Wine, Food, Beer & Cheese.....uh?

Photo: Andrea Cannistraci

For the 4th year out of five years, I headed down to the Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, now in it's 8th year. (I missed 2010 when I was in Morocco--well worth it!) This international showcase of the world’s premier wines, spirits, chefs, culinary personalities, and gourmet foods did not disappoint! And I invited my man, John Puopolo, along this year to indulge with me.

Since we are both huge Kimpton Hotel fans, we called Hotel Solamar home for the weekend. It's an amazing property located in the heart of the vibrant Gaslamp Quarter.

Our weekend of gluttony included a Belgian Beer Tasting & Cheese Pairing with Chef Daniel Joly (Mirabelle at Beaver Creek). This was all for the boy as I dislike "white" beers and we all know how I feel about cheese. I guess this is what being in love is all about :) And at the Reserve and Limited Tasting Event, it was more than just wine... There was scotch!  SipSmokeSavor was pairing scotches with chocolates...and I was in my glory.

It was a sunny San Diego Saturday for The Grand Tasting Event down at the Embarcadero where we ran into a number of unique luxury brands such as Chuao Chocolate, DelGrosso Sauce (yes the sauce from back home!) Wild Hibiscus, and Ca’momi Wines.

Jazz, Paint, and Love in the Desert

While I have been to Palm Springs many times, he has not. So what better way to celebrate his belated (ok, reallly belated) birthday than a CA get-away to Palm Springs. And it wasn't just a swanky hotel...oh no! We did this trip "Andy-Style".....staying at the La Quinta Resort and Spa, VIP Table front and center for the “Grooves in the Grove” jazz series featuring Rick Braun! We had a dinner tasting with Chef Michael Vaugn too! The dinner tasting consisted of Buffalo chicken lollipops, deep fried devil eggs, fried tomato soup, hanger steak with tater tots, and a TV Dinner. (Yes!) And for dessert, Chef made us Captain Crunch ice cream. Then for breakfast the next morning we started off with a Bloody Mary—made with bacon infused vodka! Then a pizza was delivered to our table—a green eggs and ham pizza. How fun! Def the most unique tasting I've had:)The next day it was over to Miramonte Resort & Spa for the Pittura Festa. In an open-air cabana you paint your partner with natural colored clays that have natural healing powers. At the end, you both look like warrior indians---but, hey, it's fun and very intimate.

The Racing Chef

For the third year now I have been down in the pits at this world-famous race! This year was no exception as I rubbed shoulders with Danica and Dario, and even chatted up racing legend Bobby Rahal, who was in the pits helping his son, Graham. Then I got up close up with the Grand Marshall for this year’s event—Chef Gordon Ramsey! I had the opportunity to attended Chef’s press conference and got some inside scoop on Hell’s Kitchen and also a food few tips from Chef Gordon. Now when I'm in the Dining Room of Hell's Kitchen on May 31 for the taping of Episode 4, Season 10--I'll be prepared!