Good Life Guy is LIVE from the L.A. Food & Wine Festival! I’ll be telling you all about this spectacular Food & Wine event that has exciting venues all over the City and includes some of the finest wineries and Chefs. 
Now in its fourth year, the Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival, presented with generous support from founding partners FOOD & WINE, Lexus, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, JENN-AIR, and Delta Airlines, is a four-day epicurean event showcasing the finest in food and drink culture throughout Los Angeles, and culinary personalities from throughout the country. Set amidst one of the country’s foremost cultural destinations along Grand Avenue, the event spans the city and offers guests the chance to sample the cuisines and products from some of the most prominent epicurean influencers, while enjoying the sights and sounds of the entertainment industry’s brightest talents. The star-studded lineup has included celebrated chefs such as Curtis Stone, Michael Chiarello, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Thomas Keller, Guy Fieri, Robert Irvine, and local favorites such as Rory Herrmann, Michael Voltaggio, Matsuhisa Nobu, and Sang Yoon. Learn more here!
I’ll also be talking to Elliot Dolin from Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards about his wines and the newly approved Malibu American Vitacultural Area (AVA) and Tim Skogstrom who owns and operates Cornell Winery and Tasting room.
Most likely, when you think about Malibu, vineyards are not what come to mind. Beach mansions filled with celebrities or surfers riding the waves are more typical images. However, tucked into the Santa Monica Mountains is one of Southern California’s best-kept secrets — the vineyards of Malibu. Due to the hidden hills and remote canyons, it is possible to drive through the mountains and never see these vineyards. But from one-half acre backyards to thousand acre estates, there are more than 50 independent vineyards in the area today. And, with the imminence of Southern California’s newest American Viticulture Area, the Malibu Coast AVA, it is finally time that Malibu’s soil and climate are recognized as unique in their ability to grow wine grapes of distinction.
Elliott Dolin was part of the original team that petitioned the federal government in 2011 for the Malibu Coast AVA. Grape growing in Malibu is known to date as far as the 1800s, he said. During Prohibition, all of the vines were ripped out. Subsequently, between fires, the rising cost of land value and the growth of the wine industry in Northern California, no one saw fit to start planting vineyards in Malibu again, until 1985. Napa Valley Register – July 14, 2014
www.dolinestate.com
Tim Skogstrom owns and operate Cornell Winery and Tasting Room. Tim has more than 20 years experience in the wine industry and has managed some of the most prestigious wineries from around the globe. Natives to Southern California, Tim and wife Denise are devoted to bringing the best of wine culture home. The rich history and traditions of this area have enabled them to create a truly unique Southern California experience. Southern California has its own microclimates, its own traditions, and its own history, all of which are reflected in the wine served at Cornell Station.
www.cornellwinery.com
Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week: The Wines of Malibu AVA
While these small producer wines are not available in Kansas, you can visit there web sites, learn more and place orders.
This week’s wine feature available at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road is:
2010 Chateau Bel Air Haut-Médoc
A typical blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, this wine is a great value from a storied Chateau. Wine Spectator: “Features dark, roasted alder and mesquite notes mixed together, followed by juicy layers of linzer torte, blackberry pâte de fruit and plum sauce. The long, anise-framed finish displays a serious graphite spine for length and definition. Best from 2014 through 2020. 12,000 cases made. Score: 91. —James Molesworth, 2013.”
At under $20 per bottle this is a wine to buy by the case! Tell the folks at Jacob Liquor you heard about from Good Life Guy 🙂
All Things Barbecue, “Where Barbecue Legends are Made!”
Steven Raichlen is a multi-award winning author, journalist, television host, and now novelist. His books include the international blockbusters The Barbecue Bible and How to Grill and the New York Times bestselling Planet Barbecue. His new novel, Island Apart, tells a story of love, loss, redemption and really good food set on Martha’s Vineyard. Translated into 15 languages, Raichlen’s books have won 5 James Beard Awards and 3 IACP-Julia Child Awards and have sold more than 4 million copies. Raichlen also hosts the popular TV shows, Primal Grill and Barbecue University on PBS, and a French language show called Le Maitre du Grill. He lives and writes in Coconut Grove, Florida, and on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
In the second half I’ll be chatting with Carol Shelton “Zin Master” about her journey in wine. Ms.
maker’s Tasting Notes: 77% Zinfandel, 9% Carignane, 8% Primitivo, 2% Alicante Bouschet, 2% Syrah, 1% Barbera, 1% Petite Sirah. Aromas of black cherry, plum and raspberry fruit combine with a beautiful hint of vanilla-oak loveliness, smoothly textured in mouth, very creamy and round, the finish is long and has lush jammy fruit — this wine is dangerously good! Remember – you are what you drink ….
We all know that kids need to eat right and get the nutrition they need to be their best all day long. So why not make lunches that will power their growing brains and bodies? Making lunches at home is a great way to keep your child healthy. Not only does it allow you to nourish your child with the most pure and wholesome ingredients, but it also gives you the peace of mind of knowing what has gone into every bite your little one takes. Full of recipes to suit every age and stage, The Best Homemade Kids’ Lunches on the Planet shows you how simple and easy it is to prepare food that’ll be the envy of the lunch table. The 200+ adorable and inspiring recipes in this book are just as much a joy to make as they are to eat! There are even entire lunchbox meals that are gluten-, soy-, and/or nut-free. Make your own super-delicious, super-nutritious homemade lunches today–it’s guaranteed to be at the top of the class! 
Laura Fuentes is the founder and CEO of MOMables.com, where she helps thousands of parents every day make fresh school lunches and real food kids will love.
