taste & scene

Saturday afternoon we did more shopping at Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade. After being in areas with temperatures well above the 80s, we weren’t ready for the cold winds coming from the beach. Once it got unbearable, we had some drinks at The Misfit Bar before having dinner with Marty at Rustic Canyon. Recognized as having the #1 burger in LA and with reservations being hard to come by, we planned on this foodie adventure a few days in advance. Unfortunately Cindy couldn’t make it, because she really missed out. When entering the restaurant, we suddenly got this very warm and intimate vibe. The ambiance was dark and the decor was very minimal. The service was very up to par and the food was phenomenal! First we had the Crudo which consisted of yellow tail, apples and serrano peppers. I had been wanting to try crudo, so I had to order this to start. It was nicely balanced and very light. Again, the textures all meshed well together. Next, we had the Polenta which the hostess highly recommended. This dish lived up to my expectation of it. Warm and crisp, this plate was heaven! It was topped with a creamy mushroom sauce and an egg on top. Already getting full, all three of us ordered the Rustic Canyon Burger. I’d say this burger definitely competes with Comme Ca’s! The burger consisted of sharp cheddar, onion fondue, house made pickles herb remoulade and was accompanied by a side of crisp french fries! I added the farm egg and confit bacon to my burger. This burger was super yummy! I drank it down with Unibroue, a belgian beer of course!

Labor Day weekend, we decided stay local and spend it going shopping and trying restaurants we haven’t been to yet. Old Vine Cafe has always been a place I’ve wanted to try, and I can tell you that the experience there was beyond amazing. From the decor, to the service and finally to the food itself we couldn’t have been any happier. I decided to have the 3 course set meal. I started with the Caprese Mozzarella Buratta which consisted of very fresh ingredients: imported buratta, flash fried arugula, grape vine tomatoes and citrus infused extra virgin olive oil. The presentation was divine and the this course was truly my favorite. I’m all about textures and balance, and this salad definitely had it all. For the next course I had the Porcini Mushroom Mac and Cheese which consisted of a creamy blend of artisan cheeses. Though very tasty, this heavy meal filled my stomach which is why I had the 3rd course, Grandma’s Cheese Cake boxed up to go. Since Vince and I almost always share, I had a good taste of the Open Faced: fresh biscuit, chicken sausage, scrambled eggs, chipotle gravy & queso fresco with potatoes. The portion was very large and the meal was very heavy, but eating this was like a party in my mouth. Everything really complimented each other and the gravy was delicious! I couldn’t be more satisfied with the potatoes as well as they were nice and crisp. I also had a bite of Vince’s Fried Green Tomato which was panko crusted and topped with pesto sauce. Next time, I plan to try the Artichokes and the Artichokes Hearts of Palm. Hopefully, will be going back soon for one of my girl dates with Che!

belga cafe / washington, dc. all i need to say is the strawberry creme brulee was AMAZINGGGGG.

wish it was bright enough to have taken more photos with my iPhone of the interior and exterior. loved gjelina. will be back.