GAYOT's Blog

 

By André Gayot

Sleepless last night, I spoke with Groucho Marx, my favorite philosopher. Chewing his cigar, he hailed me:  

 

 

-          Hey, André, what’s keeping you up?
-          You know, the economy, the world…
-          There’s no reason to worry about. You are blessed to live in a democracy: you are free!
-          Free and broke.
-          Still democracy is great because it’s the enlightened will of the majority. For instance, the majority of us have no bonuses nor golden parachutes because the majority feels it is immoral.
-          Sure, but some do get them, however. So if we could compromise just a little bit with the immorality of the thing could we all have bonuses and golden parachutes?
-          No, I fear, that’s not possible.
-          Then, in that case, would it be possible that nobody could benefit from these  immoral goodies?
-          Don’t ask silly questions… 

Continue reading “Lost Your Golden Parachute?” »

By Alain Gayot

When it comes to legendary wineries in Napa, Charles Krug certainly comes out on top as the Valley’s first. Founded in 1861 by an exiled Prussian radical journalist, it was purchased by the Mondavi family after prohibition and the rest is history.

 

We caught up with third generation family owner Peter Mondavi Jr. at a fundraiser event for the Make-A-Wish children’s foundation of Greater Los Angeles at Morton’s on La Cienaga. Emcee, Sara Fasolino, Certified Sommelier extraordinaire for the Morton’s chain, doubled as the evening’s auctioneer.

Continue reading “Supporting Wine” »

By André Gayot

Formerly a KGB analyst in the late 1990′s, Igor Panarine holds a doctorate degree in psychology and is now the director of studies of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He teaches the Russian diplomats that the US will soon disintegrate, as well as its currency – the almighty dollar – which will be replaced by the “Americano.”  

 

Igor forecasts such a demise to take place as soon as the fall of 2010. The reason for this cataclysm is the “moral failure” and “the psychological stress” of the country with its “considerable population of homosexuals.” A country , he contends, that can’t build enough jails for all  its criminals.  He carries on: following a civil war, the US will split in six fragments. The East Coast will go to the European Union, Canada will take over the Midwest, Mexico will seize the southern states, China and Japan will share the West Coast while Alaska will return to Russia.

  Continue reading “Disunited We Stand!” »

Photos-R-Us

by Alain Gayot
 

Who better than photographer Tim Street-Porter to feature LA and to be featured in LA at the debut of the prestigious Annenberg Space for Photography museum? Tom LaBonge, Councilmember for the Fourth District thought so too and used this glamorous occasion to present to him a Certificate of Recognition.  

We were excited by the space which is supposed to remind you of a camera. In fact, the center room puts you right inside the lens and the ceiling design is reminiscent of a shutter. Starting Friday March 27^th photography aficionados will be able to peruse the excellent work of talented artists free of charge.  

Continue reading “Annenberg Space for Photography Museum” »

By Sophie Gayot
Besides trying many different foods, I also very much enjoy ice skating. So last night what better place could I have been than at Staples Center to attend the first day of the World Figure Skating Championships. Of course I had to have dinner first and decided to head to the new Rock ‘N Fish restaurant at L.A. Live. I enjoyed sampling the signature dishes made famous by its parent location in Manhattan Beach.

Accompanied by two former world competing figure skaters, Danielle Carr McGrath (1992, 1994, 1998 Olympic Competitor, 14-time World Pairs competitor, 19-time Australian National Pair Champion) and Lily Lee Fugier (1994 Olympic Competitor, 6-time World Figure Skating Competitor, 5-time Korean National Champion), I watched the Pairs Short Program, (2 minutes and 40 seconds with 7 required elements) in complete and utter amazement. I’m glad we stayed until the very end as the winners, German skaters Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, performed last.

Click here to see the winners of the 2009 Pairs Short program of the World Figure Skating Championships.

Continue reading “Another Dining Experience at L.A. Live” »

By Sophie Gayot

Jacques Torres, aka Mr. Chocolate, got help from a few of his fellow chef friends while in town to celebrate the release of his third book. “A Year in Chocolate” is all about chocolate recipes for holidays and special occasions, including eighty ultimate creations for all chocolate lovers. The event was held at his wife’s store Madame Chocolat in Beverly Hills, a dream shop for many of us.

 

 

 

 

Just as we were taking the photo with Jacques his wife Hasty, and chefs Denis Depoitre (The Dining Room), Bruno Lopez, Sylvain Rivet (Amuse Bouche), Remi Lauvand and Guy Gabriele (Café Pierre),  restaurateur and interior designer Barbara Lazaroff (Spago) walked in and suddenly made the picture much better!

 

 

 When I received a picture accompanying the announcement of the new Chaya in downtown Los Angeles (which opened on Monday), I was wondering what the pink mass was on the top. Last night, I had dinner there and I can now tell you what it is.

 

Truly, I could never have guessed if general manager Jeff Haber hadn’t explained to me that it is a lamp fixture designed by English artist Stuart Haygarth made of flotsam and jetsam hanging on strings. Haber absolutely refused to give me more details about the objects, since if you are able to guess how many there are you will win a 5-course dinner for 4 with paired wine. Good luck and don’t drink too much before counting!

 

By Sophie Gayot

 I am not an art critic, but starting a Saturday evening discovering Kim McCarty’s watercolors was rather pleasant. Her ambiguous fluid figures made me think about the human form in new and intriguing ways. There is no struggle in her designs; they are easy on your eyes, and rather soothing.

 

 In order to avoid the colors to run on the paper, McCarty can only paint horizontally; and it becomes a challenge for her knees when doing the near-size-life-size upper torsos! Her exhibition can be seen at the Kim Light Gallery, 2656 S. La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90034 until May 16th.  McCarty’s work is in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art, UCLA Hammer Museum and the Honolulu Academy of Art. She is the wife of Michael McCarty, the owner of the legendary romantic restaurant Michael’s in Santa Monica, which will be celebrating its 30^th birthday in May.

 

 By Alain Gayot

It’s quite cool to hit Miami Beach during Spring Break. You’ll find lots of energy up and down Collins Avenue, in the emerging Design District, and on quaint Brickell Key. It’s even more cool if you do it in a totally new automobile: in this case the thought out of the box Kia Soul.  This value-packed automobile hits showrooms anytime now. It offers a bunch of interior space, a great-sounding Infinity audio system with speakers that light up to the beat of the music, integrated iPod operation, and enough horsepower to haul four jovial beach-goers and their ice chest and other equipment. Best part is, its price, starting at $13,995 with a smiling in your face front-end, a boxy body and a fifth door for easy access. Kia marketing peeps assure us, it’s truly a new way to roll. Our Alien Sand colored tester with glow in the dark Soul logo laden seats turned as many heads as the almost has-been glamorous Lamborghinis in South Beach.

 

Continue reading “The Soul is Cool” »

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