P o p M u s e

American Express Pairings: Dave Matthews / John Besh / Robert Mondavi Winery

As a part of being an American Express Enthusiast PopMuse was invited to attend their first PAIRINGS event in Napa California this weekend.  The Pairings Series is a card members only dinner party / concert where Amex pairs a celebrity chef, celebrity wine, and celebrity musician.  Friday's Pairing was Dave Matthews, Chef John Besh and Robert Mondavi Wine (held at their incredible Winery in Napa.)

The evening started in the Wine Cellar (pic) with a toast from the fierce Margaret Mondavi (who had a real Diana Vreeland quality) and John Besh's passed Hors d'ourves including alligator empanadas (no joke).

Then we were seated in an intimate dining room, only 14 tables, maybe 100 people max.  Dave and Besh came out to face the excited crowd and offer up another toast (there were many toasts).  Then Mathews disappeared (for hours) to eat/drink privately, while Besh took the stage with each of his 7 courses of food.  See menu HERE.

Dave was sort of present through the 3 hour dinner in that he selected certain songs to play while each course was served.  The selections even had their own menu (cute detail).  See pic of menu HERE.

Eventually after the Quince Tart with Blue Cheese Ice Cream was served, Dave reappeared and performed a 10 song acoustic set.  The word 'intimate' is an understatement, he riffed with the spirited (get what I did there) crowd, spoke about the food, poked fun at himself, and seemed to generally enjoy the experience of playing to such a small crowd of foodie fans.

I listen to a lot of music, I eat a lot of food (hello Bloghungry) but I don't drink a lot of wine, especially since miss Lily came into our lives, so the surprise star of the night was Robert Mondavi Wines.  Frankly, these days if I'm going to have an alcoholic beverage it's whiskey, but I truly enjoyed the wine tasting aspect of this event (might have been influenced by the fact we sat with the wine-maker herself).  See the wine menu HERE.  (The first three were my favorite.)

Another video clip below.  I didn't overdo the video because I noticed excellent rock doc director Sam Erickson was in the house filming the whole event (he told me there would be some webisodes of the night on-line soon, I'll update you once they premiere.)

Currently there is only one other Pairings event planned: Tom Colecio & John Legend at Craft Steak in New York.  Tickets to these events are available to Amex Card Members ONLY, soooo you know what you have to do...

For more musings on the food of the evening go to Bloghungry.com.

"Enthusiast" PopMuse

American Express approached me to be an “Enthusiast” because they thought my obsession with travel, music, gadgets, entertainment and food related to specific Charge Card Rewards and benefits Am Ex offers. They told me they were looking for bloggers who would be willing to use an American Express Charge Card and share my experiences using it on my blog – and on their site.

I already had a Gold Card and a Blue Card.  And they gave me 50,000 Membership Rewards points right away. (The reason for this was because I’m only working with them for a short term and they wanted me to be able to apply them to my life while I’m featured in the program.) They asked me to share my experiences with you through my posts and Tweets. I was told I could share my own opinion – positive or negative. I was not paid. (I did get 50,000 Membership Points credited to my account.)

I was invited to go to an American Express event featuring a Dave Mathews performance and Chef John Besh food up in Napa Valley, they will cover the travel expenses for Bloghungry and myself. (More on that after I attend!)

When American Express reached out to me, they gave me the following “terms of engagement” that they asked me to follow: · Be transparent and disclose my relationship and anything I’ve received as a result of my relationship with American Express.

· Be honest about my opinions.

· Offer suggestions and concerns.

· Clearly articulate when I am being compensated – by cash or in any other way – for consulting or other duties I may perform.

· Shared this policy openly and publicly.

Food2 - Make friends TODAY!

So there's a new Food Site on the web and it's called Food2.   It's somewhat related to Food Network, but with a much younger flavor (see how I used the word "flavor" there?)  They have a nice logo too.  OH AND, some good programming too.  OH AND, if you "friend" them on Facebook or write about them on your blog you get something free TODAY!  MORE INFO ON THAT HERE.

Be sure to watch food blogger Adam Robert's show The Amateur Gourmet.  It's adorable and I'm so happy to see him move up in the Foodie World.  Speaking of foodies... don't you think Bloghungry should get a show?  Oh the ideas I have for that series!!!

Food2 on FACEBOOK

Food2 the SITE

Carrie Fisher (The Person) not legless, but probably on new Pills...

I love how anytime PopMuse fans / friends see Carrie Fisher (the person) on TV, I get e-mails.  Makes me laugh and appreciate the name we gave our dog even more.  Carrie Fisher (the person) did an appearance on The Today Show (above) that has everyone in an uproar, did she lose her legs (no, she is sitting on them), did she gain weight (yes, obviously, but who cares, she's a writer now, she doesn't need to be thin; and I'd guess her bi-polar meds cause some weight gain, as they do...  See Robbie WIlliams song below.)

Carrie Fisher (the dog) can hide her legs too and lord knows her pills made her gain weight, look at her before and after - is crazy.  I personally perfer her chubby and well drugged...  Oh, that goes for dog and person.  I never found Princess Leia that interesting, but this Carrie Fisher - RIVETING!

D'LOAD: ROBBIE WILLIAMS "GOOD DOCTOR" [mp3]

BUY: CARRIE FISHER "WISHFUL DRINING [Book]

Cooking With The Hills

If I had to encapsulate all of (my man) Bloghungry's hatred of "The Hills" in a video clip, this would be the one.  In fact if I had to capture all the things Bloghungry dislikes about Los Angeles in a video clip, this would be the one.  This moment is ridic, who doesn't know the words for 'Pots and Pans'?  The ladies on The Hills, that's who.  Watch above or HERE.

AND YES, I'm re-watching the old episodes of The Hills on The N (look deep on your Guide, it's there) and I'm loving every minute of it.  PopMuse misses Elodie and Heidi's old face, bad. 

Also, if you know The Hills then you know and love this song...  (thanks Foxy)

D'LOAD: PARAMORE "Misery Business"

American Idol Ice Cream & New Britney

Have you seen?  Bloghungry (my personal chef) is back to blogging!  In honor of that I decided to post on his two favorite things, Food and Britney Spears.  Here's a pic of me acting a fool in a grocery store upon discovering American Idol Ice Cream.  Did you know they made this?  It's not even on-air right now?  Crazy.  Brilliant.  I want an entire American Idol Grocery Store, don't you?

Here's Brit's new single "Gimme More".  I like it OK, but I asked super-fan BH to comment and he simply said "She needs to gimme more."  Profound.  Listen Below.

I found this (most certainly fake) pic of Britney on ENDER's site.  But wouldn't it be nice if it was real? [courtesy of cola]

LISTEN: BRITNEY "GIMME MORE" [mp3 link]

Bloghungry's Birthday

Being a Blogging Power Couple can be trying... PopMuse and Bloghungry fight off on-line stalkers, fight off paparazzi everytime we leave the house to walk Carrie Fisher, and it's becoming increasingly impossible for Bloghungry to go grocery shopping with the crowds of fans barking questions about cornbread and such.  We've considered getting security, but it's just not the way we want to live, ya know?

Anyway, fellow celeb couple TomKat were kind enough to have their wedding on the same day as Bloghungry's Birthday so we could get some peace.  It was very generous of them and I wish them much luck for the next 9 years and 350 days.

What will we be doing?  Well, this picture was selected because that is most likely how BH will look on his B-Day, as he plans to eat quiche all day, how's that for opulence! 

In honor of his birthday I made a little PopMuse Mini-Mix of tunes I know he'll like.  Sometimes you have to throw your street cred and good taste out the window in the name of love.  Enjoy song by song or d'load the whole thing below:

BLOGHUNGRY BIRTHDAY MIX (full mix) [.zip]

BLOSSOM THEME [mp3]
DANITY KANE "TOUCHING MY BODY" [mp3]
LUCKY TWICE "LUCKY" [mp3]
ASHLEE SIMPSON "L.O.V.E" [mp3]
WHAM "I'M YOUR MAN" [mp3]
BRITNEY SPEARS "THE 14 MIN. ULTIMIX" [mp3]

P.S.  Have you linked Bloghungry.com for Thanksgiving yet?  How many food bloggers do you know asking Gay Porn Stars for Thanksgiving Recipes?  COME ON!

Imdisgusted

Have you seen the trailer for Ashlee Simpson's new film Undiscovered?  Woo was watching his morning Gilmore Girls today and I happened to look up from my Oatmeal to discover a TV trailer for this epic piece of Shit.  At first I thought it was an ABC Family Original; but oh no, it's a Blockbuster Lion's Gate Release. 

You will hear this piece of dialogue in the trailer and you will laugh, then you will cry:  "This is doing nothing for me musically, I need to go to LA to get hurt."

Watch the trailer.
Visit the Site.

Blog Hungry

As PopMuse has been extremely busy creating television art these days (for the day job,) there hasn't been much time for blogging.  But in my absence I'd like to shine a spotlight on a new Blog that PopMuse's Man has started.  It's called BlogHungry, and it's filled with wonderful recipes, funny restaurant reviews, and musings on all things FOOD (Woo's favorite topic.)  It's an entertaining read, check it out!

Starbucks Morning Mix

I must say the Music Service here at Starbucks is currently AMAZING.  I woke up this morning at my usual too early, and being that I'm far from my home office.   (I'm in Palm Springs on a weekend getaway with friends.)  I decided to throw the old ibook under my arm and head for a Starbucks to catch up on Blog reading and writing. 

Anyway, I had my ipod in hand (of course) but before I could even click Playlists, I took note of the music surrounding me (something not enough people do).  And I was struck by this super-perfect Starbucks In-store Music. 

I know that Starbucks is this massive corp that is way too powerful and probably destroying the universe, but right now, in this moment, here in the desert, this musical equivalent of a Bran Raisin Muffin is TURNING ME OUT!

1. REM "Imitation of Life"
2. Rufus Wainwright "One Man Guy"
3. REM "Losing My Religion"
4. Indigo Girls "Closer to Fine"
5. Sarah Mclaughlin (one of her obscure songs that sounds like all the others)
6. Joseph Arthur "Can't Exist"
7. 10.000 Maniacs "More Than This"
8. Indigo Girls "Kid Fears"
9. Peter Gabriel "Blood of Eden"

I think I am experiencing some serious university Deja Vu.  Oh my god, a little person (aka a Midget) just walked in... this place is in CRED ible!

maybe this will get hollywood stars to actually eat something

I care more about these cookies than I do the about the Oscars, does that make me jaded or hungry?