Brunch at The Penthouse @ Huntley Hotel: Great views & MImosas-a-flowing

Back in February I purchased a GiltCity voucher for brunch at the Penthouse at the Huntley hotel. For $125, you got a brunch for 4 which includes entrees, 2 desserts to share, coffee/tea and most importantly, choice of bottomless mimosas or bloody marys. The voucher expired in May and when I called in April to make a reservation, they were all booked up through May. Fortunately, they planned to honor the voucher after May, with no expiration. A few months later in August, I finally decided to redeem the voucher.

The Huntley Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel in Santa Monica a block off the ocean, and The Penthouse is their restaurant located on the top floor.

The hotel used to be a very dated Radisson Hotel until some 5 years ago and The Penthouse used to be their Mexican restaurant Toppers – which had great happy hours. The Penthouse is definitely a nice upgrade from Toppers – the décor is sleek, chic and bright. The view is still as spectacular. The restaurant has wall-to-wall windows and a gorgeous panoramic view of the ocean, mountains and city.

This is the view from their bathroom!

When we arrived, I saw many mimosas being passed around – I knew right away that this would be my happy place.

The menu is typical upscale American brunch. If you were not fortunate enough to buy the GiltCity voucher, they also offer a $42 brunch on their regular menu that includes bread basket, entrée, dessert and bottomless mimosas or bloody marys. Not bad at all.

Delicious mimosas with fresh orange juice. Our waiter never allowed our glasses to be empty.

Although not included in our GiltCity voucher, we supplemented our brunch with a pastry basket consisting of banana bread loaf, lemon poppy seed muffin, pistachio scone, blueberry muffin, served with berry preserve, honey and butter.

Bananas fosters ~ Huge serving that consisted of soft French toasts with a delicious eggy coating and topped with dark rum and brown sugar. The dish surprisingly had a good balance of sweet and savory - it wasn't as overly sweet as it sounded.

Eggs benedict ~ typical simple brunch dish. Nicely poached eggs, and the potatoes were rather tasty with a bit of crispiness.

Huevos rancheros ~ black beans, queso fresco, corn tortilla, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo. Great combination of fresh tortilla with a crisp, and topped with a semi runny fried egg. You could tell how fresh the other ingredients were.

Even though everyone was so impressed with their dish, I think I ordered the best one on the menu!
Corned beef hash ~ poached eggs with chive hollandaise. What a gorgeous presentation -it looked like a steak tartare. The potatoes were well seasoned and cooked well (firm yet cooked through). The chunks of meat were tender, salty and had a slight cured taste to it, yet not overpowering. Loved the half poached eggs on top which added creaminess to the meat and potato mixture when you mixed them all up together.

For dessert~ we shared two between us four, both of which were outstanding.

Chocolate and peanut butter truffle with toasted marshmellow ice cream and toffee pretzel. The chocolate block was very rich and decadent. I really enjoyed the salty pretzel sticks.

Profiteroles were filled with vanilla bean ice cream and served with a side of hot fudge. The choux pastry was fresh and airy. I liked that they filled the profiteroles with ice cream instead of the usual pastry cream.

The Penthouse is a great place for a nice brunch. Our waiter was very attentive and really kept the mimosas pouring. The SO and I recently discussed that when we have guests in town, we will definitely take them to The Penthouse for a nice brunch. The $42 mimosa brunch on their regular menu is still a good deal especially with the good food, excellent views and the very constant pours of mimosa. In what turned out to be perfect coincidence, I received an email yesterday from Travelzoo regarding the same brunch special so I purchased another one today!

Happy Hour at new SaMo bar - The Charleston

Ever since I started the new job and have been traveling to Dallas for the last 3 months, this poor blog has been lacking. Most weekends that I am back in LA are spent doing laundry and catching up on my TV programs on my DVR. As my project began to wind down, I took the opportunity to check out a new spot while meeting up with my dear friend who was in town for the weekend.

The Charleston is a new restaurant/bar/lounge that opened up in Santa Monica, next to Wilshire Restaurant. The space used to be occupied by Angel's and interestingly enough, the decor remains barely unchanged (including the mural of an angel on the wall). But it seems less loungey and there are less couches and more tables which bodes well for an establishment that is positioning itself as more of a restaurant than bar. My eyes may be failing me but I also noticed that it was less dark and dim compared to Angel's.

The restaurant, barely open two weeks, was born by Jet Tila, former chef at Vegas' Wazuzu at the Encore. I'm not going to lie to you - I had no idea who he was. I definitely have been out of the dining scene these days... Apparently he is known for his Asian cuisine and also did some pop-ups in LA last year. Interestingly enough, the menu at The Charleston was not heavily Asian influenced. It is more on the lines of American comfort food.

Happy hour runs daily from 4-7pm, with extended HH on Wednesday. This is upscale happy hour prices, but you do have to remember that you are in Santa Monica after all.

My friend first ordered a cocktail on happy hour: The Charleston. The whiskey-based drink with green Chartreuse, Dom Benedictine and orange bitters was extremely strong. Good to know they don't skimp on the booze during happy hour.

The second cocktail (not on happy hour) was the Mint mule, a variation of the classic Moscow mule was a bit easier to drink. The addition of mint to the vodka/lime juice/ginger beer was refreshing.

Short Rib Taco was one of my favorites of the night, and one of the very few Asian inspired dishes on the menu. For $2 a piece during happy hour, you get slow roasted short ribs with shaved Brussels sprouts on a rather fresh corn tortilla. The flavors were bold with Korean spices and the meat was tender.

There was a nice selection of four flatbreads on the happy hour menu.

Bacon, egg & cheese flatbread was just like a breakfast pizza. I really enjoyed the crispy crust and the smokiness from the bacon. The flatbread was topped with semi-runny quail eggs. I liked that there was just a slight amount of cheese and they did not overload the flatbread with toppings. Sometimes simple is better.

Sausage, Fennel and arugula pizza was such a unique flatbread. The sauteed sausage almost seemed like tomato paste and gave the pizza a nice moisture. The sausage definitely had good spice to it. I also enjoyed the sharp flavors of the arugula which paired nicely with the rich sausage and gave the flatbread a freshness to it.

Other items on the happy hour menu that we sampled but did not photograph were the Mac & Cheese with bechamel, smoked cheddar and gouda (very good) and the Sweet and Spicy wings (a few at the table thought it was too spicy, I didn't think so. Not bad but pretty common flavors).

Basket of fries not on happy hour (the portion was actually larger, this was taken after we had plowed through half the serving).

Manchego stuffed piquillo peppers with toasted pine nuts and pesto was interesting and surprisingly quite tasty with the spicy peppers and the piquant cheese.

I thought that The Charleston had a pretty good happy hour menu - definitely on the upscale end but there were quite a good amount of food options. Given Jet Tila's reputation, it was interesting to see that the menu leaned more towards American, with only some Asian dishes. When I left the restaurant, I was still unsure as to what the theme of this place is - apparently they might house culinary pop-ups, but they also have performances, comedy shows and karaoke on their calendar. Not exactly sure who their target clientele is. But it's still early in the game, perhaps all they need is just a bit more time to build their image.

The Charleston

2460 Wilshire Blvd

Santa Monica, CA 90403

(310) 828-2115

www.charlestonla.com

Zengo: All you can eat and drink brunch

Zengo, at Santa Monica Place, has everything you want from a brunch spot. Gorgeous patio seating (with heat lamps if needed). Gret view and ocean breeze. Easy parking at the mall. An exciting Latin-Asian menu that includes small-plate items such as banh mi sliders, dim sum and ceviche. But most importantly, they offer an all-you-can-eat-and-drink Sunday brunch for only $35.

This is definitely a place that you should dine with more than 2 friends, so you can sample all the dishes as we did.

Mimosa and mango mimosa. They also have sake sangria and lychee bellini.

They also offer bloody mary, and a bacon bloody mary.

EdamameBacon fried rice ~ fried egg / scallion / shiitake mushroom
This was a fairly normal fried rice, but I thought it was a good first dish to coat the stomach.

Ceviche ~ shrimp / octopus / calamari / aji panca /heart of palm / orange / serrano / bonito
I really enjoyed the ceviche which had a nice spicy-citrus combination. The seafood tasted fresh and was not rubbery. I also liked the crunch of the heart of palm which I don't see enough of at most places.

Sea bass ceviche ~ aji amarillo / red onion / cucumber / apple /tomato / shiso
I preferred the previous ceviche to this. Although this was still tasted fine, I thought there was too much cucumber and the fish needed some flavoring.

Peking duck hash ~poached egg / poblanos rajas / caramelized onion /plantain
I really enjoyed this dish which included a generous serving of tender shredded duck, sweet plantains, caramelized onions and topped with a runny egg yolk. This dish was hearty and was the perfect hangover food.

Shrimp vegetable potstickers ~red chile-dashi sauce
This was a pretty ordinary potsticker but I was pleased to find that the dumpling skin wasn't too thick. There was also a generous filling of shrimp and veggies. Asian Eastsiders may balk at the dumpling and compare it to the ones you can find in Alhambra, but I think it's good enough for someone that's just craving a dumpling and doesn't want to drive 30 miles east.

Pork-mushroom gyoza ~ black vinegar-soy sauce
For a gyoza, I thought these should have been pan fried a bit more. It was missing that crispy skin. But overall, still tasty.

House made meatballs ~ ginger / garlic / tomato / kaffir lime sauce /cilantro / parsley
The meatballs were dense but surprisingly quite tender. Zengo does a great job of meshing Latin and Asian ingredients. The aromatic kaffir lime and cilantro foam was an interesting combination but worked really well.

Thai chicken empanadas ~ chile poblano / oaxaca cheese / mango salsa
The empanadas came out pipping hot, with a buttery and flaky pastry. The shredded chicken was juicy and well seasoned. Flavorful chicken juice ozzed out of the empanada as you bit into it. This was one of my favorite dishes.

Banh mi sliders~ achiote pork / pickled vegetables / citrus aioli
This was similar to a pulled pork slider with a sweet marinade. There was also some sort of a Vietnamese cured ham or perhaps headcheese. The meats were topped with pickled vegetables that was tangy and crunchy. I was quite impressed with the bun which was fresh and soft.

Beef tenderloin benedict ~ poached egg / kimchee / hollandaise
I preferred the previous slider to this. The meat was charred and I hoped it had been a bit juicer. The perfectly poached egg was a nice touch, which added some moisture to the meat.

Thai shrimp lettuce wraps~ chorizo / peanut / cilantro / tamarind chutney
I really enjoyed this version of a lettuce wrap which traditionally is served with only pork. The ground pork was seasoned well, and the shrimps were battered and fried. Included in the mix were spiced nuts and sweet mango mint chutney. The flavors were very unique and bold.

Chipotle yellow fin tuna roll ~ wasabi tobiko / avocado / sesame chipotle rouille
This is a good dish if you are craving sushi but it wasn't as unique as the other dishes on the menu. But Zengo does a good job of offering something for everyone, so this would do well with sushi lovers.

Yucca fries / miso mustard / lemon sake
I actually really enjoyed the yucca fries although some of my friends found the texture odd. The yucca was soft in the center and had a sweet taste. The breading was very crispy and not oily.

Grilled achiote salmon ~bacon / shiitake mushroom / ponzu
The salmon was grilled with a char but I thought it was a bit overcooked. The mushrooms added a heavy, earthy flavor. I liked the use of ponzu sauce, which worked well with the salmon and gave a tart flavor to the fish.

Pan dulce ~ mexican sweet bread / cinnamon whipped cream /licor 43 / star anise
We ended the meal with their only sweet dessert item. The Pan dulce was toasted and airy, and drizzled with a sweet orange agave syrup. I enjoyed the light and spicy cinnamon whipped cream.

I thought an all-you-can-eat meal would result in poor quality and mediocre-tasting food but in fact, the dishes at Zengo were anything but. Some dishes were what you could find at many places (dumplings, fried rice) but they were still tasty. There were other dishes that combined Latin and Asian flavors perfectly, and were quite unique. Apart from the good food, the service was excellent. Our waitress came by often to take our drink orders. She was also friendly and gave us good recommendations. If you love trying different dishes and like to drink, Zengo is definitely a great place for brunch.

Hits: great deal, location/view, service, octopus ceviche, empanadas, duck hash
Misses: -
Rating: ***1/2

Zengo
395 Santa Monica Place.,
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 899-1000
www.richardsandoval.com/zengosm

Brunch at Fig, Santa Monica

FIG restaurant is located at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica, a block from the ocean. The kitchen is known for sourcing local and organic ingredients especially from the Santa Monica Farmers Market. Although the restaurant does not have a view of the ocean, it does look out to the pool and garden area. I have been meaning to check out their brunch menu but unfortunatelyI didn't realize that brunch is only offered on Sundays. On Saturdays, you can only choose from their lunch menu that includes sandwiches, salads and entrees.

We ordered a round of drinks of beer, mimosa and wine. Unfortunately the wine was not chilled enough.

BBQ chicken pulled organic, coleslaw, smoked cheddar
I really enjoyed the sandwich. The BBQ pulled pork was tender and juicy, and lathered with the right amount of sauce that wasn't overly sweet or tangy. I typically don't like slaw but I was blown away with the coleslaw. The slaw wasn't dressed with too much mayo and it had a nice zing to it. The crunchy slaw and tender meat was a nice combination.

Fish Tacos with mango salsa, cilantro, crema
The fish tacos were extremely spicy, a bit too spicy for my friend but I can appreciate it. The fish was nicely grilled and topped with mango salsa and avocado slices. You can definitely tell that the ingredients are fresh and good quality.

Fish and chips, cod, fries, tartare sauce
The fish and chips were decent but nothing too special. I liked that the breading wasn't greasy and that they offered a nice portion of fish which tasted fresh. However the mushy peas didn't really do it for me. I also thought the fries weren't crispy enough. I usually finish every fry on my plate but I left half of mine on the plate.

Lunch at FIG was good, but apart from the BBQ sandwich, I don't think the other dishes were anything special. I think the brunch menu looks much more interesting (such as bacon waffle or lengua taco) so I probably won't venture back unless it's a Sunday.

Hits: chicken sandwich
Misses: not too unique or inventive
Rating: ***

Fig Santa Monica
101 Wilshire Blvd.,
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 319-3111
www.figsantamonica.com

Drago Santa Monica: 6-course Duck Tasting Menu

For a limited time only, Drago in Santa Monica is offering a duck tasting menu.

The tasting menu includes 6 courses for $59 with wine pairing for an additional $29.

Our waiter prompted brought over breadsticks and fresh bread when we were seated.

Amuse bouche of Arancini was served pipping hot and was comprised of mozzarella and tomato sauce. I liked the crispy breading which wasn't greasy.

il fegato ~ foie gras torchon, pickled vegetables, toasted brioche, marsala reduction
valter scarbolo, pinot grigio, friuli, 2009
The torchon sat beautifully on a toasty brioche. The foie gras was really buttery and intense. You could tell that it was good quality foie that just needed a sprinkle of fresh cracked black pepper and sea salt. I usually see foie paired with sweet preserve so it was an interesting combination with the sour pickled vegetables and the tangy marsala sauce.

l’uovo ~ 63 degree duck egg, pomme paille, potato espuma, teeny greens
castello della sala, bramito, chardonnay, umbria 2009

The yolk of the sous vide cooked egg was thick and almost gooey. The potato puree was lightly whipped and well seasoned. This was a rich but comforting dish.

gli agnolotti ~ duck mousse filled agnolotti, crispy duck skin, butter glaze
lasseter family winery, syrah rose, sonoma valley, 2009
I really enjoyed the pasta dish. The agnolotti had a nice al dente texture and was filled with tender duck. The Chicharrón flavored cracklings were delightful and added saltiness and crunch to the subtle butter sauce.

il risotto ~ duck confit risotto, amarone wine reduction
miura, pinot noir, monterey county, 2008
The duck was cooked to order and served hot. I was quite impressed with how well the duck was cooked. The skin was crispy and the fat was properly rendered, while the meat itself was juicy and tender. The duck sat on a bed of creamy al dente risotto which had an interesting marriage of sharp pecorino cheese and sweet wine reduction.

il petto ~ seared duck breast, collard green and farro ragout, pearl onion and blood orange
fuedo maccari, saia, nero d’avola, sicilia, 2007
The duck was beautifully cooked, pinkish in the center. As much as I enjoyed the duck, I also loved the accompaniments. The collard greens and the farro added nice textures and really did a good job of absorbing the flavors of the rich duck sauce. I also liked the cippolini onions which were not mushy or strong flavored.

gli involtini dolci ~ foie gras and olive oil mousse, strawberry, black pepper gelato
maculan, dindarello, moscato, veneto, 2009
I was impressed that Drago had incorporated duck into the dessert course, which can be a very tough feat. The airy and salty foie gras mousse was sandwiched between a crispy wafer and a surprisingly mild olive oil panna cotta-like cream topping. I was pleased to see that a traditional restaurant such as Drago had offered a spicy black pepper gelato which was rather unique and the first that I've ever sampled.

I was extremely impressed with the duck tasting menu. Not only were all the dishes perfectly executed and well seasoned, but the price tag was very reasonable at $88 for 6 courses including wine pairing. The wine pours were generous. Although the wine may not be as good as some of the pairings I've had, it was a steal at $29 and there were some standouts such as the Miura Pinot Noir and the Moscato. The dishes came out rather quickly so I was concerned that the dishes had been pre-made but all the items came out hot and cooked well. It's interesting because based on the decor, clientele and elevator music, Drago seems to cater to a much older crowd (we were at least 20 years younger than anyone else in the room) but yet the tasting courses were updated and inventive. This menu is only available for a limited time but it's not one to be missed.

Hits: good deal, all the dishes were amazing, service
Misses: service a bit rushed
Rating: ****

Drago Santa Monica
2628 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 828-1585
www.celestinodrago.com