FOOD FASHIONISTA

Macarons de Paris at La Boulange - San Francisco

In the last couple years, La Boulange in San Francisco has become a cherished neighborhood stop. For your morning caffeine, fresh baked pastries, salads, sandwiches, or a box of macarons, this restaurant with 10 (and counting) locations in the city is always a fresh, affordable alternative. The Hayes Valley La Boulange is a particular favorite.

La Boulange Bakery & Cafe

Jitlada Thai with Chef Jet Tila & Friends - Hollywood

I've been to Jitlada several times, and after a few not-so-fabulous experiences, I was about to write it off. That was until last weekend when I experienced a really wonderful meal at this Hollywood Thai spot. They say third time's a charm, and it may be true, but I also believe that sometimes it really is best to leave it up to the chef. In this case, it was dining partner, friend and celebrated chef, Jet Tila who himself is of Thai origin and spent time as a child at the Bangkok markets while also growing up around his family's restaurants. 

                                   Crispy Catfish Salad

                                          Oxtail Soup

                                  It's time for some Singha

It's no surprise that Jet knew exactly what to order from the expansive (and slightly intimidating) menu. The table of seven, were happy and relieved to leave the ordering process up to Jet. Each dish was a hit. They often say that it's a good sign when folks from the restaurant's culture are dining at the establishment and I truly believe that. They do, after all, know what is authentic and tasty in their home countries. For instance, if you see a Peruvians at a Peruvian spot, or Japanese at a Japanese restaurant, it's probably a good sign to eat there.

             Coco Mango Salad with Fresh shrimp & Cashews

                                       Caryl is so sweet!

                                            Whole Barramundi

                                      Jet and the Ladies

                              Khao Yam "Songkhla" rice salad

 

From the Coconut Mango Salad to the Mussels in Thai basil and lemongrass, the dinner was made even better, by great company who were all passionate diners. Everyone in the group was not afraid to try extra-spicy cuisine, which is always an admired trait. After eating an entire chili pepper...on accident, I had to order a Thai iced tea, but the rest of the night was all beer, which paired fantastically with each uniquely flavored dish.

Coconut Ice Cream with red bean, yellow bean, & palm seed

                              Mango with Sticky Rice

Thanks, Jet for making me a Jet-lada, oops, I mean a Jitlada believer.  

Jitlada

5233 W Sunset Blvd. 

Los Angeles, CA 90027

(323) 663-3104

 

Learn more about Chef Jet Tila on his website, and if you happen to be in the Las Vegas area, check out Wazuzu Pan Asian Bistro in the Encore Las Vegas where Jet is the Executive Chef.

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San Francisco Chefs Redefining Asian Flavors Panel 8/22

 

                          Richie Nakano of Hapa Ramen

 

On Monday, August 22nd from 6:00 - 9:00 pm, join the Asian Culinary Forum as four Bay Area chefs share how they developed their unique visions of Asian cuisine.

The panel highlights culinary innovators who are challenging our ideas of “inheriting” cuisines and culture. Each chef blends traditional techniques with new flavors to create dishes that entice, challenge and educate today’s knowledgeable diners. As entrepreneurs, they have disposed of the old tenets of ethnic eateries to push the concept of Asian restaurants to new horizons.

 

Pancho Villa Taqueria's Garlic Prawn Platter - San Francisco

 
Normally priced at $9.95, HeardAbout.com is featuring this favorite dish of mine today for ONLY $5. Act fast, offer quantities are limited, and can be used through 9/11/2011. 

 

Brief Dish Blurb:

Forget the wharf, the Garlic Prawns at this Mission District Taqueria are the quintessential San Francisco seafood fix. Served with your choice of refried, pinto, or black beans, and a side of rice and warm tortillas, this is a complete meal in one.

 

M Café's Special $4 Fourth of July Menu

 
To celebrate a healthy Fourth of July, you can enjoy tasty macrobiotic cuisine at M Cafe's two Los Angeles locations for an ultra-tempting deal. For only $4, you can choose from four of M Cafe's popular items including:

• Breakfast Burrito
• The Big Macro Burger (à la carte)
• 2 Signature Salad Combo (Choose from any of the freshly prepared salads in M Café’s deli case)
• Madras Tempeh Wrap

If you've been curious about macrobiotic cuisine, here's your chance to discover how incredibly satisfying and delicious it really is.

 
                                Breakfast Burrito

 
                                  Madras Tempeh Wrap

 

For Food Fashionista's M Cafe' Write-up, visit HERE

For store locations and information, visit M Cafe'

photo credit: M Café

Food Fashionista Loves Good Food

 

There's nothing quite like a great-tasting dish. It can spark a smile from the grumpiest of faces and has the ability to strike a sudden conversation among strangers. Food is a common bond we all share. It doesn't matter if you are living in California or Zimbabwe. Eating is a shared habit and necessity we all participate in across the mighty globe. If you are on Facebook, join our page and get in on our daily culinary conversation.

Food Fashionista on Facebook

Fig & Olive Melrose Place - Launch of New Aperitivo & Ciccheti Menus

 

 

FIG & OLIVE Melrose Place—West Hollywood’s newly opened Mediterranean eatery—recently launched a new daily “Aperitivo” menu, inviting diners to enjoy a thirst-quenching selection of handmade cocktails, wine, and imported beer ($7-10) paired with complimentary light summertime bites (available with the purchase of any cocktail or glass of wine and beer (minimum one per person). Yes, you heard it right, complimentary.

 

 
Piscine – Sparking Wine, served on ice with Fresh Strawberries

 

Offered daily from 5 – 7:00 p.m. in the restaurant’s bar and lounge area, and on the outdoor patio, guests can partake in the European pre-dinner tradition of invigorating their appetites with an assortment of complimentary house-cured olives, crudités, bruschetta, dips, roasted vegetables, and seasonal Focaccia breads—courtesy of the restaurant. In addition to wines and beers ($7-10 by the glass) from the South of France, Italy and Spain, Aperitivo menu drink options include 12 signature and classic cocktails ($10 each). The Piscine (pictured above) is made with Moët Ice Imperial Champagne (exclusively available in L.A. at Fig & Olive) with ice and fresh strawberries.

 

 
            Selection of Crostini  (Cicchetti & Dinner Menus)

 

Guests looking to fill up with larger bites can further indulge in an accompanying “Cicchetti” menu of small plates featuring an assortment of Cheese ($19) including Fromage de Chèvre, Gorgonzola Dolce, and Pierre Robert; a selection of Crostini ($9.50 – 18); and Mixed Olives ($5.50).

 

                                  Spaghetti Mediterraneo

 
                                  Branzino with Fig & Balsamic

 

Another option is to come early for cocktails and complimentaray light Aperitivo bites with friends followed by dinner on their outdoor patio or in Fig & Olive's expansive contemporary interior space. Whether dining inside or out, you will feel the Hollywood/Mediterranean hot-spot vibe. Don't be surprised if you run into a few celebs while sipping a glass of Rose' or a Cucumber Cosmo. After all, it has become quite the to-be-seen locale for Hollywood's it-crowd. FIG & OLIVE, Melrose Place - a nice choice for those craving refreshing cocktails and a Hollywood scene in a stylishly designed restaurant in the heart of West Hollywood.

 

 

 

FIG & OLIVE Melrose Place

8490 Melrose Place

West Hollywood, CA 90069

310.360.9100

 

 

Zero Zero - Good Food, Good Friends, Good Times - San Francisco

Here are some photos from SOMA hot spot, Zero Zero in San Francisco. More pics will be added later today to our Zero Zero album on Food Fashionista on Facebook.

 
        Sweet Pea Agnolotti, Pancetta, Meyer Lemon, Chili, Mint 

Zero Zero has only been open for less than a year, but has already built a fan-following for their comforting local and seasonal Italian-inspired cuisine. From fried Squash blossoms, to the Daily Crudo, Chef Bruce Hill and team have already hit the mark with what San Franciscans want to eat. The multi-level space is masculine with dark woods and a touch of industrial. In addition, Zero Zero has become a popular destination to grab cocktails after work or after a ball game. On a recent evening, I spotted a few of SF's top mixologists socializing over drinks at the bar. Although quite popular for the pizzas, I actually found other dishes on the menu to shine brighter on several different visits. Definitely opt for family-style dining, so you can try a myriad of dishes. Save room for dessert - Straus Dairy choose-your-own-toppings Sundaes are sinfully good and sinful to miss.

 
                         Pisco Sour & Hot Pink Roses

 
                                 Meatballs (Fall Menu)

             Kimber + Mika + Kelly - before we chow down!
 
        Wild Arugula, California Strawberries, Easter Egg Radish 

 

 
      Tomato Braised Chickpea Bruschetta with Burrata & Rosemary

 
                                            Crudo

 
            Prosciutto, Grilled Bread, Arugula, Marmalade Jam

 

     Martina + Krista + Amy (& a stalking-swine in the background)

 

                                                Pizza

 

       Straus Dairy Vanilla Sundae with Caramel & Cinnamon Apples

 
                   Zero Zero Exterior + Folsom Street

 

                     Quilted Chanel + Sparkling Prosecco

 
                             Dowstairs Bar + Mixologists at Zero Zero

 

For more info on Zero Zero, visit HERE

 

Yank Sing - Get Some, Dim Sum in San Francisco

 
So today I dropped in to an old favorite I've been going to for years. Actually, the former location on Battery is the one I enjoyed dining at most back in the days, but since that one shuttered,  I've frequented the Stevenson Street and Rincon Center sites. Yes, the dim sum is pricier than many other spots serving this Cantonese form of communal small plates, but I'm always left full and satisfied with the cuisine, quality, and the professional service. On any given visit, you can find over 60 various types of dim sum made and served fresh daily. Upon arrival at your table, order a pot of hot jasmine tea and prepare your own dipping concoction with a small spoonful of hot mustard, chili paste, and a splash of soy sauce.

 
Shanghai Dumplings w/ minced Kurobuta pork, ginger, scallions

This visit to Yank Sing was with my dear friend Michele who surprisingly had never been there before. It was a shocker since this woman is a Bay Area native who knows the local dining scene like Idaho knows Potatoes. I suggested it, due to the fact that we both delight in trying a multitide of flavors and dishes, and I needed my SoMa San Francisco dim sum fix. From fried to steamed, barbecued pork to vegetarian, it was all on our table. The Chicken Stuffed Mushrooms (pictured above) are always stamped on my dim sum order along with the Red Cabbage Salad with jicama and candied walnuts. If you are a dim sum newbie, don't get overwhelmed when the rolling carts of food arrive at the table. Start off with a few dishes, and keep in mind that the others you have your eye on will come back around. It's better to indulge in fresh dim sum while hot and steamy, rather than cold and dried out from sitting on the table too long.

 
            Rice-flour Sesame Balls w/sweet yellow bean puree

Make sure to save some room for dessert. If you prefer sweets on the lighter side, opt for the silky, refreshing Mango pudding. Served chilled, you can request a layer of condensed milk on top (which I highly recommend). If you have strategically managed to save more room in the stomach after the savories, the Sesame balls (above) and the sweet Egg Custard Tarts are a great way to top off the dim sum experience.

 

Locations:

Yank Sing

101 Spear St
(between Howard St & Mission St)
San Francisco, CA 94105
Neighborhood: SOMA

(415) 957-9300

Yank Sing

49 Stevenson St
(at Ecker Pl)
San Francisco, CA 94105
Neighborhood: SOMA

(415) 541-4949

 

Akasha, Culver City - Organic, Eco-Conscious & Flavorful

 

Here are some photos from dinner at Akasha in Culver City. Enjoy...

 RUTIZ FARMS BEETS w/ manchego cheese, wild arugula, pickled shallots, sherry mustard vinaigrette   

 

 FIG & PROSCIUTTO PIZZA w/ caramelized onions, shaft bleu, wild arugula

 

SEARED ALBACORE w/bok choy, red bell pepper, green bean, mushroom,black rice, miso-mustard

 

Sweet Potato Fries & Skillet Mac & Cheese 

 

QUINOA w/ market vegetables & tamari grilled tofu

              HALIBUT Special w/clams, grilled bread 

 
Shawna & I are ready for dessert...
 

SALTY CHOCOLATE PEANUT BAR w/ candied peanuts, peanut butter gelato, sea salt, caramel
 

 Kahlua Chocolate Chip, Strawberry, Bourbon Butter Pecan Ice Cream 

SMORE'S Pudding

 

For MORE PHOTOS, visit our AKASHA PHOTO ALBUM

 

AKASHA

9543 Culver Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 845-1700