Silver Lake Boulevard

Echo Park: Two Boots and Ice Cream Store Update

2008-12-11T23:09:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe Two Boots has not opened yet! They've been working on it since July of 2007, when I wrote about it here. I passed by the other day after the Holiday Craftacular at the Echoplex and mimed "I want to eat a piece a pizza" to the people working inside. A woman mimed back that they would open in two or three weeks. Torture!

As I peeked inside the soon-to-be ice cream store, the nice gentlemen working on the project let me know that unfortunately the ice cream store will not be, at least for now. The space will house a vintage clothing store - just what Echo Park does not need! Our little family would LOVE a cozy ice cream home in EP. The building owner said he tried unsuccessfully to get Pazzo Gelato but they didn't go for it, too bad!

(These are somewhat outdated pics by the way. It presently looks like it's ready to go!)

Mother's Day Brunch - For Moms and Moms-To-Be

2008-05-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

I can't imagine we're going to be entertaining much post-baby, so M and I were eager to host Mother's Day brunch at our home. We went for sweet and savory, with a french toast casserole, arugula, sausage, and gruyere frittata, and a green salad.
The french toast casserole was a risky experiment as I loathe Paula Deen and this is one of her famous recipes. I read that the topping can be too rich but I thought my family could handle it (and they did!). Super easy and made the night before, this dish is a keeper.
M whipped up his delicious frittatas which were light, just salty enough and balanced out the sweetness of the casserole.
After a leisurely rest, we had dessert, fresh fruit and unsweetened whipped cream.

As the sunlight streamed in, we toasted the morning with guava and mango champagne cocktails (and water for me) and celebrated moms and moms-to-be everywhere!

The Park - Echo Park

2008-05-19T17:54:00.000-07:00

For one of my last pre-baby dinners, tried The Park the other night with Portia. While our food took a tad long coming out of the kitchen, all in all it's a great addition to Echo Park. The Park is small, loud, and moderately priced and reminded me of a NY-type of establishment. As more and more restaurants move into the hood that are out of our "prepare for baby budget" (ahem, Lot 1), The Park's price points are appreciated, especially given the size of their generous portions.

Just Another Last Minute Reservation at Pizzeria Mozza!

2008-04-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

It was meant to be. Gail, knowing us so well, recently got us a Mozza gift card for our 2nd wedding anniversary. We've been going back and forth trying to decide when to use it: pre- or post-baby? I'm sure we'll definitely need a night out after too long with our little one but who's to say when that will actually be able to happen. We're really trying to save $ right now in preparation for baby, so a great dinner out on Gail seems perfectly suited to now. (For more on pre-baby dining quests, see Jonah's extensive posts at la.foodblogging here.)

Our stomachs spoke. M wanted to go to some opening at a gallery on Crescent Heights and Beverly, so Mozza came to mind. After I got home from work we gave them a ring and miraculously they had a 6:15 reservation for us! Yay!

Perfect as usual. We ordered the brussels sprouts which we adore. Like candy. Since I'm pregnant, cured meats are out the window which means the prosciutto bread crumbs are not an option. Honestly, they don't even need them, they're that good. But M gets all of the crumbs, so he's a happy one. We also got the beets with horseradish, which they've been out of the last few times we've been. Really fresh, bright, and sharp. And so Passover appropriate!

Choosing a pizza is especially challenging on the pregnancy diet as almost all of their heavenly pies have some sort of sausage (the lovely fennel sausage - nitrates), cured meat (guanciale, speck, salame - nitrates/nitrites), or blue cheese. So we got what we got last time and enjoyed it just as much: the rapini, cherry tomato, anchovy, olives, and chiles. Divine! The anchovies are packed with Omega 3's which are great for our Lambchop's brain and eye development and they're low in mercury so highly recommended. The pizza was slightly spicy, salty, and just so good. I could have easily eaten four more.

The best part? We have enough left over on the gift card for at least one more dinner! Thanks again Gail!

(picture courtesy of: http://www.bunrab.com/dailyfeed/2007February/dailyfeed_february-07_p3.html)

Dine Out for a Good Cause - 4/17/08

2008-04-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

Eating out just to satisfy your hunger? So yesterday. Tomorrow, eat out for a good cause: Dine Out Los Angeles is a one-day LA-wide event where 20% of profits from a bunch of restaurants will go to Aid for Aids. This West Hollywood charity helps prevent hunger and homelessness among people with HIV/AIDS. Participating restaurants in the hood include:

Masa
Cha Cha Cha
Cliff's Edge
Casita Del Campo
Brooklyn Bagel Company (love their fresh out of the oven bagels!)

Go on, get eating!

Dine Out LA

Silver Lake/Echo Park Updates: Andiamo and Two Boots

2008-03-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

As we've seen time and time again, everything's ready to go at Andiamo except the red tape. I checked in with Anthony (the owner?) a couple weeks ago and he was still waiting for a series of bureaucratic oks. But the menu looks promising (you can check it out here) and it's Pomodoro-esque inside: cute, small, simple and sleek. I'd say it's any day now and not a day too soon! With Michelangelo's supposedly on its way out, we're looking forward to a new Italian in the hood. Also, my husband noticed orange vespas outside... we're thinking they're the delivery vehicles.

I've been meaning to post about Two Boots for a while now. There's been an enormous dumpster outside the future Two Boots for the past few weeks collecting the innards of whatever was there previously. But it seems like it has a long way to go. Phil Hartman, one of the two owners, reported back in February that they're shooting for a late spring opening. Who knows how great it will be (mixed reviews run rampant in NY) one would think that its location next to the Echo/Echoplex will make it a success.

Bittman's Macaroons

2008-02-17T11:00:00.000-08:00

Made these babies while in a Valentine's baking mood last week. While they looked just golden and beautiful naked, I felt the need to enrobe them in some bittersweet chocolate. Hubby and coworkers thought they looked like little volcanos, while two coworkers thought they resembled breasts. As breastfeeding is on our horizon, perhaps that's where my subconscious was.

Anyhow, they were fabulous and incredibly easy and quick to prepare. They are officially on the menu for Passover this year.

http://bitten.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/recipe-of-the-day-the-ultimate-minimalist-macaroon/

I Love Sue Moore and her Dogs

2008-02-09T15:32:00.000-08:00

God, I just love Sue Moore.
Here I thought that pregnancy would mean living without hot dogs for nine months as most are preserved with nitrites/nitrates. But no, here comes Sue, former meat forager for Chez Panisse, of Let's Be Frank with her incredible dogs made from the best grass-fed beef. Not only are they lacking scary hormones and antibiotics and no-no nitrites/nitrates but they're also packed with 600mg of Omega 3's which are awesome for my tiny one's brain development. And the best part? They're really, really good. So good it's almost impossible to stop at just one. Sue serves these beauties with caramelized onions and the softest bun along with other traditional fixins. And she must be one of the friendliest folks you could ever meet. You can find Sweet Sue and her cart in the Helms Bakery Complex.

Helms Ave
between Washington Blvd and Venice Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034 (888) 233-7265

www.letsbefrankdogs.com

Almost Guilt-Free Peanut Putter Parfait

2008-01-31T18:43:00.000-08:00

Officially, my new favorite dessert is peanut butter parfait made with Fage 0% yogurt and organic peanut butter. Would I rather have a hot fudge sundae? Most likely. But this little lady is really trying to watch it and so the peanut butter parfait was born. Now I must say that the decadent creaminess of Fage yogurt is certainly the secret to this dessert's success. When I'm craving a little texture, I throw in a couple of Fabe's peanut butter cookies which are sweetened with white grape juice. I'm in love. Try it, you'll see what I'm talking about.

Peanut Butter Parfait
1 5.3 oz container of Fage 0% yogurt
1 small spoonful of organic peanut butter (you don't have to go crazy with the PB to have a strong flavor)
2 Fabe's sugar-free peanut butter cookies (optional)

Stir all ingredients and enjoy.

The Search for Chicken Soup in the Hood is Over: Rodeo Mexican Grill

2007-12-13T17:37:00.000-08:00

So my honey had a wretched case of some sort of food poisoning throughout the night. I'll spare you the details. After spending the day sleeping and drinking water, he finally got his appetite back and was craving chicken soup.

But the age old question: where to go in Echo Park/Silver Lake for a soothing bowl of chicken soup? He remembered noticing that Rodeo Grill, a Mexican place he frequents often, had such a soup. So off I went to Rodeo. Honestly, we weren't expecting much. I guess we just think of Rodeo for burritos, taquitos, etc.

Would you believe that they serve an absolutely delicious chicken soup, loaded with hunks of potatoes, squash, and chicken? It's true. Delicately flavored with cilantro and not too salty, we have found our local cold/flu/under the weather potion!

Canele + Neko Case = Pre-Birthday Dinner and a Show

2007-11-17T09:04:00.000-08:00

Why had we forgotten about Canele? There's no good reason. After all, it's a superb neighborhood restaurant that's super close to us, affordable, uses farm fresh produce and happy meats (those raised without hormones, antibiotics, free to roam, etc.) and consistently turns out excellent dishes.

Sure, the staff sometimes seem a little in over their heads and there's that no reservation policy leading to waits if you get there at a prime time. But this is a neighborhood spot so I'm not looking for polished perfection. We've been twice in the last week, wowed both times by the food and proud to show it off to my in-laws from Berkeley.

Last Sunday, I started with a silky and sweet winter squash soup with dates and a tiny dollop of creme fraiche. It fit the cool fall night wonderfully. The choice of the roasted chicken with a corn pancake was a wise one. We ended the night with Canele's flourless chocolate cake with a slightly orange flavored candy on top and served with a huge portion of vanilla ice cream. It was soon clear that a second was in order and luckily they were happy to comply.
I have to say it's quite satisfying to be able to say thank you and good night to chef Corina thanks to Canele's open kitchen. Having worked in restaurants where the kitchens were filled with cantankerous characters and almost violent verbal and physical exchanges, it's quite a pleasure to watch the calm and pleasant kitchen staff at Canele.
Last night, I started with the Farmer's Market salad of greens, finely sliced shallots, and a creme fraiche dressing. Simple, yet irresistible. Max tried the Pissaladiere, a lovely onion tart. We shared the pork chop, again just lovely with a smooth apple compote, sauteed greens, and braised cippolini onions. And just to go over the top, we tried the pommes anna, a classic potato dish. Finishing again with the chocolate cake, we were off to Walt Disney Hall to see Neko Case, my birthday present from Max.

Even though we were in the nose bleed section of WDMH, Neko's voice radiated beautifully throughout the space. Her humble demeanor and cute sense of humor made the night feel intimate and small, even though it's a spacious venue. The first time we saw her, she was opening up for Willie Nelson at the Bowl. While her performance was good, the Bowl kind of swallowed her up. At Disney Hall however, Neko was able to beam her voice into every corner and I swear I could have listened to her for so many more hours. After two encores, the show was over and a fabulous pre-birthday evening came to a close.

Yes, Intelligentsia Was Worth the Wait

2007-08-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, so Intelligentsia officially opened their doors on Friday at noon slowly building into a hectic yet family-friendly and happy evening community gathering in their new home of Silver Lake.
As we made our approach to the grand opening party, I was struck by the, forgive me, good vibes emanating from the small groups laughing, smiling, chatting, eating and drinking, and just welcoming Intelligentsia with a warm embrace. The great dj, fruit and cheese nibbles, and free coffee drinks certainly helped put everyone in a giddy mood. The staff were understandably overwhelmed as the place was hopping. But they were genuinely friendly and expert coffee crafters.

M and I gravitated toward the famous Clover machines where two Intelligentsia guys were constantly brewing for the endless people in line. I knew it may be a pain in the tuchas, but there's no way this little lady could drink caffeine at 7pm so I asked if I could order a decaf coffee from the Clover. The nice guy who was helping us happily accommodated my request even though I could tell it threw them off for a moment. The coffee was grand, rich, and wonderful.

This morning we headed back after yoga and before the area was crazy as this is Sunset Junction weekend. Much more mellow and amazingly already a community hub with young families and a colorful assortment of Silver Lakers enjoying their Sunday morning. Already way overheated, I ordered an iced latte. Whoa, this was unlike any iced latte I had ever consumed: The espresso was strong without any bitterness and it had the most subtle creaminess. Exceptional. My own little coffee snob who adored Intelligentsia during his Chicago days reported this morning's latte was as good as he remembered with a beautifully formed foam.

I love the people who work here too. They remind me of my favorite book store staffers: knowledgeable, friendly, authentic, and take pride in their work. I love their patio with an incredible tile. This is not Starbucks, friends. This is a true blue gem. Thankfully they picked our little Silver Lake to settle in.

Santa Barbara With Mom

2007-08-15T18:53:00.000-07:00

My Mom's husband's annual pilgrimage is Hot August Nights, a 10 day classic car extravaganza in Reno. Mom and I usually use his trip as an excuse for a girls getaway, just the two of us and this year we spent a couple nights in Santa Barbara.

Our first meal was dinner at Opal on State, a warm little bistro. Starting with cocktails, I had the Mexico City (Hornitos tequila, cranberry juice, lime, and triple sec) and Mom had a ginger mandarin cosmo. Both were excellent and potent. We shared four courses: the phyllo wrapped tiger prawns with a coconut curry dipping sauce to start, followed by a caesar and a salmon encrusted with crab meat. For dessert, a fabulous jack daniel's bittersweet chocolate creme brulee.
Overall, Opal was just fine, not amazing but good enough. Highlights were the cocktails which were creative, delicious, and strong and the dessert. Our server was a sweetie, the rest of the staff were friendly and conscientious, and the space was warm and inviting.

On Saturday morning, after a long walk along the harbor, we headed over to the Tupelo Junction Cafe on State for breakfast. I had been once before with Germ so I knew Mom would love its homey interior and Southern-influenced dishes. We split the smoked salmon, scallion, and cream cheese scramble with a toasted bagel which was good, I just wished they would have mentioned that it's actually a bagel sandwich. Not a big deal but the scramble made the bagel slightly soggy and a tad hard to eat. But the flavors were there and, all in all, we both enjoyed it. A side of fruit made our breakfast a little more healthy, though Mom isn't a fan of fruit in general - crazy, I know!
After a big breakfast and a stroll along State, we made a stop at the Paradise Cafe, one of my all-time favorites, for a snack and a glass of wine. The Paradise is quintessential Santa Barbara: garden patio with flowers and wrought iron, sunny servers, leisurely meals of oak-grilled fish, steak, or their too good burgers. I pray to the restaurant gods that the Paradise never closes (unlike the Earthling Bookshop, my old love driven out by Borders...but I digress).

As it was 3pm with dinner on the horizon, we split the grilled shrimp served over red and green salsas. Beautifully and simply prepared, smoky from the oak grill.
For dinner, we were having a hard time deciding between the Palace, an old favorite and Square One, coincidentally doors away from each other. The Palace is always a rambunctious time with cajun cuisine in a New Orleans-themed setting. But Square One is fairly new, has an ambitious menu, and seemed like a must. Square One was able to fit us in last-minute so we hurried over.

The scene at Square One is serene and elegant yet laid back. Mom and I shared four courses: Sweet Corn Soup Three Ways, Little Gem Salad, Filet of Beef, and Duo of Bananas.

I'd say our favorites were the Sweet Corn Soup Three Ways - corn-bacon succotash, corn custard, spiced corn froth and the dessert. Not only did the soup look stunning, it tasted incredible. And the dessert was innovative, beautiful, and delicious.

The Little Gem Salad, with anchovy-caper relish, black pepper tuile, parmesan, and garlic dressing tasted suspiciously like an ordinary caesar. And the filet, wrapped with house smoked bacon, escargot bourguignonne, and pommes maxim, was sadly just ok. I'm glad we tried it, but next time we'll go for the party and the beignets at the Palace.

Dinner ended pretty early so we were able to stroll down to the Arlington for the last showing of the "Bourne Ultimatum" which, to the surprise of our guys, we loved. And the Arlington is just gorgeous.
The weekend's last breakfast, much to my mother's dismay, was a breakfast burrito at the Cantina in Isla Vista. I know some of my college ladies think Cantina breakfast burritos are heaven on earth and, truth be told, back in the days of hungover mornings they were pretty wonderful.
But now that we have Villa Corona in our back yard, I have to say our Cantina burrito was just ok. It did bring back memories, especially when followed by a lovely walk around IV, to the Co-op, down DP, and through Anisq' Oyo park. We ended up at Sands beach relaxing under the sun and relishing our time together.

Tupelo Junction Cafe
1218 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA
Opal Restaurant & Bar
1325 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA
Square One
14 E Cota St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA
Cantina
966 Embarcadero del Mar, Goleta, CA 93117, USA
Paradise Cafe
702 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA

Viva Hot Vegas - Part One

2007-08-04T15:41:00.000-07:00

We are never going back to Las Vegas.

I've always thought it was too noisy, smoky, and filled with an overabundance of extremely obnoxious people. But it had been a few years and I was lured in by the possibility of restaurant adventures. While the Guy Savoy and Joel Robuchon's of the world were out of our reach, there were plenty of other middle of the road spots to keep us busy.

Long story short: We made a fateful decision to walk around in the 117 degree heat, I developed heat stroke, and left early. On the upside we had some great meals, our hotel room was cheap (I got a ridiculous deal online) and lovely, and we didn't lose any money on gambling.

But onto the trip report:

We stayed on the 31st floor of the Paris Hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower and the Bellagio Fountains.

Our flight arrived at 8am so we were ready for breakfast which consisted of a chocolate croissant and a couple coffees at the Lenotre Patisserie in our hotel. The croissant was so-so, but it eased us into our first morning.
After we settled into our room we gambled a bit and then walked to Mario Batali's casual place at the Venetian. Our first long walk which wasn't in terms of distance but the heat and the crowds made it exhausting. Enoteca San Marco's menu is similar to Mozza, is set in the middle of the Venetian near the canals and the piazza, and it's beautiful in a surreal way.

M had an iced tea served with a tiny carafe of simple syrup. Loved this!

Do you see what I mean about it being surreal? It's charming, pretty, and totally fake

For our first course, we tried the Insalata di Acetaia, red oak lettuce, egg, prosciutto, cherry tomatoes, pecorino, and sweet balsamic. Sweet, salty, meaty, green. Excellent.

Moved onto the pancetta and goat cheese pizza with tomato, carmelized onions, and Coach Farm cheese. Again sweet, tangy, and quite rich.

As usual, the service was pure Batali: smart, impeccable, knew every inch of the menu, and sweet and authentic.
As we were heading out we noticed there was a Bouchon Bakery. Having room for a post-lunch dessert, we grabbed a vanilla eclair. As you can probably guess, it was perfect.
On our way back to the Paris, we stopped by the Flamingo to see the tribute to Bugsy Siegal, who built the hotel which opened in 1946 and started the first Vegas building craze.

Home sweet home.

To be continued....Mesa Grill, Lotus of Siam, Jean Phillipe Patisserie, and Bouchon.

"15" - New Italian in Echo Park

2007-08-04T10:07:00.000-07:00

I thought the news that Two Boots was coming to Echo Park was exciting, but I'm really looking forward to the prospect of a cozy and sparkling new Italian spot in our neck of the woods. As I was leaving Walgreen's this morning, I noticed the space that formerly housed Burrito King had its arches filled in, is painted a deep brown and looked suspiciously sleek.

Pulling over for a closer look I chatted with a couple of friendly construction guys who filled me in on some basic details. 15 is going to serve Italian cuisine and is scheduled to open on August 13. According to my sources, 15 is the owner's lucky number therefore it has become the name of his/her new restaurant. Questions remain: Who is the owner and is this their first restaurant? What's on the menu? Is this the beginning of a transformation of this corner of EP?

As an Eastsider who is enjoying this eastward movement of yummy new spots (Elf Cafe, etc.), I am anxiously awaiting the opening of 15 and will, of course, report back with a review.

Breakfast Burritos at Tacos Villa Corona

2007-07-30T22:03:00.000-07:00

I am not a breakfast person. Don't get me wrong, I eat my Kashi oatmeal every morning at work and we usually have some cereal or toast on the weekends. But big, heavy breakfasts confound me.

However, there is one exception and that would be the breakfast burrito at Tacos Villa Corona in Atwater Village. While we usually only eat them every once in a while, they are almost always amazingly good. Max and I like to share the basic with spinach and chorizo which is more than enough for us. This past Saturday we were in the mood and the boys did not disappoint (though they did use bacon, not chorizo).

Kwik-E-Mart - Who Knew?

2007-07-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

We were already in the Valley Saturday morning, so I was able to convince Max to come with me to Burbank to visit the Kwik-E-Mart, otherwise known as 7-11 dressed up for the Simpson's movie opening. Gimmicky yes, but irresitable. But who knew it would be so crazy? I thought we'd just stroll in for a quickie look around. Fat chance. There was a line around the corner and when we finally got inside the owner reported similar long lines every day for the last two weeks until 2am! It was a kick and we got ourselves a pink frosted donut, two 6-packs of Buzz cola, and a Squishee.

NY Pizza Invasion Continues: Two Boots Pizza Coming To Echo Park

2007-07-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

Say what you will about the blogosphere, I love my regular Eastside blog stops: Atwater Village Newbie, Franklin Avenue, Chicken Corner (a great Echo Park blog), and the Echo Park Historical Society. Catching up on the latest Echo Park news, I noticed this post on EPHS's blog:

The owners of this commercial building on the southside of Sunset Boulevard between Lemoyne St. and Glendale Blvd. recently exposed part of the metal facade to reveal some of the original brick walls and stone arches of the building (see the black and white photo, courtesy of Mary-Austin Klein and Scott Fajack). The owners, which also run the popular Echo nightclub, recently won the backing of the EPHS to remove a section of the facade as they renovate part of the building for a pizza parlor. They need a final OK from the city before they can take off the rest. They do not have immediate plans to restore the arched windows or the remainder of the facade but we would expect the results will have nearby residents asking them to take the rest of that cheesey metal siding off and let that building's historic beauty shine through. We hope they listen.

I'm sorry, there's a new pizza parlor moving into the hood? Joy! A call to the Spaceland folks confirmed it and provided more details. Two Boots Pizza is going to occupy a space attached to the Echo, which as the post described, is shedding its tacky exterior to reveal its historical charm. But more on Two Boots. Their website describes it as:

...New Orleans cooking with pizza and beer in a funky, family-friendly environment, TWO BOOTS (the boots representing the geographical shapes of Italy and Louisiana)...

New Orleans cuisine and pizza is this girl's idea of a perfect combination. How does this work exactly? We're talking blackened catfish po'boys, strombolis, jambalaya, and chicken parmesan heros. And their pizzas? With cornbread crusts and names like The Newman (soprassata, sweet italian sausage on a white pie), The Bayou Beast (BBQ, shrimp, andouille, crawfish, jalapenos, and mozzarella), and my favorite pizza name so far, The Dude (cajun bacon chesseburger pie - tasso, ground beef, cheddar, and mozzarella), Two Boots is obviously not your standard pizza joint.

Reviews (professional and bloggers) seem mixed, but I'm willing to give Two Boots a chance, especially since they're going to be within walking distance from home. Others here, here, and here.

They have six NYC outposts including one in Grand Central Station and another on Bleecker. I believe this is going to be the first Two Boots outside of NY and I officially welcome them with open arms into the hood.

A Lovely Summer Evening

2007-07-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

A few Saturdays ago, Jess and Jed hosted an absolutely lovely and mostly vegetarian dinner party at their home in Silver Lake.

Jess made lentils which were delicious, hints of cinnamon and curry. Sometimes lentils just hit the spot and are so comforting. These balanced out the meal perfectly.

Jed manned the grill, expertly preparing and serving the meaty portobello mushroom burgers.

David Korty had his opening that night at China Art Objects so I believe everyone saw his show before heading to he dinner party. As we were leaving the show, we bumped into Brett and Jen who were driving into the parking lot. Now Jen is indeed quite the cook, but I couldn't believe she drove around town with Mario Batali's cookbook on her lap. Turned out that they had just realized the dinner party was a potluck and were planning their last minute dish which, of course, turned out to be fabulous. Below, grilled shrimp. Simple and summery.
For dessert, Max made strawberry shortcakes with a lemon verbena infused whipped cream from the Chez Panisse Fruit cookbook. A perfect end.

The Foodie Blogroll

2007-06-06T20:14:00.000-07:00

I'm so honored and excited to be a new member of the Foodie Blogroll. Created by a professional food critic, travel writer and food blogger, the FB is a community comprised of folks who love food. If they're anything like me, they love eating it, talking and writing about it, making it, dreaming about it, and plan trips around it. Basically, these are my people. And I'm looking forward to getting to know them through their blogs. You can find the lovely Foodie Blogroll in the bottom right hand corner of my blog. Bon appetit!

Tonight's Dinner: Salmon Cakes with Roasted New Potatoes and Mixed Lettuces with Radish, Avocado, and Red Onion

2007-06-04T20:08:00.000-07:00

As previous posts have indicated, my husband Max regularly impresses me with his culinary skills. Our weeknight dinners are almost always delicious, healthy, and beautifully presented.

Max hit it out of the ballpark tonight. The salmon cakes were accented with cilantro, scallions, celery and a hint of tabasco. Moist on the inside with a perfectly crunch on the exterior, I could have easily consumed five. We got these tiny new potatoes at the Hollywood Farmer's Market yesterday. Max roasted them and lightly sprinkled a little fleur de sel over them. Perfect. Served with a light salad with a citrus vinaigrette completed a most wonderful Monday dinner.

Zeke's

2007-05-28T12:09:00.001-07:00

We're on the 2, headed to Zeke's, one of our go-to places for sometimes good, sometimes heavenly BBQ. Is Zeke's the best or our favorite Q in LA? No, but on a lazy Sunday, when we don't want to risk traffic on the 10 (for Phillips) and we just want a comfy family cafe, Zeke's fits the bill.
And Honolulu Avenue in Montrose always inspires fantasies of small town living.

Slightly overdressed Caesar but sharp and garlicky.
And.....the money shot! These happened to be some mighty fine baby backs. Zeke's new smoker has made an incredible difference in the quality of their ribs.

Zeke's Smokehouse
2209 Honolulu Ave., Montrose
818-957-7045

Delilah's Bakery

2007-05-28T12:03:00.001-07:00

Delilah Bakery in Echo Park is an adorable, neighborhood spot featuring old-fashioned baked goods and a community vibe. It's absolutely a sweet spot and a welcome addition to the hood, but I thought everything we tried was a little less than fabulous.

Shown above, we tried the red velvet cupcake, a peanut butter cookie, and some sort of nutty cheesecake bar. They were good, but I felt I could do better. The peanut butter cookie tasted a bit bland, slightly peanutty and a little floury. The red velvet cake was pleasant, but the frosting seemed a bit thin and drippy. And the cheesecake bar was extremely rich without any discernible flavor. I really wanted to fall in love with the Delilah Bakery, but I don't feel the need to rush back.

Mother's Day - Joe's in Venice

2007-05-28T11:45:00.001-07:00

We took Mom out for an absolutely lovely brunch at Joe's in Venice. The last time I dined at Joe's was Father's Day ages ago and it was wonderful to return on a sparkling and warm Sunday.

I can't recall the name of our server, Julie or Kelly perhaps, but she was exceptional. Down-to-earth, knowledgeable, and helpful, she attended to our needs without ever seeming to hover. We tried the Bella Mama, an intoxicating morning cocktail.

I had forgotten what a beautiful space Joe's is...the light filtered in softly, the birds chriping, very serene.
Mom and Les tried the Tortilla Espanola, a baked omelet filled with corolla potatoes and onions, greens salad with lemon vinaigrette.
I think Max had the winning plate: House-smoked trout with poached eggs on dill onion toast, dill hollandaise and trout caviar - wonderful!
The Spring French toast with a rhubarb compote and cream cheese ice cream looked good on the menu and it actually was pleasant, but after one bite I was over sweet and craved salty.

For dessert Mom went straight for the richest and decadent chocolate crunch cake, and Max and I both had the (I think it was...) cappucino flan. Les, who was allergic to at least one ingredient in each dessert, settled for homemade strawberry ice cream.

Oinkster

2007-05-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

For some reason, it seems like folks either love or hate Oinkster in Eagle Rock. Chef Andre Guerrero, of Max and Senor Fred, opened Oinkster in March 2006 with the intention of creating "slow fast food." In other words, fast food that is prepared with slow food ethics: carefully and consciously crafted food using the highest quality ingredients. We adore it and are more than happy to pay a little more for their smoky pulled pork sandwiches and burgers. But there is a very vocal camp of detractors who a.) don't think the food is so great and b.) it's just too much to spend on fast food.

Now, let me just say that I have never been thrilled with their version of belgian frites. When I think belgian frites, I think something like what the now-closed Benita's Frites used to whip up (I really miss Benita's!). Those fries were crispy, salty, soft and pillowy on the inside....kind of like what Jonathan Gold desrcibed in his recent glowing review of Oinkster. Maybe they cooked up some amazing ones for Mr. Pulitzer, but we have never experienced the fries he described. But, we do appreciate the house-made ketchup and garlicky aioli. But I digress. Yes, it is more expensive then say, McDonald's but the quality is so far superior that it's more than worth it.

LA Mill Coffee Opening on Silver Lake Boulevard?!

2007-05-10T18:24:00.000-07:00

Could it be? Could LA Mill Coffee be opening a retail branch in our home sweet home of Silver Lake, just mere steps away from us on the Boulevard? I thought we were winning the coffee lottery with Intelligentsia opening up in the Junction, but this is just crazy.

We're going from no serious coffee joints to two renowned shops in a matter of months. The word around town is that Rubbish, the store that just vacated LA Mill's future home, will be designing the shop's interior while Cal Asia construction (who also constructed Mozza) is, well, heading up construction.

But for some reason, the LA Mill element of the deal is still very hush hush as I was not able to find it in any of my usual stops for restaurant gossip. A quick call to one of the businesses involved was all it took to produce this happy tidbit for Silver Lake. Now if someone could just assure me that it's a done deal....

We went so you wouldn't have to: Trifecta - Downtown

2007-04-24T18:03:00.000-07:00

Honestly, I don't know what we were thinking. Max and I have been attempting to explore the burgeoning dining scene downtown as it's so close to us. We had an opening to get to in Chinatown, so we wanted something close and relatively quick. Trifecta bills itself as an upscale sports bar - why that concept appealed to me, I have no idea! I wish I would have listened to my gut, but hunger got the better of me and I convinced Max to try it.

Long story short, awful in many ways. Pricey, mediocre, completely empty (I have a feeling they're packed after 5pm during the week), and a complete waste of time. Wallpapered with big screen tv's and a menu full of horseracing lingo, we were not the target clientele.

Well, live and learn.

BBQ Competition @ The Autry 4/14

2007-04-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

Gosh, I just hate complaining when BBQ's involved but I have to say it was a pretty disappointing event. There was some sort of traffic/parking perfect storm between the Autry, the zoo, and the Griffith Observatory so a drive that usually takes 15 minutes from Silver Lake took over an hour.

We had to park near Travel Town and it took us about a half hour to walk to the Autry, even at a clip. When we finally got to the registration table, they let us know that both vendors were totally out of food. We had come too far to turn around, so we paid our $9 each and went inside. We strolled around for a while, visited the Zeke's team and just took it all in. Truth be told, we really wanted to just plop down with one of the teams but we kept moving.

The food for the public? Very, very sad. We were intoxicated by all of the BBQ scent in the air and yet the only food that was available, after a half hour wait was chicken pizza and corn. It was fine, but obviously not as satisfying as, say, a juicy pulled pork sandwich.

In the next year, we're going to try to become official judges so that next year, we can actually try all of that amazing BBQ. Saw the picture Professor Salt took on the way out.

Jen and Brett's Dinner Party

2007-04-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

Our friend Jen, of Epicurean Quest, and her husband Brett had us over for dinner on Friday night. You know, Jen is just amazing; her love of food is always so evident in her cooking. She's well-known for laboring for hours over dishes, often bravely taking on million step recipes. Thomas Keller and Mario Batali are favorites - a painting that Brett did for Jen is hung prominently in the kitchen. Also in attendance were Jed and Jess and their pomeranian, Pinky.

Jen made two salsas, served with tortilla chips: a clean tomato and avocado and an unusual, but wonderful black bean and mango. These were served with tart margaritas whipped up by Brett.
As Jen was cooking away, M and I assisted by tearing the stems of the watercress leaves for the watercress risotto. Soon thereafter, dinner was served:

Hazelnut Encrusted Tilapia with Watercress Risotto, Mache Salad and Sauteed Zucchini and Shitakes. As the pictures convey, dinner was incredible. Thanks Jen for working so hard but making it look so easy!

Gifts for Jennifer

2007-04-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

My MIL has a wonderful friend, JT, who is an interior designer and who most generously helped us purchase our new McRoskey mattress (which we're in love with BTW).

As a small token of our appreciation, M and I sent her a gift box filled with some homemade goodies. M made his famous brittle and I made a batch of my chocolate truffle cookies.

Our Favorite Pizza: Village Pizzeria, Larchmont Village

2007-04-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

REVIEW: La Flor De Yucatan Bakery

2007-04-07T14:44:00.000-07:00

OK, am I the last person to fall in love with La Flor de Yucatan? I know some Chowhound regulars are already under its spell and so we finally gave in and tried it for lunch yesterday.

Let me back up a bit.

After our dinner at Chichen Itza on Friday, we wondered if there was better cochinita pibil to be had in LA. After a quick search around Chowhound and some local blogs, I was reminded of La Flor de Yucatan and we had ourselves an impromptu cochinita pibil taste test.

From our home in Silver Lake, it was a quick drive down Rampart to this earthy location just west of Downtown. Let me first say that Marc, the "Cake and Food Consultant" is one of the kindest, friendliest, and warmest people one could meet. Marc chatted with us while we waited for our order, sharing his thoughts on Chichen Itza, his business, Chowhound, and Mexico. I was running through my list of single women I know in my head because, let me tell you, this guy is a catch. Who knows if he's single!

Onto the food, we shared an order of cochinita pibil tacos (4), panuchos (3), and a bolobones filled with cream cheese and jalapenos. I really wanted to love Chichen Itza and we actually thought the cochinita pibil wasn't half bad. Yet all it took was one bite of La Flor de Yucatan's cochinita and we knew we had found nirvana. Juicy, so tender, and loaded with citrusy notes, it was amazing. Honestly, I was full after one taco so the panucho was good but unnecessary.

Marc came out to the patio table where we were eating lunch to ask how we were enjoying everything. We happily told him that his little bakery easily topped Chichen Itza in many ways and we would be back and spreading the word.

M and I shared bolobones for dessert as we walked to our car. Our first bolobones, we loved the combination of flaky pastry with rich cream cheese and jalapeno. Sinful, but fabulous.

Marc and a bakery worker.
The panuchos - beautiful.
This picture is deceptive...may I present La Flor de Yucatan's cochinita pibil.

REVIEW: Chichen Itza

2007-04-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

M and I had wanted to try the new location for months and we finally went to Chichen Itza's new location last night. While we enjoyed our dinner, M and I agreed that it has ample room for improvement. Moments after we were sat, a basket of tortilla chips covered in a thin black bean puree and pico de gallo arrived. Our handsome server promptly came over, asked if we wanted anything to drink, and quickly came back with our two Sam Adams.

Food: After reading reviews elsewhere, we split the Xcatic Chile Relleno and the Cochinita Pibil plate. The rellenos (3) were special and memorable, a mellow small chili lightly fried and filled with mildly spicy tuna. Chichen Itza's cochinita pibil is well-known for a reason. Tangy and citrusy, the pork was tender and addictive.

It's served with a whole habanero pepper resting on top so M of course offered me $10 if I'd eat it. I declined, but did stab it with my fork, then quickly touching the tines to my tongue - whoa, that was a really stupid idea! Just that little touch set my tongue and whole mouth ablaze...live and learn :)

Decor: Loved it, warm colors and nice spacing, though the lighting could have been a touch dimmer.

Service: You know, as a former server at both very casual and fine dining restaurants, I think I'm pretty forgiving when it comes to mediocre or even bad service. But the flip side is that I know when there is a problem and can usually identify what it is and what the remedy could be. Our server, as previously mentioned, was very handsome, and a real sweetie, but needs a service overhaul.

First of all, I could almost imagine the owner/manager explaining to him that the new Chichen Itza is a fine dining establishment and therefore the staff needs to have a certain grace and demeanor. M and I felt like this poor guy was trying WAY too hard to be formal and elegant and it just was not working. His demeanor and delivery was forced, awkward, and just weird at times. This alone would be ok and charming in a certain way, but his timing was severely off too and this was the kicker.

The place was not busy, I think we were one of his maybe 4 tables, and it took forever, for example, to get our bill. About five minutes after our plates were cleared by the extremely efficient and capable bussing staff, our server approached, asking if we wanted to see the dessert menu. We told him that we were stuffed, so no we would not like to see the dessert menu. He said something like, "Ok then, I will leave you to enjoy your night," and then did not come back for about ten minutes. He came over and asked if we would like the bill left again and came back with our bill.

All this guy needs is a half-hour of training. What's confusing is that I'm pretty sure the chef/owner and manager were both hanging out during our dinner and obviously just were not tuned in enough to the wait staff. If my credit card is on the table for ten minutes, someone (the busser, manager, host, server) should have noticed and acted.

We'll be back because it's in the hood, the food was pretty good, and we like to support local businesses. But next time, we'll know what to expect and hopefully the service issues will be resolved.

Chichen Itza
2501 W 6th St
Los Angeles, CA 90057
(213) 380-0051

Tonight's Dinner: 4/5/07, Porcini and New Mexican Chili Dusted Mahi Mahi with an Avocado Mango Salsa, Broccoli, and Quinoa

2007-04-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

M wowed me again with this dinner. The mahi mahi was cooked perfectly, moist and buttery and the salsa was incredible.

Tonight's Dinner: Grilled Chicken Kabobs with Quinoa, Asparagus, and Leftover Zucchini Gratin

2007-04-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

Lucky us, M fired up the smokey joe for dinner tonight.

Tonight's Dinner: Black Cod with Creamy Polenta, Asparagus, Chard and Mint-Citrus Vinaigrette

2007-04-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

Passover Seder

2007-04-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

Anniversary Dinner with the Family at Water Grill

2007-04-03T21:19:00.000-07:00

Pan Roasted Rhode Island Striped Bass with Lemon Scented Potato Puree, Confit of Garlic with Preserved Lemon and Caper Vinaigrette
Olive Oil Poached Chatham Cod "Bacalao" with Braised Rice Beans with Cockles, Merquez Sausage, and Piquillo Pepper Gastrique

Our First Wedding Anniversary at Roy's

2007-04-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

M and I often daydream about our honeymoon in Maui and long to be there again. While a trip to Maui is not immediately in the cards, we could absolutely swing a dinner at Roy's downtown. Unfortunately, all of my pictures of the meal turned out too dark except this one. Our sweet server, Daniel, brought us this dessert plate.

Tonight's Dinner: Pan-Roasted Trout with Sauteed Crosnes and Spring Salad of English Peas, Asparagus, Shitakes, Feta and Mint

2007-03-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

In an effort to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into our diet, we've been trying to go to the Hollywood farmers market every Sunday. This week, we came across these cute little tubers called crosnes (pronounced 'krones'). The nice guy who works the booth said Michael Cimarusti at Providence has been serving them, so we thought if it's good enough for Providence, it's good enough for us!

The crosnes (and the whole meal) were wonderful, rooty and crunchy. Next time, I think M will cook them a little more as the larger ones were a little crunchy, the smaller ones were more tender.

REVIEW: Dinner at Izayoi **

2007-03-25T17:14:00.000-07:00

Izayoi was perfect for a casual Saturday night out with M. Little Tokyo is so darn close to us in Silver Lake, we really have no excuse for not exploring its eateries more. I had remembered reading about it in the Eating LA blog a while ago and thought = beer + small plates? Sign me up! Enjoy a pictorial journey of our dinner. Oh and it was great! We'll be back. ($49 + tip, big bottle of Asahi, six dishes)

1. Miso Soup: wonderfully soothing

2. Garlic Butter Flavored Grilled Mussels: the chefs cut them in half so very easy to eat, beautifully prepared and super garlicky.

3. Shrimp and Scallop Macaroni Gratin: Unbelievably rich, not that that's a problem, in moderation of course. Creamy, rich with chunks of scallop and shrimp...I'm so glad it was a fairly small portion because this dish takes comfort food to a whole new level and I easily could have eaten a huge serving.
4. Smashed Edamame on top of Homemade Tofu: Did not remotely appeal to me but M wanted to try it so...He reported that it was soft, cool, and cleansing.
5. Black Cod Marinated in Sake and Miso: How beautiful is that? Wonderful too, buttery, delicate, and simple.
6. Minced Sardine wrapped with Shiso and Deep Fried: The most adventurous plate we ordered (we're wusses, I know) and I think the consensus was that this was so-so, kind of bland. A tempura batter, citrusy, herby, almost like chopped liver inside.

(Rating system borrowed from S. Irene Virbila, LA Times) Rating is based on food, service and ambiance, with price taken into account in relation to quality.

Outstanding.
Excellent.
Very good.
Good.
No star: Poor to satisfactory

Fashion Shows, Gallery Openings, and Gophers -Oh My!

2007-03-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

Whew, we had quite a busy Friday in our little world. After work, I drove across town to our friend Jasmin's studio where she was putting on an impromptu show for her Fall 2007 collection. I was clearly out of my element as I went through the interrogation at the door, "What is your name and who are you with?" Um, my husband? With Jasmin? What I should have said was "I'm with Vogue," but I didn't think of it at the time.
Happily settling in, I sampled a couple glasses of champagne, chocolates and macaroons from Boule. Sitting on the couch with M, we watched the models as they did their thing, photographers snapping away as each outfit debuted. Jasmin's work is beautifully constructed, utilizing her architectural sensibility and amazing fabrics. Way out of my price range, but lovely to look at. I noticed only one celebrity but I know Jasmin has plenty of important fans.
M and I then shlepped back across town to Chinatown where M's old professor from the Art Institute of Chicago was having a show. Again a scene, but one I'm more used to. We chatted with some of our favorite people (Brett, Mari Rebecca) and M got to catch up with Gaylen.
All dressed up and it being 9pm, we decided to hop on over to the Golden Gopher in Downtown LA. Much to our surprise, our neighbor works there and graciously treated us to heavenly margaritas. Some canoodling with my honey and then it was home sweet home.

I Love LA

2007-03-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, actually quite often, I really love Los Angeles. She's complicated and it takes a while to get to know her, but once you learn about her ins and outs she's quite lovely. A few snapshots of some favorite moments:

Husband Extraordinaire!

2007-03-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

How I got so lucky, I'll never know. M, my husband of almost one year, is a former personal chef, currently a full-time artist, and cooks for me every night. Every night! I hate to gloat, but I can't help myself.

When he was working as a personal chef for a lovely family in the Palisades, I had to fend for myself and cook dinner for myself which was not only unsatisfying, but rather sad. It would be me and the cats until 10ish when he'd get home exhausted. It was hardly the best situation as we started our marriage.

Now, I come home exhausted and he's home from the studio, cooking up a storm. Last night? It was seared scallops with a cilantro, ginger, and lime glaze (pictured below). Tonight it's Point Reyes blue cheese and pear stuffed pork chops with buttermilk mashed potatoes and broccoli (also pictured below).

M really is a dream come true. We've been together a little over five years and I still think he's pretty damn perfect.

Saturday Highs and Lows

2007-03-18T14:10:00.000-07:00

Looking back, I should have been able to predict the outcome of yesterday's culinary adventures but that's the thing about hindsight, it's always so clear.

It was Louisa's birthday bowling extravaganza last night so I took the opportunity to try out Ina Garten's recipe for chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting. Long story short, wonderful cupcakes. In my opinion, just what a cupcake should be: light, not too dense or sweet, with a perfect ratio of cake to frosting and in a serving size that could never be called over the top.

The obvious low point of Saturday was our dinner at TGIF. I guess M and I so rarely go to these kinds of chain restaurants that we always forget just how miserable they are in so many ways. Did I mention we were in Orange County? Listen, I don't have any real beef against the OC, it's just an entirely different ballgame.

The bowling alley was in a Grove-type mall and since there are no TGIF's near us in Silver Lake and neither of us had ever been to one (or if we had, we were blocking the memory) we thought, "How bad could it be?"

Our server was nice enough, and the buffalo wings (we had to!) were fine. But the "Cedar-Seared Salmon Pasta" was dreadful. Why we didn't just order a burger, I do not know. The salmon was so over-cooked, it was inedible.

Needless to say, I can't imagine when we'll ever go to a TGIF again.

Loved finally meeting Louisa's partner, Liz after hearing so many stories at work. And although I can't bowl to save my life, we had a great time at Lucky Strike.

On the quick half-hour drive home, M and I agreed that we're relieved to live in Silver Lake, where we couldn't find a TGIF even if we wanted to.