The French (Canadian) Connection: Montreal En Lumiere

Oh Canada...you are just filled with so much goodness! And that goodness is on gorgeous display during Montreal En Lumiere--North America's premier winter festival. With just four days to spend in Montreal, we worried about not being able to pack it all in,  but somehow, we prevailed, wrapping up a tasty weekend with a (somewhat random) Buenos Aires theme.

It's not all snow, electro and frozen slides: There's a ton of free art exhibits (video art projected onto a cathedral!), performances (we saw fire dancers in ice skating outfits!) and food (grill your own hot dogs over communal firepits!).

Read all about Montreal En Lumiere in this story for Fodor's:

http://www.fodors.com/news/just-back-from-montreal-en-lumiere-6555.html

Are Beet Cocktails a Thing?

Stop beeting yourself up. Who would have guessed the humble root vegetable would become the little darling of the cocktail world? Sure, it's color-saturated and sweet, and lends itself well to punny drink names, but beets should probably stick to salad, right?

Not so, say mixologists. Read all about the beet cocktail trend here, and whip up one of your own. It's kind of like juicing, but with booze. What's not to like?

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Best-Of-Year-2012/The-Beet-Goes-On/

Chef Kelly Liken On Hyperlocality, Carrots and More...

Organic is one of those buzzwords that's starting to drive us crazy...what does it really mean? Is it all just clever marketing?

We're not the only ones over "organic"...in fact, Iron Chef competitor Kelly Liken of Vail, Colorado gave me an earful on the topic, along with a killer vegetarian carrot recipe in this piece for Wine Enthusiast.

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/March-2013/Know-Thy-Farmer/

Love Potions!

Eating whale penis is totally overrated! Why not sample a seductive sip instead? (A drink is way sexier, anyway.)

Read this article for some great love potions you can make at home, plus a breakdown of common aphrodisiacs you can find in your pantry!

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/March-2013/Five-Top-Love-Potions/

We got this intel from the Museum of Sex btw...aka MoSEX. That's a real place. Seriously.

Top 10 Bars to Watch the Super Bowl in New Orleans

Where, oh where to watch the big game? Where, oh where to cheer on teams (likely) not from your city? Where, oh where to actually focus on commercials for once?

If you're in New Orleans, the answer is easy: There are plenty of options.

From dog-friendly beer bars to upscale hotel lounges with a wall of TVs and custom, team-themed cocktails, we rounded up the top 10 bars in New Orleans to watch the Super Bowl for The Daily Meal. Score your seats here:

http://www.thedailymeal.com/where-watch-super-bowl-new-olreans

5 New AVAs to Watch

Ah, to spend a day in the vineyards! While we may romanticize the grape-to-glass process, making wine is no easy feat (especially when you're dealing with the American government)!

Just ask the winemakers who recently applied for AVA status...it can take almost a decade to achieve! What exactly is an AVA, you ask?

We profiled the 5 latest viticultural areas in the United States to be awarded coveted AVA status  for Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Read everything you ever wanted to know about the process here, preferably with a glass of vino in hand: We hear it helps when contemplating all bureaucratic endeavors.

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/February-2013/Americas-Newest-AVAs/

Super Bowl Survival Guide: The Daily Meal

Let the countdown to Super Bowl Sunday begin! Did you know it's America's #1 snacking day?? Even if you aren't planning on building a meatstadium complete with sandwich seating, you still may need a Super Bowl survival guide, especially if you're spending the big game day in New Orleans.

We've got insider tips from Mister Jerry, stadium announcer for the New Orleans Saints for more than 40 seasons in this article for The Daily Meal.

http://www.thedailymeal.com/super-bowl-survival-guide-new-orleans

Mixologist of the Month: Abigail Gullo

Abigail Gullo is a sassy, brassy broad who makes mean drinks down in the city that care forgot, our new hometown, New Orleans. What more could a girl ask for? How about some great tales wielded from behind the bar? See why Gullo made our Mixologist of the Month column in Wine Enthusiast here:
http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Best-Of-Year-2012/Mixologist-of-the-Month-Abigail-Deirdre-Gullo/

The Year of the Cocktail: Chinese Herbal Tipples

Chinese New Year is February 10. How are you going to celebrate? We're thinking cocktails ('natch). And why not toss some authentic ingredients plucked from your local Chinatown into your tipples?

Mixologists around the country aren't waiting till February 10 to mix up Chinese herb-infused cocktails.
No really...and the results are more than exotic. (One even contains aphrodisiacs!)

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Best-Of-Year-2012/Big-Tipples-In-Little-China/

New Orleans Airport Guide: Travel Channel

There sure are a whole lot of people in town this week in New Orleans...and most of them are here for Super Bowl!

Good thing the city invested some $300 million into revamping New Orleans's airport, MSY.

In connection with the Travel Channel's episode of "The Layover" in New Orleans, we wrote this guide to the reimagined airport, including where to eat, drink, shop...and even when to score free beads (please, no flashing necessary)!

http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/airports/articles/new-orleans-airport-guide