Photo via Briana
The grand finale of our “Into the Heart of LA” culinary experience with Bertolli was a private, intimate meet and greet with celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito. After a whirlwind day full of pampering, limos, celebrity treatment, meeting new friends, tasting new foods, exploring LA’s unique culinary scene and uncovering its passion for food, Bertolli saved the best for last.
We were taken to Culina, the newly opened Italian restaurant at the Four Seasons’ Beverly Wilshire, and escorted to a private back dining room where we all waited anxiously for Rocco to arrive.
Photo via Briana
We were in for a treat with the special small bites tasting menu designed especially for us.
And then came Rocco. He sat down, and I was within wine glass clinking distance!
Rocco asked us about ourselves, our blogs, and our day in LA.
He told us about his recent trip to Italy with Bertolli, his passion for fresh, local ingredients, and where he finds inspiration.
Deep in conversation with Jenny from Picky Palate about food, family, and flavor.
Culina’s sommelier, Brick, explains our wine pairings with each course. Lucky for you, Briana gently explained to me what a “sommelier” was. I was just gonna call him “Brick the Wine Guy”. *blush*
Culina’s new modern Italian chef, Victor Casanova (love his name!), came out to greet us and tell us about our courses.
Plate One
Involitini Di Manzo
Kobe A-5. Delta Asparagus. Enoki Mushrooms. Parmigiano Reggiano.
Wine: Nebbiolo d’Alba. giacosa fratelli. 2007 piedmont.
Photo via Jenny
Melt-in-your-mouth, buttery Kobe beef wrapped around a spring of asparagus, tiny enoki mushrooms, and Parmigiano Reggiano.
Rocco asked Chef Victor to show us his prized Kobe beef, a delicacy cut from cows that are massaged daily to produce this highest quality of flavor, tenderness, and marbled texture.
Photo via Shelisa
Plate Two
Caponata Di Carciofi
Baby Artichokes. Castelvetrano Green Olives. San Marzano Tomato.
Wine: Pinot Bianco. haberle. alois lageder. alto adige 2007.
Plate Three
Suppli Al Telefono
Saffron Risotto Croquette. Mozzarella Di Bufala. Tomato Sugo.
Wine: Mamertino. cru timpanara. vasari. sicily 2006.
Photo via Jenny
Gorgeous photo of our third plate by Jenny. It was as incredible as it looks.
After our dinner with Rocco (it lasted about an hour!) we each got to sit down and chat with him, have our pictures made, and get our books signed. Bertolli had given us all copies of his newest book, Now Eat This, in our welcome gift bags.
Apparently Rocco was quite charming. Do I look smitten? *blush*
I also brought along an extra book for Rocco to sign… Can you tell what it says? I’ll give you a hint…
“To a fellow Kevin and Amanda fan. Congratulations! Rocco XO”
Rocco asked if my readers were mostly female, and when I said yes, he added the XO. ;)
Photo via Pat
Giveaway!
If you’d like this copy of Rocco’s new book, Now Eat This, dedicated to a special Kevin & Amanda reader, just leave me a comment on this post by 7pm, Saturday, May 22nd. :) I’ll announce the randomly chosen winner on Monday. :)
Winner!
Congrats to #416 Becky! “Thanks for sharing your amazing pics. I would love love love to win his book. He’s a cutie.”
There’s more…
My trip to LA didn’t end here… I stayed an extra 3 days in California and took in the gorgeous beaches of Santa Monica, Malibu, and Venice, the glitz of Hollywood, Sunset Blvd, & Melrose, and even drove down to the OC to bake with Jenny in the Picky Palate kitchen. :) Stay tuned… :)
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Filed Under: Giveaways • Travel • California • L.A. Trip • Sweet Adventures with Picky Palate
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I have been salivating with jealousy – and cravings for all this food – over all your blogs this week! Looks like you had an amazing time. Hope that book is coming my way soon!
Thanks so much for sharing your LA adventures! I’m a newcomer to your blog and I love it! Your pictures are so great and I’ve made a couple of the recipes (the shredded pork… oh my!)and now am a huge fan! Thanks for the opportunity to win Rocco’s book!!
I am a happily married woman, but if that HOTTIE was hugging me I am not so sure I would let go! LOL Your trip looks like such an amazing time! Thanks for the chance to win!
Noelle
Oh wow!! That looks like it was such a fun trip!! Rocco looks about as yummy as the food!! That’s so neat that you got to meat him!! Thank you for sharing your experience! I would love an opportunity to get to win the book =o)
How fun! Trip of a lifetime-so glad you shared it with us! Love your dress!
I have LOVED reading about your LA adventure and seeing all the beautiful photos! That book is actually on my “to get” list. I love all of the Eat This, Not That type of books too!
Great giveaway, you’re so kind for thinking of your readers!
(Pick me!) =)
How fun!! I’m so enjoying reading about your very fabulous trip! And I’d love to win the cookbook…I am starting the process of trying to eat healthier…but I loooove to cook, so that’s a small problem. ;)
Rocco!!! Divine :)It all looks fab!
Wow! What an amazing trip and to meet ROCCO!!!! WOW!!! I hope to go to Cali soon!
What a FABULOUS time you HAD!!! We’re all a bit jealous – but so happy for you! My kids live a few blocks from where you were partying – I recognized much of your surroundings! Congrats and thanks for sharing.
looks like you had a trip of a lifetime!! Love the new look our your blog! Cheers!!
OMGoodness is he Handsome! What a great experience…looks like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing & a chance to win. I would love to have his book.
That Rocco is soooooo dreamy. What a cutie!
I really love reading your blog. I look forward to the emails with all of the goodness you have to share. This last week I have lived a vacation through you. I cannot tell you how nice that was. :) I would have just DIED to taste all the food you had! Show a prego woman food and watch out! lol That book looks fantastic, too. Thank you so much for the chance to win. I feel like I have already won just by being able to read your posts. Seriously…little mini vaca in my head. haha
I would love a copy of Roccos’ book :) It looked like you had a fabulous time!
While I’m here… cute new site update. I love the new header… I get the email subscriptions so I don’t always get a look at your site as much as I should. But I do love the new header. So cute, I wish I was as talented and artistic especially working around computers!
Looks like you had an awesome time!!!
I love So Cal!! I moved away from Southern California 3 years ago. I got back every few weeks since its only a 4 hours drive. Glad you had a fabulous time!!!
Thanks for the chance. Looks like you had a wonderful time!
It’s been so much fun following your trip to LA…thanks for sharing and for offering this wonderful book as blog candy!
Looks like you had a great time! I’d love a copy of Rocco’s book!
Amanda, it looks like you had a great trip! Thanks so much for sharing it with us through pictures :) I would LOVE to win this book, so thanks for the opportunity – I would be smitten with Rocco too :)
Wow! Rocco??? That is so so cool! And I am glad you enjoyed LA—it tends to get a bad rap sometimes, but I always have fun there!
How thoughtful to bring along an extra book. That was so nice of you and him!!
I’d love a chance to check out that book especially a signed copy! I’m soooo envious of your adventures. I’m stuck in a cubical all day :P
Wow Amanda, I have gained 10 pounds just reading about your fun, food filled trip. What an amazing experience! AND there is more? Can’t wait to see more pictures and hear about all the fun. I love your blog! Thanks!
Amanda, that was some trip you had! Looks like you had a blast! :) I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win this book. I recently started a diet (because of your inspirational posting about how you lost weight) and this book would come in so handy!
Hope you’re having a GREAT weekend! xoxo!
-Laura
I loved reading about your trip and seeing all the pictures from day one! It looks beyone amazing!!!
GREAT pictures! Would <3 a copy of his book! :-)
What fun! Everything looks amazing, and who WOULDN’T be “smitten” by Rocco? Can’t wait to check out the cookbook. :)
What a wonderful experience! One of my favorite dishes is a Rocco recipe from back when the CBS Morning Show featured Chef on a Shoe String on the weekends. He cooked a skirt steak in a mixture of red wine, brown sugar, mushrooms, onions, tomato, and tarragon. It bakes for hours in the oven and is just divine served over egg noodles. One of my all-time favorite recipes! You can actually still find it at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/11/earlyshow/saturday/chef/main525284.shtml?tag=mncol;lst;2
I can’t believe how addicted I am to reading all about your trip. It sounds amazing! I would love to win this book because you inspired me to count calories and so far I have lost 10 pounds. Thanks for sharing everything with us.
WOW!!!!! What an amazing experience and I am so happy for you!!! Thank you so much for sharing this and letting us experience it with you!! Love your blog and can’t wait to see what’s next!!!
Wowza! He’s gorgeous! I’d like to win this book so I can just prop it open and stare…did I just say that out loud?
How lucky are you to meet Rocco!!! Sounds like you are having so much fun :)
Thanks for your wonderful posts. I love living vicariously with you! I love your life!!!
I want to be you!
Thanks Amanda! It felt like we were on the trip with you!
you must have had funnnnn:)))
I am so glad you choose to share this once in a lifetime trip with us!!! You always make me feel like I am there too! Thank you so much for that. I was wondering though, was Kevin sad he was not able to go? lol
Amanda, what an amazing adventure you had! Love, love, love looking at all the pictures, they made me feel like I was there too. So happy for you!
What a perfect man! Sigh…. Looks like you had a blast in my old stomping grounds of LA!
I am loving all the photos from your trip – keep them coming. What a fabulous prize package you + your dear reader received. So nice to see this for you!
Thank you for sharing all of your amazing adventures with all of us! I used to live in LA so it was quite nostalgic for me. What a wonderful experince you had and you’ve gotten me excited to go back and explore some new places! Your pictures are amazing (what kind of camera did you use??) Welcome home and have a great weekend!
~Mary
It looks like you had so much fun! Wish I were there :)
I am so “T” totally jealous!! That must have been an awesome experience. I am so glad you shared it with us. It was almost like I was sitting right across the table from you taking the pics of you & Rocco myself! I bet that is one adventure you will NEVER forget. So happy fo you to have been able to experience that! FYI: I LOVE your blog!!
Wow, how exciting! One day you’re floating down an Alabama river with the doggy babies & the next you’re casually hanging out with celebrity chefs…lucky you! Can’t wait to see more fab photos of beautiful California!
What a great giveaway! Love it.
(PS- You are SOO tiny!)
Would love to win this! A great
cookbook always helps me get out of
my cooking slump.
Wow ! What a fabulous and exciting trip! Thank you for letting us participate through your wonderful pictures! And Rocco looks wonderful!
Love hearing and seeing your LA trip. I’m so jealous! I’d love to have a copy of the book…
What an awesome trip. Would love to win the book. Love Rocco!!
An Amazing trip for a truley deserving and amazing woman, and the way you journal it all is perfect!
What a fabulous trip you had! He looks so charming too! I would a copy of his book. Thanks for sharing!
Amanda the pictures look fabulous! Looks like you had a very yummy time!
you look great, and I have enjoyed following your adventure…thanks for writing about it!
wow what an amazing time!! I live in OC and have to make a note to head to some of those places!
Looks like you had an awesome trip!! So glad to hear all about it! The photos are absolutely wonderful!!
Thank you for sharing. You take such beautiful pictures. It must have been amazing to go on such a fun trip. I will have to look up this cookbook on line for more info. It looks really interesting.
What a handsome man he is!! :)
What an amazing trip of a lifetime!
Amanda, I’m so jealous! Your trip looked amazing! Thank you for sharing the experience with us through some amazing photos =)
Love the photo’s. He is a handsome man and yes, you look smitten ;)Thanks so much for sharing! xo
looks like you had an amazing time!!!! that risotto croquette has my mouth watering!
What an incredible experience! I ADORE Rocco!
Your blog entries made me feel like we all won the trip. Thank you for the chance to win this book as well!
I love seeing all the pictures — they are all so gorgeous and mouthwatering (yes, the pics of Rocco included ;) lol). So glad you are sharing your trip with us!
OMG! He’s so adorably handsome. Thank you for sharing your trip with us. We can all live vicariously through you! ;)
Sounds like you had a wonderful time! Thanks for sharing it with us!
What an amazing trip! I would love a chance to win Rocco’s book. I really enjoyed watching him on The Restaurant. I am excited to try some of his recipes! Thanks! :)
Fun, Fun, Fun! The food looked amazing!
What an exciting opportunity! Lovin’ your photos!
What a fabulous evening! Rocco looks like such a nice and personable guy in all these photos. Sounds like it was an amazing experience! Thanks for the chance to win his cookbook.
Que bonito viaje!!!
que bonitas fotos!!!
gracias desde España
I have been following your story all week…how fun! Rocco does look like a down to earth guy with a very fun personality. It looks like you girls had a blast. I am so jealous!
OH MY, oh my, OH MY!! I LOVE looking at your photos, Amanda. They are scrumptious to look at …you have quite the “eye” for capturing exactly what we’d like to see. May I ask what kind of camera you have? I KNOW the talent is also in the eye of the beholder (this would be akin to asking Rocco what kind of stove he uses!!) but your pictures are just crystal clear! I am a Kevin and Amanda devotee, and so love living vicariously through your blogsite. THANK YOU for taking the time to keep us in the loop about your adventures — makes my life seem otherwise dreary, even when you’re doing nothing more than playing in the mud in your garden, or seeing the world through the eyes of your doggies. OH, and Rocco’s not so bad himself …though I’d rather have your Kevin any day (LOL!)… Rocco’s just too high maintenance. OH, and YOU looked stunning — loved your shrug! Did you make it!?
what a cool and fabulous trip you had … it’s so cool about the cow’s being massaged daily to get the marbled beef – so wild!
Amanda, it was such fun “following along” as you enjoyed your big adventure in LA! so glad you had a fabulous time… thanks for sharing it!
It looks like everyone had such a fun time…I am so jealous! :) Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. Hope I win the cookbook.
i love all your recaps! such an exciting adventure! thanks for sharing all the fun details!
LOVE your blog and LOVE these pics of Rocco! I have just recently discovered this blog and thoroughly enjoy it!
Looks like you had a fabulous time in LA!! I am so jealous!
Wow Amanda, what a great trip!! I drooled over ALL the food! Wonderful of you to think of us while away~~
Can’t wait to see the rest of your photos!
Lucky you, looks like an amazing trip for you!! I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of that book!!
Who wouldn’t want a book signed by Rocco. I am so envious of your trip, it looks like you had a great time.
Wow what a great time you must have had… Awesome pictures.
Oh my WORD!!! What a fabulous trip! And to get to meet Rocco!! And HUG. HIM.
*faint*
You both are absolutely precious. Fun! Fun! Fun! Can’t wait to see pics of the rest of your trip!
I am seriously salivating just looking at all of your delicious pictures. How do you eat that fabulous food and manage to stay so tiny? So glad you had a fun time in L.A!!
It looks like you had a wonderful trip and I have really enjoyed drooling over all of the delicious food pictures you have posted.
It looks like you had an amazing time! I’ve loved watching your journey! Thanks for sharing!
i am so envious of you gals right now. it looks like you had an amazing time! duh, of course you had an amazing time. your pictures are great too, as always. i know there are plenty more pictures to come so i will stay tuned.
Oh my!! You are super lucky, and I am super jealous!! HE IS GORGEOUS! Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I would absolutely LOVE to win that book! I hope the rest of your trip is just as great, and you have a safe trip home!!!!
It’s been said before, but what an amazing trip! Rocco seems like such a nice guy.
Aww, looks like you had a blast!
Amanda, what a truly wonderful experience you & your friends have had. Love your cute sundress & shrug.
Your trip looks amazing and the food sounds incredible!! What a awesome giveaway to win – THANKS!!
I would LOVE a copy of the book! Your trip looked amazing and I’ve already written down places I want to try when I get to LA!
Amanda…HOLY MOLY…jaw dropping! He is just as gorgeous as the food, and truly looks like a nice guy! The pictures and captions were so entertaining, every morning for the past couple days I have enjoyed getting snippets of your once in a lifetime trip…thank you so much for sharing and allowing so many of us to vicariously live out our culinary dreams through your realities! :) God Bless.
Ooh yay! That would be awesome. Looks like you had fun out on this side of town :-)
Wow. Looks like an amazing trip. Thank you so much for sharing!