4 baked apples (cut into 8ths and bake with butter, cinnamon, and sugar on 320 deg. for 25 min)

muddle with 3/4 oz apple cider

1 oz Liquor 43

2 oz Elijah Craig 12yr Bourbon

Add ice, shake long and hard

Strain into prepped cocktail glass

Garnish with fresh ground cinnamon and nutmeg on top

Rim:

Dip rim of glass in caramel then coat with

a mixture of graham cracker crumbs and sugar

place in refrigerator to chill

It was a tough and tasty competition! Three talented bartenders belly-up to the bar for the second round in LA’s cocktail competition “Raising the Bar” at David Myers’ Comme Ca. We started with one of my favorites, the classic “Sidecar”… and after 3 rounds of stiff drinks, we happily ended with a tie breaker featuring Gin. Bartender Hector Bury of Joe’s in Venice took on Comme Ca’s Tim Loden who snapped up this month’s trophy with a Gordon’s Cup. Also, I can’t help but dream about last month’s cocktail queen Shana Street’s liquid dessert, called “Not Your Grandma’s Apple Pie”! My mouth is already watering over next month’s competition at Boa on Sunset.  Cheers!

…THE POLO LOUNGE & RESTAURANT…

In the romantic indoor/outdoor setting, dimly lit by candles and white lights dazzling among the trees, it is very likely that you might spot a Hollywood celeb or two sinking into one of the massive leather booths that surround the dining room. But company aside, the big star here is the food! We happily made our way through a five course meal and wine pairing. The Wagyu beef sliders were divine…So good, we asked for seconds. The classic preparation of a seared foie gras on top brioche french toast was just the way I like it. Both dishes literally melted in your mouth. And to top off the perfect dinner, we had to ask for dessert… a rich, light and airy chocolate soufflé. I was star struck!

For more information check out the review on Gayot.com: http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/polo-lounge-beverly-hills-ca-90210_2la00200-02.html

We were guests of Charlie’s in Malibu for my birthday dinner.  From the mouthwatering margarita to the fun fare, it was a comfortably chic spot to celebrate.  I especially loved the appetizers; tender and juicy ostrich, thick crispy crab cakes, and coconut shrimp with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce. Their selection of wines by the glass offered a variety of options for each varietal and for every budget.

Get to know ‘Charlie’ even better by visiting: http://www.gayot.com/blog/charlies-restaurant-malibu-happy-hour/ as well as http://www.charliesmalibu.com/

The Best New Chef’s dinner at the Aspen Food and Wine Classic featured the top talent from around the country. However, the team of  Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo of Animal in Los Angeles, was the beast that stole the show with their dangerously delicious BBQ pork belly sliders. They were slightly spicy and topped with a creamy, crunchy slaw. Instinctively, seconds were in order!!!

Victoria and Jenni Benzaquen

A Culinary Event with the California Wine Masters

 On the  ‘backlot’ of Warner Bros. Studio, we enjoyed an evening of tasty treats from all over the country, paired with ‘Napa-centric’ wines. With multiple dishes prepared by a long list of acclaimed chefs, it was hard to pick a favorite. However, the Bouchon pate de campagne with watercress, cornichons, and radishes was among my top choices. What made the night even more delicious is that it was for a good cause! All of the proceeds from the California Wine Master’s tasting extraordinaire benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Now, who wouldn’t toast to that?!

To find out more on this tasteful event, check out the following link: http://www.californiawinemasters.org/index.html

The 2nd Annual Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival

At the Lexus chef’s table, we feasted on truffle and foie gras stuffed squab, truffle risotto and crispy prawns. And the creamy blueberry cheesecake with a crunchy hazelnut crust was the perfect ending. Chef Michel Richard truly is one of my favorites!

For more about the Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival check out Gayot.com at http://www.gayot.com/blog/lexus-truffle-lunch-2009pebblebeach-food-wine/

London flare meets LA style at Cecconi’s

With a very famous sister restaurant right across the pond, Cecconi’s is sure to be a hit in celebrity filled West Hollywood. With the indoor dining room and outdoor patio space, the chic euro infused crowd adds a depth of flavor that spices up the traditional Italian fare. The sophisticated atmosphere is dotted with a touch of British elegance that bodes a resemblance to its London relative on trendy Bond Street.

The chef proudly presented each dish, which filled us up nicely. The grilled octopus and flatbread pizzas were among the standouts. For entrees, we really enjoyed the pasta dishes-especially the lamb ragu. The dishes were nice but it was the crowd that really stole the show!
After a satisfying meal, it was an easy decision to soak up a little more of the act and order dessert. The hard part was choosing between the rich treats, blood orange cake with caramel sauce and yogurt or the chocolate fondant with pistachio ice cream.

To read more:  http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/cecconis-west-hollywood-ca-90069_2la090205-02.html