Food

Exploring different cultures and cuisines is one of my passions. So, when I was invited to an event in Los Angeles introducing Korean forest products, I was excited to learn more about the rice, vegetables and meats that are a central part of the Korean cuisine and especially about the delicious forest products that are naturally grown throughout Korean and are both nutritious and medicinal.
12 January, 2013
An artist expresses thoughts with a brush; a chef expresses thoughts through food. Brushstroke, the new restaurant founded by Chef David Bouley and Chef Yoshiki Tsuiji, is where art and food meet and the beauty of Japanese culture is translated into an extraordinary dining experience. Offering authentic Japanese cuisine, the menu is a reflection of the season. Typically, when restaurants change their menus seasonally, they change them 4-6 times per year.  But at Brushstroke, the chefs follow a 20-phase seasonal calendar tied to nature which means that the menu will be different every time you dine there. Brushstoke offers a kaiseki menu, a traditional multi-course Japenese dinner. Kaiseki is a type of art form that balances the taste, texture, appearance, and colors of food. The term also refers to the collection of skills and techniques that allow the preparation of such meals, similar to haute cuisine. Each menu is created in collaboration between the Bouley Test Kitchen in New York and the Tsuji Culinary Institute in Osaka, Japan.
09 January, 2013

Happy 2013 and welcome to the first newsletter from Please The Palate! 2012 was our full year in business, and an extremely busy one at that!...

08 January, 2013
I continue to marvel at how many great restaurants there are now in DC and it is actually difficult to chose where to go when I only have a few days in town.  On my last visit, I was able to make it a double "Top Chef Weekend". The first night we ventured to Bryan Voltaggio's new restaurant Range. The next night we ventured to Mike Isabella's Graffiato, which means "graffiti" or "scratched." I will be honest in saying that, as a loyal Top Chef viewer, Mike Isabella on Season 6 was not one of my favorite contenders. He was too arrogant for my liking and his dishes didn't seem to be as exciting as some of his competition (ie. the Voltaggio brothers). But, I became a fan of his when he was on Top Chef All-Stars and after eating at Graffiato, I can say with confidence that his food is exciting and flavorful.
03 January, 2013
Chef Rick Bayless newest book Frontera: Margaritas, Guacamole, Snacks is a collection of recipes of his prized margaritas, guacamole and snacks. I got a sneak preview when Rick Bayless hosted a cooking demo and book signing at his Red O Restaurant in Los Angeles and have since had fun trying recipes at home.
28 December, 2012
RANGE is the newest restaurant to open in Washington. D.C.  Not much of a foodie town when I lived there over a decade ago, today Washington, D.C. has transformed into a food and cocktail destination. RANGE, led by Chef and Owner Bryan Voltaggio (Bravo’s Top Chef season 6 finalist) and an amazing team including co-owner Hilda Staples, general manager Steven Fowler, wine director and Master Sommelier Keith Goldston, beverage director Owen Thomson, chef de cuisine Matt Hill, pastry chef John Miele and pizza-maker Edan MacQuaid, is no exception. RANGE is a 14,000 square foot space located on the third floor of the Chevy Chase Pavilion. Located in a mall and surrounded by neighboring malls, the modern space shares an atrium with the Embassy Suites hotel and other retail shops.  However, it is not a hotel restaurant, or for that matter a typical mall restaurant.  
18 December, 2012
MessHall is the newest incarnation of the original Brown Derby in Los Feliz. Built in 1929, it was originally the home of Willard's Chicken Inn until 1941 when director Cecil B. DeMille bought the restaurant and turned it into the Brown Derby, birthplace of the "Cobb Salad." It was Michael's of Los Feliz from 1960 - 1992 and then became The Derby nightclub, home of swing dancing. After The Derby, the space became Louise's Trattoria and then a Chase Bank and in 2006 the building was declared a Historic Cultural landmark. Today, MessHall Kitchen is a 14,000 square foot space with seating for 175 people and a corrugated metal bar located in the center of the room. The long wooden communal tables and fire pits on the patio will transport you to an upscale version of an army mess hall or camp.
17 December, 2012
While Vegas is known for gambling and all-night partying, it has also become a food mecca.  A weekend in Vegas can be spent eating your way through the Strip at a number of top restaurants from around the country, while burning a massive whole in your wallet. However, one of North America's best Greek restaurants, Estiatorio Milos, located on the quiet third floor of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, offers a pre-fixe lunch menu and a deal that can't be beat!  For $20.12, you get a 3 course menu featuring the fresh seafood and simple, delicate flavors from the main menu but for a price that won't break your budget.
07 December, 2012
I remember when Mo-chica first opened in the La Paloma Mercado near USC. It was a rather unique experience to go to Mo-chica.  It was located in a super mercado where you could buy your quincinera dress, your Lakers shirt or select from the food court offerings. And there in a very unassuming position sat Mo-chica, next to a row of other food stations. Despite the lack of asthetic appeal, the food was delicious. Chef Ricardo Zarate’s Peruvian comfort food with a modern twist included Arroz con Marisco, Lomo Saltado, Oxtail Risotto, Seco de Cordero and Ceviche Mixto, all at very affordable prices. Now the original Mo-chica has closed and moved to a new, larger, more central location in Downtown LA.  No longer in a food court, Mo-chica is a modern Peruvian eatery that offers many of the original dishes as well as new dishes that are similar to what can be found on the always-popular sister restaurant Picca in Beverly Hills.
05 December, 2012
Bestia officially opened its doors this past weekend in downtown LA's Arts District.  A contemporary brick building decorated with reclaimed materials, Bestia is hidden among the nondescript warehouses of downtown LA, not far from the Greyhound Station. But when you walk inside, you will forget where you are and be transported into a warm, inviting restaurant with an open kitchen and a long bar for cocktails.
27 November, 2012
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