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.
Posted on Sep 16, 2012 under Uncategorized |
Heirloom tomatoes
A few weeks ago I attended a lovely FAM press trip to the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay. Part of our trip was a visit to the local farmer’s market and to local farms. The Ritz’s Chef de Cuisine Sean Eastwood came with us to gather ingredients for our Chef’s Table dinner later that evening. Here is a sampling of what we viewed at the local farmer’s market.
mushrooms
elephant garlic
rainbow chard
local honey
After the farmer’s market, we headed to farmer John’s Daylight farm. Chef Eastwood uses many ingredients for dishes on the Ritz Carlton Navio menu from farmer John’s farm.
Farmer John at his farm
chickens laying eggs
First we visited the chicken coop and gathered fresh eggs.
fresh eggs
Next we moved to the field area and checked out the pumpkins, squash and herb gardens.
huge pumpkin
pumpkin
Tuscan kale
flower field
fields
Farmer John went into the fields to pick this cool squash for me.
my squash
Next we visited the herb gardens.
herb garden
Next we visited Harley Farms Goat Farm with owner Dee Harley. Dee’s farm is home to 200 alpine goats and a few llamas over 9 acres in Pescadero.
Owner Dee Harley
goats
milking room
The goats are milked twice daily and their milk is used for a variety of lotions and cheeses.
cheese logs
cheese rounds
The farm also has monthly dinners in their huge barn.
view from barn
Daylight Farms pumpkin patch is now open so guests can pick their own pumpkins. Visit at 850 Cabrillo Highway North. Harley Goat Farm is located at 205 North Street in Pescadero.
