October 10, 2006 4

Cube at Divine Pasta Co. (La Brea)

//// By in 09: Weho

DSCN8452.jpgCube is a restaurant inside a gourmet store that sells fresh made pasta, ravioli sauce, sauce, cheese, olive oil and much more. I’ve always want to try it ever since reading the review on Triplecreme. A big part of the restaurant is the “Cheese bar” (as I call it) in which the bar is filled with many different types of cheese. It’s a pity they haven’t obtain liquor license yet, though you can bring your own bottle as there’s no corkage fee.

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Beside bread, each table gets a sample of today’s cheese: goat cheese with fig and cashew nuts. I’m usually not big on goat cheese but I can’t stop eating this.
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The Heirloom Tomato, Fresh Peach and Buffalo Mozzarella Salad is incredibly delicious. All the ingredients are fresh. The combine of their flavors with balsamic vinegar is exquisite. I’m going to try to make it myself. I got the Whole Wheat Linguine with puttanesca, the wheat linguine is fresh and taste healthy.
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Marinated wild caught Mahi Mahi and the comes-with Roasted vegetables side. I love the roasted vegetables a lot. For the quality of food and location of this place, their price is surprisingly reasonabe. I want to come back here for their wide selection of cheese and charcuterie menu.

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October 9, 2006 6

Coco Noche Chocolate and Wine (Manhattan Beach)

//// By in 17: South Bay

I wanted to experience the indulgence that is the chocolate wine bar, so after a busy sleepless week, I treated myself there for…a bite. ^^;;
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English Tea Platter ($8): basil chicken with wonton skins, homemade pastry (very yummy!!!) & chocolate. Giddy nibbling~ I also got Chocolate Truffle Figs ($6), mildly sweet and almost got a wine-taste in it, heaven~
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Revolution Tea – Golden Flowers. I still can’t make up my mind about this place, it is pretty & romantic but it made me feel a bit guilty. It seems like a dream project by someone to collect everything pretty, delicate and fine she loves at one space: chocolate shop, pastries bakery, cheese store, wine bar, korean cafe, teahouse, zakka (candles, lotion & soaps), CD (including Nouvelle Vague)… it’s a girl’s ultimate dream. I’d try their actual chocolate wine tasting menu someday.

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October 9, 2006 3

Guelaguetza Restaurant (Olympic)

//// By in 07: Mid-Wilshire

I had a wonderful lunch at the Oaxacan restaurant Guelaguetza Palms so I always wanted to try the more acclaimed one in Koreatown.
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Half of the restaurant is a mini-market selling lots of Oaxacan chocolates, spices, candles, mezcal, etc. Red Mole Pork, tender and tasty, though it got a bit boring halfway (wished there’re some sides). Compare to black mole that I’ve had, red mole has a stronger chiles taste.
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Cecina Special: Cecina is chile paste marinated leg of pork. Very tasty. and Amarillo de Pollo o Res: beef yellow mole flavored with chiles, cloves, and cumin. It also has squash and potatoes. Taste like curry. This dish reminds me of Southeast Asian food.

The menu seems to be the same as the Palms one, but the Horchata we had here is more watery than the Palms (and less red cactus fruits).

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October 8, 2006 2

Zoey’s Cafe (Downtown Ventura)

//// By in 18: Greater LA

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DSCN8427.jpgCafe con leche and Ginger tea. Had a coffee break at the very charming Zoey’s Cafe when Jon and I “escaped from LA” and wandered to Ventura, a beach town that’s about an hour drive away from LA. I didn’t expect to find such a cute place there. We sat by the balcony on the 2nd floor and I love the cozy vibe and decor very much. Besides a variety of coffee and tea, they also have a quite extensive wine list and beer. Food wise there’re sandwiches and pizzas on the menu, I wonder if they’re good. There’s live bands playing on weekend nights. How I wish this cafe locates somewhere in LA!

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October 5, 2006 14

Polka (Eagle Rock)

//// By in 03: Eagle Rock

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Finally try the Polish restaurant Polka at Eagle Rock. I’ve heard about their kitschy interior and oh boy~ it’s so full of wonders. There’s no kitschy interior complete without a ‘moving waterfall lightbox.’ There’re so many random things hanged on the wall: parachuted Santa Claus fan, vintage tennis racket, etc. When the owner served me the Mint Tea, she gave me an old picture book of Poland to read. 😀
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KROLEWSKI (Royal Plate): a sampler plates contains Pierogi (dumpling stuffed with potatoes & cheese), Golabki ( Stuffed Cabbage filled with seasoned pork & chicken & sautéed onion), Gulasz (Beef Stew). I like the beef stew the most, very tender, juicy and flavorful. The dumpling (Pierogi) is stuffed potatoes and cheese, while it’s tasty comfort food it is also SCARY with heavy heavy butter taste. ^^;; There’re some gnocchi-ish bites on the side, they’re very good. So much food~ While there’s a home cook feel to the dishes, there’re also a canned food taste to them (the veggie sides, soup…etc).

When the bill came, it also came with a cherry chocolate, yum!

Polka
Wed-Sun 11:00 AM 9:00 PM
4112 Verdugo Road. Los Angeles, CA 90065
(323) 255-7887

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