Last (!) LA Post

by Xani

First part of Last LA Post here.

Just moments after we polished off our delicious Pinkberry treats, we stopped into Jin Patisserie, an adorable little sweet shop with an even cuter tea garden outside.

As I write this on a dreary mid-Atlantic November morning, I realize it's probably sunny and warm at Jin's. Wow, that is NOT fair!

Anyway, we stopped into the shop and marveled at the absolutely beautiful little cakes, cookies and candies. I wish I had taken more pictures in the store, but I didn't want to get in trouble or anything (I had just broken the rules by taking secret pictures at Pinkberry, so I didn't want to push my luck!). You see can plenty of pictures of their amazing edible art at http://www.jinpatisserie.com/.

We picked up a box of multi-flavored macarons, which are traditional french pastries made of meringue-like cookies sandwiched together with various fillings (not to be confused with macaroons, the coconut-based Passover treat). Too full to eat them right that minute, we headed back to Ann and Steven's adorable Santa Monica apartment, where Steven brewed up some good strong coffee and we dug in to the macarons.

Great packaging makes a difference...

As does good plating!

Coffee cup included for scale; tiny=cute!

It's been a while now but I believe the flavors included in our little sampler were: lavender, rose, strawberry, caramel, chocolate, pistachio... and two I can't remember. The macarons were very yummy, the flavors were pretty subtle, but they were a delicious afternoon treat to enjoy with coffee and great company!

It seems like only minutes later we were getting back into the bar for a quick dinner (!!!) at 26 Beach before I needed to be at the airport. 26 Beach also has a cute semi-outdoor dining area, although the only picture I snapped is this blurry one of several tiny chandeliers hanging near the front door:

Blurry photo, cute idea

We somehow managed to put even more food into out bodies (just salad for me this time-- I AM NOT A MACHINE!) and have more great chats before it was time to head back to LAX. I had such a great time in LA and I must thank Jenny, Ann and Steven for being such wonderful hosts. Looking forward to my next trip to California!

X

Last (?) LA Post

by Xani

My final day in LA was one for the record books, eating-wise. I finally got together with my cousins Ann and Steven, who you might remember from EP's visit to LA a while back. As soon as they picked me up we were off to the first (of many) eating experiences of the day.

Meltdown, etc is a grilled cheese restaurant that is only open for lunch. Once I heard about this place I HAD to try it so I could compare it to the other grilled cheese restaurant I visited while in Cleveland just a few days earlier, Melt Bar and Grilled. So here's a head to head comparison:

Melt Bar and Grilled is a restaurant and bar, with a funky vibe (check out the bread and crossbones logo on their web page-- love it!) and an extended beer list. My friend Hayley and I went for a late-ish dinner on a Friday night, and were impressed with the tattooed and pierced servers, interesting decor, and especially the ginormous grilled cheese sandwiches we saw on other people's plates! Melt offers a BIG selection of grilled cheeses but we finally settled on two, the chorizo and potato (sharp cheddar, spicy Mexican sausage) and the spinach pie (wilted garlic spinach, roasted red pepper, grilled onions, feta). We sipped our beers and soon enough, out came the sandwiches... all I can say is WOW! First of all, they were HUGE-- thick cut, crunchy grilled bread absolutely stuffed with hot, melt-y fillings. Alongside each was a massive pile of really great boardwalk style fries. Serious Midwest-sized portions, and did I mention each one was only $7.50!? What a bargain!

It barely fits on the plate!

Chorizo and Potato Grilled Cheese

Spinach Pie Grilled Cheese

Love this backlit glass art piece above the front door

Both sandwiches were great. The edge goes to the Spinach pie, which was super-tasty with a great balance of flavors. Chorizo and potato was also very good, but, and I can't believe I'm saying this, had a little too much potato. Who knew that was even possible? As much as I LOOOOVE potatoes, once you put them on bread, it starts getting a little ridiculous. Even for me. But overall we both loved Melt, I would love to go back and spend an evening nibbling grilled cheeses and sampling a bunch of those interesting beers... and then sleep for 14 hours.

But this is an LA post so let me get back to Cali, and discuss Meltdown, etc. Meltdown is a tiny little place with mostly outdoor seating (only about 10 tables). We ordered an array of food, paid at the counter, grabbed a table outsitde, and a few minutes later, out came the sandwiches. Between the three of us we shared a Classic 3 Cheese (sharp cheddar, muenster, and fontina on sourdough bread) with applewood bacon, a Caprese (fresh mozzarella, roma tomatoes, basil, olive oil, vinegar, and walnut pesto on ciabatta bread), and a Turkey Melt (brie, oven-roasted turkey breast, arugula, cranberry-horseradish mustard on walnut bread). These were definitely more "west-coast" portions-- the sandwiches were on standard-sized bread, and had a more manageable amount of cheese, etc on the inside. The favorite of the group was the classic 3 cheese with bacon, which had perfectly crunchy bread, lots of melted cheese, and, of course, bacon. Runner up was the turkey melt, which was very tasty (especially the cranberry horseradish mustard) but which we all agreed was not really grilled cheese, it was a turkey melt! Caprese came in last-- the mozzarella, oil and vinegar made the bread pretty soggy. Bummer.

Caprese: looks amazing, tastes mushy

Melted cheese+bacon=delicious

Turkey Melt: delicious but disqualified

The final verdict: Melt Bar and Grilled in Cleveland trumps Meltdown, etc in LA. While outdoor dining and reasonable portions make sense in SoCal, I'll take the enormous sandwiches (and fries) at a great price in a funky, dive-y atmosphere. Also, Melt had beer!

After lunch at Meltdown, we ended up stopping for not one, but TWO desserts that afternoon! We took a short drive to Venice Beach and ended up at Pinkberry, which is apparently a big LA phenomenon (although I see from their website they also have locations in New York. Go figure). So, of course, I was skeptical; what's all the fuss over some frozen yogurt? Pinkberry claims to be "swirly goodness" and offers only two flavors (vanilla and green tea) and traditional candy toppings as well as fresh fruit. I was willing to try it. I ordered a small vanilla topped with pomegranate seeds (their featured fall season topping). As much as I was ready to dismiss Pinkberry as a silly fad, I have to admit it was really good. Unlike other frozen yogurt, which tries, unsuccessfully, to taste like ice cream, Pinkberry actually tastes like yogurt-- creamy and sweet but with a tangy flavor (Steven said it reminded him of cream cheese). It has a texture similar to ice milk, not ice cream, so its not overly rich. The slightly sour, crunchy pomegranate seeds on top were absolutely great with the yogurt. If you are anywhere near a Pinkberry, go get this right away. I can't believe I'm saying it, but I LOVED Pinkberry! Next thing you know I'll have a bejeweled cell phone and be carrying a dog in a purse!!

Beautiful and delicious!

There was a sign banning photography inside Pinkberry

so special thanks to Steven for hiding me

while I snapped a couple pics!

We strolled around the shops and even stopped into the Smart Car dealership for a few minutes before moving onto our next snack. Next we were off to Jin Patisserie... but that, my friends, is a post for another day! Don't you just love a cliffhanger??

X

And the Beet Goes On

by Erin and Xani

In our family, when it's someone's birthday, not only does the Birthday Girl/Boy get taken out for fancy dinners, but he or she ALSO gets his or her favorite meal (or a meal of his or her choice) cooked at home. We apparently take this policy very seriously, because when EP turned 25 this summer, she got her fancy meal at a restaurant, but she had not, as of last Sunday, received her home-cooked meal. Well, rules are rules and as a family of attorneys (and an attorney-in-training), we know how to follow rules. So last Sunday, we belatedly celebrated EP's birthday with another extravagant meal.

Here was the menu:

• Cocktails
• Shrimp with Green Goddess Sauce and Cocktail Sauce
• Raw Oysters
• Beet Carpaccio with Goat Cheese and Mint Vinaigrette
• Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding and Asparagus
• Concord Grape Sorbet

For our cocktails, the ladies enjoyed Champagne Cocktails (champagne, angostura bitters, and a sugar cube) while Dad enjoyed a good strong Martini. No pics of these since they've been fully chronicled here and here (wow, we're starting to look like alcoholics here...).

Next we had our first course, which was cooked, cold shrimp served with Green Goddess Sauce (we also served some Cocktail Sauce with them). Green Goddess Sauce is a sauce to be served with cold, cooked seafood, and it made its first appearance in our repertoire back in the day at our Bastille Day party. We used the recipe from The New York Times Cookbook and it is really delicious and very easy to make. Just take chives, parsley, tarragon, and garlic and pulse together in a food processor. Then add anchovies, lemon juice, and mayonnaise until combined. Finally, fold in sour cream. We added extra garlic, anchovies, and lemon juice - big shocker there. It is a rich sauce but it's very flavorful, and is a huge hit at parties since it's so delicious and an unexpected turn from traditional cocktail sauce.

More anchovies, please...

Next, Dad and Xani shucked some oysters (including an absolutely gigantic one, as big as Dad's hand!) and EP ate her first oyster and LIKED IT! Hooray! (Actually, technically it was her second oyster which she tried several years ago and did not like, but now it seems her palate has finally figured out that she's a foodie, dammit, and foodies like oysters!). She was inspired to try them again since Mom, Dad, and Xani said they were just about the freshest oysters they've ever had.

EP before the big slurp

After our first course, we moved on to the salad course. Thanks to Epicurious, we found a recipe for Beet Carpaccio with Goat Cheese and Mint Vinaigrette, which was absolutely delicious. We really wanted to have a salad with roasted beets since they are so yummy and have such a unique texture and flavor. This recipe was perfect for us! The beets were roasted first and then peeled, and then to slice them thinly, Xani got to play with one of her favorite toys: the mandoline! The vinaigrette was easy, consisting of shallot, rice vinegar, mint, olive oil, and sugar. (The recipe actually instructs you to put minced shallot on the plate instead of in the vinaigrette, but we threw it in the food processor instead and it added an onion-y level that was present but too powerful.) The sweetness and tartness of the vinaigrette was great against the sweet beet and the goat cheese.

Next we got to the main course: PRIME RIB! Some of you long-time readers may remember that we made prime rib for our very first post! We used the same recipe from James Beard, where you (cardiologists avert your eyes!) smother the prime rib with butter and salt and pepper, and then roast at 500 degrees at 5 minutes per pound. After that time is over, DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN for two hours. Now, back in the day before we started using an instant-read themometer when we cooked meat, this was a failsafe technique. But now, we leave the oven closed until the meat hits (food safety professonals avert your eyes!) 123 degrees, since it will continue to cook as it rests. As you can see, it turned out perfectly!! Oh we are drooling as we discuss this glorious dish...sooo delicious...

Dad supervising Xani's carving

Gellie at the ready

As one of our side dishes, we wanted to have the traditional accompaniment to prime rib: Yorkshire Pudding. Usually, we use the James Beard recipe for yorkshire pudding, but in past years it has failed us - the yorky (as BCD Mom calls it) comes out flat and not puffy as it should, and it is entirely too greasy (even for us). So, Mom and Erin hit up the internet and came up with Tyler Florence's recipe. We liked this recipe because it called for a moderate amount of pan drippings/fat (not too little and not too much) and it said you can use a cast-iron skillet. (Clearly we had not made enough dirty dishes at this point and we needed to make sure every dish, pot, and pan got some face-time.)

The yorky came out okay - after all that grease-phobia, it turned out that our well-trimmed roast (thanks to Dad and Xani's butchering skills) did not create enough grease! Also, we doubled the recipe and therefore used 6 eggs in the dish, which made it very eggy. Not great. Ah well...

We also steamed some asparagus. End of story on that one. Here is the finished plate:

For dessert, Xani and Erin went back to their favorite Gelateria in Fells Point, Pintango (see our love at first taste here), where they picked up some Concord Grape Sorbet (insert Manischewitz joke here). It was sweet and delicious but light after that ridiculous meal.

It was another great meal and a Sunday Dinner for the books. With the exception of Gellie's 3rd birthday next weekend (or, 21st for all you party animals), no more birthdays until January (Mom) and February (Xani). No worries though - that usually means dinner at Charleston!!!

Happy Birthday Gellie!

Happy Eating,

E & X

LA, Day 4: Dinner at Koi

by Xani

After a relaxing day of hanging out with Jenny's dog Elvis, shopping at The Grove, and a delicious light lunch at Mani's, Jenny and I got all dressed up and headed out to Koi, renown Japanese-California fusion restaurant and celebrity hot-spot. After valet parking the car, we were blinded by the flashes of paparazzi. I guess they take pictures of everyone just in case? Or we just looked THAT GOOD. Probably the latter.

Anyhow, we were a bit early for our 8:30 reservation, but the friendly doorman and hostess were happy to accommodate us and promptly sat us at a table "outside." I say "outside" because, while the space was technically partially open to the outside, it was covered and enclosed on three sides. It was actually a nice compromise between being fully outdoors (which might have been chilly--even though it was 95 degrees and smoky during the day, it got pretty cool at night) and completely indoors. The only problem came towards the end of our meal, when the place was really filling up (apparently dining at 8:30 is unfashionably early in LA) and we realized that smoking is, amazingly, still permitted in the outdoor area. Of all the places I have traveled, I would have thought LA would have been the first to ban smoking in restaurants! Apparently not-- people were smoking a LOT. I was glad we were just paying the bill when the clouds of smoke began to drift our way, and not digging into our first course! But, I've gotten ahead of myself....

Smoking apparently permitted at Koi (yes I stole the matches)

After sitting down, we each ordered a glass of champagne (the waiter asked if we were 21, and I immediately fell in love with him. Then Jenny pointed out that only in LA would the under 21 crowd have the means to go to a REALLY expensive restaurant and try to sneak alcohol!) and some edamame, and took a look at the menu (which, of course, we had already studied in detail online earlier that day). We decided to order a variety of courses-- some sushi, some Koi signature dishes, and make sure we left room for dessert!

First came Yellowtail carpaccio with grape-seed oil and ponzu, wasabi, and tobiko. As soon as I tasted this I knew the rest of the meal was going to be great. The carpaccio, slices of raw fish with a little sauce to accentuate the flavors, was amazing. So fresh, so flavorful, and the texture was almost creamy, with a little bit of crunch from the tobiko and the micro-greens (um, those are SO two years ago!) on top. I would say, conservatively, that I could have eaten 5 plates of this, by myself. But, there were more courses to come...

Next the waiter arrived with a plate I was really looking forward to; Jenny had raved about the Crispy Rice topped with Spicy Tuna she'd had during a previous visit to Koi. Instead of serving the spicy tuna in traditional nigiri style (on top of finger-shaped pieces of sushi rice), the chef put a spin on it by crisping the rice. It's unclear how exactly they achieve this result (pan-frying each piece, top and bottom?) but it is delicious. The rice has a crunch and a toasted, nutty flavor from the crisp outside, but the inside of the rice remains soft and chewy. Perfect with the not-too-spicy tuna on top. Excellent balance of crunch, softness, flavor, and heat-- and, of course, the freshness of the ingredients was apparent.

Two courses down (and here I want to say that the pacing of the meal was great-- dishes were removed from our table and replaced with fresh ones promptly, but not so quickly that it seemed like we were being rushed through our meal), and next up was a Dragon Roll from their list of signature rolls. Their dragon roll (which contains tempura shrimp, eel, and various veggies) was topped with tons of tempura flakes, and drizzled with sri racha and a another, sweeter sauce. This came right up to my limit on non-traditional sushi (with mayonnaise and cream cheese being WAY over the line) but I have to admit, it was really tasty. We ate every last tempura flake!

For our last savory course, we had the Miso-Bronzed Black Cod Medley with medley of vegetables. This was a must-have for Jenny and I as we both remembered ordering Miso-glazed black cod when we ate at Nobu in New York City SIX YEARS AGO. This dish was a little more "cutting-edge" when we had it back in the day, but the Koi version was absolutely delicious. Rich by definition (fatty fish and sweet, sticky miso glaze), we were glad we were sharing one portion (and reaching the end of the meal), but every bite was supremely tasty. I also enjoyed the miniature (!!) carrots in the veggie medley.

Finally, dessert and coffee. Beautifully presented cheesecake and interesting little blobs of ice cream (perfectly shaped and seemed to have a somewhat gummy exterior-- unusual but not unpleasant). We were pretty full from all the fish but we definitely needed a little something sweet! (A little something, this time, not the multiple desserts we'd indulged in the day before!)

Blurry Ice cream blobs

After a quick trip to the ladies' room (really an excuse to walk through the restaurant and look for celebs-- alas, none to be found) we were headed home again. Another great meal with a great friend in LA. Thanks Jenny!

X

LA Traffic rears its ugly head-- but at least we eat well.

by Xani

My third day in Los Angeles, fires continued to rage nearby, and the rental car was covered with a layer of soot every morning, but that would not deter me from seeing some sights and eating some good food. What would deter me, however, was the traffic. Co-worker Mike and I had an (over) ambitious plan for the third day, including a visit to Santa Monica, a stop at an ice cream place with a reputation for unusual flavors, driving up to the Hollywood sign, all before dinner with my friend Jenny near Beverly Hills. Little did we know, when we set out on our journey, that we would spend most of the day sitting motionless on the freeway, hot sun beating down on us, the convertible seeming like less of a good idea with each passing minute. But, we survived, and even if we didn't see the Hollywood sign, we ate some good food. Let's get to it!

After a very decent brunch/lunch at Jinky's in Santa Monica, and a stroll down to the beach to check out the view, we headed to East Hollywood ice cream shop Scoops for a little dessert. I had read this article about Scoops' out-there flavors just the night before, and thought it was a sign that we should check it out. Little did I know it would take us approximately FOREVER to get there. Once we arrived we found a variety of flavors... not as wild and crazy as they sometimes have, but I did have the white chocolate and sea salt gelato, as well as some pistachio-lemon. Mike had mango sorbet, as well as a mango-lemon-poppy seed gelato. The verdict: good ice cream, but took too long to get there. Sorbet better than gelato. Wish they had had weirder flavors when we went.

Me in Santa Monica

Mike w/ Santa Monica Pier and smoky haze in the background

White chocolate sea salt gelato

Mango sorbet

Next we spent several hours sightseeing... oh wait, actually, no, we didn't. We sat in more traffic. Eventually it was time to have dinner with Jenny at Pizzeria Mozza, which I was REALLY looking forward to. I'm a big Mario Batali fan, and ever since EP went to Lupa a couple weeks ago I was EXTRA excited about having a Batali experience of my own!

We were promptly seated in the small dining room, which offers a view of the open kitchen to every table. The place was packed and it wasn't even 6 yet-- we had made our reservations 30 days beforehand and still could only get in at 5:45 or 11! Clearly this is a hot spot, and now I know why: the food is awesome.

We started with a few antipasti to share: fried squash blossoms with ricotta, oven roasted olives, and brussels sprouts with prosciutto breadcrumbs.

Sprouts from Heaven

All I can say is "wow!" This was a great start to the meal. First off, the brussels sprouts were amazing (does anyone out there have a recipe for this dish??) They were served cold, which was a surprise, but were perfectly cooked and you could taste some tangy balsamic flavor on them. Not to mention the prosciutto breadcrumbs, which I would gladly eat alone, by the spoonful. Is that wrong? The ricotta stuffed squash blossoms were perfectly golden brown and crispy, with a rich, delicious filling. The olives came literally sizzling in oil, flavored by garlic, citrus, and other yummy-ness. Next, it was time to bring on the pizza!

While Mozza has salads, sandwiches, and a few main courses, but Jenny had informed us that pizza was the way to go, and she was right. SO right. There were lots of great-sounding choices, but I ended up ordering the Bianco (with fontina, mozzarella, sottocenere & sage) and Mike and Jenny both got the Funghi misti with fontina, taleggio & thyme. Look at these babies!!

Bianco

Funghi Misti

The pictures don't do them justice. This was really excellent food. The crust was paper-thin and very crispy. The flavors of the cheese were really pronounced-- not like the plastic-tasting stuff you are used to getting on your local takeout. The mushrooms on the Funghi pizza were so rich and intense (I had a taste of Jenny's... oh and I ate a leftover slice the next morning. Oops.) I can't say this is my favorite pizza ever (that title goes to Apizza Scholls in Portland, OR- if you are ever in the area, you MUST go!), but its waaaay up there!

After dinner, we were planning to go to Diddy Riese to have some delicious ice cream sandwiches (which you might remember from Erin's trip to LA), but we were so tempted by the gelati and sorbetti offerings at Mozza, we just had to get some to try. We ended up getting half grapefruit sorbetti, half olive oil gelato (!), to share.

This was also super-delicious. The grapefruit tasted exactly like a real grapefruit sprinkled with sugar. The olive oil gelato definitely tasted like olive oil, and was really rich and delicious, with a tiny bit of salt sprinkled in for contrast.

Here's a picture of Jenny and I as we leave Mozza:

***Notice my death-grip on the leftovers***

Just for good measure, we then headed to Diddy Riese and got a couple of those famous ice cream sandwiches I'd heard so much about. And yeah, if you are keeping track, that's THREE ice cream treats in one day. You got a problem with that?

X