Last week I attended the 22nd Annual Great Chefs of Los Angeles event. It was held nearby at CBS studios, and the proceeds went to the National Kidney Foundation.
Participating Chefs (and Restaurants) included: The Event Host – Govind Armstrong (8oz. & Table8), Chef of Honor – Gino Angelini (Angelini Osteria and La Terza,) Neal Fraser (Grace & BLD), Celestino Drago (Drago Restaurant), Frank Leon (La Loggia), Andrew Steiner (Andrew’s Cheese Shop), our friends Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook (Animal) and many more.
Unfortunately for me I came down with a stomach flu a few days before the event, which is a food writer’s worst nightmare for sure. Luckily what I also had was my firefighter-in-training, eating-machine nephew Cody joining me, so it was a fun afternoon watching him enjoy all the things I couldn’t.
Of the few bites I did take, my favorites were the Apple Pie “Cappuccino” from The BLVD, Timanoix Cheese from Andrew’s Cheese Shop and the tummy comforting Grilled Cheese with Pulled Shortribs from 8oz.
Cody really loved EVERYTHING and said his favorites were the Kataifi-Wrapped Langoustine in a Poached Lettuce Cream Sauce by La Loggia, and the Duck Confit from The Blvd. We both loved Animal’s Pork Belly & Kimchee which we always order at the restaurant.
Smoked Scallop Carpaccio with Pomegranate Seeds by Panzanella Restaurant
Wild Boar with Soft Polenta topped with Fig Sauce by Drago Restaurant
Dungeness Crab Salad with a Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette by Grace Restaurant
Kataifi-Wrapped Langoustine in a Poached Lettuce Cream Sauce by La Loggia Restaurant
Apple Pie Cappuccino and Duck Confit with Potato Wrapper from The BLVD at the Beverly Wilshire
Grilled Cheese with Pulled Shortribs from 8oz.
Animal’s Pork Belly
Pork Belly & Kimchee by Animal
Chef Vinny Dotolo, Animal
Cody with Special Effects Master, Rick Baker
Thomas Lennon (Reno 911), Cody, Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Event Date: Sunday November 9, 2008, CBS Studios (Radford).
More about the Kidney Foundation
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Ugh! Bad luck for you getting the stomach flu as this looks like it would be sooo fun. Your pics are great. That grilled cheese with the pulled shortribs looks yummy….mmmmm