Tuesday, March 31, 2015

03/31 BEN LYONS, CAROL KOZLOWSKI, KOZLOWSKI FARMS

MOVIE & ENTERTAINMENT EXPERT BEN LYONS - THE BEST OF MOVIES AND TV SHOWS | SPRING BLU RAY AND DIGITAL HD HIGHLIGHTS 

Highlighting Latest Movie and Television Releases on Blu-ray/Digital HD and the devices that play them!

Ben Lyons is a Television, Radio, and Online host and producer who covers pop culture like nobody else. Each month with his DEN (Digital Entertainment News) segment, Ben highlights the latest Blu-ray and Digital HD releases and the best ways to watch them.

Ben’s next DEN segment is Tuesday, March 31st and he will highlight some great Spring movies and some of the hottest full TV show seasons available on Blu-ray /Digital HD.  Ben will have something for everyone, whether you are looking to catch up on the hot TV series you missed or are looking for the perfect Easter basket gift.

Ben is a special correspondent on EXTRA and regular contributor for ESPN LA radio. He is also the host of The Sidebar on Yahoo, an in-depth interview series featuring the biggest names in Movies, TV, Music, and Fashion. Ben is the lead host on Yahoo's LIVE movie premiere and awards show coverage. He reviews movies on Mario Lopez’s national radio show  and has recently, been on The View, Wendy Williams, ESPN's SportsNation, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, Good Morning America, and The Artie Lange Show. Previously he appeared on the E! Network and E! News as their lead film correspondent and movie critic. Born and raised in New York City, Ben is the grandson of legendary New York Post columnist Leonard Lyons, and is the son of film and theater critic Jeffrey Lyons. The Lyons family has been covering pop culture in American media for more than 80 years.
Interview Sponsored by The Digital Entertainment Group and Consumer Electronics Association


CAROL KOZLOWSKI-EVERY - KOZLOWSKI FARMS - EASTER PROMOTIONS

Kozlowski Farms—Preserving Sonoma's wine country kitchen tradition.

At Kozlowski Farms, when we say—"it's just like my grandmother used to make"— we mean it. All our products began with founder Carmen Kozlowski's legendary recipes, including old fashioned jams, no sugar apple butter, no sugar fruit spreads and homemade pies - including Carmen's fabulous Gravenstein Apple Pie. We believe that the best foods from Salad Dressings to Chipotle Grilling Sauces begin with the very best ingredients. As one of Sonoma County's oldest family-owned farms, we're big on tradition—the kind where everyone stops what they're doing and comes to the table. Let's eat!  That means you too—visitors are always welcome at Kozlowski Farms.

Look for our always changing KozClub! Specials. We feature selected products at special promotional prices.

**NEW 12 PACKS – BUY YOUR FAVORITE KOZLOWSKI FARMS PRODUCTS IN 12-PACKS AND SAVE!**

KOZ CLUB $1.99 SHIPPING SPECIALS ON ‘SPREAD IT AROUND’ GIFT BOX & ‘JAM IT UP’ GIFT BOX

WWW.KOZLOWSKIFARMS.COM

Monday, March 30, 2015

03/30 JAMES WATT, BREW DOGS, THE ESQUIRE NETWORK, JOHN YAMIN, LA BREA BAKERY

JAMES WATT - HOST OF “BREW DOGS” ON THE ESQUIRE NETWORK

The Brew Dogs are Back for More Craft Beer Chaos! Two Scottish Craft Beer Renegades Travel the Globe for Local Ingredients and Inspiration to Create the World's Most Outrageous Beers Tired of the same boring beers that dominated the UK market, James Watt (along with partner Martin Dickie) set out to brew his own beer. The pair, both age 24 at the time, spent all their money on brewing equipment and began creating unique, innovative new beers. Today, after tearing down the old preconceptions about craft beer brewing, their company BrewDog is one of the fastest-growing companies in the UK with multiple restaurants and breweries.

James and Martin now return to the Esquire Network for season three of their popular series, Brew Dogs, in which they hunt for new ingredients and inspirations to create the most outrageous beers on Earth. New this season, the Brew Dogs are taking it global to celebrate distinctive craft beers by creating locally inspired draft in major cities throughout the world -- from Brooklyn, NY, to Berlin, Germany. James Watt can discuss some of the most unique and innovative new beers to derive from his global journey.

ABOUT JAMES:
James was once a fully qualified deep-sea captain. This is after he completed an honors degree in Law and Economics. James traded in being a salty sea dog for a BrewDog in 2007, to pursue his passion for great craft beer.

Tired of the same boring beers that dominated the UK market, James Watt and his partner Martin Dickie set out to brew their own beers.  The duo, both age 24 at the time, spent all their money on brewing equipment and began creating unique, innovative new beers. Today, after tearing down the old preconceptions about craft beer brewing, James' and Martin's company BrewDog is one of the fastest-growing companies in the UK with multiple restaurants and breweries.

James has since become an ambassador for both craft beer and Scottish business. He and Martin can be seen on the Esquire Network hit series Brew Dogs, in which they travel across the U.S. in search of new ingredients and new inspirations to create the most outrageous beers on Earth.

James is also a skilled reality show contestant—he won a British version of The Apprentice (BBC’s The Last Millionaire) in 2008! Season Three of Brew Dogs returns to the Esquire Network on April 1, 2015, at 10m ET/PT, 9pm CT.

TV.ESQUIRE.COM/SHOWS/BREW-DOGS


JOHN YAMIN – CEO, LA BREA BAKERY    

When the original La Brea Bakery in Los Angeles opened its doors in 1989, no one knew that the small bakery would spark an artisan bread renaissance and eventually lead to La Brea Bakery breads being sold at the finest grocery stores and restaurants across the country.

THERE’S AN ARTISAN’S PASSION, SKILL AND DEDICATION BEHIND EVERY LOAF OF LA BREA BAKERY BREAD.

BREADS
Baguettes
Ciabatta & Focaccia
Loaves
Petite Loaves
Ovals & Rounds
Sandwich & Dinner Rolls
Take & Bake
Artisan Sandwich Bread

ARTISAN FLATBREADS
La Brea Bakery Artisan Flatbreads are made with the same dedication to the artisan traditions and uncompromising standards that we have prided ourselves on for 25 years. Our Artisan Flatbreads are made with only the highest quality ingredients including sprouted whole wheat flour. They are delicious served all on their own and make a wonderful palette for your recipe creations.
Naan Flatbread
Garlic Naan Flatbread
Sandwich Flatbread

PETITE CRISP COOKIES
A sophisticated, flavorful twist on the traditional cookie, La Brea Bakery Petite Crisp Cookies are the perfect indulgent treat. Delicious all on their own, with your morning latte, or a special pairing with a glass of wine, La Brea Bakery Petite Crisps make everyday moments special.
Chocolate Chip
Salted Toffee
Spicy Cocoa

LA BREA BAKERY CAFES
La Brea Avenue Bakery
468 South La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone (323) 939‐6813

Disneyland Cafe
1556 Disneyland Drive
Anaheim, CA 92802
Phone (714) 490‐0233

WWW.LABREABAKERY.COM

Friday, March 27, 2015

03/27 ROYA SOLEIMANI, GOOGLE, TOM FAIRBANKS, KAANAPALI BEACH HOTEL,

ROYA SOLEIMANI - TRENDS MANAGER, GOOGLE - WEEKLY TOP SEARCH TRENDS

Google’s Top Search Trends program provides a revealing — and sometimes surprising — look at the people, places and topics that send the country searching for answers each week.

Topics That Fascinated the U.S. Selected from Millions of INTERNET Searches!

Hear the hottest content on the web each week directly from the source! Become part of Google’s weekly Top Search Trends program to find out what news makers and trends are capturing the imagination of the country each week.

Encompassing searches from across pop culture, sports, music, politics, news, and more a Roya will discuss five of the hottest trending queries on the web.

GOOGLE.COM/TRENDS


TOM FAIRBANKS - FOOD AND BEVERAGE DIRECTOR OF THE KAANAPALI BEACH HOTEL GIVES US ALL THE DETAILS ON THE UPCOMING STEEL GUITAR FESTIVAL AND OTHER EVENTS

Maui Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival April 22 through 26th:

Festival Information 
The Maui Steel Guitar Festival has been developed to promote appreciation and interest in the Hawaiian Steel Guitar as a uniquely Hawaiian music genre. This free, 3-day festival includes a series of performances, presentations, instructional workshops, jam sessions and public and private school visitations that are focused on the Hawaiian Steel Guitar and its importance in the Hawaiian music genre. The Hawaiian Steel Guitar is the only instrument thought to be indigenous to Hawaii.

The festival hopes to promote increased participation by local residents, particularly young people, through community outreach programs utilizing teams of performers and music educators that will visit several Maui schools. These teams will discuss with students the history of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar, demonstrate playing techniques and the importance of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar in the Hawaiian music genre and perform Hawaiian music to encourage interest and participation at the festival's hotel workshops.

The Maui Steel Guitar Festival is presented each year by non-profit Arts Education for Children Group and the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel and produced by the Ke Kula Mele Hawaii School of Hawaiian Music. The festival is presented for public awareness, education and entertainment. Funding for the festival, free and open to the public, comes from grants, donations and other underwriting and in-kind contributions.

WWW.MAUISTEELGUITARFESTIVAL.COM

MINI CAMP 
To inaugurate the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Camp, a two-day Mini Camp will be offered in 2015, with concentrated workshops tailored to the camp's participants. Three intensive Hawaiian steel guitar sessions (two in the morning and one in the afternoon) will be conducted on each day by Alan Akaka and Greg Sardinha, two of Hawaii's great steel guitar masters. Each day will end with an evening kanikapila which campers can participate in to hone their performance skills or just sit back and watch the performances. This year's Mini Camp will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, April 22-23, 2015, immediately preceding the Maui Steel Guitar Festival. Campers have an option of attending one day at $75, or both days for $100. To encourage students to participate in the event, camp scholarships are available from the Arts Education for Children Group, one of the camp's sponsors. Meals and/or lodging are available from the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel at added cost. Campers will also be invited to participate as a group at one of the Maui Steel Guitar Festival's open stage performances on Friday.

WWW.HAWAIIANSTEELGUITARCAMP.COM

About Kaanapali Beach Hotel 
The beachfront, 432-room Kaanapali Beach Hotel is set majestically on a three-mile stretch of sandy beach along the sunny western shores of Maui, making it an ideal setting for a memorable Hawaiian experience. Kaanapali Beach Hotel offers a variety of cultural activities for the entire family, cementing its status as Hawaii’s Most Hawaiian Hotel. These include a sunset Lu'au Show, nightly hula show, live Hawaiian entertainment, lauhala weaving, ‘ukulele lessons, lei making, hula classes, garden tours, Hotel's Kupanaha Magic Dinner Theater and the hotel’s signature Farewell Lei Kukui Ceremony.

WWW.KBHMAUI.COM

Thursday, March 26, 2015

03/26 REX PICKETT, SIDEWAYS 3 CHILE, SIDEWAYS TRILOGY, JEANA LEE TAHNK, EASTER GIFTS

REX PICKETT – AUTHOR OF THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED “SIDEWAYS 3 CHILE”

"Sideways 3 Chile" is the third, and final, novel in the trilogy that began with "Sideways" -- which became the award-winning movie of the same title by Oscar-winning director Alexander Payne -- and "Vertical," which won the 2011 Gold Medal for Fiction from the Independent Publisher Book Awards.

"Sideways 3 Chile" finds our main protagonist Miles Raymond (Paul Giamatti in the original film) running out of money, but still surviving on the fumes of a past, but fleeting, fame. When he is offered an opportunity by a reputable magazine to write an article about the diverse wine regions of the country of Chile he jumps at the chance.

At the end of "Vertical," Miles had fallen in love with a Spanish girl, Laura, and he asks her to fly from Spain to accompany him.

Miles, in full panic anxiety mode, which is endemic to his character, flies to Chile to meet Laura and discover this beautiful and vast country. Complications, heartbreak, and romance ensue.

In the great and desolate Atacama Desert in the north of Chile Miles comes face to face with himself.

ABOUT REX:
Rex Pickett is the critically-acclaimed author of the novel "Sideways," upon which the multiply award-winning Alexander Payne movie of the same title was adapted. The film, now an unqualified cult classic, won over 350 awards after its release in 2004, including the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

A sequel to "Sideways" tilted "Vertical" (2011) won the Gold Medal for Fiction from the Independent Publisher Book Awards.

In 2012 Rex successfully adapted his novel "Sideways" into a hit play that ran for 6 months at the Equity-waiver Ruskin Group Theater. In the summer of 2013 it opened at La Jolla Playhouse's 400-seat Potiker Theater under the direction of Des McAnuff ("Jersey Boys") and shattered all attendance records for a non-musical in La Jolla Playhouse's august 30-year history. "Sideways" the play now heads to London and beyond.

In 2000, Rex's ex-wife Barbara Schock won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short. The 33-min. film, titled "My Mother Dreams the Satan's Disciples in New York," is an original screenplay by Rex.

Rex has written and directed two feature films, written many screenplays and TV pilots, written two novels, and now a hit play. He is currently in Italy writing a major motion picture for the De Angelis Group. He resides in La Jolla, CA.

His archive now resides at the Geisel Library's Special Collections on the campus of UCSD, Rex's alma mater.



LIFESTYLE & TECH EXPERT JEANA LEE TAHNK - NEW TWIST ON EASTER FUN – EASTER GIFTS FOR EVERYONE YOU CARE ABOUT

New Twist on Easter Fun – Easter Gifts for EVERYONE You Care About!

Jeana Lee Tahnk is a tech expert and mother who knows about the best gadgets, gear and tips for making life easier, organized and more fun for her and her family. She contributes to Mashable, The Huffington Post, Parenting, Parents and others.

Easter is a very popular gift-giving time – especially when it comes to our children. From Easter basket gift ideas to gathering as a family for a fun Sunday afternoon, Lifestyle & Tech expert Jeana Lee Tahnk is available to tell your viewers about some products that may be especially appealing this Easter season.

Plus Jeana will share her tips for being tech savvy, and her favorite advice on how to make your Easter shopping experience a positive one!

JEANATAHNK.COM
JEANAGETSTHIS.COM

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

03/25 LARRY LIPSON, VANESSA SOMARRIBA, TOURISM TORONTO


LARRY LIPSON – AFFORDABLE WINE REPORT

For fifty years Larry Lipson was the food critic for the Los Angeles Daily News and now reports from Florida weekly with his thoughts and favorite picks for Food & Wine.  His lovely Wife Lillian is also on hand at the Lipson Institute for advanced wine studies.



VANESSA SOMARRIBA - MEDIA RELATIONS MANAGER (US/CANADA) - TOURISM TORONTO 

About Tourism Toronto
Tourism Toronto, Toronto’s Convention and Visitors Association, is an industry association of more than 1,200 members established to sell and market the greater Toronto region as a remarkable destination for tourists, convention delegates and business travelers around the globe. Tourism Toronto operates in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport as Regional Tourism Organization 5. For more information please visit www.seetorontonow.com.

WWW.SEETORONTONOW.COM

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

03/24 CHEF BROOKE WILLIAMSON, FOOD + WINE FESTIVAL PALM DESERT PRESENTED BY AGUA CALIENTE CASINO RESORT AND SPA, BRIAN HUNNINGS, SHERATON MAUI RESORT & SPA

CHEF BROOKE WILLIAMSON - TOP CHEF CONTESTANT & RESTAURANT OWNER - FOOD + WINE FESTIVAL PALM DESERT PRESENTED BY AGUA CALIENTE CASINO RESORT & SPA










When & Where
  • The fifth annual Food + Wine Palm Desert takes place from Friday, March 27, 2015 through Sunday, March 29 in the heart of Palm Desert’s famed El Paseo shopping district 
What to Expect 
  • The three-day event brings together the brightest and most-inspired chefs from around the country to celebrate food, wine and cocktail tastings 
  • The event will include celebrity chef demos, wine seminars, and engaging panels from industry insiders 
  • The James Beard Luncheon will take place on Friday, March 27 from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 
  • For the first time in history, it will feature four powerhouse female chefs including Cat Cora, Gale Gand, Lulu Powers, and me each performing a live demo 
  • Food + Wine Festival Palm Desert presented by Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa will donate a portion of the luncheon proceeds—including from its live auction—to the Friends of James Beard Foundation, which raises scholarship funds for culinary students 
  • Saturday and Sunday will feature live cooking demonstrations from the nation’s most celebrated culinary personalities including Ari Taymor (chef of Alma, named a “Best Restaurant in America” by Bon Appétit) and Zack Bruell (James Beard Award-winning chef, owner of six restaurants) 
  • Grand Tastings include sampling from over 50 restaurants and 80 premium wineries and spirits purveyors 
Tickets 
  • Grand Tasting tickets are $90 per person/per day and include access to all chef demos, as well as unlimited food, wine, and spirit tastings 
  • VIP Grand Tasting tickets are $125 per person/per day and include all access chef demos; unlimited food, wine, and spirit tastings; early entrance to the festival; caviar and champagne tasting; and an exclusive celebrity chef demo 
  • Tickets to the James Beard Luncheon range from $125-$150 per person depending on seat selection 
  • Guests may purchase tickets and view the latest festival additions, schedules, and more by visiting www.palmdesertfoodandwine.com 

ABOUT CHEF BROOKE WILLIAMSON
A native of Los Angeles, Brooke Williamson began her culinary career at a young age as a teacher’s assistant at the Epicurean Institute of Los Angeles. Williamson began working in professional kitchens at the age of 18 as a pastry assistant at Fenix at the Argyle Hotel under Chef Ken Frank. As her star quality began to shine, Chef Michael McCarty took notice and invited the young chef to work at his acclaimed Santa Monica restaurant, Michael’s under executive Chef Sang Yoon. Within one year she became sous chef at Michael's. Two years later, Williamson headed to the East Coast to intern at the celebrated restaurant Daniel in New York. She then returned to Los Angeles, where she was appointed executive chef at L.A. restaurant, Boxer. Williamson then continued her culinary career as executive chef of Zax in Brentwood, raising the bar on seasonal American cuisine by infusing local ingredients from Southern California with more diverse and global flavors. During her time at Zax, she was honored by media outlets such as the Los Angeles Times and Forbes as a culinary mastermind. She was also invited to cook at the James Beard House, being the youngest ever female chef to do so. After leaving Zax, Williamson and fellow Zax partner Nick Roberts opened Amuse Café and later Beechwood in Venice, where Williamson and Roberts earned the title "Rising Star Chefs" by StarChefs. In 2010, Williamson also became certified by The Court of Master Sommeliers.
Brooke now owns and operates Playa Del Rey’s immensely popular gastropub The Tripel and Redondo Beach staple the Hudson House. Her most recent venture, 4-in-1 concept Playa Provisions, opened June 2014.

Brooke was also the first runner-up on Bravo’s “Top Chef: Seattle” and starred in MTV’s cooking competition series “House of Food”. Brooke recently competed on Bravo’s “Top Chef Duels” and Esquire’s “Knife Fight”. She will also be featured in the PBS series Moveable Feast, airing in early 2015

WWW.PALMDESERTFOODANDWINE.COM


BRIAN HUNNINGS - EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT MANAGER, SHERATON MAUI RESORT & SPA - NATIONWIDE COCKTAIL COMPETITION AND TABLE TO FARM EVENT TO TAKE PLACE AT SHERATON MAUI 

NATIONWIDE COCKTAIL COMPETITION TO TAKE PLACE AT SHERATON MAUI RESORT & SPA

Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa and OCEAN Organic Vodka have partnered together to find the Ultimate OCEAN Cocktail with a national and statewide recipe contest. Recipe submissions have been pouring in over the last two months from across the state and United States. Five finalists from the State of Hawaii and one finalist representing the other 49 states will face off in the Ultimate Cocktail Showdown on Saturday, April 11, 2015 at 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa’s Ocean Lawn.

The Ultimate OCEAN Showdown features the top six finalist cocktails selected from hundreds of entries.  Each finalist is paired with a celebrity chef as well as a Maui-based non-profit organization.  Guests along with a panel of judges will be asked to vote for their favorite cocktail as well as “best food pairing”.  Following the theme of Table to Farm, each chef will create a dish to pair with the finalist cocktail.  The winning cocktail recipe will be named Ultimate OCEAN Cocktail and will be featured on the menus of Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa for one year with a portion of proceeds from the sale of the cocktail being donated to the paired Maui-based non-profit organization throughout the year.

Celebrity chefs participating in the event include Lee Ann Wong from Koko Head Café in Kaimuki Oahu, Shawn Gavin from the St. Regis Princeville Kauai, Sheldon Simeon from Migrant in Wailea Maui, Hank Adaniya from Hank’s Haute Dogs in Kaka‘ako Oahu, Will Chen From HiFreshBox in Manoa Oahu  and Andrew Le from The Pig and the Lady in Honolulu Oahu. Entertainment for the evening will include a performance by CrazyFingers. Event ticket holders will have free entry to the Afterparty at Black Rock Lounge.

Tickets are on sale now for $40 per person ($45 day of) when purchased online at OceanVodka.com or by calling (808) 550-8457.  $25 of each ticket sale will be donated to six Maui based non-profit organizations including:  Hui O Wa‘a Kaulua, Women Helping Women, Make A Wish Foundation, Grow Some Good, Imua Family Services, and Whale Trust.
About the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa

Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa is where the legend of Ka‘anapali began. Situated on Ka‘anapali Beach at historic Pu‘u Keka‘a, Black Rock, the oceanfront resort is nestled among 23 acres of tropical landscaping with 83 percent of the resort’s 508 rooms and suites facing the ocean.

Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa was named the Starwood Hotels & Resorts 2007 “Hotel of the Year” for the Sheraton brand, and recognized in Conde Nast Travelers’ 2012 Top 25 Hawaiian Resorts. Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa has also appeared in TRAVEL + LEISURE magazine’s World’s Best Awards “Top Resorts in Hawaii” in 2007, 2008 and 2013. For more information about Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa please visit http://www.sheraton-maui.com.

TABLE TO FARM MAY 22 AND MAY 23
Table to Farm is a two-day culinary event beginning with a farm-inspired wine paired five-course dinner at the oceanfront resort’s Black Rock Kitchen.  Led by the Executive Chef Greg Gaspar, guests enjoy tasting and learning about Maui grown ingredients in gourmet dishes along with hand-selected wine pairings.  The winemaker and farmer join the chef to engage in a talk story session with the dinner guests.  The following morning guests may join a private tour to a local farm to see firsthand how the farm operates. The farm tour continues with a cooking demonstration and gourmet lunch in the field.  For our upcoming March 20th and 21st events we are partnering with Fresh Island Herbs and Maui Wines.  The farm tour will take our guests up to Fresh Island Herbs to see how they grow micro greens, root plants, citrus, avocado and more.  Following the tour of the farm, we will head up to Maui Wines vineyard – an area not open to the public. Here we will tour the vineyard, taste wines right in the location the grapes are grown, and have a cooking demo by Executive Chef Greg Gaspar and a gourmet lunch in the vineyard.  This is a great showcase of our chefs working with our local farmers and taking the farm to table concept a step further.

This is the second in a series of four Table to Farm events at Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa- each time partnering with a different local farm and winery (wineries may be located outside of Hawaii – in this March event it is not).

SHERATON-MAUI.COM

Monday, March 23, 2015

03/23 REBECCA LANG, AROUND THE SOUTHERN TABLE, BILLY GARDELL, MONOPOLY MILLIONAIRES CLUB

REBECCA LANG –AUTHOR, AROUND THE SOUTHERN TABLE – SHARES HER TIPS FOR EASTER EATS & FUN

TIPS FOR EASTER EATS & FUN - CELEBRATING EASTER WITH REBECCA LANG

“Around the Southern Table” Author Shares Her Super Secrets for Celebrating the Holidays with a ‘Comforting Meal” & Fine Fashions!

The Easter holiday involves many traditions.  Of course, celebrating the religious holiday is at the top of the list, but for many people Easter is a holiday that involves bringing family and friends together and special -- fashions whether your shopping for a new bonnet or taking advantage of shopping special holiday sales.  On March 23rd, Rebecca Lang –author of “Around the Southern Table, Coming Home to Comforting Meals and Treasured Memories” – is available to share some timely recipes for making memorable meals for Easter.  This talented mother of two will also share some money-saving fashion every mom will appreciate.

ABOUT REBECCA:
Rebecca Lang is a food writer, cooking instructor, and a ninth-generation Southerner.  She is author of Southern Living’s Around the Southern Table, Quick-Fix Southern, Mary Mac’s Tea Room, and Southern Entertaining for a New Generation.  She has appeared on Fox & Friends Weekend, WGN America’s Midday News, and numerous regional and local networks. Rebecca and her cooking have been featured in more than 50 nationally televised Southern Living food segments and in publications such as The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Washington Post, the Houston Chronicle, Wine Enthusiast, FoxNews.com, Glamour and Fitness magazines. She serves as a contributing editor for Southern Living and MyRecipes.com, teaches cooking classes across America, and writes a blog at www.rebeccalangcooks.com that has been featured on the James Beard Foundation Blog, Delights and Prejudices, and noted in Food News Journal’s Best of the Blogs.

WWW.TIPSONTV.COM


COMEDIAN/ACTOR BILLY GARDELL – HOST OF THE NEW NATIONALLY SYNDICATED TV GAME SHOW “MONOPOLY MILLIONAIRES CLUB”

Promoting:  The new nationally syndicated TV game show called “MONOPOLY MILLIONAIRES’ CLUB” hosted by Billy Gardell (“Mike & Molly”). The show premieres in syndication on March 28/29.

2015 marks the 80th anniversary of the classic board game Monopoly. And on March 28 and 29, the game will come to life on the small screen with Monopoly Millionaires’ Club, a new syndicated game show hosted by Billy Gardell (Mike & Molly).

Each hour-long episode will feature five members of the audience selected at random to play games derived from Monopoly (Community Chest, Electric Company, Advance to Boardwalk etc.) with a chance to win up to $100,000. In the show’s final round, every contestant chooses to keep his or her winnings or risk it all for a chance at $1 million. “Like most kids, I grew up playing Monopoly, so being able to help bring this iconic game to life with Monopoly Millionaires’ Club is such an honor for me,” Gardell told EW. “I get to see people’s lives change on a dime—or a million—every week.”

Friday, March 20, 2015

03/20 ANDREW WILSON, DRY CREEK KITCHEN, CHARLIE PALMER, PIGS & PINOT, HARRY WAYNE CASEY, KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND, FEELING YOU! THE 60S, STEVE EVANS

ANDREW WILSON - EXECUTIVE CHEF, DRY CREEK KITCHEN (CHARLIE PALMER’S HEALDSBURG DINING DESTINATION)

Chef Andrew Wilson brings his signature style highlighting seasonal ingredients combined with over 20 years of hands-on fine dining kitchen experience to his role as the new Executive Chef of Dry Creek Kitchen at the Hotel Healdsburg.

Born in Rye, NY, and raised in a small town outside of Scranton, PA, Wilson’s inspiration for simple, seasonal cooking began with summers spent at his grandmother’s house in Greenwich, CT. The youngest of five children, Wilson grew up attending large family gatherings where he frequently enjoyed both his mother’s and grandmother’s traditional Northeastern dishes, including lobster boils and clam bakes. His passion for the culinary industry first blossomed in high school and he took jobs working as a busboy, a dishwasher and eventually a waiter.

Following high school graduation, he took his talents to the West Coast and enrolled in San Francisco State.  After a few years, he decided traditional college wasn’t for him, and registered at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, where he graduated with honors.

Wilson has mastered his craft over the course of two decades alongside some of the nation’s most renowned chefs. After graduation from culinary school, he ventured south and worked under Chef Hubert Des Marais at The Four Seasons Palm Beach. In 1994, he returned to San Francisco to cook at the Cypress Club, working with internationally-recognized Chef Alan McLennon. He then joined the team at Bistro M for the French brasserie inside Hotel Milano under the direction of the Chef Michael Richard. After four years, Wilson then became the Chef de Cuisine at Café Kati, one of San Francisco’s first Asian fusion restaurants.

Following his time at Café Kati, Wilson moved to Chicago and joined Tru Restaurant as Chef Poissonier, where he oversaw numerous varieties of seafood produced under the careful watch of Chef Rick Tramonto. He was then recruited by Chef Michael Kramer, and critically-acclaimed restaurateur David LeBoutillier to work as the Executive Sous Chef at McCrady’s Restaurant in Charleston, S.C., specializing in postmodern Southern fine dining. The restaurant was quite successful, even garnering a spot on Esquire’s Best New Restaurants list. Wilson spent the following ten years as Executive Chef on a variety of concepts from LeBoutillier Associates, including 39 Rue de Jean in Charleston and Brasserie Rouge in Athens, GA. During this experience, he gained valuable restaurant industry knowledge by working closely with LeBouitillier.

Prior to his role at Dry Creek Kitchen, he most recently served as the Chef de Cuisine at Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar inside the Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort and Spa where he mastered his signature European techniques with hints of Southern influences.

At Dry Creek Kitchen, Wilson looks forward to delving into the restaurant’s farm-to-fork philosophy and utilizing Sonoma County’s rich agricultural offerings. He plans to elevate the menu, while also keeping it light, refreshed and simplified by collaborating with Chef Charlie Palmer, General Manager Drew Munro and Wine Director Courtney Humiston. In addition to cooking, Wilson can be found working on his vintage BMWs, Triumph motorcycles and Rock ‘n’ Roll guitar.

ABOUT DRY CREEK KITCHEN 
Chef Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen in the award-winning Hotel Healdsburg takes advantage of its prized location off the town’s historical Spanish-style plaza with warm, minimalistic design, vaulted ceilings, and towering floral arrangements. In warmer months, guests can enjoy wine country al fresco dining on the terrace or cozy up by Spirit Bar’s crackling fireplace on chilly Sonoma nights. Located at the center of three richly producing wine areas—Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys—patrons experience the region’s abundance even further in the neighborhood vineyard and food pairings. Dry Creek Kitchen offers international sophistication mixed with small town personality and the kitchen excels at sourcing and showing off its regional ingredient diversity.

WWW.CHARLIEPALMER.COM

CHARLIE PALMER’S TENTH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF PIGS & PINOT

March 20-21, 2015

One-of-a-Kind Epicurean Weekend Benefit for Share Our Strength®, Local Scholarships and Charities

Chef Charlie Palmer invites you to the 10th Annual Celebration of Pigs & Pinot, March 20-21, 2015 at Hotel Healdsburg. The celebratory weekend offers a series of intimate dining and educational events hosted by Chef Palmer. A cast of Master Sommeliers and international celebrity chefs will showcase some of the world’s greatest Pinots Noirs with perfect pork pairings. All net proceeds from the Pigs & Pinot benefit Share Our Strength*, local scholarships and charities.


HARRY WAYNE CASEY - KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND - NEW ALBUM FEELING YOU! THE 60S 

Features Songs by Sixties Legends Bob Dylan, Ben E. King, The Kinks, The Righteous Brothers, Jackie DeShannon, Aaron Neville & More

KC and The Sunshine Band dominated the 1970s, ruling the airwaves with a unique meeting of Caribbean, pop, R&B and Latin styles that inspired infectious grooves and the distinctive Sunshine Sound, producing such #1 hits as “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s the Way (I Like It),” “Boogie Shoes,” “Shake Your Booty” and many more. Before he impacted the world, teaching them how to boogie, Harry Wayne “KC” Casey was, like the rest of America, being shaped by the music, conflicts, innocence, sex, social and political movements and counterculture of the 1960s.

KC and The Sunshine Band pays tribute to the era on March 10, 2015, with Feeling You! The
60's. The album, part one of the two-part Feeling You project, features covers of songs by
sixties legends Bob Dylan, Ben E. King, The Kinks, The Righteous Brothers, Jackie DeShannon,
Aaron Neville and many more (full track listing below).

Produced by Harry W. Casey & Eric Lue Young for Sunshine Sound Entertainment Inc. except
“You Keep Me Hanging On” Produced by Harry W. Casey, Eric Lue Young & Anton Boyarkin.
Arranged by Harry W. Casey, Chris Cadenhead, Stephen Lashley, David Simmons, Jeffery
Reeves, Fermin Goytisolo. Horns arranged by Harry W. Casey & Michael Cordone.
Music by KC and The Sunshine Band. Horn Solo on “I Hear A Symphony” by John Reid.

About KC and The Sunshine Band:
KC and The Sunshine Band aim to serve a single purpose: to create instant happiness through
music. For over 40 years the group has done just that, topping the charts with seven No. 1
singles and three triple platinum albums, winning three Grammy® Awards, including Album of
the Year for the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, an American Music Award, and becoming the
first act since The Beatles to score four No. 1 pop singles in one 12-month period in 1976. KC
and the Sunshine Band’s unique meeting of Caribbean, pop, R&B and Latin inspired infectious
grooves and their distinctive Sunshine Sound, impacting the world over and teaching them how
to boogie. The band’s infectious sound has given life to countless ad campaigns, hundreds of
movie soundtracks and numerous television shows, including the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2014. In 2001, KC was honored with the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences
Governor’s Award, the highest honor given by a chapter of the Academy. The band’s infectious
sound gives life to countless ad campaigns and hundreds of movie soundtracks. KC and The
Sunshine Band has defined dance music and forever influenced music with its timeless sound
and mission of getting people out of their seats to celebrate, which is still being fulfilled today.

WWW.HEYKCSB.COM



STEVE EVANS - "THE MOVIE GUY"

GREAT MOVIES OPENING THIS WEEKEND AND BOX OFFICE PREDICTIONS AND HOPES. FIND OUT WHAT MOVIES ARE WORTH YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY. GET SET FOR THE WEEKEND.




Thursday, March 19, 2015

03/19 BACKYARD INVENTORS, RYAN PARKER, BILL LEVASSEUR, DAN LEVIN, PREMIERE PROPS, CHRIS TARANTO, VINTAGE PASO: ZINFANDEL WEEKEND

BACKYARD INVENTORS RYAN PARKER AND BILL LEVASSEUR FROM THE WEATHER CHANNELS TV series "BRAINSTORMERS"

"Brainstormers" premieres Sunday, March 22, 2015 on the Weather Channel.

The program follows Bill, Ryan and Ryan's father, Poppy, who use their Colorado homes as a base to build and test inventions used across the country that help fight bad weather and harness its power for everyday use--and all on a shoestring budget.

Starting from scratch and sometimes helping other inventors along the way, the boys' creations run the gamut from homemade mosquito traps and solar water heaters to repairing a nearby town's wind generator--and all done with equal amounts of setbacks, success and fun.
Ryan Parker (The Thinker): Ryan grew up as an All-American farm boy and the apple of his Poppy’s eye in Castle Rock, Colorado. He is a real estate agent and local fireman, but his real passion lays in helping local farmers and others in need by developing low-cost backyard creations to deal with the untimely weather conditions that come with living 7,600 feet above sea level. He loves brainstorming and creating inventions that help fight droughts, hail storms, tornados, and any other weather hurdle that folks are challenged with.

Bill LeVasseur (The Tech): Bill is Ryan’s best friend and according to Poppy, “Bill is the daughter I never had... (because he acts like a little girl).” Bill served his country as an Air Force F-16 mechanic during the desert storm war. While he may be an All- American hero, Ryan and Poppy constantly razz Bill because he drives a Porsche, a Ducati motorcycle, and seems to love everything that’s not made in the USA. However, Bill is a great engineer and has a terrific technical mind that helps get Poppy and Ryan out of difficult build situations.


 Rob “Poppy” Parker (The Tinkerer): Poppy spent his life working full-time at Coors Brewing Co. while also being a full time farmer. He’s recently retired, but spends most of his time inventing, building, and testing his latest creations in hopes of finding new ways to help farmers on a budget, and possibly discovering inventions that could change the world for the better. Poppy is known as the ultimate backyard genius in his area and has been helping the community build backyard inventions for the past 30 years.


DAN LEVIN - PREMIERE PROPS TO AUCTION OFF OVER 700 PROPS FROM FILM AND TELEVISION ON SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2015

PREMIERE PROPS TO AUCTION OFF OVER 700 PROPS FROM FILM AND TELEVISION ON SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2015

ITEMS FROM 2001:  A SPACE ODYSSEY, THE BEATLES, STARGATE, BRAD PITT, MERYL STREEP, JENNIFER LAWRENCE, MELISSA McCARTHY, BILL MURRAY, NAOMI WATTS, JAKE GYLLENHAAL, AL PACINO, TIM BURTON’S BIG EYES, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER AND SINGING IN THE RAIN

Premiere Props announced they will be auctioning off over 700 movie props and entertainment memorabilia at their Hollywood Extravaganza Auction on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at their headquarters in El Segundo, CA.

There will be a preview from 9-11am PT with the live auction beginning at 11am PT.
Items include:

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY – Rare screen used Aries 1-B Lunar Spaceship model
THE BEATLES – All four Beatles signatures from 1963 in a young fan’s autograph book
STARGATE – Kurt Russell’s screen worn costume
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS - Brad Pitt’s stunt bowie knife
AUGUST, OSAGE COUNTY - Meryl Streep’s screen worn costume
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK - Jennifer Lawrence’s screen worn costume
ST. VINCENT – Melissa McCarthy, Bill Murray and Naomi Watts’ screen worn costumes
PRISONERS - Jake Gyllenhaal’s screen worn costume
STAND UP GUYS – Al Pacino’s screen worn costume
BIG EYES – Costumes and props including the wedding dress and screen used Keane paintings
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER – Chris Evans’ transformation costume
SINGING IN THE RAIN – Donald O’Connor’s trademark hat
Michael Jackson – rare autographed memorabilia
SUCKER PUNCH – IMAX Promotion Custom 1968 Yamaha 650 Bobber Motorcycle
Costume Designer Charles LeMaire – original costume design drawings for Hollywood legends including Marilyn Monroe and Bette Davis along with water colors, fabric samples and personal memorabilia

Fans can starting bidding now, placing bids online at www.icollector.com and www.liveauctioneers.com or calling to set up phone bidding with a Premiere Props representative.
Collectors can place proxy bids until the Hollywood Extravaganza Auction goes LIVE at 11am PT on Saturday, March 28, 2015.

For more information, please www.premiereprops.com or www.hollywoodliveauctions.com or call (310) 322-PROP / (888) 761-PROP.
ABOUT PREMIERE PROPS
Premiere Props is the leading marketing memorabilia company to market, authenticate, package, and distribute exclusive movie memorabilia. Since 2001, Premiere Props has represented over 600 movies to date and continues to grow strong. Premiere Props works with some of the largest motion picture studios and independent distributors in the world, such as Paramount Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Miramax, MGM, The Weinstein Company, Sony Screen Gems, Lionsgate, TriStar, Spyglass, Alcon and many more.

WWW.PREMIEREPROPS.COM  
WWW.HOLLYWOODLIVEAUCTIONS.COM


CHRIS TARANTO - COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE - VINTAGE PASO: ZINFANDEL WEEKEND MARCH 20 - 22, 2015

VINTAGE PASO: ZINFANDEL WEEKEND
Paso Robles Wine Country’s signature weekend celebrates all things Zinfandel March 20-22

Zinposium
New this year, is the addition of Zinposium! Zinposium offers a Zinfandel-focused seminar on March 20 as part of Vintage Paso: Zinfandel weekend. We're sorry, Zinposium is sold-out.

Winery Activities
Create your own zinful itinerary to smell, sip and savor the heritage of Paso Robles, with events at more than 140 wineries! Join fellow wine enthusiasts for a selection of wine and chocolate pairings, winemaker dinners, vineyard tours, laid-back barbecues, barrel tastings, live music, and so much more! Visit the Winery Activites tab above to search by winery, day or activity.
While in Paso Robles, find or help remember your new favorite wines, restaurants, wineries, and more with thePasoWineApp for iPhone! Download the PasoWineApp for free in the Apple App Store.

ABOUT PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance represents wineries, growers and businesses in Paso Robles Wine Country. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country is California’s third largest wine region. It encompasses more than 32,000 vineyard acres and 200 wineries. For more information, visit www.pasowine.com. @PasoRoblesWine, #pasowine, #vintagepaso

WWW.PASOWINE.COM

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

03/18 LARRY LIPSON


LARRY LIPSON – AFFORDABLE WINES

For fifty years Larry Lipson was the food critic for the Los Angeles Daily News and now reports from Florida weekly with his thoughts and favorite picks for Food & Wine.  His lovely Wife Lillian is also on hand at the Lipson Institute for advanced wine studies.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

03/17 TIM HERLIHY, ST. PATRICK’S DAY, PATRICK ROWLEY, PATRICK'S OF PRATT STREET

TIM HERLIHY, IRISH WHISKEY AND ST. PATRICK’S DAY EXPERT 

St. Patrick’s Day color? What is Sruffaunoughterluggatoora? Stumped?

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CELEBRATING A TRUE IRISH ST. PATRICK’S DAY

Ditch the green beer. Put away the leprechaun outfit. Forget the Riverdancing. Whether you want to celebrate your Irish heritage or if you just like to have an excuse to celebrate… it’s time to celebrate St. Patricks’ Day with tasteful sophistication.

Fancy a Hot Toddy? A Ginger DEW?  Or are you more in the mood for The Blarney Stone? Not sure how to make these? Or what foods to serve them with? Tim Herlihy, Irish Whiskey and St. Patrick’s Day expert can help. He can offer tips and suggestions to upgrade your St. Patrick’s celebrations, as well as share some trivia about March’s favorite holiday.



PATRICK (PAT) ROWLEY - PATRICK'S OF PRATT STREET – AMERICA’S OLDEST IRISH PUB 

SAME LOCATION SINCE 1863
SAME FAMILY SINCE 1847
IRISH CHARM WITH INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR

Anne and her husband Patrick would like to invite you to America’s Oldest Irish Pub. In 1999, they took over the operation of their family tavern. Among the numerous memorabilia and newspaper articles, they found an old photograph of the interior. That photo helped them make the decision to renovate. They stripped away the formstone and decades of other remodeling. In the process they saved much of the original property, including the original tin ceiling, the oak “stand up” bar, old marble, the brass cash register and numerous ornate cast iron table bases.

"Patrick's", was first known as Patrick Healy’s then Nolan’s and finally about 1904 it became "Rowley's". Rowley's has always been a unique and quirky Tavern. For the last 50 (of our 166) years it has been licensed to sell Beer and Wine seven days a week. Rowley's did not have a sign, a pinball machine, a dartboard, a jukebox, a pool table or any gaming machine of any kind. There was no TV. The last improvement to the property was when "formstone" (a type of stucco) was applied to the exterior walls in the 1950's. in the bar until December of 1976. Food was given away not sold. There was no telephone in the bar. The original phone listing for Delia Rowley, our grandmother who lived upstairs was still valid until 2011. Delia died in 1974 but her phone listing lived on! Rowley’s wouldn't open if it were; too hot, too cold or too wet. For about 25 years before we took it over, when it opened, it was only in the evening. Rowley's never opened on St. Patrick's Day. They didn't like to see the Irish making fools of themselves on a 'Holy Day'.

Rowley's clientele consisted of people from all over the metro area, many of whom lived in the area at one time. Artisans, Craftsmen, Magicians, University Professors, Police Officers, Lawyers, Salesmen, and Factory Workers could be found expressing themselves on common ground. But no matter how heated the conversations, bad manners or obscenities were never tolerated. Patrick’s holds true to that tradition.

The media has honored Patrick’s. We thank: The New York Times for referred to us as “A Jewel of the city, on Pratt Street.” Baltimore’s WHERE MAGAZINE for choosing us as their “Editor’s Pick” and calling us, “Baltimore’s best Bistro”.  THE DAILY RECORD put us on their cover and gave us a three-page article with color photos. WBAL Radio’s Beltway Gourmet, Doug Roberts said our “Crab cakes were beyond great! You MUST try the pork”! WBFF TV and WMAR TV have both included us in their news broadcast and recommended us. The Daily Record profiled our business. Baltimore Magazine showcased us in an excellent article. The City Paper for declaring in September 2003 that Patrick’s had, “Baltimore’s Best Crab Cakes”. In the August 2007 issue of the renown Baltimore Magazine Patrick's was named, "Baltimore's Best Irish Pub". The inflight magazines of SouthWest Air and JetBlue Airlines named Patrick's of Pratt Street "Baltimore's Home for Great Crab Cakes".

WWW.PATRICKSOFPRATT.COM

Monday, March 16, 2015

03/16 JEANANNE GOOSSEN, NBC, THE NIGHT SHIFT, CHLOE LEIGH, KA'ENA WINE

JEANANNE GOOSSEN – ACTRESS, NBC'S "THE NIGHT SHIFT

Jeananne Goossen plays Krista on the NBC medical drama “The Night Shift.”

Smart, beautiful and as comfortable with her sensuality as she is with a scalpel, Krista is a skilled surgical resident with something to prove.

The Canadian-born Goossen is best known on from prominent recurring roles on several series, including “Alcatraz,” “NCIS,” “CSI: NY” and “Emily Owens, M.D.”

Recently, Goossen starred in the hacker thriller “Debug,” opposite Jason Momoa. The film centered around six young computer hackers sent to work on a derelict space freighter who are forced to match wits with a vengeful artificial intelligence. She was also featured in the independent film “This Last Lonely Place,” opposite Rhys Coiro, which premiered at the Newport Film Festival to rave reviews. She was also prominently featured in the Screen Gems hit “The Vow,” opposite Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum.

Goossen is half Chinese, speaks fluent Japanese and has trained in martial arts. She is also an accomplished singer and recently released her first single. Prior to her acting career, she studied biochemistry at McGill University in Montreal.

“THE NIGHT SHIFT”
NBC’s hit summer drama “The Night Shift” returned for season two in February 2015.
Life in the emergency room at San Antonio Memorial is never routine – and the men and women that make up the night shift team are a special breed. The new season finds the crew still recovering from a shocking hostage situation that left one of their colleagues dead. The experience brought them all a little closer but also exposed some personal weaknesses.

Adrenaline junkie TC Callahan (Eoin Macken, “Merlin”) is back at work after facing suspension.
TC’s best friend Topher (Ken Leung, “Lost”) is also back at work and has recovered from the gunshot wound that nearly took his life. Drew (Brendan Fehr, “Roswell”) was dealt some personal blows in the last year but is ready to embark on a new chapter in his life.

Lead night shift physician Jordan Alexander (Jill Flint, “The Good Wife”) – and TC’s Ex – has given up the job of running the night shift for now and she has some big decisions to make about her future.

Paul (Robert Bailey Jr., “Coraline”), still fresh out of medical school, continues to adjust to the rigors of a real-life emergency room. Krista (Jeananne Goossen, “Alcatraz”) also a relatively new intern, has gained some confidence but is still finding her way, while Kenny (JR Lemon, “Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas”), a seasoned nurse, keeps the doctors focused and isn’t afraid to break a few rules to get the job done.

The biggest news of all will come from night shift senior manager Michael Ragosa (Freddy Rodriguez, “Six Feet Under”). After facing a health scare last year, he is ready to make some big changes in his life that will affect everyone on the staff.



CHLOE LEIGH – KAENA WINE

Kaena was launched in 2001 to showcase Mikael’s deep passion for Grenache. Kaena is a boutique winery that sources from Tierra Alta Vineyard and Larner Vineyard in the Ballard Canyon AVA , primarily.  Mikael who is part Hawaiian and raised on the Oahu shores, uses a shortened version of his given name for the brand – Kaena – which means “potential for greatness”.

That “greatness” is evident in the wines – in 2006 Wine Spectator named Mikael one of the top 10 new Rhone  producers.  Known affectionately by his peers and fans as The Grenache King – Kaena produces 2000 cases of Rhone & other varietals with an emphasis on Grenache.

Mikael credits his success, growth and nickname to his passion for making truly handcrafted wines.  He also credits his wife, Sally, for her design and management of the Kaena Tasting Room located in Los Olivos, California.  

WWW.KAENAWINE.COM 

Friday, March 13, 2015

03/13 RICHARD ARROWOOD, AMAPOLA CREEK, CLODAGH MCKENNA, CLODAGH'S IRISH KITCHEN, STEVE EVANS

RICHARD ARROWOOD - PROPRIETOR/WINEMASTER, AMAPOLA CREEK

Richard Arrowood is an iconic winemaster who has been making wine exclusively in Sonoma County for more than for 45 years. From 1974 through 1990, he created the wines for Chateau St. Jean, where he developed some of the first vineyard-designate Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon produced in Sonoma County.

He and his wife, Alis, founded Arrowood Winery with the 1985 vintage. Each year, they made extraordinary small-lot varietals and vineyard designates. Richard was the winemaster at Arrowood Winery until June 2010, when he resigned his position to devote himself full-time to making wines for his estate winery, Amapola Creek Vineyards and Winery.

BIOGRAPHY
Richard Lee Arrowood was born in San Francisco and raised in Santa Rosa, California, in the heart of Sonoma County. He began his winemaking career in 1965, working at Korbel Champagne Cellars while attending college. He earned a B.A. in organic chemistry at California State University, Sacramento, and completed graduate work in enology at California State University, Fresno.
From Korbel, he moved first to United Vintners and then to Sonoma Vineyards, where he worked for Rodney Strong and further developed his appreciation for the potential of single vineyard sites. In 1974 the founders of Chateau St. Jean chose Richard as their first employee and winemaster.
Within a few years, Richard had gained critical acclaim and a worldwide reputation for his wines. He produced vineyard-designate Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Fumé Blanc, Johannisberg Riesling, and Gewürztraminer bottlings in unprecedented numbers: from the 1980 vintage, the winery marketed nine single-vineyard Chardonnays from within Sonoma County.

By producing numerous small-lot, single-vineyard wines, Richard successfully demonstrated the significance of site—of terroir. Using virtually identical winemaking techniques for a given varietal, he showed that the differences in the resulting wines came from the vineyard, not the cellar. It was a revolutionary accomplishment. Richard received perhaps his greatest accolades for botrytis-affected late harvest wines, which rivaled even the great Trockenbeerenauslesen in richness and intensity.
In 1981 Richard met Alis Demers at the first California Wine Experience in San Francisco. They started dating and were married in 1985. In the same year, they created another partnership and began the plans for building Arrowood Vineyards & Winery.

Richard remained at Chateau St. Jean as executive vice president/winemaster until joining Alis at Arrowood full-time in 1990. Together they created a highly acclaimed prestige brand, which Robert Mondavi Corp. purchased in 2000. Richard and Alis stayed on, but after Constellation Brands purchased Mondavi in 2004 and subsequently sold Arrowood in 2005 to the (now bankrupt) Legacy Estate Group, Richard and Alis began Amapola Creek Winery.

Jackson Family Wines acquired Arrowood Vineyards & Winery through the bankruptcy court in September 2006. Richard continued as winemaster there until June 2010, when he left to devote his energies full-time to Amapola Creek Vineyards and Winery.

WWW.AMAPOLACREEK.COM


CLODAGH MCKENNA – FOOD PERSONALITY, CHEF AND COOKBOOK AUTHOR, CLODAGH’S IRISH KITCHEN

Has been called the “Rachael Ray of Ireland” and was a protégé of the legendary Darina Allen! She has some great recipes for everything from quick weeknight meals and sophisticated dinner parties to weekend baking and a modern twist on the classic Irish breakfast.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
The food scene in Ireland is thriving, and Clodagh McKenna is at the forefront of it all. Clodagh presents today's Irish cooking at its best with Clodagh's Irish Kitchen, in which she takes the stereotypical Irish dishes Americans usually think of and revitalizes them to the current Irish palate. Dubbed as Ireland's answer to Martha Stewart by Forbes Magazine, Clodagh says, "In Ireland life revolves around the kitchen, whether it’s cups of tea and a piece of cake fresh from the range, a family supper, Sunday lunch, or our famed Irish breakfast – life happens over a simmering pot in Ireland. I have gathered all my family recipes from my earliest memories of baking cakes and breads with my mum and sisters on a Saturday to comforting suppers that I love to eat when I go home to my more sophisticated Irish menus I cooked for the Taoiseach of Ireland. We love to celebrate at home in Ireland, so I have gathered all my favorite Irish recipes and given them my twist to make them even more delicious and achievable just for you…"

With Ireland's rich culinary history, it’s understandable that internationally recognized dishes such as Colcannon and Soda Bread should be representative of the country’s identity, but there is far more to discover about Irish cooking. Let Clodagh guide you through this tempting collection of 150 recipes—Potato Dumplings are reinvigorated with a Spicy Cashel Blue Sauce, while the famous Full Irish Breakfast is given a new lease of life as a tortilla. With everything from soups and stews to preserves and sophisticated dinner party dishes, Clodagh’s Irish Kitchen is a mouthwatering adventure around this sumptuous cuisine.

WWW.CLODAGHMCKENNA.COM


STEVE EVANS - "THE MOVIE GUY"

GREAT MOVIES OPENING THIS WEEKEND AND BOX OFFICE PREDICTIONS AND HOPES. FIND OUT WHAT MOVIES ARE WORTH YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY. GET SET FOR THE WEEKEND.




Thursday, March 12, 2015

03/12 DENNIS LEHANE, WORLD GONE BY, ALEX GUARNASCHELLI, REAL FRUIT DIPPED IN DARK CHOCOLATE

DENNIS LEHANE – AWARD WINNING AUTHOR, WORLD GONE BY 

DENNIS LEHANE from both the page…and the big screen! He’s a favorite of both Ben Affleck and Leonardo Dicaprio….writing the blockbuster hits like MYSTIC RIVER (directed by Clint Eastwood), GONE BABY GONE (directed by Ben Affleck)…and SHUTTER ISLAND (directed by Martin Scorcese)!

This fall, Fox Searchlight Pictures released the movie, THE DROP, marking Lehane’s screenwriting debut and served as the inspiration for his book of the same name.  Next up…Warner Brothers plans to release LIVE BY NIGHT…directed and produced by Ben Affleck, with Leonardo DiCaprio also producing.

Today we’ll talk to Dennis Lehane, who the Washington Post calls “among the most interesting and accomplished American novelists of any genre or category”…about all of these incredible accomplishments….and about his latest novel out in March….WORLD GONE BY.

WORLD GONE BY
Dennis Lehane continues the epic story of Joe Coughlin, who made his debut in The Given Day and returned with a vengeance in Live by Night, in his highly anticipated novel WORLD GONE BY (Hardcover; William Morrow; On Sale: March 10, 2015). Meticulously researched and beautifully rendered, WORLD GONE BY follows Coughlin as he navigates the criminal underworld of Ybor City, Florida during World War II, ultimately discovering that another treacherous war lurks even closer to home.  

Lehane’s stories have found success on both the page and the screen.  The film adaptations of his bestselling novels MYSTIC RIVER (directed by Clint Eastwood), GONE BABY GONE (directed by Ben Affleck)…and SHUTTER ISLAND (directed by Martin Scorcese) have all gone on to become blockbuster hits in Hollywood.

It’s been ten years since the former crime kingpin Joe Coughlin lost his wife in a rain of gunfire. Now, in WORLD GONE BY, Joe lives his life deep in the shadows as a consigliore to the Bartolo Crime Family in Tampa. There he tries to raise his son, Tomás, in peace, traveling between Tampa and his son’s native Cuba during the height of World War II. Ever the operator, Joe moves easily between the black, white, and Cuban underworlds, crossing paths with Tampa’s social elite, US Naval intelligence, the Lansky-Luciano mob, and the mob-financed government of Fulgencio Batista. He has it all—money, power, a beautiful mistress, and anonymity. But then word arrives from a prison inmate that someone has placed a contract on Joe’s life. Trying to ferret out both the killer and the man who hired him, Joe takes the reader on a ride through the growth of the mob during a world at war, which leads us from a masterfully choreographed Ash Wednesday gun battle in the streets of Ybor City to a chilling, heartbreaking climax in a Cuban sugar cane field, during which all the worst truths are uncovered and the wages of a lifetime of sin are finally paid in full.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born and raised in Dorchester, Massachusetts, DENNIS LEHANE is the author of twelve previous novels—most recently, The Drop, and the New York Times bestsellers Live by Night; Moonlight Mile; Gone, Baby, Gone; Mystic River; Shutter Island; and The Given Day—as well as Coronado, a collection of short stories and a play. A Drink Before the War won the Shamus Award for Best First P.I. Novel. Mystic River won the Anthony and Barry Awards for Best Novel, and the Massachusetts Book Award in Fiction from the Massachusetts Center for the Book. It was also a finalist for the PEN/L.L. Winship Award. Live by Night won the Edgar Award for Best Novel and the Florida Book Award Gold Medal for Fiction. He and his wife, Angie, currently live in California with their children.

DENNISLEHANE.COM

 
CELEBRITY CHEF ALEX GUARNASCHELLI – REAL FRUIT DIPPED IN DOVE DARK CHOCOLATE 

Alex Guarnaschelli, who is the award winning executive chef at New York City’s Butter restaurant, as well as a television personality who frequently appears on several Food Network and Cooking Show programs including Chopped, Iron Chef America and Alex’s Day Off  helped DOVE launch the new Real Fruit Dipped in DOVE Dark Chocolate.

BIO:
Alexandra "Alex" Guarnaschelli is a celebrity chef and executive chef at New York City's Butter restaurant and was executive chef at the award-winning The Darby restaurant before its closing. She appears as a television personality on the Food Network shows Chopped,Iron Chef America, All Star Family Cook-off, and The Best Thing I Ever Ate. She hosts Alex's Day Off and The Cooking Loft on Food Network and Cooking Channel. In 2012, she was crowned America's Next Iron Chef on Iron Chef America, currently the only woman with that distinction and only the second female ever to obtain that TV honor. In 2013, Guarnaschelli's first cookbook was published. Old-School Comfort Food: The Way I Learned to Cook mixes autobiographical details with recipes that she has loved during her life as a cook adapted for the home.

BACKGROUND AND PERSONAL LIFE
Guarnaschelli is the daughter of cookbook editor Maria Guarnaschelli and John Guarnaschelli. She is a graduate of Horace Mann School and graduated from Barnard College in 1991. Her culinary experience started while watching her mother test numerous recipes at home while editing cookbooks. Alex then began to work under Larry Forgione. After becoming a cook, Guarnaschelli worked at a number of restaurants in France, New York and Los Angeles, including Guy Savoy's La Butte Chaillot. She also worked at Daniel Boulud's eponymous restaurant and Joachim Splichal's Patina before becoming the executive chef at Butter. In 2007, she married Brandon Clark, they have one child, Ava.

DOVECHOCOLATE.COM 
FACEBOOK.COM/DOVECHOCOLATE

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

03/11 LARRY LIPSON, PIER PAOLO CELESTE, ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION, ITALIAN APPLES


LARRY LIPSON – AFFORDABLE WINES FOR VALENTINES DAY

For fifty years Larry Lipson was the food critic for the Los Angeles Daily News and now reports from Florida weekly with his thoughts and favorite picks for Food & Wine.  His lovely Wife Lillian is also on hand at the Lipson Institute for advanced wine studies.


PIER PAOLO CELESTE - TRADE COMMISSIONER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE US, ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION

ABOUT THE ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION:
The Italian Trade Commission is the Government Agency entrusted with the mission to facilitate contacts between Italian companies and the rest of the world. In the United States our objective is to expand relations between Italian and American companies and to develop trade between Italy and the U.S. To attain this goal, we disseminate information, we assist companies in selecting sectors and partners, we promote products through exhibitions, b-to-b meetings, tradeshows, seminars, trade delegations both in Italy and the U.S. and though tastings and media campaigns. Our global network counts 75 offices in 65 countries. In the U.S. we are located in New York, Atlanta, Chicago. Los Angeles and Miami.

ONE OF THE NEWER IMPORTS: ITALIAN APPLES IN THE U.S.
Two years after the trade agreement allowing the export of Italian apples to America, the Italian industry is continuing the promotion of Italian apples in the United States.

On February 14th the Consortium FROM Italian Alps launched a promotion with Corrado’s Supermarkets’ 5 locations in New Jersey, where  Italian Galas, Granny Smith and Golden Delicious will be available through February 28th. The activity is implemented in collaboration with  the Italian Trade Commission office in New York.  With a production of 2.4 million tons, Italy is among the biggest world players in the industry and is at the forefront of research and innovation in the sector. Technology allows the treatment of pathologies in the most natural ways. That translates to delicious, safe and healthy products.

Living in the production areas and consuming the products, producers are the best testimonials of FROM awareness of the environmental and social responsibility aspects of the production. Passion and dedication are the secret ingredients of FROM’s success- 15,000 producers grouped in 4 producer organizations in a system that promotes the fair share of responsibilities and strict set of production values.  You will taste the difference.

About FROM Italian Alps: FROM was established in June 2009 by four majour producer organizations of Trentino and South Tyrol (Melinda, la Trentina, VOG and Vi.P) to access and develop markets outside the European Union. FROM counts on the hard work of its growers, producing over 20 different varieties and an average production of 1,5 million tons/year, of which 50.000 tons are certified organic.

WWW.ICE.GOV.IT
WWW.ITALTRADE.COM

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

03/10 JR LEMON, NBC, THE NIGHT SHIFT, LESLIE GREEN, THE HUNGRY HOUSE WIFE

JR LEMON – ACTOR & FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYER, NBC'S "THE NIGHT SHIFT" 

As a male nurse, Kenny keeps the doctors focused on the tasks at hand and is always at the ready. He works hard to ensure that patients get the care they need, even if it means he has to break a few rules.

Lemon was born and raised in Atlanta. A Stanford University graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Science and Engineering, Lemon was signed as a running back by the Oakland Raiders after finishing college.

After being released from the Raiders, he relocated to Southern California with the intention of continuing his football training. Little did he know at the time, but that move exposed him to a life in the entertainment industry. While appearing in numerous national commercial and print campaigns, Lemon honed his craft to pursue an acting career.

Shortly after booking “The Night Shift,” Lemon landed a lead role in “Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas,” the latest installment in Lionsgate’s successful film franchise. He was most recently seen on CBS’ “Hawaii Five-O.”

Lemon also continues to do much of the motion capture on the extremely popular EA Sports video game football series “Madden NFL.” He currently lives in Los Angeles.

“THE NIGHT SHIFT” - Season Two Premiere, Monday, February 23 (10 p.m.)
NBC’s hit summer drama “The Night Shift” returns for season two in 2015.
Life in the emergency room at San Antonio Memorial is never routine – and the men and women that make up the night shift team are a special breed. The new season finds the crew still recovering from a shocking hostage situation that left one of their colleagues dead. The experience brought them all a little closer but also exposed some personal weaknesses.

Adrenaline junkie TC Callahan (Eoin Macken, “Merlin”) is back at work after facing suspension.
TC’s best friend Topher (Ken Leung, “Lost”) is also back at work and has recovered from the gunshot wound that nearly took his life. Drew (Brendan Fehr, “Roswell”) was dealt some personal blows in the last year but is ready to embark on a new chapter in his life.

Lead night shift physician Jordan Alexander (Jill Flint, “The Good Wife”) – and TC’s Ex – has given up the job of running the night shift for now and she has some big decisions to make about her future.

Paul (Robert Bailey Jr., “Coraline”), still fresh out of medical school, continues to adjust to the rigors of a real-life emergency room. Krista (Jeananne Goossen, “Alcatraz”) also a relatively new intern, has gained some confidence but is still finding her way, while Kenny (JR Lemon, “Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas”), a seasoned nurse, keeps the doctors focused and isn’t afraid to break a few rules to get the job done.

The biggest news of all will come from night shift senior manager Michael Ragosa (Freddy Rodriguez, “Six Feet Under”). After facing a health scare last year, he is ready to make some big changes in his life that will affect everyone on the staff.

“The Night Shift” is produced by Sony Pictures Television Inc. Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah (“Freaks and Geeks,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”) serve as executive producers and writers. Pierre Morel (“Taken”) was executive producer and director on the pilot episode.


LESLIE GREEN – AUTHOR OF THE POPULAR FOOD BLOG: THE HUNGRY HOUSE WIFE

TheHungryHousewife.com is the perfect place to find delicious and easy family friendly meals.

Leslie is a mother who is passionate about food and family! She is the author of a popular food blog, The Hungry Housewife.  Leslie inspires her readers with family friendly no-frills tips and would love to share recipe ideas with your listeners.

Leslie will chat about:
The joy of cooking with kids – getting creative and making it fun
Easy weeknight meals and pumping up you pasta with Johnsonville Italian Sausage

THEHUNGRYHOUSEWIFE.COM

Monday, March 9, 2015

03/09 DAVE HOLMES, AMERICAN CANVAS, OVATION TV, CHEF SAM MARVIN, NATIONAL SAUCE MONTH

DAVE HOLMES – ACTOR/COMEDIAN/WRITER AND HOST, AMERICAN CANVAS  - OVATION TV’S BRAND NEW ORIGINAL SERIES 

OVATION TV’S BRAND NEW ORIGINAL SERIES AMERICAN CANVAS  PUTS A NEW SPIN ON CULTURAL TOURISM  WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AT 10PM ET

Actor/Comedian/Writer Dave Holmes Takes Viewers on an Insider’s Art and Culture Tour of San Francisco, Austin, and Miami Beginning March 11

Get ready to discover the artistic and cultural sides of three very different American cities. Ovation TV, America’s only arts network, is debuting a new three-part original series exploring the historic and creative communities unique to San Francisco, CA, Austin, TX and Miami, FL. Hosted by actor/comedian/writer Dave Holmes (MTV, Reno 911), American Canvas will have its world premiere on Wednesday, March 11 at 10pm ET, only on Ovation TV.

American Canvas is produced by Ovation Studios and will air three, hour-long episodes weekly at 10pm, beginning on Wednesday, March 11, with a VOD sneak-peek on Wednesday, March 4.

ABOUT OVATION TV
Ovation TV is America’s only arts network, whose mission is to inspire the world through all forms of art and artistic expression. Ovation TV programming is a one-of-a-kind mix of original and selectively curated art-centric series, documentaries, films and specials. The network reaches a national audience of over 52 million homes and is available on cable, satellite, and telco systems, such as Comcast Cable/Xfinity, DIRECTV, Time Warner Cable, DISH, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Charter, Bright House Networks, RCN, and Hawaiian Telcom. Ovation TV is also available on VOD (in both standard and high definition). The network’s diversified viewer experiences extend across its linear network, the popular ovationtv.com, and active social presence on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and more. Ovation TV is a cause based-media company and is deeply engaged with the arts both nationally and locally, providing more than $16 million in contributions and in-kind support to community organizations, cultural institutions, and arts education programs. See the Ovation TV Facebook page for the latest information and conversations happening across the brand and the arts: www.facebook.com/OvationTV.

MORE ABOUT DAVID:
Dave Holmes is a comic, actor, writer, and television personality based in Los Angeles, CA. After working for 5 years as an MTV VJ, Dave has hosted shows for CBS, Bravo, Comedy Central, Court TV, E!, FX, History, TV Guide Network and many others. He is Writer-At-Large for Esquire Magazine, a contributor to New York Magazine, a performer at Upright Citizens Brigade, IO West and Second City theaters. His blog American Aquarium Drinker was listed by Paste Magazine, The Huffington Post and AfterElton.com as one of their must-read comedy blogs, and he has been named one of NPR’s 10 Favorite Pop Culture Personalities. [He’s a frequent guest on such podcasts as Never Not Funny, Comedy Bang Bang and You Made It Weird and a commentator on clip shows all over the television dial. His monthly comedy game show The Friday Forty, which he co-hosts and co-produces with “The Walking Dead” Executive Producer Scott Gimple, is currently running at Chris Hardwick’s Nerdist Theater in Hollywood.] For 5 seasons, he recurred as Leslie Frost, proprietor of Reno’s finest collectibles store Buy Curios on Comedy Central’s “Reno 911.” Dave’s first book “Party Of One” will be published by Random House in May 2016.

WWW.OVATIONTV.COM


CHEF SAM MARVIN’S – MARCH IS NATIONAL SAUCE MONTH - (CREATOR OF ECHO & RIG BUTCHER/STEAKHOUSE IN LAS VEGAS 

Celebrate this March’s National Sauce Month with esteemed chef Sam Marvin’s  savory sauces that pair perfectly with any steak.

Here are 3 sauce recipes by Sam Marvin that will highlight every meat dish this March.

1. Brandy Mushroom Sauce
2. Charred Onion Sauce
3. Preserved Lemon Chimichurri

INFO ON HIS FAMOUS ECHO & RIG BUTCHER/STEAKHOUSE, NAMED ZAGAT’S “TEN HOTTEST RESTAURANTS IN LAS VEGAS”

How do you take a classic staple of American dining, the steakhouse, and break down the traditional thinking to create something entirely new and exciting?  That was the question that acclaimed chef and restaurateur Sam Marvin (creator of the much-celebrated Los Angeles restaurant Bottega Louie) posed when he decided the time was right to reinvent what has long been the trademarks of the steakhouse genre – masculine vibe, dark rooms, fancy waiters, slabs of oversized beef and overly expensive pricing. The answer became Echo & Rig Butcher and Steakhouse, just opened at the charming Tivoli Village just off of Summerlin Parkway; 15 minutes from the famed Las Vegas Strip.

At Echo & Rig, Marvin introduces a pioneering new concept which will transform the long-held theories behind the steakhouse formula while simultaneously reintroducing the neighborhood butcher shop. The Echo & Rig Butcher Shop is a stunning homage to meat featuring one of the most acclaimed butchers in the country, a large open glass meat locker, vertical displays and an exhibition/demonstration area.

ECHOANDRIG.COM

Friday, March 6, 2015

03/06 JAMES CARLING, VENTURA LIMONCELLO, NICK CLIFFORD, VH1, HINDSIGHT, STEVE EVANS, THE MOVIE REPORT

JAMES CARLING – PRESIDENT, VENTURA LIMONCELLO

Conceived in Italy, Born in California!

Ventura Limoncello celebrates the rich tradition of Italy while embracing the adventurous style of California. Like all things Italian, Ventura Limoncello radiates passion and pleasure. We are pleased to now offer 3 award winning, artisan, handcrafted liqueurs: Ventura Limoncello Originale, Ventura Limoncello Crema and Ventura Orangecello Blood Orange. We also distribute Ventura Limoncello Vinaigrette.

Our tantalizing, all-natural limoncello infusions bring together our generation-honed recipe with locally grown fruit. We use only carefully selected lemon varietals, grown in the protected valleys and rolling hills of Ventura County, California. The fruit is allowed to ripen fully in steady sunshine, tempered by fresh breezes from the Pacific.

Impress your friends by pouring our ice-cold limoncello into chilled glasses for a perfect after meal cordial. Watch conversations come alive as your guests sip this smile-inducing libation. Or take this old-world beverage to new-world heights by indulging in our limoncello recipes for dazzling desserts and cocktails.

Please visit the retail locations that carry our liqueurs to pick up a bottle. You can find them on our Where to Purchase page. Or enjoy one of our restaurant partners who proudly serve our liqueurs in signature cocktails and desserts. Some even use our liqueurs as their “secret ingredient” in their dishes…

Our premium citrus liqueurs embrace today’s West Coast lifestyle, while paying grateful homage to our Italian legacy. Ventura Limoncello offers a pleasant way to unwind after a long day and a delicious meal. It embodies La Dolce Vita, “California Style”.

MORE ABOUT:
The Ventura Limoncello Company was founded in 2007 by James Carling and Manuela Zaretti-Carling. Our mission is to be the premier producer of limoncello liqueurs in the United States. We use the recipe handed down to Manuela from her Nonna in Italy. Ventura County, California, is home to some of the most amazing lemons in the world and their peels make a world class Limoncello. According to the US Department of Agriculture, approximately 80% of all lemons grown in the US come from Ventura County. Due to the year round lemon growing season, we produce Ventura Limoncello in small batches all year.

We have also released our Ventura Orangecello liqueur using blood oranges, also grown in Ventura County. Unlike lemons, blood oranges are seasonal in Ventura. Our Orangecello Blood Orange will only be produced seasonally.

We work direct with local Ventura County growers who pick tree-ripened citrus to our specifications.

Ventura Limoncello Originale was released in February, 2008 and was initally well received. Our Limoncello was awarded Gold Medal at the 2011 and 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the Platinum Medal at the 2009 LA SIP Awards. Ventura Limoncello Originale has been America’s highest rated Limoncello 4-years in a row. Ventura Limoncello Crema was relased in October, 2008. It was awarded Gold Medal at the 2010 LA SIP Awards.

Ventura Orangecello Blood Orange was released in May, 2011. It was recognized as Double Gold Medal, “Best in Class” at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Ventura Limoncello’s liqueurs are all natural and handcrafted. We hand peel all the fruit. This ensures only the top layer of peel containing the oils are used. No pith. Our natural processes produce aromatic and full flavor liqueurs. The true sign of an all natural Limoncello is “Il Collarino” (the little collar). This is formed by the citrus oils that gather at the top of the bottle. In our Limoncello Crema, milk fat may gather at the top. A quick shake before serving mixes everything back together in the bottle.

WWW.VENTURALIMONCELLO.COM


NICK CLIFFORD – ACTOR, VH1’S NEW HIT SERIES HINDSIGHT 

Please find info attached on Nick Clifford who stars on the VH1 new hit series HINDSIGHT (Wednesdays at 10:00pm).  VH1 audiences are tuning in weekly to see how the main character Becca (Laura Ramsey) will travel back in time to decide whether or not to change her past.  Nick plays Andy who is Becca’s love interest and whose storyline becomes more complicated in future episodes.          
               
From The Executive Producers of "Masters of Sex" And A Co-Executive Producer and Director of "Orange Is The New Black"!

After graduating from Brown University Nick came out to LA and in a short time he landed work on television series including,  BIG BANG THEORY and SUPER FUN NIGHT and various other series like the hit comedy COUPLES. The role that critics took notice of Nick’s work was the short film “The Opportunist”. Nick played the central con man character who is so creepy he seems to be capable of doing anything. This film was picked for the Official Selection: Critics’ Week, Cannes Film Festival.

Nick is an accomplished pianist. In his free time he is a foodie and enjoys finding new restaurants and he also shares his mathematical skills as tutor for all ages.

MORE ABOUT NICK:
When Nick Clifford walks into a room, his handsome looks, genuine personality and striking smile are so captivating that immediately you know he is a force to be reckoned with. What you don’t know is that Nick is a magna cum laude graduate of Brown University in financial economics, a classically trained pianist for 14 years, a high school tutor and an amazing chef who has lived and traveled around the world developing a sophistication that is rare for a young Hollywood artist.

Nick stars in the new original VH1 hit series HINDSIGHT (Wednesdays at 10:00pm) as the quintessential nice guy, Andy Kelly. The VH1 time travel drama, starring Laura Ramsey as Andy’s love interest, is generating a growing fan base as well as garnering critical acclaim.

Nick moved to Los Angeles upon his graduation from Brown to pursue his craft. Initially, he co-starred in the popular web comedy series, COUPLES, while simultaneously working at Lionsgate Films to gain an inside perspective on the business side of the industry. COUPLES caught the attention of executives and he was immediately signed to Coronel Group, where he quickly landed guest starring roles on television series including The Big Bang Theory, 2 Broke Girls and Super Fun Night to name a few. He also co-starred in the 4-part original Chipotle mini-series FARMED AND DANGEROUS about the outrageous and twisted world of industrial agriculture. Presented by Hulu, the mini-series won a prestigious Clio Award for Branded Entertainment.

Clifford, raised in New York City, first appear on the stage starring in High School productions including GUYS & DOLLS and GREASE. His terrific performance earned him an apprenticeship at the Powerhouse Theater Company and New York Stage & Film at Vassar College in his senior year, where he began studying classical theater. Nick attended Brown University where he majored in Financial Economics while simultaneously taking lead roles on Brown’s main stages, in student television series, and with the hugely popular on-campus sketch comedy team Out of Bounds. Nick also served as Executive Director of the Ivy Film Festival at Brown, the largest student-run film festival in the world, which sent him to the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.

A career turning point for Nick was playing the lead in the short film THE OPPORTUNIST, which was selected for the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in their short film competition at the 52nd Semaine de la Critique, receiving rave reviews. THE OPPORTUNIST is a dark, character-driven thriller that tells a night in the life of a social shape-shifter addicted to the visceral thrill of invading the lives of others. That year, THE OPPORTUNIST had the distinct honor of being the sole American short film in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

Off screen, Nick is an accomplished pianist, a graphic artist, and has worked and trained with classical chefs around the world. In his time off, he’s built a private tutoring company that works with kids of all ages that helps to supplement his income and keep his mind sharp. He’s been to (almost) every continent in the world, climbed the pyramids of Giza and navigated the dense swamps of South Vietnam. When he’s not working, Nick spends his time exploring California vast outdoors, playing paddle tennis in Venice, hiking the trails in Griffith Park or exploring LA’s extensive art galleries.



STEVE EVANS - "THE MOVIE GUY"

GREAT MOVIES OPENING THIS WEEKEND AND BOX OFFICE PREDICTIONS AND HOPES. FIND OUT WHAT MOVIES ARE WORTH YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY. GET SET FOR THE WEEKEND.