Chaya Downtown: Summer Beer Garden

I've always been more of a cocktail girl, than a wine or beer girl.  The only notion I ever had of "beer gardens" were formed by experiences at street festivals - they meant a sort of holding pen where twenty-somethings essentially stood around getting sloshed and conversation revolved around the last time they were standing around getting sloshed.  I never associated beer gardens with any sort of good food or great ambience - i.e. they were not for me.

But then I was invited to Chaya Downtown to check out their Summer Beer Garden - running weeknights 4pm til close - and their version, pretty much because it involves delicious bites to go with alcohol, I liked.  That, and the charming setting - in a covered patio space, between skyrises, paper lanterns casting soft glows over wood-panelled booths and tables.  With a street-food-inspired yakitori/kushiyaki station in the corner, where the fragrant sizzle of grilled-to-order meat skewers drifted to every corner of the space.  That night there was also a drizzle of rain, which outside of that protective cover, added to the charm and movie-set-like atmosphere of the place.

The concept is sort of outdoor izakaya - small bites meant for people to fill up on, so that they can drink some more.  Which is fine with me because they actually put a lot of care and thought into the food - they're not just token sponges for alcohol.  My beverage of choice was a Ginger Joy cocktail with ginger vodka, muddled cucumber, lemon juice, simple syrup, fever tree ginger beer, cucumber and ginger ($12 on regular bar menu). 

Then the small plates started rolling through. Nothing goes better with alcohol than fried food - and Chaya served up a great gourmet fried dish in their Garlic Fried Soft Shell Shrimp, Chipotle Miso ($7) - from the Beer Garden menu: whole shrimp, heads, tails and all, were perfectly seasoned and fried to a deliciously fragrant crisp - it kind of reminded me of Chinese salt & pepper fried shrimp, but more garlicky.  And loved the creative fusion dipping sauce made with chipotle and miso.

One of my favorites though was Grilled Octopus ($8) baby potatoes, wasabi pickles - this was actually from the Happy Hour menu, which is available during Beer Garden hours as well. I loved how well the unusual combination of ingredients worked together: octopus with its crisper crunch balanced by the softer bites of baby potatoes, punctuated by the heat of wasabi mayo. Parsley added an herbaceous layer of flavor.

Then of course, we couldn't go without having the Yakitori & Kushiyaki that has been whipping up our appetites all night with the smokey char that had been wafting over to our table. We got a sampler plate with pretty much every kind of skewer on the menu: Bacon Wrapped Date Skewer ($2), Shrimp Skewer ($2), Shitake Mushroom Skewer ($2), Chicken Skewer ($2), Beef Tongue Skewer ($3), Beef Skewer ($3) - my favorites were the beef tongue (so thick, juicy and rich in flavor I thought it was the kobe beef skewer at first), kobe beef and shitake mushroom (super juicy and earthy/meaty tasting).  LOVE the super affordable prices on these!

 For some token veggies, we had the staple barbecue item served with a twist: Grilled White Corn, Feta Cheese ($5) - I loved the sweet, perfectly grilled corn, but the feta cheese was a bit too rich and had some kind of spice in it that was a little overpowering for me.  But those who like heat in their food may enjoy this.

Another great fried dish was the Soy Fried Chicken "Karaage" ($6) - which we could consider a Japanese happy hour classic?

Lastly, I never expect to love veggie dishes, but the Fried Brussel Sprouts ($8) with curried salt from the regular menu was instantly addictive, with an intoxicating smokey char and mouthwatering spicy flavors.

I could eat plates of these all night.

For the sweet finish, we got to taste something from the regular dessert menu: Warm Milk Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding ($10) dulce de leche ice cream - I LOVED this, possibly the best bread pudding I've ever had.  The croissant was beautifully buttery - I could smell it before I saw it come to the table - but also incredibly light, airy and flaky, served at just the right temperature, and well balanced with the rich melted belgian milk chocolate, and the not too sweet dulce de leche ice cream.  SO good.  This dessert is a staple at all Chaya locations, but beyond all the offerings at Chaya Downtown beer garden I would also go back just for this bread pudding, in that lovely garden setting.

I should also mention, that the night we were there, a Thursday night, there was also live music that was quirky and fun - going from a modernized rock rendition of the song from that classic SNL skit where Christopher Walken has "a fever" whose "only prescription is more cowbell", to "Ring of Fire", to "Pumped Up Kicks".   There isn't a set schedule for live music but it will be offered throughout the Summer Beer Garden run.

Oh yeah, and for those who are into beer, there is a selection on the beer garden menu from Kirin to Sapporo for $4-$5 a glass, $14 a pitcher. Sake cocktails are available for $7.  Premium Japanese whiskeys like Yamazaki are also on offer. You can also of course order from their regular and Happy Hour cocktail menus.

All in all, a fantastic time with great food at happy hour pricing, in a charming space.  Especially great for those who work downtown and just want a chill place to unwind with delicious bites to go with a few rounds of drinks. Or those who just want to grab tasty, affordable small plates in a great setting with friends or on a fun casual-ish date.

(And, one of the biggest deterrents to me trekking downtown usually, is taken care of at Chaya - you can park right beneath the building, and they valet for free for 3 hours with validation from the restaurant!)

Chaya's Beer Garden runs through August 31st, Mondays to Fridays 4pm to close, in the garden patio and bar/lounge.

*Disclosure: This meal was hosted.

On a 7 point scale:
Flavor - 5.5 bites
Presentation - 5.5 bites
Originality - 5.5 bites
Ambience - 5.5 stars
Service - 6 stars
Overall experience - 5.5 bites
Price - $ (1 bite mark)
Probability of return visit - 100% 

______________________________________________________________________

Chaya Downtown  
525 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Ph: 213.236.9577

Parking: In underground structure in building - Valet parking free with validation for first 3 hours (flat fee of $7 thereafter)

Website: thechaya.com/downtownLosAngeles
_____________________________________________________________________

Naya Sunset / Lounge: A Whole New World, Parts 1-3 in Silverlake (CLOSED)

How did it take us this long to get to Naya?

I vaguely remembered reading about Naya, back in November when it opened. Within that haze was something about incredible, inspired interiors - some blurry impression of it being a cinematic, palatial space, accompanied by the assumed inaccessible prices.

So recently when a great friend, Subliminal Rabbit, offered to take me anywhere I'd like to go for a birthday dinner,  Naya came to mind again (she is vegetarian, so Indian is always a good choice as a SR-friendly cuisine that doesn't skimp on flavor!).  I was shocked when I finally took the time to look, that prices at Naya were not outrageous (and happily fine for our dinner excursion!)

As with movies, often I intentionally avoid detailed reviews beforehand in order to have a pure experience (plus, I love surprises).

With Naya - beyond press coverage of its launch, I didn't do any research other than a quick glance at the menu/prices. So it was that its location also took me by surprise - I don't know why I 'remembered' it being in Hollywood when really it's in Silverlake.  An unassuming stretch of Sunset Boulevard in Silverlake.

A pleasant surprise - it meant, hopefully, lower risk of being in company of d-bags and scenesters (hipsters though could be another story).

I got there uncharacteristically early, so set out to explore the grounds a bit.  From the moment I set foot inside, I felt like I was transported to another world, like I was stepping into a succession of what would be several very different movies.  The hostess stand was a barely lighted island surrounded by dramatic floor to soaring ceiling curtains, thick, lush and dark velvet panels that beckoned with a thrilling sense of (Eyes Wide Shut style, before all the sex) mystery.

Which path do I choose first?  Left or right?  Pulling back the curtain to the left revealed a cavernous lounge, dark with soaring ceilings criss-crossed by Moroccan-style arches with jagged ridges, enclosed by exposed brick walls. It was Gotham City meets Casablanca.  The space was breath-taking.  And then to find out I still had a few minutes left to catch Happy Hour (6-7:30pm daily)?  With super friendly bartenders? I was in love.

When Subliminal Rabbit arrived, we lingered at the lounge for a bit: I had a Spa in Goa cocktail - tequila, lime juice, agave nectar, jalapeno, cucumber - and Subliminal Rabbit had a red-colored drink that I can't remember the name of.  Both were fairly good, refreshing drinks - and they didn't skimp on the alcohol either - I felt it as soon as I stood up later.

Despite dinner reservations, we also had to try one of the bar bites to take advantage of HH pricing: we got the Goat Cheese Salad ($5) sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, red onions, mixed greens, fried goat cheese. An interesting presentation with skewered fried goat cheese balls over greens.  It wasn't mindblowing, but a fairly decent bar bite.

So on this visit, while drinks and food were not bad, in the lounge anyway it was more about enjoying the space.  But there are other items on the HH menu that sounded enticing - from Tandoor Drumsticks to lamb burgers, to naan pizzas.  Will have to come back and try.

For dinner, we could choose to eat in the more formal dining room, or the casual back patio, complete with luxe looking metallic upholstered stools and open fireplaces.

Since it was a little cold that night, we decided to see what's behind the other curtain (to the right).

The dining room was a complete 180 from the lounge - light, airy, serene, with flowing translucent floor to ceiling veils and softly glowing, seemingly floating blocks of light - paired with soothing ambient music, the space felt and sounded (and, with an aromatherapy-like fragrance, smelled) like some ethereal, soul-restoring spa in some remote island resort in Southeast Asia. Or some luxury liner asail in outer space (a la Serenity - if Inara's ship had been done in all whites & creams with punches of red).  

Candle holders at each table, with flecked designs casting a lovely starry-night like glow, like hearts of mini-galaxies in their own imperceptible orbits all over the dining room - were a nice finishing detail that added to the beautiful ambience.

With decor this amazing, there's got to be a catch - their food must be awful and a rip-off, right?  Happy to report that Naya (Hindi for 'new') deviates from the expected here as well (for most of the items we tried).

[Sorry for the dark fuzzy pics in this post  - the ambience was amazing but not point-and-shoot-friendly!  Someday I'm going to save up for photography class and better gear...] 

Our meal started with Indian chips & dips: a plate of papadum - wafer-thin, beautifully brittle seasoned cracker/ flatbread fried and sun-dried - with a trio of chutneys for dipping. All were delicious: we had to drag ourselves away from these, knowing there was still a meal to come!   

As appetizer, we got the Samosa Platter ($7) - you can choose 3 out of 4 varieties; we picked spinach and tofu, potato and peas, and feta with arugula and walnuts.  As far as I know, these aren't typical combos for samosa stuffing - but while we liked the innovation with ingredient combos, which were tasty, I did want the shape and preparation to take more from the traditional - the thin fried dough wrappers made them feel more like triangular spring roll patties, when what we love about samosas usually is the golden brown crisp but hefty 'shell' yielding to steaming hot, soft and flavorful bites inside.

We fared much better with the mains: Patagonia Chilean Sea Bass apricot curry, black rice ($26) - LOVED this.  I don't think I've seen this combination of ingredients in Indian cooking before. The fish was incredibly fresh, tender and juicy, its natural sweetness enhanced by smokey char from searing, and a surprisingly pleasing combo of subtle tartness and heat from the apricot curry. Served with a dramatic tower of black rice, and a delicate yet bold fuschia colored flower that I've never seen before for garnish - according to our server, this is a "Firesticks" flower.  Love the name.

Of course, an Indian meal would not be complete without baked flatbread - we got Garlic Naan ($4).  I wanted to love this, and perhaps had taken too long with picture-shooting, but by the time we got to this it was sort of cold, not very soft and fluffy, but more chewy and not much flavor.  It does not compare to the naan at Great India Cafe in Studio City - my fav so far from places within short driving distance (disclaimer: I have not made my way to Artesia yet) - which comes steaming hot, and super fluffy with fragrant dough flavors (even if it does take me a while to commit it to memory (card)).

For her main, Subliminal Rabbit got an off-menu item: Paneer Tikka Masala?! (price unknown) we loved this as well - lush, creamy tomato sauce over Indian cheese curded at just the right consistency.

For the sweet finish, we chose the most unusual looking item on the menu: Cardamom Infused Rice Pudding & ice cream ($6) you get to choose from a list of flavors, and we chose rose.  There was some confusion over what elements would be rose flavored - but turns out rose would be used in the fresh made syrup that they drizzle over the rice pudding, and the ice cream would be the chef's choice as to what would pair best with those flavors. In this case, pistachio, with a sprig of mint on top.  

We wanted to love this original sounding dessert as well - but while the cardamom and rose were nice additions to the rice pudding, the pistachio ice cream was...not creamy at all.  There were actual bits of ice in there - I forget which one of us joked at one point that it would make a nice shaved ice treat instead.

Despite the menu being hit or miss, the space was amazing - we really enjoyed our delicious chips & dips and mains, and they did not cost second mortgages on houses we don't have.
 
Skeptics may say, this doesn't look authentic, and still costs a lot compared to your favorite neighborhood hole in the wall spot. And they would be right - but I think there is room in LA for elevated ethnic cuisine, that takes inspiration from traditional dishes and takes them to the next level, both in terms of creativity and raising the bar with a fine dining experience.

In a way, it's like reverse discrimination/snobbery to automatically dismiss ethnic cuisine that is presented at a higher level based on concept and price alone.  If the quality is there, and they are doing something new (just like Shanghai No. 1 Seafood is doing with Chinese food) I say give them a shot.

And again, not every dish is going to be a hit - anytime a chef is willing to take a risk to try something new, there are going to be successes and things that miss the mark.  But I respect them for taking the risk at all - without risk, whether in food or other areas of life, there can be no worthwhile accomplishment.  I'm trying to learn that lesson for myself as well.  And we like what we saw at Naya - a solid start.

Looking forward to visiting again soon!

[Note: We were there early on a Friday night, and were able to enjoy a serene dining room - note that they also have a DJ weekly in the patio after dinner hours, and the place turns into a club - so expect a different crowd after that time.]

On a 7 point scale:
Flavor - 5.5 bites
Presentation - 6 bites
Originality - 5.5 bites
Ambience - 6 stars
Service - 6 stars
Overall experience - 6 bites
Price - $$$ (3 bite marks)
Probability of return visit - 95% 
___________________________________________

Naya Sunset / Lounge

3705 West Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026

Ph: 323.663.826

Website: nayasunset.com
OpenTable: Look for reservations (and points!)


___________________________________________

Katsuya Glendale - Happy Hour Deal Stack x5

Happy Hours aren't going to be enjoyable if you have to stressball through rush hour LA traffic to get there. 

Well, those in the Valley who love a good happy hour with decent food and cocktails at a decent price in a relatively upscale setting can find a great place to enjoy all this without having to trek to the Westside: at Katsuya by Starck at the Americana at Brand in Glendale.

For "Ms Sassy", "Sawyer" and I, Glendale is an easy drive from the office and a great place to destress after a long day/week.  You get the ambience and menu of Katsuya without the wait, parking nightmare and the sometimes douchey crowd of the Hollywood location.


On our last outing, good times were made great with an epic (and shameless on my part...) deal stacking that led to nearly $60 saved!

We started off with my favorite cocktail from Katsuya,  Burning Mandarin ($7 HH, $13 regular) made with Absolut Mandarin vodka, handcrushed serrano chili, fresh lemon and orange juice, splash of cranberry.  Love the layers of flavor in this drink - with bold but perfectly balanced spicy / citrus, and tangy flavors, subtle heat unfolding with each sip - a perfectly controlled kick countered by a sugar rim.  We got four of these, saving $6 on each with Happy Hour pricing (for total discount of $24!)

On previous visits we'd ordered the Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna ($5/2pcs HH, $13/2pcs regular) but as Sawyer isn't so much into raw fish, and we just came from a holiday party where we'd eaten a lot already, we just got a few of their other signature roll to snack on. The Baked Crab Hand Roll ($5/pc HH, $14/2pcs regular) consists of baked snow crab in light signature sauce wrapped with rice in soy paper.  The soy paper versus usual seaweed wrap is a nice creative spin, and the crab tasted fresh and subtly sweet.  We also appreciated that it wasn't drenched in mayonnaise based sauce like some other sushi joints would tend to do with crab.

We got 5 of these total, saving $2 each for total of $10 off!

For a change of pace, Ms. Sassy wanted to check out the Chicken Karaage ($12 regular) even though it wasn't offered at Happy Hour price.  I do like fried chicken, especially Japanese / Korean style, and poked my chopsticks over initially just for a taste, but these were so good I ended up eating half of her plate (sorry Ms. Sassy!)

The chicken was fried with a fine grain panko that made for a smooth but crunchy crust - this deliciousness was taken over the top with what I'm going to just call "awesome sauce" that was a perfect mix of sweet, tart, vinegary, with slight bit of heat from chilis.

While most places will just offer a handful of drinks and bar bites for Happy Hour, Katsuya has a pretty decent selection of fan favs from their regular menu as well as their signature cocktails and other drinks - here's the full HH menu:

So I did mention epic deal stacking - what else besides Happy Hour pricing? 

While Katsuya by Starck is part of the SBE group, which just launched their own SBE Preferred loyalty program, we discovered that you actually get a better deal, if you're at the Glendale location - if you use the Americana at Brand loyalty card (15% off your total bill AND points towards a gift cert to use at restaurants in the complex!).  It's free to join either loyalty program - for the Americana one, just sign up online or in-person at the concierge desk in the lobby of the parking structure.

Use a credit card that you've linked up to an airline frequent flyer or hotel loyalty program and you'll automatically get points on top of it all. 

Use OpenTable to make your reservation and you get points when you show up, that you could put towards redemption of OpenTable Dining Cheques (earn 2000 points = $20, 5000 = $50 etc.) that could be used at any OpenTable restaurant. Reservations are typically worth 100 points each, but sometimes you'll find a 1000 point deal.

Lastly - Katsuya validates BOTH valet and self-parking, for three hours.  Validation means FREE for 3 hours. Normally Americana offers 1st hour free, 2nd hour for $3 and 3rd hour for $5.  We ended up hanging out for about 3 hours - with two cars we ended up saving $16.

The score:
1. Happy Hour pricing - total savings: $34
2. Americana at Brand Loyalty Program discount - 15% - total savings: $9.75
3. Free Valet / Self-park - total savings: $16
4. Hotel points from using credit card associated with Starwood
5. OpenTable reservation & check-in - 100 points

Total $ savings: $59.75

With the expenses that holidays bring, and the continuing bad economy, we could all use ways to save money - and our lovely little get together at Katsuya Glendale was one that helped us a lot with that goal!

The other best thing about HH at Katsuya Glendale?  It's on EVERY DAY - Monday-Friday 5-7pm, Saturday & Sunday 11am-4pm.

Katsuya, we will see you again very soon!

On a 7 point scale:

Flavor - 5.5 bites
Presentation - 5.5 bites
Originality - 6 bites
Ambience - 6 stars 
Service - 5.5 stars
Overall experience - 6 bites
Price - $ (1 bite mark) 
Probability of return visit - 100% 
____________________________________________________________

Katsuya by Starck Glendale
The Americana at Brand
702 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210
Ph: 818.244.5900

Happy Hour: M-F 5-7pm, Sa&Su 11:30am-4pm
Parking: Valet or self-park in mall structure (both free for 3 hours with validation)

Website: sbe.com/katsuya/glendale
OpenTable: Look for reservations (and points!)

___________________________________________________________

Yak and Yeti: Tara's Himalayan / Big Foot West Adventure

One of the most amazing things about LA is that almost anything you want to do, is available to be done.  This is especially true of the dining arena - in the city, you can pretty much get any cuisine you want, (with few exceptions for specialized regional fare).  Even Nepalese /Tibetan. Last week, The Nomlog and I decided the best cure for a weekday is a culinary getaway - to the Himalayas via Palms by way of an unassuming restaurant on Venice Blvd, just downwind of Culver City.

Tara's Himalayan Cuisine is one of only two known Nepalese/Tibetan restaurants in LA (the other is in Pasadena, a city that to me represents a relative culinary wasteland offering  more trouble - especially with parking - than it's worth - so I wasn't about to go there even if the cuisine seemed to promise adventure). 

Tara's looked to offer authentic Nepalese / Tibetan dishes. Also, I was inspired by the story of owner Tara Gurung Black, who grew up in a tiny mountain village in Nepal (who we learned had escaped from an arranged marriage in her early teens) came to America on her own, assimilated, and eventually opened the restaurant to introduce a taste of her culture to LA, and later to raise funds to send home to a local school in her village that had fallen into disrepair.  She wanted kids from her village to be educated, empowering them as agents for positive change while not losing their heritage.

From the outside, on a fairly deserted stretch of Venice Blvd - the restaurant with its simple front patio doesn't look like much, but once inside, you can feel firsthand the pride Tara takes in her culture, through the small but cozy space adorned with colorful embroidery, lanterns, paintings and ornaments from Nepal.

We kicked off our meal with a cup of Himalayan Hot Tea ($3) made with cooked milk, ginger and Himalayan herbs.  It reminded me of chai but less in- your-face, spice that's got a calm presence - definitely hit the spot on that cold night (and cheers to free refills!)

Excited to try the food (Nepali cuisine has a lot of Indian and Chinese influence, so the menu had a lot of familiar terms like tandoori, masala, naan and their staple 'momo' are similar to Chinese dumplings/potstickers) - The Nomster and I decided to go with the two dishes that featured Yak meat, which neither of us had ever had (we're somehow always drawn to the unusual!).

The first was Sherpa Stew (with added Yak and noodles).  This turned out to be more of the consistency of a noodle soup than stew - with a tomato based broth flavored with "Himalayan spices" and herbs.  Then the moment of truth - there were a few pieces of Yak meat mixed in - and they were tender, juicy, dark and flavorful.  It's sweeter than beef and in slices that were light in weight but dark, almost black, in color.  As for the noodles, I was joking with The Nomster that I didn't know Tibetans were into spaghetti, when Tara walked by and confirmed that those were in fact spaghetti noodles!  There just isn't time to do handpull noodles the traditional way, so they chose the next closest substitute. 
We were a bit disappointed not to get to try it the authentic way, but enjoyed the flavors and the hot soup on a cold night well enough.



Photo: Mahatma4711

So what are Yaks, and why Yak meat?

Yaks are cattle animals bred by ancient Himalayan tribes as a beast of burden as well as for their rich milk, wool, hides, horns, and of course, meat.

In looks, Yaks resemble bison / cattle - they have handlebar horns, large shoulder humps, horse-like tails and long hair that hang down close to the ground.

Yak meat is red, lighter than beef, juicier than buffalo and elk, and not greasy (it's apparently a lean, low fat and low cholesterol, high protein meat, for those who care about that stuff ;P).

Our second Yak dish was Tara's signature dish: Yak Chili  ($11.99) which is also not as you would expect - say the word 'chili' and you automatically think thick, meaty stew with spices for heat, and possibly beans and cheese.  In this case, chili refers to the peppers that are used when sauteeing the Yak meat,along with broccolli, onions, tomato.

We could taste the yak a lot better than the smaller pieces in the Sherpa Stew - they were juicy but a bit rougher in texture than beef and again has a naturally sweet taste.  The closest thing I can think of that would be familiar to most people would be Mongolian beef, but with a much rougher surface.  Not bad, not sure that I would crave it but glad we got to try!

For a token veggie dish, we had the Eggplant Curry with fresh sliced eggplant, ginger, garlic and fresh tomatoes. ($7.99).  I prefer my eggplant structured with skin that isn't tough, so this dish wasn't a favorite - the eggplant was cooked thoroughly and falls apart both on contact with your utensils and melts away in your mouth, yet the skin is still sort of stiff and not that chewable.

All in all, glad we got the Himalayan experience, on our little pretend-Travel Channel-episode without ever leaving town.  It was worth trying at least once - and you can feel good about 10% of the profits from your meal going to support the Nepali school.  And happy to have met Tara, an incredible, generous and positively beaming personality whose passion for her country and culture is clear and inspiring.

In keeping with the Nepalese theme, after dinner we walked overto Big Foot West, just a few doors down, for drinks.  So Big Foot is not exactly the Yeti, but pretty much the American equivalent (did Tara's and Big Foot West plan to be so close to each other?)

This is another hidden gem of a neighborhood bar (design-wise), on the same relatively deserted stretch of Venice Blvd.  The concept is sort of mountain cabin, complete with walls built of 'Lincoln logs' and a central bar topped by overhead display crafted from cross sections of small tree trunks.

Despite the cool design, it's a pretty laid back and scene-free bar where you can come as you are - and be just as comfortable in your smart casual work clothes or in the cliched flannel shirt and jeans.

My friend 'Designer' introduced me to this bar a while back, and they used to have a specialty drink called Horny Goat that is $25 and made of un-nameables, that sat in a giant biology class style jar at the bar, and is supposed to aid your libido.  We never got to try it, and now it's gone, like so many creatures of legend. 

So, I ordered a Flower of New Orleans ($12), made of gin, yellow chartreuse, elderflower liquer and lemon juice.  I think Matt Biancaniello ruined me for cocktails not made farm-to-glass with incredible creativity: I found the Flower of New Orleans way too sweet and syrupy, but one thing that is NOT subjective, is the size of the glass (I don't know my metric measurements, but it was only about 3 mouthfuls of liquid in a small cocktail glass for $12, when Matt's crazy creative drinks at Library Bar are full-sized, sometimes in margarita or pint glasses, at $16).  Also, service was pretty abominable (yes, pun intended) - it took 10 minutes for the bartender to take my order, then another half hour to get my drink (he said he couldn't find me, but um, it's a small bar and I just moved over to a barstool that freed up a few steps down).

So, would I recommend Big Foot West?  ONLY for Happy Hour (see deal alert below) AND only if you're already in the area, like within walking distance (would not be worth a drive, in my opinion), AND you're not in a rush.

[Deal alert: $5 Happy Hour daily 5pm-9pm. Also sighted at Big Foot West: Whisky lovers night Mondays $4 Buffalo Trace, $5 Russell's rye]

All in all, though we may not have had summit-like highs taste-wise with either venue, we had a fun time trying something new and different (and yes, yakking up a storm - I know, *groan*, had to do it). 

Chalking this Yak + Yeti trip up for another Nomster / 1MB adventure!  Can't wait to see what we come up with next...

___________________________________________________________

Tara's Himalayan
10855 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90034
Ph: 310.836.9696
Website: tarashimalayancuisine.com

Big Foot West
10939 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
Ph: 310.287.2200
Website: bigfootwest.com

______________________________________________________________________

Ocean & Vine at Loews Santa Monica - dineLA & Happy Hour by the Sea (Feels Like Vacation)

How did I spend so many years in LA and never set foot in Loews Santa Monica? 

The sunlit hotel is pretty much on the beach - and last Sunday "Designer" and I were excited to check out TWO spots inside - spurred by the dineLA dinner deal and daily Happy Hour on the poolside terrace with a view of the Pacific!


The atrium / lobby was breathtaking - with towering palm trees underneath the skylit glass roof, and a waterfall wall behind the reception desk offering soothing background noise.  I didn't notice this until friends started pointing it out recently - but apparently whenever I really like a place I say: "it feels like you're on vacation".  Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel makes me feel like I'm on a tropical getaway, without the kitsch.

After taking in the decor for a brief moment, we made our way outside to Papillon, the poolside, beachfront lounge complete with wicker seating and fire pits.  Papillon offers Happy Hour every evening from 5-8pm, with a shortlist of cocktails, wines and appetizers for $6.60 each.  That's considered a great deal pretty much anywhere in LA - but the idea that it comes with gorgeous beach views, where you can sip and graze in an upscale but unpretentious setting, makes this an absolute hidden gem.

We found a table fairly easily (though I think we pretty much got the second to last open one!) and settled in to enjoy the view.  Though we were heading to Ocean & Vine for dineLA, we couldn't help wanting to check out the appetizers while we're there (that way we know what to expect for next time, as we already decided we were lame for not discovering this place sooner - we could have lounged here all summer!)

There were six appetizers to choose from. Our unanimous first choice was the Santa Monica Ceviche with lime, chili and cilantro marinated shrimp, baja sea scallops, salmon, guacamole, tortilla chips.  This was a decent sized platter, and the ceviche and guacamole tasted fairly fresh. But though I appreciated the thoughtful menu (they didn't just serve generic 'bar bites'), and understood these were offered at a pretty low price for SM beachfront property - the quality wasn't something we dreamed about after we left.  Not sure that I would crave it, if it weren't for the view. 

We allowed ourselves to indulge in one more appetizer (after pushing dinner back by an hour and a half!) - Duck Taquitos with mango salsa, guacamole, pico de gallo.  I was excited about this one - but not sure if it was because the service was a bit slow that night, that the taquito lost a bit of crispness and heat before we bit into them, and the duck was a bit dry, but again the trio of dips were fresh tasting, and I would say 'not bad for the view'. 

I guess we could sit on the beach for free - but I liked Papillon, again for making me feel like I'm on vacation.  Plus, you can drink at Papillon...

There are beers, champagne, wines and cocktails on the menu, but our server let us know the cocktails would pretty much be standard mixed drinks like rum & coke (they used to serve  pina coladas but not anymore :/ )

So, Designer decided on champagne and I went for the red sangria.  Of the two, I would recommend the champagne (the sangria tasted like 'a drink inspired by wine' and not really real wine with fruit - too diluted and only a piece or two of token fruit).

The terrace offered great views of the Santa Monica Pier, which was especially gorgeous around sunset with the ferris-wheel-light-show and palm trees blooming against the watercolored sky-sea-sand. 

As the sun retreated for the night, we made our way inside to the Ocean & Vine dining area.  I was excited about this menu as there were some dishes we have not tried before AND this was one of the dineLA deals with the biggest savings versus items on the regular menu ($34 for 3-courses, with estimated savings $29)!

After a pretty delicious bread basket containing what I thought was carrot bread (there were some orange - subtle, not dayglo - pieces in the mix) we both of course went for the seafood starter: Santa Monica Chili with Laughing Bird Shrimp, Baja Sea Scallops, Lump Crab, Roasted Garlic, Fava Beans ($16 on regular menu).  This reminded us of a bouillabaise but lighter and a tad spicy.  All the seafood tasted really fresh, and we appreciated that the shrimp was not overcooked, but tasted made to order.

Four thumbs up on this one.

For my main, I went for the Grapevine Smoked Beef Tenderloin Cold Smoked with a Hint of the Vine, Caramelized Onion, Cognac Beef Marrow Glaze, Artichoke Chips, Black Barley Pilaf ($38 on regular menu!!!).  This in itself justifies the price of the dineLA dinner deal - a perfectly cooked (medium rare of course) piece of beef that is rich with flavor (I'm guessing grass fed!).  Loved the marrow glaze and the sides as well - the sides were forgettable individually, but as a whole texturally served as a nice 'foil' to the tenderloin along with the original artichoke chips.

It did feel a bit Freaky Friday with me ordering meat and Designer ordering fish, but we shared everything anyway and were both curious as to how Catalina Thresher Shark with
Ginger Persimmon Nage, Pacific Lobster Mashed Potatoes, Agave Glazed Heirloom Carrots and Beets would taste (and it was not on the regular menu!).

Our server let us know the texture of the shark would resemble swordfish, which then deflated our expectations as neither of us were fans of swordfish - we both liked our fish tender and velvety smooth.  We should have guessed that the meat would be tough, as sharks of course swim constantly, are lean and pretty much all muscle.  We were glad we tried it, but probably wouldn't order it again anywhere else. The lobster mashed potatoes was the star on this plate.

As I already got my money's worth with the tenderloin alone, I wasn't as mad as I would have been to have wasted my dessert on the Warm Sweet Potato Lasagna with Vanilla Cream, Pecan Caramel (not on regular menu).  I love creativity and risk-taking in food, so in that regard I respect and applaud this dish.  However, the execution left us wanting less of a soggy, rubbery pile of flavorless pasta sheets layered with dehydrated meat and cognitive-dissonance-causing caramel and vanilla creme, and more of a sophisticated interplay of sweet and savory (the disparate elements didn't come together coherently for me).   

Designer wisely chose the Pear Chestnut Crème Brulée with Pistachio Tuile (not on regular menu, closest comparable item is Peaches 'N Creme Brulee for $9). This was an interesting twist on a french classic - the mix of juicy sweet pear pieces with earthy, softly crunchy chestnuts for me worked quite well with the crisp burnt sugar top and creaminess of the interior.

All in all, a great value for dineLA prix fixe - despite the faltering on the one dessert choice - you get to dine in a relaxed but beautiful setting, AND if so inclined - to grab a few cocktails out by the ocean before dinner at Happy Hour prices.

We will definitely be back again to Papillon for Happy Hour, and maybe dinner at Ocean & Vine at some point when we're able to splurge!

[For photos from other meals / deals from dineLA Fall 2011, check out the album on my Facebook page]

On a 7 point scale:
Flavor - 5.5 bites
Presentation - 5 bites
Originality - 4.5 bites
Ambience - 6 stars
Service - 5.5 stars
Overall experience - 5.5 bites
Price - $$$$ (4 bite marks regular menu)
Probability of return visit - 100% (for Happy Hour & view)
_____________________________________________________________

Papillon
Happy Hour - Daily 5-8pm Wine, select cocktails and appetizers $6.60

Ocean & Vine  
dineLA dinner - $34

Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, 1700 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California, 90401
Ph: 866.563.9792    

Parking:  Meters on Ocean Ave 2-hour limit, or free after 6pm daily; meters on Main Street 2-hour limit, free after 6pm and free Sundays (of course, double check street signs)

Website: santamonicaloewshotel.com
OpenTable: Look for reservations
______________________________________________________________________

Whist at Viceroy Santa Monica - Drink Me, Eat Me Wonderland-Style

For 'Foodie Mentor''s birthday, we decided to celebrate at Whist at Viceroy hotel in Santa Monica.  I was excited to try the place for the first time, and with my BlackboardEats 30% off deal in hand we ventured to the calmer, more serene part of Santa Monica, across the street from Shutters on the Beach. 

Though Whist is famous for its exquisite dining room, since it was a relatively warm day we decided to check out the patio by the pool - little did we realize that the doorway was really a rabbit hole that sent us plunging into a space much like a movie set. 

Specifically, the set of some Beverly Hills-ified (ok that was so not a real word) version of Alice in Wonderland.

Among the lush, looming palm trees and greenery, sprouted marble tables surrounded by rings of high-backed, plush white leather chairs.  There were white cabanas with tables set up underneath, as if ready for a very important date/ tea party.  The chairs in particular were what made us feel like Alice - they were made oversized, so you pretty much sink into them (even if you're just average-sized!) - and the table top becomes mid-chest height so you feel like you have to reach up to eat off of it.

We thought of this as charming, but apparently the servers often receive questions about the seating and were already prepared to offer us cushions to help add height and split the difference with the table.

The friendly server who helped us with the seats unfortunately then disappeared into thin air, and in his place appeared...The Caterpillar.  A rather strict and stoic figure who made us feel we were taking quite a lot of his time - friendly requests for recommendations met with blank stares and half-absentminded / cryptic replies to the effect that we can choose whatever we want to. (We will later realize the further appropriateness of this nickname based on how quickly / often he came by to check on us)

Not to let that affect our evening, we were somewhat appeased when the bread plate arrived, which included lovely pretzel and pumpernickel loaves.

Knowing I was on a tighter budget than usual that month, Foodie Mentor went with a selection of small plates and one entree for us to share.

To start, we had the awesome Beet Salad ($16) with hazelnuts, baby lettuces, and truffle-pecorino panna cotta.  The truffle-pecorino panna cotta had EAT ME all over it - one bite and it really did inflate my endorphin levels, sending them shooting through the figurative roof.  The consistency of the panna cotta was more like burrata, and instead of the expected sweetness it was savory and head-spinningly fragrant with truffle.  The beets had perfect texture, tender but structured, and were a blush of lovely pink beneath the blooms of baby lettuces.  Yes, very pricey for a salad and not sure that I would be able to afford it without the BBE deal, but glad I got to try it.

Next up was Meatballs ($11), a seemingly simple, rustic dish that is much raved about at Whist.  So we couldn't go without trying this one.  It came in a cast iron pan with shaved parmesan, basil and olive oil, and lived up to the hype - juicy, tender, flavorful and most importantly, served at just the right temperature - piping hot but not so much it would scorch your mouth. 

For our entree to share, we had the 10oz. Dry Aged NY Steak ($36) served with brussel sprouts, bacon, and parmesan-buttered potatoes.  We asked for medium-rare but what we got was more like medium-well to well done.  Foodie Mentor didn't want to cause a fuss though, so we stuck with and polished off the dish.  On a normal day though I would be madder than a hatter to pay $36 for this steak.

Inexplicably, our other small plate came after the entree - continuing with the theme of familiar comfort foods with a twist - we had gone for the Spaghetti ($18) with tomato, chili, tarragon, dungeness crab and uni. 

I was excited to see what they would do with this dish, given the ingredients, and I guess some part of me expected perhaps a Japanese style execution with the pasta, given the use of uni.  It turned out to be classic Italian spaghetti, with a tomato sauce, and all the other ingredients piled on top.  The uni came in the form of a solitary tongue placed at the top of the pile, sticking out at us as if to mock us for the disporportionate amount of money (vs. what we got) spent on the dish.

For dessert, we went with the Brioche Donuts ($11) with housemade jam and ice cream. By that time it was too dark out to capture any photos - but our original friendly server came by to turn on the heat lamp for us and we enjoyed lounging and chatting with a cup of post-dinner coffee til late into the night.  The 'garden' setting had a different vibe at night, but equal to the charm it held during daytime - perhaps with just more of an air of mystery.

All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed the simultaneously chic and whimsical space.  There were a few standouts with food, but mostly it was pricey and inconsistent in quality for what we got. I personally probably would only return either with a group buy deal, for drinks, a date where ambience is the priority, or for the "7 B4 7 Happy Hour" - if I ever get out of work early enough to make it there from the Valley. Whist's 7 B4 7 Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday 4pm-7pm with a $7 per item menu including a selection of cocktails, wine, beer and bar food such as meatballs, mussels, chicken wings and hummus. 

They also have a great sounding lunch deal, which I also won't be able to take advantage of since my office is too far away - but it's called "Daily 5" and is $16 per person Monday to Friday 11am-2pm including sandwich, salad, 2 sides and dessert PLUS complimentary parking!  Great for those who work/live in the area and can get to the place at lunchtime!

On a 7 point scale:
Flavor - 5 bites
Presentation - 5.5 bites
Originality - 5 bites
Ambience - 6 stars
Service - 5 stars
Overall experience - 5.5 bites
Price - $$$ (3 bite marks)
Probability of return visit - 70%

[To find more deals like the one used here, check out my Get More Bites Outta Your Budget page, and follow me on Twitter for up to the minute finds!]

______________________________________________________________

Whist
Viceroy Santa Monica 
1819 Ocean Avenue Santa Monica CA 90401   
Phone: 310.260.7500

Website: viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
Look for reservations: Opentable.com
______________________________________________________________________