All posts filed under: Italian

INTERVIEW WITH EXECUTIVE CHEF/OWNER OF BESTIA

Located in an industrial warehouse in LA’s downtown Art District, I was intrigued pulling up to Bestia for the first time. It was not quite what I expected. But once I entered the restaurant, everything came to life and it all made sense. Packed and buzzing with fast-paced servers and cooks in an open faced kitchen, the restaurant felt alive in a way that most Los Angeles restaurants do not anymore. With brick walls, unfinished ceilings, and rustic decor, Bestia has a raw, urban aesthetic that is unlike any other restaurants in the city. Whether you choose to sit at the bar, in the middle of the restaurant (where you can watch dishes fly out of the kitchen), or in front of the wood-burning ovens at the pizza counter, you’re in for an exciting dining experience. I’ve been to Bestia a few times now and it never disappoints. Ori Menashe and his wife, Genevieve Gergis, are the duo behind the restaurant. Menashe is the owner and executive chef, offering rustic Italian dining with an eccentric …

CARBONE, NYC

I went to Carbone for dinner after the NBA All Star game in New York this past Sunday. My sister who lives in New York, made a reservation for Carbone a month in advance. It’s not easy to get in. I was sitting court side at the All Star Game and had to leave at half time and give up my court side seat to make it in time for our 10:15pm reservation! You might think I’m crazy to give up my court side seat, but if you know me, you know how I take food very seriously so I wasn’t going to let this reservation go to waste. During halftime, I FINALLY had the chance to meet Jay Z (which I’ve been waiting my whole life for), so I was coming off a high. I felt like my life was complete, so it made leaving the game a little easier (ha). Before talking about the food, I have to mention that our table was a foot away from Nas at Carbone. We chatted through out dinner and …

BESTIA | DTLA

I finally had the chance to eat at Bestia in Downtown LA. I’ve heard so much about this place from other foodies and seen a lot of write ups about it online, so I was really excited to finally have dinner there the other night. Everything was good, but one thing we ordered was exceptional. If you go to Bestia, you must try the Roasted Bone Marrow. It is served on top of Spinach gnocchetti, crispy breadcrumbs with aged balsamic. You scoop the marrow off the bone and mix it into the Spinach gnocchetti and it’s just off the charts…the flavor and texture together make the perfect dish . The flavor in each dish really takes this place to the next level. You could really distinguish all the different ingredients and spices everything we ordered. The menu is very unique and the presentations are innovative and creative as well. I have to head back to try their different pizzas, I heard they’re amazing. Other things we ordered: Burrata Salad, Mussels & Clams (spicy!), Cavatelli alla Norcina, Spaghetti Rustichella & the coffee & donuts for dessert.