YumSugar

Sideways Is Back, in Japanese Form

YumSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:00:18 -0700

If you were stoked to hear about the release of The Ramen Girl, wait until you hear about the next big foodie flick. Oh, wait - you may have already seen it. Twentieth Century Fox is creating a Japanese version of Sideways, the Oscar-nominated comedy about four friends road-tripping through California wine country that became a runaway hit in 2005.

Given wine's increasing popularity in Japan, Fuji TV, one of Japan's biggest film producers, thought the movie would be an ideal candidate for a remake. But for its new film, tentatively also called Sideways, the company made changes to the storyline.Rather than drinking their way through Santa Barbara wine country, the group meanders through Napa Valley, a wine region that is better-known among the Japanese. The movie's two main male characters - named Michio and Daisuke, not Miles and Jack - drive up to Napa Valley from Los Angeles. “You can’t do a road trip in California without going over the Golden Gate Bridge,” said the director of the remake, Cellin Gluck.

At first, Napa Valley vintners were not too enthusiastic about the film, given that the original's Merlot-bashing lines led to a plummet in sales of the varietal. However, the new feature doesn't knock varietals of any kind and successfully managed to shoot at local restaurants, as well as winemakers such as Frog's Leap, Beringer, and Chandon.

I'd never have guessed that the Japanese would remake a movie like Sideways, with its focus on a specialized West Coast winemaking region, but I can see how the comedy has universal appeal. Do you like the concept, or should Fox have simply dubbed the original?

Source

Before and After: A Victorian Transformation

CasaSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:45:47 -0700

Sunset magazine recently featured the 154-year-old Victorian home of a Napa Valley couple that had great bones, but was bogged down with layers of wallpaper and colored with garish blue paint. The home had been neglected for 30 years, but a lot of hard work combined with the couple's pared-down aesthetic transformed it into a welcoming, light, and airy space that any of you would swoon over. To see the transformation, read more.

Beautiful, right? It amazes me how someone could ignore such a coveted crib for so long! I'm glad this Victorian's new owners were able to see through the mess and awful color choice.
Source

Bella Brand: Olivina

BellaSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:00:54 -0700

Parts of Northern California have this amazingly fresh, fragrant scent. I'm not sure if it's the eucalyptus trees, the ocean air, the smell of grass, or what - I just know that it is wonderful. So it's no surprise that Olivina, a body-care company in Napa Valley, captures its surroundings so well. Founder Susan Costner-Kenward incorporates hand-pressed California olive oil into her line's body butters, hand creams, body washes, and soaps ($6–$38 ).

Olivina's products are available in three scents: olive, fig, and lavender. All have a fresh, from-the-earth scent, but my favorite is olive. It's unusually beautiful; whenever I apply the body butter, I wind up smelling my skin all day long. And my guy friends liked it, too; Mr. Bella even put a dollop on his hands when he thought I wasn't looking. The scent alone is enticing, but the products are actually quite good, too. The body butter and hand cream provide moisture without getting greasy, and the body scrub uses crushed grape seeds to exfoliate skin naturally.

If, like me, you have a bit of a nature-girl side in you, I would definitely check out Olivina. It's luxurious but not frou-frou, and earthy but not too hippie-ish. Kind of like Napa Valley itself, no?

Cheers To Miner Wines

partysugar — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:03:31 -0700

For my birthday I invited a small group of friends to join me for a wine tasting in Napa. We visited a few wineries, but our favorite was Miner family vineyards. The excellent PR girl had arranged a private tasting and tour, complete with a surprise birthday cake for yours truly! Our guide, the jovial and informative Jaime, began by giving us a sampling of the Miner Sauvignon Blanc and Rosato. Next we moved on to the Sangiovese and the Pinot Noir - both of which were outstanding. However the best wine was the limited edition Benedetto blend series. A smooth and bountiful red, this wine was like heaven in a glass. Jaime lead us through the wine making rooms and into the Miner caves. Nestled in the base of a small mountain, the caves hold thousands of aging barrels of wine. We sampled a 2006 Malbec which they plan on using to make their signature blends. Later he showed us the private cave dining room where we had an impromptu birthday party. If you are planning a trip to wine country, Miner winery is a MUST stop. If you won't be coming to California anytime in the near future seek out these wines at your local wine shop. Miner wines have been served at the White House so I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. To check out the entire gallery of images from my trip there, read more

View 28 Photos ›

To Taste Menu or Not To Taste Menu

partysugar — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 06:08:31 -0700

A few weeks ago I found myself at one of the Bay Area's top 100 restaurants, Redd in Napa Valley. My cheffie buddy and I glanced at the menu before deciding that there were too many delicious dishes to choose one each. So we decided to try the five course tasting menu.

A tasting menu, if you've never experienced one, is a fabulous way to sample small portions of several dishes. Usually everyone at the table is required to order the tasting and for each course a different dish is brought out. At Redd, the first course I tasted was the tuna tartare, while my dining companion tried the sashimi. We rotated plates half way through each course and were able to taste a total of 10 dishes from the menu! To learn more on tasting menus, and check out pics of the food I ate at Redd, just read more

Here are a few more things you should know about tasting menus:

They differ from a prix fixe menu, although are sometimes called the same thing. In a tasting menu, the chef chooses what he sends out, whereas on the prix fixe menu, you pick from a selection of entrees.
A tasting menu can be paired with wine (usually called the wine flight). With each course you will be sent a new half glass of wine that is specifically picked to perfectly match the dish you are savoring. It's more expensive, but fun to do if you are interested in wine and food pairings.
Tasting menus can often be expensive.

While you get smaller portions, it is very easy to fill up quickly on a tasting menu. Don't choose a tasting menu unless you are ready to eat a full, several-course meal.
If you happen to be at a restaurant known for their tasting menu get it!
Tasting menus originated in Europe and were thought of as a bohemian indulgence. Only when they were adopted in America did they become a statement of fine dining.

What are your experiences with a tasting menu? Tell me about them below!

View 11 Photos ›

The Judgment Of Paris

partysugar — Thu, 24 May 2007 01:01:01 -0700

Today's date, May 24th, is a memorable day in California wine history. Before 1976, France was regarded as the only region to produce great wines. 31 years ago, a blind taste test was conducted by a group of eleven of France's most prestigious figures in the wine industry. The white wines were tasted first and the judges unanimously awarded the top honor to both (Chalone Winery and Chateau Montelena) - two California whites. Likewise, the top red wine went to a Cabernet from Napa's Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. The judges were appalled by the outcome and the results of the tasting were not publicized in the French press. Although it is difficult to evaluate the scientific results of such an objective tasting, the judgment did wonders in elevating the status of California wines.

Noteworthy Nibbles - Nov. 3-10, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:00:07 -0800

Kick-start the new month with a number of celebratory fêtes that are happening this week. Learn all about the art of butchering (and enjoy fire-cooked meats) in Napa Valley; sample food from Boston's best new chefs; or watch Paula Deen's antics in the nation's capital.

Where will your stomach lead you this week? Let us know below.

Boston, MA: StarChefs Boston Rising Stars Revue - Nov. 3
Washington DC: Tour de Champagne - Nov. 6
Houston, TX: Chocolate Festival of Texas - Nov. 6-7
Big Sur, CA: Big Sur Food & Wine Festival - Nov. 6-7
New York, NY: Cook. Eat. Drink. Live. - Nov. 6-8
St. Helena, CA: PRIMAL Napa - Nov. 7
Abbeville, LA: Giant Omelette Celebration - Nov. 7-8
Washington DC: Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show - Nov. 7-8
Los Angeles, CA: Great Chefs Go Organic - Nov. 8
San Antonio, TX: New World Wine & Food Festival - Nov. 8-15

Yummy Links: From Top Chef's Finale to Spanish Chorizo

partysugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:50:08 -0800

The finale of Top Chef Vegas was recently filmed in Napa Valley. - Eater
The New Yorker get to know Los Angeles restaurant critic Jonathan Gold. - Grub Street NY
Ubuntu, Napa's vegetarian darling of a restaurant, may start serving meat. - SF Foodie
Thirteen individuals who are making waves in the food industry. - Chow
One Houston restaurant critic has dropped his anonymity. - Eat Me Daily
What your beer says about you. - Serious Eats
Spanish chorizo adds a richness and flavor to everything it touches. - The Epi-Log

Photo courtesy of Bravo

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Thomas Keller

YumSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:50:09 -0700

On this Wednesday, we don't just celebrate Hump Day for the week; we also honor French Laundry chef and restaurant legend Thomas Keller, who turns 54 today. The culinary pioneer - who's been called everything from the food industry's Yoda to Father Jesus Keller - shows no signs of slowing down. He's about to open a Bouchon restaurant in LA and a new inn in Napa Valley. Although chef Keller gets plenty of press, he still manages to keep a lot of his personal life under wraps. Here, 10 things you probably would never have guessed about him.
Source: WireImage

View Slideshow ›

Come Fab Finding With Me: Napa Day Trip

FabSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:50:22 -0700

This weekend, I'm taking a day trip to beautiful Napa Valley. It's going to be scorcher, the weatherman predicted a heatwave - don't you love Indian Summers? The plan is to drive out there in the a.m., have a nice brunch, and start wine tasting. OK, some outlet shopping might be involved. It's going to be a long, fun day, so I need to wear something comfy and cool. Can you help me put together a fantastic ensemble? I want to impress my man.

I'll start you off with this DAY Birger et Mikkelsen Sequined Vest ($320). You can take the girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl.

Let's go Fab Finding. Be sure to come back and tell me your Fab Finds are up, or just tag your Fab Finds with Napa Day Trip. Now, you can build outfits by creating your very own widget of clothing items. We have everything you need to build outfits, and you can use your Fab Find bookmarks, too. This is an even better way to put together an entire outfit when completing your Fab Finding missions. Learn what a Fab Find is and how to make one. And here's a detailed explanation of bookmarks from GeekSugar.

To see some of my favorite online stores, read more.