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 :)

Masterchef :)

One of my favorite Competition Cooking Shows is 'Masterchef.'  I think everyone gets to see a softer side of Gordon Ramsey versus his more passionate side on 'Hell's Kitchen.'  I also love Graham Elliot and Joe Bastianich who left after last season and Christina Tosi joined the cast this season.  I was elated when my friend, Thi, who is a producer for the show, asked if I would like to attend a VIP Lunch cooked by the contestants on 'Masterchef,' and happily said yes!

Giana & I at the taping for 'Masterchef'

We filmed the 100th episode back in February at the Trump National Golf Club in Palos Verdes and the episode aired in early July.  Being a fan of the show I knew what to expect:  A couple different courses, prepared by two different teams, with a vote at the end deciding which team would go into a Pressure Test later in the episode that we wouldn't even see.  My Mom and I went to the Botanical Gardens in Palos Verdes a couple years ago so I knew the view would be incredible but I had no idea the set-up for 'Masterchef,' would be so elegant, inviting, and fun!  There were over 100 VIP chefs, critics, restauranteurs, bloggers, and guests at the taping.  I was very excited to be amongst so many food people; it was literally a dream come true!  I brought my friend, Giana, with me as well, and after a glass of Champagne we were ready for Lunch.

Our table of VIP Guests...so fancy!

As in any taping of a live show, there's a lot of time you're waiting for cameras, food, and people.  After a quick walk of the red carpet and bartenders making sure our glasses were never empty, we finally got our first course about an hour after we sat down.  There were two foodie firsts for me at this Lunch, and having Caviar for the first time was one of them!  The appetizer included Malpeque Oysters and Royal Ossetra Caviar (which in it's smallest size is available for retail at $144).  *I just looked to find out how much it cost since I had never had Caviar prior to this.*  The entree was starring Duck Breast (another first for me; my Mom had ordered it at Dinner a few times but I never tried it since it always looked a little scary).

The Blue Team presented their appetizer as a Butter Poached Oyster with a Cucumber & Apple Pickle and Caviar Viniagarette.  The Oyster was served on a piece of Endive with a Yogurt as well and really was delicious.  It was light, you got the citrus in the Caviar, and the Oyster was sweet and clean, all the flavors standing out but working together to coexist in one awesome dish.  Lucky for us, we each got three!  Graham asked me what I thought about the dish and I was happy to tell him about how great the dish was and describe like I did above.  The entree was a seared Moroccan spiced Duck with Forbidden Rice and roasted Fennel.  The flavor of the Duck was incredible but according to our table was over-cooked (and I had no idea since it was my first time eating it).  I did notice it wasn't medium rare and difficult to cut but still tasted really flavorful.

Excited to eat some awesome food on the bus ride over to the Golf Course
and then some Giana and Lyndsey spottings during the Episode :)

After our courses we were given a ballot to rate our appetizer and entree and write any notes we had.  When I watched the episode it seemed like both teams had some trouble with the consistency of the Duck and I do believe our Oyster was better but in the end, the Red Team won.  Since neither team knew if they won or lost we all got to enjoy the festivities as well as the Celebration Cake that Christina made.  In typical Lyndsey fashion, I was still hungry and there was plenty of cake to go around so I ended up getting two pieces (I did share some with Giana) and it was glorious!  It was like a Funfetti Cake but better with what I can only describe as Cake Crunchies baked into it.

Cheers to Masterchef's 100th Episode!

Overall, it was such a blast to be involved in one of my favorite cooking shows and also be a part of the 100th episode of 'Masterchef.'  We got a VERY high-end delicious meal, enjoyed some wonderful company and libations, and a fabulous experience.  Now, if only I could Host a Cooking Show!

*You can watch the show here: Masterchef's 100th Episode*