Luxury Travel Nightlife Restaurant Chef

Who says chocolate has to be a guilty pleasure? journeyPod had a chance to chat with the Master of Chocolate, Jacques Torres, aka Mr. Chocolate, at the 2009 Saborea Food Festival in Puerto Rico. At the festival we tasted his chocolate and rum concoction and became, almost immediately, his greatest fan!

Listen in as Jacques Torres describes his love for the Puerto Rican culinary scene as well as what it was like to cook for the Pope!

Make sure to visit www.MrChocolate.com to order your next chocolate delight! (We love the Hot Hot Chocolate and the Chocolate Covered Cherios!)

Enjoy podsafe artist Roadtrip and their hit “The Chocolate Song”.

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journeyPod takes you live to the pre-party of the 2009 Saborea Food Festival as we chat with President and CEO of the Puerto Rico Hotel Association, Clarisa Jimenez who lets us in on what this food and wine event is all about.

journeyPod tasted great food and wine from such chefs as:

Chef Augusto who was the owner of Augusto’s Restaurant

Chef Wilo Benet – Picayo, Paya and Varitas Restaurants

Chef Roberto Triviño – Budatai Restaurant

Chef Mario Pagán – Lemongrass at Caribe Hilton Hotel

Restaurant Perla

Book your accommodation for next year’s event April 8-10, 2009 and stay at the luxurious El Conquistador Hotel and Golden Door Spa, Caribe Hilton, Conrad San Juan or El Convento Hotel at Old San Juan.

Enjoy podsafe artist The Front Street Project with their hit “Nighty Night”.

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journeyPod takes you live to the 2009 Saborea Food Festival on Escambron Beach in Puerto Rico.  We sat on the tasting panel as local and International chefs took their stab at infusing their signature dishes with local Puerto Rican ingredients. The festival was amazing, the view breathtaking and the crowd extremely friendly! journeyPod sampled tastings from restaurants like Il Mulino, Lemongrass, Budatai and Chayote.

Listen in as we chat with Iron Chef Cat Cora at the festival, right before she went on stage to demonstrate how to make the most succulent crab cake known to palate!

Grab your tickets to next year’s event by visiting www.saboreapuertorico.com today! Book yourself a cozy room at some of our favorite hotels and resorts on the island: Conrad San Juan, La Concha, El San Juan Hotel & Casino & the marvelous El Conquistado Resort & Golden Spa.

Enjoy podsafe artist Paul Borth with his smooth hit “The Beach 1969″.

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journeyPod is coming to you live from the Grand Tasting Village of the 2009 South Beach Wine and Food Festival. We had a chance to catch up with winner of Food Network’s “Iron Chef America” - Michelle Bernstein-Martinez. Michelle’s unique approach to “luxurious approachable food” has made her namesake restaurant, Michy’s, a fiery success. Michelle has also made a splash with her Spanish-style tapas at Sra. Martinez, the intimate Michelle’s at Carysfort and MB at the Aqua Hotel in Cancun. 

Before opening her own restaurant, Michelle worked at some of our favorite Miami hotspots including Tantra, Red Fish Grill and The Strand. Today she is a regular guest on The Martha Stewart Show, The Today Show and was a co-host of the Melting Pot.  Michelle lets us in on some of her favorite hangouts in Miami including Nobu and Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink.

Make sure to pick up her cookbook “Cuisine á Latiná” at a store near you. Now lets take you live to the event where Michelle cooked up some delectable Sweet Corn & Cheese Empanadas at the Sargento Artisan Blends Booth.

 Enjoy podsafe band Black Lab with their hit “Remember”.

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journeyPod headed to sunny Southern California for the 5th Annual San Diego Wine and Food Festival. journeyPod was there for lip smacking, glass clinking, celebrity watching, swishing, swirling, mouth watering kinds of fun! Held at venues along the stunning San Diego waterfront, the Festival was a sizzling five-day festa that offered attendees everything from cooking classes with celebrity chefs, to wine tastings with Master Sommeliers, to a Reserve Tasting aboard the Hornblower’s Inspiration, and the Final Grand Event –where over 800 wines were poured.

journeyPod caught up with some of the movers and shakers at the festival. We spoke with the Chef of the Fest from 2007, Chef GT, for some real inside scoop on what it is like to be “Chef of the Fest.” We also chatted with the Dan from Redwood Creek Wines, and with Rita from Designo Plus who told us all about sea salts from around the world!

Let’s take a listen straight from this year’s San Diego Wine and Food Festival. And if you’re interested in attending the festival next November, journeyPod highly suggest you make your hotel reservations now—at the Grand Del Mar. That’s where we stayed this year and we couldn’t have been more impressed! Tune in for our podcast on The Grand Del Mar in an upcoming show. You’re gonna love this kitchy piece called “Glass of Wine” by The New Autonomous Folksingers.

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journeyPod is your guide to luxury travel around the world.  We sip champagne at the BubbleQ on the beach along with celebrity chefs like Giada, Tyler Florence, Al Roker, Cat Cora, and Pat Neely. We catchup with the Rathbun Brothers who just beat Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America.  Listen in from the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.

The fanciest BBQ on the beach you will ever attend.  Over 3000 VIP guests enjoyed Moet & Chandon Champagne and lots of tasty treats from pulled pork to ribs to lamb. 

Music from Death Cab for Cutie and their song “Title and Registration.”

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journeyPod is your guide to luxury travel around the world.  Listen in as Iron Chef Cat Cora and Iron Chef Morimoto give us some info on their cooking styles at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.  Cat shares some news on her new CCQ barbeque restaurant opening in May.  Iron Chef Morimoto talks about his restaurants in Philly, NY, and India. 

Cat grew up in Mississippi and so she uses some Southern cooking styles in her own dishes.  She also relies on her Greek upbringing to blend in wonderful Mediterranean flavors.  And of course her culinary training in France with 3 star Michelin chefs.

Morimoto left Nobu to start his own restaurants.  He was the original Iron Chef Japanese on the first Iron Chef programs in Japan.

Enjoy the sounds of Brain Buckit and their tune, “Let the Boogie Out.”

Photo credit thx to evan eggers.

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journeyPod is your guide to luxury travel around the world. Giada De Laurentiis shares her sausage and peppers recipe with us at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Listen in live from the BubbleQ party on the beach as we sip champagne and taste Giada’s chocolate panini. Learn about Giada’s culinary training in Paris and her Italian family cooking foundation.

The festival showcased top chefs from around the country. Over 30,000 people attended the 4 day celebrity filled event.

You can get more info here.

Enjoy the passionate sounds of Beth Thornley and her song “Stand.”

Photo credit icelebz.com

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Celebrating the most delightful fruits of France, the Tour de Champagne in Atlanta was an event not to be missed! Krug, Dom Perignon and Veuve Clicquot were flowing like water as guests enjoyed appetizers from restaurants like Eno, Atlanta Grill, Steel, Geisha House, Dolce, Flat Creek Lodge, Repast, The Sun Dial, Shaun’s, SOHO and Nikolai’s Roof.

Chef Roland Mesnier, who served as the White House Pastry Chef for 25 years, made a guest appearance and signed copies of his book: “Dessert University: More than 300 Spectacular Recipes and Essential Lessons from White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier”.

Listen in as journeyPod chats with the Founder of Tour de Champagne Richard Marble, as he discusses the idea behind the event as well as upcoming tour stops.

Enjoy music from the Motion Picture “Once” as we leave you with the harmonious tune “Falling Slowly” sung by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.

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