Philadelphia is known worldwide as a fabulous food city, and the Italian restaurants here live up to that reputation. When visiting, check out a few of these great Italian restaurants in Philadelphia that serve up a variety of delectable classic and modern favorites.

GIUSEPPE & SONS

Featuring a casual and bustling luncheonette on the main floor and a stylish restaurant downstairs, Giuseppe & Sons is one of the newer establishments to join the Italian dining scene. Developed by award-winning chef Michael Schulson and his wife, Nina Tinari, this destination creates an array of Italian classics with a modern flair. Both the main floor and rooms downstairs have full bars with a robust menu of craft cocktails. Note: If you’re simply craving something sweet, you can purchase fresh Italian pastries at the counter.

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Wine lovers adore Philadelphia for its great selection of wine bars around town. So no matter which neighborhood you may find yourself in, be sure to stop in, sip and savor a few glasses of reds, whites, rosé, or sparklers at some of the coolest wine bars in the city. 

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As the birthplace of the United States of America, Philadelphia is home to a number of intriguing historical sites that date back several hundred years. But there’s more to the city than the iconic Liberty Bell and the legendary monuments—there are several unique and impressive bars in town that were established over a century or two ago and reflect a bygone era. If you wish to experience some history while you’re sipping a beer, wine, or cocktail, be sure to pull up a stool at these historical Philadelphia bars, located in several neighborhoods in and around Center City Philly.

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Ready to visit the Original Cannabis Cafe? Here’s all you need to know!

An earlier version was published in USA Today 10 Best

As a frequent Los Angeles visitor, I visited the Original Cannabis Café a few years ago. It was closed for a while but there’s good news now! The restaurant opened its doors again — serving up an array of cannabis offerings, along with accompanying culinary creations.

Where is the origional Cannabis Cafe?

The Cannabis Cafe is located in West Hollywood, California. It has a large parking lot and offers valet parking, too. The cafe is very large, airy and features indoor-outdoor seating with a lovely patio surrounded by a wall, keeping it private. No one walking past can see inside the patio area. 

Marijuana has been legalized for recreational use in the state of California since late 2016, and this pioneering cafe can be considered a sign of the times. (Since its initial launch, the cafe changed its name from the Lowell Café in December 2019).

What does the Cannabis Cafe look like inside?

An entirely unique concept, the 6,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor cafe offers a friendly environment to dine in a modern, yet rustic setting while enjoying a variety of cannabis options at your table (or the bar).

It also features a spacious, picturesque 45-seat patio with tables and chairs that surround a 70-year-old olive tree, an organic “living wall,” an inviting bar area and plenty of cozy booths inside the dining room.

At first glance, it appears to be similar to the many other lively, upbeat restaurants in West Hollywood with a cool vibe. Guests are chatting over raucous rock ‘n roll tunes and snacking on nachos and other gourmet-style comfort-foods.

But there’s one major difference: Instead of cocktails being shaken and stirred, the main feature of this cafe is cannabis – in a variety of forms including joints, edibles and beverages.

Andrea Drummer, a leader in the cannabis community who is known for her expertise in cooking with marijuana serves as executive chef and co-owner. She explained, “We’re so unique. We are essentially creating a new industry. This space is so perfect for our cafe and we were smiling from ear-to-ear when we finally found this building. It’s been fun and exciting to open this cafe – for me as well as our innovative team.”

And what about the smoke? There’s no haze here – the cafe is airy, open and uses a powerful air filtration system that is “casino-grade” and renders the smoke (almost) unnoticeable. Anyone strolling by on the sidewalk would never know the patio beyond the tall hedges is filled with smokers a few feet away.

Drummer noted, “We were thinking of the community at large and there is still a stigma attached and we wanted to be incredibly conscientious of the smoke.”

Chef Andrea Drummer — Photo courtesy of Original Cannabis Cafe

Due to legal regulations in the state, the food items and the cannabis sold here are kept separate, which means although you order both from the same “flower server,” you will receive a different bill for each. This also means that the food menu does not offer cannabis-infused food.

A world-class professional, chef Drummer developed the cafe’s menu to complement (not contain) the cannabis offerings. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Los Angeles, Drummer worked as a chef at the Ritz-Carlton, and has been a private chef for several years, known across the world for cooking with cannabis.

She’s also the co-founder of Elevation VIP Cooperative, and author of the cookbook “Cannabis Cuisine: Bud Pairings of a Born Again Chef.”

The food menu

Table with cannabis and food — Photo courtesy of Original Cannabis Cafe

She describes her culinary style at the cafe as “eclectic comfort food.” Drummer explained, “Originally, I wanted to start with a farm-to-table concept, so a lot of our produce comes from local growers and smaller farms in the area. But ultimately, I wanted to offer some comfort foods that support the cannabis consumption experience. So, I added some traditional and homey items with a bit of a spin on them. Not necessarily complex – just a concentration on the fresh ingredients and delicious taste.”

Drummer mentioned that she plans to play around with new recipe ideas and food concepts. “We’ll see what sticks and what people like and we will build upon that,” she said.

The food menu’s offerings are all personally created by chef Drummer, with plates that are generously-portioned (not a bad approach, considering the potential for increased appetite).

Smash burger — Photo courtesy of Original Cannabis Cafe

Several best-sellers include: vegan nachos (with housemade chips topped with cauliflower, red onion, guacamole and Follow Your Heart “cheese”), signature cobb salad (a delectable oversized bowl with grilled chicken, garbanzo beans, roasted broccoli, avocado, soft boiled egg and more) and crispy Brussels sprouts and turnips.

For brunch, favorites include the cheese griddled breakfast burrito (with scrambled egg, fries, avocado and chips); French toast, and the signature “smash” burger, among other offerings.

There are a number of desserts on the menu too, including an especially decadent and creamy version of baked Alaska. According to Drummer, both the food and flower menus will be changing on a regular basis, featuring new items throughout the year.

She noted, “The audience in our cafe is very different than expected. At first we thought that West Hollywood customers prefer healthy, light dishes, so we started out with six different salads – but they were not all a hit, so we wound up taking some of them off the menu,” she laughed.

The cannabis Cafe’s menu

Curated by the cafe’s renowned cannabis expert (and vendor relations director), Red Rodriguez, the “flower” menu is robust, straightforward and descriptive. It clearly states the THC potency of each item and categorizes them into easy-to-understand sections.

Guests can purchase plenty of options, including flowers and buds, pre-rolled joints and vapes. If you’re a frequent smoker and prefer a higher potency, there’s also hash, oils or waxes, and for a lower octane choice (containing a fair amount of CBD), you can select beverages and edibles. Bongs are available for rent, and rolling papers, lighters and ashtrays are abundant.

Fruity Pebbles dunkers — Photo courtesy of Original Cannabis Cafe

Rodriguez explained, “I curate the cannabis menu to ensure it’s diverse, clean and creative as possible. All of our flower is fresh – and most of our product has been harvested in the last few months – sometimes even a week ago. I have indoor, outdoor, hydroponic…everything is sustainable.”

He added, “I’m very passionate about cannabis and I really want the café to truly represent our industry and community as well. We want to make sure we are here for everyone.”

A few of their most popular offerings on the “flower” menu include:

• Cann beverages – A local California company creates infused beverages that contain a low-dose of THC. It’s served in cans and offered in several flavors, including lemon lavender.
• OG by Loaded Co. pre-roll – This pre-roll is unique and includes a patented glass crutch (also known as a filter or tip).
• Top-Shelf Cultivation Flower – Featured in the “experts only” section, the “whoa-si-whoa” cannabis strain is described as exotic and balanced. (At 31% THC, this is recommended for cannabis connoisseurs only).
• Hot chocolate by Kiva Confections – (A special for winter) contains 5 mg of THC

As the cafe ramps up, there’s a lot of room for new items on the menu. Rodriguez said, “We will be rolling out special offerings in the near future. We’re considering happy hours, tea times, seasonal items similar to our exquisite hot chocolate and a variety of holiday items as well. We’re in line to get our alcohol permit, so in the future, we hope to be able to sell drinks in a designated area as well.”

The flower servers are experts and with a great deal of experience in bud-tending. They patiently help customers choose the best options and are trained to keep a careful watch for over-consumption. (And yes, the staff does get to partake while working…it’s their job, after all).

What to know before you go

The Original Cannabis Cafe has a light and airy ambiance — Photo courtesy of Original Cannabis Cafe

Of course, the cafe has its quirks, too. Due to strict adherence to state laws, the kitchen must remain separate from where the cannabis is sold. This affects the location of the restrooms, which are situated behind the venue. (So guests need to exit through the front door and walk around to the back in order to access them).

Not surprisingly, the Original Cannabis Café is leading the way for other, similar ventures to open in Los Angeles in the near future.

Rodriguez says, “Cannabis in general is inclusive to everyone. The other cafes will all be a little different and they will all have amazing visions of what consumption really is. I really feel there is no competition among businesses. This is their home, too. We all win. I’m excited to see the new versions of cafes that will be opening.”

A few tips for visiting the Original Cannabis Cafe

• Make reservations for weekends. The cafe is open to walk-ins during the week, but they do request you make reservations for weekend visits.
• Bring your ID – All guests must have legal identification or they won’t be admitted, period. Customers are vetted by a security representative who checks IDs and bags as well. If all goes well, you will be permitted to walk down a pathway to the front entrance.
• You can’t bring your own – Guests are not allowed to bring their own pipes, bongs or tobacco. However, there is a charge per person “tokeage” fee to bring outside cannabis into the cafe.
• No alcohol allowed – Alcohol is not sold in the café. Customers are not permitted to bring in outside food or beverages.
• Hours – The café is open Tuesday through Sunday and hours vary. (The café offers free Wi-Fi and guests are encouraged to bring their laptop and work from there, too). Brunch is offered on weekends.
• Parking – The Original Cannabis Café has a parking lot, valet is $10 dollars.
• Visit the cafe’s website for all FAQs for your visit!

The post Visit The original Cannabis Cafe In Los Angeles (2024) appeared first on Marla Cimini.

Tequila lovers may be very familiar with all sorts of colorful mixed cocktails featuring their favorite distilled spirit – from a zesty jalapeno Margarita to a refreshing Paloma to a sweet, brilliantly-hued Tequila Sunrise.

But there’s one distinctive tequila drink that’s remained under-the-radar in the United States. Unless you grew up in Mexico or are a frequent visitor to the country, chances are you may not have heard of it. It’s called “La Bandera” (meaning “the flag” in Spanish) and this beverage represents the country’s three official colors: red, white and green.

Although popular throughout Mexico, La Bandera is still largely unknown in other parts of the world. This unique drink gives new meaning to the “power of three,” as it’s served in three different double-sized “shot” glasses: one contains blanco (unaged) tequila, the second is filled with freshly-squeezed lime juice, and the third features a spicy tomato juice blend called “sangrita.”

But there’s more than meets the eye to this unassuming trio of vibrantly-colored glasses. Despite how this drink appears at first glance, the purpose is not to do quick shots, and slosh down the contents of each glass rapidly, but instead to leisurely savor the delightful, complementary flavor combination. Over and over in small sips.

The best part? You don’t need to sip the smooth tequila, tart lime juice and peppery sangrita in any order, either. This drink lets you be you. It’s your own personal preference.

David Hernandez is the bar manager at Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, a luxury beachfront resort on Mexico’s west coast that features several dining options and bars. He says, “This is actually a very common way to drink tequila in Mexico and a very special drink in our culture. So instead of a slice of lime, we prefer to sip the lime juice and sangrita while slowly sipping on a nice blanco tequila.”

The gorgeous and inviting Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal — Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

Not surprisingly, La Bandera is often a fixture at special holidays such as Mexico’s Independence Day (in September) and Revolution Day (in November). In fact, the green color of the lime juice represents independence in Mexico. The white represents the country’s unity and the word sangrita means “little blood’ in Spanish,” so it’s reflective of the revolutionaries who gave their lives for their country.

Hernandez added that he enjoys introducing the history and traditions of Mexico to his guests at the resort – especially when it involves the smooth taste of tequila. Although the drink may be a familiar menu item in Mexico, nearly every bar and restaurant has its own unique recipe for the sangrita. And the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is no different.

Hernandez says that they created their own housemade sangrita. The concoction includes a dash of each: tomato juice, peach juice, orange juice, Tabasco sauce, homemade chile morita, salt and pepper.

In the United States, Huseyin Ozdemir is the food and beverage manager at the Cantina Beach restaurant, located at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami. He’s been serving the La Bandera drink for over seven years and found that it’s become a favorite among guests.

He said, “It’s a drink that you can request at any bar in Mexico, and the bartender will know and serve it, even if it’s not on the menu. The drink isn’t only colorful but patriotic. It also allows us to enjoy some of our favorite beverages – sangrita and tequila – together.”

Enjoy a La Bandera with views at Cantina Beach — Photo courtesy of Cantina Beach

Ozdemir explained that unless his customers are very familiar with Mexican culture, the drink is usually a new experience for them – and they often instantly become hooked on this fun and tasty cocktail. After all, for newbies, it’s a cultural learning experience.

He continued, “Many of our guests are well-traveled and often prefer asking for a bartender’s recommendation as opposed to just ordering off a menu. When a guest at Cantina Beach requests to enjoy something that is native to Mexico, we share La Bandera. It is also visually beautiful.”

Just like many other bars and restaurants in Mexico, the resort also created its own special recipe for La Bandera. Ozdemir shared the ingredients of the resort’s fiery sangrita recipe. It contains tomato juice, orange juice, fresh lime juice, jalapeno (no seeds), dash of salt, dash of grenadine and a few pieces of cilantro.

Traditionalists who order this drink usually request blanco (white / unaged tequila). When ordering a La Bandera, you will be asked to choose your own tequila preference, so be prepared with your favorite.

Any brand is acceptable, as well as any style, including aged tequila (reposado) or extra-aged (añejo). But no matter which way you choose to sip La Bandera, this drink is sure to make a big splash – and it may very well become your new favorite way to enjoy tequila.

The post The Perfect Tequila Cocktail Is Sipped From Three Separate Glasses appeared first on Marla Cimini.

The city of Lisbon offers a wide array of fun activities and great tourist attractions during the daylight hours. But when the sun goes down, the city really shines with a fabulously varied and robust nightlife scene. There’s much to choose from in the evening, as Lisbon is home to many cool bars, clubs, live music venues, and restaurants. So, if you’re into checking out the local culture, the Portuguese capital doesn’t disappoint. When visiting Lisbon, be sure to enjoy a few exciting nighttime activities in the city: 

BARS 

Lisbon boasts a cool and entertaining bar scene throughout the city. These diverse watering holes range from traditional and historic to modern and hip. When you’re planning to sip a few drinks at a bar, keep in mind that most places are very casual, laid-back, and friendly. As a bonus, it’s also not unusual for the bars to serve customers a small plate of complimentary snacks (such as olives or chips) to accompany the beverages.

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Professional race car driver Kevin Buckler likes to ask imbibers to pay careful attention when sipping wine.

“Many times, when we’re out with friends or eating dinner, we’re not really focusing on the wines we’re drinking,” he explains. “But if you concentrate as you taste, there’s a great chance that you will be able to recognize that specific wine in the future—even months or years later.”

Both in life and in the world of wine, mindfulness makes all the difference, Buckler says. “When you breathe in the scent of mint or a pinecone, for example, your memories may instantly take you back to a childhood camping trip or a walk in the woods. So, the next time you’re drinking wine, describe it to yourself, and you’re sure to remember the notes and flavors.”

It’s no surprise that the professional driver with a laser-sharp eye for detail possesses a passion for success that transcends the racing world. Over the years, Buckler has experienced over 100 racing victories worldwide, including winning two of the industry’s premiere endurance sports car races, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona, where he was a four-time winner. Currently, he runs The Racers Group, a North American motorsports company.

Yet, after his many accomplishments on the track, Buckler decided to switch gears and spend time focusing on his other passion: wine. As a long-time wine enthusiast, Buckler opened Adobe Road winery with his wife, Debra in 2002. The award-winning boutique winery produces 14 small-batch wines (under 7,000 cases a year) and has about 1,200 wine club members.

Image courtesy of The Racing Group.

As a self-proclaimed perfectionist with an entrepreneurial spirit, Buckler spent a great deal of effort in determining the types of wines that are produced at Adobe Road. He works closely with Adobe Road’s esteemed winemaker, Garrett Martin, to create the winery’s variety of premium single-varietals and creative blends. And it’s these four new blends, called “The Racing Series,” that made their debut last month.

Launched in late January 2019 during Daytona’s annual Racing Week, Adobe Road’s Racing Series features ultra-premium blends of red wines made with premier grapes from a number of highly-regarded and historic vineyards in Sonoma and Napa Valley, California.

Fittingly, the names of the individual wines, as well as the stylish label designs, reflect distinctive racing terminology. These wines include “Redline,” a blend of cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, syrah, petite sirah and malbec. The bottle features a vintage tachometer that symbolizes Kevin’s first victory. With a metal label depicting a gated shifter and cork topped with shift knob, “Shift” is comprised of zinfandel, barbera, grenache, petite sirah and carignane. “The 24” combines grenache, mourvedre, syrah and malbec. The name of this wine refers to the legendary 24 hour endurance race events at Daytona and Le Mans. The most exclusive of these four bottles is “Apex,” a blend of cabernet sauvignon, syrah, merlot and petite sirah. This bottle showcases a sophisticated yet simple, metal apex curve.

Adobe Road is currently on an aggressive growth path and showing distinct signs of, well, speeding up. It is located in the charming riverfront town of Petaluma, California, which is currently in the midst of a revitalization. This has been accelerated by the Petaluma Gap’s recent 2017 designation as an official American Viticultural Area (AVA), as it is considered an exceptional location to grow pinot noir, syrah and chardonnay grapes.

Buckler is presently involved in building the company’s new 15,000-square-meter, two storey winery, an innovative concept that will be located on the water in the center of town. In addition to housing the winery and its new, cutting-edge production equipment, it will feature an expansive tasting room, a visitors’ center, and indoor-outdoor areas with fire pits. It will also house a ballroom and several larger spaces, which, according to Buckler, will be a welcomed addition to the city that’s currently lacking locations for large events. Set to open within a year, it will also showcase a state-of-the-art automotive museum to celebrate the world of racing.

Explaining why he chose to take the proverbial road less traveled and decided not to build the new winery in California’s established wine country, Buckler says, “Instead of basing our new Adobe Road winery in Napa, we chose our hometown of Petaluma. And Petaluma is hot right now. If Austin, Texas and Napa Valley had a love child, it would be Petaluma. It’s located in an ideal spot at the entrance to wine country—and it’s also the nearest to San Francisco. We’re incredibly excited about it.”

As someone who knows how it feels to win a coveted racing championship, Buckler has also experienced plenty of ups and downs in both industries over the years. To keep motivated, he applies similar principles to the racing world and the wine business. “Don’t give up, because what wins you the race is actually losing the race,” he says. “Study the things that can take you down and fix them. Shore up your weaknesses so you’re prepared. Don’t be distracted by what everyone else is doing. Focus on your own work, pay attention to what’s important, and you’re bound to succeed.” Driven by passion, Buckler continues to reach for the stars.

The post Kevin Buckler And The Racing Series Wine – Switching Gears. appeared first on Marla Cimini.

Originally published in USA Today’s 10 Best

Last year alone, almost 1.5 million people visited the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, but only a fraction of them – mostly local beer enthusiasts and a few in-the-know travelers – entered the iconic brewery’s secret experimental brewpub within Guinness’ sprawling headquarters at St. James Gate.

With minimal signage, limited hours and pre-purchased tickets required for admission, Open Gate is a haven for ardent fans who wish to taste exclusive small-batch beers created by Guinness brewers.

The experimental brewery has been churning out beers for a century, but until 2015, its doors were closed to the public. Instead, like Willy Wonka’s factory, it remained hidden to the world – a locked up factory where full-time brewers were limited only by their imaginations, free to develop new recipes that encompassed a variety of flavors and styles of of beer, which were hidden away from the public.

But in 2015, the company established a tasting bar on their fermentation floor and started welcoming customers on a limited basis to sip its inventive brews.

Although known worldwide for its classic creamy, dark stout, Guinness also brews and sells a variety of different beers across the globe, including Guinness Blonde American Lager, Nitro IPA, Rye Pale Ale, Antwerpen Export Stout, Milk Stout and Golden Ale, among others. All of these beers were first conceived and brewed at Open Gate, but only a few beers eventually find their way to pubs and stores across the world. (Some of Guinness’ other popular beers, such as Foreign Extra Stout and Guinness Extra Stout, have existed since the 19th century – prior to the Open Gate brewery) The number pales in comparison to the variety of wild flavors that never make out of St. James Gate.

“Our iconic Guinness Draught has only existed since 1959, so there have been many beers – before and after – that have all come from within the experimental brewery,” General Manager Padraig Fox says. “There are numerous Guinness beers available worldwide that have all been born within our walls over the past 100 years.”

Approximately 15 new and different batches are made monthly at Open Gate by four brewers, and a minimum of two beers are then selected to be brewed at the plant for larger batches to be consumed at Open Gate. Patrons today have the unique opportunity to try a variety of offerings that are not – and probably never will be – available outside of the brewery. 

The entire brewing process is done at Open Gate, including milling, fermenting, kegging and bottling. In fact, all the grain for each brew is milled on site. But the real appeal of Open Gate is to taste the passion projects of the brewers and experience uncommon and unexpected flavor combinations. After all, the brewers have free reign to live by the motto “Anything we dream up we get to brew up,” so having the taproom allows the brewers to showcase creations on a regular basis.

In the past several months, the brewers have concocted such diverse varieties as: Tropical IPA, Chocolate & Vanilla Stout, 1516 Pilsner, Strawberry Porter, Amarillo Pilsner, and  Botanical Ale – which was brewed with fresh sage, rosemary, thyme and juniper berries.

“Usually whenever we get a new beer, it lasts maybe five to six weeks on the bar before we get something new, but there’s always a new beer going on tap pretty much every week,” Fox says. “One disappears, a new one will replace it.”

One of the more popular annual offerings is the Sea Salt and Burnt Sugar Stout, which is brewed every year in honor of International Stout Day on November 2nd. “It has lovely tones of sweetness and caramel with little bit of sea salt mixed in as well, so the overall flavor comes through similar to a crème brulée,” Fox says.

According to Fox, one of the most out-there beers brewed recently was the Shamrock and potato ale created by brewer Patrick Isard for St. Patrick’s Day. “He used potato flour in the mash along with the grain, which is where the potato element comes in, and then he threw shamrocks in the kettle where you would normally add hops,” Fox says. “It gave the beer a kind of green hue, and it was a fairly divisive brew – people either loved it or hated it. There was no middle ground.”

With an entrance fee of €8 and limited number of tickets sold per evening (they can be purchased in advance online), Guinness ensures this bar maintains an exclusive feel. All that’s missing is the secret password.

Crowds are kept to a minimum – 130 people per night during its public hours on Thursday through Saturday – and all patrons get a seat at one of the rustic wooden tables situated throughout the room. Guests can also chat with the beer professionals pouring the pints, as well as the brew masters, as they proudly show off their latest elixirs.

Open Gate reaches out to the community as well, and welcomes local home brew clubs to meet at the bar and bring their own beer. It also features demos and a weekly revolving guest tap from craft breweries all over the world, personally selected by the brewers.

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