FOOD FLIRT MOVES BACK TO 90210

Hello Los Angeles!!!! The Food Flirt from 90210, a.k.a. me, Lindsay, took a year long hiatus from this blog and moved the Aspen Colorado. I'll be dishing candidly about every restaurant in that tiny town because I tried them all, but for the moment, I'm excited to delve back into sweet LA LA Land. Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out my first 3 reviews coming soon:
Villa Blanca - Beverly Hills
Via Alloro - Beverly Hills
Rivera - Down Town L.A.

VILLA BLANCA ~ 7~

My VERY pregnant friend and I went to lunch at Villa Blanca, the new Italian spot that replaced Trilussa. Between you and me, I can say with the utmost sincerity, the LAST thing Beverly Hills needed was ANOTHER mediocre Italian eatery. Honestly, what is the deal? Why are there SO MANY? Can we get a little Thai or Indian up in here? I am well aware that a slew of diners exist who will disagree with me, but I'll take Via Veneto in Santa Monica any day. So, if you have a glimmer of insight into the Italian food obsession in BH, let me know! Moving on ...

The atmosphere at Villa Blanca is whimsical, romantic, and white on white, which feels fresh and glamorous. There's a lovely patio on the sidewalk but the inside seating is equally inviting. You might think you've stepped into someones romantic wedding reception for a moment. The menu (thank god) offers some items not seen elsewhere in BH, such as a variety of Italian inspired sandwiches and flat breads as well as some unique appetizers. (More details after next visit.)

Since it was lunch, we both opted for salads which I enjoyed more than my usual greens at La Scala, Il Pastaio, or Via Alloro. Both were very fresh with lots of "the good stuff" meaning chicken, cheese, olives etc. This is hard to find in Beverly Hills where salads are usually quite lettuce heavy despite the $18.00 price tag. I tried the Greek salad with shrimp and Erica had the chicken chopped. At Villa Blanca I felt the food at least stood up to the price.

Our waiter was fabulous! He really made our afternoon sweet and enjoyable. I forgot his name, but remember his accent! We decided to indulge in cappuccino and dessert so I would have more blog fodder and my friend could satiate her mommy-to-be cravings.

The coffee was delish! The molten lava chocolate cake ... YUMMYLISCIOUS! I'm normally not one to rave about a dessert unless it really deserves my glowing review and I've had plenty of average molten chocolate lava cakes. This one rates a super 9! I took one point off as the cake around the edges was a tiny bit dry. The rest, superb and worth every calorie. I'll be returning to Villa Blanca soon for a dinner review!


THE QUICK DISH
This newbie Italian restaurant is worth a try if you're sick of all the others and want better quality for your cash. The food is good, the atmosphere great, and the service 5 star!

RESTROOM REPORT
Like It!

Quarter Kitchen ~ San Diego ~ 4

I spent this past weekend in San Diego and dined at the (somewhat new) Quarter Kitchen at the Ivy Hotel located in the trendy Gas Lamp District. I'd heard good things and it was highly recommended by The Hard Rock. Normally I stay away from "fine dining" in hotel restaurants, but since amazing food wasn't the focus of the evening (we were more concerned with finding a dance club), I thought why not? Well ... unfortunately, we found a multitude of reasons ... as to why not.

I'd like to preface this review by telling you I am always very grateful for any meal, no matter the quality, and I do recognize how VERY VERY lucky I am to have the opportunity to eat in a restaurant at all. I enjoy reviewing restaurants as a past time because food-art/fine cuisine is a true passion of mine, but in the larger scheme of things, I am so fortunate just to be blessed with 3 meals a day. That being said, it's time to put on my critic's hat.

First impressions are not always incorrect. Around 5pm on Friday my friend Tami and I call to make a reservation at Quarter Kitchen for later that night, hoping we can be squeezed in by 10pm. They are able to take us at 8:30, or 9:00, or 9:30, and even at 10pm when we finally arrive. (Somehow, we lost track of time in Nordstrom's ... crazy I know.) Clearly they are not booked despite the fact every other place we drive by is teeming with people. An empty restaurant is not a good sign but we ignore this since our stomachs are on empty.

We walk into a grand space with heaven high ceilings and a modern vibe that makes you feel chic and cool just to be dining there. Our waiter is nice but not knowledgeable about basic menu questions. I order a glass of Sauvignon Blanc which is excellent and she has a Riesling, also very good. The wine, FYI, is the highlight of the entire experience. An amuse bouche arrives ... watery potato leek soup drizzled with olive oil. This little gift from the chef was CRYING for sodium and or any flavor at all.

We order truffled, leek empanadas with queso blanco and truffle dipping sauces. I can see the black perigord truffle slices in the lukewarm, coagulated gravy-esque sauce (also needing salt) but the slightest hint of truffle flavor is difficult to make out ... quite a feat considering the flavor of truffle is so potent and unique. The empanadas seem to be made in-house but possess minimal flavor and remind me of pop-tart dough stuffed with mushy vegetables and cheese.

A caprese salad arrives next ... not horrible but nothing an amateur cook could not make at home. The VISION of heirloom and fried green tomatoes with 25 year old balsamico described on the menu, somehow does not translate to the plate. When a restaurant serves an amuse bouche, it sets a certain tone for the entire meal. At very least I'm expecting juicy, succulent tomatoes, soft rich mozzarella with a slight tang, and memorable balsamic. We are served average at best tomatoes, what tastes like cheap mozzarella, and wilted shreds of basil.

We share an entree,which they split for us and that is gracious service. Blackened Hamachi seared rare with Togarashi, wok fried vegetables and a spicy red miso sauce. We are not able to try anything beyond the first bite of Hamachi which is so fishy we send it back, order 2 more glasses of wine, and get the check.

Oh, we also try a side of grilled asparagus with shaved Parmesan which is fine. Normally, in a high end restaurant, a manager is sent over when guests are so clearly unsatisfied, but no one seemed too concerned. Oh well.

I believe this place has potential ... the exhibition kitchen is gorgeous. Perhaps they are just working out the kinks many new restaurants experience. We go party all night anyway and have glorious French Fries at 2am. The following morning we ate at The Bondi, an Australian Cafe with phenomenal decor and excellent food brimming with flavor. I would have gone back to the Oz inspired cafe for dinner if we'd stayed another night.

Quarter Kitchen - Ivy Hotel
600 F Street
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 814-2000

the bondi
333 Fifth Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 342-0212

Bloom ~ 7

I've heard from more than one foodie that the neighborhood on Pico between Fairfax and Hauser is flowering into a boutique restaurant haven. I made my way down there this past Sunday to check out Bloom ... a little cafe that prides itself on seasonal, healthy fare and going green. We sat outside on the back patio which was very cool in a retro Jetson's sort of way. The bright white space is accented with orange tables and blue inset windows. Strings of lights hang from the canvas draped overhead and I bet the patio is especially charming at night.

The place was packed! We ordered 2 cafe au laits and tap water, which came chilled, sans ice, and infused with cucumber. The cups looked like plastic but were made from corn. Neat! This was by far the best tap water experience I've had in a restaurant. For brunch, I decided on the poached eggs on raisin walnut bread.

The food took awhile to arrive but was well worth the wait. My eggs were perfectly soft and the combination of savory tomato coulis and goat cheese spread over the soft sweet raisin bread created heaven right there in my mouth. I loved that they were so forward thinking with the flavor combinations. My boyfriend acutally cringed at the thought of goat cheese, tomatoes, egg and raisin bread all together, but once I convinced him to try a bite ... he ate half my breakfast.

He ordered the 222, which was good, but not as amazing as my dish. The 2 buttermilk pancakes were fluffy and flavored ever so lightly with orange. The eggs were ordered over medium but came out WAY OVER EASY so we sent them back. The second time around, they arrived perfectly soft boiled, but by this time he was full. The star players in the 222 were the sausage and syrup. The meat was well spiced, juicy and when dipped in the warm maple syrup with orange essence ... I knew that I'd found another thing to be addicted to in LA. Oh and BTW, the prices at Bloom are VERY reasonable, especially for such quality food.

Bloom Cafe
5544 Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90019
Phone: (323) 934-6900
Cross Street: Sierra Bonita Avenue
Hours: Daily 8am-5pm

Vanilla Green Tea Cupcake Recipe

I've finally been invited to venture into the world of my boyfriend's family. We've been together for just over a year while I've met his siblings in passing, last week I was invited to my his sister's birthday and had to impress! She loves vanilla and green tea so I made these cupcakes with Matcha green tea frosting. It turned out to be a great combination and you could really taste the tea! For the vanilla cake I tried this recipe that I found on 52 Cupcakes

Changes I Made:
Low-fat milk instead of whole and they were pretty good but after one day became dry.
Added 1/2 tsp nutmeg to the dry mix
Used salted butter because I'm always happier with the result

Billy's Vanilla, Vanilla Cupcakes from Billy's Bakery in NYC

Makes about 30 cupcakes
1 3/4 cups cake flour, not self-rising
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix on low speed until combined. Add butter, mixing until just coated with flour.
2. In a large glass measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts, scraping down sides of bowl before each addition; beat until ingredients are incorporated but do not overbeat.
3. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about two-thirds full. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 17 to 20 minutes.

4. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat process with remaining batter. Once cupcakes have cooled, use a small offset spatula to frost tops of each cupcake. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Serve at room temperature.

Matcha Green Tea Frosting
3/4 cup butter, salted (room temp)
1 tablespoon Matcha powder
7-8 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

In bowl of electric mixer, using paddle, cream butter and Matcha until combined and the mixture is a tea green color. Add half of powder sugar, milk and vanilla to bowl. Mix on low, then move to medium speed. Slowly add remaining powdered sugar until frosting reaches desired consistency. Beat frosting on high until fluffy. Frosting should be quite thick but smooth enough to pipe onto cupcakes. Making frosting this thick will prevent you from having to refrigerate cupcakes.

Use pastry bag fitted with round pastry tip, about 1/2" in diameter to pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes. I decorated with pearl dragees. Store in air tight container.

Coupa Cafe ~ 7.5

It's important to give restaurants a second and possibly third chance, just as it is with people. I tried Coupa Cafe twice when they first opened in Beverly Hills and wasn't impressed. Early this week, boyfriend and I were lamenting over how Beverly Hills needs a few better breakfast spots. Since he'd never been, we walked into Coupa Cafe and were so deliciously satisfied by the time we left, we returned the next morning!

They have these addicting Arepas and phenomenal coffee from Venezuela. Arepas (for those who don't know, I didn't) are a very popular Venezuelan snack food, especially for the late night party crowd. We go for pizza, or possibly "street meat" (aka hot dogs on a cart) at 2am. Venezuelans eat Arepas. They are little corn cakes that remind me of a Pita/English Muffin hybrid. When sliced in half, they are very thin, a little crispy, and you can fill them with anything you'd like. They become a perfect little sandwich, about the size of our Egg McMuffins, but much tastier!
On visit #2, Derrek ordered the Breakfast Special Arepa, eggs with bacon and Gouda, as well as one with turkey, goat cheese and spinach.

I customized mine with egg whites, sun dried tomatoes, and light Gouda cheese (trying to be healthy). All three were wonderful, but the Breakfast Special is great if you're hungover!

Now let's talk coffee. Among my favorite places in BH to get my morning ritual Cafe au Lait are Frittelli's, Ingrid's, and Le Provence. COUPA CAFE is now my coffee obsession of the moment. I always knew my heart would be stolen my someone or something in South America ... I guess it's the latter :). I asked if they had a mild coffee and our waiter suggested the Caracas. Not only did my Au Lait arrive looking red carpet ready, but also had velvet-like mircofoam, the tell tail sign of a fine barista. The coffee was rich, decadent, and smooth, as promised. Coupa Cafe also has free WiFi, beer and wine, a cute outdoor patio area and a warm fireplace inside. Their flagship cafe is in Palo Alto, Ca.

Coupa Cafe
419 N Canon Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210-4819
Phone: (310) 385-0420

Cross Street: Brighton Way
Hours: Daily 7:30am-11pm
Happy Hour M-F, 5-7pm, 2 for 1

FWDGF Vegetable Soup Recipe

The first thing you're supposed to do using French Women Don't Get Fat (FWDGF) is keep a three week food journal, eating normally, to discover what foods are the "offenders" as Guiliano calls them. Well, I'm not the most patient person and I have a pretty good idea of what foods are offending my waistline so ... on to the next step. For 2 days you eat either Magical Leek Broth or Mimosa Soup. Sadly, Mimosa Soup contains no orange juice or champagne. It is however, more hearty than the leek soup so I opted for the Mimosa. As usual, I made the recipe my own and luckily it turned out to be delicious! Let me note, I will not be eating only soup for 2 days straight because, well, I don't want to. I'll replace 2 meals a day with this soup for 4 days or so. Here's the recipe a la FoodFlirt90210:

4-6 cloves fresh garlic
2 tsp grapeseed oil (or olive oil)
1/2 pound carrots
1 bunch celery
1 medium turnip ( Try them you'll like them!)
4 large leeks
1/2 cup chopped flat Italian parsley
1 large box low-sodium vegetable broth
water
2 tbs Turmeric
2 tsp Paprika
1 tbs Ancho Chili Powder (any mild chili powder will do)
1 small head cauliflower
1/2 head green cabbage

Peel and chop garlic. Saute in large soup pot with grapeseed oil until golden brown. Turn off heat.
Clean and coarsely chop all vegetables.

Just an FYI, you only use the light green and white part of the leek for this recipe. Make sure to wash them really well as they tend to hold a bit of dirt inside.

Place all vegetables in pot with garlic except for cauliflower and cabbage. Pour broth over veggies then add water until covered.

Bring to a boil over high heat then add spices using wooden spoon to combine. Simmer, uncovered for 40 minutes.

Add cauliflower and cabbage and cook for another 15 minutes.

Serve soup hot with a dollop of plain yogurt on top. Salt to taste if necessary. This huge pot o' soup should last 2-5 days.

A French Woman's Breakfast

I love French Women Don't Get Fat (FWDGF) because there's not a specific meal plan I have to stick to. Rather, Guiliano offers many recipes and general guidelines for what she calls "recasting" your eating habits over a 3 month period.

Today I made a lovely, petite breakfast with plain FAGE 0% fat yogurt, toasted flax seed, brown sugar, cinnamon, and grapes. I also drank a small cafe au lait with skim milk; normally I order a medium . I'm making small but doable changes just like the book says! YAY :) FWDGF recommends eating 2 daily servings (about 1/2 cup each) of plain all natural yogurt since it's satisfying and really good for you.

I sliced up some green grapes then combined 1 cup yogurt with 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon golden flax seed. Top the yogurt off with the grapes for a delicious, easy breakfast with protein!

I set the table for one and sat there eating my breakfast, not watching TV ... just enjoying my first meal of the day. It felt a little weird, but it's nice taking a moment to eat and pay attention to what your eating. Far better than rushing out the door, banana and protein bar in hand, not tasting a morsel as it goes down.

I've Been Overly Flirtatious ...

It is possible to be overly flirtatious with food? Well, my "skinny jeans" seem to think so. I'm afraid I've been flirting with a few too many foods, too many times a day. Oops! Oh well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Enter "French Women Don't Get Fat," by Mireille Guiliano. This book came out in 2005 and reads like a novel, but it's actually a book on how to lose weight in a very reasonable, doable way ... the French way. Now, French people are the original foodies (Italians may disagree) and thus, would never shun great food or live on protein bars and frozen meals. GROSS! So, I've decided to revisit this excellent little book, which focuses on conscious eating, the opposite of mindless eating, which has become ever so popular in America.

In short, you start out with a 2 day diet of homemade soup, then follow with three months of wonderful, albeit healthy, mainly homemade meals. You must agree to eat your meals sitting down at a table, not watching TV or talking on the phone. When you eat you focus on just that, eating. You taste the flavors and enjoy each bite. You take your time and eat slowly. You notice the first signs of being full and push the plate away, even if you're not a member of "the clean plate club." You also decide which foods are most likely the culprit for your weight gain. For me ... wine and sweets, so for three months, I'll keep those two items to a minimum, meaning weekends only.

I began this "lose five pounds" process 3 days ago and I have to say, it's AMAZING how a small amount of really wholesome food can be so satisfying. I was out to lunch the other day, ordered a chopped veggie salad, dressing on the side, and made the conscious decision to eat 1/3 of it and then decide if I was full, which I was. Normally I would have dove right in, munching away, paying more attention to my boyfriend than my meal. This time, I tried to enjoy each nuance, each ingredient and guess what? The meal was so wonderfully satisfying, I didn't think about food again until dinner! If you're a food lover who wants to shed a few pounds, this is the easiest diet plan around.

LAMILL COFFEE CO.~ 9

I finally meandered over to Silver Lake to experience the much talked about coffee boutique, LAMILL (pronounced lah-mill). This is not, let me repeat NOT, your average, cater to the masses, grab your daily cup o' Joe and go coffee shop. No ladies and gentlemen, LAMILL takes the art of coffee to a pristine new level. Their caffeinated concoctions have been carefully calculated, formulated and are ever so thoughtfully constructed right before your eyes. This is a place to visit when you want to indulge in a divine brunch and linger over ridiculously decadent coffee that you’ll crave for the rest of the week. If I lived in Silver Lake, this spot would become part of my lazy Sunday morning ritual.

At first I was curious … why didn’t this opulent coffee palace open somewhere chichi like Beverly Hills? Why boho-chic Silver Lake? This seems to be an ongoing blog debate. My 2 cents? I think it’s the distinctive artsy types, the gastronomic gurus, the “French palate” patrons who will truly recognize and appreciate the quirky artistry occurring daily at LAMILL … and those people are found in neighborhoods like Silver Lake. In BH, people would have given this fantastic establishment plenty of business without scoffing at the $5 latte, but I live in Beverly Hills and let me tell you, a restaurant does not have to serve high quality food to be a success in the 90210 area code. (Not always, but often, BH diners are far more concerned with who is eating at the restaurant than with how the food actually tastes i.e. the Farm of Beverly Hills, Il Pastaio, and Mr. Chow.) Silver Lake is unusual as is LAMILL and I think they compliment each other.

When you walk in, there’s a tempting pastry case filled with scones, muffins, croissants, etc. Before we even sat down my boyfriend ordered a canele to be sent to the table. The two room restaurant was bustling with people high on platinum caffeine. The eccentric décor almost out shines the coffee … almost.

Color scheme: gold brass, deep teal, robin egg blue, grey black and blood red. Picture custom French wall paper depicting mythological scenes and vintage chairs covered in exotic, vinyl animal skin such as ostrich and crocodile. It’s anything but boring and somehow sets the right mood for coffee chemistry. Sitting at our window-side table for two, we perused the bible of a beverage menu and munched on the incredible canele. The outside was terrifically crunchy with a soft, creamy center similar to vanilla bread pudding.

We wanted to try the coffee spheres, but were told they were still in the creation phase and not yet available. (I felt like I was in Willy Wonka’s Coffee Factory.) As alluring as the “Jelly Doughnut Coffee Drink” sounded, we both ordered our usual, café au lait with skim milk, just to test this $5 version against the hundreds we’ve had elsewhere. Derrek wanted to add house made chocolate sauce and real whipped cream to his au lait. Uh oh! Order something not listed on the menu? Confusion ensued. Our very patient, sweet waitress summoned a guy in charge of coffee creation and he kindly explained that their drinks are made from precise recipes with exact ratios of milk to coffee etc. (BTW there was no attitude while explaining why they are so particular about the drinks … each person was gracious and sincere.) Much to my surprise, he finally agreed to bring the chocolate sauce and whipped cream on the side. Both were devastatingly delicious and the chocolate sauce was far closer to a velvety ganache.

To achieve the perfect 50/50 ratio that makes up a café au lait (half drip coffee, half steamed milk) the coffee creator poured both the coffee and milk simultaneously, into the cup, table side. Necessary? Nope. Elaborate, indulgent, and fun? Absolutely! My café au lait was smooth and creamy with no trace of burnt beans whatsoever. At LAMILL, the coffee is not pre-made. Each cup is brewed as it is ordered. Can you say FRESH? My only qualm was that by the time everything was poured, admired, and sugared, the beverage had lost that piping hot quality.

Knowing the menu was created by the esteemed Chef Michael Cimarusti of Providence, I was equally excited for the food. I ordered baked eggs that arrive with a sinfully generous amount of fresh crab meat on top, accompanied by perfectly crisp, perfectly buttered, toast. (Perfection is the predominant theme if you’ve not noticed.) The dish was sprinkled with chives which I assumed were just a garnish, but they added a piquant flavor profile to my already heavenly breakfast.

Derrek opted for scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, asparagus, and chives … a sumptuous display of simplicity at it’s finest. I floated out of LAMILL feeling blissful and content, with a sheer appreciation for the effort put forth to create a superior coffee+food experience in Los Angeles. (I did return weeks later. The “kinda like crème brulee” banana dessert was average at best but the liquid center lollipops are luscious).

NEAT FACTS about LAMILL
La Marzocco espresso machine
$11,000 Clover coffee machine that brews single cups to order
Siphon tableside coffee service (popular in Japan)
Food as exquisite as the coffee
Similarities to Starbucks: ZERO … thankfully
Serves room temperature water (more easily absorbed)

LAMILL COFFEE BOUTIQUE
1636 Silver Lake Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
323-663-4441
Hours
Tuesday-Sunday
7:00AM-7:00PM
Closed Monday

Naraya ~ 7

I'd driven by this tucked-away Thai place a hundred times, down S. Robertson on my way to the 10 freeway. Late one night I was craving a new, close-to-home (BH) Thai experience so I meandered into Naraya and was pleasantly surprised. The tiny space possessed a casual, Zen elegance and the food was both unique and good. I soon returned with my camera to write a blog … here are my findings. Their fancy cocktails are inexpensive anyway but they offer happy hour everyday from 4-7pm. Half price starters and drinks! We missed magic hour but indulged nonetheless in a Water Melon Martini (2 actually) and a Blue Mojito. There’s not a completely full bar but they serve wine, beer and made our drinks with Han, and Asian vodka that I liked. My melon-tini was smooth and the mojito perfectly minty but not overly sweet.

We began our adventure with the Naraya Radish Crowns. The texture was intriguing; both crunchy and soft. The sweet, nutty flavor was a smart contrast with the crispy garlic garnish. Each crown perched on one pristine spinach leaf, and surrounded a cabbage slaw dressed with creamy chili sauce.

We devoured a second appetizer (and over ate just to give our fellow foodies a better blog report.) Golden Pouches arrived, artistically presented on circular banana leaves. The crispy wontons enveloped succulent rock shrimp and were tied together with ribbons of green onion … pure pleasure for the mouth.

One of their specialties, Duck Salad, truly lived up to its simple name. Elsewhere when I’ve ordered duck salad, there has been a miniscule portion of duck. At first glance, we were worried but then discovered a plentiful amount of smoky, peppery duck layered beneath mixed greens, which were perfectly coated with chili-lime dressing. Candied walnuts (menu reads pistachios) mingled with grape tomatoes and I enjoyed le canard (the duck) in almost every bite!

Last, we tried steamed Chilean Sea Bass. Now, maybe it was and maybe it wasn't of true Chilean ilk, but I haven’t seen Chilean Bass for $18.00 in a long, long time. In any case, Chilean Sea Bass is really just Patagonian toothfish, but that name didn’t go over well commercially. (It’s known as Mero in Japan and Merluza Negra in South America.) The white fish was tender, but slightly undercooked and we were pulling bones. The emerald city of vegetables built around the fish however, was a delicate garden of freshness. Chinese celery, Japanese shitakes and baby bok choy were perfectly cooked with a touch of fresh ginger; simple but satisfying.

I look forward to another meal at Naraya. The menu is creative and priced fairly for the quality of food, ranging from $4-$21 for Australian Lamb Chop with Thai panang curry sauce, kaffir lime leaf, and green tea rice. The service is excellent and very personal. On my first visit, I inquired about their Pad Thai and was told they use real tamarind which is expensive and most restaurants replace it with sugar and peanut sauce. My server actually brought out some tamarind to show me. Maybe that’s why their Pad Thai a little more expensive … you get what you pay for. I love restaurants like this; Small, family run, with a focus on high quality food and friendly customer service. Naraya also offers great lunch specials.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A creative fusion of traditional Thai food and modern flavors, served in a casual, but stylish atmosphere. See my rating for Naraya on my blog, Foodflirt90210.

NARAYA

310-858-7738
1128 S. Robertson Blvd. LA, Ca 90035

Ristorante Donatella ~ Rancho Mirage ~ 8

Have you ever been to Verona? The ancient city, nestled in Northern Italy, is the setting of Shakespeare’s famous Romeo and Juliet. Many lovers visit the legendary (albeit symbolic) balcony where Mr. Romeo lured Miss Juliet. I too tumbled into a great love affair while in Verona … with the fabulous food. I always assumed a revisit to Italy would be necessary to again devour pasta made with such luxurious finesse. Ristorante Donatella, in Rancho Mirage, reminded me of one of The Four Agreements … “Don’t make assumptions.” Owner, Donatella, is a native of Verona and has successfully re-created her towns cuisine on American soil, twice. Tucked away in an inconspicuous location, next to mainly retail and office space, the Italian gem sparkles with a warm inviting ambiance once inside.

The menu is extensive and reads in traditional Italian style, beginning with antipasti and moving through pasta, carne, pesce etc. My parents and I spent at least 30 minutes poring over the menu, pre-tasting with our eyes. Risotto alone is prepared in six different ways! The wine list is formed from both Italy and California with many reasonably priced options. We sipped on a bottle of Tormaresco Chardonnay from Puglia. The insalata choices seemed endless so we decided to share three of them. (Many of the salads can be ordered small or large which I liked.)The Caesar was classic, creamy, and crisp, resonating with garlic and parmigiano cheese.

They raise the bar with their “house salad;” chopped red leaf, fresh mozzarella, pepperoncinis, olives, cherry tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, and proscuitto. This was a mansion of a salad to me!

My favorite though, was the Contadina with shredded cabbage, radicchio, endive, gorgonzola and walnuts. The crisp, lacy texture created by the lettuce medley combined with the potent, creamy cheese made my palate sing. Though we opted for the small size, these salads were more than enough to share!

We each ordered our own entrees, but next time I would order one or two pasta dishes, one meat, and one fish and share family style since the portions are large.

I indulged in the fettuccine zucchini gamberi, but replaced the fettuccini with pappardelle. The wide ribbons of satiny pasta, perfectly al dente, dallied in a light white wine sauce along with long rectangular slices of wholesome zucchini and a copious amount of plush pink shrimp.

My dad went the way of meat and ordered veal scaloppini in a rich, velvety tomato sauce dotted with porcini mushrooms and served with penne. While the pasta and sauce were quite good, the veal itself was a bit dry and lackluster.

My mom had the fish special, Sand Dabs swimming in a shallow lagoon of luscious white wine butter sauce. The fish was so deliciously delicate, that it vanished in your mouth almost instantly. Emerald green spinach sautéed in garlic and olive oil was the perfect simple accompaniment. Unfortunately, we were too satisfied (aka full) to pamper ourselves with dessert, so we’ll just have to make a return visit to Ristorante Donatella. Thankfully, it’s but a 2 hour drive from my home in Los Angeles; a far more manageably trek than returning to Verona on a regular basis and every bit as authentic.

Ristorante Donatella
71511 Hwy. 111 Ste. A-B
Rancho Mirage, Ca 92270
760-773-6434

Little Next Door ~ Food 6 Desserts 10

My mom was in town this past weekend and I took her to Little Next Door, the spawn of its popular parent restaurant, The Little Door. I went when they first opened and was very disappointed with both food and service but the ambiance is great! I am obsessed with the imperial violet blue and royal gold color scheme. I really wanted to like this place so I figured one more trip couldn't hurt.

They now offer table service, whereas last time you ordered at the counter before sitting down. We ordered 2 cafe au lait from a friendly Frenchman. They arrived piping hot, rich, and smooth in large bone colored bowls which felt comfortable and satisfying. I could tell there was a good barista in the house because due to the perfect microfoam on top. We didn’t order wine, but this little cafe is heaven for those who love a good wine by the glass selection. 5 whites and 6 reds are offered all between $5.00 -$10.00 per glass. Tres Bien!!

While we waited for our food to arrive, which did take awhile, the warm, nutty smell of browned butter wafted throughout the space. If that doesn’t make you hungry nothing will.

At the waiter’s suggestion, I ordered the grilled salmon sandwich on brioche bread. It was layered with a variety of spicy mixed greens and thin slices of salmon. One word … DRY. The bread was delicious but the sandwich itself lacked flavor and inspiration.

My mom ordered the Pesto Chicken Sandwich with grilled zucchini and summer squash. This sandwich had more flavor thanks to the pesto and was not as dry due to the grilled veggies, but the chicken could have used some time in a marinade. The baguette it was served on was good, but far too much bread for the petite amount of chicken and vegetables inside.

We also ordered one Harissa Egg to share. It Harissa is a hot red pepper paste used in North African cooking. It tasted like a deviled egg with a zesty bite. Yum!

One of my favorite pastry chefs in LA, Michael Brock, recently moved from Boule to Little Next Door. I’d told him how disenchanted I was with their pastry on my first visit but I trusted things had gotten better with him at the helm and I was right! I asked him to bring us his favorite sugary offerings … we’ll start with my favorite. A vanilla panna cotta layered with grapefruit gelee and topped with grapefruit supremes.

“OH MY GOD! This is the best dessert I’ve ever put in my mouth.” Those were my exact words. The tangy tartness of the cool grapefruit gelee combined with the rich, soft, sweetness of the velvet-like panna cotta. We ate the entire cup. We couldn't stop. There were four other treats to try but this one lured us in, mouthful by heavenly mouthful.

In second place were the caramel sea salt truffles. Delectable dark chocolate filled with savory sweet caramel; Excellent. At this point we could not manage one more bite. Our waiter was very understanding and brought us to-go boxes for the remaining 3 pastries. These were devoured the following morning at home with coffee.

The vanilla beignet was light, fluffy and the creamy custard inside made me melt. I’m not a huge fan of flaky puffed pastry, but my mom liked the raisin roll and said it was buttery but not overly sweet.

Last, the apple tart. This had wonderful flavor. Cinnamon, brown sugar, butter and apples mingled in my mouth. The crust was a little difficult to cut through due to sugar that had caramelize on the bottom of the tart but we warmed it up and overall, thoroughly enjoyed each bite.


THE BOTTOM LINE
Go for the fine European atmosphere, go for the great coffee and delectable desserts.

Little Next Door
8142 W 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA
90048
9am-6pm Daily
Phone: (323) 951-1010
http://www.thelittledoor.com/lndhome.html

CRUMBS ~ 7

There's a new Crumb in town and this bakery means business!

Opening first in New York and the Hamptons with ample praise, I was hoping this bake shop wouldn't disappoint me as so many "trendy cupcake boutiques," have lately. Located mere blocks from the "almighty," albeit overrated Sprinkles, I figured this gutsy little bakery must really be packing some fabulous frosting ... for the most part ... I was right!

They offer tons of extra-large, “fun-tastic”, candy coated cupcakes as well a large selection of frilly frosting cakes. The ladies purse cake looked very NYC with black and white butter cream frosting. Crumbs is not your modern/chic, dainty cupcake bakery. They are not afraid to pile on the frosting, top it with m&m's and bake-off large and in charge brownies.

My friend and I ordered 4 big cupcakes to take home. Like sprinkles, there's not a lot of standing room inside ... no where to sit. The "Artie Lang" (of the Howard Stern Show) is vanilla sponge cake filled with chocolate butter cream, covered in vanilla cream cheese frosting and topped with chocolate fondant icing with white and chocolate sprinkles on the sides! WOW! A lot going on, but this was the best cupcake we ordered! FINALLY, A CUPCAKE WITH MOIST, BUTTERY VANILLA CAKE AND EXCELLENT FROSTING! Leave it to New York to know what a truly yummy cupcake should be!

My next favorite was the Caramel Apple cupcake. Somewhat moist vanilla brown sugar cake with apples baked right in the batter. The frosting tasted like cream cheese vanilla butter cream swirled drizzled with caramel.

My friend got the Candy cupcake; Sweet vanilla cake frosted with a heavy dose of Crumbs signature vanilla butter cream and smothered in multi-colored m&m’s™. This was just too sweet for my taste but the cake part was super moist and buttery!

OK ... now for the bad news ... their Red Velvet, which I was told is a best seller, not great; not even good. The cream cheese frosting that is what makes Red Velvet so addicting, tasted like overly sweet vanilla butter cream and the red velvet cake, was not red nor velvety but brown and dry dry dry. Oh well … you can't win them all. They have cookies too and as a good food blogger, I had to taste one. Blah ... chocolate chip with cinnamon, it was stale for one and the flavor wasn't terrible but I won't return for the cookies ... only the cupcakes, superior to all other LA cupcakeries, besides Leda's Bakeshop which is top in my foodie opinion. Oh, Crumbs also has coffee and is cheaper than it's near by competitors.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you CRAVE down home, BUTTERY, lots of THICK CREAMY frosting baked goods, Crumbs is for you.
If you prefer Sprinkles ... you're buying them for a pretty gift, not sweet self consumption.

Crumbs
9465 S. Santa Monica Blvd
310.550.9811
Open 8a.m. weekdays & 9a.m. weekends

Ingrid's Cafe ~ Beverly Hills ~ 9

After an all too early 7am run yesterday, I decided to treat myself to breakfast. Tucked away on Little Santa Monica, right across the street from the Peninsula Hotel, I saw Ingrid's Cafe ... from the minute I stepped inside I was smiling. The opulent European decor transports you to somewhere far away from the hustle that is LA. Rich tapestry frames the windows, a glamorous crystal chandelier hangs from the vaulted ceiling and yet there is nothing posh or overly formal about this place. In fact, a feeling of quiet comfort prevails. Dean Martin music wafts down from the terraced, second floor balcony calming the nerves and letting the mind focus on the fabulous choices of fresh food.


My cafe au lait, which arrived in a large, elegant coffee mug, was hot, creamy, and smooth with the perfect amount if foam on top. Their attention to detail was refreshing. A tiny ceramic spoon rest accompanied the coffee. A small crystal pot of fresh apricot preserve with a single dried apricot floating in the sweet syrup was brought over for my toast. Sometimes it's those extra special little things that make a meal memorable.


I ordered the scrambled eggs with goat cheese, baguette and fresh fruit. Due to the petite prices, I was expecting a petite breakfast; wrong. My eggs were fluffy and wonderful. There were six slices of soft white and brown baguette bread surrounding the plate. Plump blackberries, juicy watermelon, and sweet cantaloupe finished off the dish perfectly.


Ingrid was there, so I asked her to suggest a favorite pastry. Too full from breakfast, I took my pear gallete to go. When I finally did indulge, the crust was tender, sweet, and buttery, with just the right amount of salt. The soft baked pears were heavenly without competing with the perfectly prepared pastry dough. My bill, in Beverly Hills, at a delectable french cafe ... came to under $12.00! I am Ingrid's newest regular, that's for certain.


They also offer a very elegant high tea from 3pm-5pm. Call an hour before so they can set up a table for your party.
Happy Hour Sunset Wine, Cheese & Pate is held from 5pm to 7pm.

Ingrid's Cafe
9861 S. Santa Monica Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
310.277.9377
www.ingridscafe.com

UGO ~ 6

This newish Italian Cafe in Culver city is a quaint, few frills place to enjoy some casual Italian food and unusally good wine at GREAT a prices. We chose to sit on the patio which provided a bit more ambiance than the harsh bright lights inside. I started with a glass of the 2005 Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio at $7 ($34 bottle) and my friend had the 2003 Rocca Delle Macie Chiante Classico for $6 ($27 bottle). My pinot grigio was the most pleasure filled $7 glass of white wine I've had to date. Each cool sip drifted across my lips starting off smoothly and ending on a slightly buttery note. It also possessed an array of distinct fruit flavors. DELUSCIOUS! After opting for a second glass of the too good to pass up wine, I felt pasta might serve me well.

I ordered the Fettuccine Primavera add chicken. It's listed as heart healthy on the menu and this might explain why the dish was on the dry side of the tracks. The pasta was overly al dente but the fresh tomato sauce and veggies were good. The chicken tasted like it had been boiled in hot water, sans salt, then chopped up and left out to dry. That's what I get for trying "the healthy dish." For only $9.75 though, I wasn't crushed.

My dinning buddie's Lasagna della Casa with spinach and mushrooms existed on the opposite end of the spectrum and was the ultimate comfort food. Piping hot with plenty of rich tomato sauce and cheese (which could have been more melted), it came close to "just like mama used to make." The dessert list is typically Italian. Nothing sounded good enough to ignore our overly full tummies. We passed with thoughts of trotting right next door to Vinum Populi, the trendy wine bar that's connected to UGO. You can purchase a "wine card" add some scrilla (money) to it and taste any wine you would like out of these nifty dispensers. If you choose cheaply you can taste around 7 wines for $25.00 dollars.

P.S. Ugo's pizza at our neighbors table looked amazing though we've yet to tatse it.

UGO
3865 Cardiff Ave
Culver City, CA 90232
Phone: (310) 204-1222

Happi Songs ~ 8

Craving some Asian inspired food, I decided to check out the newly opened Happi Songs last night. What used to be Rita Flora, is now a trendy Asian tavern. The decor is artsy/edgy and creates the feeling of being tucked away on a little back street in Beijing or Shanghai, eating noodles from a street stall. Don't forget to check out the crazy Asian graffiti style wall on the way to the restroom and the cool old bicycles. The small space glows with warm red lighting and a cool breeze floats inside since the restaurant's open to the street. You can also read Anime comic books while you wait for your food.

I started with a sho chu cocktail called Guy Smiley. It was a combo of fresh pressed blood orange, pear puree, and Ginza No Suzume sho chu (a distilled Japanese alcohol). The drink was very fresh but a little too sweet for me. It may have been better shaken and strained into a martini glass. Too much ice made the cocktail watery after a few minutes. Much like it's sister restaurant Cobras & Matadors, small plates are the theme here. I ordered chilled melon soup,

pecan honey glazed shrimp, and Hamachi (yellowtail) collar. The soup came drizzled with a little oil and crushed mint. A light tangerine color, it was pretty but bland and needed to be more chilled. 5 plump golden shrimp arrived next, lightly fried, brushed with a sweet honey glaze and sprinkled with crushed raw pecans. The pecans gave the dish a slightly earthy flavor and the shrimp tasted juicy and fresh but could have used a bit more seasoning.

My Hamachi collar was very simple and VERY DELICIOUS! Grilled to perfection and sprinkled with sea salt, each bite was tender and gorgeous. Chef Yi-fan Chu sent out a sample of another item which was definitely the WOW DISH of my meal. A Mirin Miso Butterfish balanced on a small square of tempura fried tofu and and soba noodles. The fish, crispy and golden on the outside, was buttery and luxurious inside. The noodles were tossed with a little sesame oil and the spicy baby watercress on top cut the richness of the dish nicely. The service was laid back friendly, and knowledgeable. I'll definitely revisit this happi little place.

HappiSongs Asian Tavern 460 South LaBrea (323)936-7622 L-D Daily

beer/wine/sake/sho chu only

VANILLA BAKESHOP ~ 6.5

I was really looking forward to tasting something special at Vanilla, Santa Monica’s newest boutique bakeshop. Their web site is absolutely wonderful. The gallery pictures of cupcake towers and wedding cakes made me want to go sample product ASAP. Walking in, I felt like I’d stepped into a little girl’s dream playroom. The tiny space is painted the lightest powder pink with shabby chic chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. It’s all very feminine and sweet, as a bakeshop should be.

The only thing they had that day was cupcakes. They looked sparkly and delicious inside the glass case. I tried to order four “Cupcake Babies,” but they’re only sold in 3’s, so I bought six along with one regular size cupcake, and one Cosmopolitan. There are three small tables to sit at inside but it felt a little cramped so I took my treats and headed home for the grand taste test. When I took them out of the box, the bottoms were all sticky with caramel. I licked my fingers and and thought yum but if I'd bought them for a party, I'd be annoyed they were all sticky for guests.
FAVORITE: Mocha Chocolate baby cupcake ~
The Mocha bean frosting was really creamy and not overly sweet. The flavor of coffee was perfectly present and the espresso bean made from chocolate on top made it truly scrumptious. The chocolate cake tasted watery. It’s a strange way to describe cake but that’s how it tasted. It was a bit dry and missing any rich chocolate flavor.

RUNNER UP: The Mom’s Birthday Cake baby cupcake ~
This won in the cake category. The yellow cake was buttery and tasted good alone or with frosting. The frosting was milk chocolate, also really good with a little blue sugar flower on top!

ALL THE REST:
Vanilla Bean cupcake ~ this was chocolate cake with vanilla bean frosting covered in pale green sanding sugar. The cake was dry and bland like it was made with water and not enough chocolate or something. The frosting … I felt like I was eating butter with a little powdered sugar in it. Some might call this creamy, but I call it greasy and I couldn’t eat it. They were better once I put them in the refrigerator for awhile. I solidified the frosting.

Old Fashioned baby cupcake ~ Overly buttery vanilla bean frosting, bland chocolate cake, good whip cream center, crunch white chocolate sprinkles, fun Maraschino cherry on top.

Toasted Dark Chocolate Coconut ~ bland chocolate cake, WONDERFUL CREAM CHEESE FROSTING, a little toasted coconut on top.

Cosmopolitan: A little circle of chocolate cake, about one inch, with vanilla frosting and a modern fondant design. This was the classic LA case of something looking fabulous on the outside but being very average on the inside. Again with the same bland chocolate cake, overly buttery frosting and fondant which tastes like what it is, basically sugar and shortening. Chocolate ganache to decorate would have been a tastier option.

512 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, Ca 90401
310-458-6644
http://www.vanillabakeshop.com/
Tues-Sat 9am-7pm
Sun 10am – 5pm
Mon - CLOSED

BEVERLY HILLS FARMERS MARKET

Sometimes it’s easy to feel out of touch with our fellow Angelinos. We’re either in our cars alone in thick traffic or trying to look SUPER COOL with our exclusive clique at a trendy new eatery. Whenever I want to feel all warm and cozy with humanity, I head to Runyon Canyon. I guess there’s something about being outside with dogs that make people in LA actually acknowledge each other, smile and greet a perfect stranger.

This Sunday I discovered another such place … the BH Farmer’s Market. Shoppers seemed to have left all attitudes at their mansions or in my case, apartment, and if I’m not mistaken people were truly happy enjoying the simpler things like great weather and fresh food. I started my journey at the Rockenwagner Bakery stand where I positively drooled over what to indulge in. A fresh slice of apple pie with flaky crust covered in cinnamon and sugar or a large square piece of cake known as “Bee Sting or Bienenstich.” The layer of rich creamy custard tucked between thin slices of light white cake was calling to me and topped with a crust of honey almond brittle … well I just had to try it.

First bite, good; custard very creamy and not overly sweet. Second bite; almond crust … um, OK TO DIE FOR! Where had this cake been all my life? For once I can’t quite find the words to describe how gorgeous this dessert tasted on my tongue. Think a silky vanilla crème, browned butter, caramelized honey, almond praline sort of heaven with the slightest bit of crunch.

After devouring the majority of the Bee Sting (4 bites were stolen by my boyfriend) I head off to healthier pastures and buy some big juicy beefsteak tomatoes, mushrooms still dirty from the ground, red onions, red and white carrots, white corn so perfect it looks fake, and a huge bouquet of sunflowers the color of the sexiest sunset you’ve ever seen.

BH FARMERS MARKET ~ Sundays 9am -1pm

9300 Block of Civic Center Drive

(310) 550-4796

Rockenwagner Bakery ~12835 W. Washington Blvd.

Mar Vista, California 90066

(310) 578-8171

Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-3pm; Sat-Sun 9am-4pm

Later that night I made a great tuna salad with some of the fresh veggies: ReCipE BeloW.

SUMMER TIME TUNA SALAD
1 CAN ALL WHITE TUNA IN WATER
1 COB OF CORN UNCOOKED
1/3 C. CHOPPED ONION
½ C. CHOPPED RED BELL PEPPER
2 TBSP RICE VINEGAR
1TSP OLIVE OIL
½ TSP TURMERIC
SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE

Slice corn off cob. Add drained tuna, corn, and all other ingredients to medium mixing bowl. Mix well with fork and enjoy alone or in a whole wheat wrap.

U.N. Burgers ~ flirting with flavor fusion

Hello and welcome to anyone who happens upon my little food blog. This is the debut of yet another way to satiate your appetite for worth-every-bite culinary experiences ... coming to you straight from the kitchens of FoodFlirt 90210, (aka my minuscule kitchen in my apt which just happens to be in the 90210 area code). Here is an original recipe that is healthy and filled with flavor!

U.N. Burgers
name explanation: The flavors in this burger hail from many different countries and mingle together magnificently ... maybe we can learn something from combining culinary cultures :) My burger likes your turmeric ... can't we all just get along?

Makes 4-6 burgers

1lb lean ground beef
1/2 c. chopped white onion
1/4 c. capers
1 tbsp turmeric (dry ground)
1 tsp crushed ginger (I use jar from Trader Joe's)
1/4 c. sweet chili sauce
1 tsp sea salt

Place tin foil on cookie sheet, set aside.
Combine above ingredients in medium size mixing bowl. Use clean hands to mix together, making sure all flavors are socializing with one another. Using a large ice cream scoop (or you can eye it) scoop equal amounts of beef mixture onto tinfoil an inch or more apart. Form each ball into a flat patty, about 3/4" thick. Preheat broiler to medium or 450. Set burgers aside, and needless to say wash those raw meat hands.

2 red bell peppers sliced
1 medium sweet onion thinly sliced

Spray medium frying pan with oil and let pan heat up. Add peppers and onions and cook on high until they have a grilled appearance, about 7-8 minutes. While veggies cook, put burgers under broiler for 5-7 minutes checking OFTEN as it's easy to over cook with a broiler!!! Flip burgers once during cooking process. IF YOU OVER COOK THESE THEY WILL BE DRY. DON'T BLAME ME.

6 whole wheat hamburger buns
1/2 cup hummus
your favorite mustard (I love Trader Joe's Hot and Sweet)
ketchup
feta cheese crumbles

Once burgers are done (medium rare or how you wish) and veggies are faux grilled, toast buns ... nothing better than hot buns after all. Spread with hummus, mustard and ketchup. Place burger atop and pile on the grilled onions, bell peppers and feta. Eat it, enjoy each bite, and tell me what ya think! Serve with simple green salad or sweet potato fries sprinkled with cinnamon.