Sandi's Going Away Party

Sandi's closest friends came together for a potluck for the last shindig. We had steak, sashimi (not Sandi's favorite), hot dog links in maple syrup and soy sauce, Hawaiian macaroni salad, farro, shrimp salad, feta ball, samosas, squash lasagna, assorted cheeses, Filipino pork barbeque, Shanghai lumpia, and homemade cookies. Everyone brought all sorts of homemade specialties. The only thing not made by one of us was the fantastic Chocolate Cake Gary got, which was a hit; not too sweet and very light.

Everyone had a fabulous time.

Sandi dear, you will be missed!!!!

Baran's 2239

Sandi and I finally made it to Baran's 2239 last week. I have heard nothing but good things about this little restaurant in a strip mall in Hermosa Beach. Our server explained the menu and its meaning to be shared and suggested we order at least 3-4 items from the menu. We thought we would start with 3 and go from there. 

We decided on the Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad; radicchio, date, manchego with preserved lemon vinaigrette. The Soba Noodles that had melon, prosciutto, honeydew, tomatoes, ham & melon, and prosciutto furikake. The third dish was the Transparent Farm Salt & Pepper Prawns. 

They first served us the Soba Noodles. I really enjoyed that as it was different. All the ingredients were super delicious and went well with each other. A barbershop quartet comes to mind with a perfect melody.

The  Brussels Sprout Salad was a disappointment. It was nothing special, and we found it to be a bit too tangy.  Someone on a diet or a vegetarian would probably have enjoyed it more. 

The Salt & Pepper Prawns were cooked with their skin on. They were excellent and super-crunchy that we had no problem eating the whole thing fully dressed! It had a lot of flavor with chili oil, garlic, and scallions.  I would definitely order this again, though I thought it would be better served with rice.

Nothing in the dessert menu looked exciting, so we did not order any. I would like to try a few more items on the menu, so there will be the next time.

Baran's 2239 is located at 502 Pacific Coast Hwy., Hermosa Beach in California. 

Casa Modena

I was very fortunate to be included in Gary's "Despedida" (social event to mark a person's departure/going away) for Sandi. He picked Casa Modena, where he has dined previously, and raved about the food, particularly the truffles! Lucky for me, Sandi likes truffles!

We got there early so we could really appreciate the ambiance. The whimsical decor was fascinating; the tables were once used to make pasta. Handmade plates with various designs/restaurant names were hanging on the walls. Old pictures and posters of different Italian cities also were on the colorful wall. There was a bicycle hanging from the ceiling. They also had some truffles in a jar for sale. I particularly loved the sign on what they do not serve.

We left the ordering to Gary. He first ordered a nice bottle of Barolo. He forgot that Sandi does not drink; oh well...more for us two to drink.  He thought the the Black Truffle Menu would be best. This prix-fixe included a 4-course meal. Sandi ordered the Truffle French Fries which she promised to share, Gary and I had the Crostino con Burrata & Tartufo. These 2 appetizers had shaved black truffles. They were delicious. We all thought the fries could have used more salt but that was not a problem at all. Our server, William was happy to oblidge. 

All 3 of us ordered the Tagliolini al Tartufo for our pasta dish. This almost made me want to weep. It was heavenly! Gary and I did add some Parmesano which made us want to sing "Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah". For our main dish, we all selected the Filetto al Tartufo con Puree di Patate. Excellent steak cooked to perfection with amazing mashed potatoes.

The Panna Cotta al Balsamico Tartufato was the best Panna Cotta I've had in my life, and I've had a few. I was disappointed that I didn't meet the man himself, Umberto. Gary had met him and apparently is a character. He was in Italy purchasing truffles which he supplies to various restaurants. We did meet his charming wife who came to say hello. William, our server was great; service was impeccable. 

I can't wait to return to Casa Modena. It's located at 11701 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. It's in the Brentwood Place Center on the second floor. They also have outdoor dining which looked inviting, especially at night. 

Villa Pierina

A Taste of Italy; dinner at Villa Pierina was a fabulous evening. This is no restaurant; it's the home of Piero and Inez. Sandi and I were invited, and though the renovations at their house were not done, they had to have us before Sandi's departure for Florida. 

The ambiance was genuinely Italian as we walked by their pool and took a tour around the house. We started with an excellent Antipasti; Formaggio, Sopressata, Uva. Piero served Aperol for cocktails; we both loved it as it was nice and refreshing. I will definitely try and make this at home. 

Inez made a very nice Caprese for our Insalata which was delicious.

For our Primo, she served Gnocchi Bolognese, which was Piero's grandmother's recipe. . They warned us not to force ourselves to finish it so we could enjoy our entrée. He also assured us that we could take the leftovers home. I had no problem consuming the gnocchi.

The Secondo came right after; Pesce al Limone, Risotto, Fagiolini. The fish was absolutely divine, and the risotto complimented the fish very well. The beans were not at all bland. It was packed with flavor. Just writing about it now is making me hungry all over again!

Dolce was Sandi's famous Apple Pie. We all enjoyed that. The apples were nice, firm, and a bit tart which was perfect. From our excitement, I forgot to take a picture of the pie. It did look and taste amazing.

It was an evening to remember. Thank you, Piero and Inez. You both outdid yourselves. It's just too bad people can't make reservations for Villa Pierina as it is by invitation only. We were so lucky to have been invited. 

Sweet Wheat

My friend Cindy called to inform me that Sweet Wheat in Redondo Beach finally opened. The following day, Sandi and I decided to go for breakfast. We arrived shortly before 9:00 a.m. My eyes popped out, looking at all the pastries and fresh bread.

We decided to split a Croque Monsieur and a Quiche. We also individually bought a bunch of pastries to sample and take home. The Croque Monsieur was good though it had already gone cold by the time I paid for the rest of my stuff. I asked the cashier if she could reheat it, and she happily obliged. The quiche was very light and fluffy. I loved it though Sandi thought the quiche I make was better. Can't argue there. 

I remember Cindy raving about their Cannalé. So I had to get one of those. I couldn't resist not sampling the Éclair Café, Mini Pain aux Raisins, Apple Tartlet, and the Chouquette. When I got home later, I first tried the Cannalé, which was the best I've ever had. It really was perfect in every way. This is the French version of a mochi-type dessert plus the alcohol. The Choquette was lovely, hollow inside light as a cotton ball, perfect for an afternoon snack with tea or coffee. The Pain aux Raisins was also delicious, and so was the Apple Tart. None of the pastries was too sweet, which I loved.

We both got the Parisien Sandwich for dinner. After heating this in the toaster oven, everything came alive. The Jamon de Paris, Emmenthal cheese, and salted butter went well with their fresh-baked French bread. Next time I would like to try the Caprese, Brie and Iberico sandwiches. 

The Olive Sourdough Loaf was unusually light. I had a quarter of the loaf the following day. I heated it up a bit (not toasted) and had it with just salted butter (no jam) to get the taste of the bread. I am not one to just butter the bread and let it melt. You have to take a piece of butter, preferably a thick chunk, and slap it on the bread. I totally enjoyed and loved this bread.

I think this bakery needs to work on getting more organized. The person helping me and Sandi was doing everything. Cooking our sandwich, getting the pastries we ordered, so by the time I had to pay, the breakfast was already cold. Someone else should handle all the cooking for efficiency. I asked for my receipt instead of an email but never got it. Later, Sandi discovered that she never got the French bread she paid for. 

Sweet Wheat is located at 1430 S. Pacific Coast Hwy. in Redondo Beach, California. They are open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.