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Ticket booked - yes! Hotel confirmed - yes! Bags packed - almost! Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Advil? yes! Water - will buy upon arrival. It's time to head out for the Annual Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.  Yes, July in New Orleans is extremely hot and humid and the week is intense as it is filled with back to back to back seminars, tastings, dinners and parties to celebrate cocktails. But, this is an annual voyage for my cocktail pal and me and 2012 marks our 4th sojourn to this amazing event, as well as the 10th Anniversary of Tales of the Cocktail.
A brand new Mexican restaurant opened a few months ago on 4th St. and the Santa Monica dining scene is heating up.  Named Mercado in homage to the fresh ingredients regularly ordered from the Farmer’s Market, the food and drinks are fresh takes on authentic Mexican cuisine. Owner Jesse Gomez grew up in the restaurant business. Almost 50 years ago his grandparents opened El Arco Iris Mexican restaurant in Highland Park in 1964. Jesse began working in the family restaurant and was responsible for modernizing El Arco Iris  and reintroducing the restaurant to the neighborhood. In 2009 he opened his own restaurant Yxta Cocina Mexicana in downtown LA.  Now Mercado is his third venture with partner Chef Jose Acevedo.
Where is Boca you ask?  Boca DOC is in Piemonte and is one of the smallest and Northernmost appellations of Italy.  Produceing Nebbiolo, Vespolina and Uva Rara, it is one of the most unique terroirs in the world. Influenced by the 2nd highest peak of Europe (Monte Rosa), the wines are vastly long aging, intriguingly earthy and splendidly complex. A recent seminar was conducted by Professional Sommelier, Master Taster and North American Sommelier Association (NASA) Vice President Diego Meraviglia, a native of this region.  We were in for a great treat, tasting these great Nebbiolos, known locally as "Spanna". The Terroir of BOCA
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