Archive for June, 2008

Delicieuse French Ice Cream – Redondo Beach, California

Saturday, June 14th, 2008

This Concept Sounds Very Interesting:

Delicieuse Lychee Sorbet & Strawberry Basil Sorbet

I have heard some good reports about the artisanale ice cream that is made by this company using only organic and natural products at:

Delicieuse Café and Boutique

2503 Artesia Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90278, 310.793.7979

16 Delicieuse Flavors of Ice Cream and Sorbet are Sold Individually in Scoops, Pint and Quart sized containers at the Café (Flavors are Seasonal).

Monday thru Thursday (Not open to the public. Dedicated to ice cream manufacturing)
Friday – 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm (Lunch) 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm (Dessert Only)
Saturday – 12:00 noon to 9:00 pm (Lunch and Dinner. Last dinner service at 8:00 pm)
Sunday – 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm (Lunch only. Last lunch service at 3:00 pm)
For more information: http://www.icedreamonline.com

Since each fruit harvested in never the same, the flavor and quality of Delicieuse ice cream and sorbet is controlled by a refractometer.

At this time, it has one store in Redondo Beach with probably more stores to follow? You may also purchase some of the goat milk ice cream and sorbets at:
Whole Foods, Santa Monica,
2201 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403, 310.315.0662
Beverly Glen Marketplace
2964 Beverly Glen Circle, Los Angeles, CA 90077, 310.475.0829
Surfas
8777 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, 310.559.4770

The flavors are amazing in their variation and inventiveness:

Les Glaces Delicieuse, DELICIEUSE ICE CREAM FLAVORS

Figue ~ Fig
Menthe ~ Mint
Café ~ Coffee
Coco ~ Coconut
Yaourt ~ Yogurt
Safran ~ Affron
Cognac ~ Cognac
Canelle ~ Cinnamon
Fraise ~ Strawberry
Pistache ~ Pistachio
Chene de Rians ~ Oak
Lavande ~ Lavender
Vanille ~ Vanilla Bean
Cacahutte ~ Peanut Butter
Peche Blanche ~ White Peach
Syrop D`Erable ~ Maple Syrup
Fromage Blanc ~ Fromage Blanc
Glace Mangue ~ Mango Ice Cream
Banana Flambee ~ Banana Flambee
Glace Vanille Au Lait Chevre ~ Goat’s Milk
Caramel a la Fleur de Sel ~ Caramel with Salt
Au Jeune Riz Vietnamien ~ Vietnamese Rice
Chocolat aux Noisette ~ Chocolate Hazelnut
Creme Glacee de Earl Grey ~ Earl Grey Tea Ice Cream
Chocolat A La Couverture Concorde ~ Deep Dark Chocolate
Dua avec Coco ~ Asian Vanilla Ice Cream with Young coconut

GOAT MILK ICE CREAM

Lavender Goat’s Milk Ice Cream
Dark Chocolate Goat’s Milk Ice Cream
Goat’s Milk Yougurt Ice Cream
Caramel Goat’s Milk Ice Cream with Salt
Peanut Butter Goat’s Milk Ice Cream
Coffee with Chocolate Goat’s Milk Ice Cream

Enoteca Italiana – Bangkok

Friday, June 13th, 2008

Enoteca Italiana
39 Sukhumvit Soi 27
Klong Toei
Bangkok 10110
Tel. 02 258 4386
Opening Hours: Dinner Only 6pm until late (call)
Credit Cards: All Major
Moderate

My first visit to this restaurant was shortly after it opened about four years ago when it was an entirely different venue. It has developed from an enoteca serving an assortment of cold cuts into a full fledged restaurant.
If you have not visited before allow a little extra time to get there and probably it is a good idea to call for directions beforehand or en route. If you are going by taxi do not expect that the driver will know where the restaurant is located. Now, with that little piece of business out of the way you will arrive at a charming little house and garden with a warm and friendly interior design.

I would suggest starting with a selection of salumi and from there segue into a pork scaloppini with sautéed artichokes or another main course.
There is a selection of desserts if you have any space left.
The exceptional wine list is filled with well chosen Italian vintages and selections of wines by the glass are also available.
The owner, Niccola Bonazza is very obliging and will try his best to please you.
All in all I experienced an exceptionally pleasant evening.

Los Angeles Restaurant News – New Trader Vic’s to Open; Shut Brentwood Hamburger Hamlet Goes to . . .

Thursday, June 12th, 2008

The Hamburger Hamlet in Brentwood has been shut many months ago. Though the latest announcement is that Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne of Luques and A.O.C. fame will open something in this location, with H.H. as a silent partner, but they are not saying what but the latest news is the name will be Tavern

On another front; it seems as if Trader Vic’s will be opening in an undisclosed location somewhere in Los Angeles in 2009, presumably on the Westside?

Yamashiro Restaurant

Yamashiro Restaurant, situated off of Franklin Ave. in Hollywood, is now an official landmark along with the Magic Castle. The land is now on the market however, if the property is sold the buyer cannot demolish either structure.
CC Commons photo by Flickr user CC Chapman

It appears that Gordon Ramsay is struggling with problems at his Restaurant, Gordon Ramsey in the London Hotel West Hollywood. This is an inevitable occurrence in every newly opened restaurant operation. It was mentioned in the press that after the opening night soirée at his restaurant he was spotted dining with David Beckham at Cut in Beverly Hills. His reply, “the staff are under enough pressure without my looking over their shoulders.”

Shanghai Restaurants – China

Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

Photo is the property of V&A Museums U.K. (www.vam.ac.uk)

1221 RESTAURANT
1221 Yan’an Xi Lu
Shanghai, 31 200050 China
+86 (0)21 6213 6585 / +86 (0)21 6213 2441
Inexpensive-Moderate

By all accounts this is one of Shanghai’s best restaurants in terms of the upscale crowd that goes there to savor modern Chinese cuisine and the Chinese menu has an English translation.
It is a nice surprise to find pleasant design and decor amongst all the drab and brightly lit Shanghainese restaurants. It is located in what appears to be a building that manufactures toys.
Best dishes: Crispy Duck and Shredded Pork served with scallions and pancakes, Bao Zi vegetable dumplings.

HENRY
8 Xinle Lu
Shanghai, 200031
Tel. +86 (0)21 6473 3448
Inexpensive

Henry features traditional Shanghainese cuisine in a modern setting with touches of art-deco and black and white framed photos. The customer mix is up-scale locals together with ex patriots that come for the reasonably priced Shanghai cooking served in a stylish atmosphere.

M ON BUND
7F, 5 The Bund
Shanghai, 31 200002 China
+86 (0)21 6350 9988
reservations@m-onthebund.com
Opening Hours:
Lunch: 11:30a-2:30p Tue-Fri; brunch: noon-3pm Sat-Sun
Dinner: 6:15p-10:30p daily

M on Bund serves a good selection of various Western dishes most of them are good, and the cuisine is complimented by a fairly extensive wine list.

It is a trendy place, at the moment, and booking in advance would probably be a good idea. You are able to look through the tasteful decor out to sweeping views of the Bund. The food can be good to excellent and the service follows suit.

SASHA
11 Dongping Road
corner of Hengshan Lu
Shanghai
200031
Metro:Heng Shan Road Station
Tel.+86 21 6474 6628
Expensive

The location of Sasha, was at one time, the home to Chiang Kai Shek and his wife, Soong Mei Ling, during the civil war.

Today, the restored three-story house is the location of the fashionable Sasha’s restaurant, bar and patio. The lovely patio attracts diners when the weather cooperates, and is ideal for a Sunday brunch. Inside, the wooden interiors are very attractive. There is is no doubt it is a beautiful setting, and the fact that the food is good as well, makes for a pleasing lunch or dinner.

PRIME RESTAURANT
Prime is a newly launched restaurant just above Sasha, which has been a Shanghai institution for the past 10 years. Prime has been created to attract steak lovers and will offer six different cuts of beef
from Melbourne’s Chef Julian Robertshaw who has designed the menu from his long experience dealing with beef in Australia. He serves double cut veal chops and 450g T-bone steaks along with two of Australia’s favorites, mud crab and barramundi.
This restaurant is highly recommended if you enjoy steak and of course, let us not forget the famous mud crabs and delicious barramundi fish.

logo & copyright are property of Trader Vic'sTRADER VIC’S
598 Fengyang Lu (by Nanjing Xi Lu)
Tel. 5228 3882
Credit Cards: All Major
Nearest Metro: Middle Henan Road
Expensive

I think I have sampled enough Trader Vic’s around the world to understand the concept including: Beverly Hills (closed) although a new one will be opening in L.A. 2009, New York (closed), Chicago, San Francisco (closed), Oakland (closed), Scottsdale AZ, Vancouver (closed), London, Tokyo, Munich, Singapore (closed), Munich, and Bangkok (terrible).

The Shanghai Trader Vic’s Polynesian Restaurant is situated on the 2nd floor of an apartment complex near The Thai Gallery.

The menu is the typical Traders menu that you will now find in cities across the globe. You will find Asian and Western dishes mixed in with some South-Pacific recipes and of course their famous drinks that include the Navy Grog and Mai Tai among many others. Try the meat, lamb and beef steaks cooked in the wood-fired oven.

They have Happy Hour from 5:30-7:30, when drinks are buy one get one free and you can save money and sample some appetizers during these hours.

ALLURE RESTAURANT
Le Meridien Hotel
1/F, 789 Nanjing Dong Lu (by Jiujiang Lu)
Phone: 3318-9999 x. 7022
Credit Cards: All Major
Nearest Metro:Peoples Square
Expensive

Allure French Restaurant has been recently opened in the Le Méridien Hotel on Nanjing Dong Lu. A comfortable, ultra-modern dining room seating about 45 is located on the 11th floor with a lovely view.

Allure is probably the best French restaurant in town and the Chef, Michael Wendling pays attention to minute details. A notable dish is the the Truffle Noire soup with black truffle emulsion and white beans. I might add that his cooking is good across the board.

The wine list contains only French selections but they have been carefully chosen and it is a well balanced list.

RED AT THE GRILL
JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai
Tomorrow Square
上海明天广场JW万豪酒店
399 Nanjing West Road, Shanghai 200003, PRC
中国上海市南京西路399号
邮政编码: 200003
Telephone : (86 21) 5359 4969
Facsimile : (86 21) 6375 5988
Credit Cards: All major
Prices: Expensive

A very good restaurant featuring steaks and lobsters with other additional dishes offered with many choices of side dishes and accompaniments.
Red Meat
t-bone steak 450g                                          380
fillet steak 150g/250g                             220/350
rib eye 250g                                                    300
cowboy steak 550g                                       480
new york strip 250g                                        300
mongolian wagyu oyster blade 200g         200
australian rack of lamb 500g                        325
chateaubriand 600g                                      780
ask for more   m.p.

Red Lobster
lobsters from our lobster tank
poached, steamed, grilled or roasted
boston lobster 650g                                        550
australian lobster 1000g                               1100
south african lobster 250g                             225
ask for more                                                    m.p.

WHAMPOA CLUB
No 3 the Bund 5th Floor 3 Zhongshandongyl Road Shanghai, 200002
Tel. 86 21 6321 3737
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Expensive

Shanghainese dining has reached high levels with the introduction of a revolutionary new cuisine under the guiding hand of Chef Wap Poh Yang.
It is located on the 5th floor of Three on Bund that houses four unique restaurants.

JEAN GEORGES
Three on the Bund
No. 3 The Bund, 4th Floor,
3 Zhong Shan Dong Yi Road,
Entrance on 17 Guang Dong Road
Shanghai 200002
Tel.  6321 7733
Opening Hours:
Dinner
5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Bar
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Expensive-Very Expensive

In his first signature effort outside of New York Jean-Georges Vongerichten presents modern and light French cuisine using organic products. Yvonne Chiong, one of Asia’s few female sommeliers, worked here from 2003-2007.

LARIS RESTAURANT
6th Floor, Three on the Bund (on the Bund / “waitan”)
17 Guangdong Road by Zhongshan East Road
Tel. +86 (21) 6321 9922
Opening Hours: Daily, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Website: www.threeonthebund.com
Cuisine: Fusion
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Expensive

Located on the Bund, in the Three on the Bund complex it offers lovely decor, efficient service (thanks mainly to the watchful eye of Australian Chef David Laris). He is also a chocolatier. Be sure not to miss stopping for a drink at the Vault Bar attached to Laris.

wangbaohe3

WANG BAO HE
Fuzhou Lu 603, Shanghai
(West of Zhejiang Zhong Lu)
Tel. 021/6322-3673
Cuisine: Chinese
Prices: Inexpensive-Moderate Crabs: Expensive

Their specialty is Hairy Crabs (available only in autumn). The place is brightly lit with florescent lighting, rushed service and a menu in Chinese with pictures and indecipherable english.

LA GRANGE

La Grange ShanghaiLa Grange
94 Julu Road Tel: (86 21) 6248 2185
Shanghai, 31

The French cuisine here is quite good. Choose the restaurant’s “set menu” at 498RMB; a starter, main course, cheese course and a dessert may be chosen from the menu. Ordering from the menu directly can become quite expensive.

Artist Marco Minotti at Raffles Nai Lert Park Hotel

Tuesday, June 10th, 2008

Italian AmbassadorArtist, Designer, Marco Minotti introduced his work entitled “Dynamic Emotions” for the first time, to Bangkok at The Raffles, Nai Lert Park Hotel.
It was a pleasure to attend the opening ceremony last evening presided over by His Excellency, Ignazio Di Pace, Italian Ambassador to Thailand.

I was invited by Tamara Dameo representing G Four International Ltd., who sponsored all the wines for the event, which as usual, were excellent.

Marco MinottiMarco Minotti’s paintings will be on display daily from June 10 to 20 (10am-7pm) at the Garden Wing (ground level). On June 12th at 6:30pm there will be a “art dinner” at Ma Maison Restaurant on the lower level of the hotel Baht 3,025 ++ that will include an artwork signed and numbered by the artist exclusively created for this event. Part of the proceeds will be donated to: “Treasure Our Elephants” Northern Elephant Preservation Foundation, Thailand.

Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s – Orange County, Los Angeles

Monday, June 9th, 2008

South Coast Plaza
3333 South Bristol Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Opening Hours:
Lunch: Monday – Sunday 11:45 to 2:30
Dinner: Sunday – Thursday 5:30 to 10:30
Friday – Saturday 5:30 to 11:00
Tel. 714.352.2525
Fax. 714.474.2368
Credit Cards: All Major
Expensive-Very Expensive

Charlie Palmers at Bloomingdales, Rendering: Courtesy of the CMS DesignI first sampled Charlie Palmer’s cooking at the River Cafe in New York at some point during the mid-eighties and thought it was very good.

After Palmer served some time at Georges Blanc in France where he was impressed and inspired by the small artisan producers that brought their home-grown or produced goods to the kitchen door of the restaurant. It so happens, that I have spent a few nights dining at Georges Blanc and spent the night in the well-run hotel on the premise in Vonnas, and previous to that I dined at his mother’s famous restaurant in the same location called La Mere Blanc, one of the great gastronomical shrines, at the time, of France.

In 1988 Charlie Palmer opened Aureole in New York and a collection of other restaurants followed across America.
He firmly believes in using produce from small farms and is inspiring farmers, cheese producers and others in food production to keep quantities small and quality high.

This reiteration of Charlie Palmer has just recently opened at the South Coast Plaza and I trust that the tradition will live on in Orange County and I will keep tabs and report on the results.

Cafe Talésai – Beverly Hills, California

Sunday, June 8th, 2008

Thai restaurants - Beverly Hills9198 Olympic Boulevard
Beverly Hills 90212
310 271 9345
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Inexpensive – Moderate

Located in a small shopping strip on Olympic Blvd. just west of Doheny Dr., the diminutive Cafe Talėsai is one of my favorite Thai restaurants on the Westside. The cooking is authentic and consistently good. Thai restaurants - CaliforniaI have known the owners, the Yenbamroong’s for years, since I first reviewed their wonderful restaurant Talésai on the Sunset Strip near Doheny, many years ago, long before they opened this more informal and casual branch called Café Talésai.

A few of the more interesting dishes follow and the star indicates that the dish is spicy:

Thai Latkes
Deep fried shredded taro. Served with tamarind sauce

  • Chieng Mai Wrapped Chicken
    Spicy minced chicken, chili, lime, and fresh mint.
    Served with romaine lettuce.
    Talesai corn fritters
    with cucumber sauce.
  • Larb Lanna
    Chicken or pork with
    roasted dried chili.
    Authentic Northern Style.
  • Isan Classic
    Combination of BBQ chicken or
    grilled garlic pork, papaya salad
    and sticky rice.
  • Jungle Curry
    Up country style red curry with
    eggplant, green beans, bamboo shoots,
    with or without coconut milk.

    Chicken
    Pad Thai
    Thai noodles pan-fried with
    chicken, tofu, peanuts, egg,
    been sprouts, and scallions.

    Talesai corn fritters
    with cucumber sauce.Corn Fritters

  • Red Devil Noodles
    Spicy rice noodles pan-fried
    with chicken, chili, and
    fresh basil.

    Spicy Rice Noodles Pan-fried
    with chicken, chili, and
    fresh basils.

  • Papaya Salad
    Shredded green papaya, tomato, green beans
    & cashew nuts in a chili lime garlic dressing.
  • Glass Noodles Salad
    Warm glass noodles with
    snow peas, mushrooms, carrot
    cilantro & spicy lime dressing.

Bordeaux 2007: White Wines Prevail

Friday, June 6th, 2008

White Bordeaux wines, especially the sweet & stickies from Sauternes and most of the whites from this vintage, are the best coming out of the gate at primeurs week in Bordeaux 2007. The more important reds, from all reports, are soft and flabby. Producers are looking to Asia to help consume a great deal of this vintage however, it seems that prices will not be reduced even in the face of a poor vintage in red Bordeaux Grand Crus. In the past, lesser-quality vintages were usually sold off at a reduced price; this might not be the case for 2007, due to abnormally high labor costs.
More details at: http://www.jancisrobinson.com

Koh Larn Island – Pattaya, Thailand

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

Beach at Koh LangWhite powder sand and crystal clear water defines any of these coral islands that lie a few kilometers off the coast of Pattaya. It is best to hire a speedboat for the day and let the crew take you to a quiet beach for a swim before lunch, without a soul in sight. Then on to one of the crowded beaches such as Ta Waen for lunch—where you will find a choice of many umbrella-shaded restaurants lined-up one after the other. There is one restaurant at the far left side of the beach that has salt-water tanks where they keep the fish and crustaceans alive. You might even squeeze in another swim at a secluded beach on the way back to Pattaya.
Lunch on the beach, steamed fish and rock lobsterKoh Larn is one of the largest islands in the eastern part of the Gulf of Thailand and the largest of a group of three islands, the others being Ko Sak and Ko Khrok. It is just about 15 to 30 minutes by speedboat or an hour by the regular boat, which makes for a fun day to visit this interesting island and its adjacent small islets.

Swiss Food Restaurant – Pattaya

Monday, June 2nd, 2008

Tel. 038 423504
Soi Diamond 175/29-30, Pattaya, Thailand
Open daily from 4 pm – midnight
Credit Cards: Visa, MC
Prices: Moderate

Dining Room

I do not recommend this restaurant as of October, 2009.

Since shortly after its opening in 1985 I have been dining in this small restaurant hidden on Soi Diamond and it is with great regret that I have had to downgrade this establishment. It is surrounded by all types of bars from girlie go-go bars to lady boy bars. In spite of this small annoyance, it is was in earlier days worth the effort to walk there, and in fact the only way to arrive at the door, since a car cannot drive down the narrow walking street. Being subjected to raucous noise and a carnival-type atmosphere on the way was really a small inconvenience to pay for the good experience that followed in the good-times of this restaurant. Remember, this is Pattaya where there are not a great many establishments serving good-quality food combined with a pleasant atmosphere as they have here.

Inside, you will find a charming dining room and bar with a friendly service staff; the manager/owner is from Switzerland. It is unfortunate that about a year ago after the long-time owner took leave, the European chef disappeared, and I was withholding comment to see if the cooking might improve, over one year later it has, if anything, deteriorated. It is always a mistake to replace a farong chef with a Thai sous-chef and expect that everything will remain the same; as it inevitably will not. I wrote one year ago: The salad bar, offering many varieties of fresh salads and other starters, has survived unscathed, although the rest of my former recommendations that follow after the colon, are mostly “hit and miss” these days: cheese fondue (400 gr.) for 2 persons with mixed salad, Geschnetzeltes “Zürcherart” with rösti, wiener schnitzel with pommes frites, pork fillet with morel cream sauce, beef fondue ( 400 gr. ) for 2 persons with (French fondue bourguignonne) beef imported from Argentina, “steak tartar” (raw beef fillet with combination of spices) prepared at your table. The wine list has been pared down and filled in with less-expensive Chilean and Argentinian wines (this is a fact not a criticism) and the house wines are barely adequate. Presently, in the Autumn of 2009 I am afraid that the salad bar has now deteriorated and all the above suggestions are no longer valid. I do not recommend dining at this restaurant at this time.

Desserts & Liqueurs
Hot cherries with ice cream and whipping cream
Liqueurs and eaux de vie: Grappa, Poire Williams, Kirschwasser, Obstler, Vieille Prune