Jodi Jackson’s Hollywood

This was an interesting day to say the least. The weather was very iffy with thunderstorms predicted. I got to this wonderful event at 3:30 PM, doors were opening at 4:00 PM. I managed to get around the whole perimeter of the rose bowl and taste all of the amazing cuisine by 5:30 PM, and then the skies opened up with quite the punch. You could here thunder off in the distance, but really after the rain started you wanted to high-tail it out of there. I am sure many were cheated because of Mother Nature, but I felt satisfied that I was able to enjoy all of the fantastic offerings at The 2nd Annual Masters of Taste.

The 2nd Annual Masters of Taste will brought over 2,500 food and beverage enthusiasts together from all over Greater Los Angeles for one afternoon to celebrate this exhilarating festival, which included the finest fare from over 40 Culinary Masters and restaurants, delectable sweets prepared by L.A.’s top Sweet Masters, signature handcrafted cocktails and tastings from over 30 Beverage Masters, including L.A’s top bartenders and cocktail bars, local California wineries, local craft breweries, pressed juices, hand roasted coffee, live entertainment and much more. Stroll the 50-yard line as you feast on the finest fare from L.A.’s top chefs and restaurants. 100% of the proceeds from Masters of Taste 2017 go directly to benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to helping homeless men; women and children rebuild their lives. Union Station is part of a premier group of human services agencies in Los Angeles County that are leading the way to end homelessness in our community and offers an array of services including street outreach, meals, shelter, housing, case management and career development. Last year, Masters of Taste 2016 raised over $435,000 for Union Station Homeless Services, and this year Masters of Taste hopes to grow that number to $560,000.

Some of this year’s Masters of Taste 2017 participating Culinary Masters and Restaurants include:

118 degrees – Chef Jenny Ross (Tarzana),Alexander’s Steakhouse – Chef Matt Bata (Pasadena), Bacchus Kitchen & Eatery and Claude & Co. – Chef Claud Beltran (Pasadena), Bone Kettle and Komodo – Chef Erwin Tjahyadi (Pasadena and Los Angeles), CAST at the Viceroy Santa Monica – Chef Larry Monaco (Santa Monica), Celestino – Chef Calogero Drago (Pasadena), Church & State and Spring – Chef Tony Esnault (Downtown Los Angeles), Crossings – Chef Lalo Sanchez (South Pasadena), HACHÉ LA – Chef Michael “Mick” Schepers (Silver Lake), HokePoke – Chef Lauren Haas (Downtown Los Angeles), Hamasaku – Chef Yoya Takahashi (Los Angeles), Hyperion Public – Chef Paddy Aubrey (Silver Lake and Studio City), INTRO Art Gallery & Chef’s Table – Chef Paul Shoemaker (North Hollywood), Little Beast – Chef Jose Perez (Eagle Rock), Magnolia House – Chef Evan Colter (Pasadena), Mama Lion – Chef Michael Hung (Koreatown), Mexikosher – Chef Katsuji Tanabi (Los Angeles), Milk & Honey – Chef Lulu Cai (Hollywood), Miro – Chef Gavin Mills (Downtown Los Angeles), Momed – Chef Alex Sarkissian (Beverly Hills and Atwater Village), Nerano – Chef Michele Lisi (Beverly Hills), Ramen Tatsunoya (Pasadena), SpireWorks – Chef Kuniko Yagi (Westwood Village and Eagle Rock), Redbird – Chef Neal Fraser (Downtown Los Angeles), The Raymond 1886 – Chef Tim Guiltinan (Pasadena), True Food Kitchen – Chef Phil Noresetter (Pasadena), and Venice Whaler – Chef Nick Liberato (Venice).

Sweet Masters: A select group of Los Angeles Top Sweet Masters will showcase an assortment of delectable desserts such as the gourmet single-origin chocolate and vanilla ice creams from Choctal, homemade premium sorbets from Helados Pops, the finest globally-procured cacao from Chocolate Stars USA, and much more from Café Dulce, Icy Rush, Lark Cake Shop, Magpies Softserve, Mignon Chocolate, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Sprinkles, Street Churros and The Dirty Cookie.

Brewmasters: Beverage Masters who specialize in barley and hops will be presenting top-notch ales, lagers, pilsners and more for guests to sample, sip and savor all throughout the event, including Southern California favorites Bootlegger’s Brewery, Indie Brewing Company, Iron triangle Brewing, MacLeod Ale Brewing Co., Three Weavers Brewing Company and 101 Cider House.

Wineries: A specially curated collection of Wine Masters will be showcasing their finest varietals including premium boutique winery Ascension Cellars, Antelope Valley’s Golden Star Vineyards, Jardesca, St. Helena’s Hall Wines, Anderson Valley’s Navarro Vineyards, San Antonio Winery in Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Barbara County’s Tercero Wines, Napa Valley’s Trinchero Family Estates and Vinemark Cellars.

Bars & Spirits: Some of L.A.’s top bartenders and cocktail bars will be creating first-rate craft cocktails, including Peter Lloyd-Jones and 1886 Bar, Garrett McKechnie of Downtown L.A.’s Bar Mattachine and Bar Manager Bethany Ham of the newly opened 1950s inspired hidden cocktail den Birds & Bees. Top brands showcasing their finest spirits will also include American Born Moonshine, Dulce Vida Tequila, Mezcal El Silencio, Glenlevit, Kikori Whiskey, Martell Blue Swift and ZYR Russian Vodka just to name a few.

Non-Alcoholic Beverages: A variety of premium non-alcoholic Beverage Masters will also be on hand for those who wish to hydrate, caffeinate or regenerate, featuring the “bevolutionary” Bai who will be presenting their antioxidant juices, teas and water infusions, Boxed Water, Califia Farms Juices and Cold Brew Coffees, Dry Sparkling, Kombucha Dog, Milk+T, cold-pressed juices from Nekter Juice Bar, Philz hand roasted customized blended Coffee, and all natural, refreshing beverages from Zico Coco Water.

Sponsors: Masters of Taste is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, which include HomeStreet Bank, Judith L Chiara Foundation, Western Asset Management, Capital Group, Floe Financial Partners, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Bank of America, Femino Family Foundation, Goldstar, HKG LLP, Kauffman Wealth Management, MUFG Union, Tournament of Roses, Wells Fargo, Westport Construction, Citizens Business Bank, Hahn & Hahn, LLP, Hybrid Foundation, Massage Envy, Tsan Tsun Memorial Foundation, Westmount Asset Management, RE/Max, Arroyo Insurance Services, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Individual FoodService, and California Linen Services.

I can’t say enough about this great event; it pulls together great food and drinks, letting everyone enjoy an experience that is not part of their daily adventures in Los Angeles. I am sure this annual event will get extremely popular, get your tickets now and become part of this growing foodie phenomenon.

For Promotional Images and the Masters of Taste Logo, please visit the Dropbox link below:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1qhpyalbvh0o5l8/AAAK-hm8tbKm470RDgqeEVFea?dl=0

For Masters of Taste Promotional Videos, please visit the Dropbox link below:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uyqhquu3zf5pmeo/AAAdvxoPNTk_SYedg6U58xoMa?dl=0

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Masters of Taste

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Masters of Taste
Pasadena Rose Bowl
1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, CA 91103
Masters of Taste Direct Line: 626.791.6677
[email protected]
www.MastersofTasteLA.com

* Note some Content was taken off their website.

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I went last year and was happy to be able to eat different kinds of burgers and drink beer. Last year they had a bit more then that, this years they stuck to strictly burgers and beer, so for the burger lover this was an excellent event. For me I had to pace myself, but was super excited to be able to try new restaurants that I had not tried before.

Here are the restaurants that were there:

American Heritage Fine Burgers And Cocktails, Baldoria, Belcampo Meat Co, Burger City Grill, Button Mash, by CHLOE,Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Four Six Four, Grill ‘Em All, Hinoki and the Bird, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Ladyface Ale Company, Lock & Key, Macheen, Mascarpone Cheesecake by Chef Turok, Myke’s Cafe, Pono Burger, Simmzy’s, Slater’s 50/50, Stout Burgers and Beers, The Pikey, The Upper West, Venice Whaler, WOLF.

My favorites were the lamb burger from Ladyface Ale Company, delicious lamb flavors cooked to perfection. They did some kind of miracle in their amazing burger from Hiniki and the Bird. The vegetarian burger from by Chloe was also fantastic. Myke’s always pulls out all of the stops, their burger was creative and delicious, Stout also had a nice hefty burger.

Beers:

101 Cider House, Absolution Brewing Company, Angel City Brewery, Arts District Brewing Company, Baja Brewing Company, Beachwood BBQ & Brewing, Boomtown Brewery, Brewyard Beer Company, Brouwerij West, Claremont Craft Ales, Coronado Brewing Company, Dr. Jekylls, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, Fireman’s Brew, Inc.,Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Golden Road Brewing, High Water Brewing Company, Homage Brewing, Indie Brewing Company,Iron Triangle Brewing, Kern River Brewing Company, Kombucha Dog Kona Brewing Co., Ladyface Ale Company, Lagunitas Brewing Co., MacLeod Ale Brewing Co., Noble Ale Works, Pizza Port Brewing Co., Santa Monica Brew Works, Scholb Premium Ales, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., St. Killian Importing, State Brewing Co., Strand Brewing Co., The Bruery, The Dudes’ Brewing Co., The Lost Abbey, Transplants Brewing Company, Wolf Creek Brewery.

What a great way to spend an afternoon, perfect Los Angeles weather and did I mention that I took the expo line to this fun event. No traffic, just letting some one else do the driving.

I look forward to this event every year, its no nonsense, just great burgers with thirst quenching beers and a warm Saturday afternoon in the most famous structure in all of Los Angeles.

https://burgersandbeer.laweekly.com/burgers/

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My brother, his wife and my 2 nephews live about 10 minutes as the crow flies from Ladyface Alehouse. I met owner Cyrena Nouzille at the LA Weekly Burgers and Beer event a few days prior where they made one of my favorites of the day, lamb burgers. She let me come in a do a tasting a few days after that event. Boy was I in for some great down home food and house made beers to match. It is a very friendly scene. If you lived close by you would want to be a regular. What a find, just down the street from my brothers in Agoura, I am truly hooked.

Named after Ladyface Mountain, with all park lands around the restaurant, and the Santa Monica Mountains right out the window. Ladyface Ale Companie is a brewery and restaurant, with award-winning Ales, hand-crafted on-site seasonally-inspired European bistro-style menu. It has a full bar, outdoor patio, with scenic views. August 8th will be 8 years that they have been in business.

The interior is very rustic and interesting, exposed air ducts, ceiling fans, long tables and communal benches. Long full bar with 2 flat screen TV’s for sports viewing. You can tell that Ladyface is close to the beach with all of its funky charm. It is off of Kanan Road, 12 miles to the beach from Agoura. The gorgeous ladies on the walls are painted by owner Cyrena Nouzille’s mother, each one a true masterpiece. The music also helps to make the atmosphere fun and lively with Blues, Country and Classic Rock.

The retail store is filled with lots of fun goodies, included jewelry made by Cyrena with recycled bottle caps. She grew up in the gift business so her merchandising came very easy, filled with food products, t-shirts, hats, etc. You can find something to take home with you for sure!

Her husband Jean-Luc was born in Paris and they lived there for a while. When Cyrena opened Ladyface she wanted to reflect French food in its simplicity and beauty.

Ladyface caters to tourists checking out the local beer scene. There is much completion in this area with 5 local breweries. They also have lots of bicyclist that stop in after a long ride for a much deserved Ale of their choice, and believe me there are lots to choose from. The concept is really terrific with all of its house made ales’ and brasserie type food, a delicious treat for your eyes and soul.

Accolades include: L.A. Weekly 2012 & 2013 Best Brewery in Los Angeles, RateBeer.com Best Brewpub 2011 & 2012 (Ranked Top 20 in the world, 4th in California.), Agoura Hills’ 2015 Business of the Year, Senator Fran Pavely awarded Ladyface as the California 27th District’s Small Business of the Year.

Here’s What I Tried:

Starters and Sides:

Sweet potato fries, they give you lots of sweet fries in your order, they are not greasy, and they seem to be a pretty healthy pleasure.

French onion soup beer stock, with toasted sourdough, and Gruyère cheese. It has a very robust flavor, except for the cheese I am told is totally vegetarian, so a truly great option.

Salads:

The New Salad & Gluten-free, with frisée lettuce and baby spinach, Point Reyes Blue Cheese, dried cranberries, shaved parsnips, candied pecans, and sage-cider vinaigrette. This is a basic and simple salad, but it’s great for the health conscious customer.

Duck Confit, with frisée lettuce, arugula, figs, bacon, sherry vinaigrette, and a sunny-side up free-range egg. OK, this is my new drug of choice. The egg oozes its yoke all over the duck and the lettuce with just the right amount of vinaigrette. Wow what a delicious salad.

Small Plates to Share:

Oysters, on the half shell, with Ladyface ale mignonette. Surprisingly these oysters were super fresh and tasted like the sea.

Mac and Cheese, with salt and vinegar, potato chip crust, everything you would want in a mac and cheese and more.

Sandwiches:

Grilled Sausage, with house-made bierwurst (made w/ Ladyface ale), soft roll, jardinier greens. They make their sausages daily, if you’re a sausage lover then you got to try this dish and of course pair it with the ale of your choice.

The Ladyface Burger, dry-aged, grass-fed, free-range beef, caramelized onions, bacon, fried egg, brioche bun, cheddar, and greens. What a burger, first of all it is huge, hard to fit in your mouth but the combination of all the things that go on this burger will just make you want to come back for more.

Larger Plates:

Moules-Frites, with Pacific Northwest Mediterranean mussels, grilled baguette, Pommes Frites. The mussels have loads of flavor and a nice rich broth; this is a very French dish.

Bouillabaisse, with lobster and potato broth, broiled local rock cod, shellfish, grilled baguette, and Rouille. The presentation is amazing; all of the fish is fresh and delightful. The sauce or broth is equally delicious.

Ales:

LA Blonde, 5.3% ABV, Belgian-style blond ale

LA Grisette, 5.3% ABV, Belgian farmhouse wheat

Picture City Porter no growlers, 6.9% ABV, American Robust Coffee Porter (Nitro), Silver Medal, 2011 Los Angeles International Beer Competition

Eclectic Ales seasonal and special releases:

Cataclysm IPA no growlers, 10.6% ABV, Imperial Oatmeal IPA

Each ale is very unique with its different characteristics. If you’re an ale connoisseur then you really need to try out many of their fantastic house made ales

Chardonnay, Canyon Road, California, this is a very buttery wine that went great with any of the seafood dishes.

Zinfandel, Rancho Zabaco, California, this wine has lots of berry goodness and would work with any of the meat dishes.

Ladyface Ale Companies is the Conejo Valley’s first microbrewery creating hand-crafted, award-winning ales on-site, including innovative, globally-inspired seasonal and barrel-aged releases for its brewpub and other craft beer establishments throughout Southern California. Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie features its ales in many recipes with a menu rooted in French/Belgian country dishes with American tavern classics.

I really can’t say enough about my experience, it was warm, inviting with everything really delicious that I tried. I am so glad that I have my new go to restaurant in Agoura Hills.

Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie
‪29281 Agoura Rd
Agoura Hills, CA 91301-2597
http://www.ladyfaceale.com
* Note some content was taken off of their website

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Leonardo is as nice as he is handsome, you just can’t believe that a man like him still exists. He exudes class and elegance. But can be extremely chatty and friendly, go figure. What ever he is or is not no one really cares, because the first time a fork enters your mouth with his lovely cuisine like me you will be hooked. I came for lunch on my last day in Santa Ynez valley; his restaurant was pretty crowded for a Thursday lunch at noon. The menu has all of my favorite authentic Italian dishes, all with a bit of a twist. Each one better then the next and all hand made by his little brother Giorgio. Yes, here it is all in the family, but distinctly Italian and really fantastic.

Here’s what I tried:

Lentil soup with sausage, kind of like Jewish penicillin but Italian style, wonderful flavors makes this another one of the best as far as lentil soup go.

Melanzane alla Parmigiana, baked Parmesan eggplant, light and fluffy with lots of cheese, this is one of the best ever.

Tagliolini alla Bolognese, with fresh housemade pasta in classic meat sauce. It is really a feat to make a good Bolognese and Leonardo’s is truly stellar.

Spaghetti alle Vongole, spaghetti in a white wine clam sauce. Delicate and subtle but with a nice amount of garlic, a great rendition of this Italian staple.

Gnocchi alla Campana, housemade gnocchi with tomato sauce, basil, and scamorza. Another wonderful menu item, you just can’t go wrong.

Grilled Ahi tuna served over mixed greens with tomatoes, green beans, red onions, green beans, potato, hard-boiled egg, Kalamata olives and lemon vinaigrette. For the lighter lunch, the tuna is so fresh and cooked rare, this is a lovely salad.

Salmon, done with lemon and capers. Super fresh salmon and the serving is small but perfect.

I tried 2 lovely wines as well, that were pared perfectly with my fish and red sauces, but because it was lunch tasting and I was driving back to Los Angeles I didn’t really partake in a large selection of wines. I have to go back and do the dinner menu along with their brilliant selection of wines.

They have photos of the movie The Godfather, as well as a series of Marcello Mastroianni photos in the women’s bathroom. I heard Sofia Loren is in the men’s room, but I did not venture in there.

Experience the authentic, family style Italian cuisine. Leonardo will take you to Cariati, a small town of few thousand people, mostly fishermen and carpenters, in Calabria, Italy. Join him and experience the warm atmosphere of his childhood when getting together at the dinner table was always a feast.

Leonardo’s Ristorante & Pizzeria is located in Solvang, just few miles north of Santa Barbara, California. Leonardo invites you to taste a great variety of classic Italian dishes as well as his interpretations and his new, unique recipes.

Leonardo’s Ristorante & Pizzeria will charm you with its family style atmosphere, where a pizza oven is always burning, an open kitchen will spark your curiosity, and everybody will greet you with a big smile.

Leonardo’s
632 Alamo Pintado Road
Solvang, CA, 93463
*note some content was taken off of their website.

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Here is another delightful experience to add on to my tasting journey. From the outside, it looks like any other Danish-type restaurant here in Solvang, but what you don’t see is the deliciousness of all the menu items. They have been there for 6 years and it’s truly one of the best restaurants in the valley.

The staff will warm your heart, they are casual but want you to enjoy a great dining experience.

Here’s What I Tried:

Starters:

Crispy Brussels sprouts, shredded Grana Padano, Applewood smoked bacon, fig balsamic reduction. I tried many of these Brussels sprout dishes in my tastings, but these were uniquely special. The bacon and sweet fig balsamic was a great combination.

Bacon Wrapped Diver Scallops, with Tabasco aioli, greens, vinaigrette. What a perfect way to start a delicious meal. These scallops are so delicate, with the wonderful taste of bacon wrapped around the scallops like little presents.

Sautee of Shitake Mushrooms with Madeira, herbs and toast. This is a very fragrant dish as the earthy mushrooms are the real stars of the show.

Mains:

Seafood Pasta with its rich wonderful garlic flavor. This is an exquisite pasta dish, very fresh seafood, all of the wonders of the sea in one dish.

Country-Style Meatloaf, with buttermilk mash, succotash, bacon gravy bacon crumbles and chives. A very hearty meatloaf, with a great white gravy, just what the doctor ordered.

Three Little Pigs, with bacon wrapped pork tenderloin, creamed spinach, potato cakes, and sweet vermouth pork jus. A very innovative dish, with savory pork flavor, simply terrific.

Pumpkin Seed Crusted Rack of Lamb*, Crispy potato-asparagus hash, yellow pepper sauce. Big juicy lamb chops with a great inspiring sauce.

Salmon. Nice big wild caught salmon with rice pilaf and fresh vegetables. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned.

Desert:

An ice cream sundae with chocolate covered bacon and lots of caramel sauce, amazing!!!

Wine’s I tried:

Prosecco. This is a light effervescent prosecco, pair it with the scallops. Trust me, you cannot go wrong.

Storm, Sauvignon Blanc. This was a perfect combination with the garlic packed seafood pasta.

Melville Chardonnay. This is a no brainer. Try it with the salmon.

Stolpman, Syrah. Try this divine wine alongside the Rack of lamb, it’s jammy, round chewy consistency will blow your hair back.

Additionally, they serve Mini buttermilk biscuits with jam (strawberry preserves) as their bread, it is top-notch.

The interior is fully decorated with pigs. There’s a sculpture of three little pigs on the wall and the ambient background music is very simple and calm. This serves as a backdrop for their scrumptious food. Did I mention that they love dogs and are pet friendly.

In the Santa Ynez valley there’s an incredible number of fun surprises that await you and Succulent Café is one of them. You’ll just have to come here and experience it for yourself to truly understand what I’m talking about.

Succulent Café Wine Charcuterie

1555 Mission Dr.
Solvang CA 93463
(805) 691-9444

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From the outside you would never know what this hotel is all about. It’s located on highway 246 on the way to Solvang, and it looks just like every other Danish style building that this area has to offer. Once you’re in the lobby you get a hint of what the rooms will look like, but honestly you just must come here for a stay to fully understand what I am about to describe.

The rooms are extremely tasteful, offering every kind of amenity you desire. There are muted colors of grays, black, brown and beige, very quaint. You will be indulged in a distinctive European Style with their uniquely appointed guest rooms featuring classic French furnishings, decorative fireplaces and lavish comfort. The beds are extraordinarily comfortable and cozy. I stayed in a suite with two separate bathrooms. In addition to this, they have a lovely indoor heated pool and a quiet outdoor Jacuzzi.

It is centrally located in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley wine country and is within walking distance to Solvang world’s famous stores and bakeries. They also offer a free shuttle to the Chumash Casino, this enables you to do some gambling during your stay.

All the rooms include their delightful free breakfast buffet: scrambled eggs, bacon with lots of delicious bread, yogurt, etc. It offers a wide range variety of food that you need to start your day fresh. Additionally, you can get a rejuvenation treatment by selecting one of their spa suites or relax at their heated indoor swimming pool.

Hadsten House is a six-time award winner, honored with the Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame by TripAdvisor. This unique accolade is granted only to those venues that have won the Certificate of Excellence for five years in a row. Certificates of Excellence can be earned only by receiving consistent great reviews on TripAdvisor.

Furthermore, they offer a wide variety of room types: Premium King, accessible King with Roll-in Shower, Premium Two Queen Beds, Premium King Spa, Accessible King Spa with Roll-in Shower and the Premium Suite.

One bedroom suite comes with adjoining suite featuring the King Bed and two bathrooms. For couples, the spa room is very romantic. It comes with a big Jacuzzi bathtub and other amenities like TV and a fireplace in the main room.

They were nice enough to have me as their guest and host a dinner at their bistro. Hotel guests with children of 12 years old and under, eat dinner for free when dining with their parents at the Hadsten House Restaurant.

Appetizers:

Lobster Bisque, Oven-baked with a golden puff pastry top and accented with a dash of sherry wine. The presentation is very appealing, the soup itself for me did not have enough lobster flavors, but they do put in some very nice chunks of lobster in the soup.

Fried Calamari with buttermilk-marinated and served with chipotle aioli. This is a very light batter with nice well-seasoned flavor.

Salad:

Warm Spinach with baby spinach, red onion, cave-ripened blue cheese and candled pecans in a house-made bacon-balsamic vinaigrette. The nice fresh spinach contributes greatly for a healthy salad.

Pasta:

Wild Tiger Shrimp Pasta with angel hair pasta, creamy white wine and roasted clam sauce, mushrooms, smoked bacon, wild tiger shrimp, shaved Parmesan and roasted tomatoes. I loved this pasta, it has a very distinctive shrimp flavor that just pops into your mouth.

Sea:

Pan-seared diver scallops with Parmesan risotto, fresh greens, house pickled onions & white truffle oil. The truffle infused risotto is just wonderful!

Butcher Block:

Filet Migñon, 8 oz, filet medallion with seasonal fresh vegetables and crème fraiche mashed potatoes. The cut of meat was very tender and the mashed potatoes were delicious.

Pork Chop, grilled 10 oz., topped with Apricot Fig chutney, served with herb-crusted baby red potatoes & grilled market-fresh vegetables. They have a very creative way to make pork chop, and the figs were out of this word.

Dessert:

Créme Brulee, Tahitian vanilla bean custard capped with a caramelized sugar crust. It’s as good as a crème brulee can get.

The wines I tried:

Chamisal, Steel Chardonnay- Central Coast, 2013. For some reason, wine was not included in my tasting, but I had to try the basics. This wine went great with the shrimp.

Vincent Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate-Santa Ynez Valley. Very distinguished Cabernet, was an amazing combination with the filet.

Everything about the Hadsten House has so much more than meets the eye. From its lovely appointed rooms, to its location, you simply can’t go wrong by staying here. My amazing stay and dining experience will become a staple in my future trips.

Hadsten House – Inn Bistrot Spa
1450 Mission Drive
Solvang, CA 93463
www.hadstenhouse.com

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Sometimes you can’t help to deal with what life offers you on any given day or evening. This was one of those nights. I ordered a Hibiscus Lemonade, and a Filthy Martini from the bar. I was just settling in with my cocktails and looking over the menu when the party next to me seemed to be having a problem, the elder gal who appeared to be someone’s mother started choking. Her son attempted to do the Heimlich maneuver but failed. The gentleman sitting to my left said he knew how to do it so he proceeded to grab the choking women and pushed the food downwards instead of upwards with his powerful strong grip. The woman quickly recovered and asked where her food had gone. At this point, I was feeling faint and nauseous from this whole experience and wondered if I could get through my tasting. However, I pulled myself together and had one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had in a long time.

This is a very unique concept, what used to be Terravant Winery Restaurant had its name changed to Bottlest. Regardless, its truly a special unforgettable experience no matter how you look at it. The wine is also a really wonderful, enticing experience. There is a part of Terravant wine company where you can make your own custom wine. They have wine kiosks in which you insert a credit card in and choose from an array of options: a taste, to a half of a glass, to a full glass. In addition to this, you’ll get a taste of some of the world’s most exceptional wines.

Vlad Stojanov, General Manager/Beverage Manager, Certified Sommelier. Vlad joined Bottlest from Bacara Resort Santa Barbara, where he managed the resort’s beverage program and rebuilt the on-site restaurant’s wine cellar. Vlad’s wine and hospitality career highlights include his work in high-end, international resort locales such as Belgrade, Serbia; Montenegro and Cancún; and stateside, in Lake Tahoe and Martha’s Vineyard.

Owen Hanavan, Executive Chef, who comes to Bottlest from Santa Barbara dining phenom Barbareño, where, as Head Chef, he helped open the restaurant. Chef Hanavan’s culinary résumé includes time spent at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara and the Michelin-starred COI Restaurant, in San Francisco, among other stops.

Bar Menu:

Refreshing: Hibiscus Lemonade, house infused hibiscus vodka, house lemonade. Sweet and sour but with a great ability to be thirst quenching at the same time.

Classis: Filthy Martini, Tito’s Vodka, optional dry vermouth, olives. Really the best martini ever, and the classic very martini large glass is what this drink is all about.

Small plates:

Lamb with Meatballs, potato chip, mint, phenomenal presentation, bursting with lamb flavor.

Caesar with Parmesan, rye croutons, Caesar dressing, they do a special method of getting the dressing on each leaf and you can taste every bit of it.

Beef short ribs with Carrot puree, roasted carrots, parsley, preserved Meyer lemon. Very festive and delicious, you could really have this as your entrée.

Yellowtail with Poached tuna, rice cracker, nori vinaigrette, micro cilantro, inventive and creative, for the fish lover.

Cheese board with Dried fruit, spiced nuts, pickled mustard seeds, strawberry jam. Gorgeous delivery with every bite, a new sensation, just loved this cheese plate.

Main Plates:

NY Strip with Soubise, duck fat potato, chimichurri, crispy leeks, this is a very large portion, the crispy leeks adds on another element, and what can I say about the duck fat potatoes, yum!

Sumac Rack of Lamb with Farro, roasted beets, tzatziki, red wine sauce. My favorite dish of the evening, the combination of beets and tzatziki is off the charts, and the chops are cooked to perfection.

Wild King salmon with Beluga lentils, spring vegetables, Meyer lemon. This is another fantastic dish, with very tender wild caught salmon and the lentils are a great compliment to the sweet salmon.

Here are the Desserts I tried:

Bay Leaf Ice Cream, really an interesting concept, but a perfect way to end this glorious meal.

Seasonal Citrus Pannacotta with Poppy seed meringue, citrus compote, nice and refreshing and the poppy seed meringue goes the extra mile in winning your heart.

Wines Tasted:

NV Crushed Prosecco, light effervescent went great with the yellow tail and poached tuna appetizer.

2013 Alma Rosa Chardonnay, nice light Chardonnay, ideal with the Cesar salad.

2014 Bottlest Chardonnay, you could drink this with any of the cheeses on the cheese board and be super happy.

Arcadian 2008 Chardonnay (sleepy hollow Santa Lucia Highlands). The best of the Chardonnays in my opinion, but what do I know, to each his or hers own. You would be missing something if you don’t try this with the salmon.

2014 Compilation Pinot Noir, lovely with outstanding color, I like a good Pinot with salmon but it also went well with the lamb meatballs.

2012 Compilation – Rutherford – Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a great bold Cabernet that paired great with the NY Strip steak.

2012 Coomber Family- Beckstoffer George III Vineyard – Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is an all around meat paired wine.

2013 Bottlest – Syrah, I just loved this wine with the Lamb chops, pretty much a no brainer.

2012 Zinfandel “Full Tilt Boogie”, Ground effect. This very berry Zin, worked for me with the beef short ribs.

2012 Late Harvest Viognier, Lucas & Lewellen, not much of a desert wine drinker but it was nice with the Bay Leaf Ice Cream.

2012 Late Harvest blend “Grazia”, Svago Buono, sweet but drinkable and I would pair this with the Seasonal Citrus Pannacotta.

I firmly believe that Bottlest will cause a buzz here in the Santa Ynez valley amongst locals, tourists and soon it will be hard for people to get a reservation. It has all the makings of a top-rated restaurant; just give it some time and people will notice.

Bottlest
805-686-4742
35 Industrial Way
Buellton, CA 93427
http://bottlest.com/bistro/

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This was a huge surprise. I stopped in for lunch and really had the best, freshest experience there. I met Michele at The Vintners event where he invited me to try out the cuisine.

It’s in a modest shopping center, but not on the street, right in the heart of Solvang, but if someone didn’t tell you about it you would have totally missed the boat.

Toscana, Pizzeria, Tapas, Enoteca is owned by Chef Michele Mancuso and partners. Chef Mancuso is a long-time resident of the Santa Ynez Valley. Originally from Italy, he studied Culinary Arts in Firenze which is in the center of Toscana—the inspiration behind the name.

He wants people to call his restaurant an Italian Pizzeria; his mission is to serve authentic Italian flavors. They want your visit to not just be a regular meal, but to have a truly immersive Italian experience. There is no pretentiousness or snobbish attitude, just good fresh food.

Their grand opening was on February 24th. Micheal said it was so good to have the support of our fellow Solvang businesses.

Here’s what I tried:

Pizza:

Boscaiola with tomato mozzarella mushroom sausage truffle oil. This pizza is very delicate with a nice thin crust, just like I remember in Tuscany, Italy. The sausage and the truffle oil are simply wonderful.

Quattro Stagioni with tomato mozzarella artichoke sausage mushroom arugula.The artichoke really just adds the right flavor to this fantastic pizza.

Insalata & Tapas & Secondi:

Arugula e Parmigiano with arugula parmigiano olive oil lemon dressing. Very simple with perfect ingredients makes for one healthy fresh salad.

Melanzane alla Parmigiana with eggplant baked with mozzarella marinara sauce and parmigiano. This baked eggplant is sweet with a remarkable tomato sauce and just the right amount of garlic and Italian seasonings.

Polpette al Sugo with meatballs mozzarella marinara sauce and parmigiano. A very good rendition of this Italian classic, the sauce is scrumptious.

Lasagna Toscana with classic meat sauce. Each dish has a little bit different red sauce, this lasagna has a distinct flavor and texture that is up there with the best lasagna dishes around.

Carpaccio di Salmone with smoked salmon arugula capers red onion lemon olive oil dressing. The salmon is smoked with a great soft texture; it goes great with the spicy arugula, what a good combination.

Dessert:

Coconut Sorbetto, served in a coconut, creamy smooth absolutely delicious.

Peach Sorbetto, served in a peach. If you have never had one of these sorbets from Italy you must try it.

Wine:

Alma Rosa Chardonnay, this wine went great with the smoked salmon, very fruity flavored, forward with a bit of oak, outstanding!

Their Emblem is a fleur de lys from Florence. There is butcher paper on all of the tables. The rustic interior is simple and designed by Michael himself, with a wall mural of Italian arches with the backdrop of an ocean and flowers. There are wood floors, the walls have black and white photos of Italy, with great barstools that are made from wine barrel parts. They play very fitting music: Michael Buble, Andrea Bocelli, Céline Dion and other talented musicians similar to his music genre.

They use local products from farms in Santa Maria, eighty percent of their customers are local. Michel was born in Calabria but has lived in this area for 16 years. He also has the great honor of choosing the wines that are served.

They’re eager to offer you a truly immersive authentic Italian experience providing you the finest food with a quaint, vibrant atmosphere.

Toscana – Pizzeria, Tapas, Enoteca
485 Alisal Road, Suite 163
Solvang, CA 93463
1-805-697-7445

https://toscanabymancuso.wordpress.com/

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Now this is what I call luxurious. The setting couldn’t have been any better. For Friends is located in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, right smack in the middle of the very charming downtown area, and less than five minutes from Los Olivos and Solvang. This immaculately detailed seven-room boutique bed & breakfast lies in the heart of the Santa Barbara County Wine Country and is surrounded by rolling hills, cattle ranches, horse farms and over 100 gorgeous vineyards.

You can walk to most of the restaurants and even the local cowboy-dancing bar, Maverick Saloon. Everything was at your fingertips, what a great experience!

What I truly loved about For Friends Inn is their uncompromising hospitality. They really do their best to make your stay memorable, just like you’re in someone’s very elegant home. You can relax and make friends at the same time at For Friends Inn.

Completed in 2005, For Friends Inn was built in the fashion of a large Craftsman farmhouse. Great care has been given to combine Wine Country and the New West with a touch of elegance to create a perfect wine country getaway for couples and friends seeking a brief respite from their busy lives.

For Friends Inn features seven luxurious guest rooms in three separate buildings. All of the rooms offer a king-sized bed, large private bathrooms and are elegantly appointed, providing an array of personal touches and all of the desirable amenities one deserves. There is free Wi-Fi in each room and everywhere throughout the property. Each room includes air-conditioning as well as its own fireplace and private balconies or porch. There’s also a gorgeous Wine Garden with a large deck, patio and gazebo for outdoor gatherings. As well as a huge wraparound front porch, family room with a river rock fireplace. Other amenities include laundry facilities with detergent, an easy-light gas BBQ, security gates, a private parking lot, and even adult dogs up to 40lbs welcomed for an additional fee. The main house has five luxurious rooms complete with private balconies, walk-in showers, tubs, and working gas fireplaces or stoves for a more romantic atmosphere. Those with private tastes may enjoy the cozy Carmichael Cottage or the truly unique two-story suite in the Sunstone Tower. You can also rent the whole property for a big group they call it For Friends Manor. Friends and family can enjoy the comfort and amenities of this spacious estate all to themselves. There is a huge kitchen with two ovens, two sinks, two dishwashers, and microwave. There’s even a full complement of dishware, cookware, flatware, and everything you need for entertaining a large family gathering.

They graciously offer a Friendship Pass which entitles you over $300 in complimentary wine tastings at over 30 excellent vineyards, and over $50 in free appetizers at local restaurants.

You can also enjoy a short, leisurely stroll to some of the Valley’s best restaurants and entertainment, just steps away in downtown Santa Ynez (no need to drive). Later, your evenings can be spent lounging on the Inn’s large wraparound front porch, strolling through the peaceful, lighted Wine Garden, or relaxing on a private balcony with wonderful views of the Valley’s surrounding mountains and infinite stars above.

They serve a decent three-course breakfast that changes every day. The fabulous meal includes many scrumptious homemade specialties like granola and fresh baked bread or rolls that are always available. You also have your choice of scrambled eggs or a casserole quiche type of a dish. They also have a happy hour in the floral Wine Garden or comfy front room with wine and nibbles, a great way to meet the other guests and socialize.

The staff is remarkable, always having a smile and giving you just the right amount of information needed to have a memorable vacation. You are in the best part of the world, and have all the tools to drink great wine and be in the lap of luxury the whole time, what a concept.

However you spend your time at For Friends Inn, you arrive as guest and leave as a friend.

For Friends Inn
1121 Edison Street, Santa Ynez, CA.
http://www.forfriendsinn.com
* Note some content was taken off of their website

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Probably one of the most unique tastings I have ever done, because instead of my choosing off the menu and pairing my delicacies with wine, the food was pretty much buffet style with some offerings, but really not what I am used to.

Owner Alberto is extremely charming; he should have planned better for my visit. I can see if I had gone on a night when it was order off the menu anything you like, I might have been able to really review Eleven Wine Lounge. But Eleven Wine Lounge was part of the Vintners Wine event during the day and did not want to do their usual service. The ceviche I tried was actually from the wine event during the day, and as good as it was it still was a let down from my usual tastings. If you want a food reviewer to speak kindly of you and your establishment then pull out all of the stops and make there night memorable. I see that their reviews online are good, but unfortunately for them I did not taste any of their food off of menu, so I am unable to comment.

The interior is very inviting with all of the great tables, floors, chairs etc. all hand made by Alberto himself. I did try two nice white wines that would have been great with his scallops or his oysters, but I had to enjoy them on their own merit, which was still pretty spectacular by my own standards.

So there you have it, a very quick review for a very unmemorable evening, sorry Alberto, I really adored you and your stories, really wish I could have felt the same about your food. Maybe next time I can actually try your food from your menu, if there is a next time.

Eleven Wine Lounge
3640 Sagunto St
Santa Ynez, CA 93460
(805) 691-9134
elevenwinelounge.com

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