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

No. 198: Delphine (Hollywood)

I'm not usually one to get a case of the Mondays, but if I do -- I definitely know where to go for a post-work cheering up: the Raw Bar @ Delphine, where every Monday from 5 to 10:30 p.m. they have an assortment of specials that's friendly for the palate & the wallet.

The specials include East Coast oysters for $1 and West Coast ones for $2 (seemingly nonsensical given the travel distance, but the Pacific oysters are considerably larger, meatier, sweeter and definitely worth the extra buck; don't believe me, just shell out the $3 and do a comparison yourself!)

The chilled shrimp (and later, the littleneck clams on half-shell) were solid too, but oysters definitely took center-stage, and likely be the ONLY thing I'm noshing on while sipping a cool, crisp $5 glass of wine (Pinot Grigio or Sparkling Rosé.)

Another tip, trying to get here between 5 and 7 p.m., when they do their Happy Hour specials as well, giving you a few more bites and drinks to choose from (my bar neighbors raved about their sliced steak sandwich with gruyere and onions, and I personally was tempted to get their take on the poutine with cheddar cheese & short rib gravy.)

And if you have a few more bucks to splurge, their are some noteworthy cocktails to try as well. At a media tasting a while back, I had the chance to try the pictured above Eden w Belvedere Citrus Vodka, Cassis, Lemon Sour, Prosecco and Grand Marnier'd Cherry, which was a delightful warm-weather sipper that's fruity without being overly sweet. I also enjoyed the Rock Garden (w Rock Junmai Daiginjo Sake, Suntory Yamasaki Single-Malt Whiskey, Raspberries, Cinnamon, Agave Nectar and Soda) that was breezy and refreshing with just a hint of smoky-spicy edge.

Lastly, if you can wrangle a few friends to chip in (or looking to impress a date) -- their (not so) 'Petit Delphine' Fruits de Mer platter for $58, a wonderful assortment of seafood (mussels, clams, oysters, shrimp, ceviche, all topped with a whole crab) that can easily feed five as a satisfying starter... or two as a meal (one can only imagine the size of their even larger 'Grand Delphine' tower...)

Talk about a tasty way to start off the work week!

What Do Others Say?
- LAist was equally impressed with their seafood, noting "that's what you should be eating" here.
- Caroline on Crack and I actually been here before desserts and drinks a while back, which was iffy (I've since revised my opinion for the better after trying their savories too.)
- Vixen's LA Happy Hour found this place's specials "one of the best happy hours I have come across."
- The Minty says "Delphine makes a great dining option pre-theatre"
- Eat L.A. notes that this "spot is [also] good for business meetings, visitors touring Hollywood and post-clubbing hunger pangs."
- Eating L.A. would come back "just for a little Riviera reminder."

Delphine @ the W Hollywood
6250 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
323.798.1355
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No. 175: 320 Main (Seal Beach)

Considering I'm only 20 minutes away from downtown LA and its ever-burgeoning cocktail scene, going O.C. isn't really on the top of my mind when I feel like checking out drinks. But, as chance would have it, I had a (not-so) little road trip between going-ons in Huntington Beach and Culver City this past weekend and had some time to kill, so I decided to take a little pit stop in Seal Beach to swing by 320 Main, a newish restaurant & bar that Rumdood heartily (and repeatedly) recommended for some great sips.

Even though it's just a few blocks away from the shore, this is definitely not the typical beach bar. With its vintage interior that harks back to the early 20th century and an impressive collection of spirits and bitters, I felt assured that I'd be in good bar hands.

More reassurance came when I checked out its cocktail menu. Sorry, beach tourists and college students -- you won't find the likes of appletinis or frozen-blended daiquiris here. The list here is a good mix of longstanding classics, both familiar (Mint Julep, Old Fashioned) and a bit more esoteric (Tequila Daisy, Rum Swizzle), alongside with complex & contemporary creations.

Being no stranger to most of the classics, I opted to try one of their signature cocktails, Sweet Bricia ($12,) named after the fun-loving Bricia Lopez of Pal Cabron. Made with mezcal and tequila, creme de cassis, apricot liqueur, citrus and nutmeg - shaken and served over crushed ice, it was a provocatively delicious cocktail, with so many different flavors working together: the citrusy tang, a fruity fragrance from the apricot and currant liqueurs, with a smidge of nutmeg spice against a slightly-smoky foundation of the mezcal-tequila base. And at the same time, even with so many diverse components, it didn't feel like there was too much going on in there ~ as a matter of fact, it was so simply refreshing and quaffable I sucked the entire cocktail down in a matter of minutes. And yes, I totally forgot take a photo of the drink itself -- but at least I did get one of owner Jason Schiffer preparing it.

Next, I asked Jason to choose my next drink, and he opted for The Devil's Own ($11,) a sinful concoction made with Zaya rum, Fernet Branca, Gran Gala, vanilla syrup, absinthe and lemon essence. Sweet smelling and heavier bodied, this drink tasted good but I felt iffy about it in the middle of a summer afternoon... the richer texture and the warmer flavors gave the drink manhattan-ish quality that makes it more appropriate for an evening cocktail, perhaps before dinner or as a nightcap.

Picking up on that hint, Jason made me a Mai Tai ($10,) with their housemade orgeat and based on Trader Vic's recipe. So refreshing and way more in tune with the beach season, and definitely better than the one I tried at Don the Beachcomber's on a recent urban hike.

To help me wash down all that alchy, I also got their happy hour bruschetta ($4) - three long and thick slices of garlic-rubbed and grilled French bread topped with chopped roma tomatoes, basil and parmesan cheese shreds and a balsamic drizzle. Just like the two cocktails I wound up drinking, a warm-weather appropriate bite that's flavorful and not too heavy (though I would've actually ordered something more substantial if I wasn't already planning on a Le Saint Amour dinner shortly later that day.)

And as I settled my bill (and discovered Jason comp'd one of my drinks, thanks!) and took a stroll down Seal Beach, I'm already making a mental note to come back to check out more from their food and drink menu. From what I had so far, 320 Main definitely holds its own against the cocktail-forward bars of L.A. (and I even say better than some of them) and maybe with time, O.C. can carve out its own unique drinking (and dining) identity and not be thought of as L.A.'s second fiddle.

What Do Others Say?
- LA Times' Daily Dish considers it a "new address to remember for anyone interested in cocktails."
- OC Weekly's blog calls it " great place to get both the classics from the Age of the Cocktail. . . and new inventions created by mixologists with good palates."
- The Press-Telegram found "the service at 320 Main was excellent and enveloping . . . prices are a bit high for this area, but . . . they're reasonable for the quality of food and service."
- Thirsty in LA highlighted the Bricia-inspired drink here & at other local bars.

320 Main
320 Main Street
Seal Beach, CA 90740
562.799.6246
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Happier Hours in Santa Monica

Simply delicious grilled mortadella with pink lady apples at FIG

What's better than a happy hour? A couple of them within walking distances of each other! This past weekend I had a birthday shindig for two of my friends, and just realized how close some of the Santa Monica hotspots are to each other. So what better way to celebrate than to grab a few discounted noshes and sips at each of the places. To add icing on the cake ~ these places have HH over weekends too so no need to race down the 10 like a maniac on a work day.

Here's the SaMo HH breakdown:

Bar Pintxo - from 4 to 7 p.m., enjoy 6 tapas for $6 (they have about 8-10 to choose from on the HH menu) plus refreshing red or white sangrias for $3 and $1.50 Stella Artois. Light and refreshing and perfect for warm and sunny weather - for the tapas I was particularly fond of the crimini mushroom cap stuffed with jamon and diced veggies as well as jamon serrano with fresh tomato on grilled bread.

FIG Restaurant (previously posted on here) - from 5 to 6 p.m. you can enjoy "FIG at Five" where five wines, five cheese dishes and five charcuterie dishes are only $5 a piece. Some of my favorites here include the fizzy Juve y Camps '04 cava (what can I say? got a weakness for sparklies), fresh goat cheese with lavender honey and the grilled mortadella with pink lady apples.

Riva (previously here) - 5 to 6 p.m. on most days (but right now, during Laker games they have HH throughout the game instead) and the deal is $3 draft beers, $4 wines and cocktails and "appetizers" at a discount (I put apps in quotes because their ~$8 happy hour pizzas can easily be a meal for one.) Some other delicoso dishes and drinks include the sparkling Sulla Riva cocktail (prosecco, campari, elderflower liqueur and lemon juice,) San Daniele Prosciutto with their famous pizza bread ($8, or $3 for just pizza bread) and the crispy squash blossoms with local bufala mozzarella, mint and oven-dried tomatoes ($6).

Last but not least, Copa d'Oro (previously here) - with a Happy Depression menu 5-8 p.m. featuring a dozen classic cocktails at $5 (partial list from Caroline on Crack here), as well as beer and wine discounts and their paninis, regularly $6-9, at $4-6. I absolutely love their Jack Rose with applejack, lime and housemade grenadine and the gingery Dark & Stormy, as well as their nutella and almond butter panini on pain de mie bread. Mmm...

And FYI, FIG is dark on Sunday & Monday, as is Copa d'Oro on Sunday. Here's to happier hours (and I definitely don't need a birthday to cheer to that!)

Mini Foodventure #37: eat. on Sunset & eyeing rising moons . . .

A little more deet on my recent Twitter update (yes, I've followed the way of This Delicious Life and taken to lazy super-mini-entry updates too.)

I was working an American Idol finale related PR event last night involving my guests going to live taping of the show, so I had a 2.5 hour break while they were in the Kodak and I was out on Hollywood & Highland. I was going to brush it off as a long window-shopping, coffee-drinking, celeb-spotting session while grooving to my mp3 player--then I realized I didn't bring headphones.

Psycho I went, yes indeedy.

So what did I do in full work-clothes attire? No, not to the nearest electronic store to buy an inexpensive set, I'm too cheap/crazy for that. Nope, I walked over a mile to see if the Hungry Cat opened its doors yet. Doors still closed, so instead of waiting another 15 minutes, I walked further eastward to eat. on Sunset, looking forward to enjoying some discounted grub & drinks, with time to sober up before I have to meet my AI-attending compadres.

No photos this time around (nothing seemed worthy of a snapshot, anyhow) - the margarita ($6) was nicely made and deceptively potent, and their house white wine ($4), a pinot gris, was crisp, refreshing and appley. Food was not bad, but nothing to write home about either - I got the salmon lollipops ($6) in a rather bland chili-soy glaze (I'd prefer the BBQ sauce accompaniment from a while back), and the crispy (margherita) pizza ($6) that was just OK -- the basil flavors were there, but the tomatoes & mozz definitely went MIA on my tongue.

For a similar price ($11.25 - no HH discount), I'd rather order their Toad in a Hole instead of the salmon & pizza. I remembered loving that combo of creamy-jiggly eggs, crispy bacon and buttery brioche the last time I was there - hopefully that remained unchanged.

Also disappointing was that they eliminated the Tuesday $25 three-course prix-fixe, replacing them with available-anytime $20 "TV dinners"; you can choose either a "hungry meal" of meatloaf or a "healthy meal" of fish. (menu for reference) I say *hic*, I mean, "meh" to both.

More interesting than the food were the service & staff - most notably the bartend was wearing jeans too low-rise for his own good. Thankfully he wasn't bad looking, but still - over the course of 30 minutes I've observed at least two plumber-crack shows and four tugging up of the jeans. Once is cute, twice is questionably amusing, but by the third time I'm seriously wondering why he didn't tighten his belt or get better fitting jeans (and furthermore, why no flack from management about it). Also, the manager and staff loudly inquiring about scheduling and the missing host(ess) while on the floor - kinda comical/unprofessional in my opinion (but I had two drinks and used to work in foodservice, so I leaned towards the former).

So my almost-$25 happy hour there didn't quite make me happy, despite the nice buzz from the wine and the 'rita; however, I fixed that fast on my mile-long shlep back -- made a stop at Skooby's for a boatload of their garlic fries.

Oh yea, I saw Blake in person as he walked past me with camera crews and a small legion of fans in tow - funny how that comes as an afterthought; I'm more jaded in entertainment-related public relations than I thought . . .

eat. on Sunset
1448 N. Gower (cross: Sunset)
Hollywood
323.461.8800
http://www.patinagroup.com/eatSunset/