GAYOT's Blog

 

by Sophie Gayot

Chef/owner Bruno Serato of the Anaheim White House restaurant and I are joining forces for the next event in the GAYOT Dinner Series on April 26th to benefit Caterina’s Club.

Caterina’s Club is a non-profit organization, founded by Bruno Serato in 2005, that focuses on feeding the youth of America. Serato’s mission has expanded to feeding nearly 300 kids, 7 nights a week, 365 days a year. More than a quarter of a million meals have been served to date in Orange County. His dedication earned Serato the honor of being named one of the CNN Heroes 2011. Each year only ten people, selected from more than 4,000 candidates, are awarded this prestigious recognition.

Continue reading “Eighth GAYOT.com Dinner Series” »

by Sophie Gayot

Some thirty years ago, chef Bruno Serato arrived from Italy with $200 in his pocket. In 1987, he purchased the 1909 National Historical Landmark building in Orange County, California, that housed the Anaheim White House restaurant since 1981. Thus began the latest chapter in Serato’s success story.

His cuisine, passion and energy have attracted many celebs to the Anaheim restaurant, including Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush, athletes David Beckham and Martina Navratilova and actors Sidney Poitier and Danny DeVito to name a few. Singer Gwen Stefani even has a dish dedicated to her: lobster ravioli. GAYOT.com has given the landmark numerous accolades, naming it one of the Top 10 Orange County Italian Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County Wine List Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County Romantic Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County Special Occasion Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County Business Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County Star Spotting Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County Thanksgiving Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County New Year’s Eve Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County Food Rating Restaurant.

Continue reading “Bruno Serato, Our Hero” »

by Sophie Gayot

Today, more and more restaurants are adopting a small plates concept. And actually, I like that. First because, you get to try more dishes, so you experience more tastes and flavors. But also, because, most of the time, small plates means sharing with the people around the table. Isn’t that a great way to enjoy an evening out with your dining partners?

MEZZE restaurant, located in the former space of Sona, is one good example — in case you don’t know, “mezze” means “sharing” in Arabic. Watch my exclusive video interview with chef Micah Wexler, a Los Angeles native who has trained and cooked at Melisse, Patina, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas, Craft in Los Angeles, and even in Spain and Italy. And read our review of the restaurant.

Continue reading “Don’t We Like Sharing?” »

by Sophie Gayot

As you know, we go around the globe to bring the freshest news about the restaurant scene. If you missed me on the radio a few weeks ago, here is your chance to catch up on the conversation I had with chef Jamie Gwen. Her weekly radio show airs on Sundays in Los Angeles on KFWB News Talk 980.

Click on the restaurant names below to listen to what we had to say:

• L’Abeille, Shangri-La Hotel Paris, Paris – (More about the restaurant at GAYOT.com with an exclusive video of executive chef Philippe Labbé);

• Le Bernardin, New York – (More about chef Eric Ripert at GAYOT.com’s blog);

• Mercato di Vetro, West Hollywood;

• Stella Rossa Pizza Bar, Santa Monica – (More about the restaurant at GAYOT.com with an exclusive video with executive chef Jeff Mahin. The restaurant has just been named one of GAYOT.com’s Top 10 Pizza Restaurants in the US);

Continue reading “Restaurant News on the Airwaves” »

by Sophie Gayot

The Resort at Pelican Hill, located in Newport Coast, California, between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, is just pure luxury. Hidden away from the busy southern California buzz by 50,000 acres of permanently protected, natural open space, parks and trails, the resort makes you feel like you have arrived worlds away. There is no big hotel structure, but 204 bungalow guest rooms and suites, 128 villas (two-, three- and four bedrooms), and two Tom Fazio 18-hole golf courses on the 504-acre secluded property. Continue reading “Pure Luxury & Pasta” »

by André, Alain & Sophie Gayot

by Jeff Hoyt

 

Don’t we all have restaurants we’d like to try, but are a little out of our price range? In Southern California, now’s the time to go out to eat. This is Orange County Restaurant Week, which features more than 100 participating restaurants. Eateries will offer special three-course menus. Depending on where you dine, lunch will cost just $10, $15 or $20 while dinners are $20, $30 or $40. Some of this year’s participants include Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails, Bluewater Grill, Geisha House, Harborside Restaurant & Grand Ballroom, Kimera Restaurant & Lounge, Mozambique Steakhouse, Palm Terrace, Sage, Stonehill Tavern and Tradition by Pascal. For a full restaurant list, menus, locations and reservation information, visit www.OrangeCountyRestaurantWeek.com.

Continue reading “SoCal $avings” »

by André Gayot

Who wasn’t bewildered by the magnitude and the architectural riches of the South Coast Plaza in Orange County, California, when it first opened in 1967? We were among those filled with admiration for the shining, marble-tiled, majestic alleys of what was then one of the largest shopping malls of the world. (Of course, that is now dwarfed by The Dubai Mall). Today, we remain impressed with the flamboyant style of this cathedral of consumption adorned with the names of the luminaries of the chicest commerce of the globe. Overwhelmed by the Gucci’s, the Tiffany’s and the Louis Vuitton’s, we like to pause and seek some relief from grandeur in a human proportioned asylum, with the reassuring French name, “Marché Moderne.”
Continue reading “When the American Dream Has a Taste of Brie” »

 

 

Prix-fixe dinners abound on Valentine’s Day, but several restaurants in Orange County, California, are upping the ante to provide guests an extra-special evening. From complimentary glasses of sparkling wine at Pizzeria Ortica to a six-course “feast for the senses” dinner served in a private poolside cabana at The Resort at Pelican Hill, you’ll find amorous options for any budget on our Orange County culinary events calendar.

 

See what else is going on in the Orange County with restaurant news, reviews and the wine tastings calendar, and check out Gayot’s guide to Valentine’s Day for more sexy suggestions.

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