Updated Sunday September 5, 2010 - 7am
By Brenton Garen, Beverly Hills Courier
Food & Wine's Taste of Beverly Hills Festival culminates tonight from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. with the event dubbed “A BBQ in the Hills”.
Expect the unexpected as local top chefs and
restaurants express their interpretation of what BBQ is all about.
Demonstrations will be held by Chefs Celestino and Giacomino Drago at 7:30 p.m. and Chef Kerry Simon at 8:45pm.
Celestino Drago:
Dreaming of owning a restaurant that expressed his creative soul, in
1991, Drago Ristorante was born bringing the culture of Italy for all
who pass through his doors.
The success of his restaurant in Santa
Monica enabled Celestino Drago to open Il Pastaio and Enoteca Drago in
Beverly Hills, Drago Centro in Downtown as well as a full service
upscale catering company, Air Drago and his own bakery Dolce Forno.
Each
of these has earned acclaim for Drago’s trademark commitment to
quality, professional staff and of course, inspired cooking.
Giacomino Drago:
Giacomino’s cooking philosophy hasn’t changed, “Keep it simple with the
freshest ingredients.”
He declares “If you can’t taste what’s in it,
something wrong.”
Making his mark on the LA culinary scene began in 85,
arriving in Los Angeles to help brother Celestino open renowned
restaurants including Il Pastaio which remains a Beverly Hills icon.
Since then, Giacomino has opened his own successful places; Il Buco,
Piccolo Paradiso & Via Alloro. Also, a Japanese gem named SHU & a
full line of Pasta Sauces available at his restaurants & fine
grocery stores.
Kerry Simon:
Chef Simon’s cooking relies on simplicity, replacing the
traditional basics of French cooking such as butter, cream, flour and
essentially heavy, thick sauces, with vegetable juices, vinaigrettes,
flavored oils, and broths.
Says Simon, “By using a handful of simple
sauces and broths, the diner is able to experience food’s natural,
intense flavors, and as a result, the dishes end up lighter and more
fresh.”
Highlight's for “A BBQ in the Hills” - Sunday from 7 p.m to 11 p.m.7:30 p.m. (LG Main Stage) — Live cooking demo by renowned Chefs Celestino and Giacomino Drago.
8:45 p.m. (LG Stage 2) — Live cooking demo by “Rock and Roll Chef” Kerry Simon
9 p.m. (Mix Stage 1) — Mixology demo from Jim Beam Global
Tickets to both sessions are available at
thetasteofbeverlyhills.com.
