Culver City Observer -

On Sunday, August 13, Gateway LA gave the community a taste of the incredible cuisine being served up every day at the hotels along Century Boulevard. The BID's annual Century Stroll – a progressive dinner fundraiser that supports the mental health efforts of Airport Marina Counseling Service – showcased the talents of Chefs Serge Devesa and Victor Miguel, who enjoyed cooking for a good cause.

"Not everyone knows the kind of incredible food that is being served up by our local hotels, so the Century Stroll was a great opportunity for us to share an amazing culinary experience with our neighbors," said Gateway LA CEO Christina Davis. "The best part was that we were able to raise more than $10,000 to support mental health."

The Century Stroll took 100 diners from the Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel to the Marriott Los Angeles Airport Hotel as they sampled delicious creations ranging from Filet of Beef with Peppercorn Sauce and Escargots de Bourgogne to Churrascaria featuring Tomahawks, Whole Chicken, Longanisa, and Grilled Vegetables.

Devesa and Miguel bring with them decades of experience cooking all over the world.

Devesa, who was born in Marseille, graduated from the Sisteron Hotel School at the age of 18. As a young teenager, he discovered his love for cooking working in the kitchen alongside his family. Inspired by the Mediterranean dishes prepared by his mother, he knew he wanted to learn more and discover all of the world's culinary secrets. Working behind the stove, Devesa traveled the globe, cooking at Michelin star kitchens in France, working as an instructor at Vancouver's Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts and directing food service at a 4-star restaurant in Vietnam. The Master Chef most recently earned France's Medal Order of Agricultural Merit in 2020, the second highest honor bestowed on a French citizen.

Miguel, a hospitality leader with more than 16 years of experience and expertise in creating and executing elevated food concepts, has led dining programs at hotels all across the West Coast. Miguel began his hospitality career at the JW Marriott in Desert Springs, where he achieved a No. 1 ranking for overall food quality for the JW Marriott brand. Gaining a well-rounded experience, Miguel continued his career as Executive Sous Chef and eventually Executive Chef at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Miguel managed the re-conceptualizing dining programs for the hotel's restaurants and M Club lounge, during a $50 million

property-wide transformation. His passion for creative execution of unparalleled dining experiences has earned him recognition as an ACE Award Nominee for the Americas Award of Culinary Excellence Rising Star of the Year in 2018.

"Century Boulevard might not be everyone's first instinct when it comes to world-class dining, but perhaps it should be," Davis said. "The chefs we have throughout the Gateway area are truly amazing."

Davis added that the annual progressive dinner supported a vital cause – mental health. The funds raised will help AMCS ensure that individuals throughout the community can access the mental health care and support they deserve, regardless of their income or socio-economic level.

AMCS is a nonprofit community mental health clinic located in Westchester that provides affordable and accessible mental health services to individuals and families in the Los Angeles area. With over 60 years of experience, AMCS offers a wide range of mental health services, including individual, family, and group therapy, as well as specialized services for children, adolescents, and older adults. For more information, please visit http://www.AMCShelps.org.

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CAPTION: From left: Executive Director Christina Davis, Gateway LA; Councilmember Traci Park, City of Los Angeles District 11; General Manager Kandee Anderson and Executive Chef Victor Miguel, Los Angeles Airport Marriott; Executive Chef Serge Devesa, Kitchen Manager Mario Lopez and General Manager Grant Coonley, Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel; Vice-President Mark Goldrup, Gateway LA.