Lunch at Providence Restaurant, 5955 Melrose Avenue

We were talking with a friend the other night, and he mentioned Providence Restaurant.  Opened around 2005, it is a very well known fine dining destination with two Michelin Stars.   Gourmet list it as one of the top 50 restaurants in America.   Our friend had been there when he found out the Chef had been filming the table and refused to let someone order a particular dish, insisting on his choice instead as the 'table didn't look balanced'.  We presume he was talking about Co-Owner and Executive Chef Michael Cimarusti (who has an incredible CV).  So......we just had to try it.

He was also a contestant on Top Chef Masters.

Unusual decor, very calm and quiet, and very empty for a Friday, particularly when it is the only day they open for lunch.  A table of one, and another table for two, although two more couples arrived much later.

After a very good Dirty Martini, the bread arrived - a choice of three - a Bacon Brioche, Nori Foccacia or White Roll.  We tried both the Bacon and the Nori which were salty and tasty, but we didn't want to spoil lunch.

We each ordered an entree and a main (or appetiser and entree), and then were very surprised to receive the first of two Amuse Bouche -  a Screwdriver which looked like an egg yolk and a Mojito which was a frozen cube with a minute mint leaf.  Both were incredible and tasted just like the real deal.

We then were served another - but after that Martini, I just can't remember what they were.  But they looked and tasted fabulous and were served with a box of warm lentils with two different crackers standing up in them and choice of tiny little cakes - one of which was parmesan.  They were so light, and just popped in your mouth.

With the help of our waiter, we chose a lovely bottle of wine - Melville Cabernet Savignon 2001.

Then our appetisers.  I chose Josephines Clam Fritters (Yuzu Kosho Mayonnaise) - not sure why as I really don't like clams.  But it was actually a cold wet day so I felt like something warm and the choices were limited.  Bit of a mistake, as I really am not a fan of anything deep fried - although the mayonnaise was fabulous.  Wish I'd had the Kampachi.

Hal had the Spaghetti Ala Chitarra (Japanese Sword Squid, Spot Prawn, Maine Lobster, Tomato, Basil) which was really lovely.

We then both stupidly ordered the same - the Aged Prime New York Strip Steak (Nebraska) - (Saskatchewan Chanterelles, Cipollini, Confit Potatoes, Emulsion of Bone Marrow and Dijon Mustard).  Sounded amazing, but really too safe.  We should have had two different dishes so we could share.  We both ordered Medium Rare, but I did say more Rare than Medium which our very pleasant suited waiter complimented me on (!!!), but then Hal was served the rarer steak which did piss me off a bit!  But it was a lovely steak.  Surprisingly no sides were offered, and we felt green vegies would  have been complimentary.  Unfortunately I didn't take a photo, but there were two strips of steak with tiny white onions and tiny white potatoes.

We then ordered dessert.   Chocolate Raspberry Ganache (Ginger Meringue, Graham Cracker Ice Cream).   Very pretty, and super rich - the meringues were minute.   Still don't know what a Graham Cracker is.

I ordered the Corn Pudding (Masumoto Peaches, Caramel Popcorn).  Absolutely fabulous, although the actual 'pudding' was a bit grainy like the polenta it was!   The Caramel Popcorn was to die for, as were the baby peaches!

We then had a glass of superb Sweet Wine - something we have had trouble finding in other restaurants.  But it was perfect.

And we ended up sharing a glass of red with the 'lone diner', a lovely man named Chuck Martin, who lunches at Providence every Friday and let's the chef choose what he eats.  We are apparently lunching with Chuck on Friday 27th April 2012 at 12 noon - which is the day we arrive next year.  He changed his lunch from the previous week so we could be there.  We'll see!

Very good restaurant, great food, really pleasant professional service and the best thing?  It was a thank you gift from our daughter and son in law.

And.....no sign of camera!!!

8.5/10

Red Medicine, Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills

Had an amazing dinner at Red Medicine last night.    Chef/Partner Jordan Kahn,

Managing Partner Noah Ellis, and Partner Adam Fleischman have created what is described as a late night Vietnamese restaurant - which is not a great description.  This is their manifesto from their website:

Very cool space, concrete floors, great bar, lots of windows, hip and noisy.  Good music, particularly a remix of  'Age of Reason' by John Farnham.  Great for homesick Aussies! or not.

With a window into the busy kitchen

and cutlery on the table

But a Vietnamese restaurant as we know it, it is NOT.  The food is really really clever and unusual with clean, pure flavours.  I love going to a restaurant and being surprised with great food that I just could not cook myself.   It was suggested we order 2 - 3 dishes each as they were small and designed to be shared, however the Large Format dishes should be counted as 4, leaving too limited a tasting choice for us even though there were three of us, although we were tempted by the Wagyu Brisket braised for 36 hours.  The kitchen would deliver the dishes in their order - which was fine with us.

We had:
CHICKEN DUMPLINGS (caramelized sugar, pork fat, lemongrass, confitures)

Not what we were expecting.  They came with fresh lime to squeeze over, mint leaves, sweet soy and a spicy sriracha chilli sauce, finely sliced pickles, delicately fried red onion - all of which you wrap in a lettuce leaf.    This is when we realised we were in for something different.
CRISPY SPRING ROLLS (dungeness crab, lime, pea pods, fines herbes, chili).  Fabulous.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS (caramelized shallots, fish sauce, vermouth).  Hidden under really light crisps.  I'm gonna have to try to copy these.

MAITAKE MUSHROOM (cauliflower, snake beans, bacon x.o., walnut).  Mushroom puree was poured into the middle when served and the cauliflower couldn't have been sliced any thinner.

 SWEET CORN (kelley’s egg, turmeric crepe, black malt, shiitake).  So amazing.

JIDORI CHICKEN (slow-cooked in caramel, cinnamon, mustard lettuce, coriander, crispy onion roots).  Tender and caramelised to perfection.

DUCK (caramelized endive, banana, toasted grains, brown butter, chinese five spice).  The duck was tender and the blue cheese crumble just melted into nothing.  The banana sauce was just as it said - but better than banana!

WAGYU BEEF (creme fraiche, garlic chive, cashews, lovage, charred cucumber).  The beef was perfectly cooked and the cucumber was extraordinary and tasted of a sweet lime sauce.

All mouthwateringly good, but the standouts were the Sweet Corn, the Brussels Sprouts and the Jidori Chicken.

All so impressive, we had to try their desserts.

COCONUT BAVAROIS (coffee, condensed milk, thai basil, peanut croquant, chicory).  You could really taste peanut butter!  The Thai basil 'drops' were fabulous.

MUSCAT GRAPE (almond, white chocolate, zucchini, elderflower, violet ).  So refreshing and clever with clear balls of elderflower hidden amongst the grapes.

Applause for Jordan Kahn.

Not cheap, but extraordinary food, great vibe, terrific service.   Not quite sure why I can't give it 10/10, more to do with the space than the food - just a little 'cold'.

9.5/10

Wedding, Dinner at Bar Marmont, Poolside Sunday then Dinner Garden Restaurant Chateau Marmont

Wow!  What a weekend.  Checked into the Chateau Marmont on Saturday afternoon ready for my daughter's wedding in our three bedroom bungalow at 6.00 pm.  The hotel is apparently modeled after an infamous royal residence in France's Loire Valley.  Perfect venue.  We have stayed here before, even ended up in the Presidential Suite for a night.  Our bungalow was right beside the pool and had a huge indoor/outdoor room for the ceremony.

And a lovely lounge room with an open fire place, complete with Flame Logs, adjoining it.

 After the ceremony we headed through the gardens to the Bar Marmont, and the private dining room.

Really beautiful room.  The Chef Carolynn Spence is excellent.  Food for sixteen is not easy, but it was very good with two choices - chicken or steak, and two lovely desserts.

After dinner we adjourned back to our bungalow and lit the open fire.

Breakfast the next morning was in the garden restaurant.  I had to have the Huevos Rancheos which I have had before, and were great for the 'hangover'.  They are different to any others I have had, the egg served on an Enchilada with a bowl of spicy hot Green Sauce, another bowl of Black Beans and a small bowl of Sour Cream. 

Then it was off to the heated pool for the day - and again the food was delicious and the service fantastic.  I had a Steak Sandwich with Caramalised Onions and tiny thin Fries.  The steak was actually chunks of ground beef on  soft brioche like bread, and served with home made picked vegetables on the side and waaayyy too much cheese on the top.  Lucky I didn't sink and drown!

Then dinner at the Garden Restaurant.  Such a pretty setting, and a very pretty Taylor Lautner at the table beside us! 

We sat right under the hallway above, but it was set with two long tables, and beautifully lit.  Couldn't resist the Lamb Shepherds Pie.  Served in an individual round pie dish, the mash was just what I felt like, especially combined with the delicious gravy with huge chunks of tender lamb.  Perfect.  Apparently the steak was great too, as were the burgers.  The Fried Chicken was a standout - crispy on the outside, and tender as on the inside.

This hotel has everything you could want - really didn't want to leave.  But not cheap!

10/10

Dinner at Dan Tana's

Visited the well known Hollywood restaurant Dan Tana's on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood last night.  It celebrated its 47th anniversary in October this year - amazing.

It is the smallest restaurant with the largest menus (literally) and soooo busy and buzzing it was almost claustrophic!  We were amazed we were able to book a table of 10 on a busy Friday night, and when we got there, the table was sitting there waiting for us even though people were two deep all around the bar and every other table was occupied!  But we were very squashed!  One of the Tuxedoed Waiters (bottom left in the photo above) was a real character originally from Croatia who has obviously been at the restaurant for a long time.

You really can't expect a great meal when you with a large number of people, and so agreed to their suggestion (was it a choice? - it was so noisy) we share dishes - Chopped Salad to start, Penne Arrabiata, Lasagna, Cannelloni, Chicken Parmigiana - and way too much red wine.  All good but like eating at a buffet.   I would imagine the bill was quite hefty!

And we all bought Flashing 'Grills' while we were waiting for cars/taxis outside! 

6/10 for the experience