Raves & Reviews
All of my favorite places to eat, drink and find culinary delights!
A -FRAME
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A-MAZING!
I think that I have heard from at l least ten friends and fellow foodies, along with countless food bloggers that the beer can chicken here is where it’s at. With a name like Crack, crackling chicken, I expect this bird to either get me hooked on the first bite or have a crispy, crunchy, skin that shatters like glass when I rip into it. What I find, when we devour it, is that it actually has both.
Set inside of a classic A-framed on Washington Blvd a food fusion fantasy awaits my taste buds. A-Frame, is the brain child that some call the Food Truck craze originator, Roy Choi. The amazing chef behind the Kogi BBQ food truck, Alibi Room, and Chego all famous here in the LA area.
Since I have eaten at the Kogi food truck numerous times (obviously) and also at the Alibi room, I was excited to see what Roy had done at A-Frame. It’s a real restaurant with tables, servers, and a full bar with fancy drinks. The ambiance seems casual, modern, and kind of exciting. Large picnic-like tables accommodate communal seating, influencing you to engage in conversation with your neighbors (that’s right talk to strangers). Talk about the food, the hip atmosphere, or the delicious specialty drinks, be social its part of the experience.
Our awkward yet awesome server suggests we share everything and start with the Blue Crab Cakes. We listened, gladly. These super meaty little rounds where sprawled out on two different beds of leafy greens. One of Bibb lettuce, and the other far more interesting choice, Perrila or Shiso leaves. We wrapped those little suckers up their green blankets and dipped them into a dreamy cloud of lemongrass crème fraiche, and my mouth was bursting with exciting citrus flavors and luxurious creamy crab goodness.
The next course delivered looks like an edible jewel box. I realize, without even tasting it, that we should have ordered two of these plates, I want my own! Reds and purples are layered high on a float of golden cornbread that sits upon a sea of creamy green. With my first bite I know that I have never tasted anything like this dish before, it has to be not only one of the sexiest plates I have ever seen, but also one of the most interesting flavor combinations that I have ever tasted! I’m serious! The name of this concoction is “The warm cornbread and chicken salad with pickled red onions”. Its layers of warm sweet cornbread over cool creamy Verde soup smothered in hearty chicken with stewed sausage, then covered in sweet pickled onions and crisp fresh cilantro. I mean the textures, the flavors, I can’t even explain. It was XXX delicious, and you should taste it for yourself. For real.
After that we had the beer can chicken, and it was good, it was crispy, crackly, crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside good, but after the cornbread salad, I couldn’t think of anything else. It does come with a “Century Egg” and that was an interesting taste for sure.
Every dish that has come to our table so far has been an amazing concoction for sure, but this last one was beyond decadence. Pound cake churros with a chocolate malted vanilla ice cream. Do I need to say anything else? It was as rich and heavy as it sounds. This is what nostalgic sweet dreams are made of.
A Frame = Amazing!!
Los Angeles, CA 90066
Neighborhood: Culver City
(310) 398-7700
Livingreen Culver City
Driving down Culver Blvd just past the flourishing main street restaurant row a brightly colored sign that reads LIVINGREEN catches my eye. I flipped my tiny car around, found front door parking on Culver blvd, and went right into what I call a “green” haven for environmentally conscious home decorators and designers.
Once inside I am completely overwhelmed by the beautiful space and the vast amount of products that fill it. The extremely high ceilings are made of rustic wood beams and left raw and unpainted showcasing the natural beauty of the wood grain while allowing natural light to come through.
There are several areas to the showroom/store and my eye is drawn to all of them at once. Walls filled with carpet samples in rich tones, granite counter top squares in earthy shades and finishes, recycled glass knobs and handles for your eco-chic kitchen redo, fabric swatches, and a gigantic array of paint colors, all of which are environmentally conscious.
There is a living and bedding area stocked with everything you could need for a luxurious night sleep; mattresses, sheets, pillows, towels, accent pieces, table lamps, handcrafted mirrors, beautiful artwork, quirky candles, and even boudoirs. Seriously everything!
For your kitchen and eating space they had some really cool cooking utensils, gorgeous cookware, unique hanging light fixtures, and funky furniture all designed with “green feasting” in mind.
If an outdoor living space is what you want to create, look no further, Livingreen has beautiful garden benches, planters, tables, and they can help you design your own fire pit, outdoor bar, or whatever else it is your garden is desiring. They also carry many gardening supplies like lawn, and plant care making your green thumb that much greener.
Livingreen is packed with everything you could need for your own home décor and design, but they are also stocked with cute gifts for every age. Loaded with amazing eco-friendly brands that are hard to find elsewhere, Livingreen is an amazing find for those who are devoted to living a cleaner, greener lifestyle.
Livingreen now has Weekly Specials! Check stores for details!
Livingreen has three locations in California.
Livingreen Culver City
10000 Culver Boulevard
Culver City, California 90232 Culver City
Livingreen Santa Barbara
614 North Milpas Street
Santa Barbara, California 93103
Livingreen Montecito
1275 Coast Village Road
Montecito, California 93108
What started as a “Pop Up Shop” has now turned into the dual location, one stop beauty/health store that carries only the finest natural products, The Detox Market. Set inside of an amazing old house on Abbot Kinney, one of Venice’s busiest streets, there sits a sanctuary for skincare, healthcare, and all sorts of gourmet goodies. Walking up the front porch of the Venice location Detox Market I already feel the French influence as I am greeted by a chalkboard sign that reads the daily “tea specials” reminiscent of the cafes I frequent in Paris. As I get to the door I find a quaint sitting area on the front porch, and I immediately feel as if I am entering somebodies home. When I do get inside, I find that the space has a Spa like feel. Its super light, airy, and clean.
Founded by French entrepreneurs Valérie Grandury and Romain Gaillard the Detox Market is not just another hyped up “Clean Green Living Boutique” it’s an organic way of life. Striving to carry only the finest all natural, zero toxicity, paraben and sulfate free products, these two scour the globe until they find a product that meets their strict standards; a beautifully packaged product that delivers a quality performance made from the best ingredients that money can buy.The decor is bright and whimsical, and all of the counters are set up to be customer friendly. Each product has a designated area with samples out to touch, smell, and feel. There are easy to read signs that hang above each brand that tells why the Detox Market chose the product, and what it offers.
The sales people that work there are kind, insightful, easy going, and I always feel comfortable asking for help or information about any of their products. In fact the sales people there actually seem to encourage me to try the products before I buy them. They always have some of their famous Kusmi tea brewed and out for tasting. The perfumes all have sample bottles out so that you can take each scent for a test run before purchasing, and all of the makeup is out to play with, ensuring that you find just the right color.
The Detox Market has all of the expected goodies like natural makeup, lotion, shampoo and conditioner, but it has a few surprises as well. While I was there I found that they carry an all-natural toothpaste and chewing gum in crazy flavors like; acai, key lime, and pomegranate! They sell decadent stone ground artisan chocolate, juice cleanses, Matcha tea brewing sets, scented candles, perfumes, and a selection of Wellness bags.
There is a serene sitting area to relax and sip some of their house tea that they have brewed to sample. Boasting the largest collection of Kusmi tea that I have ever seen, they seem to have every size and flavor imaginable. Even gift sets of the Kusmi tea. In fact every product they carry at the Detox market would make a beautiful gift for someone special. Whether you’re Au Natural or just in the market to try something fresh and new the Detox Market is a Stocked with only the best and the brightest, it is a truly wonderful place.
The Detox Market ~Venice Location
1524 Abbot Kinney BlvdVenice Ca 90291
(310) 909-7277
And don't forget the newest location which has a special kids corner exclusive of the We-Ho location carrying hard to find Baby Organics and Blue and Orange games!!!
The Detox Market West Hollywood
8380 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90048
323 782 0421
An Amazing Store bought Shampoo and Conditioner that are environment friendly and actually do what they say for your hair!!!
Argon Organics!
Ive tried so many different natural/organic shampoos and conditioners, only to be disappointed in their lather lacking or their conditioning ability. The shampoos never get a good enough foam on the first wash, and they can leave my hair feeling brittle, while the conditioners often coat my hair with residue or don't condition at all. Well I have seemed to stumble onto the perfect solution. Through much trial and error, I have found a shampoo and conditioner at Whole foods that I love! The shampoo lathers on the first wash leaving my hair feeling clean and smelling fresh while somehow still making it soft. The conditioner leaves my hair smooth and silky, with out weighing it down, and I don't feel like I have to wash it again the next day. This is the combo that I have found to work the best at leaving my hair residue free while also maintaining a sleek silky look and feel, and its paraben, phthalates, and sulfate free! 70% organic, non synthetic fragrance used, never tested on animals...what more can we ask for? The brand is Avalon Organics and I like the combo of the Lemon clarifying shampoo, which really makes my hair feel deep down clean, and the Ylang Ylang shine conditioner, which makes my hair feel super soft and luxurious. The Avalon hair products never cost more than $10.00 a bottle which is usually less than a salon brand, especially if you buy organic salon brands. By using paraben sulfate free products you not only benefit your own health and beauty, but mother earth and her oceans appreciate it as well!
The North End Caffe
The next round we ordered the Mac and Cheese, which was on the daily specials menu. It was everything that Mac N' Cheese is supposed to be. The bechamel was creamy, cheesy, perfectness, and the top was baked until brown and a bit crispy.
Some how after the carb-fest we had just taken down we found room in our bellies to order a sandwich and a burger. The sandwich we ordered was called the Shinto. It sounded super interesting to me because it was loaded with things that I usually find on salads. Teriyaki turkey, avocado, sesame seed, cucumber & onion on spring greens. with wasabi dressing. It was a nice change of pace compared to our first two entree's. It came on a freshly baked super soft french roll and the taste was light and refreshing with the crisp cool cucumber.
The Burger was called The Pete's Burger and it was stuffed with some of my favorite things you can put on a burger, double swiss, bacon, mild green chilies, mustard, pickle, and onion. It was like a green chili burger on crack. Perfectly cooked, juicy meaty goodness dripping with flavor!
While we were stuffing our faces we watched the table next to us order the Chicken Mole and it made us wish we had ordered that as well. It was a HUGE 1/2 chicken smothered in a thick red mole. Then we watched as another table ordered the Short Rib Tacos. Holy hell why didn't I get those, they looked amazing and loaded with short rib meat and avocado! We took desert to go, because I had to try it but there was no way I could pile in any more food for at least an hour. We agreed on the Tiramisu. It was fantastic. Done in updated yet authentic style. The cake was moist and delish, soaked in coffee and liqueur then layered with a creamy sweet marscapone.
I would definitely recommend The North End Caffe to all local foodies! The menu is an eclectic mix of great food, they have a small but good list of beers on tap and a wine list as well.
North End Caffe
3421 Highland Ave
Manhattan Beach Ca 90266
(310) 546 4782
The Misfit Restaurant
Like I mentioned most of the drinks even the specialty ones are priced under $10, which in Santa Monica is almost unheard of. The bar does have a happy hour and its pretty good. Happy hour from 12-7 everyday and its half off of the specialty drinks, well drinks, and rotating choice of beer and wine for $5!!! Woohoo! I tried the White Sangria, refreshing and crisp, and the Basil gimlet, equally delish and refreshing.
But now for the food, the best part! Misfit has a local farm to table menu that lists the farms that where sourced for the plate you are ordering. Not only do you know that your food is fresh, but you can find out exactly where it was grown. What a great concept for an inexpensive chill bar. They offer several vegetarian and vegan options that most meat lovers would gobble up.
We ordered the Heirloom Tomato Salad (Munak farms)with Burrata cheese. Melt in your mouth amazing! Salty, sweet, creamy, and literally bursting on my tongue with juicy tomato flavor. I should have ordered one just for myself.
At this point we were ready to get down to the real nitty gritty. We ordered mussels in a Spanish chorizo broth, lobster sliders, and the BBQ ribs. All where worth the extra time I will have to spend on the treadmill... and then some. The chorizo in the mussel broth was perfectly seasoned, the lobster sliders came two on a plate and packed with crispy fried lobster meat, salty pancetta, and not much else. The ribs were meaty and smothered with BBQ sauce.
The Misfit Restaurant
225 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
(310) 656-9800
Wow! This was one awesome event! We made it out on Saturday, and despite the rumors of "carmagedon" we endured no traffic on our way west of the 405. The Eat Real food festival started in Oakland California, as a way of bringing real local food to the masses. It was so successful in northern Cali, that it was only natural that it would migrate down to LA. There were lots of food trucks, informative booths set up to answer questions about farming, gardening, and cooking, live music, free samples, and a beer and wine garden. We began our gluttonous food carousal at the "Komodo" truck serving delish tacos for meat lovers and vegetarians. We tried three kinds of tacos, and although I preferred the pork, the soy taco was pretty good too.
The first taco is the Soi (vegetarian tempeh) then the Komodo (flank steak) then the Java (pork)
I
had an amazing waffle topped with strawberry ice cream filled with chocolate shavings and covered in chocolate sauce! YUM!
Well by this time I had worked up quite a thirst, in fact I would say I was parched, so we headed to the beer garden for a refreshing crisp one. There were at least eight different kinds of beer on tap just in the one tent we went to. I ordered an unfiltered white beer, and it was just what I needed. Cold, with a slight citrus taste, and full of frothy head. The Beer garden was a pretty inviting place. There were umbrellas for shade, hay bundles for seating, a good crowd of all ages of people, and every body was super friendly and nice.
Re-hydrated, rested, and ready for more food we headed for the inside areas. This was where most of the small mom and pop companies were located. There was a stand shucking fresh oysters, there was a pickle stand "Hoopers Pickles" with assorted pickles including garlic, there was a beautiful artisanal chocolate stand, there was a smoked olive stand "Orgasmo de la Boca" set up with olives from all over the world, there were food demos, arts and crafts, gifts for purchase, and another beer garden.
We ate all that we could inside and then headed back out in to the sun to talk to the local vendors and hear the live music. There were farmers with chickens and pigs so that children could see that their dairy, eggs, and meat really come from animals and not store shelves.
The Eat Real fest did an amazing job at organizing this event. It was super easy to navigate through and they had crews consistently picking up and making sure that all of the disposables got to their correct compost, recycle, or trash bins. The people working in the booths and trucks were happy to be there and really informative about their products. There were so many food trucks that it made my head spin. Somewhere between the beer garden and live music the Cool Haus truck had a ice cream stand set up with their gourmet ice cream sandwiches, there was a hot dog truck, the Flat Iron truck, a slushy stand, an Hawaiian food truck an Armenian pita truck, a dairy farm expo, a pizza making demo, oh my gosh I could go on and on!
I definitely think that this was a hugely successful event that will only grow bigger and bigger in the years to come.
To see more pictures of the event go to my Face Book page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Katheryne-Cooks/134362946637501
5/21/2011
Grand Opening of "The Market" at the recently remodeled Santa Monica Place
Wow, this is truly an artisanal wonderland for foodies! "The Market" at Santa Monica Place combines local sustainable gourmet ingredients with a low key chill atmosphere. It has the convenience of a mall food court but holds a level of quality normally not found in a public food arena. When I first enter my nose is tickled by the sweet smell of freshly made ice creams, gelatos, and sorbets from both Beachy Cream (which I might note has pin up esque bikini clad ladies serving scoops) and N'iceCream ( a locally owned gelato bar with danish roots) combined with the dark aroma of freshly ground fair trade coffee from Groundworks. Its too much to resist, so I grab a scoop of Straciatella and a hot cafe con lech and I wander on.
Primi Al Mercato Laboratoio
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As I graze thought the enclosed market, I see beautiful hand made pasta being lovingly prepared at Primi Al Mercato hand crafted chocolates are on floor displays, and fine cheeses and meats are being cured and cut at Norcin Salumeria. There are food demos and classes in one of the areas, wine and beer tasting, and an adorable floral/ gift store called Magical blooms. If all that isn't enough, there is The Curious Palate the restaurant that boasts a farm to table menu, and a deck patio area with an edible garden, with options for the carnivore and vegetarian alike. Check out the events schedule at:
http://www.santamonicaplace.com/Events
395 Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 260-8333
for special classes, pop up stores, and deck movie times.
5/19/2011
Looking for a fashionable way to help save our planet? Want to spread awareness about our environment?
Local Venice girl Lisa Leija and her Eco-chic company "Love This Planet" offer a "hip" version of the re-usable tote. Leija uses cute catch phrases such as "get hip get green" and with the on point colors and styles these are not your average grocery, beach, gym sacks. The bags are perfect for the farmers markets, carry-on, and they make adorable beach bags as well. Love this planet bags are made from partially recycled materials, and water based inks, staying true to their cause. Leija also beleives in giving back, a percentage of each purchase is donated to "The Green Ambassadors" an environmental leadership and education program for youth. What an amazing inspiration Leija is to our community! All of Leijas designs including her darling reusable glass water bottles can be found on:
www.lovethisplanet.org
5/13/2011
Recently a friend of ours brought us back a bottle of Macadamia Nut Honey Wine from Volcano Winery in Hawaii and if you have not been lucky enough to taste wine from the fiery depths of the earth, let me describe the it for you... It starts on the palate with a definite sweet honey note, then it sharpens into an crisp green apple taste, finally rounding out with a slight rich nuttiness All in all its very robust in its own way, and I would suggest to drink it as a dessert wine, such as you would an ice wine or port. This wine can be ordered over the internet, but only if you live in certain states. you can look up their website which tells all about them, and how to schedule wine tasting events in Hawaii at http://www.volcanowinery.com/
5/11/2011
Stella Rosa
From the owners of LGO comes a fun, laid back take on gourmet pizza. The place is called Stella Rossa, and I’m in love. From the unpretentious atmosphere to the extensive wine list, this place has it all. One of my favorite qualities about Stella Rossa is their belief in the importance of fresh farm to table food preparation. Most of the local veggies come from the farmers markets, and they are picked up daily by the chefs themselves. The prices are very reasonable (about $14.00 per 8 slice pizza) and the pizza was much bigger than expected. We each ordered our own, but we could have definitely split one and an appetizer. Our waitress was knowledgeable and very perceptive, the food came out quickly, and it was wonderful. The pizza was is one word AMAZING! It came to our table fresh out of the brick pizza oven from their open kitchen so watching it come to us in anticipation was half of the fun! The crust on the bottom of the super thin pizza was crispy and light. It held the cheese and tomatoes with out getting soggy even down to the last piece, but the best part of the crust was the outer end. It was crunchy on the outside, but warm and gooey on the inside. The best way to describe it was like biting into a crunchy, airy pillow filled with a soft luscious dough. The inside was fully cooked, but it had an almost creamy appeal to it. We also had the zucchini mint salad which was a perfect light start to our carb filled dinner. Desert was equally delicious. The salted caramel pot de creme is extra buttery and immensely rich. All I have to say is Gjelinas you now have competition! And watch out because Stella Rossa also does take out! YUM
Stella Rossa
2000 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
2/22/2011
La Grande Orange
I love almost all vegetables, however brussel sprouts have never been one of my fav's...that is until I discovered the brussel sprout salad at La Grande Orange. I stumbled upon this salad completely by accident, when my girlfriend ordered it as an appetizer for us to share. I am always willing to try new foods, but I admit I was not very excited for this one. However, when the salad arrived at our table i was thoroughly intrigued! The plate was covered by tiny blanched brussel sprouts (still crunchy) separated leaf by leaf so that they looked like mini lettuce heads mixed with crunchy whole almonds, sweet dried blueberries and tart dried cranberries, then tossed in a very special, very light honey mustard vinaigrette. Lastly it is crowned with a garnish of shaved salty Manchego cheese. This salad is a perfect blend of cold, crunchy, sweet, tart, salty goodness in a way you have never experienced it before! It is one of those things that you think about all of the time, you will crave it and nothing can substitute because it is so original. You may even try to re-create it at home...but its never as good as the one at LGO.
La Grande Orange
2000 Main St # D
Santa Monica, CA 90405
10/19/2010
TAG
Last weekend I visited Denver Co for the first time, and the last thing that I had expected was to find a restaurant serving homemade ginger ale, hand picked produce, and the most amazing fish I have ever eaten! Some friends and I dinned at TAG a swanky, modern restaurant in the downtown area. The menu is self-described as “Continental Social Food” a mix of cultures and cuisines from all over the world. I was impressed by our waiters ample knowledge of the menu and his true passion for food. The atmosphere was sleek but definitely not stuffy. The music was a perfect blend of down tempo beats that complemented the food and ambiance.
I started with the organic Beet salad. On the menu it reads as a simple traditional Beet salad with goat cheese and candied pecans. The difference with this beet salad and others I have had before, was that every ingredient was specially prepared. The candied pecans were lightly coated in a salty sweet glaze, the goat cheese (Haystack Mountain dairy) was creamy and indulgent but with out the pungent taste of other goat cheeses I’ve tasted, and the beets were earthy and sweet and covered in a peach balsamic dressing that was like nothing I’ve ever tasted before. It was tangy from the vinegar, and nectarous from the peaches. The salad was the perfect complement to the refreshing Stoli and ginger ale I was drinking. The ginger ale was freshly made and hade bits of real ginger swimming in it. Then it was on to the pièce de ré·sis·tance – the Black Cod with Artichoke Edamame Salsa, Verde Farms Pea Tendrils, and Yuzu Kabayaki. The cod was buttery and rich in flavor. It melted on my tongue in a way that I have never experienced fish before. It sat a top of a garden of edamame drizzled in a Yuzu sauce that resembled a citrus teriyaki. Just thinking about that dish makes this Cali girl want to travel back to Denver soon!
* Kabayaki is a Japanese term for preparing a fillet of fish that has been boned, dipped in a sweet soy sauce and then grilled.
TAG Restaurant
1441 Larimer Street
Denver, CO 80202
8/10/2010
GJelinas
The best desert I have had in months was at Gjelinas, located on the über hip street Abbot Kinney in Venice Beach. The scene here is totally eclectic, boho-chic. Wood oven pizzas, beautifully crafted salads, and braised meat dished are tempting me as they drift past my table, but that’s not what I came here for tonight. No, tonight I am here for the butterscotch pot de crème. It is the most amazing little cup of creamy salty sweet goodness I have ever tasted. The butterscotch is a super rich pudding topped with flecks of fleur de sel. The mix of smooth buttery Carmel and crunchy bits of saltines on my tongue makes my taste buds do back flips! I love this desert so much, that when I am finished, I order another, even if it means I have to run an extra 20 minutes on the treadmill tomorrow.
* Fleur de sel is a hand-harvested sea salt collected by workers who scrape only the top layer of salt before it sinks to the bottom of large salt pans.
Gjelinas 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
