I fancy myself a bit of a wine expert… if you count frequent usage of the “When Wine” app, only purchasing bottles $10 or less, and having been to Napa Valley once. So of course, I jumped at the chance to attend an exclusive wine pairing dinner at so•ca with Patricio Santos, winemaker at Ricardo Santos Vineyards in Argentina. Finally, a chance to rub elbows with likeminded, vino knowledgeable peers!
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Since relocating back to Raleigh, Whiskey Kitchen has been one of my go-to spots. Whether if it's entertaining a friend visiting from out of town, a client meeting, or just a quick drink, I know that the food, drinks, and staff will always be wondering. When I heard that Whiskey Kitchen's quarterly Supper Club was coming up, I jumped at the chance to go.
Read MoreTopsail Island -- 26 miles of quiet sandy beaches, pirate lore, WWII history, sea turtle rehabilitation, and... James Beard Award Winning, farm to table food? You heard right. After having a vacation home on Topsail Island for over 20 years, I've loved watching this tiny little island transform. While I hadn't visited in nearly 10 years (college and my move to LA are to blame), I have made it a priority to get to know this almost new to me island top to bottom. That's where The Bistro at Topsail comes into play.
Read MoreWith an insane work schedule and workout plan, I heavily rely on shakes to make sure that I get in all of the nutrients I need when I don't have time for a full meal. I've spent years trying to change up my "bro-shake" game which means a lot of trial and error. Honestly, I had pretty much written off shakes until I discovered the glory that is Blender Bombs.
Read MoreIn honor of NC Beer Month, I couldn't think of any better way to celebrate than participate in the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau's Hometown Hops Passport program! Home to five distinguished breweries, Cumberland County is ready to welcome brewery enthusiasts to America’s Hometown with a perfect pour of a memorable craft brew.
Read MoreWith delicious spaghetti's made from chickpeas, lentils, black beans, edamame and more, Explore Cuisine offers an easy way for everyone to celebrate this foodie holiday while still sticking to those healthy New Year's resolutions.
Read MoreI jumped on the juicing train about 5 years ago when my former boss gave me a juicer for my birthday. My loyalty, however, comes in waves. This week while on basic house arrest due to my kidney procedure, I found 4 different juicing documentaries on Netflix and convinced myself I would die by the age of 32 if I didn't start juicing again.
Read MoreFall is here and that means it's time to break out that hearty recipes! Miami’s own Chef Adrianne Calvo, owner of the highly acclaimed Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar, and author of four cookbooks, including Maximum Flavor Social – shares a vibrant recipe for a fall favorite: Acorn Squash.
Read MoreCheck out all the yummy goodness I discovered in Hope Mills recently!
Read MoreThe Carolina Inn, A Destination Hotel in Chapel Hill, North Carolina is getting into the Halloween spirit this season with two must-try cocktail recipes for only $12 each. The charming hotel’s signature restaurant, Crossroads Chapel Hill, which recently announced its new Executive Chef, Brandon Sharp, is offering a classic Pumpkin Martini with a twist, as well as a very literal and unique Dragon Eye Martini .
Read MoreDuring my brief funemployment stint, I discovered the glory that is Wahlburgers, a TV show that follows the Wahlberg family's restaurant adventures. I quickly became obsessed with Mark, Donnie and Paul, as well as the rest of the family. I obsessively tweeted gifs of Mark in his younger days. I obsessively posted Facebook status's saying I needed to attend a Wahlburgers.
You will understand my excitement when I got an email telling me that WAHLBURGERS IS COMING TO RALEIGH!!!!!
Read MoreCommunity Coffee Company came up with the coolest recipe ever and I just HAD to share it with you guys!
Read MoreWhen I first started drinking at the ripe age of 21, I knew nothing about alcohol. Beer, liquor and most wines were gross to me. So like any 21 year old college female, I chose to just stick with sweeter alcoholic drinks. Through this, I discovered the beauty of hard ciders. Rekorderlig thought I should step up my cider game so they sent over their Strawberry-Lime flavor for me to sample!
Read MoreCinco de Mayo is here and it's time to sip on some festive drinks! Here are a few of my favorite drink recipes to celebrate with!
Read MoreThere's more to healthy nutrition than meets the eye – proper nutrition comes down to the right serving size, eating foods naturally rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, the right amount of protein and keeping your sugar and sodium in-take in check. In honor of March's National Nutrition Month, arm yourself with the right knowledge and recipes for life (not just the month).
Executive Chef at Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa, Anthony Stewart created a few recipes that contain zero salt and passed them along to me to share with my readers.
Read MoreIt's warmer out. The sun is still out when you leave work at 6PM. Spring is in the air! Let the patio drinking begin. Check out these awesome spring cocktail recipes sent over by the wonderful Santa Margherita team.
Read MoreIn an earlier post, I mentioned that I loved making a Cinnamon French Toast recipe from Protein Powder Cooking...Beyond the Shake. It's quickly become my go-to breakfast choice as of late so I wanted to share the goodness with all my faithful readers.
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When the kind folks over at Smithfield Foods brought their Chefs Table series to Los Angeles and asked me if I wanted to come to a fancy preview dinner they were having showcasing DURoC, Smithfield’s premium pork offering, I jumped at the chance. Growing up in NC, I consumed quite a bit of Smithfield's pork products so I knew the food I would be tasting would be quality. Chef Vic from Pistola-LA showed pork’s versatility while delighting palettes through a number of different tasting stations.
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Protein Powder Cooking...Beyond the Shake by Courtney Nielsen is a new cookbook that will help you ditch boring shakes for quick and hearty protein-packed baked treats that boost metabolism and build muscle.The 200 quick-and-easy recipes provide a clever way to supercharge your diet with whey, soy, and casein while unleashing the amazing benefits of protein powder to increase energy, build muscle and boost weight loss.
Read MoreI hate Valentine's Day. Even the few times that I have actually had a Valentine (read: twice out of 28), I never really liked or understood the occasion. Hilton Anaheim understands my (and everyone elses) hatred for the holiday,
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