Stuffed French Toast – Cap’n Crunch crusted brioche, fresh berry mascarpone cream, wild berry sauce, bacon

There are fewer things more iconic in Southern California than a Sunday spent in Pasadena. Whether you’re on your way to The Rose Bowl Flea Market the second Sunday of the month or are in the mood to lazily stroll Old Town Pasadena afterwards, the Red White + Bluezz Sunday Brunch is a southern treat that shouldn’t be missed.

Beignets

I recently had the pleasure of joining their staff in narrowing down eight Bloody Mary recipes to a favorite one that would be served on Sundays, so I personally had a hand in making sure those $25 carafes (serves 5) of spicy, tomato-vodka goodness are delicious. (You can also get a jug filled with Strawberry Jalapeno Margarita, Hurricane, or Rum Punch for the same price.) You can also opt for the $15 bottomless Champagne, Mimosas or a decent selection of craft beer to suffice as your liquid brunch. You’ll have the pleasure of live jazz to accompany your delicious Sunday.

The food itself stands on its own. You’ll want to start with a plate of Beignets (they’re solid, as if from New Orleans). And the Fried Green Tomato Caprese, made with heirloom tomatoes, burrata, crispy prosciutto di parma, creole vinaigrette and basil oil is actually kind of delightful. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Southern brunch without biscuits – whether paired with gravy or housemade jam.

Biscuits & Gravy

But honestly, the Stuffed French Toast encrusted with Cap’n Crunch is one to die for. Stuffed with a french berry marscapone cream and topped with wild berry sauce, even savory breakfast lovers will find it irresistible. Since the crab cakes are one of the best that you’ll find in the city, you’ll want to go with them as a starter or as a Benedict. With truffle hollandaise, it’s pretty hard to go wrong. And

For true Southern specialities, there’s always the Shrimp & Grits, free-range Chicken & Waffles and the Crawfish Po’ Boy. If you’re jonesin’ for a steak, go for the Rib-Eye and Eggs.

But no matter what, you won’t want to overlook the Banana Pudding as you close out with a cup of coffee (to which you can add your favorite liqueur) and dessert. The pudding is chock full of banana flavor and the perfect exit to the rest of your day.

Salted Butter Caramel infused with Bourbon

It probably goes without saying that, when ordering ice cream, you’ve never had to worry about showing your ID.

That’s about to change, thanks to The Drunken Udder, an artisanal, mom-and-pop shop ice cream company which sells its deliciously boozy product via wholesale and other storefronts. (It doesn’t quite have the liquor license to sell retail on its own.)

Yesterday, I sampled a few flavors including Salted Butter Caramel infused with Bourbon (boozy, salty-sweet deliciousness), Pumpkin Spiced Praline infused with Maple Liqueur (boozy, crunchy fall on a cone), Raspberry-Orange Sorbet infused with Orange Vodka (fresh, tangy booziness) and Bailey’s Jameson Caramel (especially boozy sweet caramel flavor).

Bailey’s Jameson Caramel, Pumpkin Spiced Praline-Maple Liqueur, Raspberry-Orange Sorbet-Orange Vodka

While I initially thought it just a novelty to have liquor-infused ice cream, as I tested each flavor, I could really taste the kick of alcohol in each one. And so I asked  Nicci Piscitelli, the founder, just how much booze was in each one: 9-12% ABV. That’s at least twice as much alcohol as a Pilsner. And whenever she used a flavored spirit, she imparted those flavors herself – for instance, she infused vodka with oranges just as she did vodka with peppercorns in her Orange Schezwan Peppercorn flavor.

So where can you get Drunken Udder ice cream in their multitude of flavors? Some eateries all over town, with my favorites being The Fat Dog on Fairfax by Lindy & Grundy Butcher Shop and Boneyard Bistro, only one of the best BBQ places with the best beer selections in The Valley. Also try Congregation Ale House in Pasadena or The W Westwood.

Imagine these flavors in ice cream floats or even beer floats served at bars – the float combinations and possibilities are endless! Whether you order wholesale for your upcoming holiday party or find a scoop or two at a restaurant, Drunken Udder ice cream is ready to tantalize your tastebuds.

P.S. – For the month of October, Drunken Udder has created a non-alcoholic “Pink” Tahitian Vanilla Bean flavor, whereby 50% of the proceeds from this flavor will be donated to awareness and the support of survivors of breast cancer.

Bicycling Los Angeles

People do walk in L.A., but – let’s be honest – they mostly still don’t. People drive alone, and they carpool. They vanpool and they shuttle. They ride their bikes. They Über or Taxi Magic all over town. And yes, we Metro railway. Do you ever get the feeling that just because we’re not New York, that’s the only thing they’re rubbing our noses in?

Which is not to say that I’m not envious of their subway access – and many other things. Yet having passed the 2-year mark living near a Hollywood Metro Red Line stop, I’ve learned a lot in the process about our own public transportation options. The Expo Line has opened during that time. And we’re looking forward to more.  Just experiencing the drastic transformation in how people choose to get around – myself included, and not only on the rail – have provided so many eye-opening revelations. So when Slate says that L.A. is being turned into “America’s next great mass-transit city,” we’ll take that little bit of validation. 

Vermont and Wilshire with my bike!

The traffic-numbed Angeleno has been my favorite stereotype to thwart since my own transplantation. Recently, I re-encountered some college acquaintances who have since settled down in Orange County and for whom it was unfathomable that I would choose to live in filthy Hollywood. “Because I can walk or bike around my own neighborhood and get downtown on the subway.” The response? “What’s downtown?” What they didn’t also ask was, “What’s in Hollywood besides the tacky stuff?”

I hope I’ve covered both of those, to date, on this blog.

While I’ve only just had the bike for a few months (a ’60s, single-speed, vintage bike acquired in Joshua Tree, mind you), here are a few tips I’ve gathered to getting around without that encasing hunk of metal – if your plans can at all call for it.

• Plan your day(s). Especially if you have an iPhone with iOS6 and Apple Maps, which does not have transit directions. (If you do have an iPhone, try download the FoodGPS app and Caroline on Crack app for things to eat and drink in your vicinity, wherever you may be in the city.)

Did you promise to visit your west-of-405 friend sometime during the weekend, but also have plans to catch spots in Culver City, Pasadena and/or Downtown? Divvy up the latter three into one day and any west-of-405 plans into another so you can save one day for transit riding and another for your car. By the way, Androids rule.

• Driving to and parking at a Metro stop is always better than parking downtown.

View from Hollywood & Vine Metro Station

Driving towards Downtown L.A. is one of the most unpredictible traffic anomalies thanks to the many venues and thus events. Street parking is potentially scarce and lot parking most definitely expensive.

I’ve had same-day plans downtown and in Glendale, before, and it was worth it just to drive to a Silver Lake Metro Red Line stop, park the car on the street, so I’d be ready to hope in the car and drive towards Glendale after riding back on the rail from Downtown LA. Whilst avoiding horrendous simultaneous triathalon and Carmageddon II traffic during LA Beer Week Festival, Caroline parked at a Culver City Expo station and rode in to Union Station – in an air-conditioned car. More than worth it!

• Ride your bike to a Metro stop with bike racks if you don’t take it with you on the subway. If you take your bike with you, it may help to learn which stops have elevators. (Or just hike it onto the escalator, which is what I do sometimes. There are also bike racks on the front of the cars and buses.)

If I feel like riding to the station instead of walking, I’ll ride to the Metro stop with bike racks (Hollywood/Vine) and lock it up there while avoiding the one with SpongeBob SquarePants, Spiderman and Pirate Johnny Depp (Hollywood/Highland) – even if it is a little closer. Usually I’ll be OK getting around downtown on foot. Read up on biking on the Metro and even follow @bikemetro on Twitter so you’re always in-the-know.

• If you’re meeting up with people, carpool somewhere along your route.

Catching Critical Mass for 2 blocks on my ride home from the subway last week.

Hitching a one-way ride off a friend still lessens your carbon footprint (and $1.50) than hitching no rides. There have been lots of times where I’ll meet up with someone downtown and get dropped off at home or the nearest stop for an easy jaunt home.

• LAX Flyaway is $7.00. One Metro ride is $1.50. If you can get to Union Station via Metro, that’s a $8.50 ride to LAX and no charge to park your car. 

This is how I get to LAX if I have just one carry-on, despite that it makes my route a triangle. Plus, I don’t have to bother anybody for a ride.

• Milk last call on Fridays and Saturdays because the Metro rail lines now stop at 2:30 AM. Just be sure to check schedules and get on the last train on time – usually 2:10 AM from Downtown.

• Follow @metrolosangeles for service updates on construction and delays.

• Download the Taxi Magic app and signal a cab. Or if you’re rollin’ in style, Über it for a Lincoln Town Car-ish ride.

• Advanced “users” only: Get social with other bicycle-riders and catch a group night ride (usually police escorted) with Critical Mass (the largest community bicycle ride in the U.S.) or Midnight Ridazz. Participate in CicLAvia (next: Sunday, October 7) and learn about different LA communities while supporting car-alternative ways of getting around.

Past our carbon footprints and going green, sometimes going Metro and/or riding a bike is just plain smart, cost-effective and healthy. I can’t wait for more rails to break ground and get running. We’ll have this sprawling landscape of a city that we call home that much easier to navigate.

Photo credit to djdphotos on Flickr

Beer cocktails. Beer floats. Sour beers. All-you-can-drink beer. Beer crawl set to music. Crappy-for-happy beer trades. Prickly pear beers from all over town. Los Angeles is comin’ up beer. And in its 4th year, not only is LA Beer Week bigger and better than ever, it’s also more unified. The camaraderie around the LA beer community is unmistakable – so get ready to drink some tasty brews while learning a lot and meeting some cool people along the way.

After perusing the 10-day schedule, I’ve come up with a few events I’d personally want to attend. With the LA beer scene at the strongest it has ever been, there’s bound to be some (or a lot of) conflicts during this extravaganza, but all we can do is do our best, right? While you’re at it, you might as well check off the four quandrants of this LA Beer Week Bucket List. Then, bring your four stickers to the LA Beer Week Festival on September 30th and get a free bottle of the official beer of the week, Unity, from Eagle Rock Brewery – a play on a traditional Berliner Weiss, yet jazzed up with a touch of rye as well as red and green prickly pear. You’ll also get to enter a drawing for tickets to the BAM Fest on October 6th in Santa Monica.

(If you don’t complete the bucket list, never fear – it’ll be on draft at select retailers throughout Los Angeles and Orange county as well as at the LA Beer Week Festival itself.)

Without further ado, here are my Top Ten of LA Beer Week:

1. Thursday, September 20 (7-9:30 PM): Stone Total Town Takeover in Pasadena
Stone Brewing Co. will preview its soon-to-open Stone Company Store. Co-founders Steve Wagner & greg Koch will be sharing special beers and nibbles from Stone with live music. $25 per person, with proceeds to a local charity.

2. Thursday, September 20 (6 PM): Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Invades Little Tokyo
Far Bar, the bar in Little Tokyo, will be pouring 12 beers from Dogfish Head, including some very rare and hard-to-get selections. In addition, an extra special treat will be running through the “organoleptic hop transducer module”… better known to Dogfish Head fans as Randall the Enamel Animal.

3. Saturday, September 22 (1:30 – 10 PM): Walker’s Wild Ride

Firestone Walker

While sour beers aren’t for everyone, I’m definitely fan of a pucker-up pour. Good thing David Walker and Jim “Sour Jim” Crooks are loading up David’s ’55 Land Rover with 5 sour beers from Firestone Walker’s new Barrelworks facility before making their way to 5 L.A. craft beer bars. Which beer is poured at each location is up to the draw. You’ll find them here throughout Saturday:

Golden Road Brewing at 1:30 PM
Verdugo at 3 PM
38 Degrees at 5 PM
Far Bar at 7 PM
Blue Palms Brewhouse at 9 PM

…pouring these 5 rare, barrel-aged sour beers:

Reginald Brett: Brett finished Double DBA; 3 Months in Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrels
Agrestic Ale: Flanders Style Red Ale; Aged 3 years in French Oak Viognier Barrels.
SloAmbic: Olallieberry Lambic; Aged 3 years in French Oak Viognier Barrels.
Sour Opal: Gueuze; Aged 4 years in American Oak Barrels.
Lil Opal: Oak Aged Saison; Aged 4 years in American Oak Barrels

4. Sunday, September 23 (10 AM – 1 PM): Brewer’s Brunch
Eagle Rock Brewery is open for brunch (cooked up by resident chef Jerry Su) especially for a chat with the owners and brewers. Entry is only $15 and includes two beers, food and a keepsake pint glass.

5. Sunday, September 23 (All day): Craft for Crap
Beer Belly wants you to educate your friend who, somehow, still drinks crappy beers. Thank god he or she has YOU as a friend to bring ‘em along to Beer Belly. Trade one of the crap beers from the fridge and trade up for a craft beer, at the low, low price of one cent.

6. Sunday, September 23 (4 – 8 PM): Beauty of the Barrel

Beer Cocktail

As if beer weren’t enough, The Victorian in Santa Monica has partnered with Brew Something LA to help you enjoy both barrel-aged spirits and barrel-aged beers at the same time. Beers from Hangar 24, Meantime, Bockor, Drake’s, The Bruery, Ballast Point and Ladyface will be available. Tickets are $40; net proceeds go to benefit The Virginia Avenue Project. The highlight will undoubtedly be unique cocktails featuring barrel-aged spirits from these guys:

Luke Wederbrook: Bol’s Genever and Ladyface Trebuchet
Alex Straus: Atlantico Reserva Rum and Ballast Point Bourbon Victory at Sea
Brad Twigg: Buffalo Trace and Hangar 24 Hammerhead
Mia Sarazen: Casa Noble Reposado and Eagle Rock Equinox

7. Tuesday, September 25 (daytime til close times): Musical Beer Crawl
Local beer darling and social media pro Cambria Griffith hosts the 2nd Annual LA Beer Week Musical Beer Crawl. Uniting awesome beer, music and food all along Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park, Cambria infuses this beer experience with live music, discounts, surprises and giveaways. Printable “passports” are available for download at MusicalBeerCrawl.com or here (be sure to watch the video for assemblage instructions). Bring your buddies and a good time along the route, and follow Cambria at @musicalbeercrwl on Twitter for updates.

8. Thursday, September 27 (6 PM – close): Firestone-Walker Pig Roast
Enjoy a patio pig roast dinner at Old Town Pasadena’s King’s Row Gastropub, which includes roasted pig, crack mac and salad, all for $15 per person. Firestone Walker specials ($6 – $9) will flowing all night. It’s just too hard to say No to pig and beer, wouldn’t you agree?

9. Saturday, September 29 (2 – 5 PM): FoodGPS LA Beer Float Showdown

Beer Float

FoodGPS.com’s Josh Lurie, for the 4th time, has assembled 5 teams of top L.A. chefs and local breweries to collaborate on creating the ultimate beer float at Golden Road Brewing. Come taste and vote for your favorite. Tickets are $35; VIP $45 for an early entry. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Pablove Foundation.

10. Sunday, September 30 (12 – 4 PM): LA Beer Week Festival
The signature closing festivities for LA Beer Week is, really, not to be missed. Over 70 breweries will be in attendance at Union Station, pouring unlimited 4 oz. samples of their goodies alongside food trucks and local artisans, whom will be serving food to cushion all your beer. Tickets are $50; net proceeds benefit The Spero Foundation, The LA Brewers Guild, and the Glassell Park Recreation Center.

With L.A. Beer Week launching on Thursday, you best be getting your schedule together for 10 days of fun. I’ll see you around town!

Salmon, Pea Risotto, Shaved Chorizo & Yuzu at Haven Gastropub (Pasadena)

Times: They are a-changin’. So much so, that I’ve grown to love my neighborhood – even after some growing pains – for its walkability to certain things, including the Los Angeles Metro Red Line.

Now the fact that this summer’s dineLA Restaurant Week (which started yesterday) has been scheduled for the very first time in one block instead of only on the weekdays, makes for good incentive to diners to capitalize on the Metro rails and the destinations to which they flow. What better way to enjoy your wine or cocktails with dinner than to finish the trek home liability-free? (Perhaps you’ll want to make a reservation on the the last day of dineLA – the very first day the Metro runs until 2 AM, on July 27 – and make that one a late night?)

For the n00bs, lunches range from $15, $20 or $25 while dinners vary from $25, $35 or $45 for a 3-course prix fixe meal. It’s all so simple. Look below for some of my dineLA Restaurant Week recommendations along the Metro – all sorted according to the rail lines along which they are situated. (Sorry, Westsiders – you have Beverly Hills to blame for your dearth of rails.)

Expo Line

Sang  Yoon’s Lukshon (3239 Helms Avenue, Culver City) in  the  Helms  Bakery  building (one  block  east  of the  elevated  Culver  City  Station)  blends  stand-out  design  with modern  takes  on South-East  Asian  fare in the form of shared, small plates. Try the Hawaiian butterfish: half inch slices of melty cured fish layered just so and finished with slivers of pretty pink
watermelon radish and nahm jim, a coarse, nutty Thai sauce.

Steamed Black Cod, Lukshon

Nearby is one of the stalwarts of Downtown Culver City, Chef Ben Ford’s Filling Station (9531 Culver Boulevard, Culver City), with classic, non-nonsense American pub fare with an seen-and-be-scene outdoor patio with views of passers-by and available dineLA lunch and dinner menus. Or stop in at Akasha (9543 Culver Boulevard, Culver City) for dinner, with some farmer’s market-fresh, contemporary American fare offering unexpected twists on otherwise-classic dishes.

On the other end of the Expo  Line  is  the  brand new & highly anticipated  Mo-chica (514 W. 7th  St., Downtown),  whose  playful  and inviting  space  is  located  just  a  few  blocks  east  of  the  7th  Street/Metro  Station.  The  newest  restaurant (or re-location from Mercado Paloma, depending on who you ask) from 2011  Food & Wine  Best  New  Chef  and  owner  Ricardo  Zarate  is  loaded  with  playful  design  details including colorful  ekeko  figurines  decorated  by  chef  friends  of Zarate. Try the sun  dried  potato  stew with peanuts  and  chimichurri and bisteck a la pobre (skirt  steak with  fried  egg  and  pan fried  bananas).

Gold Line

Stop  one  is  Maison Akira  (713 E. Green St.,  Pasadena)  where  chef  Akira  Hirose  has  been  quietly  crafting modern  Japanese -French  fare  for  almost  14  years.  This  gorgeous  restaurant with butter  yellow  walls, is a healthy walk from Lake Station. But when you dine, you’ll definitely want to choose the tempura soft shell crab served atop wasabi potato mousseline.

Oyster Plate, Aburiya Toranoko

Haven Gastropub (42  S.  De  Lacey  Ave.,  Pasadena),  which  opened  last  December,  is  just  a  few  blocks  further  south on  the  other  side  of Colorado.  With forty beers on tap including a handful of in-house brews, Haven is happiness for beer lovers. But the excellent food will surprise you. Try Chef Greg Daniel’s deviled eggs made with smoked serrano powder and topped with Maldon smoked sea salt and crumbled, house-made bacon (on the lunch menu). For dinner, try their flavorful lamb burger finished with onion jam and tzatziki sauce.

At the opposite end of the Gold Line in Little Tokyo, is Aburiya Toranoko (243 S. San Pedro St., Little Tokyo) - four blocks Southwest of the stop on Alameda and a pleasant walk past Japanese Village Plaza. Snap up one of the all-time lunch favorites during dineLA Restaurant Week, such as their bento box. At dinner, a ten ounce New York steak with garlic soy will do just fine.

Red Line

A five minute walk from the Hollywood and Vine station lies Papilles (6221 Franklin Ave., Hollywood)  at  Argyle  and  Franklin. If you’re not keen on them already, don’t let the strip  mall deceive you when it comes to this quaint little bistro with one of the simplest yet satisfying menus. Go prix fixe as per usual in this quaint spot, which hosts just a dozen tables in its cozy dining room complete with low ceiling, red  walls and open kitchen. For dineLA Restaurant Week, choose from dishes such as roast hanger steak with potato gratin and shelling beans, or market fresh fish with red quinoa and roasted corn slaw. Don’t forget the wine, as Santos Uy has just the perfect pour to complement the excellent food by Chef Tim Carey.

The back patio at Sadie

Try Cleo (717 Vine Street, Hollywood) inside the fabulous Redbury Hotel, which serves up Mediterranean fare for dineLA dinner. Start off with two enticing appetizers before indulging in the Chicken Tagine or the Grilled Daurade. You’ll be enjoying the best of what Hollywood has to offer – trends and tastes to tantalize your tastebuds – all for $35 prix fixe. It’s one of the glitziest places in Hollywood, much less LA.

At Sadie Restaurant (1638 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood) by the Hollywood and Highland station, you’ll get the best of both the food and cocktail worlds thanks to food by Mark Gold and cocktails by Giovanni Martinez. Enjoy their Parlor Room, Lounge, or beautifully lit back patio for a customizable dining experience – all areas with elegance to spare. Start off with the Basil Risotto topped with olive oil-poached baby tomatoes. You’ll have trouble deciding your main entree, whether it be Ocean Water Poached Scottish Salmon with “hazelnut brown butter” or the Creek Stone Beef Shortrib, complete with potato creameux and roasted forest mushrooms.

Blue Line

Flan de Elote, Rivera

For dineLA lunch or dinner, stop by Rivera (1050  S.  Flower  St., Downtown), John  Sedlar’s  gorgeous, modern Latin eatery across the  street from  Pico  Station. Stellar food and cocktails (by Julian Cox) align at this stalwart Los Angeles establishment with no lack of sophistication in any of the senses. Try the  handmade, crisp corn cones  filled  with  fresh crab salad  and  finished with a tequila chipotle vinaigrette. Order the sous vide beef shank with roasted summer vegetables or the Agave-roasted duck.

Corkbar (403 W. 12th St., Downtown), just a few blocks east, is a solid wine bar with great food to complement the all-Californian list. What better way to take dineLA local than to drink the finest wines in the state. Chef Thomas Lamont’s dineLA Restaurant Week menu  features  house  made  corned  beef  brisket  sandwich with  pickled  cabbage  and  steamed  mussels with linguini.

Purple Line

There’s no better time to revisit Water Grill  (544  S.  Grand  Ave.,  Downtown), around  the  corner  from  Pershing  Square  Station, since it has just undergone a facelift with more casual but hip sights in mind. New are chocolate leather booths and a wall of antique fishing rods. But the constant, thankfully, is the beautiful raw bar. Try Chef Damon Gordon’s pan seared skate, finished with brown butter, red grapes and arugula. Perhaps the pan sautéed wild sockeye salmon with asparagus chutney and raw asparagus salad is more your speed. No matter what, your seafood craving will go more than satisfied.

Border Grill Downtown LA (445 S. Figueroa St., Downtown) always feels like a party, thanks to its festive interior and buzzing vibe. Just a short walk from 7th Street/Metro Station, Border Grill is featuring grilled local yellowtail with seared greens and quinoa. Vegetarians will appreciate and love their  take on chilaquiles on the lunchtime  restaurant  week  menu. Think tomatillo salsa and melted panela cheese draped over asparagus, fresh fava beans, artichoke hearts and a happy mix of soft and crispy chips. It’s summer!

Bar | Kitchen (819 S. Flower Street, Downtown) is one of my favorite places in LA for a cocktail and a bone luge, so why not pony on up to their lunch or dinner menu for some Shrimp & Grits for lunch or Grilled Berkshire Pork Chop for dinner? Just a block away from the 7th & Metro station, this stellar restaurant inside the O Hotel is just what you need for some instant satisfaction.

 ***

So enjoy dineLA, Los Angeles. The plethora of options can definitely be overwhelming, but as with anything, a little bit of online research will go a long way. Just use this map for your convenience (bravo, dineLA, on the re-design!), keeping in mind that not all places offer lunch. And remember, whenever you can: Go Green! And Go Metro!

Barrel Roll

It’s rare when I get a full picture of an entire cocktail menu, but it’s even rarer when I’m afforded the opportunity to do so and end up consistently impressed with cocktail after cocktail. The bar at 1886′s recent Spring menu makes it the destination in not only Pasadena drinking, but a go-to for some of the best cocktails in all of LA.

Pork Belly, Bourbon Aged Maple, Apple, Celery & Chili

Sure, it flies under the radar because of its location, but 1886 has also benefited as a result. Free of the obligation of appealing to overflow traffic, 1886 has the freedom to focus on seriously fun cocktails, akin to the audience the bar has cultivated since its opening in late-2010.

The Pimm’s #5 Cup (after previous other Pimm’s versions with other spirits) is a perfect cocktail to head off the menu for Spring. The rye, Bitter Lemon Fever Tree Tonic and housemade Pimms made for a perfect balance, rendering a super-refreshing cocktail just as a Pimm’s Cup should be.

The Cinnablossom

If you’re in the mood for their other rye cocktail, go for the 20,000 Leagues – a kind of swizzle made with peach-infused rye, mint, and housemade yellow chartreuse candy (the garnish was especially tasty!). Imagined by Pete Lloyd Jones, this delicious cocktail was the result of a request by the Pasadena Historical Society to honor residents who were aboard the Titanic. The ingredients were inspired by the Titanic’s own dessert menu.

The Water of Life, made by Garrett McKechnie with the Norwegian spirit, Aquavit, homemade Chamomile-Syrup and Nolet’s Gin, is the floral tea-influenced cocktail of the season. It’s also a light yet herbal treat and finished off with a sprig or two of Chamomile.

Bittersweet Farewell

The Cinnablossom by Lacey Murillo comes with a cinnamon garnish that is toasted – or flamed – tableside. Gin, lemon juice and homemade cinnamon bark syrup make for delicious gin-citrus cocktail with a subtle touch of spice.

One of the best beer cocktails I’ve had in awhile also happened to be the prettiest, which is quite lovely since it’s a testament to how far they’ve evolved. The Wild Orchid is a shaken cocktail made with Torontel Pisco, Vergano Bianco Vermouth, Grand Marnier and Hefeweissen with the orchid garnish. The effervescence of the beer worked well with the depth of the Pisco, vermouth and Grand Marnier for a really wonderful combination of flavors and textures.

The other flaming cocktail on the menu is the Bittersweet Farewell in honor of former 1886 barman, Danny Cymbal’s. A flaming lemon peel floats as an oasis in a shaken concoction of London Dry Gin, homemade Passion Fruit Syrup, lemon juice and Campari. It’s a beautiful gin drink with just the right amount of tart.

Rum Whistle

The all-out favorite of the night had to be the Rum Whistle, which is basically 1886′s new bottled special and bottled each and every night for a fixed amount to be sold at the bar the next day. It’s not only bottled, but it also has the widest range of appeal; boozers and non-boozers alike will love it. The green apple-celery soda base is spiked with aged white rum and finished off with fresh lime juice before being carbonated and bottled and the results are simply tasty. You may order more than one – not only because you can but also because you love it.

The Vintage Caprice Flight features three vintages of classic Beefeater Gin Barrel-Aged Caprice – made with Beefeater Gin, dry vermouth, Benedictine and orange bitters and then aged at 4-months, 8-months and 12-months. I was surprised to find that I actually favored the 8 month vintage over the 12. Older isn’t necessarily better and sometimes, your gin is just done aging.

Vintage Caprice Flight

The Barrel Roll (title picture) doesn’t just fall under the years-long trend of barrel aged cocktails, it’s also a super tasty rendition of aged Bols Genever, Carpano Antica, Green Chartreuse and a Campari chip by pastry chef Jeff Haines (who also did the Yellow Chartreuse candy). It just so happened to be one of my favorites. The chip was the slight sweet touch to the Bols cocktail and made for a strong yet nuanced cocktail.

Of course, you’ll need a few bar bites to line your stomach – but the selection at 1886 does more than that. They are daring yet successfully delicious plates, indeed. The musts: Shrimp toast and Lamb necks.

So get on over to 1886 right away and drink up. You’ll learn why it’s one of the best kept secrets in Pasadena.

All food and cocktails were hosted. Special thanks to Brady Weise.

There are pivotal moments in a sushi lover’s life. Sukiyabashi Jiro is one of those famed restaurants that I have aspirations of eating at in the case that I not only make it to Japan, but have the money (Â¥30,000, or $360) to put up for – at maximum – 20 minutes of the best fish I’ve ever had in my life.

(The closest experience to this has to have been my last meal at Sushi Nozawa – now closed - which clocked in at about 30 minutes and not a minute longer. Warm rice with excellent fish, yes. Jiro’s? No. )

The 10-seat, 3-star Michelin starred Sukiyabashi Jiro is helmed by Jiro Ono, the first sushi chef and oldest chef to be awarded the honor. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is 81 minutes of pure food porn laying the foundation for Jiro’s life story, including the pursuit of literal perfection of his craft and the contingent (and not-so-contingent) roles of his sons and apprentices. It’s an intriguing perspective into Japanese culture and the evolution of its food.

New York opened last week, and finally Los Angeles has its chance – specifically on the Westside at the Nuart. For tonight’s showtimes, filmmaker David Gelb will appear in person for a Q&A after the 7:30pm show and to introduce the 9:40pm show. Tomorrow (Saturday, March 17), he’ll do another Q&A after the 7:30pm show and introduce the 9:40pm show. You can also check out Food GPS’ excellent Q&A with the guy.

And I would be negligent if I didn’t recommend that you be prepared to visit a decent sushi place before or after the movie - so you’re not left hungry and envious, or shall we say, “hangry” (personal experience). While there is no Jiro in LA, perhaps try a SUGARfish location, Sushi Central (Palms) or Sushi Park (Sunset Blvd, WeHo) for some unadulterated omakase nigiri made by chefs who, at the very least, say “no california roll or spicy tuna?”

Invitation

If you live in Pasadena or the surrounding San Gabriel Valley, it will be worth your while to drop into Vertical Bistro tomorrow night between 7 – 10 PM. Chef Laurent Quenioux has some new dishes up his sleeve that he would very much like to share with you. And for $25, you can taste a few of them as well as wash them down with some new beers and/or cocktails.

Not a bad open house for the locals.

Make sure you RSVP to the appropriate email address below to reserve your spot. I expect there to be some real tasty French bites awaiting you tomorrow inside the newly renovated Vertical Bistro. There is even a new “library” for you to check out. Now there’s bookshelves in this wine bar thanks to the new addition, which is a 60-seat dining room. The space now overlooks historic Raymond Avenue. This open house sounds like a great opportunity to try the renovation on for size.

Carmageddon - Credit to ml_kap on Flickr

We’ve been notified about this weekend for months, folks. And here it is: The 405 Freeway, on the stretch between the 10 and 101, will be closed Friday night (on-ramps begin closing at 7 PM, lanes at 10 PM) through Monday morning at 5 AM. What does that mean? Stay home if you can! Or find some alternative route (it’s hit the fan: even JetBlue is offering $4 flights from Long Beach to Burbank).

Or, you can make the most of it and, like me, Metro it on over to the other side of the 405. Pasadena, that is. I plan on taking the Red Line to the Gold Line since L.A. Street Food Fest will be providing shuttles from Memorial Park Station on the Gold Line to the Rose Bowl every 30 minutes. Plan on making it a Staycation? LASFF has also secured a special rate at the nearby Courtyard Marriott.

There are plenty of reasons to trek it on over to the Rose Bowl. Try these bites:

• Chef Christian Page / Tione’s Quality Meats
  Sonoma Lamb Shoulder w/ Mediterranean Salsa
• Chef Dan Moody / Relate
  Banana Bread Pudding a la Pecan Pie
• Chef Ricardo Zarate / Mo-Chica + Picca
  Assorted Causas & Anticucho
• Chef Javier Plascencia / Mision 19
  Grilled Oysters w/ Chicharron Short Rib,
  Serrano Chili, Ponzu Butter, Lemongrass Foam
• Starry Kitchen
  Mystery Balls
• Mariscos de Jalisco
  Tacos Dorado de Camaron
• Sabina Bandera
  Uni Tostadas


Samosa from Naan Stop Truck

• Naan Stop
  Samosas
• Antojitos Carmen
  Alambre Taco + Mini Pambaso + Mini Squash Blossom Quesadilla
• Guelaguetza
  Mole Tamales
• Guisados
  Sopes
• Ramen JINYA + Robata JINYA
  Shoyu Tonkotsu Ramen
• Luxe Lounge Mixologist
  Julian Cox

And if that’s not enough, head on over to Bill of Street Gourmet LA’s post on the LASFF, whereby he details the vendors he brought up from Mexico to specially attend this event with their delicious bites. Also try on the entire vendor list for size if you really want to know who’s going to be there. This event has surely moved on from a representation of the nouveau food truck oversaturation we’ve seen in these parts. Get ready for some O.G. tastes!

Steak Tartar by Ricardo Zarate

If you want to live it up and try on the Luxe Lounge for size, mixologist Julian Cox and his specialty cocktails would be the perfect reason to push you over the edge. It’s $15 more and now, only the afternoon tickets are available so be sure to jump on it ASAP. But wait, I’ve got a link for $10 off (courtesy of the famed Test Kitchen) tickets. Just look below.

And in case you were worried about the lack of culinary (and political) star power at the event, never fear: Michael Voltaggio, Mayor Villaraigosa, Jonathan Gold, Lesley Bargar Suter, Walter Manzke and Marcela Velladoid will be on-hand to judge the bites at the fest. It’ll be exciting to see just who wins in their respective categories.

So, I will see you there – with multiple bites in-hand. Don’t forget: It’s presale only and there are only a few hours left to buy so don’t sleep on this one.

Black Cod, Kale Greens with White Dashi Scented Milk Foam, Carrot

There is something exciting happening at The Royce in Pasadena. As the flagship restaurant at one of the oldest hotel establishments in the Los Angeles area, they are putting out something so contrastingly nouveau from the kitchen. The long overdue remodel is no slouch, either, with its effortlessly classy and fresh take in fine dining ambiance. The crown moldings are still there, but gone are the drab curtains and dark yellow tinges. What you’ll find instead is a white motif accented by sea and granite blues with just enough florals and art museum-esque flourishes.

Interior of The Royce

Finally, this dining room is creating a dining experience where the food is reflective of its backdrop. But make no mistake, Michael Voltaggio’s year-long run may have generated just the hype The Dining Room needed for its denoument and transition into The Royce, because The Royce is an entirely successful, new entity completely deserving of its own buzz under Executive Chef David Feau’s (Patina, Le Miravile, Lutece, trained under Guy Savoy) direction. My dinner took place a few months after he landed back in September, so it’s safe to say he’s settled in here.

My guest and I very much enjoyed the tasting menu, with such beautifully integrated flavors adorning each dish and painting vibrant pictures with central themes. That is, each presentation, though featuring pretty exotic ingredients, knew exactly when to stop. Sommelier Eric Espuny’s perfect wine pairings delightfully accentuated the nuances of each. If you dine at The Royce, you can expect the perfect marriage of French techniques and Californian ingredients.

Globe Omaha Artichoke, Pressure Cooked Beets, Hand Harvested Mache Salad, White Truffle Vinaigrette

I have to say that there was nary a weak component in our tasting experience. Before ordering, I convinced my guest to trust the chef and resist doubling up on the foie gras, steak and lobster, and to try everything in both 5-course tasting menus. I’m so glad we did. Our amuse bouche was a most savory Romanesco cauliflower soup paired with a tiny piece of roast duck breast, beets, apple and celerac coconut calamari. What that set us up for was a beautifully seared scallop with shaved foie gras, rhubarb granite and carrot “salad” (paired with ’07 Schafer Frohlich Nahe Medium Dry Riesling) as well as an artichoke and beet dish with Globe Omaha artichokes, pressure cooked beets, hand harvested mache salad and white truffle vinaigrette (paired with ’09 Château Guiraud Le G Bordeaux Blanc Sec). The mildly tart rhubarb granite cut the richness of the scallop and foie gras while the carrot salad provided slices of sweetness. The freshness of the beet dish was a great match for the mache salad, featuring the buttery sweet and nutty greens underneath artichokes, all seasoned with a well-balanced white truffle vinaigrette.

Salsify Prepared Four Ways | Braised, Braised and rolled in leeks ash, Pureed with goat cheese, Tagliatelle with cajun spices

The next round of courses yielded a lobster salad with butter lettuce, sweet onion and pomegranate “hot and snow” (paired with  ’06 Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze). The powdery, vaguely sweet snow was an interesting texture to add to the buttery shades of the lettuce and lobster – especially with the addition of the sweeter pomegranate seeds. The salsify prepared four ways (paired with ’98 Kalin Cellars Livermore Valley Semillon), however, was a provocative study of the root. Not only was the vegetable completely new to me, but the diverse ways it was prepared in order to ultimately arrive on the same plate were mostly intense in flavor. The root has been described to taste like oysters. The dry, complex Semillon wine paired with this was a great way to cut the salty, creamy and robust essences on the plate.

Agnolotti Filled with Parsnips, Green Lentil and Mousseron Mushroom Veloute, Sorrel leaf

Probably my favorite farm fresh-themed dish was this combination of tiny vegetables covered in a mushroom veloute (paired with ’07 Aia Vecchia Lagone Toscana). The agnolotti were to die for, adding just the perfect amount of backbone to carry the vibrant flavors of the vegetables through, including the sweet parsnips and herb-likeness of the sorrel leaves. Truth be told, I could sip the veloute on its own. The berry notes of the Aia Vecchia were a nice added touch. The black cod (paired with ’08 Ramey Chardonnay Russian River Valley) in the title picture was also a standout, having been perfectly cooked and its mild, fatty taste enabled to stand on its own. The kale greens were topped with a white dashi scented milk foam, an ingredient I couldn’t begin to dissect but could distinctly tell it was meant to bring the greens and fish together; it did so successfully. The carrot was a sweet go-between. The fruity Chardonnay the dish was paired with was a nice compliment to the fish and kale greens.

Foie Gras “chaud” with Huckleberry, Chervil Foam, Extra Bitter Chocolate

One of the most popular dishes (not in the tasting menu but an addition) at The Royce could also double as dessert. At first, foie gras, when accompanied by huckleberry, struck me as a bit much – but when coupled with the bitter chocolate and chervil foam – it all came together rather beautifully. It also occurred to me that huckleberries are not the sweetest berries out there, so bravo on this rich, sweet yet somewhat earthy combination.

Another must-order is the lentils “du puy,” with English peas, roquette and topped with black winter truffles. It’s easy to see why this seasonal dish is often called “poor man’s caviar.” Each spoonful made me close my eyes. The sweetness from the peas was a nice accent to the richness of the lentils while the truffles freshly shaven over the dish brought further depth.

Lentils "Du Puy" with English Peas, Roquette, Black Winter Truffles

Each tasting menu ends with “Chocolate Textures,” which, while vague, shouldn’t be underestimated. Both renditions were dark, but perfect, ending punctuations to a perfect meal. I particularly liked mine, which was a mini chocolate souffle with a tulle connecting it and a scoop of nitrogen white whiskey sorbet for refreshment.

Practically every course in the tasting menu at The Royce brings a revelation. The kitchen seems to be a living, breathing enclave of inspiration. Case in point: When writing up this post, I found many dishes either omitted or manipulated to become a completely different rendition than what I had had – and only a week had passed. So the focus on market ingredients is not just a mantra, it’s an inherent rule to The Royce’s kitchen. Chef David Feau does a superb job channeling that energy by executing exceptionally refined dishes.

The Royce Exterior

All food and wine were hosted. Extra special thanks to Akili for help with the courses.