Cecconi's: My new Brunch spot

Feeling sinful, Cecconi's Ricotta Hotcakes sounded like the perfect solution to Easter Brunch. When I called they said they were booked until 4 PM but walk-ins are welcome at the bar. So off we went. The bar was almost empty when we arrived (11:30 AM ish) and there were quite a few tables empty, actually. Anyway. We were seated without a wait.
With no drink menu on hand and sitting at the bar, I just asked my server/bartender if they had fresh squeezed blood orange juice on hand. The answer was YES!

A big glass of fresh (but pulp-less) blood orange juice - $5.
My god ... you have no idea how long I've been craving this! So good. There's no brunch for me without fresh squeezed OJ! And blood orange juice just takes that up a few notches.

I got what I came for. Ricotta hotcakes with preserved blueberries ($8)
Amazing hotcakes! Fluffy enough yet retained some density due to the ricotta. The preserved blueberries actually tasted something reminiscent of dates, especially the 'syrup'. A much better alternative to maple syrup! I'll be getting this again very soon.

The portions here were small (remember your size comparison up there are blueberries) but I thought the prices were quite reasonable. What's the point of spending a couple of extra bucks to stuff yourself ? The size of the portions was just right for me ... to have two dishes instead!

Having finished the "br" portion of brunch, I moved on to the "unch" with some crab ravioli with peas and mint ($12)
Not enough crab, but otherwise delicious. A nice and light tomato-based broth. I loved the subtle kick that the mint leaves added.

Eggs Royale (english muffin, smoked salmon, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce - $11)
Interestingly Cecconi's poached eggs were more well-done than other places. This is probably an individual preference, but I liked it better less runny since I usually have a hard time eating the runny ones other than sopping it up with the english muffin. They're also pretty generous with the salmon, which is great.

Our meal ended on a light note. Chino Farms beets, buffalo mozzarella, and endives ($11).
A very well done dish with great ingredients! I also loved the buffalo mozzarella in this dish.
This might in fact be the best dish of our meal today. Do give it a try, it's light anyway!

The stools at the bar were heavy and not the most comfortable. Doesn't matter. Food's great with great ingredients, prices are right. I'll be back.

Cecconi's
8764 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(310) 432-2000
www.cecconiswesthollywood.com

Your Perfect Downtown Thursday

I got my Thursdays down. If I can get out in time, that is.

Here's the not-so-secret plan: get to downtown at around 6, or earlier. First order of business: The Edison Bar for $0.35 vintage cocktail (ends at 7 PM). The cocktail changes every week, but always well done. Strong tasty drinks.

Depending on how fast you can finish your drink, you can either make it to Pitfire Pizza's happy hour right next door for 50% off food (ends at 7 PM). Or if you want to sip your cocktail slowly, you can also go to Pitfire armed with a Restaurant.com gift certificate.
$10 certificate for $3, or $25 for $10. But wait, don't buy it then! They almost always have a sale or coupon discount for 60%-80% off! That's $25 for a mere $2 or so!


From now May 31st 09 they're having a 80% off sale with code: SPECIAL.

So I came with a girlfriend armed with my $10 gift certificate and walked into Pitfire Pizza at 7:05 PM. As I handed the girl at the register the certificate she said that it's happy hour til 7 PM and so everything's half off anyway! Well it was past 7 PM I almost pointed out ... but I didn't and took her offer. Luckily the gift certificate is good for a year anyway, so i'm saving it for a later time. Double sweetness!

We each got Pitfire's individual-sized pizza and split em.

The burrata pie (burrata, tomato sauce, caramelized onions, arugula, hazelnut pesto drizzle - $9.95).
I really love the texture play that the tiny hazelnut bits added to this. I liked Pitfire's thin crust although I do wish it was crispier so I would eat the edges too ... The pizza is pretty light, as it is not overwhelmed by the cheese and tomato sauce. Overall I liked the combination of this pizza a lot. Chunks of burrata and fresh arugula, topped with crunchy hazelnuts! Plus, pesto ... I loove pesto.

Sweet Fennel Sausage (fontina, creme fraiche, crushed tomato, red onion, mozzarella - $9.95)
This was also good, although may seem a bit 'boring' compared to the burrata pizza. The sausages were good and I liked the use of crushed tomato chunks as opposed to just plain old tomato sauce. More cheesy than the first and was more familiar as a pizza. (Oh, yeah there's an iphone in the background so you can use it for a size comparison ;> )

$0.35 cocktail + $5 pizza. We made out like a couple of stuffed and buzzed bandits.

Pitfire Pizza Company
108 W 2nd St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 808-1200
http://www.pitfirepizza.com/


Read LA Pizza Man's review here and Sinosoul's review here.

Old Standby Brunch and Best Apple Tart Tatin in Town

Rose Cafe is a long-standing brunch destination in Venice. With its patio seating, brunch fares, bakery, and an awesome gift shop, it was (still is) the quintessential brunch in Venice, bustling with families and joggers alike.

I used to go all the time back when I was at UCLA. An off experience one day and moving to Pasadena kept me away from this place for a while. But then I came back.

Rose Cafe offers classical brunch fares - eggs and the like, entrees from the kitchen such as seared tuna salad, and a variety of deli items.

This time I got the Frittata (Italian Style Open-Faced Omelette). Roasted Eggplant, Roasted Peppers, Tomatoes and Basil, Topped w/ Goat Cheese
Generous portions and healthy, the food here is still very solid with good ingredients.

Friend got the Eggs Scandia (lox, poached egg, croissant, dill hollandaise)
Another classic brunch fare. The amount of lox in this dish is lacking - wonder if they've cut back due to the recession :/ It's otherwise very good with flakey buttery croissant. Just ... more lox, please.

Rose Cafe has a large selection of pastries and baked goods that you can either have there or take to go. It's hard not to when you're passing the gorgeous display case on your way out. I often get their apple tart tatin.
As I ate it at home that night, I was reminded again of how much I liked Rose Cafe. They still have the best apple tart tatin around! Sweet, plump, and juicy caramelized apples. Flakey pastry crust. Loved it. It might be the flakey crust that makes it better than the rest. Or maybe it's the apple to crust ratio.

I also remembered that I liked their cobblers. And bread pudding ... and ... what was I thinking only buying the apple tatin? *sigh*


Rose Cafe
220 Rose Ave
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 399-0711
www.rosecafe.com