Mediterranean Cuisine is Afoot at the FIG with Chef Yousef Ghalaini

Spicy Crab and Avocado Toast (Minus the Crab)

Edible Skinny was lucky enough to check out FIG Restaurant in Santa Monica and we’re here to report there’s some fun movement afoot!

I’ve always had a sweetheart spot for the Fairmont Miramar.  Their staff is the definition of hospitality (seriously it’s like they’re characters our of the Grand Budapest Hotel) while they walk the perfect Santa Monica balance of cutting edge and beachy casual!  And if you haven’t heard since October 2014 FIG Restaurant has been under a new captain!

New Executive Chef Yousef Ghalaini has been switching up it up at the Fairmont Miramar shifting FIG’s cuisine from Ray Garcia’s street taco inspired dishes to a more Mediterranean perspective that uses the freshest California ingredients from local farmers.

Blistered Shishito Peppers

As a native of Lebanon, Chef Ghalaini was immersed in the culture of food at his grandfather’s bakery where he learned the art of the wood-burning oven at an early age. Today he’s a master; Ghalaini eagerly awaits the installation of his wood-burning oven at FIG (which should be showing up in the next month or so).  

After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, he honed his food and wine skills at Go Fish restaurant and Robert Sinskey Vineyards, before landing at the Michelin-rated REDD restaurant, mastering one of the most celebrated styles of California cuisine.  Most recently, Chef Ghalaini spearheaded the opening of the Bench at the Lodge at Pebble Beach, a casually elegant restaurant on Stillwater Cove featuring California-Med inspired dishes prepared on open flame, as well as stunning views of one of the most famous finishing holes in golf.

Quinoa Salad

One fun dish we sampled while dining at FIG last week was their Blistered Shishito Peppers tossed with lemon, California Olive Oil, and Fleur de Sel ($11).  Spicy and clean tasting it’s the choice compliment for a glass of wine. 

The perfect tea sandwich was the Spicy Crab and Avocado Toast built out of Dungeness Crab (sans for Veggie me), Meyer Lemon Oil, and Radish Sprouts ($16); simple and elegant.

Peanut Butter Crunch Bar

An Edible Skinny favorite is the Quinoa Salad composed of Persian Cucumbers, Cherry Tomatoes, and a creamy French Feta ($15).  Healthiness disguised in creamy sheep’s milk cheese!  Yummm!

Luckily we finished the night off with Peanut Butter Crunch Bar (or Peanut Butter “Crack Bar” as Jackie over at the Fairmont Miramar calls it!).  Popcorn, chocolate, and peanut butter creaminess that is probably illegal in most states.  It was absolutely divine!

So if you’re wanting to voyage into a more Mediterranean cuisine at one of Santa Monica’s best hotel hamlets it’s time to re-explore FIG.

Here’s to life being delicious!

Spread the Warmth Gift Idea #5 – New Year's Eve Plans

One of the biggest hassles after the Christmas gifting season is trying to figure out what everyone’s doing on December 31st!  So this year why not give the gift of New Year’s Eve plans?  Along with the gifts of class and style, it’s the ultimate present of peace of mind (and also all the time since you won’t have to discuss, and discuss, what you’re going to do)!

Spread the Warmth Gift Idea #5 – New Year's Eve Plans  

TheFairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, a amazing friend of Edible Skinny, is all about having fabulous luxurious options to ring in 2015!  So dust off your most marvelous tuxedo and pick the one that’s right for you! 

FIG Restaurant

FIG Restaurant, the seasonal bistro with an emphasis on organically grown and locally sourced ingredients, will be holding two festive seatings for dining on Wednesday December 31st!  The first will feature a 5 seasonal menu from FIG Restaurant.  The second seating will feature an extended 7 course menu AND enjoy a free flowing champagne service throughout the evening AND a snack bar after the ball drops to keep the party going.

$85 per person first seating, $124 per person later seating 

 

The Miramar Lounge

Welcome the New Year with an evening of live entertainment, a champagne & caviar bar, and an exclusive a la carte menu from Chef Yousef Ghalaini of FIG Restaurant.  Festive New Years Eve attire required.

A Few More Flicks at Poolside Cinema at Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows

It might be the waning days of summer, but don't tell the Santa Monica based Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows!  They plan to eek out every moment of these last lazy days with their Friday Poolside Cinema and Sunday beach volleyball games.

Poolside Cinema is a series of movie showings taking place at Fairmont Miramar's pool every Friday night from 8-10 pm.  Family friendly, open to the public, and offering complimentary popcorn, along with the Miramar Pool Club food & beverage menu for purchase.  This Friday (8/22) is The Sandlot (which Edible Skinny with be attending!), followed by Ferris Bueller's Day Off (8/29).

And later in the weekend, the Fairmont Miramar will host beach volleyball games for the remaining Saturdays of summer.  The volleyball games (not held at the property, but down at the beach!) are in partnership with Vilebrequin, and allow for participants to play for prizes from the new Vilebrequin boutique now open on property.

So get it while the going is good with the Fairmont's Friday Flicks or a Saturday Suntans (plus volleyball!)!

If Not Now, When? If Not Us, Who?

Wrote an article for the SM Observer on Global Green USA's Millennnium Awards!

If Not Now, When?  If Not Us, Who?

The Green Celebrate the Green at Global Green USA’s Millennium Awards

Billionaires, Clean Energy Entrepreneurs, Politicians, Bankers, Hollywood, and Los Angeles Mayor Elect Eric Garcetti came together last Saturday night for Global Green USA’s Millennium Awards at Santa Monica’s Fairmont Miramar Hotel.  The event marked one of Garcetti’s (a former Global Green USA Millennium Award recipient himself) first post-election appearances. 

Global Green USA’s Millennium Awards were a chance to get up-and-close with eco-conscious Angelenos, celebrity supporters, and civic leaders to discuss the most pressing issues facing humanity today.  Eco-clothing donned guests sipped wine and cocktails under the Mirmar’s 80-foot tall Moreton Bay Fig Tree (one of the largest in California) before heading into the banquet hall to honor some of the movers and shakers of the Green community.  There they dined on a variety of locally sourced, farm fresh, organic ingredient based dishes created by the Miramar’s FIG Restaurant featuring Santa Monica Farmers Market favorites such as Harry’s Berries and Maggies Farms. 

Garcetti’s keynote address helped Global Green USA celebrate environmental leadership and the importance of sustainability in the future of Los Angeles.  Garcetti also discussed the tragic Santa Monica shootings and touched upon the ways in which we should deal with health and safety in our communities.

This year’s Millennium Awards honorees include: Philanthropist Tom Steyer and Sen. Kevin de Leon, Co-Chairs, Proposition 39 (The California Environmental Leadership Award), Danny Kennedy, Co Founder of Sungevity (The Corporate Environmental Leadership Award), Seane Corn, Founder, Off the Mat (The International Environmental Leadership Award), and Ben Goldhirsh, CEO and Co Founder, GOOD Worldwide (The Community Environmental Leadership Award). 

Other key attendees of the Millennium Awards included Ed O’Neill of Modern Family of and Cathy O’Neill, Ed Begley Jr. of Arrested Development, Fran Drescher of Happily Divorced, and author and founder of Project Angel Food Marianne Williamson.  The event also featured a special musical performance by Concord recording artist Spencer Day.

Global Green USA was founded in 1993 by philanthropist and activist Diane Meyer Simon as the American arm of Green Cross International (GCI), an organization launched by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in order to inspire people reconnect to the environment and thus shift attention to sustainability. More than thirty countries have established Green Cross National organizations, which are part of Green Cross International.

Global Green USA is the only national environmental organization headquartered in greater Los Angeles, with satellite offices in New Orleans, Washington DC, and New York.  For nearly 20 years, the organization has been a national leader in advocating for smart solutions to global warming including green building for affordable housing, schools, cities and communities that save money, improve health, and create green jobs.

Global Green USA has influenced more than $20 billion dollars for green building projects and educates millions of people about climate friendly solutions through its annual Red Carpet/Green Cars Oscars campaign.  Global Green USA is also leading efforts to help rebuild a green New Orleans (they were the one’s that brought Brad Pitt to the Big Easy for the post Katrina Sustainable Design Competition).  This has lead to the greening of New Orleans schools, the education of thousands of residents to rebuild their homes more energy efficiently, and helped create the Holy Cross Project, a sustainable village in the Lower 9th Ward with 23 units of affordable housing and a community/climate action center.

One of Global Green USA’s newest projects is the “Solar for Sandy” initiative to help in the resilient rebuilding, with a goal of installing back-up solar systems on schools, women's shelters, and centers in 4-5 neighborhoods devastated by Hurricane Sandy.  The goal of creating a solar energy source for places such as Rockaway Beach Surf Club (which was widely noted as a nerve center for post-Sandy relief efforts in the Rockaways) is to both provide ongoing savings in energy bills, and back up electricity.  Additional equipment including batteries will provide electricity even when the electricity grid goes down since nearly every solar system in the areas flooded after Sandy were grid tied without back up capacity, and went down as intended, and therefore did not provide electricity. 

Global Green USA’s National Green Schools Initiative focuses on protecting the country’s most precious resource: children.  Over 20% of all Americans go to school everyday and many attend schools with poor health quality, high energy bills, and poor learning environments.  For the past five years, Global Green USA has worked with the Los Angeles Unified School District to insure the largest new school construction project in the country is built to healthy green standards.  The 35 new green schools that Global Green USA helped to bring to reality will serve more than 40,000 students and teachers each year.  Green schools has been show to help increase students performances up to 20% by creating fewer sick days, improved attendance, and higher teacher retention.  

And at the core of all of these actions is the Global Green USA’s value shift of creating change through a belief in sustainability.  For as Matt Peterson, CEO of Global Green USA, stated during the event’s opening remarks: “If not now, when?  If not us, who?”

Kat Thomas is a Santa Monica writer who believe the answer is always now.  You can read more of her writings on her food blog: edibleskinny.com