MEET ME AT 'THE HALL'

West Hollywood is certainly known for being an interesting place. It's kind of that 'middle ground' between gritty Hollywood and the more relaxed Westside, making it a perfect place for clubs, lounges, bars and restaurants. It is home to the Sunset Strip, as well as La Cienega Boulevard's Restaurant Row. You'll find cool dives like Barney's Beanery (the original), and uber chic spots like Bar 1200 at the Sunset Marquis Hotel. It's also home to some of Los Angeles' infamous nightlife: Area, Sky Bar, Bar Marmont to name a few. And it also boasts super-hot restaurants like Koi, Asia de Cuba, and NYC-transplants STK and BLT Steak.

Smack dab in the middle of where Santa Monica Boulevard meets La Cienega is a nice little "getaway" called Palihouse. It proudly refers to itself as a place that offers the best of a boutique hotel and a luxury residence. Their main draw is their huge lounge area, whose theme is a well-mixed concoction of bohemian-chic and Euro-hipster zip. Unlike other Hollywood and WeHo spots, the Palihouse doesn't give off any hints of pretentiousness. While the clientele is an obvious fusion of folks from nearby Beverly Hills and the hipster WeHo crowd, there seems to be nothing but smiles and good times happening here. The staff is attentive and friendly, the hosts --with their heavy French accents-- are welcoming and hospitable, and the vibe of the place is chill, yet substantial. Kitschy photographs line parts of the walls, while sexy couches and chairs of all shapes and sizes are scattered around the dimly lit room. And there are even turntables at an old-school desk-turned-swank-DJ-stand. (Oh, and there's an oyster bar, too... Score!)

While the lounge earns kudos, their restaurant is the real star. The Hall Courtyard Brasserie is situated in the middle of the property's quad. It boasts an open ceiling, with sweeping views of the condotel's upper floor windows and terraces. Heat-lamps (which are a must for most L.A. evenings) help to warm the area on cooler nights, but ladies are also offered woolen throws to wrap around to keep toasty. Stringed lights swash across the air, giving off the feeling that you're dining in a Mediterranean courtyard.

What drew me here was the menu; a delicate offering of "traditional bistro cuisine" with a "market-driven modern edge." Chef Brendan Collins, whose experience has seen him through London's Cafe Royale and Pied-A-Terre, brings vibrancy, color and flavor to the impressive menu.

My friends, who are probably some of my favorite 'restaurant' people in L.A., and I tried plenty of things off the menu. We originally were feeling cheese and a charcuterie plate after having a few drinks. But our waitress advised that the cheese could leave us feeling "full," and she wanted us to really experience what The Hall had to offer. Noted.

We started off with a Braised Pork Shank Raviolo, which I can only describe as "prodigious." The pork filling was thick and oozing with flavor against a pommery mustard sheen. And to add to the sweetness of the dish was a caramelized apple slice. This was followed by a Yellowtail Crudo (with avocado, red grapefruit, and herb salad), which was fresh and just as flavorful; the citrus working as a nice palate cleanser. The third appetizer was a Roast Beet Salad made of goat cheese, blood oranges, walnuts and beet romesco; light and fresh.

A few swigs of beer and wine later, our main dishes made their way to our table much to our delectation. Jess ordered the Black Cod with cuit a la viennoise and creamed spinach. The fish was delicately prepared, and imbued with gusto. Tracey ordered the Roast Halibut, with seafood ragout, spring veggies and basil; another amazingly prepared fish. Tracey's husband, Chris, ordered a special: Kansas City Fillet, which was definitely one of the most flavorful steaks I have ever tasted in these past few years in L.A. My dish: Moules et Frites - my all-time favorite. If I see this on the menu of a French or Belgian-esque restaurant, I will try it. This dish usually makes or breaks its respective restaurant in my eyes. The Palihouse's version, made with a saffron curry sauce, was light, yet savory... effortless, yet gratifying; a sure hit for me. Oh, and those truffle shoestring fries weren't so bad either... (!) The experience was topped-off with a Chocolate Muffin, which ended up not being an actual "muffin" at all, but a warm serving of chocolate with dulce de leche ice cream and caramelized bananas.

Jess' Black Cod

My Moules in saffron curry

Truffled Frites (how i love thee...)

Stuffed as we were, we continued the night back in the lounge for one more round of drinks. Conversation was endless, laughs were rampant... an ideal end to a nice night of fun, friends, and food. Oh-so-good food.
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The Hall Courtyard Brasserie @ Palihouse Holloway, 8465 Holloway Drive, West Hollywood, CA 9006, 323.656.4020

WEIGHING IN: 8 OZ. BURGER BAR

SoCal culinary star, Govind Armstrong, is known for his spin on California Cuisine. He's also had his hand in television as a judge on Bravo's Top Chef, as well as a contestant on the very iconic Iron Chef America on the Food Network. He traces his beginnings to Beverly Hill's Spago (when he was thirteen), and furthered his training during his college years in San Francisco at another Wolfgang Puck mainstay, Postrio.

Armstrong has certainly come a long way since his humble beginnings at Spago. He has since traveled Western Europe, landing gigs at famous establishments as Excelsior at Hotel de l'Europe, and Arzak. He has been mentored by legends like Pedro Subijana (Restaurant Akelare) and Juan Mari Arzak.

It wasn't long before Chef Armstrong found his way back to Los Angeles. He eventually worked several gigs, including setting up shop at Pinot Hollywood. Eventually, the talented chef would find himself at the helm of his own restaurant: Table 8. The restaurant first opened in Los Angeles, and quickly became a favorite of the Hollywood set. Soon after, the restaurant went bi-coastal, and set-up shop in trendy Miami. And now NYC is looking to host the restaurant this year in NoHo's Cooper Square Hotel.

Last year, Armstrong decided to move Table 8 on Melrose. No word on whether or not the move has taken place, but 8 Oz. Burger Bar has already made its home in its former spot near Fairfax. 8 Oz. Burger Bar is still, obviously, Armstrong's doing. Since it's opening, it has become a strong contender against the likes of other L.A. area gourmet burger spots like Santa Monica's Father's Office, or West L.A.'s Apple Pan, and it looks like it's here to stay a while.

The signature 8 oz. burger is made of a house blend of sirloin, tri-tip, short rib and chuck cured in the restaurant's Himalayan salt-tiled locker. The burger is cooked medium rare to medium, and is served with standard iceberg lettuce, pickle, tomato, white onion, and the 8 oz. "special sauce." Also on it's menu of burgers: the Melrose (house blend, wild baby arugula, garlic roasted tomatoes, and red onion marmalade) and the Estancia Grass Fed Beef (heirloom tomato ketchup, garlic aioli, sliced tomato, onion, pickle, charred escarole, and roasted mushrooms). Other items to note: the Short Rib Grilled Cheese (served with onion marmalade and bel paese cheese), a number of salads, Mini Kobe Corndogs, and Fried Wisconsin Cheese Curds. For the non-red-meat-friendly: Grilled Chicken Sandwich (ranch dressing, iceberg lettuce, tomato, red onion, and grated carrot), Fillet of Fish, and Veggie Burger are for the taking.

An array of beers, as well as shakes, malts and floats, are available to accompany each meal. And for happy endings, there are delectable treats such as Banana Rum Bread Pudding, Banana Split, and cupcakes (chocolate or carrot).

The space itself is pretty casual, with a hip gastro-pub feel. On busy nights, the restaurant boasts music playing background to the sounds of conversations of all types. Tables are full, and even the small bar area plays home to local hipsters and Hollywood-ers. Despite this, 8 Oz. Burger Bar gives off no air of pretention, and will surely have you craving more.
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8 Oz. Burger Bar, 7661 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046, 323.852.0008

(Photo courtesy of EaterLA.com)

I GOT YOUR CRAZY!

I know that I live in an imperfect world. In fact, I am very much prone to running into some crazy shit. Sometimes I think I'm a magnet for embarrassing moments, awkward situations, and sheer craziness in all forms. To me, it makes for a more interesting life. Why not laugh every now and then, right? Laugh at yourself, laugh at others... it's all relative.

Los Angeles could single-handedly reign as the 'Crazy Capital of the U.S.' I say this with the utmost respect. I've seen crazy people everywhere I've been. Back home in Washington, DC, I've been enveloped by 'crazy' from the most posh of places, to the ghettos of Southeast DC. In NYC, I've bumped into 'crazy' many a times (or watched as 'crazy' actually bumped into stationary objects; yes). Chicago's got 'crazy,' too... as does Boston, Philly, oooh -- and San Francisco. But I have to say that L.A. takes the cake. In L.A., 'crazy' doesn't even need to take the form of a physical person, or an action, or a feeling. It can take the form of a hand-written add posted on a freakin' electric pole:


I'm still kind of in a state of shock after this. The Lakers? Todd Bridges? 4 or more planets in Capricorn?

Someone please call this number, and tell whoever answers that you're a reincarnation of 'Tootie' from Facts of Life, and you've got 3 planets in Virgo that want to mingle with his 4 planets in Capricorn. Oh, and tell whoever is on the other line that you love the Phoenix Suns.

WTF?!