Laura De Martin of TusCA, Part Two

Kimberly Valenzuela

​This week we go On The Line with Chef Laura De Martin of TusCA--a new Italian restaurant inside the Hyatt Regency in Garden Grove.

If you missed Part One, you can find it here. Check back tomorrow for a recipe from the chef herself!

Favorite music to cook by:
U2, Zucchero (Italian artist).
 
Best food city in America:
New York.
 
Favorite restaurant in America:
Fleur de Lys.
 
What you'd like to see more of in Orange County from a culinary standpoint:
Authentic ethnic restaurants.
 
What you'd like to see less of in Orange County from a culinary standpoint:
Chain restaurants.

Favorite cookbooks:
The Silver Spoon (the Bible of Italian cosine), French Laundry (Thomas Keller), Made in Spain (Jose` Andres).

What show would you pitch to the Food Network?
I'm not sure, I think they've just about done them all!

Weirdest thing you've ever eaten:
Bull testicles.
 
You're making an omelet. What's in it?
Spinach and mushrooms.
 
You're at the market. What do you buy two of?
Lots of garlic.
 
Weirdest customer request:
To have salted duck eggs and chili sauce for breakfast.
 
Favorite restaurant(s) other than your own:
Blue Fin, Five Feet Restaurant and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.
 
Hardest lesson you've learned:
People aren't always what they appear on the surface.

What would be the last meal on Earth be?
Braised rabbit with polenta and a vanilla gelato with rhubarb sauce.

Who's your hero? Culinary or otherwise?
Marco Pantani - He was perseverant and didn't let anything hold him back.

What cuisine that you are unfamiliar with would you want to learn more about and why?
Japanese and Thai. I'm fascinated by their flavors, ingredients and presentation.