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Red Medicine is the infamous restaurant where famed food critic Irene Virbila was outed (i.e. photographed) and refused service. While I agree with many opinions on both sides of this incident, I had not been keen to go to this restaurant until a fellow foodie friend said it was high on his list of places to try.
Fortunately I am not famous enough to be either recognized or refused service for my “power” as a food critic, so I was seated and served without incident with two of my friends who are both as critical of food as I am.
Since the menu is meant to be shared, we ordered several small plates, the first one to arrive was the brussel sprouts with caramelized shallots, fish sauce, and vermouth for $9. The crunchy chips on top were a nice way to present this dish and some of the brussel sprouts were fabulous, while others (especially at the bottom of the dish) were overly salted. When using fish sauce, it is very important to use a light hand when salting and apparently the kitchen didn’t understand concept yet.
We also tried the beef tartare for $15 which was made with water lettuce, water chestnut, nuoc leo (peanut sauce), chlorophyll, and peanut. This was such an unusual version of beef tartare that we all said “Whoa!” after the first bite. But we all took second and third bites until we finished the dish. Combining all the ingredients on the rice chips was essential to getting the full flavors this dish incorporated. I’m not sure I would order this again, but I was glad I had tried it.
The most disappointing dish of the entire night was the white asparagus with fried burdock root and coated in tapioca salsify, with spot prawn roe, on top of almond milk. It was completely tasteless, with no seasoning whatsoever, and the asparagus was so stringy that we had trouble eating it (or even biting through it). It was a shame since we all loved asparagus, but none of us wanted to eat this.
It is hard to tell from the photo, but the sweetbreads under the charred cabbage were wonderful. This was one of our favorite dishes of the evening, with perfectly crispy and tender nuggets. Once again the salt was a bit overdone on the charred cabbage, but the sweetbreads made this dish a winner.
For our final hot course, we chose the rice porridge with the uni supplement for $27 made with egg yolk, hazelnuts, ginseng, butter and Santa Barbara Red Uni. This was a very rich dish which we all loved. The combination of flavors made this the ultimate comfort dish of all time. This was definitely not your run of the mill home made or even restaurant quality rice porridge. It should definitely be shared unless you want to eat only one dish here.
For our desserts we shared the Green Gage plum with frozen cream, sorrel, elderflower, wild chervil. It was an interesting (as in neither good nor bad) alchemy of flavors both tart and sweet, but no one like this enough to finish it.
The dessert winner of the evening was the birch ice. It was THE most unusual dessert I have ever tasted and it beckons me to come back to Red Medicine with it’s scintillating composition of textures and flavors. The presentation was beautiful.
But upon cracking open the crunchy top layer, the cold, sweet, and creamy secret treasures below were absolutely addictive. Made with birch ice, almond praline, red currants, green almond, and jasmine, this was a palate pleaser.
I’m glad I was not on their “hit list” and able to taste their unique fare. Although I loved all their presentations, I was not impressed with all their flavors, especially since over salting food is a big faux pas that was repeated in two of their dishes. At prices that hovered around $60 per person, this kind of amateur mistake should have happened even once. People care more about tasting their dishes than looking at them, so the execution of recipes must be precise to elevate the food to the same level as the plating.
We all remember a flavorful dish long after it is eaten, but no one will remember a beautiful plate after they have seen it.
Like most people who live here in Los Angeles, I do not go to Universal Studios or Disneyland unless friends from out of town are visiting me. Even when people from out of town come to visit, I will often chauffeur them to the tourist sites, but leave them there to enjoy the attraction without joining them.
There are a few attractions which are favored by tourists and locals alike, and Lawry’s The Prime Rib is one of them. Even though it is a favorite of several of my friends, I have never been there with any of them until this week. One of my friends goes to Lawry’s so often that she is a VIP Rewards member, so when she invited me to try it, I knew that it was time for me to try this landmark restaurant.
Being a fan of very rare beef, I was always skeptical of anyplace which caters to “medium rare” tastes, but my eating partner knows my preferences and has enough sense to know where I will be happy with my food.
Dinners all come with a salad, but you may chose to add or delete as many items as you would like from the selection. I got the salad of spinach, romaine and iceberg lettuce with the works of beets, egg, and croutons. The salad is normally served with their signature house dressing, but I chose their blue cheese. I liked the salad so much I even ate some croutons (which I never eat). Their service is impeccable, with chilled salad forks presented with the salad, which is tossed over a bowl of ice! Old world service and presentation at its finest.
Of course the main reason everyone comes here is the beef, and you have choices on the cut and sides as well as how well done you would like your meat. We both wanted our beef as rare as possible, so our wonderful waitress Christine “shopped” the carts to see who had the rarest beef for us. Christine, like several of the staff, has been working here for over two decades, so professional service is a forte here. My friend wanted the mashed potatoes and creamed corn ($6).
I added the asparagus with hollandaise sauce for $8.
All the beef comes with mashed potatoes, grated and whipped horseradish, and yorkshire pudding. The beef was the best quality, with a nice salted crust and a wonderful au jus. Even though it was not “bleu”, it was so tender, succulent, and nicely roasted that I ate half of my “Lawry’s Cut” portion ($39). I must commend all the Rose Bowl players who manage to eat their entire double thick “Beef Bowl Cut” portions because I would have burst if I had finished my “regular” portioned cut (even without adding a small thin chocolate wafer).
My secret surprise dessert was a special treat from my dining partner who had remembered my fond memories of CC Brown’s Ice Cream Parlor (it was an institution on Hollywood Boulevard before it closed). Lawry’s is the only place where they not only serve, but sell the famous hot fudge sauce from CC Brown’s! This wonderful hot fudge sundae bowl (enough for two or three to share for $8) brought back memories that are priceless.
Some places are famous for celebrity sightings, others for fabulous food, and a few rare places combine the two and become landmarks; Lawry’s is a landmark.
When I stayed at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas this summer, one of the few restaurants I did not get a chance to try was Scarpetta. Since most restaurants now have outposts in various cities, it was a bit serendipitous that upon returning to Los Angeles I found out that Scarpetta was opening in Beverly Hills at the Montage Hotel in October and would be participating in Dine LA. It must be true that being at the right place at the right time are coordinated by great beneficent (gastronomic) forces.
The Montage is beautiful and the dining space at Scarpetta is both an understated and luxurious extension of the hotel ambiance. The varied bread basket ranged from plain whole grain to mozzarella and prosciutto stuffed, and the dipping choices ranged from a wonderfully savory eggplant and tomato spread, to a decadent marscapone and cream, and a citrus infused extra virgin olive oil.
- Since it was Dine LA week, we opted for the menu (which you must ask for) and chose three signature courses for $44 per person. I drank a 2003 Rosso at $16 per glass, and Robin had a Hendricks Gin and tonic for $13, so even with the DineLA deal, count on the average check for two to be over $140 including tax and tip.
- Robin chose to start with the Creamy Polenta with a fricassee of truffled mushrooms (regular menu price $16). Her first course arrived with two covered dishes and was served European style with the expediter spooning the mushroom fricassee over the polenta after ceremoniously removing the covers. This may be the best dish I tasted all night. The mushrooms had an earthy richness which complimented the perfectly creamy polenta so well that Robin said it was done as she would have made it (she is both Italian and a chef, so this was a high compliment).
- I chose the raw yellowtail with olio de zenzero and pickled red onions as my first course (regular menu price $17). Although the fish was obviously fresh and the presentation was pretty, I was not wowed by the flavors. I made a mental note not to order a Japanese style dish in an Italian restaurant again.
I had chosen the yellowtail because my main course was the grilled Mediterranean Branzino with a saffron-cipollini puree, fresh ceci beans, calamari and a tomato marmalade. Branzino is one of my favorite fish and although this was a very nice rendition, and I loved the calamari and ceci beans, but the fish itself was slightly overcooked. Since the regular menu price of this was $30, I would not have been happy if I had paid full price, but I excused it as a consequence of a new restaurant with more covers than the kitchen was used to handling during DineLA.
For Robin’s main course she chose the short rib agnolotti with garlic chips, toasted bread crumbs and horseradish (regularly $23). These were tasty tender bites bursting with flavor. the crunch of the garlic chips and toasted bread crumbs lent a nice crunch to the rich beef. I would recommend this dish to anyone who loves pasta and beef.
- Robin’s dessert choice was the vanilla caramel budino with gianduja chocolate cookies and although I am not a caramel aficionado, this light and creamy cloud of sweetness was a pleasure.
- I chose the more classic chocolate cake with burnt orange caramel gelato with espresso sauce and loved it. The cake was a rich dark chocolate decadence that would make any chocoholic swoon.
- So was it serendipity that I missed Scarpetta in Las Vegas, only to find they are now in my neighborhood? I don’t know. I do know it was a pleasant meal for a decent price with wonderful service during DineLA. Would I go back for a full priced meal? The polenta and mushroom fricassee, the short rib agnolotti, and the desserts are definitely worth it, but I would steer clear of the fish dishes until the kitchen staff skills improve.
The clean and modern decor of Villa Blanca, on the corner of Camden and Brighton in Beverly Hills, draws tourists and locals to the expansive outdoor patio like a beautiful woman draws looks from men. If Villa Blanca had a gender, she would definitely be a woman. The cream colored sunbrellas, white tablecloths, and white flowers all give a “ladies who lunch with designer handbags” feel, but on Friday nights it transforms to a hot bar scene with live music, giving it a more “South Beach” vibe.
For men who do not require leather chairs and wooden walls, this is a comfortable place to enjoy the weather and views of life on the plush streets of Beverly Hills. While I was busy taking pictures of the food, my male “non date” and a fellow male diner at the next table were admiring a Bugatti Grand Sport pulling up in front of the restaurant the way that women admire Louboutins.
Since I went with a regular, he knew our server, Sasha, and the Manager, Steve. Thanks to Phil, I tried a new place and met some very nice people. The excellent service we received may have been biased by his long term patronage, but I doubt it, since I arrived earlier and was treated like royalty before they knew whom I was there to meet.
We started with the beef carpaccio, done with triple cream Brie, shittake mushrooms, and truffle oil for $12. It was an interesting variation on traditional carpaccio, with the shittake’s crispy texture and the truffle oil’s richness, the triple cream brie was overkill. I’m not sure I would order it again, but if you are tempted to taste this dish, ask them to omit the cheese.
Phil had tried the lobster crisps ($14) and suggested them as our second appetizer. the presentation was artful and colorful and I looked forward to tasting these tempting bites. The lobster mixture had a heavy mayonnaise base into which some hot pepper was not evenly distributed. One bite burned and another was mild. Between the fried crisp, the creamy mayonnaise, and the rich avocado, this was not a light bite.
We both chose a salad Nicoise ($17) to clean our palates and lighten our stomachs after the heavy appetizers. The ahi was beautiful, tender, and done tataki style, just lightly seared with a peppery crust that was very good. The traditional olives, boiled egg, tomatoes, a few green beans, and potatoes made this a classic composition. But the heavy handed dressing of a French/Russian sauce that was slightly sweet was very disappointing. I ate the tuna, but left more than half my salad because it was soaked.
The lightness of the decor here does not translate into the food, but the service is splendid, and they have a nice selection of European wines. I would suggest coming for drinks on the patio, ordering a salad with the dressing on the side, and admiring the view of street life in Beverly Hills; there are many worse ways to spend a sunny afternoon.
I prefer the European style of chocolate because it is less sugary and more intensely chocolate than the American style. Since the chocolate supply I brought back from Paris’ Debauve Gallais is now gone, I headed over to Madame Chocolat in Beverly Hills to get some truffles from my favorite local chocolatier for a friend’s birthday this week (and a few pieces for myself).
With Easter coming up, the store window and interior are both filled with delightfully whimsical and mouthwatering creations. Whether you are looking for a traditional chocolate Easter Bunny, Easter Eggs, or marshmallow “chicks”, they have them all, ranging from small kid friendly sized, to a gigantic decadent party centerpiece size. Her Glitter Truffles have been featured on television and you can have them shipped to you if you don’t live nearby.
Madame is famous for her beautiful (chocolate) shoes and handbags, so if you would like to get something truly unique for your favorite shoe-a-holic who also happens to be a chocoholic, the perfect gift of Blahnik, Louboutin, or Valentino heels can be had for a fraction of the inedible version! For the men, there are watches, golf balls, and cigars, and for the kids (even grown up kids), there are chocolate S’Mores, chocolate covered Oreos, and cheerios.
In a romantic chocolate love story, Madame Chocolat, Hasty Torres, is married to Mr. Chocolate, Jacques Torres, so some of his creations are also in the store like the Wicked (pictured above), made with a spicy chili, and Love Potion #9 (pictured below) made with dark chocolate ganache.
Fortunately, the love of chocolate does not involve the possibility of heartbreak, with the exception of not having enough, so make sure you stock up before the holidays.
>I miss France and whenever I am not there I look for places that remind me of France, especially the food. Since I brought back some macarons from Paul (a French Bakery) for a friend here in Los Angeles, he suggested I try the macarons at La Provence in Brentwood to contrast and compare the authentic ones from the Brentwood version. The motto of the cafe is “local, fresh, and organic” so if you care about where your food is sourced, this place will put you at ease.
This cute bakery/cafe has a beautiful display showcasing their macarons and pastries as you enter, and it is a very casual place where you order at the counter and they deliver the food to you, so it’s perfect for a quick lunch (they also serve dinner).
We decided to make a lunch of it with two other friends on a warm day when sitting out on the patio in March was not only pleasant, but preferable to sitting indoors. Shelly chose the Turkey Club Sandwich, served with a side of fries or salad for $10.95, and she enjoyed the oven roasted turkey, baked bacon, avocado, tomato, muenster cheese and mayo on fresh french bread.
Both Wendy & Jessie ordered panninis, made with avocado, mozzarella, tomato, arugula, and aioli pesto for $10.50; they both were cafe habitués and this was one of their favorites.
I chose the Nicoise Salad with Ahi, made with green beans, tomatoes, hard boiled egg, and kalamata olives served on a bed of greens in a mustard vinaigrette for $14.95; it was a decent version, with medium rare ahi and a nice balance of classic ingredients. I would probably order one of the sandwiches or specials next time, but I wanted to try my standard for lunch and see how they fared (passing).
We came for dessert, and particularly the macarons, so I got their chocolate ganache cupcake and a chocolate macaron to go. The macaron was a good version of the classic French ones, but I found them a bit too big and sweet for my taste, however most Americans would probably love them. I also found the flavors a bit artificial and the coloring a bit bright, so although they are fresh and delicate, they fell short of my requirements for excellent macarons. My friends all loved them, so I must note that I am simply pickier than most when it comes to a product I know from its place of origin.
On the other hand, the chocolate cupcake was THE BEST I have EVER had! I would come back to eat the cupcake alone! It had the perfect balance of frosting to cake, a wonderful texture with just enough moisture and crumb, and just enough sweetness to make you want to eat the entire thing (and not get a toothache). I can not rave about this cupcake enough, so you will just have to go and taste one for yourself. If you don’t like deep chocolate nirvana, there are other choices, like a red velvet and a salted caramel.
La Provence is a full fledged bakery, making full sized cakes (think a party version of the chocolate ganache cupcake), so if you fancy a white chocolate strawberry shortcake, or a hazelnut mousse cake, or a lemon caramel meringue brulee cake for a party (or dinner), order one and delight your senses.
With decent food, a varied menu, reasonable prices, and a nice atmosphere, La Provence may not be the South of France, but it is a nice place to stop by for lunch or dessert in Brentwood (or Beverly Hills) until you can get to Provence, France.
>Today is Mardi Gras, and what better way to splurge than to spend the night in Beverly Hills? Even better, how would you like an extra free night in your plush Beverly Hills hotel room?
Click here for the list of participating hotels in Beverly Hills which are giving away a free night if you book 1-3 nights*, and they are including a free breakfast in the deal! You have until June 30, 2011 to book your stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel (in a bungalow), L’Ermitage, The Penninsula (in a suite), The Montage, or the Beverly Hilton.
Laissez les bons temps rouler today or as they might say in Beverly Hills, “Let the marvelous times begin”.
*There are varying minimum stays required for different hotels, so check before you book.
>The best advertising a restaurant can have is a line of potential patrons waiting for a table. I first noticed Porta Via while walking around Beverly Hills because it has a very inviting sidewalk patio and there was a line of diners waiting for a seat.
When Cindy came to town for lunch, we decided to try it even though we waited for nearly 20 minutes for a table at 1:30pm. I would suggest reserving a table if you want to eat during the height of lunch or dinner rush times to avoid a wait.
The hostess and waitress were both very friendly and professional, a refreshing way to be welcomed in attitude-centric Beverly Hills. The hostess even took our drink order and had it delivered before we could decide what we wanted to eat!
I chose one of the daily specials, a seared sesame encrusted tuna salad, with avocado, daikon sprouts, shaved red onions, pickled ginger, and green beans in a ponzu vinaigrette that was so delicious I literally cleaned my plate of the last sprout. If this is ever offered as a special, order it!
Cindy ordered a half sandwich and half salad combo with a Tuna Sandwich made with white albacore tuna, homemade lemon mayonnaise, tomato, alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, on honey wheat bread. For her salad she chose the chopped version, made with organic beets, organic chopped lettuces, green beans, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, shaved parmigiano champagne shallot vinaigrette. She adored her salad, but not the tuna sandwich as much. I tasted the tuna and found it fine, but Cindy found it a bit boring.
Using fresh organic produce and quality free range products, this is a great choice for anyone concerned with pure ingredients in their food. The biggest reason to come here is the tasty food and the range of options, for vegetarians and carnivores alike (even the daily special soup always has a nondairy version). With warm service and very reasonable prices (we paid $46 for both meals, including one non alcoholic drink, tax and a 20% tip).
Porta Via will become a regular stop whenever we are hungry in Beverly Hills.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants is Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills with pasta that is so delicate and light that it literally melts in your mouth. With Dine LA week in full force, I tried their sister restaurant next door, Enoteca Drago for lunch.
I went on a wonderfully sunny day in January, where in Beverly Hills, the temperature was about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Dining outdoors, I got some sun and enjoyed people watching at the same time. The friendly welcome was a harbinger of the professional service to come as I was invited to pick any seat on the patio and told about the Dine LA $22 menu as soon as I sat down.
I started with the Vitello Tonnato, which I have never seen on any menu here in Los Angeles. For those who have never had this dish of thinly sliced veal with a creamy tuna infused sauce, this version is an excellent introduction; the tender veal and caper accents made this a mouthwatering appetizer.
For my entree I chose the shrimp ravioli with lobster sauce and zucchini puree. The ravioli was unusual with one side of each ravioli made of squid ink pasta. I found the lobster sauce magnificent, but the texture of the pasta here was not the light heavenly version found next door at Il Pastaio. The squid ink pasta was partially to blame for this, but I literally needed a knife to cut the ravioli and it made me long to go next door for the ethereal pasta at the sister restaurant.
The shrimp were slightly over done, but not to the point of being rubbery and the filling was a nice if not inspired mixture of seafood.
I chose the pear Napoleon for dessert and received this architectural medley of pear chutney with almond ice cream and almond brittle. It was beautiful and not too sweet, but a bit difficult to eat, even with the spoon and fork given with the dish.
The service I received here was among the best; no one hovered, yet as soon as I placed my silverware on the plate after eating, it was immediately removed. I was asked if I wanted any drinks with my meal, then asked if I wanted coffee with my dessert. After every dish I was asked how I liked it and I am sure if there had been any problems it would have been rectified immediately. Timing is very important when it comes to service, and the timing of the staff here is impeccable.
