Brunch Spot: Ysabel in West Hollywood

Written by Allison Levine on June 15, 2018

Food Cocktails

A friend was in town last weekend and we wanted to enjoy a late brunch before she had to head to the airport. I had read that cocktail chef Matthew Biancaniello was doing his weekend pop-up at Ysabel in West Hollywood that day so we headed to Ysabel on Fairfax. Sadly, when we got there, we learned he had switched days, but luckily we had happened upon this hidden spot.

Ysabel is located on Fairfax Blvd. The nondescript building has no sign (at least not one I could find). But my GPS said I was there so I pulled into the driveway and parked in the lot. I entered a long tunneled walk-way and on the other side was a truly beautiful midcentury-modern space.

The large space is like a butterfly. There is an outdoor patio that leads to an indoor area in the center.

Even the indoor area feels like it is outdoors with the large glass window doors open wide and a live tree in the center of the space. The space feels like a luxurious living room with sofas and chairs grouped together. Read More +

Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Gotta Have S’More

Written by Allison Levine on June 9, 2018

Food

Do you have a sweet tooth? If so, your sweet tooth will be satisfied with fun new sweet treats from Gotta Have S’more, the Please The Palate pick of the week.

Chef and owner Annalisa Mastroianni Johnson is also the owner of Annie’s Edibles, a gourmet meal delivery and catering service. She purchased Gotta Have S’More in 2014 and this week opened her storefront on Fairfax Ave in the heart of Little Ethiopia and next door to the famous Hansen’s Cakes.

Gotta Have S’More will take you back to your childhood. But, you do not need a campfire and long stick. The smores at Gotta Have S’More are the size of a mini-muffin and look like little cupcakes, but they are neither. The base is a traditional graham cracker, topped with a roasted marshmallow and a topping. Flavors range from milk and dark chocolate to salted caramel, peanut butter cup and cookie and cream. There are also seasonal flavors, such as PB & J, spicy Mexican hot chocolate, pumpkin pie, strawberries and cream, and espresso bean. My personal favorite was the peanut butter cup S’More.

If you do not live in Los Angeles, do not worry! These sweet treats can be ordered online and shipped nationwide. They even offer a monthly dessert subscription. And, you can personalize the S’More for birthdays, holidays, corporate events or more.

Gotta Have S’More
1066 S. Fairfax Ave., (323)646-4114.

A Magical Meal to Celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Champagne Billecart-Salmon

Written by Allison Levine on May 10, 2018

Lifestyle Food Wine

This story originally appeared in ATOD Magazine.

A Culinary Evening of Sheer Magic

Celebrate the 200^th Anniversary of Champagne Billecart-Salmon

From the moment I pulled up to the doors of the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, I knew that a night of elegance and celebration was ahead. Guests had already started to gather and walk towards the opulent and spacious floor-level of Jean-Georges and one by one we were escorted to our tables. As we took our seats, we were about to embark on a magical meal in celebration of Champagne Billecart-Salmon’s 200^th Anniversary. Champagne Billecart-Salmon is the oldest continuously family-owned and operated house in Champagne, France. Founded in 1818 by Nicolas François Billecart and his wife Elisabeth Salmon, Billecart-Salmon is currently managed by the family’s seventh generation, brothers François and Antoine Roland-Billecart.

To honor its 200th anniversary, Billecart-Salmon has embarked on a six-city gastronomic tour around the world. Hosting intimate luxurious dinners in Singapore, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles and London, the celebration will conclude with an elegant garden party in June at the Billecart-Salmon family’s estate in Mareuil-sur-Ay.

Billecart-Salmon partnered with three-star Michelin Chef Alain Passard of l’Arpege restaurant in Paris for the world tour. In addition, two-star Michelin Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten joined Passard for the New York and Los Angeles dinners, hosting them at his restaurants.

I had the honor to be seated next to François Roland-Billecart, the current president of Billecart-Salmon, as well as his wife and daughter.

M. Roland-Billecart, with his heavy French accent, welcomed everyone to the dinner, and expressed how at Billecart-Salmon, ‘we aim to produce better and better [wine] every year.’

Billecart-Salmon is known for finesse and elegance. The wines are not heavy or powerful. They are balanced wines that will give pleasure to all who drink them. Perhaps that it why Billecart-Salmon is somewhat of a cult darling among sommeliers.