Friends & Family
Sonora Wheat Croissant, Pain d’Amade, Ricotta Pound Cake
Citrus Muffin, Blue Corn Blueberry Scone, Sticky Oat and Pecan Donut
Summer Corn Hand Pie, White Cheddar Biscuit, Spinach Breakfast Galette
Trouble Cookie, Oatmeal Date Cookie, Peanut Butter Cookie, Rye Chocolate Chip Cookie
Dungeness Crab Quiche – Lemon Zest, Dill and Chives
Baked Buckwheat Pancake – Blackberry Compote and Barrel Aged Maple Syrup
Croissant French Toast – Cherry Compote and Barrel Aged Maple Syrup
Opened in early May 2017, another unique Los Angeles entity featuring a Food and Market concept located in Thai Town, Friends & Family from Daniel Mattern and Roxana Jullapat had been widely anticipated thanks to the duo’s previous work at Cooks County and although thus far only offering Breakfast and Lunch the initial word has been good, so good in fact that a visit with two others on Saturday morning saw over $100 spent on a Baker’s Dozen Baked Goods and three Breakfast Plates just past 8:00am.
Described by the simple phrase “Good Food” and found on the corner of Hollywood and Winona Boulevard, the interior spacious and airy with big windows flooding the space in sunlight, diners visiting Friends & Family early can likely find free parking along one of the nearby side streets while those arriving later would be well advised to grab a meter just outside.
Capable of seating around sixty across two rooms, the leather chairs comfortable whether at a table or a windowside bar made of wood, it was seconds after entering Friends & Family that guests were welcomed from behind the counter and although the temptation may be to first check out a dry goods section or refrigerator of Cheeses, Drinks and Puddings the smart money is on stepping right up to grab a menu while also paying close attention to the day’s variety of fresh-baked Pastries.
In many ways a rustic sort of place, the baked goods mostly referencing American Comfort Foods while the morning menu ranges from Eggs or Quiche to Pancakes and French Toast it was with three cups of Counter Culture Coffee brewing that a process of “what not to order” ensued, the waitress smiling as the ‘less worthy’ of nearly two-dozen options were scratched, though even then a desirable Caramel Brownie and Peach Pie were also omitted accidentally.
Apparently owned by the same team behind Trejo’s Coffee and Donuts, a spot enjoyed just prior to driving down Hollywood to meet friends, it was with three plates in hand and four to come that a seat was found near a wall scrawled in orange and white foliage, first bites of the Sonora Wheat Croissant briefly sending up a red flag as it was dry and flavorless though the Almond filled wedge of Pie and Ricotta Pound Cake both quickly put minds at ease by way buttery textures, good density and restrained sweetness.
At this point receiving a plate of three warmed-to-order savories, the White Cheddar Biscuit really nothing to write home about while both the Summer Corn Hand Pie and Spinach Breakfast Galette fared far better thanks to flaky Dough encircling quality produce, those who fancy Dill would be well advised to check out Chef Mattern’s Dungeness Crab Quiche even though the Crust was a touch too dark.
Transitioning back to sweet with sips of an Americano and the occasional bite of Galette between it was from the same plate as a light and airy Oat Flour Donut that Chef Jullapat’s two best Pastries were tasted, the Blue on Blue Scone sweet and moist compared to its British roots and the Citrus Muffin tangy with smoothness that made it seem as though it were made of little more than Flour floating in fresh Lemon Curd.
Saving four Cookies for last, the Coconut and Caramel ‘Trouble’ as well as an Oatmeal Date round both perfect with a just-set center inside a crispy rim, those looking for something a little more substantial would do well to invest $11 or $12, respectively, in either the fried Croissant “French Toast” or a dense Buckwheat Pancake that each come with housemade Fruit Compote and Barrel Aged 100% Maple Syrup.
http://www.friendsandfamilyla.com/