VivaLAfoodies

VivaLAfoodies

Overview:

Food truck:

Rosa’s Bella Cucina was on a roll, literally. Los Angeles’ newest Italian Deli on wheels was serving up its “Bambini”mini deli-style ciabatta sandwiches.

From la Mamma “Angelina”with Prosciutto and Mozzarella, La Caprese with Mozzarella and Tomatoes and others, each savory sandwich was welcomed with open arms and wonderful hospitality by truck owner and operator Rosa Graziano and family.

Look for the truck on the streets and at public and private events throughout the city.

Rosa and her mom also had a booth featuring zeppole and their homemade special arancini with your choice of spinach and meat sauce toppings. From Savory to sweet these small bites were quite a treat.

Special Dishes:

From la Mamma “Angelina”with Prosciutto and Mozzarella, La Caprese with Mozzarella and Tomatoes

This Review has been recommended by 1 person

VivaLAfoodies

Overview:

Angelinos are always on the hunt for the next weekend Brunch institution because once the “cat is out of the bag” people swarm like bees on honey making it nearly impossible to get a table at any seasoned LA “weekend Breakfast spot.”

So when it comes to “Brunch-in”, we all how hard it is to find a new, cool, hip and fun brunch place where you don’t have to stand in line. If you are tired of waiting in line at Kings Road Cafe or the The Griddle, set your navigation for a South-Western course and head to the neighboring 90210, “cuz that’s where you wanna be, rollin like a celebrity” at the Crescent Hotel & Lounge at the intersection of Crescent & Brighton Way. This is a hidden jem, so don’t blink because you could miss it.

The Crescent Hotel and Lounge has a setting that is straight out of the show Entourage with a shabby chic modern twist. In addition to a restaurant featuring “California fresh American Comfort Food”, there are 35 plush boutique hotel rooms for guests looking to escape the “Shutters” of LA’s infamous Paparazzi cartels.

Executive Chef Lenora Marouani interprets her version of “California-American-Comfort-Food”, where fresh and new is the name of the game. Sophisticated LA foodies will agree when they see the “Weekend Brunch Menu” loaded with savory and sweet options.

Start with a juicy Tangerine Mimosa and let the chef surprise you with the “Amuse of the day.” Luckily on our visit the Lemon scones with whipped maple butter arrived in six-seconds-flat. Family-style dining is encouraged especially if you want to sample the best of the menu as was the case on our visit.

Start with the “Stuffed Fried Piquillo peppers” with chorizo, goat cheese, egg and chives to get the palette party started. Lightly tap on the gas and go for the “Brunch Sliders” on Brioche with breakfast sausage, smoked maple aioli, and a street food inspired sunny-side up quail egg on top.

Egg courses vary from vegetarian to omnivore so mix it up with the Kabocha Squash Omelet with Kale, tomato confit, goat cheese and corn-avocado relish.

Fans of “Pork” have options too ranging from the Truffle infused Prosciutto Omelet with Creme fraiche and mushrooms or the ultimate decadence, the Pork belly Benedict with shallot vinegar caviar and Hollandaise foam.

The Pain Perdu with whipped maple cream cheese and candied bacon bits will blow anyone’s mind and is pure food porn.

Besides being one of LA’s newest breakfast hubs, The Crescent is also a great Happy hour destination from 4-7pm Monday thru Friday with there wallet friendly $5 menu items and Well Cocktails. Bring your friends to this Beverly Hills treasure and you will be glad you ventured into the 90210.

Special Dishes:

Fans of “Pork” have options too ranging from the Truffle infused Prosciutto Omelet with Creme fraiche and mushrooms or the ultimate decadence, the Pork belly Benedict with shallot vinegar caviar and Hollandaise foam.

This Review has been recommended by 1 person

VivaLAfoodies

Overview:

With Carmageddon, now a faint memory for Los Angeles residents, we took to the LA streets on a quest to find the most sustainably conscious restaurant with a farm fresh market driven menu to match its ethically motivated mission.

We found all of that and even a “basket of fries” where Wilshire Blvd. meets Selby at Blvd 16 in Westwood at the Hotel Palomar. You cannot go wrong when California Fresh Cuisine merges with one of Los Angeles’s only Eco-friendly hotels.

A quality restaurant is only as successful as its chef and in the case of BLVD 16, Chef Simon Dolinky is the creative culinary conductor. Chef Dolinky draws from his culinary experiences locally and abroad and has cooked everywhere in between. Luisiana and Spain are two regions that inspire his innovative style and he showcases the dishes that make “the cut” for the “Market Menu” weekly.

Like today’s top 40 club DJ, Chef Simon Dolinky mashes up flavors like a calculated musical performance. Some plates pay homage to older classical dishes while others are new interpretations of Moderne cuisine.

Besides participating in a tasting of the farm-to-table market menu BLVD 16 offers a “Uniquely LA” selection of California wines poured from its eco friendly “wine draft system,” something that is both cutting edge while keeping it “Socially Conscious” Look for Silvertap selections ranging from Chardonnay to Cabernet Sauvignon and feel comfortable that no “Cork Trees” were harmed in the process.

Simon Dolinky showcased everything from seasonal staples to items from the “soon-to-be-released” Cajun and Creole market menu that will be hitting the streets any day now, and after having a taste of the entire menu we can easily say that a trip to BLVD16 is worth fighting LA’s “Stop and go traffic.”

We suggest starting your meal with the “carb-less” Hawaii Hamachi style tuna rolls with dungeons crab and tangy spicy Vinagrette, followed up with The Cajun & Creole Fried green tomatoes and Shrimp Remoulade that is an ode to Ugliches, a mom and pop local Luisiana favorite.

Continue your indulgence with the Carolina BBQ braised Short rib with Broccolini, beets and grits and you will experience a little dirty south swagger in your LA step. And when you thought you were full, guess again, here comes dessert.

Order yourself the “Chocolate Terrine” and it literally is a taste of heaven where poached Rosemary Mandarin oranges, hazelnut crackle and goat cheese-mouse collide with “the fudgiest chocolate mouse” on this side of the 405.

Let Blvd 16 be your safe haven from getting caught up in the traffic Jam. With far too many internationally themed seasonally influenced California Culinary Creations to list we suggest carpooling over to BLVD 16 to experience the ever changing 3 course “Weekly Market Menu” for yourself and you will not leave hungry!

Special Dishes:

We suggest starting your meal with the “carb-less” Hawaii Hamachi style tuna rolls with dungeons crab and tangy spicy Vinagrette, followed up with The Cajun & Creole Fried green tomatoes and Shrimp Remoulade that is an ode to Ugliches, a mom and pop local Luisiana favorite.

VivaLAfoodies

Overview:

Today the question of “Where to bring your Gluten free date”? comes up more often than not in an age where gluten free diets have become commonplace and is now a lifestyle choice for many people living in Los Angeles and across the country.

Gluten free living is not just for people who have Celiac disease. For many, it’s a way of life and the alternative “Gluten-free diet” is easily attainable and digestible in today’s culinary diverse climate.

Hostaria del Piccolo’s approach to fresh, locally sourced gourmet Italian food inspired by family recipes has Angelinos buzzing about the fact that there is now an Italian place offering an extensive list of “gluten free” options in the Pizza and Pasta arenas, that in years past would have been viewed as “Impossible.”

Hostaria del Piccolo is a modern Eco-chic room with a view, decked out in Sustainable architecture showcasing high quality reclaimed wood from farms across the US for its tables and wall decor. The ambiance is tame, sexy & sleek with a touch of romance, but not pretentious like some other “Stuffy” LA establishments. Lofty and airy makes for a great place to take the gal or guy of your dreams for a first date,without the awkwardness of a dark or dimly lit corner table at some other restaurant. Rest assured that the experience will be unique and we guarantee that you won’t hear “Mambo Italiano” every 5 minutes and they don’t compromise on any ingredients.

The Lauretana sparkling water is top shelf and its no surprise that Ferrari designed it. Once you go Lauretana you won’t go back. Toss in a “Red-Red Wine” from Verona with 3 types of indigenous grapes and your palette will be wet for adventure.

Start your culinary adventure with the “Ricottina” that is pan seared fresh ricotta with seasonal mushrooms that is an homage to Roma.

Next dive into the “Grigliati” a fresh and light version of the “Fried Calamari” that we are accustomed that is grilled to perfection and paired alongside farmers market mild spicy sauteed Swiss-chard.

Pizza 2 ways is our recommendation. Order the easily digestible traditional Demoni with house salame, roasted cherry tomatoes and goat cheese or take a “trip to the darkside” with Trentatre giri, a cross breed of a Caprese meets a Quesadilla with Squid ink dough, teardrop tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala and micro basil.

Close the meal with some pasta of the Truffle kind. The Garganelli with Porcini mushroom sauce, truffle oil and Parmesan cream will make you scream. All we could say was “you had me at Truffles.”

The Gluten free lentil cherry tomato pasta was also a hit and the “meatless” alternative was quite palatable.

We now have a new understanding for what it takes to eat a gluten free diet and what a restaurant has to go through to deliver a superior product to its guests and Hosteria del Piccolo caters to anyone with or without a gluten free allergy.

The menu is extensive and goes from traditional to exotic so any date that you bring will find something stimulating and enjoyable. We had an amazing Gluten Free date night and we wish you the same. Just tell them that we sent you and they will take care of you like family!

Special Dishes:

Truffle Pasta, Seared Ricotta with Mushrooms, Squid ink Caprese pizza