PGA National Resort & Spa host 2nd Annual Craft Beer Festival and Burger Bash

PGA National Resort & Spa will host the second annual Craft Beer Festival and Burger Bash on Saturday, June 15 from noon until 4 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door (www.pgabeerandburger.eventbrite.com/). A portion of the proceeds benefit the Surfrider Foundation Palm Beach County Chapter – a non-profit environmental organization protecting area beaches. Accommodations include a special “Stay the Night” rate of $169 on June 15 including two tickets with an additional night added for $99. Call 855.896.4762 for reservations. 

PGA National partners include:

Brown Distributing, Yelp, Localdines.com, Palm Harbor Marina, WILD 95.5 FM, KOOL 105.5 FM, and Gator 98.7 FM 

Highlights:

Live entertainment; vendor village with specialty retail goods; food sampling / specialty burgers from local restaurants / chefs; Palm Beach Draughtsman demo on creating IPGA home brew; and charity silent auction.

Local restaurant booths: sliders for tasting and competing for the title of Palm Beach’s “2013 King of All Burgers” against defending 2012 champion — Chuck Burger Joint. Attendees will vote on winners in three categories: “Best Burger,” “Most Innovative Burger,” and “Best Non-Beef Burger.”

This year’s contenders: Bar Louie, Burger Bar, Cha Cha’s, Talay Thai, Chuck Burger Joint, Sweet’s Raw Bar, Corner Café, Hamburger Haven, III Forks, End Zone, Jumby Bay Island Grill, Wine Dive, Hurricane Café, Whole Foods Market, Hog Snappers Shack & Sushi, and Frigates.

For more PGA National Resort & Spa information: www.pgaresort.com or call 561-627-3111.

And today in beautiful northern Virginia, I’m wearing my boots. I got them years ago from an amazing Wyoming outfitter — no socks required, which is good since I completely forget to bring a single pair of socks on this trip. I have on two shirts. My hat and gloves are by the door. This is my first cold weather since 2010 and I LOVE IT. On assignment to cover family friendly outdoor winter activities, I just got here last night and this morning it is a perfect 31 degrees and expected to get even colder. 

Before I put on my jacket this morning, I gave myself a writer’s gift. I walked out onto my deck to breathe in the sight of the surrounding mountains. I stood there and let the chilly air overtake my senses. I waited to come back into the warmth of my room, made cozy by a burning fireplace, until I felt really cold. Nothing takes my mind to that fabulously creepy writing place where most of my characters live like a chill in the air.

In Southwest Florida, rain has the same affect — stormy weather with all of its grey skies and rumbling, cloud cover and raindrops are practically an aphrodisiac for both my protagonist and antagonist, and all of the characters who support them, and who have stories to tell all their own.

But nothing makes my characters and the heart of my novel reveal themselves like cold mountains. As I stood on the chilly deck watching the mountains, I looked out at the woods and thought of my characters. I thought of Kate and her triumphs and struggle. I felt sad knowing that many of the characters I love in my book do not survive, but as ghosts whose histories flavor the pages of those who live on. The cold and the rain makes me feel these people I’ve created much more than when it’s sunny outside. I’m convinced that murky weather must serve as some kind of clearer communion with them. I can’t explain it otherwise.

Early this morning as I stood on the deck letting myself experience and appreciate the cold, I closed my eyes, feeling the brisk air whistle around my face. Then, like lost souls, there they were, so much clearer than they are in my office, cheery coffee shop or sunny locale. My characters seem so much more at home in the grey areas of the world — when it’s cold in the mountains, or when the rain comes in sheets to shake the earth — these elements must make them feel more deeply, too.  

Living in Southwest Florida has its perks — no doubt. It’s gorgeous and exotic and even the medians are landscaped with birds of paradise. My friend Ray sent me into gales of laughter once when he said, “I keep expecting  someone to jump out from behind the bushes with a sign and yell ‘cut, cut,’  like on a movie set.” And nothing beats a day on the water in the Ten Thousand Islands or Florida Everglades with my amazing husband Capt. Kevin Merritt.  In fact, I’m going to do something I never do — ask him to take his wife out on a fishing date soon — because I want him to rest on his days off, not take a bus driver’s holiday.  

But for these precious few days at least, I’m going to appreciate every snowflake and shiver. And at night after my own storytelling work is done, I’ll take my characters by the hand and let the cold work its magic on the stories they have to tell. 

The ‘Love in Paris’ package includes:

· Overnight accommodations

· Breakfast for two in-room or at Camélia

· 80-minute Oriental Essence Treatment for two in a couples’ suite

· Romantic welcome amenity in-room including a bottle of Champagne and rose petal arrangement

· Candle gift by “Belle de Nuit”

The Mandarin Oriental, Paris ‘Love in Paris’ package is available from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28, 2013

From $1,711, double occupancy.

Reservations / info: www.mandarinoriental.com

Mandarin Oriental, Paris is located on the Rue Saint-Honoré — 99 luxurious rooms and 39 suites. Perks: inner courtyard camellia garden, outdoor dining, two-Michelin star signature restaurant, Sur Mesure par Thierry Marx, Camélia, The Cake Shop and Bar 8 (all under Executive Chef and Culinary Director Thierry Marx.) And also, and obviously, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Paris.

Congratulations to Sale e Pepe Italian Restaurant on the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence!

 Sale e Pepe Earns Wine Spectator Restaurant Award

Sale e Pepe, an elegant yet resort casual restaurant located at the Marco Beach Ocean Resort overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, has received the 2012 Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine. The restaurant is one of just 878 restaurants across 50 states to receive this award in recognition of its top quality wine list. Sale e Pepe has been honored with this prestigious award for seven consecutive years, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Since 1981, Wine Spectator has honored the world’s best wine lists. The Best of Award of Excellence recognizes those restaurants offering a wine list of 400 or more selections, with significant vintage depth or superior breadth in one or more major wine regions. The complete list of award winners will be featured in the August issue of Wine Spectator.

Sale e Pepe operates under the experienced guidance and direction of Executive Chef Guiliano Matarese A former Executive Chef at Convivio and Chef de Partie at Charlie Palmer’s Aureole, a Michelin-star restaurant in New York City, Chef Matarese brings his personal style and creative flare to the Southern Italian cuisine at Sale e Pepe.

Italy’s stunning culinary achievements, as well as its magnificent Renaissance art and architecture are celebrated at Sale e Pepe, the oceanfront restaurant on Marco Island, Florida. Diners are treated to an authentic cuisine rarely experienced outside Italy, with dishes prepared fresh daily by Chef Matarese. Born in Napoli, Italy, where he began his culinary passion at age 3, Matarese began cooking at their family restaurant and then he began to explore different regional expressions in Sardegna, Veneto and Lago di Garda before moving to New York City, and now calls Marco Island his home.

Sale e Pepe is enjoyed by Marco Beach Ocean Resort guests, locals and residents of Fiddler’s Creek, especially those who take the opportunity to join The Tarpon Club. Member benefits include complimentary valet, onsite concierge, dining discounts, priority seating, extensive social calendar and beach privileges at Marco Beach Ocean Resort. The Tarpon Club Marina includes a full-service marina with direct access to the Gulf, wet slip storage and a state-of-the-art Dry Boat Storage Facility, with 25,000 square feet and accommodations for up to 150 boats. All wet slips within The Tarpon Club Marina are available for rental to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis.

Reservations: 239-393-1600

www.sale-e-pepe.com

This beautiful waterfall along the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Virginia and North Carolina border is one of many visitors will see in the area. Credit: Kelly Merritt

Virginia’s reputation as a destination full of local flavor has a new experience to tout with the first-ever August Virginia Craft Beer Month. The month’s theme, Love on Tap, is a nod to the state’s famous Virginia is for Lovers slogan and local craft beer on tap at more than 40 breweries and hundreds of restaurants across Virginia. The month-long celebration culminates with the first-ever Virginia Craft Brew Festival Aug. 25 at Devils Backbone Brewery in Nelson County.

The Virginia tourism office has created a new, interactive map on www.Virginia.org/craftbeer to help visitors find craft breweries open for tastings and tours and plan a visit. The site also features special events and Virginia craft beer travel packages throughout August.

“Virginia is for Lovers is about love – pure and simple,” said Rita McClenny, interim president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “Our craft breweries are found throughout the state and are ideal places for people who love local beers, outdoor adventure and exploring small towns and cool cities. The Virginia craft beer scene, combined with our 220 wineries, makes Virginia a top destination for culinary travelers looking for true local flavor.”
“August Craft Beer Month is a huge opportunity for us to show what Virginia craft beer is all about,” said Michael Killelea, Chairman of the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild and brewer at Legend Brewing Company. “We’re really excited about the future. And with help from the state tourism office, I think we can continue to grow and encourage those of age to tap into what’s being brewed here in the Commonwealth.”

Below is a sample of special events and travel packages which beer lovers can experience in Virginia, with many more listed on www.Virginia.org/CraftBeer.

Virginia Craft Beer Month Sunday Brunch at Blue Mountain Brewery
Celebrate Virginia Craft Beer Month with a delicious brunch menu featuring local sausage gravy over toasted buttermilk biscuits, veggie and sausage breakfast burritos, quiche of the day, waffles and more. Live music at 2:30 p.m. Enjoy the brewery’s craft beers and stunning views of Blue Ridge Mountain views from an indoor seating area or the outside terrace. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26, 2012.

Virginia Craft Brewers Fest at Devils Backbone Brewing Company
Taste Virginia’s award-winning craft beers in an amazing outdoor setting with music, food and more at Devils Backbone Brewing Company, located in Roseland at the base of Wintergreen Mountain. Craft brewers from around the state will be on hand to pour local beer and compete in the Virginia Beer Cup competition. Aug. 25, 2012. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Craft Beer Dinner at Wild Wolf Brewing Company
Celebrate Virginia Craft Beer Month with the chef’s presentation of fresh seasonal dishes paired with Wild Wolf craft beers. Aug. 28, 2012. 6:00 p.m.

Linden Row Inn Virginia Craft Beer Month Package – Richmond
Celebrate August Virginia Craft Beer Month at Richmond’s historic Linden Row Inn where guests will enjoy a one night getaway coupled with a selection of Virginia’s authentic craft beers. This package includes accommodations in one of the Linden Row Inn’s Main House rooms, a “mix pack” consisting of Legend Brown Ale (brewed in Richmond) and Star Hill JOMO Lager (brewed in Crozet), a souvenir Virginia is for Lovers bottle opener and free overnight valet parking as well as continental breakfast, in-town shuttle and more. Rates start at $159, based upon double occupancy, exclusive of taxes and subject to availability. Must be at least 21 years of age to purchase this package. Available Aug. 1-31, 2012. Reservations are available by visiting www.reservations.lindenrowinn.com or calling 800-348-7424.

Craddock Terry Hotel Brews and Shoes Package – Lynchburg
Beer and shoe lovers unite with Craddock Terry Hotel’s Brews and Shoes package. The package includes a night in the historic boutique hotel, a renovated shoe factory, as well as a five flight sampler on-site at the Jefferson Street Brewery where guests leave with a 64 oz. growler filled to the brim of their favorite beer. To top it off, the package includes a $50 gift certificate redeemable at either one of the hotel’s on-site award-winning restaurants where a selection of local beers is just waiting to be tasted. Prices start at $209 for deluxe accommodations. Available Aug. 1-31, 2012. Guests must be 21 or older to book this package. To book, visit www.craddockterryhotel.com or call 434-55-1500.

Hampton Inn & Suites Virginia Craft Beer Month Package – Richmond
Travelers who book this package will have no problem filling up with food while enjoying the best of August Virginia Craft Beer Month. Package includes one night accommodations for two in a studio suite, one $25 gift card to Quaker Steak and Lube, in room “bar snacks” amenity featuring pretzels popcorn and peanuts as well as a hot breakfast buffet. Take in visits to local breweries including Legend and Hardywood in Richmond. Rates start at $149 exclusive of tax and based upon availability. Available Aug. 1-31, 2012. For reservations, visit http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/virginia/hampton-inn-and-suites-richmond-glenside-RICGLHX/index.html or call 804-576-1777.

Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Visit www.Virginia.org to start planning a trip or call 1-800-VISITVA to request a free, Virginia is for Lovers travel guide. Stay connected on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/VirginiaisforLovers or on Twitter @VisitVirginia.

Thermador officially releases its highly anticipated full-surface induction cooktop

After making an immediate splash debuting at the 2012 International CES in Las Vegas, the most anticipated kitchen appliance of the year marks its official launch as luxury appliance pioneer Thermador (http://www.thermador.com/) announces its Thermador Freedom® Induction Cooktop is available for purchase.

The new Freedom Induction Cooktop is the first full-surface induction appliance with the flexibility of a natural-mapping user interface that intelligently recognizes cookware size, shape and position to deliver heat without boundaries. It is the world’s first induction appliance to eliminate conventional cooking elements and offer one limitless cooking surface with an intuitive touchscreen interface.

“Thermador once again delivers real innovations for passionate culinary enthusiasts who can now cook beyond convention with a product that affords no limitations,” said Zach Elkin, director, brand marketing for Thermador. “Since its initial unveiling in January, we’ve seen incredible buzz and interest from the culinary world for this revolutionary product, which finally is available for purchase to cook with and entertain with in luxury kitchens.”

Available with a MSRP of $5,499, the Freedom Induction Cooktop offers all of the benefits of traditional induction technology: instantaneous and precise temperature control, making it as responsive as gas; safer cooking, as the surface stays cool to the touch; and easier cleaning with its smooth and flush surface.

With more than 30 international patents, the Thermador Freedom Induction Cooktop is built with 48 individual 3-inch induction heating elements below the surface of the appliance. This translates to a 63-percent more effective cooking area on the surface by eliminating the conventional standard of predefined elements. Additional product highlights include:

· A 6.5-inch, full-color touchscreen display that recognizes pot shape, size, and controls power setting and cooking time
· Surface area to accommodate a 21-inch x 13-inch pan with the largest cooking surface in the industry
· A range of 4,600-watt maximum power output with Boost feature and 15-watt minimum power output

To locate the nearest Thermador dealer offering the Freedom Induction Cooktop, please visit http://www.thermador.com/dealer-locator.

Thermador has been providing real innovations for real cooks for more than 75 years. The iconic line of cooking, cleaning, refrigeration and ventilation products remains committed to empowering culinary enthusiasts to be their best through continuous innovation breakthroughs – from the world’s first wall ovens and gas cooktops with the patented Star® Burner to a speedcooking oven that reduces cooking time by 50 percent. Click to www.thermador.com for more info.

Not only does www.MrChewy.com  facilitate the delivery of hundreds of pet supplies and food products, they are passionate about shelter pets and animal welfare.  

My first story for MrChewy.com on celebrity chefs and the pets who mesmerize them is online now. It’s great fun (and heartwarming to say the least!) to see how these culinary minds love their beloved four-legged family members. You can read the story here. Here also is my author page on www.MrChewy.com. I’m honored to be part of this. 

 Please bookmark the www.MrChewy.com blog so you can stay connected to this vibrant pet-centric community and if you have pets — become a customer so you can support a company that truly loves pets and all animals as much as we do! 

The Great American Steamboat Company is pleased to announce the 2013 schedule for the reigning queen of the Mississippi river, the grand American Queen. These fabled river voyages on the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee Rivers for the 2013 season will go on sale Friday, June 22, 2012. Once again, travelers will enjoy this truly American experience, celebrated by Mark Twain and others, of steamboat voyages on the great rivers of the America’s heartland. With convenient departures from some of the United States’ most storied cities such as Memphis, New Orleans, St. Louis, St. Paul, Cincinnati, Chattanooga, and Pittsburgh, planning a steamboat vacation on the American Queen has never been easier.

2013 Voyage Highlights

· A total of 30 departures from Memphis and New Orleans, showcasing the fabled Lower Mississippi’s fabled plantations, civil war battlefields, history and Southern culture

· Five special departures featuring Natchez’s Spring Pilgrimage Pageant

· “Blue Hawaii”, an Elvis Tribute

· New themes – Blues & Barbeque, Louisiana History & Culture, Mystical Krewe of Steamboating Mardi GrasSM, Dixie Fest, Southern Spirits, Gardens of the River, In the Good Old SummertimeSM, Baseball Legends, Manifest Destiny, The Great Steamboat Era and the first annual Delta Queen Steamboat Company and Paddlewheel Steamboat Society Of America™ Reunion voyages

· Epic Civil War voyage between Memphis and Chattanooga

· More accommodations for single travelers including new Single Outside Staterooms

· Red, White and Blue Pricing – offering greater value for travelers

· The most inclusive river cruise product in North America – every steamboat holiday includes a free one night deluxe hotel stay in the city of embarkation, all shore tours on our trademark SteamcoahesSM in all ports, complimentary wine and beer with dinner and a host of other amenities

· Fares: $1,095 per guest

Befitting a company that celebrates the American experience, the American Queen employs an affable, all-American crew that is eager to please. Few things are nicer than mint juleps on deck on a glorious summer afternoon on the Ohio River or morning coffee in the grand J.M. White Dining Room as you steam into St. Paul. With a homeport of Memphis, the American Queen carries with her the same devotion to exceptional dining and entertainment, including Dixieland Jazz and gracious southern charm and hospitality. Inspired by the greatest steamboats of the 19th Century, the American Queen offers an opulent two-level Grand Saloon, an elegant two-deck high Dining Room, staterooms and suites appointed with period furnishings and antique touches, many with their own private veranda and all with the modern amenities today’s travelers expect. Most notably, the American Queen carries only 436 guests, surrounding them in an atmosphere befitting a fine antebellum mansion complete with rich paneling, priceless antiques, Tiffany glass and public rooms that are warm and welcoming.

As a tribute to this historic steamboat and following in the footsteps of its fabled predecessor, the company is being renamed in honor of its iconic flagship. Effective July 1, the company will be renamed the American Queen Steamboat Company.

“Just as the Greene family renamed their operation to honor the historic Delta Queen, we are embracing the legacy of the American Queen and renaming the Company in honor of her. Because of her iconic status, she has quickly become the brand in the eyes of our guests and travel agent partners,” stated Jeffrey D. Krida, the company’s chief executive officer.

A variety of voyage lengths, ranging from four nights to twelve nights, and fares beginning at $1,095 per guest, offers exceptional value and convenience, with little or no flying required.

For additional information and reservations, kindly contact the Great American Steamboat Company at 888-749-5280, visit us online at www.GreatAmericanSteamboatCompany.com or at www.AmericanQueenSteamboatCompany.com or call your travel agent.

Mo-chica—Ricardo Zarate’s contemporary Peruvian restaurant in downtown Los Angeles—celebrates its grand opening tomorrow — Wednesday, May 30th with a ribbon cutting ceremony, live art by street artist Robert Vargas, live performances by traditional Peruvian dancers, and more… 

Opening Day Events

9a Local street artist Robert Vargas tags the windows

11a Official ribbon cutting with Ricardo, local artists, city officials (open to the public)

11:30a-3:30p Open for Lunch 

5:00p Step-and-repeat photos (open to the public)

5:30-10:30p Open for Dinner 

6p Dancers and musicians begin their night-long performances 

About Mo-chica

Mo-chica is a vibrant, urban restaurant serving Chef Ricardo Zarate’s modern interpretations on traditional Peruvian comfort food. 

Originally built in an assuming food court in downtown Los Angeles, the restaurant’s humble setting proved a stark contrast for the innovative cuisine served. Chef Ricardo Zarate, a good-humored Lima native who trained at some of London’s most celebrated restaurants for 12 years, opened Mo-chica in the summer of 2009 as his first solo endeavor. The restaurant immediately received recognition from both local and national audiences, including Jonathan Gold of LA Weekly and the head honchos at Food & Wine. After opening Picca in 2011 and fueled by the unprecedented momentum of the restaurants’ successes, Zarate resurfaced his dream for Mo-chica—one he wasn’t able to fully materialize with the original location due to limited resources. The chef found a larger space downtown on 7^th and Grand that could embody his original vision; the open, industrial-esque restaurant features concrete floors, vibrant-hued walls tagged with graffiti (thanks to local artist Kozem), whimsical touches—including Peruvian figurines customized by some of the city’s culinary tastemakers such as Ludo Lefebvre, Nancy Silverton, and Evan Kleiman—and sneakers suspended from the ceiling. Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Valet parking available after 7 p.m.

Menu Items 

Tallarines Verdes Con Camarones (11)

Grilled black tiger prawns atop tagliatelle, peanuts, tossed with Peruvian black mint pesto

Caesarin (9)

Peruvian Caesar salad with grilled baby romaine, parmesang, and huacatay anchovie dressing

Quinotto (12)

Quinoa risotto, wild mushrooms, parmesan, parsley infused oil

Hamburgesa (12)

Alpaca and lamb patty and pickled cucumbers with aji Amarillo yogurt dressing 

Mo-chica
514 W. 7th Street (@ Grand) 
Los Angeles, CA 90014
213. 622.3744

Hours
Sun.-Sat. 11:30a-3:30p (lunch)
5:30-11p (dinner)

Mo-chica Online
www.mo-chica.com
fb/MoChicaLA
@MoChicaLA

Bon Appetit Magazine Names Bien Cuit Bakery in Brooklyn in Top 10 for US Baguettes

Since its launch last July in Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill neighborhood, Bien Cuit Bakery has received a basket-full of accolades, including being named one of New York’s 10 best inexpensive restaurants by the New York Times, picked as one of the city’s best new breadmakers by New York magazine, and even touted for serving one of New York’s best sandwiches by the Village Voice.

Now, the storefront bakery and bread shop on Smith Street has earned a new honor. Bon Appetit magazine has included Bien Cuit in a select round-up of the Top 10 baguettes in the U.S – and the only one chosen in New York City. And for good measure, the only one featured on the magazine’s front cover – for a special “Insider’s Guide to Paris” issue.

“Can’t make it to Paris any time soon?” Bon Appetit asks in its just-published May issue highlighting Parisian cuisine. “Not to worry. Thanks to obsessive bakers across the U.S., a great baguette doesn’t require an overseas ticket.” The rest of the editors’ favorites include baguettes sold at bakeries in Seattle; Boston; Chicago; Santa Monica; Wellfleet; Minneapolis; Petaluma, California; and both Portland, Oregon and Portland, Maine.

Bien Cuit’s baguettes, like the rest of its breads, are noted for their dark and thick-crusted exterior – reflecting the bakery’s style of producing classic “well done” baked goods and highlighting chef Zachary Golper’s preference for letting his sourdough starter ferment up to 72 hours. As the New York Times noted in its own recent review of the bakery, Golper’s baguettes deliver with their “crisp crust and airy but still-chewy crumb.” In addition to classic long-form breads, Bien Cuit offers miniature single-portion baguettes, part of the bakery’s collection of “petit pains” now served at some of New York’s best-known restaurants.

“We’re incredibly honored to be included in such a rarefied short list of the country’s best baguettes, alongside some truly outstanding artisan bakeries and boulangeries in other cities,” said Golper, who owns Bien Cuit along with his wife Kate Wheatcroft. “It’s especially flattering to be the only New York bakery represented, and that we were chosen for the cover of the magazine’s ‘Insider’s Guide to Paris.’ If that isn’t humbling to a breadmaker, I don’t know what is.”

Here is link to Bon Appetit’s round-up of the country’s best baguettes: http://www.bonappetit.com/blogsandforums/blogs/badaily/2012/04/best-baguettes-in-america.html#ixzz1sPkQqSlH

In NYC? Stop by Bien Cuit  at 120 Smith Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201.

Phone: 718-852-0200

Website:  www.biencuit.com

PS… Bien Cuit Bakery’s name means “well done.” It was the first New York project by chef Zachary Golper, former executive baker at Philadelphia’s Le Bec-Fin and M Resort in Las Vegas. The shop showcases regional farm fare along with signature items, including Golper’s “petit pains” – miniature classic breads.