Wine and Spirits Travel

Is there anything better than a party overlooking the ocean with a top Food Network chef?  The answer is yes – three of them.  That’s how many I made it to on the last night of the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival. It’s probably hard to believe I was still standing (and I wasn’t completely… more later) after my marathon day of events , but there were some incredible parties to attend and I wasn’t about to let my readers down.  I grabbed some caffeine, threw on my party dress , touched up the makeup and headed to party one with my companion, photographer and daughter, Sam. We didn’t have far to go for the first party as it was right where we were staying, Harrah’s .  It gave me yet another opportunity to enjoy The Pool, this time for Conde Nast Traveler’s Taste The World: Grapes & Global Tapas.  The setting was tropical and the wine list huge.  As was the case with all of the events at the Food & Wine Festival, there was a little of everything, including Marumoto's

The second day of the Food Network’s Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival was filled to the brim with events.  I had a hard time deciding where to go, but finally narrowed it down – to seven.  Considering I had my daughter Sam along to help me taste, note and photograph, I thought I could handle it. I started off joining three other writers for an informal interview with Guy Fieri .  Why he is called the “bad boy” of the Food Network , I will never know.  Guy was cordial and accommodating.  He actually lit up when I asked him about his appeal to children (my nieces and nephew, ages 12, 10 and 5, love him).  Guy explained his process of talking to kids the same way he talks to adults, adding how important his own relationship to his children is.  Most famous for his shows, like “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” Ultimate Recipe Showdown” and “Guy’s Big Bite,” the Food Network star also admitted that he feels he’s living a dream beyond his expectation and he wants everyone to get the mes