By Bonnie Carroll
SOS
Taste of the Nation L.A. was held
at LOEWS Santa Monica Beach Hotel and hosted
by American Express, and was co-chaired by Mary Sue Milliken, Border Grill and Teresa Siriani.
Milliken gave a short speech on the importance of giving back
and said that SOS personified this highest of
intentions. The annual event brought together a lineup of LAs
best chefs including, Ben Ford, Govind Armstrong of Chadwicks;
Joe Miller of Joes and Scooter Kanter of The House;
Suzanne Goin of Lucques and Loise Le Balch of Josie;
Nancy Silverton and Kim Boyce of Campanile; Sally
Cook of Cuidad. The cocktail reception was sponsored
by Shari Robbins of James Beach; Tara Thomas
of Traxx; Christine Banta of Michaels in Santa Monica; Alyson Thurber of The Lobster;
Brooke Williamson of Zax; Jeffrey Nimer of Lavande;
Suzanne Tract of Jar; Peter Horsch of The
Mariposa at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, Ron Tolle
of Azzurra Point in San Diego and Raphael Luenetta
of Jiraffe. Diners enjoyed a family style four
course dinner while Miss Sylvia St. James, The Gospel Aires and
The legendary Clara Ward Singers of the House of Blues brought
the audience to their feet to dance and join them in song. This
was an SOS event that really "rocked,"
thanks to the many sponsors and foodies who support SOS.
Concours on Rodeo in Beverly Hills featured the
food of Luxe Rodeo Hotel chef Reiner Schmidt, and crowds of people
filled the renowned "street of dreams" to view a collection
of the worlds most beautiful classic automobiles. The VIP tent
was a meeting place and cool down area for classic car collectors
and privileged press as well. De Mori Ristorante,
a new dining venue on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, has replaced
the Texas motif of former Reata Restaurant with
vibrant color and authentic Italian cuisine. The choice location
proved to be a hot spot during the Concours on Rodeo,
and is becoming a favorite of locals and tourists alike.
Piccolo
Paradiso Ristorante, a new venue opened in Beverly Hills
by Giacomino Drago, member of the Los Angeles Drago Dynasty, is
a charming compliment to the Beverly Drive restaurant row. The
petit ristorante is the third Giacomino has opened
in the area. He also owns II Pastaio and Il Buco in Beverly Hills.
"Keep it simple, fresh and innovative" is the philosophy
of Giacomino. His offerings include e pennete
al basilico con ricatta fresca bottarga (basil penne with fresh
ricotta and shaved dry-pressed tuna roe) or guaglie of mattone
(marinated boned quail with sauteed rapina) served with assobuca
con polenta (veal shank with soft polenta). Desserts include zuppe
inglese (layered sponge cake with chocolate and vanilla custard
and touch of alkermes liqueur.
The venue was inspired by Giacominos favorite
movie, Cinema Paradiso, and it is cozy, warm and overflows with
the tempting aromas of authentic Italian cuisine. The servers
are thoughtful, handsome and conscientious. Giacomino,
a star chef in Los Angeles, adds a personal touch by socializing
with his guests. For reservations call 310-271-0030.
Patina
Group has a new villa style venue on Figueroa Street
in Los Angeles called Zucca, offering authentic
Italian dining in the heart of the Downtown area. This makes 16
venues where Joachim Splichals fantastic cuisine can be
enjoyed. I recently visited the Plaza Café,© at LACMA
(Los Angeles County Museum of Art) on Wilshire Boulevard, with
my family, and it was such a delightful respite between visits
to the different exhibits. I also enjoyed a lovely dinner at the Empresario Restaurant in the Music Center before
an enchanting LA Opera performance, and was surprised by the many
changes the Patina Group have implemented to
provide delicious food in a timely fashion for those on a tight
time schedule to make a performance. Pinot also offers charming
picnic style dinner selections to enjoy at the Hollywood Bowl,
and has a gift catalog brimming with stylish items for your home.
For locations, reservations and catering information call 323-467-1628
or visit www.patinagroup.com
A date night at The Grove and The Farm
of Beverly Hills Restaurant in the historic Farmers
Market can be like a trip to Disneyland. The Grove Theatre is an elegantly done movie theatre with old world charm, and the Farm of Beverly Hills Restaurant is connected
from an entrance in the theatre lobby. Movie goers enjoy menu
items that include everything from the signature steak with garlic
mashed potatoes to a variety of sandwiches, soups and appetizers.
An advance call can secure your favorite dinner to enjoy in your
seat while watching your favorite movie. The Farm of Beverly
Hills is a popular venue, where the chef works at serving
healthy menu items, as well as decadent delights like a chocolate
brownie with ice cream that is covered with chocolate sauce. The
show outside the restaurant is equally entertaining, with live
musical groups, a water show, and vendors selling their gift items
in a glittering park setting. Locals and tourists rush to revel
in the many attractions in the new center that is filled with
endless shopping and dining options. Visitors would be wise to
take their American Express card for this stroll through the grove
adventure, where shopping is often the premiere pastime.
Food fit for a king in a flash! Ala Zing at www.alazing.com available through Omaha Steaks offers a complete menu of mouth-watering
meals that go from freezer to table in minutes, including gourmet
recipes from seven sensational chefs who do their magic for foodies
through FiveLeaf-Cuisine Solutions and the historic Nebraska steak
company, which was founded in 1917 and is still owned by the Simon
family. The instant cuisine can be ordered online, delivered to
your home and enjoyed in just minutes by calling 800-288-9055
or www.omahasteaks.com.
The world renowned chefs creating these handy entrees and desserts
are Daniel Boulud, Mark Miller, Charlie Trotter, Thomas Keller,
Antoine Westermann, Reine Sammut and Gerard Bertholon. Entrees
include braised lamb shank with roasted vegetable strewn barley
and Thai barbecue sauce, chicken picadillo with quinoa, spring
vegetable bouillabaisse, duck turnover with red wine sauce, grilled
Norwegian salmon with French green lentils, and salmon escabeche,
and more with a variety of sauces and desserts, including David
Glass New York cheese cake, and chocolate truffle cake.
If you can boil water, you can enjoy "Mac & Cheese"
butter poached Maine lobster with orzo and creamy lobster broth
and Mascarpone cheese created by Thomas Keller of the French
Laundry Restaurant in twenty-five minutes flat, and it
is outstanding.
Omaha Steaks are the purveyors and marketers of premium steaks
and other frozen gourmet foods, offering the finest USDA-approved,
grain-fed Midwestern beef that is naturally aged for full flavor
and tenderness. Other items include appetizers, lamb, veal, pork,
seafood, poultry, desserts and specialty foods, along with perfectly
proportioned ready-to-serve and easy-to-prepare gourmet foods.
For the easiest way imaginable to shop, call their 24 hour service,
seven days a week go line at 800-288-9055, or go to www.omahasteaks.com
Wolfgang Puck and Barbara Lazaroffs 20th Annual
Food & Wine Festival, at Universal Studio, once again
attracted the finest chefs from around the world to provide
hungry charity supporters Meals on Wheels, and
other area worthy causes, samples of their spectacular signature
dishes. Chefs representing all venues in the Puck empire,
from LA to Las Vegas, along with Joachim Splichal, Stephen Pyles,
Francois Payard, Mark Miller, Kerry Hefferman, Tom Collichio,
Bradley Ogden, Nobu Matsuhisa, Charlie Palmer, Larry Forgionne,
John LeGrove, Jimmy Schmidt, Jonathan Waxman, Vincent Guerithault,
Pierro Salvaggio, Lucciano Pellegrini, Thorsten Leighty, Sam Leong,
Lissa Doumand & Hiro Sone, Floyd Cardoz, Alan Wong, Eric Ripert,
Todd English, Paul Prudhomme, Cludia Flemming & Michelle Antanishek,
Nancy Silverton & Mark Peel all were present, and delighted
guests with their culinary surprises. Early in the evening, a
rainbow appeared over the food court area where chefs were setting,
and Wolfgang raised his hands to the heavens in a special gesture
of thanks. My favorite this year was a sampling of fondue items
presented by Executive Chef Jennifer Naylor of Granita
Restaurant in Malibu.
Casa Antigua Cantina, located on Wilshire Boulevard
in Los Angeles, provides lively and sophisticated menu selections
for diners seeking true authentic Mexican cuisine prepared and
presented with style by a chef who has worked at the best hotels
in Cancun, as well as Maxims de la Paris in Mexico City. Renowned chef Denis Jean-Louis Ferrari and partner
Ximena Diez Barroso joined forces to create a warm atmosphere,
reminiscent of all that is wonderful in Mexico, where really fine
Mexican cuisine is paramount. Ferrari has a delicate French touch
and originality in recipe preparation that provides diners with
a unique experience that brings them back. The menu is an epicurean
tour of Mexico that incorporates tropical dishes from the Yucatan
Peninsula with Aztec-influenced sauces from Central Mexico, soups
from the southern regions and seafood from the Pacific Coast.
I have visited fine hotels in Cancun, as well as eaten in the
best restaurants in Mexico City, and chef Ferrari at Casa
Antigua can hold his own against the best of them. Actually,
he may be the best of them! For reservations 310-820-2540.
W Hotels - City to city comfort and consistency. From Los Angeles
to San Francisco is a short flight, and arriving visitors at either
end are privileged to experience the exciting and delicious menus
created by two of the worlds finest hotel chefs. Executive chef
Jeffrey Amber at San Franciscos W Hotel XYZ restaurant, a luxuriously sleek cruise line inspired dining room, nestled
below one of the sexiest cocktail lounges in America, offers the
finest in novel cuisine combinations, along with an outstanding
wine list. Dining at XYZ is memorable for visitors,
not only for chef Ambers food fantasies, like lobster pancakes
with caviar and lobster essence creme fraiche, but also because
it is an extremely exciting new venue.
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Los Angeles W
Hotel MOJO & MOJITO Restaurants add spice to a visitors
fun experience of the "city of angels." Executive chef
Reza Motamednia offers a stylish neuvo Latino menu in the Mojo,
their formal restaurant, featuring a hot red cocktail bar, and
Mojito, the outdoor café, overlooking a waterfall
and the contemporary pool area. Chef Motamedrias menus are
filled with exciting recipes that are beautifully presented. Color
and taste reign, and the flavors rock. Signature ceviches, lobster
asada salad, which includes arugula, mango, papaya, pineapple
and blueberry drizzled with coconut chile vinaigrette, are favorites
at the patio venue. Dinner features seared Foie Gras on a corn
cake with mango jalapeno relish and cinnamon sour cherry sauce,
as well as grilled coriander-scented salmon atop corn, organic
tomatoes and red bean salad with cilantro lime mojo.
All W Hotels are managed (and in some cases owned)
by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and they all provide a wonderful
guest experience. The rooms are airy, organized and comfortable,
while the hotel staff provide outstanding service that includes
amenities not seen at many hotels. W Hotel in
San Francisco has the energy of a New York hotel with the comfort
and convenience of a smaller city, that features some of the best
shopping anywhere. W Los Angeles has a more relaxed
Latin feeling, but is minutes from everything you dont want
to miss in L.A. I love W Hotels. They are hip,
slick, very cool and perfect for travelers of all ages, especially
business travelers. For San Francisco call 415-817-7836 or W Los
Angeles 877-WHOTELS.