Chef Cynthia Mamukari

What’s Better than the Best (Bolognese)Pappardelle ?

Comments Off on What’s Better than the Best (Bolognese)Pappardelle ?
Restaurant Manager Miguel Morales and server, Derek, artfully dishing up Pappardelle at The Restaurant at Mr. C’s in Beverly Hills

(Gerry Furth-Sides) What could possibly be better than my favorite, the best Pappardelle draped in classic Bolognese sauce? Let me tell you about four possibilities traveling from north to the south of Italy and you decide.

First is learning the secret, changing ground beef recipe of the ethereal pappardelle pasta ribbons with Bolognese from the chef (The Restaurant at Mr. C’s). Second is going into the kitchen for a peek at how the lamb sugo version of pappardelle is prepared (Marino Ristorante). Third is Pappardelle with Wild Boar at Sor Tino. And the fourth is having a professional chef prepare a box for you to put together at home with turkey or veggie sauce (Gourmet Pasta Kit).

Fresh pappardelle may have fluted edges and are up to an inch wide. Dried egg versions that originate in the region of Tuscany have straight sides.  Tagliatelle, (Emilio-Romano and Marche regions)  a narrower version of Pappardelle and used for lighter sauces (see below) is similar to but a tiny bit thinner than (Roman) fettuccine.

Beef Bolognese Pappardelle at The Restaurant at Mr. C’s

Executive Chef Max Farina, brought over from northern Italy to oversee the kitchen, prepares traditional Italian cuisine. His perfectly seasoned Pappardelle Bolognese is so refined it is a perfect match with the usual light as air, pink bellini sauce, also known as vodka sauce.

He combined it with beef bolognese for us and, as common practice, used the fine cuts of meat left from the menu. It turns out credit goes to the chef’s special combination of beef ingredients, which we first with deeply flavored strip loin, brisket and tenderloin. .

Restaurant Manager, Miguel Morales, artfully serves us at The Restaurant at Mr. C Beverly Hills

Mr. C’s Beverly Hills, Rest1224 Beverwil Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90035, (310) 277-2800 Website – //www.mrchotels.com/hotels/beverly-hills-los-angeles-ca/dining/ 

Marino ristorante Lamb Pappardelle

Marino ristorante pappardelle with meat sauce traditionally incorporates the flavors of beef, pork, and veal, simmered over three hours. The Neapolitan family recipe goes back generations.

Lamb Pappardelle at marino ristorante.

The current menu also features Lamb Pappardelle. The homemade pappardelle with Autonomy Farms braised lamb sugo ($28) . Sugo is a sauce made with just tomatoes, garlic, crushed red pepper, and basil. It is known to be super-quick to make. Americans would call it, ” marinara.”

At Marino sugo may have the same ingredients but it is simmered overnight until the lamb is so tender it can be made into niblets. We were so honored to visit the kitchen with Chef Cal, and try a taste of it. This is what makes the difference.

Chef-Partner, Sal Marino shows off his simmering lamb sauce at marino ristorante

www.marinorestaurant.net.  marino Ristorante, 6001 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038,(323) 466-881.

Pappardelle Cinghiale Wild Boar Ragu)

Pappardelle Cinghiale (Wild Boar Ragu) as Sor Tino and Caffe Roma conjures up feasts served in a forest. Its unctuous, rich, slightly tomatoey sauce includes large pieces of the Boar that had been cooked for hours in the sauce, is the equivalent of a rich man’s Bolognese,” is how our Italian-Ameican writer, Darien Morea, perfectly described it.

Cinghiale

Pappardelle Cinghiale Wild Boar Ragu) is also served at Toscanova and Ago ristorantes, authentic Italian restaurants also owned by the master chef, Agostino Sciandri.  We met this Tuscan chef at the Q for quality Awards honoring Los Angeles restaurants for maintaining high standards of authenticity.

Agostino Sciandri
Agostino Sciandri, chef-owner for whom Sor Tino is named

Sor Tino was the first to offer wild boar in Los Angeles in the early 1990’s. These days it is an Italian restaurant staple.

Owner-menu designer, Sciandri, adds “Not to name drop (but I will), I had first been introduced to this dish in a place that was once the home of the father of Leonardo di Vinci in the town of Vinci, Tuscany, and Sor Tino’s version was its equal in every way.”

Sor Tino, 908 Barrington Avenue, Brentwood, CA  90049. (310) 442-8466. (//(www.sortinorestaurant.com)

Pappardelle in Gourmet Pasta Kit at Home

Chef Cynthia Mamukari, founder-owner-chef of Taste & Company was the executive chef at the famous Joe Allen’s Restaurant in Los Angeles, after being recruited to work in their flagship New York and London restaurants. She was also the opening chef at Orso, an equally popular and more casual eatery both in West Hollywood and in Manhattan.

Taste and Company gourmet Pasta Kit (Photo courtesy Taste and Company)

The Taste & Company kit includes Cynthia’s freshest pappardelle with health-minded turkey or vegetarian sauce. Her research was exhaustive to find the best taste, one that will show off the sauce the best.

The kit has the most sophisticated, fresh ingredients still makes it fun to put together

How to Do the Best Home Italian Holiday Feast – Anytime

Comments Off on How to Do the Best Home Italian Holiday Feast – Anytime

(Gerry Furth-Sides) Two of the most respected chefs who have created food for the most beloved restaurants in Los Angeles are sharing their homemade dishes to eat at home.

Chef Cynthia Mamukari, founder-owner-chef of Taste & Company developed a pasta kit.

Restaurateur Executive Chef Celestino Drago helped develop plant-based lasagna noodles for Vegan Sunday Supper’s Six-Layer Lasagna. Drago also offers their own phenomenal pasta out of their commissary.

Chef Cynthia Mamukari, founder-owner-chef of Taste & Company was the executive chef at the famous Joe Allen’s Restaurant in Los Angeles, after being recruited to work in their flagship New York and London restaurants. She was also the opening chef at Orso, an equally popular and more casual eatery both in West Hollywood and in Manhattan.

Restaurateur Executive Chef Celestino Drago and his family are beloved in Los Angeles and Pasadena for their restaurants, Drago CentroIL PastaioDrago Bakery & Drago Restaurant Group).

Taste and Company gourmet Pasta Kit (Photo courtesy Taste and Company)

The Taste & Company kit is filled with the freshest pasta and turkey or vegetarian sauce for the most health-minded customers. It ensures that kids who are eating and making the pasta know what it is supposed to taste like when it is “done right.” And adults will appreciate this quality as well.

The kit has the most sophisticated, fresh ingredients still makes it fun to put together

Taste & Company‘s Chef Cynthia suggests her box specifically for: “When your family calls for a nice dinner of fresh semolina pasta and a homemade sauce. Easy to follow, explicit instructions are included to make the dish. It’s so easy, kids can prepare it

Just by adding wine or sparkling grape juice to the table , you have – presto- ” and would like, ” Italy in a box.” The

Taste & Company’s gourmet Pasta Kit serves 2, 4, 8 or 16 (Photo courtesy of Taste & Company)
Vegan Sunday Supper’s Lasagna plated (photo credit: Matt Villanueva)

Vegan Sunday Supper

Vegan Sunday Supper’s Six-Layer Lasagna (2-4 Servings $28.95 / 6-8 Servings $44.95) is a completely new take on the traditional sausage recipe made with sweet peppers and vegan cheeses, but there is a very special secret ingredient, Future Farms Sausage, which makes this Lasagna just as satisfying and delicious as a traditional meat Lasagna, without the meat! Vegan Sunday Supper also shares the love as 25% of all profits from Vegan Sunday Supper go directly toward benefitting and funding Support + Feed, a non-profit organization created during the pandemic by Maggie Baird (Actress, Voice Artist, Screenwriter), while fighting hunger and climate change one plant-based meal at a time.

Support + Feed’s focus is to have a footprint in cities across the country that are the most impacted by food insecurity and climate change. Support + Feed works tirelessly to nourish those in need by assisting local nonprofits with nourishing plant-based meals and informational resources on its nutritional benefits.

Vegan Sunday Supper’s new gourmet ready-to-bake 100% Plant-Based Six-Layer Lasagnas are now available for home delivery anywhere Nationwide, so celebrateValentine’s Day by visiting www.VeganSundaySupper.com now to help fight hunger and climate change one meal at a time.

Vegan Sunday Supper Lasagna in its Box (photo credit: Matt Villanueva)

Vegan Sunday Supper was created by Founder Richard Klein, a sought-after brand strategist, publisher, creative director and activist.  After Klein transitioned to a plant-based diet 15 years ago, he found himself trying to recreate delicious vegan versions of the dishes he loved, including Lasagna.

Klein’s culinary dream team started with first-generation Italian American Chef Vincent Giovanni, the chef responsible for Laurel Hardware’s bona fide pizza program in West Hollywood.

Next, Klein and Giovanni turned to Los Angeles legend,  Restaurateur Executive Chef Celestino Drago (Drago CentroIL PastaioDrago Bakery & Drago Restaurant Group), who became responsible for developing the finest and freshest plant-based lasagna noodles. Finally, to source the best vegan cheese, Celebrity Vegan Chef Angela Lowe (Angela Lowe Private Chef, Catering & EventsPremier Vegan Catering & Events), known for her innovative vegan cooking and her award-winning vegan cheeses.

The result is a  100% Plant-Based Lasagna with a new take on the traditional sausage recipe, with sweet peppers and vegan cheeses. The special secret ingredient, Pulled Oats was used to make the meatless, plant-based Lasagna just as satisfying as a traditional meat Lasagna. This Finnish innovation from Gold&Green Foods, is a tasty protein, made with just five simple plant-based ingredients: OatsYellow PeasFava Beans, gently pressed Rapeseed Oil and Salt. It absorbs flavors superbly and can be precisely spiced.

Vegan Sunday Supper Lasagna being enjoyed (photo credit: Matt Villanueva)

Drago Bakery Takeout 

Owner and Executive Chef Celestino Drago’s special Takeout Menu at Drago Bakery in Culver City features is renowned freshly baked and freezable essentials for pick-up and home preparation.  The kitchen already supplies a multitude of restaurants near and far, with the best pretzel buns on the planet (that were the hit at LA FARM).

Drago Bakery cake

Chef Drago and the Drago Bakery team will be offering the following Takeout Menu every Monday though Friday for pick-up from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm – Fresh Pasta Package ($55) which will include a choice of Lasagna BologneseChicken and Mushroom Lasagna, or Vegetarian Lasagna that will serve up to 10 guests and be packaged cold. Main Proteinssuch as the Chicken Breast with Marsala and Mushrooms ($80), and a Beef Stew with Red Wine & Spices($95), will also be packed cold and serve up to 10 guests.  Side Orders will feature 2-pound containers of Assorted Roasted VegetablesRoasted Potatoes, and Brussels Sprouts with Ginger & Shallots ($18 each). Fresh Soupsinclude a choice of MinestronePumpkin, and Lentil, packaged in 32-ounce deli-cups and offered cold or frozen ($12 each).

Drago Bakery offers Takeout Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; 3828 Willat Avenue, Culver City, CA 90232 with drop in’s or phone orders  310.280.6004; www.DragoBakery.com