Jessica Largey, a 2004 graduate of Fillmore High School, is now the starred Chef at Simone- a new restaurant opening Thursday night, September 20, 2018. Simone, named after legendary singer Nina Simone, partnered with film director Joe Russo (Avengers: Infinity Wars) and Bruno Bagbeni (Fraiche and Bastide). Food and Wine describes Simone as “a stunner.” Located in the Arts District in Los Angeles, it is billed as one of the most anticipated Los Angeles restaurant openings in years. Jessica was trained at the California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena and honed her skills in fine dining restaurants, such as Providence on Melrose in Los Angeles under the mentorship of Chef Michael Cimarusti; Bastide in West Hollywood; world famous The Fat Duck in England, and as chef de cuisine at 3 Michelin Star Manresa in Los Gatos, CA under head chef David Kinch. After Manressa, Jessica collaborated on a joint menu at the rotating chef restaurant Intro in Chicago.

In 2013, Zagat named Jessica as one of their "30 under 30" for San Francisco, as well as winning the title of Rising Star Chef from StarChefs.com and Eater.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Largey - cite_note-intro-2 In 2015, at the Lincoln Center in New York City, Jessica was presented with the James Beard Foundation Award for Rising Star Chef of the Year - dubbed the culinary “Oscar” because there is no higher culinary award.

On Wednesday September 12, 2018, I had the honor of attending a preview dinner at Simone. Located in a converted photography studio, in an industrial neighborhood now under redevelopment with artist lofts, condos and office spaces, the restaurant now glows with deco inspired concrete and metal, gleaming fused lighting, tasteful, playful wallpaper, hand-painted ceilings and lots of glass and mirrors. Most of the design components are custom artisan made. It is Old Hollywood meets art deco- imagine Musso and Frank’s at the Pantages and it is exquisite. Boldly surrounded by three plate windows, diners watch the kitchen from prep to plating. Looking through the glass as Chef Largey directs her diverse staff is like watching a conductor of a symphony of culinary music. It’s gutsy to open your kitchen to the diners. I admire that - and what a kitchen. The energy in the space, kitchen, bar, and dining room alike was mesmerizing- you are fixated on the bustle of activity, attention to detail and precision.

I sat with friends. The menu is very produce-forward relying on the abundance and diversity of fresh produce available in Southern California year round, and working from there. My friends and I placed different orders so we could try each other’s food and drinks to taste as much as possible. The starters included a beautifully plated burrata paired with a plum confit nigella (I too had to look that up on my phone), purslane, and mint served with crunchy toast wedges- the cheesy plum flavors were so delectable I wanted to lick the plate to get every last bit; grilled brassicas (looks like asparagus with broccoli on the top) Caesar with torn lemon croutons- an unusual take on salad which was surprisingly pleasant; pole beans with an urfa chili creme fraiche purple tomatillo and almond (a twist on the theme of green beans and sliced almonds).

For our second course, we enjoyed the paired flavors of charred squash and nectarine with a macadamia salsa macha- the world would eat a lot more squash if it all tasted like this and this is a must order if you go; farro (a grain) with turmeric pickled ginger and cashew cream; avocado and abalone toast with Yuzu cucumbers; and the table favorite was pork meatballs with New Zealand spinach and Parmesan brodo (broth)- crispy outsides and chewy luscious insides. For entrée, we enjoyed the pork collar with grilled long peppers and n’duja-olive tapenade; cranberry beans with seared cuttlefish and fermented okra; the Hanger Steak was perfectly cooked and plated with roasted black radish, garlic, chive and kimchi- the tender and thinly sliced beef with the heat of the radish- the flavors a good-natured but elegant version of prime rib with horseradish sauce. Dessert included a Chocolate ganache and sunflower pana cotta beautifully plated and just as delicious.

We sampled lovely wines and the majority of the signature craft cocktails. The bar or “Duello” is a showstopper. Iain McPherson, internationally-acclaimed bartender, has created cocktails bringing in the historical significance such as the orchards and industrial eras of the past and hands you a beautifully bound book describing the history of the location of the building on Hewitt Street and how he discerned the blend of flavors one would not have imagined pairing together such as: the “Mamacita Mole” of tequila, mole grenadine and lime oleo served up in a martini glass; “Botta Secreta” which peaty flavor was a surprise take on the expected whisky flavor including peach, rose vermouth, orange and grapefruit oleo, peated whisky, lemon and orange bitters; “Rose Derby” of bourbon, pink grapefruit, honey, mint, and rosé wine served with huge square ice cubes; “Lost and Found” of blended rum, bramble, mandarin, sweet beetroot vinegar, lemon & egg white; and “Firing Blancs” of gin, Sauvignon blanc, salted citrus oleo, pineapple, & lemon bitters. Playful, flavorful, new and delicious with lovely attention to detail and style some served with environmentally conscious stainless straws.
The food was plated like paintings of the great masters – almost too pretty to eat. The fine porcelain tableware was specially commissioned by designer Robert Siegal whose locally sourced black porcelain plates are glazed in washed jewel tones, feel good to the touch and their hues compliment the natural colors of the foods.

Jessica is proud and excited to open her restaurant, but is also proud to be from small town Fillmore roots of a close family, an agricultural community, and old-fashioned ways. So, if Jessica asked us right now if we were proud of her, I think we would all respond, “yes, Chef”. Jessica’s parents still live here in town in the house she was raised in- Ed is retired and Cindy owns & runs Ragtyme Station Antiques on Central Avenue.

@SimoneArtsDistrict
Simone. 449 S. Hewitt St., Los Angeles, CA.
Reservations for Simone are available on Resy.now, Hours will be 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, with an extension to 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night. Up front, the bar Duello opens at 4 p.m. nightly (closed Mondays). Grab a car full of friends and go! Congratulations Jessica!