Scoops Gelato

I have a new gelato shop… Scoops.

From LAAlternative.com:

“Tai Kim, the soft-spoken impresario of Scoops, understands the sanctity of this standard-issue extravagance. An unassuming little parlor on the edge of Koreatown, Scoops is a clean and well-lit temple to the ritual of ice cream. Kim, who runs the minimally decorated store alone, whips up over a dozen new flavors every day, often based on suggestions or ingredient donations from his customers. A dry-erase board next to the counter that reads, “Flavor to Suggest,” is regularly covered in handwritten ideas from regulars—cucumber melon sorbet, fig anise, or lavender coconut.”

Click to see the whole article here.

Some of Mr. Kim’s latest flavors include kiwi banana, vanilla, nutmeg and amaretto, orange mamey, vegan saffron mango, Red Velvet Cake, pomegranate with poppy seeds, apricot and balsamic, chocolate cayenne, … He even made 12 flavors to honor the Black Dahlia for the Crime bus tour. Read Kim Cooper’s blog about it.

From 1947project.com:

“According to Tai, like White Licorice (an anise and lemon blend), Black Tea and Rosewater, Blackberry and Orange Blossom, Pomegranate and Poppy Seed, Blood Orange Sorbet, Black Currant with Blueberry and Anise Sorbet, Dark Chocolate and Raspberry, White Chocolate and Black Sea Salt Mousse, White Chocolate and Cranberry Syrup, Vanilla and Whiskey and Jasmine Tea and Raisin, almond and black sesame, truffle and maple syrup, coffee and Guinness… An additional offering is Chunky Apple Rum, a flavor that was popular in the 1940s and which Elizabeth Short may have enjoyed in life.”

Photo by Markland

But I think those were JUST for the tour. I tried the Pomegranate and Poppy Seed… was great. But I’m sure if we were to beg enough he would bring back whatever.

Half of the greatness of this place is that you go in not knowing what you’re going to get. No more of the same old same old. More than likely your favorite flavor isn’t going to be there so you’re going to have to have something new. And don’t worry, he loves dishing out samples.

There’s even a dry-erase board on which guests can suggest flavors. And a cone is $2.00! Or $2.00 for two scoops! No more over priced Pinkberry. They also are vegan friendly offering a daily selection of gelato made with soymilk and organic evaporated cane sugar. He also does shakes. He has a iced fruit shake made with a splash of Perrier and whatever flavor you want.

The space is very low key and inviting. The shop doubles as an art gallery and sits next door to a bicycle shop. It’s a cute area.

I mean just look what people are saying on Yelp.

Scoops
712 N. Heliotrope Dr., Los Angeles (just north of Melrose)
Mon-Sat 12PM-10PM (And sometimes is open on Sundays for the Crime Bus)
323-906-2649

=)

LX.TV >> lifestyle television

Blah blah blah I don’t write enough. I’m just one man with a full time career so I don’t get out as much as I would like to. I mean it would be cool just to surf around the world 365 days a year trying to find new things and then writing about them but yah… never fear Lifestyle Television is Here. It’s a new broadband television network. I mean who really watches TV on their TV anymore with things like YouTube and iTunes.

“In entertaining, short video episodes, LX.TV shows you the newest and most exclusive destinations in food, nightlife, art, shopping, fashion, wellness, weekend escapes and family living. Our very own expert hosts take you behind the scenes for first-look access to the cutting edge of luxury lifestyle and the people who define it.”

Okay so it looks a little cheesy at first glance but after watching three or four clips I really was like, “damn I need to try these places.” Yes video holds up so much better than photos or words. People are too lazy to actually sit and read this so there ya go. YES YOU web page blog scanner person. I ask my friends, “Hey did you read my thing on, yah, that’s where we’re going tonight.” And they, well the honest ones admit they just scanned and looked at all the pretty pictures. Grrr.

Anyway, check them out, roll around in all their pretty page designs and full motion video with their polished looks and their hosts with whitened teeth and don’t forget to click on their corporate sponsors. Me? Jealous? Nooooo. Hell I use it. But it’s polished with everything is great kind of vibe. No real personal voice. But hey it’s still good. At least you can always come back here for my blog with all the grammar mistakes.

They have videos on LA and NYC so make sure you click on LA if you just want to see LA clips.

LX.TV
http://lx.tv/

The 1947 Project’s Crime Bus Tour and The Lost Weekend

I was browsing through Gold Star Events to try and find something to do last weekend for a date and I came across a crime bus tour of Los Angeles for half price so I mean how could I say no. But this was no ordinary crime bus tour, this was “The Real Black Dahlia Crime Bus Tour” ran by the 1947 Project. Part of the 1947 Project’s “The Lost Weekend”.

Oh and if you don’t know what the Black Dahlia is… check out this great site the LA times put together.
http://webapp1.latimes.com/theblackdahlia/
or the standard wiki… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Short

On The Real Black Dahlia Crime Bus Tour, Kim Cooper and Nathan Marsak guide their passengers to more than two dozen scenes from the real and imaginary history of the Black Dahlia case. Along the way, they’ll explore the social history of postwar Los Angeles, several Black Dahlia killer theories will be debunked and a little known but likely suspect will be introduced. The tour will bring to life the real Elizabeth Short and some of the peculiar characters who knew her in life or become obsessed with her in death.

“January 15th 2007 marks the 60th anniversary of the the day that Elizabeth Short was found murdered and mutilated in a lot at 39th and Norton. The murder captivated Los Angeles and set off a media frenzy fueled by the lurid life and brutal death of “The Black Dahlia”. 60 years later this crime has still gone unsolved and still continues to captivate not just Los Angeles- but the entire world.

B.Beretta Unlimted, Ramzi Abed and 1947project have all joined efforts to bring to you The Lost Weekend. This weekend presents an unrivaled array of tours, film and art that all relate to Elizabeth Short and her life and death as The Black Dahlia.

I’m not really a crime geek and this whole subject matter really didn’t fascinate me much but after this tour and after seeing how passionate and insane these people are about these deaths around LA, I think I’m going to start reading up on it. Anyway, so I signed up through Gold Star Events for half price and on Sunday, my new friend and I hopped on a large motor coach downtown and off we went hunting down the past.

The tour lasts around 5 hours and most of it was spent on the bus with three stops. We ventured all around downtown, and then up to Hollywood, Los Feliz, and then back around to downtown. We drove past all of the old places Elizabeth Short (Black Dahlia) lived and everybody that was a main suspect (there were a lot) and even the office of her gynaecologist. I’ve never been bombarded with so much information in such a short amount of time. I mean really and I’ve taken some serious history courses and love that but 11AM on a Sunday morning I was just like Whoa.

Nathan Marsak and Kim Cooper

The climax of the tour was our first stop actually when we got off the bus and stood where they found the body of Short cut in half with various grotesque things done to her. I mean if your really want to know do a google search. There are tons of websites that are dedicated to the BD murder alone. There are more theories surrounding this murder than theories why humans are on planet Earth. No kidding. Granted there were a lot of unsolved murders in 1947 but this one just has always fascinated people a little more. I could really ramble on about just this one murder for hours but I won’t.

Nathan Marsak on the bus

The bus stops at the Krispy Kreme on Crenshaw in South LA and also at this amazing gelato bar in Hollywood. I’m going to write a separate entry for it next. They even made a flavor called “The Black Dahlia” for the tour. And they give you tickets so one scoop is free.

Nicky D’s Wood Fired Pizza

I was on a ethnic noodle hunt before xmas but I quickly got over that after a few horrid experiences with beef blood Thai Boat Noodles. So now I’m on a pizza hunt.

After trying Mozza last month, I’ve been in the mood for gourmet pizza. Now I’ve been going to California Pizza Kitchen for years and generally like most of their pizzas but it lacks that wholeness… that local feel. Nicky D’s Wood Fired Pizza in Silver Lake is my new favorite neighborhood pizza joint.

“Nicky D, was a long time resident of New York. He had a lucrative career as an actor. But he wisely supplemented his income by following his other passion for cooking and opened a pizzeria in Times Square. And then that “Go West Young Man” syndrome kicked in and he relocated to Los Angeles where he continued his acting career. Still, he longed for another restaurant and waited for the right place to present itself. Finally, a former house in the Silverlake Community of Hollywood, California called his name.”

The pizzas are grand, thin crust NYC goodness. I was craving pizza a few weeks ago so I stopped in and ordered a few ‘individual’ sized to try. I got the BBQ Chicken and a Pesto Bravo.

The BBQ chicken is a classic I’ve read. They roast all of their own chickens in a wood fired rotisserie and then pick the chicken off the bone for the pizza. Need I say more? It’s excellent.

The Pesto Bravo had my name written all over it. It’s a pesto pie with sausage, roasted red pepper, goat cheese, and roasted garlic. It had the right about of everything with all of the flavors blending to form this orgy of goodness in your mouth. Oh and the crust on these pizzas was also perfect with just a hint of char… thin and crispy.

The place itself is rather small with about 6 tables on the inside and then a large seating area outside. The night I went (a weeknight) the outside wasn’t being used as the lights and heaters were off but I’m sure it’s busy during the weekend. Inside is very cozy with local artwork and photography on the walls and a fireplace as the center piece with the kitchen exposed in the very back. You have a full view of the pizza oven and the rotisserie.

They also do delivery and takeout. From what I saw, a lot of delivery. I just walked in and ordered a few pies but I wouldn’t recommend this as in the place gets busy and then you’re left waiting around for 15-20 minutes for your pizza. Call ahead or order delivery if you’re not eating in.

And of course you have that real wood burning oven.

I didn’t have dessert but their gelato looked great and I’ve read their cannolis are to die for. This isn’t one of your healthy eats place but everyone needs to splurge every now and then.

They also have a wide arrangement of items including calzones, pasta, salads, whole chickens, and hot hero sandwiches. See their whole menu here.

Also check out his website for his videos of his “Pizza Travels with Nicky D”.

Nick D’s Wood Fired Pizza
2764 Rowena Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039 (Silver Lake)
(1/2 block west of Glendale Blvd)
Hours 5PM-10PM 7 days a week (11:30AM-10PM Fri, Sat, Sun)
323-664-3333

There’s only a few spots in the front so it’s mostly street parking and across the street. It’s set back a bit from the road and kind of hard to see as the road curves. Drive slowly while approaching. I must have driven by it 10 times before I ever saw it when I first moved to Silver lake

Vito Restaurant: quintessential Italian

Over the break I had the chance to try a very good Italian restaurant. Now when you think of LA, I for one don’t really think of Italian food. But I have the perfect Italian place for you; Vito Restaurant in Santa Monica.

This is the quintessential Italian place. It feels like you’re walking into the dining room of a Italian family. It’s warm and cozy… only seating 110. It’s like those classic New York Italian restaurants where the mob always eats. You know there’s a fat guy in the corner with two girls at his side feeding him pasta.

The wait staff knows you by name and calls you Mr. Whatever. “Yes we gots the freshest veal Mr. Giordano.” The wait staff is professional. Older gentleman dressed in tuxedos that are very knowledgeable in wine and food. No dumb underpaid out of work actors here. But don’t piss them off because the respect is a two way street with them.

I went with a few friends from NYC and a regular who showed us the ropes.

First off, the wine. The wine list is like a phone book, over 900. Everything from $30 bottles to $5000 ones. We settled for a good $150 bottle which my friend selected. I forget what type it was but it was grand. If you’re unsure, ask your waiter and usually they make a great selection for your price range.

The table side Caesar salad is amazing. They come and toss it right by the table and make it to order. The Lasagna is spectacular. I had Linguine con Vongole (linguine and clams) and it was by far the best L&C I’ve ever had.

Take a look at the menu. It’s grand. Another friend of mine had the veal. I’m not sure which one but he said it was great also. I mean, I doubt there’s anything bad here.

And the deserts were great too. They all come on a rolling cart so as you have dinner it always passes you three or four times just eating away at every last ounce of self control. We had a flowerless chocolate cake and of course the tiramisu for the five of us. Both were fantastic and even still tasted amazing after being stuffed from all the other food.

We finished everything off with a 20 year old port that was the prefect end to a amazing meal.

We all thought we were going to be going out after dinner. But I mean all you want to do after a meal here is lay down and go to bed. I typically don’t care for Italian because it’s so heavy. But I’ll make an exception anytime for Vito.

I really like their lunch menu. I want to go back one afternoon and try it. Also you can order online for a togo order. Check it out. I mean the dinner prices are expensive, but totally worth it. If I could eat pasta 7 nights a week and not become a tub of lard, I’d live at this place.

I’ve heard there’s a special VIP card too that gives regulars 30% off including booze!

Vito Restaurant
2807 Ocean park Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310.450.4999

Get a reservation for the weekend. If you have a small party the week isn’t too bad. Parking is valet but I would recommend trying to find street as the valet lot is small and often triple stacked.