The Divine Dish

IllyCaffe Launch in LA

Illy issimo new drinks

Two of the world’s great beverage brands, Coca-Cola and Illy, launched illy issimo premium ready to drink coffe products to LA area coffeehouses.

Now Angelenos can enjoy Caffe – with full-bodied character, bold and energizing, Cappuccino – intense, illy espresso blended with milk and dark cacao, and Latte Macciato – energizing smooth illy espresso with milk

I received some sample cans in the mail:

Illy issimo samples, in my kitchen

I tried these with my neighbors and we liked all of them, the favorite though was the latte macchiato.

These new beverages are available at prestigious retailers and coffeehouses in LA.

Elvis Has Entered the Building

Ice Elvis at Minus 5

Yesterday, Minus 5 degrees Lounge at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino announced that the King is back in Vegas, well, sort of.  Making a special appearance is his likeness in a 7-foot ice sculpture decked out in iconic garb.

The sculpture took over two days to sculpt and can remain cool inside the lounge’s chilly 31 degree temperature.  Minus 5 is open Monday through Sunday from 10 am to 3 am.

MGM Grand and The Signature at MGM Grand Offers Vegas Uncork’d VIP Getaway

Exterior of The Signature at MGM Grand

Food lovers are invited to enter an exclusive sweepstakes for a chance to win a dream gastronomic getaway to Las Vegas.  Beginning March 9, 2009, MGM Grand, a AAA Four Diamond hotel, and The Signature at MGM Grand, a luxurious all-suite enclave, will offer one lucky foodie the opportunity to mingle with the world’s most celebrated chefs during Vegas Uncork’d May 7-10.  Presented by Bon Appétit magazine, the spectacular epicurean event will showcase the best of Las Vegas’ culinary talent including MGM Grand’s own Joël Robuchon and Tom Colicchio.

Grand junior suite at The Signature at MGM Grand

Valued at more than $3,500, the Vegas Uncork’d VIP Getaway will include:
v     A two-night stay for two at The Signature at MGM Grand
v     Roundtrip airfare for two
v     Two tickets to the Vegas Uncork’d Grand Tasting Event
v     Two tickets to all Vegas Uncork’d Culinary Events at MGM Grand
v     Dinner for two at NOBHILL TAVERN, the restaurant of celebrity chef Michael Mina
v     Two tickets to KÀ by Cirque du Soleil
v     Two VIP passes to guest’s choice of Studio 54 or Tabú Ultra Lounge
v     Roundtrip limousine airport transfers

Nobhill Tavern, restaurant of chef Michael Mina

The Vegas Uncork’d VIP Getaway sweepstakes runs March 9 through April 15, 2009.  To enter, visit http://www.signaturemgmgrand.com/sweepstakes.  Additional rules and restrictions apply.  A purchase is not required to enter or win and will not increase your chance to win.

The exciting gourmand experiences of Vegas Uncork’d will include a high-stakes culinary competition, an exclusive event fusing the culinary artistry of Joël Robuchon with the performing arts of Cirque du Soleil’s KÀ and a Mother’s Day brunch with Tom Colicchio – and many more activities at Las Vegas’s top resorts and restaurants.  For those who prefer not to miss this exciting opportunity, exclusive room rates are available at MGM Grand from $139 per night and at The Signature suites from $159 per night.  For reservations, visit www.mgmgrand.com/vegasuncorked or www.signaturemgmgrand.com/exclusive_offers or call (800) 929-1111.  For more on Vegas Uncork’d or to purchase tickets, visit www.vegasuncorked.com.”

Langham Holds Wine Dinners

Wines at Langham/Mission Wines dinner

On February 24, the Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa in Pasadena teamed with Byron Kosuge Wines, Kingston Family Winery of Chile and  South Pasadena’s Mission Wines for a wine tasting dinner.  The dinner was the first in a series featuring wines from renowned winemakers.  We were among approximately 40 others to share in this lovely dinner showcasing the winemaker’s finest wines.  The evening also included a discussion about the winemaking process and the distinctive traits of each wine.

Nicole and lots of wine glasses

I took my good friend Nicole, above with our yummy glasses of wine to pair with Chef de Cuisine Craig Strong’s delicious tasting menu.

Crab croquettes

After a brief champagne reception and appetizers, we were given crab croquettes as our first course to pair with our only white wine, Kingston Family vineyards 2006 Sauvignon Blanc Cariblanco (from Chile).  Our first red wine was a 2006 Pinot Noir Alazan, also from Chile.  the crab croquettes came with baby lettuce, olive oil dressing and strawberry romesco sauce.

Cannelloni Swiss Chard and Lobster

Next came a nice cannelloni of swiss chard and lobster with a tasty rhubarb herb sauce.  This was our favorite of the night.

Chef de Cuisine Craig Strong

Chef Strong came out and talked a bit about the menu.

Byron Kosuge

Byron Kosuge spoke about the wines he choose, from Chile and California, and interesting characteristics of each wine.   He also came to each table to answer questions and talk more about his tasty wine choices.

Guinea Hen

Next came this beautiful smoked guinea hen with brown butter risotto (Nicole’s favorite), swiss chard, corn froth and cassis sherry vinegar jus.  yum.  This was paired with a delicious 2006 Pinot Noir (The Shop) from Carneros and a tasty 2006 Pinot Noir (Manchester Ridge) from Mendocino, both from Byron Kosuge Wines.

Venison

The heaviest course was the venison, served on bacon bread pudding with briased lingonberry red cabbage, poached quail egg and grande veneure sauce.  This was paired perfectly with a 2005 Syrah (Bayo Oscuro) from Chile from Kingston Family Vineyards and a 2006 Syrah (Dry Stack Vineyards) from Bennett Valley from Byron Kosuge Wines.  Mission Wines of South Pasadena provided the wines for the dinner. I highly recommend attending one of these dinners for any food or wine lover – we learned alot about wine and also got to eat Chef Strong’s great food.

Two more wine tasting dinners are coming up at the Langham – on March 10, Celia Masyczek (Food and Wine’s 2008 Winemaker of the Year), maker of Scarecrow, DR Stephens and Corra Wines will be featured and on April 29, Eric Kent from New Cult Wine will be featured.  Each event begins at 6:30 with a reception and dinner is served at 7:00 pm.  For reservations, call 626/585-6218.