DineLA

My best run yet! I was determined to take advantage of dineLA this year! I couldn't be happier with my meals~ I especially enjoyed sharing them with such lovely company! I really do believe food taste 1000 x's better in the company of good friends, great conversation, and lots of laughter... 

Fig & Olive

8490 Melrose Place

West Hollywood, CA 90069

Mediterranean

They had a huge selection of olive oils displayed along their walls.
Some peppery, some light, some herbaceous.

Rossellini
Passion Fruit Vodka, freshly squeezed blood orange juice, and fresh lime juice~ 

Piscine
A classic drink from the South of France.
Sparkling wine served on ice with fresh strawberries.

Northern Italian mushroom & truffle soup
Cremini mushroom soup, garlic, onion, thyme and White Truffle Olive Oil
I loved how the soup was a bit chunky & packed with flavor!

Zucchini Carpaccio
Topped with Picholine Olive Oil, lemon pine nut, and parmesan.
It's a very simple dish, but so complex in taste!
We thoroughly enjoyed this plate~

Grilled Steak Skewers and Couscous
Grilled steak on rosemary skewers, bell pepper, and greek yogurt on the side.
Couscous with fig, red onion, scallion, tomato, and Koroneiki olive oil

Poulet aux Legumes de Provence
Free range organic chicken breast, grilled zucchini, eggplant, heirloom tomato,
Cipollini onion, roasted fig, parmesan, polenta, marinated red bell pepper, Mission Olive Oil.
I didn't care for the polenta, but the chicken was sooo juicy and well seasoned!

Crostini
Amarena Cherry, mascarpone, pistachio on shortbread with micro-basil
SOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!

 We also had the chocolate pot de creme, but I must've forgotten to take a picture!

Made with crunchy praline financiers and vanilla cream. It tasted like a thick chocolate pudding... not to overpowering, but just right!

Cucumber Cosmo
Vodka, St. Germain, fresh cucumber puree, & lime juice.
A very refreshing drink!!

This place received some cool press!
http://la.popsugar.com/Obama-Dinner-Fig-Olive-LA-Pictures-19235482

Bouchon

235 N. Canon Drive

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

French

White bean puree with toasted baguettes

Soup de Jour
Butternut squash topped with creme fraiche

Huitres- 1/2 dozen oysters
I forget exactly where these were from, but they were insanely delicious!!
Served with mignonette and cocktail sauce

Gnocchi a la Parisienne
Sauteed gnocchi with a fricassee of garden vegetables and beurre noisette
Lately, I've been all about gnocchi!!! gnocchi, gnocchi, gnocchi!!!

Poitrine de Porc
Crispy pork belly with butternut squash and forest mushroom risotto.
I died in my seat after tasting this dish...
The gnocchi even tasted better after I dunked it into this sauce haha

Bouchon
Valrhona chocolate brownies with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream.
A bit conventional, but decadent and perfectly made.

Pot de Creme
Passion fruit infused custard with a coconut glaze and vanilla shortbread cookies
I loved this one!!!!

Scarpetta

225 N. Canon Drive

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Italian, Seafood

(Sorry for the low quality pictures! Taken with my droid.)

Various spreads for bread.
mascarpone butter, olive oil, and eggplant caponata (my fav!!!)

Puree of Eggplant Soup
Sicilian spiced lamb ragu, baby tomatoes, and ricotta dumplings.

Creamy Polenta
Fricassee of truffled mushrooms

Organic Roasted Chicken
Kabocha squash puree, caramelized cabbage, fegato and parmigiano emulsion
All the flavors mixed so well together!

Short Rib Agnolotti
Garlic chips, toasted breadcrumbs, and horseradish
The concept was interesting, but it was a bit too sweet in taste.

Vanilla Caramel Budino
Gianduja chocolate sable cookies
This easily tickled me happy! =)

Chocolate Cake
Burnt orange-caramel gelato and espresso sauce.

Yes, this was right next door to Bouchon! This whole area is filled with great establishments (i.e., Spago, Mastro's, Il Fornaio, Ruth's Chris etc)

Speaking of Mastro's (aside from dineLA), I must expose some highlights of a recent meal! It was my mother's birthday not too long ago and what better way to celebrate a fabulous, over-worked, inspirational, MEAT-LOVING mother than to feed her steak! It was a ridiculously great dining experience!!! She looooved the tender meat, but I honestly didn't care much for it (yes, even though it's their specialty =T)... I did, however, thoroughly enjoy the lobster mashed potatoes (sorry, I wasn't able to take any decent pictures this evening)....

Alaskan King Crab Black Truffle Gnocchi
gnocchi, gnocchi, gnocchi!!! lol

and of course, their homemade profiteroles!!!!
Vanilla bean ice cream sandwiched between a choux pastry ball drizzled with chocolate
THIS WAS MY ALLLL TIME FAVORITE!!! yom!