WINE | Sweet Leisure

Category Archives: WINE

CAL-A-VIE HEALTH SPA, AMERICA’S MOST PERFECT DESTINATION SPA

The second I win the lottery, I’m calling Cal-a-Vie and booking an extended stay. Why do I love the spa? Here are just a few of the many reasons: LOCATION Nestled in a valley surrounded by lavender scented hills, Cal-a-Vie sits 40 miles north of San Diego and seven miles inland from the Pacific coast […]

FABULOUS FRENCH HOTEL BARGE CRUISE AND RECIPES

Shhh!…keep this between us as it’s not too cool for a travel writer to claim a favorite cruise. But when it comes to barging, I’ve taken two trips that I adored above all the others and just can’t stop praising them. Both were on the same Horizon II, one of the luxurious hotel barges in […]

¶ Posted 22 August 2017 † Susan Manlin Katzman § ACCOMMODATIONS § BARGING § CANALS § CRUISING § FRANCE § RECIPES § SALADS § SIDE DISHES § TRAVEL ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: Barging, CRUISING, Cyril Bedu, Europe, France, French Country Waterways, Gien French Faience, Harvé Roussel Chocolates, Horizon II, hotel barges, potato salad, red cabbage, Upper Loire

CANYON OF THE ANCIENTS GUEST RANCH & NAVARIN PRINTANIER

Wish you were here to experience the glories that can’t be put into words: the quiet so peaceful as to hear the cattle chewing in the pasture, the wings of a bird flap overhead and the swishing sway of the wild apricot trees that line the creek; the air so fresh as to send scents […]

¶ Posted 20 April 2017 † Susan Manlin Katzman § ACCOMMODATIONS § BOOKS § CANYON OF THE ANCIENTS NATIONAL MONUMENT § COLORADO § CORTEZ § ENTREES § HOVENWEEP NATIONAL MONUMENT § MESA VERDE § NATIONAL PARKS § RECIPES § RESORTS § TRAVEL ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: Canyon of the Ancients, Colorado, Cortez, Garry Adams, grass-fed beef, lamb, Mese Verde Country, Ming Adams, Native American, Navarin Printanier, Spirits of the Stone, stew, Sutcliffe Vineyards

ATRIO/MICHELIN STARS AND RELAIS & CHATEAUX

Atrio is one of the main reasons to visit Cáceres. Actually, Atrio is one of the main reasons to visit Spain. The two-Michelin-starred restaurant and Relais & Châteaux hotel is worth not only a detour (in Michelin speak), but also a bucket-list trip—at least for lovers of food, wine and architecture. Atrio sits in […]

¶ Posted 23 November 2015 † Susan Manlin Katzman § ACCOMMODATIONS § CACERES § RESTAURANTS § SPAIN § TRAVEL ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: Atrio, Caceres, El Bulli, Emilio Tuñón Álvarez, Extremadura, Ferran Adrià, Food, Jose Polo, Luis Moreno Mansilla, Relais & Châteaux, Spain, Spanish Foods, Tono Perez, travel, UNESCO World Heritage Site

CÁCERES, CULINARY CAPITAL OF SPAIN, 2015 & MIGAS

The food of Cáceres rocks! The restaurants are rad! The take-home edible souvenirs are wicked and wow! No wonder a jury composed of top representatives from Spain’s hotel, restaurant and publishing industries, declared the city “The Culinary Capital of Spain, 2015.” The city, in the province of the same name, sits in the sparsely populated […]

¶ Posted 09 November 2015 † Susan Manlin Katzman § APPETIZERS § BEER § BEVERAGES § BREAKFAST § CACERES § CHEESE § COFFEE § CONDIMENTS § DESSERTS § DRINKS § ENTREES § PRODUCTS § RECIPES § RESTAURANTS § SIDE DISHES § SPAIN § TRAVEL § Uncategorized ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: Atrio Restaurante, Caceres, Convento de San Pablo, Culinary, Culinary Routes, Extremadura, Ibores, Ivan Hernandez, Jamon Iberia, migas, Olive oil, Restaurante Cayena, Ribera del Guadiana wine, smoked paprika, Spain, Tono Perez, Torta del Casar

FARMSHOP AND AVOCADO HUMMUS

It’s sunny and bright, hip and happening, and loaded with celebrities. We could be describing Southern California and Los Angeles in general, but instead are telescoping in on Farmshop, an artisan market and restaurant that perfectly reflects the cool vibe of both the region and the city. Actually, there are two Farmshop restaurants—one in L.A. […]

¶ Posted 27 March 2015 † Susan Manlin Katzman § APPETIZERS § BREAKFAST § BRUNCH § CALIFORNIA § CHEESE § CHOCOLATE § COFFEE § LOS ANGELES § PRODUCTS § RECIPES § RESTAURANTS § TRAVEL ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: Brentwood Country Mart, Brian Reimer, chickpeas, Farmshop, hummus, Jeff Cerciello, Los Angeles, Marin County, pistachios

Paris Wine Bars

Noël Balen grew up sure of two things: what he wanted to do with his life—music and writing books—and what he didn’t want to do—all the rest. He has certainly achieved his goals. Noël is not only a musician, music critic, director and producer, but also a well-known author. His writing career began with a whodunit, […]