Restaurant Review
29 Jul 2019

Afternoon Tea at Hello Kitty Grand Cafe – Irvine

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Afternoon Tea at Hello Kitty Grand Cafe

The drive to Orange County is never one I look forward to, but it’s not too bad when there’s afternoon tea at the finish line. June and I, along with Auntie Roz, attended a proper high tea hosted by Hello Kitty a few weekends back at the Irvine Spectrum. We were all so giddy for the experience that the hour-long drive didn’t even phase us.

Afternoon Tea at Hello Kitty Grand Cafe

Whereas the cafe is open to the public, the speakeasy hidden behind the cafe called the Bow Room requires advance reservations. Here is this pretty pink space, afternoon tea is served during the day and cocktails are available late into the night. What a stellar combination.

Afternoon Tea at Hello Kitty Grand Cafe

The three of us settled into a plush pink booth and readied ourselves for an onslaught of sweets and savories ($55 per person). To say that June was thrilled for the experience would be an understatement.

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Restaurant Review
25 Jul 2019

Union – Pasadena

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Union - Pasadena

When Chef Bruce Kalman decamped from the kitchen at Union, Vetri alum Christopher Keyser stepped in without missing a beat. Following in the footsteps of a beloved chef is no easy task, but when the new person in charge has a clear culinary point of view along with the passion and skills to back it up, the results can be even better than before.

Union - Pasadena

Although Chef Keyser has been in charge for the past year or so, I only recently got around to coming in for dinner with June and The Astronomer. The current menu feels familiar enough for regulars, smartly retaining crowd-pleasing favorites, but there’s new energy at every turn.

Union - Pasadena

First up was the burrata served with pesto rosso, mixed herbs, and crostini ($16). While The Astronomer and I fought over the scratch-made cheese, June hogged the house-made bread.

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Restaurant Review
17 Jul 2019

Otium – Los Angeles (Downtown)

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Otium - Downtown Los Angeles

I liked my first dinner at Otium well enough, but I loved my second dinner even more. Chef Tim Hollingsworth has hit his stride in the three years since I last visited, and the food and drinks coming out of the kitchen are some of the most thoughtful and delicious in the city.

Otium - Downtown Los Angeles

My friend Liz and I came in for a weeknight dinner. The dining room was a lively hub of noise and conversation filled with neighborhood worker bees unwinding and a few families fueling after a visit to The Broad.

Otium - Downtown Los Angeles

Crafted by Chris Amirault, all of the specialty cocktails this evening employed a different culinary technique. My Rhumble in the Jungle ($15) with Rhum J.M. Gold, fermented pineapple, chartreuse, and salted almond highlighted the joys of fermentation.

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