Posted on Aug 17, 2011 under Archives, Chefs, Interviews |
WP24 Chef de Cuisine Sara Johannes
I recently dined at WP24 downtown, Wolfgang Puck’s Asian fusion modern restaurant on the 24th floor of the Ritz Carlton downtown. I sat down with Chef de Cuisine Sara Johannes after sampling about a dozen dishes at the LA Live hotspot to chat about food, working at Wolfgang Puck’s latest LA venture, and her philosophy on cooking.
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Johannes’ passion for the culinary arts was nurtured at an early age by her great-grandmother Rosa, who taught Johannes to forage for ingredients and cook seasonally from a bountiful kitchen garden. As she grew up and increasingly became aware of her calling as a chef, Johannes found great inspiration traveling the world and exploring destinations through their local cuisine and food traditions.
Embarking on a culinary journey to refine her craft, Johannes enrolled in Saint Paul College where she received her Associates Degree in Culinary Arts. Upon graduation she took a position as line cook at The Nicollet Island Inn, where she honed skills in sauces, butchery and pastry production. The following year, Johannes became the line cook at Lucia’s Restaurant and Wine Bar, where she trained under James Beard-Nominated Chef, Lucia Watson, whose cooking emphasized organic ingredients and natural flavors.
Johannes joined the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group in 2005 as Sous Chef of 20.21 in Minneapolis. Upon joining the 20.21 team, Johannes was quickly taken under the wing of Managing Partner and Executive Corporate Chef of the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, Lee Hefter. Johannes also staged at Puck’s legendary restaurants Spago Beverly Hills and Chinois on Main in 2006, while helping Puck cater the Governor’s Ball at the Oscars in 2007. She then made the move to open Puck’s first Dallas restaurant, Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck, as Executive Chef.
Since joining the Wolfgang Puck team, Johannes has spent time perfecting Puck’s philosophy of fresh ingredients and big flavor, executed in each kitchen with high standards and methodology. As Chef de Cuisine of WP24, Johannes fulfills a six-year-long culinary exploration of Asian cuisine with a menu that epitomizes haute modern Chinese cooking.
Posted on Aug 16, 2011 under Archives |
Yxta Cocina Mexicana
Located in a strip mall in the industrial arts district in LA is Yxta Cocina Mexicana, serving up traditional Mexican cuisine.
The brick walled high ceiling sleek restaurant is full of dark wood, leather chairs, plenty of Latin inspired artwork and a large communal table overlooking a mosaic tiled bar. I stumbled upon the eatery while researching places to include in an article on downtown Los Angeles. Here is a sampling of what my boyfriend and I sampled.
hibiscus margarita
I started off with a refreshing hibiscus margarita. This paired perfectly with the zesty guacamole appetizer, made with fresh avocado, lime, red onions and topped with pumpkin seeds. We finished the whole bowl.
guacamole
Next came more appetizers, lovely fried squash blossoms bursting with Oaxacan cheese and shrimp, the house salad, and a nice chile relleno with chicken, vegetables and cheese.
Chile relleno
squash blossoms
House salad
Our main courses began with a plate of mole enchiladas. These were filled with shredded chicken and potato and topped with mole poblano and crema fresca. They were served with a side of mexican lemon rice, poblano chiles and frijoles negros.
enchiladas mole
black beans, lemon rice, poblanos
Next came a delicious sampling of their tacos, which included the Al Pastor with marinated pork, pineapple, red onions and cilantro, the Arrachera with marinated skirt steak, pickled red onion and guacamole, the Pescador with white fish cabbage and avocado cream, and the Calabacitas with zucchini, grilled corn and quesa cotija.
taco sampler
We loved all of these tacos, but especially liked the Al Pastor.
We were stuffed after all this delicious food, but were persuaded to try the house special dessert, a Mexican bread pudding. This was awesome – savory and satisfying, served up with some cinnamon ice cream.
Mexican bread pudding
The next time you find yourself downtown, stop by Yxta Cocina Mexicana for some authentic Mexican cuisine. Located at 601 South Central Avenue, 213/596-5579 for reservations.
Posted on Jul 29, 2011 under Archives |
Okada restaurant
The last time I was in Vegas I stopped by Okada restaurant to chat with new executive chef Devin Hashimoto. The restaurant has a series of rooms and a nice sushi bar, all with nice views of the pond and waterfall. Chef Hashimoto prepared a fabulous feast of Japanese cuisine with modern twists. Here is what we ate during our tasting menu:
Kiwi cooler
We started off with kiwi and mango coolers.
Mango cooler
Our first dish was a heirloom tomato and tofu salad with black sesame and balsamic reduction. It was topped with a sumiso dressing. A nice play on the traditional tomato mozzarella salad.
heirloom tomato tofu salad
Next came a sashimi salad roll with cucumber, daikon, greens, kombu and Yuzu Ginger vinaigrette. The field greens replaced the traditional rice in the roll which is a nice option for those counting carbs.
Sashimi Salad Roll
A huge platter of very fresh and tasty sushi and sashimi followed. It was almost too beautiful to eat. Our hunger won and we devoured all of the raw fish.
Sushi and sashimi platter
my plate of sushi
Next came the robatayaki skewers, a very nice selection of pork belly with Korean chili sauce and Asian slaw, roasted corn with truffle butter (very tasty), marinated cuttlefish with lemon, diver scallops with chili oil and miso sauce, and American Wagyu short ribs with fingerling potatoes and wasabi horseradish cream. This was so delicious.
Robatayaki skewers
my plate of skewers and corn
Then came okonomiyaki, a Japanese style seafood pancake made with shrimp, cuttlefish, shrimp, cabbage, pickled ginger, tonkatsu sauce, creamy mustard aioli, aonori and katsuo.
okonomiyaki
Our last course before dessert was Okada Oscar, with tempura King Crab and filet with Wasabi-Shiso Bearnaise and shitake mushroom sauce. Yum.
Okada Oscar
Dessert was equally delicious, with a lovely trio of a chocolate roll, panna cotta, and pie.
dessert trio
chocolate roll
Our dinner was outstanding with every dish full of surprise twists on traditional Japanese dishes. Okada is located in Wynn at 3131 Las Vegas Boulevard South, reservations recommended at 702/770-3463.
Posted on Jul 07, 2011 under Archives, Interviews, Other interesting people |
Engelbert Humperdinck
Engelbert Humperdinck has sold more than 150 million record throughout his forty plus year career. With four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe for Entertainer of the Year (1988), 63 gold and 24 platinum records and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he returns to Las Vegas to perform four shows at the Paris Resort on July 21. I talked with Engelbert over the phone before he heads to Sin City to perform for his many fans and receive a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.
Engelbert, back in the day
