Tales of the Stylish Traveler

Come and get your Slaw Dog

In an unassuming strip mall located on Lake Avenue in Pasadena, the newly opened Slaw Dogs sits and waits for the customers to pour in. The official grand opening was last Saturday and overheard comments from the staff give the impression that this place is already swarming with happy patrons.

Though Los Angeles has pretty much every genre of food you could ever want, there isn’t really a restaurant that has conquered the gourmet hot dog. The Slaw Dogs could be that place. With a good-sized menu that lets you create your own luxe dog and choose from a variety of exotic toppings, ordering is half the fun. Options include Vienna all-beef links, veggie dogs and chicken sausages and toppings range from sauerkraut and curry ketchup to beer chili and kimchi. Toppings are fresh and appropriately sized to pile on the bun and the hot dogs themselves are juicy and flavorful. The signature dog, “The Original,” with Chili, cheese, mustard, onions, cole slaw, was messy but delicious; The “A.B.L.T.” puts a California twist on the hot dog, topping it with bacon, romaine, tomato, avocado and roast garlic aioli. Add a side of the special parmesan garlic truffle oil fries of the day and you have one tasty meal.

We popped in at 3 p.m. on a Monday afternoon but there were still several other people who trickled in and out of the store. Order at the counter and take a seat at the still-new-smelling booths or tables. The place is bright and decorated simply with real-wood walls and two small TVs in the corners. The staff is extremely friendly, knowledgeable and eager to guide you through your Slaw Dog journey. This is a great addition to the neighborhood and is sure to only rise in local popularity.

-EH

Viva El Carmen!

I was so worried about arriving 25 minutes late to my dinner & drink plans at El Carmen that I hurriedly walked right past the concealed entrance. Twice. But once I located the door and breezed inside past the heavy crimson curtains, I was transported into un mundo de lucha libre. Posters and flyers advertising classic Mexican lucha libre fights cover the front wall next to the jukebox and large paintings of these masked wrestlers and other related decorations line the remaining wall space.

 

Despite numerous Yelp reviews referring to El Carmen as quiet or empty, the place was completely full when we arrived at 8:30 on a weeknight. We had to wait for a table for about half an hour and had to compete with the heavy din in such a small space. The atmosphere is narrow, dark and sexy. The tequila-heavy menu also features several trendy mixed drinks that riff on classic margaritas and mojitos in addition to fun plates like potato tacos, a salsa flight and churros. Fresh tortilla chips are replenished as soon as someone grabs the last one out of the bowl. Everything we try is delicious. My one peeve here is tables are reserved for those eating dinner, too. How is a group of four or six supposed to chat over drinks while forced to sit at the bar?

 

Our table in the back corner of El Carmen provides the perfect people-watching spot. The walls right above the booth backs are mirrored, which allows for easy spying on other sections of the bar. Many of the patrons walk in or out of the place in crisp collared shirts and ties; others are dressed in sneakers and plaid shorts, despite the small sign at the entrance reading “dress code enforced.” Dancing is going on in one area of the bar regardless of the lack of a dance floor, and everyone seems to be having a generally good time. I’ll definitely be back – but I might avoid the apparent Thursday-night rush.

-EH

Musings on FroYo

It began with what I'll affectionately refer to as Pinkberry Pandemonium.

It arrived on the scene in 2005 - a frozen yogurt like none other in existence. It was sweet. It was tart.  And it changed the face of the frozen yogurt industry as we knew it.  

An avid 21 Choices connoisseur at the time, I remember being skeptical. What was this so-called “Crackberry” that was turning even the most discerning of Angelenos into dairy-hungry clods?

"It tastes like real yogurt, but frozen," a friend had explained to me, when I asked what gave Pinkberry its edge over the rest.

I was skeptical at first. But five dollars and one bite later, I, too, was an addict.

Looking back now, it’s hard to imagine that I once waited in hour-long lines – and suffered two parking tickets (darn you, Pinkberry on Huntley!) – for the sake of my fix.

But then again, it’s even harder to imagine life without that “Plain Tart” flavor which has come to be synonymous with frozen yogurt in L.A.

Pinkberry may always be a staple in L.A., but luckily for us, numerous copycats have sprung up over the years offering delicious and wallet-friendly alternatives.

Here are some of the best frozen yogurt options the city has to offer, summarized for your convenience in Haiku form. Enjoy!

Pinkberry (www.pinkberry.com/search/storelocator.htm for locations)

The O.G. dessert

Why does the green tea cost more?

Never enough fruit

 

21 Choices (Old Pasadena or Claremont)

The Cold Stone of fro-yo

Seven new flavors each day

Be warned: workers sing

 

Bigg Chill (10850 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles)

Terrible parking

Call in advance for flavors

Diet friendly blends

 

America’s Cup (427 E 17th St, Costa Mesa)

DIY. Uber cheap.

Local fav. Mom-and-pop shop.

Great after the beach

 

Yogurt Stop (8803 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood)

Self-serve. Tart or creamy.

Toppings from local bake shop

Is that a disco ball?

 

Yogurtland (http://www.yogurt-land.com/ for locations) 

Yogurt shop? Or rave?

Flavors and toppings galore

Cheap. Delish. A must!

-Guest Blogger SL

Finding Nemo

 

Eve on Nemo is not an easy place to find. Crowds of hipsters line up for the evening show at The Troubadour on the bustling Santa Monica Boulevard just around the corner from this revamped private event space,  but you’d never know it if you weren’t looking for the spot.

 

Hidden on the tiny Nemo Street in West Hollywood, Eve on Nemo is a lovely, intimate event venue comprised of an outdoor patio and an indoor area. From the moment you sneak through the arched landscaped entryway, you know you have found a little gem in this often lively neighborhood. Standout details help make the space unique: a stone fire pit keeps guests warm during chilly L.A. evenings (careful, don’t stand too close to the flames once the wind starts blowing!) and over-the-top red chandeliers grace the dining room ceilings. The distinctive display linens on one of the indoor tablescapes consisted of a stunning crimson cloth accented with sewn-on flowers.

 

 

The space is small but sophisticated and the folks running the new spot are friendly, helpful and passionate about the possibilities for the venue. Pace Webb, Eve’s new chef, is particularly charming and eager to make your next event perfect. The opening party Wednesday night allowed guests to walk around casually and check out all the fine points of the space. An open bar and small hors d’oeuvres were passed throughout the evening and consisted of bites like chanterelle mushrooms on crostini and spanokopita; mini-desserts were set up in the indoor area, including éclairs and tiny cupcakes. All the food passed at the beginning of the night was tasty, but Eve’s fall & winter menu advertises so much more! Where were the polenta diamonds with sun-dried tomato confit last night? Or the deconstructed bacon chocolate bourbon cake with maple frosting? I’d like to come back just to see the presentation of some of these unique-sounding food options.

 

All-in-all, the space seems like a real winner. It can accommodate up to 70 people for a seated party, and up to 130 for a reception. The next time you need a special venue for 100 of your closest friends in WeHo, make your guests find Eve on Nemo.

 

-EH

The Bazaar by José Andrés

I lived in northern Spain for several months and experienced more than my fair share of tapas and pinxos. But the tradition of un café or una caña with a small plate of calamares could never have prepared me for my experience at The Bazaar by José Andrés at the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles this week.

  

The Bazaar is unlike any other tapas restaurant. Divided into traditional and modern tapas, the menu contains everything from traditional salads and croquetas to molecular gastronomy-inspired creations. The restaurant itself is divided into two very distinct styles, much like the menu itself, of Blanca y Rojo. Upon entering, the host whisks you and your party to either the dark, sultry side of the establishment or the funky, decked-in-white half. Don’t expect to find any sort of uniformity in terms of seating: a hodgepodge of sofas, chairs and tables in various sizes and shapes fill the large floor space. An entire wall is covered with black and white photographs of the back of people’s heads; billowing curtains cover the tall windows near our table.

 

 

 

We took advantage of DineLA’s Restaurant Week, which allowed us to choose four tapas/small plates and a dessert from a narrowed-down version of the full menu. Many of the plates are big enough to share, and soon enough, copious amounts of meat began to arrive at our table. The Bazaar imports incredibly delectable jamón serrano from Spain and serves it with petite grilled baguettes slathered in smashed tomatoes – a play on the traditional “pan con tomate” tapa. Molecular gastronomy favorites on the menu include Andrés’ “Philly Cheesesteak,” a small bread roll that, when baked, turns hollow inside – this is filled with a creamy cheese and thin slices of Kobe beef are layed on top. Delicious. Traditional tapas, like scallops in romesco sauce and hangar steak with authentic Spanish red peppers, arrive alongside the creative tapas, including cauliflower “couscous,” which is created with finely chopped cauliflower and grains to resemble a bowl of the Middle Eastern staple.

 

 

Many inventive drinks, such as the caipirinha, are created tableside for imbibing patrons. I enjoyed watching the large group next to us order drink after drink. The bartender pushes a cart up to the appropriate table, adds the ingredients into a large bowl, and whisks briskly as she adds liquid nitrogen. Our neighboring diners get a kick out of the billowing smoke emerging from their cocktails in process. It’s almost a revamped “dinner with a show” concept.

 

 

Beverages come out quickly but service is otherwise hit or miss. The waiter seemed confused as to what tapa was on our table at one point, and all our small plates came out sporadically. There’s not much attention paid to timing here, but servers are generally warm and helpful.

 

 

For dessert, we were whisked off to yet another section of the restaurant: The Patisserie. Reminiscent of an old-fashioned candy shop near the back, the rest of The Patisserie combines high bar tables and low couches – all blindingly sterile white – to create a sort of modernized version of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.  Traditional treats like flan are served alongside homemade whipped cream, transformed into a thick, stringy consistency similar to marshmallow fluff.

 

The Bazaar is a fabulous addition to the L.A. restaurant scene. It’s trendy, but even the pickiest foodies will be wowed.  

 

-EH

Santa Monica Seafood

I love seafood, but I always have a problem buying fresh fish at my local supermarket because it never seems so fresh, especially if I am buying farm raised fish. If you live in Los Angeles and are looking for quality fish, then Santa Monica Seafood is the crème de la crop for fresh seafood.

 

I know it may be a trek for some people, but it’s worth the car ride if you want fresh seafood.  After 40 long years on Colorado, Santa Monica Seafood moved to Wilshire Blvd and 10^th street.  The new location is double the size and they added a full-service indoor/outdoor café and an oyster bar. They also have non-fish

products, such as cheeses, fresh bread, prepared foods and even flowers. Also, if you are looking for variety on how to cook your fish, the store offers fun cooking demonstrations on unlimited ways to prepare seafood.

 

After I did my grocery shopping on a Saturday afternoon, I had a lunch at the café. It was very crowded and the service was on the slow side.  I ordered the spicy salmon burger (served with a tri-color salad), which was worth the wait.  They prepared the burger on a charbroiled grill and not on a flat grill, which makes it healthier. The sandwich was about $10 and it’s a nice price considering how expensive the fish is at the market. The café also has a nice selection of crudo, soups, and salads. I am not a big fan of oysters, but I heard they have one of the best oysters in Southern California. They also have a liquor license, so you can order a nice glass of wine with your meal.

 

The best part is that Santa Monica Seafood has its own parking lot so you don’t have to drive up and down the street looking for a meter.

 

It’s really a perfect place to have a light lunch on a Sunday afternoon. It’s about a mile from the ocean, so after you are done with lunch drive to the ocean and have a nice stroll on the beach. Or better yet, request the food to go and have a Santa Monica Seafood picnic on the beach.                                 -MLS

Little Dom's, Los Feliz, Los Angeles

Last week, Paul and I were in Los Angeles meeting with our clients, Val Harding, Beverly Moore from Marina del Rey  and a couple of the potential possibilities.

It had been a long day traveling down from San Francisco to Los Angeles, working and meetings.  By the end of the day, all I wanted to do was eat a good meal and go to sleep. We were supposed to meet a friend for dinner but that didn't work out.

Paul and I thought about going to Mexico City, a nice little place in Los Feliz, that serves good margaritas, gads of chips and a chicken dish called "Pollo Mexica" (pronounced me-chic-a) which I like. Paul ever wanting to go to places that have a wait or need a reservation said, "Why don't we go to Little Dom's", which is just opposite Mexico City. (The last time that I was there, I saw Katherine Heigl, her husband, and TJ Knight.) I never thought that we would get in.

I have eaten here, about twice before with reservations and proclaimed it to Paul as one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles, definitely better than Dominic's on Beverly Boulevard, which is it's older sister. Now, we didn't have the reservations but Paul wants to still try to get in. We wind up sitting at the bar which, always turns out to be a good thing.

Paul and I both had a martinis I had the house cured olive oil tuna melt and Paul ordered a pizza. Service was superb and the very cute female bartender even served us a really nice prosecco on the house because we were having such a good time but mainly, outside of Angelini Osteria, the food at Little Dom's is REALLY good. I think it has to do with the smaller kitchen.

If you are in Los Angeles, please go and try it. You won't be disappointed. You might even see a star or two as Paul and I did even on that night.