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Top Tastes From San Francisco's Toast of the Town

YumSugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:00:02 -0700

Last week, PartySugar and I attended Wine Enthusiast's yearly bash, the Toast of the Town, which was held this year in San Francisco's stunning, historical War Memorial Opera House. There, we sipped our way through four levels of food and wine, enjoying everything from Korbel to Cristal - a tough job, but somebody had to do it. Read on to learn more about the most memorable (and affordable!) wines of the night.

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YumSugar Gift Guide: Last Minute Gourmet Gifts

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:16:11 -0800

As much as we try to avoid it, last-minute shopping inevitably seems to be a part of every holiday season. This year, do yourself a favor: Ditch the stressful, crowded mall, and shop online instead.

Email your Internet-savvy foodie friend with the gift of a customizable Tastebook; set your wine-loving college roommate up with a Wine Enthusiast subscription. For the truly special oenophile, opt for Williams-Sonoma's new wine club - a gift to enjoy year-round.

For more gift ideas, browse the selection below and check out all the gift guides on HolidaySugar.

PartySugar Behind The Bash: Wine Enthusiast's Toast of Town

partysugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:18:11 -0700

Last Thursday night I was invited to Wine Enthusiast's big wine bash, Toast of Town. Held at the War Memorial Opera house, the fête was four floors filled with wine and food. To see what the party was like, check out some noteworthy wines, and read some fun tips I picked up at the event, click the "Start Slideshow" button below.

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Learn More About Wine at Wine Enthusiast's Toast of the Town

partysugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:27:11 -0700

One of the best ways to learn about wine is to taste it. And a great way to taste a lot of different types of wine is to attend a wine-tasting event like Wine Enthusiast's Toast of the Town. The magazine is hosting an evening - in four major cities across the nation - of great wine, fabulous food, and moving music. Proceeds from the event go to San Francisco Food Bank, a company that provides food to starving locals.

The San Francisco event is this Thursday, Mar. 27 and I will be in attendance. Will you be there? Let me know and I will see you there!

For those of you not in the area check out Wine Enthusiast's upcoming tastings in Atlanta, Chicago, and New York. If you still aren't near any of those cities, consider hosting your own wine tasting to toast your town!

Have you been to a large wine-tasting event? Tell us about it below!

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Wine Enthusiast's Toast of the Town

YumSugar — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 14:44:06 -0700

Calling all wine lovers (actually, I should say wine enthusiasts)! Wine Enthusiast magazine is hosting an evening of music, wine (well I should hope so) and eating. Dubbed as "Toast of the Town," the tasting will feature premium wines and spirits from over 70 international producers, as well as signature dishes from over 30 Bay Area restaurants. The event is not exactly cheap (VIP $185, Tasting $95), however the benefit is for America's Second Harvest: The Nation's Food Bank Network and will also feature a silent auction of fine wine and accessories (plus think of all the wine and food you can taste).

Tickets for Toast of the Town are available online or at the door. The event takes place this Thursday (March 29) at the War Memorial Opera House.

I plan on being there, so if you're planning on attending, drop us a line and we'll see you there!

And for those of you not in the area, there are two other events going on soon. One in New York on April 23 and one in Chicago on May 3.

France Develops Wine Lower in Calories, Alcohol

YumSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:00:19 -0700

Call it wine lite: Vintners in the Languedoc region of France have developed a new type of wine that's low in sugar, calories, and alcohol. The vino, developed by the French Wine Research Center, only contains 60 calories a glass and is virtually free of sugar.

This is achieved by growing grapes that contain 30 percent less sugar than traditional wine grapes, and with a new distillation process that lowers the wine's alcohol content from 13 percent to nine. French authorities have given the green light for So Light, as the product is called, to be commercially produced.
"We are targeting a population that is very conscious of eating and drinking healthily. They also want to watch their weight and also don't want to lose points on their driving license if they drink," said Claude Vialade, one of the vintners behind the product.

According to So Light's creators, wine enthusiasts are unable to discern between So Light and a regular glass of wine, and they anticipate the enterprise being successful enough to sell several million bottles within the next three years. Do you think it will triumph? Would you buy So Light if it were available to you?

Noteworthy Nibbles - June 23-30, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:00:13 -0700

It's almost July, and the palatable parties just keep coming. If you're a wine enthusiast, head over to Pinot Days or the Telluride Wine Festival. Beer more your thing? Throw back some sake bombs at the Beer & Sake Festival, or hit up the Colorado Brewfest. Here in Fog City, the Best of the Bay looks to be one heck of a soirée. What happenings are you hitting up?

If you know of anything that's been left off the list, please go ahead and chime in below!

Sedona, AZ: Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest - June 23-30
Hampton, SC: Hampton County Watermelon Festival - June 23-28
Gettysburg, PA: Gettysburg Festival - June 23-28
Portsmouth, NH: Taste of the Nation Portsmouth - June 24
London, OH: London Strawberry Festival - June 24-27
San Francisco, CA: Pinot Days - June 24-28
Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Cranberry Blossom Festival - June 24-28
San Diego, CA: Beer & Sake Festival - June 25
Milwaukee, WI: The 2009 Big Taste - June 25
San Francisco, CA: Best of the Bay - June 25
Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Taste of the Nation South Florida - June 25

To see the rest, read more.

Cedar Rapids, IA: Cedar Rapids BBQ Roundup _ June 25-28
Telluride, CO: Telluride Wine Festival - June 25-28
Luling, TX: Luling Watermelon Thump - June 25-28
Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Wine Festival - June 26-27
Emerson, AR: Purple Hull Pea Festival - June 26-27
Chipley, FL: Panhandle Watermelon Festival - June 26-27
Tacoma, WA: Taste of Tacoma - June 26-28
Long Grove, IL: Long Grove Strawberry Festival - June 26-28
Burlington, VT: Green Mountain Chew Chew Food & Music Fest - June 26-28
Chicago, IL: Taste of Chicago - June 26-July 5
Honolulu, HI: Slow Food's Honolulu Fish Auction Tour - June 27
Washington DC: National Capital Barbecue Battle - June 27-28
Fort Collins, CO: Colorado Brewfest - June 27-28
Pennington, NJ: East Coast Food & Wine Festival - June 27-28
New York, NY: Summer Rosé Celebration With Ariane Duarte - June 29

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Noteworthy Nibbles - June 9-16, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:00:07 -0700

From Dr Pepper to pork to Philly cheesesteaks, this week's noteworthy nibbles seem to pay homage to time-honored American food traditions. We can't wait for the first ever Great American Food & Music Fest in Silicon Valley, which will feature guests like Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri, as well as famous regional specialties from all across the United States. Know of anything we've left off the list? Please feel free to chime in below!

Ithaca, NY: Taste of the Nation Ithaca - June 9
New York, NY: Wine Enthusiast Toast of the Town - June 15
Emporia, VA: Virginia Pork Festival - June 10
Lockhart, TX: Chisholm Trail Roundup - June 11-13
Kapalua, HI: Kapalua Wine & Food Festival - June 11-14
Winston-Salem, NC: Hot Ribs, Cool Music - June 11-14
Minneapolis, MN: Taste of the Nation Minneapolis - June 12
Salem, OR: Wine, Chocolate, and More! - June 12-13
Las Vegas, NV: Coffee Fest Las Vegas - June 12-14
Mountain View, CA: Great American Food & Music Festival - June 13

To see the rest, read more.

Oak Grove, VA: Chesapeake Bay Wine Festival - June 13
Minneapolis, MN: Famous Dave's BBQ & Blues Festival - June 13
Dublin, TX: Dr Pepper Birthday Celebration - June 13
Richmond, VA: St. Joseph's Italian Festival - June 13-14
Cockeysville, MD: Great Grapes! Wine, Art, and Food Festival - June 13-14
San Francisco, CA: Cochon 555 - June 14
Los Angeles, CA: Taste of the Nation LA - June 14
Ojai, CA: Ojai Wine Festival - June 14
Sedona, AZ: Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest - June 15-30

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Food Section Sampler - July 1, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:50:42 -0700

For this year's Fourth, forgo the fire and reach for all-American fried chicken instead. - Washington Post
Canadians are divided over the controversy of whether seal deserves a spot on the menu. - New York Times
Exactly how does one define American cuisine? - Chicago Tribune
What criteria to consider when seeking a wine enthusiast for a roommate. - San Francisco Chronicle
New York's leading lady restaurateur shares tips for eating out without spending too much. - Wall Street Journal
Do seasonal and local produce items surpass their organic counterparts in flavor? - Los Angeles Times
Upside-down cake isn't solely for pineapples; its design works well on in-season strawberries. - Boston Globe

Noteworthy Nibbles - Mar. 24-31, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:00:40 -0700

Spring is in the air, and that's evident with the number of fun food events going on this week that pay homage to everything from rum to crawfish.

We can't wait to taste our way through the year's best wines at Wine Enthusiast's annual Toast of the Town, and taste tequila cocktails made by SF's top mixologists at the Nirvino Mixology Contest.

What events will you be eating your way through this week?

Seattle, WA: StarChefs Rising Stars Revue - Mar. 24
Coral Gables, FL: Coral Gables Wine & Food Festival - Mar. 26
San Francisco, CA: Wine Enthusiast Toast of the Town - Mar. 26
Tampa Bay, FL: International Rum Festival - Mar. 26-28
Chalmette, LA: Louisiana Crawfish Festival - Mar. 26-29
Lake Tahoe, CA: Winter & Wine Fest - Mar. 26-29
West Palm Beach, FL: Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show - Mar. 26-29

To see the rest, read more.

Hammond, LA: Smokin' Blues & BBQ Challenge - Mar. 27-28
Lodi, CA: Lodi Spring Wine Show - Mar. 27-28
Uniondale, NY: Spring Craft Beer Festival - Mar. 28
Rutherford, CA: Napa Valley Mustard Festival Grand Finale Event - Mar. 28
Miami, FL: Deering Seafood Festival - Mar. 29
New York, NY: Friends of James Beard Benefit - Mar. 29
Miami, FL: Deering Seafood Festival - Mar. 29
Washington, DC: Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation DC - Mar. 30
San Francisco, CA: Nirvino Mixology Contest - Mar. 31

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