Indulge, and say all things cheese at next week's Artisan Cheese Festival taking place at the Sheraton in Sonoma County. There will be cheese makers, brewers, wineries, and chefs. See the entire participant list HERE.
For full details and ticket information, visit the Artisan Cheese Festival Website.
Chefs Michael Cimarusti, John & Karen Shields, Carlo Mirarchi, and seven of Manresa’s notable alumni join Chef David Kinch for a “Cooking with Friends” dinner series in honor of Manresa’s 10-year anniversary. Don't miss out on this culinary showcase.
July 11: Michael Cimarusti of Providence
At Providence, Chef Cimarusti is known for creating menus that are “inspired by the natural abundance of coastal living.” To highlight this, he and Chef Kinch will collaborate on a multi-course menu themed “Sea.”
Cimarusti is the co-owner and executive head chef of Providence Restaurant in Los Angeles. His career has spanned positions in New York, Paris, and LA, at restaurants including Larry Forgione’s An American Place, Le Cirque, Arpege, La Maree, Echiverri at Fauchon, Spago, and the executive chef position at The Water Grill.
July 12: John & Karen Shields
The husband and wife duo, Chefs John & Karen Shields, will create a multi-course menu with Chef Kinch following the theme of “Fruits & Vegetables.”
The couple met while working at Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago. John moved on to the sous-chef position at Alinea. The pair then gained acclaim for their 28-seat restaurant Town House in remote Chilhowie, VA. In 2010, John was named one of Food & Wine magazine’s “Best New Chefs.” They recently announced plans for a new restaurant opening later this year in Philadelphia. This dinner at Manresa will give diners a chance to experience dishes that might appear on the new restaurant menu.
July 13: Carlo Mirarchi of Roberta’s
Friend and colleague Chef Carlo Mirarchi of Roberta’s in Brooklyn, New York will create a multi-course menu with Chef Kinch following the theme of “Pasture, Meat, and Forest.”
Mirarchi opened Roberta’s in January 2008 as chef and partner. In 2011, he was named one of Food & Wine magazine’s “Best New Chefs,” and received reviews from the New York Times for his “marvelous” pizzas and reservation-only tasting menus, and from Bloomberg magazine for serving some of “New York’s most deeply satisfying Italian-American” cuisine. His courses for the anniversary dinner at Manresa are representative of the more refined tasting menu offered at Roberta’s.
July 14 & 15: Manresa Alumni
Each of Manresa’s featured alumni chefs will contribute a dish for the multi-course tasting menu served on Saturday and Sunday.
Former Pastry Chef Belinda Leong (soon opening the much anticipated B Pâtisserie), former Chef de Cuisine and Pastry Chef John Paul Carmona (Partner at 3 Mile Group), former Chef de Cuisines Jeremy Fox (chef at Paper or Plastik in Los Angeles, CA) and James Syhabout (chef/owner of Commis in Oakland, CA), and former Sous Chefs Charlie Parker (executive chef at Freddie Smalls in Los Angeles, CA), Michael Gaines (chef de cuisine at Central Kitchen in San Francisco, CA), and Marty Cattaneo (executive chef of Dio Deka in Los Gatos, CA).
The “Cooking with Friends” dinners on Wednesday, July 11 & July 13 are $175. The Manresa Alumni Dinners on Saturday, July 14 & Sunday, July 15 are $198. Prices are per person not including tax, tip, or wine pairings.
Reservations can be made by calling Manresa at 408.354.4330.
Manresa 320 Village Ln
Introduction of Chefs at the Friends of James Beard Foundation 25th Anniversary Benefit Dinner held at The Venetian/Palazzo, Las Vegas.
First Course - Bouchon Chef Jacob Wetherington's Roasted Heirloom Beet Salad Sunchokes, Petite Mache, Black Truflle Vinaigrette paired with a Riesling: Hugel Alsace; 2010
Second Course - B&B/ Carnevino Chef Jason Neve's Hand-Made Orecchiette with local Spring vegetables, Arugulat Pesto & Mangalista Pancetta paired with a Bastianich Vespa Blanco; 2009
Third Course - Table 10/ Delmonico Executive Chef Sean Roe's Roasted Sturgeon with Wild Mushrooms, Fava Beans and Red Wine Sauce paired with a Pinot Noir; Hallberg Ranch, Russian River Valley; Emeritus; 2009
Fourth Course - Valentino Chef Luciano Pellegrini's Spring Lamb Medallions over a fava bean puree with a Spring Garlic-flavored demiglace, served with white asparagus tips, butter fried potato tourne, wild mushrooms and fava beans paired with a a Catiglion Del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino; 2004
Chef Olivier Dubreuil's Criollo Chocolate dessert - Chocololate Mascarpone cream, Nougatine Tuile, Sweet Amarena Cherries with Balsamic Reduction
For more photos, visit our James Beard Foundation Dinner Photo Album
Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of attending the official press conference announcing the finalists for the 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards. An invitation-only brunch paired with the highly-anticipated news was held at the The Venetian and Palazzo on the Las Vegas strip. The Venetian houses more James Beard Award winners than any other property worldwide, so it was fitting that both the finalist broadcast and a 25th Anniversary Friends of James Beard Foundation Benefit Dinner later that evening were held on premise.
James Beard's Susan Ungaro, Mitchell Davis, Woody Campbell, John Washko
Spring Pea Agnolotti w/ Crème fraîche & wild morels
Not surprisingly, the brunch menu was plentiful and consisted of liquid wake-me-ups, small plates, live stations and a tempting dessert selection. From a made-to-order House-Smoked Steelhead Buckwheat Crepe with a Fresh Duck Egg, to a basket of European Pastries (I ate three), this brunch was one of those decadent celebrations that Vegas is so good at throwing. Spotted in the crowd were a number of celebrated Las Vegas food and beverage professionals and media including Chef Julian Serrano, Master Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, Ivo Angelov of Le Cirque and Robin Leach who I will always remember as the host of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.
The full list of the 2012 James Beard Foundation Award finalists can be found HERE. The James Beard Foundation Awards, often called the "Oscars of the Food World" is a prestigious program honoring professionals in the food and beverage industries. This year's Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception will take place on Monday, May 7, 2012 at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York City and will be hosted by multiple James Beard Award–winning celebrity chef, television personality, and author Alton Brown.
To purchase tickets for the 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards, visit HERE
For more info on dining at The Venetian and The Palazzo, visit HERE
For more photos, visit our James Beard at The Venetian/Palazzo Photo Album.
Stay tuned for the James Beard finalist announcements live today at 11am from the Venetian/Palazzo Las Vegas! There will also be a Friends of James Beard 25th Anniversary Benefit dinner featuring some of Vegas' most acclaimed chefs and restaurants tonight on property. A few tickets for this highly anticipated event are still available via the Palazzo/Venetian website (click on image above).
I'll be posting pics via Instagram, Twitter and our Food Fashionista Facebook page along with a full recap of the festivities here on the blog as soon as I return back to Cali.
Ciao for now...
For the latest issue of Culinary Trends Magazine, I showcased cured ham. It was both an interesting and educational topic to write about since I found it to be a subject that many chefs and diners were both so passionate about. Also, having been a judge at this Summer's L.A. Cochon 555 event, and having attended the recent hog wild San Francisco event, cured ham was on the brain, and most likely still in my intestines. Enjoy!
The Elite of Meat
by Mika Takeuchi
updated: May 9, 2011
Tonight in New York, the Oscars of the food world were in full effect. Initial awards for the James Beard Award announcements for Broadcast Media, Book and Journalism categories were presented on Friday. The fates of the remaining categories were unveiled tonight at a star-studded gala in NYC along with streaming internet updates via the James Beard's official twitter account @beardfoundation.
Huge congrats to all the winners and nominees!
When my friend Caryl inquired if I wanted to attend a pop-up dinner that chef Michael Schwartz was cooking at Animal in Los Angeles, my answer without utter hesitation was...YES! I've been following Chef Schwartz's career for a while now and due to proximity, had yet to try his restaurants in Miami or the Grand Cayman. So how lovely and convenient it was that on one balmy May evening in Southern California, this 2010 James Beard award-winning chef brought his cuisine to us.
Continue reading "Michael Schwartz's Genuine Food Pop-Up at Animal" »
Gilt City - A national luxury deals site celebrated their acquisition of Bergine with a private reception/dinner at the recently opened fine-dining spot Benu in San Francisco. For those who appreciate the genre of modern high-end restaurants, a visit to Corey Lee's Hawthorne Lane sanctuary is a must-visit. A well manicured garden exterior complements the clean, contemporary interior. Chef Corey Lee's masterful cooking techniques and dishes spare no expense in imagination or flavor.
Chef Corey Lee in the Benu Kitchen
Mika Takeuchi and Gina Nibbi dining in the Benu Kitchen
Although only 32 years in age, Chef Corey Lee has labored for many years in the most highly respected kitchens in the world. His most recent position was the role of Chef Thomas Keller's chef de cuisine at The French Laundry. Gilt City's Benu fete included a rare viewing and sneak peak into the world of Chef Lee's immaculate kitchen. Corey Lee and team including Sommelier Yoon Ha and General Manager Marc Hartenfels made sure the chic, discriminating crowd were well-attended to and left with appetites satisfied, yet curious for more.
Corey Lee's Oyster "Chicharrones"
Patricia Calfee, Lindsay Stevens, Stephanie Jenkins, Elizabeth Kennedy, Betsy Goldin
Beef rib cab with pear and pine nuts
Beth Spotswood, Steven Holt, Diana Gil-Osorio, Jay Barmann, Brock Keeling
Benu's Garden Courtyard Entrance
Hooman and Chef Corey Lee
Generous samplings of Lee's dishes such as Oxtail borscht, Beef rib cab with pear and pine nut and Oyster "Chicharrones" dazzled guests palates. An assortment of chocolates in flavors such as Green tea and Condensed Milk with Espresso were the flawless finishing touch. Now let's just keep our fingers crossed that Gilt City SF features a dinner deal at Benu soon.
For more information on Gilt City, visit HERE
For more information on Benu, visit HERE
**FOR MORE PHOTOS, SEE OUR BENU/GILT CITY PHOTO ALBUM**
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer and Mika Takeuchi for Food Fashionista
Below is a previous post we featured on the show, Avec Eric. Recently, it won a James Beard Foundation Award for best Televison Program. If you haven't had the chance to check this wonderful broadcast out yet, we highly suggest it. Congrats to Eric Ripert and team for a job well done!
Chef Eric Ripert of New York's Le Bernadin recently launched the second season of his web series, Avec Eric. This time it's Avec Eric Perfect Pairings - a 13 video series showcasing the delectable recipes of Chef Ripert paired with wines recommended by Le Bernadin's wine director Aldo Sohm, named "Best Sommelier in the World" by the Worldwide Sommelier Association. These short, but informatively sweet 2-3 minute videos are focused on dispelling common myths about wine pairings such as Red Wine Always Pairs Better with Red Meat and White Wine Always Goes with Fish.
Braised Halibut in Casserole w/ Morel Mushrooms
The Avec Eric web series is a superb interactive way to bring a Three-Star Michelin Chef and an award-winning sommelier in to your own home kitchen. With enlightening cooking tips, wonderful recipes and educational wine pairing suggestions, Avec Eric is a series that you and your friends will be looking forward to every week. Good news is you can purchase season one right on Eric's blog.
To watch Avec Eric Perfect Pairings, visit AVEC ERIC
For Chef Ripert's Braised Halibut Recipe (above), visit HERE
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