Agro-touring in Bali. Kopi Luwak, Snakeskin fruit, and more

The good thing about renting a car along with a driver when you're a tourist is that your driver knows places you don't.

As soon as we landed, we asked the driver to take us to Ubud so we can have some suckling pig, but our driver took us for a short pit stop at Trisna Bali Agrowisata (agro-tourism) on the way.
Trisna Bali is a small garden/farm growing a variety of fruits native to Indonesia, including mangoes, mangosteen, rambutans, and more. This was my opportunity to introduce my guests to salak, a tropical fruit they (and probably you) had never seen before.

Lacking any other English name for it, they called it snakeskin fruit. You'll see why:
Salak is a curious fruit. The inside contains three lobes of firm and crisp meat, similar in texture to an apple although firmer and not as juicy. A good salak is sweet and a little tart, but the moistness depends on the variety you're eating.

Per popular request, here is a photo of the inside taken from Salak's Wikipedia page.

When we visited, they gave us a small cup of the Balinese hot chocolate for free, complete with cinnamon sticks!
But of course, since we were in Indonesia after all, we had to get some Kopi Luwak.

Kopi Luwak, peaberry coffee, or whatever other name it goes under, is the most expensive coffee on the planet and is made with ... civet poop.
Luwak is a civet native to Indonesia that eats coffee berries and apparently knows enough to only eat the best quality berries. So when they poop out the beans, those coffee beans are some high quality coffee beans!
Also, the civet's digestive systems supposedly helped break down the coffee beans in such a way that makes the coffee that much better and more intense to drink.

I was quite enjoying my cup until my brother mentioned the word "runny" .....

They roast their own coffee here. As I've said though, they are a small farm/garden in Bali, so if you were expecting a coffee roaster a la Intelligentsia, think again. Here's how they roast coffee:
Yup, by hand, over the fire, for hours and hours. Makes one appreciate it more.


Trisna Bali Agrotourism
Br. Temen (Tampaksiring-Kintamani) Penglumbaran
Susut 80661
Bangli, Bali, Indonesia

Happy Hour at Wolfgang's Steakhouse

A good happy hour on the westside, and especially in Beverly Hills, is always welcomed. Wolfgang's Steakhouse now offers a happy hour menu from 4-7 pm M-F with $7 cocktails, $7 wines, $5 beers. $7 select appetizers are also available all night long.

On a recent media invite to their happy hour, I tasted some of their expanded cocktail menu, ranging from classics like the Gimlet and Margarita, to a more creative and seasonal concoctions.

My favorite was the Socialite (Absolut pear, St Germain, and topped with champagne).
Another bubbly offering was the Park Avenue (left) with prosecco, lime juice, and fresh berries.
The Antioxidant (right), made with Veev Acai, lime, mint, and pomegranate is sweeter and seems to be a very popular drink. Hey, if you can drink and be healthy(-ish) all at once, why not right?

Their cocktails also incorporate fresh fruit juices like in their Strawberry Lemonade.
Oh, and there's also the Birthday Cake made with Citron vodka, Frangelico, and Limoncello. I had learned this recipe back in bartending school, but never actually tried it. The lemon flavor and the frangelico combined is supposed to mimic the taste of chocolate cake in your mouth. I still didn't try it this time around, but let me know what you think :)

For the food, expect well-prepared sliders, either filled with lobster salad or a medium rare burger.

Steaks aside, you can also find fresh tuna tartar garnished lightly with avocado.
Both the happy hour cocktail and food menu are rotating, but will all still be $7.

Wolfgang’s Steakhouse
445 N Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA‎
(310)385-0640‎

Crispy Tripas at Rambo's Taco Truck

Kogi fanatics missed out on a real LA taco truck gem when they waited in the hour-long line just one block away from Rambo's Tacos in Eagle Rock.
For only $1.25 per taco (no tax, as Taco trucks should do) and no line, my choice was clear.

Tripas (tripes) at Rambo's have a crunchy outer layer while still chewy inside. They're topped with hot, hot red salsa. These are the things to go for at Rambo's both the sauce and the meat.
I did hear they have off days with their tripas, but on my visits there they have always been excellente. Inconsistency is a vice, I know, but when they're having a good day the tripas are soo good, definitely worth a try.
They do run out of tripas though, so go early for them.

If you missed out on the tripas, they also have cabeza for some fatty cheek meat (below), or the regular carne asada and carnitas.


Rambo's Tacos
Corner of Eagle Rock and York Blvd
(approximately: 4250 Eagle Rock Blvd)
Los Angeles, CA 90041

Johnny's Po' Boys in NOLA: Even Poor Boys Gotta Eat Well

Po' boy. There are several theories about the origin of the name (and the sandwich) but most of them agree that the name originates from "poor boy". Basically, it's a poor boy's lunch.

Nowadays, po' boy shops in New Orleans are ubiquitous and most po' boys are now filled with deep fried seafood such as shrimp, oysters, catfish etc.

Since a trip to New Orleans wouldn't be a NOLA trip at all without getting a po' boy, I insisted that my first lunch there be at Johnny's Po' Boy, a popular shop in the French Quarter. My po' boy staple: the Crawfish Po' Boy
Crispy batter, meaty and fresh crawfish, "dressed" with lettuce, tomato, and mayo, but nothing overwhelming.

Simply put, po' boys in Los Angeles don't hold a candle to this sub. If you come to NOLA without trying one, you'll regret it.

If you can't decide what to get, Johnny's Muffaleta (Muffuletta) sandwich may offer a solution. The muffuletta is a Sicilian bread, flat and round, and at Johnny's the muffaleta sandwich is stuffed with various fried seafood: catfish, oyster, crawfish, and what have you.

The gumbo was unremarkable and while good, you're bound to find better around town.

The bread pudding was typically heavy and sweet. This huge and satisfying piece cost about $2.50



Johnny's Po-Boys
511 St Louis St
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 524-8129

This Weekend: Support the Heritage Square Museum

About Heritage Square Museum:
A living history museum reflecting the settlement and development of Southern California from the Civil War to the early 20th Century, the Heritage Square Museum has saved eight historic buildings from demolition. You can now visit these buildings during museum hours.

On Saturday, November 7, the Heritage Square Museum will host their 40th Anniversary Fundraiser and Luncheon at the historic San Antonio Winery. This event will help raise critical funds for Heritage Square Museum to continue for another 40 years, so please come on by and support the Museum while drinking wine and eating good food!

The Fundraiser begins with tours of the San Antonio Winery and wine tasting at 1:30 pm and the luncheon buffet will be held at 2:30 pm-4:30 pm.

Honorary Event Chair, Councilman Ed Reyes, District One, will be in attendance and making a special presentation. Your master of ceremony will be Al Downing of the Dodgers fame.


Saturday, November 7, 2009,1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
San Antonio Winery, 737 Lamar Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031.
Tickets are $125.00, call (323) 225-2700

Allston Yacht Club: Refining Echo Park Neighborhood Dining

The recently opened Allston Yacht Club offers something quite different from other places in Echo Park. A small-plate restaurant combining American, Asian, and African influences with a wine bar and an inventive cocktail program. All the plates are priced under $10, making it quite the affordable neighborhood destination.

Not that Echo Park is my neighborhood, so it wasn't like I just meandered over there one day.

AYC has gotten some buzz recently since the owners have started blogging about their restaurateur-ing experiences (Apparently they left their careers in the entertainment industry to open up a restaurant. You know, something more relaxed. Ha :P ). So when their PR person contacted me and invited me to check out the food, I took up the opportunity.

As soon as I entered my eyes were drawn to the yellow backdrop and the giant Hokusai waves. I want that for my room, please.
My friend and I started the night with cocktails. She got the Lena's Holiday (vodka, St Germain, cucumber, pear & ginger - $9)
The drink was on the sweeter side, though not overly so.

The server brought out a plate of cheese (Istara, Sheep, Basque) and saucisson sec by mistake instead of our brandade gratin. Oh well, we are not about to turn down cheese.

I quite enjoyed the firm and smooth Istara.

We never did get our brandade gratin, but there was more than enough food anyway.

Duck Confit with BBQ sauce and green papaya salad ($7)
The duck confit was tender and moist and the sweetness of the bbq sauce was balanced quite well by the tart green papaya. The duck confit preparation here changes daily, and at this price point it's very doable to come regularly and check out what's in store.

The next plate we got was the Merguez Sausage ($8)
Our favorite dish of the night. The lamb sausage was very flavorful and had a great texture that's complemented by the melange of vegetables.

AYC also offers side dishes to go along with your small "plates". We tried the Brussels Sprouts with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and bacon ($6)
This was my only disappointment of the night. The balsamic vinegar made the dish too salty and covered up the taste of the brussels sprouts themselves. We liked eating the bacon bits by themselves though, they were quite good.

We also tried the Spinach Tian, cooked in savory rice custard ($6). A warm and comforting dish, although the egg flavor came through much more than the rice.


The PR person came and talked to us and told us how much she loves the grilled cheese sandwich here. The sandwich preparation changes regularly and seasonally, sometimes incorporating truffles or apricots.

Of course, we had to order one.
No truffle in sight today, but the aromatic melted cheese on the warm, crisp, and buttery bread was very satisfying. My friend did note that it was a bit too greasy for her usual fare, but you know I do not mind it.

For dessert, I tried the Amandine, a South African almond-based cake
A light dessert that's prepared well with a strong almond flavor and crunchy texture.

I was waiting for my friend to finish her drink, so I tried a second drink too, the Ultraviolet Martini (gin, vermouth, lemon, violet syrup - $9)
A very well balanced drink and the aroma and subtle flavor of the violet syrup made this quite a unique drink. Loved it.

Instead of doing my own recap, here's a summary of AYC from my friend and dinner companion (who has her own blog Whiners n Diners):

" Enter the warm, inviting Allston Yacht Club and you will experience a variety of tastes as richly colored as the decor itself. Imagine a great blue Hokusai wave against a vibrant yellow backdrop as you sip delicately crafted cocktails like the UltraViolet martini, the Echo Park Mule or the Allston Sunrise. You can nosh on anything from an assortment of small plates to savory entrees influenced from a variety of world cuisines. Our favorites include the merguez sausage and barbecue duck confit with green papaya. You can also find the tastiest grilled cheese - it is known to take on different forms at times- from plain to truffle infused. The staff is welcoming, and with prices between $7 and $9 for large plates, why not just make AYC your go-to place? "


Allston Yacht Club
1320 Echo Park Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 481-0454
www.allstonyachtclub.com

The Food Event 2009. Another Year, Another Blast

Last year's The Food Event, hosted by Los Angeles magazine, was at the top of my favorite food events in 2008. This year, The Food Event was a huge success yet again.



I was excited to see the Petrossian booth as soon as I came in and enjoyed their offerings, including this tartar topped with caviar.

There were plenty of notable bites that day, including a slider from Dakota, pear and burrata salad from a new tapas place in Pasadena called Noir, desserts from Essential Chocolate, and various offerings from Gordon Ramsay, Gaylord's, Dominick's, and more.

Lemonade LA offers something different with their mint lemonade and cold deli items such as the couscous and the poke.

Naturally there were tons of wines to sip and sample. The ones I got to try some Syrah Rose from Eagle Castle, a blend called RED from Vina Robles, and of course some Semler wines from Malibu's very own vines.

And then there were the cooking demonstrations! Famous Los Angeles chefs standing 5 feet away from you showing you how to cook?

First up was Chef Andrew Kirschner from the Wilshire restaurant demonstrating his Steamed Mussels in Curry Broth (here's the recipe).

Chef David Myers from Sona and Comme Ca showed us how to make Pumpkin Creme Brulee, just in time for the holidays.


In case you missed the video I posted on Monday, Chef Ludo Lefebvre of Ludobites showed us how to make his Spicy Chocolate Mousse with Orange Olive Oil puree all the while making jokes and bantering with the audience.
For those of you who missed it, here's the video, sans subtitle.

Chef Suzanne Tracht couldn't make it but the chefs from Jar came and whipped up a simple but amazing salad.

Last but not least, Chef John Sedlar of Rivera and his chef de cuisine talks about tortilla and the history of guacamole and his tortillas florales.


Chef Sedlar also talks about his recent trip to Tijuana with some of us foodbloggers and hitting 22 restaurants/taco stands in 48 hours (oh yeah, that's how we roll) and some of the implications of the surge of foodbloggers.






Read estarla's coverage here

Eva Restaurant: Sunday Family Dinner, and Free Wine?

It's not everyday you walk into a restaurant greeted by the chef and his baby girl in his arm. Plus that baby girl is the restaurant's namesake herself, Eva.

Between receiving LAist's Sam Kim's email saying "What are you doing for dinner?" and us joining him and MyLastBite + hubby at Eva was about 40 minutes. We were there for Eva's Sunday Family Dinner - a $35 family-style prix fixe that included, yes, included, wine.

Here's what we had for dinner:

Heirloom Tomatoes with Crushed Basil
Delicious, juicy heirloom tomatoes lightly dressed to accentuate the natural flavors of the tomatoes.

Risotto with Shrimp Scampi
Good texture on the risotto and good flavor on the shrimp.

Fried Chicken
These are great fried chicken with crispy skin and the meat is tender and juicy. "Succulent" is a great way of describing it. I did want more ... maybe I should've asked for another piece.

Creamed Corn
Quite the addictive side dish, creamy and the sweetness of the corn really came through.

Braised Short Ribs
The braised short ribs were quite good, tender and flavorful. I did, however, at that point feel that the meal was overall too heavy and wasn't perfectly tied together. I thought that the fried chicken and the short ribs belonged to two separate meals.

Chef Gold came by and asked us if we wanted some egg cream. Egg cream? We had no idea what an egg cream was, but sure, we'll take 3.
According to Wikipedia, it apparently contains neither eggs nor cream, but instead is a concoction made of milk, chocolate syrup, and soda.

For desserts: chocolate and banana cupcakes.

Probably because we were sitting with MyLastBite who knows the chef well now, Chef Gold brought to us a plate of Cuttlefish with Matsutake Mushrooms & Kyoho Grapes
Eating cuttlefish apres-dessert is strange, perhaps, but it matters not because the cuttlefish was delicious and wonderfully chewy.


Eva Restaurant
7458 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 634-0700