The Divine Dish

Brunch at Navio, Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay

Posted on Aug 23, 2012 under Archives | 1 Comment

I recently traveled to Half Moon Bay to the lovely Ritz Carlton for a few days to enjoy the resort, the city of Half Moon Bay and several of the surrounding farms.  Part of our press trip included attending the hotel’s famous brunch on Sunday morning.  Headed by Executive Chef Xavier Solomon, the brunch includes over 200 items in a spectacular setting at the Navio restaurant overlooking the massive Pacific Ocean.

Much more than an average brunch featuring traditional breakfast items (but Eggs Benedict, sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, pancakes and waffles are also included), the brunch features sushi/sashimi, an extensive cheese selection, raw bar, dim sum, salad area, carving area, select single plated items, pastries/bread, and desserts.  Because Chef Solomon set up each station with plenty of room for visitors to view and select items, although most seatings are completely booked there are no waiting lines except at the raw bar which was the most popular section during my brunch.  This was the best brunch I have attended,  for the quality of service, setup, and exceptional plating.  Here is what you can enjoy at the brunch.

I started off with the lovely sushi and sashimi platters and was impressed by the freshness and variety.

I tried a little of everything…

The raw bar was very popular and my favorite of the display areas.  It included three types of caviar and toppings, raw oysters, clams and crab claws and a huge bowl of shrimp.

The brunch also includes a variety of single serving items.

My second plate:

The charcutier and salad section was also extensive.

The brunch also featured a carving station with lamb and prime rib.

I headed for the cheese display before sampling any dessert.

I sampled a little of each cheese…

Next came desserts

The dessert section also had a big truffle display

Here is my dessert plate

If you are in the Bay area the brunch at Navio is definitely a must.  Located at Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay, One Miramontes Point Road, 650/712-7040 for reservations.

Interview with Chef Susan Feniger

Posted on Aug 13, 2012 under Archives, Chefs, Interviews | No Comment

Susan Feniger is one half of the popular “Too Hot Tamales” along with her longtime business partner Mary Sue Milliken. Almost 30 years ago, the two chefs opened CITY. Next came Border Grill in Santa Monica, California and Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, and then the Latin themed Ciudad in downtown Los Angeles and the Border Grill Truck. With the opening of Susan Feniger’s STREET in Hollywood in 2009, the celebrated chef launched her first solo venture.  Feniger’s dream of creating a unique restaurant inspired by the authentic flavors of street food was fulfilled. A veteran of 396 episodes of “Too Hot Tamales” and “Tamales World Tour” series, Feniger also co-authored five cookbooks with Milliken–City Cuisine, Mesa Mexicana, Cantina, Cooking with Too Hot Tamales, and Mexican Cooking for Dummies.   Her new book is Susan Feniger’s Street Food.  She has been on the board of the Scleroderma Research Foundation for 17 years and also serves on the board of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.  I sat down with Chef Feniger to discuss her new book, STREET restaurant, and her philosophy on cooking.

 

Lunch with Chef Susan Feniger at STREET

Posted on Aug 12, 2012 under Archives | No Comment

Last Friday I ventured to Chef Susan Feniger’s restaurant STREET as part of the  Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival’s lunch series.  Once in while, as a food writer,  I get to meet and chat with a chef that I’ve enjoyed sampling their food and watching on television for years.  This was the case with Chef Feniger.

Feniger greeted all of the guests personally and offered a variety of refreshments before beginning a long cooking demo in the 100 degree heat.  The demo was conducted on STREET’s patio under bright orange umbrellas.

Chef Feniger and Chef Kajsa Alger discussed and let the crowd sample some of the many spices that they use in their recipes at STREET, including young ginger thai basil and palm sugar.

The chefs explained how to make a simple curry base emphasizing creating a balance between sweet and spicy and including a cooling side such as a yogurt sauce.  Feniger’s demo included a lovely clam dish and a Thai curry with chicken.

After sampling a variety of appetizers including Begali 5-spice shrimp cocktail with Singapore hot sauce, paani puri semolina puffs filled with spiced potato and three chutneys and date and kamut fritters with Persian rose petal, sesame and candied almonds, we moved inside to escape the Hades like heat and begin our tasting lunch.

We began our lunch with a lovely edamame hummus and crispy spiced papadum chips.

Our salad was a lovely mix of heirloom tomato fattoush with a mint harissa vinaigrette.

My fave was the Syrian lamb meatballs with date carob molasses and Syrian cheese.

We also sampled a nice Tatsutage fried chicken with Furikakae spiced tempura and pickeled vegetables served with a pea and pork coconut rice with pea shoots and spiced pork belly.  Yum.

I missed the Thai tea spiced creme caramel that was dessert as I joined Chef Feniger in the patio area to chat for a while about STREET and her new book, Susan Feniger’s Street Food, written with Chef Alger and Liz Lachman.

My interview with Chef Feniger will be included in my next post.  STREET is located at 742 North Highland Avenue, reservations at 323/203-0500.  Chef Feniger will be hosting a feast and book signing on August 26, cost is $50 for event and $70 for event and signed book.

Dinner at BlueFire Grill, La Costa Resort

Posted on Aug 09, 2012 under Archives | No Comment

A few weeks ago I ventured to Carlsbad to enjoy a few nights of relaxation at La Costa resort.  This 600-acre Spanish Mission-style oasis  houses a water park, spa, restaurants, condo villas, 17 tennis courts, eight swimming pools, 610 guestrooms and two PGA Championship golf courses.  They also recently added “Edge,” a nice adults only infinity pool complete with cabanas and a large jacuzzi.  On my first night I had a lovely chef’s tasting dinner at BlueFire Grill.   BlueFire is the centerpiece of the resort’s open air plaza, a large  promenade that runs from the lobby, past several shops and fountains, past the Chopra Center, and down to the resort’s  multimillion dollar spa facility.

The restaurant seats 324, with tables on the patio and in two dining areas inside next to the lounge.  The main dining room is romantic and intimate with dark wood floors,  cozy leather booths and a large fireplace, while next door the adjacent exhibition kitchen is perfect for foodies who want a watch the chefs in action.  Outside, diners can enjoy live entertainment and warming fire pits. Here is what Chef Greg Frey Jr. prepared for me at BlueFire.

I started out with the Baja Ceviche, local halibut, bay scallops, crab mixed with Persian cucumber and avocado with a splash of lemon.  Very refreshing.

Next came the Skuna Bay Salmon Salad, with hickory smoked Salmon (smoked in house!), artichoke, arugula, radish and a meyer lemon aioli.  Chef Frey brought out the fresh salmon used for this salad.  One of the best appetizers I have tasted.

Next came a lovely mahi mahi with grilled tomatoes and a corn succotash.

Next was my fave of the night.  Chef Frey and I share a mutual obsession with spaghetti carbonara, so he included his version.  It was everything that carbonara should be and a definite must if you are eating at BlueFire.

Chef Frey’s version is made with mesquite smoked chicken, pancetta, spaghetti and parmigiano reggiano.

The last main course was also a stunner – Durham Ranch coffee braised short ribs with marinated carrots and mushrooms served over arborio risotto.  I loved this dish.

For dessert I sampled the chocolate salted caramel, a lovely molten cake with creme fraiche, salted caramel sauce and a hazelnut florentine.

It’s worth it to venture to La Costa just to dine at BlueFire Grill, but while your there you can also enjoy the many pools, peaceful surroundings, a trip to the famous spa and a meditation session at the Chopra center.  Located at 2100 Costa Del Mar, reservations for BlueFire Grill at 760/929-6306.