Sunday, December 27, 2009

Mon Dec 28, 2009

Joel Fisher "Wine Guru"
The wine columnist for the Culinary Connection of the Chefs de Cuisine Association of California. He was a Contributing Editor of Patterson's Beverage Journal. From 1999 to 2006 he was a wine instructor for the Culinary Arts Department of the Art Institute of California-Los Angeles and is a founding partner of the educational Wine Vine and Dine, which conducts programs throughout Southern California. Sommelier for the Escoffier Association of Southern California, Joel is also a member of Patterson Magazine's tasting panel. Joel travels extensively through "wine country" and frequently broadcast live from vaious winerys & vineyards.  Dr. Fisher is a member of the Society of Wine Educators, The Circle of Wine Writers (UK) and was awarded a Wine Enthusiast Media Scholarship for 2005 at the Culinary Institute of America. He is the author of the Wine Work Book now in its 6th edition

Ray Lampe  "Dr. BBQ"

Ray Lampe grew up in Chicago and after high school spent 25 years in the family trucking business. In 2000 the trucking business had run its course, and it was time for Ray to do something different. He had been participating in BBQ cookoffs as a hobby since 1982, so he decided to take a leap and try to turn his hobby into a career. In 2000 Ray moved to Lakeland, Florida and began his career as a BBQ man. Some of the things this BBQ man does:

He's an expert judge on the Food Networks "Tailgate Warriors with Guy Fieri"
He's featured on the Food Network's "Best Thing I Ever Ate"
He travels the country as the Spokeschef for The Big Green Egg grill and smoker
  • He's the featured BBQ Chef at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia
  • He's  a spokesman for The National Pork Board
  • He's judged at the Jack Daniel's World Championship BBQ Cookoff
  • He's judged at the Terlingua, Texas International Chili Cookoff
  • He's judged at The Best of The West Rib Cookoff in Reno
  • He served as Executive Chef at Southern Hospitality BBQ in NY 2008-2009
  • He writes the "Ask Dr. BBQ Column" for Fiery Foods & BBQ Magazine
  • He's been a guest chef at the Club Med Food and Wine Festival
  • He's been a guest chef at the Woodford Reserve Distillery
  • Ray has written five cookbooks and is currently working on a sixth. The first five are:
  • "The NFL Game Day Cookbook" published by Chronicle Books
  • "Ribs, Chops, Steaks, and Wings" written for Williams-Sonoma
  • "Dr. BBQ's Big-Time Barbecue Cook"
  • "Dr. BBQ's Barbecue All Year Long"
  • "Dr. BBQ's Big Time Barbecue Road Trip"
Lindy Poole, Mgr  Kokopelli's Cave Bed & Breakfast Farmington, New Mexico
Kokopelli's Cave Bed & Breakfast is a privately owned luxury cliff dwelling located north of Farmington, New Mexico near the Mesa Verde National Monument. From the cave and the cliff tops you have an unparalleled view of beautiful southwest sunsets over the four states of the Four Corners area . To the west you can see Shiprock and the Chuska mountains on the Navajo Indian reservation in northwest New Mexico. To the west and northwest you see the Carrizo Mountains in northeastern Arizona. To the northwest you can see the Ute Mountains and to the North loom the snow capped La Plata and San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. The cave itself is 70' below the surface. The entrance is located in the cliff face and is reached by walking down a sloping path and intermittent steps cut into the sandstone along the pathway. There is a short ladder at the bottom of the path with three wooden steps that land you on the flagstone porch and the front entrance to Kokopelli's "digs." You really have to want to come to Kokopelli's cave!

Larry Manetti  -  "Aloha Magnum"
Larry Manetti   started acting in his hometown of Chicago.  After studying acting with the Ted List Theater Players, Larry drove to Los Angeles in 1972.  Larry landed an agent and was sent to Universal Studios to audition for an opening as a contract player.  Luck was on his side.  Jack Webb was casting a new series for NBC called  The Chase.  Larry played a young detective.  After attending acting school at Sal Dano's at night and doing bit parts by day, he scored.  Baa Baa Black Sheep was being produced and cast at Universal, and the now famous writer Stephen J. Cannell was the executive producer and the role was a natural for Larry.  He was cast as a cocky, hot shot pilot named Bobby Boyle.  The show was a big hit for NBC but was cancelled within two years. Because the network was so impressed with Larry's on-screen presence, they cast him in a new series called The Duke.  Bad luck!  The Duke was cancelled in one year.  Larry was back to playing whatever Universal told him to.  Hoping to catch lighting in a jar, along came Magnum, P.I. and the role of Rick. This was his elevator...the show became a mega-hit for 8 years.  Since Magnum, P.I., Larry has done co-starring roles in 25 feature films and guest starred on many hot TV shows.  Larry is the author of a book titled Aloha Magnum.