EpicureanTravelRadio features interviews on food, wine, travel, health, nutrition and the latest lifestyle news from the San Francisco Bay Area and around the world with host, Gina Snow.

Listen to Jay Kordich aka the "Father of Juicing,"  talk with Gina Snow about his mission in life and new book, "Live Foods Live Bodies." Now eighty-eight years young, Jay advocates that drinking freshly juiced vegetables and fruits is not only the best way to maintain your health, but also to repair damage that has been done. At the young age of 26, Jay was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He traveled from Southern California to New York City to be treated by Dr. Max Gerson who was successfully treating cancer patients with a regime of fresh vegetables, fruit juices and detoxification programs as early as the 1920's. After recovering from bladder cancer and healthier than ever, Jay became a lifelong advocate of this natural and healthy lifestyle. His first book, "The Power of Juicing,"  was a hit and became #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List.  Learn more at www.jaykordich.com.

As the interview continues, Jay gives listeners his home-made recipe to remove pesticides from all fresh fruits and vegetables before juicing or consuming. Learn more at www.jaykordich.com.

Update: Jack LaLanne, TV fitness guru and peer of Jay Kordich, passed away at the age of 96 on Sunday, January 23, 2011.

The Sins of Zin(fandel)

Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) Co-Founder and Founder of Ravenswood Winery, Joel Peterson, talks about the annual ZAP Festival held at the Ft. Mason Festival Pavilion with the most complete showing of Zinfandel wineries in the world.

He also talks about the history of this robust wine and what to look for in California Zinfandels. Joel was recently inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame. 

For more information about ZAP, visit http://zinfandel.org.

Wine and Orchids - The New Pairing

Move over wine and roses. Show Chair, Dennis Westler (aka "The Orchid Doctor") talks about the 59^th annual Pacific Orchid Exposition (POA), the largest orchid show in the United States, at Fort Mason Center's Festival Pavilion on March 3-6, 2011 showcasing over 150,000 orchids. Orchid expert, Bruce Rogers, will give design tips and ideas for pairing orchids to specific wines. Rogers has spent decades running his full service orchid business, as well as providing consulting and orchid displays for parties or events. He has worked with countless private clients, such as Senator Diane Feinstein as well as popular retail establishments like Ralph Lauren Polo, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom's to design amazing orchid centerpieces and décor.

The Pacific Orchid Exposition is hosted by the non-profit San Francisco Orchid Society (SFOS), and the event serves as the organization's major fundraiser. Proceeds from the Gala Benefit Preview night on Thursday, March 3 from 6:30 - 10:00 pm, will go to assisting other non-profit horticultural organizations such as the Conservatory of Flowers and the Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture.

Call 415.665.2468 or visit orchidsanfrancisco.org  for more info.

This is a rendition of "Auld Lang Syne," the song to sing at the stroke of midnight to ring in the new year. The traditional Scottish song was first written down in the 1700s with the poet Robert Burns often getting credit for the words. What does "Auld Lang Syne" mean? Essentially, the words translate into "for days past," "days gone by," or "for the sake of old times."  The intention of the song is to honor the good days of the past year at the crossover from the old to the new year.

Segura Viudas has earned many honors over the past five decades, including being named "Winery of the Year" by Wine & Spirits magazine and is a Wine & Spirits 2010 Value Brand of the Year.

Visit Segura Viudas Sparkling Wines for more information.

Did Absinthe Make Vincent van Gogh Cut Off His Ear?

December 23rd marked the anniversary of Vincent van Gogh's infamous act of cutting off his ear and sending it to his beloved in 1888.  Today, we speculate whether he committed this bizarre act after drinking his favorite elixir Absinthe. Banned for almost 100 years, this vivid green complex potion of herbs and alcohol was said to make one crazy, have hallucinations and even expire.  Just why would anyone risk drinking it?  T.A. (Ted) Breaux, a scientist and the master distiller of Lucid Absinthe Supérieure, set out to answer this question.  After 10 years of scientific study, historical research and recipe experimentation, he found that the mysterious properties of this spirit had gotten a bad rap. 

The Lucid Absinthe recipe includes Grande Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), along with green anise, sweet fennel, and other herbs.  By early 2008, Lucid became available through most distributors in the U.S.

The Lucid brand revived the antique term "Absinthe Superieure" to differentiate itself from the negative connotations of absinthe that persisted. Ted Breaux's  recipe includes Grande Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), along with green anise, sweet fennel, and other herbs.

Listen to Gina Snow talk with Ted Breaux about the history of Absinthe and its reincarnation as Lucid Absinthe Supérieure. Click here to view the traditional French way to serve Absinthe, and the ritual that  Van Gogh would have performed before savoring every drop of this precious spirit.

 For more information and recipes, visit www.drinklucid.com.

Gina Snow interviews Lawrence Michelson, founder of MySoberDrivers.org also known as Designated Driver Services of California. 

This non-profit organization was created with the mission and purpose of making Bay Area roadways safer by proactively treating and preventing the intensifying conundrum posed by impaired driving.  Sober Drivers is dedicated to aggressively advancing their mission through traditional and innovative channels. This amazing non-profit strives to realize our purpose by providing safe, courteous, and reliable designated driver services, by promoting sober driving, increasing public awareness, and contributing to, or collaborating with, like intentioned organizations.

Serving 17 cities in 3 Bay Area counties of San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara, Sober Drivers is open by appointment 24 hours 7 days a week.  Convenient and affordable pick-ups can be scheduled by calling 1-800-787-6617, or by making a reservation online at www.mysoberdrivers.org.  Phone lines are open from 6:00 pm until 2:30am.