Archive for the 'Bakery' Category

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Huckleberry Cafe & Bakery – Los Angeles (Santa Monica)

Published by Gastronomer on May 10, 2011 in Bakery, Breakfast / Brunch, Los Angeles, Restaurant Review and Santa Monica. 7 Comments

The first time I stepped into Huckleberry Cafe & Bakery, I turned my heels and walked out after thirty seconds. I had just moved to Los Angeles from Vietnam a few months prior and was unaccustomed to seeing baked goods priced at such a premium. Fist-sized plum crostatas were going for $7, while itty bitty cupcakes came in at $2. This serious case of sticker shock, not to mention the distance between my home and Santa Monica, kept me away from this adorable establishment for nearly two years.

A few Saturdays ago, I finally returned to Huckleberry for brunch along with The Astronomer, Laurie, and Bex. This time around, all of the prices appeared quite normal to me, signalling that I had finally gotten over my dong complex. Thank goodness.

The brunch time protocol entailed waiting in an intimidatingly long line, placing our orders, and being seated swiftly by a dining room attendant. Not too long after we were seated at a table, the food arrived.

Bex’s duck hash with sunny side up eggs ($12.50) came highly recommended by friends and trusty news sources, but it turned out to be the lone flop of the day. The scraggly pieces of duck were under-seasoned and dry, while the eggs were overdone and not runny enough for our liking. Fortunately, there was a bottle of Tapatio on hand to give the hash a much needed boost. Still, the dish was rather disappointing this morning.

Laurie arrived a little later and ordered the Brussels sprout hash (not pictured). It wasn’t as sexy as the duck hash on paper, but its flavors were more cohesive and balanced.

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Tartine Bakery & Cafe – San Francisco

Published by Gastronomer on March 3, 2011 in Bakery, Breakfast / Brunch, Restaurant Review and San Francisco. 23 Comments

From the perspective of a casual visitor, it seems that the pitter-patter of rainfall whets the appetite of Nor Cal food lovers. In spite of inclement weather, hungry hoards were lined up outside Homeroom in Oakland, and once again at Tartine Bakery & Cafe in San Francisco. I’m one of those wussy So Cal-types known to cancel dinner reservations whenever a storm approaches, so I was especially impressed to witness such sheer determination.

When The Astronomer and I arrived on the Tartine scene, we were greeted by a line fifteen deep snaking out the bakery’s door and into the rain. Seeing these dedicated folks waiting so patiently got us even more excited to sample the breads and pastries of Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson. The husband and wife duo opened Tartine in 2002 after graduating from the CIA and training extensively in France. In 2008, the couple was awarded with Outstanding Pastry Chefs honors by the James Beard Foundation.

Joining us for lunch were my cousins Timmy, Michael, and Andrew, and Timmy’s girlfriend Jessica. Our friend A.J. rounded out our party of seven. Since our group was humongous by Tartine standards, we congregated along the bar overlooking the sidewalk. A comfy table was definitely not in the cards.

Nearly everyone in our group ordered one savory and one sweet item from the concise menu. I went with a slice of quiche ($4.75) made with crème fraiche and Niman Ranch smoked ham. The texture of the egg had a gentle quality about it, while the crust was sturdy and buttery. Had it been served hot out of the oven (and with hot sauce on the side), I would’ve been more enamored.

The Astronomer’s croque monsieur ($9.75), on the other hand, was warmed in the oven just before serving and arrived perfectly toasty. The open-face sandwich was layered with béchamel, gruyere, thyme, pepper, and Niman Ranch ham. While the toppings were all superb, it was the bread base, which was baked in a wood-fired oven, that really stood out. That, and the spicy pickled carrot served on the side.

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Sweet Lady Jane – Los Angeles (Santa Monica)

Published by Gastronomer on December 18, 2010 in Bakery, Chain / Multiple Locations, Dessert, Los Angeles, Media Event (this meal was free), Restaurant Review and Santa Monica. 4 Comments

Following last weekend’s Artisanal L.A. event, my girlfriend Laurie and I grabbed a bite to eat at the newest Sweet Lady Jane bakery and cafe in Santa Monica. Settling in at a cozy sidewalk table and basking in the unseasonably warm afternoon, we felt a little like those lucky ladies who lunch. Oh, maybe one day…

Jane Lockhart opened the original Sweet Lady Jane on Melrose Avenue in 1988 after growing tired of store-bought desserts that tasted “too sweet” and “too commercial.” Ms. Lockhart’s firm commitment to baking with only the finest imported chocolate, the freshest butter and cream, and the highest quality in-season fruits has garnered her a bevy of fans, including the chicks from The Hills! [Careful, the link will take you to a very good episode.]

The Santa Monica shop, which debuted a few weeks before our visit, serves a selection of sweets similar to the original location—cookies, brownies, lemon squares, and eye-poppingly beautiful layer cakes.

As guests of the restaurant this afternoon, we were treated to light bites to start and decadent slices of cake to finish. Still feeling stuffed from the goodness we sampled at Artisanal L.A., both Laurie and I ordered the half sandwich and small salad combo ($10.50). Laurie chose a classic grilled cheese sandwich with cheddar, tomatoes, and sourdough, and a Sweet Lady Jane salad on the side.

Unless I’m dining with The Astronomer or my mom, I usually don’t steal more than a single bite from my dining companion’s plate. However, I had to make an exception for this fabulously cheesy and well-balanced sandwich. Who can resist toasty sourdough paired with oozing cheese? Certainly not me. Thanks for sharing, Laurie.

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Bouchon Bakery – Las Vegas (The Venetian)

Published by Gastronomer on December 15, 2010 in Bakery, Dessert, Las Vegas and Restaurant Review. 9 Comments

After lunching at Lotus of Siam, The Astronomer and I explored two new additions to the Las Vegas strip—the City Center and the Aria Resort and Casino. It seems to me that Vegas developers will not sleep until every casino has its own Gucci outlet and Wolfgang Puck eatery. What a yawn. After walking nearly the entire length of The Strip, The Astronomer and I were due for an energizing snack. We stopped by Bouchon Bakery located inside The Venetian for a quick pre-dinner bite.

While I’ve eaten at Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry and Ad Hoc, this was my first time visiting his Parisian boulangerie-inspired bakery. Tucked beside the theater and steps away from the casino floor, Bouchon Bakery’s atmosphere was decidedly uninspiring. The air smelled of cigarette smoke mingled with air conditioning, and not a trace of the aroma of freshly baked pastries could be detected. Considering the resources available at a casino like this, the bakery felt more like an ordinary snack bar than a temple of baked goods. On an upbeat note, I really dug The Phantom of the Opera tunes piping out of the speakers. I bet they don’t have that in Yountville!

Since it was Halloween weekend, quite a few of the treats were dressed up in holiday garb. I picked out a pumpkin-shaped TKO—Thomas Keller Oreo ($3.25). According to the bakery’s website, Oreo cookies are one of Thomas Keller’s favorite snacks. His upscale version employs a chocolate sable cookie dough and a white chocolate ganache filling.

The Keller-fied Oreo was a total knock out. The cookie’s texture was spot on, while the cream was appealingly smooth. A slight touch of salt kept the Oreo’s sweetness in check. If there’s one thing that Thomas Keller is known for, “it’s all about finesse.”

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Flour Bakery + Cafe – Boston

Published by Gastronomer on October 5, 2010 in Bakery, Boston, Dessert and Restaurant Review. 10 Comments

While most of my ideas on where and what to eat are culled online through blogs, Tweets, and food pages, I occasionally find inspiration on the telly too. An especially memorable episode of Bobby Flay’s Throwdown that aired sometime in 2007 brought Boston’s beloved Flour Bakery + Cafe onto my radar. After seeing Chef Joanne Chang swiftly kick Bobby Flay’s buns during a Sticky Buns Throwdown, I made a mental note to visit here on my next visit to Beantown. Considering how infrequently I tune into the Food Network, its content is surprisingly influential.

The Astronomer and I, along with The Astronomer’s sis Rosalind, visited the original South End location on our first day in the city. Chef Chang opened the bakery in 2000 after leaving a career as a management consultant and baking in some of New York (Payard Patisserie and Bistro) and Boston’s (Biba, Bentonwood Bakery, Rialto, Mistral) top kitchens.

After the success of the original Flour, Chef Chang opened a second branch in 2007 in the Fort Point Channel area and a third one in 2010 in Cambridge near MIT and Central Square.

As luck would have it, my friends the Two Hungry Pandas visited Boston a few weeks before me and tipped me off on Flour’s terrific egg sandwich ($6.50). Served with cheddar cheese, tomato, arugula, dijonaise, and a choice of ham or bacon, the sandwich was as perfect as Evelina had promised. The elements that rocked most were the silky fried egg and the perfectly ripe tomato slice. Not to mention, the sturdy yet pliable focaccia and smoky bacon strips. Truly, I could go on and on…

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