Celestino Drago has his biggest claim to fame in his flagship Ristorante and Bar, Drago in Santa Monica. The menu reflects the Sicilian born chef’s passion and innovation. A seasonal and sophisticated selection with rustic, Sicilian ingredients. The wine list is full of rare finds and has earned the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. Service is impeccable and space is perfectly appointed with a mix of old world elegance and a sleek modern look. The bar has a clubby feel but aesthetics to attract a West Side crowd. I had the surprise menu which is individual wine pairing with each course. Here are a few of my ultimate all time favorites:
ANTIPASTA: Cannelli di prosciutto. melon e granchio (dungeness crab, prosciutto, melon, basil),
INSALATA: Burrata (heirloom tomato, aged Balsamic, basil – keep it simple!)
ENTRATE: Bistecca alla Forentina (10 oz. porterhouse, tuscan bean)
PASTA: pappardelle (roasted pheasant, morel mushroom)
DOLCI: tortino di Cioccolata, Fragole al Balsamico (strawberry, chocolate tartlet, creme fraiche, Balsamic)
Drago
2628 Wilshire Boulevard.
Santa Monica, California
310-828-1585
Website: http://www.celestinodrago.com
Avanti Cafe in Pasadena has the most incredible Gourmet Wood fired Pizza and worth the drive! The “Wood Burned Delight” is my favorite. Fresh tomato sauce, ricotta cheese, pepperoni, black olives and a pre-mix of green and red peppers with red onions. Heaven! The pastas and calzones are creative and I highly recommend the Chicken Tequila Fettuccine.
Avanti Cafe
111 North Lake Avenue
Pasadena, California 91101
626-577-4688
VACA PLANS?
Looking for the ultimate in planning your vacation? Gorgeous entrepreneurs/partners in making the world your oyster, Donna Wong and Courtney norris are your ticket. Their mission: “making the world yours, with ease.” Tony & Eva Longoria Parker rave about them. Eva says, “Tony and I consult with Donna before any vacation because she is the authority on luxury vacations. Her knowledge and service are equally superior to her compassion and friendship.”
Allure Plus
8306 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California
310-650-0151
Website: http://www.allureplus.com
BEAUTY BITES!
Ever
yone in the know is driving to richard’s Barber shop in West Hollywood for that high priced Beverly Hills hair look without the Beverly Hills price tag! David Fletcher is Hollywood’s new “it” stylist and makes every day a good hair day at the low key, sunny barber shop on Sunset Boulevard. His flair for hair is a natural talent, though he did study under the legendary master George Masters who taught David what Masters called “yellow blonde to pillow case white,” which was used for Marilyn Monroe and Ann Margaret’s sexy red. David studied with Vidal Sassoon before returing to LA. Although he won’t name drop, he makes house calls to some A-listers in Hollywood. “I talk to my clients before we start,”says David. “I look at their face and skin tone and listen to what they want, then go to work. I also have my clients flip their hair upside down for perfect layers.” David has a southwest, American Indian inspired style and taps into his inner Shaman while working his magic. Techniques and trends change, but David’s eye for color and balance is timeless.
David is available by appointment:
323-876-1800
7268 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90046
Jill Garneski co-hosts her Celebrity Soup segment on Dining with Dills which can be seen on CNN Local Edition, Charter Cable and KJLA. Her Celebrity Soup column appears monthly in The Beverly Hills Times and the column was featured regularly on TV Land.com Jill is working on upcoming television segments and articles that are geared toward looking and feeling great. In addition to work on television and print, Jill is a consultant for Paramount Pictures Special Events and can be reached at her office at the studio: 323-956-8386.
For information about buying www.celebritysoup.com please contact Jill directly at:
celebritysoup@yahoo.com.
