Eve's Wine 101

TASTE OF THE SANTA YNEZ VALLEY RETURNS SEPT. 28-OCT. 1

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Tickets now on sale for nearly two dozen events, each offering unique, up-close chance to wine and dine with the Santa Ynez Valley’s chefs and winemakers 

(SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, Calif.) — Tickets for Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley, the four-day, six-town celebration of the region’s bounty held each fall, are on sale now, Visit the Santa Ynez Valley announced. Held from Sept. 28-Oct. 1, the four-day, six-town celebration offers an experiential culinary exploration of the region’s food, wine, and more — and the people behind it all. 

Brought together by two of the West’s most respected travel brands—Visit the Santa Ynez Valley and Sunset Magazine—the unique event showcases the best of the region. More than 100 restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, breweries, and distilleries will collaborate for more than a dozen main and ancillary events set in and around the distinct communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley — Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, and Solvang. 

“Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley offers an intimate and immersive view of what makes this region so appealing, in a way that is both memorable and fun,” said Shelby Sim, President/CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley, which is overseeing the event’s production. “Whether you are a local or a visitor, Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley is a can’t-miss opportunity for anyone who wants to savor the region’s wine, food, and experiences.” 

Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley explores specific communities each day, beginning with a day in Los Alamos, the region’s burgeoning haven for foodies, on Thursday, Sept. 28. The celebration ends on Oct. 1, with the best of Solvang. Along the way, attendees are invited to enjoy wine and beer tastings, special communal and chef-driven dinners, vineyard experiences, horseback riding, wine tumbler making, and much more. 

This year’s late-September start for Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley also represents the earliest start for the event, during what many consider to be a favorite time of year in the region for the season’s mild temperatures and the buzz of harvest.

“Early fall’s combination of ideal weather and the excitement of harvest has always brought an alluring energy to the region,” Sim said. “There may be no better way to harness that energy than by celebrating over the four days of Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley.”

This year, 5% of all ticket sales for every Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley event benefits People Helping People, a local nonprofit that is a primary provider of human and social services in the region.

For more information on tickets and a full list of Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley events, dates, and times, visit TasteSYV.com.

About the Santa Ynez Valley:
Barely two hours from Los Angeles and a scenic four-hour drive from San Francisco, the Santa Ynez Valley is home to six distinct towns each with its own culture, vibe, and menu of experiences. Blanketed with fruitful farms and vineyards, the California Central Coast wine region’s temperate weather allows for year-round activities of all sorts, spread throughout the historical communities of Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, and Solvang. Destination dining and world-class wines await, accompanied by lodging at every level, all painted into atmospheric backdrops that colorfully mesh Old World and Old West. Visit more than 100 wineries, feast on chef-driven cuisine, and enjoy festive events and design details from Victorian-era to mid-century to modern Danish. For more information, including a listing of wedding venues, restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, and events, go to VisitSYV.com.

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TASTE OF THE SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

Thursday, Sept. 28

  • Los Alamos Wine Tasting Reception at The Maker’s Son, featuring wines from Los Alamos and the Santa Maria Valley: 4-5:30 p.m.
  • Los Alamos Dinner, served on a communal table on Bell Street and showcasing Full of Life Flatbread, Bell’s, PICO, Plenty, and Bob’s Well Bread Bakery and paired with Los Alamos and Santa Maria Valley wines: 6-8 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 29

  • Vino Vaqueros Horseback Riding: 9-11 a.m.
  • Zipline Tour with Highline Adventures: 9-11 a.m.
  • Vineyard Tour & Tasting with Lumen Wines: 9-11 a.m.
  • Los Olivos Wine Tasting Reception at the Coquelicot Tasting Room Courtyard, featuring wines from Los Olivos, Ballard Canyon, Santa Ynez, and Happy Canyon served with local bites: 4-5:30 p.m.
  • Los Olivos Dinner, served on a communal table at The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern. Featuring cuisine from the kitchens of Mattei’s Tavern, Bar Le Cote, S.Y. Kitchen, Los Olivos Wine Merchant Café, and Enjoy Cupcakes, and paired with wines from Los Olivos and Ballard Canyon: 6-8 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 30

  • Horseback Ride and Classic Cowboy Breakfast at Alisal Ranch: 7:15-11:15 a.m.
  • Haywagon Ride and Classic Cowboy Breakfast at Alisal Ranch: 8:30-10:45 a.m.
  • Guided Hike on the Midland School Trail System, led by Midland students: 9-11 a.m.
  • Zipline Tour with Highline Adventures: 9-11 a.m.
  • Create Your Own “Chato” Wine Tumbler with Community Clayworks: 10 a.m.-noon.
  • Buellton Beer-Focused Tasting at Figueroa Mountain Brewing, featuring Santa Ynez Valley craft beer and Sta. Rita Hills and Buellton wines: Noon-3 p.m.
  • Santa Ynez Tasting Reception and Dinner at The Victor’s Coach House. Sample wines from Santa Ynez and Happy Canyon and cuisine from the kitchens of The Victor and other favorite Santa Ynez restaurants: 5:30-8:30 p.m. 

Sunday, Oct. 1

  • Stolpman Hike with Wine Tasting: 9-11 a.m.
  • Zipline Tour with Highline Adventures: 9-11 a.m.
  • Solvang Food and Wine Tasting at Solvang Park, featuring cuisine from the kitchens of Solvang’s favorite restaurants and paired with Santa Ynez Valley wines, local craft beer, and live music: Noon-3 p.m. 

Taste of Santa Barbara Returns

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SBCE Taste of Santa Barbara 2023 press release

The Santa Barbara Culinary Experience, in partnership with The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, presents a week-long celebration featuring signature events, specials at restaurants and bars, farm tours, pop-ups, panel discussions, and more

Santa Barbara, CA – As the Santa Barbara region continues to gain notoriety as a world-class culinary and cultural destination, the Santa Barbara Culinary Experience, (SBCE) in partnership with The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, is pleased to announce the much-anticipated return of Taste of Santa Barbara, May 15 – 21, 2023. The Taste of Santa Barbara is a county-wide celebration of all things food and drink across Santa Barbara County. Tickets for all events are on sale now and can be purchased online here. The full lineup of events can be found online here. Through the SBCE’s partnership with the Foundation, a portion of the proceeds from the Taste of Santa Barbara is used to make grants to local organizations making a difference in Santa Barbara County’s food system.

After a successful inaugural year in 2022, the Taste of Santa Barbara has established itself as one of the region’s favorite signature food and wine celebrations, featuring a broad array of events and special happenings at restaurants, bars, farms, and wineries, as well as pop-ups, workshops, speaker panels, and more. Signature events include Lights, Camera, Julia, a screening of some of Julia Child’s most iconic television shows; Cherry Bombe x Taste of Santa Barbara, an afternoon of inspiring discussions with local female winemakers, chefs, and producers making Santa Barbara County’s food and drink scene thrive; and the popular Taste of Santa Barbara Wines event featuring wine tastings and conversations with winemakers at the historic El Presidio in downtown Santa Barbara. Many of the region’s restaurants and bars will participate in “Dine Around Town with Julia Child” and “Pub Crawl with Paul” when the public can enjoy tribute dishes or specials, as well as cocktails inspired by Julia and Paul Child’s own recipes. As part of the SBCE and the Foundation’s commitment to education, this year guests can get in the kitchen with Apples to Zucchini Cooking School for a week of hands-on classes with some of Santa Barbara’s culinary stars!

The complete Taste of Santa Barbara Calendar of Events can be found online here.

“The Taste of Santa Barbara is a unique opportunity to explore the diverse culinary offerings of the region, and brings together the best chefs, winemakers, producers, and more to showcase their talents and create an unforgettable experience for all,” shared Donna Yen, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Culinary Experience. “It’s really important to us that the Taste of Santa Barbara is accessible to our entire community, so this year we’ve expanded our programming to offer a variety of events that appeal to all our audiences. We’re also committed to providing an educational platform for important conversations about our region’s food and wine businesses to help deepen connections between the community and these industries. We’re excited about this year’s program, and look forward to welcoming everyone back!”

The Taste of Santa Barbara Signature Events: Friday, May 19

● Lights, Camera, Julia! Enjoy a special screening of some of Julia Child’s most iconic television shows, including classic episodes of The French Chef, Cooking with Master Chefs, and Baking with Julia, at the Ensemble Theatre Company’s The New Vic theater. Hosted by Chef Antonia Lofaso, the evening will feature special guests Chefs Nancy Silverton and Susan Feniger, sharing what it was like to work with Julia Child on and off the screen. (7 p.m. – 9 p.m., at the New Vic Theatre, 33 W Victoria St, Santa Barbara).

Saturday, May 20

● Cherry Bombe x Taste of Santa Barbara – Celebrate the women that make Santa Barbara County’s food and drink scene thrive! Join Cherry Bombe for an afternoon of inspiring discussions with local winemakers, chefs, and producers at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos. Enjoy wine tasting with the county’s leading female winemakers, followed by conversations moderated by Cherry Bombe’s founder and Radio Cherry Bombe host Kerry Diamond. The day will end with networking and delicious bites provided by Mattei’s Tavern’s Executive Chef Rhoda Magbitang. (3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. at Mattei’s Tavern, 2350 Railway Ave, Los Olivos,).

Sunday, May 21

● Taste of Santa Barbara Wines Come discover what makes Santa Barbara County’s wine scene unique. Enjoy tastings from some of Santa Barbara County’s celebrated wineries, restaurants, and food artisans in the Presidio Orchard. Meet and hear directly from growers, chefs, and makers. Head inside the historic El Presidio Chapel for interactive conversations and panel discussions with winemakers throughout the day. (1 pm – 4 pm at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park).

Additional events & ongoing throughout the week: Monday, May 15 – Sunday, May 21

Apples to Zucchini Cooking School Classes Get in the kitchen with Apples to Zucchini Cooking School for a week of hands-on classes with some of Santa Barbara’s culinary stars! (Class dates + times coming soon!)

Tuesday, May 16

● The Farmer & The Cook Experience Santa Barbara County’s entire food system in action, and learn about the relationship between the region’s farms and finest restaurants. Enjoy a four-course dinner at bouchon highlighting Santa Barbara’s farm-to-table wine country cuisine, and a conversation between Executive Chef Nate Van Etten and local Santa Barbara County producers moderated by Todd Schulkin, host of the Inside Julia’s Kitchen podcast on Heritage Radio Network. *Limited tickets will be sold for the following add-on experience: Prior to dinner, join bouchon’s chef for an interactive shopping experience at the Santa Barbara’s Certified Farmers Market. Meet local farmers, as chef buys provisions for the evening’s meal and shares his approach to crafting wine country cuisine. (6 pm – 9 pm, bouchon, 9 W Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101)

Wednesday, May 17

● Sous Chefs’ Night Out Tonight the sous chefs take the lead! Enjoy a 5-course dinner featuring some of Santa Barbara’s rising culinary talent. Each course will be paired with Margerum Wine Company and Barden wines. (6 pm – 9 pm, Margerum Tasting Room, 19 E. Mason St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101)

Thursday, May 18

● Celebrate Alex Prud’homme’s new book, Dinner with the President Enjoy reverse martinis, local wines, and presidential bites at Field + Fort as we toast Julia’s great-nephew Alex Prud’homme’s new book, Dinner with the President.

Friday, May 19

● Pastries with Phila: Remembrances of Julia Child in Santa Barbara Join Julia Child’s niece, Phila Cousins, for fresh baked Bree’Osh pastries and a stroll down memory lane about her time with “Aunt Ju-Ju ” in Santa Barbara, hosted by author, editor, and co-producer of the Inside Julia’s Kitchen podcast, Lauren Salkeld. (10 am – 11 am, Bree’Osh Bakery Café, 2700 De La Vina St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105)

Saturday, May 20

● Saturday Farmers Market Program at the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market, featuring a live taping of Heritage Radio Network’s Inside Julia’s Kitchen podcast with local farmers, in partnership with Edible Santa Barbara. ( 9 am – 12 pm at the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market on the corner of Cota and Santa Barbara streets).

● Taste of Santa Barbara Wine Tours Visit local vineyards and wine tasting rooms and experience the wine-making process first-hand! Learn directly from the vintners as you tour the grounds and cellars of working vineyards and wineries before enjoying a wine tasting. These tours are one-of-a-kind and created especially for the Taste of Santa Barbara. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with the winemakers of Santa Barbara County!

Sunday, May 21

● Taste of Santa Barbara Farm Tours Visit local producers and land stewards to see first-hand what Santa Barbara County produces. These tours are one-of-a-kind and created especially for the Taste of Santa Barbara. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with the local landscape and the people who nurture it.

The Taste of Santa Barbara is made possible by the generous support of its 2023 sponsors: Visit Santa Barbara, PBS Distribution, Montecito Bank & Trust, Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture, Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, Chumash Foundation, bouchon, Margerum Wine Company, Acme Hospitality, Apples to Zucchini Cooking School, Ensemble Theatre Company at the New Vic Theatre, Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, Cherry Bombe, Edible Santa Barbara, and WA Event Management. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, for more information please click here or email Donna Yen, donna@sbce.events.

Masters of Taste Returns Uniting L.A.’s Top Tastemakers Together to Sip, Savor & Celebrate On The Field of the Rose Bowl Stadium Sunday, April 2nd, 2023! (Update: use promo code EVESWINE FOR $10 OFF!)

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Los Angeles, CA –  Come celebrate and be part of the sixth annual Masters of Taste, as L.A.’s premier outdoor, luxury food and beverage festival returns and will be taking place on Sunday, April 2nd, 2023, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm on the field of the Iconic Pasadena Rose Bowl. 100% of the proceeds will directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a non-profit organization celebrating 50 years of providing homeless services and housing for thousands of neighbors.

Masters of Taste is introducing Chef Michael Reed and Kwini Reed as Hosts of Masters of Taste 2023 which also marks the 6th Anniversary of this celebrated event. Masters of Taste 2023 Culinary Master and Host Chef Michael Reed is a classically trained chef and restaurateur, who has spent 19 years as a chef for restaurants across New York and Los Angeles. Today, Chef Reed is the co-owner and Executive Chef behind two Los Angeles restaurants, Poppy + Rose of Downtown Los Angeles, and Anaheim’s Poppy & Seed. In addition to the two concepts, Chef Reed and his wife and co-owner, Kiini Reed also run an upscale catering company, Root of All Food. 

Born and raised in Oxnard, California, Chef Michael Reed comes from a family with a passion for food. Thanks to his parents, Michael grew up around the barbeque and the smell of fresh, home-made pies. His family cooked every day, pulling ingredients straight from the garden which went on to inspire Michael’s passion for food and hospitality. After starting down a collegiate path that was separated from the food industry at University of Santa Barbara, a track injury prompted Michael’s decision to make a change. Months later, Michael was enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America in New York. While in culinary school, Michael Reed cooked at The Modern, the acclaimed restaurant at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan. After graduating in 2008, Reed returned to Southern California and worked at David Myer’s Michelin-star rated Sona, as well Xiomara per a recommendation from Nancy Silverton at the age of 26. In 2011, Chef Reed and Kwini Reed jointly created high-end catering company, Root of All Food which specializes in high-end boutique catering, in-home cooking and events, and catering to Southern California. Some of Root to All Food’s previous clients have included Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale, The W Hotel, and Sugar Ray Leonard. During the summer of 2014, Reed opened DTLA brunch darling, Poppy + Rose, a restaurant that specializes in classic American diner-fare made from scratch with a seasonal menu. He owns the restaurant alongside his wife, Kwini Reed. In 2021, Poppy & Seed opened, branching more upscale service and cuisine in a modern greenhouse setting. Located in the Anaheim Packing District, Poppy & Seed totes a menu of refined American fare.

Host Kwini Reed is a Southern California native, wife, mother, and entrepreneur. She is the co-owner of brunch restaurant, Poppy + Rose in Downtown, Los Angeles, Anaheim dining destination, Poppy & Seed, and upscale catering company, Root of All Foods with husband and chef of these concepts, Michael Reed. Kwini Reed comes from a large family that values community, generosity, and a strong work ethic – traits that have helped her succeed in her career and personal endeavors. A graduate of California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, she now has over a decade of experience in business, finance, and human resource management, having worked at companies throughout LA, including The Standard Hotel, Band of Gypsies, and Brandy Melville USA. In her current day-to-day, she oversees operations of Poppy + Rose, Poppy & Seed, and Root of All Food managing finances, strategizing new concepts for the restaurant, spearheading collaborations, and more. She and Michael Reed have received numerous accolades for these concepts, including Orange Coast Magazine’s “Best New Restaurant” (Poppy & Seed); and CBS Los Angeles’ “Best All-Day Breakfast Restaurants in LA” (Poppy + Rose) – among others. She pioneers Poppy + Rose and Poppy & Seed’s giving back initiatives as well, coordinating meal donations to organizations across LA, supporting first responders, social justice causes, youth development programs, and more. She is active with local nonprofits, such as Brown Bag Lady, which provides meals to people experiencing homelessness in LA. In addition, she participated in the James Beard Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (WEL) program in 2021, which is focused on empowering women food industry entrepreneurs and restaurant owners and is a member of Re:Her a non-profit with a mission to empower and advance all women identifying food and drink entrepreneurs by way of innovative platforms. In October 2022, Kwini Reed participated in the LA Chef Conference as a co-moderator of a panel on the future of restaurants and in 2023, Kwini and Michael Reed will open Poppy + Rose in San Pedro, offering casual brunch and a refined dinner menu.

Masters of Taste 2022 was a sold-out event that attracted over 3,000 guests and garnered media attention all throughout Southern California and beyond. The sixth annual Masters of Taste 2023 is also expected to 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 top cocktail bars, a premier 50-Yard-Line Cocktail Bar, select wineries, local craft breweries, cold-pressed juices, cold brew coffee, live entertainment and much, much more. 

Some of this year’s Masters of Taste 2023 participating Culinary Masters and Restaurants include:

Poppy + Rose and Poppy & Seed 2023 Hosts Chef Michael Reed & Kwini Reed – Downtown Los Angeles, Anaheim

Angelenos’ Wood Fired Pizza Chef Carmen Samaniego – Los Angeles

Arth Bar + Kitchen Chef Mihir Lad – Culver City

Ayara Thai Chef Vanda Asapahu – Westchester

1212 Santa Monica Chef Luca Maita – Santa Monica

Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery Chef Thomas Kalb – Pasadena

Alexander’s Steakhouse Chef Richard Archuleta – Pasadena

Casa Cordoba Chef Rebelino Villalta – Montrose

Celestino Ristorante Chef Calogero Drago – Pasadena

Champion’s CURRY Chef Yoya Takahashi – Downtown Los Angeles

Chili John’s Chef Stephen Hager – Burbank

City Club Los Angeles Chef Victor Munoz – Downtown Los Angeles

Fat Boys Chef Michael Gray – Pasadena, Los Angeles

Gabi James Sarah Gabriele & Adam Aro – Redondo Beach

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

Great Maple Chef Scott Floyd – Pasadena, Anaheim, Newport Beach, San Diego

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

Hank’s Chef Isaias Peña – Pacific Palisades

Interstellar Chef Angie Kim – Santa Monica

La Bohéme Chef Atsushi Kenjo – West Hollywood

Lunasia Chef Lee Han Fu – Pasadena, Alhambra, Cerritos

Marlou Chef Louis Huh & Chef Marcos Spaziani – Downtown Los Angeles, Koreatown

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

Per L’Ora Chef Courtney Van Dyke – Downtown Los Angeles

Pez Cantina Chef Bret Thompson – Downtown Los Angeles

Ramen Tatsunoya Chef Ryuta Kajiwara – Pasadena, Silver Lake

Santuari Restaurant Chef Seth Greenburg – Toluca Lake

Smoke City Char Bar Chef George Huynh – Downtown Los Angeles

Soulmate Chef David Joyce – West Hollywood

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

The Green Room Chef Czarina Sico – Burbank

The Peppered Goat Chef JohnPaul Arabome – Van Nuys, Las Vegas

VCHOS Wendy Centeno – Los Angeles

West Side Bahn Mi/Street Kitchen Chef Jack Ourfalian – Los Angeles

World Empanadas Chef Matthew Hirtz – Burbank

Yardbird Chef Eduardo Osorio – Los Angeles

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

Sweet Masters: A select group of Los Angeles Top Sweet Masters will showcase an assortment of delectable desserts such as Bertha Mae’s Brownies, handcrafted pudding from Better Together Sweets, Creamy Boys Ice Cream, plain funnel cake from Drizzle, custom cakes and desserts from Butter Cake Shoppe, French macarons and gourmet cookies from Etoile Filante Patisserie, I Like Pie Bakeshop, Läderach Chocolatier Suisse, deliciously scrumptious scratch baked custom cakes and cupcakes from Lark Cake Shop and Nothing Bundt Cakes, Nomad Ice Pops, Pazzo Gelato, Porto’s Bakery & Café, and more.

Some of this year’s participating Beverage Masters include:

Bars & Spirits: Some of L.A.’s top bartenders and cocktail bars will be creating first-rate craft cocktails and top brands showcasing their finest spirits at Masters of Taste will include Amaro Angeleno, Beam Suntory, Dulce Vida Tequila, Empress 1908 Gin, Knox & Dobson, Krafted Spirits, Maker’s Mark, Maple Block Liquor Bar, Mario’s Hard Espresso, Mezcal 33, Mi Piace, Neft Vodka, Nosotros Tequila & Mezcal, Qué Padre, Raicilla La Reina, Smoke Lab Vodka, Tequila Juegos Mexicanos, The Raymond 1886, Xoloitzcuintle Tequila, and  Woodford Reserve.

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 All Season Brewing, Arrow Lodge Brewing, Arts District Brewing Company, Pasadena’s Cerveceria Del Pueblo, Downtown’s Homebound Brew Haus, Juneshine, Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Beer, LFG Seltzer, MacLeod Ale Brewing Co., Arcadia’s first Microbrewery Mt. Lowe Brewing Co.,Native Son LA, Over Town Brewing Co., San Fernando Brewing Co., andTarantula Hill Brewing Co.

Wineries and Sake: A specially curated collection of Wine and Sake Masters will be showcasing their finest varietals including Akagisan Sake, premium boutique winery Ascension Cellars, Bodegas de Santo Tomas, CRŪ Winery, Golden Star Vineyards, Hitching Post Wines, I Love Wine Collections, Moraga Bel Air Vineyards, Anderson Valley’s Navarro Vineyards, Sake High!, Tercero Wines, Veso Aperitifs, Vincola Casta de Vinos, Warson Wine Company, 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 with All Phenoms, Yerba Mate from Erva Brew Co., Humm Kombucha, fresh juices from Summit Juice Co., and boba milk tea from Sunright Tea Studio and Bearology, and more.

100% of the proceeds from Masters of Taste 2023 will directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is celebrating its 50th anniversary of bringing neighbors home. Committed to providing permanent solutions to end homelessness and rebuild lives, Union Station works with unsheltered and very low-income adults and families across the San Gabriel Valley. Recently expanding  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 spanning from Pasadena to Pomona. 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 five years Masters of Taste has raised over $2.7 Million in support of Union Station Homeless Services life-saving programs.

Masters of Taste 2023 is a 100% outdoor event. Additionally, all guests will be receiving their very own utensils and hand sanitizer to use throughout the event.

Mark your calendars and see you at the sixth annual Masters of Taste 2023!

Ticket Information: Masters of Taste 2023 will take place on Sunday, April 2nd, 2023, and this is a 21+ event. 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. For more information on Masters of Taste 2023, please visit www.MastersofTasteLA.com.

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.

Follow Masters of Taste for the latest updates:

Facebook:   @MastersofTaste

Instagram:  @mastersoftaste

Sip, Savor and Celebrate The Annual AbilityFirst Food And Wine Festival Set For Sunday, June 5th

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Pasadena, CA – Come celebrate the AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival presented by CHUBB, a spectacular outdoor gourmet food and drink in-person festival taking place on Sunday, June 5th, 2022 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the stunning gardens at the Historic Laurabelle A. Robinson House in Pasadena!

Photo Credit:  Courtesy of the AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival

This year’s AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival will bring nearly 400 guests together for one exquisite evening featuring more than 20 top restaurants, cocktail bars, wineries, and breweries and much more.

Some of this year’s AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival Restaurants and Desserts include Alexander’s Steakhouse, El Cholo Café, Gale’s Restaurant, Mi Piace, Porto’s Bakery, Ruth Chris Steak House, Tam O’Shanter, We Olive, Lark Cake Shop, Poppy Cake Bakery Company, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and more.

Beverages featured include Cocktails and Spirit Tastings from 1886 at The Raymond, Dulce Vida Tequila, Krafted Spirits, JuneShine, and Golden Road Brewing, along with specially curated Wines. Pasadena’s very own Cerveceria Del Pueblo will also be pouring their distinctive beers showcasing flavors and aromas from South America, and Califia Farms and PepsiCo will be serving non-alcoholic beverages.

Proceeds from this year’s AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival presented by CHUBB will directly benefitAbilityFirst which has targeted programming to help an individual successfully transition from childhood to adult life; providing employment preparation, training, and experience; building social connections and independence; and offering both their participants and their caregivers an opportunity to refresh and recharge through their recreational activities. AbilityFirst’s person-centered programs empower individuals to discover what is important to them in their lives, and to develop the skills that are important for them to achieve their goals.

Sponsors: Additional sponsors include, Bank of America, GHJ & Advisors, The Hartford, Longo Toyota-Longo Lexus among others.

Ticket Information: The AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival will take place on Sunday, June 5th, 2022, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Historic Laurabelle A. Robinson House. For more information and to purchase Tickets directly to this year’s AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival, please visit Tickets to AbilityFirst Festival of Fall 2022.

AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival

Historic Laurabelle A. Robinson House

195 South Grand Avenue

Pasadena, CA  91105

www.AbilityFirst.org

Festival Napa Valley Announces 16th Summer Season, July 15-24, 2022

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10 Best Days of Summer to feature Trisha Yearwood, Joshua Bell, Larisa Martínez, the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, Tessa Lark, the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, a “Tchaikovsky to Rolling Stones”   dance gala, Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore”, and more

Festival Napa Valley welcomes audiences to its summer 2022 season, July 15-24, with a wide spectrum of programs from symphonic concerts, opera, dance, and the visual arts, to chamber music, jazz, wine tastings, and concerts for families with young children.

“The performances at Festival Napa Valley this summer illuminate the importance of the arts in today’s world,” said Festival President & CEO Richard Walker. “Our mission is more vital than ever.”

“We are dedicating the 2022 season to the sounds of America. From Copland and Bernstein to jazz, swing, Broadway, bluegrass and country, this is the music that celebrates our common heritage,” added Robin Baggett, Chairman of the Festival’s Board of Directors.

Furthering the Festival’s commitment to making the arts accessible to all, admission to daytime concerts is free, including the daily Festival Live! series at CIA at COPIA, the popular Bouchaine Young Artist Series, and the family-friendly Novack Concerts for Kids.

This summer marks the fifth year of the Blackburn Music Academy, the Festival’s immersive summer conservatory for emerging professional instrumentalists, and the second year of the Manetti Shrem Opera Program, a comprehensive celebration of the vocal arts including a summer conservatory providing advanced study and performance opportunities to rising opera singers. It is also the second year of a partnership with the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, with Frost faculty and students playing a lead role in the Festival’s academy, symphonic, and chamber music programs.

This summer Festival Napa Valley inaugurates its newest award, the Maria Manetti Shrem Daniel Brewbaker Prize, awarded annually to a composer whose works will be performed as part of the summer season. The 2022 Prize is awarded posthumously to Daniel Brewbaker, the noted American composer who passed away in 2017.

FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY 2022 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

– Opening Night at Charles Krug with conductor Carlo Ponti leading Festival Orchestra Napa in Dvorak’s New World Symphony and Daniel Brewbaker’s Cello Concerto with soloist Sophia Bacelar

– Three-time Grammy Award-winning superstar Trisha Yearwood headlines the Arts for All Gala at Nickel & Nickel benefiting arts education and the Festival’s community programs

– Taste of Napa, Festival Napa Valley’s signature celebration of food, wine and music, returns to The Meritage Resort and Spa with  more than 70 participating wineries,  craft breweries and food purveyors

– The world premiere of Polaris: A Juneteenth Anthem by prizewinning composer Nia Imani Franklin, with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City led by Francisco J. Núñez in a concert that also features soprano Mikayla Sager, tenor Mario Chang, baritone Lester Lynch, and Gordon Getty’s Young America

– Violinist Tessa Lark, recipient of the Festival’s 2022 Khaledi Prize for Innovation and Excellence in Classical Music, and soprano Alexandra Armantrading in a program at Mont La Salle Chapel that includes the premiere of three art songs by Jake Heggie, Jack Perla, and Luna Pearl Woolf set to poetry by Lisa Delan

– Tchaikovsky in America, commemorating Tchaikovsky’s 1891 visit to the US for the opening of Carnegie Hall, with conductor Constantine Orbelian leading Festival Orchestra Napa and violinist Tessa Lark

– 2022 Joel Revzen Conducting Fellow Michelle Di Russo leading Festival Orchestra Napa in Ansel Adams: America by Chris and Dave Brubeck, followed by a performance by the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, in an Olivia Decker Power of Music Series concert

– The 2022 Manetti Shrem Opera: Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore directed by Jean-Romain Vesperini with Gemma New conducting Festival Orchestra Napa, sopranos Andriana Chuchman and Mikayla Sager, and tenor Mario Chang, with participants from the Manetti Shrem Summer Vocal Conservatory

– A Night at the Ballet: From Tchaikovsky to The Rolling Stones dance gala

– Voice and the Violin, featuring violinist Joshua Bell and soprano Larisa Martínez in a program of masterworks arranged for voice, violin, and orchestra

– Amaryn Olmeda (violin), Jordan Bak (viola) and Tabea Debus (recorder) star in the 2022 Bouchaine Young Artist Series

– Michelle Di Russo conducts Festival Orchestra Napa in Copland’s Rodeo¸ Brewbaker’s Blue Fire, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade to close out the 2022 summer season

Festival Napa Valley 2022 Venues and Event Hosts include Alpha Omega, Bardessono, Beringer Vineyards, Cardinale, Castello di Amorosa, Charles Krug, The CIA at Copia, Far Niente, Frank Family Vineyards, Four Seasons Resort & Residences Napa Valley, HALL Napa Valley, Harbison Estate, Hess Persson Estates, Mont La Salle Chapel, Napa Valley College, Nickel & Nickel, Quintessa, Stull Residence, Tamber Bey Vineyards, The Meritage Resort and Spa, Trinchero Napa Valley, and Wheeler Farms, with additional venues to be announced.

Performances are held outdoors on the Festival Napa Valley Stage at Charles Krug in St. Helena, the Jackson Family Wines Amphitheater at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa, and at wineries, estates and other venues throughout Napa Valley. Concert tickets are priced from free to $35. A limited number of Patron Passes are available providing access to special events including Vintner’s Luncheons, Patron Dinners, and the Arts for All Gala. Passes for Taste of Napa are available for $150, and $295 for the Reserve Lounge. To view the full schedule and purchase tickets and passes, visit FestivalNapaValley.org.

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!

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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 5th 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 3rd, 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.

Eve Reviews: MADE IN CALIFORNIA, The California-Born Burger Joints, Diners, Fast Food and Restaurants that Changed America

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So excited when George Geary’s book, MADE IN CALIFORNIA: The California-Born Burger Joints, Diners, Fast Food and Restaurants that Changed America arrived in the mail! Why? Because back in 2016 I really enjoyed reading and reviewing his book, L.A.’s Legendary Restaurants, and knew I would learn some amazing history while being treated to archival photographs and restaurant secrets from this new volume!

An even more special treat, the new book came signed by the author! After the signed page I read the dedication on the next, “To my father George L. Geary, who taught me at the age of six to eat a Foster’s Freeze chocolate-dipped cone without messing my shirt.” Ah, don’t think I learned that one!

Now, let’s get into the book! This time I traveled down “Memory Lane” with inside glimpses of:

–   See’s Candies: Learned that besides the free samples, they had been one of the first to start international delivery, and while in California where the brand began, one man took it upon himself to do deliveries too – via his motorcycle and in a chauffeur’s uniform. And yes, the famous chocolate shop Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance learned how to make chocolate at, for the infamous scene in an episode of I Love Lucy, was a See’s shop.

 –    Clifton’s Cafeteria: Before my single mom took us there for the “Turkey Dinner” during Thanksgiving it served many people during the depression for free, had a “pay what you can afford” plan and opened up a “Penny Cafeteria” as well. Later, during the 1940’s they set up a restaurant training school, and after 13 weeks found jobs for their students.

–    Foster’s Freeze: The Hawthorne shop location was near where the Beach Boys lived and their song, “Fun, Fun, Fun” pays homage to them with the line, “She cruised through the hamburger stand now.” And I learned that nowadays there are 163 El Pollo Loco restaurants also offering their soft serve.

–    Love’s Wood Pit Barbeque: No idea this old favorite haunt of mine on Ventura Blvd. had won a Gold Medal for their BBQ in the California State Fair, the BBQ beans recipe is still a secret held by the Love family, and that all of the locations have closed. If you want a taste of Love’s, Geary reports, try the internet.

–    El Torito: Did you know that the name means Little Bull? I didn’t! The restaurant is credited for making the frozen Margarita popular, and buying more tequila to make them than any other restaurant – something else I didn’t know. Many stars visited the location in Toluca Lake, including John Wayne, Gregory Peck and Lana Turner. Glen Bell, of Taco Bell fame, was known to have watched over El Torito as he was planning his own large venture into Mexican dining. Mexican immigrants, counting for most of their staff, train for nine days before hitting the floor and were offered college courses – paid for by restaurant owner Larry Cano – to further their restaurant careers.

–    Pup N’ Taco: One of the first fast food joints to offer diet sodas, grape and cherry slushes that were my favorite, along with prices a kid could afford for an afternoon snack in the 1970’s: my favorites, the Chili Dog and Taco, were .29 each! But by 1986 all but three of the locations were bought by Pepsi Co. and had been transformed into Taco Bells. And my favorites were off the menu.

– There are so many more California restaurants in the book that will take you on your own trip down Memory Lane, but I give you no more teasers! Get any more information that you may need below and get your own tasty copy!

Details From the Publisher
“George Geary’s Made in California takes you on a delightful journey down memory lane. It’s a must-read guide for anyone who loves history, food, and California’s culture of innovation. Fortunately, you can still visit many of these iconic locations, so plan your road trip now!”

— LINDA DISHMAN, president and CEO, Los Angeles Conservancy

Made in California Takes Readers on a Delightful Journey of the Restaurants and Diners That Became American Icons

Los Angeles, CA — A&W Root Beer. Foster’s Freeze. IHOP. Der Wienerschnitzel. See’s Candy. Jack in the Box. You name the American food icon, and chances are its roots are in California. But what are their origin stories? Who started the very first branch? Where were the original buildings? What made them famous? And for the few that are no longer around, or that have a smaller footprint than they had in their glory days, what happened to them?

Food historian and chef George Geary answers these questions and more as he takes readers on a sentimental journey of some of America’s most iconic foods in his new book, Made in California: The Burger Joints, Diners, Fast Food & Restaurants that Changed America.

Geary tells the remarkable stories of the early 20th-century food startups that captured America’s hearts and stomachs, from Bob’s Big Boy to McDonald’s, Winchell’s Donuts to In-N-Out, Peet’s Coffee to Taco Bell. Filled with over 200 historic and contemporary photos, Geary succinctly captures the stories of these essential businesses and structures before they are gone forever.

“In my earlier years as a food writer and professional, I would never have admitted to anyone that I actually eat at these establishments,” Geary says. “But after seeing Julia Child eat McDonald’s French fries in person and say that they were her favorite, and after hearing Anthony Bourdain claim that In-N-Out Burger was the best burger around, I knew that I, too, could come out of my kitchen and into the drive-thru. Now I get to celebrate these places in this book.”

Made in California covers such iconic food establishments such as:
–    Shakey’s Pizza Parlor
–    The Brown Derby
–    The International House of Pancakes (IHOP)
–    See’s Candies
–    Orange Julius
–    Marie Callender Pie Shop (Marie Callender’s)
–    The Blimp (Carl’s Jr.)
–    Hamburger Hamlet
–    Burt’s/Snowbird Ice Cream (Baskin-Robbins)
–    Van de Kamp’s Holland Dutch Bakery (Van de Kamp’s)
–    And many, many more

“In Made in California, George cranks back the time machine to reveal the local origins of foods known around the world, like the McDonald’s cheeseburger or the all-night menu at Denny’s, as well as classics like the Double Cream Lemon Pie at Marie Callender’s, which have remained only-in-California favorites. We find out how the International House of Pancakes went from one modest coffee shop in Burbank to serving up flapjacks from Guatemala to Kuwait.” Chris Nichols, senior editor at Los Angeles magazine.

 “This delicious book serves up more than a feast of information—it’s food for the soul of anyone who is hungry for the back stories and glories of California’s classic cuisine, iconic kitchens, famous flavors, and tastiest landmarks.” Charles Phoenix, author of Addicted to Americana and Holiday Jubilee.

Forward by Chris Nichols, senior editor at Los Angeles magazine
Prospect Park Books/An Imprint of Turner Publishing
August 2021/Hardcover/$40.00
ISBN: 978-1-945551-91-8 / Ebook ISBN: 9781945551925

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
George Geary is an award-winning chef, best-selling author, and renowned educator. A former pastry chef for the Walt Disney Company, George is a Certified Culinary Professional, and was awarded as the Culinary Educator of the Year by the International Association of Culinary Professionals. He is perhaps best known for creating all the cheesecakes for The Golden Girls and other top-rated television programs.

George served as a casting judge for ABC’s The Taste with Anthony Bourdain, The American Baking Competition with Jeff Foxworthy, Hell’s Kitchen, Supermarket Superstar, and many other popular television food shows.

For over thirty years, Geary has been a culinary contest judge for such major food manufacturers as Canola Producers, Veg-All, Hormel Foods, the Hershey Company, Knott’s Berry Farm Foods, Ghirardelli Chocolate, Fleischmann’s Yeast, the San Diego Union Tribune, ABC News, and many more. From 1982 to 2010, George was the culinary coordinator of the Los Angeles County Fair. He was also a popular guest chef on board the Holland America Line’s ships, sailing to over 118 countries and every continent.

George is the author of L.A.’s Legendary Restaurants, Fair Foods: The Most Popular and Offbeat Recipes from America’s State & County Fairs, as well as eleven cookbooks including The Cheesecake Bible, The Complete Baking Cookbook, and 500 Best Sauces, Salad Dressings, Marinades & More.  He is a frequent guest on national and local television and lives in the Greater Los Angeles area. For more information visit his website, www.GeorgeGeary.com.

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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.

Las Vegas Food + Wine Festival Is Here for Its 12th Season to Feature The World’s Extraordinary Chefs

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LAS VEGAS/PRNewswire/ — The who’s who of culinary talent will converge at the 12th Annual Las Vegas Food & Wine Festival. Celebrity Chefs from over the world take part at this annual event from the Las Vegas strip to Downtown Las Vegas and Summerlin.

The event will be headlined by James Beard Foundation Award winning chefs including the likes of Chef Katsuya Uechi, Chef Todd English, Chef Francois Payard, just to name a few.

Some of these talented individuals will showcase their skills by bringing you deeper in the world of creations within the live culinary demonstrations.

Who is ready for spectacular desserts? There will be a plentiful number of mouthwatering treats you will getting seconds of as well as making your fellow foodies jealous. The desserts are almost too pretty to eat, but you won’t be able to resist so be sure to dig in.

Tickets are now on sale and range from $100-$150. Tickets include a special tasting of world-class wines, beers, spirits, and delicious food. Individuals interested in attending are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets as soon as possible due to popular demand.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit VegasFoodAndWine.com.

Social Media
Instagram: @VegasFoodWine
Facebook: VegasFoodAndWine
Twitter:  @VegasFoodWine

About Tivoli Village
From dancing in the streets to yoga on the Piazza, old-world elegance blends seamlessly with today’s active lifestyle at Tivoli Village. Anchored by Restoration Hardware’s RH Las Vegas, The Gallery at Tivoli Village, the outdoor center is complemented by a curated collection of retailers ranging from luxury brands to one-of-a-kind boutiques. Enticing restaurants range from local favorite, Echo & Rig Butcher and Steakhouse, to national standout, Brio Tuscan Grille, while David Barton Gym and Dance With Me serve as upscale experiential destinations beyond traditional retail and dining options.

Located in one of the most affluent sections of Southern Nevada, Tivoli Village is 15 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, conveniently situated near the Summerlin Parkway. The center proudly boasts 370,000 square feet of retail and restaurants and 300,000 square feet of Class A office space.

Complimentary valet and covered parking are provided. Restaurant and store hours vary. For more information on events at Tivoli Village visit www.tivolivillagelv.com follow Tivoli Village on Instagram and Twitter, or like Tivoli Village on Facebook. Get social with Tivoli Village by following them on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TivoliVillageLV.

2021 Nightclub & Bar Show Celebrates Its Return With Food Festival Welcome Party, June 29

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Las Vegas – Celebrating their highly anticipated return as the nation’s most influential gathering of bar and restaurant tastemakers, the 2021 Nightclub & Bar Show invites all attendees, sponsors, speakers and press alike to revel in the Food Festival Welcome Party on Tuesday, June 29, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

“We are ecstatic to finally celebrate this incredible industry in-person at the Food Festival Welcome Party during the 2021 Nightclub & Bar Show,” said Tim McLucas, Bar & Restaurant Group Vice President. “It is our utmost priority to provide guests with exciting, unique and exclusive industry opportunities, and we’re confident that this welcome party will deliver just that plus a couple of surprises.”

Hosted on the Expo Floor, near NxT, guests can savor delicious menu items from a variety food trucks and vendors. Offering more than just delectable beverages and bites, the exclusive welcome party offers attendees networking opportunities with top industry influencers, exciting live entertainment, The Drumbots performance (Official Drum Line to the NHL Vegas Golden Knights), and never-before-seen industry trends waiting to be discovered.

The Food Festival Welcome Party is free and open to all attendees at the 2021 Nightclub & Bar Show. Additional tickets can be purchased via online registration. Sponsors include Truly Hard Seltzer, Heineken, White Claw, PathSpot, Chaco Flaco, MixitFresh, Booze Cream, Silver Hawk Vineyards, and Think Twice.

To learn more about registration or other programs and activation at the 2021 Nightclub & Bar Show June 28 – 30, 2021, visit www.ncbshow.com. Nightclub & Bar Show is a trade event and not open to the general public.

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About Nightclub & Bar Show

Nightclub & Bar Show is the go-to resource for the bar and restaurant industry. Mirroring the fast-paced, trend-setting nature of the hospitality industry, Nightclub & Bar has been providing the specific tools that bar and restaurant owners, operators and managers need to grow their businesses, compete, and succeed in this hyper-competitive and dynamic industry. Nightclub & Bar Show is part of the Bar & Restaurant Group, a division of the Questex Hospitality Group which also produces VIBE Conference, World Tea Conference & Expo, and daily content on barandrestaurant.com.

About Questex

Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: travel, hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. We live in the experience economy – connecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here.

Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group Offers Reinvented Live Events

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Trumbull, CT – Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group, trade show producers of several leading restaurant and foodservice industry events, is thrilled to announce that the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo and Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show will both be taking place as scheduled in August and September 2021, respectively. Free registration will be made available to qualified foodservice professionals. Registration for both events will open in June.
“While the restaurant and hospitality industry has been hit hard by the global pandemic, we are thrilled to see the light at the end of the tunnel and make plans to bring the industry together in both Anaheim and Orlando,” said Tom Loughran, Vice President for the Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group. “As a way for us to support the industry we are picking up the check and offering free registration to all qualified foodservice professionals who will have access to our new education program offering five Summits as well as to the trade show floor which will showcase industry vendors and aisles of new products and services.”
Based on attendee and market feedback, the five new Educational Summits will feature content focused specifically on the needs of: Independent Restaurateurs, Small to Mid-Sized Chains, Retail, Contract Foodservice, and Technology at each of the events. Each of the Summits will focus on similar topics, geared toward the particular segment they represent. Some themes include social media and marketing, human resources, leasing and development, financing and accounting, operations, and technology.  For more information, visit www.westernfoodexpo.com/education-tracks.
Additionally, there will be COVID-specific focused sessions to show what opportunities there are for rebirth and growth that can come from such a challenging time. These sessions will focus on Re-evaluating Leasing and Negotiating Contracts, Post-COVID Opportunities and Franchising and Growth Strategies. The events will also offer operator-focused education providing peer learning from those operating restaurants daily. Attendees will also hear from industry-thought leaders and consultants who can provide firsthand knowledge and insight.
The trade shows will also feature many of the special events attendees have come to expect including Center Stage Culinary Demonstrations, the Torch and Beacon Award Presentations, as well as panels of industry thought-leaders and C-Suite executives. Rapid Fire and Hip Sip Competitions with local chefs and bartenders and Beverage Focused panel with members of the ‘Bar Rescue’ Team are also being planned. For information on participating in these events, contact Lauren Selman, Conference Manager at lauren.selman@ifbta.org.
The live trade shows and education programming will take place at the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo, August 22-24, 2021 at the Anaheim Convention Center, CA; and The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show  taking place September 19-20, 2021 at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL.
Clarion Events (https://clarionevents.com/) produces 37 events across 13 sectors of both trade and consumer events. The Food & Beverage Group includes the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York, The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo, the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show, Healthy Food Expo, CoffeeFest and The NGA Show. Clarion Events, backed by The Blackstone Group, has become one of the fastest growing event companies in the U.S. with aggressive growth through both acquisition and launch. Clarion 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.