My guest this week is Charles Phoenix AKA Ambassador of Americana with his latest book “Addicted to Americana.”
Raised on a used-car lot, Charles Phoenix was destined to become the Ambassador of Americana. The photo collector, food crafter, and field tripper is famed for his hilarious live show performances and “theme park” tour of downtown Los Angeles. This riotously colorful book, replete with Charles’s collection of vintage Kodachrome slides, celebrates his lifelong quest to unearth the best of classic and kitschy American life and style. Follow Charles on Facebook & Twitter!
I’m sure I’m older than Charles but the time frame covered brings back so many memories of my childhood, growing up in Miami Florida, going to the New York Worlds Fair in 1964 and traveling the world famous Route 66…America’s Highway. You’re going to love this book! Get a copy NOW
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Charles Phoenix is a showman, tour guide, food crafter, and author known for his live comedy slide-show performances, madcap test-kitchen videos, field-trip-style adventure tours, and colorful books. The self-proclaimed “vintage culture vulture” has appeared on Martha Stewart, The Queen Latifah Show and Cake Wars, been profiled in The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times, and been a guest on NPR’s The Splendid Table. Learn more about Charles here!
Later in the second half I’ll tell you all about a FUN event at this years Wichita Riverfest 2018. “Stars of Summer” is a VIP event hosted by yours truly Good Life Guy. It’s June 5, Tuesday, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce 350 W. Douglas in the heart of downtown and Riverfest.
- Try Slow Press Wines – Chardonnay, Cabernet & Sauvignon Blanc, all rated 90/100 or above by Wine Enthusiast.
- Taste some premium Breckenridge spirits: bourbon, vodka and gin with special guest Jenny Bartels.
- We’ll be offering tastings and featured cocktails, as well as heavy hors d’oeuvres.
An exclusive appearance by Wayne Bryan and dynamic Music Theatre Wichita performances will take place during the tasting event, followed by Festival of Broadway outdoors on the Kennedy Plaza Stage. Attendees will enjoy VIP seating for the outdoor show and reserved parking in the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview parking garage.
Please reserve your ticket by 5 p.m., Thursday, May 31
Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
Something fun from a winery that’s been around a long time and is truly part of Americana 🙂
Check back soon…
In Secrets of the Southern Table, award-winning chef and cookbook author Virginia Willis takes you on a tour of today’s South—a region rich in history and cultural diversity. With her signature charm and wit, Virginia shares many well-known Southern recipes like Pimento Cheese Tomato Herb Pie and “Cathead” Biscuits, but also some surprising revelations drawn from the area’s many global influences, like Catfish Tacos with Avocado Crema, Mississippi-Style Char Siu Pork Tenderloin, and Greek Okra and Tomatoes. In addition to the recipes, Virginia profiles some of the diverse chefs, farmers, and other culinary influencers who are shaping contemporary Southern cuisine. Together, these stories and the delicious recipes that accompany them celebrate the rich and ever-evolving heritage of Southern cooking. Follow Virginia on 
Georgia-born, French-trained chef and food writer Virginia Willis has made cookies with Dwanye “The Rock” Johnson, catered a bowling party for Jane Fonda, foraged for herbs in the Alps, and harvested capers in the shadow of a smoldering volcano in Sicily — but it all started in her grandmother’s country kitchen. Her legion of fans loves her knack for giving classic French cooking a down-home feel and re-imagining Southern recipes en Français. Virginia’s newest cookbook, “Secrets of the Southern Table,” is now on bookshelves. Her previous book, “Lighten Up, Y’all: Classic Southern Recipes Made Healthy and Wholesome,” received a 2016 James Beard Foundation Award of Excellence. Learn more about Virginia and follow her culinary exploits at 
On the eve of the Web.com Tour, the annual SPLURGE! Tee Off Party allows Wichita’s “who’s who” to gather in a fun and fabulous fashion. The event will be held on June 15 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the BKD air-conditioned suite on Crestview Country Club’s 18th green, followed by music inside Crestview Country Club.
A fun, affordable sparkling rosy from Ocaso. Pours a pale beautiful salmon color, with aromas of apple and pear skin up front. More apple skin on the palate, with delightful notes of red fruits and watermelon candy to balance the refreshingly dry finish. Looking forward to trying this wine with you LIVE in-studio, this wine is available at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road and comes highly recommended.
Founders Tom and Sally Jordan were maverick pioneers with a unique vision. They wanted to be the first to create a Bordeaux-style California Cabernet Sauvignon that was approachable while young yet aged gracefully. Located in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley, the home for their wine would be an extraordinary winery chateau combining winemaking facilities, guest suites, and kitchen and dining areas under one roof. The couple set a standard for American wine quality and wine country hospitality—a top standard that is still held at Jordan today—making it one of the best Sonoma wineries to visit in Healdsburg.
Rob Davis holds the rare distinction amongst California winemakers of working at one winery for his entire winemaking career—more than 40 years. His tremendous technical background, empirical wisdom, desire for discovery, and meticulous quality standards remain a guiding force in the vineyards and cellars at Jordan Winery.
Dry aging is the process by which large cuts of beef are aged for anywhere from several weeks to several months before being trimmed and cut into steaks. It’s a process that not only helps the steak develop flavor, but also makes it far more tender than it would be completely fresh.
Convenient and Classy
Buena Vista Winery has a rich, delicious heritage as the first premium-and certainly the most colorful-of all of the wineries in California. And its founder, the self-proclaimed “Count of Buena Vista,” Agoston Haraszthy, was a vivacious and eccentric pioneer with a veritable love and unending commitment to California wine. Today the Count is portrayed by my friend, the multi-talented George Weber, who was the perfect tour guide and host as we walked this bit of wine country history. A winery lovingly restored by Jean-Charles that’s producing splendid wines for every taste. 
After our formal tasting and lunch we moved to the sun-lit patio to chat about “Passion for Wine – The French Ideal and The American Dream.
