Fearless Pigeon

Posted February 25th, 2009 by Meg

Found: Santa Monica Promenade

Valentine’s Eve

Posted February 22nd, 2009 by Meg

My boyfriend and I have both become experienced in how to properly handle celebrating Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles. It’s very simple: don’t go out on Valentine’s Day. On our first V-Day in 2007, we naively went to Fogo de Chao. Big mistake. Parking on La Cienega that night was impossible. It took us 30 minutes to valet our car. And even though it took forever to valet, we were lucky because after they took our car the valet stopped accepting cars! Inside, it was a madhouse. Even though we had reservations, she told us the wait was going to be 45-60 minutes. So we waited with the many other patiently waiting couples around the hostess stand because the bar was jam packed too. When we were seated, the brazilian churrascaria (steakhouse) was lovely. But, getting our car from valet after our dinner took just as long as it did in the beginning making the night at least 3 hours of waiting and standing around. We learned our lesson.

In 2008, my boyfriend and I went to Mr. Chow on the eve of Valentine’s Day. I enjoyed the food at Mr. Chow, especially the shark fin soup, but the service was frightful, impersonal, and rushed for us. My boyfriend hated the whole experience. As in, I will probably never be able to convince him to set foot in there again.

For 2009, we decided to celebrate on the Eve again. I really really really wanted to go to the Wilshire. I have never been there, but have heard great reviews. My boyfriend at first agreed to it, but looked over the menu and told me no, not this year. I was heartbroken, but understanding that the economy sucks right now and he doesn’t enjoy food as much as I do. So, all week prior we discussed where to go. His contribution was an Italian restaurant in Santa Monica, but after he said the words “next to the liquor store,” I quickly vetoed it.

I then came to the conclusion that if I can’t eat where I want in Santa Monica, then I don’t want to eat in Santa Monica at all. Next step was finding a place that my boyfriend would enjoy to eat at, which if you’re trying to find anything classier than Koo Koo Roo, is a hard task! In the end I chose Luna Park. I had been there a few times prior in college, which is quickly becoming a long time ago. I don’t remember what I ordered in the past, but I knew I liked it and that my boyfriend would like both the prices and the ambiance.

He picked me up from work and we drove to the restaurant arriving an hour early, but finding the best parking right in front of the restaurant. We walked into the moderataly crowded bar area near the hostest stand. We lucked out though! They could seat us immediately, even in the last minute request for a booth with curtains. We sat down and quickly found out that it was still Restaurant Week in LA! Score. 3 delicious courses for 26 dollars. I was unable to take that great of pictures, but here is what I ordered:

Warm Goat Cheese Fondue with Grilled Bread and Sliced Apples - The melted cheese seemed a little too thin and glue like to me in appearance. It was still good, but not my favorite.

Grilled Salmon with Jalapeno Grits Braised Greens and Whole Grain Mustard - I loved this entree because I love mustard and I love salmon. Grits is not something I order often, but I found it to be a perfect pairing with the salmon.

Make Your Own S’mores - Molten Marshmallow, Bittersweet Chocolate, and House Made Graham Cookies - This interactive desert was a big hit. Meaning both my boyfriend and I enjoyed it. Although, I was very messy and got chocolate all over myself, my clothes, and the table. The house made graham cracker cookies were amazing and had a subtle ginger spice taste to them.

Let’s not forget my favorite part of a meal, the liquor!

You’re a Pepper - Little Bottle of Dr. Dublin’s Dr Pepper, Absolut Vanilla and Monin Organic Vanilla Syrup  - I love Dr. Pepper and to be able to mix your own drink is so much fun. Of course I dumped all the vodka in and then went from there. This drink was completed with a giraffe stirrer.

Luna Park
672 S La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 934-2110‎

Lazy and Delicious

Posted February 17th, 2009 by Meg

I recently have become discouraged (lazy) about making dinner. Instead, I have been buying a premade salad and a side of chicken at Whole Foods. They have a pretty extensive salad selection, but my current favorite salad is the Kale and Beet. It is the perfect blend of romaine, kale, feta cheese, cranberries, red beets, gold beets, red onion, and a sweet dressing that I can’t quite remember right now and am too discouraged (lazy) to research…

The Big 2-0-0

Posted February 12th, 2009 by Meg

Happy Birthday Lincoln!

In honor, my co-worker Mike (founder of Mopishrout) arranged his toy Presidents for appropriate celebration!

Where am I?

Posted February 12th, 2009 by Meg

I’m still alive and well! And very sorry it’s been so long!

laziness + recession + full time job + 5am wake up = foodie blog failure

When I get home from work I am too exhausted to even turn on my laptop (where the magic happens). I know, excuses. I will try my best to post more often. I promise!

But for now -  kitties! (Found on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica.)

R + D

Posted February 3rd, 2009 by Meg

A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I went to the popular Hillstone Restaurant, R + D. I had accepted the fact that this is the latest hot spot on the west side and that we were going to have to wait 30-40 minutes by  embracing it with a glass or syrah as we stood awkwardly around. The restaurant, similar in design and decoration to Houston’s, does not have bar stools around their waiting tables by the window. I ended up unattractively leaning against the table. However, after we checked in with them when 20 minutes passed as they had asked us to, they brought over a pail of french fries to tide us over courtesy of the house. Not too shabby.

Their menu is limited and different than Houston’s (a menu which I also enjoy). My boyfriend and I shared the meatballs (even though the waitress told us the chips and guacamole appetizer was the best; my boyfriend isn’t a big fan of guacamole).

I ordered the seafood speciala of New Zealand Blue Nose Sea Bass. I have never had Blue Nose before, but wanting to get more Omega-3 in my life along with experience a new taste, I took a chance. A delicious chance. This fish is interesting because scientists didn’t start collecting information on it until the 1980’s, so nobody really knows much about it’s history. Which I guess, also makes it not the best time to be eating it because of what little is known about it’s history and population status. Oopsie.

R + D was only offering 2 desserts on their menu. A pots de creme and a carrot cake. The latter is a dessert I do not like, but the former is one that I always seem to enjoy. I also knew my boyfriend would enjoy the chocolate custard texture of it, so that’s what we got. I was surprised at how much my boyfriend liked it for someone that always poo poos ordering dessert. I would happily order this meal again.

R + D Kitchen
1323 Montana Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 395-3314