SIPS . . .
BELVEDERE COCKTAILS FLOW AT 34TH SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL by Bonnie Carroll Belvedere Vodka, the sole liquor sponsor for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, was proud to present a series of VIP after parties paying tribute to 2019 honoree's in a bevy of chic destinations following major festival events, including the historic Arlington Theatre Courtyard and Festival Pavilion in the Lobero Theatre. These lovely events were a part of Belvedere Vodka's Beautiful to See, Beautiful to Experience campaign that was unveiled during the film festival. Each event was an opportunity for guests to meet the honorees and enjoy signature Belvedere Vodka cocktails, including Belvedere Classic Martini, Belvedere Expresso Martini's and more. The 2019 events included an opening night gala at Paseo Nuevo Shopping Center that drew a fun crowd of hundreds, Celebrity Tributes each night honoring and presenting Tribute Awards to major entertainment celebrities, many whom are Oscar nominees. Yorgos Lanthimos - Pawel Pawlikowski - Alfonso Cuaron & Bonnie Carroll Celebrities attending SBIFF included the Outstanding Directors Award Honorees, Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman), Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite), Pawel Pawlikowski (Cold War), Alfonso Cuarón (Roma), Adam McKay (Vice), Rami Malek Outstanding Performer Award, American Riviera Award, Viggo Mortensen, Maltin Modern Master Award, Glenn Close, Montecito Award, Melissa McCarthy, Variety Artisans Award, Virtuosos Award, Cinema Van Guard Award, Michael B. Jordan. SBIFF 34th Outstanding Directors I had the pleasure of sipping a Belvedere cocktail with the directors being honored in the beautiful Belvedere Lounge, where guests mingled and chatted over signature Belvedere Martini's and enjoyed delicious hors d'oeuvres from Opal Restaurant & Bar. It was a really fun and surreal experience in every way to personally congratulate the five top directors in the world, who are all nominees for this year's Oscar Awards. Below are the recipes for two favorite cocktails served during the 34th SBIFF: Belvedere Espresso Martini .74 oz Belvedre Vodka 1 oz Espresso 75 oz Coffee Liqeur Method: Add all ingredients to a pint glass. Add ice to top of glass and stir for just over 1 minute until properly diluted. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with coffee beans. Belvedere Classic Martini 2 oz / 60ml Belvedere Vodka .25 oz / 7ml French Fortified Wine Method: Combine ingredients in a mixing glass and stir over ice until very cold. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a pink grapefruit twist. For additional Belvedere cocktail recipes visit www.belvederevodka.com. ___________________________________________________________________ ROSES & COCKTAILS ON VALENTINES DAY Mixologists Around the World Find New Ways to Say 'Here's My Heart' by Bonnie Carroll Valentine's Day has been celebrated on February 14 for centuries. It is a festival of romantic love and many people give cards, letters, flowers or presents to their beloved. They may also arrange a romantic meal in a restaurant or night in a hotel. Common symbols of Valentine's Day are hearts, red roses and Cupid. Some people sip pink champagne and some expect an exciting new surprise in the from of a creative and romantic cocktail. From the Hotel Sacher in Vienna to the Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara talented cocktail entrepreneurs will be mixing up some pretty saucy cocktails to warm the hearts of local sweethearts enjoying the annual holiday that pays homage to true love, and I've collected a few from my travels around the world for you to consider adding to repetuare for enjoyment on the anniversary of this 'be mine' night to remember. The Finch and Fork has the award winning Barbie Bath Balm, a lovely and frothy tall pink sipping samplercomplete with a tiny pink slipper made by George Peperis, a guy who is renowned for his amazing new and classically familiar cocktails at the Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara. http://www.finchandfork.com/. Talented Eno at the Bee Bar in the Ty Lounge at The Four Seasons Biltmore has created a dreamy pink and white concoction topped with flowers called the Pink Duchess that all the would be royal darlings who visit the historic hotel love. www.fourseasons.com/santabarbara The bar at Jean-Georges Rooftop Restaurant in the Waldorf-Astoria, Beverly Hills serves one of the most beautiful peach mimosa's in the world to enjoy with the heavenly Hollywood Views. www.jean-georges.com. The Malibu Beach Inn's Carbon Beach Club serves a sensational pink imported wine Baracchi Rose to enjoy as the waves come crashing in that I just adore. www.malibubeachinn.com. When in Vienna, Austria at Hotel Sacher in the Blau Bar the ideal chic drink is the Anna Sacher Cocktail, named in honor of the amazing woman hotelier who kept Sacher Hotel on top for centuries. www.sacher.com/en/hotel-sacher-wien. Sauska Rose Champagne is the first choice at the Four Seasons Gresham Palace in Budapest and is sipped from rare Hungarian crystal flutes during their show stopping Heren Tea. www.fourseasons.com/budapest. For the ladies who prefer lovely non-alcoholic beverages my favorite can be found at The Monarch in the Montecito Inn, where they mix me a cranberry with sparkling water and lime that is perfect, however, I'm told their Chaplin's Lounge has perfect martini's and an amazing sips menu. www.themonarchmontecito.com. Rodney's Steak House in the new Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort offers one beautiful looking Cosmo to savor with one of their fine aged steaks. www.hiltonsantabarbarabeachfrontresort.com. If you are lucky enough to be in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico at La Palapa on the beach please enjoy the rich color and taste of their XAICA hibiscus margarita www.lapalapapv.com, a perfect compliment to your special evening. My friend the Chef in the Hat at Loulay, located in the Sheraton Grand Seattle has an unforgettable pink cocktail to compliment his outstanding French cuisine. www.thechefinthehat.com/loulay-kitchen-seattle. If you are just wine hopping in the Santa Barbara area Funk Zone do stop in at Les Marchands and ask for the Pink Surprise Cocktail their bar guy is whipping up to please guests. www.lesmarchandswine.com. It sparkles in the candle light and will warm your little valentine heart for a perfect beginning or ending to your night of fun and love. Happy Valentines Day! ____________________________________________________________________ JORDAN WINERY ANNOUNCES 2019 EVENTS CALENDAR
New vineyard tasting, formal dinner, and elevated brunch and lunch experiences unveiled Jordan Vineyard & Winery, producer of elegant chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon since 1976, announces its 2019 schedule of events. Highlights of the Healdsburg winery’s events calendar include a new cabernet-focused tasting experience at its new vineyard, a prix fixe dinner in its newly remodeled dining room, a special tasting for a historic vintage release, gourmet picnic lunches and a Bastille Day brunch celebration. For the first time in Jordan history, the French-inspired producer has planted a vineyard next to its iconic chateau. With the new Chateau Block Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard Tasting experience, guests will enjoy a taste of Jordan Chardonnay while walking to the winery’s new hilltop vineyard, aptly named the Chateau Block. The guided outdoor wine tasting experience includes three vintages of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, spanning a decade, paired with local charcuterie from Journeyman Meat Co. This seasonal wine tasting will be hosted weekends from June through October for $75 per person. Reservations begin in April. The Jordan dining room is undergoing its first renovation in decades this winter, and epicures will be able to enjoy its transformation during a special seven-course, food-and-wine pairing dinner by Jordan’s executive chef Todd Knoll this spring. Hosted on May 4, Taste of Spring Dinner at Jordan tickets go on sale April 2 for $295 per person. To celebrate the release of the first vintage of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon aged entirely in French oak, Jordan is hosting a New Release Tasting on May 18 with a new format. Tickets go on sale in February as part of a special pre-sale offer of the 2015 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon. In honor of Jordan Winery’s sweeping lawns and its new butler’s pantry, two picnic lunch events will take place at the Healdsburg winery this summer for the first time. Hosted June 15 and August 9, both events will be ticketed with advance reservations required, but that’s about all the planning guests will have to do. Picnic goers watch the Jordan culinary staff add the finishing touches to an array of picnic chic provisions—all paired with Jordan wines, of course. Tickets go on sale in May for $95 per person. The Jordan chateau and its lawns will also create a fitting backdrop for the winery’s first Bastille Day Brunch celebration, featuring a lavish buffet and food pairings by Jordan’s culinary staff. Wine highlights will include the Jordan Cuvée by Champagne AR Lenoble and Jordan’s new releases of chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. Tickets go on sale in June for $200 per person. More information on these new events, as well as the complete Jordan Winery calendar of events, follows. To receive event announcements, sign up Jordan’s monthly newsletter at www.jordanwinery.com/rewards/join. 2019 Jordan Winery Events Calendar: Valentine’s Dinner at Jordan, February 9, 2019, 5:30-9:30 p.m. $295 SOLD OUT * The decadent evening features a lavish seven-course, food-and-wine-pairing dinner by the fireplace, highlighting multiple vintages of Jordan Russian River Valley Chardonnay and Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Hosted exclusively for Gold & Platinum Jordan Estate Rewards members. Spring Vineyard Hikes, April 26 & 27 and May 10 & 11, 2019, 9:45 a.m.-2 p.m. $110 A guided wine tasting experience set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Jordan Estate, home to Jordan Vineyard & Winery. The hiking excursion is offered during the morning on set dates and features sweeping panoramic views of multiple wine regions and mountain ranges. Tickets go on sale in March. Taste of Spring Dinner at Jordan, May 4, 2019, 6-9 p.m. $295 Indulge in a seven-course, supper-club-style dinner party in Jordan’s new dining room celebrating the flavors of spring. Tickets go on sale in April. Limited to 30 guests. New Release Reveal Tasting, May 18, 2019, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. & 2-4 p.m. $75 Join us to celebrate the highly anticipated release of 2015 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 100% in French oak for the first time in Jordan history. The event will be hosted on the Winery Chateau terrace by Winemaker Rob Davis. Tickets go on sale in February as part of a pre-sale offer for this historic vintage. Chateau Block Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard Tasting, June-October, 2019, 10:30 a.m. $75 Jordan Winery has planted 9,352 cabernet sauvignon grapevines across from its chateau for the first time in its history. Now, wine lovers can enjoy this six-acre vineyard with glass in hand as part of Jordan’s new Chateau Block Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard Tasting. The guided tasting includes Jordan Chardonnay and three vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon paired with local charcuterie from Journeyman Meat Co. This seasonal wine tasting will be hosted Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June through October for $75 per person. “André: The Voice of Wine” Movie Matinée, June 8, 2019, 2-5 p.m. $75 Celebrate the life of the original consulting winemaker for Jordan Winery, André Tchelistcheff. Jordan winemaker Rob Davis and filmmaker Mark Tchelistcheff will host a film screening event featuring “André: The Voice of Wine,” Mark’s documentary about his great-uncle narrated by Ralph Fiennes. The event will be hosted at Raven Film Center in Healdsburg on June 8. Tickets go on sale April 17 for $75 per person. Summer Vineyard Hike, June 12, 2019, 9:45 a.m.-2 p.m. $110 A guided wine tasting experience set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Jordan Estate, home to Jordan Vineyard & Winery. The hiking excursion is offered during the morning on a set date and features sweeping panoramic views of multiple wine regions and mountain ranges. Tickets go on sale in May. Picnic Day at Jordan, June 15 & August 9, 2019, 11:45 a.m.-2 p.m. $95 Experience a gourmet picnic lunch like no other. Pick from an array of homemade provisions from pork rillettes and Journeyman salumi to citrus marinated olives, artisan cheeses and more, paired with tastings of Jordan Chardonnay and Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon available at the terrace bar. Tickets go on sale in May. Sunset Supper at Vista Point, June 29, 2019, 5:30-9 p.m. $225 Enjoy an elevated, four-course meal, served in an open-air pavilion on Jordan Estate’s highest hilltop during sunset. The evening pairs fine cooking with Jordan wines and panoramic views of Alexander Valley’s rolling hills and mountains. Tickets go on sale in May. Bastille Day Brunch, July 14, 2019, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $200 Revel in the spirit of French gastronomy with Jordan’s Bastille Day Sunday brunch celebration, featuring a buffet station filled with smoked salmon, eggs benedict, as well as other breakfast classics and surprises paired with copious glasses of Jordan Cuvée Champagne by AR Lenoble and blinis topped with Jordan Chef’s Reserve Caviar by Tsar Nicoulai. Tickets go on sale in June. Bounty of Sonoma County Dinner, August 17, 2019, 5:30-9 p.m. $200 Experience a celebration of Sonoma County agriculture with a four-course, al fresco dinner party that brings the region’s greatest culinary treasures to your plate. Tickets go on sale in July. Harvest Lunches at Jordan, September-October 2019, 11:45 a.m.-2 p.m. $30-$60 ** Experience our annual feast celebrating the grape harvest season alongside our winemaking and viticulture staff with our annual winery harvest lunch series. Available exclusively to Silver, Gold and Platinum members of Jordan Estate Rewards. (Access begins once spending totals $500.) Tickets go on sale in July. Official dates announced closer to harvest season. Farm-to-Table Interactive Cooking Luncheon, September 21, 28 & October 5, 2019, 9:45 a.m.-3 p.m. $200 Immerse yourself in the bountiful harvest season with Jordan’s interactive harvesting, shopping and cooking experience, taking guests from the winery garden and Healdsburg’s farmers market to Relish Culinary Adventures for a hands-on cooking class and lunch with wine tasting. Tickets go on sale in July. Fall Vineyard Hikes, October 23 & 24, 2019, 9:45 a.m.-2 p.m. $110 A guided wine tasting experience set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Jordan Estate, home to Jordan Vineyard & Winery. The morning hiking excursions feature sweeping panoramic views of multiple wine regions and mountain ranges. Tickets go on sale in July. Olive Harvest Celebration & Lunch, November 1, 2019, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $150 Enjoy fall in Sonoma County wine country with an olive harvest experience, featuring a sumptuous three-course lunch complete with olive-centric recipes and fresh ingredients from our winery garden—all paired with Jordan Chardonnay and Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon. Tickets go on sale in September. Christmas at Jordan, December 7, 2019, 1-4 p.m. $110 ** Celebrate the holidays with our festive Christmas at Jordan party, featuring lavish décor, entertainment, library wines and our chef’s cuisine. Available exclusively to Silver, Gold and Platinum members of Jordan Estate Rewards. Tickets go on sale in October. *Available exclusively to Gold and Platinum members of Jordan Estate Rewards **Available to Silver, Gold and Platinum members of Jordan Estate Rewards About Jordan Vineyard & Winery Founded in 1972, Jordan Vineyard & Winery was inspired by the great wine estates of France and the timeless connection between food, wine and hospitality. Under the guidance of second-generation vintner John Jordan, Jordan Estate is an extension of these traditions, with its iconic chateau, breathtaking views, sustainably farmed vineyards, natural habitat for wildlife and gardens for the chef’s inventive cuisine, offering a distinctive sense of place in Sonoma County wine country. Learn more at www.jordanwinery.com. ____________________________________________________________________ HITCHING POST 2 ADDS AFTERNOON SNACKS MENU TO DAILY LUNCH SERVED FRESH AT HITCHING POST WINES The Long-Awaited Tasting Room in Buellton Makes Hitching Post Wines Available to the Audience Exploring the Popular Santa Barbara Wine Country WHO: Chef/Winemaker Frank Ostini, Winemaker Gray Hartley and Hitching Post Wines of Buellton, California WHAT: Hitching Post 2 Chef Frank Ostini announces an expanded menu of sumptuous Hitching Post 2 classics to their daily Lunch Menu in addition to new afternoon Appetizer Snack Menu for the leisurely wine taster at Hitching Post Wines, where one can enjoy a hearty nosh with a glass of wine in the Valley’s afternoon sun. The charming gray and white trimmed farmhouse tasting room located off Highway 246 with sweeping views of the Santa Ynez Mountains is the ideal daytime stop for those living or visiting the Santa Ynez Valley. The Lunch Menu of Hitching Post 2’s “HP 2 You” menu expands to offer Steak Salad with Blue Cheese Crumbles; Grilled Chicken Salad with Corn Salsa; Corn & Cheese Quesadilla; the classic Grilled Artichoke with Smoked Tomato Mayonnaise; signature Oak-Grilled Burger and Cheese Burger cooked to your desired temperature; South Carolina-Style Pulled Pork Sandwich with Brioche Bun; Steak & Caramelized Onion Sandwich; Beyond Burger (Plant-Based Burger with Peas for 20g Protein, Beets for Red, No Soy, Gluten Free, Non-GMO) with Smoked Tomato Mayo & Eggplant Jam. Also available are Hitching Post 2’s Sides of Triple Fried Fries; Brad’s House-Made Bacon; and Lunch Salad. Snacks Anytime include Meat and Cheese Plate; Jesus’ Teriyaki Beef Jerky. Hitching Post wines by the glass or bottle are ordered in the Tasting Room and other non-alcoholic beverages can be purchased during operating hours. The new Appetizer Snack Menu includes Slow-Roasted Roasted Garlic with Herbs, Roasted Peppers, Balsamic & Olive Oil; BBQ Sautéed Mushrooms, grilled for smoke flavor & sautéed with Red Wine & Spices, served with Garlic Toast; HP Steak Bites grilled over oak-wood fire & served with Salsa & Toasted Garlic Bread; Fire-Roasted Stuffed Pasilla Pepper with Shrimp & Cheese & served with Grilled Corn Salsa; Hitching Post’s Grilled Artichoke seasoned with “Magic Stuff,” served with the House’s Spicy Smoked Tomato Mayonnaise; Steamed Mussels Cooked in Beer, Vegetables & Mussel Liquor, served with Toasted Garlic Bread; Naturally-Grown Grilled Texas Quail, served with Wild Turkey Sweet Potatoes. All of the menu items are prepared at The Hitching Post 2 and delivered right next door to Hitching Post Wines by tricycle or 3-wheeled electric cart, served fresh and piping hot. Lucky guests may even catch a glimpse of the ever-present Frank Ostini personally making the deliveries. Pricing for the Lunch Menu ranges from $6 - $13 and is served daily from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. except major holidays. Pricing for the Appetizer Snack Menu ranges from $10 – $14 and is available Sunday through Thursday from 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. and on Friday thru Saturday from 2:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Clockwise l-r: The Hitching Post 2 Burger; Hitching Post 2 Steak Salad; Frank Ostini on the Delivery Bicycle; Signature Oak-Grilled Artichokes & Pinks Wine – Photo Credit Rob Stark LUNCH MENU Served daily from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Steak Salad with Blue Cheese Crumbles – $11 Grilled Chicken Salad with Corn Salsa – $11 Corn & Cheese Quesadilla – $6 Grilled Artichoke with Smoked Tomato Mayonnaise – $10 Oak Grilled Burger – $10 Oak Grilled Cheese Burger – $11 Steak & Caramelized Onion Sandwich – $12 Pulled Pork Sandwich with Brioche Bun South Carolina style – $11 Beyond Burger: plant-based burger, eggplant jam, smoked tomato mayo – $13 Side of Fries – $3 Double Fries – $5 Side Salad – $5 Lunch Salad – $8 Slice of Brad’s Bacon – $3 SNACKS ANYTIME Meat and Cheese Plate – $12 Jesus’ Teriyaki Beef Jerky – $10 BEVERAGES Assorted – $3 Diet – $2 Wine Available Inside ***** APPETIZER SNACK MENU Served Sun - Thurs: 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. & Sat - Sun: 2:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Roasted Garlic slow roasted garlic, roasted peppers, balsamic, olive oil, toast with herbs $10.95 BBQ Sautéed Mushrooms grilled mushrooms, red wine, spices, garlic toast – 8 oz. $10.95 HP Steak Bits grilled steak cuttings, salsa, toasted garlic bread – 3 oz. $11.95 Stuffed Pasilla Pepper fire-roasted chile, shrimp cheese, grilled corn salsa $12.95 Grilled Artichoke magic stuff, spicy smoked tomato mayonnaise $12.95 Steamed Mussels beer, vegetables, mussel liquor, toasted garlic bread $13.95 Grilled Texas Quail naturally grown quail, wild turkey sweet potatoes – 4-5 oz. $13.95 WHEN: HP 2 YOU – FOOD SERVICE HOURS Lunch Menu: Served Daily from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Afternoon Snack Menu: Sun – Thurs from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Fri – Sat from 2:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
HITCHING POST WINES is open for Wine Tasting: Sun – Thurs: 11 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. & Fri – Sat: 11 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. WHERE: HP WINES: TASTING ROOM & “HP 2 YOU” BARBEQUE BAR 420 East Highway 246 Buellton, CA 93427 Phone 805.688.0676 www.hpwines.com Winemakers Gray Hartley and Frank Ostini ABOUT HITCHING POST WINES: Hitching Post Wines are the creation of Gray Hartley and Frank Ostini, two friends that have been making wines in Santa Barbara County, California since 1979. Long before Hollywood discovered the winemaking landmark and its great wines, Gray Hartley, a former Alaskan salmon fisherman and Frank Ostini, the chef and owner of the famed Hitching Post 2 Restaurant in Buellton, were brought together through their love of wine and winemaking. Over the years their backyard hobby has turned into a highly acclaimed winemaking enterprise. In 1981 they discovered the wonder of Pinot Noir grapes; since then Pinot has been their primary focus. A great example of these wines is the Hitching Post Highliner. The “Highliner” is the best fishermen in the fleet, and this name honors the great men of the Alaskan Salmon Fishery alongside whom Gray Hartley worked for 28 years. A special wine, Highliner is meant to be the “best of their fleet” of Pinot Noirs. Along with ten selections of Pinot Noir, Hitching Post produces a dry Rosé called Pinks, a Syrah, and a Merlot-based blend named Gen Red. Then came Sideways in 2004, the Academy Award® winning film set in Santa Barbara wine country, prominently featuring The Hitching Post 2 and Hitching Post Wines. Since Sideways exposure in the film, Hitching Post wines have gained in popularity. Currently, the winery has 1200 barrels and produces about 17,000 cases a year. Hartley and Ostini strive to create flavorful handcrafted wines that possess poise and balance, putting a slice of Santa Barbara in each glass, and a piece of their soul in every bottle of Hitching Post. Hitching Post Wines are enjoyed by an audience that reaches around the globe who admire Santa Barbara wines for their lively refreshing fruit, and their complexities of earth and spice. Hitching Post Wines are produced by Hartley Ostini Vintners, Buellton, California. Hitching Post Wines has received accolades from Eater LA, Forbes, Santa Barbara News-Press, LA Weekly, TimeOut LA, Santa Barbara magazine, and Santa Barbara Seasons among others. To learn more about Hitching Post Wines, please visit www.hpwines.com Become a fan of Hitching Post Wines: on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HitchingPost2 on Twitter: @HitchingPost2 on Instagram: @hitchingpost2
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