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 

Fundamental LA for Dine LA

To cap off two fabulous Dinners for Dine LA I knew I had some time to grab one last Dine LA experience at Fundamental LA for Lunch.  Located in Westwood it serves creative food from the farmer's market.  I actually decided on this restaurant based on a picture I saw on Instagram of their Chocolate Chip Cookies.  They looked that good!

Lemonade, Quinoa, and a Shrimp Po'Boy at Fundamental LA

For Dine LA they offered a Sandwich or Salad served with a side, a cookie, and a drink all for $15.  I decided on the Shrimp Po'Boy, the Quinoa with dates, cashews, red pepper, and mint.  It had a sweetness to it and I loved how complex it was and how well everything worked together.  The Shrimp Po'Boy was actually a little bit more difficult to eat since it was Tiger Shrimp and they were battered, so you were either eating the whole shrimp or nothing at all.  The batter felt a little heavy but the shrimp were big and juicy!  I also really liked the spicy aioli that came on the sandwich.  The Lemonade I ordered came in a Mason Jar and they brought me mint, free of charge, so I could fancy up my drink.  The cookie was delicious, gooey, freshly-baked, and a perfect end to the meal.

A bunch of their sides sounded really appetizing, Brussels Sprouts, an Orzo Pasta Salad, and Shishito Peppers.  I also thought the Watermelon Chicken Salad, the Albacore Salad, and Grilled Cheese Sandwich sounded amazing.  They have a Lunch Deal that is a Sandwich or Salad, Side and Cookie for $13 so I'll for sure be back to try that.

They only serve Lunch until 3 pm, and when they say that, they actually mean that.  I literally felt rushed through Lunch even though I had ordered by 2:30 pm.  A few minutes after 3 pm I felt like I was in the way and I'm not a big fan of that but I'd go back to try more of their menu anyway.  Overall, I was really happy with the meal and I liked the lay-out of the restaurant, so I will return :) 

Piccolo for Dine LA

After hitting up Firefly for Dine LA I knew I only had one more free night to get Dinner somewhere so Jamie and I decided to check out Piccolo in Venice before I had to Host Karaoke at Gabe's.  This restaurant offered a four-course menu so we were very excited to try some yummy Italian food!

Piccolo is located right off the Venice Boardwalk down a side street off of an alley.  It was a little difficult to find and even more difficult to find parking so we ended up parking a few blocks away and then walking to the restaurant.  It was a little quiet when we got there with just a couple tables being occupied but by the time we left nearly every table had people sitting at them!  It was quaint, old-school Italian, and elegant.  Jamie and I chose Piccolo because of the four-course diverse menu.

Look at that beautiful Scallop!

I started off with the Sea Scallops Capesante, and a beautiful scallop perfectly seared was presented to me.  It was definitely more of an amuse-bouche than an appetizer and perhaps that's what it was supposed to be.  If I had ordered it off the regular menu and not the Dine LA Prix Fixe I would have expected at least one more scallop and preferably two.  Jamie's Lamb Carpaccio was so finely sliced it was literally paper-thin. The truffle oil on her amuse-bouche was a nice touch and I actually really liked her choice as well.

The pasta course was next followed by our entree/meat course.  We both chose to get the Fontina-filled Ravioli with Butter Parmesan and Black Truffle shavings as well as the Pan-Seared Duck Breast Anatra with fresh Mushrooms.  The Ravioli was fantastic (although perhaps a little too al-dente for me, Jamie loved the way it was cooked) and even though it was a small portion it was beautiful.  The Ravioli popped in your mouth and was a burst of cheese and flavor!  Jamie and I both agreed the Duck was a little over-cooked as it came out medium and had a poultry taste to it, but I was still proud that I ordered it and went out of my comfort zone to try something different. 

They brought us the Chef's Selection of house-made desserts including a Semifreddo which was amaretto cookies, soft frozen cream and amaretto caramel as well as a Cream Puff that just melted in your mouth.  Both of them were a lovely way to end the meal.  

Jamie and I at Piccolo in Venice for Dine LA

This four-course menu at Piccolo was also $40 per person and although the portions were smaller than I expected I would like to go back and try some more items off of their menu.  Jamie and I ended up stopping at Chaya Venice before heading to Gabe's since I was still hungry so I got a Spicy Shrimp Roll there since it was Happy Hour!  There are so many hidden little gems all around Los Angeles and I think Piccolo is definitely one of them :)

Firefly for Dine LA

Once again it was my favorite food time of year just a couple weeks ago when Dine LA was happening from July 13th through the 26th!  I was able to check out three different restaurants in one week, on top of my busy work, rehearsal, and show schedule, but I found some new restaurants I can't wait go back to soon!

My first spot was Firefly in Studio City.  I had drinks there years ago and always planned on going back but just never made it in.  That is, until last Tuesday after I Hosted my 'Real Housewives of New York City' Aftershow at Afterbuzz TV.  I met up with my bestie, Mikey, that night at Firefly and he told me that it was the first restaurant he took a picture in and posted it on Facebook over 10 years ago!  In fact, we sat at the table right next to his photo spot.

My Courses for Dine LA at Firefly with my Bestie!

I was really torn between the Peach Salad and the Corn Soup but our waitress was quick to tell me the Salad was incredible and she certainly wasn't lying!  Butter lettuce, peaches, goat cheese, berries, avocado and more; it was a great size and I'd definitely order it again.  Mike got the Tuna Tartare and it was lovely as well.  Next up were our entrees, normally I would order the Ribeye Steak (which Mikey had decided upon, and that had great flavor) but I couldn't resist the House-Made Truffle & Ricotta Gnocchi.  I didn't know if I would be full when I initially saw it, but there were far more Gnocchi's than I could see due to the Truffle Foam aka Espuma on top of everything.  They were little bits of heaven and tasted delicious!  We closed out the meal with dessert.  Mikey got the Walnut Brownie with Stout Ice Cream and I ordered the Tropical Parfait which included pineapple and mango sorbet, papaya, and lime pearls.  I could have eaten it over and over it was so light and refreshing!

Needless to say, our three-course meal was $40 per person for the food and worth every penny!  The ambiance outside was great; there's a fireplace in the middle of the outdoor patio, and I loved the rustic feel of the whole place including the library lounge near the bar.  I will definitely be back to get Dinner again :)

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 :)

Corner Door for Dine LA

I was able to check out three new spots during the two weeks of Dine LA.  I'm very excited to go back to Bacari in Playa Del Rey and Upstairs 2 in West LA and try more off of their menus.  On Wednesday before Karaoke, Jamie and I decided to check out Corner Door, as she knew the bar manager (even though we weren't drinking) and it's always nice to visit friends at work!

We both ended up order the Mushroom Ricotta Agnolotti as it was a special dish just for Dine LA customers.  I started with the Basil & Beet Salad with almonds, a citrus vinaigrette and Pecorino cheese (also just offered during Dine LA) and Jamie got the Pan Seared Octopus.  Definitely something that scared me!  We shared dessert getting both the Chocolate Pudding and the Bread Pudding.  

Ricotta Agnolotti at Corner Door in West LA

Originally I was going to get the Brussels Sprouts since I'm such a huge fan of them but because they're on their normal menu I wanted to try something that was seasonal and I also love beets.  The salad portion was small, as in there were probably about five or six pieces of basil lettuce and a few chunks of beets.  I was a little bummed about that but the dressing and the way everything worked together was delicious!  It was supposed to come with Ricotta Cheese but I figured since I was having that in my next course I should go for something different; having a scoop of the Ricotta might have filled me up more than the shaved Pecorino.  Jamie and I agreed that the Agnolotti for our Dinner course was amazing!  Once again it was a smaller portion but the creaminess of the Ricotta, the flavorful mushrooms and delicious sauce was so good we both wanted more of it!  Next up was dessert, two bigger than bite-size pieces of Bread Pudding and a small cup of Chocolate Pudding with maple cream.  They were both delicious just small.

I definitely want to go back to Corner Door and check out their Happy Hour and regular menu.  I'm hoping when you get food off the regular menu the portions are a little bigger.  I was actually still hungry after we got done with Dinner that I almost stopped at In & Out for a burger!  I can say though that all the flavors went really well together and it was definitely a balanced meal :)

Upstairs 2 for Dine LA

I've been doing a pretty great job of keeping up with my New Year's Resolutions for this first month of 2015.  Upstairs 2 was my third restaurant in Los Angeles in the past month that was new for me and I also went by myself for Dinner which is definitely a little scary; another Resolution, to do things every day that scare me.  There's a great "Friends" episode where Rachel tries to eat out alone but gets in her head about the whole thing, luckily, I didn't go through that scenario ;)

Upstairs 2 located in West LA also has The Wine House connected to it downstairs and they have Wine Tastings and is the largest wine store in LA.  I was there on a Wednesday so they had a Wine Tasting at 7 pm.  I'll need to go back and check that out!  I had decided on Upstairs 2 because of their Dine LA menu but when I got there and saw the regular menu I was so overwhelmed by all the amazing-sounding food I decided to order off the regular menu and ended up spending less than I would had I ordered off the Dine LA menu!

Dinner at Upstairs 2 in West LA for Dine LA Week

I started with the Brussels Sprout Salad that had endive, pecans, and brussels sprouts and was quite large for an appetizer salad; I am not complaining, trust me, I was very happy!  I also got a glass of their Riesling which wasn't overly sweet, just right, and priced appropriately.  Next, I had the Lemon Pesto Shrimp to which they gave me some Parmesan Cheese that really knocked the dish out of the ballpark.  It was a really nice portion and I loved the Lemon Pesto!  I was quite excited to find out they had Chocolate Lava Cake (which wasn't on the Dine LA menu) so of course, I had to get that.  It came out perfectly gooey and the Bartender even had the kitchen put the ice cream on the side for me because I don't like the cold ice cream to take away from the chocolatey center.  OCD, just a little.

The Bartender was really friendly as well as one of the waiters I chatted with.  The food and selection was impressive and changes seasonally.  They're very happy to suggest wine pairings and the menu is actually set-up to do just that, and they also let you taste just about anything which is great.  I'll definitely be back to try more food and wine as well :)

Bacari in Playa Del Rey for Dine LA

I'm a HUGE fan of Dine LA.  In fact, I budget every year so that I'm able to check out a few new restaurants each time Restaurant Week happens here in Los Angeles (which is twice a year).  I always look forward to eating at some new places as well as some of my favorites like Ruth's Chris or Locanda del Lago.  Dine LA gives you a chance to check out restaurants at a more affordable price while offering a few options for a three-course meal.

My first Dine LA experience this year was at Bacari in Playa Del Rey.  I had never been there before and with a limited schedule due to work and rehearsals I only had a couple hours and wanted to find something that was close for both Kelly and I since she was coming from Hermosa Beach and I had rehearsal in Santa Monica.

Four courses at Bacari in Playa Del Rey

The Dine LA menu for Bacari was really awesome; it's more of a tapas type place so you could get a three-course meal but also with unlimited white or red wine, beer, or sangria, all for $40.  Now that is a steal!  Since I had to get to rehearsal and both Kelly and I had to drive we opted out of Dine LA and just ordered a few things off the menu since it was Happy Hour and that was an even better price than the Dine LA menu since we weren't going to drink more than a glass of wine.

I started with the Caprese salad (always one of my favorites) while Kelly got the Grilled Romaine.  Next up I had the Poached Shrimp which had a sweet chili aioli and Kelly got the Cauliflower.  *They do have plenty of vegetarian options.*  The Shrimp was amazing; I loved the ailoi and was very happy with the portion considering it was $6.  I also ordered the Mac & Cheese which had truffle oil and that was good too, but covered in panko breadcrumbs which I'm not a huge fan of, but the Mac & Cheese was still creamy and very cheesy...yes!  We finished off with the Brown Butter Cookie Dough for dessert which had a banana brulee, candied walnuts, and whipped cream.  It was small but yummy!

Even though we didn't order off the Dine LA menu, that's what got me in the door, so I'm glad it was my first place to check out this Dine LA season.  Next time I go in I really want to try to the Seared Scallops as well as one of their Pizza's; they had a Smoked Mushroom and White Pizza that look awesome.  I'm really excited to go back and try more of their menu and with Happy Hour being such a great deal I'm sure I'll be back soon :)

Ruth's Chris for Dine LA!

When Dine LA came to town a few weeks ago I was so busy with acting projects and work I actually didn't have any time to check out any of the new restaurants I had planned on going to.  Thankfully, I was able to squeeze in a late night Dinner at Ruth's Chris in Beverly Hills with Aimee and Andy, after working at Irish Times all day.

Amazing Seared Ahi Tuna!

I had made a reservation but it was packed so we grabbed some cocktails at the bar before getting seated.  I decided on the Strawberry Basil Martini which was so delicious.  It had just the right amount of sweetness, was strong, yet light and refreshing.  It made it all the way to dessert...score!  We started with the Seared Ahi Tuna appetizer which had a mustard, ginger, wasabi glaze, and a great palate cleanser before our meal arrived.  Aimee and Andy had brought some wine from their last trip to Santa Barbara and Solvang so that paired perfectly with our steaks.  I decided on the Summer Corn Chowder for my next course and it was far lighter than I expected, it was more broth-based than creamy which was perfect right before my steak.

We had all decided to get a different side, so I got the green beans and garlic, Andy ordered the mashed potatoes, and Aimee decided on the sauteed mushrooms.  It was nice to get all the veggies and potatoes to accompany our perfectly-cooked steaks.  As it came sizzling on that hot plate, I couldn't wait to dive in!  The steak was really good and hit the spot (not the best I've had at a Ruth's Chris, and after Mastro's for my Birthday, it's going to be hard to top that).  After all the appetizers and sides I was so full that I had to take the other half of my steak home because I wanted to leave some room for dessert.  This dessert was amazing, and I'm not a big cheesecake fan but it was Honey Cinnamon Cheesecake with Chocolate Brittle.  I loved the flavor of the cheesecake!

Dinner at Ruth's Chris with Aimee & Andy!

It was nice to get to enjoy a good meal with great friends and it was Andy's first Ruth's Chris experience, so that was exciting!  I look forward to my next Ruth's Chris steak and I can't wait to have another one of those Strawberry Martini's...a perfect Summer evening in LA :)

Resolution Check-In!

We finally got some rain in LA this past week and rain makes me want to relax on the couch and watch old black and white movies with take-out and a bottle of wine.  Alas, I've got work later tonight at The Garage and I'm hoping people will want to come out and have some beer and tasty food to get out of the house during this dreary week!

Salted Caramel Goodness...

Since it's the last day in February I figured it was the perfect time to check in on my 2014 Resolutions.  I've certainly tried new Happy Hour and Restaurants in the past two months, trying Buffalo (in burger form) for the first time in January along with FIVE new restaurants during Dine LA week.  All my Dine LA restaurants have blogs dedicated to them in addition to instagram pictures.  This month I've had Happy Hour at Akasha and Dinner at Sage, a new Vegan restaurant in Culver City.  At Akasha I had a mushroom flatbread which was so good but very light so I had plenty of room for the bourbon salted caramel chocolate cake with ice cream.  Since it was Happy Hour I had to try their Citrus Germain which was vodka, elderflower liqueur, lemon bitters and agave.  It was really refreshing!  At Sage I had a mushroom and leek burger with sliced mango and a saffron aioli which was delicious and perfectly spicy in addition to amazing chocolate espresso vegan ice cream.

As for trying new things and going out of town more often, I went to Pomona for the Drag Racing Winternationals, which was also a great Hosting day since I filmed clips for another Hosting Reel I'm currently working on.  I spent a few days in Phoenix for a friend's wedding and got to enjoy beautiful 80 degree days with good people, hiking mountains, and lots of wedding fun.  I saw another Troubadour show in January as well as my first ever Three Doors Down concert which was incredible!  I've even tried some new recipes that I'm just perfecting before I post them :)

Afterbuzz TV Headshot

Advancing my career in new ways was creating this new Hosting Reel after being in Pomona for the Drag Races and also having my first meeting with my Agent to set up a plan for what we want to target in the next few months.  I'm gaining more experience at Afterbuzz TV and have had some incredible meetings with new ideas and have already set them in motion.  Getting my ideas up and running is making sure I've got my content available for people to see.  I blogged and instagramed all my Dine LA experiences because I love food and I'd love to be able to go out to restaurants and try new dishes and talk about it and I'm getting great feedback on it as well!

I'm pretty happy with how 2014 has started and thanks to the Happiness Challenge I did in January I'm continuing with the positive and getting rid of the negative.  Make sure you're surrounding yourself with people who make you feel happy and better about yourself and the future.  There's no use in keeping people in your life who make you question yourself or doubting your inner happiness.  Rock on 2014!

To follow me on Instagram check out: http://instagram.com/lyndseywegner#

Tapenade for Dine LA

I hit up another Dine LA spot on Friday, taking myself on a little Lunch date.  This time I checked out Tapenade which is located on Olympic & Sawtelle.  It was also a new restaurant and had a four course meal for $20!

My Appetizers...

Tapenade just opened a little over a year ago and serves Lunch and Dinner.  They also have a nice Happy Hour that serves full-size appetizers at half price in addition to a bunch of other great specials.  Apparently, their portions were so big for the first week of Dine LA that they changed their menu up a little.  I had picked that specific restaurant because of the menu and assured the Bartender/Manager that I would finish my meal and not throw anything away even saying to give me a smaller portion of the first appetizer.  He finally agreed but it took lots of prodding.

My meal started with the Italian-style Brussel Sprouts that had currants, pine nuts, Parmesan and vinegar.  It's a close tie with the Goat Cheese Brussel Sprouts at Freddy Smalls, because those are my favorite and these were just as good but just different.  I'll definitely go back in and try those again or the other Thai-style with mango and chili's.  Next up I did the Goat Cheese Tapenade that was served with Rosemary Bread.  I loved the goat cheese but I thought the olive tapenade was a little over-powering.  I had no problem finishing the sprouts but started to slow down after three pieces of bread and my entree hadn't even arrived!

Mushroom Fettuccine with Parmesan

I was actually chatting about food and dinner parties with a nice woman sitting just a couple bar-stools down from me and her daughter was involved in theater and music so it was nice to share insight and advice when she met up with her Mom right after my entree arrived.  I ordered the Mushroom Fettucine with chives and Parmesan.  Luckily, there wasn't a cream sauce or I think I would have fallen off my stool!  It was delicious and I loved the mushrooms but I was filling up quickly so I had them box the rest of my Lunch (only a third of my entree and one piece of the rosemary bread) so I could get to dessert.  The dessert I chose was a Chocolate Nutella Pot de Creme with a coffee cream and berries.  It was so yummy but I was so full.  I needed to finish though because I wanted to show the guy I could finish the meal but unfortunately, his shift ended early and I didn't get to prove my huge appetite.  Ah well.  So I didn't waste anything :)

Nutella Pot de Creme

Tapenade did a great job giving a wide variety of choices and providing me with a nice hearty meal.  I actually can't wait to go back and explore more of their menu.  Who's in?!

A Wednesday of Dine LA and Karaoke

It was the final week of Dine LA last week and I wanted to finish strong with at least one more Lunch and Dinner.  On Wednesday night it was Dinner at Duke's in Malibu and my first time to the restaurant, so something new for me!

I know that Duke's does Brunch on the weekends and also has a great Happy Hour so I was really looking forward to checking out the menu and trying some cocktails.  Because it was Wednesday, they had half off wine and no corkage fee so hooray for bringing a bottle in!  We decided to start with cocktails, one Basil Strawberry Cooler and a Jalapeno Margarita, both of which were delicious and refreshing.  I could have tried a bunch of others and will come back when they've got some Happy Hour deals.  For appetizers we started with Calamari that came with a Lemon Remoulade and Guava Cocktail Sauce as well as the Crab Macnut Wontons that had a Plum Sauce.  The Calamari was perfectly crispy and I loved all the sauces to dip it in but I thought the Wontons were just a little fishy but I'm super sensitive to that.

After opening the wine (Coppola is a wine you can always count on) and getting our entree's I was so excited to dig into my meal and I hadn't even taken a before picture.  I ordered a Filet with a dijon rub, creamed corn, and Yukon gold mashed potatoes.  Everything was so incredible!  The other option we went with was the Mahi Mahi with avocado, grapefruit, a ginger vinaigrette, and jasmine rice.  It was light and I loved the grapefruit and ginger flavors.  Finally, it was time for dessert and a huge piece of Hula Pie, that was macadamia nut ice cream, Oreo cookie crust, hot fudge and whipped cream, in addition to a couple scoops of chocolate ice cream.  It was certainly plenty of food!

Finally had a reason to wear my green pumps!  Wine, cocktails, and amazing Dine LA at Duke's in Malibu :)

One might ask how I can eat that much food and then go dance around and host Karaoke but I just have to thank my Jacoby blood for my love of food, and copious amounts of it.  It was actually a busy night and people got into the 90's theme that was started and I had opened with "Don't Speak" by No Doubt.  I know that 'Ballroom Blitz' by Sweet isn't a 90's song but Wayne's World is a 90's movie and I was channeling Tia Carrere when I was singing it.  What a fun song to sing, and on top of it being my new song, the crowd loved it.  Next up, I slowed it down for a little bit with Jewel's "Foolish Games" and Roxette's "Listen To Your Heart."  It was duet time for "Another Day" from Rent and "Like We Never Loved at All" by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill.  It wouldn't have been a 90's night without a little Britney Spears so I had everyone sing along to "Baby One More Time"to shut it down.

I love when the bar really gets into the music at Karaoke and people like being challenged with a theme.  Everyone did a great job and asked what our next theme night would be!  Now that's the spirit :)

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 :)

Dine LA and Karaoke on Wednesday

I got another Dine LA experience on Wednesday afternoon when I took myself out to Lunch at 2117 just down the street from me on Sawtelle.  I'd read this menu on Dine LA over the past couple of years and looked forward to a fun little Lunch on my own.

2117 is an Asian Fusion restaurant and the menu looked really interesting and seemed reasonably priced so I thought I would check it out.  I don't dine out alone very often but I wasn't worried about it at all until I felt like the waitress was looking at me a little funny and everyone else was sitting in groups.  Overall, the waitress was on top of re-filling my water but never once asked how anything was so that was a little discouraging.  I ordered the Japanese Tai Snapper Carpacchio, the Crispy Cilantro-Crusted Wild Mexican Shrimp, and then the XO Brandy Creme Brulee.  While the Snapper tasted delicious and was a generous portion, the presentation was a little messy and the green color wasn't necessarily appetizing.  The waitress told me the Shrimp was going to be spicy and I said that was great, but when it came, it wasn't spicy at all, and I felt the description and title of the Shrimp made it seem much more up-scale when it was just shrimp tempura.  The shrimp was ok but the risotto/rice was really good and a nice compliment to it.  The Creme Brulee was my favorite part, it was creamy and had a great sweet flavor.  This meal was $20 and I felt like I got my money's worth but nothing wowed me and it's not someplace I would suggest to anyone and that's a bummer.

Dine LA Lunch at 2117

On Wednesday night I hosted Karaoke at Gabe's and started the night with 'When I'm Gone,' by 3 Doors Down which was my new song last week.  I then did 'Promises In The Dark' by Pat Benatar but switched it up to The Supreme's singing one of my favorites, 'Baby Love.'  I was feeling the rock vibe so I did 'November Rain' by Guns & Roses and also 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police which was my best performance of that.  My new song of the night was Lady Gaga's 'Bad Romance' which was a lot of fun to sing and a good challenge to myself with the wordiness of the song in addition to low and high parts that need a lot of power behind them.  I closed out the night with 'Run' by Leona Lewis because I couldn't even remember the last time I sang that.  It's a difficult song but I lowered the key which helped.  It was a busy night filled with lots of singers and some strong song choices!

It really was a fun night of Karaoke and a nice little lunch date for myself on a good ol' Wednesday!

Dine LA starts at La Vecchia!

One of my resolutions was to eat at new restaurants or try new Happy Hours at least once a month.  In trying new things, I hit up La Vecchia in Santa Monica last night for one of my favorite times of the year, Dine LA.  Restaurant Week comes twice a year for a week or two and I joke with friends that this is what I save money for; I don't need a new purse, or pair of heels, I want an incredible dining experience.  La Vecchia proved to be just right.

Dine LA is offered at restaurants throughout Los Angeles and it's a three-course prix fixe menu.  At lunch, and depending on the price of food and location, prices are $15, $20, or $25 and at dinner, they're $25, $35, or $45.  La Vecchia was $35 per person without tax and gratuity, and was a steal considering my entree alone was valued at $49!

Let's get to the food!  I started with the Insalta Di Burrata which was heirloom tomatoes, fresh burrata cheese, proscuitto, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt, and basil.  I've tried proscuitto in the past and I'm not really a big fan and after trying it again last night, I'm still not into it.  But the burrata, tomatoes, and basil were so fresh and delicious, that was all I wanted and it was very satisfying.

Look at that burrata!

For my second course I was debating on getting the Filet with a leek and mushroom port wine sauce but decided on a traditional Italian meal getting the Gnocchi Ai Funghi Porcini E Vitello Con Tartuffo.  Breaking that down, it was the fluffiest, tiny little delicious pillows of gnocchi which was house-made, porcini mushrooms and a cream sauce, with sauteed veal and fresh shaved Italian black winter truffles.  The Chef, Mark Mollica, came over to the table to check on the meal and said he didn't want to waste the truffle and would I mind if he shaved the rest onto my plate.  I know how valuable a truffle is so I certainly didn't want it to go to waste and appreciated every little bit of it.  I'm not totally sure but I believe this was my first time eating veal and while the pieces were pretty small, I thought it tasted similar to chicken.  Overall, the entree was absolutely fabulous.

So many truffles covering the perfect gnocchi...

Next up it was time for dessert.  I knew as soon as I had scoped out the place on-line I was ordering the Molten Chocolate Cake which really needs no description.  It was as incredible as you could dream it to be.  As soon as I spooned out my first piece, the chocolatey goodness melted out and it was the perfect way to end the meal!

Perfection.

My overall thoughts about the meal, ambiance, and staff, are good.  The food was excellent and the server was sweet and attentive.  She was from Wisconsin so I always have an instant connection with my Midwestern peeps.  I thought it was great that the Chef came out to check on the meal and topped off my plate with extra truffles.  Plus, his presentation was impeccable.  Because it was extremely busy as this was the first day for Dine LA, the restaurant was packed, and you were sitting pretty close to the neighboring tables.  When I go again, I'll request the table right next to the front window.  Initially, there was no Host, but I believe it was the Manager who came over, and said he'd be back in five minutes.  I had made a reservation so I wish he would have asked right away versus brushing us off, and I watched the two women who had come in after me, stand waiting at the front door for at least five minutes more before they were seated.  Later on I had another conversation with him after the restaurant had almost emptied out and he was a little abrupt and not very friendly which was slightly disappointing but that wouldn't stop me from coming back.

This sets the bar for the rest of my Dine LA experiences this week and it's going to be tough to match :)