Food for Thought

Jump on the Soban bandwagon

2008-12-02T15:49:00.000-08:00

I was under the assumption Soban was strictly noodles, although was pleasantly surprised to see a fusion of Korean, Chinese and Japanese fare on the menu.

I stopped by the newish Santa Monica/ Mar Vista jaunt, Soban, and left pleasantly surprised. The fish was incredibly melt-in-your-mouth fresh, and a great price 7-days a week on the Happy Hour menu: $6 for spicy tuna, yellowtail, and a couple others... Additionally, their shrimp noodles with an orange sauce was sweet and satisfying.

However, the highlight of the meal was the rice cubes - spicy tuna atop fried rice squares topped with tri-color roe and drizzled with spicy mayo and terriyaki. This place is worth going just for this dish! Seriously.

The reviews have been mixed, but I would say, don't believe the rumors, this place is so so good.

Soban

13327 Washington Bl

Los Angeles, 90066

310.822.9900

Road Tested: Frosting Bake Shop

2008-12-02T15:24:00.000-08:00

Home for the Holidays always provides a nice chance to check out any new foodie delights that have popped up since my last trip to the Bay Area... and this time I stumbled upon a gem.

It's no secret the a good cupcake is 50% of the way to steal my heart (the other 50% belongs to a cute Jewish boy). Frosting Bake Shop in cozy downtown Mill Valley is beyond adorable from the moment you step in the door. The whimsical paint - brown polka dots and bright pink and orange stripes - brings a smile to your face upon entry. And then, there's the cupcakes...

Adorably lining the counter in individual glass display cases, the flavors range from classic Black & White to Peanut Butter Bliss and Juliana Banana. Karen, the baker and owner, also creates seasonal cupcakes, which she often samples in the store. I was able to taste Gingerbread, and although I'm not a fan, that cupcake alone inspired me to buy two to take home and share with the family: Black & White and Oreo.

Okay, I'll be honest, I had full intention of sharing the cupcakes with my parents, but upon entering my car, I happened to take a bite of the moist and rich Black & White cupcake, and neither treat made it home.

Now I just have to make sure Frosting doesn't become a Bar Mitzvah, or my boyfriend will have some stiff competition.

Frosting Bake Shop

7 E Blithedale Avenue

Mill Valley, CA 94941

415.888.8027

Jump on La Botte

2008-08-28T14:45:00.000-07:00

If you're feeling romantic, or in search of a place where romance drips off the Italian waiters that pour your Italian wine, head on down to La Botte. The food is rustic but elegant. From homemade pasta to tables made with the slats of wine barrels, this place doesn't miss a beat. The food is impeccable as well. The evening will start with a basket of fresh foccacia, which is divine, and if you're looking for something to start your meal, both the Corn Soup (may be seasonal) and the Branzino Carpaccio ($18) are to die for. I went with the Papardelle with Pistachios and Lamb ($20) for dinner, while my date dined on the Seafood Risotto - both of which were outstanding.

Save this one up for a date night.

La Botte Ristorante
620 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 576-3072
$$$$

All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go

2008-07-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

In case you're looking for some local food events happening in LA in the next couple of months, here are some to look for, courtesy of DineLA.com:

August 3
More than 50 Central Coast wineries will be pouring yummy stuff at Wally’s 5th Annual Central Coast Wine and Food Celebration benefiting the Michael Bonaccorsi Scholarship Fund. A handful of Los Angeles’ best restaurants will also be representing. Among them: Spago, Sona, Lucques and The Hungry Cat. For tickets, call 310.475.0606 or visit wallywine.com.

August 5
If tequila and red meat are the source of pleasure for your palate, you won’t want to miss tonight’s Herradura Wine Dinner at The Palm West Hollywood. Each course will be paired with an Herradura tequila for sipping. In addition, each recipe integrates tequila. Think aged filet mignon in an anejo cream sauce paired with Herradura Anejo. Sabroso. Call 310.550.8811.

August 18
Club Culinaire, the local organization founded to promote French cuisine, sponsors a series of dinners throughout the year. Tonight’s “Chef a Table” takes place at Grace, the stylish Beverly Boulevard eatery. Like all Chef a Table dinners, this one begins at 7 p.m. with a Veuve Cliquot wine reception. A five course dinner follows during which chef Neal Fraser will table hop, giving guests a chance to hobnob with one of our biggest talents. But Fraser’s not French you say? True. You need not be to be a club member. You simply must cook in the French style. $105 for members, $115 for non-members. For reservations, call 323-934-4400. For more information on the club, visit clubculinaire.org.

August 31
Join five of Los Angeles’ most celebrated chefs along with Giuseppe Tentori of Chicago’s Boka—Tentori was named one of Food & Wine’s best new chefs of 2008—at tonight’s 5x5 dinner at Water Grill downtown, the penultimate in this year’s series. Water Grill chef David LeFevre teams up with Josiah Citrin of Melisse, Gino Angelini of La Terza, Michael Cimarusti of Providence and Walter Manzke, formerly of Bastide, to prepare a six course menu that promises to blow away even the most jaded foodie. Make your reservations asap. Even with the $150 price tag ($215 with wine pairings), seats promise to go quickly. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Southern California Chapter of Special Olympics. For reservations, call Water Grill at 213.891.0900.

September 7 – 21
Angelenos can get into the spirit of California Wine Month by sniffing-and-swirling their way through over forty restaurants during wine & dineLA presented by American Express. Top LA restaurants will strut their culinary stuff with heavy-hitting wine pairing menus designed to highlight the best of our local grapes. Watch for participating restaurants and their menus at dineLA.com.

UPDATE: Gayot also has a great list of events going on this Summer. Some noteable ones are the 888 Menu at Gonpachi on August 8 & 9 which features 8 courses for $88 (for two people), as well as the Backyard BBQ Series at Vinotèque in Culver City for $28 per person, going on now through August. Get out and eat something!

A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Toro Go Down

2008-06-27T17:53:00.000-07:00

Good sushi is simple, fresh and no frills. At least, that's the opinion of Chef Nozawa, the mastermind behind sugarFISH, a new Marina Del Rey strip-mall installation. Nozawa hopes to popularize the traditional Japanese style of omakase, which roughly translates to "trusting the chef," and obviously was the inspiration behind the cleverly titled menu choices: Trust Me 1, 2 & 3.

The restaurant plans to include specialty items and more variety in the future, but nothing like your average sushi joint. You're not going to find a crunchy roll at sugarFISH, but I dare you find a place without pretention, where the fish melts in your mouth and the homemade ponzu and soy sauces deserve their own spot on the beverage menu.

Another perk: tip and tax are included, so even with the most expensive of the 3 choices, you're only spending $39 - and trust me, you'll leave full.

NOTE: if you can't eat your sushi without a beer or sake chaser, wait until July when their liquor license kicks in.

sugarFISH
4722 1/4 Admiralty Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 306-6300
$$$-$$$$

Hitting the Bars

2008-06-27T17:31:00.000-07:00

I'm not a baker. I don't claim to be a baker. I burn cookies. My breads are doughy in the middle. For those of you who may think I'm perfect, I've uncovered my (one) flaw.

I recently was invited to a cookbook release party for Dana Slatkin's, The Summertime Anytime Cookbook. Amongst the fantastic recipes that adorn this creative and thoughtful book, is a no bake dessert recipe that will leave your guests singing your praises. I made these a day ahead and just wrapped them in saran wrap on the counter (uncut) and cut with a hot knife the next day. They'll last up to a week in an airtight container.

Peanut-Butterscotch Crunch Bars
makes 16 bars

1/2 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup smooth, salted peanut butter
6 cups Special K cereal
1 cup milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips

Lightly grease a 9x12 inch baking dish.

In a large saucepan over low heat, dissolve the sugar into the corn syrup, being careful not to let the mixture boil.

Dissolve the peanut butter into the sugar mixture, turn off the flame, add the crushed cereal, and mix well.

Spread the cereal mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.

Over a double boiler or in a microwave, melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips together. Spread the topping over the cereal mixture and let it stand at room temperature until firm, about 1 hour. Cut into 2x3 inch bars.

It's a Small World After All

2008-06-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like the "bite-sized" factor when it comes to the sweet stuff. Vanilla Bakeshop, Santa Monica's resident cupcakery has mastered the art of itsy bitsy treats. Cupcakes that fit in the palm of your hand range in flavor from Passion Fruit to Peanut Butter Chocolate, but the cute confections don't stop there. Vanilla also offers a variety of miniature pudding cups and cheesecake bites. Now you can have your cake and your dinner too - and not feel so guilty about it afterwards!

Vanilla Bakeshop
512 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-6644
<$

That Lovin' Feeling

2008-01-22T20:21:00.000-08:00

A few people have asked me for Valentines Day recommendations, so below are some of my favorite romantic restaurants in Los Angeles:

Cafe La Boheme
8400 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, 90069
(323) 848-2360

Il Cielo
Italian
9018 Burton Way
Beverly Hills, 90211
(310) 276-9990

Off Vine
American
6263 Leland Way
Hollywood, 90028
(323) 962-1900

Green Door
American
1429 Ivar Ave
Los Angeles, 90028
(323) 463-0008

Falcon
American
7213 Sunset Blvd
Hollywood, 90046
(323) 850-5350

Moon of Tunis
Moroccan
7445 1/2 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, 90046
(323) 874-3333

Lily's
French
1031 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, 90291
(310) 314-0004

Or check out this article for a few restaurants offering free items specifically on Valentines Day.

Go on, lovebird!

I Heart Terroni

2008-01-21T19:53:00.001-08:00

Courtesy of DailyCandy

I'm going to keep this brief because a) I didn't have my camera, so I have no images to share and b) I can't find a menu online so I'm pulling from the gut. However, I don't have to waste any time on fancy words or verbose beggings to visit this authentic Southern Italian haunt. That is because the food at Terroni speaks for itself.

Over 30 thin crust pizzas (which you have to cut yourself, because, dammit, it tastes better that way) and every kind of homemade pasta you can think of. Pappardelle that melts like butter, and bites of pizza with salty pancetta and sweet pears - oh man, I think I need to sit down.

I my opinion, this place far beats out Pizzeria Mozza, from the Eames inspired booth seating to the Italian documentary projected on the wall. This place screams "cool" but doesn't sacrifice one bit in the taste department. And, they know it too. With a motto like: "No reservations, No substitutions, No modifications," they know they have a good thing going and 'aint no one going to tell them any different.

Go. Go now. Go hungry.

Terroni
7605 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, 90036
(323) 954-0300
$$

A Week for the Weak (in the wallet, that is)

2008-01-16T15:02:00.000-08:00

DineLA's restaurant week starts next week and takes place from Jan 27 - Feb 1 and Feb 3 - Feb 8. This is your chance to get a table at some of LA's best and most expensive restaurants for a discounted price. All offering 3 course menus that range from $15 - $34, this is your chance to have a fantastic meal without having to sell anything via the black market to pay the bill. Check out this address to find more and see all the menus:

http://www.dinela.com/data/restaurantweek/participating.php

I'll be dining at Beacon-LA and 3 on Fourth, and you'll be the first to know about them!

Good Things Come in Threes, Right?

2008-01-16T14:28:00.000-08:00

Okay, I have to be honest with you. I was so very very much looking forward to my lunch at 3 Square Cafe, as much as I would assume a young, toe-headed child wakes up hours before the sun rises on Christmas morning. For one, the cafe (which stands adjacent to the 3 Square Bakery) is on my favorite street in Los Angeles: Abbott Kinney. And second, there have been so many good things said about this little Venice cafe that it was like Tickle Me Elmo all over again.

So there I was with this fantastic sounding menu in front of me and not knowing what to pick. So I did what every hungry girl does, and ordered the one plate that offers the most options, which in this case was the Mini Sandwich Sampler, of which I chose: Tuna salad with avocado and red onions on brioche roll, Bavarian meatloaf on pretzel roll with sweet mustard, and, Chicken curry.

As you can see from the picture, the sandwiches were almost too cute to eat. As they say, you eat with your eyes first and my eyes were watering. Here's the thing. The sandwich's weren't bad, but they weren't this either. The tuna was tasty, but it wasn't anything different. And although I'm a fan of curry chicken salad, this one wasn't any better than my favorite salad at Quality. And then there was the Bavarian meatloaf... which I think... was SPAM. I don't want to insult and Bavarian people out there, but is it? I mean, I've never had SPAM, but if it looks like a duck...

Needless to say the best part of the meal was the bread that my lovely piece of SPAM was sandwiched in between. It was a homemade pretzel roll which just melted my little heart. Long story short, I think I'll give 3 Square another shot in the Brunching hour, and make sure I go next store and grab some pretzel rolls to go (sans the SPAM).

3 Square Cafe & Bakery
1121 Abbot Kinney
Venice, 90291
(310) 399-6504
$-$$

Kiichi Kiichi Koo!

2008-01-16T13:35:00.001-08:00

Photo Courtesy of sagehen_93

Sometimes your in the mood for a nice heavy meal, and sometimes, you'd rather spend the calories on beer. But why must you sacrifice flavor and quality (you can only beer batter SO many things) when you want to have a mostly liquid meal? Well, you don't.

The izakaya, or Japanese "snack bars," revolution has swept over Los Angeles like it's famous brothers before: cupcakes, frozen yogurt, "shmancy" pizza. Izakaya has spread all over the city from east to west, and is even featured in January's Los Angeles magazine. So with a desire to stay with the times coupled with my equal desire to drown my day with sake and cold beer, I headed to West Hollywood's Kiichi with one of my best dining partners, Sam (wait - didn't I call him a drunk the last time I blogged about our food adventure? I'll try to be kinder).

I'm always a little weary when I'm one of 5 people in a restaurant, which was the case with Kiichi on a Saturday night. However, I was there so I was going to give it my all - and I'm glad I did. Luckily we made it right before last call on Happy Hour, which opened the door to $2.50 beers and $3 bottles of Sake. They also were happy to have us order more than one drink to take advantage of the happy hour prices, but were kind enough to keep the beers chilled until we required a refill. I guess that's one of the benefits of a slow night at Kiichi.

One of the other benefits was fantastic service. Not only did Sam and I enjoy a 3 hour dinner/drinking fest (heavy on the latter), but everything we ordered was recommended by the staff (I left it up to the experts), and everything was fantastic. So, let's get down to it:
We started with Yellowtail & Jalapeno Sashimi ($8.50) which was on the special menu. If you like a little spice in your life, you will love this dish. The yellowtail is so fresh, it basically falls apart in your mouth. This was my favorite part of the whole meal.
Next we moved on to the Sashimi Tortilla ($6) also on the specials menu. Anytime I can combine my two loves: Mexican and Japanese, I'm one happy chica. Here, tortilla chips are topped with tuna sashimi, fresh cilantro, avocado and chili sauce. Taka me to the border!
Next, Raymond's favorite dish: Everybody Loves Spicy Tuna Roll ($7.50). A crispy rice cake is topped with spicy tuna and jalapenos in a bite sized treat (actually, it's two bites - these honkers are huge). There's really yummy and creamy, spicy and crispy. I'm starting to sound like a Taco Bell commercial but you get the deal.
I swear this next roll was created by a mom trying to get her husband to eat vegetables - Teriyaki Beef Roll ($7.50). Crispy grilled asparagus is tenderly wrapped in thin slices of beef and drizzled with teriyaki sauce. Oh man, this dish was rich and delish. I should note that their portions are huge for tapas style food, and by this time Sam and I were stuffed. I should ALSO note that somewhere in between these dishes and our second bottle of sake, I also had the Scallop Ceviche ($5) which jumped into my mouth faster than I could take a photo. Another refreshing fish dish that I couldn't get enough of.

So there you have it. Sam and I left Kiichi full of good food and good drinks and ready to take on the night. If you're in the mood for light fare, and great service, than hit up this West Hollywood spot for a meal you won't forget.

Kiichi
8351 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, 90069
(323) 654-4404
$-$

Neighborhood Sushi

2007-08-27T17:58:00.000-07:00

I'm always in search of no-frills neighborhood restaurants that aren't too pricey to necessitate a special occasion, but aren't too cheap to warrant over indulging. I think I found just the place. Ninjin Sushi in Santa Monica is a great spot with a great vibe. Although Ninjin has been opened for 3 years, it took a "break" between year 1 and 2, and has been reopened under new fervor for the past year. The management certainly knows what they're doing, offering complementary edamame, and a chef's special (which in our case were fish cakes). Maybe they were just in a good mood on that night, but I fell for them like Beyonce.

The fish was fresh and the presentation was fantastic. Most of the specialty rolls were $8-$11, and some of the highlights were the Ninjin Roll, Spicy Tuna Crunch Roll, Caterpillar Roll, Spicy Tiger Roll (my personal favorite with jalapenos inside), Volcano Roll and Rose Roll. Unfortunately, I wasn't warned that I would be eating with Cris Angel, so before I had a chance to shoot all of the rolls, they had disappeared from the plate. Here's a couple for your enjoyment:

Spicy Tiger Roll

Chef's Special Fish Cakes

Caterpillar Roll

Ninjin Sushi
607 Colorado Blvd.
Santa Monica, 90404
(310) 451-9800
$$

Moules Over, My Frites Are Here

2007-08-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

Oh, I am in French heaven! Last night, I ate dinner with a friend at Soleil Westwood, as Wednesday night is Moules Frites night. Now, "what does that entail?" one might ask. Ah, alas, dear friend, that is just what I am going to tell you.

Every Wednesday night, the folks at Soleil graciously offer ALL YOU CAN EAT Mussels and Fries for a measly $14.95. This place is absolutely adorable, and I probably would have never gone had it not been for this amazing deal! Which, by the way was to prove to my semi-recent LA transplant friend from NY that LA does have good mussels and fries. Jaimey-1, Caryn-0.
Both she and I were pleasantly surprised with the garlic and wine steamed mussels, the crusty french bread, and the abundant basket of shoestring fries! The service was also fantastic, and the mood is very French - low lighting, outdoor seating and guess what - you're allowed to take your time with your food! No rushing you out the door here! So, go, sit back, and enjoy plates and plates of yummy mussels and don't feel bad about it one bit (just make sure you give them a 24hr heads up for the reservation)!

Soleil Westwood
1386 Westwood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 441-5384
$$

Road Tested: Manhattan

2007-08-21T11:02:00.001-07:00

Okay, okay. So it's only taken me a couple months to add some of my food highlights from my trip to New York. Let me just tell you, New York in June is wonderful. I'm going to blame my tardiness on the sadness that has filled the void that reading in Bryant Park or shopping in SoHo once filled. But, the depression has ceased, and now I am ready to share with you three of my favorite eateries in NY.

Belgium Fry Heaven

It's probably safe to say that Pommes Frites was one of the most "looked-forward-to" attractions in all of beauteous NYC. Let me just say, it completely lived up to my expectations. Real Belgium fries with a plethora of dipping sauces (mostly mayonnaise based which is awesome). Some of my favorites included the sweet mango chutney, and the parmesan peppercorn dipping sauce. Fries are served in paper cones which fit perfectly into the precut holes in all the counters. This is perfect after-bar stop, and if you're lucky like I was, a little flirting will get you a round on the deep fryer.

Pommes Frites
123 2nd Ave. (between 7th & 8th St.)
NYC, 10003
(212) 674-1234
$

Spring in Your Step

Spring Street Natural Restaurant was the perfect place to center myself with good, healthy food after all the dirty dirty money I spent in my favorite part of the city: SoHo. Their ingredients are mostly organic, and their philosophy is to serve natural food at a reasonable price. I think you can tell a lot about a restaurant by the type of bread they place before you. Spring Street offers you fresh baked pumpkin bread: nuff said. I recommend the Spring Street Natural Taco Salad ($11.50) with fresh guacamole, salsa and brown rice. Or, the Southwestern Grilled Organic Chicken Salad ($12.75) with grilled corn, cranberries and tamari roasted almonds. The layers of flavor are unbeatable. Trust me, you'll leave feeling full and energized and ready to take on the city!

Spring Street Natural Restaurant
62 Spring Street (corner of Lafayette)
NYC, 10012
(212) 966-0290
$$

So Sweet

Coffee Sweet Heart is a hidden gem of NYC. With no sign on the door, you'll just have to follow your nose to this little coffee shop/bakery. What makes CSH so special, you say? Most of their baked goods are fat free and/or sugar free - and you wouldn't even know it! On a busy morning, this was the perfect place to grab a iced soy latte and a fat free and sugar free carrot muffin. So moist and delicious! A guilt free muffin makes Jaimey a happy girl.

Coffee Sweet Heart
69 8th Ave
NYC, 10014
Phone: (212) 807-1125
<$

La Paella in Your Face

2007-08-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

Spain is so hot right now - just ask The Cheetah Girls. I wish doing "movie research" was the reason I stumbled upon La Paella on Friday night, but a romantic dinner date will just have to do. How boring am I?

Dinner, however, was anything but stale. La Paella is an adorable Spanish restaurant, with twinkle lights and lace curtains. You walk in, and the smells of fresh seafood and quite conversation take you back to a time before date night at The Cheesecake Factory was considered acceptable.

We were sat in the back of this small restaurant, amongst cook book lined bookshelves and racks of aging wine. The waitress was Spanish. Am I dreaming?

We decided to just do tapas (next time, I'll hit up the Paella). Almost everything we had was delicious (save the one special we ordered that we both disliked), so I'll just shower you with pictures so you can go try for yourself!

Start off with a glass of Sangria ($5).

Fresh and light and fruity!
Enjoy the fresh baked bread and duo of garlic mayonnaise and olive tapenade.

Then move on to these assortment of tapas:

Patatas Bravas ($3.95)Lightly fried potatoes coated in a spicy tomato sauce.

Champinones con Chorizo ($5.25)
Delicious and rich - the combo of the mushrooms and the sausage was divine!

Calamares a la Plancha ($5.50)
Grilled squid lightly seasoned with olive oil, garlic and parsley drizzled with lemon juice. So fresh and not a bit on the chewy side.

Manchego con Membrillo ($4.75)

Fresh manchego cheese (my favorite) topped with slices of quince paste. Sweet and salty!

Espinacas con Pinones y Pasas ($5.95)

A heaping plate of sauteed spinach - little bits of creamy nuts and sweet raisins makes this dish really special.

Jamon Serrano ($9.75)
One of the specials of the evening, serrano ham with figs - great quality!

The other special was avocado stuffed with crab which was drowned in a thousand island type sauce and tasted too fishy for my liking. I'll give it to them since 1)it's not a menu regular and 2) 6 out of 7 ain't that shabby.

Like I said, I can't wait to go back here and try the Paella! The restaurant had charm and good food. You can just feel the fast pace life of Los Angeles slow down with each tasty bite (or was that just the Sangria...?). This is a great date spot, and a wonderful hidden gem inside this big ol' city!

One thing to note: Like all good Spaniards, La Paella will be taking a vacation after this Saturday's dinner service and will reopen on September 12. So, either go this weekend, or wait a few weeks if you can stand it. In the meantime, you can busy yourself with a little of this action.

La Paella
476 S. San Vicente Blvd.
Los Angeles, 90048
(323) 951-0745
$$

La Paella

Feel Like Royalty

2007-08-15T12:24:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of royaleonwilshire.com

Per Zagat, here's a new restaurant with fun themed nights. Although the main courses might be a little pricey for a gal on a budget, their small plates and bar menu ($7-$13) seems like the way to go. Straight from the article:

"... check out Royale, a fresh-out-of-the-box Downtowner that's already offering an assortment of special nights – "Eastside Mondays" (the music of East LA, from 9 PM–2 AM); "Built Tuesdays" (a get-together of artists, photographers and so forth, from 8 PM–1 AM), and "Soul Food Friday" (the last Friday of every month, including appetizers like crispy pork spareribs and mac 'n cheese, and live music from 9:30 PM–2 AM)."

Who said there's nothing fun to do on a weeknight?

Royale
2619 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, 90057
$$-$$$

Just A Little Bit Hollywood (In a good way!)

2007-08-15T11:04:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of magnoliarestuarant.com

In a city that teases, offering yummy dishes in super small portions, it's nice to find a place that understands why people go to a restaurant: to eat. Magnolia in Hollywood is chic and makes you feel like you're in the "in" crowd, without having to sacrifice half your plate for the sake of looking cool. Plus, the reasonably priced take on upscale comfort food won't dent your wallet and will allow you a drink at The Bowery or The Well after dinner.

To drink, I had a really really good (and generous) glass of Pinot Noir from Monterrey... the name escapes me (I believe it started with a "C"). If you like Pinot, I recommend it!

To start, the Ahi Tuna Tartar ($12) with homemade tarot root chips was fresh and light and enough for two people to share!
For the main course, the Grilled Pork Chop with Sauteed Spinach and Sweet Potato Mash ($19) was to die for! I don't usually order pork, but something was swaying me in this direction. The pork was moist and wonderful, topped with a fresh apple reduction. And I would have married the Sweet Potato Mash if it were to propose. We would have lived quite a happy life together. Shame.
And dessert, (the most important meal of the day), The Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich ($8). What can I say: homemade ice cream, chewy chocolate chip cookie, HUGE portion size. I was in heaven.
All in all, this is a great place to get your Hollywood fix and actually go home full! As I was leaving, the place was certainly picking up (they have a nice bar too), so it's got a really hip and late night vibe. Come on and eat at Magnolia - all the cool kids are doing it!

Magnolia
6266 1/2 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, 90028
$$$

Thai You Over

2007-07-24T14:24:00.001-07:00

UPDATE ALERT UPDATE: Due to massive complaints by the neighbors who find the chanting of prayers too loud, and don't like the influx of cars parking in the neighborhood on weekends , the Thai Temple is closing! I'm not sure when, so go soon before this hidden gem is gone forever!!

Being back from a glorious vacation has been rough on the ol' Jaimey. I've been bit by the travel bug and this weekend I was in desperate need of another adventure. Because lower funds and my currentplace of employment wouldn't allow me to jump on a plane to some tropical land, I was in search of bringing an exotic destination closer to home. Thus, myself and two other unsuspecting food soldiers took off for North Hollywood for a Thai food extravaganza.

After a little Yelp and Chowhound snooping, I hit the goldmine: Wat Thai Temple. This beautiful temple in North Hollywood is the only traditional Thai Temple in all of Los Angeles (and the first built in the US), complete with adorable Buddhist monks in striking orange wraps (somebody's been reading Vogue and knows that orange is very "in" this season). On Saturdays and Sundays from 8am-6pm the temple houses several traditional Thai food vendors who sell their wares for $1-$5. If you're not sold yet like I was upon learning these facts, than this blog is not the place for you.
We arrived at the Temple after a little tift with Mr. Googlemaps who usually is very honest, but found the need to lead me astray on this particular Sunday. It was lunchtime, and agent 1 and agent 2 and I were very hungry.
With $20 on hand we purchased all the tokens we could. The food vendors don't take cash, instead you purchase tokens from a small booth and pay the vendors with the tokens - it's quite the experience! We split the coins and went in different directions in search of the best of what they had to offer.
Agent 1 went straight for the Mango and Sticky Rice ($3). The mangoes were beautiful and golden yellow, very sweet and refreshing.
The sticky rice was sweet and flavored with coconut, delicious alone, but fantastic when eaten together with the mango.

Agent 2 headed down a more hearty route, purchasing a Beef & Noodles in broth ($4).
The beef was perfectly cooked, and very lean. The broth was perfectly flavored, and the noodles were light and tasty.

So far, we're doing pretty good... so why stop here?

I went straight to the Papaya Salad ($3), which I heard so much about.
The salad was incredibly refreshing and great compliment to everything else we ordered. The salad consisted of broccoli slaw, green beans, cabbage and peanuts and was dressed with a sweet and spicy vinegar dressing.

From the same stand that sold me the Papaya Salad, I ordered two Chicken Skewers ($2), one Shrimp Ball Skewer ($2) and one Pork Sausage ($1).
The chicken was outstanding, but the shrimp was too fishy (made primarily of artificial fish) and the pork had a strange, crumbly consistency and was too strongly seasoned for our liking.

Lastly, I couldn't pass up the FRIED BANANA stand, where I purchased an assortment of fried Plantain, Pumpkin and Sweet Potato, 10 pieces for $2.
All three were very tasty, although by no means low in calories. The pumpkin and sweet potato were my favorite, crispy on the outside and sweet and creamy on the inside.

Clearly, we did well for ourselves, but if you did the math, you know that I had $2 in tokens remaining, and what better way to spend the money than on dessert. I made my way over to the Kanom Krok stand where two women, one quite old and one very young, were busy creating pancakes in a cast iron pan with 18 small divots.

The pancake batter is made primarily of coconut milk, rice flour, rice and salt. After that sets for a minute, the women poured a second batter of coconut milk and sugar on top to create a creamy and sweet center. We had to wait a while to get our 18 Kanom Krok, as there were only 2 skillets going and it was quite a popular dish, but it was well worth the wait - a light but very sweet treat!

We left the Wat Thai Temple with full bellies and smiles on our faces. The food was fantastic, and very inexpensive. The location, (although quite a trek from the Mid Wilshire sect of Los Angeles), was very beautiful. The area was buzzing with people, many Thai, but a lot doing the same thing as I was, searching for a tasty food adventure. I set out on this very Sunday with one thing in mind, and as you will see from the last picture: Adventure Accomplished.

Wat Thai of Los Angeles
8225 Coldwater Canyon Ave.
North Hollywood, 91605
$

Butter Me Up

2007-07-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

In a town where my therapist is on the South Beach Diet, and my Gardner does leg-lifts in between pruning my roses, I am ever so amused by the cupcake revolution that has exploded on the L.A. scene. When Sprinkles opened in Beverly Hills, thrones bowed down in appreciation (well, maybe they were just purging, but what does that really matter). I too joined the masses in rekindling my fond appreciation of the tiny cakes, but couldn’t help but chuckle a little at the irony of the whole thing. I mean, do people know how many calories are in those little things? Whatever magical spell the cupcake vendors have put over our town, I’d like to borrow for a weekend’s shopping trip with my boyfriend (“you are getting spendy, very spendy…you want to buy expensive shoes for your girlfriend…”).

Needless to say, I am hooked on cupcakes. In search of something a little different than the every so trendy Sprinkles, I stumbled upon a little gem on Pico. Buttercake Bakery is squeezed next door to a Subway Sandwich, and if you blink on the block between Prosser and Manning streets, you’d almost miss the blue awning and the tiny flower boxes that dress the outside of the bakery. A step inside the small shop and you really appreciate this bakery for what it is: a bakery. There are no Oz curtains to pull back as the whole kitchen is exposed behind the counter. An operation of 4 people was busy baking with the voices of the Food Network cooing them through their hanging television set. The bakery case is adorably arranged with various cake tiers and pretty platters (and the baked goods didn’t look too bad themselves). But I wasn’t there for a chocolate chip cookie (which looked divine) or a lemon bar (which was calling my name). I was there for one thing and one thing only: a cupcake.

What I got was much more, for Buttercake offers their signature cupcakes in miniature sizes! That’s right, I can only get a little fat if I want to. So I did what any girl with an appetite would do and purchased 3 miniature cupcakes: Red Velvet, Chocolate with Mocha Buttercream and Vanilla with Vanilla Buttercream. I felt so skinny already, getting three cupcakes for less than the size of regular one. I think I stumbled upon the real Los Angeles oxymoron: diet(ish) cupcakes. While Buttercake doesn’t offer the plethora of flavors that our famed Sprinkles does, they do a great job with the limited items they create. The cupcakes themselves were buttery and moist. The Buttercream was divine: creamy, sweet and ooey gooey. The Cream Cheese frosting on the Red Velvet was to die for. The Mocha frosting took the cake (pun intended, as always) blowing away any cupcake Sprinkles makes. A must go for an only slightly guilty pleasure.

Buttercake Bakery
10595 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
$

Today is a BIG Day!

2007-07-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of Jupiter Images

Osteria Mozza and Craft open up their doors to the public! It's like someone gave me two puppies. Now I just have to find the $ to buy their puppy chow. Donations? Dates?

Update: You can check out Osteria Mozza's menu on Eater LA.

Have you been to Cuban?

2007-07-10T14:22:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of www.labodeguitadepico.com

La Bodeguita de Pico is a charming Cuban restaurant just a stones throw away from Roscoe's. You know, for those nights you're debating between a heart attack and a cultural experience, I would always sway you towards the latter, but it's good to know you have options.

If you do in fact decide to dine at La Bodeguita de Pico, you will be pleasantly surprised. The restaurant itself is clean and garners the look of Cuba without being overly showy. The colors are neutral with a few brightly designed accents. The chairs and tables are made of a heavy, dark wood, and the ambiance is very pleasant and inviting.

The menu is very reasonably priced and offers a lot of fresh and tasty options. If you're really hungry and on a budget, I recommend the Pollo Asado, which is all you can eat chicken for $16. They serve you out of a big pot, so you get the whole dining experience to boot. On this particular evening, I went for the Clasico Plato Cubano ($16), which is described as a classic Cuban dish with white rice and black beans, roast pork and ground beef in a Habanera sauce and yucca with Cuban sauce served with a sweet plantains. The presentation was lacking, but the pork was excellent: very tender, well seasoned and delish! The pork itself was enough of a meal, but it also comes with ground beef in a thick sauce that was very good but a little too heavy for my taste. The fried plantains were very good and a great compliment to the plate.

This restaurant is a great date spot. Not only is the food very good, but you feel like you uncovered a secret when you go inside. LBDP is relatively new and makes you feel like you are very much a part of the birth of the place. In addition, the restaurant also offers Salsa lessons for $7 on Sunday nights, so what's better than a little Cuban food and some Cuban dancing?

Get a taste of Cuba without the fear of returning to your home and being tracked by the American government for the rest of your life. Go, eat and tell me about it for goodness sake!

La Bodeguita de Pico
5047 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
323.937.2822
$$

2007-07-10T14:12:00.000-07:00

It only took me 4 times driving past the "Coming Soon" sign to check out the details on SweetCake. Although I never visited their previous location, I'm so excited to welcome this adorable bakery to my 'hood. Yelpers seem to have found the Hollywood location to be a gem, so yay for late Summer 2007 when SweetCake will again open it's doors.

SweetCake
633 North La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036

I Have Failed You

2007-07-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the lack of postings. I was on vacation in Israel and Greece and trust me, I ate my way through those countries. I will be adding some new posts soon so be patient my little friends.

- Jaimey

Mas Margarita's Por Favor

2007-05-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of Flickr Blog

I love a place that is as inconspicuous on the outside, as the amount of trouble brewing on the interior. I had not stumbled into such a place in quite sometime until I celebrated Cinco de Mayo at none other than El Carmen.

El Carmen oozes hipster chic as soon as you walk in the door. With its low lighting (some of which is glowing from water filled lamps that your kooky great-aunt might have had) and it's Mexican wrestler paintings (and masks) that adorn the wall, you know this place is going to foster a fun evening.

Besides the quirky decor, this place is known for it's menu of over 400 tequilas, as well as an impressive list of specialty margaritas. I set my sights on the Watermelon Margarita, which at $8 was about 3 shots and tasted like I bit into a fresh watermelon - yum!! You certainly get your money's worth on booze (the beer is also reasonable at $5).

Although I intended to sample more of their food menu (the menu is small, but has enough to satisfy any lover of Mexican food), the 3 drinks before we got a table lended to less eating and more inappropriate storytelling. I was very impressed with the freshly fried corn chips, as well as the salsa and fresh guacamole (which disappeared in a matter of minutes). As a table we shared the nachos which I thought were very yummy and had a lot of flavor. My perpetually-mad-at-life Mexican friend made sure to poo poo the nachos for their inclusion of black beans, not refried. I happened to like this touch, making me feel less guilty for eating fried food and drinking excessive amounts. To each his own.

This is a great place to get the night started. I wouldn't go there just for the food, but the food/drinks combo is certainly worth every penny you spend and I swear you'll leave cooler than when you entered.

When in need of social lubrication, hit up this Mexican hot spot and you won't be disappointed!

El Carmen
8138 West Third St.
Los Angeles, 90048
(323) 852-1552
$-$$

Mayo Yayo!

2007-05-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with Mexican food! The Los Angeles staple, El Cholo, is known and loved by many. BUT, what you may not know is that they are adding a new menu item starting this month through October. Their famous Green Tamales, which are usually only available online, have been available as of May 1 in their restuarants!

Dust off your sombrero and take advantage of this special treat! Aye Aye Aye!

El Cholo
1121 S. Western Ave.
Los Angeles, 90006
$$

Let's Get Festive!

2007-04-24T15:11:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of www.beach-cities-la.com

Summer is around the corner, warm weather creepeth in, and with it comes sun dresses, bbqs and any reason to be outside. Thus, I've compiled a list of Food Festivals taking place this Summer in Los Angeles, allowing you to eat and get a tan at the same time. Walls be gone, welcome the summer of the tents!

MAY

17th Annual Pasadena Summer Fest – A Taste of Summer
100 Rose Bowl Drive in Pasadena
May 27, 28 and 29 from 11am – 9pm

Connoisseurs of finger lickin' festival food treats always enjoy the Memorial Day weekend's A Taste of Summer where a dozen restaurants, cafes and eateries serve up scrumptious treats at modest prices.
COST: Free admission, food not included.

JUNE

Picnic des Chefs
Old Lodge, Elysian Park, Pasadena
June 3 at 11:30am
For more information, call Kora at 949-295-0506

Le Tour de France Culinaire hosts its 27th annual “Picnic des Chefs” in the Old Lodge area in Elysian Park. The party begins at 11:30 a.m. with aperitifs and lunch, followed by a raffle at 3:30 p.m. The expansive menu will include culinary contributions from numerous local chefs, whether French born or French trained. Expect pâtés from chef Akira Hirose of Maison Akira, artichoke salad from Jean-Pierre Bosc of Mimosa, grilled tuna from Andre Angles of Frenchy’s Bistro and a variety of cheeses and pastries for dessert. To drink, there will be French and American wines, Champagne and French beer. Activities will include silent and live auctions, a French DJ, pétanque, soccer and moon bouncers for children (gayot.com).
COST: $50 for adults, $20 for children between 10 and 21, free for children under 10.

19th Annual Taste of the Nation
Media Park, Culver City
June 24 from 1pm – 5pm

The 19th Annual Taste of The Nation brings together an impressive collection of chefs and restaurants in Los Angeles for an afternoon of delicious food, fantastic wine, fun activities and live music at Culver City’s Media Park from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to mingle with celebrity chefs including Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger (Ciudad, Border Grill), Ben Ford (Ford’s Filling Station), Suzanne Goin (A.O.C., Lucques), Neal Fraser (Grace, BLD) and more, while enjoying tastes from over 40 wineries or noshing on the countless food offerings. All proceeds benefit Share Our Strength, the leading organization committed to ending childhood hunger in this country. (gayot.com)
COST: General admission is $95 with advance purchase, $105 at door; tickets for children 15 or under are $25, and kids under 6 get in for free. VIP tickets cost $150. For additional information and advance ticket sales, visit taste.strength.org.

JULY

10th Annual Extravaganza for the Senses
20th Century Fox
Saturday, July 21, 2007

The Annual Extravaganza for the Senses is one of the largest wine and food events in Los Angeles, and has a great cause to boot, as the event raises money for The Los Angeles Free Clinic.
COST: For more event information contact the Clinic's Special Events office at (323) 330-1670 or events@lafreeclinic.org.

AUGUST

12th Annual 2007 LA Tofu Festival
August 18-19, 12pm - 8 pm
Little Tokyo, Los Angeles

The festival will feature over 100 imaginative and delicious tofu dishes served by L.A.’s hottest restaurants as well as artisanal soy products and a wide array of Pan-Asian and non-vegetarian specialties.
COST: General admission is $8 and dishes range from $1-$4 per serving.

SEPTEMBER

Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival
San Pedro
Sept 14, 15, and 16

The World's largest lobster festival, the Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival features discount Maine lobster meals. After feasting on our world famous lobster meals, guests in the past have enjoyed dancing, street performers, a pirate camp, tall ships and music from artists like Jason Mraz, Tristan Prettyman, The Young Dubliners, and General Public.
COST: The Market Price determines the reduced cost for the lobster. Check the website for details.

Taste of Santa Monica
Santa Monica
September 16, 2007

Sample one delicious treat after another from 40 of Los Angeles finest restaurants. Enjoy live music and chef demonstrations all afternoon. Bask in the warm summer sunshine and cool ocean breezes on Santa Monica pier. Treat your senses to something special.
COST: Adults - $40, Children under 4 - $10

A Taste of Downtown Burbank
San Fernando Blvd., Burbank
September 27, 2007

Taste the international cuisine of Downtown Burbank’s restaurants, sample beers & wines from Gordon Biersch Brewery and Market City Cafe and enjoy live music. This event is also charitable, raising over $37,000 last year for the Burbank Community YMCA.
COST: Yet to be announced.

Feast of San Gennaro 2007
September 28 – 30, 10am – 11pm
1651 Highland Ave. Hollywood
(behind "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Studio on Hawthorn
one block south of Hollywood & Highland)

Just like the 76-year old New York City tradition, the 2006 Feast of San Gennaro will celebrate Italian culture, entertainment and food and will feature live music, carnival games, street performers and strolling musicians in addition to wine from local wineries and food from Los Angeles' best Italian restaurants. Guests will be invited to learn recipes at the cooking stage, play bocce ball with some of Hollywood's most prominent Italian-American celebrities and much more!
COST: $5 donation, not including food.

(Not Such a) Good Night, Moon

2007-04-20T10:28:00.000-07:00

I went to Luna Park last night for a friend's birthday and it was just okay. Nothing special, nothing inedible. I was a little disappointed, hearing mostly good things about the place.

We started with a goat cheese fondue which ran about $9 and was hardly 4 oz of melted cheese with toasted french bread and half an apple to dip. The presentation was "interesting", stacking the bread like bricks around the elevated fondue ramekin. But it was melted cheese, for 9 dollars. And some of the bread was burnt. Not a great start.

I ordered the Roasted Sea Bass for my main course, which was appropriately priced at about 17 dollars. That's one thing I'll give this place - the main courses were very reasonably priced (the Lamb, for instance, was also $17). The Sea Bass was simply roasted, not a lot of flavor but okay. It was served on a bed of broccoli rabe, which I LOVE. But they overcooked it! The stalks were mushy so a boo to that!

Overall, I'm not taking my rocket to Luna again, I'd rather watch this movie and eat cereal in bed.

P.S. It's gray and rainy outside so I'm in a bit of a "mood."

Luna Park
672 S. La Brea
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 934-2110
$$

If You Teach a Man to Cook Fish...

2007-04-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of gna.org

...he's still going to want you to do it.

I made fish tacos the other night and they're easy enough for any man or woman who may or may not know how to cook to make them. It's pretty much "stupid" easy, but the simple recipe reveals scrumptious fish without all the fat (I opted to not bread my fish, thus upping the ease on the recipe). Okay, here it goes.

FISH TACOS (feeds 2-3)
1lb Halibut (make sure it's boneless or pull the bones out by hand - yuck!)
1/2 can of light beer
1/4 c chopped cilantro
1 Tbs Taco Seasoning

Put the fish in a shallow pan, cover with beer, cilantro and taco seasoning. Let it sit about 10 minutes.

Throw the fish in a pan on medium/high heat. Cook it about 10 minutes or until it's fully cooked and no longer translucent (it won't really break apart until it's cooked). Break the fish apart into chunks.

Serve it on warmed corn tortillas with all your favorite trimmings. Yum! Easy as pie (or fish tacos).

Note: You can use the extra taco seasoning in the water of white rice to make mexirice and in black beans (you can also add the other half of the beer to the beans if it's not gone yet).

Here, Kiddy, Kiddy

2007-04-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought advertisers couldn't get any sneakier, they did. Have you seen KFC's new ad yet? Well, let me refresh your memory.

The imbedded buzzing during the shot of the chicken bucket is at a high enough frequency that only some ears (i.e. young ears) can hear it. KFC ran a simultaneous promotion on their website, giving the first 1,000 people who heard the pitch a chance to win $10 to the fried chicken chain.

I could hear the buzz so I guess I'm in the age range that is supposed to be lured to KFC. I must tell you, I've only gotten sick on food once and it was from eating too much KFC. So maybe I'm biased on the subject, but I think this is a little 1984-esq and freaks the balls of me (hypothetical balls). Next thing we know, all KFC's will be projecting the "buzz" on loud speakers as droves of children drop their yo-yo's and/or jax and head straight for the nearest locale.

Please, stop the brainwashing and just come up with better commercials.

Something to 'Scream About!

2007-04-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

Today, April 17 is FREE CONE DAY at any Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop. From 12pm-8pm you can get a free ice cream cone, so go get 'em while they're hot (read: cold). Why not another something to celebrate (besides turning in your taxes).

Be A Dal, Why Don't Ya

2007-04-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of The Oxford Student

Just recently taking over a space near USC, Manas Indian Cuisine has brought college dining to another level. Don't be fooled by the modest decor, this place packs a punch when it comes to flavor. Plus, with a Bollywood movie playing on the large flat screen in the back of the restaurant, you not only get a great meal but an education in how to dance, sing, and avoid an arranged marriage all without wrinkling your sari.

Although many Americans worship the Whopper more than the big guy upstairs, Hindus have a deeper devotion for the cow. So I was quite amused by one of the first items on the menu: Premium Chilly Cheese Burger ($4.50). Nothing like poking fun at yourselves, as this creative concoction only implies beef (the patties are made of cottage cheese and chickpeas). The presentation was fantastic, taking a page out of Grillmaster Magazine. Right from the start I was very impressed.

I then moved on to the Lamb Vindaloo ($9.95) and the Chicken Tikka Masala ($8.95). Both were truly wonderful. The meat was tender and tasted as if a lot of care had been put into the preparation. The sauces were rich without tasting heavy. The flavors were complex but stayed true to how Indian food should taste.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Lamb Vindaloo

This place wasn't a total home run, but the faults I had with the restaurant are not enough to keep me away. One downside was that the water was bad - even with lemon (so order a soda). I also was persuaded to order a Mango drink that was the house specialty, but was far from special and a little too sweet for my taste. And, I ordered Aloo Paratha ($3.50), which was a potato stuffed flat bread, but was lacking any flavor. However, it was good to soak up the lovely sauces.

This restaurant is incredibly reasonable for the quality of food. Unless you are from USC, you might not be inclined to make it down to this part of Los Angeles, but let Manas be the reason for your venture. Plus, if you're feeling like making an evening out of it, try to coordinate your dinner with a Vidushak show, the only all-Indian improv troupe at USC and quite a sweet treat after a delicious meal.

Manas Indian Cuisine
2823 S. Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, 90007
(323) 731-4333
$

Whoa Daddy!

2007-04-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Shisso.org

I finally made it to Beard Papa's last night and thus began a spiral into gluttony. After an "okay" dinner at Restaurant 2117 (uninspiring, I might elaborate at a later date), I needed something sweet. Planning to grab some fro yo at Big Chill, I was luckily drawn to the strip mall across the street from the restaurant. And there it stood: Beard Papa. I knew there was one in Hollywood, but to stumble upon one on Sawtelle - what a surprise! This place has received quite a lot of buzz since it first opened in Osaka, Japan in 1999, and recently it's been spreading all over the world, and thank g-d for that!

So I walked into the store and was faced with a decision: vanilla, chocolate or carmel. I chose vanilla, my friend chose carmel, and we decided we'd share. After requesting such from the uniformed ladies behind the counter, our order was recited back to us in unison:

"1 vanilla, 1 carmel!"

"1 vanilla, 1 carmel, thank you!"

Oh joy! What an entrance for these little puffs (which disappeared in about 30 seconds. A tragically short but dramatic life). The dough is light, fluffy and flaky. The cream (a mixture of custard and whipped cream) is soft, creamy and incredibly flavorful - and there's plenty of it. One bite and the custard is spilling out of the puff, and I was loving every minute of it! I was surprised that it didn't feel heavy. One generally associates cream puffs with weighing you down, heavy custard put me in bed please! It wasn't that way at all. The vanilla was sweet and simple. Not too much vanilla flavor, just enough. The carmel was really divine. Much richer, but certainly the better of the two.

Okay, finished. Now what? Well we had to order a chocolate just to see what we were missing! This was definitely the weakest of the three, but still very tasty. A rich, almost ganache tasting chocolate. Yum!

Listen to the hype, people! This place is divine!

Beard Papa Sweet's Cafe

2130 Sawtelle Blvd.

Los Angels, 90025

(310) 479-6665

Yum to the Third Power

2007-04-11T13:38:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of BeverlyHillsPeople.com

As of yesterday, it had been a week since I'd eaten a carb. I needed bread bad. Really bad. So I did what any resourceful Jew would do and organized an end of Passover get together so that I could eat large amounts of pasta and pizza with other people, blaming the "company" for my insatiable hunger.

CUBE seemed like the perfect locale and the menu was ripe with carbs ready for the picking. Unfortunately, I was so focused on eating a piece of bread that I forgot my camera, so please let your imagination run free. Note that CUBE is very close to, but has yet to secure a liquor/wine license. For the time being it is BYOB, and they do not charge corkage.

OUR MENU:
Crostini ($6.95)
Tomato, Olive and White Bean - very yummy, a good start

Roasted Garlic Pesto w/ Gorgonzola & Walnuts ($11.95)
Delicious! The pizza was a thin crust, very moist and fresh dough. The cheese was really top notch; great flavor.

Wild Mushroom Ravioli w/ Sun Dried Tomato Sauce ($12.95)
This came at the waiter's recommendation and was very good. The sauce was a cream base, but not heavy at all.

Mozzarella, Prosciutto & Arugula ($12.95)
I think they made the mozzarella in the back - so creamy it melted in my mouth! The Proscuitto was also fantastic. A very simple but tasty dish.

Four Cheese Mac & Cheese ($6.95)
Lots of flavor, I just wish it was crispy on top. It's a side dish, but certainly enough for one person.

Russian Kale $4.95
Not on the regular menu but they had it in house. Lightly crisped, salty, yum!

Tartufo $4.95
I like mine with a hard chocolate shell, but this was pretty yummy. Rich cocoa coating, coffee and liquor gelato center.

The meal started with complimentary flat bread (like pizza dough) which was great. We were also given two small plates with an assortment of 3 cheeses (about an ounce each), dried cranberries (or currants?) and cashews. The presentation was very nice as the plates were slate so the cheese names were written on the plate itself with chalk. We had a Tilamook, A Cows Milk Cheese and one other that I can't remember. I'll blame it on the wine.

The ambiance and service was really top notch. Our waiter understood that we were in no rush and let us be for about an hour until we ordered our main course. At one point, my friend Sam walked down the street to buy another bottle of wine because we wanted to keep the party going. In fact, we were the last table to leave that night, after the chefs, after the lights went off, after all the other tables were set for the next day. I honestly felt like I was in Europe and was sipping wine and eating great Italian food on my own clock, not feeling rushed by any of the waitstaff. I recommend CUBE to anyone who loves good food. It's by no means pretenious, despite its list of over 80 cheeses (I plan to go back to sample some of these when they get their wine license).

This is a restaurant that appreciates good food, and taking the time to enjoy it.

CUBE
615 N. La Brea
Los Angeles, 90036
(323) 939-1148
$$

Next Stop: Flavor Town

2007-04-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

I don't generally associate Travelodge hotel chains with high culinary arts. I also don't know how many Travelodge's house a restaurant like Metro Cafe.

Metro Cafe is not about glitz and glamour. The decor is simple with a few pieces of artwork on the walls and some tea lights on the table. But I don't generally go to a restaurant to look for dining room inspiration, I go to eat great food. And Metro has GREAT food.

I started my meal with a salad of Burata over Roasted Red Peppers ($9). This salad was so fresh, I swear they made the cheese in the back. The burata was creamy and the dressing was light. It was very tasty.

I then moved on to the Thyme Chicken with Tomato Viniagrette ($14). The chicken was served with snow peas and mashed potatoes. The chicken itself was truly a delite. It was coated in thyme and then roasted to a crispy coat. The meat was tender and juicy and perfectly cooked. The viniagrette was really a wonderful treat. I could taste a South American influence on the sauce, very refreshing and sweet with the perfect amount of vinegar to compliment the chicken. The sides were good as well, although I like my mashed potatoes a little chunky, I won't hold it against them.

My date ordered the Montenegro Lamb Roast ($17) which had a lot of South American and Mediterranean influence. The lamb was perfectly roasted with a little bit of seasoning (not enough to hide the flavor of the lamb). Drizzled over the top of the meat was a mint pesto which was fantastic and fresh. The lamb was served with baked white beans which almost had a little Meditteranean flavor.

Metro was a great meal, and nicely sandwiched in between West L.A. and Culver City, it's a fun place to get a great meal. Plus, if you have too many glasses of Pinot, you can always spend the night at the TL.

Metro Cafe
11188 Washington Place
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 559-6821
$$

A Rose By Any Other Name...

2007-04-11T13:33:00.000-07:00

...would not be Rose Market. If you're in the Westwood area, and are craving a sweet, check out this Persian Market. Besides homemade baklava and any flavored pistachio you can thank of, Rose Market is best known for it's Persian ice cream. The rose ice cream is fantastic, pungent but not perfumey (as I find rose ice cream to often be) and really sweet. The saffron ice cream is also a treat. If you're in for something really different, they also have a cucumber ice cream which is incredibly refreshing. It's a little pricey, at $3.49 a scoop (I got about a half scoop for $2, but I couldn't have eaten more than that). I love ice cream and definitely was not let down by this dessert stop.

Rose Market
1922 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, 90025
(310) 470-2121
<$

We All Get Negative Sometimes

2007-04-09T17:27:00.000-07:00

It has recently been brought to my attention that I don't write any negative reviews. I guess when I started this blog, I wanted it to be a source of all that's good to eat in L.A. But like everything, with the good, comes the bad. So, thus begins an the ribbon-cutting for open-minded and often sour tasting reviews.

Let's begin with Shamshiri Grill. As it's still Passover, (one more day, one more day, don't go in the kitchen and tempt self with cupcakes...) I was looking for a place with lots of meat and salad options. I read about Shamshiri on Chowhound, and as it was very well reviewed, I thought I'd give it a shot. Plus, Shamshiri was open on Easter, and who doesn't love to chase Shwarma with a few peeps?

Let's start with the service. The restaurant was practically empty and yet my date and I were seated at a table directly behind the maitre d's stand (if I can even call it that). Basically, we were sat in the first possible seat in the restaurant. I don't know about you, but I like to have a little privacy with my meal. It was a little odd, but not a big deal in the small picture. So, let me widen the screen.

I had read about the so-called fabulous Shirazi Salad, a Persian staple of cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley and lemon juice - it sounded perfect (plus the benefit of no flour). I ended up ordering the Chicken Schwarma Plate (which was cheaper than ordering the Shirazi with chicken on top). The Plate came with rice, so I substituted that for extra vegetables or tomatoes (both which came with the plate) and chose shirazi salad as my add on (other choices were green salad or soup). So far, so good.

About fifteen minutes later, our waiter comes over to inform us that there's no salad. Here's the conversation (almost) verbatim:

WAITER: (matter-of-factly) There's no salad.
JAIMEY: (thinking he's kidding) No salad now, or no salad at all?
W: Maybe we'll have salad in 30 minutes.
J: (thinking he's referring to the shirazi salad) Can I get a green salad instead?
W: There is no salad.

Okay, let me get this straight? There's no lettuce, no tomatoes, no cucumber, nothing?! Keep in mind, this place is far from filled to capacity and there's a fricken Bristol Farms across the street!

Fine. We decided to substitute our missing salads for lentil soup, asking first what the ingredients were: lentils, broth... fine, we'll take it. Bring me my soup.

Enter lentil soup: with noodles - which we immediately said we couldn't have, and further confused our American born Korean waiter (I feel it's important to point out that this was by no means a "traditional" Persian restaurant as our waiter was far from Persian, and more bland than the hummus he brought to our table).

Enough about the salad debacle. Our Schwarma was okay. I guess they forgot to not include rice, because there were bits of rice mixed into my chicken, as if they plated up with rice and then had to scrape the rice off before bringing it out to us. I, however, was not fooled. The chicken was fine, but a little greasy. The waiter made sure to come by when we were almost done with our meal to let us know that they had salad. Fantastic! Alert the press! This guy was a genius.

We passed on dessert, of course, but my friend asked for a cup of coffee, to which Korean Ken Barbie replied:

"Our coffee machine is broken."

And to which I thought, "of course it is."

Shamshiri Grill
1712 Westwood Blvd.
Westwood, 90024
(310) 474-1470
$

You Can Always Go Downtown...

2007-04-08T15:28:00.000-07:00

...although I never seem to make it there. However, this weekend was an exception. I had the pleasure at dining at one of the more favorable downtown haunts, Pete's Cafe. The restaurant really feels like a classic downtown restaurant, with low lighting, a busy bar area and dark wood tables and booths - and the menu is to match.

We started our meal with none other than the Pancetta Wrapped Scallops on a bed of Buttery Leeks and topped with an Orange Apricot Compote ($12). This dish was a perfect medley of savory and sweet. The pancetta was crisp and the scallops were seared just right. So far, so good.

I then moved on to the main course, sharing two dishes. The first was a Flat Iron Steak with Bleu Cheese Fries ($17), grilled to a nice medium rare with a tasty port wine demi. The bleu cheese fries, which really sold the dish were a little disappointing. The cheese was just okay and the fries came out soggy. I still managed to eat them all, but they were not as good as I had anticipated.

The second main course was the Beef Short Ribs ($20), normally served with Sauteed Gnocchi but do to religious restrictions, I opted for asparagus and sauteed spinach. Again, the sides were a little disappointing and a little too salty. However, the Beef Short Ribs were some of the best I've ever had. The meat was falling off the bone, so tender and tasty. The sauce was rich and deep, but didn't overpower the flavor of the meat.

As Petula Clark once said, "maybe you know some little places to go," and now I do. Pete's is very reasonably priced, and while not a total home run, I was very satisfied with my meal.

Pete's Cafe
400 S. Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
$$

Nook Who's Talking

2007-04-06T15:33:00.000-07:00

It's been a little slow at work this week, I'm not going to lie. Actually, if we're being completely honest, it's been slow for a few weeks (hence the recent influx of posts). So, on this particularly slow Friday, being that it was particularly "Good," and thus so were my otherwise agnostic co-workers, I decided to go out to an actual restaurant for lunch.

I'd heard about Nook Neighborhood Bistro for a while, but just recently decided to make the trip. I have to tell you, although I had the address and cross streets, I did drive by the locale once before finding it. Nook is located in a stripmall on Santa Monica Blvd., just west of Barrington (between Barry and Federal). Although the large mall sign does include Nook amongst it's other tenants, once inside the mall, there is no Nook sign in sight, only a blue sign with a white arrow on it! Hidden in between a pizza joint and a bakery, with no sign!, I knew this place was going to be neato.

It was pretty busy for a lunch hour, but we were seated right away at the communal table in the middle of the small restaurant. Yes, communal table! Let me just tell you that besides eating food at restaurants, my second (and close first) favorite thing to do is eavesdrop on other people's conversations. Between the man on my right telling his female coworker about the potential of missing a meeting due to his appointment at the fertility clinic (he and his wife want a son and want to increase the odds. I just hope he washed his hands before lunch.) and the group on my left, a young couple meeting the parents for the first time and arguing about where to put the couch in their new apartment, it was quite an enjoyable lunch. Not to mention, the food was pretty good as well.

I ordered a cup of Lentil Soup to start ($3), which was topped with a Lemon and Mint Feta - absolutely delish! I hate it when lentil soups are goopy, but this was the perfect consistency, not too creamy, the lentils were firm, but tender, and the broth was really rich and tasty.

I should also mention that I'm trying to keep kosher for Passover, so I was limited to what I could order on the menu. I REALLY wanted the 3 cheese Mac & Cheese which was browned and crispy on top just as it should be. I ended up with a Nicoise Salad ($12), which was just okay. The fresh Ahi Tuna was really fantastic, but the dressing was nothing special and the salad was kind of bland. I'm not going to hold this against them, as it was probably the most boring item on the menu. My lunch date, Stephanie, chose the Grilled Albacore Sandwich ($9) which was dressed with a apple fig chutney (to die for) and pickled red onions. She said the focaccia was really fresh and delicious too, of course, I just drooled looking at it. Steph ordered a side of Caesar Salad, which the menu describes as "famous," and for goodness sake, get this salad a star on Hollywood Blvd. The dressing, which truly revolves around the unique addition of a whole grain mustard, is so fantastic and different than any caesar I've ever had. The salad is sprinkled with fried capers and is just a delite.

Nicoise Salad

Grilled Albacore Sandwich

I really want to go back here for dinner as it's romantic, secluded and has a great menu. Plus, "nook" is just plain fun to say.

Nook Neighborhood Bistro-
11628 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 207-5160
$

Breakfast In Full Bloom

2007-04-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

I love it when I find cute cafes with outdoor seating within a few miles of my little house. I somehow missed the bus on Bloom Cafe, which opened in November of 2006, but was able to see and taste what I had been missing just last week.

Bloom opens at 9am on weekdays, but was kind enough to let my girlfriends and I sit down at 8:45 and enjoy a cappuccino and some tea prior to ordering. Bloom is an adorable cafe, with modern designs and love for color. The breakfast menu is fantastic, offering eggs and griddle items, all fresh and some quite unique. I opted to make my own omelet for $9.50, with spinach, tomato and mushroom.

My friends chose the Poached Eggs with Goat Cheese on a Crostini, and the Smoked Salmon Omelet. All of the breakfasts came with toasted whole grain and nut bread and a choice of fruit or potatoes.

Poached Eggs

Smoked Salmon Omelet

We all went for the fruit, which came in a generously sized bowl, swimming in a fruit juice soup - which was a refreshing end to the meals.

Directly next to the cafe is Bloom 2 Go, which offers take out or a quick bite if you're in a hurry. I will definitely go back to Bloom as I had such a lovely experience. A couple things that I MUST try on the next round will be the Lemon and Ricotta Pancakes, or for dinner, one of their fabulous sounding pizzas (like the Blue Cheese and Butternut Squash).

Spring has sprung, so go get your bloom on!

Bloom Cafe
5544 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 934-6900
$-$$

This Burger Won't Break Up with You on a Post-It

2007-03-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

So I still haven't really gotten over my meal last night. Let's backtrack a few days. I was driving home from the gym and all I could think about was having a CHEESEBURGER. It took everything inside of me not to pull into the In-N-Out drive thru, but I haven't been able to shake the craving yet.

Last night, I had a date with a couple funny friends of mine, and I chose the place. So, I was in search of the perfect burger, and folks, I think I found it.

25 Degrees is located in the Roosevelt Hotel and is far from the typical burger joint. This joint has dark leather booths, funky chandeliers and velvet textured wallpaper (read: the place has style). I'd read up on the restaurant a little before committing to the meal. 25 Degrees, which opened in February 2006, is the creation of husband and wife, Tim and Liza Goodell. The restaurant joins the Domaine Restaurants family, which has bread other great spots like Red Pearl Kitchen and Dakota.

The menu is simple (with a twist). They offer 3 pre-packaged burgers, and then a "make your own burger" option, with a choice of meat, cheese, toppings and sauce. There are 12 cheeses to choose from, ranging from farm house cheddar (described as: cow / lightly sharp / firm / england) to red hawk (cow / triple cream / lightly salty / long pungent finish / california). So you pretty much know this place is going to rock your world. I could have made a meal on the cheeses alone (p.s. they do offer a 3 cheese plate for $9, or 5 cheeses for $15).

But let's get back to business. Since it was my first time at 25 degrees, I decided to go with one of their signature burgers rather than build my own (I was excited and may have blown the whole experience by pairing the wrong sauce with a hard cheese and needless to say, ruined my evening). I went for Burger #2 with roasted tomatoes, crispy prosciutto, burrata cheese and pestoooooooooooooooooooooo. SORRY, I just had a flashback and my hand seemed to freeze to the keyboard. This burger was (okay here it goes) THE BEST BURGER I'VE EVER HAD. There! I said it, it's out there, so deal with it.

The first bite was heavenly: juice dripping down my arms, roasted tomato all over my face, a tantalizing burger experience. My two dates seemed to immensely enjoy their burgers as well. One also chose a signature burger, opting for #1 with caramelized onion, big woods blue, crescenza, bacon, arugula and thousand island dressing. My other friend went for a build-your-own in the vegetarian vein: veggie burger, crescenza, and thousand island dressing. He was very impressed by the quality of the veggie burger: no hockey pucks in sight. You may also want to compliment your meal with a box of fries for $6, (one order was enough for the three of us to share).

Well, my craving was met and my hunger, satisfied. On to the next obsession, to be determined at a later date.

25 Degrees
7000 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 785-7244
$$

What's New Pussy Cat?

2007-03-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

For those who like to have something to look forward to, here are some new restaurants coming to Los Angeles in the near future. From me to you, keeping us all in the know!

SPRING/SUMMER

Gonpachi - On April 1st Beverly Hills will welcome a new neighbor with a taste for traditional Japanese cuisine, the latest from Global Dining Inc. who brought us La Boheme and Monsoon.(134 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills)

X Bar - Yet another place to see and be seen, although this one carries a nice menu to boot. The latest and greatest bar with tasty bites to match, including Shrimp in Chinese Pancakes, and fire pits to make the deal of your life around (2025 Ave. of the Stars, Century City).

Craft - You've heard my raving (2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles).

FALL

Bar Pinxto - From the Chef and Owner of Joe's on Abbott Kinney comes this upscale tapas bar (s109 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica).

Tuk Tuk and Away!

2007-03-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

My first time at Tuk Tuk was quite a while ago, but as I drove by it this morning I was reminded of how much I enjoyed the food there, so I thought I'd share the love. First of all, the ambiance is wonderful. The bright orange sign makes the restaurant stand out amongst its kosher food neighbors, which is what originally caught my attention. It was either going to be Factor's or Tuk Tuk, and feeling a little more in the mood for pad Thai than lox & bagels, I opted for the latter. You also have the option of outdoor seating, which is pretty great as it's starting to warm up down here in sunny so cal.

The restaurant itself is very small, with less than 15 tables inside. I've never been there when it was overcrowded, but there's always a good amount of people dining there so you may want to make a reservation if it's a special occassion (I've never had a problem just walking in). It's a great date spot, very romantic with candles on the table to the low lighting. It's also very reasonably priced, so take a friend, take a first date, or just grab some food for yourself. Tuk Tuk is one of my favorite Thai places in all of L.A., so be sure to put it on your list of "must eats."

Tuk Tuk
8875 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
(310) 860-1872

This One's Just Rice

2007-03-26T15:35:00.000-07:00

When a co-worker and I were desperately craving Sushi in Santa Monica, we really didn't have anything coming to mind that was close by. Plus we didn't want to break the bank. So, I did like any adventurous woman would do, and googled "sushi" near "my office" and came across Hakata (check out the site for a coupon).

This place immediately intrigued me as the outside of the restaurant exclaims "ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI" and "SPORTS BAR." I thought, this could either be really fun, or I would be recalling my lunch over the toilet for the rest of the afternoon. Luckily, it turned out to be the former.

The lunch special is out of this world. For $12 you get 18 pieces of sushi and miso soup. The sushi really good quality, especially for the price. This is probably one of the best California Rolls I've ever had, as they use fresh crab meat and it's definitely well-crafted.

Although we didn't partake in the all-you-can-eat, I did inquire more. For $28.95 you can have regular sushi, and for $49 you get your pick from a premium sushi list, which has a few more options. The catch is, you only have an hour to make your choices. I don't think they kick you out after 60 minutes, but I think there's an added cost attached if you order more past that time. I certainly will come back and check that feature out the next time I'm feeling like a challenge and/or I'm wining and dining Kobayashi.

Hakata
2830 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310)828-8404
$

While It Isn't Chanos...

2007-03-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have some serious separation anxiety from my college fast-food obsession, Chanos. When I moved west from USC, I decided to try out Lucy's, which happens to be just down the block from me. They have in no way filled the void that Chano's has left in my heart, but it has introduced some new plates and unexpected surprises. While the burgers are good, the tacos are amazing when you're drunk, the dish that takes the cake is Lucy's Ceviche Platter. Okay, I know it seems completely absurd to order Ceviche from a drive-thru, but it came on the recommendation of my foodie friend, so I had to try it. The dish is great, and for $6.95 you can't go wrong. Next time you're craving fast food and would rather not have anything fried, give Lucy's a try and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Lucy's
1373 S. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 938-4337
$

Seeing Red

2007-03-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

In what used to be the home of Meson G, now stands a pair of gold doors (and a pretty tasty restaurant behind it). Red Pearl Kitchen is Pan Asian Family Style food, lots of small plates, and a great place to go with a group. They advertise their food as Dim Sum, but please don't go there expecting the traditional fare.

I had the pleasure of dining with my friend Sam, and as we caught up on all the people from high school we have blocked out of memory, we also enjoyed some delicious and funky dishes.

Of course, we had to start out with a cocktail. I had the Waterloo, RPK's take on a watermelon martini - and it was FANTASTIC. Not too sweet, very fresh and topped off with watermelon balls on a skewer. This drink was very refreshing through the entire first course and didn't battle the dishes we tried. Sam started with the Red Pearl, a pomegranate infused cocktail with an orchid flower floating on top. The drinks were beautiful, fresh and tasty and really set the tone for the meal.

Sam and I then decided to share two appetizers: The Miso-Glazed Salmon Skewers ($10) and the Duck-Banana Lettuce Wraps ($10). The presentation of the skewers was truly beautiful, utilizing the negative space on the plate, and dusting the dish with chopped pistachios. The salmon was perfectly cooked, flaky and moist. This was a simple dish, but perfectly executed.

The Duck-Banana Lettuce Wraps were really a treat! The duck was pulled and marinated in a rich and well-bodied sauce. The banana element of the dish was a banana puree that you topped your duck with and folded into a Boston Lettuce cup. This is a must have dish, very flavorful and easily shared by two or three people. The salmon came as 3 skewers, but the duck came with at least 4 lettuce cups, and there was plenty of meat left over after the cups were gone.

This in itself almost filled us up, but we decided to be team players, and go for one more dish. Plus we had just started recalling old flings, and I need some more time to rag on Sam for his dangerous choices of women in the past. Enter: Spicy Chicken Drunk Man Rice Noodle ($11). The Noodles came on the recommendation of the waitress as we requested something a little more spicy than the previous two dishes, and I reassured Sam that he should not take offense to the dishes title as it had NOTHING to do with him and his consumption of 4 beers and one cocktail. Heck, we were celebrating! The noodles were a wide, rice noodle and the sauce was rich and flavorful. Unlike the other two dishes, this wasn't the most beautiful to look at, but the flavor was there. Overall, another great dish. We're 3 for 3.

I decided to close out my meal with my favorite part of the day: dessert. I was going back and forth between the Kaffir Lime Pot de Crème, Banana Fritters ($8) and the “Vietnamese Coffee Sundae” Chocolate, Candied Almonds ($8). I ended up going with the Coffee sundae, which was a 'B' at the end of an 'A' meal. The vanilla ice cream was just okay. The candied nuts and condensed milk, which topped the ice cream, were the best part of the dish (besides the presentation). After the waitress set the plate in front of me, she took the small cup of coffee that sat next to the ice cream and poured it over the dish right in front of me. Cool, yes, but the flavor just didn't stand up. I ate it all, of course, but like I said, it was just okay. I'll probably try the fritters next time. And when I say probably, I mean I've already planned a day around them. They better not let me down or I might not give my heart to a dessert again... OH, the lies I tell myself to keep me going.

A couple other things to note about this restaurant. While I was a party of 2, there were lots of groups at the restaurant, celebrating one thing or another (or just traveling in packs as young Hollywood tends to do). I would consider this place on your next group outing as it's reasonably priced, well-located, and has a great bar. Try making it over to RPK Sunday-Thursday and enjoy Shanghai Happy Hour from 9pm to close with a reduced price cocktail, wine, beer, and bar menu from $4 to $9. You can check out their other special events on their website. There are also lounges in the back where you can play pool, watch some Chinese cartoons and chill out on comfy chairs.

Red Pearl Kitchen
6703 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 525-1415
$$

Which Craft

2007-03-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

I cannot wait for Craft to come to Los Angeles this Summer! For those of who who may not be familiar, Craft is the creation of Tom Colicchio, of Top Chef fame. The Craft style is family-dining with panache, with several main dishes to choose from and an assortment of sides to share amongst the table. Let me tell you this - you'll never look at polenta the same again. I had the pleasure of dining at CraftSteak in Las Vegas, the Steakhouse version of Craft, and it was a meal to remember. I will keep you updated on any more details I come across!

UPDATE: Craft will FINALLY be open for dinner on Monday, July 16th, and for lunch starting July 30th.

Craft
2000 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
$$$-$$$$
slated to open in July 2007

Things are Getting Greasy

2007-03-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

So my friend Ben mentioned to me yesterday that Tara Reid's new take on diner food in the form of a new and hip L.A. eatery called Ketchup has just opened up (yesterday, in fact). I was no doubt intrigued... and then I kinda forgot about it. But THANK GOD I remembered to read about it this morning because I found the most HILARIOUS article written about it a while ago on iVillage. The article itself is not so funny, but the comments on the article have made my day. I love to see other women fight. I also like to read transcripts from other women's fights. I think I can leave work and go home now. My day can't get much better.

I guess I should talk a little about the restaurant itself. The menu looks interesting, and the concept is pretty cool. An adult remake of childhood favorites, like Mac N Cheese with Dungeness Crab and Kobe Beef Sliders. You can read more about the restaurant on EaterLA. I'll check this place out in the near future and let you know my thoughts. If you get there first, let me know what you think. And don't be a bitch about it.

Ketchup
8590 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
$$-$$$

Hanging with Mr. Scooper

2007-03-20T14:09:00.000-07:00

If I could eat ice cream (gelato) every day, I would. Actually, ice cream is probably the reason I've had to join Weight Watchers recently. Well, actually I think I just said that so I could have a creative way to let you know I'm on Weight Watchers. There! I said it! Now can we stop talking about it, thank you.

But enough about me, back to the cream of the crop. I recently wrote about Milk, the newest and "hippest" gelato on the block. I lied. Okay, Milk is great and everything, but they have nothing on Scoops.

Scoops is run by a lovely man named Tai who hand crafts the most beautiful and unique gelato I've ever seen or tasted. Scoops has become quite a hot topic on Los Angeles food blogs, bringing Tai a lot of business and even causing him to ask Yelp to put him on the second page to try to slow down the flow of people flocking to his small gelato shop. Tai is a one man show, creating new flavors every day for a fraction of what he should charge. $2 a scoop?! Dorthy, I feel like I'm in Kansas.

I was feeling adventurous and practically tried every flavor Tai was selling. The Maple Sugar, M&M & Marshmallow was great, but a little too sweet for my taste. The Kumquat and Basil was incredibly refreshing, but I was feeling something a little richer. I ended up with a scoop of Vegan Coffee & Hazelnut (yes, Vegan - he's got plenty of Vegan options for those of you that I will never quite understand). Because Vegan was a little out of my food vocabulary, I decided to pair that scoop with a scoop of Carmel & Bacon gelato. OMG OMG OMG I've died and gone to heaven. Okay, I think I committed another Jewish sin. Bacon? And Milk? On a spoon together?

Dear Rabbi, I have sinned.

WAIT - we don't do that shit. Praise G-D!

But seriously, this gelato was out of this world. Amazing. Incredible. Blah Blah Blah, had to change my pants, yada yada yada. Scoops is a testament to Los Angeles foodies, a cornerstone of gormondos around the world, and a lovely little gelato shop all rolled into one. Go. Be amazed.

Scoops
712 N. Heliotrope Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90029
$

P.S. If you're looking for something to do in the area, the Fake Gallery is right around the corner on Melrose and has some great, alternative comedy. Check out their show Word Play, which freatures comedians telling personal stories with the accompaniment of a DJ. The next show is on March 31st.

Brown Baggin' It

2007-03-19T16:19:00.000-07:00

Here are two great fine foods stores/delis that will leave you begging to trade your bagged lunch for anything on their menus.

LARCHMONT VILLAGE WINE, SPIRIT & CHEESE
Larchmont Village Wine Spirit & Cheese is by far one of the best sandwich shops/ gourmet markets in Los Angeles. There's one way in and one way out of this small shop and the menu's even smaller. However, any of the 5 sandwiches that the deli crafts are heaven in your mouth. Your choice of Ciabatta or French Baguette, each sandwich overflows with meat, cheese, baby greens, one of their homemade aiolis and oil and vinegar. Don't worry, there's a veggie sandwich with roasted peppers and avocado that isn't too shabby either. If you eat meat, go for the Turkey Sandwich on your first round - you can't go wrong.

While you're in line (which might be long, by the way), take a look at the walls stocked with specialty cheeses, condiments and crackers. They have about 10 different flavors of mustard! It's the little things...

LVWS&C
223 North Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 856-8699
$

BAY CITIES
With a little more room to walk around, Bay Cities provides plenty of "pacing space" while you try to decide what to order. Between their sandwich menu and their hot and cold deli items, you better come hungry, and you better come back so you can try everything.

The Hot Pastrami Sandwich is a sandwich to write home about. Make sure you get "the works," which includes mayo, mustard, onions, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, Italian dressing & mild or hot peppers. You also MUST TRY the meatballs - melt in your mouth meat, and a sauce that tastes like it's been simmering for hours. The flavor is unmatched. The Chicken and Eggplant Parmesans are also delish and worth a bite. If you make friends with the hot deli man (not "hot" as in good looking, unless you're into 40 something Italians) he'll be sure to give you a sample of whatever's best that day. One thing to note: Bay Cities is most popular during the 12:30-2pm workday lunch hour. Hit them up earlier or later, or email/fax your order an hour and fifteen ahead and you should be good to go.

Bay Cities is also a large specialty market with Italian pastas, sauces, cookies and canned goods. So, if you do have to wait for your lunch, you won't be bored. You might just end up spending more than you originally planned!

Bon Apetit!

Bay Cities
1517 Lincoln Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 395-8279
$

Yuca Take Me Here Again

2007-03-19T15:18:00.001-07:00

For those of you who know me and/or have read this blog before know that I love a hidden gem or diamond in the ruff, or a great place to eat that is relatively undiscovered. While this restaurant doesn't completely fit the bill being that it's been in business for 5 years, it did just open a new restaurant this year that's a little more "formal dining" than its flagship restaurant.

Enter: Chichen Itza. Now, for those of you who live West of La Brea, please don't fear when I tell you that this place is located in South East Los Angeles. While you might not want to take a stroll in the hood after dinner, the restaurant itself is incredibly clean (I mean you can practically smell the new paint!) and the food is worth the trip East.

Your meal will begin with no ordinary basket of chips. Chichen Itza serves its freshly-made tortilla chips topped with black beans and salsa fresca. What a creative and lovely start to the meal, and certainly sets the tone for the rest of the dinner.

As a first timer to this restaurant, I ordered the Antojito Sampler, a selection of 4 different Appetizers. The first thing I tried was the Salbut, a soft corn tortilla topped with lettuce, shredded turkey, pickled red onions, tomato and slice of avocado. Upon first bite, I was immediately surprised by how light this dish was. The turkey was definitely well seasoned, but didn't have a heavy feeling. The flavors were strong, but not overwhelming. The same went for the similarly concocted Panucho, differing from the Salbut by a black bean puree and a crispy tortilla rather than a soft one. Just as yummy! The other items on the plate were two Codzitos (chicken taquitos) which were okay, not amazing, and the most interesting and flavorful Kibi I've ever had. Okay, I've never had Kibi before, but it was still delicious. Kibi are ground beef and cracked wheat patties seasoned with mint and other spices and lightly fried. The flavor is unlike anything I've ever had. Truly fantastic.

For the main course, I tried two different dishes, both equally superb. The first dish was the Chochinita Pibil, which consisted of moist and tender shredded pork, marinated in an achiote and sour orange juice. The pork is cooked in banana leaves, giving it that fall-apart-in-your-mouth effect that I am oh, so fond of. The dish is served with black beans, rice, and corn tortillas in an authentic tortilla warmer, lined with a handstitched cloth napkin. Yes, I'm Jewish. Yes, I just ate pork. But it was really, really good! Isn't there something in the Commandments about "thou shalt make all gone" and "if the pork is good, eat it"? I sware I read that somewhere...

The other dish I tested was the Papadzul, which sounded so different I just had to try it out (and I'm glad I did). Corn tortillas are dipped in ground roasted pumpkin seed sauce, and filled with hard boiled egg, topped with pumpkin seeds and light tomato sauce. Again, this dish was incredibly light although the look of the sauce is deceiving. The eggs are cooked perfectly, and the infusion of pumpkin is mouthwatering.

The food aside, the service and presentation was on-point. With our check, we received a hand written thank you note from our server (on stationary), that let us know that on our next visit, we would receive a free appetizer. Couldn't have asked for a better introduction to Yucatan cuisine.

Chichen Itza
2501 West 6th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90057
(213) 380-0051
$

You Say Tomato

2007-03-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

Here's a nummy tomato soup recipe that's quick and easy. Why soup? Because 65 degrees in Los Angeles is cold. Brrrrrrr.

Creamy Tomato Soup
8 servings (1 c per serving)

2 tsp olive oil
2 medium cloves of garlic (minced)
2 leeks (thinly sliced white to light green part)
1 1/2 tsp fresh thyme
56 oz canned diced tomatoes
12 oz fat free evaporated milk (or whole milk if you're feeling dicey)
1/4 c fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil, garlic and leeks in a soup pot for about 2 minutes or until softened. Add the thyme and heat for another 2 minutes.

Add the tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Partially cover the pot and simmer for 5 minutes longer.

Take the tomato mixter and puree in batches. Add the pureed mixture back to the pot and add the evaporated milk. Add the salt and pepper to taste. Add basil right before serving.

Yum!

Road Tested: San Diego

2007-03-18T21:01:00.000-07:00

Although this blog is first and foremost about Los Angeles dining, I ocassionally hit the road and would like to share some not-to-miss spots in areas outside of the city. This week, San Diego, and more specifically, the adorable town of Hillcrest. Here are two breakfast spots and a sushi restaurant that you must try if you're in the area.

CREST CAFE
A popular local haunt, Crest Cafe is a great eggs place - and you have plenty of options. I'm a fan of Mexican, so if I can get my "A.M. Ole" (as the menu section is so cleverly called), then I am a happy girl. Carolenas Corn Tortilla consists of 4 lightly fried corn tortillas filled with scrambled eggs, fresh salsa, jalapeno jack cheese, and avocado with a side of chopped mangos (which I sprinkled on top of the individual tortillas). This dish was a great mix of sweet and savory and didn't weigh me down. The salsa was fresh and chunky, as it should be (no Pace in sight) and the cheese was perfectly melted and gooey good!

You also can't go wrong with Cafe Eggs, which are scrambled with cheddar cheese, scallions, and bacon, served on a croissant. You have to be ready to make a mess with this flakey sandwich. Crest lets you choose between house potatoes or fresh (and they mean it!) fruit as a side.

Another great b-fast sandwich is the Morning Scrambled, taking the Cafe Eggs up a notch. Scrambled eggs are mixed with avocado, mushrooms, jack and cheddar (because two cheeses are always better than one), bacon, scallions and tomatoes. Now you're in the driver seat with the bread, choosing from wheat to a croissant and almost all that's in between.

Crest Cafe
425 Robinson Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 295-2510
$

THE MISSION*
You can smell the baker racks filled with freshly baked rosemary bread as soon as walk in the door. Prepare for at least a 20 minute wait, and they definitely won't seat you if your whole party isn't present. But trust me, the wait is well worth it. Unlike Crest, The Mission specializes in items fresh off the griddle. The Mission French Toast is as light and fluffy as French Toast can get. Not overpowered with an eggy taste, the cinnamon bread really shines in this dish. Every plate at Mission is a work of art, almost too pretty to eat. The restaurants signature berry puree dances against the white plate - and it tastes pretty darn good too.

The Cornmeal Blueberry Pancakes are moist and good to last bite. Served with two eggs and bacon, you better come hungry.

If you're feeling a little feisty, try the Plato Verde con Huevos. I'm not going to lie, these just barely missed the mark, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. The one thing that brought this dish down were the slightly dried out sweet corn tamales. The tamales are served with black beans and two eggs over medium with a tangy roasted tomatillo sauces coating the eggs. Even with the slightly overcooked tamales, I managed to make this dish disappear pretty fast.

Other notable treats: $3 Cinnamon Roll or $2.50 Pecan Banana Bread

The Mission
2801 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 220-8992
$

*technically located in North Park, about a 5 minute drive from Hillcrest

SUSHI DELI ONE
You know the saying, "you get what you pay for" - well, at Sushi Deli, you get a lot more. The most reasonably priced and great-tasting sushi I've had in a long time. Whether you're in the mood for a $2.95 California Roll, or one of their specialty rolls (most between the $5 and $9 mark and all unique), you really can't go wrong. Their creative menu includes tempura sweet potato rolls and Mexican inspired, cilantro infused, sushi. Delicious and worth every penny and then some. Get your Japanese fix without breaking the budget.

Sushi Deli One

228 West Washington

San Diego, CA 92103

(619) 231-9597

Tea with Dinosaurs

2007-03-16T16:10:00.000-07:00

I don't really know how to start this post. I'm still in a bit of an altered state since my journey to the Museum of Jurassic Technology. Let me start by saying that I've driven by this museum about 50 times and every time I say the exact same thing: "What is that place?" If you checked out the museum's web page, you won't be any closer to finding an answer to my question. Let me tell you this, after an hour of perusing the exhibits I think I'm more confused as to what is going on there.

I felt seriously creeped out in this museum, asking my self over and over the same question I asked when I drove by, hoping that an answer would appear out of no where (and I wouldn't have been surprised if it mysteriously floated in front of my face). The lighting goes from dim to dark and the exhibits are eclectic to say the least. I really can't describe the place, you have to go and check it out for yourself. I'm sure there's a deeper, sarcastic undertone as one artcle I read about the MJT named Steve Martin as one of the Museum's patrons. I didn't get "it", but maybe you will.

The reason I'm able to blog about this place is because of Tula's Tea Room. If you're able to guide yourself through the entire first floor without jetting for fear that some cult member is going to kidnap you and make you eat poisoned Peeps or something just as out of the ordinary, then you're in for a treat. The Museum itself is free to the public, and the complimentary tea and cookies upstairs are as well. The tea room is walled with windows which are lightly draped. Padded benches line the walls and a fountain sits in the middle. There is only one kind of tea, but you'll have several glasses trying to figure out what the hell you just saw downstairs. This is one of those hidden finds where you wonder if you're part of one big inside joke. Again, I can't really explain this place well enough. Bring your ghostwriter pen and godspeed.

Museum of Jurassic Technology
9341 Venice Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 836-6131
free

Does a Body Good

2007-03-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

With a new outcropping of Pinkberries flocking to Los Angeles, it's nothing like a gelateria to remind you what chilled dairy is really supposed to taste like. MILK is the newest and hippest gelato shop to hit Beverly Boulevard, offering those east of Westwood an alternative to Diddy Reese. However, it's not really fair to compare the two as MILK is truly in a league of its own. Offering classics such as Vanilla and Chocolate Chip to some unique flavors like Coffee Toffe Crunch, Hazelnut and Banana Dulce de Leche, the cream is mm mm good. So let me get to the good part. When a cone or cup just won't do, for $2.50 try a scoop sandwiched in between two homemade macaroons, and a for a $4, you can have your choice of gelato in between two chocolate chip cookies.

And we're just getting started.

MILK also has an assortment of creative concoctions such as "milkies" or bon bons and ice cream bars. The baked goods aren't too shabby either. From Banana Walnut bread to blue velvet cake, sweet tooths beware. MILK also has a panini and salad menu with daily made soups. Fridays and Saturdays you have until 11pm to get your fix. Here's your chance to follow your mom's advice and have some MILK.

MILK
7290 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 939-6455
$-$$

Something Old and Something New

2007-03-11T17:08:00.000-07:00

When you're craving Italian food, here are a couple fantastic options. One is old, one is new, both are worth a return visit.

Dominick's Restaurant used to be favorite of Frank Sinatra, and now enjoys frequent visits from Jack Bauer himself, Kiefer Sutherland. But it really isn't about the eye candy (although it doesn't hurt). The menu features classic Italian American fare such as fried rice balls and Veal Parmesan. Must haves include the Spaghetti and Meatballs, Grilled Artichoke, Hanger Steak and Gelato Trio (I lucked out with Coffee, Mint Chip and Brown Sugar - it changes every night).

But the thing that makes Dominick's unique and user-friendly is their Sunday Supper. For $15, enjoy a 3 Course Menu and for an extra $10 share a bottle of their very own white or red wine. The portions are plenty big and the atmosphere is quite romantic. On a nice night, request the patio, complete with fire place and terracotta galore. You'll swear you died and went to Italy.

Dominick's Restaurant
8715 Beverly Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 652-6335
$$-$$$

There's nothing like gourmet pizza to make you feel a little less guilty for eating bread and cheese. Thanks to chefs and co-owners Mario Batali (the red-head from the Food Network) and Nancy Silverton, formerly of Campanile, pizza has never tasted so good. Pizzeria Mozza, located on Melrose and Highland, and serving hot pies until midnight, is so good you could almost convince yourself to go twice in one week. Heck, with over 15 pizzas to choose from, you wouldn't even have to be a repeat offender.

But let's start at the beginning, shall we? The restaurant takes reservations, but if you're feeling risky, just drop in as it's first-come-first-serve at the counter. I prefer this view as you get an upfront seat at the brick oven, viewing the pizzas in all stages of creation (not to mention giving you a chance to window shop before you buy). Prior to the main course, I recommend partaking in one of the starters. Nancy's Chopped Salad is wonderful, and any of the bruschettas will leave you ready for more. If you're overwhelmed with the pizza options, you can't go wrong with either the Funghi misti, fontina, taleggio & thyme or the Prosciutto di Parma, rucola & mozzarella. I beg you, save room for dessert. And if you don't have room, make it. One of the best desserts I've ever had was at Mozza. Of course, I can't remember the name of the dish, but it included two scoops of caramel gelato, marshmallow fluff (for lack of a better term) and caramelized salted peanuts.

A moment of silence, please.

Thank g-d for Italians. Stay tuned for Osteria Mozza, coming soon, complete with its very own mozzarella bar.

Pizzeria Mozza
641 North Highland Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 2970-0101
$$-$$$

Grilled Cheese, Please!

2006-07-20T21:15:00.000-07:00

Although it’s in the job description, not many people listen to their bosses. They smile, and say, “yes,” “exactly,” and “great idea,” but are really imagining a large, cartoon-esq piano dropping on their superior’s head. I, luckily, like my boss. One of the greatest things he ever taught me (besides covering my a**) was about Grilled Cheese Thursdays at Campanile.

On La Brea, just north of Wilshire, and directly next to The La Brea Bakery, sits Campanile. It’s quite a fancy place, and even the lunch time specials can get a little pricey. However, on Thursday nights, the chef provides a Grilled Cheese menu which is reasonable and delish. Don’t go in expecting a bowl of Cambell’s and a couple triangles of the orange stuff. This is gourmet fromage.

The best thing to do is to share (the more you can try, the better). I started out with the antipasta plate: a few slices of proscuitto, salami and a couple other thinly sliced meats. The plate also was sprinkled with sliced figs and an assortment of Italian olives. Delish and only $9!

For dinner, I shared the Sliders (mini burgers) with carmelized onions, grafton cheddar, pancetta, tomato and avocado ($16). I’ve never tasted a bigger flavor in a burger that was smaller than my hand. I also had the open faced Lamb Sandwich, (of course, now I’m forgetting the cheese…. I believe it was a goat cheese). The lamb was so tender, and the sandwich had such robust and complex flavors – it was fantastic ($17). They also have a Beer Battered Soft Shell Crab Sandwich with Coleslaw and Spicy Mayonnaise ($18), which is just as good (if not better) than it sounds.

The sandwiches are all accompanied by a mixed green salad, and complimentary French Fries for the table. I could have just eaten the fries and been happy, but what a meal, what a meal!

Try something different next Thursday and make the trip to Campanile. Don’t forget to make a reservation because the tables fill fast. I mean, who doesn’t like cheese, right?

Campanile
624 S. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, 90036
($$$)

6+2 Reasons to Love Fred 62

2006-07-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

In case you were a loss for words regarding this fantastically funky Los Feliz diner, I will provide you with 6+2 (that’s eight, folks) reasons to ask for seconds (please):

1. Breakfast all the time. All. The. Time.

2. It’s open from sunrise to sunset, sunrise, sunset. Meet Tevye for a late night nosh.

3. Mocha milkshakes – that’s right: coffee and chocolate in one glass.

4. The real deal Udon noodle bowls – overflowing with goodness.

5. 50/50. Sometimes you feel like fries, sometimes you feel like onion rings. At Fred 62, you can have both.

6. Baked goods. Need I say more?

7. Outdoor seating.

8. Something for everyone – whether it be the Juicy Lucy Burger (amazing) the SWS salad (or any other - haven’t had a bad one yet) or the Cali Calamari (amazing), you can satisfy all appetites. If you haven’t been here yet, GO!

Fred 62
1850 N. Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles
($$)

Fish on a Stick!

2006-07-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

For some reason, if food is on a stick, it somehow tastes better. I don’t know if it actually IS better, but it makes the act of eating more like a sport, and in turn, more fun. That’s just my opinion.

Granted, while most food on a stick is tasty, it's also unhealthy. I plan to offer an alternative for your next shin-dig. This is easy, healthy and refreshing – AND, it doesn’t require a deep fryer!

Ahi Tuna Skewers

1 small Ahi Tuna steak (tell the butcher that you need Sashimi grade tuna)
3 Avacados
2 Ruby Red Grapefruits
1/2 cup Tamarin Soy Sauce
1 teaspoon Wasabi (or more depending on your liking)

Freeze the Ahi for about an hour and a half before prepping.
Cut the tuna into 1 inch cubes.
Cut the avocado into 1 inch cubes (this doesn't have to be perfect, just about the same size as the tuna)
Peel the grapefruit and sliver it.

Now place the tuna, avocado and grapefruit on the end of the skewer and display on a platter. In the center, put a bowl with the soy sauce and wasabi mixture.

Voila!

A Cantaloupe Martini, You Say?

2006-06-12T17:48:00.000-07:00

From the funky chandeliers and an eclectic collection of martini glasses, to the live music and fantastically unique drinks- how can you go wrong? Nic's is simply to die for!

Okay, I have to be honest - I have yet to sample their menu, but from what I could see, and what I've heard, it's wonderful. I plan on going back for dinner or small plates soon, so when I do, I will be sure to add a few more cents into this piece.

But what I can stand behind, is the quality of Nic's martinis.

I tried both the Cantaloupe Martini which was by far the best martini I've ever had, as well as the night's special: Pistachio Martini. The Pistachio Martini was good, not great, but it might satisfy someone looking for an alternative to their regular whistle wetter.

And did I mention the VODBOX? If you're in the mood for an adventure, check out their freezer room where you are lent a fur hat and coat to wear (don't worry, it's fake), and are able to sample rare vodka accompanied by assorted caviar. This might not be your everyday adventure, but if you're in the mood to feel as Stalin must have once felt in all his glory (minus the rough exterior and ghastly 'stash), try it out!

Things I've discovered in my research which make this place even greater:

1. If you throw a private party for 8 or more during happy hour, it's only $10 a person for 5 appetizers. Can you say, "cha-ching?"

2. On weekdays from 5pm to 7pm, the cocktail food menu is discounted, with most items in the $7 to $9 range. Can you say, "room for dessert?"

3. Donate a unique martini glass and receive one complimentary cocktail and a martini-making class for you and three friends. Can you say, "let's get wasted?"

Although the martinis can run a little high ($12 made with 42 Below), with the happy hour menu and the rockin' atmosphere, you really get what you pay for. Cheers!

Nic's Restaurant and Martini Lounge
453 North Canon Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
$$-$$$

Tea Time

2006-05-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

Something inside me wanted me to start this post with, "This ain't your grandma's tea parlor," but that wouldn't really be telling the truth. The fact is, walking into Lady Effie's Tea Parlor is like walking into your grandma's house. The walls are adorned with pictures of family members and friends, small trinkets and a few newspaper articles - and that's just the first floor.

I should probably take a step back for a second. In order to make a reservation at Lady Effie's you need to go to their website and email them. They will in turn email you their rules (yes, rules) and other useful information which you must SEND BACK to them before your tea date. Now this might seem extreme, but trust me, it's well worth it.

Okay, once you arrive you will see a sign with your name on it. When I enjoyed tea at Effie's, my sign led me upstairs. The upstairs is like a trip to the 1930's. The walls are also adorned with old photos of family members. The hallway walls are photos of men, and each individual room is dedicated to a woman in Effie's family. The rooms are classic: vintage furniture, perfume bottles, vintage clothes in the closet. It's to die for.

So, you will find your room with your name on the outside, and it will be set for however many people in your party. You will then be greated by your server who will give you a list of teas to choose from... I don't want to spoil the whole thing, but you have to trust me that this place is so much fun. I couldn't stop smiling. Enough tea sandwiches to satisfy you and and your date(s) will be served as well. All the cost is figured out ahead of time so you know what you're paying before you arrive.

I would reccommend Effie's for a date, Valentines Day, Book Clubs, Birthday Party or really, any day you want to have a cup of tea. I can't say enough about this place.($$)

Lady Effie's Tea Parlor
453 East Adams Blvd.
Los Angeles
(213) 749-2204

The Cutest Little Bakery

2006-05-11T18:11:00.000-07:00

Bluebird Bakery is a diamond in the ruff. It's alone on busy National Blvd. with no stores of equal cuteness in sight. However, everything you need is there. In fact, if on your visit to Bluebird a freak blizzard happens to hit Los Angeles, and you were trapped inside the restaurant, you'd be set.

As my boyfriend would call it, Bluebird Bakery is a "JP," or for those unfamiliar with the term, a "Jaimey Place." It's absolutely adorable. The first thing that catches your eye is the counter lined with cake pedistals filled with assorted cupcakes. The cupcakes are beautiful and just as tasty as they look. This place is no muss no fuss (I'm not sure if that's the right saying, but you don't get a chance every day to write "muss"). The cupcake flavors are: chocolate, vanilla, carrot and red velvet with cream cheese frosting. They are fresh, moist, delicous.
They make great pressed sandwiches as well, as if cupcakes aren't enough, but we all know they are. Great coffee and salads as well.

Bluebird Bakery
8572 National Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 841-0939
$

Soup a doop

2006-05-09T22:32:00.000-07:00

This one came from my step-mom. If it has her stamp of approval, then it's a-okay in my book. Although it's probably better in the winter, if you're craving soup, give this one a try.

Tuscan Bread and Tomato Soup
2 dinner-sized serving

2-3 thick slices county bread or crusty sour-dough
3 TBS extra virgin olive oil
1 med. Red onion, coarsely chopped
Salt and pepper
4 large garlic cloves
1/3 cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves
1 20 oz. can whole tomatoes, drained and chopped
Pinch of red pepper flakes
2.5 Cups chicken stock
Parmesan shavings

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Place bread slices in oven for 15 – 20 min. When done rub with 1 clove garlic, halved.

Heat 3 tbs. Olive oil in pot, add red onion, salt and pepper and cook, stirring until onion begins to color (about 10 minutes). Coarsely chop together (in processor) 3 cloves garlic and basil. Reduce heat to med-low, stir in basil/garlic mixture and cook until garlic barely colors (2-3 minutes). Add chopped tomatoes and pinch of red pepper flakes. Cook about 5 minutes until thick and fragrant. Stir in chicken stock. Boil for 2 minutes (can simmer longer). Taste and adjust seasonings.

Break up bread in bottom of bowl. Ladle soup in bowls and top with fresh basil torn basil leaves, drizzle extra virgin olive oil and parmesan cheese shavings.

If I Could Marry a Plate of Nachos...

2006-05-09T20:36:00.000-07:00

I would marry the chicken nachos from Chanos. I was first introduced to Chanos my freshman year at USC. It's one of those places that gets a bad rap because, 1) It's often frequented by drunk frat boys and 2) it's the size of my bedroom. However, despite the obstacles, I have chosen to give my heart to Senor Chano.

While I enjoy the Enchilada combo plate, the taquitos and the chicken burrito, I have yet to meet a man who makes my mouth water like a hot plate of chicken nachos (don't worry Jake, it's all for literary fluffing). If you have yet to find reason to venture into the ghetto, this is the time and Chano's is the place ($).

Cabbage and Sprout Salad with Sesame Wasabi Dressing

2006-05-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

I haven't made this yet, but it sounds fantastic. Try it with any fish, especially ahi or salmon.

CABBAGE AND SPROUT SALAD WITH SESAME WASABI DRESSING

4 CUPS SHREDDED NAPA CABBAGE
(ABOUT 1 SML HEAD)
2 CUPS SNOW PEA SPROUTS OR
SUNFLOWER SPROUTS
2 RED RADISHES HALVED ANF THINLY SLICED
(ABOUT 1/4 CUP)
2 MEDIUM ORANGES
1/4 CUP SESAME SEEDS

SESAME WASABI DRESSING

1/4 CUP RICE WINE VINEGAR
2 TBS. MIRIN ( SWEET RICE WINE)
1 TBS JAPANESE SOY
1 TBS. DARK SESAME OIL
1 TSP WASABI POWDER ( OR TO TASTE)
1/4 TSP. SALT

1. COMBINE CABBAGE, SPROUTS AND RADISHES IN A BOWL. REMOVE PEEL AND ALL WHITE PITH FROM ORANGES. CUT SEGMENTS FREE FROM MEMBRANES. AND CUT INTO 1/2 INCH PIECES AND ADD TO BOWL.

2. TO MAKE WASABI DRESSING. WHISK ALL INGREDIENTS IN A BOWL; POUR OVER SALAD AND MIX TO WILT SPROUTS. LET STAND 10 MINUTES TOSSING OCCASSIONALLY.

3. MEANWHILE, TOAST SESAME SEEDS IN DRY SKILLET OVER MEDIUM HEAT ABOUT THREE MINUTES OR UNTIL GOLDEN AND FRAGRANT. SPRINKLE SESAME SEEDS OVER SALAD.

Grammy's Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

2006-05-09T13:36:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite recipes. I grew up eating this cake with my grandma and I always feel incredibly cozy when I eat this. If you have to make a dessert for a party, or just want something to nibble on, make this cake. It's better warm so try not to eat the whole thing right out of the oven.

Grammy's Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

6 tbs. softened unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 small carton sour cream
6 oz. bag of chocolate chips

Mix butter and sugar until fully blended. Beat in eggs one at a time. Mix flour with baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon and then add to the butter, eggs and sugar mixture. Mix in the sour cream.

Grease a 7 1/2 x 11 inch pyrex with butter and dust with flour. Pour in the batter and sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until the cake just begins to pull away from the sides of the pan.

Easy Smoked Salmon Pizza

2006-05-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

If you want to make something unique and tasty, maybe to impress a date or just to snack on, Smoked Salmon pizza is it. This dish is great for dinner but also works for brunch. Ooo, versatility!

Smoked Salmon Pizza
1 large Boboli
4-6 oz. Nova Scotia Smoked Salmon
4 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 tbs. dill
2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1 tsp. white horseradish
olive oil, salt and pepper

Brush the crust w/ olive oil and bake at 450 degrees until the edges are crispy or about 13 minutes. Cool the crust to room temperature.

Mix cream cheese, onion, dill, lemon peel, horseradish in a food processor and season with salt and pepper. If you don't have a food processor, chop the the ingredients into small pieces and mix in a bowl.

Spread the cream cheese mixture over the Boboli and top with salmon. You can sprinkle a few pieces of dill on top for garnish.

Take a Dip

2006-05-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

Make this at your next party and taste a bit of heaven. Just pretend you don't know what you put in it.

Artichoke Dip (8 servings)

2 8oz. packages of cream cheese (at room temperature)
1/3 c. sour cream
1/4 c. mayonaise
1 tbs. dijon mustard
1 clove minced garlic
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
3 6oz. jars artichokes (in water) drained and chopped
1 c. grated mozzarella
2 tsp. minced, seeded jalapeno
3 green onions finely chopped (discard the rough green ends)

Mix together all the ingredients and transfer to a 11x7x2 glass baking dish.
Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees until brown on top and bubbling. Serve with a sliced baguette or pita chips.

Note: You can also make this dip the day before and refridgerate. After you make the dip and pour into the dish, put it in the fridge and bake it the next day before your guests arrive.

Do-It-Yourself Sushi

2006-05-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

I love sushi. I love eating it. I love the way it makes me feel complete. If I could afford it, I would fashion those sushi boats to travel throughout my house so that at any moment I could simply reach over and grab a piece of sushi and eat it. Yum.

Recently, I tried something for the first time: I made my own sushi. Before you recoil in disbelief, believe me when I say that it's really not that hard. You too can make your own sushi. Yes, you! It's a great idea for a party or a date night, but it can just as easily be done alone so that you can shove the sushi down your throat without fear of disapproving looks from a loved one.

First thing's first: let's go shopping. I went to a great Japanese Market called Safe and Save Japanese Grocery (2030 Sawetelle Blvd.), which is just West of the 405. It's in a littler Little Tokoyo, in between a couple blocks of sushi restaurants and galleries, North of Olympic, South of Santa Monica Blvd. You can just as easily find a Japanese Grocery in the real Little Tokoyo or  somewhere else.

This market was great because they had pre-packaged, sliced, fresh sashimi as well as an AWESOME lobster salad. It's important to get the fish at a Japanese grocery and to tell them it's for sushi. You can't just use regular fish, it has to be frozen for 48 hours if it hasn't been already.

I also bought short-grained sushi rice here. At larger markets you can only buy a huge bag, but at Safe and Save it was available in smaller bags, which saved me some money. I also bought some crunchy seasoning to sprinkle on the sushi.

I was able to find the rest of my desires at Ralph's. You can certainly buy everything you need from the Japanese Grocery, but I was able to find most of what I needed for less money at Ralph's so I went that route. My complete shopping list was as follows:

Shopping List

short-grained sushi rice
Japanese rice vinegar
salt
sugar

sushi grade fish
assorted veggies
cream cheese

bamboo rolling mat
nori seaweed
wasabi
ginger
soy sauce
seasoning or seasame seeds

optional:
saran wrap

After you've shopped, the first thing to do is make the rice:

Vinegared Rice (sumeshi) - makes 4 cups or about 40 individual pieces

1 3/4 cup short-grained rice
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons sea salt (kosher salt works fine)

Soak the rice in cold water for 10-15 minutes and then drain it. Pour it into a heavy-bottom saucepan and cover with 2 cups of water.

Cover the rice and boil for 5 minutes on high heat.

Lower the heat and simmer the rice for about 12 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Remove the rice from the heat, but leave it covered for 15 minutes.

In a small bowl, mix the rice vinegar, sugar and salt until the sugar is fully dissolved.

Transer the rice to a shallow bowl and sprinkle the vinegar mixture on top. Fold the rice with a wooden spoon - don't stir it, fold it. Be gentle with the rice. Let the rice cool to room temperature before making sushi.

Simple Rolled Sushi

Create a hand vinegar with 1/4 cup rice vinegar and 1 cup water in a small bowl. You will dip your hand and knife in this liquid to prevent sticking.

1. Lay out your bamboo rolling mat and cover with saran wrap.
2. Cut your nori so that it's 3/4 of the original sheet size. And lay it on the mat, shiny side down so that the natural lines on the sheet aline with the bamboo.
3. Dip your fingers in the vinegar mixture and then take a handful of rice (about 3 tablespoons) and spread it over the seaweed leaving about 1/2 an inch on the far side of the seaweed uncovered.
4. Spread a pea size of wasabi down the middle of the rice. Put whatever filling you wish directly over this stripe.

Now you can add whatever you would like. If you use cucumber, cut it into planks but halving it and de-seeding it and then cutting it into 1/2 inch square matchsticks. Everything else just cut to the same size. Some great combos are: salmon, avacado and cream cheese, tuna and cucumber... the possibilities are endless.

If you're feeling adventurous you can do an inside-out roll by following steps 1-3 and then flipping the seaweed over so the rice is touching the saran wrap and then completing your roll.

Rolling the Sushi

Take the bamboo mat and roll it over the filling and press down and pull towards you. Lift the mat one more time and roll again so that sushi is self contained. This is a two step process to make sure the sushi is wrapped tight. If you try to roll it all in one motion it won't be tight and it will fall apart.

Cutting the Sushi

Cut the sushi roll in half once, and then each half into thirds. You now have six pieces of sushi!

Sushi Boats

You can take the extra seaweed that you cut off the sheet to make sushi boats. Take 1 tablespoon of rice in your hand and make into a football, egg, ovalish shape with a flat bottom. Wrap the seaweed around it and fasten it with a piece of rice. You can fill the top with seasoning and lobster salad or any sort of fish salad. Delish!

And that is how you make sushi!

What's for Brunch?

2006-05-09T00:11:00.000-07:00

I happen to be a fan of any widely accepted "in between" meal, brunch being my favorite. Here are my top five favorite brunch spots in Los Angeles:

OFF VINE
6263 Leland Way, Hollywood
$$
This is an incredible hidden gem in Hollywood. It's right off Sunset and you would have no idea it was there unless I told you. So now that I've told you, you have to go. Rather than giving you bread before you meal, Off Vine gives you a plate of assorted bagels, cream cheese and their homemade jam - and that's just before you get your meal!

KINGS ROAD CAFE
8361 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles
$$
If you don't mind waiting (especially on the weekend), this place is worth the massive amounts of saliva you've collected in your mouth. Great eggs, great home fries. You can't go wrong with this traditional brunch spot.

QUALITY
8030 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles
$$
This is one of my favorite brunch/lunch spots in Los Angeles. I'm a big fan of Mexican food for all meals, and this place has awesome huevos rancheros. They also make great egg white scrambles if you would rather not have to take a nap after breakfast. If you're feeling more on the "unch" side of brunch, they make an incredible curry chicken salad. You can't miss here.

JACK N' JILL'S
510 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica
$$
Don't be turned off by this order at the counter, take a number and we'll bring you you're meal, type of place. The food is really wonderful. The Chinese Chicken Salad is awesome and get a side of corn bread - it's huge! Their lemonade is great too, which always wets my whistle (actually, only when I wear a whistle around my neck and it accidentally falls into the lemonade). They also make wonderful coffee and tea drinks, so even if you want to grab a muffin and a coffee to go, go to Jack n' Jill's.

LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN
1055 Broxton Ave., Westwood
$$
Belgain baked goods and tasty sandwiches? Am I dreaming? These may be questions you'll ask yourself at this old country style food spot. The answers are collectively, yes. Trade in your Eurorail pass for some new kicks, and take an instant trip to Europe at Le Pain.

The First Bite

2006-05-08T23:30:00.000-07:00

One of my first memories of cooking was certainly a loose definition of the term. I remember sitting on the kitchen counter while my mother prepared some dish (whether it be dinner, breakfast or lunch is irrelevant so I will not elaborate on that point). While she legitimately made something edible, I mimicked her style by pouring spices (the types, also irrelevant) into a cup of water. I might as well have been splitting an atom, for I felt my duty to stir random spices together was the most important thing in the world at that moment (there must not have been anything on tv). The point is, food has always been facinating to me. I have always enjoyed experimenting with flavors, and have stumbled upon some really great dishes in my taste trials (that's not to say that I haven't had meals go straight from pan to trash while speed dialing Papa John's with the other hand). To me, cooking is an adventure. And not a scary "this-rope-might-be-strong-enough-to-hold-you-as-you-descend-down-this-mountain" type of adventure. Cooking shouldn't been something you're afraid of, and hopefully I can take away some of the mystery for you. You can get out of the fetal postion now, I'm not going to make you cook anything just yet.

In addtion to cooking, I also enjoy the sport of dining out. I say sport, because I think it's my duty (and please join my cause) to make the act of restauranting the next great competative platform. While that may not happen any time soon, I will continue to train as often as my wallet allows. I enjoy new and interesting restaurants, off the beaten path finds, which I would love to share with you. While, cooking might not be first on your list of things to do (and you can cross of learning a new language because face it, you'd rather spend that time watching Grey's) maybe I can point you in the direction of some great restaurants.

With that, dig in my friends!