Taste Of The Nation – 2009 Tix On Sale!

I just purchased my ticket to Taste of the Nation 2009, and wanted to share a few photos from last year’s event. If you’ve never been before, it’s a great opportunity to taste wonderful food from many of our top L.A. restaurants.

My favorite part (besides all the food) was chatting with the chefs in a relaxed, fun atmosphere… all while supporting Share Our Strength’s fight to end childhood hunger. It’s a “fill up and feel good” event for sure!

From the Share Our Strength Website:

“Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation is the nation’s premier culinary benefit, featuring top chefs and mixologists — all of whom are coming together to donate their time, talent and passion to end childhood hunger in America.

More then forty of the area’s finest restaurant and wineries will participate in Taste of Nation Los Angeles, bringing a memorable afternoon that will highlight some the best food and wine that Los Angeles has to offer. Come join us for an afternoon in Culver City, enjoy a strolling buffet, entertainment, live auction and much more. Join us as we work to create a hunger-free generation. 100% of ticket sales benefits Share Our Strength’s fight to end childhood hunger.”

Photos from Taste of the Nation 2008

Entrance Sign

 
Chef Jake Rojas making a “Foie Gras Nutty Buddy”, The Sunset Restaurant

Former Top Chef contestant Antonia Lofaso (my favorite from season 4), Foxtail Restaurant

Chef Antonia Lofaso’s home-made linguini with caramelized fennel, clams and absinthe from Foxtail Restaurant

The delightfully COOL Chef Carolyn Spence, Bar Marmont

10 Cane Rum (I skipped the wine and went for the good stuff!)

Chef Neal Fraser (Grace Restaurant) made whole roasted pig on the spot! 

 
Akasha Richmond’s Braised Short Rib Sandwiches on Pretzel Rolls with green and red slaw, Akasha Restaurant

 
It was surreal bumping into Bob Blumer! 

Taste of the Nation Los Angeles
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Media Park
Corner of Venice Blvd. & Culver Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232

Note: The “Early Bird” ticket price is no longer available on the Taste of the Nation site. Thanks to SinoSoul for letting me know.

Tickets are $125.00.
Price at door is $135.00. (I know this seems expensive, but last year there were over 40 restaurants at the event, and it was worth every penny to try a taste from each!)

2009 Participants (including my friends at Animal!)

Purchase Tickets Here

2008 Participating Restaurants A-K

2008 Participating Restaurants L-Z

Mentioned Above:

Akasha

Antonia Lofaso

Bob Blumer

Foxtail

Grace

Sunset

10 Cane Rum

Chef Photos on Flickr

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Sri Siam Café [4]

My friend Laur invited me to lunch yesterday and suggested we go to Sri Siam Café, our favorite, local Thai joint. She wanted me to meet her niece Sherry, an intensive care nurse visiting from Chicago. I was totally fascinated with all of her exciting hospital stories, especially about the time she got to hold someone’s lungs during surgery (she said they felt “spongy”). Obviously it wouldn’t be appropriate lunch conversation for everyone, but for three gals with iron stomachs (sitting there filling ourselves with fiery Thai goodness), it was perfectly lovely.

I ordered the Spicy Basil Seafood with pan-fried Squid, Mussels, Shrimp, Sole, Peppers and Chilies. The dish came with rice and an eggroll and is not on the regular menu. Look for it on the “All Day Special” menu. $11.50

Sherry ordered the Succulent Grilled Chicken over Egg Noodles. $5.95 (#91 on the regular menu)

Laur ordered the Panang Chicken cooked with Red Peanut Curry Paste and Coconut Milk. $6.95 (#66 on the regular menu)

Beautiful Thai Chili Sauce on the table

On each visit I’m trying to taste a new dish, but the one thing I have to order EVERY time is the Crispy Rice Salad with Sour Sausage (Nam). It’s tangy, spicy deliciousness!

Sri Siam has over 100 dishes listed on the regular menu, plus ten dishes on the “Specials” menu. If none of those delights interest you, then you can always check out the “Off Menu” items listed here (you may need some help with the translation).

Sri Siam Café
12843  Vanowen St.
North Hollywood, CA 91605
818 892-6262

All my Sri Siam Photos on Flickr

Sri Siam Café  Website

Dining Date: 2/26/09 (Visit #4)

Visit #3 to Sri Siam (with photos)

Visit # 1 & 2 (with photos)

Kiwami

Katsuya Uechi’s new restaurant is called Kiwami. It’s just a few blocks away from Katsuya (our usual sushi joint on “sushi row”), and it’s also owned by Katsuya Uechi.

For our first visit to Kiwami, my husband Peter and I sat at a table so I could capture photos easier. Well, at least easier than sitting at the intimate sushi bar helmed by Chef Uechi himself! Our charming server, Hugh, explained that Kiwami is more “upscale” then Katsuya restaurant, and this was definitely reflected in the ambiance and decor. I’ve worn flip-flops and shorts to Katsuya, but that would be way too casual for a meal at Kiwami.

We ordered mostly from the “Today’s Specials” menu and loved every bite. Kiwami translated, means “doing something extremely” or “the best degree in Japanese”, and Chef Uechi definitely delivers the kiwami to this soon-to-be super hot sushi spot!

Sayuri, our favorite unfiltered sake.

Blue Fin Tuna, flown in from Spain $16

Skip Jack Poke $9

Jalapeno Yellowtail $16

Unagi Shirayaki (first steamed, then baked) $10

Tasmanian Trout in foil, $15

Mixed Tempura $16

Spicy Tuna with Baked Crab Roll $12

Born in Okinawa (like me!), Japan, Chef Katsuya Uechi began his career as a chef at the Harbor View Hotel in Okinawa. He moved to Los Angeles over 20 years ago and opened the Studio City Sushi Katsu-Ya in 1997.

Kiwami
11920 Ventura Boulevard,
Studio City, CA  91604
818-763-3910

Dining date: 1/31/09

website

Firefly

Recently, my husband and I had dinner with friends at Firefly restaurant, which is just up the street from our house. We used to go at least once a week, but then just sort of forgot about it for awhile. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful and a wonderful, romantic spot if you’re looking for a Valentine’s evening out. Ask for one of the tables in the alcoves, so you get a little privacy.

I used to always order their KILLER off-the-menu burger that’s topped with bacon and gorgonzola cheese. It comes with a side of the crispiest, thin-cut fries (just the way I like them). We would sometimes just sit at the bar to grab a quick bite after work and people-watch. This time I decided to try something new and and I’m happy to say it was all delicious. We will for sure be spending a lot more time with our old friend Firefly!
 
Heirloom Apple Salad with five year old farmer’s gouda, baby celery, marcona almonds, cider vinaigrette

 

Hamachi Sashimi on Crispy Rice Cakes

 

Grass-Fed “Terrorized” Rib Eye with warm spinach salad, toasted cashew, shallots, bacon, 25 year balsamic 

Firefly

11720 Ventura Blvd
Studio City, CA 91604
818 762-1833 No Website but more info here  

 

Dining Date: 1/18/09

Fords Filling Station

Birthday dinners are always extra special. Since we’re going out to celebrate, we tend to get a little more dressed up, and more importantly… we usually order extra food and drinks!  

I asked Jade (my nephew Cody’s girlfriend) where we could take her for a birthday dinner and her only choice was Ford’s Filling Station. Cody has EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) training on wednesday nights (the day of her birthday) so unfortunately he couldn’t join us for dinner.

Our family loves Jade so much that we now introduce her as our “niece”. She looks nothing like me (Japanese/Scottish), so we joke that she’s from my husband Peter’s side of the family (he’s Danish/English).

Jade is from a small town in Tennessee, and has the cutest accent to prove it. I love going out to dinner with her because she LOVES food (almost as much as I do). She’s a tiny thing which makes me want to smack her once in a while (kidding!).

Food is always a major topic when we get together with Jade and Cody, and I know that’s one of the happy bonds that keep them together.

What we ate:

Fried Ipswich Clams, Flatbread with Four Cheeses.

Flatbread with Burrata, Herb Pesto, Leeks and Bacon

Pub Burger (with extra Bacon and Mushrooms), Onion Rings.

Flat Iron Steak, Roasted Fennel Mashed Potatoes, Buttered English Peas.

Crispy Flattened Chicken, Roasted Corn Succotash, Mashed Potatoes, Lemon Garlic Confit .

Jermaine (our super cute and nice server) and birthday girl, Jade.

Two Peaches! Peach Cobbler & Jade.

Dinner was fantastic and so were the drinks. I had a Jalapeño Margarita that I definitely need to recreate at home since my garden is blooming with jalapeños!

Ford’s Filling Station
http://www.fordsfillingstation.net
Address: 9531 Culver Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 202-1470

Gangadin Indian Restaurant

My husband and I love Indian food and our favorite Indian restaurant is Gangadin in Studio City. We like it so much that when we were married in 1996, we had Gangadin cater our wedding dinner. 

All these years later, we still like to order the same dishes we shared at our Indian “wedding feast”. Of course we try new ones every now and then, but when we feel like some comforting curry goodness, we always get the following:

Onion Pakoras – Shredded onions, dredged in spiced gram flour and deep-fried.

Papadum – Spiced crispy Indian crackers baked on an open flame.

Raita – Perfect to cool off your spicy mouth. Wonderfully refreshing yogurt blended with cucumbers, spices and tomatoes.

Mango Chutney – A wonderful, tart and sweet condiment that you order separately.

Chicken Tikka – Chunks of boneless chicken marinated in spices and yogurt and then grilled over the Tandoor flames.

Garlic Naan – Fluffy garlic naan bread that’s baked in a traditional Tandoor oven. (We each have to have our own!)

Saag Paneer – Small chunks of cheese  in a delicious spinach mixture. You can ask for this dish extra spicy if you want. Note: If you are sure that you can handle the heat, then tell them to make it “traditional spicy”.

Chicken Korma – This is our favorite dish at Gangadin. It’s a mild curry flavor, marinated chicken. You can ask for it spicy, but beware… it’s REALLY spicy!

Rice Pudding – Super sweet, but a really nice finish to a spicy Indian dinner. The pistachio chips on top add great texture to the pudding.

Kingfisher Beer – For me, an Indian meal is not complete without drinking one or two (or sometimes three!) Kingfisher beers.

Gangadin Restaurant
12067 Ventura Place
Studio City Ca 91604
818-509-0722
WebSite

Lunch at Gangadin

Check out Gangadin owners Manmeet (right) and his son Sangmeet on the cover of Studio City Lifestyle Magazine. They are always so friendly when we eat at their restaurant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Gangadin!