Last week I was invited to meet Georges Midleje, the General Manager of Renaissance Tuscany Il, Chocco Resort & Spa at the Palihouse in West Hollywood. I looked forward to meeting Midleje to learn about Tuscany, Italy and trying a few of Executive Chef Kris Tomonaga’s dishes at the onsite Mardi restaurant. Midleje rebranded the Marriott…
Category: West Hollywood
Mardi – Pretty Dishes at Palihouse
Upon my first taste of avocado toast with pickled garlic and thinly sliced red onions, I immediately knew my lunch at Mardi was going to be a pleasing experience. Located at the Palihouse West Hollywood boutique hotel, Kris Tominaga, formerly of Cadet and Hart and the Hunter, is group executive chef of the Paligroup. He…
Timothy White’s Photos Inside The Sunset Marquis
I first was introduced to the works of Timothy White inside the innovative restaurant Cavatina at the Sunset Marquis Hotel. After enjoying a multi-course dinner prepared by the talented James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Michael Schlow and the new Executive Chef Jonathan Kim. While dining out on the heated patio, I stepped inside the…
Barton G – Where Art and Food Collide
The truly one-of-a-kind, theatrically over-the-top dining experience at Barton G is nothing short of amazing. As servers bring enchantingly artistic culinary presentations from the kitchen to the table, the dining room fills with oohs and ahs. Every diner enjoys a glamorous and unique evening of avant-garde dishes complete with vaporizing cocktails. If three-foot-tall desserts and…
Top 10 Favorite Restaurants in Los Angeles for 2014
We have enjoyed some wonderful meals at restaurants throughout Los Angeles. As devoted foodies, our team selected a repertoire of new and old dining establishments that provide creative fare, that is beautifully presented by attentive service, in an inviting atmosphere. Here is our list of honorees from some unique dining venues: #10 Sonoma Wine Garden…
PUMP – West Hollywood’s Newest Darling
One block away from Lisa Vanderpump’s exclusive West Hollywood restaurant and lounge, SUR, is her recent endeavor with husband Ken Todd, PUMP. I arrived alone on a Wednesday evening and was welcomed by the charming host up front. He sat me at a lovely table on the outdoor patio, under 100-year-old olive trees, and two…
Duck, Duck, Goose Dinner
You can’t help but say “wow” when you walk through the red lacquered door of Chi Lin. Located next to the romantic RivaBella Italian restaurant on Sunset Blvd., the décor inside Chi Lin is dark and sexy with an alluring jet black and red color palette. Hundreds of small lanterns are suspended from the ceiling….
Private Dinner with Maurice Hennessy
I had dinner with Maurice Hennessy last night at Lucques in West Hollywood. It was quite a thrill! He is French and comes from a long lineage of distinguished Hennessy men. Their company – Jas Hennessy & Co. sells about 50 million bottles a year worldwide. That’s a little more than 40 percent of the world’s Cognac,…
Celebrity Chef Opens Old-School Seafood Shack
I was so excited about the menu, atmosphere and vibe at the new Connie and Ted’s restaurant, that I sent two tweets while there: “Chefs Sam Baxter & Michael Cimarusti make a rockin’ lobster roll. It goes great w/a Hanger 24 lager.” The second tweet said, “Bravo to Chef Michael Cimarusti for bringing the taste…
Tortilla Republic
My first experience at Tortilla Republic was in Poipu Beach, Kauai. The modern Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar offers a creative menu without using lard, unwanted preservatives or additives. Owned by the same restaurateurs who own Taste in the Pacific Palisades and on Melrose, they opened a second Tortilla Republic in West Hollywood in March…
Le Petit Bistro – Authentic French
Welcoming us into his restaurant, the charming Albert Emkies of Le Petit Bistro, made a great impression as he seated us in a comfortable red booth for a delightful traditional French dinner. Delivering the menus to our tables, he pointed out the specials on the back page of the menu. At least four appetizers and…
Sexy Katana Robata and Sushi Bar
As I turned into an underground parking structure and left my keys with a valet, the sexy Katana experience begins at the elevator. Riding up to the restaurant, the door opened, and I was greeted by three attractive hostesses dressed in black. I made a mental note; one must be beautiful to be hired at…
