California Wine Festival

California Wine Festival April 22-24 & July 15-17, 2010

The quintessential California Wine Festival is coming to various venues in Southern California.   Taste the combination of fine wine and seafood at Laguna Beach at the Ritz Carlton on April 22-24 in Orange County and continuing in Dana Point at the Dana Point Yacht Club.  Tickets are available at this site http://www.californiawinefestival.com.  

RITZ CARLTON LAGUNA SITE OF ONE OF THE EVENTS








On July 15th the festival continues at various venues in Santa Barbara, CA and runs until July 17th.  Some of the wineries appearing in each of the locations  are:

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  Abundance Vineyards                                                                    
  
• Indigene Cellars
• Kiamie Wine Cellars
• Lucas & Lewellen
• Martin Codax Winery
• Michael-David Winery
• Ortman Family Vineyards
• Pine Ridge
• Peachy Canyon
• Pedroncelli Vineyards
• Prager Winery & Port Works
• Robledo Family Winery
• Schlossadler International Wines
• Sierra Madre Vineyard
• Sort This Out Cellars
• Stacked Stone Cellars
• St. Supery Vineyards & Winery
• Sweeney Canyon
• Tara Bella Winery
• Toad Hollow Vineyards
• Varozza Vineyards
• Uptick Vineyards
• Vinfuzion        
• 
  Archery Summit
  
• 
  Arroyo Robles Winery and Vineyard
  
• 
  B & E Vineyard
  
• 
  Bell Wine Cellars
  
• 
  Calcareous Winery
  
• 
  Cass Winery
  
• 
  Chemical Vineyards
  
• 
  Chateau Felice
  
• 
  Cleb Wines
  
• 
  Cole Bailey Vineyards
  
• 
  Collect Estate Vineyard
  
• 
  Core Wine Company
  
• 
  D'Anbino Vineyards & Cellars
  
  
• 
  Darms Lane
  
• 
  Derby Wine Estates
  
• 
  Four Vines Winery
  
• 
  Gloria Ferrer
  
• 
  Hathaway Wines - Tasmania
  
• 
  Hunt Cellars
  

                                                       

 

 

  

  

 

  

  

Some the restaurants and food purveyors appearing at the Dana Point Event are:

• 
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
• 
  Pinot Provence
  
• 
  Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
  
• 
  San Luis Obispo Condiment Company
  
• 
  Schaffer Genuine Foods
  
• 
  Simply Fondue
  
• 
  Stonehill Tavern
  
• 
  Wildfish Seafood Grille
  
• 
  The Winery Restaurant
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Bistro Blends
  
• 
  Dana Point Yacht Club
  
• 
  Gourmet Blends
  
• 
  The Harbor Grill Restaurant
  
• 
  Kerrygold Irish Dairy
  
• 
  Louisiana Gumbo
  
• 
  Luciano's Restaurant
  
• 
  Pascals
  

Craft Beer Brewers will also be there including:

• Brew House
• Downtown Brewery
• Firestone Walker Brewery
• Island Brewing Co.
• Santa Barbara Brewing Co.
• Telegraph Brewing Company
• Trumer Pils

It promises to be one of the finest food and wine events of the year.  So buy your tickets now before it is too late.

For furthur information go to http://www.californiawinefestival.com

David Wallen

Writer

SoCal.com

SPECIAL OLYMPICS EVENT SANTA MONICA

SPECIAL OLYMPICS CELEBRATION SM PIER

On a windy Sunday was held the Special Olympics celebration, 40th Anniversary party. With a list of fine restaurants contributing delicious food samples, fun boardwalk games and

rides, a good time was had by all. Some of the restaurants present were:

Angelini Osteria, Anisette, The Daily Grill, Melisse, Melissa's Fresh Produce, The Westin Bonaventure, Los Angeles, La Grande Orange, Valentino, Grace, Fig Restaurant, El Cholo Cafe,

Clementine, Bar Pintxo, Cafe Surfas, Jiraffe, Tanino, Palate, Mako, Hollywood Park Casino Restaurant.

In addition, Maria Shriver, the first lady of the State of California, was present. She and her entire family are active in supporting this fine charity.

"Special Olympics Southern California is a nonprofit organization that empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. It is one of 52 Chapters within the United States and part of Special Olympics, Inc., which serves 2.5 million athletes worldwide.
The mission of Special Olympics Southern California is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community."

by DAVID WALLEN

Writer SOCAL.COM

PHOTOS BY DAVID WALLEN

SAVOR THE SEASON EVENT

Savor the season" is a premier LA food and wine gala event featuring top chefs, a silent auction, music, wine and spirits, hailed as of the top ten food events in Southern California.

It benefits Break the Cycle, the leading national organization working to end teen dating violence. The food was excellent including many fine restaurants including some great Big Eye

Tuna Sashimi with Chilled Cha Soba Noodles and Caramel Sauce from the Water Grill. Chef Stefan at the LA Farm had some terrific lamb chops. El Cholo had tasty Green Corn

Tamales. Cakes by Suzette had some delicious dessert cakes. Eli's Cheesecakes had some very good cheesecakes. The Oyster Gourmet had some great oysters,

fresh from the ocean. Bonnie Graves provided an excellent Brut Taittanger Domaine California Sparkling Wine 2005, a very fine year. Kelly Scheiner of Beverly Hills Caviar had a fine

black caviar. Gary Arabia of Global Cuisine had great crab cakes with mango & pineapple salsa, crispy duck with ginger, and seafood paella. Doublas Soriano of Divine Palate Catering

featured some very good New Zealand Lamb in a Pesto Merlot sauce and a good Tuna Tartare. He has been associated with the Peninsula Hotel, Maple Drive and the Farm all in Beverly

Hills. Marche LA had some delicious Valhorra Chocolate Mousse with cripsy cookies. Gary Menes and Jan Purdy are the chefs from Marche LA. Gary has been associated with the

French Laundry, Aubergine, Melisse, and the Ritz Carlton. Jan Purdy has been associated with Guy Leroy, Roy Yamaguchi, Laurent Terrason and JF Meteigner.

It was a great evening for a worthy cause.


IMAGES BY DAVID WALLEN FROM SAVOR THE SEASON 2009

SINGHA THAI BEER

THE BEER CHICKS

CAKES BY SUZETTE

RH RESTAURANT AT THE ANDAZ WEST HOLLYWOOD FEATURING CHEF S.

ARCHAMBAULT

GARY ARABIA CHEF OWNER OF GLOBAL CUISINE

By David Wallen
Restaurant Writer

SoCal.com

THE SUNSET RESTAURANT MALIBU,CA.

On a recent trip to Malibu I had the opportunity to dine in the Sunset Restaurant, which is located on Westward Beach Road on the former site of the Grey Whale Restaurant.

The chef, Jake Rojas, is making some amazing creations there. Jake was the head chef at the Inn of Seventh Ray in Topanga, was the former sous chef to Joel Robuchon at the

Mansion in Las Vegas. He also worked for chef Alain Ducasse at the "world renowned restaurant" Mix in the Hotel at the Mandalay Bay.

The appetizer included tastes of oyster, tuna, shrimp and lobster paired with a Mosel German Riesling. It was a great pairing with some delectable and delicate tastes.

The next course consisted of cooked Butternut Squash, Pink Lady Apples, my favorite apple, Arugula, Pomegranate, Toasted Pepitas and a fine Sauvignon Blanc from Washington.

The entree consisted of a peerless Black Cod Brandade, Tomato Confit, Caperberries and a Beurre Noisette by the Hoyt Family Vineyards located in Malibu.

A Brandade is a pounded combination of salted or smoked fish, olive oil, garlic, milk and cream. The fish was very soft and moist with a exquisite and refined taste.

The next course was Maple Scented Yams, Roasted Parsnips, Candied Cabbage, Brussel Sprouts and a fine Sempler Cabernet Sauvignon from Malibu.

For desert was a mix of Pink Lady Apple Strudel, Butter Pecan Gelato, and Carmel Apple Butter.

The Sunset is highly recommended for its gourmet cuisine and fantastic ocean views. The menu also features more every day dishes as Hamburgers, Steaks and Broiled Fish.

    
TASTY BLACK COD ENTREE

DELICATE DESERT WITH PINK LADY APPLES

MASTER CHEF JAKE ROJAS








by David Wallen
Restaurant Writer
SoCal.com

LONG BEACH GRAND CRU WINE TASTING

LONG BEACH GRAND CRU WINE TASTING

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2009

On the fine Saturday afternoon in downtown Long Beach at the RAINBOW LAGOON PARK the 15th Annual Grand Cru tasting was held.

Leading wineries and restaurants participated. Some of the wineries honored were: Kendall Jackson of Heraldsburg, Sonoma County, CA., Chateau St. Michelle of Woodinville, Washington, Ravenswood Winery of Sonoma County, CA., Woodbridge Winery of Acampo, CA., Gloria Ferrer Wineries of Sonoma, CA, Firestone Vineyards of Paso Robles, CA. and too many others to mention.

Among the restaurants were participating were: 555 East with a delicious sliced New York Steak with seafood skewers served with horseradish sauce.

Chef's A La Carte Catering featured hot smoked albacore tacos with lemon avocado cream and cucumber salsa, Chicken in Phyllo cups, poached chicken with ginger and scallions, and a coconut peanut sauce garnished with a carrot and star anise reduction. Gladstones Long Beach featured blue crabcakes encrusted with panko, served with chipotle mayo and home made tartar sauce, seared rare ahi with Asian infused salad. McKenna's on the bay served dungeness crab cake with choron sauce and roasted corn salsa.

Parker's Lighthouse served Scallops on the half shell with ginger lime viniagrette and applewood smoked bacon mouse in a puff pastry shell. Sir Winston's on the Queen Mary featured sesame crusted tuna with seaweed salad and caviar with ginger cilantro sauce.

The live entertainment was a band called the Tracy Wells All Stars, who put on a good show. One of the busiest big bands in Southern California, the Tracy Wells Big Swing Band has

developed an enthusiastic following of fans from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Summer concerts in parks and malls, corporate events and winter holiday celebrations augment the routine bookings of the band for hotels, clubs, and private parties. In addition to the extensive programming variety that includes big band literature of today, the repertoire features exciting re-creations of the Big Band Era's "Great Moments in Swing".

The instrumental configuration is the familiar mix of five saxophone/woodwinds, four trumpets, four trombones, piano, bass, drums, and guitar, plus the leader’s vibraphone.

Legal Aid supports families and the community through programs that ensure safe affordable housing and promote health and safety.

MALIBU WINE CLASSIC

MALIBU WINE CLASSIC

AUGUST 29, 2009

On a hot day in the summer of 2009 the Malibu Wine Classic took place at the Malibu Civic Center. The Wine Classic returned to scenic tented grounds of the civic center overlooking the Santa Monica Bay. Childhelp is the largest non profit organization dedicated to the prevention, education, advocacy and treatment of child abuse. Childhelp is now 50 years old, a milestone. Childhelp has a prevention hotline as well as other methods of prevention. Treatment is provided in residential facilities, group homes and foster care. For furthur information on Childhelp go to http://www.childhelp.org.

The were many fine winemakers present as well fine restaurants and their chefs. Some fine tequillas were also representated and sampled. Some of the wines represented were: Fess Parker, Bridlewood, Malibu Family Wines, Laetitia and Rosental-The Malibu Estate, Buttonwood. One of my favorites was the Letitia Sparkling Brut which retails for about $28. George Rosenthal is the owner of Rosenthal Malibu Estate Wines. If you have the chance be sure to go on the Rosenthal Winery Tour for an afternoon of wine information. It is quite interesting and well worth your time.

My favorite item at the food tasting was the oyster tastings generously provided by the Water Grill, located in downtown Los Angeles. Also I enjoyed the Rib Sandwich provided by STK located in the West Hollywood area.

The Malibu Wine Classic is an excellent way to spend an afternoon. Childhelp is a most worthy cause for your support.



PHOTOS BY DAVID WALLEN

by David Wallen

SoCal.Com Writer