These Two Olive Oils are Some of the Best from California

When you are looking for great Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) to taste, use, or to gift, don’t miss Wild Groves and 43 Ranch. They have recently been named two of the best from California, the leading extra virgin olive oil producing region in the United States.

The California State Fair announced the winners of this year’s California Commercial Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition. A panel of 12 certified sensory analyst judges gathered at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds, to swirl, sniff, sip and analyze samples of olive oil from producers all over California. The annual competition celebrates the olive-growing and olive oil producing industries in California, and is open only to Extra Virgin and Flavored Olive Oils made from 100% olives which are grown, pressed and packaged in California.

This year 468 shining, new bottles of olive oil lined the cellar shelves of Cal Expo. Each of the 117 entries arrived with the hope of their producers that their care, expertise and hard work would result in a coveted Best of Show Golden Bear Trophy.

This competition honors Olive Oil producers at all production levels. The Best California Extra Virgin Olive Oil by a Large Producer (more than 5,000 gallons annually) went to Arbequina by Wild Groves of Newcastle, California. Wild Groves won several additional honors, as did Central Coast producer 43 Ranch, which included “Best of California”.

 

WILD GROVES

Dewey Lucero and family are the fourth generation of Lucero olive farmers, producers, and blenders, with over a century of tradition. Their groves in Corning, California are some of the oldest in the country, where they produce extra virgin olive oil, Certified 100% by the California Olive Oil Council (COOC).

Awards from the California Commercial Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition:

  • Wild Groves Arbequina EVOO Single Variety Delicate Arbequina Best of California Large Producer
  • Wild Groves Arbequina EVOO Single Variety Delicate Arbequina Gold
  • Wild Groves Foxy EVOO Single Variety Robust Any Other Cultivar Silver
  • Wild Groves Robust Blend EVOO Blend Medium Any Other Cultivar Silver
  • Wild Groves Ascolano EVOO Single Variety Medium Ascolano Silver

43 RANCH

43 Ranch is produced by fifth and sixth generation farmers from the southern Salinas Valley, whose terroir is similar to that of Old World olive growing regions, and where they however use state of the art equipment.

Awards from the California Commercial Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition:

  • 43 Ranch Picual EVOO Single Variety Robust Any Other Cultivar Best of California
  • 43 Ranch Miller’s Choice EVOO Single Variety Delicate Koroneiki Best of Class
  • 43 Ranch Picual EVOO Single Variety Robust Any Other Cultivar Best of Class
  • 43 Ranch Miller’s Choice EVOO Single Variety Delicate Koroneiki Gold
  • 43 Ranch Picual EVOO Single Variety Robust Any Other Cultivar Gold
  • 43 Ranch Helen’s Blend EVOO Blend Robust Any Other Cultivar Silver

 

Competition Head Judge Orietta Gianjorio

Competition Head Judge Orietta Gianjorio enlisted the talents of an exceptional group of skilled and experienced judges, some with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Gianjorio commented on the judging event, “It is always an honor to participate in the California State Fair Olive Oil Competition. All judges are incredibly talented and gifted tasters, deeply committed to the industry and high quality. The excitement in the room is palpable. After a couple of years of absence, we are all very happy to finally taste together and share our passion for California Extra Virgin Olive Oil. We are all thrilled to share our comments and taste amazing oils produced from this wonderful state of California.”

Italian Spirit Portofino Dry Gin is like the Riviera in a Bottle

An Italian gin is a concept that will strike many as unique, and it should. What will also strike them is how lovely the bottle is and how tasty the liquid inside is. Those are our feelings about Portofino Dry Gin.

Hailing from Italy’s town of Portofino, known around the world for its breathtaking view, iconic Italian scenery, beauty and charm, Portofino Dry Gin delivers Italian authenticity and packaging in a stylish design.

“We are so proud to bring Portofino Dry Gin to the US. It’s a major milestone in our company’s growth,” says Christopher Egger, CMO and co-founder of Portofino Dry Gin. “While we would love for everyone to experience the beauty and charm of our town of Portofino in Italy first-hand, we are thrilled that we can now bring that authentic Italian experience of charm and beauty to the US.”

Made at an antique Italian distillery, Portofino Dry Gin includes 21 botanicals selected for their natural aromatic properties. The juniper, lemons, lavender, rosemary, marjoram, sage, iris and rose are all organically grown in Portofino Dry Gin’s botanical sanctuary on the hills of Portofino. The region’s unique microclimate allows lush Mediterranean vegetation to grow year round, and each botanical is ripened by the fresh sea breeze and the warm sun of the Italian Riviera.

“Portofino Dry Gin was founded as a tribute to my grandfather, Klaus Pudel,” says Ruggero Raymo, CEO and co-founder of Portofino Dry Gin. “He was admired for having saved Portofino from the destruction during World War II. Portofino is in the heart of the Italian Riviera, and the bottle design is an homage to the beautiful region.”

Imported to the United States by Artisanal Cellars, Portofino is available at select premium retailers including Eataly as well as nationally via Cask & Barrel.

Try this recipe:

Portofino Bay Martini

  • 1.5 oz Portofino Dry Gin
  • 0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
  • 0.5 oz Salted Water
  • 1 Dash Olive Bitters

Stir and strain into a coupette glass, garnish with green olive & lemon peel.

 

About Portofino Dry Gin

Portofino Dry Gin is produced in Italy. Each batch of Portofino Dry Gin is made using a combination of traditional and innovative methods: from an old Italian copper pot still used to distill local liqueur and grappa to a state-of-the-art technology that produces vacuum distillation, preserving the aromas from Portofino Dry Gin’s most delicate botanicals. Distilled and bottled in Italy using natural ingredients, without added sugar, artificial flavors or preservatives. Alc./Vol. 43% – 86 Proof.

 

First ever Purple Sea Urchin Festival rocks West Coast Tastebuds and Saves the Environment

The United States’ first ever Purple Sea Urchin Festival* took place on the Mendocino Coast recently. Fort Bragg, the largest city on the Mendocino Coast, is one of the biggest producers of sea urchin in California, and with the overabundance of the urchins in the waters these past few years, there is no better time to celebrate this sea delicacy.

Why a focus on urchin now? And why purple urchin? The chefs, educators, and residents of this area are deeply passionate about the interwoven ecological web of the beautiful and mysterious ocean that makes up the landscape of their daily lives on the Mendocino Coast. Abalone has long been a unique part of Mendocino – with local campfire cooking, seasonal tourism boosts, and signature festivals celebrating it as a delicacy. With the collapse of the sea star population, the exponential growth of purple urchin, and the subsequent decimation of the abalone population, residents are constantly looking for eco-friendly ways to resolve these intertwined issues and reduce the impact of this invasive species.

“The current circumstances have given us an opportunity to experience uni from these less-popular but equally-tasty purples,” states Cally Dym, 5th generation owner of Little River Inn. “Fort Bragg has long been a major producer of sea urchin in the United States – but virtually all of the product has been shipped out of the area, and until recently not a single restaurant offered uni on their menu. With a growing understanding of local food sheds and local food webs, we think now is the perfect time to ‘Taste the Place’ and expand our understanding of the purple sea urchin.”

During the three-day festival, some of the most beloved and iconic local hotels and restaurants along the coast, including The Harbor House Inn, Little River Inn, Noyo Harbor Inn, Glendeven Inn & Lodge, The Inn at The Cobbler’s Walk, Elk Cove Inn, Princess Seafood Market & Deli and Izakaya Gama in Point Arena, served urchin-focused menus and specials. Select inns and hotels also offered deals on lodging and other services.

The weekend also had a strong educational component, with the Mendocino Area Parks Association, Watermen’s Alliance, Noyo Science Center and Freedive Shop providing instructional demos and hands-on experiences. Urchinomics,  a restorative seafood company, played a part in the festival by supplying select restaurant partners with purple urchin (‘uni’). Urchinomics is a company dedicated to restoring kelp forests by removing overgrazing barren sea urchins, feeding them on land, and selling them on to distributors and restaurants.

Examples of the weekend’s Urchin tasting activities include:

  • Outdoor demo and 5-course purple urchin tasting menu presented by Urchinomics and Chef Matthew Kammerer at Michelin-starred The Harbor House Inn.
  • Uni demo and educational talk at Van Damme State Beach; sample fresh uni on the beach. Josh Russo from the Waterman’s Alliance and international free dive competitor Greg Fonts of The Freedive Shop demonstrate how to open and clean urchin. Participants  learn how to harvest urchin, the impact purple urchin has on other fisheries and innovative solutions to the problem.
  • Sake Seminar at Little River Inn. Sake expert Kerry Tamura of World Sake Imports walks attendees through the best sakes from seven different Japanese prefectures, highlighting the features of the terroir in the glass. Guests also learn about urchin while sampling uni snacks.

“As a chef in today’s world, it is my job to choose more sustainable ingredients and showcase them to the public,” states Matthew Kammerer, Executive Chef at Harbor House Inn. “Chefs have more of a role in today’s food scene, where education about products, including why and how to use them can help shape the public’s dining perspective and have a positive outcome on future generations. Purple sea urchin has been on our menu since day one.  We are proud to serve all local products but this one has extra meaning for us. Not just its flavor, but to help remove some urchin numbers from the ecosystem that is on the verge of collapsing.”

Continues Dym, “Urchin is delicious and that in itself is a reason to create an urchin festival. What fascinates me is the role purple urchin plays in the ecosystem of the Northwest Pacific Ocean and telling that story to festival goers.”

GIFT GUIDE: Get Her a Pair of handmade Lip Earrings by Female Alchemy

In our opinion the perfect gift should always be unique and conversation worthy. That simple critiera fits the description of the artistic Lip Hoops earrings that are part of the Female Alchemy jewelry collection by Miami ceramicist Tatiana Cardona, in collaboration with New York jeweler Konstantinos I. Leoussis.

This collection is an homage to female empowerment, imagination, ideals and art, thoughts and words, and runs the gamut from necklaces to rings. What this means is if you were looking for a gift that truly celebrates Her, then a jewelry collection that celebrates Women is the ideal fit.

Tatiana says, “My work started off as an ode to the female artists that paved the way for the rest of us. With time it has since evolved into the embodiment of the fun, creative, lively feminine spirit. Lips carry our words out into the world, and help us articulate the messages we wish to send. My vessels carry their own message of the power in female energy.”

We think that these are fantastic pieces that you are going to want to wear as much as possible, especially while knowing that to the sharp observer there is more to them than meets the eye. The earrings are designed as a pair of lips with the hoop formed from the somewhat erotic and provocative tongue. The Lip Hoops come in either sterling silver or 18 karat gold plate finishes.

Says Konstantinos I. Leoussis, founder of KIL N.Y.C, “The pieces were hand carved from wax, and I also used softer wax to sculpt in a similar manner to Tatiana. I cast them, and all of it is done here in New York City with recycled metal. The Lip Hoop design is inspired by one of Tatiana’s first collections, from a piece that I fell in love with. We both had a really similar idea in mind, and combined them to create something that could be worn daily and makes a statement.”

For Tatiana, the lip motif is inspired by the feminist movement of the 1960s and 70s, when red lipstick stood as a symbol of protest. Of course in our modern day and age, the feminist movement of the 1960s and 70s has evolved into the women’s rights movement of the current millennium. Which means that this collection might not just be a form of celebration, it might also be a form of protest. As the designer puts an edgy and contemporary motif on her creations, she believes they will not be just wearable, but also heirlooms.

The public reaction to the Lip Hoops in particular has been extremely positive. According to Konstantinos, “They have been our best sellers. Several of my friends have supported our work and wear them which is really fun and they fuel a lot of my passion.”

Good for Mother’s Day gifts, birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, holiday gifts, and 5th dates. You can find more of the Female Alchemy Jewelry collection at:
https://www.femalealchemy.com/collections/jewelry

About Female Alchemy

Each piece in the female alchemy collection is handmade by Miami-based ceramicist, Tatiana Cardona. As an artist, she strives to create lively, empowering functional art, to brighten up one’s home. The lip motif is inspired by the feminist movement of the 1960’s and 70’s, when red lipstick stood as a symbol of protest. Cardona’s work has since evolved into a positive and fun way to promote femininity in the sacred and ancient medium of ceramics.

About KIL N.Y.C.

Inspired by a life of travel and antiquities, jeweler, Konstantinos Leoussis created KIL N.Y.C. in 2018, to showcase his love of old-world techniques and motifs. KIL N.Y.C. puts an edgy and modern spin on sentimental jewelry, creating styles that are both easily wearable and instant heirlooms.

 

The Bamboo Room adds ambiance to SoCal’s Craft Cocktail Lounge Scene

Opened in June of 2021, Bamboo Room is a cocktail lounge set in the heart of the Westlake Village community outside of Los Angeles, and has a menu that includes craft cocktails, beer, sake, wine and bottle service. Their wide range of signature cocktails are crafted with high quality and fresh ingredients, as designed by the Michelin Star chef co-founder Chef Anthony Alaimo and partnerJeffrey S. Helfer.

The lounge’s interior ambiance focuses on earth tones and not surprisingly bamboo accents. Guests are able to relax on comfortable furniture or enjoy the dimmed lighting in the Bamboo Room’s library section. They can also sit outside around modern firepits. Depending on the night, guests can also listen to live music or a wide range of visiting DJs.

Bamboo Room was inspired and created with an international perspective, incorporating various global influences from co-owners Alaimo and Helfer, who met over 10 years ago when they both resided and worked in Macau, China. Influenced by their experiences abroad, they decided to share part of their journey with the local Westlake Village community and create a space that is unique and reflective of a worldly trend and vibe.

Locals consider it an escape where they can unwind, enjoy a drink, listen to music, and mingle with friends (and potential new friends). For them it helps replace the urge to take a long drive into the City of Los Angeles for a night out. Convenient and comfortable.

Bamboo Room
www.bambooroomwlv.com

30760 Russell Ranch Road, STE C
Westlake Village, California

MUSIC VIDEO: Elton John and Dua Lipa’s song Cold Heart rock the charts

If you think that parts of Elton John and Dua Lipa’s duo song,”Cold Heart,” sound a lot Elton John’s hit song “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time)” then you are are correct. It’s not in your head, it’s in the lyrics. Several of the lines that Dua sings are directly from “Rocket Man,” yet are delivered with her unique DL chanteuse stylings. All of this is with the complete approval and encouragement of Elton, who wanted to embrace a new style of songmaking in his new album. He says that this style was introduced to him by younger singers who constantly take parts of other songs and mix them together in new ways.

Considering how popular “Cold Heart” is, we’d say it’s a good approach.