Intimately gathered around the Chef’s table in the kitchen of a 19th century Spanish Colonial Revival Residence better known as the C.E. Toberman Estate to historians; LA’s finest food writers came in from the rain to preview the highlight of mid-winter culinary adventures: ChefDance.
ChefDance, a private VIP dinner series “Pop-Up,” began in 2004 at Sundance Film Festival by Mimi Kim, a finance investor from Los Angeles with an extensive and impressive resume. Her aspiration was to combine the creativity and talent of the films with unique chefs and menus to complement the Sundance experience.
Chef Mimi hand selects the world’s best and brightest talent to realize this culinary experience, and tends not to duplicate the guest Chefs from one year to the next, in order to offer guests a unique and memorable experience each year.
This year, however, Mimi has compiled her “dream culinary team,” who will curate unique dinner menus over 5 spectacular Sundance evenings including but not limited to Michelin starred Chef Luigi Fineo who has recently opened his sophomore restaurant, Luigi al Teatro, in Santa Monica a follow-up to Osteria Venice West, as well as Chef Shawn McClain of famed vegetarian restaurant, Sage, in Las Vegas as well as seafood focused Top Chef Brian Malarkey from the Herringbone family of restaurants.
The menu is vast and varied, with one of a kind seafood offerings, vegetarian delights and incredibly selected and lightly seared meats. There’s something for everyone.
Tickets are available online through the ChefDance website, by purchase or donation to the official charity of Chef Dance, The Art of Elysium.
Chef Dance 2018 opens this Friday and promises to be the best yet with the exciting Day 3 Chef Dance dinner “49 Remarkable Women and One Really Cool Dude,” honoring Gloria Allred, Mindy Grossman, Oprah Winfrey and Scooter Braun to name a few. This year will be especially spectacular as ChefDance has been named an official Sundance partner. ChefDance is planning to expand to other film festivals as well as producing other events with ChefDance Catering later this year.
Look for more exciting events around the country from ChefDance founders Mimi Kim and Kenny Griswold, together with Storytellers founder Clinton Misamore, as they host other private dinner gatherings including their curated FOOD x FILM “Storytellers” dinner series. These intimate dinners for 50 people not only create an inspiring vibe but also a platform and venue to discuss social change issues and activism through curated media content for people in the business, art, leisure and travel industries. These are educational dinners to connect and tap into what’s happening in the world and for Mimi are a natural extension of what she has been doing at Sundance.
Stay tuned for upcoming Viva LA Foodies coverage on a feature into the worlds seed vault in Norway, where “the crop trust” will celebrate its 10th year of housing the worlds seeds. To celebrate, Mimi, Kenny and Clinton will host a dinner in the seed vault where philanthropists from all over the world will come together to fundraise with one goal in common: to secure the world’s food system forever. This concept was planted at a StoryTeller dinner not too long ago and its now germinating into something great.
Event sample menu below of courses served at the private C.E. Toberman Estate in the Hollywood Hills.
PRE SUNDANCE DINNER MENU
Starters
Wild caught Salmon with a bright champagne vinaigrette & Brussels sprouts
Surf and Turf : plugra poached main lobster lollipops & roasted Oregano lamb skewers
Main Course
Sea and land : Maryland blue crab fritters with southern fried chicken bites with lemon saffron remoulade (crab cakes) spicy maple BBQ (on the chicken)
Steak and Eggs : Roasted beef tender loin on scallion smashed potatoes with an herb o’jou Demi glaze, topped with a fried qual egg
Smoked Gouda Mac n Cheese
Risotto with porcini Mushrooms and Black Truffles
Dessert
Assortment of fruit tarts
ChefDance promises great experiences, great connections, and unforgettably great moments.As the official partner of Sundance 2018, ChefDance will take place January 18th through January 22nd featuring a robust lineup of Chef’s and guests. Special Thanks to the amazing and energetic Jen Betts from Innovative PR and her trusty team including talented event photographer Jennifer Johnson Photography who provided our featured event images. More images and videos on our social media via our Instagram account. Visit @VivaLAfoodies here.
