Kat's 9 Lives

Did I hear right? Petrossian was offering a Foie Gras Tasting Menu?? Later I learned that it was for Dine LA and I thought... alright, I pray this will be good! Gourmet Pigs let me know about the special menu and we set up plans while she was away about going when she comes back. So here is the low down of the night. I have been here 3x already for their Dine LA menu and I think all 3x they had different Executive Chefs. Last time they had Chef Ben Bailly and he was very nice. Their latest Executive Chef is Chef Giselle Wellman. Here is the cold hard truth of the experience that transpired the other night...

I arrive and the place seems pretty busy and there are tons of staff members standing about the restaurant yet I see the guy at the counter who is the general manager helping a couple buy products which is understandable. Here comes the part I really don't get... 3 women are in front of me just standing there as well. I decide to ask them if they are waiting to be seated. I glance across the room where staff members were looking back at us and doing nothing... Then the women say that they are waiting to be seated and apparently this guy is the ONLY one in charge of the list. So then we ALL waited. I am standing there thinking ummm okay.... why only have one person seating when they are obviously helping customers at the counter on the "boutique" side... The gm did come by and apologize for the wait, but I just kept waiting and more people started to squeeze in for seating. I am thinking to myself... OH GOODNESS! It's getting crowded! So after they seated the people in front of me right next to the counter they stood **could've seated them earlier** then luckily Gourmet Pigs must have some pull because we got a nicer table. The server was very friendly but... more to come.
So to start off we placed our order and there were a few menu items that I was debating but in the end I decided to start with the Foie Gras Ravioli. My biggest qualm is that they claimed to be a "Foie Gras" dinner and there is no seared foie gras to be found anywhere??!?!?? I will be honest, I was devastated! I have been sick since the Bahamas and to drive up straight after work, it better be one of the best dinners to be worth the drive and time. Albeit, meeting up with my pal after so long is a big part but the food needs to be up to par as there are so many delightful places in LA to eat. Now back to the food at hand. The raviolis were al dente and flavorful. I wished there was just a bit more sauce on top for moistness. The grape, walnuts, and mushroom were a nice complement with earthy and sweet tones. It's probably the best "foie gras" dish of the night.
At this point we finished our appetizers and just sat there waiting for the main course. I am not sure why it took forever for the next course to come. I debated on which main dish to choose. The steak had the offering of white truffle oil and a foie gras, leeks, mushroom duxelles that I was tempted to order. Then the kicker was what the foie gras was. It turns out to be a mousse on top of the pastry. That made me change my mind to the Squid Ink Fettuccini. The kicker was that it has wild Californian sea urchin and salmon roe in a curry sauce. At first I was thrown off by the curry sauce but I couldn't resist the fact that I can get some sea urchin. I don't quite know if it was the right choice because I ended up eating mostly pasta/carbs for the night, which is normally against my belief. They did give me a taste of the steak which was not bad but not anything out of the ordinary. The foie gras and pastry was actually pretty tasty. I did enjoy the sea urchin. The natural sweetness complemented the savory flavor of the pasta. If you like pastas and tons of carbs then this is the dish for you, but if you are a meat eater like me it might leave you wanting for more at the end. Still, to be fair the pasta was unique and I did enjoy the sweet uni. At first bite I was debating on the whole vibe of the dish. The more I ate, the more I felt the flavors sink in.
If it is not evident by now, I am a devout lover of foie gras. I have had it as a martini, seared, terrine, raw, soup, butter, and as crème brûlée right here before. It is finally time I had it in ice cream form! Of course my friend started to warn me by text of the night to come and was eagerly awaiting my verdict on the ice cream. I was very tempted in getting the Mille Feuille because I often think about the wonderful dessert from Pierre Hermé. Thank goodness I did not make that choice because that was NOT a Mille Feuille. Yes, I know they have their own take on the dessert but that was almost blasphemous. First off, mille means a thousand layers and not 3 lame toasted bread with fruit cut up on it. By this comparison, I must say it made the Foie Gras Ice Cream so much better. To be honest, I couldn't stop laughing while I ate this. I actually detest foie gras terrine. This really was just a thick, cold, and creamy foie gras terrine. It was served with raspberry jam, honey, and sea salt on top of a brioche. I agree with my friend that it could use something bitter or salty to cut the richness down. Between this and the Mille Feuille, I'd gladly take the super rich and heavy ice cream over the poor excuse of passing off bread as a delicate pastry. To give them credit, the ice cream did taste exactly foie gras ice cream so at least you know that there is real foie gras inside.
All in all I think the place is not bad but nothing special that I would necessarily recommend or drive up for again. I felt a little tricked and I was not the only one in my party who needed to nibble on other food when they got home! The server was not bad and they were friendly but that does not excuse the inefficient way they function. I guess they are not use to being busy? In the past, I have never seen them this packed for Dine LA but this year they are probably the only restaurant offering a decent menu. When you choose restaurants to try out for Dine LA, you have to be very careful or you will end up spending more for the pre-fix than when you order separately! Dine carefully, but most importantly just enjoy the meal and the company.

Petrossian Boutique & Cafe
321 N Robertson Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 271-0576

It's time to give Lee's Sandwiches another look. To be honest I had lost my love for this chain for a while but thanks to the Lee's Sandwiches in Rowland Heights, it has rekindled the flame. The facility is very clean and you can watch them as they make your sandwiches.
Plan to eat your sandwiches there when they are freshly made. It's best when the sandwiches are still crisp.
They caught me in their web and surprised me with their Vegetarian Sandwich. Yes, you read right, veg-et-ar-ian. I was shocked too that I could ever like something made without meat. Inside the French baguette is a mixture of finely chopped fried tofu skin, thin crisp noodles, fried sweet potato strips, and more. Mixed with the sweet pickled vegetables and herb, it's like a flavor explosion.
I made a mistake and forgot to add avocado on the first sandwich, so I had to go for a second one loaded with avocado. Believe me, it makes a huge difference. The buttery goodness of avocado really helps enhance the crisp texture and sweet flavor. Everything tastes better with more avocado. =D
My hunger overcame me and I devoured the Grilled Pork Sandwich. The meat was warm, flavorful, and satisfying. It really hit the spot. The savory flavor of the pork was nicely enhanced by the crisp sweet pickled vegetables. I would definitely recommend people to eat this while it is warm and fresh for the best flavor.
Today I chose to be a little more adventurous in my drink choice. I would normally get an iced coffee, but I couldn't resist the temptation of a Durian Smoothie and an Avocado Smoothie. It's rare to see a place offering durian so I couldn't pass that up. Glad to have a good amount of choices to choose from.
All in all this is a great location to get my Vietnamese sandwich fix. Before, I would say that the vegetarian sandwich was the way to go, but now I really like the grilled pork as well. The good thing is that the prices are always very reasonable so I can pick up everything that I want without breaking my wallet. I wish I could have one of their sandwiches right now. It would just hit the spot!
Lee's Sandwiches
18194 Colima Rd
Rowland Heights, CA 91748
(626) 810-8887

The Doughnut Plant has been a coveted place in my heart since my first trip out to NYC. From the first time Ms. Lin told me about how the owner bested Bobby Flay on his show with his infamous Tres Leches Doughnut, we were hooked after one bite. That was many years ago and now they have expanded leaps and bounds with a new location near Chelsea.
This new location is super hip with funky doughnut decors that will knock your socks off. I simply fell in love with all the doughnut pillows on the wall. In my mind I can see a picture of Homer Simpson standing there with his mouth wide open and drooling! Oh wait, that was me! =) I'd be on cloud nine dreaming about doughnuts if I slept on those cute pillows!
Here you have space to grab a nice cup of coffee or a huge glass of milk to go along with your tasty doughnuts!
Of course my favorite doughnut is the Tres Leches, hands down! They are so moist and flavorful! Even if you bring them back to California for friends and family. They hold up pretty well and taste almost as great. Locked inside the sugared shell is a heavenly moist cake doughnut. I am not sure what magic he uses or what kind of drugs are inserted inside the doughnut to maintain the flavor, moisture, and tastiness! So addictive that it will keep you coming back for more!
Once you start, you can't stop! I have Ms. Lin bring it for me every time she goes to NYC. She has even frozen the doughnut in the freezer until I come up for a visit to finish them off. They might not taste as wonderful as a fresh made doughnut by then, but I'd gladly eat them! Yup, they are that tasty. Those in the know, really know! ^_-
From my previous trips, I have always liked the Pumpkin Doughnut. It's not quite as moist as their signature doughnut but I love the pumpkin seasoning. The little pumpkin seeds add a nice crunch to each bite. They only have it around certain seasons, so be sure to pick it up while you can.
They have a new treat called the Salty Peanut Doughnut that looked tasty. Sadly, I made the mistake of giving the doughnut to friends before I got to try it. So I will have to return again to sink my teeth into that tasty morsel!
Another new item they had was the Crème Brûlée Doughnut that I was intrigued by and high hopes for because of my devoted passion to the Tres Leches. There was a nice caramelized shell on the top, but I felt that for the price it was a bit tiny and that the flavor of the doughnut was not there. I say stick with what they are known for. It's fun that they are trying new things but this fell a little bit short for me.
All in all, I still LOVE and ADORE the Doughnut Plant! I just wish that he would open up one here and I'd visit it every day! That man really knows how to make one fantastic doughnut that will keep you dreaming and fantasizing about it. No wonder there are so many doughnut pillows on their wall. He knows what you will be thinking about in your sleep. lol

P.S. Someone send me or make me those doughnut pillows!! Nom Nom!!

Doughnut Plant
220 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 675-9100