Chef Pete Manfredini is the new Executive Chef of Sofitel Los Angeles in Beverly Hills. With over 35 years of professional experience, Manfredi brings a unique cooking style inspired by his Italian roots and strong emphasis on local seasonality. Chef Pete brings his unique touch and exceptional culinary skills to the hotel’s signature California French restaurant, EsteÌrel, to create delectable meals guests will savor and remember for times to come.
FriendsEAT: Describe the cuisine served at your Esterel?
Chef Pete Manfredini: Cal-Med, Mediterranean inspired California cuisine. Fresh, simple & local.
FE: What makes the restaurant special?
Chef Pete: Full service restaurant serving 3 meals daily. With an amazing patio & incredible bar space.
FE: Where did you get your training?
Chef Pete: More stages than I can ever remember, 4 years at Greystone in the Napa Valley
FE: Did you grow up cooking or did cooking come to you later in life?
Chef Pete: My Grandpa started to teach me to cook when I was 6. I started to get paid when I was 11. I really didn’t start to take cooking serious until after my first tour of the Army.
FE: Who in your life influenced your cooking the most?
Chef Pete: My Grandpa and Grandma
FE: What made you decide to become a chef?
Chef Pete: I enjoy the fast pace, continual growth, eternal quest for knowledge and being close to the earth and the great human interaction with our food.
FE: What misconceptions do people have when they first enter the culinary field?
Chef Pete: It’s easy and if you go to school you can be a celebrity.
FE: What is the best cooking tip you can share for a novice?
Chef Pete: Train with as many talented people you can, travel, explore & never quit learning.
FE: What are your three favorite cooking tools?
Chef Pete: Good chef knife, micro plane & a food mill
FE: What is your favorite ingredient to cook with and why?
Chef Pete: Bacon, it is way too versatile to be limited to breakfast or sandwiches.
FE: When you’re home, what is your guilty food pleasure?
Chef Pete: Pizza
FE: What is your Favorite cookbook?
Chef Pete: Marcella Hazan “Essential of Classic Italian Cooking”
Esterel is located at 8555 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
[mappress mapid=”293″]Nearby Landmarks: Foot Locker, Spa at Beverly Center, and World of Beads and Crystals
Phone Number: (310) 278-5444
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Saturday
- Breakfast: 06:30AM ” 12:00PM
- Lunch:12:00PM ” 02:00PM
- Dinner: 05:00PM ” 11:00PM
Sunday
- Breakfast: 06:30AM ” 12:00PM
- Brunch/Lunch: 12:00PM ” 02:00PM
- Dinner: 05:00PM ” 10:00 PM