Author: Merilee Kern
Today’s luxury all-inclusive resort industry has no shortage of options, with an increasing number of high-end properties around the globe getting in the game. The all-inclusive model, which reportedly originated in the French Club Med ...
Palace Resorts is a company well-known for elevating the all-inclusive resort experience through five-star accommodations and amenities. These are standards that have been well-set through this esteemed hospitality group’s years of experience and expertise operating ...
The Mexican state Quintana Roo is perhaps best known as the home of the venerable tourist city of Cancun, which is revered for beautiful white coral sand beaches, hot nightlife and everything in-between. Thousands of ...
Sometimes a restaurateur comes along who changes the game. Raises the bar. Ups the ante. That’s very much the case with Sam Fox—the creative visionary behind Fox Restaurant Concepts, which has taken hip and healthy ...
![When it comes to steakhouses, Los Angeles is a carnivore’s cornucopia. While the City of Angels is replete with meat-minded eateries, one such restaurant—STK in the W Los Angeles in West Beverly Hills—rises above thanks to an inimitable mix: a well-conceived and expertly executed menu proffered in a high-intensity, chic club-like atmosphere where dining is far more than eating: it’s an event. While patrons indubitably flock to STK LA for the food, Robert Liberato, Regional Executive Chef for the location, understands that a memorable guest experience is about far more. That, in Los Angeles especially, image is everything. “It’s all about the drama,” he offered in my exclusive interview with him. “We offer a unique and dynamic fine dining experience with the superior quality of a traditional steakhouse. We try to keep our image sleek and sexy.” Sexy indeed. From a dining room décor that’s anything but stuffy and traditional, this chic and modern open space exudes a decidedly communal vibe that extends from the bar into the dining room. There’s a resident DJ spinning high-energy, top-volume beats while you eat and imbibe. Is it a restaurant? Is it a bar? Is it a club? Yes. STK laudably manages to blur the lines of these definable boundaries with seeming ease. However, it’s not shtick, but rather a desire to redefine what a fine dining steakhouse establishment “is”...and most certainly “is not.” The first line of copy on the STK LA web site aptly eradicates any confusion, boldly asserting “STK LA is not your daddy’s steakhouse.” Even so, daddy would most certainly enjoy STK’s somewhat intense iteration of a steakhouse experience. Executing all of this fabulosity is Chef Liberato, who graduated with honors from Le Cordon Bleu California School of Culinary Arts. Over the course of his career he has developed an impressive background having worked for Bon Appetit at Getty Center, The Grove’s Whisper Lounge, Son of a Gun Restaurant and BLT Steakhouse. Additionally, he has showcased his cuisine at Sundance, the Oscars and South by Southwest among other star-studded affairs. Chef Liberato commented on the eatery’s fundamental approach to steakhouse fare, noting, “Something that we pride ourselves on at STK is using simple fresh ingredients. We feature as much local and seasonal product as possible. We try to keep the dishes relatively simple and let the quality of our product speak for itself... While STK encompasses so much more than just a steakhouse, the premium cuts of steak are what the restaurant is best known for. It offers a wide range of crusts and toppings for all steaks as well as a unique selection of house-made sauces.” He also offered some little-known factoid gems about the restaurant, offering, “The dry aged selection process is something unique to STK. We have an amazing partnership with Meats by Lintz in Chicago who runs our dry aged program. All of our dry aged beef is USDA Prime and aged from 30 days for the Delmonico and 40 to 45 days on the Porter, Bone in Strip and Tomahawk steaks.” Chef Liberato also revealed his personal favorite item on the menu. “My favorite appetizer is the Brussel Sprout salad but for a steak I love the Bone in Strip,” he said. “I believe it is one of the best steaks you can find anywhere in the country.” He also gave me some celebrity ‘dish’ among those that have eaten at the location. “Kerry Washington and the entire cast of Scandal dined with us in March [of 2018]. They dined on mixed apps and entrees and sipped drinks to celebrate the final season of the show. Other recent celeb diners include Chris Bosh, Perez Hilton, Kelly Osbourne, Michelle Williams and James Maslow.” Among all of his insights, it’s perhaps Chef Liberato’s overarching description of the eatery that resonates with me most. “STK is a unique concept that artfully blends the modern steakhouse and chic lounge into one. It sets itself apart by focusing on the experience as a whole versus any singular aspect of a good night out. It’s not just the food, décor, or nightly music–it’s the combination of all these things that creates a vibe you can only find at STK.” All things considered, STK is definitely a must-do destination for a 360-degree dining experience where one’s penchant for prime meat and seafood are parlayed into a perfect night out on the town.](https://www.upscalelivingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1b-Courtesy-of-STK-Los-Angeles-288x180.jpg)
When it comes to steakhouses, Los Angeles is a carnivore’s cornucopia. While the City of Angels is replete with meat-minded eateries, one such restaurant—STK in the W Los Angeles in West Beverly Hills—rises above thanks ...
Whether you’re a tourist seeking adventure in the Big Apple or are a long-standing resident of New York City celebrating a special occasion—or just looking for a fabulous night out, the Spirit of New York ...
Tastemakers behind world’s most expensive Champagne continue to break boundaries, introducing another supremely-luxe bottle of bubbly in the U.S. The Ultra-luxury wine and spirits purveyor Prodigeur Brands, which privately develops and markets many of the ...
BANKERS HILL Bar + Restaurant Embodies ‘Craft America Cooking’ There’s nothing I love more than finding tasty neighborhood nooks—eateries that, although ensconced in community digs somewhat off the beaten path, are making a notable impact ...
Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel Gets Multi-Million Dollar Makeover As the fifth largest city in the United States, more than 22 million visitors flock to metropolitan Phoenix every year. With a bustling downtown quadrant comprised of ...
Bleu Bohème San Diego Boasts Free-Spirited French Fare Ensconced in San Diego’s delightful Kensington neighborhood, Bleu Bohème is a must-visit eatery for anyone in San Diego county seeking a one-of-a-kind, transcendent French dining experience that’s ...
Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel, Rejuvenation & Revelry in Beverly Hills By all accounts Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel is a distinctive destination in the center of Los Angeles’ most exclusive enclave. This prime property is, in ...
Insights from ‘The Prince of Luxury’ Noel Shu With a moniker like “The Prince of Luxury,” it’s clear that Noel Shu is no ordinary entrepreneur. This 27-year-old self-made millionaire has accomplished more in business than ...
Luxury Travel Trends for 2017 With the global luxury market collectively growing at 4 percent to an estimated $1.15 (€1.08) trillion in 2016, according to a recent “Bain & Company Luxury Study,” coupled with optimistic ...
Culinary Cultural Immersion a Foodie-Forward Travel Trend Whether for adventure travel or more relaxing respites, travelers are increasingly seeking regionally-authentic itineraries that offer an intimate view of local cultures. In fact, reports show the trend ...
Civico 1845 Restaurant in San Diego If you wander down India Street in San Diego’s Little Italy section, you’re likely to notice a bustling neighborhood addition: Civico 1845 restaurant. This quaint, rustic-chic eatery is a ...
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