3.02.2006

Restaurant Review: Grace - Los Angeles


You may say, I have seen this post before...Yes, because I had posted this review of Grace and one person (apparently they have taken the anonymous internet to their interest for the sake of Grace and even took my mothers name in bad taste due to my review) posted some extremely inappropriate comment, simply because I was honest and shared how I didn't appreciate Graces food or their service.

If you happen to be in LA - Grace is one of those restaurants that is currently happening and where you want to be at.

Although my husband and I were able to get a reservation (about 3 weeks in advance), I wouldn't jump to get this place on your 'things to do' list. There were a few problems that made our check not necessary worth it.

First, when we walked into the restaurant, I didn't realize that my husbands shirt (under his jacket was maroon) and my blazer (since it was only in the 50's in LA) was maroon as well, the hostess said "how cute, it must be your anniversary - you both match!". I could get frustrated with this....but no...its just LA fashion.

During our entree, we realized that our waitress had 7 tables...yes...7. And this is a 'fine-dining' restaurant. You could watch her fill the water at the table next to us, then make it to our table and then hit the remaining 5 tables. This was a constant display, including bread, water and our entrees.

When the bus boy cleared our entrees, he actually took a table cleaner (those little metal things they sweep the crumbs off the table with) and swept them straight onto the floor. And it was quite apparent, that the floor, was where he intended them to go. Who does this? I admit, I have eaten in some really nice and some really okay restaurants and not all of them even use a crumb sweeper...But think about it...What would you do if you where in a restaurant that bothered to use the crumb sweeper...And then swapped them on the floor? On purpose? We might as well get peanuts and dispose our shells on the floor-at least then we are getting a really good 5-Guys burger.

Finally, the food...It was pretty good. Not bad. Not good.

If fact, my husbands foie gras was significantly burnt, not seared. I told him to return it, but he felt too bad, knowing that there was some line cook in the back that had screwed up, sent the burnt foie out anyways and hoping that it wasn't coming back. My husband answered his prayers. UNTIL I got my entree....And there was 2 pearl onions on my plate that were really burnt. Like they had put them on a really hot plate that was greased and let them in sit in the oven for 2 hours...It was gross. I didn't complain...Knowing that this is obviously a kitchen issue...But it must mean that the expediter is an idiot, or not the chef...And therefore the chef WAS NOT THERE AND THEREFORE THERE WAS NO ONE thinking about the reputation of the restaurant. And it was disappointing..


Okay, now you'll see my escargo...With only 4 escargo...Pretty sad for $17 when I knew for sure (once I saw the escargo) that it was canned escargo from FRance that retails for barely $12 for 3 dozen. And then my entree, a filet (oven roasted so no yummy seared crust) with a beef short rib,(from which they gave me HALF a short rib....thats right....only HALF an inch of A beef short rib..for a mear (sarcastic laugh) or $32) that was only a quarter of a serving.

Therefore, save your money from Grace. It is just another 'flash in the pan' LA restaurant' - I would think of a nobody LA famous actor/actress, but you wouldn't know them anyways?

But be carefully though, as I have learned, some people are completely mean and selfish when it comes to admitting that their favorite restaurant may 'rip some people off'.

2.09.2006

Recipes: Channel 9 - CBS - 9am NEWS at 9

If you watched me on the local DC affiliate of CBS this morning and are looking for the Valentine-Inspired Recipes I prepared - I have pasted them all below in the link:

Orange Scented Dark Chocolate Truffles

Raspberry Champagne Gelees

Goat Cheese, Grape & Pistachio Truffles

Mascarpone Stuffed Dates

Please if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at info/at/finediningsolutions.com or visit my business website for more information at www.finediningsolutions.com.

Thanks for Watching!



Mascarpone Stuffed Dates: Previous Post
http://finediningsolutions.blogspot.com/2005/11/recipe-mascarpone-stuffed-dates.html

Goat Cheese, Grape & Pistachio Truffles

  • 4 oz. Goat Cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons of Crème
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 6 Green Seedless Grapes
  • 1/2 cup Shelled Pistachios, Medium Grind

Place grapes and pistachios near bowl. Put goat cheese in bowl. Add cream, salt and pepper and combine. Using hands mold grape in goat cheese and roll in pistachios. Set on display plate or tupperware

Raspberry Champagne Gelees:

  • 1 Small Box of Raspberry Flavored Jello
  • 3 Packages of Gelatin
  • 1/2 cup Champagne (to substitute for 1/2 cup of water in jello recipe)
  • Whipped Cream
  • Raspberries

Put jello mix in bowl. Heat 2 cups water and pour into bowl. Whisk. Add 3 gelatin packets. Whisk. Add 1/2 cup champagne. Add 1/2 cup cold water. Ladle into small sheet tray and refrigerate. Cut mold and lay on serving platter. Spray with whipped cream and top with raspberry.

Orange Scented Dark Chocolate Truffles
Ingredients:

  • 8 oz. Dark Chocolate
  • 4 oz. Heavy Cream
  • Zest of 1 Orange
  • 1/4 c. Coco Powder
Combine cream and orange zest and bring to boil; Remove from heat and let steep about 20 minutes. Chop chocolate and place in medium sized bowl (make sure it is non-reactive if metal).

Bring cream-orange zest mixture to a boil again, then remove from heat and pour over chocolate through a fine sieve (to remove orange zest), add grand mariner to mixture and let sit for 3-4 minutes; whisk until chocolate and milk is completely emulsified; let chocolate cool to room temperature, then place in refrigerator for 1 hour until ganache (chocolate-crème mixture) is set. Sieve coco powder into shallow, sided dish and set aside. Make an ice bath in a small bowl and set aside. Place some parchment paper in a shallow, wide tupperware and set aside. Remove ganache from fridge; Dip your hands in the ice bath for 3-4 seconds to chill your hands, then remove and pat them completely dry on a towel. Using your hands, immediately remove about 2 T. of ganache and roll into an even ball, drop in coco power; carefully shake coco powder dish – to roll truffle around the dish of coco power – evenly coated. Carefully remove from coco powder and place in parchment coated tupperware. Continue with remaining truffles. Place truffles in freezer for about 15 minutes, then remove from freezer to cover with parchment, seal with tupperware and place in fridge until service.


To Serve: Remove from fridge and leave in Tupperware about 30 minute before you plan to enjoy. Place on small dessert plate to share and enjoy.

2.06.2006

Recipe: Carribean Salad with Mango Pineapple Garnish

Carribean Salad with Mango Pineapple Garnish

A little bell pepper, green papaya, cilantro...what could be more refreshing. Toss it with some mache, top it with a grilled chicken breast and you have a very filling, very healthy dinner.
  • 1/4 cup of chopped bell pepper (a little red, a little orange)
  • 1 Jalapeno, seeded and brunoise
  • 1/2 cup chopped jicama
  • 1/4 cup loosely packed sprigs of cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon of slivered green onions
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 1 Tablespoon of canola oil
  • 1/4 cup silvered carrots
  • butter lettuce

Garnish:

  • 3 Tablespoons of chopped mango
  • 4 Tablespoons of pineapple chunks
  • Extra jalapeno if you like
  1. Prepare salad ingredients and combine.
  2. Prepare garnish ingredients and combine.
  3. Serve salad a top butter lettuce. Garnish with 'garnish'.