Please The Palate |

Smoke + Meat at Odys + Penelope

With a passion for smoking meats, Quinn and Karen Hatfield have left fine dining and opened Odys+Penelope, a churrascaria on La Brea Blvd (between 3rd and Beverly). And, I am so happy that they did!

The 3,800 square foot restaurant is a modern, open space with a rustic charm. And, despite the open space and high ceilings, noise is not an issue. As the restaurant filled up while we were dining, my dining companion and I were still able to hear each other and talk.

The open fire kitchen is home to Argentinian-style and Uruguyuan-style grills, offering different levels of char, along with a Braszilian churrasco and a smoker. Despite all of the smoking and grilling going on in the kitchen, the ventilation kept any sign of smoke from coming into the dining room.

30 March, 2015

New Orleans Comes to LA at Preux & Proper

Eating in New Orleans is one of my favorite annual trips. After all, in New Orleans they know how to fry food like nobody's business. Po boys, beignets, gumbo....what's not to like?!?! And, now Angelenos don't have to travel across the country to enjoy these dishes because Preux & Proper is here. Located in Downtown LA, wedged between Spring and Main Streets, you might even think for a moment that you are in New Orleans. With second story windows lining the narrow, two story brick building, you can just imagine people throwing down beads. If it wasn't so quiet in this part of town and the patrons were not wearing so many articles of clothing, you’d be fooled.

As I entered the restaurant, I passed the ground floor bar (Preux) with slushy machines. But, we didn't stop here until we were on the way out.

25 February, 2015

Soupure – Is Souping the New Juicing?

Please The Palate is about great food and drink. We are constantly on the go, looking for palate pleasing experiences. Of course, all of this eating out (and drinking) can take a toll on the body. Personally, I work out regularly and eat pretty simply when at home. But, sometimes, you need a little jump start. I love juice but am not a fan of juice cleanses. These fads are just that. Most of the juice cleanses out there are very low in calories and leave you hungry, grumpy and deprived. Sure, you may drop a few pounds but as soon as you start eating solid food, you gain them back. So, when we heard about Soupure, we were equally skeptical. Afterall, swapping juice for soup didn't seem all that different and a cleanse is a cleanse, right? Well, perhaps not.

23 February, 2015