MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT

SIBLING RIVALRY …AT ITS BEST

 

HAMASAKU ON MELROSE-

There is no competition and no question about it, Hamasaku has the BEST sushi, and its sister restaurant, Hamasaku on Melrose, doesn’t disappoint.  The sleeker, more chic interior is the only difference from the original.

 

I am still dreaming about the salmon crab sushi and crab hand rolls.  Not to mention that even the cooked entrees are amazing as well.  The Wagyu beef melts in your mouth, and the miso cod is on another level! 

 

Like the head of any good family, Toshi Kihara makes everyone feel like a superstar with a special surprise at the end of each meal.  Let’s just say that the treat is as flashy as the flavors!

 

All in all, Hamasaku is a family affair that everyone should want to be a part of!

 

For more information on this sizzling “sister-act” visit http://www.gayot.com/restaurantpages/LosAngelesInfo.php?tag=LARES08111133-02&code=LA

 

 

HAMASAKU ON MELROSE

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOP PICKS AT AN OVER-THE-TOP PLACE

 

ALINEA-

Alinea is packed with interesting and exotic dishes, but it borderlines bizarre. The highlights were the trout roe with coconut custard and passion fruit hyssop. The wagyu beef maitake with smoked date and blis elixir (aged sherry-syrup) were also divine. The rabbit with prune, shallot, sKewered on burning oak leaves was delicious as well as decadent.  Not to mention the hot potato-cold potato with black truffle butter and the bacon with butterscotch, apple, thyme, and dry caramel shot at the end were two of my top picks!  However, the meal over all was a bit too fussy, even for me.  Too much time was spent on trying, and not enough on tasting what was placed on the table.

 

To pick some courses of your own to try, take a look at their menu on http://www.alinea-restaurant.com/index.html as well as the review on Gayot.com at http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/alinea-chicago-il-60614_5ch050604.html

A FINE PLACE TO HOLD COURT

XIV

 

Michael Mina’s latest restaurant, XIV, recently opened its doors (if you can find them) in LA. The scene is what one would expect from an LA eatery- cool, hip decor in a chic indoor/outdoor space.

 

The courses were small but tasty and arrived with almost perfect timing. Mina’s signature caviar bellinis were a hit and perfectly paired with a creamy, crisp bubbly. The frois gras with cherry jelly was delicious but the waver thin crackers meant for the spread missed the mark. The beef carpaccio wrapped around shredded asparagus topped with horseradish cream was beautifully presented- a nice change of flavors and textures from the typical dish. The fish courses were spectacular. Cured hamachi with shaved apple and marinated cod both melted in your mouth. 

 

However, the meal came to a screeching halt when dessert hit the table.  The first sweet treat was a white chocolate box filled with blood orange crème and flower petals, atop a layer of red cake.  It was prettier than it tasted, but nevertheless very interesting.  Then came what my friend, Sophie Gayot and myself, could have done without. It was described as having hazelnut as a key ingredient, whiskey barrel ice cream and corn flakes with sage… And those were just some components of the dish.  Need I say more?  The flavors and textures in that particular dish clashed like a peasant in a palace-it simply didn’t work at all! 

 

Overall, it is a fun place for drinks and appetizers. The dishes are interesting and tasteful. Yet, when it comes to some of the overly creative desert options less is sometimes more. Whatever happened to ‘Let them eat cake!?’

 

See what the ‘Queen of Dining’ said about XIV on Gayot.com http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/xiv-west-hollywood-ca-90046_2la080435.html

ET-People Magazine Emmy Party

On Your Mark…Get Set… GLOW!!

 

 

As always, the stars were shining bright on Emmy night. Adrenalin was pumping, nails were polished, and tension was as high as the stilettos that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. Everyone was eager to see who would be taking home the gold…and the competition never looked so good!

 

The Entertainment Tonight & People Magazine after party was held at the Disney Concert Hall, and was the first post-ceremony stop for winners and nominees. After the long walk (down the red carpet) the famished famous were revived with a delicious spread catered by Patina. Everyone fueled up on paella, prosciutto, short-ribs, and enjoyed a fully stocked mashed potato bar. There was a variety of cocktails aimed at quenching the thirsty and even a custom built Coppola wine bar. Sweet success came later on in the evening too, this time in the form of Crumb’s cupcakes.

 

The party playlist included live performances by rocker Billy Idol, as well as six-time Grammy nominee Dave Koz. At the end of the evening there was even some heavy lifting! It did not actually included barbells. However, those statues look heavy, and the exclusively designed Cole Haan 80^th Anniversary gift bags were stuffed with more than 40 high-end products- that were sure to have weighed a few pounds!!!!

 

 

 

To see who exercised their right to party with The Insider, check out some arrival pictures on:

http://www.prphotos.com/store/category.cgi?category=search&query=^events.sql&q2=Entertainment+Tonight+Emmy+Party

 

 

 

NOTHING BUT THE BEST

Crown Bar

 

The newly designed ‘Crown Bar’ is a fun neighborhood restaurant, complete with live entertainment and fantastic food. Admittedly, this is not what I expected walking by the bouncer and cash register at the front door, and into the saloon-type eatery rimmed with dark leather booths. Our multi-course meal was perfectly paired with fruity cocktails and an ambiance that included a singer belting out  Sinatra favorites (almost as good as old ‘blue eyes’ himself). 

 

The chef selected a medley of dishes for us to sample. The array of items included a roasted beet and creamy goat cheese salad, crab and corn cakes, seared scallops, wild striped sea bass, a short-rib shepherd’s pie, chocolate-peanut butter-banana tart, and a warm butterscotch bread pudding. 

 

 

At the end of our meal, we could not help but notice a couple of burgers pass by our table. The sweet caramelized onions that were layered on top of a thick, juicy patty and paired with the scent of toasted garlic (which I imagine most likely coated the side of crispy fries) had me salivating, even on a full stomach!!

 

It is safe to say, with a combination of great food, fun atmosphere, and good drinks, the experience at Crown Bar took me ‘all the way’…

 

Frank Mottek, Julia Alexander, Sophie Gayot, Victoria Recano, Tom Burwell

SAY ALOHA TO EXOTIC DINING

Grand opening of Roy’s in Pasadena

Tiki torches, hoola dancers clad in grass skirts, exotic spices, and fresh seafood straight from the Pacific. I’m sure you are picturing a warm, sandy beach-front eatery somewhere in Hawaii. Instead, that is what set the backdrop for a fun-filled evening of island food and festivities at the opening of Roy’s in Pasadena, CA.

Victoria with Sophie Gayot, Chef Roy Yamaguchi, Alain Gayot, & Inger Ostrom

Tropical cocktails slid down martini ice sculptures, while beautiful fresh fish overflowed at the sushi bar. My favorite was the sweet and creamy lobster roll with bright orange tobiko.

 

 

 

 

Oh yes, and of course Roy’s signature butterfish that simply melts in your mouth!

It might not be a seaside vacation in Hawaii, but it is as close as you can get to authentic Hawaiian cuisine without spending six hours on a plane!! Treat yourself to a ‘day away’ in Pasadena!

Not familiar with all that Hawaiian fusion cuisine entails? Check out their signature menu…http://www.roysrestaurant.com/roy.asp as well as its review on Gayot.com http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/roy-39-s-pasadena-ca-91101_2la080203.html

An Award Winning Evening

THE JAMES BEARD AWARDS

 Talk about being in good culinary company!!  Top chefs from around the country took the stage at Lincoln Center in New York to receive some of the highest honors in the industry. As a guest of my dear friend, Joe Moosavian of Lexus marketing, I was able to sample some of the most delectable treats different restaurants in cities across the country had to offer.  The parties following the awards at Bar Boulud and Eleven Madison Park kept me out a little too late…but it was worth it! 

 

Victoria & Joe Moosavian

FOOD FOR THOUGHT…

 PACKED WITH A PICKLED PUNCH!!

 AMMO- Pickles!! That’s they way our meal began-pickled mushrooms, pickled fennel, and pickled beets. It was an interesting use of those spices and it was nicely carried throughout some of the courses.  The sea bass was my favorite! It was perfectly done, moist and flakey, and beautifully presented.  I couldn’t believe it was simply roasted!  The chocolate soufflé cake was a nice finish along with fresh berries and sweetened crème fraiche.

 

Victoria, Tom Burwell, Sophie Gayot

 

 

 

SADDLE PEAK LODGE- Wow! The meal was as dramatic as the room, which was lined with exotic trophy heads and filled with glowing candles, casting shadows that danced across the room.  From the moment the bottle of champagne was opened, there was reason to celebrate! It was one of the best dining experiences I have had in LA.  The hamachi sashimi was fresh and different with refreshing melon-cilantro vinaigrette and the butter poached lobster melted in my mouth.  When the meal came to a close with a light, warm coffee soufflé, I couldn’t imagine a better way to end the night!

 Take a look at the review on Gayot.com http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/saddle-peak-lodge-calabasas-ca-91302_2la00824.html

AT THE TABLE OF A FOOD CRITIC

  

Victoria Recano, James Lukanik, & Sophie Gayot  At Beso in Los Angeles with Sophie Gayot and Todd English

Dining on the Inside 

                                   

Several months ago I joined my very good friend and former general manager of L’Orangerie (sigh), James Lukanik, for dinner at The Boulevard in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel                    (http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/blvd-beverly-hills-ca-90212_2la0506169-04.html)   It’s one of my favorite spots for lunch, dinner, snacks, cocktails… you name it! But that night, James introduced me to someone that has changed the way I approach and appreciate a meal.   

 

A tall blonde with a charming French accent, Sophie Gayot of Gayot.com,  sat down across from me at the table in the window of the lobby restaurant. We hit it off instantly and now I am becoming accustomed to a new way of dining out -as the guest of one of the world’s top food critics. Dinner along-side the woman whose opinion will be known by millions of people around the world, has been an eye-opening experience.  It is amazing to share my passion for food and indulgence of dining out with an expert. Who better to compare notes with!?

 

See below for a few of our recent dinner destinations and then check out Sophie’s reviews at http://www.gayot.com/…

 

BLT Steak (Los Angeles): Personally, I like the one in New York better but I loved their warm   donuts! They were perfectly coated with a light dusting of cinnamon and sugar.  Too bad Sophie doesn’t like cinnamon…more for me!!

http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/blt-steak-west-hollywood-ca-90069_2la080301-02.html

 

Juliano’s Raw (Santa Monica): Not my first choice to dine, since there are no meat or milk products on the menu.  There is only so much you can do with nuts and tofu…    Sometimes you just need a good steak!   

 http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/julianos-raw-santa-monica-ca-90401_2la030805.html

 

Akasha (Culver City): Atmosphere was fun and funky-good place to grab a drink. The Akasha Cocktail was my favorite- a refreshing combination of vodka, cucumber and lime.   The dessert was confusing though.  Why would you match a flourless chocolate nut torte, which was pleasingly rich and crunchy with a soy-based ”ice cream“- What’s the point?  You cannot make ice cream without cream.  

 http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/akasha-culver-city-ca-90232_2la080303.html

 

Beso (Los Angeles): I had a great time hanging out with head chef and owner, Todd English. The watermelon margaritas are delicious and are a perfectly potent blend of tequila and fresh watermelon juice. The soft-shell crab tacos and the juicy, tender steaks were amazing and then there was the gooey, rich chocolate soufflé that would satisfy any sweet tooth!

http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/beso-hollywood-ca-90028_2la080308.html

 

Victoria and Sophie Gayot at Le Cirque

Le Cirque (New York City): I talk for a living and even I was speechless during our multi-course dinner! The fois gras ravioli is heaven in your mouth and the pork, lamb, and duck were difficult to choose between. To top it off, Christophe generously sent over every dessert, which easily disappeared even after a seven course feast!  And when my friends showed up late to join us, Christophe kept the kitchen open just a little longer for us to sample some goodies off the bar menu.  We had juicy sliders, crispy shrimp tempura and onion soup smothered in bubbling gruyere.  It was the encore after giving the dinner a standing ovation!   

 

                                                           ~*~

Keep checking back for an updated list of hot spots we have hit in your area!

FOOD FIGHT!!!

 

~The 26^th Annual Food and Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen, CO was a weekend revolving around three of my favorite things; delicious food, great wine, and good company. Who could ask for better company than culinary and wine experts like Jose Andres,Bobby Flay, Danny Meyer, Michelle Bernstein, Masaharu Morimoto, Jacques Pepin-(just to name a few)?! The weekend was comprised of over 95 cooking and wine seminars, a Grand tasting Pavilion that held over 50,000 bottles of wine, the 2008 F&W Best New Chef’s Dinner, and of course, the Classic Cook-Off.~

Nine-thousand feet above sea level, armored in aprons, two teams stepped up to the cutting board ready for battle. In what has become an annual tradition, the Classic Cook-Off is a culinary showdown where two chef’s skills and creativity are put to the test in a race against each other and the clock.

 I was lucky to team up with the winner of Top Chef’s third season, Hung Hseih, to act as his sous chef for the cook-off. Our competitors were none other than world famous chef Jacque Pepin and his sous chef Jean Claude. There was a 20 minute time limit on the culinary combat as both teams created their dishes. Among other things, Hung and I made seared salmon topped with sautéed artichokes and Jacque cranked out three dishes including gravlox and roasted salmon with a raspberry soufflé for dessert!

 In the end, it was Jacque Pepin’s team who took the title, but it was a lot of fun to meet and cook with both of these amazing and very talented chefs. I was also excited to try Jacque’s wasabi cocktail, which turned out to be sweet, spicy, and surprisingly delicious.

 You know what they say- It’s not who wins the battle…it’s what they serve afterwards!!!

 For more on the event check out:

http://www.foodandwine.com/ext/classic/press_room.html