Grilled chicken from Beacon

The last time I had dinner at Beacon in Culver City was, wow, a boyfriend-and-many-bad-dates ago and pre CoC. I vaguely remember having the Bento box and not really having anything stand out about my dining experience. I’ll blame it on the company back then. Heh. In any case I hadn’t gone back til I got the 30% off discount for dinner from Blackboard Eats recently.

It was closing in on the last day when I could use the BE discount code so my bf and I decided to take our chances and show up at the Asian restaurant without any reservations. Fortunately there was some room at the bar which was lucky considering they apparently have a great happy hour here.

Green Tea Soba Noodles With Grilled Shrimp

While the other bar patrons enjoyed their HH spicy tuna rolls and vegetable tempuras, we dug into the dinner menu, first letting our server know that we had a discount code. He was so nice about it. I don’t know why I was expecting him to look down his nose at me for having one but then again Blackboard Eats is always good enough to remind discounted diners to tip their servers on the full amount.

Anyway, bf and I decided to split the green tea soba noodles with grilled shrimp and each ordered our own entrees of miso-marinated black cod with sesame-tossed green beans (him) and Thai-marinated grilled organic chicken with green papaya salad (me). OMG all were so frickin’ delicious! Couldn’t really taste the green-tea-ness of the soba noodles but didn’t care. Still couldn’t get enough of them and was sad to have shared the dish with bf. Loved the finger-licking goodness of the shrimp as well.

My chicken was so tender and I especially loved the skin. Yes, I love eating chicken skin especially when it was made like this where it was crisp and seasoned-savory. However, I wasn’t all that crazy about the green papaya salad, but then again I’m not crazy about pickled-flavored things. I don’t know why I thought it would be sweet. But I’m sure those who love that tarty flavor will love the side salad. I ended up giving it to bf who polished it off for me, appreciating its freshness.

As for bf’s cod, I’ll let him speak for himself: “Tender as can be, fell apart when I placed my fork on it. Freshfreshfresh. The sauce stuff was also quite tasty and complemented the fish, and the beans were every bit as fresh. Portion size was tidy, the ‘right’ size, quality not quantity — this was some delish stuff.”

Butterscotch Pudding

We were both so happy with our dinner that I was ambitious enough to go ahead and order the butterscotch pudding for dessert. “Really?” asked bf when I placed the order. I was so sure of my decision that I told the waiter before he could even hand us the dessert menu. I first spotted this baby on Beacon’s online menu and hoped it would be as tasty as the one I had at Rush Street’s grand opening party a couple of years ago.

Sure enough, it did not disappoint. Even bf dug in and he isn’t even into sweets. “This is actually pretty good!” he said spooning gobs of the yumminess into his mouth. The pudding was soo creamy and buttery and yet not overly sweet like butterscotch usually tends to be. I kinda wished bf hadn’t tasted it because what started off as MY dessert became ours.

We’ll definitely return. I especially want to give that happy hour a try.

Beacon
3280 Helms Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90034 (map)
(310) 838-7500

Having brunch this Sunday morning at Jack n Jill’s Too and spotted their happy hour sign:

$5 baby back ribs, pulled pork sliders, bowl of gumbo, sweet potato melts and $3 Heineken, Newcastle, Anchor Steam

Happy hours: Monday through Friday 5 to 7pm

8738 W. 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 858-4900

Dancer on fyah!

It was a hot, sticky night in Havana. Men in suits were lounging in the new happening bar, trying to cool off with chilly mojitos and Cuba Libres. Their ladies all dolled up in clingy dresses shimmied to the thrum of the Conga music blaring through the speakers in the main room. Meanwhile a burlesque dancer, all fishnetted legs and flying hair, gyrated her way through the crowd while her bodyguard kept careful watch from the sidelines.

The hostess and Pablo

I took in the vibrant scene while nursing my daquiri, my bf’s arm draped around me as we cozied up on a loveseat opposite the bar. We had a prime spot for people-watching. But suddenly a line of people came trudging down the narrow spiral staircase, bundled up in raincoats and scarves, shaking the rain from their hair. And I realized I was not in Havana anymore.

It was actually a drizzly night in Los Angeles; Koreatown, to be specific. And the new rum bar, La Descarga, had just opened its doors earlier in the week much to the delight of cocktail enthusiasts, L.A. nightlifers and bloggers. Here is something new and different from the speakeasies that have populated the city the past few years.

Even different from the Tar Pit, the 1940s-esque bar that opened a couple of months ago. Not only is La Descarga located in a neighborhood other than downtown but it offers up a sorta secret entrance that rivals PDT’s phonebooth in New York, a burlesque floor and catwalk show, a dedicated cigar and premium rum room as well as an impressive menu of about 70 rums.

From Los Angeles Times Magazine:

The parlor-like club is designed to evoke a pre-Fidel Cuba—before things got sticky—back when people knew how to enjoy the finer things in life, even if they didn’t own a sugarcane farm.

Mixologists Steve Livigni and Pablo Moix were good enough to invite me to check out their new digs. Not that I wouldn’t have anyway. Steve has his own beverage consulting company, Top Notch Beverage Consulting, while Pablo hails from behind the bar at STK in West Hollywood so I knew the drinks here would be excellent.

Currently their specialty cocktail menu, with drinks that range in price from $9 to $13, only offers rum-based beverages but the boys are looking to expand it in the next two weeks to include cocktails made with other spirits. And, sure, if you’re looking for something other than rum right now, there’s a full bar at your disposal.

La Descarga's Cuban Mojito

What you see at La Descarga at the moment is only the beginning apparently. It’s still a work in progress. For instance, there’s another 2,000 square feet of space behind the bar in the backroom that may reemerge in the next four to five months as “something.” Whatever it is, Pablo and Steve aren’t elaborating.

They did let on, however, that they’re looking to do up rum flights and punchbowls in the back room. And there’s some cocktail on the horizon that Pablo calls “The Next Level” which involves a huge ball of ice that’s hollowed out and dropped into a punchbowl for two.

But on this night, cocktail blogger Thirsty in LA (aka Daniel) and I contented ourselves with what was currently on the specialty cocktail list while bf stuck to Maker’s with one cube of ice. Daniel went for Tapping the Admiral ($13), a concoction of Zaya Rum, Carpano Antica, Cherry Heering and bitters. I didn’t get to taste it because I was afraid of giving Daniel my cough but he said it was sweet, aromatic and potent.

Unfortunately there was no sign of the yummy-sounding Bad Spaniard cocktail mentioned in LA Times‘ Daily Dish blog so on Steve’s recommendation, I ordered the Honey Swizzle* ($12) which he said had a hint of anise flavor due to the Aguardiente Cristal and wasn’t overly sweet despite the cocktail’s name. “We don’t have candy sweet drinks here,” he reassured me.

Now, I’m not a big fan of anise, licorice or absinthe flavors but it actually worked in this cocktail, which started off with that hint of anise and then dissipated into a bite of citrus. There was sweetness but it was pleasantly subtle. Mmm, Honey Swizzle.

Crowd at the bar

I also tried the house daquiri, La Descarga Daquiri ($9) with its mix of Diplomatico anejo rum, lime and sugar and the Cuban Mojito ($10) with Bacardi Carta Blanca, mint, lime, sugar and soda but the Honey Swizzle was my favorite. Maybe because this is the only place you can get a Honey Swizzle while daquiris and mojitos are more readily available. Although, the ones made here are derived from classic recipes so if you want them done as close to authentic as possible, get ‘em here.

Now my blogger friends Food GPS and EstarLA both claimed the Tropical Holiday cocktail ($12) — which offered a promising mix of Rhum JM Blanc, Velvet Falernum, lime, sugar, soda and bitters – to be their favorite from the menu, but for some reason the one that Daniel ordered was…not that great. After a sip, I found it too bitter for my liking. Ack! Gag! “This is my least favorite drink,” Daniel coughed. We guessed that maybe they just went too crazy with the bitters for this batch. Will have to give it another chance the next time we swing by.

OK, now, there are a couple of misconceptions running around about La Descarga. Rumor had it that reservations here are required when in fact Steve says they’re only recommended. Sure, you can swing by here on a whim but if you have some friends with you and intend to show up on a Friday night at 10, it’s best if you made ressies first. They just don’t want people to have to stand outside in line waiting to get in, plus it’s a great way to control the flow of the crowd.

BTW, if you show up during the cabaret show — which consists of Conga drums, sax and a dancer — you’ll have to wait for 15 minutes til the performance is over to be let in.

But if you find yourself flaking out on reservations a couple of times, be warned that you’ll be SOL if you try to make a third one. Ohh, they keep track of flakes here. All Steve asks is that you treat your reservation here like you would with a restaurant. If you can’t make it, let them know ahead of time.

Another misconception is that there isn’t a dress code. On a Friday night after work, I showed up in jeans and a frumpy gray sweater. Did manage to dress it up with a string of pearls though. In any case, Steve said that, like the Edison downtown, there is a dress code of no shorts or flip-flops, etc. and they’d rather that men wear suits and women don beautiful dresses. For a place as special as this, I can see why they’d want you to look nice. Heck, I’d want to look nice coming here.

Plus if the dancer happens to step out in front of you during the floor show and the spotlight’s on you, you’re going to want to look your best as you Rumba with her.

La Descarga definitely makes it on my list of top fave bars in L.A. You can come here for a show, cigars and premium spirits — all without a cover. I just recommend getting here before 9 if you really want to enjoy the space cuz it gets packed. I can’t wait to check back in to try their expanded cocktail list with more spirits in the coming weeks. But for the next visit, I’ll make sure to don a purty dress.

La Descarga
1159 Western Avenue
Hollywood, California 90029 (map)
Reservations recommended, call (323) 466-1324 or do it on the site.

* Two of my cocktails were comped except the Cuban Mojito.

Lots going on this weekend. And no I’m not talking football. I’m talking good-hearted bloggers, speed dating with derby girls and oh, football.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Maker’s Mark $4 Happy Hour at Checkers Downtown
I’m so bummed I have to miss this. Of course this would be on the same day as my boozy tweetup. In any case, enjoy this awesome-sounding happy hour with $4 Maker’s Mark drinks like the Maker’s Peach Cobbler with Dubonnet Red, peach puree and cinnamon and the Ginger Rogers (not the gin one) with mango nectar, lime juice and ginger beer. OMG and my fave: a Maker’s Manhattan. All for only $4 each from 4 to 8pm! There will also be $4 plates, i.e. grilled Monte Cristo sandwich and yellowtail and mango sashimi.

• 4-8pm. Checkers Downtown, Checkers Downtown, 535 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown (map). (213) 624-0000.

Friday, February 5

Bid and Eat for Haiti: Online Foodie Auction
Food blogger Fiona aka Gourmet Pigs is launching a fab online auction where peeps can bid on foodie faves like an autographed copy of Chef Ludo’s Crave, a home brewing kit from Intelligentsia and a slew of gift cards from popular restaurants around town. The best part is that all proceeds will go to benefit CHF International and Operation USA for their Haiti relief efforts. Happy bidding!

Date a Derby Dame
Are you the bravest man alive? Well, then you should have no trouble trying your best pickup lines during this speed dating event with…wait for it…OC Roller Girls. Yup, you only have 5 minutes so better make it good. At the end of the night, they’ll put together all the mutual matches. Good luck. You’ll need it.

• 8pm. $5 (event is free to spectators). Suds Sports Grill, 5932 Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach (map). RSVP/info DateDerbyDame@gmail.com.

Saturday, February 6

Belmont Shore’s 6th Annual Chocolate Festival
Enjoy chocolate in all its glorious forms at this festival. Belmont Shore participants include Frosted Cupcakery, La Creperie and BJ’s Pizza (?) to name but a few. If you’re still cuckoo for cocoa, participate in the chocolate cream pie eating contest 3-4pm.

• 1-4pm. 2nd Street (between Claremont and Park Avenue), Long Beach (map).

Haitians Libations at Vertical Wine Bistro
Aww, more bloggers doing good for Haitian relief. It’s Fiona again but this time with bloggers RumDood and Mattatouille. They’ve created an exclusive cocktail menu and will be serving up the libations at Vertical Wine Bistro from 10pm to close. They’ve got impeccable taste so the drinks are sure to be awesome. 50% of all profits will benefit Artists for Peace and Justice, a non-profit that delivers supplies to Haiti.

• 10pm-2am. Vertical Wine Bistro, 70 N Raymond Avenue, Pasadena (map). (626) 795-3999.

Sunday, February 7

For Super Bowl Happenings, I defer to estarLA for her extensive roundup.

Ten HUT! Drinkers! The Drunken Army is taking new recruits this Thursday. Only serious drinkers need apply because we’ll weed out the lily-livered with some good ol’ whiskey drinking at Bar Food in Brentwood. No mixers here as the bar is armed with only a whiskey list.

What’s the Drunken Army, you ask? Eyes forward, Soldier!

Straight from our elusive Commander in Chief’s…fingers:

The Drunken Army is an elite team of drinkers dedicated to the time-honored tradition of imbibing quality spirits and celebrating (in style) those who mix them. It’s a lobby, it’s a lifestyle, and it’s going to get messy.

To citizens: Basically this is a Tweetup for those interested in joining this online and virtual society of elite drinkers which is made up of bartenders, drink writers/bloggers and drinking enthusiasts.

More details are forthcoming but you can join the Facebook fan page and follow @theDrunkenArmy Twitter for boozy news, info and happenings. To sign up and be considered for a rank, click here.

I love the smell of whiskey in the morning! Heh.

RSVP for the Tweetup.

If anything, come out and join me, Colonel on Crack, and General Thirsty in LA for some whiskey. Yum! Unfortunately this isn’t a hosted bar but whiskies here range in price from $7 to $12. The whiskey list is still growing (currently has about 25) but Jason of Bar Food hopes to make it extensive and competitive with some of the better-known whiskey bars in town. Let’s see if he’s on the right track.

By the way, if you arrive hungry for the tweetup, Bar Food has an all-night happy hour menu with a $6 bar burger, chicken pesto or calamari.

EVENT: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 at 8pm

Bar Food
12217 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90025 (map)
(310) 820-3274