Gastronomy Blog by Cathy Chaplin

Restaurant Review

29 Jun 2010

RH at the Andaz Hotel – Los Angeles (West Hollywood)

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I had the pleasure of being a tourist in my own town this weekend as a participant in the Dole California Cook-Off. As part of the festivities, The Astronomer and I packed up our bags and moved into the Andaz West Hollywood. We fueled up at RH the night before the big competition. I’ve been wanting to sit down for a meal here ever since the restaurant received three-stars from the Los Angeles Times, but never found myself in a hotel dining mood. As a guest of the Andaz, the timing finally felt right to see what the buzz was all about.

Headed by Chef Sebastien Archambault, RH serves southwestern French cuisine with an emphasis on California ingredients. As we skimmed the cocktail and dinner menus, a plate of crudite arrived for us to nibble on. The vegetables were snappy and colorful, while the dressing was creamy and herbaceous. The Astronomer made a noble effort to find pleasure in eating the radishes, but we ultimately couldn’t finish them.

Since we were staying fourteen floors up rather than twenty miles away, The Astronomer and I indulged in a cocktail each. I went for a muddled strawberry and lime concoction called the 405 Crush ($12), while The Astronomer ordered a French mojito laced with anise ($12). Both drinks were well-balanced and properly potent. It was unbelievably fun getting giggly over cocktails without having to worry about driving home safely.

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Restaurant Review

27 Jun 2010

Chocolatería San Ginés – Madrid

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Every afternoon between the hours of three and seven o’clock, the residents of Madrid take a break from the grind, descend upon cafes and pastry shops, and indulge in a sweet, midday pick-me-up. Of all the fabulous Spanish customs that The Astronomer and I adopted during our stay (e.g. midnight dinners, wine-filled meals, and post-lunch naps), the merienda is the one I miss the most.

On our first afternoon in the capital city, The Astronomer and I sought out hot chocolate and churros at Madrid’s most well-known chocolatería—San Ginés. Established in 1894, San Ginés is located in a small passageway, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the Puerta del Sol. In spite of its less than prominent location, a mixed crowd of locals and tourists find their way here every hour of the day. In fact, the shop is open daily from 9 AM to 6 AM. I think it’s the intoxicating blend of hot oil, fried dough, and melted chocolate that lures everyone in.

The Astronomer and I each ordered a mug of the chocolaty stuff, along with a plate of churros to share. We grabbed a table outside and within fifteen minutes, our loot arrived. The bittersweet brew was just as I had hoped—dark, warm, thick, and dreamy to sip and dip.

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Now Closed

25 Jun 2010

Ahn Joo – Los Angeles

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July 23, 2009—that’s the exact date when I fell in love with Korean rice cakes (duk). Since that deliciously chewy day at Cham Korean Bistro in Pasadena, I’ve eaten pounds upon pounds of the stuff and even successfully prepared an authentic version at home. Recently, an unofficial duk truck rolled into town. Chef Debbie Lee’s Ahn-Joo brings modern Korean pub grub to the streets of Los Angeles, including some bold renditions of my favorite rice cylinders.

The Astronomer and I chased down the truck yesterday afternoon at the CNN building on Sunset. Chef Lee was on the scene to greet us with a smile and to tell us more about why she decided to take her culinary act on the road.

Following an appearance on season five of The Next Food Network Star, Chef Lee consulted at Culver City’s Gyenari and served “SeoulTown Tapas” at Breadbar. Although both engagements allowed her to introduce her unique style of fusion cooking to the public, the price point was ultimately too high to reach the masses. With Ahn Joo, Chef Lee hopes to spread her “Seoul-to-soul” dishes across the city and to provide an alternative to fast food.

The menu is divided into four parts: Small Grub ($3), Medium Grub ($5), Large Grub ($7), and Sweet Grub ($5). We began with an order of bacon-wrapped duk with jalapeño ponzu ($3). Bacon has a way of making just about everything better, and this was no exception. The smoky bacon and the citrus-laced ponzu provided the oomph that the simple rice cakes needed to shine.

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