Jodi Jackson’s Hollywood

You just can’t mess with perfection and at Johannes that is pretty much what you are going to get. From the soup to the duck, everything here is a work of art and hard to mess with. The competition just doesn’t exist and all you know about good cuisine gets thrown out the window. Because at Johannes there is no such thing as good, greatness is everywhere and has been for many years. So why bother making any serious changes when they have been getting all of the best restaurant awards, including Bon Appètit, Restaurant Writer’s Association, Wine Spectator, Alaskan Airlines, Elle Magazine, Out and About, Desert Entertainer, The New York Times, Zagat, Open Table, Travel and Leisure, The Desert Sun, and Yelp for many years in the Coachella valley.

Each plate is presented as a piece of culinary art, with your taste buds in tow, I promise there will be explosions in your mouth. This is cut to the chase kind of food with premier ingredients, all in their designated areas on your plate. What’s more is that you pretty much forget any other cuisine that you have had after imbibing on these remarkable food sculptures. You will be brought back to a time when minimalism did not exist and the more the merrier still survives. What ever your pleasure in the culinary world, Johannes is guaranteed to please.

Here’s what I tried:

Appetizers:

Hop Soup, Wild Mushroom Soup, Crème Fraiche, Chives, White Alba Truffle Oil. Creamy, dreamy, and perfect, this was a very nice start.

Corn Puree Dungeness Crab, so delightful, I could just eat this lovely soup all day.

Malayan Meatballs, Braised In A Yellow Curry Coconut Sauce, Toasted Almonds, Chives, Coconut Flakes. A delicious rendition of this glorious staple, loved it.

Smoked Idaho Steelhead Trout, Potato, Dill & Granny Smith Apple Salad, Horseradish-Grain Mustard Dressing. The presentation on this plate is worth the price of admission, and the flavors are equally as wonderful.

8 Escargots, Baked In Garlic, Bread Crumbs, Green Herb Butter. I had this last time; I think I would do another appetizer in place of this next time.

Entrées:

Spice Rubbed New Zealand Grass Fed Young Lamb Rack, White Beans, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Grilled Green Onions, Passion Fruit Cabernet Reduction. For the meek diner these spices might be too overwhelming, but for me it was a welcomed change on most lamb dishes.

Crispy Roasted Half Duck, Braised Red Cabbage, Polenta Cake, Orange Sauce. I just love a good duck a l’orange and their version is really a masterpiece. This was my favorite entrée item of the night; the braised red cabbage really hit a home run.

Seared Maine Scallops, Potato, Fire Roasted Corn, Leek, Shiitake Mushrooms, Wild Arugula Ragout, Black Truffle Reduction. Scallops and truffles oh my, how could you go wrong! That being said, dig into a great scallop dish.

Beef Goulash, this was their special and done in their style, it kicked you know what, but you have to like this sort of dish.

Desserts:
Orange Cinnamon Chipotle Chocolate Mousse, Made With Bitter Valrhona Chocolate and Raspberry Coulis. This is a very delicate mousse, but packed with great chocolate flavor.

Crème Brulee with Tahitian Vanilla Brulee. What a fabulous way to end my stellar meal.

Ports:

Ruby / Noval Black, this port went great with the chocolate mouse, seeing that it is a very special port.

Tawny Graham’s 6 grapes reserve, no brainer, goes with anything chocolate.

Martinis:

Shoga Tini, Blue Ice Vodka, Fresh Ginger Syrup, Fresh Lemon & Apple Juice, Simple Syrup, and Candied Ginger. This was my favorite martini of the night, nice crisp coolness with a bit of a snap from the ginger.

Au Pear, Pear Vodka, Pear Nectar, French Pear Liqueur, Pear Garnish. Lots of great pear essence, which was very refreshing.

Rosemary-Tini, Sliver Tequila, Rosemary, Lemon, Simple Syrup. I just could not wrap my head around this very strong cocktail.

Triplex, Blue Ice Vodka, X Rated Liqueur Made From Blood Oranges, Mango & Passion, Fruit Juice. All you get in this martini is big orange flavors, so if you’re a fan of oranges go for it.

Wines:

Sauvignon Blanc, Spotswoode, 2013, Sonoma County 72%, Napa County 28 %. You get the best of both counties in this wine and it pairs nicely with the trout salad.

Chardonnay, Rombauer, 2013, Carneros. This wine goes super well with the Corn and Crab puree; it has a nice creamy finish that cooperates with the soups luster.

Chardonnay, Stags Leap. I would pair this wine with the scallops, it is the perfect combination.

Pinot Noir, Starmont, 2012, Carneros. This is a warm and welcoming wine to be paired with the fantastic mushroom soup.

Pinot Noir, Foggy Valley, Sonoma County. Pair this wine with the Malaysian meatballs; it has a nice undertone of berries that will be great with it.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Vineyard 29, Cru, 2012, Napa Valley. This is a deep solid wine that will go great with the lamb.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Jamieson Ranch Vineyards, Napa Valley. This wine would enhance the spicy, sweet Beef Goulash with all of its jammy perfection.

Malbec, Catena Zapata. My taste can be a little different, but the duck went well with this wine for me. I loved the duck and I also loved this wine, so it was a no nonsense combo.

Dessert:

Chocolate Mousse – orange cinnamon, chipotle infused chocolate mouse, with bitter vairhana chocolate, with raspberry coulis. For the chocolate lover you will never find such a great mousse, just try it!!

Crème Brulee, with Tahitian Vanilla Brulee. By far the most decadent dessert ever, with its luscious vanilla flavor and its smooth as silk consistency, a must have.

Palm Springs Life magazine must know something about great cuisine, Johannes has been voted “Best Continental Restaurant” 2013 & 2015, and “Best Romantic Dining” 2012. This magazine is the ultimate guide on where to dine in the desert.

My server was the same server as last year, Barrie. She delighted me with her smart, non nonsense service and scaled my desired menu items down to what she thought would be a better experience. She was right and I enjoyed her choices. Barrie was as engaging as efficient, which is good to know that you’ll be in great hands.

This food is not light, so leave your diets at home where they belong. Indulge in the rich Eastern European sauces and the delicate Austrian staples. Just take a bigger walk on Palm Canyon after dinner and you will feel happy and satiated after your fine dining experience at Johannes in Palm Springs.

Johannes
196 S Indian Canyon Dr.
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(760) 778-0017
www.johannesrestaurants.com/

(Last year I had my guest columnist Steve write the review, this year I am writing and dedicating this review to him, by showing me how to brand myself and my website.)

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My first visit was back in March of 2015 and things just keep getting better here at Trio. The ambiance is always fun, but the food has gotten better in just one year. They have exchanged some sauces and added some new ones, the food I tried this time just hit all high notes. In my opinion, if you want a fun staple in Palm Springs Trio will always be my number one choice.

Owners Mark and Tony are super focused and have reason to be now that they have sold their sister property, “The Purple Room,” to one of the performers there at the venue. Mark says that they are very happy and that it was just way too much work for them to own both amazing establishments. Mark claims that now that it is sold they can harness all of their energy on Trio, and it really shows. Somehow it is reflected in their ever-changing menu and the way the tastes just blend in your mouth. For me, it was a bittersweet moment knowing that they no longer own my one serious dessert hangout, but at the same time it has also given them more time to continue their very famous trademark catering, so all in all everyone is happy.

Here’s what I tried:

Trio Signature Cocktails:

Spatini, EFFEN Cucumber Vodka, Lime Juice, Agave, and Freshly Muddled Cucumber. Almost like a cocktail you would drink at the spa, but spiked.

Forever Marilyn, Three Olives Marilyn Strawberry Vodka, Strawberry Puree, and Fresh Lemon Juice. This cocktail is made for the customer that loves a sweet drink, but it will still quench your thirst.

PSP, Tito’s Vodka, Pur Pear Liqueur, Elderflower Liqueur, and Fresh Lemon Juice. This one is nice and light, the pear really stands out.

Buddha’s Only Sin, Hangar One Buddha’s Citron Vodka, Orgeat Syrup, Fresh Lemon Juice, and Muddled Mint. This was my favorite, I just loved the muddled mint, it added a nice and fresh balance.

Starters:

Calamari, Hand Breaded, Lightly Fried, and House-made Thai Dipping Sauce. The Thai dipping sauce is very innovative and adds a nice little punch.

Seafood Cocktail, White Fish, Scallops, Tomato, Onion, Avocado, Cilantro, Sriracha, Lime, and Tortilla Chips. The fish is fresh and the chips are crunchy, what more could you want?

Soy Ceviche, Edamame, Tofu, Tomato, Cucumber, Avocado, Cilantro, Sriracha, Onion, and Tortilla Chips. Same idea as the appetizer above minus the meat, but just as good.

Wedge Salad Trio Style, Blue Cheese, Bacon, Tomatoes, and House-made Blue Cheese Dressing. Cold and juicy, this salad is one of my favorites. I would do this as a starter and then move on to their 12oz Prime USDA Black Angus NY Strip, guaranteed to be a nice night of dining.

Caesar Salad, Classic Caesar, Romano Cheese, and White Anchovies, Croutons. Not too much dressing, the anchovies rock my world and the romaine lettuce is very crisp, it’s a winner.

Charcuterie & Artisan Cheese Plate, Daily Selection, mini selection of beautiful cheese and cured meats, a celebration on a plate.

Entrées:

Pan Roasted Salmon, Mustard Seed Crusted, Horseradish Honey Mustard Sauce, Couscous, and Seasonal Vegetables. A big, thick piece of fresh salmon with a very creative sauce makes for one very delicious dish.

Scallops Pan Seared Rare, Cantaloupe Habanero Sauce, Israeli Couscous, and Seasonal Vegetables. Nice pop in your mouth scallops with all of the bells and whistles, a nice rendition of this super popular dish. I just loved it.

St. Louis Style Spare Ribs, Chipotle Rub, House-made Barbecue Sauce, Sweet Potato Fries, and Slaw. The ribs are super tender and the sauce has a little kick. If you’re in the mood for ribs, these will not disappoint.

Wild Mushroom Linguine, Shiitake, Cremini, and Portobello in Herbed White Wine Cream Sauce. So many mushrooms, so little time and Trios version of this dish is very welcoming.

Butternut Squash Ravioli, Bread Crumbs, Clarified Butter, and Crispy Sage. So many restaurants are doing this dish, but Trio has done a stellar job of executing the best squash ravioli I have had in a long time. The chiffonade of sage on the top helps this dish soar.

12oz Prime USDA Black Angus NY Strip, Grilled, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, and Creamed Spinach. The steak is grilled to perfection, grill marks and all. The creamed spinach and sour cream potatoes are delicate and decadent.

Prime Rib Special, very thick cut with everything you would want from a man size portion. Cooked Medium Rare, for the prime rib lover, this dish will make you happy you’re alive.

Dessert:

Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla ice Crème, very delicious, absolutely for the chocolate lover.

Trio Wine list

Sauvignon Blanc, Cakebread Cellars – Napa Valley. Drink this lovely wine with either of the two ceviche’s; it will be a nice pair.

Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris, Bollini – Trentino –Alto Adige – Italy. This wine is fruity and effervescent; it is a good match with the calamari and works well with the Thai dipping sauce as well.

Chardonnay, Tolosa – No Oak – Edna Valley. Even though there is no oak, this wine has caramel, vanilla subtle nuances, my kind of wine. You can pair with the scallops; it will bring out the sweet flavors in this brilliant dish.

Chardonnay, Sonoma Cutrer – ‘Russian River Ranches’ – Sonoma. This is a big Chardonnay full of caramel, vanilla, cream that pairs well with the Caesar salad.

Chardonnay, Ferrari—Carano – Russian River. Also a big Chardonnay, pair this one with the Salmon; it will enhance the mustard sauce.

Pinot Noir, Meiomi – California, this wine went great with the mushroom pasta, especially with its earthy essences.

Pinot Noir, Argyle – Willamette Valley. Oregon really knows how to make a great Pint Noir and this one is truly amazing. Try this one with the wedge salad; it’s perfect with the bacon bits.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Starmont by Merrybale – Napa Valley. Yes, the obvious choice, the steak. The grilled caramelized steak brings out this Cabernet Sauvignon and vice versa; this is a natural pairing.

Zinfandel, Layer Cake – Primitivo – Italy. I would try this wine with the Prime Rib; with its organic juiciness it will be terrific combination.

Malbec, Diseño – Malbec – Argentina. You will be doing yourself a great service if you order this wine with any of the meat dishes, truly remarkable.

They really do cover all of the bases, including people on a budget. Their 3-course Prix Fixe daily meal from 11am – 6 pm will give you new hope in dining. You can have 3 spectacular hand crafted menu items for $19.95. No one else in the desert offers such a great deal.

There is still so much kitsch it will make you remember a happier time, when life seemed to be simpler, where a touch button phone became the norm, and rotary was obsolete. Orange here is definitely the new black, and the artist Shag is the unquestionable King. Not a lot has changed around here as far as the look and the brand, but why alter something that is tried and true. From the light fixtures to the other little design nuances, it is all one big recipe for success.

I just have to get my Palm Springs fix, for that matter my Trio fix. Having grown up going to Palm Springs as my weekend getaway, now I am thinking of doing the retirement things here in the Coachella Valley, but for now I will just be many of the happy visitors that comes seasonally. Whether you’re a snowbird, weekend warrior, or part-time desert rat, Trio will make all of your days sunny and bright. Take Trio for a new test drive, all the parts are in good running order and that shiny new coat of paint will forever dazzle you. So fasten your seat belts and speed on down to a Palm Springs landmark. After all, that is what makes Trio the only place, “Where Palm Springs Eats.”

Trio
707 N. Palm Canyon Dr.
Palm Springs, CA.
760-864-8746
http://triopalmsprings.com/

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On a nice warm sunshine filled day, many of Hollywood’s elite gathered on the roof of the Luxe hotel in Beverly Hills to be gifted an array of very elegant items. Only during The Oscars do I get to have such a grand week of events that includes Roger Neal Style Hollywood Beauty & Couture Suite. I was thrilled to be back at Held at the Luxe Hotel on Rodeo Drive, in their newly renovated Rodeo Drive Penthouse suite.

Some of the fantastic vendors presented their lovely items: Handbag from Marcelo Calabrese, Handbag from Timmy Woods Beverly Hills, Jewelry from royal family jeweler Esther from London, certificates from Long Mi Lashes and Daniel Dinh, Gown from DiPaula Designs, Smart Scarf by Fur Frenzy, Gown from Sonjjia Baram, certificate from Brynn Cannon and Marvelous massage, certificate from My Beautiful Bare Skin facials, Madeline Beth Hook Me Ups portable couture smart phone chargers, Ethel Richards author of, The Bobby Sherman Miracle, Lorimar Wine & Champagne, Official Gourmet Chocolatiers, Mary’s Cake Shop, Hint Water supplied all of the water for the suite, and the World Famous Sweetie Pies and Sweet Times provided the food for the suite this year! One of the official Charity’s this year was the John Ritter Foundation.

The 16 Oscar Nominees that attended this year, and in the past stars have included: William Shatner, Laura Dern, Paul Sorvino, Lanie Kazan, Quvenzhane Wallis, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Angela basset, Adam Lambert, Penelope Ann Miller, Wendi McClendon-Covey, Joe Montagna, Nominee Siedah Garrett, Oscar winning director Michel Hazanavicius and his wife Berenice Bejo of The Artist, Oscar nominated stars from Twelve Years A Slave, The Hobbit, Nebraska, Argo, Django, Hitchcock, Oscar Winner Shawn Christiansen, Oscar Winner Marcia Gay Hardin, as well as Penny Marshall.

The gowns, boots and purses from DiPaula Designs were so innovative, and fabulous. They use every part of a soda can for their creations, all recycled, and all gorgeous. I was very fortunate they gave me a party purse in silver can tops that I am using every chance I get. I also loved the food provided by Sweetie Pies, yummy fried chicken, pulled pork, mac n cheese, potato salad, and very wonderful catfish sandwiches.

A really sophisticated affair, filled with lots of celebrities and even more fantastic gift giving, what a way to spend the day!

Roger Neal Style Hollywood Beauty & Couture Suite Celebrating The 88th Academy Awards
Luxe Hotel
360 N. Rodeo Dr.
Beverly Hills CA.

February 28, 2016 – The Roger Neal Style Hollywood (RNSH) Oscar Viewing Dinner:

The RNSH Academy Awards viewing dinner took place on Oscar Night February 28,th 2016 at the World Famous Hollywood Museum (The historic Max Factor building) located at 1660 Highland Avenue in Hollywood, CA. Young and classic stars from TV and film were given the opportunity to tour this incredible museum prior to dinner. Festivities included: Academy Awards Exhibit complete with Hors D’oeuvres and Wine & Champagne, and full sit down dinner.

Hollywood Museum founder, Ms. Donelle Dadigan said that The Hollywood Museum is truly the ideal location for the Roger Neal Style Hollywood Oscar Viewing gala. “Being adjacent to and overlooking the festivities, the proximity allows celebrities and guest to share in the excitement of the Academy Awards themselves,” says museum President and Founder, Donelle Dadigan.

Presenting sponsors included: DaTang International Entertainment and Desert Rock Entertainment who has partnered on a $100-million-dollar slate of films stated, “We are very excited to be a part of this Oscar night event.” Ms. Alice Wang from DaTang Int. Entertainment is a well-known and successful director/ filmmaker in Asia. She will be producing along with Tim Lowry who will direct two American films starring Ms. Candy Wang (the Jennifer Lopez of Asia) called “6 Days on A Raft”, the true story of WW2 vet 94 yr. old Bill Harrison as well as a second thriller called “Seven”. Candy Wang is also a music star in Asia; her most recent concert in China drew 50,000 fans. Candy said, “I am looking forward to working in America and meeting fellow actors on Oscar night.” Mr. Bill Harrison and Ms. Candy Wang attended the dinner. Tim Lowry, of Desert Rock Entertainment, who is Alice Wang’s American partner said, “I cannot wait for Oscar night, I am very excited that the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health will be involved. I was a big fan of John Ritter it will be a pleasure to meet his wife Amy Yasbeck on Oscar night.”

The official charities for the RNSH Oscar Viewing Dinner included:
The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, Safety Harbor Kids, as well as Andy Transplant Foundation.

The night started off by facing the challenge of getting into this high security area. With the actual Oscars right on the same corner you had to have patience and perseverance to maneuver the street closures and detours. Smartly thought through, the entrance to Roger Neal’s Style Dinner is in the alley behind the Hollywood Museum, so you really do bypass all of the craziness that is right outside this building. The glamour begins upon entering the back entrance with the two vintage Rolls Royce’s parked along side the entrance. From the moment you walk in, old Hollywood hits you right in the face with all of the fantastic memorabilia.

There were two very busy Red Carpets, one for print media and one for digital media. Lots of action was held on the red carpet; when I arrived they both were actually backed up, but really it adds to all of the excitement.

The gowns and tuxedos were all very fashion forward; I asked many people, “Who are you wearing?” There were so many designer gowns it was hard to keep track. The jewelry was also everywhere; you could have opened up a new Tiffany store with all of the fancy diamonds! It just seemed like everyone stepped up his or her game to attend Roger’s event.

The main event, The Viewing party, was held on the top floor with what they call a ballroom. The perfect red rose centerpieces adorned each table and Gold Chocolatier Glamour Bombonier Brazilian Sweets made miniature chocolate Oscar award statues covered in edible gold that everyone enjoyed. There were lots and lots of flat screens to see from every part of the room, so that was a plus.

The RNSH Oscar event presented a white glove dinner showcasing the cuisine of Presidential Chef Kurt Erhlich. A lovely four-course meal that featured two different types of salad followed by the entrée comprised of both salmon and steak with garlic potatoes and a stuffed cooked tomato. The dessert was served in a festive martini glass, which was quite good as well. All the food was paired with Lorimar wines as well as rum. All in all, it was just a perfectly rounded evening.

The Oscar show itself was very interesting, with all of the diversity issues and seeing how Chris Rock made fun at every turn. In between the commercials Roger Neal gave some pretty big awards of his own to, George Chakiris and Margaret O’Brien, receiving the Icon Award.

I just loved all of the glitz and glamour that the night provided us partygoers. Such a nice, well planned, perfectly executed event. From now on I need to look no further for my Oscar viewing needs. Thanks Roger!

The Roger Neal Style Hollywood (RNSH) Oscar Viewing Dinner
The World Famous Hollywood Museum
1660 N. Highland Ave.
Hollywood, CA. 90028
(The Historic Max Factor Building)

LA Weekly presents The Essentials at the California Market Center in DTLA. Curated by our award-winning food critic, Besha Rodell, the event showcases signature bites from restaurants featured in LA Weekly’s 99 Essentials restaurant issue that hits stands the same week. Along with the great food, guests will enjoy wine from top shelf wineries and cocktail samples from major liquor partners.

All under one roof it is truly a foodie’s paradise, with more than 60 restaurants showing off their spectacular fare. Located downtown in the California Mart within a very urban warehouse environment, this evening the food was the art and the space was an empty canvas to showcase the fare. Plus, many of these restaurants’ celebrity chefs were on the front lines serving up their fancy grub.

California Market Center (CMC) is the iconic hub of the style industries in Los Angeles. Established in the early 60s, the CMC is now home to the Fashion, Gift, Home, Interior Design and Textile trades. Located on 9th and Main in downtown’s Fashion District, the CMC is home to hundreds of wholesale showrooms in addition to a range of offices, studio spaces, fashion design schools, restaurants, cafes, shops, and special event venues. Visited by thousands of retailers, designers, manufacturers, press, style makers, and taste makers from around the globe, the CMC is open daily and hosts a busy Calendar filled with Markets, trade shows, seminars and events for the fashion, home design, gifts and textiles industries as well as exclusive events and sample sales open to the public. The CMC is also producer and host of the following industry-renowned Fashion, Gift & Home, and Textile trade events: Los Angeles Fashion Market, SELECT | Contemporary Trade show, Los Angeles Kids Market, TRANSIT | Footwear & Accessories Show, The LA Int’l Textile Show (LA Textile), Market Tuesday, CMC Gift & Home Market, LA Majors Market.

The restaurants featured at the event were: Animal, A.O.C, Aqui es Texcoco, Baroo Los Angeles, Belcampo Meat Co., Bestia, Beverly Soon Tofu Restaurant, Bludso’s BBQ, Broken Spanish, Burritos La Palma, Button Mash, Cacao Mexicatessen, Cassia LA, Chengdu Taste, Chicken Itsa Restaurant, Colonia Publica, Connie and Ted’s, Coni’ Seafood Restaurant, Corazon y Miel, Crossroads Los Angeles, Dune, El Huarache Azteca, Guelaguetza Restaurants, Guerrilla Tacos, Guisados, Ink Restaurant, Jitlada LA, Jon & Vinny’s, Kiriko Sushi, Kogi BBQ, La Casita Mexicana, Le Comptoir LA, Little Sister, Lucques, Lukshon, Luv2eat Thai Bistro, Mariscos Jalisco, Maude, Mélisse, Night + Market Thai, Osteria Mozza, Papilles Bistro, Park’s BBQ, Philippe the Original, Pine & Crane, POT Restaurant, Providence LA, Racion Restaurant, Redbird LA, Republique LA, Rice Bar LA, Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen, Sotto Restaurant, Spago, Sqirl LA, Szechuan Impression, Terrine LA, The Hungry Cat, Trois Mec, Union, Wexlers Deli.

A few of my favorite food items served were: Rice Bar LA’s pork ball, Philippe’s dipped roast beef sandwich, Park’s BBQ grilled Galbi, Union Pork Meatballs with Creamy Polenta, Bestia Pork Belly, and many others. There were a fine variety of all kinds of ethnic food and so many tastings, making it difficult to write about all of them.

The Wineries that were there include the following: Giovanni Almondo, AM/FM, Clos Figueras, Beaujolais Dupeuble , European Cellars, Félsina , Schloss Gobelsburg , Gulfi , Hunt & Harvest – Napa Valley , Chablis – Roland, Lavantureux , Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Koan, La Rioja Alta, S.A., Lieu Dit, Loring Wine Company, Macon-Villages , M.W.T.C, Olé – Patrick Mata & Alberto Orte, il Palagio , Poco Do Lobo , Revel Wine, Rieflé 1609, Saint Jean Du Barroux – Philippe, Gimel , Secco Bertani , Shacksbury , La Tercera , Domaine Gilles Troullier , WineWise – The Vienna Wine Company.

Sponsors: Amoeba Music, Bai, Baja Brewing Co., Birchware, Beautiful Things LA, Califia Farms, Cocktail & Sons, Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Been, Deep Eddy, Vodka, Diabolo, Dry Sparkling, First Aid Shot Therapy, 20 Geffen Playhouse, Grubhub, Heaven Hill Brands, Hustler Hollywood, Jenis Splendid Ice Creams, Kettle Brand, Blanc, LAcarGUY, Melissa’s, Mount Saint Mary’s University Los Angeles – Graduate Division, Naked Pressed, Poached, Schofferhofer Grapefruit, SoCal etsy guild, Spearmint Rhino Gentlemen’s Clubs, UCLA Extension, Wine Exchange est. 1982
XLanes, Zico Coconut Water.The charity that was involved was Food Forward.

The music was provided by: DJ Tropikal, Tropikal is the project of New York City born LA based beatmaker/producer and multi instrumentalist Merlo Podlewski. A blend of Dub Bass AfroBrazil Percussion and Analog Synthesizers.

Many happy people were indulging in all of these great culinary finds. The crowd was full of young hipsters with a downtown vibe, but I’m sure there were all walks of LA life tasting this unique food. The lines were long but really worth the wait! If you want to know who are the latest Chefs and Food in Los Angeles this is a great place to start.

LA Weekly The Essentials
California Market Center
110 E. 9th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90079

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Oh what a few years and a new Chef can do! This place is currently at its peak, and there are so many reasons why you should run to Wood & Vine right now.

I first came to Wood & Vine in July of 2014. It’s not that the Chef at the time was bad, just that the current Executive Chef, Kyle Schutte, has a different take on comfort cuisine. A take that’s super fun, bold, modern, and yet to be done anywhere else. His combinations of ingredients are off the charts. He just knows how things will taste together by thinking about it before it gets cooked and lands on a plate for consumer consumption. He is a pure genius. My experience was great in 2014, but like fine wine, a little time will make a good wine fantastic.

Here’s what I tried:

Charcuterie & Cheese With house pickles, seasonal jam, whole grain mustard ice cream. It is very hard to describe such a wildly new yet amazing concept like whole grain mustard ice cream. I would order this again just to taste this ice cream.

Beef Tartare, grass-fed strip loin, blueberries, pickled mustard seed, hazelnut, and slow-cooked egg, toast. The slow cooked egg on top is just so decadent and it oozes goodness all over the lovely raw meat. The blueberries also take this dish to another level.

Broccolini, with onion jam, almond, yuzu, chili threads. It is a little bit spicy with the chili threads, but a very healthy menu item all the same.

Brussels Sprouts, habanero water, beef fat, Asian pear, rice krispies, frozen yogurt, and Thai basil. So the same kind of concept in the Charcuterie & Cheese with the whole grain mustard ice cream, but instead it is frozen yogurt and as it melts it become a rich creamy sauce, wow.

Roasted & Pickled Mushrooms with carrot puree, corn nuts, and cucumber. You will just gobble this dish right up like I did. The sweetness and picked flavors add up to just being so yummy.

Deep Fried Burger with pickled mustard mayo, beer braised onions, hop scotch cheddar. Another amazing accomplishment, just loved the sauce with the burger.

Local Halibut with chocolate, vanilla, salsify, baby turnips. This is a really novel combination, chocolate with fish, who would have thought, but it really works, and it is so amazing.

Sea Scallops with salt-baked carrots, lemon curd, black garlic. There are a lot of caramelized flavors in this dish, and all of it works perfectly together with the scallops.

Desserts:

Butterscotch bourbon ice cream, sweet thyme crumble, it is creamy, smooth and utterly delicious.

Churro, Mexican hot chocolate poached pear, dulce de leche ice cream. Save some room for this one, you will love it.

The specialty cocktails are astounding as well as their fantastic selection of wines. Everything you will try whether its cocktails, wine, all paired with their delectable food will make you very happy. These are some of the wines I tried: Alysian – Sanvignon Blanc, Cordon – Chardonnay, La Follette – Chardonnay, Annabella – Pinot Noir, Cole Bailey – Cabernet, Trenza – Syrah/Tempranillo. The La Follette was my favorite, which was a great pair with any of the seafood selections. The Trenza – Syrah/Tempranillo was my favorite red, and was so great with the short rib and the burger.

I have had a lot of history with this location, having worked in the Taft building for many years, I just wish we would have had this option to dine at Wood and Vine back then. They are going strong after 5 years in this location and their customer base as gotten a lot larger. I went to their 5 year anniversary party as well the following night, they have so many loyal followers.

I am not going to wait another 2 years before I try this stellar cuisine again; there are just too many things I have to have at least once a month here at Wood and Vine.

Wood and Vine

6280 Hollywood Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90028

Hollywood

(323) 334-3360

www.woodandvine.com

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On Sunday, Feb. 28TH 2016 Oscar Night, promises to be a night of glitz and glamour that can only be planned by Roger Neal himself in the most iconic place in Hollywood. The Hollywood Museum is filled with so much Hollywood memorabilia it would make your head spin. That coupled with the fact that it is right around the corner from all of the activity, at the World Famous Hollywood Museum, formally the Max Factor Museum. 1660 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood.

All eyes globally will be watching as the awards are doled out with all the favorites in tow. A night of high honor and equal excitement will be the main menu, but lets not forget the elegant sit down dinner, featuring the cuisine of Presidential Chef Kurt Erhlich, that will accompany Roger Neal’s Oscar viewing party in all it’s glory. There is so much Oscar excitement in the air!!!

Presented by Datang International Entertainment & Desert Rock Entertainment, and Roger Neal. Already confirmed 80 stars, Oscar winners, TV and Film stars. The official Charities: The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health and Safety Harbor Kids and Andy Transplant Foundation. http://www.johnritterfoundation.org/ http://www.safetyharborkids.org/

Presenting sponsors Tim Lowry of Desert Rock Entertainment and Tawain’s Alice Wang of Datang International Entertainment, stating that they are very excited to be able to be part of this Oscar night event, Alice Wang is a hugely successful director and filmmaker in Asia, she will be directing and producing two American movies 6 Days On A Raft, the true story of WW2 vet 94 yr. old Bill Harrison, who will attend the dinner, and the thriller Seven.

Tim Lowry, of Desert Rock Ent, Alice Wang’s American partner on a $100-million-dollar slate of films said that he cannot wait for Oscar night, and is very excited that the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health will be involved, Lowry said I was a big fan of John Ritter and he is looking forward to meeting his wife Amy Yasbeck on Oscar night.

Jodi Jackson’s Hollywood will be covering both Roger Neal Style Hollywood Oscar Viewing Dinner and Roger Neal Style Hollywood (RNSH) 20th Annual Beauty & Couture Academy Award Suite this Thursday Feb. 24th and Friday Feb. 25th, stay tuned.

For Roger Neal Style Hollywood Oscar Viewing Dinner:
Roger Neal Public Relations & Marketing
Tel – 323-366-2796 E-Mail: [email protected]

This is a very upbeat clean, crisp restaurant that promises to deliver the freshest ingredients and food ever. There have been a few other restaurants housed in this space. One that I reviewed a little while back, but Bru’s Wiffle offers a unique take on a fun foodie trend that everyone seems to be getting their forks into, waffles! Not just any waffles, but delectable Belgian waffles with so many accompaniments it will truly make your head spin.

They have taken away all of the dark dank interiors from the previous incarnations here and made it very light and chipper. The fun hanging light fixtures over the bar add nice ambient light as well as the bars white marble top. The original brick walls incorporates a nice warmth to the white walls and wood floors. Orchid plants are also everywhere and brighten up the whole space. There were a lot of young couples enjoying their meals, and very upbeat old school rock classics served as the soundtrack. You can just tell that Bru’s Wiffle will be catching on in a big way really soon.

The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting – a reflection of its warm and endearing creator and owner, Ebru Fidan Caplan, who was born and raised in Turkey. She grew up in her family’s hotel and restaurant business, learning the art of cooking. Everything is made from scratch, using only the freshest and finest ingredients. Having been to Turkey I can understand the little nuances of Bru’s Wiffle Mediterranean influences. Ebru is bringing a new eating experience to Beverly Hills and Santa Monica via her restaurants. She combines her European beginnings, fine management skills, favorite recipes, and her love for cooking.

Bru’s Wiffle is just the right place to indulge your senses in perfect cuisine. You don’t need to come in to Bru’s Wiffle just for your waffle addiction, because their menu has just about everything. From eggs, salad, pasta, and dinner items; you can get all of your much needed sustenance here.

Here’s what I tried:

Appetizers:

Crispy rice balls with mozzarella and mushroom. This appetizer is very light, juicy, and is guaranteed to make you very happy.

Salt & Pepper chicken, crispy chicken bites, bell peppers, scallions, and garlic. The small pieces of chicken are tender and perfect, but I really loved the tangy vegetable type salad that accompanied it, very Mediterranean.

Guac on toast with goat cheese, mashed avocado, cucumber, jalapeno, and mushroom. This is a very hearty toast and the combo of these ingredients is just wonderful.

Chicken & Waffle – golden goat, served with goat cheese and honey. Chicken and waffles are all the rage and these don’t disappoint. The waffles are big Belgian style, that are very flavorful and the fried chicken just hits all the right spots. There are so many different types of chicken and waffles that you could order a different type every time.

Eggs Benedict, served with mix greens with crispy polenta salmon cake eggs Benedict, with basil pesto hollandaise sauce. This is such a unique take on a Benedict, the sauce is terrific, green, and then it being on polenta really sets it apart from any other Benedict you will ever try.

Waffle Scrambles, Popeye, tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms and onions. This is for a breakfast lover, it is very tasty with lots of filling toppings.

Omelets:

Meat Lover’s with turkey sausage, pepperoni, bacon, mozzarella cheese and avocado, served with blazing sauce. There is so much meat in this omelet you will never want for anything more.

Burgers:

Bru’s Burger, served on a brioche bun, with smoked apple wood bacon, fried egg, grilled onion, avocado, tomato and garlic aioli. There is so much yummy stuff piled very high, but next time I would just try the simpler burger because the meat by itself is amazing.

Wraps:

Crispy Chicken with melted wrap, grilled onions, mushrooms, Swiss cheese, and cilantro chipotle dressing. Their handmade dressing is out of this world, and the wrap just hit all the right notes as well.

Lettuce Wraps:

Crispy Chicken, with melted mozzarella, mushroom and chipotle mayo. This one would be for the no carb eater, along side comes very delightful crispy Brussels sprouts. This dish is another must have.

Plates:

Crispy Chicken tower, stack of crispy chicken with mozzarella cheese and jalapeno, with blazing sauce, served with French fries. Any of their chicken dishes are terrific, but the presentation of this menu item is really beautiful. It is all piled high like a big tower.

Salads:

Kale Cobb Salad with kale, bacon, grilled chicken, goat cheese, avocado, eggs with olive oil and fresh lemon juice. I just can’t say enough about this salad and the dressing is homemade as well.

Sandwiches:

Shrimp Poor Boy, the shrimp is fried but not with too much breading or oil so its light and crisp, one of my favorite menu items.

Pizza:

Meat & Meat with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, mushroom, prosciutto, and pepperoni. They have their pizza oven from one of the restaurants prior so you just can’t go wrong having this kind of built in equipment, and fantastic pizza.

Seafood:

Salmon Penne, creamy tomato sauce, salmon, and kale. Very nice pink sauce with al dente pasta and the salmon is cubed with nice freshness.

Bru Style Waffles:

Churro Waffle, Belgian waffle with cinnamon, sugar, topped with cinnamon ice cream and chocolate sauce. Truly a decadent choice as a dessert item, but really a perfect way to end my glorious tasting.

My waiter Ernesto Martinez was so much fun, he said, “You have a great job! You walked in like a scene from Sex in the City, saying hi I’m food writer Jodi Jackson”; he just flat out made me laugh every time I spoke with him.

For now they are waiting for their liquor license, but seeing that they have a great array of fresh squeezed juices I did not miss the alcohol. Their fresh coconut juice served in a coconut went so perfect with this amazing food.

There is another location in Santa Monica that is doing really well. I think once you try their food you will be back for more and want to make Bru’s Wiffle a weekly staple in your dining schedule.

Bru’s Wiffle
8635 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly hills, CA 90211
Phone: 310.360.6600
Fax: 310.360.6606
http://bruswiffle.com/
Hours: Tue-Fri 8a-10p, Sat 9a-10p, Sun 9a-4p, closed Mondays

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I was gifted this beautiful piece of luggage that really has changed my life. I went to Hartmann’s store opening at The Beverly Center last year and spoke a gal from Lividini & Co., Hartmann’s PR team, she assured me that Hartmann luggage would change my traveling experience. I am here to say yes it is very true.

These type of wheels are called spinners, mine was their, Hartmann InnovAire Global Carry-On Spinner and it retails for $500.00, champagne colored. It is very light weight and the wheels spin and go in any direction, which makes for an easy travel experience. I went to San Francisco over Christmas, so pretty much I am dropped off by Southwest curbside, I go through security and the through the airport to my gate. I take my bag on the plane, which is so easy, because you can roll your bag side ways through the isle. It’s lightweight construction makes it easy to pick up and put in the overhead compartment. Uber picked my up at the San Francisco airport and dropped me off at my hotel in Union Square. All very easily navigated wheeling my new Hartmann luggage.

I just want to say thank you to my friend at Lividini & Co. PR in New York for gifting me such a nice high-end piece of luggage that I will travel with forever. They were right it has changed my life!

There are many different styles of this same type of piece, you can check out all of their great products, styles and colors on their website.
http://shop.hartmann.com

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This event is dedicated to Natalie Dubois brother, Fabrice Dubois, who was murdered in Paris at the Bataclan on November 13, as part of all of the terrorist attacks that went on in Paris that horrible evening. Fabrice was an award-winning copywriter in Paris for Publicis Conseil and had received the Gold Epica Award a few days after his death for a Renault ad. Fabrice is survived by his wife and children.

I feel so bad for Natalie and her family, but as they say the show must go on, and it did. This was a heartfelt show for everyone that attended. There was lots to be thankful for. There were some amazing human-interest stories with many of the vendors. Everyone was excited about The Golden Globes, but it was like a guardian angel was watching over all of us as we enjoyed all of the lovely gifts that were offered.

Here are the vendors that attended:

Stephanie Kantis, Quantum Functional Medicine, Malaysian Omorose Cosmetics, Bushearts Scarves, Hair Evolution, Barebumz, Sai Suman, Marchon Eyewear, M Andrews Sartorial Luxury Collection, Demure 31, Box Water, The Wolf Collection, Michique Handbags, Truth in Hand, Miriam Reikerstorfer, Sunny Blue, Kneady Bakery, Cape Breton Fudge Company, Amara Coffee, Elina Fuhrman, Soupelina’s Soup Cleanse, Natura Bisse and trips to Le Taha’s Private Island Resort, Cape Breton Island, and Spa.

Caroline Neron, has an amazing story, she told me about how she was making jewelry with 2 broken arms. She is an actress singer hailing from Quebec. She turned her small jewelry business into a 10 million dollar company very quickly. She gifted me a lovely bracelet that I am now wearing everyday. As sweet as she is beautiful, you can understand why her designs have become so successful.

Stephanie Kantis gave me a gorgeous pair of gold lightweight earrings that I have already worn 5 times since the suite. They have beautiful jewelry; every piece is dramatic and very wearable.

At Arido jewelry I tried on a 17 Million very rare Star Safire ring, I’m surprised they let me try it on, but it was so much fun having that kind of ring on my finger for a minute.

I love the Omusubi at Sunny Blue, especially the miso beef with caramelized onions and miso sauce. It’s a nice compact lunch that is close to sushi, but not quite the same. They have a restaurant in Santa Monica, go try it you will love it!

And…there are always A – list celebrity nominees attending. Here are some past attendees: Queen Latifah, May J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Charlize Theron, Richard Gere, Sharon Stone, Stephen Moyer, Angela Bassett, Rachel Bilson, Eva Longoria, Morgan Freeman, Terrance Howard, Spike Lee, Kate Walsh, Paula Abdul, Jennifer Hudson, Colin Firth, Felicity Huffman, Adrian Brody, and many others.

I always have a lovely time at The DPA Gift Suite, it is elegant and each year it just gets better. I am so happy to be included in all of the gift suites that DPA does year round.

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Woody Allen is one prolific dude, I am sure he would take offense to me calling him a dude, but it’s with love and respect that I give him that title. I grew up with Woody Allen movies and being a nice Jewish girl it was sort of a gauge with a new boy if he liked Woody Allen he was in, if not, no dates for him with me. You just have to get Woody’s humor, and if you don’t, Jewish or not, your not going to rate high in my world. If you happen to be Jewish like Woody and Mel Brooks then there will always be some dialog in Yiddish that you just get. With that being said Woody Allen was a natural for Broadway, especially this show.

On screen sometimes you miss the little nuances that you would catch from a live show. The facial expressions, the jokes, the small but fantastic punch lines are much more apparent when its being acted out right in front of you.

Woody Allen has written a movie, a year for the last 50 years, really doesn’t he ever get tired? Quentin Taratino has only written 8 movies his whole career.Woody was born in Brooklyn NY in 1935, his real name is Allan Stewart Konigsberg, very appropriate for the guy who never sleeps. He loves everything New York and most of his films depict that and Bullets Over Broadway is no exception. Instead of stories about people’s lives and neurotic behavior, he has taken a time period about Broadway and made it his own fantastical story.

Bullets over Broadway is written in Woody Allen fashion. You got dames, some smart some not so much, gangsters, writers, starlets each entwined with their own witty repartee, and delicious spiraling out of control stories. Bullets over Broadway was originally a movie based in 1994, but smartly reinvented into a Broadway musical with the screenplay written by Woody Allen and Douglas McGrath. It was Allen’s sister, Letty Aronson, who urged the filmmaker to adapt it for the stage.

Brilliant choreography by Susan Stroman, (the dazzling talent behind the Broadway blitz “The Producers”), the dancing was one of the highlights of the show. Jeff Whiting and Clare Cook have taken over the direction and choreography, respectively. The original productions premiered on Broadway last season at The St. James on April 10, 2014. The production received 6 Tony Award nominations, including Best Book of a Musical and Best Choreography.

The score is a collection of popular songs from around the 1920s, when the story is set. A few are well known standards; “Let’s Misbehave”, “I Ain’t Gonna Play No Second Fiddle”, others not too recognizable. Glen Kelly is credited with the arrangements as well as the clever additional lyrics that patch over narrative gaps. For me bringing back those old standards are nice but I would rather focus on the charms of this high energy, well-executed touring show, the choreography, the costumes and the performances, really got my attention.

The cast: Rachel Bahler – Eden, Michael Corvino – Nick Valenti, Jeffrey Brooks – Cheech, Hannah Rose Deflumeri – Ellen, Rick Grossman – Julian Marx, Jemma Jane – Olive Neal, Emma Stratton – Helen Sinclair, Michael Williams – David Shayne, Bradley Allan Zarr – Warner Purcell, Dance Captain.The ensemble did their part and were equally amazing. My favorite performances were by Michael Williams and Jeffrey Brooks. Michael Williams is a very physical actor with great comedic timing and Jeffrey Brooks turned his character into a mysterious sexy villain, which everyone wanted to get to know more about. The other cast members were terrific as well, but to me those two stole the show.

I just love the Pantages Theater, with its ornate interior; it is all about old Hollywood. I am always amazed when I look at the brilliant details of the auditorium. This landmark theater is celebrating 85 years of History in Hollywood.

Run don’t walk to see this spectacular romp into mobsters and showgirls, at The Pantages Theater, it ends on Jan. 24, 2016.

The Pantages Theater
6233 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
http://bulletsoverbroadway.com/

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