
Blog
Stark Into Spring
Stark Bar, the casual side of Kris Morningstar’s locavore and seasonal restaurant Ray’s at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, has a bit of a secret weapon in Beverage Director Paul Sanguinetti. Formerly a chef, Sanguinetti is the rare bird who’s equally passionate about both wine and spirits, comfortable in both worlds, and unafraid […]
Judging Campari Apertivos
Unlike virtually every bartender on the planet (apparently), I’m not really a “Negroni person.” I can appreciate a well-made one (it’s all about the balance, and carefully chosen gin and amaro), however, I don’t consider it a favorite. But it’s because I’m not on Team Negroni that I was most intrigued by the offer […]
Aureole Wine Weekend 1: A Bacchanal To Remember
I want to tell you about an incredible weekend I had…last June. I know, I know, this “blog thing” is supposed to be a little more current than that. But after I missed the chance to report about the Aureole Wine Weekend at the time, I got distracted by other things. Until now. Because Kevin […]
Bid on Me!
As a fundraiser, my daughter’s public school has an annual auction of neighborhood goods and services. This year I am offering a free mixology training and sampling, supplying all the (top-shelf) liquor and mixers, in your home, good for six people (or three couples). CLICK HERE TO GET MORE INFO AND BID … And if […]
Wine and Cheese, If You Please: Beyond the Star Chefs at LA Food + Wine
The Los Angeles Food & Wine festival (ambitiously declared “First Annual…” I guess they have a crystal ball) was an incredible assemblage of Star Chefs from both LA and elsewhere in the US, modeled after the Pebble Beach and Aspen events organized by much of the same team–but perhaps bigger than either. I would love […]
Wastin’ Away? Hardly: Margaritaville’s World’s Largest Marg Party
I have to admit, I was a skeptic. I didn’t think the Margaritaville chain was much more than a gimmick attached to an old song by an old MOR artist. Boy, was I wrong. Margaritaville, clearly, is part of a lifestyle. Last weekend I attended the first of two parties celebrating the opening of the […]
Perfecting My Irish
Brand Ambassadors are the field lieutenants of the spirits world: all the marketing displays and advertisements in the world can’t replace what they do in terms of communicating a product’s potential and best uses to the people who sell it, and drink it. I know a lot of great brand ambassadors, but following Jameson’s Kate […]