Thursday, August 18, 2016

DAVIDS Tea Quenches Your Thirst, Healthy & Fun.

By Laura Medina


Friendly with cleverly-designed infuser-pitchers and travel bottles, DAVIDS Tea is the clever alternative to Starbucks' Teavana and a casual counter-part to American Tea Room.

DAVIDS Tea makes tea and the art of brewing tea accessible and sensible to anyone.

With wildfires and lingering Summer heat wave, DAVIDS Tea makes it easier and healthier to stay cool and hydrated with tea antioxidants.  Not in a bitter vitamin pill way, DAVIDS Tea's seasonal Summer teas are juicy enough to sate a sweet tooth.

Better yet, you can still have your fun, fizzy drink without the destructive artificial flavors, corn syrup, or acids.

Fill the inner, screw-on infusers with any of sweet Summer teas,  of your choice, then fill the rest of the pitcher or bottle with sparkling mineral water to make your own healthy soda.

With these naturally sweet teas, with dried fruit, you wouldn't miss the sugar...

Steep it in mineral water, it'll taste like a fun and funky soda, without the weird fake chemicals.  Cotton Candy tea is full of:  nut brittle, candied mango and cotton candy sprinkles with a smooth, sweet base of green rooibos.



One sip of this sweet, rich rooibos blend and you’ll know spring is right around the corner. It could be the sunny taste of pineapple, or the exotic creaminess of coconut. It could be the pretty calendula and cornflower petals to make it fun for us big kids.



Mingling honeydew, strawberry leaves and apple with generous chunks of watermelon, this fruit-packed tea is overflowing with juicy melon flavor.  It's guzzling watermelon without the sticky mess or straining the pulp.  Just pure flavor.

Gulping Summer, pitcher for the family or in a travel bottle on the go.

Olympic Snacking with Lay's International Flavored Chips

By Laura Medina


If the Rio Olympics got you being an arm chair athlete when it's too humid and too hot to move, enjoy the unity by munching on Lay's Potato Chips most international flavor line-up yet.



You can taste the birthplace and history of the Olympics through Lay's Wavy Greek Tzatziki-flavored Potato Chips with the uniquely Krinos Taramosalata Greek Style Caviar Spread.



If you want to be current about dining the Rio Olympics on your snacking/dining tray, pair Lay's Brazilian Pichanha-spiced Potato Chips with Brazilian grilled meats, instead of French Fries.

Your armchair athlete snacking complete while the real Olympians do all the sweat and tears.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Sodas You Quaff During the Day then Cocktails You Quench at Night.

By Laura Medina



This past fires in California and the humidity in the South and the East Coast brings out the thirst in everyone, all ages.

Craving something about plain water but yearning for something more "adult," healthy, with an all-natural sparkle?

During the day...and without the DUI, you can guzzle olde-school soda, Lorina Coconut-Lime and its Virgin Mojito.

New school Sipp Co. Sparkling Organics returns soda to it's roots.  Replacing artificial flavors and dyes with fresh fruit and corn syrup with agave, Sipp Co. Sparkling Organics is real soda for adults.

Gourmands and wise bar flies can spot that these fancy sodas make great, easy, and quick cocktail bases without a whole lot of mess or mushing.


 

If the stress of the California wildfires and torrential floods or a computer meltdowns are getting to you, spike up those fancy, gourmand sodas with the clean and smooth Ty Ku Cucumber Sake or drop a sweetness from Batiste Eco Rum.

Batiste Eco Rum pairs well with Lorina Virgin Mojito and Coconut-Lime for a classic tropical Summer time cocktail.

Keep it refreshing.  Keep it easy and quaff.

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Mineral Fusion Pop-Up at Whole Foods Venice, California

By Laura Medina




Starting tomorrow, August 12th at 12 noon until August 28th at 6pm, for all this scribe's Santa Monica, Venice, Marina Del Rey, and even Brentwood-ians, the comforting, calming skincare and beauty line, Mineral Fusion Tour is coming to you.

Whole Foods Market in Venice will be hosting the Mineral Fusion BeautyTour while offering customers 40% off of all Mineral Fusion Products including skin, hair, body, nail care and cosmetics. Enjoy complimentary makeup applications from passionate and experienced makeup artists in the natural cosmetics industry while exploring all that Mineral Fusion has to offer.

Take advantage while you can.




Thursday, August 4, 2016

Joshua D. Fischer Gets to Know the Locals in "Meet the Regulars" then Dives Deep in Gentrification.

By Laura Medina

 https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Regulars-People-Brooklyn-Places/dp/1510703853/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1470333005&sr=1-1&keywords=Meet+the+Regulars

What started out as a "cool" project became a deeper issue of gentrification, neighborhood and economic transformation, long-time resentments; and new transplants making a neighborhood home and the local spots their external living room/kitchen.

Hello to "Meet the Regulars," by Detroit-native-turned Brooklynite, Joshua D. Fischer.

While keeping to know his new-found home and knowing some really cool creatives or "celebrities" are making Brooklyn, a hipster-central, that it branded a new type of hipness, "Brooklyn Cool."

Researching for Josh and reading by this scribe is akin to peeling an onion. 

Obviously, the outer most layer is the celebrity part, such as Andrew W.K.  Josh had to go through the proper channels to meet these celebrities who impart the hipness and coolness into Brooklyn.

The second layer is using these celebrities as an hip, insider tour guide to their favorite watering holes or yoga studios patronized by these celebrities.

To these local watering holes and studios, these celebrities or "working performers" are just like any other local.  So, these establishments got these insider "approval stamps" that adds cachet to those businesses and the neighborhood.

Thus, fueling the "Gentrification Fire" when noteworthy locals attracts wanna-bes and equally creatives, rising the prices, transforming the local businesses, then pushing out long-time residents who can't afford the new perks and the rent, which leads to violent push-backs.

"How long and how far can you push people?," Josh.

Ironically funny, interviewing Josh turned into him interviewing this scribe, with this scribe representing and reflecting the West Coast version of what he witness and wrote, firsthand about being stamped "cool" and that cost of "cool."  He laughed when this scribe told him about Boyle Heights residents and gang-bangers fighting back against metrosexual but frugal-minded art gallery owners hunting for dirt-cheap spaces.  Surprisingly, Josh chimed in, "Good for them." Paraphasing Josh, "They're smart.  They know what's going on."

Then, this scribe told Josh about the long-time gentrification of Downtown Los Angeles, from Skid Row N0-Man-Land to upscale sky rises for yuppies and professional athletes do games at the nearby L.A. Live/Staples Center, home to the L.A.  Lakers and the L.A. Kings.

He was really impressed by an Olive St. sky rise with a full gym, a lounge and bar that opens up to basketball court, a tennis court, a pool with a jacuzzi, and a BBQ/sauna room.

This is where Josh got to thinking,..."This is how these real estate developers got those rich people to a formerly dirt cheap area...luxury amenities, the idea of luxury,..,but what about the long-time residents.  Do they have access to those amenities?"

The more you read his book, "Meet the Regulars," you go beyond the celebrities to life-long residents lamenting about the changes and the rising costs in what used to be affordable.

Which returns to Josh, "How far and how long can you push people?"

This is where this scribe ask Josh, is there any city he wants to another "Meet the Regulars" on other cities and apply the same inquiry and thoughts to?

While interviewing Andrew W.K, in his favorite watering hole, Amarin Cafe in Brooklyn, he opened up to Josh, that a favorite spot is any place to makes you feel welcomed and comfortable.  Then, he advised Josh to explore other areas. 

Yes, this transplant Brooklynite showed Los Angeles some love.  "Los Angeles is the Sister City to New York.  We share so much commonalities with Los Angeles, regarding real estate."

Okay, this is where he and this scribe exchanged funny Air BnB stories and how local neighborhoods either start banning them or taxing them hotel fees, like impromptu sex parties out in the back yard where young family can see them.  Josh calls them "Brooklyn Orgies"...Hahahaha...

If Los Angeles is the Sister City to New York, Josh called Chicago "the Third Coast," and Josh's hometown, Detroit.  Detroit has gone so far down that needs gentrification and hipsters to bring it back up.  As for the South, he wants to check out Austin, Texas.

According him, each and every one of those cities all share the same issues of creatives changing the neighborhoods, the businesses, and gentrification.

For those dying cities and towns wishing for a cool economic turn-around, Josh warned them wisely that it took Brookly 15 to 10 years for it to become the "Capital of Cool" and the "Brand of Cool" that even Parisian youths want to copy.

You can use "Meet the Regulars" as your hipster, insider guide to Brooklyn, off-the-beaten track off Manhattan but it's a fresh take on sociology and how a tribe of shared styles and talents can really flip a neighborhood inside and out.

As soon as the book was released, it was the #1 new release in the categories of NY State Travel Guides and Mid Atlantic U.S. Biographies. 







Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Holiday for the In-Between Months, The Forum Shops Salutes 50 Years of Caesars Palace.

By Laura Medina


In honor of the milestone 50th anniversary of Caesars Palace, The Forum Shops is joining in the celebration with a chance to win a $5,000 shopping spree, special offers and promotions, a weekend of surprise giveaways and more.
Caesars Palace, in partnership with Simon Property Group, opened The Forum Shops in 1992 bringing the first luxury retail destination to the famed Las Vegas Strip. Additionally, The Forum Shops was the first to bring many of the world’s most celebrated designers and luxury brands to Las Vegas. Today, home to painted skies, talking statues and more than 160 distinctive shops and restaurants, the premier center remains among the top-performing retail destinations nationwide.
The Forum Shops Summer of Caesars celebration will be highlighted with a weekend of festivities and giveaways including:
  • Win a $5,000 Shopping Spree – From now through August 7, shoppers who spend $500 at any Forum Shops store or restaurant have the opportunity to present their receipts to Forum Shops Guest Services Center to receive entry form to register to win a $5000 shopping spree.
  • Walking Tour and Photo Exhibit – The Forum Shops is participating in the Caesars Palace self-guided, historical walking tour and photo exhibit. Throughout the resort and within The Forum Shops, discover then-and-now images and displays and key photo-worthy landmarks including the iconic Fountain of The Gods. The walking tour is free and open to the public.
  • Guest Rewards – On Aug 6, visitors to The Forum Shops may receive one of more than 1,700 special gifts and surprises from a number of Forum Shops retailers including; Tourneau, Sandro, Diane von Furstenberg, Ermenegildo Zegna, L.K. Bennett, Davante, Davante Sun, Elie Tahari, SKYE Art Gallery, Anne Fontaine, Pandora, Brighton Collectibles, Vilbrequin, Tommy Bahama, Sushi Roku, Hearts On Fire, Trevi Italian Restaurant, Donald J Pliner, Kiehl’s Since 1851, Michael Kors, Chanel Beauty, Fragrance & Sunglasses, Planet Hollywood Restaurant, Tickets & Tours on Location, La Perla, Carmine’s NYC Family Style Italian Restaurant, Casa Fuente Cigar Bar, Starbucks, Border Grill, The Art of Shaving, The Walking Company and more.
  • Brag Box, Centurions and More – Throughout the anniversary weekend, there will be celebration in the air inside The Forum Shops. Show off your 50th anniversary purchases by taking a commemorative photo in the Brag Box, be on the lookout for costumed Centurions and Handmaidens as they roam the Roman-themed retail center. 
A number of restaurants at The Forum Shops will further celebrate with specialty curated anniversary cocktails and cuisine from Aug. 5 – 7.
  • Joe's Seafood Prime Steak & Stone Crab - Roman Empire Specialty Cocktail with El Jimador Tequila Cointreau, Watermelon, Cucumber, Lime, Agave Nectar.
  • Spago by Wolfgang Puck - "Harry's Pick Me Up" Specialty Cocktail with a Spago twist made with Hennessy VSOP, house made grenadine, lemon juice and Henriot Champagne.
  • Sushi Roku – Enjoy 50% off any bottle of Sake or Wine. Valid at Sushi Roku Las Vegas location only. 
  • Il Mulino New York - "Cleopatra's Tears" Specialty Cocktail with Prosecco, brandy, St Germain and cocktail caviar.
  • Border Grill Forum Shops - Hail to Caesar! Jefe Margarita featuring Border Grill barrel select Patron Reposado, Patron Citronge, lime juice and organic agave nectar for $50.
  • Carmine’s NYC Family Style Restaurant – Hail Caesar! In honor of the anniversary, Carmine’s is offering 50% off the Caesar Salad with a purchase of any Porterhouse Steak.
  • Planet Hollywood Restaurant – During the Summer of Caesars, enjoy a 12 ounce Watermelon Margarita for just $3.99.
  • TREVI Italian Restaurant -  Enjoy the Classic Calda, Roman Spiced Wine, water wine mixed with spices
From bringing premier luxury shopping to the destination to introducing the first celebrity-chef driven restaurant when Wolfgang Puck opened Spago, the legendary resort set the standard when it first opened on Aug. 5, 1966 and today remains an incredible force at the center of the famous Las Vegas Strip.  The Forum Shops is proud to salute Caesars Palace on its 50th golden anniversary. 
In partnership with InVEGAS Magazine, The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace will be the exclusive location to ring in El Grito for the Mexican Independence Day weekend celebration. On Thursday, September 15 at 7:30 p.m., The Forum Shops will host the official opening ceremony to kick off the festivities with a celebratory ringing of the bell by a member of the Mexican Consul along with a Mariachi band and traditional folkloric dancers. The public is invited to join in on the free event to kick of the weeklong celebration. In addition, strolling mariachis and live modeling will take place throughout the center all weekend long.
A number of distinctive retailers and restaurants within The Forum Shops will offer special offerings to guests who check-in at the InVEGAS hospitality and welcome desks and pick up an INVEGAS wristband.
Mexican Independence Day weekend exclusive offers with InVEGAS wristbands include special offerings from A|X Armani Exchange, Anne Fontaine, Antiquities, bebe, Border Grill, Hugo Boss, Brighton Collectibles, Brooks Brothers, Carmine's NYC's Family Style Italian Restaurant, CH Carolina Herrera, Chloe', CREED, Custo Barcelona, Davante, Dior Beauty, Donald J Pliner, Elie Tahari, Exclusive Collections Gallery, Fat Tuesday, Field of Dreams, GAP, Giueseppe Zanotti Designs, GUESS, H&M, Hublot, Inglot Cosmetics, Jaegar-LeCoultre, kate spade new york, Kids Kastle, Kiehl's Since 1851, L.K. Bennett, La Salsa Cantina, Mephisto, Michael Kors, Montblanc, Mulberry, NARS Cosmetics, Palm Restaurant Las Vegas, Pandora, Paul & Shark, Peter Lik Gallery, Planet Hollywood Restaurant, Roman Times, Sandro, Skechers, Sushi Roku Las Vegas, Swarovski, Ted Baker London, Thomas Pink, Tickets & Tours on Location, Tourneau, Trevi Italian Restaurant, True Religion, Vilebrequin, The Walking Company, Welcome to Las Vegas and Zadig & Voltaire.
As the dog days of summer are upon us, it’s time to turn a styling eye toward Fall fashion. The 90’s have made it back into our closets and are here to stay, with Fall collections selling nothing short of nostalgic trends and wardrobe staples. The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace being the perfect place to pick up the best from this year’s Fall collections.
Outerwear is the highlight of the season, from puffer coats to caplets to leather trenches, all brought back with modern twists. Can’t miss highlights from AllSaints and John Varvatos, and especially Paul & Shark’s blue quilted jacket for men and Vilebrequin’s Ski Resort Collection featuring Africa’s Atlas Mountains in a sunny, snowy tribute to skiers everywhere. Step inside, take off the coat and reveal the range of textures that are showing up this season. Like distressed and layered denim from 7 for all mankind’s skinny jean with clean patches. Ted Baker London brings ‘Mission Impeccable’ with items like the Leysas Skirt that gives dimension and a shimmer look. Tory Burch presents an eclectic mixes of materials in each piece, like suede and glossy eel skin in bold stripes. And VINCE keeps in line with the loungewear goes ready-to-wear with the Flare Skirt. Footwear gets the special treatment this season with fur, metal and velvet embellishments. Must-sees include the Hotero Strass from Christian Louboutin, Kai from Jimmy Choo and Peetch from Ted Baker London. Lastly, no look is complete without the proper accessories. Balenciaga’s Concrete Gray Mini ‘City Bag compliments any gray plaid pairing. Spending a day around town? Henri Bendel’s W57th Studded Backpack is just the thing. In love with leopard? Seek out the Winsley from Mulberry. Watch exclusives from Hublot’s Big Bang Unico or Jaegar-LeCoultre Reverso collab with Christian Louboutin. Shine with the extra touch of metal with Pandora’s Radiant Hearts gold eternity ring. Top it all off with a spritz of CREED’s Aventus for her. View the Full Gallery of Fall Fashion at The Forum Shops
New York based fashion house DKNY recently opened a completely redesigned store at The Forum Shops at Caesars. The new design speaks of ‘a work in progress’, which reflects the evolution and the transformation of the DKNY brand. The space embraces dueling themes of tension: hard and soft, construction and deconstruction. Polished and imperfect. Past and present.
The store opened with the first fall collection designed by the new creative team Maxwell Osborne and Dao–Yi Chow. Mirrored in the store’s design, the collection embodies a sophistication that feels easy and modern. The palette is dark, rich and seductive. A celebration of duality and contrast juxtaposes with raw, unfinished and frayed.
Traditional fabrics—lace and pinstripe—are innovated and re–imagined. Distorted and applied in modern and unexpected ways. Reoccurring themes of deconstruction and reconstruction, layers, and pinstripes create a contemporary uniform for moving forward.
The material language in the store’s design borrows from the concept of a city that is always under construction: raw materials, plywood and sheetrock are re–contextualized and elevated in the retail environment. Layers and composites reflect city materials and textures, contrasted with a soft glowing corrugated fiberglass wall.
Bringing an artistic element to the store’s environment and following the newly designed New York SoHo store, The Forum Shops store showcases unexpected material iterations of the New York City subway bench, and a twist on industrial I–beam expressed in mirror and polished chrome. These elements serve as a reminder of DKNY’s ties to the city where it was founded, and its synergistic relationship to its surrounding element. DKNY is located between the Fountain of the Gods and the Atlantis Show and Aquarium.
Leica recently opened its first-ever Las Vegas Store, located in The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. The Leica Store Las Vegas allows consumers to explore Leica cameras first-hand in a dedicated space that offers exceptional service and access to an expert staff who are available to provide in-depth advice, tips and recommendations no matter the photographer’s skill level.
The new store offers Las Vegas visitors and locals the opportunity to experience the entire Leica camera line and select sport optic products through product demonstrations and advice from a highly-trained staff.  A rotating selection of prints are on display to showcase the inspiring imagery captured with Leica cameras. Located right off the Las Vegas Strip’s ground-level entrance to The Forum Shops.
 



 
 
 

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Lucky Los Angeles, the Two Nights that Asia Came to LA, TPGtv “One Night in Tokyo” & Lucky Rice LA 2016.

By Laura Medina

Night One,  TPGtv Japan “One Night In Tokyo” with The Points Guy, Brian Kelly.
 then
Night Two, Lucky Rice LA.

Yes, this scribe had double-dipped into the Asian Cuisine Feast but can't help it.

 
From Wall St. corporate laid-off, burnt-out to blogging to television show, Brian Kelly, The Points Guy was just as overwhelmed and impressed as this scribe at this launch party for his television show, TPGtv.

 
Being a normal New York who's just happy living out his dream then blogging about it, was totally wowed by the the set production of dangling Japanese Cherry Blossoms, strewn across the a photo studio, the three buffet bars of sushi, ramen noodles, and fried Japanese tempura bar, all for his television show, oh man.
 


Since the premiere television episode was focused on Tokyo, the launch party theme is modern Japan of today.

Sushi Bar.

The sushi bar was the first bar up and running, since the early guests were greeted with trays and trays of top-botch, juicy, meaty sushi as soon they arrived.

At first, we guests were just pleased with endless flow of sushi then assumed that was the food.  Boy, were we gladly proved wrong.

 Ramen Noodle Bar.

Alright, the easiest ones were the first to set off, hence the Sushi Bar.

The Ramen Noodle Bar, with warming up vats of broth and noodles then laying out soy curd bowls and trays of sliced-up rolled up pork filet stuffed with vegetables, was the second buffet bar to dole out ladles and bowls of noodles and broth with stuffed pork filet slices.

 
The most complex food buffet bar dives deeper into real Japanese cuisine than quick and fast sushi, the Tempura Fried Buffet.  Something that this Southern scribe appreciates.

Tempura-Fried Onions, Green Beans, and Squash.  Yes, the South isn't the only places that fries.  So, does Japan.

They served up: Kobe Chicken Fried Steak (Japanese Chicken Fried Steak, yep heard right), Tempura Onion Rings, Ahi Tuna Nicoise Tarts, and Daikon Spaghetti Salad.

Well, sushi you can get at most places.  The Ramen Noodle Bar was top-notch but it's not everywhere you can get Japanese Tempura-Friend anything or everything.  This scribe feasted on a big plate of tempura.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pUfshzgPy0

Well, you can't keep on feeding and watering the guests all night.  Plus, it's about modern Tokyo and modern Japan of today.

Stilt walkers in LCD robotic costumes wowed the three hundred guests slurping their ramen noodles and cocktails.

It didn't stop there.


The big finale was a raffle contest where the winner and first-runner, Xander Tarigo (left), wins two roundtrip tickets to Japan on Singapore Suites.  The second runner-up wins tickets to any hotel around the world.

Lucky Rice LA 2016 at Vibiana, home of Neal Fraser's Redbird.

Four nights later, lucky Los Angeles was hit with second tsunami, the Lucky Rice LA Asian Food Festival, where the most innovative and best Asian restaurants gather underneath one roof, for one night, 2016 edition.

If TPGtv's "One Night in Tokyo" was all about current Japanese cuisine then the Lucky Rice LA Festival was the best of what the Pacific Rim has to offer, all within Southern California or "SoCal."

 
To be honest, the Lucky Rice LA festival is a great one-shop deal to discover food trends.

The overwhelming trend is the "American-ization" of Pan-Pacific cuisine, coming from first-and second-generation Asian-Americans born and raised in the Good Ole United States of American...okay with a California twist.  Not surprising since Americans with some degree of Pan-Asian blood is the fastest growing demographic in the United States.

 http://www.seoulsausage.com/

Seoul Sausage's Hawaii 5-O Rice Ball was the first appetizer to greet people, an huge ball of fried rice, Teriyaki Sauce, fried Portuguese Sausage Corn, Pineapple, Macaroni, House Sesame Dressing.  That was a gut filler but there's way, way more tapas to sample the entire Pacific Rim.

 http://www.twentyeightoc.com/

Where the Deep South (the fastest growing region of the United States) meets Asian-American (the fastest growing demographic in the United States), Twenty-Eight's version of Peaches, Pork, & Grits: Red Braised Pork Belly, Creamy Polenta (Italian Grits but still creamy enough to be mistaken for grits), and sauteed peaches.  This dish can't get more Southern than this.

http://www.cremecaramella.com/

You guessed it by now, Fusion-Cuisine is the driving theme behind this year's Lucky Rice LA but what the majority do not know or uninformed, alright, uneducated, is that Fusion Cuisine has always been around for ages.

Fusion Cuisine is a reflection of the people and their culture colonizing a land.  Spanish-American cuisine of the Philippines and French-Vietnamese cuisine of Vietnam, the land of Iced Coffee.

Creme Caramel LA's Filipino Mini Pavlova is upper-crust French dessert utilizing Filipino ingredients: Coconut Meringue, Ube Custard, Graham Cracker, Greek Yogurt Crumble.  It's French technique using Filipino ingredients.

 http://www.banhoui.com/
 
Bahn Oui's traditional French-Vietnamese tapas for Lucky Rice LA 2016 is the easiest to assemble.  Basically, you just buy ready-made crackers, a tub of foie gras or duck pate, and a slab of pork belly.  Okay, you have to grill the pork baby, but other than that, assembling this is pretty easy.

But, oh so good that you'll have guests licking it out of its plate, like the Lucky Rice LA 2016 diners.

Bahn Oui: first sauce the Rye Bread Crisp Cracker with Foie Gras, then placed grilled Pork Belly, then sprinkle fresh herbs. Very fast, very easy that any hostess during the Summer can pull this off.

http://www.blingblingdumpling.com/blingblingdumpling/Home.html

Speaking for Fusion/Cross-Cultural Cuisine, Bling Bling Dumpling's take on the Philly Cheese Steak is an awesome alternative to a late-night burger craving.

They simply switched out the Philly Roll or Hoagie Roll with a steamed bun but it's still Philly Cheese Steak all the way through: Pastrami Dumplings, Sauerkraut, Sriracha, Thousand Island Dressing.

http://parksbbq.com/main/

Sometimes, simple is better...and flashier.

Using a blowtorch (the next up&coming cooking tool), Parks BBQ grilled their Short Ribs then wrapped it in Rice Paper.  Simple.


Of course, with all this munching, people gotta quench their thirst.  With Bombay Sapphire Gin East being the main sponsor, there are many variations of Bombay Sapphire East Gin cocktails.

Doheny Room's...

Pestle:
Bombay Sapphire East Gin
Asian Pear Juice
Golden Korean Melon Juice
Homemade Hibiscus Cordial
Powell & Mahoney Lemon Bitters
Candied Hibiscus
Lemon Peel

Mortar:
Martini & Rossi Prosecco
Bombay Sapphire Gin
Homemade Orange Shrub
White Peach Juice
Homemade Cherry Cordial
Spiced Asian Pears. 

http://www.seoulsausage.com/

The lucky first got the rare After-Party Invitation to Seoul Sausage, just behind Vibiana, Lucky Rice LA 2016's site.

That Friday night only, Seoul Sausage offered this rare "Bombay Melon-Bar" Cocktail.

It's a Honeydew slushie blended with Bombay Sapphire Gin.

This scribe hopes you can re-create because "Bombay Melon-Bar" Cocktail happened once, like a blue moon, only for that Friday night for two hours then "poof," disappears.

Cheers Lucky Rice LA for showcasing what is the best of Pan-Asian/Fusion Cuisine.

Can't wait to see and taste what next year has in store.