This must be heaven for wine, spa and golf lovers. Surrounded by 135 acres of some of the world’s best vineyards, the former chateau now known as Relais De Margaux is elegance personified. Northwest of Bordeaux in the world famous Medoc region, high-quality grapes are grown here to produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and…
There’s a Starbucks in my little corner of the world. That’s not unusual. But now, 50 yards away inside the Safeway Store where I shop, they’re building another Starbucks. Obviously, it’s for shoppers who can’t walk a few extra feet to pay through the nose for their half-decaf, half-latte, cappucino with three shots of espresso…
Since we’re putting the spotlight on beer festivals this week, let’s raise a frosty, frothy mug to these upcoming spring salutes throughout the Golden and Silver States: • Beer Festival, Boonville, May 6 –– Sample suds of over 50 brewers from many states, including Deschutes in Oregon and New Belgium Brewing Company. It’s at the…
Bergkirchweih is the other beer festival, held in a hamlet in southern Germany, so it’s not as well-known as Octoberfest in Munich. Yet every year since 1755, more than a million people flock to the “Berg” in the Alps for beer, brats and Bavarian music. Best of all, this one attracts far fewer tourists than…
For years, I thought only hippies and vegans ate organic produce. I thought it was overpriced vs. the traditional veges and fruit I bought at my local grocery store. Not anymore. Now, my family is buying organic milk. Why? Because it’s produced by cows who are raised on feed with fewer pesticides. We’re buying organic…
For years, Los Angelinos have lined up for vegan and raw food brunch at the romantic The Inn of the Seventh Ray, which is part bookstore, part restaurant and all atmosphere. Its somewhat secluded location in woodsy Topanga Canyon is above the famous and expensive beaches of Malibu. You enter the restaurant after winding down…
The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand. While there, I’ve seen them sticking their tongues out and yelling as a form of self expression. But they also express themselves with a wonderful food company known as Kono New Zealand that features Wine, Seafood and Spring Water. One of my favorites is the 2004…
What is the life of luxury? Could it be owning your own private jet with a pilot ready at a moment’s notice to whisk you away to your favorite Caribbean Island? Or, could it be spending $37,200 a night for a room? That’s right. $37,200 per night. According to Forbes, the most expensive hotel room…
Chocolate with pink peppercorns. Chocolate infused with chili powder. Chocolate from Spain, Belgium, even Chicago’s Vosges Chocolate. If you love the brown stuff — and I do — a visit to Chocolate Covered in San Francisco’s hip Noe Valley is well worth the trip. It features shelves of uber exotic chocolates, including those with 100%…
I’ve been flying Southwest for over 20 years. When I lived in Dallas, many of my friends and neighbors worked for this small regional carrier that became one of the country’s leading budget airlines. Here’s an interesting twist on a company’s blogosphere: Nuts About Southwest is written by the employees and the customers of this…
My uncle took a few bike trips to Europe on the cheap. He would be envious of these offered by DuVine Adventures, a leader in specialized luxury bike trips throughout Europe. By day, you can experience stunning landscapes and unspoiled villages. By night, you can feast on gourmet cuisine, sip the best wines, and stay…
Conde Nast Traveler asked a top chef if he could make the perfect in-flight meal. It had to be shelf-stable for three hours or more, leak-proof and not smelly. Gene Kato’s solution was Miso-Glazed Fried Chicken with Japanese Truffled Soybean Salad. He said, “When I was a kid and we went on trips, my mom…