Andy Gavin's Blog, page 18
July 20, 2024
Meteora Mode 2.0
Location: 6703 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038. (323) 402-4311
Date: Oct 11, 2023
Cuisine: Primal Elfin
Rating: Late Red Medicine reborn
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Meteora is the latest restaurant by Jordan Kahn. I’ve been following him for years, from Old Red Medicine, to Late Red Medicine, to Vespertine (on site), to Vespertine (at home), to Destroyer. He’s one “out of the box” chef for sure! Meteora opened as a new high end ala carte concept. Erick and I went during the soft opening. B...
July 18, 2024
Kinjiro Return
Location: 424 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012. (213) 229-8200
Date: October 9, 2023
Cuisine: Japanese
Rating: Good modern Japanese comfort food
_I last went here about a decade ago with the Babykillers — and before that to BOS in this same spot. BOS was good, but kinda extreme, being an offal restaurant. The owners then rebooted the space as Kinjiro, a modern Izakaya (bar with food), which has proved very popular.
It looks pretty much the same as it did before, with ...
July 16, 2024
El Patio at Taito
Restaurant: Tiato Kitchen + Garden
Location: 2700 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404. (310) 866-5228
Date: Oct 4, 2023
Cuisine: Vietnamese Fusion
Rating: Great food, funny location
_The An family — of Crustacean fame — has this unusual spot in Santa Monica, right down the street from Naughty Dog’s office.
It’s a weird office park location with a pretty courtyard.
Mostly the food is fairly casual, but we had a custom menu.
Tuna “tacos.” With that classic Vietnamese sweet chili sauce.
Go...
July 14, 2024
Sauvages – LQ goes Italian
Restaurant: Laurent Quenioux
Location: Pasadena
Date: September 22, 2023
Cuisine: LQ Franco Italian
_Today’s Sauvages lunch was graciously hosted by Tim at at his beautiful home in Pasadena. This event is held outdoors and features Cru Baroli, 2007 & Older. We enjoyed a Northern Italian inspired menu prepared by Chef Laurent Quenioux.
Gorgeous ridge-top setting.
So we hid under the shade and cracked some champagne!
Grilled peppers bruschetta with prosciutto.
beef meatball. with a bit o...
July 11, 2024
Bistro 1968 at Night
Restaurant: Bistro 1968 [1, 2]
Location: 402 S San Gabriel Blvd Ste A, San Gabriel, CA 91776. (626) 766-1968
Date: January 4, 2024
Cuisine: Chinese Dim Sum
Rating: One of the current best
_Bistro 1968 opened with considerable fanfare (for the SGV) at the tail end of 2022. It serves up a large but focused menu of Cantonese dim sum and unusually is not two restaurants in one like most of the Cantonese places. Instead they have the same (dim sum focused) menu for both lunch and dinner.
This visit ...
July 9, 2024
Sichuan Modern – 19 Town
Restaurant: 19 Town
Location: 18065 Gale Ave, City of Industry, CA 91748. (626) 669-7089
Date: September 3, 2023
Cuisine: Modern Sichuan Chinese
Rating: Very tasty, unusual modern style
_19Town is the new modern fusion Sichuan place by the folks that brought us Sichuan Impression.
Tucked away in the corner of a giant parking lot with a Home Depot.
It’s going for a more bar-like feel.
There are a couple of private rooms.
We had this large table in a nook at the back of the resteraunt.
T...
July 7, 2024
Harlan part 1
Location: 9500 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. (310) 276-8500
Date: September 5, 2023
Cuisine: Modern Steakhouse
Rating: Amazing special meal
_Michael Palmer arranged this incredible Harlan tasting dinner in two parts. Not only did he procure the wines, but he organized with Piero Selvaggio our total takeover of the Cut lounge and a custom menu.
The special menu.
A5 Wagyu on Chicharrones! Delicious.
Tempura fried oysters with caviar. I don’t normally l...
July 5, 2024
Liholiho Yacht Club
Restaurant: Liholiho Yacht Club
Location: 871 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94109.
Date: September 6, 2023
Cuisine: vaguely southeast Asian fusion
Rating: Solid
_Because of my new company, I’m spending more time in San Francisco, so there will be a bunch of quick reports on these work dinners. So as to be non-intrusive, they are generally shot on the mobile phone and I’m not focusing on the food factor.
The menu.
The wine bottle at a distance.
Tuna Poke. Nori cracker, sesame, tamari, spicy ai...
July 3, 2024
Heroic becomes Xuntos
Restaurant: Xuntos
Location: 516 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401. (424) 744-8727
Date: September 9, 2023
Cuisine: Spanish Tapas
Rating: Small menu, and pricey, but good
_Beloved Sweet Milk Gelato home Heroic is no more and its been replaced by Xuntos, a Spanish tapas place.
Tapas are having a moment because after years of barely any they are popping up all over.
The outside booths are totally gone.
Inside looks similar.
Case of pastry.
Pig leg!
The back room is similar, but arg...
July 1, 2024
Iki Ramen Insanity
Restaurant: Iki Ramen
Location: 740 S Western Ave #115, Los Angeles, CA 90005. (424) 419-2772
Date: August 24, 2023
Cuisine: Modern Japanese
Rating: Big fun!
_Michael K organized this omakase buyout at Iki Ramen.
Dreams do come true for these 4 best friends. 
Jeffry Undiarto (former n/naka GM), childhood friends Sabastian Karyadi (owner of ramen nagomi in New Jersey and formerly work at Mori sushi in LA) and chefs Hiroyuki Masato (formerly owner Poke Tendo, chef and manager at sushi chain sus...
