April 17, 2016

John Hamilton

On-The-Go Travel Experts for Cruising, Hotels, Resorts and Best AirFares.

Every Sunday morning from 9 - 10 a.m., these three travel experts save On-The-Go listeners money. A lot of money. Each is an expert. Stewart Chiron covers cruising, Bob Diener hotels and resorts and Tom Parsons best airfares.

They offer deals, tips and breaking news that relates to their specialties.

(When making contact by phone or email, mention you're a KGO listener.)

Cruising Expert: Stewart Chiron Call 1-800-700-3881 E-mail: [e-mail] #cruiseguy.com

Hotels & Resorts Expert: Bob Diener, President, www.Getaroom.com *Please note: Deals announced by Bob Diener are not available through the hotels. Phone 1-800-HOTELS-8 (1-800-468-3578) to ask for unpublished rates.

Airfares Expert: Tom Parsons (his website is currently under construction)

Favorite Food Finds Show # 176 - Aired April 17, 2016 U.S. Restaurant – Sicilian Food

I have a strong desire to go to Sicily, and now Sicily has come to me! I was recently introduced to the reopening of the Original U.S. Restaurant in North Beach. The US stands for Unione Sportiva, which is a tribute to the city’s Italian athletic clubs that this establishment has been supporting for decades. Now they supply the meatballs to AT&T ballpark for every game!

It was a treat to meet owner Alberto Cipollina and have him guide us through the menu. Since he is from Trapani in Sicily, he brings old family recipes to his lucky diners. We started with the Panelle, which are garbanzo bean fritters. Spread on his caponata for a delicious appetizer. There’s a bowl of checce or cannellini beans mixed with onions and celery to go with your wine, which should be the Nero d’Avola. We also had the “Salami” di Polipo – marinated octopus sliced thin and dressed perfectly. Another winner was the unique Sicilian seafood sausage sitting on a bed of capers and lemon basil sauce.

Next we had a pasta that was a true representation of Alberto’s heritage. It was the Spaghetti Pesto Trapanese – fresh tomato and basil pesto with toasted almonds – and ringed with tasty Sicilian sausage. The grand finale was a sampling of four desserts: Crostata di Ricotta; Cannoli Siciliani; a pistachio cheesecake; and his signature Cassata Siciliana.

The whole meal was a true taste of Sicilian cuisine. Grazie mille, Alberto, for whetting my appetite to travel there. He gives new meaning to the saying, “Chi mangia bene, vive bene” – he who eats well, lives well.” Salute!

Barbara Treadwell for “On the Go” with John Hamilton on KGO

U.S. Restaurant 414 Columbus Avenue San Francisco, CA 94133 415-398-1300 originalusrestaurant.com

On-The-Go Guests:

9:35a.m.: Guest #1: Susan Leskiw, Media Director, Spokesperson, Godwit Days Festival

This spring, go where the birds are!

Eureka, CA -- Two million birds will flock this year to Humboldt Bay, California’s largest bay north of San Francisco. During the peak of the spring bird migration, you can join them along with birding enthusiasts from around the world for the 21st annual Godwit Days Bird Fest. Best to hurry and sign up for some of the excursions, which will fan across Humboldt County from the Lost Coast to Redwood National Park. Popular yearly draws like the Big Day, whose partakers might spot more than 100 species, are filling up fast.

Adding to the buzz this year is that David Sibley, author and artist of the popular Sibley Bird Guides, whose been likened to a contemporary John James Audubon, will be the keynote speaker. Moreover, rare sightings in the region in recent weeks of a Great Grey Owl, the world’s largest species of owl, and a Snowy Owl, usually found in the Arctic, have prompted many bird enthusiasts to flock to to Humboldt to catch glimpses.

Perhaps the most memorable, or notorious, avian guest may be a devious Steller’s Jay that, in a first recorded on a BBC bird documentary this year, imitates the piercing cry of a hawk to gain an advantage over other hungry birds at a suburbanbird feeder. Said feeder’s main observer, an ornithologist studying Steller’s jays, is slated to give a talk on his famous feathered friend, and perhaps lead a group to the scene of the crime.

In all, Humboldt’s bay, lagoons, coasts, marshes, rivers and redwoods will host, whether by boat, kayak, canoe or foot, more than 100 birdwatching trips. Some are meant for kids, like the owl pellet dissection and rescued bird demonstrations; some the grownups will prefer, like a local microbeers and birds sampler in the beachfront settlement of Manila.

For event info, visit: www.GodwitDays.org or call [phone].

9:35a.m.: Guest #2: Irene Edwards, Editor and Chief, Sunset Magazine

For the first time, Celebration Weekend will be held at Sunset’s new California wine country location and will reflect the sophisticated lifestyle and taste of this world-renowned region. On May 14th and 15th, 2016, Sunset fans will join editors, celebrity chefs, vintners, craft beer brewers and renowned lifestyle experts at Cornerstone in Sonoma, CA, for this two-day series of culinary, wine, garden and lifestyle events. Featured presenters include celebrity chefs Ludo Lefebvre, Tanya Holland, Andy Ricker, Russell Moore, Ayesha Curry, Cindy Pawlcyn, Ellie Krieger and more. Enjoy fine food, wine and shopping while touring the grounds, which include the grand opening of Sunset's Test Gardens and Outdoor Kitchen, as well as an all-new, high-design Airstream Village. VIP ticket holders will experience even more at Celebration Weekend, including: Early entry at 10am Welcome gift bag Unlimited tastes from wine, beer, and spirits purveyors Exclusive VIP lounge access, including live entertainment, featured regional wines, refreshments, catered meals and snacks To purchase tickets and find more information, go to www.sunset.com/cw. What Travel Lovers Can Expect at the Travel Stage: From virtual reality to drones, mezcal to sleeping bags, the Travel Stage will feature a diverse lineup of presentations showcasing Sunset’s influential Western travel destinations and experts. Learn secrets to wow-worthy smartphone vacation photos, or take part in a round of National Parks Jeopardy. Other sessions include a mezcal tasting through Mexico and "How Does this Work," in which Sunset’s travel experts provide answers to the questions that confound travelers on the road.

Travel Stage Schedule: Saturday & Sunday · 11:15 - REI Travel Expert: How does this work? · 12:00 - Claire and Evan: Gear Care 101 · 12:45 - John Dell’Osso, Point Reyes National Seashore; Brad Day and Holly Kulak, WeekendSherpa.com: National Park Jeopardy · 1:30 - Tom Story and Spencer Toy, Sunset: You’ve taken 3,400 photos, now what? · 2:15 - Clayton Szczech, Tequila expert: A Spirited Tour of Mexico · 3:00 - Maria Greene, Destination British Columbia: The Art of Armchair Travel: An Intro to Virtual Reality

9:57a.m.: Guest #3: Daniel Limberg, High School Teacher is a participant in the Dial-a-Sweden program. Sweden’s Tourism Association hopes the scheme would help promote an interest in the country where Sweden invites the world to call ‘random’ citizens. It’s meant to “spark people’s curiosity about Sweden — our culture, nature and mindset," according to the association's website. The group created an app that Swedes could download and then spread word about the phone number. Anyone, anywhere in the world can call the number and be connected to whatever Swede is answering at that moment. "Get connected to a random Swede and talk about anything," the website says. The association created a U.S. number for Americans to dial to reach the Swedish line: 301-276-0600.