Upon my return from the nonstop eating extravaganza that was our West Coast excursion to Portland and San Francisco, I immediately got back on the horse (not the scale), dieting and living-wise. Last Friday and Saturday I truly, truly ate lightly, so when I did summon up courage to get on the scale Sunday, imagine my surprise when Mr. Scale said I had actually lost a pound since my last weigh-in. In a way, getting that favorable digital read on Sunday was counterproductive, as it probably gave me a false sense of accomplishment. Even more problematic was that I still had five days before the next weigh-in, which, as you all know, is about to happen. I had a few...
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Inside Ballast Point Brewery, from the Los Angeles Times. In today’s Los Angeles Times, Jenn Garbee contributed a story that’s sure to resonate with spirits geeks like me: “West Coast brewers pick up the distilling spirit.” Small-scale distilleries are on the upswing nationwide, as consumers take greater interest in locally sourced products and states reassess the tax revenue such operations can generate. And while many distilleries are truly independent startups, many talented brewers who have learned the business from making quality beer are either adding distilleries to existing operations, or working in tandem with like-minded distillers. Garbee spotlights Ballast Point Brewing in San Diego, which has been making beer since 1996. Now with a 600-square-foot distillery, the owners are...
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If you happen to live on the left coast, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy these fine food events in the next week or so... The Bite of Oregon Fri-Sun, Aug 10-12 check for daily times Waterfront Park Portland, OR Adults, $7 (kids under 12, free) Food Network star Guy Fieri, local chefs duking it out Iron-Chef style, and plenty of great food, wine, beer, and music, including Dr. John and Patti Smith. A big deal! San Rafael Food and Wine Festival Sat, Aug 11, 10am-6pm Falkirk Cultural Center San Rafael, CA Marin county artists, restaurants, and food producers do the weekend festival thing, with demos and tastings aplenty. Admission is free and the location is scenic, an elegant 19th-century...
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