Posted on Oct 05, 2012 under Archives |
The Fat Cow
Last night I attended a press tasting dinner at Gordon Ramsay’s new restaurant, The Fat Cow, at The Grove. Located in the old Farm space next to the cinemas, the eatery is warm and rustic with a deconstructed, industrial feel. Conceptualized by Ramsay and designed by AK Design Network, the restaurant features communal-style dining tables, uniquely-designed light canopies, reclaimed wood, unpolished metal and vintage hardware. With just over 200 seats both indoors and out, the welcoming feel of The Fat Cow is enhanced by leather tufted booths, vintage flea market items and one-of-a-kind lighting sconces.
group of writers
Our group of 15 writers sat at the large communal table in the middle of the long narrow interior. We were served a sampling of items off the menu which features home-inspired comfort fare using seasonal ingredients and fresh produce from the adjacent Farmer’s Market and local farms and purveyors.
HK antioxidant
The bar offers a nice variety of cocktails, first came the HK anti-oxidant with veev acai liqueor, lemon, blueberries, mint and bitters. This was our favorite of all the mixed drinks.
Perfect 10
The Perfect 10 was a mix of Ketel One, hangar one buddha’s hand, passion fruit iced tea, mint and lemon juice.
Pimm cup
I also had to try the Pineapple Pimm’s Cup, as Pimm’s Cup was my fave drink when I lived in London. This version packed a punch for the size of the glass and combined Pimm’s, spiced rum, pineapple juice and simple syrup. The topping of angostura bitters was a nice touch.
Fig pizza
The first of many many plates of food was a nice crispy stone baked fig pizza with a light crust. Toppings included fontina cheese, roasted garlic and roasted figs. This was my fave of the pizzas. We also sampled a spicy sausage, burrata and fennel pizza which was very spicy.
spicy sausauge pizza
Next came a bunch of appetizers, the first being a nice ahi tuna tartare in baby gem lettuce with jalapeno aioli and scallions. Very tasty.
tuna tartare
The branzino ceviche with avocado, horseradish and ginger dressing was refreshing and light.
branzino ceviche
The meat starters included meatballs with sauce and mini beef sliders. Our table thought the meatballs with tomato sauce were mediocre but we all loved the mini beef short rib and kobe sliders with cheddar cheese. Soft bun, cooked perfectly and very juicy.
meatballs
yummy sliders
Next came an assortment of salads, including a tuna nicoise with blue lake beans, fingerling potatoes and tuna belly; a beet and buratta salad with roasted beets, fresh buratta and upland cress and a skinny cow chopped salad with Tuscan kale, cabbage, carrot, radish and pumpkin seeds. We loved all the salads but the big surprise was we couldn’t get enough of the skinny cow chopped salad. It appeared so healthy we all thought we would hate it, but it was delicious. A winner for anyone watching their waistline and nice that the menu offers some healthy choices.
tuna nicoise salad
beet buratta salad
skinny cow chopped salad
Main courses included a lovely fish & chips plate with perfectly fried cod and fries in a lovely beer batter served up with mushy peas and a nice tartar sauce.
Fish & chips
The star of the night was the pepper crusted wood roasted long rib, served up with minted fingerling potatoes and a nice waldorf salad. Note that if you want to order this it must be ordered as a minimum order for two people.
roasted long rib
waldorf salad
long rib
minted fingerling potatoes
This was my fave of the night. The meat was perfectly cooked and fell off the bone and the sides were a perfect match for the ribs.
my plate of long ribs
Our end of the table didn’t get to taste two of Ramsay’s signature dishes, the lobster mac & cheese and the shepherds pie, so can’t comment on these two but hopefully will get to taste them on a future visit. Desserts included the sticky toffee pudding, a cookie milk ice cream sundae, a fruit parfait and a treacle tart. Our fave here was hands down the sticky toffee pudding.
sticky toffee pudding
fruit parfait
treacle tart
Next time you are checking out a flick at The Grove stop by the adjacent The Fat Cow for some authentic fish & chips, the wood roasted long rib or a shepherds pie. Located at 189 The Grove Drive, open 11 am to 11 pm daily, call 323/965-1020 for reservations.
Posted on Sep 30, 2012 under Archives, The Weekly Dish |
Here is the dish on what is happening this week in Los Angeles and Las Vegas:
Los Angeles
Gordon Ramsay’s The Fat Cow Opens at the Grove
Award-winning Chef Gordon Ramsay brings his unique style and culinary flair to nationally-acclaimed Los Angeles retail destination, The Grove, on Oct. 1 with the opening of his newest restaurant, The Fat Cow.
The Fat Cow is the realization of Ramsay’s vision for a friendly neighborhood gathering place. Embodying the spirit of a roadhouse eatery, the ambience of The Fat Cow is warm and rustic, with a deconstructed, industrial aesthetic. Conceptualized by Ramsay and designed by AK Design Network, the restaurant features communal-style dining tables, uniquely-designed light canopies, and creatively juxtaposed reclaimed wood, unpolished metal and vintage hardware. With just over 200 seats both indoors and out, the welcoming feel of The Fat Cow is enhanced by leather tufted booths, vintage flea market items and one-of-a-kind lighting sconces that set the visual tone for the restaurant. The menu takes a classic-yet-modern approach, offering guests delicious, home-inspired comfort fare using seasonal ingredients and fresh produce from the adjacent Farmer’s Market and local farms and purveyors. Check out www.thedivinedish.com later this week for pics and review.
Peninsula Hotel Hosting Peninsula In Pink Afternoon Tea
Following the successful introduction of “Peninsula in Pink” for the first time last year, The Peninsula Hotels in Asia and North America are once again showing their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month throughout October with “Peninsula in Pink” – the group wide campaign to raise both awareness and funds. The Peninsula Beverly Hills will host the “Peninsula in Pink” Afternoon Tea. Through the years, the Peninsula Afternoon Tea has become a hallmark feature of every Peninsula hotel around the world, and so each hotel has created a pink-themed tea for the month of October, offering a selection of pink-hued cakes and pastries in addition to the traditional scones, clotted cream and preserves. A donation will be made to the respective hotel’s designated local breast cancer charity for every “Peninsula in Pink” Afternoon Tea sold.
Las Vegas
Eli Roth’s Goretorium Opens
It is slaughter on The Strip as
Eli Roth’s GORETORIUM, the first year-round haunted experience to hit Las Vegas dares brave souls to enter its doors. An experience unlike any other, the 15,000-square-foot Goretorium, packed with state-of-the-art scares, bone-chilling special effects and a cast of hauntingly horrifying characters is now open in the heart of Sin City. Best known for creating the gruesome “Hostel” franchise, actor/director Eli Roth has coupled the latest technology with old-fashioned scares to bring his darkest nightmare to life as he invites hapless visitors to step inside the urban legend of the mythical Delmont Hotel. Guests start their frightening journey inside the lobby and make their way through the “abandoned” resort where, according to legend, a serial-killing family preys upon every person who dares to enter.GORETORIUM is open seven days a week: Monday – Friday from 2 p.m. – 2 a.m. and Friday – Sunday from 2 p.m. – 4 a.m. Tickets are $40 for general admission; $35 for advanced online. A Death Row VIP package is available for $60 which includes a complimentary line pass, express private elevator entrance to the haunt and complementary entrance to “Baby Dolls” Lounge. For more information please visit www.goretorium.com.
Life-Size Chocolate Skeleton Haunts Jean Philippe Patisserie at Bellagio
Sweet treats and scary characters make Halloween a delightfully spooky time of year. In the spirit of the holiday, the talented pastry team at Bellagio’s Jean Philippe Pâtisserie spent more than 70 hours creating a life-size chocolate and fondant skeleton complete with glistening gold teeth. This charming display measures 5’5” and sits on a chocolate electric chair for an extra-eerie addition. More than 130 pounds of white and dark chocolate were used to mold this hauntingly delicious creation, sure to shock the sweet tooth. Guests may take home some holiday cheer of their own with miniature chocolates and sugar cookies in classic Halloween shapes such as black cats, ghosts and witches.
Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace is Named #1 Buffet in Las Vegas by USA Today
Looking for the best buffet in Las Vegas? Look no further than the all-new, $17 million Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars. According to USA Today, with its focus on chefs, nine open kitchens, variety and abundance of food and sleek design, the culinary paradise found at the Bacchanal Buffet tops the list at #1. Overlooking the world-famous Garden of Gods pools, the Bacchanal Buffet serves more than 500 dishes daily in a 25,000 square foot extraordinarily modern and inviting space that seats 600, designed by internationally renowned firm Super Potato.
Thrill Seekers Wanted to Rappel from Planet Hollywood Roof for Special Olympics
For adrenaline junkies looking for a little adventure, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino is offering the opportunity to rappel more than 300 feet from the hotel’s rooftop for “Over the Edge,” a fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics Nevada. To participate, individuals must raise or personally donate a minimum of $1,000 to Special Olympics Nevada. Fundraising is done by soliciting donations from family, friends and co-workers through the “Over the Edge” online giving site www.overtheedgelasvegas.com. The “Over the Edge” event will kick off on Friday, Oct. 12, with a preview day. Rappellers will start their descent down Planet Hollywood on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Posted on Sep 25, 2012 under Archives, Chefs, Interviews |
Chef Fabio Viviani
I’ve had the pleasure of cooking with and interviewing Chef Fabio Viviani numerous times over the past few years. Chef Viviani is always charming and very very busy with new projects. Viviani is everywhere – endorsing products, hosting Chow Ciao on Yahoo, cooking at his two restaurants, opening the new Siena Tavern in Chicago and conducting cooking demonstrations and interviews all over. For those of you who haven’t caught any of the above, a brief background – originally from Florence, Viviani moved to the US, opened Cafe Firenze in Moorpark and appeared on reality TV show Top Chef on Bravo during its fifth season. He was one of the final four contestants when he was eliminated from the competition and was voted “Top Chef Fan Favorite” by viewers. Viviani also appeared as a contestant on Top Chef: All Stars. He is also owner and chef at the Toluca Lake Firenze Osteria.
One of his latest projects is starring in Bravo Television’s new show, “Life After Top Chef,” (premiering Wednesday October 3 on Bravo) which follows Viviani and three other “Top Chef” alums – Richard Blais in Atlanta, Jen Carroll in Philadelphia, and Spike Mendelsohn in D.C., as they continue to heat things up, from opening their own restaurants to expanding franchises and establishing their brands.
I sat down with Fabio and caught up on all of his projects including “Life After Top Chef,” the upcoming opening of his new restaurant Siena Tavern and the “Top Chef” cruise in April 2013.
Posted on Sep 23, 2012 under Archives |
Royal Afternoon Tea
I haven’t visited the Hotel Bel Air for a few years and was anxious to see the renovations that transformed the classic resort from a Mediterranean inspired romantic hideaway to a modern oasis. The new design blends the indoor and outdoor experience adding classic contemporary flare.
restaurant
I took my friend Nick with me to the hotel for afternoon tea for a story I am working on for The Daily Meal. We discovered that the updated resort housed a new reception area, boutique, new lounge, and upgraded guestrooms and suites. There’s also a dozen new hillside accommodations, a 12,000 square foot La Prairie spa and celeb chef Wolfgang Puck heading up the kitchen. Here is what we enjoyed for our afternoon tea.
sandwiches
There is a nice variety of white, green, oolong, black and herbal teas to choose from. Even though it was hot as Hades outside I chose traditional and went with an English Breakfast, while Nick opted for the HBA Rejuvination Blend, a mix of apricot essence, lemon myrtle, rooibos and rosehips. Both were delicious. I also indulged in a glass of refreshing champagne. The beautifully plated selection of sandwiches arrived sans the traditional three tier presentation and included a Maryland blue crab roll with herb remoulade, Japanese cucumber with herb cream cheese, house cured smoked salmon with a dill cream and micro arugula, organic Jidori chicken liver mousse with a pear rosemary butter, a tiny cute grilled cheese with gruyere and roasted onion jam and an applewood smoked pork belly “wellington” with wild mushroom duxelle. All delicious.
scones and clotted cream
I loved that the scones were made fresh on site and that the chef also included real clotted cream. We enjoyed sour cherry and blueberry and buttermilk scones with a nice assortment of housemade raspberry and blueberry jam, apricot marmalade and echire butter.
housemade jams
raspberry jam
The scones were flaky and full of flavor. The housemade jams, butter and clotted cream provided a traditional element to the afternoon tea.
dessert
The sweets came last and the presentation was so beautiful that we stared at the plate for a while before digging in. The selection included a Sicilian orange cream puff, a French macaroon, a raspberry hazelnut financier, a apricot vanilla tart and a chocolate dipped wafer cone with white chocolate mousse. Heavenly.
my plate of desserts, yum
Although the decor of the restaurant has changed a few things remained as I remembered- the outstanding service of the waitstaff, winding paths and secluded areas of seating around the grounds, the charming intimate setting with round comfortable booths, and the lovely view of two regal swans wading in the lake.
For a peaceful delicious Royal Afternoon Tea in elegant surroundings, visit the Hotel Bel Air. $60 per person, located at 701 Stone Canyon Road, reservations at 310/472-1211.
