Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites - Chef & Hotel Profile

STATE OF GUANAJUATO TOURISM HIGHLIGHTS SAVORED WITH GRACIAS MADRE MEXICAN CUISINE

Chef Dreux Ellis Vegan Specialties Served During Guanajuato Minister of Tourism Presentation

With valet parking on Melrose in West Hollywood, amidst major construction, getting into Gracias Madre Mexican Restaurant was easy peasy, and the warm welcome from representatives from Guanajuato Mexico and Enroute Communications New York teams made it well worth the drive to savor some renowned recipes by Chef Dreux Ellis over details of the exciting new happenings in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico from Juan Jose Alvarez Brunel, Minister of Tourism for this vibrant and interesting area in central Mexico.

Guanajuato has become a renowned wine making area, now producing some award-winning wines in their municipal wineries that

are being positioned nationally and internationally. The vegan specialties prepared by Chef Dreux Ellis were paired with two delicious wines from Guanajuato that were greatly appreciated by all the guests. We enjoyed the Tres Raices Sauvignon Blanc, which was a delightful white wine perfect with our family style lunch items. Gracias Madre and their sister restaurant Café Gratitude are also known for their specialty Mezcal menu and a variety of interesting cocktails, along with their popular Mezcal Monday and Taco Tuesday.

The charming Juan Jose Alvarez Brunel, Minister of Tourism for

Guanajuato, and staff gave a beautiful and informative video

presentation on all aspects of the State of Guanajuato as guests savored dishes including guacamole, coliflor, esquites, ceviche tostadas, chorizo empanadas, divine black bean sliders on Brioche buns made with caramelized onions, cashew nacho cheese, arugula, grilled pineapple, and pepperoncini. House made desserts including vanilla sponge cake with coconut whipped cream, fresh fruit, and housemade dulce de leche, cinnamon sugar churros were enjoyed with a Mexican sing-along in Spanish that was great fun.

The interiors and charming outdoor patio at Gracias Madre are comfortable and very welcoming. The bar at the entry featuring Madre art is colorful and surely a popular spot on Mezcal Mondays.

The staff and Guanajuato visitation team were outstanding in assisting with our needs and answering questions and concluding the luncheon by gifting each guest a Josecitas Iturbidenses folk art doll from San Jose Iturbide Guanajuato. This region of Mexico is renowned for its beautiful folkart. For detailed information on the magical cities of Guanajuato visit: www.guanajuato.mx.

During the pandemic I became a vegetarian and found this introduction to Mexican vegan dishes delightful. Kudos to Chef

Dreux Ellis and staff on making our visit magical. Also, this chef has authored an outstanding cookbook “Love is Served” featuring bright plant-based recipes appealing to vegans and omnivores alike, bringing Café Gratitude’s recipes right into your own home.

The slogan for these Mexican restaurants is “Pull up a chair – there is always a seat at Love’s table.” Hours: Lunch 11-3 M-F, Taco Tuesday 11-9, Dinner 3-9 Sun-Wed, 3-10 Th-Sat and Brunch 11-3 Weekends. www.graciasmadre.com.

Ty Warner has announced a new partnership with seven-Michelin-star chef and restauranteur Thomas Keller. Keller will oversee all food and beverage operations at the Coral Casino in Montecito. Renowned in the foodie world as owner of French Laundry in Yountville, er Se in New York and The Surf Club in Surfside, Florida Keller says he is excited to create a new chapter in the history of historic Coral Casino.

“It’s exciting to be part of the Coral Casino story,” says Keller. “it’s an honor to be invited to join this legendary California Destination with its rich history. We look forward to introducing our cuisine to the community and make great memories for them.”

The Coral Casino has been a private club in Montecito, but when the Four Seasons Hotel was taken over by Ty Warner the food and beverage service was included, and hotel guests were also offered the opportunity to dine and pool during their stay. It has been a private beach and cabana club since July 24, 1937. Robert Stewart Odell commissioned architect Gardner A. Dailey to design a club where prominent families of the area, and Hollywood’s elite, could gather. Since it’s opening it has hosted major dignitaries, movie stars and filmmakers, musicians and noted philanthropists. In 2005, Ty Warner closed the club for a $65 million revitalization and New York based architect Peter Marino lead the project. In 2008, 71 years after the original opening, it reopened welcoming back members and guests of Four Seasons The Biltmore.

The beautifully designed glistening white building on the sea became the posh place for private fundraisers, and the ‘ladies who lunch’ hot spot. It was an original venue for Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Kirk Douglas Award dinner and red carpet, where media could get up close and personal with people like the Kirk and Michael Douglas family all in the MGM style ocean setting of the gorgeous club patio.

The big news is that Tydes restaurant will open to the public enabling all to enjoy Keller’s Continental Cuisine menu. He is the first and only American-born chef to hold multiple three-star ratings for the French Laundry and per Se from the Michelin guide. Along with the additional star for the Surf Club he became Michelin’s most honored American chef to date. He is also the first American chef to be designated a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor.

In 2017, he led a team from the U.S. to win its first gold medal in Bocuse d’Or, biannual competition likened to the Olympics of the international culinary world.

I interviewed Keller years ago, shortly before the opening of the French Laundry, and enjoyed an amazing dinner prepared by him that still lingers joyfully in my memory. It was clear he was an outstanding chef, but along with many I was a bit surprised when he opened the French Laundry, and it immediately became a dining destination of world renown. Locals in Santa Barbara, including moi, are thrilled to have him here and happier to have dining resume once again at the beautiful Coral Casino.