Great Taste Magazine

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa
21500 Pacific Coast Highway,
CA-92648
714-842-6600
www.cspinc.org

CuisineType : Other

(Jan. 2011) Support CSP's Huntington Beach Youth Shelter as we celebrate our second annual "Love Grows by Giving" wine tasting fundraiser. Our guests will be offered a unique selection of wines, wine education, beer sampling from Karl Strauss, food & wine pairings from local fine dining restaurants, live music, and a silent auction. Enjoy a wonderful evening while making a difference in our community. Call or email to purchase tickets.

$40 per individual & $75 per couple.

Often considered the best food wines on earth,
Riojas are based on the king of Spanish varietals, Tempranillo.
Medium-bodied with balanced acid and tannins,
these wines offer exceptional quality and value,
whether young "cosechas" fresh and fruity or elegant Gran Reservas.

PURE GENIUS!
Please join us for a TASTING of RIOJAS
with wine specialist Nina Sventitsky
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH
6:30 – 8:30PM
@
L'Ermitage Beverly Hills
9291 Burton Way, Beverly Hills CA 90210

$35 per person
…for a collection of glorious Riojas
plus cheeses, charcuterie and appetizers from Chef Joseph Elevado.

featuring
Cosme Palacio "1894" Blanco 2008
Rioja Alavesa
A blend of Viura and Malvasia, this wine is a gorgeous example of what aged Rioja Blanco
can be with white flowers, pear notes, vanilla and a bit of sweet spice.

Bodegas Corral Don Jacobo Rosado Rioja 2010
Rioja Alta
This 50/50 blend of Grenache andTempranillo is brilliant strawberry red in color with aromas of red raspberries, strawberries and soft floral notes leading to subtle flavors of raspberry…
fresh, silky, round and persistent.

Señorío de P.Peciña Joven Rioja 2009
Rioja Alta
A cooler climate, unoaked, Estate grown Tempranillo from the stellar 2009 vintage shows a spicy blue and purple fruited quality distinctive for a joven wine from Rioja.

Bodegas Lan Crianza 2006
Rioja Alta
90 points and one of Wine Spectator's Top 100, generous yet delicate, this Tempranillo is really good with a fruity, straight ahead nose of dark cherries with minimal oak influence leading to a bright palate of berry flavors and a velvety, mouth filling texture.

Vina Santurnia Reserva 2005
Rioja Alta & Alavesa
90 points Stephen Tanzer's international Wine Cellar and 90 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, this Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano, Garnacha blend has sexy, oak-spiced red berry and cherry aromas complemented by sassafras and smoked meat.

Bodegas Corral Don Jacobo Gran Reserva Rioja 1995
Rioja Alta
A fantastic gran reserva from a great vintage! this blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha opens with toasty, sweet dark cherry, blackberry and hints of red fruits on the nose leading to a plump, spicy palate, full of delicious fruit and bolstered by a mineral core, with a dash of coconut and hint of cool sassafrass flavor to round it out.

L'Ermitage Beverly Hills
9291 Burton Way,
CA-90210
323.850.5558
www.lermitagebh.com

CuisineType : Eclectic, Winery

Chapter One: the modern local
227 North Broadway,
CA-92701
714.352.2225
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199747416768841

CuisineType : American

BLEND Wine & Beer Mixer at Chapter One: the modern local Nov. 16th

Join us on Wednesday, November 16th to bring in the fall season with BLEND and enjoy some great drinks and appetizers!

The event will take place at Chapter One: the modern local, in the Downtown Historic Santa Ana Artists Village.

Enjoy your pick of two wine or beer tastings & three appetizers for $30, as well as a chance to win one of many great raffle prizes during the night. Socialize, network, and have fun at OC Weekly’s “Best New Restaurant” of 2011 with lots of laughs and great conversation!

Proceeds support the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana, and Chapter One: the modern local will be donating a large portion of the proceeds to the club as well. Space is limited.

To RSVP, go to http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199747416768841 AND be sure to email blend@boysandgirlsclub.com with your name/guests. Don’t wait- now is the time to “give back one glass at a time!”

Cheers, we will see you there!

P.S.If you’d like to extend your time after the mixer at Chapter one: the modern local, you will be welcomed to:-a waived corkage fee if you bring in your own bottle-specials on glasses of various wines-1/2 off the purchase of a bottle of wine.

Season’s Eatings Food Truck Fundraising Event for the Memorial Care Breast Center at Long Beach Memorial

Eat, drink and be merry at the “Heart of the Heights” community event on Thursday, Nov.10 in support of the MemorialCare Breast Center. Food trucks are participating in this free neighborhood fundraising event, to raise money for cancer treatment and support programs at Long Beach Memorial. Enjoy trucks featuring salads, sandwiches, soul food and ice cream sandwiches Crepes and more. Some of ZAGAT'S best 10 food trucks in LA will be there.

Check out the facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=213880795349531

Please call Sidney Cramer (310) 980-6064 for more information.

Thursday, Nov. 10 from 4-8 p.m.
Heights Village Shopping District
Intersection of Broadway and Redondo
Long Beach, CA 90803

A one day event featuring over 50 wines and wine representatives from California and around the world. Sample your favorites and base your purchase on your own palate. This sale offers deep retail discounts and an additional 10% off with the purchase of each 12 bottle case.

The Cellar
305 N. Harbor Blvd,
CA-92832
714-525-5682
www.CellarDining.com

O'Neill's Bar & Grill
26772 Avery Parkway,
CA-92692
949.305.5100
arroyotrabuco.com/specials.aspx

CuisineType :

New Year’s Celebration

Saturday, December 31st

Seatings in O’Neill’s from 6:30pm to 9:00pm3-Course Meal Complimentary Champagne Toast

Live Entertainment and Dancing Trabuco Ballroom from 8:00pm to 12:30am

$85 Per Person

Small Plates & Wine Tastings

Enjoy small plate concept appetizers and taste our delicious wine flights!

Every Saturday stating at 4:00pm

O'Neill's Bar & Grill
26772 Avery Parkway,
CA-92692
949.305.5100
arroyotrabuco.com/specials.aspx

It is a Wine Cruise- how could you not want to sign up this very moment?

Even though it's a long way off, it's time to start talking about next year's cruise so those who want to go have time to plan. In the month of April we will be cruising up and down the coast of California on a 7 day wine cruise.

Join the California Wine Cruise on a group sailing April 28 to May 5, 2012 and enjoy a leisurely 7 nights to Santa Barbara, San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada on the then newly refurbished Sapphire Princess. Enjoy the new Crown Grill, Piazza International Café and Movies Under the Stars.

Touch of Travel is holding group space on this sailing and in conjunction with Delius Restaurant, you can make this a Wine Tasting cruise, with tours, tastings and luncheons put on by Delius for those who choose to do so.

Pricing includes: 

- All taxes and fees – Bon Voyage party hosted by Delius

- Bottle of wine and souvenir wine tote

- Bottle of wine onboard Sail for $850 per person (pp) in an inside cabin, $1100 pp outside cabin, $1380 pp Balcony cabin, suites and mini Suites also available.

The Exclusive Wine tasting package for $250 pp additional includes:

- Two private wine tasting events on board with Sommelier Dave Solzman

- Private Santa Barbara winery tour with lunch & souvenir glass

- Private Napa Valley winery tour with lunch & souvenir glass Lock in your reservation July 30 to August 14 and your deposit will be only $100 pp and that is fully refundable, until final payment is due. Plus, if you make your deposit during this time, you will receive a coupon booklet good for discounts on many items aboard ship.

Call at 562-426-9130 for further information and to hold a cabin. 

Like we said earlier- how could you not want to go? Maybe this cruise would be appropriate for a Great Taste team vacation… we think so!

Posted By: Ashley Nicole 8/4/2011

Encore / Happy Sushi’s
2640 Cushing Road,
California-92016
www.SanDiegoUkeFestival.com

CuisineType : Asian

UKERS JAKE SHIMABUKURO AND JAMES HILL HIT THE SAME PARTY!The San Diego Ukulele Festival Comes to Town Finally!

On July 14th through July 16th, 2011, the inaugural San Diego Ukulele Festival is coming to town at Ingram Plaza, Liberty Station in the newly renovated NTC McMillan shopping center of Point Loma area in San Diego! Xceptional Music Productions and the Amigo Bros. Event Management are proud to bring this event to this fantastic new venue; a venue that many San Diegans do not even know about yet, and should!

Featuring both infamous ukulele aficionados Jake Shimabukuro and James Hill at the same Festival is quite a feat in itself! Jake, from Maui, will be opening the Festival on Thursday, and James, from Canada, will be closing the Festival Saturday night. These two men have been known to do some amazing and magical things with this small musical instrument underdog; making their ukuleles literally sing as their fingers fly! It’s a sight to be seen and heard, and well worth the concert cost! Fantastic front row VIP table dinner concert seats will be available.

It is said of Jake…“It’s rare for a young musician to earn comparisons to the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis”…“Yes, the ukulele, in the hands of Shimabukuro, the traditional Hawaiian instrument of four strings and two octaves is stretched and molded into a complex and bold new musical force.” The San Francisco Gate recently posted: “The sounds the boyish 33-year old wrings from his ukulele…are unlike anything else in the history of the instrument.”

The rest of the Festival in between Thursday and Saturday nights will have tons of free Polynesian themed fun and entertainment for the public! Including ukulele biggies like Hawaii’s Derick Sebastian, Los Angeles’s Ukulele Bartt, and San Diego locals Fred Thompson and Sarah Maisel. There will be other well-known performers from all over as well, a beer and wine garden right in the middle of the fun, Polynesian hula and fire dancer shows, tropical art, food and merchandise to partake in! You will feel like you are on the Islands, without having spent the airfare!

Sponsors are stepping up to join in on the tropical fun like Ohana Ukulele, Kanile’a Ukulele, Kimo Ukulele, Komoa Ukulele, Kala Brand Music Company, Aquila Corde Armoniche Strings, Ballast Point, Constellation Wine, Svedka Vodka, Oggi’s Liberty Station, Encore Catering, Tarantino’s Meats, with more coming! The San Diego Ukulele Festival is looking for a qualified charity to give their Beverage Garden proceeds to. The Polynesian drums are stirring excitement and rumblings about this event; that looks to bring in 1000s from all over the USA, to San Diego for this 3-day Festival.For all information and tickets, go to the website – www.SanDiegoUkeFestival.com .If you’d like more information, please call Fred Thompson at 619-296-4435 or email at Ukulelefred@cox.net .

Nello Cucina
3333 Bear Street Costa Mesa, CA,
CA-92704
www.nellocucina.com

Lighter Fare & Reasonable Prices Mark New Menu at South Coast PlazaTrattoria

Rising temperatures and longer days mean one thing at Nello Cucina. The critically acclaimed Italian trattoria at South Coast Plaza’s Crystal Court in Costa Mesa is rolling out its summer menu, announced Managing Partner Franco Vessia. Swordfish Carpaccio; Tagliata di Manzo, thinly-sliced grilled and marinated flap steak on a bed of garden greens; and Farfalle al Salmone Affumicato, bowtie pasta tossed with smoked salmon, leeks in a light cream sauce are among the items marking their debut. A number of fresh salads, pasta dishes, entrées and Panini make up the summer fare with prices that are accessible for a broad range of guests (most items are under $15).“What better way to roll in summer than with a menu that is, at once, varied, flavorful and reasonably priced,” said Vessia. “Whether you opt to dine in our open, air-conditioned dining room or on the covered patio, our new summer menu has something for everyone.”

Nello Cucina is a classic trattoria offering a wide variety of traditional Italian fare. Pasta is made fresh on the premises daily using top-quality ingredients; fresh fish, chicken, veal and beef entrees are made with precision by a dedicated culinary team; authentic, thin-crust Neapolitan pizzas — considered some of the best in Orange County — come out of the restaurant’s wood-burning oven; and a dizzying array of desserts top off the varied menu. A full bar and extensive wine list of reasonably priced varietals is available. Open daily for lunch and dinner the 110-seat restaurant boasts al fresco dining and indoor, open seat dining.

Nello Cucina is located at 3333 Bear Street, Costa Mesa. Call (714) 540-3365 or visit www.nellocucina.com.

Falkner Winery
40620 Calle Contento,
Ca-92591
www.falknerwinery.com/

The public is invited to a lively weekend that includes Jazz performances Saturday and Sunday, winery tours, huge sales, hourly raffles, outdoor barbeques, lunch specials in their Pinnacle Restaurant, and other fun events. In order to help make room for some new releases available that weekend, selected wines will be offered at up to 50% off case prices.Wine will be “raffled” off each hour (11am -5pm) with the winner able to purchase the bottle for only $1. Also, with seven new wines just being released, all tasters will receive a free extra taste of any one of the new wines.

As part of the event, the Pinnacle Restaurant will offer a great “Anniversary Special for 2” lunch. This special meal provides 2 people a choice of shared salad or appetizer, separate entrées (such as BBQ Chicken or BBQ Baby Back Ribs), shared dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage for only $55 plus tax and gratuity (glasses of wine with this special available at $5/glass).

Additionally, the winery will have their unique, outdoor wine tasting bars open for the weekend so everyone can enjoy the spectacular view from their hill top setting. Guests will be able to order and enjoy freshly prepared food, purchase and drink the Falkner’s award winning wines, and listen to live jazz while relaxing at tables in their beautiful lawn area. The weekend promises to be an enjoyable and memorable one for all that attend.

The Menu:
*Passed Hors D’ Oeuvres – Chef’s Selection of Bruschetta
Bianco, Centine, ‘09
*Farfalle al Salmone Affumicato – Bow Tie pasta, leeks, smoked salmon, cream sauce
Rose, Centine ‘09
*Grigliata di Carne Mista – Grilled Lamb Chop, Chicken, & Filet Mignon, brushed with herbs
Rosso di Montalcino, ‘09
*Torta Della Nonna – Double-layer sponge cake, filled with Mascarpone cheese & Mocha Mousse
Moscadello di Montalcino

$45 per person plus tax & gratuity.
Reservations required 714-540-3365

Nello Cucina

3333 S. Bear Street

Long Beach, Ca 92626