| Experience Wine Country Website is Geared to Growing Body of Wine ...
The Travel Industry Association's recent report reveals there is a strong and growing body of travelers interested in culinary and wine related travel. The website experience-wine-country.com aims to help these travelers plan their wine tours. (PRWEB) March 2, 2007 -- In a recent report put together by the Travel Industry Association, Gourmet Magazine and the International Culinary Tourism Association, it was found that culinary and wine related tourism is booming.
These mostly younger, educated and financially well off travelers increasingly seek out wine and food festivals when choosing their destination. They want to really experience the local flavors by immersing themselves in unique dining, wine tasting and other activities.
The website www.experience-wine-country.com aims to help these travelers plan their wine country tours.
Food is Power
Anna Lappé attends the first international Forum on Food Sovereignty in Mali. With more than 600 participants from 98 countries, the meeting will gather some of the most important social movements working for food rights global. If you've ever heard the myths that all Africans are hungry for genetically modified foods, that U.S. food aid has unilaterally helped small farmers around the world, or that indigenous farming and fishing practices couldn't possibly provide enough food to feed the peoples in developing countries, you have heard different stories than those of the farmers, pastoralists, and fisherfolk gathered here in Mali this week. I'm writing this missive from the very dusty outpost of the foreign journalist and communications team for the mostly volunteer-led “Forum on Food Sovereignty" near Bamako, Mali.
Dining out around West Michigan
Bentham's Riverfront Restaurant -- This Amway Grand Plaza Hotel restaurant offers basic food with a fabulous view of the Grand River and its bridges; popular for before or after downtown events; parking free for two hours if you self-park in the Amway ramp. Open daily. 187 Monroe Ave. NW, 774-2000. $$ Bistro Bella Vita --Downtown eatery in a redone warehouse next to Van Andel Arena serves upscale and gourmet meals. 44 Grandville Ave. SW, 222-4600. $$, $$$ Black Rose Irish Pub -- Urban pub atmosphere picks up even more with live music on weekends; a full menu with traditional Irish meals and hearty sandwiches, draft beers, ales and lagers. Open daily. 100 Ionia Ave. SW, 456-7673. $, $$ Bull's Head Tavern -- This restaurant is in a convenient spot for dinner before a show downtown or as a watering hole after work; wide assortment of entrees, dinner-sized salads and sandwiches.
Las Trojes opts for fiesta theme
Nearly ten years since its last renovation, the Ansari Business building welcomed a fresh, new look for its Las Trojes restaurant over the winter break. Complete with a new paint job, new registers, new tiling, and a new take on its Mexican theme, the restaurant has been drawing positive reactions. Russ Meyer, associate director for housing, said Las Trojes was ready for the update. "[Las Trojes] looked old and worn," Meyer said. "It was due for a change." The interior of the restaurant was brightened with oranges and reds, while the floor was retiled. The columns standing outside of the restaurant received an update as well. The digitally enhanced pictures came courtesy of Truckee photographer Elizabeth Carmel. Meyer hopes that the extension of color to the exterior of the restaurant and the new wrought iron sign will draw more customers.
Chef ready for his second taste of competition
As executive chef at the Bridgewater Manor, Kenny Stelmack knows all about cooking on demand. But on Sunday, he'll really be working under direct heat. Stelmack, 39, will defend his title at the 2007 Jersey Shore Best of the Best Chefs Cook-Off at Toms River High School South. In an "Iron Chef"-type competition before a live audience, Stelmack will do battle with three other New Jersey chefs who qualified for the final. "It really is a pressure cooker," Stelmack said. Competition among chefs is a growing phenomenon, with shows such as "Iron Chef" on the Food Network and "Top Chef" on the Bravo Channel thriving. While the purpose of the competition is to raise funds for the Ocean County Vocational Technical School, contest organizer Mike Jurusz said watching competitive cooking is something everyone can enjoy.
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