Alexander's Steakhouse: A Best dineLA Deal and Fine Dining Experience in Pasadena

It's been a while since there has been a dineLA menu that has really been surprising to me, that is both an exceptional deal and with exciting dishes.  Alexander's Steakhouse did that and more, and is now one of my favorite restaurants in the city, both for and beyond dineLA.

But let's start with the dineLA dinner - as this is the last day of the Summer rotation of dineLA, and you still have a chance to experience Alexander's fantastic six-course prix fixe! (It was so epic that I've already repeated a visit within two weeks.)

The fine dining experience kicks in right from the start with an amuse bouche of uni dashi panna cotta topped with negi (a Welsh onion).

Course 1: the first of two options is their signature Hamachi Shots with smooth clean slices of sashimi in shot glasses, with dashi gelee, avocado, thinly chopped radish for light crunch and ponzu. A refreshing and tasty start, especially on a hot summer night.

Option two is the Passmore Ranch Sturgeon terrine, with dash buttermilk, and dollop of caviar.  Decadent, but the terrine is a bit firm.  I definitely preferred the hamachi shots.

Course 2: option one was the incredible Tartare of Beef with marrow cream, smoked carrot and bleu cheese. If this wasn't a fine dining establishment I would have picked up my plate and licked it: every element was the definition of luxury: from the rich, flavorful beef to the luscious cream made with bone marrow for maximum umami.

Option two was Dry-Aged Beef Tataki with barley miso, argan oil and horseradish.  Though I loved the beef tartare, the tataki held its own as another starter option as well.

Then came the bread bowl.  I've always thought that what a restaurant puts into their bread bowl speaks to the core of their passion for their work.  If they don't treat this as a token, obligatory thing - if they put care and heart into even this detail, then you can expect them to put heart and care into every other aspect of your experience as well, from food to service.  And Alexander's bread bowl is one of the finest I've had in LA - so much so that if they opened a bakery tomorrow, I would readily commit to frequent visits even just for their bread (and #foodgasm worthy trio of butters).

In this bowl: hokkaido brioche, squid ink bread, caramelized onion and garlic cheese rolls.  The hokkaido brioche was a warm fluffy cloud of deliciousness that brings me back to my childhood fav (Hong Kong natives may get the reference to Panash's hokkaido bread).  The rolls had just the right amount of cheese, at just the right balance of chewy and crisp.

Then there were the butters, in order of our unanimous favorites: Italian beef fat whipped butter with pieces of dried beef mixed in; honey butter served in a bone segment; Straus butter with sea salt. I wish they would sell the whipped beef butter to us by the tub because I would just spoon it all day.

Then came the dish, course three, that really distinguishes Alexander's from all other steakhouses: many would just focus on the quality, cuts, and cooking of their steak, and push out the standard sides with a few other appetizers on their menu.  Alexander's positions themselves as a fine dining steakouse with Japanese influence, and their pursuit of perfection shines through not only in the decidedly far from standard dishes on offer beyond steak, but their creativity in taking even those dishes to the next level.  Course three was between corn soup and chawanmushi topped with sea urchin - so we pretty much all chose chawanmushi.  Not only was it one of the smoothest, lightest steamed egg custards in recent memory, I loved the combination of corn puree in the egg itself, as well as kernels on top for bursts of juicy crunch and sweetness; the bright orange tongue of uni adding mouthwatering brininess; and sorrel gel for hint of herbaceousness.

Course four was the salad course, and we chose between Heirloom Tomato and Little Gem & Romaine.  Even with the salad courses Alexander's chooses not to slack, but to innovate:  The tomato salad came with melon, goat milk, makhani sauce and toasted bread.  The Little Gem was made with anchovy miso dressing, furikake and fennel for umami and fresh crunch.

then came the star attraction: course five was a choice between quantity and quality: Dry-Aged Greater Omaha Prime T-bone at 18oz, or Kagoshima A5 Wagyu at 3oz?

For me, it was wagyu or nothing.  With all the preceding courses and dessert still to come, I didn't need to go for quantity as steak doesn't taste good the next day anyway - and the last time I had been to Alexander's, their Miyazaki A5 was the best steak I had ever tasted in my life.

Plus, the same size of Kagoshima on the regular menu runs for $98 - so getting this same dish for dineLA ($115 for 6 courses total including the steak) is an incredible deal.  This was perfectly marbled, exquisitely flavorful steak and one no foodie should miss especially during dineLA.

 Our server let us know that the steak is purposely underseasoned, to allow us to custom salt it to our individual tastes.  They dropped off a lovely wooden square containing 6 artisanal salts.  Of these, Kala Namak was the most intriguing, as it somehow evokes flavors of steak and boiled eggs (triggered by sulphur???)

As palate cleanser: compressed watermelon with mint and cantaloupe granita.  Super refreshing and one I could picture being a massive hit at any summer/ bbq party.  If only they sold this to us too!!

Course six was dessert: Sweet Corn Brulee with blueberries, cornflake crunch and creme fraiche ice cream.  While I appreciated the unusual combination of corn with a classic french dessert, the execution was lacking for me.  Overall it felt a bit more heavy than I wanted - it would have been more on point if the creme were slightly less dense, the torched sugar crust a bit more delicate, perhaps the whole portion size scaled down - but tasty nonetheless.

Just when we were rubbing our bellies and loosening belt buckles with satisfaction, more tasty treats arrived to close out the meal: the first was a playful tower of cotton candy. 

Then a tray of mignardises including macarons, truffles and pastry puffs rolled in rice puffs.  

Aside from the main menu, some optional add-ons that I would recommend (if your stomach capacity allows, for you will be full just on the dineLA menu alone): Alexander's creative take on the classic Mac 'n Cheese, using udon noodles, four kinds of cheeses in a decadent Mornay (manchego, cheddar, camembert and parmesan), and truffled panko crumbs.

Or go for the Truffled Potatoes for your carbs.



Also, I should mention that Alexander's is one of few steakhouses in LA that has an incredible craft cocktail program, headed by Erik Lund at the attached Bull and Barrel bar. Celery is my favorite so far, made with tequila, celery, lime, serrano, with a salt rim: a refreshing savory / spicy drink that exemplifies the creativity that runs through every plate but through every glass.  Arrive early for dinner, and hang out at the bar if you are into whisky - Erik will likely have a bottle or three of hard to find whiskeys for you to taste.  As in, he actually goes to invite only whisky barrel auctions to score spirits you may have never even heard of.

All in all, an amazing experience and deal, and I would definitely return again soon, for dineLA or any other special occasion!

On a 7 point scale:

Flavor - 6.5 bites  
Presentation - 6.5 bites
Originality - 6 bites
Ambience -  6 stars
Service - 6 stars
Overall experience - 6 bites
Price - $$$ (4 bite marks)
Probability of return visit - 100% 

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Alexander's Steakhouse

111N Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
Ph: 626.486.1111

Website: alexanderssteakhouse.com/pasadena  
Parking: valet $8, or park in public structure at Union & Euclid across from City Hall: $4-$5 flat rate depending on day and time of visit

Look for reservations, and points, at OpenTable
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dineLA Winter 2015: Acabar

For food lovers who overindulged over the holidays budget-wise (good eats, you can never have too much of) - dineLA's winter edition has rolled around again to save the day.

If you haven't experienced it already, prix fixe menus are offered at reasonable prices at some of the most popular restaurants around the city, starting today January 19th and running through February 1st.  This year the price tiers are: Lunch: $15, $20, $25 and Dinner: $30, $40, $50.

I was excited to be invited to preview dineLA dinner offerings from Acabar in Hollywood.  This is the sort of 'whole package' restaurant that gets foodies / cocktail enthusiasts / fans of a great night out watching the clock all day counting down to 'GO time'.

The gorgeous, palatial Moroccan decor in itself makes for a great conversation starter from the moment you set foot inside the iconic doors. I'd been a fan of the space before Acabar arrived - back when it was Dar Maghreb and belly dancers were a part of the evening's entertainment.  Acabar brought a more elevated, modern, sexy vibe - a darker den that teases with a glimmering possibility of debauchery (at least of the culinary sort).  On the night of our visit, the opening act was a performance with a scantily-clad dancer sporting giant butterfly wings...(sorry, it was too dArK to capture video!)

Cocktails are not part of the dineLA menu, but the beautiful bar / lounge is definitely a place to make a pit stop on your way to the dining area - especially with a program run by Josh Goldman and Julian Cox. We got to check out a few of the latest concoctions, and a unanimous favorite that night for the fun factor as well as taste was the Zombie.  Made with El Dorado 8 year, lemon hart 151, lime, grapefruit, falernum and pomegranate - topped with a half-lime which is then set on fire: its flames made to dance with a dramatic aerial blast of salt (?) from the mágos-bartender. (At some point I need to write about the ever mesmerizing cocktails on fire...)

In line with the setting, Acabar's regular menu you would expect to be Mediterranean inspired, but really with a more-than-generous dash of 'anything goes'.  While dineLA for many restaurants can be about broad appeal and attracting potential new customers with the safe and just slightly different items - Acabar's event menu thankfully lets its personality belly up to foodies as well.

We got to try every item on the dineLA menu - but these were my favorites:

First course: Beef Carpaccio with bone marrow + black truffle arancini, crispy pulled beef, pickled radish and horseradish.  

Loved the plating, but this one is not just looks.  Tender slices of marbled beef were brilliant paired with arancini with skillfully crafted crusty shells, that crumble open to reveal a piping hot bone marrow and truffle center for super aromatic, 'meat butter' smooth bites. Pink petals of pickled radish added acidity to balance all the richness of other ingredients on the plate.

The kanpachi crudo option is fantastic as well, fresh, fresh fish with nicely balanced sides - that would be a great choice for non-meat eaters and seafood lovers alike.

Second course: Sweet Potato Gnocchi with hen of the woods mushroom, red cow parmesan, and brown butter.

I normally would not opt for the all veggie dish - especially in a prix fixe situation - but it's hard to resist hen of the woods when you see it on the menu. This was a lovely entree with toothsome bites of gnocchi with the slightest hint of sweet, and rich, lightly crisped hen of the wood mushrooms so earthy and robust that it made me not miss the protein.

The scallops and braised short rib are solid options, but not the most memorable - for those looking for something more unique, they would find it with the sweet potato gnocchi.

Third course: Parsnip Split with creme fraiche cremeux, parsnip ice cream, chiffon cake, milk crisp

I have to say this was the first time I believe I'd ever encountered parsnip as the key ingredient in a dessert.  Tasting this made me wonder why I haven't seen it used any place else???  Perhaps I'm ever biased to savory flavors in the course that is expected to be sweet, but I really loved the balance of flavor and textures in this dessert - and would have brought a bag of those airy crunchy delicious milk crisps home with me if I could!

The other dessert options on the dineLA menu are tasty as well: the coconut coulant was like a very robust custard with a flavor that reminded me of the 'coconut milk pudding' that you'd normally see in Cantonese restaurants for OG dim sum.  The Gimme S'more dessert would appeal to chocolate fans.  But neither come close to the Parsnip as far as I was concerned.

And for the grand finale that had my heart at first sight: foie gras macarons.  Foie. Gras. mAcArOnS.  A tray of them.  A perfect celebration of the return of one of my favorite foods ever - now legal to serve, but still generously given freely as a mignardise at the end of this media preview.  The luscious liver flavored filling may not be for everyone - but to the foie lovers out there - BLISS.  I'm currently confirming with the team whether this is actually offered during dineLA or if it was a one-time treat for the preview event...stay tuned.

In any case, the three course menu was fantastic - and a good way to 'taste drive' the restaurant.

[If you have the stomach space for it - check out their oyster selection too - the last time I was there (not during dineLA) they served my fav, Shigokus!]

Kudos to Acabar for stepping it up for dineLA!


*Disclaimer:  this meal was hosted.


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Acabar
1510 N Stanley Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046
T: 323.876.1400

Parking: Valet or street

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dineLA at Melisse & Winter 2014 $85 Picks

Today marks the start of dineLA's winter edition of Restaurant Week, and this time around some pillars of fine dining in the city have joined in to offer their own tier of prix fixe.  Perhaps they were inspired by Melisse's inspired move last year - they couldn't find a fit for the highest prescribed tier of dineLA (3-courses for $45), so they had their own "dineMelisse" timed to Restaurant Week, but with a prix fixe more appropriate to their category of $75 (for 5 courses).

I loved Melisse for offering this last year, as afterall, the spirit of dineLA was originally to allow people to break out of their comfort zone, and have new culinary adventures / experiences at places they'd never been to - by bringing menus at a more affordable price. That a fine dining establishment understood this and made it possible for the non-independently-wealthy to experience it for the first time, was fantastic.

This year's select group of fine dining restaurants participating in dineLA will be doing it for $85. I'm excited to see what they will offer, as at their caliber I would expect them NOT to succumb to the more self-defeating 'cost effective' beef or chicken dinners.

I didn't get a chance to post about dineMelisse last July, and wanted to take the opportunity to do a recap here as I think it really gives a great idea of the high standards Melisse maintained even with a Restaurant Week deal (I put their name now next to Craft as my favs for exemplary food and service, people who really take pride in their work regardless of the occasion).

Amuse bouche - our favorites here are the gorgeous jewel-toned, perfect little cherry tomatoes encrusted with crushed pistachios.  Creative, beautiful, and a delicious way to kick off the meal.

 Here is the dineMelisse menu.

As we happily drooled over the food menu, our craft cocktails arrived.  The blogger part of me had wanted to order different drinks so we could try out more, but my friend and I happened to have the same taste pretty much, and Steve Livigni / Pablo Moix's Les Restes immediately had us at  lychee, crushed grapes and egg white with Death's Door vodka - and it tasted as light, delicate and refreshing as it sounds.

A second set of amuse bouche.

I don't normally take photos of bread service, but the bread was amazing here: I especially loved the basil brioche, which I only very reluctantly and forcibly had to stop myself from eating second rounds of - though our servers very generously came around to offer (had to save room for the actual meal!). 

Then came Course 1: Ahi Tuna Tartare  with avocado mousseline, cucumber and yuzu. The tuna and avocado (and even cucumber) pairing was not new, but the addition of yuzu to cut through the richness of the other ingredients was perfect.

Course 2: Brentwood Corn Ravioli Chanterelles, brown butter, scallions.  This was a course when we could have supplemented $25 for black truffle to be shaved on top...but we were still on a budget, and this dish was so flavorful with the beautiful sweet corn, in perfect-sized bites of freshmade pasta, that it really did very well on its own without the truffle. (Plus, you could get a supplemental course of black truffle risotto for $25...more on this later.)

Course 3: Chatham Bay Cod braised shelling beans, mushrooms, smoked tomato.  The list of ingredients sounds simple, but when the best ingredients meet with culinary craftsmanship - you get a dish like this that haunt you for weeks after your first bite. The fish was perfectly cooked, tender, flaky, subtly sweet, elevated to another level of sophistication by the sauce which conveyed somehow simultaneous heft and depth (in smokiness) with levity (airy foam).  Easily our favorite dish of the meal, if not for the presence of my kryptonite in the next 'bonus' course: black truffle.

(Not part of dineMelisse prix fixe) Between courses 3 and 4, for an additional $25, we were able to get an extra black truffle course!  With real earthy 'black diamonds', brought out for us on a tray for us to indulge in its intoxicating fragrance, whetting our appetites before the risotto arrives.

It was so worth the extra $25.  The black truffles were shaved at the table over our bowls of risotto.  Though it was summer time, they managed to use black truffle, not its too-mild-mannered (and to me bland flavored) cousin the summer truffle.

Course 4: Aged Sonoma Duck figs, black rice, turnips.  This plate is about quality, not quantity, for sure - but every bite was divine. Possibly the best bites of duck I'd had in 2013.  The other option in this course was grilled wagyu beef, which we didn't try as we both love and wanted the duck...

Course 5: Passionfruit Souffle Glace coconut sorbet, pistachio and lemongrass.  A perfect way to end the meal, light, balanced, notes of tropical sun without going overly sweet to counter the richer dishes before it.

And to finish out the meal, two trays of mignardises including macarons, caneles, pate de fruit, chocolate truffles... 

All in all, an amazing first meal at Melisse and I look forward to more, especially with this next iteration of dineLA or client meals!

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Melisse

1104 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Ph: 310.395.0881

Website: melisse.com

OpenTable: Look for reservations (and points!) here

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Looking over the $85 fine dining menus for dineLA, it's difficult to get a sense of savings as most of the items do not appear on the regular menu.  That said, it's also difficult to imagine walking out of any of these restaurants on a non-dineLA night with a less than $85 per person bill.  So looking purely from an 'experience' and points of interest POV, here are my picks from among the creme de la creme this around:

Melisse  (Look for OpenTable reservations and points)

 5-courses. 

They had me at Naked Cowboy Oyster, Dungeness Crab, Wagyu Beef Tartare and Devil's Gulch Quail.  And, based on (1) the regular prix fixe menu being $125, it would be rare that I would get a chance to eat here, if not for dineLA and (2) the great experience last year with dineLA, I would return again to check out this year's offering..

Valentino  (Look for OpenTable reservations and points)

 5-courses 

The 'teaser' dish is listed on their regular dinner menu as an antipasti for $18 - though not sure what the dineLA portion size will be like.  But the dineLA menu has many options that make my eyes and mouth water.  Starters include jumbo shrimp, grilled octopus with squid ink fregula, and 'orange sized' arancini. First courses feature magic words: porcini, veal, wild boar. Second courses: duck breast, cioppino, lamb stew. 

mar'sel

6 courses.

Make a day trip of it, reserve one of the weekend dates (1/25 or 1/26) and enjoy the oceanfront Terranea property in Palos Verdes when you head down to mar'sel.  

The dineLA menu consists of your choice of 6 small plates.  Not sure how much you would save, but if you have been wanting to check out this place and/or take a date here for the location, but wasn't sure because of pricing...now may be the time, when you have a 'safety' on your bill.

My picks from a maximization perspective would be: Pate de Campagne, Halibut Cheeks, Lamb Sausage, Crispy Duck Confit, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Spiced Dark Chocolate Tart.  For those who are not into desserts, the mysterious sounding Kale 'Wich looks interesting.

Do share your pics / intel on these if you go!

 
Bon appetit!

dineLA Winter 2013: El Caserio: Ecuadorian Italian in Silverlake

I have a confession to make.  When dineLA first launched Restaurant Week, I was super excited on two fronts: getting deals to dine at top spots around the city that may not be normally affordable to me, and being able to check out new places with reduced monetary risk (thanks to the prix fixe menus!).  But over years with this event I've subconsciously veered my focus more towards the deal aspect.  I'd become comfortable, and complacent - I had the restaurants picked out that I knew I could rely on for a great meal, experience, and at a great price, and my choices became cookie cutter.  I forgot my sense of adventure and taste for culinary roulette.

So I want to thank Beauty Jones for being the amazing friend who gently steered me back, without judgment - just a friendly suggestion of some place new that neither of us had ever tried, but that she had wondered about as she passed by on the way home every day.

I knew this would be a fun culinary adventure when I heard that it featured 'Ecuadorian Italian' fare.  I didn't realize the venue itself would be transporting as well.  Though in Silverlake, it's off the beaten path in a more reclused area - the restaurant seems to rise out of nowhere in a remote part of Silver Lake Blvd, in the shadow of the freeway.  The first thing that greeted me was an ancient, ornate door that looked like it weighed 2000 pounds, and wouldn't be out of plce at some remote ruins of a castle.  Once inside, there is the bar, then a charming dining room and mosaic patio strung with lights and a 'Secret Garden'-like spiral staircase that in the dark seemingly led to nowhere.

We were distracted away from the setting by some bread served with fiery-red 'aji' dip, which was super spicy but delicious (and I usually can't handle that much spice!).  On to the dineLA offering then: it was to be a 3-course dinner for $35 per person.  But the dishes were so generous each meal could easily feed two average sized ladies.  Course 1: Appetizers - a mini assortment from Los Andes: Locro de Mote (soup), Ensalada de Melloco, Papas con Queso - this was an amazing appetizer platter that was anything but mini - it could almost have been a small meal in itself, and we each got our own platter! And it all tasted amazing. The four quadrants were like a study in what you can do with the same ingredients.  All contained either potato or corn.  The salad was of pickled potatoes (first time we'd encountered that preparation of spuds) that were perfectly cooked - crunchy but soft at the same time, I think pickled onions, on a bed of greens with a light vinaigrette dressing.  The lovely soup was made with potato and mote (giant corn kernels typical to South American cooking - Ecuadorians boil and peel before serving them) and was beautifully smooth, served at just the right temperature.  Then there was the dried corn that reminded us of corn nuts, but a million times better (no smothered in artificial powders, and much lighter, with an airy crunchiness).  Lastly, the trio of different types of potato served on a spicy cheese dip that had a texture like smoothed out cottage cheese, with a bit of heat.  We'd come back just for this platter alone.

 

Course 2: Mote con Fritada corn and garbanzo bean served with tender roasted pork garnished with plantains.  Again mote is featured in Beauty Jones' chosen dish, mixed with garbanzo beans this time to accompany roasted pork and fried plantains (for a bit of sweetness to go with the protein).

I couldn't resist the Seco de Chivo ($16 on regular menu) goat stew slowly cooked with beer herbs, naranjilla and tomatoes, served with yellow rice and maduros.  Mainly because I had no idea what most of the words on the menu meant. Turns out naranjilla, which translates to "little orange", is a fruit that looks like a tomato but tastes like rhubarb and lime.  This is one of the ingredients used to cook the goat stew - which was foodgasm-inducing.  The goat was super tender, and the sauce was a supernova of sweet, savory, herbaceous, tempered acidity in your mouth.  The Italian influence came through on the tomato base of the sauce.  Maduros turned out to be sauteed plantains, and there was also an unnamed but delicious savory cake on our plates that was made with cheese and we think cornmeal.

Course 3: Tiramisu ($8 on regular menu) - the dessert options were less unique, and we both went for the Tiramisu over the "figs and cheese" (hate ordering things at restaurants that are easy to make/serve yourself at home). It was a classic but skilled execution, with pleasing levity all around and the ladyfingers were not soggy. 

Since the appetizer platter isn't on the regular menu, and there aren't any comparable dishes that I can see, it was hard to estimate the overall savings.  But knowing the goat stew was $16 + dessert at $8, that would leave $11 of the dineLA prix fixe for appetizer.  Taking portion sizes into account, and the great experience, we thought it was all worth it.  This one made us lean more towards 'new experience' versus the 'deal on paper' - but the end result is a lovely night out trying something new, and we each had enough leftovers for lunch the day after.

Overall, very excited to have discovered a new place and type of cuisine I hadn't experienced before.  I never would have put Ecuadorians and Italians together, but now know that there's a huge population of Italian immigrants in Ecuador leading to Italian influences in Ecuadorian cuisine - so I learned something new too. Thanks dineLA and Beauty Jones! 

On a 7 point scale:
Flavor - 6 bites
Presentation - 5.5 bites
Originality - 5.5 bites
Ambience - 5.5 stars
Service - 6 stars
Overall experience - 6 bites
Price - $$ (2 bite marks)
Probability of return visit - 95% 
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El Caserio
401 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026
Ph: 213.273.8945

Parking: street parking
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dineLA Winter 2013: Caulfield's at the Thompson Hotel Beverly Hills

For my first dineLA meal of the year, I knew I had to try Caulfield's, the newly overhauled restaurant in the Thompson Hotel in Beverly Hills - aside from new interiors by HD Buttercup to new leadership in the kitchen by Chef Stephen Kalt who has previously served in Daniel Boulud's kitchen at famed NYC icon Le Cirque - the menu just looked like fun, and a good deal at just $25 for 3-courses, practically surreal in most parts of Beverly Hills.

The interior design to me kind of had a Manhattan vibe, softened by SoCal sun streaming through huge windows.  It was well designed, yet comfortable, my fav combination in a restaurant.  The unpretentious space was well paired with an unpretentious staff - on the day of my visit there seemed to only be one server for four to five tables, all dineLA customers - but he was equally attentive (as much as he could be spread so thin) and friendly to all of us.

Where many others defaulted to boring salads or tuna of some sort as a starter, Caulfield's offered options like Rabbit Terrine, Latke with creme fraiche and salmon caviar, and one of their signature dishes, House Smoked Trout in a Jar ($12 on regular menu) with creme fraiche, egg, pickled veggies and toast.  I have a dear friend who adores rabbits and reads this blog (thank you for your support!!!) so I skipped the terrine and went for the trout.  LOVED the presentation (beautiful salmon-colored flakes in a mason jar, served on a wooden cheese board with perfect little toasts and small mound of veggies) backed by skillfully balanced flavors. I normally don't like my eggs hard-boiled, but I think it serves as a nice counterbalancing texture to the light flaky fish here, and its mildness a counterpoint to the sharp acidity of the pickled carrots, radish and brussel sprouts.

Intrigued that they have a whole section of Binchotan Charcoal Grilled proteins, for my main I went for the Binchotan Charcoal Grilled Marinated Skirt Steak with fingerling yams and antichucho sauce ($25 on its own on the regular menu, meaning for dineLA you would have gotten the starter and dessert free!) - this had a nice smokey crust outside, with an incredibly tender and flavor-rich inside.  The finely chopped buttery garlic and parsley mix reminding me of the sauce you usually get with escargot (I love French food so this is a + to me).  For those not into red meat - ladies at the next table over raved about the trout as the best they've ever had, and in talking with them they are well-travelled and know their food.  I just didn't want to do trout on trout over 2 courses though.

I had high hopes for the dessert, given the elaborate description: Frozen Milk Chocolate Souffle, Dark Chocolate Pearls, Orange Toffee, Coffee Caramel, Blood Orange. 

The other option was "doughnuts with pastry cream and jam".  The ladies who lunched at the next table had both, and said the donuts are better by far.  But, I had just met them for a few minutes at that point, and couldn't pass up what sounds far more exciting - so, I went with the souffle option.  I should have listened to them.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words - and it's very true in this case.  The presentation definitely evoked something that could occur in nature, and not in a good way - not very appetizing to look at, for sure. And in terms of taste and texture: though chocolate and orange are a common flavor pairing, the execution of the various elements just didn't come together coherently for me.  If I were to go back I would definitely want to see how the donuts are done.

But, two fantastic courses that saved me $12 regardless of dessert, made me a happy customer.  Also, if you don't have time or are unable to find street parking - valet parking here with restaurant validation comes out to just $4, much more affordable than other hotel valets in the area (*cough* Beverly Wilshire *cough*).

To check out my other dineLA picks, and tips on deal stacking, see my post here.

On a 7 point scale:
Flavor - 6 bites
Presentation - 5.5 bites
Originality - 6 bites
Ambience - 5.5 stars
Service - 6 stars
Overall experience - 6 bites
Price - $$ (2 bite marks)
Probability of return visit - 100% 
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Caulfield's at the Thompson Hotel
9360 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Ph: 310.388.6860

Parking: Valet $4 with validation

Website: caulfieldsbeverlyhills.com

OpenTable: Look for reservations and points here

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dineLA Winter 2013: Kickin' Off This Monday! 1MB Picks

Overspent during the holidays? Need time to recover and catch up on your bills? Missing the reckless abandon with which you indulged in shameless culinary decadence while on vacation?

Welcome to the club.  While I'm trying to stay in as much as possible to prevent myself from spending money I don't have...the food lover in me is itching to get back out there to do what I love best: live to eat, be inspired, and share my finds.

Just in time to save the day is dineLA - with hundreds of restaurants across the city offering prix fixe menus for lunch ($15, $20, $25) and dinners ($25, $35, $45).

Below are my picks of menus and/or deals that I find exciting. Due to time constraints I have not gone through every last menu of the hundreds posted - check out the bottom of the resto picks section for other disclaimers.  To avoid repetition for regular readers (thank you for reading!), I've listed perennial must stops at the bottom of each section.

Tips for deal stacking as usual are at the bottom of the post!

DINNER                                                                                                                                   

**PRICE TIER: $25**

Lukshon
Menu $25 (3-courses + standard free dessert)
3239 Helms Ave. Culver City, CA 90232 Ph: (310) 202-6808
Why?: If you're in or near Culver City, and (a) have always wanted to check out this place or (b) want to go for a nice night out without blowing a lot of $$$, this may be the time to do it.  Some have described this place as an "Asian tapas" place, and the dineLA dinner does offer up a selection of small plates - you can choose any 3 for $25. Plus, as with every meal at Lukshon, year-round, you get a free dessert.  Where else are you going to get this quality of food in a 'hotspot' place for $25?
Estimated Savings: ~$13pp* depending on what you choose.  Based on same or next closest items from regular menu: Tea Leaf Salad/Pork Ribs $11 + Steamed Cod $15 + Crab Fritters $12 = $38 - $25 = $13


***PRICE TIER: $35***

Rays and Stark Bar
Menu $35 (3-courses)
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, 90036 Ph: (323) 857-6180
Why?: Starter options at this Patina Group (need we say more?) resto (at LACMA!!) include octopus with burrata or pig ear kale salad, and an entree that makes my mouth water just reading: agnolotti (with magic word "truffle" rice filled pasta, hen of the woods mushrooms, porcini sauce, hazelnuts and garden arugula), and award winning pastry Chef Josh Graves' desserts - sounds like a great deal for a gourmet meal in an beautiful (cultured) setting and a nice night out.
Estimated Savings: ~$6pp* - Based on same or next closest items from regular menu: octopus $14 + agnolotti $17 small portion + chocolate dessert $10 = $41 - $35 = $6

Buffalo Club
Menu $35 (4-courses)
Why?: Starter options are amazing, especially house charcuterie plate (with truffled duck pate, chicken foie gras and rabbit persille) and parmesan crusted farm egg with niman bacon. Entrees include cassoulet and scallop options. Mac & Cheese is its own course.  LOVE their garden courtyard at night when it's all lit up.
Estimated Savings: ~$15pp* - Based on same or next closest items from regular menu: appetizers $15 + scallops $15 + mac&cheese $8 + dessert $12 = $50 - $35 = $15

Waterloo & City
Menu $35 (3-courses)
12517 Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066 (310) 391-4222
Why?: One of my fav spots on the Westside for Happy Hour, and reliably tasty food (especially for carnivores). dineLA dinner menu has Salmon Tartare, Chicken Liver Mousse, Sunchoke Soup w/ TRUFFLE and pigs-in-a-blanket, as starter options, and roast prime pork chop for entree choice (with "Cock-a-Leekie" Sausage).
Estimated Savings: ~$12pp* - Based on same or next closest items from regular menu: salmon tartare $12 + pork chop $26 + dessert $9 = $47 - $35 = $12 (if you are willing to eat early and order chicken liver mousse/salmon tartare which are both usually offered at HH for $6 and Sticky Toffee Pudding for $5, then you could say you're just saving $2 overall) 


****PRICE TIER: $45****

Caulfield's Bar and Dining Room
Menu $45 (4-courses)
9360 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 90212 (310) 388-6860
Why?: This place has been buzzing lately, and the regular menu is 'Beverly Hills pricey', so dineLA may be the time to give it a try. You do get 4 courses, and if you choose wisely you can save $31 per person! Delicious sounding options include Smoked Steelhead Trout in a Jar, rabbit terrine w/ tomato jam, mackerel crudo w/ pear, coconut milk, finger lime and ginger, and scallops as entree option served with clams and chorizo.  The frozen chocolate souffle with blood orange also sounds interesting. Plus you can add a glass of Prosecco for $10.
Estimated Savings: $31pp* - Based on same or next closest items from regular menu: trout in jar $12 + Little Angels pasta $24 + skirt steak/scallops $31 + dessert avg $9 = $76 - $45 = $31

Inn of the Seventh Ray
Menu $45 (3-courses)
128 Old Topanga Canyon Rd., Topanga, CA 90290 Ph: (310) 455-1311
Why?: Their samplings at past food shows intrigued me, and it sounds like a destination spot that would involve a fun little 'nature' filled mini getaway to Topanga Canyon. What they're offering for dineLA sounds delicious: I always love a 63 degree egg, and their starter option is topped with (magic word) truffle potato foam and toasted bread crumbs. Another option is Smoked Yellowtail Spread which sounds tasty as well.  Second course option of Short Rib mixes Japanese and Korean flavors with miso and kimchee.  Not sure how that would work but interested to try, given the level of skill exhibited even in samples produced for food shows at mass quantities. Panna Cotta is one of my fav desserts and they are serving it up with a twist: gingerbread and vanilla flavor with burnt cinnamon ice cream, persimmon and popcorn.
Estimated Savings: $13pp* - Based on same or next closest items from regular menu: potato & egg jar $12 + miso braised short rib $36 + dessert mostly standard price $10 = $58 - $45 = $13 

Piccolo Venice
Menu $45 (5-courses)
5 Dudley Ave., Venice, CA 90291 Ph: (310) 560-3594
Why?: One of the best values during dineLA Summer 2012 with 5 courses , featuring decadent ingredients (including SHAVED TRUFFLE!!!) that had even the most jaded of dineLA diners/foodies excited. This time round they have: the fantastic scallops with parmesan-truffle fondue again, or beef tongue to start. 2nd: gnocchi with lobster sugo, spaghettini with oxtail ragu, garganelli with rabbit ragu. 3rd: ravioli with real shaved truffle and parmesan truffle butter sauce. 4th options include monkfish, veal and kobe steak. 5th: six dessert options!
Estimated Savings: $41pp* - Based on same or next closest items from regular menu: scallops $17 + pasta w/ ragu $25 + truffle pasta $25 + australian kobe ny steak $48 + dessert mostly standard price $12 = $127 - $45 = $82 That said, portion sizes are small like a tasting menu so probably not the sizes you would get at full price a la carte - so let's say for estimates' sake it's half portion size: $82/2 = $41.  The next best comparison might be the 4-course tasting menu for $50, but you're saving much more than $5 as you get TRUFFLE and an extra course. And I'm not sure what you would get in the tasting menu so it's hard to know if it really would compare. So your actual savings will fall somewhere in between those two extremes...

Fig & Olive
Menu $45 (3-courses) NOTE: they already extended the deal to run through 2/8 (except not on 1/26)
8490 Melrose Place, Los Angeles, CA 90069 Ph: (310) 360-9100 
Why?: Starter options include TRUFFLE mushroom croquette, Northern Italian Mushroom and TRUFFLE soup, and main options include Seafood Paella and TRUFFLE Risotto.  Need I say more?  Yes, love the interior design here. And, the $ you save on dinner can go towards the Jamon Iberico Bellota order as an add-on (yes, I am suffering from jamon iberico withdrawals...)  
Estimated Savings: $13pp* Based on items from regular menu: salmon ceviche crostone $16/truffle croquette $13 + paella del mar $32 + dessert $10 = $58/$55 - $45 = $13/$10

Stefan's at L.A. Farm
Menu $45 (6-courses)
3000 Olympic Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90404 Ph: (310) 449-4000
Why?: SIX courses. Yep.  Plus, any place that has Top Chef klout and puts duck on the dineLA menu is like putting out a 'welcome foodies' sign. The halibut with zatar spice, edamame, chanterelle and shimeji, fingerlings and pancetta sounds fantastic.   
Estimated Savings: $34-$53.50pp* Based on next closest items or course averages from regular menu: cali crudo $15 + ravioli $24 + soup $10 + fish course $27 + duck $28/beef tenderloin $34 + dessert standard price $9 = $113/$119 - $45 = $68/$107 Disclaimer: not sure if portion size would be at all similar to regular menu - assuming half portions due to 6 courses, savings would be $34-$53.50pp

Drago Centro
Menu $45 (3-courses)
525 South Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071 Ph: (213) 228.8998 
Why?: Starter options include magic words "lobster", "smoked sturgeon", "caviar"; mains include branzino, guanciale (pork cheek) and rabbit fettuccini. Dessert options like lemon panna cotta with citrus and rosemary puff pastry sound tasty too! Plus, 3 hours free valet parking with validation in structure under building.
Estimated Savings: $12pp at least* Based on items from regular menu / menu course averages: "to begin" dishes mostly $13 (though dineLA options contain seafood while regular menu starters don't) + branzino $34 + dessert $10 = $57 - $45 = $12

Oliverio at the Avalon Beverly Hills
Menu $45
9400 W. Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212 Ph: (310) 407-7791
Why?: Options sound mouthwatering, from wild mushroom souffle with parmesan fondue, to burrata with caviar and bottarga to start, to spaghetti with langoustine and roasted tomatoes as entree, to a lemon polenta pudding cake w/ lemon sabayon for dessert!
Estimated Savings: Unknown if you get the items listed above (the burrata w/ caviar and bottarga is not on regular menu). $12pp* if you choose the filet mignon - Based on next closest items or course averages from regular menu: cauliflower parmesan truffle fondue $10 + steak (rib eye from regular menu, so not sure how this compares to filet mignon) $38 + dessert standard price $9 = $57 - $45 = $12 

Kiriko
Menu $45 (3-courses)
11301 West Olympic Boulevard #102, Los Angeles, CA 90064 Ph: (310) 478-7769
Why?: Their omakase sashimi is normally $46 on its own even at lunch, and the dineLA menu offers sashimi with WHITE TRUFFLE as a starter (another option is 'chef's choice of 3 delicacies' which sounds exciting, knowing anything the chefs here choose will be fantastic), then entree options that include omakase sashimi or halibut tempura and grilled 'iberico' pork! The only thing that I'm going to stay away from is the Blue Fin Tuna starter, even though I love it and there's truffle involved, as their numbers are getting dangerously low.
Estimated Savings: Unknown since prices are not published online, but given that lunch portion omakase is already $46 normally and did NOT involve truffles, not to mention white truffle which is more expensive...I'm listing this one as a deal. If I go will post on Instagram so you can see what you're getting!

dineLA best deal, every time dinners:

• Craft - THREE appetizers for the table to share AND a take home treat in addition to 3-courses of fabulous, reliably delicious food and first class service.  All for $45. Estimated savings: $22.50pp.  See my recaps from 2012 and 2011
• The Capital Grille - The giant Bone-in Kona Crusted Dry Aged Sirloin alone is $45 on the regular menu, so it's like getting 2 other courses and sides for free. Estimated savings: $39pp. See my recap from 2012

LUNCH                                                                                                                                 

**PRICE TIER: $20**

One Pico at Shutters on the Beach
Menu $20 (2-courses)
One Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405 (310) 587-1717
Why?: 3 courses for $20 involving flatbread with prosciutto burrata and padron peppers, seared tuna nicoise with quail egg and mascarpone cheesecake with huckleberries and meyer lemon. AND a ocean view.  What more can you ask for?
Estimated Savings: $28pp* -Based on next closest items from regular menu: flatbread $15 + tuna nicoise $25 + dessert not posted, estimating $8  = $48 - $20 = $28
 
Breeze
Menu $20 (3-courses)
2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067 (310) 551-3334
Why?: Calamari Po Boy, choice of any dessert on their menu, big savings and eat in fancy Hyatt hotel fine dining setting for $20? In.
Estimated Savings: $20pp* - Based on same items from regular menu: chicken al pastor $16 + calamari po boy $18 + dessert standard $6 = $40 - $20 = $20

Bar | Kitchen
Menu $20 (2-courses)
819 S Flower St., Los Angeles, CA 90017 (213) 784-3048
Why?: Shrimp & Grits as one of the entree choices!!!
Estimated Savings: $8pp* -Based on same items from regular menu: butternut squash salad $10 + shrimp & grits $18 = $28 - $20 = $8
 

**PRICE TIER: $25**

Caulfield's Bar and Dining Room
Menu $25 (3-courses)
9360 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 90212 (310) 388-6860
Why?: Have seen a lot of buzz around this place lately, and the regular menu can be pricey, so dineLA may be the time to give it a try for those who live/work close by enough to pop in for lunch. You do get 3 courses for $25 at lunch in Beverly Hills, almost half off regular menu pricing*, which is borderline insane. And a lot ofthe same items from the dineLA dinner menu make an appearance on the lunch one, so it's an even less expensive way to check this place out: Smoked Steelhead Trout in a Jar, rabbit terrine, trout. skirt steak with anticucho sauce, and same desserts as dinner. If you like to live like Mad Men once in a while and go for the drinking lunch: you have an option here to add a glass of Prosecco for $10 as well.
Estimated Savings: $21pp* - Based on same or next closest items from regular menu: trout in jar $12 + skirt steak $25 + dessert avg $9 = $46 - $25 = $21

Fig & Olive
Menu $25 (3-courses) NOTE: deal extended through 2/8 (except not served on 1/26)
8490 Melrose Place, Los Angeles, CA 90069 Ph: (310) 360-9100
Why?: Some of the same items from dineLA dinner menu are offered for lunch! Starter options include TRUFFLE mushroom croquette, Northern Italian Mushroom and TRUFFLE soup, and main options include Seafood Paella. So you can have the same stuff but much cheaper (obviously at lunch portions though)  
Estimated Savings: $33pp* Based on items from regular menu: salmon ceviche crostone $16/truffle croquette $13 + paella del mar $32 + dessert $10 = $58/$55 - $25 = $33/$30

Oliverio at the Avalon Beverly Hills
Menu $25
9400 W. Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, 90212 Ph: (310) 407-7791
Why?: Four courses for lunch that involve octopus, ricotta beef ragu ravioli and branzino before you even get o dessert? For $25?  Wish I worked closer.
Estimated Savings: ~$24pp Based on next closest items or course averages from regular menu: pasta first course $12 + fish second course (salmon) $28+Dessert standard price $9 = $49 - $25 = $24 (They also offer a business lunch normally for $30 3-courses - so if compared to that, you'd save $5 on dineLA)


Menu watch: Some restaurants do not have menu prices posted online so I have to double check before assessing whether it's a deal: like Livello at the L'Ermitage BH, Aburiya Toranoko, and Obika Mozzarella Bar.

Honorable mentions: Some restaurants have attractive menus and/or great deals, but were not listed here as they already have regular prix fixe menus you can access outside of dineLA, like FarmShop (3-course dinners averaging $45-$48 nightly), Papilles (whose entire restaurant concept is a single prix fixe dinner menu for $35-$37 every night they're open) and Mo-Chica with lunch special for $15 (main +2 sides and dessert).

Dishonorable mention: The BLVD at Beverly Wilshire Hotel lunch for $25 is only 2 courses, and at first it looks like a great deal to be able to add the caviar pasta for only $10 more (the dish normally runs you $26 on regular menu) - BUT beware if you're going to drink anything besides water (and even then I would double check the price) - I ordered an Arnold Palmer without thinking that I would need to confirm pricing for such a basic drink, and was charged $8.  I did a double take just to make sure maybe it wasn't refillable and they charged me for 2?  Nope, it was $8 for one Arnold Palmer. And don't think you can get free Wi-Fi here for your tablet, just because it's in the lobby level of the hotel - they'll hand you a card with a passcode, but they won't tell you first that there's a $5 charge - the first time you'll become aware of it is when you see it added to your bill. Also, valet parking here even with restaurant validation is $12 - but it is good for all day use, so if you plan to spend the day walking around Rodeo / Beverly and leaving your car there then you may get good use out of that fee.


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Note: I have not dined at all of the places above - picks are based on menu descriptions and pricing info listed. Estimated savings are best guess only based on available info. Does not account for variance in portion sizes etc. Total estimated savings will vary depending on items ordered.


*****I will continue to update this as more menus post. Let me know if you find any good ones I've missed. Follow me on Instagram @onemorebiteblog to check out my latest dineLA meals!*****


Contest alert: Dine. Snap. Win. Instagram Enter for a chance to win a 1-night stay at the Thompson Beverly Hills hotel + dinner for 2 at Caulfield's Bar and Dining Room + weekend use of a 2013 Cadillac ATS. Just capture a picture of your fav Restaurant Week dish and post with the hashtag #dineLA for a chance to win (awesome as this was something I was going to do anyways!). Multiple entries allowed. At the end of dineLA, the 25 most popular eateries with dishes featured on Instagram will win Diner’s Choice. Ends 2/1/13. See official rules here.

Deal alert: Below are some easy ways to stack your deals, most free to sign up (see websites for details):

• OpenTable - register and make reservations online. When you check in at the restaurant, earn points towards a gift certificate redeemable at any OpenTable restaurant!
• Use credit card with a rewards program:
• American Express
• This time, there is no $5 statement credit offer with $21 minim spend.  But you can still register with Amex iDine, then use it to pay for your dineLA meal to get up to 15% statement credit (% differs by restaurant; % back available year round.  See site for details)
• Use airline/hotel credit cards to earn miles/points for every $ spent during dineLA and year round.
• Upromise.com: College students / those saddled with college loans: register credit card with their dining program. Cross check database with your chosen dineLA restaurants, dine, and pay with that card to automatically get up to 8% of your bill towards repayment of student loans!
• United Mileage Plus: register credit card with dining program, get up to 5 miles per $ spent on meals year round including tax and tip
• Mall Rewards - leverage year-round programs during dineLA to stack rewards (bring receipts to mall concierge for registration):
• Westfield Century City Rewards: Accumulate $500 in spending on food, get $25 gift card.
• Americana at Brand / The Grove Loyalty Rewards Program: Spend $500 in single month at restaurants here and get $25 gift card.
• Dine on Sunday 1/27 when street parking is free in most neighborhoods to save on valet.

Got other tips to share? Please post in comments section below!

Bon appetit!

P.S. - In years past some restaurants offered dineLA deals outside official dates, or extended them past official dates.  Check with your favs to see what they're offering!

Where will you be going for dineLA?

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dineLA (Winter 2013)
January 21-February 1, 2013
Lunch: $15,$20 or $25
Dinner: $25, $35 or $45
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