First you feel the heat. Then you hear the music. The accordion and fiddle wailing above that chanky-chank beat we love. Last weekend was Crawfish Festival time in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana and it was everything we've come to expect. Heaping helpings of irresistible food and the kind of music that makes your feet tap and your hips sway whether you want them to or not.

While visiting friends a few years back, I was introduced to the joys of the Carneros wine region. The appellation spans the southern portions of both Sonoma and Napa Valley. Los Carneros - "The Ram" produces some of the world's most extraordinary Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sparkling wines due in part to the cool climate produced by the proximity of the Pacific Ocean.

I grew up in the ‘70’s. My Mom was considered a radical by many for promoting breastfeeding and health foods long before it was fashionable in Southern Louisiana.