Pages
Categories
- Alain Gayot
- André Gayot
- Atlanta
- Australia
- Automobiles
- Aviation
- Baltimore
- Boston
- Charity Events
- Charleston
- Chicago
- Chocolate
- Cruises
- Dallas/Fort Worth
- Design
- Detroit
- Dining
- Events
- Fashion
- Florida
- Food
- France
- Gastronomy
- Gayot Dinner Series
- Hawaii
- Hotels
- Houston
- Italy
- Jeff Hoyt
- Jennifer Olvera
- Jersey Shore
- Las Vegas
- London
- Los Angeles
- Mexico
- Miami/South Florida
- Movies
- Museums
- Napa Valley
- New Mexico
- New Orleans
- New York
- Newsletter
- Orange County
- Paris
- Puerto Rico
- Restaurant Issue 2011
- Restaurant Issue 2012
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco/Bay Area
- Seattle
- Showbiz
- Sophie Gayot
- Spas
- Sports
- St. Louis
- Tea
- Top 40 US Restaurants
- Top Chef TV Show
- Travel
- Video Interviews
- Washington DC
- Wine, Spirits, Beer & More
Archives
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- August 2008
28
Apr
Chef Karim Razgallah presenting his desserts to Sophie Gayot
By Sophie Gayot
Last night chef Karim Razgallah of Jaan at L’Ermitage in Beverly Hills prepared an elegant dinner, under the toque of the Club Culinaire of French Cuisine, presided by Jean-François Meteigner of La Cachette restaurant. Chef Karim, former private chef to Karl Lagerfeld, is half Tunisian (from his father) and half French (from Bourgogne). He loves to mix the two cultures while cooking and uses spices wisely.
The evening began with a cocktail party in the hotel’s garden accompanied by bubbles from G.H. Mumm Champagne. Then we moved into the dining room for a five-course meal: lobster bisque (very tasty); roasted sea bass (perfectly cooked) with braised veal sweet breads; truffle chicken cannelloni (quite interesting); crusty lamb loin (more traditional); pear-almond feuillantine in a chocolate sauce (great orange blossom flavor).
Continue reading “A Tasty Gathering at Jaan” »
27
Apr
Chef Nick Albrecht and Sophie Gayot toasting over tuna ceviche tacos
By Sophie Gayot
Downtown Los Angeles is sprouting with new, elegant restaurants. CASA on South Grand Avenue is one of them. Located at the foot of one of the towers of California Plaza, it is as beautiful as the buildings, though in a very different style. You can choose to sit outside or inside to sip on great house-made cocktails, before moving onto chef Nick Albrecht’s interpretation of Mexican cuisine.
23
Apr
- Chef Jean-François Meteigner presenting his whitefish to Sophie Gayot
Chef Jean-François Meteigner from La Cachette is celebrating the soon-to-come summer with a new “HYBRID MENU.” Within the restaurant he has created much more casual dishes at reasonable prices, under “La Cachette Bistro.” Look for them on the menu, marked with a bistro chair. Last night I tried a refreshing red papaya salad with brandade of homemade salted cod, corn blinis and cream; North Sea whitefish in a saffron broth with mussels, clams and mixed market vegetables, and floating island.
Besides dining at La Cachette, you can spend time with Meteigner during his cooking classes, the next ones to be held on May 2, June 27 and August 29.
08
Apr
- Chef Michael Voltaggio smoking salmon with TV star chef Giada de Laurentiis and Sophie Gayot
A birthday celebration last week took me to dinner at The Bazaar by José Andrés. Two pieces of good news came from the kitchen where chef Michael Voltaggio was cooking that evening. First, the meal was as good as the previous ones we’ve had.
The second was the announcement of the opening of restaurant Saam at The Bazaar by José Andrés tomorrow, April 9th. Saam is a secluded dining room in The Bazaar, which is also decorated by Philippe Starck. In a very private and stylish atmosphere, José Andrés will offer a fine dining version of 20-plus “tastes” or small courses for $120 per person, or $170 including wine pairings. We are very much looking forward to dining there!
25
Mar
1992 Olympic Champion in women's singles Kristi Yamaguchi with Sophie Gayot
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” »
19
Mar
General manager Jeff Haber with Sophie Gayot
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!
05
Mar
Tom Colicchio, Sophie Gayot, Matt Accarrino & André Gayot
To keep people enjoying their cuisine, chef Tom Colicchio and chef de cuisine Matt Accarrino have opened Craftbar within Craft restaurant in Los Angeles. We sat in the front lounge last night to sample some of the “small plates,” priced at $9 and under (after all, we are all at the same table with the current economic situation).
There are so many on the menu we couldn’t try all of them. But rest assured that they are all good and fun. We invented “Nouvelle Cuisine” in the ’70s; it looks like we now need to introduce “Fun Cuisine.”
03
Mar
Eric Frechon & Sophie Gayot already celebrating his high GAYOT rating
by Sophie Gayot
We were happy but not surprised to see executive chef Eric Frechon has finally earned his third Michelin star at his Paris restaurant Le Bristol, as we have raved about his culinary skills for years. Le Bristol, located in Hôtel Le Bristol, is one of just three dozen top restaurants in the world that we have rated as an 18/20.
While Michelin announced their honor in the 2009 edition of the famous red book that was published yesterday, we first gave our high mark way back in 2005.
Eric also has cooked a special dinner for us at Sylvain Rivet’s Amuse Bouche Fine Dining in Simi Valley (along with Josiah Citrin of Santa Monica’s Mélisse), and his talents are evident on both sides of the Atlantic. Take a bow, Chef!
03
Mar
Sophie Gayot in the kitchen with Mark Evensvold
by Sophie Gayot
Last night, Mark Evensvold was proud to show me his brand new kitchen. Mark is the operating partner at Paul Martin’s American Bistro in El Segundo.
Who is Paul Martin? He is Paul Martin Fleming, the founder of the Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar restaurants and the P.F. Chang’s China Bistros.
Easy to find on Rosecrans Boulevard, this location, which opened last week on Tuesday, is their second one, the first one being on Roseville, near Sacramento.
25
Feb
Josh & Zoe Loeb with Sophie Gayot
by Sophie Gayot
Last week, I heard that the owners of Rustic Canyon Wine Bar & Seasonal Kitchen, Josh and Zoe Loeb, had just opened a café and bakery in Santa Monica
Being a fan of Zoe’s rustic pastries, I decided to check out Huckleberry Café & Bakery, and was impressed. Like Rustic Canyon, it features simple décor, somewhat noisy atmosphere, and quality products. Here, you will enjoy good home-style food, including sandwiches, salads, rotisserie chicken and sweets. It’s worth the drive just for the sourdough country boule alone.
All items are available for takeout. Read more about the place in our restaurant section.
« Newer Posts — Older Posts »
