[img]61|left|||no_popup[/img][Editor’s Note: Here is a sparkling new weekly treat for our readers, a gift happily devoid of calories. May we introduce our Food Editor, Ms. Bree Crocetti, whose intellectually simmering servings can be found daily at her website, http:/triplecreme.blogspot.com/
A chef in her private life, and among the earliest graduates of the New School of Cooking, Ms. Crocetti’s hometown reviews, insights and musings are guaranteed to satiate your culinary appetite.]
I attended a press conference on Tuesday morning for the launch of Los Angeles' first Dine L.A. Restaurant Week.
From Jan. 27-Feb. 1 and Feb. 3-8, more than 140 participating restaurants will be offering special prix fixe lunches and dinners ranging from $15-$34.
The idea is to promote and showcase Los Angeles area restaurants by attracting new customers and thanking existing ones with their specially priced meals during a typically slow time of the year for the restaurant industry.
Hometown Eateries
Participating Culver City restaurants include Ford’s Filling Station, Beacon and Ugo.
The press conference was held at Neal Fraser's Grace restaurant on Beverly Boulevard.
After checking in, we helped ourselves to complimentary pastries and coffee, mingled with a fellow food blogger, and took a seat behind the television crews facing the stage.
The highlight was the presence of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
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Mayor Villaraigosa is flanked by chef Neal Fraser, left, and chef Joseph Gillard.
All eyes were on him when he made his grand entrance followed by his bodyguards and handlers. He posed for some photos with the chefs, including Mary Sue Miliken and Susan Feniger of Border Grill.
Sizing up the Mayor
It was great to see a politician in action. He was gregarious and affable, working the room, and gamely wore the chef's coat presented to him by Miliken and Feniger.
After the conference (during which he took a moment to address the Spanish language TV crews in Spanish), he played the role of rookie restaurant employee in his new chef's whites, starting from the bottom up.
He cleaned up a broken champagne glass, then began handing out hors d' oeuvres. Photo-ops galore!
We nibbled on lamb chops (served to me by Mayor V. himself) and tuna tartare, while sipping on Veuve Clicqout champagne.
I love these promotional events. They offer participants an excellent combination of insider news and free stuff. Swag offering for the day: A box of See’s Candy.
