Joel M. Fisher, PhD writes or has written for the Culinary Connection of the Chefs de Cuisine Association of California, for the Beverly Hills Courier, and since 2010 for the Underground Wine Letter. From 2007-2009 he taught at Cordon Bleu in Pasadena. Prior to that, he was the wine instructor for the Culinary Arts Department of the Art Institute of California — Los Angeles for seven years and is a founding partner of the educational Wine Vine and Dine, which conducts programs throughout Southern California and Wine Discoveries. Net. A Sommelier for the Escoffier Association of Southern California, he is also a member of The Tasting Panel (formerly the Bon Appetit Tasting Panel) and is a Wine Host for CRN’s What’s Cooking Show.
Dr. Fisher is a member of the Society of Wine Educators, The Circle of Wine Writers (UK), and the International Federation of Wine and Spirits Writers. Awarded a Wine Enthusiast Media Scholarship for 2005 at the Culinary Institute of America, he is the author of the Wine Work Book, now in its 6th edition.
Dr. Fisher co-led a program for chefs and culinary students to the Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany and to wineries in Burgundy and Champagne in 2005. In June 2006 he again led a program, “Wine and Cuisine of Iberia,” to Spain and Portugal. Future programs to wine regions are in the works.
In 2010, after numerous requests based on the huge success of the LA WineFest, Dr. Fisher established the Santa Clarita WineFest, which just held its 3rd annual event to record audiences.
WWW.LAWINEFEST.COM
JESSICA ST. CLAIR & LENNON PARHAM STAR IN USA'S NEW COMEDY SERIES ‘PLAYING HOUSE’
This comedy writing team has worked together in the past staring in their first buddy comedy, Best Friends Forever on NBC in 2012. Now they’re back together staring in a series they created. In USA Network’s new comedy, Playing House they play childhood best friends who have shared countless adventures growing up and are now in store for one of their biggest adventures – raising a baby. When Maggie (Lennon Parham) discovers that her husband is having an online affair, Emma (Jessica St. Clair) gives up her burgeoning business career in China to stay in their hometown and help Maggie raise her baby. The women complement each other the way only best friends can, by facing the challenges of their past, present and future—together.
A multi-talented actress and writer, Jessica St. Clair initially gained notoriety performing at the legendary Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York and Los Angeles. St. Clair has appeared in numerous features including, most recently, the critically praised independent films Afternoon Delight and Enough Said. One of her most memorable roles was in the blockbuster hit Bridesmaids in the unforgettable bridal salon food poisoning scene. On television, she currently has a recurring role on Veep and has also starred opposite Megan Mullally and Cheryl Hines on In the Motherhood and has guest starred on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Weeds,United States of Tara, as well as Parks and Recreation and The Office.
Lennon Parham appeared in the cast of Accidentally on Purpose opposite Jenna Elfman. Additionally, she has had memorable guest appearances on critically-acclaimed series including Parks and Recreation, Arrested Development, Mad Men, How I Met Your Mother, Funny or Die Presents (in the recurring "Lady Refs") as well as Children's Hospital and NTSF:SD:SUV. Parham has also appeared in the feature Confessions of a Shopaholic, and the independent films Splinterheads and Hysterical Psycho, a comedy-horror film by Dan Fogler. Her one-woman show, She Tried to Be Normal, ran in NY and LA and was selected for the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival in 2009.
USANETWORK.COM/PLAYINGHOUSE
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.