Lunch at Petrossian

Petrossian restaurant is as elegant or casual as you want it to be. Sure, there’s the Kaluga caviar tasting that can set you back a few hundred of your hard-earned bucks. A pasta hand-pressed with caviar powder is so luxurious you may want to share it with a friend (it’s worth it). But there are also plenty of reasonably priced items, like the Dungeness Crab Sweet Corn Soup or Asparagus with Foie Gras Ravioli,  that cost under $20.

Recently, Chef Giselle Wellman cooked up some new dishes for myself and writer Julie Wolfson to try (gratis) on a warm, spring afternoon. Contrary to what most folks think, I don’t accept too many comped meals (my waistline can’t take it!), and always note when I do.

With so many new restaurants constantly opening in L.A., I don’t always make time to visit favorites like Petrossian. In years past, Peter and I shared multiple meals with friends and family (which we paid for in full). It was wonderful to be back and taste some classics, as well as Chef Wellman’s new creations.

Egg Royale: Soft Scrambled Egg, Vodka Whipped Cream, Caviar $14

Caviar Salad: Butter Lettuce, Shaved Egg, Shallots, Chives, Parsley, Lemon, Dill, Crème Fraîche $22

Dungeness Crab Sweet Corn Soup: Fennel, Cherry Tomato, Serrano Chili, Avocado, Lime $16

After the pour…

Asparagus with Foie Gras Ravioli: Black Summer Truffles, Little Gem Lettuce, Truffle Jus Vinaigrette, Foie Gras Ravioli $16

Summer Berry Gazpacho: Armagnac Poached Foie Gras, Pickled Beets $22

Think Borscht!

Caviar Pasta: House-made pasta with caviar powder, Crème Fraîche, Chive $45

It was such a pleasure finally meeting Chef Wellman. Read all about the her here: “Talk With Giselle Wellman” at Food Replubic

About:  Petrossian is a casually elegant destination for lunch, dinner, happy hour, and weekend brunch featuring a selection of French-inspired California cuisine artfully prepared by Executive Chef Giselle Wellman. A boutique area adjacent to the dining room offers guests a way to continue the experience at home and is an ideal shopping destination for host or hostess gifts and customized epicurean gift baskets including tastes of Caviar, Smoked Salmon, Foie Gras, and Handmade Chocolates. More info on website

Petrossian
321 N Robertson Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 271-0576

Dining date: 5/17/12

Follow Chef Giselle Wellman on Twitter

Follow Petrossian West Hollywood on Twitter

All my Petrossian photos on Flickr

Petrossian [3 & 4]

Visits #3 and #4 to Petrossian Restaurant, West Hollywood 

12/12/09 Dinner with Peter, Kevin and Sarah:

Wild mushroom cappuccino, with braised chestnuts and truffles

Caviar OF COURSE!

Crispy Shrimp “Papillotte”: Passion fruit, chili ginger sauce

Beef Short Ribs Raviolo: Wild mushroom, roasted tomatoes, olives

Braised Pork Belly, Soft Polenta and Caramelized Onion

2006 Walter Hansel Pinot Noir. One of the lovely bottles of wine that Kevin brought to share at dinner! Petrossian Restaurant 12/12/09

We also shared Napoléon Tartare: Hand sliced steak tartare with layer of caviar

11/30/09 Petrossian Industry Night 2.0

Chef Ben Bailly was kind enough to invite L.A. food bloggers to Petrossian’s “Industry Night”, a special evening just for folks in the food industry (including chefs, servers and bartenders). Low cost drinks included $3 beer, $5 wine, and my favorite, the $7 hibiscus champagne. It was simply a fun evening chatting with friends old and new, and the best part was the selection of FREE delicious appetizers! 

Borscht and Gazpacho soup

Manager Chris, Chef Ben Bailly. Borscht and Gazpacho soup, Salmon Rillette

Bacon-wrapped apricots and dates

Butternut Squash Soup with Pecans

Sliders were awesome! (Pork Belly Slider with Carmelized Onions not shown)

Hibiscus Champagne Cocktail

Lisa, myself and Hanh having fun at Industry night!

Petrossian
321 North Robertson Boulevard
(one block north of Beverly Boulevard)
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 271-0576

Website

Coming soon to Petrossian: Caviar Tastings For Two offers a tasting of Petrossian’s finest caviar, hosted by one of Petrossian’s caviar experts. Learn the story behind Petrossian Caviar, then enjoy a prix fixe dinner.” more info

Petrossian visits #1 and #2

All Petrossian photos on Flickr

Lisa’s website

Hanh’s website

Petrossian [1 & 2]

Petrossian Restaurant has been on my “to do” list for quite a while, and thanks to the money-saving motivation of “Dine LA Restaurant Week”, I finally got my first taste a few days ago.

Dinner was just $44 for three courses (each), but Peter and I ended up trying a few more dishes (compliments of manager Christopher Klapp and chef Benjamin Bailly). In the end we shared NINE courses (dessert included) and a lovely bottle of Malbec that our server recommended.

When chef Bailly first came to our table, I mistakenly thought he was another young server. At just 27 years old, he’s been running Petrossian’s kitchen for the past six months.

His previous jobs included: Sous Chef at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas, Chef de Partie at Robuchon Paris, and Commis de Cuisine in the Monaco Robuchon outpost. Now I have to say, that is some serious kitchen experience supporting this French chef’s sculpted and gorgeous face!

After our fantastic meal, Chef Bailly took us on a tour of the kitchen, then a quick browse through the gourmet boutique where we met his equally gorgeous girlfriend, Anna. It turns out it was the chef’s night off, and he came in specifically to say hello.

Did I mention that he’s not only talented and handsome, but generous and sweet too?

What we ate:

Foie Gras Salad - Haricots verts, toasted walnut, truffle vinaigrette
(On Dine LA Menu: Appetizer)

Black Truffle Mac & Cheese - Orrechiette, bacon, parmesan
(On Dine LA Menu: Appetizer)

Braised Short Ribs – Yukon gold mashed potato, burgundy sauce
(On Dine LA Menu: Entree)

Napoleon Tartare – Hand sliced steak tartare with layer of caviar
(On Dine LA Menu: Entree)

Foie Gras Creme Brulée (so good we scraped the bowl)

Sautéed Calamari: Spanish chorizo, artichokes, preserved lemon $14 
Blinis & Caviar, Transmontanus caviar, Salmon roe $18

Vanilla Panna Cotta, White Peach Espuma
Sicilian Pistachio Creme Brulée
(Both on Dine LA Menu: Dessert)

Boutique: They not only sell the world’s best caviar but also smoked fish, foie gras, truffles, chocolates, candies and much more. We went home with a box of sweets and a hankering to return to Petrossian very soon!

Update: Visit #2 to Petrossian on 10/12/09 I loved it so much I gathered a group to eat there a few days later!

Truffle Butter (I had to eat some with a spoon!) Visit #2

Chilled Soups: Cantaloupe and Borsht. Visit #2 

Seared Scallops, Butternut squash, Bacon Emulsion. Visit #2

Our table’s order of Napoléon Tartare (hand sliced steak tartare with layer of caviar). Visit #2

Crispy Shrimp “papillotte” with Passion fruit, sweet chilli ginger sauce. Visit #2 (I could have eaten TEN of these!)

Petrossian Roe Sampler: Caviar, trout, salmon roe served with blinis and crème fraiche (and yes, we were all photographing the food!) Visit #2

Dine LA Restaurant Week

Petrossian
321 North Robertson Boulevard
(one block north of Beverly Boulevard)
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 271-0576

Website

Dining Date: 10/6/09

Petrossian visits #3 & #4

Follow Petrossian on Twitter

Los Angeles Magazine Review

Petrossian LA Magazine Video

Benjamin Bailly on Chef Database

Joël Robuchon (official site)

All my Petrossian photos on Flickr