A West region Neighborhood to Nation Recipe Contest winner for the second year running, Nick Shipp of Upper West Restaurant in Santa Monica continues to call upon his passion for global flavors in his evolving menus.
The inspiration for his Lamb Chili Bolognese with Macaroni and Whipped Goat Cheese is “a traditional Bolognese pasta dish that I do during the fall and winter months. We selected fresh vegetables and goat cheese to lighten and brighten the flavor profile.” The innovative take on chili is finished with fresh Mountain High® Yogurt-goat cheese to complete the dish’s comfort-food appeal.
Locally owned and operated, Upper West opened its Santa Monica, Calif., doors in 2010, and continues to feature local and global flavors and ingredients. Favorites include braised pork belly lettuce wraps, Thai peanut noodles, blackened Shetland Island salmon and lamb nachitos, among many others. Shipp is a native of Fort Worth, Texas, and has been described by food critics as a “mad scientists, where no two dining experiences are every alike.”
The restaurant’s décor changes regularly – Upper West hosts one local artist per season, complete with quarterly art openings. While the Los Angeles restaurant scene can be a pressure cooker, Shipp has intentionally created a more comfortable environment where everyone is welcome.
As a Regional Recipe Winner in the Neighborhood to Nation contest, Shipp receives $5,000 plus $1,000 to share with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where he serves as a Culinary Ambassador.
Upper West has supported nonprofits such as Breast Cancer Awareness, Venice Family Clinic, Planned Parenthood and local schools, among others. In addition, Upper West recently received a 2018 Diners Choice Award from Open Table as well as a Diners Award from LA Restaurant Week and recognition from TripAdvisor.
Notes Address: 3321 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404 Website: http://www.theupperwest.com/ Facebook: @theupperwest Twitter: @theupperwest Instagram: @theupperwest @chefnickshipp