Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

"Life is not measured by the number of breathes we take but, by the moments that take our breath away." Maya Angelo

September 22, 2026 Lucas Museum opens in Los Angeles, featuring Star Wars exhibition pieces, and 1,500 art and exhibit pieces. Visit: www.lucasmuseum.org for ticket information, parking details and hours of operation information.

Spa spoiled while Cruising...see Spa Baby Secrets for a tempting awakening of what pampering treats are on the menu while savoring a cruise on the Baltic Sea!

Still waiting for word on opening of Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara, hopefully it will be opening soon and will feature a new NOBU restaurant.

Below is a great recipe for Hungarian Goulish from my recent visit to Budapest - hope you like it! Chef Wolfgang Puck opened a signature restaurant in hotel Matilde near the Danube River in Budapest that is a huge hit, with a new Hungarian chef! Story ran in earlier Culinary Coup section.

Wolfgang Puck, employees of Beverly Wilshire Hotel, and supportes celebrated the opening of the fabulous CUT restaurnt in the Beverly Wilhsire Hotel this month with a special celebration gathering and lots of media friends covering. ! Congratutions Wolfie on yet another great success!!

Watch for story on Bayou Down Under - 25th annual benefit October 3, 2026 2:00 pm benifiting the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission; great auction, food and music at Sandpiper Golf Club. Honoree Kathleen Baushke, for long standing leadership and compassionate service.For reservations visit (www.sbrm.org/bayou).

Major events to support Arthritis Foundation California Please go to their site and make a donation if you can. www.arthritisfoundation.org.

Look for upcoming Emmy and Oscar updates and announcement on entertainment events and awards in TinselTown Tidbits.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is coming right up. 42nd Film Festival will run from February 3 to February 13, 2027. Festival tickets went on sale in August. Look for dates and purchase tickets at www.SBIFF.org.

Enjoyed yet another wonderful cruise adventure with Viking Cruises on a special birthday cruise from Barcelona to Venice on the Saturn. Viking celebrated its 29th Anniversary on August 5, 2026. Look for stories in my new senior savvy travel publication at www.coastingwithbonnie.com.

The Hotel Cerro in SLO in downtown San Luis Obispo is great while traveling on the 101 and our Hotel/Chef section has my past review, along 101 with fascinating Madonna Inn and Carmel favorite Hofsas House Hotel. The SLO area has access to so many amazing beaches, where an abundance of water activities are available, and I love the scenic Monterey coast. www.hotelcerro.com.

My favorite home-away-from-home in fall is Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel for a safe weekend respite. Hosfas House welcomes families and has pet friendly rooms. Carmel-by-the-Sea is a very compliant community with wonderful restaurants.

The Sensorio event continues to run in Paso Robles. Go visit this amazing site and enjoy a special serenity, they have added

additional light exhibits and have become a permanent attraction on our Hwy 101. Also, new hotels have opened in Paso Robles to visit and lots of great restautants in Pismo Beach on the way there. I was totally delighted by the whole experience. The most delightful walk through lights and natural sunset of your life! The installation and the property take visitors to another world, one that is so beautiful! (Photo LBN from Sensorio VIP patio.)

We all must continue to pray for the people in Ukrane continuing to fight so hard for freedom, and for our neighbors in Maui who have lost everything and are still slowly recovering from their losses in Lahaina.

Always ongoing prayers for our US service members who are out there keeping our country safe, especially those sent to Iran recently, and for all the veterans at home who need our support and prayers.

Flash from the Past Photo: My live radio show on the Island of Maui 2006 with Mayor of Maui & wife, GM Sheraton Hotel & Beverly Hills Hawaiian Chili Cook-off Winner in the Fall of 2004

Stay hydrated as this heat wave is raging in our country. Check out healthy tips in our Health Minded section.

Please note: Opinions in this monthly online publishers letter are those of the publisher only.

Creamy Viennese Veal Goulash for Fall

Goulash originates from Hungary. When it came to Vienna in the middle of the 19th century, it had little in common with the dish that is so popular in Vienna today: It was a kind of thin soup made of pepper, potatoes, onions and tomatoes. The Viennese cuisine reinvented it into a viscid, spicy and fiery beef dish. For the more noble creamy Viennese veal goulash you will need tender veal and whipped cream for refining.

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Cut the meat into bite-size cubes and chop the onions. Heat the oil in a casserole dish and lightly fry the meat. Remove, then saute the onions. Add the tomato paste and paprika powder and pour on the wine. Add the meat and add water so the meat is just covered. Add the bay leaf, salt and pepper and stew for about 1 1/2 hours.
As soon as the meat is tender, remove again with a draining spoon. Remove the bay leaf. Cut the apple into small cubes and add to the goulash, along with the lemon juice and grated lemon rind. Mix in the flour, cream and sour cream. Stir well.
Bring to boil then mix with a hand-held mixer. Strain the liquid and add the meat again, adding salt and pepper to taste.

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