Since I have already made MY reservations, I will now reveal an incredible Spa Happening!

If you haven’t participated in Spa Week before, you are in for a Major Treat! I wouldn’t miss this for the world, and now that it’s gone nationwide, I can take advantage of it wherever I might end up.

It all started a few years ago in New York when C&R Media, (love them!) decided to reach out to their “Tired, Poor and Huddled Masses” yearning to be free of stress, and offer them an incredible full service spa treatment normally costing from $100 to $200 dollars for just $50 dollars!

The oohs and ahhs of contented spa-goers; as their knots and kinks unwound, their brows unfurled, and their skin became soft and smooth, was heard round the country and now Spa Week has expanded into over 230 spas participating nationwide.

Be you a spa regular or novice, this is the perfect time to sample a new spa, or perhaps an exotic new treatment, without breaking the bank. I’m taking off this afternoon for a well-deserved “Chard Break” temptingly described as:

Chardonnay Vino Therapy

Indulge yourself with this powerful antioxidant skin-smoothing treatment. A sublime aromatic cleansing and exfoliation with chardonnay sugar Scrub leaves your skin silky smooth and prepared for a luxurious half-hour massage. Finally, revel in ultimate bliss with a complimentary glass of chardonnay in our tranquility lounge at:
Spa Luxe
Redwood City, CA 94065
W: www.spa-luxe.com

For dates and list of participating cities and spas go to:
www.spaweek.org (but better hurry before they sell out!)

P.s. I just returned from my Chardonnay Vino Therapy-sheer heaven on Earth. My bod feels like melted buttah! Plus, I LOVED the Spa Luxe. A class act all the way — from the tastefully furnished rooms in soothing Sante Fe shades, to the final relaxing room where you have your choice of herbal teas, dried fruits and nuts and mini-muffins.

Tip: I peeked into the private couple’s room, where you can reserve a Champagne Rendezvous for Two. Complete with candles surrounding the oversized Spa tub, massages, some chocolates –– perfect for a romantic evening for you and your honey.

Cable Beach Resorts & Crystal Palace Casino in Nassau is offering a special "Saturday Night Free" package. Divas will receive Saturday night free when they stay Thursday and Friday at the Wyndham Nassau Resort.  Room rates are $149 per night and are available for travel through November 20, 2007.

Cable Beach Resorts offers a plethora of entertainment and dining options with 15 restaurants and lounges. For active divas there are tons of recreational activities including kayaking, snokeling, pools, a complete tennis facility, an 18-hole golf course, and a giant waterslide.  For working on your tan the resort provides over a half mile of Nassau’s best beach!  Divas can also try their luck at the resort’s Crystal Palace Casino.  Open 24 hours, the Crystal Palace Casino features more than over 500 state-of-the-art slot machines with ticket-in/ticket-out capability; video poker; video blackjack; and a state-of-the-art Sports Book.

Cable Beach Resorts & Crystal Palace Casino is conveniently located within 15 minutes of Nassau International Airport, which is easily accessible by air by a number of domestic and international carriers.

Mandarin Oriental, in Prague has launched an exclusive two-day Treasures of Prague package! Featuring a guided tour of the newly revealed cultural riches of Prague Castle, with private limousine transfers, a champagne lunch at a palace, a memorable keepsake and a soothing Oriental foot massage.

A champagne welcome and private catered lunch await on the terrace of the Lobkowicz Palace on the Castle’s eastern side, affording panoramic views of the city. Divas who book the Treasures of Prague package will receive a special keepsake accompanied by a card personally signed by Prince William Lobkowicz.  The day will stylishly conclude with a Mercedes S-class limousine transfer back to the hotel and a refreshing Oriental foot massage at the Spa to soothe away any lingering signs of ‘cobblestone fatigue’.

The newly-opened exhibition includes masterpieces by Pieter  Brueghel  the Elder,  Canaletto, and Velázquez. An installation focusing on music features the manuscripts of several of Beethoven’s symphonies, as well as Mozart’s own re-orchestration of Haendel’s Messiah.

Prague Castle, towering above the city and within walking distance of Mandarin Oriental, Prague, has served for centuries as the imposing seat of Czech kings and presidents. This unique architectural complex consisting of multiple churches, palaces, burgers’ houses, medieval towers, courtyards and splendid gardens was the site of several dramatic events with a profound effect on European history. 
 
To this day, the hotel carries the features of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Equipped with the latest technology, the guest rooms’ design combines restrained elegance with subtle Asian touches. The hotel also includes a holistic Spa located in a former Renaissance chapel, the Essensia restaurant, and Barego bar.

Rates for the two-day Treasures of Prague package start at EUR 579 per room per night based on double occupancy; the rate includes breakfast but excludes 5% VAT. Additional nights are available.
                          

Whew, what a couple of days! Yesterday I was in the room with Jerry Seinfeld for his promotional tour for his new animated movie 4-years in the making: Bee Movie. Directors and executives from DreamWorks were also on hand to take us through the clips. I give this movie 5 out of a possible 5 stingers. Each and every clip was fall-out-of-your-chair hilarious!

So mommies and daddies, grab the kiddies, and Divas grab your girlfriends for the November 2nd opening. You are gonna LOVE Bee Movie! Jerry (we’re on a first name basis now of course) plays the main character, and talents like Matthew Broderick, Renee Zellweger and even Oprah round out the cast. 

*

Other mega news is that last night was also the opening party for San Francisco’s very own… BARNEYS!!! The store is open today for biz. With a first-class Bloomingdale’s and now a Barneys (I haven’t been in yet so can’t say what class it is), a west coast Diva need hardly make the trek back east!

*

Why oh why didn’t I attend the Barneys opening party? Because I was at a Spark (do you love our new and improved website?) event, of course! Last night, we had yet another mindblowing installment of our Speaker Series. I thought it couldn’t get any better than Sakeena Yacoobi’s May visit, but this time none other than Kiva.org founder Jessica Flannery and Village Enterprise Fund’s Board Chair, Debbie Hall!

Because one of our two themes this year is microfinance, Jessica and Debbie were THE PERFECT Sparkling Divas to invite.

Now microfinance is a broad term that has to do with giving grants, loans, training, and other help to severely impoverished people (did you know that half the world lives on less than $2 a day??) for whom just even $25 means the difference between starvation and security. If you and three friends each donate this amount, a hundred dollars might mean that a woman in Uganda might be able to buy a sewing machine.

Kiva.org takes this VEF microfinance model and adds a dash of dashing technology allowing lenders to interact with individual borrowers. That’s right, borrowers. And as a lender, you will most likely get all your money back plus learn about an inpsiring story from somewhere around the world! Amazing!

Because Kiva has revolutionized giving by allowing you to connect with real people and their real stories and choosing which person to support. This goes far beyond just writing a check to a nonprofit. After browsing through thousands of specific business plans–the dreams of people the world over–you might decide to help a butcher in Bulgaria, a seamstress in Uganda and a taxi driver in Guatemala! Thus, almost like a foundation, you have your own portfolio! Kiva allows you to keep up with your borrowers’ progress as well.

You know who loves this idea? Oprah and former President Bill Clinton! The two were guests on Oprah’s show recently, and Clinton even included Kiva in his new book, Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World. 

And how small a world are good works? Jessica’s opening remarks were a heartfelt tribute to her mentors, Debbie and founder Brian Lehnen! Jessica got her microfinance start working with VEF in East Africa for several months after pestering Brian for multiple lunch dates to learn more about his vision. And now she runs her own nonprofit. Divas inspiring other Divas…it’s what we’re all about! It’s something we can all do: ask someone we admire to share fifteen minutes of their time to learn more. Fabulous!

It’s nights like these that make me proud to be on Spark’s board (I can’t wait for our October 12, 2007 Black and Pink Ball that will raise money for girls’ education programs in San Francisco and Vietman! Girls’ education is our other theme this year.), awed to be a part of the constantly evolving philanthropic world, and thankful to be able to share my A-HA moments with my Divas!

And with the San Francisco Symphony’s Opening Gala tonight with a gorgeous party and performance by one of the world’s most gifted opera Divas, Renee Fleming, I will have had a most wonderful 24-hours right here in my hometown!

When waiting for your plane that is two hours late, or staring at the baggage claim that never brings out your luggage, it is easy to forget that airlines are run by people – not animals (or vegetables). I was reminded of this after my month-long trip to Mexico. As you might recall, my luggage was lost somewhere between SFO or Santa Ana or Dallas or Cancun. No one on the ground could actually tell me where my baggage was after two days. I even pulled out the big guns and had the executives at American Airlines looks for my bag (it’s nice to have friends in high places).  

After two days of being baggage-free, my luggage was returned to me, sans my tags. I keep at least two nametags on my bags for just this reason. My theory is that if one gets pulled off, the other will still be there. Well, not this time. Both of my nametags were gone, no wonder they couldn’t figure out who my bag belonged to, it was nameless. Fast forward to my return…..

In my work mail, I find a letter from someone I never met before. I was tired, miserable, and not happy to be back to reality, so I did not bother opening the letter immediately. When I finally got around to opening it, it was one of my missing nametags with a lovely note from a Southwest Ramp Supervisor. I must admit, it put a big smile on my face, and some faith back into my cynical jetset side.

It is moments like these when I am reminded that as much as we hate late flights, lost luggage, screaming kids, and crappy airport food – we are all humans sharing the flying experience together, and that includes the folks who work for the airlines. They can’t control the weather, nor can they always figure out where to send lost luggage, but whatever might happen, I trust they are doing the best they can. So, a big shout out goes to my new friend Eli Robbins, the wonderful Ramp Supervisor at Santa Ana airport who took the time to send me back my nametag and a nice note.

I think we could all learn a bit from Eli at Southwest, it is amazing what a kind note and a stamp can do to change a person’s attitude. Hey Eli, if you are reading, thanks so much for taking the time to reach out to a weary passenger. Your kindness makes all this crazy air travel worthwhile.

The Hertz Corporation, the world’s largest general-use car rental company, today announces the continued expansion of its company-wide environmental initiatives.  The company is making a $1 million donation to the National Park Foundation, and the donation of $250,000 to benefit The Mayor’s Fund for the Advancement of New York City, in recognition of the Mayor’s environmental efforts.

Additionally, the Company is expanding its signature Green Collection, a collection of environmentally friendly, fuel efficient, family-sized vehicles, with a planned $68 million investment in 3,400 reservable Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles, 100 of which will be designated for the company’s Manhattan fleet.   The Green Collection and the introduction of hybrid vehicles complement the 105,000 EPA SmartWayTM certified cars currently in the Company’s car rental fleet. More than 64 percent (268,000 cars) of the Company’s rental fleet achieves 28 mpg or greater fuel efficiency and 42.4 percent of the fleet (176,500 cars) achieves 34 mpg or greater fuel efficiency. Further, Hertz continues to incorporate sustainable initiatives into its fleet and operational business practices, as part of a corporate-wide commitment to environmental sustainability.

These announcements were made at a special event today at the American Museum of Natural History, hosted by Mark P. Frissora, Chairman and CEO of The Hertz Corporation.  In addition, the Honorable Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Vin Cipolla, Chairman and CEO, the National Park Foundation, attended and accepted donations on behalf of the City and Foundation, respectively.

"Today’s announcement marks another phase in Hertz’s company-wide initiative to promote environmental sustainability in all aspects of our business and to help preserve our National Parks, one of our most important natural resources and vacation destinations," said Mark P. Frissora, Chairman and CEO, The Hertz Corporation.  "Aligning Hertz with the National Park Foundation is a natural fit as the Foundation demonstrates a deep commitment to protecting and preserving our nation’s greatest natural treasures and supports projects that help protect the future health of the environment.  Likewise, Mayor Bloomberg has demonstrated a passion for improving New York City’s environment, and we are pleased to support his initiatives with a donation to the Mayor’s Fund by allocating a significant percentage of our hybrid investment to Hertz’s Manhattan rental fleet," added Frissora.

"One of the fundamental concepts of PlaNYC is identifying partners in the not-for-profit and business sectors that are willing to work with us on cutting our greenhouse gas emissions.  With today’s announcement that they’re adding 100 hybrids to their Manhattan rental fleet and their donation to the Mayor’s Fund to support green initiatives, Hertz has truly become one of our great business partners," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "I applaud Hertz’s vision and I want to express my gratitude for their generosity."

"National Parks are the world’s greatest collection of natural, historic and cultural resources - from Yosemite to the Grand Canyon to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, they are American icons that stand tall as testaments to our country’s rich heritage and bounty," said Vin Cipolla, Chairman and CEO, the National Park Foundation. "We are thrilled to welcome Hertz into our family of partners and thank them for their generosity in helping ensure that Americans will continue to explore, experience and enjoy these magnificent places."     

Hybrid Vehicles and the Hertz Green Collection
The Hertz Green Collection allows customers to reserve, and the Company guarantees, specific makes and models of higher mileage, environmentally friendly mid- and full-size cars, a key distinction that is not offered by any other national car rental company.  The hybrid vehicles will begin to arrive in Hertz’s fleet this month and will be available for rent at 50 major U.S. airport locations, as well as in Manhattan, at a starting rate of $50 per weekend day.  One hundred of the new hybrid vehicles will be allocated specifically to the Company’s New York City fleet, including Manhattan Hourly Rentals, a program Hertz launched in April, 2007.  Known for their high fuel-efficiency and low greenhouse gas emissions, the environmental impact of hybrid versus ordinary vehicles is most dramatic in stop-and-go city driving such as in New York City where the hybrid often operates only on its electric motor.  Hertz already rents hybrid vehicles throughout Europe:  in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. 

The Green Collection was launched in September of 2006 and includes over 35,000 other environmentally friendly vehicles — Ford Fusion, Buick LaCrosse, Toyota Camry, Subaru Outback and Hyundai Sonata - with an average Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highway fuel efficiency rating of 31 miles or more per gallon. The majority of the Green Collection fleet also carries the EPA’s SmartWayTM certification, which indicates lower emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, while the Toyota Prius has been awarded the EPA’s highest honor, SmartWay EliteTM status.  In the United States, there are approximately 35,000 vehicles in the Hertz Green Collection, available at 50 major airport locations, each reservable by make and model. Green Collection vehicles are also available at seven major airport locations in Canada.

Hertz’s Environmentally Friendly Operational Initiatives
Hertz has been deeply committed to establishing environmentally responsible business practices throughout its global network of rental locations and corporate offices.  Hertz’s commitment to environmental sustainability extends beyond its fleet to operational and corporate initiatives, including:

99% of Hertz’s fleet is equipped with vapor recovery controls that reduce the emissions given off during the fueling process.
All car washes installed at Hertz facilities recycle and reuse at least 80 percent of their wastewater. Hertz also banned the use of chlorinated solvents at its maintenance facilities due to their toxicity to humans and the environment.

Hertz only contracts with auto part supply vendors that recycle its used oil. In 2006, more than 1.2 million gallons of used oil were collected and recycled from the Company’s facilities nationwide. The used oil is re-refined and processed into clean, clear, reusable premium base oil. Re-refining reduces greenhouse gases and heavy metal emissions, while reducing dependency on foreign oil.
The parts and brake cleaner fluids at Hertz facilities are also recycled and, in 2006, almost 18,000 gallons of fluid were collected from the Company’s facilities.

Hertz uses Bradley Systems’ RTX#9 general vehicle cleaner at all its car rental operations.  Dubbed "America’s first ‘Zero-Toxic’ Cleaner," it has no ozone-depleting, greenhouse gas, or global warming chemicals, and is biodegradable in water.
Hertz disposes of electronic equipment at all of its U.S. facilities through either resale or recycling with a zero landfill policy and a zero export policy. Since its inception in 2002, 5.7 million pounds of electronic equipment and 22,200 pounds of lead; 5 pounds of arsenic; 32 pounds of cadmium and 7 pounds of mercury have been kept out of landfills.

Energy Star-compliant office equipment including copiers, fax machines and computers are specified for all Hertz facilities nationwide resulting in energy savings across the country.

Paper recycling programs are in place at the Company’s Park Ridge headquarters and Oklahoma City facilities. Since its implementation, the recycling program in Oklahoma has contributed to saving approximately 20,000 trees and 4,700,000 kilowatts of energy.  The program also saves countless gallons of water and decreases air pollution as well as landfill space. 
To access images of  Hertz Green Collection vehicles, please go to http://idisk.mmgworldwide.com/epankenier/ and enter username: epankenier and password: 6764.

About The National Park Foundation
The National Park Foundation (www.nationalparks.org) is a 501(c)(3) organization chartered by Congress in 1967 to steward the century-long tradition of National Park philanthropy to preserve and enhance the legacy of our National Parks. As the official non-profit partner of America’s National Parks, the National Park Foundation strengthens the connection between the American people and their National Parks by raising private funds, making strategic grants, creating innovative partnerships and increasing public awareness. Support of the National Park Foundation ensures that the evolving history and rich heritage of our nation remains vital and relevant.

About The Mayor’s Fund
The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established to promote partnerships between the City and the private sector in an effort to strengthen public programs.

BOLD wines, BIG flavors, and an extremely talented new chef, whose skills and enthusiasm are BOUNDLESS!

As a culinary tourism writer, I am often on the road scouting out new restaurants, chefs, wineries, markets — you name it. Which means that sometimes I miss out on the latest food happenings right here in San Francisco. I loved bacar when it first opened and then, like most of my relationships, the love affair soured, and it got crossed off my list.

Just last week I belatedly found out that they had recently hired Chef Robbie Lewis — a wunderkind who has put on starring performances at Chez Panisse, Zuni Cafe, and Jardiniere. (He actually was named a Rising Star by StarChefs.com)

I decided to test the waters by dipping my toe in at a fun sounding “Sommelier Supper” in the newly reopened Wine Salon. A casual evening of tasting and talking, bacar’s “Sommelier Suppers” hosted by Wine Director Mickey Clevenger, offer guests a sneak peek at what goes into selecting wines for their innovative and award-winning 1,200-bottle wine list. We tasted approximately two dozen wines, many not yet available at bacar, complete with wine handouts to write down your comments– although most of us were quite vocal about our likes and dislikes.

Our group then staggered, I mean moved, upstairs to the mezzanine to enjoy a scrumptious family-style dinner (my family never ate 1/2 this good!) Platters of a Caesar-ish salad with smoky pork bits, salmon so fresh it tasted like it swam to the plate, perfectly grilled beef, were passed around while we played a wine version of “Let’s Make a Deal.” (Each table had a variety of different wines to pair with dinner so you could hear a lot of ” We’ll trade you this South African Merlot for your…”)

It was great food, great fun and a great learning experience as to what a sommelier really does… and a great deal at only $55.00
The next “Sommelier Supper” is scheduled for November 11, 2007. See you there.

Reservations are required as space is limited and can be made by calling 415-904-4100 or emailing dine@bacarsf.com. Please specify the “Sommelier Supper” when making reservations. To check for updates and other future events, visit www.bacarsf.com.

bacar
A: 448 Brannan Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
T: 415.904.4100

THE SET-UP:
It’s hard to imagine a world before refrigerators or a time when explorers traveled with bone china in order to prepare four-course meals in remote destinations. In celebration of these expeditions, Redwood Creek Wines and The Explorers Club is launching The Culinary Revivals Tour, a national series of adventurous food and wine events featuring the meals that sustained some of the greatest explorers of all time.

Following dinner, guests will have the chance to meet modern-day historians, who will recount inspirational tales of the renowned journeys of explorers, like Ernest Shackleton and Lewis and Clark.

THE INVITATION:
Redwood Creek Wines of California welcomes you to The Explorers Club New York City to sample delicacies from Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition paired with Redwood Creek Wines.

How exciting does this sound! Unfortunately, I had previous commitments (see my report on the equally interesting “Sustainable Seafood Dinner”) and couldn’t fly back to NYC for the event. so did the next best thing and sent my NYC counterpart.

FOLLOW-UP REPORT
Our meal, a culinary revival inspired by an original menu from The Explorers Club, archive autographed by Shackleton himself as deftly prepared under the direction of Exotic Foods
Expert Gene Rurka, a long time member of the Explorers Club whose passion for studying unconventional foods has earned him accolades as being the ‘go-to guy ‘for concoctions of unique culinary curiosities.

His specially researched menu for this event began with cubes of Argentinean Ostrich on skewers, followed by a yummy Turtle Bisque, a room temp greenish broth with nuggets of
turtle meat. I was torn between preferring the Pheasant Breast Pate over the South American Prairie Hare, and after seconds of each, it was still a toss up.

My favorite dish was the Pemmican Pudding, a tiny offering of the expedition staple, buffalo meat mixed with dried currents washed down with Redwood Creek’s 2006 Cabernet
Sauvignon. Sure must have been a tasty treat for Shackleton and his sailors after months of seal liver and Penguin stew.

Post dining we gathered to hear noted Polar Historian Dr. T. H. Baughman recount the true tale of Shackleton and his 28 brave men’s expedition to explore the desolate Antarctic. Riveted for more than an hour by this true saga involving extraordinary danger, unbelievable heroism
and a burning desire to conquer the unknown I couldn’t help thinking that maybe, if T.H. had been my professor I’d be a bit more intelligent in the history department! He finished his talk to a round of thunderous applause and I departed on my own journey… back to find more wine
and Pemmican Pud.

Caption:
An actual Explorers Club menu from 1913 that was signed by Shackleton!

Or as we like to say in San Francisco…

Once Again, A Woman’s Place Is in the Kitchen… But This Time They’re Running The Show!!”

In honor of the James Beard Foundation’s 20th anniversary, 20 cites around the country will join in the Foundation’s first national Taste America food festival, celebrating the diversity of American cuisine.

Taking place the weekend of September 28-29, 2007, many of America’s most accomplished chefs, including Thomas Keller, Charlie Trotter and Daniel Boulud will simultaneously host special fundraising dinners and cooking events. Check the Website to see who will be featured in your town.

A special shout-out to San Francisco for taking things one step further by celebrating the achievements of Women in professional kitchens. Traditionally the role for women has been in the home kitchen, while the men went on to lucrative careers as restaurant chefs. Even today the story of men being the “professional” chefs plays out on TV as well. The most popular TV chefs are men like Emeril Live and Bobby Flay. Women such as Rachel Ray may host popular cooking shows, but they are set in a “home” kitchen and are designed more to show audiences how to cook for family and friends.

But in recent decades, women have slowly and very publicly been emerging as forces at the pinnacle of the food industry – with many pioneering Bay Area women chefs and restaurateurs leading the way! In recognition of their contribution to the American gastronomic landscape, the San Francisco’s James Beard Foundation’s Taste America™ extravaganza will feature an all-star lineup of Beard Award-winning women. They include special guest chef extraordinaire Gale Gand, Executive Pastry Chef of Tru and the Cenitare Restaurants in Chicago; Traci Des Jardins of Jardinière, the 2007 Best Chef Pacific winner; Nancy Oakes of Boulevard; author-chef Joanne Weir; and Cindy Pawlcyn of Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen and Mustards Grill. The culinary luminaries will collaborate to create a five-course dinner with wine pairings by women winemakers that will be followed by a dessert reception and a silent auction benefiting the James Beard Foundation.

Details: St. Regis Hotel, On the Terrace
125 Third Street, San Francisco, CA

Reception at 6:30pm

Dinner at 7:30pm

Dessert

Silent auction

More info: www.jbftasteamerica.com

Tickets: $250.00 for dinner, available online

Call Andrew Freeman & Co. 415-781-7766, or email tasteamerica@andrewfreemanandco.com

Continuing the festivities on Saturday, September 29, 2007, the James Beard Foundation and Williams-Sonoma will host a free event open to the public at the Williams-Sonoma Union Square store. The event will offer a range of interactive educational opportunities within the Williams-Sonoma store. Some of the activities will include:

• Cooking Demonstrations performed by Gale Gand, Joanne Weir and Traci des Jardins, designed to stimulate the audience’s minds and engage their senses.

• Cookbook Signings with Gale Gand, Joanne Weir and Cindy Pawlcyn, giving participants a chance to hear from and interact with a culinary master.

• Children’s Activities for our “Foodies of the Future,” encouraging children and parents to learn about and experience the fun of preparing food together.

• A Festival Marketplace featuring tastings and treats from local artisans and farmers – a place where people can taste, talk, and educate themselves about purveyors, farmers, products and cooking schools in their own backyard.

El Grito - every 16th of September is the Mexican Fiesta par excellence! On this day Mexicans all over the world celebrate Mexico’s independence from Spanish rule. It also provides a perfect excuse for gringos to pardy-hardy, too. And even though I usually eschew tequila, after tasting the newly released Partida Tequila, I yelped, “Ay Carumba!" and immediately bought a bottle for Independence Day Celebration.

We need to thank tastemaker extraordinnaire, Gary Shansby, for deciding that he wanted a fine tequila to wash down his Famous Amos Cookies (another succesful brand he developed.) He felt that there was a need for an exceptional, premium tequila that could hold it’s own next to a fine aged cognac or single malt whiskey. After extensively researching Mexico’s blue agave (which actually is not a cactus but a lily plant) and tequlia making, he signed a deal with the Partida family in Mexico, who had been in the business for over a century.

Combining the Pardita’s expertise and talent, some cutting-edge production methods, and Shansby’s passion and promotion, three Premium Partida Tequila’s was launched. (Number four, Extra Anejo Elegante (aged 36 months) which will be available this fall for $350.)

• Partida Blanco - (Not aged) Clean, clear, crisp with notes of citrus.
• Partida Reposado - (Aged 6 months) Smooth and rich with a touch of sweetness.
• Partida Anejo - (Aged 18 months) Intense golden color, honey fruit and spice tones, perfect for savoring slowly.

Tip: If you want to really wow your guests, you can make them:

THE PERFECT MARGARITA

1 oz. lime juice ( approx. the juice from one lime)
3/4 oz. pure agave nectar
3/4 oz. pure spring water
1.5 oz. Partida Tequila of your choice

Read more: www.partidatequila.com