FOOD FASHIONISTA - OFFICIAL SITE

Palm Springs Restaurant Week May 31 - June 6

                      Sangria and Tapas at Tinto

Founded in 2007, Palm Springs Desert Resorts Restaurant Week showcases the incredibly diverse dining and leisure opportunities in the city of Palm Springs and surrounding communities of the greater Coachella Valley. In just six years, this annual event has grown from fewer than 30 participating restaurants, hotels, and attractions to over 100.

                            Workshop Kitchen + Bar

                 Prawns & Plantains at Citron at The Viceroy

Palm Springs Desert Resorts Restaurant Week now takes place over 17 days and allows diners to choose from three-course, prix fixe dinner menus available for $26 or $38 per person at over 70 participating restaurants in La Quinta, Palm Springs, Indian Wells, Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Cathedral City, and Indio. Participating hotels will offer an array of perks exclusive to Restaurant Week, including specialty room rates, upgraded in-room amenities, and more. Local attractions—from spas to The Living Desert and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway—are also offering special rates and perks available exclusively during Restaurant Week. 

                Dessserts at TRIO Palm Springs

            Palms + Springs on Red Jeep Desert Tours

 

Newcomers this time around include dish-Creative Cuisine in Cathedral City, WORKSHOP KITCHEN & BAR in Palm Springs, and Korakia Pensione, along with the recently opened Mastro’s in Palm Desert and Cork & Fork in La Quinta.

Restaurant Week favorites like Circa 59 at Riviera Palm Springs, Copley’s on Palm Canyon, Sirocco, TRIO,Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Cello’s Bistro, Kaiser Grill, PS Follies, Indian Wells Resort Hotel, and the Ace Hotel & Swim Club—alongside its Feel Good Spa—return with dining deals and not to miss special offers.

          Chef Andrew Copley at Copley's Palm Canyon

 

       Cap off the evening with Kir Royales at Melvyn's

 

My recent visit to sunny Palm Springs was so enjoyable that I'll be sharing more photos and experiences of the getaway in the near future. 

 

A full list of restaurants and reservations for the 2013 Palm Springs Restaurant Week can be found HERE. 

 

 

New York with Nespresso

I'm in NYC this week as Nespresso's blogger/ambassador from San Francisco. This photo was taken as we got back home (away from home) to the Mondrian SoHo. It was snowing, and although not great for heels, it was gorgeous.

Jurlique To The Rescue for the Holidays and New Year - San Francisco

Did you know that Christmas is less than a week away? Yes, you heard me right. The 25th is here in six days, and 2013 will be here in just about two weeks. With the year end and the holidays fast approaching, I'm sure most of you can relate to the twelfth-month stress syndrome! During this time, we are trying to connect with friends and colleagues at holiday parties, while coordinating those last-minute travel and family-visiting plans. On top of all this, we're still not done with holiday gift shopping, and we're attempting to tie up all those loose ends to start the new year off fresh. 

With all this going on, it's no surprise that we aren't looking quite as fabulous as we could be. With late nights come festive times, which translate to lack of sleep, and not-so attractive dark circles. We're also probably not drinking as much water or getting as much sleep as we should be. I know I'm guilty of this. And like Madonna, my skin is screaming..."Rescue Me". 

Good news, is that there is a helpful solution. For those of you who live in or near San Francisco, you can visit the Jurlique Wellness Day Spa and store at 2136 Fillmore. Enjoy a spot of tea and lavender cookies, while browsing all the holiday gift sets, or enjoying a much-needed beauty treatment. Jurlique gift sets are a true token of love, and your gift recipient (and their skin) will thank you for it. In addition to a flexible price point for every shopper, the gifts come beautifully wrapped and make quite the luxurious statement.

 

Now that I've helped with those last-minute gift ideas and beautifying-treatment tips, you'll have to figure out who's giving you that much-needed ride to the airport. Sorry, can't help you there. 

Holiday Sets are specially priced from $39-$225 (Regularly $56-$473)

A top seller includes the Age Defying Set 

Purely Age-Defying Essentials

What every woman wants… luminous, more youthful-looking skin. Treat your skin with high performance anti-aging plant botanicals and potent natural ingredients to help to smooth wrinkles, firm and strengthen skin to deliver you youthful, even toned and luminous skin.

• Specially Priced at $125.00 Valued at $180.

The Set Contents:

• Facial Serum, 30ml

• Ultra Firm and Lift Cream, 50ml

• Eye Cream, 15ml

Key Ingredients:

• Beech Tree Bud Extract is rich in peptides, helps to strengthen the structure of the skin creating a firmer, healthier looking complexion.

• Rock Samphire Extract is rich in mineral salts and essential vitamins, is known for its retinoid-like ability to help support skin thickness and  reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Jurlique 

2136 Fillmore Street  

San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 346-7881

Hakkasan Restaurant Arrives in San Francisco

In a city packed with Chinese restaurants, you’d wonder if we really need another one. When they come in the distinct shape and form of Hakkasan, you’ll know this isn’t your average, typical Chinese dining room or fare. From the hugely successful London-based restaurant group arrives the newest arrival of the world famous Hakkasan destination at One Kearny in San Francisco. Indulge in Roasted silver cod with champagne and Chinese honey sauce and Truffle braised noodles with crabmeat and scallops. Hakkasan isn’t take-out Chinese. It’s take your date out to Chinese kind of food.

Hakkasan

1 Kearny Street  San Francisco, California 94108
(415) 829-8148

Macy's Passport Glamorama British Invasion Preview - Get Ready San Francisco 9/14

On Friday, September 14th, Macy’s Passport Presents Glamorama 2012 invades San Francisco to honor three incredible decades of fashion and compassion with this year’s theme The British Invasion: The Music Then. The Fashion Now! at the historic Orpheum Theatre. This iconic event, brings together musical performances (Robin Thicke, Karmin, Megan & Liz), Fall fashion (Bar III, Calvin Klein, Diesel, Material Girl, Rachel Rachel Roy,Sean John,Tommy Hilfiger, and the exclusive, limited-edition Nicole Richie for Impulse), booty-shaking dance, and the most glam after party with delicious cuisine by Taste Catering -now in its 28th year as a partner. This not-to-miss celebration is all for an unforgettable evening to benefit longstanding partners AIDS Emergency Fund, Glide Foundation and Project Open Hand.

The after party, at the Asian Art Museum will give a nod to British culture, food and design. Attendees will sip bubbly in the American Express Champagne Lounge and specialty cocktails from Patrón Spirits, dance to music by DJ L, mingle with cast and crew, and taste gourmet British-inspired hors d’oeuvres by Taste Catering, with highlights like Fish ‘n Chips and a Pudding Buffet with modern twists on classic English desserts. Partygoers can also create a personalized flip book courtesy of Office Max, have a consultation with a MAC Cosmetics expert before posing with the band for a Patrón Photo Shoot, grab a snack at the LUNA bar wall, and sample desserts from See’s Candies. I recently had a sneak peak and menu sampling of the 2012 festivities, and can not wait to experience Glamorama live in a couple weeks.

                     Fish ‘n Chips w/UK Newspaper Cones 

 

                      Devonshire Cream Chocolate Éclairs

Just in case you are wondering how Passport got its start, it began as an awareness-raising fashion show in a Macy’s employee cafeteria in 1982 and has since grown into one of the largest and longest-running HIV/AIDS events of its kind. The fashion benefit, with the help of the Macy’s Foundation, has donated more than $30 million to HIV/AIDS services, prevention, education and research. I've gone many years in the past, and it's always a must-attend party. Best part of all, it's all for a noteworthy cause.

 

                             Ginger Nectarine Treacle Tart

The Summer Olympics may be over, but Macy's Glamorama benefit, soiree, fashion show, concert and culinary excursion all-in-one is the perfect way to celebrate Fall and all things British in San Francisco. Purchase your tickets now and get ready to party!

                        Treacle Glazed Chicken Sandwich

 

TICKETS FOR MACY'S GLAMORAMA CAN BE PURCHASED HERE

5 x 5 Los Angeles Chef's Dinner at Bouchon Beverly Hills - August 20th

Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival 2012

It was a hot weekend in Los Angeles. I mean, literally scorching hot. The temps rose to triple digits and there were more ovens burning in LA than usual. Chefs, Sommeliers and epicures from all over converged on to downtown's LA Live for the second annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival with partners Lexus, AEG and Food & Wine Magazine.

This wasn't just any food event. This gathering was a continued celebration of Chef Wolfgang Puck's 30 year tradition of raising awareness and funds for St. Vincent's Meals on Wheels. To date, he has donated millions with his American Food & Wine Festival and another $400,000 raised from LAFW's inaugural year.

                Chefs Dean Fearing and Michelle Bernstein

Lexus Southern Brunch- Fearing's Chicken Fried Texas Quail with Bourbon/Jalapeno Creamed Corn & Bernstein's Creamy Fontina Grits w/corn & charred kale 

        Ricardo Zarate's Grilled Miso Paiche on Butter Lettuce

From an Opening night Festa Italiana hosted by Giada De Laurentiis to the Lexus Grand Tasting tents, there was something to fit everyone's particular taste and palate. With Chefs like Michael Chiarello, Joachim Splichal, Nobu Matsuhisa, Charles Phan and Scott Conant headlining events, it was difficult task to not want to attend all of the above. Most events were sold out and with ticket prices ranging from $50 for a celebrity chef cooking demo, to $2,000 for an invite-only Founder's Dinner, guests definitely got their money's worth.

                                   Chef Gino Angelini

                                 A Bubbly Good Time

Only at LAFW, could you get Hawaiian Ahi Poke from Chef Sam Choy, Chicken Fried Texas Quail via Chef Dean Fearing a Morro Bay Oyster from Post Ranch Inn's Chef John Cox, and a spiked Pina Colada popsicle from the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas..all in one day.

                  Chef Alexandre Vacher's "Snickers Bar"

                Patina's Joachim Splichal & Charles Olalia

       Church and State's Heirloom Tomatoes with Vinaigrette

Despite all the incredible events throughout the weekend, the one many seemed extra excited for was the Lexus Live on the Plaza with Wolfgang Puck and Friends. Perhaps, it was because "friends" of WP, included folks like Gale Gand (Tru), Rory Herrmann (Bouchon BH), Levi Mezick (Restaurant 1833), Paul Prudhomme, Kerry Heffernan, Francois Payard, and a Third Eye Blind concert. Yup, at LAFW, you can have your plate of Spago, glass of Opus One, front-row view at a rock concert and eat your cake too.

                           Wolfgang Puck at LAFW

Thanks, Wolfgang Puck, Coastal Luxury Management, Lexus and all the sponsors for making this past weekend happen.

 

For more info on Los Angeles Food & Wine, visit HERE

See Food Fashionista's LAFW 2012 Photo Album HERE later today

 

 

 

 

 

 

SF Chefs 2012 - Food Fashionista

SF Chefs 2012 has officially come to a close, but the memories, calories, Illy-caffeine high and hangovers (for some) will last a whole lot longer. This was the fourth year, and it was incredibly successful. The entire team including Andrew Freeman Co. and Golden Gate Restaurant Association really pulled off a strong, well-attended, energy-filled event in a town so rich in culinary, wine and mixology talent.

Thanks to all of you who have been commenting, sharing, and following Food Fashionista on Instagram and twitter. You've been staying in-the-know with my SF Chefs updates, and I promise, I'll be posting many more photos here on the site and on Food Fashionista's Facebook page.

In the meantime, here are a few of my favorite SF Chefs 2012 Instagram pics:

      Plumed Horse's Pork Belly Roll with shrimp & miso dressing  

              Duggan McDonnell + Pisco = Happy SF Chefs attendees 

      Chef Dominique Crenn discussing Northern California cuisine

       This berry stylish chef had 1681 berries adorning his outfit


             Chefs Chris Consentino & Mourad Lahlou at SF Chefs

           Kara's serving up edible SF Chefs cupcakes

 

This is just a sneak peek of Food Fashionista's SF Chefs 2012 pics. We will be posting a ton more photos soon, but I am one of those above people mentioned that is still recovering from the indulgent weekend, so need a little bit of pre writing/photo-editing r&r.  

Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival #LAFW 2012 Countdown

The second annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival, Los Angeles ’premier culinary extravaganza, is taking place next week August 9-12 in Downtown, Hollywood , Santa Monica and Beverly Hills. Headquartered at L.A. LIVE, the event, which benefits St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, features culinary experiences, demonstrations, and exclusive dining experiences. 

The Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival also revives the Celebrity Chef Power Lunch Series, featuring notable chefs Wolfgang Puck and Charles Phan at WP24; Joachim Splichal and Hubert Keller at Patina Restaurant and Ari Rosenson and Lydia Shire at CUT.  Santa Monica plays host to Summer At The Shore Hosted By Graham Elliot and, in Beverly Hills , I Heart Champagne & Caviar will take place at The Montage Beverly Hills. 

Rounding out the weekend are the marquee events hosted at L.A.  LIVE; Giada's Festa Italiana hosted by Giada De Laurentiis, Asian Night Market hosted By Andrew Zimmern, Lexus LIVE On The Plaza With Wolfgang Puck & Friends featuring a musical performance by Third Eye Blind and Saturday and Sunday’s Lexus Grand Tastings. Presented by Coastal Luxury Management (CLM), Los Angeles Food & Wine spans the length of the city and offers guests the chance to sample the cuisines and products from some of the world’s most prominent epicurean influencers, while enjoying the sights and sounds of the entertainment industry’s brightest film and musical talents.

For more info and to Purchase Tickets, visit  www.lafw.com

See Food Fashionista's photos from last year's LAFW LEXUS Grand Tasting HERE

The Abbot's Cellar - San Francisco

From the folks that brought you The Monk's Kettle arrives The Abbot's Cellar which officially opens this Wednesday, July 25th on the bustling "Valencia Corridor".  Focusing on craft-beer pairings, you'll find a 120-plus beer selection curated by Co-Owner and Cellarmaster Christian Albertsonto along with a complementing daily seasonal menu prepared by Chef and Co-Owner Adam Dulye. The bountiful beer program will highlight more than 20 beers on draft—including two drawn from hand-pump cask engines—along with more than 100 bottled varieties of beer. They'll have many exclusive selections, and on a recent preview night, I was delighted to discover Sorachi Ace on the menu.

 

                    Well, Hello Sorachi Ace. Nice to see you in SF

                             The bar at Abbot's Cellar

The space is expansive and sophisticated with high ceilings and exposed brick designed by Lundberg Design (The Moss Room, Quince, The Slanted Door). You'll also find a two-story beer cellar, that will store up to 500 cases of beer. All beer and wine will be served at its ideal temperature, be it 40 degrees for a lager like Mahr’s Kellerbier Ungespundet, 50 degrees for a Baltic Porter such as Sinebrychoff, or 55 degrees for a barleywine like 2004 Baladin Xyauyu. All beer will be carefully stored at the optimal cellar temperature of 55 degrees prior to serving.

                       The Abbot's Cellar's Open Kitchen

         Smoked & Grilled Bison w/Corn Fritter & Dandelion Chocolate Reduction

            Discover the relationship between Craft Beer & Cuisine

 

The Abbot’s Cellar will offer dinner Sunday through Thursday from 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. For reservations or more information, visit www.abbotscellar.com.