Show 73, May 24, 2014: Carlos Enriquez, Corporate Pastry Chef, Patina Restaurant Group

Carlos EnriquezWhat does it take to become the Corporate Pastry Chef at the highly thought of Patina Restaurant Group? Chef Carlos Enriquez, who learned the basics of pastry in his parents Los Angeles bakery, joins us to explain. It takes more than hard work…

Chef Carlos was part of the opening team of the Paris Hotel on The Strip in Las Vegas. He then moved to Colorado to serve as Executive Pastry Chef for Sky Goble at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. A year later, Enriquez joined Goble at the Ahwahnee Resort in Yosemite National Park. In 2006 Chef Carlos returned to Las Vegas and worked as Assistant Pastry Chef at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and later at Alex Restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas. He was Executive Pastry Chef at Café del Rey in Marina del Rey before joining the Patina Restaurant Group as Corporate Pastry Chef in 2012.

Chef Carlos was the father of twins when he still was in his late teens. He now has six children. Imagine the sacrifices involved in climbing the culinary career ladder at such a young age and having a huge family to support, too.

Show 18, February 23, 2013: Govind Armstrong the Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Post & Beam in Baldwin Hills

Chef Govind Armstrong started his culinary career in Los Angeles early with Wolfgang Puck at the tender age of 13. Before Post & Beam he was best known for Table 8 on Melrose Avenue.

Chef Govind Armstrong of Post and BeamGovind is friends with super chef Marcus Samuelsson of Red Rooster and Ginny’s Supper Club fame in Harlem. They originally met at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic. Marcus even mentioned Chef Govind in his well-received memoir (published last year,) Yes, Chef.

Since Post & Beam opened Chef Govind has been looking for the opportunity to collaborate on a celebratory dinner with Chef Marcus at Post & Beam. The result is a “Taste of Harlem in Baldwin Hills” which will take place Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at Post & Beam as a benefit for the Careers Through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP.)

Unfortunately the dinner is sold out but an After Party has been added. Guests will have the unusual opportunity to meet Marcus Samuelsson, Govind Armstrong, and 2nd generation restaurateur Brad Johnson (the co-owner of Post & Beam.)

There is a modest donation of $20 for admission to the After Party with a DJ and a cash bar. All the money goes to benefit C-CAP. This is a ticketed event.