There and Back Again….a journey of life, death and rebirth..

Its been a very, very long time since I last wrote, thought, blogged, lived. Leaving CT and returning to LA was one of the best things ever (2015 -2018). Lauren and I were both healthy, happy, busy working, being creative, loving life in our little Beverly Hills home. Content. Incredible location. Then the company I worked for closed its doors, and my landlady, while a lovely person, raised our rent yet again. Rentals in LA were skyrocketing, so we packed up and moved back East, home to CT. While we no longer had the Wilton house, we found a nice little rental in Fairfield. Really did not know much about Fairfield, so it was a new experience, as we had never lived so close to town! Living in Fairfield is simply delightful! Snow storms, ice storms, hurricanes, etc are no longer a major issue, as town center is about a 5 minute drive, or a 30 minute walk. After 35 years of living in “in the middle of nowhere”, it’s a whole new way of experiencing CT & we are thoroughly enjoying it.

Our first year back had some issues. We missed LA, our little house, our neighborhood, the ease of getting around, being able to walk to Trader Joes, The Grove, The Beverly Center, Gelsons, LACMA, Ralphs, the Beverly Hills library, the Saban (a theatre & concert venue) right across the street, not to mention La could take a bus out our front door to anywhere in the city, and last but not least, THE WEATHER!!!!! Yes, to say we missed all that would be a massive understatement.

I was lucky to get a gig freelancing for a caterer in Westport, it worked beautifully as long as I did the work at my house! Organization was not his middle name. Then Lauren slipped on ice in the driveway and broke her arm, in 2 places. Our landlord sold the house we were renting and gave us 30 days to move. Loved the house, but not his asking price. Literally rented the first apartment we looked at, first floor of a duplex. 2 beds – 1 bath. Rent was reasonable. Neighborhood is adorable. Small collection of brick 2 story row houses, originally built for the employees of the Winchester Gun Factory. “Grasmere Neighborhood”. Location is stellar. Lots of history here, I would love to research it more. (another blog maybe?) Our house was built in 1910 and believe me, it still looks like it inside. This was the landlords Grandmothers house, which was probably pretty perfect back in the 20’s & 30’s! Right now, its a prime example of a 1960’s time capsule.

Now my feet had been bothering me since we moved back to CT, but I just chalked that up to being a Chef, spending 12-14 hours a day standing, wearing poor shoes, working on unforgiving cement floors, old age, cooking is not exactly a desk job! When I finally saw a Podiatrist, he diagnosed me with Mortons Neuroma, a foot neuropathy, very painful and not much can be done for it except, soaking the feet, massage the legs, invest in very good footwear, basically be kind to your feet, they have the job of supporting and carrying your body, give them some much needed love!

Then I tripped, my slipper caught the rug and I went flying. Couldn’t move. Tried to get up, no go. Lauren called 911, and the Fairfield EMTS came, got me up, took my vitals. BP was high, they recommended I go to the hospital to make sure I hadn’t damaged or hurt anything. OK. No worries, lets go. Get an EKG, MRI, the usual suspects. ST. Vincent’s here we come. I will say this, it is a great hospital with a wonderful staff. Though after numerous visits & lengthly stays over the course of a year, they never did diagnose me or find out what exactly was wrong with me. I give that credit to Bridgeport Hospital and the most amazing ER Doctor ever. He took one look at me while I was waiting to be admitted and knew exactly what was wrong with me, and what to do about it. He started treatment while I was in the ER, came in and explained to myself and Lauren my diagnoses and best course of treatment and to start asap. To say I owe this man my life is an understatement. Incredible #Inconceivable (lol) #ImNotDying #ImGoingToLive #BumexSavedMe

#MassiveEdema #3HeartAttacksInARow #EndStageCHF
This was in March. Of this year. My before and after pictures are simply unbelievable. In only 3 months. Unrecognizable. Prior to that hospital stay, I could not walk, had not slept in my bed, used a portable commode, never left the house, unless by stretcher to the ER, and was basically 100% homebound. 2021 is a complete blur/ blank/ void. I remember nothing & am grateful for that. I do know I was an asshole to family & friends, refused treatments and more. I was supposed to die. I did not. I wouldn’t be here if it was not for Lauren, my daughter, my life, my love, my angel. I owe her everything. Also my sisters, Kathy & Sheri and my brother Chris and his amazing daughter, my niece Robyn. Without them, the love, support, help, nagging, smiles, laughter, ass kicking, it would have taken me much longer to get where I am today. My PT ..physical therapist, Dave, who had tried to work with me before, and I was not co-operative, took me on again, against his better judgement. With his help, encouragement, prodding, and “homework” I graduated on Friday. I can walk unaided, I do have a cane (it has palm trees on it!) and for long stretches I have a walker, but am using it less & less (only once today!). I can move with my own 2 feet, can go up & down stairs, go outside, use the “proper” bathroom, shower (with assistance, thank you La), get in and out of my bed, stand, walk, get in my car, work & cook in my kitchen to name a few. These are simple daily life tasks we take for granted, something I will never do again. Life is a gift, and I intend to use mine to its fullest. I will probably always need a cane, but damn skippy, I will have the coolest ones ever!! What I have learned, is to be willing and open to listening, working, working hard, never saying “I cant do that”, be positive, happy, grateful, realize things take time. Enjoy what you have, what you were given, love yourself, your family, and those in your orbit. Your road doesn’t have to be a lonely one, there are many who will walk along with you, hold your hand along the way, give encouragement and support, and let go when its time for you to walk alone. Though you are never alone, Life is a journey, and often best experienced with those you love. ❤️💕❤️

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Dead in the Water ..

DineLA menu

Okay here we go. I’m starting off with a review on “Catch & Release” a seafood joint in Marina Del Rey. The name alone is rather strange, as “Catch and Release” implies you’ve caught a fish and decided to toss it back into the ocean. Something I did for years while learning to fish with my father in the lakes of his home state of Minnesota, and fishing trips from our house in Chicago to the lakes of Michigan and Wisconsin. Though for me, the stand out of these vacations was dinner at Win Schulers in Charlevoix, MI (the bar cheeze!! with warm bread ) and being able to operate the Pine River drawbridge and delicious walleyed pike and a bowl of fresh strawberries and homemade whippped cream! I was 8. Daddy had connections. After we left Chicago for Connecticut, I spent countless summers on Cape Cod, and in turn took my daughter to Wellfleet and Eastham for 18 yrs, every summer. So I think I have a handle on what constitues “good seafood”. This was not.

While I adore LA, so many of the “new chef driven concept restaurants miss the mark. I liken it to a case of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” . Everyone wants to go, gush over how wonderful it is, while clearly not realizing what it is your actually eating/ supposed to be enjoying. I could point my finger at a few well known food bloggers, but they arent worth my time. Oh hey look..who’s that fat ugly naked guy? It must be the emperor! Lol.

So on to my recent experience at “Catch & Release” in Marina Del Rey. I’ve been wanting to come eat here  as its a Jason Neroni project, and he has some LA pedegriee. This does not always make a good nor even a great restaurant.

We arrived on Thursday 23rd , during restaurant DineLA restaurant week. I had 2 pm reservations. We were on time, and though the restaurant was nearly empty, they sat us at a crappy tiny table in the back of the restaurant near the restrooms. Smooth move, not. The red chairs while cute are supremely uncomfortable.  We waited 10 minutes for anyone to acknolwedge us, or ask if we needed a drink. Water with lemon please. 10 minutes later water arives, no lemon, no ice.
We ordered the “ho -jo ” clam strips, off the regular menu, to start, and the DineLA gazpacho and salad.  As a kid in Chicago my parents always took me to Howard Johnsons for my birthday. I always ordered the clam strips and coconut cake. Always! A bit of HO-JO trivia, Jaques Pepin was chef and menu creator.

Upon ordering I purposely asked for the clam strips to come first, they brought everything at once.
Just plunked it down on the table, no “do you need anything else?” Nada, just walked off. The tartar sauce for the clams was awful and the clams so bready and salty we couldnt really tell if they were clams or not. Not a single belly in the bunch! One or 2 would have been a happy surprise. Could have been frozen clam strips from Ralphs. Seriously. At this point some Franks Red Hot or Texas Pete would have been a welcome addition.

Got the lobster roll, a mix of crab, lobster and shrimp apparently. Who could tell? It was shredded, like mush, no discerniable pieces of lobster at all. Hated the filling, loved the homemade parker house roll it was served on. That roll is a winner. Main problem here was besides the filling, the menu stated it was made with Dukes Mayo. Now Dukes is a southern mayo! No self respecting East Coaster would ever use anything but Hellmans! Dukes? Seriously? WTF! The pickles that were supposed to accompany the seafood salad roll were MIA. Given the size and quality of the seafood roll, I think next time I will just go to Gelsons or Santa Monica Seafood, buy a lobster, bring it home, cook it briefly, then butter poach it and griddle some kings hawIian rolls and make my own lobster rolls, enough for 2 with smear of hellmans and sprinkle of snipped chives. Connecticut style, the way a lobster roll was meant to be enjoyed.

My daughter ordered the DineLA salmon salad entree.. It was in a word, inedible.  2 super thin pieces of what looked liked deep fried salmon. She didnt eat it. I dont blame her, I wouldnt have gone near that even if it was free, it looked, literally like cat food. We were horrified. (See attached photo of salmon salad). As a Chef I can only assume that your cooks were saving the super thin tail pieces from whole salmon to use on the DineLA menu. Shame on you Catch & Release. The whole reason for DineLA is so patrons whom might not regularly frequent your establishment can come taste your wares at a reasonable price, hopefully enticing them to come back and spend even more money on your regular upscale menu. Based on our DineLA experience Its doubtful I will be back anytime soon. Though I always give a restaurant 3 chances before writing them off completely.

Dessert, the final course to grab you and hook you in (no pun intended) is also the last bite you remeber from your meal. It  was in fact, forgettable. The “Eton Mess” was a hot mess, though the promised warm molten lemon meringue was neither warm nor molten. Strawberries were delicious, but this is California, produce here is always stellar. The chocolate cake with expresso ice cream was just unpalatable, bitter, completely lacking in any form of sugar. A sad ending to an already sad dining experience.

Catch & Release, you have a great location and concept, just up your game ( and improve your staff and your food)! ps..your floor staff needs serious “people managment courses”. Completely unattentive and lacadasical. They were horrible. You have potential. I think. I will “re” review you in a month.

A few notes: chair pads for those horrible red chairs, salt and pepper on the table, plus hot sauce, even if its just tabasco. Slapfish has some amazing hot sauces, find out who makes theirs!! Wet naps for fingers . Take a page from Connie and Teds and offer a delicious New England clam or seafood chowder at lunch and your warm” house “made parkerhouse  rolls. You might just find your daily lunch buisness will increase. its the simple things, done well that bring a customer back.

After spending $74 on lunch for 2, to atuomatically tack on an 18 % service charge bringing my total to $86.36 for lunch and while I appreciate you want all your employees to earn a fair and decent wage, Trois Mec and Chez Panisse you are not.  If you are going to automatically include the tip at least stick to 15 % and let me decide if I want to leave more. This meal and service would have warranted a 10% tip. Tops.

Catch & Release, your not dead in the water just yet, but you might want to keep a life preserver handy just in case.

Life , Death, Taxes and New Beginings

Wow. where to begin. I last blogged in 2012. Seriously?? Left LA, moved everyone back to my CT country homestead, spent a small fortune updating it to sell, and turned down a HUGE job as executive chef of New York City’s #2 catering company. Basically spent a few years just hibernating, recovering from the deaths of my parents and trying to figure out where to live, what to do next. Stay in CT where I own the home?, move to Manhattan, or head back west. Aspen, Denver, Boulder, Jackson Hole all crossed my mind. Arizona and New Mexico also made the list. Seattle and  San Francisco were number one contenders, but I kept feeling the pull of LA. Our year there was wonderful. In retrospect, we didnt stay long enough and the New Yorker in me was like, um nope. Im a born and raised New Yorker, East Coaster, we are perfectionists! But after 3 visits back to LA in the past year, I knew it had to be LA, for now or maybe forever.

So we’ve been enconsed in our new little house since April. Its a triplex, only 3 units, set way back off the street on North Hamilton in Beverly Hills. its a 2 bedroom/ 2 bathroom with formal dining room, huge living room, fireplace, sitting area and good sized kitchen.  House was built in the 30″s and has freplaces, high ceilings and crown moldings, its loveley and about 1,500 square feet, and has 7 count them, 7 closets! And 4 of those are walk in size.  Its as if im living back on my 3 acres in Wilton, CT its so quiet! My 2 neighbours are quiet, lovely, and keep bringing me presents, (welcome doormats, plants, etc) I in turn am feeding them! its a great trade off.

We can walk to the Beverly Center, Sushi Roku, Joans on third and Son of a Gun in less than 10 minutes, LACMA is a 15 minute walk and The Grove a good 20-25 minute hike, or a 5 minute drive. All in all the location is amazing. Restaurant row (La Cienga) is the next street over.

Gordie who scared the crap out of us at first, cause he got sick, is doing brilliantly under the care of Dr Jeff Werber. Mans a genuis , thinks our 17 yr old “old man” has lots of time left. Incredible.

All in all, this was THE right decision. Im looking at lovely craftsman bunglows in Larchmont Village, Beach houses in Venice and Marina Del Rey, and eyeballing houses in my old neighbour hood, Cheviot Hills. Its out there, the perfect home, waiting for me and Lauren, though eventually she will fly the coop, but i will have loads of guest space! So for now Beverly Hills is home and it feels like one too!

Next up I get back to blogging weekly, foodie issues, recipes, restaurant reviews and see where that takes me, I hope you, all my friends, come along for the ride.

From a Pigs Ear

Lately, for the past few years, or longer, the whole  “nose to tail”  eco~wave has reached a veritable crescendo. I’m not talking about a Green Day concert here either, just the entire “embrace of the PIG”  has gone completely overboard. Sustainable cuisine (took that class at the CIA in 1996!) farmed raised & seasonality, is all fine and good. It’s also how our ancestors had to live. Grow your own fruits & vegetables, raise cows, pigs, chickens. So, it’s really not anything new. Nothing in the food world is ever really “new”. Go back and read MaCuisine by Escoffier, or Lady Sarah Lindsay’s Choice Recipes from 1889. You’ll soon discover that most of what is being done today, was done 200 years ago, or longer.

On to the Pig! Now I love crispy bacon, pancetta ..blah blah blah as much as the next person, I just think its been “cooked” to death. Bacon shoved down our throats in every possible way imaginable. Candied, dipped in chocolate, in ice cream, on donuts, in martinis, on popcorn, and god knows how many other inane ways its being showcased.  Really people, its time to stop the madness.

I long for the days of a simple & absolutely delightful BLT. Yup. On toasted white bread. Please cut my crusts off, thank you. Nice smear of Hellman’s or Best Foods Mayo, crisp iceberg lettuce, garden tomato, 4 or 5 slices of Oscar Meyer Center Cut bacon. Nirvana. To guild the lily when you can, some tender pieces of butter poached maine lobster. Period. Heaven.

Back to my original train of thought, one of the newest “crazes” coming from the ever-present pig, is crispy pig tails. Has nothing to do with hair, though I fervently hope it’s a fad that dies out fast. We are getting close to having nothing left of the pig to tout. Ears, snouts, belly, bacon, now tails…Though I believe Laura Ingalls Wilder might have been the first to immortalize crispy pigs tail in prose in her book, Little House in The Big Woods, where she and Mary were given the pig’s tail on a stick to roast in the fire (she burned her finger in her excitement and haste) and enjoy, as there would not be another one until the next year when they butchered the hog, known today as a domesticated pig. Somehow me thinks, Hogs Tails or Crispy Hogs ears, might not fly on to many LA menus.

How come none of these new young chefs never seem to showcase a fresh ham,which in itself is an absolute wonder. Properly cooked that is. Or a classically made headcheese.

I think what im most peeved about, is that most new young chefs today, by that I mean anyone under 30, has no idea what is to “earn your stripes”. Toil in a kitchen. Apprentice for a European asshole who demeans you daily, and makes you not only a better chef, but a better person for it. Peel 100 pounds of carrots in to perfect, tourenous. Make a classic terrine. A Ballontine, all this nose to tail bullshit, we called it ” Charceutirie”.

I learned to kill a chicken, clean fresh cows tounge, gut a live kicking fish. Id love to know if any young chef today even knows what the 5 mother sauces are. It’s too “easy’ these days for young chefs, they buy a food truck or do a “pop up”for a few weeks and bang, they are on the chart. Doesnt mean they have talent, some have $$ behind them, or whore themselves out to silly TV food shows, doesn’t mean they can cook.

No, I hope the food world regains its senses, and soon. Where chefs who have worked and loved and have passion for their craft get the respect, not some ass wipe who can make a foam or dried out greasy fried chicken from a truck, all because they have a huge Twitter or Facebook following. May the humble pig, slowly go back to the farm and may Green Day always rock on.

From the Cookbook Shelf

Here are some of my favourite new cookbooks, and some not so new, but all worth a look. Mostly for inspiration if nothing else, some for pure whimsy and some for a look into how other chefs think and their interpretation of the art of food.

1) Mugaritz ~ Andoni Luis Aduriz ~ simply pure genius

2) Modernist Cuisine at Home ~ Nathan Myhrvold ~ a must have

3) Elements of Dessert ~ Francico Migoya ~ inspirational & stunning

4) Japanese Farm Food ~ Nancy Singleton Hachisu ~ educational

5) Dirt Candy ~ Amanda Cohen~ whimsical, funny & awesome vegetables

6) In Pursuit of Excellence ~ Josiah Citrin ~ go eat at Melisse~ perfection

7) Street ~ Susan Feniger ~ travel inspiring & simply delicious

8) A Girl & Her Pig ~ April Bloomfield ~ charming, tasteful & fun

9) Mozza ~ Nancy Silverton ~ best pizza ever

10) Ludo Bites ~ Ludo Lefebvre ~ passionate frenchman, but brilliant

11) Southern Cooking ~ Bill Neal ~ every chef should own this

12) Lucky Peach ~ get your subscription, now

13) Beginnings ~ Chris Cosentino ~ good way to start a meal

14) The Little House Cookbook ~ original “nose to tail” & live off the land

Now this is only my “short” list, I received & perused many many more cookbooks during the past year, but these are “keepers”. Some books inspire, some give ideas or a new way to tweak or re-create a recipe, some are from restaurants that have food that is  just so damn tasty that you want to know, how did they make that! To me, that is the best kind of cookbook. Have fun, reading, cooking and taking it one step higher.

The Fight for Foie..or has this bird flown..

Such a great Beatles lyric” isn’t it good”?  I am refrencing Foie gras though the song “Norwegian Wood” has had it moments. It’s not only one of the best songs ever, it’s a wonderful book, Norwegian Wood, a 1987 novel by Haruki Murakami. Worth the read if you can find it! Ask nicely and I will happily loan you my copy, if you can read Japanese that is.

Sorry, I digress, as is my want,  so back to the bird. All this flapping going on about the inhumane treatment of ducks. This is very relevant in California right now, as you have only 2 days left to get your “foie” on. As of July 1st, kaput, nada, zip, forget it. It will be illegal to sell it. Though you still could buy it outside of California and serve it for free.  Give away a lovely torchon of foie gras, a crispy baguette, some apple calvados gelee. Nirvana. Just make sure to offer it with a glass of Tattinger, and be sure to charge $150 for the “tasting”. I would gladly get in that line.

The controversy being its inhumane to force feed ducks or geese. To fatten their livers. Stick a tube down their throats and feed them to the limit. Thusly enlarging their liver. Creating a delicacy craved by many. Though these band-standers who are doing all the hawking, flapping about this, don’t mention that ducks & geese have no gag reflex. None. It doesn’t hurt them. Now I have a few men friends who would be happy if their women didnt have that problem! LOL. JK..I have been reading 50 Shades of Grey, quite simply the worst penned load of shite on the planet. Seriously. But like a stupid duck most dont know any better. Never will.

This ridiculous ban actually started in 2003! One of the first chefs to feel its wrath was Laurent Manrique, whose home, business & car were targeted by animal rights activist, spray painting his home, tossing acid on his car, and flooding his new venture, “Sonoma Sauveur”. Incuring a loss of over $50,000.

This was downright terrorism, by Americans, on American soil, to an honest hard-working, upstanding chef. What a travesty. These “American” animal rights activist should be ashamed of themselves. Please, don’t these people have something better to do than get their knickers in a twist over one of the stupidest animals on the planet? We eat them. Whats next? No Eggs? No fried chicken? Where will it end? To ban burgers because cows aren’t happy? They cant roam freely? Cant take a nap when they want? Make burgers illegal? If that’s so, most of the restaurants in Los Angeles will lose 80% of their revenue.

I find this whole nonsense exactly that, nonsense. As for the powers that be, one can only hope this bullshit ban comes to an end. We are chefs, we are artists, our palate is food, whether its mooing, squawking, swimming, growing in the field, it all eventually comes together to create a great dish that ends up on your plate. We create. Cook. Present. Then one eats. Enjoys. Savours. Find a wow factor, and looks forward to the next meal that makes your mouth, tummy, psyche, mind go wow! I want to do that again. Now.

By depriving chefs of the ability to use foie gras is like taking the paint away from Leonardo Davincini, a piano from Beethoven, the film rights from Hitchcock, the pen from Ayn Rand. The music from Bernard Herrman. You get the jist. We are not floating in a lifeboat here, this is reality.

I am also ashamed of some of the high-end chefs in LA who support this ban, yet in the past have highlighted foie gras on their menus. Hippocrates. I will boycott your restaurants. You know who you are. Some have empires here in LA, others, little guys. Doesnt matter. You once highlighted foie, yet now you run as scared children. Shame on you.

Tomorrow it could be caviar, the eggs of a sturgeon,(omg, your eating an unborn baby), diver scallops, Kobe beef, black truffles (the pigs used to hunt them out) all food comes from a live source. So duck, duck goose. Put up a fight if you are a chef, or even just a gourmand who loves foie gras. Fight for your rights! Cue the Beastie Boys here, only not to party, but to eat and enjoy what you like.

You can still get your foie on tomorrow, Monsieur Marcel in the Grove sells it by the pound (über expensive, but worth it). Bouchon sells a terrine in the Bouchon Bakery in a lovely glass jar, $75, but hey, you’re not going to get it ever again! Plus you get to keep the cute glass jar. Dont know if its still on the menu, but HavenGastroPub in Pasadena has the most amazing Foie Gras Cheesecake.

It just might be the singular most wonderful delight I have ever put in my mouth.Thank you to Chef Greg Daniels and pastry chef Santanna Salas.

After Saturday one can hope these chefs will continue to make terrines, parfaits, cheesecakes, delicate bites, only using chicken livers. While we wait for this completely inane rule to be overturned. Til then D’Artagnan gourmet foods can hopefully help supply one with the luscious delicacy we are so unfairly be deprived of. http://www.dartagnan.com. You can buy it and have it shipped to California, but you cannot sell it.

Until then, source, travel, enjoy, order out of state, and if one of your favourite restaurants is having a “secret foie tasting” support them, no matter the cost. You will get it back in spades..or terrines, or parfaits.

I will never give up on foie even though I am moving back to CT / NYC..its  the heart beat of many a chef. Keep  it thumping.

To Live, Love & Leave LA

To Live, Love & Leave LA

Oh LA, how I do love you. This has been one of the best years of my life. Meeting amazing people, cooking for celebrities, lunches at Spago, concerts at the El Rey, Avalon, Wiltern, Music Box, Staples Center, most with VIP passes. Awesome stuff. TV tapings, Two Broke Girls, Jeopardy, Craig Ferguson, Conan!! Seeing Chicago with Christie Brinkley at the Pantages, Elaine Page in Follies at the Ahmanson. and the Broadway production of Green Days American Idiot ( it was passable). But Broadway its not and concerts lack a certain “bonding”

To Live and Eat in LA

Well we have now been in LA for 8 months what a wonderful time
they have been. I may never look back. We’ve been to art exhibits at LACMA, MOCA, Skirball, LAOC westside food & chamber music series, concerts, walks on the beach, finding fun & funky shops, hitting farmers markets and my getting my 1st tattoo. I confess to wanting another. Now. There is just an endless plethora of things to do, discover and enjoy life to its fullest.

Upcoming : Susan Feniger at LAOC, The Wombats at the El Rey, The “Rock” at LACMA, dinner at Gary Menes pop up LeComptoir in DTLA, Green Days American Idiot, which I saw 3x on broadway, The Follies with Elaine Page, Chicago with Christie Brinkley, and oh snap.. so much more. I am loving it. But not so much as I am loving discovering LA food. CoolCulinaryLA destinations.

This has been serious fun, and has helped me as a chef to better understand this city what Angelenos like to eat. Some casual, some upscale, some pretentious, some simply delicious and lots of hidden gems. So without further ado, here is my current list of loves in LA. You can google the destination, though for right now most are on the west side, as I reside in Cheviot Hills, nestled between Century City, Beverly Hills, Culver City & Westwood. I think I will stay awhile :).

CoolCulinary”s LA picks:

My top fav would have been Mako on South Beverly, but my friend Mako San lost his lease but is still creating casual nibbles at Robata-ya on Sawtelle. Give it a look.

Spago: Beet salad, tuna cone, pizzas, salads, and of course Sherry Yards amazing desserts. Timeless classic, get there and eat before he closes to reinvent the wheel.

Craft: Open your wallet and enjoy.

Bouchon: Moules frites & foie gras terrine.

Hatfields: Quinn hatfileds delicious but oh so very pretentious food.

Waterloo & City: Great gastropub, fantastic happy hour, and a kick ass punk rock soundtrack. Me likes.

Akasha: Healthy meets haute. Wine Wednesday.

The Six: Calm, quite, amazing food. Someone in the kitchen spent serious time in france, trust me I know. Order the mushroom toast or steak frites.

City Tavern: Beyond a doubt LA’s BEST burger (sorry Fathers office) and the cheesy poofs are a must. Chef Jessica is a wonder.

Gjelina: Pizza & butterscotch pot de creme.

The Farm of Beverly Hills: Sat/Sun brunch, 2 items only: Country Benedict or peanut butter stuffed french toast w/ caramel sauce.

The Nosh of Beverly Hills: When I need my new york city jewish deli fix, it’s not 2nd ave, but it will do. Cantners runs a close 2nd. Langners the best but to far a drive for a quick fix.

Cut: Simply amazing steak, ok one that will break the bank.

Son of a Gun: By far one of my most fav places in LA, parking sucks, but oh.. the lobster roll, shrimp toast, linguine with clams, spicy chicken sandwich..damn just order the entire menu and smile. We do.

Lukshon: Duck confit spring roll, chicken pops, beef tartare, enjoy.

Chego: Pork belly, kimchi, ooey goey fries. Enjoy.

The Misfit: Santa Monica. Just go.

Animal: The name says it all.

Honey Kettle Chicken; No not chicken & waffles, fried chicken (the best ) & pancakes, get the blueberry ones & the hush puppies.

Rocksugar: Best. Happy. Hour. Ever, in the Century City mall.

Providence: Its NOT Le Bernadin, but its damn close.

Melisse: Prepare to spend an insane amount of $$ and be glad you did when its over.

Newcomers: Sotto & Picca also in my hood, hell yes.

Street: Susan Fenigers wonderful new cool spot. Drop in when u can.

“Brunchy” spots:

Clementine, Huckelberry, Jar (great mad men vibe) The roof on Wilshire.

French: Comme Ca, ps the burgers decent.

Sorely missed: Phamish food truck.

Nice casual nibble: Josie Next Dooor, duck bahn mi & bbq chips & a killer ipod soundtrack.

Pancakes: John O’Groats on pico, have the bacon chedar waffle.

Pizza: Pizzeria Mozza, PitFire & 800 degrees.

BBQ: Parks or Jr’s.

After a Craig Ferguson taping at CBS: TART across the street.

Business deal: The Grille on the Alley.

Over priced hotel breakfast: The Belvedere in the Peninsula.

Hidden Hotel Gem: Hush in the Mosaic Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Steaks: Cut, Mastro’s, Lawrys the prime rib.

Mall shopping: Obiko Mozzerlla bar in the Century City mall, back up: Breadbar or Gulfstream.

Sandwiches: BayCities or Phillipes.

South of the border: Border Grill.

In the mood for a drive to the SGV! : Beging Pie House, Mama’s Lu. Luscious Dumplings, in a pinch on the westside: Fu’s Palace, on Pico, dumplings only!!

Bakerys:

Bouchon= cookies. Magnolia=cream pies. La Brea=pretzel bread. Friandise/=cupcakes. Jamacias cakes= stuffed scones.

Food Supplies : Surfas, awesome store, simply horrendeous staff.

Best imitation of Dean & Delucca in NYC, #Joans On Third, right down to the floor. Foods good though.

Markets: Gelsons, Mitsuwa, Ralphs

Seafood: Santa Monica Seafood

Thai: duh..Jitladia

Tacos: Love komodo cafe on Pico, fish & grape tacos..(BEST PAIRING EVER!!)

To say you’ve been:

Koi, great scene, mediocre food.

The Ivy : Just to view the hilarious menu. Order the fried chicken, guacamole & spaghetti & meatballs or just get a salad.

Mr. Chow: Shun Lee Palace it’s not. But go anyway.

The Original pantry in DTLA, cause u have to.

Pinks Hot Dogs, take an out of town friend there.

The Apple Pan, Juniors deli, Frank & Mussos, Titos Tacos, all fall into this category. Go once and your good.

Good honest bar food besides #CItyTavern is #RushStreet. ( PS: City Taverns Cheesy Poofs are phenomenal)

Nice newcomer : POST & BEAM

Dont believe the Hype: Cue the Arctic Monkeys here:

Ludo Bites food truck , been 3 times, bah. Greasy, soggy mess.

WP24, stunning space, incredible view, sadly overpriced food that doesnt deliver.

BLD, overcooked.

Grub, isnt that a name for a worm. Being on Top Chef does not make one a good cook. Though INK is stellar.

The Larder at Maple drive. I didnt get it.

Quite a few more, but I never pass judgement till after a 3rd visit.

Still on my list to get to:

Red Medicine, Axe , The Spice Table, Cafe Basil. Baco Mercat, Canele, Forage, Lemon Moon, OsteriaMozza, Cooks County, Fig, Nobu, Jiraffe, Tavern Brentwood, AOC, Luques, Xiomara, Rays Stark Bar, Food, Chinios on Main, Madeo, Campenille, and holy fuckballs to many more to list. This looks like I have a great path ahead of me.. and then on to my own space.

Which I cant wait to get underway..Stay Tuned. V

You Know Your A Supernatural Fan When ~

It as been quite awhile since I blogged about anything, having to much fun since I moved to LA, family illness, and numerous other distractions have sidelined me from blogging. What a better way to ease back into it by blogging about my beloved show #Supernatural. While I hated season 6, this last season has had good moments and bad ones, but all in all .. not bad. So here goes: 

 1) You want Castiel back as Cas

2) The leviathian story line sucks. Lets get back to Lucifer & the archangels.

3) You miss the Trickster.

4) There really is a purgatory.

5) Sam and Lucifer have an unbroken bond.

6) Spike (james marsters) is fabulous as David Stark. More! Bring more!

7) Bobby didnt really need to die.

8) Crowley is the king of hell.

9) 1944 was cool, so was Eliot Ness.

10) Clowns are totally fucking scary. Period. 

11) Working in a post office blows.

12) Never trust a real estate agent who smiles all the time.

13) Lucifer isnt going anywhere.

14) Hunters are your friends.

15) Beware of ballet slippers.

16) A Shojo is NOT the korean drink soju.

17) Cursed objects are real.. look 4 the canadian seires “Friday the 13th” about cursed objects in an antiques shop. Brilliant show. 

18) Amazon warriors really are women.

19) Jensen Ackles is hotter than ever.

20) jared Padalecki & his wife just welcomed a baby boy in to the world. Congratulations!

 

Loving LA..

Ah Los Angeles..how I love thee.. First my dance card has never been so full. It’s a wonderous experience discovering this amazing city. Secondly, I don’t think i will ever want to leave! While there are most certainly asswipe drivers, it really is nowhere near as bad as New York City.

I plan on blogging about food, wine & of course places I fall in love with. Eventually working up to my own special spot in LA. I am already scouting locations..so fingers xxxx.

to be continued.