Walking through the Santa Monica Farmers' Market, Rustic Canyon's Chef Evan Funke’s movement brings to mind Ray Liotta’s iconic stroll through the Copacabana in Goodfellas. Similar to in Liotta’s portrayal of Henry Hill, everyone seems to know and love Chef Funke as he’s greeted enthusiastically with high fives and hollers from farmers, peers and friends alike. Chef Funke moves from stall to stall with an unassumingly cool focus. Conversing in both English and Spanish and sporting heavy tattoos, he emanates a unique California-esque dexterity. In a way perhaps only a California chef can, he selects products with concentration and passion while exuding the same casual disposition one might have picking a T-shirt to wear for the day.
From Market to Menu: An Interview with Chef Evan Funke of Rustic Canyon
Star-Hopping: LA's Culinary Luminaries Honored at Gala Tasting
As the warm afternoon light gave way to the cooler notes of evening just steps away from the Pacific Ocean last Thursday night, Los Angeles' top chefs of today and tomorrow gathered in celebration of the city's finest food. The StarChefs annual Rising Stars event gave the recognized masters from local restaurants the chance to raise their glasses in honor of their proteges--and the next wave of talent cresting on our own shore.
A Chef's Night Out: Part Two
Last Sunday the mild weather of Santa Monica made for a pleasant evening in the courtyard of The Fairmont Hotel where Angeleno Magazine celebrated their annual restaurant issue. Many of L.A.’s top chefs were on hand to serve up delicious bites to Benefit Children’s Institute. Double gold award-winning wines and spirits from the San Francisco International Wine and World Spirits Competitions were also served.

