Robata-Ya – Los Angeles

October 1st, 2008

2004 Sawtelle Blvd, West Los Angeles
Tel. 310-481-1418
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm; Dinner: 5:00pm -10pm
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Moderate

Robata-Yahas been opened by Mako Tanaka from Restaurant Mako, Beverly Hills who has joined Dennis Mao, known for his Jidori chicken. The location is on Sawtelle Blvd. in West L.A. and is a grilled skewer restaurant for chicken and beef, with a grill man brought in from Japan who will cook over Japanese charcoal. They will also have seafood, sashimi and grilled fish and shellfish. This concept has been lacking in the Los Angeles area and it is about time that someone did it. However, from what I have observed in Japan, robata is not what materialized on Sawtelle, it is quite different, although I am fond of skewers and really enjoy good Yakatori. I will check this operation out as soon as it stabilizes and give an update. The restaurant is quite small with only 15 seats at the robata bar and six or so tables. It has an excellent selection of Sake and Shochu as well.

Update – A reader has left a comment that this is not a new concept and that the restaurant Nam Ban Kan on Sawtelle has been doing it for years. I agree, (my freind Hoki Tokuda opened Nam Ban Kan in downtown Los Angeles years ago and later sold it) if it is, in fact, only grilled chicken and meat on skewers that they are serving, this is certainly nothing new! Although, what I meant is; it would be new if they followed the true Robata concept, which originated in Sendai town in Miyagi prefecture in northern Japan, then it would be new to Los Angeles. Meaning: the chef or chefs sit on a tatami mat with fresh ingredients spread around them, the customer then chooses what he wants cooked, usually  fish and vegetables on a hibachi over hot charcoal, the diner sits at the robata bar in front of the chef and is then handed his selections on a long-handled wooden paddle after they have been grilled.

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Little Palm Island, Florida Keys – Florida

October 1st, 2008

Drive South on U.S. Highway 1 for approximately 120 miles to Little Torch Key and Mile Marker 28.5. After leaving Big Pine Key you will be on Little Torch Key. You will turn left on Pirates Road. Turn left into our parking lot where you will see an off-white building with a thatch roof, which is our Welcome Station. You will register here and wait for the next complimentary motor yacht shuttle to the Island. Our motor yacht departs the Welcome Station every hour on the bottom of the hour from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.

1-800-438-5678
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Very Expensive

Little Palm Island Resort & Spa is a hidden treasure in the Florida Keys, only accessible by boat or seaplane.
We experienced a lovely time there some years ago. We boarded a boat from Little Torch Key and arrived at the hotel after a short period of time.
I was particularly attracted to visit this island as I had heard many good things about the cooking. In fact, at the time it was quite good with a decent selection of fresh fish and an adequate wine list.
Thirty private bungalows look out to sea surrounded by hundreds of Jamaican coconut palms and tropical gardens.  Each bungalow houses two handsomely appointed one-bedroom suites with private sundecks and ocean views.

There is also a world-class spa, Spa Terre, and a dining room that is regularly ranked as one of the best in South Florida.

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Comptoirs de France Restaurant – Beijing, China

September 29th, 2008

East Lake Villas, 35 Dongzhimen Waidajie, Dongzhimen
Tel. 6461-1525
Website: www.comptoirsdefrance.com
Opening Hours: 7:30am-9pm
Credit Cards: No
Prices: Inexpensive-Moderate

This bakery has a 150 year history in France and at its location in Beijing turns out freshly baked breads, an array of exquisite French pastries and homemade ice cream, which are served in a pleasant setting. This premium bakery raises the bar for pastry making in Beijing. With one branch already near Guomao and another off-shoot near Sanlitun. The bakery serves a range of homemade ice cream, cakes, pastries, bread and chocolates.

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Restaurants Gone Topless? Maybe, but Mexico Objects!

September 29th, 2008

The infamous Joe Francis has a reputation for displaying despicable and appallingly distasteful behavior in public and private, especially where women are concerned. He has been planning to open as he calls it, “a chain of topless restaurants”, one branch is planned to open in Cancun, and another possibly in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. However, Mexico has sent a blunt message: open your topless restaurants in your own country we do not want them here. It is not clear anyway as to who would be topless, waitresses, customers or no one at all?  He has top (less) credentials going in, as he is the founder of “Girls Gone Wild“, Paris Hilton was a girlfriend for a time, and he usually is facing charges on various felonies and his office is handling a swinging-door of constant lawsuits. These so-called “restaurants” I suspect, will be no more than bars with snacks and not restaurants at all. In any case, I hope this particular project never comes to fruition, as this person should stay in his own world of soft-porn, and leave the restaurant business to be operated by more ligitimate persons.

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Pizzeria Mozza – Los Angeles

September 27th, 2008

641 N Highland Avenue
Los Angeles, Ca 90036
Tel. 1-323-297-0101
Website:  www.mozza-la.com
Opening Hours: Daily 12pm-12am
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Moderate-Expensive

Nancy Silverton appears to be the main influence in this operation on the fringes of Hollywood, since she resides in Los Angeles, and partners Mario Batali along with Joseph Bastianich are delivering their input from afar.
Today the whole subject of pizza in America is a puzzling discussion that may turn quickly into a disagreement, due to so many different styles of pizza and, which one you personally prefer. Some of the best are basically inspired by the thin-crust pizza of Naples that usually are round and measure about a foot in diameter although I remember a place near Napoli that sold rectangular pizza by the meter.
Some restaurants making pizza may have a certified pizzaioli who cook them at intensely high temperatures in Italian wood-burning ovens, which is certainly the best way to do it. Or there are less expensive ways to finish them. Whether people think that Pizzaria Mozza makes the perfect pizza or not, is incidental, they flock there in droves to taste the many different pizzas and antipasti along with many other tempting dishes. Personally, I prefer the thin crust to Silverton’s thicker overlapping crust, which at least to me, infringes into the central area of the pizza, however, as I have tried to confirm it is all a matter of individual taste.

In any case, this small, noisy pizzeria was to be a prelude to what was to be the main-event, Osteria Mozza. What happened unexpectedly was a Hollywood phenomenon, as the place became a huge overnight success with the small room booked over one month in advance and local power-players fighting for tables, and when the Osteria opening was delayed, no one particularly cared. It probably might be one of the hardest reservations to obtain right now in Los Angeles.

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Luau – Beverly Hills (CLOSED)

September 26th, 2008

Above and left photo and menu are from the original Luau on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Below is a photo of the new Luau on Bedford Drive in the same city.

LUAU CLOSED

The New Luau opened to the public for dinner on Friday night October 24th.
369 North Bedford Drive
Tel. 310-274-0090 (reservations advisable)

A new Luau is open on Bedford Drive in Beverly HIlls however, it will not be a 100% tiki-type operation and will lean more to Balinese decor laced with Asian-influenced cooking with a menu put together by Mako Tanaka from Mako, Beverly Hills. There will be, I am happy to report, some tropical drinks based loosely on old recipes from the original Luau. There is no relationship whatsoever to the original Luau on Rodeo Drive that was opened in 1953 and was a popular celebrity hangout throughout the 50’s and 60’s, which closed in 1978. The Luau was owned by Steve Crane who was one of Lana Turner’s husbands. Their daughter Cheryl Crane became infamous due to stabbing her mother’s boyfriend gangster, Johnny Stompanato to death, although it was deemed justifiable. According to latest reports Ms Crane (an admitted lesbian) is currently a real-estate broker living with her female companion in Palm Springs.  A decade earlier the same Rodeo location housed “The Tropics” owned by Harry Sugarman also popular with celebrities in the 40’s.

Regarding the comment below from Susie: flattery will get you everywhere! No, not really, but I do think the cause she is plugging is a good one so I allowed it to fly. K.M.

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Posted in Bars, Los Angeles | 5 Comments »

La Toque Restaurant – Napa

September 26th, 2008


1314 McKinstry St. (adjacent to the Westin Verasa)
Napa
Tel.(707) 257-5157
Website: www.verasanapa.com/westin_verasa
Opening Hours: Dinner 5:30-9:30 p.m. daily
Full bar
Reservations and credit cards accepted
Credit Cards: All major
Fixed-price menus $49-$88
Prices: Expensive

Ken Frank has moved his Rutherford restaurant La Toque to the Westin Verasa, Napa, according to Janet Fletcher of the San Francisco Chronicle.
At one time he was called L.A.’s “Wonder Boy” chef; it was during that period he told a friend of mine, Robert Tainsh, a well-worn international diner, who arrived at Frank’s restaurant for the first time, “you will eat better in my restaurant than in London or Paris.” To which my friend contemplated and said, “we shall see”?

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Belguardo Restaurant – Bangkok

September 25th, 2008

Belguardo
Unit 515 Ground Floor
Siam Paragon Centre
Tel. +66 (0) 2-610-9380
Website: www.belguardo.com
Opening Hours: 11 am to 11 pm every day
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Moderate-Expensive

Belguardo is situated down in the depths of the Siam Paragon Shopping Mall basement in the rear of the food hall, and is quite a trek from the front of the Paragon and the Skytrain, although if you arrive by car a side entrance is located a short walk from the restaurant. Cristina Spanu (Guest Relations Manager) controls the front of house. Cristina has been a driving force in the Italian restaurant scene in Bangkok for many years beginning at Pomodoro on Sukhumvit near soi Nana. Pichai Kijjaroentorn (General Manager) and
Parmigiana Melanzana is a mainstay dish, a favorite of mine and flawlessly prepared. There are many other good choices available on the menu as well.

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Beccofino Restaurant & Grill – Bangkok

September 25th, 2008


146 Sukhumvit Soi Thong Lo
(Soi 55) Bangkok 10110
Tel. +66 (0) 2-392-1881
Website: www.beccofino.co.th
Opening Hours: Lunch: 11:30am – 2:30pm; Dinner: 6:00pm – 11pm
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Moderate-Expensive

Beccofino has now been open for four years and has garnered a reputation for presenting fine Italian cuisine to the city of Bangkok. The menu has a choice of an outstanding array of well executed Italian dishes including a choice of daily hand-made pastas or selections from the charcoal grill, and the restaurant broke the barrier by offering a selection of wines from other wine producing countries other than Italy.
In addition, it features cooking classes taught by Chef Angelo Rottoli who previously was a chef at the three-star Michelin restaurant Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence and in fact, opened a Tokyo branch for them. Beccofino Restaurant Manager, Julian Allain takes care of all the responsibilities in front of house and will be glad to help you. Bangkok’s only authentic manner’s class is taught by Yukiko Matsuhashi using international standards, both are either translated into Japanese or supervised by Japanese Customer Relations Advisor, Emi Kagawa.
Beccofino’s Cristofle silver carving trolley, with table-side carving by Chef Angelo, is one of a very few in use today and there is also a dessert and cheese trolley to select from, both of these have proven to be exceedingly popular.

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Gianni Restaurant – Bangkok

September 25th, 2008


34/1 Soi Tonson, Ploenchit Road
Bangkok 10330 Thailand
Tel.+66 2 252 1611 (check)
Website: www.giannibkk.com
Opening Hours:11:30am-2:30pm, 6pm-10pm M-Su
Credit Cards: all Major
Prices: Moderate-Expensive

I first met Gianni Favro years ago while he was a partner and chef at Vito’s Restaurant, located in Bangkok’s Ruam Ruadee Village when it was in its prime, a far cry from what it has become today.
His present establishment, Gianni is not too far along Soi Tonson from Ploenchit Road, tell the taxi driver to drive slowly and watch carefully or you will miss it, as it is off on the right side in a tiny driveway leading into a condo complex. The restaurant has now been open more than 10 years and vitello tonnato, beef lasagna and sous-vide beef cheeks are all excellent choices along with many other dishes concocted from specialty products imported from Italy twice a week.

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