An avid traveler, I’ve been around the world, from the sandy beaches of the Caribbean to high humidity of Kuala Lumpur, the icy glaciers of Alaska to the blue waters of Australia. But Hawaii is clearly something special.
Landing in Maui on Thursday afternoon for my first trip to the islands, I was a bit wary for my Hawaiian adventure, personal trials and tribulations weighing heavy on my mind. But that first step off the plane, with breezy palm trees blowing in the wind surrounded by green rolling hills and plenty …

During my visit to Uncork’d, I was most interested in covering Saturday’s Viva Las Vegan event hosted by the newest addition to the hotel’s supervisory culinary team, Chef Tal Ronnen. At the request of owner Steve Wynn, Ronnen, who has spent his career focused on vegan and vegetarian recipes, was recently brought on board to help with the development of vegan dishes at all of the location’s fine dining restaurants.
According to Wynn, who welcomed guests to the afternoon luncheon, it was a video on veganism that helped to change his …

This ain’t your Mama’s reheated meal! From now through the end of 2011, travelers aboard Lufthansa Airlines will be treated to meals designed by chefs of the luxurious Ritz-Carlton hotel line. With rotating menus, the airline’s “Star Chefs” program will feature a chef from a different property each month. Through April 30th, a dishes designed by chef Josh Becker, chef de cuisine at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach’s DiLido Beach Club, are offered on the cross-Atlantic flights, with menu selections including tuna confit ajo blanco and roasted grapes; …

By the time I made it to Sunday, my brain was swimming with all the fantastic moments that had happened throughout the weekend. The 2011 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival had proven to be a spectacular event, with my first trip to Miami an adventure that did not disappoint. As an easy close to my busy festival schedule, I ventured out for the afternoon’s Grand Tasting. The expansive Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village spread across the beach with stages, book signing booths, and sponsors galore, alongside …

Cruising down Collins Boulevard near the shores of South Beach, in surely the most stylish of city cabs, I arrived early to the W South Beach for Saturday’s afternoon seminars. Heading inside the hotel, my first stop featured television drinky-drink man, Zane Lamprey, host of on-air barhop, Three Sheets. Focusing on the use of fresh fruits and vegetables in your cocktail, Lamprey’s From Garden to the Glass cocktail clinic included five great, garden-inspired drinks – including an avocado daquiri from Portland’s Lucy Brennan – along with laughter and witty banter. …

Exhausted wasn’t even the word to use when I arrived in Miami on Thursday night. Though a traveler through and through, hours on a plane, particularly coast-to-coast, always takes it out of me (don’t get me started on flying through LAX). I couldn’t have been happier when I finally made it to my sunny destination  – my first visit to the popular South Florida coast – just as the sun was setting, and the festival’s beloved Amstel Light Burger Bash with Rachael Ray was taking off.
After a quick check-in at …

On Saturday, after a day of snowboarding instruction (peppered with a few beginner tumbles), it was time for the weekend’s pièce de résistance, the Grand Tasting. Joining my fellow press mates, as well as the hotel’s management staff and members of the Bon Appetit team, we made our way the ballroom of the spectacular Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, along with 500 fellow Classic guests, to enjoy bites and beverages from chefs, restaurants, wineries, and distillers at the evening’s main event.

In addition to guest chefs Francois Payard, Marco Canora, Joey Campanaro, …

Early Friday morning, I joined fellow Beaver Creek Master Chef Classic guests in a breathtaking hike (both literally and figuratively) for the day’s Snowshoe Excursion and Luncheon. Along the same path as its summertime equivalent, the Walk & Wine, our adventurous snowshoe group worked up a hearty appetite descending down the mountain to the beautiful Grouse Mountain Grill for the afternoon’s featured luncheon.
Accompanied by Grouse Mountain’s executive chef, David Gutowski, guest chef Stephanie Izard, owner of Chicago’s Girl & the Goat, offered up a menu of goat-filled dishes. Izard, a …

After my first visit to the Vail/Beaver Creek area last August to cover the Beaver Creek Wine & Spirits Festival, I was thrilled to be invited by the fantastic folks at Vail Resorts and the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch to cover the 2011 Beaver Creek Master Chef Classic, presented by Bon Appetit Magazine. Often choosing sun over snow, it was certainly a marvelous new experience to venture to one of the highest-rated winter destinations in the U.S. to enjoy the some of the finest food and wine the area has to …

Part of the fun each year on Daily Blender is the chance to check out new food and wine happenings around the country. Here in 2011, in addition to my yearly musts, like Aspen and New York, I’ll be venturing to a few events I have yet to visit, starting with next week’s Beaver Creek Master Chef Classic.
On a press trip to Vail last year, I had a chance to spend a few days covering the Beaver Creek Wine & Spirits Festival, featuring a handful of great chefs, bartenders, and …

Congratulations – you’ve survived another holiday season. Whether hard at work in the kitchen trenches or one of the many trying to make their way through airports and train stations across the country, hopefully you had time for a little food and wine along the way.
Though I try to avoid the airports as much as possible in November and December, I’m rather excited to embark on more traveling as this new year emerges. At the end of this month, I’ll be venturing off to cover the Bon Appetit Beaver Creek …

After living abroad in Adelade, South Australia many years back, amongst the beautiful rolling hills, sandy beaches, luscious wineries, and decadent food, I was thrilled to read about chef Tom Colicchio making his way through the food-rich state earlier this summer. Recently, however, it became clear that the trip was more than just sightseeing, with the announcement of Colicchio as a new ambassador to South Australia. Earlier this week, Craft Los Angeles held an Aussie-themed dinner earlier this week in support of the chef’s participation with the South Australian state …

In a number of new food and wine events that have sprung up over the last few months, the Barbados Food & Wine and Rum festival certainly caught my eye. After realizing earlier this year at the Cayman Cookout that every festival weekend should involve sand, surf, and sun, Barbados is yet another wonderful event that fits the bill.
For this year’s inaugural weekend happening November 19-22, a handful of favorite chefs will be offering culinary demonstrations and general beach-friendly fare for those who make the trek to the tiny tropical …

It seems autumn has snuck up on us once again. Here in the Pacific Northwest, the rain set in over the weekend and remains lingering, burrowing itself into our days and nights. Though offset by a few moments of sun, it has become clear that summer is over.
Every fall, one of my favorite food and wine excursions is my travel to the East coast for the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival. The festival, which was started in 2008 by founder Lee Schrager, always includes a roster …

Stars of the silver screen descended upon our neighbor to the north earlier this week to celebrate the thirty-fifth annual Toronto International Film Festival. Joining celebs like Bill Murray, Jon Hamm, and Mickey Rourke, top-notch chefs from both the U.S. and Canada were on hand to create dishes of delight for the cinema celebrants.
Chef Kerry Simon, whom I recently bumped into at the Taste of Beverly Hills, made the trip to Toronto to present two Las Vegas-themed “pop-up” restaurants for festival fans, as well as lavish bites for the the …