Best. Birthday. Ever. I keep saying that because its true. I mean, even Foursquare said I looked nice on my birthday. Thanks, Foursquare. I have the most amazing husband, the most amazing friends, and the most amazing life. And February … Continue reading
When you’re in the restaurant industry, you have to make what you can of holidays. We generally work all holidays. Most of us still get off Thanksgiving and Christmas (although Brad worked on Thanksgiving this year… boo), but Halloween, The … Continue reading
I don’t know if you noticed, but my holidays (and most of my meals) were pretty glutinous. Between Mixology Mondays, amazing feasts prepared by my chef-husband, drinking magnums of wine, and exploring all of the fantastic places to eat around … Continue reading
Earlier this week I came across a post on Eater LA about a Pop-Up restaurant this weekend only on Abbot Kinney. Two chefs, one from Joe’s Restaurant and one from Axe (pronounced Ah-shay), were taking over some place called Capri for the weekend and hosting a $65, eight course tasting menu. I forwarded it on to Brad. Sounded like our kinda thing.
I sort of forgot about it because Brad never read the article and basically just said, “Yeah, ok. Sure.” We both had off Friday. We love Abbott Kinney. We love new restaurants. We would probably end up going. Sure.
And then Wednesday, as we were cranking what was probably an illegal U-turn on Electric Avenue (yep, that’s a real street name and every time we drive on it I sing the song) trying to find parking for our favorite coffee shop Intelligentsia, a black SUV pulled up next to us and rolled down the window.
Kris Tominaga, who Brad knows from Joe’s Restaurant, leaned out of the car and handed Brad a flyer. We were obviously blocking traffic in so many directions, so we just exchanged a quick hello and “of course we’ll be there” before waiving our apologies to other angry drivers, completing our illegal maneuver and parking. But the flyer put two and two together. Kris was the chef from Joe’s who was hosting this pop-up this weekend, Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. One example of how sometimes illegal U-turns have beautiful endings.
We called and made a reservation while waiting in line at Intelligentsia (because there is ALWAYS a line – this is part of the Intelligentsia experience), and checked out the menu. And then I rubbed it in that I was one step ahead of Brad in something having to do with restaurants for once. Boo-ya.
**Brad didn’t care. He still knew both the chefs AND the guy who answered the phone to take the reservations, so he is still exponentially cooler than me. And always will be. Damn.**
So yesterday, Brad and I had a fantastic and crafty Brad and Kelly day off (I’ll update you on the crafty projects soon!), and after a two hour long Skype call with my parents, we headed over to Venice.
Directly across the street from one of the best restaurants in the WORLD (Tasting Kitchen) and one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles, if not the United States (Gjelina), Capri has never been successful. I had never heard of it, but people tell me it was over priced and always empty. Last night, as WISC, it was bustling, bright, and lively.
All white with white Christmas lights and brilliant, simply framed celebrity photographs lining the walls, it was a clean and classic atmosphere. The brown craft paper laid on top of classic white table cloths was set with mismatched china (borrowing from their neighbors across the street?) and simple kitchen towels for napkins. Mismatched chairs made it feel like a big family gathering where all the seating in the house was pulled together.
I love the feel of the ‘fancy mixed with simple’ trend going on now in restaurants. Beautiful food served on amazing dishes in an environment that feels comfortable. People want the quality of fine dining food without the air of snobbery that can come along with it. People want to feel like you are a chef inviting them into your house for a home cooked meal, not like they have to worry about which fork goes with which course. This all goes double in Venice.
Also, I love white Christmas lights. If Brad would let me, I’d have them up all around the house all year long. When we have a restaurant, believe me I will sneak in Christmas lights some way. Last night, I believe it was the Christmas lights that did me in. I knew this place was going to be awesome.
I was right. The menu was phenomenal. The food was fantastic. Our server was amazing and she told us the story behind every taste of wine and every dish she put in front of us. The wine parings were out of this world and complemented both of the dishes each taste was meant for in big, bold and different ways. Even the china was fun – we got the plate voted “Most Likely to Be Stolen By The End of the Weekend”.
Look at that ‘STACHE!!!
And then we made sure they saw that we gave it back.
For dessert, we had our second amazing biscuit of the day on Abbot Kinney (the first was a buttered quince paste biscuit for breakfast at Gjelina Take Away), and Brad said WISC’s beat out Gjelina’s hands down. I ranked them neck and neck. Buttery heaven.
As we drove back down Abbot Kinney on our way home last night, stuffed full and a little tipsy (just me), we passed the Otherroom and reminisced about my first birthday here in LA, just three days after we moved from NY to LA. A friend of mine from college met us out at the Otherroom (her suggestion, I had no idea where to go), and we began our Abbot Kinney love affair with the Mick Jagger painting that was hanging right at the entrance. That night we thought AK was a crazy little street with amazing window displays and such cool people. Almost two years later (!!!), we are still finding new and amazing places on the street and still marveling at how cool all the people are.
WISC will only be around this weekend and will reopen to occupy the Capri space again for all of December. I know for sure that Brad and I will be back as many times as we can afford to make sure that this new addition to AK sticks around into 2012.
Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing, thank you for the great time and for the delicious meal and best of luck to you! We can’t wait to see you again in December!
After writing about the Bloody Mary contest and my mixology chops, I realized I kind of left you all hanging. I know you’ve been biting your nails, sitting on the edge of your seats, waiting to see how delicious all of those beautiful liquor infusion concoctions came out. So I will finally give you the run down.
About a month ago, I bought some mason jars, bought some booze, and bought some crazy things to infuse that booze with. And it looked fantastic. It was a shame I had to put those jars away to do their magic. But I had to wait. And it helped that I went out of town for almost two weeks.
So at long last, here are the results.
The absolute favorite. Looks amazing, tastes even better. Mixed with a little bit of Domain Chandon Ginger Liqueur and a splash of Bailey’s Irish Cream? May I introduce you to the “Pumpkin Pie Martini”. I wouldn’t give up Pumpkin Pie for the world. Unless it was in alcohol form. And this martini, my friends, is unbelievable. YUM.
Um, not quite as good as I wanted it to be. I had high hopes for the blackberry liquors. Turned out they just infused their color, not really the taste. Oh, and the mint may have been in there too long. It started tasting mostly like toothpaste. Actually dumped this one completely out. That’s ok. Trail and Error, folks.
Not the hit-it-out-of-the-park results I wanted. The final infusion has a tiny bit of that bitterness from the nut’s skin, I think. Not really nuttiness. So I’m doing a do-over here. The other night I toasted up some new pecans and crushed them a bit before adding the bourbon. Hopefully the toasting will help get those oils out, or at least give the bourbon a different flavor. Back to waiting…
See Blackberry Mint Rum. The bourbon has great color, but doesn’t taste much like blackberries. Maybe I’ll try to use MORE blackberries next time? Or maybe I’ll try this again when Blackberries are REALLY in season. I’m convinced this will be delicious, so I will keep trying until it is. And until then, I’m still going to use this “failed” attempt in a Manhattan or Old Fashioned or something to give it some awesome color. No Bourbon wasted here.
Ever tried VanGogh Double Espresso Vodka? I love it. It was kind of the inspiration for this vodka. But I don’t think it tastes at all like coffee. Mine was extremely successful, but when I started mixing it up, trying to come up with some drinks, I remembered I just don’t like coffee. I ended up making a delicious “Latte-tini” that tasted just like the coffee drinks I like do – nothing like coffee at all. Gotta get a coffee drinker to help me with this one… Any volunteers?
Hot, hot, hot!! This is the perfect Bloody Mary vodka. Nice and spicy. This is actually the vodka that prompted Steve to enter me in the Bloody Mary contest. Yep, it’s that good.
Next up? I just whipped up a jar of homemade Grapefruit Bitters. Also, stay tuned for the Pecan Bourbon updates and maybe even a few more holiday themed infusions! Sugar Plum anyone?
Also!! Because of our success in the Bloody Mary contest and the deliciousness of some of this first round of infusions, Suzi and I will be featuring a new infused liquor every Monday night at the bar at R+D. Let’s call it “Mixology Mondays”. Come on down tonight to get into the Thanksgiving spirit and try a Pumpkin Pie Martini or Pumpkin Spice Coffee!
Hip hip hooray!!
A year and a half ago, Brad and I had to make a quick move from one apartment to another here in Santa Monica on seriously limited funds. We found a decent little one bedroom with a pool and a patio and we settled in.
Fun fact?
Brad and I have lived in three states at six different addresses in four years. Two in Florida, two in New York, and two in California. We are really good at moving.
The apartment we are in now marks the first time we have completed a lease together EVER. We actually didn’t know what to do when our year was up and we didn’t want to move. That’s how nomadic we are. Sorry, how nomadic we WERE until L.A. But when apartments cost what they cost out here in Santa Monica, you tend to stay put with what you can afford. Two words – rent control. Two more words – we’re poor.
So I am excited to tell you that we got approved for a much nicer apartment in a much nicer area today! And although we have terrible timing and will be moving two days after getting back from a ten day vacation, this is the best possible thing to happen.
A few things we can now say goodbye to:
Sigh. Of. Relief.
Our new place (!!!) has huge French windows, built in storage and bookshelves, a dining room, a front and a back patio, and it’s 8 blocks from my restaurant. Goodbye Jillian Michaels, this girl is gonna get her exercise by walking to work! No more crazy push-up jumping jacks.
Not that I was really keeping up with that recently anyway…
So I drop off the security deposit tomorrow and get the keys the day we get back from the East Coast! Hopefully soon I will be writing about how amazing our new apartment life is and throwing fantastic dinner parties for you all to enjoy.
Yippee!!
THE KEY OF KELS 