If you are familiar with Phoenicia, the five star restaurant in Glendale, you will immediately notice a dramatic new wine cellar that is a major enhancement to the restaurant.
     For many years Ara Kalfayan has been most diligent in selecting wines from many countries but has always has emphasis in the wines of the middle east and his native Lebanon that have a history dating back to centuries before biblical times.  Now this marvelous collection of wines is full view of the Phoenicia diner with an open invitation to stroll inside.  By the way did I happen to mention that the whole new project was the conception of Ira Kalfayan.
      Although he opened up a few restaurants on his journey, Phoenicia has now become a landmark in Glendale. The restaurant features two large outdoor patios, one with a sliding covering roof, and two elegant and artfully designed dining rooms. Artifacts and paintings are on view in nooks and crannies as a backdrop amidst  tables covered with peach and white colored linens.
     Phoenicia is known for serving authentic Lebanese, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food, luring  couples for romantic dinners, family dinners on Sundays, and large celebrations of every kind. It has won awards as one of the best ethnic restaurants in Southern California.  The waitstaff is sensational.  Ara's menu is utterly fascinating and enticing!
     Cold Appetizers include : Labni, condensed yogurt served plain or with garlic; Warak Enab, grape leaves stuffed with rice, oil and veggies, cooked in lemon juice with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil; Baba Ghanouj, roasted eggplant finished with tabini and lemon juice; Moussaka, oven-baked chunks of eggplant with tomatoes, onions and garlic; Shanklish, "Chef Specialty"-aged cheese salad served with tomatoes, and onions; and a mouthwatering specialty of Cauliflower, sauteed and seasoned.          
     Hot Appetizers feature Hommos Kawarma, classic hommos served with tender pieces of lamb and pine nuts; Kibbeh Makli, beef dumplings stuffed with ground beef boulghour, onions and pine nuts; Soujouk, spicy Armenian sausage, air dried and sauteed with onions and tomatoes; Frog Legs, pan seared with lemon juice and cilantro; Rakakat, a selection of Lebanese cheese baked in a pastry dough; Spinach Fatayer, pastry triangles stuffed with soft and fluffy spinach.
    Lebanese Gourmet Specialties; Beid Kawarma, a southern Lebanese specialty of ground beef with eggs; Beid Ghanam, lamb pan-fried with garlic and spices; Lessanat, lamb tongue gently cooked to a tender finish with lemon and garlic.  Selections from The Grill: Phoenicia Mixed Grill, a delightful mixture of beef, chicken and kafka kebob; Lamb Shank; Lamb Shish Kabab; Beef Shawarma, thin layers of tender beef marinated and grilled on upright spit.  Seafood prepared to order pan fried, grilled or oven baked: Jumbo Shrimp; Shrimp Sautee; Shrimp Kebab; Sea Bass;  and Salmon Filet.
      Wines have long been Ara's hallmark and growing up so close to Napa, he became involved learning and listening to all he could about wines. Ahead of his time he was one of the first to serve wines by the glass.  From his new showcase wine cellar comes some fantastic wines from many countries including Lebanon. Legendary wines from Lebanon show a French influence and the red wines are generally blends of varietals like Cinsault,  Mourvedre, Syrah,Cabernet  Sauvignon, and Petite Verdot.  There's a fully stocked bar with top shelf premium liquors and beers.
      Live bands and belly dancing add to the atmosphere at the restaurant and nightclub Friday and Saturday 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with an entertainment menu featuring Cold Mezza, Hot Mezza and Main Course.     And there's an active hookah bar.  For many years this restaurant has enjoyed a reputation as being ideal  for special event celebrations, luncheons, weddings and corporate events.
      Phoenicia is located  at 343 N. Central Avenue in Glendale, 91203 (818) 956-7800 www.phoeniciala.com

  Since opening in 1996 the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles has been an educational institution   devoted to sustaining Jewish heritage and American democratic ideals.  The scope of its exhibitions has covered many historical subjects and a large range of courses, readings and talks are offered on a regular schedule.
     Our most recent visit was to view the photographs and range of Stanley Kubrick.  His fame now rests mostly with his work as a filmmaker with classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange.  But his early work   as a photojournalist began just out of his teenage  years when he became a staff member at Look Magazine.  The exhibition at Skirball features some 130 works through these early years with the title "Through a Different Lens: Stanley  Kubrick Photographs".  Using his native New York Kubrick trained his camera on everything from fashion shows, nightclubs, street scenes and sporting events.  His work reveals an assortment of human dramas including some complete stories using  black and white video.
     The exhibition at Skirball was on loan from Museum of the  City  of New York and includes the Look Collection and could well be entitled the formative years of Stanley Kubrick.
     A visit to Skirball is always a delight since it is easy to find and offers extensive parking and with a host of docents to help one find their way.  On this visit we were also eager to have lunch at Zeidler's Cafe which had just reopened after a remake that shows a contemporary decor and exciting menu to match.
    Here there are starters like Za'atar flatbread with choice of hummus or sweet potato fries or Bagel and lox.  Salads include Olive oil-poached albacore Nicoise or grilled salmon on a bed of spinach.  From the list of entrees that included penne pasta we selected the classic margherita pizza.   List of sandwiches is large with smoked salmon pastrami reuben on toasted rye, Beyond Beef burger or Whitefish burger.  Besides the usual beverages a list of wines is available by the bottle or glass.
     The Cafe borders with views to outdoor gardens and is serviced with a circular exhibition kitchen that adds much to the decor.
     Zeidler’s Cafe is open for lunch only.  For hours call Telephone 310 440-4500  Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles,ca 90049.  Web www.skirball.org.

There is no question that Catalina has enjoyed an image projected in song and film as an exciting place of romance and relaxation.  Certainly in earlier eras it was a playground for the rich and famous and playing its part for over 80 years is the casino which was home to big bands and top entertainment draws throughout all those decades.
Now it is the cruise ship with people from all parts and just about every walk of life being exposed to the Island. 
That song about Catalina "twenty six miles across the sea"  the Island of Romance" written by Glen Larson and Bruce Belland still seems appropriate.
Our latest  trip to the Island began with the  Catalina Express and proved to be a pleasant experience in itself.  We departed from the Long Beach Express terminal conveniently located next to adequate parking.  The Terminal is roomy, comfortable and the staff friendly.  Once aboard the good ship Jet Cat Express we settled in a comfortable Jet aircraft style chair.  Again we found the staff most helpful, helping with the luggage when needed.
We were staying at the Atwater Hotel, established in 1920, which proved a delightful and memorable experience.  Its decor is a blend of the contemporary and elegance of the past and the friendliness of the staff something to remember.
The Hotel, now operated by Catalina Island Company, is named for one of the original Wrigley family members, Helen Atwater Wrigley.  She was a talented musician who enjoyed playing harp, piano and accordion  at her Casa Del Monte home in Avalon.
“Sometimes she would be entertaining guests in lace and pearls, other times exploring the Island in denim and boots”.
Avalon Grill’s reputation for culinary success and outstanding service proceeded our visit.  Located on Crescent Avenue it is a large restaurant with both indoor and patio dining.  Inside it is divided into several  intimate dining rooms.  The bar and lounge id dominated by a floor to ceiling display of fine wines.
The night we dined there everything lived up to that advance reputation..  We opened with a consomme chicken soup followed by the fried calamari.  Knowing the kitchen’s reputation for serving fresh caught seafood we ordered the scallops.  These came on a bed of cream corn with full flavors and a touch of sweetness.  Surrounding all were small perfectly fried potatoes.
When it was time for dessert we shamelessly ordered the bread pudding, always one of our favorites.  It came with heaps of vanilla ice cream surrounded by fresh whipped cream.  We can only conclude that Avalon Grill certainly lived up to its reputation for our visit.
Address is 423 Crescent Avenue and  Avalon Grill opens daily at 4 p.m.  Telephone 310 510-7494.

Our recent experience in Glendale showed that going to the movies ain’t much like it used to be.  We were in Glendale to explore the newly opened Studio Movie Grill located in the center of Glendale’s growing downtown arts and entertainment district.
This Five million dollar project includes 60,000 square feet showcasing ten screens and 780 custom luxury recliners each including a service button, heated seats, telescopic table lamp and chilled cup holder.  Then there is the restaurant, a Mondrian style eatery with indoor/outdoor dining and  a well tested  American Grill  menu designed especially for movie goers and those visiting the entertainment district.
Since the first SMG opened twenty years ago the theaters have proven to be a boon to the surrounding area.  SMG’s unique model provides a full concept cinema eatery featuring a comfortable movie experience while including a neighborhood restaurant and bar
Here one pairs the best films with luxury seating, then press the tray table service button anytime during the show, and a friendly server will come to take your order.  If there is some time before your film is to begin there is the comfortable bar and lounge, one at each level.
With Glendale opening SMG now has eight locations in California including Monrovia, Simi Valley, Downey, Redlands, Rocklin and Bakersfield.. Nationally SMG has 343 screen operating in ten states nationwide making it the leader in the theater dining concept.
The Glendale location shows a modern design that is a mix of Textiles, stone surfaces, warm woods and touches of classics.  The evening we were at SMG Brian Schultz, Founder and CEO was present and he explained SMG’s mission “as a desire to leave a positive wake in the communities we serve.”  He pointed out the role of SMG  will play in the future development of the Arts & Entertainment District.  The complex is also available for private meetings, and fundraising events
Studio Movie Grill  Glendale is located at 128 -130 N. Artsakhj Street, Glendale, Ca.91206,  web www.studio movie grill.com.

Our first view of Carnival Panorama, as we prepared to board,  immediately told us that we were about to have a new and exciting experience.  As long time cruisers aboard Carnival ships we knew that here with Panorama Carnival was adding much to the cruising experience.
The arrival of Carnival Panorama – the line’s first new ship on the West Coast in 20 years – was celebrated in true Carnival Cruise Line fashion with Wheel of Fortune’s Vanna White serving as godmother and officially naming the ship during a  ceremony on board.
White delivered poignant comments during which she spoke about her love of cruising and the commitment she shares with Carnival to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, as well as the cruise line’s relationship with Wheel of Fortune, which she has co-hosted for the past 37 years.
Then, in a nod to her role on Wheel of Fortune, America’s Game®, White turned a series of letters spelling out Panorama that triggered the release of a bottle of Moet champagne to officially name the ship.
The festivities also included a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Carnival Kitchen, a first-in-fleet culinary center that offers more than 15 different interactive cooking, baking and decorating demonstrations.
Joining Carnival President Christine Duffy at the ribbon cutting were Carnival’s team of “Culinary All Stars” including Guy Fieri whose Burger Joint and Smokehouse Brewhouse are featured on Carnival Panorama.
“One of the things we are most proud of is the delicious food we offer across our fleet,” said Duffy. “To celebrate Carnival Panorama’s inaugural with our very own ‘Feast of Fun’ featuring our amazing culinary team both on board and through our partnerships really added to the celebration
One of the events we have always enjoyed on Carnival cruises has been a scheduled meeting for veterans to meet and chat. 
Then a few years ago they changed the format so that veterans attending were only spectators which we did not like.  Now aboard Panorama there is a new special bar and lounge honoring veterans.
Continuing its longstanding support of military women and men, Carnival Cruise Line debuted the “Heroes Tribute Bar,” a first-of-its-kind venue on the new Carnival Panorama that salutes our military heroes.
Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, was joined by military personnel and veterans on Carnival Panorama’s inaugural sailing for the grand opening celebration and toast with Carnival’s extended military family of guests and employees.
She also said that a portion of the proceeds from the new entertainment and gathering spot will benefit Carnival partner, Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to building strong, stable and secure military families.  Carnival prides itself on carrying more active and retired military personnel than any other cruise operator.
“The Heroes Tribute Bar is a project that is very near and dear to my heart and one that everyone at Carnival is extremely proud of. We’re always looking for new ways to honor our military heroes and this new outlet is a wonderful tribute to the sacrifices of our Armed Services personnel and their families, and a wonderful complement to our extremely popular military tributes which are held on each and every Carnival cruise,” said Duffy.
The venue features a distinctive All-American décor with logos of the five armed service branches of the U.S. military as well as patriotic and military memorabilia throughout the room. The venue’s walls are lined with photos and messages centering on three main themes:  Welcome Home, Thank You for Your Service and America’s Heroes.
Our short visit to Panorama included a dazzling display of cocktails, appetizers and a wonderful dinner in a truly beautiful dining room located at the stern  of the ship which included two decks, the second as a balcony..
For the next year Carnival Panorama will be on the west coast with weekly trips to Mexico.

The question is with 85 locations in California and Arizona, and at least two in the San Fernando Valley where we reside, why did it take us so long to discover One Hawaiian BBQ?  However the old saying “Better late than never” still applies so our discovery of Ono Hawaiian proved to be a happy event.
Our discovery took place not at one of San Fernando Valley locations but in downtown Los Angeles at 3010 Figueroa Street.  Here, at a media event, we were offered  a most appetizing buffet that included plate lunches and a large variety of Island favorites.  With the plate lunches there is Hawaiian BBQ chicken or Chicken Katsu, then Kalbi Short Ribs, the BBQ Beef and Kalua Pork.  For seafood try the Crispy Shrimp, Island White Fish or the Grilled Mahi Mahi which we thought truly outstanding.  Island favorites offer chicken and beef combo, a Hawaiian BBQ mix and Kalua combo.
No one leaves hungry at these restaurants.  Plate lunches include two scoops of rice and one scoop of Ono’s famed macaroni salad and veggies.  Another attraction we immediately noted was the modest prices, everything on the menu in the $10 range.  This pricing includes the Aloha Plate which allow one to sample two of the menu entrees, still for under $10.
All of the above was available at the special buffet that had been arranged for our media group.  We were also impressed with the presentation of most of these entrees, many with color photos on the menu.
Unusual among the beverages is fresh young coconut as well as fountain and bottled drinks.
To find the nearest location visit www.onobbq.com, there is also catering available on e mail at catering@onobbq.com. Most locations open  at 11 a.m.

An evening spent at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake certainly provided many reasons for visiting Ireland.  Presented to trade and media by Tourism Ireland it offered a new look at the Heritage, Culture and Cuisine of the Island Nation.  It also served to launch a new global communications campaign with the title "Fill Your Heart With Ireland".
Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland's Executive Vice President for the U.S. and Canada, explained that the new campaign offers a fresh approach to set Ireland apart from other European destinations.  It features lesser known locations and attractions and highlights outdoor activities.
 At the Four Seasons there was the opportunity to meet with representatives from hotels and visitor attractions which highlight the unique nature of a trip to Ireland emphasizing the range of high quality accommodations, things to do, value for money and ease of access with Aer Lingus offering non stop service from both Los Angeles and San Francisco to Dublin.  Some emphasis has also been placed on featuring experiences during the shoulder and off season months.
The event got off to a quick start with some entertainment from a most talented Irish dancer and three musicians skilled in local music and played with traditional Irish instruments. 
Then local representatives came aboard to talk about the Wild Atlantic Way: the Causeway Coastal Route and cities of Cork and Waterford.  Also about upcoming events like Galway 2020,  a new culinary festival, "Taste The Island", as well as a look at Ireland's Ancient East and Dublin. 
Videos accompanied some of these discussions and the ones of the Causeway Coastal Route were most impressive as it hugs the cliffs towering above the North Atlantic ocean.  Photos of classic hotels like Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links and Clontarf Castle Hotel proved most enticing.
The evening concluded with a buffet dinner featuring classic Irish dishes and beverages.
'Tis was a fine evening to be sure'.

When a restaurant continues to please its customers for 35 years you know they are doing everything right.  So it is in West Hollywood at the Mandarette Cafe. 
This Chinese Bistro, Restaurant and Bar  is owned and operated by Ken Yang who continues to offer traditional Chinese Cuisine  but with ongoing modern dishes  like the present addition of new Fall entrees.  This menu always has ways to entice both regular customers and visitors to the busy Beverly Center area.
Items like Strawberry Shrimp are original and become classic favorites.  Originally from Taipei the family includes the Father, Wu Yang, who as head chef, has been responsible a  menu that  continues to expand while still offering classics like War Won Ton Soup, and his son, Ken Yang, General Manager.
On our visit we opened with this Soup which was almost a meal in itself with choice of chicken or pork wontons as well as chicken, BBQ pork, shrimp, Shitake mushroom and an assortment of vegetables.  And of course we had to try the crispy Strawberry Shrimp.  Almost everything on the menu can be ordered in either a small or large portion which makes trying new dishes easier and more inviting.
One of the new entrees is Three Cup Chicken, Beef or Squid, this a traditional Taiwanese dish slow cooked in a special sauce.  Two other newcomers are from Sichuan cuisine, one a poached fish fillet combined with bean sprouts and a spicy sauce and another spicy one, Aromatic Fiery Shrimp.
After our hearty Soup and shrimp the most we could try was the crispy vegetable Spring Rolls which came with a unique sweeten lemon sauce.  However we did manage to add a cup of green tea ice cream from the dessert list.
Here there is a beer and wine bar with happy hours to go with the lunch and dinner menus.
Mandarette Cafe is located at 8386 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, Ca 90048, Tel. 323 655-6115, web www.mandarettecafe.com.  Mandarette Cafe is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.   Hours are Mon. - Thur. 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Sat. 12 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.; Sun. 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Vittles readers will note that in recent issues there have been stories about quiet, serene places, where it is possible, for at least a short period of time, one can escape from the seemingly frenzied pace and traffic of Southern California.  Now we have found a true jewel and this so close to where we reside in the San Fernando Valley.
It is The Japanese Garden, and after a wondrous afternoon we spent there  recently we kept asking ourselves "why did it take us so long to visit it".  For here we left the our present mad world of hustle for unbelievable peace and natural beauty.  This oasis is named "SuihoEn, The Japanese Tea  Garden of Water and Fragrance".
There are expansive gardens, with waterfalls, lakes and streams which we shared with abundant ducks and geese.   The stone lanterns, Tea House, Shoin Building  and Heavenly Floating Bridge told us that we were indeed in the kind of garden that Japanese Feudal lords made popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. 
Here everything has meaning and a story to be told.  The Japanese lanterns on display throughout the Garden are made up of five parts or elements.  They are from bottom up Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Spirit.   Each lantern has its own name like Kasuga, Daikoki or Yukimi Doro.
Upon arrival at The Japanese Garden one enters the Entry Gate of 'mystic profundity'.  Next there is the Dry Garden with its large grass covered mound which represents Tortoise Island, associated  with  longevity, while large upright stones symbolize the 'island of immortals and everlasting happiness'.
Our tour stopped for awhile  as we watched four small geese move by under the careful eyes of  both mother and father with our camera recording the scene.  There is much to photograph here and we took many photos on  what was a perfect Fall afternoon.  It was a weekday and we had the Garden, all six and one half acres of it,  almost completely to ourselves.  As you move along there are benches placed in places with scenic views of the lush gardens and active wildlife.
The Japanese Garden is located at 6100 Woodley Ave. Van Nuys, Calif. 91406, Telephone 818 756-8166, Web wwww.thejapanesegarden.com.  Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with last admission at 3:15 p.m.  There is a small entrance fee and ample free off street parking.

It is hard to imagine that any U.S. city offers a more diverse number of ethnic cuisines than Los Angeles.  Often whole streets or neighborhoods have been settled by one ethnic group and now offers a number of restaurants presenting that particular cuisine.   Glendale is one example where the cuisines of Lebanon and Turkey have been present for generations.
Now a group of restaurants has entered the scene with the concept of making the cuisine of the Eastern Mediterranean as popular as pizza and hot dogs.  It is called Bok Bok with its original restaurants located in Las Vegas.  Family owned and operated it quickly expanded to five locations in that city and then expanded in 2018 to Los Angeles where there are now three locations.  Looking at the menu we instantly noted that they had retained the names of some of the traditional classic dishes of Lebanon and other countries boarding the eastern Mediterranean.  
So here with an entree like Shawerma Plate, flame broiled marinated beef it comes with rice pilaf, piaz, fattoush and tahini.  Often the choices include hummus, mutabbal, batata salad or quinoa eech.  Here the pickles are traditional pickled turnips and sides have names like Falafel or Boreg or Sarma, the classic grape leaves stuffed with rice, onion and spices.
Next we noticed was the very modest prices.  The highest priced entree is Beef Kabob or Chicken Kabob plates at $12.  With an exhibition kitchen everything is prepared fresh and on order and includes online and delivery.  Diners can feast on flame broiled shawerma, free range rotisserie chicken, made to order falafel, salads, soup and sides like we mentioned above. 
Our dining experience at Bok Bok took place at Bok Bok Chicken located in Culver City.  Other Los Angeles locations are in downtown Los Angeles and Eagle Rock and more to follow.  In Culver City the location offers free off street parking, patio dining as well as a contemporary decor and ambiance for leisurely eating.
Like everything the desserts are also classic of the region with Baklava, layers of filo pastry and walnuts soaked in rosewater syrup, or Ashta, shredded filo dough with pistachios and sweet cream or Gatnaboor, rice pudding with cinnamon and rosewater.
Bok Bok in Culver City is located at 4114 Sepulveda Blvd, Ste E, for lunch and dinner from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Telephone 424 29-8294.  Other Los Angeles locations are downtown Los Angeles at 108 West 2nd Street, Telephone 213 278-0651 and in Eagle Rock at 2146 Colorado Blvd. Telephone 323 474-6779.
On line at BokBokChicken.com.

The story of how the San Fernando Valley has evolved over a half century is well told at the Valley Relics Museum.
 What was once one man's hobby has become a legacy for a large part of Los Angeles. 
The man is Tommy Gelinas and the object of his interest preserving an earlier San Fernando Valley.  Being a resident of the Valley all his life, Gelinas has been able to watch the vast changes that have taken place in the Valley during the last half century.
So he decided to save some of the things that displayed the Valley in earlier decades.  He collected as he could whether restaurant signs, menus, automobiles, and most of all memorabilia  of people who played a role in the Valley's continuing development.  He looked for buildings, abandoned after enjoying a distinctive Valley role, to salvage what he could whether signs or artifacts.
 For over 20 years Tommy Gelinas has been determined to save as much of the memorabilia of these Valley earlier beginnings as possible.  His problem became space, storage space for all that he was acquiring.
The answer was Valley Relics Museum.  First he acquired a building in the west Valley, divided it into rooms, each with a separate theme, and opened the Museum.  The response was immediate. But the success of Valley Relics was such that it soon out grew its west valley location and made the move to its present location in 2018.
Now the museum is located in two hangers adjacent to the Van Nuys airport.
Nudie's was famous, not only in the Valley, but almost world wide for its elaborate lines of western clothing.  One exhibit is devoted to some of Nudie's clothing, and photos of almost every western star, all who were customers.  There is also a collection of photos of  Valley-Hollywood cowboy actors and western musical groups.
For many years I had an office in North Hollywood only about a quarter mile from Nudie's.  Mr. Nudie owned two Cadillacs, each  prominently decorated with western gear.  In front of each car mounted sets of long horns, on the sides mounted Winchester rifles and horseshoes.  And he was a familiar figure as he drove through the neighborhood.  Both these automobiles are now in the Relics museum.
Exhibits in another room include a collection of match book covers, many from familiar restaurants, again some subjects of reviews written by this Writer for publication.  The two halls include signs from well known restaurants and eateries as well as automobiles and artifacts.
For us, as longtime Valley residents, the visit was a trip down memory lane.
Valley Relics Museum is located at 7900 Balboa Blvd., Hanger-Charlie 3 & 4, Entrance from Stagg Street, Lake Balboa, Ca. 91406.  The Museum is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. 
There is an admission charge.  Telephone 818 616-4083, Web www.valleyrelics.org.

 The second seminar we sat in on  was "Traceability  & Regulation of Italian D.O.C wines, with focus on Franciacorta: One territory, Three Denominations".
     This was conducted by Riccardo Curbastro, one of the owners of the  winery and vineyards, some located in the towns of Caprilo and Isee.   Here we tasted both red and white wines starting with a remarkable sparkling wine, Franciacorta D.O.C.G Brut made with Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir.  Another sparkler was Franciacorta D.O.C.G Rose Brut made with Chardonnay and Pinot Nero.
     Riccardo devoted much of this seminar to how wines are chosen to be labeled D.O.C or D.O.C.G.  He likened Italy's wine production as a pyramid with five sections, all  generic production at the base, then generic with identity of vineyards, vintages and varietals.  The top three, as the pyramid narrows in size are reserved for wines with distinctive appellations and a known  consistency in quality   Next D.O.C and finally at the top the D.O.C.G designation for wines with protected designation of origin. 
      Four of  the five wines we tasted were either D.O.C or D.O.C.G.  The three red wines included Curtefranca D.O.C 2013 RossoVigna Santella del Grom, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Barbera.  We gave this wine high points.
   Another red was one hundred percent Pinot Noir, 2011 Serbino IGT.  The wine we liked best was Rontana - Sangiovese Colli di Faenza D.O.C 2016 with one hundred per cent Sangiovese grapes, but then we have a particular fondness for this Grape varietal.
   At the walk around tasting first we dived into the food table which included cheese stuffed ravioli and pasta in a mushroom tomato sauce. 
   The wineries represented were from all the famed Italian appellations, Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto, Campania, Marche and Lombardy
   At the walkaround we directed our first visits to wineries from Italy's famous islands, Sicily and Sardinia.  We have a special interest in wines from Sicily since our mother was born there, coming to the U.S. as a three year old with five year old sister.
    The wineries in Sicily recently began looking  at some of their native varietals like Nero d'Avola, Eughenes Syrah and Nerekki Mascalese.  The same is true in Sardinia with local varietals like Isula, Lakana and Mamuthone
   The seminars were well attended with not an empty seat to be found and the walk around was a full house as well.
   Simply Italian may have been the wrong name for the event since the seminars proved there are no simple Italian wines.

 It was not until the decade of 1970 that Americans really became interested in wines.  It was a new generation and like all before them wanted to invent their own life-style and interests.  
      The wine industry responded with new wineries, more plantings, new varietals and as the result a new interest in wine tasting.  With all this new attention soon to follow were wine writers like yours truly.  Actually the dean of all wine writers in Southern California was the late Robert Balzer, then writing the first wine column appearing in the Los Angeles Times.
     In knowledge about wine Robert was way ahead of his time and often conducted wine courses for consumers and of course attended many wine tastings.  I  often sat with him at  these tastings and  at one recall saying that we had already heard much about these wines and varietals.  Robert responded by saying that he never went to one of these events without learning something new.  He summed it up by saying that "there is always something new to learn about wine."
     This proved to be a remarkably true statement which explains why we recently attended two seminars at the Simply Italian Great Wines tour conducted at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.  This proved to be an all day event with five different seminars, then a three hour tasting with twenty two Italian wineries participating.
     The first seminar we attended was entitled "The Sparkling Life-Fresh & Fun from Fruili".  The Friuli Venezia Giulia region in located in the far northeastern part of Italy and includes the provinces of Pordenone and Udine.  The "Friuli Grave" appellation in recent years now enjoys a large D.O.C area thanks to some wines of the highest quality.  We tasted nine wines some made from local varietals like Glera and Ribolla gialla.  Popular for the region is Pinot Grigio and we tasted some that were 100 percent of this varietal.  All the wines we tasted were white with one exception, a Antonutti Spumante Rose Extra Dry which included Merlot and Refosco.  Its bright pink color most attractive.
     Conducting this seminar was Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser.  We had the opportunity to chat with Tim and learned that he had, until recently, made his home in San Francisco.  We had to add that this was our home town as well where we grew up.

 Since opening in 1991 the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum has had five million visitors.  The Museum besides chronicling the events of the Reagan presidency often hosts special exhibitions. 
     Currently an exhibition entitled "Egypt's Lost Cities" takes one back almost two thousand years as it puts on display recently discovered statues and artifacts that for centuries were hidden beneath the waters of the Nile Delta and Bay of Aboukir.  Also well told is how these remarkable treasures of an ancient civilization were discovered and recovered.
     This thanks to the dedicated man named Franck Goddio, a French mathematician who became an underwater archeologist  decades ago.  When Goddio started diving in the area he soon found himself face to face with remarkable well preserved statues and artifacts of a long forgotten thriving civilization. 
At the Reagan Exhibition viewers begin by looking at a screen showing Franck Goddio as he discovered some of these treasures and recovered them for showing in today's world.   Then follow into a room with two of the tallest statues ever recovered from ancient Egypt,  two  sixteen foot statues of Ptolemaic King and Queen, both carved from solid granite.    Many of the artifacts and statues date back to 300 B.C..
     This exhibition presents as fascinating look at two ancient cities that were lost to natural disasters and the rising tides of the Mediterranean Sea.  What Franck Goddio and his team has discovered and recovered shows a greater understanding of life during the age of the Pharaohs.  The current Reagan exhibition displays  200 of these authentic artifacts, some  showing the pots and vessels of everyday life.  These vessels made of bronze are remarkable in that their basic design still exists in similar containers today.
     Other statues to be seen include Bull God Apis,  God Hapy and a priest holding the god Osuis-Canopus.
     The two forgotten cities, that remained hidden underwater for centuries, were Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus.  Some of the recovered writings  reveal  Greek and Roman cultures that influenced Egypt through later centuries
     The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is one of Southern California's premiere attractions.  We had been to the Library in past years but our recent visit showed additions and vast improvements that have been made.
      Location alone is always a special treat as it has been built on top of a mountain with commanding views in every direction including the Pacific Ocean.  On this visit we made it a full day's outing with time out for lunch at Reagan's Country Cafe which also includes a Ronald Reagan Pub. 
     Twenty four galleries tell the story of Ronald Reagan's life before the Presidency and much of the personal relationship of he and his wife, Nancy.  With her death  she now is buried next to her husband at the Library.  We always enjoy looking at the perfect replica of the Oval Office at the White House and the place of business for so many presidents.
    The Reagan Library follows the tradition of established Presidential libraries first started by Franklin D. Roosevelt and has continued with every president since then.  California has a second Presidential Library for Richard Nixon located in Loma Linda
    The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is located at 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, Ca. Phone 1 805 577-4000.  It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. web www.reaganlibrary.gov.  There is an admission fee for visits to the galleries and exhibitions. 

 Dining is one of the easy ways to explore different cultures and cuisines.  And no one carries the banner of Brazilian cuisine better than Fogo de Chao restaurants.  Founded in 1979 in Brazil there are now 52 locations in Brazil, the U.S., Mexico and the Middle East.  Always  innovative the  restaurants recently introduced a new Fall menu.  So we were off once again to experience this for ourselves at the Beverly Hills location.
      First stop was the bar and lounge and the Happy Hour menu of cocktails and exciting appetizers.  Featured cocktail is Caipirosca which includes Tito's Vodka, lime and stick of sugar cane.  Also  Brazilian Gentleman made with Knob Creek Rye Bourbon, blended with passion fruit puree, gum syrup, lemon juice, honey and dash of Ramos Pinto Tawny Port.
       Added to the menu  items were  two new salads, one Butternut Kale and the second  Pear and Endive with a citrus-honey vinaigrette as well as roasted sweet potatoes.
     We had the opportunity to discuss the new menu items with Sevenir Girardi, general manager and told him we thought the lavish Feyoada buffet looked even more enticing.
     Of much interest to this Writer was a  new wine from Chilean winemakers, Vina Vik.  Named Eulila it is a red wine blend of Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.  The name is a tribute to Eulila “Selma” Oliveira, Chief Culture Officer of Fogo de Chao.  We thought the wine very much of premium quality with  smooth velvet like flavors and a pleasing finish. 
     We also had to try the new dessert which comes from a traditional Brazilian Recipe.  It is Creme de Coconut which features shredded coconut baked with condensed milk and cream, then served warm with ice cream.
     Always available was the huge self serving table of meats, appetizers, salads and an infinite number of specialties.  And those favorite meats such as the Cowboy Ribeye or dry-aged steak including New York Strip and Tomahawk Ribeye.  Picanha, the prime part of top sirloin still proved to be one of our favorites, carved medium rare.
     Of course all of this was served as usual by the well trained service staff with the churrasco carved tableside by gaucho chefs.
     Fogo de Chao offers a unique culinary adventure at its restaurants, with everything on the menu offered in abundance.  We especially enjoy the Beverly Hills location with its most convenient valet parking that leaves one at the front door.,
     In Beverly Hills Fogo de Chao is located at 133 N. La Cienga Blvd. open for lunch and dinner daily.  On weekends there is a mid day brunch.  Tele. 301 289-7755.

 Our recent visit to Black Angus Steakhouse in the west San Fernando Valley showed clearly why it has enjoyed such a long reign of success.
     Meeting us at the entrance was John Akillian, general manager, and watching him that evening proved that once again success begins and is maintained by alert management.  The Northridge Black Angus has been in place for forty years and John has spent half of his twelve years with Angus at this location.
     If you are compiling a list of successful chain restaurants Black Angus  certainly must be close to the top listing.  It is currently celebrating its 55th year as one of the West's  premiere steakhouses. The decor and ambiance of the western cattle ranch has been coupled with an always contemporary menu that has stayed with popular trends. An add on is superb marketing which has always been present.  
     We had been invited to experience some of the Angus new menu items.  Featured on a separate menu was Black Angus Steak and Lobster Mac and Cheese with the choice of either a filet mignon or sirloin steak.  Also a Shrimp Scampi with a delicious dipping sauce as well as a Baby Kale salad.  Featured cocktails included a Tropical Martini, Pink Pomegranate Punch or Sparkling Pomegranates Lemonade.
   The regular menu offers a long list of appetizers with  the Wagon Wheel  Sampler Platter as a favorite.  It comes with crispy zucchini, buffalo styled chicken tenders, shrimp cocktail and loaded potato skins.  Another appetizer that caught our eye was the artichoke-spinach dip.   Entrees include what the menu calls 'partner items' matching steak and seafood on one platter.  Other partner selections included filets with either lobster or shrimp and several with other steaks.
    The menu shows a large selection of sides, all priced most modestly.   Choices include green beans with bacon, the au gratin potatoes, a house specialty, onion rings and garlic mashed potatoes.   Other sides include an acclaimed Caesar salad, french fries or steamed broccoli.
  Our server was outstanding in describing the new menu and  showed  us that Black Angus takes the time to truly train their employees which is one more reason for the longevity enjoyed by its many restaurants. 
    John Akillian told us that two new Angus restaurants had opened in 2018 and that Black Angus Lakewood has just completed a remodeled floor plan and  private dining room.  The Lakewood restaurant is currently celebrating its 40th year with a series of special promotions.
   Black Angus was founded in Washington in 1964 and now has 44 locations spread across six states, Washington, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii.  The restaurants continue their western cattle rancher theme with certified Angus Beef for Choice steaks and burgers.  Always planned for entire families the menu includes seafood, salads, sides and desserts.  The campfire dinners for two are a tradition at the Angus restaurants.
   The Bulls Eye Bar has been  a leader in offering craft beers as well as selected wines and freshly designed cocktails and Angus now offers a new wine each month as a special promotion.
  Black Angus Steakhouse in the San Fernando Valley is located at 9145 Corbin avenue, Northridge, Ca. 91324, Tele. 818 701-1600, web www.blackangus,.com.  It is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.  There is also a Happy Hour Monday thru Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Tuesday a Happy time from opening to closing at the Bulls Eye Bar.

Far From Ordinary was the perfect name for the Seminars and Trade Tasting of wines staged by Wine Australia in West Hollywood recently.  Using the theme ‘Australian Wine Made Our Way” some 45 wineries from six wine producing regions of Australia were present at the showplace 1 Hotel West Hollywood.  These regions included Western and South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
We were fortunate to be included in the seminar that focused on the Shiraz grape varietal entitled ‘Heritage and Place-The evolution of an Australian Classic”.  Here we tasted and learned about how Shiraz was one of the first varietals planted in Australia and that today is home to what is the oldest Shiraz vineyard in the world dating back to 1843.  In all we tasted eight Shiraz, each from a prominent winery.  Some of the owners of these wineries were present at the seminar and took part the discussion. They included Bruce Tyrrell of Tyrrell’s Wines, James Lindner of Langmeil, and Chester Osboure of d’Arenberg.  Moderator of the seminar was Mark Davidson of Wine Australia.
All eight Shiraz rated high points on my score card but obtaining a perfect score was Langmeil ‘The Freedom 1843’ Barossa Valley  2015 Shiraz produced from vines planted in 1843.  The vintage is truly a classic.  Two others we also gave high marks to were d’Arenberg ‘The Dead Arm’ McLaren Vale’ 2015 Shiraz and Jim Barry Wine ‘The McRae Wood’ ClareValley 2014 Shiraz.
Following the Shiraz seminar the trade tasting took place with hundreds in attendance.  Besides the wine tempting appetizers were passed around as well as two tables loaded with  meats and cheeses.  There was also the ‘Made our Way’ theater  which presented walk in seminars on the Wine Victoria and Margaret River wine producing regions.
Among the many booths we were fortunate to discover the one for Yalumba Family Estates and a delightful young woman named Jessica Hill Smith, who is the sixth generation of the Samuel Smith family who founded and planted the first vines in 1849.  Moving the family and winery into the 20 and 21 centuries has been Robert Hill Smith who works consistently in matching varietals to the terroir.  He has also been responsible for producing some memorable vintages by matching and blending red varietals.
After taking a photo of the delightful Jessica we departed well informed on the promising future for Australian wines.

It would be hard to select a more idyllic location for a unique dining experience than the one we enjoyed recently.  Perched on the outdoor patio three stories above downtown Santa Monica overlooking the City’s famed Third Street Walk we were the guests of Donald Moore, Executive Vice President & Chief Culinary Officer for The Cheesecake Factory.
 This was a Media event designed to highlight items on a menu that is offered at some 203 locations in the U.S. with Donald there to personally describe how dishes are customized and created to show all the fresh ingredients.
Located on the third level of the Third Street Mall this Cheesecake Factory is a very large restaurant, complete with bar and lounge, an exhibition kitchen and the picturesque open patio where our tastings were served.
Four unique cocktails opened the proceedings including a raspberry infused Vodka, a Guava Daiquiri, Rum Mojito and Whisky & Ginger.  Next appeared a table with appetizers such as a pork belly slider, which proved to be our favorite.  But also a Hummus with warm Pita chips, an Asian chicken lettuce wrap tacos and an Eggroll sampler which included  Avocado, Tex Mex, and chicken Taquitos. These we selected and tasted in a casual setting while Chef Moore described the lengths the staff will go to find and select true flavored avocados as well as techniques to give tomatoes the desirable taste.
Next to arrive were ‘Small Plates & Snacks” which included a beet and avocado salad, Avocado Toast with marinated tomato and red onion, a plant based burger and crispy fried chicken sandwich.
Our tables each seated four and for the Menu Specialties that next arrived were served at each table family style.  We quickly noted the Pan seared Branzino with lemon butter.  This Mediterranean fish is one of our favorites and we noted the delicate texture of the sauteed fish and lemon sauce.   The Cajun Jambalaya Pasta came with shrimp and chicken sauteed with onions and peppers and a very spicy Cajun sauce.  Warned that it was indeed spicy we had to pass on this.  However the Chicken Madeira proved to be one of our favorites and learned that it is indeed the restaurant’s most popular chicken dish.  It was a moist chicken breast covered with fresh mushroom madeira sauce and melted Mozzarella cheese.  Then arrived the grilled steak tacos with soft corn tortillas, charbroiled steak with a Chipotle sauce and served with rice and beans.
By this time this Writer was reduced to just tasting such offerings as the Mediterranean grilled chicken.
After all Chef Moore had already warned us that, still to arrive, was our personal selection of more than 30 legendary flavors of Cheesecake.  Naturally we ordered one that included  chocolate, and tasted my dining partner’s pineapple cheesecake, as well.
Donald Moore has had a remarkable career with Cheesecake Factory.  Starting ten years ago as a kitchen manager at the Cheesecake Restaurant in Westbury. N.Y., within two years he rose to Executive Kitchen Manager and two years later, Area Kitchen Operations Manager where he oversaw nine restaurants in Northern California.  Two more promotions placed him where he is today as Executive Vice President and Chief Culinary Officer based at Corporate headquarters in Southern California.

The upscale Kimpton La  Peer Hotel in West Hollywood was the place where we learned much about the Slovenia, a country located in Central Europe and best known for its picturesque mountains, ski resorts and lakes.  Thanks to these geographic features tourism is one of the leaders in Slovenian economy.
The La Peer Pool was the scene where we met with some of our hosts and then enjoyed cocktails and a bountiful culinary experience.  Live entertainment followed highlighted by a performance by one of the country’s lead singers, Maja Keuc.
Capital of Slovenia is Ljubljana with a huge medieval fortress as one of its historic and cultural centers.  Actually Slovenia only came into existence as an independent republic after World War ll.  Some of the leading tourist attractions are located in Bled, Lendava, Moravske, Toplice, Radenci and Ptuj, all available throughout the year.
The La Peer Hotel was also new to us and we were impressed with its unique contemporary decor and ambiance.  It is located on La Peer Drive which is exactly one block long  between Santa Monica Blvd., and Melrose Drive in West Hollywood.

Certainly all the factors for creating a successful restaurant were in place when Franco and Donatella moved the location of  Il Barone Restorante two years ago.  Franco Barone’s culinary talents were already well known and he twice received Chef of the Year  Awards by the Southern California Restaurant Writers.  His wife, Donatella’s management abilities are also well known and she was, one year,  named Manager of the Year by the Writers.
So when the opportunity came to acquire a new restaurant site  presented itself the time was right for this talented pair to move Il Barone Restorante to 900 Bristol Street North in Newport Beach.  Success was  immediate with the restaurant continuing to display its exceptional Italian cuisine menu and  a knowledgeable, efficient wait staff to match.
The  restaurant's popularity has been such that reservations are often required for both lunch and dinner. 
The day we arrived for lunch the restaurant was full as usual without a single empty table.  After chatting with Donatella  my partner and I settled down for some serious dining.  We opened with the Calamari Fritti, then I ordered the Saltimbocca alla Romana, veal scaloppini topped with Parma prosciutto, sage in a white wine veal reduction.
My partner went with the Pollo alla Milanese, pan seared pounded boneless chicken breast, coated with seasoned bread crumbs. He opened with a soup, Stracciatella con Spinaci, vegetable consume; chopped spinach, parmigiano and egg drops.  At this restaurant there are so many choices that ordering often takes a good deal of time for decision.  The lunch menu offers a full page of tempting pasta dishes some interesting and unique thanks to Franco's culinary talents.
This restaurant has an exceptional wine list and the staff displays a knowledge of wine that is most refreshing.  Also at the new location there is a most comfortable bar and lounge.
Both the lunch and dinner menus offer daily specials   For the quality of the food,  its culinary excellence in preparation and service,  prices at Il Barone are surprisingly modest.   Here dining is still a leisurely experience to be enjoyed in elegant surroundings and a feeling of luxury.
Il Barone Restorante is located at 900 Bristol North, Newport Beach with free off street parking.  The restaurant is open for luncheon Monday thru Friday from 11 a.m.to 2 p.m., dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.. Saturday dinner only and closed Sundays.  For reservations, often a must, call 949 955-2755.