"Gold Standard" Food Festival Coming!!

Attention all foodies, wannabees, and everyone and anyone who might like the taste of delicious food and wine: Jonathan Gold, Pulitzer Prize-winning, locally and nationally famed critic for the LA Weekly, and overall great litmus test for any and every gourmet to hole-in-the-wall restaurant within the LA County limits... trust me, he's great. He's introduced a number of Angelinos to places they may never had considered or known about. Well, he is holding his Gold Standard Food Festival on March 8th. You can find details here. Don't miss out on the fun of tasting from 30 restaurants:

Alcazar - Angeli - Animal - Anisette - Babita Mexicuisine - Beacon - Chili My Soul - Ciudad Border Grill - Clementine - Drago - Hungry Cat - Jitlada - KyoChon - La Casita Mexicana - La Mill - Loteria Grill - Lou - Meals by Genet - Mr. Baguette - Natraliart - Osteria Mozza & Pizzeria Mozza - Palate Food and Wine - Providence - Renu Nakorn - Sona - Tiara - Upstairs 2 - Urth Caffe - Wurstkuche

Be sure to order your tickets early - don't get left out!!! Oh and not to be forgotten: wine and beer samplings as well. Put it this way: at the very least, you're SURE to get a great return for this investment, as opposed to your recent stock values.

El Segundo, You Can Have It Your Way At The Counter

No, it's definitely not a new Burger King in town, but rather El Segundo is the new recipient of the small national chain of customized burger joints called The Counter. Situated in the new Plaza El Segundo among both large and small retail stores and restaurants, The Counter is a welcome eatery in this city of passing-through cars and high-tech high-security military, aviation and telecomm companies. This newest So-Cal outlet to the famous chain hosts the same menu as its brethren, but unfortunately they still have some kinks to work out before it's up-to-par in comparison with the long established Santa Monica location.

Set up like a clean modern diner, the dining room is small but comfortable. Upon being seated you are handed a menu with a number of different options to customize your burger - the kind of bread, meat, and toppings ranging from a roasted garlic aoli to jalapenos to gruyere cheese to red leaf lettuce. Monthly specials are always available, such as the Valentines Day Shake for the month of February, and traditional options such as pre-specified burgers (the Old School or the Unique Veggie will satisfy your traditionalist and vegetarian friends).

Being a newer establishment, things were a bit chaotic at El Segundo's Counter. We were waited by a waitress-in-training, which was fine and dandy but her nervousness and uncertainty made me a bit nervous and uncertain. However, they did not disappoint with the starter of regular and sweet potato fries that my friends and I split. Crisp and fresh, these can be quickly and happily devoured prior to even seeing your burger. Speaking of which, came out pretty fast, which worked great for a group of office workers on a limited literal lunch "hour". My burger, with jalapenos,horseradish mayo and Tillamook cheddar cheese, was pretty tasty, but was overcooked. I ordered it medium rare, which should mean the patty is a bright pink color, but this patty came out with very little pink color at all. Big turn-off in a meat eater's world like mine.

Nevertheless, I understand the woes and issues a new restaurant must face. For now, until the wrinkles are all ironed out, I applaud and welcome the all new Counter to the neighborhood. But if I return in another month and the hamburger is overcooked again, then I will have some major beef.

Be Your Own Celebrity Chef At EATZ

Niki Tehranchi used to be a lawyer, until she came to her senses: her sense of taste, smell and touch to be exact. Leaving the exciting world of law behind to pursue her passion for cooking, Niki graduated from the Culinary Institute in Hollywood and opened her own business, teaching and inspiring others by sharing her love for food and cooking with private classes from her home. EATZ offers hands-on lessons and ideas for a fun and tasty five-course meal, made by vouz. My boyfriend and I celebrated Valentine's Day by sharing the fun, the techniques and the tastes at EATZ this past Friday night. Three hours and five courses later, we could hardly wait to run home and book another class with Niki.

The class was full with five couples and four girlfriends paired up at seven stations, each equipped with utensils, a gas range unit and cutting board. Niki knows that the best way to keep hungry people baited during her class is to provide lots of wine and small bites, so the glasses are poured and a plate of bruchetta is passed around for the growling stomachs. The first course we prepared was actually the last course we ate, since the Chocolate Cinnamon Mouse with Cherries needed a couple cold hours in the refrigerator. We watched and listened as Niki explained how to reduce the cherries for the topping while my beau had cherry duty, and how to fold melted chocolate chips into freshly whipped cream so as to keep a fluffy and aerated mousse, while another classmate works on the mousse. We finished and refrigerated.

Onto the next course, the Smoked Salmon Caviar Rolls with Toast Points. Working with smoked salmon strips, we whipped together creme fraiche and sour cream, and added fresh chives as a deliciously creamy filling to our rolled salmon rolls. Topped off with caviar, we set the rolls atop toasted bread cut into fourths, and quickly gobbled up. A quick and easy appetizer for any small or large dinner party.

The third course was a Roasted Broccoli and Cheese Fondue appetizer. What we appreciated about this class was that we weren't necessarily making complicated dishes, but instead we were working on some relatively easy courses that could easily be done at home. Niki does take time to teach techniques that amateurs may not know, such as some knife tips, and the importance of melting and continuously whisking fontina cheese in order to thicken it. The result was a buttery fondue with oven roasted broccoli seasoned with balsamic vinegar, and another great dinner starter, which was also, again, quickly and happily consumed by all of us eager students.

Next on the menu was Seared Scallops with a Tomato Beurre Blanc Sauce. We minced sun dried tomatoes and cutting them into 3/4s of a stick of butter, after which we rolled into a log and refrigerated to chill and harden. After chilling, we sauteed a minced shallot in white wine and lemon juice. The chilled butter log then came in handy, where we cut it into 1-inch segments and melted these gradually by swirling the pan over the gas range unit constantly over low-medium heat. This helps to keep the butter from browning too much and allows it to thicken within the mixture. The white wine reduced down, we set aside the Beurre Blanc sauce and quickly seared the scallops, which we topped with the buttery tomato topping. The entire class happily ate the fruits of their labor. Believe me, you would too.

The fifth and final course cooked was the culmination of an exciting and interactive evening of food (1000 times better than how I remember Home Ec!!). A large bowl of fresh rib eye steaks was passed around for the main course, Rib Eye with Brandied Mushrooms and Thyme, and by this time, I was wondering if I really had the room. I did, of course. And it was well worth it. After pan searing the steaks to a medium rare, our personal favorite, we then sauteed mushrooms in a flambed brandy and cream sauce (woo - the fire that "accidentally" started in our pan was quite the adrenaline rush). The steak, already delicious on its own merits, was enhanced even more with the mushroom topping. So delicious was the final course that we ALMOST forgot to snap a photo before it was entirely devoured!!

Whether you already know your way around the kitchen and already have a few great recipes of your own, or not, you will have a great time at EATZ. The excitement and enjoyment of seeing and eating your finished product make the class a huge pleasure. Check out EATZ's future class list. At least in this kitchen, you are the judge to your own dish, and you certainly don't have to hear Padma tell you to pack your knives.

The Many Flavors of China - Part I: Sichuan

Far, far away from the shores of Santa Monica and the hills of Topanga Canyon, east of the hustle of downtown Los Angeles, is a sprawling suburban area with signs in Chinese advertising food establishments, markets, banks and massages. In this sprawling east L.A. suburb are found some of the most incredible culinary gems and treasures, such as Chung King on San Gabriel Blvd. in Monterey Park.

Unless you are of Chinese descent, you are the minority at Chung King, which makes the experience all the more exciting and authentic. The menu is of course in both Chinese and English, and features quite a variety of dishes that you won't find at your local Panda Express. True Sichuan cuisine is known for its very spicy flavors, with dishes peppered, literally, with red peppers and seeds that both titillate and numb.

My Sichuan-experienced tour guides started the evening with Ma Po, a tofu dish in spicy Sichuan sauce. Not too spicy, this dish is drizzled with scallions and drenched with flavor. It was the perfect segue into the much more serious plates we devoured thereafter.




Next on the plate was Beef with Zi-Ran Pepper, and Fried Chicken Cubes with Hot Pepper, and of course a side of rice for the fire. Both the beef and chicken entrees were extremely flavorful, with bites of spicy combined with garlic and pepper sauces. The cubed and fried chicken was crispy but not greasy. It was as I ate these two entrees that I was introduced to the Sichuan peppercorn, which helps to numb the bite from the spicy flavors. (Sidebar: this little peppercorn which is actually a dried citrus flower used to be illegal for import into the US because it was believed to be a carrier of a citrus tree disease, but it is no longer contraband!!) After a few minutes of runny nose hotness, this little lifesaver did in fact begin to somewhat numb my tongue, something the Chinese call "ma la", or literally "numbing and spicy". A strange sensation, thanks to the peppercorn, I was able to continue eating.

The last entree brought out was a Boiled Pork in Hot Sauce. Similar to Vietnamese pho, this bowl of broth and meat and LOTS and LOTS of garlic and red pepper sauce is not for the faint of heart or mouth. The pork flavor is redefined within this delicious stew, and you'll be sure to warm your mouth, stomach and heart with this comfort food. Boiled dishes are actually a mainstay in Sichuan cooking, and after this dinner, they will soon become a mainstay in the Moonlighting Fooditor's eating...

Next in The Many Flavors of China Series: Hunan!!

Way Better Than Just OK At AK

The newly opened AK located not coincidentally on Abbot Kinney in Venice is impressive for a couple reasons: during a tough economic recession, it still draws a very large crowd on a Tuesday night, and the food aint so bad either. In fact, it's downright delicious. And forget all that talk about Ikea-like meatballs. Executive Chef Conny Andersson has hit a homerun with or without the Swedish finger food. His swanky bistro encased in lots of big windows facing the trendy Venice boulevard is warm and inviting on this cool winter night, and the beautiful hip crowd is as hot as the elevated fireplace in the main dining room.

The Antipasto Salad is served with fresh prosciutto and barrata cheese atop a light frisse salad and heirloom tomatoes. An excellent appetizer, it was quite a tease, as my dinner partner and I would have liked to have enjoyed a bit more barrata. Otherwise, don't fill up on the starter or the bread for that matter, because the portions here are fit for a Viking. A hungry one.


At the recommendation of our very attentive server, we ordered the Braised Beef Short Ribs Bourguignonne and the Pekin Duck. The short ribs were perfectly tender and juicy, and were served atop Truffle Mash, complimenting the sweet beef with the aromatic potato.






The duck, served with a thin layer of the oh-so-tasty fat, melted in the mouth. The presentation was elegant and enticing. While delicious, the small drizzle of a honey orange sauce was unnecessary since the flavor of the duck reigned on this plate.





If you have the room, order the Warm Apple Galette. The open-faced tart, resembling a sweet pizza, is brought to the table and finished off with a warm caramel sauce by the server just before you indulge. The creamy vanilla ice cream slowly melts on top of this flaky disk of apple goodness. Not surprisingly, on the AK website, the Dessert Menu is appropriately labeled "Splurge".


So, to Mr. Andersson, if you are reading this, I applaud you and this simple yet elegant menu. You make Tuesday nights worth skipping out on American Idol.

Let Campanile Ring Your Bell!!

Participating in DineLA's Restaurant Week this year is one of L.A.'s dining landmarks, Campanile. Opened originally in 1989, this institution sits next to another culinary and cultural birthmark, La Brea Bakery. The food has become as institutional and reliable as church bells every hour on Sundays.

It was obvious by the crowd on a Wednesday night that DineLA was doing its job: attracting a crowd that perhaps would not normally eat here. There were young groups of friends, or a couple of roommates who thought they'd try their local haunt on a school night. The new crowd proved refreshing and profitable to Campanile, who also extended their DineLA experience until 2/13, like many other DineLA participating restaurants.

The prix-fixe menu offered a number of items. To start, my dinner partner and I had the potato leek soup and the onion tart. The soup was fresh and creamy but lite without being too starchy, the perfect way to whet the appetite. The onion tart, accompanied with a garden salad, was tasty with caramelized onions between flaky layers of tart crust. A bit heavier than the soup, it too was a great beginning to the 3-course dinner. Perhaps a great starter to share on a normal night, but lucky for us, we were quite hungry.

The second course included Atlantic Cod (or Swordfish, whichever is the fresh fish of the day) in a sauce of currant, pine nuts and rosemary. The currants offer a sweet balance to the white fish, and the pine nuts and rosemary finish it off with an aromatic flavor. A very complete dish from a flavor perspective.

My dinner partner ordered the Leg of Lamb which was served medium rare. I personally am not a fan of lamb, and yet this dish was so well cooked and flavored, even I enjoyed it. Served atop a chestnut puree, the combination of the full flavored lamb and the earthy chestnut puree creates a hint of sweetness on the palate. And not to forget, we paired both entrees with a tasty Burgundy wine. Campanile offers an extensive selection of wines chosen by executive chef Mark Peel, and in fact, Friday Night Flights is a not surprisingly a popular draw.

The dinner was completed with Boca Negra, a rich chocolate brownie-like cake that should only be paired with a cold glass of milk. Stat... It is sure to satisfy any chocolaholic's fix. The evening was made most pleasant with excellent service and a "Thank you" upon our exit.

After having lived in LA for so many years and not experienced it for myself, I now see why Campanile continues to withstand these tough times. You can never go wrong with the traditional formula: good food, great prices, and excellent service.

DineLA Restaurant Week Extended!!!

Due to the great popularity and increase in foot traffic and revenue for so many of the participating DineLA restaurants, many of these great eateries have extended their discounted lunch and dinner menus for the next week or even until the end of February! Check out the list of restaurants here and click on a specific restaurant to confirm if they have extended dates or not. Bon apetit!!!

Update: So Many Value Meals, So Little Time!!

Yesterday I posted a few dining deals in the So-Cal area. I've come across two more worthy of sharing:

The Edison's Soup Kitchen Cocktail Hour: Every Friday from 5pm-7pm, a Depression theme featuring .35 cent cocktails and free grilled cheese and tomato soup draws the large crowds from the unemployment lines. And probably from the nearby downtown law firms and businesses. Try the 401(k), a gin cocktail served in a half-empty (or half-filled?) glass. A deal to say the least, but you can feel good about 25% of the Friday night's proceeds going to local food banks and charities. After all, we're all in this together. Photo: eecue.com

Luna Park's Blue Tray Special on Mon-Thur: This entree plate (served not ironically on a blue cafeteria tray) features various options such as honey-glazed pork chops (which are pretty damn amazing, if I do say so myself) with arugula salad and cigar onion rings. Normally priced for almost $20, this cafeteria-esque deal is quite the steal for $10-$12, with $5 cocktails. Photo: Calendarlive.com

Better-Than-Mickey D's Value Meals Coming To A Restaurant Near You!!

We keep hearing the media clamor about this horrible recession and economic turmoil. Many of us wonder about the security of our jobs and families, and rightfully so. Thus, here is a list of value-priced dining options that have recently appeared, from your local Starbucks to the pricey 5-star restaurant you may (or may not) have been eyeing:

1. Starbucks: value priced breakfast options to rival McDonald's breakfast options and coffee, as well as the Dunkin' Donuts coffee cult following. Take advantage on those mornings you get your Venti-Quad-Soy-Sugar-Free-Macchiato-with Whip fix...
courtesy Eater L.A.

2. The Park in Echo Parque: Every Tuesday, the Park is offering a 3-course prix-fixe dinner for only $15!!! Check out their menu (they offer Duck Confit!!!).

3. Half Price Nights at Dolce, Ketchup and Bella: You read that right. 50% off on Monday nights at Dolce, Tuesday nights at Bella, and Sunday nights at Ketchup.

4. Recession Thursdays at South: $2 Pulled Pork Sandwiches and $2 shots on Thursdays at this southern-style Santa Monica saloon will make you forget your portfolio woes at the very least.

5. Fried Chicken Sundays & Mondays at Tower Bar: This Hollywood landmark got a renovation in 2006 that included the chic Tower Bar in Bugsy Siegel's old apartment on the ground floor. Even more haunting than the old spirits roaming here are the Sunday and Monday deals offering a juicy platter of fried chicken, veggies, mashed potatoes and chocolate cake for $25. And when I say haunting, I mean haunting by a wallet-friendly ghost.

6. Feb. 22nd at Wahoo's in OC: 20 Cent Tacos!! Wahoo's is celebrating it's 20th anniversary at its original location in Costa Mesa, which is reopening on Feb. 22nd. From 10:20am to 3pm, all fish tacos are .20 cents. And the first 200 customers are eligible to win other prizes like skateboards, sunglasses and Wahoo's gift cards. Now us Angelinos have a reason to venture south of the 105!!!!

RejuvenateThat Dreaded Holiday Of Love!!!

"Nothing says I love you like some stank fungus..." - Jason Bentley, KCRW 2/4/09 10:20am.

Yes, it's that time of year again when mingling singles curse and/or embrace their independence, and couples equally question the authenticity of obligatory gift-giving and splurging. So to alleviate your "V-Day=D-Day" doldrums, here are a few suggestions for those with and without an object of your swooning:

Independent Lovers:
1. Gather a few other single friends and take a cooking class together. Try Hipcooks where you cook in small groups and enjoy wine with your dinner. Eatz also offers parties for groups of 12-14 and provides all ingredients (and wine!!). Check the websites for various future classes featuring cuisines from various international regions. Hey, single guys: just think about the single women who might be taking the class... they're learning to cook, too!!

2. Throw a "Matchmaking Party" and invite all of your single friends who DON'T already know each other. Ask your single friends to bring one single friend of theirs as well and before you know it, you and your friends will have the chance to meet a number of new single people. Meet up at your house, a bowling alley or somewhere that will allow you to be loud, fun and laugh. Most importantly is to be relaxed and remember that Valentines Day is best spent with people you love - including your friends!

3. "Old Faithful": meet up with your other single friends at a bar and get wasted. Hey, it is a tradition, after all... And lots of other single people do the same exact thing, so at least you may get to meet someone new, even if it is just for the night. But at the very least, you could pick up some exquisite chocolates for yourself. Try the new line of Godivas or the ones you know and have loved forever, Sees. After all, who loves you more than you...

Ball-n-Chainers (JK!):
1. Cheese & wine tasting date. There are a number of great places that offer a cheese and wine tasting for a relatively low cost. One personal favorite is Cube where cheese and wine pairings range in the $25-$35 range. Glendale's all new Palate offers over 50 artisanal cheeses and wines exclusively selected and imported. And who could resist a place proudly named after the French certification for the origin of a cheese, AOC. The intimate setting will create the perfect start to a holiday full of taste, touch and tease!

2. Enjoy a picnic at The Getty Museum. Pack yourself a nice basket with wine or champagne, a few small bites like olives from your local grocer, make a couple sandwiches or grab your favorite cheese and cured meat, and enjoy the view from atop the Bel-Air hilltop. Cross your fingers for a warm sunny February day, and be sure to bring $10 for parking.

3. Take the train down to Solana Beach for the day. Weather permitting, you will love strolling through this sleepy beach town just north of San Diego. The charming shops, cafes and GREAT restaurants (a number of Mexican hole-in-the-walls like Juanita's on PCH just a short bike ride north in Encinitas) will make for a great day with your extraordinary other. And you can have a few drinks since you'll have a couple hours to sober up riding on the train.

Whatever you end up doing this Valentine's Day, just remember that there is no excuse to sitting at home, since it falls on a Saturday night! So get out there and love thy self or love someone else. Or both.