la.foodblogging

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.