Annual Bacon and Brew Classic

The Bacon and Brew Classic takes centerfield on July 26, 2014 at Citi Field and Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas on September 27, 2014 and for a bacon and beer fest. 60,000 people are expected at the yearly event.

Bacon And Brew Classic At Citi Field on July 26, 2014 and at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas on September 27, 2014. The Bacon and Brew Classic is all about tasting craft beers offered by almost 100 of the finest macro and micro brewers in the United States. It is also about the one thing all people love, Bacon. Bacon and beer will be the stars of the evening as the New York Mets are playing the Milwaukee Brewers so the team will be in the brew capital of the country and beer will be the home team at Citi Field in Queens that day and evening. Coincidentally, Houston Astros will be playing the New York Mets on September 27 when the Bacon and Beer Classic rolls into Houston’ Minute Maid Park.

The Event

This is a doubleheader event. A day and night game so to speak of beer and bacon versus the great people of New York. Each guest will be able to sample 3 ounce pours of hundreds of craft beers from top breweries. A list of the top breweries can be found here. Sponsoring restaurants will be offering each guest, one bacon inspired treat so it will be a day of suds and pig fat on the home field of the Mets. A list of some of the restaurants can be found here. Live music and demonstrations will highlight the event besides the 80 breweries and restaurants taking part in this food and drink extravaganza.

Judging the bacon and brew

There will be two celebrities judging the bacon treats and the craft beers. They are Adam Poch, aka the “Bacon Minister,” and former Big Brother cast member. Judging alongside Adam will be David “Rev” Ciancio. David is well known in the East Village of New York City being the co-owner of Idle Hands Bar. David also runs one of the top burger blogs called Burger Conquest. Guests will also be able to download an application for heir smartphones that will provide interactive features for the event and also allow them to vote for their favorite brews and bacon treats. All votes will be tabulated at the end of the event and prizes will be awarded to the top restaurants and brewers.

Sponsors of the Event

Cannonball Productions is the event planner but the sponsors are the ones enabling this unique experience. The charity partner for the event is Citymeals on Wheels. D’artagnan meat purveyors is supplying the delicious bacon. Clearchannel Q104.3, iheartradio are the event’s media sponsor. Another sponsor of the Bacon and Brew Classic is the Baconeers.

Time of the events

One ticket for each event, either the 12-3PM brunch session or the 7-10PM evening session. Guests can attend one or both sessions, but each ticket is specific to each time. VIP ticket holders will be admitted one hour earlier.

Price

Both day and evening sessions are the same price but there is a two tier pricing level for the event.

General Admission:

Entrance to the event, access to the demonstration and educational sessions and the interactive games. The cost is $59.00 per person and a non-alcoholic, designated driver ticket is $39.00

VIP Admission:

Entrance to the event, all the perks of general admissions PLUS one hour early entrance, exclusive access to the stadium warning tracks and dugouts. VIP exclusive brews and bacon tastings and access to the VIP lounge and cooling areas. Each VIP can also take advantage of exclusive stadium tour and they will receive a VIP souvenir glass. The cost is $129 per person. All tickets are non-refundable but transferable. To purchase tickets, Eventbrite.

Source: Bacon and Brew Classic

Sublimotion is the Most Expensive Restaurant in the World

Would you spend $5,000 for a dinner for two?  The Hard Rock Hotel in Ibiza, Spain and Chef Paco Roncero introduce the world to the most expensive restaurant in the world, Sublimotion. $5,000USD for two people for a three hour gastronomical adventure that will entice all your senses.

 

Would you pay $5000 for dinner at the most expensive restaurant in the world? That restaurant is called Sublimotion and is the brainchild and life’s dream of celebrated chef Paco Roncero. It is located on the coast of Spain a the Hard Rock Hotel in Ibiza.

The Experience

This is more than fine dining, it is art. It is an experience that stimulates your five senses. In the private dining area, you are surrounded with ever changing landscapes on the walls coupled with aromatizations, customized mood music, and ever changing use of temperature and humidity to create an atmospheric texture to the space. All of this creates a three hour food theater rather than a dining experience because of the chromatic atmosphere mating beautifully with the 20 courses of molecular gastronomy wonderment.

The Chef

Paco Roncero was born in Madrid in 1969. He is one of the leading chefs in Spain as evidenced by his winning the International Academy of Gastronomy’s 2005 L’Avenir Chef Award, The National Academy of Gastronomy’s 2005 Award for the best restaurant menu design, and The 2006 National Gastronomy Award bestowed by the Royal Academy of Gastronomy. His restaurant, La Terraza del Casino, was awarded two Michelin Stars and he has earned three suns in the Repsol Guide. Besides Sublimotion, Roncero owns five other restaurants in the world.

The Food

We come for the ambiance but the food has to be absolutely amazing to demand $2250 per person. The food is served at a community table that seats 12. The table is unique in itself as there are images projected on the tabletop and they change throughout the meal as do the colors on the walls as they are choreographed by a technician that is watching for every subtle change of he guests experience or to use color and images to announce something new is about to take place. There are 20 courses of food that will be served with a strong emphasis on molecular gastronomy. Lots of liquid nitrogen used to create foggy deserts and frozen spheres of goodness. One of Roncero’s sous chefs explains the dining concept, “The ‘receiver’ is the diner, the dish is the ‘message,’ and the setting is the ‘channel.” as written in Business Insider Magazine.

The Summary

When you have $5,000 burning a hole in your pocket and find yourself in Ibiza, you can eat like a scientific food explorer and cross one more thing off your bucket list. Problem with most of these high end food experiences is that they by nature are bound to disappoint because of the build-up and costs.

The Michigan Winery Tour–Chicago Day Trip

Chicago has many great sights to see, cultural stops and regional delights. When you have had your fill of Chicago Dogs and Wrigley Field, take a day trip to see four wineries in Michigan and have a gourmet lunch chauffeured by luxury bus.

 

Chicago is known for many things. The Chicago River that meanders through the middle that requires a multitude of crossings. The filming of many TV shows like “Crime Story,” “Chicago Hope” and “Chicago Fire” as well as movies like “Backdraft” and “About Last Night.” Chicago has many attractions like the Ferris Wheel at the Navy Pier, The Shedd Aquarium, Wrigley Field or an evening with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra listening to the classics performed by one of the world’s greatest orchestras. Chicago also has many hings to do within a 150 mile radius of the city limits. Today we will talk about the local vineyards just over the Michigan border less than a two hours drive. Nothing better than a relaxing motor coach ride to tour and taste some local vintage wines at Michigan Wineries.

Chicago Day Trip To Michigan Wineries

Just two hours away from Chicago is Michigan Wine Country. Cannonball Productions hosts a trip to the Wine Country of Michigan. Included in the trip are round-trip transportation to the four Breweries on a luxury coach bus equipped with a bathroom, air conditioning, reclining seats and Tour Guides. Stops at four wineries to sample 5 wine choices at each. Lunch will be served at Founder’s Wine Cellar where each guest will have a choice of grilled chicken breast or pork tenderloin with penne, vegetables and dessert.

Cost and Itinerary

Cannonball Productions offers the best deal and two schedules so people have a lot of flexibility in their travel schedule. Both tours cost the same, $150 per person inclusive of everything. Their are two tours. Both tours start at the same location with check-in at 600 N. Clark Street. The 1^st tour leaves at 9:00 am promptly and arrives at the Lemon Creek Winery at 11:00AM. For those who don’t like wine for breakfast, they have a second tour that leaves at 10:30AM and arrives for the first tour/tasting at Lemon Creek Winery, at 12:30PM. The tours arrive back at 600 N. Clark Street 6:00PM and 7:30PM respectively, just in time for a late dinner.

Which Wineries will we visit

The tour will start at the Lemon Creek Winery, then after a one hour tour will head to Founder’s Winery for another one hour tour. Back to the bus for a relaxing two hour ride to Round Barn and St. Julian’s Winery where the tour will last 45 minutes at each place. There will be 5 wine tastings at each winery for a total of 20 tastings. At the conclusion, each guest will be gifted with a customized wine glass, Group tours can be arranged by contacting Cannonball Productions.

The Small Print

Age is strictly 21+ because of the alcohol. Tickets are only refundable the first 24 hrs but can easily be transferred to anyone else. Bathrooms are available on the bus and other specific destination points. Maximum of 54 tickets will be sold for each tour and there will be a minimum of 35 people needed for the event to take place. If the minimum is not met, all parties will be refunded. All guests must sign a waiver before tour embarks.

How to Purchase

EventBrite is full price of $150 (SOLD OUT FOR 2017) Make your reservations for the 2015 season NOW!! Even though it is sold out, cancellations do occur so be sure to check with staff at Cannonball Productions to see if they have last minute openings. If not, there is nothing preventing you from renting a car for the day and having your own tour, just make sure you drink responsibly and have a designated driver.

The Milwaukee Brewery Tour–Chicago Day Trip

Chicago has many great sights to see, cultural stops and regional delights. When you have had your fill of Chicago Dogs and Wrigley Field, take a day trip to see four operating Macro and micro beer Breweries in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Chicago is an amazing city. Home of Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs brings many tourists into Chicago’s O’Hare airport every year for fun in the summer. Michigan Avenue and Rush Streets, “The Magnificent Mile,” offer some of the hippest bars and best food venues. From Chicago Dogs on the street corner to a Deep Dish with sausage at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, The Windy City offers many treats to its visitors. Sometimes people not used to city life can feel overwhelmed and a day trip is the best way to put your chi back in alignment. Nothing better than a relaxing motor coach ride to tour and taste some craft beers at Wisconsin’s Milwaukee Breweries.

Chicago Day Trip To Milwaukee Beer Breweries

Just two hours away from Chicago sits the heart of the Milwaukee Beer Brewing world. From MillerCoors to craft micro brewers, Milwaukee is the true king of beer brewing in the United States. Enjoy a two hour ride aboard a luxury touring bus to the oats and barley capital of Wisconsin.

 

What’s included

Round-trip transportation to the Breweries on a luxury coach bus equipped with a bathroom, air conditioning, reclining seats and Tour Guides. 4 stops at four breweries to sample 3 craft beers of your choice. Lunch will be provided of assorted Chicago famous pizzas and for the health conscious and lactose intolerant, gourmet salads will be offered as well. There will be two walking tours showcasing the differences between a major macro and a micro-brewery.

Cost and Itinerary

Cannonball Productions offers the best deal and two schedules so people have a lot of flexibility in their travel schedule. Both tours cost the same, $129 per person inclusive of everything. Their are two tours. Both tours start at the same location with check-in at 600 N. Clark Street. The 1^st tour leaves at 8:00 am promptly and arrives at the first Brewery at 10:00AM. For those who don’t like beer for breakfast, they have a second tour that leaves at 9:30AM and arrives for the first tour/tasting at Lakefront Brewery at 11:30AM. The tours arrive back at 600 N. Clark Street 6:00PM and 7:30PM respectively, just in time for a late dinner.

Which Breweries do we visit

The tour will start at the Lakefront Brewery. The second stop will be MillerCoors Brewery. We will then eat and taste more beer at the Milwaukee Ale House, which is the tasting room of the Milwaukee Brewing Company. Our final stop will be a pint at Stonefly Brewery. These events sell out quickly so reserve early. Group tours can be arranged by contacting Cannonball Productions.

The Small Print

Age is strictly 21+ because of he alcohol. Tickets are only refundable the first 24 hrs but can easily be transferred to anyone else. Bathrooms are available on the bus and other specific destination points. Maximum of 54 tickets will be sold for each tour and there will be a minimum of 35 people needed for the event to take place. If the minimum is not met, all parties will be refunded. All guests must sign a waiver before tour embarks.

How to Purchase

Groupon has a 39% off deal so the cost is only $79 per person inclusive.

EventBrite is full price of $129 plus a service fee of $8.09.

Shooting and Drinking in Michigan–Chicago Day Trip

Chicago is a tourist destination for many Americans and foreigners. Chicago has an assortment of top museums and cultural attractions. Chicago has many bridges crossing back and forth over the Chicago River which can make it a very hot humid place to be in the summer months. Day trips away from the city provides relief from this city heat and also offers unique activities not found in the city limits. Nothing better than a relaxing motor coach ride for a day of shooting weapons at a range and then a tour of a working Winery, Brewery and Distillery for a tasting menu of libations.

Point Blank Shooting Range and Sport Club

Just a few hours away by luxury motor coach from Chicago is Benton Harbor, Michigan, home of the Point Blank Shooting Range and Sport Club. Enjoy 1.5 hours firing 55 rounds thru a AK-47, Shotgun and Pistol. You will receive proper firearm instruction by professional one on one instruction. It is a perfect way to introduce the novice to firearms. At the range, the best marksman will receive a prize for most accurate shooting and all will be able to take home their target for display of their prowess. After the shooting, we will sit down to a BBQ lunch before heading to the Round Barn Winery, Brewery, and Distillery.

Round Barn Winery, Brewery, and Distillery

You will spend 1.5 hours touring a working Winery, Brewery and Distillery and tasting 8 unique brews of your choice. The choices will consist of beer, wine or liquor tastings. No need to worry about the driving since you will be traveling back on the luxury bus and your stomach will be well sated with he BBQ meal and the spirits drank. You can also take home your wine or beer glass as a souvenir of the day.

What’s included

Round-trip transportation on a luxury coach bus equipped with a bathroom, air conditioning, reclining seats and Tour Guides. 55 rounds at the shooting range. BBQ lunch served at Point Blank Sports Club. Eight tastings of beer, wine, or liquor and souvenir wine or beer glass.

Cost and Itinerary

Cannonball Productions offers the best deal and offers three schedules so people have a lot of flexibility in their travel. All tours cost the same, $79 per person inclusive of everything. The tours start at the same location with check-in at 600 N. Clark Street. The tours leave at 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM and Noon promptly. A 2.5 hour luxury bus ride arrives at the Point Blank Shooting Range. After the BBQ lunch, a tour of the Round Barn Winery, Brewery and Distillery. The tours arrive back at 600 N. Clark Street 4:30PM, 6:00PM and 7:30PM respectively, just in time for a dinner.

The Small Print

Age is strictly 21+ because of the alcohol and weapons. Tickets are only refundable the first 24 hrs but can easily be transferred to anyone else. Bathrooms are available on the bus and other specific destination points. Maximum of 54 tickets will be sold for each tour and there will be a minimum of 35 people needed for the event to take place. If the minimum is not met, all parties will be refunded. All guests must sign a waiver before tour embarks.

How to Purchase

Tickets available at Cannonball Productions for $79.00. Tickets go fast and mus be bough in the fall for the next summer. Please inquire for last minute cancellations or additional tours being offered.

Fresh and Easy was My Favorite Supermarket

In November 2013, Tesco sold Fresh and Easy supermarkets to Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Companies and they proceeded to raise prices, cut out the weekly discount coupon and basically trash everything that was good about shopping there.

 

Fresh and Easy was my favorite supermarket. It was owned by U.K. Based, Tesco, the 3^rd largest retailer in terms of sales, in Arizona, California and Nevada. The chain boasted 160 stores plus a distribution center and production center in Riverside, California and corporate office in El Segundo, California. They did $650 million in revenue and employed 5,000 people as reported by Time magazine.

I Loved Fresh and Easy BEFORE Tesco “sold” out

“Fresh and Easy” WAS a really nice place to shop, it doesn’t have any cashiers, just self-service checkout which I love. I really can’t stand dealing with a store clerk and always try to avoid any type of interaction with any employee at any store. They slow my process and cost me time. I can scan my own items and bag my own groceries, thank you very much. “Fresh and Easy” was my stop for fresh produce, meats, seafood, dairy and staple items. They also had a wide selection of “Heat and Eat” dinners, “ready-made” sides and really good pizzas. All at affordable prices and each week in the circular they had a $5 coupon if you spent $25. As the sign says, it was fresh and easy.

Tesco GIVES “Fresh and Easy” to Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Companies

As reported by The Wall Street Journal. Tesco GAVE “Fresh and Easy” to Yucaipa Companies. Didn’t get a dime, but actually had to pay Yucaipa $235 Million dollars for Yucaipa Companies to take the chain of food stores off Tesco’s hands. Yucaipa has stakes in Whole Foods, Wild Oats and A&P as reported by the La Times, in the article, “Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa buying Fresh & Easy stores from Tesco. ” So, this isn’t his first rodeo in the food retailing world. But I can tell ya this now, he isn;t making the 8 second horn riding this bull.

A Sad Thanksgiving for Fresh and Easy

When this “liquidations sale” was happening in November of 2013, Fresh and Easy was posting the news of course on it’s website but I found it interesting that when I went into the store employees steered away from making any comment. It was kind of surreal in a way. Yucaipa has been operating the chain for 6 months now and I feel they have had more than enough time and I can review them fairly and tell them exactly why, I HATE Fresh and Easy!!!!!

I HATE Fresh and Easy!!!!!

Hate is such a strong word. I rarely use it but in this case it is the perfect word to describe my feelings about the store. I live roughly 1 mile from Fresh and Easy and it was basically impossible for me to NOT go in if I was in the area. Since I live so close, I am always in the area and always going in. Now I barely go. I actually drive past Fresh and Easy and drive an additional 5 miles to go to Walmart or Albertson’s to get my groceries. I do occasionally pop in to Fresh and Easy but it is just to pick up Coffee, Creamer, and a Hershey’s bar with Almonds,(I love them).

Fresh and Easy changes for the worse

First off, The stores are now open 24 hours a day. Good, if you live in Las Vegas, but unnecessary if Ron Burkle and his team of marketing dunces didn’t screw this transition and alienate everyone I know. “Fresh and Easy” stopped the $5 coupon. They stopped the free turkey with $50 purchase at Thanksgiving. To be fair, they offered it after Thanksgiving to unload what they couldn’t sell at an outrageous price before the holiday. By the 1 ^st week after Tesco sold to Yucaipa, they raised the prices 15-40% across the board on almost every item in the store. I can prove it as well, The pizza’s went from $3.99 to $4.99, Hershey’s Chocolate bar was $1.49 to $1.69, Tilapia went from $5.99 to $8.99, Heat and Heat Wings were 2/$7, now $6.99 each. The heat and eat BBQ Ribs, so delicious at $4.99, now $7.99. Fresh and Easy TV dinners were $1.99, now $2.19. I refuse to pay that “purely profit price increase,” to help Ron Burkle pay for the liabilities Yucaipa Companies assumed when they agreed to get hundreds of millions of dollars for accepting “Fresh and Easy” into his business conglomerate

My friends and I will help Fresh and Easy go out of business

This is gonna be simple and I can imagine a nice shoe store in place of the “Fresh and Easy.” We will sit and watch Ron Burkle turn this business into ash. I talk with a lot of people and the sentiment is the same. Fresh and Easy is a rip-off place to shop now. They sell overpriced food whereas anyone can go a few miles down the road and get the product, in some cases, at almost a 50% savings. I used to go to “Fresh and Easy” and always asked myself, “What else do I need?”, now I ask, “Do I really need that?” as I put it back on the shelf. I used to keep track of the points I accumulated and use those points for paper products, now I buy that stuff at Walmart. Hey, Ron Burkle, You need me, I don’t need you.

 

I’d Die Without My Sriracha Rooster Sauce!

Declaring the Sriracha Factory a Public Nuisance Could Move Them to Texas.

Sriracha hot pepper sauce, or affectionately know as Rooster sauce has been in the news for the last few months. They have faced a public relations nightmare when it was reported that the plant was spewing noxious gases from their facility that was affecting the local residents. They do use powerful jalapeno chiles to make the Sriracha Rooster sauce so it didn’t shock me that the waste products in the form of water vapor was being released into the air.

Welcome to the U.S. Judicial System

Los Angeles California court judge on Tuesday, November 26, 2013, ordered the partial shutdown of the California factory as reported by The Guardian. This successful company, founded by Vietnamese immigrant and self-made millionaire David Tran, achieved it’s success and widespread success due to word of mouth. People loved the stuff and the product went mainstream, thus finding it’s way onto mainstream supermarkets across the country David Tran was used to positive word of mouth and this lawsuit woke him up to the power of a few unhappy neighbors and the power of negative words and now lawsuits.

Shutdown eminent?

Because of the threat to shut down the entire factory was very possible, Sriracha Rooster sauce became a widely sought and hoarded “commodity.” Bottles were put up for sale on Ebay and people were demanding stupid money for them, one moron even asking $10,000 for a single packet. People were literally buying shopping carts full of Sriracha Rooster sauce bottles and ignoring every other product in the store. This reminded me of the Twinkies announcement that Hostess was no longer making the wonderful spongy cake with the banana filling and the subsequent hoarding. A public hearing is schedule by the city council for mid May but a postponement is probable as they seek an amicable resolution. Sriracha Rooster sauce has been produced for many years at it’s current location and Mr. Tran has been quoted by Reuters News, “We’re still here,” Tran said. “I’ve lived in California for 34, 35 years now. I’m not planning to move.”

Alternatives for Sriracha Rooster sauce

Dallas area State Representative, Jason Villalba and a team of Texas state officials toured the Sriracha Rooster sauce on Monday, May 12, 2014 as reported by WFAA, 8 News an affiliate of ABC . The visit was to let Mr. Tran know that Texas was a very favorable place to move the factory and discussed the incentives that Texas offered highlighting the fact that Texas didn’t have any personal income tax. Mr. Tran was obviously warm to the idea because Monday outside his factory, there was the State flag of Texas blowing in the California sun. Mr. Tran said that the only thing that would impede such a move would be the availability of the hybrid jalapeno pepper that is grown especially for him by a local California grower.

Pack your bags, we going to Texas

This could very well be the newspaper headline in a few weeks. The city council wants to rule on an ordinance declaring the Sriracha Rooster sauce a public nuisance, in effect, closing the plant and laying off it’s workforce. This closure would also affect the farmers who supply the factory with jalapenos and the people that deliver the product to the supermarket shelves and the consumer losing one of their favorite condiments. Texas realizes the amount of jobs that this factory can account for and also the fact that Governor Rick Perry has been very active and vocal touting Texas as a business friendly state. His would be a huge feather in the cap of Texas and a black mark on California.

Not in my backyard

Just another case where a few people who subscribe to the “not in my backyard” and ignore the ramifications of their actions on another group of people, mainly the factory workers and the growers that are dependent on Sriracha Rooster sauce as the way they put bread and butter on their table. No one knows how this will play out, but for the sake of California, I hope they realize it is time for states to welcome businesses, not find ways to shutdown long established ones.

 

 

 

Kevineats is My Favorite Food Blog

 

 

A Rising Star of the Fine Dining, Restaurant Reporting and Food Photography World

Baseball used to be America’s Pastime. Food is the new reigning Champ. I live in Las Vegas, one of the food destinations of the world. Here we have every cuisine at every price point. Whether it be a $1 Nathans Hotdog at the Fremont Experience to the $425 degustation menu at Joel Robuchon . The Food Network plus the restaurant empires built by Chef/TV personalities, Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, Gordon Ramsay, and “Food Godfather” Emeril Lagasse all have been key forces driving this food renaissance explosion. These names are just a small slice of the food industry elite, I am not playing favorites, they are just the highest profile players. Deciphering the food landscape and funneling down choices when looking for restaurants or exquisite bottles of wine or sake, we rely on the “Ambassadors of the Food World,” the Food Blogger aka Foodie .

Food Blogs

Some of the most important catalysts in the food evolution revolution are the bloggers and that’s our focal point. They are the ones who help us delve deeper into our love of food. They write the restaurant reports, share the recipes, and blog the reviews on the latest kitchen gadgets. They have a loyal following and people take their word as gospel. They are our food tour guides and mentors as they help evolve our palates and expand our love of food. Their restaurant reports allow us to experience their world vicariously, free of charge in the comfort of our homes. My favorite Food Blog by far is Kevineats , which I have been reading for years faithfully. Don’t tell Kevin but I also enjoy revisiting his restaurant reports in his archives, especially when I am hungry.

Kevineats

Kevin started his food blogging journey on the MySpace platform in 2006 and transitioned Kevineats to Blogger in March of 2008, where he just celebrated his 6th anniversary there. Kevin has been blessed with a healthy appetite allowing him to consume substantial amounts of food, then walk next door to a cafe and abuse his stomach with a few more desserts. Kevin’s evolved palate, hearty appetite and interest sampling all cuisine regardless of source, texture, smell or looks makes him the ideal gourmand.

Food Porn

“Food Porn” is the staging of food in a sexy manner for glamour photography. Kevin’s photography skill has improved dramatically over the years by upgrading his camera five separate times, experimenting with shutter speed, and lighting techniques. This pursuit for perfection has greatly enhanced the quality and readability of his blog. Through dedication and perseverance, Kevin’s photography skill will continue to improve and soon he will transform into the Hugh Hefner of Food Porn.

Passion

Kevin’s passion as a cocktail connoisseur, wine expert and beer aficionado show in all his reports. Kevin is very gracious to people who post comments on his blog and interacts with his readers by answering almost every comment left in an upbeat manner very personally. Visiting Kevineats is like being welcomed into Kevin’s home showcasing his intuitive ability as a host.

The Kevineats Experience

Kevineats has a loyal, expansive following of foodies. He has reported extensively on restaurants along the California coast stretching from the Napa Valley down to Los Angeles as well as the Washington D.C. Area. Kevin has reported on many notable restaurants in New York City, Denver, Chicago and Japan as well. Kevin is the Pied Piper of foodies leading them on a culinary tour of varied cuisine. Kevineats niche and sole focus is the restaurant report. Eating out twice a week for for more than 6 years, Kevin has reported on hundreds of restaurants, many awarded the prized Michelin star , across the United States.

West Coast to East Coast Round trip via Michelin star restaurants

From his first reviews of Chicago’s Alinea , Kevin’s food journey has been documented and readers can watch that evolution firsthand. Extending North from the Napa Valley’s The French Laundry , East to New York City’s Le Bernardin . Back across the country to WolfGang Puck’s CUT steakhouse in Las Vegas for an amazing steak tasting menu. Returning to his home-base of the City of Angels, L.A., for a taco fiesta at PettyCash Taqueria or a sprint to renown Urasawa in Beverly Hills for a decadent omakase marathon. Rest assured, Kevin does it with charm, taste and class. MY favorite reports from his tour of Japan and their eclectic cuisine, spotlighting some of the best sushi in the world created by Japan’s top Itamae served omakase style . Kevineats Experience is a five-sense apprenticeship about food and drink. Don’t assume Kevin is a food snob. He isn’t. He also enjoys eating at the lower end of the economic spectrum and has reported on local burger, taco joints, and food trucks so don’t think it’s Michelin star restaurants only.

The Ultimate Gourmet

Kevineats is a vicarious experience of top restaurant dining hosted by Kevin. He orders some of the most incredible dishes, bottles of beer, wine, and champagne. He experiences the most prestigious and expensive tasting menus offered by the premiere chefs across the United States and Japan. Attending many Grand Openings, Pop-up Restaurants, and Charitable food events, we get to live vicariously through Kevin with his extensive food photography and graphic description of every meal and each bite. Kevin is on the hunt for the world’s most perfect bite and he allows us passage as a voyeur to his adventures. And let me add, no one is riding in “coach.”

Exploring Kevineats

Kevineats archives every report according to date visited and also has an interactive dining map so each reader can explore uniquely. Kevineats has been a finalist twice in the 2011 and 2012 Saveur’s Food Blog Awards. This is the equivalent of Best Artist at the Grammys. 45,000 Food Blogs nominated each year and he is a two time Finalist, that should be enough for you to follow Kevin on his culinary travels. Kevin has graciously agreed to a Q&A with yours truly so look for it in the near future. Happy Eating, Bon Appetit, Chiah Hok, いただきます or whatever language you speak it all means the same, ENJOY FOOD , it’s the one thing we all have in common.

 

The Best Las Vegas Pool Parties to Meet Celebrities

Which Pool Parties Are the Best Ones to Meet Celebrities in Las Vegas?

 

Las Vegas is known as the gambling, food, and pool party destination of the world. The Las Vegas pool party is showing no sign of peaking even after it’s 11^th season. The daytime pool party craze created by the Hard Rock Hotel aired on MTV in 2004, titled, “Rehab.” Sky high ratings brought sky high heels adorning skimpy bikini clad women and crazed men to Sin City to frolic at Las Vegas’ new cash cow, The day and nighttime pool party venue. Young people save all year to come for a few days of hard core top of the line, no expense spared partying with the hopes of meeting “Mr. and Ms. Right Now.” Every hotel has a daytime pool party as part of it’s entertainment offering all offering unique set-ups and trying to spot the next trend. Whether it be the new nighttime venue or the concert poolside. They are all competing for this young upwardly mobile slice of disposable income.

 

World famous DJs

Hosted by world renowned DJs that command fees as high as $250,000 for a single afternoon, These parties are now a cash revenue machine for the Las Vegas hotels. Admission at times costing $100, bottle service costing hundreds of dollars and cabana rental running into the thousands, Las Vegas has again found a niche market and is milking the 20-something’s for every dollar they have tucked away in their trust funds. Designer swimsuits by Tori Praver, Designer sunglasses by Bulgari, and Manolo Blahnik high heels are all required fashion accessories for the hip female pool partyer. Men are equally conscience of pool fashion as evidenced by the overwhelming amount of men sporting the James Bond/Daniel Craig, La Perla “Grigioperla” blue swimming trunks made famous in the movie Casino Royale and their “Bono” inspired Emporio Armani designer shades.

 

Tao Beach Club

• Location: Venetian Hotel and Casino Las Vegas
• Event Dates: Thursday thru Sunday.
• Admission: Thurs, Fri, Sun Male $20 Female $10, Saturday Male $30 Female $20.
• Hours: Doors open at 11am.
• Attire: Beachwear, No basketball shorts, team jerseys, baseball caps, robes or tank tops.
• Cabana Rentals available.
  

Tao is a National Brand of the Venetian Hotel. They have three venues that share it’s name in Las Vegas. The Tao Beach Club, Tao Nightclub and Tao Asian Bistro. Tao also has two restaurants in New York City named Tao Uptown and Tao Downtown . All are first class entertainment venues. Tao offers waitress service for drinks and food as well as bottle service. The cost is expensive, a bottle of Grey Goose vodka is $400 plus tax and gratuity. Make sure you don’t leave home without your AMEX Black card. Tao’s amazing food choices such as the chicken and beef satay, the lobster and shrimp rolls and the Udon noodle salad are sure to please the discerning palate. Be sure to try the Kobe beef hotdog. Seriously the best hotdog I have ever had with all the trimmings expected. I’d refrain from ordering the sushi, Las Vegas heat and raw fish can be a disaster. Tao is a young, hip crowd of beautiful people with hot bodies and a great place to people watch. A great place to see famous celebrities such as International pop music sensation Rita Ora, Sum 41 rocker Deryck Whibley, Host of “EXTRA,” Mario Lopez, Spider-man stars Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, and 2011 Sports Illustrated swimsuit covergirl, Irina Shayk. The Tao only hosts world renowned DJs so expect an amazing time, but do use plenty of sunscreen, the Las Vegas sun is cruel. After the pool party breaks up, head to your room, grab a nap and then head over to Tao Nightclub and continue partying.

 

Encore Beach Club

• Location: Wynn Hotel and Casino Las Vegas
• Event Dates: Thursday thru Sunday.
• Admission: Varies by event
• Typical admission cost for a Thursday party, Male $38.80 Female $27.30.
• Hours: Wynn has day and evening parties, call for hours check event calendar.
• Attire: Beachwear, Beachwear, Dress to Impress, no baggy clothing, jeans or basketball shorts.
• Tables by Reservation.

Top DJs such as Lil Jon, David Guetta, Adrian Lux, and other marquee names host this extraordinary pool party. The Encore Beach Club has their own entrance right off the strip. The Encore/Wynn hotels co-host this event, which attracts the young, wealthy hip crowd. Never will you see harder and more supple bodies being displayed in one place. The women all compete with each other for style and flair. The men all sport rock hard 6 packs and toned arms and bronzed chests. An expensive admission of a minimum of $30 for females ranging to a cover charge of $60 for men. Bottle service is available at a earth shattering cost of $768 plus tax and gratuity for four people. If you looking for “happy hour” pricing, don’t come here. The Grill at Encore Beach Club offers snacks, entrees and sides from $13 to $18. Some popular dishes are the fried wontons, Asian chicken salad, the chicken panini with bacon jam, avocado and pepper jack cheese. Some celebrities recently spotted at the Encore Beach club are Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps, 90210 and Sharknado actor Ian Ziering, Prince Harry, Pop star Taylor Swift and Actor Scott Eastwood to name just a few. When the pool party ends, the new party begins at three top rated nightclubs all within walking distance, TRYST, XS and SURRENDER. Continue the night with the same first class service as only Steve Wynn could have imagined.

My Favorite Oyster Bars in Las Vegas

Shucked Oysters on the Half Shell in the Desert..Who Said That’s Wrong.

 

Being from New York and living on Long Island, I fell in love years ago with anything on the half shell. Oysters being my all time favorite, the only food that will get me out of bed at 2am thinking about slurping a few dozen of those bad boys. When I moved to Vegas, I thought the days of fresh shucked Oysters were all over. Not so fast. I moved to the food capital of the world with one of the busiest airports and I just landed in Oyster heaven.

 

The Ritual

Oyster eating is ritual. Mine is very systematic, I cradle my little buddy oh so gently in my hand and carefully dollop a nickel size amount of cocktail sauce. I follow that up with three fork tines worth of fresh horseradish, a quick shot of Tabasco sauce and a spritz of fresh lemon. The perfect Slurp. YUMMO!! When you find a place that respects the mollusk, you don’t need more than an emergency back up place. My primary is Big Al’s near my house and my back up is a 24 hr joint just off the freeway. I’m good to go for an Oyster fix 24 hrs a day.

 

Big Al’s Oyster Bar at The Orleans Hotel and Casino

• 4500 W. Tropicana Ave Las Vegas, NV
• (702) 365-7111
• Sun-Thurs 11-10
• Fri, Sat 11-Midnight
• Happy Hour: 2-5–Half Price Mocktails, Oyster shooters and Cocktails and a baker’s dozen Oysters for 16.99

Place has a bit of a smoky odor being off the casino floor. Things you have to overcome but the Oysters are very fresh and they have many varieties on hand. I always look out for the Kumamoto Oyster in the summer months as they are a late spawning oyster know for their deep, bowl-like shell and they are as firm and sweet as they come. Oysters are Half Dozen for $12.99 and a full dozen for $18.99. Also if you are hungry for other seafood, I recommend the Combination Shrimp and Crab Pan Roast and Big Al’s beer battered soft shell crab Po Boy. Have to fly to ‘Nawlins for one like it.

 

Oyster Bar at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino

• 2418 W. Sahara Blvd. Las Vegas, NV
• (702) 367-2411
• 24 Hours 7 Days a week

This place is awesome but it is small, 20 people occupancy at a serving bar. People don’t rush their indulgences so best time to come is 11am if you are a normal person. I go at 4am when everyone is sleeping. I am known to take a nap during the day just so I can go and have some amazing oysters. I love the fact that they cook right in front of you. I love the Palace Pan Roast. It’s $23.99, shrimp, crab, chicken and andouille sausage sauteed with cream, brandy and tomato. With a bowl of steamed rice. Are ya Kidding me!! So if you see someone at the bar with a heavy New York accent, well that’s me, say hello. Oysters are the standard $18 a dozen and $12 for half dozen for seasonal varieties. My favorite are the Kusshi Deep Bay from British Columbia, Canada. They are always double the normal price but so worth it. Oysters are like cavar, you pay premium for the best and it’s worth it.