A collection of restaurant reviews, food articles, and chef profiles.
Restaurant Review: Fresco Trattoria
Most people really think they’re familiar with the basic Italian culinary provisions; their palates meandering through what they think of as Italian fare, sampling their share of spaghetti with meatballs, fettuccine alfredo or what have you—if not, I’m sorry. I actually thought I knew authentic Italian cuisine, a semi-connoisseur on the entrees that rely heavily on quality ingredients without stepping on the fair soil of The Boot. However, I was completely and utterly wrong. My taste buds haven’t sampled anything close to genuine Italian fare before visiting Fresco Trattoria, a restaurant located right in the middle of Downtown Carlsbad. My visit to Fresco taught me that Italian cuisine is more than what we see from famous chefs on the Food Network or noted on the menus at an Italian restaurant conglomerates. It’s about tradition, family, and heritage, and Fresco Trattoria provides that and more.
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Restaurant Review: Romesco
What is Baja-Mediterranean cuisine? I sure didn’t know the true definition of this type of hybrid cuisine. So when I found out that my next review would introduce me to a mix of both Baja and Mediterranean cuisine I felt like a Spanish conquistador traveling to uncharted territory, ecstatic to learn from what I’d discover. I knew Mediterranean and Baja cuisine separately, but never experienced them working together in harmony until I explored Romesco Baja Med Bistro. Romesco Baja Med Bistro skillfully combines both Baja and Mediterranean spices and ingredients that gracefully create entrees with incredible flavors, textures, and presentation.
Tucked just a few miles away from the 805 freeway, Romesco Baja Med Bistro is located in Bonita, California, 12 miles away from the US/Mexican border in a shopping district surrounded by a quiet neighborhood that’s been developed since the late 1980’s. Neighboring local shops, small boutiques, and a grocery store, Romesco has ample parking for dining patrons. Also located across the street is the Chula Vista Municipal Golf Course, allowing golf lovers to hit the fairway before or after enjoying a late Sunday lunch at Romesco.
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Chef Profile: Ryuki Kawasaki
Exciting changes are stirring at TWIST located inside the Mandarin Oriental, right on the Vegas strip. Chef Ryuki Kawasaki has recently been appointed as its new Chef de Cuisine, the prestigious kitchen's captain and lead authority. Chef Kawasaki has worked under Chef Pierre Gagnaire’s wing for many years, and now, he is leading Twist to new pinnacles in the culinary arena.
Chef Kawasaki started his culinary schooling in Tokyo, specializing in French and European cuisine. He furthered his discipline by attending Chateau de l’Eclair in Liergue, France. Straight out of school, he immediately launched his career in Michelin Star rated kitchens, a highly coveted first step into the restaurant ring. He began at the Michelin Three Star restaurant Paul Bocuse as Commis de Cuisine in France, and then moved to Taillevent Robuchon, Chef Joel Robuchon’s most famous restaurant in Japan as Chef de Partie.
After his notable five year post there, he moved back to Paris, France in 2002 and became Demi-Chef de Partie at Restaurant Nirvana. He quickly moved up the ranks and assumed the position of Senior Sous Chef at Restaurant O Rebelle. Upon his relocation to London, he took the Senior Sous Chef position at Sketch Lecture Room, a Michelin One Star restaurant under Pierre Gagnaire’s watchful eye. Working closely with Chef Gagnaire, he learned new and creative gastronomical directions to present French cuisine. Then in 2009, he was chosen to open Chef’s Gagnaire’s first restaurant in the United States, Vegas' Twist in the Mandarin Oriental as Senior Sous Chef under the direction of Chef Pascal Sanchez. As Chef Sanchez has moved on to other endeavors across the pond, Twist is proud to announce Kawasaki as its new Chef de Cuisine.
“I feel very lucky to have worked with incredible teams led by extremely talented chefs in wonderful restaurants,” says Chef Kawasaki. Looking forward to continuing the unique styles he has learned from Pierre Gagnaire, Chef Kawasaki is now at the helm of Twist, seeking new and surprising ways to titillate guests' palates in the art of contemporary French cuisine. Since his time at Twist as Senior Sous Chef, the restaurant has received high critical praise like the Five Star rating by Forbes Travel Guide and the Michelin Three Star Award. Now, as he leads the acclaimed culinary team at Twist, there’s no doubt that Chef Kawasaki will achieve even greater heights, pushing Twist to culinary supremacy in Las Vegas.
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