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Celebrities & Champagne

Bubbly Events, Celebrities & Champagne
Sparkling Ideas for Your Summer Vacation: Mumm Napa’s Photo Exhibit

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to visit some of my favorite sparkling wine houses in Napa and Sonoma counties. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting special events at some of the picturesque sparkling wine houses in northern California in case you’re looking or a delicious and fun drive-cation (is that a word?) this summer. Mumm Napa is presenting a special photo exhibit called “Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Other Perversities” in their Fine Art Photography Gallery through Aug. 21. The black and white exhibit features the work of George Rose, a photographer with the LA Times who chronicled Hollywood life and pop culture in the 1970s and 80s. The photographs, which are taken from Rose’s new book that shows everything from movie premieres to mud wrestling matches, includes photos of celebs including Jack Nicholson, Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Keith Richards, Ronald Reagan, Mary Tyler…
June 1, 2009
Celebrities & Champagne, Pop Culture
Champagne & Charity

Champagne is one of the ultimate luxury goods and it’s associated with celebrities and rich people living the good life. But the large champagne houses also do a lot to bring attention and dollars to deserving charities. At the 62nd film festival recently, Moet & Chandon carried on a tradition of having celebrities sign a massive bottle of champagne. The 15-liter Nebuchadnezzar (named after the famed kind of Babylon) was signed by celebs including Scarlett Johansson, Diane Kruger and Eva Longoria as they stopped on the red carpet.It will be auctioned off for charity later this year. And just this weekend, the Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic on Governor’s Island in New York City drew a star-studded crowd that included special guest player of Prince Harry of England. The Prince was there to help support Sentabale, a charity that Prince Harry co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help African…
May 30, 2009
Celebrities & Champagne, Drinks
Perfect Beauty — My Custom Cocktail for Preston Bailey

Sooo sorry for the long wait for the actual Perfect Beauty cocktail recipe, but I have been having such a good time soaking up with culinary and wine culture of the Salentino in southern Puglia, Italy for the past 10 days — more on that soon. Plus, I was waiting for the professional photo from my good friend Bob Stefanko of Ranch & Coast Magazine. Preston Bailey, the world-renowned floral and event designer, was fêted at the home of Susie Spanos when he flew to California in early March to speak at a benefit for the Village Garden Club of La Jolla. I designed a custom floral cocktail called Perfect Beauty with fresh California strawberry juice and rose geranium syrup for the party. During the evening, the bartenders made the cocktail with sparkling water and a variety of champagnes from the Spanos’ cellar including Dom Perignon, Bollinger’s Special Cuvee, Roeder’s…
March 17, 2009
Celebrities & Champagne
Perfect Beauty: My Champagne Cocktail for Preston Bailey

When I heard that Preston Bailey, the famous New York City floral and event designer, was coming to San Diego for a benefit and private party at Susie Spanos’ home, I knew I had to create a signature sparkling cocktail in his honor. His web site calls him the world’s preeminent designer and it’s no exaggeration: he does parties for celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Donald Trump, the royal family in Abu Dhabi and one secret client who dropped $25 million on a soiree. Bailey’s speaking before the The Village Garden Club of La Jolla as a part of the high powered group’s Meet the Masters series. He’s appearing at 1:30 Thursday; proceeds from the $65 tickets benefit the Club’s Schoolyard Garden Project. He’s also offering a sneak peek at his gorgeous new book Celebrations that’s being released by Rizzoli in the fall. I adore flowers so much there’s a whole…
March 3, 2009
Celebrities & Champagne, Celebrity Chefs, Food + Recipes
Wolfgang Puck’s House Champagne…is Krug

“I love champagne,” Puck says with his characteristic grin.”My house champagne is Krug.”
When I politely point out that I didn’t notice it on the Spago menu, he clarifies, “No, at my house!”
February 5, 2009