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Three Words: Bacon. Caramel. Popcorn.

Posted by Lesley on March 30, 2011

When a disaster trifecta like a 9.0 earthquake, tsunami and pending nuclear meltdown strikes a place thousands of miles away, it’s easy to feel depressed and generally pretty helpless. With the situation in Japan right now, what can you possibly do, other than donate money to the Red Cross and other charities? Eat bacon caramel popcorn, that’s what.

I’m dropping off bags of my wildly addictive sweet, porky popcorn at Black Cat Bakery & Cafe for the nationwide Bake Sale for Japan this Saturday (Apr. 2), and you should go buy it. Why? Because all proceeds from these community bake sales go to Peace Winds Japan, which is working hard to help those who need it.

Posted in Dessert, Events | Tags: Angeli Caffe, Bacon Caramel Popcorn, Bake Sale for Japan, Black Cat Bakery, BLD, Breanne Varela, Forage, Japan Relief, Roxanna Jullapat, Zoe Nathan

A Paso Robles Primer, Plus Ticket Giveaway!

Posted by Lesley on February 27, 2011

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Thank you all for adding your stories for the Paso Robles Grand Tasting Tour ticket giveaway! They were fun to read… j’adore a good wine story. Next time: haikus. Names were randomly selected and … congrats to Maddy Mud (aka Doug), Ryan and LT! You all will be going to the Vibiana downtown tonight. Have fun and be sure to write back with your favorite sips.

In a town where people consider the drive from Santa Monica to Pasadena a day trip (you know who you are), the four-hour excursion to Paso Robles wine country must seem like an eternity. So it’s nice when the Central Coast winemakers make their way down to L.A. for events like the Grand Tasting Tour, which takes place at the Vibiana downtown on Wednesday. Want to go? Read on.

Posted in Events, Wine | Tags: Adelaida, Dunning Vineyards, Eberle, Grand Tasting Tour, Kiamie, L'Aventure, Linne Calado, Paso Robles, Peachy Canyon, Tablas Creek

A New Winter Tradition: Chefs’ Holidays in Yosemite

Posted by Lesley on January 19, 2011

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A few days in Yosemite during the winter, when the crowds are light and the snow is heavy, and the chance to meet and dine with some of the country’s top chefs? Now that’s a great way to start the new year.

I was invited to attend a session of the annual Chefs’ Holidays event at The Ahwahnee Hotel last week, and I couldn’t turn it down. First, in the 10 years I’ve lived in California, out of all the road and camping trips I’ve taken, I’ve never been to Yosemite. But the chance to mingle with a few fellow food lovers and take in the scenery? It sounded like the perfect escape.

Posted in Chefs, Elsewhere, Events, Travel | Tags: Ahwahnee Hotel, Chefs Holidays, Colin Amborse, Estia's Little Kitchen, Events, Flea Street Cafe, Jesse Ziff Cool, Michael Tusk, Quince, Travel, Yosemite

Expect Plenty of Goodness at the Eat My Blog Bake Sale

Posted by Lesley on November 29, 2010

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Bacon. Caramel. Popcorn. Now that I have your attention…. you can find bags of it, made by moi, at this weekend’s Eat My Blog Bake Sale, which benefits the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

The list of goodies is astounding, from cardamom espresso cheesecake bites to eggnog muffins, chocolate everything, pie-in-a-jar, crack pie, and even pooch and kitty treats–all made by local bloggers and bakers. Everything will be priced from $1 to $4, so you can really go crazy.

I have to give it to Cathy Chaplin, Eat My Blog founder and writer of Gas•tron•o•my, and all of the organizers of the event. Last year they raised more than $8,000. Just people selling home-baked goods. Amazing! I’m super excited to contribute something this year.

In addition to the bacon-caramel-cashew popcorn (made a trial batch yesterday, and it’s pretty damn good), I’m also making pizelles, anise-flavored buttery Italian waffle cookies (a.k.a. snowflake cookies) that are a part of my annual Christmas Cookiepalooza. Once that waffle iron comes down from the shelf, I might as well put it to good use.

And, you know, since the sale is set up outside of Tender Greens, at least you can eat a nice giant salad to relieve some of the sugar-rush guilt you might be feeling. Although we have officially entered the holiday season: Get over it and enjoy yourself.

Eat My Blog Bake Sale, Saturday, December 4, 10am-4pm
8759 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood (map)

Posted in Baking, Events, Holidays | Tags: Bacon Caramel Popcorn, Blogger Bake Sale, Eat My Blog Bake Sale, Food Events, Los Angeles, Tender Greens