In our eating and drinking anniversary festivities, FT and I decided to try Little Dom's in Los Feliz for lunch. We sat at one of the booths in the bar area and enjoyed the warm afternoon sunlight streaming through the expanse of windows. The bartender was our server and he was superb. He was personable, recommended an excellent summer afternoon cocktail (that he prepared with evident expertise) and when it came to dessert, suggested a strawberry polenta shortcake that I nearly finished off without giving FT a taste!
While we were there, we noticed an advertisement for their next Monday night wine tasting. We queried the bartender about it, and found out that they did a wine tasting every Monday night, from wines they usually only sold by the bottle. They run about $15 for a three-wine flight and are available throughout the evening.
We decided to check out the one on the 21st, and invited two other couples to join us. We met at 8 PM and found seats around the bar. Four of us went with the wine flights (a selection of whites from northern Italy), while two of the gentleman decided on beer, albeit Italian as well (Peroni). Our favorite bartender (whose name I have yet to ask) was there again, and was very knowledgeable about the wines he poured. (He also poured generously, a fine trait in a bartender!) Although I am usually a red drinker myself, I quite enjoyed the selection, especially when we paired it with two desserts (a delicious cheesecake and a trio of sorbets). Combined with the pleasure of good conversation, it was another excellent Little Dom's experience.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to attend a tasting since then, but, fingers crossed, I'll be at the tasting this Monday!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Allez-y
What I am trying to find time to do soon:
"Between Earth and Heaven: The Architecture of John Lautner" at the Hammer Museum in Westwood.
"Between Earth and Heaven: The Architecture of John Lautner" at the Hammer Museum in Westwood.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Epicurean: CommeCa
July 3rd was our second wedding anniversary. FT and I spent the day together (obvy) and as usual, tried to do too many things at once. LACMA was shoved to the side in favor of a nap, and the Fairfax Corridor exploration was saved for another day.
But for dinner, reservations had been booked for weeks. I had been looking forward to checking out CommeCa ever since it opened, and couldn't wait to celebrate our anniversary with a wonderful dinner. FT wore jeans and a button down and I busted out the little black dress I had worn at our rehearsal dinner. We were running late (again, as usual) and decided to spring for the valet. I know that end of Melrose can be pricey, but $8? Seriously? That's just ridiculous!
When we walked into the restaurant, the first thing I noticed was how loud it was. I had heard this mentioned in reviews when they first opened, but I had been under the impression it was something they had worked on. (How, I don't know, but I was optimistic.) We ordered a carafe of red wine and the oysters to start, much like we had on our honeymoon. The oyster appetizer came with three different types (don't ask me what they were, I don't remember) and the first set was not so good. Luckily, the other two types were delicious. The bread and butter each table receives was yummy (trust me, some restaurants can even screw up the simple things) and the wine was quite good.
For our entrees, FT ordered the steak frites special and I finally decided on the morel mushroom risotto. While we waited for them to arrive, I checked out the cheese bar and our various dinner companions. It was your usual LA crowd, and I wasn't surprised that we seemed to be almost overdressed compared to the rest of the room. When our entrees arrived, I was dismayed to see that FT's frites were overdone. I tried a taste of his steak, and for all its "28-day aged"-ness, it wasn't worth the price. My risotto was good, but not spectacular.
By this time, the noise level was really getting to me. I tried to ignore it and enjoy FT's company, but it was kind of hard to do when I had to keep asking him to repeat what he had said and then shout my replies. Nonetheless, I can't leave a restaurant without trying their desserts, so we ordered the profiteroles (a personal favorite from my Paris days) and the chocolate cake, both of which were excellent. Thank goodness.
I think if I were to go back, it would only be for dessert and maybe a glass of wine. I didn't find the food equal to its price, and I really can't stress enough how annoying the noise was. But I liked the look of the place and would enjoy bellying up to the cheese bar to see what it's all about.
But for dinner, reservations had been booked for weeks. I had been looking forward to checking out CommeCa ever since it opened, and couldn't wait to celebrate our anniversary with a wonderful dinner. FT wore jeans and a button down and I busted out the little black dress I had worn at our rehearsal dinner. We were running late (again, as usual) and decided to spring for the valet. I know that end of Melrose can be pricey, but $8? Seriously? That's just ridiculous!
When we walked into the restaurant, the first thing I noticed was how loud it was. I had heard this mentioned in reviews when they first opened, but I had been under the impression it was something they had worked on. (How, I don't know, but I was optimistic.) We ordered a carafe of red wine and the oysters to start, much like we had on our honeymoon. The oyster appetizer came with three different types (don't ask me what they were, I don't remember) and the first set was not so good. Luckily, the other two types were delicious. The bread and butter each table receives was yummy (trust me, some restaurants can even screw up the simple things) and the wine was quite good.
For our entrees, FT ordered the steak frites special and I finally decided on the morel mushroom risotto. While we waited for them to arrive, I checked out the cheese bar and our various dinner companions. It was your usual LA crowd, and I wasn't surprised that we seemed to be almost overdressed compared to the rest of the room. When our entrees arrived, I was dismayed to see that FT's frites were overdone. I tried a taste of his steak, and for all its "28-day aged"-ness, it wasn't worth the price. My risotto was good, but not spectacular.
By this time, the noise level was really getting to me. I tried to ignore it and enjoy FT's company, but it was kind of hard to do when I had to keep asking him to repeat what he had said and then shout my replies. Nonetheless, I can't leave a restaurant without trying their desserts, so we ordered the profiteroles (a personal favorite from my Paris days) and the chocolate cake, both of which were excellent. Thank goodness.
I think if I were to go back, it would only be for dessert and maybe a glass of wine. I didn't find the food equal to its price, and I really can't stress enough how annoying the noise was. But I liked the look of the place and would enjoy bellying up to the cheese bar to see what it's all about.
Monday, July 7, 2008
A Person Who Is Fond Of or Greatly Admires France or the French
Last Wednesday, I met my friend FH for a drink after work. We decided to meet at Pastis, a French restaurant on Beverly Blvd that appealed to our Francophile souls. Since we weren't certain that we would be staying for dinner, we decided to sit at the bar. I've found it always pays to get to know your bartender(s), and we weren't disappointed. We had an excellent first drink, thanks to the generosity of the Gallic soul, complimented by appetizers (sauteed soft shell crab for FH and seared peppered Ahi tuna for me) while we caught up on all that had happened in the months since we had last seen each other.
We decided against moving onto dinner, and instead shared a dessert (confit lemon tart with raspberry coulis). One of the bartenders/servers recommended a glass of white wine for FH to try, and a Bordeaux for me. Soon the dessert was polished off, followed thereafter by the wine, and we began to think about leaving. It was the kind of evening that reminds me why I love LA and my friends here, and thus makes me less likely to sigh about how much I miss traveling. There is so much to explore right here at home!
Plus, Wednesday nights at Pastis are "buy one bottle, take home one free," something I'll be sure to take advantage of next time...
We decided against moving onto dinner, and instead shared a dessert (confit lemon tart with raspberry coulis). One of the bartenders/servers recommended a glass of white wine for FH to try, and a Bordeaux for me. Soon the dessert was polished off, followed thereafter by the wine, and we began to think about leaving. It was the kind of evening that reminds me why I love LA and my friends here, and thus makes me less likely to sigh about how much I miss traveling. There is so much to explore right here at home!
Plus, Wednesday nights at Pastis are "buy one bottle, take home one free," something I'll be sure to take advantage of next time...
Friday, July 4, 2008
Epicurean: Creperie by Jack n' Jill's
After our Monday metro adventure, MG and I decided to grab dinner at Creperie, the restaurant in Beverly Hills where a friend of his works. MG frequently eats there when he's in town, but I had been there only once before, for lunch, right after they opened. FT wasn't sure when he would be able to meet us, so we went ahead and ordered. I decided on a bowl of the smoked chicken gumbo, with some of their delicious cornbread and honey butter on the side. MG ordered the savory Quarter crepe, one of his favorites. The chicken gumbo was flavorful, and spicy enough to require refills of my water glass. I tried a bit of MG's crepe, which was covered in Jambalaya sauce, and found it to be spicy as well, but quite good.
FT arrived shortly after we began our meal, and quickly ordered the Magnolia salad. He wasn't overly impressed with it, so we decided to move on to dessert. FT went with the Cinnamon Simple (cinnamon, sugar and butter), I chose a classic sugar-and-butter mix, and MG went with his usual, the Chocolate Banana Cream (Nutella, banana cream, bananas and caramel). All three were delicious, but the portions were huge and no one was able to finish.
I'm hoping to convince FT to return with me sometime, and maybe just make a meal of appetizers and sweet crepes!
FT arrived shortly after we began our meal, and quickly ordered the Magnolia salad. He wasn't overly impressed with it, so we decided to move on to dessert. FT went with the Cinnamon Simple (cinnamon, sugar and butter), I chose a classic sugar-and-butter mix, and MG went with his usual, the Chocolate Banana Cream (Nutella, banana cream, bananas and caramel). All three were delicious, but the portions were huge and no one was able to finish.
I'm hoping to convince FT to return with me sometime, and maybe just make a meal of appetizers and sweet crepes!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Metro: Gold Line / Mission
In an effort to be more proactive, I dragged MG on a metro adventure yesterday. He had never been on the LA subway (didn't even know there was one, until this past weekend) so we hopped on at Westlake and rode the Red Line to Union Station. From there we took the Gold Line to the Mission stop in South Pasadena.
The thing is, most things in South Pas are apparently closed on Mondays... Ah well. We made the best of it, stopping at Nicole's Gourmet Foods for a brioche (me) and crème brulée (him), and then walking up El Centro to the Fremont Centre Theatre before looping back to Mission.
Book'em Mysteries book shop was closed, but I'll definitely be making a trip back to check out their collection. We stopped in at Mission Wines, which just so happened to be open, and I asked about wine tastings, because it'd be awesome to take the metro and not have to drive! (What's that you say? It's wine tasting, not guzzling? Hmm, something to think about...) The afternoon was a little warm, so MG and I stopped at Buster's Coffee and Ice Cream Shop for some cool refreshments before hopping back on the Gold Line.
We got off at the Chinatown stop, so MG could see a little bit of the area. But my knowledge of what to do and see in Chinatown is limited, so we just walked south on Broadway and popped into a few stores to see if I could find some green tea powder ($18.99 in the first store, 9.99 in the second store and $45.00 in the third, all for approximately the same size. WTF?!) When we hit Cesar Chavez, we headed east and wove our way through Olvera Street (it's the birthplace of Los Angeles, you know) on our way to Union Station, and the Red Line back home.
Things I've learned for next time: Go to South Pas on any day but Monday! Also, when a well-dressed man with creepy eyes sitting next to you on the subway introduces himself to you, give him a fake name, because it's really creepy when you run into him at Olvera Street and he calls you by name.
The thing is, most things in South Pas are apparently closed on Mondays... Ah well. We made the best of it, stopping at Nicole's Gourmet Foods for a brioche (me) and crème brulée (him), and then walking up El Centro to the Fremont Centre Theatre before looping back to Mission.
Book'em Mysteries book shop was closed, but I'll definitely be making a trip back to check out their collection. We stopped in at Mission Wines, which just so happened to be open, and I asked about wine tastings, because it'd be awesome to take the metro and not have to drive! (What's that you say? It's wine tasting, not guzzling? Hmm, something to think about...) The afternoon was a little warm, so MG and I stopped at Buster's Coffee and Ice Cream Shop for some cool refreshments before hopping back on the Gold Line.
We got off at the Chinatown stop, so MG could see a little bit of the area. But my knowledge of what to do and see in Chinatown is limited, so we just walked south on Broadway and popped into a few stores to see if I could find some green tea powder ($18.99 in the first store, 9.99 in the second store and $45.00 in the third, all for approximately the same size. WTF?!) When we hit Cesar Chavez, we headed east and wove our way through Olvera Street (it's the birthplace of Los Angeles, you know) on our way to Union Station, and the Red Line back home.
Things I've learned for next time: Go to South Pas on any day but Monday! Also, when a well-dressed man with creepy eyes sitting next to you on the subway introduces himself to you, give him a fake name, because it's really creepy when you run into him at Olvera Street and he calls you by name.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Recommendations: Wanted
JC and I went to see Wanted at the ArcLight last night. I didn't know much about it, only that it featured Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy. She's gorgeous and he's hot, so that was enough for me. The start was a little rough, but I understood what they were going for and they only narrowly missed it. It was full of action (it totally made me want to be an assassin!) and a few surprises, although those of you who have read the graphic novel may not jump or shriek as much. (Actually, and you'd have to ask JC to confirm, I may have been the only person in the theater jumping and shrieking, but whatevs...) Besides, the guy who plays James McAvoy's father is pretty hot too, if that sort of thing sells you. Otherwise, have I mentioned how gorgeous Angelina is?
(Side bar: Although this was not always the case, I must admit- I love the ArcLight. Online ticket purchasing and assigned seating means you can show up just in time to catch the previews and know that you can have the center middle seats you prefer. Plus, stadium seating means that tall, fat guy in front of you won't be blocking your view with his chrome dome.)
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