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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434 Comments
I’m salivating at those dishes & wine pairings!
Oh I have really enjoyed reading about this fabulous trip. I bet this was just the cherry on top!
Amazing trip. Amazing food. Amazing photographs. We can almost taste the food from those delicious pictures!
I would love Rocco’s new book and so would my husband- he loves to cook too!
I’m LOVING your Blog and Picky Palate! Thanks for sharing your amazing excperience. All the food, pictures, etc are awesome.
Wow! The food looks divine, you look fabulous, and Rocco looks scrumptious! ha! I would love to have a copy of his book. Thanks so much for sharing all your photos and your experiences with us!
Your trip sounds fabulous. I’m glad you had such a great time.
Looks like you had so much fun! That book would be so fun to add to my collection!
Amanda,
I just discovered your website thru a friend having your link or something on their page and I absolutely love it! Your trip looks absolutely amazing and priceless with loads of memories!
Hope you have a great day!
Sounds like a fabulous trip!
It looked like a great trip with lots of delicious food!
Looks like a wonderful and delicious trip =).
Wow it sounds like a trip of a lifetime. Thank you for sharing your trip with us. It was so fun to read about all your stops.
what an awesome experience! i would love to win!!!!
What an awesome trip!! Looks like y’all had a fabulous time!!
Wow, what gorgeous pictures, the food and wine look A-mazing and you got to meet Rocco! Lucky you. This is such a fun blog, thanks!
Hey Amanda! I’ve been reading your posts about your trip… and I love it! So much fun!
I would LOVE to win the giveaway!! Go cooking… go recipes… go Rocco DeSpirito! ;-)
Big hugs,
Chare
Thanks for sharing your amazing trip, you obviously had a great time. Love your blog.
Lynn x
Oh goodness,Amanda! It looked like a fantastic trip and a wonderful experience. I am so jealous(: You are so amazing! Thanks for letting us enter to win, and (just like everyone else) i hope to win!!
XOXO, Morgan
<3
I don’t have a life so I don’t have a webb site…I live thru you and others that I visit…..I so want to win a signed copy of his cookbook! Please pick me!!
Looks like you had an awesome time and his book looks fabulous!
Thank you for documenting your trip so well, Amanda! I love reading about your adventure. It sounds like it was an amazing trip!
Looks like you had a totally amazing trip! Lucky girl :)
I’ve enjoyed seeing all that you did and ate while you were on your trip! What an incredible experience!
I’m totally smitten with him…. thanks for sharing your awesome trip and I want the book… I want the book… I want the book… I want the book…..PLEASE!
How cool! Very fancy and fun!
How amazing! I’ve loved reading about your awesome trip!
What an incredible week!! Will make a kick-a** scrapbook!!! Thanks for sharing! Does Rocco come along with the book? :)
I was just looking at this in the bookstore yesterday. I’d love to win it! Also enjoying your newly updated blog – looks great!
Yummy!
Oh Amanda, what a once in a lifetime experience!! Thanks so much for sharing through your writing and pictures. It is gorgeous!!!!
Thanks!
Your trip looks like so much fun! I am so jealous.
What a trip! I would love to do that!
I love it!! I enjoy reading about your trip to LA and getting to meet Rocco. Of course I’d love to win the book too. Thank you so much for sharing, you’re a wonderful storyteller.
Looks like ya’ll had fun!!
It sounds like you had so much fun! Would LOVE to win this book. Always looking for new things to make for dinner and dessert!!!
It has been such fun following your LA Adventure!
Great looking company and the food looks great, too!! What a great trip!
Oh my goodness, I am loving your posts and photos! Thank you so much for entering me in the drawing.
Wow, he’s kind of dreamy. And the food looks scrumptious!
oh my how fun! i LOVE rocco!!!!! i would love this book, what a special trip, congrats!
It looks like you all had a wonderful time! I love all the pictures! I remember when I first watched his show when it aired, my favorite was watching him and his mother together in the kitchen. Got the feeling of everything that he made having a history behind it, or an emotional connection to his mother.
So LUCKY!! I’m SO jealous!
my heart goes pitter patter. I am sooo envious!
What an unforgettable experience. Hope I win the book!
Sooooooooo jealous. The whole thing sounded like it was fabulous fun!
I loved seeing your pictures and living vicariously through your trip. What an absolutely fantastic opportunity for you to meet Rocco in person!! Congratulations!! Meeting Rocco has always been a dream of mine, as well. I would love to win his new book. Thank you for the chance!! And thank you for sharing your WONDERFUL Blog each day! I look forward to reading it like the daily newspaper!! You always share such wonderful tips and helpful ideas!!
WOW!! What an exciting trip. Looks like you had a great time. How lucky you are. Thanks for the chance towin a coy of his book.
Wow, what a trip! That third plate looked incredible! =]
What an amazing journey you have had, and thanks for taking us all with you. Congrats!
wow does it sound like a wonderful trip! How very lucky. And how nice of you to share one of your books that Rocco signed. I would love to win one! Thanks for sharing your experiance with us.
stumbled on your site a while back when I was revamping my blog and I just wanna say what a wonderful site you have :D
and interesting post! the pictures are great..and so nice of you to be giving a book out for free..thanks for sharing!
Soooooo Lucky!!! Love him and Kobe beef!
You look like you had a ton of fun! I would love to win the book!
Thanks for sharing great pics all week!
What a wonderful opportunity! I can tell you had an amazing time! Congrats on the success of your blog and the adventures that come with it.
Amanda…. what a wonderful time you must have had.. you can just see it in the photos. I have enjoyed reading about it.
Oh yes please!!!
sounds like an AMAZING trip. they sure treated you girls well!!!!
Looks like you and Rocco had a moment there….hmmm…..
Kelly
I’ve enjoyed seeing all the pics from your trip. Looks like you had so much fun!
WHAT an amazing trip you had Amanda, I am SO envious! And yes he is a very gorgeous guy. Oh and the food. All your posts have had me drooling.. ;-)
I would love to win the book. I got to your site via your
weight loss story, and I must say, it appears you have won
that battle. You look so amazing in all of the photos.
Thanks so much for sharing your super trip.
How did you guys fit all that in?? What an amazing experience :) I would *heart* to win the new cookbook…it would make an amazing addition to my other autographed cookbooks (obsessed much?? naaahhh!!) hehe :)
Amanda, Thank you for this wonderful blog! I love to check in and see what you are up to.
Amazing. I’ve really enjoyed reading about your LA adventures. :)
I’ve really enjoyed reading about your LA adventures. Those pictures are amazing and makes me feel like I was right there with you.
Wow! What an incredible opportunity!
Wow, what a great trip and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Now I want to go to LA just for the gourmet food trucks. :)
Sounds like you had a great trip! Thanks for the chance to win his book!
what an awesome looking cookbook. those cookies on the cover are under 350 calories???? thx for the chance to win. what a fun trip. lucky you!
I am so jealous – all that sun, wine, fun and Rocco! I was just checking out that book on Amazon after hearing about it on the radio. I actually put it on my wish list so I truly appreciate the chance to win it instead of buying it :)
I would LOVE to win Rocco’s book! Thank you for this opportunity.
Looks like you had a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing!
I love Italian food,it’s always so deliciously rich & filling! Those dishes look absolutely savory :o) & I would totally be smitten with Rocco myself ;o)
Wow!!! What a great adventure. Everything looked wonderful. You’re sooooo lucky to have met Rocco :)
Thanks for sharing your great trip with us!!! Really enjoyed it!
It looks like you had an awesome time in LA! Thanks for sharing your experience and this great book.
wow what an awesome day you must have had! Fab photos thanks for sharing. and since i couldn’t be there it’s be nice to live vicariously thru you and this wonderful cookbook. i don’t currently have one from rocco but i am a fan of his!
Amanda, I love how radiantly happy you look all the time. I can tell you are using your talents in a way that make your life so happy and it inspires me! I am home with my kids and not living my personal best life, hard to do when I put their needs first, but watching your evolution on your blog gives me hope. I’m not unhappy…I’m just not radiant. I think that is why I like your blog so much. :)
I just discovered your blog today – and it is an instant favorite!!!
Amanda, your trip looked like it was amazing. I have enjoyed reading about your adventure! Thanks so much sharing! PS: Love the new look of your website.
Thanks for this chance to win!
What a fabolous and delicious trip, thaks for sharing ..
Oh wow, what an incredible trip. It sounds as though Rocco was quite the charmer! Thank you so much for the chance to win :)
Sounds like you had a lot of fun on your trip! And the book looks great! What a great experience you had!
Thanks for sharing your trip with us. It was like we were right there with you. Those pictures were so good I could almost taste the food! :)
What fabulous photos and amazing trip to share with us! Thanks for giving me a peak into your trip to LA! It is fantastic!
Oh my goodness! That kobe beef looks AMAZING. I’ve never had it, but I’ve always wanted to try it!
Rocco doesn’t look half bad either. ;-)
Thank you Amanda for sharing your trip with us and giving us the opportunity to experience with you. Thank you for also giving one lucky winner a chance to win a piece of the trip:)
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful trip with us Amanda! I’m so happy for you that you got to experience this. I enjoyed reading about and seeing your time in LA.
Amanda, can I just say I am JEALOUS. What a great experience. It looks like you had an incredible time in LA. I just love being able to get a little taste of your experience through your blog. I enjoy reading it. By the way I maked your chocolate cake into cup cakes for my son’s High School Football team yesterday, 100 cup cakes but they LOVED them so thanks for the recipe. The Varsity Football Team from Travelers Rest High School says “THANKS”
Oh Amanda, what an amazing trip. As a SAHM to two boys that trip sounded like HEAVEN. I was intrigued by your trip to Sparkles and all of the food vendors. How amazing that all of those vendors were in one location and the converted double decker bus…truly inventive. I’m inspired to make home made pasta. As always amazing pics and thank you for sharing.
Kelly
Reading about that trip was such fun. Thanks!
What an amazing experience, Thank you for sharing your trip with us :)
Soo jealous! What a great trip! Would love a copy of his book….especially a signed one!
how exciting for you! and how exciting for the lucky reader that wins the book! it would be so fun the be the winner! thank you for the chance to win!
ah I must say I envy you. You seem so happy and like you had the BEST time in the world out in Cali!
Id love to enter the giveaway!
I absolutely loved reading about your experiences! What a treat! Thank you for such a gracious giveaway :)
I’m so glad you had such an amazing trip! I’d love to snag a copy of the cookbook- what a neat giveaway!
Wow, gorgeous photos! How exciting, and the food looks delish. Rocco is an absolute doll! Glad you had fun, looking forward to your next post
I’d love to win! It sounds like you had an amazing adventure! :)
oooh that all looks so yummy. what a cool opportunity.