Food Sites

Here are some of my favorite websites about food. I subscribe to all of them... I get weekly blasts from Food Network and Epicurious, while I get daily blasts from Tasting Table LA. These three sites are exclusively about food; the former two focus on recipes while the latter site focuses more on restaurants, food festivals, and other local openings and events.

I'd also recommend subscribing to Thrillist, Urban Daddy, and Daily Candy. These three sites, while not exclusively about food, keep me up-to-date about local happenings involving, among other things, food, fashion, entertainment, bars, and spas. Many of the daily emails from these sites focus on restaurant openings. These blasts help me keep my list of "new places" updated, mostly for whenever my parents come to visit :) Enjoy.

Review: Tavern

I had the pleasure of enjoying a delicious meal at Tavern on Tuesday night (thanks J)! This new restaurant in Brentwood is a joint venture between Suzanne Goin of AOC and Lucques (two amazing restaurants right near my place in WeHo) and Caroline Styne. For the past few weeks, I've been getting emails about Tavern from DailyCandy, Thrillist, Urban Daddy, and Zagat's, as it just opened recently. So you can imagine, I was really excited to try it.

Tavern is located in the old Hamburger Hamlet space in Brentwood. We used to have Board meetings there for the U of M Alumni Club of LA, and let me tell you, it was a dumpy, gross restaurant. I barely recognized it as Tavern - they made it into a truly beautiful dining space! Tavern has an opulent yet comfortable atmosphere. There are three main areas, including the larder/bakery with large windows and a view into the kitchen, the lounge/bar area with luxurious plush chairs and couches, and a stunning dining room atrium with high, vaulted ceilings, mirrors, and real trees.

We were seated at a table right next to Tyra Banks, who was out with some friends. That was pretty cool for me - not growing up in LA, I still get excited about celebrity sightings. Another one to add to my list! Back to the meal - we ordered a bottle of Syrah, which was so yummy. As for the menu, I had actually studied it online beforehand, so I knew what I wanted to order. In my opinion, the menu was just right, as it had enough choices to be interesting without being overwhelming (just like the menu at Lucques). Given my obsession with burrata (creamy mozzarella), I ordered spring vegetables with burrata, olives, and meyer lemons as my appetizer. It did not disappoint! I literally cleaned my plate. J had diver scallops with green garlic soubise and tangelo. He really liked the scallops but was not in love with the greens. I tried the greens and liked them though :) Maybe men just don't like vegetables?

For my entree, I had mussels and clams with vermouth, artichokes, and fava toast. This dish was truly delectable. The mussels and clams were cooked perfectly, flavored with the dish's broth but not overwhelmed by it. Under the mussels and clams and partially in the broth were some tasty mashed potatoes. The artichokes were a nice addition, both in terms of flavor and texture. I loved the juxtaposition of textures! I also loved the fava toast, because it was unique and because I could dip it into the broth. I, of course, finished everything on my plate. J had Niman Ranch hangar steak with creamed spinach and fingerlings. It was a rich, creamy dish, with strong flavors. He was not in love with it, but I really liked it (big surprise, I know). I even had the leftovers for lunch on Wednesday and they really hit the spot!

No room for dessert because we were so full from the meal and from the bottle of wine. Maybe next time.

In sum, I loved this restaurant and would really like to go back - maybe I will take my parents when they visit LA this summer. The dining environment was lovely, the service was excellent, and the food was fantastic. Tavern gets an A+ for being simple, elegant, fresh, and innovative.

Review: Orris

Orris is an Asian fusion tapas restaurant in Los Angeles' famous Sawtelle corridor. Surrounded by numerous other Japanese restaurants, this place is arguably one of the best. Upon entering, you can sense immediately Orris's cozy, warm ambiance. The servers were friendly and helpful. I've always loved tapas because I find it is really enjoyable to sample several different small plates, instead of being limited to an appetizer and an entree. We started with beets with basque sheep milk cheese and balsamic sauce, which came with a tasty white wine pairing. This salad was delicious because it had the perfect blend of salty and sweet. We also had curry-infused shrimp tempura with sea salt. This dish was perfectly breaded and fried so that the tempura was light and airy, just like it was in Japan. After this, we had grilled king crab leg with cucumber, and prime filet mignon skewer with Roquefort butter, both of which were very tender and nicely seasoned. Our last dish was shrimp mousse ravioli with shiitake mushroom sauce, which was silky because the creamy sauce was not overpowering. We also had Pinot Grigio and Malbec wine pairings with several of these dishes. Finally, for dessert we had a fruit flambee dish with ice cream. I loved the combination of hot and cold.

Overall, this restaurant was excellent. It is a great date spot. I would love to go back to try more items on the menu!

Review: Wurstkuche

Wurstkuche is a hip restaurant in downtown LA's historic Arts District, near Little Tokyo. It is located on a very cool, up-and-coming block along with several other restaurants and bars. Wurstkuche serves sausage sandwiches, Belgian fries with homemade dipping sauces, 24 imported beers on tap, and a selection of gourmet sodas. The restaurant does not look like much from the outside, but once you go inside, you are greeted by a buzzing crowd and delicious smells. You can pick from a wide selection of normal, gourmet, and vegetarian sausages, along with toppings such as caramelized onions and sweet peppers. Wurstkuche also has an impressive selection of tasty German and Belgian beers on tap, including two of my favorites, Chimay and Delirium Tremens. This simple food and beer combo is very satisfying, and it is fun to eat in a restaurant with a lot of communal seating. I highly recommend this place, either for a date or with a group of friends!