Untitled Document Home
Chef & Hotel Profile
Publisher's Page
Gift Guide
Travel Adventures
Epicurean Events
Health Minded
Spa Baby Secrets
Sips
Book Bites
Culinary Coup
Sense of Style
Kids Kaleidoscope
Tinsletown Tidbits
Wheels
Radio Show & Links
Contact Us


       

        VIA MAESTRA 42 WELCOMES ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORTERS

 

The staff of Via Maestra 42 Ristorante in Santa Barbara joined in a special ‘dinner out’ fundraiser to support the Alzheimer’s Association. Along with other Santa Barbara restaurant owners Renato and his staff welcomed the opportunity to participate in the event that donated a percentage of the dinner tickets to support  the cause. For information visit: www.viamaestra42.com.

  

                          Special guests at the Alzheimer’s fundraiser

 chat with Renato, owner Via Maestra 42

                                      

Staff Welcoming guests to Via Maestra 42


TASTE OF SANTA BARBARA

International Flavors on State Street

by Bonnie Carroll

 

ANDERSEN’S SENSATIONAL COMFORT FOOD –

A Traditional Family Favorite

 

Birte Andersen and her late husband opened their first restaurant in Santa Barbara on Milpas Street, and later moved to their current location on State Street. Her husband was an artist who came from a famous baking family in Europe and for practical reasons opened a bakery and café in Santa Barbara. According to Birte he was a master at  original Scandinavian favorites, and by looking at his many painting that fill the walls of the restaurant you can see he was obviously a very talented artist.

 

Birte and her daughter Charlotte Andersen now run this charming and inviting bakery and café, where the food is reasonable, the service is great, and the food is always delicious. The pastries are beautiful and outstanding, and local patrons, as well as many customers throughout the US special order her divine all occasion cakes online. “Sweet dreams are only a click away” says Birte.

 

The menu offers everything from a crème puff with tea to a full lunch or dinner that comes with home-made soup or salad. Entree favorites include wonderful old world dishes, including schnitzel with spatzle that is prepared perfectly, and can be enjoyed with your favorite wine or beer.  They  also have a full espresso bar and offer a delightful high or low tea.

 

I have been revisiting Andersen’s since the early 1980s, and my family love Birte and her wonderful warm welcome, and her totally nostalgic menu items keep me coming back for more. I have shared many happy times with my family sitting outside people watching over brunch or lunch. For catering details and additional information visit: www.AndersensSantaBarbara.com.

 

SAIGON IN & OUT

A Vietnamese Experience to Savor

 

The owners of Saigon In & Out on Milpas Street in Santa Barbara have opened a second eatery at 1230 State Street. The welcoming dining venue is filled with beautiful greenery, and offers a menu overflowing with flavorful Vietnamese favorites.

 

House specials include egg rolls with shrimp, pork, crab meat and lettuce that are served with a special sauce combining sweet and tart. The golden butter shrimp with lettuce are also a great starter. Soups are almost ceremonial in presentation. Patrons may serve themselves soup from an ornate silver bowl sitting on a warmer. The seafood with egg noodle soup is very colorful and comes with fresh shrimp, vegetables, pineapple and jelly fish.  Among my menu favorites is the chicken curry with rice noodles. The curry is rich and just right, while the noodles are very light.


Vietnamese food is traditionally light, and healthy. It fills you up but never leaves you feeling too full. Mint and cilantro are used freely in their recipes, and everything is fresh. The menu offers many fish, beef, and chicken dishes with rice vermicelli, and many unusual vegetarian dishes that I hope to try on another visit. Beverages include Vietnamese beer, wine, a wonderful tea called Tra Nong Dac Biet that is served hot or cold and pairs perfectly with menu selections. Tuoi is a fun and refreshing coconut drink enjoyed with a straw right from the coconut shell.

 

The staff at Saigon In & Out are very nice. They offer guests help in food selections, and are happy to answer any questions about specific dishes. The kitchen staff are young, energetic, and know their stuff when it comes to Vietnamese favorites. For information visit: www.siagoninandout.com.


Baby Greens and Asparagus with Almond Vinaigrette

Mary Sue and Susan created this distinctive roasted almond salad dressing as the perfect compliment for spring greens and vegetables. Feel free to substitute your favorite veggies--everything from lightly steamed green beans to sautéed sugar snap peas to thinly sliced, pan seared baby artichokes.

Serves 6

18 asparagus spears (about 1 pound), trimmed
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 pound white or oyster mushrooms, finely sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian flat leaf parsley
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound (6 cups loosely packed) baby greens, such as oak leaf, mache, and watercress
Almond Vinaigrette (see recipe below)

Blanch the asparagus in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until bright green, about 1 to 2 minutes. Immediately transfer to a bowl of iced water. Drain and cut on the diagonal into 2-inch-long pieces. Set aside.

Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat until very hot. Sauté the mushrooms just to soften, about 1 minute. Add the garlic and sauté briefly until the aroma is released. Remove from the heat. Stir in the parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper and set aside to cool.

In a large mixing bowl, lightly toss the baby greens with about half of the Almond Vinaigrette. Divide into 6 portions and place on serving plates. Divide the mushrooms and sprinkle across the top.

In the same bowl, toss the blanched asparagus with the remaining vinaigrette. Divide among the salads, fanning the spears across the top.

Almond Vinaigrette

Makes 3/4 cup

1/2 cup slivered blanched almonds
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and bake until slightly golden, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

When the almonds are cool, transfer to a blender or food processor along with the remaining ingredients. Puree until smooth. Store in a container in the refrigerator up to 5 days.


ANNE-SOPHIE PIC AT THE BEAU-RIVAGE PALACE  OPENS IN LAUSANNE

Anne-Sophie Pic at the Beau-Rivage Palace, a new gastronomic restaurant at the landmark Lausanne hotel, opened its doors today, adding an exciting dimension to the culinary tradition of the Lake Geneva region.

Anne-Sophie Pic is currently the only female chef in France with three Michelin stars.Bea-Rivage Palace  The daughter of Chef Jacques Pic, and granddaughter of André Pic, founder of the eponymous three-star restaurant in Valence, Anne-Sophie Pic has aligned her name and creativity with one of the most respected hotels in the world.
 
Working without pretension, Anne-Sophie Pic marries originality with her classic preparations allowing the cuisine to be the star and guests to savor every flavor. This understated attention to detail is evident at every stage of the meal, from the presentation on the plate to the refined service, from the welcome at the door to the contemporary décor, all informed by the same dedication to simplicity.  
 
Celebrated for her fish presentations, Anne-Sophie Pic's menu features fresh sea bass and turbot from coastal waters, among other inventive fish, meat and poultry options, as well as an homage to her father called Sea Bass with Caviar "Jacques Pic." The appetizer menu offers what is freshest from the market and ranges from a presentation of Fresh Morels served with a Coulant of Parmesan Reggiano to Sauteed Frogs Legs.   beaurivageannsophiepic
 
The dessert menu, orchestrated by Chef Pâtissier Philippe Rigollot, rounds out the experience with fruit and chocolate inventions as well as a Grand Marnier Soufflé. Seven-course tasting menus are an option for the complete Anne-Sophie Pic experience.
 
For reservations, please call (41) 21 613 33 33.

About the Beau-Rivage Palace
The Beau-Rivage Palace is situated on 10 acres of private gardens with spectacular views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. The property features the Café Beau-Rivage and Le Miyako, a Japanese restaurant, in addition to Anne-Sophie Pic at the Beau-Rivage Palace. There are also two bars and terraces, the award-winning Cinq Mondes Spa, two tennis courts and a special program for children. To know more, visit www.brp.ch


logo_silver-Converted1.jpg 

NAPA SONOMA TO SHINE IN 2009 WITH CULINARY EVENTS FROM STARCHEFS

NATIONAL CHEF AWARDS AT CHARLES KRUG WINERY

New York City's StarChefs.comTM, the award-winning online culinary magazine, is including Napa Sonoma in its four U.S. city tour in 2009 with a series of June events to engage both the public and the culinary community. The Rising Stars Revue on the 17th will be the premier event. 

On Wednesday, June 17, 2009, StarChefs.comTM will present their Rising Stars Revue at Charles Krug Winery, a walk-around tasting gala for the public featuring the Napa Sonoma Rising Stars and their signature dishes, cocktails and wine pairings. Rising Stars is a national award that recognizes up-and-coming chefs, pastry chefs, sommeliers and mixologists from around the country. Rising Star candidates are nominated for consideration by the StarChefs.comTM Advisory Board, previous Rising Stars Award Winners, local food media, StarChefs' editorial research and nominations through the starchefs.comTM web site. Winners are chosen by the StarChefs.comTM editorial team via in-person tastings and interviews.

StarChefs interviewed and tasted from over 50 restaurants in the Napa Sonoma area to determine those that represent the frontrunners in Napa Sonoma's dining scene. The StarChefs 2009 Napa Sonoma Rising Stars Award winners are: Chef Jeremy Fox of Ubuntu, Chef Eric Korsh and Chef Ginevra Iverson of Restaurant Eloise, Chef Christopher Kostow of Meadowood, Chef Nick Ritchie of Bottega, Chef Matt Spector of JoLē, Chef Philip Tessier of Bouchon, Hotel Chef Jesse Mallgren of Madrona Manor,  Pastry Chef Deanie Hickox-Fox of Ubuntu,  Mixologist Scott Beattie, Sommelier Yoon Ha of La Toque and Sommelier Geoff Kruth at The Farmhouse Inn , Restaurateur John Toulze of the girl and the fig, fig cafe, Estate, Concept Award Chef Duncan Gott of Taylor's Automatic Refresher and Sustainability Award Chefs John Stewart and Duskie Estes of Bovolo and Zazu.

Tickets to the Rising Stars Revue are $75 per person and are available at www.starchefs.com/risingstars or by calling 212.966.7575. VIP tickets are $125 and include a private, pre-event reception hosted by Meadowood with vintage Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d'or Champagne and Petrossian caviar plus early entry to the gala. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the V Foundation, a leading supporter of cancer research. Lead sponsors of the Revue include Jade Range, Vita-Mix, Winston Industries, The Perfect Puree of Napa Valley, Stella Artois, Nordaq Fresh, WJDeutch & Sons, Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, Meadowood Napa Valley and Napa Sonoma and Diablo magazines.

CEO and Editor-in-Chief Antoinette Bruno brings more than a decade of experience in the foodservice industry to StarChefs.comTM and was recently chosen to judge Food Network's popular Iron Chef America. She is thrilled with the culinary talent in Napa Sonoma: "The Napa and Sonoma culinary scene can be largely captured with two words: artisanal and local. The level of craftsmanship-from in-house charcuterie programs to hand-made pastas and cheeses-in this region is perhaps unrivaled by any other market. We tasted an incredible amount of house-made charcuterie from talented chefs with both large- and small-scale curing operations, and several chefs with extensive gardens or even farms to supply their restaurants with top-quality produce fresh from the earth."

Napa Sonoma - vr.jpg

About StarChefs.com
StarChefs.comTM, the magazine for culinary insiders, has been serving the industry since 1995 with a clear focus on working chefs. With a dedicated mission to catalyze culinary professionals' success and give them the tools they need to overcome their specific challenges, StarChefs.com'sTM original culinary content is driven by in-person tastings and interviews across the world. In addition to featuring top chefs, pastry chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists, the StarChefs.comTM JobFinder is the leading job board connecting culinary and hospitality professionals to careers in the foodservice industry, featuring cutting edge, interactive classifieds technology.

StarChefs.comTM features 25,000 published pages of original, chef-focused culinary content, and receives 20 million hits, 9.8 million page views and 680,000 unique visitors per month. StarChefs.comTM was nominated by the James Beard Foundation for Best Website Focusing on Food, Beverage, Restaurant or Nutrition in 2008. Its Board of Advisors is made up of 20 of the country's most influential chefs, including Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Daniel Boulud, Norman Van Aken, Todd English, Marcus Samuelsson and Bobby Flay.


Sebastien Archambault

Executive Chef

 

Classically-trained in France, although born in Texas, Executive Chef Sebastien Archambault of RH at Andaz West Hollywood is pleased to be back on U.S. soil after working at several Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe. Always a strong proponent of local market to table cuisine, the accomplished 33-year-old is wowing diners with dishes featuring California produce and other ingredients from nearby purveyors. In addition, Archambault’s culinary prowess and the carefully choreographed hustle and bustle of the busy, entirely open kitchen that he oversees are on view for guests to “experience” firsthand.

 

At the strikingly sleek and chic, yet understated RH, Chef Archambault’s menus change on an ongoing basis as he selects from the wide variety of fine ingredients available at the Santa Monica Farmers Market and from other local purveyors with whom he is fast establishing relationships. Thus, one distinctive feature at RH is its Market List option whereby diners may choose a fresh entrée from a select list; choose a preferred preparation from among seared, stir-fry or tartar; and then choose which pristinely fresh vegetables they are craving; and which sauce or chutney they would like. From the Market List, diners may also design their own salads and sandwiches. Or, they may decide to order from a more traditional menu listing featuring dishes such as: Seared Diver Scallops with Orange Braised Endive and Cilantro Seeds; Double Pork Chop with Garlic Confit, Artichoke Hearts and Pancetta; or Slow Braised Beef Cheek with Black Olives and Baby Carrots.

 

Previously, Archambault was the executive chef at Le Pirate in Corsica, which earned a Michelin star under his toque. A graduate of L’Ecole Superieure Cuisine Française Ferrandi (ESCF) in Paris, he served under mentors Alain Ducasse at the three Michelin star-rated Raymond Poincaré and Jean-François Rouquette at Park Hyatt Place Vendôme, Le Bourdonnais and Pur Grill; as well as worked at Guy Savoy’s Bistro Les Bouquinistes – all in France.

 

Now at 100-seat restaurant and bar RH that opened in January 2009, Archambault is deftly overseeing a team that prepares and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner during the week. On weekends, he has also created a best of breakfast and lunch brunch menu enticing neighborhood and West Hollywood destination brunchers from all over the world with fare such as: Chile Poblano and Cheddar Egg White Frittata; Black Angus Burger with Fried Egg; Breakfast Salad with Romaine Chicken and Fried Egg; and Potato Waffle with Smoked Salmon and Poached Egg with Dill Cream.

 

At RH, Chef Archambault’s mantra steadfastly remains: “Use the freshest seasonal ingredients, respect their flavor and appearance and prepare wonderful, simple dishes that let these ingredients speak for themselves.”

.


2008
March 08 | April 08 | May 08 | June 08 | July 08 | August 08 | September 08 | October 08 | November 08 | December 08 | January 09 | February 09 | March 09 | April 09 | May 09 | June 09 | July 09 | August 09 | September 09 | October 09 | November 09 | December 09 | February 10 | January 10 | March 10 | March | April 10 | May 10 | June 10 | July 10 | August 10 | August 11 | September 10 | October 10 | November 10 | December 10 | January 11 | February 11 | March 11 | April 11 | May 11 | June 11 | July 11 | September 11 | October 11 | November 11 | December 11 | January 12 | February 12 | March 12 | April 12 | April | May 12 | June 12 | July 12 | August 12 | September 12 | October 12 | November 12 | December 12 | January 13 | February 13 | March 13 | April 13 | May 13 | June 13 | July 13 | August 13 | September 13 | October 13 | November 13 | November | December 13 | January 14 | February 14 | March 14 | April 14 | May 14 | June 14 | July 14 | August 14 | September 14 | October 14 | November 14 | December 14 | January 15 | February 15 | March 15 | April 13 | April 15 | May 15 | June 15 | July 15 | August 15 | September 15 | October 15 | November 15 | December 15 | January 16 | February 16 | March 16 | April 16 | May 16 | June 16 | July 16 | August 16 | September 16 | October 16 | January 17 | February 17 | November 16 | December 16 | March 17 | April 17 | May 17 | June 17 | July 17 | August 17 | September 17 | October 17 | November 17 | December 17 | January 18 | March 18 | February 18 | April 18 | May 18 | June 18 | July 18 | August 18 | September 18 | October 18 | November 18 | December 18 | January 19 | February 19 | March 19 | April 19 | May 19 | June 19 | July 19 | August 19 | October 19 | September 19 | November 19 | December 19 | January 20 | February 20 | March 20 | April 20 | May 20 | June 20 | July 20 | August 20 | September 20 | October 20 | November 20 | November 20 | December 20 | January 21 | February 21 | March 21 | April 21 | May 21 | June 21 | July 21 | August 21 | September 21 | October 21 | November 21 | January 22 | December 21 | February 22 | March 22 | April 22 | May 22 | June 22 | July 22 | August 22 | September 22 | October 22 | November 22 | December 22 | January 23 | February 23 | March 23 | April 23 | May 23 | June 23 | August 23 | September 23 | October 23 | November 23 | December 23 | January 24 | February 24 | February 08 | January 08

2007
December 07
| November 07 | October 07| September 07 | August 07 | July 07 | June 07 | May 07
April 07
| March 07 | February 07 | January 07

2006
December 06
| November 06 | October 06 | September 06 | August 06 | July 06 | June 06 | May 06
April 06
| March 06 | February 06 | July 06

2005
December 05
| November 05 | October 05 | September 05 | August 05 | July 05 | June 05

© 2008 Bonnie Carroll, All Rights Reserved