Bestia... Literally one of the BEST Italian places I have EVER been!!

Bestia
2121 7th Place, Los Angeles, CA  90021
(213) 514-5724
http://bestiala.com/

UMMMM WOW.... Don't even really know how to start off this post!
I'm not huge on Italian food at all... I honestly have 1 Italian place that I love to go to in LA until I came here.
Bestia is literally amazing!!  That's probably why the wait is over a month for a reservation!
I had made a reservation for a month and a half away when I reached out to my girlfriend asking if she's ever been... She then tells me "Well you're in luck... We have reservations for this coming week and we have an open space if interested".  OMG I was totally interested!!  So there I was 2 days later going to Bestia for one of the most amazing Italian dinners EVER!
Everything about this place is cool... From the location, to the drinks, to the decor!  I was definitely in LOVE!!

Bestia Does It Best
http://www.laweekly.com/2013-01-03/eat-drink/bestia-reviewed-downtown-los-angeles/

BESTIA
This is the building from the outside... It's super cool in the industrial part of downtown LA... A warehouse converted into this beautiful restaurant inside.

Bestia
I've already made a reservation for my next meal here!

Bespoke (let our bartenders craft a cocktail to best suit you)
Hell Fire and Honey Sour
I got Bespoke for both my cocktails… I think it's such an awesome concept they have by doing this… You kind of get surprised each time!

Spicy Tequila Maid

Creamy Polenta.  cornmeal.  sweet onions.  potatoes.
Soooo good and no doubt goes straight to the thighs!

Grilled Octopus & Calamari.  arugula.  mixed mushrooms.  fennel.  aged balsamic.  chili lemon vinaigrette.
I'm going to say everything was amazing cause it truly was… But I really love octopus and this was probably one of my favorite dishes of octopus I've ever had!

Spaghetti Rustichella.  sea urchin.  squid ink bottarga.  garlic.  calabrian chiles.  breadcrumbs.
This was soooo good I literally wanted to order a 2nd helping!

Grilled Whole Orata.  rapini ripassati.  anchovy paste.  dandelion greens.  chili oil.

Valrhona Fair Trade Bittersweet Chocolate Budino Tart.  salted carmel.  cacao crust.  olive oil.  sea salt.

Immediately the next morning I made my reservation for the next time to eat here!!  I literally couldn't get enough and I can't stop thinking about this place!!!

Top 5 restaurants for sure!!!

Racion... Tapas done well!

Racion
119 W. Green Street, Pasadena, CA  91105
(626) 396-3090
http://racionrestaurant.com/
 

So you probably know what high expectations I have of tapas... Especially since experiencing them in Barcelona, but I've got to say Racion has some pretty stellar food!

I love Spanish tapas, it's become one of my favorite foods since my trip... And since I've come home I never thought I would get anything even close to what I tried out there.  Well I was wrong!

I literally wish I was with more people because it was soooo hard to stick with six items to try, and I have been trying really hard not to eat myself into a food coma lately... 

Racion is located in Pasadena, and even though Pasadena is not that far I tend to never travel there... I hope that after reading this some of you are intrigued to go.  I promise you won't be disappointed!!
I will definitely be back to explore the menu and the food some more!
Racion only serves beer, wine and cider.  The cider that they serve is a Spanish style and it was REALLY good and REALLY different... It really reminds me of apple cider vinegar, but in a good way not a bad way!  When drinking it with the food it pairs so perfect!  The flavor of the cider helped bring out the flavors of the food to another level!

At Ración, Teresa Montaño and Loretta Peng's Basque Food Is Among the City's Best
http://www.laweekly.com/2014-02-06/eatdrink/at-raciandoacuten-teresa-montaandntildeo-and-loretta-pengs-basque-food-is-among-the-citys-best/

Basque in it's Glow
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/may/26/food/la-fo-gold-20120526
 



Salt Cod Fritters, Lemon Cream
HOLY COW these were amazing!  Crispy on the outside with a soft texture inside that melts in your mouth!  AMAZING!!

Crispy Prawns, Spicy Tomato, Garlic
So before I went to Spain I never really cared for prawns as much as I do now... And my favorite part honestly is eating the head!  The flavors inside the head are so rich and intense... I can't understand what took me so long to finally try it!

Lamb Meatballs, Basque Cider, Picon, Licorice Greens

Crispy Artichokes, Candied Jamon, Lemon and Anchovy
I mean... Do I need to say more?

Roasted Heirloom Carrots, Coconut Gel, Brown Butter Crumbs

House-Made Squid Ink Pasta, Mussels, Piquillo Peppers Saffron
I LOVE LOVE LOVE squid ink pasta.... Honestly one of my favorites!!

Crema Catalana
Spanish Custard, Date Sauce, Pistachio Meringue
OMG I couldn't get enough of this!!!  The texture and flavor were beyond good!

If you're looking for some authentic Spanish Tapas, Racion is your place!!
Go and enjoy... I know I did!!  And looking forward to going back for more.

XO Drea

 

Post & Beam... Really far, but worth the drive!

FINALLY I have a new blog post!!! 
I was eating out so much I literally had to take a break... One for my pocketbook and two for my pants!  HAHA
So I have this restaurant list that I've been trying to get through, and I finally thought it was time to try Post & Beam.
When driving to the restaurant I kept thinking... Where the heck is this place?! (It's literally pretty far from where I live, especially with that good ole LA traffic)
And then when we arrived I thought... Where the heck am I?!
Baldwin Hills?!  Who the heck drives out to Baldwin Hills?!  I guess I do?  And I'm really glad I did.
The restaurant is in a mall parking lot... Nothing fancy, even when walking inside. But the food... The food was SUPER tasty!!  I would say this place is a mix of soul or comfort food...
The menu is SUPER small, so if you're a picky eater I would really check it out to see if anything sounds good to you!  Me I eat everything so I literally hardly ever look at the menu!

"Maple Whiskey Sour" Maple infused Whiskey, Lime, Lemon... Becoming one of my go to drinks lately.

Wood Oven Mussels & Calamari with Spicy Tomato Sauce and Lemon Relish
I feel as though you can never go wrong with mussels... and the spicyness of the sauce was pretty amazing!

Shrimp Grits with Beef Bacon, Roasted Peppers and Shrimp Butter
WOW I loved loved loved this!!  But I'm a pretty big fan of grits when it's prepared correctly.

Kale Salad, Roasted Peppers, Broccolini, Chickpeas in Pumpkin Seed Dressing
You can never go wrong with a kale salad!

Certified Angus Beef Short Ribs, Fresh Horseradish
Mac n' Cheese
Grilled Baby Brocolli, Sweet Garlic and Lemon Vinaigrette
So the way the menu works is you order one large item and it then comes with 2 small sides.  We thought the sides were going to be a lot bigger, but it worked out with the amount of food we had ordered.

Bread pudding, chocolate pieces, bourbon sauce and vanilla bean ice cream
I've got to say this is one of my favorite desserts!  Also this is one of my favorite bread pudding's I've ever had!!

I don't know that I'll ever drive out here again... However I'm glad I made the drive at least once!

I'm not super big on comfort food, but everything that we had was extremely extremely tasty!!!

If you're close to this area though I say it's a must!!  No fuss restaurant with flavors that will keep your taste buds wanting more!!

XO Drea