TASTE AWARDS announce Hotel G San Francisco as Official Hotel

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The TASTE AWARDS Committee is pleased to announce that one of the Official Hotels in San Francisco of the 7th Annual TASTE AWARDS is the Hotel G.

This chic “downtown-style” luxury boutique hotel is located in the heart of San Francisco, just steps from world famous Union Square, as well as the cable cars and San Francisco attractions.

FullLogo-colorThe Hotel G is offering a special rate to attendees of the TASTE AWARDS, good from February 9th – 12th, 2016, available on a first come basis through December 31, 2015.

To view or use the special rates, please go to the TASTE AWARDS Official Hotel page.

The TASTE AWARDS are the premier awards show celebrating the year’s best in Food, Fashion, Travel and Lifestyle programs on Television, in Film, Online, Apps, and on Radio.

 The Annual Awards have included appearances by stars, celebrities, producers and executives from networks and platforms such as the Food Network, Bravo, the Cooking Channel, TLC, Discovery, Lifetime, E! Entertainment Television, PBS, NBC, ABC, the CW, HGTV, the Travel Channel, HD Net, Hulu, YouTube, Sony Pictures, Esquire Network, Spike TV, Vimeo, iHeart Radio, Vice, Bio / FYI Channel, Dreamworks and more.

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​​ Spirits of Japan Tour Celebrates Japan’s Pursuit of Perfection

Zicassojapan_giro_giro_restaurant_photo_by_stephen_kelly_flickr-editedThere is a new Japan travel package that food & wine — and tranquility — lovers many find very attractive.

 

Per Zicasso, the organizer:

The Spirits of Japan tour; a brand new, 12 day private journey that celebrates the Japanese spirit in its pursuit of perfection, manifested in some of the most unrivaled culinary and distilling mastery. Each day of this journey serves a taste of perfection. Start with a visit to the world’s best single malt whiskey distillery and culminate with a dinner at the world’s most coveted three Michelin star sushi restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro, paired with private tours of treasured sites and majestic gardens that continue to stand as a testament of the country’s skillful artisans and craftsmen.

Zicasso-japan_pepper_coated_and_lightly_seared_raw_tuna_chunks_served_with_finely_chopped_vegetable_salad_and_sprinkled_with_sea_saltThe world was shocked last year when Japan’s oldest whiskey distillery, Suntory Yamazaki, won the title of the world’s best single malt whiskey in Jim Murray’s 2015 Whisky Bible for its Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013. While it may be the most recent recognition of Japanese flawlessness, this tour digs deeper and includes visits to: master distilleries like the Miyagikyo Distillery, voted Distillery of the Year in 2015 and famous for the award winning Nikka malt whiskies, a tour through the sake breweries that date as far back as the 1600’s in Kyoto and Takayama and a tour of Osaka’s leading beer breweries.

Zicassojapan_whisky_library_at_yamazaki_distillery_photo_by_y_u_k_i_nk_flickr2-editedNo local nor seasonal flavors such as kaiseki, sushi and tsukemen will be left behind on this journey through Japan’s treasured destinations, Tokyo, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Osaka with an epically delectable ending on the last day with a dinner at what is considered the best sushi restaurant in the world – the coveted three Michelin star Sukiyabashi Jiro.

“The Japanese have a unique culture of pursuing perfection. We believe this private tour breaks new ground in allowing Westerners to experience Japanese perfection through its spirits, food, architecture, and more,” said Steve Yu, Director of Marketing & Business Development at Zicasso. “From the intricate smooth notes of the world’s best single malt whiskey to the perfect sushi, the spirit of Japan is on display through every mouthful, sip and sight that embody the dedication and craftsmanship of its master distillers, artisans, and chefs.”

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Highlights Include:

  • A tour of Suntory Yamazaki Distillery, its Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 winning the lauded title “World’s Best Single Malt Whiskey” in Jim Murray’s 2015 Whisky Bible.
  • Dinner at the world’s most coveted three Michelin star sushi restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro.
  • A tour through sake breweries that date as far back as the 1600’s in Kyoto and Takayama.
  • Visit the renowned Miyagikyo Distillery, famous for the award winning Nikka malt whiskies, and recently voted whiskey Distiller of the Year for 2015 by the International Spirits Challenge.
  • Tour two of Osaka’s leading beer breweries: the Asahi brewery, birthplace of the #1 selling beer in Japan and Minoh Brewery, known for producing some of the world’s best stouts, porters, and IPAs .
  • Dinner at Giro Giro, a modern kaiseki restaurant, famous for plating seasonal ingredients infused with Japanese and European techniques.
  • Dinner at a multi-award winning ramen at Fu-Unji in Tokyo.
  • Private guided tours of Tokyo, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Osaka including, serene gardens, castles, and UNESCO World Heritage sites.

 

For detailed itinerary see here;

http://www.zicasso.com/luxury-vacation-japan-tours/spirits-japan-tour

 

(all photographs above used with permission of Zicasso, from the Zicasso site)

Purple Cafe’s Prosciutto and Squash Blossom Pizza

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Have you ever eaten a dish that surprises you so much that you can’t stop talking about it?

That was our recent experience in the Seattle area at Purple Café and Wine Bar.

In this case, the dish in question was simple pizza. It was made with a delicious flatbread crust. But the crust was not what made it fabulous. It was the prosciutto, squash blossoms, and lemon olive oil that took the ensemble into another dimension.

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Upon ordering, we thought this was just going to be something that would be kind of different but not very memorable.

We were wrong. The first bite was questionable. The flavors were so good and so amazing that we wondered if everyone was just so hungry and starving that this was the reason it tasted so good. But bite after bite, everyone agreed that this combination was indeed amazing.

The server informed us that this item was new to the menu. We think it will do very well if other diners have an adventurous enough spirit to order it.

Regardless, we are in the process of looking for a recipe for this pizza so everyone can make it at home if they cannot make it to Seattle  or Bellevue. Be warned, fresh squash blossoms are not easy to find.

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Purple Cafe and Wine Bar
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1225 4th Ave
Seattle, WA
(206) 829-2280
430 106th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA
(425) 502-6292

www.purplecafe.com

The Big One – TASTEABLE CALIFORNIA Episode 50

 

We are thrilled to announce that TASTEABLE CALIFORNIA Episode 50 has been released, and airs on KRCB public television to 2.5 Million Households in the 6th largest media market in the United States, the San Francisco Bay Area.

Making it to Episode 50 is a major achievement, and we could not have done it without the support of the station, our team, and of course, the food and wine creators we cover.

ABOUT EPISODE 50

TASTEABLE: California takes viewers on a weekly tour of California food and wine creators and destinations. This episode enjoys poolside dining at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery, learns how to make homemade mozzarella at Restaurant Lulu, tours legendary Scoma’s seafood restaurant in San Francisco, talks with CocoTutti about how to be a chocolatier, and gets a recipe for Warm Molten Chocolate Cake.

Produced by TasteTV, www.TasteTV.com

View the Episode 50 Intro Online (note: entire episode only airs on television, not online)

Ceviche Project Pop Up Dinner Series in Los Angeles

 

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Travelers visiting Los Angeles this summer and fall are in for a culinary experience.

The Ceviche Project and DeLeón Tequila are coming to Skybar at Mondrian for a 5-part dinner series featuring 5-course seafood pop-up dinner and handcrafted cocktail pairings, taking place from Thursday, June 25th throughout July 23, August 20, September 24 and October 22.

Tickets for these affairs are available at http://cevicheproject.nightout.com.

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The Ceviche Project is a pop-up culinary and cultural experience that brings together people, music, and Michelin star restaurant–caliber ingredients in a communal and one-of-a-kind dining experience that features innovative takes and artful, never-repeated seafood dishes.

The Ceviche Project, DeLeón Tequila, and Skybar at Mondrian are teaming up to showcase Founder Octavio Olivas’ varied experiments with ceviche and its many variations, as well as tiraditos, oysters on the half-shell, and crudo preparations:  featuring fresh and premium offerings from fish and farmers markets alike.

While guests can expect culinary delights to be the centerpiece of their experience, Ceviche Project is a true celebration of all things summer in Los Angeles: one that brings together a unique mix of in-the-know locals and chic vacationers looking for something new and exciting to share during dinnertime.

Each dinner will kick off with DeLeón Tequila tasting followed by dinner featuring five new dishes paired with handcrafted cocktails from DeLeón, so each dinner is unique. Guests will eat, drink, converse, laugh, dance, learn, and engage, and Olivas will share stories about the origin and inspiration of each dish and paired cocktails.

http://www.cevicheproject.com

Napa Wine-Tasting Passport launched for Yountville Wineries

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If you are heading to Napa this year, and planning on doing some serious wine tasting, be sure to check out the new Passport Program in in the foodie-mecca of Yountville.

The new tasting room Passport Program is organized by the Yountville Chamber of Commerce, and invites wine-lovers to taste at six participating Yountville wineries for one  price. The year-long “Taste Life Here” Wine Tasting Passport Program runs July 1, 2015 into the future.

Yountville-winelogoGuests who purchase a $59 Passport may use it to receive one complimentary tasting at each of the six participating wineries. The participating tasting rooms include Jessup Cellars, Priest Ranch, Cornerstone Cellars, Hill Family Estate, Hope & Grace and Hestan Vineyards. Tasters who visit all six Yountville wineries will be automatically entered into a drawing for a chance to win a two-night stay at Yountville’s Napa Valley Lodge or the Napa Hilton Garden Inn. The $59 price represents a significant discount — roughly saving passport holders 55% off regular tasting room prices. If participants purchase before Aug. 1 they qualify for the Early Bird Special and receive an additional $10 off the Passport Program.

“We’re very excited about the launch of Yountville’s ‘Taste Life Here’ Wine Tasting Passport Program,” said Joel Quigley, Vice President of Marketing Communications at Jessup Cellars, one of the six participating Yountville wineries. “Powered by Cellarpass.com‘s integrated technology, visitors can access the passport system via smart phones, tablets or desktop. As a tasting gallery, the online and smartphone check-in and backend management opens up a new channel for reaching new consumers without overburdening staff like other paper-based passport programs. This is a new day in wine tasting!”

Passports will be sold online through a special URL link that is unique to each participating winery, enabling the program to track sales by each tasting room. To purchase tickets, visit www.yountville.com/passport.