I like what Republique is doing but this round might be too baller for me.
Not sure if its been mentioned but both Bestia and Bezel are doing to-go.
And it’s delicious. The menu this week looks great.
Nice stuff from the Open Face Food Shop on Adams. Smoked Cod and Seared Trout. Maybe a little fish heavy for a combo but couldn’t resist either. They’re also doing dinner and takeout produce boxes.
At some point, I realized that it was the same price to get a lengua burrito from Anaya or a couple fancy sandwiches from these guys. It’s a good burrito, but Open Face gets the win.
Wasn’t sure the best place to post this but if you were a fan of BierBeisl Chef Mairinger will be doing his thing
I got my order today from Maude on Beverly Drive. Surprised that there was a lot of traffic out and frankly it didn’t feel that much different than an ordinary weekday driving around the Beverly Hills area. If you can believe it, some guy out on Beverly Drive handing out pamphlets - for what I don’t know. And an idiot on his bicycle – shirtless and maskless – doing zig zags on the street so you had to swerve to avoid him.
Anyway pulled up to Maude. They have a table outside piled with pastries and other dishes (although I think they are just for display) and wine. There were two women strolling with their dog and the women with up close and personal with the table - like an inch away and gazing at the items on display - window shopping or sidewalk shopping (no social distancing here), so I waited until they left to get out of my car.
A beautiful dog tied up to a chair at the entrance of the restaurant whose door was open. In ordinary times, I would have petted the dog, but instead I socially distanced from the pooch.
They brought my order out – two quiches, one roasted cauliflower, and one matzo ball soup. Only the soup was in a bag - the other things were just handed to me bagless. Picked up two bottles of wine that were on display, although they bring you fresh bottles of wine from the back. Unfortunately, they don’t have the wine on Tock so if you want some wine when you get there, you have to hand over cash or credit card. I gingerly handed over my credit card, which I wasn’t thrilled about.
Tried a slice of each quiche – one broccoli and one smoked salmon – and didn’t love them as much as I thought I would. Found the crust way too rich – way too much shortening or butter. You can have too much of a good thing - felt unbalanced like an over-oaked wine. Didn’t hit the benchmark of the best quiche I have had which was at the old Bouchon in Beverly Hills. Anyway, we are apparently only 1/12 through the pandemic, so I sliced the quiche and froze it and I’m sure months from now when perhaps the food supply has truly fallen apart I will be happy to find frozen quiche in my freezer (assuming no electricity outages).
The roasted cauliflower, which came with cous cous, and a side sauce was tasty, but I thought was more of a dinner party or big family meal dish – i.e. something that just didn’t work for ordering solo without a family to feed or a dinner party on the horizon.
Still haven’t tried the chicken soup, but I have high hopes for that.
I think I’m pretty much done with take out for the pandemic (unless perhaps Ginza Sushi Onodera reopens because that futomaki that they were doing and which I missed out on sounded awfully good). At this point, I think I would rather cook for the next 12 months.
Thanks for reporting back!
Anyone got suggestions for a highland park run? Trying to hit up Bang^2 noodles but not sure what else is good around. Triple Beam?
Triple Beam is pretty solid for a snack.
Highland Park Wine if you need some bottles.
Kindness + Mischief or Kumquat for coffee (beans or brews).
Mariscos el Faro for aguachile.
Birrieria Villalobos for TJ-style beef birria.
Huaraches Azteca or Jugos Azteca.
Belle’s for decent+ bagels.
La Monarca (though they’re all over the city) for flour tortillas and cafe de olla.
Great list! Two more…
Jeff’s Table… he has grab and go items, get the pickles…
Cookbook… The store in Echo Park is closed, but the one in Highland Park is open, although severely limiting entrances.
–Dommy!
They sell Jeff’s Table pickles at Whole Foods. I just picked up a bottle of his picked jalapenos.
Another helpful list for open restaurants: Pasadena has a list for restaurants participating in “Pasadena Restaurant Week with a Twist - Take Out Edition” and also in general: https://www.pasadenarestaurantweek.com/
thanks for the report. Bummer that it wasn’t better. I would have expected Maude to exceed whatever standards we have for take out meals.
Dommy…
Isn’t Echo Park only taking phone orders with curbside pick up? I think that’s the case.
And HP’s gone back to shopping in store, but has reduced to two customers at a time.
"IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S SOCIAL DISTANCING PROTOCOL, WE ARE ONLY TAKING PHONE ORDERS IN ECHO PARK THROUGH, AT LEAST MAY 15TH -
NO CUSTOMERS WILL BE ALLOWED IN OUR STORE IN ECHO PARK DURING THIS TIME.
PLEASE CALL US TO PLACE YOUR ORDER (213) 250-1900
WE ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN HIGHLAND PARK,
BUT WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE 2 CUSTOMERS AT A TIME,
AT LEAST THROUGH MAY 15TH -
ALL CUSTOMERS MUST WEAR A FACE MASK AND MAINTAIN AT LEAST 6 FEET OF DISTANCE BETWEEN THEMSELVES + STAFF.
WHUT! I had no idea… I assume it’s in the refrigerated section?
If you are are pickle fiend, give Kaylin and Hobbs a try if you are ever at the Original Farmers Market… Their Honey Mustard Pickles are the best thing ever on a Sandwich…
Ah!! Thanks for the clarification!
Others may have enjoyed it better. I’m pretty fussy. And I still haven’t tried the soup - I’m holding out high hope for the soup! But other than that, I’m done with take-out. The meals I have enjoyed the best during the pandemic have been my own, including fish that I would put up against any Michelin starred restaurant. Who knew that when I wasn’t cooped up at the office 24/7 I could produce Michelin quality meals in my own kitchen? I love restaurants and being served and lingering at the table over bottles of wine, but takeout doesn’t recreate that experience, so I might as well cook for myself for the duration, like the next 18 months.