No. 176: Intelligentsia (Pasadena)

So this is what it feels like to be the most popular kid in the cafeteria . . .

. . . a bagged lunch ($13 for the farmers market veggies one) from Heirloom LA, now available at the newly-opened Intelligentsia Pasadena. Since I was running errands all day today in preparation for a road trip along the California coast, this ready-to-takeout meal (along with a cup of coffee, of course!) was a great way to enjoy a little deliciousness on the go.

So what's inside the bag?

A "perfectly sized" veggie sandwich (I placed it by the fork for scale), a container of potato & arugula salad and a wrapped muffin-cup sized tin of chocolate-hazelnut-banana bread pudding.

Making up for the sandwich's small size is its huge flavor, from the fresh-tasting roasted veggies (carrots, eggplant, zucchini and pepers) to the sweet & savory pumpkin puree, just a touch of garlic and herbs plus some cheesiness from the mozzarella and parmigano reggiano. It's definitely one of those sandwiches that saves well and even get better with time, with the different ingredients melding together and the cheesy bread soaking up the flavors. A heavenly half-dozen bites, though I definitely wish I could have a half-dozen more!

When the Intelligentsia barista/cashier told me the sandwich came with a potato salad, I was expecting something heavy, mayo-laden, onion-breath-inducing; so it was a pleasant surprise to see a version that's comparatively light, not to mention tangy, herbacious and slightly sweet. The wedges of roasted potatoes are accompanied by wilted arugula, what I think is balsamic-caramelized shallots, sprigs of rosemary in a honey-ish vinaigrette. For someone expecting a heavier or more savory potato salad, this might be weird or even a turnoff but for someone like me who has a sweet tooth and loves cleaner and crisper flavors -- it was a 'no contest' against the traditional varieties that I can never stand eating more than a few bites of.

Finally, the chocolate-banana pudding with bits of hazelnuts . . . again, deceptively small in apperance but big in taste, absolutely divine in dark chocolate flavors and just rich and gooey and great even served chilled (though now I can't imagine how it'd taste when reheated up!) A wonderful, indulgent finish to a light lunch and in hindsight, that sandwich is indeed 'perfectly sized' since after the pudding I felt satiated and not bloated and guilty (though I still wouldn't mind a few more bites of the sandwich.)

And as expected, the La Maravilla coffee from Guatemala ($3.50) was top-notch and an surprisingly good match with my bagged lunch. It was clean and crisp on the palate like the sandwich & the salad, with some fruit-backed cocoa notes like the bread pudding. And with just a slight hit of bright tanginess, it made for a great palate cleanser between courses without overwhelming the tastebuds.

Of course, now I can't wait to enjoy all the rotated-daily lunch items they serve in-house.

What Do Others Say?
- FoodGPS's Joshua Lurie provided a "what to expect" report for Feast LA.
- Mattatouille attended the media preview (and snapped a photo of me!) and simply called it "one of my favorite places in the city" and looking forward to more from their menu, beer & wine selections and of course, the coffee.
- Gourmet Pigs gave it a first look from the media preview, found it "a definite upgrade in the space that used to be Wok 'n Roll . . . [and] easily the best restaurant in Old Town"
- LA Weekly's Squid Ink filed a more objective outlook but said it's "a beautiful space"
- LA Times' Daily Dish also provided a brief report and some photos from the media preview
- Eater LA checked it out in soft opening phase, deemed it "appropriately hipster-marvelous"
- Gmangoman also went during its soft opening, called it it a "much needed addition to the Old Town Pasadena restaurant mix"

A few more photos on my flickr set here

Intelligentsia
55 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91105
626.578.1270
Twitter

Also:
Heirloom LA's website & twitter

Friday Quickies #87: Mad Hatters and March Madness

Artful Cappuccino made at last year's Western Regional Barista Competition

March is almost here and I'm still mis-dating documents as 2009 *sigh* but here's to longer, sunnier days and me finally getting used to 2010 (before my bank's grace period for one-year-old checks expires!)

Today, 4 to 10 p.m., after about two months of soft launch with a RSVP-only tasting room, Eagle Rock Brewery is having their grand opening! Enjoy their three regular brews, they will also debut the Libertine Imperial Amber Wit, a hefty 8.6% ABV brew made with caramel malts, spices and honey for a sweet-fruity-spicy concoction. The tasting room will also serve guest beers from brewery friends and the Frysmith truck will be parked outside from 6 p.m. onwards for your eating pleasure!

Today to Sunday, the Western Regional Barista Competition is back, this time taking place at Siren Studios at Sunset. Watch as West Coast's finest baristas compete in pulling perfect cups of espresso-machine beverages, and push the envelope with signature coffee drinks with mixology and culinary techniques! And of course, there'll be complimentary coffee provided (and pulled by some of the best baristas in the state) and even workshops to learn how to cup and analyze coffee. Complete schedule of events here.

From now until Tuesday, blogger friend Gourmet Pigs is having a re-do of Bid and Eat for Haiti, this time with a more East sider streak with gift certificates for La Casita Mexicana, Elements Kitchen and The Raymond. Last time's auction raised $765 for CHF International and Operation USA, so hope this round of bidding do just as well (Gourmet Pigs is aiming for at least another $235 to make one grand or more)

Monday, March 1, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Tavern's Larder is bringing back their Wine and cheese nights! For $29/person, attendees can nosh on small plates paired with delectable wine sips and Sous Chef Melody Bishop guiding through the pairings. This Monday's event will focus on Southern Rhone wines, which will be paired with dishes such as roasted root vegetables and midnight moon cheese // smoked duck hazelnuts, fried sunchokes and fig jam // a Reuben variation with red cabbage slaw // wild mushrooms with spinach, garlic and truffle butter. Call to reserve 310.806.6464

From March 1 to 31, 3 to 5 p.m. - coinciding with the Alice in Wonderland movie, The London's Boxwood Cafe will be offering a $28/person "Mad Hatter Tea" for the entire month of March. The whimiscally colorful affair include treats such as Queen of Hearts Tarts, Unbirthday Cakes and Caterpillar Caps alongside their assortment of teas and mini-sandwiches. The affair finishes with a "Drink Me" champagne toast with assorted color-themed mixers (Red w pom juice and PAMA liqueur, Green w apple liqueur and lemon/pineapple juices, Purple w Framboise, etc.) at $5 each.

Wednesdays, all night long - Echo Park gem Allston Yacht Club is debuting their "Wicked Wednesdays" where everything on their menu is just $5 each! Whether you're jonesing for their cedar planked salmon, sweet potato fritters with minted yogurt, or roasted brussel sprouts with balsamic reduction and bacon -- it's all just a Lincoln apiece. With that kind of savings, you can even indulge in some of their affordable wine and cocktails without much guilt (on the wallet, at least.)

And my favorite reads of this week:

FoodGPS interview The Bitter Truth makers and got the lowdown on what they're doing to this crucial cocktail component.

SeriousEats is all about at-home cheesemaking, with two fast and simple instructions on how to make ricotta and goat cheeses at home, along with a drool-inducing apple-goat cheese-honey tartlet recipe.

CHOW is taking a gourmet spin off March Madness snacks, presenting 11 gussied-up variations on roasted jalapeno poppers.

LA Times look into the absence of Filipino cuisine in the local restaurant scene, and offers up one place that does whip up a mean adobo and pata.

Still gleefully reminiscing on the Porco Rosso from Edison's Radio Room, I discovered this nice oldie but goodie blogpost from the Cocktail Nerd about sweet vermouths as an apertif and drink component, plus ratings of several popular varieties.

Beans, beans, the magical fruit! A visual guide to the numerous varieties (and how to prepare them) from CHOW.

A weekend of foodventures compressed into one day . . .

I've always been one to "Work hard, play hard" -- but when I get called in to work weekends that easily turns my mantra into "work hard, play hardER!" on the days I do have off. so that's exactly what I did this past Saturday, when I easily crammed 2-3 days worth of events and outings into one 24-hour period of fun, thrills and, of course, food.

My day actually started the night preceding, when I went to USC-LA Coliseum area to partake in the Nike+ Human Race 10K (disclosure: the Nike folks were actually going for more online/social media outreach this year, so they reached out to a few local influentials, including my friend Caroline on Crack, so as a blogger and plus-one I got hooked up with some dandy running gear – more on that on my much-neglected “other half” blog coming up.) The run was wild and crazy with over 8,000 peeps taking on 5K/10K in Central LA. Being packed as it was, I didn’t set a record for my run, but still did better than I expected (53 minutes for 10K, so approx. 8:30 a mile). It was great meeting fellow running bloggers Sonja of Active Foodie, Josh of FoodGPS, and Andy + Lisa of LAist (DianaTakesABite was also there staffing the shoe trials booth) And just to make this paragraph relevant to this blog, I also enjoyed the barbecue-flavored PopChips that were provided to runners -- wildly flavorful and not greasy at all!

A little snack and an abridged five-hour sleep later, I hauled my surprisingly-not-sore legs to Venice to meet up with Sonja, Caroline and her friend Mei-Mei at Gjelina. Having arrived in the Abbot Kinney area a little early, I decide to indulge in a post-run affogato at Intelligentsia. After one sip and one spoonful, I think espresso+ice cream should be a part of everyone’s well-balanced breakfast!

After that blissful drink, Caroline, Mei-Mei and I plopped our butts down at Gjelina (Sonja ran a little late). I’m not usually one to bag on restaurants, but what’s up with the attitude? From the curt hostess who sat us down in the most dysfunctional and fugliest table on the nearly-empty patio (turquoise, rusty AND wobbly) and not letting us switch to another four-top due to reservations (Caroline and I found that questionable, since she called a few days before and was told reservations allowed only for parties of six-plus.) And then there’s our fedora-wearing hipster waiter who was impatiently hovering around us early on while we waited for Sonja, providing abrupt replies to our questions interspersed with “are you ready yet?” and practically disappeared after getting the order down (I don’t believe he even checked up on our table.) Well, sorry if we weren’t celebrities or hobbits (I spotted Elijah Wood and Dominic Monaghan in semi-private area of the restaurant,) but a little TLC at the table goes a long, long way.

As for the food, it was on the OK-to-good range – nothing that I’d make a destination for. I got the chickpea and Israeli couscous stew with spiced yogurt and harissa sauces – more on the lunchy side of brunch but it satisfied my hunger and was a hearty-but-not-heavy dish. Sonja, Caroline and Mei-Mei got poached egg dishes, and the latter two’s were more liquidy than I expected (how bout giving the eggs a little wiggle and water drainage before slapping it on top of a bed of grits and mushrooms so they don’t turn into soggy-soup?) On a good note, I did enjoy my La Chouffe Belgian blonde ale – toasty aromas with flower undertones and a little spiciness on the mouth while being totally quaffable. But yeah, while I won’t totally write Gjelina off, it’s not a place I would actively recommend if my pals and I are looking for a place to eat (esp. for $30 for brunch!) … if anything, I might steer us towards Tasting Kitchen, Lemonade or 3 Square nearby.

Unable to resist the calls of the numerous food trucks staking their spaces Abbot Kinney, our group succumbed to Marked5 (five items on menu, $5 – including tax – for everything) and tried their Torakku Beef burger. I had a bite and thought it was alright but messy with the rice patties (though my lack of interest may be because I had a belly full of chickpeas, couscous, brussel sprouts and beer.)

Remembering the Royal/T Three Apples party going on that day, Caroline and I went to Culver City to check out the Hello Kitty craziness. It was a madhouse indeed… with all sorts of Hello Kitty and tokidoki merchandise (designers from both were there doing signings) and numerous collaborative/tribute art with other artists. But it was still fun look at the pieces, and Caroline bought some funky-punky items and we chilled later on with some iced teas at the café. But definitely one of the more chaotic exhibition openings I’ve been to and bummers we couldn’t get our stuff signed by Simone though.

Still having a bit more time to kill for the day, we opted for some beers and snacks at Library Alehouse – which I’m glad to finally visit so I won’t confuse it with downtown’s Library Bar anymore. Both of us got the $7 five-beer sampler and let our bartend, Danny, pick some of the four-ounce samples for us. Good stuff, I liked the Hazelnut Brown Nectar and Hop Head Red he picked – and of course I am pleased to sip on Allagash White (already gone by the time I took photo, heh) and Racer 5 IPA. Our dishes were also nice bar bites, I had the sesame-seared ahi tuna that was the perfect bite at the moment, very light and the wasabi and ginger went nicely with the hoppier beers. Caroline got the chipotle shrimp quesadillas; solid stuff, but I was floored by the ripeness of the tomatoes in the accompanying salsa.

Finally happy from food AND service, we headed to the beach to join up with our friend Siel a.k.a. GreenLAGirl for the Blogger Beach Clean-Up that she co-organized. It was great meeting up with fellow bloggers and put it towards something good, even if only for 20 minutes and Caroline, Yolanda and I only wound up getting two ice cream scoops’ worth of trash in that timespan. But it was nice to know that Santa Monica is actually a pretty clean beach, and that every little step counts toward making the planet a greener and healthier place to live. And of course, meeting all sorts of bloggers I already know (e.g. LAist's Zach Behren and Jennio) and a plethora of new ones.

While there was a happy hours afterparty for the beach clean-uppers at Pourtal, I decided to head east to check out the opening of the Giant Robot exhibition going on at Japanese American National Museum (free admission that day is a definite perk!) to check out the various Pop-Asian arts, from lighthearted cute to hauntingly dark. It was also nice seeing the rest of the museum too and to be reminded of United State’s own version of concentration camps during World War II. It seems like free drinks and food were being offered at the lobby reception, but I skipped 'cause of the lines and I already had other nosh plans.

Finally, supper time, and I already knew what I want to check out – the bar bites and dessert menus at Drago Centro, which has gotten good buzz lately. To start, I picked their mozzarella-speck-pepper-arugula rolls which just alright, and an amazing duck confit pizza that had a good amount of the fatty meat, not too shabby w three thin and crispy slices for just $4. I also tried one of their cocktails, the L'Erba Bleu - Buffalo Trace bourbon with fresh grapefruit sour. Sweeter and fruitier than my preference, I really can't complain since it's only $5 and I can see it being a decent gateway cocktail for someone who insist on not liking Bourbon.

The highlight of my meal definitely came with desserts, which I was very eager to try after reading LA Weekly's profile of pastry chef Jashmine Corpuz earlier this month. The la crostata di noci ($9) was heavenly -- a not-too-sweet walnut tart topped with parmesan gelato and crisp, surrounded with marsala syrup and grapes. I felt it was the perfect lovechild from the elopement of cheese and dessert courses. Pair it with the coffee-ish Old Rasputin Imperial Stout and you got one killer combo to end your meal with (and yes, I was tempted to DIY a beer float with the parmesan gelato, opted out of it--in hindsight I wished I asked the bar for a shotglass so I can do a mini version.)

And so ends my weekend-in-a-day. Despite the ups-and-downs encountered with the different events, overall it was fun and I'm glad it ended on a high note. After 13+ hours of being out and about (and I am not even counting the 2-3 hours in the Nike+ run) I'm definitely ready for a good night sleep and take my Sunday of work in stride.

Many more photos from my day here

Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea
1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA‎
(310) 399-1233‎

Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA
(310) 450-1429

Marked5 Food Truck
Various locations

Royal/T Cafe
8910 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA
(310) 559-6300

Library Alehouse
2911 Main St
Santa Monica, CA
(310) 314-4855

Drago Centro
525 S Flower St
Los Angeles, CA ‎
(213) 228-8998 ‎

Mini Foodventure #132: Tacos, Strawberry Shortcake and Coffee in Silver Lake

This past Sunday was just one of those afternoons where I wanted simple, good eats; taking a cue from the double-blog-rave-within-24-hours from Dylan of Eat Drink n Be Merry and Pat of Eating L.A., I hauled myself to Sunset Junction to pay a visit to Ricky's Fish Tacos cart.

For better or for worse, him prepping the taco was the only photo I snagged during the whole time (they were simply too tasty for me to pause, even for pic-snapping!) Freshly battered and fried, the delicately flaky, crispy pieces of basa were wonderfully paired with the fresh pico de gallo, crunchy cabbage and zesty salsas and crema (EDnBM has a great play-by-play, in photos and words, of the whole process.)

Two of these at a very reasonable $2.50 each made for an absolutely satisfying brunch on the corner of Sunset & Hyperion; it's right across from Intelligentsia, but my sweet jaws took me and my brunch companion to LA Mill -- where we followed up with an equally simple-yet-divine strawberry (and mango) shortcake and their signature blanco y negro, a chilly, intense layered parfait of coffee granita and vanilla bean ice cream -- reminds me of a chillier version of the iced French-style coffee that Vietnamese eateries serve. Purely delightful for a warm August day.

Per Pat (whose blogpost is taped to the front of his cart!), Ricky's fish tacos cart will be across from Intelligentsia Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. (look for a rainbow-colored umbrella), though he hinted that he may be moving locations within the neighborhood in the next few weeks. To get the latest deets, follow his twitter account.

Back down (with goodies) from Northern California . . .

Ah, it's good to be back in the LA/OC after a blissful four days up in Northern California, which was as near-perfect as a mini-vacay can get; yes, even the hours-long drive up and down the 5; it was pure pleasure soaking up the scenery in the day, clearly gazing the stars and constellations at night, and catching up on all my public radio & music podcasts. And of course, all the eating, drinking and exploring in the city of San Francisco, the countryside of Sonoma County and the sleepy-suburby-college town of Davis (my undergrad alma mater, and we have our own wiki!) I'll definitely have many happy memories to hang on to as I trim my way back down to pre-vacay weight (and to look good for BloggerProm!)

While it'll take me a little while to gather my notes and sort out all my pics (including the gorgeous Venus' belt photos in this post -- taken en route back home at Lost Hills, CA); here's a little tasty teaser -- some of the foodie souvenirs I've brought back from the North.

Assorted Paté de Fruits (pear-lime, morello cherry, passion fruit and blueberry-cassis flavors) and the Green Box of tea-Inspired sweets from Recchiuti Confections

1/2 Pound of Giant Steps blend from Blue Bottle Coffee Co.

Two Valrhona brownies from Tartine Bakery & Cafe, plus an individual bittersweet chocolate-toasted hazelnut tart

Two dark, organic Dagoba bars (lemon ginger and beaucoup berries) that I have yet to encounter in L.A.

Tea Infused Chocolate Collection from Charles Chocolates / Teance

And, an homage to my alma mater, a mug commemorating our most infamous and made-fun-of "recreational activity"

What can I say? If you can't fight it, embrace it (with a good cup 'o joe.) Keep an eye out for my NorCal food- and drinkventures soon! But in the meantime . . .

Tasting Caramel Corn at LA Mill

When LA Mill's PR agency sent me word of their new spring menu, I was eager to check it out -- since the new signature coffee drink, caramel corn, was barista Amber Johnson's submission in the U.S. Barista Championship competition earlier this year. I am definitely excited, since the opportunity to taste these eclectic creations are rare outside of a competition (and even, then pretty hard to experience unless you're a judge or personally knowing the barista.)

Unfortunately, when I went the caramel corn had not been released yet, so I wound up ordering the sweet basil julep instead. But lo and behold, when said agency heard about it, they graciously extended an offer to try the drink for free, an offer that I merrily accepted.

While the drink was not prepared by Amber herself, I have no doubt in its recreation by Ariel, the barista of the day who has done a wonderful job with the drinks in the past (and blurrily photoed in above pic).

As for the beverage itself; simply put, if you like the buttered or caramel popcorn jelly bellies -- which I do -- then you'll definitely love this. Made with freshly pulled espresso shot, then layered with peanut milk, sea salt popcorn-infused cream, and caramel sauce ("All house-made!" Ariel told me with a smile) it looked like a liquid sundae. Ariel advised me to take a licking of the caramel and cream first before mixing the layers together, which I did and found heavenly, a sweet-savory-nutty combination of caramel sundae and kettle corn. And every bit as intriguing as those corn-flavored beans. I was so infatuated with the lovely, tiered complexity of the mixture that I forgot to ask if the "peanut milk" was a milk derived from peanuts (like rice or soy milk) or regular milk flavored/infused with peanuts.

In the end, though, I did find the beverage a bit too sweet for me (though I do disclose that I have been weaned off the sweetened latte-ish drinks in favor of black coffees and espressos to be more liquid calorie-conscious) but it's still a wicked once-in-a-while indulgence. I can almost forgo dessert! (Keyword being almost, alas, the cherry creme fraiche scone was calling my name.)

LA Mill Coffee Boutique
1636 Silver Lake Blvd
Los Angeles, CA‎
(323) 663-4441
www.lamillcoffee.com

Friday Quickies #58: Beer, Coffee, Wine and More ... Oh My!

Ooo... another opp for free Wurstkuche sausage sandwiches?! It's my dream downtown day all over again.

Again, one of those marvelous self-writing Friday Quickies; so many fun and worthwhile going-ons I wish there were eight days in a week!

Tonight from 8p.m. to 1a.m., to comemmorate the (finally!) opening of Intelligentsia Venice, they are teaming up downtown's Wurstkuche and Silver Lake Wine for a party full of freebies. That's right, free premo coffees, free eclectically tasty wines, free kegs of beer from Stone Brewing Co., AND free sausage sandwiches. So much for a quiet Abbot Kinney night. A word of warning, this event is already well-publicized (already wound up on Urbandaddy, CarolineOnCrack and DailyCandy's weekend guides) so plan appropriately (e.g. get there early, be ready for long lines and/or have a Plan B in place.)

And for the SF Valley folks, TastingTableLA got the scoop that the Valley Greek Festival is taking place this Sat. to Mon. from 1 to 9 p.m. Free admission, but you pay your way for assorted greek delights, including moussaka, loukoumathes, galactoboureko and pastitso. Sounds Opa-worthy!

For the active foodies out there, join my blogging pals FoodGPS and EatingLA on May 30 in their Bike Bender tour, where you'll be bicycling 10 miles of Glassell and Highland Park while exploring the local eateries along the way. It's $15/person and that covers the fantastic craft beers you'll enjoy at Verdugo Bar the end of your bike ride (what better way to celebrate!) ~ but you gotta bring cash to pay-as-you-go for the stops along the way. Reserve and pay soon if not now, according to FoodGPS it's already 60% full.

In the soon-to-come future is the LA Winefest, and goldstar came through and is offering discounted tickets for them (a one-day pass is $33, plus $5.75 service fee, instead of the regular $55). There'll be opportunities to taste hundreds of wines, beers and spirits at the event, not to mention plenty of free informative tasting sessions with winemakers and sommeliers, and I can attest from last year's event how much fun it was! (for the spendy, there's also the Riedel tasting event at night with Georg Riedel himself - it's $99, no goldstar discount for that, but you get to keep the fancy Riedel stemware.)

And last but certainly not least, one of few highly anticipated annual food events, Taste of the Nation, will be descending upon LA on June 14. Held again at Culver City's Media Park, a sweet $125 (or $175 for VIP) will earn you three hours of wonderful tastings from L.A.'s coolest restaurants, including BLD, Riva, FIG, Craft, Nobu and the Bazaar. Add some cool cocktail and wine samplings and tasty chef demos (including the Mozzas' Nancy Silverton, Too Hot Tamales Mary Sue & Susan and XIV's Michael Mina) and you're in for some gastronomical goodness. And of course, you'll not only eat well, but also feel greatthat 100% of ticket sales benefit the very worthwhile non-profit Share Our Strength's fight to end childhood hunger.

A year ago, I overloaded on dairy products and tequila, then ran a half-marathon
Two years ago, I got mooned at eat. on Sunset

Friday Quickies #57: Springtime Sweetness...

The delicious Black Orchard beer from the Bruery, enjoyed at Riva!

I love weeks like this when my Friday Quickies practically write themselves, lots of tasty going-ons just over the horizon so without further adieu...

Found out via FoodGPS and Caroline on Crack, the Bruery is having their 1st anniversary celebration party tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For $25/person you can enjoy foods from Beachwood BBQ while enjoying this craft brewer's various concoctions (I, for one, am ga-ga over their light and flowery Black Orchard) as well as the Trade Winds Tripel from Craft Beer Fest. Oh yes, there'll be goodies to take home too!

And to give some representin' to my local 'hood - Old Town Pasadena is having their restaurant week from June 1st to June 8th, with three-course lunches for $15/$25 and dinners for $25/$35. For those who think Old Pas has nothing edible to offer, I beg to differ, especially with exhibits from the menus of POP Champagne & Dessert Bar and La Grande Orange Café (and a few other solid choices, such as Vertical Wine Bistro and Red, White + Bluezz, whose menus aren't up yet). Anyways, this is one of few restaurant weeks that actually goes into the weekend too (unlike others that blackout Fridays and/or Saturdays) so do use this opp to give some of those restos a try!

A little more west, Cube Marketplace has a fantastic menu this week featuring fried soft-shell crab with sweet corn puree and arugula salad, seared diver scallops with lemon risotto and asparagus w bacon vinaigrette and raspberry pavlova with stewed mulberries. Delicioso indeed! And get there fast since this menu is only till May 20, when at least a few fab items will surely rotate out.

Also, LA Mill Boutique introduced a few new things in light of the season and the economy. Their spring drinks menu will feature sweet basil julep (or as I call it, a "detox mojito" with white tea and basil instead of rum and mint -- tried it during a warm afternoon and it was utterly refreshing!), caramel corn (with housemade peanut milk, espresso, popcorn, sea salt and caramel sauce! oh my!) and a recession roast that's cheaper option by the cup ($2.50) or the pound ($11.75). The recession roast will rotate, when I was there last weekend it was Ethiopian Limmu, a citrusy, winey brew that is very smooth and just easy-to-drink. Oh yea, I tasted their spicy-cheesy jalapeno-cheddar biscuits that's so heavenly fluffy; as if I needed yet more reasons to go there.

And last but not least, the winner of the McCormick&Schmick gift card giveaway, drawn at random, is Mike from FamishedLA. Congrats!

Simply Blissful Sunday Breakfasts . . .

Practically a monthly routine, regularly on Sundays I'd go get a pastry or two from my favorite bakery, Susina. Sometimes it'll be their pear tart tatin, other times it might be their individual molten chocolate cake or perhaps the indulgent mini banana cream pies. But no matter my mood, they'll just have something that suits just right (even on those rare occasions when I crave savory more than sweets, I can rely on their quiche or paninis to be great-tasting too.) This time, it came in the form of their apricot-ginger scone and individual blueberry custard tart.

Then I'd head to Intelligentsia to meet up with a friend (or my folks, or even just alone with the Sunday LA Times) and relax and catch up over some great coffee.

Effortlessly delightful, I almost don't mind that Monday follows...

Susina Bakery & Café
7122 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 934-7900
Website


Intelligentsia Coffee
3922 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 663-6173
Website

Mellow Mondays with Wine and Sweets in Silver Lake

I've never been one to complain about Mondays; sure the weekend can always be just a little bit longer, but there's a time and place for everything, even starting the workweek (and indeed, I am thankful that I have work, which I hear is the new raise nowadays.)

Still, I'll contend that Mondays can be tough -- particularly if I am catching up loose ends that I've tuned out over the past week to new projects popping up that I have to squeeze in and complete in five days or less. Eek! I could use a mental break already!

Thankfully, that rolled right along yesterday when I headed to Silverlake Wine -- one of my favorite local wine spots -- for their Monday tasting, seduced by the allure of three sexy, mysterious wines (including one termed "Liquid Crack") as well as the sweet offer of sugary CakeMonkey delights.

I swung by around 6:15 p.m. and got my tasting on, starting with a 2006 J & H Chardonnay that was crispy, flinty with nice citrus and apple nuances, moving on to soft, ripe and juicy Rhone-style 2007 Picnique red from Ledgewood Creek winery, finishing off with their "Liquid Crack" Black Chook sparkling Shiraz from Australia. I've always had fun drinking sparkling reds, but this is particularly good -- like a dry mixed berry soda with a slight tannic zing, and easily quaffable despite it being a red and a slight zip from the effervescence. I think I found my next celebration bubbly!

In addition to the tasty and generously-poured trio of wines, they also put out a fantastic array of cheeses, olives, cured meats and breads from the Cheese Store of Silverlake. It was fun mixing and matching to see what worked and what didn't, not to mention a great conversation starter with fellow drinkers. I saw the store's manager Matthew Kaner, who files wine reports regularly for FoodGPS, and wanted to ask about the wine he's working on but he seemed a bit busy with the other customers so I didn't have the chance. Next time, perhaps.

Moving from liquid to solid crack: Cake Monkey sweet treats. Samples of their scrumptious Li'l Merri's and new 'Nuff Said cookies were offered, and I bought their Black & White cakewich to bring home. Not too shabby for $15.50 ($12 for tasting, $3.50 for cake)

Since I'm already in Silverlake, my sweet jaws and caffeine addict led me to LA Mill Coffee that was less than five minutes away. Craving something sugary but not too heavy, I opted for their creme fraiche-cherry scone, which was wonderfully crumbly and comparatively light. To match, I ordered a Clover-brewed cup of their Ethopia Koratie coffee which also had berry aromas, noticeable sweetness and a pretty clean finish. Rounding off, a dark chocolate liquid-center lollipop -- a treat I still have fond memories of from my otherwise lackluster dessert tasting at Providence. It was as luscious as I remembered, with that first bite flooding my mouth a chilled berry-and-spices consomme. 'Twas a small $12.50 luxury (including tax and tip) but combined with the wine tasting, I think I found the perfect way to finish off the start of a work week. Bring on the next four days!

Silverlake Wine
2395 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA‎
(323) 662-9024
www.silverlakewine.com

LA Mill Coffee Boutique
1636 Silver Lake Blvd
Los Angeles, CA‎
(323) 663-4441
www.lamillcoffee.com


A few more photos from this food- and drinkventure on my Flickr

When You're Alone . . . You Can Always Go-- Downtown!

Today was just one of those breezy, spontaneous Saturdays where I wound up doing (and eating... and drinking) quite a lot on the spur of the moment and on my lonesome. Having scrapped Plans A and B with friends (a Runyon Canyon hike and a snowboarding trip) due to the weather, I decided to swing by downtown and check out some of the events I blogged about yesterday.

Thankfully, I found a free-for-all-day spot on Main by 2nd; I am guessing the meter poles on that block are being replaced but in the meantime the only parking restriction was no rush-hour parking on weekdays. Woot!

Considering all the walking I'll be doing today, I invested in a hearty breakfast at one of my fave downtown spots: the Nickel Diner, a hipster-ish recently-restored restaurant on Main between 5th and 6th serving homestyle diner fare with a little twist.

I was tempted to order their weekend-only biscuits & gravy, but opted instead for my favorite: the 5th and Main

a spicy barbecue pork hash with potatoes topped with two fried eggs and toast on the side. While I would've liked more sauce and the pork was a tad on the dry side, it still evoked that delicious memory I had in my mind: the lovely combo of the sweet-tangy-spicy mixed in with the rich, runny yolks, the meaty shredded pork and the crispy-starchy pan-fried taters. It was a pretty filling meal and for $8.75, not too heavy on my wallet either.

Sufficiently filled (for the time being) I trekked a block and a half to check out the Western Regional Barista Competition that's going on all weekend long, with baristas and roasters from all over the West ready to show off their skills and brews. Oh yea, there's also the allure of free coffee and espresso drinks brewed by these top-tier roasters and cafés.

Things were still getting prepped when I arrived so I jotted some notes, took some photos and scored some free coffee, including that beautifully-made cappuccino above made by Verve Coffee Roasters from Santa Cruz, and it was every bit tasty as it appeared: pillowy-light foam atop a creamy brew ripe with caramel-chocolate aromas and a silky-smooth mouthfeel. Mmmm....

I only stuck around to see the first two competitors do their thing (including Nick Griffith from our local Intelligentsia) and it was amazing to see the things they were doing for their signature drinks, mixing up coffees with blueberries, creme anglaise, medjool dates, orange blosssom water; made me wish I was a judge. But I'm definitely glad I am not a contestant, on top of four trained tasting judges, there are also technique judges to make sure you're preparing, plating and cleaning up properly too. I can barely cook and mix stuff up with just me in the kitchen, let alone the pressure of a few pairs of eyes looking over my shoulders and under my armpits! Definite kudos for the baristas for keeping their cool! (For more detailed coverage of this event, check out FoodGPS' incredibly succinct live-blogging report; I also saw Mattatouille there too, so keep an eye out for something that way too.)

On top lots of premo-coffee, I also tasted goodies from CakeMonkey; a Burbank-based operation that's whipping up all sorts of single-serving delights from mini-layer cakes to cookie creme sandwiches and "pop pies." My sweet jaws couldn't resist, so I got their brown sugar-cinnamon pop pie...

that definitely hit the spot! Flaky, crumbly crust (like a shortbread) and a not-too-sugary icing and filling; just the perfect size and sweetness to satisfy my cravings without overdoing it.

Moving onto my next stop, the Barker Block BBQ party featuring sausage sandwiches and beer from Wurstkuche... for free! The place has been throwing some pretty fun events as of late, I still fondly remembered their late summer Sunset at Barker Block series in collaboration with Filter magazine, featuring DJed and live music, eclectic art shows and pop-up shops and gratis alchy. I arrived right at the beginning of the event to find the place pretty barren (I am guessing the morning rain was a turn-off), but hey, that means I get to be in front of the line for the sandwiches and beer. Bring it on!

They only have a limited selection of sausages but a good mix of safe to adventurous stuff. Probably for the better, since I found myself having trouble deciding with just 5-6 choices, let alone their full range of over 20.

Feeling edgy, I got their rattlesnake-rabbit/jalapeno sausage sandwich with caramelized onions and spicy pepper plus a bottle of Fraziskaner Hefe Weisse beer. I'm definitely glad I was at the front of the line by the time I got my sandwich, since the sausages take 8-10 minutes to grill and a small line had already formed by the time I picked mine up. Having exhausted my light, crisp and refreshing beer (though more appropriate for a winter heat wave than the current post-rain cloudy gloom,) I got their Chimay Red and topped off the sandwich with whole grain mustard.

I have little experience eating reptiles or bunnies, but the sausage sandwich was pretty good, the casing had a nice snap and the interior tasted meaty and fatty at the same time -- as if bacon was embedded within. The seasoning wasn't too strong, and actually I would've preferred it a bit spicier to go better with the Chimay and my tastebuds but all-in-all one of the better sausages I've had in a while (I also had a tasting of their mango-jalapeno-chicken sausage, which I think I like slightly better.)

Afterwards, I decided to check out Mitsuwa's closeout sale before they're gone for good on Monday -- boy, was it depressing seeing all those empty aisles.

Surprisingly, the second floor of the marketplace (which hasn't opened since it was Yaohan, I believe) was also being cleared out ... alas, I didn't see anything remaining that I'd like to buy, so I spent a little time wandering around Little Tokyo and wound up buying some accessories from the PopKiller store.

Final food stop, seeing if I can catch a Korean BBQ taco from Kogi's during their debut in San Gabriel Valley. Funny enough, when I exited their freeway I am two cars behind the truck!

While the truck made some turns to get to their designated spot, I found my street parking and headed to the site ... only to discover a huge line already in waiting.

Umm, yea, I decided to take a pass on trying these tacos -- esp. since I am already scoring an exclusive chance eating them at the Doheny on Monday! Hopefully lines will be more merciful there.

That pretty much wrapped up my delightful Saturday of eats, drinks and shops, after all the heavy dishes I've had, I can't wait to cook up a simple light dinner (an Asian-ized chicken noodle soup with ginger, veggies and soba noodles.)