Great food on Sunset Blvd.

Just got back from a wonderful dinner at BLT Steak on Sunset in Hollywood. This is the first restaurant in L.A. owned by famed Chefs Laurent Tourondel
and Daniel Boulud and is in the old Le Dome space.

This was the first time we've eaten here, but definitely not the last! Where to begin?? I'll start from the top--we felt comfortable and cared for the minute we walked into the place. When was the last time a hostess asked how my day was and actually had a conversation with me? Probably never.

After we were seated, we were given some crusty bread and chicken liver pate as a "free" starter from the chef. I honestly didn't try any because I'm not a huge fan of pate however it was good I held out because right afterwards we were served the biggest, most delicious popovers I've ever had! These airy, crunchy popovers are served with sweet butter and sea salt and are about as big as a baby's head. They are outstanding!! A copy of the recipe comes with the popovers so maybe I'll make them at home. Yummmm.

My initial plan before arriving at BLT Steak was in fact to order some steak, but I changed my mind after seeing the $50 Prix Fixe dinner. What a great deal--tons of outstanding food with plenty to take home. The waitress said this menu changes every few days and it's always available.

We had steak tartare as the appetizer. This very generous portion comes with more pieces of crunchy bread.I haven't had steak tartare since eating at Windows on The World in NYC years ago. I don't remember it being so good, but that was a long time ago.I actually bagged up about half of it to bring home to our doggie.

The main course I chose was fennel dusted Ahi tuna. Four rare slabs of tuna were served with diced veggies and a delicious, light sauce. There was a choice of a rabbit dish as well. We got two side dishes--roasted carrots and parsnips and Guyere mac and cheese with bacon. Both side dishes were just great; full of flavor and the perfect size.

This prix fixe menu also includes dessert--there was warm carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and ginger ice cream or a butterscotch pudding and homemade sugar cookies. Plus,the chef sends out espresso cookies too. Do I need to say more??

We couldn't even come close to eating all this delicious food. What a wonderful treat. They're going to have an even better deal in a few weeks during Dine L.A. week.

Dinner $44**Price excludes alcohol, tax and gratuity.
Choice of AppetizersBaby Artichoke Salad / Truffle Vinaigrette / Arborio Crouton
Cast Iron Mussels / Chorizo / Slow Cooked Tomato / Saffron Toast
Niman Ranch Crispy Pork Belly / Sherried Lentils / Green Apple /Juniper
Choice of EntreesHorseradish Crusted 8 oz Petit Filet / Grilled Asparagus / Crabmeat Béarnaise
Tournedos of Scottish Salmon / Potato Fondant / Grain Mustard Cream
Tarragon Roasted Chicken / Fingerling Potatoes / Maitaake Mushroom / Preserved Lemon Jus
Choice of DessertsWarm Carrot Cake / Ginger Ice Cream
Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts / Espresso Ice Cream
Chocolate Bread Pudding / Caramelized Bananas / Whipped NutellaBLT Steak:
8720 W Sunset Blvd · West Hollywood
bltsteak.com

Another good book from last year

Today on NPR's All Things Considered, there was an interview with author Lisa Grunweld. She wrote a book I read last year called The Irresistible Henry House. This book is about Henry House, a "practice baby" being raised on the campus of a mid-west college.

Although this story is fictionalized, practice babies were a real part of college life in the U.S. for some 50 years. Practice babies were orphaned babies placed at "houses" in colleges across the country to help teach female students "domestic skills."

My bookclub read this book last year and we had a lively discussion about parenting, attachment theory and adoption.

It's worth a read.

Check out the interview here: http://www.npr.org/2011/01/06/132708047/practice-babies-an-outdated-practice-discovered-west

I know, it's been like, forever...

Happy 2011! After many, many non-productive months, I'm back to my blog. Last year was a tough year for me and I was easily distracted from taking time to write about the good stuff--there was just so much bad stuff. But it's a new year, and I am optimistic this year will be better than the last one.

I did read some good books in 2010 as well as eat at some great restaurants, see some wonderful sights and watch some pretty good movies.

Here is my list of my favorite books that I read last year:
1) Little Bee by Chris Cleave--not a happy book but beautifully written.
2) One Day by David Nicholls--enjoyable love story with a London setting.
3) The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman--intertwining stories that take place at an English language newspaper office in Rome.
4) Hungry Planet-What The World Eats by Peter Menzel--a look at a week of food consumption in various parts of the world, family by family.
5) A Secret Gift-How One Man's Kindness and a Treasure Trove of Letters-Revealed the Hidden History of the Great Depression by Ted Gup--a glimpse of life in Ohio in 1932

I am currently reading (and almost done with) Steve Martin's new novel, An Object of Beauty, about the art world in NYC. I have read his other novels and have always liked them; this one is no exception.

My friend Susan told me a funny story about Steve Martin and his book. He was in NYC at the 92nd Street Y doing a reading and the audience was not too happy because Steve wasn't funny--he was too serious! The audience wanted their money back because they thought his talk would be more of a standup act vs. a serious book reading. Ugh to the audience.

Next on my nightstand is God's Mountain by Erri de Luca and The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall.

Besides books, some other good things that I ran across in 2010 are: The Annenberg Beach House in Santa Monica (great community pool, beach access and history), dinner at Hatfields Restaurant on Melrose Ave., LACMA's Resnick Pavillion exhibit called "Fashioning Fashion-European Dress in Detail" and the movie "The King's Speech".

I look forward to much more good stuff this year.