Blue heaven.

“You want to go to the kitchen with me, Caroline?” Nastassia Johnson (@LetMeEatCake) of Sauce LA asked me with a mischievous glint in her eye. We were standing around waiting for more passed plates at last night’s Esquire Magazine party at Playa. The schmancy party was to celebrate Chef John Sedlar being lauded by the publication as Chef of the Year. Huzzah, indeed!

Nastassia post-muffin glow.

But back to that secret kitchen excursion. Since it was currently buzzing with appetizers being plated and brought out and a flurry of servers, I looked at Nastassia skeptically. But she assured me that Chef de Cuisine Kevin Levande OK’d it saying that I was only allowed in because I was Filipino, too. Hayyy! Turns out he had a batch of blue corn muffins made with Anson Farms Organic Cornmeal for Nastassia.

It’s something that’s only available at weekend brunch which she could never make so here, in the middle of the chaos, he was able to make some for her. And she so very generously asked if she could share them with a friend, me!

The trio of warm muffins sat on a rectangle white tray beside a bowl of almond butter. Yes, actually plated as if we were ordering them for brunch. Since there was nowhere to sit in the kitchen and we didn’t want to out ourselves to the party that we had these awesome treats, we pressed ourselves up against the wall so that the servers could still get by.

And with no knife with which to spread that delicious butter on the muffin we tried dipping them in and then tried spreading it with a fork. Unfortunately the creamy butter was still not soft enough. When I did manage to get some butter on the muffin it melted onto the warm bread. Its silky-sweet almondness complemented the sweetness of the corn.

But the muffin was just fine sans spread. I tore at its bottom first as is my muffin-eating MO so that I’d have the crunchy, firm top for last. The muffin itself was moist and buttery and not at all dense as I’d experience with most other cornbread muffins. Such a lovely treat. I almost wished I had a nice cup of coffee to enjoy with it.

The muffins are only $6 for the trio with butter at weekend brunch. Such a sweet deal.

Playa
7360 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90036 (map)
(323) 933-5300
Twitter: @PlayaRivera
Facebook:  Playa Rivera

Beer Belly owners Jimmy and Yume Han are so excited about their new brunch.

This Sunday, Beer Belly in K-Town is kicking off its new Sunday brunch, “The Brunch of Shame” with a crazy menu by Chef Wes involving the likes of Lucky Charms pancakes, foie gras hollandaise and a pork belly Eggs Benedict!

And if that’s not enough to tub up your own beer belly, owner Jimmy Han was good enough to suggest some beer pairings for each dish.

• The Philly: Pork roll, egg & cheese paired with Craftsman 1903 Lager

• Lucky Pancakes: Lucky Charms pancakes with cereal milk whipped cream paired with Alesmith Speedway Stout

• Fried Chicken “IN” Waffle: Fried chicken double-fried in waffle batter paired with Golden Road Point the Way IPA

• Beer Belly’s Belly Benny: Eggs benedict, hollandaise, fried onion, braised pork belly, english muffin paired with Craftsman Harvest Saison

• The Protestor: Eggs benedict, foie gras hollandaise, shiitake mushrooms, duck confit, english muffin paired with Bootlegger’s Plum Riot

• What Hangover?: Beer-marinated short rib, horseradish roasted potatoes and two eggs paired with Cismontane Oktoberfest

Doors open on Sunday at 12pm.

Beer Belly
532 S Western Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90020 (map)
Facebook: Beer Belly LA
Twitter: @BeerBelly_LA

At Jasper's harlot's progress never tasted so good.

After the way my uber-indulgent Day One in San Francisco went, I was in Ziggy Piggy heaven. Eating and drinking without remorse. Thoughts of diets and exercise could wait til I got back in L.A. For now, every craving was sated, food babies be damned.

Fortunate considering my two favorite bar/restaurants of the whole trip were still to come in my Day 2 and 3.

Farm:Table in Tenderloin

Quiche at Farm:Table.

My bff and SF guide, Jennifer, took me through skurry Tenderloin to get to this appropriately named brunch spot which boasts dishes made with ingredients straight from the farm and/or farmers market. After passing by a couple of corner drug deals and two guys peeing on the sidewalk of a busy street (not even an alley!) I was a bit annoyed by the time we got to the teeny eatery since I was afraid someone was going to mug me for my DSLR, my Precioussss.

For Jennifer, this walk through the neighborhood was just a part of her everyday life since she works at City Hall and usually walks through the Tenderloin for lunch. But I can’t say the same for myself. In L.A. I just drive through the sketchy areas, windows up.

I was even more annoyed that Farm:Table only took cash, didn’t have enough seating indoors (we had to eat at the sidewalk cafe tables) and didn’t really have any breakfast-y dishes. So I went with the closest breakfast thing I could find off its meager menu: a quiche with a side salad topped with figs. The figs were a nice touch to an otherwise basic salad. And the quiche was fresh, fluffy and simple. Unfortunately my latte with homemade almond milk (they don’t have soy) was not all that great, kinda watery. But I’m not accustomed to almond milk so if that’s how you usually take your coffee you might feel differently.

Although I wouldn’t trek through the Tenderloin again to get here, I did enjoy the warmth of the employees. They were so friendly and when they asked us how we were doing, it felt like they genuinely cared about our answer. Their enthusiastic recommendations were also based on experience from having enjoyed the food themselves and not just upselling. It turned what could have been just a small hole in the wall into something like a friend’s kitchen nook.

Jasper’s Corner Tap in the Tenderloin

Jasper's Improved Manhattan.

After catching the latest Ryan Gosling movie (hey, girl) at the Metreon in SoMa, Jen and I headed over to Jasper’s Corner Tap for linner. I had read that the Burritt Room’s bar star Kevin Diedrich (Cask, PDT)  abruptly left the hotel bar to head up the bar at the Tenderloin/Union Square restaurant. Buzz from San Francisco cocktail bloggers gushed over his beer cocktails and “lush yet delicate drinks.” How hard-core is Jasper’s (named after Jasper O’Farrell, one of San Francisco’s first surveyors) about its cocktails? They even had Negroni on tap!

At around 5pm on a Saturday, the restaurant was quiet. Thank goodness because I figured for sure a place like this would be packing them in. We grabbed a booth near the bar; the better to keep my eye on the cocktail making. The cocktail menu itself, enclosed in a small green binder, was extensive, offering not only the list of ingredients in each drink but a little history lesson as well. For example didja know that the Improved Manhattan was the result of Kevin Diedrich combing two of his favorite cocktails — the Manhattan and the Improved Whiskey cocktail? I loves learning while cocktailing.

Even though I’ve been on an indefinite hiatus from whiskey — thanks to one fateful night with an open Elijah Craig bar at Hemingway’s — I decided to try and jump back into Manhattans with this Improved one. Made with Wild Turkey rye, house sweet Vermouth, maraschino, Angostura bitters and absinthe, it sounded risky but then I remembered how much I used to love Manhattans and Sazeracs (I’ve never had an Improved Whiskey cocktail before).

Unfortunately, after one sip memories of my Elijah Craig-overdose came erping back. I couldn’t make my way through the drink. The server came back to our table and saw the unfinished cocktail. “You didn’t like it?” he asked, dismayed. I told him why and had another cocktail order at the ready: a Harlot’s Progress (top photo) made with Bols Genever, honey, kumquats, lemon and St. George absinthe. Served over ice and sweetened with fresh kumquats and honey. Gawd, I love that mix of the malty genever with a hint of anise.

Next cocktail up was the Shibuya Shake, a damn refreshing gin cocktail with Beefeater, St. Germain, lemon, grapefruit, orange bitters, egg white, Shiso and, yes, Squirt. Here’s the recipe for you to try at home if you can’t make it up to SF.

Shibuya Shake at Jasper's Corner Tap.

Now if you prefer beer to cocktails, Jasper’s has an extensive beer menu with beer like Firestone Walker DBA and La Chouffe Golden Ale, as well as bottled beers Dogfish Head Midas Touch and Maredsous Tripel. And if you like both beer and cocktails, there’s specialty beer cocktails like the Belgium Sucker Punch with Duvel, Plymouth gin and lemon.

Food here should not be dismissed as the usual bar food, especially when a lot of it is made on the premises and you don’t feel the need to sop the oil off everything with a paper napkin first.  Since Jennifer and I were sharing everything we didn’t order any entrees. Wins were the calamari – although a a bit salty, its breading was crispy and not greasy, the side of mac and cheese, and the grain salad made with Anson Mills farro verde.

And the stone fruit crumble was one of the best desserts I’ve had in awhile thanks to its Maker’s Mark ice cream which actually tasted like it had the potency of the bourbon, a nice contrast to the pussyfooted child-safe subtlety you find in bourbon ice cream from artisanal ice cream shops. “I think I’m actually getting a buzz from this,” Jennifer said. Now this is the perfect way for me to ease  myself back on the brown stuff.

Jasper’s Corner Tap is definitely on my shortlist of must-dos in San Francisco. Great beer list, delicious crafted cocktails and delicious bar food.

Monk’s Kettle in the Mission

Monk's Kettle and Gonzo Porter.

Monk’s Kettle, listed as Best Beer List on 7×7′s 2010 Eat+Drink Reader’s Choice Awards and #50 on its “100 Things To Try Before You Die,” was the only eatery we went to twice during my visit. It was that beer list that kept me coming back. That and the food and the service.

Jennifer and I had split an order of the scallops and bacon-wrapped apples and I expressed to the bartender my disappointment that the scallops weren’t the ones wrapped in bacon. And then he delivered a plate plentiful with beautiful, thick pieces of bacon to us. Now how above and beyond was that? So nice. I especially loved it with my Gonzo Imperial Porter. Mmm, its malty, chocolatey and coffee flavors go so well with that bacon-y goodness.

Monk's Kettle Scallops and Bacon-Wrapped Apple.

Last December, Kevin Kroger, the chef who was with Monk’s Kettle since its opening, left and was replaced by Adam Duyle. This change upset a few people who mourned the loss of, apparently, some awesome mac & cheese. Shoot, I’d be sad, too, if I knew what it tasted like. Fortunately, the tender scallops weren’t a bad way to go. And the scrumptious albeit messy spent grain and chickpea burger we had the next day for lunch made me forget that I ever missed beef burgers.

I loved Monk’s Kettle at night and in the day. I loved it so much I even bought one of their T-shirts ($25). And apparently, SF loves it, too, enough for the owners to open up a 100-seat craft beer restaurant called Abbot’s Cellar sometime this winter.

Monk's Kettle's Spent Grain and Chickpea Burger.

Serpentine in Dogpatch

Serpentine's Baked Eggs.

For my last brunch in San Francisco, Jennifer wanted to take me to Plow in Portrero Hill but since the wait was a ridiculous hour and a half and we were starving we just made our way to Serpentine which got great reviews for its brunch anyway. Plus, there wasn’t a crazy wait. We just walked in the restaurant, which incidentally is across the street from Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous in Dogpatch, and were immediately seated. Sure, they seated us in this tight corner near the front door with no view of the dining room but at least we got to eat soon.

Unfortunately our waiter wasn’t all that attentive so it took awhile to get our orders in and then he came back because he had forgotten what I had ordered. “I’d like the veg-friendly baked eggs with summer squash and cranberry beans, good sir,” I reminded him.

Initially I was worried that the baked eggs’ small portion in the gratin dish wouldn’t be satisfying enough, even with the cornbread that came with it. But fortunately it all was hearty stuff. The cranberry beans and squash filled me up while the sunnyside-up eggs satisfied my craving for something savory. I nom’d through the dish so quickly. The cornbread wasn’t exactly the best I ever had though. Since it’s just a side, most people probably wouldn’t care but I was so looking forward to it, especially since it’s the rare occasion when I allow myself to use butter.

The prices for the brunch items were surprisingly affordable considering the setting. Walking into the airy dining room with its high ceilings and seemingly well-to-do clientele in their relaxed Sunday best, I’d figure dishes would range from $15 to $20 but instead it was $8.50 to $14.

We got a fancy linen brunch for not-so fancy prices.

Bi-Rite Creamery in the Mission

Bi-Rite's salted caramel and coffee toffee.

I’ve had Bi-Rite before but it’s been awhile and since it’s been touted as “the best ice cream in town” it warranted another visit. So we stopped by right before Jennifer had to drop me off at the airport. But since it was a holiday weekend and the day was sunny and warmish, the line for ice cream at this Mission ice cream shop went up the street and around the block. I was skeptical about whether we’d have enough time to get ice cream and still get to SFO in time for my flight. But Bi-Rite’s salted caramel flavor beckoned to me from tips in the Foursquare check-in, from the menu outside and from the happy customers walking out of the shop with their piled-high cones. Arrgh!

So I waited. And waited. Perusing the menu and killing time trying to think of what other flavor would go well with the salted caramel. Hmm, toasted banana would make a great bananas foster combo and Brown Sugar with Ginger Caramel Swirl sounded intriguing. But in the end I decided to go with Coffee Toffee, my two fave flavors in one!

Surprisingly I found the salted caramel just OK. It was a bit too salty for me. Not that I hated it and maybe I just built it up in my head. But I couldn’t help but think how wonderful it would be if it kept the sweet of the caramel ice cream and they added a pinch of sea salt with the serving the way Matt at Scoops Westside in Palms sometimes does it. Heh, yeah, I’m spoiled. But that way you could control how much salt you got.

In any case, I didn’t regret the wait in line. Totally worth it. However, if you encounter the line and don’t feel like waiting, just FYI there’s no line for the Bi-Rite soft serve just next door. The soft-serve window is open every day from 1-10pm.

Meat Marys R to L: Bacon & Foie (courtesy of Fig Santa Monica)

Before Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, I wasn’t a big fan of Bloody Marys. I just am not a fan of tomato-ey things in general. But after tasting what was perhaps the best Bloody Mary ever (the Mary fans I was with at Harry’s where the cocktail was invented can back me up), I’ve seen the light. So when I got wind of Fig Santa Monica‘s new Bloody Mary brunch cocktail menu, created by Chef Ray Garcia, I admit that I did a little happy dance.

He created some crazy versions of everyone’s favorite hangover cure. Not only does it offer the popular Bacon Mary made with heirloom tomato, bacon-infused True Organic Gin and a bacon-salt rim but meat lovers might get a kick out of the Foie Mary with foie gras and Belvedere Vodka.

Other unique Marys:

• Brasilian Mary: Leblon Cachaca, Tomato-Carrot Juice, Passionfruit
• Green Mary: Cucumber, Dill, Serrano Chili, Grappa
• Tomato-Watermelon Mary: Organic Tomatoes, Juiced Watermelon, Casa Noble Silver Tequila
• Yellow Mary: Luksusowa Vodka Yellow Tomato, Mint

Or if you’d rather create a Mary with your favorite spirit, you can. Do it with bourbon for a Brown Mary, rum for a Bloody Pirate or gin for a Bloody Margaret. Weirdos (said affectionately of course) can do absinthe (Bloody Fairy) or booze free (Bloody Shame).

Lucky for you, the Promenade and beach, great places to spend sobering up, are just within stumbling distance of the restaurant! The Bloody Mary menu is only available during Sunday brunch.

Fig Santa Monica
101 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, California 90401 (map)
(310) 319-3111
Facebook: Fig Santa Monica
Twitter: @FigSantaMonica

Chipotle yellow fin tuna roll with wasabi tobiko, avocado, sesame chipotle rouille, $13. Surprisingly large amount for a small plate. Really get more than your money's worth.

Brunch is one of my favorite meals of the weekend. No rushing off to anywhere, you can drink as many brunch cocktails as you want and it’s all very leisurely and lovely. But I have four requirements for what constitutes a good brunch: 1) a wide variety of dishes from savory to sweet to choose from, 2) a selection of brunch cocktails, 3) quality coffee and 4) affordability.

So when I heard about Zengo‘s all-you-can-eat (and drink) brunch for $35 I was elated, and a bit skeptical. After all the Latin-Asian fusion restaurant located in the newishly renovated Santa Monica Place Dining Deck, seemed, well, touristy and mainstream. It has a patio terrace overlooking Third Street Promenade and Ed Hardy and Kitson across the way. I mistakenly assumed that chef Richard Sandoval’s restaurant was, like most eateries in popular tourist spots, meant to appeal to those far from home who want something comfortingly familiar and not too crazy. Yeah, even though it’s “Latin-Asian” cuisine.

But just checking in at the hostess stand gave it an air of exclusivity. Like, maybe cargo shorts and black socks won’t do here. There was no wide-open door located right by the escalator, rather we had to walk down a long, skinny open-air hallway to a large hostess stand. The hostess checked carefully to make sure we had reservations.

Once brought into the dining area, it actually felt like we were in a place other than Santa Monica. Somewhere almost tropical like a resort in Mexico. Unfortunately, on the day we went it was too chilly and windy to sit out on the terrace so we ducked inside instead.

Our waiter immediately attended to us, quick to offer suggestions, saying that on average people order about four or five dishes each. Since these were small plates, sharing is encouraged. So we started off easy with just five dishes and then ended up ordering another five when we felt we could eat more.

Hit the jump for the gallery of every single thing my bf and I had, including the cocktails which I didn’t finish but can assure you aren’t that strong anyway.

Suffice it to say, I loved this brunch. Every dish was so delicious with only one missing the mark for me, the bahn mi sliders which I couldn’t finish. Meh, pork gristle. But then again I’m not a bahn mi connoisseur, maybe gristly is how it’s done. The chipotle yellow fin tuna roll was a highlight with a long roll that seemed awfully affordable for the amount that we got.

Another fave was the Thai chicken empanadas. If anything I would have gladly placed another order of it. However, the omlettes are pricey for their small sizes at $8-$9; consider that a lox omlette (with onions, capers and boursin cheese) around the corner at Jinky’s Cafe costs about $13.

The cocktail selection was basic — mimosas, Marys, bellinis — and very morning-friendly since, as the waiter pointed out, not many people want to get blitzed for breakfast. Wuuut? Tell that to Eveleigh and Ray’s and The Stark Bar! But out of the drinks, I liked the bacon Bloody Mary the best since it tasted substantial. That’s just how I roll. And, yeah, the cocktail menu won’t be a real draw for those seeking variety, but at least the tourists (and moms) will be happy.

By the way, this was a hosted meal. I wasn’t even sure about this condition until the end when the waiter told us that it was. But before that I was perfectly up for paying the $35 a person since it was absolutely worth it. See, if you eat more than two dishes and drink more than two cocktails, you get your money’s worth right there considering dishes range in price from $7 to $12 and cocktails are in the $9-$10 range. This would be perfect to do with a group of friends. That way you can try more things, and divvying up the bill at the end of the meal would be a nonissue. We actually saw a large table of friends celebrating a birthday, a smart idea since there’s none of that “Heyy, I only had a salad and I have to pay $40?!” complications.

I would most certainly come back, maybe the next time my folks are in town or I get a group of buddies together. Hmm, birthday brunch?

By the way, there is a 2-hour table limit and, obviously, you can’t take your leftovers home.

Zengo Santa Monica
395 Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica, California 90401 (map)
(310) 899-1000
Twitter: @zengosm
Brunch hours: Saturday-Sunday 11:30am-4pm

Shrimp veg potsticker with red chile dashi sauce, $10

Bacon bloody Mary with bacon-infused vodka. Smokey and savory. I don't even like tomatoes all that much but loved this one.

Bacon fried rice with scallions and shitake mushroom, $7

Market veg omlette with mushrooms, pea shoots, roasted peppers, avocado, tomato, cotija cheese, $8. Notably smaller than regular omlettes.

Sea bass ceviche with Aji Amarillo, red onion, cucumber, apple, tomato, shiso, $12

Salmon omlette with goat cheese, spinach, caramelized onion, tomato, $9

Bahn mi sliders with Achiote pork, pickled vegetables, citrus aioli, $9. Wasn't crazy about this one. Bread was fresh and flakey but the pork was gristly. My least favorite dish out of everything.

Sake sangria, $9. Very light compared to traditional sangria because of the sake.

Thai chicken empanadas with chile poblano, Oaxaca cheese, mango salsa, $10. Loved this dish! My favorite. Flakey pastry and tasty curry sauce.

Asparagus with slow poached egg, lemon, xo sauce, togarashi, $7

Lychee Bellini with sparkling wine, lychee, $10. Very, very light and not too sweet.

Pan dulce is Mexican sweet bread, cinnamon whipped cream, Licor 43, star anise, orange agave syrup, $7.