Hello & Good Bite

Every time I went to Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya it was always the same thing...a bottle of Kikusui, Miso Soup, Edamame, Popcorn Shrimp Appetizer, Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna and a Baked Crab Handroll.   Never even looked at the menu.

 Don’t get me wrong, sushi is a personal experience and to each his own.  I mean some people still won’t have anything but a California Roll. Side note: Don’t be one of those people.

 It was like clockwork and it was delicious but it is nothing compared to the experience we have at Izaka-ya now.  

 I work less than a mile from Izaka-ya on 3rd Street but for me, nothing tops Izaka-ya Manhattan Beach and my girl and boss lady Miki San is well worth the trip.  There is just something about the way she particularly makes the sushi. Just tastes better.

So again we find ourselves ordering without a menu but this time and every time we go we’re in sushi heaven.

 First things first, a bottle of chilled Kikusui.  That has remained consistent and will most likely never change.  If you are still drinking hot sake, you are doing it all wrong. Alllll wrong.  Ki-Ku-Sue-Ee. Practice it. Order it. You will love it.

 And now the fun part. Nigiri Sushi.  We always ask what fish they recommend for the night in case they have anything special like Ono, which they literally only offer a week a year, but for the most part we know what we love and can’t get enough.

 The picture features some of my favorites but I’ve listed a few others as well in case you are feeling adventurous:

 Sweet Shrimp (back row) - Not gonna lie, we really order the Sweet Shrimp for the crispy shrimp head that comes after the rest of the sushi.  Drizzle it with a little lemon and you can pop the entire thing in your mouth, eyes and all.  it’s like a little Sweet Shrimp dessert.

 Spanish Mackerel (far right) - We usually order about 4-5 different types of sushi and let Miki San pick another 1 or 2 that she thinks we would love and the Spanish Mackerel is the perfect fish to have as your middle course.  It's lemony, zesty and very clean.  Tees us up perfectly for the fatty fish.

 Toro (far left) - The word Toro itself means “to melt” and that is exactly what it does.  We used to always and I mean always end our Nigiri portion of the meal with Toro because you literally would chew one to two times and it’s dissolved.  It’s since been overthrown by my all-time favorite but it is still a close second.

 Albacore Belly (middle) - Ohhhh Albacore Belly...I can eat you all day every day.  It is pure heaven.  Simple, clean and...sigh...pretty much butter in the form of fish.  You are perfection.

 Not pictured:

 Golden Eye Snapper (Kinme) - Smoky flavor on the front.  Sweet on the back.

Black Sea Bream (Kurodai) - Great palette cleanser.  Sea salt on top.

Salmon Belly - Like Salmon but better.

 If you have any other sushi that you love share it with me.  Always looking to try new things.

Being walking distance from some of the best restaurants in LA is one of the many benefits of living in the West Hollywood/Mid-Wilshire area and although The Grove can at times be a tourist-filled zoo, the Original Farmer’s Market has a great variety of food options among their many food stands.

What used to be The Short Stop has now been occupied by Moruno.  

Moruno -  a kebab cooked over live coals and marinated in spices

Our waiter explained that everything could be shared plates, which is music to my ears, and the planning commenced. 

We started off with the Radicchio Salad (w/egg, dill, cucumber, yogurt & anchovies).  It was a bit bitter for my friend but to the salad’s defense it was a Radicchio Salad and the waiter told us it would be on the bitter side. I liked it, anchovies and all. 

Next the Pork Belly Chicharrones came out.  I would definitely recommend getting this dish with 3-4 close friends.  First because you really only need a one or two bites to enjoy the dish but also because it comes with a roasted garlic bulb and schmeering it on each bite is a must.  

From there we figured we should have a moruno considering we were at Moruno.  You can get your Moruno by itself (lamb or chicken), in a bowl or as a sandwich (Sub Morunos) and since I was still pretending I was on a diet, we went with the Chicken Moruno bowl and it was delicious!  

Chunks of chicken thigh  with Mejadra (Basmati rice & lentils), cilantro, garlic, red onion, mint, serrano chile & lime, it was a very comforting dish.  It’s one of those dishes that makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.  Something that you would get just for yourself because you know heating up the leftovers the next day will be just as good, if not, better.  

I’ve been back a few times since and i just want to put it out there that the Roasted Butternut Squash with Dukkah is bomb dot com and healthy! 

After consuming more carbs than I’d like to admit this #Coachella weekend I was desperately craving a healthy salad.  The criteria was a restaurant with a good selection of salads, walking distance from my apartment that had an outdoor area for the pups which brought us straight to Terroni.  

Was taking us a bit longer than usual to decide what we wanted to commit to so in the meantime we asked to start off with the Arancini di Modica.  That was totally not in the healthy plan but we figured one cone per person wouldn’t be the end of the world right?  Right.

For my main I ended up choosing the Insalate Nizzarda.  Arugula, Italian tuna, potatoes, eggs, red onions, tomatoes, black olives, green beans, anchovy, white wine vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil.

It was light but filling.  Exactly what I wanted.

The rest of the table got the Salmon with a side of their Insalate Verde.  Although my friends spent the first 15 minutes of our lunch complaining about the restaurant’s policy of no modifications or substitutions, silence came upon the table once their plates arrived and they took a bite.

We were almost in the clear and out the door when someone said Nutella fritters with ice cream.  It was a no brainer and it was delicious.  

Word to the wise.  If you are a picky eater or having marinara with your fried calamari is a must, this restaurant is not the place for you.  The restaurant has no problem saying no.  Want to add protein to your salad? No.  Parmesan with your Pizze?  Also no.  Going against the grain is never easy but if the purpose behind this concept is to stick to tradition, well then, I guess we all have to bite the bullet and enjoy the meal as the chef intended. 

As a Coachella virgin I have to stay I was very impressed with the food selection at the festival this year.  The VIP areas were filled with some of the best restaurants you can find in LA from  Superba Food + Bread, Sotto, Backyard Bowls, Hanjip Korean BBQ, Mexicali and many, many more.

They’ve also decided to take the dining experience to another level by offering 3 pop-up restaurants with full-service staff and tables including Andy Ricker’s Pok Pok, the amazing Roy Choi’s Commissary at The Line Hotel and Ricardo Zarate’s new Peruvian restaurant Rosaline.  

You can never go wrong with an order from Pok Pok or Commissary but I have to admit I’m most curious about Rosaline.  A few friends ate there and said they were pleasantly surprised by the amazing flavors and admittedly the portions.  Haven’t had the chance to judge the food for myself but according to LA Eater looks like Chef Zarate is taking over the old Comme Ca location in West Hollywood and will be opening up Rosaline this summer!  Couldn’t think of a better place to test out your menu than with the 50,000 people at Coachella. Expect a review as soon as it opens!

Now back to the star at hand.  The Original Free Range LA Chicken Sandwich from Free Range LA.

You know when you watch a movie and you see people eating something crispy and when they bite down you hear that amazing crunch and you think to yourself ‘I want that’ until you realize you might not ever get that moment because it’s all part of the Hollywood art of special effects? Well, wait no longer because this tempura fried free range chicken sandwich will have you crunching until you very last bite.  Topped with fresno chili coleslaw, whole grain honey mustard sauce on a tasted Portuguese bun, it was the highlight of my day, second to watching Ice Cube.

Unfortunately they don’t have one set location where you can go everyday like clock work to enjoy this masterpiece.  But as they say ‘nothing worth having comes easy’ and this this is absolutely worth having.

Petit Trois.  The home of the best Croque Monsieur I've had in my 30 years. 

Nestled next to another extraordinary restaurant, Trois Mec, Chef Ludo Lefebvre has managed to bring us French bistro cuisine in the most ultimate way.

I took at friend here for his birthday lunch and instantly fell in love.  We started off with the Burgundy Escargots that were swimming in parsley butter and garlic.  Transported me back to France in one tiny little bite. Well three tiny little bites.

Next, I got the Croque Monsieur, because I was on a mission to find the best one in LA and voila! here it is, at a restaurant 2 miles from my apartment, nestled in a random strip mall behind a gas station.  Oh and don’t forget their homemade mustard that I would happily schmeer on just about anything.

My friend got the Confit-Fried Chicken Leg which he scarfed down so quickly I didn’t even get a bite.  Can’t blame him.  I think it’s safe to say he loved it though.

Wine. Beer. Cocktails. You can’t really go wrong with the drinks there.

The space is...cozy.  Essentially two rows of stools either facing a mirror or the kitchen.  You would think it would be uncomfortable but the set-up just added to the full experience.

Word of caution:  Unlike Trois Mec where you have to go through a Ticketmaster-like process to book your pre-fixe meal, Petit Trois doesn’t take any reservations. None. Show up and wait as long as necessary cause it’s worth it.  Also bring your credit card cause they don’t take cash.

Hint: Go during the day for lunch.  The wait time is much shorter.

If you’re ever in the Manhattan Beach area this summer make sure to stop by Love & Salt, for brunch, lunch OR dinner.  A few steps to the beach, its the perfect casual dining place to go to.  

This perfectly oozing deliciousness is their Chicken Pesto with Tomato Brunch Burger that I think since I took this picture has unfortunately been taken off their menu.

Not to worry!  They have dozens of other amazing things to choose from.  Full post to come later. For now if you need me i’ll be staring at the melting cheese, daydreaming of the next time I’d be headed to L&S.

It has been about 2 years since I’ve wanted to start my own food blog and today I got an email from Tumblr saying that if I didn’t use my username (TheTasting) they would shut it down.  No better time than now I guess.  

Am I a culinary expert? Absolutely not.  Have I gone to cooking school? Also a negative.  I’m just a LA girl who loves and appreciates the art of cooking and the taste the food.  I workout just to eat because I find happiness in that perfect bite.  

It would only be fitting that my first post would be about a restaurant that has been on my top 3 since the day it opened…Connie & Ted’s.  This restaurant is a true gem and in my opinion the best restaurant in West Hollywood.  I’m open to suggestions if you don’t agree :)

This casual seafood spot is perfect for a work lunch, date night, casual dinner or to watch a game at the bar over some oysters and chablis…you know, typical sports game foods.

You can pick almost anything from the menu and it’s amazing but here are my top picks that I pretty much getting every time I visit….

To start…a dozen of their REAL Kumamoto oysters.  Not to be confused with Kumamoto oysters at other restaurants that aren’t actually Kumamotos.  Yes, we are being lied to.  They also have a chefs choice which comes with oysters from both coasts and in various sizes.  I have to admit, I generally never steer away from Kusshi or Kumamoto oysters. Haven’t been able to get over the consistency of the larger oysters.  Working on it. Don’t judge me! 

From there, cross your fingers, because their Uni turned me onto Uni, and it’s not always available.  They have one diver who delivers them fresh to the restaurant from Santa Barbara each morning and its on a first-come first-serve basis.  It also takes some time to prepare (the cleaning process is quiet tedious) but 100% worth the wait.  Don’t be intimidated by the sharp exterior of the sea urchin, inside you will find the delicious buttery uni that you schmeer on a piece of buttered toast. First timers,  let me know your thoughts!

Next…their grilled calamari.  I usually shy away from grilled calamari anywhere else because it can quickly go from amazing to rubbery but here it’s perfection.  Served with some San Marzano tomaoes, breadcrumbs, garlic and arugula in a hot skillet…fried calamari regulars will be converts in no time.

Now…clam chowder…east coasters, stop rolling your eyes.  I will stick my neck out to say their Jo’s Wicked Good Chowda’ (New England style) is the best I have ever had and yes I have had some on the East Coast.  It’s a bit on the heavy side and you will definitely want to make it to the entree round so if you are with family, a close friend or a date, essentially anyone you don’t mind double dipping with, it’s worth a cup to share.  

Now you might be thinking…how much does this girl eat in one sitting.  The honest answer is that I’m really a taster. I like to get a few things for the table and share just to taste as many things as I can from the restaurant.  This restaurant is no different and even though I’ve had all of these items multiple times, I can’t help myself.  Might have to add in a extra SoulCycle class or two but I’m ok with that.

Entrée Round….If you have room for only one thing I would go with the Hot Lobster Roll.  The bread is sweet with a perfect balance between soft and crunchy topped with fresh delicious lobster is a must.  It’s not over the top oily either.  Comes with a side which of course we always go with the Mac n cheese because..well that’s self-explanatory. 

Don’t like seafood but your friends dragged you here?  No worries!  Their Fried Chicken sandwich and their Hook Burger is two thumbs up!

Never been?  Try it!  Tell me what you think.  You can make a reservation on OpenTable, just need to do it in advance to get something between 5:30pm and 9:45pm.  Try it during the Spring and Summer… the patio seating with our sunny LA weather will prove to be an ideal way to spend your weekend. 

A standing ovation is in order for Chef Michael Cimarusti for this casual and delicious seafood restaurant!