The Culinary Scoop

Marriott Bonvoy Teams Up With Rewards Network So Members Can Earn As Many As Eight Points Per Dollar Spent At Participating Restaurants Across The United States

From New York pizza to Southern BBQ or SoCal sushi, dining experiences are an integral part of travel. Marriott Bonvoy, launched Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy, a delicious new way to earn points when dining in the United States. Members can redeem Marriott Bonvoy points earned at over 11,000 restaurants participating in Eat Around Town towards free nights at more than 7,000 participating properties in 132 countries and territories and amazing experiences through Marriott Bonvoy Moments.

Marriott Bonvoy members who have enrolled in the program will earn points faster both when they dine at participating Eat Around Town restaurants while traveling and in their daily lives. Beginning today through November 11, 2019, Marriott Bonvoy members will receive eight points for every dollar spent at participating restaurants as part of an introductory offer. Thereafter, Marriott Bonvoy Elite members will earn six points per dollar spent and members four points per dollar spent. As always, members can earn more points when they charge their dining to their Marriott Bonvoy U.S. credit cards from Chase and American Express.

The second edition of the Caribbean Rum Awards will take place Nov. 6-10 in the pinnacle of Caribbean luxury, the French Caribbean island of St Barthelemy or St Barth. 

The event, which is curated by Caribbean Journal, the world’s largest Caribbean travel media company, will bring a panel of spirits experts to the heart of Gustavia to judge some of the most exclusive rums anywhere in the world. 

It will be combined with the Saint Barth Rum Festival for an unforgettable week of rum experiences. 

Zero waste festival celebrates thoughtful, plant-based nutrition and sustainable living practices at Knoxville Expo Center

 Scruffy City VeganFest, a festival designed to showcase local and out of town businesses who provide compassionate and cruelty-free food and services, will be held Sunday, Oct. 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Knoxville Expo Center. Attendees will experience and enjoy plant-based food samples, live entertainment, children’s activities, giveaways and more.

“This event is not just for vegans and vegetarians, it’s for anyone who is curious about thoughtful, sustainable eating and living,” said Helene Greenberg, founder of Triangle VegFest and producer of Scruffy City VeganFest. “There’s a lot of talk in the media today about veganism and what it means for our health, animals, and the future of our planet. We’re excited to showcase more than 50 local and regional vendors that are making an impact on the sustainable and cruelty-free scene in East Tennessee. They will be on hand to showcase their food and products, and with the help of our sponsors, like Three Rivers Market and Born This Way Body Arts, this will be a zero waste event.”

The inaugural event will attract long-time glass art lovers to the Emerald City.

If you have been to Italy before, chances are you were introduced to more than good wine. The country is also known for the art of glass blowing with beautiful pieces handcrafted by some of the most talented artists in the world.

My first introduction to glass blowing was years ago while visiting Venice. After taking a factory tour and witnessing my first demonstration there, I definitely could not have imagined that I would get a chance to try my hand at making my own piece 15 years later.  This happened last month in the city of Berkeley, Calif. at a shop called Glassybaby.

From Italy to Washington State and… California

Little did I know that Seattle is the hub of glass art in the U.S. and home to more than 700 glass artists.  This includes emerging artists and master glassmakers.  In addition, there are more than 100 glass art studios in the region.

Rice-A-Roni and Pasta Roni Deliver a Flavor-Packed Fall with Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Jerry Rice

This fall, Rice-A-Roni and Pasta Roni are teaming up with another Bay Area legend – Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice – to deliver a flavor-packed football season. Through a new campaign called Team Rice, these two San Francisco treats will remind everyone that Roni is a delicious go-to mealtime solution the whole family will love – whether it’s around the dinner table or at a tailgate.

“Rice-A-Roni may not have really been named after me, but you can’t deny we’re both San Francisco treats,” said Rice. “That’s why I’m excited to partner with Rice and Pasta Roni to show how to tackle hunger with delicious meal options!”

Bon Appétit, the award-winning food lifestyle brand, announced today the launch of Bon Appétit, Delivered, a virtual restaurant featuring dishes curated by the Bon Appétit Test Kitchen. The delivery-only concept is available exclusively in Chicago through Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB), the nation’s leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace. The virtual storefront is operated by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE), a multi-concept restaurant group based in Chicago.

Bon Appétit, Delivered brings the brand’s most popular dishes from the pages of its magazine, website and Instagram feed to life. All recipes are developed by the brand’s famed Test Kitchen editors and are produced in collaboration with LEYE.

“For those times when you just don’t want to cook, we’re making our favorite things to eat right now available for delivery,” said Bon Appétit Editor-in-Chief Adam Rapoport. “From Sambal Chicken Skewers to our Garlickiest Fried Rice and so much more, these delicious meals will come fully prepared, right to your door.”

Bursting with sweet, natural flavors, Barefoot Fruit Moscato is available in three refreshing flavors – Apple, Peach and Strawberry

Barefoot, the most awarded wine and bubbly brand in U.S. competitions, today introduced three new varietals of Barefoot Fruit Moscato as the latest additions to their award-winning portfolio. Barefoot Apple Moscato, Barefoot Peach Moscato and Barefoot Strawberry Moscato are all available in 750ml bottles and feature delicious, natural fruit flavors that complement the already deliciously sweet taste of Barefoot Moscato.

Whether its sun-kissed strawberries, perfectly ripe peaches or sweet summer apples, Barefoot Fruit Moscatos are perfect options for anyone who loves a fresh fruit taste. The three new flavors make Barefoot Moscato available in six varietals, including the originals: Barefoot Moscato, Barefoot Pink Moscato and Barefoot Red Moscato.

When winemaker Bob Blue set out to make wine in 1983, wine barrels were not widely available.  So what did he do? He purchased and neutralized used bourbon barrels and the rest is history.  

Today, you can say that the once necessity is now part of the brand’s winemaking process. And instead of neutralizing the barrels, they are used to give the wine its final personality and complexity that has championed its story over the years.

The name 1000 Stories is inspired by the pioneering spirits and quest for discovery that is celebrated in America. “I don’t know if I’ve always been a storyteller, but 30 years of winemaking have given me a lot of material for terrific stories! The story of this wine is really fun to share; experimenting, revisiting techniques from my early days as a winemaker, and every batch really tells its own story,” says the winemaker.