Swine and Wine

It is not a game people!

Cast Iron Gourmet owner, Rashida Purifoy and I

Couch Mix $11

Frisee Salad

Shame, shame, shame on me for not spreading the word about this fab bacon that I had a few weeks ago! I had some of the best bacon ever at Cork Bar's Swine and Wine event, hosted by pork master Rashida Purifoy. Swine and wine was a 3-course fixed menu with bacon for $25(optional wine paring $13), awesome deal right? I brought along a few gal pals to experience the blissfulness of this bacon! I boasted about the couch mix on the car ride over, the girls gave me a look like "Whatchu talkin' about Willis??", it's something so indescribable, you just have to try it for yourself!  We arrived at Cork Bar which  is a small corner bistro in the heart of Downtown L.A. We dined with the stars on this clear chilly night, which was okay because the warmth of the fire pits kept us toasty.  Before we placed our order, our server placed a shot of couch mix on the table.I already new what was about to happen, game over!  These ladies couldn't get enough of the stuff, trail mix with caramelized bacon, it was a wrap! At that moment Rashida became their bacon dealer (I'm already a client),  because this stuff is foodie crack!  That got the juices flowing and we were so excited about what was to come.

Bahn Mi Sliders

The first course was a Frisee and Bacon Salad, which had roasted tomatoes, a light mustard vinaigrette and flavorful seasoned bacon.  This was a great start to our meal, we were in pure bliss.  Now imagine feeling that way about a salad, crazy huh? The salad was a tough act to follow but what came next was even better, if you can imagine that. The Bahn Mi Sliders came next, now this might come second to the Couch Mix in my pork book. This mouth watering slider consisted of cured pork belly in a hoisin glaze, sambal aioli, cilantro, pickled  dikon and carrot, with a drizzle of sriracha.  This delectable delight just melts in your mouth.  I don't even have words for how good this slider was, I'm just glad that there were two on the plate!  We are almost full and a little antsy, anticipating our last and final course, the Bacon Chocolate Cupcake!

Bacon Chocolate Cupcake

Our cupcakes came out warm and moist with a dollop of Carmel whipped cream and of course sprinkled with thick juicy bacon.  It was really good, just wish the actually cupcake was a little sweeter.  It was a perfect blend of salty and sweet and I would gladly have another!  Rashida did a meet and greet with us, as she did with all the tables, and she gave me my  order (I ordered a week in advance, I don't play!) of Couch Mix, Bourbon Bacon Chutney and Pimento Cheese with Bacon Fat.  You would swear Halle Berry walked in the room, camera flashes and floods of questions,  my friends were so intrigued on this Couch Mix, "How do you make it?", "Where can I get it?"  I'm glad she was there to answer all of their questions and needless to say supply each and everyone of them with a box of Couch Mix ($11).   And there you have it, the story of Cast Iron Gourmet's three new addicts, and I'm not trying to kick the habit anytime soon!



Cork Bar
403 W. 12th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
213-746-0050

P.S. March 1st. is National Pork Day!  Come out to Black Boar Bar and enjoy two of my favorite things pork and liquor!

Cafe Bizou

Lobster Bisque

So DineLA has finally come to an end (major sad face) and I decided to go to a familiar place for my last outing.  Cafe Bizou is right around the corner from the J-O-B so I decided to drop in for lunch.  My co-worker and I popped in right after the lunch rush so our service was relatively quick which is a good thing since we were on a time crunch.  I was little indecisive about what I wanted but soon was able to figure i

New York Steak with Brandy Cream Sauce

Tiramisu

t out. So after much debate I decide on the Lobster Bisque as a starter, the New York Steak as an entree and Tiramisu for dessert.  The lobster bisque was great, had a great buttery flavor and to my surprise there were chunks on lobster meat in it.Yum Yum! Next came my New York steak, I was really treating myself since I don't eat steak too often.  Steak was mediocre, it was under seasoned and a little tough.  They gave me a few puny asparagus spears, which was a bit of a let down. The brandy cream sauce was enjoyable and was a great dipping sauce for my fries.  Saving the best for last of course was the dessert.  This moist piece of heaven was a delicious end to my meal, it just melts in your mouth.  All in all I had a great meal and I absolutely can't wait til DineLA hits the streets again!




CAFE BIZOU, Sherman Oaks
14016 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 788-3536

For Colored Girls who Wanted Dinner when Being Hungry Wasn't Enough!

Gamberoni in Camicia

Finally it's restaurant week!  I searched hundreds of restaurants (literally) to find the perfect place to dine. On this crisp winter night my friend and I finally decided to go to Firenze Osteria owned by Top Chef contestant Fabio Viviani...and the excitement stopped there. We arrived to a quaint little restaurant in NoHo.  It was a Sunday night, busy but not packed.  We didn't make reservations so we expected a wait.  The owner/host Jacopo was training a girl to be a hostess, no problem everyone has to learn sometime.  When we arrived at 7:00pm he told us that there was a 15-20 minute wait and to sit at the bar.  Again no problem, I saw a few empty tables when we arrived but figured maybe those people had reservations so we waited..... and waited... and waited. While we were starving at the bar, Jacopo schmoozed with all the regular patrons which would have been fine if we weren't waiting 30 minutes! He was standing right next to us talking to some people at the bar and I was trying to wait my turn and get his attention,  but he didn't look my way.  So I finally got up and asked the hostess if there were any available tables yet.  She apologized for the wait and said yes. Do you know that she gave us the same table that was empty when we first got there???  WTF?!?!  I always joke that anytime I  bring a friend of another race with me they either seat us in the back or by the restroom, well this time they just forgot about my black ass altogether!  LMAO So me and my Latina girlfriend were seated (finally) and took a look all the Lily white faces of the  patrons in the restaurant, not sure if that's why we waited so long but it kinda makes you wonder, Huh? We got bread and beverages promptly and I asked for the DineLA menu.  I decided upon  the Gamberoni in Camicia (Grilled Jumbo Shrimp),Agnello ai Pistacchi(Herb Encrusted Rack of Lamb) as an entree and Flourless Chocolate Cake for dessert.  My friend opted for soup and salad so I was havin' DineLA fun by myself. The first course came out promptly and it was so tasty, jumbo shrimp stuffed with Gorgonzola, wrapped with pancetta, over sautéed garlic spinach and herbs and Parmesan polenta.  It was so good I wish there was more.

Agnello ai Pistacchi

Flourless Chocolate  Cake

The main course didn't come out as fast, in fact are server was pretty slow all night long and by this time there weren't as many people in the restaurant.  Any who, I asked for my lamb medium well and it still came out a little rarer than I would have liked, so I asked them to cook it a little more.  The second time it came out it was great, it was also prepared with braised pistachios which was awesome, never had anything like it before.  Then for the finale my chocolate cake, it was served with vanilla gelato and coffee cream.  The cake was perfect, so soft and moist that it just melts in your mouth!  To sum things up I was not impressed with this flourishing tavern.  They had small portions, over-priced food and crappy service!  Deal or no deal for $34 I expect way more than we got that night!  Would I  come back?  Maybe, but probably just for cocktails, they looked awesome!  This the last week of DineLA people, so please pretty please get out there and try somethin' new!

Firenze Osteria

4212 Lankershim Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91602
818.760.7081