Food: February 2009 Archives

          

Some LAist friends got together to form their own burrito project. The burrito project is an awesome DIY-way to give something extra back in these trying times...'because mom said share'.

       

What no one is telling you is that there's a new Spanish tapas restaurant that just opened in Santa Monica. Actually Manchego has been around for about four months but it seems the only people talking about it online are Yelpers and even they are reluctant to sing its praises. We're guessing it's because they want to keep it to themselves. With only about 13 tables in this small eatery, $5 tapas, and BYOB with no corkage fee, who can blame them?

Who eats foie gras? Not West Hollywood restaurant-goers, at least not anymore. Despite the recent failure of Chicago's City Council to ban foie gras in that city, West Hollywood is charging ahead with a new city ordinance to prevent the sale of foie gras in restaurants.

The Official Recession has been upon us for fourteen official months. It’s still not a reason we can’t enjoy life. This is LA -- we have a million inexpensive options! A Recession Obsession is meal (or activity) that is fantastic whether times are good or bad -- because it's just that damn good. We last loved on Zankou Chicken and Santa Monica's Tacos Por Favor. Today, we...

When times get tough, dining out is often the first sacrifice from people's budgets. Recently there have been a rash of promotions, however, that are zeroing in on ways to combine restaurant eating with cash consciousness, and the need to support local businesses.

Because you need an excuse to imbibe: Today is National Margarita Day! Woo hoo! Drink up! Now, if you want to be a know-it-all drinker, though, you can wow your fellow fiesta-ers with these margarita facts, passed on to us by the nice people at Tequila Herradura:

The Official Recession has been upon us for fourteen official months. It’s still not a reason we can’t enjoy life. This is LA -- we have a million inexpensive options! A Recession Obsession is meal (or activity) that is fantastic whether times are good or bad -- because it's just that damn good. We last loved on fish tacos, and LA institution Zankou Chicken. Today, we...

          

The 40 year staple, Santa Monica Seafood at Colorado/12th St. has moved. They've traded the local-heavy location for a highly visible new corner space at 10th & Wilshire which will definitely bring the masses. Opening day (President's Day) was evidence that this is an understatement.

              

One way to get people chatting about your new restaurant is to bring in the bloggers, which is just what Downtown's CASA did recently. The eatery served signature cocktails and a sampling of their menu, which was inspired by an old family recipe book, to an eager crowd of self-proclaimed foodies. We mingled with the owners and watched Chef Kris Morningstar in action--alas we learned a few days later Morningstar is moving on soon, as planned, to embark on another food adventure. He's got a project set for Hollywood, and we will keep our eyes--and tastebuds--on alert.

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Is food better when the progeny of a celebrity makes it? Nah, not likely (although if you're Chef Ben Ford, son of Harrison, being cute might help). But good food can be had at Culver City's Ford's Filling Station, as discovered recently by LAist Featured Photos' and foodblogger oranges are not the only fruit who went for a celebratory meal recently at the eatery.

It's Valentine's Day and that means it's time to break out the bubbles. You take your valentine to a nice dinner, and are confronted with a confusing array of choices. It's easy to get confused. Champagne is bubbly, true, but there are lots of bubbles out there. You look at the wine list next to the Valentine’s Dinner menu and see your Favorite French Champagne names… Piper, Chandon, Mumm, Roederer…. in the ‘California’ section.

To Live and Eat in LA celebrates the new vegan options at Trails Cafe in Griffith Park in Happy Trails to You! A Forest of Vegan Goodies. Especially exciting are the savory vegan pie, made-from-scratch cornbread and chili.

      

Love is in the air, suddenly hearts and roses seem to populate the world and the movie theaters are showing nothing but romantic comedies. It's enough to drive anyone to drink, singles and couples alike. Fortunately, there are bars in L.A. that feel ya and have created many Valentine cocktails that you can either toast your love with or use to drink this red-and-pink day away.

       

Circa 55, our first DineLA lunch, was pure serendipity. After covering the Oscars luncheon at the Beverly Hilton, I wandered downstairs to my old standby, Trader Vics. But my commitment to DineLA soon lured me over to the classy yet casual Circa 55. The design is reminiscent of a mid-century modern living room, uncluttered and airy, with sunlight streaming through the windows.

    

When I first checked out Ivan Kane's Café Wa s in Hollywood last year, I couldn't help but think that the only thing missing from this beautiful Bohemian restaurant was a specialty cocktail list. Amazingly it didn't have one. Sure it has a full bar, an upstairs absinthe bar and a couple of absinthe cocktails but no list of special drinks to speak of.

LA has a diverse cast of characters. Whether it's the characters with stirring stories or interesting occupations or the people who are just simply characters, this town has them all. In an effort to get to know some of those characters a little better, we've created "Seven Questions with..."

The Official Recession has been upon us for fourteen official months. It’s still not a reason we can’t enjoy life. This is LA -- we’ve got plenty of inexpensive options! A Recession Obsession is food (or an activity) that is fantastic whether times are good or bad -- because it's that damn good. We last loved on Baja California’s finest fried bargains: fish tacos, and today...

       

Rosemary & Rhubarb, Blueberry & Thyme, Lavender & Cucumber. Nope, I'm not talking about yummy-scented bath soaps or what I'm currently growing in my garden. These are actually the sorts of cocktails new Santa Monica restaurant, the Fig, is crafting behind its bar. Located inside the fancy (it's not the last time you'll see that word in this review) Fairmont Miramar Hotel, the Fig strives to offer not only a relaxed dining experience with a neighborhoodie feel but an enticingly fresh menu. Its cocktail menu and food menu are both built around whatever is in peak season, guaranteeing the freshest ingredients.

           

The Dakota is decorated in a style that harmonizes with the old Hollywood glamour of the Roosevelt Hotel, but without the creepiness. The rich chocolate tones keep the room hip and dark but much warmer than the usual black and white decor. The suede chairs are comfortable, although I am still pondering the leather tablecloths. The room is divided by large columns that break up the vastness and give each area a sense of privacy.

Last week, we brought you a list of Valentine dessert ideas to entice your honey with. If you wanted even more options, you greedy monkey, we've come up with more -- red-bottom cheesecake cups, tuxedo strawberries and really hearty cupcakes to name a few.

We might be a foodie nation these days, but we're also a nation on a budget, which is probably why many of the restaurants participating in this year's DineLA promotion have agreed to extend the event until February 28th. Several of the eateries will continue to offer fixed-price lunch and/or dinner menus at a discounted price for three weeks beyond the original event's scheduled dates.

       

There's nothing fancy about Nat's Early Bite at first look. It's another hole in a the wall, tucked in a small strip mall off Hazeltine on Burbank Ave. Look closer, especially on a weekend, and you'll see a line out the door. And that's the first good sign.

       

Bamboodles (you know you will like saying that name over and over) has two great things going for it: freshly-made noodles in a variety of flavors, and soup broths made without MSG. For those of us who love the foods of the SGV but are MSG-intolerant (hello, migraine!), Bamboodles is a welcome new choice.

      

The Water Grill in Downtown LA has a reputation for being a world-class seafood restaurant with accompanying prices to prove it. Since our budget runs more along the Red Lobster line, we jumped at the chance for the $44 DineLA* opportunity for a three-course Water Grill dinner. It’s practically a bargain, right?

Instead of throwing all the unused food away, Doomie of Chinatown's about-to-be-closed vegan restaurant eponymously named after him will have a $10 all you can eat grub fest this weekend. But there's one catch, it's not going to be in Chinatown, it will be in... South Gate. The money raised will go towards them opening a new restaurant sometime in the near future, but many are hoping it's going to be much closer than... South Gate. More about the restaurant can be read here.

The Official Recession has now been upon us for fourteen official months. It’s still not a reason we can’t enjoy life. This is LA -- we’ve got plenty of inexpensive options! We last ate delicious cheap banh mi. Today's Recession Obsession comes from the sea -- via the deep fryer.

      

"After trying numerous mac and cheese recipes we finally came to what we think is the perfect mac and cheese, which is a combination of three cheeses, a secret cheese recipe I can't tell you," explains Edendale Grill owner Melanie Tusquellas over our table as we feast on the dish. "It's simple, easy and has no bread crumbs."

       

Like most places, sales have been sluggish at Cold Stone storefronts across the nation in the current economy. Loyal customers who visit the store 2.3 times a month on average are coming in less. And although they have closed 100 stores, they are opening new ones and are now adding new items to hopefully boost sales.

       

If you're ever in the mood for great European street food, head to Little Tokyo. Yup, Spitz, "home of the Doner kebab" recently opened up its second location on 2nd Street amid kawaii boutiques and sushi restaurants. (It's original location is in Eagle Rock.)

              

Asia de Cuba in the Mondrian is one swank spot. The table wasn't ready, as we were being squeezed in, so we hung out in the bar. My nephew said, "I don't know if I've ever felt quite this cool before." After trying to seat us in a cramped spot between a hilariously large potted plant and the bussing station outside, we were given a table by the window with a stunning view of the city. The room is light and clean with an open feel. The stark white interior is offset by warm accents like earthtone pillows and throws.

      

Anyone who lives on or just off Santa Monica Blvd between the streets of Fairfax and La Brea knows great joy and equally great frustration. It is a tremendous area to live in, centrally located, rent controlled West Hollywood, quiet side streets, a plethora of parks and supermarkets and even the honest to goodness one up on Wal-Mart, Target. But while Melrose to the south and Sunset to the north flourish with cafe's, restaurants and other places to satisfy hunger, Santa Monica Blvd remains inexorably silent.

Today Denny's Restaurants all across America are offering free Grand Slam breakfasts between 6am and 2pm. The only two nonparticipating restaurants are in Baker, CA and Las Cruces NM - spoilsports! Nelson Marchioli, President and CEO of Denny's told the Dallas Morning News that Denny's hopes to recover the market share they have lost, and called 2009 is “the year of the Grand Slam,”

KCRW's Evan Kleiman, host of the popular and long-running show "Good Food" has issued this video plea to anyone who considers themselves a part of one or more of the following categories: Foodies, food bloggers, or fans of KCRW. She's reminding us that it's the Winter Pledge Drive, and to keep tasty programming like her show on the airwaves, the station needs our support.