Jodi Jackson’s Hollywood

I was having dinner at my favorite sushi bar in West Hollywood, and a lovely couple sat down the bar a seat away from me. We began to talk and they told me about their restaurant right next door and I of course told them about my blog. Having only been open for a month, they were enthusiastic for me to come in and do a tasting soon. Boy was I glad I met them!!

My tasting was very refreshing and new, everything at Huckleberry Place is good super healthy honest food, and all items are gluten free. For those who have to adhere to this dietary necessity this is a great find in West Hollywood.

The interior is just remarkable because you don’t get the full vibe from the outside. The front doors have a very large HP on the handles, which really sets the tone. Everything is hand made by owner Janik Roskovani right down to the light fixtures. Janik has built and designed commercial and residential properties for over 20 years; all of the restaurant’s tables, chairs and cabinets are meticulously crafted by him. I especially loved the galvanized plumbing pipe light fixtures, as well as the very traditional chandelier. The ceiling has a very industrial look, with exposed air-conditioned ducts, as well as fire sprinklers and piping. The bar area sign says it all “Love, Laugh, Relax”. They have chalkboards for all of their menu items, which are all so clever. Everything here is state of the art design.

Wife and partner Naomi Roskovani has worked in restaurants since the age of 16. Her hands on experience, allows her to bridge the gap between the kitchen and the customer, making certain that every detail is met. Chef Melanie Russell and Naomi Roskovani created the restaurant’s menu where each item is created with the finest ingredients from all over the world as her standards are very high. With the first bite and the last, you can feel the power of her food. This is because Melanie ensures that every plate achieves that exclusive, cuisine-defining balance between healthy and great taste.

Here’s what I tried:

They start you off with reverse osmosis water, which is so delightful.

Breakfast:

Sweet Potato Hash with Brussels, apple wood smoked bacon, and sunny side up eggs. The sweetness of the sweet potato’s and the smoky bacon flavor is not to be missed. The egg yokes ooze with glorious creamy texture and a deep almost orange color, it just works so well with the vegetables.

Coconut Pancakes, topped with fresh seasonal fruits and coconut flakes, Meyer lemon curd. Well I am just saying these are truly the best sweet breakfast you’re ever going to eat. I am not a big fan of pancakes or French toast, they really need to be just plain old desserts and that’s it. The lemon curd adds to this overall epic breakfast item, run as fast as you can to try it!!

Open Face Sammies:

Salmon and Apple Toast, served on Ciabatta, with smoked salmon, roasted apple, horseradish cream cheese spread, and dill. A very delicate blend of ingredients that make for a marvelous lunch item.

Sammies:

Chicken With Roasted Garlic, on Ciabatta, with tomato, arugula, aged cheddar. The garlic adds a very subtle element, which works nicely with the chicken, another true winner.

Salads:

Spinach, Brussels sprouts with apple, goat cheese, raw almonds, dried cranberries, and cider vinaigrette. Just what the doctor ordered, an inventive spinach salad with the very popular super food Brussels sprouts. Plus the almonds, cheese and cranberries make this salad very memorable.

SuperFood Smoothies:

Huckleberries, with Goji berries, maca powder, mixed berries, chia, and almond milk. This smoothie goes down real smooth and is just wonderful.

Fresh Juices:

Happy Huck, with carrot, apple, ginger, and kale. The combination of juices is nice and light, as well as very good for you.

Power “C’ Huck, with orange, lemon, ginger, and mint. This is a power packed blend, a bit on the tangy side, but if you’re in need of a lot of C vitamins order this juice.

Dessert:

Chocolate Mud Pie, so rich and velvety smooth, you would think it was not a healthy choice, but this pie is gluten free and vegan as well.

Lemon Cake, I have a very soft spot for anything lemon, I just love it. This cake did not disappoint, especially the iced glazing. (All of Huckleberry’s desserts are gluten free and vegan!)

The backdrop is all about Huckleberry their beloved dog, which passed away in 2014. This dog was really loved, and you can feel his spirit in everything here. Huck was a rescue from Ace of Hearts in Los Angeles in 2008 and was a very social dog. Everywhere he went he would make friends. When Janik would take him out to cafes Huck would go make the rounds to groups of people and give love to everyone he encountered. Janik always used to say he would open a cafe just for Huck someday and he kept his word by creating Huckleberry’s Place. Huck would be very proud at how canine friendly his restaurant is as they have a mini menu for dogs. And this is freshly prepared food made with love for your dog!!

Huckleberry’s Place is a health-conscious restaurant specializing in gourmet cuisine where you relax and listen to old school soul R&B while enjoying their delectable goodies. They manage to touch the mind, body and soul with their attention to detail, and amazingly great food. It is an over all great vibe due in no small part to all the staff being super friendly.

Huckleberry Place
8730 Santa Monica Blvd
Unit D
West Hollywood, CA 90069
http://www.huckleberrysplace.com

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I have lived in West Hollywood now for 24 years, and have loved every bit of my life in this colorful community. When a restaurant opens that is new to the neighborhood it could go either way. Some new businesses try to please this great diverse community, while others do their own thing and don’t make any excuses for what it is they are trying to sell. It is very refreshing to find a delicious, authentic, new restaurant that offers good quality food at very affordable prices. Make no bones; George’s Greek Grill is not trying to prove anything to this very popular WeHo neighborhood. Keeping freshness and flavor, as well as using products from America is what George’s Greek Grill is all about. They have three other restaurants in other areas across Los Angeles, and are just serving up fresh, healthy Greek Cuisine, and in my opinion it’s a great addition to Boys Town (otherwise known as Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood)!

New owner, Kamyar Ajcachi, understands how to reinvent an already existing business. George’s Greek Grill has been around for a while, with the original one located in Long Beach. Kamyar bought the other locations downtown and decided to make these restaurants more successful, since they were pretty much floundering. Kamyar is only 28 years old, so his vision is to bring great quality food at affordable prices. He has revamped the menus and the interiors to make each restaurant a more desirable place to eat lunch or dinner. The three restaurants downtown get most of their business at lunchtime from all of the surrounding offices. There is also a very thriving catering business thanks to my friend Larry Hatfield, catering director, who was the one who invited me to try this delectable Greek food; his focus is on corporate catering. Larry says, “At George’s Greek Grill you get the best bang for your buck!” Larry is a veteran in the restaurant business, having worked at many high-end establishments in Los Angeles, and other tourist cities like Hawaii. George’s Greek Grill’s other secret weapon is Roberto, who is the kitchen manager. He preps, cooks and adds a little spin on the traditional Greek recipes, by adding a bit of his own Latin influences.

There are so many great choices on their menu. Whether you’re a meat eater or vegan, or if you’re just stopping in for one of their fresh squeezed juice drinks, you have come to the right place!

Here’s what I tried:

Mezze:

Calamari, fried to perfection, served with lemon sauce, very thick flaky breading. Lots of legs, more legs than rings and a very large portion, also the dipping sauce was very flavorful.

Sautéed Spinach, sautéed in garlic and spices, served with tzatziki, big kick with red pepper flakes and very large lemon flavor.

Spanakopita, mini triangles made with filo dough, spinach, feta cheese, and spices, served with tzatziki. Nice crust, very good balance between the spinach and cheese.

Falafel, garbanzo beans with fresh herbs, onions, garlic and spices shaped into vegetarian patties, served with tahini. This is a nice large portion, he falafel are green on the inside from herbs, which isn’t like your typical falafel. They are delicious and filling, and not greasy.

Soupa:

Avgolemono, forget about mom’s Jewish chicken soup, try the Greek style instead! This soup has a little more flavor, with a little more zest, and a little more power. The ingredients combined with the zesty lemon will make you want this soup over traditional chicken soup any day.

Lentil soup, 100% vegan: big chunks of carrots, and onions. Served piping hot with a nice tomato and lemon juice base, packed with protein. Best for a rainy day, truly fantastic!

Pita Chips with Dips:

I can’t say enough about these pita chips. They managed to keep them crispy, well seasoned and not greasy. Super rich and flavorful, these chips have got to be one of my favorite things.

Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus, hummus with lime, salt, olive oil, cilantro and jalapeno. You don’t really taste the jalapeño; you taste more of the sweetness of the cilantro. It’s beautiful green color adds to the experience. I loved this dip!!

Traditional Hummus, garbanzo beans, sesame paste, olive oil and lemon juice. I have never had traditional hummus this good. It must be the sesame taste but either way it was amazing, seems like it was made with really fresh ingredients with no after taste.

Sandwiches:

Gyro, a combination of shaved beef and lamb served with tzatziki. A very big wrap, with all the traditional ingredients. The perfectly shaved beef and lamb makes this gyro pop in your mouth. You could split this sandwich with one person and order another side it’s that big!

Kabobs:

Chicken Kabob, kabob style grilled chicken breast in lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil and spices, served with really nice herbed rice. Big large chunks of chicken with huge flavor.

Angus Beef Kabob, again served with herbed rice. Great seasoning and big chunks of flavorful beef.

Koobideh, kabob style Angus ground beef and chicken seasoned with onions and spices. This was by far one of my favorite dishes. Both the beef and the chicken are succulent and very yummy. The sausage seasonings are delicious and makes for a very hearty filling lunch. Definitely a secret seasoning because I couldn’t mimic this in my own kitchen. Served on a bed of white Basmati rice sprinkled with pink rice on top. A true feast for your eyes and stomach.

Fresh Salmon Kabob, kabob style grilled salmon marinated in lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, garlic and dill. The freshest salmon, so good it melts in your mouth. The grilled flavor of the salmon with the vegetables will keep you coming back for more.

Salads:

Traditional Greek, fresh mixed greens, tomatoes, onions, kalamata olives, cucumbers, imported feta cheese, bell peppers and homemade Greek vinaigrette. This is a huge salad served in a beautiful bowl with a lovely presentation. All the ingredients you expect with an amazing Greek vinaigrette. A nice, light option for any day.

Sweets:

Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips with Nutella. This is a simple and delicious dessert. They use the great pita chips in a sweet way instead of savory. Sprinkled with just the right amount of cinnamon sugar.

Gourmet Baklava, super sticky, super flaky, lots of cinnamon all wrapped up into one perfect satisfying dessert.

Detox Juices:

Far East ~ Slim Master, with Tumeric root, agave, lemon, ginger root, distilled water and cayenne. This is a very healing juice; Turmeric is used for arthritis, heartburn, stomach pain, loss of appetite, and headaches. The cayenne really helps with digestion. Certainly has some kick to it, but you can taste the refreshing ingredients immediately.

The Smooth Operator, with orange, fresh aloe, chia seeds. Such a soothing satisfying drink with amazing fresh ingredients, that is great for your body. The aloe is good for weight loss, digestion, and immune function.

Energy Boost Immunity:

Easy Green, with kale, cucumber, lemon, apple and ginger. This drink is great in several ways. The fresh ingredients all blend very nicely and are a great for any time of day. It’s great for your immune system, digestion, as well as giving you lots of energy

Beer:

George’s Greek Grill has some pretty exotic choices for Greek Beers, which I have never tried. I tasted the Mytho, Keo and Alfa. Each one had it’s own unique flavor, none of them too weird to try. Greek beer is really great in that the nuances are very pure of hops and grains, but with an obvious different terrain. This makes your taste bids dance. Each beer that I tried was delicious and very thirst quenching.

George’s typical clientele are a young, upscale professional gay crowd, as well as tourists. The very ambitious Nicholas Delgrossa is the general manager of this West Hollywood restaurant; he treated me like an absolute queen!

The music is very high-energy dance music, perfect for this area. Their interior boasts a great mural of a seascape somewhere in the Greek Islands. From the minute you walk in the door, you are transported to an exciting land, filled with delicious food and a lively atmosphere. So who needs to spend all of that money on a flight to Greece when you can get everything you would want right here in West Hollywood?

There is some competition in Los Angeles with other Greek cuisine, Papa Cristos Taverna, Aliki’s Greek Taverna, Le Petit Greek, Ulysses Voyage, Daphnes, and Sofi Restaurant. George’s model is quite different from the rest. It is fast food in that you are ordering from the counter, but a server brings the food out to you. My server, Candy, was as fun as she is smart. She added an extra nuance to my dining experience. The good news is that there is no Greek food in the immediate area.

I would highly recommend this very fresh and healthy Mediterranean style cuisine; this is Greek food at it’s absolute best! A really fun activity to do on Friday and Saturday evenings on Santa Monica Blvd, there is a free shuttle bus called the Pick Up. http://www.weho.org/business/weho-pickup. Hop on, take a nice stroll, and wind up at George’s Greek Grill for some delicious fare and take in all of the sights of West Hollywood. You will be very happy you did!

George’s Greek Grill

8807 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood CA, 90069

(310) 360-0222

http://www.georgesgreekgrillwesthollywood.com/

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How could you go wrong with Music by Green Day and the passionate lyrics by Billy Joe Armstrong, a book by Armstrong and Michael Mayer? Old or young, this music has something very memorable. Whether it’s the catchy opening number “America Idiot”, or the patriotic “21 Guns”, or the lonesome ballad “Wake Me Up When September Ends”, and the other hit songs, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” and “Holiday”. Every song will make you think and smile. American Idiot was a critical smash on Broadway, as well as a successful tour in London. American Idiot tells the story of three lifelong friends who are forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia. American Idiot is a vibrant, colorful, fiery ride into today’s youth. This is punk-rock opera at its best.

The show burst onto Broadway in 2010, rocking the St. James Theatre for more than a year. In The New York Times, Charles Isherwood wrote “Rage and love, those consuming emotions felt with a particularly acute pang in youth, all but burn up the stage… thrillingly raucous and gorgeously wrought.”

With the success of American Idiot, Green Day has proven their ability to mature as a band over time, without losing sight of where they started. This ability to challenge themselves while preserving their authentic voice has earned them their well-deserved reputation as one of the great rock bands of our time, as evidenced by their induction this year into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

The production is very creative. There is a two-story type scaffolding set, with a movable cage. It is on wheels and the cast turns it on its side and spins it around with great ease. 12 flat screen TV’s add to the messages within each song. There is mostly singing, except for the main characters diary entrees dates, and some dialog. The genius of Billy Joe Armstrong is very apparent, in each note; all of Green Day’s hits resonate in this amazing musical. I was not fortunate enough to have seen this on Broadway so I have nothing to compare this show to. What I did see was a lot of hard working local young actors, doing their thing. There is memorable singing, fantastic dancing, and heartfelt acting, all of the ingredients that you would need to make this version a successful show. I am now truly a fan.

The set is part red, white and blue, part pop art, and part punk. Lots of 45 records on one wall, as a well as psychedelic posters; The Ramones, and The Misfits. Everything representing what American Idiot stands for, but in a very subtle way. Part Garage band, but with sex drugs and rock n roll ever present. The use of multimedia is at its best. The swinging doors on the upper level allow for very interesting set changes. Images of Bush and Iraq, with wounded soldiers, juxtapose the themes of misspent youth with hard-core war.

The costumes aren’t really costumes, instead what you see on young hipsters in Hollywood. With safety pinned torn jeans, rock band logo’s on t-shirts, grunge and punk were never so well represented. Even down to “Whatsernames” heart shaped grenade logo tattoo on her thigh.

The very talented cast is lead by Jess Ford who plays the tormented Johnny, and was very reminiscent of Billy Joe’s voice, but with his own angst. Cast Members: Chris Kerrigan, Will – Wesley Moran, Heather – Jackee Bianchi, Whatsername – Renee Cohen, Extraordinary Girl – Cassandra Nuss, St. Jimmy – Andrew Diego, Joshua/Johnny Understudy – Blair Grotbeck, Chase/Will Understudy – Kevin Corsini, Heather Understudy – Lauren Tyni, Leslie/Whatsername Understudy – Brittany Rodin, Extraordinary Girl Understudy – Nohely Quiroz, Miguel/St. Jimmy Understudy |- Tony Cellucci, Gerard – Alex Allen, Alysha – Sandra Diana Cantu, Theo – Everjohn Feliciano, Anna – Angeline Mirenda, Margaret – Lilian Manasala, Declan – Johnny Ortiz, Ben Michael Restaino, Michelle – Marni Stone, Libby Dekontee Tucrkile, Andrew – Ty West, Brian – Anthony D. Willis. The cast comes out into the audience but there is no real audience participation but you can tell that each cast member has his or her own individual gifts.

The creative team is really doing their job. Under the direction of Marco Gomez, American Idiot is a non-stop action thrill adventure; you are riveted to your chairs with each new move. Musical Director, Chris Raymond delivers nuances of these wonderful songs and equally fantastic singers. There is nice harmonizing with a 5-piece band leading the way. Choreographer, Angela Todard gives this show a modern day rebellious spin of past shows like West Side Story, Grease, and Rocky Horror Picture Show. Steps that are edgy, blue collar, with robotic hip-hop. Angela makes it all look very easy, as well as the dancers really being on their marks.

The DOMA design team brings back set designer John Iacovelli, lighting and projection designer Jean-Yves Tessier, sound designer Julie Ferrin, costume designer Michael Mullen, makeup designer Jessica Kuhns and props designer Hallie Baran. The production manager/assistant director is Gabrieal Griego, the stage manager is Laura Forst, and Marco Gomez, Dolf Ramos and Chris Raymond produce. This production is sponsored in part by AOLifestyle.com.

A while back I saw the show “Nine” at The Met Theater, they managed to pull off one heck of a show, with their creative team executing outstanding vision. I think The Doma Theater Company has a really good handle of what live theater should be. They take these big Broadway productions and assembly them into a smaller space with much success. I don’t think I have ever seen a bad review.

Green Day’s American Idiot was just extended, with added performances through August 2, 2015. There is really nothing left to say except, run don’t walk and get whatever tickets are left, this is Los Angeles theater at it’s best!

Green Day’s American Idiot, The Musical
The MET Theater – Doma Theater Company
1089 N. Oxford Ave, Los Angeles.
http://www.domatheatre.com/

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Mark Baird is the ambitious owner of Longshot Coffee. Longshot’s location is just so perfect; it is housed inside of West Hollywood’s library building, right down the hall from the city’s auditorium where the City’s chamber meetings are held. The library is a 32,000 square foot building designed by architects, Steve Johnson and Jim Favaro, which opened back in 2011. Across the street are the Blue, Green and Red buildings of the Pacific Design Center, which is West Hollywood’s Design mecca! So, Mark has pretty much built in a loyal clientele in WeHo.

Mark’s quaint café has no kitchen, but that doesn’t stop Mark from serving up some very yummy dishes and treats. Much of what Mark serves is bought from other vendors; he only has a small plug-in oven and Panini press. Nevertheless, the food he serves is gourmet, and no matter how it is prepared or by who, it is all a great find!

Here’s what I tried:

Coffees:

Cappuccino, nicely made with a delicate heart on top. Mark roasts his own coffee, so you know you are getting a great cup of coffee in any of his coffee drinks.

Macchiato, a little more robust than your typical macchiato, but it goes down nice and easy.

Chai Tea Latte, the perfect amount of cinnamon makes this drink one to remember.

Savory Bites:

Quiche with bacon and potatoes, the crust is very thick and hearty, and the egg mixture is extremely creamy. Harkens me back to San Francisco days at great coffee houses that served homemade quiche. Mark pairs it with a nice salad of arugula, pine nuts, Asiago cheese and homemade lemon-garlic vinaigrette dressing.

Quiche with roasted bell peppers and spinach. A nice thick crust, again, with some very tasty ingredients. What an amazing combinations of flavors! Both of the quiches are worth trying.

Ciabatta with bacon, egg and cheese, the egg yolk comes out oozing over the crispy bread and bacon. The bread is truly the best part, crunchy and hot, a really great start to anyone’s day.

Croissant Panini with ham and cheese, the cheese is melted and the whole sandwich is warm and delightful. It is simple and direct, but it absolutely aims to please.

Desserts:

Peanut Butter Cup, it’s the same concept of a Reese’s, same idea but light-years ahead.

Alfajores, also known as dulce de leche sandwich cookies, are traditional shortbread cookies with a dulce de leche filling, popular in Spain and throughout Latin America. This sweet treat is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Monte Carlo, shortbread sandwiched with raspberry crème filling; a sweet twist on a typically savory-style sandwich. I am telling you, if I was only 20 pounds thinner and could afford to eat this everyday I would, it’s just that good!

Mark loves the smaller footprint style of a no-kitchen establishment, and wants to open a few more of these style cafés. His idea is to have one in Los Angeles with a full kitchen to service his other smaller cafés.

Mark plans on opening 3 or 4 more of these unique little cafés in the upcoming year. His model is “quick grab-and-go gourmet food to go.” This idea is somewhat European, however Mark is from Sydney, Austrian. He is someone I would consider a very keen entrepreneur. He feels that most coffee houses are for pretentious hipsters, and are too overpriced. At some of the unnamed Melrose neighborhood establishments, a cappuccino is upwards of $5.00. At Longshot, however, most coffee drinks are only $3.00. Mark is keeping his promise and you still can get a really great coffee drink for a price that won’t burn a hole in your pocket. Mark does what he feels makes sense, and he has hit the nail on the head with Longshot Coffee.

It’s about time that this location has something unique to offer. Its last business was too sparse and really did not appeal to the neighborhood vibe. Mark Baird has really gone out of his way to make this tight-knit community feel good about a new business like Longshot. It is truly worth the trip, no matter what. Go check out some new books at the library, or walk across the street and see what the PDC has to offer. Then stop in for a good cup of Joe or a sweet treat and take in the new surroundings at Longshot Coffee, you’ll be glad you did!

Longshot Coffee
625 N San Vicente Blvd
West Hollywood, CA
(310) 734-7742
http://www.longshotcoffee.com/

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There is a real upsurge in the west side of Culver City. I have done some delectable tastings in the quaint neighborhood and The Corner Door is right up there with the best of them!

The Corner Door has been open for three years now, but it was viewed more as a bar than restaurant. However, thanks to the new chef, Ali Kaji, a foodies delight is discovered!

Chef Ali Kaji is quite diverse—Indian by blood but a surfer by nature. He brings so much joy and passion to his work. His flavors really do reflect his curious nature, he uses many combinations that you would not ordinarily think to use. Ali feels that growing up in Los Angeles gave him access to the best food of all, with every ethnicity represented gastronomically. Before The Corner Door, Ali worked at Palihouse and neighboring restaurant, Water Lou City, which has since closed it doors.

Chef Ali’s parents are Indian but not from India; they were born in East Africa, via Uganda and Tanzania. When they moved to America, they vowed to learn all things American; including what their children were exposed to. Ali was introduced to many different cultures and foods; both of which he infuses into The Corner Door’s diverse menu. Ali was only 10 months old when he first started watching and learning about cooking. Ali says that his grandmother, Aurabai, taught him everything he knows about cooking. He still doesn’t know how old his grandmother is, but claims, “she is somewhere between 89 and 96,” but is still alive and cooking! The other cook in Ali’s family, surprisingly, was his father and not his mother. Ali got real serious about cooking when he was in high school and remembers cooking in the kitchen at his prom, not out dancing and partying with his fellow peers.

The west side of Culver City was always filled with Japanese restaurants; Chef Ali doesn’t adhere to only Japanese recipes. His food is global. He believes his food is simple, honest, and good tasting. At his young age of 32, he is quite serious about his work. Ali drinks very minimally and only when he is away from work. While Ali is an extremely hard worker, he doesn’t want to be a celebrity chef. With handsome Ali, what you see is what you get!

Here’s What I Tried:

Snacks:

Oysters, market selection, mignonette, Grass Bar, crystal coves. Delicious, fresh taste with nice mellow flavor, sure to be a nice starter!

Malaysian Cauliflower with coconut, cashews, golden currants. What a fantastic, flavorful dish! You never even think about missing meat with this dish.

Hamachi Tartare with olive oil, lime, papaya, serrano peppers. The Yellowtail is cubed with the utmost divine freshness.

Chicken Liver and Foie Gras Mousse with sweet potato marmalade, pickles, and bread on the side. Just try this, I dare you, it is an absolute show stopper!

French Fries “Carbonade” with beer braised beef, slow roast garlic aioli, and farmhouse cheese. This is so rich, you will need to eat it with 10 people!

Plates:

Corn Gnocchi with brown butter, porcini mushrooms, smoked almond and heirloom tomatoes. It’s kind of like tamale meets pasta, quite interesting and delicious.

Lobster and Shrimp Bolognese with squid ink capellini and San Marzano tomatoes. The squid ink pasta is plump, cooked al dente, and the seafood adds just the right amount of richness. This dish is a huge success!

Sweets:

Pineapple Vacherin with rye whiskey, vanilla, cinnamon, Greek yogurt and black sesame. Very good choice if you want something light and sweet to finish off your remarkable dinner.

Cocktails:

Topless Mermaid, (Shaken) Vodka, pineapple, banana, rose, blue curacao, lime. This cocktail is light, juicy, and tropical, and goes down very easy.

Jesse Pink Gin—Gin, angostura bitters, coconut liqueur, orgeat, lime. Tart, aromatic tiki notes, I am not a big gin drinker but this cocktail hit the spot.

Mezcallin—Mescal, lemon, ginger, pineapple gomme. Smoky, tart, ginger spice, but honestly this drink was not for me.

Wine:

Rioja Blanco, Solar De Estraunza, 2013, Roja, Spain. Sparkly, fresh, a great wine to go with the oysters.

Blanc Josh Cellars, 2012, Sonoma County, California. This wine has peach nuances and is very light and fluffy, went great with the Hamachi.

Chardonnay, Heron, 2012, California. Very buttery, went great with the chicken liver and foie gras mousse.

Pinot Noir, Martin Ray Russian River, 2013, Sonoma, California. I really liked this wine with the Lobster and Shrimp Bolognese; it works very well with the tomato sauce.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau Smith, 2012, Columbia Valley, WA. I would do this wine with the French Fries “Carbonade”; it hits all the right notes.

The Corner Door has an industrial sort of warehouse feel with a huge brick walls and big, smoky light fixtures, yet it has a lovely, inviting atmosphere. You could be somewhere in SoHo, Manhattan instead of Culver City. There is fantastic food to go with it all, what I call a great find!

The Corner Door is a neighborhood spot, but strangely enough people are flocking from all over, especially Hollywood! The night I was there, girls were having a night out, dates were taking place, and locals enjoying their evening with great wine and good company. They played ambient music, with an emphasis on dance, pop, and electronic, quite eclectic, just like the menu! Culver City’s neighborhoods are so hot right now; everyone in Los Angeles is getting in their cars and taking these new restaurants for a spin!

The Corner Door only seats 60, even with its patio, so intimate dining has just reached a new level. Don’t tell Chef Ali it’s a fine dining restaurant, he just wants it to be a casual spot with delicious, consistent grub.

The Corner Door
12477 W. Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA. 90066
310-313-5810
www.thecornerdoorla.com

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My first year going to LA Wine Fest was a real eye opening experience. Most So Cal patrons have proven to have the attention span of gnats. However, the LA Wine Fest demonstrated both endurance and stamina when they were able to get thousands of the people within the city of Los Angeles to commit to a new experience.

5 years ago, I came across the creator of the 2-day Disneyland for adults, Dr. Joel Fisher. Joel was a very witty and smart man who has been in charge of the 2-day event for the past 10 years. His knowledge of both local and international wines is endless; he is literally a walking wine encyclopedia. With each New Year more followers are born and more glorious wineries are participating. Don’t get me wrong things can get a little bit rowdy by the end of the day, but most times people are acting with a so much dignity as you can after spending 6 hours imbibing in the hot sun.

This year was an added blessing, even though Joel was recently recovering from pneumonia, this did not stop him from talking to all of his followers, and party goers in his designated golf cart. Besides being a wealth of knowledge about wine, Joel Fisher is a trouper with a capital T. He has taught me so much about wine and laughter that I am just going to raise up my glass right now and say this one is for you Joel!!

You can rest assure that you will always find a new wine to taste, and most often would not be what you suspected. Joel and his staff are always researching and seeking out new and exciting wines for the public to try. In the event that the wine taster is trade and not public, be prepared for the winery owner to roll out the red carpet in the form of a luscious new reserve.

The LA Wine Fest has it all, great wines, food trucks, fun shopping, and lots of characters. Located at Raleigh studios, (which I hear might be it’s last year there,) it truly is the perfect location. Raleigh has lots of it own history, but to be able to drink fine wines there is an honor in itself.

Raleigh Studios is the longest continuously operating studio in the (country. In 1915, the studio was called the Famous Players Fiction Studios, with a Mary Pickford production as one of the first features to be filmed on this historic Hollywood lot. An early owner had the vision to build one of the world’s first sound stages – complete with a glass top so light could enter without disrupting sound recording. This kind of innovation has marked Raleigh Studios throughout its history. Some of the industry’s most influential leaders have called the lot home, including Douglas Fairbanks, Lillian and Dorothy Gish, Walt Disney, Bette Davis (the cult classic Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? was filmed at the lot) and Jim Henson and the Henson Companies. Over its long history, some of televisions’ most famous early shows and pilots were filmed at the studio, including Superman, Gunsmoke and Perry Mason.

Spending the entire day at this historic lot and seeing all of its notable sites is truly life altering. At the Fest you can start by winding around the studio, finding things to taste along the route. Then the VIP area really will make your head spin. The VIP area included all of the great new wineries and wine makers enclosed in one nice little patio; this is my favorite part. The food trucks are also the perfect accompaniment to the wine, on top of the dj/live music in one of the many sections. The crowd is a cross section of hipster, and serious wine connoisseurs, but everyone has the same thing in mind, to let go and have some fun. There is nothing too serious here.

Here are some of the wineries represented:

Borg Realer, Italy, Dalton Winery, Israel, Ascension Cellars, Blair Estate, Bottle wood Ventures Inc., Bottle Rock Wines, Cello Estate Wines, 
The Drama Wine Collection, Napa AVA, Bulgarian Vitigno, Byron Winery, Caduceus Cellars, Cambria Estate Winery, Clayhouse Wines, Cloak & Dagger Wines , Cuatro Dias Wines, Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, Fathers & Daughters Cellars, Fetzer Vineyards, Frey Vineyards, Guarachi Wine Partners, Herzog Wine Cellars, La Playa Vineyards, Lucky Dogg Winery , McPherson Cellars, Navarro Vineyards, Ojai Alisal Vineyard, Old Oak Winery, Overland Wines, Panthea Winery & Vineyard, Plan B Wine Cellars, Powell Mountain Cellars, Quigley Fine Wines, Rebel Coast Winery, Riboli Family Wine Estates, Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate, Roxo Port Cellars, South Coast Winery, Strey Cellars, Sunland Vintage Winery, Barbera Bianca, Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, Baily Vineyard & Winery, Europa Village, Falkner Winery, Foot Path Winery, Hart Winery, Lorimar Vineyards & Winery, Oak Mountain Winery, Robert Renzoni Vineyards, Wiens Family Cellars,The Other Guys, Tolosa Winery and Vineyards, Vina Sympatica Sparkling Wines, VinVillage, Trump Wines, Loscano Wines, Argentina, Vinemark Cellars, *Vino Noceto Wines, Wedell Cellars, Wilson Creek Winery, Zuri Wine Tasting.

There are also many fun food products and food trucks presented at the Fest:
Food Trucks/Restaurants: Cousins Maine Lobster, Crepe de Ville, Fair Game GFT, Jenis Splendid Ice Creams, Kogi BBQ, LA Brea Bakery, Piazza Pie, Raleigh Studios Cafe, Slammin’ Sliders, Sunset Catering, Tainamite, The Grilled Cheese Truck.
General Exhibitors: A Total Diva Designs, Ama Waterways, Ameriprise Financial, Bazaar Boutique, Bev Wizard Co., Bistro Blends, Bond Bar, Bright Current Choctal, CUTCO Cutlery, Da’ African Village, DelGrosso Foods, Drizly, Fancifull Fine Foods & Gift Baskets, Farm Fresh To You, Garlic Expressions, GlamSquad, Glitz N’ Glamour, Go Vertical, Gourmet Blends, Gourmet Lips, Homejoy, Jax Coco,King Barrel, Kissy’s Creations, Laguna Salt Company, Los Angeles Times, Malibu Discovery Wine Tours, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Olimila Gourmet Emporium, Origami Owl & Laga BagsQuini, Sideways Series – Rex Pickett, TOSSWARE, Vagabond Cheese, Wine Treasures – Unique Finds for Lovers of Wine, Zagat.

More on Dr. Joel M. Fisher – He is the proud Founder & CEO of LAWineFest. He has written for the Culinary Connection of the Chefs de Cuisine Association of California, for the Beverly Hills Courier, and since 2010 for the Underground Wine Letter. Students were so fortunate to have studied under his tutelage From 2007-2009 when he taught at Cordon Bleu in Pasadena. He also taught at the Culinary Arts Department of the Art Institute of California, and is a founding partner of the educational Wine Vine and Dine. Net. Amongst his other lofty endeavors, he is A Sommelier for the Escoffier Association of Southern California, and a member of The Tasting Panel (formerly the Bon Appetit Tasting Panel) and is a Wine Host for CRN’s What’s Cooking Show.

Currently a member of the Society of Wine Educators, The Circle of Wine Writers (UK), and the International Federation of Wine and Spirits Writers. He was awarded a Wine Enthusiast Media Scholarship for 2005 at the Culinary Institute of America, and is the author of the Wine Work Book, now in its 6th edition. In 2005, Joel co-led chefs and culinary students to the Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany and to wineries in Burgundy and Champagne in 2005. In 2006 he led a program, “Wine and Cuisine of Iberia,” to Spain and Portugal.

This year is very special with a few new programs created by Dr. Joel Fisher; LAWineFest popular choice awards, which the attendee’s decide which wines get the top honors. This program is being powered by Quini, a new wine tasting app created by Roger Noujeim. The second is a sales program with LAWineFest strategic partner Drizly, Inc. that will deliver favorite wines to the attendee’s doors.

With Dr. Joel M. Fisher leading the way, how could you go wrong? Great wine, good conversation right in your own back yard here in sunny gorgeous Los Angeles, what more could you want. So get out your phone and get an easy Uber pick-up, drink as much as you like, and bask in the glory that every May in Southern California there is one of the best premier wine tastings ever.
http://www.lawinefest.com/

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Spice Affair had it’s soft opening last year in November, then in mid January this year they had their grand opening, I missed both! Well I may have missed both of those openings, but I certainly didn’t miss the stellar experience I had during my personal tasting at Spice Affair. This restaurant will outlive any of its competition in Los Angeles, with its fine ingredients and blending of exotic spices; it truly is a spice affair!

General Manager Anupam treated me like royalty, and indulged my senses with every part of this wonderful cuisine. I just can’t say enough about my experience, just delicious with a capital D!

Here’s what I tried:

Cocktails:

Indian Ocean, Grey Goose Citron with lychee and fresh coconut water. Very refreshing and light, but it packs a punch so watch out.

Cardamom Martini, Grey Goose with bold flavors of Cointreau, Cardamom and honey. I would order this martini every time, its just that good.

Angelica, refreshing Vodka Martini a hint of raspberry, served in a martini glass done with utmost attention to detail, it will not disappoint.

Salads and Soups:

Seared Tuna Salad, with mango chutney rub, arugula, Namak, para crisp, green apple and apple vinaigrette. For the heath conscience this is a wonderful salad.

Mushroom Cappuccino delicious soup of pureed wild mushrooms, served as a cappuccino. Really the best mushroom soup I ever tasting with just a hint of Indian spice, truly a big winner.

Appetizers:

Spinach Veiled Pine nut and Fresh Cheese, a nice first course with elegant presentation.

Artichokes Hearst from Tandoor, artichokes hearts, tantalizing marinated, and tandoor grilled. This is a very interesting dish, full of flavor and very low in calories.

The Chickpea and crackling caramelized walnut Kebab, famous kebabs from the flat grill with hand pounded chickpeas and caramelized walnuts. Meaty little gems with a great burst of flavor.

Deep Deviled Scallops, cooked with mango cream and char finished. Well of course this would be one of my favorites, the scallops are plump and just pop in your mouth.

Black Pepper Shrimp, shrimp covered in velvety coconut and pepper sauce. These are huge shrimp and the taste is off the hook, as well as the presentation.

The Kababari / BBQ:

Jhumke BBQ Prawn Crowns, crunchy jumbo prawns delicately marinated with lemon, garlic, and fine herbs, spit roasted with saffron. Everything here is fantastic, including these big huge prawns.

Flash Grilled Sea Bass, sea bass marinated with fresh herbs and turmeric. Nicely prepared, fresh and flaky.

The Tandoori Chicken, an all time favorite from Punjab. What a fantastic job they did on this chicken. It is falls of the bone tender with very rich aromatic flavors, another huge hit!

Curry and Masala:

Butter Chicken loaded with love, cream, butter and tomatoes. One of Spice Affairs most popular dishes and you can totally understand why. It has huge buttery consistency with rounded tomato flavors, wow.

A Punjab Connection, chunky chicken cubes slow cooked in aromatic spices. A true traditional menu item, and very delicious.

The Northie Lamb Bliss, tender lamb cooked to perfection as in homes of Northern India. Only do this one if your want a lot of heat, with the tender lamb being a big plus as well.

Shrimp and Scallop Moilee, Kerela style coconut, curry leaf, and mustard sauce. Another one of my favorite, with its rich yellow curry sauce, very mild but amazingly subtle. I loved this dish.

Vegetables:

Just the Saag, a traditional creamed spinach, fenugreek, and seasonal leafy veggies. Great spinach flavor with just a hint of cream.

Paneer Butter Masala famously loved velvety tomato and Paneer and cream. I love matar paneer, which is a cousin to this dish, instead they use masala sauce and it adds so much more to this very sexy dish.

Ginger Okra Flock and Fire, stir fried ladyfingers with an herbal infusion of ginger. You have to be a fan of okra and not very many people are. Okra gets a bad rap, but if you try this spicy dish you will forever be a fan.

Tangy Stuffed Eggplant, stuffed baby eggplant caramelized onion, almonds, tamarind & tomato. These are very small eggplants stuffed to perfection.

Bread and Rice:

Dum Chicken Biryani with magical whiffs and broiled saffron strands. They cook this like a pie; complete with a bread topping and crust, the layered flavors are astounding.

Raita, cucumber fresh mint and roasted cumin powder. Always meant to cool off your palate and this raita doesn’t disappoint.

Naan, butter Naan, with olive, thyme, garlic and chives. This bread is very flavorful, just the perfect addition, and to be able to soak up all of these glorious sauces is stupendous.

Kulcha with Onion and Gorgonzola, another wonderful menu item, with the cheese not being a typical Indian ingredient in breads.

Wines:

Viognier, Cambria, Santa Maria Valley, CA 2013. This wine has a sort of floral effervescent quality that lends itself perfectly to the light vegetable appetizers.

Sauvignon Blanc, Tiki, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2012. Most of this type of wine from New Zealand has a sort of grapefruit finish, and this one is right up there with the best.

Chardonnay, Mount Eden, Edna Valley, CA., 2012. Wines from this region are elegant and bright; this should be paired with any of the shrimp or scallop dishes.

Zinfandel, Renwood, Amador County, CA., 2011. This is a very hearty wine that should proudly be consumed with any of the meat curries.

Malbec, Pascual Toso, Mendoza, Argentina. For me this wine worked nicely with the butter chicken curry, it just hits all the right notes.

Dessert:

Chintu Ki Rasmali, pistachio with saffron, cottage cheese, condense milk, honey crumbles. It’s sweet, but not too sweet, and the consistency is like tapioca pudding but far more exotic.

Raspberry Pencotta, hazelnut cake, hazel nut crumbles. This was a very special house made dessert that they do not have on the menu. It was smooth and silky and the crust or cake was simply divine.

Mango Moose, served in individual plastic square containers, that was just heaven in a cup.

The décor is very festive with it’s multi colored fountain and it modern inspired interiors. There are many different rooms for events. There is a huge banquet facility in the back, as well as a separate private dining room. The bar can also be used as an event space, each having screens for a viewing area. No matter where you eat or where you have your event you will feel at home and well taken care of.

Owner Dr. Puneet Chandak, who owns the Indian Restaurant named Broadway Masala in Redwood City, wanted to open an upscale Indian restaurant in Los Angeles, he felt that Beverly Hills would be perfect. Spice Affair was opened to meet the desires of high-end celebrities and business executives. Broadway Masala just got its Michelin star recommendation, and has only been opened for 14 months.

There are lots of Indian restaurants in Los Angeles, but none with this kind of amazing food and flavors. Everything I tasted was on point, each with such individual perfection. Really if you want the best Indian food in Southern California try Spice Affair, do it now before you have to wait a long time for a reservation, this place is hot!!

They also have a fantastic Happy Hour with food and cocktails from 3-7 pm daily.

Spice Affair

50 N. La Cienaga Blvd.

Beverly Hills, CA. 90211

310-400-6800

www.spice-affair.com

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This is a mostly residential neighborhood, but in the last few years there has really been a big nightlife boom. There are a lot of new restaurants coming in and this is still considered Culver City even though it is not in the main hub and is closer to the beach. But what a great opportunity to get in your car and check out this new neighborhood scene in Culver City.

It has a very urban city vibe to it, with its rich décor, and cool sleek interior. FIN’s designer Laura Irvin captured a minimalist chic atmosphere, making Fin a comfortable modern lounge. Laura wanted to create an upscale casual dining room that would not detract any focus from the food, and let every guest have a great overall experience. Some of the design elements feature: industrial bar lights, 3 black framed mirrors, banquets all the way across the dining room, beautiful wooden bar stools, and nicely painted muted colored walls.

Even though this place is off the beaten path the food alone is worth the trip. It is sort of Latin, sort of Japanese, but really fantastic. FIN, which was once a Mexican restaurant for the past 20 years, has completely transformed the neighborhood. My dinner selections were mostly Asian, but that’s just my taste.

Managing partners: Gerardo Reyes, Michael Flanagan and Kenneth Whang each add their own vast experiences and expertise to this combined ownership. FIN has been opened for a year and a half; its 3 partners have worked together in the past. “Myself, Gerardo and Ken are complete opposites,” says Flanagan. “Even though we are very different, we all have a common goal and work very well together.” Gerardo Reyes, has had his hand in several successful restaurant ventures, including Blue Velvet and Westwood’s Tengu Sushi. Managing partner and beverage director, Kenneth Wang, says, “I strive for a good balance between bartending and mixology. Creative, yet simple, I use farm fresh ingredients and try to really showcase the flavors from each component used to prepare each cocktail.”

Here’s what I tried:

Cocktails:

Shiso Rockin with Rock Sake, Vodka, Lime Juice, Muddle Cucumber & Shiso Leaf. It’s got a very Asian feel, but is just deliciously refreshing all the same.

Hello Kitty with Ketel One Vodka, Pom Juice, Lemon, Agave, Muddled Berries. The cocktails here all are very creative, and from what I could taste really inventive.

Salad:

Seaweed Trio Salad, such a lovely presentation with cucumbers, carrots, and a nice sweet dressing. Subtle great flavors, a tantalizing way to start off my meal.

Cold Dishes:

Citrus Salmon Sashimi Truffle, you can see the black flecks of truffle and the salmon is very fresh. The marriage of these two flavors is just the best thing in the world. One of my favorite dishes at FIN.

Hot Dishes from the sea:

Miso Glazed Black Cod, this fish is marinated for 60 hours, and from every bite you can tell how much time was put into perfecting this dish.

Seared Kiwi Scallops, each scallops is done separately with a bed of kiwi and then crispy fried lotus root on top. You just pop the whole thing in your mouth and the world becomes a better place.

Hot Dishes from the land:

Red chili ichmi glazed lamb chops, they are little chops but they will dazzle you with their deep flavors.

Rolls:

Fin Roll, has so much going one, but is one fantastic sushi roll, I would order this every time.

Side Dishes:

Sweet and salty glazed green beans, they pack a punch with lots of loaded salty crunch, but a nice change from other side dishes.

White Wine:

Chardonnay, Summerland, Santa Barbara CA., 2013. This wine will enhance any of the seafood dishes you can try here; it has a nice clean finish, with some great citrus notes.

Red wine:

Cabernet Sauvignon, Simi, Alexander Valley, California 2012. I used to be a wine club member at Simi and really enjoy most of their wines. This wine was a great addition to both the filet and the lamb, what more could you ask for.

Dessert:

Brownie with black sesame ice cream, and peanut butter brownie. The sesame ice cream was a bit of a surprise, I just could not figure out what type of ice cream it was until I read the desert menu. It works really well with the chocolate and the peanut butter brownies.

My waiter Mando, which means “World” in Spanish, was as handsome as he was charming; he really made my whole experience very enjoyable.

My brother used to live down the street, so I know this neighborhood very well. There used to be old school type of establishments, with a few Japanese and diner type restaurants, so all of this new blood is really terrific. There is some competition in the neighborhood with new restaurants mainly Japanese, but really FIN is it’s own unique type of place.

If all of this was not enough around the corner in the back of the building near the parking lot there is a speak easy called Alley Bar. It is so fun inside, and you really feel like you are in some hidden gem right in the heart of New York City. One of the drinks that I tried was fruit infused vodka that was so subtle, but packed with so much ample flavor.

So if you put the two names together of FIN and Alley Bar you get Finale, and that is exactly what you need to do, march your self over to the Alley Bar and have a night cap after enjoying a scrumptious dinner at FIN.

Happy Hour Everyday from 5-7pm late night 10-11pm Monday – Saturday.

FIN

12223 West Washington Boulevard

Culver City, CA 90066

T: 310.398.8611

www.finculvercity.com

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Dinner at Lago Di Como- April 8, 2015

When you walk in, its kind of diner interior is a little off putting. There are no real authentic Italian design elements, except for the stone tiles and green walls…but don’t let that fool you. What Lago Di Como lacks in its design choices, it makes up for with its outstanding food.

Lago Di Como took over the previous restaurant, Nuevo Southwestern. It is just like you’re in Italy, with its namesake, otherwise known as George Clooney land. So instead of going to Italy, stay in Santa Cruz and spend a delicious evening at Lago Di Como.

Here’s what I tried:

Starters:

Carpaccio di Manzo – with thinly sliced raw beef sirloin, lightly drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and served with fresh arugula topped with our lemon dressing. The meat is cut very thin and the delicate dressing is just fantastic.

Polenta Uncia – a traditional northern Italian dish featuring soft polenta tossed with mancego cheese, butter, garlic and sage. So very simple but the combination of these fresh ingredients makes for a nice appetizer.

Salads:

Insalata Cesare – crisp romaine lettuce salad with croutons, shaved Parmesan cheese, & homemade Caesar dressing. I try Caesar salads pretty much at every tasting, and this salad was up there with a lot of them. I really enjoyed this one.

First Course:

Mezze Lune ai Carciofi e Fontina – half moon ravioli stuffed with artichoke & fontina cheese tossed in a butter, garlic, & sage sauce. Nice little ravioli’s stuffed with tasty fixings.

Linguine al’ Nero di Seppie – fresh homemade squid ink linguini sautéed with mussels, clams, olive oil, garlic, white wine, & chili flakes. What makes this dish so great is the texture of the ink linguini, and of course the shellfish.

Penne alla Mamma Gianna – imported penne paste sautéed with Italian ham, green peas, and a touch of cream. Topped with Parmesan cheese & baked in the oven. This pasta is creamy and rich, and the touch of peas and ham make for a real treat.

Second Course:

Scaloppine di Vitello al Limone with Fungi Porcini – Veal scaloppini with a choice of a lemon sauce or porcini mushroom glaze. Served with a side of roasted potatoes & vegetable of the day. The veal is cooked tender and the mushrooms add a well-rounded smoky flavor that is just scrumptious.

Costata di Manzo Grigliata – 14oz. Rib eye steak lightly marinated and grilled. Served with a side of the Chef’s choice. They gave the perfect cut of meat with lots of fat, but cooked close to raw; it was just heavenly.

Gamba d’Agnello dei Pulenton- slow braised lamb shank with router of vegetable in a white wine and tomato sauce. Served over soft polenta with a side of vegetables of the day. Another stellar dish, fall off the bone goodness.

Pizza:

Pizza al Lago di Como – Pizza sauce, fresh mozzarella, porcini mushrooms, bresaola, truffle oil, and kalamata olives. Anything with truffle oil makes me crazy, good crazy. This pizza was amazing.

Wine:

Chardonnay, 37th Parellel Winery, 2012, Calaveras County – This is a fruit forward Chardonnay and would be great with any of the creamy pastas.

Chardonnay, San Francisco Wine Press, 2012, Mendocino – I would pair this wine with the Squid Ink pasta; it also works great with the Clams and Muscles.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, “Pan,” Bosco Nestore, 2009, Abruzzo – You can’t beat an Italian wine from this region, and it will make your steak all the more delicious.

Petite Syrah, 37th Parallel Winery, 2012, Santa Cruz Mountains – This wine I would pair with the Veal; it perfectly complimented the mushrooms in this dish.

Zinfandel, Old Vine, Villa Toscano, 2011, Shenandoah Valley – I would do this one with the Lamb Shank; it is just the best pairing.

Lago Di Como opened in 2012 by Giovanni Spanu and wife Mary Ellen Salciccia-Spanu at the helm. Since opening, the most ordered dishes are their Penne Bolognese, as well as the Veal, Calamari, and Burrata. The majority of their customers are local people and regulars. They play crooner music; Frank Sinatra was highlighted during my dinner.

The night I was there, it was packed. Lucky for me, I could see The Dodgers opening game from my seat, which was playing on a flat screen at the bar. It is just amazing Italian food with the perfect ingredients.

Lago Di Como Ristorante Pizzeria
21490 East Cliff Dr.
Santa Cruz, CA. 95062
www.lagodicomoristorante.com
(831) 454-8257
For Dinner: Monday– Thursday 5pm – 9:30pm
Friday – Saturday 5pm – 10pm, and Sunday 5pm – 9:30pm
Lunch on Friday 11:30am – 2pm

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Before I start, I gave the hotel owner the option of coming back and doing a review when they have ironed out some of their kinks. I hope to go back and stay there again, so I am going to make this very short, but not so sweet.

When I saw Rio Vista Suites on the Internet, I was very excited for my stay. It is an old Victorian that has been renovated into a nice hotel. It is by far the best hotel in the neighborhood. This is where the Santa Cruz Boardwalk is, so some of this area can be a little seedy.

The hotel is beautiful on the inside and out; they did a nice job of transitioning the property from being a Historical Victorian to a modern hotel. They spent a lot of time and money trying to get it right. But lets face it, sometimes when there are so many complex details, the practicality of the hotel gets lost in translation.

My room was at the very top, with lots of eaves, and a weirdly constructed interior. If you’re tall like me, then this is not the room for you. You will hit your head getting out of the bed and on your way to the bathroom. They do have a construction sign on the wall telling you to watch your head, but to me, that was really tacky. Then, the 4-poster bed also could make you hit your head on the slanted eave wall. Plus the four-poster bed is in the way of seeing the flat screen TV while you’re in bed. The rooms are very noisy; you can hear the front door opening and any of the activity in the common areas, including the lobby. You also have to climb 3 flights of stairs to get up to this room. There are 2 things about this room that I liked: the shower head and the view out of one of the very small windows. I never got to see any of the other rooms to compare, but my room was very awkward. If all of this was not enough to say take a pass, at 2:00 am the very loud fire alarm came on and scared the crap out of me. When I asked the owner about that, he said: “Yes we have a problem with the alarm and we have to fix it.” My stay was very stressful and not relaxing.

They have a continental breakfast in the morning. There is also lemoned water and tea in the lobby all of the time with a cappuccino/espresso and juice center.

Don’t get me wrong, the Rio Vista Suite has lots of potential; they just really need to tweak some of the problems and they will be well on their way. From what I can see on the Internet, some of the rooms do look very well put together and not weird like mine was. I really want to come back for another stay when they are better equipped for me.

Rio Vista Luxury Suites
611 Third Street
Santa Cruz, California, 95060.
Phone: (831) 621-2929
http://www.riovistasuites.com/

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