Spendella

I eat food. I drink beverages. Therefore, I am qualified to oversee a Food and Beverage operation. In assessing the operations of many clubs/resorts each month, I find that one of the most poorly operated, inconsistent areas of club/resort operations is Food and Beverage. Especially in member owned environments, which are often overseen by a club board, people seem to think that because they dine out, they somehow have some level of expertise that allows them to make business decisions about this important aspect of the club. The reality is that this is one of the most complex departments in a club to manage, control, and produce a consistent experience. Let's ask a few questions! Is your Food...

Women and shoes are almost synonymous. understands every woman's need to have the latest and hippest shoes for every season. Women and shoes are two things you just can separate. There seems to be an intrinsic magnetic attraction between a woman and shoes. Women and shoes are a great combination and we love to have our shoes. Shoes have more of a purpose than just covering our feet. Fashion has a silent b. Meow, from catwalk to cat fight, fashion certainly can get Ugly Betty! Fashion shows have hot women flaunting off with hats and getting amazing responses from onlookers. Heels are here to stay because of, not despite, the increase in female power. Rather than turning us into flesh puppets who can...

our child's favorite teacher is retiring. Perhaps you're a lifelong learner and it's your teacher that is leaving the academic field for a new stage in their life. Either way, you'll want to mark that occasion with a gift that says how much you appreciate the knowledge that they've shared with you or a loved one. Don't just pull a gift off the store shelf. A personalized gift will convey the message of the occasion. What is more unique than their name or initials (and maybe the year) engraved, etched or debossed on a present? It converts a plain gift into a one of a kind gift. And, they will remember who gave it to them. It will signify the personal relationship between teacher and learner. There...

Collins asks three questions: 1. What are you deeply passionate about? 2. What can you be the best in the world at? 3. What drives your economic engine? Let’s dig into these three. What are you passionate about? My passion is currently helping people solve their financial problems by learning to be an entrepreneur, building communities and relationships in order to make a difference in people’s lives. What is yours? Are you passionate about helping people, are you a health expert and enjoy doing research, enjoy cars, learning about wine? What is it? Find what it is and learn how to use it! What can you be the best in the world at? Have you taken a skills inventory? What are you good at? How can...

If you have a growing collection of wine, it may be time to think about constructing a wine cellar. Once upon a time the custom wine cellar was a rarity; today more and more wine lovers are learning about wine cellar construction or contracting the work out to those who know how to do the job well. Wine storage rooms are more than a dark, cool place to store a collection of wine bottles. Today's custom wine cellar is a controlled environment where humidity and temperature are regulated to allow wine to correctly age without harm to corks, labels or the wine itself. There are two styles of wine cellars. One is a room that has been specifically created to stock wine in the perfect conditions and the...

As you may or may not know, I used to work for Howard Stern. It was over ten years ago, but I'm still in contact with him once in a great while. I listen to the show every day, and I think it's better than it's ever been. I'm bringing this up because Howard and Robin had a conversation about wine that serves as a great marketing lesson for magicians. This story is a bit long, but bear with me, it's worth your time. Here's what happened: Howard, Robin, and some other people from the show went out to dinner. Robin is learning about wine and Howard let her do the ordering. When Howard got the bill, he was shocked to see the price of the wine. How much was it? $800.00...a bottle...Robin ordered three...

have a growing assortment of wine, it may be time to think about constructing a wine cellar. Some time ago the custom wine cellar was scarce; today more and more wine lovers are learning about wine cellar construction or contracting the work out to those who know how to do the job precisely. Wine rooms are more than a dark, cool place to hold an assortment of wine bottles. Today’s custom wine cellar is a controlled environment where humidity and temperature are regulated to allow wine to properly age without harm to corks, labels or the wine itself. There are two types of wine cellars. One is a room that has been mainly made to stock wine in the right environment and the other is a stand-alone...

Merlot is a red wine grape that is used as a blending grape and for varietal wines. Merlot-based wines typically have average body with trace of berry, plum, and currant. Its softness and stoutness, combined with its earlier ripening, makes Merlot a model grape to blend with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon. This suppleness has helped to make it one of the most popular red wine varietals in the United States and Chile. The most basic recorded mention of Merlot was in the remarks of a local Bordeaux official who in 1784 labeled wine made from the grape in the Libournais region as one of the area's best. The name comes from the French provincial patois word Merlot, meaning young...

Earlier I introduced you to the 2005 Bordeaux. I spoke about finding a varietal, a region, a vintage and a good price (VRVP). The price I like best is under $10. Before I jump in and tell you about the 2005 Chateaux La Rame that I bought for $13.99 last week, I will discuss the second deciding factor, region, for a bit. You probably think that dirt is dirt, just about everywhere. But what makes dirt different is why a varietal from one place is so much different than the same varietal from some other place. The French have a term that is "terrior" which means the dirt, the climate and the temperature. It could also include the geology, altitude, positioning of the ground as in south facing or on a...

Celebrations in honor of anything are the happiest and best days of anyone's life. It's like taking a break from work and keeping your mind off any worries momentarily. Partying is part of human nature where food and beverages are expected to overflow while people drumbeat the occasion to the beat of great music. If you are on a dilemma of creating a party that rocks the house and keep people to linger on and appreciate the goodness of life, you might as well start squeezing your brain to come up with smart holiday gift basket ideas to give away as tokens or prizes for some raffle draw. If it's a trick or treat party that you're trying to put up, you can try working on holiday gift basket ideas that...

I have written this section of the article with the assistance of personal experience in the industry, having personally undertaken an inspection tour, family and friends who has toured and most importantly experienced sales reps who still work in the industry, so they have no axe to grind but perhaps their conscience got the better of them. The only remuneration they received was a couple of cafe con leche's each. The surprising thing was that I had arranged to meet two reps but when word spread half a dozen arrived with offer from many others. Your tour should proceed along these lines. Show homes are close on Saturday afternoons and all day Sunday and flights are more expensive over the weekend...

have always wanted to learn to speak Italian, and learn to speak it correctly, the best possible way is to take Italian language courses in Italy. Immersing oneself in a new language is key, as anyone who has spent time in a country where a different language is spoken is aware. Adults will get even more benefit out of studying Italian in Italy than children do because they need more repetition to pick up language skills. You will also get the benefit of having a cultural back drop to learn the language in. When you have made plans to enroll in an Italian language school you get the benefit of certified instructors. Much in the same way that many native speakers of English do not have perfect...

Home of more monuments, culture and chic fashion than any other city in Europe, Rome is one of those fabulous destinations that you have to visit in style. From the awe-inspiring architecture of the churches to the luxury hotels in Rome, it's a place which showcases opulence. Where to Stay There are plenty of luxury hotels in Rome to choose from, but the location can make all the difference to the atmosphere. If you're looking for somewhere very central to make the most of the sights on a short visit, Residenza Napoleon III is hard to top for its whimsy and aristocratic vibe. Housed in a 16th Century palazzo on the legendary Via Condotti, it's a unique antique property which has been restored to its...

Need more ideas to give your marketing efforts a shot in the arm? Here are some ideas to get your marketing efforts moving forward: 1. Develop "free samples" of your service. Usually the best samples are written or recorded information. Write a tip sheet or a short list of frequently asked questions (FAQs). Record a speech you give to a local organization. 2. Improve your existing advertising by writing ten new headlines for your newspaper or Yellow Page ads. Test these new headlines against your existing headlines in small classified ads. Measure the results and let the winner be the headline the next time you run a larger ad in the Yellow Pages or newspaper. 3. Host a wine tasting or open house...

Turning 21 is certainly a major milestone in life signifying the transition of a person from adolescence to adult hood. This age represents the freedom to take one's own decision and the phase of life when people are aware of their desires in life. It represents the legal age to booze and being able to enter bars and night clubs without having to carry fake IDs. There are several exciting and wild ways of celebrating this milestone birthday for both guys and girls. The legal freedom to drink is one of the most magnificent things about turning 21. What's better than to celebrate this milestone birthday with your friends fully exercising this newly acquired right. Though drinking on your 21st birthday...

The things you put in your mouth will show up on the quality of sleep you get with a distinct relationship between what folks eat and how easily they fall asleep. A lot of folks have a late dinner or sandwich out of hand but it's safe to state that these characteristics could be forcing you to have wakefulness and even insomnia. Natural Insomnia Aids To be sure you don't have food related sleep problems it is important to consider the various foods and in many cases, more importantly, drinks that may hinder your ability to get a good night's sleep. Without a doubt, the very first drink that can be highlighted is going to be coffee or other caffeinated beverages on account of the awake feeling they...

It is a warm summer's eve; you and your close friends are out by the pool enjoying a class of wine and the twinkle of your floating pool candles setting a relaxed romantic mood. The stars are out and you say to yourself, "life is good." Just then one of your guest notices the wonderful detail of your floating lit lily pad with a cute little frog along for the ride. "What a great idea." She says. "Ya, I found them online, aren't they great?" You say. You go on to explain: they come in a verity of flowers and animals, they even have a cute little lady bug. They are safe and they don't pollute your pool either. The detail is so nice that I use then to decorate the pond in front of the house also...

Celebrating the holidays is traditionally a time to focus on childlike fantasies of Santa Claus and dreams of new toys to be opened. But, when the kids are away, the parents will play! Whether your kids are away at school, taking a trip or establishing new holiday traditions with their own children, this is a chance to make this Christmas season something that is all yours. Watching the size of the photo on your Christmas cards shrink over the years can lead to dwindling spirits, but don't succumb to the shrinking Christmas card blues-use these Christmas cards to host a chic holiday celebration that's all grown up instead! Change the style of your traditional holiday party by hosting a wine tasting...

This book is exactly what it says it is "Delicious Wine Making Made Easy." Scott Young has made making wine home as simple and mistake free as possible. By following his instructions you should be able to have great tasting wine on your endeavor. Scott is a confident and experienced home winemaker and shares his experience with you. I was impressed with his writing and organizational capabilities. His book is carefully laid out in 15 easy to follow lessons. Lessons one, two and three, located in the first section, contain vital information on products, materials, and ingredients needed for producing the wine. It includes sound advice on such topics as:o Where to prepare, ferment and store...

Money is, for most of us, kind of tight these days. We're opting to stay in instead of going out. The term "staycation" - meaning a vacation at home - is creeping into mainstream use. The surprising thing is that many of us are finding ways to have fun that we never realized were in our own back yards! What's a great way to get a bunch of your friends together for an evening at home? How about a wine tasting party? A wine tasting party doesn't have to be a stuffy affair with everyone in black. Keep it light. Have each of your guests bring a bottle of wine and you supply a couple as well. Set up a nice assortment of cheeses, fruits, breads, nuts, etc. and you're ready to go. Playing a little slow...

I'm the type of person that considers a healthy, enjoyable job alot more valuable than a high paying one. This may be as foreign a concept to some people as our society continues to descend into the depths of materialism. Id gladly take a job doing something i loved and with people i enjoyed for a bit less money than I would have pocketed working at the vomitoriam. So, amidst the whirlwind of resumes, applications and soul scorching interviews, take a moment to consider the environment of your workplace-to be. Have a chat with one of the low-level employees, and if they stare back at you with dull dead eyes, then you might want to reconsider your placement. Even if your not making the big bucks...

I am not a good traveling wine taster. I like wine with food. Wine tasting for me without a meal as a reference point is kind of like trying to survey the Paris landscape from the bottom of the Eiffel tower rather than the top. A nice experience for sure, but not the maximum impact the proper vantage point will give you. Beside after a few "generous tastes" on an empty stomach I am either ready to fall asleep, or I get the urge to pontificate meaningless platitudes like "yes... [thoughtful pause] ... there is definitely a mineral flintiness there - do I detect a slight ambiance of 'gunpowder' ?" Whatever that's supposed to mean...? I read that in a review once. It confounded me... after all who...

I have enjoyed a good glass of table wine many times with my meals. Wine tasting parties have always been a favorite pastime, especially when combined with cheese. No, I am not from Wisconsin so I do not rate a "cheese head hat". Recently, after a pleasant dinner party with good friends, I was introduced to a new class of vintages that I had never tried before. The dessert wine I was served turned out to be the fitting end to a fabulous evening. Grapes used for these type of wines are not harvested in the same fashion and timing as your typical table wine grapes. The goal is to increase the sugar content of the grape by mainly harvesting them later in the season. Often a noble rot forms on the...

The end of the year is coming around again and it is time to come up with gift ideas for friends, family, bosses and co-workers. Here are some suggestions for wine oriented gifts that will not set you back an arm and a leg in these tough times. The holidays are a wonderful time of the year, but gift buying can be maddening. Everything seems run of the mill and, frankly, a lot of stuff is pure junk. How do you come up with good ideas? It is the great mystery of our time. When it comes to gifts related to wine, the good news is there are plenty of options. Your first thought might simply be to buy wine for others. This seems logical, but you might want to reconsider doing so. Wine is very subjective...

Healthy and vibrant economy goes hand in hand with a solid real estate market and Sonoma County is a good example of such an economic phenomenon as it offers a variety of industries and proudly sustains a low unemployment rate. In fact, Sonoma County has consistently had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the entire State of California and its housing market has always been counted among the most stable. The topography in Sonoma County features a wealth of scenery ranging from beachfront views of the calming blue Pacific Ocean to the regal mountain ranges and a wide assortment of lush farmlands; picturesque ranches; green pastures; vineyards which are lovely year round but most particularly...

"I don't know much about art, but I know what I like". This cliché is an expression that has been said in many ways by many people. Knowing what you like is a good thing...being unknowledgeable is not. I want to make the case for educating yourself about art in order to better enjoy it. I'll start with an experience I had while in a painting workshop taught by Donna Watson. Donna is an accomplished painter who started her career painting scenes of clapboard houses and the lovely azalea bushes of her Northwestern town near Seattle. She changed her direction to one of nonobjective abstracts that may include a small animal skull or birds nest as part of its mixed media ingredients. She is a...

When you have a wine tasting party or you taste wine with your friends it is very important to serve the wine in the proper order. The appropriate order of wine tasting goes like this. Elderly tasters are always served first, no matter what the gender is. Women will be served next. The men should be served after the women. The host is always served after everyone in the room has a glass. When you taste different wines you also have to think about the order of the wines being tasted. If you taste heavy or sweet wines before light wines they may leave a taste in your mouth. This is because they tend to dominate the flavor. A wine taster must taste the lighter wines first or their taste buds will be...

Have you heard of the blanket trip? This is a new free excursion. It is most popular in Spain, Tenerife and the Canary Islands. Now, it is available in Paphos for the first time. What the Tour Involves I was invited to take the coach tour by the owners. European Health Promotions have teamed up with Thomson Holidays so tourists can book through their Holiday Representative via their Welcome Meetings. The coach picks up outside hotels and everyone is taken to a Factory outlet showroom where Therapeutic products, such as Orthopaedic mattresses and wool blankets are shown. I was seated at a table and provided with refreshments and cake. The speaker showed and explained to us how therapeutic their...

On the twelfth day of Christmas,my true love sent to me Twelve flying lessons, Eleven spa treatments, Ten theatre dinings, Nine gliding launches, Eight wine tastings, Seven poker days, Six family portraits, Five spy games, Four off road drives, Three rock climbs, Two paintball days, And a drive in a Lamborghini! Are you in a flat panic as to what to give you loved one this Christmas? Tired of seeing those run-of-the-mill presents under the tree? While everyone dreads those boxes of handkerchiefs (as necessary as they are!), or the endless supply of bubble-bath, Christmas can sometimes leave one feeling a bit empty and blue. There's a feeling that maybe something a bit extra is called for this year...

New York City is one of the most popular places in the world and offers several exciting and unique birthday ideas with each idea being equally better than the other. Being a major tourist destination, New York presents some great opportunities to make your birthday even more memorable and special.  Plan the events for your birthday accordingly to celebrate the best birthday of your life with your friends and family. New York is very popular all across the world known for its wide range of bars and nightclubs. The nightclubs offer a great place to celebrate your birthday with your friends. These are very popular spots for celebrating some milestone birthdays such as the 21st or the 30th.  Dance to...

Wine lovers tend to take sides when proclaiming the best vintages. Here is a quick guide to the reds, which often are picked as the best. A Quick Guide to Red Wines Ask a wine aficionado what type of wine they like and they almost always will pick red or white. Rarely will they proclaim a love for both. This is somewhat ironic given the fact that each goes with particular dishes, but who am I to quibble? Here's a quick introduction to the various red wines one can experience. Cabernet Sauvignon is the standard bearer when it comes to a red. If you are just getting into the wine experience, it is pretty hard to go wrong with a "cab". This wine has undergone a unique expansion wherein it was...

Whether you're dining out or in, the enjoyment of eating and drinking is always enhanced by table linens, silver, fine china and glassware. Your choice of a wine glass can detract from or enhance your wine tasting experience! Wine glasses that are tinted with color or decoratively etched or embossed are not really suitable for wine drinking. The color of wine is as much a part of the pleasure as its bouquet and flavor. Is your white wine golden, amber, hay colored or greenish? Is it clear? Does it have sediment or crystals? Does your red wine offer you garnet or ruby hues or purplish tones? Is it free from sediment? Is it leggy? Is it clear? Wine glasses that obscure or alter the color of wine...

Australian wines are some of the best in the world and Western Australian wineries provide premium wine to rival the top drops in the country. Blessed with a mild climate and ideal soil conditions, South Western Australia is the ideal place for visiting wineries and enjoying its spectacular scenery. Here are 5 of its top wine regions. 1. Swan Valley. The Swan Valley is the closest wine region to Perth and is easily reached by road or taking a cruise on the Swan River. Captain Cook Cruises operates daily trips along the scenic upper reaches of the river to Sandalford and Waters Edge wineries. The Swan Valley is the oldest wine growing region in Western Australia. The warm, dry climate is perfect for...

It is important to serve wine at the correct temperature, failing to do so will spoil the overall tasting experience and enjoyment of the wine. Some wines should be served at different temperatures to others, but if you do not know this, how can you get it right? It should be remembered that any wine served too cold will lack flavour and character as well as appearing dull and lifeless; that said, fewer faults with the wine can be detected when it is over chilled. To get the best out of the wine tasting experience your palate wants to be able to analyze and decipher all aromas, flavours and nuances in the wine which are only released at their optimum temperatures. It is known that red wines are...