02 Jun 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. The space is simple and modern yet there is an elegance to it. The kitchen is open so you can watch the cooks work…..rolling out fresh pastas and plating dishes. And, Chef Auriana can be found looking out over the restaurant, checking plates as they go out. The cooking is regional, traditional Italian food. It is all about fresh ingredients and simplicity, as there isn’t a dish on the menu that isn’t tempting. Parma Prosciuotto 24 months, lightly fried sage dough, stracciatella ($18.00) – The harmony of the prosciutto with the gooey stracciatella cheese and the airy sage dough are perfection! Frittura ($10) – crispy beer-batter baby leeks and chickpea fritters Brodetto ($14) – steamed littlenecks clams, mussels, garlic, organic garbanzo beans, clam water – be sure to ask for extra bread and spoons as you will not want to miss a drop of the broth Barberosse Gratinate ($10) oven baked sliced beets casserole with melted asiago – The beets are so thinly sliced that it’s hard to believe that it is not pasta. Mandili di Seta ($19) – “Silk handkerchief” pasta with Ligurian almond basil pesto. Handmade, tender big sheets of pasta- this dish is remarkable. It is an almost sensual experience to eat this. It is one of those dishes that you can’t stop thinking about…..months after eating it! Corzetti Stampati ($19) – hand stamped marjoram infused egg-pasta, braised rabbit I can’t wait to go back again, and again, to try everything else on the menu. We hope you love it as much as we did! The Factory Kitchen 1300 Factory Place #101, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (213) 996-6000