la.foodblogging

I first heard of Umami Burger a couple years ago from a coworker. Somehow, the thought of paying $10 for just a hamburger seemed ridiculous, so I passed. Oh silly me… If only that person had told me how delicious that burger would be, I wouldn’t have been so resistant to trying Umami Burger.

Umami is the fifth taste (the other four being sweet, salty, sour, and bitter) that enhances flavors, making food delicious. Umami Burger is named after this Japanese concept. I definitely don’t have a palate refined enough to recognize the umami taste, but I can tell you Umami Burger got it down because I devoured my Truffle Burger ($11) in no time. I was really surprised myself by how I couldn’t stop eating this burger. It looked rather plain when it was brought to me on a bare plate, and I thought an In-n-Out burger looks bigger. Trust me when I tell you that looks are deceiving. The Truffle Burger was plenty filling, as the medium-rare patty was quite thick, probably more so than two In-n-Out patties put together. My friend even commented that I must be enjoying the burger because I wasn’t saying a word. I finally understood Carl’s Jr.’s tagline, “Don’t bother me. I’m eating.” I think Umami Burger should be the one to rightfully use this tagline. The meat patty was also pretty coarse, so there was just a bit of meat crumbles that fell on my plate, which I made sure to pick off before my plate was taken away. The Hatch Burger ($9) is also quite flavorful and offers a mild kick, using a 4-chile spread, but I still prefer the Truffle Burger.

Okay, so for those of you who already know all about Umami Burger, here’s something you may or may not know about: Umami Burger’s cheesy tater tots ($4). These are nothing like the hard, dry tater tots you remember from elementary school. They are crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside. Paired with a jalapeno sour cream-based sauce, the tater tots are a much better accompaniment to the burgers than fries or onion rings. You won’t see the cheesy tater tots on the menu though. You just have to be in the know to order these.

Miscellaneous Notes:

Umami Burger has four locations, and the menu will vary at each one. Each location has exclusive items on the menu. The Truffle Burger and Hatch Burger are available at all of them (as well as the Umami Burger - their signature burger - and SoCal Burger). Be sure to check out happy hour, too. The Hollywood location offers a Smash Burger ($5) at the bar weekdays from 3pm-7pm, which mashes pickles, onions, and possibly other items into the patty before cooking. It’s a little smaller than the entree burgers, but you can’t beat $5 for an umami experience.

Umami Burger
Locations at La Brea, Hollywood (two there), and Santa Monica
Click on the link above to find the address, phone number, and hours of operation for the location near you.

By Pauline (see more of her posts).

Dear Readers,

I have done something absolutely horrible as a foodblogger. I’ve been holding out on you. A while back, I discovered Scoops, a taste of heaven for gelato and ice cream lovers. It is my favorite stop for a sweet treat, and I usually stop by once or twice a month. Since we’re in the middle of summer, I am finally sharing this cool spot with you.

So what’s so special about Scoops? What makes it different from other gelato and ice cream parlors? To start off with, you never know what flavors to expect when you walk in. For instance, how many ice cream shops will offer black truffle maple, coffee Guinness, cheddar melon, or goat cheese fig flavors? My favorite is still chai tea Irish cream. The flavors are also very unique, and you’re not likely to find them at other places. They also change every single day. Other than brown bread, do not expect to find a previous flavor they’ve had to be available. That’s not to say they don’t repeat flavors - it just depends on your luck and really what they feel like making.

So there’s another reason why I heart Scoops so much. It’s how affordable a visit to Scoops is. One scoop of gelato is actually two small scoops so you can pick two different flavors for $2.75. If one scoop just isn’t enough for you, you can get a refill for $2. If you really love a particular flavor and happen to have a cooler with you or live nearby, you can buy a pint for $6. As much as I love Scoops, one full scoop of two flavors is more than enough for me.

Miscellaneous notes:
Most times, I order my gelato in a cup instead of a cone. I really like how when I’m eating there (as opposed to carry out), they give me a little glass bowl. It just feels classy to me. Also, if you go to Scoops after 9pm, you’ll see some of the flavors will be sold out, so try to go earlier if you can to see the full array of flavors available. Parking isn’t an issue most of the time. There is metered parking right in front of the shop, but if those spots are full, have no fear. Scoops is located right next to LA City College, so there are lots of parking spaces further up the street. The students and staff usually use the LACC parking lot, so there’s ample street parking. I have never not found parking during a Scoops visit.

Scoops
712 N Heliotrope Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
Phone: (323) 906-2649
Hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-10pm, Sun 2pm-6pm

By Pauline (see more of her posts).

Fresh & Easy complaint letter

Thursday, July 1, 2010

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

I am writing to request an explanation for the following complaint:

Recently I used two of your Fresh & Easy brand 14.5oz cans of “ORGANIC Italian style diced tomatoes” with about one pound of ground beef to make a typical “ragu” or “bolognese” pasta sauce.

On the label of your product it reads: “Our diced Cali tomatoes are blended with garlic, oregano and basil.”

I wish it also read, “Plus an INSANE amount of added sugar.”

When I tasted this meat sauce, it was SWEET.

Yes, sweet.

WHY!?!!

I had to look at the Nutrition Facts label, AND do some fancy arithmetic, to discover to my dismay that I had added a whopping THIRTEEN+ TEASPOONS (56g) of sugar to my sauce simply because I used two small cans of your flavored and SUGARED tomatoes.

No chef in his or her right mind would add that huge quantity of sugar to a savory meal.

I am writing to request an explanation for this, and to request that you PLEASE reduce the sugar level in this product to a more sensible level.

In any case, I will never use it again, nor do I trust your products any longer.

This is an absurdly, ridiculously high level of sugar, and the fact that you disguise it by saying there are 8g of sugar per serving, and 3.5 servings per can (really?!?) just makes my blood boil. There are NOT “3.5 servings per can” – everybody will use at least one if not two cans per meal. This is immorally misleading.

So sneaky, so unhealthy and so very, very wrong.

I look forward to a detailed explanation addressing this complaint.

Does anyone else feel the same fury I do about hidden levels of sugar in their food?!

I’ve also sent this letter to their HQ. I’ll be sure to post again with their response.

By MaxMillion (see more of her posts). Max Million is the nom de 'net of Pauline Adamek. Born in Sydney, Australia, Pauline has lived in Los Angeles for the past thirteen years and finds it agrees with her. She has been reviewing films and filing celebrity-based interview articles since 1991, and has filed stories from various international film festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto and Sundance. She completed a family cookbook and has also written novels for 8-12 year olds. She is the creator and host of ArtsBeatLA.

Last Thursday the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) held a preview for its upcoming Beastly Ball annual fund-raiser. This year GLAZA will be honoring long-time Zoo supporter Betty White at its annual fund-raising event, being held at the LA Zoo on June 19^th, 2010.

The preview featured chefs from several of the top restaurants Los Angeles all “catering” a vegetarian feast for the Zoo’s gorillas. Chefs from eateries such as Malo, Celestino Ristorante, Green Street Restaurant, Maison Akira, El Cholo, La Poubelle, Clancy’s Crab Broiler and Yamashiro prepared fruits, vegetables and salads for the ravenous gorillas. These same chefs will donate their expertise and cuisine for the human guests at the 40^th Annual Beastly Ball on June 19^th, which is the main annual fund-raiser held by GLAZA, a private, non-profit organization that raises money for the city-owned Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

Meanwhile, at the preview, the staff and owners of Pink’s Famous Hot Dogs provided food for the humans in attendance.

Nice and early I trooped over to the LA Zoo, in Griffith Park, and gathered, along with a handful of writers, TV cameras and local politicians, to watch the gorillas in action. Over in the gorilla habitat the vegetarian delicacies had been put in place by the zookeepers that included several carved watermelon shells stuffed with tropical fruits and vegetables.

The preview also featured remarks by GLAZA President Connie Morgan, LA Zoo Director John Lewis and City Councilmember Tom LaBonge (Council District 4), who reiterated his love for Pink’s Famous Hot Dogs. Unfortunately Betty White had to miss the preview as she was busy at work on her new television show, Hot in Cleveland. She’ll be the guest of honor, however, at the Beastly Ball on June 19^th.

Individual tickets for this year’s Ball cost $1,000 each, and table reservations are available starting at $7,500. You may also make a contribution at any level in Betty’s honor. All donations will support the work of the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

For more information on tickets and sponsorships, please call Maricela Vazquez at 323-644-4753 or check their website.

By MaxMillion (see more of her posts). Max Million is the nom de 'net of Pauline Adamek. Born in Sydney, Australia, Pauline has lived in Los Angeles for the past thirteen years and finds it agrees with her. She has been reviewing films and filing celebrity-based interview articles since 1991, and has filed stories from various international film festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto and Sundance. She completed a family cookbook and has also written novels for 8-12 year olds. She is the creator and host of ArtsBeatLA.

The Gastrobus Roadside Bistro will be serving up their extraordinary snacks, sandwiches, and sweets every Thursday night during the run of Leiris/Picasso. The Gastrobus is the innovation of Lana and Antonio Medina (a former chef for Wolfgang Puck restaurants) and they will also be catering the world premiere production’s opening night reception on June 12th, 2010.

The Gastrobus is a family owned-and-operated restaurant … on wheels! Theatre patrons will be able to purchase specially prepared goodies from a mouth-watering menu before the performances of Leiris/Picasso and during intermission on Thursdays, June 17 and 24; July 1, 8, 15, and 22.

Brimmer Street Theatre Company, in association with Bootleg Theater, presents the World Premiere of Wednesday Night at the home of Michel Leiris a reading of the play ‘Desire caught by the Tail’ by the painter Pablo Picasso – a stage play written and directed by David Jette.

Leiris/Picasso twists the true story of an underground meeting between Picasso and the French existentialists into a slamming-doors sex farce. Enduring hunger, the Nazis, and each other, the greatest thinkers of the 20th century risk their lives to find that the master has written a play so unwatchable that even they cannot stomach the pretension.

Brimmer Street Theatre Company is a Los Angeles-based performance company with a commitment to develop original theatre artists whose work challenges established forms and expectations, and to assemble a close ensemble of these artists, craftsmen, students, and benefactors to produce work of exceptional innovation and character. The mission of BSTC is to entertain, inspire, challenge, astound, and empower audiences and artists in the Los Angeles community. For more, visit their website.

Bootleg Theater is a 1930s warehouse and a home for Los Angeles artists who work in theatre, music, dance, and film. Bootleg provides artistic support and production resources to help these artists create original and daring interdisciplinary work. Combining art forms creates work that is surprising, unexpected, exciting and reflective of life in Los Angeles, a city where the boundaries are elastic, and not bound by tradition. Bootleg offers Los Angeles a celebration of itself.

There will be two lower-priced preview performances of Leiris/Picasso on Thursday, June 10 and Friday, June 11 at 8pm, and opening night is Saturday, June 12 at 8:00pm. The regular performance schedule will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm through July 24. All tickets for regular performances are $29 (previews are $20). Discounts are available if tickets are purchased seven days prior to the performance date. To purchase tickets and to get more info on discounts, call (213) 290-2782, or reserve online. A portion of the ticketing fees for all Brimmer Street productions goes toward supporting LA Stage Alliance through their partnership with Patron Technology.

Performances June 10th – July 24th at Bootleg Theater
Opens Saturday, June 12th, 2010 at 8pm

The Bootleg Theater is located at 2220 Beverly Boulevard, in Los Angeles, 90057. Free parking is available.

By MaxMillion (see more of her posts). Max Million is the nom de 'net of Pauline Adamek. Born in Sydney, Australia, Pauline has lived in Los Angeles for the past thirteen years and finds it agrees with her. She has been reviewing films and filing celebrity-based interview articles since 1991, and has filed stories from various international film festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto and Sundance. She completed a family cookbook and has also written novels for 8-12 year olds. She is the creator and host of ArtsBeatLA.

When I first got to L.A. ten years ago, I let a guy I knew from Oberlin give me the lowdown on where to hang and where to eat. Westside neighborhoods figured heavily into his recommendations, with Palms and its affordable, worldly cuisines like Cafe Brasil and Versailles topping his list. Torrance, the less than glamorous sprawl of suburbia south of the 105, didn’t make his top ten.

In fact, he recommended I skip it entirely. “There’s nothing there,” he said. “Nothing at all.”

After a decade in L.A., I’ve learned at least two things: One, this guy from Oberlin was kind of a d-bag; and two, he couldn’t have been more wrong about Torrance.

We’ve been believers in the Torrance-Gardena stretch of Japanese restaurant heaven for some time. But after a recent feast of kushiyaki and Kyoto-style oden at Torihei, the only U.S. outpost of a franchise with eateries in Ginza and Yokohama, we’re officially South Bay fanatics. Read the rest of this entry »

By Chris and Yuri (see more of their posts). You can find more of Chris and Yuri's writing at their own website MIXED WELL.

Okay, this week I had my first visit to Locanda del Lago in Santa Monica and I was truly blown away by the fantastic Italian fare.

We ate some stuff I’d never had before (namely thinly sliced tongue with a vibrant parsley pesto) and my companion was also very impressed with the quality of the imported prosciutto di parma that came served wrapped around a breadstick, and stuffed with tuna-caper aioli (Grissini — $6). I adored the Polpettini ($8)– tender venison meatballs served in a flavorful red sauce with red wine reduction – these would be great for snacking on at the bar.

We also sampled their perfectly seasoned, slow-cooked Ossobuco alla Milanese ($29); an unusual Risotto al Gorgonzola con Barbabietole ($15 / 21 - risotto cooked with creamy blue gorgonzola and beets – wow); Pizzoccheri alla Valtellinese (wheat pappardelle, roasted garlic, savoy cabbage, yukon potato and creamy Bitto cheese-sage fondue…$13 / 18); Pesce in Crosta di Sale ($34 - Chilean sea bass beautifully steamed inside a crust of salt, protected by thin layers of potato and served with baby artichokes); Volcano Chocolate Cake ($8) – it was all so wonderful!

Unfortunately they didn’t have their eight-hour Octopus dish available, but I know when I can get it.

This weekend they are offering their Festa della Mamma (Mother’s Day Feast) all day long on Sunday, May 10 for brunch, lunch and dinner, along with their impressive regular menu. This set menu is also being served on Saturday, May 8th (dinner only and also Friday May 14th at dinner).

This special Mother’s Day Feast features a menu of Chef Roberto Maggioni’s favorite childhood dishes, pairing his innovative contemporary touches with his Mamma Cristina’s traditional home-cooked Italian cuisine. The three-or four-course Festa della Mamma, matched with wines (optional), will be served.

This popular Santa Monica restaurant is renowned for its unique menu, which spotlights the cuisine of Bellagio on Lake Como in Northern Italy.

Festa della Mamma begins with Sautéed Spanish Baby Octopus, fresh heirloom Tomato-Parsley reduction paired with Prosecco Brut, Zonin, followed by Gorgonzola Risotto With Market Red And Gold Beets (absolutely superb) matched with Sangiovese, Di Majo, ‘08.

Main course options are Grilled Wild Alaskan Black Cod, Creamy Porcini Consommé and micro arugula-radish-parmesan salad paired with Pinot Noir, Chalone Vineyards, ‘08, and Lido Ranch All-Natural Veal Stew, market snap peas, Polenta “Au Gratin” and cabbage-ham-fontina involtino paired with Cabernet, Hess Estate, ‘06.

The three-course menu is $45.00 (choice of black cod or veal stew), the four-course version is $59.00, and the wine tasting pairing is an additional $24 (not including tax or gratuity). Each selection is available a la carte, for $16, $19, $32 and $28 respectively.

Available also is a special Mother’s Day dessert: Crispy Italian Bigné, with pastry cream for $10.

All their pastas, focaccia, desserts and gelati are made fresh daily in-house. Seasonal dishes, as well as numerous regular menu items, feature produce from the local Santa Monica Farmer’s Market to utilize the freshest, organic, most flavorsome produce available while keeping the purchases local to Southern California from local growers.

Also, Thursday is pizza & pitcher night at Lago…$8 pizzas and $20 pitchers! Barman Joe will muddle up some market fruit margaritas, mai tais and mojitos.

Mother’s Day reservations are essential.
Valet parking is available ($5)

Locanda del Lago
231 Arizona Avenue, Santa Monica.
(310) 451-3525.

By MaxMillion (see more of her posts). Max Million is the nom de 'net of Pauline Adamek. Born in Sydney, Australia, Pauline has lived in Los Angeles for the past thirteen years and finds it agrees with her. She has been reviewing films and filing celebrity-based interview articles since 1991, and has filed stories from various international film festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto and Sundance. She completed a family cookbook and has also written novels for 8-12 year olds. She is the creator and host of ArtsBeatLA.

photo from their website

Ortolan is one of my favorite high-end restaurants in LA. The stunningly elegant and romantic décor perfectly complements the fine French cuisine and impeccable service. A couple of years ago, when the Michelin stars were first bestowed on LA restaurants, Ortolan gained a precious star (no mean feat).

For a small restaurant, French Chef and owner Christophe Eme manages to create three separate and distinct rooms. My favourite is the formal dining room with its leather booths, mini chandeliers and white tablecloths. – pictured. To the left of the entrance is a very, very dark (elevated) dining. Towards the back is the bar, with its living wall of plants, as well as a few more booths, which actually looked a little more contemporary than the rest of Ortolan. In the very back, there is a chef’s table and fireplace.

Formerly at L’Orangerie, Christophe Eme was putting elegant molecular gastronomical creations on the table long before they were in vogue. Witness the amuse of soups served in test tubes or the slate plates and intricate ice sculptures used for presentation.

Anyway, I can’t really afford to go there as often as I’d like, but special offers such as their forthcoming Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday, May 9th, 2010, makes this gorgeous restaurant all the more accessible.

$40 per person (plus tax and 20% service charge) gets you several choices from three courses:

First Course Choice of:

Scrambled Eggs
Served in the Shell with Ossetra Caviar (supplement $15 caviar)
~
Marinated Salmon
Lemongrass Sorbet / Ginger / Ponzu
~
Scallop Soufflé
Ratatouille / Basil Pesto
~
Quiche Lorraine
Bacon / Green Salad

Second Course Choice of:

Coq au Vin
Baby Potatoes / Bacon / Fava Beans
~
Lobster Spaghetti
Beef Jus / White Asparagus Cream
~
Potato Ravioli
Morel Mushroom / Fava Beans / Scallion
~
Lamb Confit
Potato Gnocchi / Green Asparagus / Tomato Confit

Third Course Choice of:

Vanilla Honey Panna Cotta
“Strawberry Caviar”

Chocolate Ganache
Brownies / Chocolate Sorbet
~
Lemon Tart
Tangerine Sorbet / Citrus Supreme
~
Apple Tart
Vanilla Ice Cream

$40 per person
(tax and service charge will be added)

Wine Pairings Available $20

If you can’t make it this Sunday for brunch, they also offer a spring set menu of three courses for $40pp on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday evenings. The seasonal menu changes weekly, but here is a sample:

First Course Choice of:

Seared Foie Gras
Mushroom Soup /Duck Jus
~
Marinated Salmon
Lemongrass Sorbet / Ginger / Ponzu
~
Seared Scallop
English Pea Coulis / Lentil Gnocchi / Parmesan Emulsion

Second Course Choice of:

Braised Short Ribs
Risotto with Spring Vegetables
~
Lobster Spaghetti
Beef Jus / White Asparagus Cream
~
Potato Ravioli
Morel Mushroom / Fava Beans / Scallion
~
Lamb Confit
Potato Gnocchi / Green Asparagus / Tomato Confit

Third Course Choice of:

Vanilla Honey Panna Cotta
“Strawberry Caviar”
~
Chocolate Ganache
Brownies / Chocolate Sorbet
~
Lemon Tart
Tangerine Sorbet / Citrus Supreme
~
Apple Tart
Vanilla Ice Cream

$40 per person
(tax and 20% service charge will be added)
Wine Pairing Available $20

Mother’s Day Brunch
Reservations recommended: email or call 323.653.3300

Ortolan
?8338 W. 3RD STREET • LOS ANGELES, CA 90048 •
(323) 653-3300

email: admin@ortolanrestaurant.com

By MaxMillion (see more of her posts). Max Million is the nom de 'net of Pauline Adamek. Born in Sydney, Australia, Pauline has lived in Los Angeles for the past thirteen years and finds it agrees with her. She has been reviewing films and filing celebrity-based interview articles since 1991, and has filed stories from various international film festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto and Sundance. She completed a family cookbook and has also written novels for 8-12 year olds. She is the creator and host of ArtsBeatLA.