In the Alibi Room

We parked on a side street and walked into the guard protected Alibi Room. With IDs in hand, we strolled right in. It was 8pm and the few tables at this lounge were already occupied. After a few moments had passed, some seats at the bar opened up and we were on them like peanut butter is to jelly in a PB&J.

MS ordered a scotch on the rocks and I had a lychee cooler - ketel one vodka with lychee puree and soda water on the rocks. He just turned 31 and started drinking more grown up drinks.

We then ordered the food - the reason why we chose the Alibi Room for the birthday celebrations.

Now, I'm pretty sure that almost everyone in LA has heard of, tried, and already waited in line for one of the most talked about kogi korean bbq tacos.

But we're late bloomers, and didn't try them until that night.



They came out (along with the kogi sliders which were wolfed down before I could take a photo), and we were excited to try this fascinating fusion of foods.

The tacos were good and tasty, according to MS, but they were no West LA $1.25 el pastor and lengua tacos from the trucks down the street.

I enjoyed the spicy, full of vinegar, sweet tacos. My favorites were the short rib and bbq chicken. Now if only I could get it on top of some kimchi fried rice, I'd be in heaven.

The Alibi room was definitely worth trying out and we'll go back for more with friends.

Was it worth the hype?

Sure, I guess. But if we had to wait for the 30+ minutes to an hour that has been recorded at the Kogi trucks, I'd bypass the line and head straight to the next taco truck down the street.

Here are Dylan and Jeni's taco tour posts with owner/chef, Roy Choi of Kogi BBQ:
http://eatdrinknbmerry.blogspot.com/2009/03/taco-tour-with-roy-choi-of-kogi-bbq.html
http://oishiieats.blogspot.com/2009/03/appreciating-taco-warriors-with-kogi.html

Alibi Room
street: 12236 Washington Blvd | Culver City, CA | 90066
m-sat 6p-midnight
web: http://kogibbq.com

Sunday Supper at Dominick's, West Hollywood

Photo taken from Dominick's website.

It's easy to do the same things and go to the same places, especially when it comes to eating out. There's something comforting about the rotation of restaurants on our eat list. We always order the same thing and know exactly what we're going to get.

But every once in a while, it's exciting to shake things up with the usual suspects and try something new.

Since moving to West LA, we usually stay on the west side of the 405 and it always seems like an adventure when we head east. So a few Sundays ago, we were in for a great three-course meal and a bottle of wine for $20/person when MS surprised me with Sunday Supper at Dominick's in West Hollywood.

With a reservation for two, we had a table out back in their patio area where most 20 to 40 somethings sat. Most regulars (like the photo from their website above) sat inside in the dimly lit restaurant.

Fresh Fennel Citrus Salad

Homemade Pasta with Mushrooms in Cream Sauce

Olive Oil Cake with Vanilla Bean Gelato

The atmosphere was casual yet sophisticated, very LA. The servers were beautiful, as were the people, and there was lively chatter all around us. The food was simple, delicious and so reasonably priced for a nice dinner out. We had such a great time that I'm sure we'll be back for another Sunday Supper this summer.

For this upcoming weekend's menu, they have another great line up:

Sunday Supper for $15/person
Heirloom Tomato Brushetta
Tortiglioni with Sausage and Peppers
Vanilla Bean Rice Balls

$10 Bottles of Red or White

Dominick's Restaurant
street: 8715 Beverly Blvd | West Hollywood, CA 90048
tel: 1.310.652.2335
url: www.dominicksrestaurant.com

Date Night: Love and Providence

The best kinds of gifts are the ones that keep giving, are thoughtful, and can be experienced with those you love.

Last year, I bought season tickets to the Pantages for MS and me. It's been a great opportunity to get dressed up and have a nice dinner with a show. We have seen Phantom of the Opera, Grease, Mamma Mia, and most recently, Dirty Dancing.

On our last date night, I thought that we might try Mozza. But... we didn't have a reservation. And... when we drove by, there was already a queue of people outside. Not to mention, we were put on hold when we tried to call at half past five.

So, we kept driving down Melrose.

And there was Providence.

I prayed for a little divine intervention while MS called to see if there was room for two.

"Why yes, dinner at the bar is open."

We immediately parked and headed in for a night of fine dining at Providence.

The sophisticated, very high end restaurant, was still pretty empty - waiting for the dinner crowd to arrive - when we walked in and were seated at the bar.

The bartender was friendly and handsome, like they are in most sophisticated, very high end restaurants in the city. MS asked for a glass of water while I glanced at the cocktail menu and ordered an Asian Pear Martini.

I figured, "We're here. Enjoy!"

That was our mantra for the night as we took in all that Providence had to offer. We ordered seafood entrees for dinner, but it was the appetizer that made the night.

The Foie Gras Ravioli was absolutely perfect. It was light and rich, sweet and savory at the same time. I was a little sad that TWO dishes of this incredibly delicious appetizer were not ordered. We could have each had a plate of foie gras ravioli! Even MS loved it!

I asked if he knew what we were eating.

"Yes, it's a type of earthy mushroom, right?"

Bless his heart! I almost laughed the martini out of my nose, and the bartender chuckled under his breath as he overheard our conversation.

"No... not quite. Just don't ask. Enjoy it, and I'll tell you later," was all I could say. The bartender looked up and nodded in agreement.

It was definitely a night to remember.

Providence Los Angeles
5955 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 460-4170

www.providencela.com

I was a Japanese Strawberry Shortcake

When I was a little girl, I remember going to Little Tokyo with my grandmother and begging her to buy me one of the strawberry shortcakes in the Japanese bakery. We used to go to the one in the old Yaohan (turned Mitsuwa) plaza.

I loved the buttery cake, light cream and fresh strawberries... and always felt so much better after a couple of bites. There's just something about them that makes you feel like a little princess.

So during our Japan trip, I drooled over the many pastry and dessert counters... and begged MS to indulge me as I purchased not one, but multiple strawberry shortcakes that were in season for the Christmas holiday.



At every large train station, food and merchandise stands could be found (along with shopping centers and department stores at the very large stations like Tokyo and Kyoto).

As we hopped on to the bullet trains with our JR Passes, MS gladly shared these sweets with me during our rides. They were wonderful treats that kept me smiling through the cold, the rain, and the entire trip.

And yes, I even dressed up as Strawberry Shortcake when I was a girl... or maybe that was Rainbow Brite? Either way, these pastries take me back to those days of my youth and I am once again, a little princess.

Magic Comes to Life at the Ghibli Museum

If you have some time in Tokyo and can manage a day trip, my recommendation would be to go to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. That is... if you want to experience youthful magic through the eyes of Hayao Miyazaki, the man behind such greats as Totoro, Castle in the Sky, and Spirited Away.

You'll need to buy tickets in advance and may need to enlist the help of some friendly workers at the local Lawson Store. Tickets are reserved through an ATM-looking machine that's in Japanese and purchased from the store. With vouchers in hand for a specific time, you're set!

(I think you can always purchase tickets ahead of time too. Check out the website below to look for more details through JTB.)



We settled for a late afternoon visit to the Ghibli Museum, and hopped on the JR train out of the city and into this suburb just outside of Tokyo. The walk from the Mitaka station was a nice scenic stroll, lined with trees and beautiful homes.

We even spied the cute Japanese signs above!

When we arrived along Kichijori Avenue, next to Inokashira Park, we were greeted by a very large Totoro and some soot-black dust bunnies too. Signs pointed to the main entrance, where a line had already started to form.

Unlucky for us, it started to drizzle.

Luckily, though, the museum had tents to shield us from the cold rain.

As we entered the bright and colorful entry, we were explicitly told not to take photographs inside the museum.

Here's a little sneak peak inside:

"Every window and lamp is lovingly hand-crafted with beautiful and colorful stained glass using Ghibli characters, pretty plants and flowers, and forest animals..."

There's magic on the Ground level, as you see characters brought to life through animation. A working studio with sketches, paintings, and lots of inspiration can be found on the first floor while a large cat bus waits on the second level for kids under 12 years old to jump in and enjoy. And a metal, spiral stairway up the roof leads you to a rooftop terrace and a five-meter tall Robot Soldier (from “Laputa Castle in the Sky”) - see the above picture!

In the Central Hall is "a towering open space extending up through the entire height of the Museum. In the glass dome at its center, a yellow whale swims in the ocean and the blades of a giant fan rotate overhead. Taking in the whole room from bottom to top, you will discover a maze of spiral stairways, bridged passages, and overhanging terraces. This marvelous space transports you into the world of Hayao Miyazaki and the strange buildings which often appear in his films."

For more information, check out the website below.

Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Japan
www.ghibli-museum.jp/en