The Divine Dish

Dinner at Cafe La Boheme

Cafe La Boheme

Cafe La Boheme

Last night, I visited Cafe La Boheme to dine and get some info for a new iphone app I am writing on LA dining.  The newly redesigned interior is mesmerizing, opulent and comfortable.  The restaurant houses five grand chandeliers suspended from the high wooden plank ceiling into the dining space below with two huge open fireplaces.  Seating is in three spots, the crimson colored dining room, upstairs in cozy balcony tables overlooking the action below, or outside in the lush patio.  My friend Dalbert and I opted for the dining room seating which was decked out in Halloween decor.

vegetable spring roll starter

We started with an amuse of a crispy vegetable spring roll.  Next came appetizers, Dalbert ordered the Maryland crab cakes with a sauteed corn salad and spicy remoulade.  I had the tuna tataki, a beautiful tower of tuna tartare, avocado, cucumber and wasabi mayonaisse.  Both were delicious.

Maryland crab cakes

Tuna Tataki

We both ordered the special filet mignon with whiskey peppercorn sauce and horseradish mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus for our entrees.   It was the special of the night and hard to resist.

filet with whiskey sauce

We also had a really nice bottle of La Crema pinot noir to go with our steaks, which paired perfectly.

Dalbert and me at Cafe La Boheme

We were forced to get dessert, well… not really forced but the choices looked so good that we had to order something.  I opted for the vanilla creme brulee with berries and Dalbert got the savory chocolate chip bread pudding.  Both were sweet and yummy.

chocolate chip bread pudding

vanilla creme brulee with berries

If you find yourself in WeHo and want a great meal with an intimate ornate setting, make a reservation at Cafe La Boheme.  Located at 8400 Santa Monica Boulevard, reservations recommended at 323.848.2360

Dinner at Bella Vista, Westin Mission Hills Resort and Spa

Strip steak

Last weekend I travelled out to Palm Springs to finish a pet friendly Palm Springs article and checked into the Westin Mission Hills resort and Spa.   Set on 360 acres in Rancho Mirage, the property houses 472 guest rooms all offering their signature Heavenly Bed and private patios.    The property is surrounded by pools, waterfalls and lush gardens with rooms arranged in a series of two-story bedrooms (beware, check into a second level room if you can as I had to move rooms because of the upstairs noise).   In addition to their championship golf courses, they offer a running track, bike trails, tennis courts, lots of pools, lawn games and an expansive spa.  My friend Paul met me for dinner at their  Bella Vista restaurant.  Here is what we had:

Crab cake amuse

We started with a amuse from the chef – a baby crab cake topped with a slice of tomato.  Next came starters – mushroom artichoke heart risotto for me and clams and scallops for Paul.

clams and scallops

mushroom artichoke heart risotto

Paul had the striped bass and I opted for the strip steak, both were very good.  The real star at the restaurant is the view, overlooking the many water features and towering mountains.  A perfect place to watch the sunset in the desert.

grilled stripe bass

Strip steak

Paul and me enjoying a drink

After our main courses, we ordered desserts of carrot cake and rice pudding.

carrot cake

rice pudding

If you are in the desert area, it’s worth a visit during sunset to stop in for dinner or a drink on the patio.

Bella Vista is located at 7133 Dinah Shore Drive, rancho Mirage, CA, 760/328-5955.

Dinner at JAR

JAR restaurant

Last weekend after visiting Campanile, I headed out the next night for dinner at Mark Peel’s other restaurant (with co-owner chef Suzanne Tracht) JAR.  I had heard great things about the eatery for a long time and decided to try it out.

It is one of LA’s best for dishing up familiar comforting food.  The minamilist decor of browns and pastel green and yellows with orange hanging globe track lights creates a romantic retro-modish ambiance, where steaks and chops are featured heavily on the menu.   The crab deviled eggs, juicy pot roast, lemongrass chicken and marinated skirt steak are served with creamed spinach, duck fried rice, and mashed potato sides.  Desserts are also delicious, with chocolate mousse, banana cream pie and other faves to choose from.  Here is what we sampled, all fabulous.

Lobster tomato soup

we started with the special appetizer, the lobster tomato soup, rich in lobster flavor but light because it has no cream.   Very tasty.

crab deviled eggs

I love deviled eggs, so these crab deviled eggs were a real treat.  My fave of the night.

Butter lettuce salad

The butter lettuce salad was served with radishes, parmesan and a tangy lemon garlic vinaigrette.

Lemongrass chicken

Our main courses were the lemongrass chicken with kaffir lime leaf sauce, very good, and the marinated skirt steak (which comes with a side sauce, choices include bearnaise, lobster bearnaise, tamarind, peppercorn and creamy horseradish).  I had the lobster bearnaise sauce.

Strip steak

lobster bearnaise sauce

We also ordered some great side items, mashed potatoes and a medley of roasted mushrooms.  Both paired perfectly with our dishes.

mashed potatoes

mushrooms

We ended the meal with a mouth watering chocolate mousse (my favorite dessert).  If you crave your grandma’s classic comfort food but can’t cook it or get to nanna’s house, head to JAR for some tasty home cooked fare.  JAR is located at 8225 Beverly Boulevard, call 323-655-6566 for reservations.

chocolate mousse

Dinner at Campanile

Campanile restaurant

Last weekend I visited Mark Peel’s Campanile restaurant for two reasons, to review it for an upcoming iphone application I am working on and for a birthday celebration for my friend Mario (and me, we share the same birthday).  Opened in 1989 in a building from the early 20th century designed for Charlie Chaplin, Peel’s Campanile is reminiscent of a Mediterranean village.

Divided into three sections, the front section is an open patio with a tiled fountain and glass atrium ceiling, the middle section has stone walls, a bell tower and gothic arches with seating looking into the open kitchen, and a romantic backroom for more intimate dining.  Here is what we sampled on our visit:

Lobster salad

We started with a lovely amuse lobster salad from the chef.  Big chunks of lobster so everyone was happy.

Braised Short Rib

I had the braised short rib with horseradish sauce.  Huge and delicious.

Halibut with braised fennel

Mario and John had the grilled Alaskan halibut with braised fennel, tomato confit and spinach.  I had a few bites, also very yummy with a lovely sauce.

Mashed potatoes with shallot creme fraiche

For sides we shared the mashed potatoes with shallot creme fraiche and the braised leeks with feta cheese.

Leeks and feta

For dessert we shared the flourless chocolate cake (my fave) and a delicious apple and strawberry crisp.

strawberry apple crisp

flourless chocolate cake

Mario and John at Campanile

the Italian and French inspired menu changes often, and everything on it is delicious and homey, so anytime is a great time to dine at Campanile.  Also, they have a fantastic brunch.

This Monday, a special book signing and dinner is being held at the restaurant.   Chef Mark Peel’s new book, “Classic Family Dinners” will be sold and signed by Peel, with a great dinner menu of grilled squid, potato and asparagus salad, leeks vinaigrette, or Waldorf salad for appetizer (diners can choose one option), giant ravioli with spinach, ricotta and egg yolk, cornmeal crusted pan fried trout, or pot pie (again, one choice), and chocolate pudding, apple cobbler or roasted figs with vanilla ice cream for dessert.  The cost is only $39, a great deal, and reservations are a must.

Campanile is located at 624 South La Brea, call 323.938.1447 for reservations.  Signing event starts at 6pm.