Western Foodservice Expo to Feature a Robust Trade Show Floor

May 18, 2022 by evebushman

LOS ANGELES, CA, April 18, 2022 – For three days in August the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo and Coffee Fest Los Angeles will showcase hundreds of leading vendors demonstratingand sampling the newestfood products, technology and equipment for the restaurant, foodservice, specialty beverage and hospitality markets at the Los Angeles Convention Center from Sunday, August 28 through Tuesday, August 30. The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo is sponsored by the California Restaurant Association, and produced and managed by Clarion Events, Inc., the global leader in trade show management.

“After a two-year hiatus, we are thrilled to be bringing the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo and Coffee Fest back to the Los Angeles Convention Center for three-days of networking, product sourcing and education,” said Rita Ugianskis, Vice President, Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group. “Attendees will have the opportunity to evaluate new foods and beverages, products, solutions and technology innovations from major companies on a robust show floor featuring the latest in menu engineering options, business and operational services and tools all designed to increase guest satisfaction and their bottom line.”

Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group recently held the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show in New York, the first post-pandemic, and received high marks from the exhibitors. In a post event survey, exhibitor satisfaction increased 19 pts; exhibitor loyalty increased 10 pts; and exhibitor NPS increased a staggering 39 pts. Exhibitor ROI increased due to both an expansive marketing campaign delivering active and engaged buyers, and the feature areas outlined below which will also be located throughout the trade show floor at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Feature areas on the slow floor will include:

Coffee Fest Los Angeles which offers an expansive trade show, education and competitions for the coffee, tea & specialty beverage industry, as well as insight into profitable beverage programs for restaurant and foodservice operators.
Bar Innovation showcases alcoholic beverages including craft beers, ciders, wines, spirits and more.
Food Trends provides direct access to products, flavors and ingredients driving the most exciting, emerging trends in the market – local, organic, sustainable, ethnic, artisanal, and more.
Gourmet Way is the place to taste samples from the specialty providers in the industry—from spices to specialty foods and appetizers to mains.
Technology Pavilion will offer dedicated educational programs addressing the needs to navigate today’s technology landscape – from mobile payments to delivery and ghost kitchens, AI and machine learning, and building an effective tech stack.
Healthy and Wellness celebrates foods that are both good for you and delicious, bringing together the leading purveyors of healthy, natural, and organic products.
The New Town Square, a space in the exhibit hall at the intersection of Coffee Fest and the Western Foodservice Expo will feature a concierge, MATCH meetings, informal networking, and a space to continue the conversation following education sessions.

In addition to a robust show floor, the Western Foodservice and Hospitality Expo will offer for the first time the New Food & Beverage Academy, the umbrella education platform for all education including four Education Summits focused on independents, multi-units, foodservice and technology and Coffee Fest Education offering sessions for new startups, up and running coffee shop, roasters and baristas. Attendees will also have the chance to experience fun and inspiring culinary demonstrations, award presentations, panel discussions, paid workshops, and food, beverage and coffee competitions.

The Show Floor is now accepting applications for new vendors. For companies interested in exhibiting, contact Brian Bernstein, Show Manager for companies # – M, at (203) 484-8056 or brian.bernstein@clarionevents.com or John Lederer, Show Manager for companies N – Z, at (203) 202-8626 or john.lederer@clarionevents.com. For access to the most up-to-date floor plan, click here.

Exhibitors can also participate in the MATCH! Program which connects exhibitors with the most relevant restaurant and foodservice buyers including coffee shop owners and operators who want to offer food and expanded product offering to their customers. The appointment program delivers measurable ROI in the form of pre-scheduled appointments with qualified buyers who have purchasing authority. For companies interested in exhibiting or sponsorship, visit https://www.westernfoodexpo.com/interested-exhibiting.

The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo is owned by Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group and sponsored by the California Restaurant Association. Clarion Events produces 37 events across thirteen sectors of both trade and consumer events. The Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group also includes the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show, the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York, Coffee Fest and The NGA Show. Clarion Events acquired PennWell in early 2018, bringing 4 Tradeshow 200 events into the U.S. portfolio and super-charging the already rapid growth. Clarion Events has offices in Trumbull, CT; Kennesaw, GA; Boca Raton, FL; Tacoma, WA, and Fairlawn, NJ.

Tasting Alavida Malbec, a USDA-Certified Organic + Kosher Wine

March 25, 2022 by evebushman

Have you ever had a Kosher wine? That’s also organic? And a Malbec from Argentina? I’ve had all of these – but not all in the same wine. So when I was offered this unique wine to try I jumped on it! I will share my tasting notes at the end of this article, but first let me share some of the details on this “dual status” wine with some sections I’ve put in bold I found interesting and want you to take notice of:

The debut 2021 vintage of Alavida Malbec (SRP $19), new from Origins Organic Import, is Argentina’s first USDA-certified organic and kosher wine. Alavida is one of few wines worldwide to achieve this unusual dual status. Alavida is also vegan, gluten-fee, and Ecocert-approved…

The Alavida name is a riff on “A la vida!” Spanish for “To life!” itself a riff on the traditional Hebrew toast “L’chaim!” Origins Organic is owned by husband-and-wife team Labid al Ameri and Anne Bousquet. “Argentina is a nation rich in diversity, and our own multi-cultural family has been making certified organic wines in Argentina since 1997,” al Ameri observes.

Of necessity, fruit for Alavida must be of exceptional quality, with good concentration, and balance of acidity (a natural preservative). Why? Because USDA regulations prohibit the addition of sulfites (SO2) in winemaking. Sulfites are commonly used as a form of preservative or to help conceal natural flaws.

The new wine hails from high-altitude vineyards in the Uco Valley, an area identified with a growing number of the Mendoza region’s finest quality wines. Grapes grow at 4,000+ feet in the Andes foothills, where daily temperature swings of up to 60° F deliver more sugar (hot days) and more acid (cold nights). By omitting SO2, characteristics associated with the Uco Valley’s high-altitude, cool-climate terroir are heightened and enhanced. Purity of fruit, aroma, flavors, and freshness become even more apparent.

The winemaking process for Alavida is almost identical to that used in making a non-kosher wine, with two exceptions. Ingredients such as yeast must be kosher, and the wine physically made by a Sabbath-observant Jewish team under the supervision of a rabbi. For Alavida that means double the number of people involved: a Jewish team member to handle grapes and wine, paired with a home team member standing alongside and directing. For Alavida, that entailed five duos! Winemaker Rodrigo Serrano gave the work orders; his Jewish counterparts executed them.

Once the truck filled with grapes arrived at the winery, the Jewish team took the grapes from the truck, used the forklift, pressed the on/off button at the sorting table, and so on. Though the visiting team members were experienced winemakers, they had never worked at this quality level. At the end of each day, everything was locked by the rabbi. If winemaker Serrano wanted to take a sample, he could not do so. Indeed, if a non-Jewish person were to stumble and accidentally touch a tank, the wine is no longer kosher – representing a potential loss of 4,700 liters of wine! At the end of the process, the rabbi pronounced Alavida the best kosher wine he had ever tasted!

Alavida Kosher Malbec 2021 — Technical Data

100% Malbec

Alcohol: 14.5%

Acidity/pH: 5.77/3.68

Residual Sugar: 1.52

Alavida Kosher Malbec from Origins Organic Imports / SRP $19

Now available DC, DE, CA, CT, FL, IL, MD, ME, NJ, VT, and WA

Plus NY and OR, effective April 1.

Eve’s Tasting Notes

Starting off with a deep burgundy to purple in color, completely opaque, with just a slightly lighter edge that sparkles, inviting. On the nose I experienced aromas of plum, raspberry, dark chocolate, grilled mushroom, green peppercorn, earth, ash and coffee. The taste reminded me of dried red fruit, as well as ripe strawberry and red currant, bright and lively, with gripping tannins, no annoying acidity, a long finish and well balanced. Very interesting indeed. If I saw this in a shop I would buy it, a steal for $19.

About Origins Organic Imports: Miami-based Origins Organic Imports is owned and run by husband-and-wife team Labid Ameri and Anne Bousquet, also the owners of Argentina’s leading producer and exporter of certified-organic wines. With Origins Organic, Ameri and Bousquet are dedicated to introducing U.S. consumers to a growing roster of well-priced, high-quality certified-organic offerings from around the world, in addition to those from their own estate.

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.

Masters of Taste Returns with Host Chef Vanda Asapahu As L.A.’s Top Tastemakers Come Together On The Field of the Rose Bowl Sunday, April 3rd, 2022! Use Promo Code EVEWINE22 to get $10 off!

March 11, 2022 by evebushman

A preview teaser from Eve: Have you ever been to the Masters of Taste event that benefits the Union Station Homeless Services? I was treated to a preview and now can’t wait for the main event April 3rd on the field of the Rose Bowl! It’s like no other with fabulous culinary masters, sweet masters and beverage masters! To name a few just from our preview presented by Lawrence Moore and Associates: 2022 Host Chef Vanda Asapahu of Ayara Thai, Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery, Kabobaholic, Gabi James, Georgia’s Restaurant, Gracia Madre, Bertha Mae’s Brownies, House of Suntory Yatai Cart, 14 Cannons Brewing Company, CRU Winery, Humm Kombucha, Knox and Dobson…check out my photos here, read the latest press release below and go the website for tickets —> https://mastersoftastela.com/ And use EVEWINE22 to get $10 off!

Los Angeles, CA – Come celebrate and be part of the 5th Anniversary Masters of Taste, L.A.’s premier outdoor, luxury food and beverage festival that will take place on Sunday, April 3rd, 2022, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm on the field of the iconic Pasadena Rose Bowl!

Masters of Taste is introducing Chef Vanda Asapahu as it’s first-ever female Host Chef of Masters of Taste 2022, which also happens to mark the 5^th Anniversary of this celebrated event. Culinary Master and 2022 Host Chef Vanda Asapahu is the chef and owner of Ayara Thai and she has participated in Masters of Taste since the event’s inception in April 2016. Asapahu went to college at UCLA and to graduate school at Yale, then she spent four years living, traveling, and working her way through Thailand before returning home to Los Angeles. During Asapahu’s stay in her native country, she took extensive notes, which included absorbing the Bangkok Street Food scene and reviving old family recipes. After cooking with relatives and eating her way through the streets and countryside, Asapahu brought back treasured old recipes and new flavors to share at Ayara Thai. While her mother, Anna Asapahu, still helms the family kitchen, Asapahu is the vanguard, taking up the torch of her family’s culinary tradition at Ayara Thai, and under her leadership in May of 2019 Ayara Thai was named one of Michelin Guide California’s 2019 Bib Gourmands.

Click this photo to get to the Masters of Taste ticket link and use EVEWINE22 for $10 off!

“I have had the pleasure of participating in Masters of Taste since its inaugural year,” states Asapahu. “As a proud UCLA alum (Go Bruins!), I’d give anything for the opportunity to cook, eat, and dance on the field of the Rose Bowl. Now I get to! The most amazing thing about Masters of Taste is that 100% of the proceeds go directly to benefit Union Station Homeless Services and not many food festivals can say that. Union Station Homeless Services is committed to ending homelessness in Los Angeles.”

Masters of Taste 2022 will bring over 3,000 food and beverage enthusiasts together for one afternoon to celebrate this exhilarating festival, which will include the finest fare from over 100 Culinary Masters and restaurants, delectable sweets prepared by L.A.’s top Sweet Masters, top Beverage Masters who will be featuring signature handcrafted cocktail tastings from over 25 spirit brands and bars, along with select wineries, local craft breweries, cold-pressed juices, cold brew coffee, live entertainment and much, much more.

This year, Masters of Taste falls in April, during which Thai New Year, Songkran, is also celebrated. Chef Vanda has invited 3 other L.A. Thai restaurants, to participate in the Songkran Thai SELECT Pavilion, a celebration spanning the Rose Bowl’s end zone. The transformation will reflect a traditional Thai sundry general store and Songkran festival. As a culinary challenge, each Thai restaurant will prepare a dish, dessert, and/or cocktail using a common paste, sahm kler (which translates to “3 buddies”), and comprises white peppercorn, garlic, and cilantro root. This aromatic mixture is used in a variety of Thai dishes and is quite possibly the reason why Thai food is so special. Like sahm kler, the 3 buddies paste, the 3 other restaurants comprising the Songkran Thai SELECT Pavilion are 3 of Chef Vanda’s personal buddies!

100% of the proceeds from Masters of Taste 2022 will directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to providing permanent solutions to end homelessness and rebuild lives. Headquartered in Pasadena, CA, Union Station has served the community for nearly 50 years and today it is the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and families. In addition to its recent expansion into El Sereno and Eagle Rock, Union Station Homeless Services is the lead County agency for Service Planning Area 3 (SPA 3), coordinating homeless services in 36 communities, with a combined population of over 1.5 million across the San Gabriel Valley. Union Station Homeless Services’ mission is guided by the belief that everyone deserves a life of dignity and a place to call home. In the last four years Masters of Taste has raised over $2 Million in support of Union Station Homeless Services life-saving programs.

This year Masters of Taste 2022 will partner with Careers Through Culinary Arts Program, Los Angeles (C-CAP LA), a national 501(c)(3) non-profit founded by culinary educator Richard Grausman in 1990 and Co-Chaired by Chef Marcus Samuelsson. Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) provides culinary, job, and life skills to over 20,000 middle-and-high school students in seven regions across the United States: New York City, Newark, Philadelphia and Camden, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Arizona, including 7 Navajo Reservation schools and was named a National Apprenticeship Program by the U.S. Department of Labor in 2021. Due to the restaurant industry labor shortage, the Los Angeles Region, C-CAP LA will be partnering with Masters of Taste by bringing high school student volunteers to assist this year’s Masters of Taste 2022 Culinary and Sweet Masters throughout the event to gain real-time event training while helping support these incredible chefs and restaurants that are participating in this year’s event.

Some of this year’s Masters of Taste 2022 participating Culinary Masters and Restaurants include:

Ayara Thai 2022 Host Chef Vanda Asapahu – Westchester

786 Degrees Chef Ali Haider – Pasadena, Sun Valley

1212 Santa Monica Chef Luca Maita – Santa Monica

Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery Chef Thomas Kalb – Pasadena

Alexander’s Steakhouse Chef Richard Archuleta – Pasadena

Arth Bar + Kitchen Chef Sagar Ghosh – Culver City

Bone Kettle Chef Erwin Tjahyadi – Pasadena

Celestino Ristorante Chef Calogero Drago – Pasadena

Champion’s CURRY Chef Yoya Takahashi – Downtown, Los Angeles

Drago Centro Chef Celestino Drago – Downtown, Los Angeles

Five 55 Chef Austin Lee – Monterey Park

Gabi James Sarah Gabriele & Adam Aro – Redondo Beach

Georgia’s Restaurant Nika Shoemaker-Machado – Anaheim, Long Beach

Gracias Madre Chef Justin Haefler – West Hollywood, Newport Beach

Granville Mark Dix – Studio City, Burbank, West Hollywood, Pasadena

Gus’s World-Famous Fried Chicken – Burbank, Long Beach, Los Angeles

Hank’s Chef Isaias Peña – Pacific Palisades

Holy Basil Chef Wedchayan “Deau” Arpapornnopparat & Tongkamal “Joy” Yuon – Downtown, Los Angeles

Iron Teapot Dim Sum & Bar Sally Chan – Los Angeles

Kye’s Feel Good Food Jeanne Cheng – Santa Monica

La Bohéme Chef Atsushi Kenjo – West Hollywood

Little Llama Peruvian Tacos Chef Jean Valcarcel – Downtown, Los Angeles

Lunasia Chef Lee Han Fu – Pasadena, Alhambra, Cerritos

Luv2Eat Thai Bistro Chef Somruthai “Fern” Kaewtathip & Chef Noree “Pla” Burapapituk – Los Angeles

Mercado Chef Jose Acevedo – Hollywood, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica

Mi Piace Chef Gille Saulnier – Pasadena

Open Face Food Shop Chef Lene Houck – West Adams, Los Angeles

Otus Thai Kitchen & Coffee Chef June Intrachat – West Hollywood

Pez Cantina Chef Bret Thompson – Downtown, Los Angeles

Poppy + Rose and Poppy & Seed Chef Michael Reed – Downtown, Los Angeles, Anaheim

Qué Padre Chef Isaias Peña – Pacific Palisades

Ramen Tatsunoya Chef Ryuta Kajiwara – Pasadena, Silver Lake

Ruam Mitr Kwanklao Disbanchong & Benchawan Phoungtai – Los Angeles

Santuari Chef Seth Greenberg – Toluca Lake

Stand-Up Burgers Chef Kajsa Alger – Berkeley, Los Angeles

Taishi Hainan Chicken Chef Theo Shio – Redondo Beach, Long Beach

The Colony Club and SO.PA Chef Michael Hung – Palm Springs

The Raymond 1886 Chef Gabriel Cappelli – Pasadena

True Food Kitchen Chef Stephanie Nguyen – Pasadena

Vegan Sunday Supper Richard Klein – Los Angeles

We Olive Ervin Galvan – Pasadena

World Empanadas Chef Matthew Hirtz – Burbank

Yardbird Chef Eduardo Osorio – Los Angeles

Yuca’s Restaurant Socorro “Mama Yuca’s” Herrera – Pasadena

Food Trucks:

Kabobaholic Ali Pooya – Los Angeles, Orange County

Okamoto Kitchen Gerald Abraham – Los Angeles

The Tropic Truck Lauren Saravia – Los Angeles

VCHOS Wendy Centeno – Los Angeles

Wings N Waffles Jontae Vinson – Los Angeles, Orange County

Sweet Masters: A select group of Los Angeles Top Sweet Masters will showcase an assortment of delectable desserts such as Bertha Mae’s Brownies, unique Indian treats from Banana Leaf, handcrafted pudding from Better Together Sweets, custom cakes and desserts from Butter Cake Shoppe, French macarons and gourmet cookies from Etoile Filante Patisserie, deliciously scrumptious scratch baked custom cakes and cupcakes from Fantasy Frostings, Lark Cake Shop, Chocolatier Mignon Chocolate, Nomad Ice Pops, homemade premium sorbets from Pop’s Artisinal Creamery, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and more.

Some of this year’s participating Beverage Masters include:

Bars & Spirits: 2022 Masters of Taste Platinum Sponsor Beam Suntory will be premiering their House of Suntory Tiny House on the 50 Yard Line along with a Maker’s Mark Lounge, and more. Some of L.A.’s top bartenders and cocktail bars will be creating first-rate craft cocktails, including Maxwell Reis of Gracias Madre and Miguel Perez of 1886 Bar at The Raymond. Top brands showcasing their finest spirits at Masters of Taste will include American Born Whiskey, Dulce Vida Tequila, High Road Spirits serving Lucky Dog Sake Juice Boxes, Knox & Dobson, Krafted Spirits, Nosotros Tequila & Mezcal, Pomp & Whimsy, Smoke Lab Vodka, Ventura Spirits, Veso Aperitifs, Wild Roots Organic Vodka, Xoloitzcuintle Tequila, and Woodford Reserve will be exclusively featured in the Rose Bowl Court of Champions.

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 14 Cannons Brewing Co., L.A.’s new All Season Brewing, Arts District Brewing Company, Pasadena’s Cerveceria Del Pueblo, hard kombucha from Flying Embers in Ojai, Downtown’s Homebound Brew Haus, North Hollywood’s Lawless Brewing Co., Arcadia’s first Microbrewery Mt. Lowe Brewing Co., Ola Brew hard seltzer, Over Town Brewing Co., San Fernando Brewing Co., and 2022 Thai Sponsor Singha Beer.

Wineries and Sake: A specially curated collection of Wine Masters will be showcasing their finest varietals including premium boutique winery Ascension Cellars, CRŪ Winery, Ferguson Family Wines, Golden Star Vineyards & Winery, Hitching Post Winery, Kikusi Brewery (Sake), Obvious Wines, Anderson Valley’s Navarro Vineyards, Seisyu Akagisan Sake, Tobias Glen Vineyard, and 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 Yerba Mate from Erva Brew Co., Humm Kombucha, distilled and elegantly blended non-alcoholic beverages from Optimist Drinks, boba milk tea from Sunright Tea Studio and Bearology, natural ginger beer from TrueRoots Brewing Co., handcrafted beverage starters from The Base Co., and more.

Sponsors: Masters of Taste 2022 is made possible through the generous support of our Platinum Sponsors, Beam Suntory. The Songkran Thai SELECT Pavilion is made possible by Thai Trade Center Los Angeles, including Thai SPIRIT, Department of International Trade Promotion, Singha, N.A. Trading Company, Theppadungporn Coconut Co., and Sunlee. Gold Sponsors include Judith L. Chiara Foundation, US Bank, and Western Asset Management. The event is also made possible by Silver Sponsors: AppDynamics, Capital Group, Charlie and Rene Chiara, Hannah and Russ Kully, Homebridge Financial Services, Inc., HomeStreet Bank, Jim & Cary Moore, John and Marie Queen, Kaiser Permanente, Liz & Rhodes Trussell, Philip and Nancy Naecker, Union Bank MUFG, Vickie and Alex Taylor, Wells Fargo, Woodford Reserve; and Bronze Sponsors: ADP Foundation, Avantis Investors, Bank of America, Bart and Pam Wald, Catherine Simms & Garrett Bell, City National Bank, David & Janet Lazier, HKG LLP, Lonnie and Lorraine Schield, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, Sally Lash, Terry & Teresa Krupczak, Verlasso, Wendy Lees & Tom Boyle and Westport Construction.

Ticket Information: Masters of Taste 2022 will take place on Sunday, April 3^rd, 2022. A VIP Power Hour will be held from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and General Admission will be from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Tickets to this event are only available for guests 21+ and over. For more information on Masters of Taste 2022 or to book your tickets directly, please visit https://mastersoftastela.com/tickets/.

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

Transportation and Parking: Guests are encouraged to utilize car services – Lyft, Uber, Taxi, etc. – since this event does serve alcoholic beverages and is a 21+ and over event. Complimentary parking is also available at the Rose Bowl.

The Texas Whiskey Festival and Remington Family Distillers are excited to release a bourbon barrel aged Caffe Del Fuego

January 27, 2022 by evebushman

AUSTIN, TEXAS (PRWEB) – The Texas Whiskey Festival and Remington Family Distillers are excited to announce the release of the Ironroot Republic Distilling bourbon barrel-aged Caffe Del Fuego collaboration.

Tejas, the Spanish spelling of the ancient Caddo word for “friend” or “ally,” is a collaboration between the festival and various Texas distillers to create unique offerings that showcase their methods and character. Each bottling will be a limited release available only through the respective distiller.

The Ironroot Republic Distilling bourbon-barrel-aged Caffe Del Fuego is the second release in the Tejas collaboration series. Caffe Del Fuego is coffee liquor done right. “As lifelong whiskey drinkers we have always loved how it pairs with our product. That’s why we were super excited by this project. By aging Caffe Del Fuego for a year in Ironroot bourbon barrels we were able to create a special release that really captures the best of two great spirits. Our rich coffee taste, their smooth, smoky accents, and the deep caramel and vanilla flavors from both come together into something truly noteworthy. I can’t wait for our fans to have the opportunity to enjoy this,” said Mark Remington Koelsch, President and Founder of Remington Family Distillers.

The bottling totaled just under 500 – 750ml bottles. It will be available…exclusively through the tasting room at Remington Family Distillers. “I love that three companies came together to create this fantastic product,” says Jake Clements, Co-Founder of the Texas Whiskey Festival.

“The collaboration is still going; the empty barrels are now back at Ironroot for the second part of our collaboration.”

Tejas came to embody the character of the weathered and resilient settlers who saw the wide-open west as their destiny. This series pays homage to their intrepid resolve by bringing together our favorite Texas distilleries in a spirit of friendship that exemplifies the pride we take in proclaiming, “We are Tejas!”

For more information about the Texas Whiskey Festival visit http://www.txwhiskeyfest.com and for more information about Remington Family Distillers visit https://www.rfdistillers.com.

About the Texas Whiskey Festival
The mission of the festival is simple: To help promote and enhance the brands of the many great distilleries throughout Texas. Along with promotion, we want to educate whiskey lovers about the many top-of-the-line whiskeys being produced in our great state – and we’re doing it all while having fun, drinking great whiskey, and building memorable experiences. As an organization, we know that Texas has some of the best distilleries and whiskeys in the world. The Texas Whiskey Festival is an opportunity to showcase that. For more information, please visit https://txwhiskeyfest.com.

About Remington Family Distillers
Founded by cousins Peter Knight Remington and Mark Remington Koelsch in 2014. Located in Austin, TX, Remington Family Distillers with a passion for superior quality spirits, Remington Family Distillers is the culmination of a whole bunch of paperwork hoops to jump through and a desire to create and produce premium liquor with you in mind.

NEW Prosecco Cycling Tour w/ Sommelier

January 20, 2022 by evebushman

(Bridgewater, MA) — Tourissimo, a leader in active travel to Italy, is thrilled to announce a NEW 7-day “Grappa and Prosecco” cycling tour of the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore Prosecco wine making area of Italy. Guests will learn about the ancient origins of wine making and how the reputation and qualities of the wine have evolved throughout the centuries. The cycling is just as varied and dramatic as the Vento region’s history, ranging from a challenging climb up Mount Grappa to the hilly terrain of Prosecco. The tour includes multiple wine tastings, dining at a MICHELIN-starred restaurant, exploring UNESCO World Heritage Sites, overnighting at 4 and 5-star hotels, and cycling one of Italy’s most beautiful regions. Prices start at $4,695 per person double. Venice is only one hour away and makes for a great add-on to the tour. For more information, visit https://www.tourissimo.travel/bike-tour-prosecco.

“For the Prosecco wine lover, this is an absolute dream vacation,” said Tourissimo Co-Founder and Managing Director, Beppe Salerno, who is also a sommelier. “The tour is rich in history, and the scenery is nothing short of spectacular with panoramic vistas and patchwork landscape of steep terraced hills, woodlands, and meadows. The cycling is absolutely amazing, and the food, wine, and accommodations are as good as it gets.”

The Prosecco area is wedged between mountains and the plain before the Adriatic Sea. It is extremely hilly, with grapes growing at 150 to 1,600 ft. above sea level. A route between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene has been named the Strada del Prosecco (“Prosecco Wine Route”), and it’s the perfect riding playground for wine lovers.

The landscape is characterized by ‘hogback’ hills, ciglioni – small plots of vines on narrow grassy terraces – forests, small villages and farmland. Since the 17th century, the use of ciglioni has created a particular chequerboard landscape consisting of rows of vines parallel and vertical to the slopes.

“One goal with this tour, in addition to cycling some of the most beautiful terrain in Italy, is to educate guests about why a Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG is a superior product, why it is worth spending more for a quality sparkling wine,” said Salerno. “Because DOCG producers—with the limited growing area, lower yields and extremely high cost of production—can not compete with DOC on price, more and more of them are seeking to explore the particularities of their diverse growing area and long viticultural tradition, and find new ways of expressing them in their wines.”

Tour Highlights:

Walking the walls of medieval Cittadella
Exploring the hills of Prosecco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Having coffee in Piazza degli Scacchi in Marostica
Cycling along rolling roads surrounded by vineyards
Experiencing a Grappa tasting at a famous grappa produce
Soaking up the village of Asolo
Enjoying multiple wine tastings at Prosecco Superiore DOCG producers
Picnicing at mulino della Croda
Learning Monte Grappa WWI history and visiting the memorial-museum

What’s Included:

Two professional tour guides throughout the program
All accommodations in 4-star hotels (one 5-star)
All breakfasts, all lunches, and all dinners
Wine and beer with meals, coffee, cappuccino, and gelato stops
Two wine tastings
Logistical support during the tour and luggage transfer
Guided tour of Bassano and grappa tasting
Shuttle at the beginning and at the end of the tour
Bianchi bike rental
GPS navigation and maps

About Tourissimo: We are Italy experts and have several decades of combined experience in all facets of the adventure travel industry. We came together to combine our strengths and focus on what we do best: create and operate tour programs that showcase the best of Italy. In addition to offering fixed departures in some of Italy’s most enchanting areas, we work with tour operators, travel agents and group leaders to provide high-quality, intelligently designed and exciting custom itineraries all over the country. https://www.tourissimo.travel

Eve’s Pet Peeve: How We Treat Restaurant, Bar and Winery Staff During a Pandemic

January 7, 2022 by evebushman

I recently shared a photo I had found on social media, a sandwich board sign outside of a dining establishment that read:

“Small Coffee” $5

“Small Coffee, please.” $3

“Hello, one small coffee please.” $1.75

This post got mostly positive comments, about how to treat wait staff. However, my caption questioned, “Easier said than done?” No one admitted to being anything but kind to wait staff. But I’ve been guilty of it myself – not thinking, in a rush, irritated over some small infraction I perceived on their part – and more recently I had also heard from many pals in the service industry that kindness had sort of dropped off the customer’s radar even more since Covid.

Though my focus is on how we treat staff at wineries, bars and restaurants, this thoughtlessness – and downright rude behavior – has only worsened over the different mandates businesses have had to enforce. Personally I’m fine with the mask and social distancing, so it mystifies me as to why some customers take their irritation out on wait staff. The restaurant owners I have spoken to say that they have been threatened by closure if they don’t enforce the policies, putting them on the front line of disgruntled people.

My message here isn’t political. (If you know me you know that I never share my own politics.) It also isn’t structured by reviewing all of the ever-changing CDC standards. It is, however, just a reminder to people to be kind to those in the service industry that are just trying to do their jobs – and simply be able to remain open without the threat of being shut down if they don’t follow current mandates.

Now, rant over, here are some examples of what you may not be doing even if you think you are polite enough:

When staff greets you, greet them back. If they ask how you are, respond, and ask how they are. I’ve even gone as far as giving them my name, and the names of the people at the table with me, when they give me theirs. I loved the shocked, yet appreciative, looks that I get every time I do this and that just solidifies that it is the right thing to do.

If your server is in a rush or not as friendly as you like, try to understand what the cause may be. They aren’t purposely being rude to you; but just like you, they are human beings with things going on you may not be aware of. They could very well have someone ill, or recently passed away, in their own family. So slow down with your criticism, inward and outward.

Any service worker is stuck. A customer can yell at them but they can’t yell back. They are getting cursed at, eye rolls and shorted on tips. But if they ever were to treat a customer in any of these ways they would be in jeopardy of losing their job, no matter how warranted it may be.

Honestly, I always see it as a sign of weakness on the part of the customer that does this, as we are all well aware that the employee rarely feels safe in responding in kind. Don’t be that customer.

With the pandemic you should also be already aware of staff and food shortages. This is in no way the fault of the business owner or employees, so you shouldn’t let your frustrations out on them. Their own frustration is twofold, obviously, as they can’t maximize profits with less staff and product.

Your tip, at what should be 20%, is not about the food, it’s about the service. If your server in a winery was outstanding, add in a cash tip even if there isn’t a little line for it on your receipt. (Anytime you can tip in cash it also helps your server.)

If a member of the staff has their nose peeking out of a mask, and this bothers you, dine and drink elsewhere. Same goes for if you feel crowded, or unsafe for any reason.

New Deal Distillery’s Driftwood Libations offer premium ready-to-drink cocktails

December 29, 2021 by evebushman

PORTLAND, ORE. (PRWEB) – After a long day at work, not everyone has the time, patience, or know-how to make a balanced cocktail – but thankfully, New Deal Distillery does. So, let them fix you a drink! New Deal Distillery’s Driftwood Libations line https://newdealdistillery.com/driftwood-libations offers pre-mixed cocktails that only need to be poured, stirred, and garnished – truly bringing bar quality cocktails to your kitchen.

It is no secret that COVID-19 has changed the way that the general population imbibes. The RTD category has exploded in popularity and as consumers’ interest has grown, so has that of beverage producers. This boom led to some truly amazing canned cocktails but there was still something missing from the market. As New Deal’s owner and head distiller Tom Burkleaux explained, “the goal of the Driftwood Libations project was to craft an elevated RTD cocktail, something you might serve up to impress a guest, to celebrate a special occasion, or to truly treat yourself”.

Cue the Driftwood Libations flagship – The Driftwood Manhattan. This cocktail classic is crafted with three-year straight rye whiskey along with house-made vermouth and bitters. All that’s needed is a glass and some ice to enjoy. The success of this ready-to-pour and easy-to-drink cocktail inspired yet another classic, a Brandy Old Fashioned crafted with New Deal distilled Willamette Valley wines. This was soon followed by an Espresso Cocktail that infused house distilled vodka with cacao nibs and Portland-roasted Marigold Coffee, Burkleaux maintaining that “if wide-leg jeans get to come back, so do Espresso Martinis”.

This trio will soon be joined by a Negroni Blanc and Vesper Martini, with more expressions in the works. Looking to buy your friend a round? New Deal Distillery’s Driftwood Libations are now available for shipping to 40+ states: https://shop.newdealdistillery.com/

More about New Deal Distillery:

New Deal Distillery has been making high quality, craft-distilled spirits, inspired by the DIY culture of Portland, Oregon since 2004. All of their artisan spirits are made in small batches with Bull Run water and natural and organic ingredients, sourced locally whenever possible. For more information visit newdealdistillery.com or email info@newdealdistillery.com.

How To Start With Wine

December 3, 2021 by evebushman

The question I’m asked most often is how did I get into wine and spirits? Well, over 20 years ago when I was a community columnist for my local newspaper and the editor of our weekly entertainment section asked what else I could write about. At that time I had been in a few wine clubs, and a book club, so I offered to do book and wine reviews. Pretty quickly I started receiving unsolicited bottles of wine on my doorstep for review, as well as invitations to wine dinners and wine events.
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No one sent me any free books, and the rest, is history.

Photo: Ed Bushman

What I want to share with readers today is how you can get into wine. I will share two simple ideas that should get anyone, aficionado or beginner, further into exploring and understanding wine.

Sensory Class

How are people able to describe aromas and flavors like fruit and spice in their wine? Why do they say things like, “This reminds me of milk chocolate-covered cherries”? No, there aren’t any cherries added into your glass of red wine, only a memory of a particular fruit. Your memory has to be either fresh, or well worked like most sommeliers through practice/a lot of tastings. So how can you do it? Let me tell you.

A few years back I was a guest at J. Lohr in Paso Robles. Besides a tour and tasting our group of wine writers/sommeliers were offered a sensory experience, led by red winemaker Steve Peck, which was meant to help us describe aromas. Peck had several small glasses of different Torani syrups, the same syrups you see in coffee bars, and the identity of each was written on a card, placed upside down in front of each. We were to sniff each syrup and guess what the flavor was, then reveal the card to see how we did. Immediately following this exercise we swirled and sniffed a few wines, and as you may have guessed, were easily able to call up the recent memories.

I emailed Torani after this eye-opening experience and they sent me about a dozen bottles to do my own classes, which I enjoy doing often. I also add glasses with items from my spice cabinet, honey, coffee, flower petals, earth, tree bark, tobacco, chocolate…you name it and I’ve probably put it in a cup. So you don’t have to have the syrups, you just need to take a trip through your house and garden. And then think about the smells.

Learning About One Variety At A Time

Years ago Eve Wine 101 Staff Writer Rusty Sly introduced “Grape of the Night” in one of his blog posts. He invited wine lovers to meet him at a local wine bar, with a bottle of the one variety of wine that he pre-chose. So say one month Rusty suggested a wine like Grenache and people then brought their favorite bottle of Grenache – which of course meant wines from all over, including Spain where the wine is called Garnacha. Then Rusty would read from his notes, about the history of the particular varietal, where it’s most popular and of course, the flavor profile. Guests would sample each – I know this part well as he roped me into serving most often – and describe the aromas and flavors they found. They were literally educating their palate on one variety at a time, and looking for small nuanced differences in each bottle.

Now, what will you do next to delve further into your wine journey?

Twelve5’s Rebel Hard Coffee Debuts Three New Flavors in Winter Wonderland Hard Latte Variety Pack

December 1, 2021 by evebushman

NEENAH, WIS. (PRWEB) – Twelve5’s Rebel Hard Coffee has crafted the perfect first drink for the holidays with the most festive flavors of the season in its limited-edition Winter Wonderland Hard Latte variety pack.

“After last year’s overwhelming response to Peppermint Mocha Hard Latte, we took inspiration from the holidays’ most recognizable and festive flavors to spark innovation for our winter seasonals,” said Michael Sargent, senior brand manager, Twelve5 Rebel Hard Coffee. “Every flavor in the Winter Wonderland Hard Latte variety pack emulates holiday moments from relaxing with a hot cup of cocoa with marshmallows after a cold day of sledding, to the familiar aroma of cinnamon in the kitchen after baking cookies, and of course the classic holiday tradition of eggnog, there is something for everyone.

The easy-to-drink and unique flavors in the Winter Wonderland Hard Latte variety pack include:

Peppermint Mocha Hard Latte: A delicious blend of cool and refreshing peppermint and rich mocha latte for the perfect holiday season drink.
Eggnog Hard Latte: A modern twist on a holiday classic – a sweet, creamy, and festive blend with notes of seasonal spice and rum.
Marshmallow Mocha Hard Latte: An adult version of “hot chocolate with marshmallows,” our cold version is rich in chocolate flavor paired with creamy and light marshmallow notes.
Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Hard Latte: Takes the best treat of the holidays, Grandma’s cinnamon sugar cookies, and combines them with Twelve5’s Rebel’s famous hard coffee latte.

The Winter Wonderland Hard Latte variety pack will be in stores in early November in an 11-ounce slim can variety 8-pack and Peppermint Mocha and Eggnog will be available in 4-packs. These flavorful coffeehouse beverages with a barroom kick are made with 100% Arabica coffee, natural ingredients and are malt-based with a 5% ABV.

In addition to the festive flavored hard latte lineup, Twelve5’s Rebel is launching its “The Perfect First Drink for the Holidays” sweepstakes Nov. 1- Jan. 25, 2022. Consumers can share their favorite coffee-inspired holiday cocktail recipes for a chance to win prizes including a $1000 prepaid gift card toward a holiday shopping spree, $1000 prepaid gift card to throw an epic New Year’s Eve bash and a Big Game Watch Party Package including a $1000 prepaid gift card.

Twelve5’s Winter Wonderland Hard Latte variety pack will be available in over 47 states. To find Twelve5’s Winter Wonderland Hard Latte variety pack or individual flavor 4-packs near you, visit the store locator at rebelhardcoffee.com/find.

Those interested in entering “The Perfect First Drink for the Holidays” sweepstakes can visit http://www.winwithrebel.com. Follow Twelve5’s Rebel Hard Coffee on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for winner announcements, recipes and inspiration.

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About Twelve5 Beverage Company
Twelve5’s Rebel Hard Coffee is produced by Twelve5 Beverage Company, the founders of the hard coffee category. Twelve5 Beverage Company was founded in 2018 with a focus on pioneering innovative products that meet the needs of changing consumer preferences. The launch of Twelve5’s Rebel Hard Coffee in August 2020 marked an opportunity to expand Twelve5 Beverage Company’s products to a new audience. For more information, visit rebelhardcoffee.com.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C. (excluding WV), age 21+. Void where prohibited. Starts at 12:00:01 AM ET on 11/01/21; ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on 01/24/22. Each prize awarded as a $1,000 prepaid card. Total ARV of all prizes: $3,000. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. For full Official Rules and Entry Periods visit http://www.winwithrebel.com. Sponsor: Twelve5 Beverage Company, LLC, 590 Enterprise Dr., Neenah, WI 54956.

Loaded with Holiday Bonuses: “Fesstive Getaway” Package at Fess Parker Wine Country Inn // Los Olivos, CA

November 21, 2021 by evebushman

The famed Fess Parker Wine Country Inn (www.fessparker.com/inns-and-cabins/our-inn), located in Los Olivos, in the heart of Santa Barbara County wine country, is currently offering a special holiday stay / play / shop / dine / drink package, the “Fesstive Getaway” Package – available now through January 2, 2022.

As part of the package, guests will arrive to an in-room bottle of Fesstivity from Fess Parker Winery’s sparkling wine program, plus a $150 dining credit to Nella Kitchen & Bar (www.nellakitchen.com), the onsite restaurant from the team behind Santa Ynez Valley’s esteemed S.Y. Kitchen.

The Fesstive Getaway package is also helpful for those looking to tackle holiday shopping, with exclusive offers and discounts at a handful of local shops and boutiques.

The special package also includes wine tasting for two at Fess Parker Winery and Epiphany, as well as 2-for-1 tastings at ten additional local wineries.

Included Amenities:

Luxury accommodations with gas fireplace
Daily pastries and coffee for two
Wine Tasting for two at Fess Parker Winery and Epiphany
Two-for-one wine tasting at ten other local wineries and tasting rooms
Bottle of Fesstivity chilled upon arrival
$150 Nella Kitchen & Bar dining credit (Nella is open from 12 noon, Thursday through Monday)
Exclusive offers and discounts at:

Olive Hill Farm

Coco-Belle Cabana

Los Olivos General Store

Favour (in the town of Santa Ynez)

Heaven Scent (Santa Ynez)

Wendy Foster (Los Olivos location)

J. Woeste

Wildflower Women Boutique

Package rates are open midweek and weekend, with certain exceptions: Package is closed for arrival on Tuesdays, and Wednesday arrivals have a two-night minimum. Fesstive Getaway Package is also closed for Christmas Day. The Fess Parker Wine Country Inn has a two-night requirement on Saturday stays (can be Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday nights). Midweek rates start at $605++; weekend rates start at $685++.

Fess Parker Wine Country Inn, and Nella Kitchen & Bar, are located at 2860 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos, CA 93441. To reach the Inn directly, please call 805-688-7788. Reservations may also be booked online, at www.fessparker.com/inns-and-cabins/offers.