PROVIDENCE - LOS ANGELES

Birthday dinner, Feb 7th.



I'm late posting this... but I'll try and recap best I can.

This was a fabulous restaurant - Providence. It's in the old Patina location. It was a birthday surprise, and I was in a Limo, so I don't know the address- Beverly Hills, possibly Hollywood? I'll post the exact location later.





A yummy "amusement." :)

The bar.

The room.

Truffles anyone!? This risotto appetizer was LOADED with the decadent black slivers!

This was Theo's lobster ravioli.


The entrees arrive - lobster poached in butter. It was, well, lobster poached in butter. It was good!

Theo had the duck breast. He said it was nothing special. That turnip on the plate though, that was fabulous! It was stuffed with mushrooms. OOoooooo!!!!!!!!!!! It was unique and different, and it was really, really good.

Fromage....

SATURDAY NIGHT AT DARYA

We haven't been to DARYA Persian Restaurant in almost a year - but it's definitely on our "favorites" list - Their food is SO GOOD! We've been going there for years. Actually, we were referred to Darya by a Persian guy in Palm Springs of all places... he said they have the best Persian food in Southern California. And, I believe him. Not a stranger to Persian food, it's definitely the best I've ever been by a long shot. The best rice you've ever had.... extra extra long grain fluffy Basmati rice that seems to be flavored with drippings from the steaks - and the kababs are to die for! I get the juicy filet mignon (they have several varieties, my favorite is the Chelo Kebab Barg) and Theo gets the Koobideh (ground beef). Doesn't matter what you get though, it's all soo good!



This is our appetizer - don't be afraid of the green. Seriously. It is scrumptious! They take the Basmati rice and really crisp it up (called Tadig), then they pour a stew over it (we chose Ghormeh Sabzi) which is sauteed vegetables cooked with dried limes, veal, red kidney beans and special seasonings. HELLO LOVER!


My Chelo Kabab Barg

And The Koobideh

And they even had a Sinatraesque Persian band. Fly me to the moon....


www.daryasouthcoastplaza.com

INTERNATIONAL FOOD MARKET - JAPANESE

International food markets are just so inspiring to me. The way they respect their food; always arranged so beautifully, and everything is so fresh. And you can always find neat stuff your local white bread grocery would never have. This weekend we went to the Japanese market. I love their pretty seafood, their interesting vegetables and the deal you can get on dried mushrooms is amazing!




This was from their food court. They love their plastic food displays, but I have to admit it is nice to be able to see what the food you've never heard of and can't pronounce looks like before you order it. :)





Some Sake....


I also am addicted to their dishes. Always handmade, interesting shapes and the beautiful glazing. The colors are usually always in a neutral tone, whether it's browns and tans or brighter hues, like blues and greens of the ocean. They can be quite expensive too... but when you consider they are all handmade, it's expected. It's all part of their love of food thing I guess. Even the dishes get respect. :)