Tag Archives: Josef Centeno

January 21, 2015 · 4:41 pm

Josef Centeno Crawl

Peter and I both love chef Josef Centeno‘s cooking. With four restaurants in downtown L.A., we often have a hard time deciding which one to eat at. There’s Baco Mercat (home of the bäco) and Bar Ama (with the best queso in town). High-end Orsa & Winston is currently offering a fantastic Yakitori-Ya menu (through March 2). Josef’s newest eatery, Ledlow, recently won a rave Jonathan Gold review. All the restaurants are within walking distance of each other at 4th and Main, and all are simply fantastic.

After twenty years together, it’s not easy to surprise my husband of 18 years. But for his birthday last month, with the help of Josef and his fiancee (my friend) Betty Hallock, we did just that. I joked to Betty that I wished I could take Peter to all of Josef’s restaurants for his birthday and she said they had actually been thinking of organizing a restaurant crawl.

I was thrilled when Josef offered to select the evening’s menu, which included two dishes and a drink at each location. To make things easier, since it was four different kitchens and staff, I paid for the evening ahead of time and left a tip at each (45 minute) stop. Many thanks to Betty and Josef for helping me surprise Peter!

Photos from our December 2014 “Centeno Crawl” below:

STOP 1: Bäco Mercat
Peter was shocked and so thrilled to find the first “Happy Birthday, Peter” menu waiting at our first stop, which was Baco Mercat.

The Moxie Cocktail at Baco Mercat: Bourbon, cynar, lime juice, agave, mole bitters.

Caesar Brussels Sprouts with Pecorino, Anchovy, Garlic at Baco Mercat.

Hamachi Crudo, Avocado, Hash Brown, Abkhazian Chile Spice at Baco Mercat.

STOP 2: Orsa & Winston

The menu waiting at Orsa & Winston.

Breakfast In A Shell with Coddled Egg, Pancetta, maple syrup at Orsa and Winston.

Satsuki Rice with Parmesan Cream, Geoduck and Uni at Orsa & Winston.

Clos du Tue Boeuf Chenin Blanc at Orsa & Winston.

STOP 3: Bar Ama

Peter’s birthday menu at Bar Ama (stop 3).

The Nacho Cocktail (tequila blanco, chile-lime shrub, campari, citrus, honey) at Bar Ama.

Slow Roasted Beef Belly with Pomegranate, Cotija and Tomatillo at Bar Ama.

“Mom’s Green Enchiladas” with Tomatillo & Chicken at Bar Ama.

STOP 4: Ledlow

Final stop for birthday cake & soufflé at Ledlow.

Grand Marnier Soufflé at Ledlow.

Pastry chef Margeaux Aragon made a birthday cake too! Chocolate Cake with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting at Ledlow.

20 Years Together (we met in Nov 1994). Happiness Selfie (Dec 2014).

Orsa & Winston

My Orsa & Winston scouting report for Jonathan Gold and the L.A. Times is here. All photos on Flickr. Enjoy!

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Filed under Eating Out, L.A. Times, Little Bites

Tagged as Downtown L.A., food, Jonathan Gold, Josef Centeno, l a times, Los Angeles Times, Orsa & Winston, Orsa and Winston, Scouting Report

June 15, 2012 · 2:42 pm

Bäco Mercat

I thought Josef Centeno’s Bäco Mercat (in downtown L.A.) was simply a sandwich and soda shop.

I was SO very wrong…

Of course we begin with the Bäco flatbread sandwich: Pork Belly, Beef Carnitas, Salbitxada (Catalan sauce of tomatoes, almonds and garlic). Peter and I first tried Chef Centeno’s Bäco when he opened the Lazy Ox Canteen in Little Tokyo.

Bäco Mercat is the home of the “bäco,” the signature flatbread sandwich that was developed by chef Josef Centeno. The original bäco was the crispy pork belly and beef carnitas with caraway pepper. Since then, the bäco bread has taken center stage and works as a vessel for all things delicious: pork, beef, poultry, seafood and vegetables. (more on the website)

Sugar Snap & Pear Salad w grapefruit, burrata, dill walnut.

Half Rack Baby Back Ribs w chili vinegar.

Pork Belly, Soujouk with Ricotta Cavatelli.

Caesar Brussels Salad, Pecorino, Anchovy, Garlic.

Toron, with oxtail hash, pickle, cheddar and “tater” (it’s like a big homemade tater tot)!

Black Rice Risotto: Squid, Fine Herbs, Creme Fraiche.

Pulled Confit Goose Leg with blood oranges, arugula and pickled cherries.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Szechuan Peppercorns, Whipped Cream, rice balls.

Bäco Ginger, Orange, Juniper Soda Pop!

Absolutely charming (and casually romantic!) inside and out. Peter and I will be spending many, many evenings downtown this summer!

More food photos on Flickr

Please read Jonathan Gold’s Bäco review at L.A. Weekly

Bäco Mercat
408 S Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 687-8808
website

Follow @BacoMercat on twitter

Bäco Mercat on FaceBook

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Filed under Eating Out

Tagged as Baco, bars, Bäco Mercat, Centeno, Downtown L.A., Josef Centeno, los angeles, restaurants

March 2, 2010 · 12:51 am

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