Kat's 9 Lives

I feel that everything that used to be a great deal just get worse and worse.  Outlets and shopping deals only progressively get worse as the trends catch on.  In the past I have gone to many of the Dine LA experiences and the first few years were great, but slowly it got worse and worse.  By chance I was up in LA all last week and decided to give Redbird a try.  Trekkie recommended it as his brother just went and it was literally right outside my hotel, so why not?
They are on Open Table so you can book and get some points as well.  They are located at the corner of Los Angeles Street and 2nd Street.
Their Dine LA lunch menu was $25 for an appetizer and a main course.  To get dessert it would be an additional $5.  I was already planning multiple stops so I didn't stay for dessert.
For the first course I decided to try their Chicken Pot Pie, which normally is $14 on the menu.  Inside was thigh meat, heart, and hen of the woods.  At first glance, it is very cute served in a pot.
The pastry on top was easily moved and you can see what's under.  There is only a crust on top and the bottom seemed very soupy.  At this point I was a little worried because it was so watery below, but I began to break the crust and mix it in.  This thickened the broth inside and gave it more texture.
The flavors were on point.  There was a healthy amount of ingredients inside and is quite filling.  I enjoyed the earthy flavor mixed in with the hen of the woods.
For the main course I chose the Gnoccheti Sardi.  Inside was rock shrimp, tomato confit, and fine herbs.  The gnoccheti was nicely cooked, al dente.  I thought the flavors were good, but I wished there was more shrimp in the dish.  It was disappointing that I bit into a shell while enjoying this dish.  I would have called them over but I was on a time constraint and just continued eating but with caution.  They should have offered some bread to go with the dish so that you can enjoy some of the excess sauce.
All in all the food was good but not mind blowing.  I had to deduct points for biting into the shell (the photo is on my Facebook Fan Page).  The service was friendly.  For Dine LA, it was not a bad deal and conveniently close to the hotel.

Redbird
114 E 2nd St
Los Angeles, CA 90012 
(213) 788-1191

Did I hear right? Petrossian was offering a Foie Gras Tasting Menu?? Later I learned that it was for Dine LA and I thought... alright, I pray this will be good! Gourmet Pigs let me know about the special menu and we set up plans while she was away about going when she comes back. So here is the low down of the night. I have been here 3x already for their Dine LA menu and I think all 3x they had different Executive Chefs. Last time they had Chef Ben Bailly and he was very nice. Their latest Executive Chef is Chef Giselle Wellman. Here is the cold hard truth of the experience that transpired the other night...

I arrive and the place seems pretty busy and there are tons of staff members standing about the restaurant yet I see the guy at the counter who is the general manager helping a couple buy products which is understandable. Here comes the part I really don't get... 3 women are in front of me just standing there as well. I decide to ask them if they are waiting to be seated. I glance across the room where staff members were looking back at us and doing nothing... Then the women say that they are waiting to be seated and apparently this guy is the ONLY one in charge of the list. So then we ALL waited. I am standing there thinking ummm okay.... why only have one person seating when they are obviously helping customers at the counter on the "boutique" side... The gm did come by and apologize for the wait, but I just kept waiting and more people started to squeeze in for seating. I am thinking to myself... OH GOODNESS! It's getting crowded! So after they seated the people in front of me right next to the counter they stood **could've seated them earlier** then luckily Gourmet Pigs must have some pull because we got a nicer table. The server was very friendly but... more to come.
So to start off we placed our order and there were a few menu items that I was debating but in the end I decided to start with the Foie Gras Ravioli. My biggest qualm is that they claimed to be a "Foie Gras" dinner and there is no seared foie gras to be found anywhere??!?!?? I will be honest, I was devastated! I have been sick since the Bahamas and to drive up straight after work, it better be one of the best dinners to be worth the drive and time. Albeit, meeting up with my pal after so long is a big part but the food needs to be up to par as there are so many delightful places in LA to eat. Now back to the food at hand. The raviolis were al dente and flavorful. I wished there was just a bit more sauce on top for moistness. The grape, walnuts, and mushroom were a nice complement with earthy and sweet tones. It's probably the best "foie gras" dish of the night.
At this point we finished our appetizers and just sat there waiting for the main course. I am not sure why it took forever for the next course to come. I debated on which main dish to choose. The steak had the offering of white truffle oil and a foie gras, leeks, mushroom duxelles that I was tempted to order. Then the kicker was what the foie gras was. It turns out to be a mousse on top of the pastry. That made me change my mind to the Squid Ink Fettuccini. The kicker was that it has wild Californian sea urchin and salmon roe in a curry sauce. At first I was thrown off by the curry sauce but I couldn't resist the fact that I can get some sea urchin. I don't quite know if it was the right choice because I ended up eating mostly pasta/carbs for the night, which is normally against my belief. They did give me a taste of the steak which was not bad but not anything out of the ordinary. The foie gras and pastry was actually pretty tasty. I did enjoy the sea urchin. The natural sweetness complemented the savory flavor of the pasta. If you like pastas and tons of carbs then this is the dish for you, but if you are a meat eater like me it might leave you wanting for more at the end. Still, to be fair the pasta was unique and I did enjoy the sweet uni. At first bite I was debating on the whole vibe of the dish. The more I ate, the more I felt the flavors sink in.
If it is not evident by now, I am a devout lover of foie gras. I have had it as a martini, seared, terrine, raw, soup, butter, and as crème brûlée right here before. It is finally time I had it in ice cream form! Of course my friend started to warn me by text of the night to come and was eagerly awaiting my verdict on the ice cream. I was very tempted in getting the Mille Feuille because I often think about the wonderful dessert from Pierre Hermé. Thank goodness I did not make that choice because that was NOT a Mille Feuille. Yes, I know they have their own take on the dessert but that was almost blasphemous. First off, mille means a thousand layers and not 3 lame toasted bread with fruit cut up on it. By this comparison, I must say it made the Foie Gras Ice Cream so much better. To be honest, I couldn't stop laughing while I ate this. I actually detest foie gras terrine. This really was just a thick, cold, and creamy foie gras terrine. It was served with raspberry jam, honey, and sea salt on top of a brioche. I agree with my friend that it could use something bitter or salty to cut the richness down. Between this and the Mille Feuille, I'd gladly take the super rich and heavy ice cream over the poor excuse of passing off bread as a delicate pastry. To give them credit, the ice cream did taste exactly foie gras ice cream so at least you know that there is real foie gras inside.
All in all I think the place is not bad but nothing special that I would necessarily recommend or drive up for again. I felt a little tricked and I was not the only one in my party who needed to nibble on other food when they got home! The server was not bad and they were friendly but that does not excuse the inefficient way they function. I guess they are not use to being busy? In the past, I have never seen them this packed for Dine LA but this year they are probably the only restaurant offering a decent menu. When you choose restaurants to try out for Dine LA, you have to be very careful or you will end up spending more for the pre-fix than when you order separately! Dine carefully, but most importantly just enjoy the meal and the company.

Petrossian Boutique & Cafe
321 N Robertson Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 271-0576

Petrossian Boutique & Cafe is a well known place to many foodies but I don't think they get nearly enough praise as it should. This place should be packed nightly but I have yet to see the lines outside. Now why is that? Well it is about time for me to add my 2 cents about the infamous Petrossian Boutique & Cafe headed by Chef Benjamin Bailly. Listen up ladies, according to some people at the table he is charming and has an accent so more reason to visit! lol I enjoy the simplistic elegant decor inside where you can enjoy a nice relaxing evening or just stop in for a quick bite.
To start off the evening we had the Cheese Plate, $18. I was not there when they talked about which cheeses were chosen but they did a fabulous pairing. The honeycomb, preserve, marcona almonds, and onion marmalade was wonderful. Surprisingly the bleu cheese went perfectly with the onion component. Normally I pair it with honeycomb but now I have found another fave. This was definitely a great start to the evening. I have to say this was one of the better cheese plates I have had in a while.
Catty Critic was so sweet in treating all of us to Blinis. On top the mini pancakes are Caviar, Trout Roe, and Salmon Roe. Each little bite was light and flavorful. All the components helped accentuate the natural taste of each egg.
It was a tough choice on what to get for appetizers. Bacon vs. Steak! Eek! In the end I was determined to get the Steak Tartare topped with Quail Egg, Caviar, and Herb Salad. They gave a very generous portion. The quail egg mixes well with the raw meat. I would have liked a little more acid or citrus to make the flavor pop more. Don't get me wrong, the steak tartare was good but could have used just a little more seasoning to help accentuate the palette.
The Frisée aux Lardons comes with a Crispy Poached Egg, Bacon, and Fourme D'Ambert. It was a nicely seasoned salad with a generous portion of bacon. Even though the egg had a crisp outer texture, the yolk was runny and not overcooked.
For the main course the Crab Risotto mixed with Sweet Corn, Mascarpone, and topped with Trout Roe was the best dish of the night. Again, the portion was very generous and the flavors were on point. The subtle hints of crab emanated through the creamy risotto. Adding the trout roe helps to add bursts of flavor throughout. The salty flavor was a great mixture with the sweet corn.
I was able to try one of their signature dishes, their Caviar Pizza. Atop a flat bread like cold pizza they topped it with Crème Fraiche, chopped Egg, Red Onion, Capers, and Chives. This was very light and refreshing, but personally it was too light for me. Yes, it is good and a different take but I like my main courses hot and meaty! O=D Still, I am glad to have tried this and get a full evening's experience of caviar.
The Braised Pork Belly with Farro, Black Rice, Wild Mushroom, and Baby Spinach was flavorful and savory. Out of the three choices for Dine LA this was the heaviest main course, which gives a good spectrum of choices for the diner. The meat was well marbled.
When there is crème brûlée I usually have to have it! So the Pistachio Crème Brûlée was the obvious choice. This was light and you can definitely taste the pistachio. I love burnt sugar and just to hear the slight crackle sound is music to my ears.
All in all I enjoyed my meal and felt great about the entire evening. Chef Benjamin Bailly came out to great and chat with us. I like how he is so personable and passionate of his food. I really want to make it to one of the Southern Comfort Food special menu. It would be really great to see him let loose with some innovative creations. I think Petrossian is a solid place to eat in LA/Beverly Hills and deserves its props. After a nice experience at last year's Dine LA I am glad I came back again to sample a completely new menu. If you ever come, you HAVE to try that cheese plate! It was simply marvelous!

Petrossian Boutique & Cafe
321 N Robertson Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 271-0576

After a hugely DISAPPOINTING week of Orange County Restaurant Week, I needed some stress relief with tasty food. I am just that crazy to drive up to LA during traffic hour just to satiate my hunger for great food! It was fate that Gourmet Pigs and I were on the same page and both wanted to try La Cachette's Dine LA menu. Greeted right out in front I had a little personal one on one time with the Chef. He saw me taking pics and we were testing out the different lighting areas but to no avail so I had to use flash, but still dark. When Gourmet Pigs turned around, I was nowhere to be found and she didn't know what happened until I returned back. It's a very cozy restaurant with a French flare.
They were super busy so each dish took a while to come out. I munched on the bread for a bit before the dishes arrived.
The main reason I had to come here was because they offered the best appetizer choices! I had my heart set on the Sauteed Foie Gras with Dates, Black Currant Jus, and a Frisée. How can you turn down any restaurant that freely offers up a succulent piece of duck liver that just makes you salivate at the thought? The foie was nicely seared a decent size. I like how the date was so sweet and flavorful that accentuated the savory flavor whereas the frisée cut down the oiliness.
Normally I would NEVER share foie gras but another tantalizing appetizer selection was the Stuffed Zucchini Flowers with Ricotta, Warm Lobster, Artichokes, and topped off with a White Truffle Oil Dressing. OMG I was so torn and tempted to order TWO dinners just for myself so I can taste more! Luckily I always dine with a good partner and we opted to share the appetizers.. reluctantly. lol There was a decent amount of lobster, more than what I expected actually. They were succulent, tender, and flavorful. I found the salad refreshing and flavorful. Almost felt sad when I saw the empty plate! The zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta was, IMHO, the best way veggies should be eaten... stuff with cheese! =D
For the main course we differed on what to order and nothing was sad about sharing. I will have to admit that I wasn't too excited about the main course because everything seemed like it would be overcooked for my taste. In the end I chose one of their signature dishes, the Braised Beef Short Ribs. It seemed to be the them of the night to make healthy food unhealthy by stuffing cheese inside. The beef came with Piquillo Peppers, drizzled with Crème Fraiche, and topped off with a Coffee Cabernet Jus. At first I thought the beef was lacking in flavor but I broke apart all the meat and soaked more of the jus in to fix that problem. The braised beef varied in tenderness among each piece and was not bad, but I have to say I wished they had dishes that weren't braised for a long time.
Look at that massive bone! I wish I had a tiny puppy so I could bring that big bone home and take tons of pictures of a tiny puppy holding the big lamb bone in their teeth! The Lamb Shank with Couscous, Carrot, Apricot, and Lamb Mint Jus was also a slowly cooked dish. My short rib was much more tender but the lamb definitely had more gamey and flavorful. I love having mint to cut down the gamey taste and accentuate the natural flavor of the lamb.
We chose to share the desserts so we can try more. The Organic Carrot Cake with Candied Pecan, Cinnamon Sauce, and Ice Cream was just alright in my opinion. I thought the cake was on the drier side. Don't know if it was because this was an "organic" cake but there was just no oomph, pow, or wow in flavor. I normally adore carrot cake but this one failed to impress.
Luckily we had the Warm Dark Chocolate Chip Divine Cake with Whipped Cream to compensate. This was so chocolaty and heavenly. The cake was moist, rich, and full of flavor. Since it was not milk chocolate, you don't get over sweeted after many bites. The cream that they gave must have freshly house whipped. It was super heavy and would cut down any sweetness. A little to heavy but still a great cream. I wish we had ordered 2 of the dark chocolate chip divine cake.
Found a little surprise in the bathroom. Just had to share it with everyone. (Hey MBA this will be the start of bathroom reviews? lol) A little weird... quirky maybe... but still charming to find this nostalgic French set up... in the bathroom! The table faces the mirror. Can I order a cafe au lait in here? Then look at myself in the mirror or at the Eiffel Tower poster? =)
All in all I like this place and I think the Chef is funny. The whole time I sat there I kept staring at their Charcuterie menu and was drooling. Duck Prosciutto... duck sausage... duck everything! I was determined to get this but then debated on taking home, but decided that I will leave this for another day. I hope the next time I come will be in the day time to take awesome photos and try more dishes. Sure, I may not have been that impressed with main course and dessert, but MAN those appetizers were MAG-NI-FI-CENT! O=) Maybe I am biased because I got almost all of my favorite ingredients in there, but Mmmmm goooood! They have a pretty great lunch prix-fixe menu of a 3-course menu for $15... something to think about. O=)

La Cachette
1733 Ocean Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 434-9509