Eric the Epicure

The Points Guy: Destination of the Week Series, Davos

2012-01-20T10:03:00.000-08:00

Time for the third Destination of the Week for January on The Points Guy, and this time, we check out a ski resort across the Atlantic that attracts the world's powerbrokers ever year: Davos, Switzerland.

Snow conditions are pretty much awful in North America this winter, so we figured why not look to Europe for a ski getaway? The only problem is that the hotel brands with points programs aren't very well represented outside the major cities there. Except for Davos, which already has a Sheraton, and is getting an Intercontinental and a Hilton Garden Inn (odd, I know, but still an option) in the next year or two, making it one of the best destinations to use hotel points, if not for Alpine village charm.

Ah well, the skiing is still supposed to be pretty excellent, and the British royal family decamps to Klosters just a valley away for its ski vacations, so there must be something fabulous going on there. Check out my write up and a few guides to the area and its activities in my post at the link below.

Link: http://thepointsguy.com/2012/01/destination-of-the-week-davos-switzerland/

LA Confidential Magazine: Healthy Restaurants

2012-01-18T11:06:00.000-08:00

Just in time for all those well intentioned New Year's resolutions...I came up with a roundup of some of the tastiest, classiest, all-round healthiest restaurants in Los Angeles for LA Confidential's January issue.

Among the entries are Larchmont favorite Cafe Gratitude, macrobiotic mainstay M Cafe, raw food extraordinaire at Real Food Daily, Echo Park's Sage Organic Vegan Bistro, Seed Bistro in West LA, and several more.

So if you resolved to eat a more plant-based diet, or just have an undying affection for tempeh, this list should keep you eating right well into 2012.

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/healthy-eating-restaurants-la

JustLuxe: Australia Glamping Part One

2012-01-16T09:56:00.000-08:00

For the topic of my next JustLuxe piece, I return (metaphorically) to one of my favorite destinations, Australia, to cover one of my favorite trends in the travel industry, glamping.

In the first of two installments, I talk about five of Australia's most exciting and luxurious glamping experiences. Some I've talked about before, such as Wildman Wilderness Lodge in the Northern Territory and Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. Others are new, like Paperbark Camp in New South Wales.

All in all, this is a great little list of some of the best glamping experiences in Australia stretching from coast to coast and from the jungle to the Red Centre to the sea, and there are more to come later in the week on JustLuxe.

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/luxury-vacations/feature-1708324.php

The Points Guy: Destination of the Week Series, Whistler

2012-01-13T07:50:00.000-08:00

For my second Destination of the Week post on The Points Guy, I took a cue from several TPG readers who suggested that we talk about Whistler since it's pretty much the only place on the West Coast that has any snow right now.

Lucky for points enthusiasts, it also has a bunch of great hotel options where you can redeem points for free nights and perks at Starwood, Hilton and Fairmont (well, not free nights, but you do get perks for joining their President's Club program). Plus, it's got tons of great skiing and snowboarding options for the alpine adventurers.

Take a look at my post at the link below, and feel free to leave a comment about your own experiences there!

Link: http://thepointsguy.com/2012/01/destination-of-the-week-whistler-bc/

JustLuxe: Los Angeles Restaurant Week Winter 2012

2012-01-12T07:46:00.000-08:00

Another season, another dineLA Restaurant Week here in Los Angeles. This winter marks our Restaurant Week's fifth anniversary and includes all the usual suspects plus new restaurants like Il Covo, Larry's, Ray's & Stark Bar, Mercato di Vetro and Spice Table.

Find out who's on the roster this time around--the event runs January 22-27 and January 29-February 3--the best strategy for snagging tables at your top picks, and which hotels are offering stay & dine packages in my JustLuxe piece at the link below:

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/los-angeles-news__1707777.php

Frontiers: Mercato di Vetro

2012-01-10T07:41:00.000-08:00

SBE, the folks behind some of the hottest nightclubs around Los Angeles, as well as the Redbury Hotel and its restaurant, Cleo, have opened up a second dining spot in West Hollywood called Mercato di Vetro in the former MI6 space.

The restaurant is pretty striking with a two-story open floor plan and all kinds of different seating areas including marble counters, casual bartops and huge booths, plus four different kitchens turning out various specialties.

Chef Danny Elmaleh from Cleo is in charge of the kitchen here as well, though at Mercato, he keeps the Mediterranean-style menu more firmly focused on the trattoria-inspired cuisine of Italy. That means pizzas, pastas, crostini, branzino and bombolone among other signature dishes, which you can read about in my latest Frontiers review.

Link: http://www.frontiersla.com/Nightlife/Restaurants/Story.aspx?ID=1632076

JustLuxe: Eight New LA Restaurants

2012-01-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

The holidays are officially over, and it's back to the foodie grind for me, with review meals at new restaurants and events at new lounges and venues nearly every night.

Already in a food reporting frame of mind, I thought I'd compile a list of some of the most talked-about recent openings in town for my next JustLuxe roundup, so I bring you a roster of eight new restaurants around Los Angeles. I have not tried many of them...yet, but I have a feeling I'll be getting to almost all of them before long, and if any of you have tried them, feel free to comment below and tell me what you thought!

In the meantime, check out the opening word of mouth for places like Livello, Freddie Small's, Batch, Casa Azul, Papilles, and more.

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/los-angeles-news__1702374.php

The Points Guy: Destination of the Week Series, Park City

2012-01-06T07:45:00.000-08:00

Today we launched a new series on The Points Guy called the Destination of the Week, where we highlight fabulous destinations you can get to, stay and enjoy all using miles and points.

Because it's January, we decided to start with a few ski destinations this month, including our first pick, Park City. Now, I know that the U.S. is experiencing record low snowfall this year, so don't go to Park City just yet, but at least this can get you thinking about all the great options for getting there and accommodations for when you do plan a ski trip to Utah.

Take a look at my first piece at the link below, and stay tuned for more on Fridays from now on.

Link: http://thepointsguy.com/2012/01/destination-of-the-week-ski-trip-to-park-city-utah/

LA Confidential Magazine: Champagne Toasts

2012-01-02T10:28:00.000-08:00

New Year's might have come and gone, but that doesn't mean the champagne toasts have to end there. In fact, restaurants all over Los Angeles have fabulous champagne bottles on their menu including standards like Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and Perrier-Jouet, as well as rarer vintages like Nicolas Feuillate Palmes d'Or Brut and Pommery's Cuvee Louise.

As you'd expect, many of these are at some of the city's fanciest restaurants including Spago, Patina, Melisse and The Belvedere, as well as the new eatery from the Animal guys, Son of a Gun, where the wine list is almost exclusively sparkling wines.

Read the full list and find out which unique bottles each restaurant carries in my LA Confidential piece at the link below.

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/champagne-la

My Year in Review

2011-12-31T23:59:00.000-08:00

As 2011 draws to a close, I wanted to take a quick look back at my year in travel by the numbers. It’s been an amazing, challenging, rewarding, utterly fantastic whirlwind of globetrotting. My friends often joke I’m never in LA, so I thought I’d calculate just how many miles I’d flown, the countries I’d visited, and the days I’ve spent away from home, and here are the numbers. How do yours stack up, and how are you going to make 2012 even better?

Miles flown: 116,000 (crossed the Pacific eight times and the Atlantic 4 times)

Longest flight: Tie LAX-SYD and LAX-HKG, 14.5 hours

Shortest flight: LAX-SFO

Airlines flown: 10

Countries visited: 8

Continents visited: 5

Hotels: 57

Days out of the country: 103

Days out of Los Angeles: 153

Longest trip: 27 days, Australia

Shortest trip: 2 days, Cancun

Highest altitude: About 14,000 feet at the Tatio Geysers in Chile

Destinations for next year: South Africa for safari and wine, Cambodia to see Angkor Wat, Brazil for beach and jungle, and spending a month in Paris

JustLuxe: New Year's Eve Dinners in LA

2011-12-30T10:11:00.000-08:00

As with my recent post on JustLuxe about fancy Christmas Eve dinners around Los Angeles, I thought I'd put together another handy little list for folks looking to ring in the new year with a fine-dining experience.

Some of the city's best restaurants are putting on veritable feasts this year, and you can find tables at top spots like Boa, Michael's, Picca and the Polo Lounge, among others.

So if you're still looking for last-minute plans, one of these dinners might just be the New Year's Eve soiree for you.

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/los-angeles-news__1697855.php

Frontiers: The Churchill

2011-12-28T09:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a little review in Frontiers that I did a couple months ago--I suppose it ran while I was in New Zealand--about a new restaurant on W. 3rd St. at the newly redone Orlando Hotel. It's called The Churchill, and is kind of like a cool English lounge filled with salvaged design pieces, and with an acclaimed Santa Barbara chef behind the stoves.

The Food2Know roundup at the end is about a few of my favorite new pizza places including Pitfire Pizza, Sotto, the new sbe restaurant Mercato di Vetro, and Stella Rossa in Santa Monica, and Urbano Pizza Bar downtown. Buon appetito!

Link: http://www.frontiersla.com/Nightlife/Restaurants/Story.aspx?ID=1566337

Jaunted: New Zealand Farmer's Markets

2011-12-22T11:31:00.000-08:00

I love when I get to write stories that combine my background in food and cuisine with wide-ranging travel...as with this week's Jaunted story on the burgeoning farmer's market scene in New Zealand.

You might have seen my other recent Jaunted piece about some of the fabulous foods (and sometimes odd ones) I got to try during my recent trip there, but now it's time to meet some of the actual farmers and food purveyors who actually grow and make them at two very special markets in Auckland and Central Otago.

Bon appetit!

Link: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/12/20/203118/75/travel/Shopping+Two+of+New+Zealand%27s+Best+Farmers%27+Markets:+What+to+See,+Smell+and+Taste

JustLuxe: LA Christmas Eve Dinners

2011-12-19T11:24:00.000-08:00

As the holidays make their inexorable descent upon Los Angeles, it's time for that annual bookmark: the Christmas Eve dinner roundup!

In the instance of this JustLuxe piece, we've got all the upscale options including BLVD at the Beverly Wilshire, Mezze, Il Covo, Tres at the SLS and a few more.

There seems to be a lot of lobster and foie gras on order as well, so start signing up for those New Year's gym memberships now!

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/los-angeles-news__1692850.php

Jaunted: Christchurch's Project Re:Start

2011-12-17T06:57:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick Jaunted article from earlier this week about one of the coolest things I saw while I was in New Zealand, Project Re:Start in Christchurch.

Basically, it's a temporary mall made from purpose-built shipping containers that some of the city's coolest boutiques have moved into. It's right outside the city's "red zone," which is still a landscape of condemned buildings nearly a year after the city's devastating earthquake, so it's providing the residents of the city center with a public place to hang out, have fun, grab a bite, do some shopping, etc., which the place has been sorely lacking all these months.

Take a look at my article and pictures at the link below, and if you happen to be passing through Christchurch, you should definitely check it out!

Link: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/12/12/185321/18/travel/Project+Re%3AStart+Brings+%28Colorful%29+Retail+Back+to+Christchurch

LA Confidential Magazine: Gourmet Gifts

2011-12-15T14:51:00.000-08:00

Just in time for the mad rush before the holidays, here is a fabulous and handy guide of delectable high-end gourmet delices to buy your favorite foodie or take to myriad holiday parties we all seem to have as the season reaches its peak.

For a little sneak preview, I include a few unique caviar products from Petrossian, French candies from L'Epicerie Market, a croquembouche from Maison Richard, chocolates from Teuscher, and all the smoked fish your heart could desire from Santa Monica Seafood...and that's just half of it!

To find out the rest and get some ideas for your party rotation, check out the full article from LA Confidential at the link below.

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/food-gifts-holiday-parties-gourmet

JustLuxe: Holiday Pop-Up Shops in LA

2011-12-13T06:14:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's December, and that means, in addition to all the holiday parties and special dinners, that it's time for the usual slew of holiday gift and shopping lists. Now, when I wrote this last week, it was still to early to know all the good goings on, so I might do a little update of it next week when more shops and boutiques have announced all their special offerings.

In the meantime, here's a good little list I wrote up on JustLuxe of great pop-up shops like the Alpha one at the Andaz West Hollywood I stopped by the other night, as well as specialty foods and gourmet goodies like Mr. C Beverly Hills' traditional panettone Italian cake and Petrossian's unique caviar powder, as well as Christmas-inspired spa treatments at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Los Angeles. Plus, caramel! So enjoy, and buy something nice for your sweetheart.

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/los-angeles-news__1687435.php

Jaunted: 5 Foods To Try in New Zealand

2011-12-12T06:08:00.000-08:00

This next Jaunted piece about my November trip to New Zealand went up last week, and is about both some of the wackiest and some of the most "New Zealand" of the foods I tried there.

Plus, I give you tips on where to try each for yourself. And don't worry, there's nothing gross here--I can swear that each and every one was absolutely delicious, especially the hot smoked salmon, the green-shell mussels and the whitebait fritters...in fact, it's making me hungry for another trip down there already!

To see just what I ate and what makes each foodstuff so special, take a look at my Jaunted piece below.

Link: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/12/6/01123/7049/travel/Five+Foods+You%27ve+Just+Got+to+Try+in+New+Zealand

LA Confidential Magazine: The Bazaar at SLS Hotel

2011-12-09T06:01:00.000-08:00

The December issue of LA Confidential Magazine is out! And with it is the latest installment of the magazine's new foodie feature, So Many Lunches.

This time we profile a relative newcomer to the LA restaurant scene that has nonetheless quickly become a local icon: The Bazaar at the SLS Beverly Hills Hotel, where Spanish dynamo Jose Andres is chef.

I'll save the juicy details--so to speak--for the piece itself, in which you can read about Andres's molecular gastronomy magic, all the seating choices Philippe Starck personally designed just for you, and who the celebrity in the next booth is likely to be. Enjoy!

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/the-bazaar-restaurants-los-angeles

Jaunted: Swimming with Mini Dolphins in New Zealand

2011-12-07T07:31:00.000-08:00

One of the experiences I was most looking forward to on my recent trip to New Zealand was the chance to travel to the little town of Akaroa.

You probably never heard of it, and neither had I until I started researching my trip. I came across it, though, because it's just an hour outside Christchurch along winding mountain roads on the Banks Peninsula. The town was settled by Frenchmen, so it's distinctive in terms of New Zealand, and it's a little port that sits on a harbor formed by the collapse of an ancient volcano. And in that harbor lives a colony of the world's smallest marine dolphins--the Hector Dolphin--of which only about 7,000 remain in the world.

These little guys are smaller than me, as you'll see from this photo, which I took to give you a little bit of scale. Find out just how small they are, why they're so hard to capture on film, and which of the world's other smallest creatures live in this stunning setting by reading my Jaunted article below.

Link: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/11/28/21941/394/travel/Where+to+See+%28and+Swim+With%29+the+World%92s+Smallest+Dolphins+and+Penguins

The Points Guy: Air New Zealand Business Premier

2011-12-05T07:15:00.000-08:00

Just another quick post I wrote up about my experience flying down to New Zealand in Air New Zealand's Business Premier class. Though I flew down in the first of the airline's new 777's and reported on it for Jaunted last December, this was my first time flying on a normal commercial flight, and I must say, the experience was pretty great--as you'll see from my detailed write up on The Points Guy, who I'm now helping out as managing editor of his site.

Take a look at the review and photos (and the menu!) at the link below.

Link: http://thepointsguy.com/2011/11/flight-review-air-new-zealand-new-business-premier-lax-akl/

JustLuxe: Air New Zealand Wine Awards

2011-12-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

As you might have seen from my posts over the last few weeks, I spent the majority of November down in New Zealand traipsing its gorgeous South Island doing everything from wine-tasting to bungy jumping (with a healthy amount of hiking, biking and kayaking thrown in).

The reason I went down in the first place, however, was to cover the annual Air New Zealand Wine Awards in Auckland. While there, I got to talk to some very interesting personalities on the country's wine scene and hear their thoughts about the industry and where it's headed, plus taste through the medal-winning wines on exhibition.

To learn more about what I was drinking, and New Zealand wines in general, take a look at my JustLuxe article here: http://www.justluxe.com/lifestyle/dining/feature-1677987.php

JustLuxe: Wolfgang Puck at the Hotel Bel-Air

2011-11-30T07:09:00.000-08:00

One of the most exciting new restaurants to open in Los Angeles lately has to be Wolfgang Puck's new place at the recently renovated (to the tune of $100 million!) and reopened Hotel Bel-Air.

I got the chance to sample the cuisine at a recent preview dinner, and took advantage of the opportunity to talk to Puck himself about his vision for the cuisine and the menu, as well as to the designer, David Rockwell, who's based in New York, but has flagship projects underway all over the world.

All in all, the food was simple but delicious, the setting was absolutely lovely in the evening, and I wouldn't mind going back soon myself! In the meantime, you can read my interviews and my account of the preview dinner on JustLuxe at the link below.

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/los-angeles-news__1669563.php

Frontiers: Fall Dining

2011-11-29T07:23:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving might have come and gone, but there are still plenty of fabulous fall dishes to enjoy around Los Angeles, and here's a great roundup I did for Frontiers recently of some of my favorites. It's quite the comprehensive list...all right, well, not comprehensive, but there are about a dozen gourmet dishes at some classic LA restaurants represented here--along with lots of mouthwatering photos--including but not limited to: Culina at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, Farmshop, ink, Larry's Venice, Michael's and Patina.

So take a look, and start making your reservations.

Link: http://www.frontiersla.com/Features/Highlights/Story.aspx?ID=1570135

JustLuxe: Tasting Wine Along Portugal's Douro Valley

2011-11-25T07:12:00.000-08:00

My most recent JustLuxe travel piece covers the fabulous week I spent wine-tasting along Portugal's Douro Valley back in September. Not only did I try the region's famous Port wines, but I also got to sample a wide swath of its Douro DOC, or non-Port wines like the Tourigas that have been appearing with increasing frequency on our menus in the States.

In the piece, I talk about some of the great things to do in the UNESCO-listed (and view-rific) city of Oporto itself, as well as some of the lovely hotels and inns I stayed at farther east along the river in the heart of Port country.

So take a look at the beautiful pictures, read about the wines, and keep an eye out for Portuguese vintages the next time you're perusing a wine list.

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/luxury-vacations/feature-1668839.php

LA Confidential Magazine: Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T07:04:00.000-08:00

Still haven't made your Thanksgiving plans? Or maybe there was a run on free-range organic turkeys at your favorite local produce purveyor.

Never fear, there are tons of restaurants around Los Angeles who are putting on fabulous feasts for Turkey Day this year--including some interesting options like fried turkey at Little Dom's, as well as more upscale affairs like the prix-fixe menus at Campanile and Patina. Plus there's takeout from old favorites like Joan's on Third.

Take a look at my article, and then stop procrastinating and make a reservation before your stuck with a dinner of cold beans on Thanksgiving!

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/9-truly-delicious-thanksgiving-feasts

JustLuxe: Thanksgiving in LA

2011-11-21T07:18:00.000-08:00

I'm actually missing Thanksgiving in the States this year since I'll still be here in New Zealand, but I did compile this shortlist of some of the best Thanksgiving offerings from restaurants around Los Angeles on JustLuxe, from the down-home to the most gourmet, and everything in between from places like Akasha, Jar, mar'sel, Patina and Tavern...and several more.

So put away your crockery, turn off the oven, and get ready for some great cooking that you don't have to do--and better yet, that you don't have to clean up after!--whether you want to dine in or take out.

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/los-angeles-news__1670085.php

Jaunted: The Air New Zealand Wine Awards

2011-11-19T07:13:00.000-08:00

Those of you who follow my comings and goings on Facebook or Twitter can see that I'm in New Zealand at the moment. I came down here just about a week ago for the Air New Zealand Wine Awards in Auckland, which is probably the biggest event in the country's wine industry. Since then I've actually been visiting some of the winemakers that I met there at their own wineries in Nelson, Marlborough and Waipara, with Central Otago to come next week.

But the reason I came down here in the first place was to attend these awards and use them as a lens into the country's wine scene in general. So take a look on my piece from this week on Jaunted where I talk not only about the awards themselves, but also to some of the big names in wine down here (including two of the airline's wine consultants), give you a rundown of the events, and a look back at just how far New Zealand wines have come in the 25 years since the awards took their present shape (hint: Sauvignon Blanc was barely to be found back then, but now it makes up 75% of the country's grape crop!).

Link: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/11/15/02621/571/travel/The+Who%2C+What%2C+Where%2C+and+Why+of+the+Air+New+Zealand+Wine+Awards

Frontiers: Vodvil

2011-11-17T07:13:00.000-08:00

My latest review in Frontiers is of a great new concept called Vodvil. It's kind of like a hybrid restaurant-lounge game night entertainment center where guests can kick back with cocktails and nibbles, play trivia and pop culture games, sing karaoke, and just hang out.

The space is available for private parties as well, and there are special themes each night of the week, so check it out, and start studying up on your factoids.

Link: http://www.frontiersla.com/Nightlife/Restaurants/Story.aspx?ID=1561384

LA Confidential Magazine: The Polo Lounge

2011-11-15T07:12:00.000-08:00

For the "So Many Lunches" restaurant feature in the November issue of LA Confidential, we decided to cover another Los Angeles landmark: The Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Though it's been around for decades now, the Polo Lounge is still one of the hottest places in town to see celebrities enjoying a brief moment of quiet over a meal with friends...and the food's pretty good too!

Where so many restaurants in town are just brief flashes in the pan, this one has true staying power, and in the piece, we delve into this icon's history, how a day there works, why the chopped salad is so good, and who you might see on your next visit, so read on at the link below!

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/the-polo-lounge-beverly-hills-it-restaurant

LA Confidential Online: The Pie Hole

2011-11-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

I actually haven't written specifically for LA Confidential's online content channel before, but I got the chance to do so for the first time with this little piece on a new and irreverently named pie bakery downtown called The Pie Hole.

They have sweet pies and savory, full-size and mini, plus some specially roasted Groundwork Coffee you can only get here.

Take a look at some of the specialties, and see if you agree that pie really is the dessert of 2011 when you read my piece at the link below.

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/channels/home-page/insights#dessert-of-the-moment-pie

HotelChatter: Awesome Designs at Saint James Paris

2011-11-11T06:27:00.000-08:00

I'm more of a food and wine guy than a design aficionado, but every so often in the course of my travels, I come across a restaurant or hotel that really blows me away with its decor, and during my visit to Paris last January, that's just what happened a little boutique property tucked away in a private park in the tony 16th arrondisement called the Saint James Hotel Paris.

The Saint James isn't about jaw-dropping grandeur, though there's a bit of that, too. Rather, what caught my eye were the whimsical touches like wallpaper festooned with old-timey hot air balloons (mongolfieres!), a wall decorated with mens' walking canes, and lamps made out of bowler hats...not to mention some pretty luxe chinoiserie patterns and tricked-out bathrooms.

Although I'm eager to stay at some of the bigger new hotels in Paris like the Mandarin Oriental and the Raffles Royal Monceau, I was definitely a huge fan of the Saint James and would send folks to stay there in a heartbeat. In the meantime, check out my piece from HotelChatter below.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/10/25/145712/14/hotels/Leopard_Prints_Hot_Air_Balloons_and_Bowler_Hat_Lamps_at_Hotel_Saint_James_Paris

HotelChatter: Mandarin Oriental San Francisco

2011-11-09T06:19:00.000-08:00

By now you probably know that one of my favorite destinations--and certainly one of my favorite cities in the country--is San Francisco. I try to get up there as often as possible, usually several times a year. It's just got everything I love: fabulous restaurants, great museums, stunning scenery, and a lot of good friends.

I've written about it as a general destination quite often in the past, for all my outlets, basically, but this time around I wanted to focus on a hotel where I've gotten the chance to stay twice in the past few months: the Mandarin Oriental.

I have to say, this is one of my favorite hotels in the city. Sure, in the evening it can be kind of dead around the Financial District, but the hotel is a short walk to a bunch of major attractions as well as the transportation to get to others, is close to my new favorite micro-neighborhood, Jackson Square, and has some of the best views of the city from its guest rooms on the high floors of a skyscraper. There's nothing like waking up to views of the Transamerica Building and the entire Bay spread out below you from the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate.

The hotel also has a lot of little, old-school touches like monogrammed sheets and personalized stationery (and Molton Brown products!) that I personally love, and that's what I talk about in this quick HotelChatter post. I can't wait to see how the upcoming renovation goes--I might just have to get back up there to experience it for myself!

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/10/26/211913/35/hotels/It_s_the_Little_Things_at_Mandarin_Oriental_San_Francisco

LA Confidential Magazine: Meat Cocktails

2011-11-07T07:54:00.000-08:00

My final piece in October's issue of LA Confidential is about the hottest new ingredient popping up in cocktails all over town: meat. That's right, booze are getting beefed up with a healthy helping of protein (usually in the form of bacon).

To delve into the trend, I talked with one of LA's best known mixologists, Aidan Demarest, whose fingerprints are on cocktail menus all over the city including those at The Edison, 1886, The Spare Room, and his latest venture (in Glendale!), Neat.

We discussed why pork works so well in cocktails, why Spam might be the next big thing, and just why it is that "cocktails are going culinary," as he put it.

I also include a roundup of some of the splashiest meaty cocktails around town including some from Hatfield's, Napa Valley Grille, Locanda del Lago (which actually comes with a whole plate of fried speck), Comme Ca, Michael's and Rivera (beef jerky!).

Take a look at the article at the link below. Cheers!

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/cocktail-trend-meaty-mixings

LA Confidential Magazine: Whiskey Cocktails Guide

2011-11-04T07:34:00.000-07:00

For the October issue of LA Confidential, I got to venture beyond my normal purview to cover the city's cocktail scene...specifically whiskey (and scotch and rye and suntori) since this is the "man issue," though ladies will enjoy these libations as well.

As with the Brunch Guide, I take you on a tour of some old favorites as well as recent openings to check out for their innovative cocktails and thorough whiskey stocks. As a teaser, some of the places I talk about include The Thirsty Crow in Silverlake, The Edison downtown, and Copa d'Oro in Santa Monica, plus newcomers like Hemingway's and Next Door Lounge in Hollywood, and Ten Pound at the Montage Beverly Hills.

To read about these and all the others (nine in total), check out my article at the link below.

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/a-guide-to-las-best-cocktail-bars

JustLuxe: New LA Restaurants October

2011-11-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

Here's just another quick JustLuxe piece that contains a roundup of some of the biggest and most exciting restaurant openings around Los Angeles from October.

It includes Barlo at the Hotel Erwin, The Churchill, two Spacecraft Group restaurants called Naya and Osaka, Oldfield's Liquor Room from the 1933 Group (Thirsty Crow, Bigfoot Lodge) and Take a Bao in Studio City.

Lots of delicious things to eat, and lots more restaurants to come next month!

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/los-angeles-news__1662622.php

LA Confidential Magazine: Tom Colicchio's Craft

2011-11-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

One of the other new elements of the redesign of LA Confidential is a feature in each issue called So Many Lunches where we profile a landmark Los Angeles restaurant, talk to the chef, learn about the menu, chat about the celebrities you're likely to see while you're there, and give you the skinny on the best tables in the house.

For our first installment, we went big, with celebrity chef Tom Colicchio's Craft. It couldn't help but become a fixture on the dining scene here, with a big-name chef, and a location inside CAA's enormous, gleaming new agency office building.

The real thrill of doing the article, though, was talking to Colicchio himself, who was extremely voluble and gracious, and genuinely excited about LA's food scene and why he thinks it's so great to be a chef here.

I'd encourage you to grab an actual issue if you can since the article looks amazing, but in the meantime, you can check out the online version here: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/tom-colicchios-craft-lands-in-la

Frontiers: Australia's Mardi Gras Train

2011-10-31T07:36:00.000-07:00

Australia happens to be one of my areas of travel specialty thanks to all the amazing trips I've gotten to take there in the past couple years. One of the events I'd love to experience is Mardi Gras in Sydney, and though it looks like I won't be able to make it there this year, I did want to share with Frontiers readers a new experience being put on by the Great Southern Rail--one of the world's great luxury train companies.

The Great Southern Rail will be running a gay-friendly special train journey on the last leg of the Indian Pacific line from Adelaide to Sydney the day before Mardi Gras begins, with all kinds of special performances, fun stops and other parties. The journey is just 24 hours total, so it could be a great way to get to see a little more of the country while having a blast.

Check out my Frontiers story at the link below for details.

Link: http://www.frontiersla.com/Columns/Travel/Story.aspx?ID=1553660

LA Confidential Magazine: Brunch Guide

2011-10-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

With the October issue of the magazine, we've changed up the format of LA Confidential with a new focus on restaurant features and thematic dining guides, starting with the fabulous roundup of LA's best brunch places...just in time for the weekend!

In it, I let you know about some of my old favorites, like AOC, Cecconi's, Fig and Scarpetta, as well as what some newcomers like Larry's Venice and The Churchill are serving (grilled crostini with heirloom tomatoes, prosciutto, tarragon béarnaise and poached eggs!).

Find out where else you should be making reservations by checking out the article at the link below.

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/a-guide-to-las-best-brunch-menus

HotelChatter: Montage Laguna's Sommelier Training

2011-10-27T07:06:00.000-07:00

You might know that I regularly write a series on some of the world's coolest hotel jobs for HotelChatter, but last week, I actually wrote about a cool hotel job perk as part of the coverage of my recent stay at Montage Laguna Beach: the resort's staff sommelier certification classes, which are open to any staff member who is interested and has the time in their schedule to take them.

I actually got to sit in on one of the Friday afternoon classes with the resort's Beverage Director, Troy Smith, and it was especially great because we were talking about the wines of Portugal, which I'd just visited a couple weeks before.

Learn more about this unique program, and start earmarking your wine encyclopedia.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/10/17/132318/16/hotels/Best_Hotel_Job_Perk_Montage_Laguna_s_Sommelier_Classes

JustLuxe: Napa in a Porsche

2011-10-25T07:37:00.000-07:00

As you know, one of my favorite travel destinations--both to enjoy and to write about--is right here in my home state of California: the Napa Valley.

If you ask me, Napa has it all. World-class wine, gourmet food, luxury hotels, fabulous spas...I might just have to live there!

In the meantime, at least it's easy for me to visit, and I wrote about my most recent experience up there--jetting around in a Porsche, staying at the Carneros Inn, tasting great wines, and eating at some of the hottest new tables in town.

Check it all out at the JustLuxe link below.

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/luxury-vacations/feature-1658160.php

HotelChatter: Portugal Boozy B&B's

2011-10-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

For the next installment of my new Boozy B&B's series on HotelChatter, where I take readers along as I visit hotels and inns in some of the world's great wine regions (and hopefully other spirits too, like Cognac and scotch, eventually), I take you inside five of the properties I got to visit on my recent trip to Portugal's Douro Valley.

We start in the city of Oporto itself, where I stayed at the new Yeatman Hotel, then travel far into the hinterlands to inns nestled in the Douro Valley's dramatic, winding hills and valleys, where the country's famous Port wines are made.

Picturesque locations, gourmet food and wine, gorgeous weather...take a look and then start searching for flights to Portugal!

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/10/18/1665/1698/hotels/Boozy_B_B_s_Portugal_Edition

JustLuxe: Shanghai-ed for the Weekend

2011-10-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

The more I travel, the more I realize that it's possible to visit even faraway exotic locations in a shorter time than you think. Case in point, the whirlwind trip I took to Shanghai this past July.

Read about my experience, including the flight on American Airlines, my stay at the lovely boutique PuLi Hotel & Spa, sampling the city's famous xiao long bao dumplings, finding a happy shopping medium somewhere between the huge world-famous brand-name stores and the schlocky souvenir shops of the back alleys, with a dose of history and culture thrown in. And it only took about three days!

Don't believe me? Read on at the JustLuxe link below.

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/luxury-vacations/feature-1657459.php

HotelChatter: Montage Laguna's Wine Program

2011-10-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite properties along the Laguna Coast (and in all of California) is the ultra-luxe Montage Laguna Beach.

Not only is it on a perfect spot on the coast, but it's got gorgeous rooms, a fabulous restaurant called Studio, a lovely spa, and, as I found out on my recent visit, an extensive wine program that guests can get to experience firsthand by making a reservation at their signature Sunday Artistry of Wine program.

Check out some of the wines (and cheeses!) I got to taste by reading my story at the link below.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/10/12/14442/792/hotels/Montage_Laguna_Beach_Loves_Its_Wine

HotelChatter: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

2011-10-18T07:43:00.000-07:00

After the wine-tasting portion in the Douro Valley of my recent trip to Portugal, I spend the weekend in Lisbon, and had the opportunity to stay at the gorgeous Four Seasons Hotel Ritz in the heart of the city.

I've posted a whole photo gallery and all the pertinent info, but of course, I had to focus on a particular amenity--the enormous bathrooms! Find out why by taking a look at my story below.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/10/10/1338/3421/hotels/Four_Seasons_Hotel_Ritz_Lisbon_Has_Odd_Bathrooms_But_We_Kinda_Like_Them

HotelChatter: Carneros Inn and Audi

2011-10-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

When I was up in Napa at the beginning of the month, I got to stay at a property I've been dreaming about for a long time, the Carneros Inn. This luxury resort is at the southern end of the Valley and features tricked out cottages as rooms, plus gourmet restaurants, a fabulous spa, and all sorts of other perks, including a partnership with Audi.

While there, my friend and I were chauffeured around the property in one of the cars featured in the program, the top-of-the-line A8 sedan...and naturally we played with all the buttons and knobs to see how everything worked. Check out my piece and photo gallery on HotelChatter at the link below.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/10/10/2727/6648/hotels/The_Carneros_Inn_s_Audi_Parntership_Cars_and_Carafes_in_Wine_Country

JustLuxe: Park City Autum Adventure

2011-10-15T15:32:00.000-07:00

I paid my first visit to Park City not in the winter, when Hollywood glitterati crowd its charming streets for Sundance, but over the summer. I'm not really a snow person, so heading to this scenic mountain escape was right up my alley--especially because I got to go mountain biking, horseback riding, shooting down an Alpine slide and...oh yeah, whiskey-tasting at the High West Distillery.

I also talk about the Sky Lodge (like I did in HotelChatter--remember those waterfall bathtub spigots that stream from the ceiling?) and all the other fun stuff I got up to, so check out my JustLuxe story below!

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/luxury-vacations/feature-1657140.php

Frontiers: Perch

2011-10-11T15:30:00.000-07:00

Finally, I should be all caught up with posting my Frontiers reviews from over the summer! This one is another great restaurant to open downtown--truth be told, the food is good, but it's the view and the urban ambiance I come for when I head downtown to eat at Perch, which, true to its name, roosts 14 stories above the streets of Los Angeles, surrounded by scenic skyscrapers.

Next time your downtown for an evening, you should definitely plan to spend part of it here!

Link: http://www.frontiersla.com/Nightlife/Restaurants/Story.aspx?ID=1551828

Frontiers: Saint Felix

2011-10-09T15:27:00.000-07:00

Whew! I didn't realize I'd done this much writing for Frontiers over the summer, but I'm still catching up on posting pieces from the past few months as they come online on the magazines web site. So here's the next piece. It's a little love note to an LGBT-owned bar called Saint Felix that opened its second installment in the heart of Hollywood.

Finally, a good place for drinks and schmoozing for gays before heading to the ArcLight!

Link: http://www.frontiersla.com/Nightlife/Restaurants/Story.aspx?ID=1551818

Jetsetter: Roomers Hotel Frankfurt

2011-10-05T14:44:00.000-07:00

I've been writing for Gilt Groupe for a while now, but my first piece for Jetsetter ran this week, and is about a hotel where I stayed (and spent my 29th birthday!) in Frankfurt, Germany.

There've been quite a few hotels since my stay at the Roomers Hotel, but I remember it quite well--especially since it was so distinctive for Frankfurt. Find out more about it and just what sets it apart (besides the silver, velvet, swan-shaped chairs in the lobby) at the link to my description on Jetsetter below.

Link: http://www.jetsetter.com/r/roomers?nm=serp&cl=1

Frontiers: Picca

2011-10-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

For the next update review from over the summer in Frontiers, let me share this one about what was probably this summer's most exciting new opening around town: Picca.

Picca is the follow up second restaurant to chef wunderkind Ricardo Zarate's beloved downtown Peruvian spot, MoChica.

The food at this new place on Pico in Beverly Hills is significantly more upscale, though the service and ambiance is still casually convivial. See what I mean--plus enjoy a roundup of some of my favorite places around town for ceviche in the review at the link below.

Link: http://www.frontiersla.com/Nightlife/Restaurants/Story.aspx?ID=1551805

Frontiers: Gastropub Takeover

2011-09-30T15:01:00.000-07:00

I'm all about the fine dining, but every now and then, all I want is a juicy burger and a great beer. Lucky for me, tons of fantastic new gastropubs have been opening around Los Angeles lately, and thanks to this story and one in LA Confidential, I've gotten to try a bunch of them.

Here is a quick roundup of some of the most exciting gastropubs to open around Los Angeles this past summer, and some of the dishes you should try at each.

Link: http://www.frontiersla.com/Nightlife/Restaurants/Story.aspx?ID=1551802

Frontiers: Westside Dining

2011-09-27T14:58:00.000-07:00

Still playing catchup with posting all my past Frontiers dining reviews from this summer. The next piece up is a roundup of Westside dining options meant for optimal summer dining. There were a ton of new openings on that side of town this past summer, and here were a few highlights, including the relaunch of the Malibu Inn, the gourmet sundry stores of the Market at Santa Monica Place, and True Food Kitchen.

Bon appetit!

Link: http://www.frontiersla.com/Nightlife/Restaurants/Story.aspx?ID=1551802

Frontiers: Son of a Gun

2011-09-25T14:49:00.000-07:00

You might have noticed the absence of Frontiers dining reviews from my blog for a while, but that's not because I haven't been busy eating and writing about new LA restaurants. The magazine has been revamping its web site for the past few months and the dining section has been slowly coming along.

Looks like most of my material is online now, though, so I wanted to share a few choice recent reviews, starting with this one of Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo's new seafood restaurant on West 3rd Street, Son of a Gun.

Now you might recognize the chef-buddy duo's name from their first, wildly successful restaurant on Fairfax, Animal, but Son of a Gun is a completely different beast--one from the heart of the ocean.

Check out some of the most interesting menu items in my review at the link below:

http://www.frontiersla.com/Nightlife/Restaurants/Story.aspx?ID=1551789

LA Confidential Magazine: San Francisco and the Russian River Valley

2011-09-25T07:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a travel article I wrote for the September issue of LA Confidential Magazine (just in time for harvest!) all about the wine-tasting experiences you can have in two of my favorite places in California--one town, one country--San Francisco and the nearby Russian River Valley.

In it, I include some of my favorite wine bars and tasting rooms, plus a host of other helpful details like where to stay, where to play, and where to gorge yourself on fabulous wine country cuisine. Cheers!

Here's a new link to the article, which you can also find in its full form below: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/living/articles/russian-river-valley-getaway

A TIME FOR WINE

By Eric Rosen

Harvest season is the perfect time to visit San Francisco and wine country’s Russian River Valley to indulge in all things grape.

San Francisco is the gateway to California’s most famous wine regions, but you don’t need to leave the city to enjoy great tasting experiences, as even the hotels have gotten in on the action. The Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco (fourseasons.com/sanfrancisco) is home to the Press Club (pressclubsf.com), a wine bar and lounge whose Visiting Vintners series rotates a selection of California wine, beer and sparkling wine. The InterContinental San Francisco’s (intercontinentalsanfrancisco.com) Bar 888 houses an unrivaled collection of high-end grappas, while the superb city views from the Mandarin Oriental (mandarinoriental.com) rooms are only outdone by the hotel’s specially created collaboration with Hirsch Vineyards, Ngima Cuvée Pinot Noir.

For an insightful and entertaining overview of the city’s wine scene, enlist the bespoke guided-tour services of Carried Away (carriedawaysf.com). They’ll whisk you from cozy wine bars such as the Hayes Valley hole-in-the-wall Hôtel Biron (hotelbiron.com) to the saloonlike Fat Angel (fatangelsf.com) in lower Fillmore and SoMa’s boho-chic Terroir (terroirsf.com) for its stellar cellar of natural wines.

Later, wander the historic Jackson Square area to sample private-label wines from the patented Cask Delivery System at Barrique (barriquesf.com) before dining at one of the hottest tables in town at Cotogna (cotognasf.com).

One of Food & Wine’s seven Sommeliers of the Year, Rajat Parr of Mina Group (michaelmina.com), will get your palate ready for the Russian River Valley through pairings like Freeman Ryo-fu Sonoma Coast Chardonnay with deconstructed butter-poached lobster pot pie.

Just 90 minutes north of San Francisco, the Russian River Valley—which takes up one-sixth of Sonoma County and is known for the Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs it produces—just might be California’s most exciting up-and-coming wine region. Both the trendy Hotel Healdsburg (hotelhealdsburg.com) and its LEED Gold-certified younger sibling, H2Hotel (h2hotel.com), sit near Healdsburg’s picturesque, boutique-filled town square. Upscale rusticators might prefer the luxe suites and Michelin-starred restaurant at Forestville’s Farmhouse (farmhouseinn.com).

Spend your morning hiking to a picnic spot high above the Alexander Valley at Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate (stonestreetwines.com), hop aboard Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves’ (bellawinery.com) Swiss Army Pinzgauer vehicle for a tour in the hills above Dry Creek, or wander the ancient redwood groves at Simi (simiwinery.com). Next, taste a cross section of Sonoma vinos while perusing Terroirs Artisan Wines’ (terroirsartisanwines.com) art gallery in Geyserville.

In the evening, stop for a cocktail at Medlock Ames’ (medlockames.com) speakeasy-ish new tasting room before an Italian feast back in town at Scopa (scopahealdsburg.com), or a dinner of farm-fresh delicacies in BarnDiva’s (barndiva.com) patio.

Spend the next day relaxing by the new pool at Francis Ford Coppola Winery (franciscoppolawinery.com) park’s Pools & Cabines (pronounced “ka-beens,” they’re European-style changing rooms) or take a cooking class at Relish (relishculinary.com). And once you’ve caught the Russian River Valley bug, travel back up November 5–6 to catch the 13th Annual Wine & Food Affair (wineroad.com) weekend with 80 participating wineries in northern Sonoma County.

LA Confidential Magazine: Gastropubs

2011-09-23T07:37:00.000-07:00

My final piece in the September issue of LA Confidential is a foodie feature on a big trend at the moment in Los Angeles: gastropubs.

Sure, they've been around for a while, and yes, there are lots of microbreweries around the country, but I think I've put my finger on a few characteristics that distinguish LA's spate of recently opened gastropubs from their counterparts across the country, as well as why our brand of brewpub is going to be setting the trend for other parts.

Find out more, as well as what you can eat at local spots like 1321 Taproom in Torrance, Bru Haus, Black Market Liquor Bar, The Tripel, Rosewood Tavern, City Tavern and the Fat Dog. I'll give you one hint...lots of different burgers, and even more fabulous artisanal ales!

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/gastropubs-move-in

LA Confidential Magazine: Fall Restaurants in Los Angeles

2011-09-21T07:33:00.000-07:00

The other main dining article in the September issue of LA Confidential is a roundup of five new restaurants to try out this fall if you happen to swing by the city.

These aren't just your average brief roundup blurbs, though. Each one is a mini review in and of itself, so take a good look.

I include Oscar's Cerveteca in Venice Beach (fresh grilled fish, nachos, ceviche!), True Food Kitchen and the Market at Santa Monica Place, and Sotto (wood-fired pizza) and Picca (more ceviche!) on Pico at the border of Beverly Hills.

Plenty to love...and eat here!

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/fall-dining-spots

LA Confidential Magazine: MB Post

2011-09-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

The lead restaurant review for the September issue of LA Confidential is a quick piece on a new restaurant in Manhattan Beach called MB Post.

As opposed to the scads of beach bars that populate the area, this restaurant manages to be upscale yet still maintain the casual nature of a beach town. Find out what I ate, why the chef loves strawberry shortcake, and why your next trip to the South Bay should include this gem in my article at the link below.

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/m-dot-b-post

JustLuxe: Dean & Deluca Wine Clubs

2011-09-15T13:42:00.000-07:00

Continuing the wine theme of the week(s), I've written about an exciting announcement from one of my favorite gourmet grocers, Dean & Deluca, who have started a new series of wine clubs that highlight the fabulous wines from my native California.

Though the clubs focus on Napa releases, they also have some great offerings from Sonoma, Santa Barbara, and several other California appellations. Plus, they are available in different price levels and categories meant to appeal to the novice and the connoisseur alike.

Check them out in my JustLuxe article at the link below.

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/lifestyle/dining/feature-1640298.php

JustLuxe: New LA Restaurants Roundup Part 2

2011-09-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

For Part 2 in my JustLuxe roundup of new restaurants opening around Los Angeles, I tackle the second half of the alphabet, including a new sandwich shop called Marcona on Melrose, a new casual brewpub kind of place called Rascal, Roof on Wilshire, which is the poolside restaurant at the new Wilshire Hotel in the Miracle Mile with great views of LA and a delicious casual menu by chef Eric Greenspan, vegan-friendly Seed Bistro, SmithHouse Tap and Grill in Century City, and German-style beer garden Wirtshaus on Fairfax.

Lots to eat, drink and see around the city this month!

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/los-angeles-news__1638859.php

JustLuxe: New LA Restaurants Roundup Part 1

2011-09-09T10:31:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of new restaurants opening up (or planning to open up imminently) around Los Angeles, so it seemed high time for a comprehensive JustLuxe roundup of where LA diners should plan on eating in the next couple of weeks.

In fact, there were so many, I split the roundup into two parts (alphabetically)--so in Part 1, you can learn more about my wine buddy David Haskell's new project with husband-wife chefs Farid Zadi and Susan Park called Eat.Good.Clean.Food, the new dinner service at Farmshop in Brentwood, Fat Spoon from the folks behind Lazy Ox Canteen, Larry's in Venice by chef Brendan Collins of Waterloo & City, the new restaurant concept at L'Ermitage called Livello, and Fonuts--a very special bakery from pastry chef Waylynn Lucas.

More to come, but for now: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/los-angeles-news__1638804.php

JustLuxe: A Wine Week in Chile

2011-09-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

Continuing my wine writing jag, I drew up a lovely luxury wine-tasting itinerary based on the time I spent down there this past May, picking out experiences from my favorite wineries, and putting it together into one big trip.

It includes a day in Santiago, plus awesome activities like horseback riding through vineyards, hiking, cooking classes, star-gazing and more at wineries like Montes, MontGras, Viu Manent, Casa Lapostolle and Casa Silva...plus plenty of Carmenere, among other wine varietals, and a brief discussion of LAN's stellar wine program.

Take a look and start searching your local wine shop for Chilean vintages now!

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/lifestyle/dining/feature-1638242.php

JustLuxe: Sequoia Grove Winery Cambium Release

2011-09-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

With wine-tasting trips to Portugal, Napa and New Zealand coming up, I'm aiming to get back into writing about my main passion, wine, a bit more...starting with this quick JustLuxe post on a new premium wine release from Sequoia Grove up in Napa (which I'll be visiting come October!).

The winery has been working on this project for a while, and this is the inaugural release, made with grapes from the 2007 harvest.

Read more about the red blend and what makes it so special at the link below.

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/lifestyle/dining/feature-1634746.php

HotelChatter: Five Foodie Facials

2011-08-29T07:21:00.000-07:00

Friday on HotelChatter, I wrote a piece that combines two of my favorite subject areas: food and spas!

I compiled a list of the five coolest "foodie facials" I've come across lately that use everything from honey to strawberries to pumpkins to caviar.

Most of the spas I talk about are right here in the U.S.--guess we really are obsessed with food here--but I included one from the Alto Atacama in Chile, where I stayed in May, whose Puri Spa has a signature facial that uses quinoa, the superfood of the moment.

To find out why you should put on your body what you normally put in your body, take a look at my roundup at the link below, and book yourself into one of these delicious treatments.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/8/25/19114/6926/hotels/Five_Foodie_Facials_We_re_Craving

HotelChatter: Inside the W Santiago

2011-08-26T07:34:00.000-07:00

Santiago was one of the first places I visited a beginning travel writer, so the city has a special place in my heart, and it was a thrill to get to go back to Chile this past May and see some more of the country.

Now, I already wrote about a little boutique hotel in the city called the Aubrey, where I stayed for two nights during that trip, but when I arrived, I actually spent my first night in the city at the W Santiago, so here' s my HotelChatter inside look at my room and my experience staying there.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/8/24/12550/7270/hotels/Inside_the_W_Santiago

HotelChatter: Sydney Club InterContinental

2011-08-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

You know I love my hotel club lounges, and though I had a fantastic experience at the Hong Kong InterContinental and its fabulous lounge (seriously some of the best hotel lounge food I've had, and fantastic service), I have to say that one of my other favorite InterContinental lounges because it's got the best views of Sydney and its famous Harbour--and is one of the only spots in the city open to the average traveler where you get the perfect perspective including both the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

What would make it perfect? If they included free WiFi in the $150 AUD/day fee, but maybe with a little more pressure they'll consider that. For now, sit back with a glass of Margaret River wine and enjoy the sunset from the 32nd-floor wraparound wooden deck. It's a true Sydney moment.

Check out my HotelChatter story on the lounge at the link below.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/8/24/13222/3219/hotels/Inside_the_Club_Intercontinental_Sydney

JustLuxe: The TASTE in LA

2011-08-23T09:06:00.000-07:00

Labor Day weekend, the LA Times and Food & Wine are throwing a four-day festival called The TASTE that will include events all over the city with some of the best known chefs like Ricardo Zarate, Scott Conant, Michael Voltaggio, Ludo Lefebvre, Susan Feniger and more, plus foodie celebrities like Giada De Laurentiis, Aida Mollenkamp, Candace Nelson and Debi Mazar.

There'll be cooking demos, picnics, brunch festivals, wine-tastings, beer sampling and more at events in Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and Downtown, plus a bunch of hotels will be offering weekend specials to draw in visitors.

Check out all the info and my picks for some of the most interesting events in my JustLuxe piece below.

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/los-angeles-news__1630210.php

HotelChatter: Four Seasons Maldives Turtle Expert

2011-08-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

This week I'm doing another installment of my HotelChatter series on Cool Hotel Jobs, only this time I'm going with a specific theme: green jobs. I went back through my files and thought of the coolest eco-jobs in the hospitality industry that I've come across and heard about, and came up with the five awesomest ones (so far!) for this week to show people that even going to luxury resorts halfway around the world can have a positive impact. So, welcome to the series!

For the final installment of this week's series on green hotel jobs, I talked to someone who works in one of my all-time dream destinations, the Director of the Marine Discovery Centre at the Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa (as opposed to the one at Landaa Giraavaru). He's basically creating a turtle nursery and helping rebuild damaged reefs around the resort's island...among a slew of other really cool initiatives. Read all about them in my story at the link below.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/8/18/144042/987/hotels/Green_Hotel_Jobs_Babysitting_Turtles_In_The_Maldives

HotelChatter: Fairmont Mayakoba's Green Team Leader

2011-08-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

This week I'm doing another installment of my HotelChatter series on Cool Hotel Jobs, only this time I'm going with a specific theme: green jobs. I went back through my files and thought of the coolest eco-jobs in the hospitality industry that I've come across and heard about, and came up with the five awesomest ones (so far!) for this week to show people that even going to luxury resorts halfway around the world can have a positive impact. So, welcome to the series!

I got the chance to stay at the Fairmont Mayakoba in Mexico's Riviera Maya back in January, and was very impressed with their unique and attentive environmental conservation programs. The resort sits on a very special piece of land, and employs a full staff of stewards to care for it. So for today's piece in my HotelChatter series on green hotel jobs, I talked to the woman who runs that staff, Lyn Santos, about what sets Mayakoba apart, how the resort helps out the local community, and what her favorite things to do on-site are. Take a look at the link below.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/8/17/143011/982/hotels/Green_Hotel_Jobs_Managing_The_Subterranean_Rivers_At_Fairmont_Mayakoba

HotelChatter: Wolgan Valley's Senior Field Guide

2011-08-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

This week I'm doing another installment of my HotelChatter series on Cool Hotel Jobs, only this time I'm going with a specific theme: green jobs. I went back through my files and thought of the coolest eco-jobs in the hospitality industry that I've come across and heard about, and came up with the five awesomest ones (so far!) for this week to show people that even going to luxury resorts halfway around the world can have a positive impact. So, welcome to the series!

I've written about Wolgan Valley, a fabulous eco-resort in Australia's Blue Mountains, and all its environmental initiatives before, but this time I thought I'd focus on the man who oversees all those positive programs, what he does, and why he thinks eco-tourism is such a big trend.

Take a look at my article at the link below.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/8/17/15828/6274/hotels/Green_Hotel_Jobs_What_It_s_Like_Overseeing_A_4_000_Acre_Reserve_In_Australia

HotelChatter: Green Hotel Jobs Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel's Naturalists

2011-08-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

This week I'm doing another installment of my HotelChatter series on Cool Hotel Jobs, only this time I'm going with a specific theme: green jobs. I went back through my files and thought of the coolest eco-jobs in the hospitality industry that I've come across and heard about, and came up with the five awesomest ones (so far!) for this week to show people that even going to luxury resorts halfway around the world can have a positive impact. So, welcome to the series!

Today's cool eco-job interview is with Will Steinriede, one of the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel's Naturalists, who's part of Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment program and takes hotel guests on all sorts of fantastic nature activities like snorkeling the kelp beds and hanging out with whales off the coast while they frolic.

Check it all out at the link below.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/8/15/225417/980/hotels/Green_Hotel_Jobs_Naturalists_At_the_Ritz_Carlton_Laguna_Niguel

HotelChatter: Green Jobs Series

2011-08-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

This week I'm doing another installment of my HotelChatter series on Cool Hotel Jobs, only this time I'm going with a specific theme: green jobs. I went back through my files and thought of the coolest eco-jobs in the hospitality industry that I've come across and heard about, and came up with the five awesomest ones (so far!) for this week to show people that even going to luxury resorts halfway around the world can have a positive impact. So, welcome to the series!

For the first entry, I decided to write about and include a video interview I conducted on a recent trip to the Four Seasons Hualalai on Hawaii's Big Island with the resort's Director of Natural Resources, David Chai.

Check out the video and some of the other fun activities I got to enjoy while there at the link below.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/8/14/181041/201/hotels/Green_Hotel_Jobs_Four_Seasons_Hualalai_s_Director_of_Natural_Resources

NY Post: Gay Honeymoon Destinations

2011-08-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

I didn't actually write this piece on Gay Honeymoon Destinations, but my friend Jennifer Ceaser who is on staff at the New York Post was writing it and asked me to comment on some of the destinations I'm familiar with, like Los Angeles (of course), Buenos Aires and Sydney.

I got to recommend some of my favorite activities in some of my favorite cities, like hitting the boutiques on Robertson in LA, taking a tango class at a milonga in Buenos Aires, and restaurant hopping in Sydney.

Check out the full piece and the other fabulous destinations Jennifer wrote about at the link below!

Link: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/travel/top_gay_honeymoon_destinations_MKkbM8nxiVl99OcqJ3qxbN

HotelChatter: Park Hyatt Shanghai's Foot Showers

2011-08-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

You know that on HotelChatter we're always looking for offbeat, unique hotel amenities, and while I was in Shanghai a few weeks ago, I came across a perfect example: the foot showers at the Park Hyatt Shanghai.

Now, most of what you read about this particular hotel has to do with the fact that it's one of the highest in the world (it starts on the 79th floor!), the spectacular views of Pudong, the crazy trendy restaurant and bar scene, and the excellent service. I, of course, had my eye on other considerations...like the shiny metal showerheads at shin level in each of the rooms I toured.

Take a look at the special spigots in my HotelChatter story below, and find out why foodies should plan a visit to the hotel in November as well...

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/8/6/20350/21690/hotels/Park_Hyatt_Shanghai_Keeps_Your_Feet_Clean_With_Foot_Showers

JustLuxe: Alfresco LA Dining

2011-08-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

This summer has been surprisingly gloomy in Los Angeles, actually, but our best weather is still to come...usually in August and September. That means there's still plenty of time to take advantage of our temperate SoCal climate and enjoy the myriad alfresco dining experiences around the city.

For this JustLuxe article, I rounded up four of the newest (and most newly renovated) outdoor dining experiences, including an amazing new 14th floor outdoor patio at Perch in downtown LA that finally creates a space that feels like living in a big city. The others on my list include the new Mohawk Bend in Echo Park, Deck 33 at the Custom Hotel near LAX, and an old favorite that's gotten a new look, the Malibu Inn.

Enjoy, and I'll see you outside in the fresh air!

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/news/feature-1620929.php

JustLuxe: Gilt City LA's Experience Curators

2011-08-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

Though I'm on the road a lot, I try to stay as up-to-date as possible about new experiences, trends, restaurants, bars and all sorts of other merchants opening shop here in LA so I can be a resource to the readers of the various publications for which I write, as well as my friends here in town.

I recently got the chance to speak to two other people whose job it is to be as plugged in as possible here in Los Angeles: the Gilt City Experience Curators.

These guys are constantly on the lookout for exciting new experiences and adventures for their members, and I spoke to them about what they search for, how they put their deals together, and what's on the horizon.

Take a look at my JustLuxe interview with the two below.

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/news/feature-1619436.php

HotelChatter: Peninsula Shanghai's Chinese Valentine's Day

2011-08-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

While I was in Shanghai last week, I stopped by one of the city's most exciting new hotel properties, the Peninsula Shanghai, right at the end of the Bund. While on a quick tour, I learned that Chinese Valentine's Day actually falls in August (the 6th this year), and that the hotel was offering a few different romantic packages to celebrate.

So take a quick look at my HotelChatter story on it below for an idea of how to celebrate your loved one--and a quick look at the legend that inspired Chinese Valentine's Day.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/7/31/203110/008/hotels/Missed_Western_Valentine_s_Day_Celebrate_Chinese_Valentine_s_Day_at_Peninsula_Shanghai

HotelChatter: Intercontinental San Francisco's Grappa Bar

2011-07-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

San Francisco is one of my favorite cities in the U.S. to visit, and though I'm usually there on my way to Napa or Sonoma, I always try to make time for some good foodie experiences since it has one of the best restaurant scenes in the country, and as the gateway to some of the world's most famous wine regions, it's a great place to sample some of California's best and most interesting wines.

On my most recent visit, however, I stopped by the Intercontinental San Francisco (ICSF) to sample the extensive grappa selection at Bar 888, including in several specialty cocktails. Take a look at my HotelChatter story at the link below, and who knows, maybe grappa will be the liqueur of 2011!

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/7/28/12051/8246/hotels/Grab_a_some_Grappa_at_Intercontinental_San_Francisco_s_Bar_888

HotelChatter: PuLi Hotel Shanghai

2011-07-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, I hopped on American Airlines' direct LAX-Shanghai flight for a quick trip to China's most exciting city. I stayed at a wonderful independent hotel called the PuLi while I was there, right next to Jing'An Park and Temple, and close to all the major sights like Xintiandi, the French Concession, the Yu Gardens, and, of course, the Bund.

But in the subtropical heat that settles on the city in summer like a moist, muggy blanket, one of the most delightful places to pass the evening was in the PuLi's new garden terrace enjoying its menu of specialty cocktails and tapas-style bites. Take a look at my HotelChatter story on the experience below.

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/7/24/3550/02306/hotels/Blood_Bitters_is_Pretty_Sweet_at_the_PuLi_Hotel_s_New_Garden_Terrace_in_Shanghai

HotelChatter: Sky Lodge's Waterfall Bathtubs

2011-07-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

The other hotel I stayed in in Park City--and my primary reason for going--was The Sky Lodge in the town of Park City itself. The rooms there are all suites, and there's a great bar called Sky Blue, as well as a popular restaurant called Easy Street.

The crew there took us horseback riding, treated us to massages at the hotel's Amatsu Spa, and then up for an afternoon of high-speed adventure at the Park City Mountain Resort's rides, like the Alpine Slide and the Zipride zipline...video to come.

In the meantime, check out my HotelChatter story on my favorite room amenity, the waterfall bathtubs, which were followed by a close runner up, the wine refrigerators in the kitchens. Lather up!

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/7/20/173151/598/hotels/Like_It_s_Raining_from_the_Ceiling_Sky_Lodge_Park_City_s_Waterfall_Bathtubs

HotelChatter: Montage Deer Valley's Daly's Pub & Rec

2011-07-20T15:10:00.000-07:00

I spent the first part of this week on my first ever visit to one of America's premier ski destinations: Park City, Utah. Of course, this is summer. So was there anything to do? Well, you might be as surprised as I was to find out just how many fun activities there are up in the mountains over the summer. During my short visit, I went mountain biking, horseback riding, archery lesson-ing, whiskey tasting, and more.

This first story is about my stay at the new Montage Deer Valley, which just opened this past winter, and is my idea of an ideal luxe mountain getaway. They also happen to have an awesome pub and game room with pool, foosball, darts, Wii, and even a bowling alley, so that's what I wrote about for HotelChatter, along with a video about the special beers they have on tap there.

Read it here: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/7/19/18544/4462/hotels/Game_On_Inside_Daly_s_Pub_Rec_at_Montage_Deer_Valley

JustLuxe: American Sommelier 6-Day Napa Intensive

2011-07-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

Another rarefied report for my JustLuxe portfolio: American Sommelier's 6-Day Intensive Wine Course in Napa Valley at the end of July. Students will spend a week learning all about the world's various wine regions, their varietals, producers, geography, soil, climate and more, plus take field trips to vineyards and wineries, enjoy a few meals out, and get some nice stemware along the way.

Now that's my kind of summer school!

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/news/feature-1611345.php

MadeMan: Skincare for Dudes

2011-07-14T07:26:00.000-07:00

In the vein of how-to stuff dudes are interested in, my next MadeMan piece takes a look at the things every man should be doing to take care of his skin this summer.

For it, I enlisted the help of one of my favorite local skincare experts, Derek Hofmann, the Spa Director at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Not only is he just a mensch and a fun guy to talk to, but he's also a treasure trove of skincare information, and gave me tips on everything from a proper daily skincare regimen to a list of easily available products every man should be stocking in his bathroom (or car or gym bag for guys on the go). Oh, and he's got great skin, so I'll do anything he says!

So take a quick read, put on some sunblock, and get out there to enjoy the summer!

Link: http://www.mademan.com/summer-skin-care-tips-for-men/

JustLuxe: Bastille Day in Los Angeles

2011-07-13T07:26:00.000-07:00

My last JustLuxe piece was on 4th of July happenings around Los Angeles, but this week is another independence celebration near and dear to my heart: Bastille Day!

And several of the French restaurants around town are going all out to celebrate la journee de la Bastille with everything from croque monsieurs and specialty cocktails to live DJ's and costume parties.

Check out my handy little list at the link below, including Comme Ca, BREADBAR, Cliff's Edge, La Cachette Bistro and Fig + Olive...

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/news/feature-1609134.php

JustLuxe: Paws Up Pinnacle Camp

2011-07-12T07:06:00.000-07:00

As you know, glamping is one of my main travel writing interests, and I was ecstatic to get to visit the newest luxury camp, Pinnacle Camp, at Paws Up, the U.S.'s trendsetting glamping destination in the wild and wonderful woods of northwest Montana.

I already wrote up an interview I conducted with Matt, the camping butler, for HotelChatter, so for this JustLuxe piece, I decided to go more in-depth about the overall experience of staying at Pinnacle Camp, and talked about the deluxe new field tents with en suite bathrooms (including spa jacuzzi tubs!), all the fun activities (cattle drives and fly fishing!), the delicious gourmet cowboy cuisine (huckleberry martinis and grilled elk tenderloin), and all the colorful characters I met while I was there.

Once you take a look at my post, you'll be longing for a gorgeous home on the range too...

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/spa/feature-1605237.php

LA Confidential: Venokado's Susan Brink

2011-07-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

I've already shared the restaurant reviews and the Santa Barbara travel piece I did for LA Confidential's June issue, but I also wanted to include a profile piece I wrote on one of my favorite wine people in Los Angeles, Susan Brink.

This self-proclaimed wine dork not only puts together the lists at restaurants like Soho House and Dominick's, but she also runs one of my favorite wine shops in the city, Venokado, with her sister Molly and Molly's partner, Tracy Hof.

Stopping by either the first shop on Fountain near me, or their new venture at the Market at Santa Monica Place, to talk with any or all of them about my recent wine adventures and to pick out a bottle and some quirky gifts for a dinner party, or any occasion really, is just a pure delight, so I was thrilled to get to write about her for the magazine.

Take a look at my piece and tell me if you don't want to be her friend by the time you finish...

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/channels/dining/insights#on-the-brink

Jaunted: LAN's Mistral VIP Lounge

2011-07-08T15:42:00.000-07:00

For my final Chile-inspired article on Jaunted this week, I take readers inside LAN's Mistral Salon VIP, or airport lounge, at the Santiago airport, where I spent a pleasant few hours getting work done, grazing on snacks, tasting through wines, and even grabbing a quick shower while on layover before my flight back to the U.S.

Check out all the amenities and a gallery of my photos at the link below.

Link: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/7/5/22286/34841/travel/Inside+LAN%27s+Mistral+VIP+Lounge+at+Santiago+Airport

Jaunted: Atacama Desert Adventure

2011-07-07T09:53:00.000-07:00

The recounting of my May adventure in Chile continues on Jaunted this week with a recap of all the awesome, extreme activities in which I got to partake during my visit up to the country's arid Atacama Desert.

It's not just another desert, though. It's literally the driest place on earth. That doesn't mean it's a barren wasteland, though. Quiet the opposite. Near the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, where I stayed at the Hotel Alto Atacama, experiences abound including hikes up to ancient rock fortresses, swims in thermal hot springs, treks up to high-altitude geysers, flamingo-watching at the salt flats, unparalleled stargazing and more...

So come along, and check out one of the most distinct, challenging and fascinating places on Earth.

Link: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/7/5/193149/6495/travel/What%92s+There+To+Do+in+Chile%27s+Atacama+Desert%2C+Anyway%3F

Jaunted: Chilean Wine Day 2, Cachapoal

2011-07-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

Today on Jaunted, I cover the other wine region I visited on my recent trip down to Chile: the Cachapoal Valley.

Never heard of it? You're not alone. It's actually a sub-region of the much larger (and more well known) Rapel Valley, and is nestled right in the foothills of the Andes, so there are tons of interesting microclimates that make it possible to produce distinctive wines--especially reds like Chile's signature Carmeneres.

So come along as I try the wine (literally, just the one wine) at Vik, and then the whole range (along with a beautiful multi-course tasting menu) at Anakena, and drink from the roots of the Andes with me.

Link: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/7/4/15253/18636/travel/Drinking+from+the+Roots+of+the+Andes+in+Chile%27s+Cachapoal+Valley

Jaunted: Wine-Tasting in Chile's Colchagua Valley

2011-07-05T09:05:00.000-07:00

I start this week off with a couple new wine pieces on Jaunted from my recent trip down to Chile. The first, from today, is about what is probably Chile's most famous wine region, and the one that has become renowned for producing what has become the country's national grape varietal (Carmenere): the Colchagua Valley just two hours southwest of Santiago.

In it, you can find out about where I tasted and what I did, and come along as I visit some of the biggest names in Chile's wine industry including Casa Silva, Montes, Casa Lapostolle, MontGras, Viu Manent and Santa Cruz...

Salud!

Link: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/7/4/11723/33085/travel/Skipping+Out+on+Santiago+for+Casa+Silva+in+Chile%27s+Colchagua+Valley

JustLuxe: 4th of July in LA

2011-07-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

Of course, I couldn't let the 4th of July pass without a quick roundup on JustLuxe since there are a few fun foodie things happening around the city including Magnolia Bakery's usual collection of patriotic cupcakes, a clambake at Rush Street in Culver City, prime fireworks viewing along the coast at the Shangri-La Hotel and High at the Hotel Erwin, special takeout from Tavern in Brentwood, and some down-home music and cooking at Chaya Venice (seriously!).

So slather on the sunblock, stock your cooler, and join the party as summer kicks into high gear!

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/news/feature-1605868.php

HotelChatter: Peninsula Beverly Hills' New Look

2011-06-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, I went to one of my favorite LA hotels, the Peninsula Beverly Hills. I admit, I got a little fixated on the fact that they gave me a monogrammed napkin to enjoy my breakfast with, but afterwards, I got to take a quick informal tour with the hotel's Managing Director, Offer Nissenbaum, to see the hotel's newly redecorated rooms.

So come along as I take you on a sneak peek on HotelChatter!

Link: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/6/27/175117/457/hotels/The_Peninsula_Beverly_Hills_Has_a_Brand_New_Floral_Look

JustLuxe: ColLAboration's Pop-Up Beer Garden

2011-06-28T06:31:00.000-07:00

This was just a fun, quick story for JustLuxe about a special event going on in Los Angeles for a few weekends in July: a pop-up beer garden.

ColLAboration is, well, a collaboration among several fantastic beer bars around LA including The Surly Goat in my neighborhood, Verdugo Bar, and Tony's Darts Away in Burbank. They're getting together three Saturdays in July and throwing a pop-up beer garden on the Sunset Strip. Best of all, admission is just $10, and pours of fantastic craft beers from California and beyond are just $5-6 each, so you can try lots of things and meet the folks who are setting the LA beer scene on fire.

I'm going to head there on July 23 for the celebration of Belgian Independence Day, when they'll be pouring about 40 Belgian ales, including some of my favorites like Duvel Green.

Cheers!

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/news/feature-1603312.php

MadeMan: Talking to The Points Guy

2011-06-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

I love talking to my friend Brian, The Points Guy, about maximizing airline miles, hotel points, and all those loyalty programs that all of us are members of, and yet never really are able to use for anything of value. Well, that's where Brian comes in, of course, and shows all of us that there's actually a lot more value to all the points we've accrued than we ever could have wrung from them on our own--and he gets to jet all over the world staying in fabulous places doing it!

Meanwhile, my editors all seem to love Brian as an article topic as well since he is one of the savviest people out there at winkling amazing deals from points, is an expert on all the credit card offerings out there, and is entirely charming and relatable as he demystifies the byzantine systems by which these awards programs operate.

For my latest piece on him, I write about Brian and his tips on accruing and using airline miles in the most lucrative, efficient ways possible on MadeMan. There's still plenty of time to use points for a summer vacation, so read my interview with The Points Guy and start booking!

Link: http://www.mademan.com/maximize-airline-rewards/

LA Confidential Magazine: Santa Barbara

2011-06-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

Before I get to the big dining feature I did for the Summer Issue of LA Confidential (stay tuned next week!), I thought I'd include the travel piece I wrote up on one of California's classiest and perennially popular destinations: Santa Barbara.

World-class resorts, great restaurants, lovely wineries and tons of activities both sporty and dorky...it's definitely a great vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. No link to the article on the LA Confidential site yet, so instead, I'll just paste the text in below so you can take a look!

THE COAST WITH THE MOST: Santa Barbara

The towns along the Santa Barbara Coast have something for the beach bum and city slicker in all of us.

THE TOWNS

Santa Barbara: Colonial history, beautiful beaches and five-star accommodations make this one of SoCal’s premier destinations.

Montecito: The toniest town in the area, set between the sea and the mountains just south of Santa Barbara proper. Oh, and it’s Oprah’s neighborhood. Need we say more?

Carpinteria: Surf’s up in this beachfront hamlet a few miles south of Montecito.

HOTELS

Laidback Luxury: The Four Seasons The Biltmore Santa Barbara is a historic hotel of spacious rooms with Spanish tiling, deep soaking tubs and plasma televisions—not to mention its gorgeous beachside dining patio and intimate spa. fourseasons.com/santabarbara

Moorish Flair: For easy access to Santa Barbara’s boutiques and galleries, there’s no beating the Canary Hotel, whose rooms blend Moroccan caché and European elegance in the heart of town. canarysantabarbara.com

Casual Class: Across from Santa Barbara’s State Beach, Hotel Oceana features bright rooms decorated in beachy colors and several pools for sunbathing. hoteloceansantabarbara.com

Under The Radar: North of town, the standard rooms at Bacara are 450 square feet of pure luxury with Frette linens, balconies, and many have fireplaces. There are deluxe pool cabanas, two golf courses and a 42,000-square-foot spa. bacararesort.com

Haute Honeymoon: JFK and Jackie O honeymooned in the hillside cottages at Montecito’s San Ysidro Ranch, which combine rustic appeal with all the modern luxury amenities. Its Stonehouse Restaurant is also one of the best in the area. sanysidroranch.com

RESTAURANTS

Wine Country Cuisine: Wine Cask has the best wine list in the city, populated by both moderate quaffs and hard-to-find bottles. winecask.com

Seaside Seafood: Enjoy a pier-side lunch of freshly caught local seafood at Brophy Bros., or head to the SB sequel to Hollywood’s Hungry Cat. brophybros.com; thehungrycat.com

Taco Time: Humble La Super-Rica Taqueria on SB’s Milpas Street was one of Julia Child’s local faves. (805) 963-4940

Beach Brews: Nothing beats a cold brew (or a whole flight of them) at Carpinteria’s Island Brewing Company. islandbrewingcompany.com

THINGS TO DO

On a Mission: The imposing 1786 Santa Barbara Mission was known as the Queen of California’s 21 missions. santabarbaramission.org

Garden Path: The Santa Barbara Botanical Garden in Mission Canyon contains over 1,000 species of indigenous plants and flowers on 65 gorgeous acres. sbbg.org

Urban Wine Trail: Who needs to trek to wine country when you can taste in town at wineries like Santa Barbara Winery and Whitcraft? urbanwinetrailsb.com

Horsing Around: Bring a picnic or splurge on a cabana to watch matches on Sundays during the April-October season at the Santa Barbara Polo Club, which also celebrates its Centennial Extravaganza in August. sbpolo.com

LA Confidential Magazine: Son of a Gun

2011-06-23T07:37:00.000-07:00

The guys from Animal on Fairfax have done it again, only this time, they've opened up a swingin' seafood restaurant on West Third Street. So, for my third restaurant review in the LA Confidential Summer Issue, I went to Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo's Son of a Gun to sample the lobster roll and the fried chicken sandwich, plus a few other fishy snacks.

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/summer-of-dining-in-la?page=2

Son of a Gun
You might recognize the manly men in the kitchen of Son of a Gun as the same chef-buddy duo behind the popular meat-obsessed Animal on Fairfax. With their second restaurant, Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo set their sights on the seas with a maritime menu of fresh seafood that changes every day.

Expect a rotating roster of dishes that take old standards and lend them a hint of the exotic, like a crispy fried-shrimp toast sandwich with herbs and spicy sriracha mayo. Alligator schnitzel with shaved hearts of palm and orange with a vanilla-lime butter sauce hearkens to Shook and Dotolo’s Florida roots, but the fried chicken sandwich heaped with spicy pickle slaw and “rooster aioli” is a signature. For dessert, there’s a version of Key lime pie with frozen lime yogurt, graham crumble and toasted meringue.

The wine list is surprisingly sparkling focused, but the cocktail list Lindsay Nader helped create sports an impressive 20 creations—what else would you expect from the Food & Wine Cocktails 2011 deputy editor? Make reservations early, or try your luck getting a spot at the first-come, first-served communal table. 8370 W. 3rd St., LA; sonofagunrestaurant.com

LA Confidential Magazine: Playa

2011-06-22T07:28:00.000-07:00

One of the other restaurants we chose to cover for the Summer Issue of LA Confidential was Chef John Sedlar Rivera's new restaurant on Beverly in the former Grace space, Playa.

In the beautifully redone restaurant, he departs from his upscale Mexican mien and delivers international cuisine in combinations that dazzle the eye and the palate.

Take a look at what I ate (and what you should order!) below.

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/summer-of-dining-in-la

Playa

Having evolved from his modern Mexican restaurant Rivera, owner/executive chef John Sedlar’s acclaimed Downtown LA restaurant, Playa, features a more casual take on Latin-inspired fare. The name and ambiance of the newly renovated space (formerly Grace)—highlighted by a lively open kitchen—are meant to evoke LA’s laid-back coastal lifestyle, as well as a relaxed urban-Latin vibe.

Seasonal platos, which incorporate local ingredients, include maize cakes with pork-belly confit, chile-lime jicama, pickled mango, masala and raita espuma; and the playfully titled Octo-Palm, made with grilled octopus, palm hearts, scallions and oven-dried cherry tomatoes and red onions. Sedlar aims to dazzle with pan-seared loup de mer with five tongue-twisting sauces—romesco, chimichurri, salsa verde, aji amarillo and aji panca—and equally complex (in a good way) desserts such as the Luna Mezcal chocolate cake with chocolate glaze, mezcal ice cream, caramel popcorn and Spanish peanuts.

For a different kind of treat, try a bottle from the wine list, which comes mostly from the Spanish-speaking world, or a cocktail like the Pear-blossom Highway with El Diablito pisco, Bartlett pear, Clear Creek eau de vie, citrus, Chartreuse and pear leather. 7360 Beverly Blvd., LA; playarivera.com

LA Confidential Magazine: Fig & Olive

2011-06-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

The restaurant reviews in LA Confidential's Summer Issue led off with an eye-catching shot of Ray's and Stark Bar's Santa Barbara spot prawns, but I also covered a few other buzz-worthy openings from the past few months, including that of Fig & Olive, and East Coast paean to Southern French cooking that has finally made its way to the West Coast...with not one, but three opening parties.

My Frontiers review should have given you the gist of the place, but this write-up for LA Confidential really distills the experience. Bon appetit!

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/summer-of-dining-in-la

Fig & Olive

With bustling farmers’ markets and a Mediterranean climate, Southern California and the south of France have a lot in common. Bringing Provence that much closer to LA is restaurateur Laurent Halasz, who has transplanted the first West Coast installment of his New York City mini-chain, Fig & Olive, to Melrose Place.

The 8,000-square-foot space has an olive tree as its centerpiece, planters blooming with rosemary, a long marble martini bar and communal table, a private dining atrium, and a swanky Champagne bar upstairs.

Diners start with tastes from the international selection of olive oils, then it’s on to executive chef Pascal Lorange’s menu (which Halasz’s mother, Francine, helped shape) of nibbles such as crostini with mushroom, truffled artichoke and Parmesan; and fresh zucchini carpaccio with Parmesan and pine nuts drizzled with olive oil and lemon. From the grill, tender lamb chops are smoked with a bouquet of herbs de Provence over goat cheese-and-chive gnocchi and roasted eggplant.

Like the food, the wine list is exclusively Mediterranean, hailing from France, Spain and Italy. And the desserts here—including the Tropezienne, a brioche filled with mascarpone and Meyer lemon-glazed strawberries—are so good, who needs to go to Provence? 8490 Melrose Pl., West Hollywood; figandolive.com

LA Confidential Magazine: Ray's and Stark Bar

2011-06-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

I already took a look at Ray's and Stark Bar at LACMA for JustLuxe and Frontiers, but this LA Confidential piece was the reason I went in to try out Patina's newest restaurant in the first place, and we chose to feature it as the lead-off to the Dining section of the June/Summer Issue because of this arresting shot of the Santa Barbara spot prawn dish. It just makes me hungry for summer...how about you?

Find out more about Kris Morningstar's menu, Michel Dozois' cocktails, and all the other delicious morsels to be had at Ray's and Stark Bar below.

Link: http://la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/rays-and-stark-bar-teaches-us-the-art-of-dining

JustLuxe: Father's Day in LA

2011-06-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

Well, Father's Day is coming up, and though I usually get my dear old dad a card (hey, he's a simple guy, and that's all he needs to be happy), I thought I'd put together a little list of some fabulous items I've come across in LA lately that you might consider for your own paterfamilias.

It's a bit of a hodgepodge, with things like J Hilburn cufflinks, bowties from Alexander Olch, an Alexander McQueen scarf from Mr. Porter, and even a beer pairing menu from Drago Centro downtown.

So take a look, then whip out your credit card and charge up something for your father to make him feel special this Sunday!

Link: http://www.justluxe.com/travel/news/feature-1596519.php