Le Mervetty | French Tea in Beverly Hills

Tea for two, but make it for one.

There’s no better way to start the day—that I can think of, anyway—than with une tasse de thé.

known as much for its larger-than-life milkshakes and Pinterest-worthy floral installation as for its colorful array of macarons, decadent merveilleux cakes, and petite canalés, the folks at Le Mervetty know a thing or two about aesthetics.

With made-to-order cakes and signature merengue garnish on everything from bite-sized treats to individual teapots (see below), this Beverly Hills gem is a must-visit for any Chic Française looking for some comforts of home—with the LA treatment.

Deux macarons and a merengue garnish, s’il vous plait.

Bastille Day | La Fête Nationale 2020

Moi, enjoying a Bastille Day apéro at Héritage Fine Wines of Beverly Hills.

Bastille Day | La Fête Nationale 2020

There’s nothing quite like being in France to celebrate Bastille Day—the French equivalent of our American Independence Day. Just as the 4th of July signaled the culmination of the American Revolution in 1776 that led to the United States disassociating from Great Britain, Bastille Day marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, the climax of the French Revolution in 1789, which was equally as bloody and gruesome (let’s not forget the gleeful beheading of Marie Antoinette, for one) but also paved the way for a future of fireworks, flag waving, and national pride.

A few hundred years later, le 14 Juillet is still celebrated just a few weeks after the 4th of July, and if you haven’t gotten all of that patriotism out of your system, there many ways to show affection for the beautiful country that we all know and love, and many of us consider a home-away-from-home (Who could forget the famous Josephine Baker quote: America is my country, but Paris is my hometown?). One of the best ways to celebrate this year, during the head- scratcher of a summer that is life in 2020, is to support local French restaurants and businesses.

One of my personal favorite spots is Héritage Fine Wines in Beverly Hills.

Known as much for its summer rooftop soirées (excluding this year, sad face) and occasional drop-in performances by John Legend, as for its impressive body of French wines, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better apéro spot in the city. With a to-die-for selection of gourmet meats and cheeses, creating an a la carte charcuterie board has never been easier, and a summer Happy Hour menu that includes $1 oysters can’t be beat. A glass of Taittinger always satisfies my bubbles craving, or sample a flight of fresh-off-the-vineyard whites, reds, and rosés out on the terrace, admiring the stream of passersby from nearby Rodeo Drive.

Helmed by French expatriates and expert winemakers, founder Jordan Andrieu and sommelier Charles Denois—born and bred on vineyards in Burgundy and Champagne, France, respectively—with their keen noses for a proper bouquet, have cultivated a curated library of French wines, all available by the bottle, and for purchase at the on-site wine shop.

Once sufficiently wined and dined, it’s also worth noting that under normal non-pandemic circumstances, one could head down the street to the Sofitel Beverly Hills for its annual Bastille Day celebration festivities, complete with can-can dancers, a French flag photo booth, and gift bags and raffle prizes sponsored by local French institutions like L’Alliance Française and XL Airways.

But, c’est la vie, as they say. There’s always next year.

Heritage Fine Wines
467 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA
@heritagefinewines

No Happy Hour is complete without a glass of Taittinger and $1 oysters.

Q&A | Spotlight on: The Summer of Ludo & Gilles Pop Up

The Summer of Ludo & Gilles pop up dining experience comes to Beverly Hills.
Photo courtesy of the Montage Beverly Hills

The pop-up dining experience trend is really taking off in Los Angeles, and one of the absolute best of the year, hands down, is The Summer of Ludo and Gilles—although I may be biased, given my unabashed affection for the seaside cuisine of the French Riviera.

Nestled inside the charmingly European and picturesque courtyard of the Montage Beverly Hills, this epic culinary collaboration is the brainchild of renowned French restaurateurs Ludo Lefebvre—the producer of many an LA French eatery (including the beloved Trois Mecs in Hollywood) and known to many as America’s French Chef—and Gilles Epié, Culinary Director of the Montage Beverly Hills and known to many as the Original Rock Star Chef. Both have carved illustrious careers, leaving a combined trail of Michelin stars and television stints in their wake since their earlier days together at L’Orangerie in Paris.

In my exclusive Q&A with these two French visionaries below, find out what to expect from the most buzzed-about dining experience of the summer—and be sure to make a reservation before the three-month run ends in late September.

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TCA: What is your idea of the ideal French dining experience, and how is it incorporated into the Ludo & Gilles pop-up?

Chef Gilles: The French appreciate the art of dining, they have a passion for food and they take their time to fully enjoy it. Summer of Ludo & Gilles is like two friends together on vacation, cooking colorful food from the south of France using the freshest California produce. 

Chef Ludo: For me, when I think of the ideal French dining experience, it's with white tablecloths and beautiful china. When I think of my ideal dining experience in the South of France, it’s outside in the garden or near the beach. Summer of Ludo & Gilles incorporates the best of both worlds, with a beautiful setting provided by Montage Beverly Hills but with the simple, delicious food of the South of France.

TCA: Which elements of the South of France specifically served as inspiration for the menu?

Chef Gilles: The cuisine of the South of France features traditional dishes that are influenced by other countries around the Mediterranean Sea. The open-air farmers markets in Los Angeles provide delicious fruits, vegetables, olives, herbs and spices which complement the fish and meat dishes. We simply can’t go wrong with these amazing flavors!

Chef Ludo: The three most important elements of cuisine from the South of France are: fresh, local, farmer's market vegetables, fresh fish, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. We wanted to incorporate all of the wonderful produce and ingredients we can find here in Southern California to utilize them in traditional dishes from the South of France.

TCA: What do you love most about French cuisine and how does it differ from American dining?

Chef Gilles: Dining in France is an experience and there is a wealth of traditional recipes that have been perfected over time. Whether you're at a French cafe, family-owned bistro or elegant restaurant, everyone has an opinion on food. In the U.S., diners enjoy recipes that are innovative and healthy. Americans definitely spend less time at the dining table, I think they should try to enjoy life a little bit more and I hope that our food entices them to do exactly that!

Chef Ludo: French cuisine has a long and rich history rooted in tradition. Every dish has a reason for why and when it is prepared, and there are so many different elements which go into the story behind it. I feel that true American cuisine is influenced by the mix of cultures that live here and it is much more difficult to define because of that.

TCA: In what way does this inspired menu put a unique spin on traditional French fare?

Chef Gilles: This is California and people are watching their figures. I don't cook with butter or heavy sauces. Clients can indulge their culinary passion while eating flavorful and healthy dishes using impeccable ingredients.

Chef Ludo: This menu is actually very traditional and we did not play with the dishes too much. Gilles and I really wanted to share the dishes that we remember from our childhood.

TCA: Which menu item has been most popular so far/ are you most excited to share?

Chef Gilles: The item that is the most popular is definitely the eggs caviar (a dish Ludo and I have been doing since our days at L’Orangerie). But personally the dish that I’m the most excited to share with our clientele is the pissaladière because it’s an authentic dish from Nice and probably something many people have never tried! And of course the Branzino, both Ludo and I created this recipe together, it basically represents everything we love!

Chef Ludo: The hors d’oeuvres cart which comes with 12 different salads and is accompanied by dipping breads has been really popular. Guests also really seem to be enjoying the fish soup as well! My favorite thing on the menu are the grilled prawns with garlic butter and fresh herbs. It's very simple, but so delicious! 

TCA: What do you think is missing from the LA restaurant scene that can be found at Ludo & Gilles?

Chef Gilles: It's the only restaurant in LA with two Michelin-starred chefs creating a truly French fine dining experience together, in a relaxed and beautiful space...We have both cooked for Presidents and movie stars, but we're thrilled to bring our cuisine to food lovers from every walk of life.

Chef Ludo: Our goal with Summer of Ludo & Gilles was to create a space for our guests to experience the South of France without ever leaving LA. I have so many fond memories of my own summers when I was a kid with my family in the South of France and wanted to share that with our guests.

TCA: What makes The Montage the perfect home for this dining experience?

Chef Gilles: Montage Beverly Hills is a world-class hotel with an international discerning clientele. They feel at home here dining on Mediterranean cuisine in a sophisticated atmosphere.

Chef Ludo: Montage Beverly Hills had all the resources I needed, a beautiful kitchen and a great team, to pop-up in their restaurant, plus their location and outdoor courtyard feels like you're in a little village in the South of France - the perfect escape from the hectic life of LA. It was the ideal setting to help transport the guests through both food and the space into the South of France.  

TCA: What do you most hope to accomplish during the run of this pop up?

Chef Gilles: We’d like to put the Summer of Ludo & Gilles on the culinary map! 

Chef Ludo: Most importantly, I want to share my love of this tradition of food with our guests so they can experience something different and new! I hope to give some inspiration to the guests about South of France cuisine so that they travel and create memories of their own.

The Summer of Ludo & Gilles
241 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills
310-860-7800

Renowned French chefs Ludo Lefebvre (Left), and Chef Gilles Epié (Right)