tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-358356852024-03-19T06:03:22.705-07:00[L.A. and O.C.] Foodventures<b>In the Kitchen, Around the City and Out of Town</b>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.comBlogger470125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-28340169802491064962013-08-26T17:47:00.000-07:002013-09-25T10:44:45.897-07:00Packing up & moving on . . . <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since my life is — more or less — one big foodventure, and regularly goes beyond the confines of LA & OC, I decided to start blogging under "<a href="http://hcfoodventure.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>H.C.'s food</b></a><span style="color: #333333; font-style: inherit;"><a href="http://hcfoodventure.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>•venture</b></a>"; on top of being more encompassing of my adventures (food- and drink-focused, certainly, but not exclusively so), it's a little sleeker-looking too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This blog will continue to be up as an archive, of sorts -- and I might even repost & repurpose some existing content here on the new space</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope you continue to read & follow along, and embarking on worthwhile adventures of your own too!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://hcfoodventure.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">~H.C.</a></span></span><br />
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</span>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-30139380562591809492013-04-22T09:17:00.000-07:002013-04-24T11:13:06.111-07:00Giveaway: Tickets for 2 to Le Grand Fooding Paris-LA Crush Preview Dinner, 4/25<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoYHOj-XFNl9J-QRrH5sdS6mwPq_SB_4GgaNw_4_Xll9a56ijdG9eTqqDGYKX3rajvXP1xZEhp6HdwTOaiAklsVklm4HlAlyggSJQK25v0q5pYInFo0tV4-hJFJgMFgPlNqJiXw/s1600/IMAG4576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoYHOj-XFNl9J-QRrH5sdS6mwPq_SB_4GgaNw_4_Xll9a56ijdG9eTqqDGYKX3rajvXP1xZEhp6HdwTOaiAklsVklm4HlAlyggSJQK25v0q5pYInFo0tV4-hJFJgMFgPlNqJiXw/s1600/IMAG4576.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<i>from Wolvesmouth's crawfish-themed dinner in June 2012 </i></div>
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<a href="http://www.lefooding.com/" target="_blank">Le Fooding</a>, a French culinary movement <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/04/05/100405fa_fact_gopnik?currentPage=4" target="_blank">described</a> by <i>The New Yorker</i> as "what the New Wave was to French cinema. The hidden goal was to
Americanize French food without becoming American, just as the New Wave,
back in the fifties and sixties, was about taking in Hollywood virtues
without being Hollywoodized" will be making its mark on L.A. on April 26 and 27 <a href="http://www.lefooding.com/evenements/2013/le-grand-fooding/los-angeles/#." target="_blank">a series of events</a> melding "eleven incredible chefs, a fine Champagne, gutsy <i>fromages</i>, acclaimed DJs and graphic designers to feast your senses and do some conscious good."<br />
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While two-day gastronomical affair is sold out, thanks to an opportunity sponsored by Mastercard's <a href="http://priceless.com/">Priceless.com</a> campaign, you and a guest will have an opportunity to attend a preview dinner on April 25 at 7 p.m., where you can mix and mingle with the chefs of the event while enjoying a meal prepared by Craig Thornton of <a href="http://wolvesmouth.com/" target="_blank">Wolvesmouth</a> and Miles Thompson of <a href="http://allumettela.com/" target="_blank">Allumette</a>. <br />
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To enter simply follow me <a href="http://www.twitter.com/LAOCFoodie" target="_blank">@LAOCFoodie</a> and tweet:<br />
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"I've entered @LAOCFoodie & @Mastercard @Priceless' #giveaway for @LeFooding LA preview dinner on 4/25 http://bit.ly/11vwJh9"<br />
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I'll pick the winner at random around <b>noon PDT on Wednesday, April 24</b> and direct message the winner with request for name, contact info, etc. (solely for fulfilling the giveaway.) In the event that the winner doesn't respond promptly, I'll pick & contact an alternate winner from random as well. Good luck!<br />
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<a href="http://www.lefooding.com/evenements/2013/le-grand-fooding/los-angeles/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i4TFZxDZB66dwkbFLiAH85dE9qEaV5pjkiNnoF-bf1sdRJl5Mxx_hsL34LVsKt3w14KdxkwNunaHJ4Z0GfqD-b2JDgASag7cn9KmD-BKDf4SGC1tBDfUWG7bVSqKVYzWTVAF5w/s1600/Le+Grand+Fooding.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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Official disclaimer: <i>“These tickets were given to me by MasterCard for promotional
purposes to award to a reader of my blog & twitter, but I am
responsible for this promotion.”</i> H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-30376566270503576592013-04-02T12:22:00.001-07:002013-04-02T13:49:39.180-07:00Quick Bite Highlights @ Umami Burger, Mendocino Farms, Drago Centro & VegeUSAJust trying to jumpstart into a regular blogging routine again, so gonna attempt a weekly habit of recapping favorite bites that I've <a href="http://instagram.com/foodventure" target="_blank">Instagrammed</a> from the past week or so . . .<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8614476376/" title="Umami's Greenbird & Smushed Potatoes by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Umami's Greenbird & Smushed Potatoes" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8121/8614476376_b3bd4abd71.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
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At <b><a href="http://www.umami.com/umami-burger/" target="_blank">Umami Burger</a></b> in Los Feliz, I lunched on one of my favorite turkey burgers in town, the <b><i>Greenbird</i></b> that's piled high with assorted green toppings: butter lettuce, sprouts, green goddess dressing, crushed avocado and even a ever-so-slightly "green cheese" (which I found out from <a href="http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/2010/10/turkey_burger_battle.php" target="_blank">LA Weekly</a> is a combo of more green goddess with ricotta & goat cheeses.) I love that the burger isn't dried out or too crumbly, and the assorted toppings gave it an interesting flavor and texture (I even appreciated the green cheese, even though I normally prefer a more melty cheese for a burger.)</div>
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The <b><i>Smushed Potatoes</i></b> with a smear of aioli were great too, love the contrast between the salty crisp skin and the buttery, fluffy interior. Alas, this was a side meant for sharing and I couldn't finish this on my own!</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8614260912/" title="Mendo Farms by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Mendo Farms" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8260/8614260912_1557ca392a.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
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While working in downtown LA, I lunched at <b><a href="http://mendocinofarms.com/" target="_blank">Mendocino Farms</a> </b>with a very yellow meal of <i style="font-weight: bold;">Turkey Leg Confit </i>sandwich with a side of <b><i>Curried "That's a Choke" Couscous</i> </b>deli salad. The sandwich was messy (the housemade "yellow rooster sauce" was pretty watery) but worth it, giving a subtle heat to the juicy pulled turkey leg and providing some balance against the papaya slaw and pickled red onions. Of course, I also asked for a side of their jalapeno relish, which kicked up the heat factor a hundred times with repeated dipping.</div>
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The side deli salad was also great, but again, too much food for me to handle after the sandwich. So I'm thankful it already came in a to-go container, which allowed me to convert it into a breakfast (topped with diced avocados) the morning after.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8614260904/" style="text-align: center;" title="Prosecco & Oysters by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Prosecco & Oysters" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8111/8614260904_e4b1c12dda.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
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While debating dinner plans that same day, I also made a stop by <b><a href="http://www.dragocentro.com/" target="_blank">Drago Centro</a></b>, which has one of the best bar menu deals in downtown (and possibly LA) with a variety of tasty bar bites and drinks on their <a href="http://dragocentro.com/menus.php" target="_blank">all day long happy hour menu</a>. Normally I wouldn't give a second thought about dining at Drago but after the Mendocino carb fest for lunch, I couldn't bring myself to indulge in pasta here (and not ordering it would've been sacrilegious!)</div>
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So I indulged on a simple snack four of <b><i>Crystal Point Oysters</i></b> topped with rhubarb "caviar", 4 for $5, and a glass of <a href="http://www.levignedialice.it/en/" target="_blank">Le Vigne de Alice</a> <b><i>Prosecco</i></b>. I was also lucky enough to taste some of their Spring cocktail experimentations, but will keep that hush hush until they're perfected for debut later this month. (Ok, maybe I'm <a href="http://statigr.am/viewer.php#/detail/420485145462358639_195636839" target="_blank">not so great</a> at keeping a secret, particularly after a glass of bubbly.)</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8613152443/" title="Vegan Tacos by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Vegan Tacos" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8123/8613152443_2090269fc3.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
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And lastly, this past Friday I had a chance to finally check out <b><a href="http://www.vegeusa.com/" target="_blank">VegeUSA</a></b>, a vegetarian marketplace with a small café attached. I went for a trio of their <b><i>Vegan Tacos</i></b> ($1.90 each) and even though I'm not big on faux meats, the "fish" taco had surprisingly great flavor and texture -- might've even fooled me for real fish if not for its perfect slice shape, even after a deep-fry.</div>
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I wasn't so hot about the other two fake meats ("spareribs" and "BBQ chicken") but the fish taco is promising enough that I'll give some of their other dishes a try (definitely curious about their faux-crabcake salad), and shop from their market as well -- particularly stockpiling on their frozen vegetarian steamed buns!</div>
H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-66162099021079099472013-03-13T10:41:00.002-07:002013-03-13T10:59:48.985-07:00Tasting Omni Hotels' Simply Street Food Menu @ Noe Restaurant & Bar<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">As far excitement goes, those in hotel restaurants — particularly chains — tend to be pretty bleh. The drill and the menu reads all too familiar. Overdressed Caesar salad, a minestrone that’s been simmering for who knows how long, and of course the “just kill my tastebuds” club sandwich.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">So when </span><a href="http://heyhey-scenesters.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" target="_blank">Conbon</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> and I were invited to check out Omni Hotels’ </span><a href="http://www.omnihotels.com/SpecialsAndPackages/SpecialOffers/CulinaryStirrings/SimplyStreetFood/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" target="_blank">Simply Street Food</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> menu, I was definitely surprised to see them do a little risk taking with the bar fare offerings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Wary travelers looking for comfort grub, don’t fret; Noe still offers the familiar fare of burgers and mac ‘n cheese, though I would definitely steer you towards their </span><a href="http://www.noerestaurant.com/losangeles/menu.html" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" target="_blank">seafood-focused offerings</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">, or the more exotic bites of the Simply Street menu, regionally inspired from </span><a href="http://www.omnihotels.com/SpecialsAndPackages/SpecialOffers/CulinaryStirrings/SimplyStreetFood/Chefs.aspx" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" target="_blank">chefs</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> across the Omni Hotel chain. And out of that menu, these are the ones we loved the best.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8535520355/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';" title="Chicken Musakhan Wrap by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Chicken Musakhan Wrap" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8535520355_1bca2345b1.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">A great Middle Eastern spin off a chicken salad sandwich; tender, succulent pieces of chicken are roasted with aromatic spices (the sumac was the most noticeable for me) then wrapped in a pillowy flatbread with tomatoes and sweet onions. It’s festively flavorful and finger-friendly, making it a great bar bite (especially if you have a hoppy beer or an herbacious cocktail in the other hand.)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8536627458/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';" title="Duck Confit Empanada by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Duck Confit Empanada" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8110/8536627458_6727bbff00.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">A lovely high-meets-low snack, sweet duck confit is mixed with cabbage then baked into a crispy pastry crust, rounded out by the tangy & smoky dip. Like the Musakhan, I love that this is also fairly robust in flavors, and can easily hold its own against a more potent & aromatic drink.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><b>Short Rib & Vermont Cheddar Grilled Cheese</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Probably the most familiar of the Simply Street menu, I love this elevated take on the classic with short rib that’s been braised for hours, accented with the nutty tang of cheddar and smacked in between two crisped slices of sweet brioche.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8536627566/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';" title="Vineyard Margarita by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Vineyard Margarita" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8367/8536627566_4b53e5c4a5.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">And since we were at the Noe Bar, we took the time to check out some of their libations too. While I was impressed with the Vineyard Margarita pictured above (the addition of Sauvignon Blanc gave this usually-too-cloying drink a refreshing, spritzy feel), Conbon and I definitely gravitated towards Noe's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8555254546/in/photostream" target="_blank">Prohibition-era drinks</a>, including a fantastic <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8535520501/in/photostream" target="_blank">Boulevardier</a>…</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8535520069/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';" title="Sazerac by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Sazerac" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8516/8535520069_0853a755e1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">… and an old school Sazerac made with Cognac (which Tyler Dow, Noe Restaurant's General Manager, illuminated me as the <a href="http://cold-glass.com/2012/01/27/why-is-there-cognac-in-my-sazerac/" target="_blank">original base spirit of the cocktail</a>, before a trade embargo of sorts steered New Orleanians towards Rye; he also share similarly fantastic lore with Conbon while making her Aviation, with Creme de Violette of course!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Needless to say, we both had a fantastic time at Noe Bar and so glad to know of this Bunker Hill gem where we can grab a fantastic classic drink, and satisfying bites to go with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">That being said, the Simply Street Food menu is expected to run through June, so hope you have a chance to try before then. Though if you're daring in the kitchen, you can always try making them at home with <a href="http://www.omnihotels.com/SpecialsAndPackages/SpecialOffers/CulinaryStirrings/SimplyStreetFood/Recipes.aspx" target="_blank">these recipes</a>!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><b><a href="http://www.noerestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Noe Restaurant & Bar</a> at <a href="http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/LosAngelesCaliforniaPlaza.aspx" target="_blank">Omni Los Angeles</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">251 S Olive St </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Los Angeles, CA 90012</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">(213) 356-4100</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/omnihotels" target="_blank">Facebook (for Omni)</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><a href="https://twitter.com/OmniHotels" target="_blank">Twitter (for Omni)</a></span></div>
H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-58533081473530663092013-01-25T16:05:00.002-08:002013-01-25T16:50:46.267-08:00Recipe: Rocky Road Fudge<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rocky Road has been my go-to ice cream flavor since childhood; it's like getting three treats in one - indulgently rich chocolate, soft & fluffy marshmallows and the nutty crunch of almonds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course the weather isn't always right for ice cream, so when I later found out that rocky road can mean </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_road_(dessert)" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">any number</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of chocolate-marshmallow-crunch concoctions, I started experimenting with other sweets with that combo too. Fudge quickly became a front runner; it's infinitely more evergreen, more portable and arguably more healthy too, considering that I can get my chocolate fix satisfied with one little square (OK, maybe three.)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8415565766/" title="Fudge by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Fudge" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8189/8415565766_1f6630e8e0.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But of course, what's absolutely great about this <i><b>Rocky Road Fudge</b> </i>is that it's a cinch to make and they're perfect bite-sized treats to bring to a party, box up as an edible gift, or simply stock away in the fridge to polish away whenever that craving hits.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ingredients: </b>(for approx. 60 bite-sized squares)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12 oz. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips/chunks (my usual go to are the </span><a href="http://www.freshandeasy.com/news/post/2012/cookie-recipe-featuring-fresheasy-chocolate-chips/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">60% cacao bittersweet chips</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> from Fresh & Easy, which has a deep fruity cocoa flavor but not overly bitter or intense.)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 oz. (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon almond extract</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 oz. raw almonds, coarsely chopped (walnuts/pecans work fine too)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 oz. mini marshmallows</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Optional: 1 oz. Amaretto, Coffee or Frangelico liqueur (the last is my favorite to add)</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8414469017/" title="Making fudge by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Making fudge" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8352/8414469017_c910e387ae.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directions</b>:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Line a 8"x12" pan with aluminum foil, pressing carefully along edges & corners so you don't pierce the foil.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. In a skillet, toast the almonds over medium heat on the stove, tossing regularly so that they don't burn. Once you smell roasted nut aromas, about 3-5 minutes, turn off heat and set aside.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat -- when it is nearly completely melted, turn the heat to low and add chocolate chips, extracts and liqueurs, stirring slowly but steadily until you get a seductively smooth molten puddle.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Slowly pour about a third to a half of the melted chocolate mixture onto the foil-lined pan, using a wooden spoon or spatula to spread it out to completely cover the entire bottom of the pan.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Generously scatter the toasted almonds and marshmallows (as photo'd above), then pour the remaining chocolate mixture on top, covering everything evenly. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Cover the pan and put it in the fridge for at least two hours (or overnight) until the fudge is set.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. After it is set, invert the pan over a clean surface and peel off the foil.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Cut the rectangular block of fudge into bite-sized squares (or whatever size you choose, really) and serve right away or store in the fridge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Obviously, it'll be a bit firmer when eaten chilled straight out of the fridge and more squidgy-soft after it comes to room temperature. I love it either way!</span></div>
H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-35203470580449989292013-01-15T16:46:00.000-08:002013-01-25T16:57:57.003-08:00Recipe: Egg in a Purgatory<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I am no stranger to eggs in purgatory, but my interest in this dish has been revived thanks to </span><a href="http://www.nigellissima.com/" style="line-height: 18px;" target="_blank">Nigellissima</a><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">. To cite Ms. Lawson in episode 1 of this fantastic <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01n2y25" target="_blank">Italian-inspired series on BBC</a>, "<i>egg in a purgatory is absolute heaven when you're feeling like hell</i>" and I couldn't agree more. It's comforting yet bold and super easy to make, perfect for those moments when you need something tasty and familiar pronto!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">And who can really resist the glory of a poached egg's runny yolk or gooey strands of melted cheese? (Ok, maybe vegans)</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8370831630/" title="Egg in Purgatory by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Egg in Purgatory" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8235/8370831630_00df6b356d.jpg" width="380" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">This dish is extremely versatile too, letting me make use of leftover ingredients around the kitchen--particularly the scant amounts that aren't enough for a dish of their own. Post-Thanksgiving, I've tossed in a handful of bite-sized turkey meat, and other times when I'm left with a small amount of leafy greens (not enough for even an appetizer salad) I just give them a rough chop and wilt them down into this zesty stew. And it's easy <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8384200624/in/photostream" target="_blank">to scale up</a> if you're entertaining, just add more eggs, tomatoes & seasonings and use a bigger pan.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">So here's my one of favorite breakfast-for-dinner (or dinner-for-breakfast) meal for one . . .</span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8370831322/" title="Egg in Purgatory by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Egg in Purgatory" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8470/8370831322_bc4f36b979.jpg" width="380" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>Egg in a Purgatory</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Ingredients:</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">2 teaspoons olive oil</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1 clove garlic, minced</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1 tablespoon chopped scallions</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">half a can (approx. a cup) of diced tomatoes with juices - I prefer the no salt added variety</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">2 teaspoons ketchup</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1 teaspoon chopped basil</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1 egg</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1 ounce of shredded cheese - I prefer Asiago</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1 slice of bread or English muffin</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">OPTIONAL: handful of cooked meat (chopped bite-sized) and/or leafy greens (rinsed, patted dry & coarsely chopped)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Directions: </b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1. Turn stove on high and heat up the oil in a small skillet or wok (ideally one with a lid)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">2. Add garlic, chili flakes and about half the scallions and stir until it becomes aromatic; if you have meat, add now.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">3. Bring stove down to medium and add diced tomato, ketchup and basil; bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">4. Crack egg into the center. If you have greens, sprinkle around the egg.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">5. Cover with lid (or large plate) and allow it to continue simmering for 3-5 minutes, or until egg white turn opaque</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">6. Take lid/plate off, sprinkle with shredded cheese and let it heat for another 30 seconds</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">7. Turn stove off, top with remaining scallions and serve with bread, using it to sop up the runny yolk, cheese and stew (or if you're lazy like me and dining alone, eat it straight out of the wok/skillet.)</span></span>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-89190368073032849102013-01-03T13:06:00.000-08:002013-01-03T15:01:07.810-08:00Five To Try (Again) in Las Vegas<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that everyone in the office is coming back from the holidays, it finally means time for me to take a break. And a quick excursion to Vegas this weekend will hit the spot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Planning out my itinerary (OK, foods and drinks -- mostly) for the trip, I decided to look back on photos from my last trip there a few months ago. Having such recalled such a great and delicious time there, thought I might as well shared some of my favorite eats and drinks then.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>No. 5 - Short Rib Lasagna @ Fleur by Hubert Keller in Mandalay Bay</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8340508229/" title="Short Rib Lasagna by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Short Rib Lasagna" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8214/8340508229_c27854dbc7.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simply, a trans-Atlantic comfort dishes melding together two favorites: pot roast and lasagna. The braised short rib is rich and melts in the mouth, the carrots are bright, fresh and sweet and the pasta a lovely al dente. And who can really say no to crunchy breadcrumb topping and gooey melted cheese? (I also loved the microgreens garnish, making this lunch entree seem somewhat healthy... heh)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be sure to ask for extra bread to sop up all that gravy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>No. 4 - Tea @ Mandarin Oriental Tea Lounge</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8340507637/" title="Tea and Macaron by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Tea and Macaron" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8340507637_03f023d3a1.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Come for the tea, but linger for relaxation and the view of the Strip. Despite being in the CityCenter, this 23rd floor lounge is a worlds-away oasis of tranquility from the hot hustle and bustle of The Strip. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The menu here is fairly posh, but if you're on a budget I recommend getting one of their blooming teas. Yes, not cheap for $16, but it comes with endless refills of hot water (so you can taste the flavor changes as the tea further blooms). And while you're at it, might as well indulge yourself a little more with a sweet bite or two (as I did with their raspberry-yuzu macaron.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No. 3 - Cocktails @ Vesper Bar in Cosmopolitan</b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8341567326/" title="One Night in Bangkok by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="One Night in Bangkok" height="185" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8495/8341567326_11898f793b.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8340507345/" title="12 Year Itch by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="12 Year Itch" height="185" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8493/8340507345_08a888dbaa.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I've already sang the praises of the <a href="http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com/2012/02/no-213-fave-vegas-watering-holes-vesper.html" target="_blank">Vesper Room before</a>, but this place has yet to fail me on a delicious cocktail (and is one of the few reliably good places on the Strip.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On my last excursion there, my favorite discoveries included the <i>One Night in Bangkok</i> - a riff off the Ramos Gin Fizz using Thai ingredients such as lemongrass and kaffir lime to give this already refreshing drink an exotic twist, and <i>12 Year Itch</i>, an available-by-the-ounce combination of Zaya Rum, Fernet Branca and Carpano Antica aged 16 weeks in a Templeton Rye barrel. A heavenly combo of sweet-yet-herbal aromas, rich-but-velvety mouthfeel and a warmingly smooth finish.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No. 2 - Combo Pan Roast @ Oyster Bar in Palace Station</b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8340507203/" title="Oyster Bar Pan Roast by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Oyster Bar Pan Roast" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8222/8340507203_cc3181c691.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A great recommendation passed to me by <a href="http://heyhey-scenesters.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Conbon</a>, this nondescript-looking eatery (in an even more unremarkable casino/resort) dishes out huge bowlfuls of slow-cooked, made-to-order comfort in the form of seafood stews. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though they serve the Cajun delights of gumbos, jambalayas and etoufees; for your first time here, get their signature Combo Pan Roast - where a good helping of crab, shrimp and lobster and cooked in an intoxicatingly tasty sauce of tomato, cream and brandy (plus a whopping huge scoop of rice to lap up the remaining liquids.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And without further adieu,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>No. 1 - King Crab / Truffle Fried Rice @ Blue Ribbon Grill in Cosmopolitan</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8341569252/" title="King Crab Fried Rice by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="King Crab Fried Rice" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8494/8341569252_7647785cdd.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I came here initially curious about their <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8340508809/in/set-72157632417892349/" target="_blank">signature fried chicken with wasabi-honey dip</a>, and while that was delicious, what really haunted my tastebuds and mind was this fried rice. It is presented in beautiful layers, with the fried short-grained rice topped with assorted mushrooms, generous chunks of crabmeat, a soft scrambled egg and finally, fresh shavings of black truffle. Then it is all tossed together to make for one of the best "high-low" dishes I've ever had (and I'm generally one to frown upon gussied-up simple courses.)</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8340509343/" title="King Crab Fried Rice by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="King Crab Fried Rice" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8211/8340509343_0b28ccefcb.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And yes, it was worth the approximately $50 price tag, especially when there was more than enough rice to feed two (and possibly more if you throw in a few more small plates, like the fried chicken & tempura'd oysters+okras, also delicious.)</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And lastly, a non-food/drink shoutout to Marquee...</b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8341581166/" title="Dance! by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Dance!" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8077/8341581166_e77b610e01.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...and this is coming from someone skeptical of clubs on The Strip, which tends to have overpriced covers, overpacked crowds and featuring overplayed music. I had my doubts when I was invited to check this spot out, but wound up having an amazing time and staying till 4 a.m. I love the multiple rooms each with their own decor and music style, and the general friendliness of the staff, as far as nightclubs go. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8341566516/" title="Marquee by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Marquee" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8224/8341566516_d22e5e70aa.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, it didn't hurt that <a href="http://www.dashberlin.com/" target="_blank">Dash Berlin</a> was the featured DJ of the night. And I hope all of that dancing did burn all some of my caloric indulgences during that trip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not sure how many of these dishes & drinks I'd be able to re-visit this weekend, but I'm definitely keeping an open schedule (and stomach) with hopes to at least squeeze one or two of these in!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.hubertkeller.com/restaurants/fleur-by-hubert-keller.html" target="_blank">Fleur by Hubert Keller</a> @ <a href="http://www.mandalaybay.com/" target="_blank">Mandalay Bay</a></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Las Vegas, NV 89119</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(702) 632-9400</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/FleurByHubertKeller" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/FleurbyHK" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas/fine-dining/tea-lounge/" target="_blank">Tea Lounge @ Mandarin Oriental</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3752 Las Vegas Blvd South</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Las Vegas, NV 89109</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(702) 590-8888</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MandarinOrientalLasVegas" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/MO_LASVEGAS" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/experience/lounges-and-bars/vesper-bar.aspx" target="_blank">Vesper Bar @ Cosmopolitan</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Las Vegas, NV 89109</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(702) 698-7000</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vesper-Bar/116474438423332" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Cosmopolitan_LV" target="_blank">Twitter</a> (for Cosmopolitan)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://palacestation.sclv.com/en/Dining/The-Oyster-Bar.aspx" target="_blank">Oyster Bar @ Palace Station</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2411 West Sahara Avenue</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Las Vegas, NV 89102</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(702) 367-2411</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/palacestation" target="_blank">Facebook</a> (for Palace Station)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/palacestation" target="_blank">Twitter</a> (for Palace Station)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.blueribbonrestaurants.com/rests_sushiBarGrillLV_main.htm" target="_blank">Blue Ribbon Grill</a> @ <a href="http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/" target="_blank">Cosmopolitan</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Las Vegas, NV 89109</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Phone:(702) 736-0808</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Ribbon-Sushi-Bar-Grill/184254361588676" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/BlueRibbonVegas" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.marqueelasvegas.com/" target="_blank">Marquee</a> @ </b><b><a href="http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/" target="_blank">Cosmopolitan</a></b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Las Vegas, NV 89109</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(702) 333-9000</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/marqueelv" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/MarqueeLV" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-82237069951267876092013-01-02T14:57:00.002-08:002013-01-03T09:22:40.042-08:00Recipe: Red Lentils & Sausage Stew<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While many folks spent their New Year's Eve in a jubilant blow out at a houseparty/club/restaurant, mine was a much more low-key and humble affair. Partly because I'm exhausted from the assorted holiday gatherings throughout the better part of December, but mostly because I'm working early hours on both the Eve and New Year's Day, so I was more than happy to toast to 2013 with Times Square in realtime, then ready & off to bed by 9:30 p.m.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8338572951/" title="Lentil-Sausage Stew by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Lentil-Sausage Stew" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8338572951_e9bdeb6a8b.jpg" width="375" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But that didn't mean I neglected all sorts of New Year's tradition; having recently heard an NPR segment with Nigella Lawson on <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17683311" target="_blank">New Year culinary traditions</a>, I was inspired to cobble together a comfort dish of sorts thoroughly infused with not only flavor but also good-fortune symbolism, with the coin shapes of lentils & sliced sausages and baguettes and the bright red of the spicy seasonings (cayenne, chili flakes, paprika.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can only hope that eating this on New Year's Eve will bring me luck professionally and personally; at the very least, I took solace that night with a bowl of soothing, edible stew (and an easy recipe that I'd revisit all Winter long whenever I need that extra warmth in a bowl!)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Red Lentils & Sausage Stew</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serves 2 as main, 4 as starter</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups water</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups coarsely chopped leafy greens (I used Napa cabbage)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup dried red lentils, rinsed and drained</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 pound sausage, sliced (approx. 2-3 links - I used a chicken-red pepper sausage)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 ounce Mirin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 garlic cloves, minced</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tablespoons cooking oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon crushed chili flakes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">handful of shredded cheese (optional)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directions:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Heat up the cooking oil in a skillet or wok over high heat, add sausage slices and sauté until the slices start to char and curl; remove sausage and set aside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Reduce heat to medium and deglaze the pan with the Mirin, add the garlic, chili flakes, paprika and cayenne pepper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Toss in the greens and vegetable broth, heat to a simmer or until greens are wilted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Add lentils and water, bring it back to a simmer and continue to cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally and season as needed with salt, chili, pepper, etc. to your liking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Serve, topping with shredded cheese, extra spices and/or bread as needed.</span></div>
H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-50498552659463051832012-12-06T15:12:00.002-08:002012-12-06T15:14:54.943-08:00Recipe + Giveaway: Whole Wheat-Ricotta-Almond Pancakes<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ever since I got a new two-burner griddle a few months back, I've been obsessed with pancake making. So when Hodgson Mill held their Have a Grain Holiday contest, there was no doubt what my entry was going to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While it's not as winter festive as, say, gingerbreads or fruitcakes, these <b>whole wheat-ricotta-almond pancakes</b> are not only delicious but also incredibly easy to make--perfect for the morning after that labor-intensive holiday feast (or honestly, any time of year!) The whole wheat flour gives it a hearty texture and a distinctly "wheaty" flavor while the ricotta cheese keeps the pancake moist, fluffy and tender, and sliced almonds in the batter gives it that pleasantly soft whisper of a crunch.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8249244261/" title="Whole Wheat Ricotta Almond Pancakes by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Whole Wheat Ricotta Almond Pancakes" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8197/8249244261_3abc74bf69.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ingredients (for approx. 10 palm-sized pancakes):</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/4 cup whole wheat flour (as part of the contest, Hodgson Mill <a href="http://www.hodgsonmillstore.com/en/All-Natural-Flour/Whole-Wheat-Flour/71518-05005-001_Group.aspx" target="_blank">provided me with theirs</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 oz. sliced almonds plus an additional handful for garnish</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Tbsp. sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/4 tsp. baking powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pinch of salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 oz. ricotta cheese (I used <a href="http://www.angeloandfranco.com/index.php/ricotta" target="_blank">Angelo & Franco's</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/4 cup full or reduced-fat milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 eggs, separated</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp. vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp. almond extract</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8249244667/" title="Flipped Pancake by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Flipped Pancakes" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8249244667_8915e2c7e6.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directions:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Whisk/beat the 3 egg whites until soft peaks form, set aside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Preheat griddle/skillet to medium heat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. In separate bowls, combine the dry ingredients (flour, almonds, sugar, salt, baking powder) and wet ingredients (milk, cheese, egg yolks, extracts) in separate bowls before mixing them together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Gently fold in the whipped egg whites.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. If your griddle is not non-stick, lightly grease it with cooking spray or oil before each batch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Using a ladle or large spoon, drop palm-sized dollops of the batter onto griddle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. When the edges of the batter start to bubble (approx. 2 minutes) flip them with a spatula and let it cook for another 1-2 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Garnish with sliced almonds and serve with your choice of syrup or compote (I'm partial to my<b><i> express raspberry syrup</i></b>, which is simply combining roughly equal amounts of frozen raspberries & maple syrup and heating - on stovetop or microwave - until the berries give off their juices--sometimes I blend it afterwards for a smoother texture.)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8249243727/" title="Pancakes w Syrup by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Pancakes w Syrup" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8337/8249243727_d57cef9c65.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition to generously providing me with the flour for this recipe, Hodgson Mill is also holding a <a href="http://www.hodgsonmill.com/hodgsonmill.com/win-a-grain-holiday" target="_blank">contest</a> for 50 lucky folks to win a "Holiday Gift Pack" assortment of their flours and baking mixes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And in an almost infomercial-esque fashion <b><i>"But wait, there's more!"</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">U.S. readers of this blog get an additional opportunity to win a Hodgson Mill assortment (valued @ $25) <b>by commenting here with your e-mail</b>. I'll randomly draw a winner for this giveaway by Saturday, December 8, at noon PST. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And even if you don't win, Hodgson Mill has a <a href="http://www.hodgsonmill.com/grain-holiday-coupon" target="_blank">$1 off coupon</a> towards any 5 lb. package of their flours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good luck!</span>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-28033920684909179122012-10-12T09:27:00.000-07:002012-10-12T15:18:25.039-07:00No. 224: Towne (Downtown)<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8069947111/" title="Exterior by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Exterior" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8442/8069947111_68c3f1c876.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the L.A. Live area is not devoid of decent dining options, the choices are a bit limited. There are places like Rivera, which can get rather spendy, and then there are spots like Bar & Kitchen or Corkbar, which are great but I almost always order food as an afterthought to drinking there. So I was happy to check out <b><i>Towne</i></b> upon receiving a media invite and scanning through its menu & profile. Alas, a casual-chic sit-down spot for dining.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8069946005/" title="Interior by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Interior" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8457/8069946005_5c28bceb25.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon entering, the restaurant layout had a Bottega Louie feel to it, with distinct areas for bar/lounge, dining room and a to-go <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8069946401/in/set-72157631727348692" target="_blank">café and patisserie</a>. But thankfully, the actual decor is a lot less gaudy and the room's acoustics are way better, so I don't have to scream to carry a conversation with the PR rep</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and my dining companion, <a href="http://onemorebiteblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/towne-upscale-neighborhood-hangout-wood.html" target="_blank">One More Bite</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8069935982/" title="Towne Drinks by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Towne Drinks" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8304/8069935982_a05405910a.jpg" width="385" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Between the three of us, we pretty much ran the <a href="http://towne-la.com/cocktails.html" target="_blank">cocktail menu</a> gamut; there were many solid choices but my favorites are definitely the<b> Clover Club</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clover_Club_Cocktail" target="_blank">a classic</a> that's prepared solidly here) and the<b> South Park</b> (essentially a Rum Manhattan, but I love the balance between the rich, sweet-smelling Zaya Rum against the not-quite-sweet Punt E Mes, rounded out with the Peruvian<a href="http://www.atthemeadow.com/shop/index.php" target="_blank"> Chuncho bitters</a>.)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8069945331/" title="Pretzel Rolls by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Pretzel Rolls" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8462/8069945331_74e9321a36.jpg" width="325" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I rarely comment on bread service at restaurants, but the <b>jointed pretzel rolls here with mustard butter</b> were a standout. I would've wolfed more of these down except I know there are likely many more courses to come!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8069944947/" title="Watermelon Salad by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Watermelon Salad" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/8069944947_16f10b66f1.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being a lover of greens, I'm glad we got to try the <b>Greek watermelon salad</b>, refreshing and vibrantly flavorful at the same time. Compressed cubes of sweet melons are complemented with equally cooling cucumber slices and crunchy mixed greens, offset by the intense briny bits of olives, crumbled feta cheese and vinaigrette dressing.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8069939248/" title="Seared Scallops by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Seared Scallops" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/8069939248_e505c30bd5.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another starter-ish dish I enjoyed was the<b> seared dayboat scallops</b>, eclecticly prepared with figs, pickled radish, tender bok choy -- all floating in a seasoned coconut broth. Like One More Bite's comment, the aromas evoke Thai curry, but actual flavor is so much lighter, more delicate and not spicy at all. And while this isn't bland, I do appreciate the injection of sweet, tart and bite offered by the fig & radish.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8069940763/" title="Crab & Sea Urchin Spaghetti by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Crab & Sea Urchin Spaghetti" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8312/8069940763_d2fa3271ea.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pasta-wise, the <b>spaghetti with crab and sea urchin</b> was superb. It was rich but not-too-heavy and even in this savory dish, you can taste the sweetness (and 'the sea') of the seafood in every bite.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of the meat dishes, while I enjoyed the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8069938004/in/set-72157631727348692/" target="_blank">glazed beef cheek pot roast</a> (wonderful with the slightly charred gnocchi!) and the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8069939520/in/set-72157631727348692/" target="_blank">whole roasted branzino</a> (crispy skin and firm & flavorful meat, need I say more?), they paled in comparison the glory that is the <b>Crispy pork shank for two</b>.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8069936218/" title="Pork Shank Being Carved by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Pork Shank Being Carved" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8461/8069936218_a655b41f6e.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it really could've easily fed 3-4 (maybe more if there are other courses,) I absolutely love the contrast between super-crispy skin and the meltingly-tender meat that practically falls off the bone!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8069941717/" title="Crispy Pork Shank by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Crispy Pork Shank" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8452/8069941717_ffdd5aeb9e.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also appreciated is the mustard spaetzle and sweet & sour cabbage to sop up all those delicious juices (and to make the dish a slightly more balanced meal.)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/8069946703/" title="Towne Desserts by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Towne Desserts" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/8069946703_2b3ca1ccba.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, despite being beyond full from all the savories (and we actually wound up doggy bagging quite a bit of the spaghetti & pork shank to go,) my second stomach opened up for their desserts. After our heavy fare, I was hoping they'd send out lighter sweets (like the macarons) but the majority of them were on the rich & dense side. Having said that, I'm glad I got to try the <b>butterscotch pudding </b>that's topped with blueberry gelee and mini meringues and the <b>peanut butter crunch bar</b> with ginger-caramel ice cream, since I love the eccentric accompaniments to these otherwise 'typical' desserts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, I'm impressed with Towen's offerings. I know the term New/Contemporary American gets tossed about a lot, but I do really enjoy their modern twists and updates to classic-sounding fare. And while the price point is slightly above an "everyday" joint, it is definitely reasonable for a casual get-together with friends -- which I'm planning to do so I can try more of their fare (while re-ordering that shank!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What Do Others Say?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- <a href="http://shopeatsleep.com/2012/09/17/where-old-is-new-again-towne-food-drink/" target="_blank">ShopEatSleep</a> said it's the place to go for diners who desire "an upscale dining experience but also want comfort food."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- <a href="http://gourmetpigs.blogspot.com/2012/08/fun-with-americana-nostalgia-at-towne.html" target="_blank">Gourmet Pigs</a> noted that some creative touches "may seem gimmicky to you, but when they're done well, why not go along and have fun with it?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- <a href="http://www.estarla.com/2012/07/24/going-to-towne-on-great-food-stellar-cocktails-in-south-park/" target="_blank">e*starLA</a> said "There really is something for everyone whose mission is to taste and drink beautiful, delicious things."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/sets/72157631727348692/" target="_blank">Additional photos on flickr set here</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://towne-la.com/" target="_blank">Towne</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">709 9th Avenue</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Los Angeles, CA 90015</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">213.623.2366</span><br />
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H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-83038548049612211282012-09-25T12:09:00.001-07:002012-09-25T12:42:45.943-07:00No. 223: Observations & Tips for The Taste LA<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been three weeks out and I still can't get over the sheer gluttony & indulgence at <b><a href="http://events.latimes.com/taste/" target="_blank">The Taste LA</a></b>, the three-day, five-event L.A.Times-organized extravaganza highlighting the amazing bites & sips this city has to offer.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7976449528/" title="Entrance by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Entrance" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/7976449528_ea7982be93.jpg" width="350" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taking place over Labor Day weekend, The Taste was a series of events structured around different themes, from the family-friendly<a href="http://events.latimes.com/taste/labor-day-picnic" target="_blank"> Labor Day Picnic</a> on Monday to the more spirited <a href="http://events.latimes.com/taste/cocktail-confidential" target="_blank">Cocktail Confidential</a> to profiling SoCal's signature eats with <a href="http://events.latimes.com/taste/flavors-of-la" target="_blank">Flavors of L.A.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, I had a fun time, from . . .</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7976452983/" title="Huckleberry Sweets by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Huckleberry Sweets" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8451/7976452983_6a889e430d.jpg" width="350" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. . . tasting dishes from some of my favorites around town, from <a href="http://www.huckleberrycafe.com/" target="_blank">Huckleberry</a>'s baked goods to the mini lamb burgers at <a href="http://www.havengastropub.com/" target="_blank">Haven Gastropub</a> to the Autumn Maple beer from <a href="http://www.thebruery.com/" target="_blank">The Bruery</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7976453576/" title="DSC09626 by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="FigOly Crab Gazpacho" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8315/7976453576_d4fb5d97ee.jpg" width="350" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. . . to trying new fare, like<a href="http://www.figoly.com/" target="_blank"> FigOly</a>'s crab-topped gazpacho,<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7976447544/in/set-72157631511693643" target="_blank"> lobster rolls</a> from the <a href="http://www.terranea.com/" target="_blank">Terranea resort</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7976455995/in/set-72157631511693643/" target="_blank">beer cocktails</a> made with <a href="http://www.hangar24brewery.com/" target="_blank">Hangar 24</a>'s Orange Wheat by the <a href="http://www.goldengopherbar.com/" target="_blank">Golden Gopher</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7976453681/" title="DSC09764 by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Beer Cocktails Demo" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8460/7976453681_5edec9d2e6.jpg" width="375" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. . . to attending the demonstrations & presentations, such as this one on beer cocktails with <a href="http://www.latimes.com/search/dispatcher.front?Query=betty+hallock&target=adv_all" target="_blank">LA Times' Betty Hallock</a> and <a href="http://thebeerchicks.com/" target="_blank">The Beer Chicks</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7976448210/" title="Zahra Bates by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Zahra Bates" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/7976448210_8a0e915fb7.jpg" width="225" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. . . to, of course, meeting the chefs, bartenders, proprietors and fellow bloggers & writers in-person and upfront (which, frankly, is too many to list unless I want to turn this blogpost into a <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a> production!)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7976444649/" title="The Taste by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="The Taste" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8182/7976444649_8de5ffd911.jpg" width="380" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That being said, like most other food events in town, there are always room for improvement--while The Taste was held on the lovely Paramount Studios set, it had a dearth of devices to deal with the crazy heatwave that weekend; fans, misters, or an A/Ced room would've been much appreciated. (I was, however, plenty thankful that <a href="http://icelandicglacial.com/" target="_blank">Icelandic Glacial</a> provided plenty of cold bottled water to the hot & parched masses.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then there are mishaps typical at most food fests, oppressively long lines at some stalls, vendors running out of foods/drinks way early into the event, not enough seating for demos/discussions and some tables turning into a precarious garbage Jenga (the trash cans aren't that far away, people!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And in anticipation of The Taste's comeback next year, here's some handy tips to keep in mind to maximize your fun at this event:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <b>Buy tickets early.</b> A no-brainer, but especially worth mentioning here - the price from it's initial pre-sale to day-of purchase went from $50 to $75 a person, a 50% hike! Also, Flavors of L.A. completely sold out ahead of time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <b>Strategize & prioritize.</b> Study the map and note which restaurant/bar/vendor are must-trys and hit those up first to minimize the chance of them running out by the time you get there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <b>Buddy up.</b> While one of you wait in that uber-popular (and ultra-long) line, the other(s) can go hit up the shorter lines in adjacent stalls, making that wait a lot less grueling (and a lot more tasty.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. <b>Share your plates (at least for the first run.)</b> The small sampler portions are deceptive, but they add up and before you know it, you're beyond full and not even halfway through the venue. Divvy up that first plate with your line buddy, and if you really like it, go back for your own seconds. It also helps cut down on the food waste.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. <b>Swaps and subs are a no-no</b>. Generally, what you see is what you get, so don't break the cadence of the production line (who are already swamped enough as is churning out hundreds, if not thousands, of dishes & drinks) with special requests.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. <b>Get to demos/discussions early</b>. Like, by 10 to 15 minutes -- even if they are running behind schedule. Those seats fill up fast!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. <b>And, if they are not in a rush cranking out orders, chat up the vendors</b>. These people are definitely passionate about the places they work or the products they represent, and you might even get the scoop on an insider tip and be the cool cat who knows about the off-menu dish or upcoming changes. Or even a gift card/coupon for a future visit.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7976450605/" title="Bricia & Fernando Lopez by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Bricia & Fernando Lopez" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8437/7976450605_7b70da524c.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a few things to keep in mind for next year's Taste, which I look forward to checking out again!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Disclaimer: My admission to the Taste events was hosted.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/sets/72157631511693643/" target="_blank">Additional photos on flickr set here</a></span>
H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-79804080683952002012-08-29T16:25:00.001-07:002012-08-29T16:34:40.792-07:00No. 222: Passporting My Way Through Santa Barbara's Urban Wine Trail . . .<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm no stranger to Santa Barbara, but in past years, it's really a pitstop city where I go to grab a quick bite, admire the coastal views, and then move on for my final destination (whether visiting friends in UCSB, actually a little further north on the 101 in Goleta, touring & tasting my way through the Santa Maria & Santa Ynez wine countries or steadily making my way towards Monterey, Santa Cruz and the Bay Area.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But last month, my friend had a summer wedding in nearby Carpinteria, so I took the occasion to spend a weekend in Santa Barbara and really check it out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little did I know that it was also<a href="http://www.urbanwinetrailsb.com/index.php/2012-passport-weekend.html#passport_wkd" target="_blank"> Passport Weekend</a> in the <a href="http://www.urbanwinetrailsb.com/" target="_blank">Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail</a>, where for $50 I can taste my way around the city's <a href="http://www.urbanwinetrailsb.com/index.php/santa-barbara-urban-wine-trail/" target="_blank">15-20 wineries and tasting rooms</a> from Friday to Sunday (and getting my passport stamped along the way,) along with a glass to keep & 10% discount off bottle purchases. Considering a flight at each of these venues run $10-20, it sounded like a great deal, so I snapped up a ticket and took myself on an urban hike & sip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And while I only wound up checking out a dozen wineries over the three-day period, I did discover some new favorite spots, including:</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kuninwines.com/" target="_blank">Kunin Wines</a></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7790786744/" title="Kunin Tasting Room by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Kunin Tasting Room" height="225" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7269/7790786744_7311133b4d.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved the clean, sleek look of its tasting room and that it's one of few to offer an all-white/rosé tasting flight (much welcomed after walking around in 90-degree heat.) The pourer was also remarkably friendly, offering me locals' pointers about other places to try (and avoid!)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7790784386/" title="Kunin Wines by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Kunin Wines" height="352" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8443/7790784386_90159006c3.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favorite of the five was its <b><i>2010 Alisos Vineyard Gewurztraminer</i></b>, which has a sweet, floral, peachy aroma but is rather dry on the palate and just a hint of richness from a few months in oak (but far from being the crazy-buttered-toasty mess associated with California Chardonnays.) It was also one of two bottles I actually snapped up.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.municipalwinemakers.com/" target="_blank">Municipal Winemakers</a></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7790782902/" title="Municipal Wine Tasting Room by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Municipal Wine Tasting Room" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8302/7790782902_894c168944.jpg" width="375" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In short -- the hipster paradise of wineries in Santa Barbara. And I don't mean that in a bad way, it's simply impossible to not walk into this space without the H-word screaming in your face. (<i>In my best <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/149656" target="_blank">Stefan</a> voice</i>) the hottest place in town is MUNICIPAL - walk on in and you'll see tank-topped, tattooed pourers dishing about Instagram photos, wines-on-tap dispensed from a trophy, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7790808964/in/set-72157631086292206" target="_blank">tasting glasses stored in filing cabinets</a>, and look over there, is that a yeti? No, it's a guy coming in for his bottle order with his unshusky. What is an unshusky, you ask? Unshaven husky, and boy is it panting hard after coming in from the heatwave. *Ahem*</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That being said, the space is wickedly fun change of pace from the typically stoic tasting rooms. And if you got a group of friends (hipster or not,) it's a great place to mellow out and drink away--they let you bring food in and their tasty wines-on-tap are reasonably priced by the glass or liter-sized carafes. Their red-on-tap of the moment, <b><i>MSG</i></b> (a blend of Mouvedre-Syrah-Grenache) is my fave, easily drinkable on its own but also great with a burger or nicely-charred grilled foods.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.deepseawines.com/" target="_blank">Deep Sea Wines</a></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7790799022/" title="Deep Sea Wines by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Deep Sea Wines" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8439/7790799022_c0baa29222.jpg" width="226" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've checked out their wines before @ their events down in L.A. and do like some of their offerings, so I already planned on visiting them. But what really made me ecstatic is that their tasting room is right out on Stearn's Wharf. Coupled with their late-ish closing time, it gave me the pleasure of wine-tasting to a coastal sunset.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of the flight, my favorite were the <b><i><a href="http://www.conwayfamilywines.com/product/2009-Deep-Sea--Sea-Flower--Rose?pageID=5ca65639-a5c8-84e4-1d5a-39f2d2b99dfa&sortBy=DisplayOrder&" target="_blank">Flower Rosé</a></i></b> and <b><i><a href="http://www.conwayfamilywines.com/product/2008-Deep-Sea-Viognier?pageID=5ca65639-a5c8-84e4-1d5a-39f2d2b99dfa&sortBy=DisplayOrder&" target="_blank">Central Coast Viognier</a></i></b>, both delicate, crisp wines that exhibit lovely sweet fruit aromas, but with a remarkably dry and almost-minerally palate--perfect for summer sipping!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.whitcraftwinery.com/Home.html" target="_blank">Whitcraft Winery</a></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7790803548/" title="Whitcraft Winery by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Whitcraft Winery" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8290/7790803548_625a6e94c6.jpg" width="375" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, while I wasn't WOW'd by any of their wines, the flight here does offer a fun & educational experience. Specializing in Pinot Noirs from various regions, I love the flight highlights the terroir's influence on the grape -- since we tasted the same varietal from Mendocino, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Alas, my <a href="http://www.whitcraftwinery.com/Tasting_Notes.html" target="_blank">favorite of the set</a> turned out to be the Grenache, which has soft tannins and an acidity that's bright without being puckery.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://cottonwoodcanyon.com/" target="_blank">Cottonwood Canyon Winery</a></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7790794690/" title="Cottonwood Canyon by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Cottonwood Canyon" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8286/7790794690_a8cecab024.jpg" width="234" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is likely my favorite find since it's so hole-in-the-wall compared to the other wineries & tasting rooms. And they also offer a myriad of bites to go with their wine flights (which changes regularly, depending on what estate bottle(s) the pourer feels like opening that day.) It could be a bite of cracker and cheese to go with an older-vintage Chardonnay, some of their spicy housemade pickles alongside their peppery Pinot Noir, or a chocolate truffle with their Syrah & dessert wine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But despite all the specialty, estate offerings being poured, my favorite (and the other bottle that I actually bought) is their standard line <a href="http://cottonwoodcanyon.com/products-page/?inv_action=detail&inventory_id=39" target="_blank">Bistro Classic Chardonnay</a>, which upon immediate tasting I've deemed an 'oyster wine' because of its slight effervescence and a fantastic combo of lemon-citrus and stoney-mineral notes, plus a medium body that I'd imagine to be perfect with the oyster's creamy-rich flesh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And while tasting the wines was a big part of the fun, I also loved that it gave me the chance to hike through Santa Barbara and really explore its city, from the main drag of State Street . . .</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7790791088/" title="SB Farmers Market by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="SB Farmers Market" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8300/7790791088_d160686033.jpg" width="325" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. . . to its vibrant farmer's market, where I snapped up some <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7790793030/in/set-72157631086292206" target="_blank">incredibly-sweet and beautifully garnet-hued pluots</a> . . .</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7790806808/" title="Walking Along Shore by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Walking Along Shore" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/7790806808_c4a1608e0c.jpg" width="350" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. . . and up and down its picturesque coastline . . .</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7790788180/" title="Dusk @ Stearns Wharf by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Dusk @ Stearns Wharf" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7131/7790788180_7cf1ef7c6c.jpg" width="350" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. . . finishing off at Stearns Wharf, where I treated myself to a view and some great seafood from <a href="http://www.sbfishhouse.com/shellfish-co/" target="_blank">Santa Barbara Shellfish Co</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, I also tasted some incredible bites throughout the city too, but that'll be for another post in the near future.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7790796036/" title="Urban Wine Trail Sign by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Urban Wine Trail Sign" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/7790796036_05165ab3dc.jpg" width="325" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I hope Passport Weekend (this was its inaugural year) makes a comeback in the future too.</span>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-88673165447957991262012-08-09T13:20:00.000-07:002012-08-09T13:27:25.655-07:00No. 221: Trattoria Neapolis (Pasadena)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whereas some neighborhoods are known to be dining meccas or going through a culinary renaissance, Pasadena can't quite seem to shake off its reputation of being a dine-out "food desert". Sure there are a few gems here and there in the 'dena (<a href="http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com/2010/08/no-176-intelligentsia-pasadena.html">Intelligentsia</a> for a good cup 'o joe and some quick bites, <a href="http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com/2012/07/no-220-southern-californias-zombieland.html">Raymond/1886</a> for some fab cocktails and a lovely brunch, and <a href="http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com/2012/03/no-214-lamb-burger-ing-across-la.html">Haven</a> for my tastiest lamb burger in So Cal, as well as my occasional Tender Greens excursion when I want something quick and wholesome,) but the heavy traffic areas of Old Town, South Lake District and the Paseo (which I still remember as the all-indoors Pasadena mall from earlier times) is generally marked by "just OK" restaurants and a slew of chains.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7684779426/" title="Interior 1 by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Interior 1" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8023/7684779426_227188b832.jpg" width="200" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I received Trattoria Neapolis' arrival to the scene with both excitement and skepticism... on paper the menu looked great. Heck, I was enthralled enough by drinks alone, with its cocktail program by <a href="http://copadoro.com/" target="_blank">Copa d'Oro</a>'s Vincenzo Marianella, beers curated by <a href="http://thebeerchicks.com/" target="_blank">The Beer Chicks</a>, and wines selected by 4th level sommelier <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/diego-meraviglia/10/266/17b" target="_blank">Diego Meraviglia</a>. Pair that with a creative Cal-Italian themed menu (incl. items such as <b><i>lobster aracini with Eureka lemon aioli, grilled summer vegetable lasagna </i></b>and <b><i>wood-grilled W</i></b><i style="font-weight: bold;">agyu flatiron with a porcini BBQ sauce</i>) and you got got one very intrigued diner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had attended a media preview dinner, which went well (<a href="http://gourmetpigs.blogspot.com/2012/07/preview-of-trattoria-neapolis-opening.html" target="_blank">Gourmet Pigs captured that experience here</a>) but I really want to capture in true action after its opening. Thanks to a pair of birthday events in July with fairly adventurous diners, I was able to make two return trips here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simply put, they really live up to their claims and I'm thrilled for its presence in the Pasadena dining scene.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7684784422/" title="Interior 3 by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Interior 3" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8162/7684784422_2e6c8c5c8c.jpg" width="350" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7684781362/" title="Interior 2 by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Interior 2" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7250/7684781362_cdebfda1ae.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To start off, they made a phenomenal use of the space -- with an semi-outdoor garden area out front (that's wonderfully lit by the skylight and would be great setting for a daytime meal), an interior corridor of a dining area with great views of the bar and fairly open kitchen (centerpieced by its behemoth of a wood-fired oven) and an upstairs private dining area flanked by bottles of rare wine.) The multiple-spaces in one set up kind of reminds me of the decor at Campanile and the Strand House, and is actually rather smart from an aesthetic and functional viewpoint (the designers even soundproof the ceiling tiles to avoid the overly loud acoustics associated with other high-ceiling restaurants, that I'm deeming "<u>the Bottega Louie effect</u>".)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7684764730/" title="Beer, Wine, Cocktails by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Beer, Wine, Cocktails" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8148/7684764730_3627695b52.jpg" width="211" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And true to the respective beverage directors' reputations, the drinks here--beer, wine and cocktail--were superb, which personally astounds me since it's incredibly rare for the find a place that does all three well, and within a reasonable budget too (here's their <a href="http://www.trattorianeapolis.com/pdf/TrattoriaNeapolis-PartialDrinksList.pdf" target="_blank">standard drinks menu</a> w prices, for those with posher pockets -- here's the full drinks list with more decadent beverages, including a $85 Arroyo Seco made with 25 year-old Highland Park Scotch and a $125 Tactical Nuclear Penguin beer double barrel-aged in Scotch casks and clocking in at a crazy 32% ABV.)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7684777732/" title="Millionaire by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Millionaire" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7267/7684777732_c9bb8dde17.jpg" width="222" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for me, while I like their <b><i>Millionaire</i></b> cocktail (Appleton Extra with Marie Brizard Apry, Lime Juice and Sloe Gin) and <b><i>Bootlegger's Golden Chaos Ale</i></b>, may favorite is easily . . .</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7684757118/" title="Port O' Call by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Port O' Call" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/7684757118_cd9f337932.jpg" width="244" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. . . The <b><i>Port O' Call</i></b>, a dessert cocktail whimsically named after the San Pedro village and combining Port wine with fino sherry, Diplomatico rum and orange bitters. Despite being listed on the after-dinner drinks menu with the desserts, this cocktail is not particularly sweet-tasting at all, the texture and actual flavor is more like a smooth Manhattan (maybe with a hint of wine notes from the port and sherry,) it only smells sweeter and fruitier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for the food, they were all on the scale from decent to magnificent. And that's taking into the factor that I'm usually not a big <i>secondi</i> person (and still found the aforementioned grilled steak, along with <i style="font-weight: bold;">roasted black cod with charred corn and manila clam broth</i>, heavenly.) Having disclosed my biases, my favorites are definitely on the appetizer-pasta-pizza realm, including:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7684766826/" title="Salumi Platter by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Salumi Platter" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8160/7684766826_0a41503d94.jpg" width="350" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Assorted Salumi Platter</i> ($13) - I simply loved the variety that you get for the price, with 4-5 different meats (at least one of which is made in-house) along with some tasty accompaniments, such as a sweet-tart cherry compote to balance the saltiness of the meats, and warm gnocchi friti that tastes like a savory doughnut, all brightened up with some frisee and housemade pickles.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7684763326/" title="Bucatini by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Bucatini" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7107/7684763326_b70b60275f.jpg" width="300" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7684772348/" style="text-align: start;" title="Roasted Garlic Gnocchi w Pork Shoulder by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Roasted Garlic Gnocchi w Pork Shoulder" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7253/7684772348_bedc9cca46.jpg" width="300" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Aragosta </i>($19/32) <i style="font-weight: bold;">& Gnocchi </i>($9/16) - I love that half-orders are available for most pasta dishes here, since that lets my table companions and I to try a lot more in one sitting. And the aragosta & gnocchi are very different dishes, but equally delicious. The former features perfectly <i>al dente</i> bucatini with tender chunks of lobster, tossed in a bright and zesty blend of tomatoes, chilies and lobster sauce. On the other hand, the gnocchi has a lot more grounded, rustic flavors, the fluffy pasta themselves are infused with roasted garlic, and it is accompanied with smoked pork shoulder, asparagus and artichoke. The vegetables are crisp and flavorful, but it still provides a more homely, earthy character -- especially when compared to the Aragosta.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7684775080/" title="Funghi Pizza by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Funghi Pizza" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8433/7684775080_0d6515c0f7.jpg" width="350" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7684762268/" style="text-align: start;" title="Prosciutto Pizza by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Prosciutto Pizza" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7280/7684762268_29ffb2a743.jpg" width="350" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the pizzas, while my friends are gaga over the <i style="font-weight: bold;">Funghi</i>--which I do like too--I personally love the <i style="font-weight: bold;">Prosciutto </i>($13) one a lot more, which is topped the ribbony meat alongside smoked mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes and wild arugula (and some shaved parmesan to boot). It made for a festive flavor combination in my mouth, a little tang here, a tinge of cheesy smokiness there, an occasional peppery bite and a good dose of luxurious ham too--all enhanced by a crust that's delightfully crispy & barely charred outside, quickly giving way to a chewy-yet-tender interior.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7684755942/" title="Non-Traditional Tiramisu by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Non-Traditional Tiramisu" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8160/7684755942_88da7cdcec.jpg" width="325" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7684754614/" title="Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/7684754614_c834df04c6.jpg" width="325" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, given my sweet jaws, there is no holding back on ordering desserts (even if I did order the Port O'Call) -- the ones I liked best were the Not-So-Traditional <i style="font-weight: bold;">Tiramisu</i> and Greek Yogurt-Honey <i style="font-weight: bold;">Panna Cotta</i> (both $9), both being fresh creative spins of familiar Italian-y sweets. The former swapped out the coffee elements with roasted peach, caramel and pecans -- and I liken it more to a caramelly peach shortcake than anything else, and it's a great lighter, seasonal spin on a dessert that's usually more heavy. Likewise, while panna cotta is already kind of light, it was further brightened with a infusion of tangy Greek yogurt, apricot granita and a basil sauce. One almost feels healthy eating this (ok, maybe the candied hazelnuts made it just a tad sinful...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there you have it; at last, a spot in Pasadena for great drinks and eats (I personally can't wait till they launch lunch & *crossing fingers* a happy hour,) here's hoping this is the start of a restaurant renaissance in Pasadena!</span></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/sets/72157630839314206/with/7684758702/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More photos on flickr set here</span></a></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What Do Others Say?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>- </b><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/food/los-angeles/ca/91101/pasadena/trattoria-neapolis_good-for-groups_great-beer-selection_great-cocktails_italian_pizza" target="_blank">Thrillist</a> called it an "awe-inspiring, two-story ode to Italy, with a crazy-diverse interior"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>- </b><a href="http://gastronomyblog.com/2012/07/16/trattoria-neapolis-pasadena/" target="_blank">Gastronomy </a>noted that "while the pastas were mostly good, it was the pizza that really made the night for me."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- <a href="http://www.pasadenanow.com/main/trattoria-neapolis-more-than-a-restaurant-it-s-an-experience" target="_blank">Pasadena Now</a> predicted that "residents can expect Trattoria Neapolis to be a welcome - and unique - addition to the local dining scene."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- <a href="http://oolong-milktea.blogspot.com/2012/08/pasadena-trattoria-neapolis.html" target="_blank">Oolong milk tea</a> was surprised, noting she "definitely did not think I would like it as much as I did . . . Props to Neapolis for getting it right during the 1st week of their opening!"</span></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.trattorianeapolis.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trattoria Neapolis</span></a></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">336 S Lake Ave</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pasadena, CA 91101</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(626) 792-3000</span></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/neapolis336" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twitter</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trattoria-Neapolis/292675844147919" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></div>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-60416622029821889302012-07-25T09:20:00.000-07:002012-07-25T10:49:56.243-07:00No. 220: Southern California's Zombieland<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me, there are few cocktails as fascinating as a zombie. Asides from being deceptively potent nature, it's got an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_%28cocktail%29" target="_blank">interesting past</a>, <a href="http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Bartending/Cocktails/Zombie" target="_blank">quite a few different recipes</a>, and ominious warnings, with many bars explicitly noting they serve a two-zombie maximum per customer. There are a few variations on the origin of that cap, often relating to a guy who had a few and caused all sorts of mayhem and mishaps, from simply blacking out for the night to starting a raucous bar brawl to causing a traffic catastrophe while drunk-driving.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regardless, zombies are definitely making an invasion in Southern California. Once limited to the confines of Tiki-themed places (<a href="http://www.tradervicsla.com/" target="_blank">Trader Vic's</a>,<a href="http://www.donthebeachcomber.com/" target="_blank"> Don the Beachcomber</a>, <a href="http://tiki-ti.com/" target="_blank">Tiki-Ti</a>) or rum-focused establishments (<a href="http://213nightlife.com/canarumbar" target="_blank">Cana</a>, <a href="http://www.ladescargala.com/" target="_blank">La Descarga</a>, <a href="http://sunnyspotvenice.com/" target="_blank">Sunny Spot</a>), I've seen them surfaced in quite a few unexpected places. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Naturally, I consider it a blogger duty to put a damper to this assault. So here's a roundup of a few surprise spots where you might spot a zombie... so be prepared to run (and drink!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>DOWNTOWN IN A SCHOOL!!!! (@ Public School 612*)</b> </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585791054/" title="Zombies @ Public School 612 by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Zombies @ Public School 612" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7585791054_0bf4087ace.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, granted -- this was from a one-time event (Tiki 101, part of their<a href="http://www.facebook.com/PublicSchool612/events" target="_blank"> '101' series of events</a> where they educate on assorted libations, with a drink-paired multi-course meal to boot) but I was told the zombie may be making a comeback on their summer menu so keep your fingers crossed!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Asides from the Tiki totem cups (which attendees get to keep at the end of the night, by the way) this zombie variation stood out in that it used papaya puree to give it that tropical flair (in addition to pineapple juice.) While I usually don't care for its slightly musky smell, it did add an interesting note here. That aside, this zombie is one of the boozier-tasting ones I've tried, with the rums front & center.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But what I loved even more than the zombie itself is the creativity in the food presented in this class . . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585770896/" title="Spam Two Ways by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Spam Two Ways" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8163/7585770896_0d34c1836e.jpg" width="375" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had <b>spam two ways</b> (a traditional musubi, and a not-so-traditional kimchi slider)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585767636/" title="Ahi in a Coconut Shell by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Ahi in a Coconut Shell" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7263/7585767636_77dc51f475.jpg" width="375" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Tuna-mango poke</b> served in a coconut</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585765866/" title="Zombie w Loco Moco by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Zombie w Loco Moco" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7262/7585765866_a909a33b3d.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, paired with the zombie & my favorite of the night, a <b>mushroom gravy loco moco</b> with the egg poached, breaded in panko then fried! And just like the zombie itself, I hope some of these items get rotated onto the 612 menu.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But... just in case it does not make a reappearance anytime soon, the 101 classes do provide recipe cards of everything they make, so here's the one for their zombie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585764438/" title="Zombie Recipe by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Zombie Recipe" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8017/7585764438_f0f39fb681.jpg" width="275" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I know papaya puree is hard to come by (PS612 made their own!) and I would probably swap it out for something more readily available, like mango nectar/juice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>WEST HOLLYWOOD IN A MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT!!! (@ Mezze)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The zombie here is also served in a tiki themed glass (but this one's not for taking home,) and it intrigued me because it definitely stands out for this restaurant and especially its <a href="http://www.mezzela.com/cocktail-list.php" target="_blank">cocktail menu</a>, where most other drinks have some sort of Middle Eastern / Mediterranean touches.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585777306/" title="Johnny's Zombie by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Johnny's Zombie" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7124/7585777306_1a355c475f.jpg" width="250" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And alas, as unique looking as it was on the cocktail menu and in the themed cup, it didn't exactly wow me. Not that it's bad, but my thoughts were "I taste rum & I taste juices" and that's pretty much it. It suffices for a tropically drink (say, by a poolside hotel or a coastal bar) but lacks that extra oompf.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other hand, my zombie expedition did lead me to try some other drinks and bites that are much more impressive...</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585772132/" title="The Wanderer by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="The Wanderer" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8430/7585772132_e69bd1f571.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Such as the <b>The Wanderer</b>, a tequila based cocktail with rosewater, a triple-play of hibiscus (in the syrup, flavored whipped cream and hibiscus-lavender bitters) and topped with sumac. And that final ingredient really made this something special, its tartness complements that of the hibiscus, but it also provided a kind of woodsy, kind of earthy note that balanced the flowery aromas and sweet flavor profile of this drink.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585775852/" title="Sweetbread Shashouka by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Sweetbread Shashouka" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7585775852_3bf547a0fa.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And this drink overall paired extremely well with the <b>sweetbread shashouka</b>, a comforting, spiced tomato stew with crunchy chunks of sweetbread, toasted pita strips, creamy yogurt and runny egg. The whipped cream worked nicely with the richer egg, sweetbread & yogurt while the tart & light portion of the drink cuts into that richness and complements the tomato the same time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also loved the subsequent <b>Jam Fizz</b> featuring bergamot jam and their housemade black lemon+ginger bitters. So while I am not particular fan of this zombie, I'm thankful that it led to me this gem of a place--which I look forward to returning again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>PASADENA IN THE DAYTIME!!!! (@ 1886 Bar / Raymond Restaurant*)</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585761212/" title="Fiona w Zombie by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="GourmetPigs w Zombie" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7585761212_b462000e23.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>NOOO, <a href="http://gourmetpigs.blogspot.com/2012/07/wake-up-zombie-breakfast-at-raymond.html" target="_blank">Gourmet Pigs</a>!!!!!!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it's the first time I ever saw zombie featured as a brunch cocktail. For me, it was a welcomed change of pace from<b> </b>the bloody marys, mimosas and bellinis. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585786218/" title="1886 / Raymond Zombie by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="1886 / Raymond Zombie" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8281/7585786218_ecc674ba56.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though the cocktail is known to be potent, this zombie made for a surprisingly great daytime drink. It's light and cooling thanks to the crushed ice, has a wonderful fruity-boozy flavor profile from a nice balance of rums, juices and syrups (three rums, demarara & passionfruit syrup; lemon, lime & pineapple juices), and amazing aromas from the sprig of fresh mint and sprinkling of sweet spices on top.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585763226/" title="Savory Cheddar Cakes by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Savory Cheddar Cakes" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/7585763226_f40cfdbf04.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Equally lovely is their recently-revamped <a href="http://www.theraymond.com/menus/brunch-menu.html" target="_blank">brunch menu</a>, and I particularly enjoyed my stack of <b>cheddar & herb griddle cakes</b> layered with spinach, mushrooms, smoked ham and topped with a poached egg. It's indulgent and delicate at the same time; I simply loved how the fluffy, mildly-savory pancakes offsets the stronger flavors and textures of the other components, making for a midday dish that satisfies without really weighing down (in guilt, and possibly on the scales.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>EVEN THE ORANGE COUNTY!!! (@ 320 Main)</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585781140/" title="320 Main Zombie by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="320 Main Zombie" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8009/7585781140_92be3285c6.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, so it's <a href="http://rumdood.com/2010/04/26/mixology-monday-pain-in-the-ass-drinks/" target="_blank">Rumdood</a> tending the bar so it's not a huge leap that a zombie would surface here (though, you might want to avoid ordering this when the bar's swarmed, as Rumdood calls it <a href="http://rumdood.com/2010/04/26/mixology-monday-pain-in-the-ass-drinks/" target="_blank">a P.I.T.A. drink to make</a>.) And of course, I wouldn't expect anything short of Zombie purism from him . . .</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585779344/" title="Zombie Shaking by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Zombie Shaking" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7585779344_eb1584a8b9.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. . . down to the shaking duration that he timed on his smartphone (one minute, to be exact.) After<a href="http://rumdood.com/2009/10/29/cocktail-recipe-zombie-punch/" target="_blank"> seeing the recipe</a> and witnessing his pours with all sorts of odd ratios & measurements, I can see why he considers it a PITA.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like the Raymond version, I love its balance and complexity of aromas and flavors. There's fruitiness without being too tart or sweet, some spicy-bitterness but not overboard with it, and a pleasant, cleverly-cloaked backdrop of rum.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> And while I
might not consider it worthwhile to make my own zombie with this recipe
(All the ingredients I have to buy/make! All the dirty jiggers I'd have
to wash afterwards! All that arm workout!) it was definitely worth the wait at 320 Main.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585782778/" title="Animal Flatbread by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Animal Flatbread" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8018/7585782778_4c275fd7ac.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And to wash it down, their special-of-the-day <b>Animal Flatbread</b>, which really tasted like the deconstructed version of the In-n-Out burger. Like the Tiki 101 food items, I hope this makes a comeback (or better yet, find a permanent place) on their menu soon.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7585784698/" title="Bride-To-Be by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Bride-To-Be" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7254/7585784698_4bdc60ab48.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last but not least, this zombie expedition also allowed me to buy <a href="http://www.bananawonder.com/" target="_blank">Bananawonder</a> a Bridey Mai Tai!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so, there you have it -- four very different zombie experiences in four atypical locations, but all with relatively happy endings. Which is more than I can say for most zombie apocalypse films. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>*</b><i>Disclosure: Public School 612 & Raymond tastings were from hosted events</i><br />
</span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<a href="http://www.publicschool612.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Public School 612</b></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">612 South Flower Street <br />Los Angeles, CA 90017<br />(213) 623-1172<br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/PS612/" target="_blank">Twitter</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Public-School-612/167184033316415/" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mezzela.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Mezze</b></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">401 North La Cienega Boulevard <br />West Hollywood, CA 90048<br />(310) 657-4103<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/mezze_la" target="_blank">Twitter</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mezze-Los-Angeles/206128132756439" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /><a href="http://www.theraymond.com/" target="_blank">The Raymond / 1886 Bar</a></b>1250 South Fair Oaks Avenue <br />Pasadena, CA 91105<br />(626) 441-3136<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/RaymondPasadena" target="_blank">Twitter</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/pages/Pasadena-CA/The-Raymond-Restaurant/317879822186?ref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.320mainsealbeach.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>320 Main</b></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">320 Main Street <br />Seal Beach, CA 90740<br />(562) 799-6246<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/320Main" target="_blank">Twitter</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seal-Beach-CA/320-Main/118109164533" target="_blank">Facebook</a><b> </b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span></span></span><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-24462522421268995352012-06-28T15:49:00.000-07:002012-06-28T16:11:37.112-07:00No. 219: A Few Favorite Foie Gras Dishes Around Town...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While a good amount of my food-loving friends are up in arms about the impending foie gras ban come July 1st (<a href="http://eater.com/archives/2012/06/26/california-foie-ban-wont-be-enforced.php" target="_blank">which may not even be enforced rigorously</a>,) I can't bring myself to muster much of a reaction. Sure, I don't care for a government entity telling me what I can and can't eat--but foie gras is such an occasional indulgence for me that I probably won't miss it if it really disappears from the menus here. Besides, I can always hop to a neighboring state if my craving is that strong!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nonetheless, given how it's been foie gras this and foie gras that for the past month (not to mention endless foie gras tasting menus popping up all over L.A.,) I figure now's a good a time as any to reflect on some of my recent favorite foie dishes. And if they are truly gone for good, at least I'll have a tasty memory to cling on to.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Foie Gras Rice Bowl @ <a href="http://www.playgrounddtsa.com/" target="_blank">The Playground </a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7442802434/" title="Foie Gras Rice Bowl @ The Playground by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Foie Gras Rice Bowl @ The Playground" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5329/7442802434_44dda80450.jpg" width="350" /></a>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the most interesting preparations of foie I've had in recent memory, it's served in a hybrid fried-rice/bibimbap style--with a umami-loaded, soy-based sauce and a composed arrangement of assorted veggies and notably, pineapples. I was skeptical about the fruity addition but in fact, it did the heavy lifting for this dish--adding some bright acidity and much-needed sweetness to this bowl, which tasted a bit too rich & salty otherwise. And the composed structure of this dish made it fun for me to try different combos of ingredients.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, I should also mention that they have an AWESOME beer selection, both bottles & drafts!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seared Foie Gras w Gingerbread, Rhubarb & Cherries @ <a href="http://www.jdvhotels.com/dining/losangeles/west" target="_blank">WEST Restaurant</a>*</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7442784250/" title="Foie Gras w Rhubarb & Gingerbread @ West by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Foie Gras w Rhubarb & Gingerbread @ West" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5336/7442784250_4eb812fb1c.jpg" width="385" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Asides from an amazing penthouse-level view, they did a splendid job on a fairly classic preparation of the dish, a perfectly-seared lobe with delightful complements. The tart rhubarb and cherries offset the deeply, savory fattiness of the liver, and the flecks of gingerbread added fun little highlights of sweet-spice aromas here and there. Lastly, the microgreens added not only color appeal, but also provided a light & bright flavor respite between bites of all those rich textures and flavors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And while this particular dish isn't on WEST's "<a href="http://www.jdvhotels.com/pdf/dining/west/au_revoir_foie_gras_2012.pdf" target="_blank">Au Revoir Foie Gras</a>" tasting menu; the menu does take the ingredients to some unusual territories - such as foie gras ice cream with roasted peach & rhubarb crisp and a foie gras parfait PB & J.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Foie Gras Biscuit @ <a href="http://www.animalrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Animal</a></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7442791936/" title="Foie Gras & Biscuit @ Animal by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Foie Gras & Biscuit @ Animal" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5035/7442791936_aa4dfc1b47.jpg" width="350" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whereas my first two highlights are playing on differing, even contrasting, flavor and textures -- my final favorite is unapologetically rich all the way, with the lobe atop a biscuit drenched in maple-sausage gravy. Rather trying to entice the diner to take some time to play around with different components, this dish simply screams "dig in!" And it is a glorious combination of sins - a fluffy mound of carbs swimming in a creamy gravy (which, for me, hits that perfect flavor trifecta of salty, sweet and spicy!) And of course, the crowning glory of that wonderfully charred foie. (And with any luck, I hope to give this dish one last go tonight!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, so if the ban is for real, I will maybe miss foie a little bit! Let's just hope next time I go to Vegas the servers won't give me weird looks for demanding a foie rice bowl or over biscuits & gravy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-6578512813280564952012-06-14T16:28:00.000-07:002012-06-14T16:34:27.856-07:00No. 218: Diamond Jubilee/Anniversary Afternoon Tea @ Langham Pasadena<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While afternoon teas are usually an indulgent affair, with the low-end ones running at approx. $20/person and the upscale affairs going close to $70, once a year there is a phenomenal promotion - the <b>Anniversary Afternoon Tea at Langham Pasadena </b>on June 10 - which they commemorate by offering their afternoon tea at its original price of 1 pence and 6 shillings (or, 15 U.S. cents -- yes, $0.15)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7372071426/" title="Lounge Area by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Lounge Area" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7076/7372071426_329b536e46.jpg" width="375" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alas, in past years I have missed out on this amazing deal because 1) June 10 fell on a weekday or 2) by the time I remembered about it, it has already been booked up. Not so in 2012, where it fortunately fell on a Sunday and... thanks to their PR and a last-minute cancellation of another table... I managed to wrangle a space for my friends and I.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7372060470/" title="Bubbly and Tea by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Bubbly and Tea" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/7372060470_523ca55709.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year's tea was made extra special because it also commemorates Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee, which meant a glass of bubbly to go with our teas. I can certainly toast to that! Long live the Queen!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7186826595/" title="Tea Sandwiches by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Tea Sandwiches" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7241/7186826595_387160c7d5.jpg" width="325" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And just because this tea set costs less than a buck doesn't mean it's any less decadent. Our tasty affair started with bite-sized, open-faced tea sandwiches with exquisite toppings such as smoked salmon profiterole with shallot-caper cream and caviar, and prosciutto with egg on peppercorn-potato bread. Though I think our favorite is the watercress-pesto marinated shrimp on herb-garlic bread.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7186819431/" title="Tea Sweets by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Tea Sweets" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7074/7186819431_2c0a910cba.jpg" width="375" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next came a plate of mini desserts, some finger-friendly and others not so much. Having had such intensely-flavored savory sandwiches earlier, I personally liked the more delicate and subtle sweets on this plate, such as the airy, bright raspberry macaron and the spongy almond financier - though I definitely appreciate the artistic qualities of their fancier sweets too, especially the cloverleaf designs on the milk chocolate citrus torte and the plump, gold leaf-topped berries on the lemon-raspberry tart.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7372067578/" title="Scones & Poundcake by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Scones & Poundcake" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7076/7372067578_29643b1670.jpg" width="325" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, no afternoon tea is complete without scones, and these came to us still warm from the oven with a wonderful flaky crust and an interior that's impeccably light without being too crumbly. They were sublime with the Devonshire cream & lemon custard, as well as their strawberry preserves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for the tea itself, I stuck with the Langham Blend throughout the afternoon, their signature blend of Assam, Darjeeling and Tippy Golden Orange Pekoe that made for a black tea that's smooth enough to drink on its own, but definitely better with a lump of sugar and a spot of milk. My friends did opt for their lighter Green Tea Passion[fruit] and Chamomile teas as the day went on, though.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7186823363/" title="Lounge by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Lounge" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5336/7186823363_bb60efe9af.jpg" width="350" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And like the afternoon teas we've had, time just slipped right by as we sipped, nibbled, relaxed and chatted away . . . has it been two and a half hours already? I guess all good things must come to an end . . . but not before we made a pact to do another tea in the near future, and try to come back again next year for this truly affordable luxury (even if it means taking that Monday off in 2013 . . . consider yourselves notified!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if you're feeling particularly posh and sweet-toothy, I'd also point you towards their <a href="http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com/2011/07/no-197-chocolate-afternoon-tea-langham.html">Sunday chocolate afternoon tea... with a dessert buffet!</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://Chocolate%20Afternoon%20Tea%20@%20langham%20pasadena%20%20%28sundays%20noon%20to%203%20p.m.%3B%20they%20also%20offer%20a%20traditional%20afternoon%20tea%20on%20thurs.%20-%20sat.%29%201401%20south%20oak%20knoll%20avenue%20%20pasadena%2C%20ca%2091106%20%28626%29%20585-6218%20%20twitter%20facebook/" style="color: #72179d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">Lobby Lounge @ Langham Pasadena </span></a><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue </span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Pasadena, CA 91106</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">(626) 585-6218 </span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><a href="http://twitter.com/LanghamPasadena" style="color: #72179d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Twitter</span></a><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/LanghamPasadena" style="color: #72179d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Facebook</span></a></span>
</div>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-39956990476065122152012-05-31T17:02:00.000-07:002012-05-31T17:24:51.542-07:00No. 217: Top 3 Bites from Semi-Recent Vegas Trip @ Bread and Butter, Carnevino and Cosmopolitan's Secret Pizza Spot<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, so it's been a short (alright, a LONG) while since I followed up on my <a href="http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com/2012/02/no-213-fave-vegas-watering-holes-vesper.html" target="_blank">fave Vegas drinks post</a> with the corresponding favorite eats -- but better late than never, and it's still just in time since my friends are starting to pester me about some great noshes for their summer excursions in Sin City (without the budget for a tasting @ <a href="http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-211-off-strip-in-vegas-alize.html">Alizé</a>.) So here's my quick roundup of some of my best bites on my last trip there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Vegetarian Sandwich at Bread & Butter</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6828338417/" title="Vegetarian Sandwich @ Bread and Butter by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Vegetarian Sandwich @ Bread and Butter" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6828338417_36ddb50655.jpg" width="375" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having already indulged in a little wicked crack-of-dawn drinking with <a href="http://twitter.com/olivejina" target="_blank">Ms. Choisauce</a> upon my arrival, I decided to be a little virtuous with my breakfast afterwards. Having read good things about this place from the Vegas media & bloggers, we swung by here for some comfort eats. While their breakfasty dishes sound great, what drew my eye is their vegetarian sandwich, with eggplants, zucchini and roasted pepper plus goat & Provolone cheeses in a grilled country roll spread with tomato sauce and basil pesto. I likened it to a 'ratatouille sandwich' and it was exactly what I needed after a cocktail fest at <a href="http://frankiestikiroom.com/" target="_blank">Frankie's</a> . . . just total warm vegetably comfort wrapped in a crusty carb envelope. Definitely worth the off-Strip excursion for (or at least pick up something to go on the drive back!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Pork Agnolotti at Carnevino </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6828340111/" title="Pork Agnolotti by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Pork Agnolotti" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6828340111_a3bc08b100.jpg" width="300" /></a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, it's a little unusual ordering just a primi-portion of pasta at a steakhouse, but I was nightclubbing afterwards and definitely did not want to feel weighed down (or worse) with a full-on meaty meal bouncing up and down in my stomach. Nonetheless, these hit the spot, the pasta was the perfect al dente texture, the braised pork filling just falls apart in the mouth, and it was the perfect flavor bridge between the earthy, savory wild mushrooms and the sweet butternut squash puree. Add <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6828340659/in/set-72157629196652517/" target="_blank">a glass of wine and their complimentary warm rosemary roll </a>with and voila! a heavenly light dinner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>White pizza with mushrooms & meatballs at the [Not-So] Secret Pizza Spot</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6828344009/" title="White Pizza w Meatballs and Mushrooms by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="White Pizza w Meatballs and Mushrooms" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6828344009_47a0db7153.jpg" width="350" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know, I'm not humming a new tune to this one--but the pizza here is one of the tastiest cheaper options on the Strip. Yes, a slice clocks in at around $5, but one was enough to satisfy my hunger and two left me beyond bloated. My friends and I tried several different kinds, and I personally liked the white pie a lot more than its red cousin. It's brushed with a slightly-garlicky oil and topped melty strands of mozzarella, gobs of creamy ricotta, and huge slices of flavorful sweet sausage and woodsy mushrooms (even though I would prefer my 'shrooms slightly more cooked.)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there's my top 3 from my last trip. And while I look forward to discovering more dishes and finding new favorites next time around (likely this summer as well,) but would have no qualms about revisiting these tasty bites.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.breadandbutterlv.com/" target="_blank">Bread & Butter</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10940 South Eastern Avenue </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Henderson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(702) 675-3300</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Bread_Butter_11" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/BreadandButterLV" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.carnevino.com/" target="_blank">Carnevino</a> [in Palazzo Hotel]</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3325 Las Vegas Blvd South,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Las Vegas</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(702) 789-4141</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/CARNEVINO" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Las-Vegas-NV/CARNEVINO-Italian-Steakhouse/96826347081" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Secret Pizza Place</b> [in <a href="http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/" target="_blank">The Cosmopolitan</a>, situated between Jaleo and Blue Ribbon on the restaurant floor]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Las Vegas, NV 89109</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(702) 698-7000</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Cosmopolitan_LV" target="_blank">Twitter</a> [for Cosmopolitan]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheCosmopolitan" target="_blank">Facebook</a> [for Cosmopolitan]</span><br />
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H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-49219146947122964952012-05-22T13:22:00.000-07:002012-05-23T12:37:41.416-07:00A few favorite warm-weather cocktails & bites<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that the rain is decidedly gone for good and the sun's coming out in full force, it's time for drinks and bites to get a summer-ready makeover too. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having sampled quite a bit of each all over town, these are some of my favorite sips and nibbles worth slapping some SPF and making a trip for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Drago Centro</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247696164/" title="Shotgun Wedding by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Shotgun Wedding" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8161/7247696164_d5a9cdc872.jpg" width="225" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In what I consider a bar's equivalent to breakfast-for-dinner, I loved Drago Centro's <b><i>Shotgun Wedding</i></b>, a breezy drink combining Laird's bonded apple brandy, prosecco, lemon, granny smith apples, maple sugar and a dash of baked apple bitters. Before you dismiss this as being too sugary-sweet based off the component list, I assure you it's not. The maple sugar balances out the potency of the apple brandy (which clocks in at 100 proof - yowza!) and if anything, this taste like mimosa's cheekier, apple-y cousin. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247694024/" title="Oysters by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Oysters" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7098/7247694024_2b24c94da3.jpg" width="325" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And to go with this effervescent beverage, an equally refreshing plate of <b><i>Crystal Point oysters with a cooling cucumber mignonette</i></b> (for a very reasonable $5, I might add.) Sip on the cocktail, slurp down an oyster, repeat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, my runner-up favorite cocktail @ Drago is the </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247725610/in/set-72157629844074614" target="new">Night and the City</a></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, made with Old Tom Gin, mushroom bitters, squid ink, habanero & heirloom tomato shrubs, black pepper and fresh horseradish. For me, it tasted like another brunchtime favorite - Bloody Mary - but considerably more complex and a lot more easy to drink (since it lacked the gloppy texture & overwhelmingly sourness of tomato juice.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Bar 1886</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247704344/" title="MacArthur Park Swizzle by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="MacArthur Park Swizzle" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7223/7247704344_507bef105b.jpg" width="225" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While my friend <a href="http://heyhey-scenesters.blogspot.com/2012/04/sound-bites-130-1886-bar-raymond.html" target="_blank">Conbon</a> is all over their bottled <b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247700814/in/set-72157629844074614" target="new">Rum Whistle</a> </b>(at a media tasting with <a href="http://gourmetpigs.blogspot.com/2012/04/candy-and-fire-spring-at-1886-bar.html" target="_blank">Gourmet Pigs</a>, we had a collective 4 bottles... on top of everything else we tried *ahem*), my personal favorite is the <i style="font-weight: bold;">MacArthur Park Swizzle</i>, a tropical-themed drink with a blend of rums, lime juice, allspice dram, freshly-grated nutmeg, their secret Tiki mix and plenty of crushed ice to keep it chilled. Even though 1886 is in Pasadena, smelling the sweet-spicy fragrance and sipping on this thirst-quenching cocktail instantly transports me to an island beach (with their patio fireplace as a luau pit.)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247698654/" title="Roasted Lamb Necks w Afghan Bread & Dips by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Roasted Lamb Necks w Afghan Bread & Dips" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7085/7247698654_efe0f15c08.jpg" width="350" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And in a slightly eccentric twist, the bite I loved there is the <i style="font-weight: bold;">Roasted Lamb Necks with Afghan</i>. Definitely unexpected given the Americana vibe of the Raymond Restaurant (where 1886's at,) though I will say its menu have recently been pushing the envelope (other globally-inspired dishes served at the bar include dim sum shrimp toast sandwich and grilled hamachi collar with shishito peppers.) The neck pieces are wonderfully seasoned (reminiscent of an Indian curry) and perfectly roasted, slightly charred and crispy on the outside and falling-off-the-bone tender within. The warm and soft bread was great with the accompanying condiments (my favorite is the harissa mayo.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Asia de Cuba*</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247731534/" title="Hemingway Thyme by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Hemingway Thyme" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7095/7247731534_a9335e4bc5.jpg" width="225" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here, I found their <b style="font-style: italic;">Hemingway Thyme </b>disarmingly delicious. There's not much to say--it's a well-done classic with a simple twist, DonQ aged rum with cane syrup, maraschino liqueur and lime juice topped with thyme foam and sprig. I'm just surprised at how this savory herb added another layer of complexity and elevated the drink.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247749990/" title="Scallop & Dragonfruit Tataki by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Scallop & Dragonfruit Tataki" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7221/7247749990_fe80570966.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Foodwise, my pick is their <b><i>scallop tataki with dragon fruit</i></b>. Each scallop is barely seared and then sliced in half into two discs, letting you feel both the caramelized-crispy side and the creamy raw side upon the first bite. The gelatinous, slightly-sweet dragonfruit slices worked well as a foil, and both were dressed in a sauce of aged rum, soy and ginger and topped with finger lime caviar, which nicely complemented the fruit and scallops without overpowering them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(FYI, for the indecisive, I also love their </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247741054/in/photostream/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">ceviche trio</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">--which lets you mix & match assorted seafood ceviches.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Umamicatessen</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247712144/" title="9th & Broad by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="9th & Broad" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7247712144_19bfe2d4c3.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just because summer's around doesn't mean there's no room for spirit-forward cocktails, and Umamicatessen's <b><i>9th and Broad</i> </b>proved just that, a Manhattan variation with apricot liqueur in addition to Woodford Reserve bourbon, Carpano Antica vermouth and Sailor Jerry's decanter bitters. It was incredibly smooth and only has a hint of stone fruit aroma, but it's enough to lighten up this cocktail meant for chillier times (I had this for a weekend lunch, when the temperature was in the 90s!)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247707080/" title="Smushed Potatoes by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Smushed Potatoes" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7247707080_479e94422e.jpg" width="350" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as much as I'd like to recommend their <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247709186/in/set-72157629844074614" target="_blank">Calbi burger</a>, with the patty drenched in that sweet-spicy-soy Korean BBQ marinade and topped with crispy onion strings, it was a special of the day burger and I have no idea if it'll resurface anytime soon. But l also enjoyed their <b style="font-style: italic;">Smushed Potatoes</b>, with Dutch Yellow Creamer potatoes barely smashed then twice fried before being plated over a smear of aioli. I love how the twice-fried skin has almost the crispness of a potato chip, quickly yielding the fluffy starchy interior (which goes great with the aioli, tasting almost like a standard baked potato.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Zengo*</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247759344/" title="Lemongrass-Lychee Mojito by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Lemongrass-Lychee Mojito" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7239/7247759344_74de016449.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From their <a href="http://www.richardsandoval.com/zengosm/menus/zengosm_hanoi-havana_201204.pdf" target="_blank">Hanoi-Havana Test Kitchen menu</a> (which runs through the end of June), I found their <i style="font-weight: bold;">Lemongrass-Lychee Mojito</i><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>to be a real treat. Like the Hemingway Thyme, it's a straightforward twist off a standard drink, but it's very well executed. I am surprised at how the lychee and lemongrass flavors stood out, but at the same time they harmonized well with the mint & lime notes. And, no surprise here, it was incredibly refreshing and pretty much quaff-able.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247764072/" title="Lemongrass Arroz con Pollo by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Lemongrass Arroz con Pollo" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7247764072_afc90df46d.jpg" width="325" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Foodwise, I love their <i style="font-weight: bold;">Lemongrass Arroz Con Pollo</i>. A wonderful testament to their fusion of Cuban and Vietnamese cuisine, I simply loved the combination of tastes and smells here - from the lemongrass-flavored chicken (surprisingly succulent and tender for breast meat, too!) to the mango salsa to the coconut-scented rice. The result is a wonderful balance of contrasts, being fresh and light, yet very indulgent at the same time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Hungry Cat</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247681330/" title="4 on the Floor by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="4 on the Floor" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/7247681330_bdf632e9bf.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A longtime favorite for seafood and beverages (I still remember my <a href="http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com/2009/06/special-foodventure-125-hungry-cat.html" target="_blank">crab fest carnage</a> there a few years ago,) and while I love their seasonal-produce-driven cocktail program -- the <i style="font-weight: bold;">4 on the Floor</i> is worthy of trying too. Another Manhattan spin (see at trend here?) with Buffalo Trace Bourbon and Pig's Nose Scotch, Carpano Antica and Maraska Maraschino (<a href="http://ohgo.sh/archive/maraschino-comparison/" target="_blank">currently Luxardo's lesser known rival.</a>) It's wonderfully balanced (a little oak, a little smoke, a little fruit equals a lot of fun for the nose & tastebuds) and incredibly smooth.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247768348/" title="Shrimp, Scallop, Calamari Ceviche by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Shrimp, Scallop, Calamari Ceviche" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7247768348_b48474afae.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, it's practically sacrilege not to order seafood here; so I opted for something from their constantly changing raw bar menu. This time, it's a <i style="font-weight: bold;">shrimp, scallop and calamari ceviche</i> with green garlic, fried tofu, yuzu, wasabi and sesame crisps. Whereas the cocktail is a subtle blending of smells and tastes, where you can't quite tell where one ends and the other begins, this ceviche is a fiesta of flavors. All the components asserted their individuality (the varying firmness of the "cooked" seafood and fried tofu, the pungence of the garlic, brightness of the yuzu, etc.) but made for fun combos as mixed and matched the different items with each bite, barely tied together with the vibrant ceviche juices.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Rivera</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247718934/" title="Barbacoa by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Barbacoa" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8159/7247718934_c26701049c.jpg" width="275" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bringing my roundup full circle, while I loved this restaurant's <a href="http://riverarestaurant.com/pub/docs/Cocktail_menu.pdf" target="_blank">assorted seasonal concoctions</a>, I fell back on an longtime favorite, the <i style="font-weight: bold;">Barbacoa</i>. This has been around for as long as the restaurant's been opened, and smoky-spicy combo of chipotle, ginger and mezcal never fails to dazzle my tastebuds. As an added perk, it still comes with slice of beef jerky to chew on.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247714880/" title="Viera Arabesque by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Viera Arabesque" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7229/7247714880_6a6a9d77b5.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But if you want a more substantial bite, go with the <b><i>Viera Arabesque</i></b>, a scallop dish that exemplifies the Moorish & North African influences in Spanish cuisine. Perfectly seared scallops are dressed in salty-sour preserved lemon, atop a bed of luscious eggplant, with stenciled dusting of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ras_el_hanout" target="_blank">Ras el hanout</a> to give the dish as much spicy-fragrant kick as you'd like.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or, if feel a bit splurgier (as Conbon, </span><a href="http://www.jennio.net/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Jennio</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and I were feeling that day), spring for their </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7247723064/in/set-72157629844074614/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Jamon Iberico de Bellota Pata Negra</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>*Note: Asia de Cuba & Zengo tastings were based off hosted media events. I've also tasted 1886's drinks & foods at a hosted event, but have subsequently re-tried them on my own.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.dragocentro.com/" target="new">Drago Centro</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">525 South Flower Street </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Los Angeles, CA 90071</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(213) 228-8998</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/dragocentro" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/dragocentro" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Bar 1886 (@ <a href="http://www.theraymond.com/" target="_blank">Raymond Restaurant</a>)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1250 South Fair Oaks Avenue</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pasadena, CA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(626) 441-3136</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/1886bar" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/1886-Bar-at-The-Raymond/135476269877370" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.chinagrillmgt.com/restaurants-and-bars/asia-de-cuba-mondrian-la" target="_blank">Asia de Cuba (@ Mondrian LA)</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8440 Sunset Blvd.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">West Hollywood, CA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(323) 848-600</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/asiadecubala" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/AsiadeCubaLA" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.umami.com/umamicatessen/" target="_blank">Umamicatessen</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">852 S. Broadway</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Los Angeles, CA 90014</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(213) 413-8626</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/umamiburger" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Umamicatessen" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.richardsandoval.com/zengosm/index.php" target="_blank">Zengo</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">395 Santa Monica Place </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Santa Monica, CA 90401</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(310) 899-1000</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ZengoSM" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ZengoSantaMonica" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thehungrycat.com/" target="_blank">The Hungry Cat</a></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1535 Vine St</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Los Angeles, CA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(323) 462-2155</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/thehungrycat" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hungry-Cat/150248568362679" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.riverarestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Rivera</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1050 S. Flower St #102 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Los Angeles, Ca </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(213) 749-1460</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/riveradtla" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/RiveraDTLA" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-1360631828408204612012-04-19T09:35:00.000-07:002012-04-19T09:57:21.444-07:00No. 216: Foodventuring in Torrance<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past Sunday I was invited to check out the new brunch menu @ <b>Lazy Dog Café</b>. Since it's all the way out in Torrance, I decided to make a daytrip out of it and check out a few to-try spots (and revisit some longtime favorites) in one fell swoop.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6938168656/" title="Lazy Dog Cafe by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Lazy Dog Cafe" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7056/6938168656_ff405295ec.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To start the day right, I brunched with <a href="http://gourmetpigs.blogspot.com/">Gourmet Pigs</a>, <a href="http://dianatakesabite.blogspot.com/">Diana Takes a Bite</a> & <a href="http://twitter.com/gilmoureats">Gilmour Eats</a> at Lazy Dog, a Southern California mini-chain with a contemporary American menu that has a few ethnic touches here and there (there was a whole section for wok'd entrees, and the brunch menu featured a Hawaiian Fried Rice & Chimichangas.)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7086087519/" title="Slice of Sunny Side Up Pizza by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Slice of Sunny Side Up Pizza" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/7086087519_8421759718.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though we were supposed to try the new items, the thing that caught my eye the most was the <b><i>Sunny Side Up Pizza</i></b>, so that's what I ordered. And I'm thankful for it -- I liked the best out of the four brunch items I tried (ok, five if you count the sweet potato tater tots with roasted chili aioli -- also delicious!) The crust was crispy yet substantial, topped with just the right amount of garlicky oil, stretchy-gooey cheeses, sundried tomato, bacon and still-runny eggs (and I daresay a vegetarian can get just as much pleasure omitting the bacon portion of this pie.) And one pizza proves worthy enough for two meals, I wound up doggy-bagging half of it!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7084277887/" title="Lazy Dog Beer Sampler by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Lazy Dog Beer Sampler" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5116/7084277887_1ab0b23ff0.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also impressive is the Lazy Dog line of beers, most of which are brewed by <a href="http://www.firestonebeer.com/" target="_blank">Firestone Walker</a> Company. Fiona and I shared their sampler of six, and I personally loved their red beer the best (so much that I got another taster glass of it!) If beer isn't your thing, other worthwhile brunchy drinks include their sangria trio, bacon bloody mary & of course, mimosas!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though we had brunchy desserts in the form of blueberry pancakes with maple-bacon butter, Fiona and I couldn't resist the opportunity to visit <b>Patisserie Chantilly </b>-- one of our favorite bakeries specializing in Japanese-French pastries (generally more delicate in texture, less sweet, and often with East Asian flavor influences -- think green tea mousse cakes and black sesame cream puffs.) Of course, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7086110931/in/photostream" target="_blank">don't do what I did</a> and take a photo of the beautiful pastry case, turns out it wasn't allowed and I got scolded for it--you can check out their pretty creations @ their <a href="http://www.patisseriechantilly.com/gallery.htm" target="_blank">web gallery</a>.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7084305331/" title="Patisserie Chantilly Desserts by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Patisserie Chantilly Desserts" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7109/7084305331_590263d4a8.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We opted to share a trio of sweets, the <b><i>Goma Blanc Manger</i></b> (a fancy sounding sesame dessert that I cheapened by saying it had the texture of panna cotta or sweet silken tofu, but tasty nonetheless), the <b><i>Chantilly Fromager</i></b> (a less-dense, less-sweet cheesecake) and the <b><i>Othello</i></b> (basically a dark & white chocolate mousse cake with a layer of sesame paste... and our favorite of the 3.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have filled up on brunch & dessert carbs, I decided put those calories to good use with a picturesque hike in the <a href="http://www.pvplc.org/_lands/trails.asp" target="_blank">Palos Verdes Nature Preserve</a>--having heard that they have some beautiful trails and that it leads you straight to the coastline...</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6940021290/" title="Palos Verdes Hike by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Palos Verdes Hike" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/6940021290_75f2f82477.jpg" width="375" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...and it did indeed made for a gorgeous stroll, even if I got myself a little lost on all those forked trails -- turning an intended two hour excursion into a three-and-a-half hour affair.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Parched and possibly overheated, I opted to cool down at <b>1321 Downtown Taproom Bistro</b> in - big surprise - Downtown Torrance. And lucky for me that I made it in time for their happy hour (4-7p daily), with most beers on tap for $2 off the usual price and about a dozen starter dishes that are discounted too.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7084273425/" title="1321 Taproom by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="1321 Taproom" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5457/7084273425_6d2809befa.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I'm in the South Bay, I paid a little geographical homage with <b><i><a href="http://www.strandbrewing.com/thebeer.html" target="_blank">Strand's Beach House Ale</a></i></b>, a slightly hoppy amber that's plenty refreshing. To help wash that down, I tried their <b><i>Downtown Meatballs</i></b>, a fluffy and flavorful veal-pork blend that's served with some zesty Creole mustard, peppery arugula and Asiago shavings. A nice substantial, but not too heavy, bite to go with the beer. And for good hydration & caffeine measure, I followed up with a goblet of <a href="http://www.bootleggersbrewery.com/index.php/Our-Beers/" target="_blank"><b><i>Bootlegger's</i></b> <b><i>Black Phoenix</i></b></a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For my final stop of the night, I opted for another longtime Torrance treasure:<b> Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden</b> in the Rolling Hills Plaza, well-known for their premium soba and udon noodles and above-average tempura.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6946763694/" title="Ichimi Ann combo by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Ichimi Ann combo" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/6946763694_6571984096.jpg" width="375" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it's little surprise that I got the<b><i> zaru soba & tempuradon combo</i></b>. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it was as sublimely delicious as I remembered.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6938218684/" title="Zaru Soba @ Ichimi Ann by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Zaru Soba @ Ichimi Ann" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/6938218684_d398819bd0.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the toothsome, slightly nutty flavored noodles, mildly accented with green onions, fresh wasabi and a soy/dashi-based dipping sauce.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6946760530/" title="Tempuradon by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Tempuradon" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7277/6946760530_5ff72bb56b.jpg" width="375" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the impeccably light and crispy tempura dressed with a drizzle of delicate teriyaki sauce.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6938211970/" title="Rice in Soba Broth @ Ichimi Ann by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Rice in Soba Broth @ Ichimi Ann" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5445/6938211970_4d4552bb2f.jpg" width="375" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finishing up by turning the remaining leftover rice into a porridge with the water that the soba's been cooked in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that wrapped up for a day & early evening well spent (and well fed) -- though it left me wondering why I don't come to Torrance more frequently. As it stands, I already can't wait to return to this area and check out more spots, as well as giving another go-around for all of the above.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.lazydogcafe.com/" target="_blank">Lazy Dog Café</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3525 West Carson St.<br />
Torrance, CA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">310.921.6080</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/thelazydogcafe" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/LazyDogCafe" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.patisseriechantilly.com/" target="_blank">Patisserie Chantilly</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2383 Lomita Blvd.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lomita, CA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Patisserie-Chantilly/155099157474" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1321 Downtown Taproom Bistro</b> (<a href="http://www.1321downtown.com/" target="_blank">site oddly defunct at the moment</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1321 Sartori Ave.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Torrance, CA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">310.618.1321</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/1321Downtown" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.ichimiann.com/" target="_blank">Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2537 Pacific Coast Hwy #A</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Torrance, CA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">310.784.0551</span></div>
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</span></div>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-59246121427214663392012-04-04T16:24:00.004-07:002012-04-04T22:50:51.414-07:00Dr Chocolate w Vosges, Trader Joe's and TAPS<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Spring may be here, but that doesn't mean I'm not making my regular Dr. Chocolate appointments. Here's a recent few that I've eaten (and one case, drank!)</span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/product/Banana-Victoria-Exotic-Candy-Bar/all_candy_bars" target="_blank">Vosges' Banana Victoria Bar</a></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.vosgeschocolate.com/images/uploads/618_2110_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://cdn.vosgeschocolate.com/images/uploads/618_2110_large.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><div><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of Session: </b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">$6.99 for a 3 ounce bar</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Physician Marketing: </b>"Grenadian nutmeg is freshly grated into dark chocolate before roasted walnuts and dried organic bananas from the big island of Hawaii are combined to create the Banana Victoria Bar. The flavors are reminiscent of <i>pain d'epices</i>, a French spice bread often served at the holidays. But, you will likely become so enchanted at first bite, you will be indulging in this bar year round."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Patient's Notes:</b> An evolved version of their (now discontinued) <a href="http://www.boogaj.com/chocolate_blog/2008/12/vosges-habana-bar.html" target="_blank">Organic Habana bar</a>, I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor & aroma of this one - a nuanced mix of banana bread and gingerbread - against a backdrop of smooth, rich dark chocolate and the occasional pieces of nuts and bananas. The predecessor's flavor profile (chocolate with plantains) was enjoyable, but the nutmeg & walnuts definitely kicked it up a notch.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My only gripe is that the banana pieces has a tendency to become taffy-like and stick to your teeth if you just let the chocolate melt on your tongue. And picking through my teeth for stray sticky bits isn't exactly something I want to do during my session.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Likelihood of Rebooking An Appointment:</b> 8/10, the flavor is lovely but it's a bit of a hassle to deal with the banana pieces; there are other Vosges' bars that I enjoy more without the mess factor.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Powerberries</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/talllguy/6666909817/" title="Trader Joes Powerberries by Elliott P, on Flickr"><img alt="Trader Joes Powerberries" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7035/6666909817_8c1a280b28.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Photo credit to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/talllguy/" target="_blank">Elliot Plack</a></i></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Cost of Session: </b>$3.49 for 8 oz. bag</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Physician Marketing: </b>"Our dark chocolate covered powerberries start with centers of real fruit juice. Pieces made from the juices of acai, pomegranate, cranberry and blueberry, all known for their nautural powerhouse antioxidants and other nutrients. They are then enveloped in smooth dark chocolate, creating a flavorful confection that is sweet, tart and rich taste sensation all at once."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Patient Notes:</b> Great for everyday appointments, they are not-too-sweet with juicy centers (reminded me of Gushers, but way less cloyingly syrupy.) And with all those berries wrapped up in the mix, I can almost feel less guilty indulging in these bite-sized morsels. Until being brought back to reality with their nutrition facts labels (180 calories for a handful.)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh yeah, it's also best to just chew into these choco-berry bits - it was a tad bit waxy when I tried to let it melt in my mouth.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Likelihood of Rebooking an Appointment:</b> 9/10, yes - it has an overhyped 'health halo' but they're not that pricey and tasty overall.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.tapsfishhouse.com/" target="_blank">TAPS Mocha Stout</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6867162121/" title="Mocha Stout @ TAPS Brea by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Mocha Stout @ TAPS Brea" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7192/6867162121_ce79f32a04.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Cost of Session: </b>Went during <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6867160125/in/set-72157629295693107/" target="_blank">their happy hour</a>, so $4 for a 10-12oz. glass (looks like a tulip-flute hybrid)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Physician Marketing: </b>"An Oatmeal Stout brewed with lactose (milk sugar), oats, three different types of chocolate added at three different stages of the brewing process, and a custom blend of Brazilian and Nicaraguan coffees from Costa Mesa's <a href="http://portolacoffeelab.com/" target="_blank">Portola Coffee Lab</a>. Medium-bodied, roasty and chocolatey, finishing very smooth. (6.8% ABV)"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Patient Notes:</b> Every now and again, I can go for a drinkable session -- and the Mocha Stout definitely fits that bill of getting me buzzed in more ways than one. This brew was a wonderful balance of contradictions, infused with deep chocolate and coffee flavors without being bitter at all, and a texture that tastes smooth and rich without being particularly hefty or heavy. And from taste alone I wouldn't have guessed it was almost 7% ABV, making this a dangerous appointment indeed.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Likelihood of Rebooking an Appointment: </b>10/10, pretty much a must-order anytime I see it offered on a beer menu or when I'm near either TAPS location. Especially since it's a limited-edition brew that's going to be around for only a few more weeks (and one I really hope they'll bring back again!)</span></div>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-85435704546566941562012-03-22T17:02:00.001-07:002012-03-22T17:02:37.815-07:00No. 215: Foodventurous Travels - San Diego Daytrip<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6832348596/" title="Parrots by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Parrots" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/6832348596_2c9db0f264.jpg" width="375" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">My friends and I went on one of those 'just because' daytrips to San Diego earlier this month, and while we didn't check out anything new foodwise, it was pleasant to re-visit some of my favorite spots. Moreso given the unexpectedly sunny-yet-breezy weather down there.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6832342814/" title="Cinnamon Roll @ Urban Solace by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinnamon Roll @ Urban Solace" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6832342814_79cdffa7b6.jpg" width="375" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: arial;">We started off with a brunch at <b>Urban Solace</b>, a North Park restaurant serving up contemporary American fare with a few eclectic twists. For the table, we shared the <b>buttermilk cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting and pecan butter sauce</b>. While decadent, I'm surprised that this roll doesn't taste particularly heavy. The butter pecan sauce wasn't too sweet, and the frosting was whipped to an almost cloud-like frothiness.</div><div style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6832344336/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Salad @ Urban Solace by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Salad @ Urban Solace" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7069/6832344336_27772f23dd.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>And even though I didn't feel particularly guilty from sharing that cinnamon roll, I opted for a light brunch entree, an <b>arugula/endive/radicchio salad with avocado, grapefruit, hazelnuts, goat cheese and roasted garlic vinaigrette with some grilled shrimp</b>. And overall, a very enjoyable salad that maintained an incredible of balance of flavors and a fun mix of textures from all those components, and the garlic vinaigrette wasn't overpowering at all; in fact, there were only wisps and tinges of its pungency.</div><div style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6978468701/" title="The Big Apple @ Urban Solace by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="The Big Apple @ Urban Solace" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7192/6978468701_dea87cd3ca.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="font-family: arial;">Perhaps more impressive are their cocktails. I had the pleasure of trying <b>The Big Apple</b> with <a href="http://www.leopoldbros.com/New_York_Apple_Whiskey.html" target="_blank">Leopold Brothers' NY Apple Whiskey,</a> Campari, Apple Cider, Lemon and Bitters. It might look almost too sweet and fruity on the menu, but it's definitely not - the Campari's herbal bitterness definitely tempered the other ingredients, and the cider is more about the bubbles than sugar, making this a delightful daytime sipper.</div><div style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6978479967/" title="Balboa Park by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Balboa Park" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6978479967_ea91be80da.jpg" width="375" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: arial;">Following brunch, we took advantage of the lovely day to trek in and around Balboa Park, starting off at the <a href="http://www.mopa.org/" target="_blank">Museum of Photographic Arts</a> -- a cozy, intimate space with a few carefully-curated collections, though I was amused at the irony of them forbidding any photo-taking inside.</div><div style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6832379670/" title="Organ Pavilion Concert by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Organ Pavilion Concert" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7201/6832379670_1b7ae3fec3.jpg" width="375" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: arial;">This was followed by a leisurely stroll through the El Prado, a brief pause at the <a href="http://sosorgan.com/" target="_blank">Spreckels Organ Pavilion</a> for a free concert and finally, <a href="http://www.sdhpr.org/" target="_blank">The House of Pacific Relations' International Cottages</a> where there was a pre-St. Paddy's Day music & dance festival from the House of Ireland (along with a slew of other exhibits, performances and food/drink samples from the other houses.)</div><div style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6832361074/" title="Lost Abbey Tasting Room by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Lost Abbey Tasting Room" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7201/6832361074_131a2faee4.jpg" width="375" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: arial;">After the trot about the park, we decided it was high time to check out a brewery, and opted for the <b>Lost Abbey</b>, where we tasted a few of their eclectic, Belgian-inspired brews (along with some California-esque beers from its more mainstream sibling, Port Brewing.) </div><div style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6978509019/" title="Beers @ Lost Abbey by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Beers @ Lost Abbey" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6978509019_99fe575999.jpg" width="225" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: arial;">Before leaving, I wanted to snap up a bottle for their <a href="http://www.lostabbey.com/lost-abbey-beers/seasonal-beers/carnevale/" target="_blank">Carnevale</a> (my current fave of their line,) but that ran out so I opted for the peppery, spicy <a href="http://www.lostabbey.com/lost-abbey-beers/year-round-beers/red-barn-ale/" target="_blank">Red Barn Ale</a> instead.</div><div style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6978497581/" title="Cocktails @ Craft & Commerce by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Cocktails @ Craft & Commerce" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7207/6978497581_b3dd050b3d.jpg" width="250" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: arial;">With the sun slowly sinking below the horizon, we dove back down to San Diego proper to dine at <b>Craft & Commerce</b>, a fairly new restaurant & bar that does beers & cocktails (and of course, beer cocktails) pretty well. Having had our fill of brewskis already from Lost Abbey, we opted mostly for the latter, though I simply couldn't resist Curieux's siren call and got the <b>Up in Smoke </b>(nearest one in photo above,) where the Jim Beam-aged beer is mixed with Islay Scotch, fuji apples and lime, and the peaty smokiness was a much welcome addition to the fruity & oaky notes. Equally delicious was <a href="http://heyhey-scenesters.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">conbon</a>'s <b>Lay Lady Lay</b> (farthest one in above photo) with Raspberry Lambic, Champagne and Ginger -- surprisingly not too sweet and the ginger's spiciness definitely amplified the fizzy fun.</div><div style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6978499733/" title="Salad @ Craft & Commerce by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Salad @ Craft & Commerce" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7209/6978499733_a205435737.jpg" width="375" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: arial;">Still not quite out of my salad craze, I got the citrus & avocado salad with fried goat cheese, marcona almonds, jicama and citrus vinaigrette. The dressing was sweeter than the one @ Urban Solace, but again, this was a fun fiesta of different flavors & textures. I particularly love how the small spheres of goat cheese croquettes lent a slight decadence to this dish.</div><div style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6832370508/" title="Broiled Oysters @ Craft & Commerce by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Broiled Oysters @ Craft & Commerce" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6832370508_9526f2aeb6.jpg" width="375" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: arial;">While we wanted to try their roasted marrow; that went out so we opted for the <b>broiled oysters </b>that wound up being sensational; the meat was succulent, velvety and briny and I loved the crisped up seaweed topping on it.</div><div style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial;">All in all, it was time & money well spent . . . and I can't wait to dive down again another day trip of eats, drinks and adventures.</div><div style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/sets/72157629210146680/" target="_blank">More photos from flickr set here.</a></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial;"><b><a href="http://www.urbansolace.net/" target="_blank">Urban Solace</a></b></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">3823 30th Street </span></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">San Diego, CA 92104</span><br />
<nobr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">(619) 295-6464</nobr></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/urbansolace" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Diego-CA/Urban-Solace-Restaurant/32371883420" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><nobr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</nobr></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><nobr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><b><a href="http://www.lostabbey.com/" target="_blank">Lost Abbey </a></b></nobr></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><nobr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><span style="white-space: normal;">155 Mata Way #104 </span></nobr></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><nobr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><span style="white-space: normal;">San Marcos, CA 92069</span></nobr><nobr style="line-height: 16px;">(800) 918-6816</nobr></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#search?q=%40lostabbey" target="_blank"><nobr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"></nobr><nobr style="line-height: 16px;">Twitter</nobr></a></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/port.lostabbey" target="_blank"><nobr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"></nobr><nobr style="line-height: 16px;">Facebook</nobr></a></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><nobr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"></nobr><nobr style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</nobr></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px; white-space: nowrap;"><b><a href="http://www.craft-commerce.com/" target="_blank">Craft & Commerce</a></b></span></span></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">675 W. Beech St. </span></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">San Diego, CA 92101</span></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">(619) 269-2202</span></div>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-655928959065712242012-03-21T14:56:00.001-07:002012-03-21T15:03:18.802-07:00St. Patrick's Brunching . . .<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week I posted a sneak peek of the cocktail I'm serving for a St. Patrick's brunch with friends, so I figure I might as well blog about the brunch I whipped up for the occasion too.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6854309220/" title="Starter Bites & Sips by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Starter Bites & Sips" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7137/6854309220_4a01f8af43.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Along with the <a href="http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com/2012/03/recipe-31-irish-italian-american.html" target="_blank">Irish-Italian-American</a>, I also had bottles of <a href="https://www.georgekillians.com/" target="_blank">Killian's Irish Red Ale</a> & <a href="http://www.guinness.com/en-us/thebeer-es.html" target="_blank">Guinness Extra Stout</a> on the ready. And to give the on-time guests something to nibble on while waiting for latecomers, I bought a loaf of Irish soda bread (which apparently has its <a href="http://www.sodabread.info/" target="_blank">own preservation society</a>) and some <a href="http://www.kerrygold.com/products/pure-irish-butter-softer-tub" target="_blank">Kerrygold tub butter</a>. Normally I don't keep salted butter around the house, but the salted, creamy Irish butter worked well with the dense, sweet & raisiny bread (and it didn't hurt that Fresh & Easy was having a buy one, get one free promotion either.)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Along with the bread, I also put out some "crunchy greens" of pistachios and wasabi peas.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6854308956/" title="Emerald Isle Salad by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Emerald Isle Salad" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7215/6854308956_796d83e890.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After everyone arrived, I started tossing my <b>Emerald Isle Salad</b>. Like the "crunchy greens", its homage to Ireland is in name only, being a hodgepodge of different greenish ingredients (spinach, butter lettuce, scallions and pistachio with a wasabi-lime dressing [recipe below]) I originally wanted to throw in some avocados too, but found out the ones I had on hand weren't quite ripe enough yet. Nonetheless, it was tasty and sophisticated at the same time with a myriad of different flavors and textures building upon each other, binded with a dressing that's delightfully tart, a little sweet with just a tinge of sinus-opening pungency from the wasabi and mustard.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6854308536/" title="Irish Beef Stew by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Irish Beef Stew" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6102/6854308536_f3a4a5050f.jpg" width="190" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6854308712/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Roasted Potatoes by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Roasted Potatoes" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6120/6854308712_348ef9f1b7.jpg" width="190" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the main course, an <b>Irish Beef Stew</b> (originally intended to be a lamb stew, before I discovered that my local markets sold out of the stewing cuts of lamb...) and, a slightly truer homage to Ireland, <b>Roasted Garlic-Rosemary Potatoes</b>. The stew recipe is pretty basic and super easy... I simply browned two pounds of beef with a little salt and pepper, then tossed that in with bite-sized pieces of celery, scallions and carrots. Then I added a cup of broth and some herbs (rosemary, thyme and oregano) and let it simmer overnight in a slow cooker on the low setting. Lastly, a sprinkle of curly parsley & scallions for a little color and fresh flavor right before serving.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the taters, I pretty much followed <a href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/10853-rosemary-and-garlic-roasted-potatoes" target="_blank">this CHOW recipe</a> with just a few minor tweaks and had fantastic results (crispy, well-seasoned exterior and fluffy starchiness within.) And since both came out piping hot, it was a much appreciated entreé for my friends who drove through the cold & rain for the occasion.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/7000429075/" title="Beer Float by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Beer Float" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6216/7000429075_f2c963b2c8.jpg" width="275" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Originally I intended to make some Irish Whiskey truffles for dessert but the ganache didn't quite set in time so I went for a quick sweet fix, <b>Guinness Stout Floats</b>. And one seemed to mind, if the empty goblets afterwards were any indication.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there you have it, a St. Patrick's Day brunch that provided lots of comfort, yet thrown with little effort -- in tune with <a href="http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/getting-party-started.html" target="_blank">my party hosting style</a>. I'm glad to squeeze one final use out of that slow cooker before the warmer days of Spring return, and I definitely plan on remaking that dressing for future salad </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lime-Wasabi Dressing </b>(simply combine and whisk away!)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 oz. extra virgin olive oil</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 oz. rice vinegar</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">juice & zest of 1 lime (preferably organic, since the skin is used)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon green wasabi powder (alternatively, 2 teaspoons wasabi paste)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon Dijon mustard</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon brown sugar</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a few dashes of freshly-cracked pepper</span></div>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-72585860020572209302012-03-16T20:33:00.005-07:002012-03-16T20:50:00.655-07:00Recipe 31: Irish-Italian-American<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I know, I know... tomorrow green beers and Irish car bombs will be all the rage for St. Patrick's, but instead of a drink that's (artificially) green to the point of frightening or <a href="http://laist.com/2012/03/14/cocktails_cupcake_terrorists_real_i.php" target="_blank">one that's as crazy un-PC as hell</a>, why not celebrate it with a little class? You can go easy-but-chic (and brunch friendly) with a Guinness <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/drink/views/Black-Velvet-102768" target="_blank">Black Velvet</a>, or in my case, the<b> Irish-Italian-American</b> . . . a Manhattan twist utilizing ingredients from the three distinct-yet-intertwined cultures and traditions.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0LLrsVHP0sZMDnk3Wd1FEbkccmw-lhCPkXsVxPsxUZI97nuwhfM8POXa9eS0WWXzLUfMoGZ-YJkARxlxLo9utnvkPTqcADtbDa0iP7_RZEM68pD5OkhyphenhyphenE3HM4H-Stc05_ciJuw/s1600/IIA+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0LLrsVHP0sZMDnk3Wd1FEbkccmw-lhCPkXsVxPsxUZI97nuwhfM8POXa9eS0WWXzLUfMoGZ-YJkARxlxLo9utnvkPTqcADtbDa0iP7_RZEM68pD5OkhyphenhyphenE3HM4H-Stc05_ciJuw/s320/IIA+1.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of course, since it *is* St. Paddy's -- feel free to have a little fun and name this drink after your favorite Irish-Italian-American (here's the few I <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/LAOCfoodie/status/180863374186381312" target="_blank">recalled & tweeted</a> from the top of my head)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ingredients:</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2 oz Irish Whiskey (Jameson or Bushmills would be fine, but I opted for <a href="http://www.johnlwhiskey.com/thewhiskey.php" target="_blank">John L. Sullivan </a>since I found out that it's aged in Bourbon barrels, whimsically taking the Irish-American theme another level... and the bottle looked pretty awesome too!)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 oz Italian Vermouth (<a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2007/07/punt-mes.html" target="_blank">Punt E Mes</a> for me, since it's a nice balance of sweet & bitter with a real nice herbacious depth)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2 dashes <a href="http://spiritsreview.com/reviews-bitters-regans-orange.html" target="_blank">Gary Regan's Orange Bitters</a> (though<a href="http://www.spiritsreview.com/reviews-bitters-peychauds.html" target="_blank"> Peychaud's</a> would fit the American theme too)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 ripe strawberry (A Luxardo or brandied cherry would work fine too if you want to keep it classic, but I loved how the sweet scent of the strawberry eases out the spicy edge of this drink... and gives you something light & refreshing to nibble on afterwards)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Directions:</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. Chill the cocktail glass, preferably with ice water.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. Combine the whiskey and vermouth in a mixing glass, add a few ice cubes (the larger the better to minimize dilution) and stir gently for about 10 seconds</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Strain into cocktail glass and add 2 dashes of bitters</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. Garnish with strawberry and enjoy! </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGR0FKvMLjJEo2kh8T0_VOf00_MDRgPIsTWyldSAhacdjW6OsL25lbLLnUa1el8QeS71Jfb-dszOOPwzRSOPH3XTcZd2oSNr1z1S6NiyN0x9jAyG6o7bT4BnDNVvZcEN6TgaBe8g/s1600/IIA+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGR0FKvMLjJEo2kh8T0_VOf00_MDRgPIsTWyldSAhacdjW6OsL25lbLLnUa1el8QeS71Jfb-dszOOPwzRSOPH3XTcZd2oSNr1z1S6NiyN0x9jAyG6o7bT4BnDNVvZcEN6TgaBe8g/s320/IIA+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-30682021904011914662012-03-05T15:00:00.006-08:002012-03-05T16:48:25.828-08:00No. 214: Lamb Burger-ing Across LA<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I might not be able to handle </span><a href="http://www.laweekly.com/2011-02-24/eat-drink/30-burgers-in-30-days/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">30 hamburgers for 30 days straight</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> or even cope with </span><a href="http://www.foodgps.com/lamb-showdown-walter-manzke-zach-pollack-steve-samson/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">six courses of lamb in one sitting</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, but over the past few months I've had a dalliance, possibly an infatuation, with lamb burgers. Compared to its way more common beef patties, ground lamb burgers, with its tender-yet-lean texture and sweet-gamey flavor, are just so much more elegant and sophisticated . . . akin to turning that simple little black dress into a chic outfit with the right accessories. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of accessories, I find that lamb burgers are often adorned with more daring veggies, sauces and cheeses (I guess chefs figure since they're already using an eccentric meat, why not push the envelope on everything else as well?) Of course, this makes the bovine counterpart's almost-formulaic toppings look very plain Jane. Iceberg lettuce, tomato, onion, cheddar-ish cheese & the 1000 Island-esque dressing? *yawn*</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as such, I've gone on a journey exploring lamb burgers at different venues around town, and here are my thoughts on them:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Public School 612*</b>; $13 a la carte</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6810129942/" title="Public School 612 Lamb Burger by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Public School 612 Lamb Burger" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/6810129942_f4655c977b.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6956241447/" title="Public School 612 Lamb Burger by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Public School 612 Lamb Burger" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6956241447_a8cddfa70f.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The joint that really got me hooked onto lamb burgers (until that time I'm always worried they'd be too gamey,) the version here is adorned with a tomato-cranberry jam, arugula and melty brie cheese. And I'd say this is the best lamb burger for a beginner to dab his or her toes into... the patty itself isn't all that gamey, and one can't really tell if the unctuousness is from the brie or the lamb. Furthermore, it is contrasted with the sharp peppery bite of the arugula and the fairly intense sweet-tang of the jam, making for such a vibrantly-flavored burger that one doesn't even think much about if it's beef, lamb or otherwise. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Extra tip: Their "Cutting Board" of assorted charcuterie and cheese is generously portioned and well worth the $14 (or however it's divided amongst your friends.) I also loved the brown bag fries here, and while beer is their forte, they did a decent job with the Sazerac too! And from eyeing <a href="http://www.publicschool612.com/wp-content/uploads/PS-Web-Menu-022012.pdf" target="_blank">their menu</a>, I can't wait to return to try the fried cheese curds.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Comme Ca</b>; $16 w fries & on Tuesdays only (when they do their burger nights)</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6956238695/" title="Comme Ca's Lamb Burger by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Comme Ca's Lamb Burger" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7040/6956238695_0cbdda0c2d.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another good starter choice for the game-phobic, the patty here is actually a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merguez" target="_blank">Merguez</a> lamb sausage, so the bulk of the pungency is from its hefty herbs and spices. It is nicely complemented with the peppery arugula, as well as caramelized onions and roasted peppers. Unfortunately, I didn't realize until afterwards that it came out on the wrong bun, and a hearty ciabatta would've stood up better to the juicy burger and wet toppings than the softer & spongier brioche-like bun. But still, this was more well-liked than the two beef burgers our table ordered (and a close contender to #1 with <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6956239117/in/set-72157629155700516" target="_blank">the breakfast burger</a>, really a glorified and gravy'd up Sausage McMuffin.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Extra tip: If pairing burgers with wine is your thing, this is the place to go on Tuesdays; they have a <a href="http://www.commecarestaurant.com/wp-content/uploads/Comme-Ca-Wine-List-2-24-123.pdf" target="_blank">nice list</a> with quite a few delicious-yet-affordable selections by the glass or bottle (we wound up splitting a bottle of Rhone for around $45.) Of course, their <a href="http://www.commecarestaurant.com/wp-content/uploads/CCWH_BarMenu_11-302.pdf" target="_blank">cocktail list</a> is not to be ignored either...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Short Order</b>; $15 a la carte</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6810123424/" title="Short Order Lamb Burger by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Short Order Lamb Burger" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7066/6810123424_292c9650ff.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6956234725/" title="Short Order Lamb Burger by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Short Order Lamb Burger" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7048/6956234725_a8e471f0f6.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've deemed this the 'very green' burger for the sheer amount of arugula they threw in there, further bolstered with salsa verde garnish. And I love the whimsical use of feta as the cheese for this burger (and enough to overlook the messy cheese crumbles that fall off with each bite.) Whereas the two previous burgers seem to downplay the lamb's gaminess factor, this one tasted more like a celebration of it. It may look like a lot of greens, but they are definitely flavor backdrops in comparison to the earthy, sweetgrassy patty of lamb.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Extra tip: The burger is a la carte, but you should definitely splurge <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6956234229/in/set-72157629155700516/" target="_blank">on the sides too</a>! My +1 and I loved the Short Order Spuds that tastes amazingly half-baked & half-fried plus the springy and not-heavy-at-all macaroni salad (both $4). Oh, and splitted a Coffee Malt Custard Shake for dessert ($6.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Tripel*</b>; $11 w salad</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6810126872/" title="The Tripel's Lamb Burger by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="The Tripel's Lamb Burger" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7069/6810126872_7e2680a0de.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon first bite, I decided this was the funnest of the lamb burgers sampled. Simply put, it was party of flavors going on in my mouth. The cucumbers and pickled onions lent a refreshing familiar-but-distinct crunch (and I much welcomed the break from arugula on my lamb burgers) and the honey-harissa aioli is a wonderful "just right" sweet, spicy & pungent accompaniment to the burger without overpowering the flavor of the lamb. And I also love that this burger comes with a well-dressed salad on the side... so I can feel ever-so-slightly less guilty by dodging the fries and getting more leafy greens in my meal.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Extra tip: As the name suggest, Belgian-style beer is king here and their ever-changing taps are worth a check out (that night, I rekindled my love for <a href="http://victorybeer.com/beers/golden-monkey/" target="_blank">Victory's Golden Monkey</a> for $7.) Another must-order is their <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6956238199/in/set-72157629155700516/" target="_blank">parmesan-poppy biscuits with a honey butter dip</a> ($6), two-bite-sized pieces of heaven that hits you with the holy trinity of savory cheese, sweet butter and fluffy cloudlike carbs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Haven Gastropub</b>; $16 w fries</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6810131742/" title="Haven Lamb Burger by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Haven Lamb Burger" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7043/6810131742_b564e5ecc7.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6956242525/" title="Haven Lamb Burger by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Haven Lamb Burger" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7060/6956242525_8fdd66e13f.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I enjoyed all the lamb burgers I've tasted, this version is my favorite. I absolutely love their use of onion sprouts as the 'greens' for this burger; it does double duty of adding crunch & flavor. Likewise, the tzatziki sauce spread provides a cooling, herbal tang that adds creaminess without weighing the whole thing down like an aioli might've. And lastly, it is balanced out by the buttery sweetness of an onion jam, and as someone who always keep a supply of caramelized onions in the fridge, I approve!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, I do have slight reservations about its accompanying dirty fries. They are flavorful but are hardly crispy at all. In fact, only the potato skins has an actual crunch, whereas the other sides have that oil-soaked flaccid-ness that's not very appealing (and despite my love for French fries, I couldn't bring my tastebuds - or blood vessels - to finish these.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Extra tip: All of their <a href="http://havengastropub.com/pasadena/craft-cocktails" target="_blank">craft cocktails</a> lean towards the sweet side (e.g. their Manhattan variation features a Walnut liqueur & their Negroni spin switches out the standard Campari for its sweeter cousin, Aperol) so I'm more inclined to order beers here (after trying 2 of them and finding both way too sugary, I didn't even want to chance it with a standard cocktail.) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~ </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there you have it--five delicious lamb burgers all over L.A. to suit a multitude of palates & preferences. And yes, I've since had my share of bovine burgers, and solidly delicious as they are, every time I try on that simple little black dress of a beef patty my eyes and tastebuds always seem to yearn for the more edgy & flamboyant ovine outfit instead. But I find solace knowing that a lamb burger is never far away (not to mention plenty more to discover around town!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>*Disclosure: the burgers @ Public School 612 & Tripel were comp'd.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.publicschool612.com/" target="_blank">Public School 612</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">612 South Flower Street </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Los Angeles, CA 90017</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(213) 623-1172</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/PublicSchool612" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/ps612" target="_blank">@PS612</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.commecarestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Comme Ca</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8479 Melrose Avenue </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">West Hollywood, CA 90069</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(323) 782-1104</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Comme-Ca-Restaurant/117512894942737" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/commecawh" target="_blank">@CommeCaWH</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.shortorderla.com/" target="_blank">Short Order</a></b> @ The Original Farmers Market</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">W 3rd St </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Los Angeles, CA 90036</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(323) 761-7970</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/shortorderla" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/shortorderla" target="_blank">@ShortOrderLA</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.thetripel.com/" target="_blank">The Tripel</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">333 Culver Boulevard </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Playa Del Rey, CA 90293</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(310) 821-0333</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Tripel/211991948827611" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.havengastropub.com/" target="_blank">Haven Gastropub (Pasadena)</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">42 South De Lacey Avenue</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pasadena, CA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(626) 768-9555</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/HavenGastropub" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/havengastropub" target="_blank">@HavenGastropub</a></span>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35835685.post-61484541828928123402012-02-08T11:40:00.000-08:002012-05-31T15:53:28.945-07:00No. 213: Fave Vegas Watering Holes - Vesper Bar, Big Dog's Cafe, Frankie's Tiki Room<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slightly amused at the irony that foodventure (or more accurately, drinkventure) #213 is actually about area code 702 . . . but anyhoo, even though <a href="http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-211-off-strip-in-vegas-alize.html" target="_blank">Alizé</a> was the over-the-top multi-course affair I had in in Vegas in late last year, there were no shortage of good eats & drinks all over town, both on- and off- the Strip. In fact, there were enough that I decide to split my original one-post roundup into one about drinks & another about eats.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So without further adieu, here are some of my favorite Sin City sips.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Frankie's Tiki Room</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6828337265/" title="Daybreak @ Frankie's Tiki Room by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Daybreak @ Frankie's Tiki Room" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7007/6828337265_f15249d026.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To avoid the heavy traffic along the 15 (damn you Vegas weekend warriors!), I almost always do a red eye, leaving L.A. around 2-3 a.m. & usually arriving in Sin City just at daybreak. And to celebrate that one can imbibe 24/7 in this city, my usual first stop is Frankie's Tiki Room . . . an off-Strip bar serving deceptively potent drinks @ a reasonable price, with a smack of "authentic" Tiki-ness boot. Decorwise, think <a href="http://www.tiki-ti.com/" target="_blank">Tiki-Ti</a> with three times the space to spread out all the kitschy knick-knacks. And of course, being in Vegas, the obligatory video poker @ the bar.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6828337651/" title="Bender Ender @ Frankie's Tiki Room by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Bender Ender @ Frankie's Tiki Room" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7010/6828337651_b02c462182.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://frankiestikiroom.com/drinks.html" target="_blank">Their menu</a> consists of about 20 drinks - a few Tiki cocktail classics (Mai Tai, Navy Grog, Zombies) and a few twists of their own making, all @ $8. Surprisingly, the bartend recognized me from my last Vegas excursion over a year ago (I guess not many people come in at the crack of dawn and declare needing a drink after a night drive from L.A.) so I entrusted him to swizzle something up; it wound up being the <b><i>Bender Ender</i></b> (which, according to their skull rating, is on par with a Zombie in potency.) And it certainly did its job in packing an unexpected punch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those who prefer less fruit and more spirit, Frankie's also boast an impressive list of about 100 rums that's also reasonably priced -- so save some liver space to try a few that you've been curious about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Vesper Bar @ Cosmpolitan Hotel</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6832076771/" title="Vesper Bar by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Vesper Bar" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7032/6832076771_5145f309fe.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having gone to Vegas as many times as I have, I'm always skeptical of on-Strip recommendations--particularly one that's essentially a hotel lobby bar (the Vesper is right next to the guest check-in), but I decided to give this a go having heard this suggested <a href="http://www.drinkspirits.com/best/top-5-cocktail-bars-in-las-vegas/" target="_blank">by</a> <a href="http://temperedspirits.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/viva-las-vegas-part-3-the-vesper-bar/" target="_blank">multiple</a> <a href="http://theminty.com/2011/06/24/return-to-vesper-bar/" target="_blank">drinkbloggers</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Over my three-day Vegas stay, I went there thrice (</b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qIZFFfyfLw" target="_blank">yes, it's a word!</a><b>)</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In short, I absolutely adore their drinks, which are fun twists of the classics, often kissed with a curiosity-inducing spice or herb that keeps me sipping on and on, delightfully discovering new aromas, flavors and textures along the way. My personal fave? Well, I actually have two, depending the occasion...</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6828343233/" title="Hot Mule @ Vesper Bar by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Hot Mule @ Vesper Bar" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6828343233_e2986ee85f.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If it's hot out (a.k.a. 90 percent of the time), go for the <b><i>Hot Mule</i></b>, their Moscow Mule variation kicked up a notch with <a href="http://www.hangarone.com/main.html" target="_blank">Hangar One</a> spiced pear vodka, their housemade ginger syrup and Angostura bitters. Still as refreshing to drink as the original but definitely more fragrant and complex... and delicious enough to win over my vodka-phobic palate.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6828394795/" title="The Mayan @ Vesper Bar by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="The Mayan @ Vesper Bar" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6828394795_4f9105ff90.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other hand, if you need warming up (say... after clubbing post-midnight *ahem*) go for <b><i>The Mayan</i></b>, a Manhattan spin with a little heat amplification. The already spicy Wild Turkey rye is combined with Angostura, <a href="http://soyouwanttobeasommelier.blogspot.com/2010/12/amari-file-meletti.html" target="_blank">Amaro Meletti</a> & "Aztec Spices" (that definitely contained some powdered chilies) balanced with a sweet-smelling cinnamon & fig-infused vermouth--making for a smooth, rich & tingle-inducing nightcap.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Big Dog's Cafe & Casino</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6828341835/" title="Big Dog's Cafe Entrance by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Big Dog's Cafe Entrance" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/6828341835_59f10bcc30.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you stayed on the Strip, you probably think <a href="http://www.sincitybeer.com/" target="_blank">Sin City</a> is only the beer-brewing game in town. And while I think SC is alright and a definite notch up from mega-corporate beers, I much prefer Big Dog's heftier and more flavorful offerings.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6828342325/" title="Balls of Holly Winter Ale by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Balls of Holly Winter Ale" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6828342325_fb8a1a4659.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their <a href="http://www.bigdogsbrews.com/brewery/our-brews-on-tap/" target="_blank">canine-themed regular brews</a> run the gamut of beer profiles, from the Leglifter Light lager to the Dirty Dog IPA & Black Lab Stout. Since it's around holidays, they were offering up their seasonal <b><i>Balls of Holly</i></b>--a nice Winter Ale that balances its somewhat robust body with effervescent pine & peppermint aromas from the hops (without going over-the-top to smell like a air freshener or candy cane) and a tinge of roasted malty-sweetness.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-oc-foodventures/6828342929/" title="Sliders & Potato Salad @ Big Dog's Cafe by LA & OC Foodventures, on Flickr"><img alt="Sliders & Potato Salad @ Big Dog's Cafe" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6828342929_a77797dca5.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While you're here, give their sliders & German potato salad a go (which is how I discovered Big Dog's in the first place... though R.I.P. to their filet mignon sliders, my fave from years past.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I guess this would be a perfect segue for the next post about my favorite Vegas eats... stay tuned!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://frankiestikiroom.com/" target="_blank">Frankie's Tiki Room</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1712 West Charleston Boulevard </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Las Vegas, NV 89102-2335</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(702) 385-3110</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/frankiestiki" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankies-Tiki-Room/60068539273" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/experience/lounges-and-bars/vesper-bar.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Vesper Bar @ The Cosmopolitan Hotel</b></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3708 South Las Vegas Boulevard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Las Vegas, NV</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(877) 551-7778</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheCosmopolitan" target="_blank">Facebook (for Hotel)</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Cosmopolitan_LV" target="_blank">Twitter (for Hotel)</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.bigdogsbrews.com/" target="_blank">Big Dog's Cafe & Casino</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6390 West Sahara Avenue</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Las Vegas, NV</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(702) 876-3647</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/BigDogsBrewing" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Dogs-Brewing-Company/287773512358" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span>H. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12000908567574418877noreply@blogger.com1