Arth Bar + Kitchen Introduces Modern Indian Cuisine and Innovative Cocktails In The Heart of Culver City!

July 20, 2021 by evebushman

(Culver City, CA) A journey on its own pioneering a new movement of modern Indian cuisine, Arth Bar + Kitchen introduces Indian fare in a completely new way. With its contemporary atmosphere, eclectic dishes and innovative cocktails, Arth Bar + Kitchen officially opened on Thursday, July 8^th, 2021, right in the heart of Culver City!

Photo Credit: Photography by Tonelson

An engineer by trade, but with an entrepreneurial spirit is how Mihir Lad came to be the Founder & Partner of Arth Bar + Kitchen. Lad had greater ambitions outside of the aerospace industry and found his passion in the hospitality industry. He dedicated time observing and studying how a restaurant’s life begins in the kitchen and flows all throughout the front of house while fully immersing himself into every area of the restaurant from: assembling a full restaurant team, analyzing concepts and their potential impacts on the business, and bringing creative ideas to life to perfectly compliment Arth Bar + Kitchen’s contemporary cuisine and bona fide hospitality. Lad shows exemplary leadership, creative vision, and a personal passion to deliver the best possible experience to every guest that visits Arth Bar + Kitchen.

This ambitious and young culinary professional is taking the hospitality industry by storm. Partner & Executive Chef Sagar Ghosh’s creative flair and culinary techniques stem from being trained by some of the world’s most renowned chefs, including India’s most well-known chefs and hospitality experts, paired with pure talent. Before beginning his career, Chef Ghosh attended the Indus Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts as well as the Global School of Management and graduated with diplomas in culinary arts and food and beverage management. He spent time in kitchens in some of the finest restaurants in Kolkata, Pune, Miami, New York, Buena Park and Tustin. In his most recent venture, Chef Ghosh served as the executive chef at Master Indian Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s premier Indian fine dining restaurant, The Yellow Chili located in Tustin, CA, where he assembled an exemplary culinary team and developed the outstanding menu for the opening of this location.

Executive Chef Sagar Ghosh’s premier experience combined with his optimal use of authentic spices and his strive for culinary excellence stands out on Arth Bar + Kitchen’s new menu. Starting off with SMALL PLATES, Chef Ghosh showcases his contemporary flair with his Kolkata Fish Fry, Asian seabass in cilantro parsley marinade served with fries and mustard sauce, Bombay Burger, LTO, pickle, cheese, buttered brioche bun served with house sauce and fries, Garlic Fries, straight cut fries tossed in Peruvian garlic and herb mix, Sexy Fries, straight cur fries topped with green chutney, tomato gravy, and mayo, Old Monk Drunken Wings, Oriental style rum-infused chicken wings, Chicken Chilli, wok tossed Indo Chinese style chicken pieces and bell peppers, Masala Papad Chat, fried lentil chips tossed with onion, tomato, peanut, and lemon, Chicken / Paneer Tikka Tacos, Arth Bar + Kitchen’s take on this Mexican classic with guests choice of protein, Fiery Prawn Koliwada, fisherman style crispy prawn morsels, and Chicken Bites, crispy South Indian style fried chicken.

Chef Ghosh made sure that Arth Bar + Kitchen highlighted their open kitchen by featuring a chef counter and one of L.A.’s only fully visible Tandoor Ovens, so guests can watch the show as he prepares each dish FROM THE TANDOOR, including the LAAL Mirch Ka Paneer Tikka, Paneer marinated in red pepper and a spice blend, Bharwani Kumbh, stuffed mushroom caps, Malai Broccoli, broccoli marinated in white marination, Angari Murgh, chargrilled chicken in yoghurt marinade, Reshmi Kabab, chargrilled chicken in velvety labneh marinade, Classic Tandoori Murgh, whole chargrilled roast chicken, Pistachio Lamb Chops, chargrilled lamb with spice blend, Lamb Afghani Seekh, smoked and spiced minced lamb, Tandoori Jhinga, Tiger prawn chargrilled with spice blend, and the Saloni Macchi made of wild caught Chilean seabass in velvety labneh marinade.

Arth Bar + Kitchen’s MAINS are the heart of Chef Ghosh’s eclectic menu as he features classic Indian dishes prepared in his own special way. Guests will enjoy Palak Paneer Ke Kofte, spinach coated paneer balls in a rich velvety sauce, Paneer Makhanwala, Paneer in creamy tomato gravy, Baghare Baingan, deep-fried young eggplant in peanut sesame gravy, Dhaba Murgh, street style chicken curry, Butter Chicken Dilli Wala, Tandoor cooked boneless chicken in creamy tomato sauce, Cornish Hen Tikka Masala, classic yet modern butter chicken, Lobster Moilee, lobster cooked in sweet coconut milk, turmeric and curry leaves, Fish Tkka Masala, Basa fish tossed in onion and pepper, Malwani Jhinga, coastal style shrimp curry, Nalli Nihari, tender whole lamb shank, Lamb Kosha, slow-cooked Australian lamb leg in onion tomato masala, and Lamb Yakhni Biriyani, a Kashmiri style lamb biriyani served with yoghurt sauce. Chef Ghosh also offers a special selection of thoughtful SIDES to complement each of his dishes, including Dal Makhmali, black bean lentils slow cooked for 72 hours, Arth Bar + Kitchen Bread Basket, garlic naan and butter naan, Lacca Paratha, whole wheat layered bread cooked in a clay oven, Chilli Cheese Naan, stuffed cream cheese and chili bread, Onion Chilli Bread, whole wheat bread topped with onion and chili, and Roti, whole wheat bread.

Lad and Chef Ghosh both know all too well how Angelenos appreciate a proper cocktail and they deliver an impressive and innovative COCKTAIL list showcasing something for everyone. The Peppered Anarosh is made with Beluga Transatlantic, vanilla liqueur, fresh pineapple, Kali Mirch, Angostura Bitters, garnished with a candied chile, The Simple Things features Cocchi Americano Blanco, Amaro, Aperol, pomegranate, grapefruit, Peychaud bitters, with a lemon accent, and the East India Trading Company is comprised of Bacardi White Rum, vanilla liqueur, lychee, pan leaf, eucalyptus, bitters and soda water. The Arth Fizz includes Botanist Gin, Pamplemousse, Campari, grapefruit, Himalayan salt, egg whites and Kaffir leaf, the Bangalore to Jalisco is made of Nosotros Blanco Tequila, Amaro, Pamplemousse, lime, Peychaud bitters with a grapefruit accent, Mira Meets Pedroshowcases Nosotros Reposado Tequila, Cointreau, tamarind, spicy bitters, Jal-jeera, Himalayan salt and Indian chile, while the Spiced Oaxacan is prepared with 20 Los Vientos Mezcal, cinnamon-infused sweet vermouth, tobacco bitter, orange and a cinnamon stick. Finally, Arth Bar + Kitchen’s Chai Ho is made with Monkey Shoulder, chai infused Cocchi Americano Bianco, turmeric, ginger, tobacco bitters and rosemary. For those that prefer something special without alcohol, Arth Bar + Kitchen presents their ZERO PROOF COCKTAILS which highlight the Indian Detox with ginger, honey, turmeric, lemon, orange juice, and ginger beer, Herbal Spritz made of mint, pan leaf, lemon, simple syrup and soda water, and the Tamarind Blast prepared with tamarind, red chili powder, cumin, Himalayan salt, and soda water.

The Arth Bar + Kitchen DESSERTS are delicate and delicious for the perfect finish. The Gulabo is a rose petal compote stuffed in fried dough balls soaked in rose syrup, the Mango Chambord Kulfi includes Indian style Chambord liqueur and mango ice cream, and the Assorted Cannoli features a Kesar Elaichi Shrikhand, Butterscotch and Chocolate Cannoli that can be shared with the table.

Arth Bar + Kitchen, designed by Interior Designer Atithi Prajapati who focused on creating a light and contemporary atmosphere mixed with wood tones and warm touches of India, also features a full bar, chef counter, open kitchen, dining room, and two patios.

Arth Bar + Kitchen will be open every Monday through Sunday from 11:30 am to 10:30 pm. For more information or reservations, please visit www.ArthLA.com or call Arth Bar + Kitchen directly at 424.603.4155.

Please follow Arth Bar + Kitchen on Facebook @arthbarandkitchen and Instagram @arthbarandkitchen

Arth Bar + Kitchen

9531 Culver Boulevard

Culver City, CA 90232

424.603.4155

www.ArthLA.com

NEW ORLEANS WINE and FOOD EXPERIENCE ANNOUNCES 2021 CULINARY AWARD WINNERS

July 18, 2021 by evebushman

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA—The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience has announced the winners of the 2021 Culinary Awards. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, a distinguished panel of judges visited each restaurant before the event to chat with the chef, taste his/her dish and shoot a professional photograph of the entry. The votes were compiled, and the winners were revealed during NOWFE’s Grand Tasting events on Friday, June 11 and Saturday, June 12 at The Sugar Mill.

“It was so wonderful to have our chefs and attendees back together at The Sugar Mill this year,” said Aimee Brown, NOWFE Executive Director. “Our chefs presented dishes that proved to be outstanding and a diverse culinary representation of all that our City has to offer.”

This year’s winners are…

BEST OF SHOW
SAVORY – Chef Amarys Koenig Herndon and Chef Jordan Herndon, Palm & Pine
Corner Store Tuna Crudo with Big Shot Pineapple Nuoc Cham and Shrimp Chips

SWEET – Marielle Dupre & Nicole Eiden, Windowsill Pies
Brandied Cherry Pie

SOUPS AND STEWS
GOLD – Chef Matt Farmer, Trenasse
Fowl Gumbo – Chicken, Duck and Turkey, Housemade Andouille with Garlic Rice and Turkey Crackling

MEAT & POULTRY
GOLD (tie) – Chef Jesus Arguelles, Red Lotus at L’Auberge Baton Rouge
Korean Bulgogi with Crawfish Fried Rice and Housemade Kimchi

GOLD (tie) – Chef Tom Wolfe, Rib Room at the Royal Orleans
Crispy Pork Belly, Sultana Risotto, Sweetened Goat Cheese, Rocket and Tamarind Molasses Glaze

SEAFOOD
GOLD – Chef Valeriano Chiella, Domenica
Smoked Scallop Carpione: Bottarga, Calabrian Chili, and Preserved Lemon

SILVER – Chef Jason Caronna, Rizzuto’s Ristorante
Seared Diver Scallop and Pork Belly with Malbec Caramel over a Mascarpone – Creamed Corn Risotto with Crispy Fried Okra

BRONZE – Geordie Brower, Palace Café
Crabmeat Cheesecake

SEAFOOD (Raw)
GOLD – Chef Brett Monteleone, Junior’s on Harrison
Scallop Crudo with Cantaloupe Miso, Togarashi Candied Peanuts, Watermelon Radish and Micro – Cilantro

SILVER – Chef Ciera Fultz, Vyoone’s
Citrus Tuna Tartare with red onion avocado and mango, garnished with microgreens and edible flowers, and served with housemade red potato chips

BRONZE – Poke Loa
Fresh Ahi Tuna Bowl with white rice, spring mix, zucchini noodles seasoned with tamari, sesame oil, and chili paste topped with crab salad, seaweed salad, sesame seeds, baby cucumbers, sweet onion, edamame, furikake, and red tobiko

HONORABLE MENTION – Legacy Kitchen Craft Tavern
Salmon Poke: Salmon Belly with Spicy Ponzu, Sesame on a Fried Wonton with Mango and Micro Cilantro

HONORABLE MENTION – Poke Loa
Salmon Poke Bowl with seaweed salad, crab salad, baby cucumbers, sweet onion, green tobiko, and macadamia nuts

LAGNIAPPE
GOLD – Chef Corey Thomas, Shaya
Vegan Devils on Horseback – dates Medjool, walnut tehwiche, and mushroom “bacon”

SILVER – Chef Ross Dover, Restaurant August
Charred Carrot Agnolotti with Crispy Garlic, Cream Cheese, and Sage

BRONZE (tie) – Chef Prince Lobo, Addis Nola
Bayentu-Misir Wot, Atakilt, Gomen, Keysir with Shiro and Injera

BRONZE (tie) – Chef Brandon Felder, Centerplate
NOLA Carbonara- Housemade Squid Ink Spaghetti, Champagne Cream Sauce, Crispy Pork Belly, Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Sous Vide Egg, and Golden Pea Shoot Petals

HONORABLE MENTION – Chef Nathaniel Zimet, Boucherie
Jerked Avocado Tamale with Charred Squash Cream and Cured Salmon Belly

HONORABLE MENTION – Chef Peter Isaac, Briquette
Salmon Pate on Toasted Bread Rounds

HONORABLE MENTION – Oceana Grill/Mambo’s
Crab Cake Bites with Crawfish Mushroom Cream Sauce

LAGNIAPPE (Sandwich)
GOLD – Chef Martha Wiggins, Café Reconcile
Fried Chicken Sandwich- Pickle Brined Thigh, Crab Boil Mayo, Bibb Lettuce, and House Made Dill Pickle on a Grilled Sweet Potato Rosemary Bun

SILVER – Chef Tung Nguyen, Em Trai Sandwich Co.
Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Bao with a Crispy Wonton Chip

BRONZE – Chef Casey Levy, Mahony’s
Chilled Shrimp, Avocado & Beer Battered Blue Crab Louie Po-boy

DESSERTS
GOLD – Chef Matt Farmer and Martha Gilreath, Trenasse
Pop Pop Fizz Fizz with blood orange curd, gin compressed peaches, cardamom shortbread, orange blossom, and juniper mousse with pop rocks

Named USA Today’s 10Best for Best General Food Festival and Best Wine Festival, the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience has showcased the culinary excellence in our community for over 29 years alongside national and international wines at wine dinners in many of the city’s finest restaurants; at VINOLA, a premium tasting event; at dozens of culinary Labs and demonstrations; and ultimately at the Grand Tastings. NOWFE is a non-profit organization with proceeds going to causes that support culinary education. It has raised more than $1.5 million for local non-profit organizations. www.nowfe.com.

Hotel Citrine, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel and Wild Onion Bistro & Bar Bring Vibrant Hospitality Experience to the Heart of Silicon Valley

July 14, 2021 by evebushman

PALO ALTO, Calif., /PRNewswire/ — Hotel Citrine, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, opens doors June 20 in Silicon Valley. Thoughtfully integrating vibrancy and sustainability, Hotel Citrine offers an exceptionally intuitive experience for travelers. With 150 well-appointed, carefully designed soothing, creative and comfortable guest rooms and suites, Hotel Citrine is the perfect elevated enclave with thoughtful touches and modern amenities.

Hotel Citrine joins Tribute Portfolio, part of Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s extraordinary portfolio of brands. Tribute Portfolio is a growing global family of characterful, independent hotels drawn together by their passion for captivating design and drive to create vibrant social scenes for guests and locals. The hotel is owned and developed by T2 Hospitality, managed by Evolution Hospitality and located on the same campus AC Hotel Palo Alto, which opened this past spring, also part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio.

Hotel Citrine is located at 750 San Antonio Road, minutes from Stanford University, Shoreline Amphitheatre and Caltrain, 12 minutes from San Jose International Airport and 22 minutes from San Francisco International Airport. It’s convenient location near the world’s most innovative companies, unique restaurants, and outdoor activities makes it the ultimate destination for digital nomads visiting the Bay Area as well as leisure guests looking to experience the best of the Valley.

“We are thrilled for Hotel Citrine to join AC Hotel Palo Alto, completing our Palo Alto campus,” said Alex Lane, Campus General Manager. “We look forward to welcoming locals and visitors alike to Hotel Citrine, giving them a vibrant, design-forward space in which to work, relax and socialize.”

Guestrooms feature sustainable bedding and towels, eco-friendly finishes – cork headboards, terrazzo flooring, rain showers and antique brass fixtures. Deluxe King Rooms and One Bedroom Suites also feature balconies. All rooms and suites offer a 55″ TV with high tech connectivity, wifi access points in each guest room, integrated luggage benches, organic bath products from emerginC. The hotel’s flexible indoor/outdoor spaces offer over 400 square feet of gathering space. The larger meeting room opens to an adjacent 590 square foot patio.

Signature restaurant Wild Onion Bistro & Bar is the perfect neighborhood eatery, offering breakfast, brunch, grab-and-go pastries and coffee by morning, and an all-day bistro menu late into the evenings. Open daily, the restaurant features local ingredients, sourced organically when possible, further uniting the property to the surrounding community as a destination for locals and visitors alike. The restaurant’s vibrant open space and sunny patio is inspired by the essence of California cuisine. Chef Duy Tran’s menu features an eclectic mix of the best seasonal and locally sourced produce, paired with unique handcrafted cocktails and elixirs, local craft beers, and hand-selected local wines. Inventive combinations of flavors will be on display in items such as Avocado and Shishido Tacos, Buffalo Cauliflower, Mushroom Eggplant Bolognese and more hearty dishes including Steak Frites, Roasted Chicken and an American Kobe Burger.

Costa Palmas Announces Collaboration with Chef Nancy Silverton

July 6, 2021 by evebushman

EAST CAPE, MEXICO (PRWEB) – Costa Palmas, the 1,000-acre resort and residential community on the East Cape of Los Cabos that is home to Four Seasons Resort & Residences Los Cabos and soon-to-be Amanvari Resort & Residences, has announced a partnership with James Beard Foundation Award winner, author and restauranteur Nancy Silverton, her first restaurant in Mexico. The acclaimed chef, known for multiple Los Angeles eateries such as Michelin-starred Osteria Mozza, Pizzeria Mozza and chi SPACCA plans to inject a distinctly Baja spirit into the refined yet relaxed atmosphere of the Los Angeles favorites, as she becomes the anchor in the first phase of the Costa Palmas Marina Village.

“After many years of anticipation, we are thrilled to announce this collaboration with Nancy and her team at Mozza at the center of the Marina Village at Costa Palmas,” says Jason Grosfeld, Chairman and CEO of Irongate (Costa Palmas developer). “The casual and vibrant Marina Village plaza will come to life under Nancy’s direction set around a handmade pizza oven with the active Marina only steps away. Mozza at Costa Palmas will be a place where both members and guests socialize from day to night, and it will very quickly become the place to be at Costa Palmas.”

Set to open early this fall, Mozza will be centrally located in the courtyard of the Marina Village, located at the edge of the international Costa Palmas Marina. The multi-dimensional eatery will be the perfect blend of Osteria Mozza, Pizza Mozza and chi SPACCA, all with an East Cape flare, that features the incredible seafood, produce and provisions of the area. As each day evolves, the menu will change and the crowd may change, but the energy will always be there around the handmade wood-fired pizza oven with the world-class marina in view.

“I’m excited to be partnering with Costa Palmas for the debut of my first Baja outpost. Mozza will soon open, as the classic 1939 song goes, ‘South of the border, down Mexico way,’ ” says Nancy Silverton. “The vibrant flavors of Mozza’s cuisine combined with the alluring vibe of Baja will be a match made in culinary  heaven. I don’t want to give away the entire menu just yet, but I’ll tease just this … imagine the Mozza wood-fired oven and grill sizzling with the glorious bounty of the Sea of Cortez right outside your window. We can’t wait for our guests to experience what we have in store.”

With the yachts, sailboats and fishers forming its backdrop, Mozza at Costa Palmas will seamlessly blend the indoors with the outdoors to complement the natural East Cape setting.  Made up of a variety of interconnected spaces, Mozza’s design will feel like it has evolved over time. Bright, colorful furniture pieces that evoke the fragmented spirit of Postmodernism will be juxtaposed against a worn and weathered landscape that hints at the elegance of traditional Mexican design.  Mozza’s grab-and-go counter, on the other hand, will be reminiscent of a timeless Italian deli.

The Costa Palmas Marina Village, located at the heart of Costa Palmas international marina, adjacent to Four Seasons Resort and Residences, will be alive from the earliest morning hours as fishermen set out, until the wee hours of the night as the late-night crowd heads in. The Marina Village will be connected with the marina itself as world-class sailing, fishing and cruising yachts up to 250 feet form the backdrop to everyday village life. The concept is designed to be a marketplace that works together as retail spaces, open pavilions, restaurants and cafes open onto a central plaza to create a lively gathering place. Costa Palmas Marina Village will be where the community comes together.

Plans for future Marina Village phases include a vibrant boutique hotel and residences, a nightclub, new retail, as well as the Costa Palmas Yacht Club, the marina outpost for the private members-only club at Costa Palmas. Four Seasons Private Villas within the Costa Palmas Marina, only a short water taxi from the Village, are available for sale now.

ABOUT NANCY SILVERTON
Nancy Silverton is the co-owner of Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles and Newport Beach as well as Osteria Mozza, Mozza2Go and chi SPACCA in Los Angeles. Silverton also founded the world-renowned La Brea Bakery as well as Campanile Restaurant, an institution that Angelenos cherished for decades. Early in her career, Nancy was named Food and Wine Magazine’s “Best New Chef.” In 2014, she received the highest honor given by the James Beard Foundation for “Outstanding Chef.” That year, she was listed as one of the Most Innovative Women in Food and Drink by both Fortune and Food and Wine Magazines. Silverton is the author of eight cookbooks and was profiled in 2017 on Netflix’s documentary series “Chef’s Table.” Nancy is active in fundraising for numerous charities including No Kid Hungry and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation in Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

ABOUT COSTA PALMAS
Costa Palmas is a 1,000-acre (400 hectare) beachfront resort community located 45 minutes from Los Cabos International Airport on the East Cape of the Baja Peninsula. Thoughtfully and sensitively designed and situated along a two-mile (3.2 kilometer) stretch of swimmable beach, Costa Palmas introduces an elemental form of luxury hospitality set among organic farms on an international marina. The community is home to Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas, Amanvari, a Robert Trent Jones II 18-hole golf course, 18 acres (7.3 hectares) of orchards and farms, and its own private beach and yacht club.

ABOUT IRONGATE
With operations in California, Colorado, Hawaii and Mexico, Irongate is a full-service real estate development firm specializing in residential and resort communities located in world-class destinations. The company’s expertise lies in identifying opportunities for high profile, luxury branded projects that combine timeless architecture and design with five-star service. Entrepreneurial in spirit, the vision of Irongate is to elevate the communities in which they develop creating one-of-a-kind opportunities and introducing brands that attract visitors, residents, and investors alike.

Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) Presented By Halekulani Unveils Inaugural 2021 HIFF Eat.Drink.Film Series

June 6, 2021 by evebushman

HONOLULU (PRWEB) – The Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) presented by Halekulani, continues their re-imagined 2021 Spring Showcase edition with the launch of the third mini-fest in the series, EAT. DRINK. FILM. an expansion of HIFF’s popular Eat. Drink. Film. program presented as part of the annual Fall Festival. Eat. Drink. Film. will run June 10th-20th, and will feature culinary films from around the world including dramatic features and documentaries. The program will feature 6 feature films & 4 short films along with filmmaker Q&As, live virtual foodie events, and special partnerships with local restaurants. Highlights include:

CRIOLLO, documentary feature directed by Pablo Banchero, follows Uruguayan chef Hugo Soca as he takes the audience through the heart of Uruguay’s rich culinary traditions.

The International Premiere of FOOD LUCK, directed by Jimon Terakado. Many are calling this Narrative Feature a cinematic love letter to Japanese grilled beef.

The United States Premiere of MIO’S COOKBOOK, directed by Haruki Kadokawa. This gorgeous period piece set in early 1800’s Japan, follows young Osaka-native Mio as she tries to infiltrate the Edo restaurant scene.

Virtual Panel program: THE SHEROES OF THE KITCHEN a special conversation with women chefs and food activists from Hawai‘i to discuss their careers in one of the nation’s most exciting culinary scenes, as well as issues involving gender parity, workers rights, food sustainability, the many challenges faced in the wake of a global pandemic, and the future trends of an industry in crisis. The panel will include Chef Leanne Wong (Top Chef, Koko Head Cafe, Pioneer Inn) and will be moderated by Martha Cheng (Food editor, Honolulu Magazine, Author of THE POKE COOKBOOK).

“HIFF is proud to present this multi-day feast celebrating exceptional culinary cinema from various nations,” says HIFF Executive Director Beckie Stocchetti. “This showcase spotlights the stories of nourishment beyond the plate and reminds us that what we consume (both food and film) matters. As we work to rebuild a sustainable landscape in Hawai’i, HIFF is partnering with local restaurants and providers to spotlight our diverse and remarkable culinary industry here in the islands.”

Current restaurants and providers include Bitesquad, Kamitoku Ramen, Kokua Market and Shokudo. Stay tuned for additional partners in the coming weeks.

The HIFF Showcase Series will end the season with VIVE LE CINEMA, a celebration of the latest films by emerging filmmakers in French cinema. Festival Passes and individual ticket purchases available online at hiff.org. Follow HIFF on Instagram and Facebook for more information.

2021 HIFF Showcase Series

CRIOLLO
Uruguay 2020
Director: Pablo Banchero
Documentary Feature
Hawaii Premiere
Raised on his grandmother’s cooking, celebrated Uruguayan chef Hugo Soca takes us through the heart of his nation’s rich culinary traditions—from homemade wine to Pampas barbecue to simmering fish stew and all points in-between—in this mouth-watering, joyous celebration.

FOOD LUCK
Japan 2020
Director: Jimon Terakado
Narrative Feature
International Premiere
Food writer Yoshito grew up with his single mother who ran a yakiniku restaurant after his father died. But since the closure of the restaurant, he has become estranged from his mother, and from yakiniku. When he is given an assignment to cover yakiniku for a new online magazine, it stirs up both his love for this grilled meat delicacy, and secrets from his past. Directed by actor/comedian and popular food critic Jimon Terakado, FOOD LUCK is a love letter to Japanese grilled beef.

HER NAME IS CHEF
United States 2020
Director: Peter Ferriero
Documentary Feature
Hawaii Premiere
Her Name is Chef showcases the stories of six amazingly talented, inspiring, females of the kitchen. Each share their triumphs in cutting through the clichés of the restaurant industry, and explore how they broke down the doors to ‘earn’ the title of Chef. Host Leia Gaccione sits down with Elizabeth Falkner, Fatima Ali, Hillary Sterling, Esther Choi, Juliet Masters, and Caroline Schiff. They open up their hearts and minds to the world, leaving no stone unturned.

MEAT THE FUTURE
Canada 2020
Director: Liz Marshall
Documentary Feature
Hawaii Premiere
Meat the Future is a timely documentary about “cultivated meat”, a food science that grows real meat from animal cells in a controlled environment, free from disease and infection; a revolution in food production, proposing a sustainable way to feed the world in the future – without the need to breed, raise and slaughter animals. At the forefront of this urgent new frontier is cardiologist Dr. Uma Valeti, the co-founder and CEO of Memphis Meats, one of the leading start-ups in the field. From a meatball which cost $18,000 per pound in 2016 to the world’s first “clean” chicken fillet in 2017 for half the cost, the film follows Valeti over three years as the cost of production continues to plummet, and consumers eye the birth of this industry.

MIO’S COOKBOOK
Japan 2020
Director: Haruki Kadokawa
Narrative Feature
United States Premiere
Early 1800’s Japan. Young Osaka-native Mio finds herself estranged from her hometown and her best friend Noe when her parents die tragically. Years later, after being taken in by a local restaurateur, she finds herself cooking at a soba shop in Edo. It’s not long before it becomes clear that she is a masterful chef, quickly creating a sensation in town, and unknowingly connecting her with Noe (now a famous courtesan). However, challenges abound for a young woman trying to infiltrate the Edo restaurant scene.

SEXUAL DRIVE
Japan 2021
Director: Yoshida Kota
Narrative Feature
North American Premiere
Three short stories about sex, aphrodisiac foods and secret desires. In part one, Natto, named after the fermented soybean dish, wiley food obsessed Kurita visits designer Enatsu purporting to be in an affair with the latter’s wife Masumi. In Mapo, named after the Chinese tofu dish, Kurita asks Akane, the woman who used to bully him, to hit him with her car. And in Ramen, Kurita infiltrates the adulterous affair between married Ikeyama and Momoka.

SHORTS PROGRAM

BLOODLINE
United States | 27M
Directors: James Q Chan, Santhosh Daniel
An intimate profile by directors James Q. Chan (Forever, Chinatown) and Santhosh Daniel of Vietnamese-American chef, Tu David Phu, and the evolution of his culinary aesthetic—borne from a bloodline that traces back through childhood and his family’s unspoken history of war, and set within a conversation of image-making and cultural bias, or how preferences for food often mirror our perceptions, and prejudices, of people.

FARMING SLOWLY
United States | 8M
Director: Anthony Newen
Catherine Nguyen is a passionate young Vietnamese-American woman farmer who rejects the industrial mono-crop way of growing food, and focuses on traditional and natural ways. Her philosophy that we should slow down, build a community around our food, and do it organically can help us live a happier, healthier, and more engaged life.

CHEF MAVRO’S ALOHA
United States | 27M
Take a deep dive into the remarkable cooking style of the James Beard award winner and one of the pioneers of Hawai‘i’s famed pacific culinary movements, Chef Mavro.

FAMILY INGREDIENTS: WISCONSIN
United States | 25M
Valerie Kaneshiro, a mixture of Japanese and Native American, was raised on the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe reservation in Wisconsin, her mom’s ancestral home. Forced to leave her home at 15, disconnected from her Indian roots she so loved, Valerie tells a story of loss and rediscovery and all the lessons learned while sharing an ingredient to a cultural dish found in Wisconsin and Hawai‘i.

Virtual Panel Discussion
THE SHEROES OF THE KITCHEN
Inspired by the documentary HER NAME IS CHEF, which spotlights six bad-ass, inspiring, sheroes of the kitchen, this free HIFF virtual panel will invite womyn chefs and food activists from Hawai‘i to discuss their careers in one of the nation’s most exciting culinary scenes, as well as issues involving gender parity, workers rights, food sustainability, the many challenges faced in the wake of a global pandemic, and the future trends of an industry in crisis. The panel will include Chef Leanne Wong (Top Chef, Koko Head Cafe, Pioneer Inn) and will be moderated by Martha Cheng (Food editor, Honolulu Magazine, Author of THE POKE COOKBOOK).

EAT.DRINK.FILM. Fest: June 10-20
VIVE LE CINEMA: July 8-18

Event Listing
What: 2021 HIFF Showcase Series (April 15, 2021 – July 31, 2021)
INDIGENOUS LENS powered by Pacific Islanders in Communications: April 15 -25
J-FEST: May 13 – 23
EAT.DRINK.FILM. Fest: June 10-20
VIVE LE CINEMA: July 8-18

Festival Passes and individual ticket purchases available online at hiff.org.

http://www.HIFF.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HIFFHAWAII/
Twitter: @HIFF
Instagram: @HIFFHawaii

Tickets
All Series Pass (includes all 4 series)
Early Bird $120 General | $100 Member
Regular $150 General | $120 Member

Individual Series
$45 Regular | $40 Member

Individual Tickets
$8 General | $6 Member

About Hawai‘i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani (HIFF)
Established in 1981, the Hawai‘i International Film Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of cultural exchange and media in the Pacific Rim. HIFF is a premier international film event that has won the praise of international filmmakers, scholars, educators, governments, programmers and film industry leaders across the globe. HIFF’s programming has two particular mandates: to be a festival of record for emerging films from Asia, the Pacific, and North America and to present the top festival films from around the world, annually screening films from over 45 countries. HIFF Industry and HIFF VR presents content and panels in the fields of film, music, virtual reality, and new media entertainment. These transmedia programs reflect HIFF’s commitment to exhibiting innovative creative content coming from the Asia Pacific Rim. Visit hiff.org for more information.

HIFF’s key presenting sponsor is Halekulani Corporation and major sponsors are: Hawaiian Airlines, and Middle Management.

SUZANNE GOIN AND CAROLINE ANNOUNCE OPENING OF A.O.C. IN BRENTWOOD

May 6, 2021 by evebushman

LOS ANGELES, California – Chef Suzanne Goin and business partner Caroline Styne, owners and operators of The Lucques Group, announce that they will open a Westside location of their award-winning restaurant A.O.C. in the space formerly known as Tavern in early May 2021.

Caroline Styne at The Shrine Auditorium on January 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Los Angeles Magazine

Located at 11648 San Vicente Boulevard in Brentwood, the restaurant will feature the small plates format that A.O.C. originated with Suzanne’s regularly changing menu inspired by California’s seasons and sourcing products from regional farmers’ markets which helped her win the coveted Outstanding Chef Award from the James Beard Foundation in 2016. Caroline, who similarly won Outstanding Restaurateur in 2018, will curate the wine program that A.O.C. is known for, a large selection of wines available by the glass and carafe and featuring small-production wines from grapes that are either sustainably, organically or biodynamically grown. The beverage program will feature local beer producers and a seasonal selection of market-driven cocktails.

Overseeing the operation as General Manager is the venerated Matt Duggan, the man who remembers everyone’s name and face and is well recognized for effortlessly running Suzanne and Caroline’s flagship Lucques from 2008 until its closure last March 2020. Hamilton Lyons, former chef de cuisine of Tavern, will lead the A.O.C. culinary team.

The space has been redesigned by the acclaimed LA based design firm Nickey Kehoe who are known for their well-honed aesthetic—a masterful combination of traditional inspiration alongside contemporary elegance, equilibrium, and enchantment. About the project, Nickey Kehoe said, “We took our cues from the charm and warmth of the existing A.O.C. and added those elements to the airy and elegant Brentwood space.” The decor encompasses the addition of cozy booths in the bar room, beautiful fabrics, new color scheme, and a more modern yet intimate vibe. With an eye to the post-Covid future, the space now includes a moody private dining room perfect for gatherings of groups of up to 30 guests. A beautiful new outdoor dining area has been created by local darling Fi Campbell Landscapes who stated, “For A.O.C Brentwood, I imagined a light and airy dining experience, inspired by the colors of our native California chaparral, that would evoke the delightful outdoor cafes of Aix en Provence and Southern Spain.”

“We are incredibly excited about this as we have seen such positive response to A.O.C. at our Third Street location and feel that there is definitely a need for our small plates dining format on the west side “ states Caroline Styne. “After the devastation and tragedy of the past year, we are beyond thrilled to reopen this restaurant with a new concept and vibrant forward-looking energy. We feel so fortunate to have this moment to build on the positivity of the city and country as it comes back to life. And, more than anything, we can’t wait to get our staff back to work!”

A.O.C. in Brentwood will serve dinner nightly from 5:00 p.m. expanding to daily lunch, weekend brunch and breakfast in coming weeks with takeout and delivery options as well.

Opening date and hours to be announced soon.

ABOUT THE LUCQUES GROUP:

With the opening of Lucques, their flagship restaurant, in 1998, James Beard award-winning Chef/Author Suzanne Goin and award-winning Restaurateur Caroline Styne planted the seeds for The Lucques Group, a Los Angeles hospitality company that comprises two fine dining restaurants – A.O.C. in both Los Angeles and Brentwood. Along with these culinary enterprises, the company also operates the Larder Baking Company and comprehensive food services for the Hollywood Bowl. They will operate new restaurants – Caldo Verde and Cara Cara – at the highly anticipated Proper Hotel opening in downtown Los Angeles in 2021. The Lucques Group is dedicated to seasonally influenced cooking and focuses on sourcing local, organic produce from which Goin creates soulful dishes that are bold in flavor, vibrant, layered and complex.

A.O.C.

11648 San Vicente Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90049

310.806.6464

For further information and complete menus for A.O.C.,

visit www.aocwinebar.com

Please visit Suzanne Goin & Caroline Styne’s restaurants on the Web:

www.thelucquesgroup.com

Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne are Social!

Follow Suzanne on Instagram at @SuzanneGoin

Follow Caroline on Instagram at @carolinestyne

Auberge du Soleil Announces The Reopening Of Its Iconic Michelin Star Restaurant And The Return Of Fine Dining On The Terrace

April 29, 2021 by evebushman

RUTHERFORD, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley’s quintessential adult getaway, has announced the reopening of The Restaurant, the property’s culinary landmark, featuring a new two- or three-course prix fixe lunch menu ; a three- or four-course prix fixe or six-course tasting menu for dinner service; and a three-course brunch menu available on Saturdays and Sundays. The Restaurant, one of Napa Valley’s first fine dining establishments and recipient of 13 consecutive Michelin Stars, is synonymous with Wine Country cuisine and widely considered a “must experience” culinary destination among discerning travelers and locals alike.

Photo: @verticalluxurytravel

Simultaneously, the hotel’s Bistro and Bar will welcome guests with its original menu concept featuring a range of casual dishes meant to be enjoyed with refreshing cocktails, craft brews and a vast selection of more than 40 wines by the glass that offer a balanced selection of California and French/Old World wines.

Enhancements to the hotel’s beverage program include a range of palate pleasing Aperitifs, French-Inspired Cocktails, and elevated “Classics” featuring the most indulgent versions of time-honored standards such as the Martini, Manhattan, Old Fashioned and Negroni, along with an array of Speciality Cocktails and a new selection of Digestifs.

“Reopening The Restaurant is something we’ve all been looking forward to these many months as it’s the cornerstone for the full sensory experience of the property. Dining on the Terrace can transport you to the south of France while seated in the heart of Napa Valley,” said Bradley Reynolds, Managing Director of Auberge du Soleil. “We’ve missed the special birthdays, anniversaries and celebrations that our guests share with us and we can’t wait to begin creating life-long memories together once again.”

Auberge du Soleil offers spectacular panoramic views of vineyards and mountain vistas from the expansive outdoor terrace, where guests may sip, savor and linger over the dining experience of their choice: The Restaurant, with an elevated fine-dining approach that showcases seasonal, locally-grown ingredients prepared with French techniques; or the Bistro and Bar, which provides the ideal mid-valley respite for an informal lunch between wine tastings or a casual dinner to relax over at the end of the day.

Robert Curry has served as Executive Chef at Auberge du Soleil since 2005, overseeing the culinary program at The Restaurant, Bistro and Bar and hotel’s Private Dining exclusively for Weddings and Events. Curry began his culinary career in his native Los Angeles and received his degree from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park. After graduation, he was recruited by Michael Richard and Alain Giraud for Citrus Restaurant in New York. In the late ‘90’s he travelled to France working with Alain Ducasse at his three-star Louis XV in the Hotel de Paris, Joseph Thuet at the Moët & Chandon Résidence de Trianon in Epernay, and in Paris at the two-star Michel Rostang. He later served as Executive Chef at the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant at the CIA in St Helena, California, eight years at Domaine Chandon in Yountville, as Executive Sous Chef under Philippe Jeanty and ultimately succeeding him as Executive Chef.

Reservations are now being accepted for The Restaurant by contacting Auberge du Soleil at 707.967.1211 or online via OpenTable. The Restaurant will be open for Lunch, Wednesday-Friday from 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM, followed by Dinner service from 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM. Brunch will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM. The Restaurant will open seven days a week starting May 1.

The Lunch menu will offer a two course prix fixe for $60 and three-courses for $75. Dinner service will feature three courses for $135, four courses for $155 or a six-course tasting menu for $185. All menus include vegetarian selections available with each course.

The Bistro and Bar offers continuous service seven days a week from 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM. Reservations are suggested via 707.967.1211 or online at OpenTable.

Inspired by the relaxed sophistication of the South of France and infused with California soul, Auberge du Soleil features wine country’s most luxurious accommodations, spectacular valley views, a 13-time Michelin Star award-winning Restaurant, and exclusive Auberge du Soleil Spa. Known for passionate, intuitive service that sets the standard for gracious hospitality, the property is a long-standing member of Relais & Châteaux, an international association of outstanding boutique properties known for their excellence in hospitality and the culinary arts.

Auberge du Soleil consistently receives the highest accolades from the hospitality industry, discerning guests and the media, and is perennially ranked among the best and most romantic hotels in the world by influential publications. For more information please visit http://www.aubergedusoleil.com and follow at facebook.com/AubergeduSoleil and on Twitter and Instagram at @AubergeduSoleil. For reservations and availability contact the hotel directly at 800.348.5406 or email ads.reservations@aubergeresorts.com.

About Relais & Châteaux
Created in 1954, Relais & Châteaux is an organization of more than 560 exceptional hotels and restaurants run by independent men and women, all driven by a passion for their profession and dedicated to the authenticity of the relationships they build with their customers. With operations on all five continents, from the vineyards of Napa Valley to Provence and the beaches of the Indian Ocean, Relais & Châteaux members invite all to discover the art of living enshrined in the location’s culture, and share a unique, human story. Relais & Châteaux members have a profound desire to protect and showcase the richness and diversity of the cuisine and inviting cultures of the world. They worked towards this goal, along with the goal to preserve local heritages and the environment, through a UNESCO Manifesto in November 2014. For more information please visit http://www.relaischateaux.com.

About Auberge Resorts Collection
Auberge Resorts Collection is a portfolio of extraordinary hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the soul of the locale to life through captivating design, exceptional cuisine and spas, and gracious yet unobtrusive service. With 19 hotels and resorts across three continents, Auberge invites guests to create unforgettable stories in some of the world’s most desirable destinations. For more information about Auberge Resorts Collection, please visit aubergeresorts.com. Follow Auberge Resorts Collection on Facebook at facebook.com/AubergeResorts and on Twitter and Instagram at @AubergeResorts and #AlwaysAuberge.

The 1st Annual Women in Food and Farming Festival Kicks Off in New York’s Hudson Valley May 8-9

April 28, 2021 by evebushman

STONE RIDGE, N.Y. (PRWEB) – On May 8th and 9th, 2021 (Mother’s Day Weekend), EscapeMaker.com will present the 1st Annual Women in Food and Farming Festival at Stone Ridge Orchard in the Hudson Valley of New York State – 2 hours outside of New York City in Ulster County.

The 2-day-long hybrid live/virtual event will honor women-owned farms, businesses, and entrepreneurs in the food and craft beverage industries. The May 8th live farmers market will host dozens of vendors with products ranging from cakes and cookies to fresh veggies to honey and hot sauce to teas, hard ciders and spirits – all locally sourced and produced and for sale to the public. There will also be a craft beverage tent for on-site beverage purchases.

Mask wearing is required, and although the live farmers market will take place on the expansive 115-acre farm and orchard, attendance will be capped and procedures in place to adhere to all COVID-19 safety protocols and social distancing.

Additionally, for those not able to attend in person, there will be a virtual experience on May 9 of over 25 online tours, demos, and educational presentations on various topics for the public and trade by industry professionals, including Food Network television personalities Chef Maneet Chauhan (“Chopped” judge and Culinary Institute of America alumnus) and Chef Judy Joo, (the host of “Korean Foods Made Simple” and Iron Chef UK). Other presenters of note include the prolific author and activist and former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson on “Food & Connection.”

Local changemaker speakers include renowned cidermaker and Breezy Hill Orchard farmer, Elizabeth Ryan with a “Hard Cider Tour,” leading entrepreneur Liz Neumark of Great Performances and the Sylvia Center with a “Farm-to-Fork Tour of Katchkie Farm,” and author and expert reporter Amy Wu on the latest in “Women in AgTech.”

Presented by EscapeMaker and Fulton Stall Market, the farmers market and the virtual event is sponsored by The New York Cider Association, Cabot Creamery, Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider, SnapDragon & RubyFrost Apples, The Diamond Mills Hotel Saugerties, Doorstep Market, VisitIthaca.com, and SullivanCatskills.com, with media partners like Heritage Radio, Edible Hudson Valley and Edible Manhattan.

The event encourages women consumers and entrepreneurs from across the food and farming industries, hospitality service members, chefs, restaurateurs, winemakers, craft beverage producers, local agritourism destinations, and lodging operators to attend, shop, taste, learn and participate – either in person or virtually. A portion of ticket proceeds benefits the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley.

“Now more than ever in this COVID age, women are being forced to leave the workforce in droves. Local food systems are breaking down, and local agritourism is suffering. We’ve got to dig deeper to find solutions, says Caylin Sanders, President of EscapeMaker.com. “A dream of mine for many years, this event will have a live farmers market at the beautiful Stone Ridge Orchard for shoppers to make conscious buying decisions to support women – the perfect fertile ground for new tastes, trends, and new local culinary trip ideas. Plus, it will also virtually bring together women online from all sectors within the industry to empower and inspire each other.”

Women vendors, farmers, producers, and speakers will be featured in two ways:

Saturday, May 8: LIVE OUTDOOR NEW YORK STATE FARMERS MARKET:

Local foods and beverages from women producers and farmers will be for sale to the public, and prize raffles will be held from 11am-4pm at Stone Ridge Orchard. Attendees will receive a to-go swag bag of local products to eat separately at socially distanced picnic tables or 10ft field pods. They can also get info about local agritourism farm escapes and farm-table restaurants, wine, distillery, and cidery trails. Social distancing protocols will allow consumers to watch demos and browse and shop for gifts. Entrepreneurs can gather info about MWBE certification, training, grants, and funding opportunities to either start-up or grow their businesses. A brief kick-off introduction will highlight the importance of celebrating women in business and creating opportunities for growth in the agriculture, food and craft beverage, and agritourism sectors.

Sunday, May 9: ONLINE VIRTUAL EVENT – ON-DEMAND:

The virtual event will offer tours, online presentations and workshops of interest to the public and also budding entrepreneurs. Topics to include –

Cooking demos
Farm tours
Food justice and policy
Craft beverage trends
Food and connection
Holistic nutrition
Foraging
Farming in the COVID age
Social media tips for food businesses
Adding glamping to a farm
Women cookbook authors
Women chef and farmer spotlights

“Women empowerment is a priority at Fulton Stall Market, where our goal is 80% of products from women farmers and producers,” says Bob Lewis, FSM’s Public Market Advisor and co-founder of New York City’s Greenmarket, 45 years ago. We’re excited to have the chance to honor their accomplishments during this event, inspire the next generation, and foster the upstate-downstate local food system connection.”

TICKETS: A portion of ticket proceeds benefits the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley.

Students 21 and Under: FREE on May 8 only
ALL-ACCESS PASS: $25 and includes live market access and a swag bag of samples on May 8 and virtual event access on May 9. The first 100 registrants will get a free gift box of cheese from Cabot Creamery delivered to their doors.
VIP PASS: $75 and includes live market access and a swag bag of samples and an exclusive live orchard walk and talk with Stone Ridge Orchard farmer Elizabeth Ryan and cider tasting flight under a 300-year old oak tree on May 8, plus virtual event access on May 9.

A portion of the proceeds benefits the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley. For tickets and info on the live farmers market and virtual events on May 8-9, visit http://www.womennourish.com.

Vintage Eve Circa 9/2018 – Mutual Trading Show 2018: An Array of Japanese Food and Drink Reviewed

April 13, 2021 by evebushman

This would be the second year of discovery for us: attending the Mutual Trading Japanese Food and Restaurant Expo. While the wide array of Japanese food and beverages takes center stage, I really like to cover the show to learn something new, and I do every time.

If you just want to see the food and drink, my photos are here. Of special note for me:

Japan’s #1 Nama Sake in a CAN: Funaguchi Kikusui Ichibanshibori. It was served to us three ways: fresh and cold from the can, sweetened with citrus juices and with slices of cucumber. Each was quite remarkable.

Masahiro Shuzo, a company that has “been in business for more than 130 years”, Awamori – a distilled 30% ABV (60 proof) that is produced in Okinawa.

The Umepon liqueur was a favorite last year for us so I was happy to see them back and also try a cocktail version. It is orange and plum liqueurs blended with rice shochu.

I had Dassai sake in my WSET level one sake course, also noted that one of the numbered versions is served at our local Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ. (The bottles are numbered and that number correlates with how much the rice grain is milled to. The lower the number the finer the grain, and hence, the finer the sake.) At the show I expected to see the usual 50, but they also had a 23 to sample, which was really delicious.

The brand “Dragon God” sold only to restaurants, had a couple of different sake that I enjoyed. Look for these when you dine out.

Of the displays I was duly impressed by the many award winning beverages, glass and pottery sake serving sets and the array of sashimi, sushi, tofu, sesame seed – from oils to desserts – and noodles. The longest line is always for small servings of ramen. If I were to work with a Japanese restaurant I’d put my money on ramen.

If you want to know what I learned about this year, namely pairing sake with all kinds of food, read on:

Attendees were extremely lucky to have a class offered on food pairing with Antony Moss MW and Chef Nobuo at Teeter House.

Moss is the Director of Strategic Planning for WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) and though he has earned his MW his focus for the last five years has turned more to sake. He said sake pairs easily with food as there are no tannins or acid.

Chef Nobuo said that drinking sake with a meal will “clean whatever stays in the mouth” and the “combination of contrasting things (makes pairings) delightful.”

During the seminar we were given two samples to try: Miyazaki beef and Bluefin tuna. Both were served with a specifically selected cold sake that would enhance the flavor of the dish, and by a show of nods when Moss asked, both pairings succeeded. The selection of a sweeter sake with the beef was truly inspired. Of course both the fish and the beef had been marinated as well as served with a topping, which was all taken into account in the selection of the sake. Long story short, this was just really the beginning of what we would learn about pairing sake with dishes other than sushi.

Moss said that he often enjoys a sparkling sake with English Fish and Chips or an Italian calamari dish. Junmai or Honjozo sake paired better with Bolognese than a Chianti in his educated experience. Moss further explained that during the first half of the 20^th century menus had a “wide mix of styles” in European cuisine, especially French cuisine. There were sauternes on the menu that were paired with steaks. This wholly positive experience he believes “dispels the myth of (having to have) red wine with steak.” What may sound “radical” to us is “deeply rooted with both Japanese and European history.”

A couple of questions by the audience that I found interesting:

Did restaurants have to provide a different type of glass if we were going to replace wine with sake at the dinner table? Moss contemplated that Riedel does have glasses for every need…however he said the traditional Japanese cup or glass is fine. And if a wine glass was preferred then a small white wine glass would suffice perfectly. He also said not to feel intimidated by this, and to use your personal preferences as a guide.

A second questions was on temperature. As we had been discussing cold sake pairings would warm sake work as well? While Moss enjoyed sake between 40 degrees and room temperature, he said warming up the sake “can be very satisfying.”

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

IL Tornabuoni, Florence’s Newest Five-Star Luxury Hotel from AG Hotels, Opening 2021

April 8, 2021 by evebushman

ROME, ITALY, : IL Tornabuoni, a new five-star independent luxury hotel will open in 2021 in Florence, Italy. Located along Via Tornabuoni in the historic 12th century Palazzo Minerbetti, the elegant property proposes 62 stylishly designed rooms and suites in the heart of Renaissance Florence.

Owned by AG Group, IL Tornabuoni is part of the AG Hotels collection, a portfolio which includes eleven 5-star and 4-star boutique hotels in Florence and Rome. AG Group is Italy’s first Italian-owned and operated hospitality and tourism group, founded by President, Andrea Girolami, in June 2019. The formation of the AG Group brand, which takes its name from its founder’s initials (AG), was a merger between incoming tourism companies which Girolami had previously created and directed since 2000. Girolami brings over twenty years of experience in tourism and hospitality to AG Group whose capabilities include all aspects of in-house tourism demand with boutique hotels, DMC/ tour operator & event management, hotel consultancy, culinary outlets and retirement homes.

“I believe in Italy. This country is what I care about most. Since I was young, I have had a strong bond with hospitality and after graduating with a degree in economics, I launched myself in promoting our country abroad by traveling continuously. My mantra is – look to the future without ever forgetting history” says Andrea Girolami, Founder and CEO of AG Group. “Given the experience of this past year, we must rethink the future and find inspiration in a new Italian renaissance, a period in which tourism makes a difference. We inspire to bolster our team and our country through our devotion to beauty with IL Tornabuoni.”

Steps from the historic Ponte Vecchio and Arno River, IL Tornabuoni’s interiors were designed by Milan-based architect Andrea Auletta who has collaborated with Girolami on AG Hotels’ ten other properties in Rome. Each of IL Tornabuoni’s four floors were designed as an ode to the Renaissance period, embodying the city’s rich history and artistic magnificence by incorporating distinct regal and bold gem colors including vibrant teals, deep blues, sunny yellows, energetic vermillion and soft greys. Most rooms and suites offer two double beds for guests, a rarity found in much of Italy and Europe, along with grandiose bathrooms which recall the lavishness of ancient spas. The restored Minerbetti Palazzo has retained much of its heritage with state-of-the-art avant-garde interiors and the property’s opulent look and feel perfectly blends historic prestige with modern day beauty.

Guests of IL Tornabuoni are invited to enjoy three dining establishments located throughout the property. IL Magnifico Restaurant & Bistrot, situated on the ground floor, is a tribute to Tuscan gastronomic traditions with Executive Chef Massimiliano Mandozzi at the helm. Chef Mandozzi and his team will focus on local and seasonal ingredients for IL Magnifico’s ever-evolving menus, with a strong emphasis on vegetables including the famous cavolo nero (Tuscan black kale), legumes such as native cannellini beans, and local meats including as Sienese maialino (pork) and the famous Chianina (Tuscan cow). The restaurant’s Pietra Serena floors lend to the rich Florentine atmosphere while leather chairs in a harmony of grey and beige add warmth. IL Magnifico enjoys the soft play of natural light during the day and also boasts an intimate outdoor seating environment.

IL Tornabuoni’s Lucie Gourmet rooftop restaurant opens up onto the elegant Butterfly terrace overlooking Santa Maria Novella, San Frediano, the Ognissanti Church and the many other beauties in Florence’s Renaissance skyline. Designed in graceful pink and bold peacock, the indoor and outdoor spaces offer breathtaking views and a sophisticated setting to enjoy a convivial lunch or aperitivo with signature cocktails and refined dishes. IL Magnifico Café & Champagne Bar, located on the main floor, serves bubbles from only the most sought after Italian and French maison.

IL Tornabuoni invites guests to enjoy signature experiences including Champagne Afternoon Tea, Seven PM Sabrage ritual, L’A Friday Aperitivo, IL Magnifico Saturday Brunch, and delightful sweets at The Temptation Room at IL Magnifico. Additionally, IL Tornabuoni may organize unforgettable celebrations in the Cave wine cellar. A unique, private and intimate atmosphere tucked away in the heart of Florence, the Cave’s attentive staff can curate a special menu of wines and Champagne along with guided wine tastings for guests and small groups.

AG Group’s plans for the future include the addition of more luxury hotels to expand the AG Hotels portfolio. “Our development strategy for AG Group begins with Italy’s main cities of art including Florence with IL TORNABUONI hotel and then Milan, Venice and Rome for the lifestyle and luxury segments. We also feel Sicily, Puglia and Tuscany are important in the short term for new developments. We aim to offer our guests an even more attentive, professional service that is from the heart, as well as advanced technology especially for emerging markets,” notes AG Group’s CEO Andrea Girolami. “AG Hotels, our newest addition which was born two years ago as a rebranding of a group founded several years ago, is our priority and the values we strive for are those of excellence, performance, innovation, authenticity and craftsmanship to name a few.”

For more information on Il Tornabuoni, please visit https://www.iltornabuonihotel.it/ and follow on Instagram and Facebook.