Cronuts in LA

I planned on scouring LA for the best cronuts and making a top 10 list of the most coveted places to indulge in this pastry hybrid.  

But here I was in Abbot Kinney, and I happened to stumble into Rockenwagner's German delicatessen.  I had no intent of trying their cronut, which was definitely not on my radar.  I mean,  Germans don't make good cronuts.  Cronuts lineage can be traced back to NYC as early as the 2013s, and that's that.  Let us have one food origin besides hot dogs, will you people??! 

Anyways, the waitress kept nagging ...and my pretzel disappointed me ...and I drank 4 mimosas.   So I ordered the God Damn Cronut, a hazelnut one to be exact.

And dear sweet German baby jesus was it delicious.  Since then, I've still been cronut-hunting through LA, but I just haven't found anything comparable.   So here's my "best cronuts in LA list"

1. Rockenwagners

A trip to Mariposa

Before I dive into my trip to Mariposa, let me spend a split second hitting upon one of my favorite lunch places in Los Angeles, which, coincidentally is also located in a Beverly Hills Department Store.

Greengrass Beanery on top of Barneys (what! you didn't know it existed! Meer Peasants!) has long stood as a staple on my 'top picks for a lovely lunch in Beverly Hills' list.  Boasting a gorgeous view and a simple yet elegant menu, I have never been disappointed.  Plus, their lunch is probably the only thing I can afford in the department store - so a visit helps momentarily elevate my social status.

I was expecting the same vibe at Mariposa, but was quite disappointed.  The decor is miserably boring and sterile - akin to a continental breakfast nook in a Holiday Inn hotel.  Harsh, but I absolutely hate the ambiance.  As if someone shopping at lunchtime wants to eat in a windowless dungeon when there's a staggering possibility that it is 75 degrees and sunny outside.   (Now, Nordstroms at the Grove - that's

Bottega Louie, a FIVE STAR review

So you've decided to finally venture to Oz, or downtown LA (both an obscurity in your mind), to cross Bottega Louie off your foodie bucket list have you?  I can nearly guarantee you WILL be disappointed.  Wait, what?!  But Chelsea you gave it five stars!

Hear me out.

Maybe you make the journey to get a box of the coveted macarons.  Oh Em Gee! Are these the best things you have ever eaten!  The salted caramel! You can't believe it!!  But, hell are you disappointed... imagine how good ALL OF THE OTHER desserts must be!  And there are too many to try!!   Disappointed.

Oh no, that's not you.  You came with a plan.  You're here for brunch, and you are taking $100 dollars

Nespresso Boutique in Beverly Hills

As a self proclaimed Beverly Hills dining aficionado, I pride myself in staying well acquainted with any new restaurant that pops up in 90210.    ...So one can only imagine my giddiness when the new Nespresso Boutique Bar opened shop on Beverly Drive.

The idea is novel to me.  The Nespresso Boutique is, in my opinion, foremost a store and second a cafe. Inside, you are greeted by a hostess standing in front of a long, pristine coffee bar displaying a few specialty croissants and pastries.  To the right, futuristic table seatings are carefully situated, leading out to a typical al fresco dinning section.  The walls are lined with large soulful photos exemplifying the wrinkle creases of the coffee drinkers they portray.  The spacious 20 foot ceilings are lined with every flavor Nespresso cup you could dream of, with tasting counters and product displays laid out along the back section of the space.

Simply put, Nespresso is an Apple store, but for espresso machines.  It feels rather revolutionary as you

A restaurant Review: Duplex

Atmosphere is perfect.  The porch overlooking third street is romantic with rustic wooden benches and marble top tables.  

The inside is a bit more trendy and posh, while the upstairs level feels more sophisticated and classy. To hold a high power business meeting you can't beat the bar upstairs, to grab drinks with friends the downstairs bar is great, and for a romantic date night chose the outdoor patio or a back corner of the downstairs dining area. 

They have an expansive wine menu and drink list.  The food menu is comprised of a bunch of small sharing plates and some main entrees.  

We opted for a handful of appetizers.  The food wasn't necessarily spectacular, but it was enjoyable and worth trying for a second time. 

Menu stand outs:

Crab cakes - mostly crab with little to no filler, just the way my waistline likes it! 

Beets

truffle fries

caramelized brussel sprouts

Everything else we sampled was tasty aside from the tuna tar tar which lacked flavor and substance. 

www.duplexonthird.com 

Buccatini Matriciana: At Madeo or Homemade

BUCCATINI MATRICIANA tops my favorites list for Italian delicacies.  And in my personal opinion, there are only two people that have perfected this scrumptious dish. 

1. The head chef at Madeo

2. My boyfriend Matt Breliant 

For dining out, MADEO in West Hollywood is absolute perfection.  You can never go wrong with their pastas, carpaccios, fresh dover sole.. but if you're looking for a melt in your mouth pasta that will send your taste buds into elation - then you are going to have to go off-menu. Just ask for the Buccatini Matriciana and make sure you do that cute shake of your hand with your fingers pierced together and they are sure to take care of you.  (sidenote: A great menu choice is the salmon and bowtie pasta in vodka cream sauce).

If you're looking to wow guests who aren't vegan, gluten free, or counting carbs (so if you're looking to entertain a dinner party NOT in Los Angeles), this is the ultimate crowd pleaser. 

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

1.  Bucatini - a thicker spaghetti perfect for a flavorful thick sauce. Find them at high end supermarkets or specialty shops. Just a box will do.

2. Pomi tomato sauce (or any tomato paste, but I like one with some added sugar)

3. Red cooking wine

4. Heavy Cream

5. chopped and cooked Pancetta (can sub prosciutto, but pancetta gives the pasta a nice bacon flavor & crunch)

6. Olive Oil

7. Onions

9. Garlic Cloves

10. Fresh Herbs (I like oregano and parsley, but really whatever you have)

11. Pecorino 

12. Parmesan 

Optional add ins:  Mushrooms, chopped red peppers, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, salsa, brown sugar

DIRECTIONS: 

1. If the pancetta is uncooked, grill in skillet with olive oil, chopped garlic, and one chopped onion until meat is cooked and onions are browned 

2. In a separate pot over medium heat a carton of the tomato paste, half cup of cream, splash of red wine (up to 1/4 cup), 1/4 cup pecorino, 1/4 cup parmesan, herbs, 1/4 cup olive oil

3. Slowly stir in the cooked pancetta and onions 

4. In a separate pot cook pasta until firm (a tad more firm then you normally like it, as it will continue to cook in the sauce)

5. Drain water from pasta and pour half of the sauce mixture into pasta pot. Stir well.

6. Serve a generous portion of pasta on a plate and top with a spoonful of both cheeses (mixed).  Put the rest of the cheese on the table for guests to help themselves to more.  

7. Great Sides:  Last time we made this dish we served it with fresh baked baguettes, a fresh lemon and herb dressing salad with cucumbers, tomatoes and avocados over spring greens and corn on the cob. For appetizers: a truffle dip with crackers and mozzarella, tomato and prosciutto.  Dessert was bright macaroons and fresh fruit! 

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

This pasta is AMAZING the next day.  My favorite is to pan fry left overs in a skillet and serve with the extra sauce you saved from the night before. 

In my perfect world I would crack two fried eggs over this pasta and serve with french bread for a delightful breakfast feast.

The Next Day - Frying pan delight! 

Truffle Hunting

On my relentless quest for truffle satisfaction in Los Angeles I have had the pleasure of enjoying quite an eclectic array of truffled dishes.  Here's my short list of favorites thus far. 

PACE: four cheese truffle pizza. swoon.  Only a special so call ahead!

KOI: Salmon carpaccio with black truffles and citrus glaze.

BOUCHON: Truffle popcorn (happy hour special)

UMAMI: Truffle Burger.

BEVERLY HILLS CHEESE STORE:  Truffle infused cheese. literally heaven. 

BLT: Truffle Fries

MAESTROS: Truffle and Crab Gnocchi 

And I'm still on the search for the best truffle mac n cheese.  

Bouchon Review

French fare in the perfect location?  Before I could even drool over the macaroons on display, I knew Bouchon had my heart. 

The location is unsurpassed.  Overlooking a beautiful shared courtyard with the Montage hotel, the day seems to lazily drift by as you enjoy one of their signature cocktails, or better a happy hour priced beer or glass of wine. 

Don't go without getting the truffled popcorn and the pate, but you can't go wrong with their generous raw bar platters, croque madams and steak frites. 

Round out the meal with a salted caramel macaroon and you've just had yourself quite the satisfying and relaxing meal. 

www.bouchonbistro.com

Little Next Door: A taste of France in LA

So.. I absolutely adore French food.  Maybe even more-so than my obsession with cute animals and Elvis.  And by 'I adore French food' I mean stand between me and a good croque madame and I will unleash my new founded kickboxing skills on you and everyone that has the misfortune of keeping your company.

Anyways, lucky for me, Los Angeles is scattered with delightful little brassieres.. and lucky for you I've eaten at each one of them a dozen times and can accurately recite every single menu highlight to you.  While it's difficult for me to walk away from any French cuisine unsatisfied, there's one restaurant in particular that has no competition in my book.  The Little Next Door.

    I can't explain my affection for a good ol' crock of french onion, a gruyere and ham sandwich, salted caramel macaroon and nutella croissant, but The Little Next Door does it for me.  If I could give up sex for food (and not get fat) I'd sign my soul to LND in a heartbeat.  And here's why.

     The atmosphere is unsurpassed.  A fabulous little bakery with homemade delicatessens, delectable wines, and a quaint outdoor, yet private, seating; LND could easily be stowed away in Nice.  So lets just entertain the dreadful idea that you're only visiting and can only eat here one time.  YOU MUST GET: a lychee mimosa, an order of blackberry jam with your toast, the french onion soup, croque madam, a side of balsamic kale and apple, a salted caramel macaroon, and a chocolat (purposely leaving out the e for effect) croissant.  Throw in a side of the potato gratin, roasted red beets and baked goat cheese salad with orange ginger dressing too.  I have enjoyed every single other thing on the menu.  and this is the best.  Oh, and don't forget to take a gruyere and ham croissant, heated of course, for the road. You'll thank me later.

Pace Restaurant, a true hidden gem

Maybe it’s the suppressed hipster in me, but I love an unassuming hidden gem.  Nothing makes me cringe worse than the glow of Olive Garden’s offensive interpretation of Tuscany.   You couldn’t drag me kicking and screaming into any chain restaurant systematically cranking out dishes drenched in butter and swimming in grease.  Enjoy yourself, I’ll be at the locally sustained restaurant, the hidden gem with an always changing menu, the mom and pop bakery.  Heck, I’ll take a roach coach selling dollar tacos over Olive Garden.

Tangent aside, living in Los Angeles, I’m blessed with an endless array of exquisite restaurants.  And I’m not shy about trying any and all that are suggested to me.  Which brings me to my latest, and most fabulous, discovery to date: Pace Restaurant on Laurel Canyon.  

 Located underneath an unattractive, and dare I say unkempt and shabby, convenience store, Pace takes unassuming to a whole new level.  It’s easy to miss the side entrance to what appears to be a storage area for the shop above.  Sure, the restaurant name is scribbled in a classy graffiti on the brick façade, but there’s not even a streetlight illuminating its existence. 

 The entrance descends to a small foyer with floor to ceiling wine storage and a cramped host stand.  After choosing to sit indoors, we were escorted into the dining area where we nestled into a roomy table with a cushioned bench.  The dim lighting and simplistic decorations created a comfortably warm atmosphere reminiscent of ducking off 5th avenue in January to escape the cold.

  I ordered a glass of organic pinot noir ($16) while our sweet and knowledgeable waitress rattled off the long list of specials then walked us through the house favorites.  Being a truffle enthusiast, I couldn't refuse the special four cheese and white truffle pizza as an appetizer ($30).  Being someone who is also a diehard for the known specialities, I ordered the cedar wood grilled salmon as my entree ($26).  My boyfriend chose the house made tagliatelle with vodka cream sauce and sausage (18).

 True, truffles on anything is delicious, but this pizza was life changing.  The chef was not shy with the tuffles, covering every inch of the rich cheeses blended atop the light crispy crust.  I could have left after the pizza and still had one of my better restaurant experiences in quite some time.  But the salmon, and the apple crisp dessert ($8) that followed, secured Pace a spot on my 'favorite restaurants of all time list'.  Not to mention, the produce is all organic and the meats hormone free.

It's easy to see why their regulars list is comprised of A list celebrities and entertainment professionals. The restaurant could have been located on a bustling street of NYC or overlooking a quiet street in Tuscany.. but it wouldn't have made a difference.  Pace indulges and satisfies your palate while offering a comfortable escape from whatever your reality may entail.


http://peaceinthecanyon.com/

Le Pain Review

Don't get me wrong.  I enjoy Urth Cafe just as much as the next socialite, but that doesn't mean we should disregard Urth's less crowded (and less pompous) neighbor, Le Pain Quotidien. 

What to order:  I come here for their bread baskets, which are served with signature raspberry and apricot jams and (drum roll) white chocolate, dark and regular hazelnut spreads.  Other signature dishes include the baked goods (with an asterisk on the chocolate croissant), the tartines and the Mediterranean plate. 

Location: the Beverly Hills location is fine.. but the outdoor seating leads much to be desired if you've ever visited the Melrose location.   At Melrose you feel like you're in a bed and breakfast, sitting on a large wrap around porch it's a perfect spot to relax over a latte. The outback patio offers a little more privacy for someone hoping to coop up with their computer or a good read.  Oh and bring fido.  The outdoor seating is very dog friendly.