GAYOT's Blog

by Patricia Mack

I recently had the pleasure of attending the ten-day Right Some Good culinary and music festival held in small towns and historic sites along the rocky shores, rolling farmland, glacial valleys, barren headlands, mountains, woods and plateaus of Cape Breton, this serene and sparsely populated island in Nova Scotia. The event teamed world-class chefs hailing from as far away as Peru, China and Belgium with local chefs and culinary students for a series of gourmet dinners that were accompanied by the music of island talent.

Continue reading “Right Some Good” »

by Jeff Hoyt

“Make it a double!” is an oft-spoken command to a bartender, but it takes on a different meaning when the spirit in question is Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch whisky. Jim Beveridge, Master Blender of the House of Walker, has produced the company’s newest release, Johnnie Walker Double Black.

If you enjoy the smoky, peaty flavor of Johnnie Walker Black Label, then this new limited release gives you more of what you look for in a Scotch. The distinctive blend is even smokier, even peatier and even bolder than its younger brother, but eminently drinkable.

Double Black is composed of select single malts of naturally smoky aged whiskies and whiskies that have matured in deep charred oak barrels. Despite its strength, it is still quite complex, with fruit, vanilla and spice flavors also evident. We recommend drinking it on the rocks with water, which helps release more of the flavor.

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 by Sophie Gayot

The pool pictured in the photo to the left of this text is at the just-reopened Hotel Bel-Air, but most guests won’t be allowed to use it. It is to be used exclusively by those high-rollers staying in the brand-new 6,775 square-foot Presidential suite. Just imagine the luxury: five bedrooms, five bathrooms, indoor and outdoor living spaces, a private dining room for ten, chef’s kitchen, study, great room with a grand piano, and that magnificent pool, all for $13,000 or so per night.

If that one-of-a-kind space is too big for you, choose from the other 58 rooms and 44 suites the historic hotel now has to offer. Twelve of them are completely new, in new buildings constructed into the hillside; make sure to ask how to get there before heading there. This is the result of two years of renovations, remodeling, and refurbishing, and somewhere under $100 million dollars invested by the Dorchester Collection to make the Hotel Bel-Air more grand and splendid than it ever was since its 1946 opening. When you own a legend, you are obliged to maintain its status.

Continue reading “Hotel Bel-Air Reopens With Great Luxury” »

by Sophie Gayot

By the end of yesterday’s reception at the French Consulate in Beverly Hills, the guests were covered with glitter. Had we gotten too close to the models, who were wearing fine French jewels? No, the glitter was coming from the Madame Chocolat truffles! For the fifth edition of “The Jewels of France” event, chocolatier Hasty Torres was offering edible glitter truffles.

We had a few. Or maybe a lot, I’m not sure; when it comes to chocolate, we make all these excuses. We had to choose from the dark chocolate espresso covered in gold and silver, the white chocolate lime in blue or green, and the red and fuchsia filled with milk chocolate raspberry (my favorite).

Continue reading “Glitter Everywhere” »

Nobu Matsuhisa, his chefs & Sophie Gayot

by Sophie Gayot

Just so you’re not confused by the headline, this blog is not about a train powered by Krug Champagne or even drinking Krug while riding on a train. It’s about listening to the group Train performing live while drinking Krug Champagne during Saturday night’s Los Angeles Food & Wine event, which left quite an unforgettable memory.

Earlier that tasty night, many top chefs served their food to the appreciative crowd. The choices of food (and wines) were vast and very different, as were the participating toques: Joachim Splichal & Tony Esnault (Patina, GAYOT.com Top 40 Restaurant in the US), Paul Prudhomme (K-Paul Louisiana Kitchen, GAYOT 2011 Top 10 Insider Picks in the US), Christopher Kostow (The Restaurant at Meadowood, GAYOT.com Top 40 Restaurant in the US), Hugo Bolanos (CUT, GAYOT.com 2011 Top 10 Steakhouses in the US), and 2011 Top Chef on Top Chef Masters Floyd Cardoz (North End Grill). Lines were very long in front of Lydia Shire (Towne Stove & Spirits); and Akasha Richmond (Akasha), who served a delicious braised American lamb (word spread fast). Also popular was Drew Nieporent & Stephen Lewandowski’s choucroute (Tribeca Grill, Alsatian chefs should be jealous of the recipe). Chef Ben Ford (Ford’s Filling Station) got help serving from his son Eaton.

Continue reading “Krug & Train” »

by Sophie Gayot

Last night was the opening of the first Los Angeles Food & Wine which was held at L.A. LIVE. To celebrate the evening, mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Randy Jackson took the stage. They are both food lovers, and are great supporters of restaurants and the hard working people they employ.

The event was truly red carpet, as the entire area where the chefs and wineries had their booths was completely covered with it, which was great for those wearing high heels. It made the setting quite elegant for sampling Daniel Boulud’s charcuterie, Kerry Simon and Nona Sivley’s tuna tartare with caviar (SIMON L.A.), Lissa Doumani’s savory Japanese pancakes (Terra) and Michael Ginor’s escargots, to name just a few. Kristen Schaefer, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas’ mixologist, was serving “The Alameda cocktail” (Hangar One blueberry vodka, green Chartreuse, blueberry and pomegranate juice, fresh lemon, and thyme-infused honey), and not too far away, Maison Marques & Domaines was pouring Louis Roederer Cristal 2004.

Continue reading “Food & Wine at L.A. LIVE” »

35th Anniversary Party

by Alain Gayot

If you need an excuse for a party or a reason to celebrate, turn to Nicolas Feuillatte. The man himself who created a new Champagne label in the twentieth century was a master at haute parties in the Big Apple, entertaining the likes of Jackie Onassis, Shirley MacLaine, Sophia Loren and Lauren Bacall to name just a few. We took part in the celebrations at a famous John Lautner-designed triangular house perched high in Beverly Hills; a modern house, yet older then the Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne label. The very happy few sampled passed appetizers washed down with the Brut, the Rosé and some Palme D’Or 1999. At 35 years old, the brand is selling more bottles each year than ever before. Today owned by the Centre Vinicole de Champagne, you may find the beverage at a retailer near you, on a restaurant wine list or on your favorite airline. For the occasion, they have created a 35th Anniversary Keepsake Canister, a classic Keepsake Gift box by 2009 Artist of the Year Aspassio Haronitaki for the Rose, and for the holidays, a box of Brut NV with two flutes. We’ll toast to the brand’s achievements: holding the #1 spot in France and #3 worldwide.

Continue reading “Joyeux Anniversaire Nicolas Feuillatte” »

by Sophie Gayot

 

It was indeed hot during the Amateur Competition at Les Etoiles de Mougins, the 6th Festival International de la Gastronomie recently held in Mougins, France. The sun was shining, so the temperature under the tent was hot, as was the ambience. It became hotter when it came time for the members of the jury — including me — to deliberate, as we did not agree on who should win. Besides myself, the rest of the jury were chefs: Serge Gouloumès (Le Mas Candille), Sébastien Chambru (Le Moulin de Mougins), Christopher Hache (Les Ambassadeurs), Christelle Brua (Le Pré Catelan), Claire Verneuil (contestant on the 2011 season of the French Masterchef TV show), and the President of the jury, Frédéric Anton (Le Pré Catelan), who is also on the jury of the French version of the TV show MasterChef.

Continue reading “Red, Hot & French” »

by Sophie Gayot
 
As we should all know, the food we eat is a great part of what make us healthy or unhealthy. The quality of the ingredients, meat, fish and produce used, the way they are processed/prepared, and the quantity that we eat all play a role. We should always encourage and support people who show us the way to healthy living. Watch the exclusive video with healthy-living author Dr. Andrew Weil about his new venture: True Food Kitchen restaurants.

  Continue reading “Some Truth About Healthy Food” »

How to Buy the Best SUV

by Alain Gayot

They are the evil but oh-so-loved cars, not just in America where they have deep roots, but now worldwide. And, if you don’t have one as part of your line-up, you can’t be considered a complete auto manufacturer. These often gas-guzzling beasts are not new, they are simply all the rage nowadays.
 
Continue reading “SUV – AKA Sport Utility Vehicle” »

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