TASTE IT LA: Breakfast at Louie's - Bottega Louie DTLA

TASTE IT LA: BOTTEGA LOUIE - DTLA; BREAKFAST



Poached Egg Toast Tower
Country Ham Steak & Latkes; 
Herbal tea and freshly juiced honeydew melon & arugula.

Good morning!!!
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes I mumble something unintelligible about Intelligentsia and fumble for my keys.  I need simple, amazing ...something, asap.  And a (large non-fat) Intelligentsia Cappuccino NOW.  
Back to Bottega. 



Its hard to mess up a simple 3 min poached egg, (you think,) yet it's difficult to find a restaurant with such repetitive poached perfection when searching for a local breakfast spot to frequent.  




Oh Louies, with your perfectly poached persistence,  you do love me.

Bottega Louie 

700 South Grand 

DTLA - 90017

TASTE IT LA: BEST INDIAN FOOD IN LA - AGRA INDIAN; VENICE

TASTE IT LA: 

AGRA INDIAN KITCHEN; Venice

Still the BEST INDIAN FOOD I've had IN LA.

*Please send me challengers.

Agra Indian Kitchen

2553 Lincoln Blvd

Venice 90291

Check out more of my Agra favorites after the jump...

TASTE IT LA: Bottega Louie's Daily Desserts - DTLA

TASTE IT LA: Bottega Louie DTLA

DAILY DESSERTS

ANY OF THEM.

Yup.

*Show up early before they start to sell out in the early afternoon!

Bottega Louie

700 S. Grand  

DTLA - 90017

TASTE IT LA: MAIL ORDER VALENTINE - Stay Calm Cupcake Shop

photo: Etsy-with Love

photo: Etsy

TASTE IT LA: 
Stay Calm Cupcake Shop; 
Handling Life One Cupcake at a Time


For that special mail order someone you can't be with this Valentine's day try sending some love via post.

photo: Etsy

Stay Calm Cupcakes ships your freshly baked, made-to-order cupcake choices across the U.S. offering a wide variety of cupcake kits and cupcake jars.

photo: Etsy

Stay Calm Cupcakes, FL; 

Etsy Online Shop

photo: Etsy

TASTE IT LA: SOTTO - WLA

TASTE IT LA: SOTTO's house made pasta.

Casarecce; braised lamb ragu, egg & pecorino.  Heavenly, savory perfection.  This plate had (all) my attention with the Chef's complex-simplification of such potent flavors.  (Runner up: Octopus!)




Reclaimed wood and exposed light bulbs line the cozy basement eatery of chefs Steve Samson and Zach Pollack.  Sotto's wine list features both Italian and California wines and they offer hard to find Italian liqueurs that pair easily with your choice of small, medium or large offerings of Southern Italian style plates, homemade pastas or rustic, artisan wood-fire pizzas.  


Sotto Los Angeles Honorable mentions - (there are many;)
Small Plate Picks: 
Marinated olives or their Pannelle; chickpea fritter, lemon & ragusano.
Medium Plate Picks: 
Spicy Clams in guazzetto or Tomato Braised Octopus ai ferri. 
Large Plate Picks:
Whole grilled Orata or the Devil's Gulch fennel crusted Pork Chop. 
Wood burning artisan PIZZA:
Estiva with tiny tomatoes, Castelvetrano Olives, anchovy, ricotta and arugala (heaven for those with a defined palate) or the Campagnola sunchokes, fennel, mozzarella, marjoram & house cured Lardo.



Dessert:
Sheep's milk yogurt panna cotta 






*Try not to crave Sotto too early in the week; they are closed on Mondays (to my dismay.)

 Sotto Los Angeles 

9575 W. Pico Blvd

WLA - 90035

TASTE IT LA: FOOD - Cafe & Market - WLA

TASTE IT LA: FOOD Cafe & Market - WLA

A friend, (we'll call her Alice,) of mine was telling me about her last lavish experience @ Spa Intercontinental and bragging about her next appointment (I have to try it before their 50% off Jettsetter Special ends this Wednesday) and she inquired as to where she could get something amazing so early in the morning to kick off her spa day.  Excellent question Alice! (I exclaimed.) Why not pamper your insides as well?!


Food: Cafe, Market & Catering;  the masterful lifelong dream of Judy Ornstein.  


Everything about Food is simple and amazing (and their location is conveniently located not too far from the Spa just down Pico.)


Their menu consists of distinct staples and rotating menu options per their chef; and they open @ 7am offering "morningfood" for the early (spa) birds and delicious lunch options for the party people just crawling out of bed.  


Daily rotating specials often include fresh variations on buttermilk pancakes and breakfast scrambles, per the daily farmers market provisions.  If you're going to stick with their 'house menu' try the Morning Food Sandwich, a decadent and filling bacon, egg and marinara-potato masterpiece, or the Steel Cut Oatmeal with brown sugar, dried fruit and caramelized banana.


Order at the counter, seat yourself, relax and wait for something amazing.

Food 

10571 Pico Blvd 

WLA 90064

TASTE IT LA: CBG - California Burrito Grill - Korea Town

TASTE IT LA: CBG California Burrito Grill - Korea Town

Bigger.  Better.  Burritos. 

And.  It's.  True. 


TASTE IT LA: CURRENT SPECIAL!!! 

CBG in Korea Town IS NOW CELEBRATING THEIR 1st YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!  SPEND OVER $8 AND SPIN THEIR FREEBIE-CBG-WHEEL TO WIN COUPONS FOR FREE FOOD & DRINKS FOR FOR YOUR NEXT VISIT!!!  

(*Last I checked this was only going to be VALID THROUGH JAN 31st so get there soon!)

Korean BBQ abounds in KTLA but when in your in the mood for something that doesn't include banchan; CBG fills the void in your rumbling stomach. 

Savory specials like Chipolte Chicken and Birria rotate on their menu by their resident chef.  Their avocado and pico de gallo is made fresh daily; and this is one of the few local places you can find Habanero Hot Sauce ...if you think you can handle it. 

By the time my black bean, cilantro-lime rice, chipotle chicken burrito had made it down the assembly line to be smothered in habanero sauce, it was splitting at the seams and I was drooling; but I was also questioning the max capacity on my stomach... *previously questioned only once before at that Kentucky State Deep Fried Everything eating contest...twinkies, snickers, oreos, pig feet....but thats another story for another time and then came the black bean-veggie quesadilla; crisp from the grill and oozing melted jack cheese which was also so massive I had to split it with a friend.  

This place truly does cater to the customer offering Bigger. Better. Burritos; and with the freshest ingredients, daily specials and prices averaging $8(!!!) for a massive burrito CBG is quickly becoming a local alternative K-Town favorite.

  

CBG - California Burrito Grill 

4059 W. 3rd St.

Korea Town 90020

TASTE IT LA: CANA RUM BAR - DTLA

Happiness is a Warm Gun
photo by anne fishbein

Expat Sour
photo by anne fishbein

Far West
photo by anne fishbein

TASTE IT LA: 

CANA RUM BAR;

DTLA

Leather, wood and a vast selection of Rum to your hearts content line the walls of Cana Rum Bar, tucked away in DTLA. 

Dont let the smooth blends of their master mixologists (@Allan Katz) fool you, their drink list is inventive as it is strong. Just a few drinks will leave you humming but when in need of more you can opt for their shared punch service. 

This "membership only" Rum bar requires a $20 annual membership fee which puts your name, and one guest,

on their member's list for the year.  

Great something-to-talk-about-date-spot or for fraternizing with your lawyer buddies; and last i checked Cana allowed delivery from nearby Wokano-DTLA when you get hungry.

*The last time I went here, despite having paid a few months earlier, my name was mysteriously missing from their member's list, so make sure they get it the first time.  Even so the doorman was nice enough to let us in without charging me again; we will see what happens next time.

Cana Rum Bar - DTLA 

714 W. Olympic Blvd

DTLA - 90005

TASTE IT LA: VEGGIE LOVERS EDITION - MEAT FREE IS THE WAY TO BE (ok, sometimes!)

D'Artagnan the food-pup-critic doesn't appreciate it much, but sometimes Im just not feeling carnivorous.  When in search of fresh farmers market veggies you won't have to prepare yourself LA offers a variety of green-goodies and meat-free options that don't disappoint.  Here are just a few TASTE IT LA's green favorites.  

TASTE IT LA: VEGGIE TO VEGAN - LA's GOING GREEN!


Real Food Daily - SM & HW
"Uh we don't have ice....no...nope..." 
No, they don't.  I was mad at first at their views on advancing the natural digestive process via the absence of ice in their drinks but after I chugged (yup) not one, but two, of their delicious veggie juice blends (you choose it, they blend it, you drink it) I didn't miss those tiny frozen cubes so much.  This is a great way to start your morning and their menu is not only inventive but DELICIOUS.

Tender Greens - Culver City

This casual organic eatery is veggie & vegan friendly and builds the perfect salad per your specifications with the freshest ingredients.  It's also a local favorite for the studio heads. 





M Cafe De Chaya - BH's 

Tempeh or Tofu you can't go wrong at M Cafe.  Hungry? Go for the Big Macro. 

Madelaine Bistro - Tarzana 

"Vegan" is a culinary achievement at Madelaine Bistro. I would describe this as the most amazing vegan-booji-comfort-food I've ever had. Grilled sesame-soy seitan...drooool. 

Flore Vegan - Silverlake

You just woke up together; you didn't know she was vegan...YIKES!   Impress, (and perhaps get to know,) your date 
with a vegan breakfast she won't forget. 






Vegetarians and Carnivores can be friends ...as long as Jeff Goldblum isn't involved on a remote island.  


Looking for a place you and your carnivorous friend can dine together in peace, save the lecture he may endure depending on what he orders? These amazing places serve both purposes, despite your differences;

The Misfit Restaurant & Bar 
Just check out their menu.  Do it.  Are they mad I slobbered all over the menu? Probably, but I tip well. 

Brunch, lunch, just hang out. 


Il Covo - Mid-City West
Date night? Your a die-hard PETA-loving veggie, but you would watch him eat a steak. You both love GREAT wine... hmmm Italian?! Let the romance ensue at Il Covo.




BLD Restaurant - HW 
Breakfast with the visiting, vegetarian (I thought I told you they were coming...) in-laws? Impress with BLD's Ricotta Blueberry Pancakes, Steel Cut Oatmeal or Vegan Benedict. 






Dessert or Breakfast...?

VEGGIE SWEET TREAT MENTION:



BABYCAKES - DTLA 
It began in NYC and it wasn't long before LA Wanted. One. Now. From cupcakes to waffles Babycakes in Downtown LA wows with dairy free, gluten free options to satisfy your vegan sweet tooth. 





YOU CAN ALSO GO GREEN IN YOUR KITCHEN!
In search of some recipes to employ your local farmers market veggie favorites? Fellow foodie blogger Michelle Shea Walker from Vegans Taste Better offers up delicious daily vegan recipes whether your completely transitioning your lifestyle or you're just in the mood for something meatless.   

TASTE IT LA