Deeply Madly Marché

Marché Restaurant Sunday Supper [Visit 6]

When Peter and I fall in love with a restaurant, we fall MADLY. Especially so, when it’s just a few minutes away from our home in Studio City. Although we tried to show some restraint in the past few weeks, we have NOT been able to stay away from our (now favorite) neighborhood spot.

During our New Year’s Eve dinner at Marché (link below), Chef Gary Menes told us about his upcoming “Sunday Suppers”. Instead of the regular tasting menu (which we LOVE because we share multiple plates), there would be a 4-Course Prix Fixe dinner for only $30.

When we learned (on yet another visit) that Marché server Ashton Sullivan would be the evening’s entertainment, we decided to make this first “Marché Sunday Supper” a good old fashioned party.

It’s not a real party without my nephews (big brothers to the twins), so Camron and Cody (along with their girlfriends) drove out from Glendora in the pouring rain. Friends Emrah & Silma trekked into the valley from over the hill, and although Lisa & Dave could have easily walked the few blocks to the restaurant, the streets were just too wet for a casual Sunday stroll.

The atmosphere is so cozy at Marché, especially on a cold and rainy night. Our table of ten hunkered down for a few hours of great food, drinks, soothing guitar by Ashton and of course lots of laughs. As Lisa (@DailyWine) tweeted the next morning: “You’re doing something right when place is packed on a Sun in LA in the rain”. So true.

Sunday Supper #1 [visit 6]:

1st Course: Romey Lettuce, Goat Cheese, Apples, Cider Vinaigrette.
2nd Course: Soup – Okinawa Sweet Potatoes, Leeks, Truffle Scented Creme Fraiche.
3rd Course: Beouf Bourguignon (cooked sous vide for 36 hours at 60 degrees celsius), Pomme Puree.
4th Course: Creme Caramel, Coconut Butter Cookies.

3rd course option (instead of the beouf bourguignon) was Blue Hubbard Squash, Wheat Berries, Smoked Pearl Onions, Sauce Soubise.

Cody (my nephew) & his girlfriend Jade, Camron (my nephew) & his girlfriend Jennee at the first ever Sunday Supper at Marché Restaurant

Peter having a laugh with Chef Menes

Music by Ashton Sullivan

With our good friends Emrah and Simla

Sunday Supper: $30

Quartino of Wine $5

Dining Date: 1/17/10 with Peter, Cody, Jade, Camron, Jennee, Lisa & Dave, Simla & Emrah.

Mentioned above:

New Year’s Eve at Marché

The Twins

@DailyWine

Marché [Visit 5]

Pig Candy: Applewood Smoked Bacon, Brown Sugar, Spices

Veal Tongue Pastrami, Horseradish Creme Fraiche

Jambon, Butter, Pain Grille

Local Yellow Tail, Honshimegi Mushrooms, Sugar Peas, Green Garlic

Healthy Family Farms Chicken, Purple Top Turnips, Chantrelle Mushrooms, Hearts of Romaine

Prime Beef, Pomme de Terre, Torpedo Onions, Haritcots Verts, Red Wine

Dining Date: 1/08/10 with Peter, Bob, Lisa & Dave

Note: This restaurant is now closed. Please follow Chef Menes on Twitter

Marché
13355 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 784-2915
Website

Update: 3/30/10 Read Jonathan Gold’s Review!

All Marché photos on Flickr

Marché [1 & 2]

Marché [3]

New Year’s Eve at Marché [4]

A Bossa Nova New Year’s Eve

Bossa Nova music makes me feel giddy and extraordinarily happy. You know that feeling you get from listening to childhood records? A sudden spike of joy deep inside your soul?

When my sister Janet and I were growing up in Okinawa, our favorite records were the ones we weren’t allowed to play. Dutifully, we listened to Disney records that our grandparents mailed from the states, but we most enjoyed sneaking into our dad’s immaculate record collection.

He never found out about our little secret because my big sister was absolutely brilliant (even at seven years old). When we decided on an LP that we wanted to hear, Janet would pull THREE albums partially out of the record shelf. The one we wanted to hear was in the middle, the two others on each side were place holders (so she knew where to return the treasured vinyl). Big sis never allowed ME to actually TOUCH the records, which was probably a really good idea.

Our very favorite albums back then were Herb Alpert, and the awesome Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66. We knew all the words to “Mais Que Nada” (still do), and would invite friends over for after-school dancing. To this day, Bossa Nova is always on my party mix. Just try listening to “One Note Samba / Spanish Flea” without dancing or bobbing your head.

When Peter and I first met fifteen years ago, we bonded over discussions of Bossa Nova music. Two years later on our wedding day, I walked down the aisle to Astrud Gilberto’s “Summer Samba (So Nice)”. If you don’t know the song, the lyrics begin with:

“Someone to hold me tight, that would be very nice
Someone to love me right, that would be very nice

Someone to understand each little dream in me
Someone to take my hand and be a team with me

So nice… life would be so nice, if one day I’d find
Someone who would take my hand and samba through life with me”

And yes, it’s been SO NICE!

For New Year’s Eve, we like to do something low-key. Sometimes we spend it with family, sometimes we cook together at home or go out to a nearby restaurant.

We’ve fallen in love with chef Gary Menes’ cooking at Marche’ recently, and luckily the restaurant is just a few minutes from our house. When I read there would be a live JAZZ band on New Year’s Eve, I don’t know why but I just assumed it would be modern or fusion jazz. Not my favorite, but I figured at least Peter would really enjoy it. Besides Bossa, I’m a big fan of New Orleans jazz (especially Preservation Hall, the legendary band we recently saw at Disney Hall).

We had a 9pm dinner reservation, and I knew the food would be fantastic (this would be our fourth visit) so I wasn’t going to let the jazz in the background bother me. The duo wasn’t playing when we were being seated, and after we settled in and put on our party hats, there it was…. glorious BOSSA NOVA!

Yes, it was an elegantly laid-back, truffle-filled (thank you chef Menes!) food fest of a New Year’s Eve at Marche’, but with our beloved Bossa Nova warming up the crowded yet cozy dining room, it felt more like a party just for two.

My very Last Bites in 2009:

Winter Black Truffle Risotto. Raviolli: Swiss Chard, Mascarpone, Reggiano, Chestnuts.

Foie Gras Terrine, Date Compote, Brioche. Romey Lettuce, Baby Beets, Goat Cheese, Pistachios.

Hokkaido Scallops, Cauliflower, Apple, Gastrique, Vaudouvan Butter.

Fennel, Orange, Pear, Forbidden Rice.

Healthy Family Farms Chicken, Peas, Carrots, Tendrils, Grits.

A5 Grade Australian 100% Wagu eye of RibEye , Pomme Puree, Hearts of Romaine, Bunch Onions, Red Wine

Calvados Brandy Cheesecake (plus lovely Caramel Apple Millefeuill, Apple Walnut Cake and Brown Sugar Ice Cream!) 

Note: This restaurant is now closed. Please follow Chef Menes on Twitter

 

Marché
13355 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 784-2915
Website

Dining Date: 12/31/09 [this page is Visit 4]

Marché [1 & 2]

Marché [3]

Photos of all my dinners at Marché

Update: 3/30/10 Read Jonathan Gold’s Review!

Mentioned Above:

Bozza Nova from Wes Smith and Graham Dechter

All Marché photos on Flickr

More Okinawa Photos

Brasil ’66

Herb Alpert

Astrud Gilberto

Preservation Hall

Bossa Nova defined

Marché [3]

We can’t seem to stay away from our favorite neighborhood bistro! Another fantastic evening Marché Restaurant:

Amuse Bouche: Kumamoto Oyster w/ Minuet Sauce

Pickled Fuyu Persimmon

Perigord Truffle Risotto

Coleman lettuce, baby beets, walnuts, goa cheese, herbs

Arugula, tangerine, pecorino, pistachio, verjus vinaigrette

Sushi grade big eye tuna, baby broccoli, forbidden rice, scallions, shitake, pea tendrils

Creme Brulee & Beignet

Note: This restaurant is now closed. Please follow Chef Menes on Twitter

Marché
13355 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 784-2915
Website

Dining Date: 12/26/09

Update: 3/30/10 Read Jonathan Gold’s Review!

Marché [1 & 2]

New Year’s Eve at Marché [4]

Marché [5 & 6]

Photos from previous dinners at Marché

Marché [1 & 2]

CONGRATULATIONS to chef Gary Menes for the terrific L.A. Times review of Marché Restaurant (link below).

Peter and I have been eating at the Sherman Oaks location for years, and have happily returned to each new incarnation of the restaurant, formerly known as Max.

A few years ago, there was a daily show I watched regularly on cable called “Recipe TV”. It featured chefs from L.A. (as well as other cities) sharing recipes and cooking in their restaurant kitchens. Some of the chefs I enjoyed most were Dave Myers of Sona, Eric Greenspan (before he opened the Foundry) and Andre Guerrero (chef/owner) of Max restaurant in Sherman Oaks.

Since Max was just up the street, Peter and I got a kick out of ordering dishes that we had seen prepared on the show. The restaurant became our nearby “special occasion” place and we even celebrated New Year’s Eve in the elegant dining room one year.

Then in late 2008, Max restaurant was stripped down into a more casual bistro. At first, we were leery of trying out the new menu, but then fell absolutely in love with the Max Black Angus Burger and chicken liver pate’. That became our favorite comfort meal in the valley, and I would shamelessly dip my crispy fries into the creamy potted chicken liver like it was ketchup! French fries and chicken liver… a match made in heaven.

When I read that Max was being retooled, I figured it was the end of our favorite “old new” spot. Until I learned that the new chef had most recently worked at Palate Food + Wine in Glendale, under the helm of the awesome Octavio Becerra.

I’m happy to say, our first visit to the NEW Marché restaurant did not disappoint. Peter and I are looking forward to seeing (and of course TASTING) what’s next on the menu!

What we shared on our first visit:

Coddled Eggs, Summer Truffles

Scallops

Pork Rillette

Salad with Speck, Piedmontese Beef

Pork Belly with Figs

Apple Charlotte

Above Dining Date: 10/2/09

Below Dining Date: 11/28/09

Foie Gras Terrine, brioche au maison

Castelvetrano Olives with orange and pistou. Potted smoked prawns at Marché Restaurant

Local Calamari, Haricots Verts, Shitake, Meyer Lemon

Natural Beef, Potato, Red Wine

Photos from all my visits to Marché

Note: This restaurant is now closed. Please follow Chef Menes on Twitter

Marché L.A.

13355 Ventura Blvd.

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

(818) 784-2915
Website

Marché [3]
New Year’s Eve at Marché [4]

Marché [5 & 6]

Update: 3/30/10 Read Jonathan Gold’s Review!

Mentioned Above:

L.A. Times Marché Review

L.A. Times Article about Max

Dining at Palate Food and Wine

Dining at the former MAX (Angus Burger)

Eva – Sunday Family Dinner

Last weekend, Peter and I spent another lovely evening at Mark Gold’s Eva Restaurant. The “Sunday Family Dinner” menu was sort of the opposite of the regular menu. Instead of the individual modern dishes (and beautiful, precise plating), the Sunday meal was delivered on shared plates and platters, also known as “family style”.

After settling in our table and ordering cocktails, our server set down a crispy pile of mouth-watering fried chicken, heirloom tomatoes, cream corn (so amazing that I had another bowl for dessert), and lots of other tasty surprises too! Including the fact that the $35 per person cost included wine.

If you haven’t been to Eva yet, I recommend you try both the regular menu and the “Sunday Family Dinner”. Both meals were set in a casual and fun atmosphere, but were just completely different (and delicious) dining experiences. 

Joining us for dinner were fellow food blogger/twitter pals, Sam from LAist.com (@SamKimSamkim) and @GourmetPigs, and just like my first visit to Eva, Chef Gold was greeting guests on the front porch when we arrived. The only difference was that this time he had his adorable daughter Eva (the restaurant’s namesake) in his arms. Also, sitting on the porch was Mark’s wonderful mom, who was as warm and inviting as her son (she raised him right!). And just inside the door his wife and family were seated around a table, laughing, eating and enjoying the evening together.

It really was a “Sunday Family Dinner” at Eva! 

Salad: Heirloom Tomato, Crushed Basil

CRISPY, Succulent Fried Chicken

Creamed Corn

Risotto Shrimp Scampi

Cuttlefish with Matsutake Mushrooms & Kyoho Grapes

Cupcakes

Chef Mark Gold holding an almost 20 pound Moroccan Squash

“Sunday Family Dinner” $35 per person (includes wine & dessert!). $20 for kids.
Note: Menu Changes Weekly 

EVA
7458 Beverly Blvd
L.A. California 90036
(323) 634-0700

Dining Date: 9/27/09

Our first dinner at Eva

All About Eva by Jonathan Gold, LA Weekly

Follow Eva Restaurant on Twitter

Website (under construction)

@SamKimSamkim  LAist

@GourmetPigs

All my Eva photos on Flickr

Eva Restaurant [1]

NOTE: This restaurant is unfortunately closed.

Peter and I had an early dinner reservation at Mark Gold’s new Eva restaurant last week. We try to eat early on the weekends, just so I can photograph the food using natural light. There’s no way we can do this during the week, as my sweet (workaholic) hubby never even leaves the office until dark.

When we arrived at the restaurant, I noticed Owner/Chef Mark Gold standing on the inviting porch out front. He was wearing a casual t-shirt, slacks, a warm smile and graciously welcomed us as though we were coming for dinner at his own house.

There are so many times where I’ve read or heard a chef say, “I want the restaurant to feel like you’re in my home”, but this was the first time I actually felt it.

Chef Gold sat us at a cozy table in the back room (which we’re calling the “speakeasy” room), and throughout the meal, he stopped by our table to chat. He noted that the restaurant was “still getting going” (having so recently opened) and apologized if the service was a bit slow. Far from it, we were ordering and happily stuffing our faces in good time.

How was the food? We loved every bite. As you know if you’re a regular MyLastBite reader, if I don’t like it… I simply don’t share it.

What we ate:

Foie Gras, Salted Melon and Maple $13

Burrata Ravioli, Butter Glaze, Summer Truffle, Corn $14

Linguini and Clams: Udon Noodle, Garlic, Bacon, Littleneck Clams $15

Poached Beef, Cauliflower, Chanterelles, Salsa Verde $18

Brown Butter Vanilla Cake $4, Cheese Selection $13

Menu. Note: Nothing over $20

EVA
7458 Beverly Blvd
L.A. California 90036
(323) 634-0700

All About Eva by Jonathan Gold, LA Weekly

Follow Eva Restaurant on Twitter

Website (under construction)

Dining Date: 9/19/09

Eva visit #2

Mark Gold’s Eva Restaurant gets 2.5 stars from L.A. Times! Congratulations. Well deserved!! Read more