Sugar Fish

 

My friends and I like food. 

What, am I supposed to apologize? Okay: Sorry. With a capitol S.  There you go.  Because, sometimes, we pay 50$ for luch.  On a Tuesday.  Yeah, I said it.  So. What. You’re more than welcome to join us.  As long as when the bill comes, all you do is sigh.  A puff of heald breath says everything that everyone’s thinking, and adding actual words to the conversation grates on my ears, nerves, guilt, and self loathing more than I can stand. 

So stop it. 

One tuesday in particular, my rouge group of cullinary bandits and I happened upon Sugarfish, a newish Sushi Nozawa restaurant in Downtown LA, where you siddown, shaddap, and melt over whatever he gives you. 

Your options are:

Trust Me ($23.50), Trust Me/Light ($13.50), or theNozawa ($32-34). 

I opted to Trust in full, cuz I ain’t light.  Enjoy.

Tuna Sashimi

 

Albacore and Salmon Sushi

 

Yellowtail Sushi

 

Toro Hand Roll

 

Crab Hand Roll

 

The View

Lemondae

I love cafeterias.  I love them.  I think it’s because I went to teeny-tiny private schools until the 11th grade.  Since we were so small, physically, and in numbers, we never had cause celebre for a mass of messy children lining up to get their feed on. We just ate lunch at our desks. Boo. And if we were special enough (meaning: had parents lazy enough) to be part of our school’s hot lunch program, we had a piping hot slice of “salsbury steak” delivered right to our classroom.  Double boo.  So, throw a Clifton’s Cafeteria vote my way and I’m usually the first one with a ‘yeeeaaaa’.  

 

But, I’ll admit, anyone who eats at Clifton’s every day, and isn’t homeless, has some issues.  It’s just not right. Enter Lemonade, a cafeteria-style digg in the basement of the City National Plaza on 5th and Flower. Every day new, fresh, healthy treats are lined up in stainess steel bins, waiting for you to command the cute young cafeteria-ish lady or man to scoop some into your waiting tub or plate. It’s pricey, but worth it if you love tasty and good-for-you.  Whether you’re craving one of the cast-iron offerings of stewed meats, or a bright veggie hash, Lemonade’s the perfect party in the concrete pit, deep below street level.  Check it out sometime.

Cube

Apparently, Cube Marketplace and Cafe has a special Lasagna Lab on Tuesday nights.  When I went, I didn’t really care, because it was my best foodie friend’s send-off dinner, and I was so depressed I couldn’t even eat one bite. …NOT. 

But, it was Carina’s last day in LA, and she was on a mission to visit some of the places she hadn’t been yet, so when she said Cube, I jumped, having no idea what to expect, except a great time with a great friend.

I got there at the same time as Noelle, and my new foodie BFF Kayne found us as soon as we snagged a booth.  Once the woman of the hour arrived, our foursome was complete and dinner was ON.

We started with a bottle of People white wine, which led to a slew of bad “we’re People lovers” and “we’re people who love People” jokes for the rest of the night.

And the rest was a delicious blur…

 

Nothing beats a nice, fresh, mozarella and tomato salad…the peaches didn’t even bug the shit out of me like I thougth they would.  I approve.

There was some confusion about what kind of greens these were, but they were so tasty I didn’t really care.  Garliky, vinegary, salty, and crisp. Do it.

 

 The corn pudding was nice.  Sweet enough to be a desert, warm, and comforting.  My picture of it, however, not so much. …don’t forget I take all these SOB’s on my Iphone, and by the 2nd bottle of wine, well, neither she, nor I are professionals any longer.

 

My favorite part of the evening–gegenbrauer braised bacon.  Don’t ask, because I don’t know wtf a gegenbrauer is.  All I need to know is I want more.

 

At some point, I had to get up and move my car–THIS was delivered to the table at that point.  Thankfully, my friends left me some spoonfulls and the cheezy mac didn’t dissapoint.

 

The star of the night–the Lasagna Lab.  Sorry I didn’t take better notes…it was good, though…with…um…cheese…and…there was some eggplant…?  It was light, airy, not too cheesy…served in a pan…which was cute…

 

I LOVED the salad that came with the lasagna.  Nice, light vinnegrette and bleu cheese that cut right through the cheesy pasta.

 

The Chocolate Hazelnut Tart was my idea.  Give me a Nutella-ish option and I’m all over that sukkah. 

 

Cookie dough ice cream trio.  Properly laden with big fat chunks of cookie dough.

Apricot Tart Tartin. Salty, sweet, cruchy, gooood.

 

And we finished up the night with a cobbler trio with some huckleberry in it. Top that, beeeches. 

It was a good night, fun people, good food, good (cheap) wine, and nothing to do but relax. 

ahhhh…thanks Cube!

Senor Fish

Want a big, fat, healthy, fresh, filling, seafood burrito for 7$? Want a fish taco and beer happy hour at 9am? Want to eat really good food in a place that looks like a warehouse filled with cops, both undercover and uniformed? Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don’t. But when I do, Senor Fish in Little Tokyo is the place.  Deeheeheelish.

 

Little Dom’s

A great thing to find, is a place with good food, good drinks, close to the office, and either small enough, or big enough to get lost in, to disappear into, with your friends.

Little Dom’s is one of those places for me.  Whether it’s a lunch break that transports me from Downtown LA to Lil’ I’aly, or a happy hour that suspends the world outside on a string until I’m ready to tackle the 60E, the food, the vibe, the…”it” that is Little Dom’s is “it” for me.  I mean, they have a BREAKFAST PIZZA, for christssakes.

Go there.  Eat it.

 

 

 

 

Red O

My brother-in-law’s birthday was cause for celebration, and since he’s so dramatic, it’s fitting that finding a reservation for a table of 14 on a Sunday night in LA proved to be less than easy. The first two restaurants we tried were inexplicably closed, and a third was catering a private party. Everything else was either too “unique” to be appropriate for a crowd spanning from 23-74 years old (I can’t even IMAGINE my father-in-law’s reaction to anything at The Bazzar, including the decor). So, we took a chance, and when Rick Bayless’s new Red O told us they had a table at 9, we slept in on Sunday morning, and afternoon, and headed out around 8. Boy am I glad we did.

In MY humble opinion, service was great. Guy, our waiter, was perfect. A few in our crowd were more than irked when the bar shut down service at 11:30, but for me, it was a confirmation that God himself was listening to my whisperd prayers (pleasenomoretequila, pleasenomoretequila, pleasenomoretequila…) I mean, it was SUNDAY at 11:30 PM and I have to wake up at SIX!!! sheesh…

I enjoyed the food completely, but my husband still thinks Javier’s is better. Maybe I just like LA so much more than the OC that to me, food tastes better out here. Either way, we’ll be going back.

Shredded Creekstone Beef Short Rib Sope with roasted tomato-green chile sauce – $9

Gleason Ranch Pork Belly Sope with black beans, salsa negra, sesame – $8

Mazatlan Blue Shrimp Cevice with mango, red onion, chipotle chile- $13.50

Bacon Tomato Queso Fundito, with  serrano chile, cilantro, tequila – $7.50

Smoked Mary’s Chicken Taquitos with avocado-tomatillo salsa, watercress – $8

Slow-Cooked Sonoma Duck Taquitos with tomato-arbol chile sauce, arugula -$8.50

Pollo en Mole Poblano with
grilled Mary’s young chicken, homemade mole poblano, black beans, watercress salad
$23

Cochinita Pibil
tortilla-fed, Gleason Ranch suckling pig, achiote-marinated & slow-roasted in banana leaves,
black beans, pickled red onions, roasted habanero salsa
$26

Umami Smash

There’s a burger that can only be seen from 5-7pm Monday-Friday at the Hollywood Umami Burger. 

I don’t think I’m allowed to talk about it here.  So I won’t. 

Just sit down at the bar, look your bartender squarely in the eye, and say

“Smash Burger”.

If you like Umami Burger, you’ll like it smashed.

Delphine

On a hot Saturday, a few weeks ago, Chuck surprised me with an adventure.  He told me to put some walking shoes on, I laughed and slipped on some strappy cork wedges, and we drove deep into East LA.  To the Metro station. And, my day was made right then and there, I didn’t care what else was on the agenda. Fortunately for you all, it got even better from there.  We boarded the train and rode rather aimlessly, through tunnels, over bridges, and made it to Grand Central Station, where the May Day protesters were filling up the station on the way home from a day of rallying against racism.  I felt bad for my lazy social in-activism, so when Chuck suggested we drown our underachieving selves in a cocktail, I was more than happy to oblige.  Traxx was closed for the weekend, so we hopped on the red line and made our way out to the spankin’ new W West Hollywood. 

GOOD idea. The train station empties out right onto Hollywood Blvd, and what did we find sitting right before our eyes…? Well none other than the W’s Delphine Eatery & Bar. 

Perfecto!  Beer me, barman!!!

We wanted to stay light, what with it being a Saturday–the Lord’s day of feasting, and all–so we opted for some charcuterie, cheese, and oysters. 

Ding, ding, mothaeffing, ding.

 

Everything was amazing, and I cannot wait to go back. The sandwiches, steak frites, and every damn thing else looked so great that I want to take a bite out of this keyboard just thinking about it.

Good with the bad: there was one pretty damn douchey guy at the bar while we were there.

But other than that, it was the perfect lazy Saturday, take a trip on the train, kinda day.

 

The Dining Room

This is one looooong overdue post, but, get off my back, okay?!?! At least they’re here!!!

This, my friends, is Top Chef Michael Voltaggio’s amazing Dining Room at the Langham Pasadena.  The Chuckster took me for Valentines day this year, and I really, honestly had no idea where we were going until we headed North on the 605…Pasade…OHMYGOD ARE WE GOING TO THE DINING ROOM!!!!!! I couldn’t stand it, I was so excited.

And it lived up to every single hope I had.  From the waiter, to our sommelier, all the way to The Man, Chef V himself–everybody was warm, happy, welcoming, accomodating, and fantastic.  Just like the food, which I can honestly say is THE best meal I’ve ever had. 

I’ll give you the pics and their descriptions right off the menu, because I can’t do them any more justice than the man with the honey dipped hand, himself did. 

And so, I give you…

The Dining Room, by Michael Voltaggio

 Bacon Roll and Truffle Roll, served with French and Goat Cheese Butter

 

 

 Hendricks and Cucumber Cocktail Amuse

 

Octopus with Buttered Popcorn, Piquillo Confetti, Cilantro

 

Foie Gras with Apple, Saffron, Marcona Almond, Aerated Brioche

(The absolute BEST Foie Gras I’eve ever had in my life)

 

Langoustine with Young Fennel, Porcini Mushroom Lasagna

 

Kurobuta Pork Belly with Bok Choy “Kim Chi”, Kabocha Squash Preserves, Peanut Butter Noodles

 

 Pastrami Pigeon with Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut, Rye

 

 

 Jameson Farm Lamb with Vadouvan, Nori-Spaghetti Squash, Yogurt, Fried Rice

    

Wagyu Short Rib with Smoked Potato “Tots”, Nantes Carrots, White Ketchup 

 

 

Chocolate Covered Strawberries 

 

 

 Lavender Flower Macaroon

Creme Fraiche Panna Cotta, Vanilla-Passion Sorbet, Floral Cotton Candy

 

 

Fools Gold

Chocoalte, Salty Hazelnut Praline, Milk Sorbet

 

Hapiness

Bottega Louie

Um…I don’t know how to say this nicely, so I’m just gonna say it…

I HATE BOTTEGA LOUIE. 

Phew…I had to get that off my chest…I just…I don’t like the food. It’s just…generally…bland.  I mean, if you invite me, chances are good that I’ll go, get bourbon drunk, and never mention the fact that I’m choking on my chicken.  So…It’s not the worst meal I’ve ever had…I guess…

But look at these beautiful pictures!!!

Beet Salad

Carrots 

 Corn

 My best friend Robin’s crazy custom salad with no dressing, no salt, and only raw veggies.

 Lasagna

 Chicken…something…?

Ravioli