A chocolate-rimmed Champagne glass at Champagne & Chocolate

Sweet Escapades

There’s something timeless and romantic about the combination of Champagne and chocolate. The rich pairing is both decadent and balanced. It’s also the creative inspiration that led to the opening of Champagne & Chocolate in South Lake Tahoe and its new sister location in Old Southwest Reno.

Piconland plays at Club de l'Etoile Cinema in Paris, France, during the 2023 Ethnografilm Film Festival

Portraying the Picon Punch

The one drink known to genuinely represent the rich Basque history in Nevada is, of course, the Picon punch. This strong concoction that warms as it goes down (perfect for winter) is meant to be shared among friends and has become a symbol of camaraderie, tradition, and local culture — one that was explored in a locally produced film.

Amanda Burden as a child

Editor’s Letter

In the early 1970s, my mom published a cookbook. She compiled her favorite original recipes and gathered some from loved ones and other sources. She included photos of friends and family (including the one of me to the right) and quirky, humorous, food-related illustrations and images. She handed the books out to a lucky few.