Check out Marcel Vigneron Cooking for Me on SyFy's Marcel's Quantum Kitchen

Dine: Nawab of India

Unfortunately, I believe LA offers no great Indian options. As a kid growing up, my parents fed me and my brother a myriad of cuisines, some weirder than others, some stinkier than others. But one cuisine which appeared both on the dinner table at home, and fulfilled restaurant nights out, was Indian. I've visited a slew of Indian eateries around LA and even dragged skeptical diners to the likes of Artesia (aka Little India) on several occasions.


I do very much enjoy Nirvana in Beverly Hills, Bombay Palace across the street is owned by the same family and offers a more shmancy upscale affair, then there are local haunts like Gate of India and Tandoor India which I've visited many a time. Oh, actually, one fantastic Indian market and shop (there are a few locations) that I would highly recommend is Indian Sweets and Spices, which supplied many ingredients for my Indian-themed dinner a while back.


Anyway, as I am always up for trying something new, I recently hit up Nawab on Wilshire since it's in my hood and came highly recommended from my best friend who just happens to be Indian. Decor-wise, not much going on not much to discuss. So, onward to edibles.


We started off with some rather tasty poppadoms, then ordered garlic naan, yellow dal, saag paneer, chicken tikka, a house special lamb dish, gulab jamin, plus one mango lassi to top it all off. Overall I thought the chicken tikka was delicious, juicy and perfectly cooked, and the lamb was quite tasty as well served in a thick tomato curry topped with shredded egg (odd?).




I was totally psyched for the dal since I love lentils, but I found this yellow dal to be lackluster and devoid of taste. Saag paneer was fine, nothing to praise or complain about, and the garlic naan was delicious stuffed with silky roasted garlic.


I don't normally care for very sweet desserts, but for some odd reason I absolutely love Indian desserts especially gulab jamin which I have actually made before and which happens to be very VERY sweet. Here the confectionary was just as expected, slightly dry, slightly chewy with the right amount of sweetened rose water.




Nawab of India
1621 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 829-1106

Dine: Brunch at The Tasting Kitchen

I simply adore The Tasting Kitchen on Abbot Kinney, and despite the fact that I capped off my Friday night there with a late night dinner, I returned again Sunday morning for brunch. The restaurant only started serving weekend brunch about a month or so ago, and ever since then I've been meaning to check it out. So... the menu. I was very confused. I literally had to read it over about five times to fully understand what was happening and it took me a good ten minutes to decide on my order. First offense, no cappuccino. Only French press coffee, at least they brew Four Barrel out of San Fran, so that had to suffice. Second offense, no fresh oj. Third offense, no fresh grapefruit juice (despite the fact that the table next to us ordered two glasses...apparently "the bar literally only had enough for two glasses...I am SOO sorry." Right.


Back to the menu. Since I eat out almost every single night, I would have to say I am pretty good with menus. Seriously though, I picked this one up and was very very befuddled. There is a savory and sweet waffle situation, the diner must assume that "cluck" is chicken. There's this whole egg section and a meat section, both are completely nondescript literally it just says "steak." So, I am getting a slab of meat with...nothing? I really don't even know. And what the hell is an "egg board"?? A cheeseboard but with eggs? ANYWAY, I opted for marinated veggies with a soft boiled egg, of course the type of veg was a surprise to me since "marinated veggies" was all the menu would share. I got a little bit annoyed and didn't bother asking exactly what type of veggies were on the plate...and figured I like vegetables so it would be what it would be.

I ended up with a plate of cold eggplant and broccolini alongside a partially sliced soft-boiled egg, and while I will say the veggies were delicious -- my guess is they were roasted in the oven with olive oil, vinegar, chili flakes and a pinch of salt -- my egg was cold and I think there is nothing more gross then cold running egg yolk. I do love warm running egg yolk but cold -- it kinda takes on the consistency of, gooey snot (yeah I went there), I simply don't understand the decision to serve that egg cold. If that egg had been served warm, it would have been a great plate.

Since The Tasting Kitchen prides itself on farm to table cuisine, I will definitely come back to check out more of the (warm) menu.

The Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Venice, CA 90291-3744
(310) 392-6644

Bites and Sips: Shangri-la, Harvard & Stone, Poke Poke, Le Saint Amour, One Pico, Go Burger, Hostaria, Crust

Last Friday Hotel Shangri-la launched its new cocktail menu conceived my new barman Cole Apodaca (Santa Monica's best kept secret). Check out his alluring Berry Apropos comprised of St. Germain, Black Razz Belvedere, white cranberry, Champagne, fresh berries, and dry ice.


Pablo Moix's Trinidad Sour at my newest obsession, Harvard & Stone. Seriously, this is LA's next best bar, understated industrial cool, hip, with a cozy fire hole. Yup, indoor fire hole. Love. It.


LA's best donuts from Zelda's Corner Deli in Venice.


Hawaiian tuna sashimi from Poke Poke just off the Venice Boardwalk.


Not only was I pleasantly surprised by Hotel Shangri-la's cocktails, the food there is actually really great as well. The Hotel's ground floor restaurant is a total undiscovered gem. Above, roasted lobster with Brussels sprouts.


Beet salad from One Pico inside Shutters, Santa Monica.


Go Burger's duck fat fries, Hollywood.


Beautiful Pear brulee from Hostaria del Piccolo, Santa Monica.


Crust Bakery's Saltine cracker brittle.


An assortment of house-made terrines from Le Saint Amour, Culver City.

Cook: Roasted Romanesco Broccoli

Earlier this week, for a change, I ate at home. After a quick stop at Whole Foods I scooped a gorgeous head of Romanesco broccoli, which is really more closely related to cauliflower, and with that we whipped up quinoa tossed with diced tomatoes, feta, Meyer lemon, and parsley, plus some steamed kale with a squeeze of Meyer lemon. I am a big Meyer lemon fan and if there is one piece of fruit that I ALWAYS have in my fruit basket, it's either lemons on Meyer lemons (and actually seasonal Persian limes too recently). My roasted cauliflower or broccoli dish is a tried and true classic I've been making for years, my friends now recreate this recipe at home, even my parents adopted it. Plus, with Romanesco now in season, this dish is even more delicious. Basically, you are just roasting the Romanesco in olive oil with some red pepper flakes, then when it comes out of the oven, a dusting of Parmesan finishes this dish. Try it out:


Roasted Romanesco

1 head Romanesco (or regular broccoli or cauliflower)
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt
pepper
pinch red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons Parmesan

Preheat oven to 400°F. Wash Romanesco, then separate into florets. Lay florets on baking sheet and toss with olive oil. Add a pinch of salt and pepper. Add red pepper flakes and toss to coat. Place baking sheet in oven and bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven and mix Romanesco. Return to oven and cook for 10 more minutes until florets begin to turn golden. Remove from oven, transfer to serving dish, and sprinkle with Parmesan.

Judging A Bobby Flay / Jimmy Kimmel Throwdown

Bites and Pieces: Toranoko, Chaya, Baby Blues

No surprise I've been eating a lot lately, bites and sips from my latest adventures. For anyone that hasn't yet visited Toranoko, GO! If you like Lazy Ox, you will heart Toranoko, similar vibe with a Japanese focus.


Cocktails at Toranoko.


Udon at Toranoko.


Assorted cocktails at Toranoko.






Yanagita Seafarms Uni Goma Tofu at Toranoko.


Owner Michael Cardenas over right. He's SUCH a muffin.


This plate from Chaya Brasserie is off the menu but includes seared magret duck, baby shiitake mushrooms, hidden foie, pickled radish plus greens, candied citrus from the farmers market.


Shmancy chicken soup aka chicken consomme with foie gras ravioli.


Black truffle cream cheese at Chaya Brasserie.


Green tea fettuccine with bolognese.


Tabletop at Baby Blues BBQ.


Fried okra at Baby Blues BBQ.