Macarons are always some of the most attractive confections in the display case of a bakery or sweets shop. The brightly colored small cookie “sandwiches” are often some of the most expensive treats per bite too, often being at least a couple of bucks for something that’s just a couple of bites. Why are they…
Tar & Roses 602 Santa Monica Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90401 Dining date: 2/16/12 Tar & Roses opened late last month, one of the bigger restaurant openings so far this year. Andrew Kirschner is the chef behind Tar & Roses, formerly the executive chef of nearby Wilshire Restaurant. He brings with him food that’s been…
LudoBites 8.0 Lemon Moon 12200 W Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 Dining date: 2/15/12 My first trip to LudoBites 8.0 was a pretty good meal, and a very promising start to this iteration. While much attention has been spent on the reservation system and the scarcity of a seat, I didn’t think it was…
Lamb Showdown: Manzke vs. Samson/Pollack Guelaguetza 3014 W. Olympic Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90006 Dining date: 2/20/12 I had no idea it was “Lamb Lovers Month,” but apparently February is. I suppose you can name a month for anything, especially if there’s money behind it. In celebration of the month, the American Lamb Board helped…
800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria 10889 Lindbrook Dr Los Angeles, CA 90024 Dining date: 2/15/12 800 Degrees opened early last month, a new concept via a partnership led by Umami Burger’s Adam Fleischman. After a dinner at LudoBites, somehow the topic of 800 Degrees came up. It was open late (until 2am everyday), was nearby, and…
Dining date: 2/5/12 I recently purchased a KitchenAid stand mixer (due to a deal I could not refuse) and immediately had dreams of freshly baked breads, cookies and pastries. However, while researching optional attachments, I came across the pasta extruder, a play-doh like attachment that basically pushes dough into various shapes to be cut. I…
CITY Night Border Grill 445 S Figueroa St Los Angeles, CA 90071 Dining date: 2/8/12 Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger opened City Cafe in 1981, at the time a relatively nouveau restaurant serving food with accents around the globe. The success of that restaurant led to a much larger CITY restaurant and eventually Border Grill. As…
Picca 9575 West Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90035 Dining date: 12/14/11 and 2/1/12 Generally regarded as one of the top restaurant openings in 2011, Picca has truly been a hotspot since opening in June. It seems that every time I’ve visited, the restaurant’s been packed – boisterous and full of energy. It’s easy to…