Archive for December 4th, 2008

Escoffier Dinner at Philippe Restaurant, 1 December 2008 – Bangkok

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

Pictured above on the right: Philippe Peretti owner of Philippe Restaurant, Bangkok, on the left: Herve Frerard, of Le Beaulieu Restaurant

Escoffier Dinner
1 December 2008

It turned out to be an excellent dinner with a great pairing of French cuisine by Philippe Restaurant presented brilliantly, by Chef and Owner Philippe Peretti and wines compliments of Gfour Co. Ltd.

Thanks goes to Peter Brongers, President of Escoffier Thailand Chapter, for all his effort in putting this gala dinner together.

The Menu including Wines and Grappa
Aperitif
Amuse Bouche
Prosecco Cuvee Torri  di Credazzo Follador

Langoustine Salad with Truffle Cappuccino
Pinot Grigio Liveo Felluga 2007

Roasted Cobia Kingfish Filet with Chorizo Risotto and Red bell Pepper Sauce

Trou Normand

Wild Boar Stew with Chestnuts
Boccadigabbia Pix Merlot 2001

Brie de Meaux Cheese with Truffles

Nougat Glacé

Coffee / Tea
Grappa La Centenara

Thanks to Gfour Co. Ltd. for the Wine Selection

Rivera, New Concept in Downtown L.A. by Chef John Sedlar – Los Angeles

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

I made the trek quite regularly to Manhattan Beach to a little store front in a large strip mall where a Southwestern restaurant called St. Estephe was located. The Chef/partner John Sedlar was turning out some very upscale cuisine and quite unlike anything in the area; it almost seemed out-of-place at the time. I visited him less often at the oddly named Abiquiu (its namesake is a small town in New Mexico) in Santa Monica.
In December he is about to open Rivera across the street from L.A. Live with partners Bill Chait, founder of Louise’s Trattoria chain, and designer Eddie Soto a former Disney imaging technician. Sedlar has developed a new twist on Latin Cuisine with touches of gastronomic molecular chemistry à la Ferran Adrià. There will also be the Samba Lounge with a bar menu featuring Ceviche and other raw items and the Playa Bar.
Small plates will range from $8 to $16, and full-plate entrées will run from $18 to $29. It could be that the check average could be $35 to $45 per person.

According to Bill Chait, “The price point is designed in a way so that people can eat casually and spend only $30 for dinner.

It will be interesting to see how this restaurant and Celestino Drago’s “Drago Centro”, both establishments coming from seasoned operators, go down in downtown Los Angeles. Most probably, they will do well.