Getting to know Santiago, Chile Through a Food Tour with FoodyChile

Written by Allison Levine on April 19, 2018

Lifestyle Food Cocktails

If you have only one day in Santiago, what is the best way to see it? A food tour where you walk through the city, visiting markets, restaurants, street vendors and get an introduction to the culinary culture of Chile. After all, food is something that we all share. It is a way to look at the world. Food is a way to get to know another culture.

Our guide was Colin Bennett, an American who lives in Santiago. Originally from the mid-west, Colin came to Chile to teach English and ended up staying. About eight years ago, Colin started FoodyChile.

We met in the Plaza de Armas in the center of the city. A map lies in the ground in the center of the plaza showing the now dry Rio Ma Pocho that runs through the city of Santiago. Colin explained Chile’s history to us, from the indigenous Ma Pocho who gathered foods like shellfish, pinenuts, beans and mushrooms to ingredients brought to Chile by the Spanish.

We began walking and soon was in Portal Fernandez Concha. A hotel in the 1860’s, today the promenade is filled with a row of hot dog vendors. The Chilean hot dog, with lots of toppings, is Chile’s own national junk food. Read More +

Solvang Restaurants And More – Top Eats In The Santa Barbara’s Wine Country

Written by Allison Levine on April 10, 2018

Lifestyle Food

This story originally appeared in California Winery Advisor.

The Best Solvang Restaurants And More…
Planning a weekend getaway to wine country is not just about which wineries to visit. Trips to Napa and Sonoma center around where to eat. Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara Wine Country is no exception. Consisting of six small communities (Solvang, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, Buellton, Los Alamos and Ballard), no matter where you are, there is somewhere great to eat!

SOLVANG RESTAURANTS
The town of Solvang is known for its Danish décor and aebelskivers but offers so much more. We put in the hard work finding the best Solvang restaurants for you. Whether you are looking for a gourmet dinner after a long day of wine tasting or need a quick jolt of caffeine to get the day started, Solvang’s restaurants have you covered.

Café Dolce
475 1^st Street, Solvang
There is something for everyone at this Solvang coffee shop. Café Dolce features a robust coffee and tea menu which includes Italian espresso, Turkish coffee, iced coffee drinks and more. Owner Sam, who is usually found behind the counter, spent some years living in Italy and can make a mean cappuccino. The espresso is weighed and tempered to an exact amount so that the espresso is perfecto.

Fresh smoothies, protein shakes, and organic juices are available, as are acai bowls. And for the afternoon pick-up, enjoy house-make gelato or sorbet. Having expanded through the next-door space, Café Dolce offers coffee house seating as well as outside seating on a park bench. Read More +

Please The Palate Pick of the Week: California Wines – Down to Earth Month

Written by Allison Levine on April 7, 2018

Lifestyle Wine

It is April and that means it is Earth Month. In fact, 2018 brings us the 48th Anniversary of Earth Month. It is also the 7th annual California Wines: Down to Earth Month and the 15th year of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA). Focused on earth friendly wines that are made with sustainable winegrowing and winemaking practices, California Wines: Down to Earth Month is the Please The Palate pick of the week.

Currently, there are 1,099 vineyards certified and 127 wineries certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. There was more than a 46% increase in the number of Certified Sustainable vineyards in 2017 and more than 20% increase in the number of Certified Sustainable wineries in 2017. Of the 602,000 total California winegrape acres, 22 percent (130,375 acres) are certified sustainable. Of the 286 million wine cases produced in California, 74 percent (211.5 million) are made in certified sustainable wineries.

2017 also marked the introduction of the first Certified Sustainable Wine Logo which has begun appearing on some wine labels and will continue to appear in more in the coming years.

And, to top it off, the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance is part of the Disney Food & Wine Festival 2018. This is the first year that they are a part of this 42-day festival that celebrates the best of California and runs from March 2 – April 12.

Throughout the month of April for California Wines: Down to Earth Month, and beyond, seek out wineries that believe in sustainable practices. It is good for the wine and it is good for us and our future!