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Our online resources,
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Archive for February, 2008
February 12th, 2008 by Dining Diva Janice
 Historic Inn Cherishes CoffeecakesOn these cold winter mornings, nothing is cozier than a slice of hot homemade coffeecake for nibbling with your cuppa, although I can’t remember the last time I baked… or even turned on the oven for that matter. But when I read that the Inn on Charlotte is hosting a Coffeecake Challenge recipe contest with a Grand Prize stay at their luxurious inn, it brought bake memories. (What most of you don’t know its that I used to own an award-winning wholesale bakery in NYC-so don’t pooh-pooh me as a contestant!) Hmmm, maybe I’ll enter my Cranberry-Lemon-Pistachio Crunch Cake or my guaranteed to wake you up Chocolate-Double Espresso-Babka.
The owner of the Inn on Charlotte, Lynne Fairfield, decided to hold the contest because even though she prepares a gourmet two-course farm-fresh breakfast daily, it’s always the cake that wins her guests’ admiration and request for recipes. “Coffeecake is reminiscent of a time when the kitchen aromas from breakfast enticed a family to eat together; I remember weekends when baking was an activity that family and friends shared together”.
The Grand Prize Winner receives:
- 2-night stay at the Inn on Charlotte (Sunday thru Thursday excluding holiday periods). All Inn amenities including gourmet breakfast and afternoon social hour with homemade refreshments
- Gourmet Lunch for two at one of St. Augustine’s Fine Restaurants
- Claude’s Chocolate – exquisite European chocolates made in St. Augustine
The prize-winning recipe will be incorporated into the gourmet breakfast menu that is served to Inn guests and be prominently featured on the Inn’s website.
For Official Rules: Visit: www.innoncharlotte.com
INN ON CHARLOTTE
52 Charlotte Street
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
904-829-3819
February 12th, 2008 by Dining Diva Janice
Known for comfortable sophistication, five star dining experiences and attention to detail, Celebrity
Cruises takes it up a notch with the  , a classy new ship featuring some exciting “firsts” in the cruise category.
As you well know, it’s Food and Libations that “float my boat” so I perked up to learn that there will be 10 exciting restaurants aboard ship. Celebrity has teamed up with top talent Adam Tihany,the interior design maven noted for such restaurant stunners as Per Se, Jean George, Le Cirque in NYC, plus Aureole, Bouchon and
Seablue in Las Vegas.
For his maiden voyage cruise ship gig Tihany designed the Solstice’s glamourous, two-level Grand Epernay dining room complete with a two story wine tower, the casually chic Oceanview Cafe and Grill, and the Sonoma- meets- Venerable Italy “Tuscan Grille” for steak aficionados. These, along with the ship’s seven other dining venues and 23 Bars should satisfy the palates of even the most jaded cruise guests.
Conde Nast Traveler readers rated Celebrity Cruises “The World’s Best Large Ships" in their February 2007 cruise poll. Still, not content to rest on their seaworthy laurels, the smart gang at Celebrity headquarters engaged the services of the Panel of Five, ( all women.) A frequent cruiser, a travel agent, a travel writer, a hotelier, and a cruiser wannabe spent four months addressing the Solstice’s cabin design. Their combined “wish lists” resulted in staterooms in the deluxe ocean view verandas a full 15% larger, with nifty technological updates, sophisticated furnishings in soft colors, and more efficient space utilization.
The Solstice will launch December 2008, in a stylish collaboration with the Corning Museum of Glass to bring the mesmerizing art of glassblowing to sea.
Check out the website to view some of the Grand Epernay Hollywood Glam Pics!
http://www.cruisecelebritysolstice.com/
February 11th, 2008 by Stephanie
After Juno and Knocked Up, I thought pregnancy was a hoot…until Romania’s bleak 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.
It’s not fair, really. There I was fresh from that damned hilarious Juno, a movie I hoped would continue for five more hours (and it will ! cuz now I’m reading screenwriting goddess Diablo Cody’s book, Candy Girl, a memoir of her brief  stripping career in Minnesota), when my mom and her erudite foreign movie-going gang invited me with them to see some Romanian movie I’d never heard of. It had won all sorts of awards–like all of them at Cannes, seriously.
Plus it was Romanian and I am crazy in love with that country, so I would have gone no matter the subject matter! Set towards the end of the Ceausescu regime and popular at the Transylvanian International (!!) Film Festival (May 30 - June 8, 2008), I thought this very femme-powered story about two young women students who deal with Communism while trying to arrange an abortion would be, well, charming like those other movies. Okay, so I’m nuts.
I have only walked out of maybe two movies in my life. And this wasn’t one of them. I SO wanted to. I had fantasies of escaping to the safety of my capitalist pig car. And some people did walk out. I yearned to be among them. But I had given my mom a ride and couldn’t strand her. So I suffered.
I alternated between depression, anxiety and horror. Exhausted and slightly nauseated, I was grateful to stumble out of that fierce flick. And my mom’s movieratti? Ravely reviewed! They went on and on about how powerful it was, the cinematography for pete’s sake. They said it would have been nominated for an Academy Award had it not been about an abortion. I said I expected a vampiric Juno-type thang. They said that I was stubbornly (and naively) sucking at the teet of America’s Right Wing Pro-Lifers.
I guess that made sense. Anyways, I would be curious to hear what any 4 Weeks-veiwing Divas have to say!
* * * *
In other non-fun foreign film news, I saw a fabulous German flick called The Counterfeiters. Wow, was this a fantastic and eye-opening experience! A true and truly fascinating story about the Nazi effort to counterfeit millions using Jewish experts in their concentration camps. It was the biggest counterfeiting operation the world has ever seen before or since! I highly recommend it.
February 8th, 2008 by Teresa
 
Smany hotels, so little time! You might remember my “Girlfriend Getaway” segment on LIVE with Regis and Kelly, well this was one of the fabulously frugal hotels that I talked about.
The hotel is in a great location – it is not the Ritz, but the Ritz is across the street. The staff is so fabulous and the GM Jerry is a doll. When you stay there, let him know that you are a Tango Diva. We have a Tango Diva weekend there a few months ago, when I was doing a book signing at Macy’s.
The five of us Tango Divas had a blast chilling in the hot tub and sipping champagne.
Aqua Hotel
1530 Collins Ave
Miami Beach
305-673-8109
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February 6th, 2008 by Teresa
Divas, I love my job. I get you hang out with you fabulous ladies, travel to amazing locations, and write about the latest chic hotels around the world.
But, I do believe that there is a women out there that beats me as having, “The Best Job in the World.” Meet Paulette, she is the "Dresser and Undresser" of the glorious men in Excalibur’s Tournament of Kings. You have to watch this video. And I am sorry Divas, she has no intentions of quitting her job.
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February 4th, 2008 by Teresa
My inbox averages around 300 new messages a day. Most of them are tedious work e-mail about projects that I need to finish, reminders of promises I’ve made, or virtual sales people trying to sell me products I don’t need. But, the one thing I do do everyday is read all the e-mails that comes from Tango Diva members. I have to be honest; some are criticisms about articles that were written or events that we support.
And, once in a while, an e-mail will pop up in my “in box” that puts a smile on my face and inspires me. Here is one of them:
"Hi, I have been a Diva for some time, but, I have spent the last year battling breast cancer. I wanted to write because I wanted to share encouragement to other women and to tell them how I have turned it around. You can look at my little website to see exactly what I am doing for the chemotherapy patients. Check it out. My kitchen counter has about 300 cookies on it right now!
http://purecookies.googlepages.com/home
Although I finished the rough chemotherapy on July 3 - I have a healthy inch and a half of hair regrowth- I still receive Hrceptin treatments every 3 weeks until the summertime. Despite all I will be going to Paris with my 16 year old daughter on March 15 and immediately went to your website. I caught some interesting information that I will print out.
That is my story for the day!
Diva Vivian”
 
So, if you are looking for that perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your Diva friends, I recommend some love from a Diva who is living life and getting ready to go to Paris.
February 2nd, 2008 by Dining Diva Janice
(Tee-hee, pretty clever title if I do say so:)
But you’ll be even cleverer, if you hurry and score some tickets for the February, 16,
VinOlivo Gala Event!
You’ll get all this under one roof :
* Swirl, sniff and sip Sonoma Valley’s best wines–Arrowood Vineyards & Winery, Bartholomew Park, Benziger Family Winery, Blackstone Winery, BR Cohn Winery, Charles Creek Vineyards, Chateau St. Jean, Cline Cellars, Gloria Ferrer, Gundlach Bundschu, Kunde Estate, Landmark Vineyards, Larson Family Winery, Little Vineyards, Loxton Cellars, MacRostie Winery, Moon Mountain Vineyard, Muscardini Cellars, Nicholson Ranch, Petroni Vineyards, Ravenswood, Robert Hunter Winery, Robledo Family Winery, Schug Carneros Estate, Spann Vineyards, St. Francis, Ty Caton, Valley of the Moon, Viansa Winery, VJB Vineyards & Cellars, Wellington Vineyards
* Meet and greet the area’s top Winemakers and Grape Growers
* Create your own food & wine parings as you sample culinary delights from over 20 of Sonoma’s finest food establishments:
Blazing Saddles BBQ, Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar, Deuce, El Dorado Kitchen, Epicurean Connection, Fiorini’s Cakes and Cookies, Maya Restaurant, Olive & Vine, Park Avenue Catering, Rayomond & Co. Cheesemongers, Saddles at MacArthur Place, Sante, Sonoma Meritage, The Big 3, The General’s Daughter, the girl & the fig, The Olive Press, The Red Grape, Wild Thyme Events, Wine Country Chocolates, Yucatan Sunset Products & Catering
*Of course, with a name like VinOlivo, the evening would not be complete without a comparative tasting of: Local Savory Olives and Olive Oils at the Olive Bar
* Save room for a variety of: Sweet Temptations with Port and Chocolate Tastings
* Remember to bring your “Gold Card” for: the Silent Auction for Rare Large Format Bottles and Other Unique Sonoma Wine Experiences
* Or if your cellar’s a little bare: Bid now and preview Sonoma Valley wine futures that will be featured at VinOlivo at www.vinolivo.cmarket.com
The VinOlivo online auction is Sonoma Valley’s Premier futures wine auction. This is your chance to gain access to many of Sonoma Valley’s most exclusive wines from Sonoma Valley’s acclaimed wineries including, Muscardini Cellars, Kunde Estate, Viansa Winery, Ravenswood, Valley of the Moon, MacRostie Winery, Benziger Family Winery, Chateau St. Jean, St. Francis, BR Cohn Winery, VJB Cellars & Vineyards, Wellington Vineyards, Sharp Cellars, Petroni Vineyards and Jacuzzi Family Vineyards before they are even released! Tell your friends, family, and community that the bidding has begun! Online bidding is happening NOW and will end February 18, 2008 at 10:00pm Pacific Standard Time.
VINOLIVO
Saturday, February 16
7:00 - 10:00 pm
The Lodge at Sonoma
$65 for General Admission, $55 for Wine Club Members, $50 for SVVGA Members, $75 at the Door.
For Tickets: http://www.sonomavalleywine.com/displayEvent.asp?eventID=534
February 1st, 2008 by Dining Diva Janice
Just in time for Valentines day comes news of a unique corporate benefit offered by Tokyo’s Hime & Company, a "Heartache leave."
Miki Hiradate, chief executive, whose company of six women markets cosmetics and other goods targeted at women, feels that after the pain of a bad break-up, women need time to have a good cry and will then return to work in a much better frame of mind.
What a great idea..but I don’t necessarily agree with her ageism theory–Staff aged 24 or younger can take one day off a year, those between 25 and 29 two days off and those older three days off.
"Women in their twenties can find their next love quickly, but it’s tougher for women in their thirties, and their break-ups tend to be more serious," Ms Hiradate said.
February 1st, 2008 by Dining Diva Janice
 Chef Carlo Cavallo of Sonoma Meritâge Martini-Oyster Bar and Grille comes to the rescue with his:
Chef’s Viagra Tasting Menu
*Trio of Oysters with champagne truffled Caviar mignonette
*Maine lobster served with asparagus, fennel, and blood orange
*Foie gras ravioli with sage truffle sauce
*Herb encrusted Duck breast with Pomegranate sauce
*Warm chocolate torte with Vanilla Coconut gelato
$75
And just to ensure success I’d suggest starting with the special:
Local Tsar Nicoulai Caviar & Local Charbay Vodka Sampler
*Caviar infused with white truffle paired with Meyer lemon Vodka
*Caviar infused with Wasabi paired with Green Tea Vodka
*Cavair infused with Beet & Saffron paired with Blood Orange Vodka
$12
Meritâge Martini/ Oyster Bar & Grille is located just off Sonoma Plaza at 165 W. Napa St. and is open 11:30 am-.9:00 pm Wednesday – Monday. Brunch served Saturday and Sunday 10:30 am- 3:00 pm along with lunch menu from 11:30 am. Call 938-9430 for reservations Visit the website at www.sonomameritage.com .
February 1st, 2008 by Dining Diva Janice
1.Sukhi’s Lite’N Healthy Indian Food
Also quick and easy! I’ve long been a fan of Sukhi’s excellent line of Indian spices, sauces, marinades, breads, chutney’s and snack mixes, but Indian food is not necessarily the healthiest food in the world. So, although I was sad to hear that Sukhi’s husband had developed some health issues and had to lose weight, the good news is that his mother immediately rushed to the kitchen and began recreating his favorite dishes with less sodium, fat and calories. The results were so good that Sukhi is now offering them in a new line of lite’n healthy frozen entrees. The Chicken Tikka Masala was so perfectly seasoned that I found it hard to believe that Sukhi had managed to reduce the fat content from 9 grams to a skinny 3.5 grams per serving!
www.sukhis.com
2.FoodShouldTasteGood
They could actually change the name of these crunchy, baked, multi-grain cracker/chips to FoodShouldTasteGreat and they wouldn’t be lying! I loved the olive flavor which is loaded with bits of black and green olives, and the Chocolates version are perfect when you want something just a little sweet to munch one.
www.foodshouldtastegood.com
3.LightFull Satiety Smoothy
This delicious tasting satiety (which means keeps you full and satisfied) smoothly is carefully formulated to keep most people full for 2+ hours, and weighs in at a measly 90 calories with 5 grams of fiber. LightFull is sweetened with real fruit, a tiny amount of evaporated cane juice, and erythritol (ir-rith-ri-tol), an all-natural, no-calorie sweetener that occurs naturally in some fruits. They are shelf-stable so make the perfect bring-along snack and are available in 5 creamy flavors including Chocolate Satisfaction, Peachy Cream, Café Latte, Strawberry Bliss and Mango Oasis, and their Chocolate Satisfaction, which tastes just like a fudgsicle when frozen.
http://www.lightfullfoods.com/
4.Vita Coco- Nature’s Sport Drink.
There was another coconut drink at the show that had a fancier package and was getting all the buzz, but trust me, VitaCoco tastes much better! This fat-free natural drink has 15 times more electrolytes than artifical sports drinks, and contains two bananas worth of potassium, with only 60 calories. Made from Brazilian green coconuts the drink is available plain or with added tropical fruit flavors.
Tip: And just in case you had one too many, Vita Coco is the best natural rehydrant drink: so no more hangovers!
www.vitacoco.com
Miscellaneous New Products
1.Tsp Spices
Organic spices in perfectly measured, freshly sealed, single use packages. Such a “no-duh” that it’s no wonder Real Simple magazine chose tsp spices as an ideal gift. So throw out all those rusty tins of spices you ordered on your rotary phone, and start fresh with a variety of tsp spices. Cleverly packaged in 1 teaspoons packets, twelve to a tin, it will do wonders for your cooking. Check out the website for a variety of recipe ideas.
tspspices.com
2.Grind to the Rescue
Grind was established a few years ago by a waiter who was frustrated using ineffective pepper mills, so he developed their signature Reflex Mill, a stainless steel thumb action pepper grinder. Today they carry over 50 designer-looking salt and pepper grinders. What I particularly love is their Grind-on-the-Go stylish mini duo. With all the new imported salt and peppers on the market, there’s no need to ever suffer through a bland restaurant meal. Simply whip out your lucite travel- mini’s and spice things up.
www.grindpepper.com
3.Woodbridge Grill
Get Smokin’ this summer without all the fuss and bother. W.G. makes smoking idiot –proof with by offering your choice of wood chips, Toasted Oak, Mesquite, or Applewood, with a specially designed magnetic tin that snaps right onto your gas or charcoal grill. You’ll get all that natural wood flavor and clean up is a breeze.
www.woodbridgegrill.com
4. Jelly Belly
The world-famous Jelly Belly jelly bean candy company’s newest flavor is their Dark Chocolate-flavored jelly bean variety. The decadent jelly bean is made with real dark chocolate and cocoa powder.
But even more exciting is their new Bean Boozled Collection. Bean Boozled will provide hours of hysterical fun for the young, or simply immature, when Jelly Belly dares you to compare 10 of their tastiest, most popular flavors with 10 of their weirdest ones. But there’s a catch - you won’t know which ones are which, since each pair is the same color. The black Licorice bean looks exactly like the Skunk Spray bean! Sweet, luscious Caramel Corn might also be Moldy Cheese. You may think you’re tasting their world-famous Buttered Popcorn bean, but what you’ll be biting into could actually be Rotten Egg. The only way to find out what beans you’re getting is to eat them—truth or dare!
www.jellybelly.com
bicycle helmet prices pirodr! 666
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