SAUSAL TO PLANT ROOTS IN EL SEGUNDO THIS SUMMER
Chef Anne Conness and Partners Sorin Costache & Joseph Suceveanu Team Up to Offer Nuevo Rancho Dining Experience
This summer, the South Bay’s thriving dining scene will continue heating up with the opening of Sausal, a “Nuevo Rancho”-style concept from Chef/Partner Anne Conness (Tin Roof Bistro, Simmzy’s) and veteran industry duo Sorin Costache and Joseph Suceveanu (Il Forno), in El Segundo. Named after the vast farmstead that once encompassed the area, Rancho Sausal Redondo, the restaurant will showcase Conness’ prowess for elevating everyday comfort food with her deeply personal passion for the bold, earthy flavors of Mexican cuisine imagined through a Southern California sensibility.
“We’re beyond excited to join the El Segundo community and introduce our friends and neighbors to Sausal,” said Conness. “We are attempting to bring forward the rich history of the lush ranchos that once encompassed the South Bay through my favorite medium: food. I hope that our vision of marrying traditional Hispanic ingredients with the incredible farmers’ market fare at our fingertips will offer an original and unforgettable dining experience to our guests.”
Sausal will draw inspiration from the foundational elements of traditional Rancho cooking – wood fire, smoke, and slow-roasting – while paying deference to the local bounty of Southern California ingredients. The menu’s vibrant dishes will range from a selection of artfully imagined tacos atop freshly griddled tortillas to soul-satisfying, hearth-roasted meats from the restaurant’s wood-burning oven, and preparations will draw from methods both new and old. Punctuating the offerings will be seasonally-inspired desserts created in collaboration with pastry chef Natasha MacAller (Napa Valley Grille, Em Bistro) that unite classic technique with the restaurant’s signature flavor profile.
Complementing the distinctive cuisine will be a selection of scratch cocktails that bring a chef’s sensibility to the spirits program. New and surprising flavor combinations will be anchored by market-driven ingredients, house made syrups and infusions, and small batch spirits. A thoughtfully composed wine list will round out the beverage program, introducing patrons to undiscovered gems curated by Costache that will highlight varietals from California, Latin America and Spain. And those looking for a more casual evening can enjoy a selection of rare, craft beers hand-selected by Conness, also a Certified Cicerone.
The spirit of the communal feasts once enjoyed by the region’s founding rancheros will be evoked in Sausal’s convivial design, which will bring together modern and rustic design elements that, like its cuisine, are both comfortable and contemporary. A dual-sided fireplace covered in distressed white brick will provide the centerpiece to the dining room, while large, open frontage windows and skylights will provide an abundance of natural light. A wooden bartop and beams will add additional warmth, while custom accents such as hand-blown wine vessels will add vibrancy to the space. Patio seating will also be available to guests looking to enjoy the beautiful weather for which the beachside city is known.
Sasual is located at 219 Main St., El Segundo, CA 90245 and will be open for dinner daily, with lunch and brunch coming soon. For more information, visit www.sausal.com.
