dessert – Page 2

Playing at the Packing House

June 25, 2014June 24, 2014Leave a comment

I finally made it to the Anaheim Packing District! I was out of town for the grand opening on May 31, and have been wanting to visit ever since. Luckily, I had a Friday off of work, so I made lunch plans with my dad to visit the new marketplace. I knew I wanted my first time there to be on a weekday, because weekdays would be so crazy since it is so new. Well, the joke was on me because it was still PACKED! To preface, I will be updating this post, once I visit again later this summer, as not everything is open yet. However, I did very much enjoy the merchants that were available.

The layout of the entire Packing District is very interesting. The parking is a bit confusing and there is an entire strip of grass in between the Packing House, where all of the merchants are located, and the Packard Building, which houses the Anaheim Brewery Tasting Room and an Umami Burger. Currently, the grass area offers a Farmer’s Market on Sundays from 10AM-2PM.
Upon walking in to the Packing House, you are greeted with a beautiful contemporary rustic decor complete with light wood and white accents throughout. Each merchant runs into the next with very little seating dedicated exclusively to that merchant, which I liked. I liked that I could grab food from multiple places and sit wherever I wanted without feeling like I was bringing outside food into another establishment’s territory. After a quick walk around, we noticed that at least 5 merchants are not open yet, but there was still enough options to choose from without being disappointed. We ordered food from The Kroft and The Chippy Fish and Grill. I wanted to try everything on The Kroft menu, but settled for the Short Rib Sandwich and Jalapeno coleslaw. The sandwich was a good size for us to share and the meat was perfectly braised and very juicy. Along with the sandwich, the coleslaw tasted fresh and crisp with just the right amount of kick.

After that, we enjoyed the 3 piece and chips special and an order of Calamari Rings from The Chippy. The batter on the fish and calamari was light, but crunchy, and the quality of fish was superb.

Along with our meal, I enjoyed a lovely mocha from Cafecito Organico. It was the perfect balance of bittersweet cacao, whole milk, and light foam.

Next, we enjoyed the Popbar for dessert. This popsicle bar is the best dessert concept I have seen in a while. It is original, fun, and they have something for everyone. With yogurt, sorbet, and gelato based options, you are able to top any flavor with drizzles or chunky toppings. I chose the coffee with small hazelnut chunks and my dad chose the chocolate covered banana. We both enjoyed our popsicles and they tasted exactly what they were supposed to taste like.

Unfortunately, we were too full to try some of the other merchants, but the Black Sheep Grilled Cheese Bar will be my first stop when I come back. The menu looked so unique and delicious!

I can’t pick a favorite part of our visit because everything was enjoyable. I can’t wait to return to try the other merchants that have yet to open. This is a wonderful new addition to Anaheim and won’t be a hidden gem for much longer.
For more information, visit http://anaheimpackingdistrict.com/

Spring 2014 at Fifty Seven: Chef David Nayfeld

June 5, 2014June 4, 20141 Comment

Opened in late March, Fifty Seven took over the Heinz ’57 loading dock in the Arts District. Their concept revolves around a rotating roster of chefs that will take over the restaurant for a season to showcase their style and unique menu.
I had the pleasure of dining there last Sunday during Chef David Nayfeld‘s turn as Chef in Residence serving, what Fifty Seven described as, Progressive American cuisine. Once you hand over your car to the valet, the first thing you notice is the unique location and space. The copper and exposed brick throughout the restaurant is aesthetically pleasing and seems like it will transition well as the chefs and cuisine change with the seasons.

My dining companion and I opted for the Prix Fixe menu in which you could choose a Starter, Main, and a Dessert for $48. The first thing you notice is that all of the dishes are beautiful. I felt like I had a work of art in front of me, not food. I will be honest with you, the starters were kind of lost on me. While they were delicious, the separation and presentation of the various vegetables, dressings, and accoutrement were a bit overwhelming.
Next, I enjoyed the Heritage Pork served with Spatzle, mustard, beet, and apple. This main course was wonderful. If I could eat spatzle every day of my life, I would. I had only ever had savory spatzle at Suppenkuche in San Francisco, but this offered an entirely different take. The apple, cinnamon, and brown sugar complimented the pork beautifully.
Lastly, we enjoyed the Chocolate and Meyer Lemon desserts. The Chocolate came with salted caramel, wild rice, and Laphroaig 10 year, a single malt Scotch whisky. The consistency was that of a flourless chocolate cake; every bite was smooth and delicious. The Meyer Lemon offered a completely different take on dessert. The lemon and ricotta cake was extremely tart and served with a distinct basil sauce. Alone, the basil was strong on the palate, but with the cake, it provided a balanced and crisp flavor combination.

I felt honored to experience a menu curated by Chef David Nayfeld. He served as senior sous chef at Eleven Madison Park for 3 years. In his time there, the restaurant received three Michelin stars and six James Beard awards. Up to this point, I have only experienced the elevated New York dining scene by watching food related television shows or movies. Enjoying Chef Nayfeld’s dishes made me feel like I was dining at a dimly lit private table on Madison Avenue.

Chef Nayfeld concluded his time at Fifty Seven on June 4th. Chef Josh Drew will be stepping in as the next Chef in Residence at Fifty Seven starting tonight. This menu is said to focus on local seafood, meat, and produce with the summer season as the underlying tone for the dishes. It will be interesting to see how the decor and staff hold up in the midst of the seasonal shake-ups.

Don’t miss Chef Josh Drew while he is at Fifty Seven. Make your reservations, here.

*photos from Fifty Seven

Paella Sunday at smoke.oil.salt

May 20, 2014May 22, 2014Leave a comment

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of dining with a good friend whom I hadn’t seen in a very long time. We decided to go to smoke.oil.salt on Melrose for their Prix Fixe Paella Sunday Menu. This menu includes a rotating menu featuring regular menu items and exclusive dishes with a choice of a starter, a medium plate, choice of a paella (meat, seafood, or vegetarian) to share, and a choice of dessert.

We started by ordering wine flights to pair with our meal. I ordered the Red Flight while my dining counterpart ordered the Sherry Flight. Both were suggested by our very attentive and knowledgeable server.
The first dish to come out was the chilled gazpacho. It was a great starter to the meal, as the portion was very small and the flavors were subtle and crisp.

Next, we enjoyed the Flori-col Amb Allets. In other words, the most delicious caramelized cauliflower and broccoli of my life. The other medium dish we ordered was the Braves Trencades, which was both of our favorites. It consists of fried potatoes, serrano ham, chorizo, and a fried egg on top. It was absolute heaven.

The star of the show was the Meat Paella. Our options were limited in choosing the paella. I am allergic to shrimp, so that eliminated the Seafood option, and I refuse to order anything that has the word ‘vegetarian’ in the title. The rabbit was cooked perfectly and the Rosemary provided depth to the dish. I liked that it wasn’t rice heavy; it allowed the other ingredients to stand out.

For dessert, we ordered both options, the Chocolate Pate and the Almond Cake. I knew I would love the Chocolate Pate, and boy was I correct! The consistency resembled a flourless chocolate cake and the salted caramel dollops were perfect in size and provided just a bite of savory to the dish. Surprisingly, I also loved the almond cake. I am not the biggest nut fan in the world, but I have an open mind. The jam was the perfect topping for the cake and definitely helped balanced the nutty flavor.

I can’t wait to return with my mom, so she can have the Seafood Paella all to herself. Paella Sundays are the perfect way to end your weekend. The portions are perfect, the food is awesome, and the price is fantastic. I recommend coming with someone who is willing to share, as the Prix Fixe menu has 2-3 options per section. With Perfecto Rocher in the kitchen, you know your tastebuds are going to get a proper tour of Spain. This is a great addition to the already bustling Melrose.