My new favorite PORK dish.
Check out The Bellwether, in my L.A. Times scouting report!
Tag Archives: los angeles
The Bellwether
Filed under Eating Out, Little Bites
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).
Filed under Eating Out
Perfecto Rocher’s Paella
I can’t stop thinking about this lobster paella by Perfect Rocher. It’s only available on Sundays at Smoke, Oil, Salt on Melrose in Hollywood.
Read Jonathan Gold’s review here, and do go if you’ve never had authentic paella. It’s simply life-changing!
Paella de Llamatol with Patagonia Shrimp, Garlic Lemon Aioli, Bomba
Photo by Jo Stougaard
Filed under Eating Out, Little Bites
First Look: Petit Trois by Jo Stougaard
Read my L.A. Times piece about the Petit Trois opening here.
Filed under Eating Out, L.A. Times, Little Bites
SPAGO
It may be a surprise to some, but I don’t attend very many hosted (free) dinners. Like most food writers, I get email invites from restaurant PR firms often, and if I wanted to, I could eat gratis (lunch AND dinner) practically every day of the week.
The fact is, Peter and I are happy to pay for good food and love supporting chefs and restaurants, especially here in Los Angeles.
From a local burger joint to the best restaurant in town, we enjoy (and usually pay for) it all. We don’t have children (except our pups of course!), so our disposable income goes towards food and travel.
Throughout the year we’ll attend a few “friends and family” meals (restaurant pre-opening dinners), grand openings and the occasional new menu preview. In exchange for blog coverage (more importantly, twitter coverage), we have the pleasure of sharing a beautiful meal at the courtesy of the restaurant. NOTE: We ALWAYS make sure to leave a hefty tip for the staff.
Wolfgang Puck’s legendary SPAGO restaurant went through a major remodel in 2012, so I was thrilled to get an invite for Peter and myself recently.
About the remodel (from Spago’s website):
Wolfgang Puck and Barbara Lazaroff’s legendary, flagship restaurant features a completely new menu and design. The master chef, along with Executive Chef and Managing Partner Lee Hefter, has re-invented the entire menu with his signature farm-to-table philosophy, heightening the iconic California cuisine Puck catapulted to stardom. Spago’s new design from Waldo Fernandez complements the food with its clean and simple aesthetic, incorporating natural elements to add an organic feel.
The California Tasting Menu was, as expected, quite exquisite. My favorite dish was actually the one I was LEAST excited about when perusing the menu. If you’re dining at SPAGO and see “Savory Oatmeal” listed anywhere, please do not dismiss it like I did. I still can’t stop thinking about the comforting texture (from the wild nettle), the subtle spiciness (from the ‘Nduja) mixed together with the uni’s awesomely, creamy funk.
Hoping to spoil mom for Mother’s Day? Check out the incredible brunch menu (with over 25 choices) here. Dishes include Ricotta-Lemon Blintzes with Wild Huckleberry Compote (for her sweet tooth) and Veal Filet Mignon Tartare with Warm Tarragon Vinaigrette. The cost is $70 per person for three courses (a bargain at SPAGO!), $35 per child (under 9 years). This is the only brunch scheduled for the entire year and begins at 11am until 2:30pm, Sunday, May 11, 2014.
My photos from SPAGO’s Spring “California Tasting Menu”
Bread service includes the lavash cracker with pumpkin seeds.
Sterling Farm’s White Sturgeon Caviar with “Sunny side up egg” (egg white caviar, egg yolk jam), Rye Crisp, Potato Chip Espuma.
California Abalone, Nagatoshi Farm’s Cucumber Sorbet with Clarified Gazpacho.
Closeup shot.
White Nettle Savory Oatmeal w Uni, ‘Nduja Sausage, Mushroom Emulsion, Garlic Flower.
Another photo of the uni oatmeal.
“Arare” Rice cracker-crusted Santa Barbara Spot Prawns, Thai Red Curry, Coconut Emulsion, Eggplant Compote, Cilantro Blossom, Basil Caviar.
Hand Made Agnolotti with McGrath Farm’s English Peas, Parmigiana Reggiano.
Genmai Tea Smoked Liberty Duck Breast with Burdock Root, Fava Beans, Wild Flowers, Miso Cured Egg Yolk Powder.
Sonoma Spring Lamb Rack and Braised Bell with Spring Vegetables, Cumin-Carrot Puree.
A few of the wines on Spago’s Spring Tasting Menu:
Caraccioli Brut Rose paired with abalone.
Wind Gap Trousseau Gris paired with savory oatmeal & uni.
Galerie Sauv Blanc paired with prawn.
Wenzlau Chardonnay paired with agnolotti.
Black Kite Pinot Noir paired with duck.
Araujo Cabernet paired with lamb.
Unfortunately I was too full for sweets! (Lucky Peter!)
SPAGO
176 North Canon Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 385-0880
website
Dining date: 4/23/14
California (April 2014) Tasting Menu $145 pp
California Wine $75 pp
This meal was hosted.
Filed under Eating Out
Faith and Flower
Faith and Flower restaurant opens tonight (3/31/14) in downtown L.A. It’s beautiful, quite plush but not too pricey for such a grand space.
Two of my favorite dishes were the Eggs Benedict Pizza topped with Smoked Bacon, Spinach, Hollandaise Sauce and also the Oxtail Agnolotti with Bone Marrow Butter, Tangerine Salsa and Beef Tendon Chicharrones.
I still can’t stop thinking about the English Milk Punch Cocktail. It’s made with a milk clarification, which takes three days to make. Ingredients include Appleton & Bacardi 8 Rums, Bulleit Bourbon, Batavia Arrack, Pernod Absinthe, Pineapple and Sencha Tea.
Read all about the opening here at L.A. Times.
I’ve posted lots of photos from last night’s preview dinner here. Enjoy!
Follow Faith and Flower on twitter
Huge CONGRATS to my friend (and co-owner) Stephane Bombet. You’ve done it again Stephane!
Filed under Eating Out, Little Bites
Trois Mec
Chef Ludo Lefebvre’s Potato Pulp
I’ve had the pleasure of eating at Trois Mec restaurant several times, and before each visit I secretly hope the potato pulp is still on the menu. Ludo serves it with brown butter, bonito, onion soubise and salers cheese. Of course brown butter makes anything taste better, but it’s Ludo‘s brilliant use of bonito flakes (aka katsuobushi) that takes the dish to a whole new level. No wonder Jonathan Gold named it one of his 10 best dishes of 2013!
My new favorite (besides the potato) is the luxurious plate of avocado, citrus and crab. Check out the photos from a recent visit here.
Trois Mec
716 N. Highland Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
There is no phone for Trois Mec.
For ticket inquiries email info@troismec.com
Website
Note: Trois Mec is an incredibly difficult reservation to get, but absolutely worth the trouble. If you’re interested, review the FAQ page here.
Read Jonathan Gold’s L.A. Times Trois Mec review here.
Follow Chef Ludo on twitter @ChefLudo
Ludo’s personal website
Filed under Eating Out, Little Bites
Badmaash Indian Gastropub
I went for the Chicken Tikka Poutine.
and
Spiced Mango Pork Belly
But I loved the traditional Indian dishes too! Badmaash is a fun spot with terrific food and great service. Worth a try the next time you’re in downtown L.A.
More photos here.
BadmaashLA
108 West 2nd Street #104
Los Angeles, California 90012
Telephone: (213) 221-7466
Filed under Eating Out, Little Bites
HomeState
Texas Comfort Food in Los Angeles?
Why YES at HomeState!
Lots of tasty photo HERE (including my new, favorite salad in town)
Photo above: LONESTAR Migas w crispy corn strips scrambled with eggs, shredded brisket, pico de gallo.
Filed under Eating Out
my last bite... 