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Canyons & Valley

collectors showcase decorate your home with life’s passions

HOLIDAY IN Trendy gifts from two family-owned shops

CHEF’S TABLE Trattoria offers authentic taste of Italy November/December 2009

decorate for the holidays like a professional

artificial plants custom trees silk flowers decorative accents home decor holiday decor

7651 Sepulveda Boulevard Van Nuys, CA 91405 818.988.5970 Mon-Sat 9am to 8pm Sun 10am to 6pm

Designers available for free consultation.

contents

southern california November/December 2009 spacessocal.com

cover story

28 To have and have not

A quartet of designers share their secrets for the universal hobby of collecting.

34 Artful investment

In a tight economy, even fine art has become affordable.

36 Ready, set, collect

Create a meaningful collection that expresses who you are.

SO CAL SO COOL

13 Shop Treatment

Two stylish boutiques take you through the holidays and beyond.

20 Trade Secrets

Celebrated designer Timothy Corrigan transforms an array of collectibles into stellar collections.

DEPARTMENTS

38 Chef’s Table

A welcoming ambiance and scrumptious fare greet diners at Trattoria Farfalla in Westlake Village.

44 High-Tech Home

From simple to sophisticated, these gadgets are sure to please.

48 Cause for Applause

The American Cancer Society celebrates its dedicated supporters.

50 Finishing Touch

Above: A vintage chair of burnished cherry wood owned by the late furniture store icon Jules Seltzer provides the perfect stage for some of the miniatures collected by his daughter-in-law, Linda. “I like taking them out and looking at them,” she says. “In this part of my life, I like having my collection contained.”

On the cover: Scaled replicas of an Eames lounge and a Frank Gehry cardboard chair play against a life-size version of the Eames classic, along with a vibrant molded chair by Verner Panton. Photos by Jessica Boone.

spaces november/december 2009

Painting becomes an adventure for landscape artist Trice Tolle.

editor’s letter

Collection connection

I

must have been about 3 when I began my first collection– a pink gossamer angel that found her way to

the top of our family’s Christmas tree.

Each holiday season brought another ornament– painstakingly selected, judiciously placed on the tree, then

contributors

S

usan Abram has an eye for detail, a skill she utilizes as a general assignment reporter for the Los Angeles Daily News and in her spare time as she visits photography exhibits and enjoys independent films. Her favorite hobby is discovering new varieties of pastries at bakeries around Los Angeles.

carefully wrapped and tucked away until the next year. When I grew up and left home, I not only had a box of glittery glass baubles but a collection of cherished memories. That emotional connection is at the heart of Spaces’ “Collections” issue, with an eclectic mix of designers

S

andra Barrera collects pottery, fabrics and Santa figurines, so she loved chatting with designer Timothy Corrigan about ways to exhibit her treasures. She also is a veteran reporter for the Daily News, covering design, fashion and entertainment.

weighing in on what may be the world’s oldest and most universal hobby. They offer advice on how to start, maintain and display a collection, and chat about the pleasure that each memento brings. We hope their suggestions inspire you to create or continue your own collection, one that brings you joy and reflects an essential part of yourself.

A C B

P.S. Be sure to check out the redesigned Spaces Web site at www.spacessocal.com, with new and archived stories about decorating, entertaining and living the good life in Southern California.

Have a good story idea to share? Comments about the magazine? Write to me at spaceseditor@langnews.com.

spaces november/december 2009

S

ue Doyle’s taste for adventure leads her down unexpected paths.

A former producer for “America’s Most Wanted,” the veteran reporter is the crime reporter for the Daily News. Her spare time finds her looking for the unexpected in local shops and boutiques.

J

essica Boone is a freelance photographer whose creative treatment of color, light and composition plays out in every element of her extensive portfolio. A graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, her work has appeared in Bon Appetit, Better Homes and Gardens and Architectural Digest.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Volume 2 • Issue 6

spacessocal.com

publisher Gregg Bertness

associate publisher Meaghan Miller editor Barbara Jones

national editor Denise Gee

designer LeeAnn Nelson

photo director Dean Musgrove

contributing writers

Susan Abram, Sandra Barrera, Holly Berecz, Sue Doyle, Natalie Haughton

contributing photographers

Michael Owen Baker, Jessica Boone, Hans Gutknecht, Andy Holzman, John McCoy advertising sales

Lauren Becker, Sue Chadwick, Claudia Erek, Karen Fernandes, Kristina Hamson, Robert Paschka, Jeff Spencer marketing director Bill Van Laningham

research director Liz Hamm

creative services manager Paul Schraeder creative services Chaivat

Trongnetrpunya

office manager Mary Anne Rozinsky

Los Angeles Newspaper Group

president & ceo Fred H. Hamilton

executive vice president & cfo James Siegrist

publisher, daily news Jack Klunder

contact us editorial 818/713-3710 spaceseditor@langnews.com advertising 818/713-3373 meaghan.miller@dailynews.com Copyright 2009 Southern California Spaces magazine by the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.

Southern California Spaces magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or artwork even if accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope.

Comments?

Southern California Spaces welcomes story ideas and comments from our readers. Write to: Spaces, 21860 Burbank Blvd., Ste. 200, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

november/december 2009 spaces 11

SoCal

so cool

SHOP TREATMENT

Dazzling dĂŠcor Bakery-inspired gift shop has something for everyone

By Sue Doyle

L

inda and Don Berman had planned to open a bakery until they realized their love for pastries was more about

appearance and less about taste. So they stocked the shelves with faux confections, tucked in vintage collectibles and unique novelties and opened Razzle Dazzle, a gift

Photos: Andy Holzman

Razzle Dazzle 12154 Ventura Place Studio City 818/980-0180 shoprazzledazzle.com

spaces 13

SoCal

so cool

boutique like no other. “I think candies and cakes have been an inspiration for design for a long time,” says Linda Berman, a branding consultant. “They are an inspiration for the store.”

The 3-year-old shop has attracted a fol-

lowing among shoppers drawn in by the porcelain chocolate cakes and glittery cupcake ornaments. An exquisite centerpiece featuring the “Queen of Confectionary Delights” rules over a collection of miniature sweets and glazed faux fruit. There are other serendipitous items to be found in every corner, such as an Alice In Wonderland clock, a set of super-hero notebooks and wondrous vintage toys. A glass cake dome envelopes a sentimental still life of Paris, with a miniature Eiffel Tower and a dancer from the Follies Bergere. “Our line reflects romance,” Berman says. “There’s very precious little of that.”

14 spaces november/december 2009

“ The Queen of Confectionary Delights” rules over a collection of miniature sweets and glazed faux fruit.

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so cool SHOP TREATMENT

Home for the holidays Decorating flourishes embellish the festivities

By Sue Doyle

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SoCal

so cool “ I can think of eight different places where a wreath can go besides the front door,” says Michael Perez.

says Michael Perez, the store’s retail manager. “It’s about how it fits into your home.”

A San Fernando Valley mainstay for more than 40 years, the family-owned store is known for its striking silk flowers and lustrous greenery. The holidays, however, bring out more exotic fare, from glittering gold pepper seeds to oversized plum-colored silk leaves. Dozens of wreaths offer decorating options, from a small Arapahoe needle pine dotted with dainty pine cones to a flocked flurry pine wreath wrapped in lights. Perez suggests taking pictures and photos off the walls during the holidays and hanging wreaths in their place. “I can think of eight different places where a wreath can go besides the front door,” he says.

At the heart of the display, of course, are the Christmas trees, some already laden with lights and decorations, others standing ready to become part of a family tradition. In addition to conventional trees, there are Christmas palms that pay homage to the Southern California lifestyle and whimsical trees designed to hang upside-down from the ceiling. In addition to being a conversation piece, Perez notes that the upside-down tree is ideal for tight spaces. “The width of a tree is usually 4 to 5 feet,” Perez said. “Who has that space?”

18 spaces november/december 2009

SoCal

so cool TRADE SECRETS

Sudden impact Presentation amplifies the effect of any collection

By Sandra Barrera

Celebrated designer Timothy Corrigan used a lush wallpaper landscape to create a stunning backdrop for a display of Delft and Chinese pottery.

20 spaces november/december 2009

the cerulean walls in the entry hall of a home

are scattered around the house –ar-

in Hancock Park. Obelisks and other monu-

1997, but his professional path took a few de-

ranged on an end table here, aligned

ments recalling the European custom of the

tours along the way. During his childhood in

Corrigan embarked on a design career in

on a bookshelf there. Stashed away in a

Grand Tour are artfully clustered on a round

Los Angeles, he aspired to be an architect and

closet, it’s even worse. “Then it’s just stuff,”

table in the entry of another home.

would craft miniature houses out of balsa

says internationally renowned designer

“I had a client who has collected a golf ball

wood. “I loved architecture but I was horrible

Timothy Corrigan, whose skill and imagina-

from every course that he’s ever played on,”

in math,” he recalls. “Everyone said you had

tion have helped clients transform an array

Corrigan says. “He must, literally, have 600

to know math to become an architect, so, I

of collectibles into stellar collections. Under

golf balls. So, we designed a table for his of-

was like, well, then forget that.”

his guidance, Sam Francis’ contemporary

fice with a glass top and a shelf that pulls out

paint-spattered canvases now pop against

so he can enjoy his collection.”

ing for an agency in France. During his seven

Dining room photos: Lee Manning

A

collection isn’t a collection if its parts

He went into advertising instead, work-

november/december 2009 spaces 21

SoCal

so cool years there, he bought and renovated a 17th

century manor house. “It was like that whole

memorable projects:

childhood love of architecture and designing spaces all came back to me,” he says. “It rekindled that early passion.”

Today, Corrigan is among the world’s

most celebrated designers. His work has been praised by the likes of House & Garden and Vanity Fair, and he’s also in the “AD 100,”

Here, Corrigan discusses some of his more

Are most of your clients collectors?

No, we have to educate them on the importance of collecting. When you collect, you learn. You’re growing all the time as a collector because you’re learning all the time about what it is you’re collecting.

and designers featured in its pages.

So if somebody isn’t a collector, you create a collection for them?

Absolutely. We did a dining room with a

Architectural Digest’s list of the top architects “I feel extraordinarily lucky because I

have not been in this business as long as

wallpaper mural from an incredible compa-

many of the designers who’ve been named

ny in France. It’s an Italian landscape printed

as one of the top 100,” Corrigan says. “Hav-

on watercolor paper so it’s got this wonder-

ing been in the business a short time I really

ful texture to it, and it’s printed digitally so

think it’s a combination of my own aesthetic

it can be blown up or decreased to the size

approach, but also that people really enjoy

of the space. All the room springs from the

working with me.”

landscape. The drapes are a leafy green. And

Photo: Michael McCreary

22 spaces november/december 2009

“ When you collect, you learn. You’re growing all the time as a collector because you’re learning all the time about what it is you’re collecting.”

Complementary red patterns and hues are accented by a vibrant screen and other Asian antiques.

Mahogany wine cabinets transform an under-utilized living room into a showcase for entertaining.

Photos: Michael McCreary

I was trying to find a color that would blend

together in a single space. If you put pieces

with it and wasn’t too jarring, so we brought

together to create a collection, you actually

in Delft. We did the seat cushions in blue. On

get more impact. But it does lessen the im-

both ends of the room are matching side-

pact of an individual item. I have clients that

boards filled with Delft and Chinese export

had obelisks spread out all around the house.

pottery that provides a decorative statement.

In the 18th and 19th centuries it was the rite

So now they have this wonderful collection.

of passage of young men of the European up-

I have a client who is passionate about red

per class to go on the Grand Tour ... and bring

…and I honestly think that it’s red that led to

back traveling mementos like these obelisks.

her interest in Asian antiques. We would find

My clients weren’t necessarily aware of the

all these objects that were predominately Chinese – old objects that had this bright, vibrant red. So through that process, she

Eighteenth century souvenir obelisks from the Grand Tour have become popular collectors’ objects.

actually came to love Asian art.

Where did you go for Asian artifacts?

Most of those we found at auction. I don’t

whole concept of the Grand Tour. They were just objects they liked so that was part of the fun – educating them. So, I said, “Let’s amass them as a true collection.”

you buy something at an antique store, you really do need to be a little more careful.

want to sound like I’m cheerleading for auc-

How do you define a “collection”?

Tell us about another unusual collection.

A client really loved wine and had a small wine cellar downstairs, so we came up with

tion houses but an auction house actually

It’s a conscious decision that you’re going to

the idea of making the living room a glori-

puts itself on the line more so than an an-

try to get things that work together and were

fied wine cellar. We really came about on

tique dealer does. If they say something is

intended to be together. Whether they’re

this idea because they never used the living

18th century and as it turns out it’s not, you

similar or were from the same maker or same

room. One of my pet peeves is for people to

can go to them and get your money back. If

period–whatever it is, it’s assembling things

have rooms that they don’t use. So, I very

november/december 2009 spaces 23

SoCal

so cool

Photo: Michael McCreary

consciously try to figure out what their

balustrade. We propped one painting against

passions are so we can reconfigure that

the wall…and we purposely juxtaposed one

room so that they will actually go there. We

with a very ornate and over-the-top sideboard.

lined the room with Honduran mahogany

You would normally expect to see a clean

cabinets that are temperature and humid-

chrome or bronze table underneath a very

ity controlled to really showcase their art,

contemporary painting like this. But by taking

which is wine. The bottles are beautifully

something totally out of context it makes each

lit from behind so at night they become all

piece more interesting.

these red and gold jewels on the wall. It’s really spectacular.

And what do you collect?

As a result of my clients I now collect Grand

Are there other examples where you’ve reworked a space to spotlight a collection?

collecting some of Jean-Charles Moreux’s

I have clients who have one of the largest col-

furniture. Moreux was an architect and fur-

lections of Sam Francis paintings in America.

niture designer from France in the 1940s. He

Tour objects, I collect portraits and I started

They have a very traditional house in Hancock

was very contemporary but at the same time

Park with beautiful paneled walls. In the entry

had lots of classical references. My other real

hall, we took a blue that was very true to the

passion is books. I can’t walk into a book

Georgian period and painted everything in it

store without buying something. Terrible,

with the exception of the door frame and the

isn’t it?

24 spaces november/december 2009

Abstract oil paintings

by Sam Francis are counter-balanced by traditional colors and accent pieces.

“ By taking something totally out of context it makes each piece more interesting.”

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Hunt gather Big or small, collections trigger an emotional connection

Photo: Jessica Boone

By Susan Abram

28 spaces november/december 2009

f

or Linda Seltzer, it isn’t the big plea-

sures in life that count the most, but the countless little ones. Really little ones–

diminutive dolls, teeny tricycles, tiny clocks–

arranged just so on specially built shelves.

For as long as she can remember, the interior designer has been fascinated by miniatures.

Purchased over the last four decades, each piece reminds her of a place visited, a person loved, an experience cherished. “They’re all a part of my life,” says Seltzer, whose eclectic collection encompasses upwards of 1,000 pieces, including a nickel-sized crystal locomotive, inch-high galoshes that buckle and a spinning top as tiny as a fingernail.

Seltzer’s favorites, and the heart of her

collection, are scaled replicas of chairs–midcentury modern classics from such notable designers as Charles and Ray Eames, Frank Gehry, Herman Miller and Verner Panton.

Many of the 150 miniature chairs are styles carried at Jules Seltzer & Associates, the 70-yearold Los Angeles furniture store owned and operated by Seltzer and her husband, Grant.

And many of the miniatures also have a fullsize counterpart in the contemporary home the Seltzers recently built in Brentwood.

Designed by architect Craig Burdick, the

home includes recessed shelves where just a fraction of Linda Seltzer’s collection is painstakingly arranged and rearranged. While the display isn’t an approach many interior designers embrace, Seltzer says a minimalist approach to her overall décor exaggerates the effect of her miniatures. “These are all the things I didn’t want in a big size,” she says. “This time in my life, when I’ve already raised my children, I don’t want clutter.”

november/december 2009 spaces 29

Photo: Jessica Boone

Recessed shelves and a Barcelona chair, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, right, create a minialist look in Linda Seltzer’s Brentwood home. Below: Classic office furniture from her collection of miniatures.

Seltzer’s personal connection to each

piece is one that interior designers try to capture as they decorate with their clients’ collections. That presented quite a challenge for internationally renowned designer Quentin Rance, who eventually expanded a client’s Bel Air home to accommodate a growing collection of Southwestern paintings, sculpture, and pottery. “The challenge in this project was he wanted to display it all,” says Rance,

Photo: Jessica Boone

who found inspiration from the displays at

30 spaces november/december 2009

the Autry National Center of the American West in Los Angeles. The home now features hints of the collection in each room, from intricate sculptures of American Indian warriors in the entrance way, to fine pottery on

A brightly colored centerpiece and tableware complement the Southwest motif.

spaces 31

32 spaces november/december 2009

Designer Quentin Rance spent years decorating a Bel Air home to house an expansive collection of Southwest art, at right and below.

the mantle of a re-created fireplace.

Centuriesold bibles are part of Genaro Lagdameo’s collection.

Designer Genaro Lagdameo began as-

sembling religious artifacts after inheriting a single piece, a fairly common genesis for collections. Beginning with statues of Catholic saints and 16th century bibles, he’s expanded his collection to Byzantine-inspired paintings and other religious figures. While each item has religious significance, he displays them as works of art. “You don’t always meo says. “You don’t want your collection to look like they are in a store.”

Lagdameo displays the historic bibles on the

grand piano in the living room while the statues are arranged in the entry way, on coffee and end tables and the mantle. The key is striking

Photo: Michael Owen Baker

want your collection all on a shelf,” Lagda-

november/december 2009 spaces 33

The art of the deal Collecting can be a smart, affordable investment

By Susan Abram

It can start with one piece: a Warhol print, a

Wedgewood porcelain vase or an American

work by the kinds of artists Estrada rep-

Many people believe they cannot afford

Girl doll. Then, as fascination evolves to pas-

resents – the well-established, mid-career

to purchase pieces that cost 30 percent less

sion, one piece begets another and another,

craftsmen who have specialized in paint-

than in previous years.

until the grouping of items becomes a collec-

ing, sculpture and photography for at least

tion. It just goes to show that collecting need

a quarter-century. But a novice collector

visit museums and chat with curators or visit

not be solely for the elite. In a tight economy,

with a modest income can start with smaller

galleries to identify the styles and colors

even fine art has become affordable, says

pieces, says Estrada, who notes that even

they favor– and those they don’t. “It’s so

Geneen Estrada, owner of Los Angeles’ Es-

wealthy collectors have scaled back their

easy to research now, using the Internet,”

trada Fine Art and a member of the American

acquisitions.

she says.

Society of Interior Designers. “I talk to young

people in their 30s about starting a collection

sive because of what was happening with

Estrada said it’s best to choose a piece

and I tell them, ‘If you forego going out one

the economy,” Estrada says. Those with

that excites. “If you buy a piece of art as

day a month, you can afford a piece of art,”

the means purchased art as an investment,

an investment you still have to love it,” she

Estrada says. “Can you imagine the collection

driving prices so high that no one else could

says. “What would you rather hang on your

they would have in a year?’”

afford them. Then, much like the real estate

wall – a piece of art, or a stock certificate?”

“For a while, emerging art was expen-

boom, the market for artwork deflated Nowadays, new collectors may be able

Estrada suggests that aspiring collectors

Even if the artwork is an investment,

Designer Geneen Estrada loves to assemble art collections, such as these paintings by Lorser Feitelson, on display at Louis Stern Fine Arts in West Hollywood.

34 spaces november/december 2009

Photos: Michael Owen Baker

the right balance, depending on the size and texture of the items. “If you concentrate them in one area, it’s too top heavy,” he says. “And if you have one specific thing you collect you can incorporate them with another element. Hard, metallic items can be accentuated with fabrics.

The work should complement the room and furnishings.”

Designer Genaro Lagdameo collects artifacts with religious and cultural significance like those below. However, he displays them as works of art in his San Fernando Valley home.

While most collectors want to display ev-

ery item they’ve taken pains to hunt down, designer Erinn Valencich suggests editing a collection to its core elements. “You don’t need to have every piece you have on display,” she said. “You can store some pieces, and bring them out at another time.”

november/december 2009 spaces 35

Corralling collections The things you save and show can quickly become clutter and chaos.

Here’s how to play it cool.

By Susan Abram

Photostylist Andy Newcome has decorated his kitchen with a monochromic display of English ironstone pitchers.

36 spaces november/december 2009

C

ollections are a blessing. Photographs, books, hula-girl figurines: They speak to our memories and passions like nothing else in the home. They make us different

and special. But collections also can be a curse. Once friends and family figure out what you like, watch out. In no time at all, you could find yourself wrestling with a menagerie of monkey statues or a jumble of wind-up alarm clocks. “People accumulate without really knowing what they’re going to do with it or where to put it,” says Kevin Sharkey, executive editorial director of decorating for Martha Stewart Living.

Because we don’t know what to do with our collections, many get packed away in cardboard

boxes. Unfortunately, the personality of our home vanishes along with the clutter. However, with a lot of self-editing and discipline, there is a way to create a meaningful display that expresses who you are. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Sell or donate collections and pieces of a collection you don’t like Hallmark photostylist Andy Newcom weeded out his collections of businessmen’s portraits and blue-milk glass before moving into a smaller home in Fairway, Kan. Those that remain have taken on a starring role in his new surroundings. English ironstone pitchers and serving pieces are the focal point in the kitchen, while his collection of clear glass bottles and containers adorn the living-room mantle. “I have a passion for both new and old things,” Newcom says. “Mixing them creates an interesting look.”

RESOURCES Black Bamboo sells shelves and consoles that are great for displays. black-bamboo.com

Martha Stewart Living spotlights a collectible each month and shows ways to display it. marthastewart.com

Color can be key Make black-and-white pictures “pop” by mounting them on a gallery wall painted a vivid color. Many designers adopt the Roy G. Biv method of displaying books, using the colors in the rainbow as a template: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

Shelves matter Create more stylish and functional bookcases by cutting down wall units to desk height and fitting them into available spaces in the library or home office. Many modern-day collectors like to display items on open shelves rather than behind glass-front china cabinets. Newcom, for instance, displays his English ironstone on open shelves in his

Pottery Barn sells shadowbox trays and glass lamps that can be filled with collections, catalog and online only.

1-888-779-5176 potterybarn.com

Urban Dwellings Design sells shelves and consoles that are great for displays. urbandwellings@design.com

A different approach is to use a modular display gallery to unite disparate collections of one

West Elm sells picture ledges and block shelves for streamlined displays.

person or stylishly merge the collections of two. How? Each box acts as its own unit.

westelm.com

white kitchen. The monochromatic look is calming, and the pieces are easily accessible.

Shadow boxing shines a light on objects It’s easy to create a dramatically backlit display with groupings of framed shadow boxes.

Hung horizontally or vertically, use them to display art glass in the living or dining rooms; perfume bottles in a powder room, beaded jewelry in the bedroom or dressing room or photographs in the family room. Out of wall space? Transform a garden urn into a shadowbox table by having a pane of glass cut to fit the top. Glass display accents are great for holding vacation mementos, such as seashells, matchbooks or postcards.

Cluster items on a tray When you have items of varying shapes and sizes, a tray helps organize them into a unified statement. A corralled collection creates a clean look and packs in more visual impact than individual pieces “marched” along a mantel or shelf.

november/december 2009 spaces 37

chef’s table

Buon appetito Westlake Village trattoria tempts with a taste of Italy

By Natalie Haughton Photos by Michael Owen Baker

S

antino Coccia is 22 years and 6,600 miles from his native Italian village, yet to taste the fare coming out of

his kitchen at Trattoria Farfalla, you’d swear the chef had never left home. An appetizer

made with buttery burrata cheese and halved cherry tomatoes and drizzled with pesto. Grilled polenta piled high with Italian sausage, Swiss chard and garlic. A tempting mushroom risotto served tableside from a wheel of Parmesan wheel. “I want to present dishes that are healthy– not heavy food or sauces with cream or butter,” Coccia says in his charmingly accented English. “I try to serve attractive plates that are simple and clean. I garnish, but not too much.”

With wine expert and sommelier, John

38 spaces november/december 2009

Co-owners John Borghetti, far left, and chef Santino Coccia offer an eclectic variety of dishes at Trattoria Farfalla.

Favorites include, pasta fagiloi, rigatoni with mushrooms and grilled polenta with sausage.

november/december 2009 spaces 39

chef’s table Borghetti, Coccia opened Trattoria Farfalla about a year ago at The Promenade in Westlake Village. It’s one of four restaurants owned by the 43-year-old chef, and the one where he spends the most time. “I am cooking there most nights,” he says. At other times, you might track him down in the kitchen of Galletto Bar & Grill, the Westlake Village bistro he and Borghetti have owned for 15 years.

Coccia’s two other restaurants –Tropicalia, a Brazilian-Italian grill, and Vinoteca Farfalla, a wine bar–are in Los Angeles.

Trattoria Farafalla exudes a warm and comfortable vibe with dark wood floors, an open kitchen and small bar and indoor and patio dining. The extensive menu features an

SPOTLIGHT ON...

SANTINO COCCIA AGE: 43.

HOMETOWN: Cagnano Varano, Italy COOKING STYLE: Mediterranean influence with fresh ingredients.

FAVORITE DISHES TO COOK: Branzino, cefalo, braciole (steak stuffed with pecorino cheese and braised with wine in tomato sauce), macaroni puttanesca in carrozza, burrata salad.

FAVORITE JUNK FOOD: Hazelnut ice cream.

FAVORITE GADGET: Truffle shaver.

FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Picasso at the Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas.

FAVORITE VACATION: Traveling the Mediterranean.

Tucked into The Promenade in Westlake Village, Trattoria Farfalla is one of four restaurants owned by Santino Coccia, and the one where he spends the most time.

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Prix Fixe Lunch Offering Two Courses $27 Monday through Friday from 11am - 3pm

Prix Fixe

Offering Three Courses $42 Sunday through Thursday from 5:30pm - 10:30pm

Sunday Brunch

A La Carte Menu Featuring Special Wines, Brunch Cocktails Live Music Richard Berman entertains on the piano Children’s Menu 12 and Under Reservations Recommended Sunday from 11am - 2pm

Private Room available for Holiday Parties.

Visit our website for Weekly Specials.

www.bistrogarden.com

12950 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City 818.501.0202

chef’s table eclectic array of dishes reminiscent of trattoria fare from all over Italy. “We make our own pizzas, fococcia, gnocchi, lasagne, ravioli and other fresh pastas, along with tapenades,” he says. An in-house pastry chef creates such tempting offerings as a feathery-light tiramisu drizzled with chocolate sauce or a rich torte filled with pastry cream and sprinkled with pine nuts.

Coccia was born in the Puglia region of It-

aly, just above the heel of the country’s “boot,” and started his culinary career at age 16 in a restaurant in Milan. When he immigrated to the United States, he worked for a short time at a restaurant in Northern California before moving to Los Angeles in 1988. He worked as a chef for two years at Trattoria Farfalla in Los Feliz, and then left for an Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills. He later returned as executive chef to a relocated Farfalla and eventually began acquiring his own properties. And he hopes to expand his portfolio of restaurants in 2010, with the opening of a Trattoria Farfalla in Encino. “I wanted to be a chef because I like the ambiance,” he says. “I love my job. I like being inside a restaurant, cooking, being at the bar and with people.”

Rigatoni Ai Tre Funghi Serves 2 8 ounces uncooked rigatoni 4 ounces fresh mushrooms (shiitake, porcini and button), julienned 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon chopped fresh shallots 1 tablespoon Italian parsley 1 sage leaf 3 tablespoons white wine 1/4 cup chicken broth 5 tablespoons heavy whipping cream 3/4 cup tomato sauce Salt and pepper Truffle oil and grated Parmesan cheese

restaurant Trattoria Farfalla

160 Promenade Way, Suite A Westlake Village 805/497-2283 farfallawestlakevillage.com

reservations recommended?

dinner with wine, for two

Yes About $100

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Cook pasta in boiling water according to directions. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, sauté mushrooms in butter with shallots, parsley and sage until mushrooms are crisp-tender, about a minute. Add wine and cook until most of the liquid is evaporated. Add chicken broth and cook until reduced by half. Add cream and tomato sauce; heat to boiling and cook for 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add cooked pasta and toss 20 seconds. Before serving, drizzle with truffle oil and top with Parmesan cheese.

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hiGh tech home Looking for a holiday gift that’s a combination of high-level functionality and cutting-edge cool? Here are a few high-tech goodies that are sure to please.

—Holly Berecz

Home brew According to coffee lore, the world’s first frappé came about when a Nestlé employee mistakenly added cold water to his instant coffee. Today, you can purposefully create indulgent frosty treats at home with Café Frappé from Mr. Coffee. Priced at $80, the first at-home appliance to brew and blend whips up endless varieties of coffeehousestyle drinks with the press of a button.

MyFrappe.com

Mirror image Want to watch the weather forecast or catch the game highlights while brushing your teeth? With the Mirrored LCD TV from Pantel, you won’t miss a moment. When the product is off, it’s a regular mirror. When it’s on, it’s a discrete, sleek and waterproof HDTV. Featuring two external waterproof speakers, anti-glare glass and a floating remote control, it’s available in 20- to 42-inch models. Prices range from $2,000 to $4,500.

Pantel.com

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hiGh tech home

Ray of light Like a rectangular UFO hovering in your living room, the Samsung BD-P4600 Blu-ray player is out of this world. Measuring 1.5 inches, it’s the world’s thinnest Blu-ray device. Mount it on the wall to show off the rounded corners, translucent red highlights and a glossy black finish.

Available for about $500, it also streams Netflix movies or other media from a connected PC. Samsung.com

Flat is phat Add a bright twist to common, cumbersome computer cables. Available in a rainbow of colors, these wires from LaCie lie flat on work areas and roll up easily, eliminating clutter and uncontrolled coiling. Available for USB, FireWire and eSATA interfaces, the cheerful cords come with 24 adhesive labels for detailed customization. Starting at $10.

Lacie.com

World beat Bring the entire world to your ears with the NetWorks Global Stereo System. With no computer required, it uses wireless Internet or Ethernet access to pick up crystalclear radio signals from nearly anywhere in the world. Browse thousands of stations by country or genre, or input the specific call letters. Retailing for $750, it’s also a fullfunction alarm clock.

Tivoliaudio.com

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cause for applause

Center stage American Cancer Society lauds LA’s outstanding supporters

S

potlighting the shining stars among

received special recognition for his eight

its thousands of supporters, the

years as an income development volunteer,

American Cancer Society’s Los An-

helping to secure automobiles and other

geles Region recognized outstanding volun-

auction and raffle items that helped raise

teers and corporate donors during its annual

more than $400,000 for the nonprofit so-

awards dinner.

ciety. Students at California State Univer-

More than 80 people feted the winners

sity, Northridge, also received an award for

during the Sept. 16 event at the Los Angeles

prevention and early detection for spear-

Athletic Club, where Gus T. Dalis, head of

heading an anti-smoking campaign during

heath education for the Los Angeles Coun-

the Great American Smokeout.

ty Office of Education, received a Lifetime

Achievement Award for his advocacy of can-

Society is the largest non-government, not-

cer awareness and his commitment to the

for-profit funding source of cancer research

well-being of local youth. Corporate award-

in the United States.

Founded in 1946, the American Cancer

winners included Parsons Corp., which has raised nearly $3 million for the American Cancer Society.

In addition, the Los Angeles Daily News

and its Spanish-language sister publication, Impacto, received a Caring Through Communication Award for creating a bilingual spesociety’s programs and services, along with cancer screening information and resources.

Avram Butensky of Marina del Rey

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Left, top: Attending the dinner at the Los Angeles Athletic Club were Tameka Payne, community director for the San Fernando Valley, Chatsworth volunteer Carolyn Rhee and Tamara Sutton, a volunteer from the San Gabriel Valley.

Left, center: CSUN award-winners Zack Reed-Fier and Dara Fineman.

Left, bottom: Eric Beikmann, the society’s communications director, congratulates Natalie Tarpinian and Kevin Kapron from the Los Angeles Daily News.

Photos: John McCoy

cial section featuring information about the

Top: American Cancer society officials Gary Pia and Jayne Lastusky, left, and David Veneziano, right, flank award winners Yvonne Baetz of the USC Norris Cancer Hospital and Margarita Chung and Lucy Young of the Herald Cancer Assocation.

finishing touch

Central Coast

Trice Tolle Intimidated by the empty white canvas, artist Trice Tolle starts each expressionistic landscape by painting the surface red—a red red. The intense hue is less daunting, she says, and provides a middle tone against which she can play light and dark colors. “I love the effect when I start layering colors and this incredible vibrancy happens,” she says. “I always leave some of the red to show through at the end. It adds a certain tension to the work.” An award-winning artist and teacher who works out of a studio in her Van Nuys home, Tolle draws inspiration from her travels through California and the Southwest. “The painting, like the places where I’ve traveled, becomes an adventure, never knowing where I might end up.” A Southern California native, Tolle attended California State University, Northridge, and the Otis Institute of Art. Her landscapes have been exhibited at a variety of local galleries and also can be viewed at www.tricetolle.com.

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