O Canada - part 1

This week I returned to the country of my birth for the first time in nearly 30 years. I went to Montreal and Toronto to meet with some of Canada's biggest food television stars.

Montreal is a picturesque old city that feels like France. We stayed in Old Montreal near the Notre-Dame Basilica (on right) which was built in 1829.



We met with Chuck Hughes, host of Chuck's Day Off,



who owns and is head chef at Garde Manger, one of the hottest restaurants in Montreal



Earlier in the day, Chuck's show producer Anne Marie Withenshaw, herself a popular TV presenter,



took me on a whirlwind tour on Montreal's best food stops, including the Jean Talon Market



and La Maison du Bagel



home of Montreal's most famous food specialty, the St. Viateur bagel.

South Beach Wine and Food 2010 - Part 3

So after sleeping in, the next day began in the late afternoon with a visit the Grand Tasting village on the beach



which featured great food and appearances by Food Network stars like the Neely's.



Then it was Cocktail Time with Sandra Lee at the legendary Versace Mansion.



Followed by a 2nd round of cocktails at the Ritz Carlton with Food Network stars including Claire Robinson and our top advertisers.



The night wrapped up with a lovely dinner at the Temple House, the largest single family residence in Miami Beach. The dining room is bigger than most US homes.



The dinner party decor was spectacular, especially the glowing table.



Among the guests were Next Iron Chef winner Jose Garces and his lovely wife Beatriz. Beatriz shared her incredible story of escaping the horrors of Castro's Cuba in 1994 for a better life in the US.



All in all, a very enjoyable three days in Miami.

South Beach Wine and Food 2010 - Part 2

The next day I was up early for a breafast with our advertisers followed by a lunchtime boat cruise featuring Food Network Star Melissa D'Arabian.


Then it was back to my favorite Miami Beach hotel, The Alexander, for a quick ocean afternoon nap.



When night fell it was time for the Bubble Q party.



Featuring a very acrobatic champagne server.



I closed the night with the AMEX VIP after party which lasted till 3AM.

South Beach Wine and Food 2010 - Part 1

I left for the 9th edition of the South Beach Wine and Food Festival the same day the worst snow storm of the season started. Most of the flights out of Newark airport were canceled, except for my flight to Miami.


Despite the heavy snow, our plane departed and within a few hours I was at the Rachael Ray Burger Bash



enjoying sliders from Iron Chef Morimoto.



Several burgers later I was off to the Food Network VIP After Party.



The party felt really special. Food Network has birthed so many TV stars that when we get them all together at a single event it feels like a Hollywood soiree. Current FN A-lister Guy Fieri shared the love with hit newcomer Marcella Valadolid.

An Author and Mother

My mother has lived a very remarkable life.

From her earliest days braving the great unknown as she left her Jamaican homeland to study in England.



To giving me so much vital support during my formative and award winning years in high school.



She's served her country



Been a bride



and now a published author



More about her amazing story at

http://www.remamjohnson.com

Farewell Marty

In February 1996 my wife brought home a 12 week old Lhasa Apso dog. I'd never owned a dog and never really wanted one. I didn't understand what all the hype was about "man's best friend", "a boy and his dog", and all that stuff.



But from 1996



to this past Christmas

14 years living with "little Marty" has changed my point of view and completely enriched my life. I'm now and will forever be a pet lover.



Tonight Marty passed away. Rest in peace my true friend.

December Update

It's been a pretty good month. Not major adventures at work, just winding down for the holiday break.

I did take a trip to Los Angeles last week to attend a live cooking performance by Food Network personality Guy Fieri

.
It's still pretty amazing to me that Food Network personalities are popular enough for people to pay money to see live, but I guess it proves that they are truly entertainers. The show began with a great flair bartending show by Hayden Wood, author of Woody's Liquid Kitchen.



And then Guy Fieri was joined by Food Network stars Robert Irvine and Sunny Anderson for 90 minutes of on-stage fun.



Finally, the LA trip gave me a chance to visit with my mother and 4 year-old nephew Jayden.