Urban Living in California

posted by kat (OC Register) There are 167 people on the planet who can call themselves a “Master Sommelier” and the gentleman above certainly can. He’s Michael Jordan, the general manager of Disney’s Napa Rose restaurant and the wine expert for all of Disneyland Resort. He was one of several Disney culinary VIPs to give the media a quick taste of Disney’s upcoming California Food and Wine Festival, which will be held from April 11 to May 5 and will feature complimentary cooking demos, wine/beer seminars and tasting. There will also be ticketed events — and that’s where all you gourmands will definitely want to be. Click on the jump for a sampling of other delicious goods that await you at the festival …

Look for “Taste Wine Like an Expert” (with Michael Jordan), where you’ll learn about the different types, varietals, taste and characteristics in wine and “Festival Wine Receptions” where you’ll get to sample dozens of vino. There’s also “Taste of California Marketplace” where you’ll find tantalizing bites like Lobster Lollipops, wild mushroom risotto, peppered-crusted tenderloin sliders, and more.

Mmm, lobster poached and skewered, then rolled in panko bread crumbs, fried and served with a lovely red pepper remoulade. A scrumptious hors d’oeuvre from Chef Jay Garcia of Pacific Wharf and Pier 66.

Spicy Fennel Sausage with Roasted Tomato Bolognese served with Meyor Lemon Mascarpone Polenta, courtesy of Chef Gloria Tae at Golden Vine Winery at Disney’s California Adventure. Paired with Flora Springs “Poggio di Papa” — a Sangiovese-Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Napa Valley. The zesty bolognese was a delightful complement to the smooth and slightly tangy polenta.

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With luxury penthouses in Los Angeles, developers pursue the ultra-wealthy buyer.

By Jennifer Lisle, Special to The Times March 30, 2008

IF you want a killer condo in L.A., the stakes are getting higher. Several über-luxe penthouses are defying the gravitational pull of the housing market and redefining the meaning of luxury.
Mostly new, they are set atop buildings awash in every service and amenity imaginable and target the ultra-wealthy multi-property owner more concerned with maintaining an upscale lifestyle than the cost of it.

Prices for these ultimate residences, up to $30 million, sound fantastical amid the gloom and doom of the rest of the market. But analysts say that this uppermost end — properties $5 million and up — is one of the few bright spots on the horizon.

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Nelson & Gilmore gave W the red carpet treatment with 944 Magazine at Social Nightclub in Hollywood.