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Livello at L’Ermitage

Picture
By Cheri Fox

The famed L'Ermitage Beverly Hills is an understated, yet sophisticated boutique hotel that represents decades of refined luxury as it was once the home of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. A true magnet for A-listers, the lobby is currently featuring an installation by Jeremy Penn. This young 30's artist from New York studied at the University of Maryland and Pratt Institute. His works are internationally exhibited and are remarkably reminiscent of Andy Warhol impressions. His works featured at the hotel are portraits of Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Moss, David Bowie, Bridget Bardot and Jane Fonda.

Livello restaurant anchors the hotel in culinary splendor. Chef Mirko Paderno serves authentic regional Italian cuisine and in fact recently hosted celebrity Canadian singer songwriter Leah Hawkins who is filming a documentary on her growing up on tour with her famous Rock Roll legend father Ronnie Hawkins.
Livello restaurant serves lunch, dinner and cocktails in their piano bar to the Hollywood "it crowd" and entertainment professionals. My lunch started with a Beet and Arugula Salad (fresh burrata, frisee, balsamic vinaigrette, sea salt) and a freshly tossed Caesar Salad with a savory anchovy dressing—a buoyant and flavorful beginning for a warm spring day. The secondi course of Gnocchi (smoked mozzarella, cherry tomato ) and Grilled Salmon (Skuna Bay salmon, artichoke, with fingerling potato) with a  scrumptious tomato-based sauce , were both delicious and prepared to perfection.  Livello also has an extensive wine list, including a lovely Brunello di Montalcino 2008 from Castiglion del Bosco. This charming restaurant and hotel is quite worthy of a lunch outing and more. 

www.lermitagebh.com
Picture
By Michael Hepworth

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What exactly is GRAND BRULOT I thought to myself as I opened the bottle for the first time just around the time this lockdown took effect. Well, Grand Brulot is listed as a VSOP Cognac Café and it can be used in Bloody Mary’s, Manhattans, Negronis, Martinis, spritzes and sidecars , just for starters. It is a blend of Ugni Blanc & Colombard that is crafted into 80 proof VSOP. Then 100% Robusta Ecuadorian coffee bean essence is extracted and blended with brandy to meld for a few months and finally, it is blended with the VSOP Cognac. There is also a whiff of peppermint, nutmeg and hot cocoa in the drink. The retail price is $42.99.

The idea for the drink was instigated in 2015 by John Bernbach who asked for the help of industry veteran Francisco Tonarely to investigate the potential of a cognac/brandy drink blended with coffee. Three year later in August 2018 Grand Brulot was launched. This cognac comes from the Tardy Cognac Group and the grapes come from its single estate. Grand Brulot also plays homage to a New Orleans specialty of the same name that is still served around town.  The name Grand Brulot was inspired by the famous French pirate Jean Lafite who helped New Orleans repel the British invaders in 1812. He would order coffee, pour cognac in the saucer, set it alight and mix it with the coffee.
Recipes:

THE RISE AND SHINE
2 oz Grand Brulot
Orange Twist

Just pour Grand Brulot over ice and the orange will highlight the flavors
of the spirit.

BRULOT BLACK MANHATTAN
1 oz Grand Brulot
1 oz Bourbon
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
3 dashes Orange Bitters

Bartender Todd Smith created this one. Stir all the ingredients together in
a mixing glass. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass with ice and garnish

with orange wheel.

FRENCH NEGRONI
1 oz Grand Brulot
1 oz  Sweet Vermouth
1 oz Campari

Build in a rocks glass over ice and garnish w/orange wheel.

GRAND BRULOT CAFÉ HOLIDAY
1 oz Grand Brulot
0.5 oz Crème de Cacao
3 oz Porter Beer or Stout
3 dashes of bitters

Throw cocktail ingredients between two cups a couple of times to mix
And ignite the foam from the beer. Pour into a highball glass over ice
And garnish with nutmeg.



www.grandbrulot.com
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