02/24 LARRY LIPSON, JENNA BUSH HAGER, DONALD FAISON, SCRUBS, NEW SNICKERS CRISPER

LARRY LIPSON – 
AFFORDABLE WINE REPORT 

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.




JENNA BUSH HAGER MOTHER OF TWO, NETWORK TV CORRESPONDENT  & DAUGHTER OF FORMER PRESIDENT BUSH  - SCHOOL BUS SAFETY TIPS

Find out why this Amazing Mom is working with the Propane Education & Research Council to Promote Alternative Fuels for School Bus Fleets

As a former teacher and mother of two, Jenna Bush Hager says the safety of children is always on her mind–especially during National School Bus Safety Week. That’s why the daughter of a former president and TV host has teamed up with the Propane Education & Research Council to raise awareness of how parents can improve safety on and around school buses. School buses have a great track record when it comes to safety. According to the National Association for Pupil Transportation, school buses are the safest mode of transportation to and from school. However, a bus stop on a busy morning can be a chaotic place. Jenna will provide a few basic guidelines parents can teach children so they stay safe every school day. You’ll also learn how the Council is partnering with journalists, Jenna and the nonprofit Adopt a Classroom to donate more than $25,000 to teachers at schools that are adopting propane buses. For more information on propane school buses, including bus safety tips for parents and kids courtesy of the National Association of Pupil Transportation, visit BetterOurBuses.com. To donate to teachers in your local community, visit AdoptAClassroom.org.

SOME SCHOOL BUS SAFETY TIPS FROM JENNA’S LIST:
• Teaching children to talk quietly, be courteous to the driver and always follow instructions
• How to teach kids to respect the curb space while waiting for a bus
• The benefits of powering buses by alternative fuels like propane

ABOUT JENNA BUSH HAGER :
Jenna Bush Hager is a Contributing Correspondent for NBC News’ “Today.”  Hager joined “Today” in September 2009 and covers a variety of human interest and feature stories.   Hager is a two-time New York Times bestselling author, and she serves as the Young Leadership Ambassador & Chair for UNICEF’s Next Generation committee, which aims to save, protect and improve the lives of children around the world.

Hager began her career as an elementary school teacher in 2005 in Washington, D.C.  Then, from September 2006 to May 2007, she embarked on an internship with UNICEF, which took her through Latin America and the Caribbean documenting the lives of children in need.  Before joining NBC News in 2009, Hager was a reading resource teacher at a public school in Baltimore, Maryland.  Jenna Bush Hager is a Contributing Correspondent for NBC News’ “Today.”  Hager joined “Today” in September 2009 and covers a variety of human interest and feature stories.
Based on her work with UNICEF, Hager’s first book, ANA'S STORY: A Journey of Hope, is both the true story of a 17-year-old single mother living with HIV in Latin America, and a call to action for kids of all ages to make a difference in the fight against poverty, abuse, and HIV/AIDS.  Since the book’s publication, Hager has given over 50 speeches at libraries, schools and bookstores across the country to share the inspirational story of Ana and raise awareness about programs that benefit children in need.

Hager's second book, READ ALL ABOUT IT!, is a picture book co-written with her mother, Mrs. Laura Bush.  The educational children’s book was inspired by Hager and her mother’s mutual love of reading and teaching.  Hager is an editor-at-large for Southern Living magazine and has also written articles for The New York Times and CosmoGIRL!  In 2011, Hager was honored as one of Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year alongside her mother and sister, Barbara. Hager graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2004 with a degree in English.

BETTEROURBUSES.COM 
WWW.QUITERSCHOOLBUSES.COM


TELEVISION AND SCREEN STAR DONALD FAISON BEST KNOWN FOR HIS CHARACTER DR. TURK ON SCRUBS TEAMS UP WITH NEW SNICKERS CRISPER TO DIAGNOSE “SELFIE SYMPTOMS”

Donald Faison Teams up with New Snickers Crisper to Diagnose “Selfie Symptoms” 

How much time do you spend choosing a filter? Did you pose correctly to capture the perfect lighting? And, what about that caption? Many elements are considered in the quest for the perfect selfie, only to be revisited when likes are lack-luster.

Here to help is television and screen star Donald Faison. Best known for his character Dr. Turk on Scrubs, Faison is taking on a new role with SNICKERS to diagnose fans’ selfie, or social hunger symptoms.  

ABOUT DONALD FAISON:
Donald Faison is best known for his starring role as Dr. Christopher Turk for nine years on the Emmy Award-nominated NBC hit series Scrubs. Faison has received six NAACP Image Award nominations for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series" and was awarded the "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series" award at the first annual BET Comedy Awards. Faison also was the lead in the ensemble TV Land's, The Exes, and hosted for the new TBS reality show, Last laugh from Ashton Kutcher's production company. Earlier credits include TV drama Felicity, Clueless, Party of Five and more. Faison is currently hosting the new GSN game show Winsanity.

02/23 CHEF MICHAEL SYMON, OSCAR AWARDS VIEWING PARTY TIPS, LUIS GUZMAN, CBS DRAMA, CODE BLACK, BARBARA HANNAH GRUFFERMAN, THE BEST OF EVERYTHING AFTER 50, #STITCHAHUG FOR RED CROSS DISASTER RELIEF

CO-HOST OF THE CHEW, RESTAURANTEUR AND COOKBOOK AUTHOR OF FIVE IN FIVE CELEBRITY CHEF MICHAEL SYMON - RECIPES & TIPS FOR AN OSCAR AWARDS VIEWING PARTY 

AWARDS SEASON APPETIZERS - HOW TO CREATE A CHEESE BOARD & CROSTINI FOR AN OSCAR AWARDS VIEWING PARTY 

Awards season is here, and the 2016 Academy Awards are almost upon us! A popular new trend is hosting an Oscar party – planning something fancy and over-the-top to share with friends and family. Here to help make your awards show parties extraordinary is Chef Michael Symon; best known as the fun-loving super chef you see each day on national cooking shows.
 Chef Symon has won many awards in his own right, including a DAYTIME EMMY and the James Beard Award. On February 19, just in time to plan your own Oscar Party, Chef Symon will share his suggestions for creating an award-winning cheese board and crostini. The Academy Awards are February 28 on ABC.

ABOUT MICHAEL SYMON - CHEF/OWNER OF LOLA, LOLITA, ROAST AND B SPOT
Chef Michael Symon cooks with soul.  Growing up in a Greek and Sicilian family, the Cleveland native creates boldly-flavored, deeply satisfying dishes at his four restaurants in America’s heartland: Lola, Lolita, Roast and B Spot.  He also shares his exuberant, approachable cooking style and infectious laugh with viewers as an Iron Chef on the Food Network.

In 2009, Michael earned The James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef Great Lakes Region and in 2000 Gourmet magazine chose Lola as one of “America’s Best Restaurants.”

In 2010, Michael appeared on four Food Network/Cooking Channel shows, hosting Food Feuds and Cook Like an Iron Chef, judging season three of The Next Iron Chef and competing on Iron Chef America.

Michael published his first cookbook, Michael Symon’s Live to Cook – Recipes and Techniques to Rock Your Kitchen, in 2009, sharing home cook-friendly recipes that draw on the flavors of his heritage.

When he’s not working, Michael is riding his motorcycle through Cleveland, cooking at home, playing golf, thinking about his next tattoo, gardening in the backyard and spending time with his wife, Liz, and their bullmastiff, Ruby, and Old English bulldog, Ozzy.


ACTOR LUIS GUZMAN – PLAYS JESSE SALLANDER ON THE CBS DRAMA, CODE BLACK

The first season finale of CODE BLACK airs on CBS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 10:00-11:00 PM ET/PT.

CODE BLACK is a heart-pounding medical drama that takes place in the busiest, most notorious ER in the nation, where the staggering influx of patients can outweigh the limited resources available to the extraordinary doctors and nurses whose job is to treat them all – creating a condition known as Code Black. At the heart of the ER’s controlled chaos is Residency Director Dr. Leanne Rorish, renowned for successfully performing high-risk procedures in Center Stage, the trauma area reserved for the most critical cases. Her four new first-year residents are Christa Lorenson, Malaya Pineda, Mario Savetti and Angus Leighton. Leanne’s confidante, Jesse Sallander, is an amiable seen-it-all senior nurse who manages the residents. Also working in the ER is Dr. Neal Hudson, an excellent physician who sometimes disagrees with Leanne’s “cowboy” approach, and Dr. Rollie Guthrie, the energetic, longest-serving attending. In Center Stage, life is measured in seconds, and these heroic doctors and nurses operate with speed and skill within an overwhelmed system to treat the crowds of people who are often there for one of two reasons: to die or to receive a life-saving miracle.

ON THE FIRST SEASON FINALE OF “CODE BLACK,” WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24…MARIO CONFRONTS ANGUS ABOUT HIS ADDERALL ABUSE AND CHRISTA IS SURPRISED TO LEARN HOW ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED NEAL AND GRACE WERE BEFORE SHE LEFT FOR HAITI

 “Blood Sport” – Mario confronts Angus about his Adderall abuse and Christa is surprised to learn how romantically involved Neal and Grace were before she left for Haiti. Also, Dr. Mark Taylor (Kevin Dunn) returns to help Leanne find the money in their budget to keep Jesse and the nurses from walking out, on the first season finale of CODE BLACK,Wednesday, Feb. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

WWW.CBS.COM/SHOWS/CODE-BLACK


BARBARA HANNAH GRUFFERMAN - AUTHOR OF: THE BEST OF EVERYTHING AFTER 50, EXPLAINS HOW PEOPLE CAN OPEN THEIR HEARTS DURING HEART MONTH - FIND OUT ABOUT A SPECIAL CAMPAIGN TO: #STITCHAHUG FOR RED CROSS DISASTER RELIEF

Red Heart partners with Red Cross for #StitchAHug initiative - America’s Favorite Yarn campaign to benefit Red Cross disaster response 

Barbara Hannah Grufferman, Author ofThe Best of Everything After 50,  Explains How People Can Open their Hearts During Heart Month

We see it in the news every day. Natural disasters destroy property and lives, displacing people from their homes and devastating families. Massive floods in Texas and South Carolina are two of the most recent examples of such catastrophes, but there are many more. In fact, last year alone there were more than 176 large disasters in the U.S. for which the Red Cross provided help, hope and shelter to disaster survivors.

Now, just in time for Heart Month, Red Heart yarns—an American Red Cross Disaster Responder Program member and partner—will show people how to open their hearts by introducing the #StitchAHug Campaign to benefit disaster relief and recovery. On February 23rd, author and positive living expert Barbara Hannah Grufferman will share some timely information about how yarn crafters can help support the mission of the Red Cross by doing what they already do—knit and crochet. Barbara is the author ofThe Best of Everything After 50: The Experts' Guide to Style, Sex, Health, Money, and More. She will explain how your audience can join Red Heart yarns #StitchAHug campaign to ensure that the American Red Cross has the resources to help when the next disaster strikes.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

• Since WWI, knitters have crafted and contributed to the American Red Cross
• Research indicates knitting and crocheting have considerable heart health benefits, such as stress reduction
• How to join  Red Heart yarns #StitchAHug campaign to support Red Cross Disaster Relief
• About how Red Heart yarns, through the Disaster Responder Program along with this campaign, is committed to having a positive impact on individuals and families affected by disasters of all sizes wherever and whenever they strike

Grufferman lives in New York City with her husband and two teenaged daughters. She has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America Health, and numerous radio and internet programs. She also gives presentations promoting the ideas and concepts in her book, including topics related to positive aging.

REDCROSS.ORG 

02/22 JEAN-CHARLES BOISSET, JCB, VOJTECH KACEROVSKY, CZECHTOURISM

JEAN-CHARLES BOISSET – JCB BY JEAN-CHARLES BOISSET BRINGS A NEW LUXURY WINE & CULINARY EXPERIENCE TO YOUNTVILLE WITH THE OPENING OF THE JCB TASTING SALON AND ATELIER BY JCB

Yountville, CA. (February 13, 2016) - JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset today unveiled the JCB Tasting Salon, a wine tasting and luxury lifestyle retail destination, and Atelier by JCB, a gourmet epicerie that offers a curated assortment of gourmet culinary delights in the epicurean heart of the Napa Valley in Yountville.  The JCB Tasting Salon encompasses the unique JCB approach that unites exclusive NapaValley and French wines, luxury, style and retail items curated and created by Proprietor Jean-Charles Boisset.  It is a vibrant, luxurious and uniquely designed tasting room that reflects and embraces the art of living elegantly.  

The JCB collection of NapaValley wines is featured in three distinctive flights: the Premium Collection ($30), the JCB Touch Interactive tasting at the digital touch table ($40), and The Surrealist flight ($50).  With signature style, the JCB Tasting Salon is an immersive experiential discovery.  It includes a first-of-its-kind interactive wine tasting experience at a digital touch table created exclusively for the tasting salon by Ideum, as well as wine preserved and served from Napa Technology wines stations, and the Surrealist Boutique, featuring Jean-Charles’s personally-designed jewelry and Surrealist wines.  The Surrealist Boutique includes an intimate tasting experience, inspired by the jewelry-adorned Surrealist wine, in a private lounge where wine tasting occurs atop a glass bar that showcases the JCB collection of jewelry. The Surrealist wine and the vessel in which the elixir is held is a piece of art and the inspiration for the Surrealist Boutique at the JCB Tasting Salon.

The JCB Tasting Salon features signature pieces designed by Boisset, as well as a retail boutique that showcases the finest luxury goods producers from around the world, including products such as JCB’s custom-designed jewelry collection, candles, perfumes, in addition to a collection of luxury goods Maisons: Lalique (crystal), Baccarat (crystal), Christofle (silver), Bernardaud (porcelain), to name a few, and books from Taschen, Assouline, Rizzoli, Abrams and Chronicle Books.

Boisset is also launching into the world of gastronomy with the unveiling of Atelier by JCB, a gourmet epicerie adjacent to the JCB Tasting Salon that offers a curated assortment of gourmet delicacies.  These are an elegantly presented collection of products sourced locally in Napa and Sonoma alongside discoveries from the best international producers from France, Italy, Spain and more. It includes: salts, peppers and spices, mustards, honey, olive oil and vinegar from Boisset’s winery estates, smoked salmon, caviar, anchovies, truffles, foie gras, terrines, charcuterie, more than 120 cheeses, chocolate, specialty teas and coffees.

Speaking on the opening of the new JCB Yountville locations, Boisset says, “We are energized and honored to be welcomed by the Yountville community.  We are ecstatic to share our vision of wine lifestyle, where wine is at the center of life and is surrounded by beauty, art, historical luxury products including jewelry, crystal, books and the finest of the epicurean world. From the hand-selected artisan gourmet products of Atelier, to jewelry, to fashion and art, and each of the historical maisons, JCB Yountville comprises our world and our ultimate collection, including our own creations. It represents the producers and houses that we adore the most, having been curated for years, and that we desire to share with the world as an extension of our lifestyle and savoir-vivre!  This is now here for all to enjoy, to taste and to discover!”

The JCB Tasting Salon and Atelier by JCB are open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 6505 Washington St, Yountville, CA. Both locations can be contacted for tasting reservations or further information at (707) 934-8237 or at www.jcbcollection.com.

About JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset
Created by Jean-Charles Boisset, JCB embraces and represents a new height of luxury, uniting the worlds of wine and fashion in luxurious tasting locations and experiences that transcend terroir, reaching beyond the traditional confines of wine to embody style and sophistication. JCB is also a collection of rare numbered wines that unite centuries of Burgundian family tradition with the graceful exploration of sophisticated terroir.  Dedicated to capturing style within a bottle, JCB wines embody an uncompromising personality that transcends the traditional confines of wine and is audacious, unique and mysterious.

About Boisset Collection
Boisset is a family-owned collection of historic and unique wineries bound together by a common cause: authentic, terroir-driven wines in harmony with their history, their future and the land and people essential to their existence.  With more than twenty historical and prestigious wineries in the world’s preeminent terroirs, including the Côte d’Or, Beaujolais, Rhône Valley, California’s Russian River Valley and the Napa Valley, each house retains its unique history, identity, and style, and all are united in the pursuit of fine wines expressive of their terroir.  To learn more about the Boisset Collection, please visit www.boissetcollection.com.

WWW.BOISSETCOLLECTION.COM | WWW.JCBWINES.COM



VOJTECH KACEROVSKY FROM CZECHTOURISM – EMPEROR CHARLES IV “THE FATHER OF THE COUNTRY”

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.

CZECHS SIMPLY LOVE CHARLES. WHO WAS HE AND WHY SHOULD YOU KNOW HIM?

Czechs call Emperor Charles IV  “the father of the country”. In 2016, it will be 700 years since his birth and this round anniversary will not be allowed to pass without grandiose celebrations.
When visiting the Czech Republic, you could not ignore the name Charles (in Czech Karel) – even if you wanted to. Just by walking through Prague you will encounter Charles Bridge and Charles University. Then there is the majestic Karlštejn castle only a short distance from Prague, and of course the spa of Karlovy Vary in the west of the country. All of these places bear the name of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV who was born in 1316 in Prague. He came to love Bohemia and therefore grand celebrations are being prepared for the 700th anniversary of his birth.

The celebrations will begin where the life of Charles IV apparently began, in Prague, in the House at the Stone Bell in the Old Town Square. From November 29,, the house will present an exhibition called From Bohemia to the End of the World highlighting his love of travelling. Charles IV was not only the Czech king but also Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and a monarch of European importance. Although he lived in France and sometimes in Italy, he fell in love with Bohemia the land of Czechs, and particularly with Prague which he made the centre of the whole Empire.

Prague has Charles’ fingerprints all over it
Charles IV simply knew how, with the help of architecture and art, to represent imperial splendour. Prague inhabitants are grateful to him for this even 700 years after his birth. The Emperor started the construction of the dominating features, St. Vitus Cathedral, New Town and of course Charles Bridge which is still one of the great symbols of Prague, along with Charles University which ranks among the best educational facilities in Central and Eastern Europe. In fact, Charles IV was a great supporter of education. He himself studied intensively, wrote several educational works and spoke five languages. If you are interested in knowing what sort of ruler he was, you should visit the House at the Golden Ring where you can find an exhibition dedicated to the everyday life of Charles IV and his House of Luxembourg. In the Wallenstein Riding Hall of Prague Castle you can see a Bavarian-Czech provincial exhibition named Father of the Country from May 14, until September 25, of next year.

Follow the footsteps of Charles into prison and spas
The vigorous activity of Charles IV did not end in Prague. The ruler often made trips to West Bohemia to pursue game because he was a passionate hunter and to look back on his memories because he spent a part of his childhood in the medieval castle called Loket. Together with his mother, he was imprisoned there by his father, John of Luxembourg.

One day, whilst out hunting near Loket, he discovered hot springs, and established spas in the location. He had no idea at that time that the small settlement would one day grow into the world-renowned spa town of Karlovy Vary, or that he would not be the only ruler by far to cure his ills there. The royal guests of the spa town have included for example the Russian Tsar Peter the Great and the Austro-Hungarian Empress Sisi. In May, a series of celebrations will begin in Karlovy Vary. A parade headed by Charles IV will provide a ceremonial opening to the spa season, the Gothic era and the reign of Charles IV will be the themes of the Karlovy Vary carnival in early June. The summer will be filled with musical performances, knight’s jousting, jugglers  and many other entertaining events. In September and October, Karlovy Vary will be visited by a touring exhibition of the masterly reproductions of the Bohemian coronation jewels.

The best protection is a castle
To protect his beloved Bohemia, Charles IV built several castles. The best known - Karlštejn – lies only a short distance from Prague. The majestic structure was constructed to house the royal jewels, saintly relics and imperialcoronation jewels. These Bohemian gems were hidden there for nearly two hundred years. Moreover, the castle as one of the most visited monuments in the Czech Republic is open all year round. To protect the border with Bavaria and an important gold field, the Kašperk castle was built in South Bohemia. It stands near the Šumava National Park. It is also close to Český Krumlov, included in the World Heritage List, which you can reach within an hour-and-a-half by car. During the reign of Charles IV, the Radyně Castle was also built, only twenty minutes from Pilsen.

WWW.CZECHTOURISM.COM

02/19 REBECCA SCIANDRI GRIFFIN, SCIANDRI FAMILY VINEYARDS, CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS, LAUREN VERRUSIO, GOOGLE SEARCH TRENDS, STEVE EVANS, THE MOVIE GUY

REBECCA SCIANDRI GRIFFIN FROM SCIANDRI FAMILY VINEYARDS TALKS ABOUT THE 27TH ANNUAL CULINARY EVENING WITH THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS!

Sciandri Family Vineyards (pronounced “she-andri”) is one of the gems of the Coombsville region, hidden far enough East at the edge of rolling hills so that you hardly know you are in Napa. This is a small family owned vineyard not open to the public with just over 4 planted hillside acres located on a 22 acre estate. The Sciandri’s moved here in 1989 after looking for 4-5 years for a unique place to live in the Valley and then planted their vineyards in 1999. This is truly a small family run winery – with all members of the immediate family involved (three generations) in various aspects of the business from vineyard to bottle. That is extremely important, not only from a personal satisfaction point of view but to have the chance of keeping the business running among future generations.

The family managed the vineyards themselves for several years and today employs one of the top vineyard managers in the valley, Javier Renteria. Before vineyards grew here this was open pasture land. For several years the Sciandri Family sold fruit to several area producers but after tasting their own fruit in the wines, they realized just how nice of a vineyard they really had and it was at that point they decided to make their own wine.

Enter Don Baker a Napa winemaker who has been making wine in the valley for many years including stints at Merryvale and William Hill Estate. He is a UC Davis graduate who has International winemaking exposure with some time spent in Chile helping to develop vineyards and a winery for Jackson Family Wines (Kendall-Jackson). Having tried some of Don’s other wines, the Sciandri Family knew that his palate and winemaking techniques matched their own tastes.

The Sciandri’s want to focus on entirely estate produced wine and as of press time had just released their first vintage, a 2006 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. They have other varietals planted on the property and at some point may release a Bordeaux styled blend. There is a very small block of grapes planted near their house that comes from their family vineyard in Italy. Some of the varietals grown here are probably among only a few of these types of vines growing in the Napa Valley including one that just grows in and around the small region where their family is from. These few vines have special significance to the family, not only are they a connection to their heritage but fruit from these vines goes into all the grapes picked at harvest.

Their hillside vineyards are rocky and the grapes/clonal choices in the vineyard produce small fruit with concentrated flavors. The Coombsville region is located in the southern part of Napa Valley closer to the San Pablo Bay’s cooling influences which means their harvest dates are generally among the last in the Valley. The moderate cooler climate of the south valley ensures a very long hang time. Some years Coombsville growers pick Cabernet Sauvignon even into the first week of November.

Daughter Rebecca hosts wine enthusiasts on the property (by appointment). Besides working full time for her family winery – she was also instrumental in helping to obtain its sub appellation status. Coombsville is a region located approximately east of the town of Napa – which is mostly composed of gentle rolling hills and many vineyards. The soils are volcanic and generally very well drained. A number of premium wineries have vineyards here and most of the vineyards in this region are very small. You are not going to find the typical “Napa tourist” winery in this area.

The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon is noticeably dark in the glass with a very elegant bouquet that shows aromas of plum and red cherry along with a note of dustiness. The palate is smooth and balanced from start to finish showing dark fruit – black cherry and blackberry. The finish is anchored by soft smooth delicate tannins that slip over your tongue like silk. One of their winemaker Don Baker’s axioms is to show varietal characteristics without the wine being dominated by oak. In other words as one winemaker told us, these are wines that have that “delicious” factor rather than the “wow” factor. He has made this vintage well in that regards, there is just a hint of oak towards the finish as well as notes of cocoa powder. As a result this is a wine that does very well with food.

Their packaging represents the family’s history. The wine label is blue (how many blue labels can you find on wine bottles – not many) but this color is traditional and it is designed well. The colors are taken from the flag flown in their family’s village in Italy. This village is named Quercia which means Oak – there is an oak leaf on the label with a number of grapes represented, standing for members of the family who are involved in their winery.

You can find their wines locally at V Wine Cellars in Yountville and also Uva restaurant in downtown Napa. They have distribution in Los Angeles mainly because family member Ago Sciandri owns several very well regarded Italian Restaurants (www.agorestaurant.com ) – for more information about Sciandri Family Vineyards visit:www.sciandrivineyards.com

SCIANDRIVINEYARDS.COM


ABOUT THE 27TH ANNUAL CULINARY EVENING WITH THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS
Saturday, May 14th, 2016 6PM
at Warner Bros., “Midwest Street”

A wine tasting extraordinaire and spectacular hors d’oeuvres dinner benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. One of WINE SPECTATOR’S “TOP TEN U.S. CHARITY WINE AUCTIONS” will be held on the “Midwest Street” backlot at Warner Bros.

The California Winemasters is a perennial Wine Spectator Top 10 Charity Wine Auction set for May 14, 2016 at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.  This extraordinary event showcases 50 international chefs and 75 of California’s Finest Wineries.  “Winemasters” has raised nearly $29 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 as Forbes, Discover Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. Make your reservations NOW for this wine tasting extraordinaire and spectacular hors d’oeuves dinner!

CALIFORNIAWINEMASTERS.ORG


LAUREN VERRUSIO - GOOGLE SEARCH TRENDS EXPERT - WEEKLY TOP SEARCH TRENDS

Google’s Top Search Trends program provides a revealing — and sometimes surprising — look at the people, places and topics that send the country searching for answers each week. Topics That Fascinated the U.S. Selected from Millions of INTERNET Searches!

Hear the hottest content on the web each week directly from the source! Become part of Google’s weekly Top Search Trends program to find out what news makers and trends are capturing the imagination of the country each week. Encompassing searches from across pop culture, sports, music, politics, news, and more a Roya will discuss five of the hottest trending queries on the web.

TOP TRENDS:
Antonin Scalia
Sports Illustrated
Westminster Dog Show
The People vs. OJ Simpson
National Drink Wine Day

TOP YOUTUBE VIDEO:
I Crashed the Eddie the Eagle Junket

GOOGLE.COM/TRENDS


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.

02/18 CELEBRITY CHEF TRE WILCOX, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AMERICAN HEART MONTH, FRED DRYER

CELEBRITY CHEF, TRE WILCOX SHOWCASES SAVORY AND HEART HEALTHY SOUL FOOD DISHES DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH  AND AMERICAN HEART MONTH 

Celebrated TV chef Tre Wilcox is no stranger to creating healthy and appetizing dishes. And this February, just as we get ready to celebrate Black History Month and American Heart Month, he is serving up some traditional soul food dishes with a heart-healthy twist. Heart disease, hypertension and obesity are significant health concerns for millions of African Americans. That is why Chef Tre is showing home cooks across the country easy ways to reduce fat, calories, and sodium without sacrificing the rich and savory flavors of soul food favorites -- especially those made with pork.  
As his career took off on Top Chef, Top Chef All-Stars and Iron Chef America, Tre began to expand on his other gift, sharing his passion for food through teaching others how to make delicious dishes at home. He uses T.R.E., an acronym based on his name, as pillars for good cooking: Techniques, Recipes and Execution.

While it can be hard for busy families to find the time to whip up healthy meals, Tre will share some of his favorite easy-to-make pork recipes to help celebrate Black History Month and American Heart Month with nutritional dishes that are low in calories and fat, but are full of flavor.

SOME OF THE RECIPES THAT TRE WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING INCLUDE:
• Jerk Seasoned Pork Tenderloin
• Sizzling Chili Pork Chops
• Spicy-Sweet Pork Stir Fry

MORE ABOUT THE NATIONAL PORK BOARD:
The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. Importers of pork products contribute a like amount, based on a formula. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management.  For more information, visit Pork.org.

WWW.PORKBEINSPIRED.COM


FRED DRYER – ACTOR, FORMER DE IN THE NFL AND RADIO HOST

John Frederick "Fred" Dryer (born July 6, 1946 in Hawthorne, California) is an American actor and former football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). Dryer played 13 years in the NFL, playing 176 games, starting 166, and recording 104 career sacks with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams. Dryer is the only NFL player to score two safeties in one game.

Following his retirement from football, Dryer had a successful career as a film and television actor, notably starring in the series Hunter. His height (6'6" or 1.98 m) and physique was useful for his action roles.

BE SURE TO CATCH THE PM SHOW WITH FRED DRYER EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 4-5PM PT ON CRN

02/17 LARRY LIPSON, JENNIFER MCGRUTHER, THE NOURISHED KITCHEN

LARRY LIPSON – 
AFFORDABLE WINE REPORT 

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.




JENNIFER MCGRUTHER - FOOD EDUCATOR AND AUTHOR OF THE NOURISHED KITCHEN AND BROTH & STOCK FROM THE NOURISHED KITCHEN

ABOUT JENNIFER MCGRUTHER:
An advocate for farm fresh foods and sustainable agriculture, Jennifer McGruther believes that food is something worthy of celebration.  Alongside her husband, McGruther has nurtured and grown a local foodshed connecting small family farms with an eager customer base through their farmers market.   Together they created and manage a lively, progressive farmers market in the heart of Colorado ski country that nourishes their community.  With an unshakeable belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality, nutrient-dense foods, they have spearheaded programs that provide free food to low-income residents of their community and steadily supply their community’s food bank with wholesome, sustainably grown local foods. Real food takes real work. And it’s worth it. A labor of love, Nourished Kitchen’s goal is to promote sustainable agriculture and nutrient-dense, whole foods in everyday kitchens.  The focus here is on whole, unrefined foods prepared according to traditional methods that optimize nutrient density.  Cherish your body, nourish your kitchen.

NEWEST TITLE ON SALE IN MAY
Broth and Stock from the Nourished Kitchen: Wholesome Master Recipes for Bone, Vegetable, and Seafood Broths and Meals to Make with Them

A cookbook from the author of the popular website The Nourished Kitchen, featuring 60 recipes for nutritious and healthy master broths, soups, stews, gravies and other dishes using poultry, meat, vegetable, and seafood broths.

Nutrient-dense bone broths are having a major moment: from the $8 per cup servings at New York "broth bars" to Kobe Bryant crediting its restorative properties for his improved athletic performance, broths are in the news and being turned to for their health properties. Jennifer McGruther is the perfect author to address this topic--a trusted authority on traditional foods who has been touting the value of broth since before it was trendy. The health benefits of broth are many: it is rich in protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and other trace minerals, which are easily absorbed by the body when consumed in liquid form. Bone broth has been proven to help mitigate the effects of arthritis and joint pain since it contains glucosamine, gelatin, collage, and chondroitin.Broth and Stock from the Nourished Kitchen features recipes for the broths themselves as well as soups, stews, and meat dishes that incorporate broths, and is the ideal guide for anyone interested in integrating these healthful concoctions into their daily lives simply and approachably.

RELEASED IN 2014 TO RAVE-REVIEWS
The Nourished Kitchen: Farm-to-Table Recipes for the Traditional Foods Lifestyle Featuring Bone Broths, Fermented Vegetables, Grass-Fed Meats, Wholesome Fats, Raw Dairy, and Kombuchas

A cookbook from the author of the popular website Nourished Kitchen, featuring over 160 recipes based on the "traditional foods" philosophy of eating, which emphasizes whole grains, dairy, red meat, organ meats, and fermented foods.

The traditional foods movement is a fad-free approach to cooking and eating that emphasizes nutrient-dense, real food, and values quality, environment, and community over the convenience of processed, additive-laden products that are the norm on grocery store shelves.

Based on the research of Weston A. Price, who studied the diets of indigenous peoples to understand the relationship between nutrition and health, a traditional foods diet avoids processed ingredients, but allows meat, animal fat, and grains. It embraces cultured dairy, such as kefir and yogurt, that contain beneficial bacteria; fermented foods, such as sauerkraut and kombucha, that are rich in probiotics; and organ meats that are packed with vitamins and minerals. It also celebrates locally grown foods. By choosing ingredients from nearby sources, you create a stronger connection to your food, and have a better understanding what you’re eating and how it was produced.

In The Nourished Kitchen, Jennifer McGruther guides you through her traditional foods kitchen and offers more than 160 recipes inspired by  the seasons, land, and waters around her. In the morning, fuel up with Eggs Poached in Fiery Tomato Sauce. On a hot summer day, Cucumber Salad with Dill and Kefir is a cooling side dish, and on a chilly fall evening, Barley in Broth with Bacon and Kale offers comfort and warmth. Old-Fashioned Meat Loaf with Gravy makes a hearty family meal, while Chicken in Riesling with Peas can be the centerpiece of an elegant supper. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Maple-Roasted Pears, and quench your thirst with naturally fermented Vanilla Mint Soda. With the benefit of Jennifer’s experience, you can craft a loaf of Whole Wheat and Spelt Sourdough Bread and stock your kitchen with Spiced Sour Pickles with Garlic.

The Nourished Kitchen not only teaches how to prepare wholesome, nourishing foods, but also encourages a mindful approach cooking and a celebration of old-world culinary traditions that have sustained healthy people for millennia. Whether you’re already a practitioner of the traditional foods lifestyle or simply trying to incorporate more natural, highly nutritious foods into your routine, you will find plenty to savor in The Nourished Kitchen.

NOURISHEDKITCHEN.COM

2/16 SALLY JAMES, SLOW LIVING RADIO, THE FANCY FOOD SHOW, DAMON MIELE, WORLD OF PINOT NOIR

SALLY JAMES - FOOD, WINE, TRAVEL WRITER AND SPOKESPERSON / HOST OF SLOW LIVING RADIO ON CRN (MONDAYS AT 7PM) – REPORTS ON NEW AND INTERESTING TRENDS  FROM THE FANCY FOOD SHOW

MOSCONE CTR, SAN FRANSISCO - The Winter Fancy Food Show 2016 had record-breaking attendance up 16% over last year. With nearly 20,000 attendees, 1,500 exhibitors, and over 1,000 new products, the WFFS is the largest specialty food trade event on the West Coast and a showcase of industry innovation, bringing specialty food’s top manufacturers, buyers, and thought leaders together under one roof for three days of delectable discovery.

ABOUT SALLY JAMES:
Sally James is an award-winning Australian author, educator, chef, television presenter and radio host whose books and recipes have won international acclaim for food & wine pairing, health and creativity. Sally is the author of eighteen cookbooks and publications, including her best-selling Simply Healthy—winner of the prestigious World Cookbook Awards, Versailles, France, 1999 for Best Health Cookbook; Fresh and Healthy–Winner of the 2001 IACP International Cookbook Award in the Health category; Simply Sensational, a finalist for the IACP Award in 2003; Escape to Yountville – Recipes for Health and Relaxation from the Napa Valley, and the Australian Heart Foundation Cookbook.

Since relocating to the U.S. in 2001, James has been a guest presenter on the Food Network and UPN Networks, a recurring guest on ABC TV’s View from the Bay, and has been featured in magazines including Cooking Light, Wine Spectator, Fitness, Family Circle, New York Times' Savor Wine Country, Plate, In the Mix and Healthy Cooking.

She has been a guest chef and lecturer for the American Heart Association, the Culinary Institute of America, Disney’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, COPIA, Aspen Food and Wine Classic, the National Restaurant Association Show, Draegar's and Publix Markets, the American Institute of Food & Wine, and Johnson & Wales Universities across the United States.

WWW.SLOWLIVINGRADIO.COM


DAMON MIELE - EVENT COORDINATOR, WORLD OF PINOT NOIR

2016 WORLD OF PINOT
March 4th & 5th 2016
BACARA RESORT & SPA
santa barbara, california

Our annual event takes place at the beginning of March and includes two days of in-depth Tasting seminars and excursions, Grand Tastings, a Burgundy seminar and tasting and gourmet, locally-influenced lunches and dinners. These extraordinary food and wine extravaganzas will be hosted by participating wineries and feature an outstanding panel of sommeliers from across the U.S.

Our Sixteenth annual celebration includes two packed days of tastings, seminars, dinners, food pairings and the camaraderie that Pinot Noir brings to the table.  Passes are available on a limited, first-come first-served basis. We hope to see you at the Bacara Resort to toast 2016 with a glass (or two) of Pinot!

WWW.WOPN.COM

2/15 ACTRESS KATE WALSH, AMERICAN HEART MONTH, ELIZABETH WERNER, THE INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR, IAN BLACKBURN, WINE LA

ACTRESS KATE WALSH TALKS ABOUT HER COMMITMENT TO WOMEN’S HEALTH DURING AMERICAN HEART MONTH

Kate Walsh is an American film and television actress, best known for her role as Dr. Addison Montgomery on the ABC dramas Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. She subsequently starred as Rebecca Wright on the short-lived NBC sitcom Bad Judge.

ABOUT HER COMMITMENT TO WOMEN’S HEALTH DURING AMERICAN HEART MONTH:
February is American Heart Month, and with heart disease as the number one killer of women, Kate is standing-up for the heart health of women everywhere. As she prepares to attend the Women’s Day Red Dress Awards on February 9, on behalf of CocoaVia®, a daily cocoa extract supplement and the lead sponsor of the Woman’s Day Red Dress Awards, she is speaking out in support of the work of the American Heart Association to help women lead vibrant and healthy lives.

You’ve heard that there are health benefits associated with dark chocolate. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Chocolate is good, but it’s the cocoa flavanols that are good for you. When consumed daily, cocoa flavanols are scientifically proven to promote a healthy heart by supporting health blood flow. CocoaVia® daily cocoa extract supplement delivers the highest concentration of cocoa flavanols on the market today, which are scientifically proven to help support healthy circulation†, which is critical to your overall health so you feel your best every day.  For more information about CocoaVia® supplement, visit www.CocoaVia.com

KATEWALSH.COM


THE TOY INDUSTRY’S PREMIER PLAYER, ELIZABETH WERNER, TALKS TOY TRENDS THROUGHOUT THE INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR 

THE INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR ROUND UP
The 113th Annual International Toy Fair is the largest toy marketplace in the country, bringing together more than 1,100 manufacturers, distributors and importers to showcase what’s new in the New Year!   Elizabeth Werner, the toy industry’s premier player, will be on hand and available to show, tell, demo, preview and play – She offers an insider’s perspective of the industry’s most innovative, educational and just plain fun toys, set to be introduced into the marketplace this New Year.  

ABOUT ELIZABETH WERNER
Elizabeth Werner is a renowned toy industry expert. Werner has appeared on dozens of broadcast outlets including The View, Fox & Friends, CNN, Access Hollywood and TODAY to discuss the latest industry trends. Werner also appears as a regular child lifestyle expert on QVC. She was recognized by the Women in Toy Association as the “woman to watch in the toy industry.”


IAN BLACKBURN – WINE LA – UPCOMING EVENTS

2/25/16 FROM 7PM TO 9:30PM AT THE PETERSON AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM

JAMES SUCKLING PRESENTS GREAT WINES OF ITALY BENEFITING THE T.J. MARTELL FOUNDATION

ABOUT THIS EVENT
JamesSuckling.com is delighted to present the 2016 edition of Great Wines of Italy in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Prestigious brands include: Poderi Aldo Conterno, Allegrini, Poggio Antico, Antinori, Argiano, Banfi, Bellavista, Giacomo Borgogno & Figli, Il Borro, Bosco Agostino, Castello di Bossi, Brancaia, Agricola Brandini, Capezzana, Casale del Giglio, Casanova di Neri, Castiglion del Bosco, Cava D'Onice, ColleMassari, Grattamacco, Poggio di Sotto, Cusumano, Elio Grasso, Empson Selections, Feudo Maccari, Ambrogio e Giovanni Folonari Tenute, Fontanafredda, Castello di Fonterutoli, Franz Haas, Poderi Gianni Gagliardo, Jermann, La Massa, La Rasina, Fattoria Le Pupille, Azienda Lisini, Livio Felluga, Agricola Masi, Castello di Monsanto, Monteverro, Nals Margreid, Orma, Petra, Petrolo, Pieropan, Tenuta Pietranera, Pio Cesare, Pitars, Podernuovo a Palazzone, Querciabella, Renieri, Roberto Voerzio, Ruffino, San Filippo, San Polino, Schiopetto, Tenuta Sette Ponti, Tenute Silvio Nardi, Siro Pacenti, Tony Sasa, Cantina Tramin, Valdicava, Vignamaggio.

MUSICAL GUEST
Surahn Sidhu - Surahn lives in a perfect pop universe. He’s released underground disco hits under the name "Sidwho?", performed as a member of retro-futurist indie-pop outfit Empire of the Sun, written mainstream hits for Usher, and now has a brilliant EP for DFA Records.

FREE GLASS BY LALIQUE
As a special gift, attending guests will receive a free Lalique Event glass - a $75 value.  For our VIP guests (100 Points Ticket), guests will receive an exclusive '100 Points' Glass designed by James Suckling for Lalique - $150 value.  That pretty much justifies the price alone!  Do not wait to buy your tickets - these will go fast!

2/20/16 AT SMASHBOX STUDIOS IN CULVER CITY 
DRY CREEK VALLEY ON TOUR 

12pm VIP Entrance with Older Vintage Tasting (or) 1:30pm General Admission

ABOUT THIS EVENT
Dry Creek Valley is heading to Culver City! We’re bringing your favorite wines and asking you to bring your favorite friends – it’s sure to be an authentic Sonoma County party. Taste 100+ wines along with whimsical food pairings designed by Food Network chef & our partner, Bob Blumer. It’s sure to be an epic food and wine gathering!  Bob is bringing his friends from Cowgirl Creamy, One World Beef, Hog Island Oyster Company and Baby Blues BBQ!

GRAND TASTING
General Admission tickets will provide unlimited tasting of all our Dry Creek Valley wines and the opportunity to meet the owners and winemakers themselves. Enjoy hand-curated food pairings: sip Sauvignon Blanc from your souvenir glass while enjoying Hog Island Oysters and Cowgirl Creamery’s award winning Mt. Tam, enjoy smoky, savory barbecue from Baby Blues BBQ with your Zinfandel and Cabernet, and let Bob Blumer transcend you with the perfect bite with our Rhone varietals. For a deeper dive into Dry Creek Valley and the opportunity to taste exclusive library vintages - see the VIP experience.

ABOUT WINELA
wineLA is about enhancing the wine culture of Los Angeles. To do so, wine must be in rhythm with fashion, music, food and other beverages.  It must take advantage of the geography, the architecture and the centers of interest. Los Angeles is a giant playground with an amazing array of venues, spaces, wine bars, restaurants, beaches, roof tops, gardens, and magical views. We want to be a part of the LA lifestyle, the wine lifestyle, and celebrate the people, the place and the passion.
wineLA will promote significant events, occasional classes, and tastings of merit. This is phase two of what we started 20 years ago at LearnAboutWine.com - America’s first wine education website and first in wine event creation. LearnAboutWine will now evolve onto a digital platform; the transformation will take some time; so we will slowly rebrand our event efforts onto wineLA, reduce the number of activities we focus on, and elevate our efforts to focus on the next big thing… Doing what is best for the wine industry and the communities we serve.  Edicts:  innovate, evolve and excite.

We thank you for joining our newsletter, we will be sending fewer emails and packing them with amazing content. We want to be your wine content provider and would love to hear about your favorite places, your music, your locations - we want to be under the influence of what ignites your passion for Los Angeles.

WWW.WINELA.COM

02/12 CHEF DAVID HANDS, CHEF DE CUISINE, BOUCHON BISTRO BEVERLY HILLS, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BILLY NUNGESSER, STEVE EVENS

CHEF DAVID HANDS - CHEF DE CUISINE, BOUCHON BISTRO BEVERLY HILLS - OSCAR WEEK BREAKFAST MENU

ABOUT DAVID HANDS:
As chef de cuisine of Bouchon Bistro in Beverly Hills, David Hands oversees all aspects of cuisine for the classic French bistro. A British expat or Brummie, as he is known to be called in his native West Midlands, David joined the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group at Per Se in 2007. Having come a long way from his first catering job at the Malt Shovel in Barston, it was only four years prior that his career began to accelerate at Country House Hotel, Gidleigh Park in Devon. Under the guidance of two-star Michelin chef Michael Caines, he quickly rose from commis to sous chef.

David was offered the position of chef de partie at Per Se in August of 2007, where he worked for two years.  David opened Bouchon Bistro as sous chef in February 2009, securing the position of executive sous chef just one year later and chef de cuisine in October 2012.

Dedicated to preserving the integrity of traditional French cooking and Chef Thomas Keller’s attention to detail, David is honored by the challenge of guiding Bouchon Bistro through its continuing evolution.

ABOUT BOUCHON BISTRO (BEVERLY HILLS) RESTAURANT:
In November 2009, Chef Thomas Keller returned to Southern California after almost 20 years to bring his renowned Bouchon Bistro cuisine to the city of Beverly Hills.

The restaurant, located just two blocks from the famed Rodeo Drive and situated adjacent to the beautiful Beverly Canon Gardens, offers guests both the grandeur of a soaring interior space designed by the award-winning firm of Adam D. Tihany or the tranquility of an urban oasis with its second floor terrace overlooking the gardens. Like Chef Keller’s earlier incarnations of classic French dining, Bouchon Bistro features a classic mosaic floor, a magnificent pewter bar, antique light fixtures and hand-painted murals by renowned French artist Paulin Paris throughout the restaurant. Bouchon Bistro is also LEED certified, providing third-party verification that its building meets the highest green building and performance measures.

Bouchon’s quintessential bistro fare changes with the seasons but though their presentation may change, some of Chef Keller’s favorite dishes remain as fixtures on the menu throughout the year: roast chicken, steak frites, croque madame, pot de crème and lemon tart as well as an extensive raw bar. In addition to a comprehensive wine list and range of hand-crafted cocktails, Bouchon Bistro presents a unique “Vin de Carafe” program that highlights one-of-a-kind wines from some of southern California’s outstanding wine producers.
In their first review of the restaurant, the Los Angeles Times awarded Bouchon Bistro’s cuisine a three-star rating, and Angeleno Magazine has named Bouchon Bistro as one of LA’s “Top 10 Hot Spots.”

SPECIAL OSCAR WEEK BREAKFAST MENU:
Join us for our special Oscar Week Breakfast, February 14 through March 1, 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

WWW.THOMASKELLER.COM

                                               
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BILLY NUNGESSER TALKS ABOUT LOUISIANA’S CULTURE AND HISTORY - 10TH ANNUAL “ONLY IN LOUISIANA” GRAMMY® BRUNCH 

Newly elected Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser joins us to discuss the best festivals, music venues and other things do (and try – i.e. Cajun and Creole cuisine) in Louisiana this year, in addition to Louisianan’s significant contribution to the nation’s musical landscape.

Music fans target Louisiana as a travel destination so they can experience the music where it was born and where it still flourishes. It comes as no surprise that several Louisiana artists are nominated for the 2016 GRAMMY® awards, which is why we are bringing LA to LA for the 10th Annual “Only in Louisiana” GRAMMY® brunch Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Conga Room in Los Angeles.

Google’s annual report shows “What to do in Louisiana?” was one of the top 10 travel searches from the U.S. in 2015.

MORE ABOUT BILLY:
Called the “hardest working man in America” by one national media outlet,  for his work to protect the citizens he represents, Billy Nungesser has worked tirelessly to defend his community and fight to rescue and restore the Gulf Coast in the wake of the Deep Horizon Oil Spill. Another national news organization described him as a true son of Louisiana having grown up in the state’s holy trinity of seafood, oil and politics.

When the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded off the coast, Billy Nungesser did not wait for the federal government and BP to act, he went to work and fought tirelessly to cut through the bureaucratic red tape and forced them to act to protect our communities and environment. He continues to stand up to ensure that victims are compensated and restoration is made.

In 2006, Billy Nungesser was elected President of Plaquemines Parish at a time when the parish was struggling to recover from the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. On day one, Billy went to work by challenging and working with FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers to increase public projects that increased investment in infrastructure.

Nungesser also focused his efforts on coastal restoration to protect our wetlands and protect communities from storm surges by developing a master plan and bringing federal, state and private resources together to increase funding. His efforts earned him re-election in 2010 with over 70% of the vote.  He was appointed to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Planning Commission, and received the Disaster Recovery Contractors Association’s Golden Horizon Award.

Prior to serving in elected office, Billy Nungesser was a successful small businessman whose innovative idea of converting used shipping containers into modular living quarters improved the living conditions of our state’s offshore oil drilling workers. Before selling the business Billy built it into a company that helped create over 200 local jobs and continues to dominate the offshore living quarters industry.

In 2002, Louisiana Life Magazine named him one of our states “Top CEOs.” While in business, Billy helped form the Plaquemines Association of Business and Industry. As President of Plaquemines Parish, Billy has used his business sense and discipline to hold the line on taxes and control spending. This has resulted in annual savings to the taxpayers and millions of dollars of surpluses each year in Plaquemines Parish.

Billy has always helped people in need. After riding out Hurricane Katrina at his home, he immediately began rescuing people and animals in South Plaquemines, utilizing his personal equipment and resources. As the recovery continued, he partnered with the United Way to distribute washers and dryers to needy residents who had lost everything in the storm.

Billy Nungesser is an active sportsman and member of the NRA who values our state’s natural resources. Next to his ranch where he raises elk and cattle, he created the Pointe Celeste Therapeutic Riding Center to enable physically and mentally challenged people to share in the therapeutic benefits of enjoying nature through free horseback rides. He has also volunteered his time with countless organizations to help people in need, including serving on the board of the United Way of New Orleans and as a past chair of the Plaquemines Campaign.


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.

02/11 TINA MAHAL, LAY’S “FLAVOR SWAP”, ELIZABETH WARD, DIETARY GUIDELINES

TINA MAHAL, LAY’S “FLAVOR SWAP”, ELIZABETH WARD, DIETARY GUIDELINES 

IN A FLAVOR-TO-FLAVOR MATCH-UP ONLY THE TASTIEST POTATO CHIP WILL WIN!  
How will your listeners vote?

Americans are always on the hunt for unexpected and unique flavors. It’s clear that flavor exploration is a trend that’s here to stay.  For the first time ever, the Lay’s brand is giving Americans the chance to help shape its potato chip flavor lineup with the new “Flavor Swap” program. Four all-new Lay’s flavors will go up against four classic flavors in a true culinary match-up, leaving your listeners to decide which will stay and which will go. Stakes are high, as the winning flavors will be permanent additions to the Lay’s flavor portfolio.

You can visit www.FlavorSwap.com to vote on YOUR favorite flavors until March 21. One lucky fan will win a $250,000 cash prize just for casting a vote. It’s time to help your listeners’ taste buds be heard!
The four “Flavor Swap” pairings are:
• Heat Flavor Swap: Lay’s Flamin’ Hot vs. all-new Lay’s Fiery Roasted Habanero
• Cheese Flavor Swap: Lay’s Cheddar & Sour Cream vs. all-new Lay’s Smoked Gouda & Chive
• Barbecue Flavor Swap: Lay’s Honey Barbecue vs. all-new Lay’s Korean Barbecue
• Spice Flavor Swap: Lay’s Kettle Cooked Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper vs. all-new Lay’s Kettle Cooked Olive Oil & Herbs

WWW.FLAVORSWAP.COM


NUTRITIONIST AND AUTHOR ELIZABETH WARD TALKS ABOUT THE NEWLY RELEASED DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS 

BREAKING NEWS!
THE DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS HAVE BEEN RELEASED!

The United States Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) new Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) have been released, encouraging all Americans to eat at least two to three seafood meals (or 8 to 12 ounces) each week because of its heart, brain, and weight benefits. The Guidelines also underscore the importance for pregnant and breastfeeding women to eat more seafood to boost babies’ brain and eye development. Since the average pregnant woman eats less than two ounces of seafood per week, this means a significant increase for most to reap the benefits.

Seafood is rich in nutrients most people don’t get enough of – omega 3’s and vitamin D, which improve brain development in babies, lower the risk of depression and heart disease among adults, and build healthy bones. For pregnant women in particular, seafood is a satisfying and affordable source of protein with benefits for both mom and baby.

Nationally-renowned nutrition consultant and author of such lauded books as MyPlate for Moms, How to Feed Yourself & Your Family Better: Decoding the Dietary Guidelines for Your Real Life; Expect the Best, Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During, & After Pregnancy; The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to the New Food Pyramids; and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Feeding Your Baby, Elizabeth Ward will discuss the new dietary guidelines for Americans and will explain all of the health benefits and importance of eating the weekly recommended amounts of seafood (for everyone, including pregnant and breastfeeding women) and what those recommended amounts are. Elizabeth will also clear up misconceptions about seafood and share the importance of talking with your doctor about seafood’s health benefits.

ABOUT ELIZABETH WARD
Elizabeth M. Ward, MS, RD, is a freelance writer, nutrition consultant, and the author of MyPlate for Moms, How to Feed Yourself & Your Family Better: Decoding the Dietary Guidelines for Your Real Life; Expect the Best, Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During, & After Pregnancy; The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to the New Food Pyramids, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Feeding Your Baby. She regularly writes for several publications including Men’s Fitness magazine, WebMD, and USA Today.com.

As a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association for nearly 10 years, Elizabeth was featured in nearly 1,000 print and broadcast interviews, including CNN, U.S. News & World Report, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe.  She has also been a guest on the Today Show.

A speaker at more than 100 professional meetings, including The American College of Nurse-Midwives, The American Dietetic Association, The Massachusetts Dietetic Association, The Florida Dietetic Association, The National Association of Catering Executives, The Pennsylvania School Food Service Association, and the International Congress of Dietetics in Paris.

Elizabeth created and conducted corporate nutrition education programs for five years at Medical Care Affiliates in Boston, where she also counseled patients. She has worked at the Joslin Diabetes Center and the American Heart Association, and for seven years counseled children and adults about healthy eating and disease prevention at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates in Boston.

Elizabeth completed her undergraduate degree in human nutrition at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; a one-year dietetic internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and a master's degree in mass communication at Boston University. She is the recipient of the 125 Alumni to Watch Award from the University of Massachusetts and the 2011 Media Excellence Award from the American Dietetic Association, and she was named Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year by the Massachusetts Dietetic Association.