Food and Vine

“Mr. and Mrs. Bliss, please follow me.” With that, we were welcomed into a palace. Paul Anthony, my partner in love and business, and I had a delightful Valentine’s dinner this year at the Addison Grand Del Mar. I’ve traveled all over the world and eaten many fine meals, but this was hands down the best meal I’ve ever had! The first thing I noticed and loved was the quiet of the place. The Addison is large and spacious, with fireplaces in each room, an open floor plan, and a huge, exquisite wine cellar. Despite the size of the place, we were seated in a luxurious private booth and treated as if we were the only people there. The wine director, Jesse Rodriguez, was brilliant, helping us choose our aperitif drinks and directing us through the menu. Because we felt…

Expensive wines aren’t always good wines. Who hasn’t had the experience of being seduced by snappy packaging into paying way too much for a bottle of wine that is, quite frankly, mediocre? The same goes for beer. Even here, in the heart of craft beer country, there are great beers… and then there are duds. This April First, don’t be “fooled” by bad beer and wine in a beautiful glass! How do you learn to tell the difference between what’s pleasing to the palate and what’s just barely palatable? Often, learning which brands are delicious and which to pass on is a matter of trial and error or personal taste, but sometimes people don’t know the signs of a corked wine, especially when it’s being served to them in a restaurant. Here’s a tip – if your wine smells like…

“Hey Baby, what’s your sign?” is more than just a pick up line these days.  According to the San Diego based company 12 Signs Wine, there is also a wine for every sign! 12 Signs Wine (www.12signswine.com) is the first brand to pair wine with astrology.  Each bottle was handcrafted to match the personality of your sign, whether that is bold and feisty like an Aries Old Vine Zinfandel, bright and vibrant like a Gemini Chardonnay, or romantic like a Pisces Pinot Noir.    For the first vintage the wines are categorized by Fire, Earth, Air, and Water.  Read below to find out which wine is paired with your sign. Fire Signs include Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. These naturally outgoing signs need a wine that makes a statement as big as they do!  The Leo, Aries, and Sagittarius wine is a…

One of my favorite dishes growing up was my grandmother’s beef stroganoff. Recently, someone offered me the challenge of re-creating this wholesome comfort dish… WITHOUT using dairy. Considering the main ingredients in a beef stroganoff include CREAM of mushroom soup and sour CREAM, it was quite the challenge. After some careful thought, I developed my…

Ask us about our Saint Patrick’s Day tours! Leap into something new, turn your routine on its ear, and have fun doing it! That isn’t just a suggestion – it’s part of a long and storied tradition. Leap years, as you probably know, occur only in years divisible by four (or, in the case of a brand-new century, by 400.) The extra day that gets added onto the end of February helps synchronize the Gregorian calendar with the solar year, keeping important dates, such as the spring equinox, from drifting off into other seasons. Since it is out of the ordinary, the Leap Year is also the subject of colorful folklore. In the British Isles, back when gender roles were much stricter, February 29 th was traditionally the only day that women could propose marriage to men; if he turned…

The San Diego Beer and Wine Tours Team is thrilled to announce a new addition to our team! Stephen Ansley has just joined us and we couldn’t be more pleased! Stephen Ansley is well-known and respected in the local craft beer community, and a personal friend of many highly respected local brewers. As a recognized…

When you’re busy at work all day, it’s hard to find time to cook in the evenings. So this week I’m practicing some quick, easy and healthy meals that you can prepare fast with limited ingredients. With two only two juicy tomatoes, a bag of saffron rice and a handful of collard greens, I prepared…

Every day is Valentine’s Day when you’ve got Love in your heart. Whether or not, you have a Special Other to join you in celebrating Valentine’s day, why not create a party just for yourself? When it comes to finding the Love of Your Life, he/she may be closer than you think. Look inside your heart. You may be surprised to find that all the Love you need is right there looking back at you in the mirror. Tell me, who is more compatible with you, than you? Who knows best what rocks your world? You do! And with any luck, you don’t argue much with yourself when it comes to what’s for dinner. Especially when it comes to such an important dinner as Valentine’s Day! We’re much more likely to draw our Love Partner to us…

This past week, I have been practicing my vegan dishes. It’s fun to find new and healthier ways to prepare some of your favorite meals. Ever try making a chocolate cake … using an avocado? I did! In order to prepare a vegan chocolate cake, you eliminate all ingredients that stem from animals. A healthy…

While out at Dave and Buster’s for a holiday party, I discovered that the tickets you earn playing silly games could actually amount to taking home some decent prizes. I’ve been wanting a crock-pot for some time and I was delighted to discover that with 2,500 tickets, I could earn a little, green crock-pot. So,…