November 26, 2006 4

La Paella (Beverly Hills)

//// By Freda in 10: Beverly Hills

Many restaurants seems to be fully booked these days (it’s Thanksgiving holiday weekend in US). This makes things harder as we had a party of 9. I remembered this Spanish restaurant that I always passed by on San Vicente, it is located in a rather isolated residential neighborhood. They still have open table when I called late. We ordered 2 bottles of wine and the tapas were mostly double ordered.

Stuffed Mussels

Boquerones (marinated cold anchovy in very acidic vinegar sauce), very sour and strong tasting, goes well with wine. Snails.

Sauteed Bell pepper and the very normal Gambas Al Ajillo (Garlic butter Shrimp)

Papas bravas (fried potatoes with chile & aioli) and Scallops.

Squid salad…and the star item Squid Ink seafood Paella (argh blurry picture). A few people in our table were too chicken to eat it, they’re afraid it’d taste like marker….huh!? ^^;; It’s very tasty~

The dessert: Pear with wine and Chocolate Mousse

Overall the food are a bit ordinary, especially for the $$$…

Tags: Spanish, Tapas

November 26, 2006 2

Kum Da Rae (Koreatown)

//// By Freda in 07: Mid-Wilshire

We went back to this neighborhood Korean restaurant, normally I wouldn’t blog about it again unless it’s something noteworthy. The owner highly recommended us the Spicy Short Rib with Grass noodle, she’s right! It’s DELICIOUS! The short rib was so tender and deeply cooked with flavors. There’s a sweetness among the spicyness. Now I know exactly WHAT to order everytime I go back there.

Update 2008: sadly it’s closed. It’s now some Korean owned Pho place…

Tags: Korean, Spicy

November 22, 2006 2

Spitz (Eagle rock)

//// By Joan in 03: Eagle Rock, Favorite Food Entries

Finally tried the Euro-turkish Spitz: Doner Kebab Shack which Freda raved here. I tried the Combo Plate that has everything: Both the paper thin stripes of homemade Doner meat and Chicken Doner (very generouos amount), Tzatziki sauce, Falafel, hummus, fried pita strips, Julienne-cut French Fries and salad. It’s incredible! I absolutely love both of the doner meat. Also tried their gelato: Pomegranate and Double espresso + vanilla and Carbernet Sauvignon and Chocolate Hazelnut. The gelato are very rich, silky smooth and fresh. Never thought that Doner kebab + Gelato would be such great meal combo!

Tags: Gelato, Kebab

November 22, 2006 4

BLD (Beverly Blvd)

//// By Joan in 09: Weho, Favorite Food Entries

Fantastic Brioche French toast. Can’t get enough of it!

Cute packaing of real maple syrup. The cripsy and non greasy bacon are the best bacon I’ve ever had. Open by the owner of the very $$$$ Grace which I haven’t had the $ to try, BLD is the more causal and affordable offshoot. The interior is very chichi modern. BLD stand of “breakfast lunch dinner”. Jon claimed that this is the best breakfast he’d have of all the joints I’ve taken him to. I think it’s definitely among one of the best.

Tags: Breakfast

November 21, 2006 6

Osteria La Buca (Melrose)

//// By Joan in 07: Mid-Wilshire, Favorite Food Entries

11 of us held a wrap party for a job that’s been haunting us this past year at Osteria La buca. Someone regard this place as THE best Italian restaurant in LA. The space is very small (the walls are filled with Italian film stills and icons) so our party basically took up half of the restaurant. We share 3 pizzas: Caruso (picture above): tomato sauce, sausage, mushrooms, shaved parmesan cheese and mozzarella. Mastroianni: tomato sauce with 4 cheese. Cicciolina: mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes, pancetta and arugula. They’re all very good!

Special handmade pasta of the night: Reginetie delia mamma spike fettuccine in light rea radicctuio e guanciale. Paglia e Fieno Green and white tagliatelle w/ bell peppers, italian speck, zucchini and cherry tomatoes. Both are amazing!

Coda di Rospo Fresh monk fish filet baked in foil paper w/ black olives, parscely rosemary and cherry tomatoes. The fish is very fresh and perfectly cook. Even though the fresh fish favor is nice but I wish it’s a little stronger tasting. Forgot which pasta is that, there were few more pasta and rivoli dishes we got, all great!

I like the espresso pudding (first pix) the most out of the 3 desserts we got. Coincidently it looks like our company’s logo.