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My comfort food is French Bistro, so when I want to treat my palate and my sensibilities, I always head to my neighborhood favorite, La Petite Creperie. But today I “cheated” with Madame Chou Chou because I was in Santa Monica and the thought of lunch on a patio tempted me to stray. The ambiance in the back of the restaurant with rustic and modern whimsical decor was delightful. Madame Chou Chou was also a perfect hostess, making every diner in this small bistro feel appreciated and welcome.
Details like the silverware added personality to the meal.
Since it was Dine LA week, they had a lunch special of three courses for $22, so I chose the Moroccan lentil salad, made with de puy lentils, orange slices, almonds and crispy duck prosciutto for my first course. It was a lovely presentation, but the dressing was a bit salty. Thankfully there were wonderful baguette slices to help balance out the flavor.
For my main course I chose the flank steak, served with roasted potatoes and haricots verts in a red wine shallot sauce. I ordered it “bleu”, very rare, but it came out medium. I wish I could say something good about anything on this plate, but I found everything on it bland and unappetizing. I ended up leaving more than half of my meal on my plate. Madame Chou noticed and she said that she did not want me to leave unhappy, so she asked if I would prefer another entree, telling me the pasta was made in house, so I agreed to try it.
The arrival of my substitute pappardelle carbonara, with English peas, bacon and egg yolk made me smile with anticipation. After mixing my egg yolk with the pasta, I took a bite and was relieved to find it was better than the flank steak. But even though the pasta was made in house, it was heavy, and pieces of it were clumped together (it was not stirred enough during cooking). The presentation was pretty, but the dish was just not well executed; the bacon was not crisp, the pasta was not cooked in salted water, and the peas were underdone. Even though they are an Asian fusion restaurant, Sawtelle Kitchen does a much better version of this classic Italian dish.
When Madame came by, she was happy to see me eat more of the pasta than I had eaten of the steak. I told her I did like the pasta better (omitting more detail than that). Madame is an excellent hostess and will do her best to make you happy, but I was not happy with anything the back of the house put on my plate.
For dessert, it seemed every table ordered the “deenie booh”, a gluten free almond cake with pistachio mousseline and raspberries. It was beautiful and since the place sells pastries, I hoped it would taste as good as it looked. I am happy to report that yes, this was the highlight of my lunch. The almond cake was richly flavored and dense, the mousseline was light and creamy, and the raspberries added a nice fresh tartness.
They serve wines by the glass, so suggested pairings are listed under every dish, and their dinner menu includes bone marrow, steak tartar, and foie gras. You might want to have a glass of wine with an appetizer on the gorgeous patio with a date.
Sometimes you must learn through experience, and I have learned that no matter how tempting and gracious a new French Bistro might be, I have found the one I love and I will not stray again!
Having eaten at Comme Ca in West Hollywood, I wanted to try the Comme Ca in Las Vegas version in the Cosmopolitan since the view here literally gives you a bird’s eye view of the Strip. Especially tempting during lunch when they offer a Prix Fixe three course special for $28.
This was the view from my table on the terrace.
Even though it was about 100 degrees at noon, the patio was comfortable with fans that circulated the air in the completely shaded seating area. Like everything else in the hotel, even the ceilings are works of art.
With a nice glass of rose for $8.75 and a view of the Eiffel Tower, I began my lunch with freshly baked bread wrapped in a “French newspaper”.
Only in Las Vegas could you get news for two years in the future…
I started my meal with a Provence Salad, which would have been a meal in itself, but since this was my first meal of the day, I easily finished the crisp greens with hearts of palm, tomatoes, marinated carrots, radishes, and spring greens. The simple vinaigrette salad added a nice zing. I found a few sprigs of cilantro in the greens and wondered if that was intentional or a mistake, but in either case I did not like the additional ingredient.
I chose the steak tartine for my main course and asked for it rare; in Las Vegas asking for anything done rare is a gamble, but I won this time with a truly rare steak, excellent fries, and an arugula and blue cheese salad. The garlic aioli dip for the fries was excellent, but I didn’t need it, nor the the wonderfully thick cut grilled bread underneath the steak. I was already full before dessert arrived.
Once I saw the beautiful presentation of profiteroles with spun sugar on top I had to at least taste each one; the fillings of vanilla, pistachio, and coconut were all equally rich and creamy, and I was sad that I had no room for more than one bite of each flavor.
My server Sabrina was as stunning as the view, with a sixth sense of knowing when to come by with my next course and a generous smile. The trip here from Los Angeles is only one hour, so come here eat French food with a view of the Eiffel Tower, any time you have an hour or two to spare.
Mornings should be greeted with something that makes you smile at the start of your day. If you stop by Maison Du Pain for some pastries, like their Pain au Raisin, or a Pain au Chocolat, you can completely erase the pain of having to get out of bed. I had been here in 2009, but they have greatly expanded their repertoire in the last two years and when Benoit from La Petite Creperie said the baguettes looked good, I had to go back and taste one.
Their baguettes did look good, but how did they taste?
Cutting one open, I found the crust perfectly chewy, with a satisfying crunch, and the interior had a soft texture that is neither too soft nor too dense. The flavor bespoke the quality of the ingredients and the freshness of the loaf. This is a classic baguette, the one you want to eat plain straight out of the bakery. It’s one of the best I’ve eaten in Los Angeles (and I have eaten dozens of baguettes in this city)! If you buy two or three, you might make it home with enough to give someone else in your household a taste.
Although I love Papa Cristo’s for Greek Food, today I wanted a nicer ambiance and a shorter drive for my Greek food fix, so after breakfast, I went over to Ulysses in the Farmer’s Market/The Grove. I had eaten here two years ago with friends from France for a late lunch (see my previous post) before I left for Greece, so I wanted to see what I thought after having been to the country.
I was impressed that their wine list included a wine from Santorini, and that they served a very generous glass for $10. It was crisp and had a slightly mineral taste as the wines in that region are typically made.
The bread basket included a nice chewy olive bread and a good baguette, served with a creamy and tangy cheese spread in lieu of butter.
I chose a spring salad topped with Calamari for $13, and For those who prefer chicken or lamb, you can top your salad with meatier protein. The calamari were tender, and the salad of greens mixed with red and yellow peppers, olives, red onions, tomatoes, and feta was dressed in a oregano infused oil and vinegar sauce which did not overwhelm the greens. After my last disastrous salad at Villa Blanca, this was a welcome change. I loved the generous amount of calamari, but found the amount of feta on the salad was a bit too generous and left most of it.
Two years ago my friends were both impressed by the fact that this was the only Greek restaurant we stopped at where the hostess responded to “Kalimera” with “Kalimera” (Good Morning). My visit this time was no different, when I left I said “Effaristo” (thank-you) and the host answered “Malakalo” (you’re welcome).
Authentic French pastries, great baguettes, and a Greek restaurant which retains the language and the style of Greece; Los Angeles may be a melting pot, but I am glad to find the unique flavors of different food cultures are still distinctly ethnic.
I drove past La Petite Creperie last week and made a mental note to try it because it looked like a place run by people who cared about food and their clientele. I was thrilled to discover that not only were my initial instincts correct, but their fare is also as authentically French as Benoit, the host.
This small cafe is welcoming and comfortable, but they also pay attention to small details like using Le Creuset containers on the tables for their sugar, and Laguiole knives in their place settings. These kind of French touches make me swoon because like any love affair, it is the authentic attention that counts the most.
One day I stopped in for lunch and chose the Confit de Canard salad made with baby spinach and walnut vinaigrette for $14. I was delighted to find a crispy skin on the confit leg of duck, while the meat was tender and succulent. The salad was lightly dressed and a perfect counter point to the rich meat. Even though I was full after eating about half, I could not stop working my way through the salad until I had nothing left on the plate but the bones.
When Benoit showed me the dinner menu I knew I had to come back to taste more dishes (especially since I had not yet tasted a crepe). Somehow I worked it out to come back the same day for dinner with Mika. She wanted the Pork Belly as soon as she heard it was on the menu, so we decided to split it as our appetizer; it was splendidly presented with house pickled baby carrots. The pork belly was crispy and decadent with melting layers of fat that made bites of the meat juicy; if you have never tried pork belly, try it here.
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I chose the house smoked trout salad special and reveled in the smokiness of the fish. The trout perfumed my mouth with an earthy taste that lingered after my meal and the house cured pickled carrots were perfect acidic notes in this appetizer.
The special entree of the night was the swordfish, which Benoit was eating for dinner, so the best recommendation is when the special of the night is the host’s dinner. It was done with a light hand so it was juicy and not overcooked. The fiddle head ferns, shittake mushrooms, and peas added a nice contrast to the fish and everything tasted as fresh as the plate looks.
Mika is a tea drinker, so even though I had my organic coffee in a French Press, she also got her organic tea in a press and thoroughly enjoyed every cup.
We somehow made room for a crepe (after TWO meals here on the same day, I HAD to try at least one crepe at a Creperie), so I chose the Crepe au Citron (lemon) for $6.25 as a dessert to split. It was the best crepe I have eaten in Los Angeles! Beware the decorative slices of lemon on the top if you are not a lemon eater:-)
Being a wonderful host, Benoit gave us a Creme Caramel for dessert ($6.25) on the house and it was so good that *somehow* we managed to eat it all.
La Petite Creperie is open for breakfast/brunch & lunch everyday except Monday & Tuesday and they are open for dinner Thursday-Saturday, so find some time to take a trip to
Mar Vista for a marvelous meal. They announce their specials on their facebook page, so follow them if you want to check out their menu before you go. Bon Appetit!
Since I was attending the French Film Festival COLCOA (City of Light City of Angels) all week, there were times when I could not go further than a few blocks for food in between movies. There is The Counter for burgers across the street, and Veggie Grill for vegans, two blocks away, and Trader Joe’s for ready made food, but I opted for the place I had not yet tried, Pizza Fusion, literally right next door.
It was more attractive simply because they advertised specials for Earth Day, they use organic ingredients, give all their employees who work more than 20 hours a week medical benefits, offer free sustainable classes for kids every month, and they even offer gluten free options for pizza, beer, and brownies; I don’t see either Veggie Grill or Trader Joe’s offering these kind of options and benefits.
On one break, I had a large Fusion Salad ($8.99), made with Arugula, romaine, cucumber, red onion, tomatoes, basil, shaved carrots and toasted crostini (all the green items are organic and you can omit the crostini for gluten free diets). I chose the balsamic vinaigrette but it was drowned in Italian when it arrived; they switched it out for another one as soon as I tasted it and asked for a replacement with the dressing on the side. Everything was freshly prepared and had the added “feel good” component of being organic, so I knew no pesticides were in my plate of greens.
Because this is after all a pizza place, I had to come back for a pizza, so I opted for personal sized ($8.99) a multi grain crust (you can also choose an organic white) made with sauteed spinach, roasted portobello mushrooms, goat cheese, and Italian sausage (which was hormone & preservative free). They offer several cheese options, from organic Mozzarella to Daiya vegan.The tomato sauce is organic and very tasty and although this is not a classic pizza, I enjoyed the thin crispy crust and the flavors I combined. I would order this again as an alternative to the traditional American “pizza” any day.
I saw the stuffed mushrooms ($6.99) on the appetizer menu and had to try them. They are criminis (mini portobellos) stuffed with sausage, goat cheese, and herbs and they were my favorite of all the things I tried here. They would be perfect paired with a glass of the Malbec ($8) and during happy hour from 4-7pm they offer specials on either their beers (they offer flights of beers), wines, or appetizers.
Convenience is always a good reason to try something, but when it is combined with ethical actions that combine healthy food with happy employees in the community, that is a reason to come back.
It was a cold and gray day in LA (hey that rhymes!) when my friend Mika & I got together for our meal at the Little Next Door. Even with the outdoor heaters we opted to sit inside rather than on the patio because it seems some restaurants still have areas that are deemed “smoking”. It seems like an upside down world to me that a French influenced restaurant in Los Angeles has more smokers on the patio than cafes in Paris.
Since it was so cold (here in Los Angeles that means 50 F), Mika ordered a hot tea and received this unusual Tea Forte silken tea bag in the shape of a pyramid. The flavor was White Ambrosia, and Mika liked it so much she had refills.
I chose the grilled calamari salad, made with roasted bell pepper, shaved fennel, spinach, lemon-caper dressing for $15. This is now tied with the grilled calamari salad at Toscanova as my favorite. The calamari was tender and the young spinach held up well to the slightly tart lemon caper dressing.
Mika wanted meat, so she ordered the Hambourgeois, made with top sirloin ground beef burger with onion confit, harissa mayo and pommes frites $15. She requested it medium rare with Gruyere and reported that it was juicy and cooked exactly as she had requested. She especially loved the harissa mayo which added a spicy creamy topping to the fresh bun.
Somehow we found room to split the coconut cheese cake $6 topped with fresh berries. It was too thick for Mika’s taste, but I loved it and we both agreed the taste was sensational.
Since Mika had never had a French macaron, I recommended that she try the pistachio $1.75 since it would compliment the cheesecake. She finished it in (literally) two bites; I think I may have introduced her to a new addiction…
Although service was wonderfully friendly and efficient during our meal, the hostess could use some more training with customer service because she was obviously very annoyed to change our seat from the patio to indoors even though there were many open tables in both areas. Fortunately the warmth of our waiter made up for that bad first impression and we left with smiles in our stomachs and on our faces.
The Grand Cafe Capucines is a beautiful art deco restaurant near the big department stores, the Opera, and the famed Olympia in Paris that is open 24/7; this is a far cry from what you can find in American late night eateries. Their famous towering seafood platters with arrays of oysters, shrimp and mussels are sights to behold, and the menu choices include everything from smoked salmon and roasted lamb to flaming crepes for desert.
Their prices are more than fair with menus for breakfast from 13 Euros ($16) and 25 Euros for Lunch ($30). I had a a dozen oysters for 15 Euros ($20) and a nice light chevre salad for only 11 Euros ($14) with a demi of Chardonnay 26 Euros ($34) for lunch.
And the wonderful thing about this cafe is that when you order a coffee, you get another one free!
This is my go to restaurant on Sunday since many restaurants are closed that day, and anytime between 10pm-8am. It is a joy to eat wonderful classic food in a beautiful atmosphere anytime, but it is especially fun to eat here when most of Paris is sleeping.
Paul is a baker and pastry maker in France has sprouted into a chain reaching from the wealthy arrondissements to busy metro stations; Paul is about as omnipresent in Paris as Starbucks is in the US, but offering bread and pastries instead of coffee. Their breads range from classic baguettes to more substantial whole grain loaves, and their pastries encompass perennial favorites from lemon tarts to mini macarons. I bought two boxes of the 12 pack variety for 12 Euros each ($15) for a dinner party and two boxes back for a friend in Los Angeles; at half the price of La Duree macarons, these are just as delicate and delicious with flavors ranging from lychee and caramel to strawberry and chocolate.
Berthillon is renowned as the best place for ice cream in all of Paris. No, it is not an ice cream parlor (although they do have one Salon de Thé on L’Ile St. Louis), it is a specialty store which has branches all over the city offering the finest ice cream in France. The flavors shown here are a coconut ice cream and a raspberry and lychee sorbet, both sold in packages of 3/4 liter for 15 Euros ($20).
Desserts are always an indulgence, and indulging in the best once in awhile reminds us all why we all work so hard while not indulging 
A tasting menu may be torture for people like Anthony Bourdain, who has had to eat them at restaurants all over the world for years (cue the violin), but for most of us an evening tasting a chef’s gastronomic menu is a pleasure.
Agapes offers a five course menu for 42 Euros which looked too good to pass up, especially when I found that by reserving through Laforchette.com the same menu can be had for 32 Euros (about $50).The restaurant has a very contemporary elegant decor and is located just south of the Jardin des Plantes in the 5th arrondissement.
Since my reservation specified my special offer, I was asked only if I wanted something to drink before my courses began, but because the courses included both seafood and duck I asked my waiter for a recommendation and he suggested a dry white white would compliment the entire menu so I ordered a glass of Sancerre.
A complimentary amuse guele was presented with a tasty creamy potage (soup) served in a glass, a savory herb biscuit, and an avocado puree. This was a promising start and I eagerly awaited the first course of the official menu.
The first course was the Langoustine, served with a ricotta cannelloni in a reduced bisque with crushed cocoa beans. The langoustine was fantastic, crispy, delicate and hot, but I didn’t like the overall dish with the contrast of the hot bisque (served in s separate glass which was to be poured into the bowl) and the cold ricotta cannelloni. When asked by the waiter if I enjoyed the dish (because I left most of it), I told him no and I told him it was the contrast of hot/cold and rich creamy with rich savory which I did not enjoy. He apologized, but I told him it was ok (after all he was the server, not the chef) and I was sure i would enjoy the other courses (which I did).
The second course of seared duck foie gras was one of my favorites of the evening, served with a date chutney on Granny Smith apples and roasted nuts. The foie gras was cooked to a nice pink and the refreshing crunch of the raw apples combined with the roasted nuts gave a nice contrasting texture to the smooth rich foie gras.
The seafood entree was a curry sauced medallion of lotte (a white fish) served with a stuffed crab claw and pureed potato. The nicely understated curry enhanced the flavors of the fish and seafood and gave both an interesting perfume without overwhelming either. With more courses to come, I tasted the puree but did not eat it so I could eat the remaining courses; I was beginning to understand Anthony Bourdain’s yearning for a simple three course meal.
The meat course was roasted duckling served with poached pear and a bitter orange sauce. It was cooked “rosy” or medium as I had requested and it was was a succulent rendition of this classic favorite.
With a nice break before serving the dessert course, I was actually able to taste the warm creamy pistachio sabayon and the freshly diced kiwi and mango in limoncello. Both dishes were good separately as well as together, but I could only finish the fruit dish at this point.
And just when I thought I had finished everything, there was an additional amuse guele at the end of the meal of fresh pineapple and a homemade mini madeleine. I gave up at this point and surrendered to my full stomach saying “No more”, feasting with my eyes instead of my mouth.
It will be awhile before I partake of another tasting menu, but if you have not eaten a menu gastronomique in France, I urge you to do so, if nothing else than to understand how a chef can create a symphony of flavors simply for your enjoyment. For me this lesson in “the grass is greener” has taught me that thought I may envy Anthony Bourdain’s life at times, I am also grateful for my own where I can chose how often and where I eat gastronomic menus.
In any city with too many choices, it is a good idea to get a recommendation from someone who lives or has recently lived in the neighborhood. I asked another Elaine for her recommendations in Paris since she lived there for a year (and wrote a blog about her experiences); she suggested Cave la Bourgogne in her old neighborhood in the 5th arrondissement.
In an area full of restaurants, Cave la Bourgogne sits facing a fountain and a church, so you can get a view with your meal. This local hotspot is packed every night, so either get here early or call ahead for a reservation. I loved the casual atmosphere and the friendly greeting in this bistro and when I tasted the food, I made it a point to come back on another night. For my first meal here I chose the Salade Aveyronnaise, a hearty salad made with sausage, duck, gizzards, hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, blue cheese, and mushrooms. This is the perfect meal for anyone who wants a meaty salad as much as that may sound like an oxymoron. It was delicious and huge by French standards (normal by American). Priced at only 13 Euros (about $17), this salad is a meal in and of itself.
The daily fish special of loup de mer (monkfish) with capers and tomatoes was also a hearty portion, but unfortunately, the fish was a bit overcooked and the green beans were bland, for 16 Euros (about $20), this is a disappointment.
I forgot to take a picture of my last meal of steak tartare, but it was a huge portion of ground meat (not chopped) served with a raw egg yolk and condiments on the side so that I could add as much or little of the cornichons (pickles), onions, worcestershire sauce, ketchup (eek!), mustard, salt and pepper, that I wished to add. Somehow I managed to eat the entire portion of about 8 ounces, served with a side salad.
Excellent wines are served by the glass, 1/4, 1/2 or full carafe for very fair prices, and good bottles are offered for those who want to upgrade their wine choices. It is easy to see why this place is packed every night with a range of clientele from the neighborhood including couples on dates, friends out on the town, and single diners getting a bite before heading home from work. Their forte seems to be meat rather than fish, as evidenced by both my experience and from seeing the plates delivered to my dining neighbors, so definitely skip the fish (even if it is on special) and go for the red meat here and you will leave happy and very full.
Thanks Elaine for sharing your old neighborhood find with another Elaine!
