A.O.C. Brentwood

AOC Brentwood opened in June, replacing Tavern, which was one of my favorite restaurants for years. I'm very happy to have found that the service, food, and decor are still top notch, and I was also very glad to find that they adhere to the Covid protocols of checking both ID and vaccination status at the door. I told the host that I was very grateful that they were one of the few places that actually checked customers upon entry. 

They have many options for drinks, including non alcoholic versions of their signature cocktails, so my friend ordered this cucumber based mocktail and enjoyed it as a refreshing pre dinner drink.

I chose a glass of a dry rosé that complimented my meal perfectly.

Romeo's lettuces salad for $15 was light and an excellent choice for a side salad.

The roasted brussel sprouts with pine nuts and burrata for $14 is a hearty vegetable dish which would satisfy a craving that requires more heft than a salad.

Sea bass for $25 was cooked to the perfect temperature, with a crispy skin but tender moist flesh.

I was thrilled to find grilled quail on the menu for $24, tender, succulent meat that was not overcooked but still had crispy wings. The rich side of potato raclette and shallot-quince confit were extra treats.

Spanish fried chicken for $18 was as good as I remembered it when this was Tavern. Crunchy with a slightly tangy zing to the meat, we devoured this as soon as it arrived at the table.

You may not be able to go back to everything you once remembered, but new memories are always waiting to be made, and some of them are newer and better versions of the past.

 

Hotel Paseo

Spending a few days in Palm Desert at Hotel Paseo was a chance to see how things have changed in the 30 years since I lived in Palm Springs and a great reason to visit friends I have not seen in over 2 years. 

Santa was driving the "welcome wagon" at the Hotel Paseo :)

The bed and linens were very comfortable and I appreciated having a USB outlet on both sides of the bed.

There is a mini fridge on the lefty side, a Keurig coffee maker in the center, an internet friendly smart TV and an area to set up a laptop.

Huge shower with great water pressure, bathrobe, and nice toiletries included in the bathroom. It took me a day to figure out how to turn on the lighting around the large mirror though ;)

The hallways were decorated with unique pieces from different artists, and this particular one was my favorite.

I got a ground level room in front of the pool ,and even though access to the pool could not be had directly from the patio, it was nice to have the view.

No one was ever in the pool but a few people did use the large jacuzzi and the seating around the fire pits.

It was hard to capture the infinity water cascade with the fire, but I can say that it was beautiful both in the daylight and at night.

I would definitely stay here again for it's location steps away from El Paseo, across from a very nice small mall, great places to eat within a block, and staff that personified customer service (the woman who checked me in, saw me try to get ice at the cafe 5 minutes after they closed, and she got it for me!). Rates were in the $300 range per night once you added up all the taxes, fees, and charges (parking, wifi, shuttle). If you download the Marriott app, you can navigate your stay a bit more easily with check in / out and requests for services.

Gjusta

I finally went to Gjusta and tried their famous tuna conserva sandwich for $18. Yes it is delicious and an excellent balance of textures, flavors, and quality ingredients. Would I buy it again? Not sure...It  did not wow me enough to spend that much for this again. It was also quite salty with the olive tapenade and the salted cucumber layers combined.

The brussel sprouts with toasted hazelnuts under a snowy layer of cheese was a hit, but not exactly "healthy", so sharing is the best option.

Chicken dumpling soup for $13 was a hearty filling bowl of goodness that would definitely be on my short list of comfort foods.

The kale salad was the favorite, with apple, celery, manchego cheese,  smoked almonds and a mustard vinaigrette for $18. This was probably the group's favorite dish.

Endless Color Pizza Topanga

Friends who moved to Topanga introduced me to Endless Color Pizza, and I loved it so much that it's now our go to spot to meet! Every one seems to know everyone and the large patio is dog friendly. Driving up from Los Angeles, look for the post office next door (the sign is hard to see driving north on Topanga Canyon Road, but it's easy to spot the large pink sign driving south).

Their assortment of salads changes depending on the day and time you arrive, but the best thing to do is simply get a bit of all of them on the same plate and go back for seconds on any items that you particularly love. If you want to just eat salad, this could be a very hearty and varied meal in and of itself!

They offer gluten free options which are delicious! Their mushroom pizza is one of my favorites, with a thin crust and lots of garlic confit for $22.

Their Margherita for $20 hits all the classic notes with fresh tomatoes, basil, basil, and oregano.

For meat eaters, the Young Italian Stallion with pork loin, tomato confit, artichokes, olives, mozzarella and fontina is a hearty choice for $23.

Adding arugula to the gluten free mushroom pie makes it a salad and a pizza :)

The kid loved the chicken fingers as the adults ate the pizza and drank the delicious bottle of biodynamic wine for under $30 a bottle:)

Of course no meal is complete without dessert, and the tiny plant based cheesecake heart was devoured quickly leaving the gluten free oat, walnut and golden raison cookie for $4.50 for the adults ;)

Marino

It's one of my greatest pleasures to introduce people who love to eat great food to restaurants who know how to consistently use quality ingredients with great skill to provide delicious meals. Marino has been in Hollywood since the late 1950's and I had the pleasure of eating at chef Sal Marino's Il Grano many times before he came back to his family restaurant.

I chose this restaurant for people in the restaurant business who came out from NYC because the cuisine was rooted in classic old school techniques, using the freshest Californian ingredients. 

We started with a bottle of Barolo (#4505) and the large Marino salad, with chopped mixed greens, eggplant caponata, salame, cheese, and legumes for $19 to share.

The night we went, there was a special halibut crudo with beautiful radishes.

Zucchini blossoms filled with ricotta and marjoram for $17 was devoured as soon as it got to the table.

Classic linguini vongole with manila clams for $21 was wonderfully aromatic with sliced garlic.

It's been too many years since I've eaten my favorite lasagna. It was like meeting an old friend with a comforting long heartfelt hug.

It's hard to pick my favorite dish, but branzino, Mediterranean striped bass,  for $38 is definitely in the top 3, delicately and exquisitely baked, served with vegetables that are equally simply and expertly cooked. 

It's good to be in sunny warm Southern California in November, especially when feasting on the skills of a master chef.

Good Day Thai

A good Breakfast / Brunch at a Thai restaurant? YES! Good Day Thai offers a week-end brunch with both American and Thai choices that will please the palates of picky eaters of all ages. I started off with an oat milk cappuccino that was both large and nicely done. Kritz, my server, displayed the remarkable skill of memorizing every order perfectly without a pen, paper, or tablet!

Their waffle for $9 was crisp, flavorful, and addictive enough that I finished it before the rest of my meal arrived. 

I ordered the "Joke" aka rice porridge for $13 with minced pork, fresh ginger, poached egg, green onions and crispy noodles that was a huge meal in and of itself! This was the first time I had eaten "jook" outside my house since I left NYC and it was a refreshingly upgraded version with a good soup base and contrasting textures. 

Their small chicken wonton soup for $9 was enough to share or be a meal if you are not too hungry. The broth was nicely complex, and the wontons, chicken slices and bok choy, all combined for a very satisfying soup.

Their eggplant for $15 used quality Japanese eggplants, but I found the sauce a bit too sweet and the garlic bean sauce was too lightly nuanced to add much to the dish.

I had to try their regular menu after enjoying their breakfast dishes, so I started with the classic pad Thai for $13 and found their version to be a great paradigm for the medley of textures and flavors that made this dish the go to order for most Americans.

I tried several of their appetizers and thoroughly enjoyed the steamed dumplings with their silky smooth consistency enveloping the minced filling on a bed of shredded cabbage topped with crispy garlic for $8. If you are not very hungry, this could be a meal in and of itself!

Their chicken satay for $12 made with chicken marinated in coconut milk was a delightful and generously portioned protein appetizer.

Chicken larb for $13 is a refreshing salad choice for a lighter meal with a lime based dressing, fresh cabbage and cucumber.

Kao Man Kai for $15 was a Thai version of the classic poached chicken and rice dish from many other countries. I found their chicken a bit dry and the soy ginger sauce lacked punch, but their ginger rice was delicious.

I love rice noodles and their Pad See Ew for $13 with choice of protein (I chose tofu) was a comforting version with Chinese broccoli and American broccoli. The combination of the two broccoli types was a good epitome of how Good Day Thai does a great job of combining two food cultures in the same place.

Bianca for Brunch and Dinner

Getting a table at a great place to eat brunch on the week-ends is a quest that sometimes leaves me feeling like Don Quixote fighting for an elusive seat at prime spots between 11am-1pm on week-ends. Thankfully Bianca is not only a beautiful place with easy garage parking, attentive service, and delicious food options, but it is also EASY to get a seat on the gorgeous patio by simply walking up at 11am on a week-end! 

Their cappuccino was a harbinger of the beautiful food to come, with perfect crema. 

One morning I chose their simple scrambled eggs for $14 and was enthralled by the creamy texture, perfect salinity, and beautiful toast with home made jam that came as an accompaniment. The plate is deceptively filling, and I was sad to leave a few bites on my plate as I was too full to finish everything.

The eggs Benedict for $19 was very rich and the dish to order for anyone who whose doctor gives a green light to this decadent rendition with gorgeous prosciutto cotto and an unctuous hollandaise.

The salmon toast for $21 is equally rich with scrambled eggs, so pick your vice and use your cheat day.

Their house salad for $18 is a medley of fresh textures that helped lighten up all the rich albeit delicious options. I would order this salad as a stand alone if you want something refreshing, light, and delicious.

The meatballs for $18 are a light and superb rendition that sits atop a marina that I could eat by the spoonful.

The branzino for $36 was presented before deboning and I found the vegetables delectable, but the fish a bit over cooked.

The moules (mussels) for $30 cooked with pastis and plenty of fennel were not only delicious, but a full pound made this a filling meal with the piece of bread at the bottom soaking up the delectable broth.

The grilled prawns for $40 were spectacular on the plate and the larger ones were cooked perfectly, but the smaller ones were a bit over done. The vegetables were marvelous and the quality of the prawns shone through. 

The service on every occasion was on point, friendly, and professional, and the atmosphere is gorgeous on the patio whether you go in the day or at night, so go while you can still walk in for a Sunday brunch and while you can still easily get a dinner reservation.