Last Sunday was the 24th Annual Vintage Bouquet Food & Wine Event held at the immaculate Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. I was invited as a media guest (OK, that may be a lie and I might have actually stopped just short of begging) to put focus on the food and wine that were up for sampling to attendees.
Let’s just take a moment to recap what this event is all about, though, shall we?
The Barristers of the Beverly Hills Bar Association and the Beverly Hills Bar Foundation established the Vintage Bouquet Food and Wine Event in 1988 to raise funds for various causes including, but not limited to, Wills For Heroes (a free program to provide wills to firefighters, police and first responders), free programs for victims of domestic violence, The High School Blue Car Project, which educates high school students about the law.
I was looking forward to this event for weeks. My sister, who was assisting me at the event, came over the night prior just so we could have a girls night sleepover out of it. We watched a lot of Mad Men and went through our wardrobe figuring out what to wear. We had to look our garden party best! Making sure we got up early to prep and leave on time, sister and I still managed to fall victim to tardiness (which makes me rage) by not being out the door early enough to give a cushion for directional errors, which we fell prey to when we drove up the incorrect Doheney. Road? Drive? In less than two block away from one another? Arg. I found out that I was not the only first-timer who made this mistake, though, which alleviated my stress just a smidgen.
To give you an idea of the loveliness of our surrounding, here is I picture I snapped just moments after arriving:
We wasted no time in getting down to the courtyard, checking in and getting our grub on. I figured out the perfect system of eat, wine, eat, wine, eat, wine with some socializing and a lot of picture taking in between.
What are you doing Sunday, April 29th?
Nothing, you say? Then whip out your day planner and a pen, because have I got an event for you.
Do you enjoy attending prestigious events?
What about giving back to the community, and helping out with charitable causes?
Now let’s throw in hors d’oeuvres by the area’s top chefs and wine from California’s premium wineries accompanied by live entertainment and silent auction. You’re listen now, aren’t you?
Fabulous.
Oh, and did I mention that the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills is where this fantabulous event is going to be held?
The Beverly Hills Bar Association’s Vintage Bouquet credit: Lee Salem
The Barristers of the Beverly Hills Bar Association and the Beverly Hills Bar Foundation established the Vintage Bouquet Food and Wine Event in 1988 to raise funds for various causes including, but not limited to, Wills For Heroes (a free program to provide wills to firefighters, police and first responders), free programs for victims of domestic violence, The High School Blue Car Project, which educates high school students about the law.
From noon until 4:00pm, attendees will be sampling delectable bites from the best of the best of the Los Angeles restaurant scene: Dandy Don’s Home Made Ice Cream; Hansen’s Cakes; Il Fornaio – Restaurant, Lawry’s The Prime Rib; Lady Chocolatier; Lexington Social House; Momed; Napa Valley Grille; Palomino Restaurant; Pazzo Gelato; Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse; STK Los Angeles; Taberna Mexicana; The Palm, West Hollywood; and Wood & Vine.
Beverages of the alcoholic and non-alcoholic variety will be in abundance as well, with Pride Mountain Vineyards; Quady Winery; Relic Wines, Spring Mountain Vineyards Stella Artois beer, Wolfgang Puck Iced Coffees, IZZE beverages; and Wicker Vineyards – to name only a smattering.
Tickets: $125 advanced purchase, $150 at the event and a limited number of VIP tickets ($175) are also available and include entree to a private martini bar. Tickets are available online.
The Beverly Hills Bar Association’s Vintage Bouquet | credit: Lee Salem
So there you have it. An amazing afternoon filled with a culinary adventure, majestic views of Los Angeles and giving unto others.
See you there!
24th Annual Vintage bouquet Food and Wine Event | Official Website
Greystone Mansion | 905 Loma Vista Drive in Beverly Hills, CA 90210
On one gorgeous evening that I was wasting hanging out on the Twitter, I caught a shout out by journalist Celia Soudry asking if any food bloggers would want to tag along to the soft opening of Bibigo in Beverly Hills. Like a teacher’s pet sitting front row and center, my virtual hand shot up before all of the other pupils’. Slackers!
I had meant to bring one of my Korean-cuisine enthusiast siblings as my plus one, but brother dear would have problems getting there on time and sister has a work schedule that has her going to bed the same time preschoolers do. My mother overheard me talking about it and her got sparkly-eyed and in a dreamy voice she said, “Korean food? I want to go!” How could I say no?
Bibigo is an international chain of casual Korean restaurants, with the Beverly Hills addition marking the 12th Bibigo globally and the second USA location. Determined to stand apart from its quick service restaurant in Westwood Village, the Beverly Hills branch offers casual atmosphere for patrons to dine-in, relax and savor the “fresh and healthy” concept that Bibigo is known for.
If you’re starting to feel all kinds of jealous, have no fear: 2012 is a big year for Bibigo as they plan to launch several new branches worldwide – keep an eye out, Tokyo and England!
Bibigo came on my radar when I became obsessed with a little show on PBS called The Kimchi Chronicles – about Marja Vongerichte (wife of internationally acclaimed chef Jean Georges Vongerichte) reconnecting with her biological mother’s roots in South Korea, mainly through the glorious cuisine. Marja, along with friend, actress Heather Graham, dined at Bibigo in Korea. HOW COULD I NOT RESIST THE INVITATION? Imma eat as well as Marja! *faints* Now if only I could convince Mister J to go to culinary school…
Since this is a soft opening I’m not hard-core reviewing this place as I normally would. Basic info with some notes is all I feel comfortable with showcasing for the moment.
Bulgogi Veggie Wrap
I love the variety of rice – black, white, white/brown mix. Bulgogi beef. Fresh cabbage and kale leaves and grated radish.
Bulgogi green wrap
That sauce was amazing and I don’t think (outside of sushi) I could ever go back to plain old white rice again. Black rice is where it’s at.
Cucumber Jalapeno Drink
Believe it or not, very refreshing and not spicy at all. I wish I had drank more of this!
Crispy White Chicken with Okra
Addicting. I love okra + chicken together.
Tomatofu
Silken tofu, cherry tomatoes, arugula and celery + lemon soy sauce. I’m not even a fan of tofu and this had me going back for seconds (and thirds, and fourths, and…)
Tofu Steak
Pan-fried tofu with soy-glazed burdock and green beans. Again – I usually steer very clear of tofu but this was crazy delicious.
Hot Stone Bibimbap – Shrimp & black rice
With all hot stone entrees, customers can pick which protein they’d like (bulgogi beef, chicken breast, grilled spicy pork, tofu or shrimp) and which rice (white, brown/white, black or pearl barley). Choice of sauce includes traditional Kohot, citrus soy, sesame oil, and maybe teriyaki? I cannot recall the fourth option.
Hot Stone Bibimbap – Chicken & Black Rice
This was mine. I appreciated the fresh vegetables – particularly the green beans. I went with the traditional “Kohot” sauce and was surprised this is what it came in:
I could at least see the nutritional listing on the back and even though the sodium content wasn’t too bad, I only ended up using 1/3rd of one packet. I think next time I would ask for that gorgeous sauce that came with the bulgogi leaf wrap.
Sampler
Raspberry wine. Plum wine. Soju.
Tofu pudding with black sesame and a hint of vanilla, grapes to garnish. Like the other tofu heavy dishes of the evening, I could not stay away from this dish.
Ice Cream + Wheat Powder
The wheat powder tasted like ground up Cheerios – which is not a bad thing. We were informed this is a pretty common trend in Korea itself. Cereal flavored ice cream you say? Hand me a spoon.
I look forward to Bibigo’s success in Beverly Hills, now their USA flagship locale, and giving the Westwood Village location a try. If you’re new to Korean food I would definitely recommend Bibigo for your gateway to a world of fresh and flavorful food.
Bibigo
225 S Beverly Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 275-0011 website
Disclosure: All food was complimentary. All opinions and wording are my own.
QUESTION: What do these three images have in common:
ANSWER: They’re all found in Beverly Hills and can be read about in the latest issue of The Place: Los Angeles, April 2011. Turn to page 60 for my two-page feature on Beverly Hills, including my tasting menu at Kiyokawa Japanese restaurant.
I have a review coming up but I’ve been busy as well as lazy. So you’ll have to just excuse me and check out the pretty pictures for the time being.
Kumamoto oyster topped with caviar and a fleck of gold from Kiyokawa in Beverly Hills. There is no other food on this planet quite like the oyster. I could down dozens of these tasty morsels and call it a happy day indeed.
My precious baby Otis, having fun on this waved scratch post/tunnel contraption my mother presented them for Christmas. He’s also doped up on catnip and enjoying the sunshine, his (current) favorite past time.
My view on the Gold Line light rail between Highland Park and Mission Street stations. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that Los Angeles cannot be beautiful.
I want this bed frame more than any other material item right at this moment. Does anyone have $1700 to spare?
This is the installation outside of the Ls Angeles County Museum of Art, where I hold a membership pass and frequent.
