Caroline on Crack | February 2011

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Monthly Archives: February 2011

February 28, 2011

National Pig Day With Cast Iron Gourmet: Bacon Poutine, McPig Sandwich & Happy Hour

Squee! Oink, oink!

Pork, Frysmith fries and beer. Loosen your belt or wear your fat pants to this National Pig Day celebration with Cast Iron Gourmet and Frysmith at The Black Boar in Eagle Rock. Cast Iron Gourmet chef/owner Rashida Purifoy, whom I first met at Artisanal LA where I fell in love with her Couch Mix, gave me a sneak peek of what she’ll be serving up at this oink fest. “We have some great ‘mash-up’ dishes in store; a double bacon mushroom gravy poutine and a McPig sandwich, which is beer braised pork belly served with handmade BBQ, pickles and onions on a fresh French roll with a side of sweet potato fries and other porky finds.” She also said something about chorizo chili fries as well as chicharr�n fries. Oink, oink! Everything will be under $10.

Budget bingers will also appreciate the Black Boar’s happy hour on tap beers and well drinks from 5-8pm and then 11pm-12am. There will even be a special “pig themed” drink for the occasion. Wonder if it involves bacon-washed bourbon? Hmmm.

EVENT: TUESDAY, MARCH 1 from 5 to 9pm

The Black Boar
1630 Colorado Boulevard
Eagle Rock, California 90041 (map)
Facebook: Black Boar Bar, Cast Iron Gourmet
Twitter: @CastIronGourmet, @Frysmith

Categories: Dining, Los Angeles, Nightlife

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February 26, 2011

Tonight: Pablo Moix Does Tiki at Harvard & Stone’s R&D Bar

Pablo Moix does tiki for one night.

For cocktail enthusiasts, it’s all about the back bar action at new East Hollywood bar Harvard & Stone where there’s a fresh new cocktail menu every night. “The point to the back is R&D [research & development],� to have fun and push the limit,” said H&S mixologist Pablo Moix. And every month a new spirit is showcased. Since it’s Whiskey February, Pablo created a tiki-inspired menu featuring the likes of Rittenhouse and Elijah Craig. If you like what you see, swing by H&S tonight since that’s the only time these drinks will be available!

Buck 50: Evan Williams black bourbon, fresh pressed pineapple juice, house made ginger syrup, freshly squeezed lime juice, Angostura bitters & soda
Liquid Swords: Fighting Cock bourbon, freshly squeezed blood orange juice, cherry heering & vya sweet vermouth
Mai-date: Fresh date-infused Rittenhouse bonded rye, housemade orgeat, curacao, freshly squeezed lime & Angostura bitters
Nielsen�s Box: Rittenhouse bonded rye, wine in a box, Disaronno, freshly squeezed lemon juice, egg white and cinnamon
…Only Built 4 Cuban Linx: Elijah Craig 12, Benedictine, honey, chai tea, water & handmade to order vanilla bean whipped cream (served hot)

Pablo also gave me a sneaky peek of what he has in store for R&D next Saturday the 4th. All I’ll say is “’80s college cocktail throwback!” Oh, and wine coolers with gin and white Zinfandel syrup. Yum and fun!

Harvard & Stone
5521 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90027 (map)
(323) 466-6063
Facebook: Harvard & Stone

Categories: Cocktails, Los Angeles, Nightlife

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February 25, 2011

2011 Oscars Drinking Game Rules

Not everyone is into watching the Oscars so a sure way to make it fun for EVERYone at your awards show viewing party is naturally to turn it into a drinking game. Inspired by Brand X and Rundown LA‘s Oscars Drinking Games, I came up with more rules. Thanks to my Tweeps for the suggestions. I’ll continue to update this list as more rules come in. Leave your rules in the comments or, if you tweet, use #OscarsDrinkingGame to be added.

Take a shot�

whenever James Franco and Anne Hathaway high-five

whenever someone mentions something political in their acceptance speech (see above video for a doozy of a political statement)

for every fifth person in the dead person montage whom you don’t recognize. Pray it’s not all publicists, execs and actors from the ’50s

whenever someone in your party says “I didn’t know they died” during the dead person montage

whenever an award winner tries to return to their seat but gets redirected by the trophy girl

someone’s acceptance speech runs long and the orchestra starts playing

whenever someone cries while accepting the award

whenever Anne Hathaway dimples — NateNotSoGr8

whenever someone says “like” during their acceptance speech — stephenbarros

whenever someone’s partner is thanked – smrtmnky

whenever someone says “I really didn’t expect this!” then pulls out their prepared speech — JanineSmith

whenever an acceptance speech is given in another language (whole or part) — smrtmnky

whenever winner says hi to kid(s) “watching @ home.” One more if they say “go to bed, it’s late” — ThirstyinLA

whenever someone thanks God — krisdub

Pass the bottle…

if both of the In Memoriam clips for Leslie Nielsen & Peter Graves are from Airplane! — ThirstyinLA

if someone makes a joke referring to Charlie Sheen or Mel Gibson

if James Franco live tweets from the stage — ThirstyinLA

when some old guy does some one handed push-ups — Dhppy

if they show Eli Wallach as Mr. Freeze in his Lifetime Achievement montage — ThirstyinLA

if the audience holds the applause until the end of the “In Memoriam” montage — ThirstyinLA

if Exit Through the Gift Shop wins and Banksy is there to accept — ThirstyinLA

if Banksy tags the stage — ThirstyinLA

if Social Network wins for Best Picture. Facebook FTW!

Categories: Los Angeles

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February 24, 2011

This Weekend: Marilyn Monroe Strips, Epic Bruery Beer Feast, Street Food Monday

Doing anything special during the Oscars?

Saturday, February 26

Sunset Starlets Burlesque at The Libertine
Enjoy the fantasy of seeing your favorite Old Hollywood starlets performing a striptease at New Noir. Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, Rita Hayworth and Elizabeth Taylor — or at least their burlesque doubles — will be shaking their moneymakers while you indulge in all-you-can-drink specials and cake balls (first 50 people get free cake balls).

9pm. $10. The Libertine, 8210 W. Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood (map).

Sunday, February 27

Dionicess VII: The Bruery Lunch/Dinner at the Foundry on Melrose
My fave SoCal brewery, the Bruery, is teaming up with The Foundry on Melrose for an epic all-day beer-paired meal. That’s right, 10 beers and 10 courses for $115. But if you feel like that’s more than your beer belly can take, you have a choice of doing either the 4-course lunch ($45) at 1pm or the 6-course dinner ($85) at 6pm. Me? I’m just doing the lunch. I love the Bruery but whoa.

1pm and 6pm. $45 lunch, $85 dinner, $115 lunch and dinner. The Foundry on Melrose, 7465 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles (map). (323) 651-0915.

Academy Awards Drink Along
Bored to death during awards shows? Nothing makes such a thing more bearable than watching it with a drinking game. Downtown Independent will provide the beer, you provide the drinking game rules. Knock one back every time Franco and Hathaway high five.

3:30 red carpet. Free. Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main Street, Los Angeles (map). (213) 617-1033.

Academy Awards at Big Bar
Watch the awards show in the garden patio of this Los Feliz bar where the James Franco and Anne Hathaway variety show will be projected on a large screen draped over the front of the building. Enjoy Plymouth Gin cocktails� ($11 each) like the “And the Award Goes to” Punch with lemon ginger tea, lemon juice and apricot liqueur.� Cast your ballots of who you think will win and the attendee with the most correct votes will win a $100 Big Bar/Alcove gift card.

5pm-12am. No cover. Big Bar, 1929 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Feliz (map).

Monday, February 28

Street Food Mondays at Angeli Caffe with Evan Kleiman and Bill Esparza
Partake of this rare dining experience hosted by KCRW Good Food host Evan Kleiman and Street Gourmet LA blogger Bill Esparza. If you never get to explore street food, now’s your chance. This evening’s meal will focus on comida corrida, a common three-course meal in Mexico. For $28 you get a Mexico City-style lentil soup, white rice with vegetables, a choice of stew (green mole, pork ribs in guajillo chile, pork ribs with purslane, frog’s legs torts or Aztec spinach huazontle in black Oaxacan mole) plus arroz con leche for dessert and aguas frescas.

5:30-10pm. $28. Angeli Caffe, 7274 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles (map). (323) 936-9086.

Categories: Beer, Cocktails, Dining, Lists, Los Angeles, Nightlife

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February 23, 2011

Harvard & Stone: An American Craft Neighborhood Bar Opens

Bartender Mia goes Rosie the Riveter on that ice.

I am the mayor of Harvard & Stone in East Hollywood. How did that happen considering last night was the new bar’s opening night? My blogger friends wondered, skeptical. Ha! I was able to score an interview for LA Weekly‘s Squid Ink with its general manager Steve Livigni, also of La Descarga, weeks before the bar opened and while it still had sawdust on the floor and plastic sheets covering its plush leather couches.

Harvard & Stone front bar by Caroline on crack

Front bar during opening night.

I wasn’t allowed to take pictures in its state of undress but Steve gave me a sneak peek tour of how the bar was going to look. Shadow boxes on the walls filled with cocktail artifacts, a semi-private back room meant to look like the factory boss’ office, and a back bar stocked with an ever-changing spirit selection and cocktail menu. It was going to be 3,500 square feet of cocktail gorgeousness dedicated to American craft booze, i.e. spirits made in America like Wisconsin’s Death’s Door and Kentucky’s Elijah Craig.

So, last night, after a week of delays, the bar finally opened its huge, rusty-looking medal sliding door. There was a door guy who asked me who I was there to see. “Is this not open to the public yet?” I asked. “No, it is but we just want to keep it under control,” he smiled. At 9pm, the bar was still easy to negotiate with open spots at the bar and ample room on the plush couches in the back. But the back bar itself was a-buzzing.

Heaven Hill Distilleries was the featured guest of the night and a cocktail menu du noir by Harvard & Stone barman Francois Vera showcased the spirits company’s booze.

Elijah Smash: Elijah Craig 12, muddled lemon, cane sugar, lemon zest
Fancy Free: Elijah Craig 12, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, orange bitters, orange zest. A bit too orange-y �and syrupy for my taste.
Ginger Sour: Evan Williams bourbon, lemon juice, ginger syrup, egg whites, nutmeg
Opening Night Jitters: Fighting Cock bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, rhubarb bitters, rosemary. Very light, drinkable, not too sweet.

Opening Night Jitters cocktail.

If you see anything you like here, you’re SOL as the above cocktails were only available last night. Such is the way of Harvard & Stone’s back bar. It will feature a new cocktail menu every night. And every month will showcase a new spirit, so you have til the end of February to enjoy whiskey back there. Next month it’s all gin, baby.

But the front of the house offers a tasty selection of specialty cocktails, too. I’m dying to try Baby’s First Bourbon: Bulleit bourbon, orgeat, lemon juice and Angostura bitters. And an Apple Martini made with Original Moonshine? Yes, please!

Like the back bar cocktail menus, live musical acts are just as “spontaneous.” There is a stage, drum kit and guitar and even a green room should any bands feel like throwing an impromptu show. Steve and the H&S team have musical connections so promise some great bands, maybe even low-key post Hollywood Bowl gigs. Who knows? The thing is that since Steve says this isn’t really a live music venue there won’t be a fixed calendar. However, if you keep your eye on the bar’s Web site there may be the occasional heads-up.

In any case, I love this new bar and wish it were my neighborhood bar. But that doesn’t mean I won’t try and hold onto my Foursquare mayorship with both cocktail-sticky hands.

Best seat in the house? The stool on the balcony overlooking the back bar.

More photos after the jump.

Harvard & Stone
5521 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90027 (map)
(323) 466-6063
Facebook: Harvard & Stone

Categories: Cocktails, Featured, Los Angeles, Nightlife

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February 22, 2011

Go Burger’s Milkshakes Bring All the Drunks to the Yard

Grandma's Treat Adult Milkshake by Caroline on Crack

Grandma's Treat Adult Shake.

Another burger joint opens in L.A., no big deal, I thought. But when it involves adult milkshakes it’s a huuge deal. At least to me. Spiked shakes are all that is good and right with the world, combining my favorites of creamy ice cream and booze. I’ve had 8 oz.’s off-the-menu cocktail shake, Kitchen 24′s Adult Swim shake and 25 Degree’s boubon salty caramel shake, but Go Burger in Hollywood is the only place I’ve been that has a dedicated spiked milkshakes menu ($11 each) consisting of five indulgent, boozy combinations. Plus there’s even one involving tequila, a rarity since most cocktail shakes seem to go for the sweet spirits of syrupy liqueurs:

The All Nighter: Kahlua, Bailey’s, espresso, coffee ice cream
Aztec Mocha: Herradura Silver Tequila, coffee ice cream, cayenne pepper, chocolate syrup
Grandma’s Treat: Maker’s Mark, caramel, vanilla ice cream
Night Rider: Kahlua, chocolate liqueur, Oreo cookies, chocolate ice cream
The Nut Job: Frangelico, pistachio ice cream, Nutella

As tempting as the Aztec Mocha sounded, I went for Grandma’s Treat, which is the only shake here with bourbon. Plus I appreciate its simplicity of vanilla ice cream with caramel. All the other shakes just sounded way too sweet for me with their use of liqueurs and syrups.

The awesome thing about Grandma’s Treat shake is that I could actually taste the Maker’s. Apparently, Gammy likes her bourbon, a lot, but at the same time she wants to actually taste the milkshake, too. So there’s not too much liquor where it’s unpalatable or where you get buzzed, but just enough where the sweetness of the bourbon complements the creamy vanilla ice cream and the bonus bits of caramel. So frickin good! Extra bonus is that it comes with a little square of chocolate-covered toffee, reminding me of Grandma’s Christmas tin of English toffee.

The only problem I had with the shake is that it prevented me from enjoying my order of duck fat fries. After I got through the peppery salmon burger and the shake, I couldn’t even touch those fries which called to me with their duck fattiness and creamy dip. I have to keep reminding myself that the shake is a dessert and not an appetizer. But it wasn’t too much of a loss since the fries were too soft for my taste so it wasn’t like I’d be missing the crunch when I reheated them up at home.

In any case, really happy Go Burger opened up on Vine and Sunset. A great place to grab dinner before a movie at the ArcLight. Before my only options were Kitchen 24 (blech) and the Bowery (great for beer but kinda pricey for casual).

6290 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90028 (map)
(323) 327-9355
Twitter: @goburgerla

Categories: Cocktails, Dining, Los Angeles, Sweets

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February 18, 2011

Blog Bite: Chego’s Sriracha Candy Bar

Gooey, spicy, crunchy.

The first time I heard of Chego‘s Sriracha candy bar was when I was in line at the West LA restaurant. It was listed on the menu with a “Sold Out” Post-It next to it. Yes, that would be a candy bar made with a chocolate crisped rice bottom, caramel, Sriracha ganache, spiced candied peanuts and dark chocolate.

Kogi’s pastry chef Beth Kellerhals created them for her company, Double Chin Desserts, and they started selling the bars in April last year. The spicy chocolate bars have been a hot commodity ever since. So the next time I was at Chego and saw that it was available I ordered one, taking it back to Scoops Westside where I split it with the ice cream shop’s proprietor Matt Kang.

Matt loved it, but I just wasn’t as enamored by it. It’s exotic, unique, spicy and sweet, sure, but I wish it used a nut other than peanuts which, honestly I dislike, but that’s just me. The peanuts, even though spiced and candied, just cheapened the candy for me. I mean the bar is $4, peanuts are throwaway nuts. However, when I thought about it, I was hard-pressed to think of what other kind of nut I would have preferred here. Almonds would have been too hard in an already crunchy bar. Walnuts? Meh. Maybe no nuts at all? Hm.

The whole bar isn’t encased in dark chocolate by the way. Flip it over and you can see the crisped rice. Try to eat the bar with a fork (as you do when you have to share it) and the bar comes apart — the chocolate brick of peanuts, the bar of crisped rice with the gooey caramel between the two. But unlike an Oreo cookie, you wouldn’t be tempted to lap of that caramel.

From LA Weekly’s Squid Ink:

The Sriracha element is found within the bar, in the form of a thin layer of ganache floating above a pool of slick caramel.

The presence of the Sriracha was more subtle than I thought it would be. I figured I’d need a glass of water handy while I nibbled at the bar, but wasn’t the case. So if you’re expecting ow-chi-mama hot, you’ll be bummed. Not to say this is a bad candy bar. It’s fine and would no doubt make a fun treat for your Sriracha-loving friend. But I found it to be a splurge at $4 a bar.

Categories: Blog Bites, Featured, Los Angeles, Sweets

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