Spend Labor Day weekend in Yountville with Thomas Keller.

The French Laundry in YountvilleIf you’re serious about food, you probably know all about Yountville, the tiny Napa valley town with some of the country’s best restaurants.  Three of these -- The French Laundry, Bouchon, and Ad Hoc -- are the domain of Thomas Keller, named the Best Chef in America in 1997.

When The French Laundry won three Michelin stars in 2006, Keller became the only American chef to have two restaurants with three stars.  The other is Per Se in New York.  Always fresh and imaginative, Keller’s cooking never fails to amaze.  And 60 lucky American Express cardholders can spend Labor Day weekend with Keller, eating his incredible food and learning technique directly from him.


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0 comments | Posted by Molly Ottersen on 07/18/2010 at 8:05 PM | Categories: Food and Wine - USA - California - North America -

Cool addition to Southern California flea market scene.

Dodger Stadium, home of California new flea marketThe L.A. area already has more than it’s fair share of great flea markets.  But that doesn’t mean they won’t make room for another.  The new L.A. Flea Market is opening on July 18, at Dodger Stadium.  The Grand Opening will be a memorable one with three bands, nearly a dozen gourmet food trucks, a celebrity yard sale, and more.

Five hundred vendors are already signed up.  There’s space for up to 2,500.  And the venue can accommodate as many as 25,000 flea market aficionados.  Eventually, it may give the Rose Bowl Flea Market a run for it’s money.


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0 comments | Posted by Molly Ottersen on 07/03/2010 at 7:15 PM | Categories: USA - California - Shopping - North America - Cool Service -

Fabulous new Lake Como hotel opens.

One of the great things about Lake Como is that it’s changed so little since the 19th century.  The dreamy gardens and romantic villas have a timeless quality that only adds to there appeal.  The fabled hotels and resorts on Lake Como have all been there for as long as anyone could remember.  Until now.

The first new hotel on Lake Como in a century, Casta Diva Resort, is now open in Blevia, near the town of Como.  The 18th-century villa was once the home of opera singer Giuditta Pasta, and Bellini composed Norma and La Sonnambula for her while he was here.


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0 comments | Posted by Molly Ottersen on 06/28/2010 at 9:58 AM | Categories: Italy - Europe -