05/14 Nancy O'Dell, Russell Hornsby, Adrien Laurent, Lisa Lillien

Nancy O'Dell - Co-Host of Entertainment Tonight

While parents are the primary source of information for teen drivers, recent research has found that parents don’t understand the most deadly risk to their teen driver – inexperience. And car crashes are the number one killer of teens, important to remember as we head into summer – the deadliest time of the year for teen crashes.

Through market research, The Allstate Foundation has found that two-thirds of parents wish they spent more time teaching their teen to drive, especially in high risk situations and 64 percent of parents are actively looking for resources to help manage their teens’ driving experience. In light of these alarming statistics, The Allstate Foundation is helping The National Safety Council launch the Drive It Home initiative.  Created by parents for parents of teen drivers, DriveitHome.org is a resource for parents to help educate them on the crucial role they play in the driving process and empower them with coaching tips and tools for their recently licensed teen drivers.

Award-winning journalist Nancy O’Dell is available for live interviews to provide tips and best practices on how parents can help their teens stay safe on the road. As research shows that more than half of teens want more time behind the wheel with their parents, Nancy will discuss her own personal experience practicing driving with her teen in high-risk situations, as well as help educate other parents on the crucial role they play in the driving process. She will also provide information on the Drive it Home program and resources available at driveithome.org.

Named one of "Television Week's" 10 Most Bankable Stars in Syndication, Emmy Award-winning entertainment journalist O'Dell has proven to be a force in all areas of her career as a host, author, producer and entrepreneur. One of the country's most respected and leading entertainment journalists, O'Dell is the host of the most watched entertainment news program in the word, Entertainment Tonight. In addition to her work with ET, O'Dell has contributed reports to "CBS This Morning," NBC's "Today" show and "Dateline. She is executive producer and host of "Celebrities at Home", which was recently picked up for a third season on HGTV. O'Dell was handpicked by Oprah and Mark Burnett to host "Your Own Show," one of OWN network's premiere primetime shows. Having over 20 years experience, O'Dell is a go-to anchor for live TV specials including the 2011 national Emmy pre-show, "Countdown to the Emmys", and FOX's New Year's Eve Special ringing in 2011. She was a special presenter on CBS' 2012 Academy of Country Music Awards, as well as a special host of Fox's American Country Music Awards. Previously, O'Dell served as the co-anchor of "Access Hollywood" for 13 years. O'Dell often appears on the big screen as well. An award-winning journalist, O'Dell has been honored with three Associated Press Awards, two Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Awards, an Emmy Award and has been nominated for seven additional Emmys.  Produced for: Allstate (one mention only)


Russell Hornsby - Hank Griffin on NBC'S "GRIMM"

Tuesdays on NBC (10-11 p.m. ET) "Grimm" is a drama series inspired by the classic Grimm Brother’s Fairy Tales. After Portland homicide detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli, “Turn the Beat Around”) discovers he’s descended from an elite line of criminal profilers known as ‘Grimms,’ he increasingly finds his responsibilities as a detective at odds with his new responsibilities as a Grimm. His attempts to shield his fiancée, Juliette Silverton (Bitsie Tulloch, “The Artist”), and his partner, Hank Griffin (Russell Hornsby, “Lincoln Heights”), from the hazards of his new life have reached a crisis, leaving Juliette in a mysterious coma and Hank on the verge of a mental breakdown.  Russell Hornsby stars in NBC’s acclaimed drama series “Grimm” as Nick’s partner, Hank Griffin, who is blind to Nick’s new powers in the Grimm world. Hornsby is best known for his long-running lead role as Los Angeles cop Eddie Sutton in “Lincoln Heights.” Most recently, he starred opposite Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in August Wilson's “Fences.” He also completed a season of HBO's Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated drama "In Treatment," opposite Gabriel Byrne and Dianne Wiest. His additional television credits include Showtime's “Shameless,” “Law and Order,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Good Wife,” and “Playmakers." His feature film credits include “After the Sunset,” “Big Fat Liar,” “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” “Meet the Parents,” and “Stuck.” His theater credits include “King Hedley,” "Gem of the Ocean,” “Two Trains Running,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Joe Louis Blues” and “Six Degrees of Separation.” Hornsby attended Boston University, College of Fine Arts.


Adrien Laurent - Director of Communication - Baron Philippe de Rothschild

Born in 1970 in Paris, France, hotel school educated, Adrien is an MBA graduate from Essec-Cornell University. Before joining Baron Philippe de Rothschild in 2000, Adrien worked in the gastronomy industry for Le Meridien hotel group in London and in Phuket, Thailand, and for must-seen dinner cruises of Bateaux Parisiens and Bateaux London, as F&B Director.   Adrien had diverse and extensive export experiences with Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, among those being in charge of markets such as Africa & Middle-East or USA & Mexico. Adrien was appointed Head of Communication in 2012, to oversee Mouton Cadet’s partnerships with the European Tour (Golf) and the 2014 & 2018 Ryder Cups. HE lives in Bordeaux with his wife, one girl and two boys, and enjoy cooking for his friends, along with large bottles of fine wine of course.


Lisa Lillien - Food Network & Cooking Channel’s TV show, “Hungry Girl,”

The 30th Anniversary California Strawberry Festival is coming up May 18-19 and is jam-packed with strawberry goodness and good deeds. Always in abundance and creatively crafted, strawberries take center stage during fun and informative presentations at the Strawberry Promenade, a tented oasis for demonstrations and interactive activities. One of our celebrity chefs will be available for interviews prior to the Festival and would be perfect for CRN’s cooking show.

Lisa Lillien, star of Food Network and Cooking Channel’s popular TV show, “Hungry Girl,” and #1 bestselling cookbook author, reveals how you can have your cake and eat it too when it comes to delicious, guilt-free cooking. During her presentation, she will answer questions and talk about extra special strawberry recipes from her new book “Hungry Girl – 200 Under 200, Just Desserts,” available for purchase. Lillien’s presentation is at 12:30pm on Sunday, May 19that the Strawberry Promenade at the Festival. She will be in the Los Angeles area and available for interviews starting May 15.

Ranking among the top Festivals in the nation, the fruitful fete boasts strawberries every way imaginable, featuring all day fun for the entire family with concert performances, the Strawberry Promenade with celebrity cooking demonstrations, more than 250 Fine Arts & Crafts booths, Strawberryland For Kids with free rides and attractions, gooey contests, special appearances, and more on 15 acres of parkland. The event has helped raise over $4 million for various Southland charities while paying tribute to the region’s agricultural heritage and winning award recognition for its recycling and “green” policies that began in 2001.

Oxnard is located 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. The free Park & Ride “Strawberry Express” shuttles from convenient locations off the 101 Fwy make getting to the Festival a breeze. Amtrak offers special Festival weekend discount rates (shuttles meet the trains). Limited parking is also available for $10 on site at Strawberry Meadows of College Park (3250 S. Rose Avenue in Oxnard).

05/13 JULIA REED, WAYNE TUCKER, BIO S.I. TECHNOLOGY, RICH AURILA

JULIA REED - BUT MAMA ALWAYS PUT VODKA IN HER SANGRIA!

JULIA REED is a contributing editor at Garden & Gun, where she writes the magazine's “The High & the Low” column. She is the author of Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns, and Other Southern Specialties, Queen of the Turtle Derby and Other Southern Phenomena, and The House on First Street, My New Orleans Story. Reed lives in New Orleans.

In her new book, But Mama Always Put Vodka in Her Sangria!, Julia Reed, a master of the art of eating, drinking, and making merry, takes the reader on culinary adventures in places as far flung as Kabul, Afghanistan and as close to home as her native Mississippi Delta and Florida’s Gulf Coast. Along the way, Reed discovers the perfect Pimm’s Royale at the Paris Ritz, devours delicious chuletons in Madrid, and picks up tips from accomplished hostesses ranging from Pat Buckley to Pearl Bailey and, of course, her own mother. Reed writes about the bounty—and the burden—of a Southern garden in high summer, tosses salads in the English countryside, and shares C.Z. Guest’s recipe for an especially zingy bullshot. She understands the necessity of a potent holiday punch and serves it up by the silver bowl full, but she is not immune to the slightly less refined charms of a blender full of frozen peach daiquiris or a garbage can full of Yucca Flats. And then there are the parties: shindigs ranging from sultry summer suppers and raucous dinners at home to a Plymouth-like Thanksgiving feast and an upscale St. Patrick’s Day celebration. This delightful collection of essays by Julia Reed, a master storyteller with an inimitable voice and a limitless capacity for fun, will show you how to entertain guests with style, have a good time yourself and always have that perfect pitcher of sangria ready at a moment’s notice.


WAYNE TUCKER - CEO  BIO S.I. TECHNOLOGY

Soil inoculants are bacteria or fungi that are added to soils in order to improve plant growth by
entering into symbiotic relationships with plant root systems. They improve soil condition and
promote plant growth by freeing up soil nutrients for plant use and acting as antagonistic
organisms against plant pathogens. Mr. Tucker’s 19 years of experience in developing inoculant products dates back to 1989. Mr. Tucker has conducted extensive research and worked with many notable industry experts including James H. King, Jr.: BS, MA; Gerard O'Donovan, Professor and Former Chairman, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas; Michael J. Reber, Park Services Manager, Town of Flower Mound, Texas; and Dr. Benny Bruton of the USDA Research Facility and Noel Garcia of Texas Plant & Soil Lab.

Mr. Tucker is a featured speaker, educator, and industry representative at trade events and state
and national agricultural conferences and possesses a broad technical knowledge of micro
bacteria, enzymes, fungi, microbes and plant metabolism. He attended the University of Houstonand has an extensive educational background in Chemistry and Pharmacy. 

Bio S.I. Technology, LLC was incorporated in 2006 and includes a team of experts who have
over 20 years of experience producing microbial products since 1989. Bio S.I. solutions are all
natural, made with soil borne microbes, and do not contain any laboratory engineered or
manipulated microbes. The company constantly strives to improve their products and uses
cutting-edge testing methods for improving the consistency of every product they make.  For
more information about Bio S.I. Technology, or to purchase their cutting-edge formulas, please
visit  www.biositechnology.com   or email  info@biositechnology.com .  


RICH AURILA - RED STITCH WINE GROUP  

Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. In 1992, Rich was selected by the Texas Rangers in the annual Major League Baseball draft and would go on to play for such teams as the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, and the Cincinnati Reds. His baseball career would eventually bring him to San Francisco, where he played 11 seasons for the San Francisco Giants. He was honored in representing the Giants in the 2001 All Star Game  in Seattle, Washington.

Rich worked for Comcast Sports Bay Area and played an active role throughout his career  in San Francisco with the Bay Area Make a Wish Foundation. Living in the bay area and traveling  to the wine country for so many years gave him a wonderful love and appreciation for fine wine. In addition to Red Stitch, Rich enjoys cooking many wonderful types of foods for family and  friends - always sharing a favorite bottle of wine. Rich currently resides in Phoenix Arizona with his two sons, Chaz and Gavin.

Drawn together through a blind tasting group, our families (the Aurilias, Miceks and Roberts) have become close friends and devoted wine enthusiasts. Beginning in 2007, we have enjoyed incredible tastings in our homes and at our favorite restaurants across California and around the world. As our love for wine brought us closer together, our relationships across Napa and Sonoma grew deeper as well. After the 2008 baseball season ended for Rich and Dave, we started to lay the groundwork for our venture into the wine business. Enjoying one incredible tasting after another across the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, visits with Rolando Herrera of Mi Sueño Winery, and the story of his passion for the art of fine wine, led us to friendship and an ultimate partnership. Rolando’s knowledge and enthusiasm for Red Stitch gave us the opportunity to source incredible grapes from the Frog Tree Vineyard in the Coombsville region of Napa Valley for our first vintage of Red Stitch.

Since the formation of Red Stitch, all three couples have been intimately involved in the wine making process, and have worked closely with Rolando and the entire Mi Sueño family to craft a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec that would stand the test of time. This hands-on approach defines our group’s desire to be involved in all aspects of the winemaking process. We are especially excited to include the Malbec varietal in our 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon both due to the vintage’s outstanding characteristics and the fact that a fantastic Malbec tasting first brought our three families together in San Francisco.

05/10 SUSAN CANNON, DAN TUDOR, STEVE EVANS

 
Susan Cannon - Susan G. Cannon Estate Wines

PROUDLY REPRESENTING: Kapcsandy Family Vineyards | Lamborn Family Vineyards | La Sirena Winery |  Miro Cellars |  Grand Cru Imports | Grof Degenfeld Tokaji | Oakville Cross Wines | Six Sigma Winery|   Et Cetera Wine Company |  Domaine Georg Rafael | Laird Family Estate |  Consulting for Meyer Family Cellars




DAN TUDOR - TUDOR WINES 

Dan has an impressive list of accomplishments. His winemaking skills were acquired from the ground up. He has consulted extensively with Larry Brooks since 1999 in all aspects of Pinot Noir production and winery/vineyard establishment thereby gaining invaluable knowledge and experience from one of the world’s preeminent Pinot Noir specialists. The 2000 Vintage was his Inaugural Vintage. He achieved accolades that many seasoned winemakers long to receive.

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.

05/09 Alan L. Gottfried, Gott Entertainment, Dave Williams, Ang Horlings, Wine Candles by Ang

Alan L. Gottfried – Gott Entertainment - Tee It Up Radio Celebrity Golf Classic

Alan talks about the 8th Annual Tee It Up Radio Celebrity Golf Classic on October 7, 2013. It will take place at Mountain Gate Country Club in Los Angeles Benefiting WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT. Alan is also co-host of the Tee It Up Show which continues to expand its reach nationally and touch golf fans every Sunday morning 6-8am PST / 9-11 EST. Now 17 years in the making, the Tee It Up Radio Network is reaching millions of golf and travel enthusiasts across the US including Hawaii and Canada. Contributing partners include the talent of the Golf Channel, PGA Tour, CBS Sports,and many more.  Tee It Up provides the best golf content via radio thanks to some of their affiliations with Golf’s biggest and most credible organizations.


Dave Williams – Restaurateur


Veterans Restaurateur from Yamashiro and Ralph Brennan's New Orleans Jazz Kitchen now has a new assignment and he joins the show to tell Mike and Paul all about it! Dave is a highly effective leader with keen instincts in the Restaurant/Catering/Hospitality/Entertainment industry with a wide scope of experience and proven positive track record. Thrive on challenges to increase top line sales and maximize profitability. Strong ability to create positive change by improving leadership, finding and empowering talent.



Ang Horlings - Wine Bottle Candles By: Ang

Unique, one of a kind, wine bottle candles for that special wine lover in your life! These unique candles are the perfect addition to any home decor'. Would make a great Mother’s Day gift! Ang’s candles have appearded at numerous wine festivals around california…

Upcoming Events:

"Indulge" a Soirée for the Senses - May 23 at the Sofitel Hotel – Beverly Hills, CA

California Jazz and Wine Festival - May 19th at Conejo Creek Park - Thousand Oaks, CA

The LA Wine Fest - June 8th and 9th at Raleigh Studios – Los Angeles, CA

How she got started: Christmas 2011, I wanted to give wine related gifts to friends. My original idea was to make custom wine labels on empty bottles and make them into candles. When Christmas came and went, I ran out of time, but continued to pursue other options. I brainstormed three things that women in particular love.... Candles, jewelry, and wine. I incorporated all three. I started "in house," and the more friends saw, the more they wanted! The oil lamp candle is what set these candles apart from the ordinary, and really is what makes them most unique!

www.facebook.com/WineCandle

05/08 James Bell, GM, Larry Lipson, Heath Gregory, Strand House

James Bell - VP of Consumer Affairs for GM - BIG FAMILY CARS ARE BACK

James Bell, Head of Consumer Affairs, General Motors. With over 16 years of experience, James Bell is a nationally recognized and authoritative resource within the automotive industry. During his tenure, James has diligently analyzed and effectively communicated automotive data and research to multiple constituencies, including the national and international media, automotive manufacturers, dealers, and the every-day car shopper. His multifaceted experience has led to a unique perspective on the industry that easily crosses over the boundaries between the general consumer and passionate enthusiast. Prior to joining GM, James was Vice President of Corporate Communications and Executive Market Analyst for Kelley Blue Book. In this role, he was charged with promoting the KBB.com brand and driving traffic to its award-winning Web site. Bell also oversaw the company’s consumer communication efforts through social media and viral marketing platforms. In addition, he served as the company’s chief spokesperson with the media and has been featured on national television news shows on CNN, Fox News, CBS, NBC, national and local talk radio, as well as within the pages of both respected newspapers and automotive trade publications. James also served on the board of directors for the Motor Press Guild in Los Angeles and was President of this revered organization, the largest of its kind in the U.S., in 2010 and 2011. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Communications and Political Science from California State University.


 
Larry Lipson - Costa Rica Report

Larry is the former food critic for the  LA Daily  News (50 years) and reports weekly live from the Lipson Institute for Advanced Wine studies in Costa Rica . He and his wife Lillian offer tips on wine and food and provide a critique (both positive and negative) on wines and service



Heath Gregory - Owner of The Strand House in  Manhattan Beach

The Inaugural Manhattan Beach Tour de Pier is a unique fundraising event that brings one of the hottest indoor fitness activities – stationary cycling – to the gorgeous outdoors of Manhattan Beach. Ride in place with an ocean view!

05/07 Chef Malika Ameen, Kyle Branche, Bitsie Tulloch

Chef Malika Ameen - Bravo’s “Top Chef: Just Desserts”

What if the products you give or enjoy on Mother’s Day -- flowers, chocolate, coffee, tea and more – could also help celebrate moms around the world? When you buy Fair Trade Certified products, you’re helping to provide the many moms who produced the goods with fair prices and wages to support their families and enjoy a better quality of life.  Mother’s Day and World Fair Trade Day fall on the same weekend this year, and you can celebrate both by giving mom Fair Trade gifts.

Malika Ameen, restauranteur and former ‘cheftestant’ on Bravo’s “Top Chef: Just Desserts,” will tell your listeners how easy it is to make every purchase matter this May. Ameen will offer recipes from her Modern Spice Pantry and tell you where to go in your neighborhood to get Fair Trade Certified food, beverages and flowers that will bring a smile to Mom’s face this year – and celebrate moms around the world. She’ll also discuss:

As a single mom to three young boys (ages 3, 6 and 8), she’s always incorporating her “chef thinking” into the foods she cooks daily at home for her children in order to make food as exciting for them as it is for her; thus the concept the Modern Spice Pantry was born at home.


Kyle Branche - Veteran professional and private bartender 

BOOK - "Life Behind Bars: Stories and Encounters: Vignettes over Cocktails" Short Stories/Vignettes of Intel based on my experiences as a professional and private bartender in Los Angeles, California. Book One in the series.

Kyle Branche is a 30-year veteran professional and private bartender in Los Angeles. His wide variety of bar experiences in the City of Angels is second to none, having worked in many bars, nightclubs, private clubs, restaurants, hotels, concert venues, and is currently more off the grid today working a busy, yet more flexible schedule as a private on-call bartender with a variety of services, caterers, event planners, brand-sponsored events and private clientele working the party circuit throughout the spread out metropolis. while still holding position in the bar at The Gardenia Room in Hollywood for 23 years.

Kyle was a contributing writer and columnist in the leading beverage magazines from 2002-2012, with 75 published pieces, including the monthly cocktail column "Liquid Kitchen" with Patterson’s Beverage Journal (now The Tasting Panel), feature cover stories, contributing articles, and one online multimedia super feature story on Cognac with Sante Magazine, titled "The Sleeping Spirit". Aside form creating 60+ signature cocktails, his bar line Cocktail Art Productions has produced 18 titles including seven books, two DVD’s, an audio CD Book, cocktail recipe cards, calendars, and postcards.

As a culinary artist, he started his cocktail photography series in 2007. His custom Zazzle store (zazzle.com/KBranche) uses 70 drink images from this series on a variety of everyday products and specialty items, including USPS-approved Cocktail Postage Stamps, Coffee Mugs, Greeting Cards, Men’s and Women’s T-Shirts and Hoodies, iPod Cases, iPad Cases, iPhone cases, Mousepads, Postcards, Hats, Aprons, Necklaces, Prints and Posters, all just for a fun and creative artistic outlet. Kyle also created and designed a board game called “Cocktail Hotel.”

He’s also co-produced and co-hosted the cocktail shows “Liquid Kitchen” and “Beverage Road,” has written a treatment for a one-hour dramatic television series titled “Life Behind Bars,” played the character of “Clive, the Bartender from the Dead” in the short film "The Hounds of Bakersfield," and the part of "Lyle the Bartender" in the upcoming feature film "Frozen Tundra." Other on-camera work includes his two Cocktail Art DVD’s of “live and close-up” specialty and classic drink preparations.



BITSIE TULLOCH - "Juliette Silverton" on NBC's "GRIMM"

 Bitsie Tulloch stars in NBC's acclaimed drama series "Grimm" as Juliette Silverton, Nick's (David Giuntoli) loyal girlfriend, who is wary of his recent forays into the Grimm world.

Tulloch previously starred as Dylan on Ed Zwick's NBC drama series "quarterlife." First made as an Internet series, "quarterlife" explored the lives of six creative twentysomethings trying to find their way in the world. Tulloch led the cast as a journalist who perplexes friends with her revelatory video blog. Her additional television credits include a recurring role on "Outlaw" and guest-starring roles on "House," "The West Wing," "Cold Case," "Lost" and "Moonlight." She also had a recurring role in the online serial "lonelygirl15."

On the film front, Tulloch co-starred in the Academy Award-winning silent film "The Artist" with John Goodman and James Cromwell. She stars in the upcoming family drama "Caroline and Jackie," which she also co-produced, opposite Marguerite Moreau. Additional film credits include Neil LaBute's "Lakeview Terrace," with Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington and Patrick Wilson; "Uncross the Stars" with Barbara Hershey and Ron Perlman”; "Antigone" opposite Keith Carradine; the romantic comedy "Losing Control"; and the independent feature "Riding the Pine." She also voiced one of the characters in the animated feature "Alpha and Omega," along with Hayden Panetierre, Justin Long and Dennis Hopper.

Tulloch's theater credits include performances of "Oleanna," "Hamlet" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," as well as the Pico Playhouse production of "Quarterlife," a performance that garnered her an LA Weekly Theater Award nomination.

Born in San Diego, Calif., Tulloch spent her formative years living overseas in Spain, Uruguay and Argentina until she landed in New York for middle and high school. She attended Harvard University and graduated magna cum laude with a double major in literature and fine arts.

Tulloch is an active participant and celebrity representative for the Corazon de Vida Foundation, through which she fundraises and visits orphanages in Tijuana; she has appeared on CNN in support of the cause.

05/06 Chris Taranto Communications, Michael Zislis, Rock & Brews, Gene Simmons

Chris Taranto - Communications Director of Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance

The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is a cooperative marketing alliance made up of Paso Robles Wine Country wineries, vineyards and related businesses. The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is a 501c6 nonprofit organization operated under the guidance of a nine-member board of directors.

Wine Festival  May 17 - 19, 2013 Paso Robles Wine Festival is the marquee tasting event held along California's Central Coast. Wine Festival is always held the third weekend in May and offers guests the opportunity to taste Paso Robles wine in the charming Downtown City Park. The delicious wine of Paso Robles is complemented by local epicurean delights, featured throughout the weekend. Wine Festival is complete with winemaker dinners, live music and open house festivities at area wineries throughout Paso Robles Wine Country. 


Michael Zislis - Shade Hotel (Restaurant Guru)

Los Angeles (April 23, 2013) – Today, rock icons Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, co-founders of KISS announced plans to open a new Rock & Brews™ restaurant on May 8th, 2013.

The new Rock & Brews is located on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Torrance, Calif., and is the newest in the Los Angeles area and the third to open in just over a year, demonstrating Rock & Brews plans for a worldwide rapid expansion of the brand.  Rock & Brews PCH joins the brand’s growing roster that includes its flagship location in El Segundo, Calif., which opened in April of 2012, and the first international location in Los Cabos, Mexico, which opened in March 2013. 

“We continue to expand Rock & Brews worldwide with a commitment to building a family-friendly atmosphere that serves exceptional food along with a broad selection of craft beers,” said Stanley.  “We offer incredible value in a fun, energized rock-themed environment.”

Four additional Rock & Brews restaurants are currently in development: Rock & Brews LAX (CA) will open this summer (in the Delta Airlines Terminal); Rock & Brews Maui (HI) will open this fall; Rock & Brews Agoura (CA) will also open this fall; and, Rock & Brews Kansas City (MO) is slated to open early next year. 

"Rock & Brews is on fire around the globe,” said Simmons.  “People love bringing their families all day long and through dinner, and enjoy the rockin’ social scene later in the evening.”

Stanley and Simmons, along with their co-founding partners, restaurateur Michael Zislis and concert industry veterans Dave and Dell Furano, plan to open as many as 100 Rock & Brews restaurants in the next five years.

The new Rock & Brews PCH welcomes local partner Jon Mesko, who will own and operate the Torrance location.  The restaurant will feature the brand’s signature casual American cuisine, a full bar including a broad selection of premium wines and craft beers, and there will be a 21-and-over lounge area with private tables, offering self-service beer taps, monitored through new iPad software that tracks consumption and also provides detailed information about other draft and bottled beers available at the restaurant. 

The atmosphere is reminiscent of a backstage concert environment, featuring concert lighting, multiple televisions and concert-style rock music.  Guests at the approximately 5,400-square-foot venue can dine indoors or al fresco on heated patios that feature some tables with fire features at the center.  And, with something for everyone, Rock & Brews PCH is dog friendly and there will be a lively play area for children. 

Rock & Brews PCH has introduced 60 new full and part-time jobs for restaurant employees and dozens of construction jobs, with an average of 25 men and women contributing to construction every day.

Rock & Brews PCH is located at 6300 Pacific Coast Highway in Torrance, Calif. 90505

Grand opening activities on May 8th at Rock & Brews PCH will include a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring Torrance Mayor Frank Scotto and all Rock & Brews partners; a private luncheon for more than 100 returning military veterans and Wounded Warriors with Stanley and Simmons waiting tables, and an evening gala with a special appearance by Stanley and Simmons.  VIP tickets to the evening gala are $250 per person, which includes food and beverage, a private reception with Stanley and Simmons, and a Rock & Brews gift bag.  Proceeds from VIP ticket sales to the gala will benefit the Torrance Education Foundation.  For tickets and information, visit www.rockandbrews.com.

05/03 Shelley Kekuna, Kaanapali, Richard Schlesinger, 48 Hours, Steve Evans

Shelley Kekuna Kaanapali  Beach Resort

Kaanapali is a three-mile stretch of beach that has been touted as one of the best beaches on Maui, and even in America. Long ago, these sands and lush gardens were enjoyed by Hawaiian kings and queens who sought a relaxing, rejuvenating retreat. The land itself was once comprised of green sugar cane and taro, grown with the help of the Maui sun and a freshwater spring. This magical spot is steeped in culture, from when it was used as a training ground for Hawaiian warriors in ancient times, to the romantic days of “Old Hawaii” in the ’30s and ’40s, to the present.


Richard Schlesinger - "48 Hours"

48 HOURS " Over The Edge " airs on Saturday, May 4, 2013 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) Chef David Viens was known for serving up dishes at top restaurants from the east coast to the west.  But in 2011, he gained a different kind of notoriety: killing his wife, and disposing of her body in gruesome fashion.  Dawn Viens, David’s wife and business partner, disappeared in October 2009.  Although he was initially questioned by police, it was David’s daughter who delivered the major break in the case.  As suspicion surrounding David hit a crescendo, the disgraced chef plunged off a 100-foot cliff with cops in hot pursuit.  Somehow, he survived – to stand trial for murdering his wife.  Investigators believe he killed her in a violent rage and possibly cooked her bones to get rid of the body, which has never been found.  Richard Schlesinger speaks to Viens in his only interview to date.

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.

05/02 DEANA MARTIN , CHERYL NAJAFI, CINCO De MAYO, ED DeROSA

DEANA MARTIN  - ENTERTAINER

DEANA MARTIN IS IN CONCERT AT VITELLO'S UPSTAIRS - LOS ANGELES  THIS FRIDAY (MAY 3), SATURDAY (MAY 4) AND SUNDAY (MAY 5). Deana Martin is an influential American singer, actor and performer and the very proud daughter of iconic entertainer, Dean Martin.

Deana achieved success early in her career in films, theater and television, then quickly added to her repertoire — recording artist, best-selling author, nationally syndicated radio host, licensed pilot, and business entrepreneur.

In 2004 Deana broke new ground as an author with her best-selling memoir “Memories Are Made of This, Dean Martin Through His Daughters Eye’s”

In 2005, after Deana completed her sold-out “Deana Sings Dino” international concert tour, she was eager to return to the studio and record a new album. In 2006, Deana released “Memories Are Made Of This,” her top–selling CD of Standards and Jazz. It remained on the Top 10 charts for over 40 weeks. Deana then launched her phenomenally successful “Memories Are Made Of This” international concert tour.

2008 found Deana at Capitol Studios, in Hollywood, California, working on her next album. In the fall of 2009, Deana released her newest CD “Volare” and opened on the Billboard Heat Seeker chart at #7, Billboard’s Top Jazz Albums chart at #22, and on iTunes Top 10 chart. Deana loved working at Capitol Studios where she collaborated on this project with legendary multi-Grammy Award-winning engineer Al Schmitt.
Volare by Deana Martin (2009) - CD
Memories Are Made of This by Deana Martin (2006)


CHERYL -  CHERYLSTYLE.COM - CINCO De MAYO TIPS

New York Times best-selling author of "You’re So Invited: Panic Less, Play More & Get Your Party On!"

No-fuss home entertaining and lifestyle expert, Cheryl Najafi, is revolutionizing party planning and hosting with simple, affordable, easy-to-do tips that ‘break the rules’ of “proper” entertaining on HTTP://CHERYLSTYLE.COM, along with ideas for homemade food & drink, handmade fashion, practical DIY and artful and innovative decor.

 CHERYLSTYLE.COM offers Cheryl’s amazing ability to blend the everyday with the sophisticated providing "how-to" information, inspiring and engaging consumers with unique lifestyle content for everyone (even the novice crafters) to gather, eat, sip, gussy-up, create and nest.

CHERYLSTYLE.COM offers quick and simple tricks for the everyday hostess from quick tricks with leftovers to setting up a self-serve hot chocolate bar to mixing and matching table settings.

Please see below for Cheryl’s Cinco de Mayo alternative to margaritas and her delicious twist on pulled pork tacos! Prep for the fiesta and serve guests a fun alternative to margaritas. This Cinco de Mayo use your favorite Mexican style pilsner and prepare your chelada with fresh squeezed lime juice. If you want to get fancy, garnish the glasses with lime wheels instead of wedges and you can even salt the rim of your glass for extra celebratory flair

How to create a Chelada 

What You’ll Need

Makes 1 Serving

•    Margarita salt
•    1 bottle of Mexican style pilsner (we used Pacifico)
•    1 fresh lime halved
•    1 fresh lime cut into wedges
•    Rose’s Lime Juice
•    Ice
•    Beer glass
•    Small plate

Let’s Do It

•    Wet rim of glass with Rose’s Lime Juice
•    Dip in plate of margarita salt
•    Fill glass with ice
•    Squeeze fresh lime into glass and pour beer
•    Garnish with lime wedge

This dish is perfect for serving a crowd on Cinco de Mayo. You need something that won’t be stressful, is easy to assemble and tastes festively fun. Flavorful pulled pork tacos with a spicy pineapple salsa checks all the boxes and can even be set up as a taco bar for guests to serve themselves, which means less work and more play for you. how to make pulled pork tacos

What You’ll Need

Makes 6 servings

Pulled Pork Taco

•    1 teaspoon salt
•    1 garlic clove, minced
•    ½ teaspoon ground cumin
•    ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
•    ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
•    1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•    ¼ cup brown sugar
•    2-3 pounds boneless pork shoulder roast
•    1 bay leaf
•    1 cup chicken broth
•    Corn tortillas
•    Crockpot
•    Forks


ED DeROSA - DIRECTOR OF MARKETING FOR CHURCHILL DOWNS 

Are you ready and raring to go for the most exciting two minutes in sports? Two minutes may sound short, but don’t let it fool you—the Kentucky Derby has been held every year since 1875 making it the longest continuously held major sporting event in the United States.

Last year 165,000 people attended the Derby and more than $187 million was wagered on-site and off, both record breaking numbers. Thanks to changes that have made the road to qualifying for the Derby easier to follow, and an increasing acceptance of online wagering, officials are expecting another record breaking year.

Horse racing expert and analyst Ed DeRosa from Churchill Downs, the home of the Derby, has been covering thoroughbred racing for 15 years and wants to get your listeners ready for the race.

On Thursday, May 2nd, Ed DeRosa, Director of Marketing for Brisnet.com, will be available to share his insights on this year’s Derby contenders including in-depth analysis of the trainers and jockeys. DeRosa will also offer pointers on how to evaluate the race entrants and how to wager your money in the most strategic way, so you can make watching the Derby even more fun this year.

05/01 MARIE GRIMM, IHOP, LARRY LIPSON

MARIE GRIMM - VP CULINARY INNOVATION - INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES

Marie Grimm, a culinary expert with over twenty years’ experience creating innovative new menu items for well-known restaurant brands, has been named Vice President, Culinary Innovation, International House of Pancakes, LLC, it was announced today by Natalia Franco,  Senior Vice President, Marketing for the company, to whom she will report.

In her new position, Grimm will be integral to the creation of innovative and exciting menu offerings that are enticing to guests and consistent with the IHOP® brand identity and operationally executable to the brand’s high standards of excellence.  In addition to overseeing the culinary pipeline, she will also work closely with the marketing and menu development teams to provide valuable insight and guidance on food costs and supplies, portioning and plating, and the continuing evolution of the menu.

Grimm joins IHOP from Olive Garden restaurants, where she spent the last six and a half years as Director of Culinary Development for the brand, creating its culinary pipeline, including new menu categories and offerings and overseeing the curriculum and training for Olive Garden’s Culinary Institute of Tuscany.

IHOP®, the restaurant known for “Everything you love about breakfast SM” is introducing its latest breakfast innovation: Brioche French Toast.

These thick-cut slices of rich round brioche bread are soaked in a lightly-sweetened vanilla batter and grilled to a delicate warm golden crispiness that is perfectly ready to layer with three flavorful varieties of toppings: Bananas Foster, Berry Berry and Peaches & Cream, will be in restaurants beginning April 15th.

“We’re delighted to bring our guests the next generation of French Toast,” said Natalia Franco, Senior Vice President, Marketing, International House of Pancakes, LLC. “They have been coming to IHOP restaurants for years because they know no one makes French Toast like IHOP restaurants can, and they love the way we continually find ways to surprise and delight them. Our new Brioche French Toast is unlike any they’ve ever tasted—it will delight our French Toast fans--and create new ones!”

Brioche French toast comes in three delicious and distinctively new flavors:

•    Bananas Foster Brioche French Toast comes with a New Orleans Foster’s sauce made with sliced bananas, caramelized in a buttery brown sugar glaze, and whipped topping.

•    Berry Berry Brioche French Toast layers blueberries and strawberry topping with a luscious dusting of powdered sugar and whipped topping.

•      Peaches & Cream Brioche French Toast combines sweetened sliced peaches, honey-roasted pecans and vanilla cream drizzle with a dollop of whipped topping.

LARRY LIPSON - COSTA RICA

THE FORMER FOOD & BEVERAGE CRITIC FOR THE LA DAILY NEWS (50 YEARS) FILES A WEEKLY REPORT ON WINE AND FINE DINING. LARRY ALONG WITH HIS WIFE LILLIAN AT THE LIPSON INSTITUTE FOR FINE WINE STUDIES IN COSTA RICA HAS A WEEKLY REPORT DETAILING HIS LIKE , DISLIKES AND RECOMMENDATIONS.