Hollywood Archives - AJ Feuerman

The 2016 BRUNCHIES

December 22, 2016 By AJ 1 Comment

The Best Brunch in Los Angeles in 2016

Happy holidays, fellow foodies and welcome to the 2016 Brunchies, recognizing the best brunch in Los Angeles in 2016.

In Los Angeles, Brunch is a part of our culture. It’s oversized sunglasses and purposefully tousled ponytails, three-day-old beards, and whatever wasn’t already in the laundry when you got dressed. It’s bottomless mimosas and craft Bloody Marys. Brunch is a celebration of all things — the end of a fabulous (or not fabulous) weekend! Our fabulous lives! Our abysmal lives! A day that ends in ‘y’! Whatever. It’s delicious. Who cares.

In 2014, when I was freelancing for The Bold Italic’s short-lived Los Angeles bureau, I was charged with giving out a series of Brunch awards, which I lovingly named “The Brunchies.” Alas, they are a defunct bureau yet my love of Brunch lives on in infinitum. So I decided to resurrect the honors and let you all in on the biggest hits of my 2016 brunch life.

Best View

The Penthouse (Santa Monica)

I’ve cited this one before but you just can’t beat their view. The food is good — you’ll find traditional items like Benedict and baked eggs but you’ll also find a killer rigatoni and pan seared Branzino. Make sure you save some room and your calories so you can start the meal with their cinnamon rolls or enjoy some dessert afterward. You get 360 degree views there but ladies, make a stop in the bathroom, too. The view from the last stall is something patrons wait in line for!

Honorable Mention: The Castaway (Burbank) — and complimentary champagne is included in their brunch buffet!

Best Avocado Toast

Flower Child (Santa Monica)

I don’t know what these magical wizards do over there but this simple combination of avocado, a soft egg, black sesame and a little white cheddar on their dense, whole grain toast is so good that you may actually order two pieces. And by the way, it’s only $6 and 360 calories so in addition to being utterly delicious, it’s guilt-free.

I’m pretty obsessed with this place, by the way. It’s worth mentioning that their whole menu is delicious and I’m gutted that it’s not closer to where I live.

Honorable Mention: BLD (Mid-city).

BLD’s Avocado Toast puts a unique spin on the trendy menu item. They bake poached eggs, chorizo, manchego cheese, smoked paprika right into the avocado and serve thick, lightly-toasted sourdough on the side. The chorizo really elevates the flavor.

Best Group Brunch

The Church Key (West Hollywood)

I love The Church Key’s sprawling space that can open up in the front to the street so that you can enjoy the indoor/outdoor dining West Hollywood Brunches are meant for. With all their space and vintage charm, a lot of their big tables are like their own tableaus and what’s more, they have many tables set up with large groups in mind. The first time I enjoyed brunch there with a large group, we sat around a big, round table, which is always ideal to me so that no one feels cast away to the end of a row and is unable to chat with the folks at the other end. Also clutch for any group brunch? They take reservations.

Best Mexi-Brunch

Mercado (locations in Santa Monica, Mid-City and on the Cahuenga Pass)

Everything at Mercado arrives on your table looking and tasting fresh. As a second honor, I might also reward them with “Best Breakfast Burrito” — the massive wrap is stuffed with scrambled eggs, nueske bacon, mexican rice, frijoles negros, roasted potatoes, pico de gallo and oaxaca cheese. Their “Chilaquiles Rojos con Huevos” is a true winner as well but you must add the carnitas to it because the way they prepare their carnitas alone is unbelievably delicious.

Got room for an appetizer? Their chips are just as fresh as anything else on the menu, made in house. The queso will leave you wishing the portion was bigger but only after you’ve also polished off their guacamole, topped with spicy pepitas.

Best Bloody Mary

Hyperion Public (Locations in Studio City and Silver Lake)

Even though they may be best known best for their “f yeah” fries and their “omg dip,” their simple, classic Bloody Mary leaves a mark. The mix is made on site and though you won’t find it bacon infused or loaded with a slider-on-a-stick, there is nothing flawed about it. Now that they’ve opened their second location in Studio City, there are two locations to enjoy it at. (P.S. They also started offering bottomless mimosas this year and lord-have-mercy do they make a great stack of pancakes!)

Best Brunch That’s Not For Me

Au Fudge (West Hollywood)

Founded by Jessica Biel, the cleverly named Au Fudge is a restaurant that caters to children first. You enter through a rustic, country gift shop that sells baked goods along with tchotchkes and toys. Beyond, a bubbly cafe setting adorned with marble, pastels and plenty of kitschy kid-friendly space. (Even the bathrooms have kid-friendly sinks and toilets!) The hub of the restaurant is a large creative space that runs the whole length of the restaurant. It is enclosed, filled with craft tables, toys, and staffed. It is available for parents to drop their kids into at a rate of $15 for two hours so they can dine “in peace” though plenty of patrons bring their kids to the table where a rather indulgent kids menu and crayons await. It is a super-energetic space where you seldom hear the word “no” among the noise and clutter of it all. My meal was delicious, my company was lovely, but it’s never going to be my first choice because I’m quite the snobby bruncher.

Best Patio

Eveleigh (West Hollywood)

Eveleigh may be located in the heart of WeHo but once you walk through the restaurant and out to their rear patio, it’s like being transported to an chic, rustic tree-house escape. The one thing I’ll caution is that the breathtaking setting might leave you with rose-colored glasses. The food is good, but not great. The service is adequate though the servers are all modelesque and not particularly warm. And the prices are a bit high. So it’s up to you how badly you want to dine in this setting!

Honorable Mention: Terrine (Mid-City)

Best Brunch Nachos

Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern (West Hills)

Jimmy’s “Totchos” are tater tots, cheese sauce, sour cream, bacon and salsa and they. are. everything. It’s not a fancy spot, set in the new outdoor half of Westfield Topanga, but it’s comfortable and the staff is exceptionally friendly and accommodating. Jimmy’s puts their own spin on American classics with everything prepared by hand in small batches with high-quality, fresh ingredients. The result is super flavorful, elevated pub food that will have you passing your fork around the table for a bite of everything. And the Totchos. Definitely have the Totchos. (Pictured below with the sour cream on the side because someone at our table doesn’t like the stuff. Insanity.)

Best Non-Traditional Brunch

Barrel and Ashes (Studio City)

The South comes to the San Fernando Valley with a Brunch that includes BBQ, small plates, craft cocktails and a boatload of charm. They’s also doing a good service by opening for brunch at 10:30 in a town where most places open their doors at 11. I’ve narrowed my favorite menu items to two: The Frito Pie and the Hoe Cake. The first is essentially white trash nachos — a Fritos bag popped open on it’s side and loaded up with goodies like chili, cheddar cheese, sour cream, peppers and onions. The latter is a cornmeal flatbread loaded with maple butter and green onion, served on a sizzling skillet. They have some hoe cakes with toppings on the menu but all I’ve ever needed is the “regular.”

Best Sleeper Brunch

Cannibal (Culver City)

Why wasn’t this place more crowded when I went? Was it an off day? Are people intimidated by menu items like the “Double Down” – a sandwich with bacon, ham, sausage, cheese, two eggs and avocado pesto served on bread that is actually hash brown patties? Cannibal, which doubles as a hip butcher shop, is an indulgent experience but if you can shove your guilt way down deep, it’s so freakin’ delicious. Surely it must be on it’s way to being one of the most popular brunch spots in Los Angeles.

Honorable Mention: Ledlow (Downtown)

* * *

So what is, OVERALL, the best brunch in Los Angeles in 2016? It’s just too hard to say and there are still so many I need to try! So I just refuse to answer that question. When someone asks me for a recommendation, I always respond by asking what area they want to be in, what kind of setting they’r seeking, what they want to spend… It’s impossible to name the best brunch in Los Angeles, but I think that’s a GREAT idea of how much the city has to offer! Thank you, 2016, for some amazing Sunday meals with friends! And now…

Brunches I Need to Try in 2017

Post & Beam (Baldwin Hills)
Spear Steak & Seafood (Downtown LA)
Odys + Penelope (Mid-City)
Magnolia House (Pasadena)
Sonoma Wine Garden (Santa Monica)
Sunny Spot (Venice)
Wolf (Mid-City)

Don’t forget! If you love brunch as much as I do — or hell, even half as much as I do, you’ll want to put your email address into the newsletter subscription box in the top right corner to receive reviews and exclusive content. 2017 will be a whole new year of brunch adventures!

Hollywood Burger Solves Your Pantages Problem

April 7, 2016 By AJ 1 Comment

If you live here in Los Angeles and have ever been to the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, you’ll likely agree with me about one persistent, frustrating issue.

There is nothing to eat over there.

It’s improved, mind you. There used to be absolutely nothing. An over-the-counter sandwich shop maybe. Now there’s a Dunkin’ Donuts and there’s that bar a block down that serves good bar food and has only-okay service. But every time you go to The Pantages and want to grab a quick bite before the show, where do you end up? (And don’t say Katsu-ya. No one gets out of that place quickly and not for less than $100.)

But the problem has been solved. Hollywood Burger has moved in across the street! (And even if The Pantages isn’t on your calendar, make a trip out. It’s delicious.)

In addition to gourmet burgers, other menu favorites include all-natural/hormone free chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, veggie burgers, classic and sweet potato fries, tater tots, salads, milkshakes, secret sauces made with perfectly blended herbs and spices and more. For me it was the VIP Burger all the way with Applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, red onion, tomato, lettuce and Hollywood Secret Sauce. And YUM. Their burger is kind of down-and-dirty. It’s not a fat patty or perfectly round. It is hand crafted, made fresh, and 100% delicious.

We also wanted to sample a non-burger so we got a bite of The BLVD sandwich: crispy fried chicken, spicy slaw, dill pickles & Chipotle-Honey Sauce. I must confess I loved this as much as, if not more than, the burger.

Of course, we weren’t getting out of there without some fries and chili cheese tots. BECAUSE REASONS.

And we could have stopped there, mind you. They had totally earned me as a repeat customer like three bites in. But the Manager hinted he makes a mean milkshake. He wasn’t lying.

And before you point a finger and argue with me “But AJ, I want to have a cocktail or five before I see a show!” Well then to you I say, “Shut it. Hollywood Burger serves beer and wine. All problems solved.” It elevates the place to more than just fast food. TVs on the premises allow you catch the game, and everyone who works there is delightful.

See? No excuses. Problems solved. You’re welcome, everybody. Enjoy!

And one final note on parking — it’s available via several public cash lots in the area or the garage in their building which you can enter from around the corner. They are also very convenient to the Los Angeles Metro. Visit their website here.

Very Exciting (BRUNCH) News!

March 3, 2016 By AJ 1 Comment

AJ’s Hollywood Brunch Comes to Town

As many of you know (and if not, it’s in the website’s tagline up yonder), I am a fanatical lover of the brunch. My reputation for this has grown and now, truly, not a week goes by that someone doesn’t ask me for a brunch recommendation.

So while I don’t have time (yet!) to dedicate an entire website to the brunch life, I decided a monthly newsletter with an occasional ad-hoc edition would suffice for now. And thus, “AJ’s Hollywood Brunch,” my new e-newsletter is born.

Once a month, expect me to update you on my new brunch-related adventures, new openings, events, places I’ve loved in the past and would recommend, as well as links to other foodies on the web! I will be sure to include content exclusive to the newsletter every now and then so that you’ll find a benefit to your subscription; I promise, and it will be a living, breathing project, ever evolving – I am so excited!

It will definitely be Los Angeles-centric but I’ve certainly had brunch in other towns and hope to add some of those experiences in as well.

Help me spread the word! Please tell a friend. You will always be able to subscribe on this site in my sidebar, or if you’d like to subscribe right away, you can do so here:

Brunch at Market Provisions

March 2, 2016 By AJ 2 Comments

When a friend asked me if I was interested in joining her monthly brunch club I thought about it for a millisecond before shouting YES and doing a little jig.

On Sunday, a small group of us met up a Market Provisions, which just opened in December. Formerly Cooks County, the ownership is the same and the ambience is more casual. There’s a surprising amount of outdoor seating for being a sidewalk cafe, and it’s not bad for people watching on Beverly Blvd. But I’m a vampire and was relieved they sat our group indoors. It’s open, earthy and airy inside, accessorized on shelves with vintage kitchen trinkets like hand mixers, corkscrews and some kind of axe-looking thing we decided must have been a meat smasher thing in the sixties — because when you get a bunch of non-cooks together, that’s what you name things.

Presentation is everything and I loved my little red teapot.

Their menu makes it very hard to choose. I love that they have appetizers — their “small plates.” You could start off with a cup of greek yogurt or a croissant and some jam. It seemed rather delightful except I knew what I wanted for the main course — a rather rich dish. I skipped the small plates.

The “MP Benny” is prosciutto, burrata, two poached eggs and a spicy hollandaise sauce over a piece of thick, rustic sourdough bread.

A couple things: YES, it is every bit as delicious as it sounds. NO, it is not really spicy. I don’t even know why they say that it is. I am the biggest wimp around but let myself believe the waitress who assured me I could take it. Thank goodness she was right.

It was hard not to eyeball some of the other plates on the table.

The Market Scramble with mustard greens, roasted broccoli and truffled cheddar. AKA “I’ll try anything with the word TRUFFLE” in it:

This is called “Eggs in Purgatory” but nothing about this implies suffering to me. Creamy polenta, spicy tomato-roasted pepper sauce, poached eggs and parmesan cheese:

Another fantastic brunch find. Kudos to the Brunch Club.

P.S. Oh yeah — $5, all-you-can drink Mimosas. Get it.

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.

What’s in my Pocket Friday

April 3, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

I save things in my pocket all week long and look forward to sharing the highlights and best of the web with you every Friday!

Pocket enables users to save something they find online for later. I find it especially handy as a Google Chrome extension — I only have to click a button to immediately save something to my pocket. Once something is saved, the content is visible on any device — phone, tablet, computer, and even offline.

The apocalypse is HILARIOUS! I have been helping a friend with his movie’s trailer premiere. It is amazing how funny a simple teaser can be in less than 90 seconds in the hands of good filmmakers. Take a look at the coverage over at “The Mary Sue” or just have a look here:

I had a fun night out in Hollywood Wednesday when I went with a friend to see one of my all-time favorite movies, ‘Newsies,’ at the El Capitan Theatre WITH THE ORIGINAL CAST. As luck would have it, they were sitting in the row right in front of us, which was delightful. Afterward, the national touring company of the musical came out and surprised the theater by performing two numbers from the show. It was an incredible event.

It was a good night for people watching, too. Jesus was sitting out on the street playing Red Hot Chili Peppers covers and I spotted Tinkerbell chatting up a taxi. (Frankly, I think she should fly but whatever. Her life.)

I was also doing some light window shopping. I was impressed how well Disney created the stepmother doll in Cate Blanchett’s likeness and how they utterly failed representing Helena Bonham Carter.

“15 Things Ambitious Girls Do a Little Bit Differently When They’re Dating” from Thought Catalog. It is SPOT. ON.
“Four Things to Consider Before You Get a PR Team” – so simple and well said from Entrepreneur.
A terrific new Tumblr called “Not Getting the Job” that is essentially job applicant FAILS. I laugh at every single one. How sad that so many are familiar to me….
Yesterday, I had three pretty rowdy co-workers. Kona, Cody and Lucy. They don’t get a lot done around the office but I believe they really contribute to the flow of creativity!