Drink Up, Chow Down

Join me on my quest to drink in some of the world's most random bars. Road trippin' in Southern California? The next time you find yourself Palm Springs way and in need of a stiff one, consider heading to the incredible Ski Inn - dive bar extraordinaire, just miles from the Mexican border, in forgotten Niland, California. Wendel, tending his bar It's a good hour from Palm Springs, but well worth the trip. (There's absolutely no public transportation, so at this point, it would be a good move to make friends with a designated driver.) Continue east into the desert towards the Salton Sea , another forgotten California destination that is as eerie and unique as it is remote and surreal. You may not want to go in the water, although I'm assuming the countless dead fish will help you come to that conclusion on your own... The Salton Sea has an astounding history and is a must-see phenomenon. Something fishy, Salton Sea That said, we're here to drink

Mixing cocktails in large quantities for party pitchers isn't always simple. The mighty Pimm's cup is no different, so here are a few tips. Go boozy! Ignore the 1 part Pimm's to 2 parts lemonade suggestions, and go with an easy 1 part Pimm's to 1 part lemonade ratio. (With a splash of ginger beer, to taste). I prefer a slightly sweeter lemonade option, like Minute Maid, and a more natural ginger beer option, like Reed's. Thinly sliced cucumbers are a must, as are mint leaves and halved strawberries.  For my my recent pitcher, I also added blueberries (1 cup), orange slices (1 orange), lemon slices (1 lemon) and the juice from one squeezed lemon.  Success!  Make sure you add enough fruit to every glass - and be sure to enjoy the alcohol-infused fruit afterwards. (Vitamins!) What are your Pimm's tips? Tweet me @LAWineGal. Cheers! 

I've said it to anyone who will listen — the  Wally's Wine  Grande Marque Champagne tasting is one of my favorite annual events in LA. And last week's fabulous event certainly lived up to that claim. They spread out a little more this year, using the pool area below the main deck, which was a great idea and meant one never felt crowded while sipping fine bubbles and nibbling decadent bites. (The good life...) And in spite of the proximity of the inviting pool to the even more inviting Champagne (and some killer high heels), all seemed on their best behavior. :) I discovered the NV Taittinger Prelude — which is an amazing NV bottle for around $80. It is delicate and refined and everything one wants in a bottle of Champagne, for an amazing value compared to vintage Champagne. Other notables were the glorious 2006 Cristal (and the amazing staff at the table who let me, ahem, sample more than once or twice...) as well as the mighty 2004 Dom Perignon . Thanks,

Thanks to the fab folks at  Bite at the Beach  for inviting me to their first annual festival, featuring beer and food pairings from South Bay and beyond. A portion of the proceeds went to benefit the amazing  Surfrider Foundation . It was a fun (and decadently delicious) event, held on the Manhattan Beach Studios backlot — I'm looking forward to making this an annual tradition. I hope they spread out a little more next time and consider more seating options and perhaps a few non-alcoholic offerings (not for me, don't worry!) That said, it was run incredibly smoothly, and the VIP hour beforehand was a real treat. It was great to see so many South Bay restaurants and hotels showing up to pair their delights with some of the finest local and national brews out there. Keep on sipping! Cheers!