2/17 CAROL FENSTER - GLUTEN-FREE 101, ELIZABETH SHATNER, ART IN BLOOM 2014

CAROL FENSTER - GLUTEN-FREE 101: THE ESSENTIAL BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO EASY GLUTEN-FREE COOKING

It can be upsetting and overwhelming to learn that you can’t eat gluten, or that you need to cook for someone who can’t. Gluten-Free 101 is the guide to help make the transition a simple and positive change. It explains how to select and work with the best g-free foods from a now extensive (and sometimes confusing) product shelf, how to continue eating healthfully, and how to master basic gluten-free cooking techniques, such as cooking g-free pasta and rolling g-free dough. There are 175 simple recipes for everyday favorites like pancakes, pizza, fried chicken, sandwich bread, and cupcakes, with more than twenty-five beautiful recipe photos. Going gluten-free can be fun and delicious!

ABOUT CAROL: Carol Fenster is the author of 10 gluten-free cookbooks for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, including 100 Best Gluten-Free Recipes (Wiley, 2010—one of the Denver Post’s “2010 Best Cookbooks” and Natural Solutions magazine’s “Top 12 Cookbooks from 2010”) and the award-winning 1,000 Gluten-Free Recipes (Wiley, 2008). Her 10th cookbook,125 Gluten-Free Vegetarian Recipes (Avery/Penguin Group) published in July, 2011, is available wherever books are sold.

She was recently inducted into the invitation-only Les Dames d’ Escoffier and taught gluten-free cooking classes at the famed Rancho La Puerta Spa and Resort in Mexico. She offers a weekly gluten-free online cookbook at www.GfreeCuisine.com. She develops the gluten-free products for industry leader Bob’s Red Mill and appears on PBS, the Health Network as well as many radio, newspaper, and web sites. She is a spokesperson for the United Sorghum Checkoff and has been a guest speaker at the American Dietetic Association, Canadian Dietetic Association, International Association of Culinary Professionals, Whole Grains Council, Disney, National Product Expo, FoodEX in Tokyo, and the Institute for Biophysics and Genetics in Italy.

She is the former associate food editor at Living Without magazine, and her articles, recipes, quotes, photos, and reviews of her books appear in USA Today, Saturday Evening Post, Reader’s Digest, New York Times, Washington Post, Woman’s World, Vegetarian Times, Delicious Living, Today’s Dietitian, Living Without, Gluten-Free Living, Energy Times, Better Nutrition, Taste for Life, Women’s Health, Yoga Journal, and Edible Front Range. She is a member of the Gluten Intolerance Group, Celiac Disease Foundation, and American Celiac Disease Alliance.


ELIZABETH SHATNER – ARTIST, ART IN BLOOM 2014

Art in Bloom will be at the University of Kentucky Art Museum on Feb 21,22 and 23. Art in Bloom is an annual fundraiser event that celebrates the tradition of floral works in art. Floral designers create 50 unique floral arrangements inspired by 50 of the art pieces in the museum. The fundraising weekend includes dinners, performances, cocktail parties and auctions to raise funds for the Museum's educational programs.

For the past 13 years, the Museum has chosen a painter to be the Signature Artist, whose work represents the theme of that year's show. 2014 is the first year that they have chosen to feature a photographer (Elizabeth Shatner) as the Signature Artist. Her piece, "Crystal Light 5" (see attached) , a photo of a dried orchid bloom that uses only 100% natural light, is on the press and promotional material for the show.

Elizabeth has two special pieces showing next weekend. One is a large canvas print of Crystal Light 5, which she has donated to the Museum and will be auctioned off live on Friday night to raise funds for the museum. he second is a special installation: An 11-foot-tall digital projection of Crystal Light. Viewers can walk into the projection and become part of the piece itself, creating a new, custom piece that is as unique as they are. Also, the two pieces complement each other, as one allows the viewer to experience the power of viewing an image as an object with reflected light (the canvas), and then experience viewing the same image as intangible projected light.

As an added treat, couture fashion designer Maui Crane will be designing custom gowns based off of Elizabeth's pieces and they will be worn by models during fashion show during Saturday night's "night on the Town" fundraiser cocktail party (see attached).

Elizabeth will be holding a "Meet the Artist" meet and greet on Saturday afternoon from 1:30-3. Museum visitors can meet Elizabeth Shatner at the UK Art Museum in the Singletary Center from 1:30-3 on Saturday for informal discussions about art, photography, and the inspirations for her works.

Elizabeth's Crystal Light 5 pieces will be interpreted as a floral arrangement by Clifton Smith of Lexington, KY.

More information about the event and a link to buy tickets to Saturday night's Night on the Town Cocktail party, visit Elizabeth's art website: ElizabethShatnerArt.com/news 

2/13 KAREN MACNEIL, CAB FEST NAPA VALLEY

KAREN MACNEIL - AUTHOR, JOURNALIST, WINE EDUCATOR & CONSULTANT - CAB FEST NAPA VALLEY

The Stars Align for CabFestNV the Napa Valley’s First Festival Devoted Exclusively to Cabernet Sauvignon!

Jeff Bridges, famed Oscar-winning actor, singer and songwriter, is set to headline the CabFestNV Festival Kickoff Concert on Friday, February 28 at the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater in Yountville, California. CabFestNV, set for Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 2, is the first festival devoted exclusively to Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This spectacular three-day wine weekend will be filled with great Cabernet, keynote presentations by Karen MacNeil, bestselling author of “The Wine Bible,” educational seminars by The Culinary Institute of America, informative panels, exceptional food by noted Chef Cindy Pawlcyn, special perks and surprises, a VIP-exclusive “Cigars & Guitars” post-concert party, and world-class entertainment.

CabFestNV is a three-day celebration featuring more than 100 of the biggest names in the wine industry, as well as the best boutique wineries. Through current and library wine tasting, interesting and informative panels, educational and interactive seminars and keynote presentations, CabFestNV will spotlight the many facets of Cabernet Sauvignon’s complexity and mystique. But there is much more to CabFestNV than just enhancing the appreciation and appeal of Cabernet Sauvignon. CabFestNV is out to also prove that seriously good wine needn’t take itself too seriously… which means the weekend will also be laced with great music from rock to classical, plus VIP events and fun festivities.

The entertainment begins with Jeff Bridges & The Abiders performing a lively mix of country-rock music at the Festival Kickoff Concert on Friday, February 28. Jeff Bridges’ talented daughter Jessie Bridges will open the concert, as well as perform a solo set at the exclusive “Cigars & Guitars” after-party. The VIP after-party, only open to All-Access Ticket holders, will also feature a rare guitar exhibit co-sponsored by the Napa Valley Museum, Cigar Aficionado Magazine’s cigar-sampling tent, great fortified wines and library Cabernets, and a “meet and greet” with Jeff Bridges. The entertainment continues throughout the weekend, including the Saturday night Wine Industry Insiders “Meet-Up & Concert” starring The Silverado Pickups, a very popular “winemaker / musician” band.  This special concert is open to the public for just $10.

CabFestNV will feature more than 100 of Napa Valley’s exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon producers, representing both the enduring tastemakers and the hottest boutiques. A sneak peek at participating vintners reveals that highly sought Cabernet producers such as Silver Oak Cellars, CADE Estate Winery, Gargiulo Vineyards, Crocker & Starr, Trefethen Family Vineyards, Antica Napa Valley, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard and Winery, Rocca Family Vineyards, Merryvale Vineyards, Freemark Abbey Winery, Girard Winery and Peju Province Winery are set to participate.

A highlight of the fully-integrated weekend of current and library wine tastings, seminars and panels will be international wine expert and “The Wine Bible” author Karen MacNeil’s interesting and entertaining keynote presentations “What Makes Great Cabernet Sauvignon Great” and “Cab on the Couch” (relaxed and spontaneous conversations with the people behind Napa Valley’s legendary Cabernet).

All CabFestNV ticketholders are invited to complimentary wine tasting receptions during the day on Friday at ten participating wineries by driving the “CabFestNV Kickoff Tasting Circuit,” allowing attendees to sample Napa Valley’s great Cabernet wines at their source.

Ticket prices and packages (available online at www.lincolntheater.org or by calling 707-944-9900)

To get 20% off Two Day and Single Day Grand Tasting Passes...just use the code insider20 at checkout! This code expires on February 17th.

ABOUT KAREN: Karen MacNeil is an American author, journalist, wine educator and consultant based in Napa Valley, and the only person to have won every major wine award in the English language. MacNeil is also the creator and chairman of the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena.

MacNeil has published The Wine Bible, a book 10 years in the making,[2][4] and was the host of a 13-episode PBS series titled Wine, Food and Friends with Karen MacNeil, for which she won an Emmy. The show was done in tandem with the publication of a companion book, Wine, Food & Friends. MacNeil was also wine correspondent on NBC's The Today Show, has published articles in a wide range of publications, and works as a private wine education consultant.

2/12 LARRY LIPSON, COSTA RICA, JOHN STONEHILL, CHECK THEIR FRIDGE

LARRY LIPSON - COSTA RICA WINE REPORT   

For fifty years Larry Lipson was the food critic for the Los Angeles Daily News and now reports from Costa Rica weekly with his thoughts and favorite picks for Food & Wine.  His lovely Wife Lillian is also on hand at the Lipson Institute for advanced wine studies. 


JOHN STONEHILL - REFRIGERATOR DATING EXPERT, WHAT DOES YOUR FRIDGE SAY ABOUT YOU?

What does your fridge say about you? ChecktheirFridge.com offers advice by checking your date's refrigerator! After living the single life for over twenty years, John Stonehill knew one thing: checking his date’s refrigerator revealed great insight into the kind of person he was going out with.  So John created Check Their Fridge, a dating advice site that picks up where the others leave off.

John is the world’s first RDE: Refrigerator Dating Expert.  Though dating is not an exact science, a fridge can tell us a great deal about a person, from their health to lifestyle, income to the kind of romantic partner they’ll be.  (Mom was right: we are what we eat)

 Check Their Fridge’s premise is that for everything you need to know about your date, all you need to do is, well, check their fridge.  It’s something John believes we can all relate to.  We’ve all had dates and we all have refrigerators. Though John married last summer, he has been the go-to dating Yoda of his inner circle for years.  With the instant buzz sparked by CheckTheirFridge.com, word has gotten out, and demand for John’s insight has been immediate.

With a fresh, common sense approach to dating, and advice that goes well beyond the fridge, John has already appeared on ABC News in NY, the Fox morning shows in Sacramento, Seattle, KC and DC, The Chew, The Bender, Thought Catalog, DatingAdvice.com, Taxi TV, D Magazine and over a dozen radio shows.

www.CheckTheirFridge.com

2/11 THE GRAZIANO SISTERS, HOW TO USE A MEAT CLEAVER: SECRETS AND RECIPES FROM A MOB FAMILY'S KITCHEN, KATHLEEN INMAN, INMAN FAMILY WINES

THE GRAZIANO SISTERS - MOB WIVES COOKBOOK, HOW TO USE A MEAT CLEAVER: SECRETS AND RECIPES FROM A MOB FAMILY'S KITCHEN

“Mob Wives," the reality TV series that follows the lives of four women affiliated with the Mob, has quickly risen to become the #1 show on VH1 and has inspired multiple spinoffs. The show's creator, Jennifer Graziano, one of its stars, Renee Graziano, and their restaurateur sister Lana Graziano, have joined together to create a stunning full color cookbook. Interviews and recipe excerpts from the book are available in time for Valentine’s Day (think: lobster arabiatta, Sicillian rice balls, tiramisu).

In How to Use a Meat Cleaver: Secrets and Recipes from a Mob Family's Kitchen (February 4, 2014) the Graziano sisters share 100 of their favorite and most coveted family recipes. They also share never-before-heard stories and anecdotes from inside the most famous mob family of our day (like how to sneak meatballs to family members in prison). For these women, there is nothing more important than family. And at the heart of every family—especially every Italian family—is food.

Jennifer Graziano is the creator and Executive Producer of "Mob Wives," the #1 show on VH1 for two seasons running, with two more seasons on the way. She also produces “Big Ang” and “Mob Wives Chicago” in partnership with Harvey Weinstein.

Renee Graziano is the star of "Mob Wives" and perhaps the show’s most compelling character. She is divorced from Hector Pagan, Jr., who was exposed as an FBI informant, and with whom she has a son, A.J. She’s been the subject of feature articles in People, US Weekly, and OK!, and appeared on The View, GMA, Extra, and many more.
Lana Graziano-Zancocchio is the oldest of the Graziano clan. She married John Zancocchio, brother in law to Hector “Junior” Pagan and member of the Bonanno crime family, in the 1980s. Now divorced, they still own and operate several restaurants. Lana’s also a close friend of Big Ang of "Mob Wives."


KATHLEEN INMAN - OWNER & WINEMAKER, INMAN FAMILY WINES 

Napa Valley native Kathleen Inman began Inman Family Wines in 2000 when she planted Olivet Grange Vineyard, the 10.45-acre parcel that she farms organically in the heart of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. Kathleen has always been passionate about environmental issues. When she began making her wines, it provided an opportunity for her to meld her passion for Pinot Noir and what she calls her “eco-ethics”–sensitive farming, natural winemaking and environmentally responsible business practices.

Since Kathleen’s first small vintage in 2002 she has been an ardent supporter of non-interventional winemaking practices, ignoring the critically acclaimed riper style and leading the movement towards more subtle, nuanced wines with a sense of place. Kathleen’s elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are naturally low in alcohol, high in acid and food-friendly. She was the first to launch a new California luxury brand using all Stelvin closures. Another first came in 2010 when she opened the new Inman Winery, which is made almost entirely from recycled materials, with the first privately owned, publically available electric vehicle charging station in the North Bay; it is connected directly to the winery’s solar array which powers 100% of the winery and vineyard.
Kathleen is a member of the American Society of Viticulture and Enology and serves on the Board of Directors of Wine Road. In 2011 she was awarded the Best Practices Award from the Business Environmental Alliance of Sonoma County Award, and in 2012, she was awarded the Rising Star Winemaker Award by Women for WineSense.

FOR THE LOVE OF PINOT

Don’t miss the day to share your passion for Pinot. Spoil that special someone - or yourself with Inman wines! Our love lasts, so even if weather restricts the shipment of wine* where you live, we will hold it for you until it is safe to ship. Buy a mixed case of any of our wines and receive a 10% discount!

2013 Endless Crush Rosé of Pinot Noir $25
2012 Brut Rosé $56
2011 Thorn Ridge Ranch Pinot Noir $68

Planning a romantic dinner an need some suggestions? Try any or all of these seductive food pairings. (Did we also mention fast and easy too!) Pair our 2012 Brut Rosé with Beet Risotto or with the 2013 Endless Crush Rosé why not try some Scallops in a Saffron Sauce.  A simply seared duck breast is always a fabulous pairing with our Pinot Noir. Before cooking try rubbing ground cinnamon on the meat side of the breast and then on the fat side, score it slightly and rub in sea salt. Simple yet delicious - especially with Thorn Ridge Pinot Noir!

www.inmanfamilywines.com

2/10 FRANK PELLEGRINO JR., RAO’S RESTAURANT, DON VAN STAAVEREN, THREE STICKS WINES

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

Being a restaurateur, let alone a successful one, has never been easy, even when you’ve got a legendary restaurant such as Rao's in New York in your arsenal. Frank Pellegrino, Jr., co-owner of the original Rao's in Harlem and Rao’s at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, however knows that a successful restaurant is made by making guests feel like they’re part of the family.

"Frankie" as he is known to Rao's regulars, grew up helping his father and family at the restaurant – waiting tables, cooking, managing the restaurant – basically learning the family business, even though his father, Frank Sr. attempted to talk him out of it.

The fourth generation owner of Rao's, Pellegrino attended Connecticut State University on a wrestling scholarship; where he studied graphic design and eventually went on to open his own advertising agency in New York. The restaurant business never left his blood, as he continued to work at the restaurant nights. Frank, however, knew that this was his legacy and where he belonged, ultimately returning to work at Rao's full-time.

In 2000 he opened Baldoria in New York's tony Theater District, a 200 seat restaurant that managed to still carry off the intimate ambience, and stellar Italian cuisine of Rao's, except at Baldoria, people eventually would be able to get a reservation. Pellegrino then decided to bring his talents to Las Vegas to open the second outpost of Rao's.

Pellegrino moved to Las Vegas to open Rao's at Caesars Palace in 2006, and has since brought the same Southern Italian fare and sense of family and camaraderie that one used to only be able to get if they had their standing reservation at the original Rao's. He can be found not only greeting guests, but floating from table to table, ensuring that the Las Vegas experience is the same warm, familiar and inviting one they'd feel in New York.

In 2012, Pellegrino released Rao's On the Grill (St. Martin’s Press), which is full of signature Rao’s dishes and new creations from "Uncle Vincent's Lemon Chicken," to pastas, salads and even desserts, this book is a must-have for anyone with a passion for cooking or dining al fresco.

www.raos.com

DON VAN STAAVEREN – WINEMAKER, THREE STICKS WINES                

The son of Dutch immigrants, winemaker Don Van Staaveren grew up living and working on dairy farms in California’s Central Valley. Vowing to leave cows behind him, he studied fruit science at California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo, with a specialty in orchards and vineyards. He worked first for Gallo, then for Frank Bartholomew of Buena Vista Vineyards, managing vineyards and a citrus grove on his Sonoma property. 

“But I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I’d be a winemaker,” he says. 

This is hard to believe coming from the man widely thought to be responsible for bringing international attention to Sonoma winemaking when his 1996 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages was the first Sonoma wine to receive Wine Spectator’s “Wine of the Year” accolade. Modesty, however, is chief among Van Staaveren’s qualities, along with the calm, steady demeanor shared by surfers and farmers (of which he is both), and an unrelenting curiosity—what he calls his love of “tinkering”—that drives his commitment to create ever better wines. 

Van Staavaren fell in love with Pinot Noir early in his vineyard days: while at Buena Vista, he joined a post-harvest celebration where someone had opened a bottle of 1947 Chambertin. “And I was transported,” says Van Staaveren. “It was definitely an ‘aha’ moment, and I’ve been hooked on Pinot Noir ever since,” he adds. 

In 1976, Van Staaveren left Buena Vista for a job as a crush temp at Chateau St. Jean’s new winery facilities in Kenwood. Dick Arrowood, the owner and winemaker, known for being a taskmaster and perfectionist, liked Van Staaveren’s work ethic. It wasn’t long before the young temp was working his way up the ranks in the cellar and in 1985, he was promoted to winemaker. Around that time, Van Staaveren, who had long been a fan of Burgundian wines, began experimenting with eschewing crushing grapes in favor of whole berry fermentations. 

“When I became winemaker, I really wanted to look for gentler ways to handle grapes,” he says. He explains that in 1990, following the winery’s purchase of a new de-stemmer, designed to remove berries from the stem and then drop them in the crusher rollers, he decided to remove the rollers. The idea was unheard of at the time. “I didn’t want any macerated grapes,” he says. 

The critical acclaim showered upon Chateau St. Jean—including the first ever winery to have five wines featured in Wine Spectator’s annual Top 100—came in the vintages that followed Van Staaveren’s introduction of gentler winemaking practices, including “crush-less” pressing and gravity-fed operations. 

While at Chateau St. Jean, Van Staaveren met Bill Price III following Texas Pacific Group’s purchase of the winery from Suntory in 1996. The two would get together a few times a year to taste wines, even after Van Staaveren left St. Jean to work at what would later become Artesa. They also both share a love of surfing, which is evident in the numerous surfboards and wet suits gracing the walls of the Three Sticks winery. In 2004, after what Van Staavaren jokes was an “eight-year job interview,” Price asked Van Staaveren to become winemaker for Three Sticks Wines. 

In his free time, Van Staaveren surfs the waters off the Sonoma Coast, and creates special cookie recipes for each new release from Three Sticks. He’s also a fan of woodworking, and is at work on a surfboard made from the stalks of an agave plant. He enjoys spending time in the garden and the kitchen with his wife, Margo Van Staaveren, whom he met at Chateau St. Jean in 1980 and who continues to work there as winemaker. They have two grown children, and live in rural Sonoma County. 

www.threestickswines.com

2/7 MAKANA, WENDY EACHUS, MADERA VINTNERS ASSOCIATION, STEVE EVANS

MAKANA – AWARD WINNING MUSICIAN 

Makana, born Matthew Swalinkavich, is an award-winning slack-key guitar player, singer, and composer. Born and raised in Hawai'i, his guitar playing has been featured on three Grammy-nominated albums, including the soundtrack of the Academy-Award winning film "The Descendants", starring George Clooney. In 2008, he was second runner up in Guitar Player Magazine's Guitar Superstar competition eliciting praise from judgesSteve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Elliot Easton. In 2012, he was awarded one of Hawaii's top musical honors: a Na Hoku Ki Ho'alu (Slack Key) Legacy Award (Hawai‘i’s “Grammy”) by the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts.

On November 12, 2011, Makana, who had performed previously at the White House, turned a gig performing at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation dinner in Honolulu, attended by President Barack Obama and the leaders of 18 other nations, into a political protest by opening his suit jacket to reveal a t-shirt reading "Occupy With Aloha" and singing his song, "We Are the Many," for 45 minutes, in support of the Occupy movement. Rolling Stone Magazine went on to call "We Are the Many" the "anthem of the Occupy movement."

Makana began singing when he was seven years old, took up 'ukulele at nine and began learning the indigenous art of slack key guitar at eleven. A protégé of slack key guitar legends, including Bobby Moderow Jr. and the late master Uncle Sonny Chillingworth, Makana has dedicated his life to perpetuating as well as evolving the traditional Hawaiian art form of slack key guitar. From this tradition, Makana has evolved his own dynamic, high-octane style, coined "Slack Rock": slack key infused with elements of bluegrass, rock, blues and raga. Makana's playing has garnered praise from such guitar luminaries as Kirk Hammett (Metallica) and Pepe Romero(Spanish Flamenco Master).

His debut album “Makana” was released in 1999; it won the Best World Music Album Award at the Hawai’i Music Awards. It was followed by “Koi Au” in 2002 (“A landmark musical statement” – Star Bulletin) and “Ki Ho’alu: Journey of Hawaiian Slack Key” in 2003. Soon thereafter Makana contributed to the Grammy-nominated albums “Hawaiian Slack Key Kings I & II”. In 2008, his first all-original release “Different Game” came out and in 2009 he released a 20th anniversary slack key guitar instrumental compilation, “Venus, and the Sky Turns to Clay”.

His latest album Ripe was released in 2013 and funded by fans through the online crowd sourcing platformKickstarter. It was produced by multi-platinum producer Ron Nevison (The Who, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones) and renowned producer Mitchell Froom (Crowded House, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt), with arrangements by Grammy-award winning keyboardist, composer, and arranger Jeff Bova (Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton).

Makana has toured with or opened for acts such as Jason Mraz, Santana, Elvis Costello, Paul Rodgers, Sting,No Doubt, Jack Johnson, Chris Isaak, John Legend and more.


WENDY EACHUS - EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR, MADERA VINTNERS ASSOCIATION - MADERA WINE TRAIL - WINE AND CHOCOLATE WEEKEND  

Madera Wine Trail Presents - “Wine & Chocolate Weekend” February 8 & 9 10am-5pm - Tickets Available In Advance for $25 or the Weekend of the Event for $30!

Do something unique this year for Valentine’s Day and enjoy an extraordinary wine tasting experience on Wine & Chocolate Weekend. The family wineries of The Madera Wine Trail will host this two-day wine tasting event on February 8 through 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Travel to ten wineries and taste a wide variety of award-winning wines, chocolate pairings, enjoy live music, gift shopping and indulge in gourmet food. Wine Trail Weekend is the perfect time for visitors to experience Madera’s rich wine heritage and unique family wineries! Whether you’re new to wine or a connoisseur, there is something for everyone on the Wine Trail.
Wine is always a special gift for family and friends. Plan to taste and take home award-winning wines! Participating wineries will have a large selection of excellent wines to choose from and many will have special pricing on Wine & Chocolate Weekend.

To enhance the wine tasting experience of our guests, no large capacity tour buses (30+ person capacity) will be allowed at any participating winery on Wine & Chocolate Weekend. The Madera Wine Trail encourages safe driving through the use of designated drivers, limousines and shuttles. Designated Drivers are free of charge and can pick up a VIP kit at their first stop on the Trail.

 www.MaderaWineTrail.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.

2/6 Camron King, Lodi's Wine & Chocolate, Keith Bellows, Where the Locals Go, National Geographic

Camron King - Executive Director, Lodi's Wine & Chocolate: A Weekend of Ultimate Indulgence

Treat your sweetheart and yourself to a tantalizing weekend of indulgence during the 17th Annual Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend, set for February 8th & 9th, from 11AM to 4PM both days!  Your senses will be delighted as you sip delicious, handcrafted wines paired with decadent chocolate treats at over 50 Lodi Appellation wineries. Here's a little taste of what our wineries have in store for you.

Tickets are $45 in advance and $55 the day of the event and include an event wine glass, a chocolate treat provided by Brix Chocolate, wine tasting and admission to all participating wineries. Tickets are valid both Saturday and Sunday. There is no charge for Designated Drivers.

ABOUT CAMRON KING - Camron King is Executive Director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission, overseeing all of the commission’s marketing, promotion, strategic planning and branding efforts, as well as constituent relations. He also serves as the primary spokesperson for the Lodi wine industry. In addition to his work for the Lodi Winegrape Commission, Camron King serves on the Program Development Committee for the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium, as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Grape and Wine Initiative, and contributes his expertise and knowledge to a number of other organizations.

King has served the wine industry for over a decade, working as the Vice President of State Government Relations for the California Association of Winegrape Growers, and serving as a public policy representative and spokesperson for the statewide winegrowing industry. King attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California State University, Sacramento studying Environmental Horticulture and Public Policy and Administration, respectively. King also volunteers with a national cancer focused non-profit organization and has served on the National Consumer Taskforce on Genetic Testing. Living in Elk Grove, California with his wife Alicia and their two children, King enjoys photography, travel and wine.

lodiwineandchocolate.com 


Keith Bellows - Editor In Chief of Where the Locals Go - National Geographic’s Latest Release

Editor In Chief Keith Bellows and Team Explore the Path Less Traveled In National Geographic’s Latest Release Where the Locals Go! More than 300 Places Around the World to Eat, Play, Shop, Celebrate, and Relax

For travelers craving authentic experiences, not just any travel guide will do. In February, National Geographic offers adventurers a new book: WHERE THE LOCALS GO: More than 300 Places Around the World to Eat, Play, Shop, Celebrate, and Relax, which goes beyond overcrowded tourist destinations to share local cultures and customs from around the world for travelers seeking a rewarding and memorable experience.

WHERE THE LOCALS GO suggests restaurants, markets, festivals and events beloved by residents of the featured towns and cities. Those looking for the best local specialty — the finest cowboy boots in San Antonio or the most authentic dim sum in Hong Kong — will find the go-to spots from those in the know.

Keith Bellows is the senior vice president and editor in chief, National Geographic Travel Media. Under his stewardship, the magazine has been nominated for two National Magazine Awards, won more than 60 Lowell Thomas Awards for best travel writing (it has been named best magazine eight of his 12 years), and seven Folio Awards for Best Travel Magazine. Traveler has won an iTunes People's Choice Award for Best Podcast of 2006, for which Bellows wrote two scripts. Its “Intelligent Travel” won a 2007 Travvie and a 2009 Lonely Planet Award as best travel blog. He has written for Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Parenting, AARP, and many other magazines. He also wrote “The Canuck Book” and the 1998 Winter Olympics ACCESS Guide for ABC-TV. He is a graduate of Gordonstoun School (Scotland) and Dartmouth College. He lectures extensively around the world (and is part of the National Geographic Speakers Bureau), and his more than 200 television appearances include the “TODAY” show, “Good Morning America” and a regular segment on “National Geographic Today.”

2/5 INGRID HOFFMANN, LARRY LIPSON

INGRID HOFFMANN - CELEBRITY CHEF SHARES EASY & DELICIOUS RECIPE IDEAS & TIPS TO KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY

Cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States.  In addition to a healthy lifestyle and exercise, little steps like easy ingredient swaps when cooking, can be the key to a healthy heart.   To kick-off American Heart month, celebrity chef and author Ingrid Hoffmann is on hand to provide simple and delicious ways to be kind to your heart. She is a big believer that eating healthy and taking good cardiovascular care doesn’t have to be boring – it can be delicioso!  She is available on Wednesday, February 5 for live interviews to share cooking and prep tips on how to make your meals more heart healthy. In addition, Ingrid will debut an easy, heart healthy recipe that will delight the whole family and share information on new research about cooking and corn oil.

Ingrid Hoffmann professional eater and host of Simply Delicioso (Cooking Channel) and Delicioso (Univision), is passionate about food and entertaining and spends each day sharing her enthusiasm and talent with an international audience. In 2010, Ingrid partnered with Spanish media giant, Univision, to take her Delicioso brand to a new level. Hoffmann and Delicioso are featured in a range of cooking segments and capsules across Univision Networks, including popular morning show “Despierta America” and daytime show “Hoy,” as well as an online/mobile platform with Univision Delicioso. Her latest book LATIN D’LITE: Delicious Latin Recipes with a Healthy Twist is available in bookstores nationwide in both English and Spanish.

www.ingridhoffmann.com


LARRY LIPSON - COSTA RICA WINE REPORT   

For fifty years Larry Lipson was the food critic for the Los Angeles Daily News and now reports from Costa Rica weekly with his thoughts and favorite picks for Food & Wine.  His lovely Wife Lillian is also on hand at the Lipson Institute for advanced wine studies. 

02/04 Andy Glaser, Purity Vodka, Chef Seren Bardwell, The Madonna Inn

ANDY GLASER - PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PURITY VODKA 

Purity® Vodka is the result of a long lasting quest to redefine vodka, bringing character to a spirit which by tradition is more one of image and style rather than substance. Daring to stand out from the crowded cluster of neutral, mainstream vodkas, Purity Vodka has not been made to please everyone. It is full-bodied, complex and loaded with character yet, smooth and sophisticated.

Combining heritage and innovation, Purity Vodka comes to life in a proprietary vodka still at the Purity Vodka Distillery at Ellinge Castle in the south of Sweden. Purity Vodka has developed a unique still system specifically for vodka production. During the thirty-four distillations, ninety percent of the liquid is lost. The remaining spirit is so refined that no filtration is necessary, leaving all the natural flavours and character in the vodka. Because taste does matter.

www.purityvodka.com


CHEF SEREN BARDWELL – THE MADONNA INN VALENTINES SPECIALS

As an international landmark destination, Madonna Inn redefines unique with 110 individually decorated guestrooms, each with a distinct theme and color, and ideally located near downtown San Luis Obispo and in the heart of Central Coast wine country. Enjoy resort-style amenities, including a beach-entry pool, two whirlpool spas, fitness room, tennis and basketball courts, horseback riding, hiking and biking, as well as, a luxurious Day Spa, world-class restaurants, fabulous shopping and the world-famous Madonna Inn Bakery.

Click here for the Perfect Pairings Valentine’s Dinner menu and other specials!

www.madonnainn.com

02/03 STEPHANIE IZARD, GIRL AND THE GOAT, DOUGLAS FLETCHER, THE TERLATO WINE GROUP

STEPHANIE IZARD – EXECUTIVE CHEF, GIRL AND THE GOAT

Stephanie Izard, James Beard “Best Chef: Great Lakes,” and Food & Wine “Best New Chef” is the Executive Chef/Partner of two Chicago restaurants, Girl & the Goat and Little Goat.
A 2011 James Beard “Best New Restaurant” nominee, Girl & the Goat has been praised by high-profile publications such as Saveur, New York Times, Food & Wine, Better Homes and Gardens and others. Little Goat, Stephanie’s highly successful follow-up to Girl & the Goat, encompasses a diner, coffee shop, bread shop and bar.  An outpost of Little Goat Bread opened at the Chicago French Market in Spring 2013.

Izard was the first woman to win Bravo’s Top Chef (Season 4/2008) and is the only winner of the original version of the show to take the title of “Fan Favorite.” Among other recent accolades, Stephanie was appointed to the Macy’s Culinary Council and was named celebrity chef of “CMT Artists of the Year.”

Stephanie is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the Scottsdale Culinary Institute and has worked in some of the most respected kitchens in Chicago including La Tache, Spring and Vong. She previously owned the highly-acclaimed restaurant Scylla, which she sold just prior to appearing on and winning season four of Bravo’s “Top Chef.”  Izard’s first book, “Girl in the Kitchen,” was released in the fall of 2011 (Chronicle). Izard also has a newly launched product line called "The Flavor, By Stephanie Izard," consisting of sauces and rubs available for purchase for the home cook.

www.stephanieizard.com 


DOUGLAS FLETCHER - VP OF WINEMAKING FOR THE TERLATO WINE GROUP

After 50 years in the wine industry, wine is still an inspiration for me. Every vintage brings an anticipation and excitement. After all, it’s a new birth.

When I discovered Pinot Grigio in Italy, I was taken by its fresh aromas, its crispness, freshness and the way it paired effortlessly with foods. It was virtually unknown when I brought it to the United States in 1979. Not surprisingly, an entire nation of wine drinkers embraced Pinot Grigio for the same reasons I did. Today Pinot Grigio is the most requested wine in fine restaurants, and Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is the quality leader for the varietal. The U.S. was introduced to a new wine, as well as a new level of quality from Italy. I still feel about it today the same way I did the first time I tasted it.

The Syrah from the Rhone Valley, dense, rich and aromatic, immediately captured my fascination as well. It was a wine that could stand alongside the best of another classic, Cabernet Sauvignon, because the taste profiles were similar: dense, rich and aromatic. We have fashioned our Syrah along those same lines.

Of course, like most wine lovers, I’ve had a lifelong love affair with Bordeaux, the aristocracy of red wines, a blend of classic varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Angels’ Peak is the first of three blends we will introduce.

When we decided to become vintners, our winemaking team found the right soil, and climate conditions that suited our needs. We planted some vineyards, bought others and Terlato Family Vineyards was born. It is small venture, but a sincere tribute to the wines and winemakers who have inspired us for decades.

My regard for these winemakers is as artists and dreamers. I know this is true because now as a winemaker myself. I want Terlato Family Vineyards to stand among the finest wines in the world, with those crafted by my friends.

About Doug Fletcher: A rarity among winemakers, Doug Fletcher is as comfortable in the vineyard as he is in the cellar. He has worked with Stags Leap District fruit for more than two decades and in the process has become a leader in growing and crafting wines from the District. Fletcher began his career as a winemaker in the mid 1970s. He arrived at Chimney Rock in 1987 and oversaw the replanting of the original estate vineyard, as well as 65 acres of additional plantings done under the Terlato Family’s leadership in 2001.

In 2006, Fletcher was appointed Vice President of Winemaking for the Terlato Wine Group. He oversees all aspects of winemaking at the Terlato properties - including Episode, Chimney Rock, Rutherford Hill and Terlato Family Vineyards in Napa Valley, Alderbrook and Terlato Family Vineyards in Sonoma and Sanford in Santa Barbara County. Additionally, Fletcher serves as a senior consultant to the Terlato Family's joint ventures throughout the world.

TerlatoVineyards.com