Pintxo - The Second Of My Three Part Montreal Dinner Crawl (Montreal, QC)

Pinxo

After our quick snack earlier at L'Express, we headed to our late night tapas reservation at Pinxo since our earlier walk in attempt was a fail. With the pleasant description on Lonely Planet Montreal and Quebec City we went in with pretty decent expectation of good food.

Cava Codorniu

Since we were at a Spanish tapas place, we figured it's appropriate to start off with sangria, but to our dismay, we didn't see any sangria options on the menu. After flagging down a server, we were told Pinxo does not serve sangria. "WTF??" I thought, so after going over the wine list, I picked out a bottle of cava. I liked the cava, it's refreshing, as always, but I wanted my damn sangria. Fail.

When people ask me, how do you manage to remember meals from a year ago? Usually, looking at the picture will help me remember the taste and my reaction to the dishes. Sadly, this was one of the few times I might have to go with a picture rundown of the meal my friends and I had at Pinxo:

Falsa Lasana de Sardinas (Fresh Marinated Sardine Filet with avacado and peppers)

I enjoyed the flavors of the sardine, but the dish itself wasn't too memorable.

Foie Gras y Gazpacho de Fresa con Pimientos (Foie Gras & Sweet Bell Pepper and Strawberry Gazpacho)

Definitely not my favorite preparation of foie gras.



Salpicon de txangurro del Puerto de Zumala (Dual of fresh marinated crab and shrimp with peppers)

I really enjoyed the use of the crab meat and shrimp here.

Tartar de Salmon y Escalera de Verduras a la Parrilla (Salmon Tartare & Quintet of Grilled Vegetables)

Salmon tartare, been there, done that. The grilled vegetables were nice, but nothing too special.

Vieira y Chorizos (Scallop and Chorizo)

Quite a tasty delicious. Hard to go wrong with chorizo added to any dish, right?

Higo Relleno de Jamon Serrano y Queso Mahon (Stuffed Figs with Serrano Ham and Mahon Cheese)

Wasn't one of my favorites, but it's probably due to the fact I'm not that keen on figs in the first place.....

Alcatxofas con almeja y jamon serrano (Artichokes with clams and serrano ham)

Clams, artichokes, and serrano ham. Great mix of ingredients, and it was one of the favorites at our table.

Marques de Caceres Rioja

After finishing the cava, we decided on a simple, and light rose to accompany the rest of the dishes.

Bakalao a la Bizcaina (Filet of Basque Cod served with a tomato and pepper sauce)

Another delicious dish. The fish itself was tender and I enjoyed the tomatoes and peppers used in the sauce.

Carrillera en salsa de Rioja (Braised Beef Cheeks served with Mustard Potatoes)

Delicious. Simply delicious. The beef cheeks were tender and flavorful. Not much more I could have asked for.

Txori Morci (Chorizo Sauce with Black Pudding Surroundings)

Sadly, I don't remember much about this one....

Morcilla de Burgos (Black Pudding w/ Apple Chutney)

This one was quite good, but I'm a fan of black pudding, so it's hard for me not to like a black pudding preparation.

Although I was slightly disappointed with the lacking of sangria of a tapas restaurant, Pinxo was a pretty good spot to munch on some Spanish tapas in the streets of Montreal. While the meal has a few misses, it was definitely a good experience. Was it memorable? Probably not, but not all meals needed to be that way. Since we didn't get any dessert at Pinxo, we were off to the streets of Plateau Mont-Royal in search for some sweets. What did we get you ask? How about dinner #3? A large takeout plate of smoked meat for each one of us from Schwartz, to savor in the comforts of our hotel room.

Smoked Meat from Schwartz

Did we finish the smoked meat? Hellz Effing no. It did make for one helluva breakfast the next morning though! There you have it, 3 dinners in one pleasant Montreal evening.

Final Rating (Pintxo): 7 out of 10

Pintxo Montreal
256 Rue Roy Est
Montreal, QC H2W 1M6, Canada
(514) 844-0222
Official Website

Schwartz's
3895 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Montréal, QC H2W1X9, Canada
(514) 842-4813
Official Website

Test Kitchen: Red Medicine By Jordan Kahn (Los Angeles)

Pimm's No. 1 (Found at Test Kitchen: Red Medicine)

Recently, Los Angeles has been a mecca for pop up restaurants, highlighted by the Ludobites series that's been going on for the past year plus. Now comes a series of pop up chefs showcasing their talents, located at Test Kitchen, which is the brainchild of one Brian Saltsburg, whom I had the privilege of meeting on a trip to Tijuana last year. First up at the Test Kitchen would be one Jordan Kahn showcasing his upcoming restaurant venture, Red Medicine, a Vietnamese influenced restaurant.

1. RADISHES - coco-butter, lime, dried soy

A simple, refreshing appetizer of radishes mixed with a coconut butter to give it a much needed richness to the dish. The dish itself was fine, but I was ready with the next course.

2. cured AMBERJACK - lime leaf, french melon, nuoc cham, bird chili, mint

A much stronger dish than the aforementioned radishes dish. I enjoyed the sweetness of the melon mixed with the amberjack that was infused with the flavors of the nuoc cham. A balanced dish, and a definite winner in my book!

3. green PAPAYA - crispy taro, rau ram, fried shallots, peanuts

Given the success of the amberjack, the papaya salad was a huge letdown, especially after reading it on kevinEat's blog on the day of our meal. The taro chips was great, but that's pretty much it from this dish. It lacked the bold flavors I typically enjoyed from a papaya salad. Whether it's the lack of fish sauce or chili, or even both, the salad was quite bland in my opinion. The table was pretty much in agreement with this dish.

4. TOMATOES - marinated in an infustion of their vines, silky tofu, crunchy tofu, herbs

This was a dish I really enjoyed. I loved the fresh tomatoes immersed into a bed of silky tofu sauce. With the addition of crunchy tofu bits, it also added a nice texture to this particular dish as well. With the tomatoes long gone, I went back and scooped up the remaining tofu "sauce." It was quite delicious!

5. saigon tartine - PORK belly, pâté, coriander, carrot pickle, green chili

Think of this dish as an open faced (tartine) banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich. I loved the flavors and the crunchy textures of the pork belly. Think of this as a deluxe banh mi.

6. caramelized CHICKEN dumplings - lemongrass, scallion, bibb lettuce

I really hoped this dish was an aberration, and we caught it on an off night, as it was DRY! The extra sriracha sauce did not help with the dry chicken balls, which made me quite sad. If you're looking for great tasting chicken balls, try out Torihei, as the version there far surpasses the one I had at Test Kitchen.

7. bay SCALLOPS - pomelo, young ginger, tamarind syrup, puffed tapioca, charred friseé

Maybe I shouldn't say anything, but this was easily the worst dish of the night. First, I'll say I enjoyed the charred friseé, and that's about it. I didn't like the pomelo nor did I like the tamarind syrup used in this dish, but the worst thing in my opinion was the scallops. I would have much preferred 4 regular sized scallops in this dish, as the dish above was meant for 4 adult. All in all, I don't think the bay scallops meshed well with the pomelo and the tamarind syrup.

8. baby CARROTS - fermented black bean, star anise, coconut, tarragon

Thankfully the carrot was a nice bounce back dish after the scallops. I loved the bold flavors of the fermented black beans and the star anise that were used to cook the carrots. Since I'm not a fan of raw carrots, I actually enjoyed the soft textures of this carrot dish.

9. BRUSSELS sprouts - caramelized shallots, fish sauce, prawn crackers

Another strong dish. I loved the flavors of the fried brussels sprouts to go along with the shallots and the flavors of the fish sauce in this dish. I could have ate two dishes of this by myself, easily.

10. BEEF bavette - bacon X.O., Chinese eggplant, Chinese celery, lime, palm sugar, sesame

Here, we closed out the savory portion of our menu with the beef dish. In this case, the beef was well cooked (medium-ish), and the X.O. sauce that accompanied the beef was tasty, though it was slightly too strong for me. The accompanied vegetables were delicious and it was a nice ending to the savory portion of the menu.

11. PEACHES - crème de cassis, raspberry, condensed milk, tonic water sorbet

I really dislike bashing dishes, but if the scallops dish from above was the worst of the night, this was definitely second. There were many components wrong with the dish in my opinions. The tonic water sorbet lacked any flavor and really didn't need to be in this dish. The peaches itself wasn't of good quality which was a problem, since this was a peach based dish. The dish itself may be pretty, but no one in our group enjoyed it.

12. COCONUT bavarois - coffee ice cream, thai basil, peanut croquant, chicory

Thankfully we were served this last, as it was fantastic! I loved the different flavors and textures of each component of this particular dessert and made me forget the previous dessert that was served. Eating this reminded me of drinking Vietnamese coffee as the coffee flavor was a strong presence in this dish, but the peanut croquant was also quite memorable. A definite winner!

In the end, there were definitely some hits and misses during our meal. The saddest part was the fact not many of us were full from the family style dinner that we were served. Though I feasted on grapes at home post dinner, I strongly feel that the portions of the meal should be slightly bigger. Yes, my fellow diners and I could put away a good amount of food, but in the end the dinner felt like we were served 12 hors d'oeuvres. Vietnamese food should have more flavors, and I felt some dishes were quite lacking in that department. I know Jordan Kahn will be one of the biggest name that's going to hit Los Angeles in the coming months, but my first impression of him is lukewarm at best.

The Test Kitchen is a fantastic idea and many chefs will be showing off their talents in the coming weeks. The cocktail menu was also fantastic and Julian Cox of Rivera will be making some delicious along the way to match with the menu. Although I am definitely interested in trying other chefs in the Test Kitchen series, my first visit did leave me quite disappointed.

Although I'm not a fan of giving a mediocre review to a restaurant, as a paying customer, I felt it's only right to give my honest two cents from my experience. While it wasn't a failure, there's definitely dishes that needs to be worked on.

Test Kitchen
9575 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
(310)277-0133
Official Website

Burt's Place - It's Like Eating Pizza At Home (Morton Grove, IL)

Burt's Place

When one speaks of food in the Windy City of Chicago, the first thing that comes to mind tends to be its famous deep dish pizza. When one talks about the deep dish, Giordano, Ginos East, Uno, or Lou Malnati tends to be the popular picks. However, after watching the clip from Anthony Bourdain's trip to Chicago, I knew I had to try the deep dish pizza from Burt's Place. More so in fact, after hearing Burt state: "I'm 71 for christ sake and still working like a dumbass." He seemed to be a character!

After reading more about Burt's Place, I learned you MUST call in ahead (a day ahead would be best) and place an order (ie: size of pizza & toppings), otherwise they'll likely turn you away at the door, which I saw at least two times during my meal. With that knowledge in hand, I called and ordered a Large with spinach, sausage, mushroom, and onions. Since it's my first meal after landing at O'Hare, I eagerly awaited this meal!

Large Mushroom, Onion, Sauage, Spinach Deep Dish @ Burt's

As the video stated, and from what I've read, Burt would get fresh ingredients daily, thus, they do require the pre-orders the day before so they could figure out the amount of supplies they need on a specific day.

The crust on Burt's deep dish was different, but I do like it. It's caramelized, but not burnt. The ingredients were fresh and flavorful. My favorite ingredients were the sausages and the spinach. It's a shame we weren't able to finish a whole pie, as a large was definitely enough to feed 4 healthy eaters!

Dining Room at Burt's Place

Another part of Burt's Place I loved was Burt's wife Sharon, who served us the pizza tableside and chatted with us throughout the meal. She discussed the history of Burt's Place, her children that were out of state, and even gave us an Italian Beef recommendation. All in all, she was a lovely lady and made us feel at home during the meal.

Post Meal Candy

The space in itself was quite homey and definitely has their own personal touch. The pizza itself was delicious, but it was truly Burt and Sharon that gave this place the extra pizazz. Burt's Place is definitely a place I'll revisit on my next trip back to Chicago/Morton Grove, and hopefully I'll bring some new friends there as well. If you're heading to Chicago or already living in the Windy City, give ol' Burt's Place a try. Just make sure you call ahead with your order and reservation!

Signing the guest-book post-meal

Final Rating: 8.5 out of 10

8541 Ferris Avenue
Morton Grove, IL 60053-2828
(847) 965-7997
Yelp Link w/Pictures of the menu

EFFEN Vodka Tasting @ La Vida (Los Angeles)

La Vida

Awhile back I was invited to attend a vodka tasting, hosted by EFFEN Vodka, and was located at a swank Hollywood eatery called La Vida.

A brief look at EFFEN vodka: Based out of Holland, this smooth spirit was actually designed for the "club scene," thus a younger audience. The rubber non-slip grip is definitely a plus for those busy bartenders around town. In addition, the rubber sleeve helps with the insulation of the vodka. In terms of the taste itself, it goes down smooth and perfect for either a mixed drink or a simple vodka shot at a party.

Below were some of the drinks I tried during the event:

6th and Main - EFFEN Black Cherry, Prosecco, St. Germain

The first drink I tried was one that was made with the EFFEN Black Cherry flavored vodka. With the addition of the prosecco, it has all the makings of a nice, refreshing summertime drink! Very nice!

La Skyline - EFFEN Black Cherry, Chambord, Cranberry Juice

Next up, another drink made with the EFFEN Black Cherry, with a common mixer for vodka, cranberry juice. I enjoyed this one as well, though it was much stronger than the previous drink.

Coonley Playhouse - EFFEN, Simple Syrup, Fresh Mint, Fresh Lime, Soda Water

I likened this for a cross of a vodka tonic and a mojito. With these above referenced ingredients, it's hard to mess it up. I have a thing for refreshing drinks!

The Parker - EFFEN, Chambord, Agave Nectar, Fresh Lime Juice

Honestly, I had hoped this particular drink would be shaken, as I don't think it's mixed appropriately. However, the drink had a profound vodka taste, thus, was able to showcase the flavors of EFFEN.

EFFEN Vodka

All in all, it was a fun night. I was able to try a various cocktails with a EFFEN vodka base. The vodka itself was quite smooth and me being a vodka fan, I was quite impressed. Thanks for hosting a fun event EFFEN and La Vida!

Yatai Ramen Twist @ Breadbar - Definitely NOT Worth It! (Los Angeles)

Yatai Ramen Twist @ Breadbar

I promise I won't be too mean. It's something I had to repeat to myself as I was writing this blog entry. Maybe I just didn't get it? Or did I go on an off night? I mean, for the most part, I usually understand what makes a good ramen. I've visited the legendary Ramen Museum in Yokohama. I probably ate ramen at least 2-3 times a week when I lived in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. Frankly, it's soupy, meat based with noodles, so what's NOT to like about ramen?? Although I'll never be the ramen connoisseur like my buddy Keizo of GoRamen, I don't think I should ever leave a restaurant feeling I just got PUNK'D!

Well....here goes!

Trio of Boba Drinks (Coconut, Coffee, and Chai) $4

Though the picture may show a quartet of boba drinks, there were only three choices. The boba were good, but it wasn't anything to write home about. I enjoyed the chai, though I'm not sure about the ginger in the coffee boba. Plus, I'm not sure why boba was the cold drink option here as boba is a TAIWANESE based drink.

Complimentary Bread from Breadbar

The bread was probably the best thing from dinner. The focaccia I had was delicious!

Cold Tofu

The cold tofu was actually pretty good. Cold, refreshing, though I thought it was served with freshly grated wasabi, but instead, it was grated ginger. Not memorable, but a nice starter nevertheless.

Duo of Gyoza (Top: Pork Feet, Bottom: Kale) $8 for 5 pieces

Typically, I rarely order gyoza when I'm at a Ramen House, as I don't think it's ever worth the price (I come from the school of Chinese Potstickers. 10 big potstickers for $5). Now, while I thought both versions were adequate, as I enjoyed the kale more than the pork feet filling, I still think it's highway robbery charging $8 for 5 measly pieces. I repeat, $8 for 5 mediocre pieces of gyoza. A big meh.....

Spicy Miso Ramen

The flavors are there. The soup broth was spicy. Sadly, that's pretty much it. Although it was probably my favorite ramen of the night, it's not saying much. It's like me stating Adam Morrison is my favorite Laker because he doesn't play.

Oxtail Ramen

I'll be nice and first state the amount of oxtail given was ample, so I was surprised with that part. The egg in the ramen was delicious as well. Now, to the bad. The soup base was too sweet, way too sweet in my opinion. This ramen had so much potential, but it fell flat on its face. The soup broth is the most important part of the ramen, and it was F-ed up. Sweet broth, no thanks!

Foie Gras Ramen

I think I just got PUNK'D! $18 for this? Pretty much what you see here is a small piece of foie gras on top of some fairly pedestrian ramen. A true WTF did I just pay for kinda moment.....safe to say, I didn't care for this one.

Shoyu Ramen

This was the only ramen we ordered off the "Non-Twist" portion of the menu. While I liked the shoyu, it was pretty standard compared to other shoyu ramen found around Los Angeles. While tasty, it wasn't anything worth discussing.

Pork Curry Ramen

A ramen that wasn't on the menu in the previous weeks of the Yatai Ramen Twist, was the pork curry ramen. I actually thought it was a pretty enjoyable bowl of ramen, and probably ranked similar to the spicy miso ramen I mentioned earlier. Though Japanese curry is probably one of my favorite things to eat as well as cook, so it's probably no surprise that I enjoyed this bowl of noodles. There, I'll be nice on one dish!

At the end of the day, while this whole pop-up venture may work for some cuisines, the Yatai Ramen Twist was a total "meh" in my mind. Though there were a few bowls of noodles that I thought was pretty good, it just wasn't worth the money I paid for at the end of the meal. The service was fine, though we did wait a LONG time for our ramen noodles. For awhile there, I thought we were getting our ramen shipped from Japan.

Frankly, I should have known to stay away from ramen in West Hollywood, so I won't make the same mistake a second time. If you want a delicious and cheap bowl of ramen, stick with Santouka and Hakata Shin Sen Gumi, as those two places have never done me wrong. I could probably have avoided writing this post all together, but since the Yatai Ramen Twist will be going on through 7/24, hopefully I can save one person from trying this place out and experience ramen at a better place. It always pains me to have a bad meal, especially one that's overpriced as well.

When I was young, I was taught "If you have nothing good to say, you shouldn't say anything at all," but I'll stray this time and proclaim, avoid Yatai Ramen Twist!

Oh ya, one more thing. If you're looking for a hot bowl of noodle ramen, I think you're at the wrong place also. Even though our group did take pictures, the soup broth was lukewarm at best. I doubt the time we used to take pictures caused that issue. Lukewarm ramen broth = FAIL!

“Yatai Ramen Twist” at Breadbar
8718 W. Third Street
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 205-0124
Official Website