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Esther Tseng

@estarla

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🖋 Food, drinks & culture
📍 Los Angeles
🍸 Academy Chair, USA West @the50bars

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📸: @emmajanzen
Thinking once again about the third annual North America's 50 Best Bars, held in SMdA, before I let this memory get away from me. A heartfelt congratulations to @mirate.losangeles @centurygrandphx @truelaurelsf (EDIT: I am the worst for forgetting to add the AWESOME @pch_sf #38 to this carousel) @herbsandrye & @thunderboltla teams. ✨️ This includes an extra special Sustainable Bar Award recognition to @truelaurelsf ❤️

It's been my third year as @50bestbars USA West Academy Chair and I have to say that the experience has taught me more about the bar world than at any other time in my life...for that I'm grateful. But it's also given me a sort of community and sense of place. Being able to zoom out and zoom back in again.

Pondering where does my huge ass territory from Hawaii to Colorado, Alaska to Arizona and New Mexico stand in North America and The World? Where can we go, what can we offer in and to each of our respective and incredibly diverse markets? (They don't call it the wild, wild west for nothing.) I don't have any answers, in fact—only more questions!— but I know I have met some incredible people in this short amount of time and you all inspire me in your individual expressions of Hospitality in this, the hardest industry in the world. I can't wait to meet more of you and deepen relationships with others.

Also thanks to all the anonymous voters. Your work, experience and expertise are so appreciated. Though it might seem thankless, your opinions are so valuable. Cheers!! 🍸

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It's been cloudy in LA so the summer has seemed to escape us. But I'm about to get on a plane so it's finally dawning that it's here! The great part of this rainy season 🌧 is that @mammothmountain had a record-breaking year so that meant lots of (unskiable, groomed or slush bumpy) coverage by end of May and a hill that opened from Chair 9 to the left all the way to Main on the right for the holiday...a first!! Memorial Day skiing was a hoot & a great opportunity to get some laps in with @katherep & @filmdrew27. Plus the insane boat wars (the theme of the weekend was YACHT CLUB 🛥) & some great in-town discounts on gear! 🦣 Mammy will always have my heart.
#snowboarding #skiing #mammothlakes

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Officially done with the #bikepacking portion of our trip, and what a ride it was:
Day 1: Barcelona 🚲 Lloret de mar (46mi)
Day 2: Lloret de mar 🚲 Girona (25mi w/1500-ft climb)
Day 3: Girona 🚲 Ortaffa + crossing the 🇪🇸🇫🇷 border (57mi w/2635-ft climb)
Day 4: Rest day in Ortaffa, Elne & Collioure
Day 5: Ortaffa 🚲 Perpignan (10mi)

We're just two couples on our bikes, unsupported, booking our stays as we went (Fall—off-peak season—is perfect for that). 🍂 Beautiful sights and scenes, lovely hosts, a castle 🏰 stay and interesting people. ❤️ We learned so much about #bikepacking, what to take and what to (not) leave.
Also learned that being good at falling in snowboarding has translated well to being good at falling while clipped into a bike? We had mechanical issues with my seat while with no tool 🤣 and now I have more bruises on my lower extremities than I've had at any other time in my life. It's all been a learning experience 😌

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JUST ME AND A GIANT PANCAKE #🥞.
Flashback to #BBQBootcamp COWGIRL Edition at @alisalguestranch 🍖🐴👢 a few days ago, where I posed with a giant, branded pancake, learned about beef from Katie @flannerybeef, pizza firing from @cheffalkner, grilled desserts from @valerieconfctns, beef cheek tacos 🌮 from @mooscraftbarbecue, learned about @ellenmariebennett's @hedleyandbennett biz over s'morez and enjoyed all the eats from @anthonyendy. 🍷 Cheers, too, to @holusboluswine @cambriawines for your wonderful wines!! BBQ Bootcamp happens twice a year and is an EVENT. Eat, learn about & eat (again) the best BBQ you can imagine in the span of two days. Unfortunately we had the #alisalfire
burning nearby (photo 2) but miraculously the wind was blowing in the opposite direction.
#bbq #bbqribs #pancakes #alisalranch

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Remembering that time we took a hike in @sugarloafpark and then got rewarded with oysters at the original @hogislandoysterco in Tomales Bay & @sonomacutrer rosé and chardonnay afterwards 🦪🦪🦪

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Take me back! To #santaynez #winecountry with wine and bikes 🍷🚲. One thing that's not pictured is my fitbit tracker clocking us in at 40mi (!!!) on day one!! For day two, we reversed things and had wine with a side of biking. Lovely weather and green grounds thanks to recent rain. @fessparkerwinery @gaineyvineyard @kalyrawinery @dierberg_starlane @clairmontfarms #lavenderfarm Thank you!!
Video 📹: Riding lost in the vineyards is the best way to be 🍇
#losolivos #solvang #buellton

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A month ago (#TBT), I was asked to talk with @libdenk
& @quincetessence on-air at @kpcc about specialty grocery stores 🛒 and while I was more of a generalist, Quincy had a wealth of knowledge that's well reflected in his latest @laistpics piece on Thai 🇹🇭 markets, so check it:
https://laist.com/2019/09/18/how_to_shop_a_thai_market_grocery_store_los_angeles.php
.
Dress 👗 by @maramora.oaxaca -- stop by @meson.jalatlaco to browse Mara's beautiful goods next time you are in Oaxaca City. ❤

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So many thanks to @daouvineyards for a great weekend that we wished wouldn't end. It was still more than worth the quick trip! 🇫🇷
1) Got to drive this 🐎 Portofino around the vineyards and satisfy my need for speed
2-5) Then the #MoulinRouge gala to the nines. Wow. Performers 🧔🦒🦓🔥, a merry-go-round 🎠
6) The best cheese cart I ever saw 🧀
7) A wondrous view of #pasorobles. Did you know @daouvineyards has the highest elevation tasting room?
8-10) Dinner with niçoise and beef bourguignon 🇫🇷 and an early exit past the dessert extravaganza ❤🍰

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Last week I stepped outside my "reported online" comfort zone and wrote a very personal poem, then read it in a room @kpccinperson #UnheardLA filled with talented writers, poets, musicians and was so honored... Thank you @mikethepoetla for inviting me to be a part of such a special evening and congratulations on your book, Letters To My City. Everyone go get a copy!! It's so good and filled with the city's truth. 📸: @jonendow
.
Also so many thanks to @petitemagique @skiesdivided @nadria @messyepicure @katherep @bridgelovesla @jonendow for coming to support 🙏 It means so much!! ❤

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Walking the streets of San Igacio, Belize 🇧🇿 with a full stomach and hair on my face. ✌

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Did many things today, only two of which were making tortillas by grinding masa on granite and shaping a vase on the pottery wheel. Such a great time at San Antonio's Women's Group @travelbelize 🇧🇿 #belize #sanantonio #comal #corntortillas

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#repost
I'm on a #podcast and it was so much fun! That's because the awesome @sarajbenincasa of @whereyafrompod invited me in to talk about NEW BERLIN, Wisconsin which is...where I'm from. She is the hostest with the mostest and @leatherfink is the best podcast producer. Check the #linkinbio for our convo about that, food writing, @karlhess @chefludo cheese curds @staletwizzlers UCLA and more... #newberlin #wisconsin

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