You know that summer is in full bloom when 4^th of July has arrived.  How time flies!  There are a few great suggestions here for the 4^th if you do not have plans as well as a new beer in Venice, complimentary wine tastings and a special summertime prix fixe menu.  Go out and have some fun!  Happy Birthday USA!

To celebrate the upcoming 4^th of July holiday and the triumphant return of fireworks to the Marina del Rey area, CAFE del REY will be offering a special Americana-themed menu for guests to enjoy while they gaze on the pyrotechnic display out of the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows.  The restaurant’s ideal waterfront location offers diners front row seats to the show.

The $39 three-course menu includes choice of:

Appetizer

HEARTS OF ROMAINE CAESAR garlic croutons, shaved Reggiano

WATERMELON GAZPACHO cucumber, tomato, basil

CHUCK’S FAMOUS HOT WINGS housemade blue cheese dressing

Main Course (all dishes come with cole slaw & cheddar corn biscuits)

BBQ HALF CHICKEN with cherry bbq sauce

LEMON AND HERB MARINADED SALMON

DRY RUB GRILLED TRI TIP

Sides (choose one side to accompany entrée)

Buttered corn on the cob

Mash potato

Grilled asparagus

Mac & Cheese

Desserts

LAVENDER SORBET FLOAT lavender soda, sorbet trio, fresh berries

ICE CREAM SUNDAE carob brownie, candied nuts, bruléed banana, vanilla & chocolate ice cream

Cafe del Rey

Santa Monica celebrates the 4^th of July with two exciting all day events on Main Street: “Red, White & Brew” Bar Crawl and the Main Street July 4^th BBQ Bash featuring rap and hip hop producer, DJ Norman Rockwell and DJ Coolwhip.

Participants can crawl to a half a dozen bars and indulge in “mind numbing” drink specials at each location. Deals will include $3 beers, 2-for-1 mixed drinks and $5 shots of Jack Daniels. Registration begins July 4^th, 3 pm -10 pm at 31Ten Lounge in Santa Monica. Once the crawlers check-in, they will be given a map of the participating bars. Must be 21+ to participate.

Crawlers can mix up the celebration with the Main Street July 4^th  BBQ Bash from 2 pm -12 am at 31Ten Lounge. The all-day BBQ will include delicious food, drink specials, a beer garden and DJs spinning 2 pm -12 am. Early registration tickets are $10 in advance and $20 at the door. Call for group rates and table reservations (310) 821-5371.

A percentage of all proceeds will be donated to the Surfrider Foundation to help protect our oceans. Donations will also be accepted at check-in. To purchase tickets, Click Here.

Red White & Brew Pub Crawl

The Venice Beach Beer Company, launched in June 2012, is the latest addition to the Venice Beach culture and the first beer company to call Venice home.

Started by Tim Benedick and Kerr Smith, Venice Beach Beer Company brings a passion for good beer and the beach to life in two new ales available exclusively in Venice, California. With a slogan of “Shut Up and Drink It,” the beers offer a distinct flavor profile that reflects the local culture.

“Our beers are specially brewed for the Venice Beach life,” says Smith. “We have lived here for many years and realized that there wasn’t a beer in existence that captured the essence of our unique city, so we decided to put ‘Venice’ in a bottle.”

“Venice” is a unique, American amber ale with a blend of caramel and biscuit malts, jammed packed with five different hops, creating an eclectic war between bitter and sweet. “June Gloom” is an untraditional, White Belgian beer combining the taste of coriander and orange peel.

“Venice” is currently available in Venice, CA at The Venice Whaler, Hinano Cafe, Larry’s, Chaya Venice, Venice Beach Wines, Bin 73, Mercedes Grill, Ozumo and Whole Foods on Lincoln Blvd and will be quickly followed by “June Gloom.”  The third VBBC beer, A.W.O.L. IPA (Always West of Lincoln), an American IPA, will be available next year.

The popular “Wine Wednesday” series at gLAnce Wine Bar at JW Marriott Los Angeles, L.A. LIVE, returns for the summer season. Winemakers representing renowned wineries throughout the world including Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Sicily and Argentina, will be on hand to facilitate the weekly complimentary tasting. Guests will taste a wide range of varietals from each winery while learning about the vineyard first hand from winery representatives. gLAnce Wine Bar will also offer accompanying seasonal small bites to complement the wines.

The Wine Wednesday schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, July 11: Catena, an Argentinean winery owned and operated by a passionate father-daughter team

Wednesday, July 18: Chateau Montelena, producing high-quality wines from small production vines in Napa Valley since 1882

Wednesday, July 25: Masi, producing modern wines with an ancient heart in Vento, Italy

Wednesday, August 1: Pahlmeyer, producing wines with power, personality, and finesse in Napa Valley

Wednesday, August 8: Guigal, an award-winning French winery from Rhone

The wine tasting is complimentary and will be taking place every Wednesday now through August 8, from 5:30 pm -  7 pm with the exception of July 4^th.

Every Wednesday at Josie Restaurant, Chef Josie Le Balch offers a three-course Farmers Market menu. At only $35, this is an exceptional deal.  The menu will include such delights as:

–Pumpernickel-Crusted Fried Green Tomatoes served with Nasturtium Pesto and Burrata Cheese
–Salmon with Sugar Snap Peas and Lemon Sauce
–Jonna’s Cherry Brown Butter Tart w/berries and whipped cream

Call for reservations, (310) 581-9888.

Locanda Del Lago, Santa Monica

On Wednesday June 20 at 6:30 p.m., CAFE del REY in Marina del Rey welcomes foie gras fans and oenophiles to enjoy an evening of fine wines by Napa Valley’s Buoncristiani Family Winery paired with a four-course dinner for $110 per person honoring foie gras during its final days before the statewide California ban. The family vineyard, owned and operated by brothers Matthew, Jason, Aaron, and Nathan Buoncristiani, will introduce its signature vintages including its proprietary O.P.C. red blend paired with California-Mediterranean dishes by Executive Chef Daniel Roberts that incorporate both the wines themselves and multiple interpretations of foie gras.

The menu will include:

• First Course: Cardamom-Spiced Roasted Squab with seared foie gras, roasted corn and fava bean succotash, peach compote, and spiced Buoncristiani Triad Blanc reduction; Served with 2011 Buoncristiani Napa Valley Triad Blanc
• Second Course: Beef Carpaccio with Buoncristiani O.P.C.-poached foie gras, shaved Italian truffles, white truffle oil, and baby arugula; Served with 2007 Buoncristiani Napa Valley O.P.C.
• Third Course: Rack of Lamb with foie gras ravioli, black figs, baby morel mushrooms, and fig gastrique; Served with 2008 Buoncristiani Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
• Fourth Course: Foie Gras Ice Cream served over seared foie gras, poached Bing cherries, and streusel crumble; Served with 2009 Buoncristiani Napa Valley Dolcetto

Aaron Buoncristiani will also be on hand to share the winery’s history, offer tasting notes, and answer guests’ questions. Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant at 310.823.6395. Seating is limited.

Kicking off on the first official day of summer (Wednesday, June 20), Locanda del Lago in Santa Monica will host a new weekly outdoor grilling series, featuring spiedini (“skewers”), a classic warm-weather meal in Northern Italy and the hallmark dish of a grigliata mista, or “mixed grill”. The Italian-style barbecue will take place every Wednesday from 12-7 p.m. on the restaurant’s al fresco patio occurring in conjunction with the beloved downtown Santa Monica Farmers’ Market.

Each week, Executive Chef Gianfranco Minuz will grill to order a selection of all-natural meats and seafood as well as local fruits and vegetables. The “Farmers’ Market Summer Grill” menu served with housemade accompaniments will also be available for dine-in and take-away and spiedini will include:

• Meat: Chef Minuz’s housemade sausage, fennel, herb-marinated chicken, red onion, and tamarind-marinated flat iron steak ($7)
• Seafood: Scottish salmon, ahi tuna, tiger shrimp, calamari, and Meyer lemon ($8)
• Vegetable: zucchini, eggplant, bell pepper, tomato, and mushroom ($5)
• Housemade sauces including basil pesto, aurora, or arrabbiata for dipping
• Piadina (Italian-style flat bread) wrap (additional $2)
• Dessert skewers such as Pesca Melba, skewers of grilled white peaches, served with housemade vanilla gelato and strawberry sauce ($6)

Starting Friday, June 22, Locanda del Lago  also invites traffic-weary Westsiders to ease the pain of the 405 Freeway/Wilshire Blvd. on-ramp “Rampture” closures with a specially priced $6.22 “carpool cocktail”.

Offered daily until the completion of the construction project, guests who mention the “Rampture” and show proof of carpooling (such as a carpool parking permit or photo on a mobile phone) can order the refreshing “Rampture Raspberry Mojito”, a cool combination of Santa Monica Farmers’ Market raspberries, fresh mint, organic Papagayo Rum, and sugarcane for just $6.22.

Leading up to the Sixth Annual Calabasas/Malibu Food & Wine Festival this coming weekend, we have the Calabasas Jazz Fest this week on Wednesday, June 20.  With the weather being this great I’m sure this event will be a blast!

CHEERS!

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Tapas & Vino in Redondo Beach hosted a Wine Tasting dinner featuring Angove Family Wines this past April 18.  To further augment this delightful evening, winemaker Richard Angove was on hand to educate us about his wonderful wines.  Richard is a fifth generation winemaker and hails from South Australia.

Richard began working in the family business as a small child.  At University he studied business and marketing followed by studying for a post graduate diploma in winemaking at Adelaide University.

Richard left home to gain experience working at Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley, Domaine Carneros in Napa Valley, Bodega Borsao in Spain and Jackson Triggs in Canada.  Returning to the family business in 2008, Richard continues to work in marketing.

The delightful pairing dinner was in five courses.  We started with Ahi Tuna on a crispy wonton topped with crème fraiche and caviar paired with an Angove Sparkling Moscato.  The second course was a Beet Salad with roasted red and golden beets, sun dried Bing cherries, goat cheese, arugula, candied walnuts and sherry vinaigrette paired with Angove Grenache Rose.  Both of these lighter pairings were fantastic and the wines were perfect pairing selections to accompany the food.

For the more substantial courses, we started the third course with a Seared Scallop on a bed of parsnip puree topped with a vanilla infused saffron sauce paired with Angove Viognier.  The fourth course was Duck Breast on a bed of Moroccan couscous with currants, almonds, mint and a port and fig glaze paired with an Angove Shiraz-Viognier Blend.  I was so impressed with this particular wine I now have a case of it at home!

The fifth course was Rack of Lamb served with roasted garlic eggplant caponata and topped with Shiraz paired with Angove McLaren Vale Shiraz.  I am very partial to Australian wine in general and this wine was delish.

All in all we had a great evening and learned a lot from Richard about wine.  Thank you to our hosts from Trinchero Family Estates and Young’s Market Company, especially Stacey Noble who invited me along to cover the event.  For those of you that live in the Redondo Beach area, I highly recommend that you drop by Tapas & Vino and find out when their next tasting dinner will be.  If this tasting dinner was any indication, I’m sure you will enjoy yourself immensely!

Beer Galore at the Malibu Beer Festival!

If you are into beer (and who isn’t!) this is the week for you.  There are two great beer festivals taking place that are sure to be a blast.  Get your brew on, get out the door and have some fun!

From Tuesday, June 5 through Friday, August 31, CHAYA Downtown is celebrating the summer with the annual return of its eagerly-anticipated Japanese Beer Garden on the restaurant’s outdoor patio. Offered exclusively on weekday evenings at the downtown L.A. location, diners will be able to enjoy Chef Atsushi Kenjo’s special menu featuring a variety of Yakitori Skewers ($2—$3) including Bacon Wrapped Date, Beef Tongue, Short Rib, Shrimp, or Shiitake, grilled to order on authentic Hibachi grills flown in from Japan.

Diners can also feast on a variety of hot and cold Izakaya fare such as Grilled Corn with Feta Cheese ($5); Garlic Fried Soft Shell Shrimp with Chipotle Miso ($7); Spicy Tuna & Shishito Pepper Tempura ($6), “Mozuku” Somen Noodle ($6), Baked Half Shell Scallop with Soy Butter and Wasabi ($9); and Tofu “Hiyayakko” medley with Chicken Miso ($5).

Guests can quench their thirst with pitchers of specialty Japanese Biiru including Kirin Beer ($10), housemade Sake Sangria ($6/glass), a Sake Flight ($15) or award-winning premium Japanese whiskeys (starting at $18). The outdoor patio will be festively decorated to re-create the traditional beer gardens found throughout Japan.  This will be available every Monday – Friday from 4 p.m. to close.

The 6th Calabasas Malibu Wine & Food Festival™ – Taste of Calabasas™ starts on June 9 with the Malibu Beer Festival at the Malibu Inn from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  This is the kick-off event to a lavish 14 day wine and food festival which will take participants to the scenic hills of Calabasas where they will experience live cooking demonstrations by master chefs and enjoy the best of wines and spirits.  The cost for the Malibu Beer Festival is $25.

Party on at 9021PHO Westlake Village and help Children's Hospital

Now that the long weekend is over, why stop the party?  There are just so many fun things coming up this week to slow down!  The weather is just too nice to stay in so go out and have some fun.  Read on and enjoy.

Raphael on Ventura will be launching a new summer cocktails menu created by Chris Parke on Thursday. Libations include Hot Tequila Blue (Karma Tequila, smashed blueberries, habanera, lime, agave and cardamom), Ventura Boulevardier (Bourbon, Carpano Antica, Aperol, Old Fashioned Bitters) and Savory Martini (Gin, dry Vermouth, celery bitters, Parmesan olives, onion).   Call 818 505-3337 for more info.

In honor of Red O’s two-year anniversary, Chef Rick Bayless invites guests to special Street Food Social Hours on Thursday, May 31 and Friday, June 1.  From 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Chef Bayless will be signing copies of his latest cookbook, Fiesta at Rick’s, as well as greeting guests during the recently launched Street Food Social Hour in the tequila lounge and on the outdoor patio. Copies of Fiesta at Rick’s will be available for purchase at the restaurant.

To celebrate the anniversary, Chef Bayless and Red O Executive Chef Efren Cardenas invite each party to sample one of Bayless’ favorite desserts, Strawberry Shortcake, on the house.

Red O’s Street Food Social Hour, which officially launched last week, offers a selection of dishes, including Oysters ($2 each), Street Food Trio ($12) and Tostada Trio ($12).  A variety of specialty margaritas and cocktails are available for $8, such as the Topolo Margarita and the Alacran Margarita, as well as a selection of wines for $7 and craft beers for $5.

On Thursday, May 31, Locanda del Lago in Santa Monica and Executive Chef Gianfranco Minuz celebrate the flavors of rabbit with a five-course meal for the restaurant’s ongoing “Bite of the Beast,” monthly dinner series. Beginning at 7 p.m., the spring-influenced menu, prepared with influences from rustic Northern Italian cuisine, will be offered in both the dining room and at the restaurant’s communal table, which can be reserved for up to 14 guests ($48 per person, including unlimited litros of house red and white Italian wine, not including tax and gratuity).

The May 31 Morso della Bestia menu will spotlight De Bruin Brothers rabbit, raised on a diet of sweet alfalfa, oats, wheat, and barley without antibiotics or hormones, as well as springtime produce from the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market.

Every Wednesday evening from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. to midnight, Hollywood’s Lexington Social House transitions into a live jazz destination with performances by actor and musician Jeff Goldblum and his Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, featured alongside a seasonal dinner menu from Executive Chef Jared Simons.

The group, known for its celebrity following and appearances at high-profile music venues, will perform two sets in the restaurant’s lounge. Diners may enjoy Chef Simons’ full dinner menu throughout the lounge and bar areas, as well as in the adjacent dining room, both ideal locations for taking in the live act.  Reservations are strongly recommended.

Goldblum will continue his residency every Wednesday evening with special performances by celebrity guest musicians on evenings in which the artist cannot attend. Please call Lexington Social House directly for a schedule of upcoming guest artists at 323.461.1700.  No ticket purchase required; $30 food minimum for stage seating; $20 food and drink minimum for dining room and patio dining.

Beginning Tuesday, May 29, Hollywood’s Lexington Social House welcomes pizza enthusiast and special guest chef Adam Tomei for a weekly “Pop-Up Pizza Tuesdays” series, featuring an ever-changing selection of seasonal, wood oven-fired pizzas in addition to Italian-American-inspired dishes by Executive Chef Jared Simons.

A native New Yorker and pizza aficionado, Tomei’s personal passion for all things pizza led him on monthly pilgrimages to Phoenix’s celebrated Pizzeria Bianco to research his own recipes and artisan style. During this weekly dinner series, he will turn Lexington Social House’s dining room into an intimate setting that reflects his frequent pizza dinners with friends and family hosted at his home. Tomei’s selections will rotate weekly and highlight all-natural and nitrate-free proteins, sourced from Berkeley, CA based Fra’Mani Handcrafted Foods. Each pizza’s foundation will feature organic tomatoes and Tomei’s signature dough recipe, which uses “00” (doppio zero) flour from Naples.

Selections will range from $14-$16 for each 8-10” individual pizza.  The full menu is available here.  To round out each week’s offerings, Chef Simons will prepare a classic Italian-American dish such as chicken parmesan or lasagna, each updated with his personal twist.

9021PHO in Westlake Village will announce their new partnership with Healing Arts Reaching Kids supporting Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on May 30 at 5:30 p.m.  Cocktails and fabulous appetizers provided by Chef Kimmy Tang will be served.  Please RSVP to Jennifer Bogray at 818 536-7364.

Rooftop elegance?  Cocktails in the open air?  Stunning, 360-degree views of the Los Angeles skyline and Hollywood Hills?  It could only be The London West Hollywood where the summer experience is about to come into full bloom for yet another season.  On Wednesday May 30 summer officially arrives with the return of Wednesdays at Sunset, a weekly evening of spirits, mingling and music on the acclaimed rooftop of The London West Hollywood.

Taking place every Wednesday through Labor Day from 6:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m. with complimentary cocktails provided during the first hour, the program is a sophisticated, open-air twist on the traditional happy hour including gourmet samplings, specialty cocktails and DJ curated tunes.  Both hotel and non-hotel guests are invited to relax in plush lounge chairs with carved teak benches, relax around a white-marble fire pit in earshot of a water feature with mood-inducing colored lights, or enjoy personal bottle service delivered to their own private cabana, replete with an LCD television and mini-refrigerator (from $350).  Entry is free, but reservations are recommended by phone 310-358-7766.

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CHAYA Downtown hosted a spectacular Sake Festival on Friday, May 18, 2012.  This included nine regional boutique sake producers from Japan pouring 25 different labels including producers Ippongi and Yamagata Honten which have both showed well at past tastings. The event also included Izakaya fair prepared by Atsushi Kenjo and live Taiko drummers.

While we did not sample every sake, I will highlight the ones we did sample.  We started off with Yamagata Honten and tasted the Moriko Daiginjo, Kaori Junmai Ginjo and the Kaori Umeshu Plum sake.  All of these were great and it is easy to see why they have performed so well at previous tastings.

Next we were privileged to try the Asabiraki sakes which have won numerous awards world wide and from the Emperor of Japan.  They were kind enough to share their top of the line sake with us, the Junmai Daiginjo which is a real masterpiece and sells for about $300 a bottle.

Moving on we sampled the sakes from Aiyu including their Jumai Ginjo, Nigori and Umeshu Plum.  They were all very good but that plum sake was outstanding!

On of the more interesting products we sampled was by Inoue, a Shochu made from potatoes and a Shochu made from barley.  The potato sake was very strong indeed and quite like vodka.  The barley was also very strong but was quite lovely.

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From Choryo we sampled the Sawa Sawa which is sparkling sake.  This is unfiltered and quite unique.  It has a very slight effervescence to it which you taste more than see.  Delightful!

One of our favorite sakes was by Ippongi Kubo. We tried their Denshin Yuki Junma Ginjo, Denshin Ine Junmai and the Hannya Tou Spicy Plum sake.  This was sweet sake infused with red chili flakes.  Their motto is, “In life sometimes fire comes after sweetness just like this sake.”

Last but not least, we sampled the sakes of Yamamoto Honke.  My newest favorite sake is their Yuzuomoi Yuzu sake.  This is made with yuzu fruit which is a Japanese citrus.  It is very much like limoncello but much lighter and with a very low alcohol content.  It was marvelous and so perfect for warm weather

To compliment all of the sakes CHAYA had platters of fresh sushi for the guests as well as passed hors d’oeuvres.  Chef Kenjo did a masterful job as always.  The Taiko drummers were an added treat.  Their powerful percussion team work was flawless.  All in all, I can’t think of a better way to pass a beautiful, warm spring evening than in the cherry blossom filled garden of CHAYA mingling with old friends and making new while tasting exceptional sake!

Scarpetta Beverly Hills

There are three great events coming up this week; one wine tasting and the advent of two new Happy Hours!  Now that sounds like the beginning of my kind of week.  Read on for the deets:

Primitivo Wine Bistro in Venice will be having their monthly wine tasting this Wednesday, 5-23-12.  This month they will be featuring Pinot Noir.  This will include a selection of Pinot Noir wines and a variety of seasonal tapas prepared by their new Executive Chef Josh Gil.  All wines are chosen by Sommelier Daniel Deny.  All wines are available for purchase.

The wine selection is as follows:

-Peter Zemmer, Alto Adige, Italy 2010
-Sibling Rivalry, Victoria, Australia 2008
-Verum, Patagonia, Argentina 2010
-Arbolada, Aconcagua Valley, Chile 2010
-Spy Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand 2010
-Jaffelin, Beaune 1er cru Monopole, Bourgogne, France 2008
-Lamelson, Thea’s Selection, Oregon 2009
-Inman Family Winery, Russian River Valley 2008

The tasting is $36/person plus tax.  Please call to make a reservation (310) 396-5353.  Walk-ins are welcome as well.

Scott Conant’s Scarpetta in Beverly Hills has launched its first ever Happy Hour, Giro D’Ombra, which is now available Monday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  A term used in Venice, Giro D’Ombra means “follow the shadow,” and translates to “a round of drinks.” Guests can enjoy specialty cocktails ($8), wines by the glass ($8), beer ($4) and appetizers ($8) at the Scarpetta bar or outside on the patio overlooking the gardens.  Scarpetta Beverly Hills is located in The Montage Hotel at 225 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Following a successful Street Food Social Hour on Cinco de Mayo, Red O will officially introduce a reoccurring Social Hour beginning May 23, 2012.  They will be serving food and drink specials from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Available in the restaurant’s stunning tequila lounge and beautiful outdoor patio, the menu showcases a selection of dishes from Chef Rick Bayless’ California-inspired Mexican menu including Oysters ($2 each); Classic Guacamole ($6) served with warm chips and salsa; and the Street Food Trio ($12) with smoked chicken taquitos, Mexico City style corn masa quesadillas, and plantain sopes.

Red O will also serve a variety of specialty margaritas and cocktails for $8 such as the Topolo Margarita and the Alacran Margarita, as well as a selection of wines for $7 and craft beers for $5.  Please contact the restaurant for more information at 323.655.5009.

CHEERS!

Seared Maine Day-Boat Scallop w/shaved fennel, dill, beurre blanc & blood orange reduction

Chef Michael McCarty of Michael’s Restaurant in Santa Monica has come up with another home-run idea.  Michael has created a monthly “Market Meet-Up” wherein he and Executive Chef John-Carlos Kuramoto lead a small group of lucky guests for an exclusive tour of the Santa Monica Farmers Market.  Along the way Michael introduces his guests to his favorite farmers, pays homage to the ingredients of the season and shows us how to pick out the best produce.  This month I was fortunate enough to have been invited along.

We started the morning off with freshly made cinnamon rolls which were sheer perfection and cappuccinos in the restaurant.  Sugar and caffeine, that’s my idea of starting the day off right!

Michael then explained to us what we were going to focus on at the market which he helped create back in the day.  This month the focus was on Blood Oranges from Garcia Farm and Wild Fennel from Coastal Farms, two of Michael’s favorite growers.  Coastal Farms, located in Santa Paula, CA, is owned by Maryann Carpenter and her husband Paul who have been growing organic produce for over 25 years.  Garcia Farm is an organic farm specializing in citrus located in Fallbrook, CA.

John-Carlos got his cart ready and we headed off to the market which was overflowing with organic produce.  Michael knew every vendor and we learned a great deal about produce, organic farming, the immediacy of the growing seasons, why they choose what they do and their philosophy of farm to table.  In this case it is also farm to glass as John-Carlos and mixologist Jason Robey share a rooftop garden where they grow a lot of their herbs as well as share the produce from the market.  John-Carlos buys twice weekly to ensure the vitality of his produce which is reflected in his dishes.

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When we returned to the restaurant Michael had a gorgeous, huge family style table awaiting us in the garden.  Michael regaled us with stories about his life, his education, the creation of California Cuisine and his restaurant. Chef John-Carlos entered his domain to prepare us dishes specially created to reflect what he had just purchased keeping with the theme of blood oranges and fennel.

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The first dish was a seared Maine Day-Boat Scallop, shaved fennel and dill salad with a fennel beurre blanc and blood orange reduction.  Sommelier Andrew Turner paired this with an exception Xarel-Lo, Castellroig, Penedes, Spain, 2009.  It was an unbeatable combination.

The second course was Fennel Pot de Crème with blood orange and basil whipped cream and blood orange segments.  Andrew paired this with a Chardonnay, La Vie Vineyards, “Black Mountain Reserve,” Santa Lucia Highlands, 2008.  All I can say is I was not sharing one bite.

The Market Meet-Up will be held once a month on Wednesdays.  The cost is $75 per person and includes the Farmers’ Market tour with Michael McCarty and Executive Chef John-Carlos Kuramoto, fresh baked cinnamon rolls and cappuccinos, tastings and wine pairings and an autographed copy of owner/chef Michael McCarty’s latest book, Welcome to Michael’s: Great Food, Great People, Great Party!  What a great way to pass a morning.  Relaxing, educational and a culinary delight, I can’t wait to see what is on next months schedule!  You can contact the restaurant directly at 310.451.0843 for reservations.

Organic produce used by the Chefs in the Cook-Off. Gorgeous!

The 21^st Annual Santa Monica Festival at Clover Park, Santa Monica delivered big time!  The Santa Monica Festival is a unique event that highlights the dynamic connection between the City’s communities, businesses, arts and environment while offering ideas and solutions for a greener, healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.  The Santa Monica Festival had an eclectic mix of live music and dance, delicious food, DIY art workshops with recycled and repurposed materials, guilt-free shopping featuring earth-friendly artistic wares, as well as information about local resources offered by a variety of City, environmental and local non-profit organizations.

This year’s Santa Monica Festival included a Food Salon with local food trucks, cooking demonstrations for adults and kids and a farmers market “Chef Challenge” where Nyesha Arrington of TV’s Top Chef and Wilshire Restaurant and John-Carlos Kuramoto of Michael’s Restaurant had 15 minutes to create a dish using ingredients found at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market.  The dish had to be easy, fast and affordable.  While both chefs did an outstanding job, in the end the Judges declared in favor of Nyesha.

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The Food Salon also featured cooking demos from local chefs like Alex Moreno, Executive Chef of Border Grill Santa Monica and “The Art of Food” blogger and Chef Marina Ivlev.  The Jamie Oliver Food Revolution Los Angeles Ambassadors were on site hosting the Kids’ Kitchen that offered kids simple cooking tips.

This year’s event was sponsored by Whole Foods Market, Santa Monica Farmer’s Market, Santa Monica Place and West LA Takeaway.  Food trucks were plentiful as were bands, fitness classes, interactive demos, and a bike valet.  The weather was perfect and it was a delightful family day in the park.  If you were unable to make it this year, mark your calendars now – you have next year’s festival to look forward too!

P.S. – You can see the whole Chefs Challenge by visiting my Craving Cocktails? You Tube Channel.

The 21st Annual Santa Monica Festival is this weekend!

It’s spring, the weather is great and it’s time to be outdoors!  This weekend there are three great festivals that you can attend with bands, cook-offs, demonstrations, pirates, and great activities for kids.  Have fun!

A pirate’s life for me!  On Saturday May 19, 2012, the Pirate Festival will take place.  Yo ho ho! The VIP festivities begin at 1 p.m. for $65.00 (including a souvenir glass mug, all you can drink and great food) and general admission is from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. for $35.00.  This is a celebration of rum, beer, vodka, tequila, pirates and wenches with the best entertainment in Los Angeles by the Caribbean Pirates for Hire and the number one band in Southern California Adam’s Attic as well as dancers and performances from  Dirty Little Secrets. The event benefits the Children’s Tumor Foundation and takes place at 1010 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017.  Check here for more info and to buy tickets: www.piratefestival.net.

This Saturday, May 19, 2012, is the 21^st annual Santa Monica Festival from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.  There will be a Food Salon with local food trucks, cooking demonstrations for adults and kids and a farmer’s market “Chef Challenge” where Nyesha Arrington of TV’s Top Chef and Wilshire Restaurant and John-Carlos Kuramoto of Michael’s Restaurant will have 15 minutes to create a dish using ingredients found at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market.

The Food Salon will also feature cooking demos from local chefs like Alex Moreno, Executive Chef of Border Grill Santa Monica and Chef Marina Ivlev who will be teaching us how to make delicious salads and wraps inspired by the Food Revolution in the quest for getting people to eat real food. Farmers Market Coordinator Darra Henigan will talk about eating locally and seasonally and how to look for the best produce at the market.

The Jamie Oliver Food Revolution Los Angeles Ambassadors will be on site hosting the Kids’ Kitchen that will offer kids simple cooking tips and testing of kitchen gadgets. There will be all sorts of fun recipes, nutrition games, and kitchen tips and tricks for the kids.

Food trucks and carts will include Border Grill, The Bun Truck, Coolhaus, Crepe’N Around, Gastrobus, Go Chew Truck, Hawaiian Delight, India Jones, Let’s Be Frank, Linde’s Almonds, Lomo Arigato, Nom Nom Truck, Shmuck with a Truck, Waffles De Liege, and Yalla amongst others.

The Festival will also have bands, fitness classes, a bike valet and more.  All the fun takes place at Clover Park, Santa Monica (2600 Ocean Park Blvd) and the admission if free.  For a complete schedule, go to http://www.smgov.net/festival .

The Club Culinaire of Southern California will hold its annual Picnic des Chefs on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at Vasa Park in Agoura Hills at 2854 Triunfo Canyon Road on 4 acres of lush mountain side.  LA’s top chefs will create authentic dishes from various regions of France.  Participating chefs (partial list) include Marius Blin (Hotel Sofitel); Xiomara Ardolina (Xiomara); Michel Blanchet (Michel Cordon Bleu); Joe Miller (Joe’s Restaurant); Josie LeBalch (Josie Restaurant); Neal Fraser (BLVD); Yvan Valentin (Sweet Temptation); and Christian Kaufman (Emil’s Swiss Pastry). The party goes from 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Over 50 wineries will be pouring their favorite selections for guests to taste.  The event is great for kids (including a moon bounce paradise, heated swimming pool with a giant waterslide, rock climbing wall, drawing competition, and games).  Adults can play pétaque, (win your weight in wine), soccer, volleyball, and badminton. Raffle prizes include two roundtrip tickets to Tahiti or Paris on Air Tahiti Nui, gourmet dinners, and shopping certificates. Musical entertainment will be provided by a French DJ.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Concern Foundation and the HOPE Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Ticket price is inclusive of all food, beverages, entertainment and parking and is $60 for adults; $20 for kids 10-20; free for kids under 10.  Get $10 off each ticket with coupon code: picnic2012.  Tickets may be purchased here or at www.clubculinaire.us

You may also contact Kora Kroep at 949.295.0506 or kora@clubculinaire.us