Enjoying dinner at La Nena Cantina brings together Los Angeles’s Modern Mexican Coastal Cuisine and the Valle de Guadalupe wine from Casa de Piedra, with Hugo D’Acosta, the grandfather, or one could say the Robert Mondavi, of Mexican wine. This was the highlight of a recent wine dinner at La Nena Cantina’s Disney Center location
From the blazes of saving a property to the bold flavors he crafted in the kitchen, Coby Bailey brought his unique story to The Great American Recipe. Known for his leadership as a fire chief, Bailey discovered that the same discipline, creativity, and calm-under-pressure mindset required on the job translates to cooking. What began as
National Farmers Market Week takes place from August 3 to August 9. As a frequenter of farmers markets, I thought it appropriate to honor some of my favorite vendors. If you live in Los Angeles, one of my favorite markets is the Sunday Brentwood Farmers Market. It is not huge, but the quality of produce
The Santa Ynez Valley lies between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the San Rafael Mountains. Its landscape recalls its agricultural roots, which include pastures for raising cattle and horses. This area is recognized as the land of the Chumash. Today, vineyards dot the countryside. The fertile soils contribute to the rise of the farm-to-table dining
Before attending the 2024 IFWTWA conference in Finger Lakes, New York, the idea of exploring Rochester NY, a nearby city, never occurred to me. Now that I’ve done a three-day tour, I can emphatically say that Rochester is one of America’s best mid-sized cities. With many unique museums, historical sites from the Abolitionist and Suffrage
If you want a change of scenery, a weekend escape to Solvang, CA, offers a fantastic option with its Danish flair, good wine, and burgeoning dining scene. My recent visit included tasting wine at Coquelicot Estate Vineyard, dining at the Michelin Plate restaurant First & Oak, and staying at the Mirabelle Inn. On this same
As a person with dietary restrictions, I was pleasantly surprised at the diversity of multicultural food I could savor in Surrey British Columbia. This food adventure allowed me to enjoy the city even more. The eclectic food offerings translate into the excitement of taking in Surrey. My stay in Surrey enamored me; from the downtown
Like art, food trails define a region. Some trails tell the story of the area’s past, while others give a little color to the city where these trails reside. While visiting the Yadkin Valley, North Carolina, to discover wine, I found two Yadkin Valley Food Trails that speak to the area’s history. They are the
When I think of Santa Maria Valley, I visualize Santa Maria-style barbeque and the excellent wine, especially pinot noir and chardonnay grapes, that thrive in the area. I never thought that Santa Maria Valley would be known for its Central Coast Coffee and tea. Visiting Dewlson Family Farm, I discovered that coffee is a novelty
In today’s world, sustainability and regenerative farming have become key and part of many restaurants’ programs. One company Chiles Hospitality is a fixture in the Anna Maria Island food scene by taking these concepts and creating a story about farm to table and table to farm. It’s a cycle of life within its own culture