Happy Earth Day, readers!  Make the world a better place by treating someone you know out to a nutritious lunch.  The Veggie Grill is making it easy, delicious, and (of course) affordable!

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“Celebrate Earth Day by reducing the # of Veggie Grill Virgins in the world!  Bring a friend who hasn’t been to The Veggie Grill, let the cashier know you have a VG Virgin with you, and we’ll comp their entree.  Tell your friend it’s on you!

The Earth Day/VG Virgin Day offer is good on Thursday, April 22nd.  One Veggie Grill Virgin per experienced Veggie Griller; No solo VG Virgins please.”

*Images and quotes courtesy of Better Eating Concepts, LLC
*Click here to find the Veggie Grill location nearest you.

Did you sleep in and miss out on free pastries at Starbucks this morning?  It’s okay because you can still get a delicious free cone at Ben & Jerry’s from now until 8pm!  Maybe good things do come to those who wait.

Click here to find the participating location nearest you.

So, dineLA is over, it’s time for Orange County’s very own restaurant week.

Here’s a link to where we go and check out what’s happening:
Open Table Orange County Restaurant Week

But if you really want to see the official webpage:
http://orangecountyrestaurantweek.com/

I think it’s a dinky website design, but who am I to criticize? Any how, go out and have fun. We’ll try to post updates soon, becuase we’re definitely behind.

It’s that time again!  You can mozy on over to dineLA’s website and checkout the list of participating restaurants.

Just click on the dineLA 2010 image for more info.

Today begins Thomas Keller’s book tour promoting his latest release: ad hoc at home (complete with lower-case lettering to make it more effortless and chic).  There are only nine stops in the next four weeks, most of them either on the northeast coast or in California (with one stop in Illinois and two in Texas along the way).

With the highly anticipated opening of Bouchon in Beverly Hills this month, Keller will be a very busy man.  Lucky for local fans, he will be coming to Williams-Sonoma at South Coast Plaza to introduce and sign ad hoc.

The South Coast Plaza signing will occur on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 11:00AM (3333 South Bristol Street Costa Mesa, CA 92626).  Williams-Sonoma South Coast Plaza is located in the main mall between Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s.   This event will be free and open to the public, but will likely fill up fast.

For your convenience, the California appearances are listed below:

Williams-Sonoma Santa Monica
Monday, November 9, 2009 at 12:00pm
1600 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 586-1018

Williams-Sonoma South Coast Plaza
Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 11:00am
3333 South Bristol St., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 751-1166

Williams-Sonoma Palo Alto
Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 11:30am
180 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 321-3486

*Please note that Thomas will only be signing copies of ad hoc at home purchased at Williams-Sonoma (ie proofs of purchase will be required)! =0/
*Click here for more information and a full schedule of the Williams-Sonoma ad hoc tour

On Tuesday, October 20th, Wally’s on Westwood will be hosting a Salon-Delamotte champagne tasting for only $20 dollars!  Salon Director Didier Depond will be there to pop open the newest version – a 1997 vintage that has barely been tasted in the US.   Get him to answer all your sparkling wine questions.  Remember – the holidays are just around the corner!

A wide range of highly-regarded Delamotte Champagnes will also be available to taste (including the 1999 Delamotte Blanc de Blancs, Delamotte Rosé, Delamotte Brut, and even a Delamotte Blanc de Blanc from 1985!).

The tasting runs from 6:30 to 8pm at Wally’s Wine & Spirits (2107 Westwood Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90025).   Click here or call (310) 475-0606 for more information.  If you’d like to learn more about Salon-Delamotte champagnes (or just want to get revved up), check out this video I’ve embedded below!

On Sunday, October 11th, from 6 – 9 pm, Joe’s in Venice will host the first in a series of Los Angeles bartending competitions. The series, dubbed “Raising the Bar” will feature mixologists from six top L.A. restaurants doing what they do best – all in the spirit of friendly competition!

For this first competition, the judging panel will include the owners of each competing restaurant, Sophie Gayot of Gayot Guide, and Restaurant Critic Betty Hallock of the L.A. Times.

There is no cover charge for the audience, though Joe’s is notoriously intimate (read: small) – so RSVP and get there early! The competing cocktails will be sold at $10 per drink. The popular bar menu will also be available for purchase.

*Image courtesy of Bacardi
*Please contact Claudia at (310) 392-5655 for more information and to reserve your spot
*Click here to read my review of Joe’s