FOOD FASHIONISTA

Littlejohn's English Toffee at L.A. Farmer's Market

Next time you are near the Original L.A. Farmer's Market at 3rd and Fairfax, make a stop over at Littlejohn's Candy Shoppe and Kitchen and indulge in your sweet tooth cravings. Littlejohn's world famous English Toffee is a sure crowd-pleaser and makes the ideal gift for friends, colleagues, and loved ones. On a recent trip out of town, I brought a gift box of the Butter Crunch Toffee to some out of town dessert connoiseurs and they were immediately addicted. How could you not be with the melt in your mouth butter crunch topped with high quality milk chocolate and fresh roasted almonds.

Littlejohn's Shoppe and Kitchen has been located at the Farmer's Market since 1946, but have been around since 1924. Their long standing success and following comes from a dedication to "hand-stirring over open flames in small batches, working each batch to perfection on marble tables and using only fresh high quality ingredients". Besides their world famous English Toffee, Littlejohn's also hand makes Fudge, Caramels, and "old fashion favorites and candies you just can't find anymore like Honeycomb, Marzipan, Cherry Cordials and Divinity".

For those who aren't in close proximity to the Original L.A. Farmer's Market, you are in luck. Littlejohn's Candies can be ordered online at LittleJohn's Candies.

For More Info, or to Order Littlejohn's Candies, visit HERE

For More Info on the LA Farmer's Market visit HERE

Wolfgang Puck's 2010 Oscar/Academy Awards Menu

 

While the fashion stylists are doing last minute fittings for their A-list clients in designer gowns by Chanel, Balmain, and Oscar de la Renta, chef extraordinaire Wolfgang Puck will be prepping for this Sunday's 82nd annual red carpet Academy Awards. Chef Puck, a celebrity in his own right, with a culinary staff of 250 will serve 1,500 decked out Oscar guests at the Governor's Ball in glitzy Hollywood. Plenty of organic ingredients will be used at this star studded annual dinner including 1,200 pounds of certified organic chicken, 50,000 organic heirloom veggies, and 120 pounds of organic sugar. All the seafood served including wild salmon, yellowtails, and Thai snappers will be sustainable.

Chocolate and champagne are tops at any celebratory fete, and there will be plenty of that with 1,200 bottles of Moet & Chandon bubbly and 500 Pounds of Guittard L’Etoile du Nord  Bittersweet Chocolate. Pastry Chef Sherry Yard will also create 4,000 mini Oscar chocolate statues and team Puck will be drizzling 1,500 pounds of edible gold dust on their enticing menu for the special evening.

We hope the stylists left some room in those gowns for some decadent dining because Chef Wolfgang Puck said it best... "There will be no watching calories on Oscar night".

 

 

 

2010 ACADEMY AWARDS Menu

 by Wolfgang Puck

 with Chef Partner Matt Bencivenga

 

Desserts by Executive Pastry Chef Sherry Yard

 Passed Hors d'Oeuvres
Tempura Shrimp and Lobster
Mini Kobe Burgers with Aged Cheddar and Remoulade
Wasabi Pea Crusted Crab Cake with Mango and Thai Basil
Smoked Salmon Pizza with Caviar and Dill Creme
Black Truffle & Ricotta Cheese Pizza 
Vegetable Spring Rolls with Sweet & Spicy Dipping Sauce
Chicken Pot Stickers with Ginger Black Vinegar Dipping Sauce
 
Dinner 
House Smoked Salmon, Potato Galette, Creme Fraiche and Baby Greens 
with Butler-passed Warm Brioche
 
Black Truffle Chicken Pot Pie with Yukon Gold Potatoes, Baby Heirloom Vegetables and Homemade Pastry
Crust
 
Dessert 
"L'Etoile de Oscar"
Baked Alaska with Espresso Glace, Guittard L'Etoile du Nord Chocolate Sorbet and Toasted Meringue

 

Full list of Fun Facts on the 82nd annual Academy Awards HERE

For Oscar's 2010 Fashion Designer Challenge visit HERE

AYC- Allston Yacht Club for Small Plates, Brunch, Drinks

Don't let the name fool you, Allston Yacht Club is not a member's only yacht club and no where close to water. Rather, it is a casual small bites wine bar in L.A. located four traffic lights from the Elysian Park entrance to Dodger Stadium. The name Allston Yacht Club derives from a student neighborhood in Boston, MA where the two owners, Charles Kelly and Bill DiDonna originate and hold fond memories of.

On several visits to AYC, I've been extremely pleased with the value of the cuisine - on all occasions, my check came out to no more than $30 per person for both brunch and dinner and that was including alcohol and gratuity. Everything on the menu is priced from $4-$9 for small bites and $6-$10 for wines by the glass. There is also a full bar and a special cocktail menu. The service is unpretentious and friendly with the owners always usually on hand to guide you through the menu.

 

Grilled Cheese (Dinner Menu)

World Series/Playoff Baseball Cupcakes at CRUMBS

Forget the chips and salsa folks, if you really want to WOW them at your next baseball viewing party, bring a box of these gourmet baseball team cupcakes. Each generous cupcake is adorned with the logo of the Yankees, Phillies, or the Angels - because after all, this is the CRUMBS Bakery in Los Angeles.

Your sweet tooth loving friends will thank you and we guarantee... as far as dessert gift givers, you will now be up in the Major Leagues.

CRUMBS Bake Shop

(310) 550-9811
9465 Santa Monica Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

dineLA Restaurant Week 2009

It's that time of year again! dineLA Restaurant Week is just around the corner with affordably priced three course-meals ranging from $16 - $28 for lunch and $26 - $44 for dinner. If you've been absolutely aching for a meal at one of L.A.'s top eateries, but just haven't been feeling like the budget is allowing it these days, now is your chance. With restaurants such as BLT Steak, Grace, Jiraffe, XIV, La Botte, Rivera, Spago, and The Foundry participating, there is no time like the present to book that reservation or four at one of the over 200 So Cal restaurants participating in dineLA 2009.

Here are what some of the world's most esteemed chefs have to say about dineLA:

“dineLA will bring greater awareness and understanding of all of LA’s culinary and dining opportunities as a world-class culinary destination.” -- Joachim Splichal, Master Chef and Founder of The Patina Restaurant Group


“This is an exciting time to be a chef in Los Angeles - not only are you blessed with great local product from the land and sea but so many talented people are coming to LA and opening restaurants. World class chefs like Michael Mina, Gordon Ramsay and others have decided to come here to do business, as well as tremendous local chefs like Suzanne Goin and Wolfgang Puck and others who continue to create amazing places to eat. dineLA Restaurant Week is the chance for diners to introduce themselves to these great new restaurants.” -- José Andrés, chef visionary behind The Bazaar by José Andrés


"I am thrilled to be a part of dineLA Restaurant week. Not only does this event enable diners to explore the extraordinary talent and variety of the Los Angeles restaurant landscape, but it also allows chefs one more opportunity to join together as part of a thriving culinary community" -- Chef Katsuya Uechi, Katsuya

Visit dineLA Restaurant Week for a list of Participating Restaurants & Reservations

Toast for Brunch & Red Velvet Cupcakes

L.A. is one of those towns that everyone loves to brunch. In the City of Angels, there is no shortage of citizens without the 9-5 grind and time to meet up with amigos at 11 a.m. or even 1 p.m. for some lengthy noshing and chit chatting. There are a number of good brunch picks for those in the Los Angeles area. One spot that you will be sure to find a swarm of hipsters and eye candy wanna be actors/models lining the streets for the next available table is Toast on West 3rd Street.

Affordable prices, something for everyone on the menu, and those cream cheese lathered red velvet cupcakes are some of the enticements that bring the throngs to this friendly neighborhood restaurant. Oh yeah, and the celebrity sightings for the out of towners is always an exciting thrill (for them). One time as I was walking in, Ms Paris Hilton was walking out and the flashes from the paparazzi nearly blinded me. To me it was just another day in L.A., but for my girlfriend who was visiting from out of town, it was a live in the flesh Us Weekly moment. Like it or not, Toast is a fun, casual cafe that offers great people watching, quick tasty food, and an ultimate L.A. brunch experience.

Toast Bakery Cafe
8221 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048-4302
(323) 655-5018

Burgers at XIV on Sunset - Los Angeles

When you think of Michael Mina, burgers usually aren't the first thing that probably come to mind, but at his Hollywood hot spot XIV, executive chef Steven Fretz has burgers on the brain and on the menu in all shapes and sizes. There is a burger suited for all palates and taste buds at XIV from carnivores to vegetarians:

-American Kobe Beef Burger
-Lamburger
-Salmon Steak Burger
-Vegetarian Falafel Burger

You can even get a side of duck fat fries on the side if you so desire.

Oh and they also just revamped the back terrace which is a perfect spot to lounge with friends for some $6 happy hour bites (6-8) and specialty cocktails.

XIV
8117 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323-656-1414

Extravaganza for the Senses

This weekend's 12th annual Extravaganza for the Senses at the 20th Century Fox Studios was an outdoor, under the stars party featuring over 100 wineries and many of L.A.'s restaurants. This food and wine event is put on by The Wine House and The New Friends of The Saban Free Clinic, all supporting a great cause - the Saban Free Clinic. In addition to the beverages and eats, there were spa treatments, henna artists, a silent auction, and party beats (with a lot of MJ mixed in) spun by Scott Silva. There was also a cooking demonstration by Debbie Lee, Jamika Pessoa, and Jeffrey Saad - the three finalists of Food Network's popular show, The Next Food Network Star.

Some of the participating Los Angeles restaurants included The Foundry, BREADBAR, Canele, Citizen Smith, Pomodoro, Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop and Pace. Some of the wineries on hand were Bouchaine Vineyards, Grgich Hills, Frogs Leap Winery, Honig, Sterling Vineyards, and Piper-Heidsieck.

An evening with close friends sampling tasty treats, sipping a variety of vino in gorgeous weather all for a great cause - sounds like my kind of perfect Saturday.

Here are some photos from this weekend's event:

 

Pomodoro Butternut Squash Ravioli

Hanging w/Chef Edmondo Sarti & Friends

 

Greenleaf Gourmet Chop Shop

Far Niente Winery

 

Jamika Pessoa of Next Food Network Star

Coconut Fried Shrimp...mmm

 

Chef Eric Greenspan of Foundry on Melrose

 

Foundry on Melrose Grilled Cheese

w/friends eating Citizen Smith's Jalapeno Mac n Cheese

BREADBAR

The Gumbo Pot - LA Farmer's Market

When I'm craving some Creole cuisine in Los Angeles, I head over to Third and Fairfax to The Gumbo Pot at L.A.'s Original Farmers Market. On a warm sunny SoCal day, it's the perfect destination to sit outdoors while grabbing a taste of the Big Easy. With the Farmer's Market conveniently located adjacent to the Grove Shopping Center, it's the perfect spot to grab a casual bite and then some, while later working off the calories with a stroll through the outdoor mall.

Shrimp Po'Boy at the Gumbo Pot - perfect w/some hot sauce!

Seafood Gumbo -  make the perfect accompaniment

The Gumbo Pot is located on the west patio of the farmer's market and serves affordable Cajun cuisine just like you'd find in New Orleans. I especially love their po' boys and seafood gumbo, but they offer just the right meal for all appetites and dietary restrictions with a number of salads, Southern style seafood dishes, and tasty side dishes and appetizers on their menu. Some sides/appetizers include fresh boiled crawfish, sweet potato chips, and corn bread with cheddar cheese and chillies.

Next time you are in the Los Angeles area and craving some Creole flavors from Nola, visit The Gumbo Pot at L.A.'s Original Farmers Market. You can even top off your meal with some beignets (french donuts) and chicory coffee. 

The Gumbo Pot
Original Farmer's Market
6333 West Third Street #312 (on Fairfax between Wilshire and Beverly)
Los Angeles, CA

Carrie & Latif's Wedding by Patina Catering

The new Mr & Mrs Tayour

When it comes to weddings, I truly believe it's all about the details. Details are key, and after choosing the ideal mate, comes the all important decisions of dress, location, shoes, and FOOD. The bride had the dress choice covered looking absolutely glamorous and gorgeous in an Elizabeth Fillmore couture gown. The backdrop was ocean front in Malibu and who can argue with that location. The cuisine and beverages were by Patina Catering, and what a wondrous choice that ended up to be. Carrie and Latif- the bride and groom are not only my dear friends, but huge gourmands so I knew their special day would also be a delectable one.

From the cocktail hour, to the magnificent red velvet cupcake tower, to the gourmet vegan dining option, the bride and groom and all of us reveling in their splendorous day, knew they made all the right decisions. Carrie and Latif's wedding was a day full of love, impeccable views, divine company, and outstanding food and service. Although we were dining with a group close to 100, it felt as if we were in a fine dining establishment, just full of joyous friends and loved ones. It was a truly enchanting day we will all cherish forever.

Here are some of the fine details:

Savory servings w/a Moroccan touch during cocktail hour

 

Cucumber Water, Arnold Palmer, Mint Mojitos

Cocktail hour provided the perfect bites

Celebrating with the Beautiful Bride Carrie

 

Mixed Greens, toasted almonds, dried cherries, goat cheese

Joachim Splichal even made a bigger than life appearance :-)

 

Sesame encrusted Tofu w/mirin soy glaze, quinoa & vegetables

Free Range Chicken w/red onions, potatoes, haricot vert

 

The Serene Malibu Ocean View

 

Red Velvet Cupcake Tower

Mouth Watering Yet?

Red Velvet Cupcake, Chocolate mousse, Patina truffle

Vegan Carrot Cupcake, Tapioca pearls w/jackfruit & tofu cheesecake

 

Loved that their wedding favors were even food related!


For more information on Patina Catering, visit PATINA Restaurant Group

For my dinner at Patina Restaurant visit Food Fashionista at Patina