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

Mini Foodventure #68: Kiss My Bundt (Mid-City Los Angeles)

It's not you, it's me . . . wait, it is you!

You're too sweet. Really. No matter how many times we had a falling out, or how long it has been since we last saw each other.

But you're always there, just for me and no one else. In a neat little paper package, too. However, both of us know there's a problem in this relationship -- there's just no denying it.

Frankly, I just can't stand you going bipolar almost all the time; smothering me with sugar one moment, and falling apart with the slightest touch the next.

So, dear cupcake, I think I may have to call it quits for good*. The only thing you had going for yourself is your hand-held portability, but now I've found another... Individual-sized bundt cakes from Kiss My Bundt!

Dense enough to hold its own shape, richly flavorful without being too sweet, and just enough frosting to accent the cake's taste. It took all my will not to run out the store with this entire case. But I took small glee in being able to sample many of the flavors during the grand opening event.
The red velvet with cream cheese and chocolate with callebaut ganache glaze stole my heart!
Chrysta Wilson (Kiss My Bundt's chef-owner, seen here mashing bananas surely for another delicious creation), keep up the good work and keep an eye out for my many return trips. The only problem I have now is: which flavors to choose?

Kiss My Bundt
8104 W. 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 655-0559
http://www.kissmybundt.net/

*Ok, so it's not an ultimate ultimatum and I may still indulge in you occasionally, but 90% of cupcakes I've tasted are too crumbly and sugary (let's not even go there with the sugar-free ones)! Thus, I'm so glad there's another portable, no-utensils-required option for a slightly-sweet fix.