koreatown

Coffee Tour: Hollywood and Koreatown

December 23, 2014December 22, 2014Leave a comment

I have been dying to go on a coffee tour of Los Angeles for way too long! I knew I wasn’t going to be able to visit everywhere on my coffee bucket list in one day, so I summoned a couple of friends that I thought could take the caffeine overload and set off to conquer Hollywood and Koreatown!

We started off our day at Alfred Coffee on Melrose. This place is what I imagine heaven to be like: a beautiful layout, a hidden chocolate shop downstairs, and $9 waffle cone macchiatos. Here, we indulged in a traditional latte, iced coffee, and two of the #instafamous waffle cone macchiatos. Proudly brewing Stumptown (like many other coffee shops in the LA area), they set themselves apart by providing us coffee lovers with a true experience from entrance to exit! If you stop by, you MUST go downstairs to Compartes Chocolate shop! It is divine! You are surrounded by the most decadent and flavor-packed chocolate bars! I bought soooo many to use as stocking stuffers and they did not disappoint.

Our next stop was Awesome Coffee. If you have a sweet tooth, this is the place to be! We started off with some liquid nitrogen coffee ice cream. It was rich and creamy with a bold coffee flavor. Next, we enjoyed a classic iced chai tea latte. It wasn’t too spicy, just right. Last, but certainly not least, we shared the ‘Waffogato.’ This was just too good; definitely a fun take on a classic affogato! The ice cream was topped with a belgian waffle and a mini-carafe of espresso to pour on top!

YUM YUM YUM!

Go Get Em Tiger was our next caffeine pitstop. We ordered a Prosciutto Sandwich to share and G&B Milkshakes (because we didn’t get enough sweets at our last stop). The coffee milkshake was strong and not too sweet. I love G&B Coffee in Grand Central Market, so I was excited to visit it’s predecessor. Inside seating is hard to come by, but the Christmas tree in the back was a nice touch!

BrewWell would be my new blogging oasis if I lived closer. There is plenty of parking, seating, and natural light. The lavender cappuccinos and vanilla latte were delicious! The foam to espresso to milk ratio was perfect and the lavender tasted natural, and not at all artificial. I will definitely be back!

At this point, we were all delirious and borderline ill from all of the caffeine that we consumed throughout the afternoon. We needed to eat something, pronto! Don’t think I was going to let the coffee tour end there. We ended our day at Sapp Coffee Shop in Hollywood. A favorite of Jonathan Gold and Anthony Bourdain, this Thai place is in an unsuspecting strip mall and serves some bomb grub! I was the only one brave enough to order a Thai Iced Coffee, but don’t get me wrong, the jitters prevented me from finishing it! For noms, I ordered the Garlic Chicken with Rice and a Fried Egg. This place is a hidden gem, and I will definitely be back!

I’m planning more coffee tours for 2015, so keep a look out for the Westside, DTLA, Long Beach and more!

In Roy Choi We Trust

October 11, 2014October 11, 2014Leave a comment

Between 3 Worlds Cafe, Kogi, Chego, A-Frame, Alibi Room, and Sunny Spot, you would think that Roy Choi would be tired. Whether you have watched recent interviews or have read about his complete take-over at The Line Hotel, you quickly realize that Roy Choi is only getting started in revolutionizing the culinary scene and answering to no one. I fell in love with his other hotel installation, Pot, earlier this year, but haven’t been back during the LA heatwave. Recently, my family and I had the pleasure of indulging in his beautiful greenhouse creation, Commissary.
First of all, the menu is full of fun drawings with very little written guidance. This not only symbolizes Choi’s idea of reinventing basic ingredients (mostly veggies), but also the commitment that diners need to make in order to fully enjoy the experience, TRUST THE CHEF.
We started off with the Eggplant, Figs, Carrots, Bok Choy, and a side of brown rice because I had read a review beforehand suggesting it for the Eggplant dish, as it resembles a Jade Curry. The Eggplant reminds me of a curry dish, a very spicy and very delicious curry dish. The Figs were served with fennel and the restaurant’s signature Rainbow Sauce, consisting of nuts, garlic, and chilies. The sweet and savory combination was perfection. We all ate the Carrots before I could get a photo. The Carrots were roasted and served with the Green Sauce which consists of tomatillo, garlic, and cilantro. I think that this dish was gobbled up so quickly because it looked the most approachable, but we were all surprised by the depth of flavor that was hiding in the Green Sauce. The Bok Choy was served with Green Beans, Garlic, Ginger, Green Onions, Chilies, and a Brown soy sauce. The combo of Bok Choy and Green Beans was deliciously crunchy and the garnishes and chili flakes gave this dish the most asian fusion flair.

My mom ordered the Scallops which were lightly seared and served in the Green garlic sauce. This dish was a huge hit with everyone. Scallops need to be cooked perfectly in order for them to be enjoyed, and these were cooked perfectly.

My dad asked the waitress to surprise him between the Tuna Melt and the French Dip. We were surprised at her choice of the Tuna Melt, until we took a bite. The cheese to tuna ratio was a great balance and the tuna was not at all fishy, but quite rich.

My boyfriend ordered the Burger. After we heard it was a combination of pork and Wagyu beef, how could he not order it?! I was upset that I only got one bite. The garnishes were subtle and the size was not too big, not too small, but just right.

Finally, I had the Schnitzel. The cutlet was juicy and the breading was not too heavy, but had the perfect crunch to it. Served with mustard, horseradish, and topped with fresh arugula, it was definitely a different take on schnitzel, but I absolutely loved it!

Our meal was definitely a crowd-pleaser. My parents and boyfriend can’t wait to come back to try more of the dishes and cocktails!
Do yourself a favor, grab a drink from the bar downstairs, grab another drink when you get to Commissary, order delicious veggies and entrees, and grab a dessert at the caFe in the lobby, and you will have had the perfect evening.

Commissary is now open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. For more information or to make a reservation, visit http://www.eatatpot.com/#home

*Top Photo from Eater.com

Whiskey, Cigars, and Jazz at Lock and Key

May 15, 2014May 20, 2014Leave a comment

Last night, I attended a Whiskey Tasting at Lock and Key in Koreatown. Upon pulling up to Lock and Key, the lack of signage makes you question that you’re in the right place, but the glowing logo confirms that it’s safe to enter the distinct red door. Upon entering, you are greeted by a hostess in a dark room and at least 500 unique doorknobs. You don’t know which doorknob opens to the bar, so there the quest begins. It doesn’t take long for her to point us in the right direction. It is a cool space with dim-lighting and a long bar. We walked to the back patio where the tasting was being held. We were greeted by a friendly staff and a beautiful outside bar. The setting was definitely a pleasant surprise considering its location.

Now, onto the tasting. Most of the selection involved Scotch, not my favorite, but I adapted. The first 3 pours were an interesting selection. The first, No. 3 London Dry Gin to cleanse the palate, was one of my favorites. I enjoy gin and this one tasted crisp and pine-y, almost like Christmas. Next, we tasted The Glenrothes Alba Reserve, one of my boyfriend’s favorites of the evening. With heavy vanilla tasting notes, it was a good introduction to what the evening had in store. My favorite, The Glenrothes 2001, was the last of the first phase of the tasting. I found it to be very drinkable tasting a subtle hints of black cherry and vanilla. During a short break, we were encouraged to enjoy a Hand Rolled Cigar by Naranjo Cigars and the live Jazz performance. The second phase of tastings began with the Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt aged 12 years. With notes of jam, herbs, and vanilla, it was my first run-in with Japanese whiskey. The next was Single Malt Yoichi aged 15 years. Another favorite of mine, I was surprised I enjoyed the nutty flavor and bittersweet finish. Last, but not least, we enjoyed The Glenrothes Select Reserve. After tasting a couple of selections from The Glenrothes, the notes seemed familiar, as if we had come full circle. After the tasting concluded, we were surprised with a cocktail of the mixoligist’s choice. We were given an Old Fashioned featuring the Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt. The sweetness of the whiskey complimented the sugar in the cocktail perfectly, and it was quite enjoyable with my mild cigar.

All in all, I consider the evening a success. We enjoyed the tasting and look forward to returning to Lock and Key to enjoy a summer evening on the back patio with friends.