Exploration manifests itself in a
number of ways including outer space, the ocean and the mountains. We also
find great adventure in discovering new hidden gems in the form of
restaurants.
Our staff have mined and forged the world landscape for food treasures and
delicacies.
Eating
with Thomas Jefferson at Keswick Hall
Keswick Hall in
Charlottesville
is a country club/resort/golf club that just happens to have a restaurant
called Fossett’s that is dedicated to Thomas Jefferson’s (1734-1826)
personal chef Edith Fossett (1787-1845) during his retirement years at
Monticello
.
Tavola
Restaurant in Charlottesville
Charlottesville
in
Virginia
has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the
United States
according to a number of reliable sources. Maybe it is because of the
student population of the
University
of
Virginia
and their propensity for fast food, but one success story is that of
Tavola, a modern Italian bistro that opened in July 2009 in the
Belmont
District of the city.
Bombay
Palace Celebrates 25 Years
The Bombay
Palace
restaurant in
Beverly Hills
has just celebrated 25 years of business in January of this year and is
offering special discounts that will be lasting until the end of the year.
One of the most elegant Indian restaurants in the city, the
Bombay
Palace
has had the same chef for its entire existence, and a personable owner
Deep Sethi for 19 years.
Relaxing
at Sunset Restaurant in Malibu
Sunset Restaurant in Zuma Beach, despite having missed regulars Pamela
Anderson and Pierce Brosnan on each of my visits there. The restaurant
admittedly has gone few a number of changes in the kitchen and with
management, but the atmosphere and ambience has remained one of extreme
friendliness. The locals continue to come to try items on the extensive
but not overwhelming menu.
Restaurant
162 @ the Ritz Carlton
The Ritz Carlton in
Dana
Point
has always been a prime destination to visit, and Restaurant 162 is the
main dining room at this sprawling hotel. Chef de Cuisine John Garcia has
been running a Friday night Seafood Inspiration Tasting Menu for $65 for
four courses, and a recent visit here confirmed the quality of the food
and the preparation that went with it.
Make
Your Friends Green with Envy @ Abode
Your friends will be green with envy as you dine at the new Abode
Restaurant and Lounge in
Santa Monica
. Paradoxically located off
Ocean Ave.
across from the busy Santa Monica Pier Boardwalk, Abode
is quietly nestled between Ivey at the Shore and Tengu.
The
Stars Come Out at Ago
When a new restaurant opens up especially in
Hollywood
, a celebrity chef and celebrity owners help launch the place, but it is
still no guarantee that the doors will stay open. There is always a new
hot spot for the big spenders and hot babes that frequent these kind of
places to go to. But Ago in
West Hollywood
continues to pull in the crowds with it's Tuscan cuisine. The owners
include Robert de Niro, acclaimed directors Tony and Ridley Scott, and
Miramax Pictures head honcho Harvey Weinstein.
Amaranta
Cocina Restaurant and Tequila Heaven
I have discovered a new authentic Mexican restaurant in the back of
Topanga Mall which not only serves authentic Mexican food from the central
region, but also has 400 different brands of Tequila. This impressive
selection may possibly be the largest selection of tequila in
Los Angeles
County.
Bluewater
Grill- Best Seafood in the South Bay
The reputation of restaurants in the
South
Bay
even today remains questionable, but regular patrons of the Bluewater
Grill in
Redondo Beach
(opened in 2001) don’t give a hoot about that as they continue to enjoy
outstanding dishes created by local chef Brian Hirsty and his loyal team.
A visit this week on a fairly busy Wednesday night was a complete
revelation, with every dish selected turning out to be of the highest
quality not only in the freshness and flavor, bit more importantly in the
preparation and combinations on the plate.
Brazilian
Food for the "OC"
GOOOAL!!!!! As the World Cup of Futbol approaches in a few weeks, I
thought of the five championships held by the country of
Brazil
. When we think of
Brazil
we think of Carnival,
Rio
and Soccer, but don’t forget about their native food. Walking into
Irvine
's new Brazilian-style steakhouse Agora Churrascaria, a new world
appears to unfold.
Party
Time at Bella in Hollywood
Bella Restaurant on
Hollywood Boulevard
has only been open four weeks, but already it has become a real hot spot
serving Italian food that is not just to cater to the tourists in the
area. A visit there last Tuesday turned out to be a real hoot, with
two separate groups of party animals coming in to the 72 seat restaurant
to give the place incredible energy.
New
Chef Shines at Bond Street in Beverly Hills
The owners of Bond St
restaurant in Beverly Hills have pulled off a small coup by hiring new chef Brian Redzikowski to run
the Japanese/California style eatery located in the boutique Thompson
Hotel. I have no idea what the previous guy was like, but Redzikowski has
taken it to a superb level with a series of unique dishes that demand a
second visit as soon as possible.
Cuban
Food with a Scent of History
The cultural diversity and
richness found in Los Angeles has resulted in the growth of hundreds of new ethnic restaurants and
eating establishments. The cornucopia of great new diners and restaurants
has to include the latest Cuban restaurant to open, La
Bodeguita de Pico.
Dantana's
in Hollywood
Still Going Strong
When a restaurant has been around for 40+ years then you know it has to
be good. In
Hollywood
, Dantana's has the reputation of being a major hang out place
where stars in there hundreds have been going to for years, and where they
can eat their pasta in peace without being bothered too much. In fact the
place is so busy that they have to turn around the tables every couple of
hours to seat a new bunch of deal making diners, although it seems hard to
imagine the likes of regulars like George Clooney, Leonard Di Caprio or
even Phil Spector (he had dinner here with Lana Clarkson before returning
to his Mansion on the fateful evening) being easily hustled out by the
management.
A
Retrospective Review: Diaghilev for Elegant France-Russian Food
This retrospective review will be updated in the future and
replaced with the new exciting restaurant being created by the world
famous chef Gordon Ramsey. Prior to the remodeling of the hotel, a
Franco-Russian restaurant called Diaghilev was available to the public and
guests of the Bel Age Hotel (now called the London West Hollywood).
Flemings
Steak House @ LA Live
Fans of Flemings Steak House can now enjoy the latest location at LA
Live, the downtown entertainment complex adjacent to the
Staples
Center
. Although at press time the facility is still a work in progress with
many of the places still not open for business, the corporate minds that
run Flemings have hit the ground running. This is the 11th
Flemings in
California
alone, and they are also in 27 states. Although mid-range steak houses
like Black Angus are struggling in the current recession having already
filed for bankruptcy, Flemings and other high priced quality
establishments will likely survive.
Fogo
de Chao Brings the Taste of Southern Brazil
This review is for the benefit for those of you who have never been to
this most unusual of restaurants, for it is the kind of place once
visited, never forgotten. I do not consider myself an expert at all in
Brazilian food, but if this is a prime example, then more of these types
of restaurants please. It is
billed as “the gaucho way of preparing meat, “and since it is also an
“all you can eat” establishment, I will be better prepared the next
time now that I understand the rules of engagement of pacing oneself to
try all the different entrees.
Great
Owners and Players Produce a Winning Team at Hokusai
What does the Hokusai Restaurant in Beverly Hills and the 1992
Barcelona Olympic USA Basketball Team have in common? A Dream Team
of individuals who are the most talented group of people ever assembled
together in one place. Opened in March of 2007, Hokusai brings a
wide-breadth of expertise and experience to the Los Angeles eating scene.
Italian
Incognito
It isn’t to often you will find a destination restaurant of quality
which is located on the ground floor of an executive financial building.
Although hidden away of the main street thoroughfare, when I
finally parked and entered Il Moro (“the Moor”), I discovered the
journey to this “Westside” restaurant oasis was worth the drive.
Kindom
of Troy Found at Jerne
Blending an eclectic mix of tasty appetizers with elegantly presented
main courses, Chef Troy Thompson (now at the Venetian in Las Vegas, new
chef- Drew Sayea) created many different interactive
dishes at Jerne, 4375 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, California. Located in The Ritz
Carlton, Marina Del Rey Hotel, Jerne fulfills the expectations of any
person interested in Euro-Pacific elegantly prepared accessible dishes.
Jiraffe-
A Class Act in Santa Monica
Jiraffe restaurant in
Santa Monica
has gained an excellent reputation which we found well deserved, judging
by a recent visit to the trendy and upscale eatery. Chef/owner Raphael
Lunetta opened up in April 1996 with friend Josiah Citrin who left in 1999
to open the wildly successful Melisse, also in
Santa Monica.
Dino-mite
Food at Jurassic Restaurant
It isn’t often you find great ethnic food in a festive social
environment. Jurassic
Restaurant introduces Taiwanese Chinese Food in a fun interactive setting.
Chef and owner Alex Ai has brought his thematic time period restaurants to
the
US
from his native Taiwan.
Tale
of Two Different Italian Restaurants
Visits to Italian restaurants are always fun, but sometimes the variety
of choices can be staggering. I recently visited two distinctly different
places, Murano in
West Hollywood
, and the popular Locanda Del Lago in
Santa Monica. Locanda has a dream location adjacent to the 3rd Street
Mall, and attracts a nice mix of regulars and tourists. Both have youngish
talented Italian chefs in charge, but the contrasts could not be more
apparent.
Lola's
in West Hollywood, Home of the Apple Martini
Lola’s in West Hollywood is close to becoming an institution in
West Hollywood
if it is not one already, their big claim being that they introduced the
Apple Martini to the world. After being a local favorite hang out
for 13 plus years, the friendly restaurant/bar attracts a strong regular
base, and with a new hard working chef in charge the food is stepping up a
notch and the bar is being raised quite significantly.
Kate
Mantilini Restaurant Now Open in the San Fernando Valley
The renowned Kate Mantilini restaurant in
Beverly Hills
opened on St.Patrick's Day, March 17, 1987, and has long been known as a
stars hangout for several reasons - mainly because of location and the
connections of owners Harry and Marilyn Lewis. The former actor (over 50
films including
Key Largo
with Humphrey Bogart) and his wife, started the famous Hamburger Hamlet
chain in 1952 with savings of $3,500, before selling the operation for $33
million in 1997. Kate Mantilini's was part of that chain, but the Lewis's
bought back the restaurant five years later, and have since opened a
second one in Woodland Hills.
Mastro's
Comes Alive in Beverly Hills
Mastro Steak House in Beverly Hills
is rapidly becoming the place to be seen since opening up here in
September, 2001. The Scottsdale
based company that runs restaurant selected the former site of the failed
remake of the venerable Chasen's restaurant, and it certainly looks like
this place is going to be around for some time.
Melrose
Bar and Grill Perfects the West Hollywood Vibe
I had heard about this place from the very pro-active
West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and when I read a positive review in
the Michelin 2009 guide I knew I had to check it out. I selected a Monday
night to go and arrived close to 8
PM
and the place was about 80% full. Most of the customers appeared to be
locals who relish the casual but appealing ambience of the place that has
a location to dream about.
Morton's
Steakhouse of Chicago in Downtown Los Angeles
Arnie Morton's Steak House of Chicago opened its 62nd venue, in
downtown
Los Angeles
making a welcome addition to the burgeoning dining scene down there.
Proving a lively challenger to LA Prime at the nearby Bonaventure Hotel,
steak houses are "in" right now, with the Porterhouse Bistro and
Mastro's of
Scottsdale
having both opened in Beverly Hills
recently.
Nashville Restaurant Scene Comes
Alive
Of course
Nashville
is famous for the music, and in fact the minute you step off the plane at
the airport it is impossible to ignore the guitar motif that seems to be
everywhere. However a lot of food writers and customers have noticed a
marked improvement in the restaurant scene in music city the last few
years, and on a visit a couple of weeks ago
was more than surprised with the offerings.
A
Night at Nick and Stef's Steakhouse
Nick and Stef's restaurant has been open 8 years and is part of the
Patina Group, the restaurant empire built up by German superstar chef,
Joachim Splichal. They have also opened two more in
Manhattan
and Washington
D.C.
so something must be going right.
Experience
the Vodbox at Nic's in Beverly Hills
Nic’s restaurant in
Beverly Hills
would be good enough to stand on the merits of the food, service and
atmosphere, but since the addition of “The Vodbox,’’ business
has really picked up.
Nirvana
Serves the Senses in Beverly Hills
Nirvana Indian restaurant in Beverly Hills is slightly hard to locate
with only a small sign out front, but since it is directly opposite the
Bombay Palace this could make this area of Wilshire decidedly Indian in
flavor. The surprising thing is that they are sister restaurants, but very
different in style and quality.
Nonya,
Peranakan Food Comes To Downtown Pasadena
When
London
restaurateur Simon Tong does things with a new restaurant he does it in
style-and Nonya restaurant in downtown
Pasadena
is no exception. Simon moved to
California
from Woodford in Essex in 2001, brought over Chef Tony Pat from
London
via Hong Kong, and opened Nonya in fashionable downtown Pasadena.
Patina
and Paparazzi Together at Parc
Just east of
Highland
on Hollywood Blvd.
, a restaurant catering to the young
Hollywood
crowd as well as diners looking for good food emerges.
As you enter Parc restaurant, a glass-enclosed wine cellar and
gleaming bar greets you and suggests casual opulence.
If the food reminds you a little of the old Black Steel’s fine
pacific-euro fusion style food, you would not be very far off.
During the transition to the new Parc ownership group, the
restaurant was able to retain the services of the Brooklyn Chef J (aka
Jason Harley), Pamela Anderson’s personal friend and chef.
Dining
in Style at the Park Grill
What do Sean Connery, Chris Rock and Usher have in common? For those
of you who are interested in where celebrities stay and eat, these
venerable icons all like to spend time at the Hotel Intercontinental (formerly
known as the Park Hyatt) in
Century
City
in the Royal Suite. They are also very fond of eating at the hotel
restaurant, the Park Grill.
Provecho
Finally Opens Up Downtown
For five years chef Gabriel Morales applied his trade and built up a
solid reputation at Republic Restaurant in West Hollywood, but now he is
the majority owner in a new 5100 square fool place called Provecho in
downtown
Los Angeles
. It is an upscale but not over-priced
Mexican/ceviche restaurant with an emphasis on tequila pairings from the
96 varieties that the bar offers. House tequila will be Casadores, but
make sure you check with the servers on some of the more interesting
varieties available.
South
of
France
Salads in
West Hollywood
Traveling south towards the French Riviera and the Cannes Film
Festival, one may find themselves in the town of Provence. Blending the elegance and
class of the French and the health consciousness of
Southern California, Salades de Provence brings delicious organic salads, quiches, crepes and
an array of desserts to the corner of
Holloway Drive
and La Cienega north of Santa Monica Blvd.
Situated within walking
distance from a number of condominiums and small businesses, the word is
spreading throughout LA about Salades de Provence.
After parking around the corner and walking toward the small quaint
corner restaurant on a dark rainy evening, Salades interior lights stood
out like a “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” print.
Hurrah
for RA Sushi
With the sounds of the Red Hot Chile Peppers and Def Leppard playing in
the background I entered the most exciting new Japanese restaurant to open
in the
South
Bay
in years. On a Friday night,
the restaurant venue was packed with patrons. Located in the newly
remodeled Del Amo Fashion Center, RA Sushi eloquently blends the
Western palate with Japanese styled prepared food.
Seäsonal
Knocks It Out Of The Park!
Located on
West 58th Street
adjacent to the world famous Plaza Hotel is Seäsonal restaurant, is the
result of a long standing partnership between award winning chefs Eduard
Frauneder and Wolfgang Ban. Frauneder and Ban first crossed paths
when they were students at the prestigious Gastronomie Fachschule.
Stefan's
at the Farm Appetizer Grazaing
When I first saw the marquis address of the Stefan
Richter’s new restaurant Stefan’s
@ LA Farm located at 3000 Olympic Blvd., the number “3000” and
word “Olympic” made me think of the movie “300” where the Spartans
and Greeks fought for their country. On
this night, the warriors would not be fighting for
Sparta
but for the cornucopia of Stephan’s new hors d’oeuvres in the newly
renovated space.
The
Stinking Rose- Heaven for Garlic Lovers
Eleven years on, The Stinking Rose on Restaurant Row in
Beverly Hills
is still packing them in with its Italian-American food, especially all
kinds of people who are crazy about the ubiquitous garlic.
Beverly
Hills Best Kept Secret
I want to tell you about a restaurant that is one of the best kept
secrets in town, and once you discover it you will add it to your
favorites. The place which is called Tagine
and the fact that one of the three owners is Ryan Thomas Gosling (The Notebook, Half Nelson, Academy Award
Nominee for Best Actor, 2007) who frequents the place with his many movie
star friends (including his current girlfriend Rachel
Adams) when he is in town, also gives the place a buzz.
Takami
Opens Up With Style in Downtown
Takami has just opened up in an old office building downtown, and it
just shows you what a $4 million investment can do. The space is buzzing,
the atmosphere is terrific, and the food spearheaded by sushi expert Kenny
Yamada is a joy to look at and taste. If you are into Asian food at any
level, then a visit here is a must, just to see what the fuss is all
about, and it could very easily turn out to be one of your regular spots,
and certainly a place to take out of town visitors to.
Tanino's
Brings a Touch of Class to Westwood
The dominance of Italian food and restaurants in
Los Angeles
continues unabated, with one such example being Tanino Ristorante and Bar
in trendy
Westwood
Village
. The place has been open for five years, and is the vehicle of chef/owner
Tanino Drago, a 29-year-old native of
Sicily
. He is part of the Drago family who have been an influence in this part
of the world for some time when it comes to top of the range Italian
cuisine.
A Triumph
Indeed
Located on
44th Street
between 5th and
6th Avenue, off of the lobby of the trendy Iroquois Hotel, Triomphe Restaurant is
a hidden gem in the bustling midtown area of
Manhattan.
The
Twist is a Hit at the Renaissance Hollywood
When one thinks of the intersection of
Hollywood
and
Highland
, they think of the famous Kodak Theatre, the Academy Awards and the
adjacent beautiful sprawling multi-level shopping mall.
Just a few steps north, the new Renaissance Hollywood Hotel can be
found with one of the most exciting eating establishments tucked away
upstairs. With a beautiful view overlooking
Highland Avenue
, the spacious new Californian-Ecletic restaurant Twist prominently
watches over the hybrid vehicles and SUV’s rushing to make the opening
act at the “Bowl”.
Ventura
Making a Name as a Restaurant Haven
It should not come as any sort of surprise that
Ventura
is becoming quite a restaurant town, and as more and more top chefs move
here because of the proximity of local produce, the reputation will
continue to grow. The local Farmers Market has been prospering for over
twenty years with many of the original vendors still showing up. With the
access to fresh produce and the diverse population, there has been a
healthy increase in the number of ethnic restaurants such as Indian and
Latin American that have cropped up recently.
Return
of Speak Easy in Santa Monica
If you thought that the speakeasy was dead, then think again. It is
alive and well one night a week in
Santa Monica
. The Vic catering company turns into a
New York
style jazz club every Thursday night. Some pretty hip names in the world
of jazz show up on a regular basis to savor the music and enjoy the food
and drinks, and the cool thing is, you have to know the password in order
to get in. This is a pretty hip place to impress out of town guests, kind
of like a private club that is open to the public.
Yamato
Opens in Westwood
Yamato Japanese restaurant has been getting some good
press since opening in December, with the Los Angeles Times describing it
as “Japanese pub food at great prices”.
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