The Face of Malibu is an ongoing series by portrait artist Johanna Spinks to record the many unique personalities and newsmakers who shape the modern Malibu community. Each sitter is always painted in a single live sitting. If there is someone you would like to nominate, please email associate editor Knowles Adkisson at knowles@malibutimes.com.
From Penny Lane in Liverpool, to the Hamptons of New York, to the beaches of Malibu, Richard Chesterfield has led quite a life in the restaurant business. Beginning in 1983 when a friend suggested he move to Southern California to help run The Palm, Chesterfield has owned and operated many interesting and infamous eating establishments in the Los Angeles area, the most prominent being Splash/Monroe’s at Westward Beach (now the Sunset Restaurant).
Chesterfield recalled leaving New York on a cold, miserable and wet November morning and arriving in Malibu, which he describes as “being on another planet,” and knowing this was the place he wanted to live. In recent years he has segued from the restaurant business to owning and operating Montrose Catering. The Malibu Times caught up with Richard Chesterfield on one of his typical 12-hour days.
How and why did you get into the catering business?
I had a restaurant here in Malibu for a long time. People would have dinner and enjoy what they had and if they were thinking of having a party at their home they would ask us to cater. And that was really the start. When we sold the restaurant 12 years ago we started doing full time catering.
Who are your usual types of clients?
We do more than 100 weddings a year. A lot of brides want to have their weddings in Malibu. We also have clients from the recording industry— Capitol Records, East West Records—and many well-known clients here in Malibu.
What do you like most about Malibu and working in Malibu?
Malibu and Malibuites are a special way of life. I see so much happiness in people’s faces when they’re hosting their events. I do a lot of business in Lake Sherwood, North Ranch, and Hidden Hills, Beverly Hills, the Palisades, with clients in Palm Springs and Santa Barbara, but to me, Malibu and Malibuites are very special. It’s a special place.
What are your favorite restaurants both in Beverly Hills and in Malibu?
The Belvedere at The Peninsula is my absolute favorite restaurant to dine. For a great steak I love to go to Maestros. In Malibu, I get homemade pasta at Giovannis.
There are many places to eat, but very few to dine. What is the difference between ‘eating’ and ‘dining’?
A great restaurant, from the moment you enter the door, is where you are greeted and seated by a fine host, at a table that is well appointed with fine Chinaware, to a professional wait staff that knows what he or she is doing, to good food, and to overall being served and having an owner or a host know they are happy to have you in their restaurant. In my restaurant, I didn’t care who the client was, whether he was famous or wasn’t, the second time he came to my restaurant I would remember his name, what he or she had to drink, where they sat, I would remember so much about them. People love that, to be acknowledged, respected, and appreciated for coming and spending their hard-earned dollars at a restaurant. A lot of that is missing today.
Any crazy stories from your job?
When we owned the Sunset we used to have many famous people come in, Johnny Carson, Robert Redford, etc. They were all great clients of ours. Both Johnny Carson and Robert Redford, when they came in for dinner, would love to sit at one particular table—Table 6. Many times I would say to my wife, “What would we ever do if they came in on the same night, who would we give the table to?’ So one night I got a call from Carson, and he said, “Richard, I’m coming in tonight. Could we have the table in the corner by the window?” That night he came in with Frank Sinatra. That same night, Redford made a reservation. I would not have known who to give the table to, but Carson requested moving from Table 6 to a table by the window, because he wanted Sinatra to have an ocean view. So when Redford came in he sat at his usual table.
How was it having your portrait painted by Johanna?
I don’t have a lot of time to sit and relax. I spent three hours at Johanna’s. It was such a relaxing time. I have not seen the finished piece, but I saw some of her work at the studio and it’s very amazing.
Johanna Spinks also teaches classes in portrait painting. She may be reached at johanna@johannaspinks.com or 310.384.7029