5/10 - Chef Michael Rossi, Ray Gonzalez,

Exec Chef Michael Rossi -Nieman Marcus Mariposa - Beverly Hills

Located on the lower level of the department store, Mariposa still begins lunch the traditional Neiman Marcus way, with a bowl of broth and a popover with a side of homemade strawberry butter. The ambiance is suitably upscale and the rest of the menu features sandwiches, soups, salads and entrees of fish or meat.  The Mariposa restaurant at Neiman Marcus is one of the most fashionable places to eat lunch in Beverly Hills. Movers and shakers meet over the renowned lobster club salad and popovers. Shiitake Risotto and oven-seared butterfish are some of the seasonal specials that executive chef Gregory Norris dishes out daily.  Mariposa is a perfect place for friends to meet and dine on delicious, progressive American cuisine and experience the latest in fashion trends. The menu also includes an excellent selection of desserts, and a premier wine list.

Ray Gonzalez - Manager - 555 East  Restaurant - Long Beach. CA

With a menu that focuses on superior prime beef, an award-winning wine list, and a classic, yet comfortable ambiance, 555 East reflects the feel of a timeless American steakhouse. 555 East also provides three unique banquet rooms that seat from 12 to 75 people, including “The Cellar,” an intimate space located in the wine cellar that creates a particularly warm setting.  In 1984, 555 East opened King’s Seafood Company’s flagship restaurant, triumphing in a location where other restaurants had previously failed and has served to capacity crowds ever since. As a much-needed “power restaurant” for the growing Long Beach business community, 555 East is centrally located, close to the Long Beach Arena, the Long Beach Convention Center, the Long Beach Aquarium, the Terrace Theater, and all major hotels in the city. The restaurant is an ideal mid-point meeting spot between Los Angeles and Orange County. The 555 East interior, with its marble floors, dark wood and forest green upholstery, is elegant, yet familiar. The plush booths are perfect for business, social and intimate conversation. The brass-accented bar is always active and the glass-enclosed outdoor patio is popular all year round, with an evening view of the Queen Mary fireworks.