"They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for." Thomas Edward Bodett .JPG)
 HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! 
February 2020 Life Bites News LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
Dear Life Bites News Readers,
.jpg)
Enjoy a Valentine's Weekend at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore
We hope you continue to enjoy your visits to great hotels, restaurants, and travel destinations that appear in our web magazine. Our profile this month is on lovely hotel in Zurich Switzerland, located in the city near sites of interest, and where the chef creates authentic Swiss dishes as well as unique familiar dishes. Enjoy this little bit of heaven in Zurich.
Please enjoy my recap of the 35th Santa Barbara International Film Festival which ran from January 15-25, with photos and quotes from the stars who were honored and tidbits on films and panels. Some outstanding films won honors - see list in TTT. Visit www.sbiff.org
TTT in February and March will be packed with exciting tidbits on the celebs news from Santa Barbara to Hollywood, including red carpet coverage at the Arlington Theatre. We will again be covering pre-Oscar celebrity suite events in LA & Beverly Hills. The talented event producers honoring celebs will be in full swing and will include the delicious Doris Bergman February lunch at Fig & Olive Restaurant, a fun filled celebrity suite in Hollywood produced by the Harris twins of Wow! Productions, The Secret Room, the beautiful Oscar GBK Celebrity Suite with Gavin Keilly and more; stay tuned for fun reports with celebrity bites. BookBites has info on some new great reads for February including #1 Best Sellers you must read - Oscars this year provides tips on ways to celebrate at home. See great chili recipe below to feed your guests. Author, Actress, Film maker and all round talented Montecito woman won the "Best Book Signing" for 2019 promoting her book "Feuding Fan Dancers."
Culinary Coup covers more delicious morsels on favorite dining spots while traveling the coast on HWY 101 and favorite international destinations. We will also keep you posted on a bevy of fashion updates, glitzy new products and what's hot and what's not from the 2002 Oscar sites and celebrity parties. Kids section is filled with news on the Martin Luther King, Jr. activities in Santa Barbara in January celebrating Rev. King's life. SBIFF bites on Mike deGruy inspired kids movie trips during SBIFF.
(1).jpg) The Four Seasons ResortThe Biltmore in Santa Barbara offered film inspired cocktails (see recipes in SIPS) to enjoy with their newest Vegan menu items that we all adored during the 36th Annual Santa Barbara Film Festival. The Vegan menu will remain on their menu in the Bella Vista Restaurant overlooking Butterfly Beach. Celebrating my birthday there has become an annual event and is always a magical afternoon experience. The Vegan dishes like the beefless burger, and ginger cake were so good and the surprise birthday cake was really a pleasure! For perfect cocktails you can't to wrong at Ty's Bar in the renowned hotel; their bar people are masterful.
 .jpg)
Hofsas House Hotel & Madonna Inn Hotel LBN Hotel/Chef section features two of my favorite Central Coast family owned destinations, Madonna Inn Hotel and Hofsas House Hotel, where I spent a fast and fun birthday adventure and highly recommend for Valentine's Day romance. I always revert back to a Valentine's Day thinking about a line from Gone with the Wind by Margaret.jpg) Mitchell that seems so right for this online publisher. "You should be kissed and often and by someone who knows how." I'm wishing this for every woman I know this Valentine's Day, and especially for myself! Perhaps Johnny Depp can come back for a re-do of 2016 SBIFF red carpet embrace? Wow, that's a guy who knows how to give a Clark Gable kiss!  Give her or him a visit to Burke Williams Spa for Valentines Day. They have countless LA locations and offer some amazing treatments for couples that will make you ripe for a romantic weekend together. Visit: wwwburkwilliams.com. Another super romantic destination is The Landsby Restaurant in Solvang where following a divine dinner with local wines you can share Mc Connell's ice cream in bed with your special person. So fun!! Visit: www.thelandsby.com. What ever you do this Valentines Day, enjoy each moment and be happy.
Please please join me each day in praying for our troops fighting in foreign lands, and for all men and women who serve to keep our great country safe. PRAY FOR PEACE - PRAYER WORKS and God Bless America! Enjoy the delicious recipe below from chef Becky.
Cordially, 
Bonnie Carroll Publisher/Editor-in-Chief/Photographer _______________________________________________________________ Delightful Cold Weather Dish: 
Featured Recipe by Chef Becky Geisel, The Fell Stone Manor Philly Cheesesteak Chili
Serves 6-8
Time: 2 daysIngredients (6) 6” round loaves of sourdough bread 5 lbs well-trimmed boneless beef chuck or short rib 2 Medium Onions 1 head of garlic (about 16 cloves) peeled, chopped 1/3 c anocho chilies, ground ¼ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground allspice 2 T. ground cumin ¼ tsp ground clove 1 T. coco 1 (12oz) bottle of dark beer (stout or brown ale) 2c beef stock 1 (28oz) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes 2 tsp dried oregano 2 tsp kosher salt 2 T tomato paste 3 T masa (corn meal) Chili Toppings 2 Lg Onions, thinly sliced 1 Green Pepper julienned 1 Yellow Pepper Julienned 1 tsp chopped garlic ½ tsp salt 2T olive oil (pure) 2 c grated sharp cheddar cheese ½ c green onions (scallions) thinly chopped 1 c sour cream 1 ripe avocado sliced 1 lime- cut into wedges Instructions Chili: begin day before serving Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add 1/3 of beef sprinkle with salt. Cook until browned, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer beef to large bowl. Repeat 2 more times adding 2 more tablespoons of oil and the beef. Reduce heat to medium. Add 1 tablespoon oil and chopped onions. Saute until soft and translucent, about 8-10 minutes. Add garlic; stir for 1 minute. Add ground anchos, cumin, allspice, cinnamon, cloves and coco; stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add beer; stir 1 minute, scraping up brown bits. Return beef and juices to pot. Add tomatoes with juice, 2 cups of beef stock, oregano and 2 tsp of kosher salt. Bring chili to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover with lid slightly ajar and simmer gently until beef is just tender 2-2 ½ hours. Cool 1 hour, then chill uncovered until cold. Cover; chill overnight. Spoon fat from chili. Bring chili to simmer over medium heat. Stir in tomato paste Sprinkle masa over; stir to blend Simmer uncovered until thickend and beef is very tender, stirring often and adding water by ¼ cupful if too thick, about 30-45 minutes Now it is ready to serve.
Philly Cheesesteak Fried Onions + Peppers (make these within the last 15 minutes of finishing the chili) Over medium-high heat; heat 2 T olive oil Add onions and sauté until they begin to brown Add peppers Sauté until onions are brown and caramelized and peppers are slightly charred. Add garlic and sauté for 1 -2 minutes. Remove from heat and place in bowl. Cover with foil until ready to use.
Bread Bowl: (prep these while finishing the chili) Set round loaves of bread (boules) onto a cutting board. Using a bread knife, carefully cut off the top of the bread about 2/3 from the bottom of the bread. Then using a small bread knife or serated knife, cut the inside of the bread out. Use your hands to pull out the middle to create a bowl. Save the top of the bread. Set aside. While you re-heat the chili. To Finish the Chili: If you would prefer a simpler bowl of chili; ladle into bowl, top with desired condiments and serve with cornbread or pretzel. ________________________________________________________________ WHO WE ARE . . . LBN Staff 2020 Bonnie Carroll, Publisher/Editor writebc@aol.com Rosalie Frances, Contributor, tolifebites.com Mary Hilton, Content Contributor/Marketing Director writebc@aol.com
Natasha Melikoff, Canadian Reporter writebc@aol.com Mike OConnell, Photo/Video Director/Contributor tolifebites@aol.com Isabella D'Angelo, Rome Correspondent tolifebites@aol.com 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
Santa Barbara, CA 93105 805-845-9976 Email contact preferred please * * * * * LBN Best of 2019 | Best Int'l Air Flight Best Swiss Lunch Best Cooking Experience Best Europe River Spa Best Book Signing Party
Best Farm to Table Menu | Air Tahiti Nui LAX to Paris Zumfhaus Um Zimnierleuten, Zurich Macaron Lessons, LA Foodist, Paris Fruyenbad Bath, Zurich “Feuding Fan Dancers” Zemeckis Pullman Tour Eiffel, Paris | Best Coffee & Pastry Best Museum Visit | Cafe de L'ILL, Strasbourg The Louvre, Paris | Best Restaurant Opening | Uncorked Santa Barbara
| Best Water Excursion | Lake Zurich Afternoon Cruise | Best Soup & Sandwich | a' la Soup, Luxemburg | Best Family Resort & Spa | Villa del Palmar, Islands of Loreto | Best Winter Ski Escape | Mont Tremblant, Quebec Canada | Best Cocktail | “Swimming Pool” Renaissance Tower Zuric | Best City View | Koblenz, Germany River Cable Car | Best Inclusive Family Resort | Villa del Palmar, Islands of Loreto | Best New/Hotel Renovation | Miramar Hotel, Montecito | Best Italian Cuisine | Ca' Dario Santa Barbara/Montecito CA | Best International Festival | Gelato Fest America West Hollywood, CA | Best Family Travel Fun | San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA | Best Ground Transport | Viking Cruise Tours Throughout Europe | Best French Restaurant | Four Seasons George V, Paris France | Best Faux Meat Burger | Oliver's, Montecito CA
| Best City Weekend Escape | Hoffsa House, Carmel-by-the-Sea | Best European River Cities | Strasbourg and Paris | Best Oysters & Champagne | Four Seasons Biltmore, Santa Barbara CA | Best Classical Music Events | Palais Garnier Opera House, Paris France | Best Old World Dining | Kunsthalle Museum, Basil Switzerland | Best Writer's Museum | Gutenberg Museum, Mainz Germany | Best German Wine | Schlagkamp Winery, Mosel Germany | Best Romantic Escape | Dolphin Bay Resort, Pismo Beach, CA | Best Outdoor Market | Zurich Weekend Farmer's Market | Best Women's Shopping | Galeries Lafayette, Paris | Best Film Festival | San Luis Obisbo Film Festival | Best Airport | Schiffol, Amsterdam & Santa Barbara California | Best New film Release | “The Irishman” Director Martin Scorsese | Best River Cruise | Viking "Paris to Switzerland" 2019 | Best People Watching Best Historic Tour | The Opera Cafe, Paris France Speyer, Germany | Best Knight Sighting | Reichsburg Castle, Cochem Germany | Best New Cook Book | "Feast of the Seven Fishes" | Congratulations You're the Best!
|
(9).jpg)
