Travel

Looking for a day trip from Los Angeles?  Heading up to Santa Barbara wine country is always a great option! It will be a full day but there is alot you can do. Start the morning off with a drive up the coast. Take the 101 freeway to CA-246 exit toward Lompoc/Solvang which is approximately 130 miles north of LA.  After the drive, you may be ready for a hearty breakfast and there is one joint that is sure to please your appetite. Ellen’s Danish Pancake House 272 Avenue of the Flags, Buellton, CA 93427 Located around the corner in Buellton, CA, Ellen’s Danish Pancake House is a family owned restaurant that is sure to curb your hunger. This full service American and Danish restaurant has a wide array of menu choices from their famous Danish pancakes, to savory steaks and seafood. Ellen’s is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. They also serve homemade jams, salad dressings, and offer daily specials. After breakfast, head 15 minutes to Santa Ynez and start wine tasting.
22 August, 2013
Paso Robles is a premier Wine Country destination, located off the coast of California in San Luis Obispo County and known for its wineries, olive oil and orchards.  For a weekend trip or as a stop along the drive up the coast, Paso Robles is a destination you don’t want to miss. Along our travels, here are some of our favorite spots that are sure to please your wanderlust.
21 August, 2013
When most people think wine country, the first thing that comes to mind is Napa Valley. Located North of San Francisco, Napa is home to some of California’s best wineries. With miles of vineyards everywhere you look, it’s hard to escape wine country without indulging in a few bottles of wine. Rolling hills, spas, boutique hotels, farmer’s markets, and eclectic antique stores surround Napa. But it wouldn’t be a rightful visit without tasting some local wineries first! Schramberg Estate (1400 Schramsberg Road, Calistoga, CA 94515) Visiting this next winery is like experiencing a piece of Napa history. Nestled away in the hills of Diamond Mountain, the Schramsberg estate is known to be the first hillside winery of the Napa Valley. Founded in 1862, this winery in home to 218 acres and is a registered historical landmark. The wide spread acres are made up of the Victorian house, the winery, a barn and even include caves. Schramsberg’s history goes beyond its old grounds and family ties. After the Blanc de Blancs was used for President Nixon’s 1972 “Toast to Peace”, the Schramsberg sparkling wines have been used at official State functions by every U.S. Presidential administration since.  Open daily from 10am-4:30pm. Reservations recommended for tours through the caves.
20 August, 2013
One of my favorite weekend getaways is to Sonoma. Making Healdsburg the home base, it is centrally located between the Dry Creek Valley (known for Zinfandel) and the Russian River Valley (known for Pinot Noir). With two days in the area, spend a day in each valley, but if you have more time, it's even better!  Here are some of my favorite wineries to visit: Russian River Valley  Arista Winery  7015 Westside Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448 If you are looking for a divine Russan River Valley Pinot Noir, then look no further than Arista Winery. Founded by the McWilliams family in 2002, they have dedicated themselves to working with local growers and practice sustainable farming. Beyond amazing wines, the vineyard boasts beautiful Japanese water gardens, mountain and vineyard vistas and a traditional tasting room. The tranquil environment is perfect for picnics, gatherings and intimate tastings. Hours: Mon-Sun 11am-5pm     
19 August, 2013
Surrounded by rolling hills and lush vineyards, Sonoma Valley is a premier destination in Northern California. Sonoma Valley offers visitors an array of activities such as wineries, spas, 5-star restaurants, hiking trails, historic grounds, and a variety of ethnic eateries. One of our favorite towns to visit is Healdsburg. A quaint town with a charming town square, Healdsburg is the perfect place to make as a home-base as you explore the various wine areas. After numerous trips to Healdsburg, we have come up with some of our favorite spots: Where to Stay: 
19 August, 2013

Happy 2013 and welcome to the first newsletter from Please The Palate! 2012 was our full year in business, and an extremely busy one at that!...

08 January, 2013
Auckland may only have a little more than a million residents but the number and quality of cocktail bars will rival some of the best in other bigger cities around the world.  During a recent visit to New Zealand, a night in Auckland was spent on a bar crawl with some local friends who took me out to some of the best cocktail spots! First Stop: Racket Bar
18 May, 2012
Trying to decide where to take your next trip?  Looking for great tips?  The 14th Annual LA Times Travel Show took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center January 28-29, 2012.  Travel experts such as Arthur Frommer, Rick Steves, Rudy Maxa, Adam Richman, Lisa Ling and many others shared their insights and trends in today's travel.
02 February, 2012
Located in the Northeast of Italy is the Veneto Region, famous for the canals of Venice, the architecture of Palladio and the home of Romeo and Juliet. Comprised of seven provinces, five of them produce wine: Verona, Vicenza, Padua, Treviso and Venice. The Veneto Region is also responsible for producing 20% of all Italian D.O.C. wines. In fact, there are a total of 25 D.O.C. wines and 11 D.O.C.G. wines from within the Veneto region.

In the very eastern part of Venice, near Treviso, is the area of Lison-Pramaggiore. With flat, alluvial lands, two of native varietals are Lison and Refosco dal penduncolo rosso.

Lison is a new wine made from the ancient varietal Tocai Italico (also known as Tocai Friulano). In 2007, the European community agreed that the name Tocai belonged to the Hungarians. Therefore, the Italians renamed the wine Lison. Made with 100% French Sauvignonasse (an ancient grape), Lison (formerly Tocai) is a straw yellow wine that is delicate and acidic with a finish of bitter almonds.

20 November, 2011
Located in the Northeast of Italy is the Veneto Region, famous for the canals of Venice, the architecture of Palladio and the home of Romeo and Juliet. Comprised of seven provinces, five of them produce wine: Verona, Vicenza, Padua, Treviso and Venice. The Veneto Region is also responsible for producing 20% of all Italian D.O.C. wines. In fact, there are a total of 25 D.O.C. wines and 11 D.O.C.G. wines from within the Veneto region.

Piave D.O.C. is located between the provinces of Treviso and Veneto and is 30 kilometers wide and 40 kilometers long. Seventy years ago, the region consisted of 80% red wine production. However today, red wine is makes up only 3% of overall production. It is an area mostly known for Prosecco, with the finest selections emerging from an area between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. The Prosecco Superiore Conegliano Valdobbiadene became a D.O.C.G. in 2009.

20 November, 2011
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