Chef’s Cooking Series at Terranea Resort

The Chef’s Cooking Series at Terranea Resort led by Executive Chef Bernard Ibarra.

Last week, Executive Chef Bernard Ibarra led an exceptionally talented team to kick off the “Chef’s Cooking Series” at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.  The farm-to-table dinner series features an interactive evening with Terranea’s chefs. It was my honor and pleasure to be invited as food photographer for the night. The chefs were awesome, the staff couldn’t have been more gracious, and the food was remarkable in flavor, variety, and creativity.

It began with a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception followed by the chef cooking demonstrations where we learned how to prepare items on the evening’s menu. After the demonstrations, diners were seated at a beautiful long table on a patio for an alfresco three-course meal with wine pairing. Guests received recipe cards and special gift items to recreate the experience at home.

For each event in the series, Terranea is partnering with a different non-profit organization, this first dinner – a Coastal Harvest menu theme – benefitted Los Angeles No Kid Hungry. The next event will showcase a Spring Bounty menu theme on March 20, 2014 – featuring wines by Grgich Hills and benefitting the American Red Cross.

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Palos Verdes Pastoral – A Garden-to-Table Dining Experience

Palos Verdes Pastoral

Palos Verdes Pastoral

It was my honor and pleasure to participate as official food photographer for this year’s Palos Verdes Pastoral, the premier al fresco garden-to-table dining experience of the peninsula, which took place on October 6th at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

PV Pastoral is a fundraising event to support the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy’s mission to preserve and restore habitat for the enjoyment and education of all. I also happen to be a beneficiary of the Land Conservancy’s work, as we’ve been hiking the local trails and enjoying our open spaces here along the coast for decades.

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A Garden-to-Table Dining Event & A Lovely Melon Salad

Melon Prosciutto Salad
Melon Salad
Cantaloupe, Prosciutto, Saint André Cheese, Arugula, Marcona Almonds

The following is an excerpt from a piece I wrote for Harbor Living Magazine to promote the
Palos Verdes Pastoral – A Garden-to-Table Dining Event on October 6, 2013.

Imagine a field of candle-lit tables elegantly dressed in white linen with sparkling glassware arranged under a harvest moon on a hill overlooking the blue Pacific. Imagine a vibrant autumn menu created using farm-fresh, seasonal foods from our local vendors and growers expertly paired with hand-picked regional wines. This is the Palos Verdes Pastoral, the premiere al fresco garden-to-table dining experience of the peninsula, which will take place on Oct. 6 at Terranea Resort.

Terranea Resort

After a fabulous wine and appetizer reception on the patio, 200 guests will take their seats at sunset to enjoy the artisanal creations by Chef de Cuisine Rebecca Merhej of Terranea’s acclaimed Mar’Sel restaurant. Her sophisticated presentations and strict attention to detail bring innovative imaginative cuisine to the peninsula.

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Garden-to-Table Dining Experience

pvplc fundraiser
A couple weeks ago we attended the Palos Verdes Pastoral, a garden-to-table dining experience on the Peninsula overlooking the Pacific under a spectacular full moon… It was an event designed to bring 200 people together amidst nature for an exclusive dining experience featuring the best of California hand-crafted, organic, and sustainable foods.

Producers from around the state donated all of the food and wine for the evening so that 100% of the proceeds from the event went to benefit the Land Conservancy. The event took place at the breathtaking Terranea Resort and featured an award winning menu by Chef Michael Fiorelli inspired by one he created for the James Beard House in NYC.

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A Lesson in Butchery and Cooking

michael fiorelli, lamb bolognese, terranea mar' sel

Slow Cooked Lamb Bolognese
Paccheri Pasta, Homemade Ricotta

FA and I had the pleasure of attending a class offered at the Chefs’ Summer Cooking Series @ Terranea Resort where we were invited in to the Mar’ Sel restaurant kitchen for a step-by-step lamb butchering demonstration by the talented and engaging Chef Michael Fiorelli. After the lesson we, along with 8 other guests, were seated in the beautiful dining room overlooking the Pacific Ocean to feast on a fabulous luncheon highlighting lamb.

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