05/18 LATOYA DRAKE, GOOGLE'S LATEST MOBILE & COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES, ROBERT LEVY FROM BRANDSPARK, BEST NEW PRODUCT AWARDS, DR. CHRISTOPHER PARKER, NATIONAL GOUT AWARENESS DAY

LATOYA DRAKE, GOOGLE TECHNOLOGIST - GOOGLE SET TO UNVEIL LATEST MOBILE & COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES AT ANNUAL DEVELOPER CONFERENCE

GOOGLE SET TO UNVEIL LATEST MOBILE & COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES AT ANNUAL DEVELOPER CONFERENCE

In late May, Google will unveil the next big technology and mobile innovations in store at Google at its annual conference: Google I/O.

More than 7,000 developers will descend upon Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA, for three days of interactive sessions, hands-on demonstrations and unique insight into Google’s newest products. Together, they'll explore the latest in mobile applications and beyond.

Previous Google I/O conferences have featured the announcement of Google’s hardware line (including Google Home), groundbreaking Google software, Android TV, Android Wear, Google Photos and Google innovations in virtual reality. Attendees also learn how Google services can help take their web and mobile experiences to the next level at work and in daily life.

LATOYA DRAKE, GOOGLE TECHNOLOGIST, IS AVAILABLE TO GIVE A ROUND-UP OF ALL THE MAJOR GOOGLE I/O ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Major Technology Announcements: Breakthrough moments at Google I/O
Consumer Round-up: What hot new apps, features and gadgets will be available for consumers

ROBERT LEVY FROM BRANDSPARK - BEST NEW PRODUCT AWARDS  

Leading independent market research firm BrandSpark International has just announced the winners of the 2017 Best New Product Awards (www.BestNewProductAwards.com), the leading consumer-voted CPG awards program in North America. The Best New Product Awards (BNPAs) cover four major consumer product categories: Food & Beverage, Beauty & Personal Care, Household and Kids.  Robert Levy, President and CEO of BrandSpark International and Founder of the Best New Product Awards will discuss the winners in the Food & Beverage category:

Bread
ALDI Specially Selected Brioche Buns
Coconut Water
ALDI Nature’s Nectar Coconut Water
Cooking Oil/Spray
Thrive® Culinary Algae Oil
Eggs
ALDI SimplyNature Organic Cage Free Brown Eggs
Flavored Sparkling Water
La Croix Sparkling Water Tangerine
Frozen Treat
Breyers Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato Indulgences
Mexican Sauce/Seasoning
Ortega Skillet Sauces
Rice
ALDI SimplyNature Organic Rice
Savory Snacks
ALDI SimplyNature Organic White Cheddar Puffs
Soup
Idahoan Premium Steakhouse Potato Soups
Specialty Pasta
ALDI liveGfree Organic Gluten Free Brown Rice Quinoa Pasta
Specialty Vodka
Smirnoff Sourced
Vegetarian Food
Yves Veggie Cuisine Appetizers – Falafel Balls and Kale & Quinoa Bites

WWW.BESTNEWPRODUCTAWARDS.COM


DR. CHRISTOPHER PARKER, CHIEF OF RHEUMATOLOGY AT AUSTIN DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC & CHRONIC GOUT PATIENT GARY - WILL CLEAR UP THE CONFUSION ABOUT GOUT/CHRONIC GOUT AHEAD OF NATIONAL GOUT AWARENESS DAY 
           

PAIN IS NO LAUGHING MATTER
How Misinformation and Shame Can Hurt Patients

A Misunderstood Condition That May Prevent Gout Patients From Getting Proper Care

Quick – what pops into your mind when you hear the word “gout”? Research showed that patients, their families and even health care providers believe gout is caused mainly by overindulgence in alcohol and rich food.1 And that attitude is also shared in the popular press. But, in reality, gout is a serious and painful disease.1

Approximately 8.3 million Americas have gout, a chronic, progressive inflammatory arthritic condition that is caused by too much uric acid in the bloodstream.2 Chronic inflammation induced by uric acid crystal deposits lead to severe pain and joint damage. 2 Some symptoms can include sudden and severe episodes of pain, stiffness and swelling, redness and tenderness. 2 And, although for many people, gout can begin in the big toe, left untreated, high uric acid levels and gout will in time affect more joints, including your ankle, heel, knee, wrist and fingers, to name a few. 2

05/17 ELIZABETH WERNER TALKS SUMMER FUN, DR. RICHARD GOLDSTEIN, PROTECTING YOUR PET THIS SUMMER

THE TOY INDUSTRY’S PREMIER PLAYER, ELIZABETH WERNER, TALKS SUMMER FUN

The school year is coming to a close and parents are already wondering how to keep the kids happy and occupied during the break. Elizabeth Werner, a child lifestyle expert, is here with some great tips on summer fun and safety.

FUN IN THE SUN
Summer is around the corner, and your viewers are looking for tips and tricks to fill their kids’ appetites for fun! A combination of outdoor activities and indoor play is a fabulous way to spend a fun day.


DR. RICHARD GOLDSTEIN - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR PET THIS SUMMER

Pet owners in New York and New Jersey recently were warned about a deadly disease that is passed through rats. Recently there has been a rise in the number of dogs who have contracted leptospirosis, a bacterial infection transmitted through rat urine that can infect animals and people. Dogs may be exposed to the infection after lapping up puddle water or being exposed to freshwater sources such as rivers, lakes and streams.

Did you know?
• If lepto is left untreated it can lead to fatal kidney disease
• It can also cause liver disease
• Leptospirosis has a high mortality rate when it is diagnosed late
• Testing allows veterinarians to identify and treat lepto quickly

Veterinarian Dr. Richard Goldstein, Chief Medical Officer at the Animal Medical Center in New York City is available for live interviews on Wednesday, May 17th to discuss ways to keep our pets safe in the city as well as sharing tips on how to spot warning signs, symptoms and risk factors for leptospirosis.

05/16 JAMIE PETERS, WINESONG MENDOCINO’S PREMIER FOOD & WINE EVENT, MEMORIAL DAY ESSENTIALS WITH LIFESTYLE EXPERT RAINA SEITEL

JAMIE PETERS - EVENT DIRECTOR FOR WINESONG MENDOCINO’S PREMIER FOOD & WINE EVENT

ABOUT WINESONG & THE MENDOCINO COAST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Winesong is produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Its mission is to help the small rural Hospital provide the best possible medical care to residents as well as the many visitors to the Mendocino Coast. Winesong proceeds have enabled the Hospital to purchase chemotherapy equipment, portable ultrasound machines for the Emergency Room as well as a state-of-the-art Diagnostic Imaging Center, Cardiology Equipment, a Bedside Medicine Verification System and most recently, a Nurse Call System and a Patient Monitor Alert & Telemetry System.

DETAILS ANNOUNCED AROUND WINESONG, MENDOCINO’S PREMIER FOOD AND WINE EVENT & CHARITY AUCTION (SEP 8 & 9, 2017)
Nils Venge of Saddleback Cellars Named 2017 Honored Vintner; Wine Writer Dan Berger & Photographer George Rose Honored as Auction Chairs; Rebecca Johnson Named 2017 Artist of the Year

Tickets are now on sale for the 33rd Annual Winesong event — a spectacular weekend of award winning wine, fabulous food, fine art, music, merriment, and charitable giving. Produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, the main event takes place at the gorgeous Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Saturday, September 9th, with A Pinot Noir Celebration at the nearby Little River Inn on Friday, September 8th. In addition, Winesong has just announced key honorees at this year’s event: Wine pioneer Nils Venge of famed Saddleback Cellars has been named Honored Vintner, Wine writer and aficionado Dan Berger and photographer and former wine industry executive George Rose have been named Auction Chairs, and local Anderson Valley Artist Rebecca Johnson has been named the 2017 Artist of the Year. The Hospital Foundation is thrilled to honor these individuals who have been incredibly supportive of Winesong and our goals to help with the equipment needs of the Mendocino Coast District Hospital.

Winesong allows attendees the opportunity to explore lauded wines from Mendocino County and around the world, all while sampling culinary delights from locally-based purveyors, as well as a selection of local brews and spirits. World-class artwork is also on display, all set against a backdrop of the stunning Botanical Gardens and the majestic Pacific Ocean. Winesong aims to create harmony between one of the most breathtaking vistas on earth and all of your other senses, all while raising money for our rural hospital.

This year’s Honored Vintner, Nils Venge, is universally regarded as one of the foremost pioneers of the Napa Valley wine industry. Born to Danish immigrants, Venge's exposure to wine came at an early age, as his parents operated a wine and liquor import and distribution company in Southern California. Venge continued his pursuit of wine at the University of California in Davis where he earned a BS in Viticulture in 1967. Following a tour of duty in Vietnam as a Navy Reservist, Venge moved to the Napa Valley to pursue his interest in winemaking. In the subsequent years, Venge worked for the notable wineries Charles Krug, Sterling, Villa Mount Eden and Groth. During his tenure at Groth, Venge became the first American winemaker to receive a perfect 100 point rating from Wine Critic Robert Parker Jr. The 1985 Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon catapulted Venge to a venerated position in the California wine industry. Nils Venge continues to produce outstanding wines at his Oakville facility, Saddleback Cellars.

Auction Chair Dan Berger is a former Los Angeles Times Wine Columnist and a lifelong journalist who spent ten years as a general assignment reporter and editor for The Associated Press. He began writing about wine in 1976 and has been nationally syndicated since 1979. He and his wife, Juliann Savage, publish a private weekly wine newsletter, Dan Berger’s Vintage Experiences, which began in February 1996. He has contributed articles to Wines & Vines, Decanter Magazine in London, Wine Press Northwest, Tasters’ Guild Journal, Sommelier Guild Journal, the privately published California Grapevine, trade journals Cheers and Beverage Dynamics, and numerous others. He has been a keynote speaker at wine marketing seminars and has been asked to judge several wine competitions over the years. Dan has also garnered many awards, including Wines and Vines magazine’s “Wine Writer of the Year.” In 2010, Mr. Berger was inducted into the Wine Media Guild Hall of Fame in New York. He is on the board of directors of the International Riesling Foundation. He is an aficionado of Napa and Sonoma wines.

More than 40 years ago, Auction Chair George Rose began his long career as a photographer. Throughout the years, he has traveled a long and winding road through the elite world of popular music, film, news, politics, and sports, eventually leading him to California’s Wine Country. During his prolific years as a Los Angeles-based photojournalist, Rose developed a remarkable and historic body of photographic work focused on popular culture. His independent assignments, focused primarily on the entertainment industry, have been published in USA Today, Time, Newsweek and Rolling Stone. Over 40 vintage prints of his are in the permanent collection of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. In 1987, Rose won a World Press Photo Award for news, and was named California “Newspaper Photographer of the Year” in 1976 by the University of Missouri, School of Journalism. The Los Angeles Times twice nominated him (1979 and 1980) for a Pulitzer Prize. For the past 25 years, Rose was a wine industry executive communications director at four successful wine companies: Fetzer Vineyards, Allied Domecq Wines USA, Kendall-Jackson, and J Vineyards & Winery. During this time, he continued to pursue his passion of photography. In 2015, Rose moved to Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley. Much of his time is devoted to documenting the natural environment of the county as well as top vineyard estates up and down the coast of California. He is also a contributing photographer with Getty Images.

2017 Artist of the Year Rebecca Johnson grew up in an art-centric family in rural Hopewell, New Jersey. Her parents were designers, artists and art educators. “Life is art” was the family credo. This philosophy enriched and continues to inform Rebecca’s art and career. As a young artist Rebecca embraced the path of the successful professional. She received her BFA from Tyler School of Art and her MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She studied bronze casting at the Johnson Atelier in New Jersey and stone carving in quarries in Vermont. A fulcrum of change occurred when The British American Arts Council awarded her a three-month fellowship to work in Northwest Wales. In this land of stonewalls, craggy mountains, wild coast and rich folkloric history Rebecca’s ideas gestated. Time and solitude created space for her to thoroughly see and imbibe the light, color and form of the land. Her exterior and interior visions integrated and enhanced each other. Rebecca discovered a new degree of courage and conviction to follow her work to its true ultimate power, rural nature and a poetic vision. Rebecca now lives and works in Northern California, Mendocino County, a place of raw elemental forces. Her studio is located in the Anderson Valley, where inside a large renovated barn she creates paintings. The doors of the studio open to a hillside meadow filled with her stone sculpture. The calm beauty of this rural place resonates in her work.

WINESONG.ORG


THE BEST WAYS TO KICK OFF YOUR SUMMER WITH LIFESTYLE EXPERT RAINA SEITEL MEMORIAL DAY ESSENTIALS 

MEMORIAL DAY ESSENTIALS
The best ways to kick off your Summer!

All hail the long weekend and the official kickoff for the Summer season! Memorial Day is upon us, and we’re squirming with anticipation for that blessed extra day off and summer activities. We’ve got Lifestyle Expert and Mom, Raina Seitel. to fill us in on her best tips for getting our busy summer in gear!

Lifestyle Expert Raina Seitel is a journalist, host and mother currently starring in Style Network’s City Girl Diaries. Raina Seitel is a correspondent for WNBC and a variety of media outlets. Raina Seitel is a lifestyle expert with a concentration on entertainment, fashion, beauty, dining, fitness, motherhood and travel. Raina is often found on a red carpet interviewing the hottest celebrities on the East Coast and West Coast. Raina Seitel has interviewed Madonna, Meryl Streep, Bill Clinton, Denzel Washington, Christie Brinkley, Dolly Parton, Tommy Hilfiger, Vera Wang, Hugh Jackman, Clive Davis, Michael Jordan, Brad Pitt and Rudy Giuliani. Raina Seitel is an Emmy Award winner.

STRAIGHTTALK.COM 
COPPERTONE.COM  

05/15 CERTIFIED CICERONE, ANDY SPARHAWK, AMERICAN CRAFT BEER WEEK, FITNESS EXPERT JAMIE KRAUSS HESS, TIPS ON STAYING FIT, ACTIVE AND HEALTHY

CERTIFIED CICERONE, ANDY SPARHAWK TALKS  ABOUT AMERICAN CRAFT BEER WEEK 

RAISE A PINT TO FREEDOM 

Toast Small and Independent Brewers During American Craft Beer Week® 

Monday, May 15–Sunday, May 21, 2017
         
For the twelfth consecutive year, the Brewers Association has declared American Craft Beer Week (ACBW), a nationwide celebration of the small and independent craft brewers that make America’s beer culture so exceptional. The weeklong celebration provides a platform for craft brewers and beer lovers to celebrate craft beer. From May 15-21, brewers across all 50 states will hold events including exclusive brewery tours, special craft beer releases, food and beer pairings, tap takeovers and more.

Visit the official American Craft Beer Week event calendar on CraftBeer.com for a full – and growing – list of local celebrations in all 50 states.
     
ACBW provides hundreds of thousands of beer lovers the opportunity to visit and support their local brewery and beer businesses. It’s the perfect time to recognize the ingenuity of the small and independent craft breweries that have made America’s beer culture the richest in the world.


FITNESS EXPERT JAMIE KRAUSS HESS SHARES TIPS ON STAYING FIT, ACTIVE AND HEALTHY

SUMMER BODY DONE RIGHT!
Fitness Expert Jamie Krauss Hess Shares Tips on Staying Fit, Active and Healthy Through the Summer Swelter

Could it be true? Is summer weather FINALLY on the horizon?! The winter has been ROUGH for most of us, no matter where we live, and many of us are anxious to bask in the glow of the sunshine and head out to enjoy the joys of the warmer weather. You may find your desire to get out of the gym and into the fresh air growing stronger and hopefully you’re inspired to set goals for fitness, health and activity.

But we have to be careful of setting the bar too high and not setting attainable goals for ourselves. Sometimes if we push too hard we end up hurting ourselves. We’ve got Fitness Expert Jamie Krauss Hess here to help us get our summer body the healthy way!

PUREPROTEIN.COM 
MINUTERICE.COM  

05/12 J. MCCLELLAND CEO ANTHONY SCOTTO, 28TH ANNIVERSARY OF A CULINARY EVENING WITH THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS, CHEF IKAIKA MANAKU & RICKY HAMASAKI FROM THE WESTIN NANEA OCEAN VILLAS, STEVE EVANS, THE MOVIE GUY

ANTHONY SCOTTO - J. MCCLELLAND CELLARS - 28TH ANNIVERSARY OF A CULINARY EVENING WITH THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS

In 2008, the Scotto Family began preparing for the production of a collection of world class wines from Napa Valley dedicated to and named for their long time friend, trusted advisor and iconic California wine industry personality John McClelland. The fruit would be sourced from select Napa Valley vineyards by Winery Director and Winemaker Paul Scotto and vinified with Winemaker Mark Smith at the Scotto family's newly acquired Steele Canyon Winery in the Valley's eastern hills.

In 2014 the J. McClelland Cellars team was enhanced with the addition of Mitch Cosentino, the renowned and frequently awarded winemaker who brought many years of Napa Valley knowledge, experience and vineyard contacts to the project. Since the first release in 2015, JMC wines have garnered more than three dozen prestigious awards and 90+ point scores from highly respected critics as well as national and international wine competitions. Click here to view a complete list.

John McClelland's relationship with the Scottos began in the early 2000s during a meeting with the family to resolve some wine business issues and led to a lasting friendship between John and the entire family. John had a deep knowledge of the industry and a well connected sphere of distribution throughout the U.S. At the same time, 5th generation vintner Anthony III (affectionately known as A3) decided to return to the family’s winemaking tradition and began developing a network of distributors and brokers for their wine portfolio. A personal meeting with John and A3 followed that was the beginning of a strong joint collaboration.

John's contribution and working relationship with A3 evolved into a tightly knit bond with the Scotto family and their wine related interests. John became involved with blending decisions and all brand related issues. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of this friendship, the family wanted to honor John for his six decades of service to the industry and his tremendous impact on the Scotto family of wines.

The purchase of Steele Canyon Winery in 2012 provided the platform for the creation of J. McClelland Cellars and the Scotto commitment to produce only the finest from Napa Valley, resulting in our award winning JMC wines. We now invite you enjoy the wines inspired by John McClelland and hand-crafted by Paul Scotto and Mitch Cosentino.

WWW.JMCCLELLANDCELLARS.COM

28TH ANNIVERSARY OF A CULINARY EVENING WITH THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS

The California Winemasters is a perennial Wine Spectator Top 10 Charity Wine Auction set for May 20, 2017 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.  Its 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’oeuvres dinner!

CALIFORNIAWINEMASTERS.ORG


CHEF IKAIKA MANAKU & ASSISTANT FOOD & BEVERAGE DIRECTOR, RICKY HAMASAKI TELL US ABOUT MAUI’S NEWEST RESORT, THE WESTIN NANEA OCEAN VILLAS AND THEIR SIGNATURE RESTAURANT, MAUKA MAKAI

ABOUT THE WESTIN NANEA OCEAN VILLAS  
Situated on Maui’s North Kā‘anapali Beach, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas is designed to provide a relaxing haven complete with culturally inspired programs and authentic Hawaiian experiences. Every feature of the resort — from the Pu‘uhonua o Nanea Cultural Center to the locally sourced art — celebrates native culture and traditions. The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas offers world-class amenities including an expansive lagoon-style pool, full-service restaurant, beach bar and a WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio. All villas offer many of the key amenities of home, combined with signature Westin® touches, such as the Westin Heavenly® Bed and Westin Heavenly® Bath. Villas also feature fully equipped kitchens and washers and dryers. Visit westinnanea.com.

MAUI’S NEWEST OCEANFRONT RESORT INTRODUCES SIGNATURE RESTAURANT  

The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas will unveil Mauka Makai at May 12 grand opening celebration 

On Friday, May 12, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, the new resort situated on North Kā‘anapali Beach, introduced its signature restaurant, Mauka Makai, which honors the farming and fishing cultures of ancient Hawai‘i with contemporary flair. The grand opening celebration will showcase local produce and products and will feature chef action stations, specialty cocktails, local beer and live music. It begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $65 inclusive of all food and beverage tastings.

Inspired by the ancient Hawaiian way of life in the ahupua‘a, executive chef Ikaika Manaku’s regular menu at Mauka Makai was thoughtfully designed with fresh, local ingredients sourced from mountain to sea. The restaurant’s featured dishes include Pork and ‘Ahi with Maui onion jam, Yamasa caramel and Sriracha honey; Smoked Tako with Pohole fern sprouts, Kula tomatoes, Maui onion and blue ginger; and a Pōhaku Natural Prime Ribeye, served on a hot stone that guests finish cooking at the table. Handcrafted cocktails infused with spirits made on the island include unique components, such as house-made hibiscus syrup and smoky flavors of local kiawe wood. Beer enthusiasts will enjoy crisp Maui-made brews.

Mauka Makai, which is located poolside with stunning ocean views at The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, is open daily for breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.


WESTINNANEA.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.

05/11 LUCY BUFFETT, GUMBO LOVE, MOMTRENDS WITH NICOLE FELICIANO

LUCY BUFFETT - RESTAURATEUR AND AUTHOR - NEW COOKBOOK, GUMBO LOVE 

GUMBO LOVE: Recipes for Gulf Coast Cooking, Entertaining, and Savoring the Good Life 

A delicious love letter to the Gulf Coast's vibrant food culture.

Since she was a young girl, Lucy Buffett has believed in the power of gumbo-the stirring, the transformation of the roux, the simple ingredients cooking up into something much better than just the sum of its parts. It's only fitting that she signs her name with "Gumbo Love" and that she makes a living feeding people the most delicious, soul-satisfying food.

Her new cookbook, GUMBO LOVE, is a labor of love and includes recipes from all over the Gulf Coast. The dishes incorporate Caribbean, Cajun, Cuban, Mexican, Old Florida, and Creole influences. Lucy proves through her collection of recipes that the Gulf Coast has its own distinct flavors and traditions that make it a coastal destination year after year. And with some of the best seafood and produce the country has to offer, the Gulf Coast-beyond just New Orleans-has a vibrant cuisine and culture, making it a treasured culinary destination in its own right. Lucy combines over one hundred new recipes with old favorites. She lives by her mother's philosophy: "Life is short-eat dessert first," so the very first chapter is filled with delectable sweets like Classic Southern Pound Cake with Strawberries, Buttermilk Orange Chess Pie, and Salted Butterscotch Blondies.

Since you can't live on dessert alone, you'll find Gulf Coast favorites from Tailgate Shrimp and Crab Dip to Lucy's Signature Summer Seafood Gumbo, and Crab and Corn Fritters, along with dozens of other seafood appetizers and main dishes. And if you tire of seafood, Lucy shares her family favorites like Daddy's Fried Chicken, Beer-Braised Beef Brisket, Southern Fried Creamed Corn, and Greens and Grits.

Incorporating stories from Lucy's childhood growing up in Mobile, Alabama, adventures traveling the seas as a cook, time spent working as a chef in New Orleans, and her philosophy of relaxation, gratitude, and seizing the day, this cookbook entertains and inspires as it serves up recipe after recipe, each tastier than the last.

WWW.LUCYBUFFETT.COM


FOUNDER AND CEO OF MOMTRENDS,  NICOLE FELICIANO - SMART MOMS MUST HAVES

SMART MOMS MUST HAVES
Mom’s aren’t perfect but they are very close to it! You may not wear a mask or cape-but you are real life superhero! From responsibilities outside the home to cooking meals and cleaning rooms to refereeing squabbles and soccer-practice chauffeuring- we know you do it all!

The challenges of modern day mother hood can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re looking for innovative solutions to your every day problems Founder and CEO of Momtrends Nicole Feliciano has all the answers!

WWW.MOMTRENDS.COM

05/10 LARRY LIPSON, AFFORDABLE WINE REPORT, BARBARA BALIK, CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION, DENEEN VOJTA, PETER GETHERS, MY MOTHER’S 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.


BARBARA BALIK - DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL GIVING, CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION - 28TH ANNIVERSARY OF A CULINARY EVENING WITH THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS

The California Winemasters is a perennial Wine Spectator Top 10 Charity Wine Auction set for May 20, 2017 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.  Its 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’oeuvres dinner!

CALIFORNIAWINEMASTERS.ORG


DENEEN VOJTA, MD - SELF-CARE FOR WORKING MOMS THROUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY - TIPS AND ADVICE TO ENCOURAGE A HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY

Women Lead Most Family Related Health-Care Decisions, Sometimes Putting Self-Care Last

Over a century ago, Mother’s Day was created to honor motherhood and the influence of mothers in society, with the celebration becoming an official U.S. holiday in 1914.

More than 100 years later, a mother’s role has increased significantly within the family unit. According to survey by the American Academy of Family Physicians, 90 percent of women say they are responsible for health care decision-making in addition to overall care for themselves and/or family members.

With so much daily stress, how are working mothers caring for themselves? And what do expecting mothers and new families need to know to help encourage a successful pregnancy and delivery?

Deneen Vojta, MD, Executive Vice President of Research & Development at UnitedHealth Group shares the latest trends, technology and what’s available to women and their caregivers to make care simpler, more connected, personal and flexible.

WWW.CHILDBIRTHCONNECTION.ORG



PETER GETHERS - AUTHOR, MY MOTHER’S KITCHEN: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, AND THE MEANING OF LIFE

Author PETER GETHERS wants to give his aging mother, the celebrated cook and cookbook writer Judy Gethers, a final gift: a spectacular feast featuring all of her favorite dishes. The problem is, although he was raised to love food  and wine, he doesn’t really know how to cook!!

Although a stroke has robbed his mom of her own ability to cook, they embark on a series of conversations- often during meals that Peter attempts to prepare -about food, family, love and, what is becoming all too clear:  the fact that Judy’s life is drawing to a close.

The result is MY MOTHER’S KITCHEN: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and the Meaning of Life  - in which Gethers embarks upon a culinary and personal journey - often hilarious, always touching, and remarkably inspiring -that will ultimately allow him to bring his mother’s friends and loved ones to the table one last time.

 Peter Gethers' mother - 93 year old Judy Gethers - always understood the importance - and interconnectedness - of food and family. Her father owned the legendary Jewish kosher dairy restaurant Ratner’s on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. She discovered a passion for gourmet cooking when she was in her 50s, taking her first job, in the kitchen of the ground-breaking Los Angeles restaurant Ma Maison, when she was 53. She became a mentor and friend to some of the most famous chefs in America, including Wolfgang Puck, Nancy Silverton, and Jonathan Waxman, and eventually ran the Ma Cuisine cooking school, teaching alongside Julia Child among many others. Learning to cook changed her life—and the lives of those around her—and she created her own legendary status in the food world. As her health eventually began to fail, her taste remained, as did her sense of humor and her determination to live life on her own terms.

 In her 80s, she was robbed of her ability to cook by a debilitating stroke. But her love of food remained, helping her to recover and bringing her closer than ever to her son. At least twice a week, Peter visits her so he can make her dinner, ask questions about her colorful past, and learn her kitchen secrets. Peter decides to learn how to cook his mother the meal of her dreams and thereby tell the story of her life to all those who have loved her.

MY MOTHER’S KITCHEN is generously seasoned with Peter’s trademark wit and knowing eye. The book includes a selection of recipes ranging from Ratner’s Matzo Brei, to Tarte Tatin, and from a loaf of challah to salmon coulibiac, as well as family photos. Peter Gethers has written an unforgettable memoir about how food and family can do much more than feed us—they can nourish our souls.

05/09 ANDREA CECCHI, CECCHI FAMILY ESTATES, FOOD NETWORK’S ELLIE KRIEGER

TUSCAN WINE PRODUCER, ANDREA CECCHI - CEO, CECCHI FAMILY ESTATES

The Cecchi family and brand is synonymous with viticulture, both in Italy and throughout the world.

The history of the winery is a compelling story of a family, articulated by passion, dedication to the land, and a brilliant entrepreneurial spirit. Using the strength gained from their experience of more than 100 years of love for the land, today the Cecchi family takes on the challenges of the future with that same enthusiasm.

In 1863, Luigi Cecchi was born in Poggibonsi, a Tuscan village 15km west of where he would one day become a well-known winemaker. His father cultivated plots of land where both he and his brother Francesco worked side-by-side. Luigi immediately showed great willingness and initiative, especially in matters of wine tasting and evaluating.

From a young age he started assisting companies with his love and knowledge in wine cultivating, making and tasting. In 1893 he decided to become an official wine taster. During this time he rented two warehouses where he conducted his own wine tasting business while simultaneously working the fields with his family.

The business was successful and began to develop. Luigi and his wife raised five children. In the early twentieth century his son Cesare began working with him. Once credibility and international prestige were achieved it became imperative to plan the necessary investment in order to prevail in the future. Luigi, the founder’s grandson, was the key figure. With him the Cecchi brand distinguished itself in the domestic wine industry thanks to technological innovation, a willingness to seek out wine regions and excellent intuition for business. In 1962, Luigi Cecchi acquired a marvelous estate in Chianti Classico and in the 1970s the company moved to Castellina in Chianti, where the family founded their headquarters. Now the fourth generation, Cesare and Andrea, run the family business.

WWW.CECCHI.NET


FOOD NETWORK’S ELLIE KRIEGER TALKS ABOUT THE NUTRITIOUS BENEFITS OF OLIVE OIL AND DEMONSTRATES ITS USES IN HEART HEALTHY RECIPES

Host of the Food Network’s hit show “Healthy Appetite,” and “Ellie’s Real Good Food” on PBS, Ellie Krieger is the go-to nutritionist for creating balanced, healthy and delicious meals. One of her favorite secrets: switching out butter for olive oil. During her live interview she can give your viewers some recipe ideas for spoiling mom on Mother’s Day!

Studies have shown that a diet which features olive oil as a main source of fat has many health benefits, and may even help the body better absorb nutrients from vegetables and other foods.

There are three different types of olive oil available to U.S. consumers -- extra virgin, olive oil and light-tasting olive oil – but often people have a hard time knowing when to use each type. Ellie will help to clear up confusion about cooking with olive oils  as well as provide clarity on other olive oil topics, including on-going testing by the North American Olive Oil Association that shows more than 98% of olive oils available in supermarkets nationwide are authent

05/08 GINA STIPO, MOTHER’S DAY THE ITALIAN WAY, WENDY EACHUS, MADERA VINTNERS ASSOCIATION, SPRING WINE TRAIL ADVENTURE

ITALIAN CHEF & RESTAURATEUR, GINA STIPO - MOTHER’S DAY THE ITALIAN WAY

Chef Gina Stipo is the Executive Chef and owner of At The Italian Table, a dining experience that showcases her knowledge of Tuscan gastronomy and her experience at the helm of a renowned Italian cooking school that she owned and operated for thirteen years. Locals, as well as travelers to the area, will find At the Italian Table is a culinary gem that features some of the most authentic Italian cuisine outside of Italy.

MOTHER’S DAY THE ITALIAN WAY
Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to bring together la famiglia and celebrate mom over great food and wine. Join Italian-American chef, Gina Stipo, of Louisville’s At The Italian Table, a communal dining destination that evokes a family home in the Tuscan countryside. Booked weeks in advance, once you taste Gina’s recipes, you’ll want to incorporate them into all of your family’s holiday traditions.

HERE ARE SOME GREAT IDEAS FOR MOTHER'S DAY ITALIAN CUISINE:

APPETIZERS, PASTA & MAIN DISHES 

• Antipasto:  Crespelle in brodo – Parmigiano crepes in a rich broth
• Primo:  Garganelli pasta with peas, prosciutto and cream - this hand-rolled pasta from Emilia Romagna offers great visuals!
• Gina’s grilled lamb chops - Gina will share her tips & tricks to grilling your favorite cuts while ensuring the best results
• Verdure dell’estate arrosto (roasted seasonal vegetables)
• Spring salad of escarole, wild herbs, pea shoots and mint 

DESSERTS 

• Blood Orange Cake with hazelnut gelato
• Torta di Riso – classic Tuscan rice & lemon cake
• Panna Cotta with strawberries & chocolate ganache drizzle

ABOUT At the Italian Table – Cook, Dine, Wine
In the true style of an Italian osteria,  At the Italian Table in the Crescent Hill neighborhood offers authentic regional cuisine from Italy.  The two communal tables that seat 10 each make for a fun evening with great synergy, conversation and laughter.  The menu changes each day and is based on what is in season and fresh.  Chef Gina Stipo chooses and prepares the five-course meal for you, which includes an antipasto, fresh pasta or risotto, a meat and vegetable, salad course, and dessert. Dinners are Wednesday-Saturday at 7 p.m.  by reservation only.

When you arrive, you are welcomed with an aperitivo to get the evening started and when everyone has arrived they are seated at either of the two refectory tables brought from Tuscany.  Due to Chef Stipo’s many years living in Italy, all the decor, furniture and tableware has been imported from Italy and makes for a warm and cozy home atmosphere.dining room after

Whether you’ve been to Italy and long to recreate the beauty and style of your dining experience there, or you dream of Italy and would love to eat like an Italian for an evening, or you are searching for an interesting way to enjoy a meal out, At the Italian Table on Frankfort Ave is Tutto Italiano! – everything Italian.

On Tuesdays, cooking classes are held which feature 3 courses of a typical seasonal Italian meal, including making fresh pasta.  Following the demonstration class, we will enjoy the dishes we’ve created together at the communal table.  Classes are $75 per person and payment is taken at the time of the reservation.

WWW.ATTHEITALIANTABLE.COM
 

WENDY EACHUS - EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR, MADERA VINTNERS ASSOCIATION - SPRING WINE TRAIL ADVENTURE IS MAY 13-14

VISIT MADERA'S BEAUTIFUL WINE COUNTRY FOR WINE TASTING, FOOD, LIVE MUSIC AND GIFT SHOPPING ON MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND

On May 13th and 14th, the Madera Wine Trail will host Spring Wine Trail Adventure. Visitors can travel to seven wineries and taste a wide variety of award-winning wines, enjoy live music, shop from specialty gift vendors and indulge in delicious food from local caterers and food trucks. Visit the scenic wineries and sip on wine while relaxing on outdoor patios and gardens on Mother's Day weekend! Whether you're new to wine or a connoisseur, there is something for everyone on the Wine Trail.

Visitors can expect a unique local adventure with special activities beyond wine tasting including winery tours, art shows featuring local artists, food, cheese and chocolate pairings at select locations, beautiful scenic views and relaxing outdoor patio lounging. Each Mom attending will receive a rose (while supplies last), and other special gifts can be found around the Wine Trail!

Plan to taste and take home award-winning wines! Participating wineries will have a large selection of excellent wines to choose from, many with special pricing and gift packages during the event.
 
Participating Wineries:
Birdstone Winery
Idle Hour Winery
San Joaquin Wine Co.
Fasi Estate Winery
Papagni Wines
Toca Madera Winery
Westbrook Wine Farm (By Appt. Only)

TICKET INFORMATION:                                                                            
Tickets are available for $25 in advance through May 12 and $30 the weekend of the event. A ticket includes a keepsake wine glass and is your pass to wine tasting on the Trail all weekend long! Tickets can be purchased online at www.MaderaWineTrail.com , and at these select locations: Toca Madera Winery and San Joaquin Wine Company.

Designated Drivers are free of charge and can pick up a pass at their first stop on the Trail. Transportation recommendations can be found at MaderaWineTrail.com. Ages 21 and over only including designated drivers. Groups of 16 and under only. No vehicles larger than limousine or small shuttle size please.

WWW.MADERAWINETRAIL.COM

05/05 JEFF NELSON, LIQUID FARM, PATRICIA RAVITZ, CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, STEVE EVANS, THE MOVIE REPORT

JEFF NELSON – OWNER, LIQUID FARM

Our Story
Why We Started Liquid Farm
Before Liquid Farm, our glasses were often filled with old world wine. We preferred the lower alcohol, cooler climate, and more earth-driven characteristics of European wines compared to their more ripe, fruit-focused, more alcoholic Californian counterparts.

We were eating local, supporting mom and pop restaurants and farmers markets. In trying to support California wines, we typically didn't finish those bottles as eagerly as the old world wines on our table.  That's when we decided to make wine from our own backyard in a style we craved.

Our Mission
We seek to support local viticulture and honor our palates' love for old world wines that have naturally high acidity and are not masked by many of the modern day manipulations.

To do so, we selfishly decided to make what we most love to drink: Chardonnay that is earth and mineral driven from cool climates with little or no new oak. To achieve these qualities we were drawn to one of the coolest of all California AVA's, Sta. Rita Hills. Located in Santa Barbara County, it is home to some of the most Chardonnay-suited, unique, ancient soils in North America.

From the climate and soil, to the people and their wines, the Santa Ynez Valley is certainly one of the most special regions we have ever come across. We are truly honored to be a part of it.

The Name & The Label
Above Ground. Below Ground.
Is it a kohlrabi? Is it the world? Is it a beet? Here's the story:

The name Liquid Farm was thought of long before there was wine in barrel. Our goal was to create awareness about what happens above ground and below ground, and tell the story of how both are inextricably linked to wine. Wine is, after all, a product of the earth and the human touch. It is Liquid from Farming.

In 2009, the first four barrels filled with wine and the name Liquid Farm already in place, the label itself was still a huge blank. We had a fascination with dandelions; the way they develop from pod to flower to the white fluffy thing we all made wishes on as kids. You can also make wine out of dandelions in the spring (something we have been meaning to get around to) and loved the irony that dandelion leaves and roots have been used as a tonic for wine-drenched livers for centuries.

While poking around online for botanical or da Vinci-type sketches of dandelion roots we came across a black and white drawing - it appeared to be a beet root that had been mislabeled, but there was a haunting faint line running through the center that kept us coming back to it.

After a little research, we were able to track down the talented artist: Val Littlewood, a gifted nature illustrator from the UK. She was able to transform her fatefully misnamed beet root into our Liquid Farm image by adding color to the bulb, and adding in the flower (figuratively, the grape) that transports what is found below ground, "above ground."

When developing the image into an actual wine label, we wanted to remain dedicated to telling the Above Ground/Below Ground story. The vintage, placed above the line, pays homage to the particular year's influence on the wine, while the AVA of Sta. Rita Hills that lies below, honors the soil's unmistakable impact, which also ends up inside the glass.

WWW.LIQUIDFARM.COM


PATRICIA RAVITZ - PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS - GOLDEN STATE CRISIS: HALF OF CALIFORNIANS WHO NEED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE NOT GETTING TREATMENT

Golden State Crisis: Half of Californians Who Need Mental Health Services Are Not Getting Treatment 

In California, the incidence of mental health issues closely mirrors the national experience. Nearly 1 in 6 adults in the state has a mental health need. The rate for children is even higher. A mental health need does not always mean serious mental illness; it might be depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or addiction. Any number of issues can disrupt daily life and activities. Even more alarming is the fact that about half of adults and two-thirds of adolescents with mental health needs in California do not get treatment.

Research published within the mental health community has examined the reasons why people avoid seeking help for mental health problems, showing there are significant barriers.  The most prevalent factor is social stigma: fear others will view a person negatively if he or she seeks help. There is also the fear of sharing one’s emotions with someone outside the family and friends circle. Additionally, some cultural or ethnic backgrounds can be less open to therapy and the notion of “seeking help” to feel better.

On Friday, May 5th, Patricia Ravitz is available to you and your listeners to talk about how prevalent mental illness is in the state of California and what its residents can do to seek help. She’ll also discuss how a marriage and family therapist can help with many issues ranging from depression, addiction, and eating disorders and matters beyond couples counseling.



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.