Introducing our amazing Sous Chef Tori Menna
Spicing up Christmas at BGI!
Christmas sparkles in full effect…
The Inn has been extra blessed this year with the addition of Sous Chef Tori Menna, she made a complete package for us when we transitioned to our new Executive Chef, and we are continually impressed by her artistry. Tori takes care of our weekend guests, treating them with her creativity and imagination in the kitchen. Providing tasty and exciting dishes for our “Mendo Box” offerings included in our complimentary Wine Hour that will easily become new favorites, guests are easily tempted into recreating these dishes at home, ask us for a recipe and we’ll see if we can twist her arm for you!
Tori’s other hand says FOOD… LOVE…
Tori has loved cooking since she was a very young, for as long as she can remember. Her mother insisted she needed to get a college degree, no matter what. Seeing a commercial on TV about culinary school, she was intrigued and didn’t know she could get a degree in cooking. Immediately, a light bulb was shining bright, this was the direction she wanted to go. Completing three years of schooling, achieving an AA in Culinary Arts, along with an AS in Restaurant Management, she was well on her way to greatness. During her college days she was hired on at the iconic Playboy Mansion in the Holmby Hills, outside of Beverly Hills in Los Angeles. Working her tail off to learn as much as possible, especially enjoying the challenges of cooking for big parties. During her tenure at the mansion, she also acquired an internship with Albion River Inn, sparking the beginning of her friendship and connection with our wonderful new Executive Chef Stephen Smith. Starting as a dishwasher and prep cook, working her way steadily up the line to earn the title of Sous Chef. Hailing from Southern California, she officially moved here to the Mendocino Coast in 2014, after graduating from Bakersfield College, and landing a more secure position at Albion River Inn. After a few years she went on to assist in opening one of Fort Bragg’s first food trucks, American Eats. Now, after ten years of professional cooking experience, Tori has joined our happy BGI family, and we couldn’t be happier!
Tortilla soup, salad with House-made Cilantro-Lime dressing & Tres Leches cake topped with Blueberry compote & freshly whipped cream, YUM!
Being here at the Inn, she’s gained more confidence. She says it’s a great feeling being able to pull off an intimate dinner for our guests by herself. She’s also been honing in on improving skills she hasn’t quite practiced enough, and she’s right on track. She loves cooking for special events, as well, finding that passion with the larger groups at the Playboy Mansion. She hopes to steer her career towards becoming a private chef in the future.
Highlighting Tori’s talented partner and professional photographer…
Marlene A. Gutierrez Moreno
Tori piping a Tres Leches Cake with fresh whipped cream…
Marlene has been generous enough to share her passion for photography with us, recently taking these fantastic photos of Tori, hard at work in the BGI kitchen, creating a delicious Chicken Tortilla Soup for our guests last week. She arrived on the Mendocino Coast years ago, her family moved here from Lancaster when she was still very young, she’s well rooted and has no plans to leave our beloved hamlet by the sea. Receiving her first camera at the tender age of seven, it’s been firmly glued to her hands ever since. Starting up her own business, Fallen Moon Photography, a little over a year ago. She has many exciting opportunities coming down the pike. Scoop her up for your own project quick before she’s all booked up!
Adding accoutrements to the soup…
Mostly self-taught, Marlene took photography classes in high school to get down the basics, also contributing to the yearbook. Feeling inspired, she created a photography portfolio as her senior project, explaining all about the different settings on the camera to all who would listen. Moving forward after high school, she learned a lot from various videos on YouTube about lenses, lights, and editing software. Advancing her experience to a higher level and blazing a path into the future with her vision.
A brand-new fancy Canon EOS R6 Body has her all a twitter about her next special project. This refreshing update is a mirrorless camera, with a swivel-touch screen monitor and WiFi to connect to a phone or a computer. It’s seriously mind-blowing how much difference the little differences make. She’ll be heading off to San Francisco to do a ribbon cutting shoot for a friend at Park Central Hotel. She hopes to focus on and grow her business, catapulting her success in this venture she loves so much.
A true Mendo “power couple”…
Both Tori and Marlene, highly recommend taking a hike to the waterfall at Russian Gulch State Park. It being an all-time favorite, it’s worth the hike. Skyscraper redwoods, all different kinds of mushrooms, and the mesmerizing flow of the waterfall itself, of course!
~Words by Sarah Rowe & pictures by Marlene A. Gutierrez Moreno