Archive for the 'New American' Category

Girl & the Goat – Chicago

Published by Gastronomer on April 17, 2012 in Chicago, New American and Restaurant Review. 6 Comments

A meal at Chef Stephanie Izard’s Girl & the Goat was an absolute must on my culinary tour of Chicago. I first tasted her cooking late last year at the Food & Wine All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas. She prepared a hiramasa crudo with pork belly for an event called “A New American Lunch” and an especially memorable spicy goat curry for the grand tasting. Chef Izard makes the kind of bold and exciting food that I love to eat, and I couldn’t wait to do so on her home turf.

Girl & the Goat has been booked solid ever since it opened two summers ago. I tried and failed to snag a reservation a few weeks before our trip, so our party of four prayed for a miracle when we walked in at dinnertime on a Saturday night.

We were seated sometime past 10 PM and wrapped up our dinner around midnight. It wasn’t the most ideal situation, but we rolled with the punches and were rewarded with a stellar feast.

The menu here is divided into three categories: Vegetable, Fish, and Meat, with a separate specials menu full of goat options. The restaurant goes through seven whole goats each week, all of which are grown and raised locally. “Izard,” by the way, is a breed of Pyrenees goat. Hence the chef’s fascination with the animal.

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Sunday Supper at Eveleigh – West Hollywood

Published by Gastronomer on March 27, 2012 in Los Angeles, Media Event (this meal was free), New American and West Hollywood. 8 Comments

Stepping into Eveleigh (pronounced “Everly”) last Sunday evening, The Astronomer and I were transported far from the Sunset Strip. With its decidedly rustic vibe and vintage touches, the restaurant felt like it was plucked off a Napa Valley vineyard and plopped down in bustling West Hollywood. The space had a charm about it that just wouldn’t stop.

An invite to Eveleigh’s first ever Sunday Supper was the reason for our visit. Upon arriving at the restaurant and checking in with the hostess, we were led to the back patio, where an expansive communal table was set. With spectacular views overlooking the city and the sun setting in the distance, the scene could not have been any more idyllic.

Windrose Farms, a small family farm located east of Paso Robles, provided all of the produce and proteins for this inaugural event. Bill Spencer, who owns the farm along with his wife Barbara, was on hand to educate diners about everything from biodynamic agriculture to the difference between a lamb and a hogget. The evening’s convivial spirit was reminiscent of the Outstanding in the Field dinner series.

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FIG Restaurant – Los Angeles (Santa Monica)

Published by Gastronomer on March 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, Media Event (this meal was free), New American, Restaurant Review and Santa Monica. 3 Comments

VOSS, the fancy shmancy water company that serves its wares in sleek glass bottles, recently held a media dinner at FIG Restaurant in Santa Monica to get the word out about its 31 Days to Make a Difference campaign.*

Other than the fact that we were poured Voss water and were joined by representatives from the company, the focus this evening was squarely on Chef Raymond Garcia and the stellar food coming out of his kitchen. Subtlety is everything in situations like these.

Chef Garcia’s menu is built around seasonal ingredients and simple preparations. Every plate this evening was inspired by and composed with what Chef found at the local farmers market.

The first course, which was comprised of a gently poached Glaum Ranch hen’s egg with truffles and asparagus, gave us a glimpse of spring’s impending bounty.

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Tar & Roses – Los Angeles (Santa Monica)

Published by Gastronomer on February 22, 2012 in Los Angeles, Media Event (this meal was free), New American, Restaurant Review, Santa Monica and Small Plates. 11 Comments

Tar & Roses has been humming and happening ever since it opened just under a month ago. Named after the tasting notes characteristic of wine made from Nebbiolo grapes, Tar & Roses serves up big and small plates in a lively neighborhood setting.

I came in for dinner last week with my friends and fellow food bloggers Darin and Esi. As guests of the restaurant, we were completely spoiled by chef and owner Andrew Kirschner—he sent out way too much food and we in turn ate more than our fill! It was a delightful evening, one that left me waddling out the front door with a smile on my face and doggie bags in hand.

Prior to opening Tar & Roses, Chef Kirschner spent the last decade honing his craft at Joe’s in Venice, Chadwick in Beverly Hills, Table 8 in West Hollywood, and Wilshire in Santa Monica. He was named “Best New Chef in 2008” by Angeleno magazine.

Chef Kirschner’s “modern and rustic” menu is divided into four sections: Snacks, Small, Veggies, and Large. There’s nothing I love more than grazing over half a dozen plates rather than sticking to a single main course. The menu here is just my speed.

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Pacific Standard Timeʼs “Art As An Appetizer” (a.k.a. Secret Menu at Playa and Rivera)

Published by Gastronomer on February 9, 2012 in Food Event, Los Angeles, Media Event (this meal was free), Mid-City, Mixology and New American. 2 Comments

Pssst! Can you keep a secret? From now until March 31, Playa and Rivera are offering a special three-course menu as part of Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A. 1945-1980, the hugely ambitious initiative that tells the story of the birth of the Los Angeles art scene.

“Art as an Appetizer,” a collaboration between chef John Sedlar, artist Ron Cooper, and mixologist Julian Cox, is a one-of-a-kind menu inspired by artworks featured in Pacific Standard Time.

The secret menu is available for $34 at Playa and at $44 at Rivera during dinner to customers who show proof of admission to any Pacific Standard Time engagement or ask for the “Pacific Standard Time Secret Menu.” I was able to test run the menu this past weekend at a media event held at Playa.

Master mixologist Julian Cox has designed three unique cocktails for this special affair. All cocktails are priced at $12. The “47 Chevy in Wilmington, CA,” a crisp, tart, and refreshing sip, is comprised of mezcal, agave nectar, St. Vincent Orgeat, passion fruit, fresh lemon, and lavender foam.

It was inspired by Oscar Castilloʼs “47 Chevy in Wilmington, CA” (1972), which is featured in “Icons of the Invisible: Oscar Castillo” at the Fowler Museum, UCLA.

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