We were delighted to join a full house at Rustico Ristorante & Pizzeria last Sunday night to celebrate their sixth anniversary with a wine dinner.  And what a dinner it was. Owners and representatives from 5 Temecula wineries were pouring tastes to compliment Chef Francesco Cusimano’s 4 course meal.  The appetizer was a choice between a crab stack with Wiens Cellars Solice white wine poured by Doug Wiens himself; or a grilled cheese short ribs sandwich and Masia De Yabar Tempranillo.  Mr. WINEormous and I made different selections and shared.

The Insalata Fantasia topped with fried honey goat cheese followed, refreshingly paired with Read more »

CLANG-CLANG-CLANG WENT THE TROLLEY

I had seen the classic vehicle on the streets of Temecula for the past six months, usually in Old Town or parked at a winery on Rancho California or De Portola.  I thought it was a cute rental vehicle for private parties and put it on my “maybe someday” list.  That was until I met Amy Brewen, the vehicle’s owner and event planning mastermind behind Brewen’s Empire Trolley.

Amy is a woman on a mission to fill up the valley’s social calendar with exceptionally fun events and take the stress out of attending them.  Mr. WINEormous and I caught up with her this past week and hopped aboard for the premiere “underground night on the trolley.”  Passengers gathered at the first destination which on this tour was Read more »

Billy Strayhorn wrote the lyrics to Lush Life when he was 17 years old. It’s one of many songs inspired by Paris. It’s one of the most inspirational places I have ever visited. My wife Laura requested a visit to Paris for her 60th birthday so that’s what we did. We arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport on a Thursday mid morning. We gathered our luggage and weary travelers we, traveled by taxi to the Melia Royal Alma Boutique Hotel in the 8th Arrondissement. We dropped our bags at the hotel and Read more »

Two years ago this November, Wilmer Yabar opened Masía de Yabar on De Portola Road in Temecula. He and his partners Waleed Jouzy and Carlos Riva have now opened a tasting room in Old Town and last night they offered a sneak peek to members of the press and trade. Located on 5th Street between Delaney’s 100 Mile Market and Palumbo’s Ristoranté, the new tasting room is colorful, comfortable and a Read more »

I spent nearly four full days in Rockland with a group of writers from the IFWTWA: the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association. I think I easily could have stayed four months. This town of 8,000 residents has so much to offer. Its rugged, natural beauty, its bounty of delicious cuisine and its warmhearted residents. On day three, after another exquisite breakfast prepared by Frank at the Limerock Inn, we climbed the All Aboard Trolley and headed for the Owls Head Transportation Museum. The museum has more than 100 vintage planes and automobiles on permanent display. The most amazing part is that virtually all the planes Read more »

It was cold and rainy when we took off from Portland., which isn’t that unusual for June in New England. Our group boarded a stretch Cadillac Escalade limo for the just under two hour drive to Rockland. Jim Gamage is the owner and founder of All Aboard Trolley & Limousine and he did a great job keeping us informed and entertained along the way. We were hosted by the Historic Inns of Rockland and were dropped off at four different inns: the Berry Manor Inn, the Captain Lindsey House, Granite Inn and the Limerock Inn. I checked into the Limerock, visited with my hosts and now friends, PJ and Frank, grabbed my umbrella Read more »

Heading to Washington State for the Wine Bloggers Conference, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Certainly I had tasted wines from Washington before. Many years ago I had even paid a visit to the famed Chateau Ste. Michelle. I live, however, in California, and the majority of the wines I have been drinking come from the many regions in this state or from France, Italy, Spain or Australia. Washington wines were a mystery to me that I was Read more »