A chance meeting in the checkout line at Erewhon by the Grove, with the owner of Elderberries Café on Sunset Boulevard inspired me to make my first dining out visit of the year the healthiest one I could eat. And not surprisingly one of the more impressive.
Down-home, raw, vegan dedication. That pretty much sums it up.
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Just in time for the holidays and thinking way out of the box Cube Marketplace on La Brea recently added a most unusual seasonal treat to the menu. Fortunately, I happened to spontaneously stop in.
Sitting my sniffly self on a high stool at this local-fare-inspired Italian restaurant & artisan market, amongst my own personal pumpkin, gourd and flower, patch, I admired the imported meats and cheeses on display behind the bar along with a slicing machine nearby, turned on, and ready for work. The ambiance is what gets you right way -- a warm, colorful, comfortable, "hubbub" with intimate cubby holes and tempting fragrances coming from the kitchen. My mission was lunch and I was determined to be adventurous.
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Italians have a slang expression for all things sweet, "Cosu Aruci" (sounds like: cosaruchi). So when it comes to treating myself to a delectable dessert, TiroVino Wine Bar is my sugar baby, intravenous food drip, home away from home!
This Sicilian owned restaurant with a Florentine chef keeps a very small kitchen (darn those LA lease properties!), cooking a little bit of everything Italian and creating the entire menu every day from fresh local farmers' market fare, inside the, just over 6 months old, Melrose location. And the food is as welcoming and colorful as the company. -- Especially after dinner.
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V is for victory and very very good!
While walking on Melrose heading west past Crescent Heights, I was suddenly lifted off my feet like Casper the Friendly ghost, and led by the nose, by a most tantalalizing aroma wafting its way along the avenue, and into a tiny little sandwich nook called V Café and gourmet marketplace. Mulling around with the rest of the succulents stationary at the counter, I salivated as I browsed the menu of sandwich cuisine, salads, shakes, snacks and desserts determined to satisfy my flavor seeking taste buds. And satisfy I did!
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If you've never been to The Griddle Cafe in Hollywood before and you have a raging sweet tooth like me, you'll need to drive over there as soon you finish reading this article. Devoid of any flashy signs or typical Sunset embellishment, this diner-like spot is easily overlooked. It's food alone, however, causes quite a stir. Though they have items like burgers, eggs, and sandwiches, their specialties are the dishes from the “griddle:” pancakes and french toast smothered in sweetness that taste like dessert. Fortunately, I made sure to visit on an empty stomach so I could fully enjoy my mid-day indulgence.
With names like “Red Velvet panCAKE” and “Addicted to Noisella Stuffed French Toast,” I could not make a decision for my meal. I asked the server what he recommended and he blurted out “any of the french toasts – they taste so good it's like that moment on christmas morning when you finally get to open your presents. ” And he was right. I ordered the “Peanut Bubba French Toast” which is described as being “dipped in a peanut butter crunch...as good as it gets!” It comes with 3 huge pieces of bread grilled to perfection (moist and super soft on the inside, crispy on the outside), bits of what taste like graham cracker, whole crunchy peanuts, powdered sugar and a generous serving of fluffy whipped cream. Basically, it's french toast on crack.
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Blimey! Fish & Chips, that’s no big deal! Au contraire mon cher! Because although Melgard Public House owner Michel may be French, he certainly received a very proper English education learning many years in London, the simple secret of preparing this most revered mainstay of English cooking – Beer!!
A must for local British and Irish expats missing home, and a check for everyone else’s “to eat” list, Melgard offers, without a doubt, the best fish and chips I’ve tasted in Los Angeles.
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