What's Cookin' Today Hour ONE:
We're Heading Over to New Orleans For Fat Tuesday with Bobbi Mannino from MardiGrasNewOrleans.Com!
Bobbi tells us about the REAL Mardi Gras from her over 30 years experience in the Mardi Gras tourism industry as Marketing Director for Steamboat Natchez and Director of Sales for Harrah’s Casino New Orleans. Bobbi is Past President of the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association and is well known for her enthusiasm and love for New Orleans and stellar reputation in the hospitality community of Louisiana!For more info, go to www.mardigrasneworleans.com!
Straight From the Shelf: Bonnie Taub-Dix Tells Us About Foods that Offer an Unexpected Nutritional Punch!
Nutrition Expert Bonnie Taub-Dix Shops the Supermarket To Help People Meet Key Dietary Recommendations!
March is National Nutrition Month and the new 2010 U.S. Dietary Guidelines are now in circulation. But, according to recent consumer research, nearly half of consumers surveyed said they were skeptical of the Dietary Guidelines because the idea of ‘healthy’ keeps changing,* and one-third of these respondents call them “complicated.”* This National Nutrition Month, nutrition expert and author of “Read It Before You Eat It,” Bonnie Taub-Dix, MS, RD, CDN, will help decode the latest Dietary Guidelines and make them actionable for Americans. She’ll show us how healthy eating can start with the foods people already know and love. She’ll offer helpful hints on how to navigate the supermarket aisles and shop for great-tasting products that can easily and affordably help us meet key recommendations.
Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, CDN, is a nutrition consultant and author of recently released “Read It Before You Eat It” (Plume 2010) which helps make sense of food labels and provides grocery store tips. She writes a weekly blog for USA Today, is a regular contributor for MSNBC.com, and is frequently called upon to provide practical advice on healthy living to The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and WebMD and shows including CNN, CBS “Early Show,” ABC’s “Good Morning America,” FOX 5 News. Her articles and quotes have also appeared in top publications including Health, Shape, Fitness, Reader’s Digest, Prevention, Women’s Day, and Men’s Health.
What's Cookin' Today Hour TWO:
Dave Williams General Manager Takes Us On A Tour to Disneyland's Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen!
Pass under the striped awning of Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen and you'll think you've been transported to the French Quarter. The authentic New Orleans cuisine and nightly live jazz make this a great spot to dine and relax.
Feast on traditional Big Easy favorites like muffellattas, gumbo ya-ya, jambalaya and catfish, or traditional fare like juicy steaks or fresh salads. For the perfect ending to your meal, be sure to order bananas Foster or fresh hot beignets.
Listen to the sounds of jazz live every night. From toe-tapping Dixieland to the smoother side of jazz, the changing music menu offers something to please every jazz lover.
The Jazz Kitchen's courtyard is lined with ornate iron railings and lush plants with a bubbling fountain in the center. Inside you'll find authentic French Quarter touches, like the colorful Mardi Gras umbrellas hanging from the ceiling.
About Dave: Born and raised in Seattle, Dave has been involved in restaurants, catering and event planning his entire career. Earning his first General Manager position at age 21 for the Creative Concept Division of Red Robin International, Dave was on the fast track. He created a solid track record as a General Manager, Regional Manager (Multi Unit), and Director of Catering for Seattle’s most successful and well known establishments. Motivated by new challenges, Dave has overseen concept creations, concept repositioning, restaurant and catering company openings and operations, and has successfully spearheaded many high profile events.
Relocating to Los Angeles in 1998 as Director of Catering, West Coast Operations for Restaurant Associates, Dave represented Restaurant Associates as the exclusive Food and Beverage operator at Los Angeles Music Center and San Francisco Performing Arts Center while overseeing all on and off premise catering operations in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Some career highlights include: creation and opening of Chandler’s Crabhouse and Daniel’s Broiler in Seattle, executing all opening events of Nordstrom Flagship store, conducting all opening events and Galas as exclusive food and beverage operator for the Benaroya Symphony Hall (new home of the Seattle Symphony), catering a PGA tournament, exclusive caterer for the 1999 Academy Awards including the world media event; The Governors Ball, exclusive caterer for the Los Angeles Opera, LA Philharmonic, San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Symphony. Dave’s tenure in Southern California has involved overseeing successful Pasadena restaurants; Parkway Grill and Arroyo Chophouse, joining forces in 2004 with the owners of Yamashiro restaurant and the Magic Castle in Hollywood as Chief Operations Officer, and most recently joining the Ralph Brennan’s Restaurant Group in 2009 as General Manager and Director of Operations for Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen at the Disneyland Resort.
Dave has three young adult sons and loves music, swimming, basketball, cooking, reading, camping, travel and researching restaurants. A lifetime student of personal development, Dave is passionate about mentoring and motivating others who pursue a successful life mission.
We're Visiting Napa Valley with Sally James at the Lovely Villagio Inn & Spa!
As family owned and operated independent boutique properties since opening in October 1998 for Villagio Inn & Spa and June 1985 for Vintage Inn, this AAA Four Diamond Award-winning hotels present affordable luxury at its finest in the heart of the walking town of Yountville, Napa Valley’s culinary mecca. The ownership family and management teams are deeply passionate about guest service, and it is this passion that drives their standards for distinguished hospitality. They strive to create for their guests an experience rich in unique personality, wine country elegance, and exceptional value, with the singular goal of delivering a most memorable stay that exceeds expectations. So whether it’s the warm greeting with a welcome cocktail upon arrival, their signature champagne breakfast buffet and afternoon tea offered with compliments each day, or the smile that every staff member that makes a visit to the Villagio Inn & Spas decidedly different.