Some things shouldn't ever be brought back from extinction. Take dinosaurs: Would you really want a T-Rex going prehistoric on your backyard?
But there are a bushel's worth of perfectly good fruits that vanished years ago when they were deemed not pretty or profitable enough. Now, in the Santa Monica Mountains, one intrepid "gentleman farmer" is bringing those juicy fruits back from the brink. And you can take your pick of the crop in the Lobby Lounge at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village.
That's because Tim Philen's unique organic fruits – including the Asian Persimmon, dating back to the Ming Dynasty – inspired the Hotel’s Pastry Chef David Laufer to create a new feature dessert each week. A former ad executive, Tim now owns a seven-acre homestead where his passion for artisanal gardening flourishes through the property's 550 trees and vines.
And showcasing these extinct treasures on the menu — from Golden Mirabelle Plums to Albemarle Pippin and Esopus Spitzenburg Apples — means guests can finish their meals with a sweet treat they've never had anywhere else.
Yearning for a bite of a forgotten fruit? Visit Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village tonight to see what you’ve been missing.
