Eve's Wine 101

Masters of Taste 2019: Mastering it All

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It was a beautiful day – a sold out day – for Masters of Taste 2019. We love the event, as it’s the only one on the field of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, with fabulous wineries, mixologists, sweet makers and all that FOOD. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy this year we had Chef Michael Hung as the event’s first-time Host Chef. And of course, the money raised goes to charity: Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Entering the field!

Links to all of the participants are below. These are some of my favorites:

Nosotros barrel aged tequila, Dulce Vida grapefruit, lime and pineapple flavors, Pomp and Whimsy Gin Liqueur in its new golden hue, the chefs at Mrs. Fish that used chopsticks to drop samples into the waiting mouths for some of their guests, Celestino pastas, Wild Roots spirits had some fun “northwest fruit infused” vodkas, My/Mo Mochi green tea flavor, the new Hurricane in a convenient box from buzzbox premium cocktails, The Raymond 1886 cocktails made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, flavorful Mediterranean food from Spire Works, Akagisan sake, pesto pasta from Prince of Venice, cocktails made with Ki No Bi Dry Gin from the Kyoto Distillery, Kass lemon meringue, all of the tonics by East Imperial, ZYR Russian vodka, the Mignon chocolate fountain, Matcha Matcha green tea rice crispy treats, the plain straight bourbon from American Born, Granville mac and cheese, cocktails from Magnolia House, Lark Cake Shop chocolate cake and everything from Ascension Cellars and Golden Star Vineyards. 

Story in photos here.

Masters of Taste 2019 participating Culinary Masters and Restaurants included:

Sweet Masters: A select group of Los Angeles Top Sweet Masters will showcase an assortment of delectable desserts such as the deliciously scrumptious scratch baked custom cakes and cupcakes from Fantasy Frostings, Lark Cake Shop and Lady M., Chocolatier Mignon Chocolate, My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream, Nomad Ice Pops, homemade premium sorbets from Pop’s Artisinal Creamery,  Porto’s Bakery, SuperCool Creamery, THE Bakery Truck and more.

Beverage Masters Included

Brewmasters: Beverage Masters who specialize in barley and hops will be presenting top-notch ales, lagers, pilsners and more for guests to sample, sip and savor all throughout the event, including Southern California favorites Indie Brewing Company, Iron triangle Brewing, Los Angeles Ale Works, Lincoln Beer Company, MacLeod Ale Brewing Co., Arcadia’s first  Microbrewery Mt. Lowe Brewing Co., San Fernando Brewing Co. and State Brewing Co..

Wineries: A specially curated collection of Wine Masters will be showcasing their finest varietals including premium boutique winery Ascension Cellars, CRŪ Winery, Frisco Cellars, Golden Star Vineyards & Winery, Hitching Post Winery, Kieu Hoang Winery, Anderson Valley’s Navarro Vineyards, San Simeon Wines, Vinemark Cellars, Wrath Wines and more.

Bars and Spirits: Some of L.A.’s top bartenders and cocktail bars will be creating first-rate craft cocktails, including Cameron Masden of The Raymond 1886, Ned Kirby of Magnolia House, and Katie Putterlik of Otoño. Top brands showcasing their finest spirits will also include American Born Moonshine, Buzzbox, Dulce Vida Tequila, KI NO BI Dry Gin, Krafted Spirits, Neustra Soledad Mezcal, Pomp & Whimsy,  SelvaRey Rum, Ventura Spirits, Wild Roots Organic Vodka, Woodford Reserve, ZYR Russian Vodka and many more.

Non-Alcoholic Beverages: A variety of premium non-alcoholic Beverage Masters will also be on hand for those who wish to hydrate, caffeinate or regenerate, such as Boxed Water, Califia Farms Juices and Cold Brew Coffees, Dry Sparkling, East Imperial, Groundwork Coffee, Honeydrop Beverages, Humm Kombucha, Immordl energy elixirs, Matcha Matcha, Zico Coconut Water and more.

Sponsors: Masters of Taste 2019 is made possible through the generous support of our Sponsors, which include HomeStreet Bank, Judith L Chiara Foundation, US Bank, Western Asset Management, Kaiser Permanente, Capitol Group, Citizen’s Business Bank, Chase Bank, Westport Construction, App Dynamics, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Clear Stream Media Group, Tsutayo Ichioka & Satsuki Nakao Foundation, HKG LLP, Wescom, California Linens and more.

Non Profit

100% of the proceeds from Masters of Taste 2019 will directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to helping homeless men, women and children rebuild their lives. Union Station is part of a premier group of human services agencies in L.A. County that are leading the way to end homelessness in our community. Union Station offers an array of services including street outreach, meals, shelter, housing, case management and career development. In the last three years Masters of Taste has raised over $1.5 Million in support of Union Station’s life-saving programs.

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

Circle of Hope’s Vine 2 Wine: Still the Coolest Spot on a Hot Night

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Santa Clarita, California – Where will you be on August 11, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.?

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You could be slouched in front of your TV fanning yourself, or you could be sipping the coolest wines, the frostiest beers, and tasting the best food Santa Clarita has to offer! Join friends and neighbors for the 17th Annual Vine 2 Wine: An Evening of Wine, Brews and Food in the Main Gallery at California Institute of the Arts, where you’ll experience Fine Wines, Craft Brews, Gourmet Food, Live Music, Silent Auction and more! Expect a showcase of local, California and International wines, including selections of fine library varietals you will never taste anywhere else. Spirited coffees, microbrews, IPAs and traditional brews will be yours for the tasting. Your favorite local eateries will be dishing out offerings of their tastiest menu items.

Circle of Hope is pleased to announce the return of Logix Federal Credit Union as Presenting Sponsor for this year’s Vine 2 Wine gala. As one of the credit union’s “Community Stars,” Circle of Hope is the grateful recipient of funds accrued through Logix’s yearlong workplace giving program.

Also returning this year is Title Sponsor Nola Aronson’s Advanced Audiology. Nola’s personal bout with breast cancer inspires her daily to help those in Santa Clarita who fight the various forms of this insidious disease. Through Advanced Audiology, Nola continually raises funds for donation to Circle of Hope.

Cabernet Sponsor City of Hope will be joining us again. This highly respected organization has a similar name and a similar mission here in Santa Clarita: simply put, helping those with cancer. City of Hope provides the community with unparalleled care and innovative cancer treatments close to home for patient comfort and convenience, expanding access to City of Hope’s world-class level of care.

These three outstanding organizations join the wineries, breweries, restaurants, musicians and more than 50 volunteers who come together every August to raise funds for Circle of Hope’s Client Advocacy Program. Proceeds from this event will pay for cancer-related medical bills, health insurance premiums and co-pays for those uninsured and underinsured individuals who live, work or are treated in the Santa Clarita Valley for colon, melanoma or men’s and women’s reproductive cancers.

Tickets for the 17th annual Vine 2 Wine are $90.00, or alcohol-free $55.00. VIP/Early Bird entry for $120.00. For information on how you can be a part of Circle of Hope’s Client Advocacy Program, or for more information on Vine 2 Wine and other events, call 661-254-5218 or write info@circleofhopeinc.org. Vine 2 Wine tickets are now on sale at http://circleofhopeinc.org/vine2wine/

Circle of Hope Inc. provides financial, emotional and educational support to those diagnosed with cancer in the Santa Clarita Valley. See website for details. Circle of Hope is a 501(c)3, #20- 0680327. Visit http://www.circleofhopeinc.org

Get the Booty at New Bars and Attractions Treasure Hunt at the Wharf

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SAN FRANCISCO (PRWEB) – The Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District (FWCBD) debuted their Bars & Attractions Treasure Hunt at the Wharf with a celebration at the newly opened brewery at Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco Brewing Co. The new activity-based promotion highlights the historic waterfront district’s unique nighttime scene.

Fisherman's+Wharf+Treasure+Hunt+BarsThe activity is ongoing and can be done in a single day, or over multiple days. Participants can pick up a free Treasure Map at any of the 20 participating bars and attractions and collect stamps from each of the stops on the map. When they reach eight stamps or move they receive ‘the treasure,’ a golden metal pub glass, which brags, “I Got the Booty!”. 25,000 Treasure Maps will be distributed at over 250 locations throughout San Francisco in 2018. The FWCBD plans to continue this activity indefinitely. While there are no restrictions on what time the stamps can be collected, the verbiage encourages people to come after 7 p.m. to “skip the crowds.”

The 20 participating Fisherman’s Wharf bars and attractions, spanning from PIER 39 to Ghirardelli Square, include:

Bars:

  •     San Francisco Brewing Co.
  •     Bar Zoe
  •     Beer 39
  •     Blue Mermaid
  •     Castagnola’s
  •     Fiddler’s Green of SF
  •     Hard Rock Cafe
  •     Luau Lounge
  •     Players Sports Grill & Arcade
  •     The Pub at Ghirardelli Square
  •     The Roc
  •     Wipeout Bar & Grill
  •     Wines of California – Wine Bar

Attractions:

  •     7D Experience
  •     Aquarium of the Bay
  •     Madame Tussauds
  •     Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze
  •     Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
  •     San Francisco Dungeon
  •     USS Pampanito

“Most people don’t realize that Fisherman’s Wharf has over 15 bars within a 15-minute walk of each other,” said Troy Campbell, executive director of the FWCBD. “These bars, combined with our unique evening attractions and late night eats, like In-N-Out Burger and Krispy Kreme, offer a nighttime experience that you can’t find anywhere else in San Francisco.”

The program launch was timed to coincide with the opening of the neighborhood’s first brewery, San Francisco Brewing Co., which opened on May 4, 2018. The brewery is a 12,000-square-foot space with a tap room, automated tap wall, on-site brewery, and full-service restaurant serving elevated pub fare.

The program and campaign launch come on the heels of the recently unveiled Fisherman’s Wharf Retail Strategy report, released by the FWCBD, in which a major goal is to promote the neighborhood’s unique nighttime offerings.

http://www.WharfTreasureHunt.com #WharfTreasureHunt

ABOUT THE FISHERMAN’S WHARF COMMUNITY BENEFIT DISTRICT:
The Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District (FWCBD.com), a nonprofit organization, was founded in November of 2005 by the business and property owners of the San Francisco neighborhood. The district is funded through an annual assessment for 15 years from the property owners. The purpose of the Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District is to preserve and enhance its vast San Francisco waterfront landscape and multi-cultural heritage while integrating modern efficiencies to enrich the experience of visitors from both near and far. VisitFishermansWharf.com

Casa Pacifica Announces 5th Annual “Best in Fest” Brewery Competition Winner

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CAMARILLO, Calif. – On Sunday, April 29, 2018 at Bottle & Pint in The Annex at The Collection RiverPark, Casa Pacifica chose its 5th Annual “Best in Fest” brewery winner. This year, Topa Topa Brewing Co. took home the top prize with their Chief Peak IPA. Institution Ale’s Rx Pils and MadeWest’s Red Rye earned honorable mention.

wfbf-logo-with-hosts-eThis was the first year the “Best in Fest” judging was open to the public. Attendees tasted the twelve brews alongside the judges. The esteemed panel of judges included: Kevin Pratt, the nation’s second highest ranked beer judge; Jason Hendrick, General Manager of Barrelhouse 101; Zach Rosen, Certified Cicerone; Erin Peters, also known as the Beer Goddess; and Bec O’Neal, Sales Rep for Stone Distribution Company. Guests also received delicious small bites from other Annex tenants: Pancake, Scratch Sandwich Counter, and Seoul Sausage Co. Another welcome addition to the competition was the dispensing of beers via numbered taps. In years past, competition co-chairs Curtis Taylor and JC Lombardo collected the brews and stored them in coolers until the judging.

The breweries vying for the title were: 14 Cannons Brewery, Enegren Brewing Co., Institution Ale, The LAB Brewing Co., Leashless Brewing, MadeWest Brewing Co., Ojai Valley Brewery, Red Tandem Brewery, SLO Brew, Topa Topa Brewing Co., Ventura Coast Brewing Co., and Westlake Brewing Company. All twelve brews from the “Best in Fest’ Brewery Competition will be available for tasting at the 25th Anniversary of the Casa Pacifica Angels Wine, Food & Brew Festival on Sunday, June 3, 2018 at CSU Channel Islands.

Casa Pacifica and the Angels are excited to welcome back their generous Hosts, The Zarley Family; The Van Huisen Family; Nevers, Palazzo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner, PC; Conico Oil/MacValley Oil & Mission Produce. The VIP Lounge will be presented by Wells Fargo. The newest addition to the festival is the Ultra VIP Experience, sponsored by Union Bank. This special addition for the 25th Anniversary will only be available to high-level sponsors.

As always, the Festival will offer an unbeatable array of exhibitors offering delicious food samples from fabulous restaurants, caterers, bakeries, and specialty shops, to the palette-pleasing tastes of fine wines, smooth brews, and specialty beverages from throughout the region and California. A large online silent auction will tempt festival-goers with must-have, one-of-a-kind, themed baskets. The Yummie Top Chef Competition will crown winners for the best “Savory” and the best “Sweet” chef’s masterpiece among the participating exhibitors. Actor Oded Fehr returns as the Yummie Culinary Competition emcee. Live entertainment from the main stage throughout the day will keep the festival-goers rocking out and crowding the festival’s dance floor. Bruce Barrios, Ventura County’s favorite DJ, will emcee the day’s festivities.

All proceeds from the “Best in Fest” Brewery Competition and the Wine, Food & Brew Festival will benefit the vital programs and services Casa Pacifica provides to the community’s most vulnerable children and their families. Get your tickets today at http://www.cpwinefoodbrewfest.com.

To purchase tickets or for more information about exhibitor opportunities, please visit http://www.cpwinefoodbrewfest.com. For further questions please contact Carrie Hughes, Director of Development & Public Relations for Casa Pacifica at (805) 366-4011, or by email at chughes(at)casapacifica.org.

Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families is a crisis-care and residential treatment facility for abused, neglected, or at-risk children in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. The agency is the largest non-profit provider of children’s mental health services in both counties and administers a number of community-based programs designed to strengthen families and keep children in their homes and communities. For more information about Casa Pacifica visit its website http://www.casapacifica.org or call the Development Department at (805) 445-7800.

Tastings.com’s Top Drinks Of The Year

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CHICAGO (PRWEB) – Great news for all discerning drinkers, Tastings.com has awarded their 2017 Best of Category and Best of Show winners. Tastings.com’s beverage experts tasted through over 4,400 products in 2017 and have now announced the best of the best for your drinking pleasure.

Sagatiba Preciosa Cachaca150 top larger logo v.2 is one of the clear standouts of 2017. Silently aged for 23 years, this batch of rare Brazilian sugar cane spirit was uncovered to the delight of Tastings.com’s judges. They awarded the superb sipping cachaça a superlative 98 points. Other barrel-aged spirits joined Sagatiba at the top— Kavalan, a brand that wows connoisseurs year after year, holds 2017’s Best Whiskey accolade with their 98 point Solist Port Single Cask expression; and Grand Marnier’s luxurious Quintessence is crowned 2017’s Best Liqueur.

Beer has its own royalty of 2017. 4 Hands Brewing Company in Saint Louis Missouri created the year’s Best Flavored Beer, Zelllige Moroccan Coffee Stout. Tastings.com calls the beer “An intriguing and exotically spicy Turkish bazaar of a flavored stout.” The prolific Samuel Adams released their smoky, hybrid-styled Rauchbier, Cinderbock, that topped the beer category at 97 points. It is prestigiously awarded Best Beer of 2017. Another can’t miss gem is 96-point WildCraft Cider Works’ Pinot Noir Barrel Aged Cherry Cider, a platinum-medal palate-pleaser that takes the interplay of fruit and wood to the next level.

The year’s Best White Wine is Corner 103’s pretty Grenache Blanc from Alexander Valley. With a long-lasting finish of lilac and wet stone, it’s no wonder that it achieved 95 points.

As for wine of the pink persuasion, the definitive Best Rose of 2017 is the insanely delicious Retrofollies’ 2016 Coteaux Varois de Provence. For those with a sweet tooth, the stylish and elegant Alea Ludendo 2013 Elba Aleatico Passito scored 95 points, topping the dessert wine category. 2017 Best Of Awards are seen in every major wine category as well as all major wine producing countries. See the complete results here.

Devoted to helping consumers discover and understand the world’s best drinks, Tastings.com is proud to share their unbiased reviews with adult beverage enthusiasts everywhere. Their professional judges are esteemed members of the drinks trade and hold prestigious certifications and accolades in wine, beer, and spirits. All products are tasted blind, using proprietary methodology and software in a neutral laboratory environment. Tastings.com, powered by the Beverage Testing Institute, has been known for providing consumers the most impartial, fair reviews in the industry for 38 years. Drink like an expert and follow their motto: drink what you like, love what you drink. Visit Tastings.com before you buy.

FUNGI SEASON IN MENDOCINO COUNTY

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IT’S MUSHROOM MADNESS IN MENDOCINO COUNTY AS THE 19TH ANNUAL MUSHROOM, WINE & BEER FEST SALUTES MR. FUNGI WITH FOREST FORAGES, HUNTS BY HORSEBACK AND PINOT & PORCINIS
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MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIF. – As the flavors of fall arrive in Northern California’s Mendocino County so does the annual crop of coveted candy cap, chanterelle, porcini and hedgehog mushrooms.  Straddling historic Highways 1 and 101 with nearly 2,500 sq. miles of live oak and stately redwood groves, the region is a natural hotspot for some 3,000 mushroom varieties, 500 of which are edible.
             The annual haul is nothing short of historic, nurturing nirvana for local chefs, winemakers and fungi foragers.   Add to the mix regional mushroom-laced menus, 20 winemaker and brew events, and a host of art and educational seminars and the annual salute to Mr. Fungi is nothing short of fantastic.  www.visitmendocino.com/event/mushroom-wine-beer-festival; 866.466.3636.
         Visitors can take a walk on the wild side with a litany of mushroom-inspired events including hunts by horseback, fungi foraging and key food and wine gatherings including Yorkville Cellar’s Annual Malbec and Mushroom Feast (Nov. 4-5).  Also on tap is the first Homebrew Festival (November 4, 2017) celebrating artisan beer and mushroom-inspired cuisine in Ukiah; www.mendohomebrewfest.com; $30.
To cap the fest, 25 regional hotel properties are offering special packages throughout November.
FUNGI FORAGING
Pack a sense of adventure as mushroom foraging season hits full stride this fall.  During the festival, visitors can track and taste Mr. Fungi in a variety of formats.  Top excursions include:
Mushroom Foraging at UC Hopland Research and Extension Center — New! 
Join local naturalists and fungi experts for an educational stroll through the madrone woodland followed by a selection of canapés.  November 4; Hopland; 707.744.1424, www.ucanr.edu; $20.
 
Mushroom Exploration Tours at Stanford Inn
Join local enthusiast Adrienne Long for a walk and talk among the local forests and meadows. November 3-5; 11-12; Mendocino; 707.937.5615; www.stanfordinn.com; $45 adult/$20 children.
Foray with Mario Abreu “Mushroom Walk for Beginners”
Scout about with local expert Mario Abreu in this informative walk focused on the Fort Bragg coastal headlands.  November 5. Fort Bragg; 707.964.2020;free.
Ride with the Hunt – Mushroom Hunt at Ricochet Ridge Ranch
“Mushroom Hunt” horseback rides every day during the festival.  Equine, wine & hotel packages also available.
Ricochet Ridge Ranch, Fort Bragg; 707.964.9669; www.horse-vacation.com; prices vary.
Mushrooms at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Join staff mycologist Mario Abreu for a series of mushroom workshops and walks at the Botanical Gardens.
November 6, every Monday November 20 – December 18, 2017; Fort Bragg; 707.964.4352×16; www.gardenbythesea.org; free with garden admission $15.
 
Mushroom Foray and Cooking Class at Jade Court
Strap on those boots and hit the hills for a foray into the forest followed by a cooking class featuring wild mushroom dishes paired with wine, brews and ciders.  November 11.  Fort Bragg; 707.961.9687; www.assaggiare.com; $65.
Fungi Finale – A Walk on the Wild Side
Tap into a tasty day with local mycologist and mushroom cookbook author Eric Schramm.  Enjoy a guided hike and fungi nibbles at Jughandle Creek Farm.  November 12.  Caspar; 707.937.3498; www.jughandlecreekfarm.org; $22.
POWER TO THE PORCINI
                The bounty of the county comes full circle in November as restaurants, wineries and breweries salute the season with a myriad of special repasts.  Key events include MacCallum House Inn & Restaurant and Graziano Wild Mushroom and Winemaker Dinner (Nov. 3), CORO Winemaker Dinner at the Golden Pig (Nov. 3), Afternoon Tea at Glendeven Inn paired with mushroom tea sandwiches (Nov. 4); Mad Fritz Brewing Company at the Bewildered Pig (Nov. 4), Ravens Restaurant Medicinal Mushroom Breakfast (Nov. 5), Pennyroyal Farm Mushroom Brunch (Nov. 5), Blue Collar Winemaker Dinner with Steele Wines at Cucina Verona (Nov. 7), BARRA of Mendocino Winemaker Dinner at Crush (Nov. 8), Wild Fish Winemaker Dinner (Nov. 8), Little River Inn Annual Mushroom and Belgian Beer Dinner (Nov. 10), Maple Creek Winery/Artevino Mushroom Hike & Forage (Nov. 11), Saracina Mushroom foraging and Gourmet Luncheon (Nov. 11), Jaxon Keys Winemaker Dinner (Nov. 11), Yamakiri Winery and Ravens Restaurant Mushroom and Winemaker Dinner (Nov. 11) and Campovida Winemaker Dinner (Nov. 11).
Throughout the county, 35+ wineries and breweries celebrate the harvest with a bevy of tasting room specials including Caps Off! Wine and Mushroom Pairings at Yorkville’s Meyer Family Cellars, weekend tastings slated at Goldeneye Winery, wine and mushroom pairings at Handley Cellars and complimentary fungi bites at Phillips Hill Winery, Seebass Family Wines and Brutocao Cellars, among others.
PERFORMING ARTS, INSTALLATIONS & SIDEKICKS
                During the festival, enjoy an evening with acclaimed guitarist Alex de Grassi at UC Hopland Research and Education Center (Nov. 4), discover the aphrodisiac properties of mushrooms at “Bars, Bordellos and Mushrooms,” at the Kelley House in Mendocino (Nov. 5) or dig into an afternoon with a Mycelium in Art & Industry talk at the Mendocino Art Center (Nov. 5) or Live Mushroom Exhibit at Ford House Museum in Mendocino through November.  In addition, visitors can tap into the Skunk Train for a ride into the ancient redwoods (pups included), visit Point Arena Lighthouse or step into the wilds via daily tours of endangered African hoof stock at B. Bryan Preserve.   
MUSH “ROOM” DEALS
                A bevy of 25 local hotel deals round out the seasonal celebration including Albion River Inn’s savings of 30 percent on an ocean view guestroom, Mendocino’s AAA-Four Diamond Brewery Gulch Inn’s 15 percent savings on midweek rates with a two night booking, and a complimentary third night free via Glendeven Inn’s “Mushroom Special.  On the coast, Little River Inn’s “Mushroom Mania” ocean-view guestroom package comes in with a cool savings ($165.00/dbl.) or the newly-renovated Sacred Rock Resort in Elk by the sea, which is offering a 15 percent savings on accommodations.  Black-out dates and restrictions apply, based on availability.  For a complete listing of local deals, visit: www.visitmendocino.com/mushroom-wine-and-beer-festival.
BACKGROUND
Mendocino County welcomes nearly 1.8 million visitors annually who explore its 90 miles of prime Pacific coastline, 90+ wineries and 10 diverse AVAs (earning the highest percentage of organic and biodynamic vineyards in the United States), 24 state/national parklands and 450+ unique accommodations. Straddling scenic Highways 1 and 101, “The Redwood Corridor,” the County delivers an ideal vortex of waves, wines and redwoods laced with historic villages and outback adventures. Located 114 mi./184 km. north of San Francisco, the region’s gateway airports are San Francisco International (SFO), Oakland International (OAK), Sacramento  International Airport (SMF), and Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS).  Visit Mendocino County is a non-profit destination marketing organization designed to enhance the economic vitality of the community by increasing tourism revenue.  For more information, go to www.visitmendocino.com.

L.A. Weekly’s Artopia New Artists Announced

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L.A. Weekly is excited to announce the line-up for this year’s Artopia at Union Station in DTLA! On Saturday, August 26th from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., join us as DUBLAB and L.A. Weekly Managing Editor Drew Tewksbury curate yet another tantalizing celebration of the vibrant arts and culture scene of Los Angeles.

la-weekly-cropped“Los Angeles is the creative capital of the world. No other city cultivates creativity like L.A., where art, music, film and fashion are an ever-present part of our cultural landscape. We are a city of dreamers and doers driven by imagination and the wherewithal to get shit done. For this year’s Artopia, L.A. Weekly’s annual festival celebrating the creative spirit, we’re throwing a bash in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, at the historic Union Station. What better place to host artists, dancers, pop-up performances, stellar chefs and deejays that the ancestral center of this city, the historical home to hordes of travelers who come to our town with a suitcase and a dream? We again teamed up with Dub lab, the culture curators and radio station who helped make last year’s Artopia a sensation atop a skyscraper, to showcase a standout selection of L.A.’s most visionary artists, musicians and performers. In Los Angeles, creativity is everywhere; Artopia is your entry point to the best our city has to offer.” – Drew Tewksbury, Managing Editor, L.A. Weekly]

“DUBLAB is partnering up with L.A. Weekly to curate yet another Artopia (2017). The LA based non-profit radio station is returning with its unique vision and approach in presenting a wide-ranging community of artists across disciplines and styles. DUBLAB DJs, video art, installations, live dance and music performances, sculptures, interactive/participatory projects; all amongst the historically gorgeous architecture of Union Station will be what makes this Artopia unique.” – Ale Cohen, Executive Director, DUBLAB

This year’s event will feature live music, DJs, performance artists, art installations, and live activations from some of the city’s most well reputed artists including: Keren Oo, Elsewhere, Art of Olfaction, Indiecade, Alex Pelly, and even more yet to be announced!

In addition to an immersive art experience, the soirée will feature handcrafted cocktails, shaken and stirred by some of the city’s best bartenders, and light bites from some iconic LA food spots.

Event partners include: Angel City, Effen and Courvoisier, Barefoot Wines, The Dudes’ Brewing Co., Pabst Blue Ribbon, Califia Farms, Bai, Health Ade Kombucha, Hubert’s, Amoeba, Imperfect Produce, Zico, The Greek, and more.

Tickets are on sale now at [http://www.ticketfly.com/event/1498996?utm_source=law&utm_medium=press]. General Admission tickets are $25 and include entrance to the event as well as wine, beer and spirits samples, food bites, and live entertainment. A limited number of VIP Admission tickets will be available for $45 and include all of the General Admission perks in addition to hour early entry into the event to enjoy premium sampling and an exclusive VIP gift bag.

A portion of this year’s proceeds will benefit the non-profit DUBLAB.

For more information on Artopia and biographies of the participating artists, check out our hashtag, #ArtopiaLA and our website, artopia.laweekly.com.

Follow L.A. Weekly on Facebook at facebook.com/LAWeekly, twitter @laweeklystreet, Instagram @laweekly and Foursquare for updates.

We hope to see you there!

About L.A. Weekly:

L.A. Weekly and laweekly.com has Los Angeles covered with investigative reporting, comprehensive calendar listings, and forward-thinking cultural coverage, including daily blogs like the highly regarded Public Spectacle, which covers the city’s arts scene. We keep our readers loyal with stories by some of the country’s finest writers—now also accessible through our mobile platforms. L.A. Weekly’s arts, theater, and film critics have recently been honored with top prizes from the L.A. Press Club, and in 2007, the paper’s food critic won the first Pulitzer Prize for food criticism.

Stu and the Kids Announces 2017 Fundraiser at Vibiana on July 30

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A Thai flavored Food & Wine Festival hosted by Chef Stuart Skversky and his chef friends who will create dishes for the 4thannual Stu and the Kids Fundraiser on Sunday, July 30. Proceeds will fund scholarships for Hill Tribe kids in Chaing Mai, Thailand.

Stu and the Kids 2016 – photo credit Erik Fisher

Stu and the Kids 2016 – photo credit Erik Fisher

Participating chefs for this year’s event include Hosts Neal and Amy Fraser, Vibiana; Brooke Willamson and Nick Roberts, Playa Provisions; Walter Manzke, République; Eric Klein and Connor Shanahan, Wolfgang Puck Catering; Shirley Chung, Steamer’s Co. Raw Bar & Bowl of Hug; Gilberto Cetina, Chicken Itza; Matt Lee, Restaurant 917; Kris Yenbamroong, Night+Market; Jason Neroni from The Rose Café; Akasha Richmond, AKASHA and AR cucina; Sherry Yard, The Tuck Room; Warren and Rose Schwartz, Magpies Softserve; Jason Fullilove, Barbara Jean’s; Tetsu Yahagi,Spago Beverly Hills; Roxana Jullapat, Friends & Family; Gavin Mills, Miro; Joel Miller, The Wallace; Carlos Enriquez;Bakers Kneaded; Matt Dixon, Division 3; Gilberto Cetina, Chichen Itza; Food Network Celebrity Chef Jet Tila and special guest Rocco Whalen of Fahrenheit who will be flying in from Cleveland, Ohio with his team. Other chefs to be announced.

Other participating restaurants include 71 Above; Bar Alma; Chadaka Thai; and Jitlada (complete list of participating chefs and restaurants below).

Beverages will be plentiful, featuring the Stu and The Kids popular fresh Coconut Bar and Herb + Orchard water infusions. The Bodega Wine Bar will offer Santa Monica Brew Works beer and a great selection of beverages for a summer afternoon. Wines will be provided by Youngs Market, including sparkling wine and cider. Thanks to a generous donation from Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the festival will showcase a Thai-inspired cocktail mixed with Austin’s favorite spirit.

In 2009, Stuart Skversky, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and a rising- star chef, made a dramatic life change by giving up a promising chef career in Los Angeles to move to Chiang Mai, becoming a full-time volunteer at the Wat Dan Chan (a local Buddhist temple), teaching local children English, cooking and baking. Recognizing a need to help prepare these high-risk Hill Tribe kids following their graduation, he founded Stu and the Kids to better prepare them for adulthood, helping them get into a university or technical college and giving them the tools for an independent future. Proceeds from this event go directly to the children’s education, school uniforms, supplies, housing, food and tuition for higher education. Now in their ninth year of fundraising throughout the world, Stu and the Kids has raised over $300,000 for the charity, including last year’s astounding record of $110,000 accumulated from the LA festival, fundraising on the east coast and online donations during 2016. Stu and the Kids supervise seventeen kids, including fifteen who have earned four-year scholarships to university and a seven and fourteen-year-old that is supported with rent and food due to family hardship. The charity hopes to increase the awards to twelve four-year university scholarships in the coming year.

During the evening there will be an educational presentation and activities for all ages, including a vivid display of Northern Thai umbrellas and lanterns from the Tourism Authority of Thailand and performances of Thai music and dancing. The silent auction benefiting Stu and the Kids will include photos of locations in Chiang Mai, Thailand, hand-made Hill Tribe bags and silver jewelry, gift certificates, gift baskets, autographed cookbooks and a month of yoga classes.

The incomparable Billy Harris, celebrity charity auctioneer and host of Hanging with Harris will lead the live auction with several spectacular experiences:

  • An exclusive 4 night, 5 day trip to Thailand to meet the kids and enjoy the beauty and flavors of Chiang Mai.
  • 2 tickets to the two hour finale and live reunion show for Survivor: Heroes v Healers v Hustlers.This also includes an exclusive, fun luncheon with the Survivor players where the winner can meet, chat and take photos. Winner of the auction will also participate in some Survivor challenges that will be set up on the CBS lot. This once in a lifetime afternoon for the diehard Survivor fan is tentatively scheduled for Dec 20th, 2018 at CBS in Los Angeles. Dates might fluctuate slightly.
  • Dinner for eight guests at The Rogue Experience, Wolfgang Puck’s experimental Test Kitchen at the Pacific Design Center. A one-of-a-kind full dining experience valued at $5000.
  • Dinner for four at Vespertine by Jordan Kahn, valued at $1000.

Hours are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $125 General Admission, $195 for VIP Admission and $25 for children 6-12. To purchase tickets, visit StuandtheKidsTickets
Sunday, July 30, 2017, 4 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. for VIP tickets

General Admission: $125

VIP Admission: $195; early admission at 3:30 p.m. including a meet and greet with Chef Jet Tila, the Culinary Ambassador to Thailand and of the Food Network fame. Includes a personalized autographed copy of Chef Tila’s new cookbook, “101 Asian Dishes You Need To Cook Before You Die.”

Kids tickets: $25 for kids 6-12
Tickets for general admission, VIP admission and kids may be purchased online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stu-and-his-friends-a-thai-style-food-festival-to-support-stu-and-the-kids-tickets-33984327037

Vibiana, 214 South Main Street | Los Angeles, California 90012

ABOUT STU AND THE KIDS:

Stu and The Kids is a 501c3, tax-exempt nonprofit organization that provides scholarships for orphaned and underserved Hill Tribe children for continuing their education in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

For further information on Stu and the Kids, visit www.stuandthekids.org

Become a fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/stuandthekids

Follow Stu and the Kids on Twitter and Instagram at @stuandthekids

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Participating Chefs

Presenting Chef and Culinary Ambassador to Thailand – Chef Jet Tila

Gilberto Cetina

Shirley Chung

Neal and Amy Fraser

Jason Fullilove

Eric Klein and Connor Shanahan

Jason Neroni

Warren and Rose Schwartz

Rocco Whalen

Brooke Willamson and Nick Roberts

Sherry Yard

Tetsu Yahagi

Kris Yenbamroong

 

Participating Restaurants

71 Above

Akasha

AR cucina

Bar Alma

Barbara Jean

Broken Spanish

Chadaka Thai

Chichen Itza

Division 3

Fahrenheit (Cleveland, Ohio)

Friends & Family

Jitlada

Magpies Softserve

Miro

Night+Market

Pastry Lab

Patina Catering

Playa Provisions

Redbird and Vibiana

République

Restaurant 917 at the Porches Experience

Savore Catering

Sinners & Saints

Spago Beverly Hills

Steamer’s Company, Raw Bar and Bowl of Hug

Tender Greens

The Ensaymada Project

The Olive Pit

The Rose Café

The Tuck Room

The Wallace

Wolfgang Puck Catering

 

Sponsors

6 Degrees LA

Behind the DJ Booth

Chef Spoons

Chefs to End Hunger

Erik Fisher Photography

LA & SF Specialty

Sustainable Works

The Bouqs.com

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

Tourism Authority of Thailand

Vibiana

Wolfgang Puck Catering

Young’s Market Company

Announcing the Mendocino Coast’s Premier Food & Wine Event – WINESONG

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FORT BRAGG, CA – Tickets are now on sale for the 33rd Annual Winesong event — a spectacular weekend of award winning wine, fabulous food, fine art, music, merriment, and charitable giving. Produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, the main event takes place at the gorgeous Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Saturday, September 9th, with A Pinot Noir Celebration at the nearby Little River Inn on Friday, September 8th. In addition, Winesong has just announced key honorees at this year’s event: Wine pioneer Nils Venge of famed Saddleback Cellars has been named Honored Vintner, Wine writer and aficionado Dan Berger and photographer and former wine industry executive George Rose have been named Auction Chairs, and local Anderson Valley Artist Rebecca Johnson has been named the 2017 Artist of the Year. The Hospital Foundation is thrilled to honor these individuals who have been incredibly supportive of Winesong and our goals to help with the equipment needs of the Mendocino Coast District Hospital.

1911175_698254950197521_1231258920_oWinesong allows attendees the opportunity to explore lauded wines from Mendocino County and around the world, all while sampling culinary delights from locally-based purveyors, as well as a selection of local brews and spirits. World-class artwork is also on display, all set against a backdrop of the stunning Botanical Gardens and the majestic Pacific Ocean. Winesong aims to create harmony between one of the most breathtaking vistas on earth and all of your other senses, all while raising money for our rural hospital.

This year’s Honored Vintner, Nils Venge, is universally regarded as one of the foremost pioneers of the Napa Valley wine industry. Born to Danish immigrants, Venge’s exposure to wine came at an early age, as his parents operated a wine and liquor import and distribution company in Southern California. Venge continued his pursuit of wine at the University of California in Davis where he earned a BS in Viticulture in 1967. Following a tour of duty in Vietnam as a Navy Reservist, Venge moved to the Napa Valley to pursue his interest in winemaking. In the subsequent years, Venge worked for the notable wineries Charles Krug, Sterling, Villa Mount Eden and Groth. During his tenure at Groth, Venge became the first American winemaker to receive a perfect 100 point rating from Wine Critic Robert Parker Jr. The 1985 Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon catapulted Venge to a venerated position in the California wine industry. Nils Venge continues to produce outstanding wines at his Oakville facility, Saddleback Cellars.

Auction Chair Dan Berger is a former Los Angeles Times Wine Columnist and a lifelong journalist who spent ten years as a general assignment reporter and editor for The Associated Press. He began writing about wine in 1976 and has been nationally syndicated since 1979. He and his wife, Juliann Savage, publish a private weekly wine newsletter, Dan Berger’s Vintage Experiences, which began in February 1996. He has contributed articles to Wines & Vines, Decanter Magazine in London, Wine Press Northwest, Tasters’ Guild Journal, Sommelier Guild Journal, the privately published California Grapevine, trade journals Cheers and Beverage Dynamics, and numerous others. He has been a keynote speaker at wine marketing seminars and has been asked to judge several wine competitions over the years. Dan has also garnered many awards, including Wines and Vines magazine’s “Wine Writer of the Year.” In 2010, Mr. Berger was inducted into the Wine Media Guild Hall of Fame in New York. He is on the board of directors of the International Riesling Foundation. He is an aficionado of Napa and Sonoma wines.

More than 40 years ago, Auction Chair George Rose began his long career as a photographer. Throughout the years, he has traveled a long and winding road through the elite world of popular music, film, news, politics, and sports, eventually leading him to California’s Wine Country. During his prolific years as a Los Angeles-based photojournalist, Rose developed a remarkable and historic body of photographic work focused on popular culture. His independent assignments, focused primarily on the entertainment industry, have been published in USA Today, Time, Newsweek and Rolling Stone. Over 40 vintage prints of his are in the permanent collection of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. In 1987, Rose won a World Press Photo Award for news, and was named California “Newspaper Photographer of the Year” in 1976 by the University of Missouri, School of Journalism. The Los Angeles Times twice nominated him (1979 and 1980) for a Pulitzer Prize. For the past 25 years, Rose was a wine industry executive communications director at four successful wine companies: Fetzer Vineyards, Allied Domecq Wines USA, Kendall-Jackson, and J Vineyards & Winery. During this time, he continued to pursue his passion of photography. In 2015, Rose moved to Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley. Much of his time is devoted to documenting the natural environment of the county as well as top vineyard estates up and down the coast of California. He is also a contributing photographer with Getty Images.

2017 Artist of the Year Rebecca Johnson grew up in an art-centric family in rural Hopewell, New Jersey. Her parents were designers, artists and art educators. “Life is art” was the family credo. This philosophy enriched and continues to inform Rebecca’s art and career. As a young artist Rebecca embraced the path of the successful professional. She received her BFA from Tyler School of Art and her MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She studied bronze casting at the Johnson Atelier in New Jersey and stone carving in quarries in Vermont. A fulcrum of change occurred when The British American Arts Council awarded her a three-month fellowship to work in Northwest Wales. In this land of stonewalls, craggy mountains, wild coast and rich folkloric history Rebecca’s ideas gestated. Time and solitude created space for her to thoroughly see and imbibe the light, color and form of the land. Her exterior and interior visions integrated and enhanced each other. Rebecca discovered a new degree of courage and conviction to follow her work to its true ultimate power, rural nature and a poetic vision. Rebecca now lives and works in Northern California, Mendocino County, a place of raw elemental forces. Her studio is located in the Anderson Valley, where inside a large renovated barn she creates paintings. The doors of the studio open to a hillside meadow filled with her stone sculpture. The calm beauty of this rural place resonates in her work.

Below is a quick overview of what you can expect at this year’s Winesong event. Tickets to each event are available for purchase at: http://winesong.org/events/purchase-tickets/.

A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers
Friday, September 8, 2017 | 1 to 4 p.m.

The weekend kicks off with a prestigious Pinot Noir tasting, presented by Winesong and hosted by Little River Inn. Attendees will enjoy Pinot Noir from renowned Anderson Valley, along with wines from other award-winning pinot regions, alongside tastes of Little River Inn’s finest culinary offerings. General Admission Tickets for A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers are $75 per person.

Wine & Food Grand Tasting in the Gardens
Saturday, September 9, 2017 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Stroll through the lush Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens while enjoying vintages poured by world-class wineries from Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and beyond. Sample beer, spirits, and food from 50 of Mendocino County’s finest purveyors. The tasting is accented by various musical groups performing a variety of styles including jazz, classical, blues, calypso and folk rock. General Admission Tickets with festival seating at auction and access to wine and food tasting are $125 per person for Early Responders; $150 per person after June 1st.

Silent & Live Charity Auctions
Saturday, September 9, 2017 | SILENT: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; LIVE: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The centerpiece of Winesong weekend is the Charity Auction, featuring both a silent and live auction. Nearly 200 lots will be on offer, featuring spectacular wines from the world’s most prestigious wine producers, rare vintages, large format bottles and special vertical and horizontal collections, as well as original art from acclaimed California artists and highly coveted international and domestic vacation packages. Auction Reserve Tickets with assigned seating under the auction tent (w/catered lunch) and access to wine and food tasting are $225 per person for Early Responders; $250 per person after June 1st.

For further information, please visit http://winesong.org/events/purchase-tickets or call (707) 961-4688.

About Winesong & the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation

Winesong is produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Its mission is to help the small rural Hospital provide the best possible medical care to residents as well as the many visitors to the Mendocino Coast. Winesong proceeds have enabled the Hospital to purchase chemotherapy equipment, portable ultrasound machines for the Emergency Room as well as a state-of-the-art Diagnostic Imaging Center, Cardiology Equipment, a Bedside Medicine Verification System and most recently, a Nurse Call System and a Patient Monitor Alert & Telemetry System.

Southern Smoke BBQ and Brewhouse Collaborates with 65+ Year Veteran Chili John’s

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The collaboration marks the first time Chili John’s famous Burbank Location Shares Their Chili

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY – As of May 5th the wildly popular Downtown Newhall restaurant, Southern Smoke BBQ and Brewhouse, has begun serving chili from another popular restaurant – Chili John’s in Burbank. And while Chili John’s has been going strong for nearly 70 years, the new menu addition will only serve to add to the popularity of the just over one-year-young Southern Smoke.

Chili JohnsSouthern Smoke co-owner Sam Gardian said, “We are honored and delighted to partner with such an icon.”

The chili will be offered on the menu as a side or a main dish, depending on whatever other items diners will be tempted with. Gardian already does a brisk business, recently adding in Chicken and Waffles to the menu.

Popular items currently served at Southern Smoke include Sliders (two) – Brisket, Pulled Pork or Pulled Chicken topped with coleslaw, or kicked up Wasabi slaw; “Widow Maker” – Two single grind brisket patties, onion jam, spring mix lettuce, Applewood smoked bacon, avocado, sharp cheddar, five blend cheese sauce, topped with a fried egg; PB and J – Single grind brisket patty, smoked Applewood bacon, blackberry jam and peanut butter; Hoe Cake – A Southern minimalist cornbread favorite topped with homemade honey butter, Fleur de Sel and chives. Made and served in a sizzling cast iron skillet.

Southern Smoke BBQ and Brewhouse, 24255 Main St, Santa Clarita, California 91321, telephone 661-888-4585.

Hours: Monday Closed, Tuesday through Thursday 11am to 10pm, Friday 11am to 11pm, Saturday – 8:00am to 11pm and Sunday 8:00am to 10pm. A full breakfast menu is available Saturday and Sunday only from 8am to 11 am.

Website: http://www.ssbbqbrew.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Southernsmokebbqandbrew/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southernsmokebbqbrew/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ssbbqbrew

chicken and waffles southern smoke bbq