Tag Archives: celebrity chef

Flip Burger Boutique

Flip Burger Boutique is bringing fine dining…to burgers! Conceived by Top Chef alum Richard Blais, he’s offering up the beloved classics but also elevating the concept to a whole new level. Set inside a playful yet modern atmosphere, his unique spin on the traditional burger includes soon-to-be new faves like the pork belly and cheese. Sides range from good ‘ol fries to beer and cheddar soup! And be sure to wash it all down with the truly unique milkshakes – the burnt marshmallow is a keeper! Check out flipburgerboutique.com for more information.

Tom Colicchio Knows How to Get Craft-y

Ever since Tom Colicchio made his mark on Atlanta, Dallas and New York, it was about time that the Top Chef superstar brought Craft to the City of Stars, Los Angeles. Whether it’s lunch, dinner or dessert, Craft restaurant brings swanky, sexy, simple, sophisticated American classics together without ever missing the mark.

Featuring courses of octopus and Dry-Picture 9Aged sirloin, the food at Craft truly cannot be beat and pretty much everything off the menu is worth ordering. And that’s the point, everything comes a la carte, and sides like Shitaki mushrooms will blow your palate away as much as the cooked-to-perfection NY strip steak. Though Craft is known for its fish and meat, it is probably one of the only Los Angeles restaurants with a dessert menu long enough to act on its own. Between classic beignets and fabulous dessert combinations, you truly get the full culinary experience.

Though the food is outstanding on its own, the décor and ambiance of the restaurant truly make it an unforgettable experience. If a party is in your future, make sure to book the outdoor patio that can seat up to 80 people.

In the famous words of Bravo’s Top Chef, “Please pack your knives and go” to this restaurant!

1. Miami Wine & Food Festival April 22-24

Picture 9Ranked as one of the top ten wine events in the nation, the 15th Annual Miami Wine and Food Festival is an event for connoisseurs and simple wine fans alike. Last year’s festival boasted wines from over 60 different wineries, including Moet Hennessy USA and Napa Ridge. The three day festival features an array of culinary and wine events including fine wine tastings, champagne tastings, an interactive dinner with celebrity chef Todd English, and some of the highest quality wine lots in South Florida.

5. Have a Feast During NYC Restaurant Week Jan. 25-Feb. 7

Picture 24New York City is known for having one of the best culinary scenes in the world and Restaurant Week is a time for all New Yorkers to take advantage of the incredible talent without gasping at the bill. For just $24 for lunch and $35 for dinner, people can enjoy a gourmet three-course meal that has been put together by industry heavyweights like David Burke, Mario Batali, and Bobby Flay.

Some 200 restaurants participate in the two week long event including award winning restaurants like Tabla, Megu, Nobu, Rosa Mexicana, Spice Market, and the list goes on and on and on. Reservations begin on January 12th so make sure to book for the coveted restaurants early- and frequently!

2. Have a Feast During NYC Restaurant Week 1/25-2/7/10

Picture 10New York City is known for having one of the best culinary scenes in the world and Restaurant Week is a time for all New Yorkers to take advantage of the incredible talent without gasping at the bill. For just $24 for lunch and $35 for dinner, people can enjoy a gourmet three-course meal that has been put together by industry heavyweights like David Burke, Mario Batali, and Bobby Flay.

Some 200 restaurants participate in the two week long event including award winning restaurants like Tabla, Megu, Nobu, Rosa Mexicana, Spice Market, and the list goes on and on and on. Reservations begin on January 12th so make sure to book for the coveted restaurants early- and frequently!

Pizzeria Mozza: The People Will Tell You It’s Amazing

The pizza is fabulous, the caprese salad is mouthwatering, and the olive oil ice cream is to die for. Owned by Italian culinary heavyweights Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich (son of Lidia Bastianich), don’t be surprised to see that every patron walLAmozzaking out of Pizzeria Mozza raves about every single dish on the menu.

The portions, ideally shared family style, bring the best Italian food to Los Angeles from some of the most talented chefs in the world. The collaboration that is Pizzeria Mozza is far more casual than it’s sister Osteria, but the food is in no way sacrificed.

If you plan on making reservations the day before, think again. Though you might find yourself eating at the bar, the food is that good that you might not even care. This Hollywood hotspot brings fancy food to a casual setting, and that my friends is “Amore!”

1. A Show Stopping New Year at Social Hollywood 12/31/09

Social Hollywood, Hollywood’s only Mansion style venue, invites you to join in on the major social event for New Year’s Eve. Enjoy a spectacular dinner, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts prepared by Citrus’ Celebrity Chef Michel Richard. This is the same Citrus Restaurant that was voted Best Restaurant in the United States by Traveler Magazine.

With three different dance floors and music, there’s something for every taste. Top off the night with a spectacular midnight countdown show with aerialists, performance artists, pyro-displays, special effects, lighting, and much more. In Hollywood they definitely know how to put on a show.

Butter: Fine Cuisine To See and Be Seen

When Butter first opened it was the hot, new restaurant, and six years later it’s still frequented by Hollywood A-listers and sophisticated New Yorkers on a nightly basis.  With three rooms, each serving a different purpose, there’s something for everyone at this restaurant and lounge.

In The Great Room, indulge in the French-inspired, American-executed food while sipping on their Wine Spectator award-winning wine list.  After dinner head downstairs to The Birch Room where you will more than likely run into an Olsen Twin or two. If downstairs gets too crazy, at Butter you have a third option. The Gallery Room, located at the entrance to Butter, is equipped with red leather seats located in a series of nooks so you can cozy up to your date and drink in privacy.

Whether you’re in the mood for fine American cuisine or to see and be seen, Butter has it all.

Bones Gets to the Marrow

The name Bones is appropriate for such a spare, sleek space. It fits the streamlined menu, too. But the flavors of the Asian-inspired small plates and noodle bowls flowing from the tiny open kitchen? They’re anything but bare bones.

BmarrowKnown primarily for his simultaneously soulful and sly approach to contemporary Italian cookery at Luca d’Italia and Osteria Marco, chef-owner Frank Bonanno (who also owns the much-celebrated Mizuna) takes a no less playfully forward tack here—pulling short ribs for eggolls, ultra-refining ramen with poached lobster, and roasting the best, yes, bone marrow in town.

See & Be Seen at Parc

One of the newest editions to Stephen Starr’s empire- of Buddakan and Morimoto fame- is Parc. This chic restaurant allows a bit of escape while still soaking in the beauty and bustle of Rittenhouse Square. Parc pays homage to the brasseries of Paris, doing so with its own charm and style. Parc

In the upcoming winter, warm up at the large zinc bar inside with one of their signature and delicious cocktails. When the weather starts to warm, you’ll be lucky to snag a seat at the outdoor bistro tables that are prime for people watching.

Parc serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, and with everything from a delicious brioche french toast with apples and hazelnut butter to a classic steak frites, there’s not much you can go wrong with on this all-star menu.

No matter what time or what season, there’s no reason to miss out on this popular, chic café. Vive la France!

Guilty Pleasures at Momofuku Milk Bar

Momofuku Milk Bar is restaurateur extraordinaire Chef David Chang’s sweet tooth answer to his hugely successful group of savory eateries in the East Village (and now Midtown as well). With the help of Pastry Chef Christina Tosi, the Milk Bar serves up wild delights like Peach Tea Soft Serve, the classic Cereal Milk Soft Serve, Corn Cookies, and Compost Cookies – which unlike the simple but tasty Corn Cookie has a lot of ingredients in it including pretzels, potato chips, coffee, oats, butterscotch, and chocolate chips. You can also get a bizarre variety of yummy and sometimes savory pies, cakes, breads, and buns here. And then there is the Crack Pie, which, as the menu informs, is made up of two components only: toasted oat crust and gooey butter filling. Seems a little vague, no? Though anyone that has tasted this confectionary delight knows that the title of the treat speaks volumes compared to the description. Coffee lovers will also be happy to hear that the only beans in house here – brewing and in the Compost Cookie – are Stumptown coffee beans.

Insider tip: visit the Milk Bar on a weekday if you don’t like to wait for your treats. Otherwise, come on a Friday or a Saturday night and wait in line with all the other Crack Pie addicts. The people watching is good and a couple of celebrities have been known to stop by for their fix too.