A group of happy, hungry members of International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association recently met in Claremont, California. Their primary
purpose was to kick off Claremont’s restaurant week. Besides the delectable gourmet tastes of fresh food by talented local chefs, Claremont is a joy to visit.

Photo of IFWTWA writers taken with Tom Plant's camera by Ron Antonette of Discover Claremont.

Photo of IFWTWA writers taken with Tom Plant’s camera by Ron Antonette of Discover Claremont.

This week Claremont chefs will offer prix fixed lunch and dinner menus showcasing inspirational and innovative summer specials.

Please visit www.ClaremontRestaurantWeek.com for details and menus. For a listing of restaurants, hotels, boutiques, spas and events go to www.DiscoverClaremont.com.

Our group gathered at the Doubletree by Hilton for the opening festivities. We were treated to a variety of seasonal culinary offerings in the flower-fringed outdoor courtyard at the hotel. Each station featured tantalizing tastes of appetizers, shell fish, short ribs, fresh fruits and vegetables.

One of my favorite bites was created by the chefs at the Doubletree Orchard Restaurant. If you love oysters Rockefeller as much as the Hill team, you will crave fresh farm and ocean to table seared scallops, sautéed spinach and Hollandaise served on a scallop shell. Fortunately this delectable dish is served in the Orchard Restaurant.  Each cafe tempted our taste buds with unique creations as a sample of the week to come.

"Scallops Rockefeller" Photo- Brenda C. Hill

“Scallops Rockefeller” by Brenda C. Hill

At the kick off, there was a large-yet intimate gathering of food lovers, writers, photographers, Chamber of Commerce representatives, hotel managers and friends.

Chefs at their culinary stations await crowd of food lovers - Photo Brenda C. Hill

Chefs at their culinary stations await crowd of food lovers – Photo Brenda C. Hill

One of the delights of restaurant week is the opportunity to discover a hidden gem only 30 miles east of Los Angeles and close to Ontario Airport. Claremont is a delightful tree-lined community with a small town college atmosphere. Our group was eager to walk to many of the restaurants, cheese shops, wine stores, museums, galleries and coffee shops. The village is a relaxing and interesting place to spend the day. I can hardly wait to return to discover more of the historic and unique charms of Claremont.

 

 

photo-17Brenda C. Hill
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
Books By Hills Success With Writing Where And What in the World

If you would like to submit a guest post on food, wine or travel to Where and What in the World, we would be happy to feature your travel experience , drink, special wine tasting, or family or simply delicious recipe. If you go to submission tab, you will see how to submit, as well as have the opportunity of telling us if you would like to would like to be a regular contributor. When uploading a file for submission, you are also able to upload jpgs. Please feel free to put a last paragraph about you and a link to your profile. No html please. You can also include a head shot.

 

 

Brenda Hill
Author: Brenda Hill

As a longtime food writer for Where Magazine New York City, Brenda Hill, along with her writing partner, Maralyn Hill (no relation), writes and publishes books about chefs, food and international travel. They co-authored "Our Love Affairs with Food & Travel" and joined French Master Chef Herve Laurent in writing "Cooking Secrets: The Why and How" Brenda has been active in the California Writer's Club, IFWTWA, and the Santa Barbara's Writers Conference. Brenda Hill and her partner Maralyn Hill conduct marketing and writing seminars. Maralyn and I will be heading back to Rancho La Puerta in July to give our presentation on writing and marketing your book, as well as bringing back some freshly picked off the farm nutritious and tasty recipes.