Enjoy Santa Barbara Culinary Experience at the five-star Hotel Californian by celebrating Santa Barbara Wine Country.
Featuring hors d’oeuvres from Executive Chef Travis Watson and pours from almost 2 dozen Santa Barbara County wineries.
Click here for info and tickets
20 years of award-winning culinary experience
After his career led him all over the world, including France where he served as an apprentice to Chef Georges Paccard of Michelin-starred La Ciboulette.
More than a dozen wineries
with a unique display of Santa Barbara qualities
Different expressions of terroir across the County, and in some cases, exclusivity (some don’t have tasting rooms, or are small, boutique wineries).
The list includes:
Alma Rosa Winery, Ampelos Cellars, Barden Wines,
Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills Estate Wines,
Buttonwood Farm & Winery
Brewer-Clifton, Cambria Wines, Dragonette Cellars,
Foxen Vineyard & Winery
Jonata, Lieu Dit Winery, Margerum Wines, Nielson Wines,
Pence Vineyards & Winery, Riverbench Vineyard & Winery
Sandhi Wines, Tyler Winery
and more to be announced.
Santa Barbara Culinary Experience
The inaugural Santa Barbara Culinary Experience (SBCE) is a world-class three-day event celebrated throughout greater Santa Barbara from March 13-15, 2020.
In partnership with The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, the event brings together local and national talent to celebrate Santa Barbara – Julia Child’s final home – with its dynamic food and wine scene.
Participating restaurants, bars and hotels across the city and harbor will offer new twists on classic Julia Child dishes, signature Julia and Paul Child cocktails, educational programming, memorable stays, tours, talks and other creative programming.
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Los Angeles: Reasons To Be Excited About 2019 (Part 1)
2018 proved to be a hard year for the City of Angels. From devastating fires, the escalating housing crisis, and well, politics in general.
No need to worry Angelenos, We have a very bright future. The New Year continue to offer Los Angeles the role as the best place in the world to live. Here are some things to get excited about!
1. The Music Center Plaza reopens
Completely renovated by Rios Clementi Hale Studios by spending $40 million the sweeping midcentury plaza between the Mark Taper Forum and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion will be thrown open to the public after welcoming a restaurant and wine bar, more seating capacity and much required public restrooms.
2. Big Bus Plan by Metro
Metro’s next-gen bus study aims to make improvements in the region’s bus network. The 18-month study to completely overhaul the bus network followed by 10 community meetings going to be held between January and February to make some major changes by the end of the year.
3. A new bridge over the LA River
You can see a construction process on the bridge underway over the Los Angeles River. This construction will help horses, cyclists and pedestrians get from Atwater Village to Griffith Park without any hassle. It is the first among the three new pedestrian bridges which are planned especially for the river.
The next pedestrian bridge is an Elysian Valley Cypress Park which is not constructed yet. Another bridge will connect Glendale to Griffith Park. Finally, the third is Sixth Street Viaduct that connects the Arts district to Boyle Heights. It will open till next year!
4. Budget-friendly housing close to Transit
By the transit-oriented communities program, more than nine thousand units have been approved. This provides incentives to the developers for constructing the building within less than one mile of transit stops. Even 20% of those units are specifically for low-income families. Moreover, now, a new approved Expo Line plan has been introduced according to which builders can add more population close to 5 light-rail stations.
5. Yes, Los Angeles Finally Address Its Tree Problem
To be honest, the tree situation in Los Angeles is in severe trouble. In late 2018, the city took its “first step” for its urgently required urban forest management plan. Also there was a posting as an “emergency” job for a citywide forest officer. Even the city officers are paying special attention to various problems like the 14 ficuses slated to be chopped down. The credit goes to the City Councilmember David Ryu who urges to keep the mature trees while mending the sidewalks.
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Il Pastaio, Il Segreto, Open Face Food Shop among Top L.A. Restaurants Introduce Take-Out & Delivery
During the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s a trying time for everyone. Especially as Los Angeles is told to “Stay Home”. But we still gotta eat, right?
Here are some great take-out and delivery options:
Il Pastaio (Beverly Hills)
Il Pastaio will be offering Take-Out for both for Lunch and Dinner every Monday through Sunday from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm to support their community and guests’ in-home dining needs. Il Pastaio will be offering a slightly reduced Take-Out Menu, but guests will still be able to order many of their favorite Drago Family dishes.
Courtesy of Il Pastaio
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To place a Take-Out Order directly, please call Il Pastaio at 310.205.5444 and feel free to utilize Il Pastaio’s Curbside Pickup as the City of Beverly Hills has made it possible for guests to pull right in front of Il Pastaio during this time.
Courtesy of Il Pastaio
Il Pastaio will be offering Take-Out and Delivery Monday through Sunday from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm; 400 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; 310.205.5444; www.IlPastaioBeverlyHills.com
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Uber Eats delivery
Il Segreto (Bel Air):
Il Segreto will be offering Take-Out every Monday through Sunday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm to support their community and guests’ in-home dining needs.
Courtesy of Il Segreto
Il Segreto will be offering a slightly reduced Take-Out Menu, but guests will still be able to order many of their beloved traditional Italian dishes. To place a Take-Out Order directly, please call Il Segreto at 310.474.8644. Guests can also order from Grubhub if they prefer delivery.
Courtesy of Il Segreto
Il Segreto will be offering Take-Out and Delivery Monday through Sunday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm; 2932 Beverly Glen Circle, Bel Air, CA 90077; 310.474.8644; www.IlSegretoRistorante.com
Open Face Food Shop (Los Angeles):
Open Face Food Shop’s delicious and nutritious, vegetable-filled Danish-inspired dishes will be available for Take-Out for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner every Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, and on Saturday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm starting Wednesday, March 18th.
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Open Face Food Shop will be offering Executive Chef Lene Houck’s Traditional Menu and an expanded HYGGE-TO-GO Menu including special Family Boxes that will be changing daily and feature fresh Farmers Market produce.
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Associated with relaxation, indulgence, and gratitude, Hygge has long been considered a part of the Danish national character.
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Guests can enjoy fresh and delicious items such as the Egg Salad & Pork Danish Open Face Sandwich offering a curried egg salad with leek and pickled herring sandwich paired with a pork loin, apple, braised cabbage, and pickles for a delicious and nutritious Lunch.
Meat lovers are in luck with the Hakke Bøf, a Danish-style open-faced burger made with grass-fed beef, caramelized onions, shaved Brussels sprouts, and quick-pickled cucumber on top of Nathan’s Artisan Sourdough.
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For something sweet, Chef Lene’s Almond Cake is scrumptious and served with homemade labneh and blueberry compote. Open Face Food Shop will soon be offering Online Ordering and will have updates at www.OpenFaceFoodShop.com when this is available. Since quantities may be limited, Open Face Food Shop recommends that guests call 855.676.3223 ahead of time (preferably by 12:00 Noon) for that evening’s Take-Out Pickup.
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Open Face Food Shop offers Take-Out Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, and on Saturday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm; 5577 West Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016; 855.676.3223; www.OpenFaceFoodShop.com
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Darrell Hammond, Jay Mohr & Jamie Kennedy – The Shindig Show proves There’s Good Comedy in The Valley!
Good comedy in North Hollywood – The Shindig Show – with Darrell Hammond, Jay Mohr & Jamie Kennedy proves there’s good comedy in The Valley!
Over and over again, two thoughts were repeated throughout the night by so many people. “It’s so good to be out of the house” and “who knew there was good comedy in the Valley”.
On Friday June 11, North Hollywood’s Comedy Chateau hosted a lineup including Darrell Hammond, Jay Mohr and headliner Jamie Kennedy.
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The night was hosted by everyone’s favorite British Publicist-turned-outrageous comic Christine Peake of PeakPRGroup.
Host Christine Peake Photo credit: Jac Wong
I love live comedy, but I can’t do a 6-hour night of jokes. And sometimes, that’s what a night of comedy feels like. The last time (pre-pandemic) I was at a certain Sunset Strip show, it was great. But it went on and on. I was loving it until I wasn’t. No one’s fault, and it’s odd to complain about too much comedy and yet that’s what it was.
That’s why this Shindig Show was Special
Jimmy Shin, one of the producers of the Shindig curates a fast-moving night. A mix of comedy styles, a mix of famous and lesser-known comics.
Christine Peake was our host and set the tone for the night bravely swan diving right into un-PC hedonism. If you’re looking for a polite time, go home now. She had the crowd roaring within seconds.
But the fun part was, the night wasn’t just a night of roaring. As you’ll see in a sec, the whispers were just as funny.
Actress / comedian Eugenia Kuzmina Photo credit: Jac Wong
Actress / comedian Eugenia Kuzmina is brave. I’ve seen her perform a few times. Sometimes she does a dead-ringer for Melania Trump that works well. Her act often feels uniquely experimental. She plays with the audience, She teases us. She plays off her looks (an international model) with a sly sense of humor.
Greg Baldwin Photo credit: Jac Wong
Greg Baldwin has a heart of gold. His first line on stage had me laughing. He’s ridiculous in a silly, goofy way until he starts to reveal himself. He’s comfortable getting uncomfortably vulnerable and three seconds later, he’s silly again.
Jimmy Shin Photo credit: Jac Wong
Jimmy Shin is an instant party. Much like Baldwin, he’s as comfortable getting vulnerable as he is getting silly. His rat-a-tat-tat energy is infectious, the whole room gets a cardio workout. His comedy touches on race, family and being an immigrant. It’s no wonder his Amazon special “Wok of Shame” is so popular.
Darrell Hammond Photo credit: Jac Wong
Everyone loves SNL’s Darrell Hammond
I’ve never seen Darrell Hammond live before. I’m a fan of his SNL work, so I was curious what he’d sample for us tonight. His performance wasn’t a setup / punchline pattern, but more long-form funny stories with huge payoffs. Long, quiet moments where literally the room could hear a pin drop, and 6 seconds later, huge applause. He took the crowd on a comedic rollercoaster and we loved every moment of it.
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Jay Mohr Photo credit: Jac Wong
Jay Mohr Deserves More (bad pun, sorry)
I forgot how much I love Jay Mohr and within a few seconds of him getting on stage, everyone else also remembered all the reasons why they love him too. His voice, his energy, his confidence. And he was just getting warmed up. He’s always had a slight “f*ck you” tone, and as he ages, that tone is ripening into a fine wine. He’s telling celebrity stories from his Hollywood adventures, single Dad sex, climbing on chairs. By the end of his set he got a standing ovation from several folks in the front row. Not only was the ovation earned, but when Mohr saw it, for just a moment, it was sincere appreciation.
Here’s my random prediction – Jay Mohr has got a Bob Odenkirk future. He’s in line for his own character actor transformation ala Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Nobody and more.
Jay Mohr Photo credit: Jac Wong
Jamie and Peakey
These two should get a room. Or maybe a TV series? Headliner Jamie Kennedy and our host Christine Peake have an on-going jokey, fake feud that’s been going on since Summer of 2020. No one is quite sure how it started (they know, they just don’t tell). They tease and torment each other. Their kink seems to be hilariously humiliating each other on stage.
Jamie Kennedy Photo credit: Jac Wong
And that brings us to our headliner… Jamie Kennedy
I’ve seen Jamie several times and last night was my favorite. He continued Christine Peake’s bawdy theme going and reminded everyone, even during cancel culture, this is a comedy show. Comedy is here to tease, taunt and explore. It’s not here to play polite. This crowd agreed loudly with that message.
Jamie is a renaissance performer. He’s as comfortable as a comedic movie star, as he is as a podcaster, as he is sharing observations on-stage. Just like Hammond, Kennedy was more long-form.
North Hollywood’s The Comedy Chateau works hard to bring you a great night. The lineup was hot- all praise due to producer Jimmy Shin. His hard work and comic relationships ensure a first-class “Shintastic show”, which can be found all over Los Angeles.
The food menu was affordable. The parking was easy (yes, that’s important).
Perhaps the best way to end is with a quote from Jay Mohr: “What a surprisingly great place. I’ll be back here again soon.”
For more good live comedy, check out Trevor Noah and Ali Wong later this year.
