Wednesday, February 15, 2012

02/15 Rhea Seehorn, McCormick Kitchens, Santa Maria Valley Wine Country

02/15 What's Cookin' Today

RHEA SEEHORN Is "Roxanne" In NBC's New Comedy "WHITNEY"

Rhea Seehorn stars in the NBC multi-camera comedy “Whitney” as Roxanne a divorcee who is not afraid to speak her mind, but has not given up on love completely. Seehorn grew up in Virginia graduating from college with a degree in Drama and Visual Arts. She is theatrically trained and further developed her craft in Washington D.C. Where she performed on many stages including Arena Stage and the Woolly Mammoth Theater Company, where she is a member of the acting company. Seehorn then moved to Manhattan performing with Playwrights Horizons and had her Broadway debut as an understudy in Neil Simon’s “45 Seconds from Broadway. ” Shortly thereafter, she was cast as a series regular on “I’m With Her” opposite Teri Polo, David Sutcliffe and Danny Comden. Since relocating to Los Angeles she has had series regular and recurring roles in “The Starter Wife,” “Head Cases,” “Trust Me,” “The Dollhouse,” “Burn Notice” and a supporting role in the Disney feature “Shaggy Dog” opposite Tim Allen. She has done pilots working with Christopher Guest, Mitch Hurwitz, Craig Zisk, Mark Waters, Gail Mancuso, Jason Ensler and Don Scardino among others. She can also be seen, as the recurring, “Ellen Swatello,” on TNT's “Franklin & Bash.”

NBC’s multi-camera comedy “Whitney” is a hilarious look at modern day love, which centers around Whitney (Whitney Cummings, “Chelsea Lately”) and Alex (Chris D’Elia, “Glory Daze”), a happily unmarried couple. Together for three years, the duo is in no rush to get hitched, which seems to get a mixed response from their friends. Whitney’s close circle of opinionated girlfriends include Lily (Zoe Lister-Jones, “The Other Guys”) who is sweet, upbeat and is ready to get married and Roxanne (Rhea Seehorn, “The Starter Wife”) a divorcee who is not afraid to speak her mind, but has not given up on love completely. When together they often discuss their varying relationships and how to deal with everyday life and seemingly have fun at the same time. Completing their close-knit group is Neal (Maulik Pancholy, NBC's “30 Rock”) a real modern day renaissance man -- sensitive, cool and knows a little bit about everything and happens to be dating Lily. On the other end of the spectrum is Whitney and Alex’s next-door neighbor Mark (Dan O’Brien, “How I Met Your Mother”), a police officer and total bachelor, who claims to be the ultimate player but likes to talk a good game. At the end of the day, Whitney and Alex realize that while their relationship might not be perfect on paper, they really do love each other -- and that works for them.

Chef Mark Garcia McCormick Spices Talks To Us About The McCormick Kitchens

When you cook, are you on a quest for the ultimate, flavorful meal, or do you think simplicity is the way to go? Do you stick to traditional ingredients that honor your heritage, or are you boundary-free and prefer to cook outside the lines? Whatever your preference, you’re not alone. Food lovers around the world are more alike than different according to a report just released. McCormick & Company’s annual Flavor Forecast pinpoints common trends that drive culinary innovation and found food lovers approach eating with greater curiosity and celebrate the enjoyment of it. “While developing the Flavor Forecast 2012, our international team was excited to find so many similarities in the forces inspiring diverse cultures to cook, eat and innovate,” says Chef Mark Garcia. “Some enjoy elevating the simple goodness of real, uncomplicated food, while others seek the essence of culture’s heritage through flavor, expressed through the Honoring Roots trend.” Talk to Chef Mark Garcia about the 2012 Flavor Forecast. With more than 20 years of culinary experience, he has worked with some of the world’s leading retailers and hospitality companies. Chef Mark attended the Culinary Institute of America. He currently oversees the McCormick Kitchens, a creative team of culinary professionals responsible for bringing flavor to life through innovative recipes and products for the home cook.

Chris Slaughter, Executive Director Santa Maria Valley Wine Country, Shares With Us What New Wines They Have

Much of the singularity and excellence of the Santa Maria Valley appellation is due in great part to the East-West transverse valley that runs through it. This transverse valley acts as a funnel, channeling in cool maritime influences and depositing them throughout the wide valley that is Santa Maria. Ocean temperatures just off the coast of Santa Maria are typically about 15 degrees C (55 to 59 F). The Coriolis effect, an upwelling of deeper, colder waters, further cools the ocean breezes coming in off the coast of the Pacific and into the Santa Maria Valley. The cool winds entering from the Northwest, coupled with the Coriolis effect, serve to push cold ocean water to the surface. The transverse valley then allows these cold water winds to funnel into the Santa Maria Valley, cooling it substantially. Dining in the Santa Maria Wine Country offers many unique options from the much loved Chef Rick’s Ultimately Fine Food in the town of Orcutt, to Garey's Store and Deli on the eastern wine trail, Dino’s Deli/Testa’s Bistro in downtown Santa Maria, or two popular Santa Maria Barbecue restaurants, Hitching Post in Casmalia and Far Western Tavern in nearby Guadalupe. Chef Rick’s, beloved by Central Coast foodies and the Santa Maria Valley’s renowned vintners, finds his inspiration in the American South, a wide geographic swath that includes Louisiana, the Southwest and even Southern California. Meals start with a complimentary basket of freshly baked sweet and savory breads. But the real treats follow. Soulful choices like the tacos of grilled halibut, shrimp and scallops topped with jicama guacamole and salsa ranchera, and the Georgia fried chicken salad with green onion dressing. Rick’s is a lively place with funky purple napkins and a motto of “Everything I do gohn be Funky from now on”. The wine list offers rarities from the best wineries just north and south of Chef Rick’s.

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