Phil Lempert TODAY Food Editor • Profile • E-mail

This week’s recipe was “nicked” from chef Chris Blinde of The Yard, Santa Monica. The Yard is a new neighborhood “gastropub” in Santa Monica, Calif., serving gourmet bar food and small plates in a refined yet relaxed setting.

The Yard’s menu focuses on fresh, seasonal produce from farmer’s markets. The small plates encourage sharing and community, cornerstones of the restaurant's philosophy and design. A long community bar runs through the center of the venue, which is becoming a hip hangout for locals and visitors alike.

Sean Norris and Jeff Decker, owners of The Yard, bring more than 30 years of collective experience in the restaurant business to this new venture. It combines the best features of the tapas bars of Spain, the gastropub phenomenon of England, and menu items influenced by Californian “fusion” cuisine such as lobster enchiladas with creamy cilantro sauce and tempura shrimp with sirachi sioli. Be sure to stop by the community table for a tapas or two or dinner before a stroll on the Santa Monica Pier. 

The Yard also supports the arts by holding regular screenings for local filmmakers. On July 19, it will participate in an arts festival called Glow. Inspired by the Nuit Blanche, a yearly all-night cultural festival in Paris, Glow will feature commissioned works by artists — and The Yard’s location makes it the perfect place to relax and refuel during the festivities.

About the chef
Chris Blinde hails from Washington, D.C., though he spent much of his childhood in various areas around the world. That early exposure to different cuisines has had a big influence on his style of cooking.

Although Blinde is essentially self-taught, he has had the good fortune to work with a number of extremely talented chefs: Most recently, he worked under Samir Mohajer at Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica. He lists Thomas Keller, Marco Pierre White and Heston Blumenthal among his influences.

The Yard
119 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 395-6037
www.theyardsm.com

Want to nominate your favorite restaurant dish for a “Steal This Recipe” feature? Just e-mail with the name of the restaurant, city and state, and the dish you would like to have re-created. Want to know more about Phil and food? Visit his Web site at www.supermarketguru.com.

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