WATSONVILLE, Calif. — Strawberries have a classic, timeless taste, and are often perfect for culinary experimentation. To showcase the versatility of the strawberry, the California Strawberry Commission partnered with renowned chef Craig Thornton to host an exclusive media dining event in Los Angeles to celebrate the season of summer entertaining.
Known for his invitation-only dining experiences, Thornton hosted members of the media for an evening consisting of an interactive cocktail demo by one of the finest mixologists in the city and a multicourse dinner, featuring fish, pork and crab entrees, at his Wolvesmouth dining space in downtown Los Angeles. Not only did Thornton serve one-of-a-kind creations using California strawberries, but each dish was a carefully crafted, visually innovative piece of plated art.
"Craig Thornton masterfully showcased the versatility of the California strawberry as an ingredient that is truly more than meets the eye," said Chris Christian, senior vice president, California Strawberry Commission. "His approach illustrated the range of taste strawberries can add to a dish. They are very versatile and Craig was able to incorporate a multitude of savory and unexpected flavors that may have surprised our guests."
Thornton consciously includes fresh, locally grown ingredients in every dish, and focuses on creating unique flavor combinations for diners. His goal is to introduce new flavor combinations to create a meal that can't be duplicated.
"What is great about strawberries, and many of the ingredients that I cook with, is that they're very versatile," said Thornton. "With the menu I created for the event, I wanted to showcase the unique flavors that strawberries offer at different stages of ripeness."
In February 2012, Zagat selected Thornton on its first "30 Under 30" list for Los Angeles. In addition to Wolvesmouth, Thornton continues to play a prominent role in the Los Angeles art and food scene with an upcoming exhibit in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, and a possible pop up wine bar location in downtown Los Angeles.
About the California Strawberry Commission
The California Strawberry Commission, www.californiastrawberries.com, is a state government agency representing all of California's strawberry shippers, processors and farmers. With an emphasis on food safety education, Commission activities focus on production and nutrition research, trade relations, public policy, marketing and communications. California produces more than 85 percent of all strawberries grown in the United States. For more information, please visit California Strawberries on Facebook at www.facebook.com/castrawberries. In addition to Facebook, follow California Strawberries:
Twitter – www.twitter.com/castrawberries
Pinterest – www.pinterest.com/castrawberries
Instagram – www.instagram.com/castrawberries
Source: California Strawberry Commission