Southern California’s biggest Labor Day food event is getting ready to pop. The Taste will command center stage at Hollywood’s Paramount Pictures studio backlot for three gluttonous days (September 4-6) to serve up the best of the Los Angeles’ food scene with tastings, panels and demonstrations.... Read More
Many wine collectors, historians and oenophiles admit that the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 has been under attack since…well, 1855. Driven by the ambitions of Emperor Napoleon III to champion and showcase fine French Bordeaux at the 1855 Exposition Universelle (although scholars have since credited his cousin, Prince Napoleon Jerome, with actually organizing it), the system has served as the ultimate barometer for categorizing the quality of these wine world superstars and their châteaux of origin. ... Read More
Learning the language of wine may be much more complicated than one may think. While some tasting phrases may be self-explanatory, like dry or fresh, others sound so bizarre that it’s hard to even make a guess as to what they mean. Of course, you don’t have to use the entire vast vocabulary out there to talk about wine, but if you find yourself among some serious aficionados or professionals, knowing some of these may come in handy.... Read More
Award-winning celebrity chef Mario Batali is an entrepreneur of eating. In addition to managing restaurants around the world and creating giant “Eataly” markets in New York and Chicago, he’s an Italian culinary expert who has authored 10 cookbooks and appears on ABC’s The Chew. With so many public projects going on, it begs the question if the 54-year-old feel less like a chef and more like a showman these days.... Read More
While Reykjavik is renowned for its gorgeous landscapes and relaxing thermal baths, its diverse cuisine also makes for an excellent reason to visit. After checking out some of the best culinary experiences the city has to offer, we picked out four of our favorites to share with you:... Read More
Any wine connoisseur knows that one cannot just simply drink wine right after popping the cork; you have to let it breathe—unless you have an aerator, that is. Dissatisfied with what he found on the market, Louis J. Christen III founded Aervana to give the wine-loving public a superior aerator that keeps wine sediment in the bottom of the bottle, where it belongs, and not in your glass.... Read More
Everyone knows that chocolate and oysters are supposed to spark romantic passion, but whether or not they actually do anything is tough to say. Oftentimes, the aphrodisiac-like qualities have little to do with the chemical makeup of the food itself, and have more to do with factors like appearance, availability and cost. If bread suddenly became incredibly scarce, you might be pretty impressed if a suitor brought you a freshly-baked loaf of sourdough. ... Read More
"Jus de chaussettes" …In France, this used to be the slang phrase for American drip coffee, (it literally means "sock juice"). But when Seattle ushered in the gourmet coffee boom in the 1990s, the French, and the rest of the world, "put a sock in it."... Read More
The restaurant scene in Portland, Maine is one of the hottest in the country, with an incredible number of eateries per capita and an economy that encourages young chefs to be entrepreneurs. While no one could say the cuisine in the seaside city is in any way lacking—and while dishes and menus have achieved the “New York standard"—a certain amount of sophistication has long been absent. With the recent opening of Tempo Dulu in the historic Danforth Inn, that’s no longer the case. ... Read More
The Holy Grail is the most legendary chalice in history—long sought-after by knights and scholars—and now the “Holy Grail” of wine cellars has been located, and it is in Memphis, Tennessee. The birthplace of the blues might seem an unlikely location for the world’s best wine cellar, but Craig Weiss (a tech entrepreneur) spares no expense in babying his beloved bottles.... Read More
Julian Serrano is a James Beard award-winning, Michelin-starred chef known not only in Las Vegas, but worldwide. His Picasso restaurant in the Bellagio has received the AAA Five Diamond Award 13 times and now his Lago establishment (which opened in April) is pulling in a lot of attention with its fountain-side setting and Italian-inspired menu. While most people see the famous Bellagio Fountains from a distance, the best view by far is from Lago’s shaded, waterfront patio. Guests are only about 30 to 40 feet away from the dancing fountains as they dine, sometimes even feeling the fine spray—which is refreshing instead of bothersome. ... Read More
To celebrate their one-year anniversary, Barton G. LA cracked open their menu and shared the secrets behind one of their most popular dishes, the Lobster Truffle Mac & Cheese. If you haven’t been by this Los Angeles restaurant yet (there’s a second location in Miami Beach), what have you been waiting for? Full of unique dishes that are always presented in unusual ways (like the Pot Pie Garden dessert that comes in flower pots), Barton G. brings some much-needed whimsy and fun to fine dining.... Read More
Some whiskies are so coveted and so rare that they get entire events orchestrated around a mere tasting. On November 14, such an occasion from Royal Salute in London is taking place where the crowned guest is the Tribute to Honour. If you consider yourself a true connoisseur, you may already know that there are only 21 of these bejeweled bottles in the world, and two of them will be at The Ultimate Tribute. ... Read More
Melted chocolate and gooey marshmallows may always taste good, but there’s a reason people usually prepare and eat s’mores outside: they’re sticky. But not this Gourmet S’Mores recipe from Annie Falk’s Hamptons Entertaining: Creating Occasions to Remember party-planning book.... Read More
If you have been hankering for authentic Italian food and have maybe even wondered how the real deal is cooked, the 1,235-acre Tenuta La Badiola Estate in Tuscany may be just the place. Home to La Villa and the Michelin-starred Trattoria Toscana (which is the only Alain Ducasse restaurant in Italy), the resort is one you will definitely want to visit. Found near the Castiglione della Pescaia coastline and the Tyrrhenian Sea, the property is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. It houses the L'Andana hotel and Casa Badiola Golf House, an ESPA spa, tennis courts, indoor and open-air swimming pools, and a driving range. ... Read More