Our Culinary Journey
Maude’s first iteration was focused on highlighting the multiple applications and manipulations of seasonal ingredients, focusing on one hero ingredient a month. For years, we showcased everything from citrus to white truffles to the humble potato, finding new and innovative ways to elevate these ingredients while challenging ourselves to create a brand-new menu every month.
The inspiration for Maude later evolved to explore the world’s great wine regions. Each quarter, Curtis Stone and team traveled to immerse themselves in a chosen region—discovering its terroir, culinary traditions, and wine culture. These journeys inspired multi-course tasting menus that captured the essence of each place while remaining unmistakably Maude, paired with thoughtfully curated wines from classic to rare. Past inspirations included Rioja, Burgundy, and Sonoma County.
Awards
Maude garnered accolades from the James Beard Foundation (2015 Best New Restaurant semifinalist), Travel & Leisure (“Best New Restaurants in the World”), Eater LA (Restaurant of the Year), LA Weekly (Best New Restaurant followed by Best Restaurant in Los Angeles), LA Magazine (4 out of 4 stars), Angeleno and more. Maude was awarded a Michelin star upon the guide’s return to Southern California in 2019 and proudly retained it until closure.
Field Trip
When Maude’s menu concept evolved to draw inspiration from the world’s great wine regions, Curtis chose to bring cameras along on his menu-development field trips with his team—thus creating the PBS series Field Trip with Curtis Stone. From hunting for truffles and rolling porchetta in Umbria, to learning about Indigenous ingredients at a rooftop farm in New South Wales, to foraging for abalone on California’s Central Coast, and uncorking a sixty-year-old bottle in Rioja, each adventure captured a region’s tastes, traditions, and craftsmanship—then reimagined them in the kitchen. Guests later experienced a taste of these travels not only at Maude, but at Curtis’ restaurants Gwen in Hollywood and Woodend in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Field Trip with Curtis Stone earned nominations for both a James Beard Media Award and a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Travel and Adventure Program. The show is produced by Curtis’ own production company, Sunny Side Up Productions.