Foodie Archives - Page 3 of 4

Sangers And Joe in Pasadena

February 9, 2016 By AJ Leave a Comment

So what’s a “Sanger?” Well in Australia, it appears to be slang for sandwich, so I’m going with that.

I don’t frequent Pasadena enough, which is a shame because it’s not a bad drive from my home and it’s a rather charming city that hosts a wide array of restaurants. I am particularly fond of Old Town Pasadena, and not just because my favorite frozen yogurt shop is there.

At the end of last year, I discovered a lovely cafe in Old Town called Sangers & Joe. They opened their doors in October, serving up coffee, tea, pastries and delectable breakfast and lunch plates from award-winning Chef Claudio Dell’Anno. In November they added a weekend brunch menu from Chef Rouha Sadighi (The Rooster Breakfast Food Truck, Cutthroat Kitchen winner) with tasty scrambles, benedicts and crepes alongside some of Chef Sadighi’s signature specialties.

Rounding out this new menu are five classic brunch dishes, including a classic eggs benedict and, keeping the “sandwich” in Sanger, the “Breakfast Sanger” — an open-faced ciabatta bread delight topped with scrambled eggs, gouda and bacon. You cannot go wrong with the eggs benedict. I loved that the ham was sliced thin and it made the dish easier to cut into. Their hollandaise sauce is perfection. I enjoyed the Breakfast Sanger but I did feel like the bread could have been heavier — it was a little too flaky for my liking.

But surprisingly, my favorite thing we shared was the avocado toast. Made quite simply with a squeeze of lime over it, it was unbelievably good. You can add a poached egg to it if you like to make it more breakfasty, but it was really delicious as is and when I go back, that’s what I’m having.

And I’ll probably have it with a Chai Tea Latte because it was equally good. They have a massive coffee and tea selection but this is always my go-to to test the “waters.” It was lovely.

The place is really lovely, adjoined to a terrific, independent shop filled with unique vintage furniture items and home trinkets, perfectly positioned for you to take a stroll after you’ve eaten, with convenient street and public parking all around.

A fun touch? A community library! I was tempted to borrow something but I’ve got a stack of books to read already…. I will definitely bring some to donate next time I go, though.

For more information, including the entire, wonderful menu, visit their website.

Bella Julia Cooks With Love

December 23, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

If you’re any kind of foodie, you’ve probably heard how food cooked with love tastes better – yes? Well on a side-street in Hollywood, Chef Chaza Smith is cooking up a STORM of love at Bella Julia and it radiates out of the food as much as it does out of her very being when she greets you or tells you a little about herself. She is positively charming and has a joyous spirit — I was (obviously) really taken with her. In her kitchen she combines Italian and French influences to conjure up delicious, fresh and unique plates with seasonal ingredients that are sustainably grown and non-GMO.

But enough about my new girl-crush. I guess I ought to tell you about the food, yes?

My friend and I shared two dishes. My favorite was the Biscuit du Jour – a flakey biscuit, fried egg, cheddar, crispy bacon, arugula and roasted onion aioli. I only ordered it because the waiter said it was “wonderful savory heaven on a plate” and it turns out the man speaks the truth. It was so, so good – I immediately announced to no one in particular that I could eat it for every meal.

My other favorite (see what I did there?) was the Lemon Basil Pancake. We chose that because it just sounded so unusual! Served with scrambled eggs, Roma tomatoes, creamy rosemary butter and a perfect syrup (sweet, but not too sweet), it was definitely unusual but also shockingly good. While I may live with the regret of not trying the Brioche French Toast, I’m quite happy I took a chance on this menu item.

We also had a side of bacon. Because no brunch is complete without it. Rest assured it did not disappoint either.

While brunch is always my favorite meal, I do feel a little remorse because I so very much wanted to try more items off of Bella Julia’s menu. But oh well! I guess I’ll have to return soon! Luckily, Chef Chaza found a sweet way to treat me — when she saw me eyeing a neighboring table’s order of chicken wings, she brought us a sample! Not your typical wings, by the way — I don’t know how she fries them but OMG. And crusted with parmesan, I tell you. DELICIOUS. Not your typical dessert but it was a perfect ending to the meal.

As I began this post gushing with love for the Chef, let me just close by showing you this. The tattoo on her arm of a lemon, because it’s symbol to her of freshness and flavor and, in essence, life. She smiled as she told me about it. And so I left the restaurant full… and smiling as well.

Bella Julia is located at 6363 Yucca St. in Hollywood and not to worry, there is a ton of street parking available in the area.

A New Favorite Brunch – Girasol in Studio City

November 30, 2015 By AJ 1 Comment

Before I moved in the Fall of 2014, I lived just a few blocks away from 11334 Moorpark St., a restaurant space rather famous in our neighborhood for nothing lasting in it very long. Something would go in and we’d all start placing bets on how long the new dining establishment would last. And sure enough, it would be gone in a hurry — onto the next. Rinse. Repeat.

But I started to see Top Chef fan-favorite (and one of my Top Chef favorites!) CJ Jacobson around the neighborhood. I walked by him on the street once, I saw him in my local coffee shop… And I wondered if perhaps he was going to be next up in the seemingly doomed space and felt optimistic about it. Three years later, we still have Girasol in that no-longer-doomed space and I recently paid a visit to try their brunch menu.

CJ’s craft is best described as “rustic-refined” and revolves around a profound respect for the hyper-seasonal, local ingredients he brings into his kitchen at Girasol, which he conceptually collaborated on with Jorge Pultera, former manager at The Ivy, Koi and Red O. From the moment you walk into the restaurant, you know you’re in for something special because CJ and Jorge took the ambiance seriously. The entire space is really beautiful.

In fact, everything about Girasol is really beautiful — from the kind staff to the cocktails to the food. Everything is art there. Each day you can order from their craft cocktails or wine menu, or you can try whatever the bartender has customized for the day. We were treated to a minty, crisp, refreshing cocktail that I could perhaps relate to you by saying it’s like a moscow mule but better. And I wanted to try something non-alcoholic as well so I landed on a prickly pear (which is cactus)”soda.” It wasn’t as sweet as I thought it would be but still very good and refreshing. And again – artful in presentation. It almost glowed.

When it was time to eat we were more than happy to begin with their homemade bread, herb butter and jams. Absolutely delicious and could very well be a meal in of itself if you allow it…. But don’t. It’s delicious but save room for your meal. Trust me.

The unanimous staff recommendation seemed to mandate we also tried the Octopus Gazpacho starter. I’ve actually had octopus before — it’s quite good though I still can’t bring myself to eat the really squigly tentacle pieces. They served it up with cucumber, avocado, some mixed greens and tomatillo. Again, I could have had this as a meal. Apparently the dish was inspired by a salad on their regular menu — which I now need to return to try.

Look how green and fresh it looks! It tastes that good, too.

Instead of each having our own main courses, we shared two. I think if we asked they would have brought us everything on the menu but I selected two stand-outs. The Bread Pudding French Toast was basically dessert. I’ve never had French toast like that. And I don’t know what they do with the syrup but it’s the best damned syrup I ever had, I tell you. The Maine Lobster Benedict just blew my mind, though. Once I took a bite of that I was making proclamations of love and lust and declaring Girasol my new favorite brunch spot in all the land.

Here’s the thing I quickly realized as well. Despite all that we ate, we didn’t feel sick or stuffed. There wasn’t any of that heaviness that usually comes with eating really rich food. Everything we ate certainly seemed rich and decadent but I only felt satisfied and happy at the conclusion of the meal. I think that comes with all the wonderful, fresh, organic ingredients Girasol prides themselves on. Clearly everything we dined on was of the absolute best quality.

And I stand by my statement – it really is my new favorite brunch spot and I urge you all to try it. I hope it lasts years and years and years in that formerly-doomed building on Moorpark. When I drive or walk by there now, I certainly won’t think of it as doomed anymore. Much more likely I’ll have lobster benedict fantasies.

Brunch Doesn’t Need to be Fancy to be Delicious

September 8, 2015 By AJ 1 Comment

Delicious brunch need not be fancy, nor need it be expensive. Hear me out. Just because I am the Queen of Brunch does not mean I assign a price minimum or dress code requirement to the activity. Truth be told, I love me a good greasy spoon or diner. So here are a few I highly recommend.

NAT’S EARLY BITE – SHERMAN OAKS [website]

Set in a rather slummy strip mall on the edge of Sherman Oaks, Nat’s Early Bite (pictured above) offers nothing in decor but more than makes up for it with a huge menu, charming staff who’s probably treated like family by the owners, and great prices.

Eggs Benedict? $9.95. Two eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast? $9.25. And we’re talkin’ those good, O.G. hash browns. Not potatoes, not “home fries,” HASH BROWNS. French toast with eggs and bacon? $9.50.

Stop by and don’t let the outside scare you. It’s clean, it’s delicious, and it opens at 6 AM. Tell your brunch buddies you’ve found a real gem set aside from all the celebrity chefs trying to outdo one another with gluten-free Tahitian vanilla waffles with a light berry compote or housemade apple sausage over fennel with a lump crab egg whites scramble (and I did not make those dishes up, guys). Sometimes, dammit, you just want bacon and eggs and refillable coffee.

BEABEA’s – BURBANK [website]

Brace yourself. It’s pretty hard to go to BeaBea’s without waiting for a table. But you might try your luck at an “off hour” and see where that gets you. Regardless, it’s worth it because HOLY CRAP PANCAKES.

On the pancakes menu:

Apple Cobbler: Baked apples & almonds on buttermilk pancakes
Chocolate Tuxedo: Chocolate chips & brownie pieces topped with mascarpone cream, whipped cream & powdered sugar
S’mores Pancakes: Graham crackers, marshmallows & chocolate chip pancakes
House signature, golden pumpkin pancakes
Matcha green tea pancakes, green tea mascarpone, white chocolate chips & whipped cream

I’m just giving you a thorough tour but I promise you can’t go wrong here with just a plain stack of buttermilk pancakes. Nor can you go wrong with their french toast – just as many crazy choices here – or simply eggs, bacon, etc. Not quite the greasy spoon you’re looking at with Nat’s; it’s a little more well-kempt, but you’re not in Beverly Hills either – there is not an ounce of pretension in the place.

Pro-tip: Like I said, you’ll wait for a table and there’s not really anywhere to wait except outside, which trickles into the parking lot. If it’s hot, this could suck. Dress accordingly, bring sunscreen and sunglasses. I’m not even joking! I came home from BeaBea’s with a sunburn the first time I went. Of course, I’m also a pasty white broad who burns faster than toast. Also, if you don’t care where you sit (i.e. the makeshift outdoor seating or the counter), you’ll get seated a lot faster.

JINKY’S STUDIO CAFE – STUDIO CITY [website]

I’m not really sure what the history is here. Originally named just “Studio Cafe” but owned by the rather famous Jinky’s Cafe guys, maybe they were trying to establish a new brand? But I don’t think the place ever really drew a crowd til they threw “Jinky’s” up on the sign, changed the umbrellas and then BOOM.

You’ll wait here as well and what’s more, be warned that parking BLOWS. Find a street spot in the nearby neighborhoods and walk there. Thank me later.

So you’re basically getting a BeaBea’s redux here — lots of crazy pancake dishes to choose from, including the amazing, decadent red velvet pancakes that lead Jinky’s to breakfast fame — but with some added bonuses. For starters, TATER TOTS. And if you prefer, sweet potato tater tots. (I’m the only person in Los Angeles that hates sweet potatoes but I know that’s weird.)

Studio Cafe also has a proper patio. And even though you’re on a busy corner, it manages to be kind of private, intimate and quiet. They also discourage cell phone use, which I kinda dig, even though it gives me the shakes. But nothing cures the shakes more than a good mimosa, and of all the places mentioned here, Studio Cafe is the only one with a FULL BAR, so that’s a terrific perk! They also have TVs in case there’s a major sporting event you don’t want to miss and they’re open late (10 PM, 11 PM Thursday – Sunday) in case you get a late night breakfast craving, because it’s served all day and night!

(Note: They do post signs discouraging cell phones but I also found out they offer free WiFi so your guess is as good as mine, kids.)

SO WHAT’S MISSING?

I kept this list to my neighborhood but there are plenty of other, similar spots across town like Cici’s in Tarzana or even Du-par’s, which has a few locations – even one in Las Vegas (they’re only ok but they’re open 24 hours which probably serves them well in a town where very little else is). If you’ve got a great diner in mind that I should add to my bookmarks, please share it in the comments! I love to expand my brunch database!

River Rock in Studio City Serves Disappointment

August 24, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

In their defense, I saw the reviews on Yelp, and I went anyway…

I guess that’s on me but there are definitely some favorable reviews in there too, and I wanted to give River Rock at The Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City the benefit of the doubt. But I’m afraid they served up nothing but disappointment from the moment I walked through the door.

We were rather rushed out to our table on the patio. Probably because inside, it was empty and the buffet wasn’t done being set up yet. But then, the patio wasn’t set up either. The ground was wet, the tables weren’t set with anything except Tabasco and A-1 sauce (interesting sauce choices and hello? napkins, plates, silverware…), and there’s no decor outside anyway so aside from being next to a little lake, it was rather… ordinary.

A series of unfortunate events unfurled once the five of us were seated.

We sat there for a long time before the waiter finally showed up. He was surprised to see us. It was incredibly awkward.
Things came out slowly. First we got waters and then delightful little baskets of mini croissants with chocolate dipping sauce. But the plates, napkins and silverware didn’t arrive til later. So we stared at the delightful little baskets for a while, which was tortuous.
Eventually our drinks came. Eventually sweetener and cream came.
The food came and that was the biggest disaster. Everything was lukewarm or even cold. And one of our orders completely got by the server — he never put it in. He didn’t even seem apologetic about it. He came outside twice to ask my friend what she’d ordered as if she’d misplaced it and he was just trying to help her find it. She asked if he could just bring her a side of eggs and he walked away without acknowledging it leaving us to wonder if they were coming or not.
He was inside doing lord knows what when she finally gave up, went inside, and asked for a side of eggs so she’d at least have something to eat. They came out quickly, actually, but were overcooked and buttery. I give her credit for eating them but I am sure she was famished by then.
My dish came with a side of potatoes and a side of fruit. This is what my plate looked like:

Yeah, that’s a slice of orange and half a strawberry.
And this is what my eggs looked like inside:

We asked for salt and pepper. It never came. One of my friends went inside to get it.
We asked for drink refills that never came. Twice or three times we asked.
We asked for to-go boxes (for the more edible items) that never came.
The check came and we were so grateful to not have to wait for it, we put it all on one card just to expedite getting the eff out of there. I half expected (nay, I completely expected) that my friend’s last-minute eggs would at least be taken care of but no. No discount, no apology, not a word.
Around us, I could see other tables waiting and food getting sent back. The only thing the server consistently seemed to be waiting on were the bottomless mimosas. Those things got refilled ad nauseam. Maybe their policy is that a drunk customer is the customer who doesn’t notice their food taking 35 minutes to show up.

On our way out, I couldn’t let our experience go unnoticed. I slipped inside and asked for the manager and told him our experience had been horrible.

“Like how?” he asked.

So I gave him this list as I’ve given it to you. And frankly, he didn’t seem to care. Or maybe he just wasn’t surprised. I still don’t understand how we got through that whole meal and never heard an apology.

All that said, because we enjoy each others’ company, we had a nice time. And, I guess, now we have a story to tell… and Yelp reviews to write.

Wine and Cheese Mondays at Bow and Truss

August 17, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

Hey Angelenos, if you haven’t spent any time in the North Hollywood Arts District, you’re missing out on a ton of fabulous restaurants, bars, a great independent movie theater and a ton of little theaters and shops. I love pockets of LA where there’s a ton to do in walking distance.

I’m lucky because I get to call this particular pocket of LA “home.”

And if anyone is looking for me on Labor Day, as I close out the long weekend, you are likely to find me at Bow and Truss, where they are hosting wine and cheese tastings on the first Monday of every month. The restaurant typically features a Latin inspired menu but on these nights, expect to try wines from all over the world.

Everything is wonderfully laid out, too, so the anticipation builds from the moment you sit down. As everything begins to come out to the table, you really learn a lot about will power!

A couple tips. First of all, it’s a lot of wine and a little cheese so do not plan on this being dinner (unless you are prone to a drinkable dinner in which case, no judgement from me). Second, go with an open mind! I went in believing I’m a red wines only gal and was shocked to find the very first wine, Belasco de Baquedano Rosa de Malbec from Argentina, remained my favorite throughout the entire tasting. Why have I stayed away from rosé wines all these years? It was sparkling, cool and refreshing.

I must confess that true to form, I did not care for the white wines, one an Edna Valley blend and the other a California Sauvignon Blanc, but it was still fun to try them and they were still a good compliment to the cheeses they were paired with.

Pinot Noir is my favorite wine in general, so happily, wine #4, Poppy Pinot Noir from Monterey, did not disappoint, although the final wine, a Malbec, was my second-favorite overall.

I really enjoyed the cheeses, of course, and all for different reasons. The first one, a straveccio cheese, was similar to pecorino romano — something like that. It was a hard cheese but the most salty and flavorful of the night for me. The next cheese was duller flavored with some Rosemary to it, which I don’t usually care for, but it was subtle and was the only thing keeping me drinking the white wines. We also had a terrific aged white cheddar and I learned something — cheddar is naturally white. Anytime you eat yellow cheddar, it’s just food coloring. I guess that seems obvious but it never occurred to me before. The Golden Valley Ewe that came next was great as was the creamy, final cheese, which also had the fanciest name: Brebirousse d’Argent. I would describe it as a richer brie.

The restaurant has done a really terrific job putting this together. It is only $25 for the experience and I can’t believe how much value you get for that money. These were generous pours of high-end wines and sophisticated cheeses. Plus, their patio is a beautiful and perfect place to spend an evening if you want to be outside. It’s the best in the neighborhood and this would be fun to do as a couple with other couples, or just with a group of friends. I think it would be a fun girls night out.

Two giant, drunken thumbs up from me for wine and cheese Mondays at Bow and Truss. Check out their website for more details about reservations, their menu, this wine and cheese series and their other great events like movie nights on the patio.

MORE:

Located at 11122 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood
There is a rather pricey valet parking attendant out front which you may have to give into. Street parking is hard to find.
You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Thank you Bow and Truss for hosting me and my guest for this lovely event.

How to eat a churro ice cream sandwich

June 15, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

Happy days indeed.

To best tackle a Churro Ice Cream Sandwich you will need the following:

A big appetite – it looks small, but it’s really filling.
A spoon – you’re not actually going to be able to eat it like a sandwich.
Wipes – your fingers are going to get sticky. Don’t even try to fight it.
Several napkins — see #3.
If possible, a shirt you don’t care about. It drips.

It is a decadent, delicious, super sweet treat!

Of course, there is plenty else to love at the charming Happy Days Cafe in Sherman Oaks. It is a light, airy space with some outdoor seating, perfect for people watching on Ventura Blvd. The staff is super friendly — they know they’re selling you a unique item and love to talk about it. And there is also a menu of coffees, teas and other beverages.

Solid tip: Get a hot chocolate and dunk your churros in it.

I loved everything but I think if I had to choose a least favorite I’d throw the churro waffles under the bus, if only because they were the least churro-y item. And yes, I really just used “churro-y” as an adjective….

But is a waffle covered in a chocolate syrup ever bad? No. No it’s not.

It was a fun, indulgent treat and a good time with a group of friends. You won’t do it every weekend but you should do it at least once. They opened at noon yesterday and it was not crowded but I hope they’re all the rage soon so that they stay around a long time. In any case, grab some friends you haven’t seen in a while, drop $10 on some churros for the table, order a tea, and enjoy a great space for Sunday chit chat. It also happens to be a great part of the boulevard — there are some cute shops nearby you could walk down to after.

A note about parking — you’ll want to try to score a spot on the street first. There are also a couple spots right behind the cafe, off the alley. Otherwise, there are a couple public lots that charge.

Happy Days Cafe knew what they were doing with that name.

The Corner Door in Culver City

May 26, 2015 By AJ 1 Comment

Listen up, please. This is important to me.

Everything about The Corner Door in Culver City is delicious and wonderful. From the neighborhood to the staff to the food on down.

But don’t go there.

The cocktails my friend and I enjoyed were sweet… but not too sweet. We had a a “Topless Mermaid” which is composed of vodka, pineapple, banana rose, blue curacao and lime, as well as a “House French 75” which has gin, lillet rose, lemon, sugar, peach bitters and sparkling wine. They were served quite chilled and were very refreshing.

But you need not concern yourself with these divine libations.

To start, we had the French Fries “Carbonade.” It is HANDS DOWN the best french fry dish I’ve ever had. Crispy spuds topped with beer-braised beef, farmhouse cheese and a roasted garlic aioli made of garlic, Dijon, egg yolks, malt vinegar, and garlic oil.

It’s an amazing dish but you don’t want it. Even if you had it, you’d eat it quickly and be so full, you’d not be able to enjoy anything else! That would be so sad.

Also, you definitely don’t want the Brussels Sprouts. Just skip right past those.

With apologies to my friend, I happily ate most of them. It was a shameful thing to do so I ask you not to stand in the same position. I must warn you against ordering the tasty dish.

Moving on from there, we had absurdly good entrees. The lobster and shrimp bolognese with squid ink capellini as well as a braised short rib special — the meat just fell onto my fork and melted in my mouth with every bite. The sauce on the pasta was good enough to drink.

Terrible. Stuffing my belly this way. A real crime. Don’t even think about doing it to yourself.

And whatever you do, do not ask to sit in Patrick’s section. You’ll end up falling in love with him and who needs a broken heart? Plus, he’ll talk you into ordering dessert, even when you’re full, and you’ll end up with something atrocious like sticky toffee pudding.

Just look at it. Taunting me from deep in it’s lair.

I ate every single last bite just to spite it. They won’t beat me at The Corner Door.

You see, the food is wonderful, the environment warm and inviting and the people are friendly.

But it’s a fairly small place. And I want to go back there so really, do me a favor and don’t go there. If you all go, then it will be harder for me to get a seat. You’ll only end up eating all their delicious eats too quickly, getting a nice buzz off their hand crafted cocktails or great wine list. You’ll end up spending too much on their small plates and weep over your empty wallet. I’m doing you a favor, in truth. Let me go. Let me take this one for the team.

I will keep going to The Corner Door so you don’t have to. 😉

More:

Located at 12477 Washington Blvd. in Culver City
Parking on the street is fairly easy there
Website
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

Say “Aloha!” to Pono Burger

May 11, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

ALOHA INDEED!

I had one of the best milkshakes I’ve ever had at Pono Burger in Santa Monica. The Oatmeal Stout Milkshake is made with organic vanilla ice cream, Anderson Valley Oatmeal Stout, housemade salted caramel sauce, whipped cream and toasted coconut chips. (I should note it’s only for the 21-and-over crowd.) It is one of several new items added to the charming, beachy restaurant’s menu for Spring.

I found the biggest mind blowers from the Pono Burger menu were the beverages, actually. The food was great and I’ll get to that, but I wanted to start with the superstars — this milkshake as well as their homemade, delicious strawberry lemonade and some really unique, tasty, organic cherry cola. I was really glad I let the server talk me into that cola — I am trying to find it in a store so I can buy it for home.

It was a hard choice – especially with the recent menu additions, but I settled on the Piku “Fig” Burger. It is dressed with “drunken” caramelized fig jam, brie, bacon, arugula and balsamic (it normally has crushed hazelnuts on it as well but due to allergies, I went without). It was a juicy, wonderful tasting sandwich with every bite. All of the flavors came together as a really savory party in my mouth, guys. Highly recommend this one. I think I even appreciated it more later on, when I had time to process it. Like when you see a movie and like it even more an hour after you see it.

My partner in crime for the day ordered the Kuawa Burger and was kind enough to save me a bite or two. The server made a great call suggesting she add avocado to it — that was great — and the best part was that it had potato chips on it. How could you not love that? A burger with a salty, satisfying crunch?! Amazing.

At places like this, I always find myself sad I don’t have more than a +1 with me or, at least, a giant stomach and a body that never gained weight. I’m just never able to try as many items as I’d like but I guess that just means I’ll have to go back for the Sassy Wahine burger (wasabi mayo and ponzu!) and more of those delicious fries. Frankly, the fries were only secondary to the homemade aioli they serve them with.

If I haven’t made it clear enough, I was really impressed with the service. The management could not have been nicer and our server was sweet and informed and gave an honest opinion when we asked for it. Sometimes you’re going to find servers pre-programmed with salesy shtick so I value that kind of thing. The overall aesthetic of the place is very tied into the beach being nearby as well as the Hawaiian traditions the owner draws inspiration from. “Pono,” by the way, means “to do things the right way” and they certianly are. Everything about Pono burger is, at the core, honest, as well as charming, communal, familial… and really yummy.

More:

Parking is available in an underground garage – it’s free!
Pono Burger website
On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Magnolia House Pasadena – A Neighborhood Gem

March 11, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

Entering Magnolia House in Pasadena, it’s like you’ve entered some secret back alley.

Not to worry – no one is going to steal your wallet. Down this alley and around the corner is a glorious bar and intimate restaurant that serves up fabulous cocktails and amazing food. And I’m not even exaggerating — the entry is kind of an alley…. Built over 100 years ago, Magnolia has been a family home, a post-Prohibition liquor store and a myriad of modern businesses. They have preserved that house-feeling so incredibly well (I mean, case and point – you can see the actual house in this photo) and the result is pretty unique.

But enough about the setting. Can we talk about the experience? The food? The drinks?

At first, I was concerned as a possibly misguided hostess thought it was okay to seat me and my guest in a corner completely out of view of the rest of the restaurant, behind a loud party of about 10 people. But the manager wasn’t having it (frankly, I wasn’t either) and had her move us almost immediately to a proper spot, dead center of all the action. He and our fantastic server wasted no time making recommendations so I started off with the “Everyday Sunshine” – a cocktail that contained everything I love in life: vodka, pineapple, raspberry, lime…. It was sweet and delicious. I’m a pretty girly drinker and I know a lot of y’all are too. Don’t even try to be all tough with that bourbon I can smell from nine feet away.

Some of you have probably realized by now that I almost always bring a guest with me on these restaurant visits. It’s not because I hate dining alone — on the contrary, I rather enjoy it. It’s really because as a single person, it’s hard to sample enough of the menu to make a fair evaluation… Also so I don’t send myself into fatal obesity stuffing my face with great food at a place like Magnolia House.

We began with something simple and small – NUTS. I’m not joking. (Although I am giggling like a teenager every time I type NUTS.) And not just any nuts. The black truffle infused sea salt pistachios come out in a little bucket and this is where having my friend was handy. Because were she not present, I may have opened my mouth and just poured that bucket out. Pistachios are my favorite nut, guys, but these were unreal.

Of course, I could not pass up trying the Brussels sprouts, too. They are made with pistachio pesto, bacon, and pecornio cheese with a flash fried poached egg on top. Also unreal. I dreamed about these sprouts for many nights after. My sexy man dreams were getting jealous.

We weren’t done with shared plates yet because then I simply had to try the king crab mac & cheese. It was among some of the best mac & cheese I’ve ever tasted. It didn’t even need the crab, but I certainly enjoyed that, too!

Oh but wait — then it was time for a second cocktail and I was feeling a little more brave so at the manager’s urging I tried the “Phantom Engineer” which is mezcal, rye, grapefruit, lime and aperitif wine (it’s basically vermouth, I believe). He was right to urge. I liked it better than my earlier beverage.

I was already nearing full but the team insisted their burger was to die for and I do love a good burger. So it arrived and we split it in half. THE CHEESE won me over before I even put it in my mouth. They make their own American cheese! How nuts is that?! And it also has bourbon onions and thick-cut smoked bacon. It is definitely an amazing burger. Maybe even my top five. I’ll have to have it again and will let you know…

In the end, it came down to dessert or polishing off the pistachios I hadn’t consumed yet so for the good of this review, I had the bread pudding. It was wonderful. But then I had nut-regret. They were so stinking good and how could I just let half a bucket of nuts go to waste like that?!

Answer: I couldn’t. I begged for a plastic baggy. They obliged.

Added bonus? They bring the check out in a “little black book.” We enjoyed flipping through it and reading previous customer contributions. Naturally, we left our own. Luckily my friend has a sense of humor.

More:

Official website
Their socials – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Parking – street parking? When we went, there wasn’t a valet but we found a lot behind the building that seemed like it was safe.
Pro tip – It’s a fairly small restaurant and they do not take reservations. Plan accordingly.