PAIRING FILM & FOOD | The Levi’s Film Workshops

 

Everyone knows that Los Angeles is the epicenter of filmmaking. And what better way to celebrating the craft of filmmaking by providing a series of workshops focused on the creative process of film production under one roof, sparking creativity, imagination and collaboration. Under the guise of “The Levi’s Workshops”, amateur and professional filmmakers alike have open door access (as in FREE) not only to equipment, but other tools and resources to help bring their vision from concept to reality.

From now through July 14, Geffen Contemporary @ Moca plays host to Levi’s Film Workshops which not only includes instructional, hands on workshops, but film screenings, music and film premiers as well as guest speakers who will present on topics such as Intro to 16mm Filmmaking, Film Editing, Loop-Making/Direct Animation, and Sound Design…just to name a few. And what’s even more exciting, at least for me anyway, is that the theme for the month is FOOD! Yes, it’s all about food and film, and together, it’s a recipe for success!

I was invited by Foodbuzz and Levi’s to check out the venue for this one of kind project.  Foodbuzz is the largest online community of food bloggers that provides content distribution who share a passion for food and dining.  As a Featured Publisher, I accepted the assignment to find out more about The Levi’s Workshop‘s pairing of film and food. Food aficionados will be able to enjoy the following food-themed events and workshops planned at the Levi’s Film Workshops at MOCA, Geffen Contemporary, and Cinefamily:

• Film screening of Cesar (1936), the inspiration behind the name of chef Alice Waters’ well-known Berkeley restaurant which features two characters from the film–Panisse and Fanny and pays homage to the denizens of Marseilles. Suzanne Goin of A.O.C. and Lucques will be on hand to introduce the film.  A small reception will follow in the courtyard will follow the screening. (Cinefamily: Wednesday, June 29 at 8:00 p.m.).
• Animal Restaurant will host a special screening of Martin Scorcese’s Italianamerican. The film, to be introduced by Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo of Animal, includes interviews with Scorcese’s parents about their life in New York and their family history in Sicily. A small reception in the courtyard will follow. (Cinefamily: Thursday, July 7 at 8:00 p.m.).
• Want to play with your food? Join the Stop-Motion Title Sequence Workshop with Clare Crespo, a self-proclaimed “food artist” of yummyfun.com who will lead the workstop on the basics of stop-motion animation. Starring in the workshop will be various food items including fruits, vegetables, meats and more.  Crespo will work with participants to create animated title sequences for the Wild Goodness film project. (Levi’s Film Workshop at MOCA: Saturday, July 9 at 1:00 p.m.).
• Classic Film “The Grapes of Wrath“, John Ford’s Oscar-winning film (1940), will be introduced by Tara Kolla of Silver Lake Farms for this special screening. This film follows the experience of thousands of Americans evicted from “Dust Bowl” farmlands. A reception in the Cinefamily courtyard will be held following the screening. (Tuesday, July 12 at 8:00 p.m.).

The highlight of the month is the film premiere of “The Hunger“, three short films that will look at three essential food-isms in the culinary world: GROWING, PREPARING and SERVING—featuring three of the most innovative, creative, and influential pioneers on the food scene today:

• GROWING: Spotlight on Futurefarmers & Silver Lake Farms.  Introducing Wild Goodness.  Directed by Aaron Rose.
• PREPARING: Spotlight on Chef Ludo Lefebvre. Directed by Lorenzo Fonda.
• SERVING: Spotlight on Kogi BBQ. Directed by Ace Norton.

The Hunger will premiere at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA on Saturday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m.  Attendees will be able to celebrate the harvest of the Margaret Kilgallen Memorial Farm, taste unique food made on site while enjoying music.

Check out these and other events at: http://workshops.levi.com/

GEFFEN CONTEMPORARY @ MOCA
152 N. Central Avenue (at 1^st Street)
Los Angeles, CA  90013

HOURS:
Opens at 11am daily; closed on Tuesdays and Wednesday.
Closes at 5pm (Monday); 8pm (Thursday); 5pm (Friday); 9pm (Saturday) and 6pm (Sunday)

TRANSPORATION: You can take the Metrolink Red Line to the Civic Center or the Gold Line to Little Tokyo/Arts District.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter – @levisworkshops
Facebook – facebook.com/levis
Vimeo – vimeo.com/levis

CAMILO’S BISTRO | Serves Up Breakfast in Eagle Rock

Lately, I’ve been into breakfast food. Not sure why but the thought of enjoying breakfast at any time of the day, and not just before 12 noon is comforting. Of course, there is the danger of carb coma settling in if I decide to indulge in pancakes or french toast but I think it’s worth the risk!

I scheduled a business lunch with a co-worker earlier in the week and we had settled on Camilo’s Bistro in the Los Angeles suburb of Eagle Rock, just shy of Pasadena. Camilo’s is a favorite among my fellow co-workers and not far from my office. They serve up California, French and Latin American cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I was going to order their salmon salad, a favorite of mine on their menu until I spied the breakfast offerings under the Pancakes & French Toast offerings. And the minute I read the description for the Bread Pudding French Toast ($9.95), I knew right then and there I was having breakfast for lunch. Well, it was a toss up between that or the Brioche French Toast ($7.95) (dipped in Grand Marnier batter) but it had me at bread pudding and I was immediately hooked. I ordered a side of sausage links too ($2.50) to round out the breakfast experience.

It arrived beautifully plated–three, one-inch thick slices of bread pudding, french-toast style with a light dusting of powdered sugar and crowned with fresh strawberries and thinly sliced granny smith apples. I picked up one to move it to the size and was surprised at how “heavy” (as in dense in weight) it was and I began to think that I may just slip into a carb coma but once I sliced into it and tried that first bite–well, you know that saying that looks can be deceiving? In this case, it was definitely not what I expected. It was incredibly light, creamy yet firm in texture, and had the perfect combination of sweetness from the raisins and cinnamon. I lightly drizzled syrup over the toast (I’m not one to drown my french toast or pancakes for that matter in syrup). I wanted to make sure that I was able to taste and savor every bite! I was in breakfast heaven. The sausage links (2) were generously sized and complimented the french toast. It was the perfect lunch!

In addition to pancakes and french toast, Camilo’s also offers omelettes and frittatas; south of the border breakfast classics such as Huevos Rancheros and Chilaquiles con Huevos; steak and eggs and even oatmeal!

I’ve been to Camilo’s several times and was never disappointed in the quality and preparation of their food and their exemplary service. Chef Camilo himself, gracious and warm, interacts effortlessly with his diners, many of whom are faithful patrons of this friendly, neighborhood restaurant. The ambiance and decor of the restaurant is unique and inviting and they offer seating outside if you want to dine al fresco. Parking is available in the back but limited but there are plenty of metered street parking on Colorado Boulevard and on their cross street Caspar.

CAMILO’S CALIFORNIA BISTRO
2128 Colorado Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA  90041
323.478.2644
Website: www.camilobistro.com  (website is currently under construction)

BLD | Los Angeles, CA

BLD (short for “Breakfast Lunch Dinner”) serves up hearty and healthy eats throughout the day, including brunch on weekends. It’s especially popular on the weekends, catering to a well-heeled crowd. Hubby’s been here before as well as a couple of friends who have recommended their Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes and that’s the main reason why I wanted to check it out.

Their brunch menu is served from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays which means that I can enjoy breakfast until the mid-afternoon hours. Hubby recommended that we start with the Fresh Vegetable Salad from their lunch menu which he suggested we share.  It was a wonderful medley of edamame, fresh corn, jicama, hericots vert, red bell peppers, avocado, toasted cashews, hemp seeds, daikon sprouts and tossed in a light, flavorful ginger vinaigrette.

Fresh Vegetable Salad

I was set on ordering the Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes, however, after studying the menu a bit more closely I decided to be adventurous and order something that I would not normally order…the Vegan Benedict! The Vegan Benedict included a generous slice of House Smoked Tofu Bacon, a hearty Veggie Patty, wilted arugula, hollandaise and served alongside with olive oil roasted fingerling potatoes. I was expecting it to be tasteless and dry but I was pleasantly surprised. The tofu bacon tasted like…smoked bacon and coupled with the veggie patty, it was a wonderful combination of flavors. The benedict was filling and flavorful, the hollandaise beautifully executed.

Vegan Benedict

Hubby ordered the hearty Fried Egg Sandwich made up of nueske’s thick cut bacon, gruyere cheese, and aioli on toasted sourdough bread and served with olive oil roasted fingerling potatoes.

Fried Egg Sandwich

Overall, we enjoyed our early afternoon brunch and I plan on returning to BLD soon to give their blueberry ricotta pancakes a try.

BLD (Breakfast Lunch Dinner)
7450 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, California  90036
Phone: 323.930.9744
http://www.bldrestaurant.com

A-FRAME Modern Picnic | Culver City, CA

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My cousins were visiting from out of town (San Francisco and Vancouver respectively) and I was able to join them for dinner at A-Frame Modern Picnic. I was pretty excited about finally trying A-Frame, another Roy Choi eatery, since they debuted onto the LA food scene a few months ago. Located in Culver City, you can’t miss the “A frame” building that A-Frame Modern Picnic calls home.

What is A-Frame all about? According to Papi Chulo and quoted on A-Frame’s menu, “A-Frame is a place that came from the feeling I used to get when cracking crabs  on Redondo Beach Pier as a youth. The salt year, the cement benches. Newspapers and wooden mallets. Family and friends. The kind of food that you wanted to eat then and there is re-imagined here and now. Eat with your hands, reach across the table, lick your plates clean and share food with some strangers. Walk around, talk with your mouth full and get ready to get dirty. We know what your spirit’s hungry for. So bring it on over and let us feed it already.”

And feed it they did. The food began to arrive shortly after I did (all the way from Pasadena) so it was perfect timing on my part. It was served family-style and allowed us to try a little bit of everything. We started off with Island Farmer’s Market Salad, a savory salad with shaved Maui onion, tofu, fried garlic, seasonal fruit, ginger shoyu vinaigrette ($7). What followed was a veritable collection of diverse flavors that were pleasurable to the palate and comforting to the soul:

CLAM CHOWDER – My favorite of the bunch ($9). This chowder was packed with flavor: green curry, lemongrass, pancetta, and coconut milk and served with toasted sourdough for dipping and sopping up that wonderful broth. Absolutely YUM!

BABY BACK RIBS – Lip smacking and finger licking good, air dried and hoisin-chili glazed with sesame ($10).

BLUE CRAB CAKES – Lovingly packed by hand, blue crab cakes were served atop butter lettuce cups and perilla leaf wrap with a drizzle of ginger lemongrass creme fraiche ($12).

CRACKLIN BEER CAN CHICKEN – Prepared Peruvian-style with kimchees, served alongside with century egg, salsa roja and verde (1/2 Chicken: $11; Whole Chicken: $19).

BARBECUED LAMB CHOPS – Prepared Korean-style with citrus gremolata and salsa verde ($19).

KITCHEN FRIES – A variety of potatoes were used for this dish: purple Okinawan sweet potato, yam, and Korean sweet potato with kimchi sour cream and sea salt ($6).

CHU-DON’T-KNOW-MANG was the dessert of choice: pound cake churros, cinnamon, with malted chocolate milk and vanilla ice cream for dipping. This was an awesome dessert and the pound cake churros were the true stars of this dish ($6)!

My cocktail of choice was the CHRISTOPHER OAXACAN. I loved the play on the name and this was recommended by my cousin’s friend Cathy.  The Christopher Oaxacan was a blend of Mezcal, habanero agave, lime and orange ($10). Super smooth, citrusy with a little bite. Refreshing!

I loved this restaurant and was surprised at the wide variety of inventive and clever menu items, cocktails, beers on tap and wines that were offered. The menu was organized with whimsical headings such as “to munch on”, “to pass around”, “to get your hands dirty”, “to bring it all together”, “cavities”, “from the tap”, “from the vineyard”, “bottles and cans”, and “warm your soul”.  With the menu items, there definitely were Asian influences throughout and it made for a very enjoyable meal. Special thanks to my cousin Gina for organizing such a wonderful evening!

A-FRAME MODERN PICNIC
12565 Washington Boulevard
Los Angeles, California  90066
Phone: 310.398.7700
http://www.aframela.com

URBAN SOLACE | San Diego, CA

Urban Solace has been on my radar for quite some time and while in San Diego for a fundraiser, I took the opportunity to also organize a brunch with friends before heading back to Los Angeles. I invited a few friends from high school to join me, making sure that we arrived early enough before the restaurant opened to ensure seating, especially with a large group.

Urban Solace is located in the North Park area of San Diego, a few minutes off of Fwy 805′s El Cajon Boulevard exit on 30th Street, just past University Avenue. The building stood out, as if plucked from the French Quarter in New Orleans. Dubbed “Bluegrass Brunch”, I was really looking forward to the experience. A small group of hungry diners also assembled prior to the 10:00 a.m. opening and I knew this was no ordinary brunch spot.

We had a short wait (the rest of our party had not yet arrived) but we were guaranteed seating out in the patio area where a featured live bluegrass group was performing. I had previewed the menu online ahead of time and already knew what I would be ordering but I couldn’t resist taking a look at it one more time. Everything sounded so good but I held steadfast to my initial pick. More on this in just a minute.

Urban Solace's Menu

I wanted to start out my Urban Solace experience with a “breakfast cocktail” and ordered a Peach Bellini. My friend Lisa and friend Lori’s hubby ordered the Spicy Bloody Mary. Thumbs up from the group.

Left: Spicy Bloody Mary, Right: Peach Bellini

The first item on the menu is the “Best Darn Buttermilk Cinnamon Roll with Cream Cheese Icing ($3.50). You can add Butter Pecan Sauce for an additional dollar. We ordered two to share. When it arrived at our table, at first glance, we thought it was topped with ice cream but it was actually a large scoop of cream cheese icing. We smeared the icing over the generous sized roll and cut it in four pie-like pieces. OMG…soft, cinnamon-y buttery goodness and the butter pecan sauce gave it a sweet kick that tied this piece of heaven all together.

Best Darn Buttermilk Cinnamon Roll, Cream Cheese Icing and topped with Butter Pecan Sauce

The cinnamon roll set the pace for the rest of our brunch experience and we all ordered different items from the menu.

My friend Lisa ordered the Salmon Benny: Wild Sockeye Salmon with Poached Fresh Eggs, and Smoked Ancho Chili Hollandaise ($16.50):

Salmon Benny

My friend Arlene ordered the Eggaroni: Cheesy Macaroni and Egg Baked Casserole with Smoked Ham and Charred Tomatoes ($10.75).  She mentioned that the dish was very good but very rich:

Eggaroni

My friend Lori ordered the Kitchen Sink Biscuits ‘n Gravy: Sausage, Brown Sugar Slab Backon and Two Fried Eggs on top ($11.25):

Kitchen Sink Biscuits 'n Gravy

Lori’s hubby Dan ordered the Brandt Farms Beef Cheek Hash, Poached Eggs and Smoked Ancho Chili Hollandaise ($10.25):

Brandt Farms Beef Cheek Hash

I ordered the Belly Benny: Braised Niman Ranch Pork Belly, Poached Fresh Eggs and Smoked Ancho Chili Hollandaise (again with the Hollandaise! LOL!) ($11.25).  OMG–the pork belly was super tender and melted in my mouth. The hollandaise was flavorful and smoky, not too thick in consistency and paired well with the perfectly poached eggs. This has to be the most delicious benedict I’ve ever had:

Belly Benny

We were deliciously satisfied at the end of the meal, our tummies filled with Urban Solace happiness. While enjoying brunch, one of my favorite LA food bloggers and Twitter “friend” @walkermarkla of “I Flip For Food” tweeted me to let me know that they also have an “off menu” benny offering that, according to another LA food blogger friend of mine, @CattyCritic, must be requested ahead of time.  The benny?  Why, Foie Gras! And you better believe I’m going to order it next time!

The bar area inside the restaurant.

Princess Gourmet & Friends

URBAN SOLACE
3823 30th Street (between University & North Park Way)
San Diego, CA  92104
Phone: 619.295.6464
http://www.urbansolace.net

THE ROAD TO HEALTHIER EATING

Last Saturday, hubby and I were watching a Tivo’d episode of Oprah where Oprah and 378 of her staff members go vegan for a week. It was an interesting episode and I was fascinated by the food challenge posed to the staff. I was curious to see how the staff would fare in this one-week experiment. A few weeks ago, I had lunch with friend and fellow blogger Allison, author of Fit & Splendor, and she was my inspiration to start thinking about adopting a healthier eating lifestyle. I had an eye opening lunch with her and I began to think about food a little bit differently. She shared with me her own story and it prompted me to start making changes. I not only wanted to be a much healthier eater, but I wanted to lose a few pounds in the process. For me, it was a win-win goal!

I am an unconscious eater, not really giving a second thought about where my food comes from and what certain foods are doing to my body. I have the desire to want to eat healthy and what a great way to start 2011! I’m lucky to be surrounded by friends, family and co-workers who are supportive and for the most part, are striving towards the same goal. I was really looking forward to making these changes!

Yummy Berries

After my lunch with Allison I started to cut back on red meat and was eating more fish and chicken. I love veggies and fruit so incorporating these into my diet wasn’t a big deal–I’m just eating more of it now. I’ve been drinking tea since I was a kid but am now focused on drinking more herbal green tea instead. I’m also drinking more water. I’m trying to eat regular meals, especially during the day before I get home from work. Organic oatmeal and hot green tea start my day. I munch on dried cranberries or almonds mid-day and for lunch, I’ll have a salad or a fish dish. Mid-afternoon might be a cup of popcorn or Kashi granola bar.  I go to Whole Foods at least once a week and pick up snacks to last me the week. I also love their salad bar so I try to go their for lunch at least twice week. I have to admit, I do get tempted but my will power wins out and I’m able to walk past the dessert counter, the potato chips, and the coffee bar. I always try to keep in the forefront of my mind the end result. I not only want to feel good, I want to look good!

So back to Oprah’s vegan challenge. After watching the program, I felt that I could do this and also take the 7-day challenge. For those of you who don’t know, going vegan doesn’t mean being vegetarian–it means refraining from eating foods that come from animals.  This includes eggs, milk, cheese, and meat (of course). If you think about it, just about everything we eat (those of us who are not vegetarian or vegans) come from an animal, or are refined, reprocessed, etc.

 

Grilled Veggies

I asked hubby if he’d do the vegan challenge with me and he agreed. I didn’t want to immediately jump into it because I felt that I needed to be further educated. Watching the one-hour program inspired me, but I wanted more information. So I downloaded Kathy Freston’s book, Veganist, on my iPad and began reading. I also downloaded Kathy’s other bestseller, The Quantum Wellness Cleanse for even more inspiration.  What I liked about the Veganist is that the book provides additional resources for even more information and a shopping list section, broken down by where to go, such as the big chain grocery store, Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. It takes the guesswork out of what to buy and is super helpful when I’m at the grocery store. I’m unfamiliar with vegan brands but thankfully, when it comes to veggies and fruits–it’s a no brainer. Every little bit helps, right? I also started to write down what I eat and I’m also reading labels a little bit more carefully.  I’m going to lean into veganism but I do want to be honest. I do enjoy meat and probably won’t give it up completely, but will only have it sparingly. But I’m willing to give it a try and am looking forward to the challenge and experience.  I’m shuffling over to the scale now…yikes!

Stay tuned!

PLAYA | West Hollywood, CA

I had missed out on Chef John Rivera Sedlar‘s stint at Test Kitchen LA last September and his “Playa Preview”. I was intrigued by this celebrated chef’s culinary background and was eager to experience his cuisine dubbed “urban latin”, an interesting marriage of Mexican, Latin American and Spanish flavors. When I received the e-vite for a chance to preview Playa’s menu the night before its official grand opening, I jumped at the chance without hesitation. Unfortunately, my reservation was not received for the preview event (due to an error on my part) but I was able to secure a reservation for opening night.

Our reservations were for 7:00pm and we arrived on time, despite the busy Friday night traffic on Beverly Boulevard in West Hollywood.  Playa is located in the space that was formerly Grace and valet parking ($6.50) is available. The space is open, airy and boasts high ceilings with pendant-style lighting and tumbleweed-like shades.  Rows and rows of various liquor were displayed on lighted shelves that went all the way up to the ceiling.  A library-style ladder allowed bartenders to reach their liquor(s) of choice quickly and easily.

But I’m here for Playa’s urban latin cuisine that I’ve read and heard so much about. The ambiance was a plus and I am easily seduced by beautiful surroundings. I just hoped the food would not disappoint.

L: Pear Blossom Highway R: Two Moon July

I had a light lunch so I was pretty hungry by the time we arrived for dinner. We started out by ordering cocktails. Playa’s artisanal cocktails are playful and inventive. At $13 a pop, you can enjoy uniquely concocted beverages such as A Oaxacan in the Clouds: Mezcal, Roasted Farm Tomatoes, Crispy Sage and Pimenton D’espellete or the Survival Guide: XO Amagnac, Calvados, Miele de Corbezzolo, and Creole Bitters.  Hubby and I decided to order the Pear Blossom Highway, a delicious blend of Pisco, Clear Creek Pear Eau de Vie, Yellow Chartreuse, Citrus, and Bartlett Pears and the Two Moon July made with Bourbon, Grape Coulis, Amaro Medley, Grains of Paradise, Paradise, and Tonic.  The Pear Blossom Highway was crisp, cool and citrusy; and the Two Moon July made a statement with its smooth bourbon flavor.

The Grail

Halfway through the meal we ordered another cocktail to share, The Grail–Bonded Apple Brandy, Fresh Pressed Lady Apples, Spanish Red, Don’s Mix, and Apple Espum and garnished with an apple “chip”. When I first tried the cocktail, the first thought that popped in my head was McDonald’s Apple Pie. Not a bad thing. The drink was pretty good but that’s what it tasted like to me and hubby agreed.

Octo-Palm

We began with a cool appetizer and a warm appetizer. The cool appetizer was the Octo-Palm:grilled octopus, palm hearts, scallions, oven-dried cherry tomatoes and green onion. Simply delicious. The octopus was super tender and the flavors melded so well together. The warm appetizer was the Tamalli Chateaubriand: wild mushroom duxelles dumpling, filet mignon and chipotle bernaise. Put simply, a medium-grilled filet mignon served with a wild mushroom tamale and a wonderful chipotle bernaise. This should be an entree–it was so good.

Tamalli Chateaubriand

After the wonderful appetizers, we were looking forward to dinner. We decided to order (and share) the Pan-Seared Loup de Mer with maitre d’ butter and served with five sauces: romesco, chimichurri, verde, aji amarillo, aji panca; and the Twice-Seared Duck with garbanzo creme, pepitas, white and black sesame, and blood orange olive oil. The Twice-Seared Duck was our favorite, tender slices of duck fanned over creamy garbanzo…sooooo good!  The Pan-Seared Loup de Mer was okay. I wasn’t wowed by it but I did like how they plated the dish, “painting the sauces onto the plate”. I just wished they had given us a bit more sauce.

Twice-Seared Duck

Pan-Seared Loup de Mer

On to dessert! We decided to try two. The Pastel Cafe–mocha sponge, espresso creme, a toffee honeycomb, and colombian chocolate ice cream. The mocha sponge was actually crumbled on the plate, the toffee honeycomb sticky and chewy, and it had a “surprise” element. There was a chocolate bonbon on the plate (at least that what I thought it was). Our server poured warm chocolate over the bonbon which broke it open to reveal fresh raspberries inside.

Pastel Cafe

I wanted to try a non-chocolate option and ordered the Flora Y Terra: vanilla cake, strawberries, pomegranate, candied chiles piquillos, srawberry-anise sorbet and cava consomme. I loved how fresh and light this dish was. This was actually my favorite between the two (and I’m a BIG chocoholic)!  Note:  the photo came out overexposed so I chose not to include it in this post.

Overall, it was an enjoyable evening. We met and chatted with a wonderful couple sitting next to us (Stephanie and David) from West Hollywood. They suggested other restaurants to try that were some of their favorites, further extending my long list of places to try!

Playa is a bit pricey but it’s a great place to go for a special occasion or on a romantic date. For me, it didn’t disappoint!

PLAYA
7360 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA  90036
323.933.5300

Hours:
Sun – Wed:  5:30 pm – 12:00 am
Thu – Sat: 5:30 pm – 1:00 am

Email: www.playarivera.com