LA Eats: Huckleberry, Milo & Olive

A short trip to LA made me fall hard for their cuisine, so much so that I was dreaming of my next trip on the plane ride home. Here's a peek at two of my favorites... 

Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe

1014 Wilshire Blvd.

Santa Monica, CA 

huckleberrycafe.com

If I lived in LA this is where you would find me every weekend. It's not exactly a hidden gem so you have to be prepared to fight the crowd a bit. And wait. Don't be intimidated by the full seats and long line though. They take your order in line and by the time you pay a table usually opens up. At least, it did for me both days I brunched. (Yes, I went here two days in a row on a three day trip. Unheard of if you know me. It's that good.)

Quiche - Tomato, Bacon, Goat Cheese, Butternut Squash

I'm a quiche snob and this little bite from the pastry case did not disappoint. A perfect treat to share along with your breakfast. 

"Green Eggs & Ham" - LaQuercia Prosciutto, Pesto and  Arugula on a House Made English Muffin

Breakfast Burrito - Scrambled Eggs, Roasted Onions, Fiscalini Cheddar, Roasted Potatoes, Guacamole, Creme Fraiche and Tomatillo Salsa

These two don't look like much but underneath that pile of arugula and inside that simple toasted tortilla are fabulous flavors that promise to delight. It's simple food done very well. And for me, that's the definition of a perfect brunch. 

Milo & Olive

2723 Wilshire Blvd. 

Santa Monica, CA 

miloandolive.com

After a late brunch and a bike ride along the beach a friend and I found ourselves famished just before the dinner hour, which is apparently not allowed in LA where every restaurant closes down from 2:30pm to 6pm. After an exhaustive search for decent afternoon eats we remembered that Huckleberry has a sister restaurant! This little cafe with a wood fired oven ended up being my favorite surprise of the trip.

Crostini - Smashed Avocado, Roasted Beet, Ricotta Salata

I'll admit, this is a strange combination. Paired with their fabulous homemade bread though, I would devour just about any topping. Luckily, this proved to be a delightful dish that I should never have doubted. 

Free Range Chicken Meatballs - Tomato Sauce, Arugula, Red Onion

Our server recommended this favorite and it was hard to resist paired with the garlic knot below. If you dine here, order both. I haven't stopped thinking about them since and am going to attempt to recreate this meal in my kitchen. 

Wood Fired Garlic Knot - Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sea Salt

Stuffed with a handful of heavenly roasted garlic!

Oh, garlic knot. You may be the best thing I've tasted this year. Pizza dough, roasted garlic, olive oil. So simple! And yet, shockingly good. The menu warns of a 20 minute wait but don't let that deter you. Sit back, munch on some starters, sip on champagne and wait... to be blown away. 

Meatless Monday: French Vegetarian at Table Verte NYC

It's Meatless Monday!


Table Verte
127 E 7th Street
New York, NY 10009
(212) 539-0231


Lucky for us here in New York City, no matter what you're in the mood for, there is surely a restaurant that caters to your every craving or diet. Table Verte grabbed my attention with their take on French Vegetarian cuisine. I have never been a fan of many vegetarian restaurants because all they sell are faux-meat replacements for the real thing. And in an age now where people are avoiding soy and wheat, Table Verte made a point to have no fake meat products, so we wandered down to the quiet east village eatery and checked it out.





We started off with the french onion soup. It came to the table piping hot out of the oven in a small cute ceramic bowl. The soup is made with vegetable stock and topped with their house made onion bread and melty swiss cheese. MMmmm vegetarian comfort food... The onion bread was a fabulous added bonus to the soup. And finally! French onion soup without beef stock! Thank you Table Verte!





There are several items on the menu that are labeled vegan and gluten free, which is becoming a welcome addition to more and more restaurant menus. We decided to try the Stuffed Roasted Squash. It was acorn squash stuffed with corn, spinach, tomato, mushrooms, beans, rice and spices, and served with a salad. I really enjoyed the homemade feeling of this dish. It was filling, healthy, dairy and wheat free, and I didn't feel like I was cheating on my diet. ;-)





And for the indulgent vegetarian: try the Gnocchi Parisian au Gratin. The gnocchi was baked with a cream sauce, swiss cheese and a truffle essence. It was rich and delicious, and anything truffle related is a-ok with me. This is one of those dishes that when paired with a large glass of white wine turns a bad day into a good day. But don't forget to BYOB! They don't have a alcohol license yet. :)

Meatless Monday: The Best of the Ballard Farmer's Markets

WARNING: This market is not meatless. There are meat, seafood and poultry stands, but I am choosing to showcase the fun items the vegetarian/vegans and meat lovers can enjoy. 

You all know I'm a sucker for a free sample and there's stinginess or shortage of them here. All the vendors want you try their products and are all very knowledgable on them. 

Ballard Farmer's Market 

http://ballardfarmersmarket.wordpress.com/

Sundays 10 AM - 3 PM

Street Parking (get there early or take a bus, it's brutal!)

5300 Ballard Ave NW

Seattle, WA 98107

I already miss you Seattle. I miss the drizzle, I miss the overcast skies but most of all I miss your Winter produce. The Winter veggies are the best in Seattle (broccoli, kale, spinach, lettuce, squash) and it's so sad when February kills it. So of course when I decided to showcase all the vegetables, they had died down quite a bit. This market has so many other vegetarian/vegan friendly eats though. 

Soda Jerk  

https://twitter.com/Sodajerksoda

I was a fanatic of Dry's Lavender soda for while, but now that I've had Soda Jerk, I'm converted. Soda Jerk's Lemon Lavender soda has a much better flavor than Dry's. It's has the perfect amount of sweet and sour from the lemon and the lavender isn't overwhelming or medicinal. The Elderflower is almost like a soda version of St. Germain and the Apple Ginger was also fantastic. 

They have soda dispenser's at their stand and you can also purchase a growler of them. The gentleman running the stand told me they mix up their flavors (they're seasonal flavors), so if you go there it may be different. The sodas are also all natural, organic and local ingredients. Soda Jerk is a must try and will added to our "Best of" list (nudge nudge Tiffany). I am sad I can't pick up a bottle at Whole Foods now that I'm in Venice. Woe is the life of a Soda Jerk lover. 

Firefly Kimchi by Firefly Kitchens

http://www.fireflykitchens.com/

https://twitter.com/FireflyKitchens

Kimchi is a Korean style fermented cabbage that is often used as a topping and sometimes cooked in with food. I love to add it on hot dogs and spread it on crackers the most. Firefly Kitchen is a Seattle based fermented jarred foods business. Unlike a lot of pickled and persevered products you see in the stores, Firefly uses natural fermenting, which is better for you since it preserves natural enzymes and good-for-you bacteria. Natural fermenting doesn't cook the food either so if you're on a raw food diet you can use this as a topping.  Firefly Kimchi is considered Firefly Kitchen's "go to" topping, it's the perfect blend of spicy, garlicy and the cabbage holds it's uncooked texture very well. 

Jonboy Caramels

http://jonboycaramels.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/jonboy-caramels/128044084603

https://twitter.com/jonboycaramels

Jonboy Caramels make a great gift with their unique flavor pairings and party-ready packaging. The Fluer de Sel is an ultimate mash-up of sweet, buttery and salty flavors. My favorite Jonboy Caramel is the Absinthe with Black Salt. Not only do they use the local Pacifique Absinthe from Woodenville, WA, but also has a fennel and anise flavor to it. Jonboy is like a more sophisticated version of those wrapper caramels I got at the Sweet Factory in the mall growing up. 

West Seattle Farmer's Market Love: If you're at the West Seattle Farmer's Market during the Winter, you must try the Kale varieties at Five Acre Farms. Their Kale grows a lot bigger and with fuller leaves than the ones you find in the supermarket. Their Broccoli stems are so large and tasty you can snack on them raw or dip them in hummus. Their website is here (http://www.facebook.com/fiveacrefarm) and until next Winter she is just selling her organic Chicken Eggs, but email her for market scheduling. 

I leave you with pretty Tulips...

Valentine's Day in NYC

Oh Valentines Day...you either love it or you hate it. But either way, it's a great day to overindulge. Two of my favorite things to overindulge on is cheese and chocolate. Throw a couple glasses of wine in there, and we have the perfect evening. Luckily NYC has some amazing places to choose from.

Beecher's New York
Flatiron District
900 Broadway
New York, NY 10003

Beecher's is a homemade cheese shop upstairs, and downstairs in The Cellar, is a small dark restaurant and lounge area. We arrived around 6pm, and for only being open one hour, was completely packed. The hostess told us it would be about 20 minutes for a table. Something I thought was interesting is that we were ID'ed upon walking into the restaurant. Only 21 and over allowed? Oh, yes please. We walk over to the bar, and order two glasses of wine. They have $6 wine specials for happy hour which was awesome.



We tried a few of their cheeses and a vegetarian flatbread, but one thing that stood out was their homemade penne mac and cheese with curried cauliflower and sweet onions. It was rich, creamy, fresh, and so so SO delicious. I could of eaten an entire bowl of the curried cauliflower with cheese sauce. One order of the mac was about $16, and more than plenty to share.

Beecher's also has a smaller cheese shop at Pike's Place in Seattle for my west coasters.



Max Brenner
841 Broadway
New York, NY 10003

After dinner, we walked across Union Square to Max Brenner, which is a chocolate restaurant with chocolate everything. They even had a separate bar for just chocolate-related non-alcoholic beverages. We went for a fondue sampler, which featured their housemade white chocolate, milk chocolate, and caramel fondue. For dipping, they provided us with strawberries, bananas, cookies, and pound cake. We paired our fondue with a glass of Columbia Crest Sauvignon Blanc and a Tiramisu inspired cocktail, garnished with a lady finger.



The beehive looking ceramic pots were awesome and practical way to keep the chocolate warm. I'm hoping to find one of these to make some fondue at home!

Brunch Three Ways: SF, Folsom, Sac

Bananen Weizen 

(Hefeweizen w/Banana Juice) 

Much like fellow blogger Marcie, I'm a big fan of brunch. Weekend mornings should be spent sleeping in followed by a leisurely late breakfast with a bubbly beverage. I'm constantly on the hunt for new spots that can fashion an egg in surprising and delightful ways. (I'm a savory over sweet breakfast type of girl.) Here are my latest favorites... 

Suppenkuche

525 Laguna St. - San Francisco, CA

suppenkuche.com

This popular German spot near the Civic Center has been on my list awhile and the second I laid eyes on the "Mixed Beer Drinks" menu I was thrilled I finally made it a priority. I'm not really a beer drinker any time of day, certainly not breakfast, but when given the option of lacing it with banana juice, lemon soda or raspberry syrup - I'm all in! Champagne who? 

I was equally pleased with the breakfast menu. There were quite a bit of intriguing options but I couldn't pass up the bread dumplings, which ended up being more like slices of bread meatloaf. They spoiled me for toast. Fantastic. 

Gebratener Semmeknodel mit Zwieblen Ei und Bratwurst

(Sauteed Bread Dumplings w/Two Eggs, Potatoes and Sausage)

Karen's Bakery Cafe 

705 Gold Lake Drive - Folsom, CA

karensbakery.com

I've yet to taste something on Karen's ever-changing menu that I don't love and I've been a regular for eight years. So, yes, it's good. And quiche is one of the things they do best.  

BLT Quiche - Bacon, Basil, Tomato

Grange Restaurant & Bar

926 J Street (The Citizen Hotel) - Sacramento, CA 

grangesacramento.com 

Smoked Chicken Hash
Bacon, Peppers, Butternut Squash, Onion, Potatoes
and Poached Eggs w/Chipotle Hollandaise

I can't speak to many items on the menu because once I ordered this, I couldn't order anything else. After basically licking my plate clean the first time around I've started ordering the hollandaise on the side so I can control myself, and feel less guilty about licking the plate clean every time since. 

Meatless Monday: Brunch at Cafecito Bogota

Brunch in New York City is like buying a metro card, you just have to do it. I mean, don't we all need a great excuse to why we're stumbling down the street drunk at 5pm from a "all you can drink" mimosa brunch? My boyfriend and I enjoy getting out once a week to do just this. And I have to tell you, NYC doesn't come up short when it comes to brunch.

This week brought us to Cafecito Bogota, nestled in the quiet Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn. For $16.50, you get two drinks (either a mimosa or sangria) and a bottomless cup of hot tea or coffee, AND your breakfast. Such a deal. They also have a selection of fresh juices made in house, today being guava, passion fruit, or orange/kiwi. I went with a guava mimosa, and my boyfriend tried their housemade sangria. The guava mimosa was a lovely change from boring old orange juice. The white wine sangria was fabulous as well, with passion fruit and crisp chunks of red and green apple. I enjoyed the fact that it was obviously made that day.

I had the Tortilla Colorada, which was a three egg omelet with corn and a harmonious mix of red pepper and paprika, topped with queso blanco. The corn was an unfamiliar but delightful addition. The eggs tasted like you would make them at home. En lieu of homefries or breakfast potatoes was a mixed green salad with a basic Italian dressing and chopped banana...AND and arepa...topped with cheese...YUM.

If you aren't sure what an arepa is, it's a Colombian staple made of ground corn dough. It kind of tastes like a crumpet made of polenta. There are arepa bars all over NYC, and they use it as sandwich bread. You can also buy them in grocery stores back here as well. I don't hear much about them on the west coast, sadly. Here it was simply served as a side dish for my omelet. Delish.

Next we tried the Punta Verde, another one of their vegetarian options, which was caramelized tofu sauteed beautifully with string beans and pesto, all resting on top of an arepa. I was unsure what to expect when we ordered it, but it was a welcome surprise. It was absolutely delicious.

RECIPE: Texas-Style Kolaches

As promised…

I found a recipe that almost matches up to the delicious kolaches I enjoyed nearly every day I spent in Austin. The dough didn't turn out as soft and delicious as I remember but this very well could have been my fault. I’m more of a cake/cookie/brownie/tart baker than a dough girl. I leave most of that to my bread maker. Still, I count this as a success because they did turn out very tasty! 

Homemade Kolaches:
Ham w/Jarlsberg, Sausage w/Jalapenos & Cheddar 

Texas-Style Savory Kolaches 

Recipe (Adapted) from Confections of a Foodie Bride

Ingredients 

(Yields 12-15)

for the dough:

   

1 package (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast

1/4 cup water, warmed to 110-115F

1 cup milk, warmed to 110-115F

4 Tbsp butter, melted and cooled to warm

2 large eggs

5/8 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

4 1/4 cups flour

The best part about these is the filling and the options are endless! I went with two favorites from Austin: ham w/jarlsberg, sausage w/jalapenos and cheese. 

Preparation 

1. Pour warm water and yeast into bowl of an electric mixer. Let proof 5 minutes until foamy.

2. With mixer on low add milk, melted butter, eggs, sugar and salt until combined. 

3. Add flour, half at a time, mixing until just combined. 

4. Cover with plastic wrap and leave out at room temperature until dough has doubled, 1-2 hours. 

5. Punch the dough down, cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or longer. 

6. Divide dough into 12-15 balls, setting on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and leave out at room temperature for 15 minutes. 

7. Flatten each ball, adding filling to the top then fold the dough around the filling. Set back on the parchment seam-side down. Cover, then preheat the oven to 375. 

8. Bake 25-30 minutes at 375, until browned. (My two batches were ready between 15 and 20 minutes. This is likely because I stuffed them very full, so much so that the cheese oozed out of a few. Keep an eye on them from the 15 minute mark on.) 

9. Enjoy! 

The Crush Collection by Vosges: Fellas, Take Note

I’ll keep this one short and (very) sweet… If you’re stumped for gift ideas as Valentine’s Day rapidly approaches, look no further.

I’ve written about Vosges before, blown away by their fabulously unique flavors, and they continue to deliver with their latest aphrodisiac chocolate collection. I thought their cheese + chocolate blend would hold strong as the wildest flavor but, of course, they’ve soared past it with their KUMAMOTO OYSTER-infused cream truffle. Yes, oysters. Granted, this is one of the mildest oysters and arguably the best (I won’t argue) but still, no one thinks to put them in chocolate! And now that someone has, how can you resist trying it?! 

The Crush Truffle Collection

Kumamoto: kumamoto oyster-infused fresh cream + champagne + 36% cocoa butter white chocolate + edible pearl dust

Absinthe: Chinese star anise + fennel + Swiss absinthe + 65% cacao dark chocolate

Bronte: Sicilian pistachio paste + rose water + 44% cacao deep milk chocolate

Edith: Piper Heidsieck Brut Rosé Sauvage Champagne + 65% cacao dark chocolate + rose water + crushed rose bud poudre

Mamajuana: Mamajuana (a craft spirit made with rum and secret spices) + 65% cacao dark chocolate + chamomile buds

Funk & Disco: banana purée + vanilla powder + 44% cacao deep milk chocolate

Red Fire: ancho chillies + Ceylon cinnamon + 65% cacao Venezuelan dark chocolate

Xocatyl: Mexican vanilla bean + 44% cacao deep milk chocolate

I realize that maybe I’m a tad bit adventurous and slightly food-centric, that not everyone thinks their girl will swoon over an oyster truffle, but I hold firm that this would be a legendary Valentine’s Day gift for anyone. I know that girls like jewelry and shoes and handbags and puppies but chocolate, in its finest form, always trumps. And, a little insight into the female mind, we will give you points for even knowing that this collection exists!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Prison Food: Alcatraz

A short break from my standard post, for something a little darker...

After a far too long stint on my bucket list, I finally made it out to The Rock! It was just as you might imagine, equal parts fascinating and disturbing. We did the audio tour with voices of prisoners and guards leading you with sound effects of prison life as you move through the space, which I highly recommend. Morbid stories of solitary confinement, escape and murder were offset a tiny bit, at least in my mind, by some surprising tidbits about the kitchen!

Apparently, this place that locked up some of the worst criminals in the country served them up some of the best food in the entire prison system! The guards quickly learned that with mealtime being the most dangerous scenario – convicts all together wielding silverware and bad food being the number one reason to riot – they better serve to please. They hit all the major food groups in their dinners: soup, veggies, a starch, meat, AND they didn’t skimp on dessert! They also set this food rule, which I love: Take all you want, eat all you take.  

Knife Lock Box: Complete with outlines of each to quickly determine if any are missing... Chills. 

Equipment: What the prisoners used to cook for their fellow inmates, supervised.

This of course made me think about one of my all time favorite ways to peek inside a person’s soul, the admittedly dark question: What’s your death row meal? It may seem like a simple question of favorites, but it’s much more complex. If you were faced with one last chance to enjoy the simple pleasures this world has to offer, what is the one dish that would make your daunting fate a little more acceptable? Is it the best thing you’ve ever tried or something mom used to make you as a child? Something that shocked you or something that comforts you? Something you can’t live without or something you’ve always wanted to try? 

I’ve shared mine here before: a perfect Quiche Lorraine. I saw Anthony Bourdain share his at a talk in Santa Rosa: bone marrow on toast.

Now you've had a peek into both of our souls. Share yours?

A Day in Seattle's Chinatown/International District

Seattle's Chinatown, or ID as locals call it, is a cultural hub that is rich with history. It's like a tiny version of San Francisco's Chinatown. It may not be as big, but on the plus side, it's less congested with people. There are all kinds of attractions, shopping and yummy eats. My days in the rainy city were numbered, so I took a day to explore. 

The famous Chinatown Gate

Uwajimaya
600 5th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98104

Parking can be a serious pain here. The best thing to do is either take the bus in, or park at Uwajimaya Village, which is a huge Asian supermarket. The first hour is free with a $7 purchase. It's impossible to leave that store empty handed. It's packed with live fish, fresh meat, imported (and inexpensive) Asian cooking supplies and a huge food court that kicks the crap out of any mall in America. 

Uwajimaya has one of the best lunch platters in Seattle. It's half of a Peking Duck, rice and veggies for $10.99. The duck comes in that traditional Chinatown style, cooked and hanging. They chop it up right in front of you and it's ready to eat. There was so much meat that I was able to cook another meal with it: Duck fried rice. I added the veggies and rice that it already came with and pan fried it with soy sauce. This is a great bang for your buck with this plate. 

I walked around for blocks and tried a couple of pastries. Honestly, Asian pastries are a bit of a "miss" for me. They often taste a little too chalky, sometimes stale. I was intrigued when I walked by a spot that had a sign advertising "Chinese Herbal Jell-O". Sounds strange, right? I had to try it. 

Sub Sand 

419 6th Ave S
(between Jackson St & Jefferson St)
Seattle, WA 98104

Sub Sand is known for their Vietnamese sandwiches, but I had to try that Jell-O. Especially after the man working there told me the Ancient Chinese believed it cured a common cold. I was stuffed up and willing to try anything to get rid of it. Upon first glance, it reminds me of the image below... and if you can name the movie it's from in a comment below, I will give you a Twitter and Facebook shout out...

The texture is just like Jell-O, but it has a herbal/medicinal taste. They pour simple syrup over it to cover the taste but it doesn't help... It's not something I'd order again, but it was fun to try. I also had a hot and creamy Hong Kong Tea, which is hot black tea mixed with condensed milk. Also, I'm a huge dork and I loved the "under the sea" theme of Sub Sand which comes complete with life size hanging Hammerhead sharks. 

After my stroll around town it was time to meet my friend Nin for a nosh session. One of our favorite spots in Seattle is Tamarind Tree. 

Tamarind Tree
1036 S Jackson St
Ste A
(between S 12th Ave & S 10th Ave) 
Seattle, WA 98104

Nin introduced me to this fantastic Vietnamese spot last Summer. During the Summer the patio has a quasi-LA feel to it, since it's modern but with a lot of bamboo and Asian style infused to it. It was a dreary day as you can see form above so we had to sit indoors. For the Winter, they have a powerful fireplace that perfectly heats the room.

Nin and I shared the Cut Nuong Me (aka Quail in Tamarind Sauce) and it was awesome. Although it appears smallish, it was a decent amount for two people to share. It's almost like having a side of fancy chicken wings. The Quail is marinated in a tamarind sauce which makes it perfectly tangy and has a side of carrots. Plus I love the sides Tamarind brings out with every meal, which are bean sprouts, mint, lime, jalapenos and another side of lime-chili sauce. 

I'm going to miss you Seattle!