11/29 JAMES CARLING, VENTURA LEMONCELLO, RICHARD SCHLESINGER, 48 HOURS, STEVE EVANS

JAMES CARLING - VENTURA LEMONCELLO 
                           

The Ventura Limoncello Company was founded in 2007 by James Carling and Manuela Zaretti-Carling. Our mission is to the be premier producer of limoncello liqueurs in the United States. We use the recipe handed down to Manuela from her Nonna in Italy. Ventura County, California, is home to some of the most amazing lemons in the world and their peels make a world class Limoncello. Due to the year round lemon growing season, we produce Ventura Limoncello in small batches all year.

We have also released our Ventura Orangecello liqueur using blood oranges, also grown in Ventura County. Unlike lemons, blood oranges are seasonal in Ventura. Our Orangecello Blood Orange will only be produced seasonally. We work direct with local Ventura County growers who pick tree-ripened citrus to our specifications.

Ventura Limoncello Originale was released in February, 2008 and was initally well received. Our Limoncello was awarded Gold Medal at the 2011 and 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the Platinum Medal at the 2009 LA SIP Awards. Ventura Limoncello Originale has been America’s highest rated Limoncello 4-years in a row. Ventura Limoncello Crema was relased in October, 2008. It was awarded Gold Medal at the 2010 LA SIP Awards.

Ventura Orangecello Blood Orange was released in May, 2011. It was recognized as Double Gold Medal, “Best in Class” at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Ventura Limoncello’s liqueurs are all natural and handcrafted. We hand peel all the fruit. This ensures only the top layer of peel containing the oils are used. No pith. Our natural processes produce aromatic and full flavor liqueurs. The true sign of an all natural Limoncello is “Il Collarino” (the little collar). This is formed by the citrus oils that gather at the top of the bottle. In our Limoncello Crema, milk fat may gather at the top. A quick shake before serving mixes everything back together in the bottle.

www.venturalimoncello.com


RICHARD SCHLESINGER - 48 HOURS 

It was a gruesome murder with an unlikely suspect.  In September 2000, David Camm, a former Indiana State Trooper, came home from a basketball game to find his wife Kim Camm and their two children, Jill and Brad, murdered.  He immediately phoned the police to report the crime.  However, two days later, a still distraught Camm was arrested for the murders. Prosecutors had no motive and an even bigger problem: 11 eyewitnesses claimed that Camm was playing basketball at the time the murders were committed.

The prosecution's case came down to a silent witness: 8 microscopic drops of blood that told a very different story. The juror’s believed the forensic evidence more than the eyewitness testimony….and David Camm was convicted and sentenced to 195 years in prison.

But this story is far from over. It takes several years and some startling DNA results to turn this case on its head.  Richard Schlesinger has been following this story from the beginning and talks exclusively with David Camm and all of the other major players in this week’s 48 Hours Mystery, Saturday, at 10pmET/PT.


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.

11/28 Jeremy LeBlanc, Christine Dionese, The Best Craft Cocktails & Bartending with Flair, Chef Michelle Bernstein, National Pork Board, Milt Larson, The Magic Castle

Jeremy LeBlanc & Christine Dionese -  The Best Craft Cocktails & Bartending with Flair

Hand-Crafted, Delicious Cocktail Recipes From One of the Best Bartenders in the World Jeremy LeBlanc, lead bartender at a bar praised by Conde Nast as one of the top 10 roof top bars in the world, is sharing his signature techniques and one-of a kind recipes that define exceptional bartending. Now, with this bartending guide, experts and beginners alike will keep their friends and customers entertained, satisfied and always coming back for more of these meticulously created cocktails.

The Best Craft Cocktails & Bartending With Flair features hand-crafted cocktail recipes like the Whiskey Pig, which features bacon-washed whiskey, the twist on a classic, the Rhubarb Mojito, and the refreshing berry cocktail, Smithey’s Smash. With chapters dedicated to aperitifs, classics with a twist, exotic cocktails, refreshers and punches, there is truly a drink for every person and every occasion that features fresh ingredients and homemade, wholefood mixes and syrups.

Whether you are looking to become head bartender, break into the business, or simply impress a few friends at home, this one-stop guide is all you’ll need to master the craft with style and ease.


Chef Michelle Bernstein - National Pork Board

James Beard Award-winning Chef Michelle Bernstein has teamed up with The National Pork Board to debut an e-cookbook, “Cooking For Comfort” just in time for the colder weather months.  The e-book, which includes some of Bernstein’s coveted family and favorite photographs and stories, features her homemade Chorizo & Cheese Empanadas with Avocado Crema recipe (generations old) and her recipe for Country-Style Ribs with Mojo which provides a modern take on comfort infusing a contemporary interpretation of mojo with  a traditional classic of country-style pork ribs.

You check out check out more than 25 recipes including comfort classics like Bacon-Wrapped Pork Meatloaf, Layered Ham Quesadillas, and BBQ Pork Mac n’ Cheese and download the free e-book here: www.porkbeinspired.com/CookingForComfort/

About Michelle Bernstein - Since the pivotal Mango Gang era in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, almost no other Miami chef has made as big a splash on the national culinary scene as Chef Michelle Bernstein. A Miami native, this passionate culinaire has dazzled diners and critics alike with her sublime cuisine and a personality as bright and vibrant as the Florida sun. “My food is luxurious but approachable,” says Bernstein, a James Beard Award winner (Best Chef South 2007) and author of “Cuisine a Latina” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2008).


Milt Larson - ‘IT'S MAGIC’  Returns to Thousand Oaks With Award-Winning Magicians

Back by popular demand, the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza presents It's Magic! at the Fred Kavli Theatre, Saturday, November 30, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.

It's Magic! has been delighting generations of families and magic enthusiasts for more than 50 years. This dazzling live stage show is unique in that it features top professional magicians from all over the world, with each act carefully selected to represent the variety of the arts of magic. The audience will see internationally recognized and award-winning magicians direct from Las Vegas and Hollywood's Magic Castle perform sleight of hand, full stage illusions and comedy. The Los AngelesTimes calls It's Magic! "A must for magic buffs of all ages." The all- new 2013 lineup includes Christopher Hart, Jay Johnson, Milt Larsen, Adam Trent and Rick Thomas.

The tradition of an all-star magic show started in 1956 when two young entrepreneurs, Milt Larsen (who will give a rare performance in Thousand Oaks) and Oliver Berliner, produced a show called Hocus Pocus' 56 at the magnificent Carthay Circle The­ater in Los Angeles. The following year, the show was renamed It's Magic! and moved to the 1300 seat Wilshire Ebell Theater. At first, the shows played for a very limited time only. However, as the number of fans grew, the number of performances was expanded. The success of It's Magic! proved there was a genuine interest in the ancient art form of magic and gave Larsen the idea of forming a full-time private club for magicians and magic enthusiasts. Thus was born the Magic Castle, which opened its doors in 1963. Many credit this show as the spark that rekindled the resurgence of the art of magic in America.

Over the 58 years the show has been produced, Southern California audiences have been treated to such legendary magicians as Harry Blackstone (Junior and Senior), John Calvert, Senor Wences, Richiardi, Chang, Mark Wilson, and dozens of other major magic stars. It also provided the "springboard" for newcomers like Lance Burton, Mark Kalin, The Pendragons and Harry Anderson, who have since become stars.

Single tickets are priced at $45,$25 with group discounts available. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or through the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Box Office, located at 2100Thousand Oaks Boulevard. For more information call 805-449-ARTS (2787) or visit www.civicartsplaza.com.

11/27 BECKY PETERSON, AUCTION NAPA VALLEY GIVING, BETH WEISS, OMAHA STEAKS, RJ JARAMILLO, BUTTERBALL

BECKY PETERSON - AUCTION NAPA VALLEY GIVING  

Napa Valley Vintners' mission for its annual community fundraiser, Auction Napa Valley, is to utilize the worldwide reputation of the Napa Valley wines to enhance the well-being of Napa County community. Since 1981 NVV has granted more than $120 million to local non-profit organizations in the areas of healthcare, youth development and affordable housing.

With the proceeds of Auction Napa Valley 2012, NVV refined its giving model to focus on two long-term strategic priority areas: Community Health and Children's Education. The goal is to invest deeply, rather than broadly to affect the greatest impact on our community. Our nonprofit partners serve residents in Napa County from American Canyon to Calistoga with programs as varied as Adult Day Services for those suffering from Alzheimer's disease, to programs using the latest technology to prepare English Language Learners for Kindergarten.

About the Napa Valley Vintners: The Napa Valley Vintners is the nonprofit trade association responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation as the premier winegrowing region. From seven founding members in 1944, today the association represents nearly 500 Napa Valley wineries and is a leader in the worldwide wine industry. To learn more about our region and its extraordinary wines, visit napavintners.com.

auctionnapavalley.org


BETH WEISS, OMAHA STEAKS - HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING

A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Elizabeth “Beth” Weiss has worked in the fields of advertising, marketing communications and public relations for more than 25 years. She joined Omaha Steaks as Corporate Communications Director in 2001, where she spends her days promoting the Omaha Steaks brand through the national media with exposure on shows like Good Morning America, Today, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Live with Kelly and Michael. In addition, Beth coordinated Omaha Steaks involvement in the Celebrity Apprentice, which helped to elevate the brand to new heights of consumer recognition. Over the years, Beth has learned a great deal about how to grill the perfect steak, too, and the reasons why Omaha Steaks makes the ideal holiday gift.

www.omahasteaks.com


RJ JARAMILLO – BUTTERBALL, FIRST MALE TURKEY TALK-LINE® SPOKESMAN

RJ was the winner of a national search contest for the First male Turkey Talk-Line® spokesman that kicked off a few months ago…RJ Jaramillo is from San Diego, California has been named its first male Turkey Talk-Line® spokesman. A dad to three, RJ brings a wealth of cooking knowledge, family-tested (and approved!) recipes and experience with video recipe demonstrations, which are chronicled on his blog Cook Like a Dad.  Prefers oven roasting turkey cooking method. The Butterball® Turkey Talk-Line® experts are available to answer questions and offer advice on preparing a turkey. The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line experts are available to all cooks preparing the holiday meal and are able to provide useful turkey advice, holiday cooking tips, and delicious recipes that will please everyone at the Thanksgiving table.

www.Butterball.com

11/26 Chef Enzo Fargione, Visual Eats, Seth Tibbott, Tofurkey

Renowned Chef Enzo Fargione - Pens Cookbook, but not your ordinary cookbook ‘Visual Eats’ 

In Visual Eats: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Modern Italian Cooking, Chef Enzo shows food aficionados and home cooks that they can create the same elaborate dishes that are served in high-end restaurants for their own guests. With beautiful photos and step-by-step instructions, Visual Eats carefully lays out the steps to prepare these professional dishes at home. Hosts who want to amaze their guests can even create dishes like Eggplant Popsicles, Ham and Peas in a Toothpaste Tube, and Enzo’s signature dish, Four-Minute Smoked Branzino Carpaccio in a Cigar Box, which emits a puff of smoke when opened by surprised diners.

Amidst these crowd-pleasing recipes, Chef Enzo sprinkles in stories from his home in Turin, Italy where he grew up in a traditional Italian home surrounded by family and lots of food. He also shares the history of Italian foods and how they came to be so popular here in the U.S. -- and Enzo sheds some insight into the camaraderie and competition among world-famous, professional chefs who are his friends. Visual Eats is a new kind of cookbook for today’s educated foodie.

Award-winning Chef Enzo is well-known as an innovative food craftsman who creates state-of-the-art dishes that amaze diners nightly in his Washington, D.C. restaurant, Elisir.

osteriaelisir.com


Seth Tibbott – Founder, Tofurky - Meat-Free Option for Thanksgiving    
                                             

The iconic (in health food circles) vegetarian brand Tofurky, based in Hood River, Oregon, founded some 20 years ago by Seth Tibbott and still family-owned, even though so many of Seth's competitors have been acquired by big food companies over the years. A passionate animal rights advocate whose brand first attained fame via an answer on "Jeopardy," of all things, and which initially gained traction as a meat-free option during the Thanksgiving season, Tofurky today continues growing by double digits annually, offers lines of pizza, deli slices and the world's first vegan quiche, among many other products, and soon will relocate to what is only the second LEEDS (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified Platinum food manufacturing plant in the country.

www.tofurkey.com 

11/25 Jeremy LeBlanc, Christine Dionese, The Best Craft Cocktails & Bartending with Flair, Chef Michelle Bernstein, National Pork Board, Milt Larson, The Magic Castle

Jeremy LeBlanc & Christine Dionese -  The Best Craft Cocktails & Bartending with Flair

Hand-Crafted, Delicious Cocktail Recipes From One of the Best Bartenders in the World Jeremy LeBlanc, lead bartender at a bar praised by Conde Nast as one of the top 10 roof top bars in the world, is sharing his signature techniques and one-of a kind recipes that define exceptional bartending. Now, with this bartending guide, experts and beginners alike will keep their friends and customers entertained, satisfied and always coming back for more of these meticulously created cocktails.

The Best Craft Cocktails & Bartending With Flair features hand-crafted cocktail recipes like the Whiskey Pig, which features bacon-washed whiskey, the twist on a classic, the Rhubarb Mojito, and the refreshing berry cocktail, Smithey’s Smash. With chapters dedicated to aperitifs, classics with a twist, exotic cocktails, refreshers and punches, there is truly a drink for every person and every occasion that features fresh ingredients and homemade, wholefood mixes and syrups.

Whether you are looking to become head bartender, break into the business, or simply impress a few friends at home, this one-stop guide is all you’ll need to master the craft with style and ease.


Chef Michelle Bernstein - National Pork Board

James Beard Award-winning Chef Michelle Bernstein has teamed up with The National Pork Board to debut an e-cookbook, “Cooking For Comfort” just in time for the colder weather months.  The e-book, which includes some of Bernstein’s coveted family and favorite photographs and stories, features her homemade Chorizo & Cheese Empanadas with Avocado Crema recipe (generations old) and her recipe for Country-Style Ribs with Mojo which provides a modern take on comfort infusing a contemporary interpretation of mojo with  a traditional classic of country-style pork ribs.

You check out check out more than 25 recipes including comfort classics like Bacon-Wrapped Pork Meatloaf, Layered Ham Quesadillas, and BBQ Pork Mac n’ Cheese and download the free e-book here: www.porkbeinspired.com/CookingForComfort/

About Michelle Bernstein - Since the pivotal Mango Gang era in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, almost no other Miami chef has made as big a splash on the national culinary scene as Chef Michelle Bernstein. A Miami native, this passionate culinaire has dazzled diners and critics alike with her sublime cuisine and a personality as bright and vibrant as the Florida sun. “My food is luxurious but approachable,” says Bernstein, a James Beard Award winner (Best Chef South 2007) and author of “Cuisine a Latina” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2008).


Milt Larson - ‘IT'S MAGIC’  Returns to Thousand Oaks With Award-Winning Magicians

Back by popular demand, the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza presents It's Magic! at the Fred Kavli Theatre, Saturday, November 30, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.

It's Magic! has been delighting generations of families and magic enthusiasts for more than 50 years. This dazzling live stage show is unique in that it features top professional magicians from all over the world, with each act carefully selected to represent the variety of the arts of magic. The audience will see internationally recognized and award-winning magicians direct from Las Vegas and Hollywood's Magic Castle perform sleight of hand, full stage illusions and comedy. The Los AngelesTimes calls It's Magic! "A must for magic buffs of all ages." The all- new 2013 lineup includes Christopher Hart, Jay Johnson, Milt Larsen, Adam Trent and Rick Thomas.

The tradition of an all-star magic show started in 1956 when two young entrepreneurs, Milt Larsen (who will give a rare performance in Thousand Oaks) and Oliver Berliner, produced a show called Hocus Pocus' 56 at the magnificent Carthay Circle The­ater in Los Angeles. The following year, the show was renamed It's Magic! and moved to the 1300 seat Wilshire Ebell Theater. At first, the shows played for a very limited time only. However, as the number of fans grew, the number of performances was expanded. The success of It's Magic! proved there was a genuine interest in the ancient art form of magic and gave Larsen the idea of forming a full-time private club for magicians and magic enthusiasts. Thus was born the Magic Castle, which opened its doors in 1963. Many credit this show as the spark that rekindled the resurgence of the art of magic in America.

Over the 58 years the show has been produced, Southern California audiences have been treated to such legendary magicians as Harry Blackstone (Junior and Senior), John Calvert, Senor Wences, Richiardi, Chang, Mark Wilson, and dozens of other major magic stars. It also provided the "springboard" for newcomers like Lance Burton, Mark Kalin, The Pendragons and Harry Anderson, who have since become stars.

Single tickets are priced at $45,$25 with group discounts available. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or through the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Box Office, located at 2100Thousand Oaks Boulevard. For more information call 805-449-ARTS (2787) or visit www.civicartsplaza.com.

11/22 Larry Manetti, Honore Comfort, Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction, Steve Evans

LARRY MANETTI – ACTOR, AUTHOR & RADIO HOST 

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.

HONORE COMFORT – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SONOMA COUNTY VINTNERS

Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction Shatters Previous Record - Doubling Last Year’s Income to Raise Over $1.4 Million!

Honore Comfort, joined the Sonoma County Vintners as Executive Director in 2006.  Formerly with Foster’s Wine Estates, Ms. Comfort brings an extensive background in wine marketing, consumer marketing, and not-for profit management to the organization.  As Group Brand Manager for Luxury Imports for Fosters, Ms. Comfort was responsible for marketing major wine brands to the North American market including Penfolds and Wynn’s along with other boutique luxury brands.  Prior to the merger with Foster’s, she managed the Rosemount Estate brand for Southcorp Wines and was responsible for a 2 million case business in the US, Canada, and Latin America. She started her wine career as Director of Marketing for a small, family owned winery in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley.

Ms. Comfort gained her marketing and advertising expertise while working as Director of Print Media for Macy’s West in San Francisco.  Her career also includes four years as a successful strategic planner and corporate fundraiser for the Art Institute of Chicago, and other non-profit museums and institutions around the United States. Honore has a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Arts Administration both from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of California, Berkeley.  Ms. Comfort lives in Healdsburg with her husband, and together they manage their micro-vineyard of 40 year-old Dry Creek Valley Cabernet.

www.sonomawine.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.

11/21 Dr. Joel Fisher, Jason Hayes, Beaujolais Nouveau Day, Doug Brauner, The Car Czar, The LA Auto Show, Franck Duboeuf, Mr. Beaujolais

Dr. Joel Fisher and Jason Hayes join the show for Beaujolais Nouveau Day!

Beaujolais nouveau (French pronunciation: [bo.ʒɔ.lɛ nu.vo]) is a red wine made from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France. It is the most popular vin de primeur, fermented for just a few weeks before being released for sale on the third Thursday of November. This "Beaujolais Nouveau Day" used to see heavy marketing, with races to get the first bottles to different markets around the globe. The current release practice is to ship the wine ahead of the third Thursday of November, and release it to the local markets at 12:01 am local time.


Doug Brauner – Auto Expert & Host of The Car Czar -  Live from the LA Auto Show

High-Energy Talent Doug Brauner is a 18-year automotive broadcaster and a certified mechanic in California, who owns two auto repair shops and turns wrenches every day in addition to hosting a wild weekend LIVE automotive show every Sunday, in Sacramento, CA. THE CAR CZAR with Doug Brauner is the most watched show in its time period every weekend.  Join Automotive Expert Doug Brauner from the Los Angeles Auto Show as he previews the latest automotive debuts.

www.thecarczar.com  
facebook.com/thecarczar


Franck Duboeuf - Son of the legendary "Mr. Beaujolais" (Georges Duboeuf)

Be among the first to taste the new 2013 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau, the first wine of the harvest! Available nationwide one stroke after midnight on November 21st, Nouveau will be uncorked at parties and celebrations across the U.S. (suggested retail price of $9.99).

This holiday season, Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau channels the spirit of the Jazz Age with a Nouveau Retro theme.  Satisfy your cravings for the lighthearted entertainment and revelry of the 20s with a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau and no-hassle Gatsby twists to this year’s parties.

11/20 Ann Pittman, Cooking Light Magazine, Larry Lipson, Larry Manetti

Ann Pittman Executive Food Editor, Cooking Light Magazine – Special Thanksgiving Double Issue

Highlights from Cookin’ Light’s November 2013 Issue – available on Newsstands Naitonwide and Online at www.CookingLight.com 

Articles include:

THE EASIEST HOLIDAY RECIPES EVER!
7 SIMPLE WAYS TO BECOME A BETTER COOK
APPETIZERS FOR ANY PARTY
PURE COMFORT CASSEROLES
12 HEATLTHY EATING HABITS
SUGAR, SUGAR EVERYWHERE
HEALTHY AND HUNGRY IN SAN JUAN

Cooking Light is the nation’s leading epicurean magazine brand with the largest audience and most epicurean editorial. It is the only epicurean brand positioned where great food meets good health. Cooking Light received two James Beard Foundation 2013 Book, Broadcast and Journalism Awards. The brand delivers innovative recipes, nutritious advice, and resources to live a healthful lifestyle via it’s magazine, website, and portfolio of cookbooks; across all tablets; through the highly-acclaimed Cooking Light Quick & Healthy Menu Maker app; and on social media platforms, including Facebook, Titter (@Cooking_Light), Pinterest, Instagram (@cookinglight), and Google+. Cooking Light is part of Time Inc. Lifestyle Group, a division of Time Inc., the largest magazine media company on the U.S.


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. 



Larry Manetti – Actor, Author& Radio Host 

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.

11/19 Jan Miller, Editor, Better Homes and Gardens, Leo Pearlstein, Mrs. Cubbison’s

Jan Miller - Editor, Better Homes and Gardens 'Baking"

This all-new and gorgeous edition of Better Homes and Gardens Baking (the first major all-purpose BH&G baking title published since 1998) is a compendium of irresistible cookies, brownies, cakes, pies, cobblers, pastries, and breads—from everyday sweets to special-occasion show-stoppers. It has everything you need to bake fuss-free and with delicious results for bake sales, cookie swaps, birthday parties, holiday tables, or just because you’re in the mood to bake. You'll find:

More than 400 recipes for luscious baked goods such as Cinnamon Rolls (with four fun shape variations), Raspberry French Silk Pie Bars, and Herbed Boule. More than 250 photos showcase the recipes and clarify techniques. Chapter-opener features with classic recipes that teach secrets to baking success. Make-It-Mine recipes with choices to help you adapt to your taste, convenience, and occasion. Make-It-Mini guides to help bakers turn out scrumptious sweets in smaller sizes. This will surely be the go-to baking reference and inspiration for years to come. More than 350 Recipes plus tips and techniques.


Leo Pearlstein - Mrs. Cubbison’s 

Leo Pearlstein is the founder and President of Lee & Associates, Inc., a full-service public relations and advertising firm, which he opened in 1950. He currently runs the company with his partners, two of his sons, Howard and Frank Pearlstein. He also founded and is Director of Western Research Kitchens, the food and beverage division of his agency. He is considered a pioneer food consultant and his agency was recently named as one of the top agencies in the country that specializes in food and beverage clients.  He was on the team that invented the “Pop-Up” turkey timer and handled promotions for the California Turkey Advisory Board for over 25 years.

Leo wrote three books: Celebrity Stew, Recipes of the Stars and Mrs. Cubbison’s Best Stuffing Cookbook and has been interviewed from coast-to-coast on TV and radio stations, as well as on local and nationally syndicated newspapers. He is known as a turkey and stuffing expert, as well as an all around food authority.

Leo has guest-lectured at UCLA and California State University, Long Beach, on the topic of public relations and marketing, relating to the food industry.

He has been very active in California agricultural commodities and generic food promotions, and has created and supervised programs for over 40 different advisory boards, trade associations and co-ops, as well as state and federally funded marketing groups. This includes industries such as almonds, apples, artichokes, asparagus, boysenberries, chives, corn, eggs, figs, grapefruit, papayas, peaches, pineapples, plums, prunes, seafood, tomatoes and turkeys.

Some of the commodity groups his agency has handled range from the Danish Dairy Board and the English Cheese Association to the Mexican shrimp industry and the New Zealand Trade Commission. He has worked with large conglomerates, such as J. R. Simplot. Some of the other major clients his agency has promoted include Frito-Lay, American Home Foods, and the Hilton Hotel. Some of the major promotional clients include Ciba-Geigy, Lederle Labs, Johnson & Johnson. Beverage clients he has worked with range from PepsiCo and the California milk industry to Suntory International (a billion-dollar conglomerate in Japan which produces over a hundred whiskey, wine and soft drink products).

Leo was invited to participate in the first President's Council on Nutrition at the White House. He enjoys membership in many public relations and trade industry organizations, such as the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and the International Foodservices Editorial Council, in addition to the Los Angeles Chefs d'Cuisine and the American Culinary Federation, for which he is also a consultant. He is also a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Because of his experience, Leo has been called the "Culinary King of Public Relations"
Leo received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from the School of Merchandising, College of Commerce, at the University of Southern California, where he was honored with the Paul G. Hoffman Award, presented to the most outstanding marketing graduate.

11/18 Chef Roy Choi, Milt Larsen, Magic Castle

Chef Roy Choi - Author, L.A. Son - My Life My City My Food  

Los Angeles: A patchwork megalopolis defined by its unlikely cultural collisions; the city that raised and shaped Roy Choi, the boundary-breaking chef who decided to leave behind fine dining to feed the city he loved—and, with the creation of the Korean taco, reinvented street food along the way.

Abounding with both the food and the stories that gave rise to Choi's inspired cooking, L.A. Son takes us through the neighborhoods and streets most tourists never see, from the hidden casinos where gamblers slurp fragrant bowls of pho to Downtown's Jewelry District, where a ten-year-old Choi wolfed down Jewish deli classics between diamond deliveries; from the kitchen of his parents' Korean restaurant and his mother's pungent kimchi to the boulevards of East L.A. and the best taquerias in the country, to, at last, the curbside view from one of his emblematic Kogi taco trucks, where people from all walks of life line up for a revolutionary meal.

Filled with over 85 inspired recipes that meld the overlapping traditions and flavors of L.A.—including Korean fried chicken, tempura potato pancakes, homemade chorizo, and Kimchi and Pork Belly Stuffed Pupusas—L.A. Son embodies the sense of invention, resourcefulness, and hybrid attitude of the city from which it takes its name, as it tells the transporting, unlikely story of how a Korean American kid went from lowriding in the streets of L.A. to becoming an acclaimed chef.


MILT LARSEN - "MAGIC CASTLE"

Milt Larsen (born April 9, 1931 in Pasadena, California) is a writer, actor, performer, lyricist, magician, entrepreneur, speaker and the creator of The Magic Castle, a private club for magicians and enthusiasts. Larsen and his brother, the late Bill Larsen Jr., were both in television and grew up in a family of magicians. Their father, William W. Larsen Sr., was a performing magician and Los Angeles defense attorney. Their mother, Geraldine, was an early TV pioneer children's entertainer known as The Magic Lady. In 1936 Larsen's parents published Genii, the Conjurors Magazine, which is still in publication. In 1999, Magic magazine selected the Larsen Family as one of the 100 most influential magicians in the 20th century.

11/15 SUSAN ZIRINSKY, 48 HOURS, NANCY FULLER, FARMHOUSE RULES, STEVE EVANS

SUSAN ZIRINSKY - 48 HOURS 

“As It Happened: John F. Kennedy 50 Years” AND “48 Hours: The Devil’s Twin”: CBS’s prime time special on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of JFK will utilize a technique in documentary filmmaking that keeps it completely real. Utilizing material “as it happened” – retelling the past in present tense - allowing CBS’ unique historic coverage to play out in real time, will create an energy and emotional experience for the audience that few others can accomplish. While we will set the tone for the hour with the emotional attachment the country was having with the Kennedy family  - and we will explore 50 years later wither the conspiracy – the bulk of this special will be to feel the moment on this 50th anniversary by letting us take you back. YOU ARE THERE.

The Kennedy White House after 1,000 days in office was all about a sense intimacy with the President and his family. It was a new relationship for a country and its president.  The assassination of JFK was about the country’s loss of innocence - but it was also about the birth of live television – a country sharing the confusion – the sadness – and tragedy together in real time.

Schieffer anchors setting the mood and purpose of the special – as well as giving us first person narratives-- transitioning us between real time events.  This hour becomes a personal story of remembering for Schieffer as he was there – covering it first hand.  Bob’s great story of driving Lee Harvey Oswald’s mother to Dallas is classic.

AND. . . an all-new 48 Hours at 10pmET – “THE DEVIL’S TWIN”

On July 24th 2003, just one week before her divorce would be finalized, Heather DeWild went to the home of her estranged husband to pick up health insurance cards and endorse a check.   It was the last time she was seen alive.   Six weeks later, her badly decomposed body was found buried under a mound of dirt along a mountain highway.

From the day she disappeared, Heather’s family, friends, and police investigators, suspected her husband, Daniel DeWild and his identical twin brother David were responsible …. but there wasn’t enough evidence to tie them to her murder and the case went cold.

It turns out the DeWild twins had studied crime shows,  like CSI,  hoping to pull off the perfect murder… and they might have gotten away with it, if not for Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey and his team of investigators.   It became Storey’s personal mission to get justice for Heather.  It would take almost a decade, but in December 2011, Daniel and David (and David’s wife Roseanne) were arrested and charged with murder.   In a twist worthy of a Hollywood movie -- David DeWild would become the State’s star witness and testify against his twin brother … and Daniel would point the finger at David. The twins are identical and could have the same DNA.  The jury’s verdict would shock everyone.


NANCY FULLER - "FARMHOUSE RULES" 

Farmhouse Rules looks into Nancy Fuller's kitchen and the Hudson Valley farming community that supplies it. Nancy is a loving mother of six, grandmother to thirteen and a no-nonsense owner of a multi-million dollar business she runs with her husband. Follow Nancy as she gathers the best the land has to offer and feeds her friends and family classic, farm fresh meals.

Nancy Fuller is a warm, loving mother of six and grandmother to 13, and the owner of Ginsberg’s Foods, a multi-million dollar business she runs with her husband.  Nancy lives in an authentic 17th century farmhouse on beautiful, rolling farmland in New York’s Hudson Valley region.  Living on the farm, Nancy’s food and recipes represent her surroundings and her philosophy of feeding others with delicious, simple food from the heart.

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.

11/14 Undercover Boss, Travis Boersma, Dutch Bros. Coffee, Chris Taranto, Paso Robles Wine Country

UNDERCOVER BOSS  - Travis Boersma, President and Co-Founder of Dutch Bros. Coffee

“Dutch Bros. Coffee” – Travis Boersma, President and Co-Founder of Dutch Bros. Coffee, learns what keeps his high-energy coffee chain brewing when he journeys to El Salvador to work on the coffee plantation from which his company purchases their coffee beans. Also, the boss recruits a colleague to go undercover for him when he fears a familiar face may spill the beans on his mission at the company’s headquarters, on UNDERCOVER BOSS, Friday, Nov. 15 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Travis Boersma is the President and co-founder of Dutch Bros. Coffee, America’s largest privately held drive-thru coffee chain. Travis grew up on a dairy farm in Grants Pass, Oregon, and is a third-generation dairy farmer. He and his brother Dane co-founded the company together, starting with just a little coffee cart in Grants Pass. The company started gaining momentum the next year, when they exchanged their cart for a drive-thru. Travis continues to lead the company after his brother Dane passed away in 2009, and the business still thrives on its family-centered values.

Dutch Bros. Coffee is headquartered in Grants Pass, Oregon, has 202 locations in seven states, 2,000 employees, with annual revenue of more than $100 million. Dutch Bros. Coffee prides itself in roasting all of its own coffee, and roasted over 2 million pounds last year.

Travis is going undercover as Sam Marshall, a preppy nerd from Texas, who dreams of starting his own restaurant business. His employees will be told Sam is on a reality show that is not Undercover Boss.


CHRIS TARANTO - COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY

Wine Country Auction on eBay  November 7 - 17, 2013: The world-renowned wineries of Paso Robles Wine Country join together to create a spectacular online auction. The Paso Robles Wine Country Auction is an opportunity to raise funds to support local community organizations. The profits from the event each year are gifted to local charities that support healthcare, education, and greater community service. Please visit the Wine Country Auction page for event details. Paso Robles Wine Country is home to a host of events throughout the year. In addition to the individual winery events listed in the Wine Country Events link, the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance hosts regional trade and consumer events around the country throughout the year.

11/13 DR. BILL SYSAK, SAN DIEGO BAY WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL, LES KINCAID, LAS VEGAS

DR. BILL SYSAK - BEER SOMMELIER - SAN DIEGO BAY WINE & FOOD FEST

Bill Sysak, or as he’s more often referred to, “Dr. Bill,” is the Craft Beer Ambassador for Stone Brewing Co. “Dr.” Bill is a Certified Cicerone® and has proven expertise in selecting, acquiring and serving craft beers.

He received his nickname through his work as a medic in the military Army National Guard, and the moniker has stuck with him throughout his career in the craft beer industry. At Stone, he’s responsible for setting the beverage standard and ensuring the beverage philosophy is followed at all Stone Brewing Co. venues. “Dr.” Bill suggests the beer, wine and food pairings for the menus at the restaurant, and also coordinates and hosts many Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens events including: Beer & Cigar Dinners, Master Pairing events, Sour Fest, Oakquinox, Stone Pour it Black, and Rare Beer Breakfast. Sysak has been featured in such publications as New York Times, Draft magazine, Imbibe, Los Angeles Times, and Food & Wine. He can also be found on the popular Internet podcasts, “New Brew Thursday” where he does a “Master Pairings” segment each week and “Expert Drinking,” where he educates his fans on the best of craft beers, fine wines, and spirits.

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 Thanksgiving holiday.


LES KINCAID - LAS VEGAS CELEBRITY CHEF / CRN HOST  

 Les Kincaid was born in Dayton, Ohio and moved to California at age 12 to spend the summer with his father and stepmother.  He shortly discovered a passion for food because of his step-grandfather (who was an executive chef-retired).  Started cooking for the summer visit and by September 1st was preparing three meals a day.  His family moved to San Francisco and was hired for his first culinary job at 14.  Because of his love of food he has been cooking most every day since.

Les has been teaching cooking and wine appreciation classes thru the continuing education, or Outreach department, at UNLV for well over twenty years and consulting to restaurants and hotels all over the west from west Texas to Oregon since 1983.  He also taught cooking classes at the Clark County Community College for several years, and school politics forced him to quit there.  Politics is not part of his personality.

Les has penned several cookbooks and the latest is titled "Never Trust A Skinny Chef".  Les started broadcasting in Las Vegas with a radio program called "Les Kincaid's Lifestyles Las Vegas" in January 2000.  The show emanated from Charlie Palmer's Aureole Las Vegas restaurant "lLIVE in Mandalay Bay Hotel/Casino.  This show ran from noon to 1:30 p.m. (Pacific each Saturday).  After one year the show went national and syndicated the show into over 26 million households.  In September of 2000 he started a unique wine show (Les' Wines & Vines).  This was Americas first wine show that has an invited guest audience and tastes wines and food during the show while interviewing the winery owner, winemaker, wine writer, sommelier or master sommelier.  It is currently nationally syndicated over two networks and six internet outlets every Thursday evening from 7:00-8:00 p.m. “LIVE”.  In October 2011 he decided to re-brand this show and changed the name to Wines Du Jour.  The second network Global American Broadcasting Network and this helped the ratings and they feel very confident that this show will be around for several years to come.  There are a few more projects in the mill at this time and we will be happy to share them with you as they develop, including some things from Baja California, Mexico.  Both radio and television broadcasts.

Les has included in this website many user-friendly recipes and some common sense advice throughout these many pages.  Having traveled across the country to help everyday people with their cooking challenges, he has developed a unique perspective on how Americans like to eat and cook today.  Les is certainly a champion for uncomplicated recipes, bright flavors and fresh food, which he deeply believes is the type of cooking that, comes from a "real kitchen" - a place dedicated to culinary honesty.  Les has received acclaim from the national and international culinary community for his creativity and dedication to the art of cooking and has been an instructor at UNLV continuing education program for well over twenty years.  In addition he teaches classes and workshops sometimes at the Art Institute of Las Vegas culinary school, Fergusons Showroom store and at both Total Wine & More stores in the Las Vegas area and Whole Foods.

Chef, Wineau and professional bon vivant Les Kincaid is one of today's most imaginative food personalities. Whether he is lecturing a visiting convention in Las Vegas, or concocting new recipes in his own kitchen, Kincaid transforms common ingredients into wow-inspiring dishes.  His artful approach to cooking, confidence-inspiring instructions, and contagious enthusiasm have endeared him to a loyal following that tune in to his weekly shows, frequent his wine or cooking classes and appearances, and collect his books.  One of today's most imaginative food personalities, Kincaid is the author of numerous cookbooks including Never Trust A Skinny Chef II inspired recipes for adventurous cooks, and his popular nationally syndicated radio shows

Here's some food for thought.  More enthusiastic wine drinkers tune in weekly to CRN Radio Network or Global American Broadcasting Network, or on six internet outlets and the audience is always growing.  That's target marketing with pinpoint accuracy for advertisers aiming for the upscale consumer.  The 60-minute wine show is occasionally on the road going on location to connect with wine and food lovers at special events such as the 2004 World Pastry Competition, Reno/Tahoe Food, Wine & Jazz Festival at the Reno Hilton, Annual Heirloom Tomato Festival in Sonoma and at the Grand Del Mar Resort in southern California, and several Four Seasons Hotels, among others. The weekly radio show is integrated with a dynamic personal website (which you are on right now) to give wine and food lovers an interactive experience.  For businesses targeting active consumers with an upscale lifestyle, the recipe for success is as easy as pie.  Just include Wines Du Jour as an essential ingredient.

11/12 Frank Pellegrino, Rao's Restaurant

Frank Pellegrino - Rao's  Restaurant  

The Rao family arrived in New York from the southern Italian town of Pollo, near Naples, in the 1880s and settled amid the scattering of shacks and tenement buildings that were then beginning to sprout up in East Harlem. Charles Rao was a child when his mother and father arrived in New York, which meant he grew up with the distinct advantage of speaking English at the time most of the immigrant Italians were still struggling with the language. A bright and resourceful young man, Charles Rao bought a small saloon from the George Ehret Brewery at the corner of 114th Street and Pleasant Avenue in upper Manhattan. It was 1896. He called the place Rao's.

Charles Rao died in 1909 of a heart attack, and his brother Joseph took over and ran the restaurant until his death in 1930. By then Charlie's sons Louis and Vincent Rao had become the operating owners.

Louis and Vincent kept the bar open during Prohibition. One of the neighborhood families, the Caianos, made their own wine in their cellar next door, and it was pumped into Rao's basement through a hose. Rao's sold the wine for a dollar a bottle.

Louis ran the place until his death in 1958; then his brother Vincent took over. It was Vincent who turned Rao's from a local bar- a place neighborhood people used to call "the Hole" because it was (and is) four steps down from the street- into a restaurant where customers began to return even after they moved out of the neighborhood. Vincent loved food. He loved food. He loved to cook. He especially enjoyed grilling steaks and chops and chicken on a charcoal grill he set up on the street right outside the entry. The first Rao's regulars returned primarily for Vincent's steaks and chops.

By 1974, business had become so brisk that help was required in the form of Vincent's wife, Anna Pellegrino Rao, who arrived from their house next door with her pots and recipes. Anna was an unlikely restaurant chef. She was as elegant as her husband was homespun. Her look included a slim figure, a long gold cigarette holder, tightly upswept white-blond hair, white cashmere slacks and turtlenecks, gold sandals, monogrammed tinted glasses, and a single strand of pearls. When longtime regular Woody Allen made Broadway Danny Rose, he based Mia Farrow's look on Anna Rao's distinctive appearance. Anna's deft touch improved all the traditional Italian dishes, and Rao's became a favorite for a small army of steady customers.

Over the years, Rao's has probably survived because its owners have refused to change. They did not expand by filling the floors above the kitchen with additional tables, as they were advised. In the late sixties and early seventies, when East Harlem neighborhood began its decline, Rao's did not move downtown, as was suggested by many of its customers. As a result, Rao's has become a sort of time-capsule restaurant that allows its customers to dip back into an earlier period and experience a neighborhood restaurant as it was.

11/11 Gary Canter, Canter's Deli, Michelle Meeter, San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival

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."


Michelle Meeter - San Diego Bay Wine & 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.

11/08 Chef Duff Goldman, Charm City Cakes, Scott Steinberg, Steve Evans

Chef Duff Goldman - Celebrity Pastry Chef, Charm City Cakes 

The smell of fresh baked treats is synonymous with the holiday season.  From fresh bread to various varieties of tasty cookies, cakes and other treats, it’s impossible to not run into baked goodies.  With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s time to begin to prepare the items that will make an appearance at your holiday gatherings.

Whether you are a lifelong baker or a novice at the oven, creating something delicious to share with loved ones is easier than it might seem.  Celebrity pastry chef Duff Goldman is a seasoned baker with a passion for creating treats that wow and impress clients across the globe.  Besides owning his own bakery, he has also appeared on numerous TV shows such as Ace of Cakes and Iron Chef America showing off his skills.  On Friday, November 8, Duff is available for interviews to share baking tips on how to make your treats the best yet. In addition, Duff will be able to announce the launch of the Baking for Better Challenge, a contest where consumers have the chance to win $5,000 for their local food bank.


Scott Steinberg - Technology Expert - Top Tech Gift Picks for the Holidays

About Scott Steinberg:  Over one billion people have turned to world-famous technology, business and parenting expert Scott Steinberg for insight into the latest consumer, business and youth trends. A regular on-air expert for ABC, CBS, and NBC, and among the world’s most-quoted analysts, his work has appeared in 400+ outlets from CNN to Rolling Stone. The head of strategic consulting firm TechSavvy Global and one of today’s best-known keynote speakers and technology futurists, he’s consulted on dozens of market-leading products and services for clients such as ESPN, MTV and Intel. The author of nine books, his works include international best sellers The Crowdfunding Bible and The Modern Parent’s Guide, and the critically-acclaimed Business Expert’s Guidebook. Hailed as a leading authority from NPR to The Wall St. Journal, he travels the world speaking to and training consumer and corporate audiences, and is a contributor to Fast Company, VentureBeat, The Huffington Post and other high-profile outlets.

www.techsavvymag.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.

11/07 Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos - Extra Virgin, Larry Van Aalst

DEBI MAZAR AND GABRIELE CORCOS - EXTRA VIRGIN

Actress Debi Mazar and her Tuscan-born husband, Gabriele Corcos, invite viewers into their home and kitchen in the new series Extra Virgin. She’s a modern girl from Queens and he’s a food purist from the hills of Tuscany and, with their young daughters Evelina and Giulia, they have a home life that blends their two opposite sensibilities, with delicious results.

Debi Mazar is an acclaimed actress who made her feature-film debut in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. A native New Yorker, she’s best known for her portrayals of edgy, sharp-tongued characters on film, television and stage. Her onscreen work includes films with legendary directors Woody Allen, Michael Mann, Oliver Stone and Joel Schumacher. She also starred in her own television sitcom, Temporarily Yours. Debi is most recently known for her role as hard-charging publicist Shauna on the HBO series Entourage, in addition to appearing on season nine of the hit ABC competition series Dancing with the Stars. She has always been interested in cooking and is well-known among her friends for her fabulous dinner parties. Debi’s passion for food and cooking has grown even further since marrying Gabriele and becoming a mother to their two young daughters.   Debi latest movie is "Squirrels to the Nuts" with Jennifer Anniston and Owen Wilson.

Gabriele Corcos is a musician by trade and cook by nature. Born in Florence, Italy, he was raised in the Olive Country of Fiesole, where his grandmother and mother taught him everything he knows about Tuscan food and traditional farmers’ cuisine. He has an insatiable fascination with food, a love for organic ingredients and a determination to feed his family in the healthiest, most natural way — the Tuscan way. As a professional percussionist and musician, Gabriele has worked with Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction), Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox (The Eurythmics) and Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme). Bossa Toscana is his current band, and he also recently led a 13-piece big band, The Gabop Latin Orchestra.

Debi and Gabriele launched the popular online cooking series "Under the Tuscan Gun" in 2007, dedicated to fresh, authentic Tuscan cooking. The online series sparked the idea for their popular show on Cooking Channel; Extra Virgin (also airs on Food Network internationally).  The fourth season premieres in January 2014, Wednesdays at 9:30 PM ET.

LARRY VAN AALST - CRN PROGRAM HOST AND RECENT GUEST AT NEW WINE COUNTRY CASINO

In this Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013 photo, patterns inspired by Sonoma County flowers are shown on a custom-woven carpet inside the Graton Resort and Casino in Rohnert Park, Calif. The Las Vegas-style Indian casino is set to open in California's wine country, the culmination of years of planning and legal battles. The $800 million casino opens November 5 and features four full-service restaurants, nine casual dining choices and three lounges in the 340,000 square foot resort.

11/06 Maria Del Mar Sacasa. Winter Cookbooks, Alan Jackson, The Lemondade Cookbook, Larry Lipson, Costa Rica

Maria Del Mar Sacasa – Food Stylist and Writer - Winter Cocktails

Whether you're skiing at the lodge, camping on the mountain, celebrating the holidays with friends, or just curling up with a good book on a blustery night, a warming cocktail is sure to put a rosy glow on your chilly cheeks.

In Winter Cocktails, author Maria del Mar Sacasa offers more than 50 recipes for cold-weather cocktails and mixed beverages. With stunning full color photography and well-crafted recipes, this gorgeous and informative hardcover cookbook is the perfect drink compendium for both novice bartenders and veteran cocktail slingers.

So if you're gathering on a cold evening with friends, planning a holiday party, or looking for interesting and unique new cocktail ideas, Winter Cocktails is the book you'll want to have by your side.

Maria del Mar Sarcasa is a professional food stylist and writer. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including Bon Appetit, Cook's Country and Women's Day. Her clients include Keurig, KitchenAid, Macy's, Pepsi and More...


Alan Jackson - The Lemonade Cookbook

After years working in LA’s fine dining scene, Chef Alan Jackson saw the need for quick, affordable food that didn’t come at the expense of taste or imagination. A busy father of 3, he realized that the options for a quick bite or take-out were limited, and not particularly healthy. Seeking to create a chef-driven approach to healthy dining, he opened his first fast-casual eatery Lemonade in 2007 and 12 more since.

A modern cafeteria where visitors enjoy a rotating daily spread of deliciousness, Lemonade offers fresh fare that tastes as though every culture is stirred into the pot. Now, THE LEMONADE COOKBOOK takes the bold flavors, imaginative dishes, and Southern California lifestyle that have made the Lemonade brand a huge hit and capture them in a fresh, beautifully designed, full-color cookbook.

With an emphasis on simple preparations with an inventive global taste, THE LEMONADE COOKBOOK speaks to all cooks who want to make sophisticated, highly urban comfort food with ease and is the perfect fit for today’s on-the-go lifestyles and perceptive palates.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Born into a Hollywood family, ALAN JACKSON is grandson to famous actor Alan Ladd and son to legendary L.A. talk radio host Michael Jackson. Alan has a love affair with food and creating memorable meals since he opened Jackson’s and The Farm in Beverly Hills in the early 1990s.

 JOANN CIANCIULLI has coauthored cookbooks with world-renowned chefs like Michael Mina, served as an expert on Bravo's Top Chef Masters, and most recently authored two of her own cookbooks, L.A.'s Original Farmers Market Cookbook and the MasterChef Cookbook. JoAnn is co-creator and producer for groundbreaking Food Network shows, such as Food 911 with Tyler Florence.


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. 

11/05 Dan Kessler, Santa Rita Hills Winery, Kessler-Haak Vineyard, Alex Guarnaschelli, Celebrity Chef, Iron Chef

Dan Kessler - Santa Rita Hills Winery, Kessler-Haak Vineyard

Santa Rita Hills, or Sta. Rita Hills, is a small appellation in the larger Santa Ynez Valley district of Santa Barbara County. The terrain, soil and climate have earned it an international reputation for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Although it is home to only a handful of wineries its grapes are featured in the production of many others. Located 12 miles from the ocean, the cool Pacific air, funneled by the Santa Rita hills, moderates the warm summer days. The fog rolls in during late afternoon and is burnt off by the morning sun. The cool nights and warm days produce intense and flavorful wines. The Santa Rita Hills Wine Trail passes through some of the most bucolic scenery in Santa Barbara. Side by side with vineyards are orchards and fields of fruit, vegetables and flowers. There are several small wineries in both Lompoc and Buellton, open by appointment only - we have listed only those that are open daily. Also, worth noting, is the La Purisima Mission one of the least spoilt Missions on the historic California Mission Trail. If you are driving from Santa Barbara we recommend using Hway 101. The scenery along the coast is fabulous.

Dan Kessler, an MIT-educated engineer-by-career, and his wife, Ellen Haak Kessler. The two purchased land in 2004 near the corner of Highway 246 and Gypsy Canyon Road just before the neighboring Clos Pepe Vineyards adorned the cover of Wine Spectator magazine and the hit film Sideways turned pinot into a household item.

“Wow, I guess we bought in a good place,” Kessler recalled telling his wife at the time, and by 2005, the Kessler-Haak Vineyard was home to 27 acres of pinot noir and three of chardonnay. Since the first harvest in 2008, the vineyard’s grapes have been used by such superstar producers as Samsara, Evening Land, and Dragonette; Kessler — who is also assistant winemaker at Lafond Winery — is increasingly using the fruit for his own wines under the Kessler-Haak label, which now makes nearly 1,000 cases a year with an eye on growing to about 5,000.

“I like getting my hands dirty,” said Kessler, a Michigan native who rose into the management ranks at various tech companies in Massachusetts, Colorado, and lastly, Camarillo’s Vitesse Semiconductor. “But as I moved up, I got further away from being in the creating part of it.” So he picked up winemaking as a hobby in 1997 and, by 2003, was searching for a vineyard site as an escape from corporate politics. “I wanted to be responsible for my own success or failure,” said Kessler, who upped the ante by challenging himself with finicky pinot noir, which led him to the Sta. Rita Hills.


Alex Guarnaschelli - Celebrity Chef, Iron Chef

With the holiday season comes anticipation of delicious meals while spending time with friends, family and other loved ones.  For those handling the cooking and entertaining, this time of year can also spell the beginning of endless lists, shopping and preparation.

Food Network star, celebrity chef and busy mom Alex Guarnaschelli is all about simplifying the holiday entertaining experience and making it easier without losing any of the taste or WOW factor.  As a familiar face on Food Network shows like “Chopped” and “The Next Iron Chef: Redemption,” Alex knows firsthand how intense it can get in the kitchen.

Alex is available for live interviews to share her favorite recipe, twice baked sweet potatoes with pecans, and help cooks everywhere simplify their holiday menus.  She will also discuss her favorite secret ingredient: nuts, which can be ground, toasted and roasted to give a dish that special touch, while still keeping it deliciously simple.

Guarnaschelli is a regular judge on the primetime shows Chopped and The Next Iron Chef and is a regular contributor to The Best Thing I Ever Made. She also completed 3 seasons of Alex’s Day Off, a show produced by Bobby Flay, airing on Cooking Channel. In 2012, Alex defeated nine rival chefs to win The Next Iron Chef: Redemption and joined the ranks of Kitchen Stadium Iron Chefs.

11/04 LOUIS LOMBARDI, RUNNER RUNNER, STEPHANIE ARNE, MUTUAL OF OMAHA’S, WILD KINGDOM, DANDY DON'S ICE CREAM

LOUIS LOMBARDI – ACTOR, ‘RUNNER RUNNER’ 

Best known for playing the unconventional hero and fan favorite “Edgar Stiles” in Fox’s Emmy Award winning show “24” and FBI Agent “Skip Lipari” in the highly acclaimed HBO’s “The Sopranos,” Louis Lombardi continues to steal the screen this Fall in RUNNER RUNNER, alongside Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake as “Archie” the owner of the Sports Book. Louis will also join the cast of TNT’s Frank Darabont Drama “Lost Angels” this fall with Milo Ventimiglia and Ed Burns as “Stucky” one of Mickey’s (Jeremy Luke) men.

 In addition, Louis is going back to his Italian roots and is launching his own gourmet Italian food line this month, “Lombardi’s,” consisting of pastas, sauces, olive oils and olives imported directly from Italy! With quick, easy and creative tips, tricks and recipes for using all the Lombardi’s products, Louis wants to show families that it is easier and healthier to make a home cooked meal that it is to go through a drive-thru!

Born and raised in the Bronx, Lombardi’s acting career took off after starring in the Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize Nominee “Amongst Friends” directed by Rob Weiss which caught the attention of Academy Award winning director Oliver Stone who cast Lombardi in his next film NATURAL BORN KILLERS alongside Woody Harrelson, Robert Downey Jr, Tommy Lee Jones and Juliette Lewis. Other notable big screen films include Academy Award winner THE USUAL SUSPECTS alongside Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Spacey and Gabriel Byrne, cult classic SUICIDE KINGS with Denis Leary, Christopher Walken and Brad Garrett, and THE ANIMAL as Rob Schneider’s best friend. Louis’ love of food also inspired DOUGHBOYS, a film festival favorite starring Lombardi, Vincent Pastore, Andrew Keegan and Mike Starr about two Bronx brothers running the family bakery which was also and written and directed by Lombardi. His small screen accomplishments include “Entourage” as ‘Turtle’s Cousin Ronnie,’ “Fantasy Island,” “Ugly Betty,” and “NYPD Blue” to name a few.


Don Whittemore  – Dandy Dons Ice Cream

Don Whittemore is a funny man with a huge personality who loves to make people happy. Good thing he makes ice cream, huh? Once Upon A Time (circa 1962 – 67), Don was a stand-up comedian. He worked under the name Don Harris in Atlanta, Miami Beach & Newport, KY. (Check out his snazzy tux in this ancient head shot.) If you have some free time one day, ask him to tell you some jokes. The next part of this biography starts just after that but still long long ago, in the Time Before CDs. Don was in the record business. He convinced DJs to play records by Frank Sinatra, Elvis, The Beatles, David Bowie, and Cat Stevens (to name a few). Some of those records went gold. Here’s a photo of him with New York disc jockeys Wolfman Jack (on the left) and Murray The K (center). In the late ’70s, Don decided to leave the record business for good. Too much temptation for a family man, he thought. And too few creative DJs. In 1981 Don and his lovely wife Linda (pregnant with their second child) bought an ice cream shop in Tarzana, California called The Creamery. They thought it would be a gold mine. They were wrong. So they worked their keesters off, got into the wholesale business, and began a catering division. These are photos of Don (photo on the left, 3rd from the left) and Linda (photo on the right) at one of their first hot fudge sundae bar catering gigs at the Directors’ Guild of America. This is how the catering division of their company—now with over 1,000 customers—got its start. They no longer have The Creamery, or any retail shop. But they have begun putting their homemade ice cream into pints, so once again regular folks can buy their product retail. Funny how things come full circle, even if they do take 20+ years. Don’s favorite part of doing business is dealing with people. He loves talking to his clients, making ice cream with them, and helping them promote their businesses. He loves selling his ice cream to new clients, finding out what they want, tempting them with great service. He just loves people. And he loves making people happy. Good thing he makes great ice cream.


STEPHANIE ARNE - MUTUAL OF OMAHA’S ‘WILD KINGDOM’

From the Exploration of the Tegu’s Invasion of the Florida Everglades, to the California Condor’s Return from Extinction, Wild Kingdom Returns. From its premiere 50 years ago, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom has entertained, educated and inspired generations of Americans, bringing the world’s most exotic places and creatures right into Americans’ living rooms.      Now this entertainment icon is back, with a four-part webisode series that takes viewers from the soaring cliffs of Big Sur to the beauty of Florida's coral reef.

The webisodes will be under six minutes long, each telling a great wildlife or conservation story in a fun, yet informative way.   Each webisode will premiere on Sunday evenings at 6 p.m., CST throughout November.  After each of the four webisodes premiere, they will be viewable 24-7 on wildkingdom.com, and YouTube’s “Wild Kingdom TV” channel.

Stephanie Arne is Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Wild Guide (host), a title she earned in 2013 as the winner of a nationwide contest in which individuals submitted videos illustrating why they should be the iconic program’s new “Wild Guide.”  She is currently the Education Coordinator at the Honolulu Zoological Society. As the new host, she brings her high energy to the online version of the show that features short, dynamic and fun webisodes exploring the modern-day Wild Kingdom.  She began her career at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, as Education Outreach Coordinator.. She worked as a contracted educator for the U.S. military in Key West, Fla.; Iwakuni, Japan; and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, before joining the Honolulu Zoological Society as a wildlife educator. On her quest to gain more experience working with wildlife, Arne then moved to San Diego for positions at Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. She worked on wildlife projects in Australia, New Zealand, Borneo and Papua New Guinea, including working with whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, doing coral reef checks on the Great Barrier Reef and helping clean little blue penguins on the North Island of New Zealand.