Krug & Train

: Nobu Matsuhisa, his chefs & Sophie Gayot

by Sophie Gayot Just so you’re not confused by the headline, this blog is not about a train powered by Krug Champagne or even drinking Krug while riding on a train. It’s about listening to the group Train performing live while drinking Krug Champagne during Saturday night’s Los Angeles Food & Wine event, which left quite an unforgettable memory. Earlier that tasty night, many top chefs served their food to the appreciative crowd. The choices of food (and wines) were vast and very different, as were the participating toques: Joachim Splichal & Tony Esnault (Patina, GAYOT.com Top 40 Restaurant in the US), Paul Prudhomme (K-Paul Louisiana Kitchen, GAYOT 2011 Top 10 Insider Picks in the US), Christopher Kostow (The Restaurant at Meadowood, GAYOT.com Top 40 Restaurant in the US), Hugo Bolanos (CUT, GAYOT.com 2011 Top 10 Steakhouses in the US), and 2011 Top Chef on Top Chef Masters Floyd Cardoz (North End Grill). Lines were very long in front of Lydia Shire (Towne Stove & Spirits); and Akasha Richmond (Akasha), who served a delicious braised American lamb (word spread fast). Also popular was Drew Nieporent & Stephen Lewandowski’s choucroute (Tribeca Grill, Alsatian chefs should be jealous of the recipe). Chef Ben Ford (Ford’s Filling Station) got help serving from his son Eaton. The night continued with “Decadence Hosted by Sherry Yard – L.A.’s Sweetest After Party.” The crowd moved from the Nokia Plaza to a nearby rooftop to find all the sweets you can imagine and dream of. There were so many that I can only remember two in detail: Sherry Yard’s OMG cookies and Donald Wressell’s chocolate guimauve (Guittard Chocolate). I also liked Michael Mina executive pastry chef Lincoln Carson’s creation, butternut pain d’épice with white chocolate, ras el hanout and brown sugar. Dessert wines were also generously poured such as Ramos Pinto 20 Year Old Porto and 2005 Kracher Grande Cuvée. I don’t know about everyone else, but I sure headed to the gym the next day! Proceeds from the 4-day Los Angeles Food & Wine event will go to St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, which will assist them in their daily mission of delivering over 4,700 meals per day to home-bound seniors. You can click on each photo to enlarge. All photos by Sophie Gayot.