I promised a few more and here we go...!

Tomato Stack with Mozzarella and Sweet Garlic Vinaigrette

this is a simple easy but "showy" recipe that will impress all your friends. If you don't have any friends then impress your mother.

ingredients:

a variety of garden fresh tomatoes, heirloom, what ever looks good.

fresh mozzarella, goat cheese

basil , micro greens, sundried tomatoes, lemon, baby arugula

Sweet Garlic Vinagrette

Slice the tomatoes and the mozzarella in nice thick layers and begin to stack starting with the denser of the tomatoes. between each layer place a whole leaf of basil and drizzle with the Vinagrette. (That recipe is in a previous post) Continue stacking until you get a nice rich, beautiful presentation.

Make a small salad of micro greens, basil, marinated sundried tomatoes and goat cheese, toss with lemon and a little of the Vinagrette and use the salad as a garnish.

This is a great first course also served with a chilled shot of Heirloom tomato seviche.

Shortly after my friends Mimi's sister's wedding, Mimi confided in me about the likelihood of her getting married. I turned to her and said" Mimi, you will be married this year and on my birthday!

I missed it by one day.

Mimi and Brent were married on October 14th,a day after my birthday. The wedding was held in a beautiful garden setting with a pond, gorgeous trees, and was very private. I was so fortunate to have done Mimi's mother's wedding and Mimi's sister's wedding and now it was time for my friend Mimi to have her day.

Mimi was breathtaking as only a bride on her wedding day can be, and the whole event was a family affair was filled with love, joy and a sense of celebration.

It is always a little tricky doing work for somebody you hold so dear. but when she asked me, i did not hesitate.

it was a great honor and certainly a huge surprise to get this best caterer award from Channel 10, as well as the one from Bridalinsider.com. The really good thing for me was to see so many wonderful comments made by YOU!

So, before my reign as best caterer comes to an end, I wanted to acknowledge all of you and thank you for the vote!

Here are a few of the comments. (you can read them all at www.kgtv.cityvoter.com/winners)

By: Sandee & Dan: I have worked with Paul and his staff over the past several years in connection with Rachel's House in San Diego. Paul is an awesome chef that creates high quality - beautiful food and also has a heart as big as all outdoors! He is as generous with his time and thoughtfulness as he is with his heart!

by: Jennifer Dailard:Paul is simply the best. He goes above and beyond the call of duty to create a magical and elegant celebration. His food is extraordinary and attention to detail unmatched by any other local caterer I have worked with in the past.

By: Jennifer Batty:Paul brings his unique touch and superior skill to all of his events. The experience of working with Paul is unlike any other in San Diego, and his expertise and vision is immeasurable.

By: Janet Danola:As a Christmas present, my husband hired Paul to teach me a little about cooking. Together, we prepared the most wonderful meal that we will never forget. It was as if he brought the best San Diego restaurant into my kitchen.

By: Kiran & Stacy:Paul is wonderful!! From the moment we met Paul we knew we had found a gentleman who could create an amazing wedding for us and our guests. Paul took our ideas and ran with them, creating a wedding that was well beyond our wildest dreams. From the decor to the flowers to the food, everything was just perfect. If you read this Paul, thank you again for everything!! We miss working with you!

By: Courtney: Paul single-handedly made our wedding unforgettable. He is amazing to work with and has phenomenal creativity. If you are looking for creative and unique decor and catering Paul is, without question, one of the best in the business.

By: Michael and Marnie Olia:Paul is an amazing guy, full of incredible talent! The food was exquisite from the taste to the presentation and my flowers were so stunning. My wedding is still the talk of my friends even after 2 years! He has my vote for sure!

By: Kristi M:Paul did our wedding in June at the El Cortez. It was the most incredible evening and we owe it all to Paul. He took all of my stress away and produced the most beautiful atmosphere - every single person who sees our pictures comments on how beautiful the flowers were and all our guests raved about the food, the flowers, the decor...Paul truly is the WHOLE PACKAGE!

By: Barbara Granquist:Paul created my daughters dream wedding this summer. From start to finish, Paul, handled everything with professionalism and perfection and made the whole process so easy for us. We didn't have to do anything but enjoy the journey with Paul. The wedding was truly magical and everything my daughter had dreamed of. Paul Bott is definitely San Diego's best caterer.

By: Harmony:Paul and his staff are truly the best on the West Coast, not just San Diego. I live and work in LA and use him in both cities! You will not be disappointed not only by the foods but the decor, flowers, and design as well! Paul Bott and Company is the only company!!!

By: richelle read:Paul Bott did an incredible job for my daughter's rehearsal dinner. the food was amazing, his staff was outstanding, he provided service above and beyond what was promised. I love Paul Bott! he did everything which let me enjoy the evening to its fullest!

Ingredients: For the soup

Approx. 4 lbs of vine ripened tomatoes (or a collection of heirlooms)

Approx. 2 cups of cold water

salt and pepper (to taste)

place all tomatoes in roasting pan in a pre heated oven (325 works for me). Generously douse with virgin olive oil and bake until all tomatoes completely fall apart. Place tomatoes in blender with water and salt and pepper taste. This may sound VERY simple but the roasting brings out so many of the natural flavors and sugars in the tomatoes, you will really enjoy the flavor. You may add some smoked paprika, cumin or chicken stock, even white wine if you want to enhance the flavor, but try it this way first. I think you will be surprised

Ingredients: For the slaw

2 Granny Smith Apples thinly sliced with skins on and marinated in fresh Meyer lemons

about 3 table spoons capers

fresh watercress, 1 bunch

1 market package of macro greens

toss all of the above ingredients until the completely coated with lemon juice serve on a crisp toasted slice of sour dough bread with a generous "schmeer" of goat cheese

I love tomatoes.I love tomato soup, I love roasted tomatoes, I love tomatoes with basil and mozzarella, I love tomatoes sliced with red onions and olive oil, I love tomatoes on sandwiches, I love tomatoes so much I used to keep a salt shaker in the garden and would just pick and eat these most beautiful of all God's creations. I know some people do not like tomatoes. My sister in-law does not like tomatoes, my former business partner did not like tomatoes, frankly I don't get it but so what...........that just means I get to eat theirs!

I go to the farmers market in Hollywood every Sunday at about 8:00 am, and I of course love ripened anything but especially now I am loving my tomatoes, especially the heirloom varieties.

Pictured above is what I purchased on my last visit from Ellsers Country Farm.  The are WONDERFUL people and specialize in heirlooms and have developed a few of their own varieties that they have developed from cross breeding. One of my new favorites pictured above are a few. The small yellow ones are called "sweet tart" and they are out of this world delicious.  

Needless to say, I rushed home and started making soup after my trip to the market and I will share a couple of my tomato recipes with you now.............ENJOY!

At the very first photo shoot for the new luxury wedding magazine "EXCQUISITE WEDDINGS" I got to work with a few of my favorite things........CHOCOLATE, APPLES, BRANCHES, ORCHIDS, AND THE OUTDOORS...!!! YIPPEE !!!!!

For me, if i were ever to get married ( don't laugh, it could happen! ) I would defiantly want everything outdoors and preferably on the ocean. This great venue, The Lodge at Torry Pines allows for all that and with great style. I set out to create something that would please me, rich warm earthy browns, organic acid green apples, full flowered orchids and roses, branches and candles as well as CHOCOLATE CAKE..! (in the photo, notice my famous chocolate cake with orange curd filling and chocolate sour cream frosting. )

I added a little whimsy and a lot of candles and I would say that this would be a perfect setting for me, and well.....

It was my great pleasure to participant[ate in this years A Soolip Wedding Show (www.asoolipwedding.com) To me this is THE show of shows for the Bridal industry in Southern California. This year it was held at Vibiana (www.vibianala.com) an absolutely beautiful venue that recently opened downtown. The show is geared to attract "upscale" brides but also, and this is the best part........the show is very "GREEN"I was placed between Harry Winston and A Soolip and Carolina Herrera........not bad! I can't wait until next year!

I was recently hired to do the food styling for a Hallmark commercial. As with most filming it was all planned at the last minute which i sort of love as it really tests your ability to "make it happen"

Well indeed, I made it happen as did all of the other professionals involved with the 3 day shoot. The commercial is very well done and very, very funny. Be sure to watch for it soon!

One of my favorite summer salads is my Seasonal Stuffed Melon salad. It is so refreshing and so easy to make and it looks BEAUTIFUL on your table. So many of my clients and friends love it too and depending on the season you can use ripe cantaloupes or baby watermelons. You can also vary the ingredients to take full advantage of the fresh fruit and produce available all year.

Here is how to do it :

cantaloupe or baby watermelon halved and chilled

steamed or sautéed haricot vert (you may want to sauté in olive oil and a little herbs de provence)

organic baby greens and arugula

black berries and strawberries

crumbled goat cheese

ripe peaches, plums or nectarines

edible flowers and fresh herbs

Make sure all ingredients are washed well and chilled. Cut the melon in half and clean out the seeds and hollow out the center as this will be your "bowl".(I also like to cut the bottom of the "bowl" a little so it does not roll around on the plate!) In the case of the baby watermelons, I like to hollow out the melon, save the fruit and cut it in nice squares or you can use a melon baller and make nice melon balls and then use that as part of the salad.

Fill the "bowl" with your mixture of organic greens and arugula ( i try to always buy produce from FOXY. If your store does not carry FOXT produce, then ask them to. It is well worth it! (Foxy Fresh Produce from The Nunes Company, Inc. : Salinas, California)Add to the salad your haricot vert, fresh berries and fresh fruit, goat cheese and edible flowers.

Serve chilled with a "drizzle" your favorite salad dressing. Here is mine:

Paul's Balsamic Vinaigrette:

1 cup virgin olive oil

1 cup aged balsamic vinegar

5 - 7 cloves or garlic

3/4 cup sugar

3 table spoons of mayonnaise

In a blender, place the garlic and the olive oil. Blend until oil starts to emulsify. Add the balsamic slowly, then the sugar, mayonnaise. Dressing should be a dark brown in color, thick, with a rich tart / garlicky flavor

My new favorite Gallery is the Photographer's Gallery on La Brea. (www.photographersgallery.com) and I was invited to a Gallery charity auction event hosted by none other then Paris and Nicky Hilton. "The Good Life" is an exhibit featuring the works of the amazing Slim Aarons and Murray Garrett. The show was actually curated by the Hilton sisters with the proceeds of the silent auction going to P.S.Arts.(www.psarts.org)

First let me say that the party was WONDERFUL, the people at the Photographers Gallery did a great job.....(thank you Keith and Beth) and the place was packed with clients, guests, and a lot of people with cameras poised waiting to get a glimpse of the beautiful sisters.

Now let me address the paparazzi. WOW............walking down the red carpet that led into the gallery was a little like running an up the middle play with 8 yards to go for a first down and only 3 seconds on the clock.

Ok, and then there are the sisters. Beautiful, poised and very, very, very nice. I was surprised but then why should I be. They were just very nice people.

And to the guy from TMZ........I still need that trainer and would love to help out with the wedding of you know who. And to Ted Casablanca.......you looked marvelous..!!!

Keith, Owner of The Photographers Gallery