Latest & Greatest

There was sad news for the food & drink industry this week, as authorities are searching for those responsible for a Christmas Day heist at the world renowned restaurant, “French Laundry”, in Northern California’s Wine Country. The restaurant has long been a reputable and highly respected establishment, holding a 4-star …

I’ve often told friends, clients, and professional associates that one day, if I’m lucky, and if I work really hard, I just may scratch the surface of Italian-wine expertise. I say this because there is just so much to learn about the wines of Italy that I’m not sure many …

Nothing rings in the new year with quite as much flair as Champagne. From classic Brut NV to more age-worthy vintage bottlings, Champagne offers enough range and food-pairability to work with whatever your New Years Eve menu is going to be…even if there’s no food at all. Here are five …

There are chairs in which you sit to drink your favorite whisky, and then there’s this chair, the result of a unique collaboration between Scotch whisky maker The Glenlivet and the renowned London-based furniture maker Gareth Neal. Dubbed The Glenlivet Nàdurra Dram Chair, it was handcrafted in a small batch …

At around 800 years old, a Victorian Corkscrew comprising of multiple components from the original 1176 London Bridge was auctioned off last week, in England. The nifty wine gizmo ended up being sold at a whopping $62k, nearly 100 times more than the listed guide price. Engraved with the words …

The Battery, an impressive members-only social club in the Gold Rush-era neighborhood of Jackson Square, hides 15 plush hotel rooms that are available to the public. The handsome, upscale rooms sport contemporary decor, hardwood floors, and a tastefully stocked bar. All rooms boast huge modern bathrooms and views of SF’s skyline (some …

From crisp whites to sultry reds, some of the world’s best sparkling wine comes in all shapes and sizes.  Grab your friends, grab your glasses.  Cheers to a fabulous 2014 and count down to 2015 with these twelve delicious bottles of bubbles! Champagne Piper-Heidsieck –   2002 Rare –   France 96 Pts With a label as beautifully …

It sounds crazy doesn’t it? How on earth can you open a bottle of wine without pulling the cork? The answer: Coravin 1000. State of the art technology created and patented by Coravin Inc. allows wine enthusiasts to drink out of any cork-sealed bottle without even removing the cork. How …

Housed in the wonderfully ornate 1927 United Artists Theatre and office building, the Ace Hotel, Los Angeles is SoCal’s outpost of the famously hip hotel brand that is known for their cool mix of old and new. Modern furnishings and wall pencil drawings (Snoop Dog portrait, anyone?) update the interior but …

When the opportunity to create a very rare, small batch amber ale became a possibility, of course Guinness would pull out all of the stops to make this a truly exceptional occasion. Perfectly timed for the New Year, Guinness have released their showcase “Guinness The 1759”. Elegantly packaged in a …

Fuller, Smith, and Turner ESB Extra Special Bitter. London England 5.5% 90 Points. One of my favorite Throwback Thursday quaffs. Someone must have used a scale to measure the perfect mix of bitterness and nutty malt. This seems to be an ancestor to American craft brew.  

Mikkeller American Style/Prairie IPA Copenhagen, Denmark 7.5% 93 Pts. Think big and bold. Like the wild west. Dungarees and flannel shirts. Grapefruit, pine, and malt balls with a hint of funk. This Danish brewer’s take on an American IPA is spot on with a Belgian-y twist.  

Located on the iconic corner of Hollywood & Vine, The Redbury flaunts a bohemian-glam vibe that perfectly suits its showbiz locale. The all-suite, apartment-sized guest rooms are tricked out with a kitchen, fully-stocked bar, and record player complete with vinyl collection. Cleo, the hotel’s “nouveau Med” restaurant, plays up its Tinseltown …