Yum Miam

Sushi No TV

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As you must have understood now, I’m a sushi lover. When we don’t feel like cooking at home, take out sushi is the best solution. At Whole Foods the sushi boxes are pretty expensive for what they are and not really good. We found that the Japanese Market in Japan Town had amazing fresh salmon and great punzu imported straight from Japan. So we usually get that, slice it at home and also buy good sushis at Vicente Food in Brentwood. It’s hard to find the Red Bean Mochis now in supermarkets but it’s still available in Japan Town. Make your sushi/cut roll look good on a plate. It’s very important that you like what you’re about to eat. Eating out of a take out box is a bad habit, you do not enjoy the food as much and you will not feel as satisfied.

The nicest thing about having a sushi nite is that you can focus on the rest. When you cook an entire meal at home, you do not have time usually to set a nice atmosphere. So get some nice scented candles, subdued lights, create a playlist for this special evening (Chet Baker, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong …) I’d recommend not turning on the TV, it just ruins everything. Enjoy the person sharing this meal with you, or if you’re alone, just enjoy, relax and start dreaming of Japan …

Sushi’Thon

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We decided to try out every sushi place in town to share with other sushi lovers.

I called it the Sushi-Marathon also known as the “sushithon”.

As I already said in an earlier post, LA sushi are the best. There is no comparison allowed with French Japanese restaurants. I could eat Japanese food for lunch and dinner everyday. It’s fresh, healthy and amazingly tasty.

#1:  Hama Sushi in Venice

For the quality of the fish, freshness, originality (rolls/fish selection), friendly Japanese chef . The best spot, especially if you want an experience sitting at the sushi bar (cf. post “dinner at Hama“)

#2: Kushiyu in Tarzana 

Price is good for the quality. I’d recommend the HAMACHI CILANTRO to start (Yellowtail sashimi w/cilantro and jalapeno, garlic olive oil ponzu sauce). It awakens your senses.It was my first time trying sea urchin. I’m not a big fan but the people say it’s very good there. My favorite rolls were the CORN CRUNCH ROLL (Shrimp tempura roll with corn tempura outside) and the SWEET CRUNCHY ROLL (Sea eel tempura w/cucumber inside, avocado outside w/crunchy green onion & eel sauce on top) Don’t forget the tastiest sushis: MEBACHI MAGURO TORO (Big Eye Tuna Belly / NJ) and the KANPACHI (Premium yellowtail / Hawaii)

What I loved about this place is that they tell you the provenance for each fish on the menu. Best for a party of four or more. I forgot to take pictures since it was so enjoyable!

#3: The Izaka-Ya by Katsuya West Hollywood 

The menu is similar to Katsuya but the spot is way more relaxed and laid back. I prefer this kind of atmosphere to eat sushi.
We got the Salmon Sashimi w/ Black Caviar to start which in my opinion was a mistake. It was soft, not much taste and pricy. I’d get the Seared Salmon Sashimi w/ Truffle Sauce if you’re looking for new experiences. Don’t miss on the Crispy Rice w/ Spicy Tuna,  the Halibut Carpaccio w/ Yuzu Vinaigrette, the Seared Crispy Salmon Tempura and the famous Creamy Rock Shrimp Tempura roll yum! 

#4: Sugar Fish (many locations) 

This place is not the most original. If you want to get an extraordinary experience, new flavors and awesome creations it’s not the spot. Nevertheless, I have to admit the fish is pretty good, smooth, fresh. I specify that because I had bad experiences in other Japanese Sushi restaurants with the fish not being easy to cut with your teeth. It shouldn’t happen  if the chef knows what he is doing and the product is fresh. I usually go either for the “Trust me menu” (30 dollars) or the “Trust me lite” (20 dollars). I love these names for sushi menus.

It is really true that the number one thing you should do when going to one of the places listed on this post, is to TRUST. Yes, trust the waiter/chef and just go with the flow. Just specify what you dislike, your allergies, … It’s an amazing experience each time for me. Thanks to this place, I discovered all the different sauce you could put on your fish to make it taste way better (ponzu, onzu ponzu …) I take out a lot from this place now, it’s a bit cheaper too.

Bon Appétit

Election Night Table

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Delicious and varied food to munch while waiting for the next President of the USA.

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-Pita Bread cut in quarters, humus, olives, dried edamames, gyozas, boiled eggs, cooked eggpland, chicken wings, barbecue sauce, dried banana chips, salt and pepper

You can always use this for a game night, an easy friend gathering (add cocktails such as Mojitos and Sangria)

Bon Appétit

Best Desert Pavlova Remix

~ yvonnepearl ~ 1 Comment

I had this amazing desert at the Soho House.

It’s really easy to make and easy to eat. I’ve been craving this desert  ever since I tried it.

You can either buy or make the huge meringue.

Egg Whites Whipped gently.Use superfine sugar when making meringue because it dissolves faster than table sugar.

When beating egg whites and the recipe calls for sugar, gradually add the sugar a few spoonfuls at a time and beating the whole time. The meringue will become more done if you bake them at a lower temperature for a longer time. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.

Add whipped cream and blue/black/raspberries.

Bon appétit

Lunch in Colour Part 3

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After my yoga class I made myself this very healthy/tasty plate. You’ll need:

– Half of an avocado

– One fresh red beet (cooked in pot with water and green peas that will turn pink) Remove beet from pot and cut into small pieces. Leave pink water, add 2 tablespoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of Apple Cider. Add lime juice. Cool down, place in the fridge for one hour and you have a great healthy colorful drink.

– Fresh carrots

– Soy sprouts

– Fresh salmon from a fish market (small piece for one person)

– One small cucumber

–  One leaf of Salad 

– Rice paper

 

 

 

 

For the roll: lay a rice paper flat and with a paper towel gently apply water until it’s soft enough to roll without breaking. Cover the surface with the salad leaf.  Cut the best part of the salmon in a thin long slice. Place this slice in the center of the paper. Add thin slices of cucumber and carrots and the soy sprouts (add red cabbage if you like too) . Roll gently the paper and make a nice roll. Cut it in pieces.

In the middle of the avocado put a drop of sesame oil, white wine vinegar and pepper.

White wine vinegar on the beet.

Bon Appétit

Dîner chez “Comme ça “

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Where is it possible to get good French food here in LA?

I came across this restaurant while walking on Melrose. The name sounded French so I checked it out online. Menu had French inspiration with a touch of American cuisine.

Dinner was great! The food is just wonderful. We went on Tuesday evening (Burger night, yes I know doesn’t seem too French)

Definitely try the Calamari to start (share with 2/3 people, it’s a huge uncut calamari! Never seen it served like that before)

Then, the Burger is amazing! It’s huge, has crunchy onions, the American Cheese melts in your mouth and the meat is very tasty. The fries are also really good. Only on Tuesday night, you have  a choice of Turkey, Chicken and Beef burger I just tried the beef burger.

I ordered the Mussels and they were delicious (creamy sauce) . It’s a big entrée so you can share it and maybe order something else (mm the Burger maybe?)

We were so full, we didn’t need any desert.

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The service is a bit French oriented (the waiters do not rush at your table every two seconds to check if everything is okay. I am obviously used to calling waiters in Paris before they actually come at my table so that was not an issue)

Bon Appétit!

Dinner @ Mercado

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Tercera time at Mercado! I really enjoy it. Santa Monica, nice crowd, laid back people and good atmosphere.

Always order to share. We usually get the basics and its a great deal.

The Poblano peppers in creamy sauce with fresh-baked tortillas to start, then fish tacos are delicious and black beans and rice of course.  Do not forget to get the poblano pepper spicy drink. Yum!

The food there is spicy but not too hot! I never ate spicy food before LA. You cannot have a great culinary experience living here, if you do not force yourself with spicy food.

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Life is about trying new stuff. I always thought I’d have indigestion issues if I ate peppers or wasabi … One day, I was eating dinner at someone’s house. The host was mexican and the salad on the table (which appeared to me as thin dices of cucumber of tomatoes)  was in fact, a salad of fresh poblano peppers in dices with tomatoes. Looked exactly the same ! I love this salad usually and decided to take a big bite with a spoon. It felt very crunchy at first, my tongue started to burn a few seconds afterwards. I couldn’t even smell anything anymore except for this hot spice that was coming from my mouth. I swallowed it all and thought my throat was going to hurt forever.

I must say, that jumping from “not being used to anything spicy at all” to “eating like a real mexican” affected me. The next day, I was sick. Nevertheless, thanks to this one in a lifetime experience, I now can eat spicy food when I want. I just cannot take any more surprises though. I really enjoy it and I am getting there step-by-step. Mexican cuisine has so much to offer. It’s generally affordable, very tasty and the people cooking it are the friendliest.

After dinner at Mercado, I’d recommend you either walk or drive (very close) to Beachy cream to get the coffee or hot chocolate (spicy) organic homemade ice-cream with the pretzel cone!

Bon appétit!

Artist’s Palette #2

~ yvonnepearl ~ 1 Comment

As you notice, this recipe has 3 colours. Conclude that it’s healthy and tasty too.

You’ll need 2 eggs (organic is better)

Spinach leaves (farmer’s market maybe)

Fresh Red Beet

– Cut the red beet and peel (raper) in thin, thin little slices. The thinner, the crunchier! Mix Espelette chili (if you can find it) otherwise a little tabasco, with one tablespoon of white wine vinegar and 2 of nut oil. Let the thin pieces of beet rest in that mixture while you’re preparing the rest.

– Wash the Spinach, mix them with white wine vinegar and olive oil, add pepper and cooking salt

– Put water in pot, wait until almost boiling. Insert the eggs really softly (maybe use a big spoon) so they do not break. Wait 4 minutes, put them under cold water for a minute. Peal the shell gently …

– Take a nice plate, place a little mountain of spinach leaves on the bottom, decorate with the crunchy seasoned raw beet slices and the eggs on top (remember to always add salt and pepper)

Bon Appétit

La Bonne Cuisine

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The Yum Miam is the exciting category of my blog. The big dilemma is the following: Do we eat to live or live to eat?
I mean certainly eating is a need but what about the desire to eat something? The craving you need to fulfill in order to be satisfied (until another one comes along). French people are viewed as very refined eaters. Nevertheless, I had conversations with fine gastronome here. They were critiquing how French cuisine always uses cream in different dishes from meat, fish to deserts.

Truly, in LA, most of the people I’ve encountered are really healthy. It’s a way of life. They’d say “I’m getting healthy again” and so on. By healthy, they mean eating in a structured way. People eat but they think about what is going to end up in their system. I’m not saying this is bad or good, I really don’t have an opinion on this eating philosophy. For instance, they won’t mix dairy and vegetables or cheese and fruits. For me, a Parisian with Auvergne origins (center of France where the molded cheeses comes from) it doesn’t make sense. You eat, you mix, you digest and nothing will affect your system (except if you have health conditions of course)

The Yum Miam is dedicated to eating well (not healthy) but well. I agree sometimes I’d qualify it as healthy but I’m not counting the calories or the sugar quantity, just baking/cooking with my heart and soul. I’ll define well as eating good products, with taste and taking your time … In French culture, Eating is a such an important part of our lives and we focus on it. Not thinking about what we are eating and over analysing the food and ingredients in our plates, but sharing this moment with others, taking a breath between every bites, and taking notes maybe on how to cook or reinvent the recipe at home (revisité concept)

Always remember to ask a recipe for a dish you enjoyed (friend’s, Grandma’s …) and tips in restaurants it allows your cooking skills to get way better and inventive.

Bon Appétit

The artist’s Palette Dinner

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This is a one person meal (so multiply for the number of people)

In this plate there are 4 colours. It looks a bit like an artist’s palette. That’s what you always have to keep in mind.

My mother always told me that the more color you have in your plate, the healthier the meal.

Lentils (red or black): in a pot (1 cup lentils, 3 cups of water) on medium, stir and wait (add one tablespoon of saffron, two of cumin, shallots (really thin slices), salt and pepper.

cauliflower (in hot water with salt and cover) depending on how you want it (crunchy or not) check with fork, rinse it under cold water, and leave it in fridge so it gets cold. In a small bowl mix mustard (grain) one teaspoon, 2 tablespoon of nut oil, and one of white wine vinegar. Add parsley and mix with the cold cauliflower.

Tomatoes (juicy ones) thinly sliced, white vinegar, oil and shallots (very very thin) in a bowl. Cover the tomatoes with the mixture and leave for 10 minutes. Stir and add pepper and salt.

Presentation: you’re free, you are the artist here, the plate is your palette.

Advice: you will always enjoy food better if it looks good and colorful.

Bon Appétit