5 Questions for Christopher Kufek

Christopher Kufek is executive chef of Saddle Peak Lodge. After knocking on a back kitchen door every two weeks for three months, Kufek's perseverance and determination to work in fine dining finally paid off when he was hired to make the amuse-bouches at Saddle Peak Lodge. And from there, the 27-year-old West Hills native and former carpenter climbed the culinary ladder.

What’s coming up next on your menu? Ostrich, buffalo ribs, quail, squab, soft-shell crabs and halibut.

Latest ingredient obsession? I'm using tarragon quite a bit. It works well with so many things like grapes, sweet corn, fish, tomatoes or in a sauce. I consider it my workhorse herb.

Favorite day off away from the kitchen? I don't get many, but the next one will most certainly be spent with my brothers playing golf.

The one piece of kitchen equipment you can’t live without, other than your knives? A dishwasher (not an interesting chef answer, but a practical one). You have to be practical as a chef.

What's one restaurant you go to again and again? Like most chefs I don't get out much, but I do love the Foundry on Melrose. Chef [Eric] Greenspan has amazing refined comfort food. Last time I was there I had the Foundry tater tots, grilled cheese with braised short rib and a side of creamed corn. Really tasty stuff and I'm a jazz fan so the musicians that he has play in the lounge were a great added bonus.

Saddle Peak Lodge, 419 Cold Canyon Road, Calabasas, (818) 222-3888, www.saddlepeaklodge.com.

ALSO:

Paxton House in Pasadena

Battle of the Burgers: Five favorites

Roman dinner at Getty Villa

-- Caitlin Keller Photo: Christopher Kufek. Photo Credit: www.Saddlepeaklodge.com

Cupcake Madness with SusieCakes, Yummy, Sweet E's, Whole Foods

To celebrate its 3-year anniversary Saturday, July 18, SusieCakes will hide golden tickets inside 10 of its cupcakes. Prizes include a spot in one of their baking or cake decorating classes, a free 6- or 9-inch cake, five dozen mini-cupcakes and one dozen cupcakes. Winners will also be entered in a grand prize drawing to receive a 9-inch specialty layer cake every month for a year. The ever-expanding bakery will open its newest location, in Manhattan Beach next Saturday, July 25. (SusieCakes: Brentwood, Calabasas, Newport Beach)

Can’t make it to the county fair? Starting in August, Yummy Cupcakes will offer concession stand-themed cupcakes in flavors: buttered popcorn, Goobers, Good N’ Plenty, Hot Tamale, Sour Patch Kids and Raisinettes. (Yummy Cupcakes: Santa Monica, Burbank)

Are these a new item or something that's long been around? Either way, it's come to our attention that Whole Foods recently started promoting its in-house cupcakes -- decorated like Cookie Monster, piglets, bears and other adorable animals -- quite aggressively. Here's a shot from the Pasadena store.

And if you're too lazy to get out of bed and buy yourself treats, you can now have a passel of mini-cupcakes delivered to you by Sweet E’s mini bake shop, reports Daily Candy. They come in a travel-safe white box and include flavors: Peanut Butter Blizzard, chocolate-iced, cookie dough-stuffed vanilla cake, and S'mores. There's no storefront; order online or by phone (323-422-8885).

--Elina Shatkin

Photos: Top: courtesy of SusieCakes. Bottom: Rob Takata / For The Times.