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Like anyone, I have favorite chefs and restaurants across the world, from Wolfgang Puck in Los Angeles to Heinz Beck in Rome, and back to Helene An and Crustacean BH......I love to travel, visit and learn from both the famous and the unsung, taking the best from the best and bringing it all back to you....
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Random vignettes, thoughts, learnings and recommendations......
Quiet Woman- Corona Del Mar, California
The entire menu consisted of sophisticated comfort food with robust flavors and incredible freshness. The Ahi tuna taster for appetizer followed by beef short ribs, wasabi mashed potatoes, and creamed spinach have now been added to our menu under the comfort food category, who’d have thought of these as comfort food?????
Café Zurich – Barcelona, Spain
The busiest outside corner café in Barcelona at the entrance of La Rambla and a great place to people watch. When in Spain, popular for their Tapas ordering was simple. The Gazpacho (cold vegetable soup) drizzled with quality olive oil and diced hard-boiled egg was so authentic to Spain. A Jabugo ham (similar to proscuitto) served with sweet melon drizzled with the same hearty olive oil and topped with thick balsamic vinegar completed my lunch. Experimenting with these same ingredients in my kitchen, I have made the Gazpacho soup with Southwest summer vegetables and topped it with a dollop of sour cream, diced avocado and sprigs of fresh cilantro. This Gazpacho is now Hottiechefs signature soup and was featured on a demo tape sent to the Food Network for a chance at the “Next Food Network Star”.
L’ Ondine Plage – Cannes, France
This restaurant is located on the plage (beach) in Cannes with bright yellow umbrellas and bright white linen tablecloths. It screamed ambiance and I had to indulge in it all. Starting with a chilled French Sauvignon Blanc wine, the menu was filled with all my French favorites. Thankfully in English!!!
• Mussels Meunieres steamed in a delicate wine sauce with shallots, parsley and of course BUTTER…with a side salad of dressed cucumber and tomato
• Crusty French bread and BUTTER
• Topless sunbathers
• Top selling appetizer on Hottiechefs menu and I didn’t change a thing
Le Grill – Hotel de Paris, Monaco, France
* Expensive, dark, quiet, very fancy, black tie, breath taking view
• Martinis – French Bourdoux wine, Champagne (Veuve Cliquot)
• Frisee salad with bacon lardons and Parisian honey mustard dressing
• Creamy risotto with tiny fresh peas and shaved truffle
• Filet mignon, pomme dauphinois (scalloped potatoes) asparagus hollandaise
• Dessert - Lavender Crème Brulee
Inspired by and episode of "I Love Lucy", this meal is on the Hottiechefs menu and is the NUMBER ONE most frequently requested French Bistro dinner we offer. Absolutely my most memorable meal to date.
Riviore Café – Florence, Italy
• Piazza Signoria, outside seating
• Cappucinos, pastries , hot chocolate, beer and wine
The first stop in Florence proved to be an excellent stop for breakfast, after site seeing all day, I came across, Cantina Barbagiani a very small café with just a hand full of tables. I had Bruschetta that was so memorable and amazing with fresh roma tomatoes, olive oil, oregano, basil, and fresh cracked pepper. A very simple dish, but so much flavor. I went back to the tiny kitchen to get the details on how the chef created these and added them to my appetizer menu immediately, included it in my Hottiechef salads to go, and bring it to friends home for a contribution to a cocktail or dinner party.
Puny – Potofino, Italy
• Piazza Martiri, outside seating
• Proscuitto and Melon balsamico salad
• Thin crust pizza topped with olive tapenade
Craving a pizza, this pizza was a total surprise to me and very unexpectedly delicious with an ice cold beer. Not being a big fan of pizza I make my own version of the olive tapenade and added this to my collection of toppings for my assorted bruschettas.
La Pergola, Hilton Hotel Cavalieri – Rome, Italy
• Top of the Hotel best view of the city in all of Rome
• Voted best restaurant in all of Rome
• Impressive formal table service and setting
• Expensive $$$$$$
• Heinz Beck is a genius however, and I’ll blog on things I learned from him later…….
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