With stunning sunsets over the Pacific Ocean as a back drop and a fun-loving, surf and sand worshiping, beach sports mecca Huntington Beach is the perfect destination for an evening out. As a long-time resident of Huntington Beach, aka Surf City USA, and one who eats and drinks around town far more than I probably […]
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Fresh Seafood and Hemingway in Key West #FLKeys
This post is sponsored by the Florida Keys and Key West, which I happily accepted believing that visualization is key to realization. A romanticized vision of Key West, utterly inspired by Ernest Hemingway and the movie “Key Largo”, has placed it high on my list of 1000 places to see before I die. What did Hemingway love […]
Holiday Cocktails for Bourbon Lovers
Entertaining tip #1: Welcome your guests with a distinctive cocktail that sets the tone for what’s to come. One that refreshes and tantalizes the tastebuds, but not too strong because you want your guests still upright for dessert. Leading off with a Bourbon Mai Tai presented by Chef Ouita Michel, Chef-in-Residence at Woodford Reserve, at a […]
“Eat Your Bourbon” Pumpkin Risotto
Yes, you can have your bourbon and eat it too! Bourbon Barrel Foods in Louisville, Kentucky is making small-batch gourmet food products aged in American White Oak bourbon barrels, more specifically, Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels. Bourbon Barrel Foods’ Microbrewed Aged Soy Sauce Matt Jamie, founder and owner of Bourbon Barrel Foods, and his team have […]
Southern Heat in Louisville
Tell me Louisville, Kentucky is not at the epicenter of a culinary explosion and I’ll show you someone who needs to wake up and smell the bourbon! Things are hot in Louisville and it’s about to get even hotter with the release of Southern Heat by Chef Anthony Lamas and Gwen Pratesi – a gorgeous, beautifully […]
“Kathryn Hall” Release Party – HALL Wines, Napa Valley
Wine tasting at the world-class vineyards of Napa Valley is an unparalleled experience and for lovers and collectors of lush, dark, jammy cabernets, HALL Wines is a must. Last weekend I was fortunate to be able to attend the “Kathryn Hall”Release Party at HALL Wines in St. Helena. Each year, Kathryn and Craig Hall, owner/vitners […]
4th of July and a Fast, Fresh + Easy Caprese Salad with Red Walnuts
Independence Day doesn’t get any better, crazier, or more patriotic than the celebrations in downtown Huntington Beach – beginning with the Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade. Not what you would expect from a beach city known for its surf culture, yet the parade is in its 111th year, is the largest 4th of July […]
I Love Poke Festival at The Waterfront Beach Resort
The 4th annual I Love Poke Festival tasting event and competition returns to Orange County on Sunday, June 28 at The Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort. The foodie festival and chef competition invites poke connoisseurs and newcomers to celebrate the Hawaiian delicacy, lifestyle and culture as chefs compete for the title of best poke. “It’s going […]
Central Coast Fall Harvest Wine Tour
Wine lovers with all levels of expertise have generally gone on wine tasting excursions where you hop from vineyard to vineyard tasting the most recently released wines. Some plan each day’s wine adventure with precision while others take a more spontaneous approach and let the day take them wherever the path leads. Both have their […]
Gulf Coast Cuisine – A Seafood Lover’s Dream
Jambalaya, gumbo, étoufée, boudin, andouille sausage, po’boys, all are words that immediately trigger a mouthwatering Pavlovian response as visions of redolent, spicy Cajun and Creole dishes brimming with seafood dance in my head. On a recent culinary tour of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, we were reacquainted with the deep history of their Creole culinary heritage which […]