Sustainable Restaurants – Santa Monica’s Wilshire Restaurant
Green Among Gray’s overview of sustainable restaurants in various Captivate cities continues today with Wilshire Restaurant in Santa Monica, Calif.
Though Wilshire is going on 5 years old, its current iteration really didn’t begin until February of last year, when Andrew Kirschner stepped in as executive chef. I haven’t had the pleasure of dining there, but I trust the Los Angeles Times review, which calls Wilshire’s food “completely successful as contemporary California cooking” and “a breath of fresh air,” while lauding its patio as “a magical outdoor space.”
Wilshire says its menu is “developed around local, organic, and seasonal ingredients, taking advantage of our uniquely rich and diverse farmers markets. Dishes originate from a fusion of American and International influences, presented in a simple and accessible style. We call this ‘New Urban Cuisine,’ reflecting the modern sensibilities of supporting sustainable farming.”
The restaurant is now offering three-course prix fixe dinners for just $39 per person. And it’s not one of those limited deals either, where you only get to choose from one or two entrees; the entire dinner menu (except steaks) is available. You can create your own tasting menu!
I asked Executive Chef Andrew Kirschner a couple questions via e-mail. (Mr. Kirschner won a live cooking competition in April centered on the importance of choosing environmentally responsible foods. Check out the details on how his cooking impressed celebrity judges such as Julianne Moore.)
What drives your passion for organic ingredients?
Though Wilshire is going on 5 years old, its current iteration really didn’t begin until February of last year, when Andrew Kirschner stepped in as executive chef. I haven’t had the pleasure of dining there, but I trust the Los Angeles Times review, which calls Wilshire’s food “completely successful as contemporary California cooking” and “a breath of fresh air,” while lauding its patio as “a magical outdoor space.”
Wilshire says its menu is “developed around local, organic, and seasonal ingredients, taking advantage of our uniquely rich and diverse farmers markets. Dishes originate from a fusion of American and International influences, presented in a simple and accessible style. We call this ‘New Urban Cuisine,’ reflecting the modern sensibilities of supporting sustainable farming.”
The restaurant is now offering three-course prix fixe dinners for just $39 per person. And it’s not one of those limited deals either, where you only get to choose from one or two entrees; the entire dinner menu (except steaks) is available. You can create your own tasting menu!
I asked Executive Chef Andrew Kirschner a couple questions via e-mail. (Mr. Kirschner won a live cooking competition in April centered on the importance of choosing environmentally responsible foods. Check out the details on how his cooking impressed celebrity judges such as Julianne Moore.)
What drives your passion for organic ingredients?
Our culinary team creates seasonal menus based on the enormous availability of organic produce and sustainable products that are part of California's agricultural heritage.
Do you find patrons dining at your restaurant as a result of actively seeking out organic options, or are they more often simply looking for good food and the organic aspect is just an afterthought for them?
More and more, guests feel secure when knowing that what their eating comes from reliable sources. California is a leader in green industries and a philosophy for our future. As a restaurant, we want to set the bar and illustrate that the best food comes from choosing the best ingredients.
Labels: Green restaurants, sustainable resturants in California, Wilshire Restaurant
This entry was posted by Kyle Scribner, on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. You can
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