Luxury Travel Nightlife Restaurant Chef

Photo By: Andrea Cannistraci

journeyPod was again front and center at the 8^th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. This international showcase of the world’s premier wines, spirits, chefs, culinary personalities, and gourmet foods did not disappoint!

We called Hotel Solamar home for the weekend, and chatted with GM, Mark Dibella for some inside scoop on this amazing property located in the heart of the vibrant Gaslamp Quarter.

Our weekend of gluttony included a Belgian Beer Tasting & Pairing with Chef Daniel Joly (Mirabelle at Beaver Creek). And at the Reserve and Limited Tasting Event,  it was more than just wine... There was scotch! SipSmokeSavor was pairing scotches with chocolates.

It was a sunny San Diego Saturday for The Grand Tasting Event down at the Embarcadero where we ran into a number of unique luxury brands such as Chuao Chocolate, DelGrosso Sauce, Wild Hibiscus, and Ca’momi Wines.

Take a listen as we give you inside scoop on everything from crazy wine owners, to edible flowers, to how to live like a local.

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Journeypod.com was in pit lane and the paddocks for the 37th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. We rubbed shoulders with Danica and Dario, and even chatted up racing legend Bobby Rahal, who was in the pits helping his son, Graham. Then we got up close up with the Grand Marshall for this year’s event—Chef Gordon Ramsey! journeyPod.com attended Chef’s press conference and got some inside scoop on Hell’s Kitchen and also a food few tips from Chef Gordon. Take a listen from this exclusive press conference!

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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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Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard took home a journeyPod-sponsored trip to Barcelona during one of the challenges on the show. journeyPod had a chance to chat with this culinary diva about her adventure in the Catalan city, her new restaurant Drunken Goat and her video podcast "The Tasty Life".

For more celebrity chef interviews like this make sure to check out our podcasts in iTunes - keyword "journeyPod". Follow us on twitter for all the latest gourmet gossip, travel tips and celebrity sightings!

To keep up with Stephanie Izard & check out her weekly pod show visit http://stephanieIzard.com

Enjoy podsafe artist Bill with his hit "Sound Scientist".

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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 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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Atlanta is a city on the rise! With new restaurants, boutique hotels, wine bars, and lounges opening - culinary tourism is increasing rapidly!

Chefs in Atlanta are to thank for this great movement. Kevin Rathbun made his mark with his three hotspots: Rathbuns, Krog Bar and Rathbuns Steak. Hector Santiago has brought true Spanish tapas to Pura Vida in the Virginia Highlands. Top Chef contestant Richard Blais wows his patrons with his knowledge of comfort food and molecular gastronomy at Home.

journeyPod was especially impressed with Chef/Owner Gerry Klaskala, who continues to draw in the crowd at Aria restaurant in Buckhead. Serving delectable dishes like the Zinfandel Braised Beef Short Rib and a Warm Lobster Cocktail - there is a reason this restaurant is packed nightly with both locals and visitors!

Listen in as Chef Gerry explains his idea of creating food memories at Aria. Usher, Janet Jackson and Woody Harellson are just a few of the celebrity guests that have enjoyed Gerry's cooking!

Enjoy podsafe artist Jersey Jung and her song "Good at Goodbye".

For a full list of our favorite places in Atlanta, check out our Atlanta Destination Guide!

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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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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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