Hinoki & The Bird… Sooo dark and soooo sexy!!!

Hinoki & The Bird
10 Century Drive, Los Angeles, CA  90067
310-552-1200
http://hinokiandthebird.com/

Hinoki & the Bird is Truly Extraordinary
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-weston/hinoki-and-the-bird_b_2821080.html

Table Talk
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/22/table-talk-hinoki-the-bird-in-los-angeles/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=1

I feel like arriving to Hinoki & The Bird is like discovering a little secret treasure… You drive up to a dark and small valet driveway with a hidden entry door to this incredible restaurant inside.  When entering you literally have a birds-eye view of the beautiful bar and indoor dining room.  Everything is very dark and very sexy!!!  The outdoor dining room was incredibly large with that indoor outdoor feel.  I fell in love with this place immediately!  It reminded me of a swanky restaurant you would go to in New York.  The ambiance the music, everything was just perfect!!!
So tonight I went with a girlfriend who doesn't eat any meat (boo-hoo) so I decided I would stick to the pescatarian diet as well so that we could share… Cause what's the fun in only trying a couple things on the menu when you could share everything that was ordered?
Sounds like I'm going to have to call one of my carnivorous friends and go back really really soon!
I need to start taking pics of my cocktails which I keep forgetting about… Tonight I had the Hinoki Swizzle (Amontillado Sherry, St Germaine, fresh green apple & Champagne), this one was my absolute favorite!!  Always love St Germaine and Champagne!  I also tried the Gordon's Cup (Gin, muddled lime, cucumber, Szechuan pepper and salt), this was good… But after the first drink it couldn't compare for me.

This is the view that you have as soon as you walk into the front door… Beyond beautiful!

Like always I had to get the oysters, again I was in the mood for trying something new so I opted for my go-to and also a recommendation from our server.  Again I was happy that I ventured out… Might have to stop being scared and just start trying them all!
1/2 dozen oysters, with pear mignonette

I'm always a huge fan of raw fish so this was a no brainer and I knew I  would enjoy it.
Snapper, grapefruit and lime leaf

WOW, I wish I had more room in my stomach for more of this!  Sooo yummy!!!
Chili crab toast, spicy cucumber, coriander

The presentation of this dish was really cool!  It's literally still smoking as it get's to your table!  And it's super yummy!  I went with a friend who is pescatarian so you won't see any meat this time around… Guess I'm going to have to go back REALLY soon and check out the carnivorous side of the menu.
Hinoki scented black cod, sweet potato, pistachio

This dish was incredible!!  I was told by a good friend of mine to get this and boy was she spot on!  It was spicy and the dipping sauce brought the flavors to a whole other level!
Sambal skate wing

YUM YUM YUM!  I wasn't sure about getting a yam as our veggie, but it was really really good!  It wasn't too sweet which I was a little worried about and it was a really good balance with the fish.
Roasted yam, creme fraiche, lardon

So this was really good…Just really hmmm simple I guess.  I kinda wish I would have listened to Steph and tried something a little more adventurous.  
Miso donuts, honey caramel

I literally can't wait to go back here… Even if it's just for one of thier fabulous drinks and an appetizer at the bar!
I really love LA and all the amazing restaurants it has to offer!  I feel like I have an endless list of new places I want to try, and no matter how many I end up marking off, the amount just never gets smaller.
If any of you have any restaurant recommendations please let me know down on the comments below!  I love good recommendations and would love to check out anything that you guys also love!

XO Drea

Republique… Repyblik NOT Republic!

Republique
http://republiquela.com/
624 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA  90036
(310) 362-6115

République Review: French Food Worthy of a Glorious Space
http://www.laweekly.com/los-angeles/rpublique-review-french-food-worthy-of-a-glorious-space/Content?oid=4449022

So recently my friend Ryan (my #1 foodie friend in LA) and I decided to go to a new restaurant that he's been wanting to try…

You never have to ask me twice for a request like that!!!  1) I love trying new places to eat, 2) Ryan NEVER let's me down with great restaurants and great food choices!
I don't know what it is about when we go out to eat, but every single time we literally eat ourselves into a food coma!  Ryan stated tonight that we both have eyes way too big for our stomachs… I think he's totally right!
So I have to tell you, I've never been a huge fan of French food… In my eyes it's always too heavy with too much sauce and what not.  This new modern French food though is AMAZING!!!  Definitely right up my alley!
I really enjoyed everything that we ate here… The drinks were really fun too!  I ordered the Bernard Ranches Oro Blanco (tarragon, gin and egg white).  I literally am such a huge sucker for drinks with egg white... I love how it makes them all frothy!
I wish we would have tried a charcuterie board, escargot and the short ribs but with all the other food we ordered I think it's better that we saved that for next time!

One thing that I love so much about restaurants lately is the small plate concept that everyone is doing.  It allows you to experience much more of the menu and eat family style.

I literally thought that you pronounced this place as Republic!

This place was SOOO HUGE!  You can't really tell from the picture but it's one of the bigger restaurants that I've been to!

MY FAVORITE!!!  I did venture out and try one new one this time which I'm totally happy about since it was amazing!!  It was on the bigger side, which I am normally scared of but I loved the texture and the flavor!
(Kumamoto, Washington; Shigoku, Washington & Cotuit, Cape Cod)

This is another one of my favs!!  Maybe it's the German in me, maybe it's not?  I've just always been a HUGE fan or raw meat!
(Grass-Fed Beef Tartare, tarragon aioli, pickled red onion and potato chips)

And eggs is another thing I feel like is always amazing, and this was no let down!!  Also I used to hate uni, but lately I've kinda been loving it!
(Eggs on Toast, santa barbara uni, soft scrambled eggs)

This was one of my favorite things that we ordered… The flavors in this dish were incredible and we found ourselves dipping our bread in after for that yummy garlic butter!
(Wood Oven Razor Clams, spring onion, garlic butter)

WOW!  You can't tell from this pic but the flavors in this I LOVED and I'm a huge sucker for octopus!!  It was super spicy and super flavorful!  There was black kale in it which is usually only available from fall to late February and has this great peppery flavor.
(Charcoal-Grilled Mediterranean Octopus, black kale, citrus, pistachio, chili, lime)

UGH I wish my flash was better and that you could really see how BIG that piece of meat was that was sitting in front of us!  When that got to the table we both almost keeled over!!  I really enjoyed the flavor in this, but don't know if I would order it again… Also this was NOT a small plate or a small piece of meat by any means!
(Sonoma Lamb Blade Steak, roasted artichokes, tricolor salad, salsa verde)

Always gotta save room for dessert!  This was pretty amazing with it's buttery rich goodness.  My favorite parts were the crispy and flakey sides
(Croissant Bread Pudding with vanilla ice cream)

So all in all this was another really successful night with a great restaurant and great company!  The menu is HUGE and there are so many really incredible choices.  I can't wait to go back and explore the menu some more!

Thank you to all of my friends who are joining me on this journey and for putting up with my flash photography… It's totally annoying I know, but it's for a good cause… Right?!

XO Drea

Maude... Take Home Chef's first restaurant!

Maude
http://www.mauderestaurant.com/
212 S. Beverly Drive
Beverly Hills, CA  90212
(310) 859-3418

Maude is a new restaurant that opened in Beverly Hills by Curtis Stone.
I met Curtis a few years back and he has got to be the sweetest and most down to earth man EVER!  And it doesn't suck that he's tall, extremely sexy and has one of the hottest Aussie accents!!!!
So Maude has a monthly menu based around one key ingredient... It's a 9 course tasting menu (MY FAVORITE), and if you're vegetarian or have any food restrictions they will work with you.
For February it was citrus, March artichokes and April peas.
The restaurant is super small, having room for only 25.  So if you want a reservation you have to book in advance.  When I went I found out they are booked till May 1st!!!
I say keep a look out every month and see if the key ingredient piques your interest!  And if it does call right away and hopefully you can get in!!!
The menu for my meal was based around citrus... And I wasn't disappointed by any means!  I think this needs to be added to my top 10 in LA!!

Champagne YES PLEASE!!

Lime Sorbet with orange (I love anything sour so of course I loved this)

Shigoku Oysters with Cavier (I mean…. Do I even have to comment)

Gougere (WOW… This tiny little pastry, probably the size of a quarter around… But the flavor inside was bigger than life!!!)

Onion Bhaji (this reminded me almost of a potato pancake that my mom used to make)

Fried Mussels with Blood Orange Aioli

This was a play on chef's salad with nasturtiums, buttermilk dressing and clementine reduction

Carrot and Orange Soup with Parsley Puree and Serrano Ham Chip (I can't get over how yummy this was… The ham chip with it's saltiness was soooo good dipped into this creamy soup)

Lobster Crudo with Crimson Turnip Cream, Watermelon Radish, Fennel and Compressed Celery

Chicken Terrine Pain Perdu with Mustard Ice Cream (YES I said mustard ice cream… And it was FANTASTIC!!)

Halibut, Gnocchi and I'm not too sure what else.  This was new on the menu so I don't remember everything that was included :(

Duck, Duck Goose.  Duck Ravioli with Duck Mousse and Chard Filing, Smoked Goose Fat and a grating of dehydrated salted duck egg yolk

Abbaya De Belloc (Mustards with Citrus, Semolina Crackers and Cheese which I don't remember the name of)

Cappuchino, I most definitely needed a pick me up after what we just ate!  And to think we just got to the 3 courses of dessert that are on the way!

Homemade Madeline Cookies fresh out of the oven with Salted Carmel Dipping Sauce (OMG!!!!!!!!)

Lemon Curd, Dulcey Creneuz, Yuzu Sorbet, Hempseed (this was like a lemon bar but sooooo much more special)

I don't even know how I was able to eat anymore… But I had to try everything!  And I did!!!!

This is the cutest!!!!  They send you away with this little gift to enjoy later!  Can't wait to enjoy mine!!!

We sat at the chef's counter, I would recommend sitting here if you can.  You basically have a front row seat to watch the Masters at work!

Hope that some of you are able to try this place, it's really worth it!!!  

I can't wait to go back.

XO Drea

Gjelina... Never a disappointment!

http://www.gjelina.com/
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
(310) 450-1429

So in all the years I've lived here, and all the restaurants I've been to Gjelina is still one of my favs!!
Not saying that I don't have so many others that I love, but this place just NEVER let's me down!
I've been for brunch and dinner and EVERYTHING is ALWAYS amazing!
If you have never been I highly recommend you trying it! 
It's a bit on the pricey side, so maybe save it for a special occasion!! 
The pics below are for one of the times my girlfriends and I had brunch.

Blood Orange Mimosa (how can brunch be complete without mimosas!!)

Kumamoto and Shigoku Oysters (these are some of my favorite oysters!  Small and flavorful!)

Housemade Chorizo, Tomato, Cream, Fennel, Chili & Basil (I mean this place has some of the most amazing pizzas!!  I don't think you could go wrong with any choice!!)

I tried to look for this on the menu, but could no longer find it.  It was a sort of creamed corn kind of dish with goat cheese and cilantro.  Like everything else it was AMAZING!

Moroccan Baked Eggs, Merguez, Chili, Tomato Sauce, Cilantro & Spiced Yogurt (do I need to even say anything else?)

Yogurt Panna Cotta & Citrus (I mean you always have to save room for dessert right??  Well I do, and panna cotta is one I literally can't pass up!!!)

Too bad I don't have pics of dinner… But like I said you really can't go wrong!  This is one of my top 10 restaurants for sure!!!

XO Drea

Portland... A little piece of foodie heaven.

So lately I've been traveling up to Portland a lot to visit my family, and while I'm there I love trying out new restaurants and also going back to some of my favorites.

Portland has some really fantastic places to eat, and with my friends and family also loving food, their recommendations are always the BEST!

While on my last trip I decided to create this blog...  So I had to go back to brunch to one of my favorite places my sis Jordan took me to...
If you happen to be up there this is a must try... I've never had dinner, only brunch.  Maybe dinner will be next on my list...

Tasty and Sons

Radicchio with parmesan reggiano vinaigrette

Erin's Sweet Biscuits with blueberry compote & whipped cream (Pretty much the best thing that I've ever had in my life!!!)

Potatoes Bravas with over easy eggs & aioli (the flavors in this dish are beyond words!)

Steak n Eggs with cornmeal pancake & jalapeño butter (yum yum yum!!!)

Fried Egg n Cheddar Biscuit with cured bacon (meh… I wasn't super thrilled with them item)

Chocolate Potato Doughnut with creme anglaise (when I saw this I wasn't too sure about the potato part, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised!!)

Portland I'll see you soon along with all your amazing food!!!