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Acclaimed Chefs Celebrate Southern Food at Upcoming Florida Film Festival
He has been representing his home country of Scotland in one form or another since he was thirteen years old. From his storied acting career, which included
roles in Mel Gibson's Braveheart, as well as 5 years spent at the BBC, to his status as one of the world's leading Burns speakers, Andrew is the perfect
representative for a whisky as distinctly Scottish as the Balvenie.
Throughout his entire career, Andrew has remained fiercely loyal to his Scottish roots, and has dedicated his time to promoting Scotland and its exports throughout the world. First establishing himself as an in-demand Burns
speaker, which led to his appearance as Robert Burns at the Epcot Center in Florida, Andrew also founded Scotland's leading agency for extras and background artists. After selling the business to pursue other projects, Andrew went on to form one half of 3rd Degree Burns, the Robert Burns themed entertainment company, which has been featured at events around in the U.S.A, Canada, the U.K. and Ireland, promoting the legacy of Scotland's legendary poet.
Andrew arrived in the U.S. in 2005, where he worked as a PR representative and Media Ambassador for Visit Britain - the National Tourism office for England, Scotland and Wales. During this time, he continued his promotion of all things Scottish and cultivated his deep love of Scotch whisky, while educating the public on distillery tours and the significance of Scotland's greatest export.
In his current role as Western USA Balvenie Ambassador (based in San Francisco), Andrew has the privilege of sharing the Balvenie story with enthusiastic Americans from San Antonio to Seattle and from California to Colorado.
How do you feel about your role as Balvenie ambassador?
It's an unbelievable honor to represent The Balvenie. The true hard work (the magic) is done back in Speyside by some of the most dedicated, hardworking craftsmen on earth and I'm the one who gets to tell their story. For me, the story is all about the people back in Dufftown and about the personal experience of drinking a fine single malt. I like to put it into context for people: explain the love, care and attention that goes into the production of every drop and what at least 12 years in a cask will do to whisky, how it
develops.
How do feel about living in California? It must be a pretty different atmosphere compared to Scotland.
Very different, but in a good way. It's one of life's greatest educations to live in a place far removed from your upbringing, your comfort zone. I
spent over 3 years in New York before moving west, so you could say I'm breaking myself into American life gently, or not! There's not a day
goes past when I don't day dream about being back in Scotland, to see my family, catch a football (soccer) match or to enjoy a bowl of
my mum's soup. The language barrier is always interesting - I often get into full swing in a presentation, describing something about whisky production or about Scotland and a word I've said has been misinterpreted in the front row (often as something not altogether clean) - seriously I wish they laughed that
hard at my jokes - those are always lost in translation. The US is
a great place to be, there's such an embracing, positive spirit
here. People are always interested to hear about where I'm from
and of course to learn more about our greatest export. There's
no greater example to use when talking about Scotch whisky
than The Balvenie - the craftsmanship and traditional methods of
production employed at the distillery leave me with no shortage
of conversation fillers!
How do you think Americans differ in their views on Scotch whisky compared to those of Scottish people?
Beyond being one of the most complex and diverse spirit categories, I think most Americans view Scotch as shorthand for a people, a place, a time - something that helps them escape from everyday life. As a very patriotic Scot, I've always been proud that our 'water of life' has been one of those global iconic symbols of our national identity and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. Americans have an amazing appreciation for Scotch and the availability of single malts in this country has always impressed me. Long may it continue.
What is your favorite part of your new role?
The people. No two days will ever be the same and you never know who you'll be having a conversation with tomorrow. In previous jobs I've had to earn respect or time with people before being able to convince them of something. In this job, the convincing is done the moment that sweet honeyed Balvenie hits their lips. My job is to help them understand what's in the glass and ensure that every sip is an unforgettable experience. Slainte Mhath (Good Health) and, drink responsibly! To contact Andrew and learn more about the world of the
single malt Scotch, visit www.thebalvenie.com
RECENT AWARDS
International Review of Spirits
Gold Medal:
The Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel Single Malt ScotchWhisky
The Balvenie "Signature" Batch 2 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Balvenie Portwood 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Silver Medal:
The Balvenie (Scotland) 12 Year Old Doublewood Single Malt Scotch Whisky
San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Double Gold Medal:
The Balvenie 21 Year Old Portwood Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Silver Medal:
The Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Balvenie 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch, Rum Cask
The Balvenie "Signature" Batch 2 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bronze Medal:
The Balvenie 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch, Doublewood, Speyside, Scotland
About William Grant & Sons
William Grant & Sons, Ltd. is an independent
family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded
by William Grant in 1886. Today, the super-premium spirits company is run
by the fifth generation of his family. Among the most recent accolades for
the well-awarded company, William Grant & Sons was honored as the
"Distiller of the Year" for the third time in four years by the prestigious
International Spirits Challenge.
Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with super-premium brands including Stolichnaya vodka, the world's best-selling single malt Scotch whisky Glenfiddich, The Balvenie range of handcrafted single malts, Grant's blended Scotch, Hendrick's® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Spiced Navy Rum, the award-winning Milagro® Tequila, Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur, Licor 43, BOLS Liqueurs, Galliano, Lillet and Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur.
For more information on the company and its brands, please visit
www.grantusa.com
The Margarita King
From the Oscars to Oprah
By Carly Zinderman
After spending over twenty years in the restaurant industry, Giovanni, the reigning Margarita King has left the dining arena to conquer the cocktail, with The Margarita King: The World's Best Margarita, the next big thing in the spirits industry.
The Margarita King - the only ready-to-serve premium margarita cocktail to win three gold medals from the Beverage Testing Institute of Chicago. Overcoming immense challenges to come up with the perfect recipe from the perfect blend of ingredients in the perfect bottle, the Margarita King has used his tireless energy to make the perfect margarita for every occasion and in the process, has created a new niche in the liqueur market. He has built a story to sell the Margarita King brand and his customers have reacted positively, with a universally enthusiastic - wow!
Using a premium blend of liquors, natural citrus and real sugarcane, The Margarita King comes pre-mixed and ready to party. The Margarita King has been on popular TV shows, including Oprah, stirring up fun for one of her famous parties. He can also be found shaking up cocktails at many of Hollywood's hottest parties and awards shows.
From the Grammy's, Oscars and Golden Globes telecasts where Giovanni has reigned and poured for Usher, Gwen Stefani, Pam Anderson, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, Paris Hilton, Beyonce, Terrence Howard, Nelly, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres, Donald Trump, Hugh Hefner, Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, Outkast, Black Eyed Peas, Jessica Alba, Forrest Whittacker, Cedric the Entertainer, Christina Aguilara, Quentin Tarantino, and many others as well!
Giovanni, first began his quest for the best margarita cocktail in a bottle by searching for the best tequila - the best that matched perfectly into a margarita. He knew that just by mixing the finest quality tequila did not necessarily give you the tastiest margarita. With a background in mixology and a palate that never quit, he was able to find the right blue agave tequila and the blood orange liqueur that blended in with sugarcane and lemon and limejuices. The Margarita King promises, "When you taste it you'll know the difference."
Drink recipes and more at: www.themargaritaking.com
AsomBrosoTM: Tequila's Best of the Best
The prestigious ROBB Report Magazine awarded AsomBrosoTM "The Best of the Best" tequila. Wine Enthusiast gave AsomBrosoTM Anejo a rating of 95, and Anthony Dias Blue of the Bon Appetit Tasting Panel awarded AsomBrosoTM tequilas collectively, "the highest scores ever awarded in my tasting evaluations." Pretty amazing for a new kid in town, and fittingly, "amazing" is what AsomBrosoTM translates to in English.
AsomBrosoTM is requested at Hollywood insider parties and events with the likes of Brooke Burke, P. Diddy, Paris Hilton, and The Beach Boys. Featured on The Today Show, AsomBrosoTM has also been spotlighted in dozens of magazines including Playboy, Maxim, and Dining Out. The distinctive tequila has made cameo appearances in feature films such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and Sueno starring John Leguizamo and Elizabeth Pena, as well as on TV's, My Wife and Kids.
The launch of AsomBrosoTM represents the culmination of President/CEO Rick "Ricardo" Gamarra's personal quest, which began with a chance round of private-stock, "old style" tequila at a friend's home in Guadalajara, Mexico, and culminated with his acquisition of his own tequilary along with specialized tequila making equipment. Because of the stringent regulatory controls over the product, and the sophistication of its manufacturing process, it took Gamarra three years to bring the project to fruition. Gamarra, or Ricardo, as he is known in the industry, is the only "gringo" to have his own tequilary in the actual town of Tequila located in the Guadalajara area.
Two things separate AsomBrosoTM from the rest of the tequila on the market. The first is the old-world approach to its preparation, which not only calls for the multiple distillation and special filtration of the juice of the properly selected, baked and aged agave, but also, in the case of Anejo, requires a five-year maturation term in special French Oak barrels, which gives
AsomBrosoTM Anejo its distinctive taste and aromatic profile. The second is its distinctive packaging. Patterned after a decanter found in an 18th Century European castle, each AsomBrosoTM bottle is hand-blown and numbered, and the Anejo is also available in a cedar lined humidor box.
The AsomBrosoTM line of ultra premium tequila is available at select restaurants, bars and retailers throughout California, and will soon be available in various other states. With his philosophy of quality in lieu of quantity, Ricardo Gamarra has strategically positioned AsomBrosoTM as the tequila of choice among discriminating consumers.
TIGER BEER USA INC.
520 White Plains Road, #5039, Tarrytown, NY 10591
Celebrate the Year of the Dog with Chinese-American Flair
Easy Tips for Hosting A Fire Cracking Chinese New Year Party
As if you needed another excuse to party, January 29, 2006 marks the beginning of the lunar year 4074, better known as the Chinese New Year. Much like its Western counterpart, this holiday is traditionally seen as a time to gather friends and family together to celebrate new beginnings.
Throwing your own Chinese-American themed party is a wonderful way to bring your loved ones together, warm up from the frigid winter, and renew those barely remembered resolutions. Below are some easy tips courtesy of Vroom Media, consultant for leading Asian brands, for throwing your own Chinese-American party for the Year of the Dog.
Invitations: Head down to Chinatown to pick up some pretty party invites. If you have no time to make it, order some online or send an e-greeting. Plenty of internet companies now offer cards specific to Chinese New Year. Not only will you save yourself a trip, but also the cost of postage.
Entree: There is always the option of ordering from your preferred take-out place, but there are plenty of simple dishes if you would like to cook your own. Noodles, a staple favorite, should be left uncut to represent a long life. Several brands found at your local grocer offer oven-ready egg rolls, spring rolls, and won-tons. Of course, you can never go wrong with chicken and soy sauce. Food can be placed in take-out boxes, available on-line and at local restaurants. Be sure to get lots of chopsticks.
Desert: A traditional Chinese "Tray of Togetherness," makes a wonderful desert. The tray is comprised of eight different dried fruit candies. Have fun and make your own combination using American favorites like jelly beans and M & M's. Fortune Cookies are always a hit. Make your own fortune and wrap it around the cookie.
Drinks: What is an Asian party without an authentic Asian beer? TIGER BEER, a premium import from Singapore and brand synonymous with Chinese New Year celebrations in Southeast Asia, enhances the flavor of the food and is available at www.freshdirect.com in New York and at grocers and supermarkets in major cities. Log on to www.TIGERBEER.us for specific vendors. Always have soda on hand for those who do not drink alcohol. Tea is another nonalcoholic beverage that suits the mood.
Decorations: Red, a color believed to scare away evil spirits, should dominate the palette of your decor and be complimented with accents of gold, a lucky color. Paper lanterns should be hung and candles spread around to create atmosphere. Plenty of stores offer these goods and they can also be found online. Google "party decorations" for an abundance of options. "Foo," the character for fortune and luck, highly displayed in China during the New Year, should be visible and can be placed on various surfaces, like napkins and door hangers, with magic marker. Oranges and tangerines, symbolic of luck and wealth, can be placed in bowels to make a beautiful and interesting conversation piece.
Dress code: Have everyone arrive in red, the color traditionally worn on this holiday. For a more unconventional scene have everyone come costumed as one of the twelve animals of the zodiac.
Gifts: Lai-See Envelopes filled with money are given to children, young adults, and newlyweds during this time of year. Find them at the above listed stores and fill them with fake bills or coupons for small prizes. Another idea is to go down to Chinatown and have an artist illustrate the names of those on your guest list. These can be used as seating place cards and taken home at the end of the night.
Entertainment: For some authentic fun set out mahjong tiles for guests to play. Scatter sheets of origami paper along with instructions for a fun, artsy activity. Rent a bunch of Kung Fu movies to play softly in the background and if things get rowdy have your own Jackie-Chan style competition. Download some current Chinese music from http://www.ibiblio.org/chinese-music/ and intersperse it with some Chinese-American influences like Yo Yo Ma, Wu-Tang Clan, and Michelle Branch. Dance the night away and give each other fake tattoos with Chinese characters.
The best part: Chinese Lunar New year lasts 15 days, giving you plenty of time to prepare. Remember to have fun and keep a smile on your face. Gung Hay Fat Choy!
The Dry Platinum Martini
- 2 parts El Tesoro Platinum Tequila
- 1/2 part Dry Vermouth
- Garnish with a lemon twist
Check back for more recipes.
Start Cookin' With Color
Featuring Italian design and a contemporary attitude Bialetti is blazing the trail as the fashion-forward houseware brand with the introduction of polka-dot, pastel-colored fry pans.
- Blends the functionality of traditional 11" fry pans with unique flair
- Teflon coated interior and porcelain enameled exterior
- Available in pastel pink, light yellow and robin's egg blue (Around $20)
For information go to: www.bialetti.com
The Art of Sensual Cooking
By REBECCA NORTON
Perk up your love life and let romance chef extraordinaire, Philippa Sklaar, inspire the passion. Her latest cookbook, Hot Cuisine, is a sexy and seductive "How To" relationship stimulator that will heat up any romance. Each of the eighty recipes will stimulate the imagination bringing excitement and romance to the sensual art of cooking.
Dig into your deepest desires with recipes included in chapter four, See me, Feel me, Touch me, Tempt me, such as Passion-Filled Panzerotti, Naughty But Oh So Nice Neapolitane Sauce and Love in the Shell with Mussels.
Top the evening off using chapter eleven, the Ultimate Temptation, with desserts like Hot 'n' Bothered Bananas and Wicked White Chocolate Cheesecake. Philippa's past and present relationships inspired her to create this exhilarating cookbook. She confides, "Every boyfriend I've ever had gets euphoric when they talk about the sandwiches I make. Forget about sexy lingerie, dim lights and scented oils - these sandwiches hit the spot quicker and more effectively than any words whispered in his ear."
Philippa's new book, is not only romantic, but practical. Some unique, timesaving tips that she likes to share are:
- When measuring honey or syrup, spray the measuring cup or spoon with cooking spray so that the sticky liquid will slide off easily.
- Use a vegetable peeler for Parmesan shavings. It's wonderful over salads or pastas.
- When making hard-boiled eggs, add a few teaspoons of vinegar to the water. This will prevent the eggs from cracking.
- Hit the pit of an avocado with the blade of a knife. It will lift right out.
The New Cookie Queen: Mrs. Fields has retired and Philippa has arrived. Not only has Philippa created a passionate cookbook and compiled exceptional cooking tips, but she also produces specially packaged cookies - Philippa's Love Bites. These cookies are baked with love and krafted to inspire love. Each bag comes with exclusive romance-inspired names such as Heartbreakers, Affairs and Flirts along with messages. After you sample one of these mouth-watering morsels, you won't be able to put them down!
Philippa Sklaar ran an exclusive cooking school and catering business for fifteen years in her native Johannesburg, South Africa. She currently resides in Los Angeles where she produces lavish catered affairs for Hollywood's hottest stars.
To find out more about Hot Cuisine, or Philippa's Love Bites, visit her website at www.philippaslovebites.com.
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