Matu Steak

When friends who love to eat wanted to share a new favorite steak house, my only response was to ask, "When?". Matu serves only fantastic Wagyu grass fed meat, is less than 5 minutes from my place, offers easy valet parking, and online reservations, this may now also be my favorite steak house!

I started with a dirty Grey Goose Martini because it's my go to cocktail when Élit isn't available. Others at the table enjoyed nice glasses of Flowers Pinot Noir from Sonoma, and we ended up ordering a bottle after we finished our cocktails.

We all chose the 5 course Matu menu for $82 per person, and it was worth every dollar! The 24 hour bone broth starter was the perfect teaser to the quality of the food to come, with a rich deep nourishing flavor you can only get with high quality ingredients and the patience it takes to produce this deeply satisfying broth.

The tartare with Japanese accent was fabulous, so much so that the non raw meat eaters at the table ate a few bites before sharing their plates with us raw meat lovers.

The 3 oz center cut filet with 47 salad was a nice introduction to what the restaurant calls their medium rare. I loved that it was what would be called rare elsewhere. Even those at the table who usually prefer their meat pink and medium, ate every bite and proclaimed it to the only place where they liked a rarer temperature. 

The 8 hour braised beef cheek was so tender, no knives were needed. The celeriac purée was a nice accompaniment. I ended up exchanging some of my beef cheek for the tartare, because I knew the ribeye was coming!

Broccolini with garlic and red pepper flakes came with the dinner, and if I wasn't so full I could have eaten another order of these!

My foodies friends insisted on getting a side of fries (fried in beef tallow), so sinfully delicious that it was good to have so many people sharing the plate.

The star of the night was the ribeye with the cap cut separately. All we could say was OMG after taking a bite. I was too much for me to finish, but the leftovers made for a decadent snack the next day!

The atmosphere was very upscale but comfortable, with kids and casually dressed diners all equally enjoying their meals. We made friends with the table sitting next to us and traded names of other places to eat; after all if we all loved Matu, chances are we would all enjoy the places shared from all over the world, including a vegan place in Rome and a steak place overlooking the Bosporus. 

The pleasure of spending time with friends while eating great food and meeting new friends is the best kind of evening!

Crumbs for Cupcakes

There's no "Cronut" here on the West Coast yet, but several places are making a croissant & doughnut hybrid so I decided to try the "Crumbnut" at Crumbs Bakery. Since this bakery originated in New York, I figured they probably had the best chance of making a Cronut facsimile.

There was only one left when I went in at 2pm so I saw that as a good sign, and the Crumbnut itself looked enticing.

Cutting it in half showed all the layers of the croissant like interior. Biting into it I was relieved to find it neither too greasy nor too sweet, but I was dismayed with its slightly salty aftertaste. It's not supposed to be a savory and sweet pastry like the Kouign Amann. I found this a confusing taste combination because the saltiness did not enhance the flavor as salt does with caramel, instead it detracted from what could have been a good breakfast pastry.

I had to try some of their cupcakes, especially after giving away several party packs with 12 mini cupcakes in assorted flavors for $24 to friends for their birthday. They have "Colossal" cupcakes that truly live up to their name, enough for at least 2 people to share, or the regular sized classic ones that I got this time. The Blackout is chocolate cake filled with fudge mixed with vanilla custard, topped with chocolate cream cheese frosting and chocolate crumbs drizzled with chocolate.

It's one of their "signature" series with extra frosting in the center. The cake itself was moist, richly chocolate and delightful. I prefer the chocolate ganache of La Provence's chocolate cupcakes, but for those who like less densely rich, more creamy frosting, this would be a good choice.

The Going Coconuts, a coconut cake filled and frosted with coconut cream cheese frosting topped with toasted coconut, was my favorite. I remember trying the coconut at Sprinkles, but I hated its dry dense texture. I loved the Crumbs Coconut cupcake; it was perfect!

Just the right amount of vanilla frosting with toasted coconut on a tender moist cake. I might have been able to eat one of the "Colossal" sizes of this one :)

Maybe everyone should stick to what they do best. Crumbs makes wonderful cupcakes in flavors ranging from cannoli to s'mores. If I ever go back to NYC I will try the actual Cronut at Dominique Ansel's Bakery, but I will pass on trying anymore facsimiles.

Bier Beisl in Beverly Hills

I have never been to Austria, but I have met Austrians (no, they were not the Von Trapps) and I like them. So when I saw Bier Beisl, which translates to "Beer Pub", even though I do not generally drink or like beer, I wanted to try Austrian food. If the food in Austria is anything like the food at Bier Beisl, then I like Austrian food.

What is more Austrian than Bratwurst and sauerkrat? Maybe some mustard on the side? Ok, it's all here and made in house. The sauerkraut had caraway seeds and a juniper berry in it and was divine. The bratwurst was tender, juicy and unlike any bratwurst you have ever eaten from any place else in Los Angeles. All this for only $10. The two sausages and sauerkraut was plenty for me, but if you want to try more, they offer a FIVE course sausage sampler with five beers that you can try for $45.

I tried their schnitzel sampler plate for $26 because I couldn't decide if I wanted veal, pork or turkey. After tasting all three, I still could not pick a favorite. I loved the various accompaniments, from the mustard potato salad to the cucumber salad (hidden under the turkey on the right). The lingonberries were a refreshing counterpoint to the schnitzels and every meat was juicy without being greasy, so if you have never had schnitzel, try it here and you will never accept anything less than great schnitzel (the best I've ever eaten was in Zurich, but this was the best I've ever eaten in the US).

Service can be spotty when they are busy during peak times, but everyone is friendly and does their best to be helpful. The chef has a great rapport with regulars and German speaking guests, so if you are from Austria or the region and speak some German, this could be the place to find your comfort food and have a schnapps or a bier.

Kudos to Coupa Café

I have traveled to 17 countries, but not to Venezuela...yet. It looks like it's time to put it on my itinerary after eating at Coupa Café. Since January 7-13 is "Around the World in Beverly Hills" Restaurant Week, it's an ideal time to travel with your palate, without depleting your pocketbook.

I was invited to try Venezuelan food by the PR company which represents Coupa Café and I was intrigued enough to venture out to "exotic" Beverly Hills to this beautifully appointed and easily accessible home away from home for many South American expats. One of the tell tale signs that a restaurant is serving authentic cuisine is that expats eat there. Another tell tale sign is that the restaurant actually has a branch in their home country, and Coupa Café has a branch in Caracas! And the third sign of authentic cuisine is when they source their ingredients from natives; the cheese that they use in the restaurant is flown in from Miami where it is made by Venezuelans!

Since I was invited, my meal was fully comped, and they knew that I would be writing this post. Having worked in the industry and written many reviews, I know when good service and food are consistent and when they are not. It is definitely consistent here as I watched the reactions from other diners who were equally happy with their meals (if anything changes on a subsequent visit, it will be noted here).

The outdoor patio is a wonderful place to eat if the weather in Los Angeles is as balmy as it usually is, even in the winter.

I sat inside the lovely recently redecorated café.

 With a view of the wine bottles.

And a nice seating area with a fireplace.

The interior also had beautiful fresh flowers and a tempting pastry case with goodies to go.

One of the specials for this week is a traditional Venezuelan coconut milkshake called a Cocada for $4 that was the perfect tropical accompaniment to my meal. It is made with coconut water, so it it not as rich as a creamy milkshake, but perfect for those of us who love coconut water and freshly grated coconut.

My excellent server, Nicky, presented my first course of Tequeños, made with Paisa cheese wrapped in a flour dough and fried, and it came with a home made guava jam that I wanted to eat by the spoonful! For $7, this Venezuelan appetizer offered an umami combination of salty cheese with crispy fried dough and a sweet and sour guava jam that was so addictive I ate two! The home made jam was so good I asked Nicky if they had any for sale; unfortunately they do not sell it, but he offered to pack some to go for me :)

My next course was another appetizer, or pasapalos, the mini cachapas, also $7. These were mini corn griddle cakes with de mano cheese and served with a fresh sour cream called nata. I am not someone who loves sweet dishes, but the sweet corn in this dish was outstanding. I wanted to give the griddle cakes a standing ovation for the subtle fresh corn flavor, the caramelized crunchy sweetness on the bottom, and the wonderful combination of cheese and fresh sour cream that made this a dish you could eat as an appetizer, side dish or even dessert. You can tell how much I liked this dish because it came with four pieces, but I ate one before I realized I had not yet taken a photo!

My main course was the Pabellón with carne mechada, black beans, rice, and arepitas $19. I have never eaten the nationally known dish of carne mechada before, but now I believe that I am addicted to it! The flavors of the peppers, onions, and tomato are infused in the shredded beef and offer such an aromatic enhancement that you may wonder how you ever settled for any other kind of shredded beef. Because the flavor of the beef is vegetable based, the beef does not taste heavy like a braised short rib, so you can eat this as easily in the summer as the winter months.

The rice was fabulously done with a vegetable stock that sang out "eat me", and the beans were a good starch without much spice for those who prefer their beans plain. The arepitas are a crunchy fried cornmeal accompaniment which some people will adore and others will find bland, but like the beans, it will all depend on your preference.

The specialty appetizer I was invited to try was the torta de platano, a traditional sweet fried plantain dish, layered with white cheese and papelon, a raw hardened sugar cane pulp, for $8. It tasted more like a great dessert to me, especially if you love bananas or plantains and sugar. It was very rich and quite sweet, but not tooth achingly sweet. I ate about a third of one of these pieces and was completely satiated. If you have a sweet tooth you might be able to finish one piece (half an order).

Nicky promised me that the last thing I had to taste was the Mayan hot chocolate. I was happy to see it came in an small espresso cup after my many courses. After one sip, I was enthralled to discover that the flavor was spicy, warm, and chocolaty. They also make a mocha version, and since they are famous for their coffees, the next time I come, I will be ordering that variation.

Thanks to Lisa and Mila from PMBC Group for the invitation, thanks to Nicky for your wonderful service, and thank-you Camelia Coupal for creating such a wonderful space with delectable dishes to introduce those of us who live in Southern California to Venezuelan cuisine.

DL & Co. w/Madame Chocolat

My name is Elaine and I'm an addict. Ever since Madame Chocolat's retail location closed I've suffered chocolate withdraws. As anyone who has an addiction knows, when you need your fix, you can't wait for delivery, and thankfully my source is back in town at DL & Co. in Beverly Hills.

Since DL & Co. opened today, the Halloween decorations befitted the theme. With wandering animated statues, hors d'oeuvres and wine, the opening party was packed with friends, clients, and well wishers.

This peacock is the sentry at the entrance.

Graphics on the wall give the airy open space an edgy urban vibe.

If you love skulls, this shop has everything you could wish for, from candles to plates in your favorite motif.

Not everything in the shop has a skull theme or dark colors; there are also beautiful bright items, like these candles.

For me, the draw was Madame Chocolat's creations, and she had her signature Louboutin glitter pumps on display (and for sale), along with matching handbags (of course).

I bought one of these chocolate Eiffel towers as a gift. At first the people I bought it for didn't want to eat it because it was so beautiful, but they did eventually devour it!

If you ever wanted to literally "bite someone's head off", you might want to get some chocolate skulls and eat these instead (I bet they taste better). There is the shrunken variety in a trio of color and flavors.

Or the big skull with glittery eyes; I must say these are probably the only skulls I've ever seen which did not frighten me :)

Other gifts in the shop include exotic diffusers.

Candles and metalwork make for both a centerpiece and an art piece for your home decor.

Besides Madame's chocolates, my favorite gifts in the store were the Swarovski "apples".

This black crystal apple epitomized DL& Co.....a beautiful place which sparkles with a twist on classics to entice you to awaken your senses to unusual pleasures.

Bouchon Bistro For Bastille Day

Happy Bastille Day!

Since I was not in France this year, I had to "make do" with celebrating La Fête Nationale in Beverly Hills. Yes, I know I live a rough life :) I put on my Philippe Adec navy and white striped T shirt and jeans and headed over to Bouchon, which had an all day Happy Hour with drinks, food and balloons! The house wines were only $5 a glass (and decent), spirits only $7, and beers only $4, alors santé!

The daily soup special was a fresh pea soup which was as light and fresh as summer would taste in a soup.

The regular soup was tomato basil, and this is probably my favorite version (ok, maybe tied with the one at Bottega Louie). If you love tomatoes, this will have you licking the bowl:)

The bakery next door makes the incredible epi that comes with your meal (and I took a warm baguette home from the bakery just because it's one of the best baguettes in Los Angeles). If you have never been to France, come here and have some of the bread so you will get an idea of why peasants stormed the Bastille because they could not afford bread.

The Happy Hour menu included a tomato and burrata crostini for only $4. I'm not a big burrata fan and didn't taste this, but the tomatoes were ripe, lightly dressed and allowed to simply shine.

I could not resist the $2 oysters. I started with 8 and ended up eating 4 more for an even dozen. Absolutely fresh, served WITHOUT being rinsed, and with a simple squeeze of lemon, this was a perfect meal for me.

The pork belly sliders with home made cole slaw and cornichons were delightful to the eye and stomach. They serve TWO for $8 but I didn't get a chance to snap the photo before one was already devoured!

I lusted after every cone of french fries which arrived to other tables, so we decided to order one and I ended up eating more potatoes than I have in a year! They were a bit thin for my taste, but they remained crisp even when cold and I couldn't stop eating them!

My favorite plate here is the lentils with duck confit and poached egg. It is my ultimate "old lady" comfort food (soft chewable food)! I only managed to eat about half of my bowl ($15.50), but the leftovers warm up superbly and I know I will have at least another comforting meal tomorrow!

The lemon tart is the must have dessert here, with a meringue top and a shortbread crust, it is just tangy enough to make you forget this is a sweet dessert. Served with buttery cookie crisps, this is a wonderful way to end an evening.

Bastille Day was a great excuse to go to my favorite French bistro and enjoy people watching from the outdoor cafe overlooking the first public garden built in Beverly Hills in the last decade. Marie Antoinette may have said, "Let them eat cake" but I would rather eat bread and oysters at Bouchon.