I love good food. And good wine. And good cheese. So, I really loved the recent opportunity I had to shoot the latest menu for the ingenious Chef Erika Tucker at The Cellar Restaurant, Wine Bar & Cheese Shop in San Clemente, California. 

The Cellar San Clemente: Recycled wine bottles are used through out the space adding unique detail.

Chef Erika recently joined The Cellar team and has brought with her some truly inspired ideas that she’s incorporating into the revamped Cellar menu at the moment. Erika is my kinda’ girl – she has a wide breadth of experience – most recently working in the kitchen of The Peninsula Hotel in Chicago (one of my favorite hotels in the world – I still daydream about the cozy bed and the traditional afternoon tea there). AND, she rides a motorcycle. A fellow female biker with an appreciation for great food. Need I say more?

Her cuisine is beautiful. Simple, straightforward, fresh ingredients. Phenomenal presentation. Elegant and fun all at once. I love everything about it – it truly speaks for itself. Here’s a small taste-through-photos of what Chef Erika is working on in The Cellar kitchen these days:

Ok, now my stomach is growling.

In addition to the amazing food, The Cellar also offers an awe-inspiring cheese counter and fully-stocked wine shop.  Whether you are a novice or a veteran cheese connoisseur, the staff at The Cellar will make you feel welcome in their lil’ slice of Cheese Heaven.

In fact, North OC’ers can get their slice of Cheese Heaven these days too – in Costa Mesa at The Cellar’s newest addition – The Cheese Shop at The Mix in the SoCo Collection. Stay tuned… More on The Cheese Shop coming soon!

Meantime, be sure to pay The Cellar a visit next time you’re in San Clemente. Even if you aren’t local, still make the trip. Trust me – it’s worth it. With their nightly live music, fantastic ‘wine down hour’, mind-blowing cheese selection and one-of-a-kind menu, what’s not to love?! Cheers!


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