Enter MBT Footwear’s fun Valentines contest for a chance to win a Jelly Belly Gift Box!

But this particular Ka-Pow is tempting, tantalizing and down right hard to stop thinking about.

It’s DROGA Confections Put Your Money on Honey – salted caramels made with Northern California wildflower honey, embedded in pure dark chocolate. Four heavenly chunks to savor over and under…

Handmade in small batches from 100% natural ingredients out of San Francisco by a fellow entrepreneur, Michelle could use a bit of LOVIN support! Place your orders online or shop at these Callifornia (so far) shops. And think in multiples – as it will save on your likely re-orders.

Northern California

Andronico’s Market
1200 Irving St
San Francisco, CA

Bi-Rite Market
3639 18th Street
San Francisco, CA

Draeger’s Market
222 E. Fourth Ave.
San Mateo, CA 94401

S. California

Goods
1748 Ocean Park Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405

I would like you to be our guest at a very special, once-in-a-lifetime dinner that we are hosting here at the winery. We have partnered with Paula Le Duc for this amazing dinner, six courses of exquisitely prepared cuisine paired with 14 vintages of Crane Creek Cuvee one of our flagship wines. We will be reaching into our library and presenting our 1994 through 2006 vintages. Jill Davis our winemaker and I will guide this intimate group through each flight of this Merlot based Bordeaux blend, hosted in our vaulted ceiling candle lit barrel room. The event date is February 13th with dinner beginning at 6:30pm. I have attached a copy of the menu for your convenient review:

PASSED HORS D’OEURVES

Wine Barrel Smoked Duck
Curried Pumpkin on Walnut Cranberry Crostini

Grilled Black Mission Fig
Wrapped in Boccalone Lardo

Mt. Tam
Offered “Soft Serve” with Dried Apricot in a savory Cone

Lemongrass Marinated Flank Steak
Coconut, Peanut & Mint
FIRST COURSE

1994, 1995 & 1996 Crane Creek Cuvée

paired with

Crisp Pork Belly
Chanterelles, Brabant Potatoes & Lemon-Thyme
SECOND COURSE

1997, 1998 & 1999 Crane Creek Cuvée

paired with

Bacon Wrapped Supreme of Poussin
Roasted in a Wood Oven served over a bed of Cannelini Beans with Braised Leeks
THIRD COURSE

2000, 2001 & 2002 Crane Creek Cuvée

paired with

Oxtail Ragout
Grains of Paradise Pappardelle & Mascarpone
FOURTH COURSE

2003, 2004 & 2005 Crane Creek Cuvée

paired with

Broken Arrow Ranch Venison
Celery Root Puree, Roasted Red Cipollini, & Huckleberry Beet Reduction
CHEESE COURSE

Redwood Hill Crottin
Rosemary Honeycomb, Crisp Walnut “Lattice” & Quince Butter
DESSERT

Cocoa Nib Dentelle Box
Filled with Chocolate Cremeaux, Cassis Poached Pear & Sweet Beet Praline Dust

Would love to have you at the event!
Give it some thought,
Tony

I really cracked up when I reached the “Give it some thought” line. As if!

Exactly, two seconds later I called Tony and said, “I would be thrilled to attend. Where should I spend the night? ”

Without missing a beat he replied, “You must stay at Les Mars in Healdsburg. It’s totally unbelievable.”

Which is how I came to spend Valentine’s Day in Healdsburg, all on my own and blissfully happy.

Les Mars Hotel

I entered Les Mars, just steps away from the main square, with sky-high expectations after reading copious rave reviews on this Relais & Chateaux property. Although I’m a tough critic, the next day as I sadly packed my bag singing my version of Michael Buble’s song, “I ( so don’t) wanna go home”, I realized the only thing that hadn’t been 100% perfect was that the bathroom make-up mirror didn’t light up. (When I mentioned this to Katy Ciocca, the hotel’s extraordinarily lovely, gracious G.M., she told me that they had just been ordered.)

The well-traveled Mars family (no relation to the candy bar) set out to create an elegant, sophisticated, European style hotel that offered exceptional Old World style hospitality.

To help realize their vision, the Mars hired Bay Area designer, Helga Horner, who began the project by asking, “How does one live beautiful?”

The answer is self evident in Les Mars’ antique Flemish tapestries, authentic Louis XV furniture, the leather-bound books found in the library’s carved walnut bookcases, the fresh flowers beautifully arranged throughout the 16 room hotel, and the petit private pool perfect for sunning and appreciating a nice glass of wine.

As I entered my glam suite, the Mansion Queen Room, featuring a cathedral high ceiling, flickering gas fireplace, a chilled bottle of wine at the ready, soft music playing, white orchids throughout and two insanely comfortable white, down-covered beds, I knew it was going to be tough to leave the nest. Except if I was heading over to the oversized marble bathroom, complete with Waterworks pewter fixtures, large bottles of Voss water, a deep Jacuzzi tub with accompanying lavender bath salts and scrubs, and assorted Bulgari toiletries—they even lined the drawers with hand-pressed linens. And kudos for supplying easy-to-follow written instructions, even with pictures, for the Jacuzzi, cd/dvd player, and the tv remote.

But stir I must since it was time to head over to Lambert Bridge for the tasting dinner, but not before I stopped downstairs for the complimentary wine (boutique) and cheese (artisan) tasting held in the library. The selection changes nightly and is conducted by the hotel’s consulting sommelier, Ron Washam. Ron is a wealth of wine info and is delighted to arrange special wine tours and tastings for the guests, including some secret off-the beaten wine-road suggestions.

After a glorious night’s sleep I was awakened by a soft tapping on the door, which was my breakfast-in-bed delivery, which consisting of a mélange of fresh berries, thick yogurt, homemade granola and a generous pot of dark coffee (thank God, after all the wine I had the night before) delivered bedside on a solid silver tray with starched linens, fine china, and a mini-bouquet of white roses. What a civilized way to start the day. Wait, a Mimosa would really hit the spot. “Hello… room service?”

Les Mars is not only a top choice for your next romantic getaway but it’s also perfect for a luxe girlfriend getaway. The staff would be happy to arrange spa treatments, bike rentals, gourmet picnics, limo-wine tours, or reserve dinner at Cyrus, the Michelin two-starred restaurant next door.

Lambert Bridge

That evening, as I drove cross the old trestle bridge and caught my first glimpse of the winery nestled into the hillside, it’s stone and rough wood lodge-like tasting room surrounded by an old-fashioned wrap-around porch (a perfect spot for sipping the afternoon away) it brought to mind a Rockefeller Great House.

Two gigantic wooden doors opened to the vaulted redwood tasting room, where about 50 guests were doing a little pre-dinner mingling, enjoying Hors D’Oeuvres and a glass of white wine in front of the welcoming stone fireplace before heading into the elegant candlelit Barrel Room.
I was introduced to Lambert Bridge’s gregarious winemaker, Jill Davis, who’s been producing some pretty spectacular artisanal Bordeaux-styled wines since her first vintage with Lambert Bridge in 2006. Previously, Davis made a name for herself at Beringer Vineyards, Buena Vista Winery and William Hill Winery. She’s passionate about creating classic wines in the old world style: rich, elegant and polished.

During dinner, Jill stood up and proudly introduced us to her brand new associate winemaker and longtime friend, Jennifer Higgins, who also has a stellar background in producing boutique Bordeaux varietals. It was exciting to be at the threshold of what I’m sure will be a revolutionary “Women in Winemaking” dream-team.

The Crane Creek Cuvee were all incredible with a cornucopia of flavor profiles, allowing for some spirited discussions at our table, as to which year paired better with each dish. I could definitely ascertain the different jammy red fruits, tobacco and leather notes, but shhhhh…they lost me at the pencil shavings.

Paula Le Duc’s food was not only delicious but beautifully presented. My favorite combos were the 1994 Crane Creek Cuvee with the Crisp Pork Belly and the 2002 vintage with the peppery, coriander flavored Grains of Paradise Pappardelle topped with Oxtail Ragout.

Although the 1997, 1998, and 1999 vintages are sold out, there are still many excellent years available. Jill vouched for the 2007 as a youngster with a lot of promise in the future. So, if you haven’t been before, I suggest the next nice weekend you plan a tasting (and a picnic) at the winery. The wines aren’t cheap but are well worth twice the price.

They also have a full calendar of special events that you can peruse on their website as well as information on joining their Liquid Assets wine club. One particularly fun sounding event is April’s Sausage Making class led by the master himself, Bruce Aidell.

Lambert Bridge Winery
4085 W. Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA. 95448
Phone: 707-431-9600

Put this on your wish list from him to you: The sweetest 14k heart shaped letter charms by NYC designer Tina Tang.

What would V-day be without indulging in our most pleasurable sin: chocolate.

New comer chocolateir Anand Chokkalingam handcrafts each of his spice-infused gourmet chocolates to create the most unique flavours you’ll ever taste, like Saffron Cardamom.

Or add a designer touch to show how you love thee with TCHO chocolates in limited edition packaging designed by Dutch artist Max Kisman.

522 Bryant Street, Palo Alto
In-store promotion only.

To reserve a seat, call (650) 327-8880 or email studio@thicosmetics.com.

FREE admission
FREE bubblies
WATCH or GET MARRIED at the pop-up wedding booth, VEGAS style.

RSVP HERE

Available in four fresh scents (Aquae, Citrus, Flora and Celebration) as well as in Scentless. And of course you can buy them by the bottle – but the travel packs hit our heart with an arrow thru and thru!
Great gift ideas too: calorie free Valentine treats for travelers, colorful additions for the Easter basket and if you must wait, perky stocking stuffers!

Soak, a no-rinse, biodegradable solution for all your hand wash-only delicates. It’s Tango Diva tried and true, we love it.

Broken Heart Radio
Broken Heart Radio is a melancholy mix of lost love and yearning with a touch of soulful redemption. These songs of heartbreak and hope will show you that sadness can be beautiful and love is fleeting but always on the horizon.

Slow Jamz
Slow Jamz features the greatest classic and current R&B love songs to put you in the mood for whatever your Valentines Day has in store Featuring the seductive sounds of artists like Barry White, Marvin Gaye, Keith Sweat, and Boyz II Men.

Rock Ballads Radio
Big Rock Ballads will take you back to the days of big hair and big love ballads. Raise your lighters in the air, grab the one you love, and find your own “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”. Big Rock Ballads on Slacker Radio features all the best balladeers from the 70′s and 80′s like Journey, Foreigner, and Aerosmith.

Country Love
Country Love takes the best of Country and focuses only on the love songs: old fashion All-American love stories. Fall in love with the boy or girl next door all over again.

Metropolitan Mood
Metropolitan Mood music is the provocative soundtrack to seduction and love. It’s not so much about the lyrics, as it is the sound and tempo of this mood music. It’s the sound of a big-city love affair. Featuring exotic electronica, downtempo beats and retro-futuristic sounds from the likes of Morcheeba, Portishead, and Massive Attack.

THE AUSSIE MAN: Adventurous, outdoorsy (always sun-kissed and looks amazing in surf gear), they have the British sarcasm without the stick-up-the-bum. And as for the Tazzies – best karazay fun ever!

Check all of the above when it comes Aussi celeb chef Curtis Stone.

His latest release, Relaxed Cooking with Curtis Stone: Recipes to Put You in My Favorite Mood is mouthwatering!

I met Curtis recently and he is just as captivating and charming in person as he is on TV’s TAKE HOME CHEF. Not a shocker that he was voted People Magazine’s Most Sexiest Men Alive. Watch this excerpt from his T.V. show on YouTube. Listen carefully as he says, “now smear that cream all over your rack.” mmmhmmm yum.

Needless to say, I picked up one of his books right away and found one highlight that I think would be great for a Vday meal to inspire some Latin love bites: Brazilian-Style Chicken With Okra. Simple, easy ingredients that can really spice up the night!

Fresh Thinking & Flawless Execution

Le Citron® Soulmate

2 parts GREY GOOSE® Le Citron flavored vodka
3/4 part raspberry syrup
3/4 part fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/2 part heavy cream
1/8 part rose water
Rose petals or edible flowers for garnish

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add all ingredients. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat. Strain into martini glass. Garnish with rose petals or edible flowers.

L’Orange® Lovers Allure

1 part GREY GOOSE® L’Orange flavored vodka
½ part Licor 43®
4 parts sparkling Moscato
Grenadine for rimming the glass
1 tsp sugar and 1 tsp orange zest mixed
1 chocolate candy kiss

Place the grenadine on one plate and the sugar and zest mixture on another. Invert the champagne glass and dip the lip of the glass into the grenadine and then into the zest mixture. Place the chocolate kiss in the bottom of the glass; pour in the GREY GOOSE L’Orange and Licor 43 then fill with moscato.

Grey Goose® Blushing Duches

2 parts GREY GOOSE® Vodka
1 part triple sec
1/2 tsp sugar
3 wedges ruby red grapefruit, peeled and seeded
Turbinado sugar (natural, large-crystal raw sugar)

Moisten the outside edge of a rocks glass with a grapefruit wedge. Roll the rim of the glass in the Turbinado sugar. Place 1/2-teaspoon sugar and grapefruit in the bottom of a shaker, muddle thoroughly. Add GREY GOOSE Vodka, triple sec and ice. Shake vigorously. Pour drink, including ice and grapefruit, into rimmed glass.