Dishing on 1,000 Cookbooks
Time for afternoon tea, settle in enjoy a lovely cuppa and come peruse some of my favorite cookbooks!
1,000 COOKBOOKS, a new website founded by Matthew Cockerill and Jon Croft has launched and I am happy to say I was invited to contribute and thrilled to participate. Never realized how challenging having to choose JUST ten cookbooks could be!
Matthew and Jon are building a list of the top 1,000 cookbooks and have asked a selected panel of leading chefs for their picks. Their aim is to create a collection of the very best food and recipe content to meet the needs of anyone from the most avant-garde foodie to the novice beginner in the kitchen. See my dedicated page and picks here. What fun! Enjoy!
Infatuation LA
Natasha’s Spanish Sticky Date Cake, Spiced Pecans, Bourbon Caramel and Vanilla Ice Cream at Sausal!
Whirlwind Wonderful Chicago Stop on the Vanilla Table Tour
Quick stop at Floriole Café and Bakery.
Flanked by my great friend and pastry colleague Malika Ameen– my official morning tour guide we sampled delicious treats both sweet and savoury created by owner Sandra Holl!
Prepping pavlovas, sauces, creams and caramelized garlic in the kitchens of Mindy Segal’s Hot Chocolate, surrounded by a gracious, crazy fun kitchen crew they made room for me to work amongst the doughs, desserts and pounds of freshly roasted and ground cocoa beans. Thank you!
Off to WGN-TV for a quick cooking demo, lovely host Dina enjoyed the scent of Chicken Stroganoff with Mushrooms and Vanilla wafting across the studio as she read the day’s news.
After cleaning up, I got a personal tour of the TV studio b Rick Nosek of the original Bozo's Circus Show that aired on WGN-TV for many decades. I learned there was a 15 month waiting list to attend a live taping of the beloved show seen by millions of children before it went off the air.
Returning borrowed dishes, plates and props from the multi-level kitchens of Park Hyatt Chicago generously loaned by Chef Daniel Hoefler, sous Chef Patrick Lebeau and coordinated by concierge Andrea Leavitt – I repacked, refreshed then on to Read It and Eat. Anticipating a good turnout (sorry, bit of ballet humor!) we got set up with help from Jason, Esther and Joey. With scent of garlic, vanilla and ricotta custard cups and sips of Proseco, we finished with The Anna Pavlova drizzled with pickled rose petal and raspberry sauce, layered with cream. The gorgeous scent of all things vanilla wafted though the stacks of books of beautiful bookshop and sparkling kitchen. Looking forward to returning next year and create a pop up vanilla feast @Read it and Eat!
LA Eater - Where should I eat right now?
Sausal is one of the 31 Hottest Restaurants in LA Right Now, November 2015
More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends, and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot, which favorite chef just launched a sophomore effort. And while the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the 'it' places of the moment.
Thus, we offer the Eater LA Heatmap, which will change continually to always highlight where the crowds are flocking to at the moment. Sausal is included in this months installment at number 28. (article by Matthew Kang)
Sausal Continues to Flourish
Latest Best of LA – CBS Local
CHECK OUT NEW RESTAURANT SAUSAL
October 2015
The South Bay has been getting a taste of “Nuevo Rancho,” as chef and partner Anne Conness recently introduced Sausal to Downtown El Segundo. A perfect marriage of comfort food and bold traditional Mexican fare, Sausal embraces the unique makeup of Southern California. Named after the farmstead that once encompassed the area, the food draws heavily on smoke, slow roasting, and wood-fire techniques used by the rancheros who used to inhabit it. Scratch cocktails highlighting market-driven ingredients, prepared with housemade syrups and infusions, pair perfectly with Beef & Goat Birria, Pork Pozole over Hominy Grits, or one of many other menu items. To top off dinner with a sweet treat, diners can enjoy a Spanish Sticky Date Cake or Rancho Grilled Stone Fruit, Figs, and Grapes with bay leaf sabayon and “piggy” cookies. Starting today Sausal will be introducing lunch hours and a new lunch menu.
Stone Fruit at Sausal Photo by: Ryan Tanaka
ZAGAT
SAUSAL IS ONE OF LA'S 12 TASTIEST WOOD-FIRED DISHES
By Lesley Balla
September 2015
Where there's smoke, there's probably a wood-fired grill in one of the top local restaurants. First everyone wanted a wood-burning oven for pizzas and other specialties, and now more and more chefs are stoking the flame of an open hearth in their kitchens. When done properly, cooking over direct fire brings out the best flavor in everything from vegetables to shellfish, seafood, huge chops and more.
Even desserts get a little smoke and fire at Anne Conness' new El Segundo grillhouse. Here peaches and apples are grilled until just a little charred and super sweet, and served with bay leaf sabayon and piggy cookies.
My approach to “less is more” also translates to my social media sites. In an effort to keep things simple and easy, I am changing all of my Vanilla Table social media accounts (see below). This will be a graceful and seamless dance. Anything related to Vanilla Table will now be found under my new social media sites. And my website will continue to promote Vanilla Table.
Facebook: Dancing Chef Natasha
Twitter: @DancingChefTash
Instagram: dancingchefnatasha
Have a listen …
… a couple of interviews coming your way.
1490 WKNY The Kingston Station –
Mornings with Warren Lawrence
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2015 at 6:45 a.m. (PT)
Warren Lawrence will interview Chef Natasha MacAller live on air– Tune in for the live stream at 1490WKNY
Talk Radio 790 KABC –
Food and Wine with Chef Jamie Gwen
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 at Noon (PT)
Chef Jamie Gwen interviews Natasha MacAller – Tune in at 790 KABC or have a listen on your radio. Please Note: The show may experience last minute schedule shifts, check Jamie’s site for confirmation.
Radio interview - cooking with vanilla
Gloria Minott* presents Chef Natasha MacAller where they chat about everything Vanilla.
A Live radio interview from Monday, August 17, 2015, WPFW 89.3 FM Washington, DC - approx 9 mins.
*Gloria Minott is a Journalist, Radio Personality, Parent, Foreign Places & Foods, Lover of Arts, Culture, and Justice.
Sausal to Bring Nuevo Rancho Cuisine to El Segundo
By Crystal Coser • May 13, 2015
The South Bay is booming.
The South Bay has been consistently stepping up its culinary game, what with Manhattan and Hermosa Beach's exploding restaurant scene with heavy hitters such as Love & Salt, Steak & Whisky, and upcoming Arthur J dominating the beach cities. Neighboring El Segundo is ready to get in the game, with a major build out going on at 219 Main St in the old Indian Summer spot, reports Toddrickallen.
The upcoming eatery will be called Sausal, and, according to chef/owner Anne Conness and managing partner Sorin Costache, will feature "Nuevo Rancho" cuisine, a sort of homage to the Mexican and Spanish flavors of the California rancho days. An ABC notice reveals the upcoming South Bay restaurant will definitely have booze.
Sausal
219 Main St
El Segundo, CA 90245