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June 27-28: The Pátron Tequila Epicurean Express Arrives in LA

thirstyinla — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:34:06 +0000

The Pátron Tequila Epicurean Express | Photo: St. Bernard Project

On June 27-28, St. Bernard Project (SBP) invites Angelenos to board the Patrón Tequila Epicurean Express, enjoy gourmet cuisine and cocktails, and raise funds to assist the fishing community and other residents impacted by the Gulf oil disaster.

The Epicurean Express is a restored 1927 rail car (it reportedly inspired the House of Blues Foundation Room) traveling around the country to raise money and awareness on behalf of SBP. In each of the five destination cities, SBP and The Patrón Spirits Company hosts a cocktail party and dinner with acclaimed local chefs. LA is the final stop, after visits earlier this month to Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and New Orleans. SBP’s goal is to raise $100,000.

The Los Angeles stop will take place over two nights: Sunday, June 27 and Monday, June 28. Sunday features an intimate gourmet dinner prepared by Susan Feniger (STREET), while Monday is a cocktail party featuring Feniger’s hors d’oeuvres. Both events will take place at Union Station in downtown LA.

For more information and to purchase tickets or make a donation, please visit the St. Bernard Project website.

Patrón Tequila Epicurean Express

Gourmet Dinner
Sunday, June 27, 2010
7-10pm
$500 per person
An intimate four-course dinner for 20 people aboard the rail car, including a cocktail hour, dinner and dessert, as well as the opportunity to meet Susan Feniger.

Cocktail Party
Monday, June 28, 2010
6:30-9:30pm
$50 per person
This event features complimentary Patrón Tequila cocktails, hors d’oeuvres from Susan Feniger, a silent auction, and tours of the Patrón Tequila Epicurean Express.

Union Station
800 N. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(800) 872-7245

April 2010: Perfect Pairings Raises Funds for Meals on Wheels

thirstyinla — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:12:27 +0000

Beginning today and throughout the month of April, the Perfect Pairings Menu Campaign brings together over 50 of L.A.’s top chefs and restaurants to raise funds and awareness for St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, the nation’s largest privately funded Meals on Wheels program. A similar “eclectic pairings adventure” will run in New York in October 2010. Perfect Pairings launched its inaugural campaign in 2009 in New York City, San Francisco, and Southern Florida. Now in its second year, April marks the debut of Perfect Pairings here in Los Angeles.

Participating restaurants feature one or more paired food-and-beverage items on their menus. These pairings may be alcoholic or non-alcoholic, and may involve a one-of-a-kind dish, the chef’s signature specialty, or a prix fixe menu. In addition to food and wine pairings, pairings with spirits, specialty cocktails, beers and other beverages will be available.

Look for the Perfect Pairings fork and bottle logo or ask your server for the special menus. For each pairing ordered, a portion of the proceeds will go to Meals on Wheels.

Photo: Nobu

To give you a sense of the diverse Perfect Pairings, following are two menus from Nobu and Vertical Wine Bistro.

Nobu will offer guests 6 pairings to choose from, available in each of the restaurant’s rooms:

In the Bar & Lounge, Lamb Anticucho is paired with a Mia Margarita.
The Sushi Bar features a ceviche-like Whitefish Tiradito for two, plus a pair of Matsuhisa Vodka Martinis; and a food+food pairing of Kumamoto Oysters with choice of Toro, Salmon or Yellowtail Tartar and caviar.
From the Hot Kitchen, Wagyu Beef pairings in Dango (sweet dumplings), Taco, or Gyoza (Japanese potstickers); and a “surf and turf” Lobster & Beef Tenderloin pairing with Garlic Shiso Butter Shabu Shabu.
For dessert, Nobu pairs Red Velvet Cake with Chocolate Ginger Sake; and a Pistachio Soufflée with Vanilla Mochi.

Pasadena’s Vertical Wine Bistro will feature three pairings, selected by Executive Chef Doug Weston:

Ground Short Rib Burger with Onion, Lettuce, Tomato, Thousand Island Dressing, and Vacherin Mont d’Or Cheese; paired with Brauerei Heller-Trum Smokebeer (Germany).
Housemade Pappardelle with Pork Ragoût and Wild Mushrooms, paired with the 2007 Yann Chave “Classique” Crozes-Hermitage Syrah.
“Not’ Cho Supreme” made with Pork Ragoût, Epoisses, Diced Tomato, and a Poached Egg, paired with an Old Fashioned Cocktail.

Speaking of cocktails, when guests order Perfect Pairings cocktails made with Patrón Tequila, Ultimat Vodka or Pyrat XO Rum (Margaritas, Martinis and Mojitos come to mind, natch), the Patrón Spirits Company will make an additional donation to St. Vincent Meals on Wheels.

Participating restaurants include:

A.O.C.
The Bazaar by José Andrés
Bistro LQ
The Blvd at Beverly Wilshire
Campanile
Cecconi’s
Chaya (Brasserie, Downtown, Venice)
Comme Ça
FIG at the Fairmont Miramar
Foundry on Melrose
Gordon Ramsay at the London
Grace
The Hungry Cat
Jar
Joe’s Restaurant
Katsuya (Brentwood, Glendale, Hollywood, LA Live)
Lucques
Mélisse
Nobu (West Hollywood)
Pizzeria Ortica (Costa Mesa)
RH at Andaz
Sona
Vertical Wine Bistro
XIV by Michael Mina

For more information and a complete list of participating restaurants, visit www.perfectpairings.org

You can also follow Perfect Pairings on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

About St. Vincent Meals on Wheels
St. Vincent Meals on Wheels is the largest privately funded Meals on Wheels program in the country, delivering nutritious meals to more than 2,600 clients a day. Since 1977, SVMOW has delivered life-saving meals and warm greetings to homebound and hungry seniors and disabled or seriously ill adults across Los Angeles — from Skid Row to West Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills to South L.A. The organization also helps clients who are unable to live alone by referring them to medical care and social services. St. Vincent Meals on Wheels serves anyone in need regardless of age, race, illness, disability, religion or ability to pay.

October 8: Dan Aykroyd Wine Tasting at Whole Foods

thirstyinla — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:04:37 +0000

Elwood Blues. Dr. Raymond Stantz. Louis Winthorpe III. Beldar. Most actors would kill for any one of those roles, but Dan Aykroyd played them all. From his years as a founding cast member of Saturday Night Live, to his iconic movie roles, Dan has few peers when it comes to comedy. His writing skills and gift for impersonation place him among the best of his generation; watch this clip of Dan as Julia Child and you’ll see what I mean. Thirty years later, and “Save the liver!” still gets me every time.

Dan’s business savvy has proven to be the equal of his comedic talents. Most people know that Dan is the co-founder of the House of Blues chain. He’s also the Canadian importer and co-distributor of Patron tequila, and the principal owner of Crystal Head Vodka. As if all that isn’t enough, Dan also has a long-standing interest in wine. This love affair began while he was working on SNL and The Blues Brothers, when musician Steve Cropper introduced Dan to Premier Cru Bordeaux and other world-class wines. Dan then immersed himself in the wine world, launching his own brand in Canada in 2007 to rave reviews. In 2008 Dan partnered with Sonoma County’s DeLoach Vineyards to create a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Chardonnay in a style that reflects his passion for entertaining family, friends, and fans.

On Thursday, October 8th, Dan is hosting an intimate gathering at the Whole Foods on 3rd and Fairfax. Dan will sign bottles of his new Discovery Series California wine, and fans will get to sample the wine. There’s no RSVP necessary, just show up and enjoy! All the info is below, as well as the details on a special giveaway after the jump.

Dan Aykroyd Wine Tasting
Thursday, October 8th
4pm to 6pm
Whole Foods Market
6350 W. 3rd St. (at Fairfax)
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Win a bottle of Discovery Series wine, signed by Dan Aykroyd!

(CONTEST IS CLOSED)

Whole Foods Market has graciously donated a bottle of Discovery Series wine, signed by Dan Aykroyd, for one lucky fan to win!

We’re doing a little contest to see who gets the bottle, and it couldn’t be easier to enter (assuming you’re on Twitter, of course). Just retweet the message below, with your favorite Dan Aykroyd movie between the quotes:

RT @ThirstyinLA @WFMLA Dan Aykroyd #DiscoverySeries Wine Tasting 10/8: “MOVIE”

We’ll randomly select a tweet and post the winner here and via Twitter.

Here are a few rules:

You must be 21 to enter
One entry/tweet per person
No purchase necessary*
Retweet must be posted by 12pm PST on Thursday, October 8

The winner does not have to be at the event, but the signed bottle must be picked up at Whole Foods by Thursday, October 15. So, you can enter if you’re from out of town, as long as you plan on being in the L.A. area next week.

*Please note, the winner will have to pay 1 cent for the bottle. Don’t ask me, ask the lawyers.

Good luck everyone!

UPDATE 10/8: The contest is now closed! Congratulations to Stephanie Bayer, who was the only entry who picked The Blues Brothers (not that any movie was right or wrong), and even included the classic “We’re on a mission from God” quote in her winning tweet. Thanks to everyone who entered, stay tuned for future giveaways!