The Caviar-tini ($18)

If one could eat luxury, one should also be allowed to drink it, too. Petrossian in West Hollywood thought as much as they recently have expanded their liquor license and integrated vodka flutes and cocktails into their menu. It may be as obvious to bacon lovers as bacon salt; for caviar lovers, Petrossian created the Caviar-tini.  

Thank you.

Salmon Sandwich | Capers, Caviar, Onions, Mixed Green Salad

Two and a half ounces of vodka with a half ounce of dry vermouth and maybe a dash of orange or Angostura bitters are the martini, but the skewer with 1 Petrossian caviar-stuffed olive, a cocktail onion and 1 Petrossian Caviarcube™ – essentially caviar pressed into a cube – make it the Caviar-tini. It was the perfect amount of dirtiness. I saved the skewer for the last few martini sips and found my patience rewarded me well.

There are other cocktail options like their Basil Gimlet ($12), Vodka Sunrise ($12) and Russian Cider ($12). (Don’t worry – there’s also a Cosmopolitan [$14] for you Carrie-types.) Their Hibiscus Champagne ($12) will remain available – just don’t forget to eat the flower, too. If you were thinking straight-up, choose a vodka flute of the European variety from Beluga or Russian Standard Premium (Russia), Linie Aquavit (Norway) or of course Jean Marc XO (France). Belvedere and Chopin are your Polish options.

Chef Ben Bailly’s menu is reason enough to get you in the door – now you can wash down each bite of his dishes with a complementary, caviar-topped cocktail. Because you don’t need vermouth to make a martini dirty.

The Cactus Lounge at The Standard, Hollywood | Credit to simongoble on Flickr

This August, The Standard (West) Hollywood has taken a refreshing approach to the bustle and hubbub of Sunset Blvd. Since the month is half-over, I’m a little late but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy tonight and the remaining Wednesday in The Cactus Lounge, whereby local emerging artists are showcased live and unplugged, performing acoustic sets for all loungers to hear.

The great part is, you can order food from the adjacent diner so while you’re enjoying live music, you’ll be able to enjoy eats from their kitchen. Tonight, The Cactus Lounge will feature Kenneth Pattengale. Next Wednesday will feature the beautifully quaint-sounding Miranda Lee Richards (formerly Brian Jonestown Massacre).

August 18th: Robotanists, Aria Pullman, Kenneth Pattengale
August 25th: Miranda Lee Richards and TBD

So order a cocktail, some bites, sit back and enjoy local music. Not a bad night on The Sunset Strip.

Squid, Cucumber, Fennel, Olives, Chickpeas, Chorizo Butter

Welcome to the real Melrose Place. Aaron Spelling is nowhere to be found, and sure, Area – an SBE nightclub – is just a block away, but you’d never have guessed it from inside Bastide’s enclosed, quaint and olive tree and garden lined patio. In fact, dining at Bastide is somewhat like dining at someone’s artistically appointed home, complete with a top personal chef. If it really were someone’s home, you’d leave the dinner party while vowing to get that raise so you could buy the house with the patio that everyone else would envy.

Outdoor patio

You can come to Bastide early on a Monday for their $15, 5 – 7 PM special, when you’ll get to enjoy the patio over passed bites that are perfectly executed. Their yellowtail tartare is refreshing, the pork rillettes topped with cashews and pickled cherry are savory and their corn soup has a surprising twist thanks to curry oil. But since I’m prejudiced against all soju martinis, their wine or bubbly will accompany my bites just fine, thanks. I also enjoyed all the wine pairings that came with each course at dinner. Dario Dell’anno, who doubles as the manager and sommelier of Bastide, has a nice touch.

Watermelon Salad | Fried Chicken, Tomato, Feta, Mache, Aged Sherry Emulsion

When we sat down for our meal at our table, which was appointed not with just salt and pepper, but with Fleur de Sel de Guerande and a peppercorn grinder, I found the house-made butter that accompanied our warm bread so indulgent and yet so light. It was practically gone before our first dish came. The watermelon salad with fried chicken was ever season-appropriate with its tomato, feta, mache and aged sherry emulsion. I never considered fried chicken to be a starter, but here it was. It was paired with a delicious 2008 Éric Texier Condrieu Opâle, which was refreshing with melon notes that went perfectly with our first few entrees.

Tomato Risotto | Artichoke, Herb Salad, Goat Cheese

Next was the squid with chickpeas, cucumber, chorizo and fennel which was very impressive. The squid was expertly cooked, and I actually found myself describing the cepholopod as “tender.” The fennel was a perfect aromatic accompaniment, with the chickpeas and chorizo butter giving it a savory kick. The 2007 Domaine Alfred Chardonnay from Chamisal Vineyards, with its oak notes, was also a beautiful pairing with the squid and the following risotto.

The Tomato Risotto was beautiful as it was delicious. Risotto is one of those dishes that evolve the more you savor, and I appreciated that the risotto was of the essence and wasn’t a predictible orange color. Rather, just a couple of cherry heirlooms lay in the yellow-tinged dish and further, a generous cut of artichoke awaited in the center. The herb salad that lay atop a great job lightening things up while the shavings of goat cheese elegantly brought the entire plate together.

Salmon | Beluga Lentils, Snap Peas, Port Wine Sauce

Next was the salmon, prepared sous vide then poached with olive oil. It was plated with beluga Lentils, snap peas and port wine sauce – which was no less impressive. Truth be told, I love snap peas – but it was a perfect, refreshing and crispy green to have paired with such a fatty fish like salmon. The lentils that soaked up the port wine sauce were great for the dish’s texture while providing good weight. The radish slice was also a nice touch – I love that “crisp” factor in a fish dish like this. The 2001 Joseph Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape was paired with the salmon – the leathery notes of which I thought matched the lentils and port wine sauce very well.

Lamb | Carrot Puree Olive, Grilled Zucchini, Natural Jus

I might as well admit here that I didn’t have just one favorite but probably three or four. But don’t ask me to choose. The lamb chop was incredibly cooked with its medium rare, pink center, a ton of flavor and none of the gamey aftertaste. The accompaniments, for once, were traditional but if only because the integrity of the lamb piece was impeccable. It was served with its own jus, which surrounded it on the plate, and helped accentuate its simplicity. Well done (no, not well). The 2004 Michaud Syrah “The Pinnacles” it was paired with comes from the central coast. This was a slightly sweeter wine than the others we had with berry notes that fit well with our lamb.

Garden room with hanging Campbell's Soup cans

The tasting experience at Bastide was one of my most enjoyable nights in recent memory. The service and pacing (though admittedly unfair to judge in a media setting) was en pointe and I would hope that this translates to a typical experience at Bastide, especially at $21 – $36 per entree. But the dining rooms, including a book store/library, and atmosphere are unlike any other in West Hollywood (Be sure to click through the aforementioned links for the full pictorial). As for the food: The expertly executed menu shows Chef Joseph Mahon he is imaginative while entirely capable of the traditional.

All food and wine were hosted.

This is a last-minute one, folks. But hey – it’s free, and it’s at the über-hip De La Barracuda, an art-music-skate venue located in West Hollywood. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another art gallery that also houses a mini skate park, hair salon and tattoo parlor. Hosting you tomorrow will be LA designer Dr. Romanelli and De La Barracuda founder Miguel de la Barracuda. Sip up your SoBe drinks and soak in all the urban culture via ultra-exclusive art, skate decks, and other apparel from Dr. Romanelli.

The Dublab Soundsystem DJs Ty Segall and Very Be Careful will be spinning tunes for your audial sensibilities. It’s all ages, so there will be SoBe flavors for everyone – including mixed drinks for those over 21, so bring your ID. Food trucks will be on-site, cool activities with prizes and giveaways will happen throughout the day. All you have to do is RSVP via email with your name.

See you there.

The Library at Bastide

If you ever thought French restaurants were immune to happy hours, Bastide will prove you wrong – for one day per week. Starting next week on July 26th and on every Monday thereafter from 5 – 7 PM, not only will Bastide host a happy hour, you’ll be able to enjoy the duration of it at a flat rate of $15.

For their pre-dinner social hour (or two), guests will enjoy one of three select wines by the glass, Bastide’s signature Soju Martini or the exclusively created cocktail, which changes weekly. Indulge in passed h’ors d’oeurves like Yellowtail Tartare with Coconut, Basil and Citrus and their Summer Corn Soup with Crispy Pork Nuggets and Curry Oil, which are all included in the price.

Your best bet is probably to get there in the beginning so you can secure your lounging spot and gain the attention of your server. I can get behind Bastide’s recent push to become accessible… And if your wallet can handle it on that particular Monday, what better reason than to secure that reservation for what’s sure to be a spectacular dinner?

Medjool Dates Stuffed with Grana Padano, Wrapped in Speck

I used to frequent that strip near the legendary Guitar Center in that incognito stretch on Sunset Boulevard. Post-college it was late night snacks (or entrees) at Bossa Nova eating what they dubbed “Brazilian food.” I’m not saying it’s not; I’m just saying that it was the widest and most diverse cuisine I ever got to know based on Bossa Nova’s menu, alone. And then there’s Toi, with their sit-down, fast food Thai. That favorite shirt imported from Japan that I still wear from Pop Killer. Never did get to try Cheebo.

White Bean Hummus Bruschetta With Saba, Smoked Paprika

But my reasons for revisiting the area have been renewed. Vintage Enoteca is now on the block offering small bites ($5), bruschettas ($6), paninis ($10), salads ($8), flatbreads ($10) and of course cheese and salumi (3 for $10, 5 for $13) to pair with your wine. The prices won’t make you wince and they offer wifi so your laptop, not just your wine, can keep you cozy. La Brea Bakery bread provides the foundation to their bruschettas and paninis, so you can rest assured they’ve proper foundation.

But the best news is, the eats are comforting. Ask for the appropriate pairings for each bite – such as the Walter Hansel ’09 Sauvignon Blac, which compliments the White Bean Hummus Bruschetta beautifully. Or try the Charles Smith ’07 Cabernet to wash down your Medjool Dates.

Italian Tuna Salad With Fusilli, Pecorino, Artichoke, Cherry Tomato & Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette

Despite the unfortunate deli and lunch meat stigma tuna salad gets, it was astonishing how good their Italian Tuna salad was, with spiral fusilli tossed with artichokes and cherry tomatoes in a lemon mustard vinaigrette, topped with pecorino. It’s a vibrant dish with much thanks to its fresh ingredients – the pecorino accented the tuna perfectly.

If you’re looking for something with a little more weight and spice to it, try the Spanish Grilled Cheese, made with chorizo, fontina cheese and piquillo pepper. Pair it with the ’08 “Les Chevrefeuilles” Grenache/Syrah from Côtes du Rhône.

The flatbreads Vintage Enoteca offers aren’t so shabby, either. My favorites were the Cauliflower, topped with prosciutto, béchamel and gruyere; and Mushroom, with its perfectly roasted variety of mushrooms, fontina and thyme.

Mushroom, Fontina & Thyme on Flatbread

Special Event:

Thankfully, next week Tuesday on July 13, 2010 from 7 – 9 PM, you’ll have your own opportunity to try Vintage Enoteca for their kick-off wine tasting featuring the wines and food of Alto Adige (Northern Italy), presented by Italian Wine Import Specialist Giuseppe Cossu. You’ll get to taste all of the following for $25:

Wines:
Pinot Bianco: Elena Walch, “Kastelaz,” alt Adige, 2009
Moscato Giallo: Alois Lageder, “Vogelmaier,” Alto Adige, 2009
Schiava: Alois Lageder, “Romigberg,” Kalterersee Classico, Alto Adige, 2009
Lagrein: Elena Walch, Alto Adige, 2008

Food:
Flatbread with Arugula, Duck Confit and Sour Cherries
Bruschetta with Sauerkraut, Apples, and Lardons

Whatever your occasion to drink wine at Vintage Enoteca, it’ll be pleasantly casual and yet perfectly delicious.

P.S. – Purse hooks are welded underneath and to the right of each metal table place setting.

All food and wine were hosted.

Cheesecake - $12 | Photo credit Craig Takahashi

Summer is upon us, and there’s no better time to introduce a new dessert menu. Nobu on La Cienega has you covered – with three new options from pastry chef Gabriele Riva. This ever delicate-yet-decadent, deconstructed cheese cake is made with Cheesecake mousse, sable breton, raspberry coulis, and sweet gorgonzola gelato. Yes – gorgonzola gelato! (Indeed, I am on a gorgonzola ice cream kick and cannot wait to try this one – especially after the phenomenal Pear-Gorgonzola-Walnut ice cream from Tai Kim of Scoops at the Eat My Blog Bake Sale over the weekend.)

Equilibrium - $11 | Photo credit Craig Takahashi

Further along the summer theme is Chef Riva’s Equilibrium ($11), which resembles a fresh green salad. The dessert is a mix of orange segments, light goat cheese cream, baby arugula, carmelized pecans and sorbet. I’m curious to try this one out; I can’t say that I’ve ever had a salad for dessert, before.

And don’t forget that there’s a fresh summer cocktail menu to lead into or even supplement your desserts…

Bienvenido Gustavo! at The Hollywood Bowl (October 1, 2009)

Hollywood Bowl season is upon us! And what better opportunity to combine your love of food with your love of music than to do up the pre-performance picnic the right way? Grab a recommended wine from Jill at Domaine LA to pair with your food and you’re set. Just make sure your show is an official Bowl event and not leased out. If it’s leased out (most likely to include the high profile rock bands not part of the KCRW World Music Series), then you’re confined to the Patina catering sold (or served in your fancy box seats) at the venue. If not, you’re good to go!

Below, you’ll find options all over town. So wherever you hail from, you’re set to make your little haven in Hollywood home for a few hours whether they be Pool, Garden, Terrace, Super or bench seats. And by the way, yes, you can always order from Nancy Silverton’s Mozza2Go – I would just recommend ordering and picking up extra early in the day on Bowl nights given its vicinity and the likelihood everyone may be thinking the same thing as you. Here we go… (Check the map at the bottom for a visual of all mentioned locations.)

Napa Valley Grille – Westwood

When at UCLA, I always knew the Napa Valley Grille as the out-of-range option for us students – the place you got your parents to take you to when they visited from out-of-town. But they’ve recently come out with a boxed lunch program that seems pretty accessible to me, ranging from $10.75 to $13.75 with 3 seasonal options from Executive chef Joseph Gillard and packaged in recyclable materials. You can wax Napa in Hollywood (or elsewhere) as they are themed after different Napa Valley regions:

Russian River Menu: Shrimp Salad Sandwich, with Poached White Shrimp, Fine Herbs, Buttermilk Dressing, and Shaved Cabbage on a Soft Herb Roll; Sweet Pea Salad with Butter Lettuce and Green Goddess Dressing; housemade Napa Potato Chips; and Summer Fruit Trifle ($13.75)

Stag’s Leap Menu: Slow-Roasted Rare Prime Beef Sandwich with Bacon, Red Onion Jam, Creamy Horseradish, and Smoked Cheddar Cheese on Pretzel Bread; Roasted Red Fingerling Potato Salad; housemade Napa Potato Chips; and a Black and White Cookie ($12.75)

St. Helena Menu: Roasted Vegetable Foccaccia with Grilled Zucchini, Eggplant, Portabella Mushroom, White Bean Hummus, Tomato Fondue, and Basil Goat Cheese on Herb Ciabatta Bread; Orzo Pasta Salad with Pepperdew Peppers, Spring Onions, and Golden Balsamic Vinaigrette; housemade Napa Potato Chips; and a “Blondie” Bar ($10.75)

You’ll undoubtedly want dessert (not included) - so choose from delicious selections like Mini Eclairs with Cordillera Dark Chocolate-Brandy Cream, Bourbon Pecan Bars and White Chocolate Coconut Cookies.

Call to place order

Napa Valley Grille
1100 Glendon Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310.824.3322
@nvgwestwood

Petrossian Boutique & Restaurant – Robertson/West Hollywood

Ordering your take-away items from Petrossian means you demand taste, style and class. More power to you. In fact, I just ate there last night and was delightfully reminded how absolutely talented Chef Ben Bailly is. So tote his offerings to The Bowl – your tastebuds will be titillated while your ears are enchanted. Below are some picnicking suggestions straight off their menu:

Caviar Surprise, served in a caviar tin and comprised of layers of Caviar, King Crab, Crème Fraîche and Apple Cider Jelly ($32)

Caviar Dip and Sweet Potato Chips ($14)

Blinis with Caviar, Trout, and Salmon Roe; the Green Bean Salad with Burrata, Marcona almonds and Transmontanus Caviar ($18)

Smoked Salmon Tartine with Goat Cheese, Capers, and Caviar ($16)

Eggxiting Caviar—two 12 gram “eggs” of Transmontanus caviar and spoons in an isothermic case ($49)

Petrossian CaviarCubes ($45)

Foie Gras and Pâté (from $20)

The Petrossian staff will kindly package the items to go in one of their stylish cooler bags or pack your picnic basket for you. Provide your credit card number ahead of time and they’ll deliver your items to you in your car.

Call to order

Petrossian Boutique & Restaurant
321 N. Robertson Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90048
310.271.0576
@petrossianweho

DaVinci – Beverly Hills

Chef Jason Fullilove, who just left Ilan Hall’s The Gorbals, decided to move west into Beverly Hills to take over the kitchen serving up Mediterranean at DaVinci. He has something special for picnickers on-the-go – appropriately coined Al Fresco. For $30 per person, you get an appetizer, main course and dessert. Also, if you purchase Al Fresco for two, DaVinci will offer 15% off a bottle of wine.

Choice of:
Cheese charcuterie plate
Pita plate
Seasonal fruit plate

Choice of:
Chilled seafood salad with lemon chive emulsion
Kobe steak sandwich with poached pear salad
Roast chicken with peperonata & feta salad

Choice of:
Assorted cookies
Pistachio brownies
Meyer lemon panna cotta

Call to order – order at least one day in advance

DaVinci
9737 S. Santa Monica Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310.888.0090

M Cafe de Chaya – Melrose/Hollywood, Culver City, Beverly Hills

The Macrobiotic mavens in town will actually be offering the most affordable options in this round-up, thanks to their 5-year anniversary and recent push to spread the gospel to all health-seeking diners around the city. This month, they offer two rotating $5 specials per week - and this week’s just so happens to be their Falafel Wrap and M Chopped Salad.

Week of June 7 — Falafel Wrap & M Chopped Salad (Grab & Go only)
Week of June 14 — 2 Salad Combo & Tofu Bento (Grab & Go only)
Week of June 21 — Breakfast Enchilada (breakfast hours only) and Double Chocolate Fudge Cake

Dessert ($5 for month of June)

Green Tea Roll Cake (Green Tea Sponge Cake made with Green Tea Soy Cream). All desserts from the Patisserie are made without the use of dairy, eggs, or refined sugar.

Remember, the $5 specials are only available for take-away, so allow enough time for the ordering and preparation.

@ilovemcafe

BLD – Hancock Park/Beverly Blvd

Chef Diana Stavardis has some things cooked up to get you dining at The Hollywood Bowl in high style and great flavor. Choose from a Cheese & Charcuterie plate, Bell Pepper Hummus, a Tuna Nicoise Salad, the Buttermilk Battered Fried Chicken Sandwich – the possibilities are endless. Be sure to peep the menu before you order since there are so many choices - BLD will package your food just so you can enjoy it while you enjoy your music.

Call to order at least 6 hrs in advance; pick-up between 9 AM – 6 PM daily.

Menu

BLD Restaurant
7450 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036-2701
323.930.9744
@bldchefd

Elements Kitchen – Pasadena

The innovative Pasadena eatery is offering Bento Boxes at $37 per person with a minimum of 2 persons per order. In it, you’ll be treated to a cheese plate with accompaniments, salad, choice of a well-furnished main course and even dessert. You’ll even get a bottle of Pellegrino included with your take-away box.

Hors d’oeuvres
Imported & domestic cheese plate
Seasonal fruit & crackers

Salad
Mixed Greens with Golden Raisins & Toasted Almonds, White balsamic vinaigrette

Main Course (choice of one of the following)
Beef Kebab with Roasted vegetables
Cumin & Coriander Scented Chicken Breast Fillet
Curried Vegetables
Cauliflower, Eggplant, Bell peppers, Chick peas

Each main course is served with:
Farrow Birriani
Apricots, Dried figs, Chili de arbol, Mint & Coriander Chutney

Dessert
Coconut Pound Cake
Seasonal fruit coulis

Just a side note: A great option to get to the Hollywood Bowl from Pasadena would be the Metro. Wa-lah! No stacked parking headaches (or parking at Hollywood & Highland just to walk back up the hill again).

Call to order – order at least one day in advance.
Cancellations require one day notice.

Elements Kitchen
37 S. El Molino Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101
626.440.0001
@elementskitchen

Oh, so many glorious ways to enjoy your night at The Hollywood Bowl!! Have a great season!!

Get your crawfish on...

The Italian eatery and solid bar scene that is Dominck’s in West Hollywood will be undergoing a metamorphosis of sorts – into a Southern restaurant. Next Saturday, June 5th, they’ll be spending the afternoon serving up Louisiana fare – crawfish, that is.

There was a Louisiana State University alumni crawfish boil I used to crash yearly back in the day – this could be my opportunity to get my crawfish fix and back into the practice of twisting, pinching and peeling the darned mudbuggers (and sucking, if that’s your thing). Plus, with crawfish season ending, this is the time to get in on the tiny crustaceans before they’re gone.

The patio at Dominick’s will be open for the afternoon and New Orleans native Chef Brandon Boudet will be serving up the cajun and creole fare. The crawdads will be seasoned with salt, garlic and cayenne pepper, and the other secret recipes come straight from the South:

Crawfish, served with potatoes and corn – $7/lb
Oysters on the half shell – $2 each
Roast Beef Po’ Boy – $8
Soft-shell Crab Po’ Boy – $12
Onion Rings – $5
French Fries – $5
Creole-boiled half Artichoke with Remoulade – $5
Beer – $2
Dago Red & White Wine – $12 per bottle

Are you a Laker fan? Don’t fret – Dominick’s promises to have the championship on the screens should they be playing that day. All bases are covered. So make your reservation now to save your spot!

Saturday, June 5th

2 – 6 PM (reservations required)

Dominick’s
8715 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90048
310.652.2335

The bloggers of the now-semi-annual Eat My Blog bake sale are coming together for the second time on Saturday, June 19, 2010. In one of the most impressive baking efforts in the city, 100% of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. This time, Eat My Blog will be held at Tender Greens West Hollywood where over 2,000 goods from over 70 bakers will be on display – all items costing a simple $1 – $4 each. Bring cash!

You can look forward to delicious eats from local baking star power like KCRW Good Food host Evan Kleiman, Chicks with Knives, Debbie Lee, Drago Centro, Starry Kitchen, Bakelab, Cube, Fraiche, Choppe Choppe, Hollywood Corner, Valerie Confections, Plaisir, Scoops Ice Cream, and Tender Greens themselves. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will be featuring a selection of hot beverages to help wash down all your sweets!

Not enticed, yet? Get there early before everything is gone – including bacon brownies, chocolate whoopie pies and ”intriguing debuts [like] Momofuku’s Crack Pie from the Los Angeles Times’ Daily Dish and Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes with Bacon Cream Cheese Frosting from Pat Saperstein of Eating LA,” says Diana Takes a Bite, one of the members on the Eat My Blog committee. What’s more, benefiting the LA Food Bank and fighting hunger should be reason enough to satisfy your sweet tooth; at the last Eat My Blog, over $3,000 was raised! “We are excited to partner with the Foodbank again, especially after visiting the facility this winter to see how the money we raised would be used,” said Cathy Danh, author of Gastronomy and founder of Eat My Blog.

I’ll see you bright and early that Saturday in June. After all - if you wait, all the good things will be gone!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

10 AM – 4 PM

Eat My Blog at Tender Greens
8759 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069