Known to attract movie stars, titans of the entertainment industry, and the elite from the fashion & art world, celebrity sightings are not uncommon in & around Los Angeles. In 2019 Hollywood stars would be joined by a different kind of star... you guessed it, the Michelin Guide would return to the City of Angels after a nine year hiatus. Not to suggest that LA wasn't boasting an A-list dining scene before the guide's return, but it's impossible to ignore the culinary attraction & allure that the guide brings with it. Not only does this exposure result in an even higher concentration of
renowned chef's and restauranteurs hunting for Michelin stars, but OGs of LA's dining scene are also looking to further solidify their reputation and get a piece of the spotlight with Michelin distinction.
First published in 2007, the Los Angeles Michelin Guide only lasted two years. How ever, between 2007 and 2009, the two restaurants featured on this post had not only earned stars, but also claimed them right back when the guide returned in 2019. When it comes to celebrity Chefs, successful restauranteurs and women forging their own path in the industry, the conversation cannot be had without them.
Osteria Mozza - Los Angeles
With California's green-friendly initiatives, it almost writes itself that the first Michelin Green Star (MGS) restaurant featured on Dined There, Sipped That would be in Los Angeles. What is a "MGS" you ask? The MGS recognition started in 2020 and is awarded to restaurants who not only offer fine dining experiences, but who are also sustainable, hold themselves accountable for their environmental standards and limit, or even remove, non-recyclable materials from their supply chain. Who does this MGS star and one Michelin Star belong to? Co-owner & Executive Chef Nancy Silverton, Pastry Chef Dahlia Narvaez, restauranteur extraordinaire Joe Bastianich and their team at Osteria Mozza.
This trio's accomplishments in, and contributions to, the culinary world are as long as the restaurant's wine list. Cooking alongside some of the industries most notable Chefs amongst the likes of Wolfgang Puck at Spago, Chef Silverton's resume includes Best New Chef - Food & Wine Magazine, Outstanding Chef award by James Beard Foundation and named one of the most innovative women in food & drink by Fortune Magazine. You can also catch Nancy on Netflix's hit series, Chef's Table. Narvaez met Silverton in 2003 and thus the mentorship began; she would join the Mozza family in 2006 and help the group become wildly successful throughout their multiple restaurants and help Osteria Mozza earn its first Michelin star in 2008. In 2016 Narvaez was awarded the James Beard Foundation award for Best Pastry Chef. Co-owner, global restauranteur and TV personality, Joe Bastianich, owns some thirty restaurants, including
Babbo, and he may sound familiar to Dined There, Sipped That readers as he was integral in
Del Posto's success, which unfortunately shut its doors in Spring 2021.
The Melrose Ave restaurant, Osteria Mozza, has a warm feel with dark wood floors & cabinetry showing off their wine collection and an inviting atmosphere with its classic wood chairs and long marble communal table, evoking memories of large family gatherings. Offering rustic Italian cuisine sure to please even the most discerning second generation Italians who were lucky enough to grow up savoring their grand mother's cooking - shout out to all my friends in Montreal! From Mozzarella bar to anti pasti, Primi (pasta) and Secondi (meat & fish), the menu represents Italy's generous bounty, coast to coast. As mentioned previously, Osteria Mozza holds one Michelin star and one Michelin Green Star. The Rosemary Olive Oil Cake by Chef Narvaez is not to be missed!
Smoked Mozzarella di Bufala, 24 Month Aged Prosciutto di Parma
Leg of Rabbit with Rabbit Sausage, Rosemary, Kale, Roasted Garlic
For more information on Osteria Mozza, or maybe to check our their Mexico location next time you're in Cabo, visit
www.OsteriaMozza.com.
If you're interested in other Joe Bastianich restaurants on Dined There, Sipped That see;
CUT by Wolfgang Puck - Beverly Hills
For movie aficionados, it seems like you can't walk a block in Los Angeles' famous neighborhoods without noticing filming locations such as Rodeo Drive, Venice Beach, Sunset Strip, the list is endless. Amongst those popular sites sought after daily by visitors, no list would be complete without the Beverly Wilshire, the hotel from the movie Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Inside the famed hotel, which now belongs to Four Seasons hotels, is CUT by Wolfgang Puck, a celebrity within and beyond his domain.
Austrian Chef Wolfgang Puck moved to the United States at the age of 24 after gaining strong culinary influence as a child from his mother and spending his teen years building quite the impressive resume in some of France's most notable restaurants. After two years in Indianapolis, Puck moved to LA in 1975 where he was paramount in the rise of "California Cuisine," quickly creating a name for himself and making waves in the Hollywood elite dining scene. In 1982 he opened his first restaurant, Spago, which was an instant success, resonating around the world. The unique menu earned the famed Chef title of James Beard Outstanding Chef of the Year twice ('91, '98) - the only Chef to have won the award multiple times, and Restaurant of the Year ('94). His accolades thus far would turn out to be just the tip of the iceberg for the Wolfgang Puck empire.
In 2006 the first of what would be several CUT locations opened in Beverly Hills earning Best Restaurant of the Year by Esquire Magazine and One Michelin star its first year, which the restaurant reclaimed after the guide's return in 2019 and holds today. The location is sleek with straight lines, contemporary furnishings and modern design & open floor plan. The concept is a reimagined steakhouse offering cuts from around the globe, seafood and lavish sides & toppings like Caviar and Black Truffles. Ranking consistently as one of the most sought after steakhouses in the country, today you can find CUT locations from D.C. to Doha. Platted photos of a steak will never be the most striking, yet steakhouses continue to be a favorite for their coziness and the feeling of familiarity. The aromas of the grill, the raw bar on ice display, there's just something about its simplicity that still gets the tastebuds going.
Gulf Shrimp Cocktail
28 Day Wet Aged Filet Mignon, Point Reyes Blue Cheese, Caramelized Onions
Cavatappi Pasta "Mac n Cheese" with Cheddar
Left: Raspberry, Mango Mouse on Cream Cheese Dough Disc
Right: Sea Salt Caramel & Dark Chocolate Ganache Tartlet
In addition to Puck's enviable Chef career, he has written books, had his own Emmy winning television program on the Food network and has his own line of cookwares. His accolades are truly endless and he continues to write the list today. Between the WP Fine Dining Group and WP World Wide Inc. the name Wolfgang Puck can be seen on some 80 locations around the world from hospitals, airports and schools in addition to restaurants. Truly a story fit for a Hollywood movie. For more information on Wolfgang Puck's empire visit
www.WolfgangPuck.com .
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