Wine With Wanda

Travel Off the Beaten Palate to Canada with Emmy Winner Michael-Ann Rowe

What a pleasure to meet Emmy-winning "Off the Beaten Palate" host Michael-Ann Rowe.

Did you know that Canada produces 90% of the world's mustard? Or that the world's second largest country has a vibrant wine industry that grows & bottles everything from Chardonnay to Cabernet Franc? And, let's not forget about the Canadian cowboys that rustle up some of the tastiest meat on the planet and the passionate chefs and self-proclaimed "Beef Geeks" that cook it to perfection.

I learned these tasty tidbits, and many more, at a special screening of the Emmy-winning program Off the Beaten Palate. Created and hosted by food-loving journalist Michael-Ann Rowe, Off the Beaten Palate is a three-part documentary series showcasing the vibrant culinary culture in three Canadian provinces - Ontario, Alberta, and New Brunswick. The series aired in Canada and on PBS in Detroit but you can view video clips and snag unique recipes like Bison Benedict from the Off the Beaten Palate website.

TV for Travelers: Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown on CNN

I must confess that I don't watch CNN too often, but I am one of those travel loving food fanatics who will tune in on April 14th at 9pm (ET) to check out their new show Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown.

Few television personalities can spark wanderlust as strongly as Anthony Bourdain. I've been missing his old Travel Channel show No Reservations since it ended in 2012, so I'm hungry for his new one-hour lifestyle series on CNN. Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown will follow the chef, author, and raconteur as he travels across the globe to uncover non-touristy and off-the-beaten path areas of the world. Bourdain will explore some war-torn areas, meet with locals, and occasionally spend time with an internationally acclaimed hot shot chef. 

The premiere episode of Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown offers an inside look at Myanmar. In his maiden voyage to the country formerly known as Burma, Bourdain and his crew discover the beauty and cuisines of a country that had been, until recently, off-limits to outsiders. Future episodes include tours of Libya, Colombia, the Quebecois side of Canada, Koreatown in Los Angeles, Tangier, Peru and the Congo .

Will you be watching? Following original episodes of Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown on Sunday nights at 9pm, encores will air on Friday nights at 11pm, Saturday nights at 9pm, and Sunday nights at 8pm. (all times Eastern)  Click here to learn more about Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown.

Be A Cultured Couch Potato: Anthony Bourdain "No Reservations" Collection 7 DVD

Anthony Bourdain in Cuba

Being a couch potato just got way more interesting thanks to the Anthony Bourdain No Reservations Collection 7 DVD. So, pour a nice glass of wine, curl up on the sofa, and spend 645 minutes traveling the world with the witty, fearless, sometimes cranky and always engaging Bourdain.

I was sent an advance copy of No Reservations Collection 7 and I was thrilled to see that this 3 DVD set features some of my favorite episodes - Bourdain's unforgettable journey to post earthquake Haiti that included a visit to a relief camp and explorations of the local music and arts, an entire episode dedicated to the legendary Catalan restaurant El Bulli where Bourdain works the line and looks very dashing in chef's whites, and a jaunt to Cajun Country where his cholesterol gets raised to deliciously dangerous levels at a boucherie (a celebration featuring a whole hog roast). Other destinations include Nicaragua, Macau, Naples, Boston, Vienna and more.



Bourdain in Spain with renowned Chef Ferran Adrià

But apart from the amazing meals and breathtaking scenery, what I really admire about Bourdain is that he doesn't shy away from the truth. Too many travel shows deliberately ignore some of life's harsher realities - poverty, war, class, racism, and corruption. Not Bourdain - he looks right in the camera and tells it like it is. I'll miss seeing Bourdain on the Travel Channel when he wraps up No Reservations this season (his new series launches on CNN in early 2013) but I'll just pop in a DVD when I need to escape or want some of his insightful tips for my next trip.

Anthony Bourdain No Reservations Collection 7 (list price $24.98) is available at Amazon.

Love Lust & The Little Black Dress on the Sundance Channel

I love the fact that even the men in my life update me whenever they hear any LBD related news! My brother Glenn, aka the serious film guy, told me that he saw the documentary "Love Lust & The Little Black Dress" on the Sundance Channel's schedule and knew that he had to tell his dressaholic sister about it.

Score one for little brother! This saucy little documentary did a clever job of melding fashion history and modern sartorial trends. Did you know that the LBD is the only garment listed in the Oxford dictionary by its initials?

From Hollywood to the White House and from the runway to the streets, the LBD is everywhere and Love, Lust & The LIttle Black Dress traces that journey. When Coco Chanel, inspired by the nuns from the orphanage of her childhood, debuted her little black dress in 1926 it changed the way women looked and felt about themselves. Coco bid adieu to the bustles and bright colors of the Victorian age that covered women from head to toe. Fast forward to the 1980's and American designer Donna Karan liberated American women from those dreaded boxy power suits and put the little black dress back on the map. And, of course, Audrey Hepburn and the iconic Givenchy LBD that she wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's is featured in the film along with Jackie O, Princess Di, Mrs. Obama, Rita Hayworth and so many other ladies who made history in their little black dresses.

If you are looking for a way to make your couch potato time a little more glamorous, spend an hour watching Love Lust & The Little Black Dress. The documentary is scheduled to show on Sundance throughout February and March.

The No Snooki Guide to the Jersey Shore:

MTV's controversial new reality show Jersey Shore has managed to depict the southern part of the Garden State as a fist pumping bar brawl set to an endless soundtrack of house music. One of the breakout stars in this cast of self-proclaimed guidos and guidettes is Snooki. Rocking jet black hair that is as long as she is tall, Snooki is a tiny uber-tanned party animal whose signature dance move is the panty free cartwheel. Oh my.

As a fan of the Jersey Shore region, I wanted to share a few places that are the complete antithesis of what is depicted on MTV. Your chances of running into Snooki and her raucous roomies are pretty slim in the three towns listed below. Call my buddy Mario at 33 London Taxi to take you around the Jersey Shore in style in his fleet of London style black cabs. Just promise me, no fist pumping please!

Spring Lake: This bucolic town was my introduction to the Jersey Shore. A quiet enclave of Victorian mansions, Spring Lake has a 2 mile non-commercial boardwalk that is perfect for a romantic or solitary stroll by the ocean. Choose one of the many historic inns for an elegant overnight stay. Click here to read more about my first visit to Spring Lake and some of my favorite spots.

Red Bank: Red hot Red Bank boasts fine dining, shopping and A-list accommodations. Book a stylish room at the Oyster Point Hotel with a view of the Navesink River and enjoy an evening cocktail and dinner in their elegant bar. Catch a concert at the spectacular Count Basie Theatre and grab a bite to eat at RED Restaurant and Lounge - home of New Jersey's best crab cake. Shop 'til you drop at selve for custom shoes, Carter & Cavero for excellent olive oil, and SPACE for home furnishings. You might even catch The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, shopping at Jack's Music Shoppe. Click here to read about my trip to Red Bank.

Asbury Park - Home of the legendary Stony Pony and an iconic Boardwalk, Asbury Park has experienced a major renaissance. See and be seen at Watermark - a chic beachfront lounge with ocean views, plenty of eye candy, and killer cocktails. My friend Patti also recommends the "awesome vacation cuisine and great vibes" at Langosta Lounge and The ShowRoom, a "very cool art house showing classics and indie films." 

Travel Tips from the Twilight Zone

It just wouldn't be New Year's Day without spending a few suspenseful hours in the Twilight Zone. The marathon broadcast on the Sci Fi Channel of Rod Serling's hit show has become a tradition for me. This television classic ran from 1956-1964 and Serling wrote 92 of the 156 episodes. 

The Twilight Zone may be considered science fiction but in many ways the show feels more authentic than many of the so-called reality shows on television today. Serling brilliantly used science fiction as a vehicle to explore our most genuine fears. Fear of technology, aliens, war, and strangers are a few of the recurrent themes and those were very real concerns in American society. Perhaps, they remain so?

Another prevalent theme in the Twilight Zone are the many things that can go wrong when we leave the perceived safety of our home and community to venture out into the unknown. As I am watching the Twilight Zone today, I realize that many of my favorite episodes are the shows where journeys go terribly awry when the traveler is yanked away from their planned itinerary and unmercifully hurled into the mysterious world of the Twilight Zone.

You may want to keep these travel tips from the Twilight Zone in mind before embarking on your next vacation.

• Traveling by bus can sometimes be tedious and unglamorous but Greyhound goes way off course in the Twilight Zone. While waiting at the bus depot be careful where you place your suitcase because a creepy doppelganger may steal your luggage and your sanity. No one will believe you and instead of getting on the bus, you end up being hauled off for a psychiatric evaluation. (Episode: Mirror Image) Or your bus could break down and the only survivor will be a three-armed Martian with a fondness for the jukebox in the diner run by the three-eyed dude from Venus - both with plans to colonize Earth. (Episode: Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up)  
• Do you really want that window seat on the airplane? You might end up being driven bonkers by the vision of a furry monster gleefully ripping the wing apart. Bye bye first-class and hello Bellevue. (Episode: Nightmare at 20,000 Feet) And you think flights are delayed now? What about a flight to the prehistoric past with a cockpit view of a Brontosaurus? (Episode: The Odyssey of Flight 33)
• Train travel may seem like a good option but you may want to reconsider. What stressed out commuter hasn't closed their eyes and daydreamed of a more peaceful time. Maybe you fantasize of a quaint town inhabited by genteel neighbors called Willoughby circa 1888. Be careful, Willoughby could be the dream you never wake up from. (Episode: A Stop at Willoughby). Or maybe you wake up in a strange town after a wild night out and decide to take the train back home. Skip that train unless you want to travel in a circle and never reach your destination. And, darling, there is no bar car. (Episode: Stopover in a Quiet Town)
• Silly you, just because you're driving doesn't put you in control. AAA is useless in the Twilight Zone if your car breaks down in a strange town. The locals aren't just unfriendly, they will zap your dog with a mysterious contraption and make Fido disappear. Ask too many questions and you could be next. (Episode: Valley of the Shadow)

These are just a few examples of travel terrors from the Twilight Zone. Consider yourself warned!

PS. You can watch many episodes of the Twilight Zone from your computer at Fancast.

Project Runway: Time to Turn It Auf?

Has Project Runway turned into Project Why-Stay-Awake? I've just finished watching episode 4 of Season 5 and where the hell is the sturm und drang that always made Project Runway so engrossing? My darling Tim Gunn looks bored and judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia seem to be daydreaming about the good old days of Santino and Christian Siriano. And Heidi, being gorgeous doesn't hide the look of boredom on your face.

Project Runway's magic formula of unknown designers, "I can't believe they made them do that" challenges, and larger-than-life personalities seems off-kilter this season. A couple of the contestants seem to be working a little too hard at developing annoying shticks in an effort to become the show's next breakout star. But it will take more than talking about yourself in the third person (Suede) or adding "licious" at the end of every word and pouting about your tanning booth withdrawal (Blayne) to become a standout in the cutthroat world of "reality" TV. Remember, Christian Siriano was able to back up his quirky catch phrases with fierce designs.

Several of the contestants seem to have genuine talent and I look forward to seeing more of their designs. They are likeable but just way too serious. Have they forgotten that Project Runway is a television show that is meant to entertain? Sourpusses with scissors won't win over the judges or the TV audience. They need to position themselves so that they remain memorable even if they don't win the big prize of a show at Fashion Week. Also, there seems to be a higher proportion of designers this season who lack the creativity and technical skills of past contestants. So far there has been no need to hold your breath during the eliminations - the bad designs have been REALLY bad. I know we've only seen 4 episodes of the 14 scheduled for the season but like Heidi says " in fashion, you're either in or you're out."  Of course, I am not counting Project Runway out just yet - I adore Tim Gunn and I'll keep watching with the hope that the challenges and contestants will become more compelling as the season progresses. Maybe Project Runway's suprising move to Lifetime next season will bring back the magic.