Animal’s Loco Moco

I first tried Loco Moco back in 2003 while on vacation with my husband in Hawaii. It was Peter’s first visit to the islands, and I insisted that we stay at the Ilikai Hotel on Oahu. I’ve always been a huge fan of  “Hawaii Five-O”, and if you remember the opening credits with the cool, balcony shot of Jack Lord (aka the legendary Steve McGarrett!), then you’ll recognize the Ilikai Hotel. We had such a fun time visiting random locations from the show, and we definitely made an effort to eat like the locals.

Our favorite dish was (of course) the Loco Moco. The traditional version is made with white rice, hamburger, fried eggs and brown gravy. We first ordered the burger version for breakfast at our hotel, and also tried a SPAM version (instead of beef) that I loved.

It’s been almost six years since I enjoyed that first plate of Loco Moco and I guess I just never thought about searching it out in Los Angeles. So when I read about Animal’s version on TastingTable last week, my heart skipped a beat and I sent Peter a text: “WE NEED TO GET TO ANIMAL NOW!”

Animal’s Loco Moco (below) is anything but “traditional”, and should probably be called “Beyond Loco Moco”, or simply “WHACK”! The dish exemplifies the reason I love Animal so much… because chefs Vinny and Jon are absolutely FEARLESS. Their version doesn’t come with just the burger or a piece of SPAM. It comes with BOTH, and they top it off with an insanely decadent piece of seared foie gras and a fried quail egg.

It was so good that Peter and I couldn’t stop laughing while we ate it! You know, that guilty “we should be ashamed but we’re NOT” sort of laughing. I can still taste the runny egg yolk spilling over the seared foie gras, through the crispy spam and tender beef, then down to the bottom of the gravy soaked rice. 

Of course it was rich… and I admit that I made sure Peter and I both took our 81 grams of heart-healthy aspirin afterwards. A few days later, I’m pretty certain I still haven’t worked off the calories, but it was SO worth it! Foie Gras Loco Moco, Quail Egg, SPAM, Niman Ranch Burger, Anson Mills Gold Rice, $35

I try to order only new things when we eat at Animal, but Peter insisted on getting his favorite Crispy Hominy and Lime! $5

Along with the Loco Moco we did select a light and healthy dish (above) that we loved. The palate-cleansing and refreshing Sliced Fluke, Citrus, Mint, Sea Salt & Jalapeno, $12. (See? They make healthy dishes too!)

[Visit #11)

Animal Restaurant
http://www.animalrestaurant.com
435 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 782-9225

Mentioned Above:

Tasting Table

Opening Scene of Hawaii Five-O

Ilikai Hotel

More SPAM

Loco Moco on Wikipedia

A few more Hawaii Photos:
   

< Animal Visit #10

Written by Jo Stougaard ©MyLastBite.com All Rights Reserved.
No usage allowed including copying or sharing without written permission.

Animal [10]

I was a little worried about taking our friends, Ron and Diane, to Animal over the weekend. Ever since my first visit to the restaurant last summer, I’d been raving, ranting and downright praising the food heavens for bringing us Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo. Not only because everything they cook is delicious and adventurous (link to previous posts & photos below), but also the profound sentimentality I feel when I eat it. The food at Animal reminds me of my dad’s cooking and since he lives far away in Scotland, a meal at Animal makes me feel closer to him. A little silly I know, but that’s the magic of food and memories.

For our dinner last Saturday, our server was someone new (to us). Joshua was sweet and very helpful, especially when we were deciding which wine would go with our various dishes. After we tasted a couple of different glasses, we selected the La Salette Valpolicella (Italy) 2006, $54. The new manager, Asher, was also very gracious and made sure I went back to see the guys in the kitchen (I missed them!). Jon (chef & co-owner) came out to say hi to Peter and meet our friends, then had to get back on the line for the busy dinner service.

After Joshua took our orders, I was still a little concerned about Ron and Diane. They’ve eaten in the best foodie towns in the world… from Le Bernardin in New York, to the freshest sashimi in Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market. Would Animal be good enough for them? Maybe I overhyped it. Maybe the food wouldn’t be “refined” enough for them.

I need not have fretted of course because, just like me… they LOVED every bite. 

What we ate:

Fried Chicken Livers w/ Jalapeno Slaw $7

Pork Belly, Kimchi, Peanuts, Chili, Soy Sauce & Scallions $11

Rabbit & Kale Ravioli w/ Truffle Butter & Parmesan $22. (This dish forced me to have bad table manners because after finishing the ravioli, I couldn’t stop dipping my finger into the truffle butter sauce!)

Flatiron Steak w/ Mash, Foie Gras Sauce, & Roasted Cipollini Onions $28

Mexican Shrimp, Fennel, Olives, Tomato, Borlotti Beans & Green Garlic $26

Duck breast with parsnip, apples, bacon, butternut squash & red wine $25

Bacon Chocolate Crunch Bar w/ S&P Anglaise $8, Tres Leches Cake $7, Joe’s Doughnuts w/ Apple & Caramel $8

A close up of Joe’s Doughnuts w/ Apple & Caramel $8 (As Bourdain would say…”these are purely EVIL… but in a GOOD way”)

We also ordered: Crispy Hominy with lime $5 (Ron said he loved it, and he could imagine movie theaters selling fried hominy by the bucket!)
and
Melted Petit Basque with Chorizo and Garlic Bread $11

Dining Date: 2/7/09

<- Visits 8 & 9

– > Visit 11

Animal Restaurant
435 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 782-9225
Website

Mentioned Above:

Tsukiji Fish Market

Le Bernardin

La Salette Wines

Bourdain

Eater L.A.

With my dad in Scotland

 

Animal [8 & 9]

12/13/08 Dinner with Peter and Julian.

New dishes we really enjoyed were King Crab Legs, Sweetbreads, Hush Puppies & Tabasco Butter, $22

and

Flat Iron Steak, PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon) Fondue, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, $25

 12/31/08 Foie Gras on a Biscuit with Maple Sausage Gravy. Officially “MyLastBite” of 2008.

Animal Restaurant
http://www.animalrestaurant.com
435 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 782-9225

Dining Dates:
12/13/08
12/31/08

-> Visit #10

<- Visit #7

Animal [5 & 6]

Visit #5 and #6

10/5/08

Dinner with Dean & Steph. Foie Gras on Biscuits and Gravy! Hooray! It was so worth the wait. This was by far my favorite Foie Gras dish EVER! Thanks Vinny!!!!

10/30/08
Back at Animal Restaurant last night. This time with my girlfriend Laur and our production designer neighbor, Nelson. My husband had band practice… which was a shame because he really missed out on a great evening!The three of us shared five appetizers and two entrees… plus dessert. I know, I know… it was an absolute glutton-fest. But the food is SO AMAZING at Animal, that you don’t care if your brain tells you that you’re full. You don’t care if you have to secretly undo the top button of your pants at the table. You don’t care if you need to recline in the car on the way home because you can’t breathe… The food is THAT GOOD.

My favorites from last night’s dinner…
Grouper, King Crab, Tabasco Butter with Gold Rice Succcotash & Cipollini$28
I didn’t think anything could top my Animal favorites… the Foie on Biscuits & Gravy or the Raw Amberjack, but this super grouper did it. 

Red Fish Crudo, Blueberry, Serrano Chili, Apple Slaw $14
Beautiful, clean and tart. Just as tasty as my beloved Amberjack! 

Poutine, Ox-tail Gravy, Vermont Cheddar $12
In these tough economic times, I wish everyone could feel as good as I did whilst happily working my way through this plate of comforting goodness. Poutine are traditionally made with cheese curds, but chef Vinny wasn’t happy with curds that were locally avail, so he went for Vermont cheddar. You know when you eat something and you sort of feel like you want to cry? It was that sort of contentment.

Dining Date 10/5/08 and 10/30/08

– > Visit #7

<- Visits 3 & 4

 

Animal Restaurant
435 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 782-9225

http://www.animalrestaurant.com

Animal [3 & 4]

Visit #3 and #4

We had another fantastic dinner at Animal last night with our friends Adela, Andrew and Jodi. 

My favorite was the Foie Gras & Strawberries, Brioche and Mache $20.

9/21/08 Dinner at Animal with my nephew Cody and his girlfriend Jade… and friends Bob, Andrew & Clara. It was such a treat to have Cody there. He is by far my favorite eating partner! We especially loved the Pork Belly and the massive “109” Steak. Chefs Vin and Jon both came around to chat with our group. Love those guys!

The “109” Steak, Foie Gras Sauce and Mash $70

Pork Belly, Kimchi $10

– > Visits 5 & 6

<- Visit 2

Animal Restaurant
435 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 782-9225

http://www.animalrestaurant.com

Dining Date 9/6/08 and 9/21/08

Animal [2]

We loved Animal so much that we went back the next night! Everything was AMAZING but my favorites were the ooey, gooey petit basque and the melt-in-your-mouth flat iron steak.

Melted Petite Basque Cheese, Flame Grapes, Rocket & Pinenuts $9

Grilled Quail, Lemon, Pigweed & Garlic $10

Pork Chop, Wax Beans, Squash, Lipstick & Pimento Peppers, Garbanzo $28

Flatiron Steak, Potato, Corn & Grilled Torpedo Onion Hash, Ox-tail Bordelaise $25

Macerated Strawberries, Cream, Toasted Pound Cake $8

Dining Date 8/30/08

– > Animal Visit 3 & 4

<- Animal Visit 1

Animal Restaurant
http://www.animalrestaurant.com
435 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 782-9225