tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43778355708734704782024-03-13T13:28:27.205-07:00Dining On DealsDining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-14719062196681148982012-01-15T20:58:00.000-08:002012-02-01T14:59:46.740-08:00Over the River and Through The Woods, To Find A Great Deal at Pickity!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_7iaySxgojg-6p5ull2v3ySIZRMnw_Y5x5603rAb6kc-CaOPpo86kffYrKvNg6PxlbwAXzds0ehzaxx308epF44ymBuZdQYZrOrKLMiAlOYd9LD-M0X8w4Eba-JjBgbszx5WwFqJHsc/s1600/IMG_1383.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_7iaySxgojg-6p5ull2v3ySIZRMnw_Y5x5603rAb6kc-CaOPpo86kffYrKvNg6PxlbwAXzds0ehzaxx308epF44ymBuZdQYZrOrKLMiAlOYd9LD-M0X8w4Eba-JjBgbszx5WwFqJHsc/s320/IMG_1383.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407160112502494290" border="0" /></a>At the end of a rutted dirt road, deep in the forest of Mason, New Hampshire, there lies an enchanted cottage with the best deal I have yet found in my travels. Pickity Place only serves lunch, and you must come at one of their scheduled seating times (11:30, 12:45, or 2), but this is a meal well worth the trip! For $16.95 they serve a five course luncheon including their yummy drinks.<br /><br />As we waited for the lunch bell to ring, we wandered the beautiful grounds. Pickity grows most of their own herbs and edible flowers, so we enjoyed their subtle aroma as we took in the lush greenery. The scents were even more pungent inside the "drying shack" where plants filled the room, hanging from the rafters and lined up against the walls. Should you be feeling inspired by all this nature, they have a garden shop filled with whimsical delights. I purchased a tinkling wind chime to remind myself of this magical place when stuck back in the concrete jungle that is Los Angeles.<br /><br />Pickity Place also has a gift shop. The front section is filled with sweet little tchotskys such as magnets and placards reminding us why "daughters are precious" and "Mothers are angels." There's also some hand crafted jewelry and gourmet soaps. It is in the back section that this gift shop really comes into it's own. Imagine the spice rack at the local supermarket. Now expand that to fill the next two aisles and you will have some idea of what this room looks like. Herbs, blends, teas, dips, even mixes for cakes and breads fill the room. To stave off any pre-lunch hunger they even have yummy samples.<br /><br />The final stop before heading into the restaurant is the Little Red Riding Hood Museum. The cottage that is now the restaurant was actually the inspiration for the illustration of Grandmother's House in the 1948 edition of Little Red Riding Hood. They've recreated an exact scene from the book in one of the rooms, and I can only imagine little children will be enthralled to find the wolf disguised as grandmother lying in the canopy bed.<br /><br />On to the main event: the food! Pickity serves the same five course menu every day for a month and then changes it completely. This ensures that the food is always in season. To plan your visit in advance, you can check out the menus online. They offer the choice of a vegetarian or meat entree.<br /><br />We were led out to the porch, a tiny glassed in structure with four tables. The red table cloths, fresh flowers, and napkins wrapped in ribbon give the room a festive atmosphere. Any meal at Pickity Place automatically becomes an event!<br /><br />Upon being seated, they offer the choice of coffee, mocha, herbal tea, spiced tea, or lavender lemonade. Having previously tried the lemonade (a surprising and deliciously refreshing choice) I opted for the spiced tea. Served with a cinnamon stick, it looked comforting and homey, however the flavor was not as intense as I might have wished. <br /><br />They also presented us with their fresh baked bread of the month: Sunflower Nut Bread. Served warm, this tasty treat was soft but substantial, exactly what I expect from homemade bread. The flavor only improved when I slathered on a generous helping of honey lemon butter. It was the sort of nostalgic mouthful capable of transporting one to a simpler time - perfection!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ykQWGM7kbUqKhxYibppJFzSGpC5MGdH8hmHj8PlwAtTFV31bGXponU-D3GdNmGdKuDbde0Uo0AeUTHT6J3td1JQBqqr7LhfRcXIDpjRN26Yk8GODB6dq2T5oJ28L32276msEutngQmk/s1600/IMG_1376.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ykQWGM7kbUqKhxYibppJFzSGpC5MGdH8hmHj8PlwAtTFV31bGXponU-D3GdNmGdKuDbde0Uo0AeUTHT6J3td1JQBqqr7LhfRcXIDpjRN26Yk8GODB6dq2T5oJ28L32276msEutngQmk/s320/IMG_1376.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407159792383711362" border="0" /></a>Also waiting at our table was the "first course" which was a veggie dip. As a true foodie, I find it hard to consider dip a first course, but I forgive them (even at four courses, this is a ridiculous deal!). The dip itself had a robust tang, the result of sour cream, that was tempered by the mellower mayo. The strongest flavors were garlic and onion, a satisfyingly savory start to our meal.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQgTa6_b1Lob3U3m2eTi3GYI2JOmFpq2sxP_YNTit29QXfmGc1B1UDXorbi5BvqeHVIiI1tc5Hz8XTS_Oa755zcZZkw89FPzDZk6ZUe9J5pkdry_sQcXfjU6IIvxj7lNm9Z61Nu4Mtgs/s1600/IMG_1374.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQgTa6_b1Lob3U3m2eTi3GYI2JOmFpq2sxP_YNTit29QXfmGc1B1UDXorbi5BvqeHVIiI1tc5Hz8XTS_Oa755zcZZkw89FPzDZk6ZUe9J5pkdry_sQcXfjU6IIvxj7lNm9Z61Nu4Mtgs/s320/IMG_1374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407159236260604898" border="0" /></a>Next came the Summers End Soup. This delectable treat was chock full of fresh veggies and the broth had a smoky depth unlike anything I've ever experienced. It was complex and intense while still maintaining the integrity of the vegetable flavors. A true treat!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSGpmsu9I55yD-fk6FBYdeWnKZwSAEVs2bV1osoBUEbPRNhjApyAxsHhpPQTOY7xhevp5RP-hkt8t7se09azhbimD-1KfWDJhO_Wd0RW_iSjKbnJPJLotc5z4uIQCl_jej3dAvlRpf_E/s1600/IMG_1377.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSGpmsu9I55yD-fk6FBYdeWnKZwSAEVs2bV1osoBUEbPRNhjApyAxsHhpPQTOY7xhevp5RP-hkt8t7se09azhbimD-1KfWDJhO_Wd0RW_iSjKbnJPJLotc5z4uIQCl_jej3dAvlRpf_E/s320/IMG_1377.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407158320881992866" border="0" /></a>Next came the Artichoke and Mozzarella Pinwheel Salad. The zing of the vinaigrette was offset nicely by the creaminess of the mozzarella. With the herbs intact, we were able to fully experience their flavor which made them an interesting addition to the salad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYWL36gXmiYaj2S70VFjIvVvVoAdqUzvPPZyV7vVo-biE6oppj1n3SqIQy3lpyR7SUgnVHO4PNG3-QqjI21e5rX9QZs2REwO3j_4sf4A4ymKlVHcKfADUM6vBJQbWZAxkajSNc62tMKE/s1600/IMG_1380.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYWL36gXmiYaj2S70VFjIvVvVoAdqUzvPPZyV7vVo-biE6oppj1n3SqIQy3lpyR7SUgnVHO4PNG3-QqjI21e5rX9QZs2REwO3j_4sf4A4ymKlVHcKfADUM6vBJQbWZAxkajSNc62tMKE/s320/IMG_1380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407156830338681714" border="0" /></a>For the main course, I chose the Pork Rollade with Caramelized Onions. The edible flower and herbs were a genius way to add color to an otherwise very brown dish. The pork was moist and tasted great with the generous amount of caramelized onions. Sauteed Zucchini, served on the side, was a pleasant surprise. I have previously found this dish to be flavorless and watery, but they must use ample amounts of butter and plenty of herbs to kick up this side as it was positively scrumptious!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZIB8SB0d06pIhNbipA_h9qq6kqNkiW5MP1Q3VgpH-XEMp5kPWGG8xJ9oAabhyUh_lkmdWptA_hzjacS4sBj6fX8L3wz_3-5fxtwXjJw30oKblce0-EmFAo6mpqdCqrxC3SVCIptETGU/s1600/IMG_1381.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZIB8SB0d06pIhNbipA_h9qq6kqNkiW5MP1Q3VgpH-XEMp5kPWGG8xJ9oAabhyUh_lkmdWptA_hzjacS4sBj6fX8L3wz_3-5fxtwXjJw30oKblce0-EmFAo6mpqdCqrxC3SVCIptETGU/s320/IMG_1381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407156383146348082" border="0" /></a>We ended our feast with Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with Blueberry Cream. The filling was packed with strawberry flavor while the rhubarb imparted an interesting texture. Encased in a buttery flaky crust, I couldn't resist devouring the whole piece despite my full stomach. The blueberry cream was a revelation, lightly sweet with just a subtle fruitiness, I thoroughly enjoyed every bite!<br /><br />All in all, this is the best deal I have found since writing this blog - I give it five belt notches out of five! If you ever find yourself even remotely close to this restaurant (like within two-four hours away), I suggest you take a detour and give it a try - you will not regret it! I confess, my family and I made the three hour drive from Cape Cod, stayed in a B&B, and made an entire excursion out of this one meal. We all heartily agreed that it was well worth it!<br /><br />Pickity Place serves their $16.95 Five Course Luncheon Daily.<br />248 Nutting Hill Road<br />Mason, NH 03048<br />603-878-1151<br /><a href="http://pickityplace.com/">pickityplace.com</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/215/1076042/restaurant/Manchester/Pickity-Place-Restaurant-and-Herb-Farm-Mason"><img alt="Pickity Place Restaurant and Herb Farm on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1076042/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-40806206342477729432011-12-10T15:45:00.000-08:002012-02-01T15:01:05.153-08:00Appetite Stimulus Menu at Katana<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPuftHkKH94lNv2w-o-PxdiSCeg0dp-3Zv4JOYw9X0IPxVuwu4Qpu7BnWBeB32MUAa87pAQQJGevhffQIuytZIz1BeHOwYglSJWZQQ3iaxTAP4DIiacJAe7C3yR6bYL7JtGoLBwoXolQ/s1600-h/Katana.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPuftHkKH94lNv2w-o-PxdiSCeg0dp-3Zv4JOYw9X0IPxVuwu4Qpu7BnWBeB32MUAa87pAQQJGevhffQIuytZIz1BeHOwYglSJWZQQ3iaxTAP4DIiacJAe7C3yR6bYL7JtGoLBwoXolQ/s320/Katana.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355485033175451938" border="0" /></a><br />Walking into the bar area at Katana, one experiences an overwhelming sensation of Hollywood trendiness. The concrete walls with recesses for candles, the piles of bricks, the low lighting, the funky world music, the model gorgeous hostesses and bar tenders. It's just the sort of atmosphere in which you expect to find Lindsay Lohan dancing on tables as paparazzi jostle you in their quest for the money shot. However, the clientele at Katana is surprisingly low key. When the hubby and I went on a Sunday night, we found a lot of families and almost touristy looking couples. So while the hostess may be in stilettos, you can certainly come in your keds.<br /><br />After waiting for about ten minutes (with a reservation) we were escorted back to the surprisingly empty dining area. What were we waiting for? The room is a study in what Americans think "Asian Decor" looks like: Lots of dark wood with embroidered silk cushions and small smooth pebbles where you can rest your chopsticks. A fun place for a date night. <br /><br />We had come for their Appetite Stimulus Menu - Four courses for $35 dollars. I'll review them in the order they came (which was the opposite of what they were supposed to be, except for dessert). However, our very sweet waitress did warn us that the first course does take a while, and I had fun eating it all tapas style. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryDZFn0ucOIAFkYSxUjhqq49ZdUfEKO0rWqmEjHnphvHdyDW-cfnd6kYvGTN3OIPFeBmO_a5Icx-e6IjaK7xcx614y-Q7g8vGtbF9OyTC85HdrYQ0XLz9ejfG3Fv7phaV3pl_O1qEWYg/s1600-h/IMG_1269.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 203px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryDZFn0ucOIAFkYSxUjhqq49ZdUfEKO0rWqmEjHnphvHdyDW-cfnd6kYvGTN3OIPFeBmO_a5Icx-e6IjaK7xcx614y-Q7g8vGtbF9OyTC85HdrYQ0XLz9ejfG3Fv7phaV3pl_O1qEWYg/s320/IMG_1269.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355483339077067474" border="0" /></a><br />First came the sushi (you could also choose a chicken teriyaki entree). A confession: While I enjoy sushi, I don't feel overly qualified to review it. To me it either tastes fishy (which is a very bad thing) or it doesn't. This didn't. The fish tasted fresh and had a nice texture, but it was all pretty basic stuff. A nice simple plate of tuna, yellow tail, salmon, shrimp, spicy tuna, and a California roll. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4941tXCbvzxbA-xXFpQKab6oKfO8LltcZ12Kq8dWJCsVsKCaiRG-urjgvxsoot5qGSjcQk6MeNyC7OADzAWnLOsA-G56nMVoy0SRWzyn1i_0tcideDqz6aeInbO8QgQFwbepn0xl1Io/s1600-h/IMG_1270.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4941tXCbvzxbA-xXFpQKab6oKfO8LltcZ12Kq8dWJCsVsKCaiRG-urjgvxsoot5qGSjcQk6MeNyC7OADzAWnLOsA-G56nMVoy0SRWzyn1i_0tcideDqz6aeInbO8QgQFwbepn0xl1Io/s320/IMG_1270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355483110202934018" border="0" /></a><br />Then came the <span style="font-style:italic;">Robata</span> or skewers, which Katana is apparently known for. I can't tell you about the salmon with pesto as I hate cooked fish. (I did take one intrepid bite - just for you dear reader - before reassuring myself that I do indeed despise the stuff). The chicken meatballs with teriyaki sauce was steaming hot, moist and tender. However, the teriyaki was quite light and lacked the deep flavor I was expecting. Luckily, all robata are served with three dipping sauces: ponzu, spicy mustard, and ginger. These flavorful concoctions did wonders to elevate the chicken. Finally, we also had cherry tomatoes wrapped in bacon. Now, there is a soft spot in my heart for all things encased in bacon, but these didn't blow me out of the water. The bacon was so thin it simply added a complex note to the steaming tomato juices bursting in your mouth. While I would have liked a little more meat, it did balance the acidity of the tomato beautifully and was quite a tasty morsel. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0zukwHyX-I96bjznuu3ne77nDdsqbzOU00P5t_x2gbztmTbG5OkYsA2cDa8L5pulh4Nng7RILO0-atpVJXYrMX8NVFUo85RCNzoafCnaNWnFF0UXCT8hfYjeefTMSSRMW4xgXHcbjCk/s1600-h/IMG_1272.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0zukwHyX-I96bjznuu3ne77nDdsqbzOU00P5t_x2gbztmTbG5OkYsA2cDa8L5pulh4Nng7RILO0-atpVJXYrMX8NVFUo85RCNzoafCnaNWnFF0UXCT8hfYjeefTMSSRMW4xgXHcbjCk/s320/IMG_1272.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355482755082052674" border="0" /></a><br />Finally, the supposed "first course" of Chicken Gyoza arrived (there were two other options offered which I don't recall). The wrapping was light and pliant, and the filling seemed to be made of the exact same ingredients as the chicken meatball robata. So, once again, this dish benefited greatly from the use of the dipping sauces. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_KsdvD5a1rv_ch4vKZC33jFLGSlF9jlG-UqDr0dMaHk9hR7I8TrMQFRLe70s0FO0fFm2xDUUVtukZe_jtkzwWbvCAO2iQHfl709B5hyphenhyphen7FQe2wfBWLUsEgSFZxXb_teNHXz4fxj2piC8/s1600-h/IMG_1274.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_KsdvD5a1rv_ch4vKZC33jFLGSlF9jlG-UqDr0dMaHk9hR7I8TrMQFRLe70s0FO0fFm2xDUUVtukZe_jtkzwWbvCAO2iQHfl709B5hyphenhyphen7FQe2wfBWLUsEgSFZxXb_teNHXz4fxj2piC8/s320/IMG_1274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355482450931767010" border="0" /></a><br />We ended with the rich Chocolate Volcano. This tiny cake packed a deep chocolate flavor. Served piping hot with vanilla ice cream, the molten center was divine when used to smother the accompanying berries. Definitely my favorite course of the night!<br /><br />While the food at Katana was good, it certainly wasn't anything special. If you're looking for a trendy atmosphere, this might be the place to go. Personally, I think you'd do better to spend your $35 on the Farmer's Market Menu at Josie. I give this two and a half belt notches. <br /><br />Katana's Appetite Stimulus Menu is available all night Sunday-Thursday.<br />8439 W. Sunset Blvd.<br />West Hollywood, CA<br />323-650-8585<br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/url">www.katanarobata.com/katana</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/5/68609/restaurant/LA/Katana-West-Hollywood"><img alt="Katana on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/68609/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-5029928046917136142011-11-10T19:33:00.000-08:002012-02-01T14:55:39.486-08:00Old Yarmouth Inn Needs an Update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdeY4jjlZf4bPGP3mqlJ1J4b9WHxyC7kYdlWhaoAxTJ1bXsuxzi0KEtZvQDTCXWaf1MhkKCMNv23E08Bmx8x3EEP0XZ0Y-9TZVj5Zod2WJOhGBdoKV3cq-iN3E3yCrEhJSktdiTeHdH8/s1600-h/IMG_1373.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdeY4jjlZf4bPGP3mqlJ1J4b9WHxyC7kYdlWhaoAxTJ1bXsuxzi0KEtZvQDTCXWaf1MhkKCMNv23E08Bmx8x3EEP0XZ0Y-9TZVj5Zod2WJOhGBdoKV3cq-iN3E3yCrEhJSktdiTeHdH8/s320/IMG_1373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402686429218207458" border="0" /></a>While still in the land of early bird specials (and the week of both my parent's birthdays), we decided to try the deal at the Old Yarmouth Inn: Between 4:30-6:30 you can order three courses off their prix fixe menu daily for just $19.95.<br /><br />The Inn, established in 1696, is the oldest on Cape Cod. The proprietors play up this heritage, seating guests in colonial dark wooden chairs and wall papering the room in a toile fabric patterned with an idyllic scene of children playing. Even the wooden molding, with it's square "dental" pattern, seems straight out of another era. The ceilings are a bit low (remember, people were shorter back then!) but, with two of the walls composed entirely of windows, the light and airy space never feels claustrophobic. One final welcoming touch is a pretty vase filled with fresh flowers on the table.<br /><br />Having been out exploring Cape Cod all day, we were thrilled when the bread arrived. It was light and airy with a substantial crust. The sweet butter which accompanied it made for a simple and delightful mouthful, we were ready for our meal!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzG8QDva_Idmkj9sofuURHX0osaulSmGW5I3hDOE_5oDT-El6GgMay7knpeNe12pR3QtlAtpFOveq16cNIBO55gIzsnofxqQ-zuJ1tljMc4TPq5Q7oVDh7GAM92Y0JsmaxLLPL15Wcuw/s1600-h/IMG_1367.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzG8QDva_Idmkj9sofuURHX0osaulSmGW5I3hDOE_5oDT-El6GgMay7knpeNe12pR3QtlAtpFOveq16cNIBO55gIzsnofxqQ-zuJ1tljMc4TPq5Q7oVDh7GAM92Y0JsmaxLLPL15Wcuw/s320/IMG_1367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402686122707816402" border="0" /></a>Not being a big fan of mixed green salads (how boring!) I chose to pay the $2.25 up charge for the Caesar salad. Now, normally I love the rich, creamy tang of the dressing, but this dish was completely overpowered by the anchovies in the dressing. I know there are purists out there who will claim that the anchovy taste should be present in a true Caesar, but I believe it should simply be part of the underlying depth of flavor, not the first thing that assaults your taste buds. The salad was very cheesy, but it seemed the sort of shredded Parmesan that you might buy at your local supermarket, not the delicate flakes I have come to expect. While the croutons were buttery and delicious, this salad certainly left a lot to be desired.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WWIp3BN2Y0ILXzUHpPAYLW-Ajn86gcI7IzF5B-pjysWRanS76_dax0grITdtQsFnY8RIz6rkZBnR-KOBtMP0knkMS04m_B-Kw6tVpEMHwnAqjaW4vZCgqxtdgY0NMHf2rOssIQTjf3U/s1600-h/IMG_1369.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WWIp3BN2Y0ILXzUHpPAYLW-Ajn86gcI7IzF5B-pjysWRanS76_dax0grITdtQsFnY8RIz6rkZBnR-KOBtMP0knkMS04m_B-Kw6tVpEMHwnAqjaW4vZCgqxtdgY0NMHf2rOssIQTjf3U/s320/IMG_1369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402685786165580482" border="0" /></a>For my main course, I opted for the braised, boneless Short Ribs in a Hoisin and Beer Sauce. The meat itself was served steaming hot and fork tender, but it didn't have much flavor. The sauce was flavorful and rich, but I think they put in a little too much cornstarch as the texture felt artificially gelatinous. The carrots were way overcooked, completely falling apart. That's the sort of side I would expect at a cafeteria. The only redeeming items on the plate were the crispy snap peas and the creamy mashed potatoes. While it wasn't a bad dish, it certainly isn't one I will order again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYIRsgFGV529GG53yu63mqACJ8vk_UnQvsZszPHocYLu5PXDTIp0nAC6TT5ssa9r5onfewcOEN5ER59KIwUH4Qj-6KSDNGxb7VlElzdMekDGIuN6qRVTRqrl2-gNmMdX_SvpymuF7ZHw/s1600-h/IMG_1371.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYIRsgFGV529GG53yu63mqACJ8vk_UnQvsZszPHocYLu5PXDTIp0nAC6TT5ssa9r5onfewcOEN5ER59KIwUH4Qj-6KSDNGxb7VlElzdMekDGIuN6qRVTRqrl2-gNmMdX_SvpymuF7ZHw/s320/IMG_1371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402685227092747746" border="0" /></a>The final disappointment came with dessert. I selected the Lemon Cream Cake garnished with Raspberry Coulis. Dear reader, I kid you not when I say I have had better desserts from a supermarket bakery (which is where I suspect this came from). The cake was cloyingly sweet, yet still managed to have a slight bitterness. The best thing on the plate was the fresh strawberry. This restaurant is in desperate need of an on site pastry chef!<br /><br />Overall, the Old Yarmouth Inn is clearly stuck in the past, but more an embarrassing 1980s big shoulder padded, neon colored, poofy haired sort of past. This place is in desperate need of a culinary makeover! It is a beautiful space with ample potential, however the food leaves a lot to be desired. I give this one belt notch.<br /><br />Old Yarmouth Inn serves their three course special Daily from 4:30-6:30.<br />223 Route 6A<br />Yarmouth Port, MA 02675<br />508-362-9962<br /><a href="http://www.oldyarmouthinn.com/">www.oldyarmouthinn.com</a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-64313296839444785472011-11-03T11:58:00.000-07:002012-02-01T14:56:08.710-08:00Somewhere...Beyond The Sea...A Deal is Waiting for Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxHfeAe3E8hYBp5td-CFrSNPb856yyjohARLHukqbdpkHUmzpGCx68z0RYBfuPgrwfZ3CoFxMjgAruLaUXNmChVrwbQMzgupmcOYa3lfriOTwmr4N-yEqnfhBlU8GnubJ92bBTuOURC4/s1600-h/IMG_1356.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxHfeAe3E8hYBp5td-CFrSNPb856yyjohARLHukqbdpkHUmzpGCx68z0RYBfuPgrwfZ3CoFxMjgAruLaUXNmChVrwbQMzgupmcOYa3lfriOTwmr4N-yEqnfhBlU8GnubJ92bBTuOURC4/s320/IMG_1356.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399971671667624994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />First off, dear readers, an apology for being so behind on this blog! I have indeed been dining on deals and am eager to share them with you, it's just taken a little longer then expected to write about my experiences. But, never fear, I remember each morsel in delicious detail.<br /><br />My travels in the past few months took me to New England, so I used it as an excuse to slip away to one of my favorite places in the world: Cape Cod. This elegant peninsula is a mix of vacationing families and retirees. While the tourists may get stuck paying top dollar for so-so fare, the locals know that this town is chock full of deals! This being an older crowd, they are mostly found in the way of "early bird specials." So off I went to catch the worm!<br /><br />My first deal was found at the Cape Sea Grille. Get your order in by 7pm, and for the price of an entree you also get a soup or salad and a dessert. Two additional courses completely gratis! This restaurant perfectly captures the beach side sophistication that is lost in so many tourist traps. The walls are lined with windows with views out on to the tall grasses and sweet cottages that define the area. The colors are plucked from the environment, with sand colored walls accented by sky blue details. We sat on the enclosed patio, the fading sunlight all around us spotlighting the perfect pink rose on each table.<br /><br />The two types of bread were from a local artisan bakery. While the Pecan and Raisin bread had nice complex flavors, it was slightly burned on top. I much preferred the perfectly cooked Wheat bread. The light and airy texture of the inside contrasted nicely with the substantial crust. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagM5RlhTiQqM8QG-NUgnWCFV-UoxvWUtpK3yby8Qec4PyfwzpY7LZYBdpM9mlRrAqq-Gn3-l9JUZ1wU8IW9PoFc0JcqWHGstOftmISzu76X1PsmwMXS_kpjjQsvaXV7etgrwC9KY_4Ms/s1600-h/IMG_1357.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagM5RlhTiQqM8QG-NUgnWCFV-UoxvWUtpK3yby8Qec4PyfwzpY7LZYBdpM9mlRrAqq-Gn3-l9JUZ1wU8IW9PoFc0JcqWHGstOftmISzu76X1PsmwMXS_kpjjQsvaXV7etgrwC9KY_4Ms/s320/IMG_1357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399971332141676258" border="0" /></a>I started with the soup of the day: Gazpacho. Done well, this is one of my favorite soups, and the Cape Sea Grille's version did not disappoint. The acidity of the fresh tomato gave it a nice tang which was offset by biting into the sweet corn kernels nestled within. The abundance of veggies cut into tiny pieces made every mouthful taste like summer's last hurrah. My only quibble was the creme fraiche. While it gave a nice color contrast, the mellow flavor was completely superfluous on top of the bold veggies.<br /><br /><object id="BLOG_video-FAILED" class="BLOG_video_class" contentid="FAILED" height="266" width="320"></object><br />For my entree I opted to go with the $24 Orange and Soy Roasted 1/2 Chicken. (Disclaimer: I thought I took a picture, but I apparently took a video, so enjoy!) The chicken itself was perfectly cooked, the meat was nice and moist. The sauce was subtle, something I did not expect with such potent flavors. What really made the dish shine was all the veggies on the plate. The caramelized onions melted in your mouth. The creamy blue and white potatoes contrasted beautifully with the crisp snap of the peas. Overall, the plate provided a lovely array of textures and a depth of flavors. I'm continually impressed by how great chefs can elevate the lowly bird.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt8KfgkP65dPVhDsPtA5xuRlsnR9tR1m6_qJr7llA2fT0W6gsX-k3aUZpS8SgyanQeAFKRXGYAjxVOC3M_CR3-CbNJcGLiatomEWoFigP1QTIOrytzV-ITaoxXFubdbYezpB_4vgBBRI/s1600-h/IMG_1365.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt8KfgkP65dPVhDsPtA5xuRlsnR9tR1m6_qJr7llA2fT0W6gsX-k3aUZpS8SgyanQeAFKRXGYAjxVOC3M_CR3-CbNJcGLiatomEWoFigP1QTIOrytzV-ITaoxXFubdbYezpB_4vgBBRI/s320/IMG_1365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399969991615283090" border="0" /></a>Finally came the Chocolate Bread Pudding. This is like no other bread pudding I have ever experiened because there was no trace of "bread." That little ramekin contained pure unadulterated chocolate wonderfulness. The texture was remarkable, more substantial then fudge but far silkier and creamier then cake. Overall, a very sweet ending to a delicious meal.<br /><br />The ambiance, the service, and the food all work together to ensure a special dining experience to be enjoyed by the customer. I would give this place four out of five belt notches.<br /><br />Cape Sea Grille is located at:<br />31 Sea St.<br />Harwich Port, MA 02646<br />508-432-4745<br /><a href="http://www.capeseagrille.com/">www.capeseagrille.com</a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-66594938074267354652011-10-09T13:53:00.000-07:002012-02-01T14:57:02.036-08:00Dining On Deals is All A-Twitter!That's right, I've finally joined the masses of little birds on Twitter. I'll be tweeting about the latest deals and specials as I learn about them, as well as keeping you up date on new posts. You can follow me at diningondeals (or just click on the link to the right). See you there!Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-82746500997922225842011-10-01T20:58:00.000-07:002012-02-01T14:57:23.767-08:00A Somewhat Weak Power Hour at Morton's<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxbVWQFzrx16SPfvraAf7ur0QCWj_aap3XU5bJ7ZEXG0aN2BnG6hyphenhyphen9IYRNj5CezqntdLhzoxrSSp8AJpXeMOba-P-YMWm8jYqwrVkwh4tAcGhKjeU7ogZbDnwaWU6BOMNsB0Kau_r3Vo/s1600-h/mortons_logo.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 169px; height: 86px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxbVWQFzrx16SPfvraAf7ur0QCWj_aap3XU5bJ7ZEXG0aN2BnG6hyphenhyphen9IYRNj5CezqntdLhzoxrSSp8AJpXeMOba-P-YMWm8jYqwrVkwh4tAcGhKjeU7ogZbDnwaWU6BOMNsB0Kau_r3Vo/s320/mortons_logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389905959648612722" border="0" /></a><br />There's something about Morton's that just oozes class. From the bowtied waitstaff to the white linen tablecloths to the cart of lusciously marbled steaks and impossibly large vegetables, this is a place of timeless elegance. So when I heard they offer a "Power Hour" with $5 bar bites, I grabbed my girlfriends and headed out for an upscale evening at a downscale price.<br /><br />The bar area is beautiful, all dark wood polished to a high shine with a large mirrored wall displaying countless varieties of spirits. We were pleased to see that we could sit on benches a around high table in the bar area, rather then being forced to line up at the actual bar itself. I particularly enjoyed the playful lamp on our table. The base consists of an adorable metal sleeping pig, a Morton's signature that I have always loved. <br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpQwY6PpQQ0qedQF5N-nlAAk5G9Cifehi8NDcZwqYAfdegi2dK4pGMMbCD4oe9G4lVhGVTueGoVc-6E7_SJj1BT3VHrVLKbKzwa0wOTe9KNhMwIO1hiuu86QQn6Dl1_fbtiQ9RqphWOA/s1600-h/IMG_1351.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpQwY6PpQQ0qedQF5N-nlAAk5G9Cifehi8NDcZwqYAfdegi2dK4pGMMbCD4oe9G4lVhGVTueGoVc-6E7_SJj1BT3VHrVLKbKzwa0wOTe9KNhMwIO1hiuu86QQn6Dl1_fbtiQ9RqphWOA/s320/IMG_1351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387848518381109554" border="0" /></a><br />We began with the Petite Fillet Mignon Sandwiches. In my former life as a non deal diner, I have tried the actual Fillet Mignon at Morton's and found it to be delicious: perfectly tender and simply packed with flavor. So, needless to say, I had high hopes for it's baby sibling. Sadly, these tidbits are clearly the red headed stepchildren of this meaty family. (Not that I don't love red heads - and step children;) While I'm sure they use all the same steak, the strips found in the sandwich are clearly the trimmings that don't live up to the Morton's standard. They were much fattier, and not in a marbled sort of way, more in a chewy, my teeth can't break this down sort of way. I would almost venture to say gristly. The soft white buns were huge, dwarfing the little slivers of meat, and doused with a healthy dose of Mayo. Certainly a filling plate for five bucks, but not what I've come to expect from Morton's. If I went again, I would try the three prime cheeseburgers instead. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqPD11h5YV_XKLTLlDA_ClOQFtnfx-OddYJp2r1CWfDUqSYTJeU6okBk99rgpsVuUn1d5f3RbgLSK__dhx9P_fMRhxKKDbbXkB3dcHbbOGGSp7IvMcC93M8pC9dEsB_E6Hl8V6RNc11c/s1600-h/IMG_1352.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqPD11h5YV_XKLTLlDA_ClOQFtnfx-OddYJp2r1CWfDUqSYTJeU6okBk99rgpsVuUn1d5f3RbgLSK__dhx9P_fMRhxKKDbbXkB3dcHbbOGGSp7IvMcC93M8pC9dEsB_E6Hl8V6RNc11c/s320/IMG_1352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387848043368841682" border="0" /></a><br />Next came the Blue Cheese French Fries. While you can't go wrong with pungent blue cheese, a touch of heat, and fried anything, this dish was less then impressive. While I appreciate their generosity with the cheese, the fries themselves were large and almost mushy. I like thick cut fries as much as the next girl, but they're supposed to have a nice crispy outside to contrast with the fluffy interior. Alas, this dish could have been so much better. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSGVuSqhCaNJNTPBvfDiYjuh3Z-Yent20a36yGQ4BWQWjNgS5p2uplxw-zH902Qp88DLDd9xqX7Wyz9f3uilZZxFhBbdjJernAvTnOQL9sfvOhydNAL042k_ybdOcpZFmMj3JIlKs2gE/s1600-h/IMG_1353.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSGVuSqhCaNJNTPBvfDiYjuh3Z-Yent20a36yGQ4BWQWjNgS5p2uplxw-zH902Qp88DLDd9xqX7Wyz9f3uilZZxFhBbdjJernAvTnOQL9sfvOhydNAL042k_ybdOcpZFmMj3JIlKs2gE/s320/IMG_1353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387847681543408066" border="0" /></a><br />Our final choice was the Chicken Goujonettes, which is basically a fancy name for chicken fingers. Now this is the sort of thing you would expect to find on a $5 menu, and they did it well. The chicken was moist with a nice, crunchy bread crumb coating. It was served with a tangy yet smooth mustard/mayo sauce. Simple, cheap, and delicious, this gets my stamp of approval!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqyDOZ0ynVkKtpl2bOtvZPRjDsMyhI2T_icZemMSgQtlRgVYdUPbLCtBCFneK1W-Br8Jit-3ESJMXraNYXpXwm7btgA4zycEOKqpl6f-vj3XlZIV3EJaWJXFHuC2sSf_I3bJDzbo8s9c/s1600-h/IMG_1354.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqyDOZ0ynVkKtpl2bOtvZPRjDsMyhI2T_icZemMSgQtlRgVYdUPbLCtBCFneK1W-Br8Jit-3ESJMXraNYXpXwm7btgA4zycEOKqpl6f-vj3XlZIV3EJaWJXFHuC2sSf_I3bJDzbo8s9c/s320/IMG_1354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387847382353242722" border="0" /></a><br />Finally came the sweet stuff, Morton's Legendary Hot Chocolate Cake (Full price at $9). This has always been one of my favorite desserts on the planet and it did not disappoint. Luscious fudgy goodness melting out of a moist, cake like exterior is basically my definition of Heaven. The raspberries add a touch of tartness to offset the decadent richness of the cake. Be warned, it takes about twenty minutes to make, but when you're in the company of good friends and anticipating heaven, who could complain about that? <br /><br />Overall, if you're looking for a fabulous atmosphere with friendly service that won't break the bank, this is definitely one to check out. The three of us were completely stuffed by the end. However, if you're looking for flavor that blows you away, this might not be the place to find it. Save your pennies and mosey on over to the full service dining room instead. <br /><br />I give this two and a half out of five belt notches. <br /><br />Morton's Power Hour is 4:30-6:30 and 9-close every day in the bar. You can check out the full Power Hour menu here:<a href="http://www.mortons.com/burbank/bar/"></a>.<br />3400 W. Olive Ave.<br />Burbank, CA 91505<br />818-238-0424<br />(This is a nationwide chain, check the website for other locations)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/5/60657/restaurant/LA/Arnie-Mortons-The-Steakhouse-Burbank"><img alt="Arnie Morton's The Steakhouse on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/60657/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-31462337014393490392011-07-16T14:54:00.000-07:002012-02-01T14:57:49.862-08:00Soup Kitchen Wednesday at Campanile - All Bark With Very Little Bite<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jdJx077RuR_SM5dRJZsjLToN33dBdBpHSkLL8yo_wEwOn7cf46PYEDpUWnx186L6Hb5tjYycNoJrr90qe-27H-L3y-v9oO6-CtlyE6YOcyKel28gp6YfekLIEXvOZQDRFkm0l9mg5eI/s1600-h/campanile.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jdJx077RuR_SM5dRJZsjLToN33dBdBpHSkLL8yo_wEwOn7cf46PYEDpUWnx186L6Hb5tjYycNoJrr90qe-27H-L3y-v9oO6-CtlyE6YOcyKel28gp6YfekLIEXvOZQDRFkm0l9mg5eI/s320/campanile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359182987656729810" border="0" /></a><br />Campanile is known as an iconic LA institution. In the fickle world of restaurants, it has stood the test of time for the past twenty years, winning numerous awards and nominations including the James Beard Outstanding Restaurant Award and the James Beard Best California Chef Award. Plus, chef Mark Peel even appeared on Top Chef Masters just last week. So, given all this, I was really excited to try their $22 three course "Soup Kitchen" menu.<br /><br />The space itself is stunning, exuding the feel of a castle. The soaring ceiling is mostly composed of skylights, filling the restaurant with a bright white light that gradually dimmed into candlelight as the evening wore on. Walking in past a gurgling Mediterranean fountain, I immediately noticed the patterns traced on the stone wall which give the room the look of a Medieval feast hall. I was ready for a meal fit for a king. <br /><br />As soon as we sat down they brought a bread basket and butter. Hurrah! I wish more places would bring bread immediately, instead of waiting till after you've placed your order. I have a tendency to show up at restaurants starving, so a little bread to munch on while I mull over my evening's meal is a welcome treat. Campanile is partnered with their neighbor, La Brea Bakery, and all their bread comes from there. The multi-grain bread was dense and nutty, but nothing to write home about. Far superior was the airy white bread, with just the right amount of chewiness and a nice crust. <br /><br />Our waiter, a distinguished older gentleman, made sure to point out the Wednesday Night Special, explaining that they had first started the deal during the Writer's Strike. As soon as the recession became "official," they decided to reintroduce it. It always features the soup of the day, a chicken, fish, or vegetarian entree, and ice cream or sorbet for dessert. <br /><br />After placing our order, we were pleasantly surprised when Chef Mark Peel himself came out of the kitchen to chat with us. I love when "celebrity chefs" can actually be found in their restaurant instead of just on TV. After speaking with us for a brief spell, he continued to circulate the room, clearly at ease with his guests. We were off to an impressive start. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrDrzYSNneRxiyDAhQBcL_PM4qeI8kfL5JNIuaRzaiiEm6giOlLEqiji5zVQI-yqb8XZoFfwKCn9zsRW9TZ9UWa8MhyyijJhw5sMLUwBNTOqV6SEY2ec7af3B5vURAyDsUWT3keeHS_M/s1600-h/IMG_1279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrDrzYSNneRxiyDAhQBcL_PM4qeI8kfL5JNIuaRzaiiEm6giOlLEqiji5zVQI-yqb8XZoFfwKCn9zsRW9TZ9UWa8MhyyijJhw5sMLUwBNTOqV6SEY2ec7af3B5vURAyDsUWT3keeHS_M/s320/IMG_1279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359182899548864866" border="0" /></a><br />First came the chilled Cucumber Yogurt Soup. The yogurt imbued it with a really nice tang and creaminess while hundreds of tiny slivers of cucumber gave it a great texture, especially when eaten with the smooth richness of the avocado garnish. A perfect dish for all the hot days of summer. If I could change one thing, I probably would have used more avocado for the garnish, both for the texture and also to break up the monochromatic look of the dish. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXYDEHvYx0DFC-CddAkWrN9D7F2Zhyphenhyphen-ulbMSyh2H3rhtjp72ZD3fu1ImzgatW0Rsvsl7KLbrU1CKc_CeW-dO-o6wRBp6inDAgxROw5MzWa6GCN7-hCZXlPaagrxMDPgHo2vi6w5kaKf0/s1600-h/IMG_1280.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXYDEHvYx0DFC-CddAkWrN9D7F2Zhyphenhyphen-ulbMSyh2H3rhtjp72ZD3fu1ImzgatW0Rsvsl7KLbrU1CKc_CeW-dO-o6wRBp6inDAgxROw5MzWa6GCN7-hCZXlPaagrxMDPgHo2vi6w5kaKf0/s320/IMG_1280.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359182683620086770" border="0" /></a><br />Next came the Pappardelle with Wild Mushrooms and Garbanzo Beans. I opted for pasta since I don't like fish and we're currently on the poultry section of my cooking school, so with all the leftovers I eat a lot of chicken these days. But my dining companions both got the Halibut and assured me it was delicious. <br /><br />The pasta was good, but not great. It could have used a little more oil as some of it stuck together, and the garbanzo beans were harder then I would have expected, almost like little nuts! However, I do give them credit for being fairly generous with the mushrooms considering their price tag. They were buttery and delicious, thoroughly enjoyable, just like the accompanying slivers of garlic and Parmesan. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAELmvAd8a83OfvWn2rmUbvb_8JELRHZeg8HVaYjBOKBp130bc1h5iDDnxLPtKvYkQPgsOcX-ZaK8-hV9RSaZh_bH-M_FqooLQOGk78tzHVPIUmTp9FhaVXH7uGkuMh1sfPqohfDN5Br0/s1600-h/IMG_1284.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAELmvAd8a83OfvWn2rmUbvb_8JELRHZeg8HVaYjBOKBp130bc1h5iDDnxLPtKvYkQPgsOcX-ZaK8-hV9RSaZh_bH-M_FqooLQOGk78tzHVPIUmTp9FhaVXH7uGkuMh1sfPqohfDN5Br0/s320/IMG_1284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359182461140306866" border="0" /></a><br />We ended with Vanilla Ice Cream. I have to say, this was the most disappointing part of the meal. I understand that this is the "cheap" menu, but they couldn't afford <span style="font-style:italic;">any</span> other flavors? The vanilla itself was very custardy and rich, I would guess it has about five egg yolks in those three little scoops:) Although, for my personal taste, it could have been a little sweeter. The hazelnut biscotti served on the side was buttery with a great crumb and flavor. I only wish they'd giving us a full sized biscotti on such a big plate. <br /><br />Overall the meal was tasty, but certainly not the rapturous experience I'd come to expect after all those accolades. And while I appreciate the value and the $22 price tag, I'd be happy to see them charge $25 or $30 and spring for a better dessert. I give this three out of five belt notches.<br /><br />Campanile Soup Kitchen Wednesdays: $22 for three courses.<br />624 S. La Brea Ave.<br />Los Angeles, CA 90036<br />323-938-1447<br /><a href="http://www.campanilerestaurant.com/"></a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/5/62517/restaurant/Mid-Wilshire/Campanile-LA"><img alt="Campanile on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/62517/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-75515285480332658292011-07-11T16:48:00.000-07:002012-02-01T14:58:10.428-08:00J. Betski's $20 Menu - Rich food at Pauper Prices!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQBLYyz-8-CXd5_4C0QimGvtCHrj6g4I1ad_VQQOU-hM6XOzrIkGjShyc0sJC9NMvSOv7w_4hpyFRHUrCGbBJRhCxveyKNr2zRa1qehrtrc0L44z5ydNTxrIa_rHC5hvp6aAzYWtnVTY/s1600-h/header.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQBLYyz-8-CXd5_4C0QimGvtCHrj6g4I1ad_VQQOU-hM6XOzrIkGjShyc0sJC9NMvSOv7w_4hpyFRHUrCGbBJRhCxveyKNr2zRa1qehrtrc0L44z5ydNTxrIa_rHC5hvp6aAzYWtnVTY/s320/header.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357355237182313698" border="0" /></a><br />Last week, I found myself in Raleigh, NC for a business trip. Being completely unfamiliar with the area, I turned to the chowhound.com community for some advice, and they did not disappoint! Of all the tempting deals proposed, I settled on the $20 menu at J.Betski's for two reasons. 1. $20 for two people sounds like quite the deal and 2. I've never eaten in a German/Polish restaurant.<br /><br />The decor at J. Betski's feels like a light and airy take on an old German monastery. There is the requisite dark wood paneling, amber stained glass, and beer steins lining the bar. Even the cutlery had intricate scroll work on the handles, an unexpected touch of class not normally found in today's restaurants. The walls are decorated with delicate wrought iron frames, a modern suggestion of the old monastery windows. And then there's the light! One entire wall is made of windows which leads to their outdoor patio. When we arrived at 7:30pm, the place was still awash in sunlight, giving it a bright, welcoming feeling. <br /><br />After the waitress took our drink orders (they have a number of specialty cocktails that use flavors such as elderberry), my coworker and I settled down to the business of figuring out the food. The $20 deal includes one appetizer and two "pub" plates. The pub plates menu seems to be made up of what I would call German/Polish comfort food, while the regular menu has a more elegant and refined take on the classics. Bring on the comfort!<br /><br />The first bit of comfort was the bread, a dense and tangy rye served with whipped butter. The dark bread had a nice solid crust with a soft and chewy interior. Heavenly. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48W-LZfrPqaeDp0KmRMkj5iqt_L0VeKCjixWbZ9Zr2qURyuJWITZUPmxdnuqaC8zGGTfytagEdfTAHFsEolPhy44xFoe96-YJ2V7E9-MeGNPrPlzYBJCEwheyRceegQFBVRTvXGiRjr8/s1600-h/IMG_1275.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48W-LZfrPqaeDp0KmRMkj5iqt_L0VeKCjixWbZ9Zr2qURyuJWITZUPmxdnuqaC8zGGTfytagEdfTAHFsEolPhy44xFoe96-YJ2V7E9-MeGNPrPlzYBJCEwheyRceegQFBVRTvXGiRjr8/s320/IMG_1275.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357354975773282146" border="0" /></a><br />Then came the Beef and Spinach Pierogies with Caraway Cream. The al dente dough was wrapped around a filling so moist and flavorful it simply oozed deliciousness with every bite. Buttery crumbs on top gave the dish a nice crunch, while the cream helped to smooth everything together. The tang from the caraway contrasted beautifully with the richness of the filling. A lovely little dish. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguu8bWMZKdHdRedDAw36yA5MOh1ja4LZboARAODOOwTnZkMzq7b1zRKf61Wyw1Skia0Ni5E0ZDmvNuxNOGNPKnRZAl1xy2S0cBnh_8K-gOfJL03RFJkwNjeqw9DZPe3v8dq5bMhEQuK0s/s1600-h/IMG_1277.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguu8bWMZKdHdRedDAw36yA5MOh1ja4LZboARAODOOwTnZkMzq7b1zRKf61Wyw1Skia0Ni5E0ZDmvNuxNOGNPKnRZAl1xy2S0cBnh_8K-gOfJL03RFJkwNjeqw9DZPe3v8dq5bMhEQuK0s/s320/IMG_1277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357354644885431826" border="0" /></a><br />Then came the entrees. We ordered the Honey Braised Pork with Braised Cabbage, but they had run out of that so we got Short Ribs instead. This was probably the most disappointing plate. While the short ribs did fall right off the bone, they were a little dry and didn't pack the flavorful punch I've come to expect from ribs. The Braised cabbage was a nice addition, the moistness helping to balance out the drier meat. I wonder if the regular Honey Braised Pork would have been better.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnw4jHc-N2spnnlr-HoFbLXYwXPuNdbEMeBjWlLgKJa5aUQIIYTcwr7maBKB29WCjr_6ZE32vHmn3PBJD387wVvBShKCkHrBd1D9vmK3degwu-sCUOscwD1tp8SlxDZfEiMzxN_8MNYRU/s1600-h/IMG_1276.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnw4jHc-N2spnnlr-HoFbLXYwXPuNdbEMeBjWlLgKJa5aUQIIYTcwr7maBKB29WCjr_6ZE32vHmn3PBJD387wVvBShKCkHrBd1D9vmK3degwu-sCUOscwD1tp8SlxDZfEiMzxN_8MNYRU/s320/IMG_1276.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357354398232717474" border="0" /></a><br />My favorite dish of the evening was the Chicken Stew with Mushrooms, Cognac, and Spaetzle. This dish was utter creamy richness without tasting too heavy. There was definitely some bacon hiding in the mix for extra an salty indulgence, in addition to the soft, earthy mushrooms, the moist flavorful chicken, and the buttered spaetzle cooked to perfection. Each bite was an explosion of utter comfort and happiness. If I lived in Raleigh, this would be a great place to go any time I felt even slightly down, as no one can be sad with this much homey goodness on their plate. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZUMQJQZZoOiYBqeq_asXpObr5nNUVOuLRJ4ZuWy7y1dG5Pys8bJu4ZwCwoOQ7de13HrYAwz_39KiQ_IPEW6kXAloCwcyZW3JUI2KKiQU415li-2_ZFnK-ff5Ck_va78QkjkdD43FiSo/s1600-h/IMG_1278.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZUMQJQZZoOiYBqeq_asXpObr5nNUVOuLRJ4ZuWy7y1dG5Pys8bJu4ZwCwoOQ7de13HrYAwz_39KiQ_IPEW6kXAloCwcyZW3JUI2KKiQU415li-2_ZFnK-ff5Ck_va78QkjkdD43FiSo/s320/IMG_1278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357354169140831362" border="0" /></a><br />We ended with the Blueberry Cheese Strudel for an additional $6.75. The cheese was the sweet kind normally found in danishes, wrapped around tangy blueberries in their own syrup. The pastry crust rolled around it was heavier then I would have expected, and while the dish was certainly tasty, I think a lighter crust would have elevated it to another level. Not that we didn't finish every bite of it;)<br /><br />Overall we had a delicious meal for an even tastier price at J.Betski's. I think we could even have split all the food three ways as I was stilled tremendously full until lunch the next day. Four belt notches.<br /><br />J.Betski's offers their $20 menu all night Monday-Thursday.<br />10 W. Franklin St. Suite 120<br />Raleigh, NC 27604<br />919-833-7999<br /><a href="http://www.jbetskis.com/"></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/25/291131/restaurant/Inside-the-Beltline/J-Betskis-Raleigh"><img alt="J. Betski's on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/291131/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-43360740484507015612011-01-28T20:04:00.000-08:002012-02-01T15:00:25.914-08:00Heaven must be missing some Cupcakes: The LA Cupcake Challenge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9qwHrkd_64i9ClQsErnqq78atQeROImgnrUn6GIw8je-jog17DSiqIdGxQ6wFoGjRwxcgsKhnVb4AfOioO7Y5Y51jtcP6aMu_o6qp1MqFTsZBYHhlLuP3r9LDiM8ONufFzOuv9o4Sx0/s1600-h/IMG_2001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9qwHrkd_64i9ClQsErnqq78atQeROImgnrUn6GIw8je-jog17DSiqIdGxQ6wFoGjRwxcgsKhnVb4AfOioO7Y5Y51jtcP6aMu_o6qp1MqFTsZBYHhlLuP3r9LDiM8ONufFzOuv9o4Sx0/s320/IMG_2001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441872977444937730" border="0" /></a><br />Stop for a minute and imagine your own personal heaven. Maybe there's some clouds, a few harps scattered about, possibly a dove. But now focus on the good stuff. If your heaven looks anything like mine, there are bites of deliciousness as far as the eye can see. I got a chance to actually experience a taste of heaven this past Saturday at Drink:Eat:Play's annual LA Cupcake Challenge.<br /><br />The hallway outside the ballroom of the Renaissance Hotel was abuzz with excitement. Men and women of all ages clumped together, eagerly studying the ballots that foretold the deliciousness to come. We scanned the forty different flavors, the choices running the gamut from the traditional (chocolate, vanilla and red velvet), to the original (sticky toffee pudding, salted caramel), to the downright mysterious (sunday mimosa, pigs on tap.)<br /><br />At four o'clock the doors were swung open and the mob swelled into the ballroom. Everywhere I looked mini cupcakes beckoned me with their come hither swirls of frosting. There were towers upon towers of the yummy treats. Just the thought of all that sugar was overwhelming! I grabbed a plate and made it to about three displays before it was full. Clutching the ballot in one hand and the plate in the other, I studied the sold out crowd and began to worry that the purveyors would run out of cupcakes before I'd had a chance to make my way around the room. Besides, I wanted to do this systematically, giving each cupcake it's due, rather then wolfing them down in an effort to get to all of them.<br /><br />It was at this moment that I spied the very clever team from the CIA (the Cupcake Intelligence Agency.) This foursome had begun to set their plates down at an empty table, leaving one member of the team behind to guard their spoils. Seeing how many cupcakes they had already amassed, I decided to trust them with my little hoard and asked if I could join them. They graciously agreed.<br /><br />With a home base established, I went about collecting samples from every display and leaving them at the table. The atmosphere in the room grew giddy as the first of many sugar highs began to set in. People's eyes twinkled as the bakers explained their wares. Strangers smiled at strangers as if to say, "Can you believe this is real?!" And everywhere you looked there was the breathtaking sight of mountains of mini cupcakes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFOMD3jhqyuZ8IozeMx1yQOoKky-JIYV88XnPKWLQQTVKOSKCblzlf7y7CeLSIlJO4v3mGpvzBTOzzpg5mkhY-J27SkboucaKxTSr3qAnfWGs5zg_Jg4-oJPvFh0O_uRVgnL84CXIrQc/s1600-h/IMG_1987.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFOMD3jhqyuZ8IozeMx1yQOoKky-JIYV88XnPKWLQQTVKOSKCblzlf7y7CeLSIlJO4v3mGpvzBTOzzpg5mkhY-J27SkboucaKxTSr3qAnfWGs5zg_Jg4-oJPvFh0O_uRVgnL84CXIrQc/s320/IMG_1987.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441685525248960098" border="0" /></a>Having collected my treasures, I then went about the delectable task of judging the contest. The first challenge was figuring out exactly which cupcakes were which. The shops that had marked their cupcakes with some sort of label were much appreciated. Sometimes it took the CIA, myself, and our two other table mates to figure out which was which. Cupcaking is definitely a team sport! And now, dear readers, a confession: Although I only took one bite from most cupcakes, by the time I had made my way through the 26 "original" entries I was much too full to attempt the "traditional" entries. But I would like to congratulate Big Man Bake's "Red Velvet" for winning first prize in that category.<br /><br />The prevailing theme of the year seemed to be bacon (and you know how I love my bacon)! Three separate shops put out a bacon offering with varying levels of success. Far and away the best of these attempts was the "Breakfast Cake" from My Delight Cup Cakery. This consisted of a pancake flavored cake with maple frosting sprinkled with fresh bits of bacon and drizzled with maple syrup. Although I did not "shoot" the entire cupcake in one mouthful like some of my brave table mates, one bite was enough to convince me that these people are culinary geniuses. Willy Wonka may have unsuccessfully attempted to stuff an entire dinner into a piece of gum, but the ladies behind My Delight have truly captured the essence of an indulgent breakfast in a single cupcake (and no one turned into a blueberry at the end!). The cupcake was sweet and salty and moist and creamy and utterly unique. While I didn't vote for it, it was one of my absolute favorites and I am delighted to announce that it won Best Original Cupcake. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUESpz8cOp7Ys0xA3BpQC7bb53rSzpidZZOAGgBcHIpX0LJ-CXDPckF7wCeZiOJbqHH2FIA2Bmm-mXcW1Npwr4q0fyTDFQBG5PeyGMByZQZVqtx7mv1SWiYq0tmr1vcsTCX4MRvkpOVs/s1600-h/IMG_1986.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUESpz8cOp7Ys0xA3BpQC7bb53rSzpidZZOAGgBcHIpX0LJ-CXDPckF7wCeZiOJbqHH2FIA2Bmm-mXcW1Npwr4q0fyTDFQBG5PeyGMByZQZVqtx7mv1SWiYq0tmr1vcsTCX4MRvkpOVs/s320/IMG_1986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441684658600829490" border="0" /></a>My vote for Best Original went to the Caramel Banana cupcake from Jus Minis. Nineteen year old Executive Culinary Director Justin Polacek was actually brulee-ing individual banana slices at the event, giving his table the added excitement of a fiery demonstration. Far from being just for show, those little coins were the perfect compliment to his luxurious cupcakes. The bruleed banana had the satisfying crunch of caramel coupled with the creamy softness of the raw banana. Add to this a cupcake that tasted like a deep and richly flavored banana bread, as well as some silky chocolate frosting (who doesn't love that combo??) and you have one phenomenal cupcake. So phenomenal, in fast, that it won first place in the "Best Overall" category. Congratulations Justin! Here's hoping that this win gives him a chance to start selling his cupcakes in stores in the LA area, not just in Riverside!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fgI-RNof_j_IS_t1QuA4sQ2vw2TgyqYZJo5YqLgJ-TMrEuBuLJuY0BR14PJObpki884dD5mQKIY3UNeoPdZqtPoSWIZx0ZpiGCt0EN6gwer5LNdQLVYrpwKS8liiOgezpXkoWO1uUMk/s1600-h/IMG_1994.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fgI-RNof_j_IS_t1QuA4sQ2vw2TgyqYZJo5YqLgJ-TMrEuBuLJuY0BR14PJObpki884dD5mQKIY3UNeoPdZqtPoSWIZx0ZpiGCt0EN6gwer5LNdQLVYrpwKS8liiOgezpXkoWO1uUMk/s320/IMG_1994.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441684308116575906" border="0" /></a>My vote for Best Overall went to the Key Lime cupcake from My Delight Cup Cakery (they of the fabled breakfast cake - both pictured above.) Another big trend I noticed this year was putting a surprise filling inside the cupcake. The treats were filled with everything from pumpkin puree to strawberry jam to caramel that oozed forth as if from a truffle. I am all for this trend as it adds yet another dimension of flavor and excitement to the cupcake. My Delight's Key Lime cupcake gave us a spectacular example of how a filling could elevate the taste. They nestled a tart and pungent dollop of creamy key lime filling inside their sweet little cake. They then topped it with a super soft meringue that had just a hint of a crunch from being baked on the outside. With the multitude of flavors and textures, (and my Florida native's love of key lime), this was one of the highlights of the show for me. Here's hoping that My Delight expands out of the Ontario area and comes to LA sometime soon!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_Gadei6_dny8R6ZO845EOh0OfXqtqZTdhtPPytv8cWH24NAQxsyy_qQNgjlDTK92bFDSeEpDlhjvz0mcMk-MBBp1krJsfJhqlk816nvJO0oZ5w5ybC81I75pgei4wN7YpLlwmqq3w98/s1600-h/IMG_2003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_Gadei6_dny8R6ZO845EOh0OfXqtqZTdhtPPytv8cWH24NAQxsyy_qQNgjlDTK92bFDSeEpDlhjvz0mcMk-MBBp1krJsfJhqlk816nvJO0oZ5w5ybC81I75pgei4wN7YpLlwmqq3w98/s320/IMG_2003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441683659053557490" border="0" /></a>Having failed to bring Tupperware, My Delight Cup Cakery was kind enough to give me one of their handy plastic trays, which I loaded down with all the treats that would not yet fit in my stomach. (This feat of ingenuity, coupled with my foresight of wearing expandable pants, earned me the title of Chief of the CIA, an honor for which I will forever be grateful!). It is four days later, and I am still enjoying the fruits of my labor (although I think they will all be gone after today!).<br /><br />Overall, it had been a day with many highs (see above) and a few lows ("this lavender cupcake tastes like lotion"). I would like to thank Drink:Eat:Play for putting on such a magical event; it surpassed all my expectations. It was even so well organized that by the end there were still plenty of cupcakes to spare! Thank goodness this is an annual event, as I can't wait to experience another day in my own personal heaven.<br /><br />Check out all of Drink:Eat:Play's wonderful events at:<br /><a href="http://www.drinkeatplay.com/">http://www.drinkeatplay.com/</a><br /><br />Check out Jus Minis at:<br /><a href="http://www.jus-minis.com/">http://www.jus-minis.com</a><br /><br />Check out My Delight Cup Cakery at:<br /><a href="http://mydelightcupcakery.com/">http://mydelightcupcakery.com</a><br /><img src="file:///Users/jewelcasting/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Modified/2010/Feb%2020,%202010/IMG_2003.jpg" alt="" />Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-13721118684571303662009-06-26T13:58:00.000-07:002009-06-30T23:00:21.205-07:00Smith's NYC - Value in the City<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhS0preKb1xVbMoaWw-gPEjG7IsHB7WeCixKX2JanTODQEktHqMXe9QiCAmBx8SDdmHS_pTq2UXZSLC_PnkBpx75z49bBdsPNnXgTMPloL-P6v30l5rXyDzeVcRDTJv7s5iyrHg7LAPp0/s1600-h/smith's.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhS0preKb1xVbMoaWw-gPEjG7IsHB7WeCixKX2JanTODQEktHqMXe9QiCAmBx8SDdmHS_pTq2UXZSLC_PnkBpx75z49bBdsPNnXgTMPloL-P6v30l5rXyDzeVcRDTJv7s5iyrHg7LAPp0/s320/smith's.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351745803839470482" /></a><br />Stepping into Smith's NYC is a bit like stepping into the horse race scene from My Fair Lady. Everything is black and white and feels oh so chic. We walked past the few sidewalk tables, past the main dining room, and into our dining corridor. It was about as wide as a train car, with booths on one side, and tiny two tops on the other. The mirrored ceiling curved overhead, reflecting the soft yellow light of the chandelier sconces. The place felt delicate and modern, though it was a bit loud. But that may be inevitable when you're in a small space with so many people. <br /><br />My cousin and I had come for the Spring Chicken Dinner. On Monday and Tuesday nights, Smith's NYC offers a three course meal for two people for $35 total. Given that this is New York, where everything is almost always more expensive than it is in LA, $17.50 a person sounded pretty amazing.<br /><br />After placing our order we were given a canister filled with two kinds of bread and a little ramekin of hummus. The Italian bread was feather light with a nice chewy crust and tasted so fresh it could have been baked an hour ago. The Olive bread had that same airy freshness, and the bite of the olive went beautifully with the hummus, which had a strong chickpea flavor. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaXkg1xfXGbGPO4v1bghR02KofQah7WtknWU_HvMhGkh9p-uMtLPVu4DL-1T72umUQjsagCEtTUPOQ9rX66a_O3YM5DZDTlfF7UhDilaag2ekw1i4AS5Y84BbAUjDhGZcKdYAWsRqc8Y/s1600-h/IMG_1257.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaXkg1xfXGbGPO4v1bghR02KofQah7WtknWU_HvMhGkh9p-uMtLPVu4DL-1T72umUQjsagCEtTUPOQ9rX66a_O3YM5DZDTlfF7UhDilaag2ekw1i4AS5Y84BbAUjDhGZcKdYAWsRqc8Y/s320/IMG_1257.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351745572914806434" /></a><br /><br />First came the green salad, which did indeed taste of spring. The peppery, almost bitter greens were tossed with shaved fresh veggies like carrots, radishes, and fennel, as well as some tomatoes and snap peas. It was all dressed in a salty almost warm dressing that served to accentuate the bright, crisp flavors. <br />.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDpflJqIC4n1Bi5yRb35EVgtmAZnt_ci3Xvaf6heF_ChZmRY3mu0egJ3RqR65FWRf2dl9i3r5SjAQqmJw2sJtC_7VQiaWPyC0rE9qYmFO98RcAY1l7tC8OIAS5tg_LEE3N3YXYUd0WkM/s1600-h/IMG_1259.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDpflJqIC4n1Bi5yRb35EVgtmAZnt_ci3Xvaf6heF_ChZmRY3mu0egJ3RqR65FWRf2dl9i3r5SjAQqmJw2sJtC_7VQiaWPyC0rE9qYmFO98RcAY1l7tC8OIAS5tg_LEE3N3YXYUd0WkM/s320/IMG_1259.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351745278526704146" /></a><br /><br />Then came the main event, an entire chicken with two side dishes. The chicken was served in a cast iron skillet and came covered in herbs. The skin was crispy and positively packed with flavor, while the meat was delicate and tender. Although it was done perfectly, I wouldn't say this was anything to write home about. It felt like the kind of thing you should be able to make for yourself, full of chicken-y flavor, but nothing to elevate it to the realm of extraordinary. (Although, to be honest, I myself have never attempted an entire chicken and therefore have no idea how hard it is to make something this simple so tasty). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbxj0rWo7chnzkpUlKVnicj_vSYOeBlcH7KWFwAVFv_PaIXP90Nrex05WspoepdIwR2JgeYVQTCzrgqyI9Jd_hSEXzdGEIgtO2viK6ZZVowSsewLlcOerCWSfeGuSlijFgD1fY6zhhZ8/s1600-h/IMG_1262.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbxj0rWo7chnzkpUlKVnicj_vSYOeBlcH7KWFwAVFv_PaIXP90Nrex05WspoepdIwR2JgeYVQTCzrgqyI9Jd_hSEXzdGEIgtO2viK6ZZVowSsewLlcOerCWSfeGuSlijFgD1fY6zhhZ8/s320/IMG_1262.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351745001792871554" /></a><br /><br />The roasted veggies were served in what looked like a mini dutch oven. (I wanted to steal all the serving dishes to do my own cooking for two!). The potatoes, onions, asparagus, and mushrooms tasted as though they'd been frolicking through fields of butter and herbs and were thoroughly enjoyable. The mushrooms in particular were delicious, thanks to their spongy texture soaking up all the delectable flavor. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxU6in9Y2A8cy424T5Uq34ViLxvqSSn-ShSnyuzOH3eMj20heFKweUmuSHkyXoKafhLLKv_L9NTOzBbNv2uT3BD_uVq43N83Dj2gH4BcV2BAxC6B_LB-UPRkqN_DhqfUhSkCJ015FSC08/s1600-h/IMG_1260.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxU6in9Y2A8cy424T5Uq34ViLxvqSSn-ShSnyuzOH3eMj20heFKweUmuSHkyXoKafhLLKv_L9NTOzBbNv2uT3BD_uVq43N83Dj2gH4BcV2BAxC6B_LB-UPRkqN_DhqfUhSkCJ015FSC08/s320/IMG_1260.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351744632841127154" /></a><br /><br />Our favorite dish of the evening by far was the polenta. They must use about a pound of cheese for each ounce of polenta, as the flavor absolutely explodes in your mouth! The creamy richness was offset by a pleasing tang, probably owing to buttermilk somewhere in the mixture. The tiny dish was so indulgent that we could only finish half of it, but were left wishing we had more room in our stomachs. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgv4yKcg09zpQlcFlKYlhWHUw3rMs88G3Eg_a5chJ5LrF05ANiUcddeySDeo9CgQS8CW27HwNw2KzMe5xY5hnK0mWUlT3MhCD-ZXdD5pn-zmHAlAttMWNOfej2Dzu491lpzxqjuziIjuw/s1600-h/IMG_1264.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgv4yKcg09zpQlcFlKYlhWHUw3rMs88G3Eg_a5chJ5LrF05ANiUcddeySDeo9CgQS8CW27HwNw2KzMe5xY5hnK0mWUlT3MhCD-ZXdD5pn-zmHAlAttMWNOfej2Dzu491lpzxqjuziIjuw/s320/IMG_1264.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351744293844553250" /></a><br /><br />We ended the evening with the Chocolate Mousse, probably our least favorite part of the meal (and it takes a lot for me to say that about dessert). Although the texture was rich and creamy, the chocolate flavor was a mere suggestion, not the powerful statement I look for it to be. The best part was the toffee bits on top, the only sparkle of sweet flavor in the whole dish. <br /><br />Overall, Smith's provides a lovely atmosphere and a terrific value for a night out in NYC. I give this three and a half belt notches. <br /><br />Smith's NYC has $35 Spring Chicken Dinners every Monday and Tuesday night. <br />79 MacDougal Street<br />New York, NY 10012<br />phone: 212.260.0100<br /> <a href="url">www.smithsnyc.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/334598/restaurant/Greenwich-Village/Smiths-New-York"><img alt="Smith's on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/334598/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-44204831287451710972009-06-10T17:08:00.001-07:002009-06-11T16:34:40.396-07:00Monday Night Supper at Little Dom's - Mama Mia what a deal!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-e3fU7L5EEAs915z6XOSFudYdq2bMVsJe6diG0v201FwFIEsdpjn62Cync6MOYOYi-0KIyl_7yMoVVoXKFPbtVWYdtj7oVzlpH2zETpCYEryEEmo9RttKAd_kk0iSgdz64OCxjiheRvc/s1600-h/IMG_1249.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 107px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-e3fU7L5EEAs915z6XOSFudYdq2bMVsJe6diG0v201FwFIEsdpjn62Cync6MOYOYi-0KIyl_7yMoVVoXKFPbtVWYdtj7oVzlpH2zETpCYEryEEmo9RttKAd_kk0iSgdz64OCxjiheRvc/s320/IMG_1249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345856844382769874" border="0" /></a>My new friend L and I had decided to get together for dinner on Monday. I was excited about this, because a ton of restaurants offer great deals on Monday night since it is typically a slow time. One of the cheapest deals out there has got to be the Monday Night Supper at Little Dom's. For a mere $15 you get three courses, and for another $10 you can add a bottle of wine.
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<br />Walking in to Little Dom's is a bit like stepping back in history. The worn wooden floor and bar, the green leather booths, the black and white pictures of horse racing, the last rays of sun peeking through the wooden slats. If a Hollywood set designer was looking for inspiration for his 1950s mob movie, this would be a good place to visit. Even the waitresses are dressed in simple diner style uniforms, making the model-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">esque</span></span> hostess in her chic black dress look a little out of place.
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<br />I made our reservation the night before, and the only times available were 6:30 or 9. So be aware - the word on this deal is out!! Plan well in advance. By the time we left at about 8:30, there wasn't a single empty seat in the place. And points to the restaurant for being very vocal about their deal: there were postcards with the $15 menu on the hostesses stand, and one was given to us with the menus.
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<br />Shortly after taking our seats at a small table by the window, the waitress dropped off a white wax paper bag filled with half a loaf of warm sesame baguette. This was served with a simple butter and was delicious. I especially loved that they were so generous with the sesame seeds!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pJ18vq01W86uhHdW1ChnIoB2ek19G8paXuHKka0ppFNXgBdiV9steQQPfR86koV61CLCvSaWgvf3aHjdVUosHqLmezxdxAdG23SRRZ1FTOlMGJ65B9pXy9a0Ug7h1kQ1kyABIjDxnYM/s1600-h/IMG_1251.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pJ18vq01W86uhHdW1ChnIoB2ek19G8paXuHKka0ppFNXgBdiV9steQQPfR86koV61CLCvSaWgvf3aHjdVUosHqLmezxdxAdG23SRRZ1FTOlMGJ65B9pXy9a0Ug7h1kQ1kyABIjDxnYM/s320/IMG_1251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345856674654065602" border="0" /></a>The first course was Shaved Fennel and Parmesan on a bed of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">arugula</span>. I would have never thought to put these ingredients together, but they worked wonderfully. The crisp bite of the fennel juxtaposed with the creamy robust cheese and the bitter tender greens. The whole thing was lightly dressed with just a hint of citrus to better accent all the flavors. I was happy to see there was just as much <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">parmesan</span></span> as fennel. So simple, yet so good!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSDJK8G7JJEwRptGNR87NvufFSTb91Q8A8fi_xq7Gwq5zMooqQEWI9WxnPpH4EQE_paX7OFQEmg53XMjVnm-ziKfKTibM0tjVOMo4qcOSyz7jc0BtErlW7iUl8fCsAdoRwAsnsiusA7E/s1600-h/IMG_1254.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSDJK8G7JJEwRptGNR87NvufFSTb91Q8A8fi_xq7Gwq5zMooqQEWI9WxnPpH4EQE_paX7OFQEmg53XMjVnm-ziKfKTibM0tjVOMo4qcOSyz7jc0BtErlW7iUl8fCsAdoRwAsnsiusA7E/s320/IMG_1254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345856370356918994" border="0" /></a>Next came the main course, Beef <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Braciole</span></span>, which, I have since learned, is Italian stuffed, rolled steak. It has a very meaty flavor, almost like a brisket or a stew meat. Probably a cheaper cut, this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">truly</span> does feel like the kind of dish your old Italian grandmother would serve you in Brooklyn crying "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Mangia</span></span>! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mangia</span></span>! You're too skinny!" (thanks imaginary grandma, I've been working out!;). The beef is rolled around a stuffing of cheese, breadcrumbs, and lots of pine nuts, then sauteed and simmered in tomato sauce. The whole thing was full of hearty meat flavor, accented by the acidity of the tomato sauce and the richness of the filling (L's favorite - she ended up scraping out all the filling from her meat and eating that). Some steamed summer squash was served on the side, a light touch to this heavy dish, though it certainly had it's fair share of butter and seasoning (and the occasional heat of a chili flake).
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GDYvorVOkLauubg_E__OiNwfbb-0A6pSwe4XuZBvPKGBE4Jie_UF8W2_ZfZK-mF3I5Ctdgtma_lpCZqDXm5Z7fKs_BXiVCaE0hAgbd7WOHE2VN2_Est-KfZRCdlzAIn9FkDWiiyDSII/s1600-h/IMG_1256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GDYvorVOkLauubg_E__OiNwfbb-0A6pSwe4XuZBvPKGBE4Jie_UF8W2_ZfZK-mF3I5Ctdgtma_lpCZqDXm5Z7fKs_BXiVCaE0hAgbd7WOHE2VN2_Est-KfZRCdlzAIn9FkDWiiyDSII/s320/IMG_1256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345855466923013522" border="0" /></a>We ended the night with Chocolate Caramel Tart with Creme <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Fraiche</span> Whip. This is pure richness on a plate, thank goodness they served such a small sliver of it! The smooth velvety <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ganache</span> sits atop a thin layer of buttery creamy caramel. The caramel was mostly rich and delicious, but L and I each had one bite that tasted like we'd bitten in to a piece of rock salt. I like salted caramel as much as the next girl, but they need to learn to distribute the flavor throughout, not have it hiding in one place! The shortbread crust was light and crumbly, and the creme <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">fraiche</span> whip felt almost superfluous, given how much decadence was already on the plate. Being a dessert <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">connoisseur</span>, this was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">certainly</span> not one of my favorites, but that didn't stop me from eating every last bite of it!
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<br />Overall, we had a wonderful meal and spent half the time <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">exclaiming</span> about what a remarkable deal this is! The portions are so generous I ended up taking home a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">doggie</span> bag - so both the hubby and I had dinner for a mere $15!! As L remarked, for $15 you can sign me up for a standing reservation! (The menu does change every week - check the website to see what it will be.) Four belt notches out of five.
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<br />Little Dom's has $15 Suppers every Monday Night.
<br />2128 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Hillhurst</span> Ave.
<br />Los Angeles, CA 90027
<br />323-661-0055
<br />www.littledoms.com
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<br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/5/334930/restaurant/Los-Feliz/Little-Doms-LA"><img alt="Little Dom's on <span class=" error="" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" />Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/334930/minilink.gif" style="border: medium none ; width: 130px; height: 36px;"></a>
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<br /></a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-65433087438030298202009-06-08T21:04:00.000-07:002009-06-08T21:26:10.122-07:00Sunset Foot Spa - Food Worthy BlissI write a food blog because few things in this world make me as happy as good food and saving money. But there is something else that compares: getting a massage and saving money! So I just had to write and tell you all about Sunset Foot Spa.<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTgQwLwHZWaUJvDL-wPTarUbQrqI5_jkjBQH77KxKVrLBXQTXKc_Ax1SX29Z1R4K6schESiONqo_dSKP8ZnELBwN62dF8OO1x0S8oKu1dl1fyHqk2grbQNDr8KKd4U8pKspTL9kBbmeM/s1600-h/foot1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTgQwLwHZWaUJvDL-wPTarUbQrqI5_jkjBQH77KxKVrLBXQTXKc_Ax1SX29Z1R4K6schESiONqo_dSKP8ZnELBwN62dF8OO1x0S8oKu1dl1fyHqk2grbQNDr8KKd4U8pKspTL9kBbmeM/s320/foot1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345175423641897362" border="0" /></a>My friend J and I decided to go on Friday night. I'd read about the place awhile ago and had been meaning to try it forever. Having now experienced it, I can't believe I didn't go YEARS before!! For a mere $25 you get an hour long massage. That's right $25!!<br /><br />The place looks like a modified pedicure salon, lined with large recliners draped in towels. The walls are a soothing yellow and everyone speaks in quiet voices. The whole thing has a cheap zen sort of feel. <br /><br />You start seated on an ottoman in front of your recliner. The men then drape your shoulders with a towel and give you a twenty minute neck. shoulder, and back massage. Their hands are strong and it's a pretty deep massage. Obviously, it's not quite as luxuriously flowing as a massage on your bare skin with oil would be, but it's definitely enjoyable. <br /><br />Then you move into the recliner. They lean your seat back and give you a brief head and face massage while your feet soak in a tub of warm water. Following that, they spend the next forty or so minutes working mostly on your feet (with some work on the calves and thighs thrown in for good measure). <br /><br />While receiving your massage, you can study the acupressure chart that shows how the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">different</span> parts of your feet correspond to different parts of the body. Fascinating. <br /><br />J and I arrived thinking that we'd be chatting away the whole time, but the whole thing was so soothing that we mostly just stayed in our own blissed out worlds. The only interaction came when they got to the "thyroid" portion of our feet, which was somehow very ticklish for both of us - oh those crazy thyroids!<br /><br />This place would be the perfect respite after spending a night in too high heels or a crazy workout (or really any time you have $25 to spend!). And there were little Chinese candies - so I even got some dining done on this deal!<br /><br />Sunset Foot Spa is located at:<br />5419 W. Sunset Blvd.<br />Los Angeles, CA 90027<br />323-898-4220<br />www.sunsetfootspa.com<br /><br />Check their website for the other services they offer. I had called to make a reservation, but the woman didn't even take down my name, so I don't think it was altogether necessary.<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br />Photo courtesy of www.sunsetfootspa.comDining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-91451889718648951042009-06-02T10:59:00.000-07:002009-07-08T19:51:23.074-07:00Ba Ba Reeba in Chicago - Little Bites of Heaven<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIex0bKJ0yDt86y4hnt-O7wzMWcDNJXZ-UFP5hVZHyR2ULucta6qS1iGSJpGUtevqBoY-kZ5feNCDpLA5zhs5CkmDC4w5yfEM-ZjTeTPrg5MWpsJRN-neO2hbfB12x-4rGX2TDEPRi44/s1600-h/Cheese+Quince.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a>Last week my job sent me to Chicago. Knowing that I would be busy with work, and also being fairly unfamiliar with the city, I didn't think I would be able to find any "deals." I simply told my friend E to take me out to a delicious meal, never mind the price (Hurray for per <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">diems</span>!) But, when we sat down in Ba Ba Reeba and I saw that they had "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Pintxos</span>" or bite sized tapas for $1.50, I knew I had to order them. And when I then tasted how delicious and versatile they were, I knew I would have to write about them. So, I must apologize for the quality of these pictures as I didn't have my camera on me and these are all from my iPhone.<br /><br />Ba Ba Reeba is a raucous neighborhood place filled with people young and old, trendy hipsters, families, mature couples and everything in between. They have a huge menu that is entirely composed of tapas. While the tapas are primarily Spanish in nature, the variety and scope of the dishes shows that Chef <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Gabino</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sotelino</span> (say that out loud - it's fun!) is clearly knowledgeable of many different types of cuisine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIex0bKJ0yDt86y4hnt-O7wzMWcDNJXZ-UFP5hVZHyR2ULucta6qS1iGSJpGUtevqBoY-kZ5feNCDpLA5zhs5CkmDC4w5yfEM-ZjTeTPrg5MWpsJRN-neO2hbfB12x-4rGX2TDEPRi44/s1600-h/Cheese+Quince.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIex0bKJ0yDt86y4hnt-O7wzMWcDNJXZ-UFP5hVZHyR2ULucta6qS1iGSJpGUtevqBoY-kZ5feNCDpLA5zhs5CkmDC4w5yfEM-ZjTeTPrg5MWpsJRN-neO2hbfB12x-4rGX2TDEPRi44/s320/Cheese+Quince.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342802058725834722" border="0" /></a>The first bite was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Artisinal</span> Spanish Cheese and Quince. The quince was sweet and soft without being gummy - a fantastic contrast to the harder, sharp cheese (that I'm guessing was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">manchego</span>). It was a simple exploration of contrasting flavors and textures - delectable!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0tbSoXlOtApmq5oEsBnhc2YYkL6XK1pHC7pXfV2kTbL66LVXJweMQby1SsC6K0J8rx_sA_jfbvt6ysGompsEFZLXgpBB6rfOJaFtuOyfwOLYVo5DDFcNEjHT2jaj4FNG3AwKJ4FUYTo/s1600-h/Croquette.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0tbSoXlOtApmq5oEsBnhc2YYkL6XK1pHC7pXfV2kTbL66LVXJweMQby1SsC6K0J8rx_sA_jfbvt6ysGompsEFZLXgpBB6rfOJaFtuOyfwOLYVo5DDFcNEjHT2jaj4FNG3AwKJ4FUYTo/s320/Croquette.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342799153046694114" border="0" /></a>Next I sampled the Mushroom and Rice <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Croqueta</span>. Traditional <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">croquetas</span> can sometimes suffer from being overly greasy, but these were light and crunchy with a rich warm center, topped with a creamy cheese. The only flaw, if I had to find one, would be that they didn't have a very strong mushroom taste - more a cheesy, creamy, sort of flavor. But, I will never complain about <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">cheesy</span> creamy flavors:)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04tef0zJn1094871KpxbIwmbhbErUFVr7mNOpns8atspsiJ-q44AOMaozmdQNTLlQHK_y3tJVirZsgfREUr81vN0a10mY8Re6FgVsNMkeCN9XxBm_z8I53gkHlxVUGmkiv_HyqDGtbh8/s1600-h/Pepper+Short+Rib.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04tef0zJn1094871KpxbIwmbhbErUFVr7mNOpns8atspsiJ-q44AOMaozmdQNTLlQHK_y3tJVirZsgfREUr81vN0a10mY8Re6FgVsNMkeCN9XxBm_z8I53gkHlxVUGmkiv_HyqDGtbh8/s320/Pepper+Short+Rib.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342799075849421954" border="0" /></a>Then came the Short Rib Stuffed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Piquillo</span> Pepper. The roasted <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">piquillo</span> was sweet as a bell pepper. It draped over the juicy short ribs like a perky little cap and the entire thing perched atop a crunchy whole wheat toast bite. For $1.50, that's a pretty substantial <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">mouthful</span>!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpZ-kenWChiVAz2nn9DoXYwab-k3aVIlG6Ffw6bWbaEGK_Mh0MZtPB0FSHLRIB88QSc1wdIxCMUWuPRCk9Srw1Rf5xE-vbTQhyXAOBdpD6ZbtPo8qB1QqcAM2lZkOZsU8Mn_qSrOiokA/s1600-h/Serrano.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpZ-kenWChiVAz2nn9DoXYwab-k3aVIlG6Ffw6bWbaEGK_Mh0MZtPB0FSHLRIB88QSc1wdIxCMUWuPRCk9Srw1Rf5xE-vbTQhyXAOBdpD6ZbtPo8qB1QqcAM2lZkOZsU8Mn_qSrOiokA/s320/Serrano.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342798979546674498" border="0" /></a>Then came a spear of Serrano Ham, one of the most classical tapas out there. However, chef <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Sotelino</span> has jazzed this one up with a tip from the islands: <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Caramelized</span> Pineapple. Again we have that delicious combination of sweet and salty - classically addicting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2wqOzveaF09bs_zzKhQhBLU-G6Z452akU5cK3WIZsA9HLY8920HfyVRLsWgNA5qHSmnFFEZTuCrmMlnhmy1PDM0TtGOBmVUGzLMjatxulFrkS91K01-4Fvo8xKh46xw8KJZHPedulrc/s1600-h/Lemon+Cheese.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2wqOzveaF09bs_zzKhQhBLU-G6Z452akU5cK3WIZsA9HLY8920HfyVRLsWgNA5qHSmnFFEZTuCrmMlnhmy1PDM0TtGOBmVUGzLMjatxulFrkS91K01-4Fvo8xKh46xw8KJZHPedulrc/s320/Lemon+Cheese.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342798297825520770" border="0" /></a>Our last little bite was a Goat Cheese <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Croqueta</span>. They must raise these goats on a steady diet of lemonade, I can conceive of no other way they could make the cheese taste SO lemony!! It's almost like a cheesy, lemon mousse, though with enough salt to keep it firmly out of the dessert realm and in the mouthwatering appetizer realm.<br /><br />$7.50 later, our meal was off to a fabulous start. Given my choice, I would literally have an entire meal composed entirely of small bites. Should you ever find yourself in Chicago, Ba Ba Reeba is well worth the trip!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/11008/restaurant/Lincoln-Park/Cafe-Ba-Ba-Reeba-Chicago"><img alt="Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/11008/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a><br /><img src="file:///Users/jewelcasting/Desktop/Croquette.jpg" alt="" />Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-50776868908260184922009-05-26T09:40:00.000-07:002009-07-08T19:51:47.758-07:00Umami Burger - Yum-a-Yumi!!So I'm adding a new section to the blog called: "Everyday Deals."  These are the places where you can get absolutely fabulous food for under $10 an entree everyday.  No waiting for Tuesday nights or Happy Hours (though I'm more then happy to wait for those as well:)  So, what better way to start of this section, then with a place people have been raving about: Umami Burger.<div><br /></div><div>It's easy to miss the restaurant, as it is a nondescript store front on La Brea, wedged between such non epicurean delights as a donut shop and a car wash.  But find it we did.  Normally, I try and avoid valet parking (what's the point of $3 chicken when you've paid $10 for valet?), but for a mere $2, Umami gets the prize for the cheapest valet parking around.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>H and I walked in to be greeted by our dear friend J.  It's really a very small restaurant, but they've made delightful use of the space, using warm woods and neutral colors, as well as leaving one wall entirely open to windows so that light pours in.  We settled in to to the simple table with a paper table cloth and small succulent plant. </div><div><br /></div><div>The menu is simple: one narrow page of burgers with the reverse of the page detailing sides, drinks, and desserts.  But I say, if you do one thing and do it well, then that's all you need.  I'm sick of the cheese cake factories of the world doing a mediocre job on EVERYTHING.  I hope this micro-specialization continues.  </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 141px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yJMsWooj3zMCaoJsgPfcmtRebs9CymuOQRLViZYpL4pPGkLsD5SFtAIK5p8f_f9B3MrkW4RnsAtnlU_EmTJTbOVuXne3WWy71vr6RrH2oVl7Ki7UHfO-8cl-JkWt_ASKSKCkQ_Qmwqo/s320/IMG_1242.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340176940830840402" /><div style="text-align: left;">And speaking of micro-specialization, these guys specialize in Cola!  They don't have a liquor license, but they will happily send you across the street if you want to bring in your own booze.  But... should you be less alcohol inclined, they have a wonderful assortment of unusual sodas.  I opted for a Chai Cola.  The first sweet sip is filled with the complex spices of chai tea, although it does have a bitter aftertaste.  Think next time I'll opt for a different unusual option. </div><div style="text-align: left;">  </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhXZrAbd0EOMn_cO7J9Iadktbe-DwGucUI_6lnq4J7REEBcN065TSXqrFOfpWKMLC8jDaVr95Ch1xgZU6ZWb4gh7o__kQkcef7uutULpqgsNGjvVXcBhKjvmYTyizXyz9cqJ9wg_j-5I/s320/IMG_1245.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340178451388655282" />Then came the house specialty: The $9 Umami Burger.  Umami is that fifth elusive taste.  When it's not sweet, spicy, sour, or bitter, it's: Umami.  And this burger has it in spades.  Juicy, perfectly cooked beef, earthy complex mushrooms, a crispy parmesan cracker, a sharp, melted cheese that I'm guessing is gruyere, and an oven roasted tomato, all encased in a meltingly soft bun.  They warn you that you will crave this one, and they are indeed correct.  Be prepared to get hooked into a lifetime of deliciousness.  <div>  <br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pIksISF-irvk6f_D-mSe00ouEER0buLUaxmeN7QjdPdqOM61qflWlGI3f4KT_JVAQdE3qwSVi8fsimdUOU4ad_82SuJtBfV8goSvaJ55FGEaxf4kSgEfhcD3Ed9j3fZ0d-yyQHWZTaM/s320/IMG_1243.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340178807065779186" /><div>Being a SoCal kinda girl, my beautiful friend H opted for the $9 SoCal Burger.  This lovely patty is topped with butter lettuce, caramelized onions, oven roasted tomato, and what they call: house made processed cheese.  Do not be put off by visions of kraft singles dancing in your head.  This is more akin to a manchego: creamy and flavorful.  This burger is sweeter then the Umami, but still cravably delicious.  </div><div><br /></div><div>J opted for the $10 Turkey Confit Burger, which, while tasty, simply wasn't in the same league as the other two.  I would skip this one if I were you.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MZ_4CJ66oxj5TQcweolOktRjqQIY3guZrg7ZjtcJGzuJY7kcaOzyhbqgRHeOBa8qIAZ_GrfRvvD_uTppv_ORqiNDYH-omenCGPLslcKksfb3Z_uNCBkIu19-o0H6VvnbiC7sDYPR-zw/s320/IMG_1246.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340178089083062258" /><div style="text-align: left;">We ordered the $3 triple cooked hand cut fries.  While they had a crisp exterior and a nice dusting of salt, they were so thick that it almost seemed more like eating a potato then eating a french fry.  Of course, the house made ketchup made anything utterly palatable.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYS9uUQ7VjTyOonG9pHnWmd7m8B2HOFtT6QApJqwOBJdlITo8Dpu3hTZHlz7jOEhoKTDP-r-hVBVrHmEqUitVnIM0h6DKI1KABWDONQOghYXCkKj6ZZbRgVDSX04QXM64Fi7PZkcrgebE/s320/IMG_1247.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340177626533612386" /><div style="text-align: left;">Far superior in the realm of sides is the $2.5 malt liquor tempura onion rings.  The light tempura coating and the complex hint of the malt flavor elevate these onion rings far above their normally greasy, soggy counterparts.  (Oh, these are greasy too, it's just a different, yummier kind of grease:)  I think I'd eat just about anything in that malt liquor tempura batter.</div><div style="text-align: left;">  </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3PyOUQRVXWrs0p-mDCsRoZz8dUw4eQAEkTI9OGYVKscE223ihQPCtrPF6i_Ah8_ei7hCXdusdk-mhOjpoJt-16NbA5SRFOsUWxwDwu0f3DlUr1aqNmv3WnUGkVkJdNx8omszcONdiDo/s320/IMG_1248.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340177269940840626" /></div><div>We ended with Cake Monkey's $3.75 Raspberry Red Velvet Ding Dong.  The red velvet cake is light and spongey, and the chocolate coating actually tastes like chocolate.  I imagine this is what ding dongs used to taste like before all the chemicals came rushing in to make things taste like plastic.  Oh, and then there's the delectable tang of the raspberry filling all mushed together in your mouth.  Perfectly sweet!</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, we had a wonderfully delicious evening at Umami Burger and will certainly be back for more.  Four and a half belt notches!!</div><div><br /></div><div>One Caveat: get there early!  We arrived at 7pm and sat down in a mostly empty restaurant.  By the time we left at 8:30, hordes of hungry diners stared longingly through the glass at our table.  This is not a restaurant to linger in!!  Get in, eat scrumptious burgers, and then move on before ravenous diners start swiping food off your plate.  </div><div><br /></div><div>Umami Burger is located at:</div><div>850 S. La Brea Ave.</div><div>Los Angeles, CA  90036</div><div>323-931-3000</div><div>www.umamiburger.com</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:arial;font-size:11px;"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/5/1423777/restaurant/Mid-Wilshire/Umami-Burger-LA"><img alt="Umami Burger on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1423777/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-77405511693479130582009-05-17T16:40:00.000-07:002009-07-08T19:50:42.518-07:00Happy Hour at Cafe Rodeo - No Thrills in Beverly HillsWalking down Rodeo drive past all the designer clothing stores, one can't help but feel posh.  (Even if one happens to be wearing a T shirt and is feeling smug for having found free street parking.)  So I was excited for my Friday night date with P at Cafe Rodeo in Hotel Luxe.<div><br /></div><div>The outdoor patio was bustling with people when I arrived at 6:45, but I had requested indoor seating (given that I normally freeze whenever I'm outside unless it's 100 degrees.)  So I walked down a perfumed hall curtained in white and arrived at the actual Cafe.  It was smaller then expected and, as there was no hostess, I had to just grab a passing waiter to tell him I had a reservation (wanted to make sure I got credit on my opentable.com account!).  </div><div><br /></div><div>The interior can't quite make up it's mind as to the look it's going for.  The large skylight, creamy neutral palette, and aerodynamic silverware suggest something airy and modern, but the uptempo continental music, the servers all in black, and the recessed lighting seemed to suggest they are going for more of a loungey feel.  The crowd was mostly in their late thirties and forties.  If I had to guess...I'd say 80% tourists.  Hmmm...not a good sign.  </div><div><br /></div><div><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 228px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcF_LMdePZ7ilquPIzUgaT1h4VQcdhwTPCB7JcFK-2ed4_3L-SzBPO5VEciBNU4JS_PlJWdvWYofYR1asnx28fiv3wLj7Ia6HzghWcw6C_03PHvMOjclgsGIe2xwTj9NSFibB8cZi6d8/s320/IMG_1231.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336944645124331410" />We began with what was listed on the menu as $7 Pork Tacos.  However, our server informed us that they were out of pork, so instead they brought us Braised Beef Tacos.  The meat was tender, moist, and full of flavor.  The natural sweetness of braised beef was accented by the bits of pineapple, cut with a fiery chipotle sauce.  Add to this the crisp bite of the iceberg lettuce and you get one textured and complex mouthful!  This was by far the best thing we had all night, it's a shame it's not on their regular menu.   </div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBWyQx55ZO3zRvO9rQmjXtyxG1DlFSrlIvXw_-uA4r4v5DnqQq4EI72TgQFVTa05Cdt-35BCo_UvvJoYuoEZcumE9vBhsWQmY5EMbMsuY8c00IZUEuQOOJ_8REFlGPV22EcES9FLBLqQ/s320/IMG_1235.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336943756943998706" />Next I dived into their $3.60 Fried Chicken Skewers.  For that price, how could you go wrong?  Well, I wouldn't say they went wrong - but they certainly didn't go right.  The chicken itself was moist and tasty, but the coating was bland and lacked the crunch I expect from "fried" chicken.  And forget about the sauces.  We might as well have gone to McDonalds for the BBQ sauce and grabbed some little packets from our Chinese Takeout place for the Duck Sauce.  Nothing exciting there.   <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBWyQx55ZO3zRvO9rQmjXtyxG1DlFSrlIvXw_-uA4r4v5DnqQq4EI72TgQFVTa05Cdt-35BCo_UvvJoYuoEZcumE9vBhsWQmY5EMbMsuY8c00IZUEuQOOJ_8REFlGPV22EcES9FLBLqQ/s1600-h/IMG_1235.JPG"><br /></a><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8d6EkMzGwtNy0YiQdftRR1K5_pOOxmSsFGv1thDP7Gp5m9PPZ9ed-T6cebxuggv1ftGulu41Kq7D-O9oljDfXpwhuhtMq6MSJ4MYQrD8FfNEi8bL30rI1UlCXbh2sZRBrtKQQxtHYxw/s320/IMG_1232.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336944118751903186" />My least favorite of the night was the $9 Filet Mignon Sliders with Blue Cheese and Grilled Onions.  I expect Filet Mignon to be melt in your mouth tender, but these little nubbins were filled with sinew and fat (and not the marbled, tasty kind, more the clumpy, hard to chew kind).  The dusting of blue cheese and three or four strands of onion were barely present enough to give much flavor.  The "buns" were little circles cut out of English Muffins that were not toasted.  They pretty much just served to remind you how small and sad the whole dish was.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOjcwyL6wTqq3ckYx85-bWYELXvnOUhL6BD0c4seIacY67E5Cup8n3RanW6oIKScRy8khSWw2m4tbZR4NhJui38fWJSEYeWjLWiXNB-yVxllDZIwwRTa1c2TmzLENgo0KAgrWQgVG8SA/s1600-h/IMG_1239.JPG"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOjcwyL6wTqq3ckYx85-bWYELXvnOUhL6BD0c4seIacY67E5Cup8n3RanW6oIKScRy8khSWw2m4tbZR4NhJui38fWJSEYeWjLWiXNB-yVxllDZIwwRTa1c2TmzLENgo0KAgrWQgVG8SA/s1600-h/IMG_1239.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOjcwyL6wTqq3ckYx85-bWYELXvnOUhL6BD0c4seIacY67E5Cup8n3RanW6oIKScRy8khSWw2m4tbZR4NhJui38fWJSEYeWjLWiXNB-yVxllDZIwwRTa1c2TmzLENgo0KAgrWQgVG8SA/s320/IMG_1239.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336943247946679938" /></a>We also got the $3.60 Parmesan Fries.  While I do wish they had been dusted with a little more parm, they were piping hot, crunchy on the outside, and soft of the inside.  Plus, they were presented in a sweet little pot.  </div><div><br /></div><div>Having found the food adequate but not at all special, P and I decided to skip dessert, since we imagined it wouldn't be anything special.  After waiting forever for the over worked waiter to pick up the check, we headed off in search of tastier desserts.  Sadly, we forgot that it's Beverly Hills and most places are closed by eight.  Foiled Again!  Overall, I give this 2 belt notches out of five - not worth your time.   But, should you still wish to go..</div><div><br /></div><div>Cafe Rodeo has Happy Hour Monday-Saturday from 4-7:30pm.  They are located in Hotel Luxe at:</div><div>360 N. Rodeo Dr.</div><div>Beverly Hills, CA  90210</div><div>310-273-0300</div><div>www.luxehotelrodeodrive.com</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/5/62272/restaurant/LA/Cafe-Rodeo-Beverly-Hills"><img alt="Cafe Rodeo on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/62272/biglink.gif" style="border:none;width:200px;height:146px" /></a></span><br /></div><div><br /></div>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-84076321872156134382009-05-10T20:08:00.000-07:002009-07-08T19:49:19.088-07:00LA Barbeque Festival - Finger Lickin' GoodAs my friend C and I stepped out of the car parked three blocks away, the heady scent of wood, smoke, and meat filled our nostrils. BBQ powerful enough to traverse three city blocks? This was going to be a good day. Anticipation only mounted as we crossed the bridge over the PCH and saw the rows of white tents waiting for us, each containing their own secret ingredents, believed to hold the key to the very best barbecue. <br /><br />Stepping inside, we were surrounded by barbecue enthusiasts of every age, race, color and creed. There were the hipsters, the aging hippies, the frat boys, the beach bums, the families, all of them gathered in joyous celebration of grilled meat. Perhaps the UN should start holding more 'ques.<br /><br />We decided to scope out all the options before commiting to any plates. After all $10 got you quite a hunk of meat in addition to a side, so we knew going in that we would probably only be able to sample about three different kinds. **Note to organizers: it would be amazing if next year each booth had small plates (a rib or two) for just a few bucks so that attendees could sample more varieties.** We immediately eliminated all LA based vendors, vowing instead to actually go and try out those restaurants at some later date. So then it was all about deciding which regions looked the most scrumptious.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQD96o8d6Vs4WoBy8IDe_eSX4lc_9eRBGd4hGxJDuLvB-lGorm9isuIAtE-wW64Kj1IXNoetKoH2gLeRY7p4hmTYo5Sk7uYpwBhYWQvRA2JO0tbfIM16GPZqOEGHKc8s9wtml9yfqWNU/s1600-h/St.+Louis+Ribs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334398964374436594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQD96o8d6Vs4WoBy8IDe_eSX4lc_9eRBGd4hGxJDuLvB-lGorm9isuIAtE-wW64Kj1IXNoetKoH2gLeRY7p4hmTYo5Sk7uYpwBhYWQvRA2JO0tbfIM16GPZqOEGHKc8s9wtml9yfqWNU/s320/St.+Louis+Ribs.jpg" border="0" /></a>C has eaten her way across the country multiple times, and she said those Missourians knew their 'que. So we opted to get the Kansas City Spare Ribs and Baked Beans from L.C.'s BBQ. They use a wet rub, which leads to the meat being incredibly moist with a flavor that invades your mouth with the force of a hurricane. The ribs had a nice warmth without being overly spicy, as well as a crunchy crust. If only they'd had just a pinch less salt they would have been perfect. But the baked beans, rife with pork fat, were phenomenal! Sweet and spicy, they literally melted in my mouth. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTm8drtXfhyKUuXqs5WLiLvFQpfzH-lPQ2GIQ4KDAxHbYU1XN6OkzEYvt_si4yV53bxENbAbLLiNWH0FoQzpiJTk55ZuohWMELTTYH2TLqrVi2ga0bDgu7vXIs7Ov6XQsIGYJ-W99q_I/s1600-h/Memphis+Ribs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334398685574485330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 167px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTm8drtXfhyKUuXqs5WLiLvFQpfzH-lPQ2GIQ4KDAxHbYU1XN6OkzEYvt_si4yV53bxENbAbLLiNWH0FoQzpiJTk55ZuohWMELTTYH2TLqrVi2ga0bDgu7vXIs7Ov6XQsIGYJ-W99q_I/s320/Memphis+Ribs.jpg" border="0" /></a> Having procured our wet ribs, we also wanted to try a dry rub, so we purchased Memphis Championship BBQ's Ribs and Coleslaw. (A disclaimer, I don't like coleslaw, so I won't be reviewing it). I'll be honest, the main reason I insisted on these ribs was that this recipe was named the Champion at the 1902 World's Fair. Are you kidding me? I had to try any recipe older then anyone I know. The ribs were tasty and the spices well balanced, but the flavor was not nearly as powerful as I would have liked. </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4t-emahMt9Vhu66ftSI9tWuIUW-MTnjKF8168kZBj1p0GM-7o0gNep0vLZ35G-SZ1rZc0cJJ_QIe0ObKY-xboN8rfeylHgWG26XwenDJYRtUGKDZxTnTqZtTpm1y9NPqF5kVzMUhyVw/s1600-h/New+Jersey+Pulled+Pork.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334398478008937586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 178px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4t-emahMt9Vhu66ftSI9tWuIUW-MTnjKF8168kZBj1p0GM-7o0gNep0vLZ35G-SZ1rZc0cJJ_QIe0ObKY-xboN8rfeylHgWG26XwenDJYRtUGKDZxTnTqZtTpm1y9NPqF5kVzMUhyVw/s320/New+Jersey+Pulled+Pork.jpg" border="0" /></a>For our third dish, we went with the Pulled Pork Sandwich from Butch's Smack Your Lips BBQ in New Jersey. This was my favorite of all three! The pork was as tender as a dream, and the extra sauce that I slathered on was delicious, complex, sharp, sweet, tangy and so much more. The sauce and pork juices were all soaked up by the bottom bun, transforming an overwhelmingly ordinary piece of bread into a pillowy burst of flavor. (Note to BBQers - your meat is fantastic, but it might be time to investigate some better bread!). My one quibble was that the meat was not as hot as I would have liked, but I partly attribute that to the massive amount of sauce I used to smother the meat. Also, in the interest of full disclosure, this was C's least favorite dish. A Boston girl at heart, she's enjoyed the best "BBQ sandwich" out of a shack somewhere in the middle of Mississippi, and, for her, there's just no going back (certainly not to Jersey!). But for my money, these Jersey Boys can do the 'que. <br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3luEYtj3zPTLCHrxRZrcUaTaoI8RWTBxyGVG1HN39O0btj2WS5Bo4xUJqyCEFKOoj5EwaWXDlLzVVLgqkO5t2AIm5LWucA6Iv3FK0py7dmsESdDP0pXFwDgwylIDaFSD-26VusNNKtM/s1600-h/Polkadots+Cupcakes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334398127751262818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 183px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3luEYtj3zPTLCHrxRZrcUaTaoI8RWTBxyGVG1HN39O0btj2WS5Bo4xUJqyCEFKOoj5EwaWXDlLzVVLgqkO5t2AIm5LWucA6Iv3FK0py7dmsESdDP0pXFwDgwylIDaFSD-26VusNNKtM/s320/Polkadots+Cupcakes.jpg" border="0" /></a>Thoroughly stuffed, we nonetheless made room for $3 Polkatots Cupcakes! These cupcakes are smaller then most, but still pack plenty of flavor. Their Vanilla cupcake is good, with a sweet, smooth frosting and moist vanilla cake contrasting with the crunchy "blue sparkles" on top. But it's their Dulce de Leche cupcake that is a revelation!! They have somehow figured out a way to pack enormous Dulce flavor into the creamy softness of frosting. Add to that the extra punch of actual Dulce de Leche squiggled on top and you have one of the most phenomenal cupcakes I've ever tasted (and trust me, I have tasted my fair share...someday I may write an entire essay on cupcakes in LA). If you ever find yourself anywhere NEAR Pasadena, go get these cupcakes!</div><div> </div><div>Author's note: Lost in my Dulce de Leche rapture, I suddenly looked up to discover that C had dissapeared. Apparently, despite her full stomach, the lure of a Texas Sausage proved irresistable and she went back for fourths. And, man, she was glad she did (as was I, as it left more of the cupcakes for me!)</div><div> </div><div>Overall, we had a wonderful day at the festival. Good people, delicious aromas, and a stomach full of pork and cupcakes. What more could a girl want?</div><div> </div><div>More information on the Barbeque Festival can be found here: <a href="http://www.labbqfest.com/">www.labbqfest.com</a></div><div> </div><div>More information on Polkatots Cupcakes can be found here: <a href="http://www.polkatotscupcakes.com/">www.polkatotscupcakes.com</a></div></div></div>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-87104273729633080552009-05-05T22:16:00.000-07:002009-07-08T19:52:16.526-07:00Two Exciting Announcements!Hello dear readers. This isn't an actual review - just two exciting bits of news that I wanted to share with you! <div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332576584212292306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0Mz2-ytDg4Hm8GVPGBxLpYJtzabhHSPEIMNNRMF0J1NuGevjCjP1GXqVAVSqCQDDj-4D6ps_MbfQigazqDsPweTU7gcMHlpwN7XXS2BYwf_I7gKliHjrvhAuEiv3HHHKrmmbu2u0GXs/s320/LA+BBQ.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>The first is that there is a BBQ festival in Santa Monica this weekend. Admission is $10 for a regular pass or $50 for a VIP pass. After that, $10 can get you a plate of award winning bbq from such far flung places as Texas or Missouri (plus, of course, the best that LA has to offer). Oh, and they have dessert too!! I will definitely be in attendence, so look for a review some time next week. You can check out all the details here:</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://www.labbqfest.com/">www.labbqfest.com</a> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332576457948164114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTEZBqiI4g95eey62fcT2UWdglFbYFI90UKKkPOaX8T2PLKLkrxVsyvHq9Ydl5n3bVwoHSpjm8vkwwMjh7HhAGVF8QbCcZumbBEgKH6Mj9v-uhGlpfrU2723uJ5194Fq71iFD4B5azYA/s320/Gas+Grill.bmp" border="0" /></div></div><br />The second announcement is that I have started cooking school! I figured if I'm going to be writing about cooking every week, I should understand what goes into the whole process. Hurrah, I am so excited! We meet once a week for twenty four weeks, so probably not enough time to become a top chef, but I'm hoping to get a good handle on the basics and be able to throw amazing dinner parties by the time I'm through! Wish me luck!Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-48382598260313247302009-05-01T09:07:00.000-07:002009-07-08T19:48:32.850-07:0050% off Tuesdays at Bella - Brava!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFG4FLgoa1dBwxY0w0vz6bXKTINx7Y2CWg1MIE_vKYpwQKXARQqcuxHoBf9xZBPlAA1FtnoRBWI81SeAMBj9F_2YjC9ef1ePqkT8gmCzaOwrlG8XYQe1b847qPENUQZoT2GwZM01akSs/s1600-h/Bella+-+sign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFG4FLgoa1dBwxY0w0vz6bXKTINx7Y2CWg1MIE_vKYpwQKXARQqcuxHoBf9xZBPlAA1FtnoRBWI81SeAMBj9F_2YjC9ef1ePqkT8gmCzaOwrlG8XYQe1b847qPENUQZoT2GwZM01akSs/s320/Bella+-+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330889041745480562" border="0" /></a>At lunch with a friend the other day, she happened to mention that the Dolce group (Dolce, Bella, Ketchup, etc.) has 50% off nights at their different restaurants. Amazing! I called and had secured reservations for the following Tuesday. But, dear readers be aware, you must mention it to your server! They do not promote this special at all (on the menu, on the Bella website) - it's only mentioned on the Dolce website. So make sure you ask for your half off, or they will charge you full price!!<br /><br />I stepped out of the hustle and bustle of Hollywood Blvd. and into this dimly lit little haven. It's a small but efficiently designed space, with a bar taking up one long wall and booths under slender windows taking up the other. My friends J, H, and I lounged in a roomy booth in the back. High ceilings, black glass chandeliers, and black and white photos of celebrities give the place a trendy, almost masculine vibe. The Dolce group has clearly perfected the art of cool.<br /><br />My first bite of the focaccia bread made me think that perhaps it was a little past it's prime. The flavor was still fine, but it was a little dried out, like day old bread. Luckily, it is served with a tangy, vinegary, tomato dip. This lovely sauce helped to moisten the bread and had a fantastic flavor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcZxtoA4tigmGHRm-qeqG389lRZETNGbjIYLKsZgIQhmKzS260r220BYhJFU5GvTYj3Wr20n6x5IlIjJ5J5Hzz8r1-zyBLVeG7jvdEo_iubKBD1h5cfqJS7wQK0ulDd771fZA6MLRjYc/s1600-h/Bella+-+Gnocchi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcZxtoA4tigmGHRm-qeqG389lRZETNGbjIYLKsZgIQhmKzS260r220BYhJFU5GvTYj3Wr20n6x5IlIjJ5J5Hzz8r1-zyBLVeG7jvdEo_iubKBD1h5cfqJS7wQK0ulDd771fZA6MLRjYc/s320/Bella+-+Gnocchi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330888678981008834" border="0" /></a>We decided to start by splitting the $3.50 Gnocchi in a Basil Pesto Sauce. The gnocchi was silky smooth, as soft and pliant as you could wish for. The sauce was creamy and packed a garlicky basil-y punch. A scrumptious combination - I could have ordered two and happily called it a meal. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNL9DLfauOT_BP1kf0UN95Ara2jRsRel8MBSF80qMCx1GqnML4IIpAgbyBd5gpUanGW_odWWmFxeVSS1oXvYpZCIMPnttP5Kkc8cY0CtQq2GP5pwXS3Jh0La5QwekInHYZs8G-gEnb46w/s1600-h/Bella+-+lamb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNL9DLfauOT_BP1kf0UN95Ara2jRsRel8MBSF80qMCx1GqnML4IIpAgbyBd5gpUanGW_odWWmFxeVSS1oXvYpZCIMPnttP5Kkc8cY0CtQq2GP5pwXS3Jh0La5QwekInHYZs8G-gEnb46w/s320/Bella+-+lamb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330888472440581602" border="0" /></a>Since it was 50% off Tuesday, I decided to go all out and get the Rack of Lamb for a mere $13! Although the meat was a little overcooked, it was still mouth-wateringly delicious, thanks in large part to a crunchy pistachio crust and a heady blackberry demi-glaze. The sweet and tart sauce was so generously portioned I decided to try it on everything, including the medley of fresh steamed vegetables - an experiment that payed off richly. The plate also came with a heaping mound of parmesan mashed potatoes. The sharpness of the cheese complimented the creaminess of the potatoes wonderfully. And thanks to the ample portion size, I was able to enjoy the whole meal again for lunch the next day. Altogether, a steal for $13!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyMHee0b8ZlEcl6r2wU5vw20QbcafgM-hr4GYoohp9tiaf1WrjyPdn8uZIiJy6Pu9wusoNhIOhktueBuDsDwB5-PhOG2xrZIOCzN0Mv-9Pz1I0Spk2wP1kB5OE5ELLyYuVuAfZFlMTMI/s1600-h/Bella+-+Dessert.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyMHee0b8ZlEcl6r2wU5vw20QbcafgM-hr4GYoohp9tiaf1WrjyPdn8uZIiJy6Pu9wusoNhIOhktueBuDsDwB5-PhOG2xrZIOCzN0Mv-9Pz1I0Spk2wP1kB5OE5ELLyYuVuAfZFlMTMI/s320/Bella+-+Dessert.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330888227132775794" border="0" /></a>We ended the night with the $4 Molten Chocolate Cake. Typically, it is served with vanilla ice cream, but since they were out we opted for the strawberry sorbet. The cake was indeed dense and chocolaty, though not as meltingly molten as advertised. I think it could have used another minute or two in the oven as the very center was even a little cool. The sorbet, on the other hand was light and rich at the same time with a potent strawberry flavor.<br /><br />All in all, my friends and I enjoyed a wonderful night on the town with good food in a trendy atmosphere for not a lot of cash. Go check it out!<br /><br />Bella offers 50% off all food all night on Tuesday Nights (Drinks are still full price.)<br /><br />Bella Cucina Italiana<br />1708 N. Las Palmas Ave.<br />Hollywood, CA 90028<br />323-468-8815<br /><a href="url">www.dolcegroup.com/bella</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/5/61254/restaurant/Hollywood/Bella-LA"><img alt="Bella on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/61254/biglink.gif" style="border: medium none ; width: 200px; height: 146px;" /></a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-30324244925303022192009-04-26T18:05:00.000-07:002009-07-08T19:47:42.891-07:00The Grilled Cheese Invitational<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLl0FvE_rbIpOxGi_Jl6iNbPQbaepjmvBRTmJu2XTAMCTH3cPFGOGpC4zkzUUG4x83n_n99hWqZ36RqxMwCepKcOnbKiGcmF7MrVx9pOU9KhDFRLIM4GuwBlqq7RPjWA90Gv7panFUI8/s1600-h/Grilled+Cheese+Invitational.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLl0FvE_rbIpOxGi_Jl6iNbPQbaepjmvBRTmJu2XTAMCTH3cPFGOGpC4zkzUUG4x83n_n99hWqZ36RqxMwCepKcOnbKiGcmF7MrVx9pOU9KhDFRLIM4GuwBlqq7RPjWA90Gv7panFUI8/s320/Grilled+Cheese+Invitational.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329173409139695538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Los Angeles is a city full of diet conscious people. We have our vegans, our raw foodies, our macro-biotics (I'm not judging, as I have enjoyed the cuisine of all three.) But couple that with the fact that so many of our residents are as tanned and toned as the cast of 90210, and you may start to think there's little full fat, purely indulgent gastro-fun in the City of Angles. Enter: The Grilled Cheese Invitational.<br /><br />By the time the gates opened at noon the line stretched all the way around the park and back! This is probably because the first 1700 people got to JUDGE the contest. As we waited in line, my friend N and I signed waivers giving them the right to kill us, steal from us, and basically do anything they wished without us holding them accountable. Then the nice folks at Kraft handed out little triangles of Kraft Singles Grilled Cheese. Now you know I'm not one to turn down free food, but I could only hope the quality level would skyrocket after that.<br /><br />As we judges began milling around the fenced in park, the excitement level was so high I overheard one girl exclaim, "This is going to be the best day of my life!" And indeed it would seem so. Many competitors upped their cheesiness factor with kooky costumes such as robes and berets, balloon hats, cheese heads, etc. Most spirit points has to go to the Challah team, who sported sweat bands and kept inciting the crowd to "Challah!!!"<br /><br />Then came the organizers, clearly kings of cheesiness. There was a Mayor of Cheese to welcome us all, an Irreverent Reverend to give the benediction, and the organizer of the whole shebang, Mr. Tim Walker, sporting a bright red fez. He spoke of "A sea of cheese that longs to melt, butter that yearns to fry, and bread that cries out to be grilled!" The Reverend actually went so far as to suggest that the answer to all of our nations woes might be found in a Grilled Cheese Sammich, reminding us that we were presently surrounded by 1.75 batrillion slices of hope. We can only hope dear Reverend, we can only hope.<br /><br />The day had four heats: Missionary (just bread, cheese, and butter, nothing else), Kama Sutra - Vegetarian (Anything goes as long as it also includes the above three and no meat), Kama Sutra - Meat (self explanatory), and Honey Pot (Desserts!). Now here is the sad part: Each judge gets only TWO samples. Yes, of the hundreds of options, you could only try two. N and I of course decided to split our samples, but still four bites of different grilled cheeses does not exactly a feast make. Each sample came with a ballot on which you could rate the grilled cheese. Now, I understand that you can not ask competitors to make 1700 samples, but this still strikes me as a highly arbitrary way to judge. Especially considering the fact that in order to get a sample, you had to enter a crush of people, wave your ticket madly, and hope that the "runner" would take your ticket and give you a sample. You didn't even have any way of knowing exactly what was in each sammich. N and I just tried to spot a few ingredients we liked and then go for that.<br /><br />This strategy produced mixed results throughout the day. Next year, I wouldn't waste any tickets on the "Missionary" heat as it was just too simple. The sample we procured there was a huge disappointment, just a step or two up from the Kraft samples. But the samples vastly improved with the Kama Sutra round. The best one we tried there had goat cheese, thinly sliced apple, some sort of spread, and a beet cut out in a star on top. Very tasty.<br /><br />But the most delicious aspect of the day had to be the demonstration I attended by Chef Eric Greenspan of The Foundry. As last year's winner, he was serving up a decadent creation made of creamy and sharp Tallegio, oven dried tomatoes, arugula, braised beef, and an apricot caper puree with white wine, all of which was served up on a nutty bread that had been grilled in about a pound of butter. AMAZING! This sammich is apparently a fixture on his bar menu at The Foundry, so you may just see a review of that coming soon!<br /><br />N. and I left the competition having been entertained and heartened by this show of a community in support of cheese, and we are now determined to enter next year! So be on the lookout, we're thinking we'll wear cheesy ballgowns as our costumes!:)<br /><br />The Grilled Cheese Invitational takes place once a year and costs $5 (Certainly a deal considering they had free Kraft Singles Grilled Cheese and Izze Soda in addition to the competitor's samples).<br /><br />For more information, you can go to: <a href="url">http://grilledcheeseinvitational.com</a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-43912387604895226522009-04-21T17:24:00.000-07:002009-07-08T19:46:27.865-07:00Happy Hour at Cafe La Boheme - Ohh La La What A Deal!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKwzvKriRTUOtJ_cV-G3gKxBIgvL9wdADfWHqGr4cHPcnpuEY8oJBozrsaB7jVlaPnW7yBVDfjCS4-Ck1WZvQSgWAAfiSnJBUCp_ZYMv1pn-mRN5vs4QMIVahtgjnfp8B1rdrsHmsmQk/s1600-h/La+Boheme+-+Sign.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKwzvKriRTUOtJ_cV-G3gKxBIgvL9wdADfWHqGr4cHPcnpuEY8oJBozrsaB7jVlaPnW7yBVDfjCS4-Ck1WZvQSgWAAfiSnJBUCp_ZYMv1pn-mRN5vs4QMIVahtgjnfp8B1rdrsHmsmQk/s320/La+Boheme+-+Sign.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327307003699801138" /></a><br /><br />I wanted to take my friend, M, out to a nice place in order to celebrate her birthday. From the second we arrived, I knew La Boheme would fit the bill perfectly. We were greeted out front by twinkling white lights wound through the wrought iron fence, inviting us to a world of whimsy. We stepped in to find soaring ceilings, funky chandeliers, large statues, and a huge fireplace. Both of us are east coasters, and the sight of a roaring fire warmed our little snow starved hearts! The whole place reminded me of nothing so much as Beast's castle in Beauty and the Beast. Luckily, the plates did not start singing:) <br /><br />We walked in to the bar area. With it's dangling red lights and plush chairs it has the feel of an intimate and classy lounge. However, La Boheme is the only place I know that offers Happy Hour from 5-8pm, and when we arrived at 7:15 it was packed!! Hurrah for late Happy Hours - let's hope this is a trend! Not a problem at all though, the very friendly manager escorted us to a table in the main dining room.<br /><br />We began to study the menu of small bites and sandwiches. The prices ranged from $6-$22 which struck us as reasonable for such a nice place. But no, it's actually an additional half off those prices!! Phenomenal!! We decided to go all out and order five dishes - at these prices, you can't go wrong!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpQjIRIYWRyqSStNKVeroi1iNGske1keASTs-wog6RlIfbX9hhGzTc41a7Q3-Yo0PJdKBeR77Hnc1_pYIARXH4-7gKFvCbCIjUWKB4-WhxNaTEpOIBcUZmXWtrX93zUBJB14NuZVtK9w/s1600-h/La+Boheme+-+Lamb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpQjIRIYWRyqSStNKVeroi1iNGske1keASTs-wog6RlIfbX9hhGzTc41a7Q3-Yo0PJdKBeR77Hnc1_pYIARXH4-7gKFvCbCIjUWKB4-WhxNaTEpOIBcUZmXWtrX93zUBJB14NuZVtK9w/s320/La+Boheme+-+Lamb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327306829343952210" /></a><br />We began with the $4 Grilled Lamb Skewers served with a Cucumber Mint Tzatziki Sauce. The lamb itself was slightly overdone, but it still had a very strong flavor, almost gamy. The sauce had a perfectly cool tang, although I can't say I detected much mint in there. Individually, neither element was stellar, but taken together the two complimented each other nicely. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwAWzvBxU_-HcYUgN2DB9b1a31MUOpxbtUvK5hyTj3y4YeGgii7cj3YpgOmzAA3S2N2vhmCrJNLl0KRxi54ZMVg2QGSHShkEgu2UiOYDG1chD7tW7tjFwvPd1-P4ZwxLXA5elR-9DQrU/s1600-h/La+Boheme+-+Mac+and+Cheese.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwAWzvBxU_-HcYUgN2DB9b1a31MUOpxbtUvK5hyTj3y4YeGgii7cj3YpgOmzAA3S2N2vhmCrJNLl0KRxi54ZMVg2QGSHShkEgu2UiOYDG1chD7tW7tjFwvPd1-P4ZwxLXA5elR-9DQrU/s320/La+Boheme+-+Mac+and+Cheese.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327306723699964498" /></a><br />The rest of our order came all at once after that. I was still busy taking notes on the lamb, but I positively could not resist the aroma of the $4 Four Cheese Mac and Cheese wafting toward me, it smelled like I had died and gone to cheese heaven. This is probably one of the least goopy Mac and Cheeses I have ever had. It feels more like they just tossed the noddles in a bunch of cheese and cooked it, which is perfectly fine by me! The four cheeses played well together, starting out with a creamy mildness and then gradually growing sharper the more you chewed. This was M's favorite dish of the night! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy3c2ZGr_T6c5kmZdvFGB8jDAsdQCUkAbmDObR79UnvF38hIpj_dkhg4HgJ48JzunchlFxniqL-cuubcVzi_FEIki7UoRHxKoHeeYtGaO3obk0iO-JdaKyqasAFFKge6k0m8jbUOs9OY/s1600-h/La+Boheme+-+Spring+Rolls.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy3c2ZGr_T6c5kmZdvFGB8jDAsdQCUkAbmDObR79UnvF38hIpj_dkhg4HgJ48JzunchlFxniqL-cuubcVzi_FEIki7UoRHxKoHeeYtGaO3obk0iO-JdaKyqasAFFKge6k0m8jbUOs9OY/s320/La+Boheme+-+Spring+Rolls.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327306600269634802" /></a><br />The $4 Veggie Spring Rolls definitely win the award for loveliest presentation (at least until we get to dessert). They were light and crispy, but not altogether different from what you'd get at your local Chinese restaurant. What did set them apart was the House Plum Sauce and the Chinese Mustard. The plum sauce was sweet and pungent, nicely setting off the savory spring rolls. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ydBn7mRxZ9OfYzeQBd9OINxOpxnHsr1wk0OmTraksayP3JO3lhwEZfNrh4UvawrJ6d_izsXcB950YdyO9NcIlnxJ5DqUxt9FL5GPWFU1FnHGNffrkSM_yLaZlV30RfkNNbHcFxFL8Lw/s1600-h/La+Boheme+-+Chicken.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ydBn7mRxZ9OfYzeQBd9OINxOpxnHsr1wk0OmTraksayP3JO3lhwEZfNrh4UvawrJ6d_izsXcB950YdyO9NcIlnxJ5DqUxt9FL5GPWFU1FnHGNffrkSM_yLaZlV30RfkNNbHcFxFL8Lw/s320/La+Boheme+-+Chicken.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327306265612308466" /></a><br />Next we had what as billed as Japanese Fried Chicken for $4. The all white meat was tender and moist, and the soy based dipping sauce had a hint of heat, but I could have dealt with a little more crunch on the breading. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9RqO6MshxgAyyT3NVUufaWeZnvzwwKx5cyHhp5uRtCMfWRIx79MSKfI1RXAB8TtbKB7VuUySQb3aY4YWBX7meT04bPxX7d_pUWaDh_zNg7IQxtHOjo9Ir8Hgf_74Uq_AwzkokE94nVg/s1600-h/La+Boheme+-+Bacon+Dates.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9RqO6MshxgAyyT3NVUufaWeZnvzwwKx5cyHhp5uRtCMfWRIx79MSKfI1RXAB8TtbKB7VuUySQb3aY4YWBX7meT04bPxX7d_pUWaDh_zNg7IQxtHOjo9Ir8Hgf_74Uq_AwzkokE94nVg/s320/La+Boheme+-+Bacon+Dates.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327305888229166274" /></a><br />Finally we come to my favorite of the night: $3 Bacon Wrapped Dates with a Blue Cheese and Pecan Stuffing. In the interest of full disclosure, I will tell you that bacon wrapped dates are one of my favorite things in this world, and the addition of blue cheese and pecan stuffing is a stroke of genius. These little bites contain everything a mouth could wish for: salty, sweet, crunchy, smooth, pungent, and mild. Amazing!! While these were not the juiciest dates I have ever had, they were still out of this world DE-LICI-OUS!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOaxT3p9jpVzGk65_aN6aqfMBZlkk5nTdmzts2Wat9Rp76NqYL5zuMkMr_GneAlnWumBCiIFhoy2wRxBF9z6krCfrm-4xYS3hwS-gMeGTSifFjXf5BqHdzTvx6aKUU6a1pSLlrwdqXAA/s1600-h/La+Boheme+-+Bread+Pudding.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOaxT3p9jpVzGk65_aN6aqfMBZlkk5nTdmzts2Wat9Rp76NqYL5zuMkMr_GneAlnWumBCiIFhoy2wRxBF9z6krCfrm-4xYS3hwS-gMeGTSifFjXf5BqHdzTvx6aKUU6a1pSLlrwdqXAA/s320/La+Boheme+-+Bread+Pudding.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327305526294325554" /></a><br />We ended our meal with the Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding with Caramelized Bananas and Cinnamon Ice Cream. Normally this dish goes for $8, but we were charged the Happy Hour Price of $4. (In all honesty, I'm not sure if that was a mistake since it didn't say desserts were included in the half off special, but it was certainly a happy accident!). Regardless, this dish is certainly worth full price! The bread pudding was warm, soft, and so comforting it might as well be giving you a hug. The chocolate chips tasted like they had a high concentration of cocoa, almost like the bars you can get that are 60-70% chocolate. But, the cinnamon ice cream and accompanying sauces were sweet enough that it all balanced out. And I must mention the Caramelized Bananas - what an ingenious combination of creamy raw bananas with their crisply caramelized tops. Fantastic!<br /><br />Overall, we very much enjoyed our experience at La Boheme - it is certainly a FANTASTIC deal - probably the best I've found yet! The two of us ate our fill of tasty food for under $25, and had plenty of leftovers to bring home! This gets four belt notches out of five, for overall value. <br /><br />Cafe La Boheme has Happy Hour from 5-8pm Daily!<br /><br />8400 Santa Monica Blvd.<br />West Hollywood, CA 90069 <br />323-848-2360<br /><a href="url">http://boheme.globaldiningca.com</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/5/69059/restaurant/LA/La-Boheme-West-Hollywood"><img alt="La Bohème on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/69059/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-88571510872888745632009-04-18T08:42:00.000-07:002009-07-08T19:44:58.823-07:00$2 Taco Tuesdays at The Spanish Kitchen<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTl60rsqKDITT_A9PO_nNygg4waGs7ztwpWKCX1S5PmfVGMtyD17Xh85zvMAXVLBROOEL0OhWxNS7cX5rl0-uQeqD9yO2ZORMhgeHv_7wpjk7PCJJ8A1U75LQr6aQTaFGBltUIE5gRNDc/s1600-h/Spanish+Kitchen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTl60rsqKDITT_A9PO_nNygg4waGs7ztwpWKCX1S5PmfVGMtyD17Xh85zvMAXVLBROOEL0OhWxNS7cX5rl0-uQeqD9yO2ZORMhgeHv_7wpjk7PCJJ8A1U75LQr6aQTaFGBltUIE5gRNDc/s320/Spanish+Kitchen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326059789094985010" /></a><br />The first thing that hits you when you walk into the Spanish Kitchen is the wall of sound. Granted, I went on a very crowded night (apparently, everyone was as excited about $2 tacos as I was), but I actually feared that I must be doing significant damage to my ears just by sitting inside. And it's not that they had music blasting, it was just the sheer acoustics of the place. So, my husband, P, and I settled in for a night of yelling at each other (lovingly, of course - it was just out of necessity!). <br /><br />We didn't have a reservation, so we had to wait fifteen minutes at the bar. Despite the acoustics, the decor of the place is lovely. The large, wrought iron bar takes up the main wall, surrounded by soft tortilla colored walls. The other wall is painted with a mural of what I can only assume is Spain, with it's fertile crops and flower boxed windows.<br /><br />The hostess came and found us and brought us up to our table. While I waited for P to settle up the bar tab, I noticed the napkins smelled funny. To be sure, I smelled his too. Yup, definitely a funky odor. I don't know what they use to wash them, but it is not pleasant. Oh dear, I'm supposed to wipe my mouth with this??<br /><br />Then came the chips and salsa. The chips were still warm (which I love!), but they were lacking salt - and there was none on the table. The dark red sauce had a slight kick, but otherwise wasn't too flavorful.<br /><br />Oh well, we're here for the tacos! All tacos are served "with your choice of salsa" and in a hard or soft shell. Or at least, that's what the menu said. So, I chose three tacos from a selection of fourteen, and three sauces (out of twelve) that I thought would compliment them nicely. However, when the waitress finally made it to our table, she informed me that, no, you don't get to choose your salsa. They will just bring you some. Even though that's in direct contrast to what the menu says. I asked her what kind they would bring and she had no idea. All right then.<br /><br />The best thing I can say is that the tacos came out very quickly. Granted, they came out without any salsa, so I had to flag someone down to bring us some. Then when it came, it was like pulling teeth to get a description of the four salsas. Looking around I couldn't help but notice that other tables had different looking salsas. So, essentially, they just randomly decide for you and have taken all choice out of the matter, thus making the description of twelve salsas on the menu into one big tease. <br /><br />The tacos are about as small as you would expect $2 tacos to be, no more then four inches in length. I apologize that I wasn't able to take any pictures of them. (Who knew digital cameras don't charge when they're plugged in to your computer?? What's that? Oh, everyone knows cameras don't work like ipods? Oh, ok, I guess I'm just an idiot:)<br /><br />The first one I tried was the Mexican BBQ Pulled Pork Taco. This turned out to be the best of the three, which is kind of like saying that "Wonderland" is Paris Hilton's best movie. Possibly true...but still, not an impressive feat. The pork was tender but too fatty, and the bbq had a slight hint of cinnamon. All of the tacos came with a sprinkling of chopped lettuce and tomatoes. These added texture, but were lacking the bright flavor I have come to expect when eating vegetables in California. Mostly, I think they just make the tacos look a little more full. <br /><br />Next I tried the Char Grilled Veggies Taco. The restaurant must make a tidy profit on this little number, because there is practically nothing in it. Just a few grilled peppers in varying colors, some onions, and the aforementioned lettuce and tomatoes. There may have been a little carrot square too - there was something crunchy, but it didn't have any flavor and it was hard to tell in the dark restaurant. Mostly, I tasted tortilla. <br /><br />Finally I went for the Seasoned Ground Beef Taco. Talk about a dud. The name leads me to believe it must have been cooked with some seasoning, but I certainly couldn't taste any. It was mostly just overcooked and flavorless. <br /><br />Now, you know I love dessert, but P and I were so disheartened by the quality of our meal, we just wanted to go home (Where, I must admit, we had leftover homemade Texas Sheet Cake:). <br /><br />So we got out bill, which wrongly charged us for an extra taco. Perfect ending. <br /><br />Now, I know what you're thinking: "Your meal was $6 lady, what do you expect?" But, as P pointed out, "You can get a much better meal at In and Out for $6." So save your money and your stomach, and skip the Spanish Kitchen. This gets 1 belt notch out of 5. <br /><br />If for some reason you still want to go (don't!), here's the info:<br /><br />Tacos are $2 all night on Tuesday Nights<br /><br />826 N. La Cienega Blvd.<br />Los Angeles, CA 90069<br />Phone: 310-659-4794<br /><a href="url">www.thespanish-kitchen.com</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/5/75548/restaurant/LA/Spanish-Kitchen-West-Hollywood"><img alt="Spanish Kitchen on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/75548/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-35173069375336977192009-04-12T15:52:00.000-07:002009-07-08T19:54:48.421-07:00Happy Hour at Wilshire RestaurantSaturday night I made plans to meet up with my friend C for dinner. Having just learned that she would have to pay way more in taxes then originally planned, she was in need of some good food at some even better prices. So, we decided to try out the happy hour at Wilshire Restaurant. (A big HURRAY for places that have happy hour menus on the weekends!)</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsp78fc1mZvME4QyEmRU4MphYnBxOgYIUd-pWyiSEXy0qmOPuoku1ikxgAThKM_s2pjtu1o6vVzMjQlovgy07NN95L2HW8-ylt6SNXyoPrTJKTCwLv1PiJz2Vb4pGpSIelPxStujiLAo/s1600-h/Wilshire+-+sign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsp78fc1mZvME4QyEmRU4MphYnBxOgYIUd-pWyiSEXy0qmOPuoku1ikxgAThKM_s2pjtu1o6vVzMjQlovgy07NN95L2HW8-ylt6SNXyoPrTJKTCwLv1PiJz2Vb4pGpSIelPxStujiLAo/s320/Wilshire+-+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323948709766993346" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MORENO%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">We left behind the bright Santa Monica sunshine for the dimly lit bar. A brick wall covered in tea lights, dark leather furniture, and a wood paneled ceiling gave the place an intimate, trendy vibe. We scorned the comfy couches in favor of the bar stools, reasoning that it would be easier to eat that way. The bar area was half empty, mostly consisting of a crowd in their mid thirties to mid forties. (Then again, it was about 6:30 pm - that all may change after 9).
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<br />The happy hour menu was full of delectable sounding dishes, all between $8-$16 dollars. For a restaurant where just an appetizer will run you between $13-$20, this struck us as a pretty good deal. I would describe the cuisine as classic American all dressed up for a fancy night on the town. We decided to get two smaller plates and one larger and split everything.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0T11L8oiqfHamDEZpPexsHfjeTTy7pB7yQtLyyf5MxDhrnJVE2xL3jLDtsZG9e9C1hYyo-UKE8umvbDE9QNr2TEuKBQvXB3EXzbv0dlho-waTwvQTPa7L2xC75-wZGPzK34LyCcQ4sBk/s1600-h/Wilshire+-+Pizza1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0T11L8oiqfHamDEZpPexsHfjeTTy7pB7yQtLyyf5MxDhrnJVE2xL3jLDtsZG9e9C1hYyo-UKE8umvbDE9QNr2TEuKBQvXB3EXzbv0dlho-waTwvQTPa7L2xC75-wZGPzK34LyCcQ4sBk/s320/Wilshire+-+Pizza1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323946231351782354" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MORENO%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">C's call was the $8 Pizza with Burrata, Oak Roasted Tomato, Basil and Chili Flakes. The chili flakes packed a definite punch which contrasted nicely with the smooth burrata. The crust was thin and crispy and the whole pie was absolutely littered with fresh basil. (Yay - I love when chefs are generous with the fresh herbs!) I can't honestly say the tomatoes tasted particularly oak-y to me, but it was certainly a very flavorful pizza and I enjoyed every bite. </span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqf5P2FVshVzRZ7_bkPPfR7o9LuMvJlU6ZZe0Qf8fo32RmdQVs6qCedn07CS9LKm9f7bMyyd27xzBj7WaT4S9-b5XxOfbfupnB6aTn11p_j9cnm9MTOZcwGUEtiQvHxOQ09_NlnRgDCk/s1600-h/Wilshire+-+Artichoke.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqf5P2FVshVzRZ7_bkPPfR7o9LuMvJlU6ZZe0Qf8fo32RmdQVs6qCedn07CS9LKm9f7bMyyd27xzBj7WaT4S9-b5XxOfbfupnB6aTn11p_j9cnm9MTOZcwGUEtiQvHxOQ09_NlnRgDCk/s320/Wilshire+-+Artichoke.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323945710924075554" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MORENO%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have enjoyed a love of artichokes dating back to when my mom used to make them for us as kids. I thought that anything you could eat with your hands and dunk in butter had to be a great thing. So I was excited to try Wilshire's $8 Grilled Artichoke with Meyer Lemon Yogurt. Sadly, this did not live up to my childhood memories. The artichoke was served room temperature, and I wonder how long it sat around in the back waiting for the other dishes to be prepared. The meyer lemon yogurt was a great idea that didn't live up to it's potential. The tang of the yogurt contrasted nicely with the creamy artichoke heart, but I could barely detect any lemon in there. I may have to have a go at this in my own kitchen, because (now that I no longer have my teenage metabolism) it might be a good idea to start dunking artichokes in yogurt rather then butter. </span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IsvSP-UD8qXc1MvUUW0y2RoXN-lPRUeyjzgAGHfX3AzjLe8E9YKyEz7nn9UBG0-PCQQ9BkZVo0Uy5K-R2uXOtFb3rcExLPdlpvj8eAs7ZVAFcpu1mTgiGBpKdEt3iqqcEKxh9IPCob8/s1600-h/Wilshire+-+Steak.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IsvSP-UD8qXc1MvUUW0y2RoXN-lPRUeyjzgAGHfX3AzjLe8E9YKyEz7nn9UBG0-PCQQ9BkZVo0Uy5K-R2uXOtFb3rcExLPdlpvj8eAs7ZVAFcpu1mTgiGBpKdEt3iqqcEKxh9IPCob8/s320/Wilshire+-+Steak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323945332126009522" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MORENO%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">The bartender told us his favorite dish was the $13 Chimay Ale Marinated Skirt Steak with Fries, so, of course, we had to give it a try. Let me take this opportunity to say: bartenders are incredibly wise people! The dish was far and away my favorite of the three. What a brilliant preparation of a not so spectacular cut of meat. Although the bartender neglected to ask us how we would like it prepared, it still emerged a perfect medium rare, surprisingly tender on the inside with a nice char on the outside. The ale did wonders, giving each bite a rich and meaty burst. And the fries, oh the fries!! Served beneath the steak, they had an opportunity to soak up all the delicious drippings. Paired with just a little salt and fried parsley, they rendered ketchup obsolete and became the sort of delectable little bites you keep eating long after you are full. Mmmm....now I'm starting to crave them....Huh? Oh...yes...right...back to meal!
<br />
<br />A word from your blogger here - I adore dessert. I may actually be addicted to it. No meal feels complete without dessert (this includes lunch and sometimes even breakfast). Not a day goes by without my consuming at least one sweet treat...generally many. But, I am definitely a bit of a dessert snob - I will not be happy with candy bars from 7-11 or chocolate chip cookies from a package. So, when dining out, I am always eager to see what sugary visions the pastry chef has concocted. Therefore, although desserts are seldom found on Happy Hour menus, I will still be reviewing them:)</span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0DapRipHNlL31tyLO34BdMzq7iTO7KTkOqPsLcXHUyyIZfbVTDgePeQoDcDy5TjfDAj9flAlKFvg7RRFPFLVWg6UDCjHgkAt1SaN47h-yo1VTRlUZYsePU6QkSabi8yM82FWokNgjbY/s1600-h/Wilshire+-+Dessert.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0DapRipHNlL31tyLO34BdMzq7iTO7KTkOqPsLcXHUyyIZfbVTDgePeQoDcDy5TjfDAj9flAlKFvg7RRFPFLVWg6UDCjHgkAt1SaN47h-yo1VTRlUZYsePU6QkSabi8yM82FWokNgjbY/s320/Wilshire+-+Dessert.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323945055064383970" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MORENO%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">From the many tempting treats, C and I decided to go for the $10 Roasted Apple Fritter with Caramel Sauce and Cinnamon Ice Cream. WOW!! Although LA has a doughnut store on just about every corner, there is still something very special about apple fritters served raging hot just out of the fryer. The smell of dough and cinnamon wafted over us as the plate was set down, and all thoughts of taxes or heavy life decisions immediately vanished. First I tried all the elements separately. The fritter was crusty and crunchy on the outside, with the apples inside practically melting in your mouth. The whipped cream was heavy and fresh, the caramel sauce almost liquor like, and the cinnamon ice cream as flavorful as one could wish for. Taken all together in one spoonful it was heaven. The cinnamon ice cream brought out the spice on the fritters and the whipped cream wrapped it all up in a creamy hug. Amazing - go and try these fritters!!
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<br />All in all, I would give this Happy Hour three and a half out of five belt notches. Definitely worth trying!
<br />
<br />Happy Hour is served Monday-Saturday from 5-7pm. (They even give you a ten minute warning before it ends which I thought was very kind of them - and they have their happy hour menu available online!)
<br />
<br />Wilshire Restaurant is located at:
<br />2454 Wilshire Blvd.
<br />Santa Monica, CA 90403
<br />310-586-1707
<br />www.wilshirerestaurant.com
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/5/78304/restaurant/LA/Wilshire-Santa-Monica"><img alt="Wilshire on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/78304/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-49475493009019434562009-04-02T21:35:00.000-07:002009-07-08T19:40:03.644-07:00Dining on Spring: Josie's $35 Farmer's Market Menu<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIS99YqhqZxc4bPseoeHv21flhGtomVyYp1XKxrGl2wxYfw6hx3PmLi6HuizxalzsVqYbmzzc1WlMLWuY4OxbX2aXcCKsmgeE_hAWRhIkb3kcBuOk-biOIN07X52IRcvgrzUBE-N2ajmM/s1600-h/Josie+-+Menu.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIS99YqhqZxc4bPseoeHv21flhGtomVyYp1XKxrGl2wxYfw6hx3PmLi6HuizxalzsVqYbmzzc1WlMLWuY4OxbX2aXcCKsmgeE_hAWRhIkb3kcBuOk-biOIN07X52IRcvgrzUBE-N2ajmM/s320/Josie+-+Menu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320319953601660370" border="0" /></a><br />For my first post, I wanted to stack the deck for a delicious meal, so I decided to splurge on a "deal" that is about as expensive as I plan to go on this blog: the $35 prix fixe farmer's market menu at Josie Restaurant.<br /><br />Some gourmands (and certainly many carb conscious Angelenos) may dismiss the bread basket as a waste of precious stomach space. Personally, I have always had a special place in my heart for the doughy stuff. This is a love affair further fueled by the fact that I have a tendency to show up at restaurants starving, and look to the bread basket to offer me that first morsel of satisfaction! Josie served two types of bread: A thin slice of toasted bread that was more of a crouton, and an airy white rustic bread. The breads themselves were servicable, but the butter was wonderful: creamy and rich with just a slight tang of salt. It seems the breads were choosen merely as frames for the artistry of the butter, and they worked very well together.<br /><br />Then came the amuse bouche. One of the wonderful customs of high end dining, it is where the chef sends out a little bite to literally "amuse the mouth." I adore this tradition, as it gives the chef a chance to showcase his or her talents, unfettered by the customer's demands. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZOT2-knBZTfZOS6UD4_Pj0EWhc-pVwMD853y9yE7FOECb435el5YGlWWzvIgpizhBJvJ6IG0ZVHCG1gPsWhN4xxpaL9g_jCV7S7UubZO8m-EEI-jQiRecq7HX9ZTp3LWMT8Z64QagsM/s1600-h/Josie+-+Amuse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZOT2-knBZTfZOS6UD4_Pj0EWhc-pVwMD853y9yE7FOECb435el5YGlWWzvIgpizhBJvJ6IG0ZVHCG1gPsWhN4xxpaL9g_jCV7S7UubZO8m-EEI-jQiRecq7HX9ZTp3LWMT8Z64QagsM/s320/Josie+-+Amuse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320944897010712770" border="0" /></a>The amuse turned out to be my favorite part of the meal: The Mushroom Gruyere Tartlet. The texture of the soft and silky quiche contrasted beautifully with the thick ropes of Gruyere woven throughout, all of it contained in a crust so flaky it seemed to be made of pure butter. The flavor of the sharp cheese exploded in my mouth, then mellowed into the creamy richness of the eggy batter. If I were to improve two things about this, I would serve it hotter (it came out luke warm) and add more mushrooms. I don't think I had more then two or three thin slivers of mushroom in mine, I couldn't identify what type they were. But, it was still a delicious meeting of taste and texture. And, served with a little fork! I must admit, I am the slowest eater I know, taking small bites and savoring everything. I love when the size of the utensil matches the size of my bite, and have been known to eat an entire cup of ice cream with my sample spoon. So the little fork was definitely a bonus:)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZi0STfJJJrP92hHNPp9aEbNyi_IRlD8mgXk1Xl2zxlW-syjhJi7vtJsWyElKKjvBPvzVJpL454caC2l_obxlro6PHKUMTciXCg_jMWdD2nBhLbMXcinuaO4jVSs1EhUerCWHkxVMij8E/s1600-h/Josie+-+Salad.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZi0STfJJJrP92hHNPp9aEbNyi_IRlD8mgXk1Xl2zxlW-syjhJi7vtJsWyElKKjvBPvzVJpL454caC2l_obxlro6PHKUMTciXCg_jMWdD2nBhLbMXcinuaO4jVSs1EhUerCWHkxVMij8E/s320/Josie+-+Salad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320951825162188530" border="0" /></a>Next came the appetizer, a Farmer's Market salad with shaved fennel and artichoke, topped with parmesan crisps, and served on a bed of thinly sliced salami. The greens were soft and tender, the vegetables cool and fresh, and the dressing so light the whole salad truly seemed the embodiement of the farmer's market. The parmesan crisps provided a tasty crunch, though I do wish there had been more of them. And the bed of salami provided a nice meaty contrast to the lighter greens (though personally I found it a little too peppery). But, overall, the dish was filled with the crisp clean flavors of spring. It was, as James Lipton would say, a delight!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DKNNz910wkwmKf0dcutCYwrGadlHGTUBtLnWPxpMXccC5F589qJg_v2bk5oT5x0a6gdIN9y6Er6lO68F3kjyZzz0eIk61EJah9EheKU4pYlHMe6EkBfU5cj0aA997mBN7SKKNP2dNYI/s1600-h/Josie+-+Entree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DKNNz910wkwmKf0dcutCYwrGadlHGTUBtLnWPxpMXccC5F589qJg_v2bk5oT5x0a6gdIN9y6Er6lO68F3kjyZzz0eIk61EJah9EheKU4pYlHMe6EkBfU5cj0aA997mBN7SKKNP2dNYI/s320/Josie+-+Entree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320954779122805282" border="0" /></a>Then came the entree: Seared Scallops on a bed of Beets, Leeks, Spinach and Peas served atop Grilled Polenta. The scallops were perfectly cooked and deliciously flavorful, with just a dusting of salt and pepper on top for flavor. All of the vegetables seemed to have bathed in that fabulous butter, only this time, they stood out as the works of art rather then the frames. The green sauce seemed to be made of fresh peas and butter, a sweet richness to compliment the scallops. The grilled polenta was crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Taken all together in one forkful, it was thoroughly enjoyable!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TiLJmyNeGNrY_Kik0ydM0MbYPqs_O0ia4W89xNCh5whd_mxUI6FUdhkAEtIFbOhEa7wRtTXOaS3lWc-3X9MTNWnghD6CrADdFN3xnCUvqeutYV6uE-chW5IvQJgfOkPpN3b_YtiihjU/s1600-h/Josie+-+Dessert.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TiLJmyNeGNrY_Kik0ydM0MbYPqs_O0ia4W89xNCh5whd_mxUI6FUdhkAEtIFbOhEa7wRtTXOaS3lWc-3X9MTNWnghD6CrADdFN3xnCUvqeutYV6uE-chW5IvQJgfOkPpN3b_YtiihjU/s320/Josie+-+Dessert.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320959094644077026" border="0" /></a>We ended the night with the Flourless Chocolate Tart served with Mint Chip Ice Cream. Mint has never been my favorite flavor, but this ice cream was fantastic. I normally think of mint ice cream as a sickly green concotion that endeavors to eradicate everything else on your palate and overwhelm you with it's minty flavor. This ice cream, however, was like biting into a fresh mint leaf dipped in cream. Not overwhelming or showy, just basking in the natural glory of the mint. The cake tasted like you were eating spoonfuls of milk chocolate ganache, rich and creamy, but nothing to elevate it to the level of extraordinary. And the crust was an unfortunately sandy affair that didn't impart much flavor and crumbled upon contact. This is definitely the first time I preferred the mint portion of the dessert to the chocolate. <br /><br />Overall, we had a thoroughly enjoyable meal! The portions are so generous, I think it would be easy to split one meal between two people. (I went with three other friends, we had two prix fixe meals and two entrees and were all stuffed by the end, even though I was bringing home leftovers). Considering a single entree at Josie costs between $27-$44 dollars, this meal is an incredible value!! And given that the chef changes the menu every week based on what they find at the farmer's market, you can come back again and again without getting bored! I would love to hear about anyone else's experiences at the farmer's market dinner. <br /><br />My beautiful friend "H" wore a very stylish outfit to dinner with a belt cinched around her tiny waist. By the end of the evening, she was forced to let that belt out a few notches to allow everything to digest! Thus began the Dining on Deals rating system: <br />I would give this restaurant 4 out of 5 notches!<br /><br />Josie Restaurant is located at:<br />2424 Pico Blvd.<br />Santa Monica CA, 90405<br />310-581-9888<br /><a href="url">www.josierestaurant.com</a><br /><br />Their Farmer's Market Menu is served every Wednesday night - Three courses for $35.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/5/68287/restaurant/LA/Josie-Santa-Monica"><img alt="Josie on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/68287/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377835570873470478.post-6364726545784233562009-04-01T10:27:00.000-07:002009-04-01T15:35:00.172-07:00Welcome!There are two things in my life that I have always been passionate about: Food and Saving Money. Welcome to the marriage of the two!<br /><br />I adore food in just about all shapes and forms. I love the ritual of going out to a fabulous meal, reveling in the thoughtful surprise of an amuse bouche, savoring the marriage of unusual textures and tastes in the appetizer, letting the meal truly blossom into the entree, and then discovering that, yes, of course I have room for dessert! There are precious few things in this world that make me as happy as a truly delicious meal, and I would rather spend my money on food then anything else.<br /><br />That being said, I have always been thrifty and damn proud of it! I am the girl who will happily tell you that my sweet little sundress was purchased at Target and my trendy sneakers are from Payless. I clip coupons and seek out sales. In these economic times, there is no shame in holding out for the best deal and then sharing it with the world.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUTkZZBSVc34yQlSlTVFG2vf6efGdnX869rS6vpvAfP_6_WxSuoDVpTkBLNulmAOhyLn_F2z6LsnIpw4sg4mPakXEn1v5m_Gt_RxumR4Jfn_gDTKZF0nx6vZaVSfZbHOeIv0LM6eOqXU/s1600-h/Dining+on+Deals.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUTkZZBSVc34yQlSlTVFG2vf6efGdnX869rS6vpvAfP_6_WxSuoDVpTkBLNulmAOhyLn_F2z6LsnIpw4sg4mPakXEn1v5m_Gt_RxumR4Jfn_gDTKZF0nx6vZaVSfZbHOeIv0LM6eOqXU/s320/Dining+on+Deals.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319786298094687938" border="0" /></a><br />And so Los Angeles, I am on a mission. I need to find the best food at the best price and start dining on those deals! I'm looking for Happy Hour Steals, Prix Fixe Deals, and Everyday Value Meals. So many good restaurants are struggling to bring in customers that they are offering some amazing food at totally managable prices. I intend to seek them out and let you know which ones are worth your time!<br /><br />Don't worry, I won't be reviewing any McDonald's $1.00 menus on here. (Is it McDonalds that has that? I dunno, I really don't do fast food except for the occasional <span style="font-style: italic;">In and Out</span>. Mmmmm, fries well done) This is a blog for quality restaurants, gastropubs, and lounges that offer delicious food at delicious prices.<br /><br />Let the Dining on Deals begin!Dining on Dealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015989907691344962noreply@blogger.com2