Family in LA! Part 2.

Not only did we have Weddings and Baptism's to celebrate, but our Independence on top of it all!

Since Monday was 4th of July we spent part of the morning by my Aunt Linda's with the kids who were playing in the pool and got to say goodbye to everyone, since people were starting to head back home.  Dad and I did a little grocery shopping later on and decided to BBQ at my place with some Brats, drink some beers, and then watched the fireworks on my rooftop!  Rutherford was such a good little boy the entire weekend.  He was quiet in the Hotel, was so social around all the people and kids, and the fireworks didn't even phase him.  Dad, Bobby, and Melissa were so impressed by all the firework shows we were able to see from my roof, we counted at least 10 different shows.  It's been the way I've watched the fireworks for the last few years!

Dad and I at the Petersen Museum!

For Tuesday I had planned a whole day for Dad and I!  I got us tickets to the Petersen Automotive Museum including the Vault Tour which is a must if you're going to the Museum.  We saw cars that Richard Rollins from 'Fast & Loud' owned, Rita Hayworth's gorgeous classic Cadillac, the first ever cars that were built and how they were improved over the years, and armored cars that Richard Nixon or the Dalai Lama had been in!  There were so many neat cars and I'd see a car and say that was my favorite, and then I'd see something else.  Although a Ferrari has always been my dream car, after doing a Driving Simulator I think I love the new Ford GT.  It's got a similar body shape to a Ferrari but it's just as incredible, more affordable, and definitely easier to get.  Dad really enjoyed the tour too!  I gave us a few hours to spend there but we could have stayed longer if we didn't have Dinner reservations at Mastro's in Beverly Hills to get to before sunset!  I had a table set up for us at the Mastro's Penthouse but Dad and I had a drink at the bar before we sat down for Dinner.  We started with a Wedge Salad, and then got Mashed Potatoes and Snap Peas with our Filet, and they brought Chocolate Cake and their famous house-made Whipped Cream with it!  I ordered a glass of wine with my Steak and was able to blind taste and guess which one it was based on the region; it was a really proud moment for me!  Everything was delicious and it was a really fun day, just being my Dad and I.

Dinner at Mastro's with Dad to celebrate Father's Day and my Birthday :)

I knew that week with everything that was going, plus everyone in town, was going to be crazy but as soon as everything began and family was arriving it all fell into place.  I definitely missed my Mom and wish she could have been there with all of us; I know she would have had a blast and things will never be the same without her here but she is definitely proud of all of us and is smiling down on us and the fact that we all held it together!  We celebrated in honor of her.  Being with family makes it so much harder when they're not around but we're all so much closer that I know it's only a couple months and we'll be seeing each other again!

Dine LA Week

I love checking out new restaurants during Dine LA!  I was able to hit up a few different places at the end of January and look forward to going back to them in the future!

The Roof on Wilshire was my first Dine LA experience this last month and Aimee & Andy came with me.  It was a little bit rainy but the roof had covered tables and heat lamps so it ended up being perfectly fine.  The view was beautiful and we were all excited for Dinner.  I started with the Shells & Cheese while Aimee & Andy got the Brussels Sprouts.  Both appetizers were really big and enough for all three of us to share but I was hungry so I didn't mind.  I ordered the Bowl of Goodness with Shrimp that had Avocado, Quinoa, Siracha, Beans, and more.  It was so much food that I took over half of it home with me.  It was definitely spicy but everything worked really well together!  I finished off the meal with the S'mores Cheesecake which was really yummy and had a marshmallow melted on top.  On top of the three courses for $29 they also offered a cocktail of your choice so I decided on the Vodka Martini with Cucumber & Mint and it was delicious and refreshing!  I had enough leftover food for Dinner the next day!

The following week Jamie and I checked out Terrine which was just outside of West Hollywood and their outdoor patio where we sat was beautiful.  We stuck with the Dine LA menu but also added The Beef Tartare which was my first raw beef adventure and that was good.  I started with the Lobster Bisque which was nice but I loved the Truffle Agnolotti that Jamie ordered, perfect pillows, in a beautiful sauce that I wanted seconds and thirds!  We both decided on the Wagyu Beef Short Rib and that was incredible and tender; it was served with a Brown Butter Pomme Puree that was one of my favorite parts of the meal!  You can't go wrong with Brown Butter!  I decided on the Sticky Toffee Pudding for Dessert and it was a perfect end to the meal.  Their three courses were $39 and well worth it!

The Dine LA Menu at Terrine...Beef Tartare & Sticky Toffee Pudding

Jamie and I also had plans to check out one more place but decided to do some Happy Hour hopping around Beverly Hills instead and ended up spending $30 on a three-course meal with tax and tip!  We did good.  We started off at Crustacean and had to order the Garlic Noodles as these are noodles that dreams are made of!  I also got a no-carb burger which was served with cut green beans.  That was ok but the noodles always raise the bar!  We then walked over to Wolfgang Steakhouse and while Jamie got the Ribs I got the Steak Sliders which came with French Fries.  The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare and served with a horseradish sauce that was awesome.  I was really proud of our Beverly Hills Happy Hour dinner on a budget :)

I can't wait to go back to The Roof on Wilshire, especially when the sun is setting; it'll have a stunning view.  I'd like to go back to Terrine as well and try some other things off the menu.  Jamie really encourages me to try things that scare me, so she's the perfect date in situations like that!  I've already been back to Wolfgang since going with Jamie and had more delicious food there so that was fantastic!  Three new places for the win! 

To see more photos from Dine LA or if you want to check out my Food Adventures follow me on Instagram: Lyndsey Wegner on IG 

CUT in Beverly Hills

I can't believe I forgot to write about my incredible Birthday Meal with Kristina just over a month ago, and the last of my Birthday celebrations...at least, as far as I know ;)  She took me to Dinner at CUT in the Beverly Wilshire, which is where the movie, 'Pretty Woman' took place.  It was a dining experience and I love sharing these special moments with one of my best friends.

Dinner at CUT in Beverly Hills with Kristina!

We started the day off by the pool with a little champagne and some snacks!  Jamie joined us too and brought another bottle of Wine to go along with the Sparkling Wine I had ready and waiting for us.  It was a gorgeous day by the pool as we caught up and enjoyed the day.  Soon enough it was time to get all gussied up for Dinner and Kristina did my hair as we watched 'Pretty Woman' just to get re-accustomed to where we would be spending our evening dining.  Then, our Uber picked us up and we were off to CUT.

The meal kept going as we started with some delicious breads and ordered a fabulous bottle of wine after our Sommelier made some suggestions for us.  Since neither of us had tried Bone Marrow, we decided to be adventurous and order that.  It was served with a mushroom marmalade and parsley salad that you spread over toast.  Next up was the Summer Corn Salad, that was light and refreshing, perfect for Summer.  Kristina wanted to order the Porterhouse which was 34 ounces of steak, Filet and New York Strip, and delivered to us on the bone, and cut right in front of us.  Talk about the presentation!  We also got some Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes and a Mushroom Medley.  The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare and it was a meal that was an experience in itself.  The food just kept coming, and everything tasted so good.  They brought out a little dessert plate for my Birthday which was so sweet and also packed the rest of our food to go, including some extra bread since we loved it so much!  The service was impeccable!

Since we were in Beverly Hills we decided to stop by Bouchon to have a glass of Dessert Wine and get some of their perfect macaroons.  Then we hopped into an Uber and decided to stop by Gabe's for some Karaoke and shots...shots, shots, shots.  Thank goodness we were Ubering all night!  When it's a Birthday celebration, the shots just keep coming.

An amazing end to a fabulous Birthday Dinner :)

What an amazing day with Kristina and a Dinner I'll never forget!  I'm not quite sure we'll be able to top this one but I know we certainly won't stop trying.  Thank you Kristina...you're one of the best friends a girl could ask for and I love you <3

Dine LA Happy Hour Week

For the last week in April, Dine LA did a Happy Hour week with a bunch of bars and restaurants for a special Happy Hour menu that featured all sorts of different appetizers, entrees, and drinks at a discounted price.  I always love when Dine LA comes to town so this made me so excited because I love Happy Hour too!  Jamie and I were able to check out two different Happy Hours that week!

Salmon Ceviche at Corner Door for
Dine LA Happy Hour Week

We started our Happy Hour week experience at Corner Door which we also did for Dine LA back at the end of January.  We ordered a bunch of food, including the Avocado Toast with Burrata cheese, Salmon Ceviche with a pineapple salsa, French Fries 'Carbonade' which meant they were covered in braised beef, garlic ailoi, and cheese (so yummy and savory), and also the Spicy Pork Belly Sliders.  I'm not a huge Pork Belly fan but these were delicious.  The Avocado Toast and Ceviche were really light and fresh but the Ceviche really hit a home run with all the incredible flavors!  Our meal wasn't complete without the Sticky Toffee Pudding, reminiscent of one of my favorite restaurants, Waterloo & City, which is right down the street on Washington Blvd.

Later on that week we went to Bouchon in Beverly Hills.  Ashley and I had gone in March for dessert and drinks so I was really excited to get to try some of the food.  Their deal was incredible!  A glass of wine and an entree with a side for $20.  To get a steak from a Thomas Keller restaurant for $20 was mind-blowing.  Matt, our Bartender, took good care of us and on top of the Oysters we ordered, he sent out some King Snow Crab Legs which were fantastic.  My steak came perfectly prepared at medium rare and was so juicy and flavorful!  Unfortunately, we were rushing through Dinner because Bouchon was so busy we had to wait for over an hour to seat, and the kitchen was slammed, and I had to be at work, so we wrapped up our fries and dessert and had to eat everything else at Gabe's.  We got four different Macaroon's to try, all light and airy, and a great dessert to finish the meal.  Jamie had me try Cynar, which was actually really nice once she had her way with it, but I still prefer my Sambuca.

Ladies at Bouchon in Beverly Hills and the amazing King Snow Crab Legs!

Needless to say, we ate really well that week, and even though I've been to both of the restaurants this past year, I was able to explore more of their menu and try some new things.  I still need to get my tour of Bouchon's kitchen, and I'm looking forward to trying more off both menu's!  Jamie, let's go :)

Lemonade, Sugarfish, Bouchon...

It was a rainy Sunday in LA, really rainy, as in it was down-pouring buckets of water.  Staying dry was impossible but I managed to try three new restaurants that day and found some new favorite spots to take my family to when they're visiting and visit again with friends!

Lunch was at Lemonade in Venice.  It took me nearly 10 minutes to decide what I wanted to eat because there were so many choices.  I finally settled on an Edamame, Snap Pea, Sunflower Sprout Salad, as well as Quinoa, Cauliflower, Mint with Raisin's Curry Salad.  I also got a Caprese Sandwich which kept my meal Vegetarian which I like to do on occasion.  Both the salads were wonderful, but the Quinoa was so flavorful and bright, I was truly impressed with how much I enjoyed it.  The Caprese Sandwich was just ok, slightly disappointing since I had tried my Lunch Date's Green Apple Chicken Curry, which was so creamy and yummy.  Since I had now swapped to meat, I also tried his Red Miso Beef Short Rib, which stopped me in my tracks.  It was so fantastic I actually went up and got my own.  It might be the best Short Ribs I have EVER had.  Bold claim right there!  Lunch wouldn't have been complete without a Lemon Bar which was a perfect compliment to the meal, tart and sweet.  This is definitely one of my new favorite Lunch spots in LA and they are everywhere...YAY!

This is what I call a Food Day in LA!

Dinner was at Sugarfish in Beverly Hills.  I've been hearing about this place for years from friends telling me how great the sushi is and once again I wasn't disappointed.  I met up with Ashley from Bar Lubitsch and after a 45 minute wait, I had built up an appetite after my huge Lunch, and was ready for the 'Trust Me' menu.  For $30 you get an eight-course meal, starting with Edamame, Tuna Sashimi (which was beautiful), Albacore Sushi (which melted in my mouth), Salmon Sushi, Yellowtail Sushi (which is always one of my favorites), Halibut Sushi (which was something that I'd never tried before and was surprised by how much I liked it) and then a Toro Hand Roll and Blue Crab Hand Roll that they graciously cut.  From the freshest fish, to the warm rice, courses and pacing of the meal, everything was amazing.  And it was absolutely worth every penny of that $30.

Dessert and After-Dinner Drinks took place at Bouchon which is also in Beverly Hills.  So we walked outside in the rain to our next spot and took a seat at the bar while Ashley's friend was the Bartender.  She had a Cosmo but since I was prepping for the re-opening of 'Thenardier's Inn' I was doing my usual no drinking before the show.  I ordered a Decaf Espresso and we got a Chocolate Brownie along with their Salted Caramel Macaroons.  I've had a couple Macaroons in my life but nothing like these that were dusted in 24 Carat-Gold.  Now I knew we were in Beverly Hills.  Such a perfect bite and compliment to my Espresso in addition to my fabulous company :)

Talk about a a day of Dining, it certainly was, and a Food Day I will never forget!

Mom & Dad's September Visit to LA! Part 3.

After working while Mom and Dad were in town the first couple of days and then heading on a Road Trip all over the California Coast we finally had a day with nothing to do!  That's a vacation!

I had actually planned on Hiking up in Malibu where we could see the Waterfall near Temescal Canyon but the 90 degree temperature in Culver City deterred any sort of exercise simply because it was way too hot.  Instead, we spent part of the morning by the pool, mostly in the water, just relaxing and enjoying the day!  We had some Lunch and just hung out that day since it was my parent's last day in LA before they left the following morning.  Of course, we would have this week-long heat wave while they were in town and it was in the 60's back home in Wisconsin!

I set-up a Surprise Dinner at Mastro's in Beverly Hills to celebrate my parent's Anniversary just a little early since I wouldn't be able to spend it with them in November.  Kristina had taken me for my Birthday in June and it was one of the best steaks I had ever had so I wanted to be able to share this with my family as well!

Heirloom Tomatoes & Burrata

We were seated upstairs towards the back of the bar but still in ear-shot of the piano player and singer.  When Kristina and I were there it was more mellow music and this was really fun too.  The songs ranged from new and old, sang by the piano player at times, and then a female singer as well.  I really liked it!  Mom and I ended up getting the Blueberry Martini while Dad got his usual Maker's & Coke.  Dad decided on the French Onion Soup while Mom and I split the Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Salad.  I was so impressed with the Soup, it was so yummy and perfectly seasoned.  And for me, you can't got wrong with an Heirloom Salad!  Mom and I were splitting a steak and Dad got his own and we were barely able to finish all of it, with Mom wrapping the rest of hers to go.  Of course, the steak was accompanied by the Snap-peas which Dad even commented, 'Never would I have thought I would be ordering peas at a restaurant' and yet he loved them!  We also got the Garlic Mashed Potatoes that were a little runny but still delicious.  They brought out a Chocolate Cake with 'Happy Anniversary' written on it for dessert.  By the time we were done, we were so full and barely able to make our way back to the car.  Mom said it was the best steak she ever had and Dad said it was one of the best!

Before Dinner at Mastro's in Beverly Hills!

That night we opened one of our Dessert Wines from Daniel Gehr's and also had some of the Port Wine too to cap off a great Dining experience.  We played Spades before heading to bed and then I took Mom and Dad to the airport the following morning to head back to Wisconsin.

I can't believe how quickly the time flies when they're out here visiting, and even though they were here for a week, it felt like just a couple of days!  I'd definitely like to try to make it to Wisconsin this Fall before all the snow comes :)  Thanks for coming to visit Mom and Dad, I love and miss you guys <3

Birthday Dinner at Mastro's!

I love food and trying new places and even have a list of my Top 5 Favorite Steaks so I was stoked when Kristina said she was going to take me to Mastro's in Beverly Hills for my Birthday Dinner.  I've been wanting to try Mastro's for a long time but I was also a little nervous, knowing how fancy it was.  Kristina assured me it was a special occasion since we weren't able to celebrate my 30th in style last year like we had planned so we were going all out!

Wine & Martini's

We enjoyed some Rosé before Dinner while we got ready at my place and then took an Uber to Mastro's.  Our table was quaint and close enough to the piano player to hear him singing Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, and The Beatle's songs during Dinner.  Kristina had brought a really nice bottle of red wine so we got that started along with two martini's that had Stoli Blueberry and St. Germaine which were called Fleur de Blu and absolutely delicious.  Kristina suggested we start with Oysters and even though I was a little apprehensive, I was up for the adventure.  They were kumumoto Oysters and served with a healthy side of Horseradish.  I topped all of mine with it and that certainly did the trick as they went down easy with a little clearing of my sinuses.  So yummy!  

It was time for our salad and we got an Heirloom Tomato and Burrata and from here on out they split everything for us.  There was so much food I'm surprised they were halved because the portions were huge!  The salad was amazing and I loved how the timing of all of our courses was literally perfect.  We were never waiting and getting hungry but able to enjoy the food, let it settle, and then the next course would show up.  Before we knew it, it was time for the main entree; a beautiful 12 ounce Filet cooked an impeccable medium rare.  We decided on sides of Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas.  The snap peas were the best I have ever had as they popped in your mouth with a sweet but savory flavor and the mashed potatoes were so fluffy and had the perfect amount of garlic and butter.  The steak.  Let me just say, after I took that first bite, I sat back in my chair and sighed...out loud.  It was that incredible!  We savored every last bite and then they packed the leftover snap peas for me to take home.  No Birthday is complete at Mastro's without Birthday Cake so they brought Chocolate Cake with home-made whipped cream.  The whipped cream was so impressive and I loved that there was plenty for each bite of cake.

Dinner at Mastro's...being fancy with Kristina!

After Dinner we went to the bar so I could get us some Dessert Wine to finish off the fabulous dining experience and as some gentlemen allowed me to get to the bar, they overheard Kristina saying it was my Birthday and in typical gentlemanly fashion, ordered us a round, which was very sweet.  I appreciated the gesture and bought them their next round only to have that countered with another Birthday Cake and some Espresso for me.  They all sang Happy Birthday and this time it was an Olive Oil Cake and more whipped cream!  I could not have felt more special being treated by Kristina and being blown away by such an amazing meal :)

Thank you Kristina for introducing me to Mastro's; this is definitely going to be trouble because now I'm already planning my next visit, and next paycheck!  And thanks for making me feel fancy!

Il Cielo in Beverly Hills for Dine LA

Thursday night was a special treat, and on top of Aimee and I's first Girl's Night out for Dinner, we had a great meal at another new restaurant and I am keeping true to my New Year's resolutions!

Il Cielo was just as beautiful as I imagined it would be.  The ambiance in the restaurant was just incredible!  We got seated and were greeted by two different people welcoming us to the restaurant, taking my coat for me, and then bringing us water.  We brought a bottle of wine in and they had a $25 corkage fee which was fine considering the price per bottle at minimum was almost double that.  They brought bruschetta while we looked over the menu and I went with the Insalta Toscana, Costolette di Manzo, and Chocolate Souffle.

The salad was butter lettuce with shaved apple, roasted almonds and pecorino cheese in a honey mustard dressing.  Aimee got the Beef Carpacchio which was served with arugula, fresh squeezed lemon, and parmesan.  I'm not a huge honey mustard fan but the dressing was the perfect accompaniment to the salad and I wouldn't have changed a thing.  Il Cielo made me a believer!  The appetizers were probably my favorite part of the meal and it was my first time having Beef Carpacchio and everything worked so well together and was just stupendous.

Our delicious appetizers!

My entree was braised short ribs with a horseradish sweet potato and baby vegetables.  Aimee got the grilled Norwegian Salmon with broccolini and cherry tomatoes in balsamic.  The short ribs were tender and I loved the horseradish potato but the short ribs at The Garage are so great, it was hard to live up to.  Aimee's veggies were very flavorful and she loved her salmon but I'm definitely more of a meat-eater.  The portions were nice and big so that was great but not over-whelming which left plenty of room for dessert.

Dinner is served...

We both ordered the Chocolate Souffle which was more of a bittersweet chocolate but the chocolate center perfectly flowed out nice and hot.  It's so easy to over-cook a souffle and this was timed to perfection and it showed.  It was served with vanilla gelato and I ordered an espresso to cap off the meal and wonderful dining experience.

Yup.

There were other entrees I was also looking at, like the Fettuccine with Sea Scallops and Cherry Tomatoes and that was on the Dine LA menu. They had a few different Risotto's and Lamb (that sounded really good) on their regular menu.  I will most certainly be back because of the impeccable service and beautiful atmosphere.  Plus, they have Happy Hour Monday through Friday which is great and totally unexpected from such an up-scale venue.

 

I will definitely be back to Il Cielo :)

Beverly Hills Friday!

After making sure Dad had Lunch and would be occupied for the afternoon, Mom and I headed into Beverly Hills for her Belated Birthday Present.  I was taking her to Lunch at Crustacean which would be something fun and new for her and since I've only been there once as well I couldn't wait to go back and share it with her!

Crustacean is so elegant and as we were seated at a table by some beautiful flowers we decided on our appetizers and got the Coconut Prawns and Rock Shrimp Tempura.  Since it was Friday we couldn't have any meat but neither of us was really interested in anything aside from fish and since Crustacean is known for their seafood we were going to be doing the entire experience!  The Prawns were good but the Marmalade Orange Sauce was the kicker, it was phenomenal!  The Rock Shrimp Tempura was a little bland in my opinion and needed a kick with the spicy mayo and I still have to say that Katsuya has the best Rock Shrimp Tempura I've ever had.

Our entree's and the Garlic Noodles came next!  The Garlic Noodles were as great as I remembered them from my first time there and Mom liked them a lot as well.  We decided to share two entrees getting the Steamed Sole and Roasted Corn & Mushrooms in this amazing sesame miso vinaigrette which really complimented the dish.  I really wanted something close to sushi so I ordered the Seared Tuna with Greens & Noodles that was served cold, so that made it interesting.  The dressing was light but once again needed a little kick to it.  I was happy to see there was plenty of Tuna and it was perfectly seared and delicious.

Lunch at Crustacean with Mom!

After Dinner we weren't too full to walk over to Sprinkles and pick out some Cupcakes to take home and sample.  I've only had a couple flavors so we decided to get the Black & White (which is my FAVORITE) the Vanilla with Milk Chocolate, Lemon Coconut, and one that was just like a Hostess Cupcake.  We brought them home to Dad and had a nice little dessert sampler and he even tried some of our leftovers from Crustacean!  Way to be adventurous, Dad!

Mom and I had a great Lunch and lot of fun chatting over some yummy food, in a beautiful atmosphere and there was no one else I would have rather shared it with :)