Displaying items by tag: Pebble Beach

TASTE News Service, December 18, 2019 – As its Centennial celebration winds down, Pebble Beach Company looks to the future, announcing yesterday tha it has entered into a partnership with Tiger Woods and his TGR Design firm to design a new short course on the former site of Peter Hay Golf Course.

TASTE News Service, August 4, 2019  -  Car collectors worldwide dream of competing at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where the famed 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links is the stage and the rolling Pacific Ocean serves as backdrop.

TASTE News Service, August 5, 2017 — From an unlikely partnership between lawyer Cesare Isotta and car enthusiasts Vincenzo, Antonio and Oreste Fraschini, came Italy’s most opulent automobile brand: Isotta Fraschini (Ee-So-ta fra-Skee-nee).

Richard Mattei shows off his beautiful Lancia Astura photo copyright Kimball Studios/courtesy of Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

TASTE News Sevice, August 24, 2016 — The 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance concluded with first-time entrant Richard Mattei lifting the top prize high overhead soon after his 1936 Lancia Astura Pinin Farina Cabriolet was named Best of Show at the prestigious competition.

2015's Best of Show, the 1924 Isotta Fraschini

By Dan Clarke

June 28, 2016 – Even though the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is still nearly two months away, a heads-up may be timely. Car buffs not terribly deeply-pocketed may need time to adjust their budgets.

A comfortable addition to Inn at Spanish Bay

TASTE News Service, August 25, 2015 – Pebble Beach Resorts has further expanded its offering for wine aficionados with the introduction of Stave Wine Cellar at Spanish Bay. The facility, which takes its name from a stave (one of the individual strips of wood that form the sides of a wine barrel), invites visitors to indulge in wines by the glass, small bites and a selection of hard-to-find bottles for purchase.

“When we were designing Stave Wine Cellar, our vision was for it to be a place that reflects the charm and casual character of The Inn at Spanish Bay, but with a contemporary style all its own,” said Wendy Heilmann, Director of Wine and Spirits for Pebble Beach Resorts. “Stave Wine Cellar is all about exploration and the experience of different varietals, and this is a place for anyone and everyone curious about the world of wine. We are excited to share the passion we have for wine with our visitors.”

Anchored by a double-sided stone fireplace that is the centerpiece to the room, the space is appointed with a cozy leather couch and chairs, dark wood tables, a communal high-top table and a wine bar.

In addition to more than 30 wines and eight craft beers by the glass, the room features more than 250 wines for purchase by the bottle. To expose visitors to new and unique tastes outside of Monterey County, wines by the glass include regional and international wines that hail from countries like Spain, France, Germany, Italy and Argentina, and California regions including Sonoma, Mendocino County, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. A menu of cheese and charcuterie plates to complement the varietals is offered and winemaker tastings, wine walks and monthly events are planned.

Editor’s note: Readers considering a visit to Pebble Beach—or any of the Monterey Peninsula—may want to consult Taste California Travel’s Resource Directory. In the Central Coast section there are links to the websites of hundreds of Lodging and Dining options, as well as links to Monterey and Santa Cruz Wineries and Craft Beer specialists.

Photo of winning Isotta Fraschini Cabriolet courtesy of Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

TASTE News Service, August 17, 2015 -- An Italian Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Cabriolet that once turned heads and garnered top prizes in the classic era glided to victory at the 65th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on Sunday.

The competition drew 219 cars from 16 countries and 29 U.S. states to the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links. It also raised over $1.8 million to help people in need. Through the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, these charitable funds will benefit 100 local charities.

The winning car is built on an extremely long 145-inch 1924 Tipo 8A chassis, which was acquired in the early 1930s by Swiss Carrosserie Worblaufen to be used as the basis for a new sport cabriolet. The finished car was displayed at the 1932 Geneva Auto Show and won the Grand-Prix d'Honneur at Cannes in 1933. After being shown, the car passed through the hands of just three owners prior to being purchased by current owner Jim Patterson of Louisville, Kentucky.

Asked what he loved most about the massive cabriolet, Patterson chose to focus on its small details. "I love the cigarette lighters," he said. "You should see them! I wondered a while ago if they worked, and I've got a blister on my finger to show they do."

The car's win at Pebble Beach marked the second win for Patterson. His 1933 Delahaye D8S De Villars Roadster was named Best of Show in 2010. "I won here in 2010 with an all-white car, and now I've won with an all-black car. I don't know if I've run out of colors or what," he joked.

There were many strong contenders for Best of Show this year, including a 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Kellner Torpedo Phaeton owned by Doug Magee Jr. of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire; a 1937 Delahaye 145 Franay Cabriolet owned by Sam & Emily Mann of Englewood, New Jersey; and a 1953 Abarth 1100 Sport Ghia Coupé owned by Grant Kinzel of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Concours Chairman Sandra Button said the win by the Isotta Fraschini wasn't a surprise given its provenance: "From the moment that Cesare Isotta and the Fraschini brothers founded their company, they were known for building prestigious cars, and this particular car is very stylish and very powerful. Even when resting on the stage, it seems to be in motion, and it is filled with emotion. There is a lot of passion in this car."

Ferraris were featured in great numbers this year, along with classic era duPonts, antique Popes, British prewar sports cars and postwar Cunninghams. Special classes celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Shelby GT350 and the 75th anniversary of the Lincoln Continental, and Mercury Customs were displayed for the first time.

Editor’s note: The complete list or winners is available at www.pebblebeachconcours.net. If you’re thinking of visiting anywhere on the Monterey Peninsula, first check Taste California Travel’s Resource Directory. There you will find links to the websites of hundreds of Lodging and Dining options, as well as links to the sites of Monterey County Wineries and Craft Beer purveyors.

1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta. The first Ferrari to race in the Pebble Beach Road Races when it competed in 1951. photo: Steve Burton/Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

TASTE News Service, August 8, 2015 - Ferraris return to compete on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links this August 16 when the marque of the Prancing Horse takes center stage at the 65th annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

"Our plans to feature Ferrari have been many years in the making," said Concours Chairman Sandra Button. "But it seems particularly appropriate to be showcasing this marque now, since a Ferrari earned our top award this past year." That car, Jon Shirley's 1954 Ferrari 375 MM Scaglietti Coupe, was not only the first Ferrari to be named Best of Show at the event, but it was also the first postwar car to win in nearly 50 years.

Some of the special Ferrari classes at the forthcoming event will focus on Preservation Ferraris and Ferraris that Raced in the Pebble Beach Road Races in the 1950s.

Additional Features at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours include the following:

duPont: The duPont family played a major role in establishing General Motors as we now know it, and their chemical company's fast-drying paints paved the way for the use of vivid color schemes on factory-produced cars. The 2015 Concours will focus on the marque that bears the duPont name. Just over 30 of these American classics are known to exist.

Designs by Carrozzeria Touring: This Italian coachbuilder, dating from 1928 to the present, has a reputation for elegance and innovation. It was the chosen carrozzeria for many significant marques and models, including the very collectable Alfa Romeo 8C, Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta and Ferrari 212 Inter/Export.

Pope: At one point, the world's largest bicycle manufacturer, Colonel Albert Augustus Pope built automobiles from 1903 to 1915 in many configurations, including some early electric vehicles. Pope also founded the Good Roads Movement, which paved the way to small towns all over the United States.

Postwar Cunninghams: Briggs Cunningham, who served among honorary judges at the Concours, was an American sportsman who won the America's Cup and built race cars in an attempt to win at Le Mans. In addition to his rare race cars, examples of his exceptional Vignale-built C3 sports cars will be exhibited.

Historic Mercury Customs: Mercury was the marque most popular for customizing from the late 1940s to early 1950s. It is considered by many to be the definitive custom car.

Japanese Motorcycles: Introduced to a global audience in the 1950s, Japanese motorcycles gained prominence in the 1960s and dominance in the 1970s. Now they move to the fore at the Pebble Beach Concours.

British Prewar Sports Cars, the 75th anniversary of the Lincoln Continental and the 50th anniversary of the Shelby GT350 Mustang will also be featured.

Editor's note:  For more information about the Concours and related automotive events visit www.pebblebeachconcours.net. If you're planning a trip to this beautiful part of California first visit the Resource Directory of Taste California Travel. In the Monterey County section within the Central Coast listings you will find links to the websites of hundreds of Lodging and Dining options, as well as links to area Wineries.

Team USA Coach Gavin Kaysen, Chef Skylar Stover, Chef Philip Tessier, David A. Bernahl II, Thomas Keller, Daniel Bouloud, Jérôme Bocuse and Executive Director Young Yun at the 2015 Bocuse d'Or in Lyon, France. photo: BKB FoundationTASTE News Service March 6, 2015 - Pebble Beach Food & Wine,  now in its 8th year, brings some of the world’s most revered culinary talent to the Monterey Peninsula. This year’s edition, held April 9-12, will feature more than 100 celebrity chefs and 250 wineries, who will come together to showcase a weekend of dinners and chef collaborations, tastings and cooking demonstrations.

Coastal Luxury Management, organizer of the annual festival, has announced the inaugural partnership with the ment’or BKB Foundation (formerly Bocuse d’Or Foundation), founded in 2008 by Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud and Jérôme Bocuse. The organization is devoted to inspiring culinary excellence in young professionals and preserving the traditions and quality of cuisine. Among ment’or’s many unique initiatives is the organization’s responsibility for selecting, training, and sending Team USA to compete in Bocuse d’Or, the biennial event in Lyon, France that took place January 27-28, 2015.  Team USA made history by placing second and receiving the Bocuse d’Argent award for the first time ever.  Considered one of the most rigorous culinary competitions in the world, 24 countries competed on the world stage during this year’s Bocuse d’Or competition.

“Team USA’s podium placement at the 2015 Bocuse d’Or competition is an extraordinary example of where the United States stands in a global conversation about cuisine and culture,” said Chef Thomas Keller, president of ment’or. “We’re looking forward to continue representing the great strides that American chefs are making at this years’ Pebble Beach Food & Wine festival.”

“Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival is continuously striving to bring attention to the level of excellence in our culinary community,” commented David Bernahl of Coastal Luxury Management. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to raise much needed funds for this great culinary program on the heels of our first ever win with Team USA!”

"It's an honor to be selected to participate in the 8th annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival," said, Young Yun, Executive Director of ment’or.  "We are always looking for different ways to introduce our Foundation to a wider audience and this unique partnership allows us to showcase our mission for inspiring culinary excellence and promoting the high caliber of cuisine and talent we have in America."

At Pebble Beach Food & Wine, ment’or will present Team USA for an evening of intimate dinners and culinary demonstrations as inspired by the prestigious biennial competition. Team USA’s Chef Philip Tessier of the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group and his Commis Skylar Stover of The French Laundry in Yountville, CA will design a menu inspired by the “Culinary Olympics” at The Imperial Dinner, the pinnacle of the four-day festival, curating a menu that will highlight what helped the Team win the silver prize at the Bocuse d’Or competition. 

Other Pebble Beach Food & Wine event highlights include “An Evening at Maude” as celebrated chef and culinary personality Curtis Stone transports the flavors, aromas, and essence of his first-ever Los Angeles restaurant to Pebble Beach; join Master Sommeliers and winemakers for unprecedented wine tastings with Chateau Margaux, Domaine Faiveley, Kosta Browne, and Penfolds Grange.  Meat purists will enjoy a whole-animal “Meatopia” marquee event co-produced by Esquire Magazine’s Josh Ozersky while others will get ready for cooking demonstrations with the likes of Iron Chef Jose Garces, Dana Cowin, or Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto as he pays homage to the quintessential comfort food--Ramen 101. Additionally, the Lexus Grand Tasting, an annual favorite, will host one of the greatest lineups of wine and culinary talent since its inception in 2008.

Further information about details of Pebble Beach Food & Wine can be accessed at http://www.pbfw.com/.

(L – R) American Culinary Federation Monterey Bay Chapter President Tene Shake, Roy’s at Pebble Beach Chef de Cuisine Pablo Mellin, American Academy of Chefs Advisor and Cannery Row Company Co-Owner Bert Cutino and American Culinary Federation National President Michael TyRoy’s at Pebble Beach Chef de Cuisine Pablo Mellin was named “Chef of the Year” for 2012 by the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Monterey Bay Chapter on Sunday, June 2, 2013. Chef Mellin was presented the award by ACF Monterey Bay Chapter President Tene Shake during the organization’s 39th Annual President’s Gala Dinner.

The ACF Monterey Bay Chapter “Chef of the Year” award recognizes an outstanding culinarian who works and cooks in a full-service dining facility. The chosen chef has demonstrated the highest standard of culinary skills, advanced the cuisine of his or her local chapter, and given back to the profession through the development of students and apprentices.

Chef Mellin was born and raised in Mexico and, after moving to the United States in 1986, began his culinary career as a line cook at the Hog’s Breath Inn Restaurant in Carmel, Calif. As his career progressed, he began working in other fine dining restaurants on the Monterey Peninsula, eventually bringing his talents to Pebble Beach Resorts in 1991. Chef Mellin became the lead supervisor at Roy’s at Pebble Beach in 2000, where he honed his skills in Hawaiian-fusion cuisine. In 2005, he was promoted to Sous Chef, where he gained a wealth of knowledge in Japanese products, unique flavors and presentations. In 2008, Chef Mellin became Chef de Cuisine of Roy’s at Pebble Beach.

Since Roy’s at Pebble Beach opened at The Inn at Spanish Bay in 1995, Chef Mellin has developed a special relationship with celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi. In the restaurant’s inaugural year, Chef Mellin flew to Hawaii and trained in Waikiki for three days. Over the last 15 years, Chef Yamaguchi has passed on much of his knowledge and skills in the Hawaiian and Japanese cuisines to the award-winning chef, but in return, has also learned extensively about the Hispanic culture, history and tastes from Chef Mellin.

Chef Mellin has been involved in numerous local special events such as Cooking for Solutions at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Pebble Beach Food & Wine, and The Harvest Farm to Table event, using local and sustainable product. Chef Mellin recently participated for the first time in the annual Culinary Classique, a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels. During his time at Pebble Beach Resorts, he has also mentored twelve students and apprentices, with many moving on to chef positions throughout the Monterey Peninsula. Chef Mellin enjoys working with the vast array of ingredients and the intensity of flavors available in Asian cuisine. The diversity of tropical fruits, fresh produce and seafood are the flavors of Chef Mellin’s youth and he brings this passion to his creations at Pebble Beach Resorts.

Editor's note: Those considering a visit to Pebble Beach or anywhere on the Monterey Peninsula may want to check out Taste California Travel's Resource Directory. Links to the websites of hundreds of Lodging and Dining options are there, as well as links to Monterey County wineries and brewpubs.