Jitlada Revisted

It was a dark and stormy night when I headed out to Hollywood on an errand, so as a reward I introduced Jitlada to someone who had never been. The last time I went was before Covid hit, so it was a wonderful reunion for me! I was thrilled to find that there was no line and no wait at 5:30pm because of the rain and the early bird dinner time! I even found a spot in the parking lot! I started off with a spicy papaya smoothie for $6 that was probably the only spicy thing on the menu that did not make my nose run! It was made with very ripe papaya and was a great dessert like drink.

Since it was a rainy night, the first order was of course soup! The spicy red crab and egg (#38) for $23.95 was the perfect thick, comforting soup to warm the chill of the weather outside. The lowest spice level was just at the tolerance level for my dining partner, especially since the spice helped warm us up on a chilly night.

I love rice noodles and because my dining partner can not tolerate spice, I ordered everything with no or very little spice. The Pad See Ew (#181) for $18.95 with beef was full of tender beef, chinese broccoli, and tender noodles.

I had to order my favorite Thai oxtail curry (#98) for $22.95, featuring falling off the bone oxtails, a complex medley of spices, and veggies to add different textures to the curry. One of my favorite oxtail dishes in Los Angeles!

I had to add some asparagus to the table (#165) for $19.95. Every piece was tender and the flavor of the stir fry was so good even a non vegetable lover would eat this dish!

The kitchen fell behind in the orders as the crowd began to gather around 6pm (line was around the shopping center even in the rain), so even though we had ordered Bangkok fried rice (#214) for $19.95, we asked for it to go since we were already full. It wasn't until I opened up the container the next day that I realized what a great "mistake" the kitchen had made with a fried egg on top of shrimp paste fried rice and a container of sweet pork nuggets, this dish had fresh mango, string beans, and very hot sliced peppers (that look very similar to the string beans). I wish I had ordered more food to go because the flavors of Thailand keep beckoning me to go back for more now that I know the perfect time to go!

Wood & Vine

Going to eat at Wood & Vine has become my automatic choice before a show at the Pantages. It's literally across the street, so there is no need to stress about traffic or parking, and the food, atmosphere, and service are always pleasant. They have instituted a no tip policy, with 20% automatically added to the bill to cover both back and front of the house employees, so those who work behind the scenes are paid a fairer wage for their work. I wish more restaurants would institute this policy.

I was going to a show for a pre birthday celebration so our serve gave us TWO complimentary glasses of sparkling wine (from Albuquerque and normally $14 per glass) and although I would not have ordered this ordinarily, it was a nice gesture and I appreciated the thoughtfulness.

The classic caesar for $12 had slices of garlic toast instead of croutons, and had enough garlic and a bit of anchovy to satisfy my picky palate.

The braised short rib for $26 was GIGANTIC! It was so tender and tasty that we put the leftovers in the car (it was a cool day and we parked underground across the street) as we went to watch the show!

I got the linguini and shrimp for $26 that was also a hearty portion, and a tasty rendition with fresh tomatoes and good sized, perfectly cooked shrimp.

We arrived for the show 2 hours early, so we had time to linger, but not much room after the meal. Our waitress once again gave us a complimentary dessert (normally $10). The hot donut holes with vanilla sauce were fantastic! 

It was nice to find Wood & Vine survived Covid 19, and it was fun to attend my first performance at the Pantages in over 2 years!

Musso & Frank Grill

It's been years since I've eaten at Musso & Frank, and I found out that since they reopened their dining room, many other people are also feeling nostalgic for old school fine dining in an historic venue. When I tried to get a reservation a week out, I quickly found that getting any available time and date takes about a month of advanced planning, but my patience was rewarded with the Joe Dimaggio and Marilyn Monroe booth :)

I very much appreciated that there was a guard at the door checking for reservations, Covid 19 vaccination cards, and IDs before allowing anyone inside! 

I am still thinking about the perfect Elit® dirty martini I drank that night. By the time I finished my one drink (I love the little side car of more martini on ice that replenished my glass 2 times more), I was very happy that I was not driving home!

If you have never seen this, this is jellied consommé for $6, basically consommé soup, but in jelly form eaten chilled with a squeeze of lemon, this is a refreshing way to eat your soup :)

Classic Caesar salad for $16 was loaded with parmesan, but very tame with no anchovy taste and very little garlic. 

It's been ages since I've eaten sand dabs, so I chose it as my main for $28 served with a meuniere sauce. The filets were very thin and a little overdone but not inedible.

The steamed asparagus with hollandaise  for $15 was a very generous portion of perfectly steamed tender asparagus.

My dining companion chose sautéed calf's liver and onions with bacon for $24 and graciously shared some of the bacon :) 

Leaving was sad, but after being regaled by the stories of shenanigans of previous customers, a nostalgic meal of old fashioned comfort food, and perhaps the best elit martini I've ever tasted, it was mitigated by a mental note that I could return anytime I planned ahead with a reservation a few weeks out!

Wood & Vine Perfect Before Pantages

Going to a show at the Pantages, there is always the question of where to eat either before or after the show. Wood & Vine is my favorite pre-show stop for several reasons: it is literally across the street, so even if you are wearing heels, it's a very easy walk; they are used to patrons eating before the curtain rises so they will tell you if you don't have time to eat, or what can be ordered and ingested without worry about missing the show; the food is fresh, skillfully prepared, and actually has flair which gives me great joy in discovering; there is a very nice outdoor patio in the back that allows you to dine al fresco; they have a decent wine selection with bottles from around the globe; their prices are reasonable considering the quality ingredients and location in the heart of Hollywood; they add a 20% service charge to the check so that the back of the house (the people who actually prepare your food) get to participate in the American tipping system.

The classic Caesar for $10 has nicely charred romaine and lots of real parmesan.

Pasta and faux meat balls was done well enough that my eating companion didn't even realize there was no meat on the plate!

Asian chicken salad for $12 was a refreshing take on the well known dish, using very good vegetables and a nice tangy dressing.

The jambalaya was probably my favorite dish here. For $24, it is loaded with andouille sausage, shrimp, mussels, chicken, peppers, and orzo. The flavor has lots of kick but isn't fiery hot, just very full of umami.

For those with a sweet tooth, the banana cream caramel for $12 will satisfy you :)

Bludso's BBQ

Finding good BBQ in France is like trying to find a great baguette in the US; it's possible, but rare. Some foods are best in their native land, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on some "low and slow" hardwood BBQ. 

I'd wanted to try Bludso's since they opened three years ago in Hollywood, but trying to find the time to drive to Hollywood on one of the nights when they had their beef short ribs was too much of a challenge right before my move. One of the perks of living in LA is that there are several delivery services which will bring you any meal you wish from nearly any restaurant you wish, all for a price. I am NOT recommending the service I used because they advertised a $2.99 delivery, then tacked on an additional $15 of "other" charges AFTER they processed my order, bringing my delivery total to about 30% of my total bill, and that was before my tip for the driver. The price was worth the lesson to either pick up a take-out order myself, or go eat at the restaurant.

I ordered the BBQ Beef Short Ribs, only offered on the Thursday-Monday dinner menu, a half rack of four for $20, and a half rack of the pork ribs for $16. There were two containers of BBQ sauce, one spicy and one mild, and even though I usually like spicy, I combined the two :)

with a side of collard greens $8 for a pint,

and a piece of cornbread for $1.75

Even though I had waited until a week-end night just to get the beef short ribs, I preferred the pork ribs. The amount of black pepper rub on the beef ribs overwhelmed the meat. Although tender and smoky, the beef short ribs needed the spicy sweet BBQ sauce to enhance the flavor, but I could (and did) eat the pork ribs without any sauce. They could stand by themselves on texture of the meat (not falling off the bone, but easily taken off with a bite), and the rub and smoke both married to the meat in a happy combination. 

I was grateful that the collard greens were not cooked to death, and that they still retained some vibrancy along with their rich pork infused flavor. The cornbread was classically and simply made, instantly perked up with some honey or butter; they provided a container of "honey butter" but I preferred using my own.

I'd like to go back to try the beef brisket and pulled pork, but now that I'm back in the land of BBQ, it will be awhile before I go back to one I've already tried when there are so many other choices beckoning with masterful techniques and tantalizing aromas.

The Place to Go in Hollywood : The Pikey

I spent last week at COLCOA (City of Lights, City of Angels), otherwise known as the French Film Festival in Los Angeles held at the Director's Guild in Hollywood. I go almost every year as my version of a staycation, combining the fun of seeing foreign films debuting in the US with Question & Answer dialogues with the directors, writers, and actors. Of the six films I saw, my two favorites were "Haute Cuisine" (Saveurs du Palais) and "What's in A Name" (Le Prénom). Best of all it's only a 10 mile drive away and I always try new places to eat when I go.

This year I found The Pikey. It was so good that throughout the week of the film festival, I went back four times! The word "Pikey" is slang for "traveler" as in the kind who are known for taking advantage of people, but in the case of this place, I would gladly volunteer to be used as a gastronomic guinea pig.

Although it looks like an English pub from the outside, the food they serve here definitely has its roots in Los Angeles. Their ingredients are all locally or organically sourced, and all their meat is free range and cruelty free. The interior has a restaurant side and a bar side, but on most days the patio is a perfect spot to sit with the sunbrellas and heat lamps.

Not wishing to compete with 700 people at COLCOA for the free continental breakfast, I parked and walked the four blocks to the Pikey from the DGA building and had brunch. Their Bloody Mary for $8 is made with Vegemite! Yes, you read that correctly, Vegemite! Yes, those are pickled green beans as garnish. Yes, it was delicious!

I needed something more substantial than a $4 Crumpet with honeycomb and clotted cream for my movie marathon, so I ordered the cured Arctic Char with scrambled eggs in Hollandaise and biscuit for $14. This was probably the best brunch plate I have ever eaten. 

The eggs were done perfectly, not too runny, not overcooked, the cured Arctic Char was sublime, and the Hollandaise was perfect proportion to the eggs and cured fish. The biscuit was fluffy and flaky (a difficult combination to master), needing nothing on it, and the watercress salad had a fresh lemon dressing that balanced the rich eggs and biscuit. Writing about it now makes me wish it was the week-end now so I can go get this again!

I went back after a show and ordered a dinner of the vegan eggplant, tomato and lentil curry served with Punjabi cornbread for $15, and the redolent spices of the curry made me smile with joy when it arrived on my table. I'm sorry to not have a picture for you, but it was dark and I did not want to disturb the other diners with a flash from my camera.

On another day I came before a movie and had appetizers outside. Even though they are a "pub", they serve great wines like Muscadet, wonderful scotches, and exotic liqueurs mixed in signature drinks with names like the "Twiggy" the "Guvnor" and the "Coach and Horses" for about $14. I ordered a glass of Entre Deux Mers White Bordeaux (yes, I can be boring at times).

A white Bordeaux just tasted better with the Arctic Char Crudo with Sea Beans and California Citrus for $16. Both were delightful. The fish was amazingly fresh with a light citrus and olive oil dressing and the sea beans were slightly salty vegetables that resemble tiny asparagus. If you love sashimi this dish has your name on it.

Every server and host I had on my four visits was exceptionally friendly and professional, and since I couldn't decide whether I wanted curried cauliflower or the thrice cooked chips with Worcestershire aioli (both $6), I asked my waitress to decide for me. She wisely chose the chips since she said, "You've already been so healthy with the crudo"!

The chips ($6) came with an assortment of sauces in case I did not like the Worcestershire aioli (it was good). They were so great simply plain (see, I  told you I'm boring) that I nearly ate them all (although I did sprinkle some malt vinegar on them just to be traditionally British).

On another afternoon I stopped in for the seared squid with curried chick peas for $13.The squid was absolutely tender and the curried chick peas had a nice smoky flavor. My only complaint about this plate was that there wasn't more squid!

The key to watching two movies in one day is staying awake for both of them, so I had a latte before I left and was surprised at how well they make their coffee drinks! I would come here for just coffee (it was that good).

Another pleasant surprise was the sweet puff of meringue that came with the bill :)

They offer valet parking in the evening, but depending on when you are going, you can find free parking in the back or on one of the side streets off Sunset Boulevard.

Their menu says "Me Likey The Pikey", and I couldn't agree more!

Oscars in the Summer

The weather in Los Angeles is one of the many reasons people move here from all over the world. Another reason is that they want to be in the movies. Now for everyone who loves the movies and enjoys the weather here, you can watch Oscar winning movies in Hollywood for only $5 (for students and Academy members it's only $3) at Oscars Outdoors.

This is as close as we get to having our own outdoor projection screening room; the 20 x 40 foot screen is probably bigger than what you could put up, and being able to bring your own food and drinks, makes this a Friday or Saturday night fiesta. All you need to bring is a blanket or lawn chair, get here by sundown, and enjoy Oscar winners like Casablanca (June 15) or classics like The Princess Bride (July 14).

A classic movie, food, drinks & great company....sounds like a recipe for a spectacular summer evening!

Musso & Frank's Hollywood Legend

Very few places are still in business after one decade, much less NINE, but Musso & Frank's is one of the rare legends that lives on, weathering wars and trends with equal aplomb. Once you step inside, you may suddenly feel more sophisticated or worldly, but it is the old school service which has elevated your attitude. The red jackets and formal greetings are anachronisms which remind us that decorum should never die.

My friend has been coming here for decades, with "the old guys" who inhabit the booths like godfathers. The fact that I was deemed worthy to enter this sacred space with an old timer flattered me. The food was was like a time machine; it brought me back to the 60's and like an episode of "Mad Men", I enjoyed every minute.

My friend started off with the house salad with blue cheese dressing. You may opt for additions to your salad, but like a true old man, my friend had only the greens.

I chose the sand dabs ($23), which I never see on menus anymore. They were perfect, just as Julia Child swooned over in her first trip to France, I swooned over these delicate filets done "comme il faut" (as it should be) with capers, butter and lemon. If anyone you know does not like fish, make them taste this and convert them!

Since this is old world style dining, every entree is served separately, so I ordered braised spinach ($8) with my fish and the side was as lovely and perfectly done as my main course.

Most people who come here order the steak ($33) and they cook it exactly as ordered, meaning, rare is bloody and well is brown. Of course the old timer ordered rare, and of course it was done as ordered. Nearly every table ordered steak, so if you can't decide what to get, I suggest you go with the odds and order the steak.

The steak fries ($5) were wonderfully crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.

As a child, I always like jello ($3.50), but I haven't seen it on a menu since I was a child, so I had to order it here. Served with fruit, I felt as if I was 5 years old and finished every bite!

I was not the only one to finish my dessert, my friend ordered the sundae ($6.25) and ate every spoonful!

On another night I came and had the special duck a l'orange with a friend who ordered the lobster thermidor. Both dishes were so rich and decadent that the pictures came out fuzzy; I guess even cameras get thrown off balance when transported to another era!

Tasting Katsuya

Although some people are weary of tasting menus (yes Anthony Bourdain I am talking about you), most of us revel in being able to sample a chef's skill in a menu designed to amuse, beguile, and seduce diners into a food nirvana.

Some friends and out of country visitors went to the Hollywood location of Katsuya on a night when an infamous celebrity (a certain tall thin blond heiress) had paparazzi swarming the place. Since we were not sought for photographs, we entered the place easily and were escorted to an ensconced booth facing the sushi bar. No one could decide what to order (besides a few bottles of a delicious Sancerre), so we each went with the tasting menu of five courses ($65).

A ceviche began the meal, with nicely dressed citrus ponzu sashimi of yellowtail, tuna, salmon and a sprinkle of jalapeno and cilantro in a tea cup sized serving dish. A nice light beginning for a very delectable journey.

The second course was actually four samples of the most famous dishes offered: crispy shrimp, lightly battered and fried with a rich creamy sauce on the side, the yellowtail with jalapeno, crispy rice with spicy tuna, and spicy albacore tuna with crispy onion. Everything was nice if not necessarily inspired. I found the crispy shrimp too rich with the sauce, but nice without it. The spicy albacore with crispy onion too salty, and the spicy albacore tuna on crispy rice was not at all spicy but tasty, but the jalapeno yellowtail was perfect.

The next dish was Kobe beef with a small slice of foie gras. I loved the foie gras, but found my beef too cooked (medium); it is a shame for such a wonderful piece of meat to be overdone, but in the tasting menu they do not ask how you want the meat portion prepared, so if you are like me and love your meat rare, be sure to tell your server before you order.

The final savory course was tuna, halibut and unagi sushi with a rice paper wrapped baked crab hand roll. It was divine, but we were all too full to completely finish this penultimate course; we tasted what we loved and left the rest to save some room for dessert.

Since there were five of us dining, we got to see that each dessert plate had a different flavor of mochi ice cream along with the cream filled profiteroles and fresh fruit we all got.

We literally had to stagger out of the restaurant (good thing the paparazzi were gone by then). Next time we will order more judiciously, picking out our favorite dishes amongst those we sampled, but we were glad to have tasted it all celebrity sighting in Hollywood included.