Foodie Friday: The delightful & delicious Del Frisco’s Grille Opens in Santa Monica

I’ll be honest.

The Del Frisco’s Grille launch party at the Santa Monica Pier a few weeks ago meant A LOT more to me than one of the standard tastings I usually attend.

At the Del Frisco's Grille opening in Santa Monica - the best of Texas on the west coast? I've died and gone to foodie heaven!

Why, you ask? Because…
1) It’s like my two worlds have collided – what with my favorite steakhouse of all-time coming to the Cali coast. Y’all have no idea what delectable deliciousness you’re in store for.
2) The service was straight-up Texas. Never an empty glass, an empty plate or a face without a smile.
3) Take that customer service a giant step further! I received a THANK YOU NOTE (remember what those are?) from my waitress, Ashley, from Idaho. Yep, seriously.

Customer Service with a smile at Del Frisco's Grille: A Thank You note from my waitress on my 1st visit, Ashley

4) I met Jason Lewis from Sex & The City…which, um, I didn’t haaate (as you can see in this picture).

TryToBeCool, Dawn. TRY. TO. BE. COOL. With the also-delicious Jason Lewis (of Sex & The City fame) at the Del Frisco's Grille Santa Monica opening

To be honest, these are the moments I return to my early days as a cheerleader. Full of fun, full of hope and full of faith that my team will get the job done.
As I made my rounds abound the room, the one thing I heard on repeat from all of my fellow guests and fellow media attendees was this: “Can you believe this service?” or “This is the BEST service I’ve ever experienced.” Literally, I heard some variation of this AT LEAST 21 times. Not twenty. 21!!
My response, “Oh, of course. I grew up as a Dallas Del Frisco’s girl. It’s the only kind of service I know.”
Which might explain why my expectations are so high. And, unfortunately, why I’m often let down. After all, customer service is key with me, sugar!
No disappointment here – only delight. And we haven’t even gotten to the food and cocktails yet!

Cocktail'o'clock at Del Frisco Grille Santa Monica

Between the ice-cold, super fresh seafood (such as shrimp, salmon, oysters, clams and more)…

Fresh, tasty and ice-cold seafood bar at Del Frisco Grille Santa Monica

and delectable small bites such as slider burgers, sushi rolls and Philly cheesesteak eggrolls (ONE OF MY FAVORITE FOODS ON THE ENTIRE PLANET!!!)…

Small bites of sin at Del Frisco's Grille Santa Monica

and delectable desserts such as Nutella Bread Pudding and – the one I dream about – coconut cream pie as well as the “Adult Milkshake” nightcap cocktail…

Dessert & the cutest nightcap ever at Del Frisco's Grille Santa Monica

I left full and smiling from ear to ear…and fully satiated and delighted!

Antics on the red carpet at the Del Frisco's Grille Santa Monica opening

Listen, I know that Texans get a bad rap sometimes but this is one Texan transplant that has already won over its whole Cali constituency.
Del Frisco’s Grille is now OPEN!!
1551 Ocean Ave. – Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone (310) 395-7333 – [email protected]
xoxo,
BF
BF Asks: What restaurant from your hometown do you wish was in the city you live in now? 

FOODIE FRIDAY: TAR & ROSES, TASTES LIKE SUCCESS!

Tar & Roses - exterior

Dear Tar & Roses Team:

You are the latest stamp in my culinary passport. Who knew Santa Monica was as far as I’d need to go for this amazing culinary adventure.

We were a mix of new acquaintances and old friends, so I initially thought it might be a challenge to find items on the menu that we would all agree on to share and enjoy. However, we quickly realized that THIS was going to be a no-brainer as whatever we ordered was going to be delicious. Still with our overflowing enthusiasm for your food, we were in need of our very knowledgeable server Joe’s confirmation that we had chosen wisely.

 

 

We were intrigued by the “X-Large” section of the menu so we started by ordering the whole fried snapper with cold soba noodles. WOO-HOO! Next in the “Large” section, the Kurobuta pork loin with creamed corn and black kale was the winner. From the “small” section, we chose the beet salad and the ricotta gnocchi with asparagus. Finally, the wood roasted cauliflower from the “veggies” section and the bone marrow with onion marmalade from “snacks.” The presentation of the food was fun and adventurous. We were so excited to watch the different dishes being delivered to each table and the anticipation built until it was finally our turn.

 

Tar & Roses temptresses...

Bone marrow($11) onion marmalade, sea salt, and sourdough. This was sooo rich and delicious with a light smoky taste.

Beet salad($11) avocado, blood orange, fennel, frisee, and walnutsIncredibly fresh!

Wood roasted cauliflower($8) anchovy pesto, pinenut, lemon.

Ricotta gnocchi($11) asparagus and fava bean tendrils.

Kurobuta pork loin($24) creamed corn, black kale parmesanThe pork was so tender, juicy and perfectly cooked. Perfectly placed on a bed of creamed corn and black kale seasoned with tarragon, so sweet and creamy, PERFECTION!

***Whole fried snapper($52) cold soba noodles, and dipping sauce. Adult finger food, MY FAVORITE! This was definitely enough for the whole table. An amazing presentation and so much fun to eat and share. We were pulling it apart with our fingers!

Strawberry Ricotta Crostata($9) with honeycomb ice cream. The buttery crust with the creamy Ricotta was over the top good!

Described as modern American rustic, the menu had a variety of influences, such as Italian, Mediterranean and Asian, that seemed to be at play. Chef Kirschner seems to know exactly what we like to eat and is extraordinary at executing it perfectly! There was an enviable simplicity to the food. I’ve had Snapper before but never like this. I’ve had creamed corn before but not this creamy and flavorful, and the strawberry Crostata? Off-the-charts good!

It’s as if I’ve been hypnotized! Every time someone says the word FOOD you will talk endlessly about the delicious whole fried snapper at Tar & Roses, and I DO!!

Listed at the top of the menu is your offering of Peace and Love to all the local farmers who believe in sustainable, organic agriculture and your menu reads like your thank you letter to them. You’ve created the perfect combinations of flavors to enhance but never hide, the quality ingredients that have been cultivated for your use and our consumption. To Chef Andrew Kirschner, locally grown yourself, you’ve beautifully guided each ingredient to its potential, let them shine and shared it with us. Thank you for your generosity and creativity. 

Interior of Tar & Roses...

With love and respect,

Rebecca Meyer, www.BeautyFrosting.com Foodie Friday reviewer and food lover

 

TAR & ROSES

602 Santa Monica Boulevard

Santa Monica,CA 

310-587-0700

www.tarandroses.com

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BF Asks: What restaurant or bar should we review next? If you own – or work at – a restaurant or have a suggestion on where we should get our Foodie Friday on next, reply below or send us a message! 

 

Foodie Friday: Pedalers Fork in Calabasas

Pedalers Fork in Calabasas

Dawn's Faves from Pedalers Fork

 

Dear Pedalers Fork Team,

BeautyFrosting editor, Dawn McCoy, and I had the delicious opportunity to experience a sneak preview of Calabasas’s newest epicurean jewel, Pedalers Fork. Whoever says you can’t have it all hasn’t been to Pedalers Fork! This is destination dining at its best! You’ve created a beautiful oasis for us to gather with friends and escape the hectic day-to-day, without having to pack a bag or board a plane!

A perfect balance of location and design, the stunning interior was inspirational.

Every window strategically placed inviting nature inside to co-mingle with the rustic reclaimed wood accents, and antique light fixtures. The vintage bikes perched in the rafters overhead are a reminder of the inspiration for this sanctuary you’ve created.

Pedalers Fork interior & patio

 

I was in heaven when I stepped out on the patio. Worthy of the “dream home” sketches I walk around with in my head, it felt like a cool tree house for adults, dining amongst the trees, watching the ducks, and listening to the choir of frogs singing the praises of Pedalers Fork. A truly tranquil feeling that reminded me to breathe, slow down and appreciate the moment. I felt the love that went in to every detail!

Your dream project is a bona fide triple threat. You truly have something for everyone. A coffee shop that brews fresh-roasted 10 Speed Coffee from Oregon for the early risers, a cycling boutique catering to the active enthusiasts, and a beautiful restaurant with a menu focused toward a health conscious lifestyle. You’ve really thought of everything! The use of ingredients from the best organic and sustainable local farms has created standout dishes that feed our souls as well as nourish our bodies, and allowed me to leave the table without feeling guilty. Ok, maybe a LITTLE guilty after devouring both the Berry Cobbler AND the delicious Flourless Chocolate Cake for dessert, but well worth it! Chef Dan’s extensive menu has a little something for everyone.

Pedalers Fork dinner menu, cocktail menu & beer menu

 

Rebecca's Fave Moments & Menu Items

Pealers Fork, Calabasas, California, restaurant, restaurant review, foodie friday, food, cyclists, family-friendly, family restaurant

Steamed PEI Mussels – Coconut green curry, crostini.

Baby Kale Caesar – Almesan, potato croutons, almond tofu caesar dressing.

Roasted Beets – Hemp seed crusted Soledad goat cheese, heirloom citrus, asparagus, baby lettuces, herb vinaigrette.

Kabocha Squash Lasagna – Broccoli, sweet pea, ricotta, mozzarella, tomato sauce. (Note From BeautyFrosting herself, Dawn McCoy: “I died when I ate this. Literally died for about 2 minutes. Which might explain why I kept calling the dish “my boyfriend” as in “Please leave my boyfriend and I alone in peace.” Yep, it’s that killer.)

Kabocha Squash Lasagna: A cheesy, tomatoey, veggie orgasm of a dish! (that's another quote from Dawn)

 

Pan Roasted Skoona Bay Salmon – Roasted cauliflower, kohlrabi, sweet peas, spring onions, kale pistou.

Braised DeyDey’s Grass Fed Beef – Celeriac, roasted asian pear, jalapeno, natural reduction.

Girmaud Farms Duck Breast – Red frill mustard, roasted beet, red quinoa, dried cherry, pistachio.

Flatbread – Wild mushrooms, montecito gouda, shaved parmesan, arugula salad, truffle vinaigrette.

Devils on HorsebackBlack dates, Pt. Reyes bleu, applewood bacon

Greek Yogurt Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta – Spring berry citrus compote.

Bittersweet Gluten Free Chocolate Flourless Cake – Cocoa nib and roasted pistachio milk chocolate crust.

Apple Berry Cobbler – Almond milk sorbet.
WOW, this is go BIG or go home at its best! Congratulations to owners Robbie Schaeffer and Time Rettele! Your dream to develop a place where people can enjoy life and celebrate community is realized. Thank you for having the passion to create an environment where we can meet to share a cup of coffee, a cocktail and a meal, but stay to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and friends. Pedalers Fork is inspired by the cycling culture, but I’ll tell everyone the mode of transportation is secondary. Run, walk, cycle or drive. Just get there!  

 

Just get there! if you do, you might be smiling as widely as these bloggers - Dawn McCoy, of BeautyFrosting, and Whitney Lader of hoopLA

With Love and respect,

 

Rebecca Meyer 

 

 

PEDALERS FORK

23504 Calabasas Road

Calabasas, CA 91302

 

818-225-8231

http://www.pedalersfork.com/

*We at BeautyFrosting want to extend a special THANK YOU to our friends at Pedalers Fork and Nicole Myden Public Relations for giving us the opportunity to experience such a delicious dining experience before the general public gets to delight in the healthy decadence of Pedalers Fork! Also, we want to mention that there are a number of scrumptious VEGAN, VEGETARIAN & GLUTEN-FREE options at Pedalers Fork, as well.

Foodie Friday: Danke BierBeisl!

Welcome to BierBeisl!

 

Dear BierBeisl,

Heading out on Saturday night with a couple of friends for a fancy dinner in Beverly Hills, I had no idea what we were in for. Thanks to you we had the best time! A night out with the girls for beers and sausage in Beverly Hills, who knew! I’ve never been a beer drinker but three little words from your bartender changed all that, StieglAdlerGrapefruit: half beer half organic grapefruit soda. How have I never had this before? I loved it! So thirst-quenching and the perfect suggestion for this lightweight.

Forgetting momentarily that I hadn’t come just for the beer, your amazing staff warmly navigated us through your authentic Austrian menu. Next destination? The perfect food companion to our beer – Kasekrainer! WOW, this Swiss cheese infused sausage was AMAZING! So juicy and delicious, the pretzel bread accompaniment took it over the top and we gladly devoured every bite! I kept thinking it doesn’t get better than this but you managed to changed my mind with the arrival of each dish. Our Austrian feast was both refined and comforting.

Home Cured Char ($15) with heirloom beets, pickled red onion, cucumbers, horseradish crème fraiche, tossed herb salad.

Marinated Duck Breast ($19) with white asparagus, kumquat compote and wild arugula, toasted pine nuts, broken balsamic vinegar. Beautiful dish!

Kasekrainer Sausage ($11) swiss cheese infused, light peppery, similar to “polish.” Tarragon mustard and fresh horseradish. My FAVORITE! So juicy every bite was a burst of flavor.

Original Vienna Schnitzel ($29) garnished with lemon and lingon berries, with potato salad. Razor thin with a light breading. Perfect with the sweet lingon berries and tart potato salad.

Asparagus Risotto ($28) with sauteed veal sweetbreads, meyer lemon, Parmesan, veal jus and tossed herb salad.

Creamy Veal Gulasch ($32) with homemade spatzle. sour cream, chives. The veal couldn’t have been more tender. This was SO RICH, I loved it.

Apfelstrudel ($9) with homemade vanilla ice cream. Flaky and delicious, not too sweet.

Stiegl Radler Grapefruit ($8) half Goldbrau/half all natural organic grapefruit soda, ideal thirst quencher and  low on alcohol and calories. I couldn’t stop drinking this. Turns out I AM a beer drinker!

 From the moment we stepped in the front door we were treated to your hospitality. The staff was attentive and accommodating. They really made our night out special. The space is intimate and embracing and the modern rustic décor is cozy. I would dare say the kitchen is drastically smaller than most kitchens in this zip code. Still we were amazed at the attention to detail in every dish and the incredible flavors that were coming out of the tiny open kitchen.

To Chef Bernhard Mairinger, your passion for Austrian food combined with your extraordinary talent in the kitchen made for an unforgettable experience. Thank you for my introduction to Austrian cuisine. I left your establishment with a giddiness small children find in a toy store. Kasekrainer sausage and Stiegl Radler Grapefruit! I’m telling absolutely everyone how fun it was to discover BierBiesl!

Auf Wiedersehen, until we meet again!

With Love and Gratitude,
Rebecca

BierBeisl

9669 S. Santa Monica Boulevard

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

 

310-271-7274

 

http://www.bierbeisl-la.com/

 

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