Celebrating Independence

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While the Fourth of July is America’s official day of independence, it signifies the freedom of many. While we light fireworks, BBQ up the tastiest of treats, and enjoy a day off, let’s take a look at some Independence Days from around the world.

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Thomas Hill Organics

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The very first time I came to Paso, I met Chef Ryan Sims. I was here to meet a winemaker and she took me out to one of her favorite local restaurants, Thomas Hill Organics. At the time, Ryan was an apprentice and Sous Chef, and as luck would have it that was the one time I was able to meet owner, Debbie Thomas. This time around however, Chef Ryan is the Executive Chef and the food he creates? Sheer brilliance. From the complexity to the candor of local ingredients, every single dish is a tasty art piece worthy of pause. Crafted with the local produce in mind, tonight’s dinner was nothing short of spectacular, and Chef? The best thing to happen to the region in my opinion.

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Zoetic by Chef Corinne Rice

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Corrine Rice can be described as sheer passion, purity, complexity by way of beautiful understated luxury, and passion. Her cuisine is the kind of fare that supports everything I believe in: Quality, sustainable, local, farm to table, and my all time necessaire: gluten-free. When invited to partake of this evenings’ popup, I was genuinely thrilled. Chef Rice is not the egocentric chef. She is the epitome of culinary love and it shows in every dish.

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French Stewart as BUSTER KEATON!

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“I mean, I never thought I’d have all of this. Look at me! I’m 50, married to this incredible woman [pointing to Vanessa], have a beautiful little girl, work for Chuck Lorre during the day [MOM on CBS], and at night, I get to do this with all of my friends playing a character of a man I’ve admired all of my life. I’m living the dream!”

– French Stewart

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Maya Angelou

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Letter From The Editor: You see, we live in a world that is chaotic and full of hate but then we are given a beacon of light. A human being who does not accept our willful attempts at hate. A human being who looks deeper into humanity and simply watches it behave in order to understand who it truly has become. Mind you, not who it is but rather who it has allowed itself to become. She epitomized the idea that conditioning ones soul to respond in anger or hate is mere choice by which we can make a change. She believed inexhaustibly that life was hope. That dreaming was essential. That caging a free bird was the detriment of ones soul. This woman declared that regardless of what change happens “to her”, it would never reduce her worth, her value, diminish the core of who she was. That woman – that human being – is Maya Angelou.

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The LinQ Las Vegas

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Las Vegas is not only the place where slot machines beckon, the dream of hitting it big gnaws at you and actually encourages you to keep taking your chances; it is not simply a city where inhibitions are free to roam, secrets are kept, clubs are in plenty, partying is inevitable, and curiosities are granted. Nope, Las Vegas is actually becoming a whole lot more than that. In fact, Las Vegas is becoming a cultural mecca for art, food, mixology, music (beyond the Vegas Shows), design, and believe it or not, outdoor socializing that doesn’t include a swim-up “pool bar”. Welcome to the LinQ

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2014 Austin Food & Wine Festival

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I love the city of Austin. It’s no secret the city won my heart the very first time I visited in 2012. Combine a city of just about everything I love AND toss in the most sensational range of culinary prowess into a week long festival of kickoff events, culinary battles, sweet delights, imaginative parties, and some of the greatest chefs in the US? Um yes. Count me in. This year however, I decided to invite my Austin photographer, Kevin Curtis to go in and capture some of the more notable moments. You can see for yourself that it was nothing short of tasty entertainment!!

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An Unconventional Letter From Mom

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The story goes that once upon a time, I swallowed a bean. It was a magical bean and it was a bean only your daddy and I would know about. It was made especially for us. We had searched high and low for the bean we “thought” was ours but turns out the seedling was with us all along. (Seems grown-ups are a little “slow on the draw” sometimes.

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