Bubble Party!

I recently stumbled across Best Bubble Parties. It's so cool! They do shows on the science and magic of bubbles... gigantic bubbles and square bubbles and triangular bubbles and putting people inside of bubbles! I can't think of anything better for a kids party.

I want to be inside a bubble! :) I'm going to try them out. They're offering $15 off their parties right now at Best Bubble Parties.

Mucho Gusto El Borrego De Oro

The whole in the wall Mexican restaurant, El Borrego De Oro #2 (translated to the Golden Sheep), is worth the drive downtown. My husband discovered this restaurant after reading an article in Travel + Leisure stating it was one of "L.A.'s Best Mexican Restaurants." Now lets be clear.....It's not your average "LA" Mexican hot spot like a Don Antonios, Casa Vega or Marix. It isn't packed with Gringos waiting for a blended strawberry margarita. That said, it is a simple joint offering solid traditional Mexican fare.

When you pull up to the mini mall, don't get nervous by your surroundings nor the fact that when you walk in you will probably be the only American in the place. Once seated, and the chips and salsa arrive, you'll embrace your surroundings. They have a massive menu, however, it is in Spanish so make sure you brush up on the language before going...just kidding, you'll find the waitresses do in fact speak English. The menu is also full of pictures to give you an idea of the dishes.

We are classic taco lovers so our choice was easy...steak tacos (3 each). Nothing fancy, but classically made with fresh chopped carne asada served on a fresh warm corn tortilla, with onions, cilantro and lime. Add some hot sauce (has a good kick) and Voila! You have what is close to the perfect taco. Now, if you are in the mood for some barbarcoa, this is also a must. The restaurant cooks the meat underground with hot coals for (take a look at the website ---its crazy) and serves it with fresh corn tortillas, and the works. Also order their consomme - awesome soup served with all the juices and drippings.

This is a great place if your bored of the usual LA Mexican spot. Its simple, authentic, and worth the drive. And, if your lucky, you might get surprised by the local musicians looking to sing a song or two. Best for lunch.

El Borrego de Oro #2
2808 E. Washington Blvd.
Los Angeles 90023
323-780-1132

Wurst What?

Wurstküche. When a close friend told us of the restaurant, I immediately thought of a bunch of heavy old men having traditional German beers and a bunch weisswursts & schnitzels waiting for their hearts to give out...I certainly didn't picture this. The Wurstküche, located in the arts district of downtown, is a hip sausage parlor that goes well beyond traditional brats. In addition to a unique list of menu choices (more on this in a minute) & killer fries, the restaurant is filled with a phenomenal list of Belgium & German beers. This watering hole directly caters to that crowd that loves great food but wont settle for a shitty beer.

When you enter this hole-in-the-wall, grab a menu and stand in what's usually a crammed line to order at the counter. In the glass case in front of you lies 20 different sausages ranging from your traditional brats to healthy options like turkey with sun-dried tomato and even some exotics such as rattlesnake & rabbit with jalapeno peppers. After you figure out what magical meat you intend to consume, you get to personalize it with toppings such as caramelized onions, sauerkraut, sweet or spicy peppers. Since this was my first time, we ordered 4 different sausages (much more than the two of us needed, but really wanted to get a flavor for the offerings):

- Bratwurst made with coriander and nutmeg

- Duck & Bacon with jalapeno peppers

- Filipino Marharlika, a sweet pork with natural seasonings

- Chicken & Turkey with green chiles and cilantro

(Note all sausages come in buns)

Of course we had to order the fries which you can get with a truffle glaze (awesome) and come with some killer dipping sauces. We went with the Blue Cheese Walnut & Bacon, Sun-dried Tomato Mayo, and the Chipotle Aioli. After you order, you get a number and proceed down the long narrow hall on the right which opens up into a full blown bar. This has a bit of a Father's Office feel, but in my view, goes well beyond in terms of the beer selection. It's truly an awesome selection and if you're undecided, they will allow you to taste pretty much everything on tap. We went with the Houblan Chouffe (Indian Pale Ale) and a Kwak (rich amber Belgium ale), which came with its own bizarre holder (see pic). Both turned out to be the perfect poison to wash down this guilty pleasure.

On the table they have 5 different types of Mustard: Whole Grain, Dijon, Spicy Brown, Honey Mustard & Yellow. Once our order came, I realized how much food we got but still had to try it all! I immediately dove into the crispy fries which were excellent. I loved trying them in the different sauces though the sun-dried Tomato Mayo was my fave. The sausages on the other hand I wasn't overly impressed with. Don't get me wrong, they were very good but I expected them to WOW me. Instead, they were solid, perfectly hit the spot, but fell short of something you rave about. I think it would be beneficial to the customers if the menu gave suggestions for which toppings would go best with each sausage. While you can guess what "sounds" good, it was hard to tell exactly how to put it together... may not be the right pairing and can throw off the flavor.

That said, I loved the entire experience. It wasn't the sausages, fries, or the beer that made this meal, but rather everything put together. Would definitely go back!

Wurstküche
800 E 3rd St
Los Angeles 90013
213-687-4444

"I Do" Ado

We recently tried the Italian restaurant Ado in Venice following a friends recommendation. Its a little worn down house past the main section of Venice in a poorly lit residential area..have too look carefully or you will drive right by it. That said, this hole in the wall actually has an intimate charm, especially if you can get a table outside on the second floor deck (very limited seating). The menu is short and sweet with a sprinkle of creativity that is either unique to an Italian on ecstasy or classic Venice experiment. What I mean by this, is that the menu has dishes that use ingredients that I have never seen before mixed together. In fact, a number dishes initially sound unpalatable, but actually come pretty close to perfection.

Yes, they have some basic dishes as well. We started off sharing a few apps including the Beef Carpaccio topped with shaved Parmesan cheese & arugula in a Mustard Dressing, and the Seared Foie-gras served on a Quail Egg Canapé with Caramelized Pear. I would classify the quail as a fantastic rustic dish, but note the carpaccio was rather mediocre. So far.....not exciting. Then came the pastas. We had a home-made Red Beets Tagliolini in a Marsala Quail Ragu served on a bed of Taleggio cheese fondue. The beets are integrated into the flour creating a pasta that comes out red/almost purple looking and possesses the inherent sweetness of beets. It's not a sweet dish. In fact, I don't think you even have to like beets to enjoy this dish. When it is mixed in with a quail ragu and cheese fondue, it struck me as probably the most unique pasta I have ever had. While many would feel this dish may be too overpowering as an entree, I have to say that I could have easily eaten the entire dish (Bravo on the creativity)!

We also ordered the black taglini pasta with dungeneous crab meat. This dish was very disappointing though not bad enough to send back. The pasta itself was a bit slimy and seaweed like and overall lacked flavor. We had high hopes for this one, but just didn't come out right. That said, the last pasta was an absolute hit. Though skeptical at first because of the dried prunes, my husband ordered the Home-made Pappardelle served with Rabbit Ragu, Porcini Mushrooms and Dried Prunes. Again, one would not normally think of these ingredients working well together, but the prunes brought the perfect amount of sweetness to the savory rabbit. Like the beet pasta, you definitely do not need to like prunes to enjoy this dish.

I cannot tell you every dish was incredible as there certainly were some shortfalls, but this restaurant brought something to the table that you just don't find in most Italian restaurants....creativity. So, keep an open mind when coming here.

796 Main St.
Venice 90291
(310) 399-9010

Mucho Gusto El Borrego de Oro

The whole in the wall Mexican restaurant, El Borrego De Oro #2 (translated to the Golden Sheep), is worth the drive downtown. My husband discovered this restaurant after reading an article in Travel + Leisure stating it was one of "L.A.'s Best Mexican Restaurants." Now lets be clear.....It's not your average "LA" Mexican hot spot like a Don Antonios, Casa Vega or Marix. It isn't packed with Gringos waiting for a blended strawberry margarita. That said, it is a simple joint offering solid traditional Mexican fare.

When you pull up to the mini mall, don't get nervous by your surroundings nor the fact that when you walk in you will probably be the only American in the place. Once seated, and the chips and salsa arrive, you'll embrace your surroundings.

They have a massive menu, however, it is in Spanish so make sure you brush up on the language before going...just kidding, you'll find the waitresses do in fact speak English. The menu is also full of pictures to give you an idea of the dishes. We are classic taco lovers so our choice was easy...steak tacos (3 each). Nothing fancy, but classically made with fresh chopped carne asada served on a fresh warm corn tortilla, with onions, cilantro and lime. Add some hot sauce (has a good kick) and Voila! You have what is close to the perfect taco.

Now, if you are in the mood for some barbarcoa, this is also a must. The restaurant cooks the meat underground with hot coals for (take a look at the website ---its crazy) and serves it with fresh corn tortillas, and the works. Also order their consomme - awesome soup served with all the juices and drippings.

This is a great place if your bored of the usual LA Mexican spot. Its simple, authentic, and worth the drive. And, if your lucky, you might get surprised by the local musicians looking to sing a song or two. Best for lunch.

El Borrego de Oro #2
2808 E. Washington Blvd.
Los Angeles 90023
323-780-1132

The New Boa

I must say we did not get excited when we heard BOA was opening another steakhouse in Los Angeles. We had been to the Santa Monica location a couple years back, had a mediocre meal and never went back. After hearing all the hype over the new location in West Hollywood, we figured we'd give it a try.

If you like dining outside this is definitely the place for you. The restaurant has a large outdoor area that is just perfect for that warm summer night or any night really. It's a fun scene; trendy and set up with that new steakhouse decor (think Cut with a kick instead of Morton's). Unlike your average steak restaurant, with the the usual Caesar salad and tuna tartare apps, the menu has a large variety too choose from. We ordered the BLT salad, the table-side prime steak tartare, seared Hudson Valley foie gras (on menu it says it comes on a brioche which it didn't that evening for some reason), and the goat cheese baklava. I have to say all were pretty incredible though there were two apps that really stood out. The goat cheese baklava is truly unique. It comes out looking like that classic Greek dish, but incorporates pistachios, black truffles and frisee. It had this sweet/savory contrast that just worked beautifully. We also enjoyed the table-side prime steak tartare. Its hard to describe why the tartare worked so well except to say it perfectly seasoned and just fresh (also loved the addition of the quail egg).

Now, on to the steaks. I ordered the Petite Filet Mignon, rare of course (have to say I was always a medium-rare girl until I met my husband!) and my husband ordered the NY Strip. Both were perfectly prepared for any steak-lover, but I must say I was most excited about the sauces. You can order the sampler which comes with 7 different sauces (everything from bernaise to a creamy horseradish) ....definitely the way to go! You may knock me for not being a purist steak-lover, but the creamy horseradish sauce was killer. As an added bonus, the sauces work well as various dipping options for the sweet potato fries (see pic). The only shortfall in the meal was the creamed spinach. Usually hard to go wrong, but it just lacked the texture and flavor.

As usual, we did bring our own bottles of wine. Of all the major steak restaurants in LA, this is by far the best corkage policy we've seen ($15/bottle w/no limit). BOA has great stemware and attentive wine service. Wines of the night included a 2001 Schrader To Kalon, 1990 Brunello di Montalcino La Casa Caparz0, 2005 Kistler Vine Hill, and a 2003 La Tour Blanche (solid dessert wine).

Overall, with the amount of high-end steak restaurants in LA, this one is a standout and shouldn't be missed.

BOA Steakhouse - Sunset
9200 W. Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood 90069
310-278-2050

Way To Go, Spago!

We took advantage of Dine LA last Friday night at Spago in Beverly Hills. We were able to get a great table in the outdoor courtyard....has a great European vibe and a truly beautiful setting for a romantic evening.

With Wolfgang's amazing menu, we only hoped that the Dine LA menu would have some of their top dishes, which luckily, it did. Both my husband and I began with a mushroom raviolini made with a butter sage sauce topped with grated parmesan cheese. It was absolutely delicious and came together perfectly.

For my entree I went with the Pan-Roasted Casco Bay Cod with puree and ragout of gigante and cranberry beans, pancetta, wild mushrooms and mascarpone emulsion. It's rare to find a fish dish with so many flavors that isn't overpowering and this was certainly one of them. My husband ordered the Kurabuto Pork Chop with pear-ginger compote, stir fried green beans and confit of pork, Chinese 10 spice and port-licorice reduction. The normally dry pork chop was well prepared. The combination of the saltiness from the confit with the sweetness of the compote & reduction really brought out that sweet/savory sensation.

We ended up bringing a bottle of Realm 04 Bard, a bordeaux style blend that really worked well with the the pork (not so much the fish). I must say, we were truly impressed with the wine service as well. The stemware is fantastic and the sommmelier really knew his stuff.

The dessert was an apple crumble which is a fave of mine! I of coursed polished off the dish.

Overall, the meal was definitely worth the $44 per person 3-course menu. Too bad this deal doesn't run all the time! Think we would be regulars.

Spago Beverly Hills
176 N. Canon Dr.
Beverly Hills 90210