Renowned Chef Beni VelÁzquez Joins Excalibur Medieval Restaurant As Executive Chef

April 3, 2012 - PRLog -- LOS ANGELES – Renowned Chef Beni Velázquez has been selected as Executive Chef at Excalibur Medieval Restaurant, a newly opened medieval-inspired restaurant in downtown Los Angeles near the Los Angeles Convention Center. The restaurant is the first U.S. location from European restaurateurs Lorand Lukacs, Andrei Bodor, Adriana and Niculae Negre, and Daniel Bodor. To introduce guests to his unique style, Chef Velázquez launched a special “Castle Brunch” menu this weekend that will be available every weekend 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Chef Velázquez has won critical acclaim for his Las Vegas restaurant Bar+Bistro.  His travels through Europe, cooking with Italian and French chefs at the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons resorts, have led to a stunningly diversified repertoire. His extensive world travels have led Velázquez to a passion for internationally inspired cuisine with unique flavor profiles that stretch from his home country of Puerto Rico, to Spain, Italy, France and to the shores of Morocco, Egypt, Israel and Lebanon.

At Excalibur, Velázquez draws on these worldwide influences to re-imagine dining in the Medieval age. His unique menu utilizes fresh organic produce and meats from local farmers, sustainable seafood from Santa Monica seafood, and an eclectic blend of European-inspired spices and flavors to stimulate the most carnal senses.

Chef Velázquez is bringing his own signature style to Excalibur with the launch of Castle Brunch, available every weekend 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The menu features fresh, locally sourced dishes like Black Current French Toast with a fresh baked bread-dipped custard, Free Range Eggs or Vegetable Quiche with organic, locally sourced seasonal vegetables, Parmesan, Fontina and white cheddar cheeses.  The price is $19 for adults and $8 for Knights in Training.

“I love to be challenged,” said Chef Velázquez. “To create a menu for a medieval-inspired restaurant that gives a modern twist was certainly appealing as a concept. People think of the Middle Ages as dark, heroic, carnal and passionate –very primal, basic instincts. Taking those simple, yet powerful elements and building off of them to create a menu that marries past and present is something very different and really exciting.”

For more information, please visit Excalibur’s website at www.ExcaliburRestaurant.com, Opentable.com or call 213.749.7751.