Cavatina Tasting Event
Sunset Marquis
1200 Alta Loma Rd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Photo by CavatinaLA.com
Cavatina, located in the beautiful boutique hotel Sunset Marquis, gave me a truly unforgettable experience that was unlike any dinner I've had. Upon entering the hotel, we walked through several sections of beautiful decor until we reached the garden in the back. The restaurant is located in the middle of the garden past the bridge, and has a gorgeous atmosphere with open air rafter ceilings that is perfect for a date night. The space is actually very open and large, and Cavatina can host private events with up to 250 guests.
Cavatina has just welcomed Jonathan Kim as the new Executive Chef of the restaurant. With more than 10 years of industry and culinary management experience, he will be joining James Bear Award-Winning Chef and restauranteur Michael Schlow in bringing a fresh and bold California cuisine that focuses on smile high quality ingredients.
We first started out with drinks before moving on to our tasting. Chef Kim sees cooking as a creative tool in which customers are able to experience his passion and personality through food, and we definitely saw that through the variety of courses that we tried.
First off, Kusshi oyster with fennel and caviar: I love kusshi oysters, and this dish was no exception. The fennel and caviar added a nice touch of flavor to the freshness of the oyster, and it was the perfect amuse bouche.
Scallop crudo with nori oil, powdered sesame, radish, hijiki, and pickled apple: This was one of my favorite dishes; the scallop was super fresh and light and the texture of the powdered sesame, radish, and oil complemented the scallops well. The apples added a nice tang to the scallops, and the contrast in crunchiness and softness was great.
Albacore poke with dragonfruit jelly, black rice paper, Tobiko olive oil, and Serrano chili: Although I did not like the jelly texture with the poke, everything else was delicious. The black rice paper added a nice light crunch to the poke, and you can really taste the different flavors that was integrated into this dish.
Hamachi with peppers, onions, garlic pureed together, avocado mousse, masago, and Serrano chili vinegar: Another favorite of mine as the serrano chili added a nice kick to the fish along with the smooth, creamy avocado. The hamachi was cut to a precision, and I could not have enjoyed this dish any better.
Chorizo lobster and shrimp, crispy black rice, almonds, aioli, onions, asparagus: This dish was phenomenal in texture, and the combination of everything really enlightened my taste buds.
Kimchi risotto with crispy pork belly, quail egg, crispy shallots, green onions: I had so many favorite dishes! This one sealed the deal with me as I love how the chef was able to turn a simple risotto into a Korean inspired dish that tasted phenomenal. And of course.. eggs are always a win.
Last but not least, the dry aged prime rib eye, chestnut puree, purple cauliflower, truffle beurre monte, veal jus: Another fantastic dish. The salt didn't overpower the meatiness of the steak, and it also did not saturate the mouth with the heavy salt feeling one could get from a steak. Instead, this juicy and flavorful dry aged was lightly salted and tasted just right.
On to the dessert! Crème fraiche cheesecake with dulce de leche, espresso ice cream: This cheesecake was the perfect dessert as it was light and fluffy. I loved the pairing of the ice cream as well as the bits that added a nice crunch.
Hazelnut streusel, chocolate bits, berry ice cream: This chocolate streusel was very rich and decadent, and it offered a nice contrast to our cheesecake.
James Beard Award-Winning Chef Michael Schlow brought creativity and taste that is unparalleled to other California cuisines in LA. Everything from the atmosphere, the service, presentation, and the food was impeccable, and I could not have had a better night. Thank you Ghost Media for the invite as well Cavatina LA for hosting! For more information on Cavatina, visit their website here.