It was back in 2012 when we interviewed Pascal Olhats for On the Line. That was also the year Traditions closed. Since then, we’ve seen his association to establishments come and go. Yet Olhats manages to tie himself right back into the food scene. Instead of French 75 or a brasserie, there’s his gem in San Juan Capistrano, the relationship with Manassero Farms and his involvement with groups like The Ecology Center and Illumination Foundation.
Our friends at Grub Tribe got to know Pascal, and realized he was different from the people they normally interview. After decades of building a name for himself and elevating the food scene in Orange County, Pascal Olhats was his own six degrees of separation. We knew that back in 2009, but Grub Tribe took it a step further and decided to make a documentary about the chef.
Their film, La Tradition, was submitted to the Newport Beach Film Festival for consideration. We were enthusiastically informed by Grub Tribe co-founder, Jeff Fliegler, of its acceptance. After viewing a rough cut of the movie, its colorful commentary by some of Pascal’s colleagues had us in stitches. We congratulate the first time documentarians on a job well done.
The Newport Beach Film Festival is from April 21 – April 28.
A contributing writer for OC Weekly, Anne Marie freelances for multiple online and print publications, and guest judges for culinary competitions. A Bay Area transplant, she graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Find her on Instagram as brekkiefan.