We were in Century City but our thoughts and attention were on Taiwan.  For at the AMC Theater we watched the premiere of a new TV show entitled "Best of Taste Taiwan: Ten Things You Must Do In Taiwan"
The event opened with a cocktail reception and  appetizers putting Taiwan culinary arts on display with dim sum and pot sticker tasties.
Then we moved to the theater where Mike Siegel, producer of the film was on hand to give an on site commentary as we watched what this island nation has to offer the visitor.
The film covered many aspects of life in Taiwan including its night markets, renowned tea, shopping opportunities, as well as the diverse scenery from high mountains to an amazing variety of coast line.
We had the chance to speak briefly with Brad C. H. Shih, director of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau in Los Angeles who told of the half million American visitors to Taiwan last year.
The film also gave us a look at the Island's diverse cultures and the handicrafts and artworks they inspire.
An online version of film will soon be available
For more information call 1 310 649-7700 or myridmarketing.com.

The seven course gourmet dinner served members of the Academy of Culinary Professionals last evening at UptownWhittier's Seta Restaurant was no surprise to this Writer who has long known and appreciated the culinary exploits of Owner Chef Hugo Molina
At Seta the layout and ambiance of the restaurant are a perfect match to the exciting cuisine.  It includes two bar lounges, a contemporary designed dining room as well as a private dining and conference room.
First course was Sauteed Calamari followed by Stuffed Piquillo Peppers and then Shrimp a La Diabla.
Next came the salad of Caesar Romaine Hearts followed by Stuffed Medjol Dates.
The sixth course was memorable, Medallion of Muscovy duck breast with Chorizo corn bread and caramelized cherries.
Dessert was passionfruit cheese cake with bananas and cashew nut crust.
Wines includes Poppy 2013 Pinot Noir and Destinata Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay.
Gracious as always was Aricia, Hugo's wife whose talents through the years has included pastry chef, designer of the Seta interior, Sommelier of the Year award by the Southern California Restaurant Writers and  Restaurant Manager.  We must add that Hugo Molina was the Writers Chef of the Year some years ago.
Seta is located in Uptown Whittier at 13033 Philadelphia Street 90601, telephone 562 698-3355, web info@dineseta.com.

As we sat in the Santa Barbara Station waiting for the train that would take us back to the San Fernando Valley we thought of all the things that were still on our "to do" list in Santa Barbara.  We had wanted to visit both the Museum of Art and the Natural History Museum but were short of time.
Our Car Free visit to the City had been most successful but our "to do" presented good reason for a return trip soon.
You can drive by the Santa Barbara Train station on State Street for years without truly appreciating its classic style and architecture.  But while waiting to complete the final part of the trip we could think about its history. 
The original station was destroyed in the 1925 earthquake and one now in place built in 1926.  I first saw the station a long time ago as an eighteen year old soldier away from home and Mother for the first time.
I have always loved train travel and are a confessed train buff.  Train stations have an interest all their own, all most individual and unique in appearance and with their own place in history.
For me our two hour trip from Santa Barbara back to Chatsworth ended too soon.  Like I stated,  I love trains.

We discovered that the Santa Barbara Trolley Tour was the perfect way to move around the city while on our Car Free mini vacation.  The tour bus has an hourly schedule and allows pickup and drop off at any of the twelve locations it visits.  So if the visitor wants to investigate further one of the destinations, like the Old Mission for example, he does so and then catches  a later bus to complete the tour.
We wanted to see the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum since we had heard how outstanding it was in depicting the marine history of the city.  So we left the tour bus at the harbor-Museum drop off.
Besides it was time for lunch and we discovered Chuck's Waterfront Grill located adjacent to the Museum.
Here we enjoyed an excellent lunch on the outdoor patio with long views of the small boat harbor and beyond, the hillsides that are known as the City's Riviera.
There was much to see in the museum.  It covers marine history from the discovery of the channel islands and shoreline by Cabrillo to the surfing sport that has flourished in Santa Barbara for more than a century.
The story of the Channel Islands is told from first being settled by the Chumash Native Americans, then by local ranchers and finally to its present status as a National Park.
Other exhibits tell of the early hunters and fishermen who dominated the marine scene in earlier eras.
One new exhibit describes how important tattoos and Scrimshaw have traditionally been with  seamen. And how it is an art form that has once again become popular.
After our Museum visit we once again got aboard the Trolley  bus to complete our tour.
On a visit to the Maritime Museum allow plenty of time since there is much to admire and learn.

This day we wanted to visit downtown Santa Barbara's Urban Wine Trail.  This is located in what was called the Funk Zone just a few blocks from the beach and across State Street from the Train Station.  It is a perfect destination when on Santa Barbara's Car Free promotion using Amtrak trains for transportation.
The Urban Wine Trail started in 2007 when eight vintners from nearby appellations decided to join Santa Barbara Winery in an area used by small industrial firms.
The concept was so sound that today there are twenty one wineries with tasting rooms all clustered in an area of a few blocks and the Funk Zone has a new identity.
We first visited Santa Barbara Winery, started in 1962, and the oldest winery in the county and the one that showed Santa Ynez Valley could be a world class growing region for vineyards.  It was also the first to use the Santa Rita Hills region for making outstanding pinot noir and chardonnay thanks to the influence of the nearby Pacific Ocean.  Here we met and chatted with Jayson Rodriguez and Kristy Torgeson.
We also visited Oreana Winery and Tasting Room and there met Owner and Winemaker Daniel Miles.
Known as Danny he is home grown, a lifelong resident of the Santa Ynez Valley and learned all his winemaking craft from local vintners.
Oreana was established ten years ago and now makes wines from eight varietals using grapes from several of California's best appellations.
The Oreana Winery and Tasting room has also achieved fame for its live weekend entertainment and party atmosphere at 205 Anacapa Street.
We decided to cut short our exploration of the Urban Wine Trail when a host of visitors suddenly began to arrive.  They were ashore from a cruise ship looking eager and thirsty so we folded our tasting notes and silently stole away.

We  climbed on to Amtrak's Surfliner Train 761 and it was All Aboard for Santa Barbara.  This was the start of our exploration of Santa Barbara's 2016 Car Free promotion which offers train passengers savings on  many of the amenities and activities that abound in this City.
We arrived at the scenic Santa Barbara Train Station just two hours later ready to start two days of activities.
Visitors like us,  by showing their train tickets, can take advantage of savings on hotels, wine tasting, city tours, cycling and sailing.
We walked three blocks on State Street to Hotel Santa Barbara where we were staying. And what a happy choice this turned out to be.  This Writer will have much more to say about this historic property.
Through the years we have spent many pleasant times in Santa Barbara and have long thought that its main thoroughfare, State Street, was the prettiest and most interesting in the State.
Tree lined and with emphasis on foot traffic it offers a huge variety of store front businesses including what seemed countless restaurants.
It also is home to a huge Farmers Market every Tuesday evening extending for blocks and with throngs of folk enjoying the crowd scene, impromptu live music, and the many food stalls.
That first afternoon we took the Santa Barbara Trolley Tour which takes one on a ninety minute tour of the City's main attractions with the opportunity to leave at some point of interest, like the Old Mission, and then get aboard again on a later bus.
That evening we followed the crowd roaming the Farmers Market scene.

Yesterday Los Angeles reinvented High Tea with a 21th century version called a Tea Tasting Party.  Yes there were the sweets and tasties associated with High Tea but also Reggae music provided by Compton Lion.
The event, held at the California Science Center, attracted a large crowd of mostly young people who took part in costume contests, raffles, comedian entertainment while tasting some forty different teas from many different countries.  Actually it proved to be a carnival with a tea based theme.
Besides the traditional desserts of such goodies as Earl Grey shortbread cookies, fruit platters and chocolate pudding cups there were food trucks and vendors with with food from many different cultures.
The Tea Tasting Party also served as introduction of the Tea Book which in future months will be marketed as book containing a huge collection of teas from Asian countries.
The Party started at 6:30 and lasted well past 9:30 p.m. as the music played on with Irish Rock, Indian Classical and finally a High Tea Quartet.