Strawberry Kabobs, Strawberry Nachos And Strawberry Tacos–Just Some Of The Tastes At The California Strawberry Festival, May 18 and 19
Fifty food and drink vendors will be at the festival, many with strawberry-themed offerings.
Festivalgoers can treat themselves to chocolate-covered strawberries, strawberry-topped funnel cakes, strawberry pizza, strawberry nachos, deep-fried strawberries, berry kabobs, strawberry tacos and strawberry beer and smoothies.
There is also strawberry-covered fried dough, strawberry kettle corn and strawberry lemonade.
“The food and drink list goes on and on,”
Michael Thompson
festival board member
“For $5, you can pile on strawberries and whipped cream as high as you can at our ‘build-your-own’ Strawberry Shortcake Experience.”
The Kabob Shack will offer a kabob skewer with fresh strawberries and a choice of bananas or brownie bites drizzled with white and brown chocolate. “We use about 120 flats of strawberries at the festival,” says Stacia Mizukawa, Kabob Shack owner. “Each kabob is made to order and chocolated right in front of the customer. Nothing is premade. We want the customer to experience everything firsthand.”
Many of the food and drink booths are run by volunteers. Buena Music Association is a nonprofit that raises funds to support the Buena High School music program. Its festival specialty is strawberry and whipped cream-topped funnel cakes.
“People love funnel cakes.
Even with all the other festival food,
last year, we made over 3,000,”
Angie Palacios
the association’s board president.
“Parents and students volunteer for our booth. It’s a wonderful experience for everyone and a great way to finish off the school year.”
The Oxnard Buddhist Temple has been serving chocolate-dipped strawberries at the festival for about 10 years. The booth sells about 20,000 chocolate-dipped strawberries over the two-day festival.
“Most of our strawberries are donated,” says Yoshi Usuki, a longtime volunteer. Shifts of 25 volunteers first melt chocolate in crock pots. The strawberries are dipped, put in cupcake holders and set on racks to cool. The strawberries are then sold individually and in three and six-packs.
Festival general admission is $15, active military with ID and family and seniors 62 and over, $10, youth ages 5 to 12, $8, and children 4 and under are free.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.CAStrawberryFestival.org or upon entry to the festival. A limited amount of parking is available onsite for $20 per vehicle.
Festival-goers are encouraged to use the free shuttles, which will run every 15 minutes to the festival from nearby locations in Oxnard and Ventura. Metrolink offers a $10 day pass, good for unlimited rides on the day of purchase, and up to three kids ages 17 and under ride free with each adult fare. The station is located next to the fairgrounds.
Festival hours are 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.
For more about the festival visit www.castrawberryfest.org or follow on Facebook and Instagram.
The California Strawberry Festival pays tribute to California’s $3 billion strawberry industry. Strawberries are Ventura County’s largest crop generating over $662million in value in 2022.
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Thanksgiving in Los Angeles: the perfect stuffing bread DOES exist – and it’s… [Recipe Inside]
This Thanksgiving, the perfect stuffing bread DOES exist – and it’s brioche. As in St Pierre Brioche Thanksgiving Stuffing
No Thanksgiving spread is complete without a hearty stuffing. While add-ins are a matter of preference, choosing the right bread is crucial. One underrated choice is eggy, rich brioche – and with St Pierre Bakery, you don’t need to go to France to get it.
Thanks to its butter and egg content, St Pierre’s Brioche Loaf provides the perfect balance of crisp toastiness while remaining soft and creamy inside, while its lightly sweet flavor adds a decadent quality that can still lean savory. Attached below is an approachable recipe for stuffing allowing for all the craveable crunch for the whole family with minimal effort required.
St Pierre Brioche Thanksgiving Stuffing
By @BrandiMilloy
Ingredients
1 loaf St. Pierre Brioche Bread
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 medium onion, diced
3/4 cup celery, diced
3/4 cup carrots, diced
1 cup mushrooms, diced
2 large eggs
1 tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
3 sprigs fresh thyme, just the leaves
1 tbsp. fresh sage, chopped
1 small apple (granny smith works well), peeled and diced
Salt and pepper
Directions
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Preheat oven to 350 F. Cut brioche bread into 1” cubes and bake for about 10-15 minutes until toasted.
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Meanwhile, into a pot over medium high heat add butter until melted. Add onion, celery and carrots and cook until everything starts to soften, about 7 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat and set aside.
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Into a bowl whisk together the eggs, herbs, apples, mushrooms, and salt and pepper. Add your cooked vegetables and mix to combine.
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Pour mixture on top of toasted bread and stir to combine. Bake stuffing for about 45 minutes. If your stuffing starts to get too brown, cover until finished baking. Enjoy!
As America’s favorite brioche brand, St Pierre’s products are widely available via grocery stores nationwide as well as Walmart.
Holidays in Los Angeles: Dining in Beverly Hills: Mastro’s, FYC Bar + Kitchen AND Holiday Tamales from Tito’s
The Holidays in Los Angeles have never been more festive (or delicious) with holiday Dining at Mastro’s Beverly Hills, FYC Bar + Kitchen AND Holiday Tamales from Tito’s
The Holidays in Los Angeles at Hotel Amarano in Burbank
On Christmas Day from 3-10 p.m., FYC Bar + Kitchen at the luxury boutique Hotel Amarano in Burbank will be serving a special 3-course menu for just $70 per person (not including wine or cocktails).
The menu will include Butternut Squash Soup OR Radicchio Cup Mushroom Salad with avocado, chives & balsamic vinaigrette;
Apple Wood Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignon with jumbo prawns, mashed potatoes, baby carrots & Brussels sprouts OR Pistachio-Crusted Roasted Sea Bass with citrus sauce, mashed potatoes, baby carrots & Brussels sprouts – and desserts such as Chocolate Lava Cake, New York Cheesecake, Apple Tarte Tatin or Crème Brûlée – along with coffee or tea.
The Holidays in Los Angeles at Mastro’s Beverly Hills
For classic Beverly Hills luxury, Mastro’s Beverly Hills will be open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, serving their fresh oysters, caviar, decadent seafood towers, steaks and sides galore, along with luscious desserts and handcrafted cocktails – even a succulent Rabbi’s Daughter Kosher Bone-In Ribeye 16oz Steak for anyone celebrating Hanukkah (or who just likes great steaks).
For the month of December, Mastro’s is offering a special holiday cocktail – Under The Mistletoe.
For those who want their holiday meal from the comfort of their own home, Mastro’s Beverly Hills will have their famously decadent side dishes to go this year!
The following sides will serve up to 4 people, and cost $62 each:
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans with Sliced Almonds
Creamed Corn
Creamed Spinach
For a sweet limited time finish, Mastro’s will have a gorgeous Pecan Pie as well as a special Cinnamon + Pecan Butter Cake – a twist on their famed Butter Cake – both available now through December 30.
To order Mastro’s Sides, guests just need to call the restaurant to order from December 1-22 they can pick them up on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Mastro’s will be open Christmas Eve from 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Christmas Day from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM, New Year’s Eve from 5:00 PM to Midnight and New Year’s Day from 5:00 to 9:00 PM.
You can find their full menu here & as you likely know, the ambiance at Mastro’s every evening is like a party, with live music and white glove service.
They also have 2 private dining rooms for large parties of 40-50.
The Holidays in Los Angeles at Tito’s Tacos
Lastly – we love the tradition of Christmas Eve tamales, but they take hours to make.
The beloved, family-owned since 1959 Tito’s Tacos offers both a succulent Chicken Tamale – cilantro grilled chicken and Anaheim green chiles wrapped in homemade corn masa & steamed in a corn husk OR a Veggie Tamale, fresh veggies and pinto beans, wrapped in homemade corn masa and steamed in a corn husk.
You can buy them individually or by the dozen and the best part is that you can get them delivered straight to your door.
For more info, go to www.TitosTacos.com
Orders can be placed online for delivery or pickup on or before December 23.
About Mastro’s Steakhouse Beverly Hills
Mastro’s Steakhouse in Beverly Hills is a premier dining destination combining world class service with an elegant yet energetic ambiance, making it a popular choice for celebrities, locals and visitors.
Located at 246 North Canon Drive, Mastro’s features live music nightly, with signature menu highlights such as bone-in filet mignon, USDA Prime, Japanese A5 Wagyu, and True A5 Kobe steaks; lavish seafood towers featuring fresh oysters, shrimp, crab and lobster served in a swirl of dry ice mist, decadent lobster mashed potatoes, and Mastro’s famed Butter Cake, to name a few.
Open for dinner from 5:00 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
For more info, visit www.mastrosrestaurants.com
Palm Springs: Executive Chef Michael Hung Unveils flagship restaurant, Navigator, New Elevated Dining Voyage in Heart of the Desert
Palm Springs: Executive Chef Michael Hung Unveils flagship restaurant, Navigator, New Elevated Dining Voyage in Heart of the Desert Play Ground
Executive Chef Michael Hung Unveils flagship restaurant, Navigator, New Elevated Dining Voyage in Heart of Palm Springs
The Palm Springs Surf Club announces the opening of their flagship restaurant, Navigator, on Friday, November 15th, 2024!
This innovative new dining destination bridges the worlds of desert living, hospitality, and surfing.
Guests will experience dramatic views of the San Jacinto Mountains, explore the expansive 13-acre property complete with resort amenities, and marvel at the sights and sounds of surfing in the state-of-the-art wave pool.
Leading the Navigator team is acclaimed Executive Chef Michael Hung. As the Executive Chef of Navigator and Director of Food & Beverage for the Palm Springs Surf Club, Chef Hung brings his culinary artistry to this highly anticipated opening.
Chef Hung’s impressive career spans from renowned New York kitchens Daniel and Aquavit, through San Francisco’s celebrated establishments, including the James Beard Award-winning team at Jardiniere, led by the renowned Chef Traci Des Jardins and Michelin-starred La Folie with Chef Roland Passot.
His culinary path has included Faith & Flower in Los Angeles which earned accolades from Esquire, Los Angeles Magazine, and Travel + Leisure.
Hung’s talent continued to shine with Viviane at the Avalon Hotel, praised by Los Angeles Times esteemed food critic Jonathan Gold and renowned San Francisco Chronicle food critic, Michael Bauer.
Chef Hung brought his expertise to the luxury hotel and hospitality scene in Palm Springs as the Executive Chef for Steve Hermann Hotels, where he revamped menus at The Colony Club at The Colony Palms and SO.PA at L’Horizon Resort and Hermann Bungalows, earning a Michelin Guide listing for The Colony Club.
Now, at the Palm Springs Surf Club, he applies his expertise to both Navigator and the larger resort’s food and beverage offerings, promising an elevated dining experience rooted in a global culinary perspective.
Navigator’s Menu will highlight modern American cuisine infused with influences from renowned surf locales, including flavors inspired by Portugal, Morocco, Mexico, Indonesia, and Hawaii. Each dish is crafted with the finest local ingredients, blending global flavors with a California sensibility.
Signature offerings include Olive & Herb Dinner Rolls with Tomato Jam, Crispy Wagyu Beef Cigars, Hawaiian-style Garlic Shrimp, and large-format dishes such as a Pan Roasted Whole Rainbow Trout or the 20-oz Ribeye with Bone Marrow Gremolata. Chef Hung’s thoughtfully curated Vegan options,Sides, and inventive Desserts like the Crème Catalan Parfait and Valrhona Dark Chocolate Mousse promise an array of flavors for every palate.
The Wine List, curated by Beverage Director Anthony Dougherty emphasizes California’s finest labels, while Dougherty’s Bar Menufeatures a refreshing selection of Handcrafted Cocktails and a robust Tap Beer program highlighting local producers.
Service will be led by renowned restaurateur, Cameron Hirigoyen, who for 30 years owned and operated San Francisco’s classic Basque restaurant, Piperade. Cameron brings her graceful poise and deep knowledge to Navigator’s dining room.
Navigator’s design pays homage to the oceanic heritage of South Pacific navigators—surfers who traversed seas by the stars, currents, and wildlife. The restaurant’s décor reflects this maritime inspiration, with custom teakwood furniture, woven textile ceiling treatments, and a hand-carved outrigger canoe serving as a focal point for the dining room. The ambiance combines nautical aesthetics with a luxurious, natural warmth, creating an upscale, intimate setting for guests to relax and dine in style.
“We are thrilled to welcome Michael Hung to the Palm Springs Surf Club family,”
Colin O’Byrne
managing partner
“His creativity and expertise are an ideal match for Navigator and our overall vision at the Palm Springs Surf Club, which is to offer guests an elevated dining experience and amenities alongside the world’s premier surf pool.”
Navigator at the Palm Springs Surf Club officially opens for Dinner on Friday, November 15th, 2024, and will be open every Monday through Sunday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Lunch is served Monday to Friday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Navigator serves Weekend Brunchevery Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The Happy Hour menu is available from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday and from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. For more information or reservations at Navigator, please visit www.NavigatorPS.com or call Navigator directly at 760.205.3634.
Navigator
Palm Springs Surf Club
1500 S. Gene Autry Trail
Palm Springs, CA 92264
T: 760.205.3634
About Palm Springs Surf Club: The Palm Springs Surf Club is an unparalleled destination, blending state-of-the-art wave technology with luxurious resort-style amenities. Guests can enjoy various attractions, from a winding lazy river to private cabanas by the wave pool, creating a perfect oasis in the heart of Palm Springs. With three bars, two restaurants, and dynamic event spaces, the Palm Springs Surf Club offers distinctive culinary and beverage programs, designed to cater to every taste and every occasion.
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Celebrate the Annual AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival June 5
Celebrate the Annual AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival June 5 in Pasadena, CA.
Come celebrate the AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival presented by CHUBB, a spectacular outdoor gourmet food and drink in-person festival taking place on Sunday, June 5th, 2022 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the stunning gardens at the Historic Laurabelle A. Robinson House in Pasadena!
This year’s AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival will bring nearly 400 guests together for one exquisite evening featuring more than 20 top restaurants, cocktail bars, wineries, and breweries and much more.
Some of this year’s AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival Restaurants and Desserts include Alexander’s Steakhouse, El Cholo Café, Gale’s Restaurant, Mi Piace, Porto’s Bakery, Ruth Chris Steak House, Tam O’Shanter, We Olive, Lark Cake Shop, Poppy Cake Bakery Company, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and more.
Related:
Hollywood Bowl is heating up this summer with Boyz II Men & TLC, “Kinky Boots,” Michael Franti, and so much more
Related: Sustainably Crafted Flor de Caña Rum launches #TogetherForAGreenerFuture
AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival Drinks
Beverages featured include Cocktails and Spirit Tastings from 1886 at The Raymond, Dulce Vida Tequila, Krafted Spirits, JuneShine, and Golden Road Brewing, along with specially curated Wines. Pasadena’s very own Cerveceria Del Pueblo will also be pouring their distinctive beers showcasing flavors and aromas from South America, and Califia Farms and PepsiCo will be serving non-alcoholic beverages.
Festival Worthy Cause
Proceeds from this year’s AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival presented by CHUBB will directly benefit AbilityFirst which has targeted programming to help an individual successfully transition from childhood to adult life; providing employment preparation, training, and experience; building social connections and independence; and offering both their participants and their caregivers an opportunity to refresh and recharge through their recreational activities.
Related:
LA Phil Introduces Club 101 inaugural membership program for The Hollywood Bowl and The Ford summer seasons
AbilityFirst’s person-centered programs empower individuals to discover what is important to them in their lives, and to develop the skills that are important for them to achieve their goals.
Related: Eddie Vedder’s Sixth annual Ohana Festival returns in Dana Point Sept 30
AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival Incredible Sponsors
Sponsors: Additional sponsors include, Bank of America, GHJ & Advisors, The Hartford, Longo Toyota-Longo Lexus among others.
AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival Tickets
Ticket Information: The AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival will take place on Sunday, June 5th, 2022, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Historic Laurabelle A. Robinson House. For more information and to purchase Tickets directly to this year’s AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival, please visit Tickets to AbilityFirst Festival of Fall 2022.
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Paso Robles’ Serial Wines Becomes ‘Official Wine’ of San Diego International Film Festival
Paso Robles’ Serial Wines Expands with Flavor and Filmmaking as ‘Official Wine’ at The San Diego International Film Festival
SERIAL WINES, PASO ROBLES FURTHER EXPANDS WITH TWO NEW BLENDS
Serial Wines, within the John Anthony Wine & Spirits portfolio, introduces two new wines in this series of winesshowcasing the exciting and fast-growing Paso Robles AVA: NEW Serial White Blend and NEW Serial Red Blend.
This extension of the Serial Wines collection comes days following the company’s announcement of expansion plans under the new name of John Anthony Wine & Spirits by Founder and CEO, John Anthony Truchard.
The two new blends join Serial Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon already in distribution, plus a series of exclusive, AVA-designate and single-vineyard, direct-to-consumer offerings The new blends have been crafted to showcase the incredible biodiversity from Paso Robles—America’s favorite wine region (source: USAToday 2023).
“Creating Serial, a series of wines from the Paso Robles AVA,
has been a very exciting journey since our inaugural release in 2017.
This region has earned its place on the world-class wine stage with outstanding quality and value and we’ve seen demand sky rocket,”
John Anthony Truchard
Founder and CEO
John Anthony Wine & Spirits
“Adding new Serial White Blend and Serial Red Blend to Serial Cabernet really leans into the diverse terroir that Paso has to offer with unique, interesting, and unexpected blends that have exceptional depth and complexity. Exploring and investing in this fast-growing wine region has been rewarding and it was wonderful to see the reception to these wines at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen—some of the world’s most discerning wine lovers.”
The new 2023 Serial White Blend…is lively, lush, and layered
The new 2023 Serial White Blend, Paso Robles is lively, lush, and layered featuring Chardonnay supported by Viognier, Clairette Blanche, and Albariño.
Refreshingly acidic with a richness that lingers, this White Blend offers round flavors of lemon meringue, white peach, ripe pear, and marmalade, accented with a touch of marzipan on the finish. Gratifyingly complex and balanced, this wine was aged on neutral French oak with a kiss of lightly-toasted Acacia.
2021 Serial Red Blend…melds power with elegance for depth and richness
The Bordeaux-Rhône style 2021 Serial Red Blend is a dynamite blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Sirah, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Grenache that melds power with elegance for depth and richness. Aged in a blend of French and American oak, this wine boasts explosive flavors of raspberry, strawberry crumble, and vanilla with notes of cedar and fresh leather on a sumptuous finish.
“Serial Wines are made in partnership
with several, small Paso Robles growers across Districts and sub-AVAs that I’ve known, or met through friends of friends
from when I first started my career here,”
Jeff Kandarian
Executive Winemaker
John Anthony Wine & Spirits
“The Serial Tasting Lounge opened in 2022 with multiple District and Vineyard-Designates and it’s become a destination to enjoy the diversity of this winegrowing region right in the heart of downtown Paso Robles. For the new Serial White Blend and Serial Red Blend, we sourced multiple varietals from several growers across the region, as well as our own estate. These new wines will be available nationally, so for those who have yet to visit here, they are an exceptional way to experience Paso’s stunning terroir.”
Debuted at the 2024 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen last week, the two new blends have unique, original-art labels in contrast to the sleek, matte-black label on Serial Cabernet Sauvignon. The complex and evocative artwork on the new blends reflects the nuances and detail of these wines.
The Serial White Blend label depicts a young woman partially shrouded in fog with breaking clouds, alluding to Paso’s cooler microclimates where the grapes were sourced.
Gracing the Serial Red Blend, a Royal Stag stands stalwart in the pouring rain, symbolizing the regality of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape that anchors this blend and the fertility of the vineyards from which grapes were sourced.
Official Wine Sponsor of The San Diego International Film Festival
Alongside the expansion of the Serial Wines collection, the brand also announces a new partnership with The San Diego International Film Festival as Official Wine Sponsor. Celebrating over 20 years as a premier event on the international film festival circuit, the festival will take place October 16th to 20th, 2024, with pre-festival Film Insider Series events June through August, hosting over 10,000 discerning film lovers in Balboa Park and La Jolla.
“The Serial brand has a lot of layers—from Executive Winemaker Jeff Kandarian’s deep knowledge from his early career in the Paso Robles AVA, to the artistry of the wines showcasing tiny vineyards, and the complexity and versatility of the wines themselves,” said Sarah Montague, Chief Marketing Officer, John Anthony Wine & Spirits.
“So as we looked for a platform that shared Serial’s values of curiosity, discovery, community, and sensory storytelling, film festivals emerged as a perfect fit. We are honored to pour our wines for San Diego International Film Festival goers, celebrate the power of film with every pour, and amplify the enjoyment of every story told with these exceptional wines. ”
To celebrate this exciting partnership, Serial Wines and San Diego International Film Festival are hosting a thrilling opportunity for wine and film aficionados to enter for a chance to win a trip to the October festival. One lucky winner could win a round-trip airfare for two to San Diego, hotel accommodations, and two four-day passes to the San Diego International Film Festival.
Wine lovers can find more details, including rules and how to enter, at https://www.serialwines.com/sdfilmfest.
For more information about Serial’s series of outstanding Paso Robles wines and how to stock them please visit SerialWines.com/Trade.
Experience the Serial Tasting Lounge in downtown Paso Robles or meet us at The San Diego International Film Festival, and learn about other upcoming events at SerialWines.com.
Follow @SerialWines on Facebook and Instagram for Paso Robles wine news from Serial and more chances to win.
About Serial Wines
Serial Wines is a series of wines sourced from across the diverse Paso Robles AVA and its 11 Districts, conceived in 2015 by Vintner, John Anthony Truchard and produced by Executive Winemaker, Jeff Kandarian—who started his career in Paso Robles and has a deep understanding of its terroir.Working with like-minded, meticulous winegrowers, the Serial Wines collection includes: varietal-specific, nuanced blends, AVA-designate, and single-vineyard releases which express the best of the region.
Part of the John Anthony Wine & Spirits portfolio, Serial Cabernet Sauvignon and NEW Serial White Blend and Serial Red Blend are available at fine wine retailers. An extended selection of limited releases can be purchased online through the winery at SerialWines.com and at the stunning Serial Wines Tasting Lounge within the Historic Odd Fellows Building, downtown Paso Robles—named USA Today‘s 10Best new wineries in 2022.
About The San Diego International Film Festival
The San Diego International Film Festival is the region’s premier film event and one of the leading stops on the independent festival circuit. The Festival offers a totally unique film experience; including world premieres, never before seen studio releases and the best in independent filmmaking.About John Anthony Wine & Spirits
John Anthony Wine & Spirits, established by Founder and CEO John Anthony Truchard includes John Anthony Vineyards, Serial Wines, Weather Wines, and JaM Cellars. John Anthony Vineyards produces exclusive wines created from small vineyard sites in Oak Knoll District, Carneros, Calistoga and Coombsville regions, all available in the winery’s downtown Napa Tasting Lounge.Serial Wines is a curated collection of wines from Paso Robles and beyond—lush, and vibrant, sourced from exceptional vineyards in this exciting wine region. Weather Wines is a collection of Burgundian varietal wines grown in their most-perfect microclimates and highlighting the dynamic relationship between vines, terroir, and the elements.
JaM Cellars was founded in 2009 in response to the downturn in the economy and experienced triple-digit growth in its early years by offering wines made in the tradition of great California winemaking at accessible sub $20 price points.
Today, Butter Chardonnay from JaM Cellars is the #2 selling Chardonnay above $13 in the U.S. (source: Nielsen scan data 2024).
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Beverly Hills Favorite Choice for Healing, Find out Why Patients Choose Vivie Therapy
Feeling Pain? Beverly Hills Vivie Therapy can help with 100s of 5 Star Reviews
We talk so much about food and drinks, nights out, and travel all the time, but we don’t always talk about our bodies and our health; keeping ourselves in shape and in fitness.
That’s why I wanted to talk with Vivian Eisenstadt from Vivie Therapy.
Joe Winger:
Can you tell us a little bit about your professional background and what kind of certifications it takes to be the owner of Vivie Therapy?
Vivian Eisenstadt:
I am originally from Brooklyn, New York, and I got my bachelor’s in Athletic training from Brooklyn College.
I went on to get a second bachelor’s in Health Science from Turo College in Long Island, where I also got a Masters in Physical Therapy.
Then moved to Los Angeles where I worked in Cedars Sinai outpatients, Physical Therapy Center.
While I worked there, I actually went on to get an extra credential called Orthopedic Specialist.
Then when they opened Cedars Sinai Spine Center, I was one of the physical therapists who went there and integrated physical therapy into the spine center to collaborate with the spine doctors and help them understand actually what physical therapy was.
I became a director of a pilates-based physical therapy center in Brentwood and then later in Beverly Hills.
That inspired me to open up my own place.
I first opened up in a gym on Robertson Boulevard, and now I have been working on my own, in my own space since 2005.
I went on to get a Spiritual Psychology Degree in 2014, which I really think has taken my ability to help a person heal holistically.
By holistically, approaching physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, chemical at the same time. When you address them all you get more. Totality and healing and more long term results.
Joe Winger:
Something you said a minute ago that I want to touch on and go deeper on is you help the doctors learn more about physical therapy.
What did you teach those doctors about physical therapy?
Vivian Eisenstadt:
The doctors actually didn’t really know much about physical therapy as most doctors don’t know.
It might’ve changed over the past 20 years.
But doctors are taught chemicals and drugs and surgeries. Physical therapy is actually how to avoid all of that, or how to get past that phase to get ultimate healing.
Physical therapy is an art by which, when a person gets injured, the body will heal, but there are speed bumps along the way to healing, such as the creation of scar tissue, or creating habits that you had when you were in pain, like limping, that you don’t want to have because that’ll lead to other issues and will not help you heal correctly.
So physical therapy is about getting better quicker and getting better in a way where you prevent future injury and where you could be stronger.
If somebody gets injured because their body was out of balance and their weakest spot is what got affected, as physical therapists, we evaluate the entire body and see, where is the source of the pain.
Like you can have an ankle that is always in pain, but it could be coming from the fact that your lower lumbar vertebrae in your back are out of place.
So physical therapy is a really good way for someone to analyze where your pain is stemming from in a different way than doctors do.
In a way that if it is repaired, you get fully better and move on with your life.
Joe Winger:
Almost like a body detective. Is it more affordable than most surgeries and hospital operations?
Vivian Eisenstadt:
Unfortunately, the insurance companies try not to pay.
So I have so many patients where we’ve submitted our reports and they’re just finding reasons not to pay, but for some reason they listen to doctors and they’re like, “Oh, you need a shot. Here’s a shot.”
It’s amazing the different listening that insurance companies have. You will save money in the long run when you go to a physical therapist.
If you go to a proper physical therapist who will help you not only heal from your current issue, but help you address the underlying causes and the underlying reasons, like neck pain due to poor posture.
Then you come in, we teach you how to sit straight.
So not only are you making your back feel better, but you won’t end up in my office again.
I tell my patients that the best compliment you can give me is to send your friends to me.
I don’t want you in my office. I just want you to refer your friends and family.
Joe Winger:
I’m assuming there’s a wide range of services you offer.
Vivian Eisenstadt:
We have physical therapy evaluation, which is about an hour where I help detect where your pain is coming from and all the different things that are feeding into it.
So you have the evaluation, which includes the treatment, and then we decide what kind of path we want to go on together.
Massage Therapist on Staff
Follow up sessions are an hour, and then we also have a massage therapist on staff. An amazing one who’s been working with me, Marcia, since 2002.
You might just need a lot of deep tissue work, so you’ll get a couple of massages.
Then we also have modalities that help your body feel better as a whole.
Detox Foot Baths
For instance, detox foot baths that pull out the toxins from your body. The less toxins in your body, the more you feel better.
Infrared Sauna
We also have an infrared sauna, another way to detoxify.
We get a lot of people post chemotherapy or radiation, or if you’re on meds for a while and you want to sweat them out. So we help you sweat them out in the infrared sauna.
Lifestream Generator
We have a machine called Lifestream Generator, which puts a high frequency of electricity through your body, and that works on every level because our brain is made up of electric signals.
If you put a high vibration in you, it kicks out the low vibration.
So we’ve seen people feel emotionally different after they come here, like sleep better or feel more motivated or have more energy throughout the day or just be able to process things that they weren’t able to process without it.
Joe Winger:
Are there common, everyday people living their life – nothing traumatic may have actually happened to them – yet they could heal better, they could feel better by coming to visit you?
Vivian Eisenstadt:
What’s fascinating is that when people think that they need to feel better, they think of like a massage. Okay.
Physical therapy is people that are actually trained to analyze your body and find out where your imbalances are and then directly go and start working on them.
Not just work around your body and hope they get somewhere that feels good. The longstanding effects.
People come to me usually because their lawyer sent them for a personal injury case or their doctor sent them for physical therapy or they know that they need physical therapy because of an injury.
But over the past, but once they come in and I give them a couple of treatments, they didn’t realize that they could feel as good as they feel.
They thought that their “normal” was the way you’re supposed to feel, but their “normal” is out of balance in general.
Once you get put in alignment and put in balance, you don’t remember how it feels until you’re feeling that way again.
Then you’re like, “Oh my God, I didn’t know that I could feel this way.”
You don’t know until someone does it to you because nobody promotes wellness as preventative. We do. But not enough people listen.
I always say people come to me when they’re ready to get better and not a day before.
I try not to make them feel bad about it.
I truly believe that people step into my office when they’re ready to get better and some people come in and they’re just not ready to get better.
You can just see it in just our interaction. And that’s okay too.
Everybody’s on their own agenda and their own souls path.
So I help the people where they’re at.
Joe Winger:
I went on Google and Yelp, just wanted to see how many physical therapists were in the area. And you probably know this, there’s a lot.
If someone’s out there looking for a physical therapist, why would they choose Vivie Therapy?
Vivian Eisenstadt:
That’s an easy one. The reason why people would want to come to Vivie Therapy as opposed to other ones is because I am a sole practitioner.
I am a physical therapist who will be with you the entire time.
Most of these physical therapy centers are playing the insurance game where they’re trying to get as many people an hour because they have to deal with all those insurance issues that I mentioned where they don’t pay a lot so then it’s a numbers game.
I have dedicated myself to being an extremely good diagnostician.
So we figure out what’s not working very early in the game, and then we get straight to work.
As you can tell by my over 200 reviews by now, that I come in, I do my job, I get you in and out of here as soon as possible, as quickly as possible.
You get quality of care. You are heard here.
I am here to listen to what is going on for you. Most of the time, the patient is what tells me what’s wrong with them.
Unlike in most doctor’s offices and many physical therapy offices, I’m not on autopilot.
I’m present. I’m in the conversation. I’m here to see why you’re in my office and what you want to get out of it.
Then we just get straight to work.
Joe Winger:
You have a lot of machinery at your office.
Can you walk us through some of the more popular pieces?
Vivian Eisenstadt:
Being a physical therapist, I have the standard physical therapy modalities, ultrasound, electric stim, infrared light, which is amazing at getting the cells to stimulate them to work harder in an area.
But I also have all the Pilates equipment that you would need.
I have spinal traction.
I have some alternative modalities that have helped me when I had Epstein – Barr and got my own body into remission, a Whole Body Vibration Machine, which you stand on.
It was originally created by the cosmonauts so they wouldn’t lose muscle strength and bone density in space. When patients go on there, I feel that they get better in 2/3 the time. Because we’re not just working on the muscle or the tendon that’s injured, but we’re making the body actually pump your blood around and move your lymph around and put oxygen in the cell and release serotonin, testosterone ,growth hormone, all that the whole body vibration machine does.
So unless you have an underlying illness, I start my patients on that machine because it’s literally like working out and getting the body into a healing state.
I find that has made such a big difference and it also turns on your muscles.
You could ask somebody to turn on their transverse abs for posture. But if you’ve been sitting in a chair your whole life, your body just forgot the signal.
Now, the good thing about muscles is that once you turn that signal on, muscles have memory.
So the whole body vibration machine actually uses lower motor neuron contractions to turn on those muscles.
Then afterwards, when I ask you to find them, there’s a chance you could find them.
Joe Winger:
When you’re talking about all this, I can see your eyes light up. You’re inspired. You’re passionate.
Is there a moment that just sparked you, realizing you wanted to devote your life to this?
Vivian Eisenstadt:
I was lucky. [Author] Wayne Dyer has this thing called “The shift.”
It’s a moment in your life where you remember [everything about it]: where you were, what the temperature was, like a light bulb, the aha effect.
I was a tomboy my whole life. I was a basketball player, but in The Jewish Hebrew schools where your average height is 5’6”.
Then I went to Brooklyn College and the average height is 5’11” for someone who wants to be on the girls basketball team.
So what’s a little me to do?
I became an athletic training major and for our field trip, we went to an outpatient orthopedic physical therapy place and I walk in and: “Aha!”.
That was it. There was life before that and life after that.
This will satisfy the doctor / lawyer side of the family. And I’ll be able to work with sports for the rest of my life if I want.
I went back to school, got the list of classes, and that was the end of that.
It’s funny because when they tell you to go and do residencies when you’re in physical therapy school, you’re like, Oh, you got to try this.
You got to try geriatrics.
You got to try cardio.
You got to try everything.
I’m like, Nope. I know what I’m doing.
That’s exactly what I did from the first job I had out when I was done was in an outpatient orthopedic physical therapy place.
Joe Winger:
So you have a new patient. They come into your Beverly Hills office. Is there a common misconception by new patients that you have to help break through?
Vivian Eisenstadt:
There’s a couple of things that sadden me a little bit.
One is people really just don’t know what physical therapists do. At the same time, I’m different than most physical therapists on top of that.
Most people go to other facilities where they’re given to one person and given some ultrasound and then given exercises.
I don’t hang out in other physical therapy places often, so I have nothing to compare it to.
But when people come here, they’re in gratitude over how much we accomplish in one hour.
They feel, in general, 50% better quickly.
Then the other 50% takes a while.
The fact that I’m able to actually make a 75% shift in their symptoms by the end of the first visit. That’s the expectation you should have.
Some people have gone to therapy for 6 months not knowing what they should expect just because their doctor told them to go.
I tell people that if you don’t feel significantly different over a month or two, then that might be your plateau and you should look somewhere else.
People have to be an advocate for their own wellness and not just hand over the power to whoever is treating them.
Joe Winger:
Let’s talk about the life cycle of a patient.
Can you walk us through an average or a common problem from beginning, middle, end to any patient story working Vivie Therapy?
Vivian Eisenstadt:
Yeah, postural issues are my bread and butter.
People sit at computers, they sit in cars, they’re just sitting all day. So we get a lot of neck pain and headaches and tingling down the arms and low back pain.
First, I isolate exactly where the pain is coming from.
I teach ergonomics, how to sit the right way, proper stretches to do throughout the day.
The same way you bring your car in to get your tires [rotated] and your oil changed.
For the same reason you have to take care of your car, you have to take care of your body.
So if you’re gonna be sitting at a computer for 8 hours a day, you’re gonna have to set your timer and get up every couple of hours.
Do a little stretch in the doorway or stretch when you get home. Stretch in the morning before you go to work.
Make sure you’re sitting correctly.
Make sure that your laptop or desktop is in the right angle.
Take appropriate breaks, drink enough water. Handle your stress.
But everybody’s a different amount of each of that.
Fixing the immediate issue is part of looking at why are they in my office.
Joe Winger:
All your different patients. All the different industries you’ve services. Any memorable stories?
Vivian Eisenstadt:
One thing being in the entertainment industry, in Hollywood, is I get a lot of actors. Literally actor’s tools are their body.
So I’ll get patients that are in the industry, that are in front of the camera, and they’re standing like crap. They’re sitting like crap.
I’ve seen their Callbacks improve because how you hold your body… How you do anything is how you do everything.
So when an actor has a nice elongated neck, broad shoulders and an open heart chakra. They’re presenting themselves to the camera, chances of them getting hired improve significantly.
So literally their job depends on it.
They come in because their neck hurts. But the truth is their neck hurts because they’ve been [hunched] over the computer and on their phones.
Another thing I’ve seen is a beautiful actress who I just started working with. She went to an Oscar party and she was wearing the most beautiful dress and her posture was so crappy and it made her look so ugly.
What’s the point of getting yourself together if you don’t know how to present your body physically to match the time, energy and effort it took for you to put on the beautiful dress and get your makeup done by five people?
Another one was a pilot that I had.
Imagine if the guy that’s flying your plane is not focusing on what he’s doing because his neck hurts?
When I saw the pilot and I made his neck feel better, he started telling me about just how distracting it is to be in pain while he’s trying to fly a plane with the 300 passengers on it.
So the importance of pain not being the primary thing you think about in your life is just life altering.
Another one is doctors.
Doctors don’t know what physical therapy is in general. When I work on them. I feel like they haven’t learned what physical therapy is and what it does. The reason I say that is that patients should advocate for themselves.
When they go to a doctor, the doctor is going to want to give you drugs or surgery, not because that’s all he gets paid for, even though that’s all he gets paid for, but because that might be all he knows.
Instead of having somebody stick needles into your body, they could possibly hit a nerve.
Ask your doctor to take you to physical therapy.
To give you a prescription to physical therapy, and be adamant about it.
Be your own advocate.
You can just go to a physical therapist and then go to a doctor if the physical therapist feels that what they’re doing can’t make you feel better.
Unfortunately, because of the way that the wellness industry has been presented in the past 50 years, people think of going to a doctor first when they’re in pain.
Where I hope in the future, unless it’s something severe, if it’s just an ache or a pain, choose to go to a physical therapist first, then go to a doctor.
Joe Winger:
I know you love your neighborhood. Talk about your favorite things in Beverly Hills.
Vivian Eisenstadt:
I like my mornings where I take my four dogs on an hour walk. It’s very quiet in the neighborhood. That’s where I prepare my day, talk to my East Coast friends because they’re three hours ahead.
My mornings are always pretty sacred, special and consistent for me.
Then after work, I like going to restaurants, Hillstone in Santa Monica. Excellent.
I love that I live in Pico Robertson, which is 20 minutes from Hollywood, 20 minutes from the water, 20 minutes from downtown, 20 minutes from the restaurants I want.
I’m very localized.
I’ll get patients from Brentwood, Malibu, Santa Monica, Palms, Culver city, West LA. Mid Wilshire, Koreatown, Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Hollywood.
Some people really travel to see me because of word of mouth.
I’m proud to say that I’ve probably hit my tipping point in terms of working with personal injury lawyers around here, working with doctors around here.
At this point, word of mouth. If you’re happy, you’re going to tell people what to do when they need you, when they need someone like me as well.
Joe Winger:
A lot of people who are reading this are foodies. Any great food spots in your neighborhood?
Vivian Eisenstadt:
Just in the Pico Robertson area. Yeah. Dr. Sandwich. The food is just that good. I get the chicken shawarma bowl to-go. You’re pointing to all the things you want in it, you can have everything that’s in there.
Peppers, cauliflower, mayo cabbage, with the hummus, tahina and their laffa bread.
[For me] each bowl lasts three meals. So you get your bang for your buck.
Trattoria Bella Roma SPQR
I think it’s not such a best kept secret of the neighborhood, because I see a lot of people that come from West LA and West Hollywood come down, like people travel to this place,
It’s an authentic Italian restaurant with the guy from Italy making your food.
I just like hearing him talk about the food because he’s talking about the soup and the “no sugar, no this..” and he’s got gluten free penne. So he’s catering to the neighborhood.
But the food is spectacular.
I like places that I could bring people, they go, “Oh let’s go there again sometime!” You always want to impress your friends in the neighborhood.
Some people eat to live and some people live to eat.
Summer Fish and Rice
Another place around here. Summer Fish and Rice. It is one block south of Wilshire, right off Robertson. And again, good food, good sushi. An amazing spicy tuna crispy rice. I don’t know if I want to talk about this place because it’s crowded enough as it is. You don’t want too many people knowing about your places.
Joe Winger:
Tell us what kind of dishes you make at home.
Vivian Eisenstadt:
I make Every plate, they send it to you with the cards and I become a chef with every plate.
The food is so good because you just follow it verbatim. Last night I had chicken with garlic rice and carrots, this soy buttery dressing on top.
Another time I had chicken lettuce cups. Another time you make some burgers with fresh fries. I’m just saying I am not a cook. I am a direction follower from Every Plate.
Joe Winger:
Whether it’s cooking food or eating food, is there any therapeutic value with the food we love?
Vivian Eisenstadt:
Usually when you crave something, it means your body needs it.
If I’m craving tomato sauce, it usually means I’m low in magnesium. And you are what you eat.
At every moment we’re coming from a physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and chemical place. When you move one, you move them all.
That’s why they say drugs and alcohol, low vibration, so people feel sluggish
Things with nutrients and high vibrations, you feel better.
At every moment, your body’s either going towards balance or away from balance.
When you give your body what it needs nutritionally, you’re going to be more towards balance.
When you do things that hinder your body’s wellness, you’re going away from balance.
Homeostasis is your body’s homeostasis. Consistent, trying to balance everything you’re giving it. Of course, what we put in our bodies is literally what makes us or breaks us.
So you need to remember that.
But know your game so you know how to play. I’m an excessive moderate. I never tell somebody it’ll only be one way. What’s the use of living longer if you’re living miserably?
It’s not about how long you live. It’s about caring about yourself and loving yourself.
What does it look like when you love yourself?
Usually when people are physically abusing their body, there’s a mental and emotional part of that. So it’s one thing if you’re going on a vacation and you’re eating wonderful food because you’re just enjoying your space.
Or whether you’re eating sugar and ice cream at night because your marriage sucks.
There’s how and why you’re doing what you’re doing matters as much as what you’re doing.
I believe that the intention of what you’re doing will affect how your body takes it in.
Joe Winger:
As we wrap up Vivian, tell us all the ways to learn more and to get in touch with you?
Vivian Eisenstadt:
For more information, you can go to www.VivieTherapy com.
You can also reach us by phone at 310 623 4444. We are also at VivieTherapy on Instagram, Vivi Therapy on Facebook, Vivi Therapy on Twitter,
I also created a word for pain free. Vivie.
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