Archive for the 'Media Event (this meal was free)' Category

Weekend Brunch at Sunny Spot – Los Angeles (Venice)

Weekend Brunch at Sunny Spot - Venice

If you’re anything like me, then you’re probably emailing or texting your friends at this very moment to firm up weekend brunching plans.  If you haven’t yet figured out the “where” variable in your dining equation, allow me to make the case for Venice’s Sunny Spot.

Weekend Brunch at Sunny Spot - Venice

After a winter-long hiatus, Chef Roy Choi is reintroducing brunch in brilliant fashion. He’s jammed the new menu with big, bold flavors, as well as portions large enough to share—hallmarks of his style of cooking and feeding.

Weekend Brunch at Sunny Spot - Venice

Natural light pours into Sunny Spot’s main dining room and patio, while rap music, particularly of the West Coast variety, blares from the speakers. This space was made for hosting laid back  daytime fetes.

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The Residency at UMAMIcatessen: Chef Micah Wexler’s “To Live and Dine in L.A.”

The Residency at UMAMIcatessen: "To Live and Dine in L.A." with Chef Micah Wexler

Meet: The Residency.

Housed in Downtown’s UMAMIcatessen, this culinary series features a changing roster of chefs from around the country every Thursday night, with each stint lasting 10 weeks. Think of The Residency as Grant Achatz’s Next with a dash of Heston Blumenthal’s Dinner and a pinch of LudoBites’ showmanship. Does that make any sense? You’ll see…

The Residency at UMAMIcatessen: "To Live and Dine in L.A." with Chef Micah Wexler

Kicking off the series is Chef Micah Wexler (left), formerly of Mezze. Joining him behind the 12-seat counter is Mezze’s former pastry chef Morgan Bordenave (center) and general manager Mike Kassar (right).

One of the coolest aspects of this experience is the intimacy of the space. With diners seated around a small U-shaped counter and chefs preparing and plating each course just a few feet away, interaction and conversation is encouraged like at no other venue in town.

The Residency at UMAMIcatessen: "To Live and Dine in L.A." with Chef Micah Wexler

Chef Wexler is as personable as they come, so it was a real treat bantering back and forth with him throughout dinner and probing him about important matters like how to best prepare the flageolet beans I received in my Christmas stocking last year.

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Allumette – Los Angeles (Echo Park)

Allumette - Echo Park

Chef Miles Thompson, who launched The Vagrancy Project last summer, has found a permanent home in Echo Park in the building formerly occupied by Allston Yacht Club. During his twice-a-week pop-up in this very space, the former executive sous chef at Son of a Gun dazzled diners with creative and beautifully plated fare like John Dory with boba, miso, and shiitake and chorizo with grapefruit and Robiola on toast.

While the culinary residency was short lived, it managed to catch the attention of Allston Yacht Club’s owners Bill DiDonna and Charles Kelly. Allumette is a joint venture between the two seasoned restauranteurs and the young chef. Consider this pop-up completely permanent.

Allumette - Echo Park

Allumette’s forward-thinking menu is comprised of two dozen small and thoughtful plates that fall under the categories of “Vegetable,” “Pasta,” “Fish,” “Shellfish,” “Meat,” “For Two,” and “Dessert.” Diners are encouraged to either indulge in the Chef’s tasting menu or select 4 to 6 dishes to create their own tasting experience.

I, along with my dining companions Darin, Pat, and Christina, decided to go the family-style route in order to taste as much of the menu as possible. In certain instances where a dish was literally a bite or two, we doubled, tripled, or quadrupled our order as needed.

Allumette - Echo Park

Before diving into the food, we sampled a few cocktails crafted by Serena Herrick. I selected the “Smoking Gun” ($11), a super-strong brew comprised of Vida mezcal, Cynar, and Calisaya. Since The Astronomer wasn’t around to tow me home safely, I kept my sips to a minimum.

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Restaurante El Meson De Los Laureanos – El Quelite

Restaurante El Meson De Los Laureanos - El Quelite, Sinaloa

The most charming destination on my recent trip to Sinaloa was the rural town of El Quelite located 25 miles northeast of Mazatlán. Named after the milkweed that grows throughout the area, the colonial village hasn’t changed too much over the years, aside from the fresh coat of paint that every home and business receives during the holidays. The heart of the town is Restaurante El Meson De Los Laureanos, where we enjoyed a spectacular breakfast spread of regional specialties.

Restaurante El Meson De Los Laureanos - El Quelite, Sinaloa

The soul of the operation is Dr. Marcos Gabriel Osuna, also known as “El Padre del Turismo Rural en Sinaloa.” Dr. Osuna’s steadfast commitment to promoting rural tourism in the area has put El Quelite on the map and increased the economic vitality of inhabitants. It was incredible meeting Dr. Osuna toward the end of our meal and hearing about his passion for the region’s culture, traditions, and people.

Restaurante El Meson De Los Laureanos - El Quelite, Sinaloa

Born and raised in the house that the restaurant is located in, Dr. Osuna has transformed and expanded the building room by room over the years into a wonderland of art and food.

Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by beautiful murals telling the history of the region painted by Jorge Larreta, a famous Sinaloan painter.

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Mariscos La Puntilla – Mazatlán

Mariscos La Puntilla - Mazatlan, Sinaloa

Watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean while indulging in marvelous mariscos was one of the most magical moments that I enjoyed in Mazatlán.

For our final dinner in town, we headed to Mariscos La Puntilla, a fifteen-year-old open-air eatery specializing in fruits of the sea prepared Mazatlán style. The atmosphere was kick back, with views of ferries coming in and out of nearby Isla de la Piedra.

Mariscos La Puntilla - Mazatlan, Sinaloa

We were greeted by baskets full of saltine crackers and tostadas, as well as a selection of hot sauces, upon being seated. While I was initially excited to try all of the nifty condiments, the seafood here was so spectacular that not much of anything was required for complete satisfaction.

Mariscos La Puntilla - Mazatlan, Sinaloa

While my traveling companions sipped Pacificos and margaritas, I was in the mood for coconut water. The plentiful bits of coconut meat floating about made up for the fact that the drink was served in a glass rather than in an actual coconut.

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