a romantic dinner for two..

one of my favorite places to go dine at in Los Angeles is a little place not known to many. its called the little door. its gained much popularity due to the opening of 'the little next door', right next door that sells lunch things during the day, since the little door is closed during the day. its really great. the little door that is. the service is amazing. very helpful and the food of course is just darling. the food itself is something worth investing some time into learning and experiencing more. I've been to this place countless times and tried many of the different staples of the menu. the dessert there is also just spectacular. everything that you put in your mouth has color and visions when you close your eyes, as the flavors sing you a song and paint you a painting. Needless to say that this place is not just for a dinner for any occasion. its best experienced with a loved one, a good friend and or anyone who appreciates fresh flavor and great atmosphere. this place has the perfect combination to make a dinner into an adventure into a new world. 

as you walk in, you see a green background of plants and flickers of soft candle light, i recommend a dinner near the time of sunset.  you notice the lush foliage in the whole space. you see that there are candles starting to be lit and the white table cloths give you a sense of fine dining. you are greeting with a smiling face. sitting outside is a different experience than that of the inside. but for the romantic dinner outside on a summer night, i really do suggest the outside. during the colder nights i would say the blue room where they have a beautiful fire place and a whole new decor that makes you just feel comfy. back to the outdoors, you'll start to notice that everything is a bit slower in pace, the feel of everyone is very relax and enjoyable, setting a nice tone for how you should take the little door in. order some wine, they have a great selection to choose from and if you like beer they have a smaller choice of beer but

 nonetheless have a cocktail, even if you do not drink, it does add a bit of an element to the whole meal. trust me. 

i always do a three course meal. always. i like to think that having a bit of everything is really getting the true experience and taste of what each restaurant has to offer and as a foodie, i like to taste as much as possible. appetizers are a great way to see how concisely creative the chef can be. its like the opening pages of a book, can the chef take the simplest and freshest ingredients from the season and show you how well the farmers have grown the food?

 can you taste the earth? can you really taste whatever that ingredient is? i find myself often

 disappointed when all my senses are not evoked in the appetizer. you'll get there, the first flavors should make you excited for what you really ordered. at the little door they keep it simple. they use the best produce and amazing cheese. so fear not. 

during my romantic dinner we ordered two very different things, my boyfriend ordered the duck duo. and it was simply amazing. my boyfriend, i must admit is not one to suggest any cuisine outside of the Asian continent, but he trusts me. and thus finds himself amazed as he smells the different sections of the plate blending harmoniously together. he was doubtful when there was prunes and star anise in the description of the duck, but i assured that this place was really good. and indeed it was perfection. 

as for myself, i ordered the scallops. i enjoy my seafood raw on the regular basis but when I'm out at place where I've eating all the protein, i try to venture into the seafood world to make sure the whole menu is great. there is a fine line between which seafood like scallops may be cooked before they are ruined, i am always in awe when a place can actually deliver a solidly cooked seafood entree to the public time and time again. our entrees were just spectacular, every thing just enhanced each ingredient's individual flavors. it was wonderful, so good that there was not much conversation at the table but just sounds of utter enjoyment of food, as all dinners should be like. we shared a few forkfuls of the entrees and with trying the other's plate you just realize how much fun you're having just simply eating. not being gluttonous but truly appreciating life. of course there is always the problem after you finish your entree. it comes in the form of dessert. 

thankfully i did not have to make that horrible decision of what to pick for dessert, as our server who happen to be a favorite customer of the sushi restaurant, he had selected a dessert trio for us to enjoy. and boy oh boy was it just magical. chocolate, creme brulee and cheesecake. life could not get any better than the sight that was in front of us in the form of confectionery

 delights. i love chocolate and as with all true chocolate lovers, we like dark and bitter sweet and at the little door, the chocolate is always just right. not so sweet that you cannot taste the true cocoa flavor and just rich enough to make your tongue twirl around a bit. and next the classic. the creme brulee. nothing in this world is so simple and so special at the same time as this dessert. there are only what? five ingredients that go into making this, and of course the sugar crackle on top just makes it so simply amazing to bite into. the contrast of the soft custard and the hard sugar top is just so much fun to eat. i have never met anyone who didn't like it, its so comforting. and the cheesecake. . . it was coconut with a passion fruit sauce. o my.. it was just brilliant in the tropical flavors. i happen to be a fan of passion fruit and the combination of the coconut and the cheese i was just a happy girl. the flavors reminded me of sunsets and beaches. i never thought that i was able to finish the desserts but with hard work and careful breathing, we were able to finish most of the trio placed in front of us. 

i must recommend that everyone at one point should visit the little door and do the whole dinner experience that i have described. i have gone to a lot of restaurants but there are only a few that i continue to go to. i make it a point to go once a year, if i am lucky more but i find it that its special enough to look forward to once a year. it is definitely a place that is worth every penny and worth the special place in my list of places to dine. going with friends, family and loved ones just keeps the little door a special place in my heart of sure shot great dinner experience. 

eat extraordinary everyday

Ribfest...

So i went to a football game the other night, without any knowledge of the Rib festival that was there.! 

Anyhow..since we're doing the low carb or no carb * thats the one she's doing. I'm doing the as limited amount of carbs for an Asian noodle head.. carb cautious eating.. life is interesting. I haven't had noodles in a while maybe since I've left Los Angeles. I try to eat only salads  that is loaded with everything. although i enjoy a simple salad with few ingredients, i LOVE salads that are filled with a bit of everything-because the right variety of flavors in the salad makes it -sans dressing healthy. so now everything goes on it-sunflower seeds, tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, edamame, olives, avocados, almond slices, hard boiled egg, chicken, ham... just about everything goes on it and good amount of salt and pepper. then eat away... its great and no dressing with old is needed and all the salad is raw so every vitamin goes into your body... 

so now that i have demonstrated my appreciation for things green and healthy i will go into my deep admiration for ribs and b.b.q. A few days ago, i was invited for a kick off game for the steelers. as we approach the field from our far parking spot, i started to see smoke... good smoke- the smoke that has flavor in it. I saw the sign "Rib Festival 2008" and my eyes were filled with a gaze that could not be unlocked from the smoke. but my healthy minded roommate said "no" and that it would ruin our healthy day of working out and eating light. I was heart broken. just sad. but after the game i convinced myself that ribs were good since they were not carbs and if i didnt lick the sauce i should be okay. but of course its a Rib festival who am i kidding, there were award winning teams with their stands there waiting for me to love my life even more. so i get in line and get the teaser. so g

ood. so good. life was great. i love festivals and vendors who can actually deliver the flavors and food they claim.