El Paseo Welcomes Il Sogno

Located in the midst of the art and jewelery district, Il Sogno was previously located in Pacific Palisades, CA, first opening in 1990. Il Sogno quickly became known for innovative food, breads and...

Thanksgiving Spice - Chef Michel Despras

“Do you want to know a secret?” Michel Despras whispers with an anticipating smile, ready to divulge the French method for rendering the most tender, juicy turkey.

BY MARYANN RIDINI SPENCER

Thanksgiving Spice - Chef Camerino Torres

Hot peppers, chili, cilantro, avocados, tomatoes, and chocolate bring a distinctive Mexican flair to Camerino Torres’ Thanksgiving meals.

BY MARYANN RIDINI SPENCER

Thanksgiving Spice - Chef Biagio “Gino” Cipriano

“I celebrated my first Thanksgiving only 10 years ago,” Gino Cipriano says. “When I moved from Sicily to the United States, I didn’t know many people. My new friends, not wanting me to...

BY MARYANN RIDINI SPENCER

Under Blue Skies

One of the attractions of dining at Azul in Palm Springs is sitting on the patio at your personal-canopy-covered glider (the table and bench seats glide back and forth). From your sidewalk perch,...

Bask in the Glow

Fall evenings in the desert practically demand dining alfresco, and the fire pit and tree-bedecked patio at Spencer’s restaurant in Palm Springs provides an inviting, elegant backdrop.

Coming to Fruition

When Fresno State Winery posted photos on its Web site of 5,800 clusters of grapes hanging from the ceiling of its barrel and storage room, e-mails came in from as far away as Armenia and...

By Janice Kleinschmidt

Prime Property

From atop a hill in Sonoma County, Michael Martini looks toward the San Francisco skyline where, on a clear day, he can see the Golden Gate Bridge some 40 miles away.

BY JANICE KLEINSCHMIDT

PSST! - Days of Wine and Donuts

Thornton Winery’s summer barbecue class took an unexpected spin with a dessert of Grilled Sugar Donuts.

Janice Kleinschmidt

Clinging to Zinfandel

Something about zinfandel engenders passion among wine drinkers. Whether due to a distinct pepper on the palate, a jammy finish, or the romantic notion of gnarly hundred-year-old plantings that...

Janice Kleinschmidt

Reaching for the Top

Famed winemaker Mike Grgich earns accolades, awards, accomplishments — and a place in paradise. Although he’s spending the day at home in La Quinta, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich sports his...

JANICE KLEINSCHMIDT

PSST - Bling and Bubbles

Tami Cimperman wanted to send party guests home with rhinestone-emblazoned glassware. To her dismay, she found none; and vendors told her rhinestones wouldn’t stay on glass anyway. “Oh,...

By Janice Kleinschmidt