GAYOT's Blog

by Sophie Gayot

We had dinner at Eva Restaurant in Los Angeles soon after it opened in 2009. Since then, we kept running into chef/owner Mark Gold at different charity events where he donated his time and food. He kept telling us to come back to his restaurant, saying, “Things have changed, I have a new kitchen, I have done some remodeling, blah, blah, blah….” Continue reading “One More Point for Eva Restaurant” »

by Sophie Gayot
 
I was lucky to be a judge at the Los Angeles Epicurean Festival held today at the Sofitel Los Angeles, as I did not have to stand in line to enter the event. The line stretched from the second floor all the way to the hotel’s driveway. The Festival brought together culinary specialties and wines & spirits for visitors to discover or rediscover. There was also a competition where I had to pick the winning team along with my fellow judges: sommelier Mark Mendoza (Comme Ça), Josiah Citrin (Mélisse), Franck Savoy (director of restaurants for Caesars Palace in Las Vegas), Michel Richard (Citronelle) and Michel Cornu (Hospitality Culinary Director for Boisset Estates).

Continue reading “The Winners Are Double Winners!” »

by Sophie Gayot

After stops in Spain (Jaleo) and Greece (Estiatorio Milos), my culinary tour of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas took me to Japan at the Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill. I decided to sit at the sushi bar in the back dining room so I could be close to the sushi chef and watch him cut elegantly through the flesh of the fishes that are flown in daily from distant places like Japan and the Atlantic. After a while, I had to tell him to stop so we could try dishes from the grill, prepared by another chef. Watch my exclusive video interview with both of them, and read my just published review of Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill to learn more.

Continue reading “Do Not Try This at Home” »

by Patricia Mack

 
“Madam, would you care for whale?” the waiter asked.

“Whale? Really?”

Yes, really, a “duet of whale” actually, beluga and bowhead with Davis Strait shrimp caviar served on a silver charger, as elegantly as at any top-of-the-line restaurant.

I hesitated. Continue reading “A Whale of a Meal” »

by Sophie Gayot

Yesterday, I found a great way to finish my weekend. I drove along the Pacific on Route 1, also called Pacific Coast Highway or PCH by the locals, heading to Beau Rivage restaurant in Malibu, California. You are saying, “Another restaurant?” Yes, but not quite. I was going for a night of “Magic & Wine.”

Continue reading “Magical Moments Along the Pacific” »

by Sophie Gayot

After a taste of Spain at Jaleo, part two of my culinary trip to The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas took me to Greece for lunch at Estiatorio Milos. I was looking forward to it; I knew that the restaurant featured a shaded terrace overlooking The Strip, as I had toured it back in the December when the hotel opened. Take a video tour with Adam Rand, the Director of Operations of Estiatorio Milos restaurants, which was shot at that time. Continue reading “The Best Deal in Town” »

by Sophie Gayot

The first time I discovered chef Ricardo Zarate’s Peruvian cuisine was at his original restaurant Mo-Chica which was lost somewhere in downtown Los Angeles. It looked more like a food court than an actual restaurant. But when I saw the plates of other patrons as they passed by my table, I knew it was going to be good. At the end of dinner, Zarate told me that he was going to open another style of Peruvian restaurant in West Los Angeles. After my dinner at Mo-Chica, I had high expectations for his new place. A few weeks ago I headed to Picca on Pico Blvd., and I was not disappointed at all. Watch my exclusive video interview with chef Zarate to get a first glimpse at what he has created at his new restaurant. Also, read my just published review of Picca restaurant.
Continue reading “Lines for Chef Zarate’s Peruvian Cuisine” »

by Sophie Gayot

After my very good tapas dinner at José Andrés’ Jaleo restaurant at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas last week, I wanted to try more Spanish small plates. I decided to head to Bar Pintxo, chef Joe Miller’s restaurant in Santa Monica, California.

I had a disappointing meal when I first visited soon after its December of 2007 opening, but hadn’t been since the arrival of chef David Plonowski about a year and half ago. On my return, I just did not want to leave and wanted to try more and more of his dishes. They are small, so it is easy to ask for more.

Continue reading “¡Más Tapas Por Favor!” »

by Sophie Gayot

I just returned from an intense culinary trip at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Part one of my eating journey started with dinner at chef José Andrés’s restaurant Jaleo. As it’s an Andrés restaurant, you can expect Spanish cuisine, but be sure that something unusual will happen during the course of the evening.

Find a seating area to suit your mood — note that the bar is not for sushi but for tapas. One of the dining tables is actually a foosball table with players from F.C. Barcelona and Real Madrid all dressed up.. The choices on the menu are quite numerous, so let the staff guide you in making your selections.

Continue reading “Tapas & Zapatos” »

by Barnaby Hughes

Have you ever paired spicy tacos with a Napa Cabernet? This combination works surprisingly well! At “East LA Meets Napa,” dozens of Latino-owned Napa Valley wineries poured their wines alongside tacos, tamales and enchiladas served by East LA restaurants. Held on July 8, 2011, among the beautiful colonial-style courtyards of Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, this food and wine tasting event benefitted AltaMed, a health care network serving Southern California. Live salsa music added to the Latin sabor, giving couples an excuse to dance the night away.
Continue reading “East LA Meets Napa” »

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