gearoy's Profile
Santa Barbara Wineries?
Sanford & Benedict has a beautiful old tasting room along a creek deep into their property and serve great wines.
Longoria on Grand Avenue also serves top quality wines (especially the Pinot Noir) in a stamped tin storefront in Los Olivos. Diana the proprietor is very friendly and sweet.
Rancho Sisquoc is a nice piece of property, but the wine is just so-so. If you do go there, definitely stop at Foxen which is nearby and makes great wines.
Ultimate Restaurants 2006
From among places I actually ate in 2006:
1. AOC
2. Canele
3. Angelini Osteria
4. New Concept
5. Hungry Cat
Large Group in Mendocino for Special Event
Need recommendations for place with quality ingredients that are well prepared, a good wine list, and a nice but comfortable space for a special birthday party. Would need to be able to accommodate about 20 people on a Saturday night. Thanks for your help!
Canele
Another trip to Canele in Atwater and another great meal! Thought that after Irene's review that it would be packed, but got seated right away. The staff are just great: sweet, professional, and knowledgeable. Tasted three appetizers: the beet salad, a celery root salad, and the brandade. The celery root was very special - crisp and tart against the spice of red onion and shaved garlic and balanced with big leafs of parsley. The brandade was restrained yet fun and the beet salad was fine but unremarkable. Entrees included a great seared trout with roasted leeks that made me forget about going fishing and cooking over a campfire. Just exquisite! The leg of lamb was nicely done with large pearls of Israeli couscous that just shined. The snapper was simple and elegant. I still adore the chocolate-almond torte that is redolent of a fine fresh chocolate covered marzipan candy - not too sweet, but definitely a dessert that can help you finish the last of your red wine. This is definitely my new favorite place!
Staying at the Westin Bonaventure in downtown LA - where to eat?
Walking from the Bonaventure to Little Tokyo or the fashion district is no problem, though Chinatown could be a bit far. The DASH is great for coming back if a one a one way walk is all you're interested in. Ciudad can be great, no doubt, and Water Grill is still top notch. Also, the coffee shop at The Standard hotel is very good and is nearby.
Staying at the Westin Bonaventure in downtown LA - where to eat?
Would avoid Prime as there are better steakhouses downtown, but do go to Little Tokyo to Daikokuya for ramen or Sushi Gen for great sushi. If Water Grill is too expensive, try Kendall's Brasserie at the Music Center for their seafood platter appetizer on a mound of ice - very fresh and quite festive. Roy's is too sweet for my taste (and I think a bit pricey for what you get). For more of the local resident vibe, you can get very good pizza at Pitfire Pizza (2nd & Main - very walkable) and I hear the nearby Edison Bar is serving food. Pete's Cafe (4th & Main) is another local's place worth checking out for great cocktails along with a pretty decent menu of classic American dishes or check out the small menu at the wine bar next door for sandwiches and salads. Tiara in the fashion district is also a good bet for quality veggie-friendly cuisine. Enjoy!
Disappointment at Canele
Have now been three time as well and each venture was a delight, starting with the most gracious hostess in the city through to the offbeat service and solid cooking. Exceeds Blair's by a bunch!
MINX - any updates?
It is still not to my taste as most dishes are too sweet. If you know Parkway Grill in Pasadena, then you almost know the food, just add sugar, smaller portions, and higher prices. Also, the nightclub scene is not pretty, so get out early if you can. See my first review here: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/324589 and most of this still applies (though it preceded the nightclub which I visited recently at about 10 pm at which time the restaurant was nearly empty except groups drinking wine dregs).
Canele in Atwater
This is a great neighborhood restaurant worth traveling to! I have now been twice, tasted six starters, six mains, and three desserts and not a one has missed the mark. Go there, enjoy a great meal, be surprised by the strength of the cooking, and relax among friends!
Starters: the beet salad rocks, the Serrano ham plate is big, beautiful, and wonderful (how can Serrano ham, aged goat cheese, and quince paste on a bed of garden arugola not taste good??, it cannot), and a special of a roasted squash and arugola salad was artful and delicious. The pissiladiere is a delicate, flaky, savory-sweet, and altogether spectacular concoction. Enjoy it with a glass of the rose and you will believe you are in Provence. Even a special of spicy Manila clams done simply and properly was able to fill the palette with flavors that made the dish shine.
Mains: Get the beef! Both the tenderloin and the bourgogne are top notch. The lamb on big israeli couscous is subtle and delicious, the snapper is crispy on the outside and perfectly creamy on the inside, and both the roast chicken and pork loin are thoughtfully prepared. But, get the bourgogne on wide paparadelle noodles or the leg of lamb on thick couscous on your first visit. Then you can branch out to the snapper or the tenderloin. Don’t worry, whatever your order, nothing will disappoint.
Sweets: The chocolate-almond cake is simply perfect; deep, rich cocoa mixed with a fresh, powerful marzipan. This is a dessert to share with friends if you can keep your own fork out of it. The poached pears with a biscuit and cheesecake that is more gooey cheese than cake are also winners.
Wine: The small, thoughtful wine list shows an inventiveness and attention to detail that reflects the cooking. A sparkling Lambrusco quenches the salty ham starter and can stand at the end of the meal against the chocolate-almond torte if need be. A simple Recelette rose works very well with the well-dressed salads or against the sweet onion of the pissaladiere, and an unusual but delicious red Sancerre accompanies the powerful mains in perfect harmony. Have you seen the Fred and Ginger buildings in Prague? If so, then you can imagine the red Sancerre leaning against the beautiful bouef bourgogne.
Space and Staff: Still the tight Osteria Nooni space with little change, but who cares when the food is this good and the staff this smart, sweet, genuine, and altogether comfortable. It is as big as it needs to be to be a neighborhood joint and friendly as a neighbor’s dining nook.
Give Oinkster Another Try!
Had my first foray this afternoon and was not disappointed in the least (except for the lack of Belgian ales - anyone know anything about this?). Sat outside on the patio enjoying the street scene below. The Oinkster Pastrami was delicious - nicely spiced with the tart of the cole slaw and the top quality mustard adding a nice acid balance against the unctuousness of the pastrami and gruyere. After the first half of the sandwich I was full and had planned to take the rest home with me, but I couldn't resist and finished it all. The pulled pork was delicate, not at all the saucy mess you get at Zeke's. The fries were tasty though could have used another 30 seconds in the fryer for my taste, so next time I will know to ask for them extra crispy. The garlic aioli was a treat. Can't wait for them to get their rotisserie permitted so that can try the chickens next time.
Where to buy a Chef's Knife in LA or SGV?
Would strongly recommend Ross Cutlery. Excellent selection, good prices, and extremely knowledgeable staff. Got a great set of Spanish stainless steel similiar to Global at half the price. Have used them every day and have never regretted the purchase. A side bit of trivia: OJ bought his knives there.
Any word on Oinkster + the new Eagle Rock fine dining place in a craftsman house?
Any update? Are they open today?
MINX in Glendale - a review
Set Up: Arrived at 7:45 on a Friday night without reservations and was seated within 30 minutes after having a poorly made Manhattan (too much vermouth, no garnish, not shaken enough, not cold enough).
The Room: Sleek, dark, energetic, and sexy space with excellent lighting, good detail, comfortable chairs, and high ceilings. A bit on the loud side.
The Crowd: Eclectic mix of 20-30 year olds dressed up for a night out, post golf cocktails, girls night out groups, and some older couples wondering what happened to the Rusty Pelican.
The Bar: Modern and cool with Ordered a Manhattan that took way too long to prepare, was way to sweet, and not properly served (no garnish, not shaken). Available wines by the glass were decent.
Wine List: Well organized, if a bit short. As a new restaurant, lacks older vintages. Nothing terribly unusual or interesting and a little over priced, but some decent selections available.
Appetizers: The Sushi rolls were extravagantly plated and overflowing with ingredients (scallop, bacon, and potato crisps or shrimp three ways) and lots of squeeze bottle drippings of sweet Sriracha and chili aioli. Very tasty, though a bit on the sweet side. The Robata are small and simply done - reminiscent of an amuse bouche. Salads were slightly overdressed, but otherwise very good.
Entrees: Ingredient quality was very good; excellent cut of steak and fresh Mahi Mahi that were cooked properly. Unfortunately, both came with overly sweet sauces. The theme seemed to be sweet and spicy (i.e., a sweet Thai red curry sauce), but the spicy was missing, leaving only sweet. The frites with the steak were underdone and rock-shrimp tamales with the fish were overly dense.
Desert: Several standards, but also a few interesting selections such as a parfait with basil cream.
Cost: The bill for two people with wine came to $150.
Overall: Trying too hard to be hip and "classy" so ends up feeling rather Vegas-y. Wait staff appear to have been hired as much for their look as for their skills. The menu items generally suffer from trying to fuse too many ingredients together, but that don't allow individual flavors to shine. For my taste, simpler and stronger flavors (and less sweet) would be better. For the price, there are lots of other places I would go instead. Would go back to the bar for a glass of wine and appetizers, but probably not stay for dinner.
Mother Coming to LA, need some help (again.. sorry)
Would also recommend New Concept for dim sum. It is menu dim sum and they have unlisted specials that come out of the kitchen fresh, hot, and delicious which I would grab every time. For a fun LA place, the Hungry Cat can't be beat.
Best Breakfast in LA?
Square One gets my vote. Had pancakes this morning with a fresh homemade caramel sauce made with bacon drippings! God, pig heaven. Also, the chanterelle, grits, and egg bake was spectacular and comes with toast from the Bread Bar. My wife hade a brioche, egg, and and frisee dish that was delicious. Also, homemade coffee cake, brioche, other baked goodies made it the only meal needed for the day.
Highland parks The Wild Hare
The place and neighborhood are fine. The pool hall across the street is also a good stop for a beer and a game. Also, don't miss Huarache Azteca down the street for a real taste of Mexico.
German Resturant in or around Downtown LA
Those are the two and they are very different. Red Lion is more hipster, but with great dishes (smoked pork shank that is fabulous, while Lowenbrau Keller is more old fashioned, but with lots and lots of food on the plate. For my money, the Red Lion is more of a destination.
Any Must-Haves @ Cafe Del Rey?
Also has been a few years, but I still dream about a lovely lavender panna cotta dessert....
Stuck on McBean Parkway in SCV
great suggestions everyone - I will check out a few of these, thanks
Stuck on McBean Parkway in SCV
Don't ask why, but just tell me is there anything out here besides corporate sleaze joints (you know who you are!)?
LA Chowhounds, is this indicative of "finer" dining menus in LA?
Nicole's is a gourment food and cheese shop nearby Bistro K that is well known for doing exactly what French cheese shops do before they sell cheese; namely, she ages it until it is ready to be served which can sometimes be for more than a year. I agree it could have simply said "aged Sulles sur Cher", but for us locals, adding "by Nicole" tells us that it has been aged properly not just kept in the fridge for a week.
On the broader subject, Bistro K menus do tend toward being occasionally overwrought, but more often the information is to help identify the source of the food item. IMHO the dishes are usually delicious, challenging, and well worth having to put up with the wait.
Laguna Beach restaurant--preferably on the beach
Claes Restaurant at the Laguna Hotel has a great view and is very good, but a bit formal. There is also a less formal patio service restaurant there with basic fare and even better views.
Solo options on LV Strip?
I would go to the Daniel Boloud Brasserie at the Wynn (just a short walk from Venetian) and sit at a table in the beautiful bar where the full dinner menu is available or go upstairs at the Venetian to Thomas Keller's Bouchon which will happily accomodate you at a table or at the old zinc bar. Lotus of Siam is indeed fantastic, but difficult without a car and best when a group can share a variety of dishes (and love spicy hot food).
Sante Fe for Opera
Thanks for the advice. Any suggestions on a restaurant, deli, or market for tailgate provisions?
Another desperate plea for fancy B-DAY DINNER REC!
Skip AOC for this one and head to Lucques - definitely a cut above. If everyone loves and wants fish, go to Providence.
favorite lentil dish?
Absolutely agree on the crunchy lentils at Cobras & Matadors. Last time we went the dish got ordered three times as people couldn't get enough!
Sandwiches in LA for Hollywood Bowl - Eastside
KP's Deli on Hyperion does a good job with Banh Mi, the funky Vietnamese sandwiches on baguettes. KP is the proprietor and the KP special is a combo that always satisfies with its variety of flavors and textures (think pork pate and fish sauce that work together).
Sante Fe for Opera
Coming to Sante Fe for a long weekend with opera and am looking for suggestions for fine regional cuisine and for pre-opera dining. Thanks
Bistro Verdu Update
Was there this past Sunday and agree with ipsedixit that it still works just fine as a neighborhood bistro. The Sunday country three course fixed menu was very good and a bargain; nicely dressed farmers market green salad, perfectly roasted half chicken, and a nice apple tart for $25. The wine list, while small, has some interesting selections.
