Please The Palate |

The Factory Kitchen in DTLA’s Historic Arts District

Of all the meals that I eat out, sometimes there is that one that stands out above the rest. There is such a feeling of satisfaction and excitement when one like this is found. And, I found that very feeling at The Factory Kitchen, which opened up in downtown LA at the end of 2013. A trattoria-style Italian restaurant, it is named after the building that it is based in - the Factory Place Arts Complex - in the Arts District.

The Factory Kitchen is the project of two lifelong friends - Chef Angelo Auriana and General Manager Matteo Ferdinandi. Chef Auriana was the executive chef at Valentino for 18 years before moving to Farina in San Francisco. And, Matteo Ferdinandi has worked with Celestino Drago and Spago. Together, they have created a restaurant that is the epitome of Italian hospitality.

02 June, 2014

City Tavern DTLA

Looking for a causal gastropub for some good old comfort food? If so, City Tavern is a great option and you have the choice of the original Culver City location or the new Downtown LA location. While the menus vary a bit, one thing the Downtown LA location has that Culver City doesn't, is a cocktail program developed by Brent Falco and Cari Hah.

City Tavern Downtown LA is located on the lower level of a mall (FIGAT7TH center) at 7th + Figueroa. But, once you enter the large space with the exposed brick walls, reclaimed wood floors & walls, and wood tables and chairs, you will forget you are in a mall.

01 May, 2014

Alma

I had been hearing the reviews about Alma and finally scheduled a date with some friends. After all of the accolades (Best New Restaurant of the Year by Bon Appetit magazine and Ari Traymor being named one of Food & Wine magazine's Best New Chefs of 2013), I was very excited about this meal. Alma offers two tasting menus each night - a 5-course tasting menu for $65/person and a larger one (9 courses) for $110/person (+$55/person for wine pairings). We decided to splurge and go for the big tasting menu, and we were ready to see what was on the menu using ingredients grown in their own Flower Avenue garden, as well as local farms that they work with. Our meal started with little "snacks" - ocean trout, roe and parsnip, mini english muffin with uni, burrata, fennel and roe and tofu and yuzu fritters. The ocean trout was a perfect balance of flavors and textures and the bellini with uni left us wanting more.

29 April, 2014