Taking a break from New York…in the arid desert
Just back from a long weekend in Tucson, Arizona, and I am still adjusting to the change in topography and weather.
While some days and nights were quite cold, most of the time the sky was bright blue with delightful warm sunshine and desert breezes. While there, I learned the name of a chili pepper I had not known: the hatch chili. This green pepper was infused in a decanter of lemonade. Spicy, piquant, it wakes up your taste buds.
I am a big fan of the jalapeno margarita, so this non-alcoholic version of a tangy beverage is a nice way to enjoy a southwestern style lunch. The hatch chili pepper, by the way, is named for the peppers harvested in the Hatch Valley Region of New Mexico.
So, just where did this lunch take place? At my friend’s stunning and lush (in the middle of the desert) park on her event space property, the Medella Vina Ranch in Tucson. At this ranch, there are gorgeous and unique spaces to rent (from weddings and corporate events to little girl teas and intimate cocktail parties), wine tastings, trail rides and artisan and antique fairs on Sundays. It truly is THE place to be in Tucson!
A posse of people from the New York area flew in to celebrate a special birthday last weekend, and to welcome us, my dear friend brought in a company that creates luxurious picnics, including an “Alice in Wonderland” type table, adorned with lovely place settings, flowers, and pillows.
What an amazing lunch! Although the company that creates these experiences serves only the Tucson and Phoenix areas, next time you are visiting the state, you might want to look into this beautiful and lush way to enjoy lunch outdoors. Picnic de la Creme
And, by all means, check out the many events and activities at the Medella Vina Ranch.
Valerie Smaldone is a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and is well known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 on-air position in the New York radio market on 106.7 Life-FM, an iHeart station. She has hosted, produced, and created several award-winning nationally syndicated programs featuring in-depth interviews with stars like Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Mariah Carey among others. Her radio talk show "Bagels and Broadway" highlighted theatre and food personalities. She is an accomplished interviewer and voice artist heard on commercials, narrations, promos and audiobooks, as well as a sought after live announcer.
Most recently, Valerie produced and directed a film, The Thursday Night Club, featuring pop diva Gloria Gaynor in her movie acting debut. She is one of the creators and producers of a docu-series, Divine Renovation, starring Erik Estrada, on streaming networks soon.
