Party at the Ox!

Most of the time, when Peter and I go out to dinner, it’s just the two of us at the table. While catching up on the day’s activities, we order cocktails and share a few dishes, trading plates after eating EXACTLY half. I think we’re pretty lucky because after fifteen years together, we still love hanging out, especially when we’re trying a new restaurant. Just look for the couple having the most fun in the room… it’s probably us!

Every once in a while we go out with a group of friends, and two of our most recent gatherings have been at the Lazy Ox Canteen in Little Tokyo. The first visit was on January 14th after we attended an earthquake fundraiser at TiGeorges Haitian Restaurant on Glendale Blvd. Peter and I, along with our neighbor Nelson, met up with Charles and Robert to find a very successful charity event, but no food (they had just sold out). So after we all made donations, we decided to head downtown and check out the Lazy Ox.

We didn’t have reservations, but hostess Janna (who is gorgeous and super sweet) let us takeover a long, communal table. The giant mirror across the way made it perfect for checking out the entire room.

Our servers were both fantastic. At first “Q” took our orders and helped us decide on a few dishes from the $5 happy hour menu, then Rolando stepped in with recommendations from the regular menu. Having just come from the Haiti charity event, we were all in such great spirits and it showed in what we ordered. Lots of wine, lots of sharing and lots of laughs.

I started talking to Rolando about his “day job” at Sage Mountain Farm, and was fascinated to learn that he personally delivers his vegetables to the Lazy Ox. His passion really showed in the way he spoke about the produce, and it also made me slow down and pay more attention to the  food on the plate in front of me. Rolando also works with several other L.A. area restaurants including Locali in Silverlake.

Our second dinner at “the Ox” (as everyone now seems to be calling it), was a couple of weeks after the first. Another group dinner with friends Bob and Andrew, who were entertaining visiting relatives. Another fun night sharing almost unending plates of (albeit daring to some) delicious food.

My favorite bites so far have been the Bӓco (if you go, order this FIRST!), Pig’s Ears, Chicharones Skewers, Braised Beef with Cream of Wheat… oh HECK, just look at the photos below because I’ve fallen for everything on Chef Josef Centeno’s menu!

Peter and I will be back soon, if we can get a reservation that is! Rave reviews (links below) and a recent mention on Jonathan Gold’s “99 Things to Eat in L.A. Before You Die” list will make it a bit more difficult to party at the Ox, but it’s definitely worth the effort!!

The Bӓco: Grilled flatbread, crispy pork belly, arugula and poblano sauce

Truffled Potato Croquettes. Only $5 on Happy Hour Menu

Patatas Bravas with Smoked Paprika

Sea Bream is brick oven roasted, head on, with herbs, lemon, purple baby scallions, and chimichurri

White Soy Marinated Yellowtail with crushed avocado, crispy hash brown and creme fraiche

Crispy Pig Ears with Horseradish Cream

Whipped Jersey Cow Ricotta with Sea Salt and Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Toasted Peruvian corn, with spices and lime called cancha

Pork Chicharones Skewers with poblano sauce at Lazy Ox Canteen. $5 on the Happy Hour Menu.

Chicken Livers with Whole-Grain Mustard & Pancetta Crisp $7

Charred Octopus with Pickled Shallots, Lima Beans and Smoked Paprika $15

Salt Cod Brandade Fritters with Grated Mojama & Lemon Vinaigrette $8

Braised Beef Paleron (pot roast) w/ cream of wheat, kumquats and red wine $23

Slow Cooked Pork Shoulder with Turnips, Quinoa and Walnut Chile Tarator Sauce $21

Hand-Torn Egg Pasta with Sunny-Side Egg, Brown Butter & Fines Herbs $11

Sopapillas

All my Lazy Ox Canteen Photos on Flickr

LAZY OX CANTEEN
241 S. San Pedro St.
Little Tokyo, Downtown L.A. 90012
(213) 626-5299
http://www.LazyOxCanteen.com

Dining Dates: 1/14/10 & 2/6/10

99 Things to Eat in L.A. Before you Die by Jonathan Gold

Jonathan Gold’s Review on L.A. Weekly

L.A. Times Review

Jonathan Gold discusses Lazy Ox on KCRW’s Good Food

Check out Anne Fishbein’s BEAUTIFUL photos!

Haiti Fundraiser at TiGeorges’ Chicken

Sage Mountain Farm

Follow the Lazy Ox on Twitter

Rivera

Peter and I need to spend more time in downtown L.A. I can only think of a few eateries that we’ve been to lately: Church & State, Wurstküche and Rivera (which was way back in May), and I just realized that I hadn’t yet posted photos from our wonderful Rivera dinner!

We were joined by Andrew Camp, who was then the fromaggier at Palate Food & Wine. Andrew and I began exchanging emails, after he requested to use some photos I took of him at Palate for his website. Soon after, we were FaceBook pals and happily, pals in real life too.

Our evening at Rivera was excellent, and I personally felt Chef John Sedlar’s sense of joy and fun on each delicious plate. If, like me, you like an adventurous cocktail every once in a while, then you’ll love hanging out in the gorgeous bar as well. Ever had a drink garnished with finely ground crickets?

The Donaji, made with Mezcal, Citrus, Pomegranate, Agave Nectar and Chapulin Salt (finely ground crickets!!)

Progression of Stuffed Olives (Such a clever idea! Don’t they look happy?): Orange, Black Bean, Anchovy, Ham, Cheese $12

Tortillas Florales (best I’ve ever tasted) with “Indian Butter” aka Guacamole $7

Chile Pasilla Relleno  (so GOOD but I didn’t want to mess up the plate!) $10

(of course I messed up the plate!)

Banana Leaf Braised Pork Shoulder $24 (Loved the crispy potatoes) and Carne Churrasco with Cabrales on top $29 (I would order BOTH again).

No photograph of dessert: Studio en flan (three differently flavored flans) $8

Dining Date: 5/23/09

If you haven’t been to Rivera yet, you’re in luck! Rivera is participating in DineLA’s Restaurant Week, which begins on October 4th. Special three-course meals at Rivera are $22 for lunch and $34 dinner.

Rivera’s Restaurant Week Menu

DineLA Week is Oct 4-9 and 11-16 2009

L.A. Times Review of Rivera

For more Rivera details including STUNNING food photos, check out KevinEats

Andrew as Fromaggier at Palate

Andrew’s Blog

Church and State

Wurstküche

Palate Food & Wine

More Rivera photos on Flickr “Chefs & Restaurants”