“Skills can be taught. Character you either have or you don't have,” Anthony Bourdain. Letter from the Publisher August 2015 
Dear Life Bites Readers, This month features latest hotel news, and secrets from the vine, inluding coverage of the Lugana Wine tasting at the Peninsula Beverly Hills. Travel section offers hotel and destination news for summer travel, with lots of Airline announcements. A view on the upcoming Emmy Awards in Tinseltown will offer a glimpse of 'what's cookin' in entertainment for September.
Culinary Coup has some wonderful chef and restaurant news, including a story on Le Pain Quotidien. New restaurant openings and latest food trends for sumer and fall planned. New products and programs for kids in Kids K page. Opening success news on Dustin Vallete's fantastic restuurant in Healdsburg.
 News on the US event to release the wines of Lugano Italy, held at.jpg) the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills. Wine events and food festivals are in full swing throughout California and the nation and we have some news for our grape lovers in Sips. See new book updates in BookBites. Cute news in Kids K and Teen Times. Updates on TasteTV Chocolate Salon competition news, local and international food events and more. Super Hungarian recipe from the chefs of The Viking Lines to enjoy at home or inspire you to book a reservation on the amazing around the world adventures offered on their beautiful International River Cruises.
If you live near the water take advantage of this time...go for a sail boat ride or just enjoy a dinner while watching the waves break. Water is healing and we all need to feel its peace. Try a whale watching cruise in Santa Barbara or go fishing from a pier. My favorite spot in summer is the Boathouse at Hendry's Beach in Santa Barbara, where award winning chef Ron True is designing fantastic new menus.
.jpg) The Fund for Santa Barbara is busy preparing for "Bread & Roses" dinner and auction in October 2015 at the QAD Headquarters in Summerland. For tickets and information visit www.fundforsantabarbara.org or call 962-9164.
Pray for peace and I hope you all will join me in remembering our soldiers who are fighting in other countries, and pray for their safe return to their families. God bless them, and God bless America in these difficult times; may the spirit of our Nation reign now and forever, and may our citizens here at home find hope and prosperous times ahead for their families. Cordially, 
Bonnie Carroll Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
LBN Staff Bonnie Carroll, Publisher/Editor writebc@aol.com Rosalie Frances, Contributor, tolifebites.com Mary Hilton, Content Contributor/Marketing Director Maryehilton2000@aol.com Cody Chandler, Teen Times Columnist tolifebites@aol.com Mike O’Connell, Photo/Video Director/Contributor Omaima Naserdine, Assistant Editor tolifebites@aol.com Isabella D'Angelo, Rome Correspondent tolifebites@aol.com Natasha Melikoff, Montreal Correspondent Additional contributing writers are included on an individual issue basis. Please contact the editor with questions regarding journalist assignments. Email: writebc@aol.com LBN Offices 2115 De La Vina Street, Ste 31 Santa Barbara, CA 93105 805-845-9976 Email contact preferred please LBN Best of 2014 | Best Rest Opening US | Petit Trois LA, Ludovic Lefebvre
| Best International Chef | Daniel Boulud
| Best Airport F&B
| Wolfgang Puck Express
| Best TV Food Program
| Anthony Bordain, Parts Unknown CNN
| Best Island Resort & Spa | W Koh Samui Retreat, Thailand
| Best Food Art
| Cafe des Artistes, Puerto Vallarto MX
| Best Winter Ski Resort | Fairmont, Mont Tremblant, Canada
| Best Cocktail | Hangovertini, Lebue Hotel, Bangkok
| Best Restaurant Design | Victor Drai - Hollywood & LV
| Best Int'l Hotel Design
| Dhara Dhevi, Chaing Mai
| Best Int'l Spa | Ohtli Spa, Casa Magna Marriott, MX
| Best Art Exhibition
| Kings Palace, Bangkok Thailand
| Best Int'l Beach Escape
| Westin, Puerto Vallarta/Casa Tres Villas MX
| Best Celeb Event Menu | 2014 Emmy's by Joachim Splichal Patina | Best Iconic Lounge | Polo Lounge, Beverly Hills Hotel
| Best Italian Restauant | Il Pastao, Giacomino Drago, California | Best Int’l Business Hotel | Hilton Sukhumvit Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
| Best Seafood Plate | Ahi & Uni, La Palapa, Puerto Vallarta
| Best California Cuisine | CP Dry Creek Kitchen, Chef Valette, Sonoma
| Best Food & Wine Pairings
| The Lark, Santa Barbara, CA
| Best New Chef
| Chef Carlos Gaytan, "Du Mexique" Chicago
| Best Tavern F&B Style
| Arlington Tavern, Santa Barbara
| Best Wine Adventure
| Jordan Estate Winery, California | Best Int'l & US Flights | Thai Airways, JetBlue, US Airways, AA | Best Weekend Escape | Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
| Best Burger
| The Point, Chef Bognar, Culver City, CA
| Best Epicurean Event | Cancun Food & Wine Festival Boulud Dinner
| Best Food Tasting Tour
| Taco Tour Puerto Vallarto, MX
| Best Wine List Selection
| Cafe des Artistes, Secrets Cancun
| Best Family Hotels | Hofsa House, Carmel; Velas Vallarta, MX
| Best Travel Adventure | Patara Elephant Farm, Chaing Mai Thailand
| Best Historic Celebration
| City of Beverly Hills 100th Birthday
| Best Films | The Chef, & Grand Budapest Hotel
| Best Cook Book | Toque! Normad Laprise, Montreal
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