Perhaps somewhat uninspired by Top Chef Masters, I thought I would see if visiting contestant Suzanne Tracht's LA restaurant, JAR, would sate me until Padma and Tom return. From her winning meal on the show, I didn't expect the steakhouse offerings on the menu. The atmosphere was sparse, but my date and I were tucked in a cute corner with a view of the restaurant, service and celebs (of which there were several, I can't speak to the popularity pre-show vs. post-show).
While our initial service was a little slow - we waited for our water until I was parched and for our bread until my date asked for it. However, once a couple of the nearby tables turned the service improved. I would strongly recommend patrons to bring a notepad for the specials. There were far too many to comprehend and review - choice is great, but give me a written description. However, the server's ability to rattle off what seemed to be the table of contents for Joy of Cooking was impressive.
I wasn't looking for, nor expecting steak that evening, but as it appeared to be a large portion of the menu options I decided I should try the filet. It was beautifully cooked with a great taramind sauce. I would still rank the filet at Wolfgang's in Beverly Hills slightly higher, but it could have been the martinis that night!
Our service remained somewhat attentive, but for the price of the meal, I would have liked the servers to have smaller sections to encourage a more personal touch. With a steak of that caliber and a slightly more intimate relationship with the server could have elevated the meal to an experience.
A visit to JAR will however, soothe your foodie needs until a new season of Top Chef.
JAR
8225 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
323.655.6566
http://www.thejar.com/
Monday, July 6, 2009
Read: "From Market to Menu: An Interview With Chef Ben Ford"
A friend of mine, Eli Sussman, moonlight-chef, caterer and published cookbook author (Freshman in the Kitchen) has interviewed Chef Ben Ford for LAist. Here's the link - http://laist.com/2009/07/06/from_market_to_menu_an_interview_wi.php - enjoy!
Monday, June 22, 2009
South of the Border
In my quest for the best chile rellenos in the city, I tend to patronize small, authentic (some not as much as others) Mexican restaurants. I visited Mexico for dinner - the brand new restaurant in heart of West Hollywood. The chile rellenos were great with a rare smoky flavor from the wood-burning oven in the kitchen.
The service was really a treat. Visitors could feel that the wait staff had gelled perfectly and all employees were happy employees. At one point, I caught the manager dancing to the contemporary Mexican music playing on the stereo. While some Mexican restaurants go for kitchy, Mexico went for a fun, vibrant atmosphere. The pink, turquoise and orange decor seemed a little much at first, but as the sun went down the candles made everyone glow (good for a date or after dinner drink). If I had to critique one thing, my date ordered skirt steak (really yummy) and wasn't given a steak knife - but it really was tender enough to simply pull apart.
For Doors fans, the restaurant is housed in the same building in which LA Woman was recorded - in the bathroom actually.
Mexico
8512 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
310.289.0088
http://www.gogomexico.com/index.html
The service was really a treat. Visitors could feel that the wait staff had gelled perfectly and all employees were happy employees. At one point, I caught the manager dancing to the contemporary Mexican music playing on the stereo. While some Mexican restaurants go for kitchy, Mexico went for a fun, vibrant atmosphere. The pink, turquoise and orange decor seemed a little much at first, but as the sun went down the candles made everyone glow (good for a date or after dinner drink). If I had to critique one thing, my date ordered skirt steak (really yummy) and wasn't given a steak knife - but it really was tender enough to simply pull apart.
For Doors fans, the restaurant is housed in the same building in which LA Woman was recorded - in the bathroom actually.
Mexico
8512 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
310.289.0088
http://www.gogomexico.com/index.html
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Happy Anniversary, Gordon Ramsay
The London-West Hollywood threw a one-year anniversary party for the Gordon Ramsay, and the chef who lent his name to the restaurant. The hostesses (there were four of them) were very welcoming and eager to show me to the reception. I would have liked to have not seen the guest list, but one of the hostesses was highlighting arrivals on a piece of paper on top, rather than behind the stand. The reception was held in the bar and sunroom of the restaurant - I entered the reception into the bar, which was like an up-scale English pub, lots of wood and dark lighting, then I entered the sunroom with great views of the city.
The restaurant offerred complimentary champagne and cocktails (FYI: my invitation noted that all dinner guests will recieve a complimentary glass of champagne throughout the month of June). I ordered the English Rose cocktail and started looking for the food. The servers were friendly and circulating nicely with appetizer options. I was surprised to see Gordon at the event, also circulating nicely.
The appetizers were vaguely disappointing. Lamb burgers, temperate and slightly dry. Chocolate cake, as heavy as a brick. Crispy ham on flatbread with balsamic glaze, warm and satisfying. Shrimp with cherry gazphaco, different and refreshing. Tiramisu, light with a nice coffee end-note. Panna cotta with caviar, one bite and a glup of my cocktail.
While the restaurant was sold to the LXR Luxury Resorts in March by Gordon Ramsay Holdings, it was nice to see that the restaurant was still operating in coordination with the chef. But one has to wonder whether the restaurant and hotel are floundering in the luxury boutique hotel market.
Gordon Ramsay at the London West Hollywood
1020 N. San Vincente Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
310.358.7788
http://www.gordonramsay.com/gratthelondonwh/
Monday, June 8, 2009
If It Smells Like Urine, GET OUT!
Last week I was in our nation's capitol for work. I had previously lived there for two years before moving to Los Angeles several months ago. Mostly things have remained the same - the same poilitical junkies, the same Hill issues, the same food. DC has been slowly evolving into a culinary city, but it is taking its sweet time - I guess that's just how things move south of the Mason-Dixon line. I hit a couple of my favorites on the Hill.
I met up with friends at the new Matchbox location for pizza and sliders (because that's what you get at Matchbox - anything else is a waste of time). The new venue had the same decor as it's older brother in Chinatown, but they have solved the noise-level issues, added sidewalk seating and large french doors. The open feeling is a welcome offset to the industrial brick and metal piping, but I can't imagine will be open much after the first heat and humidity wave hits the city. Our server seemed overwhelmed by our large party, and was very concerned that she was forgetting something. She thought our table was too easy for such a large group - give us food and beer and we become pretty easy going. She was sweet, but not a professional server.
I grabbed lunch at Good Stuff Eatery. The opening of this restaurant created quite a stir with Hill staffers when it opened about nine months ago - it could have been a prayer answered for a new lunch spot or could have been it's famous chef/restaurantuer, Spike from Top Chef, Season 4. After the crush of curious onlookers, the lunch business remained steady. There was a continuous stream of patrons, but the only difference was the much more efficient behind the counter staff. The grill and cashier system moved quickly, which prevented the lines once seen down the block.
One other thing that hasn't changed was the terrible taxi system in DC. My colleague and I had our concierge call a cab service for us, so we could pay with credit card (I would say about 10 cabs in the city have the ability to pay by credit card). Well, it was about 20 minutes late, smelled like the SW fish market (later I learned it was a musty urine smell) and the credit card machine didn't accept three different cards. Earl gave us a little attitude when we suggested it was his credit card machine, not our corporate cards. Well, I directed him to an ATM in L'Efant Plaza, because he didn't know where it was - thank goodness I lived in the city for two years - got cash and sat in traffic that we desperately tried to avoid. We finally made it to Dulles with 15 minutes to spare before our flight. To top it all off - my colleague then informed me that while I was getting cash that Earl urinated in a bottle, poured it out the window, sealed it and put it in the passenger's seat. My lesson - wait for another cab if it smells like urine!
Matchbox - Capitol Hill
521 8th St., SE
Washington, DC 20003
202.548.0369
http://www.matchboxdc.com/capitolhill.shtml
Good Stuff Eatery
303 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20003
202.543.8222
http://goodstuffeatery.com
I met up with friends at the new Matchbox location for pizza and sliders (because that's what you get at Matchbox - anything else is a waste of time). The new venue had the same decor as it's older brother in Chinatown, but they have solved the noise-level issues, added sidewalk seating and large french doors. The open feeling is a welcome offset to the industrial brick and metal piping, but I can't imagine will be open much after the first heat and humidity wave hits the city. Our server seemed overwhelmed by our large party, and was very concerned that she was forgetting something. She thought our table was too easy for such a large group - give us food and beer and we become pretty easy going. She was sweet, but not a professional server.
I grabbed lunch at Good Stuff Eatery. The opening of this restaurant created quite a stir with Hill staffers when it opened about nine months ago - it could have been a prayer answered for a new lunch spot or could have been it's famous chef/restaurantuer, Spike from Top Chef, Season 4. After the crush of curious onlookers, the lunch business remained steady. There was a continuous stream of patrons, but the only difference was the much more efficient behind the counter staff. The grill and cashier system moved quickly, which prevented the lines once seen down the block.
One other thing that hasn't changed was the terrible taxi system in DC. My colleague and I had our concierge call a cab service for us, so we could pay with credit card (I would say about 10 cabs in the city have the ability to pay by credit card). Well, it was about 20 minutes late, smelled like the SW fish market (later I learned it was a musty urine smell) and the credit card machine didn't accept three different cards. Earl gave us a little attitude when we suggested it was his credit card machine, not our corporate cards. Well, I directed him to an ATM in L'Efant Plaza, because he didn't know where it was - thank goodness I lived in the city for two years - got cash and sat in traffic that we desperately tried to avoid. We finally made it to Dulles with 15 minutes to spare before our flight. To top it all off - my colleague then informed me that while I was getting cash that Earl urinated in a bottle, poured it out the window, sealed it and put it in the passenger's seat. My lesson - wait for another cab if it smells like urine!
Matchbox - Capitol Hill
521 8th St., SE
Washington, DC 20003
202.548.0369
http://www.matchboxdc.com/capitolhill.shtml
Good Stuff Eatery
303 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20003
202.543.8222
http://goodstuffeatery.com
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Cecconi's
The newest restaurant in town is a British import. Cecconi's is the hot spot of West Hollywood for now. I went on a Sunday night - the bar was full of gold diggers and the men they want to sleep with. I had a reservation and was seated immediately in a charming two-top set in french doors looking onto the patio. This was the perch for people watching. The decor matched the glitzy diners - with turquoise leather seats, crystal chandeliers, and white and black marble floors.
The wait for our server to greet us became too long, so the floor manager came to greet us with water and to take our drink order. Soon after, our server - a cheerful, chimpmunk-like woman - came to explain the specials. Unfortunately, we were again greeted by the manager after a wait to take our order. It seemed as if the glitterati-filled, eight-top next to us was demanding the time of our server, and their own. Our server had suggested the risotto as a particular favorite, so my companion and I both ordered a different risotto - mine the summer squash with aged balsamic, his the special of truffled risotto. The manager very stealthily suggested to my companion that the risotto may not be enough, so we ordered the side of arugula and parmesan.
My risotto was delicious, light and perfectly suited for the change of seasons. My companion's risotto was good, but not worth the $40 we were later charged. Beware the specials - the risotto on special was more than twice what we paid for the risotto on the menu. The risotto dishes turned out to be more than enough for both of us, but as my companion observed for his meal it was nice to have the small salad as a change of flavor from the overwhelming truffle taste.
Our server was relieved of some of her duties from the table next to us, so we got her for the end of the meal and dessert. However, we were disappointed to learn that the ricotta cheesecake we wanted might or might not have nuts in the crust (my companion is allergic) as it was a new dish and the pastry chef was not in we could not be sure. We passed on dessert; got our check; and went to get the car from valet. Disclaimer: the valet only accepts cash; there is no ATM within walking distance; and the host was disinclined to make change. We had just enough to pay for the valet, but no tip. The party behind us didn't have the cash to pay for the valet. Moral of the story - bring cash, bring glasses for people watching, and bring patience if you are a nobody.
Cecconi's
8764 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
310.432.2000
http://www.cecconiswesthollywood.com/
Monday, May 25, 2009
FIG Restaurant
"We are fully committed this evening," explained the hostess over the phone. This comment was a first for me - an attempt to sound polite came across as if we were trying to get a table at the newest, hottest mental institution. In the end, I was able to secure a table for late evening.
My guests and I arrived about 15 minutes early, desperately hoping to grab a table earlier. No such luck, but we came back at our scheduled time (after checking out the 100+ year-old fig tree, the restaurant's namesake - truly amazing) and were told that we would probably not be seated for another 30 minutes past our reservation. Starving, we snagged a seat at the farmer's table, first-come, first-served.
We were greeted by a pleasant, professional server in a denim shirt and Levi's - an attempt to remind the patrons of the farm-fresh ingredients and simple, Midwestern values. The food was incredibly fresh and crisp, but my veggie dish was a little underseasoned. The pork shoulder was unmemorable - even though, as we were informed, the pigs were fed on acorns, which supposedly makes a silky, lean texture - lean but no silk. P.S. Can meat be silky? The scallops of one of my companions were a little underdone for her taste, but slowly cooked on the hot plate. The highlight of the meal was the individual, mini french loaves with arugula and oil spread - like the onomatopoeia of fresh in your mouth.
The atmosphere and decor were understated. It didn't quite match the country garb of the waitstaff, but was simplistic enough that they worked together. I would recommend trying to reserve one of the cabana-esque tables that they have at the front of the restaurant - and call EARLY, or they may be committed.
FIG Restaurant Santa Monica
101 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA
310.319.3111
http://www.figsantamonica.com/
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