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IN THE NEWS |
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Holman Ranch picnic raises the bar
on local farm-to-table events
Meringues from Monterey Meringues
June 21, 2015
By Edible Monterey Bay
Holman Ranch’s farm-to-table picnic held on July 15 easily lived up to expectations that it would prove to be one of the most exciting and unique local food and wine events of the summer.
The grand finale of the winery’s 2015 In Your Backyard event series, the evening combined the intimacy, community spirit and farm-fresh ingredients of a sit-down farm-to-table dinner with the freedom and conviviality of a strolling wine and food event.
Sponsored by Edible Monterey Bay, the In Your Backyard finale was set outdoors among Holman’s ravishing historic stone building and hilltop organic vineyards in Carmel Valley.
Such amazing savory dishes of course needed worthy sweets to follow, and a short stroll away, the pastry chefs did not disappoint: Aubergine at L’Auberge Carmel’s Ron Mendoza delivered striking and delicious strawberry tarts with rose geranium cream and Monterey Meringues’ Leigh Zimmerman and Domenick Allen-Capaldi offered up the latest in their imaginative and colorful line of meringues.
By Edible Monterey Bay
Holman Ranch’s farm-to-table picnic held on July 15 easily lived up to expectations that it would prove to be one of the most exciting and unique local food and wine events of the summer.
The grand finale of the winery’s 2015 In Your Backyard event series, the evening combined the intimacy, community spirit and farm-fresh ingredients of a sit-down farm-to-table dinner with the freedom and conviviality of a strolling wine and food event.
Sponsored by Edible Monterey Bay, the In Your Backyard finale was set outdoors among Holman’s ravishing historic stone building and hilltop organic vineyards in Carmel Valley.
Such amazing savory dishes of course needed worthy sweets to follow, and a short stroll away, the pastry chefs did not disappoint: Aubergine at L’Auberge Carmel’s Ron Mendoza delivered striking and delicious strawberry tarts with rose geranium cream and Monterey Meringues’ Leigh Zimmerman and Domenick Allen-Capaldi offered up the latest in their imaginative and colorful line of meringues.
The folks behind Monterey Meringues with Edible Monterey Bay editor and publisher Sarah Wood.
April 2015
PASTRIES WITH A PURPOSE
Monterey Meringues plans sweet music
with youth violence-prevention group
Playing in the kitchen:
from left, Domenick Allen, Leigh Zimmerman and Stephen Vagnini.
By Lisa Crawford Watson
Photo by Margaux Gibbons
If award-winning actress Leigh Zimmerman and her husband, musician Domenick Allen, were going to take on a new project, it had to mean something. It had to be fun, and it had to allow them to engage in their community and fund their mission to make a difference through music education.
So after careers that took them across Europe and the U.S., they studied at Waitrose Cookery School in London and Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Their daughter, Cayleigh, studied culinary arts at Westminster Kingsway College. Finally, in private master classes with renowned French chef Nicolas Houchet, they learned to make meringues—light, fluffy, crunchy-on-the-outside, marshmallowy-onthe- inside confections that would have their new hometown eating out of their hands.
They call the company “Monterey Meringues,” a nod to the region they made home last year and to the legendary pop festival for which it is known. They give their bite-size pastries names like Monterey Pop-Corn, Purple Haze-lnut, Oreo Speedwagon, Razz-berry Beret, Beach Boys-enberry and The Almond Brothers.
That they’re made from fruit and vegetables, with sugar and eggs but no gluten, no dairy and no additives, makes them delicious and appealing. That they come with a rock ’n’ roll concept makes them fun and playful.
Less than a year after Monterey Meringues premiered at the Carmel International Film Festival, the company is still baking in an incubator for fledgling food businesses in Watsonville, yet has formed partnerships with the Sunset Center, Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey County Food Bank, Jacob’s Heart, the Hyatt Regency Monterey and various other hotels. Allen and Zimmerman are also distributing their meringues locally through farmers’ markets and nationally by mail order.
Photo by Margaux Gibbons
If award-winning actress Leigh Zimmerman and her husband, musician Domenick Allen, were going to take on a new project, it had to mean something. It had to be fun, and it had to allow them to engage in their community and fund their mission to make a difference through music education.
So after careers that took them across Europe and the U.S., they studied at Waitrose Cookery School in London and Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Their daughter, Cayleigh, studied culinary arts at Westminster Kingsway College. Finally, in private master classes with renowned French chef Nicolas Houchet, they learned to make meringues—light, fluffy, crunchy-on-the-outside, marshmallowy-onthe- inside confections that would have their new hometown eating out of their hands.
They call the company “Monterey Meringues,” a nod to the region they made home last year and to the legendary pop festival for which it is known. They give their bite-size pastries names like Monterey Pop-Corn, Purple Haze-lnut, Oreo Speedwagon, Razz-berry Beret, Beach Boys-enberry and The Almond Brothers.
That they’re made from fruit and vegetables, with sugar and eggs but no gluten, no dairy and no additives, makes them delicious and appealing. That they come with a rock ’n’ roll concept makes them fun and playful.
Less than a year after Monterey Meringues premiered at the Carmel International Film Festival, the company is still baking in an incubator for fledgling food businesses in Watsonville, yet has formed partnerships with the Sunset Center, Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey County Food Bank, Jacob’s Heart, the Hyatt Regency Monterey and various other hotels. Allen and Zimmerman are also distributing their meringues locally through farmers’ markets and nationally by mail order.
Playing in the kitchen:
from left, Domenick Allen, Leigh Zimmerman and Stephen Vagnini.
“Music is the mission; meringues are the passion; and peace and love is the message,” says Allen.
They met Monterey County assessor Stephen Vagnini, who, in addition to his day job, manages local bands, promotes Sand City’s West End Celebration and launched the local chapter of Guitars Not Guns.
“Guitars Not Guns Music Program,” says Vagnini, “was founded to help prevent violence in schools and on the streets by providing foster kids, at-risk youth and other deserving children with guitars and lessons in a classroom setting with qualified teachers.” So far, the 4-year-old Monterey chapter’s biggest challenge has been finding volunteer guitar teachers, Vagnini says, but it has lined up enough of them to offer lessons through public schools in Castroville, King City, Gonzales and Salinas as well as numerous nonprofit organizations, including Rancho Cielo, the Alisal Center for the Fine Arts and Seaside’s Community Partnership for Youth.
“Our goal is to have programs in every city and town in Monterey County,” Vagnini says. “These days, all kids are at risk.” For Zimmerman and Allen, the organization was an ideal match, so they signed on in April to use their meringues and their talent to help fund and raise the profile of the group’s Monterey programs.
“Our theme is the universal language of music. We, as people from show business, are so passionate about continuing to share this art form with kids,” Zimmerman says, noting that mastering music boosts kids’ selfconfidence and self-esteem and “gives them a discipline, a passion and a purpose they can translate to anything.”
Zimmerman and Allen’s first big local event with Guitars Not Guns will be the West End Celebration this Aug. 21–23. They’ll of course have their meringues on hand, and Allen intends to perform.
“We’re talking about love,” says Allen, who has already donated a signed guitar. “John Lennon said, ‘All you need is love.’ And Shakespeare said, ‘If music be the food of love, rock on,’ or something like that. Music and meringues—that is our food.”
MONTEREY MERINGUES
montereymeringues.com
GUITARS NOT GUNS
guitarsnotguns.org/monterey.php
WEST END CELEBRATION
westendcelebration.com
They met Monterey County assessor Stephen Vagnini, who, in addition to his day job, manages local bands, promotes Sand City’s West End Celebration and launched the local chapter of Guitars Not Guns.
“Guitars Not Guns Music Program,” says Vagnini, “was founded to help prevent violence in schools and on the streets by providing foster kids, at-risk youth and other deserving children with guitars and lessons in a classroom setting with qualified teachers.” So far, the 4-year-old Monterey chapter’s biggest challenge has been finding volunteer guitar teachers, Vagnini says, but it has lined up enough of them to offer lessons through public schools in Castroville, King City, Gonzales and Salinas as well as numerous nonprofit organizations, including Rancho Cielo, the Alisal Center for the Fine Arts and Seaside’s Community Partnership for Youth.
“Our goal is to have programs in every city and town in Monterey County,” Vagnini says. “These days, all kids are at risk.” For Zimmerman and Allen, the organization was an ideal match, so they signed on in April to use their meringues and their talent to help fund and raise the profile of the group’s Monterey programs.
“Our theme is the universal language of music. We, as people from show business, are so passionate about continuing to share this art form with kids,” Zimmerman says, noting that mastering music boosts kids’ selfconfidence and self-esteem and “gives them a discipline, a passion and a purpose they can translate to anything.”
Zimmerman and Allen’s first big local event with Guitars Not Guns will be the West End Celebration this Aug. 21–23. They’ll of course have their meringues on hand, and Allen intends to perform.
“We’re talking about love,” says Allen, who has already donated a signed guitar. “John Lennon said, ‘All you need is love.’ And Shakespeare said, ‘If music be the food of love, rock on,’ or something like that. Music and meringues—that is our food.”
MONTEREY MERINGUES
montereymeringues.com
GUITARS NOT GUNS
guitarsnotguns.org/monterey.php
WEST END CELEBRATION
westendcelebration.com
Spring/Summer 2015 Issue
Monterey Meringues fresh out of the oven in Watsonville. Owners Domenick Allen and wife Leigh Zimmerman, both former performers, infused the classic treats with a classic-rock sensibility.
March 8, 2015
By Meredith May
Photos: Randi Lynn Beach / Special To The Chronicle
Dessert Gets A Dollop Of Rock 'N Roll
Inside a commercial kitchen incubator in Watsonville, in the back corner by the five-rack convection ovens, two former Broadway stars are making classic French meringues in psychedelic colors.
After three decades in show business, performing on Broadway and in Las Vegas, on TV and in film and rock bands, husband and wife Leigh Zimmerman and Domenick Allen left London in 2014 to reinvent themselves in the Monterey Peninsula food scene. They studied baking at Le Cordon Bleu in London and hired French chef Nicolas Houchet to give them private meringue lessons, then relocated and launched Monterey Meringues.
Their idea was to add a little razzle-dazzle to the staid, white, teardrop-shaped meringue. Made with egg whites and sugar to produce a crunchy outside and a marshmallow-style center, meringues have traditionally been a refined, non-showy dessert.
Zimmerman and Allen make them pop. They use vegetable and fruit juices to make their multihued meringues as colorful as a peacock feather. And as a nod to place and their love of music, they name their flavors with a Monterey Pop Festival aesthetic.
By Meredith May
Photos: Randi Lynn Beach / Special To The Chronicle
Dessert Gets A Dollop Of Rock 'N Roll
Inside a commercial kitchen incubator in Watsonville, in the back corner by the five-rack convection ovens, two former Broadway stars are making classic French meringues in psychedelic colors.
After three decades in show business, performing on Broadway and in Las Vegas, on TV and in film and rock bands, husband and wife Leigh Zimmerman and Domenick Allen left London in 2014 to reinvent themselves in the Monterey Peninsula food scene. They studied baking at Le Cordon Bleu in London and hired French chef Nicolas Houchet to give them private meringue lessons, then relocated and launched Monterey Meringues.
Their idea was to add a little razzle-dazzle to the staid, white, teardrop-shaped meringue. Made with egg whites and sugar to produce a crunchy outside and a marshmallow-style center, meringues have traditionally been a refined, non-showy dessert.
Zimmerman and Allen make them pop. They use vegetable and fruit juices to make their multihued meringues as colorful as a peacock feather. And as a nod to place and their love of music, they name their flavors with a Monterey Pop Festival aesthetic.
Leigh Zimmerman of Monterey Meringues arranges her psychedelic-colored meringues in Watsonville.
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Monterey Meringues fresh out of the oven in Watsonville. Owners Domenick Allen and wife Leigh Zimmerman,
both performers, infused the classic treats with a classic-rock sensibility.
Oreo Speedwagon has crushed Oreos mixed throughout and drizzled on top. Their lemon meringue is called the Lemon Spoonful. Purple Haze-lnut is just that color, infused with a hazelnut ganache and toasted hazelnuts. Nuts ’N Roses is made with rose extract and decorated with pistachio nuts and edible rose flowers.
“Most meringues are white and styrofoam-y,” says Allen, who comes from a long line of actors and performers in Scotland. “We thought why not bring psychedelic colors, and a classic rock ’60s theme and have some fun with it?” |
Leigh Zimmerman and her husband Domenick Allen-Capaldi make meringues in Watsonville Calif., Monday February 16, 2015. Together they started Monterey Meringues, sweets with a Monterey Pops esthetic with flavors like Purple Hazelnut.
Monterey Meringues with a tinge of blue fresh out of the oven. The classic French treats are infused with the colors and names of classic ’60s rock.
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As a teenager, Allen toured as a guest singer with Liberace in Las Vegas. He went on to tour with the rock band Foreigner and performed with the Buddy Rich Big Band. A songwriter who plays 15 instruments, he also wrote and starred in the Las Vegas stage show “Vinyl — The Classic Rock Experience,” and had a stint for two years on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives” as the nefarious government agent Simon Prescott.
Zimmerman made her career on Broadway and in London West End productions, including “The Will Rogers Follies,” “Chicago” and “The Producers,” and won the Laurence Olivier Award (the West End equivalent of the Tony Award) for her 2013 performance in “A Chorus Line.” She also acted in soap operas and had parts in films, playing the New York model who punches Joe Pesci in “Home Alone 2.” They met in 1993 on a cruise. Zimmerman was traveling with her family and Allen was performing on the ship. Their connection was instant, and they have been married for 21 years. In 2013 they wrote and starred in the cabaret “A Love Affair From A2Z” in London. As their interest in food grew, they decided to try collaborating in the kitchen. As business partners, one area where they completely click is showmanship. Their meringues are superstars with panache, nostalgic back stories and a dash of fantasy. The Monterey Pop-Corn is a natural sea salted caramel meringue topped with caramel popcorn. Beach Boys-enberry is made with natural boysenberries and dusted with dried boysenberries. Dazed and Infused bite-size meringues come with flavored buttercream or ganache inside. There are extra-large Mama Cass-size meringues or Magic Mushroom shapes. Rocktails are mini meringue alcohol-free “shots” with subtle flavors of mojito, margarita, mimosa or champagne. “When we were researching desserts, we were looking for something that was natural, light in calories and beautiful,” says Zimmerman, who makes meringues with her husband, her mother and her 15-year-old daughter in the Watsonville commercial kitchen. They bake three to four days a week, producing about 3,000 meringues in one eight-hour baking session. |
These are Monterey Meringues after they have come out of the oven in Watsonville Calif., Monday February 16, 2015.
Domenick Allen makes meringues in Watsonville.
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“Meringues are dairy-, gluten- and fat-free,” she says. “We use only natural colorings and ingredients, and source as locally as we can. If it’s made in Monterey, even if it’s more expensive, that’s what we want.”
A percentage of sales supports local music-education nonprofits.
They cater weddings and special events such as the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Carmel Film Festival. They sell at Neilson Brothers Market in Carmel and the Wharf Marketplace in Monterey. Several hotels now carry their meringues, including the Hyatt in Monterey and Hofsas House in Carmel. When they began taking online orders in February 2015, they had 300 orders in the first two weeks.
“We might need to get more ovens,” Zimmerman says.
Meredith May is a San Francisco writer and beekeeper. E-mail: [email protected]
Photos: Randi Lynn Beach / Special To The Chronicle
Link to San Francisco Chronicle Article
A percentage of sales supports local music-education nonprofits.
They cater weddings and special events such as the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Carmel Film Festival. They sell at Neilson Brothers Market in Carmel and the Wharf Marketplace in Monterey. Several hotels now carry their meringues, including the Hyatt in Monterey and Hofsas House in Carmel. When they began taking online orders in February 2015, they had 300 orders in the first two weeks.
“We might need to get more ovens,” Zimmerman says.
Meredith May is a San Francisco writer and beekeeper. E-mail: [email protected]
Photos: Randi Lynn Beach / Special To The Chronicle
Link to San Francisco Chronicle Article
February 17, 2015
Meringue Business Adds New Flavors
By Tara Fatemi Walker
Monterey Meringues, an artisan food company that’s only a few months old, recently added five new flavors.
Pink Champagne On Ice, Chuck Berry Fields Forever (Strawberry), Sonny and Cher-ry, Kokonut Kinks and U2 Yuzu are now available. Already-existing flavors include Purple Haze-lnut, Razz-berry Beret and The Almond Brothers.
Leigh Zimmerman, Domenick Allen and their teenage daughter Cayleigh help create the dairy- and gluten-free treats at Watsonville’s Commercial Kitchen Incubator. The incubator is part of the El Pajaro Community Development Corporation.
The meringues have natural colors and ingredients, with no additives, preservatives, cholesterol or GMOs. Because Zimmerman and Allen have been musical performers for most of their lives, they use music-related language in their food business and donate a portion of proceeds to music education and music rehabilitation. Their culinary education includes London’s Le Cordon Bleu and Waitrose Cooking School.You can get meringues by purchasing them online or visiting the Carmel Farmers Market.
See montereymeringues.com for details. See Article
Meringue Business Adds New Flavors
By Tara Fatemi Walker
Monterey Meringues, an artisan food company that’s only a few months old, recently added five new flavors.
Pink Champagne On Ice, Chuck Berry Fields Forever (Strawberry), Sonny and Cher-ry, Kokonut Kinks and U2 Yuzu are now available. Already-existing flavors include Purple Haze-lnut, Razz-berry Beret and The Almond Brothers.
Leigh Zimmerman, Domenick Allen and their teenage daughter Cayleigh help create the dairy- and gluten-free treats at Watsonville’s Commercial Kitchen Incubator. The incubator is part of the El Pajaro Community Development Corporation.
The meringues have natural colors and ingredients, with no additives, preservatives, cholesterol or GMOs. Because Zimmerman and Allen have been musical performers for most of their lives, they use music-related language in their food business and donate a portion of proceeds to music education and music rehabilitation. Their culinary education includes London’s Le Cordon Bleu and Waitrose Cooking School.You can get meringues by purchasing them online or visiting the Carmel Farmers Market.
See montereymeringues.com for details. See Article
February 10, 2015
Sweet Treats For Valentine's Day
By Mike Hale
Here’s a sweet “psychedelicious” idea for V-Day (or any day): Order some groovy treats from Monterey Meringues, the new artisan food company run by global entertainers Leigh Zimmerman and Domenick Allen. The married couple has worked on Broadway, in television, in Hollywood — and Allen has rocked large arenas while touring with Foreigner. Now they’ve left London for Monterey to start a business that re-imagines the classic French meringue. The result is a featherweight delicacy that turns desserts into works of art. Read More
Sweet Treats For Valentine's Day
By Mike Hale
Here’s a sweet “psychedelicious” idea for V-Day (or any day): Order some groovy treats from Monterey Meringues, the new artisan food company run by global entertainers Leigh Zimmerman and Domenick Allen. The married couple has worked on Broadway, in television, in Hollywood — and Allen has rocked large arenas while touring with Foreigner. Now they’ve left London for Monterey to start a business that re-imagines the classic French meringue. The result is a featherweight delicacy that turns desserts into works of art. Read More
February 9, 2015
If your sweetie is a die-hard music lover, Monterey Meringues' line of delicious meringue cookies with fun music-inspired names is a perfect Valentine's gift! The meringues are packaged right after baking and decorated with a colorful ribbon, then shipped direct to you. They arrive perfectly crisp and fresh. They taste great...and they come in a variety of bright, festive colors. Some of their creative, fun flavors include: Oreo Speedwagon, Miley Citrus, Nuts 'N Roses, and Purple Haze-lnut -- my personal favorite! It features a crunchy purple swirled meringue with a hidden surprise: a center of chocolate-hazelnut spread! They are also offering a special Valentine's flavor: My Yummy Valentine. In addition to enjoying eating these delish meringues? Your Valentine will know that a portion of proceeds from all sales supports music education and music rehabilitation! To purchase Monterey Meringues, simply visit their online store. See Wendy's Blog
If your sweetie is a die-hard music lover, Monterey Meringues' line of delicious meringue cookies with fun music-inspired names is a perfect Valentine's gift! The meringues are packaged right after baking and decorated with a colorful ribbon, then shipped direct to you. They arrive perfectly crisp and fresh. They taste great...and they come in a variety of bright, festive colors. Some of their creative, fun flavors include: Oreo Speedwagon, Miley Citrus, Nuts 'N Roses, and Purple Haze-lnut -- my personal favorite! It features a crunchy purple swirled meringue with a hidden surprise: a center of chocolate-hazelnut spread! They are also offering a special Valentine's flavor: My Yummy Valentine. In addition to enjoying eating these delish meringues? Your Valentine will know that a portion of proceeds from all sales supports music education and music rehabilitation! To purchase Monterey Meringues, simply visit their online store. See Wendy's Blog
January 29, 2015
Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift – Monterey Meringues
By Vidya Sudarsan
Are you looking to buy something special for your valentine? You might want to consider one of these fabulous flavors- Pink Champagne On Ice; Chuck Berry Fields Forever (Strawberry); Sonny and Cher-ry; Kokonut Kinks; or U2 Yuzu! Well, these are nothing but the latest creations at Monterey Meringues: a Hippie Home with a mantra of “music, meringues, peace, and love”, where a portion of their proceeds support music education and music rehabilitation. Read More
Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift – Monterey Meringues
By Vidya Sudarsan
Are you looking to buy something special for your valentine? You might want to consider one of these fabulous flavors- Pink Champagne On Ice; Chuck Berry Fields Forever (Strawberry); Sonny and Cher-ry; Kokonut Kinks; or U2 Yuzu! Well, these are nothing but the latest creations at Monterey Meringues: a Hippie Home with a mantra of “music, meringues, peace, and love”, where a portion of their proceeds support music education and music rehabilitation. Read More
January 27, 2015
By Elaine Hesser
I know, I know. Meringues usually fall into one of three categories: dry and crumbly, damp and rubbery, or "meh." I wasn't prepared to be dazzled by Monterey Meringues, but that's exactly the word to describe these just-right morsels: dazzling. Chef-owners Domenick Allen and Leigh Zimmerman, along with their daughter, Cayleigh, turn out the beautiful and tasty treats in the Commercial Kitchen Incubator in Watsonville. The incubator is part of the El Pajaro Community Development Corporation, and Allen and Zimmerman can't say enough about the support they've received there.
The couple has been married for 21 years and to say running a food business is a change from their first careers is an understatement. Allen is a lifelong musician who plays 11 instruments and played with Foreigner.
He debuted in Vegas as part of ...Read More
By Elaine Hesser
I know, I know. Meringues usually fall into one of three categories: dry and crumbly, damp and rubbery, or "meh." I wasn't prepared to be dazzled by Monterey Meringues, but that's exactly the word to describe these just-right morsels: dazzling. Chef-owners Domenick Allen and Leigh Zimmerman, along with their daughter, Cayleigh, turn out the beautiful and tasty treats in the Commercial Kitchen Incubator in Watsonville. The incubator is part of the El Pajaro Community Development Corporation, and Allen and Zimmerman can't say enough about the support they've received there.
The couple has been married for 21 years and to say running a food business is a change from their first careers is an understatement. Allen is a lifelong musician who plays 11 instruments and played with Foreigner.
He debuted in Vegas as part of ...Read More
Monterey Meringues are Psychedelicious
By Lisa Crawford Watson November 24, 2014 –
Just in time for the holidays, the newest artisan food product in the Monterey Bay area will have visions of sugarplums dancing in your head, along with rock and roll tunes.
Monterey Meringues is the latest creation of internationally acclaimed entertainers Leigh Zimmerman, Domenick Allen and their 14-year-old daughter Cayleigh. With bright colors and 40 different flavors, the only thing prettier than their confections are the people who make them.
The family moved to our area earlier this year, drawn by its natural beauty, the enduring memory of the Monterey Pop festival, and because it made such a nice alliteration for “Monterey Meringues.”
They didn’t necessarily need another project, nor were they lacking in inspiration or creativity. Scottish-born Allen plays 11 instruments and toured with the … Read More
By Lisa Crawford Watson November 24, 2014 –
Just in time for the holidays, the newest artisan food product in the Monterey Bay area will have visions of sugarplums dancing in your head, along with rock and roll tunes.
Monterey Meringues is the latest creation of internationally acclaimed entertainers Leigh Zimmerman, Domenick Allen and their 14-year-old daughter Cayleigh. With bright colors and 40 different flavors, the only thing prettier than their confections are the people who make them.
The family moved to our area earlier this year, drawn by its natural beauty, the enduring memory of the Monterey Pop festival, and because it made such a nice alliteration for “Monterey Meringues.”
They didn’t necessarily need another project, nor were they lacking in inspiration or creativity. Scottish-born Allen plays 11 instruments and toured with the … Read More
October 16, 2014
Filmaker's Welcome Reception
MONTEREY MERINGUES™
made their debut at the
6th Annual Carmel International Film Festival,
which ran from October 15 – 19, 2014
as a featured product at their events.
Filmaker's Welcome Reception
MONTEREY MERINGUES™
made their debut at the
6th Annual Carmel International Film Festival,
which ran from October 15 – 19, 2014
as a featured product at their events.
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October 18, 2014
Women In Film
Sunset Center
Women In Film
Sunset Center
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With Al Jardine from The Beach Boys
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By Robin Leach
Monday, Sept. 29, 2014
ROCK MERINGUES: Happily married for more than 20 years, Las Vegas showbiz residents Leigh Zimmerman and Domenick Allen are launching Monterey Meringues. Leigh took classes at Le Cordon Bleu, Domenick took his own cooking classes, and the couple is moving to the California coastal town to open a bakery and gift shop.
They have reinvented the classic French meringue and combined it with the colors and names of classic rock to make a gluten-free, all-natural, low-calorie delicious gourmet treat with names included Purple Haze-lnut, Yellow Submeringue, Blackberry Sabbath and Beach Boys-enberry. A portion of sales will support Music Education and Music Rehabilitation for Wounded Warriors.
Domenick told me, “Our logo says Music, Meringues, Peace and Love. Music is the mission, meringues are the passion, peace and love is the message. And we believe in that power.” The Monterey Meringue products get their debut at the Sixth Annual Carmel International Film Festival from Oct. 15-19.
Mangia bene! Buon appetito! Good eating!
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
SEPTEMBER 22, 2014
Leigh and Domenick
were honored to perform in
Las Vegas at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts,
to celebrate Nevada's 150th anniversary,
along with Wayne Newton, Jerry Lewis,
Penn and Teller, Clint Holmes and Susan Anton.
Leigh and Domenick
were honored to perform in
Las Vegas at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts,
to celebrate Nevada's 150th anniversary,
along with Wayne Newton, Jerry Lewis,
Penn and Teller, Clint Holmes and Susan Anton.
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With Susan Anton
With Wayne Newton
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September 29, 2014
A SWEET FUTURE
By Norm Clarke
A SWEET FUTURE
By Norm Clarke
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Entertainers Domenick Allen and Leigh Zimmerman are back in town after a three-year stay in London.
They were participants in Nevada’s 150th birthday celebration last Monday at the Smith Center. It was a triumphant homecoming for Zimmerman, who won a 2013 Laurence Olivier Award, the British equivalent of Broadway’s Tony Award. She was honored as Best Actress in a supporting role in “A Chorus Line” at the London Palladium. They had moved here in 2006 when Zimmerman, a Broadway favorite, landed the role of Ulla, the Swedish knockout, in “The Producers,” which opened in January 2007 at Paris Las Vegas. When the show ended after a year, they bought a home in Las Vegas and embraced the entertainment community here. She shuttled back and forth to Los Angeles for work. |
They’ll be moving soon to Carmel, Calif., where they’ve cooked up a major career change.
They’re venturing into the bakery business featuring classic French cookies. They’ve named it Monterey Meringues. The sweets will be colored and named after classic rock icons. “We’ll have Beach Boys-enberry, Yellow Submeringue, Purple Haze-lnut and Black Berry Sabbath,” said Allen, who toured with Foreigner in 1991 and was Liberace’s opening act for four years. They’ve been preparing for the business move for several years. Zimmerman studied at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in London and Allen took cooking classes as well. “We created it from the ground up,” said Allen. "The plan is to maintain our careers in Show Business while we still have our own hair, teeth and muscle tone! Seriously, if we can help support music education and music rehabilitation — specifically for our Wounded Warriors — it’ll be better than applause,” he said. |
