Le Mariage | Notes on a Wedding & How to be a Best Dressed Guest

Fun fact: This Bardot dress reminded everyone of Kate Hudson’s character in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

I spent what is usually my birthday weekend celebrating the wedding of two dear amis, in a beautiful, socially responsible ceremony—ie. trés petite and sans dancing.

With only 25 guests, face masks galore, and a rehearsal dinner picnic on the beach (complete with White Claws and customized takeout from In-and-Out) things turned out quite differently from le mariage we were expecting to attend when their engagement was announced last year. But what the ceremony lacked in population, it made up for in spades with elegance, heartfelt speeches, sweeping sunset views of the Pacific, and of course, plenty of champagne.

The typical American wedding has been turned on its ear—like almost everything else this year—as a result of Covid restrictions, but it was so very inspiring to see one stripped of the usual pomp and circumstance, pared down to the barest and purest essential elements of a successful marriage, including the most important one: love.

As for how to nail the perfect wedding guest style, I’ve gushed many a time about Fashion Pass—my absolute favorite fashion rental service. Unlike any other subscription service (that I know of, anyway) Fashion Pass allows you to choose three to five pieces at a time (depending on your chosen price-point) from the curated collection of well-known designers and labels, wear them for as long as you want, and exchange them as often as you want, with the option to purchase at a discount. Kind of like when Netflix had dvd rentals that you could swap out whenever as part of the subscription plan.

Not only is it the perfect (and most cost effective) way to constantly have new clothes in your closet, it’s a surefire way to find an occasion dress you may only wear once. My only grievance with Fashion Pass is that I always want to keep everything I rent—including this canary-colored Bardot dream, which has already made itself comfortable in my closet.

Try Fashion Pass for $35 off your first month using my code Kandace1.

Don’t mind my quarantine manicure. Move along please folks, nothing to see here—except these glittery and gorgeous Steve Madden sandals.

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)