Ah, Beverly Hills, known for its luxury, decadence and celebrity. It’s not often on the radar of most hipsters or foodies. Although rich with history and many gourmet eateries, Beverly Hills often comes off a bit pretentious or even an intimidating little microcosm of LA. It is where the elite and tourists go to see and be seen. One often drives through its spotless streets merely as a passage to another destination, but we rarely think to spot and linger. Don’t let the “Pretty Woman Stigma” prevent you from exploring the many unique and affordable adventures that this city has to offer.
This Valentine’s Day, one food tour company sets out to prove just that and more.
Now, I’ve written aboutand even previously made a video featuring Six Taste’s adventures before, but when I learned about their special limited Valentine’s Day Tour in Beverly Hills, I just had to see for myself what it was all about. You see, I’ve worked in the Beverly Hills area for over six years and although I’ve patronized the many businesses and eateries up and around the “Golden Triangle,” I was happy to find stops on this tour that I could discover for the first time. The guide veers away from the more familiar Rodeo Drive and mostly keeps to Cañon’s “Restaurant Row.”
The Valentine’s Day Tour is not only a great date idea, or perhaps a fun outing for a group of singles, but it’s also a darn good way to check out six different local Beverly Hills establishments and maybe learn something new along the way. You sample wines and house-made pasta at the Scarpetta as well as tour the inner workings of the huge kitchen that is Thomas Keller’s French-inspired, Bouchon.
As a foodie, I loved getting to see behind the scenes of their pristine kitchen. It was so worth it!
Delicious house-made pasta from Scarpetta.
You also visit The Cheese Store, which has been in business since 1967. It features over 600 varieties of rare, imported cheeses from all over the world. The owner, Norbert Wabnig is incredibly engaging and has a wealth of “cheesy” knowledge. Even I, being lactose intolerant, was able to enjoy various sheep and goat cheeses without consequence. Norbert informed the group of how it is much easier to digest than cow’s milk.
Yay for me!
The Venezuelan Coupa Café, which had been featured in the recent Muppet movie, offered us samplings of some authentic Venezuelan treats. The hand-made Tequeños and The Spicy Mayan Hot Chocolate simply blew my mind!
The chocolates from Madame Chocolat are a treat for any chocolate lover.
And finally, a restaurant that had been on my radar since they opened last October… the Korean inspired, Italian restaurant, Erbe Matte. This romantic little dinner spot had me going back the very next week to sample more dishes off their amazing menu!
If you are looking to experience something a little different with your sweetheart this Valentine’s day, you’ll definitely enjoy this tour. You will no doubt discover a part of your city that perhaps you never knew was there, plus being with a group of like-minded foodies is always a recipe for a good time!
Tour Dates are:
Feb. 11, 12, 18 and 19! Book now before it sells out!
About the author Amy T. Shuster is an actress, writer, singer and food enthusiast. Her blog is, backyardbite.com, which focuses on creating positive content to help generate awareness of local independent foodie “gems” in the Los Angeles area. Amy lives and dines in Los Angeles, CA. Read her story in the LA Weekly!
8432 W 3rd St · Los Angeles, CA 90048 · Neighborhood: Mid-City West
Allora Cucina is one of those places I always wonder why I don’t frequent more often. Every time I visit, I am reminded of why I love this authentic, little Italian restaurant.
Having opened just three years ago, it is snuggled between the local pub, St. Nicks and the popular Izaka-ya, which is across the street from the trendy Sushi Roku. With so many better known establishments on this busy street and its unassuming location just kiddie-corner from the Beverly Center, Allora is an often over-looked gem.
The Place. The experience is unpretentious, no-frills and relaxing. Whenever I go, I imagine I am in a quaint little restaurant in Italy, (the real Italy, not the New York one). On any given night, the proudly smiling owner will greet you at the door and guide you to your seat. He will explain the specials of the evening and after taking your order, will invite you to relax and unwind with a bottle (or two). The dinner portions are modest and are prepared with care. The breadbasket is warm, lightly seasoned and served with a nice olive oil and balsamic for dipping – not butter! The modest $8 corkage fee is worth it if you prefer to bring your own wine, however their mostly California/Italian bottle selection is also good as well.
The Food. I always peruse the menu for a long while before settling on my usual favorite, The Fettucini con Gameri e Zucchini. It is a simple, yet flavorful shrimp pasta served with a light tomato-based sauce.
There are other favorites that will leave you wondering if you were making orgasm-like faces while you were eating. One of those being the Ravioli con Zucca, which is a pumpkin ravioli with pine nuts and a walnut cream sauce. The other is the “special of the night” the Mushroom Ravioli with Truffle Oil, both are creamy and bursting with flavor. I like that the ravioli pasta, which is made in-house, is delicate and has a nice melt-in-your-mouth texture.
For dessert, a boat-sized tiramisu.
The Owners. Friends since childhood, the two Italian-born business partners Salvatore Caredda and Fabrizio Amati recently opened up a second restaurant location, aptly named Ancora, which means “again” in Italian. This sister restaurant, located in Tarzana, has been open since October 2011 and has a menu that mirrors Allora’s. It has been enthusiastically welcomed by those in the San Fernando Valley and promises to be as successful as Allora has been in West Hollywood.
Date Night. If you are looking for a simple, romantic dinner where you can linger for hours and take your time enjoying good food and good company, then this is the place for you. As the last patrons of the night, my friend and I offered the owner a glass of red from the bottle we brought, to which he enthusiastically toasted with us. This isn’t Bucca de Beppo, nor is it The Olive Garden, but by the end of your meal, you may find yourself feeling a bit “like family.”
BYB Tip: The best seats of the house are either of the two bench seats by the window, which allow you to look into the entire restaurant and see what other people are ordering. (Yep! Can’t you tell I’m a foodie!?)
Also, get a reservation during peak hours. The restaurant is petite and fills up fast on weekends.
**[UPDATE: Sometime mid 2012 Allora closed its doors. I am very said to see it go. There is now another Italian restaurant in its place with different owners. Allora, we will miss you!]
1325 Echo Park Avenue · Los Angeles, CA · 90026 · Neighborhood: Echo Park
From the guy who gave you Local in Silver Lake, Chef Jason Michaud’s passion project, Red Hill already feels like it’s been in the neighborhood for years. Having recently opened their doors for business this past Thursday, I luckily scored a seat in what I was told, was their busiest night yet. Although he’s been in the kitchen every night since they’ve opened, tonight there was no sign of Chef Michaud who was probably taking a much needed night off. Still, with not even a phone yet set up to take reservations, word of mouth in this tightly knit Echo Park community has traveled fast. At 9 pm there was still a handful of foodies and locals waiting patiently to try a bite from this highly anticipated addition to the neighborhood.
It’s a petite yet comfortable space, gently lit and smartly branded. There’s a lot of attention to detail going on here. From the cleverly colored yellow and orange menus printed (daily) on a heavy paper stock, to the modern yet industrial décor… the theme of the Red Hill is borrowed from a bit of the neighborhood’s history.
“Before World War I, Echo Park was a middle-class neighborhood, nicknamed “Red Hill” for a concentration of political radicals living there… Since it’s earliest days, the neighborhood has been known to attract the creative, underground, independent, and iconoclastic elements of society.” – wiki
For now, the menu is changing each day, as ingredients acquired from local farmer’s markets inspire. Similar to that of his successful hipster hangout Local, Red Hill’s menu features fresh veggies and rich flavors and may be best described as urban American cuisine. While there are various vegetarian dishes and a select gluten free or vegan dessert each night, Red Hill’s menu has delicious meat options as well.
Tonight’s *menu featured various fried egg dishes, pulled pork papardelle, roasted chicken, steak tartare and halibut to name a few.
I’m not sure if the back counter will be a regular seating option in the future, but from where I sat overlooking the kitchen, it was a foodie’s dream. I watched as various plates were prepared and witnessed this young kitchen get their bearings. Chef Trevor Rocco looked like he could make these dishes easily in his sleep. Focused and meticulous, he whipped the newbies into shape as they learned the new system.
My favorite dish was actually a special of the night, the mushroom risotto, (which I’m going to guess were enokitake or winter mushrooms) mixed with a deliciously thick, creamy and cheesy risotto. I really hope this dish makes it to their final menu when it’s all said and done. It was SO good.
Other favorites were the crispy halibut on top a bed of tomato and fennel and the Brussels sprouts, potato,baconcroquettes which were just further proof that everything (even Brussels sprouts) are amazing when deep fried.
The split roasted ½ chicken was a popular dish coming out of the kitchen, as was the dandelion greenssalad and spicy cherry bomb and finger peppers with fried egg and toast.
I also love that they offer one of my local coffee favorites, Cafecito Organico.
In addition to recently opening a Local Express near 4th and Hill St. downtown, Red Hill is further proof that Chef Jason Michaud is making a serious name for himself on the Los Angeles restaurant scene.
I can’t wait to come back and try the place again as soon as they open up for regular lunch hours… which is probably going to happen faster than you can say “radicchio.”
The kitchen is currently open Sun-Thu 6pm-10pm and Fri-Sat 6pm-11pm.
BYB Tip: They have FREE parking just behind the restaurant and you can also park at the Walgreen’s parking lot – it’s allowed!
*Note: The menu has been changing daily. Please observe the pictures as simply a reference to get a feel for their overall menu.
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About the author Amy T. Shuster is an actress, writer, singer and food enthusiast. Her blog is, backyardbite.com, which focuses on creating positive content to help generate awareness of local independent foodie “gems” in the Los Angeles area. Amy lives and dines in Los Angeles, CA.
8310 West 3rd Street · Neighborhood: West Hollywood
My favorite thing about Simple Things is the pie! The simple sandwiches, strong Intelligentsia brewed coffees and bigger-than-your-face salads are just a plus. I’ve mentioned Simple Things in previous posts before, but I’ve never just talked about the PIES. This is one of the many places I forgot to include on my favorite things list so I decided to give them some BYB love in this post.
Restaurant industry veteran, Andy Paxson and business partner Ryan Handel, joined forces with executive chef Carrie Cusack to create a great place for locals to lunch, mingle and get their pie on. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the insanely numerous lunch and brunch spots located off 3rd street so, I’m make this simple for you… COME FOR THE PIE.
These perfectly sized and reasonably priced “simple” pies are nom-worthy for any sweet lover. I can honestly say that of all my outings to Simple Things, I’ve never met a pie I didn’t like.
In addition to their dessert pies, I love their pot-pies. The portabella mushroom is unique and the chicken-pot-pie is a perfectly made classic. It comes out from the oven steaming hot and is served with a simple arugula salad.
The big salads are delicate yet hearty. Nom!
The sandwiches are filling and satisfying, and there are a variety of small sides and soups to choose from their menu as well.
On to the sweets: The “cutie pies” ($2.50) are perfectly sized for one. Especially when you want a small bite of sugary goodness to go with that espresso, but don’t want to feel too guilty.
The “simple pie” ($5.50) is great for sharing, or you can be like my manly boyfriend, skip the sandwich and just have a pie for lunch.
They also have big pies ($20) which they can make for you with 24 advance notice, but let’s not get carried away…
I’ve so far tried the apple, chocolate chip cookie (love this one!), French silk, salted caramel, chocolate cream and their famous Missouri mud. Simple Things is a local’s favorite for when you want to linger with good company, coffee and have a sweet treat.
4065 Jackson Ave · Culver City, CA 90232 · Neighborhood: Culver City
Who doesn’t love a good sandwich?
This little deli has remained firmly planted just off Culver Blvd., (behind Sony Studios) for the past 80 years. As the neighborhood expanded and the houses were built up around it, the deli has continued to be a well-kept secret and local’s favorite. Residents of Culver City know all about Jackson Market and Deli and now that I’m spilling the beans on this little gem, so will you!
Now, unless you were specifically looking for this place, chances are you’d miss it completely. It’s nestled away on a quiet street right between residential homes. It is a perfect and affordable alternative to your usual busy downtown Culver City lunch spots. If I were looking for some privacy, I’d come here and linger in the backyard zen garden for a while, sip some Prometheus Springs Pomegranate-Black Pepper Elixir and breeze through a few chapters of my book. Ahhh, is it summer yet?
This place has is a standard, no frills deli that serves quality Boar’s Head meats and cheeses. They get an extra star from me for serving Muenster Cheese! You can order a pre-made sandwich or wrap like the Jackson Club or BBQ Beef Brisket Panini for around 8 or 9 bucks. Or do it your way and customize everything just as you like it. Get a side potato salad or some veggies while you’re at it, it’s good! Remember, the deli is not fast food, you can watch as they slice the meat and prepare the sandwich you concocted – it’s all made to order.
Linger around the market while you wait. Flip through a magazine, grab some gum, pick up a box of band-aids – whatever you can think of! They even sell beer and wine. (Note: Can’t drink it on the premises though since it’s on a residential block.) Cookies and cupcakes come from local businesses like “Sweet or Treat” and “Cookie Casa Bakery,” some are even made in house. I loved the oatmeal cookie and want to come back to try the Nutella muffin!
Come around breakfast time and get your crepe on. You can also order omelets, waffles, pancakes or breakfast burritos. Not bad for a deli! Check out the GIANT jar of Nutella near the crepe station… A good sign, indeed.
Although the place has changed owners over the years, it’s expanded for the better. The new owners have a sincere passion for what they do and it shows that they serve to give the community the best experience possible.
BYB Tips: Parking’s a breeze- just watch for street signs. Order double meat if you like a hearty bite. Give yourself extra time during peak hours as it can get busy. If you’re in a hurry, call it in or order online for faster service.
About the author Amy T. Shuster is an actress, writer, singer and food enthusiast. Her blog is, backyardbite.com, which focuses on creating positive content to help generate awareness of local independent foodie “gems” in the Los Angeles area. Amy lives and dines in Los Angeles, CA.
Last year as I discovered my foodie footing, I found some amazing places right in my backyard. Those who know me well know that besides a passion for food, I also love to sing… a lot.
I’m a big believer that good food should make you burst out in song!
Here is a list of just some of my favorite places in LA that I discovered last year…
(to the tune of “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music)
There are of course, MANY amazing restaurants I regrettably couldn’t fit in the length of the song… Who do you think I missed? Tell me who you think I should have included, and maybe your suggestion will get added to next year’s recap!
1800 Sawtelle Ave · Neighborhood: West Los Angeles 310-288-6500
Owner of the soon to be opened Plan Check restaurant and bar, recently chatted with me briefly about his exciting new venture. Terry Heller is an LA native and real estate developer-turned-restauranteur who partnered up with Ernesto Uchimura (the former corporate executive chef of Umami Burger), to create a quality bar and restaurant that will cater to the neighborhood.
Located in West LA’s Little Osaka, Plan Check will be “equal parts bar and restaurant” says Heller. It will seat around 55 comfortably inside and 44 outside on a large patio. It’s cuisine can be best described as “modern American comfort food.” They will offer a petite, but rounded menu that features three different burgers, steak and southern fried chicken among various snacks and other dishes. Master mixers, Pablo Moixand Steve Livigni (of Harvard & Stone, La Descarga, Black Market fame), will also provide yummy signature cocktails, whiskey and of course, good beer.
Pre-construction… You can see how large the space is!
When I asked how they might be different from other bar/restaurants like Father’s Office, Terry said simply, that they will offer quality table service, AND will allow ketchup on burgers! Ha! Good answer!
The sign is now up and the major interior construction is complete! Look for Plan Check to open late January or early February. Keep it on your radar!
Update: Plan Check Bar now OPEN! Read about it, here.
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