Category Archives: California

Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery & Coffee Shop

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***** (5 stars)

This is one of four bakeries in Solvang where we purchased tubs of butter cookies for a taste off. They were among the best, but the real standout here were the pastries. The macaroon was the best I’ve ever had, with a perfect crispy crust and chewy but not soggy interior. The cinnamon pastry, a sort of palmier with a cinnamon crust was amazing. We nursed it for breakfast three days in a row, and it was still just as good!

Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery & Coffee Shop
1529 Mission Dr
Solvang, CA 93463
(805) 688-6314
http://www.yelp.com/biz/olsens-danish-village-bakery-and-coffee-shop-solvang

Birkholm’s Bakery& Cafe

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**** (4 stars)

This is one of the best bakeries in town. As of this writing their butter cookies still come in the traditional waxed cardboard tub rather than a plastic bucket. We compared the butter cookies from four bakeries, and these were the softest and crumbliest. The standout is their plain, round, flat butter cookie, simple and very buttery.

Birkholm’s Bakery& Cafe
460 Alisal Rd
Solvang, CA 93463
(805) 688-8188
http://www.yelp.com/biz/birkholms-bakery-and-cafe-solvang-2

The Izaka-ya By Katsu-ya

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***** (5 stars)

This was a great lunch find in Manhattan Beach. Bustling at lunch time on a Sunday. There are some very creative rolls here, including a cajun one that was our favorite. The team-tag approach to service worked well, keeping our drinks and tea replenished. The lunch specials are a pretty good deal, although we went ala carte, and the price was still reasonable for the exotic feast we assembled.

The Izaka-ya By Katsu-ya
1133 Highland Ave
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 796-1888
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-izaka-ya-by-katsu-ya-manhattan-beach

Smoke House Restaurant

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garlicbread

**** (4 stars)

I’ve been going to the Smoke House since I was a little kid. In fact the one that used to be in Encino was my parents’ regular Saturday night pilgrimage back in the 60s. The Burbank original carries on, pretty much unchanged since 1946. In fact, I’m not sure it’s had a refurbishment since then.

But it’s not new and trendy that one goes seeking at The Smoke House. It’s garlic cheese bread. This recipe has been keeping the place in business for close to 70 years. The bread is super fresh sourdough, coated with butter, garlic and a pungent, crumbly bright orange cheese coating that I’m pretty sure is a mixture of dehydrated cheddar (the stuff that comes in the packet of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese) and parmesan. The reason I can state this with some confidence is that I’ve been trying to duplicate it for 30 years, and I’m getting close!

There’s lots of other stuff at the Smoke House that’s edible: fish and chips, prime rib, crab louis salad, and some tasty cappuccino ice cream. But you wouldn’t go there just for any of that stuff. It’s that addictive orange powder that brings us back, year after year. Never change it!

Smoke House Restaurant
4420 W Lakeside Dr
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 845-3731
http://www.yelp.com/biz/smoke-house-restaurant-burbank

El Cholo

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***** (5 stars)

I’ve been going to El Cholo for so long I can remember when the kid’s menu was spaghetti! If you don’t remember when the place was a little house, you won’t remember that. Since then they’ve added a bar, the world’s best margaritas, the best nachos anywhere, guacamole, and about 200 seats. But the number 1 dinner is identical to the one they served back in the 60s, and probably back in the 20s, when they opened. Sure, it’s not 25 cents any more, but what is?

If you’re going to El Cholo for authentic Mexican food or for Tex Mex food, you won’t find either. The fact is, El Cholo invented what they serve, and it’s simply El Cholo food. For example, their “taco” is meat rolled in a corn tortilla and fried, sort of like a taquito, but then buried in lettuce, tomato and so on. What is it? Who knows, but it’s good, just eat it! The cheese enchilada has green onion in it, and is smothered in a delicious red sauce. Paired with a taco it’s called a number 1, and I’m making myself hungry just describing it.

Service is always friendly, and it’s not unusual to have a server who has been working (and eating) there for 30 years. It’s a fine tradition to uphold.

El Cholo
1121 S Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(323) 734-2773
http://www.yelp.com/biz/el-cholo-los-angeles

Firenze Osteria

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**** (4 stars)

A very good restaurant that, with a little work, could be great. The best way to experience it is with the Chef’s Table Menu (a confusing name, since you don’t have to be at the chef’s table to order it). The seven course meal is assembled to your preferences, and at $75 is a bargain. The night we were there, the standouts were the spinach starter, the squash ravioli (which would have been better as a dessert because of its sweetness) and the fish and beef main courses. Seven matching wines for $50 was also a good deal, although the wines weren’t perfect matches to the food, and were all rather pedestrian.

Service was a bit uneven, with water refills hard to come by and some wines showing up after the course was finished.

Chef Ken was extremely personable, and his visits to present each course were the highlight of the meal. Unfortunately the room is so loud it was hard for everyone at our table to hear him. I would return, but only if I didn’t want to have an intimate conversation with my fellow diners.

Firenze Osteria
4212 Lankershim Blvd
Toluca Lake, CA 91602
(818) 760-7081
http://www.yelp.com/biz/firenze-osteria-toluca-lake-2

Saddle Peak Lodge

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**** (4 stars)

Back in the 80s we somehow accidentally stumbled upon this place in the dark one night. Once you visit, you’ll realize how unlikely an event this was, given how it’s tucked away in a little canyon. That night, even though the restaurant had only been open a couple of weeks, we had a delightful meal, with fresh game and attentive service in an exotic hunting lodge setting. We’ve been going here ever since.

Saddle Peak Lodge is perhaps LA’s most unique restaurant, given its colorful history and unique decor. If you’re put off by mounted hunting trophies, this isn’t the place for you. But if great elk, quail or other game is your thing, this is the place.

It’s a particularly good ambiance for holiday dinners, and has become our Thanksgiving standard. Brunch is also popular, with outside seating that can be zipped up when the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Saddle Peak Lodge
419 Cold Canyon Rd
Calabasas, CA 91302
(818) 222-3888
http://www.yelp.com/biz/saddle-peak-lodge-calabasas

Meet in Paris

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**** (4 stars)

A very authentic French bistro in a charming neighborhood. Great for outdoor dining, a bit bustling inside. Many varieties of mussel preparation, a house specialty, with great flavors. The tomato tart is unique and delicious. Authentic dijon dressing on the salad, crusty French bread. Superb assortment of authentic cheeses, no so superb assortment of wines. Fabulous creme brulee with a wonderfully caramelized crust. Reasonably priced.

Meet in Paris
9727 Culver Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 815-8222
http://www.yelp.com/biz/meet-in-paris-culver-city