Chef Gardener Kathryn Agresto, owner of Native Soil Gardens, tends and oversees the 1,000 square foot garden next to Studio at Montage Laguna. Studio’s talented executive chef, Craig Strong, is inspired by the garden, creating dishes that are rich tasting, yet light and healthful. Here’s a shot of Studio’s raised beds. Fruit trees are espaliered against the wall on the…
Cathy Thomas Cooks
Chefs
Whimsy teams with artistry atop Michelle Bracken’s decorated cutout cookies. Themed to holidays, these impressive treats have become a kind of edible calendar for patrons at Zov’s Bistro and Bakery in Tustin, where Bracken is the longtime executive pastry chef. Valentine’s Day through Christmas, these glamorous goodies represent symbols of the season. For me, my favorites are her Easter cookies:…
Orange Coast Magazine’s restaurant critic Gretchen Kurz just named Mix Mix Kitchen Bar as “Restaurant of the Year.” Vision, talent and guts. That’s what it takes for a chef to leave a much respected restaurant to plunge into the hazardous waters of restaurant ownership. Count award-winning Chef Ross Pangilinan as one of those brave owners. In December he opened Mix…
When I was attending college in Los Angeles, downtown L.A. was a ghost town after dark or on weekends. Needless to say, that was a long time ago. A recent weekend spent downtown, gave me a new perspective. It was a tease – a little three-day taste of delicious fun and thought-provoking sites. The city bustles with activity fed by…
On a recent Sunday, I dropped in for brunch at The Loft at Montage Laguna Beach. Although I was initially focused on the splendor of the Pacific coastline, it wasn’t long before it was the dishes that had my attention. With plenty to choose from, the menu offered a pleasing balance of updated traditional dishes and lively surprises. Their Blood…
Babette’s Truffled Cauliflower Almond Soup The ingredient list puzzled me. I’ve made hundreds of pureed soups, showcasing everything from asparagus to zucchini, most often including dairy products (cream, yogurt or milk) to achieve lush texture and taste. Cooking with Zach Layton, executive chef-owner of Babette’s in Newport Coast, opened my eyes to a vegan approach. His Truffled Cauliflower Almond Soup…
Chinese tapas, yes! Cookbook author-caterer, Katie Chin, learned how to cook from her Chinese mother. She helped in the kitchen with her late mother, Leeann Chin, an award-winning restaurateur. In 2003, the two starred in a PBS national cooking show “Double Happiness.” I joined her in the Melissa’s Produce kitchen to test out some of her favorite recipes from her…
Award winning executive chef at The Ranch in Anaheim, Michael Rossi, charmed students with his skill and culinary passion in a recent cooking class. It was the first class taught in the beautiful teaching kitchen on the sixth floor – high above the restaurant. Twenty-four students sipped sparkling wine in this intimate-yet-high tech setting while watching Rossi’s every move. If…