Category Archives: Bread Basket

March 24, 2009
11:16 PM
by: Uhockey

CUT at the Beverly Wilshire, Los Angeles CA

With an ever-growing empire of restaurants across the globe ranging the gauntlet from Fine to Casual, European to Asian, and Californian to Steakhouse many say that Wolfgang Puck is hardly even a chef anymore, but instead a celebrity who spends … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, CUT, Dessert, Food, Grill, Los Angeles, Pork, Souffle, Vacation

March 24, 2009
10:10 AM
by: Uhockey

La Provence, Los Angeles CA

Like any aspiring fan of all that is delicious I did my research – someplace that opens before 7am and has great baked goods and is near enough to Cedars-Sinai so that I can find parking and make my 8am … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Breakfast, California, Croissant, cupcakes, Dessert, Food, La Provence, Los Angeles, Macaroon, Vacation

March 23, 2009
11:00 PM
by: Uhockey

Valentino, Santa Monica CA

Having already tasted much of the Los Angeles Italian fine dining scene with previous visits to All Angelo, La Botte, C&O Trattoria, and Osteria Mozza I finally decided to make my way to the venerable Valentino for a classy meal … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Dessert, Food, Gnocchi, Italian, Lobster, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Vacation, Valentino

March 23, 2009
6:32 PM
by: Uhockey

Little Next Door, Los Angeles CA

I love the idea of French bistro fare…alas we lack any such thing in most parts of the Midwest and specifically in Columbus – you’d be lucky to find a viable quiche let alone a crouque, terrine, or éclair. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Dessert, Foie, Little Next Door, Los Angeles, Tiramisu, Toast, Vacation

March 23, 2009
2:58 AM
by: Uhockey

Providence, Los Angeles CA

The Los Angeles dining scene is not the same as San Francisco or New York – No Michelin 3 Starred restaurants, jeans where you would expect to see Armani suits, texting and cell-phones are wielded at will – it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Food, Lobster, Los Angeles, Pork, Providence, Sushi, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

February 23, 2009
12:00 AM
by: Uhockey

Candelas on the Bay, San Diego CA

After a long drive from Los Angeles and a stellar afternoon snack at Extraordinary Desserts the last stop on a nine day foodie, hockey, and interview trek from San Francisco to San Jose to Monterey to Los Angeles to San … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Candelas, Cornbread, Crab, Dessert, Food, Lobster, Octopus, San Diego, Vacation

February 22, 2009
12:45 AM
by: Uhockey

Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles CA

Authentic or not, Mario Batali and his partner Joseph Bastianich – restaurateur, winemaker, and son of chef Lidia Bastianich – have done more to advance America’s appreciation of the traditional and neo-traditional Italian cuisine than anyone current or prior. Whether … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Dessert, Food, Gnocchi, Italian, Los Angeles, Osteria Mozza, Sweetbreads

February 21, 2009
12:00 AM
by: Uhockey

The Bazaar by Jose Andres, Los Angeles CA

Unlike abstract art which cannot (in my opinion) truly be ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ the realm of abstract food – the realm of Molecular Gastronomy/Neo-cuisine/Deconstructionist cooking – is a little easier to judge. Sure, you can apply rules of asthetics, intention, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Bread Pudding, California, Dessert, Foie, Food, Jose Andres, Lobster, Los Angeles, The Bazaar, Vacation

February 20, 2009
5:00 PM
by: Uhockey

La Botte, Santa Monica CA

Flying from San Francisco to Los Angeles in the early morning hours of February 20th, my family and I decided to take advantage of the fact that Santa Monica’s Michelin Starred La Botte was open for full service lunch on … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Dessert, Food, Italian, La Botte, Los Angeles, Octopus, Santa Monica

February 20, 2009
1:25 AM
by: Uhockey

Arcadia, San Jose CA

A fan of chef Mina’s cooking and having produced multiple dishes from his cookbook in the past I certainly have a fondness for his concepts and cuisine – a meal at Bourbon Steak in Detroit last May was some of … Continue reading →

Posted in Arcadia, Bread Basket, California, Cornbread, Crab, Food, Lobster, Michael Mina, San Jose, Vacation

February 19, 2009
4:53 PM
by: Uhockey

Old Fisherman’s Grotto, Monterey CA

Driving from San Francisco to Monterey Bay with goals of seeing the aquarium before driving back up to San Jose for the Kings/Sharks game at HP Pavilion, finding a quirky place on in the Fisherman’s Wharf was our meal plan … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Bread Pudding, California, Crab, Dessert, Food, Monterey, Old Fisherman's Grotto, Vacation

February 19, 2009
12:30 AM
by: Uhockey

Aqua, San Francisco CA

With one night left in San Francisco our dinner plans were originally to experience the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton; these plans fell through when their daily menu changed and left nothing desirable to the tongue of my traveling companions. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aqua, Bread Basket, California, Dessert, Foie, San Francisco, Souffle, Sushi, Vacation

February 18, 2009
5:00 PM
by: Uhockey

Chez Panisse Cafe, Berkeley CA

Alice Waters needs no introduction – an innovator, a pioneer, a champion of the locally-grown/sustainable/organic movement, possibly a genius and certainly one of the most important names in American (and especially Californian) Cuisine. I’ve read Chef Waters books and have … Continue reading →

Posted in Berkeley, Bread Basket, California, Chez Panisse, Food, Pizza, Vacation

February 18, 2009
12:00 PM
by: Uhockey

Boulangerie, San Francisco CA.

“No picture, no picture, pictures not allowed” stated the small oriental lady behind the counter. Really – of bread? Get over yourself. After a night of the most gracious and unpretentious service ever at The French Laundry I find it … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulangerie, Bread Basket, Bread Pudding, Breakfast, California, Croissant, Food, Macaroon, San Francisco, Vacation

February 17, 2009
7:00 PM
by: Uhockey

The French Laundry, Yountville CA

“The Best” is an interesting concept to me – especially in a subjective realm like the arts; whether visual, music, or culinary. What makes Dali or Picasso a genius? What makes Zeppelin better than the Who? Who decides that what … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Food, Gnocchi, Lobster, Macaroon, Pork, Sushi, Tasting Menu, The French Laundry, Truffle, Vacation, Yountville

February 17, 2009
5:00 PM
by: Uhockey

Bouchon Bistro, Yountville CA

On December 17th my mother managed to secure me February 17th reservations at The French Laundry – without overstating too much, my entire trip to San Francisco was prefaced by this event. Knowing that we would be in Napa/Yountville/Sonoma on … Continue reading →

Posted in Bouchon, Bread Basket, California, Coffee, Food, Vacation, Yountville

February 17, 2009
12:58 AM
by: Uhockey

One Market, San Francisco CA.

It is a holiday Monday in San Francisco; you had Tartine for breakfast and were blown away, you had Boulevard for lunch and were very impressed – you want to keep with the great yet classic concept but your companions … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Crab, Dessert, Foie, Food, Octopus, One Market, San Francisco, Vacation

February 16, 2009
7:00 PM
by: Uhockey

Boulevard, San Francisco CA

After an early breakfast at Tartine and plenty of time driving around viewing the city, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Academy of Sciences the goal was a visit to California’s oldest restaurant for some lunch around 2:00 – little … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulevard, Bread Basket, California, Crab, cupcakes, Dessert, Macaroon, San Francisco, Truffle, Vacation

February 16, 2009
12:00 PM
by: Uhockey

Tartine Bakery, San Francisco CA

On my recent trip to San Francisco, the basic plan was as follows: Light bakery breakfast, small/moderate lunch, and fancy dinner. The first of these breakfasts was partaken at Tartine bakery and given the glowing reviews and Beard awards the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Bread Pudding, Breakfast, California, Coffee, Croissant, Dessert, Food, Macaroon, San Francisco, Tartine Bakery

February 16, 2009
12:00 AM
by: Uhockey

Restaurant Gary Danko, San Francisco CA

Going into my much anticipated visit to San Francisco, Restaurant Gary Danko was #2 on my “Great expectations” list; behind only The French Laundry. Arriving earlier in the day after an overly long (and twice delayed) flight from Ohio and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Crab, Dessert, Foie, Gary Danko, Gnocchi, Lobster, Macaroon, San Francisco, Souffle, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation