Weddings and cuisine throughout the nation's Wine Country's. As CAKE's staff attended the 5-star Resort's gala ceremony, they stood at the podium and accepted the award with a characteristically humble response: "First of all, we want to thank the Academy. Secondly, we want to thank J. K. Rowling for not publishing a Wedding newsletter this year, allowing us the opportunity to win."

Although the Golden Bells Award has come and gone for 2009, we'll be on needles and pins to learn the results for 2010. Stay tuned!

CAKE. Wine Country Wedding Newsletter. Temecula Valley & Fallbrook, California

people will stare

warning: please view responsibly!
this isn't your mother's wedding photograph!

cary pennington photography
cary pennington

Photographers are invited to e-mail out-of-the-ordinary
Wedding photographs for CAKE's Photograph Of The Month to:
CAKE

"people will stare" photograph courtesy of shadowcatcher imagery

Admittedly, we're easy. Last weekend we walked into Major Market in Fallbrook (our Fallbrook wine source of choice), glommed onto the Mad Housewife display at the entrance to the wine section and walked away with a bottle of the winery's cab. You wouldn't have done the same? Cut us some slack! With a name like Mad Housewife and a label recalling our "Aunt who liked to nip, but the family didn't talk about that!," how could we resist?

That weekend afternoon, Major Market had a barbeque tent in the parking lot selling tacos for a buck apiece. Maybe the economic times aren't so bad after all. With half a dozen carne asada tacos and the bottle of Mad Housewife in the bag, we headed home to get on with the weekend.

At 4-bucks-99, Mad Housewife is a wine for the times. We found it to be quite drinkable for the price. Like, right now! At 13%, the alcohol content hovers on the high side, but adds interest to this drink-with-tacos vino.

The Mad Housewife winery describes the wine - produced entirely from California grapes - as displaying soft expressions of cherries and mocha. The bouquet displays the sweetness of the wine, while the palate experiences the smooth, lush sensations offered by the Cabernet grape. This is fun wine. CAKE recommends you take the plunge!

Mad Housewife Cellars
St. Helena, California
contact@madhousewifecellars.com
www.madhousewifecellars.com

$4.99  13%

In this edition of the newsletter, we present another article that first appeared in the Wine Country Weddings
section of Neighbors Newspaper. This month's piece offers Brides an overview on choosing a Bridal Gown.

CHOOSING YOUR WEDDING DRESS

cary pennington photography

With this issue, we launch into planning suggestions for the tasks Brides need to accomplish for their Special Day. However, we’re not going to follow the tried-and-true “18 months out, do this,” “12 months out, do that,” “6 months out, make certain you’re not losing your mind!” Part smoke, part mirrors, part voodoo, such schedules exist more in the popular imagination than in reality. 18 months out? 12 months out? Are you laughing yet? Wedding planning can be stupefyingly complex, not to mention that today’s Brides’ & Grooms’ lives are impossibly busy. So we urge couples to continue doing what they’re already doing in arranging for their Special Day: following their inner GPS.

When it comes to planning nuptials, we’re all seeking the Cosby moment. But don’t set yourself up to fall short of any perceived ideal. Trying to follow someone else’s Holy Writ of scheduling can be tough sledding. The broader lesson is to not lose sight of the beauty and fun of arranging the most important day of your life. These matters should be thrilling and exciting!

So allow CAKE to step in as the voice of reason, as we square this circle for you. This much we know: the first deed for Brides to undertake – absolutely the first – is to decide on the venue where you want to be married. If the thought of doing anything else beforehand crosses your mind, leave the room now! We can’t over-emphasize how monumental it is to have this taken care of first. Don’t even think of . . .

dan pettus photography

O.K., Brides, we’re just messing with you. First on the list? The Dress! Nothing else comes close. Is this decision up close and personal? Once the precious treasure is yours, think back to when you finally discovered your dress and ask yourself this: when you first laid eyes on it, did it cast a spell? When you first slipped into it did you feel a sense of mystique? If your answer’s “Yeah, it was kind of like that,” then you’re well on your way to foolproof Wedding planning.

One of the local wineries recently told us of a Bride dropping by for a venue tour. They greeted her with, “Congratulations! How long have you been engaged?” She answered, “9 hours!” The winery’s Wedding Coordinators then said, “We appreciate your making us your first destination.” To which the Bride responded, “Are you kidding? I stopped at a Bridal shop on the way over and ordered my dress!”

When you go shopping for your dream gown, there’s the tendency to breeze into your neighborhood Bridal Salon with an initial hard-and-fast mindset of “tag it & bag it.” However, flexibility is the key here. Over the years we’ve heard more Brides relate trying on the dress they fancied in their mind’s eye, only to realize that once on, it simply didn’t look right. At this point the salon owner stepped in (we bow before the specialists!) with an alternative choice and voilà! The only thing remaining were the rave reviews.

In addition, there’s the issue of affordability. When it comes to the “A” word, keep Dad in mind. Why Dad? All he has to do is walk The Dress down the aisle. Not so fast, Princess. At some point, affordable needs to be defined. The burn rate on the man of the family’s American Express needs to be taken into consideration. Having said that, don’t be overly concerned. Dad’s are notoriously soft touches when it comes to their daughters and if consulted before the shopping spree commences, will predictably see the light – and give the green light.

ashcraft photography

As for availability, in a perfect world the Bridal salon just might have your fantasy dress hanging on the rack. But in reality, if you have your heart set on making your entrance wearing a custom-fitted designer dress, be aware that trying on a sample in the shop, being measured, waiting for the unique gown to arrive from the designer, then going through fittings and alterations can take as long as 6 months.

Being the style maven you are, you’ll undoubtedly gravitate towards trés chic designers such as Vera Wang, Nicole Miller, Carolina Herrera, Maggie Sottero, Mori and Casablanca. Their figure-flattering lines include such current trends as baby-doll silhouettes, trumpet skirts and balloon hemlines. Today’s sought-after fabrics are lace, taffeta and satin, some with hand-sewn embellishments such as Swarovski crystal. And keep in mind your gown should display photogenic back details.

So what’s the end game with all this fuss? When the music begins on your Special Day, and the Processional is underway, and you make your entrance down the aisle - it’s a moment frozen in time. Are your guests’ double takes due to the talent of the hairstylist? Check. The creativity of the makeup artist? Check. The glow of your Bridal aura? Check. But – in truth – its the Gown that wows them!

www.neighborsnewspaper.com

ryan m jones photography
old vine  ponte estate ranch

Olive oil tasting may at first strike one as odd, but its as fascinating in its own way as wine tasting. First of all, the flavors and smells of the different oils are captivating, with each being unique depending on the variety of olive used, the soil in which the olive tree was grown and the way it was processed. (Sound familiar, wine wonks?). As olive oil lays on the tongue - coating the taste buds with hints of herbs and spices - the impression is heavenly. Moreover, as a cooking ingredient olive oil is way-flavorful, in the bargain being a non-saturated fat boosting "good fat," which is beneficial for the heart. Finally, olive oil burns at a lower temperature than other cooking oils, encouraging kitchen warriors to soft-pedal cooking temperatures, resulting in healthier, fresher, tastier fare.

Villa Di Calabro Winery & Olive Oil Company is a collaboration between Steve & Valerie Andrews, of Oak Mountain Winery, Cathy McClain, and Mike & Mindy Calabro. [Editors Note: Oak Mountain wines - available at Barons Marketplace on Rancho California Road - have enhanced more than an occasional evening for the CAKE staff]. 

Villa Di Calabro Winery & Olive Oil Company
41955 Main Street
Temecula, California 92591

Among the planned activities:

• Fashion shows at 1 pm and 3 pm.

• Prize giveaways for Brides and Grooms.

• Live entertainment.

• Complimentary sushi hand made by CAKE-pal, Pala Mesa's Executive Chef - Sean Sullivan.

Pala Mesa Resort
2001 Old Highway 395
Fallbrook, California 92028
760 731 6810
Kat Jackson
Kendra Koenig
Michael's Flower Girl
www.palamesa.com
www.discoverthejewelbridalshow.com

Menifee Lakes Country Club is hosting the June meeting of the Inland Empire Association of Bridal Consultants. All those interested in Weddings are invited (we see many Inland Empire ABC members working in Wine Country) for a scrumptious MLCC lunch, networking and a riff on a topic dear to our hearts: CAKE Wedding Newsletter. And Neighbors Newspaper.

MENIFEE LAKES COUNTRY CLUB
29878 Menifee Lakes Drive
Menifee, California 92584
951 672 4824
cdavidson@menifee-lakes.com 
www.menifee-lakes.com

"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer. And an airline.
It helps if you have some kind of football team or nuclear weapons,
but - at the very least - you need a beer!"

Frank Zappa
(1940-1993)

In particular, on the subject of Stone Brewing Company of Escondido, don't get us started! Their India Pale Ale, Ruination IPA, Arrogant Bastard Ale . . . you'll find these tributes to a life of pleasure on more than one winery menu in Temecula Valley.

Pechanga Resort & Casino seems to have divined this common affection and taken it upon themselves to reward Wine Country denizens with a Microbrew Festival. Their website lists an astonishing 30 participating breweries, not to mention music and munchies. Circle this one on your calendar!

PECHANGA RESORT & CASINO
45000 Pechanga Parkway
Temecula, California 92592
877 711 2946
info@pechanga.com
www.pechanga.com