Thursday, February 14, 2013

Christy Vega's Personal Kitchen Kitchen Tour

021313ChristyVegaKitchenTour_MainImage.jpg

If you live in Los Angeles you probably know of or have dined at Casa Vega, a family owned Mexican restaurant that has been open since the 50s. You may also be thinking, "Wait! I know Christy and Casa Vega from someplace else..." Yes, she was on Bravo's Flipping Out with Jeff Lewis. It is always really intriguing to see the personal kitchen of someone who works in the restaurant business, so I was very grateful when she gave me a sneak peek.

021313ChristyVegaKitchenTour_Thumbnails.jpg

021313ChristyVegaKitchenTour_Image2.jpgSee Full Slideshow

Now that I have been cooking at home more, I was absolutely thrilled that Christy surprised me by sharing the very popular Casa Vega Spinach Enchiladas recipe! She even made the dish after I finished photographing the kitchen to show the step-by-step process. It is very healthy and doesn't take too long to make - a definite win-win.

021313ChristyVegaKitchenTour_Image3.jpgSee Full Slideshow

10 Questions for Christy (And Her Kitchen)

1. What was the inspiration for the design of your kitchen?
The kitchen at my restaurant, Casa Vega. I wanted to create the functional restaurant kitchen at home.

2. When designing the kitchen, what were your must-haves?
A community table, large refrigerator, and a family calendar.

3. What was the biggest challenge of the kitchen design?
I tore down the wall between the kitchen and the dining room to make one large space. The challenge then became to make it feel like one cozy room.

021313ChristyVegaKitchenTour_Image4.jpgSee Full Slideshow

4. How often do you entertain and cook at home?
We entertain and cook at home all the time! Restaurants are not the most relaxing place for me. It's where I spend most days. My favorite nights are with friends and a home cooked dinner served outside.

5. Has growing up in your family's restaurant changed the way you cook at home?
Yes, cooking for large numbers doesn't phase me.

6. What are some basic cooking tips for novice home cooks?
1. Prep first. Cooking goes smooth when you have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go, and 2) Clean as you go.

7. How do your kids interact in your kitchen? Do they participate in the cooking process?
All three of my boys enjoy cooking, especially tamales and albondigas. They work in little assembly lines when making tamales, which is very cute. If I'm making albondigas they love to mix all the ingredients with their hands.

021313ChristyVegaKitchenTour_Image7.jpg
The very popular Casa Vega Spinach Enchiladas recipe

8. What is your favorite meal to make at home?
Carne Asada on the barbecue. I marinate the meat overnight and make a Spinach Jalapeo creamy salsa to accompany it. Serve it with warm tortillas and everyone is happy.

9. What are some of your recent favorite dishes to cook?
Casa Vega's Tortilla Soup. It's a great winter meal that warms the family up and is simple to make after work.

10. Best cooking advice or tip you ever received:
Take a knife skills class. It's essential to cooking well. Plus, it's a safety issue. If you cook a lot you want to make sure you are in total control of your knife and protect your fingers.

021313ChristyVegaKitchenTour_Image5.jpgSee Full Slideshow

Resources of Note:

  • Chippendale chairs are from Ballard Designs
  • Chrome buffet lamps on counter are from Shades of Light
  • Counters are $1 tiles from Home Depot - I just wanted a clean surface.
  • Refrigerator is from Star Restaurant Equipment in Van Nuys, CA
  • The Viking range came with the house. Only decent thing in the entire place! You can get them at high-end appliance stores like Pacific Appliance or Ferguson.

Thank you so much, Christy, for letting us peek into your kitchen!
Share your own kitchen renovation or improvement!
We're always looking for real kitchens from real cooks.
Show us your kitchen here!

(Images: Marcia Prentice)


Entertainment News, Celebrity Interviews and Pop Culture - ABC News Get the latest entertainment news, celebrity interviews and pop culture pulse on movies, TV and music and more at ABCNews.com. Christy Lopez Facebook Christy Lopez is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Christy Lopez and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more ... Real Adventures - Accommodations, Adventure Travel Tours ... Great accommodations, active adventure travel & unique vacations. Exciting destinations, cool adventures, and relaxing getaway. Bordeaux wine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A Bordeaux wine is any wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France, centred on the city of Bordeaux and covering the whole area of the Gironde department, with a ... Uncle Jack's Very Vintage Vegas - Mid Century Modern Homes ... Welcome To Uncle Jack's Very Vintage Vegas! Vintage Las Vegas Homes, Historic Las Vegas Neighborhoods, Las Vegas History, Urban Living In Las Vegas. Diversify your websiteGeniusWiki Diversify your website GeniusWiki ... portal Las Vegas Hotels - Treasure Island Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV ... Make your Las Vegas hotel reservation at Treasure Island Casino and Resort. Check room rates, hotel packages, and booking deals. randy_sparks_blog.html - The New Christy Minstrels The Blog of Randy Sparks The Blog of Randy Sparks Copyright 2012 Cherrybell Music/New Christy Minstrels Foundation All Rights Reserved. Randys Blog 4 February 2013

No comments:

Post a Comment