Restaurant Archives - AJ Feuerman

To Au Fudge or Not to Au Fudge?

September 6, 2016 By AJ Leave a Comment

To Au Fudge or Not to Au Fudge? That is the question.

In the far and distant fairy tale land of West Hollywood lies a charming haven where the chic and hip can go for cocktails and childcare.

Au Fudge, founded by actress Jessica Biel, is a restaurant that presumably caters to children as well as adults. You enter through a rustic, country gift shop that also sells baked goods. To your left you’ll find a sunny patio with striped umbrellas and plaid throw pillows. Beyond, a delightful cafe setting adorned with pastels and rustic, art deco-inspired decor as well as tchotchkes to remind you that you are in a kid-friendly place. The hub of the restaurant is a pretty large “daycare.” They actually call it the “creative space.” It is enclosed, filled with craft tables, toys, and staffed. It is available for parents to drop their kids into at a pretty affordable rate ($15 for two hours) so they can dine…. in peace?

The thing is, plenty of people still bring their children into the Au Fudge restaurant as well, and that’s fine. Nothing about this place says “no” in any way, shape or form. In fact, Au Fudge basically screams out “AS YOU WISH” at every turn. Everyone is smiling and extremely accommodating. They have anticipated every parent need. There are crayons on the table, more things to play with, and even the cocktails look like they’re kid-friendly in this space. And there is certainly a kids menu although I think I paid like $14 for the grilled cheese sticks that were good. But only good.

For brunch I had a French Omelette that was truly delicious. It was light and fluffy and decadent.

The service was good; I’ll give them that. And it’s not a bad place by any means. So, to Au Fudge or not to Au Fudge? I don’t know. Maybe. If I was meeting up with friends with kids and was in an especially patient mood. Or if I was itching to have brunch outside and I was in that area. But then again, there are plenty of other appealing Brunch options in that area like Taste On Melrose that I’d sooner visit. I don’t mind sharing my table with babies and kids, but I think in the end, I see no shame in admitting that I do mind sharing space with dozens of them.

Critical pro-tip: This place gets CROWDED and on the narrow part of Melrose where it sits, that is bad news. The valet is over-burdened and often backed up. Not to mention a bit pricey. Have patience, have cash, or park somewhere else and walk over!

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! A new blast is coming soon!

Southern Brunch at Barrel and Ashes Studio City

May 16, 2016 By AJ 1 Comment

I named Barrel and Ashes, Studio City, one of my favorite brunch spots after my first visit to the BBQ joint. The BBQ there is good, mind you, but not the best I’ve ever had and it’s really their brunch I prefer. And why not? Tim Hollingsworth, the chef there, brings the cred, having previously spent a dozen years working for Thomas Keller at the French Laundry and among many other credits, also has three Michelin stars to his name.

The space used to be a somewhat fancy restaurant (which I liked very much, for the record) with dim lighting and white linen tablecloths but now has been stripped down and redesigned to radiate Southern charm.

You can order their BBQ at brunch and there are a bevvy of hand crafted cocktails — they make a decent Bloody Mary — and you’ll even find traditional sweet tea there. But it’s really all about the unique food menu items.

Today someone said to me “Whatever, I can make Frito Pie at home.” And I replied “But you don’t and I certainly can’t.” It is delicious trailer-trash cuisine. Chili, cheddar cheese, sour cream, onions, peppers served in the finest of vessels….

There is also a list of biscuit sandwiches on the menu. The simplest with just jam or the more decadent with sausage and gravy. There is also a pork biscuit but my money’s on the fried chicken and honey butter.

I’m also a humongous fan of their pork benedict and smoked salmon benedict (IT’S SO GOOD). Their Huevos Rancheors ranks up there because I love anything with Cotija cheese on it.

I’ve saved the best for last, though. There are four kinds of HOE CAKES on their brunch menu. One with bananas and chocolate and caramel that is either meant for dessert or the indulgent (no judgement from me) and two that are breakfasty with eggs, bacon and the like involved. All good choices, I say, but you’ll be just fine with the basis hoe cake. Of course, there’s nothing basic about it and I recommend ordering one to share with the whole table. One would satisfy three to four people and you can always order another.

What is hoe cake? Imagine a cornbread patty in sizzling butter, topped with green onions, served bubbling in a hot, hot skillet. They’re not proprietary about it — the LA Times even has the recipe — but I don’t think anyone can touch it.

Aside from the setting and food, two more key elements about B&A I must mention. They are open for brunch at 9:30 on Saturdays and Sundays. This is smart in a town that loves brunch but where most places don’t open til 11:00. And they also take reservations. Which is great because I’m a snob and I hate going to restaurants that don’t take reservations. Yup, I said that out loud.

P.S. (Sit in Clay’s section!)

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:

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.

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.

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.

New to Toluca Lake: The Continental

March 6, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

You would not know coming into the warm, elegant setting at The Continental in Toluca Lake that when the building opened in 1958, it was, in fact, an IHOP.

It has been many things since, but yes, it started as the International House of Pancakes. (And let’s all be thankful because I have a long, storied relationship with IHOP myself and if I never enter one again it will be too soon. But I digress. Stories for another time and after certain family members are dead.)

Onto the cocktails, though. OMIGOD. My favorite was the Christopher Oaxacan, a cocktail that is both fun to say (even though I can’t actually say it) and even more fun to drink. In addition to pineapple juice, lime juice and agave nectar, it has mezcal in it; which I recently learned the hard way is not Tequila.

Beer and wine have a presence on the menu but my money’s remains on all of the amazing cocktails. When someone puts that much effort into a craft cocktail offering, you almost have to honor their art. They even got me to try a Bourbon cocktail – something I never do. Bourbon sets my nose-hairs on fire. (You’re welcome for that imagery.)

May I recommend the patio for enjoying some cocktails? It was my favorite part of the renovated interior.

The new menu includes decadent, complex flavors in choices such as Thai Seafood Bouillabaisse, a stew of fresh shrimp, scallops, calamari and vegetables, cooked in a creamy coconut, lemongrass and kaffir lime broth. I had a tiny bite — it was not nearly enough. However my favorite amuse-bouche was the slider version of their Continental Burger, served with prime Angus beef, crispy pancetta, tempura-fried dill pickles and white cheddar cheese. I’m a giant sucker for white cheddar.

As a whole the menu is quite diverse and even changes things up for lunch. Some of the dishes manage to be both French and Thai inspired. They even manage Jewish-Vietnamese somehow as they feature their slow-roasted brisket in a Vietnamese Style Banh Mi. You’ll find salmon, chicken, vegetarian options, salads, sandwiches. I’ve said it before — the worst part about writing these posts is that they make me hungry and that’s never been more true than now.

You know, I could eat Brussels Sprouts every day. True story.

When the awesome staffers were not hugging me hello or introducing themselves, I stepped aside to admire the centerpiece of Continental’s décor, a new, five-panel/35-foot wide mural depicting Toluca Lake that wraps around the walls throughout the front rooms.

It’s a nice tribute to the history of the establishment and if you look closely at it, you will spot a tiny flag with a Mo’s logo — Mo’s was the most recent and rather cherished tenant of the space. The owner remains the same, though — so I am able to make peace with the transition.

Also because it is delicious. 😉

More:

Official website
All of the socials – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Street parking available,, which I would recommend first. The valet lot in the back is tiny.

P.S. (Congrats to them on landing on Eater LA’s “Hottest New Restaurants” list.)