I often get requests from Angelenos about where to dine and drink on the “other side of the hill,” (ie: San Fernando Valley). There are actually a multitude of charming little café’s, a handful of hipster hangouts and rowdy dive bars to enjoy. However, for the contemporary diner looking for affordable, well-crafted dishes and more-than-decent drinks served up with a side of convenient parking and a late-night fare, Townhouse is your home away from home.

Hollywood has a new hotspot and you can be among the first to experience it. La Vida opened its doors only 3 weeks ago, but it won’t take long for this atmospheric lounge / restaurant’s reservations line to be added to speed dials all over town. Located inside a big blue building on the corner of Sunset and Gower in Hollywood, La Vida seems nondescript from the outside. You could almost drive past it if you’re not paying attention.

Once inside, however, guests are transported to a destination spot where a sip at the cozy cocktail bar, a meal in the charming dining room, revelry with your peeps on the open-air terrace or dancing (after meal service) can all happen under the same roof.

If you noticed a spring in the step of wine writers last week, it could be that they attended a special wine tasting at the SLS Hotel. A couple dozen wine makers came in from Burgundy, France, touting their wares and pouring samples. It was all kinds of oo-la-la.

However, prior to the tasting room opened up for our sip-n-spitting pleasure, Keith Goldston - one of the youngest Master Sommeliers in the world and instructor at the prestigious CIA cooking school - led an informative presentation describing what he calls “the burgundy moment” as well as several points as to what has shaped Burgundy’s special place in the oenological universe.

I scribbled many notes during his lecture, and frankly, even if I tried to transcribe them all here, I’d surely get some things wrong. Instead, I’m doing to share a few points that stuck with me, in hopes that they will inspire you to think about becoming further acquainted with this fascinating wine region:

If you love tequila, being an expert taster might just be your dream job. But, this is not an endeavor for the impatient. Master Tequilero Francisco Hajnal, now in his senior years, has dedicated the majority of his life learning about wines and spirits. He works closely on Jose Cuervo’s specialty tequilas at their distillery in Tequila, Mexico, particularly their coveted Reserva de la Familia, an award-winning Extra Añejo made from 100% pure blue agave grown in their estate’s richest volcanic soils, and often referred to as Cuervo's “crown jewel.”

When meeting Francisco, one immediately notes his soft-spoken elegance and dead-serious demeanor when it comes to evaluating the quality of tequila. “It is the reason of my life,” he has declared in this video about the making of tequila. Spend only a few minutes with him, and you’ll believe it is true.

Around Hajnal’s neck, he wears a silver chain. From that chain dangles the 4” tip of a cow horn, decorated with silver adornments. That horn represents the first vessel from which tequila was imbibed. Later that horn morphed into what we now know as the “shot glass.”

When famed Riedel glassware wished to create the ultimate tequila-tasting glass, Hajnal was among a handful of experts taken to Austria where extensive tastings were held. Finally the product seen here is the result of much deliberation and debate.

Although Hajnal holds a degree in engineering, he spent more than a decade as a viticulture and oenology scholar at the Escuela Panamericana de Hoteleria y Turismo. Then, about 10 years ago, Hajnal founded the Academia Mexicana de Catadores de Tequila, or Mexican Academy of Tequila Experts. And, that’s where the real fun begins…

The Academy was established in Mexico City in late 2000 as a non-governmental, not for profit, educational organization with a core mission to promote and disseminate the knowledge and understanding of tequila and the heritage that it represents. Its website states these as the Academy’s main objectives:

• To create awareness of the Official Mexicana Standards (NOM) for tequila as stipulated by the Regulatory Tequila Council (CRT).
• Offer consumer information regarding the consumption of only genuine tequila as per the tequila Denomination of Origin (DOT)
• Provide educational courses and seminars to members to enhance understanding and knowledge in the tequila trade and services. Qualifications are non-academic certifications issued by the Academia Mexicana del tequila.
• Provide tequila aficionados a medium to network and stay up-to- date on industry news and trends.

The site also explains that the training includes “the history of tequila, an in-depth study of the NOM; the official Mexican Standards relating to all processes and activities of tequila, an understanding of the DOT; Appellation of Origin of tequila, an understanding of the CRT; Regulatory Council of Tequila and the role it serves in the tequila industry, and an understanding of the elaboration process from the artesian ways to the modern methods. The candidates must also be knowledgeable in tequila tastings and be able to identify the organoleptic characteristics of a particular tequila to be able to protect and guide the consumer to a good choice of genuine tequila.”

There are now chapters in the United States (the San Diego chapter even has its own facebook page.)

The Academy uses the term “Tequilier,” when referring to a tequila expert, which Hajnal rejects because he feels the word pays homage to “Sommelier,” a French word for a wine expert. Fiercely proud of his own heritage and the agave spirit from which it sprang, he insists on referring to his own title in Spanish, “Tequilero.” His full title is Master Tequilero, the highest qualification issued to a tequila expert. Take a sip of the latest release of Reserva de la Familia, and you won’t doubt it for a second.

Just in time for the Superbowl, Fresh & Easy introduces Dutch Republic 1581™ Beer, a traditional Dutch pilsner-style beer from Holland for under $6 per 6-pack!

The beer commemorates the year in which the Dutch Republic was founded (1581) and its light golden color features a rich, malty aroma, with a hint of sugar balanced with slightly bitter hops.  The taste is full-flavored, smooth and easy to drink with a crisp, clean finish.

Additionally, Dutch Republic 1581 Beer is made at an eco-friendly brewery in Holland that invests in innovative technology to reduce its energy use and impact on natural resources.

Fresh & Easy stores carry a wide selection of over 50 other types of domestic and imported beers. If you haven’t already visited one, you can read more about their wines on The Liquid Muse blog archives. In addition to fresh, high-quality prepared meals and produce, Fresh & Easy offers national brand products and household items, all at unbelievably low prices.

I'm excited to announce that not only is my new online series "Inspired Sips with The Liquid Muse" nominated for a Tasty Awards, but ALL FOUR shows appearing on Small Screen Network are nominated!

To celebrate our splash in online entertainment, we are all coming together to celebrate in style, featuring the spirits of William Grant & Sons, at Rickhouse Bar in San Francisco on January 14 - and YOU are invited.

Each of the show hosts is creating a specialty cocktail to be served at the events, and we are also giving away fun prizes to attendees.  More info... Hope to see you there!

Nominated Shows:

The Cocktail Spirit with Robert Hess

Raising the Bar with Jamie Boudreau

Inside the Kitchen Door with Andrew Lanier

Inspired Sips with The Liquid Muse

Happy Hour: 4 PM - 6 PM.

After party: 11 PM until closing

Where: Rickhouse Bar, 246 Kearny St. San Francisco, CA

Media Contact: Colin Kimball 360-340-7233 or colin (at) smallscreennetwork.com

Prizes will be given away at midnight. See you there!