10/31 HAPPY HALLOWEEN, AUTHOR MAGGIE STUCKEY HELPS TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES ONE BOWL OF SOUP AT A TIME

MAGGIE STUCKEY – AUTHOR, ‘SOUP NIGHT’ 

It wasn’t that long ago that children freely played in the streets, neighbors exchanged good words, and a sense of togetherness filled the air. Now, the modern community reflects something similar to this: Men and women hurry home to immerse themselves in television shows, surf the internet, and chat online. The news continually highlights painful stories of destruction and war, and we look at ourselves and wonder, “How did the fabric of our communities unravel so far?” But amongst the fear that today’s media portrays is a wave of optimism that’s sweeping neighborhoods nationwide.

In her new cookbook Soup Night, Maggie Stuckey presents the story of this optimism through mouthwatering recipes and inspiring anecdotes collected from preexisting soup night groups. What Maggie has found and documented in this gorgeous four-color cookbook is that the humble idea of gathering friends and neighbors on a regular basis for a casual night of soup and sides has an extraordinarily positive ripple effect on children, senior citizens, families, and communities at large. The idea of breaking bread is deep-rooted in American tradition, but it’s now that our country needs to bond together, and Soup Night is the call to action that we’ve been waiting for.

Soup Night far extends the stories of these communities. This cookbook with a special personality offers more than 90 soup recipes, plus 40 more recipes for sides, salads, and desserts. With dishes like Asparagus-Leek Chowder, Vegetarian Eggplant Chili, Carolina Cornbread, and Lemon Ice Cream, readers will be savoring the local flavors of the season. Tips and tricks to hosting a soup night, stocking a soup pantry, and adapting recipes to fit any dietary need are interlaced throughout the pages of the book.

With simple ideas for gathering neighbors and friends together readers will be looking for any opportunity to make Soup Night a part of their lives.

Maggie Stuckey is a writer, who grows vegetables and cooks up a storm in her Portland, Oregon, home. The author of The Bountiful Container and seven other books on gardening and horticulture, she is happiest when tending her vegetable garden and using the outcome to create new soups.

10/30 Leslie Renaud, Lincourt Vineyards, Foley Estate, San Diego Food & Wine Festival, Larry Lipson, Costa Rica Wine Report

Leslie Renaud – Winmaker - Lincourt Vineyards & Foley Estate - San Diego Food & Wine Festival

San Diego Food & Wine Festival: As one of the largest wine and food festivals in the nation, the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival has helped shine the light on San Diego's thriving food scene. We've got our eyes and ears peeled for the city's most drool-worthy restaurants and newest food trends to hit the streets, bringing you an epicurean experience unlike any other. The magnitude of culinary talent in San Diego combined with an international showcase of the world's premiere wines and spirits, and the nation's trendsetting culinary masters, makes attendance at the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival a mouthwatering feast and precursor to the Thankgiving holiday.

About Leslie: Leslie graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resources, with an emphasis in aquatic resource management. After school her appreciation for nature led to several years of working for the Forest Service in Oregon, hooting for spotted owls in the forests of Mt. Hood. Next she relocated to California where she worked as an urban forester with PG&E. Leslie’s career path took a significant turn when she applied for a position as a lab technician at Ironstone Vineyards in Calaveras County. She quickly realized the wine industry’s combination of science and artistry was perfectly suited to her own talents and interests.

Committing to a career in winemaking, Leslie moved to Sonoma County to be in the heart of the wine country. There she worked at Clos du Bois, Sonoma Creek Winery, and Hans Fahden Vineyards, adding to her knowledge base and honing her skills. She later moved to Santa Cruz and became the production manager at Bonny Doon Winery. In 2005 she joined Talley Vineyards as an enologist, quickly moving up to Assistant Winemaker, and then was promoted to Winemaker in January of 2007. She joined the Foley Wine Group in August of 2010, assuming her current duties as Winemaker for both Lincourt Vineyards and Foley Estate.

Leslie is the Chairperson for the World of Pinot Noir, her second time serving in this capacity for the popular Central Coast event. She is constantly seeking to expand her knowledge of wines and winemaking, which has lead to her enrollment in the WSET Diploma Program. Leslie is a fan of the SF 49ers and Peter Gabriel, has sky dived (once), and loves to travel. She enjoys great food (both eating and cooking), extremely cold martinis, dogs (she has two at the moment), the outdoors, motorcycles, and convertibles.





LARRY LIPSON - Costa Rica Report       

For fifty years Larry Lipson was the food critic for the Los Angeles Daily News and now reports from Costa Rica 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. 

10/29 Patsy McGaughy, Napa Valley Vintners, Christy Jordan

PATSY MCGAUGHY - COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, NAPA VALLEY VINTNERS  

A seamless year of steady weather and optimal ripening brings in above average yields and excellent quality fine wine grapes.

St. Helena, CA: The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) reports that the region’s winemakers expect to be done with the 2013 harvest within the next week. “Early, even and excellent” are three words being used to describe this year’s growing season and the Napa Valley wine grapes that have come from it, reflecting the consistent quality for which this world famous wine region is known.

A warm, dry spring brought early bud break, helped with canopy vigor and berry size and created ideal conditions for flowering and fruit set under sunny skies. With the exception of one heat spike in late June/early July, temperatures were consistently in the zone for optimal vine activity, resulting in notably healthy vines as fruit went through veraison and started ripening.

The August 1 start of harvest was the earliest in recent history. White wine grapes came in at a furious pace throughout that month, moving on to lighter reds by early September. Two brief mid-September rains had virtually no impact on the grapes. The vast majority of the more delicate skinned grapes had already been harvested and sunny weather with breezes followed the rains, allowing for the mostly Cabernet Sauvignon that remained to dry out almost immediately. The cooler, sunny weather throughout October allowed the final grapes still on the vine to linger longer, developing more phenolic and flavor maturities with sugar levels remaining steady.

As this harvest comes to a close, it is about two weeks earlier than other Napa Valley harvests in the last decade. Yields on the whole have been above average.

“In a nutshell, this vintage has given us the extraordinary gift of enabling us to pick exactly what we wanted, when we wanted, at perfect ripeness and ideal hang time,” noted Paul Colantuoni, winemaker at Rocca Family Vineyards.

Winemakers from around the valley agree the 2013 vintage holds exceptional promise and potential and exceeded expectations following on the heels of 2012 – another year that has been described as “nearly perfect.”

To relive the Napa Valley 2013 harvest experience, visit napavintners.com/harvest to view more than 800 candid photos, videos chronicling the season from Carneros to Calistoga and hillside to valley floor, along with two harvest-themed word games developed by the NVV.

CHRISTY JORDAN - FOUNDER OF SOUTHERNPLATE.COM AND AUTHOR

COME Home to Supper by Christy Jordan, reflects the reality of today’s family schedules, gathering more than 200 deeply satisfying dishes that are budget-conscious, kid-friendly, and quick to make. These are the everyday meals that Christy most loves to cook and her family most loves to eat, and she serves them up with generous helpings of her folksy wisdom, gratitude, and lively stories.

10/28 JAMES WOLPERT, THE VOICE, NBC, DOROTHY HAMILL, DAYLE HAYES

JAMES WOLPERT (TEAM ADAM) – NBC, "THE VOICE"

After attending Carnegie Mellon for two years, James dropped out to pursue music. Despite his family’s hope of re-enrollment, he moved to Pittsburgh, where he’s an Apple Store Genius by day and musician by night. James recently moved to LA for a fresh start and is hoping The Voice will help jump-start his career. Follow James on Twitter at @jamespwolpert


DOROTHY HAMILL - FIGURE SKATER AND OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 27 million Americans over the age of 25 are affected by osteoarthritis (OA), a painful joint disease that limits daily physical activities. While OA can hinder physical activity, routine exercise is recommended by the CDC to help reduce these arthritic symptoms. That is why world champion, Olympic gold medalist and “Dancing with the Stars” alum Dorothy Hamill has partnered with the Get Moving America campaign, a national initiative that encourages men and women to become more active to help reduce chronic stiffness and pain associated with OA. As an OA sufferer for more than 10 years, Dorothy knows what it’s like to live with chronic joint pain, and her mission is to inspire those living with OA to “get moving” and manage their pain.  Among the first national health campaigns leveraging social media to reach, inspire and connect adult OA sufferers, the Campaign is housed on Facebook and features a 90-Day Challenge where adults can discover new exercise routines from celebrity fitness trainer, Terri Walsh; receive advice from Dorothy Hamill; unlock virtual fitness badges; and get daily motivational messages. People can share their progress and experiences on the page with fellow OA sufferers. For each person that signs up for the Challenge, AstraZeneca will make donation to the Arthritis Foundation, up to $25,000.


DAYLE HAYES - NUTRITIONIST, "SCHOOL MEALS THAT ROCK"

For years, school lunches have been lambasted for lack of taste and nutrition, but that has changed – big time!  Even the nation’s harshest nutrition critics agree school meals have improved drastically – in fact, some school meals rock!   Dayle Hayes has visited hundreds of schools nationwide and chronicles the hippest, trendiest and tastiest school meal offerings coast-to-coast in her popular posts, www.schoolmealsthatrock.org.

10/25 TRACY SMITH, 48 HOURS, CHING-HE HUANG, COOKING CHANNEL, STEVE EVANS

TRACY SMITH - 48 HOURS: “Loved to Death”  

Tracy Smith and 48 HOURS report on a special investigation into the rise of dating and breakup violence among adolescents in “Loved to Death” to be broadcast Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 (10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Lauren Astley was a popular teenager from Wayland, Mass., looking ahead to starting at Elon University in the fall. Her ex-boyfriend was Nathaniel Fujita, a star football player with a football scholarship to Trinity College. They had a tumultuous relationship with a pattern of breaking up and getting back together. But as their senior year was ending, Lauren had broken it off for good. By all accounts, Nathaniel struggled coming to terms with the breakup. Nathaniel’s mother was so worried about his post-breakup behavior she took him to a psychiatrist. Among Lauren’s friends, their relationship was discussed on social media.


Ching-He Huang - Chinese Expert Chef - "Cooking Channel"

Ching-He Huang,  Chinese cooking expert chef on the Cooking Channel and cookbook author of Chinese Food Made Easy, is taking on a double challenge to update tired, dated menus in two place of great importance: the ever-important tailgate (indoor or outdoor) and the neighborhood Asian restaurant!  As host of the  new show, Restaurant Redemption, she helps owners of struggling Asian restaurants revitalize their menus by giving them new inspiration and direction.


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.

10/24 AMIT KLEINBERGER, MENCHIES, 48 HOURS, CLAIRE COFFEE, NBC, GRIMM, HEATHER MURAN, SLO

AMIT KLEINBERGER – CEO, MENCHIES - 48 HOURS

THE CEO OF MENCHIE’S, THE YOUNGEST BOSS FEATURED TO DATE, DELIVERS A BABY CALF AT A DAIRY FARM, ON “UNDERCOVER BOSS,” FRIDAY, OCT. 25  “Menchie’s” – Amit Kleinberger, CEO of Menchie’s, a popular frozen yogurt franchise, delivers a baby calf while working as a herdsman at a dairy farm. Also, the youngest Boss featured to date in the series goes deeper undercover when he dons a Menchie’s mascot uniform at a kid’s birthday party, on UNDERCOVER BOSS, Friday, Oct. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.


CLAIRE COFFEE - NBC, GRIMM

Claire Coffee stars in NBC's acclaimed drama series "Grimm" as the seductive villainess Adalind Schade, nemesis to Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli). Coffee has appeared in several pilots and held recurring roles on "Franklin & Bash," opposite Mark-Paul Gosselaar and on the acclaimed NBC drama "The West Wing."  Her numerous guest star appearances include "The League," "CSI," "Psych," "Bones" and "Cold Case."   Most recently, she starred as the title character in “Holly’s Holiday,” a film airing on Lifetime as part of their holiday slate. She created and starred in the web series “Chelsey and Kelsey are Really Good Roommates,” which won Best Mobile Series at ITVFest in Los Angeles. Coffee was born in San Francisco and grew up performing in the regional theaters of Northern California -- notably The Mountain Play, Marin Civic Light Opera and The Western Stage.

She graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., with a Bachelor of Science Degree in theater. Coffee is also a rabid fan of football (particularly of the San Francisco 49ers) and publishes weekly NFL picks videos on her website, clairecoffee.com.

GRIMM - Fridays (9-10 p.m. ET) on NBC - "Grimm" is a drama series inspired by the classic Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales.  After Portland homicide detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli, “Caroline and Jackie”) discovers he’s descended from an elite line of criminal profilers known as ‘Grimms,’ he increasingly finds his responsibilities as a detective at odds with his new responsibilities as a Grimm.

Now that Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch, “Parkland”) has learned Nick’s secret, he can bring her into the fold with his partner Hank (Russell Hornsby, “Lincoln Heights”) and his Wesen friends Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell, “My Name is Earl”) and Rosalee (Bree Turner, “The Ugly Truth”).  Following the events of season two, Nick will learn his abilities have grown exponentially.  Unfortunately, so have the dangers, and he now will need all the help he can get to bring order to Portland’s Wesen community.

In Europe, major events have begun to unfold on behalf of the Royals. Nick’s Captain, Sean Renard (Sasha Roiz, “Pompeii”), has done what he can about his estranged family while working stateside, but may find himself needing to take a long overdue trip across the Atlantic.   Also overseas is Adalind (Claire Coffee, “Franklin and Bash”), who continues her quest to regain her Hexenbiest powers by using the biggest bargaining chip she has – her unborn child.

Reggie Lee (“The Dark Knight Rises”) returns as the ever-sarcastic Sgt. Wu.  His time spent working with Nick and Hank may finally cause him to change his tone, however, when he sees more than he can handle.


HEATHER MURAN -  SLO Wine Country  

The wineries of SLO Wine Country boast an average distance of just five miles from the Pacific Ocean, resulting in prevailing marine conditions that are among the most pronounced of any wine region in California.

Collectively, these growing conditions forge a unifying wine quality that is native to SLO Wine Country: The reliable cooling effect of the nearby Pacific Ocean ensures a long growing season, enabling the grapes to achieve physiological ripeness and natural balance. Cool-climate varietals such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir excel in the heart of SLO Wine Country, and even the warmest areas benefit from considerable marine influence.   The ocean proximity also exerts a moderating effect on the climate, minimizing temperature swings so that growing conditions are rarely hot or cold. The result is an extraordinarily steady growing season that fosters balanced ripening and consistent quality from vintage to vintage. The imprint of the ocean is also evident in SLO Wine Country's uncommonly complex soils, which are frequently riddled with ancient sea fossils. Soil variation enables the winegrower to mix and match varietals to specific soil profiles, or to add more "colors" to the palette of a single varietal, heightening overall quality and complexity.

10/23 SUNNY ANDERSON, FOOD NETWORK, GEORGE JARKESY, YAMHILL VALLEY VINEYARDS

Sunny Anderson - FOOD NETWORK

 Sunny Anderson, the beloved host of Food Network’s Cooking for Real and Home Made in America, is now a cookbook author.  Sunny’s Kitchen just hit the New York Times Bestseller List. Sunny draws on her family roots in the Carolinas, her travels across the globe in a military family, and her years catering while a radio DJ. Her recipes are as bold and spicy as her palette and she welcomes you into her kitchen with an array of comfort foods. Sunny gives you the whole world in just a few bites: her southern Slow ‘n’ Low Ribs, a bit of Germany in her currywurst-inspired Pork Burgers with Spicy Ketchup, Asian influences in Spicy Noodle Bowls, and a classic Shrimp and Andouille Boil from New Orleans.


George Jarkesy  -  YAMHILL VALLEY VINEYARDS WINERY

The Estate - Here we are after 30 years, still at it.  Established in 1983 by Denis Burger and Elaine McCall, Yamhill Valley Vineyards is the oldest winery in the McMinnville AVA.  The McMinnville AVA has something unique to offer and stands apart from the other AVA's in Oregon.  If you are looking for a Pinot Noir that packs a little more punch than your typical strawberries and earth - you have come to the right place.  We are located just off Highway 18, it's the perfect place to stop on your way to or from the coast, or just as a day trip from Portland or Salem metro area.  We have over 100 acres of vineyard, do everything from growing to bottling on site, and that is what makes us a great value as well as having old fashioned quality.  We work to make constant improvements, and you never know what might be changing next so come and visit our friendly staff for a tasting ($5 for the normal flight and an additional $10 for our premier Tall Poppy Pinot Noir and a taste of Mondillo - our sister winery in the southern hemisphere).

10/22 DENNIS RAMSEYER, RAMSEYER FARMS, ANDREA SMETONA, EASY AS PIE POPS

DENNIS RAMSEYER – OWNER, RAMSEYER FARMS

We are a fifth-generation family farm in the heart of Wayne County. Here at Ramseyer Farms we believe in the importance of quality family time. We have worked to provide a place with a friendly atmosphere filled with activities to delight all ages. Our hope is that your visit to our farm will create lasting memories and will become one of your family’s favorite fall Traditions. U-Pick Pumpkin Farm, Wholesale Pumpkins, and Pumpkin Carving Pumpkin Patch located in Northeast Ohio between Cleveland and Columbus, OH. Choose your perfect pumpkin and pick it yourself from the field. All ages, especially children, thoroughly enjoy finding that special pumpkin that is just the right size, shape and color. With several acres available to choose from, there is a great selection.


ANDREA SMETONA – AUTHOR, EASY AS PIE POPS

In her new book, EASY AS PIE, author and founder of Cakewalk Desserts, Andrea Smetona, shares her most popular and favorite recipes for miniature treats.  Andrea also shares tips and helpful hints that she has learned along the way, making EASY AS PIE POPS a must-have for anyone looking to make delicious, miniature pastries easily and efficiently. Just in time for the holidays, this delectable cookbook makes creating fun desserts easy as pie pops.

10/21 LARRY SMYTH, CARRIAGE VINEYARDS BED & BREAKFAST

LARRY SMYTH - CARRIAGE VINEYARDS BED & BREAKFAST  

Our Bed & Breakfast is located on a 100-acre ranch in the heart of Central Coast Wine Country and near Hearst Castle. Carriage Vineyards Inn is among the Templeton hills adjacent to the Paso Robles Wine Region and near Atascadero in the central coast of California. The rural retreat has 27 acres of vineyards and 850 olive trees with a wonderful Carriage House displaying 18 antique carriages. Carriage rides are available. Our Bed & Breakfast is completely separate from the owners living quarters, but we are always available for tours and special events when needed. The tastefully decorated rooms of the bed and breakfast inn are most comfortable with views of the vineyards, hills, stream and woods Stay in one of the beautifully appointed rooms in the main house or the unique Studio apartment at the main house atop the winding vineyard road. The breakfasts are a delight. After breakfast try Grape Ed 101!

The Carriage collection of the Smyths started in the early 1990s in Orange County. The Smyths like the history and elegance of horse drawn carriages. After securing their first of several vehicles they purchased a pair of Morgan horses. (So much for "the horse before the cart" theory!) The strong desire to get back to the "farm" became a reality when they bought the scenic 100-acre Ranch near Paso Robles. Thus "Carriage Vineyards" was created. In the winter of 1999, plans were developed for the vineyard and supporting facilities. 22,000 vines were planted on 27 acres with varieties including Grenache, Syrah, Viognier, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Also 850 olive trees! Many improvements have been made, including an environmentally friendly 20,000 watt solar system.

As the vines have grown, so have other projects including a Bed and Breakfast with a connected 2400 square foot carriage house. Visitors can enjoy the miles of roads through the vineyards, orchards and pastures or take a stroll through the gardens.

10/18 Carmen Policy, Casa Piena Vineyards, Jesse Ventura, They Killed Our President, Steve Evans, The Movie Guy

CARMEN POLICY - CASA PIENA VINEYARDS - EXECUTIVE WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ER'S 

Their personal and private lives both characterize a commitment to providing the best possible effort driven by an extraordinary sense of passion.

Carmen’s first career was that of a trial lawyer providing an opportunity to help defend and promote the interest of his clients in a competitive and dramatic setting. He moved from the courtroom to the gridiron. Following from his successful career in law, Carmen joined the San Francisco 49ers organization, where he played a key role in all five of the 49ers' Super Bowl winning teams, helping to establish them as one of the preeminent franchises in all of sports. He and Gail found their new life and their new home in San Francisco to be a virtual fairytale come true.

The San Francisco 49ers became an extension of a strong sense of family that they both carried with them from their native Ohio. After 25 years of happily toiling in the NFL vineyards and creating a treasure trove of memories and accomplishments, Gail and Carmen realized, sometime in the 1990’s, that they were compelled to pursue the amazing lifestyle and challenges that winemaking and Napa Valley offered. Wine, sunshine, great food and romance were the enticements that could not be resisted.
Casa Piena embodies an intimate relationship between our family and a remarkable piece of land, located in one of the most beautiful parts of the world.

Our select estate vineyard is meticulously cared for with a passionate commitment to growing 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (4 different clones) that exhibits profound depth and character.

We are blessed to have exceptional fruit that is the ideal reflection of the unique terroir of the Policy Vineyard site, allowing our team to handcraft wines of restrained power, great integrity and supreme elegance.

www.casapiena.com


JESSE VENTURA - "THEY KILLED OUR PRESIDENT"

Read all the evidence from the biggest conspiracy in American history! Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past fifty years, you’re aware of the many hypotheses that the assassination of President John F. Kennedy was not done by one man. Whether you’ve read one or a dozen of the books on this topic, it’s nearly impossible to fully grasp the depth of this conspiracy—until now.

For the first time ever, New York Times bestselling authors Jesse Ventura, Dick Russell, and David Wayne have teamed up with some of the most respected and influential assassination researchers to put together the ultimate compendium that covers every angle—from the plot to the murder—of JFK. They Killed Our President will not only discuss the most famous of theories, but will also bring to light new and recently discovered information, which together shows that the United States government not only was behind this egregious plot, but took every step to make sure that the truth would not come out.

With 2013 marking the fiftieth anniversary of JFK’s assassination, it’s about time we understand the JFK assassination more fully. The research and information in They Killed Our President are unprecedented, and there’s nobody better to bring this to everyone’s attention than Jesse Ventura.
 Show less

His petition on civil liberties: www.change.org/JesseVentura


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.

10/17 ANTHONY WEDO, UNDERCOVER BOSS, CBS, ESTEE KAFRA, COOKING INSPIRED, PHILLIP CHIANG, CHEF YUJI IWASA, P. F. CHANG’S

ANTHONY WEDO - PRES/CEO OF BUFFETS INC, - UNDERCOVER BOSS ON CBS

Anthony Wedo is President and CEO of Buffets Inc, the largest buffet provider in America.  It’s headquartered in S. Carolina and Minnesota – 350 locations in 35 states and 18,000 employees owning some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Ryans, Country Buffet, HomeTown Buffet, Fire Mountain.  They serve more than 100 million guests a year.  It started 30 years ago in Minnesota as Old Country Buffet.  Per Anthony, the Baby Boom generation created buffets – where their young families could go for variety and value. From 2006 to 2009 the sales started to dip – and they had two bankruptcies in the last five years.  Anthony came in at the end of 2012 and now the business is beginning to grow.  He grew up in a family restaurant business in Pennsylvania – called The Lodge.  He previously worked at Boston Market and Pepsi Co.   He’s a turnaround CEO – but he’s not just turning it around this time – he’s reinventing it.  He has an apartment in Greenville, S.C.  (HQ) but also lives (with his wife and two kids) in Delaware.  But, for the most part, he’s on the road travelling.  He says his kids know their dad’s on a mission to save 18,000 jobs and create new ones and they’re supportive.

Job #1 – Lake Charles, Louisiana at Ryans  Works with Manager  He’s at one of the Ryans stores.  Ryans represents 1/3 of the company’s revenues.   Per Anthony, the manager sets the tone for everything that happens in the restaurant.   He’s trying to change the management culture – and he’s hoping for smiles/enthusiasm.  The manager explains that there’s nothing that happens in the restaurant that he hasn’t done – so he knows how to do everything and can train well.  The manager turns Anthony over to a Dishwasher to show him how to run the job.  The dishwasher says you have the staff put the pots and plates wherever you want them, then you put them through the dishwasher.  But, soon Anthony finds it won’t run because there’s a backlog of trays that need to be done first.  The dishwasher tells him to do everything with one minute of training.   Anthony’s annoyed as the dishwasher is condescending and isn’t helping him.  The dishwasher responds that he wasn’t trained either – he started a couple of months ago.   Then the dishwasher says he hates the job.   Anthony goes off and breaks his cover with the manager.  He says that the customers seem happy but the area in the back is not running well.  He said the dishwasher needs training and needs to get rid of the bad attitude.

ANTHONY WEDO - CEO   Buffets, Inc.   Anthony Wedo is a highly successful leader and executive in the restaurant industry. With more than 25 years of hospitality experience, his unique background has contributed to his demonstrated success as a Fortune 50 senior executive, a high growth entrepreneur and a turnaround CEO.  Wedo was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Buffets, Inc., the nation’s largest steak-buffet company, in December 2012. Buffets, Inc. currently operates 343 restaurants in 35 states and is comprised of 333 steak-buffet restaurants under the brands Ryan’s Buffet, Home Town Buffet and Old Country Buffet and 10 Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse restaurants. Wedo began his career in hospitality at PepsiCo, as part of a new breed of young, entrepreneurial restaurant operators brought on to help the corporate giant create a culture of nimbleness. As one of the first participants in PepsiCo’s Senior Operations Designate program, Wedo was put on the fast track and quickly grew to Vice President and General Manager of the Southeast Division of KFC, overseeing more than 1,200 restaurants, 7,000 employees and $1 billion in revenue.  Following his success at PepsiCo, Wedo founded Mid-Atlantic Restaurant Systems, the largest Area Developer and franchisee of Boston Market. As Chairman, President and CEO, he grew the company over a four-year period to 160 restaurants, generating more than $250 million in annualized sales. During his tenure with Mid-Atlantic Restaurant Systems, he was named Entrepreneur of the Year, Area Developer of the Year and chosen as a top 50 Employer in Pennsylvania. Following the acquisition of Mid-Atlantic Restaurant Systems by Boston Market, Wedo held the position of Chairman, President and CEO of New World Restaurant Group. New World, with approximately 1,000 units and $750 million in system revenues, operated six unique brands, including Einstein Bros., Noah’s and Manhattan Bagel.  He has a B.S. from Penn State University. He is also a retired Commissioned Officer in the United States Naval Reserve.


ESTEE KAFRA – AUTHOR, COOKING INSPIRED

Food writer Estee Kafra’s new cookbook takes the best recipes from KosherScoop.com and puts them into one encompassing collection of classic and innovative Jewish recipes.

Food websites have become favorite destinations for home cooks to review and share recipes and cooking tips. Kosher recipes are especially popular whether Jewish or not and one of the fastest growing of the kosher websites is KosherScoop.com.  Wanting to make cooking easier and more creative for home cooks, founder and cookbook author, Estee Kafra, has put together a collection of the best recipes from the site.  Cooking Inspired (Feldheim Publishers; September 2013; Hardcover/$35.99) is a sampling of the creative and reliable recipes that the site has become known for and will inspire home cooks to let loose their culinary creativity.  Over 200 recipes are beautifully photographed and award- winning photographs are scattered throughout the book creating a visual feast for the eyes as well as the palate.

“Food is one of our most primal needs, and for most of us, cooking is a basic, everyday chore. But food represents much more than the way in which we satisfy our cravings and keep ourselves alive. It is the way we nurture both ourselves and the people around us,” Estee states.  “I believe we can take this everyday act and elevate it into an experience of creativity, mindfulness, and meaning. In order to make the most of the world we live in, we need to open our hearts and minds to the inspiration all around us, to the myriad experiences and items that can shape our everyday lives. That’s Cooking Inspired.”


PHILLIP CHIANG AND CHEF YUJI IWASA – P. F. CHANG’S

The Creator of P.F. Chang's, Restaurateur Philip Chiang and Yuji Iwasa, the Head Development Chef .  Together, Philip and Yuji will be on trend for fall and present dishes that are lighter, healthier and fresher ,and will reveal the five trendiest ingredients of the season including quinoa, kale and butternut squash to just name a few.

In this radio interview,  Philip Chiang and Chef Yuji Iwasa will highlight the season's best ingredients and explain to listeners how they can include them in their daily menus and upcoming seasonal celebrations. From appetizers to entrees and desserts, some of their favorite fall recipes that will be discussed include: Miso Chicken; Shanghai Waldorf Salad; Citrus Mustard Prawns; Crispy Korean Chicken Wings; Harvest Vegetable Quinoa "Fried Rice"; and Vietnamese Noodles with Steak & Shrimp.

10/16 CHEF GEORGE DURAN, TAKE THIS DISH AND TWIST IT, DAVID SHAW, IHOP, ERIKA LEHMANN BROWN, CHIC SHOPPER CHICK, NATIONAL APPLE MONTH

CHEF GEORGE DURAN - AUTHOR - “TAKE THIS DISH AND TWIST IT”

George Duran is an international chef and entertainer, known for his Food Network show Ham on the Street and most recently host of TLC’s Ultimate Cake Off.  Born and raised by Armenian parents in Caracas, Venezuela, George’s diverse background helped him succeed at NYU as the host of the award winning radio talk show, HYE Time Radio.  Post college, Duran continued to follow his Radio Muse, working as an on-air personality for comedy segments at WPLJ-FM in New York. By 2000, Duran told his Radio Muse he’d like to “take a break” and after hosting on the Latin music television station HTV he moved to Paris, France to study French cuisine at the Ecole Superieure de Cuisine Francaise, Groupe Ferrandi. Six months into his studies created and hosted in French a culinary show called Pop Cuisine on France’s Cuisine TV network. His unpretentious, quirky culinary style was a hit—garnering Pop Cuisine a nomination for a 7 d’Or (French Emmy) for Best Cable Show.  In 2005, Duran returned to New York, taking his career as a TV Chef to the next level—creating and hosting Food Network’s popular Ham on the Street. The program showcased George’s keen interviewing and culinary skills—and determined once and for all that you can’t fry a fudge-cicle.  In February 2007, Duran expanded his presence on Food Network, hosting The Secret Life of…, a light hearted exploration of the history of the foods we love.  In October, 2008, George’s first book, Take This Dish and Twist It hit bookstore shelves. As colorful and funny as the chef himself, Duran’s book is packed with highly useful tips revealing his delectably unexpected take on comfort food. During this period, Duran partnered up with the number 1 Hispanic cookware company, IMUSA as its spokesperson and shortly afterwards with Hunt’s Tomatoes. The enormous success of both campaigns resulted in the expansion of George’s role with both companies including all ConAgra products on a national and Hispanic stage. Most recently he has hosted on HSN for kitchenware products by IMUSA and T-fal.  In 2010 George was asked to join TLC’s prime time line-up by hosting Ultimate Cake Off where the nation’s top cake artists compete against each other to build the ultimate cake.


DAVID SHAW - CORPORATE CHEF, IHOP  

As Halloween approaches, be very afraid—and also a little hungry—because participating IHOP® restaurants in the Los Angeles area are bringing back one of their most beloved traditions for kids:  the “Scary Face” pancake joins the “Just For Kids” menu, beginning October 1 and lasting throughout the month. And as a special Halloween treat, on October 31, participating IHOP restaurants will offer kids 12 and under a “Scary Face” pancake free--and that’s no trick!

Kids 12 and under can order a “Scary Face” pancake and be able to make it into as scary—or funny— a face as they want.  The Scary Face pancake comes with one of IHOP restaurant’s world famous buttermilk pancakes, a whipped topping mouth, a glazed strawberry nose and a set of delicious decorations: two mini-Oreo® cookies to create eyes  and eight pieces of candy corn to add teeth or fangs… Let your imagination run wild!

And kids over 12—and grownups—will get a treat too, when the most popular seasonal favorite, pumpkin pancakes return to the menu at participating IHOP restaurants. The “Scary Face” pancake will only be available through the month of October.  Hurry before they vanish…like ghosts!


ERIKA LEHMANN BROWN - “CHIC SHOPPER CHICK” & MOM BLOGGER - OCT IS NATIONAL APPLE MONTH

SNACKING IS ON THE RISE FOR KIDS, BUT HOW DO YOU GET THEM TO EAT NUTRITIOUS SNACKS?

The Chic Shopper Chick shares how to find nutritious snacks that can fit a busy family schedule Snacking now accounts for more than 27 percent of a child’s daily caloric intake…so it’s up to parents to give them healthy choices. The Chic Shopper Chick and mom blogger, Erika Lehmann Brown, reveals her tips and tricks for busy moms who want to provide their kids with the best snacks.

Erika Lehmann Brown, Chic Shopper Chick - Erika is a fashion, style, beauty, and travel writer.  She is the publisher of Chic Shopper Chick, a site dedicated to kid-friendly products, fashion and style, as well as the Beauty and Style Editor of Lifetime Moms, a digital property held by Lifetime and A&E Television Networks. Erika is currently a Walmart Mom, one of Frito Lay's Fabulous 15, and a member of the Hanes Comfort Crew. She's featured in Johnson & Johnson’s Real Moms Video Series, highlighted as a shopping expert in Woman’s World Magazine, and is the former host of the radio show "Feel Good Fashion", which is now syndicated in iTunes. Her site, Chic Shopper Chick is a Women's Day favorite fashion site. She's speaks frequently at conferences about social media and blogging best practices.

10/15 KIM BAKER, ANIMAL WHISPERER, CHEF PAUL PRUDHOMME, NEW ORLEANS

CHEF PAUL PRUDHOMME - K-PAUL'S RESTAURANT NEW ORLEANS 

Chef Paul Prudhomme has propelled the distinctive cuisine of his native Louisiana into the international spotlight and continues to push the limits by creating exciting and new American and international dishes.

Chef Paul learned the importance of using the freshest ingredients while cooking at his mother’s side and continues to use only earth’s finest harvests. As the youngest of 13 children, Chef Paul was always adventurous. His strong curiosity of life and cultural customs motivated him to leave Louisiana in his early 20’s and travel across the United States to experience every culinary environment possible. From an Indian reservation all the way to the finest, five-star restaurant, Chef Paul learned to love, appreciate and blend the flavors of his younger years with those of many other cultures.

In July 1979, K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen® opened its doors in New Orleans. In only a few years, his French Quarter restaurant attracted world travelers and continues to excite diners today. Diners are especially pleased to learn that K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen now takes reservations. Renovations were completed at the restaurant at the end of 1996 doubling the seating capacity. Today, K-Paul’s Catering division satisfies palates in New Orleans and “anywhere on the planet!”

As a result of endless requests for his seasoning secrets, Prudhomme created his own line of all natural (Koshersupervised) herbs and spices. Today, Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Magic Seasoning Blends® are distributed in all fifty states and in more than 25 other countries. His blends are popular with both home cooks and professional chefs. In addition, Chef Paul produces his own seasoned and smoked meat s (andouille and tasso). All are available through Magic Seasonings’ Mail-Order catalog, which also features cookbooks, giftpacks and cooking tips (online at
www.chefpaul.com ).

Chef Paul recently added Magic Salt Free Seasoning®, Salmon Magic®, Shrimp Magic® and Sweetie Magic™ to his dry seasoning line and developed a line of sauces-marinades for retail and institutional use. He expanded manufacturing capabilities to a 130,000 square-foot plant which now produces custom blends, bulk sizes and contract packing for otherfood companies at Chef Paul’s AIB approved New Orleans area plant. Chef Paul consults with restaurant chains and large food manufacturers around the world to develop complete menus or selective menu items and specialty dishes. He and his Product Development team and R&D Kitchen can also create specific flavor profiles or duplicate existing ones.

As one of America’s best-known chefs, Prudhomme has been featured often on the three major television networks’ prime time programs. He has made guest appearances on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, 20/20, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, Late Night with David Letterman, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, Larry King Live, Nightwatch with Charlie Rose, the QVC Shopping Channel, CBS Early Show and the Weekend Today Show. In the Summer of 2002, Chef Paul’s life story was featured on A & E Biography.

Chef Prudhomme has been the subject of numerous articles and has penned many himself as well, in such prominent national magazines as Omni, Life, Time, Newsweek, Bon Appetit, Metropolitan Home, Travel and Leisure, Playboy, Food Arts, and National Geographic Traveler.

Among his many accolades and awards, Chef Paul received the “Restaurateur of the Year” award in 1983 from the Louisiana State Restaurant Association . Chef Paul was the first American–born chef to receive the coveted Merite׳ Agricole of the French Republic and was honored in 1986 as “Culinarian of the Year” and also “Culinary Diplomat”- Chef and Child Foundation (1994) by the American Culinary Federation . Chef Paul also took part in America’s Promise , one of the nation’s leading youth development organizations. The National Restaurant Association has bestowed upon Chef Paul both the College of Diplomates Award (1993) and the Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award (2001). He was honored as Nation’s Restaurant News “Fine Dining Legend Award” winner and selected as Chairman of the National Food Safety Education Month in 2001. Some of the local awards Chef Paul has received are the 1994 Louisiana Public Broadcasting Legend Award, the WYES Public Television President’s Award (1999-2000), and the Ella Brennan Savior Faire Award from the ACF-New Orleans Chapter. In May of 2003, Nation’s Restaurant News inducted him into the MenuMasters Hall of Fame and he received Bon Appetit’s Humanitarian Award in 2006.

An international presence, Chef Paul has made personal appearances and given lectures and seminars all over Europe and the Orient. He is devoted to feeding the American troops in bases around the world. He served as a consultant to Team USA of the American Culinary Federation, and participates actively at conventions, seminars and food trade shows nationally and internationally as a guest lecturer and in support of his Magic Seasoning Blends® . He spends time at universities and culinary schools around the world, giving educational seminars for students in all walks of life.

Chef Paul has cooked for heads of state as well as members of the U.S. Congress. Charity work is dear to Chef Paul’s heart and he lends his support to many major fundraisers, which benefit charities such as Meals on Wheels, Easter Seals, the March of Dimes, Big Brothers/Big Sisters,and the National Alzheimer’s Association. Prudhomme was the first Chef to participate in the Robert Mondavi “Great Chef of America” series and was one of 12 chefs chosen from around the world to participate in the celebration of Jerusalem 3000th year anniversary where each chef created a Kosher dish to be served at the King David’s Feast in March 1996.

A best-selling author, Chef Paul has written nine diverse cookbooks and produced six cooking videos, two of which were at the top of the Billboard’s chart for fifty-three consecutive weeks. Five of Chef Paul’s cooking series are based on his cookbooks, Fork In The Road, Fiery Foods, Kitchen Expedition, Louisiana Kitchen and Always Cooking and are currently aired on Cable Television and/or The Public Broadcasting System. Chef Paul’s latest book, Always Cooking, was released in the spring of 2007.


KIM BAKER, ANIMAL WHISPERER AND EXPERT IN HOLISTIC HEALTH FOR ANIMALS

Kim will talk about how to keep your dogs healthy by keeping them away from foods that could be toxic to them.  Humans may like it, but it doesn’t mean your dog can eat it. There are a lot of foods you may not know about that are toxic to your dog.

What is an Animal Whisperer?  Kim's passion is anything and everything animals, and has been for the last 35+ years.  She loves to help people and animals improve their relationship by understanding their animal better with animal communication, energy healing, overall health and well being, radio shows, books and DVDs, and so much more. Kim offers many programs, including workshops, clinics and retreats to suit your needs. Check out her website for more information and take your relationship with your animals to a whole new level!

www.kbnaturalhorsemanship.com

10/14 SAM ASLANIAN, PERSPECTIVE NAPA VALLEY, AMY FOTHERGILL, THE WARM KITCHEN, LEIDY AREVALO, KNOTT'S SCARY FARM

SAM ASLANIAN - "PERSPECTIVE NAPA VALLEY"

The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) has announced the publication of Perspective Napa Valley, a compelling visual telling of the Napa Valley story in a unique and hauntingly beautiful coffee table book. The project was created in collaboration with local art photographer Sam Aslanian, who employs the unusual technique of using of long-expired, high-speed film.

Perspective Napa Valley, the first book of this kind ever produced by the nonprofit, regional wine trade association, captures scenes of life in Napa Valley: from culture, history and civic life to the bucolic towns and vintner community, as well as the geology, climate and geography that make Napa Valley an ideal place for the growing of fine wine grapes.

"For nearly 70 years, the NVV has been telling wine consumers, members of the wine trade and media around the globe about America's premier wine region, but this is the first time we’ve presented such an evocative, artistic look at Napa Valley," commented Linda Reiff, NVV’s president and CEO. "What drew me to Sam's work is the manner in which he grabs the essence of Napa Valley in a refreshingly new way, and yet his tools are rather old fashioned. Much like our winemakers' wares are works of art portraying the region in a sensual, tactile fashion, so are these photographs. Our wines capture a vintage, and Sam's photos grab a moment within them."

From back road to main street , Aslanian's photographs capture scenes of life in and around the famous wine region that evoke the agricultural texture of the valley's old barns, stone buildings, fog-infused vineyard mornings, scenes from the cellar, and moments great and small of the people who comprise the fabric of Napa Valley’s vibrant small town communities. The surprising color variations brought out by the aging film and the grainy quality that seems more akin to hand drawing than a photograph bring to each page an intimate perspective, accompanied by short essays contributed by Terry Hall, the NVV's former communications director.


AMY FOTHERGILL - "THE WARM KITCHEN"

More and more people are choosing to live a gluten free lifestyle, many by necessity.  But eating gluten-free does not have to mean eating taste-free.  A new cookbook is out just in time for the holidays filled with gluten-free recipes anyone can make and everyone will love. Amy Fothergill, author of The Family Chef blog, has written The Warm Kitchen, a comprehensive cookbook filled with cooking techniques, tips, step-by-step instructions, family friendly dishes, and beautiful full color photos.  There is also a chapter on how to stock a gluten-free pantry.

Within the pages of her book, Amy demystifies gluten-free cooking, breaking down the assumption that cooking without gluten is challenging or unappetizing. From breakfast to dessert-- with soups, salads, main and side dishes, and breads in between—over 150 recipes in The Warm Kitchen feature real ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions that yield delicious results. With the use of Amy’s single, easy-to-mix, gluten-free flour blend, home cooks can create favorite dishes such as: bagels, crust-less quiche, fresh breads, chicken pot pie, zucchini pancakes,  pizza, doughnuts, cupcakes, chocolate whoopee pies, shortbread, chocolate chip cookies, carrot cake, and more.


LEIDY AREVALO - "KNOTT'S SCARY FARM"

Knott’s Berry Farm is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FUN.” In addition to Knott’s Berry Farm, Cedar Fair owns and operates ten other amusement parks, four water parks, one indoor water park resort, and five hotels. Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in California under a management contract.

10/11 Larry Lipson, Costa Rica, Gary Canter, Canters Deli, Steve Evans, Movie Report

LARRY LIPSON - Costa Rica      

For fifty years Larry Lipson was the food critic for the Los Angeles Daily News and now reports from Costa Rica 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. 


GARY CANTER - CANTER'S DELI

"You wouldn't think that Los Angeles could have a deli rival to New Yorks, but for those who know and love the deli culture and appreciate all that it evokes, this place is heaven. Voted the #1 Best Pastrami by the  Los Angeles Times, Canter's Deli sandwiches are always served on rye, unless you ask for something else, but dont do that! Made famous for its corned beef and pastrami sandwiches Canter's Deli boasts of serving the best quality food at reasonable prices.

Tour buses stop here, and many tourists eat  here as well, but the real heart and soul of this deli are the locals who have never moved from the neighborhood and the stars who slip in here incognito for a late night nosh. Canter's Deli is a place of solace, and they come for the old-fashioned Jewish food that  reminds them of their past. Open 24 hours and only closed on Jewish holidays, you can  come here anytime for a delicious taste of yesterday."


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.

10/10 Jane Grote Abell, Donatos Pizza, David Schuemann, Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo

JANE GROTE ABELL - CHAIRMAN DONATOS PIZZA      

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL PIZZA MONTH! “Donatos” –Jane Grote Abell, Chairman of Donatos Pizza, goes undercover in her family business and learns that the pizzas aren’t the only things getting baked at one store, on UNDERCOVER BOSS, Friday, Oct. 11 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.  Jane Grote Abell is the Chairman of Donatos Pizza, her family’s 50-year-old business, which grosses $170 million a year. It’s one of the most lucrative pizza chains in the country  The home base for the company is Columbus Ohio.

At 18 her dad bought a pizza place in 1963, and her grandfather bought the name Donatos.  She recalls her brother, sister and herself helping to make the dough – while her grandmother made the meatballs and the sausage.   Says Jane, “I remember my father saying, “Donatos is going to be around the world someday.”
She attended Ohio State University and then began working for the company.  She’s never had a job anywhere else.  When McDonald’s wanted to buy the whole company, they decided they would sell.  But then it was a different company, it was corporate.  When their stock went down they decided they should focus on themselves so they bought the company back.  She was in charge of lots of different areas. Posing as Kathy Cooper, Jane wanted to make sure that their family legacy was alive in their stores.


DAVID SCHUEMANN -  ,AUTHOR, "99 BOTTLES"

Just like a chef’s plate presentation has impact on your dining experience, our perception of wine—its color, its taste and its quality—are profoundly influenced by its package design. Fact is, we do drink with our eyes.A new wine book “99 Bottles of Wine” illuminates the creative process and positioning behind some of the world’s most iconic wine labels--Osoyoos Larose is one of the case studies featured. Melding story, heritage, imagination and marketing with evocative design, Napa-resident and author David Schuemann, a leading designer to the wine world, gives readers a behind-the-scenes peek into how a wine’s story comes to life on its package--and how it lures a customer in. It's a must-have title for wine lovers, industry insiders, savvy marketers, designers and collectors.  David can talk about the tricks to convey quality, the trends in color and design that drive today's most popular labels and give your listeners tips on what to look for.


DR. PETER J. D’ADAMO IS A NOTED NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN, RESEARCHER, AND LECTURER

The Eat Right 4 Your Type blood type diet, first published 15 years ago was an international bestseller.  Dr. Oz, Courtney Cox, Miranda Kerr, and many professional athletes all follow Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s personalized medicine eating and lifestyle plans, understanding that there is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to health, diets and lifestyle.

Much anticipated, personalized Eat Right for Your Type Cookbooks, tailored to each of the four blood types, are just being published now

10/09 TORI SPELLING, CRISTINA FERRARE, CYTHIA PECK, ANGELO’S & VINCI'S

TORI SPELLING – DISHES HER TASTY TIPS FOR HALLOWEEN ENTERTAINING

To celebrate and inspire viewers - mom, TV personality and entertaining guru, Tori Spelling, has partnered with Starburst® Candy Corn to bring an exciting new twist to tasty Halloween crafts. During this interview, Tori will provide tips on how to liven up Halloween by using the bright, juicy flavors and colors of candy corn to make tasty treats and festive decorations.  Tori Spelling is an actress, producer, crafting and entertaining enthusiast, as well as the best-selling author of celebraTORI, which teaches readers how to unleash their inner party planner. Her new book, Spelling It Like It Is (to be released in October), gives a behind the scenes look at one of Hollywood’s favorite moms as she juggles life, love, style and family.


CRISTINA FERRARE –AUTHOR, TV PERSONALITY - HALLMARK CHANNEL’S SERIES “HOME AND FAMILY”

At the early age of sixteen, Cristina started a career in modeling with the Ford modeling agency in New York. Her career as a super model spanned over twenty-five years. Max Factor put her under contract as their spokesperson while still a teenager.  During that time her career took off as she graced the covers and pages of every major fashion magazine including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Ladies Home journal and traveled the world as a sought after international cover girl. During this time she soon became a trusted spokesperson and endorsed numerous commercial products.

In the early 80’s, Cristina co-hosted “AM Los Angeles,” which was the #1 rated morning television show during her five year tenure.  Between many TV appearances, she has hosted her own shows:  “Cristina and Friends” and a two hour live show from Universal Studios’ “Home and Family”. She was a substitute co-host on “Good Morning America” and co-hosted numerous times with Regis Philbin on “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.” Her primetime series for CBS, “Shame on You,” was one of the first magazine format shows that featured consumer fraud and awareness. It set the stage for other prime time magazine formats that followed. For NBC, she co-hosted “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” with Dr. Drew Pinsky. At one time, Cristina had three shows on the air at the same time: the afore mentioned live morning talk show, “AM Los Angeles,” “The Home Show,” and the primetime series “Incredible Sunday” all for ABC. In feature films, she starred opposite David Niven in “The Impossible Years” and the critically acclaimed “J.W. Coop” with Oscar winner, Cliff Robertson. Cristina is an accomplished author, with her New York Times bestseller, Okay, So I Don’t Have a Headache, and bestseller Cristina Ferrare’s Family Entertainment, Cristina Ferrare Style and Realistically Ever After, a humorous view of finding happiness when he’s not Prince Charming, you’re not Snow White and life is not a fairy tale

Her fifth and most recent cookbook, A Big Bowl of Love was released on Mother’s Day 2011 and has been widely accepted and has received raving reviews from bloggers across the country. She is already hard at work on her next cookbook! The success of her books attests to her expertise in the areas of women’s health, wellbeing, culinary arts, stylistic design, as well as her great zest for life and her humor.

Cristina completed 28 shows that air on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) that debuted on January 3rd, 2011. Cristina’s show, “A Big Bowl of Love” featured celebrity guests along with members of her family and friends serving up great ideas for all kinds of situations that happen in real life!

She has been hosting a series of web episodes for “Oprah.com” that includes cooking classes with the emphasis on how to prepare delicious meals for families, who are struggling with money, time and idea issues. She is writing weekly blogs for Oprah.com that include recipes and answers to questions from fans.

Cristina completed Kellogg commercials for OWN and appeared with her Kellogg recipes on over 20 million Kellogg cereal boxes.

In addition to her complete and extensive web site www.CristinaFerrareCooks.com. Cristina has become a curator on the new and exciting shopping web site www.OpenSky.com as well a key taste maker on the new and fastest growing recipe web site www.Foodily.com


CYTHIA PECK – ANGELO’S & VINCIS - NATIONAL PIZZA MONTH

Forty-one years ago, our restaurant was built with tradition and has since continued with tradition. At our home in the old marketplace, we tribute our ancestors who came to America in the late 1800’s – their spirit and their recipes!
A little about this old building…

Originally built as an L-shaped marketplace in the days when Fullerton was an orchard (early 1900’s), the local farmers would bring their produce in from the fields by horse and wagon to sell to the townspeople. The original wood trusses of the old roof system may still be seen in the Venetian Room. Approximately twenty years later, renovation of the building changed it from its original L-shape to a square. This was accomplished by the large wood barrel trusses (an unusual truss!), which can be seen in the Sicilian Room and the Piazza Fantasia. During our renovation in 1992, the old wood, terra cotta tiles and brick was salvaged and re-used to keep alive the feeling and memories of those days long ago.

About our décor…
Be prepared when you walk into Angelo’s and Vinci’s Ristorante to be overwhelmed! With surprises in every corner, you won’t know where to look first! You will sit amidst the art of the great masters, in an Italian town square complete with the storefronts of old Italian butcher and cheese mongers, fruit and wine vendors, seamstresses showing their wares, and more. Fairy lights abound under cathedral ceilings as our ancestors smile down at you from the Family Love Altar. Explore and you will be surrounded by colorful Sicilian puppets, the carnival masks and canals of Venice, and the romance of Romeo & Juliet. Find our mystical Room of the Moon…and don’t forget King Kong, Dracula, Frankenstein, witches, ghosts and who-knows-what that await you in the Monster Wine Cellar!

And, as for Hollywood…
Founder, Steven Peck, renowned Hollywood dancer, choreographer and veteran actor of over 100 movies and television performances, has delightful photographs of over 40 years of famous stars, directors and dancers. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Gary Cooper, Robert Taylor, Broderick Crawford, Kirk Douglas, Walter Winchell, Sam Wanamaker, Vincent Minnelli, Sylvester Stallone, Ted Danson, David Hasselhof, Ray Sharkey, Shirley MacLaine, Cyd Charisse, Dolly Parton, Joan Collins, Raquel Welch, Olympia Dukakis, Shelly Winters and so many more. Films from Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., MGM, Desilu, United Artists, Universal Studios, to name

10/08 Morgen McLaughlin, Harvest

MORGEN MCLAUGHLIN - EXEC DIRECTOR,  SANTA BARBARA COUNTY VINTNERS

Morgen McLaughlin is the Executive Director of the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association a nonprofit membership organization representing over one hundred wineries in Santa Barbara County, California.  Previously she was the president and CEO of Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association, a regional tourism marketing association in the Finger Lakes region of New York State and owned and managed a small vineyard and winery in Connecticut.  Morgen has undergraduate degrees in English and Secondary Education from Boston College and is completing her Wine Business Management Certificate from Sonoma State University.  In her free time Morgen enjoys hiking, cooking, traveling, wine and spending time with her husband and three sons.

California Wine Month in September celebrates one of our signature industries and all that vintners and growers bring to the economy, culture and lifestyle of the Golden State.Wineries and regions throughout the state mark the month with special tastings, events and offers.

sbcountywines.com


FRANK PELLEGRINO – CO-OWNER, RAO’S RESTAURANT’S

The West Hollywood Rao’s location opens on September 17th at 1006 Seward Avenue, Los Angeles, CA.

Rao's is a Southern Italian restaurant founded in 1896 and located at 455 East 114th Street (at Pleasant Avenue) in East Harlem, New York City, with a sister restaurant in Las Vegas, NV.

The restaurant was started in 1896 by Charles Rao, who moved with his parents from Italy to the United States. He bought a small shop in Italian Harlem, once a very large Italian-American community, and ran the restaurant until his death in 1909. Louis Rao took over the business. He was seen by many as a very suave man. He had his hair cut at The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and wore many fancy suits. Current co-owner Frank Pellegrino describes those days as "the days of big Cadillacs and usually convertibles." He was much more conservative in behavior and looks and refined the menu into a more simple Italian menu, with the help of "Aunt Jake." After Vincent Rao's death in 1999, it was taken over by Frank Pellegrino, Anna Pellegrino Rao's nephew, and Ronald Straci, another close relative. Anna Pellegrino-Rao refined the menu even more with the help of Vincent and she is the source of the menu's identity today.

On December 6, 2006, Rao's opened a second restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada, under executive chef Carla Pellegrino, with two ten-table rooms and additional seating available on an outdoor garden patio.

In early 2009, Rao's in Las Vegas opened a bocce bar outside and began offering bocce lessons and cocktails there.  Rao's now sells products in gourmet markets and supermarkets. Products include pasta products and sauce as well as olive oil.

www.RAOS.com    

10/07 Rick Maynard, KFC, Connie Britton, Nashville

Rick Maynard  DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, KFC 

It’s no secret that Americans are increasingly on the move. And recent IRI research found that Americans are becoming ‘opportunistic’ eaters that graze on food all day long, rather than eating three separate meals. KFC has an answer for this behavior -- a pretty neat product line that provides taste, value and portability for on-the-go consumers - the KFC Go Cup. It’s launching today and we’d love to give you the inside scoop.

58 percent of Americans say that time spent driving has forced them to skip a meal. To combat this, Americans are eating in their cars and on-the-go more often.

42 percent of Americans would be more likely to eat in their cars if the food container could fit in their cup holder. The KFC Go Cup is the perfect solution – it includes a choice of the brand’s signature chicken along with Seasoned Potato Wedges, all in the convenience of sitting right in your cup holder for just $2.49.


Connie Britton - ACTRESS, "NASHVILLE"

Four times Emmy nominated, Connie Britton, is an actress who continually receives accolades for her work in television and film.  After stand-out roles on series such as “Spin City,” “24,” and “The West Wing,” she starred in one of the best reviewed shows on television, NBC’s “Friday Night Lights” created by Peter Berg, for which she received an Emmy nomination in 2010 and then again in 2011.

Britton returned to the small screen this past fall starring in ABC’s highly anticipated drama, “Nashville,” in which she plays Rayna James, a legendary country music superstar, earning Britton her first Golden Globe nomination and fourth Emmy nomination.  Britton most recently starred as the female lead in “American Horror Story,” Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s Golden Globe and Emmy nominated series for FX for which she received her third Emmy Nomination. She will next be seen in the film, “The To Do List,” alongside Aubrey Plaza and Andy Samberg. She also appeared last summer’s “Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World” with Steve Carrell and Keira Knightley.

10/04 Michael Jokovich, Grand Hyatt San Francisco, Allen Salkin, New York Times, From Scratch inside the Food Network, Steve Evans

Michael Jokovich - Grand Hyatt San Francisco   

Step into sophistication on a grand level. The newly transformed Grand Hyatt San Francisco has redefined luxury on Union Square as a AAA Four Diamond hotel.

Revel in completely redesigned guestrooms and suites featuring innovative & residential style amenities. Host high level meetings or impressive conferences in newly renovated event space enhanced with rich materials, unique architectural features, maximum flexibility and technological upgrades. Discover a unique dining experience at OneUP Restaurant and enjoy casual luxury in a chic atmosphere.

All the sights and sounds of San Francisco beckon just outside the doors of this ideally located San Francisco hotel on Union Square. Enjoy unequalled access to world-class shopping, attractions, museums, theaters and the famous landmarks of this vibrant city, including Moscone Convention Center, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, and AT &T Ballpark. Experience the ultimate in discriminating style and hospitality at this luxurious urban hotel on San Francisco’s Union Square.

View our Hyatt Destinations San Francisco city guide for insider information on local culture, attractions, restaurants, shopping, and upcoming events.


Allen Salkin - New York Times reporter - "FROM SCRATCH INSIDE THE FOOD NETWORK"

20  years after it began as a little-noticed start-up, the Food Network is in 100 million homes, generates over ½ a billion dollars in profit annually, and has spawned a constellation of stars who have become household names, including Paula Deen, Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, Jamie Oliver, Sandra Lee, and Giada De Laurentiis, to name just a few!! Now, prominent journalist Allen Salkin serves up the 1st book yet written about this colorful world of big appetites, big money, and big drama in “FROM SCRATCH: Inside the Food Network.” The book also contains exclusive material on what really happened behind the scenes of the Paula Deen controversy!!!


Pamela Skidmore – Director of Sales & Event Marketing, Sonoma Meetings  - Healdsburg Auction

Attention Wine and Food Enthusiasts! The date is set and preparations are already underway for the First Annual Healdsburg Wine Auction benefitting Healdsburg schools and community. A Farm To Fork event featuring collector wines, gourmet food and unique live auction items. Don’t you dare plan anything else for October 5, 2013, and we can’t wait to see you at the Auction at Soda Rock Winery.

www.healdsburgwineauction.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.