GAYOT's Blog

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!

 

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.

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.

by Sophie Gayot

 

What a better way to hold a grand opening a few days away from the Oscars when all the stars are in town. The building, where the hotel ANdAZ is located in, has a long history with the City of the Angels and celebrities. It was formerly the Hyatt on Sunset made famous by the memorable parties thrown by rock ‘n’ rollers like Led Zeppelin.

Continue reading “A New Star on Famous Sunset Boulevard” »

by Sophie Gayot

What happens when two Venetians meet in the kitchen? They cook Venetian specialties. All’ Angelo owner Stefano Ongaro (who has a gorgeous picture of his hometown on his computer background screen) is in heaven since chef Roberto Franzoni has been cooking for him. Listen to the two of them: they are not even speaking Italian, but the dialect from La Serenissima. For years Franzoni was the chef at the legendary Cipriani in Venice, then in New York.

No, I will not reveal the pasta recipe the three of us prepared—the pair refused to write it down for me. It is a longtime family secret. But I can tell you one thing: the only way to know more about this incredible dish is to go to All’ Angelo and discover the beauty of it for yourself!

 

by Sophie Gayot

  

After shooting a TV show this morning on Presidents’ Day, (to be aired later, we will keep you posted), I got hungry around lunchtime. In the pursuit of keeping our Top 10 Burgers in Los Angeles list fresh, I headed to Comme Ca.

 

Here chef/owner David Myers maintains a the family tradition, and offers the burger that his mother used to cook: a thick patty of beef topped with cheddar, lettuce, onions and her own dressing. Just that, you will not find tomato, bacon, avocado, mushrooms, blue cheese and so forth. The only deviation from his mom’s recipe is the quality of the beef: Myers uses only certified Angus. And yes, Comme Ca is now on list!

 

by Sophie Gayot

Il Sole on Sunset. But he likes to stop by three or four times a week to greet his friends and clients.

No, Andrew Hewitt is not the chef in the kitchen at his charming restaurant

Hewitt is a concert promoter who works with bands like U2, Radiohead, The Rolling Stones and The Police, to name a few, so expect paparazzi outside the restaurant waiting for a photo op of celebrities post-dinner.

Hewitt has owned Il Sole since 2005 along with Arnold Steifel, also in the Industry. He is also the proud owner of the new restaurant Luau in Beverly Hills.

by Sophie Gayot

As of last night, L.A. Live officially has one more restaurant: the third location of The Farm of Beverly Hills. Councilwoman Jan Perry presided over the grand opening, during which we were able to taste the ultra-classic American cuisine prepared by chef Hans Goplen.
 

Founder and CEO Fran Berger told us how she accidentally entered the restaurant business and that now she would never leave it, she loves it too much, as does new president Karen LuKanic, formerly at Wolfgang Puck Catering and The Palm.

by Sophie Gayot

Today, the once-powerful ship was sold in parts in Paris by the Artcurial gallery. The pièce de résistance was the nose, le nez. Estimated between € 80,000 to € 100,000, it was purchased by a realtor from Deauville, Normandy, for a whopping € 273,200. The remains of what was once a French point of pride will be displayed in the harbor of Le Havre where the SS France was once anchored.

 

 

 

 

by Sophie Gayot

Since L’Orangerie has closed its doors in Los Angeles, I have been looking for that perfect soufflé au chocolat. I had no luck until my recent trip to Paris. As I always do when the chef offers the dessert on his menu, I ordered one to end my dinner at Citrus Etoile.

And, oh, was I surprised! It was as good as the one from the legendary temple of haute cuisine, though a slightly different version that was almost an improvement. Did I forget to mention that the chef, Gilles Épié, was the chef at L’Orangerie some years ago? Continue reading “In Search of the Best Chocolate Soufflé Recipe” »

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