FOOD FASHIONISTA

Lexus Presents – They Sing. They Act. They Cook? - Los Angeles Food & Wine

As they say, if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen, and with temperatures already reaching 90-degrees by 10:00 am, the Event Deck at LA Live was hot from the start! Lexus, who sponsored the event, had a little fun pairing actors with celebrity chefs. Cooking up fall favorites for a hungry crowd, Daniel Boulud (Daniel), Michael Chiarello (Bottega) and Christopher Kostow (The Restaurant at Meadowood), were joined by “sous actors” Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) and Vanessa Minnillo (Hawaii Five-O). The heat was quenched with crisp, chilled champagne. Ahhh…

Daniel Boulud and Eric Stonestreet took the stage and it was clear from the start, there would be lots of laughs on deck. Daniel prepared a fall favorite of Spiced Leg of Lamb Terrine with Curry, Cumin and Nutmeg. With his heavy French accent, Chef Daniel explained the complexities of the “Moroccan” flavors. Eric, originally from Kansas City, had a bit of a language barrier as he kept insisting, “This dish doesn’t sound very “American?!” The joke, as well as the dish, were enjoyed by all.

                                   Chef Daniel Boulud

 
Next up, was Michael Chiarello, again with sous Eric working a double shift. Michael gave the crowd a bit of his Napa Style by preparing Sea Urchin Risotto. Eric joked that the prickly urchin looked more like an alien than something he wanted to put in his mouth. He was proven wrong, as he devoured Michael’s rich and creamy risotto within seconds.

Closing the show was Christopher Kostow with the lovely Vanessa Minnillo cooking up another fall favorite of Sweet Potato Soup with Curried Marshmallows. Vanessa proved she had more than just acting skills, as she sliced and diced like a pro!

 

                        Michael Chiarello and Christopher Kostow

                         Daniel Boulud and Joann Cianciuilli
                                

Post and photos by Joann Cianciulli for Food Fashionista

Morimoto Lunch at WP24 - Los Angeles Food and Wine

Kin Medai Snapper w/Geoduck, Papya, Peanuts & Coconut Foam paired with a Grieve Sauvignon Blanc, Napa 2009

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto hosted an exquisite wine-paired luncheon as part of the Lexus-sponsored Los Angeles Food and Wine festival. The event was held at Wolfgang Puck's WP24 located high above the L.A. skyline at the Ritz Carlton. Although there was no sighting of Wolfgang, WP24 Executive Chef Sara Johannes along with pastry chef Cassie Ballard worked seamlessly with Morimoto to create a lunch one will soon not forget.  

Peking Style Duck Breast, Warm Chantrelle Salad, Ten Spiced Confit Figs, Smoked Duck Cracklin' paired with a Recuerdo Malbec Mendoza, Argentina 2010

Washugyu Flat Iron with Veal Cheek Tempura, Compressed Apple and Chili Soy paired with Blackbird Vineyards, "Arise", Napa Valley 2009

Caramel Roasted Apple, Butterscotch Miso, Sesame Crisp, Edamame Ice Cream paired with Ice House, "Vidal", Niagara Peninsula 2006

 

For more photos from the 2011 Los Angeles Food and Wine Lexus Grand Tasting, visit HERE.

San Francisco Cocktail Week Returns 9/19- 9/25 - Get your drink on SF!

 
 

We are now just a few days away from the much-anticipated Fifth Annual San Francisco Cocktail Week taking place during September 19-25, 2011. Last year was literally one of the best and booziest weeks in S.F. with non-stop seminars, cocktail parties, culinary events, and festival galas throughout the seven-day celebration. Hard to imagine, but it looks like this year is going to be even more memorable (well depending on how much liquor you consume) and intoxicatingly epic. With the addition of the Cocktail Dinners at some of S.F.'s favorite restaurants, attendees will be fortunate enough to experience the pairing of drinks and dining with some of the city's top mixologists and chefs. If you appreciate a truly memorable liquid libation and all things cocktilian, this week was created for you.

 
  Cocktails at last year's Boothby Center for Beverage Arts Launch

 

THE TASTE - Food Noir Downtown L.A.

For my last recap of THE TASTE, I'm sharing pics of the film-inspired Food Noir which took place in Downtown Los Angeles. A number of local restaurants such as Takami, Rivera, and The Raymond served up alcohol-absorbing bites while the jovial crowd, including chef Michael Voltaggio enjoyed a clear, near-perfect L.A. evening adjacent to the bright, colorful, neon lights of the historic Orpheum Theatre. 

Broadway, between 8th and 9th streets were blocked off, and the cocktails flowed for the block party of the Summer. Here are some photos:

 
                 L.A.'s top mixologists were mixing it up

 
                      DTLA + THE TASTE = Happy Angelenos

 

                Notice the Ice Cubes from Cole's & The Varnish

                          Dengue Fever performs for the crowd
 
        Inside the Orpheum Theatre (tiffany rose photo)

 
                                     Caña Rum Bar

 
                         Never a dull moment at Pinches Tacos

 
   Mixologist Joel Black was serving up Moonshine Sours 
 
                 Seven Grand concocting a Ward 8

  

-For more Food Noir and THE TASTE photos, visit our Facebook Page

 

 

        

 

 

THE TASTE - Street Eats, Hollywood

 

Fabio Viviani, Jet Tila, Marcel Vigneron, Sang Yoon, Kajsa Alger and plenty more were in attendance as fellow chef Susan Feniger hosted THE TASTE's Street Eats party at The Studios at Paramount. Food Trucks and booths lined the streets and it was here that I finally got to try the cheesy goodness of the Grilled Cheese Truck. Perhaps tried is an understatement. I probably consumed like five of them with additional fillings including shredded short rib and macaroni and cheese. Coolhaus sweetened up the celebration with their ice cream sandwiches, along with Créme Caramel LA and their, you guessed it...creamy créme caramels.

 
         Short Rib Grilled Cheese from The Grilled Cheese Truck

 
             Everybody wanted a Coolhaus Ice Cream Sandwich

 
                        Créme Caramel LA's creme caramel

Sommelier Jesse Rodriguez (Addison Restaurant, Grand Del Mar) and Michael Shearin (Drago Centro) gave us useful, professional tips in their "Navigating a Wine List" seminar. While in the same tent prior, a panel discussing "Food City: The New Language of L.A." moderated by Betty Hallock drew a packed crowd curious to hear all that chefs Roy Choi (Kogi), Jet Tila (Wazuzu), Sang Yoon (Father's Office) and Mario Alberto (Chimu) had to share.

 
                   Street Eats panel discussion at THE TASTE 
                       Palate Food & Wine's Lamb Flatbread

        Mika Takeuchi, Joann Cianciulli, Jet Tila, Sang Yoon, Caryl Chinn

 
                          No shortage of carbs at Street Eats

The Chew hosted a food truck-inspired photo booth, which was deliciously entertaining with snaps getting even more incriminating as the night went on (aka more liquor consumed). A favorite find of Street Eats was Pitfire Artisan Pizza who brought their own wood burning oven to the festival. Their pizza was so good, that I've visited their restaurant in NoHo twice since the event. And to think I was going to detox after this four day culinary extravaganza. Umm, not so much.  

 
             Marcel Vigneron, Robert Montano, Haru Kishi

 
                         Pitfire's Heirloom Tomato Pizza

 
                        Food truck photo booth shenanigans

 

Guelaguetza's Tamales Oaxaquenos w/ black mole & chicken breast in banana leaf

 

-For more Street Eats and THE TASTE photos, visit our Facebook Page

-Check back for more photos and features of THE TASTE weekend!

Fashion Bites Brunch on Rodeo Drive at The TASTE, Beverly Hills

 
What could make one of the world's most glamorous strips of retail real estate even more attractive than it already is? Well, add some fabulous food, wine, and cocktails to the mix. That is what occurred this past Sunday as Los Angeles Times and Food & Wine's THE TASTE took over posh Rodeo Drive. Brunch bites from many of L.A.'s favorite brunch spots, along with bellinis, mimosas, and Bloody Mary's filled the streets of 90210 and provided a good excuse for a little retail therapy along the way. With a backdrop of Bottega Veneta, Tom Ford, YSL, and Brioni paired with a generous sampling of lobster sliders, apple pancakes, quiches, and gazpacho, the Fashion Bites Brunch was just what the Food Fashionista ordered.

  
                    Fashion Bites Brunch +  FENDI  

  

Egg Croissant Sandwich + Pork Belly & Egg + Gazpachos -The Farm
               

             Lobster & Brie Slider from NineThirty at the W Hotel

 
     Ciroc cocktails flowing at Fashion Bites Brunch (tiffany rose )

                    Quiche w/marinated tomato from Breadbar
 
                                Chanel on Rodeo Drive    

 
             Factor's Deli - Bagel & Lox w/tomato & red onion

                                 Wine at THE TASTE 

                        Mini Sprinkles Carrot Cupcake

 
Gordon Ramsay at The London's Chicharron, quail egg & black brioche

                              Cartier & Sprinklesmobile

 
                            THE TASTE & Mont Blanc 
                                             PRADA

 

-For more Fashion Bites Brunch and THE TASTE photos, visit our Photo Albums

-Check back for more photos and features of THE TASTE weekend!

 

 

THE TASTE Los Angeles - Taco Tequila Tryst

  

Leave it to Kogi's Roy Choi, aka the "godfather of the food truck movement" to host an evening of tacos, tequila, and tunes to create an authentic street party at The Studios at Paramount. From red snapper tacos at Loteria Grill, Baja fish tacos at BajaMar, chicken mole tacos at Pinches, and carnitas tacos from Sofiy's Catering, this was the real Hollywood deal. Hornitos supplied partygoers with "to kill ya", oops, I mean tequila galore and horn-shaped shot glasses. For those craving a "healthier" margarita, Skinny Girl was in the house, or rather on the streets. Musician Diego Garcia wowed the crowd and provided good low-cal eye candy for those ladies too full for dessert. Spotted at THE TASTE's Taco Tequila Tryst festivities were chef Steven Fretz, StreetGourmetLA's Bill Esparza, and Food Network's Alex Guarnaschelli.

 

                     Pink Taco's Shrimp Ceviche Tacos

                              The line at Kogi BBQ Truck

                  Red Snapper Taco from Loteria Grill

                              Roy Choi & Food Fashionista

 

                           Pinches Colorful Tacos

 
                                       Diego Rivera     photo credit: tiffany rose

 

              Taberna Mexicana's Slow-roasted cochinita pibil taco

                                                                         photo credit: tiffany rose

 

                           Get ready to get tipsy at Hornitos

 
                  Tofu Tacos with Sriracha at Kogi BBQ

 
              THE TASTE at The Studios at Paramount

 
-For more Taco Tequila Tryst and THE TASTE photos, visit our Facebook Page

-Check back for more photos and features of THE TASTE weekend!

               

THE TASTE Los Angeles - Secrets from the Kitchen & Cellar

Couldn't think of a better way to spend a Labor Day Saturday in L.A. than THE TASTE's Secrets from the Kitchen & Cellar event presented by Infiniti. The weather was spectacular and the selection of cuisine, libations, panel discussions, and cooking demos were on fire. Yes, I said it...they were hot! Popular events included "An Interview with Chef Ludo and Krissy Lefebvre led by L.A. Times Food Editor Russ Parsons, along with a discussion on "Twitter and Tasting" by renowned food critic Jonathan Gold with chefs Michael Voltaggio, Walter Manzke, and Craig Thornton. Wine seminars included a talk on "Paso Robles Pioneers" and the useful "How to Taste Like a Master Sommelier".

Scott Conant of Scarpetta had the crowd entertained while the Drago brothers (Celestino and Giacomino) kept the assembly of food lovers enthralled with their beet risotto cooking demo. Wineries such as Charles Krug, Justin Vineyards, and Bernardus along with Fiji water helped us beat the heat with hydration to keep the appetite running for a second, third, fourth...and fifteenth helping of favorite bites from many of L.A.'s most beloved and recently introduced restaurants. This was definitely a great day to celebrate the professional kitchens of Los Angeles. Kudos to host L.A. Times and Food & Wine for a job well done.

 
                  Infiniti Chocolates by LA's own Compartes

 
                           Rock Sugar's Pork Belly Bun

 
      Ricardo Zarate and Stephane Bombet of Picca & Mo-Chica

 
Picca/Mo-Chica's Lettuce wrap with beef, quinoa risotto, rocoto sauce

 
           Scott Conant's Cooking Demo at THE TASTE, Beverly Hills

                 with Aarti Sequeira of Food Network's Aarti Party

 
              Chaya Brasserie's Watermelon with Basil Oil

   Haru Kishi (Chaya Brasserie)'s Seaweed Salad w/Chicken

         These TASTE fans were the popular cool-off accessory

 
       Claire Robinson of Food Network's "5 Ingredient Fix" 

 
                Fresh Peach Cocktails...Oh, Yes Please!
         
                                  Chef Celestino Drago

 
Il Pastaio's Baked Spaghetti w/Eggplant, Mozzarella, Tomato Basil Sauce

 
             Krissy and Ludo Lefebrvre with Russ Parsons (center)

 
                                Mr. Chow's Walnut Shrimp

 
                       Kerrygold's Aged Cheddar Cheese

 
Mezze's refreshing Cocktails & Ginger Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich

 
                     No shortage of vino at The TASTE


         The weather wasn't the only thing was hot that day

 
          It was a day of fun (and food) for the entire family

 

-More photos from The TASTE's Secrets from the Kitchen & Cellar, will be added to our Food Fashionista Facebook page.

-Check back for more photos and features of The TASTE weekend!

 

Infiniti & Lefebvre photos by: Tiffany Rose. All others by Food Fashionista

THE TASTE - Los Angeles Celebrity Red Carpet Photos

The chefs weren't the only celebrities who showed up at Los Angeles Times and Food & Wine's THE TASTE culinary extravaganza. Comedian Kathy Griffin, Diana Agron of “Glee” and Jesse Tyler Ferguson of “Modern Family" were all spotted during opening night festivities of this gluttonous Labor Day Weekend food, wine and spirits celebration.

Who said celebrities don't like to eat!?

 
     Kathy Griffin w/Chanel getting her burger on at The TASTE

 
      Rock Star Chef Kerry Simon serving up his Kobe Burgers

 
              Debi Mazar & Gabriele Corcos on the Red Carpet

 
           LA Times & Kogi's Roy Choi (center) on the Red Carpet

 
                  Giada De Laurentiis and Michelle Branch

 

Check back for more photos and features of The TASTE weekend!

Photo Credit: Tiffany Rose

THE TASTE Los Angeles - Burgers & Beer and Art of Mixing

 
We are thrilled to have contributing guest author, Kyra Davis of the Sophie Katz Series share her experience from opening night of THE TASTE.

 

 

When I first heard of Los Angeles Times and Food & Wine magazine’s THE TASTE I didn’t know what to expect. I knew it kicked off with their Burgers & Beer event and...well, really, how can you go wrong with an event named after the two things that have made this country great? But the name was actually a bit misleading. It probably should have been called, Burgers & Beer & Every Other Wonderful Thing You Would Ever Want To Devour Extravaganza. From foie gras to fine cheeses to wine to decadent chocolates and assorted baked goods, the Burgers & Beer event was enough to make you think you had died and gone to culinary heaven. The only clue that you might not have reached an ethereal plane is that your human body simply doesn’t have the ability to eat everything being offered. Seriously, by the end of that event my eyes were still lusting after Wilshire Restaurant’s Roasted Pork Slider (complete with apple chutney, arugula, Dijon and aioli) and STK’s BBQ short rib sliders (served with sour cream, chives, roasted corn salad and their house made BBQ sauce). And although I knew that, in order to save room, I should only have had one taste of Waterloo & City’s chicken liver foie gras, stopping at one bite proved to be a fairly impossible task. The drinks from Cupcake Wine, Justin Vineyards and Peroni helped me forget about how far off my normal diet plan I had gone.

 
                                   STK's BBQ'd Shortrib Slider

 

 

                 Cider & Pork Slider from Wilshire Restaurant 

 
                           Foie Gras from Waterloo & City

 
                                     Kobe Burger from Simon LA

 
                      Food Fashionista hearts Burgers

 
                              Green & Black's Organic Chocolate

 
              The Cake Mama's Chocolate & Beer Cupcakes

 

And even if the beer and wine served at the Burgers & Beer event weren’t enough to help me throw caution to the wind the spirits served at the second event of the night, appropriately titled The Art of Mixing, would have done the trick. Anyone who knows me or who has ever read my books knows I have a fondness for vodka and this festival, hosted at the gorgeous Paramount Studios Backlot, was serving some of the most amazing vodka I’ve ever tasted. Beluga Vodka was one of my favorites, served with Lounge Attire Cranberries which are naturally sweet, dark red in color and grown exclusively in the Northwest. Normally I don’t wax poetic about cranberries but honestly, these were the perfect enhancement to the miniature Beluga vodka shots they were serving, making the drink flavorful, slightly sweet and not even a little syrupy.  But there were lots of other drinks to get excited about, including the martinis served by Chopin, the wine served by Herzog Wine Cellars and the Skinny Girl Cocktails (relatively low calorie drinks that I like to pretend make up for everything I tasted at Essential Chocolate Desserts and The Cake Mamas booths).  And the band, Mariachi El Bronx just made everything all the more festive and fun.  

 

 

                                        Beluga Vodka from Russia

 
                                           Mariachi El Bronx           photo credit: tiffany rose
 

                                      The Studios at Paramount Lot
 

                                   Karlsson's Potatoes + Vodka

 
                    Cafe Hoy's Assorted Agua Frescas at Art of Mixing
 
                             Bar Pintxo's Seafood Paella

 

And what’s the perfect finish for a night of total decadence? Shaved ice, flavored perfectly with gin, lemon, blackberry and basil (a flavor combination otherwise known as Bramble). How can you not LOVE that?

 

 

 

All in all it was worth every wonderfully sinful bite.  I can’t wait until the next event.

 

 

                 Kyra Davis on the Red Carpet at The Taste

 

You can learn more about Kyra and her books at KyraDavis.com

You can still purchase tickets for this weekend's events at THE TASTE.

 

Check back for many more upcoming photos and features of THE TASTE.