Ludobites - Ludo Is Back 4.0! (Los Angeles)

Ludobites @ Gram & Papa's

Welcome back Chef Ludo! After writing my recent recap of Ludobites 2.0 & 3.0, I was ready to chow down at Ludobites 4.0 at Gram and Papa's (Which will run until the end of May). I was joined by my usual Panda Crew at the cozy location in Downtown Los Angeles. Since Umma Choisauce and J were at the recent FoodDigger dinner, I let the experts take over, though we ended up doing the "gamut" a la kevinEats style, but ordered extra of the good stuff!

Wine for the Night Minus a Bottle

One more thing I love about Ludobites, BYOB! Don't forget to bring a bottle or two of your favorite wine to accompany the meal.

Raw Scallop - Almond Puree, Pickled Grapes, Cauliflower Ice Cream

Refreshing, light, accentuated by the tartness of the grapes. Very nice starting dish!

Carrot Salad - Saffron Anglaise Cream, Pearl Onions, Citrus Confit, Mustard Powder

Superficially, it's quite a simple dish, but the carrot salad had a nice blend of flavors. The tartness of the citrus, with the zing from the pearl onions, and finished off with wasabi. The finished product was quite enjoyable.

Burgundy Escargots - Garlic Flan, Green Jus, Yellow Flowers

I'll first to admit I'm not the biggest escargot fan in the world. The flavors is something I'll have to get used to. With that said, I enjoyed the escargot mixed with a flan mixed with garlic. In a way, to help tone down the flavors of the snail, also, to add a nice silky texture to the dish. I enjoyed this quite a bit as Wesley of Twohungrypandas allowed me to finish the dish clean!

Tartine Plate "Warm Baguette"

Here we have a warm baguette with 2 types of butter. One was a whipped brown butter, and the other was a crack-infused (joking) lavender butter. The lavender butter was something I loved from Ludobites 2.0 and I was glad to see it return to the menu! We must have went through 4-5 orders of the baguette and butter. Simply fantastic!!

Brie Chantilly Napoleon - Honey Comb, Frisee Salad, Balsamic

The rumor was, the brie was churned for over two hours by hand, and that was just it, a rumor. However, the brie itself was damn good! DAMN good! A little honey, a bit of that warm baguette, that's all I really need along with that churned brie. Ya, any cheese lover, or even a non cheese lover like myself could dig this!

Parmesan Sable - Sweet & Sour Cherry Tomato, Zucchini Ravioli

Honestly, I'm not sure what think of this dish. It didn't really stand out for me, but I didn't dislike it. Taste wise it was fine, but sadly, it wasn't too memorable.

Egg, Potato Mousseline - Lobster, Borage Flower

This dish is probably my favorite dish I've had a Ludobites. It's so good, I wish I had a dish to myself that night, errr which I actually did since we went through 6 orders. Ya, it's so good I wish I could eat it right NOW! Soft poached egg, potato puree and lobster, what can go wrong with that combination?? The softness of the potatoes, the creamy egg yolks, and the sweetness of the lobster, it's simply divine! I hope to see this dish return when I go back next month!

Foie Gras Croque-Monsieur - Lemon Turnip Chutney

Ludo's Foie Gras Croque-Monsieur really needs no introduction. Foie Gras, Ham, Cheese all meshed together on a squid ink bread. Is it rich? Yup! Will your doctor care if you eat it? Probably. Do I care? Nope! Even though I normally don't like sandwiches unless I have no other choice, the foie gras croque monsieur is fantastic. This is another one of my Ludobite favorites.

Poached Jidori Chicken - Crispy Skin & Hazelnuts, Leek Salad, Black Truffle Bacon Royale

Do I normally like chicken? The answer would be a big fat NO! However, when I heard from Choisauce this was, quote: "...this was EASILY the moistest chicken I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. like WOAH, LIKE WOW." I knew I'll like this dish, simply because I trust her palate. The chicken, as promised was simply delicious! The accompanied black truffle bacon royale was fantastic as well. Ya, I dig this chicken. Simply put, bar none, one of the best chicken dishes I've had to date!

Steak "Au Poivre" - Shallots, Polenta Bone Marrow, White Asparagus

I'll say this, as I mentioned above, that Jidori chicken dish was probably one of the best chicken dishes I've ever had, but I think Steak "Au Poivre" was even better. Let me just say: Steak (I think flank) cooked rare to medium rare, add in some polenta with a bone marrow sauce, finished off with a nice crisp white asparagus, does that sound good or what?? So yes, this dish was fantastic, and I'd order this again, and again!

Merlan "Colbere" - Lime-Lemon, Celery Root, Fresh Herbs

Compared to the first two dishes, the Merlan "Colbere" (Deep Fried Whiting) was very simple, but did not stand out. The fish was cooked to perfection and delicious. All in all, a very simple dish, perfect for those that doesn't care for the richness of the steak dish.

Holly of The Michelin Project

During dinner, Remil tweeted (I'm too lazy to look for it now) that "Holly was quite Hot working the blow torch" at the counter for Ludo. So here are some shots for the rest of the general public :)

And on that note, onto dessert!

Raspberry Religieuse - Pistachio Parfait

For this, think cream puff, just with a tart berry filling. I was surprised how quickly we attacked it as it was SO good. So good in fact, we had to get a 2nd order of it. I thought it would be a sweet dish, but it was quite the opposite. A very nice palate cleanser. In addition, as a pistachio fan, I enjoyed the accompanied pistachio parfait.

Dark Chocolate Souffle - Black Pepper Milk Chocolate Ice Cream, Hot Chocolate Cream

Finally, what's a better way finish off a meal than a chocolate souffle? Rich, but not too rich, and with the added ice cream and hot chocolate cream, it's quite the chocolate trifecta! Delicious and quite enjoyable, especially for those chocolate lovers out there.

Quite simply, Ludo Lefebvre did not disappoint. The menu was spot on, the dishes were spot on, and should I say I liked it A LOT more than Ludobites 3.0 at Royal T? I can't wait for my next dinner at Ludobites in May. I hope to see some new dishes and some of my favorites along the way. 2 thumbs up from this Panda!

Here are some other reviews of Ludobites 4.0:

Choisauce
djjewelz
food, je t'aime
Gastronomyblog
mattatouille written by FoodGPS
NomsNotBombs


Ludobites @ Gram & Papa's
227 East 9th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Official Website

Ludobites - Recap of 2.0 and 3.0 (Los Angeles)

Foie Gras Black Croque Monsieur (Yes, these will be back for 4.0!)

It's time. What time you ask? Ludobites is back! Yes, Ludobites is making a return, and this time, luckily for me, will be located in Downtown Los Angeles at Gram & Papa's. Instead of a normal post, I'm gonna do a picture rundown of my personal favorites from Ludobites 2.0 at Breadbar and Ludobites 3.0 at Royal T. For those that want to read more of a comprehensive post, please read my 2.0 and 3.0 experiences. These shots are taken with both my Canon dSLR and Point & Shoot, the best brand if you're looking to get a dSLR or P&S camera.

Chicken Mousse



Veal Sweetbreads



Sweet and Sour Lobster



Oxtail aka "Crack" Polenta



Foie Gras Cupcake



Chilled Chorizo Soup



Boudin Noir



Foie Gras Cromesquis



Tuna, Sushi Rice Ice Cream, Soy Sauce Gelee, Smoked Ginger Oil



Slowly Sauteed Monterey Wild Squid, Chorizo Oil, Kimchi Puree, Black Olive



Egg "Meurette," Red Cabbage, Lardo Toast



Foie Gras Beignet, Saffron-Dried Apricots



Ludo Fried Chicken, Cantal Polenta, Baby Corn, Mole



Marinated Hanger Steak, Eggplant, Goat Cheese, Shallots, Radish



Fourme d' Ambert Tourte, Red Pear, Honey-Balsamic

A note on the particular cheese tart. Usually, I don't care for cheese, especially a cheese like this. Somehow, I was able to eat multiple slices of this and took a few slices home. Yes, Chef Ludo can even makes something I'm usually "meh" on into something I'd eat slice after slice......

Vanilla Crème Brulee, Rose Ice Cream

Creme Brulee with lychee? Let me just say, the BEST creme brulee EVER! That is all.

Yes, Chef Ludo, I'm a fan. I'm ready for Ludobites 4.0 at Gram & Papa's. Now the question is, are you???

Read my Korean Umma Choisauce's up close and personal Ludobites Post

For more pictures (If you haven't seen enough already) from my 7 (I think) various trips of Ludobites 2.0 and 3.0:



Ludobites 4.0 @ Gram & Papa's
227 East 9th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Official Website

Restaurant Toqué! - Canada's Best (Montreal, QC)

Restaurant Toqué!

Prior to my visit to Montreal, my mind was set to only one place: Au Pied de Cochon. After watching the episode of No Reservations on Quebec, it was the one reservation I was stoked about. However, after looking at the various restaurants in the city, and a recommendation from a fellow Twitter friend, Restaurant Toqué! popped onto my radar. Given the green light by my buddies, I booked a reservation and I was ready for Restaurant Toqué's tasting menu.

Menu

Upon being seated, we were given the menu, but we were set on the tasting menu offered at Restaurant Toqué!. The regular 7 course tasting menu is reasonable priced at 92CAD, while the 7 course tasting menu with foie gras is at 104 CAD. Since I want to see the difference between the two menus, I went with the foie gras option, while my dining mates went with the regular tasting menu.

Ginger Ale & Whisky

Since I was in the safe hands of public transportation of Montreal, I decided to start off with a Ginger Ale and Whisky. What's more Canadian than some good Canadian Whisky and ginger ale?

Bread Service

Bread and butter. Simple and delicious. We must have gone through 2 servings of that alone!

Amuse Bouche: Asparagus Soup

We were first presented with a shot of an intensely flavored asparagus soup. The taste of asparagus was definitely apparent, and quite delicious. Very nice way to start off the meal.

1. Pétoncles Princess marinés à l’eau de vinaigrier, radis, fraise, échalote et mousse de wasabi

Since I don't know French, I used the guide of my buddy Babel Fish for a bastardized translation on the dish I had that evening. In this case we started off with a "scallop shooter." Here, we have scallops marinated in vinegar, daikon, topped off with a wasabi mousse. The scallops were fresh and flavorful, and the addition of wasabi mousse added a nice kick to the dish. Delicious!

Domaine DuMinot (35CAD)

To go along with the scallops, we went with something light and refreshing. What's better than a Domaine DuMinot? The light apple cider went perfectly with the marinated scallops dish.

2. Thon mariné, laitue Boston, concombre, nouilles frites et mayonnaise épicée

Following the scallops dish, we have another cold dish of marinated tuna, spicy mayo, cucumber and some fried noodles sandwiched between Boston lettuce. The fresh tuna, mixed with the spicy mayo, matched well with the peppered lettuce. Although it wasn't the favorite dish of the night, it definitely was quite delicious!

Domaine Ostertag (67CAD)

After draining our first bottle, we went with a 2007 Pinot Blanc from Domaine Ostertag.

3a. Lobster in Spicy Sauce

This is where the menu change, though just this particular course. My friends got the lobster dish in a spicy sauce (Sorry, I never got the name on the menu) that was cooked perfectly and delicious. My friends really enjoyed the lobster dish. Looking back, I wish I had tried a bite of this dish, but I was too busy with.....

3b. Foie gras de canard poêlé, eau de rhubarbe, daïkon poché et gelée de vin jaune

......the foie gras for the foie gras lover that I am. I was presented with this poached foie gras dish. In addition to the poached foie gras, the daikon was soaked in wine and all under a bed of rhubarb water. This dish was simple, yet complex in flavors. The richness of the foie was countered with the tart base which made this particular foie gras dish not quite as intense as expected. The foie gras was also cooked perfectly. Tender and rich. Simply melt in your mouth wonderful!

For the tasting menu, I think the non-foie gras version was quite nice, and unless you enjoy the taste of foie gras, I'd just stick with the regular 7 course tasting menu at 92 CAD. Again, quite a steal in a restaurant of this calibur.

4. Râble de lapin confit, feuille d’ail verte, asperge, morille et purée d’ail noir

This was my favorite dish of the night, the rabbit confit. Think duck confit, but much tender and delicious. This was my first taste of our "Thumper" friend and I loved it! In addition to the rabbit, kidney (not sure if it's also rabbit) was on the plate, along with garlic greens and mashed potatoes. Eating rabbit might not be for everyone, but it's not something to be missed!

5. Suprême de pigeon rôti, rabioles, purée de topinambour, betterave, pancetta croustillante et fleur de tussilage

Pigeon? Yes, this was pigeon. Unlike the Chinese, lettuce cup style preparation I was used to, this pigeon was roasted, and roasted well. Tender, succulent, and definitely flavorful. The accompanied vegetables were quite delicious and went well with the pigeon meat. Another winner in my books. And that artichoke puree? Simply devine!

6. Fromage Le maigre du Nord, asperge blanche, pain croustillant, miel et crème montée au Banyuls blanc

The cheese course, usually the course I don't care too much for, but in this case, it's done in a way I love. Think crepe, but done with cheese. The thin layer of cheese covers a generous portion of chicken and vegetables. I was slightly surprised with the preparation, but it's probably my favorite cheese course from any restaurant to date!

7. Terrine de fraises de serre du Québec et basilic, crème à l’érable, lait glacé au basilic et sorbet à la fraise

Finally, dessert, usually my favorite course in a tasting menu and it did not disappoint here. Here we have strawberries immersed inside a bed of basil jello. Basil jello? Yup, and did it work? Hellz Effing Yes! The basil sorbet that accompanied the basil strawberry jello was not as intense as the jello, but still quite delicious. The flavors of caramel and strawberry flakes (similar to haw flakes) on top of the sorbet added a nice flavor and texture. Quite simply a complex, yet a wonderful dessert. What a great, refreshing way to wind down a meal!

Mignardises

Finally, some macaroon as the server presented us the bill. What a way to kick off a big meal here in Montreal. Definitely the best meal I had in Montreal!

Dining Room

The simple, yet elegant dining room. The service and atmosphere were perfect for a fine meal or a memorable date.

Restaurant Toqué!

Restaurant Toqué!, wait for me, I will return to eat here again!

Final Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Restaurant Toqué!
900 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle
Montreal, QC H2Z 2B2
(514) 499-2084
Official Site