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

L'Express - First Of Three Dinners In One Lovely Montreal Evening (Montreal, QC)

L'Express

When I planned my Montreal portion of my Canadian trip, I had my eyes out for L'Expresss, a quaint, yet ever popular French Bistro located in an area known as Plateau Mont-Royal. However, the lack of meals did me and my travel companions in and I figured I had to skip this popular Montreal eatery. Our original plan was to dine at this Spanish tapas restaurant recommended by our Lonely Planet Travel Guide called Pinxto, but once we were told the earliest reservation we could snag was at 9:30PM, we put our names on the board and went looking for a "snack." Since most of the popular restaurant were located in the Plateau Mont-Royal area, I quickly suggested L'Express, hoping we could somehow snag a 3 top on a busy Saturday evening. With a little luck, our Maître d' told us we had an hour before the next party would arrive and the table was our's if we wanted it. Jackpot!

Bread Basket

The obligatory bread basket. It wasn't anything special, but it did cure our hunger. Though one thing I'll say is that why aren't the bread always served warm/hot? It's a pain to put butter onto lukewarm to cold bread. Meh.

Pickle Jar

Every table had one of those, but since I'm not a fan of pickles, I didn't try it.

Saumon Fume De L'Atlantique (Smoked Atlantic Salmon) 16 CAD

The first of our two appetizers, a dish of smoked salmon served with capers, red onions and a lemon. The dish and flavors are exactly what it should look and taste like. Although it wasn't anything special, eating smoked salmon always makes me happy.

Os A Moelle - Gros Sel (Bone Marrow with Coarse Salt) 9.30 CAD

The second appetizer we ordered was the bone marrow. Fatty, rich, and delicious. Served onto of the provided crustinis and some coarse salt, it was definitely a treat, though I wouldn't tell your cardiologist about this particular dish.

Loup de Mer Frais Et Legumes Sautes (Fresh Sea Bass with Sauteed Vegetables) 22.75 CAD

One of my dining mates ordered the sea bass with sauteed vegetables. While tasty, the preparation and the texture does not match to the fish I've tasted at Le Bernardin or Providence, though at this price, it's hard to argue about the quality. Not bad at all.

Poulet De Grain - Sauce Moutarde - (Breast of Grain Fed Chicken in Mustard Sauce) 20.10 CAD

While I'm not a fan of chicken dishes, the sauce here was the key to the dish. While the flavors are strong, it was definitely needed for this particular chicken breast. Although it was cooked to order, I generally don't care for chicken breast, though the preparation here was pretty tasty for what it is. Although I wouldn't order this normally, it was a solid dish nevertheless.

Foie de Veau A L'Estragon (Calf Liver With Tarragon) 22.90 CAD

Finally, it was my entree, and when I saw the calf liver on the menu, I knew I was getting it. As some of you may know, I have an affinity for liver, and pretty much most of the organ meats that are available for consumption. The liver itself was done perfectly: juicy, tender, and just plain delicious. This dish might not be for everyone, but to all you liver fans, this was pretty damn good! I did however, thought the fries were a bit of an overkill on this dish and I probably would have preferred some sort of a sauteed vegetable dish or a rice pilaf. Regardless, I'm getting this again or the veal kidney that also perked my interest.

L'Express

Sadly, our hour was up and we had no time for dessert, but we were off for our 2nd meal at Pinxto, thus it makes most sense to save some room. As we bid adieu to L'Express, I was impressed with the quality of food, especially at their price points. However, it's not a place I'd crave or make a special trip out to Montreal for (unlike Au Pied de Cochon or Toque). I wish I had tried a few more dishes, especially more of their specialties, but I'm sure if I ever make it back to Montreal again, L'Express would again be on my list of restaurants to dine.

Final Rating: 7.5 out of 10

*Note* L'Express opens until 3AM on most nights, so it's a great late night dining options. Also, as I stated earlier, booking a reservation here is highly recommended!

L'Express
3927 St-Denis Rue
Montreal, QC H2W 2M4
(514) 845-5333

Petrossian - Will I Ever Get Enough? (West Hollywood)

Petrossian's Black Truffle Mac 'N Cheese

Here lies the question, "can one have too much of a good thing?" In my opinion, while it's good to take things in moderation, at Petrossian, the rules are meant to be broken. As profiled on my trips 1, 2, and 3, Petrossian has become one of, if not, my favorite restaurant in Los Angeles. On this particular dinner, with the help of the ever so awesome BlackBoardEats, with everything at 30% off, we went with the so called "tasting menu."

*Please note, the tasting menu is not normally offered, but I just ask Chef Ben Bailly to just send out whatever he likes and we'll eat it.*

Delirium Tremens

Hibiscus Champagne

While some in our party went with the Delirium Tremens, a delightful Belgian Brew, I went with the ever refreshing hibiscum champagne. Very nice!

Blinis - Caviar, Trout & Salmon Roe

How can you come to Petrossian and not get an order of their famous Blinis with creme fraiche, topped with caviar, trout and salmon roe. Simple, yet unworldly delicious!

Classic Cold Borsht - caviar

Beets. Beets. Beets. You're truly not my friend. I've tried you many times and I'm rarely a fan, yet here at Petrossian, I could drink you. Some saltiness from the caviar with a spicy finish (wasabi perhaps?), this I can accept. I may not love you, but I'll accept you.

Mushroom Cappuccino

One thing I absolutely love are mushrooms, especially cream of mushroom. The wild mushroom cappuccino at Petrossian was simply fantastic! Now as we were served the soup, the server proclaimed "I've never seen Ben shave truffle into this before...." Although it's a bonus having the truffle in the soup, the soup itself is top notch. Probably one of my favorite things at Petrossian. Simple, yet delicious.

Shrimp "Papillotte" - passion fruit, chili ginger sauce

A classic here at Petrossian. I think I've had it so far during each of my dinner visits. You have a well cooked shrimp wrapped in a won ton like wrapper with an Asian touch in terms of the sauce. Very nice.

Champagne

Next, we opted to split a bottle of champagne. Petrossian has a pretty decent selection of beer and wine, which are great compliment to the specialty of the house: caviar.

Salmon Tartare - avocado, lime, yuzu, quail egg

Another favorite for the group, the salmon tartare. Here we're presented with a freshly chopped salmon, mixed with avocado, lime and yuzu, which created a slight tartness in the tartare which was quite nice. Counter the tart flavor were the saltiness of the caviar and the creaminess from the quail egg, done sunny side up. Once you mixed the flavors together, it was quite harmonious.

Napoleon Tartare - Hand sliced steak tartare with layer of caviar

After the salmon tartare we were presented with the steak tartare. This preparation was similar to what I had from my first visit and I liked it even better. I thought this time it wasn't as salty as the previous visit making this tartare pretty much perfect. The serving of caviar in the tartare was aplenty and I strongly suggest this dish to be shared among 2-3 people in your dining party.

Caviar Pizza - Crème fraîche, chives, capers, red onion

Smoked Salmon Pizzette - Crème fraîche, red onion, capers, Transmontanus caviar

First we had a duel of tartares, now we have a duel of pizzas, more specifically, caviar themed pizzas. First we have the caviar pizza that I adored on my previous trip. A combination of creme fraiche, eggs, caviar, red onion, and chives, how can that NOT be good? It's friggin' delicious! Following the caviar pizza we were presented with the smoked salmon pizzette, which used slightly similar ingredients as the caviar pizza, but with the inclusion of the smoked salmon. Surprisingly, I liked the caviar pizza more than the smoked salmon version. I liked the simplicity of the dish, but with the addition of the luxurious ingredient like caviar, it made it even better!

Black Truffle Mac 'N Cheese - orechiette, bacon, parmesan

Finally, the last savory course would always be one of my favorites, the black truffle mac 'n cheese. Now, this dish is quite heavy and probably not for everyone, but I love it. The key to this dish was the cheese sauce made of parmesan and bacon. I think the mac 'n cheese would work even better with a simple macaroni pasta to soak up all the wonderful sauce. Regardless, for me, it's almost always a must order, though it's another dish I'd recommend to be shared amongst everyone in the dining group.

Dessert Trio (Top Picture From Left: Vanilla Panna Cotta, Gianduja Parfait, Pistachio Creme Brulee)

These were the exact same dessert trio that I had on my previous trip, and again, it was fantastic. As usual all 3 desserts were wiped clean by our dining group and I myself could probably clean out the trio personally. If you want to read more about it, check out my previous trip to Petrossian, but these were simply fantastic!

As I look back for the month of June, it's been a Petrossian and Providence duel, and what a fantastic duel. Though in the end, I personally prefer Petrossian. There are lots of unique dishes here and Chef Ben Bailly is always creating new dishes for the patrons like myself to try. As long as Chef Bailly runs the ship at Petrossian, I'll be eating here again, and again, and again. It's simple as that!

Petrossian West Hollywood
321 North Robertson Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 271-6300
Official Website