FOOD FASHIONISTA

Picasso - Julian Serrano's Masterpiece

If you are a lover of fine art, fine wine, and fine cuisine, there is no better place in the U.S. I can think of going for all three in one than Picasso located at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. With Master Chef Julian Serrano at the helm, you are definitely in good hands for an evening you will not soon forget. Chef Serrano has received numerous accolades including two James Beard Awards for "Best Chef Southwest" and "Best Chef California", a AAA Five Diamond Award six years in a row, and two Michelin Stars. What makes a dinner so extra special at Picasso is the fact that Serrano, considered to be one of the finest chefs in the nation, is most always found cooking in the kitchen every evening. That indeed is a very rare treat these days.

 Picasso's Michelin Star, Wine Bottles, Ceramic Ceiling

Amuse Bouche - smoked salmon, russian caviar and potato leek soup

Complimenting the masterful cuisine, is an award winning wine list by Master Sommelier, Robert Smith, which stocks more than 1,400 bottles from the most premier European vineyards. The service is refined, and the staff - from the front of the house to the kitchen are there to make sure your dining experience at Picasso is extra special.

Tuna Tartare on Cucumber

Bellagio Fountain View from Picasso

Serrano's Langoustine Dish

The views both interior and exterior of the restaurant are stunning. With original pieces of art from master artist Picasso (hence the restaurant's name) adorning the dining room walls, and the colorful floral arrangements, the restaurant is a visual oasis. There is also a perfect view of the cascading Bellagio fountain show from the glass windows of the restaurant Picasso which you can't help but gaze at every fifteen minutes.

Day Boat Scallop inside Carrot Ginger Jus

Poisson at Picasso

The fine china which chef Serrano's food is served on were made special just for the restaurant. As you can see from the photos, the aesthetics of the food and dinnerware are a perfect combination. Serrano, just like Picasso - is a true artist, the real deal - the difference being that his masterpieces are edible. I've dined at many of the world's top restaurants, and I will admit that dining at Serrano's Picasso was one of the most special meals I've experienced. Julian Serrano, like Picasso is a true master and artist with his signature cuisine.
 

 

Sauteed Foie Gras w/Pear

 

Floral Arrangements at Picasso

Serrano's Kobe Beef w/potatoes, vegetables

 Picasso's Petits Fours

  Bar at Picasso Restaurant

PICASSO
Bellagio Hotel
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South.
Las Vegas, NV 89109

The Gumbo Pot - LA Farmer's Market

When I'm craving some Creole cuisine in Los Angeles, I head over to Third and Fairfax to The Gumbo Pot at L.A.'s Original Farmers Market. On a warm sunny SoCal day, it's the perfect destination to sit outdoors while grabbing a taste of the Big Easy. With the Farmer's Market conveniently located adjacent to the Grove Shopping Center, it's the perfect spot to grab a casual bite and then some, while later working off the calories with a stroll through the outdoor mall.

Shrimp Po'Boy at the Gumbo Pot - perfect w/some hot sauce!

Seafood Gumbo -  make the perfect accompaniment

The Gumbo Pot is located on the west patio of the farmer's market and serves affordable Cajun cuisine just like you'd find in New Orleans. I especially love their po' boys and seafood gumbo, but they offer just the right meal for all appetites and dietary restrictions with a number of salads, Southern style seafood dishes, and tasty side dishes and appetizers on their menu. Some sides/appetizers include fresh boiled crawfish, sweet potato chips, and corn bread with cheddar cheese and chillies.

Next time you are in the Los Angeles area and craving some Creole flavors from Nola, visit The Gumbo Pot at L.A.'s Original Farmers Market. You can even top off your meal with some beignets (french donuts) and chicory coffee. 

The Gumbo Pot
Original Farmer's Market
6333 West Third Street #312 (on Fairfax between Wilshire and Beverly)
Los Angeles, CA

Carrie & Latif's Wedding by Patina Catering

The new Mr & Mrs Tayour

When it comes to weddings, I truly believe it's all about the details. Details are key, and after choosing the ideal mate, comes the all important decisions of dress, location, shoes, and FOOD. The bride had the dress choice covered looking absolutely glamorous and gorgeous in an Elizabeth Fillmore couture gown. The backdrop was ocean front in Malibu and who can argue with that location. The cuisine and beverages were by Patina Catering, and what a wondrous choice that ended up to be. Carrie and Latif- the bride and groom are not only my dear friends, but huge gourmands so I knew their special day would also be a delectable one.

From the cocktail hour, to the magnificent red velvet cupcake tower, to the gourmet vegan dining option, the bride and groom and all of us reveling in their splendorous day, knew they made all the right decisions. Carrie and Latif's wedding was a day full of love, impeccable views, divine company, and outstanding food and service. Although we were dining with a group close to 100, it felt as if we were in a fine dining establishment, just full of joyous friends and loved ones. It was a truly enchanting day we will all cherish forever.

Here are some of the fine details:

Savory servings w/a Moroccan touch during cocktail hour

 

Cucumber Water, Arnold Palmer, Mint Mojitos

Cocktail hour provided the perfect bites

Celebrating with the Beautiful Bride Carrie

 

Mixed Greens, toasted almonds, dried cherries, goat cheese

Joachim Splichal even made a bigger than life appearance :-)

 

Sesame encrusted Tofu w/mirin soy glaze, quinoa & vegetables

Free Range Chicken w/red onions, potatoes, haricot vert

 

The Serene Malibu Ocean View

 

Red Velvet Cupcake Tower

Mouth Watering Yet?

Red Velvet Cupcake, Chocolate mousse, Patina truffle

Vegan Carrot Cupcake, Tapioca pearls w/jackfruit & tofu cheesecake

 

Loved that their wedding favors were even food related!


For more information on Patina Catering, visit PATINA Restaurant Group

For my dinner at Patina Restaurant visit Food Fashionista at Patina

 
 
 
 

 

STONEHILL TAVERN - St Regis Monarch Beach

Here are some drool worthy pictures (sans the one of me) from my dinner last night at STONEHILL TAVERN. Nestled in the ultra posh St. Regis Resort at Monarch Beach, this restaurant has Pacific Ocean views and a chic dining space designed by the renowned Tony Chi. The young and gifted Adam Keough is the Executive Chef of STONEHILL and the food is consistently flavorful, and constantly evolving with the seasons. Perfect for a romantic weekend getaway or a power business dinner - STONEHILL TAVERN is a sure hit for many occasions. Just take a look at the photos below and you will see for yourself...  

Asiago Cheese Rolls - Served Warm & Absolutely Addicting

Red Grape Sangria - Just one of the many superb drinks

 

Amuse Bouche - Salmon Parfait on Potato Cake

Amuse Bouche - Bacon Wrapped Fig with Goat Cheese

Local Farm Greens - Gorgeous example of Farm to Table

 

Coastal Shellfish -Tasting Trio

Prawn Ceviche, Sea Bean, Lemongrass Vinaigrette

Lobster, Bacon & Shiso- Wrapped Fritter

Scallop, White-Corn Crepe, Coconut-Curry Broth

w/ Blood Orange Mimosa - Fresh Orange Juice, Sugar, Lime

Tuna Tartare w/Pine Nuts, Mint, Habanero-Infused Sesame Oil

Tuna Seared; Cranberry Bean, Artichoke, Meyer Lemon

Prime Short Rib w/Glazed Miripoix, Worcestershire

Oh and did I mention these come w/ a side of Potato Puree

Skate Wing w/ White Bean Ravioli, Lemon Basil, Golden Tomato Broth

 

Salt Baked Lobster - Before

 

and After... w/Corn-Basil Risotto, Porcinis, Bell Pepper Emulsion

Just a part of the Chocolate Pudding Duo

Strawberry Mochi, Green Tea Cream, Rhubarb Consomme

Complimentary Bon Bons - a truly HAPPY ending!

STONEHILL TAVERN
St Regis Monarch Beach
Dana Point, CA 92629
phone - 949-234-3318

Sunday Supper at Lucques

Veal scallopini with polenta, sweet corn and sage brown butter

With a focus on local produce, Lucques is a smart choice for those craving a comforting seasonal menu in warm surroundings. Service is friendly and professional and the staff will make you feel right at home. Open for lunch and dinner, Lucques also has an extremely popular Sunday Supper which offers a three course menu from chef Suzanne Goin for $45. Considering the quality and portion size, it is a very inviting deal. I love the idea of Sunday Supper with it's 3 course, set price, set menu. It makes it easy as far as decision making goes, and believe me, when you inspect Lucques dinner menu on any other night, there are definitely tough decisions to be made from all of the tempting selections.

Butter, Salt, Almonds & Olives - accompanying bread

 
Salad of cherry tomatoes & haricots verts w/ burrata and pesto

This past Sunday was Father's Day, and how fitting that the menu consisted of chef Goin's dad's favorite dishes. I must thank and commend him on his good taste, because dinner that evening was fantastic. I particularly enjoyed the first course which was a Summer Salad of Cherry Tomatoes, Haricot Verts with Burrata and Pesto.  The Chocolate Sundae with Vanilla Ice Cream, Toasted Almonds, Chocolate Sauce and a Meringue Closerie des Lilas was the perfect ending. Although my dining companions were quite full by the end of the meal, I finished every last morsel.

Grilled seabass w/ wild mushrooms, potatoes & chive creme fraiche

Suzanne's dad's favorite sundae

Suzanne Goin also has a Sunday Suppers at Lucques cookbook which contains 132 recipes which contain four course menus divided by what's in season. For more information, or to purchase you can visit Sunday Suppers at Lucques.

Lucques

8474 Melrose Ave (east of La Cienega), Los Angeles, CA

323-655-3925

Digital LA's Digital Drinks - Cocktails & Networking

 
w/ Meghan Cleary, Kevin Winston, Kyra Davis, Samya Gharbieh

For a busy entrepreneur like myself, I have to pick and choose my social calendar selectively. Fortunately, there are events in Los Angeles that cater to professionals who enjoy a healthy work hard/play hard lifestyle. Digital LA, founded by CEO Kevin Winston is one of those great organizations that mixes networking with a festive and informal social cocktail hour environment. Digital LA's events consist of a monthly Digital Drinks gathering which are held most usually at various swanky hot spots in the L.A. area. Previous affairs have been at the Viceroy, Roosevelt, SLS, Conga Room, and Coco de Ville. The great thing about Kevin's Digital Drink nights are they are exclusive for guests of that particular Digital LA event and off limits to the public during these hours. It's also a refreshing way to experience these various bars/lounges in the L.A. area with like minded business professionals.


JC Cangilla working the Corona & Meghan working the Blackberry

Samya and Kyra - multi-tasking w/pizza & dancing

Yes people - I love pizza and I eat a lot of it

My company FashionBliss.com was a sponsor at a previous Digital Drink's gathering held at Hollywood's Green Door and I was joined by my fellow Fashionistas including Meghan Cleary - America's Shoe Expert, Kyra Davis- best selling author of the Sophie Katz book series and Samya Gharbieh with luxury company Omega. During these Digital Drink soirees, there are most often cocktails and food that Kevin has negotiated at special prices. Along with networking with friends both new and old, we enjoyed selections from the bar, along with complimentary pizza and chocolate - a definite highlight for the Food Fashionista. Digital LA also hosts informative panels for all things tech related along with bbqs and parties for events such as SXSW and the Oscars.

For more info on Digital LA, visit DigitalLA.net

Elizas - Cheap Lunch Eats in San Francisco

Sometimes you just get the craving for a tasty Chinese rice plate but don't want to sit in a dingy restaurant with absolutely no ambiance. The problem is these days, you often have to pay for a bit of decor, and end up paying triple for what you could have ate in that neighborhood whole in the wall. An exception to that rule is Elizas in San Francisco. With two locations - one in Pacific Heights and one in Potrero Hill, you have the option of eating a fulfilling super cheap rice plate for lunch in an attractive environment.

All the rice plates come with soup and are available Monday through Friday. The average price for one of these dishes is in the $6-$7 range and you have the option of choosing brown rice which I most usually opt for. Some favorites include the Mango Beef and Portobello Mushroom with Shrimp. It does get crowded, so get there early and snag a table before the lunch crowd starts bustling in.

Portobello Mushroom w/Shrimp & Brown Rice

Dinner is more pricey, but still affordable. Lunch at Elizas is highly recommended since it's quick, inexpensive and perfect for those longings for good Chinese food in an inviting space. I think there definitely must be some feng shui going on in there.

Elizas
Lunch: 11am-3pm

(Pac Heights Location)
2877 California St
(between Broderick St & Divisadero St)
San Francisco 94115
(415) 621-4819

(Potrero Hill Location)
1457 18th Street
(between Connecticut St & Missouri St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 648-9999

Taste of the Nation Los Angeles - TOTNLA

Taste of the Nation is a premier culinary event held in cities throughout the nation every year. Share our Strength puts on this worthy cause that helps to end childhood hunger in America. 100% of the ticket sales for Taste of the Nation goes to support this incredibly important fight. This weekend's event was held at Media Park in Culver City and you could not have asked for more glorious weather or incredible samplings of cuisine. Some of the participating restaurants and chefs from the Los Angeles area included - Nobu, Rivera, Osteria & Pizzeria Mozza, XIV, Jar, Joe's Restaurant, Lucques, The Bazaar, Katsuya, K-Zo, The Foundry, A.O.C., Westside Tavern, Craft, Fraiche, Comme Ca, Akasha, BLT Steak, Melisse, Animal and so many more.

Here are a few of my delectable pictures from Los Angeles' Taste of the Nation 2009:

Nobu's Black Cod w/Butter Lettuce

Loteria Grill's Tacos, Tacos, Tacos

 

Katsuya's Tuna Chirashi

Susan Feniger's Street Panipuri & Chrysanthemum Mint Tea

La Mill's Iced Coffee & Teas

Pom's 100% Pomegranate Juice (looks like True Blood ;-) )

Simon LA's Ahi Tuna on Pita w/Fava Bean Puree & Tomato Olive Sauce

 

For more information on a Taste of the Nation near you, visit Share our Strength

SF Chefs. Food. Wine. - Culinary Event August 6-9, 2009

If you haven't done so already, now is the time to get out your calendars and mark the weekend of August 6-9 as RESERVED for San Francisco's premier culinary event- SF Chefs. Food and Wine. With Bay Area's finest cooking talent including Traci des Jardins, Gary Danko, Joyce Goldstein, Michael Mina, Elizabeth Falkner, Roland Passot, Charles Phan and many more, this is an event not to be missed. 

A few of the weekend highlights:

*Rising Star Chef Reunion - Join Tyler Florence while sampling bites from SF's emerging rising star chefs

*Sunday Morning Sessions -  Coi's Daniel Patterson and seed preservationist Craig Lindquist explore the flavor and variety of ancient seeds.

*Gala Dinner -  Pioneers from the Bay Area food scene will be honored including Emily Luchetti (pastry chef at Farallon and Waterbar), Judy Rodgers (chef and proprietor of Zuni Café), Patricia Unterman (author and proprietor of the Hayes Street Grill), and Joyce Goldstein (author and restaurateur). Cuisine by Gary Danko and Traci des Jardins.

*Sommelier Awards Luncheon - a tribute to Master Sommelier Larry Stone w/foods paired by Restaurant Michael Mina

Here is the complete list of those participating in San Francisco's premier gastronomy weekend,

Chef Chair and
Advisory Committee
Joey Altman
Chris Cosentino
Gary Danko
Traci Des Jardins
Elizabeth Falkner
Tyler Florence
David Gingrass
Robert Helstrom
Bruce Hill
Adrian Hoffman
Hubert Keller
Jamie Lauren
Emily Luchetti
Michael Mina
Roland Passot
Charles Phan
Daniel Scherotter
Craig Stoll
Joanne Weir
Laura Werlin
Arnold Eric Wong
Martin Yan

Participating Chefs:
Paul Arenstam
Robert Barker
Bridget Batson
Jan Birnbaum
Patty Blecha
George Chen
Marisa Churchill
Steven Connolly
Cat Cora
Richard Corbo
Patti Dellamonica-Bauler
Ranjan Dey
Mark Dommen
Pablo Estrada
Thom Fox
Andrea Froncillo
Ruggero Gadaldi
Joyce Goldstein
Mark Gordon
Jessica Gorin
Damon Hall
Gerald Hirigoyen
Richard Hodge
Perry Hoffman
Adam Jones
Senthil Kumar
Chris L'Hommedieu
Mourad Lahlou
David Lawrence
John Ledbetter
Brian Leitner
Jesse Llapitan
Jennie Lorenzo
Tim Luym
Louis Maldonado
Joseph Manzare
Peter McNee
Brian O'Connell
Nancy Oakes
Alexander Ong
Mauro Pando
Bruce Paton
Daniel Patterson
Craig Patzer
Gerardo Perez
Scott Peterson
William Pilz
Paul Piscopo
Juan Sandoval
Manoon Sanghad
Toi Sawatdee
Steve Scarabosio
Amaryll Schwertner
Ryan Scott
Michael Siegel
Staffan Terje
Parke Ulrich
Kevin Weber
Scott Youkilis

For more information, visit SF Chefs. Food. Wine.

Nopalito - Organic Mexican in San Francisco

I am a huge fan of Mexican food and frequently get cravings for it at least twice a week. When I am in San Francisco, I usually head to the taquerias in the Mission District, but now I add a new favorite Mexican spot to my list- Nopalito, and to my delight it is not too far from my SF home. But after living in Los Angeles, you think everything is close in San Francisco, which it is compared to everything in SoCal.

Located in San Francisco's Western Addition, Nopalito opened earlier this year and is the sister restaurant to the bustling Nopa (which I will feature in a future post). The cuisine at this casual hot spot is Mexican and the kitchen's focus is on using local, organic, and sustainable ingredients to serve authentic dishes from the Mexican region.

 

Much of Nopalito's menu is made in house including the chorizo, tortillas, and queso fresco. They also ground their chili masa on site from organic corn. A couple favorites include the popular Gordita de Picadillo -Crispy tortilla, grass fed beef, carrot, refried pinquito housemade queso fresco and salsa de venas and the Quesadilla de Hongos y Huitlacoche - Corn tortilla, oyster mushrooms, corn truffles, jack cheese, queso fresco, epazote and salsa de jitomate molcajeteado.

In addition to serving beer and wine, Nopalito makes refreshingly tasty homemade beverages such as the Mixed citrus, orange-blood orange, meyer lemon thirst quencher which went perfect with the cuisine. If your taste buds call for something sweet and not so citrus flavored, Nopalito makes an Organic Almond Horchata and an Ibarra Chocolate Fizz which is served cold. Dessert offerings include homemade popsicles which I unfortunately had to pass on due to the chilly SF temps. The weather was cool, but the variety of salsas kept things heated up on Nopalito's side patio.

The Mexican wedding cookies brought out complimentary at the end of the meal were a sweet ending and helped temporarily satisfy my sugar hankering. And must mention that our bill for two people was close to $30 and that was including tip. For organic, quality cuisine, that was a bargain. Once you see the menu at Nopalito, you won't be able to decide from all the savory temptations so I recommend ordering a few dishes and sharing them. That way you get a variety of tastes and flavors throughout the meal and everyone's appetites will be extra content.

Nopalito serves Lunch and Dinner Daily & no reservations are accepted - first come/first served.

Nopalito
360 Broderick (at Oak)
San Francisco, CA
415 437 0303