Josephine's Feast

Visiting LA Restaurants

Earlier in the month I was in Los Angeles visiting my good and gracious friend Nancy on  my way to the TED conference.  We toured neighborhoods, shopping streets and farmers markets, enjoying the wonderful weather and delicious food. There seems to be a trend of white table restaurant chefs opening smaller, cozier, simpler spaces.  Jeffrey Circiello, formerly a member of the casual dining team at French Laundry does an out standing job at Farm Shop – where the dining and shopping experience come together under one roof.  At Short Order, Nancy Silverton of La Brea Bakery and the late Amy Pressman of Pasadena’s Old Town Bakery showcase comfort food and the simplicity of cooking as they would in their own homes in.  Both restaurants, it is interesting to note, are in Farmer’s Markets.

Our favorite meal by far was at Tavern – the new and well celebrated Suzan Goin restaurant , bar & grill and food shop.  The restaurant brings together a fine dining room, a casual bar & grill and a coffee shop for eat ins and take aways all seamlessly under one roof.  Everything about the restaurant is perfect – from the color of the room to the upholstered mustard gold couches.  Even Nancy, a former decorator and developer was impressed with the feel of the room. “It’s unlike anything in LA right now – but I want to live here.”  Adjacent to the dining room and bar is a perfectly stocked Larder – the food shop/cafe for casual eating, take out & catering.  I am so inspired by this foodie jewel box of a restaurant.  I wish we had an outpost here in NYC.  By the way our meal was terrific.

We ate a number of wonderful meals – in fact one was better than the next  – including our breakfast of almond croissants from The Little Door in Nancy’s kitchen over looking the Holly wood sign – ok Dorothy – your not in Kansas anymore….