Acting City Manager Bernard Melekian, Langham General Manager Martin Nicholson and Director of Sales & Marketing Ed Curry

Recently, I attended a cocktail reception at the New Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa and I was gratified to see many familiar faces. It seems the new hotel owners have retained some of the Ritz Carlton’s managers and – best of all – Chef Craig Strong is still in charge of The Dining Room.

Chef Strong was in

Tournament of Roses President Corky Consonire and his wife Marilyn

attendance during the reception working his magic with a delicious concoction of soft polenta, Serrano ham, a poached quail egg and freshly grated black truffle, a one-bite dish with the most delightful combination of flavors. The polenta was creamy, the ham salty, the quail’s egg was rich and the black truffle added an earthy note.

There were tacos with a taco shell constructed of parmesan cheese filled with shredded pork and topped with cilantro and roasted red bell peppers. This was accompanied by sautéed Foie Gras served on fresh crisp watermelon and sautéed bok choy. Creamy asparagus

Cream of asparagus soup served with toasts topped with goat cheese and a mixed pepper quinelle

soup with a toast covered with soft goat cheese and a quenelle of mixed peppers was served at another station.

One striking offering was that of a fried hearts of palm which topped mango tapioca and was accompanied by pink grapefruit sections and micro-greens. At first I thought the hearts of

Desert Table

palm was a scallop, but was pleasantly surprised when I bit into the soft-slightly tart hearts of palm. The sweetness of the mango was a perfect foil for its acidity.

Of course there were deserts. An impressive desert table constructed of molded chocolate and vases of pink roses dominated the room. Small bite-sized cookies and tarts were offered here. My favorite, however, had to be the molten chocolate cake served with vanilla milk ice cream. There is nothing better than to cut into a warm chocolate cake and have a river of chocolate flow out of it.

I know we’re all interested in how the

Pasadena Fire Chef Dennis Downs, his wife Dale, Teresa Lamb Simpson with Congressman Schiff's office and Lena Kennedy with Senator Obama's campaign

Langham is handling taking over this revered Pasadena landmark that is the former Huntington Ritz Carlton Hotel. They’re off to a great start and the retention of Chef Craig Strong is definitely a feather in their cap.

The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa is located at 1401 S. Oak Knoll, Pasadena. For more information call (626) 568-3900 or log onto www.pasadena.langhamhotels.com.