by Christina Waters | Aug 27, 2008 | Food |
Pomodori Time! The 17th Annual NatureSweet Carmel TomatoFest®, happens once again on Sunday, September 14, 2008,12:30 pm, at the magnificent Quail Lodge Resort in Carmel.Founder/Director of the TomatoFest®, Gary Ibsen, announced that 60 of America’s finest chefs will attend this year’s TomatoFest to offer guests the opportunity to enjoy world-class cuisine featuring heirloom tomatoes in an unpretentious, harvest-celebration atmosphere. Ibsen says, “Our gathering of culinary artists will showcase a range of unforgettable epicurean creations from classical to innovative (more…)
by Christina Waters | Aug 27, 2008 | Home, Wine |
The infamous Le Cigare Volant, now in its 21st vintage, was the wine that launched Rhône Ranger Randall Grahm into the oenological stratosphere. A brilliant riff upon the Châteauneuf-du-Pape blend of grenache, syrah, mourvedre and a few dabs of this and that, the Cigare has always proved reliable, classy, and in some years, great. 2004 — the year of the latest Flying Cigar release – might be one of the great ones. Weighing in at a highly drinkable 13.5% alcohol, this garnet red elixir is dense with roses and licorice, a hint of cassis, spice and a beefy center. Minerals haunt every sip of this blend of 50% grenache, 24% mourvedre, 22% syrah, and a bit of carignane and cinsault.
This cuvée‘s grapes hail from Gilroy and San Benito, as well as the mighty Bien Nacido vineyard down in Santa Maria. The Bonny Doon Vineyard flagship is a lovely creation, about as good as $30 gets and a sensational partner to that festive rack of lamb you’ve been planning. Best on Day Two, so open it now! Le Cigare Volant — life’s too short not to indulge.
by Christina Waters | Aug 26, 2008 | Food, Home |
Hands-On Sensations: Foodwise, you need to make plans to join mega-food instructor, menu designer and restaurateur Mimi Snowden at one of her upcoming Cooking Classes.
Sept. 18th & 19th- “An Indian Summer,” an end of summer BBQ with succulent bbq lamb.
October 23rd & 24th-“Bountiful Harvest,” celebrate the flavors and aromas of fall.
November13th & 14th-“Entertaining with friends,” new exciting recipes to share with friends and family.
Classes fill up quickly so sign up soon. Mimi’s waiting to see you all again! All classes are held at Mimi’s scenic Corralitos ranch kitchen — for details check the website, or call:(831) 722-4011.
by Christina Waters | Aug 21, 2008 | Home, Movies |
The capsule view of Ben Stiller’s in-your-face comedy of egos goes like this: an inconsistent, multi-genre amalgam that delivers some inspired riffs, a Disneyworld of offensive stereotypes, Grade A men-in-groups horseplay, a rousing, shorts-sucking send-up of Hollywood greed, and the genius of Robert Downey Jr. It’s also unspeakably funny.
All of this sometimes brilliant, sometimes so-so cinematic bombast is redeemed by the ease and intelligence of Downey’s cunning performance — a role, within a role, within a role — think multiple personality disorder of the sort to which character actors like Peter Sellers, Marlon Brando, Ben Kingsley were prey.
Downey’s character, Kirk Lazarus – an Australian multiple Oscar-winner (think Russell Crowe) cast as a black Vietnam era soldier — is so committed to his role in the film within the film, that he has undergone drug therapy to darken his skin. Add the appropriate hair treatments and Richard Roundtree/Jim Brown voice lowered an octave or so, and you’ve got an eerie and ironically likeable blaxploitation stud. Downey not only doesn’t back down from what could have been an offensive stereotype, he works it right down to the Shaft.
Downey’s uncanny incarnation of a brother from another planet — Planet Hollywood — creates a terrific bookend performance to Heath Ledger’s Joker. (more…)
by Christina Waters | Aug 20, 2008 | Home, Wine |
Wine lovers will hit the trail on Saturday, September 13, Noon-5pm, for the vineyard pub crawl known as the Corralitos Wine Trail.
At this popular event, inquiring oenophiles can visit all four Corralitos award-winning wineries Alfaro Family Vineyards, Nicholson Vineyards, Pleasant Valley Vineyards and Windy Oaks Estate Winery , taste barrel samples, walk the vineyards, and talk to the winemakers. One ticket covers all tastings, food, and fun.Check the Wine Trail website for all details. (Wine Trail poster boy Richard Alfaro is shown pouring some of his luscious Alfaro Family Vineyards pinot noir at Hollins House last month.) (more…)
