Superfood Detox for a Super New Year - Dallas, Texas

Sunday, January 13, 2013 - Saturday, January 19, 2013 from 8:00 AM - 7:30 PM

Dallas, Texas

Gina's Organic Kitchen
10870 Plano Rd.
Dallas, Texas 75238
214-702-5685

Cost: $395


Want to rid yourself of all the holiday over-eating and partying…and start the New Year with clean eating, renewed vitality and better health?  Get a jump start on your New Year's resolutions with Gina's Organic Kitchen.  Beginning January 7th, Gina's OK offers their annual ONE-WEEK POWER VEGAN SUPERFOODS DETOX loaded with delicious, nutritious meals designed to detox and cleanse the body.

What a great way to start the year with the purest, most naturally detoxifying, alkalizing and anti-inflammatory foods.   This unique program is Organic, Vegan and serves Superfoods, including a combination of Juicing and Foods in the total package.

Throughout Jan. and Feb. Gina's one-week anti-inflammatory detox program includes daily servings of breakfast, lunch, dinner, juices and snacks.  The seven-day program features two deliveries weekly to home or office within the GOK delivery area of downtown, Uptown, Park Cities, Preston Hollow or North Dallas.  Pick-up at commissary kitchen also is available.  Cost of the program is $395.

This program is being offered during Jan./Feb. Space is limited. Reservations are being taken now.

Gina's Organic Kitchen serves 100% organic prepared meals. Proprietor/chef Gina Paterno Villalobos was trained at the world-renowned Kushi Institute Center for Natural Healing (the top macrobiotic center in the US) as a certified Macrobiotic Instructor.  She is certified in Food Therapy from the world-famous Natural Gourmet Institute for Food & Health, and in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University and is considered an expert in Food as Medicine, Health Education, Wholistic Nutrition.  She is a natural whole foods chef who oversees meal preparation at her Super Foods Café that offers delivery to home or office, drop-off catering, pick-up and/or casual dine-in eating.  And Gina's Health Rescue Unit (i.e. food truck) can be seen throughout Downtown, Uptown and North Dallas.

Gina’s Organic Kitchen is located at 10870 Plano Rd, Dallas 75238.  Hours of operation are from 8:00am –7:30pm Monday-Saturday.  For more information and Health Rescue Unit (food truck) locations, call 214-702-5685 or www.ginasok.com.

International Wine Guild - Open House - Fort Worth, Texas

Saturday, January 12, 2013 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Fort Worth, Texas

The Fort Worth Club
306 West 7th Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
817-336-7211

Cost: Free


International Wine Guild - Named a top five wine school in the country by the Wall Street Journal and Food & Wine Magazine. Is having an open house on January 12th, 2013 and is scheduled for an upcoming L1 Wine Seminar on January 19th-20th.

Register @ www.internationalwineguild.com/texas-wine-school

This open house is intended to provide insight on the International Wine Guild, it's courses and approach to wine education.

If you have questions about professional courses this will be a great opportunity to get them answered and to meet the instructor for the course.

A wine school open house wouldn't be complete without wine; so we will be tasting a 2007 Joseph Phelps Insignia.

The open house is FREE to attend but registration is required.

Agenda:

1:15pm- About The Guild

2:00pm - Wine Tasting

2:30 - About the Guild (repeat)

Click here for more information.

Wine and Art Show - Dallas, Texas

Saturday, January 12, 2013 from 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Dallas, Texas

Sophy Sam Gallery
1519 Beaumont Street
Dallas, Texas 75215
855-254-6625

Cost: $5 online ($10 at the door)


Welcome the New Year with bold, full-bodied flights of Cabernet Sauvignon from several wine regions of the world. Immerse yourself into eclectic artwork of local visual artists while listening to great live music.
Visit www.wineandartshow.com for full details and to get tickets.  Lots of fun. Don't forget to bring your friends!

Retreat Hill Winery & Vineyard - Star Club Party and Music in the Vineyard - Navasota, Texas

Saturday, January 12, 2013 from 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Navasota, Texas

Retreat Hill Winery & Vineyard
15551 FM 362 Road
Navasota, Texas 77868
936-825-8282

Cost: No Cover for Music. Chicken Skewers and mashed potatoes, $10 per person or $15 per person includes your first glass of wine (FREE for Star Club members). Wine for purchase by the glass or bottle.


Retreat Hill Winery & Vineyard will host the January Star Club party on Saturday, January 12, 2013. The winery opens at 11:00 a.m. Food available starting at 1:00 p.m. The music goes from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Star Club is our premier wine club. Members and non-members can enjoy live music and there is no cover charge. We will have grilled chicken skewers, Katie's nearly famous twice baked  potatoes and salad prepared by Taste Sensations. Meals arer $10 per person or $15 per person includes your first glass of wine. As always, our Star Club member plus one guest will receive a meal and their first glass of wine absolutely free. Wine will be available for purchase by the bottle and by the glass. We will also have GREAT case discounts for our Star Club members on the day of the event.

Bring your lawn chairs and come enjoy an afternoon in the country under the big white ten. Our vineyard address is 15551 FM 362, Navasota. We are 5 miles south of SH 105 and 5 miles east of Hwy. 6.

Please RSVP  so we can be sure to prepare enough food. If you aren't a member of Star Club, one of  wine club specialists can sign you up when you arrive. It's FREE to join and the benefits are many if you love premium wine, good food and live music.

Come and Drink It!

Click here for more information.

Cooking Class With Chef Scott Gottlich - Dallas, Texas

Saturday, January 12, 2013 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Dallas, Texas

Bijoux Restaurant
5450 West Lovers Lane Suite 225
Dallas, Texas 75209
214-350-6100

Cost: $50


SOUP, SOUP AND MORE SOUP
PAIRED WITH: WINE PAIRINGS

Need to brush up on your cooking skills for the holidays? Or just want to gain some new expertise in the kitchen? Bijoux has you covered. Chef Scott Gottlich is launching a series of 5 cooking classes that will feature interactive demonstrations on favorites like thanksgiving side dishes and how to make a romantic valentine’s dinner. Each class will go over ingredients, techniques and methods of creating detailed dishes. In addition to sampling all the delicious products, each pupil will also be treated to a beverage that will be paired with each specific class. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Click here for more information.

CrossRoads Winery Live Music Fridays - Frisco, Texas

January 11, 2013 from 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Frisco, Texas

CrossRoads Winery
15222 King Rd.
Frisco, Texas 75034
972-294-4144

Cost: No Cover


CrossRoads Winery is a "grape to glass" winery in northwest Frisco.  We currently feature 14 wines on our menu and great music every Friday night that starts around 7:30pm.  Happy hour starts at 5:00 and we close at 11pm.  This Friday’s feature: Megan Street Band
Reservations@CRwineryFrisco.com  Must be 21 or older.  No Children.

We are also open Saturday and Sunday for tastings from 1-6pm.

We rent out our space for your events the rest of the week. Check out our website for directions and loads of more information and Special Events. www.CRwineryFrisco.com

Cheese 101- Winner of D Magazine's Best of Big D! - Dallas, Texas

Thursday, January 10, 2013 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Dallas, Texas

Scardello Artisan Cheese
3511 Oak Lawn Avenue
Dallas, TX 75219
214-219-1300

Cost: $30

Join Scardello and nibble your way through the different cheese types. Experience comparative tastings of cheese and out-of-the-ordinary items that will help you focus on the distinct flavors of each cheese type. We will cover the basics on how cheese is made and answer questions about cheese pairing fundamentals. Of course, there will be soothing libations provided for enjoyment in the relaxing atmosphere of the shop! Reservations required.

Click here for more information.

JUGs (Just Us Girls) play Bunco - Frisco, Texas

Thursday, January 10, 2013 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Frisco, Texas

CrossRoads Winery
15222 King Rd.
Frisco, Texas 75034
972-294-4144

Cost: No Cover

JUGs (Just Us Girls) play BUNCO the second Thursday of the month at CrossRoads Winery.  Come out for some girl fun and prizes.  Happy hour starts at 6, Rules at 6:45, Game at 7. Reservations@CRwineryFrisco.com  Must be 21 or older. No Children.

Click here for more information.

Barley Wine Wednesdays at Meddlesome Moth - Dallas, Texas

Wednesday, January 9, 2013 from 5:00 PM - 11:45 PM

Dallas, Texas

Meddlesome Moth
1621 Oak Lawn Ave.
Dallas, Texas 75207
214-628-7900

Cost: no admission, beer and food prices vary


Meddlesome Moth will be tapping special barley wines on Wednesdays in January. On Wednesday, Jan. 9, the featured brew will be Live Oak Treehugger 2011.

Upcoming Barley Wine Wednesdays will feature the following brews:

Jan. 16: BrewDog Mikkeller Divine Rebel 2011

Jan. 23: Real Ale Sisyphus

Jan. 30: North Coast Old Stock 2010

Click here for more information.

Chili Casserole

Chili is great meal to serve, but sometimes you just do not have the time to fix up a batch of red. Here is a quick and easy casserole version of a timeless kitchen classic.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 pound macaroni, cooked
• 1 (15 ounce) can chili with beans
• 1 (15 ounce) can sweet corn, drained
• 1/2 pound ground beef, browned and drained
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon chili seasoning mix
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, chili, corn, beef, hot sauce, onion, seasoning mix and cheese. Mix well and spread mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until heated through.

Ham and Scalloped Potatoes Using a Slow Cooker

During the winter months, a good hearty meal is something the whole family looks forward to. Ham and potatoes prepared with cheese in a slow cooker is a great meal.

INGREDIENTS
3 pounds potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped cooked ham
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

DIRECTIONS
Place sliced potatoes in slow cooker. In a medium bowl, mix together shredded cheese, onion and ham. Mix with potatoes in slow cooker. Using the same bowl, mix together condensed soup and water. Season to taste with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Pour evenly over the potato mixture.
Cover and cook on High for 4 hours.

Bridget Dunlap's Lustre Pearl ROCKED Rainey Street NYE 2012

The New Year’s Eve event at Lustre Pearl rang in 2013 with a bang, raising over $165,000 to benefit The African Children’s Choir. Monies raised came from a combination of table sales, private donations and the wildly successful auction, with prizes valued at up to $3,000, such as a five-day African Safari, ACL Music Festival passes, a two-night stay in the Tribeca Grand Hotel in New York City, a set visit to the hit television show Nashville and SXSW Platinum passes.

All proceeds from the event, hosted by Lustre Pearl owner Bridget Dunlap, will go towards supporting the Music for Life education program for The African Children’s Choir. Music for Life operates in seven African countries and represents thousands of children. The Choir has been changing the lives of the most vulnerable children in Africa for 28 years, raising awareness of the plight of Africa’s orphaned and abandoned. Dunlap is passionately committed to this organization and its cause; she first began working with the Music for Life program when she held a benefit concert for The African Children’s Choir in January 2012.

The New Year’s Eve bash was co-hosted by actor Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights, John Carter and Savages), who approached Dunlap after last year’s fundraiser. The event featured special musical performances by honorary guests and internationally acclaimed The African Children’s Choir as well as Austin’s The Band of Heathens.

Celebrity attendance included Texas Governor Rick Perry and his wife, Marcus Luttrell, former United States Navy SEAL and author of Lone Survivor, Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights, American Horror Story and Nashville), Carla Gugino (Spy Kids, Entourage, Sin City and Political Animals), and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson (Fletch, Tombstone, Friday Night Lights).

Lustre Pearl is located at 97 Rainey Street Austin, TX 78701. For more information visit the website at http://lustrepearlaustin.com/.

Garlic Prime Rib

As I had mentioned before, the traditional family meal for Christmas is prime rib. Here is a recipe that is sure to please.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (10 pound) prime rib roast
• 10 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme

DIRECTIONS

1. Place the roast in a roasting pan with the fatty side up. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme. Spread the mixture over the fatty layer of the roast, and let the roast sit out until it is at room temperature, no longer than 1 hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
3. Bake the roast for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce the temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C), and continue roasting for an additional 60 to 75 minutes. The internal temperature of the roast should be at 135 degrees F (57 degrees C) for medium rare.
4. Allow the roast to rest for 10 or 15 minutes before carving so the meat can retain its juices.