Ten cocktail and wine trends in the US unveiled by Southern Glazer’s

November 7, 2022 by evebushman

MIAMI and DALLAS —Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer’s) — the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol — has unveiled the results of its 2022 Liquid Insights Tour, a coast-to-coast educational initiative designed to explore and identify the latest trends in cocktails and wine. The Liquid Insights Tour kicked off in Houston in February, and included stops in Kansas City, New York, Las Vegas, Chicago and Los Angeles. Over the course of 111 days, Brian Masilionis, Director, On-Premise Commercial Strategy & National Accounts for Southern Glazer’s, led a team of its industry-leading mixologists to sample more than 400 drinks in 83 of the hottest restaurants, bars and hotels, compiling their insights to discover emerging cocktail and wine trends across the U.S.

Analyzing industry data and gathering insights within the beverage industry has long been a practice of Southern Glazer’s, where it is used for internal education and training of the company’s sales force and its accounts. Now, through the Liquid Insights Tour, Southern Glazer’s is sharing its findings more broadly to help a hospitality industry still reeling from the effects of the pandemic, and to excite consumers about wine and cocktail innovation being driven by a new generation of diverse bartenders, sommeliers and beverage professionals.

“Our driving purpose for conducting the Liquid Insights Tour was to uncover innovative beverage trends and experiences across the country to ensure Southern Glazer’s continues to have the most knowledgeable sales consultants in the industry,” said Masilionis. “Throughout the tour, we evaluated the complete on-premise experience by examining product offerings, pricing, promotional approach, people, service and process.”

The conclusions from this tour, coupled with Southern Glazer’s world-class wine and spirits portfolio, creates a leading wine and cocktail experience, with best-in-class customer service from coast to coast, for restaurants, bars, hotels and other on-premise venues.

Top 10 Trends Revealed

Analysis of the findings of the Liquid Insights Tour revealed that top trends fell into three distinct categories: cocktail trends, wine trends, and presentation/execution trends.

Top cocktail insights:

Uncommon Combinations: Bartenders were mixing spirits not commonly used together to create new and interesting cocktail flavor profiles such as Scotch and corn liqueur, rum and cognac, and gin and mezcal.
Beyond Basic Balancers: The team found many cocktails that were made using an innovative variety of methods or modifiers to balance the drink or add layers of flavor. These included the use of acids; sugars and syrups; salt; herbs and spices; coffee and tea; and the use of fats beyond animal fats. Adding ice or heat, like with stamped ice or smoked ice, was also common.
Caffeinated Comeback: Once the darling of the 90s bar scene, the Espresso Martini took center stage as the standout cocktail of the tour. Around the country, mixologists are giving new life into this classic, incorporating a variety of creative ingredients such as amaro and coffee liqueurs or brandy with espresso or cold brew.
Sophisticated and Spirit-Free: Non-alcoholic offerings at the country’s top bars, restaurants and hotels are now just as elevated, delicious, and pricey as their alcoholic counterparts, featuring similar ingredients, flavors and presentations just without alcohol.

Top wine insights:

Bubbly Is Popping: Champagne and sparkling wines continue to climb in popularity on drink menus. Throughout the tour, more sparkling options were available by-the-glass and had a more prominent presence on top wine lists. In addition, bartenders are mixing sparkling wine of all styles and prices into their cocktails to add effervescence, crispness or sweetness to the experience.
Wines Chill Out: Chilled selections of red and sweet wines appeared on menus across the U.S. Orange wines also appeared more frequently than ever before, often presented on menus in a combined rosé and orange section.
Tempting Trial With By-The-Glass & Premium Half-Bottles: Curated by-the-glass (BTG) options are becoming more diverse and more balanced between domestic and international offerings than in the past. There is also a growing trend in wines priced to sell with good value in either BTG or by-the-bottle formats to drive more orders and not just high margins.

Top execution and presentation insights:

Batching for Speed and Service: Top bartenders continue to innovate around batching their cocktails, including both partial (batching only non-perishable items) and full batching, driven by the need for speed and to improve quality and consistency in cocktail preparation, which allows for more time to connect with guests.
Entertaining Experience Enhancements: Adding “flair” to the cocktail experience with the use of vapors, “air,” smoke or torch; the use of unique glassware; or the return of communal drinks to be shared; all are creating memorable moments for consumers.
Meaningful Menu Innovations: Restaurants and bars are evolving their menus beyond being a functional tool to improve the consumer experience. The team saw great storytelling, unique categorizations and humorous names paired with detailed drink descriptions. QR codes, which rose in popularity due to COVID-19, are now being used to deliver broader offerings and information – from curated, account-specific Spotify playlists to ever-changing allocated spirit offerings, all of which can be updated easily without needing to reprint menus.

Factors Influencing Trends

Backed by industry data and Southern Glazer’s internal insights, Masilionis and his team identified several key factors that are influencing these trends. These include an aging population, demographic and ethnic diversification of the U.S., a preference for health and wellness among consumers, and ongoing ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic still affecting the hospitality industry.

“These unique insights can be incorporated into any on-premise business to build greater success through strategic and innovative beverage programs,” said Masilionis. “Identifying which insights are relevant to your business and how to incorporate them using creative themes, highlighting seasonal ingredients, and tailoring cocktail and wine offerings to the demographics of your guests are all strong strategies. We continue to see the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout this industry segment, in terms of effects on the work force and on the consumers returning for the on-premise experience. We’re excited to offer these insights to help speed the recovery from the pandemic and make this segment stronger and more consumer-focused than ever.”

For more information, visit the Liquid Insights Tour resource page at www.southernglazers.com/Liquid-Insights.

Kosher Food and Wine Experience Makes Triumphant Return to London and Israel

August 2, 2022 by evebushman

London/Tel Aviv– The world’s largest public kosher food and wine extravaganza came back with a triumphant “L’chaim!’ this spring following a 2-year coronavirus break. The annual Kosher Food & Wine Experience (KFWE) is still the hottest ticket in the kosher culinary world, attracting thousands of restaurateurs, chefs, caterers, and foodies hungry for the latest and greatest in fine kosher wines and cuisine.

Royal Wine Corp. through its Israeli and British distributors, respectively Zur Agencies and Kedem Europe, spearheaded the long-awaited return of these two events – May 30 in Tel Aviv, Israel, and on June 21 in London. More than 240 wines from Israel, France, Italy, Spain, and the U.K. were sipped and savored, and guests had a unique chance to meet the winemakers and learn the stories behind each bottle.

Both shows featured rare premium wines along with accessible everyday wines, sparkling wines, whiskey, French and Italian liqueurs and more.

The Sheraton Grand London Park Lane was the scene where more than 800 KFWE guests enjoyed an exceptional selection of kosher wines and spirits. More than a dozen Israeli wineries were present with their latest vintages, including boutique wineries such as Domaine Du Castel, Yatir Winery, Flam Winery, Jezreel, Matar by Pelter, and Psagot.

At KFWE London, Royal Wine and Kedem Europe introduced a new line of kosher wines from Burgundy produced by Domaine du Château Philippe le Hardi. The line includes three wines from the 2020 vintage: a Gevrey-Chambertin Villages, a Chambolle-Musigny Villages, and a Beaune 1er Cru. Royal Wine did not offer high-end quality red Burgundy wines since 2004.

“As the kosher market has evolved and matured over the past 18 years, we believe that many fine kosher wine connoisseurs will particularly appreciate these refined and complex Pinot Noir wines,” says Gabe Geller, Royal Wine’s director of PR. “They will retail between $100-130. Royal also introduced in London the Laufer’s Select Tokaji Late Harvest and Tokaji Ice, both high-quality dessert wines from the famed Tokaji region in Hungary. Both wines will be SRP $45,” he added.

Cooloo alcoholic ice-pops were the perfect refresher, as it was the first time the KFWE was held over the summer months. Also featured was a cocktail bar with deliciously tasty concoctions created by top mixologists using Walders and Bicerin liqueurs.

Along with the unlimited wine tastings and whisky masterclasses, the London event featured legendary buffet by caterer Arieh Wagner. He and his team served up hot and cold dishes including Turmeric-Infused Cauliflower with tahini, hummus, and pomegranate seeds; Baba Ganoush with cashew nuts; Beef Carpaccio with truffle oil and fresh truffle; Poke Salmon and Tuna; Pulled Beef Arancini; a salt beef carvery; and dairy-free desserts such as tiramisu, Eton mess, and crème brûlée.

The Trask at the Port of Tel Aviv set the scene for KFWE 2022 in the Holy Land with tastings of more than 300 wines and an extensive rooftop buffet. Guests enjoyed wines and beverages from the various wine regions of France (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Provence and Alsace, including super-premium wines from world-renowned wineries – Château Lascombes, Château Giscours, Château Léoville Poyferré, Champagne Drappier, Château Clarke-Rothschild and more), Spain , Priorat, Galicia and more), Italy (Chianti, Montepulciano and Northern Italy), New Zealand, California (Sonoma, Napa and more), Argentina (Mendoza), South Africa and of course Israel (Shiloh, Jezreel and Psagot).

KFWE 2022 showcased hundreds of different wines and spirits produced in renowned wine regions, available at every price point. Geller summed up both events, “It was wonderful to see friends learning about wine together, discovering new vintages from around the world, and finding the perfect bottles—most of which are kosher for Passover—to enjoy at home or at their next celebration.”

About Royal Wine/Kedem

Since 1948, Royal Wine Corp., also known as Kedem, has been owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog family, whose winemaking roots date back eight generations to 19th century Czechoslovakia.

TodayRoyal Wine’s portfolio of domestic and international wines range from traditional wine producing regions of France, Italy, and Spain, as well as Israel, New Zealand, and Argentina. Additionally, Royal Wine Corp.’s spirit and liqueur portfolio offer some of the most sought-after scotches, bourbons, tequilas, and vodkas as well as hard to find specialty items such as flavored brandies and liqueurs.

The company owns and operates the Kedem Winery in upstate New York, as well as Herzog Wine Cellars in Oxnard, California, a state-of-the-art-facility featuring guided wine tours, a fully staffed modern tasting room, gift shop and catering facilities. Additionally, the winery houses the award-winning restaurant Tierra Sur, serving the finest Mediterranean inspired contemporary Californian Cuisine. Follow Royal Wine on Face Book.com/RoyalWineCorp/, and instagram.com/royalwinecorp/, and twitter.com/royalwinecorp

Discovering Knox and Dobson Ready To Drink Premium Cocktails

April 22, 2022 by evebushman

A few weeks ago I attended the Masters of Taste preview in the locker room of the Pasadena Rose Bowl. The participants that evening were a sampling from the main event and it’s safe to say that that event, held April 3 and also written about in this blog, were all masters of their craft in dining, desserts and beverages. As this is a wine and spirits blog, it’s only apropos that I share the one boozy item that stood out. You’ll be surprised to learn that it was a classy bottled cocktail – newly minted from a company called Knox and Dobson – with the most amazing flavors and the same ABV as any cocktail you would order in a fine bar.

At the preview I just inhaled samples of two of the four the company had created. This was their recent social media post about the pre-event, “Our first event at the Masters of Taste Media Preview serving our Knox & Dobson Martini, Old Fashioned, Improved Whiskey Cocktail and Rye Manhattan cocktails CRAFT ON DRAFT!” (From Eve: the idea that you can get a cocktail on draft instead of batched sounded incredible, and they were. Some busy bartenders make their more popular cocktails in advance, and keep them in glass or plastic in the well of the bar to serve as needed.)

I did speak with Creative Director Peter Lloyd Jones for a moment (they were slammed at this pre-event) and learned that they came up with the idea while working at the popular Raymond 1886 in Pasadena. Imagine a pre-made cocktail made by mixologists that you know know their trade well.

Being Eve…well that teaser tasting just wasn’t enough. My visible salivation required that they send me home with samples for full review. This is what happened next.

Each pretty black bottled cocktail serves two drinks. I had four different bottled cocktails, and being the good sport I am known to be, I shared all of them with my husband. Below are the cocktails and what we thought of each:

Per their recommendation, I kept them in the refrigerator (they also suggested that you can store in the freezer) before serving.

Martini

“Aromatic gin martini, hint of dry vermouth, citrus, slightly earthy, juniper forward and refreshing.”

EB: I’m a Gin Martini girl. With that said I usually add a little Lillet Blanc (White Bordeaux wine with quinine and other botanicals) and/or an orange peel when I make one at home. Not wanting to change a thing, I tried the K and D as it was made, and it was pretty perfect. Crisp, definitely earthy with savory Umami notes as well – and I could imagine it as a perfect pairing with sushi. Interesting.

Old Fashioned

“Straight aged bourbon, natural cane sugar, orange oil and Angostura Bitters. Enjoy the taste of aged bourbon with bright citrus flavors, bitters, raw cinnamon, clove and American oak.”

EB: Lively spices, toasted oak and dried citrus fruit on the nose and palate – so much more than in your average Old Fashioned! Had to wonder how they did that. Really tickled my taste buds on the first sip. Looks like I need to buy orange oil, it may have been what gave the cocktail a slight orange glow too. Maybe the orange oil brings out the spice. Very tasty stuff.

Improved Whiskey Cocktail

“Made with straight aged rye whiskey, Maraska Maraschino Liqueur and Angostura bitters. This cocktail has a spiced flavor profile and is combined with American oak, citrus, along with bright and deep cherry notes.”

EB: Sweet, smoky, spicy and citrusy on the nose. (My favorite combination in a brown spirit cocktail!) Lots of cinnamon and sweet charred oak on the palate, the drink is very much spice-driven. The citrus elements joined the spice, dancing across my tongue, and together they held on for a long finish, making all of the notes come together for a home run.

Rye Manhattan

“Rye Manhattan cocktail with straight aged rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and Angostura bitters. Combined with aged whiskey, the aromatic Italian-style Vermouth makes for a terrific flavor profile with spices, citrus and charred oak wood.”

EB: Lots of fresh orange on the nose, the bitters and warm oak that I just wanted to cozy up to! The spice comes out forward on the palate; the oak is strong as well, then the juicy orange rounds everything out nicely!

$15 a bottle retail and $10 wholesale. Get yours here: https://shop.knoxanddobson.com/

More info here:

https://www.facebook.com/KnoxandDobson/

https://www.instagram.com/knoxanddobson/

https://www.knoxanddobson.com/

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.

How Was “Masters of Taste” LA 2022?

April 8, 2022 by evebushman

The fifth annual Masters of Taste event, held on the field of the Rose Bowl, was last Sunday and we were thrilled to attend.

This is from my social media post the next day:

Oh WHAT FUN we had at Masters of Taste yesterday! This is the event where 100% of the profits go to Union Station Homeless Services! And it was on my birthday this year!

Traveling by limo courtesy my publishers Moe and Linda Hafizi, was an additional treat! Some of the liquor we sampled included wine from Golden Star Vineyards and Ascension Cellars, Lucky Dog (juice box) Sake, Knox and Dobson ready-to-drink cocktails (full article just on them runs 4/22), Smoke Lab Aniseed vodka distilled from Basmati rice is India’s “first premium vodka”, Dulce Vida Tequila, Ventura Spirits for their Amaro Angelino, Roku Gin, Suntory Whisky, Pomp and Whimsy Gin Liqueur, American Born bourbon whiskey, Woodford Reserve, the 1886 Bar at the Raymond…and then there was the FOOD!

If you want to just see the story in photos and videos click this, for more details keep reading!

The Details

It’s always such a rush walking down to the Rose Bowl field from the stadium seats! I always make an immediate right turn and hit as many tables as possible before resting after that first loop around. This is who made an impact this time:

Georgia’s Restaurant made Gretchen’s Jambalaya – the first booth I had food at and it was delicious, flavorful and not too spicy!

The long but fast moving line for delectable Dim Sum from Lunasia Dim Sum House was worth it.

Another line was to sample the food and meet the host chef, Vanda Asapahu, at the Ayari Thai table!

Golden Star Vineyards and Ascension Cellars, two wineries that I’ve enjoyed for years, so it’s always nice to see them on the playing field.

The detail on the animal-faced macarons, an item you can request for special occasions, from Etoile Filante Patisserie was another cool find.

Maneki Wanko Lucky Dog (juice box) Sake: I saw people sipping from juice boxes and was surprised to find that the cute little turquoise boxes with a playful dog design was holding Sake!

Fantasy Frostings makes a killer cake, moist and tasty. I looked at their Facebook and their wedding cakes are lovely!

Knox and Dobson ready-to-drink cocktails made an impact on me again – see the full article just on them April 22 on Eve Wine 101.

Little Llama Peruvian Tacos made a Shrimp Ceviche Tostada that was full of flavor.

Dulce Vida Tequila has THE best flavored tequila in my opinion, this time I enjoyed their grapefruit, on its own as it doesn’t need a thing. And it’s made with real fruit.

Enjoyed discovering Ventura Spirits Amaro Angelino, also their Limoncello. Nice local place to support.

Who doesn’t love short ribs? Chef Gil Saulnier from Mi Piace made a Prime Slow Braised Short Rib over Saffron Risotto and a Mini Crème Brûlée cheesecake too = so very decadent!

Pomp and Whimsy Gin Liqueur was my first big find at Masters of Taste years ago. If you like gin try this liqueur, it softens all that juniper with other botanicals.

I got more comfort food from Granville as they served up their Uptown Mac n’ Cheese!

American Born bourbon whiskey was tasty, again on its own, no mixer needed!

World Empanadas baked several varieties, I wanted to try them all but settled on sharing a Nutella-filled one with my husband. Family run, locally owned and Vegan too.

Woodford Reserve had a huge area just at the entrance, and made a refreshing slush cocktail with their bourbon, lemonade and cranberry juice. I wanted a second one, but that would not do with all that we had to try!

The 1886 Bar at the Raymond always make the best cocktails, on the field and in their Pasadena restaurant!

Bertha Mae’s brownies, in all kinds of flavors, were yummy.

There was quite a buzz going for the Jicama Shrimp Tacos from Mercado! They were sooooo good!

Smoke Lab Aniseed vodka distilled from Basmati rice is India’s “first premium vodka”, and not at all like the sweet or thick Sambuca anise liqueur.

Mignon Chocolate had their fountain flowing and I had a nice freshly dipped strawberry from them!

Enjoyed the Suntory whisky booth for the whisky and the Roku gin.

Seeing two of the Drago brothers and trying their pasta with pork sausage and Gorgonzola from Drago Centre was a big thrill for me.

See all of the Masters and their social media outlets here  https://mastersoftastela.com/masters/

2022 Host Chef Vanda Asapahu of Ayara Thai

Vanda Asapahu is the second-generation owner and chef of Ayara Thai and Ayara Luk in Los Angeles, CA. Vanda worked with non-profit organizations and the United Nations in Thailand. Living in Thailand allowed Vanda to revive old family recipes and travel through the different regions to discover new tastes and inspirations…read more here.

From the Start

Our mission was to create a unique event that would benefit an organization that focuses on addressing and resolving the issues surrounding homelessness in the San Gabriel Valley. The solution was to produce a one-of-a-kind, premier food and beverage festival for those who appreciate delicious food, cocktails, and sweets! Anyone who attends Masters of Taste can feel confident that they’re making an impact in their community because 100% of the proceeds help Union Station Homeless Services end homelessness and rebuild lives.

2022 Platinum Sponsors

The House of @suntorywhisky and Judith L. Chiara Foundation.

http://www.MastersofTasteLA.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mastersoftaste/

https://www.facebook.com/MastersOfTaste

Alessandro Del Piero and Edge Americas Online Announces Launch of NIO Cocktails USA

April 6, 2022 by evebushman

Los Angeles, Calif. – Edge Americas Online, a Los Angeles-based consumer products distributor and retailer and an operating unit of EDGE Americas Sports, has been appointed by NIO Cocktails to kick off their brand presence in the United States with a California launch of their innovative premium line of boxed cocktails. Edge Americas Online has signed a licensing agreement with NIO Cocktails to launch NIO’s online ordering platform in the USA and opens the first NIO Cocktails retail shop in Los Angeles, CA, apart from NIO’s flagship retail store in Milan, Italy.

Co-founded by World Cup champion Alessandro Del Piero and industry veteran Jeffrey Whalen, EDGE Americas Online is a Los Angeles-based distribution company focused on consumer products retailing. NIO Cocktails is a Milan, Italy-based leading purveyor of premium quality, boxed, and ready-to-share full line of truly innovative cocktails. NIO Cocktails bears the guaranteed signature of Patrick Pistolesi, an Italian master mixologist ranked nineteenth among the World’s 50 Best Mixologists and brand ambassador of the most prestigious brands in the spirits industry.

“We are very pleased to have signed a licensing agreement with NIO Cocktails, undoubtedly #1 in the world of innovative, premium, ready-to-enjoy cocktails,” said Jeffrey Whalen, Co-Founder of Edge Americas Online. Whalen brings extensive high-level experience in the consumer products segment, having previously served in executive roles in consumer products licensing worldwide. “It is my belief that NIO Cocktails will spread a new cocktail culture with a combination of Made in Italy craftsmanship, expert mixology, and novelty.”

NIO Cocktails (Needs Ice Only) was founded on the simplicity of tasting and enjoying your favorite cocktail wherever you want, with the highest quality recipes and ingredients. It’s as simple as shake, open, and pour! “We are equally pleased to have signed this licensing agreement with Edge Americas Online, Alessandro, and Jeffrey to kick off our journey in the United States,” said Alessandro Palmarin, Co-Founder of NIO Cocktails. “NIO Cocktails is expanding rapidly across continents with a core collection of more than 15 premium cocktails perfect for any occasion like company celebrations, dinner parties, weddings, and so much more. We are very focused as well on our approach to sustainability, each NIO Cocktails box is entirely recyclable, and we are a Carbon Neutral Company.”

NIO Cocktails will be available for shipment in California only and can be purchased at retail at 257 W 7th St – San Pedro, CA, in the heart of Los Angeles’ Little Italy district, and online at niococktails.us.

About NIO Cocktails

NIO Cocktails is the brainchild of Luca Quagliano and Alessandro Palmarin, with the aim to change attitudes around cocktail consumption among the general public. The brand aims to become a leading innovator in the world of mixology, bringing its premium ready-to-drink cocktails to every place and occasion. The concept behind NIO is simple: just shake, tear, pour. NIO, which stands for Needs Ice Only, is based on the dream to be able to enjoy your favorite cocktails wherever you want, all while maintaining the highest quality in both the recipes and their ingredients. All NIO Cocktails boast the seal of approval of Patrick Pistolesi, Italian master mixologist and brand ambassador to some of the world’s most prestigious spirits brands, who is now considered to be among the top 50 bartenders in the world by World’s 50 Best Bars. Pistolesi’s artistry is reinforced by NIO’s collaboration with some of the best producers and spirits labels in the world. Better yet, sustainability is at the core of the brand: the iconic design packaging is entirely recyclable, thanks to FSC- certified paper sleeves and the 45% bioplastic pouches. In addition, NIO Cocktails is a Carbon Neutral Company. Online at: www.niococktails.us

About EDGE Americas Sports

EDGE Americas Sports is a sports and marketing/distribution agency. The agency was created with a singular aim to deliver the most inspired consumer experience in the market – products and services that add to the celebration and emotion of that one moment. EDGE Americas Sports currently licenses NIO Cocktails, operates the Juventus Academy Los Angeles, owns the football Club LA10 FC, with investments in the acclaimed Los Angeles Italian restaurant N10 and multiple consumer brands. The agency has offices in Los Angeles and Torino, Italy. Learn more at www.edgeamericassports.com.

EDGE Americas Sports on the web at: www.edgeamericassports.com

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.

How Many WiSH-es Came True (Originally posted April 2013)

December 24, 2021 by evebushman

This wasn’t the first time Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting has done a wine tasting event, however, it was the first time I did a wine event with my close friend Marlee Lauffer. In hosting “A Toast and A WiSH to the Future Leaders of Santa Clarita”, with Marlee at the beautiful brand new Old Town Newhall Library, I think we both survived unscathed and in fact, did more than that: The event raised over $24,000 and WiSH is more than doubling it to buy over $60,000 in WiSH list lab science equipment for every single school in the Wm. S. Hart District!

l-r: Amy Daniels, Marlee Lauffer and Gail Pinsker

I had other friends I had already worked with before helping again: Claudia Sheridan coordinated all of the volunteers and was our official event planner, and my VP Michael Perlis edited all of my press releases, donated wines from his cellar and worked the Eve’s Wine 101 table at the event. And, the woman that came to our Pour Into Sandy event to enlist me for her event, WiSH Education Foundation Executive Director and Board Secretary, Amy Daniels, worked tirelessly to make the evening perfect. Gail Pinsker, Public Relations Officer Wm. S. Hart Union School District, secured several sponsor and also assisted Amy.

Not to bore you with thanks after thanks (see every name I could remember below) let’s jump to how the first ever wine event that benefited the William S. Hart District – 100% of what we made went back to programs in our junior and senior high schools – turned out.

Red Carpet Entrance, Wine, Food and Fun

“Ha!” That’s what Prime Publication’s graphic designer Alex Hafizi wrote back to me in nearly every email and Facebook message I sent him regarding this event. His amazing participation, and the support of the Magazine of Santa Clarita, really set us up for success. Alex did our event art, coordinated a cover photo shoot for Marlee and me at the Old Town Newhall Library, provided our event photography, and a red carpet – complete with a “step and repeat” backdrop so that our guests felt like movie stars from the get-go.

I met most guests at the door, while my co-host Marlee greeted them once they ascended the staircase. Starting out with a glass of sparkling wine in one hand, and the event program in the other, guests used the map in the program to plan their tasting experience to the fullest.

Passing through the upstairs glassed-in hallway, guests got their first look at the newly remodeled Main Street from the two-story height, and looked over some of our exclusive, privately donated, silent auction items.

The private “study rooms” seemed to work out well for everyone as they meandered from one to another; stopping in to sample from all of the wonderful food and wine vendors. The central area, for more vendors, had many comfy chairs fitted with pull out desks. Normally reserved to prop up a book or a laptop, for our event they were used for plates, glasses, rest and conversation.

l-r: Bruce Fortine, Duane and Pauline Harte

One surprise was Richard G. Ortega, the owner of the University of Mixology, who arrived with nearly a dozen volunteers and – Herradura tequila and limes!

At our Eve Wine 101 table my husband Eddie diligently toiled away while I circled the rooms to check in with the vendors and the guests. Eddie wasn’t alone at our table, our VP Michael Perlis and his wife Karen worked the other side of the table. The table was very popular! Of course I sampled at least four bottles that came from my own cellar and from the Perlis cellar…we were one of three “library” wine tables. A play on words, our “library” wines came from local private cellar collections.

I would love to tell you that I sampled everything (see Participants and Donors below for the comprehensive list) but I was just too busy schmoozing all the VIPs (below under the Seen section) to do it justice, so I asked friends for their comments.

What Guests Said

Mike Lebecki: “Awesome event last night! That library is gorgeous! The view down Main Street from the glass wall… Architectural genius!”

Cheryl Gray: “Volunteered for 1st (hopefully annual) WiSH: A Benefit for Future Leaders of Santa Clarita. What a great event! Hope you made a ton of $$. Loved the event and will volunteer for future events. Congratulations to Marlee Lauffer, Eve Bushman and Gail Pinsker for a great event!!!!! Had a blast checking in everyone. Then got to enjoy the great event. Thanks for letting me be a part of the inaugural benefit!”

Steve Lemley, winemaker/owner, Pulchella Winery: “You and the crew did a fantastic job. It was a great turnout and Pulchella was honored to be involved.”

Beth Greenwald: “Well done Eve!!”

Judy Penman: “A fabulous event at a great location thank you for letting me volunteer for this event you are best wine goddess ever. Hugs, Judy.”

Michael Perlis: “It was really gratifying to participate in this event. Never before have I received so many positive comments from attendees. The quality of the food and wine, combined with the beauty of the setting and the great layout, made for a truly wonderful experience for everyone. The WiSH Foundation and all involved have set the bar very high for future events in the Santa Clarita Valley.”

Jeff Jacobson, Director of Wine for the Vine 2 Wine Classic: “What a fabulous event. Well done!!”

Chef Dusti Patterson: “Hey Eve, Had a great time at the WiSH event last night. Thanks for the invite, I got so many good comments on LeMaes Food. If you ever need my services again for such an event as this, don’t forget me. God Bless and keep up the good work, we need more people who care about their communities. Thanks again.”

Louise Castaldo: The event last night was fabulous! Good job!

Participants

Bagrationi Wines, B & P Wine, Nuggucciet Cellars, Two Hearts Vineyard, Oaks Grille at TPC, Pulchella Winery, Gagnon Cellars, Ventura Limoncello, TGIC Importers, Iron Horse Vineyards, Caterer Dusti Patterson, Wolf Creek Restaurant and Brewing Company, Salt Creek Grille, Eve Wine 101, Edna Valley Vineyard, J Dusi Wines, Oil and Vinegar Valencia, Persia Restaurant, Stephen Hemmert Vineyards, Wildflour Gourmet Baking Company, Cheers@All Corked Up and Trader Joe’s.

Donors

John Shaffery, Wine Dogs, Dr. Wilkinson’s Hot Springs Resort, Clos Pepe Vineyards, Culinary Wonders, Valencia Wine Company, Michael and Karen Perlis, Marlee Lauffer, Laine Hedwell, Gerard Zanzonico, A/K Printing, Barrel 27, Gloria & Larry Stahly, Loring Wine Company, Fiddlehead Cellars, Ken Brown Wines, Jeannie & Chris Carpenter, Louise Castaldo & Kerry Malony, Rose & Steve Chegwin, Vines Restaurant, The Egg Plantation, ForWhiskeyLovers.com, Regusci Winery, Erin and Tim Dixon, Derrick and Maureen McKaughan, Ma Maison, Chartwell’s School Catering, Barnes & Noble.

Sponsors

CDW/Cisco, The Magazine of Santa Clarita, Spirit Properties, Oasis Associates, Chiquita Canyon, Fagan, Friedman & Fulfrost, Ruhnau Ruhnau Clarke and Associates, Sempra Energy, California Credit Union, Hunt C. Braly, Attorney at Law, KHTS AM – 1220 and SCV TV.

Seen

l-r: Margo Martini and Dawn Oliver-Smith

Kelly Abbott, Susan Arellano, Rebecca Bacon, Amanda Bahnmaier, Bryan Balling, Gary Bedol, Marguerite Berg, Sue Bird, Hunt Braly, Sherril Britton, Jeff Brown, Brent Bush, Michele Buttelman, Dave Caldwell, Chris and Jeannie Carpenter, Steve and Shelley Cassulo, Louise Castaldo, Lynda Chadwick, Rob Challinor, Steve and Rose Chegwin, Steve and Carla Corn, Chef Cindy Schwanke, Ken and Trudy Edwards, Geri Crescioni, Mike Dean, Don and Cheryl Dellepiane, John Dortch, Rhondi Durand, Julie Edwards-Sanchez, Kerri Emmer, Morgan Empey, Bruce Fortine and Gloria Mercado-Fortine, Beth Girardini, Katherine Gonzales, Moe, Linda and Alex Hafizi, Charles and Wendy Heffernan, Elizabeth Hopp, Jeff and Joan Jacobson, Michele Jenkins, Marcus Juarez, Dennis Junker, Charlotte Kleeman, Hale and Coleen Kuhlman, Jody Liss-Monteleone, Joan MacGregor, Eileen Mann, Carol Masnada, Stacey Mayfield, Jim Monica McClafferty, Simon and Shannon Mee, Jodi Moriguchi, Brenda Neilson, Heidi Novaes, Rand Pinsky, Bonnie Rabjohn, Larry Rasmussen, Roberts, Manuel Rubio, Holly Schroeder, Scott Shannon, Jack Shine, Dante Simi, Dawn Smith, Richard Smith, Larry and Gloria Stahly, Daniel Sterkel, Marguerita Stone, Steve and Julie Sturgeon, Fred Trueblood, Rodney Wright, Steve Zimmer, Scott and Vanessa Wilk.

l-r: Laine Hedwell, Linda Hafizi, Rose Chegwin, Elizabeth Hopp, Marlee Lauffer

Special Thanks

Amy Daniels, Rich Daniels, Marlee Lauffer, Eddie Bushman, Claudia Sheridan, Gail Pinsker, Michael and Karen Perlis, Alex Hafizi, Rick Gould, Elena Galvez, Erin Christmas, Jessica Sutoro, the Scott Jeppeson Group (Scott and Roxanne Jeppeson, Antonio Dangond and Roger Brooks), Ed Masterson and the Old Town Newhall Library.

Volunteers

Headed up by our event planner and volunteer coordinator Claudia Sheridan, we also were lucky to have help from the local University of Mixology, Judy Penman, Cheryl Gray, Alesia Humphries, Patti Handy, Mary Bradway, Rich Daniels, Shanna Pinsker, Denise Westenhofer, Ron Ratliff, Ellen Hawthorne, Robin Wimsatt, Jessica Rowe, Carmel Farnsworth, Michael Farnsworth, Eileen Gunning, Sue Ann Nelson, Naidene James, Coreen de los Reyes, Cathy Craig, Tanya Spiegel, Brenda Schaecher, Cindy Palomino, Gwen Parlee, Jennifer Primero, Vickie White, Diane Stacy, Chelsea Johnson, Geoff Whitaker, Denise Anderson, Valeria Buccola, Jennifer Williams, Kathy Hunter, Jacky Seeley, Recyl Chapman, Janice DeStephano and Cheryl Ingrassia.

MASTERS OF TASTE RETURNS – The Fifth Annual Masters of Taste Returns Sunday April 3, 2022

September 1, 2021 by evebushman

Los Angeles, CA – Come celebrate and be part of the fifth annual Masters of Taste, as L.A.’s premier outdoor, luxury food and beverage festival returns and will be taking place on Sunday, April 3^rd, 2022, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm on the field of the Iconic Pasadena Rose Bowl with 100% of the proceeds going directly to benefit Union Station Homeless Services!

Chef Vanda Asapahu, Photo credit: Masters of Taste

Masters of Taste is introducing Chef Vanda Asapahu as Host Chef of Masters of Taste 2022 which also happens to mark the 5^th Anniversary of this celebrated event which had to be canceled in 2020 due to the Pandemic. Masters of Taste 2022 Culinary Master and Host Chef Vanda Asapahu is the chef and owner of Ayara Thai Cuisine and she has participated since its 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 Bangkok’s street food scene and reviving old family recipes. After cooking with relatives and eating her way through the streets and countryside, Asapahu brought back these 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 Cuisine, and in May of 2019 Ayara Thai Cuisine was named one of MICHELIN Guide California’s 2019 Bib Gourmands.

“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. 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 2019 was a sold-out event that attracted over 3,000 guests and garnered media attention all throughout Southern California and beyond. The fifth annual Masters of Taste 2022 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 bars, a premier 50-Yard-Line Cocktail Bar featuring top Mixologists from four of L.A.’s most distinguished drinking destinations, select wineries, local craft breweries, cold-pressed juices, cold brew coffee, live entertainment and much, much more.

100% of the proceeds from Masters of Taste 2022 will directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to helping men, women and children experiencing homelessness, rebuild their lives. Union Station is part of a premier group of human services agencies in L.A. County that are leading the way to end homelessness in our community. Union Station offers an array of services including street outreach, meals, shelter, housing, case management and career development. In the last four years Masters of Taste has raised over $2 Million in support of Union Station’s life-saving programs.

Mark your calendars and save-the-date for the return of the fifth annual Masters of Taste 2022!

Ticket Information: Masters of Taste 2022 will take place on Sunday, April 3^rd, 2022, 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. Tickets will go on sale Sunday, August 1^st, 2021. For more information on Masters of Taste 2022, please visit www.MastersofTasteLA.com.

Masters of Taste

Pasadena Rose Bowl

1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, CA 91103

T: 626.791.6677

E: info@MastersofTasteLA.com

www.MastersofTasteLA.com

The New York World Wine and Spirits Competition is celebrating its 10th anniversary!

July 21, 2021 by evebushman

Entrants can submit their products online or download entry materials from the Competition’s website at www.nywscomp.com. The deadline to submit is Friday, August 6th, 2021. (The deadline to contact their import partner, Park Street Imports for help with importing products into the United States has passed.)

This year’s new trade, marketing and writing awards celebrate the talented trade people whose efforts have influenced growth and trends in the wine and spirits industry — especially small and mid-sized producers. Winners will be announced throughout the year.

“After a year where the people of the beverage community were so dramatically affected, we wanted to take time to recognize, honor and highlight the people that dedicate their lives to and make up this amazing industry,” said Amanda Blue, COO of The Tasting Alliance.

Below are the new awards.

Best Mixologist
Best Sommelier
Best Wine List
Best Wine Retailer
Best Spirits Retailer
Best Online Wine Retailer
Best Online Spirits Retailer
Best Brand Ambassador
Best Wine Writing
Best Spirits Writing
Best Social Media Account
Best Marketing and Advertising
Best Craft Distiller
Most Creative POS Display
Best Cocktail Menu (US/International)
Best Independent Food and Beverage Director
Best Corporate Food and Beverage Director

And more, for a full list of awards please visit the NYWSC website: www.nywscomp.com

About the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition:

The NYWSC is a member of The Tasting Alliance, parent company of the SFWSC, SFIWC, and SWSC.
Products are evaluated in a blind, consensual procedure ensuring the NYWSC maintains the highest level of impartiality.
The 2021 Competition takes place over five days, August 30th through September 3rd.
Deadline for entries will be Friday, August 6th, 2021
The Tasting Alliance sponsors tasting events throughout the year where trade professionals and consumers can sample the Competition’s top winners.

SOURCE The Tasting Alliance

Vintage Eve Circa 7/2018: The Seventh Art Beyond the Glass!

January 26, 2021 by evebushman

Art Beyond the Glass VII: L.A.’s Top Bartenders Come Together To Celebrate

Seven Years of Cocktails, Community, Women In The Industry and A Great Cause…Proceeds from ABTG VII will go to the Women’s Center for Creative Work, a vital arts nonprofit in Frogtown. Now in its seventh year, Art Beyond the Glass is L.A.’s premier cocktail culture festival, featuring more than 100 top bartenders making cocktails and showcasing their artistry, from painting and sculpture to photography, live music and more!

Yep, we did it again, covered three levels of mind blowing cocktail mayhem in the Los Globos nightclub in Silver Lake. The “mayhem” included a wide array of live music, a dj, burlesque, a tap dancer and wildly costumed bartenders as well as guests. There also was a raffle, art exhibit and “silent auction items such as artwork, photography, rare spirits and more.”

As you know I was there to take it all in (photos here if that’s all you’re after) these are the spirit vendors I made sure to meet up with:

Jack Daniel Distillery Lynchburg Tennessee, The Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Ming River Baijiu and Teeling Whiskey – these were just part of the first floor of fun, and each spirits’ table offered more than one cocktail option so you could do them all or just select one that sounded good to you.

More from the first floor: Fun stewards (stewardesses, whatevers) from Aviation Gin sat guests in a mock airplane, served them cocktails and if you agreed to sit in the exit row you got a special treat! Loved the two cocktails – one with tea and another in a slush – I sampled from Pomp & Whimsy (remember them – hope they’ll be back for Cocktails on the Roof 2018!) and fun drinks from Fords Gin, Plymouth Gin, and Lillet.

The cutie pies at the Mulholland Distilling table were happy to sing for a photo on the second floor! Fun table, and the drinks were yummy. I had the Mulholland Mule and I swear there was another drink they made with Boba in it. I really loved the Edinburgh Distillery Rhubarb Ginger liqueur! Also enjoyed checking out Distillerie Clement rum.

And on the ground floor, an outdoor patio filled with happy smokers and vapers, had a cold brew coffee vendor, Colorado Common Hard Cider and Illegal Mezcal Joven cocktails in ice cube glasses that blew my mind – the one I tried was called “560 Shades of Greg”, while the other, which I didn’t try, had CBD in it!

Even more entertainment on the first and second floors: we got our VIP badges from Jack Daniel’s, sampled cocktails from Åhus Akvavit, Born and Bred, Domaine Combier, Partida Tequila and The Real McCoy Rum.

More About Art Beyond the Glass (ABTG): Art Beyond the Glass is a special event that showcases the artistic pursuits of top bartenders when they’re not behind the stick. ABTG began, as many things do, with a conversation in a bar. In the fall of 2011, bartender Zahra Bates and writer Daniel Djang were at Sunny Spot in Venice, discussing how so many bartenders in Los Angeles express themselves creatively through painting, photography, music, and other arts. But at the time there wasn’t a proper showcase for bartenders to share their artistic pursuits. To fill this gap, Art Beyond the Glass was born: uniting the bar community, which gives back to the art community, and strengthening the community in which we live.

At ABTG, everything from the cocktails to the art and music is created and performed by bartenders. Proceeds from every ABTG event are donated to a local arts-based charity. To date, Art Beyond the Glass has donated more than $98,000 to nonprofit organizations across the country.

The inaugural ABTG raised more than $6,000 for Inner-City Arts. In 2013, ABTG II raised $13,700 for Art Share L.A. and saved this vital nonprofit from closing. ABTG III raised $18,000 for the Mural Conservancy to restore Struggles of the World, one of the landmark Freeway Murals from the 1984 Summer Olympics. ABTG IV raised more than $20,000 for KCRW on behalf of its Capital Campaign to open a new Media Center and public event space in Santa Monica.

To celebrate its five-year anniversary in 2015, Art Beyond the Glass expanded to cities outside of Los Angeles for the first time. The fifth annual ABTG was the largest event to date and raised over $25,000 for Global Inheritance. In July 2016, the first-ever ABTG outside of L.A. took place in Oklahoma City and raised $7,300 for Arts Council Oklahoma City. ABTG Chicago took place in August 2016 and donated $8,450 to ArtReach.

Art Beyond the Glass will continue to grow into established and emerging markets that are eager to demonstrate the creative prowess of their bar community.

The Charity

This year we are honored to be raising funds for the Women’s Center for Creative Work, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Frogtown. Combining a co-workspace on the L.A. River, project incubation facilities, residency programs, a rapidly growing network of over 20,000 followers, and a full calendar of artistic and professional development programming, WCCW advocates for feminist-led creative businesses and projects in Los Angeles.

www.ArtBeyondtheGlass.com

Follow Art Beyond the Glass on:

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

Twitter: @ABTGLA

Instagram: @abtgla

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 15k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.