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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Panera Gift Card Giveaway!


To celebrate the opening of their new Mission Viejo, CA location (25523 Marguerite Parkway, Suite A2), Panera invited me down to sample some of their menu items and give away a couple of gift cards to my readers.

We were able to sample many of their items from sandwiches to soups and freshly made breads. Every morning Panera freshly makes all of their baked goods. The baked goods from the previous day are donated to a local charity.

Of all the items I tried, I believe that my favorite was the Sonoma Chicken Stew with a Dry Jack Cheese Biscuit (pictured above on the left). The stew was very creamy and reminded me of the filling of a great chicken pot pie. In fact, I was thinking of buying a large batch of this later to bring home and bake into some pie shells. The chicken stew is a seasonal item though, so get it while you can! Panera has graciously offered to give away two $10 gift cards to two lucky readers. Use the rafflecopter form below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

St. Regis Monarch Beach to host a Beaujolais Nouveau Farm-to-Table Wine Dinner

Chef Castan, St. Regis Monarch Beach

When: Thursday, November 15, 2012
Reception: 6:00pm 
Dinner: 7:00pm

Where: Motif Restaurant 
The St. Regis Monarch Beach
One Monarch Beach Resort 
Dana Point, CA 92629


The St. Regis in Monarch Beach will be hosting a Beaujolais Nouveau Farm-To-Table wine dinner on Thursday November 15th. A pre-dinner reception will begin at 6:00 PM on the Sunset Terrace of Motif. This won't just be a rinky dink reception though, the pre-dinner festivities will include bruschetta, an oyster station and artisanal cheese tasting. After the reception, they will unveil this year's Beaujolais Nouveau with Chef Castan's 5-course dinner menu that is inspired by French wines and Lyon, the gourmet city of France. Tickets are extremely limited and are $85 each. Ticket price includes mentioned wine and food. Tickets are available by contacting Jacqueline Doti at 949-234-3405 or jacqueline.doti@stregis.com Below is the full menu for the event:

Reception

Fresh Farmer's Market Bruschetta
Oyster Station
Artisanal Cheese Tasting
2012 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

First Course

Fish soup featuring Carlsbad Aqua Farms Mussels and Clams 
with Braised Baby Fennel and Saffron Broth

Second Course

Roasted Organic Breast of Guinea Hen and 'Boudin Blanc' with Chanterelle and Lobster Mushroom Ragout featuring a Temecula Olive Oil Company White Balsamic Vinegar Jus

Third Course

Classic Beef Bourguignon with Parsnip Puree and Winter Vegetables

Fourth Course

Warm Burgundy Cheese and Petite Seasonal Salad finished with Temecula Olive Oil Company Roasted Garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Vinaigrette

Le Beaujolais

Roasted Apples with Red Wine Sorbet and Milk Chocolate Cream
2012 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau  

$85 per person