Lounge at Nobu West Hollywood

Perhaps you’re in the neighborhood but not in the mood to commit for the night. You want bites, not entrees – and were thinking something more elegant than bar food: The Nobu bar or lounge might be the perfect place to stop. They’ve recently made some additions to their already-popular menu – like Uni Dry Miso, Wagyu Dango Wasabi Saffron Aioli and Spanish Baby Octopus with Ginger Soy. Not to mention a brand new dessert menu. I will have to try that Suntory Whiskey Iced Cappuccino at least once!

And if you just want the best of what Chef Alex Becker has to offer you, you can always choose the 6-course omakase for $40. The first 3 courses are direct from the sushi bar followed by 2 dishes from the hot kitchen – and then dessert. Choices, choices…some of us are just more decisive than others.

Peep the new tapas menu below for the full range:

NOBU COLD TAPAS
Nobu Style Sashimi Tacos with Yellowfin Tuna, Lobster, or Crab 8
Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno 9
Whitefish Sashimi with Dried Miso 9
Yellowfin Tuna Tataki with Tosazu or Cilantro Dressing 9
Oysters with Nobu Sauces (Ponzu, Nobu, Maui) 10
Lobster Ceviche Butter Lettuce 12
Nobu New Style Sashimi – Salmon, Whitefish or Scallop 8
Uni Dry Miso 12
Tiradito – Whitefish, Scallop, or Octopus 8
Kanpachi Agua de Chile 12

SALADS
Baby Artichoke Salad with Crispy Leeks 7
Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi Salad with Matsuhisa Dressing 10
Hearts of Palm Salad 7

NOBU HOT TAPAS
Wagyu and Foie Gras Gyozas 10
Scallop with Jalapeno Salsa 8

Miso Black Cod with Butter Lettuce 8
Uni Tempura 10
Rock Shrimp Tempura with Creamy Spicy or Butter Ponzu Sauce 7
Wagyu Tacos 10
“Fish n’ Chips” Nobu Style 8
Lamb Anticucho 9
Wagyu Dango Wasabi Saffron Aioli 10
Spanish Baby Octopus with Ginger Soy 12
Miso Marinated Grilled Black Tiger Shrimp 8
Foie Gras and Crispy Soba 9
Ginger Panko Encrusted Scallops 10

DESSERTS
Suntory Whiskey Iced Cappucino 9
PB & J Satandagi 6
Mochi Ice Cream 6
Harumakis 8

And don’t forget Nobu’s nightly drink specials, which run from 6 – 9 PM:

$6 wines
$7 mixed well drinks
$10 signature cocktails

The best part is that they’ve also kept the favorites – no matter how indulgent. Come on now…Wagyu and Foie Gras Gyozas?! I’ll see you in the lounge…

Further Reading:

Nobu’s Cocktail Lounge Offers Omakase On a Budget – LAist

Nobu West Hollywood
903 N La Cienega Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
310.657.5711

Farmer's Market Pie with Soy Cheese

I never met a soul who didn’t like pizza (even my cheese-hating ex eats more pizza than anyone I know). And though I may have grown up but an hour from Chicago, I could never get into deep dish. If the toppings are great, I’m going to want to consume more square inches of that pizza and less “breading” underneath those scrumptious add-ons. Let’s just say that one sausage patty-topped Downtown Gino’s East pie has once stopped me dead in my tracks…after half a slice. I like meat, but I don’t like my pizza overwhelming.

Unibroue Blanche de Chambly, Lindemans Lambic Peche Belgium, Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale, Unibroue Chambly Noire

Enter the 4 1/2-month old, eco-conscious pizza franchise installment in West Hollywood called Pizza Fusion Hollywood. I was recently invited to partake in the pies at this casual hang-out, which on a weekday night was well packed with whom it seemed to be locals. Their produce follows suit (or precedes – you pick), with a conscious effort to source from nearby farmers and use organic ingredients. Vegans will find a gluten-free crust available at Pizza Fusion as well as plenty other menu items – including wines and beers – that are kosher for consumption with “V” next to their listing as indication.

Does wine fit your fancy? Pick from a handful of Californian Syrahs or perhaps an Argentinian Malbec; only a couple on the wine list happen to be non-vegan. Other casual diners will also find a fabulously-priced and small - but choice – beer list. The Boont Amber Ale from the solar-powered Anderson Valley Brewery was a first for me – and a deliciously pleasant one, at that! Unibroue Blanche de Chambly was the yang to their Chambly Noire’s yin – but no worries if you can’t decide, because beer flights are available so you can get a little bit of each.

Sausage With Tricolor Peppers

Vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike will appreciate their Zucchini Al Forno appetizer, with a roasted halved zucchini topped with a mixture of feta, walnuts and pepper. As for the mains, come here for the, well, pizza. The vegetables are fresh and the crust is moist with good crunch. I was in for a not-so-rude – refreshing, actually - awakening with their Farmer’s Market Pie complete with soy cheese. Not that I am well-versed in all matters of cheese substitutes (lest my Wisconsin heritage disown me) but this cheese’s milkier texture complimented the vegetables also atop the pie quite well. I had no idea what I was “missing.” Pizza Fusion’s spinach and artichoke pie was also divine – with no shortage of tender artichoke hearts to go around. Their Sausage with Tricolor Peppers topping was the perfect peppery-sweet combination – perfect for my inevitable carnivorous protein fix.

Lindeman's Lambic Peche with Vanilla gelato

And you have every reason to look forward to dessert; this is one of the under-the-radar joints to have beer floats available. Always thought it was weird to consider beer as a dessert? Get the Lindemans Lambic peach variety complete with vanilla gelato. This particular lambic, while too sweet for my tooth alone or even paired with food, was perfect for dessert. The float satisifed my sweet and beer tooth!

With delicious pies running you a respectable $9.99 – $10.99 per personal serving and $6 delicious beers on tap, it’s hard to find a reason not to visit Pizza Fusion Hollywood should you find yourself in West Hollywood. Crunch, the Sunset Laemmle theatre and Burke Williams Spa may be in the same strip mall, but their philosophy, price point and product are decidedly without fluff.

Weekly specials and happy hour:

Vegan Monday: Free Daiya Cheese upgrade on any pizza free sorbet with any large vegan pizza (Soy or Daiya)
Wine and Dine Tuesday: $5- $10 OFF Select bottles of organic/sustainable wine
Draft Beer Wednesday: $1 OFF Every Draft Beer
Gluten-Free Thursday: Free Gluten-Free Brownie with Any Large Gluten-Free Pizza (Brownie & Crust are Vegan too)

M-F lunch special (11 AM – 4 PM): Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza, Salad, & Soda $8.99

Happy hour: 4-7 PM daily (menu)

All aforementioned food was hosted.

Pizza Fusion Hollywood
7950 W. Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA
323.375.3390

@pizzafusionla

Black Truffle Mac 'n Cheese...With Bacon, Orecchiette & Parmesan

My girlfriend and I had a reservation at Petrossian WeHo on the last day of Dine LA. It was my long overdue date with Petrossian and it ended up falling on a day El Nino came out to play. Light rain, grey skies, black umbrellas and puddles on the ground as we zig-zagged into the Robertson boutique.

We had both already studied the menu and decided on the Black Truffle Mac ‘n Cheese. With bacon. The weather solidified our desire for comfort, and that day we’d start from the belly, up.

Blinis

But I am ahead of myself. We had indulgent blinis, first. No bellinis, that is – though I did have a glass of hibiscus champagne, complete with edible flower at the bottom. But back to the blinis, which were topped alternately with salmon roe, Transmontanus and trout caviar – each pancake perfectly fluffy and each egg providing bursts of flavor atop dallops of creme fraiche. We were ready for more.

Our second appetizers were the borsht and wild mushroom cappuccino ($10 ea) - the former of which was lauded in yesterday’s Tasting Table and rightfully. I almost envied my girlfriend as she spooned mouthful after mouthful out of her electric martini glass…with each bite pleasantly cold despite the weather – so as to not mess with the integrity of the live dish. Who knew beets could be so indulgent and subtly tangy? It was perfect, and topped with more Transmontanus.

Borsht

I would have held more envy if I weren’t so pre-occupied with my foamy wild mushroom cappuccino.

Indeed, it was not soup, but a cappuccino.

It was served hot, steamy and frothy and I just couldn’t put the spoon down. The rich creamy-ness comforted my tongue as I bit on each crouton with each spoonful seasoned with micro green onions and paprika. “Cappuccino sounds more luxurious,” Chef said. I agreed. Foam is an attribute.

And then came our main lunch entrees. Chef Ben Bailly, whom I’ve had the pleasure of running into a few times around town, visited with us from the kitchen and at my inquiry, insisted the bacon in the mac ‘n cheese was listed on the menu. Apparently, I had an appreciatingly selective memory this time around, because it was such a pleasant surprise when I tasted it along with the incredibly rich cheese and black truffles.

I wanted to eat it all. I could only eat enough to barely make a dent since our appetizers were solid and the dish was so rich – in the very best way. I have to say, though, that I had never been so excited for leftovers in a very, very long time. Even the leftovers were the best mac ‘n cheese I had ever had.

Dine LA may be over, but the dishes are still there. Whether for the borsht, blinis, black truffle mac ‘n cheese ($18) or to try the foie gras creme brulee with fig marmelade ($14) - I’ll be back at Petrossian. Next up is dinner – not excepting many more lunches in between.

Petrossian WeHo
321 N Robertson Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
310.271.0576

@petrossianweho

I may or may not have a Super Bowl favorite (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Got a place to watch the Super Bowl this year? If not, you have a few options around town. These are great if you’re the kind of fan who doesn’t like to clean up afterwards. And there are other great lists which include those I’ve forgotten (see notes) on teh internets LA food pubs so don’t forget to check these out:

Eater LA’s round-up – including The Hungry Cat (Hollywood), Wolfgang Steakhouse (Beverly Hills), The Dugout at X Bar (Century City), POP Champagne & Dessert Bar (an “anti-Super Bowl” party in Pasadena – no TVs!)…

Also, Grub Street LA has a compilation which includes Seven Bar & Grill (DTLA), Locals Sports Bar (Mid-Town) and Morton’s Steakhouse (La Cienega)…

Added: LAist also has suggestions for The Big Game.

The Super Bowl is as good an occasion as any to stock up on cheese. Squid Ink at LA Weekly reports that if you say (scream at the top of your lungs), “Who dat,” at Beverly Hills Cheese Store, you’ll get 10% off your purchase. Store hours have been amended to 10 AM - 2 PM.

And if you can stand the clean-up and are really an entertainer at heart – starting in the kitchen - you can always check out these Super Bowl appetizer recipes from the LA Times.

Pass the nachos…and watch the game at these spots (take-away after the jump):

Added: Big Wang’s (Downtown LA)

According to Blogdowntown on Twitter, Big Wang’s is set to open its new downtown location ON Super Bowl Sunday. No word as to “specials” – my prediction is they won’t need any since South Park residents will be curious enough to stop by as it is. My recommendation? Get the wings. Simple.

Big Wang’s
801 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Added: The Spanish Kitchen (La Cienega, West Hollywood)

The Spanish Kitchen is celebrating The Super Bowl by hooking up a massive projector-screen for the game. How does $5 margaritas and $10 bottomless Micheladas (described as “Bloody Mary but with Tecate”) sound? Appetizers are $5 the entire day.

The Spanish Kitchen
826 N. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA, 90069
310.659.4794‎
@thespanishkitchen

Added: Pourtal (Santa Monica)

Wine with The Super Bowl will never be the same (Pourtal has artisanal beer, too). Take notice of the notes in your wine glass while cheering on your team into the red zone and munching on tater tots. The game will be broadcast on 3 flat screens as you order from their Happy Hour menu, which is available until 7 pm.

$5 Wine & Beer
$4 Appetizers

2 – 7 PM

Pourtal Wine Bar
104 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310.393.7693
@pourtal

Chaya (Venice)

Chaya has four big-screen TVs located throughout the restaurant so everyone is ensured to have prime view. The entire space will also adopt the Happy Hour Sushi & Bar menu usually exclusive to the lounge area. To sweeten the deal, they’ll also be giving away $25 gift cards at the end of each quarter.

$5 Albacore Sashimi Salads and Chef’s Special Rolls
$3 Domestic Beers
$5 Margaritas

Enjoy bar bites such as Classic Housemade Beer-Battered Onion Rings with Spicy Mayo and Braised Short Ribs with a Red Wine Sauce and Potato Purée.

2 PM

Chaya Venice
110 Navy St.
Venice, CA 90291
310.396.1179
@chayarestaurant

XIV Restaurant (Sunset Strip, West Hollywood)
The restaurant-club on The Sunset Strip currently occupying The Corner That Bumps will be putting the dance party on hold to go all-out for The Super Bowl. Watch the game on big screens and projectors while enjoying $45 ($40 + ~$5 service charge for ticket) all-you-care-to-eat BBQ from 1 – 6 PM. Pony kegs will be available for purchase, as well as burgers and mac n’ cheese.

1 – 6 PM – All-you-can-eat BBQ

XIV Restaurant
8117 W. Sunset Boulevard
(at Crescent Heights)
West Hollywood, CA 90046
310.656.1414
@xiv_restaurant

Verdugo Bar (Glassell Park)

Watch Super Bowl XLIV projected live on Verdugo’s outdoor patio or on one of two flatscreen TVs inside the bar. Food and drink specials will be available all day and DJs will be spinning live (not sure how that’s going to work – perhaps during half-time? Maybe you don’t like The Who, so much). BBQ is available all day from the Tasty Meat Truck.

1PM

Verdugo Bar
3408 Verdugo Rd
Los Angeles, CA 90065
323.257.3408‎
@verdugobar

Hudson House (Redondo Beach)

Hudson House will also have available a special Superbowl menu – as well as $3 Bud and Budlight on tap. Tasty options include:

Bags of Roasted Peanuts & Spicy Popcorn – $2 each
Bag of Garlic Fries – $3
Boneless Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese, Carrots & Celery Sticks – $5
Hawaiian Sliders with Teriyaki Sauce & Pineapple on King Hawaiian Bread – $2 each
“The Works” Hot Dog with Sauerkraut – $4

These are available from 1 PM until food runs out, so guests should be sure to get there before kickoff. The regular menu will be available starting 5 PM with beer and cocktail menus available all day.

1 PM

5 PM – Regular menu

Hudson House
514 North Pacific Coast Hwy
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310.798.9183
@hudsonhousebar

The Lab Gastropub (USC campus)

Guests of, and not of, the college variety can enjoy the Super Bowl while showing off their science and math skills. What is the likelihood their team will win if they’ve scored two touchdowns in the first quarter? Nah. No need to spoil the fun. Put down the calculators, ignore the buzzkill “lab” theme and know you only need to remember just one figure: $5 – what the game specials will cost you, each.

$5 – Trojan Blonde beers – a brew made exclusively for The Lab Gastropub and served in a beaker
$5 – Wings – Boneless Buffalo Hot Chicken Wings or Wings Tossed with Mango Sweet & Sour Sauce
$5 – Spinach Artichoke Dip

The Lab
3500 Figueroa Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
213.743.1843

Take-Away

If you like post-Super Bowl clean-up but want to outsource the delicious eats on which your guests will graze, the deli at Little Dom’s – Dominick’s younger brother in Los Feliz - is offering a take-away menu.

Deli at Little Dom’s (Los Feliz)

Salads (serve 6-8 people)

Fregole Salad – $40.95
Farro with Grilled Squash – $40.95
Wood Oven Roasted Romanesco – $40.95
Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan – $38.95

Main dishes

Sicilian Tuna on Baguette (serves 3-6) – $27.95
Prosciutto & Mozzarella on Baguette (serves 3-6) – $28.95
Mozzarella, Romesco & Arugula on Baguette (serves 3-6) – $23.95
Truffled Chicken Salad & Arugula (serves 3-6) – $25.95
Turkey & Avocado on Ciabatta (serves 6-8) – $45.95
Brooklyn Dodger with Turkey, Pepperoni, Fresh Mozzarella, Shredded Cabbage, Pickled Sweet Peppers & Balsamic Vinegar (serves 6-8) – $48.95
Muffaletta (serves 6-8) – $48.95
Meatball & Provolone (serves 6-8) – $46.95
Sausage & Mushroom Focaccia (serves 6-8) – $23.95
Roasted Tomato & Pesto Focaccia (serves 6-8) – $23.95
Lasagne (serves 6-8) – $48.95
Meatballs – $2 each
Zapps Potato Chips – $1.75 each

Desserts

Pistachio Shortbread (1/2 dozen) – $4.50
Little Dom’s Cocoa Cupcakes – $2.75 each
Chocolate Chunk Cookies (1/2 dozen) – $5.50
Shortbread (1/2 dozen) – $4.50
Truffles: Earl Grey & Milk Chocolate Nib – $1.75 each
Gelato: Vanilla, Dark Chocolate & Caramel (1/2 pint) – $5.50 each

Little Dom’s Deli
2128 Hillhurst Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
323.661.0088

So knock those beers back – however and wherever you decide to watch the game – and cheer for your team. Or the team you hate the least. As for the team you really care about, there’s always next season.

Vegan Red Velvet - Kiss My Bundt

Los Angeles is a perfect city in which to eat – whether it entails having access to the cuisines of countless ethnicities or healthful options that honor our moral obligations. There’s a tricky thing, however, about desserts for vegans – most of which incorporate butters, understandably, into their recipes. LA vegans have reason to rejoice, though, with ever more plentiful options to get their sweet tooth on around town:

Kiss My Bundt (Mid-Town)

Kiss My Bundt offers vegan red velvet on Fridays and Saturdays as well as vegan chocolate on Saturdays. They may be vegan, but they certainly don’t look nor taste like they’re in shortage of any sort of ingredient. Incredibly moist and delicious, the red velvet will never let on what you’re missing…it’ll be a secret between you and your bundt. And if you’d like a sizeable order (6 mini-bundts or more), the vegan bundts are available any time of the week. What are you waiting for?

Mini Bundt – $2.50
Baby Bundt – $4.50

Also please read about Kiss My Bundt on ShopEatSleep. Try a full-sized bundt and help keep the most delicious cakes in town around!

Kiss My Bundt Bakery
8104 West 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
323.655.0559

The Bakery at Akasha Restaurant (Culver City)

The Bakery at Akasha has a few options available for vegans at their storefront. Pick from chocolate cupcakes, tarts and cookies – or go for their meyer lemon scone. If you’re seeing a movie across the street, best come early and buy a few treats to sneak into the theatre – it sure beats the $8 popcorn at the concession stand!

Dark Chocolate Cupcake with Ganache Glaze & Vanilla Icing – $3.25 ea
Salty Chocolate Pecan Tart and Rustic Apple Tart – $4.75 ea
Chocolate Chip and Snickerdoodle Cookies – $1.50 ea
Meyer Lemon Scones – $2.50 ea

Bakery at Akasha
9543 Culver Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232-2618
310.845.1700

Babycakes (Downtown Los Angeles)

Los Angeles vegans rejoiced when Babycakes came to us from New York – to set up shop in the historic Pacific Electric lofts downtown. Not only could you get a french dip at Cole’s and a cocktail at The Varnish – you could also get dessert nearby. There are a lot of vegan options here (loaf? cookie sandwich? macaroon?) with a variety of flavors:

Vanilla Cupcake with Zesty Lemon Frosting – $4.25
Banana Chocolate Chip Loaf – $3.65/slice (Check the recipe from Glutenfreebird.com)
Cinnamon Raisin Cookie Sandwich with Vanilla Filling – $5.00
Cinnamon & Sugar Toasties – $3.75/slice
Vanilla Macaroons – $1.50 each

Babycakes
130 E. 6th St.
(between Main & Los Angeles)
Los Angeles, CA 90014
213.623.5555

Isabella’s Cookie Company (Various Retailer Locations)

The homemade, all natural cookies from Isabella’s recently introduced two delicious new vegan options found at various Southern California retailers:

“V-Chip” Chocolate Chip Cookies – $7.00/bag of bites (10 cookies/14 oz) or $3.50/individual cookie (6 oz)
“V-Nutter” Peanut Butter Cookies – $7.00/bag of bites (10 cookies/14 oz) or $3.50/individual cookie (6 oz)

Isabella’s Cookies found here
Incl. Famima!!, Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, Silver Lake Wine, Larchmont Village Wine & Cheese, Whole Foods (various)

Veggie Grill (West Hollywood, El Segundo, Irvine)

When I tried Veggie Grill awhile back, I was certainly wow-ed by how good 100% plant-based food could taste – at reasonable price points. But one of the biggest stand-outs of my meal was their Vegan Carrot Cake. The cake itself was moist and rich-tasting while the cream cheese-y icing blew my mind; it may as well have been the “real” thing.

Veggie Grill WeHo
8000 W. Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323.822.7575

Veggie Grill El Segundo
720 Allied Way
El Segundo, CA 90245
310.535.0025

Also 2 Irvine locations at Spectrum and Univ. Center

Vegans who hate baking have more sweet-tooth options than ever all around town. Got a vegan birthday coming up? Snag a few of these sweeties to treat that special person – no need to compromise. Now. What’s for dinner?

Further reading:

Babycakes is Open Downtown – Betty Hallock for LATimes

Vegan Carrot Cake - Veggie Grill

Last week, the food and restauranteur community of Los Angeles gathered at The Hollywood Roosevelt to celebrate the launch of the winter installment of Dine LA – a two-week-long collaborative effort to offer diners three-course lunches and dinners at six specific price points.

$      Deluxe Dining   $16  $26
$$    Deluxe Dining   $22  $34
$$$   Fine Dining       $28  $44

Burger Slider

The red carpet was out and almost 100 chefs – many donning their white jackets straight from the kitchen – were the stars of the night. Oh – plus Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Writers, journalists, bloggers – what have you – were or weren’t donning our white “PRESS” badges. The purpose was clear: To celebrate food’s imminent role in Los Angeles culture – and the accessibility every man has to fine dining. And why don’t we enjoy some fixins from Dakota Chop House and 25 Degrees with cocktails from Matt Biancaniello of Library Bar to wash them down while we’re at it? Pork belly, tacos, quesadillas, salads, burger sliders and even a shiitake mushroom-infused Manhattan were passed around – but the hits of the night were undeniably the spicy burger sliders and Biancaniello’s arugula gimlet.

Arugula Gimlet

If you haven’t already, make your reservations soon; Dine LA runs Jan 24 – 29 and Jan 31 – Feb 5. The bevy of restaurants this round tops 243. Schedule a lunch in there to save a few dollars – it’s a great occasion to take an extended break from work. Eva (lunch or dinner), Palate (dinner), Cube (lunch or dinner) and Petrossian (lunch or dinner) rise to the top of my personal list.

And don’t forget to enter the daily contests Dine LA is holding: Starting 10 AM and running all day, answer a trivia question to be entered to win $100 gift certificates to participating restaurants (today’s is Petrossian, lo and behold). Also follow @dine_la on Twitter for updates.

Bonus: If you’re an American Express card holder, all you have to do is “do” Dine LA three times and you get a $20 credit on your statement. Just spend more than $21 per time.

And if you’re interested in the names behind the scene in Los Angeles food, it might interest you to peep the Dine LA Family Tree to see how they – and we – are all interconnected. Food brings us all together, doesn’t it?

Further reading:

DineLA Flickr Set

Restaurant Deals Ahead: It’s dineLA, the winter version; plus a “family tree” of L.A. chefs & restaurants – LATimes

DineLA Restaurant Week Kicks Off With Celebri-Chef Party – LAist

Dine LA Restaurant  Week Launch Party – ShopEatSleep

Jan 24 – 29 and Jan 31 – Feb 5, 2010

Dine LA Website
Various locations throughout Los Angeles
Call early for reservations

Lindsay, Dawson and Sabrina

All Hale Kale

Are you a Veggie Grill believer and have a friend you wish also was? Or have you heard about Veggie Grill from a friend and are simply curious? Tomorrow (Tuesday, January 12, 2009), Veggie Grill will be hosting a special dinner where veterans can bring virgins who will receive a compliementary entrée!

The exact details about how to participate can be found on Veggie Grill’s Facebook page and Twitter feed today.

Veggie Grill’s food is absolutely fantastic, impressive and even indulgent given the parameters (100% plant-based) within which they prepare their food. Entrées range from the Santa Fe Crispy Chickin’ (Crispy Fried Chillin’ Chickin’, Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, Avocado, Southwestern Spiced Mayo), to the All-American Stack (Grilled Veggie-Steak, Thousand Island Dressing, Pickles, Lettuce, Tomato, Crispy Onion Rings), and the All Hail Kale (Marinated Kale and Red Cabbage, Quinoa, Roasted Corn Salsa, Agave-Roasted Walnuts, Ginger-Papaya Vinaigrette) – shown above.

So if you’re a believer or a simply curious, stop on by your nearest Veggie Grill for dinner with a friend tomorrow to see what all the hype’s about – and to take advantage of the free entrée. Be sure to stay tuned to their Twitter account or Facebook page for details today!

Further reading:

Veggie Grill: Delicious and Healthful On the Cheap – e*starLA

Veggie Grill Flickr Set

Veggie Grill Full Menu

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Free entrée for guest with purchase of one at dinner only

Veggie Grill West Hollywood
8000 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323.822.7575

Veggie Grill El Segundo
720 Allied Way
El Segundo, CA 90245
310.535.0025

Veggie Grill Univ. Center Irvine
4213 Campus Dr
Irvine, CA 92612
949.509.0003

Veggie Grill Irvine Spectrum
81 Fortune Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 727-9900

@VeggieGrill

Marcus, a longtime mixologist in the Nobu family, will take care of exactly that with his holiday cocktail: Gingerbread on the Rocks. He starts out with crushed gingerbread cookie, which he mixes into a puree comprised of nutmeg, cinnamon and molasses. Double espresso Van Gogh gives it that rich coffee kick while Canton French ginger liqueur accentuates the root of the cocktail. It is then topped with more gingerbread crumbs. The result? A nostalgic look back at Christmases or holidays past. Gingerbread never tasted – or slurped – this good.

Available for $12 through December

Christmas Eve (12/24) hours: 6 – 10:15 PM
Christmas (12/25): Closed

Nobu West Hollywood
903 N La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90069
310.657.5711

Photo credit to kevinv033 on Flickr

It’s Tuesday and there’s no better day of the week than to go looking for a place to take that cheap date. Nah … not really (tacky!), but if you and your buddies are jonesin’ for tacos with sit-down service, look no further. There are plenty of options around town – venues serving up a ton of different kinds at taco stand prices. Go ahead – try a different one each week to see how the tacos stack against each other.

Hudson House – $1.00 each

Dubbed “All You Can Eat Street Tacos” - just because they’re so cheap – a couple varieties are being offered by Hudson House. Prime placement for all South Bay dwellers, the resto will serve up Pollo braised with lime and tequila or Confit-style pork carnitas with creamy avocado sauce, diced onions and chopped cilantro. They’re served with charred tomato salsa, limes and fried serrano chiles. And don’t forget the drink specials with which to wash down your eats: Score a 7 oz. Pacifico or Tecate for $2.00 each or a Mexico Mule (Tequila, Ginger Beer, Grapefruit and Lime) for $5.00.

Hudson House
514 N. Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310.798.9183

Spanish Kitchen – $2.00 each

One of the most visible spots the West Hollywood end of La Cienega, The Spanish Kitchen offers not only a whole slew of taco choices but salsas to match … or not. Choose from Grilled shrimp pesto, Beer-battered mahi, Grilled blackened salmon and Mexico BBQ pulled pork tacos. You even get to choose the kind of shell (hard or soft) your taco is served in and over 12 salsas to mix and match (Suiza blanco, Tequila lobster, Mole negro and more). These tacos are served family style so be don’t be bashful – order as many as your heart desires the first time around! It’s a party.

Complete Taco Tuesday Menu

The Spanish Kitchen
826 N. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90069
310.659.4794

Mission Cantina – $1.00 each

Feel like eating tacos in a church? Look no further – with each variety being served in handmade tortillas for only $1.00 each. Pick from Chicken with mole poblano, Fish and Carne asada. If you want some fitting beer to go along with, Tecate and Dos Equis will run you $4.00 each. Not exactly a beer bargain but they probably want you to be looking at their selection of specialty margaritas, anyway. Grapefruit-lavender, anyone? Or perhaps a jalapeno martini or strawberry-guava mojito?

The Mission Cantina
5946 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323.469.3130

Marix Tex Mex – All-You-Can-Eat for $7.95

This Tuesday taco special is a bit different in that you start with three hard or soft tacos – beef, chicken, carnitas or veggie – and they come with beans and rice. But keep going and you’ll maximize the “all you can eat” element. Word on the street is, the margaritas are respectable here (I’ve not tried, myself) so sit down and get your taco on. If your heart so desires, they also offer a la carte tacos for $1.50 each – only at the bar.

Marix Tex Mex
1108 N. Flores
West Hollywood, CA 90069
323.656.8800

Don Chuy’s – $0.99 each

Z0MG, Mexican on The Westside? Right – and we’re not even talking UCLA student-ridden Don Antonio’s on a Wednesday, either. Nope – it’s the Tuesday equivalent. Their carne asada, chicken and potato taco varieties will come smaller than their more expensive counterparts (different menu) but hey – they’re a dollar each. You were looking for cheap, weren’t you? Warning: Only beer and wine are available as they have no liquor license so it’s up to you if it’s worth a visit or not.

Don Chuy’s
11707 Washington Pl
Los Angeles, CA 90066
310.398.9606

So. What are you having for lunch and/or dinner?

Follow-up:

Taco Tuesday at Hudson House – SureBeatsWork.com

Pork Belly Slider with Carmelized Onions

On my first visit to Petrossian on Robertson, the famed boutique of renowned caviar and a one-stop-spot for diners with tastes more sophisticated than and unfazed by the star power of The Ivy, it happened to be Industry Night. It was a night meant to familiarize Petrossian with the heavyweights in the LA culinary scene and I was happy to crash the party.

Butternut Squash Soup with Chestnuts & Pecans

It was a long-overdue visit: My taste buds would no longer be tantalized but titillated and everything Chef Benjamin Bailly sent out from the kitchen would do just the trick. A perfectly floral and barely-sweet hibiscus champagne helped wash down the sliders and soups – and yes, the hibiscus at the end was delicious, thankyouverymuch. Sweet pork sliders with carmelized onions were alternated with juicy cheeseburger sliders; you just had to have both. The tiny butternut squash soups had chestnuts, pecans – and of course, bacon – in it, and while I have had many butternut squash soups, this had to have been one of my favorites (my other favorite is from Neal Fraser’s Grace Restaurant). Next time, I’m getting a full order.

Hibiscus Champagne

There were other classics like the bacon-wrapped date and a gazpacho, the latter’s consistency of which left me curious (you need a spoon). But when the dessert came out – a strawberry cobbler topped with pistachios, I was in heaven!!

And talk about “industry night” – there was no shortage of familiar faces. My Last Bite (Petrossian coverage), Hanhonymous, Daily Wine, Social Domain, JoAnn Cianciulli and Maya of ShopEatsleep were all on hand to experience Petrossian.

I was lucky enough to follow Chef Benjamin Bailly into the kitchen and try mother of pearl spoonfuls of absolutely luxurious caviar, including a kind that literally melted in my mouth. Do want (my own)! I’ve also yet to try selections displayed in their case up front – which included beautiful chocolates and desserts all elegantly presented. But of course – I’ll be back, industry night or not!

Further reading:

Petrossian’s Industry Night – ShopEatSleep

Petrossian Coverage (1 & 2) – MyLastBite

Petrossian Restaurant & Boutique
(one block north of Beverly Blvd)
321 N. Robertson Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90048
310.271.6300

@chefbenbailly

Maya, Lisa, Jo & Hanh