FIG & OLIVE OPENS ON MELROSE PLACE
Last week saw New York-based Fig & Olive opens its West Coast location with a three-night soft opening where invited diners were introduced to the refined flavors of the French Riviera and coastal regions of the Mediterranean courtesy of Executive Chef Pascal Lorange. At max capacity during the trio of tastings, guests noshed on delightful and tasty treats and refined specialty cocktails. The stunning 8,000-square-foot Riviera-inspired kitchen and tasting bar is located on Melrose Place in West Hollywood.
Able to accommodate up to 300 guests, invited diners were introduced to the refined flavors of the French Riviera and coastal regions of the Mediterranean by Executive Chef Pascal Lorange last week during a three night, pre-opening tasting that saw the restaurant at max capacity with guests noshing on delightful and tasty treats and specialty cocktails.
At Fig & Olive Melrose Place, patrons will partake in a unique dining experience based on the restaurant’s focal component: olive oil. Guests will also enjoy a diverse selection of wines from the South of France, Spain, and Italy, alongside a selection of fresh, handmade cocktails. In addition, the restaurant will offer a large collection of extra virgin olive oils for purchase, which diners can take home after sampling at the restaurant.
“At Fig & Olive, I want to highlight our menu’s core ingredient of olive oil, which we use in place of butter in our dishes—ranging from a sweet and delicate olive oil from the French Riviera that pairs well with a Steamed Lemon Sole Papillote, to a green-fruit Provence olive oil that we serve with a Green Apple Sorbet,” Founder Laurent Halasz says. “Our cuisine, along with our elegant décor, will immerse our guests into the essence of the Mediterranean region in which I grew up.”
Whether you are stopping by for some shared bites at the communal tasting table or settling in for a leisurely dinner, guests can enjoy casual yet refined, Riviera- and Coastal-inspired cuisine at.
Executive Chef Pascal Lorange creates a menu centered on carefully chosen farmers and hand-selected ingredients utilized for their genuine taste and seasonality. At the age of 19, he trained at three-star Michelin-rated Restaurant Georges Blanc in Vonnas, France, and continued to hone his craft while working as a private chef to Spanish singer Julio Iglesias and cooking for celebrities such as Oscar de la Renta, Princess Stephanie of Monaco, and the Clintons. At Fig & Olive, 37-year-old Lorange finds inspiration along with Halasz during their yearly sojourn through Italy, Spain, and the South of France, where they discover new olive oils and local recipes to create the ingredient-driven menu for the restaurant.
The savory menu caters to a range of different dining experiences. Each meal will begin with a taste of three distinct extra virgin olive oils, which are paired with the restaurant’s freshly baked Rosemary Olive Oil Fougasse Bread.
Guests can gather at the 50-foot marble tasting bar and communal table to enjoy tasting dishes and shareable small plates ($12-17) such as the Zucchini Carpaccio with fresh Lemon Juice, Pine Nut, Parmesan, and Picholine Olive Oil; a Fig Gorgonzola Tartlet with Melted Gorgonzola, Prosciutto, Fig, Walnut, Arugula, and Tomato on a fine Puff Pastry, Manchego, Fig Spread, and Almond Crostini; alongside an assortment of imported charcuterie (Jamon Serrano, Prosciutto, and Saucisson Sec), cheese (Taleggio, Gorgonzola Dolce, and Fromage de Chèvre), olives, ceviche, and tartar.
Fig & Olive Melrose Place offers a casual, informal dining experience where reservations are not required for the front part of the restaurant, but recommended for the main dining room and outdoor terrace. Valet parking and street parking will be available.
Fig & Olive Melrose Place is located at 8490 Melrose Place in West Hollywood. Call 310-360-9100.
Some Photography courtesy of Fig & Olive Melrose Place
