The Divine Dish

Whiskey Wednesday’s at the Next Door Lounge

Posted on Mar 03, 2012 under Uncategorized | No Comment

The Next Door Lounge would be an appropriate setting for the gangsters from the Prohibition era when speak-easies were the unlawful bars that sprang up across America.

It’s not really clear whether the owner’s want you to know it’s there.  Don’t look for a sign, there isn’t one but there is a big key on the door and a doorman at the valet stand asking you for the secret password.

I, along with my friend Dalbert, visited the new 1920’s inspired bar and lounge to participate in one of their new “Whiskey Wednesday’s” tastings.  Each Wednesday until April 11, a different collection of whiskey and scotch can be sampled.  During the samplings, a particular spirit genre is showcased and explained.  Flights of four pours are offered from some of the world’s most prominent distilleries including Bulleit Rye, Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal and Buchanans.

We entered through a velvet curtain to find a bunch of living room vignette seating areas with oversized leather couches, high back chairs and antique cocktail tables.   A black and white film with subtitles projected along the dining room wall and diners sampled cocktails and small bites on two large communal dining tables.

We were seated at one of the long tables for our tasting.  We attended the North American Whiskey sampling, including Bulleit Bourbon, Bulleit Rye George Dickel and Crown Royal Cask.  Each week varies with other tastings focusing on Blended Scotches, Whiskey’s of the World and Single Malt Scotches.

Our tasting and pouring guide Natalie informed us that although many believe that you shouldn’t mix whiskey with water, adding H20 actually enhances the flavor of whiskey.  So we tried all flights first straight up and then with water.

She also informed us to keep the whiskey on our tongue for the number of seconds that each whiskey took to produce (10 year whiskey, don’t swallow for 10 seconds) to maximize the flavor of the spirit.

Our first sample was the Bulleit Bourbon, our fave of the night, a sweet 28% rye whiskey (rest is corn) with hints of vanilla.

Next came the Bulleit Rye, our least fave of the four, 95% rye very strong, spicy and peppery.

Third was the George Dickel smooth Tennessee Whiskey with a piney woody taste.

Last was Crown Royal Cask, a Canadian whiskey blend aged in Cognac barrels.  This was the least strong and was our second fave of the night.

After the tasting, our group was able to enjoy a special cocktail created from each taster’s favorite scotch or whiskey.  We also enjoyed South of the Border pizza – with grilled chicken, corn, green pepper, red onion, mozzarella, avocado and chipotle aioli and steak and arugula pizza with steak, arugula, herbs, sour cream and horseradish.

We learned a lot about whiskey and scotch and got to sample a nice flight.  I highly recommend visiting the Next Door Lounge for a step into the past, and a damn good cocktail, the next time you are in the Hollywood area.  Whiskey Wednesday’s are $30, every Wednesday until April 11, call 323/465-5505 for reservations, located at 1154 North Highland in Hollywood.

Dinner at Sadie, Hollywood

Posted on Feb 08, 2012 under Uncategorized | No Comment

 

Once home to one of Hollywood’s hottest nightclubs (Les Deux), the new Sadie on Las Palmas is a chic and trendy restaurant.

 

 

Guests can choose from two indoor spaces, a parlour and lounge featuring a glass enclosed wine closet, exposed brick, big luxurious banquettes around a large square mahogany bar and a romantic courtyard outdoor dining area with communal hard wood tables, a retractable roof and a dozen oversized heaters to keep the ambiance cozy.

 I visited with my friend Nicole  last week just after Sadie’s soft opening.  At 8pm, the outside patio area was filled to capacity and the inside lounge was also busy with diners enjoying specialty cocktails and waiting for their tables.  Under the reins of Chef Dave Schmit, Sadie offers New American cuisine.  Mixologist Giovanni Martinez pours experimental drinks as well as classics.   Here is what we sampled:

 

 

 We started off with a few specialty cocktails and then out came our apps, a whole leaf Caesar salad with baby romaine, shaved egg and parmesan croutons and a large roasted mushroom flatbread with wild mushrooms, goat cheese and white truffle oil.

 

 

Chef Schmit also sent out a crispy duck confit salad with frisee, pistachios and a blackberry gastric.  Nicole’s pick of the night.

 

I choose a Scottish salmon with broccolini, leeks and peas topped with a herb butter for my main course.  Nicole had the dry aged prime top sirloin over a shallot puree with roasted artichoke and thyme jus.  Both dishes were cooked perfectly.

 

 

Chef Schmit also sent us some sides, sweet carrots with maple and dill and roasted red potatoes with chimichurri sauce (my fave of the night).

 

 

For dessert we sampled the black and white cake, a warm flourless dark chocolate cake with white chocolate ice cream and the house specialty – homemade donuts and Irish cream coffee.   

 

Sadie is a great place to catch a drink or enjoy  a romantic dinner in the courtyard area.  Located at 1638 N. Las Palmas in Hollywood, 323/467-0200 for reservations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner at Spago, Las Vegas

Posted on Nov 13, 2011 under Uncategorized | No Comment

A decade or so ago, Vegas was known for the 99-cent cocktail and the $1.99 steak and eggs. For many years, it was gospel that money could buy you anything in Las Vegas but a good meal. But in the roaring ’80s, Sin City went upscale, with restaurants run by famous chefs. The city transformed itself from a food dead zone to what is today touted as “America’s next great culinary city.” Led by chef-to-the-stars Wolfgang Puck, who brought a version of his see-and-be-seen Hollywood restaurant Spago to Las Vegas in 1992, an army of Food Network/celebrity chefs have opened outposts. Today, Las Vegas is now as much a destination for serious foodies as for gamblers.

On my last press trip to Sin City, I was lucky to be able to dine at Wolfgang Puck’s signature eatery.   The modern brown and beige toned restaurant features American cuisine with global accents.    Guests can choose to dine in the elegant open main dining room or on the patio cafe overlooking the crowd at The Forum Shops.

The menu changes daily.  Here is what I, and my guest Ernesto, sampled.

Bread is baked daily in the Spago kitchens, and is accompanied by rosemary infused olive oil, butter, salt and pepper.

Chef Erik Klein sent out a nice selection of flatbreads for us to nibble on before our appetizers.

We chose seafood appetizers – a seafood medley with crab, lobster, oysters and shrimp and a symphony of tuna.  Lucky for me Ernesto doesn’t eat oysters so I got to gobble up all of them.  The crab was the best I have ever had.  The tuna was served four different ways – with avocado, radish and Yuzu wasabi, in a watercress salad with lychee, chive and lemon; on a crispy rice cake with marinated cucumber and hearts of palm, and in a tuile taco with a chili mango sauce topped with masago caviar.  All were delicious.

The trio of tuna plate was a beautiful plate.  We stared at it for a while before digging in.

We also both choose to order beef for our main courses.   I had red wine braised short ribs, Ernesto opted for the mesquite grilled prime filet mignon.  Both excellent.

My short rib came with caramelized shallots, leeks, and tomatoes over hand made ricotta gnocchi, served with homemade horseradish.  Very satisfying and delicious.

Ernesto’s filet mignon came with sweet and sour red onions, celery, watercress, asparagus and bone marrow crushed fingerling potatoes.

Desserts are also outstanding.  I chose the S’more’s, a combination of chocolate beignets with marshmallow filling, graham cracker sugar, and milk chocolate ice cream.

Ernesto chose the Grand Marnier Eskimo Pie, served with citrus glazed pears and chocolate crispies.

Located in the heart of the Strip at The Forum Shops in Caesar’s Palace, Spago Las Vegas is a great place to catch a quick bite or linger over a superb dinner.   Reservations can be made through the SmarterVegas website at www.smartervegas.com.

Dinner at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Paris Resort, Las Vegas

Posted on Jul 29, 2011 under Uncategorized | No Comment

I recently visited the beautiful Paris Resort for a story I was writing for travelhoppers.com.  I was lucky enough to be able to dine at their famous Eiffel Tower restaurant.  Located on the 11th floor of the Eiffel Tower replica, Chef Jean Joho’s restaurant offers outstanding French cuisine with great views of the Bellagio fountains and Las Vegas Strip.    Guests take a glass elevator to the restaurant which opens in the kitchen area and are then escorted to the dining room which features metal framework of the structure and wrap around windows providing stunning views.

We were seated at the side corner table offering sweeping views of the Bellagio.  This is the best seat in the house as diners can view the sunset and spectacular fountain shows throughout the meal.

We started with a refreshing asparagus soup.

Next came a nice crab, beef and mushroom set of amuse.

I got the lobster and pea salad and my friend Sheila got the summer greens salad.  Mine was full of sweet lobster meat and Sheila’s comprised of baby greens and shaved beets in a banyus vinaigrette, the best salad dressing either of us have ever tasted.

I had a main course of roasted bacon wrapped monkfish with fennel fingerling potatoes.

Sheila had the olive oil poached halibut with tomato basil sauce.  Both dishes were moist and flavorful.

We also were served potato croquettes and asparagus with brown butter.

Next came dessert, a fabulous plate of assorted gelato and berries, including a sour cream flavored gelato which was our fave.

We also had a chocolate souffle and a creme brulee.

As we dined, the view changed as the sun set on Sin City.

The Eiffel Tower restaurant provides one of the best views of the Strip as well as outstanding French dishes.  It is a perfect spot for a romantic date, proposal, anniversary or just a special night out.

Reservations strongly advised.  Located at Paris Resort, 3655 South Las Vegas Boulevard, open Monday through Thursday 5:30 to 10:30 pm, Friday through Sunday, 5:00 to 11:00 pm, call 702/948-6937 for reservations.