50 Shades of Food: A perfectly penetrated yolk

Pull up a chair and settle in for our 50 Shades of Food series, where we introduce you to mouthwatering, shiver-inducing, hot, sexy food porn. It's safe-for-work browsing, sure to get your heart racing and your palms a little sweaty, and the only drawback is a possible hunger pang or two after viewing.

This week we pay homage to the egg. The Pinoy Panda, also known as @limer35 on Twitter, shared this week's #foodporn photo of the duck hash from Playa restaurant in Los Angeles from a recent Sunday brunch. Pinoy Panda was able to capture just the right moment when you gently pierce the flesh of the egg with a knife and watch the luscious yolk spill from the center.

"Check out that perfect 63° egg," wrote Pinoy Panda on Twitter.

We not only checked it out, we did a double take.

If you'd like to get in on the food porn action, upload photos of your food to any of our food galleries --  What did you eat this weekend?; Our recipes, your kitchen; or Cheers! What are you drinking? -- and we'll be on the lookout for photos that make our eyes pop. You can also share photos with us on our Facebook page or on Twitter. Be sure to include your name, a description of the photo and any personal blog or Twitter handle you'd like us to give a shout-out to.

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Browse hundreds of recipes from the L.A. Times Test Kitchen

-- Jenn Harris

Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/Jenn_Harris_

Photo: Duck egg hash. Credit: Pinoy Panda

Joseph Mahon turns up in Fullerton to open Early Bird

Ever wondered what happened to Joseph Mahon? He is the onetime chef at the celebrated Bastide restaurant in West Hollywood, the guy who took it California casual (and earned good reviews while doing it). He's popped back up again, this time in his old stomping grounds of Orange County.

Mahon's been running a semi-permanent burger pop-up Wednesday through Saturday nights at the Rialto restaurant in Fullerton (his burger was a big seller at Bastide). And now Mahon, who has also worked with Daniel Boulud and David Myers, is opening a breakfast and lunch spot appropriately called Early Bird in Fullerton.

The place is scheduled to open July 16 with Jonathan Moulton as chef de cuisine. Moulton has worked with Rafael Lunetta and Josiah Citrin at Lemon Moon in Santa Monica and with James Boyce at Studio at the Montage in Laguna Beach.

The menu is sketchy at this point, but, according to press materials, will include dishes such as brioche French toast with almonds, toad-in-the-hole with grilled asparagus and smoked salmon, and a morning pizza with puff pastry, tomato compote and eggs for breakfast. Lunch items include coconut-curry soup, fried chicken salad, grilled cheese and penne arrabiata.

Early Bird,1000 B E. Bastanchury Road, Fullerton.

-- Russ Parsons

Photo: Mahon at Bastide. Credit: Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times

50 Shades of Food: Sunday brunch fantasy double feature

Pull up a chair and settle in for our 50 Shades of Food series, where we introduce you to mouth-watering, shiver-inducing, hot, sexy food porn. It's safe for work browsing, sure to get your heart racing and your palms a little sweaty, and the only drawback is a possible hunger pang or two after viewing.

This week's installment is a Sunday brunch fantasy double feature courtesy of @djjewelz. On the left, the sausage McBelly from BeerBelly LA in Koreatown, and on the right, the Slim Jim Bloody Mary, made with soju, also from BeerBelly.

"The Sausage McBelly is made with chef Wes Lieberher's homemade bratwurst," wrote @djjewelz. Eat your heart out, McMuffins. That glistening bratwurst sausage patty and fried egg on an English muffin has us weak in the knees, and who wouldn't swoon over an ice cold Bloody Mary?

If you'd like to get in on the food porn action, upload photos of your food to any of our food galleries --  What did you eat this weekend?, Our recipes, your kitchen or our Cheers! What are you drinking? -- and we'll be on the lookout for photos that make our eyes pop. You can also share photos with us on our Facebook page or on Twitter. Be sure to include your name, a description of the photo and any personal blog or Twitter handle you'd like us to give a shout-out to.

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Kitchen gadget: Cake decorating stand

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-- Jenn Harris

twitter.com/jenn_harris

The Hudson launches weekday brunch; the Raymond goes for breakfast

The Hudson in West Hollywood is now serving weekday brunch while the Raymond in Pasadena is launching weekend breakfast.

At the Hudson, beginning at 11 a.m. daily, brunch lovers can linger over a menu of huevos rancheros; prosciutto benedict; steamed artichoke with arugula, lemon and capers; a "hangover" burger with bacon, avocado, charred jalapeno cheese sauce and a medium fried egg; fish tacos and more.

On the Eastside, the Raymond is bent on taking the late-morning stigma off weekend brunch by offering breakfast instead. The meal is served at the ungodly hour of 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. But fear not, if you like the idea of eating breakfast at 1 p.m. you still can. In fact, the menu is served up until 2:30 p.m.

Offerings include traditional omelets, eggs benedict, croissant sandwiches and pecan and banana griddle cakes with whipped honey butter and warm maple syrup.

The Hudson, 1114 N Crescent Heights Blvd., West Hollywood. (323) 654-6686; www.thehudsonla.com.

The Raymond, 1250 South Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena. (626) 441-3136; www.raymond.com.

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Object of Desire: Beef noodle stew.

--Jessica Gelt

Photo: The Raymond. Credit: The Raymond.

 

Restaurant roundup: Easter and Passover, brunch or dinner

Have you planned your holiday meal yet? If you're looking to go out on the town, here's a list of a variety of places — from Bouchon Bistro in Beverly Hills to the San Diego Zoo — offering brunch or dinner:

 The Backyard Restaurant: Backyard Restaurant will serve Easter Sunday Brunch for $20.12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the restaurant will also offer Easter egg hunts at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Some of the menu items include passion fruit, lemon drop and berry scones with French butter, truffled egg-in-the-hole with brioche and lobster hash. 930 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, (310) 443-8218.

Bouchon Bistro/Bouchon Bakery: Bouchon Bistro is offering buttermilk fried chicken, bacon, and chive waffles with cheddar grits, Vermont maple syrup and Tahitian vanilla bean butter and sauce chasseur for both brunch and dinner on Easter. $36 per person. Bouchon Bakery is offering Easter treats such as hot cross buns and pecan clusters. 235 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 271-9910 (Ext. 621 for the bakery).

Café del Rey: Café del Rey is offering a three-course prix fixe Easter brunch for $38 per person. Chef Daniel Roberts is featuring such dishes as eggs Florentine with sweet potato and duck confit hash, brioche French toast with pear syrup, bacon and whipped cream, and more. 4451 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, (310) 823-6395.

Coupa Cafe: Coupa Café will be offering Easter brunch for $28 per person. Menu includes mimosas or peach bellinis, mini cachapas, eggs Benedict, Reina Pepiada arepa and more. 419 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 385-0420.

Fig & Olive: Fig & Olive on Melrose Place will be offering three-course prix-fixe brunch and buffet menus starting at $40 from 12 to 3:30 p.m. with dishes featuring flavors from the south of France. Menu features items such as gig gorgonzola tartlet, grilled thyme chicken paillard salad, and for dessert strawberry rhubarb macaroon. 8490 Melrose Place, Los Angeles, (310) 360-9100 .

Fraiche: Fraiche's Easter brunch, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., includes dishes such as lobster bisque, steak 'n' eggs with home fries), and for dessert, “Our World-Famous Dessert Platter.” 9411 Culver Blvd., Culver City, (310) 839-6800.  

Locanda del Lago: A “Buona Pasque” Italian-style Easter menu runs for a week starting Saturday, with a special prix-fixe menu starting at $48 for three courses. Menu items include cestino di Parmigiano con crescione, uova di quaglie e asparagi bianchi (parmesan “basket” filled with watercress, white asparagus salad with chive aioli and hard-boiled quail eggs.) 231 Arizona Ave., Santa Monica, (310) 451-3525.

Mimi’s Café: Mimi’s Café is offering "Easter Feast To-Go" through Sunday.  Serves six to eight guests for $84.99. The menu features dishes such as sliced pit-roasted ham with homemade honey Dijon glaze, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, dessert and more. 2925 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 668-1715.

Napa Valley Grille: The Napa Valley Grille is offering an Easter brunch buffet. Adults $49 and children $19; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A wine-country inspired brunch buffet with menu items to include spring onion soup and kale salad, an omelet station, and steak hash with poached eggs. 1100 Glendon Ave., Los Angeles, (310) 824-3322.  

Pann’s: This Easter Sunday Pann’s is giving away chocolate bunnies to all patrons who wear hats, bonnets, caps, etc. Enjoy a free bunny or just fried chicken and waffles and Pann’s homemade chocolate Easter muffins. 6710 La Tijera Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 776-3770.

Petrossian: Petrossian will be serving Easter brunch for $45 and $59. Some of the menu items include Festive Egg Royale (soft scrambled egg, vodka whipped cream), Smoked salmon bagel with caviar (cream cheese, capers, red onion, mixed greens) and for dessert almond crème brûlée with Russian tea cookies. 321 N Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 271-6300. 

Playa: Playa will be offering Easter brunch and dinner on Sunday. Specials include smoked salmon with poached eggs for brunch and crispy blue corn taco with corned beef and serrano ham tamal with piquillo salsa for dinner. 7360 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 933-5300.

Raphael: Raphael is offering a Euro-Japanese three-course Easter brunch featuring menu items such as roasted apple salad, chilled wild nettle soup, brioche French toast, Valrhona chocolate pots de crème, and more. $35 per person, $25 for children 12 and under. 11616 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, (818) 505-3337.

Royal/T: Royal/T café will be offering an Easter Sunday brunch menu highlighting dishes such as Peter Rabbit’s carrot ginger soup, Easter quiche with bacon, spinach, shallots and cheese. The menu items will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City, (310) 559-6300.

San Diego Zoo: The San Diego Zoo is offering an Easter brunch prepared by zoo executive chef Chris Mirguet along with chef Charles Boukas. $39.95 per person for adults and $18.95 for children ages 3 to 11. 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, (619) 557-3964.

Street: Street’s chefs Susan Feniger and Kajsa Alger are offering a Saturday night Seder led by Rabbi Eleanor Steinman with dishes such as warm halloumi salad and Moroccan lamb.  Easter brunch is offered on Sunday with egg dishes from around the world. Passover Seder, $55 per person; Easter brunch à la carte. 742 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 203-0500.

Vermont Kitchen and Bar: Vermont Kitchen and bar will be offering Easter brunch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. It will be its regular brunch menu with a special Easter menu item and beverages. 1714 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 661-6163.

The Winery: The Winery will be offering a three-course Easter brunch Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., $32.95 per guest. Menu items: seared rare ahi tuna (with avocado, mango, cucumber, cilantro-orange vinaigrette) and chile lime-rubbed Hawaiian mahi mahi (with roasted tropical fruit chutney, jasmine rice, lemongrass-Gewurztraminer butter). 2647 Park Ave, Tustin, (714) 258-7600.

— Rachel Sherman and Sarah Al-Abdulrahim

Photos, from top: Bouchon Bistro in Beverly Hills. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times; Easter Egg Royales at Petrossian. Credit: Petrossian.

3 Events: Wild Game at Whist, Eveleigh's Rehab, Brunch at Street

Game on: My Last Bite and "Top Chef" contestant Chris Crary announce a five-course "Wild Game" tasting menu at Whist restaurant at the Viceroy in Santa Monica. "I’m a HUGE fan of 'Top Chef,' so when we lunched together recently (at Jitlada Thai, of course), we thought it would be fun to host a dinner together," says Jo Stougaard of My Last Bite in a release. On the menu, inspired by Episode 7 of this season's "Top Chef": roasted rabbit with carrot panna cotta, venison neck with coffee and huckleberry mustard, boar belly and root vegetable cassoulet, antelope osso buco with pearl barley and gremolata, and ostrich egg flan with cardamom crumble and cajeta ice cream. The dinner takes place on Thursday, with limited seating available from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. $60 per person (wine by the bottle; specials start at $30 per bottle). Reservations required. 1819 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, (310) 260-7511. 

Rehab brunch: Eveleigh executive chef Jordan Toft is serving brunch all day and night on Sunday, Jan. 1. Hangover cure? (There's a full bar if that's how you handle your hangovers.) Maybe. A nice place to rejuvenate? Sure. Classic dishes from the dinner menu will be added to help alleviate any unwanted consequences from the night before. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 8752 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (424) 239-1630, www.theeveleigh.com. 

More than one way to cure a hangover: Street also will be open for Sunday brunch on New Year's Day. It's the restaurant's second annual Hangover Brunch, featuring purported hangover recipes such as kaya toast -- and $15 for unlimited Champagne. 742 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 203-0500, www.eatatstreet.com. 

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-- Betty Hallock

Photo: The bar at Eveleigh. Credit: Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times.

Food Events: Tomato Festival at Hollywood Farmers Market, Catalina Kitchen brunch, Corkbar wine tasting

"Peak of Season": This Sunday, Sept. 11, the Hollywood Farmers Market will host its annual "peak of the Season" Tomato Festival from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be appearences by KCRW's Good Food host, Evan Kleinman, as well as our very own Food Editor Russ Parsons.  There will be a tomato tasting and attendees will learn how to grow, cook, and preserve tomatoes.Intersection of Ivar and Selma Avenues, between Hollywood and Sunset/ Cahuenga and Vine, www.farmnet.com.

Brunch: Catalina Kitchen at Terranea Resort is unveiling its new brunch buffet beginning Sept. 11.  Guests will be able to sample portabella mushroom and artichoke Benedict, a Belgian waffle bar with 12 different condiments, and more.  The buffet is $52 for adults and $28 for children ages 5 to 12 (children 4 and under are free). 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, (310) 265-2836, www.terranea.com.

California reds: Corkbar has teamed up with the Wine Institute to offer special tastings of California wines throughout the month of September.  This coming week (Sept. 11-17), the bar will showcase California red wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir.  Flights include four 1.5-oz. pours and cost between $10 and $15. 403 W. 12th St., Los Angeles, (213) 746-0050, www.corkbar.com.

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--Leah Rodrigues 

twitter.com/LeahRodrigues24

Photo Credit: David Karp/ Los Angeles Times

 

Weekend brunch at Playa

Weekend brunch at Playa is a revelation. First of all, it’s wonderful to experience the light-drenched space in the daytime, without the crowds and the buzz. It’s a tranquil time, especially if you get there early. A cook bends over the tortilla press, arranging flower petals for the tortillas florales just so. The bartender mixes up a Bloody Mary made with rye and muddled basil for someone waiting for a friend.

In the light, you can appreciate the design details -- the pattern of the tiles, the sheen of the tabletops, the texture of the upholstery, the sizzling color palette.

Start things off with blue corn muffins with almond butter. I have to stop myself from eating the entire order. Seriously. Or try those tortillas florales with marmalade.

Then go for the duck hash with Weiser Family Farms fingerling potatoes, sweet peppers and a slow-cooked egg. (That’s a trick that renders the yolk and the white the same quivery texture.) 

Other dishes include a tamal of cracked corn and pulled pork, topped with a sunny side up egg. And a fine version of eggs Benedict made with jamon and a chipotle-fired béarnaise. Chef John Sedlar knows his béarnaise: He was trained by the late Jean Bertranou of L’Ermitage and his first restaurant, Saint Estèphe, was nouvelle French with a Southwestern twist. (To note: All through September Sedlar will be cooking Saint Estèphe’s signature dishes from the '80s at Rivera downtown.) 

The coffee at Playa is excellent, and if you don't need caffeine to get going in the morning, get the Spanish drinking chocolate with house-made passion fruit marshmallows. Zing!

Check out Playa’s brunch menu here.

7360 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 933-5300; www.playarivera.com. Brunch Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Brunch items, $6 to $15.

ALSO:

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-- S. Irene Virbila
Twitter.com/sirenevirbila

Top photo: Blue corn muffins with almond butter. Credit: S. Irene Virbila / Los Angeles Times

Bottom photo: Duck hash with fingerling potatoes, peppers and egg. Credit: S. Irene Virbila / Los Angeles Times

Claudio Blotta of Barbrix to open new spot with Ammo chefs

Claudio Blotta and his wife, Adria Tennor, of Barbrix in Silver Lake are opening a new restaurant in the old Bistro LQ space on Beverly Boulevard. Their partners in the venture will be Dan Mattern and Roxana Jullapat, currently chef and pastry chef at Ammo. They’ll be staying on until the end of August there and then full steam ahead on the new project.

“I couldn’t be happier to be working with Claudio again,” Mattern says. "We worked together at Campanile when I was just starting out at the end of the '90s.” 

The plan right now is to call the new place Cook County. (That’s where Dan was born in Illinois.) The concept? California rustic. Mattern plans on a constantly changing menu, showcasing the best of the farmers market. Right now he’s fixated on whole roasted fish and Dungeness crabs and Santa Barbara spot prawns cooked on a wood grill. He’s also intent on sourcing local meats -- rabbits, pigs, grass-fed beef, etc. 

The partners are aiming for entrees priced at $22 and below. The menu won’t be small plates, though, but what they're calling reasonably sized portions. No doggie bags required. Blotta, of course, is doing the international wine list, which like the menu will change frequently.

For her part, Jullapat is obsessed with making everything in house whether it’s a bun for a burger or a special bread for the cheese plate. “I definitely take great pride in making puff pastry by hand,” she says. She also confesses she loves brunch and spends an inordinate amount of time thinking of morning pastries and other such dishes. 

Cook County will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and brunch on the weekend. It will seat 50 inside, plus 20 more on the outdoor terrace in front. Blotta says they’re doing a light remodel, which should take two to three months. But you know how these things go ... Barbrix opened a year and a half late due to problems with the city. They’d be very very lucky to open by November. But you never know.

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Tsujita L.A.

-- S. Irene Virbila

Twitter.com/sirenevirbila

Photo: Roxana Julapat and Daniel Mattern. Credit: Ringo H.W. Chu / Los Angeles Times

 

Whist rolls out a Southern-style brunch

Looking to get your grits on? Beginning Sunday, chef Tony Disalvo at Whist is rolling out a new Southern brunch buffet. Forty-five dollars per person will buy you an unlimited procession of biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, fried chicken, green tomato salad, collard greens, cole slaw, mac 'n' cheese and house-cured Cajun salmon. 

Or you can opt out of all the fun and stick with traditional favorites like eggs Benedict or French toast. For dessert you can fill up on peach cobbler, pecan pie, and banana pudding with vanilla wafers.

And no Southern brunch worth its (substantial) salt would be complete without a cocktail. Choose from a $10 list including a farmers market mint julep, a marmalade breakfast cocktail, and a savory bacon-infused Bloody Mary.

Whist at the Viceroy Hotel, 1819 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica. (310) 260-7511; www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com.

--Jessica Gelt

Photos: Fried chicken, top right, peach cobber, bottom left. Credit: Whist