A Chef's Dinner at Newly Redesigned L'Ermitage Beverly Hills

Step inside a beautiful chef’s dinner at L’Ermitage Beverly Hills to fête the unveiling of the hotel’s newest signature eatery, Costa Covo, and sleek lobby lounge Alcova—complete with a custom Negroni cart to serve up bespoke beverages tableside. Led by Executive Chef Todd Matthews and designed by New York-based studio Champalimaud Design, the refreshed space is the perfect place to slip away and soak in some quiet luxury—flute of bubbles in hand.

With a sumptuous spin on Italian favorites and Mediterranean cuisine, each plate—from primo pastas and housemade foccaccia to a buttery Branzino—is prepared with traditional and seasonal ingredients, served alongside curated cocktails from a robust beverage menu and special selections from the elevated wine list.

Come for the coastal cuisine and look forward to the debut of the property’s newest poolside paradise, Pozo, opening in January 2025 as part of the 2 Michelin Key hotel’s recent brand refresh.

Scroll to the end for more images.

“We’re excited to welcome our guests and local community to experience what we’ve been working on behind the scenes here at L’Ermitage,” shared Executive Chef Todd Matthews. “At Costa Covo, we’ve focused on drawing a spotlight on the fresh, vibrant ingredients home to the Southern California region in a coastal Italian lens, while Alcova is where you can wind down with a cocktail in hand over shared plates. For us, we hope to create more than a meal, where people can connect and relax in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.”

Located on the left-hand side of the hotel’s newly redesigned lobby space, Costa Covo offers a refreshingly simple and delectable take on coastal Italian cuisine with subtle hints to the shared bounty of the Mediterranean Sea. Italian plates with classic and seasonally inspired ingredients are served alongside daring cocktails and a wine list highlighting new-world Italian and French varietals. Executive Chef Matthews brings his diverse culinary expertise to Italian cuisine, from market-fresh crudo and perfectly prepared cuts of beef to artisanal desserts. The menu highlights his passion for handmade pasta, featuring standout creations such as the Grano Arso Orecchiette in garlic sauce with shishito peppers, bottarga and pangrattato and the Tagliolini al Limone with preserved lemon, Parmigiano Reggiano topped with caviarf or a refined touch.

The restaurant seamlessly blends European elegance with California modernism, creating a refined yet welcoming ambiance. Drawing inspiration from art director Cedric Gibbons, Costa Covo pays homage to Hollywood’s golden age through hand-applied silver leaf ceilings, fluted pilasters, and bespoke bar chairs. A striking landscape photograph by Amir Zaki joins a ceramic commission by Roger Herman to bring contemporary character into the space. Rich accents of velvet persimmon are enhanced by textures of lacquer and onyx, adding layers of warmth, while furniture inspired by Jean-Michel Frank and Gio Ponti, complemented by soft, residential-style lighting, invites guests to feel at home. For an alfresco dining option, Costa Covo also features an intimate outdoor seating space surrounded by lush greenery. The restaurant can accommodate up to 95 guests with partial buyout opportunities available.

Situated on the right-hand side of L’Ermitage’s lobby space lies the hotel’s new lounge, Alcova, which will offer an intimate escape accommodating only up to 16 guests. With creative direction led by Executive Chef Matthews, at Alcova, guests and locals alike will savor specialty drinks and elegant small plates such as Sterling Osetra Caviar with Potato Chips and Whipped Crème Fraiche; Pecorino Toast with Whipped Ricotta and Truffle Honey and Arancini filled with Smoked Mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes. The experience is completed with a custom Negroni trolley, that will serve specialty cocktails tableside, providing a delightful pause in the day and a moment of unexpected pleasure.

Alcova transitions from a comfortable living room in the afternoon, ideal for small meetings and conversations, to a candlelit lounge in the evening, where a custom fireplace sets a warm and inviting atmosphere. Its design features green velvet sofas inspired by Jean-Michel Frank, 1940s walnut and leather armchairs and walnut flooring, creating a timeless and chic aesthetic. A yin and yang wall provides an element of privacy, while a curved alcove showcases a glazed ceramic piece by California artist David Hicks, adding a focal point to the room.

“We approached the design for L’Ermitage Beverly Hills with a vision of creating a series of intimate, stylish spaces that embody the property's residential feel, perfect for both entertaining and fine dining, while showcasing a thoughtfully curated art collection,” said Ed Bakos, Partner & CEO, Champalimaud Design. “Inspired by the elegance of the 1920s and 30s, we chose sumptuous materials and refined proportions that balance comfort with craftsmanship, emphasizing simplicity and sophistication.”

The most gorgeous gift bag, carefully curated with special pieces especially created to evoke the spirit of L’Ermitage Beverly Hills.

L'Etoile | The History of the Michelin Star Rating

Le Taillevent, one of the rare esteemed Parisian dining destinations to be honored with a 3 Star Michelin rating, as featured in the upcoming film, A Chef’s Journey.

If you read yesterday’s post about the new documentary, A Chef’s Journey—premiering in your living room this Friday—then surely you’re eagerly anticipating this cinematic trip to France and the chance to peek inside the world of not one, but three Michelin 3-Star rated French restaurants.

But while we’re waiting, what exactly does it mean to be a 3-Star rated restaurant? And who exactly is Michelin? Is it like the Zagat guide? Isn’t a five star rating the highest honor? I’m glad you (sort of) asked.

The History of the Michelin Star Rating

Like the Yelp review of its day, the Michelin tire company published its first Michelin Guide in France in 1900, as a resource for motorists to take along on road trips, highlighting the best amenities—including mechanics and, yes, restaurants—along the way.

In 1926, the first etoile (star) was introduced as a method to distinguish the must-see spots, and in 1933, the second and third stars were added as a full rating system. Unlike hotels, which all rank somewhere between one and five stars—usually through independent organizations like AAA, since there is no official authority—only very special restaurants even make the Michelin rank.

To clarify, while we might typically think of 1 star as a low rating, to have one Michelin star is a great honor in itself, while two and three stars are reserved for the most elite restaurants around the world.

Updated annually, the list of dining locations are announced each year in the guide, with a rating of:

• 1 star, which classifies “A very good restaurant.”

• 2 stars, which distinguishes “Excellent cooking that is worth a detour.”

• 3 stars, the highest honor, reserved for “Exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey.”

While the guide has adapted its system over the years to a more inclusive classification system that includes casual dining and eateries of all kinds that aren’t quite star material, the Michelin stars continue to be a rare achievement, and highly coveted.

According to the 2019 edition, there are currently only 137 Michelin 3-star rated restaurants around the world—for context, there are 197 countries on earth, meaning that most countries don’t have any at all. France typically leads the way as the country with the highest number—which makes sense since the French invented the system, and their dedication to traditional cuisine is unparalleled, really—currently with a whopping 29.

For added context, France is roughly the size of Texas, so that’s a lot of stars per capita, as compared to the US which currently has 14 in total—7 of which are in California, although sadly not in Los Angeles.

Other European cuisine capitals like Italy and Spain have 11; the UK has 5; China, Singapore, and the Netherlands have 2; while Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and Taiwan have only one each.

However, it should be noted that Los Angeles currently hosts four Michelin 2-star rated dining destinations, including:

• n/naka in Culver City

• Vespertine, also in Culver City

• Providence in Hollywood

• Sushi Ginza Onodera in West Hollywood

And not for nothing, LA is also home to 16 Michelin 1-star rated spots, while Orange County has two, and there’s also one in San Diego.

See which local locales made the cut here, and check this handy barometer to track which Michelin rated restaurants have managed to survive in the wake of Covid closures.