The Culinary Institute of America

Bartender Ignacio Murillo makes a Bartlett Sour Cocktail at A.O.C. Restaurant

Ignacio Murillo is the bartender extraordinaire at A.O.C. Wine Bar in West Hollywood. He crafts a unique and stunning cocktail menu based entirely on seasonal availability. He shows us a favorite fall cocktail — the Bartlett Sour made with bourbon and poached pears. This drink contains a pear and white wine purée spiced with cinnamon, clove and bay leaves. Next he adds an orgeat syrup with almonds, water, and sugar. Combine that with bourbon, garnish with a beautiful dehydrated pear slice and… voilà! The Bartlett Sour!
Murillo’s cocktails are delicious, inspired concoctions that are a perfect pairing with Chef/Owner Suzanne Goin’s seasonal market menu offerings at the legendary A.O.C. Wine Bar and Restaurant.
Watch the full documentary and find plant-forward recipes here!

Suzanne Goin Makes The Farmer’s Plate at A.O.C. Restaurant

Suzanne Goin demonstrates her signature dish called “The Farmer’s Plate.” Made exclusively with seasonal produce available at the farmer’s market, this is one of the most popular dishes at her restaurant, A.O.C. It features red curry squash, green beans, peppers, carrots, tomatoes, and summer squash, romanesco, a chickpea puree, walnut muhammara and a dollop of burrata. It is seasoned with lemon and olive oil, layered with dandelion, and served with grilled toast.
Watch the full documentary and find plant-forward recipes here!

Chef Suzanne Goin talks Plant-Forward Cuisine at A.O.C. Restaurant

Renowned Chef Suzanne Goin discusses the original concept behind her restaurant, A.O.C, which she opened twenty years ago. She discusses her origins as a chef, including her first ever restaurant job when she was in college in Rhode Island, her job at Campanile, and how writing a letter to Alice Waters wound up landing her a coveted job at Chez Panisse. She explains how she came to embrace rustic farm-to-table cuisine, and the importance of forging symbiotic relationships with local farmers.
Native Los Angeles chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author Suzanne Goin is celebrated as one of the country's most talented and innovative contemporary chefs. Goin has been nominated for eight James Beard Foundation Awards, winning the coveted national award in 2016. Her culinary style takes an original approach to American and French traditions she mastered through extensive training. As a restaurateur, she runs three fine dining restaurants in the Los Angeles area: A.O.C., Lucques, and Tavern.
Watch the full documentary and find plant-forward recipes here!

Chef Seizan Dreux Ellis Makes Dish, “I Am Liberated,” at Cafe Gratitude

Seizan Dreux Ellis is the executive chef of Cafe Gratitude in The Arts District in Downtown LA. He shows us a popular salad called, “I Am Liberated” made with kelp noodles, arugula, basil hempseed pesto, cashew ricotta, Kalamata olives, green olives, heirloom tomatoes, and brazil nut parmesan. Chef Ellis gives all of the dishes positive affirmations for names, such as “I Am Confident,” and “I Am Liberated,” so that when customers place their orders, they are making a positive affirmation at the same time.
Watch the full documentary and find plant-forward recipes here!

Chef Seizan Dreux Ellis Makes Dish, “I Am Confident,” at Cafe Gratitude

Seizan Dreux Ellis is the executive chef of Cafe Gratitude in The Arts District in Downtown LA. He shows us a popular autumn and winter dish called, “I Am Confident” — a roasted cauliflower steak served with almond romesco sauce, coconut yogurt, hazelnut dukkah, and a tapenade of sundried tomatoes, kalamata olives and green olives. Chef Ellis gives all of the dishes positive affirmations for names, such as “I Am Confident,” and “I Am Liberated,” so that when customers place their orders, they are making a positive affirmation at the same time. 
Watch the full documentary and find plant-forward recipes at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/inside-the-plantforward-kitchen

Chef Seizan Dreux Ellis Talks about Vegan Dishes at Cafe Gratitude

Seizan Dreux Ellis is the executive chef of Cafe Gratitude in The Arts District in Downtown LA. Here he talks about the origins and objectives of Cafe Gratitude, their approach to plant-based cuisine, how to best bring out flavors in produce, and naming all of their dishes with positive affirmations. He also addresses the benefits of a plant-forward diet, from health and wellness, to the environment.
After spending 8 years in Venice, Italy apprenticing in kitchens, Dreux returned to San Francisco, working as executive chef for the original Cafe Gratitude restaurant for 4 years. He then moved to Los Angeles as corporate chef of Cafe Gratitude in Southern California. In 2017 Seizan received lay ordination in the Soto Zen lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi at the San Francisco Zen Center where he continues his Buddhist practice.
Watch the full documentary and find plant-forward recipes here!

Chef Iliana Loza Makes a Vegan Stuffed Eggplant at Kismet Restaurant

Iliana Loza is the sous chef at Kismet Restaurant in Los Angeles. Here she demonstrates a vegan dish: eggplant stuffed with walnuts and a Fresno chile sofrito, topped with a black mint condiment and preserved mandarin oranges. She loves how the soft creamy eggplants pair so well with the crunch of the walnut filling and floral mint topping for an unexpected and beautiful dish. 
Watch the full documentary and find plant-forward recipes here!

Chef Sarah Hymanson Makes a Persimmon Salad at Kismet Restaurant

Sarah Hymanson is the chef and co-owner of the restaurant, Kismet, in Los Angeles, known for its dishes layered with Middle Eastern flavors and plant-forward, local ingredients. She demonstrates a chocolate persimmon salad with shallots, lemon, fried capers and fried rosemary.
Watch the full documentary and find plant-forward recipes here!