Living Wells

Bernhoft: The Voice of Norwegian Soul

Duane Wells — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:19:00 GMT

In a week when everyone seemed to be buzzing about Justin Timberlake, I found myself rapt by the intricately layered sounds of Bernhoft, the Norwegian retro-soul sensation who is currently barnstorming across North America igniting venues with his uniquely inspired blend of socially conscious musings and quirkily groovalicious beats.

He may not yet be a household name in the States, but it’s only a matter of time before he is. Since releasing his sophomore album Solidarity Breaks in early 2011, the former frontman of the rock band Span has won kudos from R&B heavyweights like Jill Scott as well as a few very major awards like Best Artist and Best Male Artist of the Year at the 2012 Spellemannprisen, the equivalent to the Grammys in Norway. Along the way he’s also racked up impressive sales for his latest musical effort, scored more than 3 million views of his single “C’Mon Talk” and brought his beatbox-infused sound to The Ellen DeGeneres Show. To put it simply, saying that he is on the brink would actually be something of an understatement.

A huge part of Bernhoft’s growing appeal is that he is a complete one-man tour de force of a band. And yet, though he is without question a consummate showman, there is something decidedly not showy at all about him. Watch him play and you’ll likely find yourself as mesmerized by his vocal dexterity as you are by his aptitude for playing multiple instruments, often at the same time. In fact, so seamless is his performance style that you might almost be inclined to take his skills for granted. 'Almost' being the operative term here, because in a world of canned pop and stale retreads, it’s almost impossible not to savor the freshness and originality of Norway’s hottest new export.

“It’s almost like a modern version of busking,” the singer said with a chuckle when I asked him about his ingenious stage persona during a recent telephone conversation on the heels of a two-night gig in Los Angeles.

“I’m like your archetypal busker with the bass drum in the back and the cymbals all going. It’s almost that style of music, only a bit more refined and digitalized I guess,” he continued with a laugh, betraying his sly sense of humor.

As brilliant as Bernhoft’s live performance style is, the truth is that it was born out of necessity rather than design. Faced with what he describes as his “own private recession," the crooner had to come up with a workaround when he wanted to tour but couldn’t afford to bring his eight-piece band along with him. In the process of scaling down, which some might call a happy accident, Bernhoft found his retro-soul niche. But as for his groove, well let’s just say he found that a long time ago.

Growing up in Norway, where he discovered his attraction to sound and his skill at mastering instruments, Bernhoft found musical inspiration in Otis Redding, Prince and Michael Jackson, but one American rock-soul-funk band in particular grabbed his attention.

“This guy gave me a record from Sly and the Family Stone and said, ‘You better check this out!’" He said recounting his early musical favorites. “I put it on and I was, like, nailed to the wall and couldn’t come down.”

And from that point on, the singer’s throwback, R&B-dipped course was set.

“I think everything that came out of New Orleans and Memphis and Detroit in the '60s and '70s was inspirational,” Bernhoft says almost wistfully, his deep, gravelly voice dropping even lower as if to convey a certain sense of reverence. “I think what inspires me most is the society change that went on in the whole of the United States in the '60s and '70s. It’s radical! The civil rights movement, gender equality—all that power was instilled in the music that came out of Stax and Motown and New Orleans as well. It’s a very powerful thing.”

Knowing this would be the first time that many people had ever even heard his name, I asked Bernhoft to introduce his new album to the uninitiated in his own words before we hung up.

“I would say it's trying to bridge the gap between the '60s and 2020 soundwise. Hopefully the music will make you want to dance and the lyrics will make you want to think, so you can dance and think at the same time while being immersed in goodness, solidarity and chocolate.”

Sounds delicious, does it not?

Find out more about Bernhoft and check out his entire Solidarity Breaks album at bernhoft.org.

Scene + Heard: Savor Sonoma Valley 2013

Duane Wells — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:59:00 GMT

In Sonoma Valley, there is much to savor—a bucolic landscape and dirt roads that harken back to simpler times; roadside restaurants where menus overflow with the bounty of the Valley and its equally, naturally blessed surroundings; and, of course, wine—glorious, world-class wine that has earned California bragging rights around the globe.

One of the best times to experience everything this stunning slice of Northern California has to offer took place this past weekend at an annual event that is simply and honestly called “Savor Sonoma Valley." Hosted by the Heart of Sonoma Valley Association, which is made up of 27 tasting rooms representing 34 wineries, the 2013 edition of Savor Sonoma Valley featured a grand total of 22 wineries showcasing 2012 vintage wines straight from the barrels, new releases and award-winning wines. And best of all, at this special event, each winery paired its chosen vintages with epicurean delights of all varieties prepared by local chefs and restaurants. It was a weekend that was a feast for the senses on every level imaginable.

My first stop was Ledson Winery & Vineyards, where the wines are so princely that the winemakers felt obliged to erect a castle to properly honor them. While noshing on marinated flank steak and smoked BBQ pork sliders, I sampled a combination of barrel wines and current releases that paired beautifully with the menu. Standouts: the 2011 Redwood Valley Zinfandel and the 2006 Dry Creek “Old Vine” Zinfandel.

From Ledson it was off to NakedWines.com, a customer-funded collective of 50 exclusive wines. By customer-funded, I mean customers (regular folks like you and me) fund independent winemakers and in return get exclusive wines at a 40-60 percent discount off retail (essentially wholesale). How brilliant is that? I don’t even have the words to describe the wonderfully original wines I sampled at the nakedwines.com tasting room, but I can summon up the following few words of advice to anyone who loves wine—invest in nakedwines.com. Enough said.

Next door at St. Anne’s Crossing Winery, the atmosphere was full-on garden party. While live music played, corned beef hash with pickled cabbage on homemade tostadas was passed around, and rosé flowed freely. With the sun beaming down and the mountains in the distance, the scene was nothing short of idyllic.

Over at Paradise Ridge, jambalaya was on the menu paired with the winery’s crisp 2012 Estate Sauvignon Blanc “Jubilation” and an uncharacteristically Burgundian California Chardonnay, among others. Meanwhile, Loxton Cellars brought "the land down under" to the Sonoma Valley with its stellar range of Zinfandel and Syrah paired with culinary creations by Chef Catherine of Olive & Vine Restaurant, which included a lamb and pork sausage topped with fig jam that kept guests scrambling back for more.

Chateau St. Jean blended its oh-so-very-France-meets-California-style of wine-making with all-American fare (more BBQ pork, with coleslaw and BBQ potato chips) and its picture-perfect Chateau garden setting. And Mayo Family Winery, dallied with the sweet side of the Valley, by showcasing its better known Malbec, and Zinfandel alongside its equally outstanding 2011 Zinfandel Port which was paired brilliantly with gluten-free Toucan Truffles. (A delight in and of themselves. If you’ve never tried these truffles, you might want to get acquainted.)

I ended the day at the modern Imagery Winery on a perfect note, with sips of their 2011 White Burgundy, the 2012 Viognier, the bold 2009 Wow Red and the soon-to-be-released Wow Oui Sauvignon Blanc, which is blended with 5 percent Muscat to create one of the best domestic Sauvignon Blancs that I’ve tasted in ages. The buzz at Imagery is palpable, and the staff is extraordinarily friendly, which combined with the quality of the wines they pour explains why Imagery Estate Winery was voted Sonoma’s Best Winery of 2012 in a recent survey.

I don’t often like to write about events in the past tense, because I generally find it more useful to write about experiences that are still out there to be had rather than those that have already occured. However, in the case of Savor Sonoma Valley, I made an exception, because I wanted to paint a vivid picture of the heartland of Sonoma and this magnificent weekend event so that those interested in great wine and great food can put this happening on their calendars for 2014.

Make a date to Savor Sonoma Valley in 2014, and I assure you that your senses will thank you.

Find out more about Savor Sonoma Valley and other Sonoma Valley events at heartofsonomavalley.com.

Follow Duane Wells on Twitter @TheDuaneWells and at his website theduanewells.com.

Hot in the City

Duane Wells — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:23:00 GMT

As a general rule, I view new pizza joints the same way I view new burger stands—with a healthy dose of skepticism. I mean, let’s face it—it’s hard to improve upon a classic, and when it comes to burgers and pizzas, the book has largely been written. But every once in a while a place comes along that taps into that fragment of uncertainty we may have about what we think we know so well by challenging convention and bringing an element of the unexpected to the mix. The new Wildcraft Pizza in Culver City is one such place.

That Wildcraft Pizza would land in Culver City isn’t particularly surprising given that, much like Downtown Los Angeles and Silver Lake, Culver City is a neighborhood experiencing something of a renaissance. New eateries and businesses are popping up at every turn along Washington and Culver Boulevards, and Wildcraft is not only a welcome addition, it is a standout destined to bring even more attention to the already burgeoning Angeleno hamlet it calls home.

When I popped in for an 8:30 reservation last Thursday night, the restaurant was humming and there wasn’t a single table to be had. Not bad for a brand spanking new place that had at that point only been open for 12 days. While I was waiting to be seated, I chatted with Executive Chef Tin Vuong (yes, the same Tin Vuong behind Abigaile, Hermosa Beach’s hipster hotspot) as he scrutinized every plate that came out of his kitchen. As I watched Wildcraft’s pizzaiolos busy at work hand-crafting each pizza, I immediately got the sense that this pizza might bolt right to the top of my list of favorites. Moreover, as I listened to Vuong, it became clear that he doesn’t just have a passion for pizza—he has a passion for food, which is evident in every dish on Wildcraft’s menu, starting with the restaurant’s signature sourdough pizza crust.

Vuong spent eight months in the kitchen of a Los Angeles bakery perfecting the sourdough that is the foundation of every Wildcraft pizza. The result is a unique pizza crust that is soft and chewy without being soggy or insubstantial. Actually, it’s a bit hard to describe, particularly as I am generally a fan of a crispier crust, but all I can say is that tasting is believing, and Vuong turned me into a convert of his authentically Neapolitan style.

The crust might be the shining star, but the supporting cast of “local and responsibly sourced ingredients” that Vuong uses to top his pizzas is equally stellar. The pizza menu at Wildcraft is divided into two simple sections—red and white. On the red side, you’ll find creations with more muscularity. Think pizzas with names like Carnage (porchetta, housemade pepperoni, pancetta, fennel sausage, provolone and scarmorza) and The OG (crushed tomato, fior di latte Mozzarella, garlic, basil and prosciutto). Meanwhile, on the white side, which is where I ventured, more subtle flavors are at play.

I opted to start with the truffle pizza, a rich, deliciously gooey combination of mushrooms, fontina, taleggio, fried sage and white truffle oil that partnered beautifully with that signature sourdough crust. I also sampled Chef Vuong’s simply masterful Pie of the Moment, which on last Thursday was simply topped with arugula and speck ham and was equally outstanding. But here’s the twist—Wildcraft doesn’t just do great pizza. They also do great sides.

Wildcraft’s Brussels sprouts—which are shredded and topped with almond brown butter, Meyer Lemon and parmesan cheese—are the hands-down cure for anyone who ever thought they didn’t like the vegetable. Trust me when I say these ain’t your mom’s boiled, soggy rendition of this much-maligned vegetable. Ditto for the spinach salad, which Vuong takes to new heights by adding salt-roasted beets, avocado, goat cheese and a walnut balsamic vinaigrette. There’s also charred cauliflower served with golden raisins, capers, pine nuts and toasted breadcrumbs, broccolini and a selection of other inventive salads. Not necessarily the kinds of items you might normally associate with your average pizza joint, but they are a welcome and fresh addition that helps ease the blow of indulging in a feast of carbs in a most pleasant manner.

Whether you live near Culver City or not, Wildcraft is worth the trek. Because though you may think you know pizza, until you’ve been properly introduced to Wildcraft pizza, you may find out you didn’t know pizza nearly as well as you thought you did.

For more information, visit wildcraftpizza.com and follow Wildcraft @wildcraftpizza.

Until next time…be well…live Wells.

Follow Duane Wells @theduanewells and find out more about the best of Los Angeles in Living Wells Los Angeles at theduanewells.com.

Urban Camping Comes to DTLA

Duane Wells — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:20:00 GMT

I’ve never been a big fan of camping. In fact, I’ve never quite gotten the whole idea of “roughing it,” because it has always seemed a contrary notion to me. Sacrificing modern conveniences that have been designed to make life easier in order to return to some vaguely romanticized idea of a simpler life has never quite jived with my own reality. But glamping, on the other hand, is an entirely different story.

Unlike camping, glamping brings the outdoors indoors, which makes infinitely more sense, because rather than taking something away, it actually brings more to the party. So a few weeks ago, when I was invited to do a bit of glamping in Downtown Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC), I was mildly frightened but absolutely amenable to the idea.

At LAAC, the glamping experience is called “Urban Camping,” and it is pretty fabulously over-the-top, particularly given that it is set smack-dab in the middle of the hustle, bustle and grit of Downtown Los Angeles. My glamping experience began the minute I first set foot in my suite, where the smell of warming chocolate permeated the air. Immediately, I eyed a number of fresh floral arrangements, a bottle of chilled champagne and all sorts of goodies that inspired a desire in me to camp that had never existed before. This kind of camping could work for me, I thought to myself.

As promised, the specialty package gives “city folks the chance to answer a different type of call of the wild” by offering a taste of camping with all the amenities of a sophisticated, contemporary hotel. Set in a perfectly lovely two-room suite, the package includes a luxury campsite with a designer tented bed complete with ornate, remote-controlled light fixtures that resemble flickering candles. There’s kitschy camp décor at every turn, including a rocking horse, old leather saddles, animal throws, custom cowpoke art and a teepee draped with lace and plush pillows that is so luxe, I dare anyone not to be enticed into it.

Urban Campers at the LAAC are also spoiled with an assortment of goodies, from gourmet s’mores via an electric fondue set (hence that intoxicating scent of warm chocolate at the door), chocolate-covered strawberries and a luxury survival kit (including trail mix and beef jerky) to city bird guide books, L.A. hiking maps and a selection of iconic camping DVDs ranging from Friday the 13th to Brokeback Mountain. There’s even a popcorn popper in the room so guests can make fresh popcorn to enjoy with movie night. Overnight parking, complimentary WiFi, a buffet breakfast and full use of the LAAC’s 80,000 square foot athletic facility is also included in the package. Now, I ask you, what’s wrong with that picture? If loving glamping is wrong, then I don’t want to be right!

When you can check into a hotel, hop on WiFi without a hitch, check your email while sipping champagne and nibbling strawberries, walk two blocks to a fab dinner (I recommend Bottega Louie, a Downtown classic) and then come back to your “campsite,” make a s’more, have more champagne and watch Brokeback Mountain before settling into your glamorously tented bed to view the latest episode of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, I’d say you might have had a pretty stellar afternoon and evening. In fact, I might even say, you’d experienced the art of Living Wells.

The Urban Camping Package is being offered from March 1 to Aug. 31 for $429 per night. (Use rate code “CAMP” when booking in order to receive the special discount rate).

To book a room reservation at the historic hotel at the LAAC now, please call (800) 421-8777 or visit laac.com.

Until next time…be well…live Wells!

Follow Duane on Twitter @theduanewells.

A 'Power Trip' with Jackie Collins

Duane Wells — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 21:10:00 GMT

There are days when even I think I’ve picked a pretty good gig in this life, and this is definitely one of those days. As I sit down to write this week’s blog, I am contemplating what a journey life can be. It really is sort of a—well, trip, when you think about it.

When I was barely 10 years old (if that), I somehow got my hands on a tattered old copy of Jackie Collins’ novel The Bitch, ripped the cover off of it (so my mother wouldn’t know what I was reading) and read the book from cover to cover in a day. I couldn’t put it down. Not only did it inspire me to read, it inspired me to write.

Flash forward to the last several years. I’ve had the opportunity to interview Jackie Collins a few times. For one of those chats, I even visited the best-selling author’s palatial digs in the flats of Beverly Hills, where I sat with her in the space where many of the characters in her best-selling novels have been birthed. In addition to being great fun, Jackie is also, as you might imagine, an amazing raconteur, so conversation has always been easy. And each time we’ve met, we’ve always had a good laugh about her books, Hollywood and music—especially music, because Jackie loves music.

Not once have I walked away from a conversation with Jackie Collins without her reeling off a list of new music for me to check out. She loves R&B—everything from Bobby Womack to Robin Thicke—and she knows it intimately, right down to the remixes, so it came as no surprise to me when I ran into her at the cocktail reception preceding Clive Davis’ listening party for the final album of Whitney Houston at the Beverly Hilton. Of course she would be there. The worlds of Hollywood and music collided that afternoon, so it was an event tailor-made for Jackie Collins.

Tonight, as I sat at the London Hotel in Los Angeles, where Jackie hosted a launch party for her sexy new best-selling thriller The Power Trip, I was thinking the real power trip was how I somehow got from the North Side of Jacksonville, Fla., to the chic dining room at the Ramsay sitting across from Jackie as she dished about Tinseltown, sex and "kicking ass," subjects in which both she and are characters are very well-versed.

Talk about a journey! For half a minute, I drifted away from Jackie’s conversation and remembered the little boy who had read her big bad words for the first time all those years ago, and it was a little surreal. The fancy sophisticated lady whose picture I had seen on that book jacket all those years ago was a few feet away from me, and I actually kind of knew her. For a second, I felt like a character in a Jackie Collins novel (a lesser character, but a character nonetheless), and I was a little struck.

When you live and work in Hollywood, you have these moments a lot. They are fleeting but nonetheless real. And, though some people don’t like to acknowledge them for fear of not seeming cool, I do, and this was one of them. And that’s that. Now back to The Power Trip.

Collins’ latest tome, which was just released in the U.S. after having already become a best-seller in the UK a few months back, is a wild ride of a read, set not in Beverly Hills or Hollywood this time around but instead on a state-of-the-art luxury yacht. And trust me, there’s more action happening on this yacht on this one trip than most people experience in a lifetime on dry land. Because I don’t want to be a spoiler, rather than write my own synopsis of the story, I’ll use the spin from the book's press release to introduce the story:

In The Power Trip you will meet Aleksandr Kasianenko, a billionaire Russian oligarch, as he sets sail on The Bianca. You’ll meet his sexy supermodel girlfriend, whom The Bianca is named after, and five dynamic, powerful and famous couples invited on the yacht’s maiden voyage: Hammond Patterson, a driven Senator, and his lovely but unhappy wife, Sierra. Cliff Baxter, a charming, never married movie star, and his ex-waitress girlfriend, Lori. Taye Sherwin, a famous black UK footballer and his interior designer wife, Ashley. Luca Perez, a male Latin singing sensation with his older, decadent English boyfriend, Jeromy. And Flynn, a maverick journalist with his Asian renegade female friend, Xuan.

You will also meet Russian mobster, Sergei Zukov, a man with a grudge against Aleksandr. And Sergei’s Mexican beauty queen girlfriend, Ina, whose brother, Cruz, is a master pirate with orders to hold The Bianca and its illustrious rota of guests for ransom.

Sold yet? You should be. Jackie Collins wrote the inspirations for series like Revenge decades ago with characters like Lucky Santangelo, and she invented The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills before there was even a Bravo network with her books like Hollywood Wives and Hollywood Husbands. The Power Trip is another in the best-selling storyteller’s long list of before-their-time page turners, and it is the perfect read for your next trip. Just be prepared to dig into the addictive tale of power, wealth and consequences, because once you start it, I doubt you’ll be able to put it down. But then again, it’s a Jackie Collins novel, so would you ever expect anything different?

Order the book and take Jackie Collins’ The Power Trip by visiting jackiecollins.com/book/the-power-trip. Also be sure to check out the audiobook for The Power Trip, available on Macmillan Audio, where Jackie herself reads the book along with a full cast of characters. Here’s a clip: http://theduanewells.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ThePowerTrip_webclip.mp3

And never forget that one of the most exciting parts of Living Wells is always remembering where you came from, because without a touchstone to ground you, you can’t always appreciate where you’ve been—or where you’re going, for that matter. Until next time…be well…live Wells!

Follow Duane @theduanewells

Remedies for the Road

Duane Wells — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:44:00 GMT

Travel can be glamorous and fun, but it can also simultaneously be rigorous and taxing. How so? Well, first of all, seemingly everything most of us tend to do on the road can leave us dehydrated.

Airplanes dehydrate us (particularly on longer flights) because of the lack of humidity in airplane cabins. Likewise, it stands to reason then that drinking while flying, as many of us like to do, only exacerbates the situation and often contributes to the symptoms of jetlag post-landing.

Then there is the actual jetlag, the resulting lack of sleep, the rigorous schedules that travel (particularly for business) generally entails, the inadequate time for exercise—and so on and so forth—and on down the rabbit hole we go. It is in fact a state of affairs that can leave you looking haggard when you absolutely need to be at your best.

There are of course some obvious solutions to the aforementioned problems, like drinking lots of water, avoiding alcohol and being vigilant about keeping meetings on time and making time for exercise, but there are also a few secrets that I have discovered to keep your physical appearance on track even during the most grueling of travel schedules. Here are three of my favorites:

Clarisonic Mia 2
Clarisonic has been a ground-breaking brand when it comes to sonic skin care for some time, but now with the Mia 2 it has created a fantastic way to take sonic skin care on the road. The Mia 2 is basically an extension of the popular Mia family of Clarisonic products that offers all the benefits of sonic cleansing in a compact, easy-to-use style. Mia 2 features two speeds, a one-minute pulsing T-Timer® and a protective travel case for on-the-go sonic cleansing. Not only does the Mia 2 offer deeper cleansing, which is invaluable after hours of airports, planes, trains and automobiles, it leaves your skin feeling rejuvenated and perfectly prepped to absorb other skin care products designed to restore balance and glow to the skin. Best of all, it literally only takes one minute to use. Just one minute. Now if that’s not efficiency I don’t know what is.

Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System
The eyes are always a dead giveaway. In fact, you need look no further than a traveler’s eyes to figure out just how weary they might be, and that is one of the reasons I rave about the Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infuser. It minimizes the effects of exhaustion. This palm-sized sonic infusion device dispenses Clarisonic’s signature Anti-Aging Sea Serum in such a way that it maximizes absorption of the product. In fact, just gently tapping the skin around your eyes with the Opal generates 125 sonic movements per second, which far exceeds anything that could be achieved by merely using your fingers alone. The end result is an intense reduction in puffiness and dark circles around the eyes. Better yet, over time, the Opal sonic infuser helps to reduce fine lines and is specially designed to help build skin's resilience and prevent future damage around the eyes. And again, it takes barely a minute to use.

Being True Transforming Mineral Mist
If your skin is dehydrated, the answer is to rehydrate it, and few products I have discovered do that better than the Transforming Mineral Mist by Being True. I advocate taking this mist on planes with you, in your briefcase and basically everywhere you go on the road. Loaded with tons of antioxidants, the Being True Transforming Mineral Mist hydrates and refreshes the skin with a blend of ylang-ylang, lavender, orange and other essential oils. Perfect for those moments when you land and don’t even have time to change or wash your face before your first meeting or in between engagements when the weight of the day has dulled your complexion, this product does exactly what its name suggests—it transforms your appearance and gives you a healthy glow all day long.

Sure, travel can sometimes get the best of us, but there’s absolutely no reason to look like it has. With these three great products, you can not only beat back the negative effects of life on the road, you can erase them altogether.

For more lifestyle tips, visit Living Wells Lifestyle at theduanewells.com.

Until next time…be well…live Wells!

The Thompson, Beverly Hills' Hippest Address

Duane Wells — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:45:00 GMT

Beverly Hills may be home to bigger—and perhaps splashier—hotels than The Thompson, but there is none that can claim to be cooler.

Yes, it's true that Beverly Hills has its fair share of grande dame hotels. And yes, it is equally true that each of those hotels come complete with storied histories embroidered with tales of scandalous celebrity romances, lavish soirees and all sorts of shenanigans of the rich and famous. Likewise, at some point in time, each of the hotels that now rank among the top tier of Beverly Hills' most tony addresses has also been crowned the fairest address of them all in Beverly Hills. All of that is a given.

But, though aging and change happen in Beverly Hills in a much different way (and rate) than they do in most other parts of the world, the fact remains that time marches on, bringing with it a slate of new faces and hotspots. And there is no brighter star in the 90210 at the moment than The Thompson, a boutique hotel with a discernible hipster edge that sets it apart from its more traditionally elegant neighbors.

Ornate and precious are not at all the descriptors that spring to mind when you step into the lobby of The Thompson. Instead, adjectives like sleek, modern and contemporary provide the most accurate introduction to The Thompson experience. But then again, what else might one expect from a hotel group with a manifesto (not a corporate philosophy, mind you) that states the following:

More precisely, our inspirations are those distinct personalities we wish we’d known, and raised a glass with, from Julie Christie to Steve McQueen, Michael Caine (in Alfie mode) to Marcello Mastroianni, Grace Kelly to Alfred Hitchcock, Pablo Picasso to Jean-Luc Godard. Edie Sedgwick to Chet Baker. “Let’s get lost,” indeed. If they were real, we’d welcome in The Royal Tenenbaums and The Big Lebowski. We’d go to Paris for absinthe to fuel Dorothy Parker’s Round Table, or to the desert for peyote to bedazzle Bill Burroughs’ Beats. We’d be on the bus with Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters. Further! Mick Jagger, circa 1973? Sure, bloke. Bobby Kennedy? Enter, Mister President.

They had me at Julie Christie.

But they really won me over when I arrived at the hotel and found that I had been upgraded to one of the property's recently renovated penthouse suites, where floor-to-ceiling windows peer out over the sprawl of Los Angeles and a minimalist, muted décor creates an effortlessly inviting environment for the discerning urban professional who demands more of hotel than a place to rest a travel-weary head.

My suite functioned not only as my temporary accommodation but also as a home away from home and a proper workspace thanks to both a full kitchen and dining area that easily doubled as a conference space. Beyond that, the vibe of the Thompson is such that it is the penultimate meeting place. Take a meeting in your suite, meet a client for lunch at the stellar Caulfield's (and do try the Lobster Club) or take advantage of the rooftop bar, which is exclusively reserved for hotel guests and offers some of the best views in Beverly Hills. And then, in between it all, slip up to the pool, order a cocktail and savor the best that one of America's most buzzed-about zip codes has to offer.

Whatever you do, try The Thompson, because as the hotel's manifesto clearly states, they "are not your grandfather's notion of hotel." In fact, they are something infinitely more appealing.

Find out more about The Thompson Beverly Hills at thompsonhotels.com.

Scene + Heard

Duane Wells — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:34:00 GMT

I just touched down back in Los Angeles early last week after a whirlwind weekend in Vail, where I attended the third installment of the Beaver Creek Food and Wine event, which annually draws scores of food and wine aficionados from around the country, along with a more than a fair amount of celebrity chefs.

Shortly after checking in at the Park Hyatt, I made a quick change and then took a dash around the property and the heated sidewalks of Beaver Creek, where I was greeted by live entertainment in the lobby (Antler Hall, as it is called), warm chocolate chip cookies and the aroma of S'mores being freshly made with Lindt chocolate and marshmallows of all varieties. (In fact, I saw a lavender-flavored marshmallow that looked rather intriguing.) I also noted the Veuve Clicquot tent at the bottom of the mountain as well. But, as delightful as it seemed outside, I decided that I would rather enjoy my champers inside in the warmth of the Hyatt's 8100 Mountainside Bar and Grill with a colleague. One glass of Veuve Clicquot Rosé down and it was time to be off to the weekend's kick-off event, a Meet the Chefs Reception at the Black Diamond Bistro in the Charter Hotel.

More Veuve followed at the reception as guests sampled a variety of Colorado hors d'oeuvres prepared by Beaver Creek's host chefs. Topping my list of favorites was a deliciously hearty lamb stew (very Colorado), Hot Smoked Char, Foie Gras-Stuffed Twinkies, Colorado Striped Bass Carpaccio and Buffalo Tartar in Wonton Cups. As the nibbles wafted out of the kitchen on trays attached to waiters all dressed in black and wine from a battalion of winemaker sponsor, I had a chance to have a quick chat with Top Chef Season 2 finalist Chef Sam Talbot and Chef Alex Seidel, one of Food and Wine magazine's Best New Chefs of 2010.

In between chatter about farms and such, I learned that Talbot is opening a new restaurant in Montauk soon. No name yet for Talbot's latest venture, but expect it to be a small and intimate eatery where the food will be the star and the scene much more mellow than his previous endeavors at Imperial No. 9 at the Mondrian in NYC and Surf Lodge, which was also located in Montauk. As for Seidel, his Fruition restaurant continues to be a major hit in Denver, as does his 10-acre farm, which supplies not just his own restaurants but dozens of others in Colorado. A big 'hoorah' for the farm-to-table movement.

On day two, as Food and Wine's Gail Simmons hosted a cooking demonstration, I hit the slopes for a ski lesson, which is terribly convenient at Beaver Creek, because the slopes and gondolas are literally at the doorstep of the Park Hyatt. Hours later, I popped into the cozy Golden Eagle Inn Restaurant in the Village for a steaming bowl of Elk Chili before heading off to the Aprés Ski Beer and Burgers event where Top Chef Season 4 contestant and GoodStuffEatery mastermind Spike Mendelsohn, along with his crew, turned out a Wild Boar Burger that explained with each flavorful bite why the Obamas are such a fan of his Washington, D.C., burger joint.

Right next door, Ft. Worth's Chef Tim Love of the Love Shack left tongues wagging with his skirt burger topped with lamb bacon and dressed with roasted red pepper hollandaise. Meanwhile, Stella Artois, Hooegaarden and Leffe were on tap to wash down the burgers, a band played and the chefs mingled. A lovely casual afternoon was enjoyed by all.

Later that evening, there was a fundraising dinner for the Bright Future Foundation at Splendido Restaurant, where Chefs Sam Talbot and David Walford took the reins in the kitchen as the winemakers behind Layer Cake and Cherry Pie poured the wines. While Walford delivered a Parsley Root Soup with just-smoked trout, guanciale, leeks and fried bread that started the meal off on a high note, Chef Sam Talbot brought the whole menu home with a rich pairing of Braised Clams and an 18-hour Pork Shoulder, served with white beans, white sesame and pink grapefruit caviar. It was spectacular, as were the wines paired with each course. I sat with the winemakers that night and was blown away by their product. Word to the wise—If you haven't tried the Hundred Acre 2007 "Ancient Way" Shiraz or the If You See Kay 2010 Rosso, then you're in for a real treat. I would categorize both as "highly recommended." You read it here, maybe not first but most certainly with emphasis.

On the final full day of Food & Wine weekend, I attended a "Ski.Eat.Ski." luncheon with the amiable John Besh, a James Beard award-winning chef who was named one of Food and Wine magazine's top new chefs early on his career and whose flagship restaurant August was featured on the late great Gourmet magazine’s “Guide to America’s Best Restaurants” and “America’s Top 50 Restaurants.” As Besh meandered around from table to table talking and laughing with guests at the luncheon, a silky Cauliflower and Lobster Bisque with shaved white truffle was served as the first course. That course was followed by a Chestnut Cavatelli with a ragout of elk shoulder and wild mushrooms that had just the right kind of warmth and robustness that a day of skiing requires. The meal closed with a Warm Gateau Basque that cemented Chef Besh's reputation as one of the most visionary chefs working in the Southeast and indeed in America.

Later that evening, after a quick steam and soak at the Park Hyatt's massive, 30,000-square-foot Allegria Spa, it was time for the premiere event of the weekend—The Grand Tasting, where all of the chefs put out brilliant bites for the capacity crowd as a live band played jazz and R&B classics. Again, Chef Tim Love was a standout with a layered Smoked Lamb Posole Stew possessed of that rare quality that makes each bite better than the last. Another standout was Chef Daniel Joly of Mirabelle Restaurant with a cheesy, gooey Lamb Bacon Tarte "Sifflette" that was just perfectly decadent. Ditto for Chef Alex Seidel with a tender Braised Short Rib and Chef David Gutowski of Grouse Mountain Grille, who prepared a deconstructed Bologna Sandwich with housemade bologna, rye bread and ramp slaw that added more depth than you can imagine to a familiar favorite. Alongside the bites, Beluga Vodka, Capture Wines, Schweiger Vineyards, Veuve Clicquot and The Hess Collection poured as the band played on and on into the night.

On the final day of the weekend—"Sunday Funday" as it was called—the celebrity chefs and Beaver Creek favorites competed in a downhill ski race to raise money for their favorite charities. Four spots were allotted to each chef's team, and each was auctioned off to the highest bidder. Following the race, the winner was announced at a Champagne Brunch at Beaver Creek Chophouse, where good-byes were said over bottomless mimosas, omelets stuffed with prime rib and cheese, steak and egg wraps, pancakes fruit, pastries and all sorts of other delicious breakfast treats. It was a fitting end to a weekend that had lived up to its purpose of showcasing Beaver Creek as a true food and wine destination. Bravo, Food and Wine. Bravo Beaver Creek!

For more information about Beaver Creek, go to beavercreek.com.

Welcome to Workshop, Palm Springs' Hottest New Eatery

Duane Wells — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 18:33:00 GMT

Barely three months after opening, Workshop Kitchen + Bar has already become the toast of Palm Springs. Even mid-week, on a Wednesday, the bar and restaurant are packed to capacity and the place is abuzz with an almost electric energy despite the fact that it is nestled in one of the quieter corners of Palm Springs' main drag, better known as Palm Canyon Drive.

Like a seeming wave of restaurants that have popped up in Palm Springs over the last few years, Workshop represents the new face of the desert's crown jewel. It seeks to be neither retro nor classic and it clearly caters to an audience that expects more from a night out than your basic meat and potatoes steakhouse can deliver. While the industrial chic décor is more Melrose Avenue than classic desert design, the vibe of the new hotspot is definitely more hipster than any of its neighboring contemporaries. Aesthetics aside, the real star of Workshop Kitchen + Bar is Chef/Owner Michael Beckman and the masterful menu of seasonal favorites he has crafted using primarily locally sourced ingredients in his very own inspired take on nouvelle American cuisine.

Beckman's international training in Lyon, Burgundy and Berlin shine through on menu items like the Crispy Goat Cheese served with brown butter over balsamic beets and lentils and the Daily Market Pizza, which on the night I visited was topped with wilted arugula and truffled salami from Northern California. Another standout was the Farro Calamari Salad, a flavorful blend of lemon, cucumber, fresh olives, herbs, red wine vinegar and olive oil. For the record, though I didn't get to try it, the Chicken Diavola—a woodfire-grilled, deboned chicken—looks amazing and is in fact one of the chef's favorite dishes and one he says he's been perfecting in his own backyard for years. Which brings me to the subject of Workshop's X-factor among the burgeoning food landscape in Palm Springs.

In conversation, Beckman talks about his food as a proud father would speak of a beloved child or an inventor of his most ingenious invention. It is the excitement about his food that inspires me to say I can't wait to see how Workshop evolves over time, because it's clear that Chef Beckman is only just getting started. In one fell swoop he's brought a culinary revolution of sorts to Palm Springs proper, and now it will be interesting to see how that shakes up the scene even more in the desert. Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure—you would do yourself a favor to treat yourself to dinner and cocktails at Workshop on your next visit to Palm Springs. You might just find yourself thinking of dining out in the desert in a whole new light.

Find out more about Workshop at workshoppalmsprings.com.

In Paris: A Room with a View

Duane Wells — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:24:00 GMT

For some reason, I've been waxing nostalgic about Paris this week. Perhaps it's because Fashion Week and all of the spectacle of the 2013 collections will soon take over the City of Lights in a way few events can. Or perhaps it's because January tends to be a reflective month that has as its companion this spiritual vessel into which we pour our hopes, dreams and plans for each new year (which in my case always includes a visit to Paris). Or maybe it's simply because I miss Paris.

Whatever the reason, I've got a case of Paris on the brain, and I've got it bad. So of course, this week, I'm revisiting the City of Lights with an eye toward two options for accommodations that are quite, quite enchanteur.

My belief about Paris is that after you've seen all the major sights on your first visit, the best option is to eschew hotels altogether and set up home base at a rented apartment (unless of course you're traveling for business, in which case a hotel may be more appropriate). There are tons and tons of eye-popping apartments to be had, and best of all, in the final analysis, they tend to be more economical. No, you may not have room service at your fingertips, but you will likely find a splendid café steps away from your door, along with a pâtisserie, a boulangerie and more wine and cheese than you can imagine. I'll take that over room service any old day.

Case in point—on my first visit to Paris as a teen, I stayed in a charming hotel right off the Champs-Elysées and had a wide-eyed and wonderful introduction to the city. But since that initial visit I have often rented an apartment, because, to be completely cliché, I am enthralled by the lives of Parisians and as such get swept up in the feeling of living like them. There is no better way to do that than to live in the heart of Paris life. Living in an apartment allows you to really slink into the rhythm of the city, get to know a neighborhood, meet people, find out-of-the-way places—and these are the experiences that make Paris such a remarkable city to visit.

With that in mind, there are two apartment rental resources in Paris that stand head and shoulders above the rest—Haven in Paris and Absolu Living Paris.

Absolu Living Paris is a straight-friendly resource primarily dedicated to serving gay and lesbian patrons (though they welcome all clients). In Paris, many of their apartments are located in Le Marais, which is not only one of the most stylish neighborhoods in town but also the heartbeat of gay life in the city. That means that when you stay at one of these apartments you're in walking distance of fastastic shopping, the Metro, celebrated restaurants and, of course, Le Marais's notable nightlife scene.

On my first visit with Absolu Living, I was pleasantly surprised by all the services they offer. They can pick you up from the airport, help you get into your rental, give you an introduction to the appliances (which can have a few quirks) and even offer a walking tour of the neighborhood so you can familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. Not only that, they remain available to you 24 hours a day should you have any emergency needs arise. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that my rental was stocked with guides to Paris, a selection of DVDs and a library of great books celebrating the best of both Paris and France. Trust me, few hotels have ever made me feel so at home.

Haven in Paris offers all of the same amenities as Absolu Living and much more on a more luxurious scale. Visiting one of the Haven in Paris apartments is like stepping into a dream. Each apartment is carefully selected, beautifully appointed and located at one of the best addresses in Paris. Think a two-bedroom penthouse in St. Germain with a panoramic view of the Eiffel Tower, a picture perfect one-bedroom flat just around the corner from Notre Dame or a breathtaking three-bedroom designer loft in Montogueil and you'll get the idea of what Haven in Paris is all about.

Add to all of that the fact that Haven in Paris clients have access to a chauffeur and concierge service as well as tours and classes for everything from language to cooking, and you have the makings of an anything-but-run-of-the-mill visit to the City of Lights. I have had conversations with the owner of Haven in Paris, and she goes out of her way with the help of her many connections to make your Parisian fantasies come true.

Are you having champagne dreams and Eiffel Tower wishes yet? Well, If you're not, I'm sure to be having enough for the both of us (and you're crazy).

Until next time...be well...live Wells!

Find out more about Haven in Paris at haveninparis.com.

Find out more about Absolu Living at absoluliving.com.