Dining, Arts & Entertainment

It was the early 90s and the world had just survived what was the crazy 80s.  Mesmerized by the idea of different cultures, Roza Hamzei left her country to study life, art, language and love in Perugia, the artistic center of central Italy.  While in school, Roza worked hard in a few family-run restaurants and began to fall in love with the Italy she dreamt of in her childhood.  What began as a quest for enrichment turned to a fire for food.  Her passions for love, family and authenticity were awakened again and again by the aromas of the Italian coast.  She began tasting… and cooking everything from central Italy and then Northern Italy, Sicilia and Napoli as well.

The work of five young artists from Child & Family Center of Santa Clarita Valley was featured in a free art showcase sponsored by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to celebrate its 50 years of providing services in the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys.
The showcase featured the work of artists who have benefited from local mental health services. 

The holidays are in full swing at Kupcake Kitchen where we are busy preparing some of our seasonal favorites.  We are baking up fresh batches of our pumpkin, gingerbread, egg nog, chocolate peppermint and much more each day.
Our holiday designs will dress up any holiday party.  You can create your own assortment by coming into the store, or you can special order for your event ahead of time. 

Whether you’re an aged collector of wine or an amateur, proper storage of wine is vital.  And since building a wine cellar can get quite expensive, don’t worry, you don’t need one.  Sparkling wine, white wine and red wine all have different demands, but there are seven general rules of thumb you should keep in mind when storing your wine.

Hello again!  Can it be possible that we are already in December?  It is time to think about the holidays.
We here at J.R.’s Comedy Club can help with a lot of your Holiday plans.  We have gift certificates available, so you can buy the gift of laughter.  We also always have a few holiday parties at J.R.’s.  It’s not to late to schedule one for your office or company.

“That’s Amore.”  Mary and Joseph are all about making what the customer wants, so special request are happily accommodated.  It is custom Italian food made fresh to order.  They have a wonderful wine and food menu with everything made from the freshest ingredients.  We serve the traditional Italian dishes.  The pizzas are delightful and you are encouraged to build your own. 

I’m back, and better than ever!  I need to apologize to everyone that looks forward to my article.  I had some dating and editing problems.  I was trying to figure out why so many of us are single. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.  Just thinking about what single parents do in their every day life is just amazing.

When I was growing up and just starting to get phone calls from friends, waiting for that phone to ring was always an exciting time.  In my home we had a “phone table” built into the wall in the center of our 1938 Spanish-style house.  The phone had a short cord that went deep into the wall.  Fifty-foot extensions weren’t popular yet, and cordless didn’t exist.  So when the phone rang, we ran to answer it from whatever corner of the house we had been anxiously sitting in, afraid to leave for fear of missing the call. 

The food you love is being served up this holiday season with big surprises!
Sisley Italian Kitchen is rewarding you for coming in with your family. To show our appreciation we unveil a variety of special offers. From the Kids Eat Free program, to a special happy hour menu with reduced drinks that transfer the savings to your pockets.  

Special occasions deserve to be celebrated at The Odyssey Restaurant & Special Events.  A vision of the valley, it is our view that first capture your attention, but it is our food and service that defines your perfect day.  The Odyssey is the ideal destination for specialty dining with breathtaking views from any area in the dining room and Ballrooms. 

I was delighted when I confirmed the restaurant review with Jason Park of Maru Restaurant and even happier to have my very best girlfriend Angela join me.  Our meal took place on a beautiful Thursday afternoon and if the décor was any indication as to the caliber of cuisine I was about to enjoy, I could surely count on one unforgettable meal!  The restaurant is beautiful inside... elegant and carefully decorated.  Everything looked as if it was perfectly in its place.  Chef Park created an extravagant dining experience for us and with 14 dishes all together, I chose my five favorites to share with you.

This is a frequent question I get from people who are unfamiliar with what I do.  As chef and owner of Dawn’s Dinners, Inc., most of what I do is catering, even if I am preparing a individual meal for a single client.
To cater is to provide food and services or to provide food professionally or even to provide things to satisfy a person or need - to serve.  I have yet to find a definition that includes how many one is serving to be considered catering or to be a caterer.  I guess in this respect, many chefs are caterers, even if they work behind a line in a restaurant.  

Well it’s November and time to give thanks.  I want to say “Thanks” to a bunch of people today.  Thanks to all of the incredible comedians who have crossed our stage this year.  We have been lucky to have some of the all time greatest.
Thanks to everyone who made our first Celebrity Golf tournament for the Santa Clarita Homeless Shelter, a huge success.  Thanks to our loyal customers who keep coming back and bringing new people.  Thanks to Marie Callender’s for providing us a home for the last 12 years.

Even at our age there are times, though increasingly rare, that we find ourselves ridiculously excited about someone we’ve met.  This recently happened to me.  My reaction to our meeting was reminiscent of my adolescence (and my obsession over Darren Brown when I was 15).  This man took my breath away, and that just never happens anymore.  The day after he asked for my contact information, I found myself checking my phone and my computer constantly.  Was it working?  Should I power it off and back on again to check?

Youhwa Shin was awarded a scholarship prize of $1000 toward college at the Santa Clarita Artists’ Association gala held at Hart Park on October 17.  Scholarship committee members were Jaylene Armstrong, Pat Thayer, and Patti O’Hearn.
“The scholarship committee was very impressed with the quality of artwork exhibited by senior art students,” says Jaylene Armstrong, Chairperson and presenter of the award.  “The Scholarship Award Program is an integral part of the SCAA’s goals as it provides and promotes good art education communication – important to the student, parents, art chairs, and community at large.”

With the holiday season fast approaching save yourself the headache of organizing and preparing meals by letting Sisley Italian Kitchen provide you with all your favorites, served fresh, at your place or ours.
Thanksgiving and holiday parties can be made easy by talking to one of our knowledgeable managers who are waiting to arrange the perfect spread, leaving you with all the credit and none of the work!

Choir Students at Valencia High School will be hosting their annual Holiday Boutique on Saturday, November 20 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to help raise monies for the Valencia High School Choral and Vocal Jazz Program!
Over 40 vendors will be in attendance at this public boutique in the Valencia qym selling holiday goods, crafts, and treasures! 

‘Tis the season of merrymaking and magical moods.  Climb onboard one of Fillmore & Western Railway’s Holiday train rides.  Bring the family and create memories.  Many southern California families begin their Christmas seasons with a ride on the Christmas Tree Holiday Train, a tradition they repeat year after year.  The train departs twice daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday beginning the weekend following Thanksgiving.