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Before heading to sin city for Vegas Uncork’d, I primed up with Chef Kerry Simon at his new restaurant in downtown Los Angeles, LA Market. Tasty mouthfuls of Simon’s signature dishes like Tuna Dynamite (above) are carried out of the kitchen plate after mouthwatering plate. Other favorites like Sushi Pizza and Mini Burgers are served up by the friendly staff while we sip Aperol flavored pink cocktails garnished with sprigs of thyme. The grand finale is the arrival of Chef Simon’s Junk Food Plate that pays homage to such childhood favorites as “Hostess” cupcakes, snoballs and cotton candy; the presentation alone transforms us into drooling, wide-eyed school kids.
And no surprises here. Chef Kerry exudes youthful playfulness in both his cuisine and his demeanor. Appropriately nicknamed the Rock n’ Roll Chef for feeding such rock legends as U2 and INXS, Simon is a musician, too. He has an extensive guitar collection and loves to play, but admittedly doesn’t find the time lately. In between discussions of his mother’s meatloaf and win on Iron Chef America, we talk music like Band of Horses and MGMT. For what it’s worth, there were no Spinal Tap moments at LA Market. But there’s always next time! Rock n’ Roll!
LA Market resides in the brand spankin’ new JW Marriott at LA Live, which is something to behold. It is a sanctuary inside a crowded, traffic-congested city. The lobby is an expanse of tranquil open space appointed with minimal chic design, also home to a lounge called Glance and the hotel’s people-watching parlor, Mixing Room.
Nestled against floor to ceiling windows, LA Market has a natural, outdoor quality. Warm, wooden tables float above the cool, concrete floor. A golden glass mosaic leads your eye back to the open kitchen. Definitely a place to see, and to be seen. Most definitely a place to experience some rockin’ American comfort food.
What are you waiting for? Get out to Kerry Simon’s LA Market tonight!
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CAMP VEGAS!
Summer starts early in Vegas, and I’m headed to summer camp at Vegas Uncork’d! Bon Appetite Magazine hosts the celebrity chef buffet otherwise known as Vegas Uncork’d May 6 – 9, 2010. Team Betty will be there with the cameras rolling! If you could ask top chefs like Cat Cora, Bobby Flay or Wolfgang Puck anything what would it be? Leave your questions in the comment section and if your question gets selected it will be in the video!
MAKE THIS!
Link to the Oatmeal Raisin Cookie recipe.
AND THIS!
Link to the Whole Wheat Pizza Dough recipe.
Link to the Original Pizza Dough recipe.
hen I get to LA, I’ll be sure to stop by for a visit. The food sounds amazing!