Food

This story originally appeared in ATOD Magazine. My interest in food and wine began when I was living in Italy. Every town I traveled to, I...

20 April, 2017
There is no sign outside. But the deep red panels interspersed with wood panels and large glass windows that are open on a warm day, sitting on the north corner of Santa Monica Blvd, just west of the 405 freeway, will catch your eye. This is The Nickel Mine, West Los Angeles's newest sports bar. The long v-shaped bar is surrounded by large flat screen televisions playing a variety of live sports games. But, The Nickel Mine is more than a sports bar. It is a cocktail bar, a whiskey bar, a gastropub and a fun neighborhood spot to hang out with friends.

Unlike your typical sports bar, The Nickel Mine has an impressive whiskey selection with more than 50 choices, two dozen draft beers and one dozen wines. There is also a fun cocktail list that goes beyond typical well-drinks.

18 April, 2017
The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of eating and drinking my way around France. The breads, the cheeses, the meats, the wines, the pastries.....the good food and drink was endless. It is really hard to pick one thing as a stand-out for the week. But, during lunch one day, it was not the cheese table that I was drawn to, but rather the dessert table. Sitting on the table were delicious looking pastries that looked like they could be doughnuts or cronuts. What were they? Chocolate covered pogne de Romans. So delicious and so memorable, it had to be the Please The Palate "pick of the week."
15 April, 2017
The District by Hannah An opened two years ago, in 2015, on the busy 3rd Street, in the original space of Barefoot Cafe, across the street from Cedars Sinai Hospital. The District by Hannah An is owned by Hannah An, the eldest of Helene An's five daughters. The restaurant business is in her blood, having grown up in her mother's restaurants, including Beverly Hills iconic Crustacean. The space is very beautiful. Starting with the outdoor covered patio with greenery crawling up the walls to the inside with wood walls and wood bars.The space is warm and friendly with a modern feel. When I first arrived, I went to the bar to wait for my friend. The bartender offered me the menu and happy-hour menu but I explained I was having dinner in the dining room. He did not take initiative regarding drinks and I had to ask for the drink menu. After asking a few questions, I finally decided on a sparkling lambrusco, which they were out of. But he never tried to offer anything else in exchange. Luckily my friend arrived shortly after this and when we sat down for dinner, we selected an aromatic, crisp bottle of Elena Walch Gewurztraminer from Northern Italy to enjoy with the flavors of the food.
11 April, 2017
Stepping inside Spring restaurant in downtown Los Angeles can be breathtaking, especially the first time. Named after the street it is on, Spring Street, Spring is somewhat discreet from the outside. As you enter through the glass door, you will walk through a long white hall to the hostess stand. To your left will be a long white counter that is the perimeter of the large open kitchen. And in front of you will be the stunning dining room. Located in a 19th century architectural treasure, the Douglas Building was designed in 1898. The atrium of the building houses the restaurant, which is 6,000 square feet. The large open space is glass-roofed, allowing a lot of natural light to flow through the room during the day. In the center of the room is a stone fountain and a tree strung with tree lights.
05 April, 2017
Beets, rich in fiber, vitamin C, iron and potassium and full of powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, are super foods and were the featured ingredient at Maude in the month of March. It is always interesting to see how the chefs at Maude are able to take a single ingredient and utilize it in different ways and this month was no exception. We are used to having beet salads with goat cheese or even beet soup, also known as borscht. But, beets are very versatile. Beets have the highest sugar content of any vegetable, but have very little calories and fat. In addition to the beet, the green, leafy portion is also edible and has a taste and texture similar to spinach. The Maude menu featured beets in a variety of ways - cherry, roasted, dehydrated, shaved, pickled and more. The menu: The dinner started with a Beet Mimosa made with Domaine Huet 2012 Chenin Blanc with beet and blood orange syrup to pair with the first two dishes.
03 April, 2017
If you grew up in the San Fernando Valley, you know Stanley's Restaurant. It was a local mainstay for 32 years. When I was in high school, my friends and I would meet for lunch at Stanley's. One of my first jobs in high school, and after the first year in college, was as a hostess at Stanley's. Ever since then, whenever I went to the valley to visit my parents or for an appointment (almost weekly), I would stop by Stanley's to pick up lunch or dinner. And every single time, I ordered the Stanley's Chinese Chicken Salad. The salad itself was simple - iceberg lettuce, shredded chicken, crispy noodles, green onions, sesame seeds, and mandarin oranges. It came in a large bowl, and it was one of the first places I remember in Los Angeles in the 1980s offering big fresh salads in large open bowls. And, the sesame dressing, with its touch of sweetness, is what made the salad. The other favorite was the sourdough bread with crunchy crust and soft middle that was served with all meals. Stanley's was a staple in my life and I was really brokenhearted when they abruptly closed in August 2015. But Stanley's is back and my Chinese Chicken Salad is back! And that is why it is the Please The Palate "pick of the week."
01 April, 2017
How do you like your steak? Medium rare is the answer, especially at Medium Rare in Washington DC where America meets France in a steakhouse. At Medium Rare, the words steakhouse and affordable are combined in a relaxed and fun environment. Modeled after a steakhouse based in Paris, Medium Rare has three locations in the DC area - Bethesda, Cleveland Park and Capitol Hill. The concept is warm and friendly serving up tasty food in a relaxed, non-pretentious way. The music is turned up loud, making you lean in to talk, like you would if you were in a French bistro. The menu at Medium Rare is very simple. All you have to decide is how you want your meat cooked because the menu is a pre-fixe offering for $20.45.
28 March, 2017
I love sushi and try to eat it at least once a week. It is light, healthy and flavorful, and living in Los Angeles, there is no shortage of sushi restaurants. In fact, living in West Los Angeles, near Sawtelle Blvd, known as "Little Osaka", my neighborhood is filled with sushi restaurants. Some are very good but expensive. Some are not so good and worth avoiding. But the one I love and go back to over and over and over again is Hide on Sawtelle Blvd, and that is why it is the Please The Palate "pick of the week." Hide is not fancy; it does not have modern decor or any special touches. It is straight-forward with a sushi bar that seats approximately 13 and tables that can seat about 30. They do not take reservations. When you arrive, you put your name on a white board, the number in your party and if you want to sit at the sushi bar or a table. Then you wait your turn. Your entire party must be present when a table is available and they will not seat any incomplete parties. Hide also does not take credit cards. You can pay with cash only, and there is an ATM machine inside the restaurant if you need it. Luckily Hide is not expensive. The cost is very reasonable and you can very eat well for $30-$40 per person. The menu is very traditional. There are rolls, such as spicy tuna and salmon skin, but none of those Americanized rolls, such as Philadelphia rolls. The sushi is super-fresh and the rice is served room temperature. One of my absolute favorite pieces is the albacore tuna with ponzu sauce. It just melts in the mouth.
25 March, 2017
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