No. 217: Top 3 Bites from Semi-Recent Vegas Trip @ Bread and Butter, Carnevino and Cosmopolitan's Secret Pizza Spot

Ok, so it's been a short (alright, a LONG) while since I followed up on my fave Vegas drinks post 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 @ Alizé.) So here's my quick roundup of some of my best bites on my last trip there.

Vegetarian Sandwich at Bread & Butter

 

Having already indulged in a little wicked crack-of-dawn drinking with Ms. Choisauce 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 Frankie's . . . 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!)

Pork Agnolotti at Carnevino 

 

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 glass of wine and their complimentary warm rosemary roll with and voila! a heavenly light dinner.

White pizza with mushrooms & meatballs at the [Not-So] Secret Pizza Spot

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.)

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.

Bread & Butter
10940 South Eastern Avenue  
Henderson
(702) 675-3300
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Carnevino [in Palazzo Hotel]
3325 Las Vegas Blvd South,
Las Vegas
(702) 789-4141
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Secret Pizza Place [in The Cosmopolitan, situated between Jaleo and Blue Ribbon on the restaurant floor]
3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South 
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 698-7000
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A few favorite warm-weather cocktails & bites

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. 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.

Drago Centro

 

In what I consider a bar's equivalent to breakfast-for-dinner, I loved Drago Centro's Shotgun Wedding, 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. 

 

And to go with this effervescent beverage, an equally refreshing plate of Crystal Point oysters with a cooling cucumber mignonette (for a very reasonable $5, I might add.) Sip on the cocktail, slurp down an oyster, repeat.

Also, my runner-up favorite cocktail @ Drago is the Night and the City, 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.)

Bar 1886

 

While my friend Conbon is all over their bottled Rum Whistle (at a media tasting with Gourmet Pigs, we had a collective 4 bottles... on top of everything else we tried *ahem*), my personal favorite is the MacArthur Park Swizzle, 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.)

 

And in a slightly eccentric twist, the bite I loved there is the Roasted Lamb Necks with Afghan. 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.)

Asia de Cuba*

 

Here, I found their Hemingway Thyme 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.

 

Foodwise, my pick is their scallop tataki with dragon fruit. 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. 

(FYI, for the indecisive, I also love their ceviche trio--which lets you mix & match assorted seafood ceviches.)

Umamicatessen

 

Just because summer's around doesn't mean there's no room for spirit-forward cocktails, and Umamicatessen's 9th and Broad 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!)

 

And as much as I'd like to recommend their Calbi burger, 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 Smushed Potatoes, 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.)

Zengo*

 

From their Hanoi-Havana Test Kitchen menu (which runs through the end of June), I found their Lemongrass-Lychee Mojito 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.

 

Foodwise, I love their Lemongrass Arroz Con Pollo. 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.

The Hungry Cat

 

A longtime favorite for seafood and beverages (I still remember my crab fest carnage there a few years ago,) and while I love their seasonal-produce-driven cocktail program -- the 4 on the Floor 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 (currently Luxardo's lesser known rival.) 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.

 

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 shrimp, scallop and calamari ceviche 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.

Rivera

 

Bringing my roundup full circle, while I loved this restaurant's assorted seasonal concoctions, I fell back on an longtime favorite, the Barbacoa. 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.

 

But if you want a more substantial bite, go with the Viera Arabesque, 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 Ras el hanout to give the dish as much spicy-fragrant kick as you'd like.

Or, if feel a bit splurgier (as Conbon, Jennio and I were feeling that day), spring for their Jamon Iberico de Bellota Pata Negra. 

*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.



Drago Centro
525 South Flower Street  
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 228-8998
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Bar 1886 (@ Raymond Restaurant)
1250 South Fair Oaks Avenue
Pasadena, CA
(626) 441-3136
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Asia de Cuba (@ Mondrian LA)
8440 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA
(323) 848-600
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Umamicatessen
852 S. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 413-8626
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Zengo
395 Santa Monica Place  
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 899-1000
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The Hungry Cat
1535 Vine St
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 462-2155
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Rivera
1050 S. Flower St #102 
Los Angeles, Ca 
(213) 749-1460
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No. 216: Foodventuring in Torrance

This past Sunday I was invited to check out the new brunch menu @ Lazy Dog Café. 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.

To start the day right, I brunched with Gourmet Pigs, Diana Takes a Bite & Gilmour Eats 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.)

Even though we were supposed to try the new items, the thing that caught my eye the most was the Sunny Side Up Pizza, 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!

Also impressive is the Lazy Dog line of beers, most of which are brewed by Firestone Walker 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!

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 Patisserie Chantilly -- 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, don't do what I did 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 web gallery.

We opted to share a trio of sweets, the Goma Blanc Manger (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 Chantilly Fromager (a less-dense, less-sweet cheesecake) and the Othello (basically a dark & white chocolate mousse cake with a layer of sesame paste... and our favorite of the 3.)

Have filled up on brunch & dessert carbs, I decided put those calories to good use with a picturesque hike in the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve--having heard that they have some beautiful trails and that it leads you straight to the coastline...

...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.

Parched and possibly overheated, I opted to cool down at 1321 Downtown Taproom Bistro 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.

Since I'm in the South Bay, I paid a little geographical homage with Strand's Beach House Ale, a slightly hoppy amber that's plenty refreshing. To help wash that down, I tried their Downtown Meatballs, 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 Bootlegger's Black Phoenix. 

For my final stop of the night, I opted for another longtime Torrance treasure: Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden in the Rolling Hills Plaza, well-known for their premium soba and udon noodles and above-average tempura.

So it's little surprise that I got the zaru soba & tempuradon combo. And it was as sublimely delicious as I remembered.

From the toothsome, slightly nutty flavored noodles, mildly accented with green onions, fresh wasabi and a soy/dashi-based dipping sauce.

To the impeccably light and crispy tempura dressed with a drizzle of delicate teriyaki sauce.

Finishing up by turning the remaining leftover rice into a porridge with the water that the soba's been cooked in.

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.

Lazy Dog Café

3525 West Carson St.
Torrance, CA

310.921.6080

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Patisserie Chantilly

2383 Lomita Blvd.

Lomita, CA

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1321 Downtown Taproom Bistro (site oddly defunct at the moment)

1321 Sartori Ave.

Torrance, CA

310.618.1321

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Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden

2537 Pacific Coast Hwy #A

Torrance, CA

310.784.0551

Dr Chocolate w Vosges, Trader Joe's and TAPS

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!)

Vosges' Banana Victoria Bar

Cost of Session: $6.99 for a 3 ounce bar

Physician Marketing: "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 pain d'epices, 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."

Patient's Notes: An evolved version of their (now discontinued) Organic Habana bar, 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.

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.

Likelihood of Rebooking An Appointment: 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.

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Powerberries

Photo credit to Elliot Plack

Cost of Session: $3.49 for 8 oz. bag

Physician Marketing: "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."

Patient Notes: 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.)

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.

Likelihood of Rebooking an Appointment: 9/10, yes - it has an overhyped 'health halo' but they're not that pricey and tasty overall.

TAPS Mocha Stout

Cost of Session: Went during their happy hour, so $4 for a 10-12oz. glass (looks like a tulip-flute hybrid)

Physician Marketing: "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 Portola Coffee Lab. Medium-bodied, roasty and chocolatey, finishing very smooth. (6.8% ABV)"

Patient Notes: 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.

Likelihood of Rebooking an Appointment: 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!)

No. 215: Foodventurous Travels - San Diego Daytrip

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.

We started off with a brunch at Urban Solace, a North Park restaurant serving up contemporary American fare with a few eclectic twists. For the table, we shared the buttermilk cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting and pecan butter sauce. 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.

And even though I didn't feel particularly guilty from sharing that cinnamon roll, I opted for a light brunch entree, an arugula/endive/radicchio salad with avocado, grapefruit, hazelnuts, goat cheese and roasted garlic vinaigrette with some grilled shrimp. 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.

Perhaps more impressive are their cocktails. I had the pleasure of trying The Big Apple with Leopold Brothers' NY Apple Whiskey, 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.

Following brunch, we took advantage of the lovely day to trek in and around Balboa Park, starting off at the Museum of Photographic Arts -- a cozy, intimate space with a few carefully-curated collections, though I was amused at the irony of them forbidding any photo-taking inside.

This was followed by a leisurely stroll through the El Prado, a brief pause at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion for a free concert and finally, The House of Pacific Relations' International Cottages 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.)

After the trot about the park, we decided it was high time to check out a brewery, and opted for the Lost Abbey, where we tasted a few of their eclectic, Belgian-inspired brews (along with some California-esque beers from its more mainstream sibling, Port Brewing.) 

Before leaving, I wanted to snap up a bottle for their Carnevale (my current fave of their line,) but that ran out so I opted for the peppery, spicy Red Barn Ale instead.

With the sun slowly sinking below the horizon, we dove back down to San Diego proper to dine at Craft & Commerce, 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 Up in Smoke (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 conbon's Lay Lady Lay (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.

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.

While we wanted to try their roasted marrow; that went out so we opted for the broiled oysters that wound up being sensational; the meat was succulent, velvety and briny and I loved the crisped up seaweed topping on it.

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.

More photos from flickr set here.

Urban Solace

3823 30th Street 

San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 295-6464

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Lost Abbey 

155 Mata Way #104  

San Marcos, CA 92069(800) 918-6816

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Craft & Commerce

675 W. Beech St. 

San Diego, CA 92101

(619) 269-2202