Noir Food & Wine: Pasadena, CA
I know, its been a while since I’ve actually posted something, and I will have to remedy that. I have taken the lazy route and just too the intagr.am pictures. I will have to get back into my foodie ways and go out toe some great places soon! I am a little rusty, so please forgive the review. I need to get back into form!
Anyway, let me tell you about this place I went to last night with a neighbor of mine called Noir Food & Wine. After only 8 months, I am still a newbie to the LA area, so most of the things that I have found are on pretty main streets, but this one is tucked quietly off on a side street with a fairly unassuming entrance, right next to a, from what I have heard, pretty popular comedy club called Ice House.
Simple and elegant come to mind when you walk into this place. A couple small rooms with 2 bars and small intimate tables with just enough room for one person to walk without running into someone. Traffic stops when food comes out. Anyway, so we sit down, and my friend used to call this place home so she schools me on the ins and outs of the restaurant. The owner is originally from Louisiana, so all of the dishes are relatively simple with a Louisiana flare, (and a really nice guy, he came out to talk with us during dessert.)
This is a small plate restaurant, everything is served tapas style. We started off with a couple of wine flights. I had a Malbec flight of three wines, (at this point, I honestly forgot to take pictures of the menu, but there I was), paired with a cheese plate with some slices meats, nuts, honey, and a preserve. Im a sucker for wine and cheese, so this was a perfect start to the meal to get me into the mood.
While we were waiting for a main course, we ordered Crab Fritters. This was a perfect light intermediary dish; lightly battered and fried, served with a couple of dipping sauces, a light tartar and a dijon style mustard. My main course was the Hanger Steak, medium rare of course! The steak was cooked to perfection served a in wine reduction with veggies. Ever bite was savory and perfectly tender.
Hanger Steak @ Noir Food & Wine, Pasadena, CA
As if this was not enough, after the main dinner, we went to the front bar for dessert. Now I will say, this was definitely the right call. You sit in again, simple elegance with white upholstered high chairs looking at the wine selection. I had a nice port wine with their Chocolate Terrine. Talk about heaven on a plate. Its a thick chocolate custard served with a raspberry reduction and fresh berries. That was worth the whole meal!
Chocolate Terrine @ Noir Food & Wine, Pasadena, CA
All said and done, this place is simple, elegant, and classy. A little on the pricy side. Dinner for 2 with wine and dessert was about $250. But this is definitely a great experience that is something that can be saved for a special occasion and would highly recommend it.
http://www.noirfoodandwine.com/
Chin-ma-ya, Los Angeles (Little Tokyo)
Who would have thought that a meal normally associated with poor college students could have deep tasty roots in Chinese culture?
Welcome to Chin-ma-ya located in Little Tokyo in downtown LA. This place serves ramen how it should be served, in giant bowls topped with the most tasty of toppings.
I started, and well didn’t even Gino’s a bowl called a Tan Tan Men. This ramen bowl has a broth with a little heat to it topped with pork. Add some green onions, bambo chutes, and bean sprouts and it’s one hearty meal! Let me rephrase, several hearty meals! This meal is nothing like you find at the store in the pasta section, but, it’s a simple meal to put together at home.
All in all its rehashed my love for the underrated noodle and given my imagination more food to play with.m a definite win!
And for sides, we paired the ramen with a tasty pork goyoza, pork dumplings with vegetables.
Needless to say, I was eating this meal for a couple days. With all the fixins, the ramen bowl ran about $12. Slightly less,nor the half portion.
I love LA!
District 13, Los Angeles
I love to eat, and I love anything that Americans would consider “exotic.” And what better place to find exotic meats than District 13 located in the heard of Hollywood!
I find that the best restaurants keep it simple, and this is about as simple as you can get, sausages and beer. And what a beer list it is! But that is for another show. Anyway, when you peruse the menu, the choice becomes clear, regular or exotic sausages. I happened to choose a platter of exotic sausage: Wild Boar, Venison, and Smoked Buffalo with caramelized onions, mustard, and srirachafor dipping. What a taste treat! Venison has always been a little salty, but these were tastes that just melted in your mouth! Not at all gamey, but mild and flavorful with the snap of a Nathan’s hot dog. The caramelized onion and sriracha topper brought savory, salty, sweet, with a touch of heat all into one bite. Pair this dish with a beer, and its very fling and satisfying! All for under $30.
Check it out!
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