Contributor, Author at Philly FlavrReport

By Contributor — 2 years ago

Emmy-nominated writer, director, producer and standup comedian Neal Brennan announced his upcoming BRAND NEW NEAL Limited Tour.

Produced by Live Nation, the 4-city tour kicks off Saturday, May 20th in San Diego, CA at The Observatory North Park and continues on through Philadelphia and New York before wrapping up on Friday, August 18th at Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, MN. The tour follows the release of his Netflix comedy special Neal Brennan: Blocks, which hits the streaming platform tomorrow, Tuesday, November 8th.

TICKETS: Tickets for the tour go on sale starting Friday, November 11th at 10am local time at ticketmaster.com

Neal Brennan Announces ‘Brand New Neal’ U.S. Tour stop in NYC July 13

BRAND NEW NEAL TOUR DATES:

Sat May 20 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park

Thu Jul 13 – New York, NY – Town Hall Theatre

Fri Jul 14 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia

Fri Aug 18 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater

About Neal Brennan

Three-time Emmy nominated writer, director, producer, and standup comedian Neal Brennan has become a force in the comedy world. An across-the-board talent, Neal has found success in almost every creative vein in the comedy community. His latest Netflix comedy special Neal Brennan: Blockspremieres globally on November 8.

Neal Brennan: Blocks was adapted from Neal’s hit one-man show Unacceptable. Beloved Magician/Artist Derek Delgaudio (HULU’s In & Of Itself) directed both the Netflix special and the theatre run. The stage show had a sold-out NYC residency in the Fall of 2021, with Interview Magazine lauding “together, Brennan and DelGaudio have crafted a genre-bending show focused as much on fun and laughter as it is on intimacy and honesty” and Theatermania gushing “The comedians Neal Brennan has written for is insane….Even more insane (in the best way), is the material Brennan writes for himself.”

Neal’s critically acclaimed first off-Broadway one-man show 3 Mics also enjoyed a sold-out NYC run in 2016 with superstar musician John Legend serving as Executive Producer. 3 Mics was taped as a stand-up special, which premiered on Netflix in 2017, with Paste Magazine offering “It will floor you in the best way possible.”

As in-demand behind the camera as he is in front of it, Neal was recently a writer, creative consultant, and on-air correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. He is a longtime collaborator of iconic comedian Dave Chappelle, with whom he has created multiple comedy fan favorites including the legendary Chappelle’s Show and the Emmy-winning Saturday Night Live episode immediately following the 2016 presidential election. Neal served as Executive Producer on Chris Rock’s recent standup special Chris Rock: Tamborine and as Director on fellow Daily Show Correspondent Michelle Wolf’s HBO special Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady. He has helped create and performed in numerous TV series and films, developing what The New York Times calls his “hip-hop and Frontline aesthetic.” He regularly headlines the good standup venues in the good parts of America.

Eve Bushman spends a week touring and tasting in Chateauneuf du Pape

0

Post Views: 313

From A Wine Lover’s Bucket List: Eve Bushman spends a week touring and tasting in Chateauneuf du Pape

By Contributor — 2 years ago

From A Wine Lover’s Bucket List: Eve Bushman spends a week touring and tasting in Chateauneuf du Pape

What’s on your Bucket List?

While a normal person wants to check off going to Mars, driving a racecar or meeting a president, wine writers have lists that almost always include visiting wineries in far off places. Having Shiraz in Australia, Tempranillo in Spain, Chianti Classico in Italy and Malbec in Argentina are on our lists, but top of the list for me has always been France. I had two days in Bordeaux years ago and a week in the Garda DOC in Italy that just wet my whistle for more, so when a small group of wine writers was being put together, to visit Chateauneuf du Pape for arguably the best Rhone wines in the world, I poised my pencil over my list and made a huge mark – YES, please, take me!

Quick travel tips: Bottles are priced much less at the source, even with shipping costs; we saved in buying a case to have sent home. If you can’t get winery appointments, or don’t have the time, we found several tasting rooms in town – as well as several places for meals. None of us in our party spoke fluent French, and though it would have helped, we were fine communicating in English. You can drive your own car, on the right side of the street, but there are many roundabouts, toll roads and narrow roadways.

Eddie Bushman at Pegau

Domaine Pegau

Our first day in France began with a sunrise at our friend’s Villa in Monoblet. From there we traveled 90 minutes for a tour and tasting at Chateau (wines labeled from the Cote du Rhone area) and Domaine (Chateauneuf du Pape area in Rhone) from Pegau. We have a few Domaine Pegau wines in our cellar and really looked forward to visiting the real deal.

From our host we learned that there are five towns in Chateauneuf du Pape that produced 95% red and 5% white wine grapes. They use 13 grape varieties and any given bottle only has to use one grape. Pegau – properly pronounced as “Pay-Go” – uses all 13, including blending white with red grapes. For their Cote du Rhone property Pegau makes 44% red wine and one Rose wine.

We learned that they are an old school winery, as far as winemaking techniques. When finished wine is ordered only then is a bottling truck ordered and labels created. (There are different laws for different labeling around the world, so that is the reason they have to wait to print the labels.)

Only old oak is used for aging and some barrels are 90 years old. Stainless steel tanks are only used for their white wines; some high-end whites also spend time in wood barrels and concrete eggs. They do not de-stem any of the wines, which for me meant that the terroir would show earthiness and tannins.

Now, onto the tasting!

We sampled two Chateau Pegau Vallee du Rhone and two Domaine Pegau Chateauneuf du Pape, a white and red in each category, aged between 2019 and 2021. My personal preference on these leaned more toward the Chateauneuf du Pape wines and of particular note was the 2019 Cuvee Reservee that used all 13 Rhone grapes and 80% of that was Grenache. These wines were priced between 10 and 45 euros – which is pretty close to the same in American dollars.

Instagram: @Domaine_Du_Pegau

Website: https://pegau.com/

Roger Sabon Wine glass

Domaine Roger Sabon

Next up we visited Chateauneuf du Pape’s (CDP’s) Domaine Roger Sabon for a tasting.

Our host explained that this past summer they experienced drier weather producing smaller berries over 18 hectares. Sabon, like Pegau, has both a Domaine for the CDP wine area and a Cotes du Rhone label. Five percent of their appellations are producing white wines. They blend before aging, have four different soil types and also have a distillery. All of their wines are at least 70% Grenache and are aged in large barrels.

For the tasting they offered us new and older wines, including wines from the Lirac appellation – not in Chateauneuf du Pape – with amazing aromatics and flavors.

My favorites were a 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve that had just been bottled in March and contained 80% Grenache and the remaining 20% was made of Syrah and Mourvedre – the classic GSM blend. I noted delicate fruit aromas and subtle fruit flavors – red to blue fruits – as well as a pepperiness.

My second favorite was the Prestige label, a 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape that was all black fruit, cracked pepper and earth that had a nice sweet spot. That blend was also a GSM.

My ultimate favorite of the day was the final wine we tasted: the 2012 Prestige that had huge aromatics with earth, mint, dark fruit and an extra long finish. It was a real treat to be treated to an older vintage as it showed how well these wines did after a decade of aging.

Instagram: @Roger.Sabon

Website: http://www.domainerogersabon.com/en/

Domaine de la Mordoree

The next day we went to Domaine de la Mordoree for an extensive vineyard tour – with the most amazing rocky and sandy soil that walking on it was difficult. The idea of the roots below, struggling for water that made them strong, left a huge impression on me. I had never seen this kind of large rocky terrain in a vineyard before. And the sandy sections were so pure and soft, it was quite a difference. The vines are between 40 and 60 years old.

Farming in the Domaine was certified organic in 2013 and is now also biodynamic. There are 30 workers brought in for nighttime harvests every year. The father and head of the household had died, and the mother and daughter “continue in a masculine world” according to our guide.

After the tour we had a tasting of their new white, rose and red wines. My first favorite was the 2019 La Dame Rousse – Lirac, also known as “The Red Lady” on their website, which was 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. Very dark berries, forest floor, tannin, dry and spicy and with a price tag of only 14.50 Euros. My second favorite was their 2020 La Reine de bois Chateauneuf du Pape that was rich, velvety, smooth and balanced. Top notch indeed and 56 Euros.

Instagram: @Domaine_Mordoree

Website: https://www.domaine-mordoree.com/?lang=en

Domaine Andre Brunel and le Clos du Caillou

Our next day in Chateauneuf du Pape was spent at Domaine Andre Brunel and le Clos du Caillou! At Andre Brunel we learned that the namesake had passed away in February and his son Fabrice, Andre’s longtime apprentice, then took over as winemaker. Some of the Grenache vineyards are 135 years old. One other interesting fact is that in a recent blind tasting of a 1959 Andre Brunel vintage the wine was thought to have been a Burgundy instead of a Rhone!

Domaine du Grand Tinel wine glass

We tasted in the winery, during a day of noisy pressing, but it didn’t keep us from enjoying several wines. Along with their Chateauneuf du Pape label we also sampled blends from their Cotes du Rhone Villages. My favorite was a 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Cailloux that was a 60% Grenache blend with Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault. The wine had been aged in a Burgundy barrel.

Onto le Clos du Caillou where some of their wines are grown within the CDP boundaries and some are outside of it in Cotes du Rhone territory. The Cailloux area, mentioned above in a wine from Andre Brunel, is just outside of CDP but has the same soil and terroir. Some of their vineyards have sandy soils and some are pebbly.

Their Grand Reserve wine is their most famous and comes from pure sandy soils, which for the winery means:

“elegance, fine tannins and aging potential.”

le Clos du Caillou bottless and quartz

Their new winery, Domaine de Panisse, began in 2020 and the wines have all sold out. In 2007 they went organic and were certified as so in 2010. They are also biodynamic but are not yet certified for that distinction. Grenache is their number one produced grape, followed by Syrah, Mourvedre and other Rhônes. They only work with used barrels.

We tasted seven wines and the most memorable one for me was the Les Quartz Rouge – Chateauneuf du Pape 2020 for its fresh red fruit, richness and smooth balance. The grapes used – 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah – came from the vineyard that just happened to be just outside of the Chateauneuf du Pape region. Our host said the wine had a 20-year aging potential. The wine was priced at 55 Euros.

Instagram: @Domaine_AndreBrunel @ClosDuCaillou

Websites: https://domaine-andre-brunel.fr/

https://www.closducaillou.com/

La Barroche winery

Domaine la Barroche and Château Mont Redon PLUS The Terroir and Castles

Next up we visited Domaine la Barroche where the sandy soil with quartz stones took over the vineyards. The same 12 people do the harvest every year; and the group also sorts the grapes in buckets by hand for the 2,000 cases of wine they produce a year. During the de-stemming process they discard any too-dry berries. Then, later, the winemaking process is “like slow cooking at low temperatures” according to our host.

We tasted wines from their Liberty (stones), Julien Barrot (signature) and Fiancée labels. Every wine I tasted I noted as distinguished: the 2020, 2019 and 2016 Julien Barrot Chateauneuf du Pape, 2020 Liberty blend and the 2020 Fiancée Chateauneuf du Pape.

Chateau Mont- Redon

Before our tasting at Mont-Redon I took a few moments to look over their colorful brochure and large maps.

I read,

“The secret of our skill is hidden in the poor soils in which the vines grow.

Originally the Alps, Chateauneuf du Pape, round puddings stones are what make our wines special.

Our Lirac and Cotes du Rhone are at their best on the plains, also stony, neighboring those of Chateauneuf du Pape.”

Château Mont Redon will be celebrating their 100-year anniversary next year, with the same family at the helm since 1923!

We tasted a 2021 Roussanne Viognier Reserve Cotes du Rhone, 2020 Oratoire St. Domaine Martin Rhone Valley, 2020 Lirac GSM, 2018 Reserve Gigondas and a 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape. Learned that they don’t export their wines until they are at least five years old – as the U.S. consumer is not known for aging their wines – and we should be buying the 2019s now.

Terroir tour Day Courtesy A 2 Pas des Vignes Hebergements and Spa

Next up was a fabulous tour of the different rocks – including beautiful quartz – and different soils all throughout the Cote Du Rhone and Chateauneuf du Pape with Nicolas of “A 2 Pas des Vignes Hebergements and Spa”! (He and his wife Emilie own four homes to rent, and a spa on the premises.) Castles – all minutes away – include the Pope’s Palace, Chateau de Vaudieu, Chateau La Nerthe and Hostellerie du Château that also has a lovely restaurant. I highly recommend a stay at 2 Pas as the pricing is more than reasonable as well as being in the center of Chateauneuf du Pape. Nicolas offered us the tour, though he is not a tour guide, but I also suggest a tour so that you can get more of a sense of the terroir and history.

Nicolas from A 2 Pas des Vignes Hebergements and Spa

Instagram: @DomaineLaBarroche @ChateauMontRedon

Websites: https://www.domainelabarroche.com/

https://www.chateaumontredon.com/

Instagram: @a2pasdesvignes

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/a2pasdesvignes

Domaine du Grand Tinel bottle shot

Domaine du Grand Tinel, Domaine Saint Prefert Et Domaine Isabel Ferrando and Vieux Telegraphe

My final installment from my time in Chateauneuf du Pape is a visit and tour at Domaine du Grand Tinel that’s been making wine for 7 generations! (My husband Eddie covered me for another day – see his coverage from Domaine Saint Prefert Et Domaine Isabel Ferrando and Vieux Telegraphe below.)

Lucien Jeune, born in 1904, is known for two things, first he passed a law forbidding UFOs from landing in the vineyards – making the area more appealing to inquisitive tourists – and he was also mayor for 25 years. Grand Tinel began in 1972, combining estates owned by Lucien Jeune and Georges Establet, when their children married in 1968.

Domaine du Grand Tinel wine glass

To this day harvest is all done by hand, the have two wineries from two different terroirs: Domaine du Grand Tinel and Domaine de Saint Paul. They don’t make all of the white Rhone varieties, and they focus on the three major reds: Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. Some of their vines are over 100 years old. They only use new oak barrels for the whites and used for the reds. Wine is sold through Negotiants, mostly to the private sector of French buyers. Bottling and labeling is done in house.

These were my favorites from the tasting: The 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc, the 2020 Cuvee Cotes du Rhone (Roussanne based), Domaine Saint Paul 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape (Grenache and Syrah based, 70 year old vines), 2018 L’insolite (100% Syrah) and 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Heres (100% Grenache).

Eddie and friends (I was back at the Villa with a cold) visited Domaine Saint Prefert Et Domaine Isabel Ferrando and Vieux Telegraphe…these are his memories of the day:

Eddie’s Telegraph

My day began at Domaine Saint Prefert and with an introduction and discussion with owner Isabel Fernando, and a tasting of the latest vintages. The 2021 Blanc Famille Isabel Fernando Chateauneuf du Pape was a great sample of their wines. The 2020 Colombis from Chateauneuf du Pape was outstanding as well.

Saint Prefert Isabel Ferrando

The afternoon brought us to Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe. Vieux Telegraphe has been a family run winery since 1891. The sixth generation of the Brunier family is continuing the tradition of making excellent wines. Daniel Brunier gave us a wonderful tour and explanation of their winemaking style. The tour included a walk through their newly constructed caves for wine aging and storage.

The tasting began with Clos Roquete, a very approachable wine made from 33% Roussanne, 33% Clairette, and 34% Grenache Blanc. This wine was so good, we bought a bottle for dinner that night. The 2020 Blanc was outstanding as well. We tasted the entire flight ending with the 2019 Rouge Chateauneuf du Pape made from 65% Grenache Noir, 15% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah, with Cinsault, Clairette and others at 5%. As a special treat, Daniel opened their 2010 rouge Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape. This wine was truly a standout in all the wines tasted on the trip so far. The wine had aged well and still had the ability go age a couple of dozen more years. Many Vieux Telegraphe wines were included in the case we had shipped home.

Instagrams: @DomaineDuGrandTinel @isabelferrando_stprefert @VieuxTelegraphe

Websites: https://www.domainegrandtinel.fr/en/#historique

https://www.st-prefert.com/

https://www.vieux-telegraphe.fr/

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Napa Wine Country's Heitz Cellar congratulates Erik Elliott, MS

0

Post Views: 302

Napa Wine Country’s Heitz Cellar congratulates Erik Elliott, MS

By Contributor — 2 years ago

Napa Wine Country’s Heitz Cellar congratulates Erik Elliott, MS

Heitz Cellar is excited to announce that Estate Director Erik Elliott has passed the Masters Exam with the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas.

Erik is one of 10 individuals who successfully met the qualifications to be awarded the title of Master Sommelier. The results were announced at the Krug Reception on August 31, 2022, at the Royal Sonesta in Portland, Oregon.

The Master Sommelier Diploma is the highest distinction a professional can attain in the beverage service industry.

The Master Sommelier Diploma Examination consists of three sections:

a verbal theory examination,

a wine assessment exercise using the Deductive Tasting Method,

and a practical component that focuses on hospitality, beverage service, salesmanship, and overall business acumen.

Candidates must receive passing scores in each section to earn the highly coveted Master Sommelier title.

“I AM SO PROUD OF ERIK FOR PUTTING IN THE HARD WORK AND ACHIEVING THIS SPECIAL HONOR.

IT’S A JOY TO SEE MY CLOSE FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE JOIN THE COURT OF MASTER SOMMELIERS.

I HAVE WATCHED HIM GROW FROM A BARTENDER TO A SOMMELIER, A

ND EVENTUALLY A HOSPITALITY DIRECTOR TO ESTATE DIRECTOR,

ALL WHILE DEMONSTRATING HIS TIRELESS WORK ETHIC AND DEEPENING HIS KNOWLEDGE OF FINE WINE AND HOSPITALITY.”

Carlton McCoy, MS.

(Lawrence Wine Estates, CEO)

Broadway Shakeup! Emmy nominee Lea Michele takes over Funny Girl from Beanie Feldstein.

0

Post Views: 261

Broadway Shakeup! Emmy nominee Lea Michele takes over Funny Girl from Beanie Feldstein.

By Contributor — 2 years ago

Broadway Shakeup! Emmy nominee Lea Michele takes over Funny Girl from Beanie Feldstein.

The producers today announce that Emmy Award nominee Lea Michele (Spring Awakening, “Glee”) will star as “Fanny Brice” for Broadway’s Funny Girl starting Sept 6 at August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52^nd Street).

Also four-time Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh (Yentl, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”) will star as “Mrs. Brice,” alongside Tony & Olivier Award nominee Ramin Karimloo (Anastasia, Les Misérables) as “Nick Arnstein” and 2022 Tony & Drama Desk Award nominee & Chita Rivera Award winner Jared Grimes (A Soldier’s Play, “Manifest”) as “Eddie Ryan,” in FUNNY GIRL beginning Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52^nd Street).

“Fanny Brice” standby Julie Benko will perform the title role from Tuesday, August 2 – Sunday, September 4, 2022 and on Thursdays beginning Thursday, September 8, 2022.

Tickets for FUNNY GIRL are now on sale through Sunday, March 26, 2023 at https://seatgeek.com/funny-girl-tickets.

FUNNY GIRL currently stars Beanie Feldstein as “Fanny Brice” through Sunday, July 31, 2022 and five-time Emmy Award winner Jane Lynch as “Mrs. Brice” through Sunday, September 4, 2022, alongside Ramin Karimloo as “Nick Arnstein” and Jared Grimes as “Eddie Ryan.” They are joined by Peter Francis James as “Florenz Ziegfeld,” Ephie Aardema as “Emma/Mrs. Nadler,” Debra Cardona as “Mrs. Meeker,” Toni DiBuono as “Mrs. Strakosh,” Martin Moran as “Tom Keeney,” and an acting company that includes Miriam Ali, Amber Ardolino, Daniel Beeman, Colin Bradbury, Kurt Csolak, John Michael Fiumara, Leslie Donna Flesner, Afra Hines, Masumi Iwai, Aliah James, Jeremiah James, Danielle Kelsey, Stephen Mark Lukas, Alicia Lundgren, John Manzari, Liz McCartney, Connor McRory, Katie Mitchell, Justin Prescott, Mariah Reives, Leslie Blake Walker and Julie Benko.

Tony Award winner Michael Mayer directs this brand-new FUNNY GIRL, featuring the classic score by Tony, Grammy and Academy Award winner Jule Styne and lyrics by Tony Award nominee and Grammy Award winner Bob Merrill, (comprising additional songs from Styne & Merrill). The original book by Isobel Lennart, from an original story by Miss Lennart, is revised by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein.

FUNNY GIRL features choreography by Ellenore Scott, tap choreography by 2022 Drama Desk Award nominee Ayodele Casel, scenic design by Tony Award winner David Zinn, costume design by Tony Award winner Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Tony Award winner Kevin Adams, sound design by Tony Award winner Brian Ronan, hair & wig design by Campbell Young Associates, music direction and supervision by Emmy Award winner Michael Rafter, casting by Jim Carnahan, CSA and Jason Thinger, CSA, orchestrations by Chris Walker, dance, vocal and incidental music arrangements by Alan Williams, additional arrangements by David Dabbon and Carmel Dean and vocal supervision by Liz Caplan.

This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway. Featuring some of the most iconic songs in theatre history including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People,” Michael Mayer’s bold new production marks the first time FUNNY GIRL has returned to Broadway since its debut 58 years ago.

Tickets to FUNNY GIRL are available at https://seatgeek.com/funny-girl-tickets. Prices start at $69.00.

Powered by Lucky Seat, a limited number of tickets will be available for every performance of FUNNY GIRL for $47.50 per ticket. Digital lotteries will begin each Monday at 10AM ET and close the day prior to the performance at 10:30 AM ET. Winners will be notified at approximately 11 AM ET the day prior to the performance via email and SMS. Once notified, winners will have a limited time to claim and pay for their ticket(s). Lottery entrants must be 18 years or older. Tickets are non-transferable. All sales final. No exchange, no refunds. Ticket limits and prices are at the sole discretion of the show and are subject to change. For additional rules, and information on how to enter, visit” https://www.luckyseat.com/shows/funnygirl-newyork.

FUNNY GIRL is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott Landis, David Babani, Roy Furman, No Guarantees, Adam Blanshay Productions, Daryl Roth, Stephanie P. McClelland, Lang Entertainment Group, Playing Field, Gavin Kalin, Charles & Nicolas Talar, Fakston Productions, Sanford Robertson, Craig Balsam, Cue to Cue Productions, LenoffFedermanWolofsky Productions, Judith Ann Abrams / Peter May, Hunter Arnold, Creative Partners Productions, Elizabeth Armstrong, Jane Bergère, Jean Doumanian, Larry Magid, Rosalind Productions, Iris Smith, Kevin & Trudy Sullivan, Julie Boardman / Kate Cannova, Heni Koenigsberg / Michelle Riley, Mira Road Productions / Seaview, In Fine Company, Elie Landau, Brian Moreland, Henry R. Muñoz III & Kyle Ferari Muñoz, MaggioAbrams / Brian & Dayna Lee.

Follow FUNNY GIRL on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram @FunnyGirlBway. www.FunnyGirlOnBroadway.com

Christina-martinez-South-Philly-Barbacoa

0

Post Views: 313

South Philly Barbacoa’s Cristina Martinez wins James Beard award

By Contributor — 2 years ago

Cristina Martinez wins James Beard award for best Mid-Atlantic chef

Restauranteur Cristina Martinez opened South Philly Barbacoa as a food cart 5 years after moving to Philadelphia from Mexico.

Christina Martinez, the Passyunk Square restauranteur known for her lamb dishes, now named the best chef in the Mid-Atlantic region by the James Beard Foundation.

Martinez, who opened South Philly Barbacoa as a food cart in 2014, was honored at the foundation’s ceremony in Chicago. South Philly Barbacoa has become famous for its barbacoa tacos and lamb and chickpea consomme.

Christina Martinez also owns Casa Mexico Martinez

The restauranteur, a native of Capulhuac, Mexico – arrived in Philadelphia in 2009. She began working as a pastry chef at Amis in Center City where she met her now-husband and business partner Ben Miller.

Martinez, who is an undocumented immigrant, was fired after the company learned of her illegal status in 2014. That firing sparked her to begin working on the concept that would become South Philly Barbacoa.

She became an activist for the undocumented immigrant community, sharing her experience on “Mejor vete, Cristina,” a Spanish-language podcast about her life.

Martinez also helped create a support group called the Popular Alliance For Undocumented Workers Rights which provided meals and support during the pandemic.

South Philly Barbacoa moved quickly, and in 2017 Martinez received her first James Beard nomination for the best chef in the Mid-Atlantic reward.

She was nominated three more times between 2018 and 2020.

Philadelphia chefs Jesse Ito, of Royal Izakaya, a sushi restaurant, and Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, from Kalaya Thai Kitchen, were semi-finalists for best chef in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Ellen Yin of Fork, a.kitchen and High Street Hospitality, was a finalist in the restaurateur of the year category.

0

Post Views: 269

Philadelphia Zoo welcomes 3 Ankole-Watusi cattle

By Contributor — 3 years ago

Philadelphia Zoo is thrilled to announce the arrival of three Ankole-Watusi (Ankole) cattle, now on exhibit on African Plains.

Called “Cattle of Kings,” Ankole are renowned for massive crescent or lyre-shaped horns measuring up to 8-feet wide that continue to grow as the animals age, eventually weighing up to 15 lbs. each. Gentle in nature and massive in size, Ankole can weigh between 1,200 and 1,600 lbs., making them an incredible sight to see.

“We are thrilled to bring this striking breed to the Zoo for the first time in our 163-year history.

We are certain they will enhance our visitor’s experience while highlighting the conservation work the Zoo supports in Uganda.

There, through work with the New Nature Foundation, the Zoo empowers people to live in greater harmony with nature, and our new Ankole cattle will help to share that important story,”

says Michael Stern, the Zoo’s Andrew J. Baker Curator of Primates & Small Mammals and Acting Curator of Carnivores & Ungulates.

In celebration of the Ankole’s arrival, the Zoo enlisted the help of the public to name their new residents.

Selecting from a list of names developed by zookeepers and in line with the traditions of Uganda’s Banyankole people (originators of the Ankole breed), the suggested names are based on the color of the cattle’s hair or on its personality. After tallying the votes, the public chose the following names for the cattle:

Yamaani (Yah-mah-nee) – Meaning “energetic”
Gaaju (Gah-joo) – Meaning “dark brown cattle”
Kutekaana (Koo-tay-kah-nah) – Meaning “calm”

Native to East Africa, Ankole are descendants of an ancient breed of cattle that lived in the Nile Valley around 4000 BC. Traditionally considered sacred, Ankole supplied milk (and only rarely meat) as an owner’s wealth was counted in livestock. As domesticated cattle, Ankole are not threatened thanks to the dedicated efforts of breeders and zoos, but their cousins in the wild can be at the interface of human-wildlife interactions.

Philadelphia Zoo

Animals are on the move like never before at Philadelphia Zoo with Zoo360, a first-in-the-world system of see-through trails passing through treetops, crossing over pathways and connecting habitats, giving animals like amazing big cats, majestic primates and marvelous meerkats the opportunities to travel and explore.

Visit western lowland gorillas, giraffes, hippos, white rhino, zebras, red pandas, Amur tigers and more at America’s first Zoo. Explore a 42-acre Victorian garden and enjoy award-winning exhibits. Philadelphia Zoo is one of the region’s foremost conservation organizations and home to nearly 1,700 animals, many rare and endangered.

By connecting people with wildlife, Philadelphia Zoo creates joyful discovery and inspires action for animals and habitats. The Zoo welcomed more than 1.25 million visitors last year.

Philadelphia Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Philadelphia Zoo is a non-smoking facility.

For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit us at www.PhiladelphiaZoo.org.

0

Post Views: 258

Philly Zoo & 30×30: The Plan to Protect Nature

By Contributor — 3 years ago

Part of the “America the Beautiful” initiative, 30×30 is a national goal to conserve and restore at least 30% of U.S. lands, waters, and ocean by 2030.

An estimated one million species are now on the path to extinction, but it isn’t too late to reverse the harmful trends that are leading to habitat destruction around the world. 30×30 and the larger “America the Beautiful” initiative aim to provide equitable access to nature for all, calling on industries and cultural and special interest groups to help with its execution.

Leading the Charge

Since early 2021, the Zoo’s Director of Mission Integration, Dani Hogan, has participated in a working group for zoos, aquariums, and museums with staff from The Ocean Project at Frost Science, National Aquarium, New England Aquarium, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Seattle Aquarium, AZA, Aquarium Conservation Partnership, and the National Ocean Protection Coalition to outline plans to support conservation efforts and create solutions for the environment. The group created resources for AZA networks to help with introducing the program.

As a forerunner in implementing 30×30, Philadelphia Zoo was the first partner to incorporate its messaging over an entire season. At BIG TIME, guests took a pledge and signed a petition advocating for wildlife.

Zoo staff collected over 10,000 postcards from April to October 31 to send to policy makers to influence change.

How to Get Involved

Make your voice heard! Zoos, aquariums, and museums, together with people from across the country, are applauding the vision of the “America the Beautiful” initiative—but we need your help!

0

Post Views: 305

Rock superstars Incubus Annc hits East Coast July 31 – Aug 6 on Summer tour with Sublime with Rome and The Aquadolls

By Contributor — 3 years ago

Rock superstars Incubus Annc hits East Coast July 31 – Aug 6 on Summer tour with Sublime with Rome and The Aquadolls

With more than 23 million albums sold, rock superstars INCUBUS are set to light up summer stages in concert with very special guests SUBLIME WITH ROME and THE AQUADOLLS beginning this July.

Kachava

Last year in 2021, Incubus marked the 20^th anniversary of their multi-platinum and critically acclaimed album, Morning View. Additionally, they maintain their status as a streaming phenomenon, averaging 4.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify and clocking over 1 billion-plus streams across all platforms.

Incubus-sublime-rome-aquadolls

The tour, produced by Live Nation, kicks off in West Palm Beach, FL at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre and continues through the US making stops in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and more before wrapping up in Bend, OR at Hayden Homes Amphitheatre on September 3^rd.

Tickets to the general public will begin on-sales March 18^that 10am local time HERE.

Related: One Republic’s “Never Ending Summer Tour” lands in SoCal August with NEEDTOBREATHE

TOUR ITINERARY

Sunday, July 24 – West Palm Beach – FL iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

Tuesday, July 26 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place

Wednesday, July 27 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre

Friday, July 29 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Saturday, July 30 – Doswell, VA – AfterHours Concerts at The Meadow Event Park

Sunday, July 31 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

Tuesday, Aug 02 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Heath Amphitheater at Lakeview

Wednesday, Aug 03 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center

Friday, Aug 05 – Camden, NJ – Waterfront Music Pavilion

Saturday, Aug 06 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

Sunday, Aug 07 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater

Tuesday, Aug 09 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center

Wednesday, Aug 10 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre

Friday, Aug 12 – Bonner Springs, KS – Azura Amphitheater

Saturday, Aug 13 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis

Sunday, Aug 14 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago

Tuesday, Aug 16 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP**

Wednesday, Aug 17 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion

Friday, Aug 19 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Saturday, Aug 20 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater

Monday, Aug 22 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion

Wednesday, Aug 24 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre

Friday, Aug 26 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

Saturday, Aug 27 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre

Sunday Aug 28 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

Thursday, Sept 01 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

Saturday, Sept 03 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Since first coming together in 1991, the Grammy nominated band, Incubus, have consistently elevated themselves and alternative music to new creative heights.

The California band’s sales have eclipse 23 million albums worldwide to date with multiplatinum and platinum certifications from around the globe. Consistently topping the Billboard charts, the band has had five consecutive Top 5 debuts.

Related: Pop super-group Big Time Rush with Dixie D’Amelio head on SoCal Tour.

Sublime With Rome was formed in 2010 by lead-singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez, bassist Eric Wilson, and drummer Carlos Verdugo.

The band previously toured in support of their hit 2019 album BLESSINGS with singles WICKED HEART and LIGHT ON making a splash at alternative radio. BLESSINGS is the band’s third studio album, and it was helmed by Rob Cavallo, the producer behind Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park, and more.

In 2020 Sublime With Rome dominated the rock and alternative music charts as well as headlining shows in 5K+ capacity rooms and major festivals worldwide. With fan-favorite hits such as WRONG WAY, SANTERIA, BADFISH, WHAT I GOT, CARESS ME DOWN, 40oz TO FREEDOM and many more, the band’s concerts are pure sing along enjoyment from beginning to end.

The Aquadolls formed in La Mirada, CA in January 2012. Lead singer and songwriter Melissa Brooks began recording bedroom demos of her songs and eventually released the album ‘We Are Free’ in early 2013, followed by the LP ‘Stoked on You’ in December 2014.

After a brief break from releases, the stars aligned in July 2018, and the new era of The Aquadolls commenced with Jacqueline Proctor on drums and Keilah Nina on bass. The band grew as a powerful threesome leading up to the release of The Aquadolls’ highly anticipated second album, ‘The Dream and the Deception,’ recorded and self-produced by Brooks and self-released October 28, 2018, on Aqua Babe Records.

Following their sophomore album, the trio self-released the single “Suck on This” in summer 2019, followed by their 2020 viral cover of Lash’s “Take Me Away” (a track made famous via its inclusion in the 2003 Lindsay Lohan-starring Disney film ‘Freaky Friday’). They signed with California based Enci Records in 2021, and released a series of well-received singles (“Disappearing Girl” and “Cry Baby”), while playing festival dates such as Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Beach Life and Ohana Festival, opening for Jimmy Eat World and touring with the likes of White Reaper and more. The Aquadolls will release a new EP in 2022.

0

Post Views: 250

Wine-Lovers, Make this Boutique Winery part of Your Oregon Trip!

By Contributor — 3 years ago

Wine-Lovers, Make this Boutique Winery part of Your Oregon Trip!

Bells Up Winery – Accessibility and Experience are worth its weight in wine!

Dave and Sara Specter, owners of Bells Up Winery in Newberg, are proving that a tiny winery (they describe it as “micro-boutique” and “un-Domaine”) can make a lasting impression on visitors who want that special “Oregon Experience”.

How does Bells Up Winery do it?

One phone call, one email, and one pour at a time.

Sara sums it up nicely.

“We were out-of-state visitors ourselves in 2008, and this type of one-on-one owner/winemaker-hosted wine experience was what we loved best, but you hardly see it anymore.”

Their strategy and business plan—producing a scant 600 cases per year across nine wines, and only offering winemaker-hosted private tastings limited exclusively to one group at a time—may sound a bit retro, but it is an intentional throwback to simpler times… when communication and commerce were way more personal and intimate, and far less digital.

Related: Williamette Valley’s Bells Up Winery is Oregon’s answer to music in the bottle

What’s the Bells Up Winery Method

Bells Up Winery is one of the few that do not embrace online sales, online reservations, and SMS text marketing.

Dave and Sara have proved that old school relationship-based wine sales can not only work, but their customers also find it refreshing.

The only way to buy their wine is directly from the winery, either in person or by phone call. Once they’ve gotten to know you and your wine preferences, repeat orders can be made by phone or email.

If you are uncertain about a selection, they can either reference your tasting with them or discuss your preferences, then describe the available wines directly to you.

Only accepting tasting reservations by phone also allows them to advise their guests about what to expect in advance, which sets expectations for an exceptional experience. After all, reservations for this $50/person winemaker-hosted tasting are special and limited to a maximum party size of six.

Related: From world-class food and wine, to history, hospitality, nature adventures, UFO’s and more, this Tourism ‘Secret’ is about to explode.

This ensures that Dave and Sara can make the personal connections that create happy visitors that talk about their experience and ambassadors of them and their Oregon travels.

Their managed and controlled growth plan of increasing production only as a wine consistently sells out allows them to stay small, intimate, and personal. They insist that winery production will cap at 1,000 cases, which will allow them to continue their focus on surprising and delighting their visitors.

How does Bells Up Winery do it?

To learn more, visit www.bellsupwinery.com, then phone them at 503-537-1328 to arrange your own Bells Up wine tasting as part of your next Oregon Travel Experience!

Contributed by:

Carl Giavanti Consulting carl@carlgiavanticonsulting.com 971.221.4212

Old Bay Vodka Wins Double Gold at prestigious 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

0

Post Views: 338

Old Bay Vodka Wins Double Gold at prestigious 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

By Contributor — 3 years ago

Old Bay Vodka Wins Double Gold at prestigious 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition with Gold Medal Ratings from all Members of the Judging Panel Recognizes the Finest Spirits in the World.

GEORGE’S BEVERAGE COMPANY announces OLD BAY VODKA was awarded the Double Gold Medal in the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Kachava

The Double Gold Medal is awarded to entries that receive Gold Medal ratings from all 34 members of the judging panel who are well-established spirits industry experts.

“We launched OLD BAY VODKA last month after working for three years to create a great tasting spirit with the quintessential yet subtle flavors of OLD BAY,”

said Greg David

co-owner, GEORGE’S BEVERAGE COMPANY.

Old Bay Vodka Wins Double Gold at prestigious 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

“The goal was to make a great tasting and balanced flavored vodka that is both drink and food recipe driven. Now, less than one month later, to receive the highest award in the most prestigious competition on an international level, is validation of the teams’ hard work and passion to bring a great spirit to life to share with the public. The perfect partnership between GEORGE’S BEVERAGE COMPANY™️, OLD BAY®, a brand of McCormick & Company, Inc., and McClintock Distilling – all MD based, paved the way to this success.”

Old Bay Vodka Wins Double Gold at prestigious 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition Judging Process

OLD BAY® VODKA went through four days of highly controlled blind tastings by an experienced panel of judges that taste each spirit to decide if its medal worthy. The judges do not receive any information on the producers or price points to ensure each spirit is judged fairly, equally and without bias.

Related: The Nation’s #1 Selling hard seltzer launches White Claw Surf with New Flavors

The second round of judging, called the Medal Round allows for judging each entry on its own merit. While tasting, judges evaluate each product on an individual basis – not compared to other entries in the flight. During this stage, judges determine which entries are worthy of a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal. Entries that receive a gold medal from all the judges on the panel earn a Double Gold Medal.

Old Bay Vodka Wins Double Gold at prestigious 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Old Bay Vodka’s Story

Crafted at McClintock Distilling in Frederick, Md., OLD BAY® VODKA is all natural, made from corn and six times distilled for maximum purity and smoothness. The vodka perfectly highlights the quintessential flavor of the iconic OLD BAY® spice blend.

“The idea to collaborate to craft OLD BAY® VODKA made perfect sense from the start,” said Greg David, co-owner, GEORGE’S BEVERAGE COMPANY™️.

Related: Sodastream partners with 2019’s #1 World’s Best Bar to Launch At Home Kit

“We already had national distribution with top liquor distributors and a sustainable supply chain. The next step was identifying a local craft distillery that we could trust and that shared the same commitment to quality, craftmanship and sustainability, we found all this in McClintock Distilling.”

“OLD BAY® has been a fan-favorite for over 75 years in the Chesapeake Bay region and beyond,” said Jill Pratt, Chief Marketing Excellence Officer, McCormick. “Our fans are loyal and passionate when it comes to all things OLD BAY®. We’re thrilled to work with George’s to bring the one-of-a-kind flavor of OLD BAY® to fans in entirely new, exciting, and innovative ways.”

McClintock Distilling, named best craft vodka distillery in the country by USA Today, is a craft distillery located in Frederick, Md. The company mirrors the GEORGE’S BEVERAGE COMPANY™️ values as a locally sourced business with a focus on product quality, environmental impact, and community betterment. When approached about the opportunity to craft the first OLD BAY® VODKA, the McClintock team said, “absolutely” and built out a dedicated state of the art facility for production.

Bringing together expertise in flavor, spirits, and craft distilling – OLD BAY® VODKA combines the taste of the region with the smooth finish that’s easy to drink on or off the rocks or as a unique ingredient upgrade for classic cocktails and alcohol-infused recipes alike.

OLD BAY® VODKA is seventy proof or 35% ABV. It is distributed by Breakthru Beverage MD and Breakthru Beverage DE.

For more information and recipes, visit OLDBAYVODKA.COM. Share your love of OLD BAY® by following the brand on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.