Gastronomy Blog by Cathy Chaplin

Restaurant Review

09 Dec 2014

Lu’s Garden – San Gabriel

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With the holidays officially in full swing, chances are you’re going to need a breather from stuffing your face. Rather than skip a meal, or even worse, embark on a juice cleanse, I’d recommend heading to Lu’s Garden for a virtuous bowl of porridge with all the fixings. You’ll feel positively rejuvenated afterward. Promise.

Lu's Garden - San Gabriel

A colleague introduced me to Lu’s a few weeks back for lunch; she’s been dining here for as long as she can remember. I enjoyed our outing so much that I returned the following day with my girl Shay in tow.

For first-timers, it can be a little confusing how the place works. Upon entering the restaurant, you’ll be greeted by a tremendous steam table brimming with all manner of vegetables and proteins.

Lu's Garden - San Gabriel

Select three items from the steam table for $8.25 or four items for $10.75. The cost is the same for vegetarian and meaty dishes. At dinner, diners are required to order a la carte from a menu.

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Restaurant Review

02 Dec 2014

Alimento – Los Angeles (Silver Lake)

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Was it just me or did this past summer drag on forever? With 2014 on track to be the warmest year on record for Los Angeles, I was starting to lose hope that we’d ever see fall and winter this year. Fortunately, it’s been cooling down in recent weeks (by SoCal standards, I mean), and there’s even rain in the forecast!

With temperatures finally and consistently dipping below 80 degrees, it’s high time to indulge in comfort fare. Hello, Alimento.

Alimento - Silver Lake - Los Angeles

Chef Zach Pollack opened Alimento this past June in Silver Lake after years behind the stove with Chef Steve Samson at Sotto. Whereas Sotto focused on Southern Italian fare, the food here is inspired by Northern Italian cuisine. The menu is divided into three sections: Plates, Pastas, and Platters.

The Astronomer and I were joined by our friend Stassi for dinner this evening. Between the three of us, we shared four “Plates,” two “Pastas,” and a dessert.

The first Plate to hit the table was the chicken liver pate served with house made bread, coarse salt, and quince mostarda ($10). This dish was adored by all and was as delicious as it was beautiful.

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Restaurant Review

24 Nov 2014

Swan Oyster Depot – San Francisco

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Swan Oyster Depot has been on my list of San Francisco must-eats for quite some time, but I always passed it over in favor of trendier spots. It’ll always be there, I rationalized—after all, it’s been around since 1912.

On my latest visit to the city, I craved fresh seafood and the kind of old fashion charm that can only be found at a century-old dining institution. So, off to the Depot The Astronomer and I finally went.

We were greeted with a line snaking out the door upon arriving at the restaurant on a Monday afternoon. After a 40-minute wait spent snacking on a few choice doughnuts from Bob’s down the street, we settled into two stools along the 18-seat counter.

Owned by the Sancimino Family, Swan Oyster Depot serves up wonderfully fresh, barely fussed seafood. The quality of the catch really shines when the preparations are this minimal.

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