Chef’s Corner with Lauren Kyles of TART

TART restaurant, at the Farmer’s Daughter Hotel, returns to her roots with a newly inspired country menu by Executive Chef Lauren Kyles, accompanied by spruced up, farmhouse design. With a focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and hormone- and antibiotic-free meats, Kyles offers a twist on the traditional Southern menu, creating modernized dishes inspired by the flavors of this down-home cuisine.

The relaxed and homey vibe of the décor flows into Kyles’ cuisine. Formerly of The Green Door in Hollywood, Kyles-whose grandparents were brought up in the South and instilled within her a love of the region’s unique culinary offerings-refers to her nouveau Southern style as, “utilizing seasonal, local ingredients to offer a new take on traditional Southern recipes.” Offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch on the weekends, TART restaurant is an ideal destination anytime of day.

journeyPod caught up Chef Lauren and asked a few questions:

If you weren’t a Chef, what would you be?

I’d be a personal shopper! I love to shop, especially with other people’s money. My favorite things to shop for include shoes and handbags.

What three ingredients could you not live without?

Butter, yams, chicken

What is the most unique ingredient you have ever cooked with?

Alligator sausage

 What do you see as the next big trend in cooking?

A twist on staple cuisine. Kind of like what I do here..a twist on classic Southern.

What culture inspires you when cooking?

Asian/Pacific Rim

What’s your favorite restaurant in LA?

Cravings. (journeyPod covered Cravings in a past podcast. Check out our luxury podcast archive to hear more about this great spot in Sunset Plaza)