The holiday season is upon us! Today, I head out to L.A. for Global Traveler‘s annual GT Tested Awards. It is always a lot of fun to spend a few days out in L.A. during the holiday season, as they know how to dress things up and light up the lights. The Peninsula always looks like a Christmas postcard, and the homes in Beverly Hills go all out.

I am looking forward to our pre-night festivities at Wolfgang’s Steakhouse in Beverly Hills, as I have had many great dinners there in the past, and we will have a big table there Tuesday night! Wolfgang Zwiener was headwaiter at Peter Luger Steakhouse in Brooklyn, N.Y., before he launched his two restaurants in N.Y.C. and L.A. I think he poured steak juice on me 20 years ago at Lugers. The first time I went to Peter Lugers, I took some clients and we hailed a cab and were at the Brooklyn mainstay in no time. When we finished our fantastic steak for two, I went to pay the bill and tossed down my Amex card. “We take no credit cards, sir,” Wolfgang said. “But we do take Peter Lugers credit card.” “I don’t have one,” I said. Wolfgang then walked away and returned with an application he instructed me to complete. And, presto — I went from possible broken kneecaps or washing the dishes to having a Peter Lugers credit card, which I still have to this day!

That was a simpler time, and Luger accepts credit cards now. Wolfgang and I will share a few laughs over this story when we dine there Tuesday.

Happy Holidays!

— Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO