn’t finish it…only because I was saving a little bit of room for the last course.

Marinated Wagyu Skirt Steak: Red bell pepper tomato coulis, fried peewee potatoes, upland crest pesto vinaigrette with the Mandeville Reserve. Oh yes. What a treat to have Wagyu for lunch, and you can bet I ate every bite as I went back and forth between the blend and the blend reserve, in between every last morsel.

Thank you Chef Kenny Spost and staff – truly an excellent pairing!

Final Thoughts From Gilman

“It’s small, all hand done…” Gilman had said. And yes, “We play classical music in the vineyard for the plants…and cry over every plant that doesn’t make it. Thanks for having our maiden voyage with you.” Gilman concluded. Stay tuned for an update as Gilman and Mills extended an invitation for our group to join them for harvest soon…

www.MandevilleVineyards.com “Estate Grown, Picked and Bottled.”

www.NapaValleyGrille.com

Photos of Larry Gilman, Donna Mills, the wines, Chef Kenny Spost, the dishes and more can be seen here.

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 15k 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. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com