Archive for the ‘Los Angeles’ Category

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Update: Trader Vic’s – Los Angeles

Sunday, September 7th, 2008

It appears as if the replacement of the shut Beverly Hills Trader Vic’s will be in downtown at L.A. Live it has been rumored. This Traders will be managed by the Valencia Group, and this may be a good thing as all the relatives and original owners are no longer actively involved in the original corporation. I know a lot of people living in Beverly Hills that will rarely, after taking an initial look, ever drive to downtown L.A., even though most of them have chauffeur driven cars, it is simply too far unless they are going there in the evening for another purpose. Since Trader Vic’s main customer base for the past 50 years have been mainly from the westside of the city; does this make any good business sense or are they trying to develop a new market?

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Caffe Roma – Beverly Hills, California

Sunday, August 31st, 2008

350 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Tel. 310-274-7834
Website: www.cafferomabeverlyhills.com
Opening Hours: Lunch, Dinner and open throughout the day
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Moderate-Expensive

Many years ago, Caffe Roma, was frequented by a smart crowd for lunch or so they thought, when Realtor, Elaine Young among others, held court, until over the years this cafe’s lunch crowd grew older and fewer showed up; and in the evening it appealed mainly to middle-eastern types that hung-out to hear Arabic music played nightly. Finally, due to poor quality of food and service the restaurant on most days was mainly deserted.

Enter Ago Sciandri, owner of Ago and Sor Tino, and one of the founders of Toscana, Brentwood who has now acquired Caffe Roma and all of this has now changed. He has breathed a new infusion of fresh life into the menu and the overall spirit of this cafe/restaurant. Ago has installed Piero Topputo, previously of Toscana, as the new chef, and he has overhauled the menu. The new menu offers sophisticated dishes including: pappardelle with wild boar ragu, fettuccine with summer truffes, spaghetti with sea urchin, and taglioni with scampi bottarga, orechiette laced with broccoli and pecorino, cavatelli with rapini, broccoli and mixed seafood. There is Jazz music as well as a live DJ Wednesday through Saturday.
The Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was known to turn up to smoke cigars in the patio dining area before the smoking ban was passed in Beverly Hills.

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S Bar – Hollywood, California (CLOSED)

Saturday, August 16th, 2008

6304 Hollywood Blvd. at Vine St.
Hollywood
Tel. 323 957-2279
Opening Hours: Mon – Sun 8pm – 2am
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Moderate

CLOSED: Sam Nazarian, nightclub entrepreneur had to close S Bar due to a lawsuit by condo owners in the building above complaining about noise. Soundproofing measures were taken to rectify it but were not sufficient to satisfy condo dwellers.

The famous corner of Hollywood and Vine was once home to the Palace Theater, at the end of 2007 the S Bar opened with a lot of fanfare. The new boîte, designed (of course) by Philippe Starck, has a discreet entrance on Hollywood Boulevard, while inside, stylish patrons lounge on leather chesterfield sofas.
They serve cocktails made from freshly squeezed vegetable or fruit juices with again (of course) Roberto Cavalli vodka for the health-conscious.

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Citrus at Social Changes to Bistro Menu – Los Angeles

Friday, August 15th, 2008

UPDATE: Alain Giraud replaces Michel Richard who took a walk on the troubled restaurant Social in Hollywood.

The food, service and space are refined, but unfortunately, Michel Richard has other businesses in Washington D.C., which are very successful and taking his main thrust, here he is little more than a name on the door and not the inspiration of the restaurant. The resident chef, Remi Lauvand has been let go, replaced by Chef Omri Aflalo and as business has not been exactly brisk, a new menu has been installed based on Michel Richard’s bistro favorites. Starters are mostly in the $10-$14 range while main courses are in the $20’s. The menu items are interesting and may hit the “sweet spot” during these lean times.

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Wally’s Wines and Spirits – Los Angeles

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

Wally’s Wine & Spirits
2107 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Tel. (310) 475-0606
www.wallywine.com

“The # 1 Wine Shop in Los Angeles”– Zagat Survey

Steve Wallace, the owner of Wally’s, and I have known each other for a long time, back to the Volkswagen importer, John Von Neumann’s disco “The Wheel” in Beverly Hills. A few years later Steve helped me a great deal to provide enough Romanee Conti for my recording industry customers when I owned Au Petit Café restaurant in Hollywood. When I was scrambling around trying to find wines that were in extremely short supply such as certain wines from the DRC; the top A & M Records executives along with recording artist, Sergio Mendes alone were drinking my official allotment from the distributor for the year, in a week or two! It was then off to Steve’s store on Pico Blvd., where he had a hidden wine cellar under the floor of his liquor store, a trap door opened and an old wooden stairway led down into a makeshift cellar with case upon wooden case of the greatest wines of France.
In those days, mid to late sixties, Romanee Conti was fetching the highest price on my wine list at $125 a bottle, followed by Ch. Lafite Rothschild at $100. Hard to believe, knowing what these wines sell for on today’s market.

Wally’s has the the most comprehensive selection where it counts, on extravagant and hard to find wines and spirits, as well as more affordable choices. Wine classes, tasting, appreciation for beginners; accessories, gourmet foods, gift baskets, wine lockers, wine events and a newsletter. They do ship worldwide.

In short, Wally’s has it all in one large location on the west side of Los Angeles.

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Foxtail – West Hollywood – Los Angeles

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

9077 Santa Monica Blvd,
Near Doheny Dr
West Hollywood 90069
Tel. 310-859-8369
http://sbe.com/foxtail
Opening Hours: Daily: 6pm – 2am
Parking: Nearby, Paid Lot, Valet
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Moderate-Expensive

It is probably better to book a table and go directly to it as you will immediately see upon entering the first floor that the scale of the bar for a restaurant of this size is quite small. The clientèle are forced to compete for space with the wait staff, who take up valuable real estate while queuing for drinks at the service bar.
A few months after SBE’s ventures Katsuya and S Bar opened to positive receptions, the restaurant group has jumped into opening a supper club type establishment. A bistro, a dance floor, a bar, a lounge and an outdoor patio are all arranged on two floors and located next to the renowned Dan Tana’s restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard.
The chef is Antonia Lofaso, whose prior experience includes Spago and The Abbey by SBE. Some dishes on the menu reek of pseudo-bistro cooking, although others are spot on and left in their original and uncomplicated state the way they were intended.
The décor features splashes of copper, silver and brass mixed with hues of emerald green and pink and
is quite appealing.

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July 14th Bastille Day Celebrations – Los Angeles

Sunday, July 13th, 2008

Bastille Day is a “non event” in Bangkok although in Los Angeles they still have some Gallic Spirit left:

Bastille Day Dinners:

WEST HOLLYWOOD: In honor of Bastille Day, Comme Ca will have a special $48 three-course menu on Monday, July 14. Some options include fresh melon soup with crab and creme fraiche, braised lamb shank and cherry clafoutis. (From EaterWire)

SANTA MONICA: Josiah Citrin and Melisse will have a Bastille Day dinner to benefit Careers Through Culinary Arts Program (From C-CAP). Some of the students and graduats will help Citrin with things like vichysoise, beouf Bourgouignon and tarte tatin. Monday, July 14; $130 per person. (From EaterWire)

CENTURY CITY: Jean Francois Meteigner will host an $85 prix fixe from 6pm-9:30pm at La Cachette on Monday, July 14. “Live accordian music and French spirit” included. (From EaterWire)

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Official: Thomas Keller’s Bouchon to Open in Beverly Hills

Sunday, July 13th, 2008

Photo: Robert Durell, Los Angeles TimesIt is official! Thomas Keller will open Bouchon restaurant in Beverly Hills sometime in 2009 in the Gardens Building next to the new Montage Beverly Hills on Canon Drive. Adam Tihany will design the space that will occupy more than 11,00 square feet on two floors including a restaurant and bakery. Rory Herman will be the chef he is presently at Per Se in NYC. He will work under Jeffrey Cercielloo, who oversees casual dining in the Keller operation. Keller, the only American chef with two three-star Michelin establishments says, “I want our food to have integrity and a connection with French bistro history. We’re not being interpretive here; we’re not making crème caramel flavored with lavender.”

Not long ago we attended a dinner at the Le Normandie, at the Oriental Hotel, Bangkok where Keller was cooking for a week. I had a chat with him regarding the long advance booking wait for his restaurant The French Laundry. He nonchalantly said, “it’s not so bad now, only about three weeks.”

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New French Brasserie, Anisette, by Alain Giraud – Santa Monica, California

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

Anisette Brasserie

225 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica,
(310) 395-3200;
www.anisettebrasserie.com

CLOSED!

Anisette has just opened its doors! I hope that finally, Los Angeles will have an authentic French Brasserie. I am holding my judgment and holding my breath until more news comes out, or when I can arrange to go there personally after it has settled down and is up to speed. I am excited, although if it is swayed by the California beach set and winds up to be another American watered down version of the real thing, my excitement will wane quickly. We have Alain Giraud at the helm, and he should certainly know what is expected of a true Alsatian Brasserie however, partners and beach people can have a defining influence to sway it in another direction. It might stand a better chance of acceptance, of pulling-off the real thing, if it were located in the West Hollywood/Hollywood area where the clientèle are a bit more savy about knowing and appreciating true authenticity.
I suppose we must just wait and see
what the final result of this brasserie will be
and certainly the result will not emerge immediately . . . what a shame, it is now closed


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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

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