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WHILE THE ECONOMY WHISKS AWAY TABLE LINENS, PALM BEACH’S L’ESCALIER CELEBRATES UNFORGETTABLE FINE DINING (and Keeps the Linens)
The Crown of The Breakers’ Restaurant Collection Embraces Coveted Culinary Occasions and Chef’s Creative Haute Cuisine
PALM BEACH, FL – While today’s palates are skewing casual and the mood equally tempered, there remains a passionate, discerning segment of food and wine enthusiasts who are inspired to live dining to the fullest. Beyond these foodies, there are many who desire a special restaurant destination that painstakingly refines “dinner out” to its most memorable potential.
For such gourmands and those seeking inspired evenings, The Breakers Palm Beach features its award-winning, signature restaurant, L’Escalier, as the extraordinary, contemporary French dining experience -- one that enchants the eyes and captivates the palate, and transforms a great evening out into a truly special occasion.
L’Escalier re-opened on November 3rd under the helm of chef de cuisine, Greg Vassos, who in his second season, is marking a new era for South Florida’s most tantalizing culinary opportunity. The Boston native joined The Breakers in 2008 after a lauded presence in the kitchens of The Brasserie in Grand Cayman, where his daily changing menu emphasized fresh local seafood and produce. For over 10 years prior, Chef Vassos has trained with the best in the US and Europe, having worked as sous chef under Three-Star Michelin chef Eric Ripert (of Le Bernardin fame) at his restaurant Blue, and staged at the renowned French Laundry restaurant, and is grateful to his two esteemed mentors, French master chef Bruno Menard and Two-Star Michelin chef Sergi Arola.
Chef Vassos creatively interprets the illustrious traditions of the French kitchen with seasonally changing, á la carte and four-course and seven-course prix fixe tasting menus infused with elegance and sophistication. His contemporary French cuisine is founded on nature’s best ingredients to which he applies modern technique. His flawlessly prepared dishes are illuminated with artfully executed tableside presentations and cheese and champagne carts. As the evening at L’Escalier progresses, each item is exquisitely presented as a work of art, featuring bold and complex flavors that amaze yet do not overwhelm. Even as Vassos deftly crafts those fabulous elements into masterful new combinations, the freshest seasonal ingredients always shine through. Some highlights of Chef Vassos’ new menu include the following:
MARINATED FLUKE “CEVICHE”
Chives, Yuzu Vinaigrette, Wild Rice “Krispies,” Coconut Bubbles
HUDSON VALLEY FOIE GRAS AU TORCHON “BRULEE”
Caramelized Apple, Chevre, Salted Hazelnut Confit, Anise Cherry Puree
STRIPED BASS
Potato “Risotto,” Caramelized Fennel, Baby Clams,
Bouillabaisse Gelee, Squid Emulsion, Chorizo Vinaigrette
MUSCOVY DUCK BREAST
Duck Confit Tart, Caramelized Endive, Pomme d’Api, Compressed Squash,
Walnuts, Black Raisin, Spiced Duck Jus
In partnership with The Breakers’ two esteemed Master Sommeliers, Juan Gomez and Wine Director Virginia Philip, Vassos is part of a talented trio that collaborate to develop exquisite meals. Chef Vassos’ specialties are brimming with flavors that harmoniously complete each other, while perfectly complementing the sommeliers’ outstanding wine list. Their culinary bar is suspended high in the category of ultra-fine dining, never resting on the laurels of top-shelf accolades such as the AAA Five Diamond award and Wine Spectator’s highest honor, the Grand Award (the latter earned every year since its inception in 1981).
Philip is the 10th woman in the world to earn Master Sommelier certification and title winner of the Best Sommelier in America competition in 2002. Gomez is one of only eight individuals in 2007 to earn the accolade of Master Sommelier and the first native Mexican to do so; more remarkably, he entered the wine profession only six years prior. They are among a team of six sommeliers who suggest compelling wine selections to complement the underlying flavors of every single dish -- from savory appetizers to sumptuous desserts. One of the nation’s foremost wine authorities, Philip and her colleagues have assembled an exceptional list of more than 1,600 wine selections for L’Escalier, and effortlessly guide customers toward the prime choices to complement their meal. The sommeliers also sustain a magnificent 7,800-bottle display Wine Cellar, which showcases only a fraction of The Breakers’ noteworthy 28,000-bottle collection.
L’Escalier service is highly personalized, attentive and genuinely warm, which guarantees a truly authentic, fine dining atmosphere free of pretension. The service staff displays an intrinsic passion for every guest’s fulfillment, as if their mission is to safeguard the lost art of gentility. Discreet and gracious, they are expertly trained and remarkably knowledgeable down to the smallest detail of preparation, attune to the kitchen to deliver a seamlessly paced dining experience.
The décor of L’Escalier evokes grace and sophistication in its richly textured ambiance. While reminiscent of the grand residential style of France’s most elegant chateaux, it features contemporary flourishes such as chic, curved banquettes and avant-garde light fixtures that literally illuminate richly designed atmosphere. A grand environment adeptly wraps itself around intimate guest settings, accented by beautifully arranged tables draped in floor-length linen and adorned with Versace china, Christofle silver and Riedel crystal. The carved mahogany-accented, banquette-style sofas are designed in rich cabbage rose fabric and tastefully anchored by beautiful end tables.
Adjacent to L’Escalier is The Tapestry Bar, a chic and sophisticated living room-style lounge with a vintage mahogany bar, and named for the spectacular 15th century Flemish tapestries that adorn an entire wall. It’s a classic destination in its own right, where guests may relax with a cocktail, sample flights of wine, or linger over a glass of Port or brandy, while savoring appetizers, caviar, cheese or desserts from the Bar’s menu. Live entertainment is enjoyed in season.
With nine distinct restaurant concepts at The Breakers, hotel guests and area residents can savor the cuisine of their liking in this amazing assortment. Dining comes in a variety of styles and levels of informality while spanning a range of price points; L’Escalier being the pièce de résistance.
While the economy has dealt a big blow to the restaurant business (and to the rationale for eating out), Kevin Walters, vice president of food & beverage of The Breakers, asserts that L’Escalier’s platform is not about justifying fine dining. “L’Escalier is the crown of our array of culinary concepts, and thanks to our company’s debt-free position and profitability, we are able to support the variety of quality dining experiences that our guests expect. You can’t compare the financial challenges facing many free-standing restaurants, which struggle to cover rent, overhead and other costs, with a resort of The Breakers’ caliber and financial position. We wouldn’t abandon our premium restaurant amenity in a faltering market environment, just as we wouldn’t discard our casual family restaurant in a boom economy.”
L’Escalier is open five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday. Reservations are recommended and jackets are recommended. For reservations or for more information, call (561) 659-8480.
Founded in 1896 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Breakers Palm Beach is one of America’s legendary resort destinations. The 540-room, Italian Renaissance-style hotel resides on 140 acres of oceanfront property in the heart of Palm Beach. With the commitment of its original ownership, The Breakers has invested $250 million over the past decade in its ongoing revitalization and enhancement of its multi-faceted amenities -- most recently, the dramatic transformation of shoreline into a luxurious beachfront experience. The resort’s timeless atmosphere has been renewed in a style of residential elegance, from its magnificent interiors to its artfully designed landscape. Highly personalized service indulges couples on a romantic getaway as much as it energizes multi-generational travelers with a family-minded philosophy. Capital expenditures averaging $20 million a year will continue to be reinvested in the property for the long term, to ensure it remains appealing to future guests for decades to come.
The resort features 36 holes of championship golf, including The Ocean Course and The Breakers Rees Jones® Course; 10 tennis courts, a 20,000 square foot luxury spa; a breathtaking oceanfront and Mediterranean-style beach club with a half-mile of private beach, featuring luxurious beach bungalows for daytime-rental, five pools and four whirlpool spas; a comprehensive Family Entertainment Center, an extensive program of family and children’s activities, and a variety of water sports. The Breakers also features a broad selection of distinctive restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining, as well as an array of on-site boutiques – all wholly owned and managed by the resort. The Breakers is recognized as a AAA Five Diamond property. For reservations or more information, contact the resort toll-free at 1-888-BREAKERS (273-2537), (561) 655-6611, visit www.thebreakers.com, or contact your travel professional.
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