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New Goat, Old Tricks: After a Lineup and Vocals Change, Throw the Goat Works on a New AlbumJanuary 21 2020
Local music fans should be no stranger to Throw the Goat.
The semi-local band—it's based in Idyllwild—has been a dominant force in the music scene since 2011. Its brand of punk and thrash melds well with quirky lyrics on standout tracks like "Havin' a Beer" and "Beef," while more-political lyrics on "Melt Away" blend with pounding punk to create a sense of anger.
The band went through a major lineup change last year, with the addition of Derek Timmons—of Sleazy Cortez and Death Pretty Wrapping—on bass, and the departure of lead vocalist/bassist Mike Schnalzer. Brian "Puke" Parnell remains the guitarist, and is now taking on lead-vocal duties, while Troy Whitford remains the drummer.
The band has now performed a handful of shows with the new lineup, and I recently sat down with the Goat bros right before one of their practice sessions, which I was intrigued to learn are actually rather busy sessions—that sometimes result in recordings.
"We're working on a new album right now, so we've been writing and also going through the old Throw the Goat repertoire that Derek still has to learn," Parnell said. "It's been a combination of learning old songs, learning new songs and rehearsing what we already know and play."
Whitford added: "Puke's been bringing songs in that we'll work on and start to feel comfortable with. Then when we go up to Idyllwild, at Puke's studio, if we feel good enough about the song, we'll spend the whole practice tracking it."
Clarified Parnell: "We have three new songs recorded, plus a cover so far."
Posts on the band's social media have hinted that a new record is coming—with the hashtag #votegoat2020 used on every post. Parnell explained what's going on.
"We're planning on doing our own political-ad campaign," he said. "It's especially good that Facebook came out and said that they're not going to touch or censor any political ads—so we're going to take advantage of that and make the most-fallacious ads we possibly can. We're just trying to make fun of how ridiculous it all is."
I was curious to ask how Timmons is adjusting to the group.
"It's been a pretty natural adjustment," Timmons said. "I haven't played really punky stuff in a while, and it's been real fun. I had to work on my right-hand speed a little bit, and it's a more-aggressive vocal style then I've done before, but it's been easy—and real fucking fun! I liked these guys before, so when they asked me to play bass for them, it was impossible to say no."
Added Whitford with a laugh: "That's the correct answer."
Of course, with Parnell taking on the vocals, I had to know how he was adjusting to the more-demanding role.
"I was just doing backup vocals before, so it's been an interesting transition," Parnell said. "I wasn't going to do an impersonation of how the vocals (used to) sound, so I've just been going with what seems right and feels comfortable. I've been working on improving my stamina, because I did not have very much vocal stamina in the beginning—I got very tomato-faced and squeaky-voiced quickly. But it's been working out pretty well, and the feedback I get, albeit biased, has been good."
As for playing and singing at the same time, Parnell admitted there have been a few bumps in the road.
"That's been a little bit more of a challenge, because I tend to write very intricate guitar parts, so trying to remember the words, spit out the vocal lines and keep the right speed and notes going has been a little tricky," he said. "But it's worked out really well."
During the time I spent with the guys, I noticed how well they all play off each other, and how much fun they seemed to be having. They shared some highlights of their run together so far.
"With this lineup, I think our best show was our Idyllwild show in early November," Parnell said. "It had really great energy. We played for two sets, which we had never done before, with a lot of improv thrown in. I broke a string, so I had to change it while these guys were playing some jazzy number."
Added Timmons: "Another strong contender was our Halloween show, where we dressed up as (local metal band) House of Broken Promises. It was suggested as a joke, but we thought it was too good of an idea to be a joke. It was our first show (with the new lineup) in the desert, and we were dressed up as another band."
The guys shared some of the new recordings with me, and all I'm legally allowed to say is: They rock. If you think some of the songs mentioned in this article sound heavy, just you wait: Throw the Goat is planning big things in 2020.
"We're thinking about doing releases throughout the year—putting out some new songs, videos, tours, etc.," Parnell said. "Then, (we'll do) more stuff toward election time so we can capitalize on all the weird political shit going on. For the tour, we're negotiating for one- to two-week jaunts in the Midwest, along the coast, and more!
Throw the Goat will perform with Mega Sun and Captain Ghost at 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, at La Quinta Brewing, 77917 Wildcat Drive, in Palm Desert. Admission to the all-ages show is free. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/throwthegoat.
Restaurant News Bites: Rob Floyd Brings 'Cocktail Theatre' to TRIO; Workshop to Open in L.A.; and a Whole Lot More!June 28 2019
Celebrity Bartender Rob Floyd's 'Cocktail Theatre' Coming to TRIO Restaurant
Rob Floyd is one of the world's most renowned cocktail creators. He's a regular on the Bar Rescue TV show; he's designed cocktail programs for some of the biggest cruise lines; he's performed at some of Las Vegas' most impressive hotel-casinos; and he travels the world as a consultant for bars and restaurants.
So why is he taking time out of his crazy-busy schedule to bring his Cocktail Theatre live show to TRIO Restaurant, in the middle of scorching-hot July? It's because, he says, he loves Palm Springs.
"I can't wait to get here," he said during a recent lunch at TRIO. "Any excuse."
Cocktail Theatre will arrive at TRIO, 707 N. Palm Canyon Drive, for two shows on Saturday, July 6—one at 6 p.m., and another at 9 p.m.
Floyd said his interactive show takes a historical and theatrical approach to cocktails. He'll tell the stories behind various drinks, from the 1600s up through the molecular-gastronomy era. Audience-goers will get to try five different drinks during the show, which runs just a little longer than an hour.
I asked Floyd what makes a cocktail great. His response: He treats creating a cocktail like a good artist creates a painting—except instead of colors, he uses ingredients.
"I use just a couple of primary colors, that are just gorgeous, and one or two accent colors that are just beautiful," he said.
Of course, a lot of people can't or don't drink alcohol, for all sorts of excellent reasons—and many bartenders completely disregard this demographic. Fortunately, Floyd does not—and that's why his show includes "zero-proof cocktails" for those who don't imbibe. In fact, he estimates that up to 20 percent of his show attendees don't drink.
Tickets to Cocktail Theatre are $62.50; a VIP meet-and-greet package along with the 6 p.m. show is $80, and includes a special cocktail created by Floyd. For tickets or more information, visit triopalmsprings.com.
In Brief
Workshop Kitchen + Bar, located at 800 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, will soon have a sister restaurant in Los Angeles. According to Eater Los Angeles, chef/owner Michael Beckman has bought the space currently housing Odys + Penelope, at 127 S. La Brea Ave., with plans of turning it into Workshop; expect it to open sometime next year. … One of the west valley's best sandwich joints is moving to a larger space—although customers will still get to park in the same place: The Sandwich Spot is moving from its tiny home at 240 N. Palm Canyon Ave., in Palm Springs, into the old Tipper's Gourmet Marketplace space, in the Henry Frank Arcade, at 276 N. Palm Canyon Drive. The move should be effective on July 1; call 760-778-7900 with questions. … Coming soon to the old Elephant Bar space at 73833 Highway 111, in Palm Desert: The BaBaLoo Lounge. It'll be the second location of the Peruvian- and Cuban-fare joint; the original spot is in Lake Havasu, Ariz. Watch www.facebook.com/BabalooLounge for updates. … The new managing partner at the retooled Persimmon Bistro at the Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 N. Museum Drive, in Palm Springs, has a familiar name: It's Arthur Vasquez, who used to run Babe's Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse in Rancho Mirage. Congrats, art! Visit www.facebook.com/persimmonbistro to learn more. … Congratulations to the bar at Melvyn's, located at the Ingleside Inn, at 200 W. Ramon Road, in downtown Palm Springs! Esquire magazine just named it one of the 27 Best Bars in America for 2019. … Coming soon to the space that used to house Maxcy's Grill in the Ralph's shopping center at 425 S. Sunrise Way, in Palm Springs: Asadero Los Corrales. It appears this will be the third location for this Sinaloa-style Mexican eatery, joining restaurants in La Quinta and Coachella. We learned this news because we happened to drive by and see the new sign; we will keep you posted as we learn more. … Congrats to the folks at La Quinta Brewing Co., who have announced the construction of a new, larger brewing location near Interstate 10 and Cook Street. The brewery—which opened its doors in 2013 at 77917 Wildcat Drive, in Palm Desert—also operates successful taprooms in Palm Springs and La Quinta. The new location is slated to include food and an outside beer garden; keep your fingers crossed for an opening late next year. Watch www.facebook.com/LaQuintaBrewingCo for updates.
Restaurant News Bites: The Palm Desert Food and Wine Fest Brings Star Power; a French/Japanese Cafe Coming to PS; and More!February 25 2019
The Palm Desert Food and Wine Fest Returns
It's March in the Coachella Valley—and that means it is time for the ritziest, fanciest food fest the desert has to offer: The Palm Desert Food and Wine Festival will take place Friday through Sunday, March 22-24.
Actually, the classes, tastings and various events start several days before that, but the biggest event of them all is the Grand Tasting, which takes place at the Gardens on El Paseo, 73545 El Paseo, from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday the 23rd. Tickets start at $100 and include tastes of food from 40 restaurants, as well as all sorts of wine and spirits samples. If you want to get in early for the VIP portion, or attend an exclusive chef demo even earlier than that, it'll cost you a little bit more.
On Sunday, there's another grand tasting, also from noon to 3 p.m.—this one called "North to South: Food of the Americas." It promises "a menu of inspired dishes, influenced by the different spices and foods native to the Americas and infused with each participating chef's signature style." This tasting also starts at $100 and includes spirits, wine, craft beer and cocktails.
Beyond the tastings, there are a dozen or so other events featuring local talent, as well as celebrity chefs you've seen on TV. Best of all: The whole thing benefits FIND Food Bank and the James Beard Foundation. In other words, you can splurge and engage in a bit of high-brow gluttony with a completely clear conscience!
For tickets and more information, visit www.palmdesertfoodandwine.com.
In Brief
Coming soon to downtown Palm Springs' La Plaza: French Miso Café, "A romantic and modern French café with wonderful Japanese influences," according to the café's Facebook page. It could open any day now, if it hasn't already; look for French Miso Café on Facebook, and watch for updates. … Mark your calendars: On Saturday, April 6, La Quinta Brewing Co.'s Palm Desert location, at 77917 Wildcat Drive, will host the CountryFest 2019 parking-lot party. It's a fundraiser for the Desert Cancer Foundation, and $15 gets you a souvenir party cup along with a day of beer, barbecue and country music from Rick Shelley and headliners Leaving Austin. The parking lot opens at 2 p.m., with Leaving Austin taking the stage at 6:30 p.m.; get tickets at the Palm Desert taproom or at lqbccountryfest2019.bpt.me. … Something very cool is coming to the city of Coachella: The Coachella Food Truck Park will set up shop at 1609 Fourth St., and is celebrating its grand opening on Saturday, March 16. The night before, Coachella Magazine will be hosting its Poets and Provocateurs party there; it's an open-mic event featuring DJ Big Cali. Get more info and watch for updates at www.facebook.com/CVFoodTrucks. … Morongo Casino Resort, 49500 Seminole Drive, in Cabazon, will again be the spot for monthly live broadcasts of Chris Carter's Breakfast With the Beatles radio show. The broadcasts take place along with a buffet on Sundays at the Cielo Steakhouse, located on the 27th floor of the resort. According to the news release, KLOS 95.5's Breakfast With the Beatles is "a living encyclopedia of all things Beatles. Carter's shows feature stories about the band, rare interview tracks with the boys, as well as loads of hit music, live performance recordings and deep tracks from the Beatles musical library." Tickets for the 21-and-older broadcast and brunch are $45; get tickets and more info, including a schedule, at www.morongocasinoresort.com. … New to Palm Desert: Coachella Pho, serving Vietnamese food at 72286 Highway 111. More details at www.coachellapho.com. … Also new to Palm Desert: Solano's Bar and Grill, at 37029 Cook St. It's the sister restaurant to Solano's Bistro in La Quinta; details at solanosbarandgrill.com. … Loco Charlie's Mexican Grill, which has earned a lot of fans in Palm Springs at 1751 N. Sunrise Way, just opened a second location in Indio, at 42250 Jackson St. Get the scoop at www.facebook.com/lococharlies.
Caesar Cervisia: Is It Worth Your Time and Effort to Stand in Line for That Rare-Beer Tapping?February 13 2019
An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit. —Pliny the Younger (A.D. 61-113), author; imperial magistrate to Roman emperor Trajan; nephew and adopted son of the famed naturalist (among other titles) Pliny the Elder.
Almost two millennia later, a man named Vinnie Cilurzo began brewing what came to be considered the first double IPA, in nearby Temecula at his small brewery called Blind Pig. Cilurzo's name for this beer was Pliny the Elder and was based on a wives' tale of sorts that the historical Pliny had discovered and named wild hops (lupus salictarius, which were not actually hops, it turns out). The beer itself was undeniable: Despite being brightly dank, catty, citrusy and piney from the generous amount of hops added both during the boil and after, and being 8 percent alcohol by volume, it was all well-balanced with the beer's malt foundation. "Deadly quaffable" would be how I remember it being when I first tried it.
Cilurzo eventually moved his operation up north to Santa Rosa and renamed his brewery Russian River Brewing Company. His beers, Pliny the Elder especially, have retained a hype that is impressive and mostly deserved since Elder was first brewed in 2000.
Imagine the hype, then, that developed for a triple IPA version of the beer, which Cilurzo dubbed Pliny the Younger: It was 10.25 percent ABV, copper in color, with even bigger hop flavors and a more-substantial malt backbone to match. This beer became legend for the very small amount brewed and allotted to select locations, mostly throughout California, in February.
I experienced the fervor some years back when I went with a group of my Coachella Valley Homebrew Club friends to the now-sadly defunct Barley and Hops Olde World Family Tavern in Temecula. After waiting in line for 30-60 minutes and drinking one of Russian River's many gorgeous wine-barrel-aged sour ales, I finally got my allotted 10-ounce pour. This was about six years ago, but I remember it being very intense, with citrus and pine aromas and flavors, properly balanced out by the malt. It was hard to distinguish from a hoppy American barleywine—but it was a very nice beer. However, I have a weird habit of bringing much of the overall experience, including the hassle of obtaining the beer itself, to my opinion of a beer. So … was all the hoopla worth the chance to taste this beer?
I chose the word "chance" not incautiously: In many instances, you can find yourself arriving early at such events to find that many people arrived far earlier—with the beer running out before your turn. I experienced this at The Salted Pig gastropub in downtown Riverside a few years ago, and it drove home the point that I ought to figure the time and effort spent to obtain an experience into the overall equation. This is not to denigrate anyone involved, be it Russian River, the venues that serve Pliny the Younger, or the people for whom the equation "four hours waiting in line + one pour of Younger (and often other RR beers) = worthwhile." I just want to make a case for the overall overrated nature of the beer.
In many beer circles, that previous statement is blasphemy. Truly. Pliny the Elder is far more available today, and it is still treated with the utmost reverence, to the point that when it's available in the Coachella Valley, there are certain people who will hoard it. In the not-so-recent past, Elder was the Holy Grail as far as beer traders were concerned. You could get many prized beers for the right amount of it. However, between Russian River Brewing's upgrade to a more-expansive brewhouse in Windsor, and the sheer proliferation of amazing double IPAs, Pliny the Elder's trade value has declined. Might we see a similar decline in the general circus surrounding Pliny the Younger? Well, I have tasted three imperial/triple IPAs that I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone that are just as good (if not better) as Younger—all made in Southern California.
Let's start in Long Beach with Beachwood Brewing's Hops of Fury, and then move south to San Diego with Societe Brewing's The Roustabout. Traveling east down Interstate 8 from there puts us at Alpine Beer Company, where their Exponential Hoppiness, while once brewed in much smaller amounts and less easily obtained (but easier than Younger—and in bottles!), has been made for more than a decade.
A perfect illustration of this point is the speed at which Pliny the Younger sold out at the legendary Toronado San Diego. All three of these other beers were also on tap—and still are as I type this, two days after Younger went on. I would be the guy that skips the nuttiness and happily gets pours of the other beauties relatively hassle-free. (Also worth a mention on the "alternative to Younger" front are Melvin Brewing's 2X4 and Revision Brewing's Dr. Lupulin, both of which are big, beautiful, hoppy beers that can be found at the right times of year at our local Total Wine and More.)
The reason I chose this topic now is the fact that for the first time, the Coachella Valley has seen not one, but two tappings of this iconic beer. A tapping of Younger at La Quinta Brewing's Old Town Taproom has already happened (alongside a plethora of other RR beers I'm more excited about, frankly), and another might have also happened at Eureka! Indian Wells. I went to the former tapping at La Quinta (in the name of science, of course). I got there an hour early, having been conditioned by these events that this was already late. I was third in line, and I needn't have really worried. That's the charm of our desert beer scene, I guess. I will say that when I finally got my glass, it was brightly citrus and tropical (hints of guava and papaya), with some pine—a shockingly drinkable triple IPA. Yeah, it was worth waiting a little bit for, but had it been more than that, I could have been at peace with missing out.
Those who view me as a "Debbie Downer" will be ecstatic to know that I think this these tappings are a very good sign for our local beer scene—as are the first local sightings of Beachwood Brewing and Beachwood Blendery beers. I'm personally more excited about the beers that will come from the latter breweries, but from what I'm told about Russian River's new brewing facility, I'm definitely looking forward to what they do next.
Life is short, and it's important to put a value on the time and effort that goes into any endeavor. Does everything balance toward the positive? Did the object of your desire retain the charm that it had in its pursuit? I sincerely hope so.
Caesar Cervisia: Our Beer Writer Finds the Local Beer Scene in the Coachella Valley to Be Rather FrustratingJanuary 17 2019
Ladies and gentlemen, residents of and visitors to the Coachella Valley: The state of craft beer in our fine desert community is … meh.
Let's start where it makes the most sense: Our breweries. I'm going to need to leave much to the imagination here, because I work for one of them, and that presents a conflict of interest. As my colleagues and bosses will attest to, I would never root against any brewery here. I am a fan of craft beer first, and if all of our breweries were pumping out only great beer, that would mean more great beer for me to try. Alas, this is not the case … but it is actually trending in that direction.
The truth is that there is room for all three current local breweries to grow when it comes to beer quality. Brew great beer, and I (and many others) will show up—I promise you. This is not really competition, because as I previously stated, more great beer is more great beer. That seems to reach critical mass in some cities; repeat this process, and sooner than you'd think, you find yourself in a beer mecca. It feels like San Jacinto and San Gorgonio keep more than just rain away from our valley sometimes, I'm afraid.
OK, that was a little dark … not everything is being kept away. Local beer hero and friend Chris Anderson had a hand in opening Woody's Moreno Valley, which is connected to Woody's Palm House in Palm Springs. It is housed where P.H. Woods once was, which was once connected to Babe's Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse in Rancho Mirage. Now that "Six Degrees of Separation" is done, what makes this relevant is that the beer is on tap at the Palm Springs location. I recently tried the IPA and the pilsner, and I can happily report that they were delicious. This is not a surprise, seeing that Chris—founder and former head brewer at Coachella Valley Brewing Co.—was involved. He pulled a brewer over from Hangar 24 to head the operation now, and I'm looking forward (with my usual managed expectations, of course) to some more good beer from them.
More good news: Desert Beer Company will be opening this year. This is the work of former CVB taproom manager Devon Sanchez and will be located in Palm Desert, not far from La Quinta Brewing's brewery. As a former co-worker, you'd think I would know more about this, but I do not. Perhaps this is by his design, but whatever the case, I do wish him all the luck in the world. Say it with me once more: More good beer in the valley is a good thing.
Bottle shops are still wanting here. Total Wine and More seems to be the best place to get beer, but some of the local beer distributors can be very lax when it comes to rotating stock—and you are very much in danger of buying out-of-date beer if you are not diligently checking the dates on the packaging. While not in the Coachella Valley, Sam's Market in Joshua Tree deserves mention as the people there curate a great selection of craft beers from all around Southern California. Alas, the fact that you have to drive 50 minutes from the middle of the valley to find a proper craft-beer selection is not flattering to our beer scene.
If you have never set foot in a place that has a large and almost overwhelming (in the best way) selection of beers, stop by La Bodega next time you are in Riverside. Can the local market support something like that? That is a great question. I can't really crunch any numbers without doing some intense research, but if you asked me to venture a guess, I'd lean toward saying yes—a very caveat-laden yes. It would have to be done right (i.e., not by some people with money and a faint familiarity with beer who want to try and "get in on the action" but instead end up half-assing it), and it would need to be in the right location. In other words, it would be an uphill battle. There's an idea for the name of the store: Sisyphus' Stone. Inspiring, I know.
Beer bars are pretty much the same as they were a year ago. Eureka! Indian Wells gets my craft-beer dollar more than any other, and not because it is one of the closer places to get a craft on tap in relation to where I live. It's a little pricey (compared to their location in Redlands, even) and the selection needs some serious curation, though.
There are definitely other places worth mentioning. Dead or Alive Bar is one of my favorites when I'm in Palm Springs. Christine Soto is mindful of her smaller but interesting selection of beers. Then there's the unique vibe of the place and the fact that I almost always get sucked into a good conversation with her, her bartenders and/or strangers when I'm there. The guest taps at La Quinta Brewing's satellite taprooms are often good and worth checking out, as is the "Chalkboard" at the Yard House.
I now want to take a few deep breaths here, apologize and explain: I am frustrated and searching my soul for reasons to live up to my desire to help grow a legitimate craft-beer scene in the Coachella Valley. I love this area, and consider myself as being from here, having moved here when I was a young lad in 1987. I have family and friends here. Look around you: It's beautiful. But I'm going to need you to meet me halfway here. There are only so many blows to the head I can take from bashing it against this figurative wall before I have to say, "Enough!" and walk away. Together, we could do a lot. If you have never attended a top-tier beer dinner, I wish I could gift you that experience. We certainly have the high-quality cuisine here, and there is so much world-class beer within a two-hour drive that it would be eminently possible, to say the least. Is anyone willing to try?
This is a cry for help. I have helped put together some dinners like this, and I want to do many more. I just need a handful of people here that give enough of a shit. Let's do this, Coachella Valley. I love you and don't want to need to leave you to make my dreams come true.
Best of Coachella Valley 2018-2019: Readers' PicksNovember 26 2018
This whole process started back in August, when voting began in the first round of the fifth annual Best of Coachella Valley readers' poll.
Now, after three months, two rounds of voting and ballots from more than 1,300 people, we've come to the glorious end of the process: Here are the results of the Best of Coachella Valley 2018-2019!
From all of us here at the Independent: A huge, sincere thank you to all of the readers who voted. We realize that this is not an easy ballot to fill out—almost 130 categories is indeed a lot— but because you took the time to do so thoughtfully, the slate of winners and finalists presented here is truly impressive. It's diverse; it's valley-wide (even including representation of the high desert); and it shows how truly great the people, places, organizations and businesses are that call the Coachella Valley home.
Now, it's time to celebrate. Please join us at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 12, at Copa Nightclub—your selection this year as Best Nightclub—244 E. Amado Road, in Palm Springs, for the Best of Coachella Valley Awards Party. All of the winners present will receive certificates and have an opportunity to say thank you; after that, your Best Local Band selection, Avenida Music, will take the stage and perform. I hope to see you there.
Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists … and welcome to the Best of Coachella Valley 2018-2019!
Best Art Gallery
CODA Gallery
Runners up:
2. Heather James Fine Art
3. Shag
4. Beatnik Lounge
5. Michael Weems Collection
Best Indoor Venue
McCallum Theatre
Runners up:
2. The Show at Agua Caliente
3. Fantasy Springs Special Events Center
4. Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace
5. The Hood Bar and Pizza
Best Outdoor Venue
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Runners up:
2. Empire Polo Club
3. Fantasy Springs Rock Yard
4. Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace
5. Rancho Mirage Amphitheater
Best Local Arts Group/Organization
McCallum Theatre
Runners up:
2. The Coachella Valley Art Scene
3. La Quinta Arts Foundation
4. Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre
5. CREATE Center for the Arts
Best Local Band
Avenida Music
Runners up:
2. Frank Eats the Floor
3. Mega Sun
4. The Flusters
5. Sunday Funeral
Best Local DJ
DJ Day
Runners up:
Alex Harrington
DJ PWee
4. Sugarfree
5.Pedro Le Bass
Best Local Musician
Matt King
Runners up:
2. Giselle Woo
3. John Stanley King
4. Justin Ledesma
5. Nick Hales
Best Local Visual Artist
Sofia Enriquez
Runners up:
2. Elena Bulatova
3. Nancy Worthington
4. Cristopher Cichocki
5. Marconi Calindas
Best Movie Theater
Century La Quinta and XD
Runners up:
2. Mary Pickford Is D'Place
3. Century The River and XD
Camelot Theatres
Regal Rancho Mirage Stadium 16 and IMAX
Best Museum
Palm Springs Art Museum
2. Palm Springs Air Museum
3. Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert
4. Coachella Valley History Museum
5. Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
Best Producing Theater Company
Palm Canyon Theatre
Runners up:
2. Coachella Valley Repertory Company
3. Desert Rose Playhouse
4. Desert Ensemble Theatre Company
5. Coyote StageWorks
6. Dezart Performs
Life in the Valley
Best Local Activist/Advocacy Group
Boys and Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley
Runners up:
2. Palm Springs Animal Shelter
3. LGBT Community Center of the Desert
4. Desert AIDS Project
5. L-Fund
Best Gym
World Gym
Runners up:
2. 24 Hour Fitness
3. EOS Fitness
4. Planet Fitness
5. In-Shape
Best Yoga
Urban Yoga
Runners up:
2. Power Yoga Palm Springs
3. Yoga Central
4. Bikram Yoga Plus
5. Bikram Yoga Palm Desert-El Paseo
Best Bowling Alley
Fantasy Springs Bowling Center
Runners up:
2. Palm Springs Lanes
3. Canyon Lanes at Morongo
4. Yucca Bowl
Best Sex Toy Shop
Skitzo Kitty
Runners up:
2. Not So Innocent
3. Gear Leather and Fetish
4. Q Trading Co.
Best Auto Repair
Ramona Tire and Service Center
Runners up:
2. Andy's Auto Repair
3. Lou's Automotive
4. Downtown Shell Palm Springs
5. Singh's Automotive Repair
Best Car Wash
Quick Quack Car Wash
Runners up:
2. La Quinta Car Wash
3. Executive Car Wash
4. Airport Quick Car Wash
5. Desert 100 Percent Hand Car Wash
Best Plant Nursery
Moller's Garden Center
Runners up:
2. Vintage Nursery
3. Bob Williams Nursery
4. Lotus Garden Center
Best Pet Supplies
Runners up:
2. Petco
3. Bones 'n' Scones
4. Pet Oasis
5. PoshPetCare
Best Annual Charity Event
Palm Springs Pride
Runners up:
2. Desert AIDS Walk (Desert AIDS Project)
3. McCallum Theatre Annual Gala
4. Evening Under the Stars (AAP-Food Samaritans)
5. Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards (Desert AIDS Project)
Best Place to Gamble
Augustine Casino
Runners up:
2. Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa
3. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
4. Morongo Casino Resort Spa
5. Spotlight 29
Best Local News
KESQ News Channel 3
Runners up:
2. KMIR Channel 6/NBC Palm Springs
3. CBS Local 2
Best Local TV News Personality
Bryan Gallo, KMIR Channel 6/NBC Palm Springs
Runners up:
2. Karen Devine, KESQ News Channel 3
3. Patrick Evans, CBS Local 2
4. Bianca Rae, KESQ News Channel 3
5. Haley Clawson, KESQ News Channel 3
Best Radio Station
Jammin' 99.5
Runners up:
2. Q102.3 Classic Rock
3. Mix 100.5
5. Big 106
Best Local Radio Personality
Bradley Ryan, Mix 100.5
Runners up:
2. Jeff Michaels, Q102.3/Big 106
3. Bill Feingold, KNews 94.3 FM
4. Randy Houston, The Big 106
5. Joey English, KGX 99.1 FM/920 AM
Best Bookstore
Barnes and Noble
Runners up:
Rancho Mirage Library Book Nook
The Book Rack La Quinta
4. Sagebrush Press
Best Retail Music/Video Store
The Record Alley
Runners up:
2. Palm Springs Vinyl Records and Collectibles
3. Vista Music and Video
Best Comics/Games Shop
Game Stop
Runners up:
2. Desert Oasis Comics
3. Comic Asylum
4. HooDoo!
Best Hotel Pool
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Runners up:
2. The Saguaro
3. Riviera Palm Springs
4. Renaissance Palm Springs
5. Arrive
Best Urgent Care
Eisenhower Medical Center Urgent Care
Runners up:
2. Desert Oasis Urgent Care
3. Executive Urgent Care
Centro Medico Urgent Care
MedPost Urgent Care
Best Indoor Fun/Activity
Escape Room Palm Springs
Runners up:
2. Get Air Trampoline Park
3. Laser Oasis
4. Desert Rocks Indoor Climbing Gym
Valley Professionals
Best Doctor
Dr. Lisa Bodon
Runners up:
2. Dr. Timothy Jochen
3. Dr. Amanda Curnock
4. Dr. Geoffrey Block
5. Gennady "Henry" Nosovitsky, PA
Best Eye Care
Milauskas Eye Institute
Runners up:
2. Dr. David Esquibel (Desert Vision)
3. Dr. Greg Evans (Evans Eyecare)
4. Old Town Optix and Optometry
Best Dentist/Orthodontist
Hospitality Dental and Orthodontics
Runners up:
2. Dr. Frank Hernandez (Hernandez Dental)
3. Dr. Larry Kunkle (Palm Desert Dental Center)
4. Dr. Natalie Le (Palm Springs Modern Dentistry)
5. Dr. Ray Cros (Cros Dental)
Best Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Mark Sofonio
Runners up:
2. Dr. Timothy Jochen
3. Dr. Suzanne Quardt
4. Dr. Natalie Driessen
Best Attorney
Walter Clark
Runners up:
2. Barbara Barrett
3. Christopher Heritage
4. Emily Benjamini
5. James Jackson
Best Air Conditioning Service
Comfort Air
General Air Conditioning
Runners up:
3. Nexgen Air Conditioning and Heating
4. Blair Heating and Air
5. On Call Air Conditioning and Heating
Best Personal Trainer
Jaime Jimenez
Runners up:
2. Brandon Wertz
3. Ted Guice
4. Francisco Serrato
Best Chiropractor
Jim Cox
Runners up:
2. Daryl Richardson
3. Nazemi Chiropractic
4. Vincent Savarese
Best Real Estate Agent
Barbara Carpenter
Runners up:
2. Bob Ross
3. Paul Zapala
4. Valery Neuman
5. Michael Benthall
Best Electrician
Desert Pro Electrical
Runners up:
2. Hegge Electrical Contractors
3. Electrician4Hire
4. Collins Electrical Services
Best Public Servant
Rep. Raul Ruiz
Runners up:
2. La Quinta City Councilman Robert Radi
3. Palm Springs Mayor Robert Moon
4. Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia
5. Palm Springs City Councilman Geoff Kors
Fashion and Style
Best Clothing Store (Locally Owned)
Oooh La La
Runners up:
2. Bobby G's
3. Trina Turk
4. Wil Stiles
5. Grayse
Best Resale/Vintage Clothing
Runners up:
2. Angel View
3. Goodwill
4. Plato's Closet
5. Unity Home
Best Furniture Store
Mathis Brothers
Runners up:
2. Revivals
3. Ashley HomeStore
4. Mor Furniture for Less
5. West Elm
Best Antiques/Collectibles Store
Misty's Consignments
Runners up:
2. Victoria's Attic
3. The Estate Sale Co.
Best Jeweler/Jewelry Store
Tiffany and Co.
Runners up:
2. El Paseo Jewelers
3. Leeds and Son
4. Hephaestus
Best Hair Salon
J. Russell! The Salon
Runners up:
2. Brush Palm Springs
3. Dishwater Blonde Salon
4. Wondercuts Inc.
5. Alankara, an Aveda Lifestyle Salon
Best Spa in a Resort/Hotel
The Spa at Desert Springs (JW Marriott)
Runners up:
2. Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa
3. Two Bunch Palms
4. Miracle Springs Resort and Spa
5. Feel Good Spa at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club
Best Day Spa (Non-Resort/Hotel)
Revive Wellness Center
Runners up:
2. Studio M Salon and Spa
3. Desert Serenity Float and Spa
4. Bliss Chakra Spa
Best Florist
My Little Flower Shop
Runners up:
2. Indio Florist
3. The Flower Company
4. Mami's Floral Boutique
5. Vaso Bello Celebrations
Best Tattoo Parlor
Bloodline Tattoo and Body Piercing
Runners up:
2. Anarchy and Ink Tattoo
3. Oasis Tattoo and Body Piercing
4. Strata Tattoo Lab
5. Solid Tattoo
Best Eyeglass/Optical Retailer
Runners up:
2. Milauskas Eye Institute
3. Desert Vision Optometry
4. America's Best
5. Panache Optical Gallery
Best Public Garden
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Runners up:
2. Sunnylands
3. Moorten's Botanical Garden
4. Shields Date Garden
5. El Paseo
Best Place for Bicycling
Joshua Tree
Runners up:
2. Tahquitz Creek Loop
3. Bear Creek Path (La Quinta)
4. Palm Canyon Epic
Best Recreation Area
Palm Desert Civic Center Park
Runners up:
2. Mount San Jacinto State Park (Top of the Tram)
3. Tahquitz Canyon
4. Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area
5. Cathedral City Town Square
Best Hike
Bump and Grind Trail
Runners up:
2. Tahquitz Canyon Trail
3. La Quinta Cove to Lake Cahuilla Trail
4. Ladder Canyon Trail
5. South Lykken Trail
Best Park
Palm Desert Civic Center Park
Runners up:
2. La Quinta Civic Center Park
3. Ruth Hardy Park
4. Demuth Park
5. Sunrise Park
Best Outdoor/Camping Gear Store
Big 5 Sporting Goods
Runners up:
2. Dick's Sporting Goods
3. Yellow Mart
Best Bike Shop
Palm Springs Cyclery
Runners up:
2. Joel's Bicycle Shop
3. Tri-A-Bike
4. BikeMan
5. Pedego Electric Bikes
Best Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods
Runners up:
2. Big 5 Sporting Goods
3. Yellow Mart
Best Public Golf Course
Desert Willow Golf Resort
Runners up:
2. Palm Desert Country Club
3. SilverRock Resort
4. The Lights at Indio GC
5. Classic Club Golf
For the Kids
Best Playground
Palm Desert Civic Center Park
Runners up:
2. La Quinta Civic Center Park
3. Demuth Park
4. Ruth Hardy Park
5. Ironwood Park
Best Place to Buy Toys
Runners up:
2. Walmart
3. Mr. G's Toys and Expressions
4. The Lumpy Bunny
Best Kids' Clothing Store
Old Navy
Runners up:
2. The Children's Place
3. Carter's
4. Gap
5. Crazy 8
Best Restaurant for Kids
Chuck E. Cheese's
Runners up:
2. Shakey's Pizza
3. Red Robin
4. Old Spaghetti Factory
5. Laser Oasis
Best Place for Family Fun
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Runners up:
2. Boomers
3. Laser Oasis
4. Get Air Trampoline Park
5. Escape Room Palm Springs
Best Place for a Birthday Party
Chuck E. Cheese's
Runners up:
2. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
3. Laser Oasis
4. Get Air Trampoline Park
5. Shakey's Pizza
Food and Restaurants
Best Casual Eats
Café 54 at Augustine Casino
Runners up:
2. Lulu California Bistro
3. Eureka!
4. TRIO Restaurant
5. Bongo Johnny's
Best Caterer
Lulu California Bistro
Runners up:
2. Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge
3. Katherine King Catering and Special Events
4. TRIO/Liquid Catering
5. Lynn Hammond
Best Diner
Café 54 at Augustine Casino
Runners up:
2. Goody's Cafe
3. Keedy's Fountain Grill
4. Rick's Restaurant
5. Sunshine Café
Best Organic Food Store
Trader Joe's
Runners up:
2. Sprouts Farmers Market
3. Clark's Nutrition and Natural Foods
4. Whole Foods
5. Nature's Health Food and Cafe
Best Delicatessen
Sherman's Deli and Bakery
Runners up:
2. TKB Bakery and Deli
3. Manhattan in the Desert
4. Real Italian Deli
Best Custom Cakes
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Runners up:
2. Over the Rainbow
3. Pastry Swan Bakery
4. Sherman's Deli and Bakery
5. Jensen's Foods
Best Desserts
Sherman's Deli and Bakery
Runners up:
2. Nothing Bundt Cakes
3. Pastry Swan Bakery
4. French Corner Café
5. Over the Rainbow
Best Ice Cream/Shakes
Cold Stone Creamery
Runners up:
2. Ben and Jerry's
3. Great Shakes
4. Lappert's Ice Cream
5. Kreem
Best Date Shake
Shields Date Garden
Runners up:
2. Hadley's
3. Oasis Date Gardens
4. Great Shakes
Best Frozen Yogurt
Runners up:
2. Tutti Frutti
3. Beach House
4. Jus Chillin'
5. Eddie's Frozen Yogurt
Best Bakery
TKB Bakery and Deli
Runners up:
2. Aspen Mills
3. French Corner Café
4. Carousel Bakery
5. Peninsula Pastries
Best Barbecue
Babe's Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse
Runners up:
2. Jackalope Ranch
3. Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace
4. Smoke Tree BBQ
5. Zobo and Meester's
Best Burgers
Café 54 at Augustine Casino
Runners up:
Tyler's Burgers
Grill A Burger
Bongo Johnny's
Best Veggie Burger
Native Foods Café
Runners up:
2. Lulu California Bistro
3. King's Highway at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club
Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge
Bongo Johnny's
Best Sandwich
TKB Bakery and Deli
Runners up:
2. Sherman's Deli and Bakery
3. The Sandwich Spot
4. Manhattan in the Desert
5. Real Italian Deli
Best Pizza
Bill's Pizza
Runners up:
2. Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill
3. Blaze Pizza
4. Giuseppe's Pizza and Pasta
5. Piero's PizzaVino
Best Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings
Runners up:
2. Wingstop
3. Babe's Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse
4. Smoke Tree BBQ
5. Jackalope Ranch
Best Bagels
Panera Bread
Runners up:
2. Townie Bagels
3. Sherman's Deli and Bakery
4. Manhattan in the Desert
5. Bristol Farms
Best Smoothies
Fresh Juice Bar
Jamba Juice
Runners up:
3. Juice It Up
4. Koffi
5. Palm Greens Café
Best Buffet
Café 54 at the Augustine Casino
Runners up:
2. Grand Palms Buffet Agua Caliente
3. Fresh Grill Buffet at Fantasy Springs
4. Oasis Buffet at Spa Resort Casino
5. Potrero Canyon Buffet at Morongo
Best Local Coffee Roaster
Runners up:
2. Coachella Valley Coffee Co.
3. Joshua Tree Coffee Company
Best Coffee Shop
Runners up:
2. Starbucks
3. IW Coffee
4. Ristretto
5. Joey Palm Springs
6. Sip Coffee House and Juice Bar
Best Breakfast
Broken Yolk Café
Runners up:
2. Elmer's
3. Wilma and Frieda's
4. Keedy's Fountain Grill
5. Rick's Restaurant
Best California Cuisine
Lulu California Bistro
Runners up:
2. Acqua California Bistro
3. Kaiser Grille
4. TRIO Restaurant
5. Purple Palm Restaurant at the Colony Palms
Best Brunch
Café 54 at the Augustine Casino
Runners up:
2. Wilma and Frieda's
3. Broken Yolk Cafe
4. Escena Lounge and Grill
5. Bongo Johnny's
Best Chinese
P.F. Chang's
2. JOY at Fantasy Springs
3. City Wok
4. Bobby Mao's Chinese Kitchen and Bar
5. New Fortune Asian Cuisine
Best Greek
Greek Islands Restaurant
Runners up:
2. Nina's Greek Cuisine
3. Athena Gyro
4. Evzin Mediterranean Cuisine
5. Koutouki Greek Estiatoro
Best French
Le Vallauris Restaurant
Runners up:
2. Si Bon
3. L'Atelier Café
4. Cuistot Restaurant
5. Joey Palm Springs
Best Indian
Monsoon Indian Cuisine
Runners up:
2. India Oven
3. Sam's Indian Food and Pizza
Best Italian
Nicolino's Italian Restaurant
Runners up:
2. Ristorante Mamma Gina
3. Ciro's Ristorante and Pizzeria
4. Il Corso
5. Venezia Restaurant and Pizzeria
Best Japanese
Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
Runners up:
2. Okura Robata Grill and Sushi Bar
3. Shogun Restaurant
4. Shabu Shabu Zen
5. Otori Japanese Cuisine
Best Korean
Maru Korean B.B.Q. and Grill
Runners up:
2. JOY at Fantasy Springs
3. Umami Seoul
Best Sushi
Dragon Sushi
Runners up:
2. Okura Robata Grill and Sushi Bar
3. Sam's Sushi
4. Misaki Sushi and Grill
5. The Venue Sushi Bar and Sake Lounge
Best Seafood
Fisherman's Market and Grill
Runners up:
2. Café 54 at Augustine Casino
3. Pacifica Seafood Restaurant
4. Mitch's on El Paseo
5. Roy's
Best Steaks/Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Runners up:
2. LG's Prime Steakhouse
3. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
4. The Steakhouse at the Spa Resort Casino
5. Chop House at Jackalope Ranch
Best Thai
Thai Smile Palm Springs
Runners up:
2. My Thai
3. Pepper's Thai Cuisine
4. Le Basil
5. Thai House
Best Vietnamese
Pho Vu
Runners up:
2. Rooster and the Pig
3. 533 Viet Fusion
4. Fuzion Five
5. Watercress Vietnamese Bistro
Best Vegetarian/Vegan
Native Foods Café
Runners up:
2. Palm Greens Café
3. Chef Tanya's Kitchen
4. Wildest Greens
5. Luscious Lorraine's
Best Upscale Dining
Spencer's Restaurant
Runners up:
2. Morton's The Steakhouse
3. Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge
4. Wally's Desert Turtle
5. Johannes
Best Outdoor Seating
Jackalope Ranch
Runners up:
2. The Tropicale
3. Lulu California Bistro
4. Spencer's Restaurant
5. Copley's on Palm Canyon
Best Late-Night Restaurant
Café 54 at the Augustine Casino
Runners up:
2. Lulu California Bistro
3. Eureka!
4. King's Highway at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club
5. Bongo Johnny's
Best Mexican
Las Casuelas Terraza
Runners up:
2. Fresh Agave Mexican Bar and Grill
3. Rincon Norteno
4. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill
5. La Tablita
Best Salsa
Las Casuelas Terraza
Runners up:
2. Rincon Norteno
3. Fresh Agave Mexican Bar and Grill
4. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill
5. Pueblo Viejo
Best Burrito
Las Casuelas Terraza
Runners up:
2. Chipotle
3. Fresh Agave Mexican Bar and Grill
4. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill
5. Casa Blanca
Spirits and Nightlife
Best Beer Selection
Yard House
Runners up:
2. Burgers and Beer
3. The Beer Hunter
4. Eureka!
5. Amigo Room at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club
Best Local Brewery
La Quinta Brewing Co.
Runners up:
2. Coachella Valley Brewing Co.
3. Babe's Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse
Best Place to Play Billiards
The Hood Bar and Pizza
Runners up:
2. The Beer Hunter
3. Neil's Lounge
4. Big Rock Pub
5. Red Barn
Best Cocktail Menu
The Tropicale
Runners up:
2. TRIO Restaurant
3. Tonga Hut
4. Seymour's
5. Truss and Twine
Best Craft Cocktails
TRIO Restaurant
Runners up:
2. Bootlegger Tiki
3. Seymour's
4. Purple Palm Restaurant at the Colony Palms
5. Truss and Twine
Best Gay/Lesbian Bar/Club
Toucan's Tiki Lounge
Runners up:
2. Chill Bar Palm Springs
3. Hunters
4. Blackbook
5. Bongo Johnny's
Best Happy Hour
The Tropicale
Runners up:
2. Stuft Pizza
3. La Quinta Cliffhouse
4. Lulu California Bistro
5. Jackalope Ranch
Best Dive Bar
The Hood Bar and Pizza
Runners up:
2. Neil's Lounge
3. Red Barn
4. Plan B Live Entertainment and Cocktails
5. Score
Best Margarita
Las Casuelas Terraza
Fresh Agave Mexican Bar and Grill
Runners up:
3. Blue Coyote Grill
4. El Mirasol
5. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill
Best Martini
The Tropicale
Runners up:
2. Sullivan's Steakhouse
3. Lulu California Bistro
4. Purple Room Palm Springs
5. Zin American Bistro
Best Nightclub
Copa Palm Springs
Runners up:
2. The Nest
3. Zelda's
4. Hunters
5. Costa's Nightclub at the JW Marriott Desert Springs
Best Sports Bar
The Beer Hunter
Burgers and Beer
Runners up:
3. Big Rock Pub
4. Playoffs Sports Bar
5. Smokin' Burgers
Best Wine Bar
Mastro's Steakhouse
Runners up:
2. La Fe Wine Bar
3. Dead or Alive
4. Zin American Bistro
5. Counter Reformation at the Parker Palm Springs
Best Wine/Liquor Store
Runners up:
2. Total Wine and More
3. Desert Wines and Spirits (Go Deli)
4. The Wine Emporium
5. Larry's Gourmet Market and Deli
Best Bar Ambiance
The Tropicale
Runners up:
2. TRIO Restaurant
3. Dead or Alive
4. Paul Bar/Food
5. Counter Reformation at the Parker Palm Springs
Restaurant News Bites: Snow and Crab Brings Cajun Seafood to Palm Springs; Persimmon Bistro Opens at the Art Museum; and Tons More!April 25 2018
New: Temecula's Snow and Crab Expands to Bring Shaved Ice and Cajun Seafood to Palm Springs
I was driving south down Sunrise Way past Tahquitz Canyon Way when I saw the words on the south end of the building that houses the 99 Cents Only store: SNOW and CRAB.
Hmm. I was intrigued. I love crab, after all, and as for snow … well, I wasn't sure about that. So, I decided to investigate.
Here's what I found: Snow and Crab is a new-to-Palm Springs restaurant—the first one is in Temecula—and the "crab" part of the name refers to, well, crab, as well as other Cajun-style seafood on offer: snow crab legs, king crab legs, whole blue and Dungeness crabs, clams, mussels, wild-caught shrimp, catfish, and both fresh and fresh-frozen crawfish. Basically … you choose your catch; your flavor (Cajun, scampi, lemon pepper or full house); your spiciness level; and your extras, if desired (hot Louisiana smoked sausage, potatoes, sausage or corn on the cob). Soups, salads, sides, appetizers and several "chef's specialties," as well as desserts, fill out the menu. Yum.
As for "snow" … that refers to the shaved ice concoctions available, like the "Let It Snow": milky shaved ice topped with marshmallow and shredded coconut. Boba smoothies, flavored teas and other specialty drinks may also be ordered.
I decided Snow and Crab warranted some in-person investigation, so I dropped in for a recent lunch. I am dealing with an injured-but-healing left arm, so I decided to save the more hands-on seafood for another time, and instead ordered a "chef's specialty," the fried catfish tray with fries ($12), along with the garlic-bread appetizer ($3). Both were tasty—and the amount of catfish and fresh-cut large fries was substantial enough that I could have made two meals out of it. (I said "could have." Hey, I was hungry.)
The person who helped me during my mid-April visit said Snow and Crab is still in its soft-opening phase, so menu tweaks and additions are possible.
Snow and Crab looks like an exciting, unique addition to the area food scene. It's located at 186 S. Sunrise Way, in Palm Springs. For more information, call 760-218-6056, or visit www.snowandcrab.com.
In Brief
A new restaurant has opened at the Palm Springs Art Museum. Persimmon Bistro comes from Candice Held and Tristan Gittens, the owners of Palm Springs' Frankinbun; according to a news release, Persimmon serves "rustic, eclectic cuisine with a twist in a unique café setting on the edge of the museum's sculpture garden … combining fantastical wallpaper design and chic comfort food." The "jungle to table" restaurant serves coffee, tea, cold-pressed juices, smoothies, salads, soups and sandwiches, as well as a few "delicacies" like charcuterie and French desserts. Persimmon Bistro is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day but Wednesday at 101 N. Museum Drive, in Palm Springs; visit www.persimmonbistro.com for details. … A couple of Facebook friends have been singing the praises of a brand-new place—and by "brand new," we mean "opened on April 14"—at 3700 E. Vista Chino, at Gene Autry Trail, in Palm Springs. It's called Paul, and the place serves food and great drinks, often served by someone named Paul, starting at 4 p.m. every day but Tuesday. That's all we know for now; watch www.facebook.com/PaulPalmSprings for more details. … If you like either Lucha Libre wrestling or tacos—and if you don't like at least one of those two things, something's very wrong with you—head to Morongo Casino Resort Spa, at 49500 Seminole Drive, in Cabazon, on Saturday, May 19, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the second annual Morongo Taco Fest. More than two-dozen SoCal taco-makers will be present selling $2 tacos, while music, tequila-tastings, a hot-pepper-eating contest and a "Tiny Taco Dog Beauty Pageant" (!) takes place. Admission is $10; get more details and tickets at www.morongocasinoresort.com. … A brand-new—and gorgeous—Koffi has opened in Kaptur Plaza, located at 650 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, in downtown Palm Springs. This is the fourth Koffi location—three of which are in Palm Springs, with the fourth in Rancho Mirage. More info at www.kofficoffee.com. … Now open at The River, at 71800 Highway 111, Suite A116, in Rancho Mirage: MidiCi, The Neapolitan Pizza Company, a national chain restaurant serving food made with "mostly non-GMO" ingredients, along with beer and wine. More info at www.mymidici.com. … Coming soon to downtown Palm Springs: a new La Quinta Brewing Co. Taproom, at 301 N. Palm Canyon Drive, across from the Hyatt and beneath Café Europa/JusTapas. Watch www.facebook.com/LQBCPalmSpringsTaproom for updates.
The Beer Goddess: Raise Your Glass to Toast Stout Beers—and Get Ready to Celebrate International Stout DaySeptember 02 2017
India pale ales—you know them as IPAs—may still be the best-selling beer style, but many of us prefer the darker side of things.
Yes, stouts are perfect as the nights begin to get just a little longer; it's a great time to enjoy oatmeal-y, chocolate-y, coffee-flavored deliciousness in a glass.
For my money, here are some of the best stouts in the world right now:
Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout: With more than 12,000 votes and a 4.5 rating (out of 5) on BeerAdvocate.com, this is arguably the best stout in the world. Coming in at 12.8 percent alcohol by volume, the beer offers hints of caramel, bourbon and dried fruit on the nose. This is a full-bodied, smooth stout with flavors of vanilla, oak and yet more bourbon. It's the epitome of the imperial stout style—a beautifully crafted beer.
Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout: Of the most widely known stouts in America, "KBS" is also one of the best, with a 100 BeerAdvocate.com score. This world-class imperial stout is brewed with a hint of coffee and vanilla, then cave-aged in oak bourbon barrels for an entire year. KBS shines with bold flavors throughout—and the flavors ramp up a couple of notches as the beer warms.
"You put the right beer in the right barrel, and you're going to create some pretty interesting flavors," says Founders brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki, according to the Founders website.
Firestone Walker Parabola: This barrel-aged beast also has a world-class 100 score from BeerAdvocate.com, and is also aged for a full year in bourbon barrels. With this 14 percent ABV Russian imperial stout, prepare for flavors of sweet, dark berries; oak-y cask vanilla; and malt complexity. The licorice and molasses notes help create a perfectly balanced and amazingly flavorful stout. This is a fantastic nightcap!
While we're talking about stouts, I'd be remiss if I didn't remind you to mark your calendars for Nov. 2, when stout-lovers across the world will celebrate the delicious, dark beer on the Seventh Annual International Stout Day. Full disclosure: I created the day!
Here are a few of my favorite places to enjoy stouts, as well as a few of my favorite stouts to enjoy, in and around the Coachella Valley:
Coachella Valley Brewing Co. (30640 Gunther St., Thousand Palms) will be celebrating Stout Day with a newly released stout; the details will be announced soon.
La Quinta Brewing Co.'s Koffi Porter is a 6.3 percent ABV beer brewed with dark-roasted, chocolate and crystal malts. After fermentation, brewmasters add coffee beans from Rancho Mirage's Koffi. This renowned beer has taken home the bronze in both the 2014 World Beer Championships and the 2016 Los Angeles International Beer Competition. It will be on tap at both locations (77917 Wildcat Drive, Palm Desert; and 78065 Main St., No.100, La Quinta) for Stout Day.
King Harbor Brewing Summer Stout: Redondo Beach's King Harbor is known for its Swirly stout, and the brewery occasionally releases an imperial stout in the winter, but this year, Tom Dunbabin and his brewing team decided they wanted to develop a Summer Stout—with a chocolate and roasted-malt profile, a subtle refreshing character, a lower alcohol by volume and a clean finish. Expect to see this beer and other King Harbor brews around the Coachella Valley this fall and winter—and if you're feeling like a road trip, King Harbor will be hosting a Stout Day event at the brewery on Nov. 2.
The Beer Hunter (78483 Highway 111, La Quinta) is not to be confused with the beer writer named Michael Jackson, who used the moniker The Beer Hunter, and was the best beer writer the world has known; he passed away in 2007. I am talking about the sports bar in La Quinta that is stepping up its game with new and bigger selections, as well as its own white-label beers that are brewed locally. Stop in on Nov. 2 to celebrate Stout Day!
Want to stay in to celebrate stouts? I have found the selections of craft beer at Total Wine and More, Whole Foods, Jensen's Foods and Bristol Farms to all be fantastic. Pour your own stout flights, and have guests pick their favorites!
International Stout Day gives stouts their day in the spotlight, which they so rightly deserve. On Nov. 2, be sure to login and rate your stouts, and check in where you're celebrating, on Untappd! Every year, the app offers up special badges for celebrating the holiday.
Restaurant News Bites: Chop House Returns, Inside Jackalope Ranch; Local Joints Earn Big Honors; and Tons More!February 23 2017
New: Chop House at Jackalope Ranch
I must confess: Before I walked into the new Chop House for a media preview dinner on Jan. 31, I thought the move by Lee Morcus and his Kaiser Restaurant Group to re-open the steakhouse inside of Jackalope Ranch was a gimmick.
I am a big fan of the Chop House. If memory serves, the first meal I ever ate in the Coachella Valley was at the old Palm Desert Chop House (which is now a Kaiser Grille), and I had many special meals at the downtown Palm Springs Chop House before it closed last year. I was sad to see the Chop House go, and I feared Morcus and co. were simply taking a room inside the sprawling, 660-seat Jackalope Ranch; calling it "Chop House"; throwing some old Chop House items on the menu; and calling it a day.
Boy, was I wrong.
Not only did Morcus revamp and bring back the full Chop House menu; he completely renovated one of the spaces inside the Jackalope Ranch complex, and created a new, dedicated kitchen specifically for the Chop House. He's treating the restaurants as separate entities: A special occasion here or there aside, diners can only get the Chop House menu in the Chop House area, and can only get the Jackalope Ranch menu in the other areas.
I liked what I saw and tasted. The ahi tuna tartare ($16) was amazingly fresh, and the heirloom tomato and buratta salad ($12) was excellent. Unfortunately, I had to leave early due to other commitments, so I didn't get to sample any of the main courses, like the 36-ounce Tomahawk rib chop for two ($98, with two sides).
Morcus is clearly taking the new Chop House seriously. He spoke at great length about all of the work he and his team have put into the new space, and talked passionately about the quality of meat he serves—aged at least 28 days, and never pre-sliced.
He also hinted at future plans for the Jackalope Ranch complex: He mentioned the possibility of a separate microbrewery/restaurant concept taking over a third kitchen in the building, and noted that Indio could perhaps use a hotel on some of the adjacent vacant land.
The Chop House at Jackalope Ranch is located at 80400 Highway 111, in Indio. For more information, call 760-342-1999, or visit www.thejackaloperanch.com/chop-house.
In Brief
Do you have your tickets yet for the Palm Desert Food and Wine festival? If not, now is the time: The foodie-dream weekend takes place Friday, March 24, through Sunday, March 26. Chefs' demonstrations, wine dinners and other special events are on the schedule, along with the Grand Tasting main event. Grand Tasting tickets start at $100. Get them and more info at www.palmdesertfoodandwine.com. … If you have not yet tried the new menu at the Village Pub, at 266 S. Palm Canyon Drive, in downtown Palm Springs, do so. PR goddess Chris Martelo invited me to lunch there one recent weekday, and I was impressed by chef George Gonzalez's food. The menu offers entrées from locales world-round, and my mouth now waters whenever I think of the fantastic gorgonzola, chicken and pear salad. Mere bar food, this ain't. Visit palmspringsvillagepub.com for more info. … The downtown Palm Springs Pho Vu is no more. The restaurant, at 285 S. Palm Canyon Drive, has changed ownership and is now called Fuzion Five Vietnamese and Lao Cuisine. We'll share more details after we check the place out; in the meantime, visit www.facebook.com/fuzionfive. … Congratulations to La Quinta Brewing Co., which nabbed two medals in the Best of Craft Beer Awards in Bend, Ore.: a gold for the Heatwave Amber Ale, and a silver for the Tan Line Brown Ale. … Congratulations are also in order for two beloved local restaurants which are among Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. for 2017: Rancho Mirage's Shabu Shabu Zen and Sake Bar came in at No. 78, while Indio's TKB Bakery and Deli is No. 5. Amazing! … Happy Sushi Ro Ba Ta, at 155 S. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, has seen a change in focus in recent years—and now, it has a different name, too. Kaikou highlights ramen and poke in addition to sushi offerings; more info at www.facebook.com/KaikouRamenPokeSushi. ... Speaking of sushi: You can now get more of it in Desert Hot Springs, thanks to the debut of Best Sushi and Grill. It's located at 13525 Palm Drive, No. 3. Visit www.bestsushigrill.com for a menu and more info. … At long last, the relocated Bernie's Lounge and Supper Club is open, at 69830 Highway 111, in Rancho Mirage. More info at bernies.club. … After closing rather suddenly back in September due to the death of the owner, Morongo Valley's Willie Boys appears to be on the path toward reopening: The restaurant's Facebook page says the restaurant is hiring for all positions. More info at www.facebook.com/willieboyssaloon.
The Beer Goddess: Pondering Pairings of Music and Craft Beer at Coachella; La Quinta Brewing Nabs a Big MedalMay 17 2016
Great beer and excellent music go hand in hand—so it's no wonder that craft beer is becoming a bigger deal each year at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, aka Coachella.
Not only did the Craft Beer Barn delight beer fans for the third year in a row; this year's festival included a smaller rare beer barn, craft beer cocktails and a cabin speakeasy by the Houston Brothers.
Also present were all three of Coachella Valley's local breweries, including La Quinta Brewing Co.—just weeks before taking home a gold medal at one of the world's biggest beer competitions. (More on that later.)
As I enjoyed the second weekend of the festival, seeing all of the great beer together with all of the renowned musicians got me thinking about pairings: Which brew goes best with which music?
Prince was at Coachella in spirit, after passing away on April 21, the day before the second weekend of the festival began. Coachella's palm trees were awash with Prince's trademark purple hue. Ice Cube even wore a purple bandana and purple sneakers in tribute.
Before LCD Soundsystem performed, the three massive main-stage screens played the entirety of Prince's version of Radiohead's "Creep," recorded in 2008 on that very stage.
Prince's music crossed genres; he was a master architect of funk, rock, R&B and pop. He went against the grain and refused to bow to big record labels during his nearly 40-year history of artistry.
Because Prince is such a legend, it's virtually impossible to pair him with just one beer. However, the brewery that comes to mind is Stone Brewing. The 20-year-old San Diego brewery has gone against the grain since unleashing Arrogant Bastard Ale upon the world in November 1997.
Fast-forward to 2014, when Stone announced plans to become the first American craft brewer to own and operate a brewery in Europe. Much like Prince refused to bow down to big business, Stone's founders just announced a project called True Craft—an effort to invest in craft breweries which are dedicated to remaining true to the definition of craft beer, as an "alternative to being bought or pushed out by Big Beer."
LCD Soundsystem
The icons offered tribute to Prince by leading off their set with a joyous, funky version of "Controversy," lifting both spirits and feet off the ground. The anti-cool—yet infinitely cool—electro-rock group also played "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House" and "Dance Yrself Clean," creating a grin-inducing dance party. James Murphy's Brooklyn demeanor, electro-rock dancing and serious singing all contributed to what was a triumphant return. Murphy proved his comedic talent as well when, over a simple drum beat, he cavalierly proclaimed that he was present at every key moment in underground music.
I found myself memorized and swaying aggressively when a young, dreadlocked hipster came up beside me. His eyes were wide, overwhelmed by the sensation of the beautiful music. "I didn't know about these guys; they're amazing!" he said.
I giggled. "Yes, yes they are."
Pair with: The Bruery's Confession. Not quite beer, not quite wine, this unique and effervescent wild ale is perfect for the wild and collaborative band. Confession is a sour blonde ale that is blended and fermented with juice pressed from Riesling grapes.
While LCD Soundsystem may be best known for the effect the band has on the dance floor, Confession is best known for the effect it has when flavors reveal themselves on the tongue.
This electronic music duo is definitely one of the cleanest stage acts you'll see live. Disclosure wowed the crowd by welcoming AlunaGeorge singer Aluna Francis to the visually brilliant stage. "Moving Mountains" and "When a Fire Starts to Burn" brought awesome roars from the audience. Simply put, Disclosure was the ultimate crowd-pleaser.
Pair with: El Segundo Citra Pale Ake. Nearly every craft-beer-drinker I know loves this beer. With notes of guava, grapefruit peel, mango and peach, what's not to love? It's refreshing, bright and taste-bud-pleasing.
The Coachella lineup simply listed Ice Cube. But after he asked, "Is there a doctor in the house?" the surviving members of N.W.A. performed together for the first time in nearly 30 years.
Before Dre arrived—wearing all black with the Prince symbol on his shirt—Ice Cube had the N.W.A. vibes in full force with "Fuck tha Police" and "Straight Outta Compton." It was loud, aggressive and totally awesome.
Pair with: Three Weavers' Hops Needs Friends. With a bold emphasis on hoppy bitterness, this IPA from the Inglewood brewery (not far from Compton) is loaded Idaho 7 and Azacca hops, giving it bursts of pineapple, orange and strawberry flavors—loads of "California Love."
Guns N' Roses
I would blast GnR in my Walkman in the mid '90s as I got ready to swim the 100 freestyle at my high school's swim meets. Therefore, I was beyond excited to see this large-than-life band.
Sure enough, many 35-to-55-year-olds rocked like it was 1987. Duff played his powerful licks from a white bass adorned with a purple decal featuring Prince's symbol. He sang The Damned's "New Rose"—which was extra-cool, since the psychedelic punk legends had just played before GnR.
But it was Slash's astounding guitar solos and Axl's wailing falsetto that really drew in the crowd. Despite Axl being confined to a throne due to a leg injury, the band members delivered a mind-blowing set—and, of course, Axl dedicated it to Prince.
Guns N' Roses didn't need a special guest, because the band made sure the night ended with a bang.
Pair with: Faction Brewing's Something Different IPA. This IPA is hopped with Centennial, Citra and Experimental 07270 varieties. With aromas of pine resin and notes of grapefruit, spice and tropical fruit, this beer is highly rated. Another pairing option: Try pairing GnR with Modern Times Infinity Beach, a sour IPA with grapefruit zest coming in at 7.2 percent alcohol by volume. This is a special-release beer that is kettle-soured with three lacto strains before fermentation with Modern Times' Brett blend, resulting in loads of flavors and in-your-face, citrusy awesomeness.
La Quinta's Big Medal
La Quinta Brewing brought the Sundaze Session IPA and Poolside Blonde to Coachella—but it was another beer that would earn the Palm Desert-based brewery one of the beer world's highest honors a couple of weeks later.
On May 6, La Quinta won the gold medal in the Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer Category at the World Beer Cup for the Bourbon Barrel Aged Koffi Porter. It bested a whopping 66 entries to take top honors.
The brewery takes its popular coffee porter and ages it in bourbon barrels for approximately four months. The coffee used is from local icon Koffi, roasted in Rancho Mirage.
I chatted briefly with Skip Madsen, who is now the brewmaster at La Quinta Brewing. He lived in Seattle for more than 20 years and brewed at Pike Brewing, Boundary Bay Brewing, Big Time Brewing, American Brewing Company and his own company, Water Street Brewing.
Madsen started brewing in the desert in January. Since then, he's introduced the new Even Par IPA, which comes in at 7.2 percent ABV—pun intended, as 72 marks even par at many golf courses. The beer is brewed with Mosaic, Simcoe and Citra hops.
"I like to do all kinds of styles, but I'm known as an IPA guy," he said.
This marks Madsen's third World Beer Cup medal—and La Quinta's first.
Up next for La Quinta: Some new beers and possible bottling of the now-renowned Bourbon Barrel Aged Koffi Porter, likely around the holidays.


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I want to shift gears.
I just want to thank our Know Your Beautiful™ squad for an eventful year. I am truly a better person because of this campaign. You are all beautiful women. Inside and out. We've completed our last event of 2016 and I have taken away so much.
First, I've learned that God will send me who I need to fulfill my vision. I don't have to convince or manipulate any of you into "thinking" this is for you. Every detail isn't for the public, because we do want to leave a little mystery to our campaign. We can share that we have impacted 56 new women with Know Your Beautiful™, around the US. I thank you moms for allowing your teens to join us. You have raised respectful and bright individuals. I thank our teens for allowing us to help shape you. None of you are troubled teenage girls. Each and every one of you exude a different confidence. Each of you are finding your place in this world, unapologetically. You all have stability within your homes, so you don't need us.
We realize that we do need you. We aren't perfect, but some of us have lived and just want to share our experiences with you. When I'm old and grey, missing teeth and saggy boobs, I can say, "There was once a time…" or "I'm proud of who they've become."
Each squad mom holds a special place in my heart. I love you all outside of KYB. You are the foundation for this campaign. I will do better with asking for help. Know that you're all needed and worthy or everything God has in store for you. I will continue to support your dreams and businesses for as long as I am able to breathe. You have all helped me see my vision through. Alexis, Nadia, Shunta, Averi, Kia, Nikki, Shauntae, Saudiia, LaShanda and Minnie (from afar), I am forever grateful. Thank you for sticking this out with me. Thank you for taking time away from your families to lead by example. Thank your husbands, daughters and sons, please. 2017 is going to be even better.
Jade, Karliegh and Emone, you're graduating!! We will always be here as your support system when you need us. Even when you don't, I'll be bugging the life out of you.
Always, Know Your Beautiful™. Own it.

subset: commoncrawl


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What's Worth Watching: Bates Motel, Jack Irish, Dancing With The Stars and more for Monday, May 2
Bates Motel (9/8c, A&E): The heater's not working in the big house, but that's not why the blood is running cold when Norman Bates returns home in a searing episode written by Norman himself, the talented Freddie Highmore—who has made this iconic character his own this season, with a truly chilling self-awareness of his madness that can bode well for no one. Especially when it comes to his new stepdad, Sheriff Romero (Nestor Carbonell), who stokes Norman's jealousy and wife Norma's (Vera Farmiga) anxiety as she tries to compartmentalize the men in her life—with predictably dire results.
Jack Irish (Streaming Mondays, Acorn TV): Like an Australian Jim Rockford, the title character of this six-part caper is a perfectly imperfect hero, a private eye and occasional debt collector scraping by on the margins of Melbourne. Jack is played with sheepish but seriously charismatic relish by Guy Pearce, who graces even the most grim twists with an undercurrent of sly humor. His latest case involves a mega-church that's a front for deadly schemes extending all the way to the Philippine island of Mindanao, where his on-off journalist girlfriend Linda (Marta Dusseldorp of Acorn's Janet King) has gone to pursue a lead on a homegrown terrorist. As their stories converge, Jack (formerly seen in a series of TV-movies) proves itself the whole package of romance, exotic suspense and dry wit.
Dancing With the Stars (8/7c, ABC): The eliminations will come harder in the back stretch of another entertaining season, and this week there's a double elimination. But not before the remaining eight participate in "Icons Night," which includes team dances split between male and female celebs: the men forming Team James Brown and the women Team Beyoncé.
Inside Monday TV: It's Jane's (Gina Rodriguez) first Mother's Day on The CW's Jane the Virgin (9/8c), but she didn't plan to spend it at a brunch organized by Petra (Yael Grobglas) … CBS's NCIS: Los Angeles (10/9c) wraps its season by sending Sam (LL Cool J) and the team to San Francisco to help rescue Sam's son Aiden (Tye White) when the boy's school is overrun by extremists. … In anticipation of Holocaust Remembrance Day later this week, two documentaries: HBO's Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah (9/8c), nominated for a Documentary Short Subject Oscar, in which the French filmmaker reflects on the grueling 12-year process of making his epic 1985 Holocaust documentary Shoah; and from PBS's Independent Lens, the premiere of My Nazi Legacy (10/9c, check local listings at pbs.org), which explores the relationship between human-rights lawyer Philippe Sands, whose family perished during the Nazi regime, and two sons of high-ranking Nazis, who have very different views of their respective father's crimes against humanity.


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Penelope x x Click here for the original source
Tag Archives: DIARY OF A BRIDE
Home or Away?
One decision that could be a talking point for life Recent research now suggests that the average UK wedding costs a whopping £20,000. Compare this to the average £6,000 cost of a wedding overseas and you may well find yourself … Continue reading
A Vintage Love Story
This story took place back in August, on the most incredibly sunny day (which can be problematic to a photographer if one of your 'models' is a squinter) in the heart of Northamptonshire. The concept was created by Niki Wright … Continue reading


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The countdown is on…
The time has come for the invasion of Christmas posts here at Natural Kitchen Adventures. In all fairness I didn't make a big deal of Christmas last year, having gone all out on my Christmas recipe ebook the previous year. I think a few posts this year will be entirely justified and a great excuse to start expanding my repertoire of Christmas goodies again, starting with lebkuchen, a German style gingerbread.
This post is a joint post with the talented photographer Lucy Parissi from Supergolden Bakes. We first worked together earlier this year on a professional book project (I cooked and styled, Lucy propped and shot) when I happily discovered she lives within walking distance from me. It made perfect sense for us to get together and work on a personal blog project purely for the heck of it. So thanks to the inspiration from Lucy, a Christmas post was put on the agenda.
Lucy suggested the lebkuchen, and set me the challenge of making a vegan version to accompany a vegan chocolate mousse she had been wanting to try. Since I've been making lots of vegan recipes for my work recently it sounded like the perfect challenge. I'd actually never made them before, but knew that I really liked them after discovering them on a November weekend city break to Berlin some 8ish years ago.
It was fairly simple to put together a vegan and gluten free lebkuchen recipe. I adapted mine from the BBC Good Food basic recipe. I subbed honey for vegan friendly maple syrup (you can of course still use honey as I did in my test batch), subbed in coconut oil for butter (using 25% less oil than butter, which is always good starting point), and used Free From Fairy gluten free wholegrain plain flour. I also added molasses for dark treacly richness often used in gingerbread, a tiny bit of cocoa for colour; the lebkuchen came out a wonderful dark colour as I had wanted.
I'm actually going to be talking a but more about the flour I used in a future post, so won't dwell to much on it now other than to say its really rather brilliant. I usually like to play around with my own gluten free flour blends (like I've done here), for a much higher whole grain bake than most gluten free mixes offer. Blending flours is a complex process, and understandably my blends don't always work first time when I'm coming up with new recipes. My trial run using this new 70% wholegrain flour came out perfectly, and I definitely appreciated an an easier ride in the recipe creation process!
Lucy's accompanying chocolate mousse is full of Christmas flavours, and has a clever use of aquafaba – a chickpea water. I've experimented with aquafaba a bit with this this last year so was intrigued to see how Lucy made use of it too. It was delicious, and since chocolate and ginger are good friends made the perfect dunking pot for the gingerbread. Lucy has a fantastic prop selection so the props we used in the shots all belong to her. We styled them together, and each took our own photos (though Lucy did help me with a few pointers and also with the editing). Really rather pleased with this one!
Hope you enjoy our festive display. Do take a look at Lucy's beautiful blog for the vegan mousse recipe.
- 120g 'free from fairy' plain gluten free flour
- 40g ground almonds
- 5g cocoa powder
- 1 & ½ tsp ginger
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp mixed spice
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- pinch black pepper
- 30g coconut oil
- 100g / 85 mls maple syrup
- 1 tbs / 15mls molasses
- 1 tbs coconut oil
- 1 tbs brown rice syrup
- 1 tsp arrowroot
- ¼ tsp rosewater
- To make the lebkucken dough, combine the flour, almonds, cocoa, spices and baking agents in a small mixing bowl till all the ingredients are well distributed.
- Meanwhile warm the coconut oil in a saucepan over a low heat until it melts and stir through the maple syrup and molasses till well combined. Allow the mixture to cool a little before pouring into the dry ingredients, stir well, first with a spoon and then with your hands bringing the mixture into a dough ball.
- Cover the dough ball with cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for 15-20 minutes.
- Pre-heat the oven to 160C (fan)
- Take the dough out of the fridge, unwrap and place on top of baking parchment. Then place the cling film on top of the dough and using a rolling pin roll out the dough till its about 3mm thick. Using star cutters, cut out the gingerbread and transfer using a palette knife to a parchment lined baking sheet. (This process is rather fiddly with this dough so you are also very welcome to roll the dough into small balls with your hands, place on the baking tray and flatter down with a fork)
- Place the tray of lebkuchen in the oven and bake for 15 minutes till golden brown. Remove and allow to cool. The lebkuchen harden as they cool.
- The glaze is optional, you may prefer a simple light dusting of icing sugar, or have them without anything at all. To make the glaze melt the coconut oil in a small saucepan and add the syrup (brown rice syrup doesn't have much flavour which is why I use it, you can also use maple), and then add the arrowroot powder, keep stirring till a pale paste forms. Add the rosewater if you like, and then brush this onto the slightly cooled lebkuchen. The arrowroot will dry clear.
Disclosure I was given the free from fairy flour to trial as a gift. As always with Natural Kitchen Adventures I only write about products I would genuinely otherwise purchase. All opinions are my own.


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· Highest volumes for nearly a decade underpin strength of sector
· Year-on year volumes up nearly 60%
· UK is the largest national market, followed by Germany and France
The volume of EMEA syndicated real estate finance loans for full-year 2015 (EUR74.7bn) is the highest full year volume since 2007 (EUR76.7bn) before the Global Financial Crisis, according to league tables released by Dealogic.
The full-year 2015 figures also boast 58% year-on-year increase compared to full-year 2014 when only EUR32.9bn of volume was reported.
Excluding loans to REITs, 2016's volume stands at EUR32.9bn, a near 50% increase from 2014's figure of EUR22.5bn, the league tables show. The number of non-REIT deals also picked up considerably, with 147 deals reported this time around compared to 86 in 2014.
The UK led the charge in contributing towards the volume, with EUR20.9bn of volume via 59 deals. Germany and France posted volumes of EUR19.9bn and EUR12.9bn respectively.
Last year's largest deal excluding REIT activity was a EUR1.4bn loan to French borrower, Carmila SAS.
HSBC and ING are the banks placed in the top three for most of the categories for 2015, which have been collated by Dealogic based on submissions from more than 25 lenders.
The EMEA syndicated real estate finance league tables were launched in 2014 by Dealogic, and were supported by trade body Commercial Real Estate Finance Council (CREFC) Europe.
CREFC Europe is backing the league tables as a way to improve transparency across the CRE lending market giving market participants and observers an insight in to activity levels and key players.
Loan syndications – where a group of banks pool balance sheet capacity to participate jointly in a large loan – long a dominant feature of the corporate debt market, have become an increasingly important part of the CRE landscape since the crisis. Syndication is a valuable tool for originators, allowing them to manage balance sheet capacity and capital constraints efficiently. In turn, it allows a wide range of lenders to participate in loans they didn't originate themselves. Overall syndication facilitates the effective flow of credit to the real economy, supporting urban regeneration schemes and transactional activity in the real estate market.
Steve Willingham, managing director and head of EMEA real estate finance at HSBC, said:
"These league tables are an indicator of the property sector's commitment to transparency and collaborative working; and underline how much progress has been made since the GFC in realigning our sector to minimize risk and maximize the sharing of data.
"Clearly, the greater liquidity there is in a loan, the tighter pricing that can be achieved; and
the more market standard that terms develop, the more liquid it becomes. The transparency we are trying to promote here is crucial if we are to achieve the kind of sensible regulation we need to support the sector's growth. Attracting a rich diversity of investors into real estate is positive not just for banks but for funds, developers and borrowers across the board"
Frank Jeschke, head of portfolio management at Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, said:
"LBBW's league table position once more shows the meaningful role it plays in European Commercial Real Estate Finance and is a prove of the reliable underwriting capacity it has. "For us, it is a great confirmation of the strong relationships we have with institutional CRE investors as well as (of) our ability to access liquidity in the secondary markets through our platform due to the quality of our loans and the reputation we have with our syndicate partners."
Jean-Maurice Elkouby, Head of REF Syndications at ING, said:
"We are delighted to feature so well for the second year running in those league tables. This is a valuable tool for all stakeholders: arrangers, participants and regulators alike. We think 2016 may generate the same levels of activity as more assets change hands. Refinancings will also trigger some more volumes."
Peter Cosmetatos, chief executive of CREFC Europe, said:
"The importance of the syndication market for commercial real estate finance can be seen clearly form Dealogic's tables. Regulatory pressure on some banks to distribute broad appetite for commercial real estate risk and a returns, and the absence of an effective securitisation market are all contributing to these healthy figures."


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Welcome to SPI
The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs is a world leader in research, graduate study, and informed discussion related to issues of science, technology, and public policy. The Space Policy Institute celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017. The Institute conducts research, offers graduate courses and organizes seminars, symposia, and conferences on topics related to domestic and international space policy. SPI is associated with the International Science and Technology Policy academic program, which leads to a Master of Arts degree at the Elliott School. The Institute operates within the Elliott School, but does so with support from The George Washington University as a whole, in addition to funding from a number of individual, corporate, foundation, and government sources. The Institute is directed by Dr. Henry Hertzfeld.


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Convert a button to go to Paypal
Orçamento $30-100 USD
I have a "Add URL" button which when pressed lets site owners add their sites to the directory. What I want this button to do is once the site owner has added his/her information and pressed the "Add URL" button I want this button to take him/her to Paypal for payment.
4 freelancers are bidding on average $56 for this job
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Hello, and thanks for the chance to bid. This is a fairly straight forward project, and we can have the completed results to you very quickly. - Cody


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Villa for Sale
Property Ref: JDED-S-21083
Status: Available
- 6bedroom(s)
- 7bathroom(s)
- 7000 sq ftarea sq ft
- Balcony
- Built in kitchen appliances
- Built in wardrobes
- Covered parking
- Maids room
- Pets allowed
- Private garden
- Private pool
- Study
- View of landmark
- View of the water
- Walk in closet
Gallery View | Vacant | 6 B/R | Atlantis View |
This architecturally inspiring Signature Villa for sale on Palm Jumeirah sits on a plot size of 14,000 sqft. It has a incredible open plan layout and its floor design is very popular and in demand.
This property has been well maintained throughout by its owner-occupier and Henry Wiltshire International, a leading real estate company and the specialist in Palm Jumeirah properties are proud to present this mid number Arabic Style Gallery View villa.
The villa is arranged over two floors and boasts six bedrooms finished with beautiful interiors, high ceilings and large windows that fill the home with natural light. The ground floor comprises a large modern kitchen and two separate dining areas overlooking the beautifully landscaped garden and swimming pool.
Situated on the ground floor are two spacious en-suite bedrooms with two more located mid-way between the ground and first floors. The master and the guest bedroom is located on the first floor
This property is listed and shared by our partners in Dubai, Exclusive Links Real Estate Brokers.
Villa for Sale: Signature Villas Frond A, Palm Jumeirah
- 6bedroom(s)
- 7bathroom(s)
- 7000 sq ftarea sq ft
Make an Enquiry
Contact our International Sales Team
If you are interested in this property and would like to more information, please contact our International Sales Team by filling in the form or using the details below:


text: We love a good stripe! The hooded Sierra Stripe Dakota Pullover features our signature Sierra Stripe for a look that reminds us of a day at the seaside. With a pouch pocket, this loose-fitting and lightweight pullover is so versatile you can wear it alone or as a throw-on-and-go layer.


text: Everything and anything! If you can't find the category or product you're looking for, browse our full range below. Here you will find all manner of natural, rustic and location dressing materials. If you're still stuck, try the search bar at the top and look for a key word, or even better give us a call on 0345 2600899 and we'll do the search for you.


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Complete office furniture solutions since 1946
Cecil Nurse is the leading corporate distributor and manufacturer of contemporary office furniture solutions in Africa. A company with more than 70 years industry experience, we are a total office furniture systems provider with a wide range of innovative products to inspire you. Our diverse furniture portfolio has everything you need for a productive, comfortable and healthy business or home-office environment.
Together with our design and manufacturing partners, we offer you services like project coordination, space planning and 3D presentations, as well as a vast range of the latest in office furniture innovations. We collaborate with you to identify workspace performance criteria and create innovative and efficiently designed workspace solutions for you.
Cecil Nurse is your cutting edge resource for modern office furniture. Working closely with high-profile designers and architects, as well as established eco-organisations, we are your choice when taking contemporary office interiors from an idea to reality. Many of the products showcased in our catalogues are locally manufactured and stocked in our own warehousing facilities around the country.
With the main depot – which is also the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere – located in Johannesburg, our efficient logistics and delivery network ensures that your office is delivered, often ex-stock, and installed where you need it, when you need it.
Our promise to you
WARRANTIES AND GUARANTEES – Our quality products are backed by a 5 year warranty (unless otherwise indicated) and are based on the item being used for 8 hours per day within a 5 day working week. All our office furniture adheres to international quality and safety standards and our own manufacturing facilities conform not only to the tough standards we set ourselves, but also to stringent South African and international requirements.
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ECO-CONSCIOUS – We are committed to supporting sustainable craftsmanship and eco-friendly manufacturing of our products wherever possible. We are environmentally aware and continue to ensure that our design solutions are sustainable and appreciated by our customers, colleagues and partners.