CULINARY COUP . . .

TRATTORIA MOLLIE IN MONTECITO

by Bonnie Carroll

It took me awhile to get to this highly publicized dining spot in Montecito, California, and I'm sure it is because Mollie had been given so much attention by Oprah Winfrey, who had stumbled in Mollie's by accident and became a devotee of one of her signature sandwiches. The iconic TV celebrity invited Mollie on her show and the rest was history.

Mollie is as sweet as she is talented. Her career included working as a chef in Milan, and this may explain the authenticity of the divine Italian pasta plates she is putting out of her very busy kitchen. She also baked bread at the Vatican, and has become renowned for her wonderful breads, and desserts. I especially liked her signature pasta of spinach and eggplant smothered in the most amazing sauce, as well as a delicious Caesar salad tossed in a light dressing with hints of anchovy.  Naturally, her fresh and crunchy, right out of the oven, bread with olive oil is sensational, and her fabulous selection of homemade sweets provide an unforgetable sinful ending. I loved the perfect cappuccino with Italian cookies. Mollie's also offers an excellent lunch menu that includes a Margarita pizza with a thin crispy crust that should not be missed, and amazing as this may sound - Mollie delivers!

The restaurant is charming, with side tables covered with photos of Mollie and celebrity guests who have graced her place, including photos of Mollie with Barach Obama, and Oprah Winfrey. The use of warm colors and familiar interior touches make this a comfortable livingroom style venue to enjoy Mollie's great food. Their patio is also a magical place to dine, people watch and linger over an Italian liquer.

Overall, Trattoria Mollie is a great spot to dine and enjoy 'breaking bread' for social or business meetings to savor authentic and delicious food, as well as sample sips from their outstanding wine list, which includes fine european and local California wines.  Mangia Bene!

Mollie's Trattoria

1250 Coast Village Road, Montecito, CA 93108

(805) 565 - 9381

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Jeanette’s Edelweiss – A New Authentic German Restaurant Experience, Also Featured In A Television Series, To Open In March 2015; Celeb Chef Is Kurt Ehrlich

Chef Kurt Erlich     Owners Edelwiess Jeanette & Jim

Southern Californians are about to get a true taste of authentic German food, music and fun with the launch of Jeanette’s Edelweiss restaurant in Newbury Park (near Thousand Oaks/Westlake area) in March 2015.

The myth that German food is “heavy” will be proven wrong when German Executive Chef Kurt Ehrlich offers up his mouth-watering, homemade recipes. Kurt’s specialties include vegan and vegetarian dishes, along with traditional German fare, perfectly spiced and cooked with fresh, locally grown ingredients.

The renowned Chef Kurt has decades of experience and an impressive track record, having cooked for Hollywood celebrities as well as Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

Chef Kurt says, "I’m excited to introduce authentic, delicious and healthy German cuisine to the customers of Jeanette’s Edelweiss and to share my secret recipes with Jeanette and on the TV show. My intention is to make Jeanette’s Edelweiss Southern California’s number one German Restaurant,”

Jeanette’s Edelweiss will also offer the best of German beers on tap, and German wines imported from family wineries throughout Germany.

Jeanette’s Edelweiss is more than an authentic German restaurant with excellent food, beer and wines. It is also a place for fun and entertainment. German born music producer, writer and performer Verenice Buerling – whose music is featured on shows like The Voice, Real Housewives, and Dance Moms – is the entertainment director of the restaurant. Every weekend the German folk band “Hammerstein” will play authentic German folk songs, which will have people leaping out of their chairs and raising their mugs high.

Jeanette’s Edelweiss owner, Jeanette B. Milio, is not only born and raised in Germany, but is a renowned Hollywood industry veteran, who has been involved in over 45 motion picture and television projects with Emmy and Academy Award winning talent in front and behind the camera.

“I moved to LA 15 years ago to follow my dream of becoming a Hollywood producer. Even though my work here and raising daughter in a new country kept me busy, I still found myself missing my home country. I still do so to this day.” Jeanette wanted to bring a slice of home to America, which was the seed for her to launch a German restaurant, and then hire a top notch, experienced team to run it.

Co-owner Jim Milio has been a writer, producer and director of television and films for more than twenty years. In film, Milio wrote and directed Men Seeking Women starring Will Ferrell and was the co-executive producer of the highest grossing romantic comedy of all time, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Jim Milio has written, produced, or directed more than 400 hours of television including The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan for National Geographic, Founding Fathers for the History Channel, The Discovery Channel Eco-Challenge Australia, Rescue 911 for CBS, the Emmy nominated Great Moments in Disney Animation for ABC, and The Real Las Vegas for A&E.

Jeanette’s Hollywood credits include 13, starring Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, The Experiment, starring Academy Award ® winning actors Adrian Brody and Forrest Whitaker; Dark Tide, starring Academy Award ® winning actress Halle Berry, the upcoming Weinstein Company comedy, Wild Oats, starring Academy Award ® winner Shirley MacClaine, Demi Moore, Jessica Lange and Billy Connelly.

The TV reality series “Edelweiss in Hollywood,” featuring Jeanette’s Edelweiss and the dream team behind it, is currently being filmed by three time People’s Choice award-winning producer writer, and director Jim Milio (“Rescue 911, Dog Whisperer,” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”).

nce to share my vision of German music, food and fun with the world,” says Jeanette.

In March 2015 the restaurant will open to the public; starting with a very special celebrity opening with TV and film stars. The restaurant is located in beautiful Newbury Park, in the Westlake/ Thousand Oaks area of sunny Southern California.

About Jeanette’s Edelweiss
Enjoy an instant vacation to Germany when you step through the doors of Jeanette’s Edelweiss Restaurant. Jeanette's Edelweiss offers classic German food and beer, friendly service and Hammerstein, an exciting band playing German folk music along with rock ‘n roll. In short, JE is more than a restaurant; it’s an experience, allowing customers to enjoy the playful, tasty side of Germany for the time they are there. Jeanette’s Edelweiss uses organic, natural and locally sourced products as available. http://www.jeanettesedelweiss.com

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14^th Annual Galbani^® Cheese Italian Feast of San Gennaro, Los Angeles

September 25–27, 2015 

Celebrating Italian Culture - Three days of music, food, wine, rides and games

Family-friendly festival supports local charities 

Hollywood, September 15, 2015 (www.feastofla.com) – The 14^th Annual Galbani® Cheese Italian Feast of San Gennaro, Los Angeles takes over Hollywood from September 25-27 with their annual street festival, celebrating everything that it means to be Italian. The savory smells of Italian sausage and peppers, meatballs simmering in homemade sauce, baked clams on the half shell, warm cheese on perfectly crusted pizza and sugar-powdered zeppole fill the streets of Hollywood while patrons enjoy cold glasses of sangria and listen to the sweet sounds of opera, jazz and big band late into the night!  

Inspired by the 80+ year old New York City tradition, the Feast celebrates Italian culture, entertainment and cuisine by featuring great food, music, genealogy research, free kid’s corner & petting zoo, pony rides, bocce, bingo, ferris wheel, games and more. Over thirty hours of live music and performances are scheduled throughout the weekend on the Galbani Cheese Main Stage and special guest, Galbani Cheese’s very own Chef Marco will demonstrate Italian recipes on Saturday, September 26^th at 5pm and host a “Galbani Cheese Building Contest for Charity” at 6pm. A “Gravy-Sauce Cooking Competition”, open to all levels of chefs, is a two-day contest full of favorite family recipes and stories for all to enjoy. 

“Celebrating tradition, family and great food with our community is what the Feast is all about,” said Frankie Competelli, Festival President.  “For 13 years the Feast has welcomed thousands of Angelenos and everyone leaves the Feast a little happier and a littler fuller.”  

St. Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples Italy, worked tirelessly to help people in need and is the inspiration for the Feast created in his name. The Mass & Procession of St. Gennaro on Hollywood Blvd. begins at 11am on Saturday, September 26^th, presided by Monsignors Montoya and Cacciapuoti.  

The festival commences on Friday, September 25^th and lends support to local charities throughout the weekend, including a “Will You Marrow Me?” donor campaign for Be the Match registry, which recruits marrow donors to save lives of blood cancer patients. A Blood Drive for Cedars Sinai Hospital will be hosted on-site from 11am-5pm on Sunday September 27^th. The Feast will also be the last stop on the Youth Cancer Baseball Tour, which takes families of children fighting cancer to Major League Baseball games.  The Uncle Frank Helping Hand Foundation, established in honor of Jimmy Kimmel’s real uncle and regular cast member on Jimmy Kimmel Live! began hosting the baseball tour upon the year of his passing in 2011. “My father (Uncle Frank) always lent a helping hand to people in need.  For these families to be able to have a day of fun together, letting the kids be kids again, means the world to them,” said Ann Potenza, Festival Director. “We really appreciate the support of everyone who helps make this happen!”  

Galbani Cheese (formerly Precious Cheese), same great taste, different name, is proud to be back for the 14th annual Feast!  “We’re so happy to continue our support as the title sponsor of the Galbani Cheese Italian Feast of San Gennaro and are looking forward to this wonderful event that brings friends and families together to celebrate Italian food and culture,” said Jessica Ruth, spokesperson for Galbani Cheese.  All weekend long, festival patrons are invited to enjoy complimentary Galbani Cheese samples and photo souvenirs from the Galbani photo booth. Festival photos can be shared at #GalbaniItalianFest. 

The festival venue is conveniently located across the street from the Hollywood and Highland complex and Metro Red Line, at 1651 N. Highland Ave, one block south of Hollywood Blvd. The Feast will be held September 25-27, 2015 (Fri 5pm-Midnight, Sat 11am-Midnight, Sun 11am-10pm). General admission is $5 and kids under 12 are Free.  

This year, the Feast is affiliated with Christ the King Church, Midnight Mission, PAL (Police Activities League), Uncle Frank Helping Hand Foundation, Be the Match registry and Cedars Sinai blood drive. The Feast also extends support to various Italian American organizations.  For more information about the Galbani® Italian Feast of San Gennaro, Los Angeles, please visit www.feastofla.com.

About The Feast of San Gennaro LA

The Feast of San Gennaro LA was originally created in 2002 under the auspices of The San Gennaro Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit created by celebrity Jimmy Kimmel, producer Douglas DeLuca and restaurateur Frankie Competelli, along with some of Los Angeles’ most prominent Italian-American citizens.   Although the Foundation closed its doors in 2014, its mission, to emulate St. Gennaro, patron saint of Naples who worked tirelessly to help people in need, continues to this day by partnering with various local charities that help underprivileged children and homeless in LA, as well as to provide entertainment and cultural enrichment to the community through its cultural outreach program.

About Galbani^®Cheese                                                                                                                  

Precious has now joined Galbani cheese – Italy's favorite cheese brand. The Galbani brand is known worldwide for crafting authentic cheeses in the Italian tradition; so when you see the Galbani name, you can count on the same authentic cheese you've come to know and love from Precious cheese, as well as a broader world of Italian cheeses to explore. Galbani and Precious brands are brought to you by Lactalis Retail Dairy, Inc. (“LRDI”), a division of Lactalis American Group, Inc. (“LAG”).  With headquarters in Buffalo, NY, LAG is a subsidiary of Parmalat S.p.A., an Italian public entity majority-owned by France-based Groupe Lactalis – the world’s largest producer of premium cheese. LRDI produces a wide array of natural cheese products included among the leading brands of mozzarella, ricotta, fresh mozzarella, and snack cheese sold in the United States. A wide variety of specialty cheese are available to retail, foodservice and industrial customers. More information on Galbani cheese may be found at www.galbanicheese.com.

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CALENDARS

9th Annual  

Los Angeles Chocolate Salon 

11am-5pm 

September 26, 2015

Pasadena Center

300 E Green Street 

For More Information and Tickets, visit 

www.LAChocolateSalon.com

 

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After graduating from the Institut Paul Bocuse in Ecully, France, Lesage trained at some of the world’s most celebrated establishments, including The Ritz Paris, the Michelin three-star restaurant, L’Astrance, and Michelin three-star restaurant, Bras.

Most recently, Lesage served as Executive Chef of Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach where he opened two of the city’s only waterfront restaurants, Waterline and A&O Kitchen + Bar. Prior to that, he served as Executive Sous Chef at St. Regis Monarch Beach, managing a culinary team of more than 60.

Today, as Executive Chef of Bacara’s renowned culinary program, Lesage oversees the resort’s six dining experiences, including a new signature restaurant opening spring 2016. When asked about his vision for Bacara, Lesage says “I approach every outlet as its own distinct concept. From a healthy breakfast at Spa Café to a casual family meal at The Bistro, each experience is unique, and each experience is exceptional.”

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NOLA NEWS . . .

Old No. 77 Hotel and Chandlery

Chef Nina Compton

The opening of Compère Lapin marks a triumphant return to New Orleans for Compton who fell in love with the city during the filming of BRAVO’s Top Chef Season 11: New Orleans. Over the course of the show, she earned the admiration of the judges and her fellow contestants, taking the runner-up spot in the winner’s circle and being voted the season’s fan favorite. It was a journey that played out in front of millions and will come full-circle with the opening of her new restaurant.

A St. Lucia native trained in the French tradition at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, Compton most recently was chef de cuisine at Scarpetta at Fontainebleau Miami Beach. There she worked with celebrity chef and restaurateur Scott Conant to create a masterful Italian menu that drew raves from far and wide.

As owner and executive chef of Compère Lapin at the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, Chef channels the delectable diversity of her culinary background while incorporating the rich food traditions for which her newly-adopted home of New Orleans is famous.

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