Search This Blog

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Love Happy Hour - LA Times' The Taste LA 2012


by Maren Swanson
August 28th, 2012




This upcoming Labor Day weekend forecasts no shortage of foodie fun, which is why this year's The Taste is the perfect opportunity to step into three days of delicious drinking and eating. Held at Paramount Studios on Melrose, the LA Times hosts one of the hottest annual culinary events in Southern California featuring events that include cooking demonstrations, endless tastings and seminars from top chefs and mixologists.




Panelists include Thomas Keller (Bouchon, The French Laundry), Nancy Silverton (Osteria Mozza), Susan Feniger (Street) and many more. Attendees can choose from 5 different events: Field to Fork, Cocktail Confidential (with fellow friend Hallie Beaune, The Beer Chicks), Flavors of L.A., Dinner & Drinks and Labor Day Picnic. All events are 21+ excpect for the Labor Day Picnic which is open to all ages. Tickets will cost you $65 in advance and $75 at the door. A portion of proceeds from this year's event will benefit benefit Collins College of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona and the Los Angeles Times Family Fund's Summer Camp Campaign.


Saturday, September 1
FIELD TO FORK | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Hosts: Times Food Editor Russ Parsons & Chef Ray Garcia (FIG)
Cooking demos: Ray Garcia, David LeFevre (M.B. Post), Roxana Jullapat (Cooks County), Nyesha Arrington (Wilshire), Jason Kim (Forage)
Panels & seminars: "State of the Farmer's Market," "How to Taste Wine Like a Master Sommelier," "Everyday Bordeaux"

COCKTAIL CONFIDENTIAL | 8:00pm – 11:00pm
Hosts: Times Food & Night Life Writer Jessica Gelt & mixologist Julian Cox (Rivera, Playa)
Mixology demos: Tricia Alley, Alex Day
Mix-off challenge: Jaymee Mandeville (Drago Centro), Nathan Oliver (The Vagrancy Project), Paul Sanguinetti (Ray's and Stark Bar), Brian Summers (Parish), Marcos Tello (Feed), Damian Windsor (Roger Room)
 

Sunday, September 2
FLAVORS OF L.A. | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Hosts: Times Restaurant Critic Jonathan Gold & chef, author & host of KCRW's "Good Food" Evan Kleiman
Cooking demos: Susan Feniger (STREET), Ludo Lefebvre (LudoBites), Kris Yenbamroong (NIGHT + MARKET), Ricardo Zarate (Picca)
Panels & seminars: "The L.A. Food Scene," "Authentic Flavors of Mexico," "Sake 101," and Cline Cellars

DINNER & DRINKS | 8:00pm – 11:00pm
Hosts: Times Deputy Food Editor Betty Hallock & "The Beer Chicks," Christina Perozzi and Hallie Beaune
Cocktail demos: The Beer Chicks, Alie Ward & Georgia Hardstarck (The Cooking Channel), Tricia Alley



Monday, September 3
LABOR DAY PICNIC PRESENTED BY TARGET | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Hosts: Times Test Kitchen Director Noelle Carter & Zoe Nathan (Huckleberry, Milo & Olive)
Cooking demos: Zoe Nathan, Nancy Silverton (Osteria Mozza), Judy Han (Mendocino Farms), Steve Lopez's Firehouse Cookoff
Panels & seminars: Thomas Keller (Bouchon, The French Laundry), roundtable with winners of this year's Battle of the Burgers, "Wine Lists & How They Are Created," "A Tour of California Appellations"






Paramount Studios
5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90038











- LA's Premier Happy Hour Search Site Featuring Over 1,000 Happy Hours Within 50 Cities in Los Angeles County

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Cocktail Calories - What's In Your Drink?





Alright, so maybe you're not like me. Maybe you don't care how what you are drinking affects your waistline. Let me start over. I never USED to care about the caloric intake of my drinks until I hit my thirties, but now I can understand why companies like Skinny Girl are making a killing in the alcoholic beverage industry. New companies like Voli Vodka also promise a lower calorie count, but essentially the alcohol content is lower and that part they don't market. However, if that's what keeps Fergie looking that thin - then pass one over!

I mean, who wouldn't want enjoy a tasty cocktail with a few less calories (as long as it keeps its flavor and integrity)? Well, regardless of which way you swing, here are some sipping statistics on cocktail calories from a recent article by Prevention magazine.




Bloody Mary: 1.5 oz of vodka and some added Bloody Mary mix will hit you with 120 calories (not to mention a higher sodium content).

Cosmo: 1.5 oz of vodka, 0.75 oz of Triple Sec, plus some cranberry juice and lime will cost you about 200 calories.




Margarita: 1.4 oz tequila, 0.7 oz Cointreau, sweet and sour and lime will set you back 155 calories, and if you order Cadillac style, the numbers go up.

Martini: 1.5 oz of gin and 0.5 oz of dry vermouth costs a mere 119calories (not including those glorious olives) and the dirtier you make it, the deeper you're in.



Red Wine: A single 5 oz glass of red wine is 125 calories. Why, why?! I can't say no to Pinot.

White Wine: 5 oz of white wine comes in 2nd to red with a mere 121calories - only 4 calories less!


At the end of the day, I'm probably not going to drastically change my drinking routine and go all "Weight Watchers" about it, but at least I know now. I love my wine too much to part ways and until someone can exactly replicate a glass of Far Niente Chardonay sans the extra calories, my glass stays full.


Cheers,

Maren