Los Angeles Favorites: Hotel Bel-Air

I'm usually one who prefers modern day conveniences and accommodations over places that rely on "character" as part of their allure. When looking for houses a few years ago, I had to stop my realtor who started off by showing us a lot of older homes with such "character" until I told her that I was from the suburbs of Southern California, home of the tract homes, where the only thing that separates your house from the other is the color paint you chose, and even then, it was easy to get confused sometimes. My one exception to this rule is the lovely Hotel Bel-Air tucked away in Stone Canyon in Los Angeles. The hotel is older, and you won't find the updated marble tubs in their standard suite bathrooms that you do in newer hotels, but just pulling up to the entrance and viewing the lush gardens makes you feel as if you've stepped into a different time period and after driving through traffic, there is an instant sense of serenity. A pot of tropical tea awaits you in your room after you've checked in. The hotel is also special to me as that is where my husband and I spent our wedding night right before departing for our honeymoon the following day and also where I had taken my then future mother-in-law for afternoon tea to have our first serious conversation together.

We've made it a tradition since then to try and go back for every anniversary. Now that we've kissed clubbing days goodbye, after dinner out on the town, we enjoy coming back to the very calm and adult piano lounge in the hotel where you can snack on mini-burgers and truffle fries in a dark library-like setting. The service is impeccable as evinced by the fact that we had mentioned we were celebrating our 5th anniversary there in conversation with our server, and at breakfast mind you, were served a mini-dessert complete with candle to honor the occasion. There are quite a few amenities like the famed Swan Lake and their swimming pool that the hotel is known for, but it's worth checking out their website to see all that can be experienced.

Photo 1: Hotel Bel-Air
www.hotelbelair.com

Los Angeles Favorites: In N'Out Burger

Okay, okay, I know that In N'Out now has locations in Nevada and Arizona as well as in Northern California, but the fact that it got its start in Baldwin Park, CA, renders it an LA favorite for me. Those familiar with the drive through menu recognize the simplicity of it: hamburger, cheeseburger, or a double double with shakes and sodas offered along with fries.

Many are also aware of the "secret menu," an off-menu list that prepares the basic three choices, fries, and shakes in a variety of combinations. I have only tried one item off the "secret menu," and that is the Protein-Style cheeseburger and double double. A former co-worker of mine who was really into the Atkins diet and weightlifting first clued me into this delish preparation. Basically, you can get any burger (regular hamburger, cheeseburger, or double double) sans bun, wrapped in iceberg lettuce. I pretty much now always order the double-double protein style with grilled onions (you must ask for grilled onions!) and justify my fries by the fact that I'm missing my starch in the bun. For you calorie-counters out there, I checked the nutritional facts on the In N'Out website and taking the bun off saves you a mere 70 calories. Now I think you've guessed by my previous entries that I'm not exactly an adherent to the Atkins diet (nor of any other diet in particular), but for those of you who are watching their carbs, the Protein-Style burger is a worthy indulgence.

The Secret Menu

For the basic "official" secret menu:
http://www.in-n-out.com/secretmenu.asp

For an even more comprehensive secret menu taken from Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-n-Out_Burger_menu_items#The_Secret_menu

M by C
M meat patties and C slices of cheese (for example, a 3 by 3 or a 2 by 4)
Triple Meat
Three meat patties without cheese.
Animal Style
In addition to the usual condiments, mustard fried on the meat, pickles, extra spread and grilled onions are added.
Animal Style Fries
Fries with cheese, spread, and grilled onions.
Double Meat
Two meat patties without cheese.
Extra Everything
Adds extra spread, tomato, lettuce, and onions (regular or grilled).
Flying Dutchman
Two meat patties and two slices of melted cheese.
Extra Toast
Bun is cooked longer so it is extra toasted.
Fries "Light"
Almost raw fries that are cooked for less time.
Fries "Well"
Fries that are cooked longer to be extra crisp.
Fries with cheese
Fries with two slices of melted cheese placed on top.
Grilled Cheese
Two slices of melted cheese, tomato, lettuce and spread on a bun, with no meat. There is also a Grilled Cheese Animal Style (grilled onions are added).
Choco-Vanilla Swirl Shake
Chocolate and vanilla flavors combined in one shake.
Neapolitan Shake
All three shake flavors (strawberry, vanilla and chocolate) combined in one shake.
Root Beer Float
Vanilla shake with root beer combined.
Protein Style
Instead of a bun, the burger is wrapped in lettuce. In addition to burgers, a protein style Grilled Cheese is available.
Veggie Sandwich
A sandwich without meat or cheese.
Spread
Extra packets of refrigerated Thousand Island dressing in packages marked "Spread".
Lemon up
1/2 lemonade 1/2 7-up.

www.in-n-out.com for locations

Los Angeles Favorites: El Torito Grill's Guacamole

Southern California has some great Mexican food including some restaurants that serve very traditional Mexican cuisine. Although I know that the best places are traditionally holes in the wall, I head to an established chain when I want good guacamole. El Torito Grill is a favorite stop for me when I head back home. There is nothing more satisfying that plopping down in one of their booths after a day of shopping in or walking around Beverly Hills and waiting for their signature guacamole to be prepared tableside while downing an iced tea. I always order it extra spicy (still not zippy enough for me) and topped with cotija cheese. On recent visits, the flavor has not always been consistent, but it is always fresh and delicious and not overladen with garlic and raw onions which is what separates it from other guacamole. I tell my husband that I could simply subsist on their guacamole with fresh chips and the hot flour tortillas served with sweet whipped butter and fresh salsa; ordering an entree after gorging on the aforementioned two always seems more like an afterthought, but somehow I always have room for a few bites of their yummy sizzling Carne Asada.

www.etgrill.com

Los Angeles Favorites: Michel Richard Patisserie

I lived in Los Angeles for the majority of my life, and many places that I grew up with have come and gone, with the exception of a few that have managed to survive the fickle preferences of Angelenos. Michel Richard's Patisserie on Robertson is one of them and even has employees who have been there for over 20 years. Michel Richard was a place my parents patronized for desserts for special occasions ever since we arrived in LA from NY in the late 70s. Even now when I go back home to visit, it is a given that after a shopping trip I'll be picking up four of their simple raspberry tarts with an almond flavored crust, along with a thick slice of their Country Black Pepper pate, a baguette, some apricot danishes, brioches, raspberry cheese mousses, and mocha eclairs. If I decide to stop by after shopping along Robertson, I'll order a warm salmon curry salad for lunch with a cup of their french onion soup. In recent years, many other patisseries have cropped up in LA, including Amandine that makes the most amazing strawberry shortcake, but stepping into Michel Richard reminds me of the 80s, my childhood, and a bite into one of their pastries makes me feel like I'm five again. You can't say that about too many places. Michel Richard: 310 S. Robertson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA. www.maisonrichard.com

Ode to Nobu Malibu

One of our favorite restaurants on the planet is Nobu Matsuhisa's restaurant in Malibu. Everytime we go to Southern California, it's a mandatory stop for us. Celebrity sightings are an added plus or minus depending on how you view it. On one visit, we almost ran over Tommy Lee who inexplicably made a sudden mad dash across the parking lot, almost giving our elderly parents a small heart attack. We never order the sushi as you really want to focus on what they're known for---their specialty dishes.

What to Order:

Raw Dishes:
Tiradito: thinly sliced white fish delicately laced with lemon juice and adorned with a tiny Sriracha dot

Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno: thinly sliced yellowtail with cilantro and a jalapeno sliver capping each slice; one of Nobu's signature dishes

Albacore Vegas Salsa with Avocado: thinly sliced albacore with avocado served with a refreshing blend of chopped tomatoes, cilantro & white onion.

Other dishes:
LIVE Sweet Shrimp fried in Phyllo dough (make sure that it's LIVE and you say "fried in Phyllo" otherwise you'll wind up with the raw version of live sweet shrimp)--you must ask your server if it is available as it is considered a special that is not on the menu. For the faint of heart, please note that the head will arrive to you separately flash-fried (with the antennae dusted with goldleaf no less). It is perfectly kosher for you to eat the shrimp heads, although I always pass mine off to my DH.

Lobster Salad: essentially, their Shitake Mushroom Salad served with fresh lobster. You can spend the market price of around $50 for the salad which is quite good, or if you're just in the mood for some greens, just get the Shitake Mushroom salad which eases the guilt that accompanies some of the richer courses.

Soft Shell Crab Spring Rolls--crisp rolls generously stuffed with soft shelled crab. Unbelievably good.

Rock Shrimp with Creamy Spicy Sauce and/or with Butter Ponzu Sauce: Tempura rock shrimp mixed with a creamy spicy sauce and topped with chives & shitake mushrooms; the Ponzu sauce variety is also good--the rock shrimp is tossed with a delicious butter and ponzu-based sauce.

Kobe Beef Special: thinly shaved and marinated Kobe beef prepared with crispy onions, sugar snap peas, and crisp shitake mushrooms (order at least 1 oz per person); my favorite dish by far. This would be my choice for a last meal. Be very descriptive when ordering this as Nobu prepares their Kobe Beef in a variety of ways. At Malibu, this form of preparation is unfortunately also known as "the Leg Spreader."

Miso Cod: by far, their most popular dish, although it definitely is not one of my favorites, but for the sake of fairness, will put it here b/c maybe I'm just missing the requisite tastebuds for this one.

Dessert: order the below and it will arrived on one platter; perfect for sharing

Bento Box: chocolate souffle cake with green tea ice cream

Spring Rolls: thinly rolled crisps filled with butterscotch, white chocolate and chocolate fillings served with caramel, chocolate and raspberry dipping sauces.

Shiso Crepe: filled with delicious bananas and served with ice cream

Beverages:
Now I'm quite a lightweight, but I do adore their fruit infused Sakes which come in a variety of flavors; we've tried Lychee, Passionfruit, Blood Orange, Strawberry, and Coconut. Passionfruit and Blood Orange were among my favorites. Availability varies daily.

Location:
Nobu Malibu (in the Malibu Country Mart)
3835 Cross Creek Rd Ste 18A
Malibu, CA 90265
310.317.9140

When to Go: supposedly fresh fish deliveries happen on Monday!
Hours: Mon-Thu 5:45pm-10pm
Fri-Sat 5:45pm-11pm
Sun 5:45pm-10pm
www.noburestaurants.com