Starbucks VIA® Iced Coffee

The nice folks at Starbucks provided me with some free samples of their new Starbucks VIA® Iced Coffee! Great way to build buzz you guys -- hand out free samples! I love free stuff. (I actually got it VIA this promotion, which is now over.)

ANYhoo, I'm sippin' it right now, and I'm happy to report that it is a VERY satisfying glass of coffee. It's pre-sweetened and made to be used "on-the-go", so it blends easily with cold water. Preparing it as they recommend would work great for most fans of Starbucks drip. But I'm one of those people who needs ALOT OF SUGAR AND MILK in her Starbucks -- otherwise, it's a little strong for me. Okay, it's ALOT strong. So I added 2 sugars to mine, as well as a generous splash or 3 of half-and-half. :-)

These small adjustments made it pretty much the best iced-coffee I've ever prepared in my own kitchen.

Promotional consideration provided by Starbucks Corp.

Wienermobile!

I had the good fortune last weekend to be able to attend a fundraiser at Griffith Park for The Liz Logelin Foundation -- an organization near and dear to my heart.

And I mean, COME ON. It's the Wienermobile! Who WOULDN'T wanna see it?! Plus, there were HOT DOGS!!!

It was so, so awesome. Thanks to the folks at Oscar Mayer for putting this little shin-dig together!

The Original Pantry

After many years of wanting to, I finally got the opportunity yesterday to eat at The Original Pantry in downtown L.A.! I dined with my pals D-Mo & J-Mo prior to our date at the Staples Center last night.

This place is a landmark. They pride themselves on never being closed and never being without a customer inside.

It's currently owned by former L.A. mayor and notable Irishman Richard Riordan

King Shag!

This is the yummiest, cheapest NZ sauv blanc I've ever had. Emphasis on cheapest.

Just sayin'.

For the record, tho, my fave NZ sauv blanc is Brancott. Always has been, always will be.

It's got *frizzante*

I'm havin' this *redonk* pinot grigio tonite and... it's got BUBBLES!!! Super num.

It's from Contadino, and is available at Trader Joe's for the *absurd* price of $4.99! It's relatively lo-alcohol, so it's easier on your wine-gut and doesn't get you quite so hammered. (Just sayin'.)

::clink::