los angeles: not only the home to america’s hell’s kitchen, skid row and the fabled in-n-out franchise, but some fantastic restaurants. granted, when i usually go, i’m with my friends who enjoy the flavor country that is claimjumper and red robin, but this time, i stayed with someone who enjoys finer dining and actually once made a resolution to explore the city and its culinary offerings. well, halle-fucking-lujah!
friday evening we ventured into BLD, an eatery that specializes in breakfast, lunch, and dinner. well, they need to add an “S” to their moniker, as they also do a fantastic supper (let’s not quibble over the difference between supper and dinner, OK?). the service was brilliant – our server suggested four heavenly cheeses, one of which she claimed to have dreamed about the night prior. well, it was a fantasy, slathered on fine quality bread. i broke my vegetarian streak and went with a pork sausage and fennel infused fresh pasta that was earthy, well seasoned and perfectly autumnal. dessert was an overly sweet but delectable gingerbread pudding topped with ice cream and toasted pumpkin seeds. we drifted away in a cloud of happiness.
saturday we met up with friends for lunch at a local santa monica restaurant, frito misto, that is a favorite amongst vegetarians. heavenly pillows were fried puffs of ricotta stuffed ravioli, and i ordered a very garlicky, pesto dish of artichokes, sundried tomatoes and mushrooms tossed with lemon pepper linguine. oh, it was filling, but left me perfumed like a head of garlic. perhaps not the most sensual perfume.
sunday afternoon, we ventured out to la brea not to see the tar pits, but to check out luna park, a quiet, dark and inviting space that served up a bubbling goat cheese fondue, accompanied by sliced green apples and grilled bread. JP had vegetarian gravy and biscuits, and i had a lovely spinach and carmelized mushroom omelette with a side of roasted potatoes that were crisp and well-seasoned. and i have finally learned that the point of brunch is to be lazy and eat a savory meal accompanied by a side of fruit salad. oh, now it all makes sense!
for an early birthday dinner for my host, i took him to ayara, aka “beef waterfall,” an unassuming thai restaurant that serves up a perfectly clean-flavored and spicy jade curry. “the two best dishes,” JP observed, “are this and the pad se ew,” which i’d ordered. the broad flat noodles pan seared with tofu and chinese broccoli (sans egg, a suggestion by JP) were in fact ideal.
ah, los angeles, you have more to offer than just fresh, never frozen, fast food burgers and weinerschnitzel shacks.
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