Please The Palate |

Maude: Superb Seasonal Tasting Menu

Curtis Stone opened up his tiny little restaurant Maude in Beverly Hills at the end of January. I called to make a reservation as soon as I heard that it was opening and the first reservation I could get was a 9pm in March so I grabbed it and waited in anticipation for the date to arrive.

Maude is a fairly small restaurant that has approximately 25 seats. The kitchen is open and no matter where you sit, you can watch the cooks at work. In a way, it feels like you are going to a friend's house for a dinner party as the space is intimate and charming, like an intimate chef’s table experience.

25 April, 2014

Good Times at Davey Wayne’s

The Houston Brothers have done it again! Each bar they open is an experience, from the moment you walk in to the decor and the drinks. They never miss a beat and Good Times at Davey Wayne's is no exception.

As a child of the 1970s, I remember fondly, albeit with a bit of shame, the shag carpets, the colors of green, orange, yellow and brown and the freedom of the decade. Good Times at Davey Wayne's took me back to my childhood, although now I can enjoy the drinks as well. And, it is a trip back to the Houston Brother's childhood as they pay homage to their father Davey Wayne with this bar.

How do you find the newest Hollywood bar? Look for the garage sale happening on the street. But, look closely and this is not your ordinary garage sale. Everything here is retro-fantastic.....record albums, candy, clothing, bangles and other chatskies....and actually for sale, if you want!

24 April, 2014

Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine

Venice Blvd. in Culver City is lined with ethnic restaurants. Every time I drive down Venice, trying to avoid the congestion on parallel streets, I look at the restaurants as I drive by, and wonder how to chose one to try. So recently, I checked out Tara's Himalayan Cuisine, serving Nepalese and Tibetan cuisine.

Behind the vine covered fence, you enter a space with a tarp covered ceiling, that has lighting coming from behind it. While the decor and ambience are nothing special, Tara's serves authentic Himalyan cuisine from Nepal and Tibet and 10% of any profit earned goes toward education in Nepal. It's a nice idea knowing that we can go out to eat and some of the money we spend will impact the life of women and children in Nepal.

23 April, 2014