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Chef Stefan Richter - Bravo's “Top Chef”
Stefan was born in Finland but spent the majority of his childhood in Germany, where he began culinary training in his early teens. He worked his way through various European kitchens, learning new techniques and collecting awards along the way. In 1998, he joined master chefs Grant McPherson, Sotta Kuhn, Jacques Torres, Jean Philip Maury and Marc Poidevin as part of the creative team for the opening of the Bellagio Hotel, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas. As Executive Sous-Chef, he created, developed and executed menus for the $25 million-dollar banquet kitchen. Since then, he has held a number of Executive Chef positions and most recently worked with Celestino Drago at Enoteca Drago before opening his own business, Stefan's Catering in Santa Monica. Although he currently resides in Los Angeles, he spends his summer months hunting and fishing in his native Finland.
Natalie MacLean "Nat Decants"
The new Drinks Matcher from Nat Decants is available now for your smartphone. It's like having a personal sommelier and a bartender at your side. Natalie MacLean, creator of Nat Decants, the wine web site at www.nataliemaclean.com, has teamed up with the software developer bitHeads to create an application that works on your iPhone, iPod Touch, BlackBerry Bold and BlackBerry Curve. To fund her late-night vinous habits, Natalie MacLean holds down day jobs as a wine writer, speaker and judge. An accredited sommelier, she is a member of the National Capital Sommelier Guild, the Wine Writers Circle and several French wine societies with complicated and impressive names. Funny, brainy and unapologetically tipsy, her goal in life is to intimidate those crusty wine stewards at fine restaurants with her staggering knowledge. Natalie's book Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass chronicles her last three years sipping, spitting and slogging her way through the international wine world to visit some its most evocative places and to meet some of its most charismatic, obsessive and innovative characters. The book has been described as A Year in Provence meets Kitchen Confidential then goes Sideways.Red, White and Drunk All Over was recently chosen the Best Wine Literature Book in the English language at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. The competition receives more than 6,000 books from 60 countries each year. The awards were created at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany ten years ago to reward those who "cook and drink with words." The book also won the Culinary Literary Book Award in the Cordon d’Or international culinary arts competition and was nominated for the Evelyn Richardson Prize for Non-Fiction at the Atlantic Book Awards. At the World Food Media Awards in Australia, Natalie was named the World's Best Drink Writer. The competition received more than 1,000 entries. An international and independent panel of 47 food and wine experts selected her from a short-list of 14 nominees from the U.S., Canada, U.K., New Zealand and Australia. Natalie has also won four James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards for her writing about drinks, including the MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award, in memory of one of America's greatest food writers. This award was given out at the end of the ceremony for work of literary merit. She was also nominated for this award in 2005. Natalie has also won an unprecedented six Bert Greene Awards for excellence in food journalism, presented by the International Association of Culinary Professionals, five awards from the American Association of Food Journalists, four from the North American Travel Writers Association and three honorable mentions at the National Magazine Awards.
Peter Mondavi, Jr - Proprietor Charles Krug Winery
“I was born and raised around grapes and wine. It has always been part of me,” says Peter Mondavi, Jr., 50, the youngest son of family patriarch Peter Mondavi, Sr., and grandson of Cesare and Rosa Mondavi, the Napa Valley pioneers who purchased the historic Charles Krug winery in 1943. Peter Mondavi, Jr.’s education began as a boy growing up on the Charles Krug estate in St. Helena, CA, where he and older brother Marc sanded fermenting tanks, unpacked glasses, worked in the winery’s laboratory, and drove tractors through the vineyard.
Peter inherited his love of food from his grandmother Rosa, who taught him the fine points of food and wine pairing. While Charles Krug wines reflect their origins in the most prestigious Napa Valley appellations, they resemble his grandmother’s beloved Italian wine in one way: they are well balanced and structured to accompany food. Demonstrating a commitment to the land that only a family-owned and operated business can make, the third generation of Mondavis has invested $21.6 million in replanting the 850-acre estate, renewing the winery’s focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and other red Bordeaux varietals and converting to sustainable farming methods. Another $8.5 million has been invested in the historic renovation of the original 1800’s stone structures. Peter’s leadership and environmental stewardship was recognized in Vanity Fair's 2007 “Green Issue,” and he was invited to pour Charles Krug wines at the premiere of Leonardo DiCaprio’s environmental documentary film, "The 11th Hour," in August, 2007. As international wine conglomerates take root elsewhere in the Valley, the Mondavis are resolute in their intention to remain independent and family owned. “Between Dad, Marc and me, we have been making wine from grapes grown on these vineyards for over 60 years. There’s a love and dedication there that I believe you can taste in the wine,” Peter says. Peter Mondavi, Jr., may have started his education at the winery, but he completed it at Stanford, where he earned a BS in mechanical engineering, an MS in engineering management and an MBA. He is a prolific fundraiser for various charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, among others. Peter was named the 2008 California Wine Ambassador by the Portland Classic Wines Auction, chosen from the most respected wineries producing premium wines representative of their regions. In addition to his winery activities he sits on the boards of the Stanford Business School Alumni Association, Yountville Appellation Association and the Bottlenotes Advisory Board. Peter is a former board member of both the Napa Valley Vintners Association and Family Winemakers of California. He is also an active member of numerous wine-related organizations, including the Wine and Food Society of San Francisco. He lives in Napa Valley with his wife Katie Williams-Mondavi and their two children.
Debra Holtzman -Safety Expert
Debra Holtzman is a world renowned safety and health expert and an award-winning author. She is a specialist on the subjects of injury prevention, green living, toxic chemicals, lifestyle, travel, food safety and more. She has been helping families for nearly two decades. She has a law degree, an M.A. in occupational health and safety, and a B.A. in communications. Her newest book, "The Safe Baby: A Do-it-Yourself Guide to Home Safety and Healthy Living "
offers parents easy to implement solutions and cost savings tips to keep children and pets safe and healthy.
· Personal fireworks: The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to leave them to trained professionals and adults.
· Foods: Make sure to cook burgers to an internal temperature of at least 160 F and don't leave perishable food at room temperature over two hours (or within an hour if 90°+).
· Alcohol: Even small amounts of alcohol can be dangerous to children, so keep drinks out of their reach.
Chef Maureen Petrosky - Guest Judge on Food Network’s Iron Chef America
It’s no surprise that celebrating 4th of July with a bang is a great American tradition. Not only do we recognize the importance of this day with patriotic celebrations, but with lots of good ol' fashioned all-American eats! National Chef and Entertaining Expert Maureen Petrosky has easy and helpful tips for everything from cool cocktails and tasty foods and recipes to delightful desserts and dazzling decoration ideas that is sure to make every party go off with a bang!