While the phrase "Chef to the Stars" Is a very overused description, it is truly the business of this month’s Guest Chef, Dario Martinez of GoodFood Catering in Culver City, California. Chef Dario's Roasted Cornish Game Hen in Chipotle Orange Marinade with Green Keitt Mango & Jicama Relish combines the spicy and sweet flavors that were a big part of his childhood growing up in Oaxaca, Mexico, one of the most fertile areas of the Americas. His recipe reflects his roots with a diverse array of ingredients that make for a beautiful looking, and tasty dish. Both the salsa and the marinade take just minutes to prepare, but think ahead, because the longer this marinade is given to work its flavor magic, the better. This dish also works great on the summer grill. In fact, I found that the extra flavor that comes with grilling really combines well with the flavors of the salsa. Use natural wood or hardwood charcoal for best taste and heat control. Cornish hens are small, so grill slowly at medium heat; baste the fowl generously with the marinade until the bird is golden brown.

Dario's enthusiasm for what he does is infectious. Over the last several years, GoodFood Catering has built an impeccable reputation in the Los Angeles area for orchestrating special events of all sizes seamlessly. Many well-known corporations and high profile celebrities depend on the company’s full service approach and expertise to provide the perfect food, service and atmosphere, as well as respect for privacy, that their famed clientele sometimes require. Dario has managed the culinary end of parties hosted by Sharon Stone, Janet Jackson, the Rolling Stones, Disney Studios, Reebok and Cirque du Soleil just to name a few.

For many events, GoodFood is asked to develop a themed motif that is carried through all aspects of the event, including lighting, décor, atmosphere, even the servers’ costumes and, of course, the cuisine. The company’s creative staff coordinates every detail. Here too, Dario’s diverse culinary background, being trained extensively in both Japanese and French cooking as well as his exposure to the fare of his native country, has helped with this challenge.

"The part of my job that I love the most, besides the cooking of course, is the extensive research that must be done outside of the kitchen for each event. We get special requests that may require the cuisine of a country that I have never tried or visited. Then there are the clients who follow a specific dietary discipline, like vegan or organic only or want a menu using no dairy products. Whatever the request, it sends me on a mission to first become knowledgeable and then comfortable enough with the ingredients of the cuisine to be creative in my presentations. I feel that I must be able to prepare dishes that are traditionally true to the category, yet presented with originality. It’s the same for the rest of the company, when considering every detail that goes into producing an event according to our client’s vision."

Chef Dario and owner Phillip Weingarten, a noted chef in his own right who has operated kitchens in some of New York and Los Angeles' top eateries, work closely with Melissa’s Food Service Team to adjust their menu packages to reflect seasonal availability for those who prefer selecting foods and settings from a pre-planned collection that the company continually redesigns. "We work with clients to make each event reflect their vision, be it a wedding for 200, a Grammy party for 2500 or a series of events like the fashion week extravaganza when we produced and coordinated 12 exciting fashion shows and 3 special events in four days for more than 3500 guests."

GoodFood Catering and Chef Dario Martinez are renowned in that specialized sector of the food service business that must dazzle its clients with event experiences that focus on quality as well as creativity. Dario depends on the knowledgeable staff at Melissa’s Food Service division to provide him with ingredients that range from the everyday to the exotic in order to create his dishes. Likewise, the Melissa’s staff can also depend on Dario for interesting challenges in supporting his culinary projects. It's a great relationship that we expect will keep us all "partying" behind the scenes for many years to come.