A small little box appeared on my doorstep with the words MOUSTACHE printed all over. Apparently, Christmas had come early for me because what was inside was a bag of freshly roasted coffee from the Moustache Coffee Club!
What it is: The Moustache Coffee Club is a coffee curation club. They curate packages of amazing, freshly roasted, single origin coffee beans which are ethically harvested and sourced from local LA roasters. What you’ll get are in-season, premium quality coffee beans (lightly to medium roasted) delivered weekly (or every other week) right to your doorstep.
Why I love it: As their motto on their website states, “Cause there’s no line in your mailbox.”
Life is jam packed, full of busy, busy time suckers – work, family, did I mention work?? If there’s a service that can save me some time and give me one less thing to think about, I’m all for it.
Personally, I go into panic mode when the beans in my house start to run low and dipping into my reserves of less-than-fresh coffee in my pantry simply doesn’t cut it. Usually, I’ll pick up a bag of Stumptown or Coava (two of my faves) from my local cafes but when I forget, or simply don’t have the hours in the day, I can definitely see the appeal of having a coffee delivery service. Compared to the over-the-counter cost of other third-wave quality roasters (e.g. Intelligentsia, Handsome, Blue Bottle, etc.) and the fact that it’s delivered right to your door – the price of the service is super reasonable!
What you recieve:
In my package, I received beans from Portola Coffee Lab with a little card of information about the origin, tasting notes and date on which it was roasted. Also, I got a little letter from the owners of MCC with more background info about the region from where the beans were source and why they picked it.
Why a Moustache?
The owners came to notice that many of the male baristas in Los Angeles had moustaches — so they started to associate good coffee with moustaches! A hilariously true observation! My only complaint was that I wish my package included an actual moustache so I could have one of my very own to rock while drinking!
I like that the beans from Moustache Coffee Club came whole and not pre-ground. I have a mid-level Burr grinder and I absolutely love being able to grind the beans just before making my cup in the morning. It’s truly changed the way I drink my coffee. It only takes about 8 seconds and makes all the difference in taste.
When you make a pour over or french press at home, you really want to use the freshest beans. Also, when the roast is high quality and light, you can drink it up black without any need for creamer – it’s just that yummy. You get to taste all the little nuances and flavors in the cup and can truly enjoy it the way it was meant to be. I found the beans I got from MCC to be just right.
Ok, now your turn:
Friends of Backyard Bite, use this link to receive $5 off your order! http://www.moustachecoffeeclub.com/invites/323c4ba0
Also makes a great gift idea for that coffee lover in your life!
I’ve only been here for 60 days, but I have accumulated a few favorite restaurants already. Since day one, I have been chatting up locals, asking around, reading blogs and compiling a list of my own must-try restaurants around town. I’m on a mission to eat my way through Portland, one restaurant at a time and I think I’m making pretty good headway.
This list will no doubt grow and change in the coming months, but for now… here are some favorite food discoveries.
Screen Door
One of those places that get mocked on Portlandia for having a ridiculously long brunch line on weekends.
You’d assume a place with this kind of popularity would have a pompous air about it (typical of LA or NY) and would charge a whole lot more. Surprisingly, the staff was friendly and helpful with suggestions and the prices were super reasonable. Went on a weekday and while it was full, there was no line.
Chicken and waffles. My waffle had a sweet potato base, so kind of healthy, eh? The batter for the fried chicken was light and not greasy or oily at all. The gumbo was hearty and had a great mix of flavors and spices without being too spicy. Also… praline bacon. Boom.
Wolf and Bear
A local’s favorite, Wolf and Bear is the healthiest, tastiest little falafel wrap to ever come out of a restaurant on wheels. They’ve got a couple locations scattered around the city, but the cart I first tried was located off Mississippi Ave., a hip and trendy little block filled with various bars, burgers and boutique shops. The falafel was light and fresh, organic and locally sourced (of course). Though it’s prepared in a cart, this is not fast food. You’d just as easily be presented with an equally beautiful and tasty lunch in a sit down restaurant.
Güero Torterilla
The best sandwich in Portland? Well, that’s what my beau seems to think. He’s tried the popular Bunk and Lardo and a few non-notables and so far, this one from Güero has rocked his world. The pollo pibil is a Mexican sandwich, a torta, The top of the bread is soft (almost soggy even) yet underneath, it’s toasted on the grill for a crispy crunch. Inside, the seasoned chicken, chipotle-lime aioli, refried beans and shredded lettuce make for a pretty little bite. It’s a sandwich that’s not too messy and it doesn’t try too hard. The flavors combine to give you a light and tasty bite that’ll make you say “Damnnnnnn!”
Olympia Provisions
Known for their charcuterie, this place delivered. We ordered a terrine and a few salamis a la carte and had a very enjoyable date night. Trendy and casual. Very good dishes.
I told a story to the waiter about when I was in college years ago, how I smuggled salami back from the cafeteria in my pants pockets. My future husband was smitten. The waiter was too apparently, as we were then brought a dessert of chocolate salami – on the house.
Nong’s Khao Man Gai
Sometimes you just want something simple and good. I’ve been eating quite a bit of heavy and weird dishes lately for my job and today I just wanted to eat something that would satisfy my hunger, soothe my soul and not give me a stomachache afterwards. Simple and good.
When two people in the same day recommend a spot, you know you must check it out asap. I went to Nong’s Khao Man Gai’s brick and mortar location just off Burnside. I ordered their special —the only thing there really is to order, the chicken and rice. It’s amazing how your body can crave something so basic. It’s boiled chicken over jasmine rice with a “soup” side of chicken broth to sip on along side a few crunchy cucumbers slices meant to cleanse your palate. They also have their own special ginger-soy sauce which is made to compliment the dish. Get this dish when it’s cold and rainy. Get it when you’re sick. Get it just because.
Just get it.
Ox
I’m still raving about this Argentinian inspired restaurant months after dining here. Although it can be on the pricer side, I can see myself dining here often. It’s one of those hipster places you come with friends and order a bunch of tiny “shared plates” to load up on too small tables. We went for a special occasion (birthday) and tried many of these little dishes which we passive-aggressively fought each other for last bites; the Dungeness crab and avocado bruschetta, the spiced beef and raisin empanadas, the sautéed mushroom and foie gras were just a few stand outs.
But the star of the night was the beef skirt steak which like their other meat is cooked on their wood-fired oven which really imparts a killer flavor. I really can’t wait to go again. Who’s got a birthday??
Pips Original Doughnuts
I’m not typically a donut person, yet I’ve gone to Pips three times already. It’s cute, it’s comfortable, it’s a great location for conversation (think coffee shop), and there’s something fantastically freeing about being able to eat six donuts and not feel dreadfully guilty afterwards. They are bite-sized and crispy, yet delicately soft inside. Somehow the maple-bacon donut remind me of eating chicken McNuggets as a kid. Not in a gross way… but for their crunchiness and perhaps finger-food size. Maybe it could simply be because of the giddy way eating these little donuts make me feel. Pips also has their Chai Tea game on lock. Some favors have lavender or ginger infused, others are smokey or you can order it “dirty” and spike it with a shot of espresso. You can sample (which I do before ordering) or just spazz-out and order the flight to drink them all.
Blue Star
Yes! Another donut place on my list! This one is more traditional, normal sized, with a locally sourced, super-fresh artisanal twist. Bourbon Basil Blueberry Brioche. Need I say more? Yes? well then, Mexican Hot Chocolate Donut. There, I said it.
Kukai Ramen & Izakaya (Beaverton)
There are not very many good restaurants in Beaverton. There are not very many good places to get good ramen in Portland. The fact that there is a solid Japanese owned ramen restaurant that just to happens to be located in the Beaverton suburb is a magical thing. People flock to this place like Californians are flocking to Portland. You can come, just don’t tell anyone else about it. The wait time for lunch is already horrendous. Shhhhhhh!
When you look beyond the basic Portland travel guides, you’ll discover that there is so much more to explore in Oregon. It’s a place to get spontaneous, get loose and be wild.
While I’m working my way through Oregon’s 7 Wonders, I’m also learning all about Oregon’s vast history and taking in views of the ocean, the mountains, the valleys, the high desert, the cities, small towns, and everything in between.
Travel Oregoninvited me to take a tour with them through Central and Eastern Oregon and I had a blast getting to know this stunningly beautiful, lesser travelled side of the Beaver State.
I have been living in Oregon for a few years now, yet I have never been further than Mt. Hood. I knew this trip out East was bound to be an adventure. Our journey would take me and a few other foodies, writers, editors and chefs about 3.5 hours East of Portland proper.
Our first adventure was with the Imperial Rafting Co. the little town of Maupin, Oregon. Population 418. The city is a whopping 1.45 square miles, but what it lacks in size it makes up in outdoor adventures.
12:30 PM We suited up for our first adventure, a white water rafting excursion down the Deschutes River.
12:45 PM We get off the little yellow bus and our awesome guide, Brian teaches us the basics of rafting and some important tips so we don’t get into trouble once on the water. He was everything you’d expect (and want) in a guide; He was funny, safe, knowledgeable and full of hilarious stories. He also had that oh-so-perfect Oregonian beard situation going on.
The rules according to Brian…
#1 — Always look ahead
#2 — Keep your hand on your oar so it doesn’t become a weapon (insert gif of me knocking someone out – oops!)
#3 — If you fall in the water — don’t freak out!
There were a lot more rules like that last one and we all looked at each other nervously. I think I was calmer than most in our group because I had done some rafting before. I knew what to expect, but I had never been on the Deschutes before so I had no idea just how cold that water was going to be! Regardless, I was spending too much time fumbling with my GoPro helmet cam to be worried about the water. I was actually more concerned with whether or not I had pressed the record button.
1:15 PM It wasn’t long before we were approaching our first rapid. Brian suggested since I had a camera on my head, it might be fun for me to “ride the bull” I had no idea what this meant, but I eagerly jumped at the chance for a thrill. “Oh, wait, you want me to do what??” He explained that I was to sit on the edge of the raft with my legs dangling over. I was to “ride” the raft like it was a bull, and try not to fall off the front and get run over. “Gulp.” What exactly did I sign up for!? Oh well, Here goes nothing…
1:18 PM We ride our first 3.0 rapid and I FALL (into the raft) and almost die… laughing. It was a truly team bonding experience and my fellow rafters were eager to try “riding the bull” too, right after I had been the guinea pig.
2:30 PM We take a break to jump off a mini rock cliff. Temps today were in the upper 90’s so it was refreshing to take a dip in the water.
3:00 PM The first time one of our raft-mates falls in the water!! Oh no! Suddenly our gingerly stroll down the water became a rescue mission… for his shoes!! and our water bottles!! and hats!!
4:17 PM I jump in the water to swim a 2.5 rapid! (props to Nike’s swim classes for giving me the confidence to do something like this!) Brian said afterwards “You’re going to sleep really well tonight!” #spoileralert — I DID.
5:00 PM The first time I notice that our little yellow bus has been following us down on the road adjacent to the river. Are we getting out here? Not just yet — he’s been secretly taking our photos. We all wave!! We don’t want it to end just yet!
5:15 PM The wind is starting to blow much harder, and since our backs are to the sun, it’s getting colder too. We all depart our raft and survey the items we lost (a hat, a flip flop, my GoPro clip) and we gift these items to the river. (tip: When rafting, don’t bring anything you wouldn’t shower in and don’t bring anything you wouldn’t want to part with)
5:30 PM Riding the little yellow bus back to the lodge for a nice hot shower. I’d say we’ve worked up an appetite.
6:30 PM Fabulous dinner at the Imperial River Co. restaurant. The chef is also the daughter of the owners, and also the teacher at the local school. Oh, and guess who else made a reappearance? The bartender in the Imperial Bar was none-other-than our trusted raft guide… Brian! (like I said, this is a small town.)
Here are some of the dishes we enjoyed. This lamb from a local purveyor was probably one of the tastiest cuts I’ve had in a long time.
(Pics of dinner)
7:22 PM As if we weren’t spoiled enough. One of our travel companions was also a wine maker. He brought some of his amazing Pinots for us to have with dinner.
And, as if on cue, the neighborhood dogs played chase with each other up and down the river just as the sun started to set behind us. Such a memorable sight.
9:20 PM Sipping wine and gazing at the fireplace. I didn’t want to say goodnight just yet, so I sat by the fire, and reminisced about our awesome day rafting down the Deschutes.
What a perfect way to end a perfect day.
Imperial River Company is the only resort located on the banks of the Deschutes River in Maupin, OR. Offering guided bird hunting and whitewater raft trips, 25 Oregon-themed rooms and an exceptional riverfront dining experience.
If you’re looking to craft a unique journey through Oregon, I recommend just going to the Travel Oregon website. It’s really easy to customize your trip based on the things you like — rafting, camping, SUPing, ranching, snowboarding, climbing whatever. They have trips all planned out too… you can rough it or go as easy as you like. Anyone who considers themselves an outdoorsy person should plan a trip and spend sometime getting to know this beautiful state. There’s so much to do. What are you waiting for?
{Note: I was a guest of the Imperial River Company and Travel Oregon. Thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of this awesome adventure which I highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun and easy Oregon Adventure!}
The city of Portland provided the backdrop for four days of music, dancing, food and film as chef and restaurateur John Gorham and his team brought Spanish food to Portland this summer with La Ruta PDX! La Ruta or “The Route” is a Spanish food festival that took place on July 13-16th and this was its inaugural year.
Spanish food! In Portland!? Say what!? You could imagine my excitement…
Festival founder, chef Gorham wanted to take the people of Portland “on a trip to Spain.” The 4-day event was a way to say, “Thank You” to the people Portland for supporting his beloved Spanish restaurant, Toro Bravo which turned 10 this year. He also wanted to thank and highlight all the vendors and partnerships he has made over the years.
“This festival is all about human interaction. That’s where the magic is…” – John Gorham, chef and restaurateur / Plaza Del Toro
The fest was a combination of outdoor tastings, a trade showcase, various evening dinner series with visiting Spanish chefs, and premiere of SOUL, a Spanish documentary film featuring 39-year-old Eneko Atxa — one of the world’s youngest, three-Michelin-star chefs. After the film screening at the Portland Art Museum,we got to sample Atxa’s, “underwater wine” Txakolina being poured in Oregon for the first time.
Still from the documentary, SOUL. Scuba divers dive for wine.
Highlights from Sunday’s main tasting event included Spanish ciders, Estrella beer and 90+ wine samplings.
Portland’s local chefs got in the mix too…
Kachka’s Bonnie Morales’ served up Salt Cod Croqueta’s with marinated peppers, pea tendrils, and saffron sunflower mayonnaise…
Twisted Filipino’s Carlo Lamagna showcased a juicy, Pork Collar Adobo with marinated garbanzo and preserved lemon…
One delicious desert was Sarah Hart’s Alma Chocolate which came in the form of Smoked Paprika Caramels and Cheese and Marcona Stuffed Figs…
I even discovered anchovies that I actually liked! Marche‘s Rocky Maselli presented a bright, Anchovy Crudo with tomatoes and fennel. He explained that most anchovies are cured in salt for preservation — that’s why most people can’t stand them! But these were not salty AT ALL. So fresh and super delicious, I may have had 3 or 4 of them!
The most delicious anchovies!
Watch the video for a sampling of all the fun I had at the festival, and check out the gallery below for more pics.
Thank you to Renee and John Gorham for inviting me and my family to attend! Looking forward to seeing what you have in store at La Ruta next year!
Like New York, the city of London is a bustling central mecca where many cultures end up co-mingling. A perfect melting pot of cultures and most importantly, food. There is an incredibly large population of Indian and Pakistani people in London and luckily, the local restaurant scene is a delicious reflection of their efforts.
On recent trip to London, I got to return to one Pakistani restaurant that rocked my world and changed my perception of what Indian and Pakistani food could be. Years prior, I was a relative newbie to the cuisine and my friend pretty much ordered the whole menu for us so we could try as much as possible. I was immediately hooked.
Full of intoxicating spices and bold flavors, I knew I had to return to see if it was just as good as I remembered. Here, chicken on the skewers are transformed into tender loving curry flavored bites and lamb chop (hands down my favorite) is delicately roasted until it is soft, juicy and dripping with flavor.
Lahore Kebab House is known for their affordable Pakistani staple food as well as being a gathering place for local families and visitors alike. Naan is cooked in their traditional Tandoori oven where the dough is smoked and cooked all at once.
Don’t forget to order a Mango Lassi to soothe the spicy flavors that will lovingly numb your mouth.
In this episode of Bite Into London, watch as I dig in with with pal Anton from the Manilla based blog, www.ourawesomeplanet.com.
I was recently invited to learn how to cook a few Italian dishes at the recently opened Al Bacio Ristorante on Sunset. I attended their opening late 2013 and chef Simionato kindly invited me back to cook with him in his kitchen. It’s the kind of restaurant where the chef works both the back and the front of the house, always making sure you are not only well fed, but comfortable. He is a master of the kitchen and during this intimate class, I got to work with him up close and learn some real tips from the pro.
Watch:
In chef Simionato’s cooking class, guests have the opportunity to learn authentic Italian cooking with the chef in the actual working kitchen of the restaurant. This intimate class takes the intimidation out of cooking, showing just how fun and easy it can be to make sophisticated Italian dishes. It’s one part demo, one part hands-on and it really helped me appreciate all the work that goes on behind the scenes. Chef Simionato has just a two-person kitchen and the space is pretty small, so you can just imagine how much skill and swiftness is needed to feed a full house.
We learned the secret to making soft and tender octopus and also made fresh tagliatelle pasta in a veal bolognese sauce. In addition, we learned how to make gelato and a traditional Italian apple tart cake that is so delicious and ridiculously simply to make.
Tagliatelle Pasta in a Veal Bolognese Sauce
Baked Apple Tart, Orange Cream, Milk Gelato
Learning, watching, doing… sipping Prosecco (of course!) and snacking on fresh Parmesan. After about 2 hours in the kitchen, our cooking class wrapped up with a sit down feast with all the food we learned how to make.
One of his restaurant partners had just returned from Italy and surprised us with super fresh burratta direct from the mother country. It was a silky and creamy treat!
If you are a true food fan and love to cook, this class is a fantastic experience. The next class is scheduled for March 16th and the menu changes regularly. Follow Al Bacio on Facebook to get the latest updates and class schedule. Or simply visit Al Bacio for a authentic Italian dinner or lunch.
Update:As of July 2015 Al Bacio has quietly shuttered its doors. I had some truly memorable meals there and the restaurant will be missed!! Don’t worry though, chef Christian tells me he is cooking up another top notch restaurant concept very soon. Until then, try this super easy, homemade pasta recipe to fill that pasta craving (see below).
Click through below to see the slideshow from our class and read on for his tagliatelle bolognese recipe!
Baked Apple Tart, Orange Cream, Milk Gelato
Finished Bolognese and Tagliatelle
Italian Imported Buratta and freshly made octopus salad.
Aged balsamic for our buratta. Yum!
Imported Buratta. Delicious!
@theminty and @chef_jay document our delicious meal
Chef teaches Tammy La how to make the Veal Bolognese Sauce
Chef Teaches Tammy La how to make the Veal Bolognese Sauce
Chef Teaches Tammy La how to make the Veal Bolognese Sauce
Let the dough rest for 30 mins to an hour
Use a mixer to get it going…
If you don’t have a pasta maker like this, you can use a rolling pin
Even the scraps get used! Nothing is wasted!
Testing the Thickness of the Pasta
Slicing up the pasta by hand
Before…
…After
In case you were wondering, the chefs don’t actually drink in the kitchen M’kay! Just us foodies.
Comparing regular flour to Whole Grain Semolina Flour
Making the Baked Apple Tart
Chef Christian Making the Baked Apple Tart
In the Kitchen with Chef Christian Simionato
Low and slow, just under boiling
Hello Mr. Octopus!
Fresh Tagliatelle Pasta
Courtesy of Chef Christian Simionato
Ingredients
750 gr whole wheat semolina flour
750 gr “00” flour
325 gr fresh egg yolk
325 gr water
5 gr extra vergine olive oil
Splash of vinegar
Preparation:
On a clean bowl put flour and form a well in the center. Add egg yolks and water to the well. Using a fork, gently break up yolks and slowly incorporate flour from inside rim of well. Continue until liquid is absorbed, then knead for 10 minutes. Wrap dough tightly in plastic and let rest for 30 minutes.
Divide dough into 3 pieces. Cover 2 pieces with plastic wrap. Flatten remaining dough piece so that it will fit through the rollers of a pasta machine.
Set rollers of pasta machine at the widest setting, then feed pasta through rollers 3 or 4 times, folding and turning pasta until it is smooth and the width of the machine.
Roll pasta through machine, decreasing the setting, one notch at a time (do not fold or turn pasta), until pasta sheet is scant 1/16 inch thick.
Cut sheet in half widthwise; dust both sides of sheets with flour. Layer sheets between floured pieces of parchment or wax paper. Cover with paper and repeat with remaining dough.
With the short end of 1 pasta sheet facing you, loosely fold up sheet, folding sheet over two or three times from short ends toward the center. With a large chefs knife, cut folded sheet into ribbons, a scant 1/4 inch wide. Unroll strips and lightly dust with flour; spread on a lightly floured baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pasta sheets.
Veal Bolognese Sauce
Ingredients
2 medium onions, finely chopped
3 celery ribs, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, finely chopped
1 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
cup extra-virgin olive oil
100gr pancetta or slab bacon, ground by butcher or thinly sliced and pulsed in food processor until finely chopped
1000gr ground veal
250gr tomato sauce
200gr whole milk
200gr dry white wine
Vegetable stock
fresh thyme, bay leaves
salt
pepper
Preparation:
Cook onions, celery, carrot, and garlic in oil in a 6- to 8-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add pancetta, veal and cook over moderately high heat, stirring and breaking up lumps, until no longer pink, about 6 minutes.
Add white wine and let it evaporate.
Salt and pepper the meat, add the rest of the ingredients, thyme and bay leaves and gently simmer, covered, until sauce is thickened, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Sticking around LA for New Years Eve? Here’s where you should probably eat.
A few days ago, a pal of mine told me she was coming to visit and she asked me where she should go to dine on New Year’s Eve while in Los Angeles. I wasn’t sure what local specials or events were happening, so I thought I’d do a bit of research for her.
I sent out a beacon for help.
After I heard back from my foodie pals – I was able to round up a great little list. This is the round up that I was able to compile for my friend — and for anyone sticking around Los Angeles wanting to ring in the New Year with a satisfied belly.
9pm – 2am
*FREE / No COVER
*DJ Zo & DJ Bye Felicia
*$9 POT Shot + Tiger Beer
*$5 Sparkling wine toast
* Moët, HENNESSY & BElvedere BOTTLE
SERVICE SPECIALS
*Reservations FOR bottle service
available at info@eatatpot.com POT
10pm – 2am
*DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad
*Special Korean pub fare
*$9 POT Shot + Tiger Beer
*$5 Sparkling wine toast
*No reservations
COMMISSARY
*$30 All You Can Drink Sparkling
Wine after 10pm
Black Bass and Peas from Commissary
In addition, in case you feel the need to soak up all that booze the next morning… there’s a New Year’s Day Brunch Buffet at Commissary too.
On January 1, 2015 from 9am – 2:30pm
Adults $50 / Kids $20 for unlimited brunch and dessert buffet
+ $15 for Unlimited Bloody Mary, Mimosa and Gin & Juice
Bestia: Restaurateur Bill Chait and chef Ori Menashe’s new Italian restaurant in downtown L.A.’s Arts District is hosting New Year’s Eve with an la carte menu. Bestia will be taking reservations for two different seatings, at 6 and 9:30 p.m. Menu includes grilled octopus, steamed mussels, agnolotti stuffed with braised beef cheeks, chestnut doughnuts with coffee gelato and more.
Call for reservations. 2121 7th Place, L.A., (213) 514-5724, www.bestiala.com.
The Church Keyhas a prix fixe menu along with unlimited dim sum cart dishes for $85 per person. Beer, wine and festive cocktails from Devon Espinosa. Champagne and pomegranate espuma-topped ‘Pink Lips’, will be available a-la-carte. Great location for large groups.
5:30pm – 9:00pm, L’Assiette will offer a prix-fixe menu ($25+ per person) featuring the restaurant’s namesake dish, steak frites, sorrel soup or house salad, and a glass of complimentary champagne or Kir Royale.
From 10:00pm – 1:00am second seating ($75+ per person) featuring a surf and turf prix-fixe dinner featuring salmon frites followed by a second serving of steak frites.
If guests reserve a table before Monday, December 22 for the second seating (10:00pm – 1:00am), the price will be reduced to $60 per person. Live DJ entertainment all night: Party favors, noisemakers, Kir Royales, and a champagne toast at midnight will celebrate the end of 2014.
Executive Chef Luigi Fineo says “Buon anno!” with a three-course prix-fixe menu ($125+ per person) of contemporary Italian fare of Langoustine Crudo with hibiscus, basil seeds, stracciatella, and shrimp chips, and rich handmade pastas including Semolina Gnocchi with oxtail ragu, crispy sweetbreads, and black currant preserve to bring in the New Year.
Two seatings: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. featuring the regular menu only.
The three-course menu will be available during the second seating from9:00 – 10:30 p.m., which includes a champagne toast, party favors, and live DJ entertainment.
From 6pm – 2am, FIG & OLIVE Melrose Place invites Angelenos to celebrate with an evening of French Riviera fare. From a casual à la carte menu to lively cocktail party, guests are welcome to indulge in the following dining options:
À la carte menu served until 9pm
White & Gold four-course prix-fixe dinner ($150*) starting at 9pm
White & Gold cocktail party with drinks and passed hors d’oeuvres ($100*) from 9pm to 12am.
The White & Gold four-course prix-fixe dinner features the following dishes:
Pata Negra 5j & Manchego Emulsion – Jamon Iberico 5J, caramelized peach, micro arugula, and Manchego foam with Pedro Ximenez emulsion
Grilled Maine Lobster – artichoke tapenade, puff pastry, and smoked pimenton olive oil
Seared Scallops & Chanterelle – mushroom tapenade, confit pearl onion, and Porcini oil
Soulful Jazz-inspired music by St. Tropez‘s celebrity DJ Julien Nolan will fill the room. Revelers will also receive party favors to prepare for the countdown and balloon drop at the stroke of midnight. Bottle service will be available starting at $105*, a selection of champagne and spirits such as Veuve Clicquot, Dom Pérignon, and Belvedere.
The city’s iconic waterfront dining destination overlooking the Marina, invites guests to celebrate the holidays with festive three-course prix-fixe menus ($60-85) of rustic cuisine. Executive Chef Chuck Abair pairs elements of land and sea in dishes such as Black Truffle Pasta with confit turkey, trinity, arugula, and a white wine sauce and Crispy Octopus with fennel, mushrooms, arugula, and chipotle aioli. Abair ends the menus on a sweet note with a selection of festive desserts including Eggnog Crème Brûlée with gingerbread cookies and Pumpkin Bread Pudding with pumpkin brittle and tres leches sauce. Reservations strongly recommended and can be made by calling 310.823.6395
Details: New Year’s Eve Dinner — The first 6 dinner reservations (of parties of 6 or more) will receive a FREE bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label 750 ml
Festive beverage: Passion Fruit Sparkling Cocktail (all guests still seated just before midnight will receive a complimentary pour and toast with the staff)
The Hermosa Beach staple with offer a New Year’s Eve Buffet ($60 dinner only; $120 dinner and open bar) including charcuterie and artisanal cheeses, raw seafood such as oysters, shrimp, and king crab legs, sushi and sashimi, carving station with roasted prime rib of beef or tandoori baked salmon, and assorted desserts such as blood orange torte and guava cheesecake
I love this little modern Italian spot in Downtown Culver City. They have a Northern focus to their dishes and make exceptional wood fired sourdough pizzas and homemade pastas. Also have a killer wine selection. Inaddition to the regular menu, special NYE offerings include:
Seafood platter – oysters, American caviar, shrimp, crab, accompaniments ($26)
Celebratory beverages: Barbotage, made with cognac, Grand Mariner, and sparkling wine, and Black Velvet, with Anderson Valley stout and sparkling champagne ($10 each)
Four-course dinner ($55), live music (6pm-9pm) and a DJ (9pm- 1am), photo booth (guests can have photos emailed to them), champagne toast, screening of the ball drop on TV, live street magician, and mini chocolate truffles given with guest check. Reservations made at 8:30pm and 10pm will be offered the open bar option for an additional $60 per person.
Three-course prix-fixe dinner and a-la-carte selections for $95
Five-course tasting menu for $185 per person.
Some menu items include: Steak Tartare with preserved truffles and parmigiano, seared sea scallops paired with brussel sprouts and burgundy truffle. Crispy striped bass, aged sirloin of beef, or Ricotta Agnolotti. Dessert: Spiced poached pear with honey nougat gelato or vanilla caramel Budino.
Wherever you end up celebrating — be sure to be in good company and think happy thoughts for the New Year!
Superstitious? Click HERE to read which foods are considered bad luck to eat on New Years Eve.
Also, here are a few more good references for Los Angeles based NYE bashes — hereand here.
December is my favorite time to reflect on the adventures of years past. Whether it be a new local food shop, just opened bakery or cool new product, nothing gets me more excited than finding new favorite discoveries.
This year was the trend of delivery or subscription based food services. Whether you got your fruits and veggies delivered straight from the farm, a new razor from Dollar Shave Club or a package of just roasted, artisan coffee, there’s a service out there for pretty much everyone. Just click and order — it’s the gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. Read on for some great last minute and out-of-the-box gift ideas. PLUS, learn how you can WIN one of these cool items below!
via maddiebakes.blogspot.com
Here’s a short list of just a few of my favorite subscription based services which I think would make great holiday gifts.
The Arclight is stepping up it’s food and drink game with a new menu in the theater restaurant, AND an upstairs bar for 21-and over movie watching. They often feature special dishes inspired by current movies which make for a very fun dinner and a movie night. But don’t just gift a movie ticket, go a step further and gift someone special with an Arclightmember subscription. For just $15 they can accrue points for discounted concessions and get free movies year round. Read on to see how you can get one FREE.
The Salumi Society delivers various cured meats straight to the heart of that salami lover in your life. You’ll get a “Sacchetto” (a small box) every month, containing an assortment of fresh sausages and salumi selected from among 20+ varieties of artisan meats.
via www.bbc.co.uk
Know someone who really loves coffee? Gift them with a month or two subscription to a artisan coffee delivery service. Mustache Coffee Clubdelivers freshly roasted craft coffees (Intelligentsia, Portola Coffee Lab, etc.,) right to your doorstep. Read about it HERE and use this LINK to get a $5 discount.
Do the buzzwords LOCAL, FRESH and ORGANIC make you green with delight? Farm Fresh To You delivers fresh just-off-the-farm produce. In-season fruits and/or veggies are delivered weekly by a little ninja who quietly leaves a box on your doorstep in the middle of the night. Mysterious… and tasty! Get $10 off your first order when you use promo code 6164 and mention that Backyard Bite referred you, that’s me! (Amy Shuster).
Out of fresh dinner ideas? Blue Apron provides meals and recipes delivered ready to cook – easy enough for any kitchen novice. They provide all the ingredients you need, along with an easy to follow recipes. About $10 bucks per meal.
Another “cool” delivery service is Cool Haus which delivers ice cream monthly. Each month, the Pint of the Month or Sammie of the Month Club members receive a hand-packed pint of ice cream or pack of ice cream sandwiches. Need I say more?
Taste Trunk delivers monthly handcrafted gourmet gifts — everything fit for a chocoholic, coffee snob, meat lover, spice fan, BBQ aficionado or more. You can create your own trunk or choose from a number of custom made themes. I just love these artisan crafty finds. Perfect for a foodie!
via www.tastetrunk.com
The Art of Teahand blends custom craft organic teas and botanicals. They offer a subscription based delivery tea service that’s perfect for any true tea aficionado. You’ll receive expert tips along with your specialty curated selection of loose leaf, iced, sachet teabags, wellness, signature teas and caffeine free options. Use code “BLEND10″ for 10% off.
WIN an Arclight Membership by following @backyardbite on Twitter or Instagramand using the hashtag #backyardbiteWINS to tell me what was your favorite foodie discovery this year. Was it a restaurant, food service or a dish? I wanna know! I’ll announce a winner by December 31st and send off a snazzy new Arclight Membership card. Check back to see if you’ve won!
Santa Anita Park 285 W Huntington Dr., Arcadia, 91007 Neighborhood: Arcadia
RAMEN FEST! or Let’s do this! I’m not talking about that 30 cent packaged noodle that you used to stuff your face with back in college at 3 am in a drunken stupor. I’m talking about delicious, fresh bowls of 14 different types of ramen noodles straight from Japan, Vegas, San Diego, San Jose and yes, Los Angeles. I’m talking about the 2nd annual Ramen Yokocho Festival, a 2-day ramen lover’s dream come true. If you love ramen, I mean LOVE ramen, then this is the event for you.
Tatsunoya from Japan: My favorite bowl! Creamy broth, rich and savory flavor.
I thought about breaking format and making the title of this post, “How to turn into a ramen noodle” but I decided against it. I thought that might lead you to think I didn’t enjoy my 4 hours in the 85 degree hot sun, sampling 8 full-sized bowls of hot ramen soup while walking around the Santa Anita Park race track. However, my belly was full of so much liquid salt and noodles, that by the end of it, I felt as if I had turned into a soggy noodle myself.
On Saturday at 10:30 am, 30-minutes before the festival officially opened, there was already a line forming outside the entry gates at the trace track. It wasn’t long before the eager ramen fans stormed the stadium like a horse out of the track. Okay, maybe it wasn’t that intense, but by the time the gates opened, the place was PACKED. Families, foodies, ramen aficionados and all around food lovers. To see what you missed, or if you plan on going next year, take a look at my recap and read these Do and Don’ts to keep in mind when you go.
Ramen Fest Do’s and Don’ts:
Do: Get there early and purchase however many tickets ($8 cash per bowl) you think you will want to eat. That goes for water tickets ($2) – which they were sold out of completely by 3 pm. They did have plenty of beer and cold barley tea throughout the day. Just don’t over purchase as there are no refunds!
Don’t: Get there late. They sold out really early last year, so don’t be arriving 2 hours before closing. That does no one any good.
Do: Come with friends. There is no way you will get to try everything if you come by yourself, plus that’s no fun. Bring a group of friends (preferably the kind sans cooties) so you can share bowls and try as much as you can. There were four people in our group and we each got 2 bowls and shared amongst each other.
Serious ramen eaters sit in the shade.
Don’t: Bring uncomfortable shoes. I was told last year’s fest was held in a much smaller parking lot type location. This year it was held at Santa Anita Race Park (same place as the 626 Night Market) so there a is a bit of walking – from the parking lot to the tents and back again, etc. It’s nothing as crazy as walking around Coachella or anything, but if you plan on hanging around for a few hours, bring your most comfortable kicks and dress comfortably.
Dress… comfortably?
Do: Bring sunscreen. Like any outdoor festival you are at the mercy of mother nature. This past weekend was HOT. I arrived in a long sleeved sweater and (thankfully!) I was able to change into a t-shirt that I had instinctively brought in my bag. It was warm out and eating hot, steamy bowls of soup will cook you inside and out! Those who came in shorts, flip flops, hats and had brought sunscreen seemed to fair better in the sun.
Steaming hot vat of soup anyone??
It’s gettin’ hot in ‘hur.
At first, I thought this was a massage chair. Free massages! Dope! Oh, wait.. this is for something else…
Don’t: Wait in the same line with all your friends visiting one booth at a time. This will take you forever to get through everything. Instead, split up, get in a line and rendezvous again at a meeting point. Lines were LONG so you really want to strategize.
Do: Bring the kids! This year’s fest had various Japanese cultural presentations like traditional tea ceremony, dancing, drums and sumo. There were also activities to partake in. Plus, kids under the age of 17 were admitted free.
Do: Enjoy yourself! Where else can you try 14 different types of ramen from all about the world, enjoy the beautiful California weather with family and friends and check out some horse races. Come with an open mind and empty belly and you will have a good time!
See you next year!
After 8 bowls of Ramen! @backyardbite @kristiehang @chef_jay
Read more from my blogger pals on their experiences at the fest…
Mattou Seimen from Japan: Very unique! Toyama black ramen blended with Szechuan (slightly) spicy miso broth. Heavier and robust flavor. Nice!
Shalala from San Jose: Broth of whole chicken and chicken feet.
Hiromaru from Las Vegas: Tasted almost milky and buttery in flavor. Salty chashu pork, garlic taste, which I didn’t mind at all. Thin spaghetti-like noodle.
Monta from Las Vegas: Skinny noodle,
Tajima from San Diego: Bonito flavor broth, therefore, there was a slight fishy taste, nice chewy noodles, seasoned egg. pork was slightly dried out.
Peace and love…
If you need a break from ramen…
Behind the scenes…
Fun for the kids! Some sort of water contraption… By the end of the day, I wanted to dive in!
Sampled some Kobaya Wasabi coated almonds…
Bring a book, you’ll be in line for a while…
Come on “50 Shades of Gold!” You can win this thing!!
Giant vat of hot soup anyone?
Beautiful traditional dancing. Can I borrow that top?
Bring it!
Is there such a thing as too much ramen? No! Maybe…
Yesterday, I went over some general guidelines and what to expect at Coachella as a GA ticket holder. In regards to what to bring, it would definitely be at your advantage to bring the following items if you want to be a tad more comfortable in the sweltering heat. I brought all (or most) of these things and was glad I did because I used pretty much everything!
Here’s my list of what to take with you to the raging outdoor party we all know and love as Coachella.
1. A handkerchief. This is a MUST for many reasons. 1) Walking from your car to the venue. It’s dusty as hell (you’re in a desert after all). Smart people had brought something to cover their faces. I was one of the lucky ones. 2) If you are in the crowd, you can almost guarantee someone near you will be smoking something. If you are sensitive to smoke, you will want to cover your face… or simply give in, and perhaps enjoy the contact high.
2. Comfortable shoes. Or a change of shoes for the second half of the day.
3. A light jacket or sweater for when the sun goes down and the temperature drops to 50.
4. Cough drops or a few lozenges. The air is really dry (duh! like I mentioned, it’s a desert) and you will be singing along and screaming “Whooo!” a LOT, so keep that throat well lubricated.
5. Earplugs. It gets pretty loud depending on which tent/ stage you’re at.
6. Glow sticks. Or something glow in the dark. Okay, maybe this isn’t a super necessity, but they are always fun when dancing at night and you’ll wish you had something glowing to help your friends find you in the crowd.
7. Sunglasses. A must.
Coachella Ninjas (@datingadvicegrl @backyardbite)
8. A fanny pack. This I recommend over a backpack because 1) It’s lighter to carry. 2) You can bypass long entrance lines if you are sans the bag as fanny packs don’t count as bags. I rocked a cool neon pink one from Urban Outfitters and it was a life saver.
9. A few Advil or Tylenol for those aching joints. If you are a youngster, you probably don’t even know what an “aching joint” is, but anyone over 30 – take my advice, there is a lot of moving and shaking and walking and you might need a pain killer or two when the day is done.
10. *Maybe* A tall unique flag. If you are with a really large group, I found that smart people held a tall flag or sign of some sort so that they would always find each other. Coachella will have 80 to 100,000 people in attendance on any given day and you wont want to lose your friends in the crowds.
11. *Not so much* We brought walkie talkies just in case but ended up not needing them. Maybe in the 90’s this was useful, but texting seemed to work just fine for us.
12. Phone chargers. They DO have phone charging stations, but we brought our own portable phone charger to charge up instead of having to stand in the lines.
13. Purel. Some port-a-potties had sanitizer and some didn’t. Just sayin’.
14. Face wipes. This was really helpful to wipe hands, face and feet. It’s a boost of freshness after a day of wearing sunscreen and sweat.
15. Speaking of sunscreen, don’t be a dumb-dumb and forget this. You will burn. SPF 50 or higher, please.
16. Chapstick with SPF.
17. Download the Coachella Appfor your phone. It’s super helpful and you can set alerts to remind you when your band is about to start playing.
**You cannot bring blankets, pets, dogs, cats, pigs, birds, big bags, professional cameras, lenses, drugs (wink, wink), boom-boxes (why would you?), alcoholic beverages, a bad attitude.
You CAN bring hats, sexy outfits, stupid looking outfits, no outfits, bathing suits, pillows, kids (under 5 are free entrance apparently), LED light up shoes, and an open mind (but maybe not as open as THIS GUY).
Most importantly, don’t get too stressed out about trying to get to see all the bands. You won’t see/ do everything. It’s impossible. But, there’s always next year…
What can’t you live without at Coachella? Let me know in the comments section!
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