The Call of Phoenix at… Tony’s Pizza

By Emma Krasov, photography by Inga Aksamit.
Phoenix images courtesy Greater Phoenix CVB


Named after a mythical desert bird consumed by fire and reborn from ashes, Phoenix, Arizona has it all – a desert character, a historical succession of diverse civilizations, and a thriving contemporary tourist infrastructure. America’s fifth-largest city, a.k.a. Valley of the Sun and located in Sonoran Desert, Phoenix boasts 310 sunny days per year and up to 15 million leisure visitors who come to see the Grand Canyon, White Mountains and Apache Trail, but also to relax in resorts and spas, and indulge in spectator sports. To deliver a tempting message – Visit Phoenix – to San Francisco media, Greater Phoenix visitor authorities and hoteliers threw a high-temperature party at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in the heart of San Francisco’s Little Italy last Tuesday.


Multiple-time world champion pizza acrobat and dough-thrower extraordinaire Tony Gemignani not only demonstrated his art and fed the assembly his fresh-from-the-oven creative pies, but also provided some lessons for the media representatives hardly known as pizza makers to their colleagues and friends. So what that next to Tony’s well-rounded creations our pies looked more like blobs and splotches, often with a hole in the middle – a great time was had by all! Besides, after trying Tony’s signature scarola con pancetta, clam & garlic, or (ready for this?) truffle pizza, it would be very hard not to come back for more. The party was hosted by the Greater Phoenix CVB, Arizona Biltmore, Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, Enchantment Resort, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, Hotel Valley Ho, Intercontinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, Sheraton Phoenix Downtown, Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, Talking Stick Resort, The Phoenician, W Scottsdale, Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, and Arizona Rocks. With hundreds of hotels and dozens of luxury award-winning resorts, Greater Phoenix is sure to please all kinds of travelers. The online version of the Phoenix Official Visitors Guide can be accessed 24-hours a day at: visitphoenix.com/request The Phoenix I-brochure provides an overview of the area including information on local dining, sports, shopping, golf and more. Please visit: http://www.vacationfun.com/Ebrochures/Phoenix/
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana is located at 1570 Stockton Street, San Francisco. For reservations call: 415-835-9888.

Tony and Inga - photo by Emma Krasov.

Discovering Trends and Savoring Old Faves at Winter Fancy Food Show

By Emma Krasov, photography by Yuri Krasov


From foie gras and porchetta to pomegranate yogurt and valerian soft drinks the 35th Winter Fancy Food Show had it all. Abundant displays of specialty foods were presented at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Jan. 17 -19 at the largest and most encompassing National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) event on the West Coast. 80,000 specialty foods and beverages from more than 32 countries packed booths and counters in both North and South Moscone Halls, vying for the buyers’ and distributors’ attention.



A carefully selected panel of food experts at the show determined five newest trends for 2010: 1. Good-for-you foods, 2. Coconut, 3. Gluten-free, 4. Exotic citrus, and 5. Nostalgic foods. Among other identified trends were fermented and smoked foods, and snacks with a twist, such as spicy popcorn and baked potato chips with jalapeno. Before the show, hundreds of retailers, restaurateurs, journalists, producers, farmers and other industry workers played the online Food Trend Challenge game. The grand prize – a free trip to the 56th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City on June 27-29 went to Eddi Marie Julian of Beckles Candies and Gifts from Modesto.



This reporter’s amazing finds and faves included the top 5: 1. Ex-Chill soft drink made with chamomile, valerian, lemon balm, and vitamins (exdrinks.com). 2. Hand-crafted natural fruit HOTLIPS soda (hotlipssoda.com); 3. Greek Gods Yogurt (greekgodsyogurt.com), 4. Porchetta Primata (porchettaprimata.com), and 5. Hudson Valley Foie Gras (hudsonvalleyfoiegras.com). The NASFT is a not-for-profit trade association established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. Today there are more than 2,900members of NASFT in the U.S. and abroad. More information at specialtyfood.com.

Early Birds Get Chocolate Worms at 4th Annual SF Chocolate Salon

The Fourth Annual San Francisco International Chocolate Salon offers advance purchase tickets through January 31st. This premier artisan chocolate and confections event on the West Coast this year covers over 50,000 square feet of discoveries and delights. New 2010 Chocolate Salon additions include the Chocolate Chef Competition and the TasteTV Wine Competition. Participants include over 70 chocolatiers, confectioners, wineries and other culinary artisans, such as: Amano Artisan Chocolate, Sacred Chocolate, Guittard Chocolate Company, Saratoga Chocolates, The Tea Room chocolate, Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, TCHO, Neo Cocoa, Kikas Treats, CJ's Bitz, Socola Chocolatier, Divine Chocolate, Drexelius Chocolates, Alter Eco Fair Trade Chocolate, Chocolate, Amella Caramels, Jade Chocolates, Ococoa, Malie Kai Chocolates, Happy Chocolates, Choclatique, Coco Delice Fine Chocolates, Clarine's Florentines, Napa Valley Fudge Company, Nicobella vegan organic truffles, Robyn's Chocolates & Confections, Vice Chocolates, Dolce Bella Chocolates, William Dean Chocolates, Edible Love Chocolates, Marti Chocolatt, Coco-luxe Confections, Sterling Confections, Christopher Michael Chocolates, Posh Chocolat, Gateau et Ganache, Poco Dolce, XOX Truffles, Divine Organics by Transition Nutrition, Her Coconess Confections, Snake & Butterfly, Truffles in Paradise, Cacao Atlanta, Barlovento Chocolates, AF2 Chocolatiers, Vermeer Dutch Chocolate Cream Liqueur, Quady Winery, Blue Angel Vodka, Fentimans Botanically Brewed Beverages and Ginger Beer, Rigolo Cafe, Farm Fresh to You, Resveratrol WINETIME Bar, California Naturals, The Winery Collective, Radee Wine, Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka and Chocolate Liqueur, Sonoma Valley Portworks, Zinc Details, The Bread Project, Omnivore Books on Food, Carolyn Tillie Designs (Just Desserts Jewelry), Le Creuset, Swissmar, Putumayo World Music, Chocolate Television, The New York Times, TasteTV, and many more.
The Salon opens its doors on Saturday, March 20 from 10am-6pm at Fort Mason Center, Festival Pavilion, San Francisco.
"Early Bird" advance tickets $17.95. Regular Advance Tickets $25, $30 at the door.
More info at SFChocolateSalon.com.

Tasty Awards for Food and Fashion Shows, Year One

By Emma Krasov, photography by Yuri Krasov



The first annual Tasty Awards celebrating last year's best achievements in food and fashion programs on television, in film, and on the web took place at the Sundance Kabuki theatre in San Francisco yesterday. The red carpet event was hosted by Zane Lamprey, a food and travel television star of Three Sheets. Award presenters included Bobby Bognar; Dominique Crenn and Marisa Churchill; Marcy Smothers and Joanne Weir; Philip Gums and E.C. Morgan; Mary Orlin and Mary Babbitt; Laurence Scott; Novella Carpenter and Anita Chu; Tanya Holland and Preeti Mistry; Nathan Lyon and Debi Mazar; Seiji Horibuchi; Leslie Sbrocco and Justin Kan; Lauriine Wickett and Elizabeth Howes. Tasty Awards 2010 were presented in various categories for programs, series or films on the Internet, on television, on mobile, and in theaters. Among the major award recipients were: Person of the Year – Anthony Bourdain (No Reservations), Tastemaker of the Year – Gary Vaynerchuk (Wine Library), Pioneer Awards were given to Martin Yan, Paul Prudhomme, and You Tube, and Lifetime Achievement Awards – to Alton Brown and Jacque Pepin. A series of “Outstanding” Awards went to: Performance – Meryl Streep, Inspiration – G. Garvin, Vision – Tyler Florence, Passion – Joanne Weir, Entertainer – Giada de Laurentiis, Animation – “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” Technology Innovation – Hulu, YouTube, iPhone, Flip HD. Tim Gunn became Stylemaker of the Year; Hungry Nation TV, Chow.com and Zane Lamprey shared Breakout Foodies of the Year Award. Modelinia, H&M and Rachel Zoe Project were all awarded Breakout Fashionistas of the Year. “Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock” was awarded Guilty Addiction, and “What Not to Wear” – Great Taste Award. The two-hour award presentation event was followed by a wine and chocolate reception at the recently opened multipurpose cultural center – New People building (photos). Among the tasty sponsors there were Goldeneye Winery, Italian Volcano, Fentimans, Saratoga Chocolates, and other gourmet food and beverage producers.To learn more, visit tastyawards.com

Central Europe Experience Reaches across Borders

Emma Krasov, photo by Yuri Krasov

There is East, and there is West, and then there is Central Europe. In the last 20 years Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia emerged as a constellation of bordering tourist destinations, easy to visit in one trip, complementary in cultural traditions and historic landmarks, and above all safe and affordable. According to the newly formed tourist organization, Central Europe Experience, American visitors can travel all six countries on less than $100 a night including accommodations. Among the exciting happenings in 2010 there are:
In Austria: 150th anniversary of Gustav Mahler, 90th anniversary of Salzburg music festival, new Swarovski boutique in Vienna, and the opening of new Sofitel.
In Czech Republic: 600th anniversary of the Astronomical Clock Orloj in Prague, “Savor the Czech Republic” restaurant program, new herb garden at Valtice Chateau, and Grund golf and ski resort in Krkonose Mountains.
In Germany: 200th anniversary of Octoberfest, opening of The New Museum in Berlin, 300th anniversary of porcelain making by Meissen, and new Kameha Grand Hotel in Bonn.
In Hungary: Pecs becomes 2010 European Capital of Culture, the world’s only water circus Cinetrip Sparty in 600-year-old Turkish bath, Budapest RiverRide in amphibian bus along Danube river, and new Hotel President – overwhelmingly luxurious and underpriced.
In Poland: Bicentennial of Chopin’s birth, a breakthrough film project dedicated to Chopin, a coal mine experience in the industrial city of Zabrze, and the opening of Hilton Garden Inn.
In Slovakia: Kosice prepares to become European Capital of Culture in 2013, Levoca becomes new UNESCO Heritage Site, Janosik’s Days folklore festival, and the opening of Kempinski Hotel River Park in Bratislava.
For more information visit gotocentraleurope.com

75 Years of SFMOMA’s Unparalleled Glory. Free Admission for Celebratory Weekend

by Emma Krasov. Photography by Emma Krasov.

Picasso, Matisse, and Egon Schiele tucked away among other smaller artwork behind a partition wall is a good indication of the enormity of The Anniversary Show currently on display at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the first West Coast museum solely devoted to modern art completely reinstalled its panting and sculpture, and photography galleries. The entire collection now presents the history of the museum from 1935 through present, also reflected in The View from Here, Focus on Artists and Dispatches from the Archives exhibitions. SFMOMA was the first museum to introduce European modernism to the general public through educational outreach and extended hours, the first one to embrace photography as art, and the first one to give solo shows to artists who later became household names. It’s easy to see how this museum became so revolutionary and edgy, and how it continues to be so through the combined passions of its past and present donors, directors, and curators resulting in bold acquisitions and unmatched discoveries. Every single art piece in the museum reflects someone's strong desire to bring a particular artist to the spotlight. Together, early modernist and contemporary artists currently on display make a strong testament to the museum’s commitment to its mission.



Starting tomorrow, the not-to-be missed celebration of art, titled 75 Years of Looking Forward is open to the public with a three-day free admission Jan. 16-18. SFMOMA is located at 151 Third St., SF. 415-357-4000, sfmoma.org.

Ask Emma

Question: My problem is I have too many relatives. I like having company, and I love my nieces and nephews, but when holidays come around, it’s getting so overwhelming! When it’s my turn to host a family dinner, I slave in the kitchen for days, and then some people never show up, and others bring their beau of the moment. I either run out of food or have tons of leftovers. And then comes the cleaning. Gift-giving holidays are even worse. I never know what to give and end up spending too much on stuff nobody really needs.
Answer: If you like to go to your relatives’ homes for holiday entertainment, then you should live up to their expectations when it’s your turn to be a hostess. There are ways of getting it done without killing yourself. First, be firm in requesting RSVP two weeks in advance so you would be able to prepare slightly more than enough food. Count on two or three of your relatives still bringing extra guests no matter what they said before. When dinner ends, pack and hand out leftovers matter-of-factly. Whenever possible, use prepared foods, or better yet, involve your beloved nieces and nephews in pre-holiday preparations. Don’t hesitate to ask for help in cleaning. Communicating more with your relatives might give you a better idea about their interests, and what they would like to get as presents when the time comes. Doing things together greatly improves relationships, and isn’t it the whole purpose of family get-togethers? Try to make it fun, just the way it should be, and you’ll enjoy it.

Unveiling of Reverie for 2010 Napa Valley Mustard Fest at Hall Wines

By Emma Krasov, photography by Yuri Krasov

Napa Valley spring, with its misty vineyards, luscious greens and bright yellow mustard blossoms is not on calendar yet, but it’s definitely here, after all those rainy days and weeks before the New Year. The unveiling of the artwork by Thomas Monaghan, 2010 Napa Valley Mustard Festival Artist of the Year, revealed a dreamlike springtime misty landscape, called “Reverie” in hard-to-paint green and yellow palette. “I composed this painting in August, the harvest time” said Monaghan. “It’s a dream about spring, about how it would be like when mustard is in bloom. It’s a memory about this time of year. It’s meditative. There is no specific landscape, no photographs used in my work, it’s just based in Napa – dreamlike, no hard edges, fields of mustard receding to a point where there is no real horizon. It starts out dark – a fertile earth, which gives us great wines.” And great wines they were, like Hall 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon of Napa Valley – ripe, aromatic, and endlessly enjoyable, generously offered along with other delectable wines and hors d’oeuvres by the Hall Wines (hallwines.com), where the event took place yesterday.


On beautiful Hall grounds, tastefully landscaped and alive with contemporary sculpture, in an artfully decorated testing room with prevailing rich red color, the artist was greeted by the organizers of the annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival and numerous guests.


The bidding on “Reverie” opened right there, at the unveiling event to be concluded at the Photo Finish on March 27 at Rubicon Estate. This year’s Mustard Fest of food, wine, and art promises to be bigger and better (if at all possible) than ever before, opening on January 30 and going on for almost two months! For more information and tickets to Mustard Magic: The Grand Opening Event go to mustardfestival.org.