Open Hearts, Can’t Lose: Goodbye, Sweet Ann!

It seems to be fate at work that my friendship with Ann started at Jan’s on Beverly, where she was my waitress 15 years ago, and ended here in America in a diner in North Hollywood, this past Saturday.

With Ann (center) and her friend, Sunny

With Ann (center) and her friend, Sunny

I met Ann when I was 22 and she was 53. I had just moved to LA that week. Ann says Buddhism saved her life in 1983 when she was in an abusive marriage and was about to commit suicide, and now she considers it her mission to spread the “magic” of Buddhism to everyone she meets so that they can share her joy.

Well I didn’t become a Buddhist today, as Ann had hoped, but I will say that she shared a chant with my mom and me 15 years ago that helps me fall asleep whenever I have a sleepless night, and calms me whenever I’m feeling restless or nervous. She also planted a huge seed of joy in my heart, that continues to grow.

I’m so grateful to have met her all those years ago, so thankful to have reconnected with her a few months ago, and am so sad for me (and happy for her) to see her go back to her native Thailand on Wednesday, where she will reunite with her husband, and retire, after working double shifts as a waitress for over 31 years.

I’m so proud that today I got to sit NEXT to Ann in a booth, and buy her and her friend Sunny lunch, instead of her bringing me my lunch. Full circle, indeed. The lesson here? Always be open. You never know the friends you will make in your day-to-day life, the lessons they will teach you, and the impact their spirits might have on you, so, keep your eyes, minds and hearts open. Always open.

Ann was one of my first friends in LA, and you know I don’t often believe in accidents. I’m a better person for knowing this angel we call Ann…better known in Thailand as Sarinya Chaimongkol.

p.s. I can’t wait to visit!

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/

 

$$$

Foodie Friday: Mmmmmm, Mmmmmm, MB!

 

 Dear MB,

Your biscuits are AMAZING! I know i’m not telling you anything you haven’t already heard. They have their own Facebook page, for heaven’s sake! Yet, I still have to say BRAVO!

Your bacon and cheddar buttermilk biscuits are baked perfection. They have this great crunch on the outside and are warm and moist on the inside. They have bacon and cheddar cheese…and they’re bread!

It’s not difficult to win me over but the perfect companion to these little gems is the whipped maple butter. This sweet and savory union had everyone expressing their love for your biscuits! Resounding sounds of pleasure – Mmmm…, Wow! and Oh YEAH! – could be heard around the restaurant.

I noticed several people doing exactly what we did, picking up the little metal ramekin of the whipped maple butter and looking at it like it was a mystical thing, a culinary concoction beyond comprehension, wondering if this is the secret to why this all tastes soooo heavenly! When I finished, I immediately wanted to order more biscuits, give them as gifts, have them for dessert and learn how to make them!

The bar had been set pretty high but there are a number of incredible choices on your ever changing, seasonal menu and the rest of our selections were equally inspiring. Every single thing we ordered was delicious!

 

 

Vietnamese Caramel Pork Jowl ($13) with green papaya salad, lime.

Sweet glazed delicate pork. What’s not to love!

 

White Oak Grilled Skirt Steak ($18) grilled broccolini, red chimichurri.

Tender, juicy, smoked skirt steak, topped with a perfectly spiced chimichurri sauce.

 

Chicken Pot Pie ($16) ’nuff said!

The BEST pot pie i’ve ever tasted.

 

Seared Diver Scallops ($19) bacon butter, savoy cabbage, shiitake mushroom, puffed wild rice.

Perfectly cooked, seared outside, tender inside. The bacon butter sauce was delicious!

 

Roasted Brussels Sprouts ($10) emmental, hazelnuts, sage.

Roasted to perfection. I love brussels sprouts!

 

Bacon Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits ($5) with maple butter.

What can I say, they remind me of home.

 

Avila’s Heir ($12) margarita with corralejo reposado, serrano, mandarin, yuzu.

After our small food marathon we were completely stuffed and thoroughly satisfied. Aptly titled a “social house,” the environment is lively and upbeat. The rustic-industrial interior and communal tables give a feel that is accessible and homey. We adored your friendly staff. They made our dining experience complete. Every detail exceeded our expectations!

 

Thank you to Chef David LeFevre for creating a real comfort food destination. I think everyone should experience the genuinely beautiful food you’ve created. A big THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for creating your bacon and cheddar biscuits. They make me truly happy. MB Post, I definitely have a culinary crush on you!

 

With Love and Gratitude,

 

Rebecca Meyer

 

 

MB Post – A Social House

1142 Manhattan Avenue

Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

(310) 545-5405

http://eatmbpost.com/

Hours:

Mon–Thur 5pm–10pm

Friday 11:30am–10:30pm

Saturday 10am–10:30pm

Sunday 10am–10pm

 $$$

Note from BF: I don’t know about y’all but this review from Rebecca is making me want to head over to MB RIGHT NOW!! Yummylicious. xoxo, BF