Food

Harvest 2015 is well underway in most wine regions in the Northern Hemisphere. The grapes are being picked and made into wine. After all, that's what vineyards are for. But, as we discuss the important topic of food waste and hear about chefs utilizing scraps in the kitchen, what about in the vineyard? Grapes are crushed to make wine and then the skins can be used to make grappa or can be used as compost. But, have you ever thought about the leaves or the stems? While in Greece earlier this summer, lunch in the vineyard of Elinos Winery in Naoussa, we were shown how creative one can be utilizing elements from the vineyard. Elinos Elinos is a family winery owned by the Taralas family. The name Elinos comes from the Odyssey and has multiple meanings – wine, crushing grapes, the top of the vine (helix), Greek wine. Dimitrios Taralas retired from banking and purchased the vineyard in 2006. The vineyard, situated at an altitude of 1000 feet, is located on the eastern edge of Naoussa, at the highest point of Mount Vermion, in the Imathia region of Macedonia, Greece. At 25 acres, it is the third biggest single vineyard in Naoussa. They grow Xinamavro, as well as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malagouzia, Preknadi, Moschomavro, Negoska and Roditis.
14 September, 2015
Do you love ice cream? I do. I was raised in a household with a self-proclaimed "ice cream-aholic." As a child we would make ice cream in the summer but it never lasted for very long in the freezer. My favorite flavors have always been mint chip, strawberry and coffee but I tended to stay away from the "boring" chocolate and vanilla. Well, chocolate and vanilla ice cream are no longer "boring" with Choctal single-origin ice creams sourced from around the world. This is the same concept of single-origin that has been applied to coffees and chocolate bars. Choctal focuses chocolate and vanilla using cacao beans and vanilla beans from different growing regions. The beans grown in one particular area or region have distinctly different characteristics due to the soil, micro-climate, seasonal growing conditions and processing. Choctal Single Origin Ice Cream
10 September, 2015
For the 5th year in a row, Los Angeles Food & Wine hosted another successful weekend of food and wine events. For three nights, Grand Avenue in Downtown LA was closed off to traffic and filled with more than 30 restaurants each night and more than 100 wines. With Disney Hall looming above, hundreds of attendees wandered up and down the street trying the various foods and wines over a three hour period. Los Angeles Food and Wine With so many of Los Angeles' best chefs, as well as top chefs from New York, Philadelphia, Dallas and more, serving up flavorful dishes, there is a lot of tasting to do. Between waiting in long lines to some restaurants and getting full quickly, it can be a challenge to try everything. But, I did!
03 September, 2015
When I thought about fine-dining in Lexington, Kentucky, I envisioned traditional Southern, white tablecloth, fine-dining establishments with dress codes for men and women. But, our experience at Coles 735 Main was nothing like that. Owned by Lexington born Chef Cole Arimes, Coles 735 Main is located in a refinished 1938 historic landmark. It's a bit like walking into your grandmother's home with gingham print pillows. While not the most contemporary decor, it is not stuffy, formal or stodgy. Coles 735 Main Cole Arimes We sat outside on the charming patio as the fireflies buzzed and lit up around us. The menu offers Southern cuisine with an eclectic global influence and features fresh local ingredients.
31 August, 2015
I love escaping to another world when I watch a movie. Typically, we watch our movies in a dark theater or in the comfort of our own home. But, earlier this summer, I went to a movie in an outdoor theater in Athens, Greece where the Acropolis is seen lit up above us. Sitting in the open air with dynamic surroundings takes one away to another place. Outdoor Movie under the Acropolis And now, in Los Angeles, you can enjoy a movie on a rooftop in Hollywood while feeling like you are in the middle of a movie set with the big bright neon lights above. Rooftop Film Club Outdoor movie screenings aren't uncommon in Los Angeles. You can watch movies in a cemetery, an amphitheater, a park or a hotel courtyard. These are all fun activities to do in the summer with friends. You pack your picnic and hope to get to the space early enough to mark out a central spot where you can spread out. Hopefully you can see over the heads of the people in front of you who brought lawn chairs when you forgot yours. And then you hope you can hear the sound of the movie clearly over the sound of people talking or chomping on food.
28 August, 2015
For the last year, I have driven up and down Centinela Blvd to and from LAX but I had never noticed Fin, a restaurant located half a block east of Centinela Blvd on Washington Blvd. Now I have!  A modern space with minimal decor, Fin is located in the space that was formerly Mi Ranchita, a Mexican Restaurant. The menu at Fin is Asian-fusion. Perhaps this is because owners Michael Flanagan, Gerardo Reyes and Ken Whang had all worked together as servers at Koi in the past? Well actually, that is where they met. One night Michael and Gerardo were drinking at Mi Ranchita when they told the owner they wanted to buy the place. The owner wasn't looking to sell the 25 year old restaurant but somehow they convinced him. They set out to remodel the space and hire staff as they created their own concept. But what impressed me so much was that they ended up also keeping the original staff from Mi Ranchita. And why Asian Fusion? Because, as Michael explained, he wanted to offer a restaurant in the neighborhood that would be fun for a date spot or a night with friends.... flavorful, fun food that is easy to share and not too heavy. It's been a year now and Fin is a friendly local neighborhood restaurant. Fin Culver City
26 August, 2015

This post originally appeared on FoodableTV.com Santorini Island | Foodable WebTV Network With the crisis happening in Greece, all eyes and ears are on the country. Greece...

25 August, 2015
The first Indian dish Akasha Richmond, owner and chef at Akasha in Culver City, ever tried was Sambar, a lentil-based vegetable stew with tamarind, spices, onions and toor dal, popular in South Indian and Sri Lankan Tamil cuisines. The dish stuck with her and her love for Indian food developed over the years as this self-taught chef worked as a personal chef for Michael Jackson and other celebrities and opened Akasha seven years ago. So, when she opened her newest restaurant in Culver City, it was only natural to call it Sambar. Sambar The space is open, modern and bright with white walls and a multi-color glass light fixture hanging in the center, adding lots of color. The open kitchen, which has a counter for patrons in front of it, has a large wood-fire burning oven.
24 August, 2015
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