Ice Cream at Sweet Rose Creamery

Due to popular demand, I've decided to expand my horizons and blog on more than just dishes you. So here's my first review on an all-time favorite: ice cream.

Place: Sweet Rose Creamery
          225 26th Street (The Brentwood Country Mart)
          Santa Monica, CA

Genre: Ice Cream

$$

Hit or a Miss? Hit!

Featured Flavor: Chai Soy

My Opinion:
I can't get enough of Sweet Rose! They have the most exotic and mouth-watering flavors. Olive oil? Basil? Horchata? Chai Soy? Wasabi? Salted Caramel? They've got quite the spread. For those of you who are "true" mint chip lovers (by true I mean the type of people who want mint ice cream that tastes like you're eating a mint leaf) then you have to get a scoop of the mint chip ice cream at Sweet Rose. It's like nothing you've ever had before. You can clearly tell that the mint is natural and fresh. Additionally, texture is what makes the ice cream. Yes, the flavors are incredible, but is an icy salted caramel ice cream all that good? The ice cream texture at Sweet Rose is just pure perfection. It's fluffy, rich and compliments the ice cream's flavor. One thing to note when you do go to Sweet Rose is that the flavors tend to rotate depending on the season; however, if you can't find the flavor you're looking for, you're bound to find a new favorite! For example, I had been craving the horchata sorbet, but unfortunately it was no longer available, so I went out on a limb and tried the basil ice cream. It was surprisingly very enjoyable. There was something about it that just made me want to take one more bite. It wasn't missing anything, but after each spoonful I was trying to figure out why I liked it so much. By the time I finished my cup I figured it out. (this may sound weird, but I promise you it was delicious nonetheless) It was sort of like a sweet and very light pesto flavor, which was so enticing. Naturally, it would taste like some sort of pesto since it's basil ice cream, but I couldn't figure it out until the end. That's my favorite part about Sweet Rose: you always find a new favorite flavor; you can't lose!

Variety at Scarpetta

*an unconventional review*
note: I've been to Scarpetta several times, but only for Sunday brunch, so I'm not entirely familiar with their regular menu. (every Sunday brunch is a buffet)

Restaurant: Scarpetta

Info: 225 North Canon Drive
        Beverly Hills, CA 90210
        (310) 860-7800

$$$$

Hit or a Miss? Hit!

Genre: Modern Italian

Must have "dishes": Assorted cheeses provided by the Beverly Hills Cheese Store

My Opinion:
To be honest, I really go to Scarpetta for the cheese. I'm lactose intolerant, but this is worth the pain. The Beverly Hills Cheese store always provides Scarpetta with exquisite cheeses, which change from week to week. These cheeses are "la crème de la crème." I'm not a cheese expert, but I've learned a lot just from my sunday brunches at Scarpetta. The Beverly Hills Cheese store has their own table set up with an expert from the store who explains each cheese to you: the name, where it came from, what type of cheese etc. It's very helpful. In fact its the same person every time and I've made a new friend as a result. Anyway... I cannot explain how delicate and delicious these cheeses are. From the creamy and mild Reblochon, to the subtle yet bold Boschetto al Tartuffo (truffled), to the ever so strong Roquefort, there's a cheese pallet for everyone. You just tell the cheese expert whether you are fond of mild, strong, soft or hard cheeses and then voilà! you have yourself a diverse set of cheeses to your liking. You won't be able to find a variety like this at any restaurant! You won't only get a plate of cheeses, but also crackers, jams, sun dried tomatoes, pistachios etc. It's the ultimate one of a kind cheese tasting pallet.

Pizza at Milo & Olive

Burrata Piza

Mixed Mushroom Pizza

Margherita Pizza

Restaurant: Milo & Olive

Info: 2723 Wilshire Blvd

         Santa Monica, CA 90403

         (310) 452-6776

$$

Hit or a Miss? Hit!

Genre: 

Milo & Olive has a large variety of delicious baked goods, salads, pastas and the best pizza in LA. It's owned by the same people who opened Huckleberry, Rustic Canyon and Sweet Rose Creamery.

Ambiance:

As much as I love the food at Milo & Olive, the restaurant itself is a bit of an upset (for me at least). It's a very small space and instead of sitting down at a "traditional" table, you sit down at a rather small communal table. Waiting for a spot at the table feels like years. At the busier times of day, Milo & Olive gets overwhelming, and it can get claustrophobic: people at the two small communal tables, a long line of people waiting for a table and a second line of people waiting to order baked goods. However, Milo & Olive is a great place to order "take out." It's the perfect meal to pick up and enjoy it at the park down the street. The perfect picnic!

Must have dish: It's a toss up!!

1) *Burrata Pizza*: tomato, arugula, tomato, olive oil, sea salt ASK FOR NO PROSCIUTTO! 

2) Mixed Mushroom Pizza: fontina, Parmigiano Reggiano, thyme

3) Margherita Pizza: fresh mozzarella, basil, tomato, olive oil and sea salt

My Opinion:

Wow. Just wow. Good pizza is hard to come by, but I definitely hit the jackpot when Milo and Olive opened up. If you've ever had pizza at Pizzeria Mozza and liked it, then you'll love the pizza at Milo Olive. I found that the pizza at Mozza was too salty and difficult to eat. Milo and Olive's pizza (in general) is simple and delicious. The dough is my favorite type of pizza dough: light, crunchy on the crust, but chewy and soft in the center of the crust, the crust of the body of the pizza is nice and thin (in my opinion thick crust takes away from the flavor of the ingredients)

Let's start out with the classic Margherita Pizza. You can't go wrong with the most basic pizza. It's just superb. The tomato sauce is so sweet and creates the perfect combination of flavors with the slightly savory/gooey mozzarella and perfect dough. It's impossible to fully describe this pizza in words. You need to try it for yourself!!

For those who are mushroom fans, then the mixed mushroom pizza is the pizza for you. It's just the perfect mouthful of mushrooms and cheese! My only little (emphasis on little...) complaint is that the saltiness of the cheeses is a bit strong and takes away from the mushroom flavor; however, it's still a unique and delectable pizza.

Now, I know I said that there was a toss up, but after writing about the pizzas, I think the "real must have" is the burrata pizza. It normally comes with prosciutto, but being a pescetarian, I order it without meat. This pizza hits the spot. They use the same perfectly sweet tomato sauce as they did on the Margherita and top the pizza off with four beautiful delicate lumps of burrata. The chilled burrata along with the warm pizza is like a bite of freshness. I don't know how to describe it any other way. The pizza is finally finished off with a bed of arugula which ties everything together and adds a nice flash of flavor, almost like a grand finale to every bite!

Penne at Fig and Olive

Penne Funghi Tartufo

Assorted Crostini: Buratta, tomatoes and pesto; crushed tomatoes and olive oil; prosciuto and fig (not pescetarian) 

"Dessert Crostini" shortbread cookies w/ mascarpone, micro basil, strawberries and balsamic reduction

Bread and various olive oils

Restaurant: Fig and Olive

Info: 8490 Melrose Place

         Los Angeles, CA 90069

         (310) 856-8699

$$$

Hit or a Miss? Hit!

Genre: Mediterranean (Spanish, Southern French and Italian), centered around the use of diverse olive oils

Ambiance:

Absolutely stunning. Huge venue shed with a lot of natural lighting. Very nice place for lunch. There are a few olive trees as well as rosemary plants around the restaurant. Just a beautiful set up. It was not too noisy and the large space gave way to an enjoyable experience even at a busy time of day.

Must have dish: Penne Funghi Tartufo

-cremini and black trumpet mushrooms, parmesan, parsley, scallion and white truffle oil

My opinion:

This pasta was just to die for. I'm quite fond of truffles so when I saw this on the menu, I knew I had to order it. The pasta itself was exquisite. When I took my first bite the pasta was ever so crispy, yet the initial "crunch" was followed by a soft interior that really absorbed and locked in the truffle flavor. I am picky about truffles in that too much truffle is overpowering. This dish really balanced the sharpness of the parmesan and the subtle distinct flavor of the truffle oil. I'm a HUGE fan of this pasta. The parsley and scallions were a nice accent to the pasta and really finished it off. The parsley helped subdue the sharp/salty parmesan and just made everything combine so nicely. My only complaint was that the truffle oil, while not overpowering in terms of flavor, was used in excess. At the bottom of my plate was a pool of the truffle oil, which to me was a bit unsettling. All in all this was a dish you couldn't miss despite the abundance of truffle oil. Given my positive experience at Fig and Olive, I can't wait to go back to try something new.

Gourmet Sandwich at Larchmont Village Wines, Spirits and Cheese

"Restaurant" : Larchmont Village Wines, Sprits and Cheese

Info: 223 North Larchmont Blvd
         Los Angeles, CA 90004
         (310) 856-8699

$

Hit or a Miss? Hit!

Genre: Imported goods/sandwhich place (very similar to Bay Cities in Santa Monica)

Ambiance:
Cute shop with all sorts of imported goods: cheeses, wines, chocolate, soft drinks, olive oil etc. You stand in line and choose from one of the 7 sandwiches they make. It isn't a normal "sit down restaurant." You walk in, order your sandwich, pay and find a table outside to enjoy or take the sandwich to go.

Must have "dish" : The #6-Vegetarian (on a french baguette) you have the choice of ciabatta or a baguette
-avocado, tomato, roasted red and yellow peppers, mixed greens, black olive tapenade, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar (salt and pepper upon request)

My opinion:
I'm picky with my sandwiches, but this was definitely one of the better sandwiches I've had. The key to a good sandwich is the bread. The baguette is just perfect. It's crunchy/crispy on the outside, but so fluffy on the inside (which makes for a good sponge when the olive oil and balsamic vinegar are added). The flavors just went together so well and even though this is a "meatless" sandwich, it filled me up pretty well. My only complaint is that it's sort of hard to eat without getting a bit messy. It began to get harder and harder to bite into the sandwich without losing a few pieces here and there. Other than that, it's just so delicious!

Salmon at Bouchon Bistro

Restaurant: Bouchon Bistro

Info: 235 North Canon Drive

         Beverly Hills, CA 90210

         (310) 271-9910

$$$

Genre: French Bistro

Ambiance:

It feels like you are in Paris, yet the relatively new bistro is spacious and filled with natural light. Even when the restaurant is busy, you don't feel overwhelmed by the number of people. 

Must have dish: Saumon Grillé

-grilled Scottish salmon with arugula, quinoa, slivers of pink grapefruit and endives

Hit or a Miss? Hit!

My opinion:

I've had my fair share of salmon dishes, but Bouchon's Saumon Grillé is far superior than any other salmon I've had. Bouchon always offers dishes that are "in season." You may only find this version of the Saumon Grillé in the spring time (March-May?) The lightness of the salad coupled with the hearty salmon and pink grapefruit accents make the perfect lunch. All of the flavors just came together so well and I couldn't stop talking about it as I ate. It's the type of dish that makes you feel good after eating. The sweet and savory mix is sometimes overdone, but this was just the perfect combination of the sweetness of the pink grapefruit, the slightly salted salmon and the distinctly flavored arugula. It's a light, flavorful and a nice take on salmon. I'm a huge fan of quinoa and arugula so seeing it on the menu with salmon seemed so appealing, and thankfully, I was not disappointed. Whether you're a pescetarian or not, you must try this at least once!