02/27 JON HUERTAS, CASTLE, TONY MARCHESE, FOOD + WINE FESTIVAL PALM DESERT PRESENTED BY AGUA CALIENTE CASINO RESORT & SPA, STEVE EVANS

ACTOR, MUSICIAN AND RESTAURANT OWNER - JON HUERTAS, CASTLE (ABC MONDAY NIGHT’S 10/9C) 

Jon Huertas of ABC's Castle

...In addition to his TV role, Jon is also a successful musician with Sony Music, he already has a CD out, the newest song, “Video” can be sent to you.  And he owns a restaurant, a new Cali-Mex spot called Clutch in Venice Beach that had its main opening on February 16th.

Before joining the 12th precinct as a homicide detective, Esposito served in the Special Forces and was an officer in the Organized Crime Task Force at the 54th precinct. Alongside his partner Detective Ryan, they work tirelessly with Detective Beckett to solve murders and bring killers to justice. Always ready with a sardonic comment, Esposito is a loyal partner and a dedicated cop. Even in the face of adversity, he’s got his game face on and nothing can break him. He may have a bit of a bromance with Ryan but he considers himself quite the ladies man. Despite his constant wise cracks, Esposito is very intuitive and has always recognized the romantic tension between Beckett and Castle.

Jon Huertas' career spans television, film and music. His work on "Castle" has been recognized with a 2012 ALMA Award and a nomination in 2013 for an Imagen Award. He also starred as the outspoken and gritty Sgt. Antonio "Poke" Espera in the highly acclaimed, Emmy-nominated miniseries, "Generation Kill," as well as in a number of other TV series, including "Prison Break," "Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles," "NCIS," "CSI" and "Without a Trace."

Huertas has recently fulfilled one of his many goals...becoming a recording artist. He attributes the ability to create and distribute a project like "Grown & Sexy Music" (his first album) to technology, social media and the amazing evolution of the "independent artist" in the music business. Huertas is also passionate about producing and directing. One of his first ventures was co-producing "The Insatiable," starring Sean Patrick Flanery and Michael Biehn and distributed through THINKFilm. Since then he has been involved in an impressive catalog of projects, from his directorial debut, "Lone", and his current project, "The Box," to Neil LaBute's "After School Special" and acclaimed documentaries like "Sahaya Going Beyond," with Jeremy Irons, "The Hill Chris Climbed: The Gridiron Heroes Story," with Taylor Kitsch, and the documentary feature "Ricky," currently in production.

As a kid, growing up on the east coast, Huertas was a class clown, played on his high school football team, studied martial arts and worked at Sears. After a stint in the Air Force, he packed up and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a childhood dream of becoming an actor. Currently he serves on the board of SAG-AFTRA Hollywood.


TONY MARCHESE – CO-PRODUCER, FOOD + WINE FESTIVAL PALM DESERT PRESENTED BY AGUA CALIENTE CASINO RESORT & SPA

Food + Wine Festival Palm Desert presented by Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa takes place March 27-29 in Palm Desert’s famed El Paseo shopping district—dubbed the “Rodeo Drive” of the desert!

The 5th annual the Food & Wine Festival Palm Desert™ presented by Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa
will be held March 27-29, 2015. The festival, organized by Palm Springs Life, will gather the brightest and most inspired chefs from across the country for three extraordinary days of culinary and wine tasting under The Big White Tent on Larkspur between El Paseo and Shadow Mountain in Palm Desert, CA. This event will be uniquely educational in focus, showcasing the Coachella Valley as the ultimate culinary destination.

The festival begins with a James Beard 4-course gourmet luncheon on Friday, March 27. The weekend “Grand Tastings” feature renowned chefs, and more than 80 premium wines and champagnes and 50 restaurants will offer tastings. Returning to this year’s festival are exclusive wine and beer tasting seminars.

About Food + Wine Festival Palm Desert presented by Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa:

The Food + Wine Festival Palm Desert is owned and operated by Palm Springs Life and co- produced by Tony Marchese and Dominic Peterson, with sponsorship support in part from Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa; CBS Local 2; Celebrity Cruises; Chef Works; the City of Palm Desert; Clarke & Clarke fabrics, Desert Radio Group; Egg & Dart, LTD.; Eventscape; Farley Interlocking Pavingstones; Gay Desert Guide; Jensen’s Finest Foods; Just Fabulous; LIVE Magazine; My Little Flower Shop; New Leaf Catering; Sarabella Tuscan Jars; Savory Spice Shop; Svedka Vodka; Tastemade; Tequila Alderete; Voss; Whole Foods Market Palm Desert; William Switzer/Charles Pollock; and Wine Australia. The annual food and wine event aims to gather the brightest and most inspired chefs and culinary personalities from around the country for three extraordinary days of food and wine tasting. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Friends of the James Beard Foundation.

WWW.PALMDESERTFOODANDWINE.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.

02/26 VICKI LAWRENCE, CIU, MAMA'S FAMILY, THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW

SITCOM SENSATION VICKI LAWRENCE - PERSONAL HEALTH CHALLENGE 

Vicki Lawrence is no stranger to being quick on her feet and playing off improv lines on stage. But when the comedienne and Emmy® Award-winning actress was diagnosed with (CIU), a form of chronic hives without a known cause, she was caught off-guard. Now, Vicki is partnering with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Genentech to share her experience with CIU to encourage people to have a robust and meaningful dialogue with their medical specialist as part of a new national campaign called CIU & You.

• Vicki, best known as the star of sitcom Mama’s Family, ensemble cast member of The Carol Burnett Show, and, more recently, appearing on Hannah Montana, was diagnosed with CIU four years ago. After her own experience with CIU, and learning about the importance of talking to her doctor and describing her symptoms, Vicki wants to help motivate others to do the same.
• CIU is characterized by hives that spontaneously occur without an identifiable cause and reoccur for six weeks or more. CIU symptoms wax and wane unpredictably and include red, itchy hives on the skin that can last for many months and even years. In the U.S., it is estimated that approximately 1.5 million people suffer from CIU.
• CIU & You is an educational program focused on supporting the specific needs of people who have CIU. It aims to empower patients to take charge of their disease by having a robust and meaningful dialogue with their doctor about managing their CIU and discussing treatment options that may be right for them. The program also provides a downloadable symptom tracker and discussion guide for patients to use when talking with their allergist or dermatologist about their symptoms and treatment options.
• CIU & You is developed in partnership with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), and made possible by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Genentech. For additional information, visit www.CIUandYou.com.
• On [insert date of SMT/RMT], Vicki will share her own personal experience with CIU. Dr. Corn can also provide insight about CIU and the importance for patients to track their symptoms, so doctors fully understand the patient experience.
• Vicki and Dr. Corn are compensated for their time.
• For more information, viewers and listeners should speak with their doctors to better understand the disease and potential treatment options.

WWW.VICKILAWRENCE.COM
WWW. CIUANDYOU.COM

02/25 LARRY LIPSON, ANTHONY MARTIGNETTI, PRINCE PASTA

LARRY LIPSON – AFFORDABLE WINES FOR VALENTINES DAY

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



ANTHONY MARTIGNETTI - PRINCE SPAGHETTI COMMERCIAL

Americans still recall the company's memorable slogan: Wednesday is PRINCE spaghetti day.
Anthony Martignetti was nine years old when his family emigrated from Italy to the United States in 1966. They settled in Massachusetts, in a predominantly Italian neighborhood in Boston's North End. It was there, three years later, that Anthony was hanging out with some friends when the group was approached by a pair of men who obviously didn't live in the area.
They asked for directions to Commercial Street, and Anthony politely guided the gentlemen. Those two men were representatives of Boston's Jerome O'Leary advertising agency, which represented the Prince Macaroni Company (as it was then called). They were scouting locations for a TV commercial, and two weeks later when they were casting it, they recalled the nice little boy named Anthony who'd helped them out.

They tracked him down and asked if he'd like to be in a television commercial. Anthony dashed home and excitedly told his mother that he was going to be on TV. She immediately assumed the worst "“ that he'd gotten into trouble and was going to be on the six o'clock news. A few days later (after she'd calmed down and details were hammered out), contracts were signed and Anthony eventually netted about $25,000 for his mad dash to that apartment building on Powers Court. (By the way, the woman calling for him out the window in the commercial was not his real mother, but a neighborhood resident named Mary Fiumara.)

PRINCE STORY
The story of one of America's most beloved pasta brands was born in 1912 when three immigrants from the same village in Sicily, Italy, started a small spaghetti manufacturing company in Boston's North End. The address of their storefront? 92 Prince Street. It was a perfect partnership. Gaetano LaMarca was the administrator, Guiseppe Seminara was the salesman and Michele Cantella was the pasta maker. These entrepreneurs had no way of knowing that their little company would become one of the largest pasta manufacturers in the country. Eventually PRINCE outgrew its offices and moved to Lowell, Mass. In 1941, Guiseppe Pellegrino, another Sicilian immigrant, joined the company and soon bought a controlling interest. PRINCE remained in the hands of the Pellegrino family until 1987. Generations of Today, PRINCE pasta is part of the New World Pasta family of brands, the leading dry pasta manufacturer in the United States. New World Pasta brands include Ronzoni® Healthy Harvest®, Ronzoni® Smart Taste® and Ronzoni Garden Delight®.

CATCHING UP WITH ANTHONY
Anthony grew up, graduated from high school and got a job working at a Polaroid factory before eventually joining his family's grocery business. When his parents retired and closed down shop in 1987, he got a job at the distribution center for Stop & Shop, an East Coast supermarket chain. Although today the company's website boasts of their commitment to "diversity," Martignetti's supervisor, by many accounts, regularly referred to him as a "spaghetti bender" and "meatball," in additional to a few far more offensive ethnic slurs. After filing complaints through corporate channels with no success, Martignetti sued his employer for discrimination. The suit was settled out of court in 2004 for an undisclosed sum. Today Anthony Martignetti works as an officer of the Dedham District Court. He is married and has a five-year-old son named Anthony Jr. Anthony Senior estimates that his family still dines on Prince spaghetti about four or five times per week.

02/24 JONATHAN KNIGHT, NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK,NKOTB, THE AMAZING RACE, VOJTECH KACEROVSKY, CZECHTOURISM LOS ANGELES, KLARA DYTRYCHOVA, HOTEL YASMIN PRAGUE, NOODLES RESTAURANT

JONATHAN KNIGHT FROM NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK - “THE AMAZING RACE” 

THE CAST OF THE NEXT EDITION OF “THE AMAZING RACE”

For the First Time Ever, the 10-Time Emmy Award-Winning Series to Feature
All Dating Duos

Racers Include New Kids on the Block Member Jonathan Knight and Olympic Medalists Aly Dudek and Steven Langton

“The Amazing Race” Kicks Off with a Special 90-Minute Premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 9:30 PM, Following the Season Premiere of “Survivor”

The Race Travels to Its Regular Time Period on Friday, Feb. 27 at 8:00 PM

CBS announced the 11 teams racing around the globe for the opportunity to win the $1 million dollar prize, on a special season of THE AMAZING RACE. This season will feature 11 new teams of all dating duos with a twist: six who are preexisting couples, and five duos who will meet for the very first time at the starting line when they are set up on the most extreme blind date ever. THE AMAZING RACE rounds out a night of reality television when it premieres with a 90-minute episode on Wednesday, Feb. 25 (9:30-11:00 PM, ET/PT), following the premiere of SURVIVOR (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The Race moves to its regular time period on Friday, Feb. 27 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT). Phil Keoghan (@philkeoghan) is the host.

The preexisting dating teams traveling around the world include New Kids on the Block member Jonathan Knight and his partner Harley Rodriguez, and Olympic medalists Aly Dudek and Steven Langton. Dudek won bronze at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics in short track speed skating and Langton won two bronze medals at the 2014 Sochi Olympics in bobsledding. Those being set up on the blind dates of a lifetime include a Navy physician and a registered nurse and two lawyers.

The couple’s relationships will be tested right from the starting line as they navigate a muddy obstacle course before jetting off to Tokyo, Japan. The course will continue through Bangkok, Namibia, Monaco, and more, spanning five continents, eight countries and more than 35,000 miles. The dating teams will also have an opportunity throughout the race to win the all-new “Date Night” reward. This allows one lucky couple to enjoy a one-on-one romantic activity, such as a steamy evening at a hot springs resort in Nagano, Japan, or star-gazing at the Bavarian Public Observatory in Munich, Germany.

ABOUT JONATHAN:
Jonathan Rashleigh Knight (born November 29, 1968) is an American singer. Knight is part of the boy band New Kids on the Block. The band also includes Donnie Wahlberg,Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood and Jonathan's younger brother Jordan. He is the oldest member of the group and was the first to leave the group in 1994 prior to their official disbanding.

New Kids on the Block
Between 1984 and 1994, Knight was a member of an award-winning American pop group New Kids on the Block. The group went on to sell over 80 million albums worldwide before disbanding in 1994 after Knight left the group during the tour for their 1994 album Face the Music. The group originally tried to continue the tour claiming Knight had been badly hurt by a horse, but in a press conference a few weeks later, the group revealed that they were actually disbanding. Knight's early departure from the group led to reports that some members were frustrated with the way he departed and that those feelings prevented an earlier reformation of the group.

In the spring of 2008, Knight returned to show business, reuniting with the other four members of New Kids on the Block. The band released their seventh album (and first in 14 years), The Block, on September 2, 2008. To confirm their reunion and announce the new album, the band performed live together on May 16, 2008 for the first time in fifteen years on the Today show.
A world tour was scheduled to follow the new release and began in Toronto on September 18, 2008. The first single from the album, "Summertime", performed well worldwide peaking as #9 in Canada and breaking the top 30 in the U.S. charts (#24 as a digital download). The group released "Single", their second single from The Block in August 2008.



VOJTECH KACEROVSKY, DIRECTOR CZECHTOURISM LOS ANGELES & KLARA DYTRYCHOVA, GENERAL MANAGER OF HOTEL YASMIN PRAGUE

Design Hotel Yasmin Prague, is a 4 star hotel, located in the heart of the city centre of the Old Town of Prague. All main sightseeing points such as Wenceslas Square, Municipal Hall, Old Town Square are within walking distance. Our luxury hotel exudes a fresh and modern design with light shades of green, grey and brown colours, which make for a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere for a unique Prague experience.

NOODLES RESTAURANT:
Yasmin Hotel Prague proposes one the best dining experiences in Prague, near Wenceslas Square.

Restaurant Café Bar “Noodles” is an entirely non-smoking restaurant in the heart of Prague and serves hot and cold breakfast in buffet style, lunch specialties and dinner in an extraordinary atmosphere. Its cuisine is based on a noodle concept, totally unique among Prague restaurants; we serve fantastic pasta – from Italian to Thai, fresh and light salads and other specialties. Our stylish restaurant provides seating for up to 130 people.

The restaurant has also a green oasis - Yasmin summer garden in one of peaceful Prague courtyards that seats 80 people. Refreshing homemade lemonades and desserts taste the best right here.

ABOUT CZECH TOURISM:
The Czech Republic is a modern and dynamic destination with a rich history and unique natural beauty.  The CzechTourism agency, along with its offices abroad ,ensures its successful presentation on the domestic and foreign markets. The Czech Tourism Authority - CzechTourism is a contributory organization of the Ministry for Regional Development and was established in 1993. Its significant partner agencies include domestic tourist regions, cities, municipalities and businesses.

WWW.HOTEL-YASMIN.CZ
WWW.NOODLES.CZ
WWW.CZECHTOURISM.COM

02/23 CHRIS HYDE, HYDE VINEYARDS, CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS, VIC PARRINO, COLOMBO'S ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE

CHRIS HYDE FROM HYDE VINEYARDS – TALKING CALIFORNIA WINE MASTERS

Christopher obtained a degree in Agricultural Business and Viticulture from the California Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo, California. After some work experience in Marketing at Wilson Daniels Co. in 2007, Christopher went to work at Merryvale Vineyards, where he gained valuable vineyard and cellar experience at the Starmont winery in Carneros.  Chris is now at Hyde Vineyards managing the family farm.

He will be attending the Save the Date "2015 California Winemasters Kick Off Dinner"

Honoring our Friend and Supporter, José Luis Nazar
CAVATINA at Sunset Marquis Hotel & Villas
1200 Alta Loma Road, West Hollywood, Ca 90069 - (310) 657.1333

Wednesday, MARCH 4, 2015 ~ 6:30pm
Featuring a Menu by Michael Schlow And the wines from California's most venerable producers with fruit sourced from the legendary Hyde Vineyards of Carneros

Tickets - $185 per person
$105 is tax deductible
SEATING IS LIMITED
VALET PARKING AVAILABLE
Watch for your invitation, or, to reserve seats now, call
(323) 939-0758

Welcome to “A Culinary Evening with the California Winemasters”

The California Winemasters is a perennial Wine Spectator Top 10 Charity Wine Auction set for May 16, 2015 at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.  This extraordinary event showcases 50 international chefs and 75 of California’s Finest Wineries.  “Winemasters” has raised over $27 million in support of the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The CF Foundation is a nonprofit donor-supported organization dedicated to attacking cystic fibrosis from every angle.  It’s focus is to support the development of new drugs to fight the disease, improve the quality of life for those with CF and ultimately, to find a cure.

The Foundation’s drug development success has been recognized by Harvard Business School and by publications such asForbes, Discover Magazine and The Wall Street Journal.

Make your reservations NOW for this wine tasting extraordinaire and spectacular hors d’oeuves dinner!

WWW.HYDEVINEYARDS.COM
WWW.CALIFORNIAWINEMASTERS.ORG


VIC PARRINO – GENERAL MANAGER, COLOMBO’S ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE AND JAZZ CLUB

Serving Los Angeles Since 1954! We have been serving our community since 1954. We serve breakfast, lunch (Monday through Friday, 11 AM to 3 PM) and dinner. Relax with our live Jazz entertainment and legendary drinks. Italian American Cuisine: Prime Rib, Steak, Chicken, Sea Food, Pasta, mouth-watering salads, side dishes and dessert. Founded by Ms. Ann Colombo and her late husband Sam, it’s now run by their nephew Vic Parrino.

Come for family, business and affordable fun and relaxation.

Come for the Food Stay for the Live Music Every Night, Fridays and Saturdays til Closing!
“Some things in our restaurant are more obvious than others. However, the dedication to excellence and elegance is unmistakably expressed in everything we do. In a restaurant committed to the maximum, that while a good meal is simply food; a great meal is an inspiration!” ~ Ann Colombo

1833 Colorado Boulevard
Eagle Rock, CA 90041
Mon, Fri and Sat 8 am – 12 am
Sun, Tue -Thu, Sun 8 am – 10 pm

COLOMBOSRESTAURANT.COM

02/20 ROBERT STURM, THE DANIEL PLAN, CHEF MIKE LOFARO, HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA'A, GRAND WAILEA RESORT, STEVE EVANS

ROBERT STURM - FOOD DESIGNER SAYS MEN DON'T HAVE TO GIVE UP 'MAN FOOD' TO BE HEALTHY

Food Designer Says Men Don't Have to Give Up 'Man Food' to Be Healthy, Chef Robert Sturm shares about transition into healthy living through 'The Daniel Plan'!

From Outback's "Blooming Onion" to McDonald's "McRib," Chef and Food Designer Robert Sturm has done is it all. But after years of designing food for some of America's most prominent restaurant and fast food establishments, he's decided to help out the everyday man.

In 2011 at Pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, Sturm began to participate in "The Daniel Plan," a 40-day lifestyle movement dedicated to becoming physically, mentally and spiritually healthy, focusing on five key essentials: faith, food, fitness, focus and friends. The plan was such a success that Saddleback's members lost a collective 260,000 pounds, and Chef Sturm has lost over 35.

After personal success with the plan, Sturm's new passion for healthy eating has had a tremendous impact on his life, family and other men at his church. Now a reformed gourmet food-a-holic, Sturm is a contributing chef to "The Daniel Plan Cookbook" and is available to offer assistance in making "manly" food without the health risks.

Robert Sturm is one of California's premier chefs and food designers and has been in the food industry for over 30 years. Sturm was trained at the Culinary Institute of America. He serves as the corporate chef for Rose and Shore and is an independent consultant for the food industry in Southern California.  Sturm is the three-time winner of the U.S. Chef's Open, a past gold medal member of the U.S. Culinary Olympic Team, and represented the United States in the World Cup Ice Sculpting Championships in Asahikawa, Japan, winning a gold and a bronze medal. He has been featured in many publications, appears on television and radio, and has been a featured chef at the United Nations, the White House, and the Kremlin. Sturm is a Daniel Plan Chef and a contributing author to "The Daniel Plan Cookbook."


CHEF MIKE LOFARO OF HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA’A AT GRAND WAILEA RESORT 

As chef de cuisine at Grand Wailea’s prized restaurant, Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (Humu,) Chef Mike Lofaro thrives on thrilling diners with delicious and elegant dishes that focus on his love for the water and what he fondly refers to as his “hunting grounds,” the Pacific Ocean.

The waterman chef. Lofaro surfs, paddles outrigger canoe (with a fishing pole perched on the `iako,) stand-up paddles, and spearfishes all before noon when he arrives to his seafood restaurant exhilarated and smelling like the sea. It is this connection with the ocean’s fish, lobster, squid or seaweed that inspires his new menu.

The menu highlights seafood: ahi tartare, shiso leaf, ginger lime vinaigrette and soft herbs on a bed of slivered cucumbers; crispy Hawaiian snapper with coconut fried rice, toasted almonds and Thai American sauce; shrimp, pork and hearts of palm dumplings with fine herbs yuzu kosho and pimenton; carpaccio of hamachi, yuzu, Hawaiian chili and celery ginger shaved ice; and the favorite hand-caught Hawaiian spiny lobster or Hawaii island-raised Kona Maine lobster.

Smartly executed to spotlight the main ingredient with simple and balanced flavors, his signature dishes scream the ocean while introducing locally-grown produce such as the Waipoli greens and garden herb salad mixed with `Aina Lani Farm delectables, Meyer lemon vinaigrette and shaved radish. Proceeds from the sale of the salad also support Maui farmers, and that is a story worth tasting. Lofaro and the other resort chefs meet with farmers year round and buy produce grown locally and sustainably to serve in Grand Wailea restaurants and lounges.

There are plenty of options from the land on the menu as well: hoisin and pear braised Kobe short ribs with ginger braised kale, glazed baby carrots, cinnamon and hearts of palm; and brioche and lemongrass crusted rack of domestic lamb served with Asian ratatouille, black bean oyster sauce and broccolini.

The CIA pedigree. Saltwater born and raised, Lofaro grew up in the East Coast on the water with a big Italian family that treasured family gatherings and savory food, and fishing just as much as he does. His father taught him to fish, and they spent many vacations on the water sailing. He describes his mother as an amazing cook and his early influence.

At 14, Lofaro was peeling shrimp in the kitchen of a local seafood restaurant and went on to graduate from the esteemed Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.  He was executive chef at Mill’s Tavern in Providence, Rhode Island where he achieved the distinguished Mobil Four Star Award, and worked with famed chef Michael Mina of Aqua in San Francisco. Mina sent him to Maui to open the first Michael Mina’s at Grand Wailea. When that restaurant did not materialize Lofaro stayed on the island, near the water.

In 2014 The Maui News readers’ poll named Lofaro “Best Maui Chef” and his restaurant “Best Resort Restaurant”.

Lofaro was a private chef and caterer on Maui, shaped custom Hawaiian outrigger canoes, and is raising three sons and a daughter with his wife Elizabeth . . . in the surf.

About Humuhumunukunukuapua’a:
Humuhumunukunukuapua`a is the restaurant that visitors to Hawaii dream about. The romantic thatched-roof, open-air bungalow sits amid a salt water pond teaming with tropical fish swimming near the surface. When you approach, the restaurant seems to be floating and the walk across a suspended plank creates anticipation for an unforgettable experience. Lava rock waterfalls and lit tiki torches create the perfect Hawaiian setting. Situated near the ocean, diners are treated to magical sunsets played out across the Pacific before the night sky is painted with a brilliant celestial show.

GRANDWAILEA.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.

02/19 CHEF WILLIAM BLOXSOM CARTER, PASO ROBLES, NEIL COLLINGS, LONE MADRONE, BRISTOLS CIDER

CHEF WILLIAM BLOXSOM CARTER – FOUNDER, BEACON-VATEL HOSPITALITY GROUP / FORMER EXECUTIVE CHEF, PLAYBOY MANSION– THE SEASONS FOOD TRENDS & AND NEW PROJECTS

COMING SOON: BED AND BREAKFAST IN PASO ROBLES!!

Chef William S. Bloxsom-Carter previously worked as the Executive Chef, and Food and Beverage Director for the Playboy Mansion West for over two and half decades. A frequent wine judge he constantly looks for wines to pair with his foods for the multitude of foods he presents. Chef Carter has prepared winery dinners in Sonoma County, Napa Valley, Paso Robles and the Santa Ynez Valley as well as special events for high-profile clients throughout the United States, focusing on the importance of food and wine pairings and extraordinary hospitality service. Additionally, Chef Carter is a recurring featured guest on numerous radio shows syndicated nationwide describing and promoting California wines and foods.

ABOUT CATERING SERVICE:
CELEBRATIONS, GATHERINGS & RETREATS - Make your event an unforgettable experience. The natural beauty of your home, the finest wines and some of the most amazing culinary offerings make Beacon Vatel the ideal caterer for your special occasion. Our professional services provide an ideal experience for corporate retreats and business, family and friend gatherings. The Beacon Vatel Culinary team under the leadership of Chef Carter can create the perfect menu for your event, from light passed hors d’oeuvres, a full set buffet, or a multi-course menu, all paired with your wines or wines from Chef Carter’s extensive network of wine purveyors.

WEDDINGS - At Beacon Vatel we take great pride in assisting you in creating a memorable experience for you and your loved ones, with your wedding day a reflection of your personality and life together. Set on your selected venue, Beacon Vatel catering provides the perfect canvas for your event. From fun and romantic to elegant and stylish, the unlimited opportunities for a personalized event. Our staff is highly trained to focus on every detail and assist you with making your dreams come true.

BEACONVATEL.COM


NEIL COLLINS – OWNER & WINEMAKER, LONE MADRONE & BRISTOLS CIDER

ABOUT LONE MADRONE:
A lone Madrone stands atop a hill between the mountain and the sea in west Paso Robles, presiding over the rugged vineyard that started it all for brother and sister duo, Neil Collins and Jackie Meisinger.

The Lone Madrone wine label was founded in 1996 with the premier goal of producing distinctive wines exclusively from vineyards in the rugged limestone hills of west side Paso Robles. Growing slowly yet steadily since, the focus has become largely on vineyards that are dry farmed and head trained, which winemaker Neil Collins believes to be “the purest expression of the unparalleled terroir of west Paso Robles.” Neil also feels that when you begin with grapes from vineyards of this quality, in these outrageous soils, it only makes sense to “let them sing for themselves without being masked by our hands.” To this end, all the wines are fermented with native yeasts and native malolactic bacteria then aged in predominantly neutral oak barrels.

Lone Madrone wines are unique not only because of where the grapes were grown, but due to the influence of Neil’s winemaking style. The winery produces some rare single varietal wines, however the majority of Lone Madrone wines are extraordinary blends where you distinguish Neil’s unique winemaking slant formed over years of tasting and blending west side Paso Robles wines. The wines of Lone Madrone are distinctive and characteristically balanced with structure and finesse.

Lone Madrone wines are available to purchase at the tasting room, on line, at Brisotls Cider House in Atascadero and at many restaurants and stores on the central coast.

ABOUT THE WINEMAKER:
Neil strongly believes that in order to produce wines of the highest caliber you must first start with grapes of exceptional quality. Neil’s technique of marrying old world growing methods and winemaking preferences with new exciting blends of Rhône, Bordeaux and Italian varieties is a result of carefully honing his craft over many harvests. Neil has been working in the wine industry for 21 years, spending time at Wild Horse Winery and then Adelaida where he became winemaker alongside the notorious Mr. Munch. In 1997 he moved his family to the vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-pape in southern France where he spent a year learning the cellars and vineyards of the famed Chateau de Beaucastel, one of the oldest and most highly regarded estates in France. Neil returned to Paso Robles to take up the new role of winemaker and vineyard manager at Tablas Creek Vineyards, the California property of Château de Beaucastel. Since that time, great success has been achieved by Tablas Creek, success in which Neil’s hand has been significant. Neil’s experience in French winemaking complemented his earlier training as a French chef in hometown of Bristol, England.

WWW.LONEMADRONE.COM

BURGER SUNDAY THIS WEEK-END AT THE LONE MADRONE TASTING ROOM
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND
NOON TO 3 P.M.
Chef Jeffrey Scott will be serving

ABOUT BRISTOLS CIDER:
Bristols cider is a part of the Lone Madrone winery, owned and operated by brother and sister Neil and Jackie and Neil's wife Marci. Jackie and Neil grew up in the West Country of England which is very much cider country. We are not talking murky apple juice here but the fermented version.

When Neil moved to California he was disappointed to find none of the traditional beverage of his home, of which he had been known to partake on occasion. So in 1994 Neil began making small batches of cider from local apples under the Bristols name. Since that time it has evolved into a small line up of ciders. These ciders are all from select varieties of local apples, primarily from See Canyon and Paso Robles, although we have played with fruit from Oregon. All ciders are 100% apple juice and fermented on the native yeasts of the fruit. We ferment different ciders in different casks, some in retired Bourbon casks some in retired white wine barrels but most in stainless steel.

Bristols can be found on draft at a number of the central coast's finest watering holes and select restaurants. The more obscure and quirky bottlings are to be found when available at BRISTOLS CIDER HOUSE only. If you have the passion it will be worth the trip!!

WWW.BRISTOLSCIDER.COM

02/18 LARRY LIPSON, AFFORDABLE WINE, FOOD NEWS

LARRY LIPSON – AFFORDABLE WINES FOR VALENTINES DAY

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

02/17 PF CHANG'S HOME MENU, CHINESE NEW YEAR, JOHN MCQUAID, TASTY: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF WHAT WE EAT, MELISSA MCAVOY, LUXURY WINE & CO.

PF CHANG’S – CHINESE NEW YEAR

Chinese New Year is almost here! On Thursday, February 19 here is a fun way to celebrate At Home!

With Chinese New Year just around the corner, we wanted to share some ways to celebrate! For those of you who don’t have a bustling Chinatown near you, try re-creating your own party at home! Authentic Asian cuisine is right at your fingertips with a quick trip to the frozen aisle.

From the bistro to your kitchen, the P.F. Chang's Home Menu features the bold, flavorful dishes of an exceptional Asian dining experience, in the comfort of your own home.

• Perfectly paired for two, the P.F. Chang’s Home Menu allows you to craft your own menu, allowing you to choose from flavorful starters, delicious sides and the bold signature entrees you love.
• Far from ordinary frozen dinners, the P.F. Chang's Home Menu uses authentic Asian ingredients and cooking techniques, designed by P.F. Chang’s founder Philip Chiang himself. 
• With quality cuts of beef, white meat chicken breast or succulent shrimp paired with crisp colorful vegetables, tender noodles, and full-flavored sauces, the P.F. Chang’s Home Menu is infused with delicious flavors and bold aromas. 
• P.F. Chang’s Home Menu is available in your grocer’s frozen aisle nationwide.

WWW.PFCHANGSHOMEMENU.COM


JOHN MCQUAID - AUTHOR OF THE BOOK TASTY: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF WHAT WE EAT

Taste is often dismissed as the most primitive of the senses because its principal mission is simple: to discern food from everything else. Yet it’s really the most complex and subtle. Tasty: The Art and Science of What We Eat is a brief biography of flavor, tracing an arc from its first appearance at the dawn of life on earth, to the invention of cooking by early humans, to the strange concoctions of the modern food system. Reporting from kitchens, supermarkets, farms, restaurants, huge food corporations, and science labs, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John McQuaid shows how flavor is woven into our genes, our cravings, our personalities and behavior. Tasty offers a smorgasbord of insights into our modern food obsessions, and ponders where they’re taking us.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John McQuaid has written about topics such as city-destroying super-termites, the slow collapse of fishing communities, hurricane levee engineering, mountaintop removal coal mining, and the global flower business for publications including Smithsonian magazine, The Washington Post, Wired, Forbes.com, EatingWell magazine and the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He is the co-author of Path of Destruction: The Devastation of New Orleans and the Coming Age of Superstorms. His work has won a Pulitzer Prize, as well as awards from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the International Association of Culinary Professionals. He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with his wife, son and daughter. The struggle to satisfy and understand the kids' strange and contradictory food choices (the elder liked super-hot peppers and limes, the younger rice, pasta and cheese) was the inspiration for Tasty.

TASTYBOOK.NET
WWW.JOHNMCQUAID.COM


MELISSA MCAVOY – CEO, LUXURY WINE & CO. - WINE TASTING EVENT AT NEIMAN MARCUS ON FEBRUARY 18TH IN WOODLAND HILLS WITH ALDABELLA WINERY

Melissa has worked with some of the leading brands from around the world with Importer of The Year Alex Guarachi and TGIC Importers Inc., Titan Wine & Spirits (Public Relations and Communications Manager), DM Vineyards & Partners and BW Trade Importers. She has worked with wineries such as Montes Wines, Bodega Norton, Sante Ema, Achaval Ferrer, Pascual Toso, Guarachi Family Wines, Chateau Altimar, Roger & Didier Raimbault, Chateau Cour D' Argent, Daviana Winery, VinRoc and Teachworth.  This is an example to her well-rounded portfolio of experience which set Melissa's career in the wine industry off and running.

Melissa has worked on major campaigns and projects connecting luxury brands and wealth management companies such as Luxe Hotel Group, Four Seasons, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Maserati, O'Gara Coach, Porsche Design, Morgan Stanley, Manchester Finanacial, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales to create new ways to stay connected to their luxury clients. She has worked with all major publications including Robert Parker, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Angeleno Magazine, CSQ Magazine and Wall Street Journal to increase visibility for her clients wines and corporate clients through reviews, features, marketing, and events.

"I love creating new business for my clients through luxury events and creative campaigns." Melissa adds, "Wine is my glue when creating connections with luxury brands."

Neimen-Marcus Luxe Event

Date: Wed, Feb 18, 2015
Time 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Venue: Neimen-Marcus at Westfield Topanga
Phone: 818-316-7005
Email: rsvptopanga@Neimanmarcus.com


WWW.LUXURYWINECO.COM
WWW.CHICMETROPOLITAN.COM

02/16 CHRIS BYRNE, TOY GUY, 112th AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR, DUANE WOLLMUTH, WALLA WALLY WINE ALLIANCE

CHRIS BYRNE, THE “TOY GUY” REVEALS THE LATEST TOY INDUSTRY TRENDS AT THIS YEAR’S TOY FAIR

This year marks the 112th American International Toy Fair. It is the largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere, the third largest in the world and a critical time for the approximately $32 Billion U.S. toy industry (including video games). More than 1,600 manufacturers, distributors, importers and sales agents from 30 countries will be showing more than 100,000 toys.

Chris Byrne, The “Toy Guy” and content director for TTPM.com (Time to Play Mag) is available for live interviews to provide insight into this highly competitive, high-stakes industry. He will address a variety of topics, from business outlook in the current economy, to consumer product and retailing trends—and of course some of the hottest new toys for 2015 that are being officially launched to the trade in the U.S. at this show, though some are already finding their way to store shelves as manufacturers try to get an early jump on the year.

MORE  ABOUT CHRIS BYRNE
As director of content and one of the spokespeople for TTPM (TTPM.com) and a partner in its parent company TTPM, Inc., Chris brings more than 30 years of industry experience in the toy industry to his role. At TTPM, Chris oversees the toy review process and the editorial team, bringing his knowledge of toys, education and child development to his role. Chris is widely published on the topic of toys and family life and in addition to his work with TTPM is editor-at-large for the trade publications Toys & Family Entertainment and Royalties. His most recent book, Toy Time was published in 2013. Chris is extensively quoted in the media and appears regularly on local and national television commenting on toys and demonstrating new products. His media appearances reached more than 150 million consumers in Q4 2013. He regularly appears on “Live! With Kelly and Michael,” and has appeared on “Marie” with Marie Osmond and “Home and Family” on the Hallmark Channel, “Oprah, “Soap Talk,” “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “The CBS Evening News,” “ABC Nightly News,” “Fox & Friends,” “CBS This Morning,” “Good Day New York,” CNBC, CNNfn, MSNBC, ABC, “The Motley Fool,” National Public Radio, Bloomberg Television and Radio, and on countless other national and local market business and consumer programs around the country and internationally.
Interview provide by: TimetoPlayMag.com

WWW.TTPM.COM
TIMETOPLAYMAG.COM


DUANE WOLLMUTH – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WALLA WALLA WINE ALLIANCE (WASHINGTON) - TTB APPROVES NEW AVA: THE ROCKS DISTRICT OF MILTON-FREEWATER

TTB Approves New AVA: The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater

Located in Northeastern Oregon, within the Walla Walla Valley AVA

WALLA WALLA VALLEY, FEB. 6. 2015 – The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) today announced it will establish The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater as the newest American Viticulture Area (AVA) on Monday, Feb. 9. The AVA is situated on an alluvial fan of the Walla Walla River, where the river exits the foothills of the Blue Mountains and enters the Walla Walla Valley. It lies entirely within the state of Oregon and includes part of the town of Milton-Freewater. The area contained within the Rocks District also lies within the Walla Walla Valley AVA, which in turn is entirely within the larger Columbia Valley AVA.

The distinguishing feature of The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater is its soil, which consists primarily of dark-colored basalt cobblestones. The cobblestone-rich soil is very well drained, which encourages the vines to root deeply. Due to their coarse texture, the soils are not easily eroded, so cover crops are not required and the cobblestones can be left exposed on the surface where they absorb solar radiation. Heat from the sun-warmed stones promotes growth early in the season and assists ripening during the late summer and early fall.

Nineteen wine producers have vineyards within the boundaries of The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA, which contains approximately 3,770 acres and currently has approximately 250 acres of commercially producing vineyards. The AVA application effort was organized and managed by Steve Robertson of Delmas/SJR Vineyard along with seven other wine growers and producers.  Dr. Kevin R. Pogue, a professor of geology at Whitman College in Walla Walla, submitted the petition to the TTB.

Dr. Pogue is pleased the growers shared his idea that the AVA be highly uniform with regard to the physical environment within its boundaries. “The concept behind AVAs is to recognize regions that have truly unique growing conditions that are expressed in the wines. I believe we have remained true to that spirit, creating an AVA with the most uniform terroir in the United States”, he said. “The Rocks District lies on one landform, with very uniform topography and climate, and 96-percent of the soils belong to the Freewater soil series.”

The Walla Walla Valley AVA as a whole spans northeastern Oregon to southeastern Washington and has a long agricultural history. A wide variety of crops have been cultivated in The Rocks District since the late 1800s, and in addition to wine grapes the area still produces commercially-grown apples, cherries, prunes and plums. Wines produced from vineyards planted in The Rocks District in the mid-1990s were quickly recognized by wine critics as among the finest in the country.

“Wines from The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater have been earning accolades for years,” said Duane Wollmuth, Executive Director of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance. “The Walla Walla Valley has a proud tradition of growing world-class wine grapes, and this designation will help winegrowers better tell the story of the unique terroir on which their grapes are grown.”
“The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater marks Oregon’s 18th AVA, another important step in designating the distinctive and high-quality wine growing regions within our state,” said Ellen Brittan, chairwoman of the Oregon Wine Board. “By gaining AVA status, producers who grow or source fruit from these vineyards can better differentiate the unique characteristics of their wines.”

“Washington State Wine is excited to collaborate with our partners in the Walla Walla Valley AVA and in Oregon to share the story of The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater,” said Steve Warner, president of Washington State Wine, which promotes awareness of wineries and growers in Washington State and its cross-border AVAs. “This isn’t about state borders. It’s about the Pacific Northwest and our growing reputation as home to world-class wines. We feel this new AVA designation further recognizes the unparalleled terroir of this area.”

About the Oregon Wine Board:
The Oregon Wine Board (OWB) is a semi-independent Oregon state agency managing marketing, research and education initiatives that support and advance the Oregon wine and wine grape industry. The Board works on behalf of all Oregon wineries and independent growers throughout the state’s diverse winegrowing regions. To learn more, visit www.oregonwine.org.

About Washington State Wine:
Washington State Wine represents every licensed winery and wine grape grower in Washington State. Guided by an appointed board, WSW provides a marketing platform to raise positive awareness of the Washington State wine industry and generate greater demand for its wines. Funded almost entirely by the industry through assessments based on grape and wine sales, WSW is a state government agency, established by the legislature in 1987. To learn more, visit www.washingtonwine.org.

About the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance:
The Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance is a non-profit wine industry membership organization whose primary mission is the marketing of the Walla Walla Valley’s American Viticultural Area (AVA).  The Wine Alliance functions as the leading informational resource for consumers, media and trade interested in learning more about the Valley’s wine industry.  More information about the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance and its’ mission can be found at www.wallawallawine.com.

WWW.WALLAWALLAWINE.COM

02/13 CHRIS BYRNE, AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR, CHAZZ WEAVER, STEVE EVANS

CHRIS BYRNE, THE “TOY GUY” PROVIDES A SNEAK PEEK AT WHAT’S IN STORE AT THE 112TH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR

The holidays may be over, but the high-stakes toy industry is already preparing for the 2015 season. Amidst changes in marketing, retailing and, of course, what excites kids, the industry once again puts it all on the line as they try to entice and entertain today’s kids. Who better to provide a sneak peek on what consumers can expect to see on store shelves this year than the Time to Play Mag  director of content and the one and only Toy Guy, CHRIS BYRNE. Just back from the overseas shows and having met with manufacturers throughout the fall, Chris is uniquely positioned to provide insight into what’s ahead in 2015.

Chris will provide a behind the scenes look at some of the latest toys and trends available for 2015, some of which are already heading to shelves as manufacturers hope to catch the hearts and imaginations of kids nationwide. He will give you an exclusive first look and discuss what your kids are likely going to be asking for this year, as manufacturers place their bets—and try to get an early read—on what will be hot for kids this year. He will touch on everything from hot trends, new hot products and the state of play and the U.S. toy industry as we move into 2015.

MORE  ABOUT CHRIS BYRNE
As director of content and one of the spokespeople for TTPM and a partner in its parent company TTPM, Inc., Chris brings more than 30 years of industry experience in the toy industry to his role. At TTPM, Chris oversees the toy review process and the editorial team, bringing his knowledge of toys, education and child development to his role. Chris is widely published on the topic of toys and family life and in addition to his work with TTPM is editor-at-large for the trade publications Toys & Family Entertainment and Royalties. His most recent book, Toy Time was published in 2013. Chris is extensively quoted in the media and appears regularly on local and national television commenting on toys and demonstrating new products. His media appearances reached more than 150 million consumers in Q4 2013. He regularly appears on “Live! With Kelly and Michael,” and has appeared on “Marie” with Marie Osmond and “Home and Family” on the Hallmark Channel, “Oprah, “Soap Talk,” “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “The CBS Evening News,” “ABC Nightly News,” “Fox & Friends,” “CBS This Morning,” “Good Day New York,” CNBC, CNNfn, MSNBC, ABC, “The Motley Fool,” National Public Radio, Bloomberg Television and Radio, and on countless other national and local market business and consumer programs around the country and internationally.

WWW.TTPM.COM


DIET & NUTRITION CONSULTANT CHAZZ WEAVER –JOINS THE SHOW WITH TIPS ON HOW TO NOT OVER INDULGE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY WEEKEND

Indulgent Dinners, Chocolates & Wines Oh My! What starts as a day of romantic celebration can easily become a weekend full of rich food and too much to drink. We tend to throw caution to the wind on holidays and special occasions, but sometimes that can lead to “screw it” mode. So how can we protect our diets? What type of out of the box activities and dates support a healthy lifestyle? How do you hint at having a more active date instead of the usual dinner date? Can nutritious food be decadent too? If you do go off the deep end, swimming in chocolate and wine, how do you get right back on track?

Diet & Nutrition Consultant, Chazz Weaver has over 30 years of experience helping ordinary people reach their health and fitness goals with practical strategies, featured on 20/20, Fox News. Founder of ChazzLive.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.

02/12 BEN LYONS, ROMANTIC MOVIES FOR VALENTINE'S DAY, BOB CABRAL, THREE STICKS WINES

MOVIE & ENTERTAINMENT EXPERT BEN LYONS - TOP VALENTINE’S DAY AND ROMANTIC MOVIES

Valentine’s Day is approaching and one of the most popular ways to celebrate will be to snuggle up with your significant other and watch a great romantic flick.  Pop culture and movie expert Ben Lyons will share some of the best date night and romantic movies available on Blu-ray Disc and Digital HD this year.  On Thursday, Februray 5th Lyons will be available via satellite for his regular DEN (Digital Entertainment News) interview segment highlighting the latest Blu-ray and Digital releases and the technology to watch them on.

Ben Lyons is a Television, Radio, and Online host and producer who covers pop culture like nobody else. Ben is a special correspondent on EXTRA and regular contributor for ESPN LA radio. He is also the host of The Sidebar on Yahoo, an in-depth interview series featuring the biggest names in Movies, TV, Music, and Fashion. Ben is the lead host on Yahoo's LIVE movie premiere and awards show coverage. He reviews movies on Mario Lopez’s national radio show  and has recently, been on The View, Wendy Williams, ESPN's SportsNation, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, Good Morning America, and The Artie Lange Show. Previously he appeared on the E! Network and E! News as their lead film correspondent and movie critic. Born and raised in New York City, Ben is the grandson of legendary New York Post columnist Leonard Lyons, and is the son of film and theater critic Jeffrey Lyons. The Lyons family has been covering pop culture in American media for more than 80 years.


BOB CABRAL - DIRECTOR OF WINEMAKING, THREE STICKS WINES

There is very good reason Bob Cabral’s name is synonymous with great Pinot Noir. With decades of experience in Sonoma County, Bob’s passion, experience and following for his work with the varietal is second to none.

From 1998 to 2014 Bob was winemaker for Williams Selyem. There, he led the winery into a new era, overseeing an expansion of new vineyard sources and bottlings for the brand, along with the construction of a state-of the art winery.

Bob’s interest in wine and farming began in childhood helping his grandfather make wine in a barn. Growing up pruning grapes, irrigating vineyards and harvesting grapes became routine on his family’s 70-acre ranch near Escalon, CA. A fourth generation farmer and grape grower from the great San Joaquin Valley, he took all he learned at the family farm and applied it to his degrees at Fresno State University.

While in college, his passion for Pinot Noir became evident as he spent every spare dime, and a good chunk of his student loans, on buying wines from all over the world—mostly Burgundy and Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs.

After graduating in the mid-1980s, Bob knew that Sonoma County was where he could best hone his skills and make wines to rival the best in the world. He spent 11 vintages in various winemaking positions—associate winemaker at DeLoach Vineyards, custom crush winemaker at Kunde Family Estate, winemaker at Alderbrook Vineyards and winemaker at Hartford Court Winery—before taking his seminal position at Williams Selyem.

Bob’s winemaking philosophy has remained constant throughout his career—to source and farm the best fruit possible, with minimal intervention in the cellar. He was awarded the 2011 Wine Star Award from the Wine Enthusiast as “Winemaker of the Year.”

He joined Three Sticks in 2015, with fervent enthusiasm. Bob lives in the Russian River Valley where and is a devoted husband and father to his wife and daughter.

“Bill (Price) and I share a focused passion for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and he is willing to provide the resources I need to continue to make what I expect to be the best wines of my career. I cannot express how much I’m looking forward to our collaboration together. I have longed to work with the grapes from the iconic Durell and Gap’s Crown vineyards.”

WWW.THREESTICKSWINES.COM

02/11 LARRY LIPSON, AFFORDABLE WINES FOR VALENTINES DAY, BRIAN ABRAMS, PARTY LIKE A PRESIDENT: TRUE TALES OF INEBRIATION, LECHERY, AND MISCHIEF FROM THE OVAL OFFICE

LARRY LIPSON – AFFORDABLE WINES FOR VALENTINES DAY

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



BRIAN ABRAMS - AUTHOR, PARTY LIKE A PRESIDENT: TRUE TALES OF INEBRIATION, LECHERY, AND MISCHIEF FROM THE OVAL OFFICE (PRESIDENTS DAY 2/16)

The presidency is the most powerful office in the nation and, arguably, the world. The men who inhabit it? That’s a different story.

From the debauched inauguration of Andrew Jackson, to the love letters of Warren G. Harding (he refers to his penis as “Jerry”), to the martini-fueled fumbles of Gerald Ford, Party Like a President: True Tales of Inebriation, Lechery, and Mischief from the Oval Office (Workman; February 2015) exposes a White House under the influence. Humor writer Brian Abrams takes readers on an irreverent—and well-researched—tour through the hard-partying antics of America’s leaders: illicit affairs, drunken escapades, secret pill habits, and, of course, vomiting. John Mathias, whose work has appeared in The Washington Post and The New York Times, illustrates the madness with portraits, infographics, and comic strips throughout.

There’s George Washington, who plowed through three to four glasses of Madeira during lunch. Ulysses S. Grant had a reputation for riding drunk into battle—and once vomited all over his horse.  FDR threw toga parties but was notoriously bad at mixing cocktails. During the Cold War era, Harry Truman threw back an ounce of Old-Granddad each morning “to get the engine going.” Who could forget the infamous sexcapdes of JFK? Gerald Ford enjoyed a drink or three on virtually every Air Force One flight and once, while enjoying martinis with the Press Corps in Vail, stuck his foot in an entire wheel of brie—and never noticed. And after George H. W. Bush vomited at a televised state dinner in Japan, “Bushusuru,” meaning “to do the Bush thing,” aka “to boot ‘n rally,” became part of the Japanese nightlife lexicon. And don’t forget the first ladies! If there was someone who could rival the presidents’ partying ways, it’s Dolley Madison, the vivacious entertainer who made the White House a social hotspot.

And because no book about drinking would be complete without cocktail recipes, each presidential profile is accompanied by a drink inspired by the president. Some historical, some contemporary, recipes include concoctions like persimmon beer, mint juleps, meringue-and-Roman punch, and many more.

Hilarious and brash, Party Like a President is history with a side of cheek and reminds us that the great men in the Oval Office are just like us: flawed and in need of a stiff drink after a long day.

“The definitive account of White House alcoholism…There’s no better way to enjoy the declining days of this American empire than reading a book that teaches you how your favorite presidents got plastered.” —Roseanne Barr

ABOUT BRIAN ABRAMS:
Brian Abrams is the author of AND NOW . . . An Oral History of “Late Night with David Letterman,” 1982–1993. He has written for High Times, Mental Floss, Playboy, and other publications. He lives in New York City.

02/10 JOE WARWICK, WHERE CHEFS EAT 2015, MATT KALLMAN, GOOGLE, ONLINE SECURITY

JOE WARWICK – AUTHOR, WHERE CHEFS EAT 2015: A GUIDE TO CHEFS’ FAVORITE RESTAURANTS 

Where Chefs Eat 2015: A Guide to Chefs’ Favorite Restaurants

From bargain noodle joints to high-end restaurants, late-night haunts to all-day breakfasts, where are the best places to eat around the globe?  Eclipsing conventional guide-books written by self-proclaimed food lovers, Where Chefs Eat (Phaidon, Feb. 2015) is an international guide compiling the favorite places to eat of the people who know best: over 600 of the world’s top chefs including rising stars and established luminaries – a who’s who of the food world at the moment.

Editor Joe Warwick, co-founder of The World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards and ultimate international food expert, and his team have compiled entertaining and informative reviews, uniquely designed maps, and quotes from the chefs themselves. Brimming with recommendations for the finest local cuisine like the best hummus in Tel Aviv to unexpected culinary treats like great grits in Hong Kong, the guide proves itself an indispensable travel companion and irresistible read for food lovers around the world.

JOE WARWICK is a London‐based food writer, restaurant critic and experienced author of guides. He wrote A Hedonist’s Guide to: Eat London and is publisher of restaurant trade fanzine Galley Slave. Warwick started the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards and is well respected and connected within the restaurant world. He has appeared on national television shows such as CBS "This Morning", and has written for, or been featured in, publications including the Wall Street Journal ,the Guardian, the Observer, and Delicious.


MATT KALLMAN, GOOGLE SECURITY EXPERT WILL BE ANSWERING COMMON ONLINE SECURITY QUESTIONS AND GIVE US TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE ONLINE

Online security is more important to more people than it’s ever been. A recent Gallup poll revealed that cyberhacks are the crimes Americans fear most, with 69 percent of Americans reporting that they worry about it happening to them. For many people, understanding the basics of cyber security can be hard, especially for less technical users.

For Safer Internet Day on February 10th, Google Technology Experts will be available to answer common online security questions and give your listeners tips for staying safe online.

Online security is more important to more people than it’s ever been. A recent Gallup poll revealed that cyberhacks are the crimes Americans fear most, with 69 percent of Americans reporting that they worry about it happening to them.

As consumers and businesses’ reliance on connected devices and the cloud increases, so does the importance of online security. For many people, understanding the basics of cyber security can be hard, especially for less technical users.

For Safer Internet Day on February 10th, Google Technology Experts will be available to answer common online security questions and give your listeners tips for staying safe online.

For more information, visit: www.google.com/safetycenter/tools/

02/09 MARK MILLER, 500 DATES: DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT LINES OF DATING, LT. GOV. JAY DARDENNE, LOUISIANA

MARK MILLER - 500 DATES: DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT LINES OF THE ONLINE DATING WARS 

This Valentine’s Day, a new book reveals, “with tremendous humor and insight” (JAY LENO), how to survive 21st century dating—without losing your sense of humor!

Author, comedian, and former LA Times columnist Mark Miller is available to share tips to help baby boomers navigate 21st century dating; and to offer a rare man’s perspective on surviving the trenches of online dating.

Miller’s insight was not easily acquired: after his divorce, he went on over 500 first dates in order to find “the one.” He emerged with a smile, an endless repartee of jokes, and profound insight on what it means to find love in the modern world. In 500 DATES: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the Online Dating Wars (February 3, 2015), he fearlessly chronicles his course through “a new dating ocean so vast it renders any sense of navigation fruitless.”


LT. GOV. JAY DARDENNE OF LOUISIANA – DISCUSSES MUSIC, CUISINE, CULTURE AND HISTORY OF LOUISIANA

Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, a native to Louisiana, is all knowing on Louisiana’s culture and fascinating history. He will discuss music, cuisine, culture, etc. In addition, he'll also chat about Mardi Gras (king cakes) and the beginning of crawfish season.

WHEN IS MARDI GRAS 2015?
Mardi Gras 2015 falls on Tuesday, February 17. Visitors, please note: Parades will begin on February 6th.  Check our Parade Schedule section for specifics. The most popular time to visit New Orleans is the extended weekend before Mardi Gras (February 13- 17). Come then and you'll be sure to catch the most popular parades, like Endymion, Bacchus, Zulu, Rex and all of the festive celebrations throughout the whole city. Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday," is the last day of the Carnival season as it always falls the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Most visitors will plan to arrive no later than Saturday, February 14, 2015 in order to enjoy an extended weekend of festivities.

ABOUT JAY:
Jay Dardenne was reelected to a four-year term as Louisiana's Lieutenant Governor in October 2011. He previously served one year in that position, filling an unexpired term. He also served four years as Secretary of State and fifteen years as a State Senator. During his legislative service, he chaired the Senate Finance Committee. In 2003, he was named National Republican Legislator of the Year. He is an active community volunteer, having hosted the Jerry Lewis Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association for more than thirty years. Lieutenant Governor Dardenne conducts a presentation entitled "Why Louisiana Ain't Mississippi," a lively and colorful look at Louisiana's culture, history, music and politics. He is an attorney and a graduate of Baton Rouge High School, Louisiana State University and the LSU Law Center. He is married to the former Cathy McDonald. They have two grown sons, John and Matthew.

WWW.JAYDARDENNE.COM

02/06 CHEF CLAUD BELTRAN, CLAUD & CO., EATERY ON ALLEN, RITA MORENO, HALLMARK CHANNEL, GIFT OF MIRACLES, STEVE EVANS

CHEF CLAUD BELTRAN – OPENING OF CLAUD & CO. BACCHUS’ KITCHEN (3/3/15)

ABOUT CHEF CLAUD BELTRAN:
Passion, commitment to excellence, integrity, humor and a sense of adventure these words begin to sum up Chef Claud Beltran. An exotic mix of Mexican and Lebanese heritage, Chef Beltran was exposed to various ethnic foods at an early age. After being mentored by Master Chef Thomas Keller, Chef Beltranset out to make his own name. For over a quarter century Claud Beltran has established himself as one of Los Angeles preeminent chefs. With his accomplished staff he creates culinary delights and fantastic designs that please all the senses. His experinence with multiple venues makes your event experience seemless and his excuiste palate for food and wine makes your meal one to top all others.

ABOUT THE EATERY ON ALLEN:
488 North Allen Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91106

Welcome to The Eatery by Claud & Co Catering in Pasadena. We are proud to feature a relaxed open-kitchen restaurant where once a month there’s a new theme of food. One month may focus on a region or culture of food and then the next month centers around specific ingredients indicative of the time period. We always follow the seasons and source local foods. The Eatery is an extension of our catering company. After so many years of catering and menu planning, we thought, “Why not share this idea with the public?”

The “& Co.” part of Claud & Co. to us is an important part of what we do. Our staff has worked together for a long time and we would like to welcome you to join our “family” for dinner. We look forward to meeting you.

Our unique dining experience will be available Tuesday through Friday evenings. We have saved Saturday through Monday nights for private dining of groups with twelve or more and private catering off site.

ABOUT CLAUD & CO CATERING:
Are you planning a special event? Perhaps an engagement party, a wedding anniversary, a 50th, 60th or a 21st birthday celebration? Let our private catering services help turn it into an event to remember.

WWW.BACCHUSKITCHEN.COM
WWW.EATERYONALLEN.COM
WWW.CLAUDANDCO.COM


RITA MORENO – ACADEMY AWARD®, EMMY®, TONY® AND GRAMMY® WINNER STARS IN‘A GIFT OF MIRACLES’ A HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES ORIGINAL

A GIFT OF MIRACLES’ -  A Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Original World Premiere:  Sunday, February 15 (9p.m. ET/PT, 8C)

Rita Moreno…  Oscar®, Emmy®, Tony® and Grammy® Award winner Rita Moreno (“West Side Story”), Rachel Boston (“Witches of East End”) and Jesse Moss (“Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove”), star in “A Gift of Miracles,” a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries !

A pragmatic PhD candidate must let go of her logic when she finds a list of items to give away written by the late mother she never knew.  With the encouragement of her enthusiastic new mentor, she attempts to return everything on the list and begins to encounter unexplainable coincidences that lead her to understand the world’s smallest marvels have the greatest meaning.

WIKI BIO:

Rita Dolores Moreno (born December 11, 1931) is a Puerto Rican actress and singer. She is the only Hispanic and one of the few performers to have won all four major annual American entertainment awards, which include an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy and a Tony, and was the second Puerto Rican to win an Oscar.

Early years
Moreno, nicknamed "Rosita", was born Rosa Dolores Alverío[3] in Humacao, Puerto Rico to Rosa María (née Marcano), a seamstress, and Francisco José "Paco" Alverío, a farmer. Moreno, whose mother was 17 at the time of her birth, was raised in nearby Juncos. Rita's mother moved to New York City in 1936, taking her daughter, but not her son, Rita's younger brother, Francisco. Rita would later adopt the surname of her first stepfather, Edward Moreno, Rosa Maria's second husband, by whom Rita would have a younger stepbrother, Dennis Moreno, who died in a car crash.

Career
Rita began her first dancing lessons soon after arriving in New York with a Spanish dancer known as "Paco Cansino", who was a paternal uncle of film star Rita Hayworth. When she was 11 years old, she lent her voice to Spanish language versions of American films. She had her firstBroadway role — as "Angelina" in Skydrift — by the time she was 13, which caught the attention of Hollywood talent scouts.

Early roles
She appeared in small roles in The Toast of New Orleans and Singin' in the Rain, in which she played the starlet "Zelda Zanders". In March 1954, Moreno was featured on the cover of Life Magazine with a caption, "Rita Moreno: An Actresses' Catalog of Sex and Innocence". In 1956, she had a supporting role in the film version of The King and I as Tuptim, but disliked most of her other work during this period.

West Side Story and its aftermath
In 1961, Moreno landed the role of Anita in Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins' film adaptation of Leonard Bernstein's and Stephen Sondheim's groundbreaking Broadway musical, West Side Story, which had been played by Chita Rivera on Broadway. Moreno won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for that role.

After winning the Oscar, Moreno thought she would be able to continue to perform less stereotypical film roles, but was disappointed.

"Ha, ha. I showed them. I didn't make another movie for seven years after winning the Oscar.... BeforeWest Side Story, I was always offered the stereotypical Latina roles. The Conchitas and Lolitas in westerns. I was always barefoot. It was humiliating, embarrassing stuff. But I did it because there was nothing else. After West Side Story, it was pretty much the same thing. A lot of gang stories."

She went on to be the first Hispanic to win an Oscar (1962), a Grammy (1972), a Tony (1975), and an Emmy(1977). In 1985, she won the Sarah Siddons Award for her work in Chicago.

Other roles
She starred in Summer and Smoke (1961), Cry of Battle (1963), and afterwards, The Night of the Following Day (1968), Popi (1969), Marlowe(1969), Carnal Knowledge (1971) and The Ritz (1976). From 1971 to 1977, Moreno played many characters on the PBS children's series The Electric Company, most notably Millie the Helper. In fact, it was Moreno who screamed the show's opening line, "HEY, YOU GUYS!" She also had roles as the naughty little girl Pandora, and "Otto", the very short-tempered director. Rita Moreno appeared in the family variety series The Muppet Show, and she made other guest appearances on television series such as The Rockford Files, The Love Boat, The Cosby Show,George Lopez, The Golden Girls, and Miami Vice. She was also a regular on the first three seasons of the sitcom version of Nine to Five (based on the film hit) during the early 1980s.

Broadway and television
Moreno's Broadway credits include The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Gantry, The Ritz, for which she won the 1975 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress, and the female version of The Odd Couple. In 1993 she was invited to perform at President Bill Clinton's inauguration and later that month was asked to perform at the White House. During the mid-1990s, Moreno provided the voice of Carmen Sandiego on Fox's animated series Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? In 1995, she co-starred with Charlton Heston, Mickey Rooney, Deborah Winters and Peter Graves in the Warren Chaney docudrama, America: A Call to Greatness.

In the late 1990s, she gained exposure to a new generation of viewers when she played Sister Pete, a nun trained as a psychologist in the popular HBO series, Oz for which she won an ALMA Award. She made a guest appearance on The Nanny as Coach Stone, Maggie's (Nicholle Tom) tyrannical gym teacher, whom Fran Fine also remembered from her school as Ms. Wickavich.

Performing in the 21st century
Moreno continues to be active on stage and screen, and as a singer. In 2006, she portrayed Amanda Wingfield in Berkeley Repertory Theatre's revival of The Glass Menagerie. She had a recurring role on Law and Order: Criminal Intent as the dying mother of Detective Robert Goren. She was a regular on the short-lived TV series Cane, which starred Jimmy Smits and Hector Elizondo. In 2011, she accepted the role of the mother ofFran Drescher's character in the TV sitcom Happily Divorced. She released an eponymous album of nightclub songs in 2000 on the Varèse Sarabande label, with liner notes by Michael Feinstein.

In September 2011, Moreno began performing a solo autobiographical show at the Berkeley Rep (theater) in Berkeley, California, Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup written by Berkeley Rep artistic director Tony Taccone after hours of interviews with Moreno. In 2014, it was announced that Rita Moreno has been cast in NBC's television film Old Soul, alongside Natasha Lyonne, Fred Willard and Ellen Burstyn.


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.

02/05 STEVE WILKOS, GENE SIMMONS, ROCK N BREWS, ME, INC.

STEVE WILKOS – TALK SHOW HOST, GIVES VIEWERS A PREVIEW OF WHAT TO EXPECT IN FEBRUARY

The Straight Talking Former U.S. Marine / Chicago Police Officer's  Talk Show Is In Its Eighth Season and Has Been Renewed Thru 2018!

Steve Wilkos began moonlighting as a security guard on The Jerry Springer Show some 20 years ago. Viewers identified with his tough guy demeanor and no-nonsense approach, and Steve began hosting his own daytime talk show in 2007.

Now in its 8th season, The Steve Wilkos Show continues to rise in popularity, attracting new fans, both men and women alike and has been praised for raising awareness about social issues such as substance abuse and domestic violence.

One of the stories Steve will explore this month involves Shakitta who wants to know if her stepfather is behind her father’s murder.  Shakitta’s mother had been in a relationship with Carlton since Shakitta was two years old.  Upon learning that Carlton cheated on her, Shakitta’s mother resumed a relationship with Shakitta’s biological father, Quinton.  Carlton did not take this news lightly and threatened Quinton’s life.  As it happens, Quinton was shot and killed that night during an attempted car robbery.  Although police apprehended the shooter and Carlton maintains his innocence, Shakiita is hoping Steve will help her prove that her stepfather Carlton is the man who had her father killed.

Steve is a huge sports fan, avid golfer and can often be found riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle in Connecticut, where he lives with wife Rachelle (Executive Producer of both The Steve Wilkos Show and Jerry Springer Show) and their two kids.

WWW.STEVEWILKOS.COM


ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAMER GENE SIMMONS – PARTNER, ROCK N BREWS & AUTHOR OF NEW BOOK: ME, INC.

Gene Simmons is an Israeli-born American rock bass guitarist, singer-songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, actor, and television personality. Known by his stage persona The Demon, he is the bass guitarist/co-lead vocalist of Kiss, the rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s. With Kiss, Simmons has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.

In Honor of its 4th Anniversary, Rock & Brews El Segundo to Feature 20 Perfectly Aged Craft Brews Throughout the Month of February

Rock & Brews El Segundo, the rock-inspired restaurant co-founded by KISS front men Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, is celebrating its 4th anniversary by breaking open its cellar doors for its first-ever Strong Ale & Cellar Reserve Fest. For the month of February only, the El Segundo Rock & Brews location will offer guests a selection of perfectly-curated and aged craft brews, many of which have been aging for up to four years.

For the Strong Ale & Cellar Reserve Fest, guests can order from Rock & Brews’ list of over 20 aged brews, including: The Bruery 2011 Cuir, Lagunitas 2011 Gnarlywine, Napa Smith 2011 Grateful Dog, Stone 2011 Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout, Avery 2011 Hog Heaven Barleywine, Lost Abbey 2012 Angel's Share, and more.

For more information about Rock & Brews El Segundo’s Strong Ale & Cellar Reserve Fest, visit www.rockandbrews.com/elsegundo or call 310-615-9890. Rock & Brews El Segundo is located at 143 Main St.

About Rock & Brews
Rock & Brews is a one-of-a-kind restaurant and entertainment concept designed to engage people of all ages with quality American comfort food and local favorites, a broad selection of international and craft beers, and an energized, family-friendly rock environment. The brand, founded by KISS front men Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, along with restaurateur/hotelier Michael Zislis, and concert industry veterans Dave and Dell Furano, now has several locations in California (4), Kansas (1), New Mexico (1), on Maui (1), in Cabo (2), and Orlando (1). Rock & Brews is poised for thoughtful expansion, with restaurants opening soon in Buena Park, California and Phoenix, Arizona, among others. For more information visit www.rockandbrews.com

BOOK:
Me, Inc.: Build an Army of One, Unleash Your Inner Rock God, Win in Life and Business

The fact that KISS is one of the most successful rock bands in the world is no accident. From the beginning Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley had a clear-cut vision of what they wanted to do and how they wanted to operate KISS as a business well before they ever first took the stage. Since deciding with Paul to manage the band themselves, Simmons has proved himself to be a formidable businessman, having sold over 100 million CDs and DVDs worldwide, overseen over 3,000 licensed merchandise items, and starred in the longest running celebrity reality show to date. More impressive is that he handles all of his business ventures on his own—no personal assistant, few handlers, and as little red tape as possible.

In Me, Inc., Simmons shares a lifetime of field-tested and hard-won business advice that will provide readers with the tools needed to build a solid business strategy, harness the countless tools available in the digital age, network like hell, and be the architect for the business entity that is you. Inspired by The Art of War, the book dispenses Simmons’ in-depth insights via thirteen specific principles for success based on his own experience, triumphs, and instructional failures in business—from finding the confidence within yourself that’s necessary to get started, to surrounding yourself with the right people to partner with and learn from, to knowing when to pull the plug and when to double-down. These thirteen principles are a skeleton key into a world of success, freedom, peace of mind and, most importantly, financial success.

WWW.ROCKANDBREWS.COM