Chef Makoto doing work in the kitchen! (Courtesy of Sashi MB).

On hand to share in the party will be renowned Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto along with Michael Voltaggio, winner of Top Chef Season Six.

In a previous review of Sashi, I mentioned that Iron Chef competitions were nothing new for Chef Makoto.  He’s worked side by side with Morimoto on more than a dozen challenges in Kitchen Stadium.  This episode will be Makoto’s debut as the challenging chef.  Food Network listings reveal the challenge will be against Iron Chef Michael Symon.  No word on the secret ingredient though!

Of course, Sashi is pulling out all the stops for this event with a six course tasting menu ($120) and private viewing of the show.  The party starts with cocktails at 5 PM.  Space is limited but you might still be able to get a seat!  Call for reservations at 310-545-0400 or check out their website at www.sashimb.com.

I’ll be rooting for the home team.  Show ‘em what you got, Chef Makoto.  “Allez Cuisine!”

Iron Chef America: Synmon vs. Okuwa

Chef Makoto Okuwa, a former sous chef to Iron Chef Morimoto enters Kitchen Stadium for the first time as a challenger to Iron Chef Michael Symon. Will Okuwa break under the pressure of leading his own team, or impress the judges with his treatment of the secret ingredient? Tune in to see whose cuisine reigns supreme!

So whether you’re getting up at 6 AM this Friday to watch Brazil play Portugal, or catching up with the late-night replays on Sports Center, there are many places to watch the game and experience some Wolrd Cup cuisine.  Some of the places are partnering with the LA Galaxy to put on viewing parties* with give aways (event tickets and genuine world cup soccer balls!) and apperances by Miss LA Galaxy.  Be sure to bring your vuvuzela!

I suggest starting in Pasadena and working your way south.  You’ve got until July 11!

World Cup Street Food at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena
http://pasadena.langhamhotels.com/restaurants/dining_special_offers.htm#world_cup
1401 South Oak Knoll Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

LA "Dirty Dog" mini Kobe hot dogs...topped with bacon!

• On-going specials through out the tournament including chances for freebies.
• They didn’t pick sides at The Bar in the Langham Hotel of Pasadena.  Instead, they picked the best street foods from several of the participating countries and re-created them with a gourmet spin. They’ve made dishes from South Africa (semi-sweet millet puffs shaped like soccer balls), England (fish & chips fried in duck fat), and my favorite from USA: LA “dirty dogs” — kobe beef hot dogs on pretzel buns w/ Bacon, sweet peppers & onions. Different teams and their foods will be featured each week of the tournament. They’re also giving away some of their items for free. Check their website and follow @LanghamPasadena on twitter for details.

Ye Olde King’s Head British Pub
http://www.yeoldekingshead.com
116 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

• LA Galaxy viewing party on Thursday, June 24; Saturday, July 3; and quarter-finals on Wednesday, July 7
• Get your “England” jerseys out and order a pint at Ye Olde King’s Head in Santa Monica.  They have enough draft beers on tap to keep you unthirtsy for an entire football match and then some.  In traditional pub-fare fashion, the eats are also covered nicely.  Go for the sampler platter.  With a taste of just about everything on the pub fare menu, you’ll have enough to share with the rest of the crowd…or plenty for yourself!

OB’s Pub and Grill
http://obsmb.com/
3610 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

• LA Galaxy viewing party on Friday, 6/25; Saturday, 6/26; Tuesday, 6/29; and quarter-finals on Friday, 7/2
• Right here in the South Bay, OB’s get’s the prize for being open as early as needed for all of your World Cup viewing.  On their website they say, “Come in for every game, no matter how early or late.”  If you’re there at the butt crack of dawn, wake up with a cup of coffee and the Pork Chops & Eggs — two chops served with 3 eggs and a choice of sides. In late? Stay up with a beer and OB’s Meatloaf, served with mashed potatoes, gravy, and steamed veggies .

Alpine Village
http://www.alpinevillagecenter.com/
833 W. Torrance Blvd, Torrance, CA 90502

• LA Galaxy viewing party on Sunday, 6/27; Saturday, 7/3; and semi-finals on Wednesday, 7/7
• Another South Bay spot, Alpine Village will be showing all of the German matches…as well as those of the USA.  They’ll have beer specials and more men in  lederhosen than you can count!

K.C. Branaghan’s
http://www.kcbranaghans.com
5734 East 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803

• LA Galaxy viewing party on Thursday, 6/24; Monday, 6/28; Tuesday, 6/29; and semi-finals on Tuesday, 7/6
• You’ll need lots of enery to cheer your team on at 7 AM.  That means eating a breakfast that will stick with your for 90+ minutes of fast paced football action.  At K.C. Branaghan’s, you can get a breakfast that’s bigger than an Irishman’s heart! Their traditional Irish breakfast is served with eggs, banger, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and soda bread.

The final match of the World Cup takes place on Sunday, July 11 at 11:30 AM.  Where will you be watching it?

*http://www.lagalaxy.com/worldcupviewingparties

(Photo courtesy of the Langham Hotel.  I took some, but mine turned out crappy! )

Seth Kunin, pouring a taste of Pape Star at Cafe Pierre during the Winemaker Social in May.

Last month, Seth Kunin of Kunin Wines kicked off the monthly series with tastes of Pape Star — a “light, vivid red” — and other wines from the Kunin library. Tasters were invited to ask questions to learn more about the wine making process and the care put into the craft.

Tonight’s winemaker is Fred Brander of Brander Vineyard. He’ll be pouring a selection of his world-class Sauvignon Blanc wines and small-batch handcrafted Bordeaux-style wines.

Cafe Pierre Winemaker Social

Thursday, June 3, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
$20 per person. Includes wine and appetizers.

317 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310.545.5252
http://www.cafepierre.com

More than 40 vendors will be on hand to share products and information on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. That means free samples!  Be on the look out for Sketchers, Whole Foods, The Veggie Grill and more.

In addition to samples, its been reported that Murad will also be offering “free mini Inclusive Health Evaluations” at their booth.

The exam is “designed to evaluate every aspect of your health from the condition of your skin to your physical and emotional well being.”  I’ll take that before I sample any goodies on the sweeter side!

I’m a big fan of Growing Great. My experience with them is through the work they do in the Manhattan Beach schools where they sponsor programs that encouraging kids to exercise, plant gardens, and eat healthy snacks.

Thanks, Growing Great, for this event and everything else you do!

Growing Great’s Healthy Living Festival

http://growinggreat.org/about-us/healhty-living-festival/

Sunday, May 16, 2010, 12 Noon – 4 PM
At Morningside Dr & 13th Street
Manhattan Beach, CA

Cook a Brunch Mom Would Be Proud Of

Many of our area grocery stores have deals going on. So you know where to go to get what you need, but will you know what you need when you get there?

Fresh & Easy has put together this handy Easter Brunch shopping list to keep you from missing anything. To make the prospect of cooking that much sweeter, it comes with a coupon for $10 off your purchase of $50 or more.

Of course, you can use the list anywhere but the coupon is only good at Fresh & Easy!

South Bay Fresh & Easy Locations » http://www.freshandeasy.com
ROSECRANS & AVIATION, 1700-C Rosecrans Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
PALOS VERDES & WESTERN, 26640 Western Avenue, Harbor City, CA 90710

Plenty of Options for Dining Out

If cooking isn’t part of your Easter plans, here are a few places that have special deals for brunch or dinner.

• Fuego at Hotel Maya » http://www.jdvhotels.com/dining/losangeles/fuego
  700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach, CA 90802, (562) 481-3910

  They’re not technically in the South Bay but the venue alone makes Hotel Maya worth the drive. This Sunday they’re serving a Latin-inspired brunch with a ceviche bar, a taquito station, and plenty of authentic Mexican sweets. You can check out my review of their brunch for for info. Be sure to check out the big umbrella!

The Big Umbrella at The Maya Hotel in Long Beach.

• Ortega 120 » http://www.ortega120.com
  1814 Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, CA 90277, (310) 792-4120

  Here’s another option for doing Easter fiesta style. “Back by popular demand, for Easter, Mas y Mas Brunch! $25 for adults & $10 for kids 12 & under. Reservations are in two hour increments & strongly recommended. 9:30am-3pm”

• Chez Melange » http://www.chezmelange.com/
  1611 S. Catalina Avenue, Redondo Beach, CA 90277, (310) 540-1222

  In addition to a special A La Carte Easter Brunch & Dinner, Chez Melange is offering a gift for ladies who wear Easter bonnets. Put on your big hats!

• Samba Brazilian Steakhouse » http://www.sambaredondo.com/
  207 North Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach, CA, (310) 374-3411

  If you’re really hungry — or want to see some dancers in feathers and not much else — head over to Samba. They’re offering “all-you-can-eat BBQ meats grilled on open fire, endless salad bar, glass of champagne or orange juice. $40 adults and $20 kids 4-12″.

• Admiral Risty » http://www.admiral-risty.com/
  31250 Palos Verdes Drive West, Rancho Palos Verdes, California 90275, (310) 377-0050

  After a month of “fish on Friday”, seafood might not be your first option for Easter. If it is, check out Admiral Risty. Starting at 11 AM on Sunday, they’ll be serving Easter dinner all day. Oh, be sure to check out their menu online. I love their funky old-school website! Its Web 1.0 but totally gets the job done with complete menus and prices.

Photo credit: Fresh & Easy.

The purpose of my visit was to learn more about Sashi’s happy hour, better known as “Sashi Hour”.   Late-shift workers and 9-to-5 types alike, please take note:  From now until Memorial Day happy hour prices are available from 5 – 10 PM in the lounge, Sunday through Thursday.

Sashi Hour Trios

Take a quick look at the Sashi Hour menu, and you’ll see that three is the magic number;  Each item on the Sashi Hour menu is served as a trio.

Available for $9, some of the small plates might seem out of place for a sushi joint.  You’ll find tacos, kobe sliders made three ways, and a tempura plate featuring shrimp, calamari, and chicken wings.  But the menu stays true to its roots with sashimi, robata, and hand rolls.

The Sashi Hour drinks are pretty standard with discounts on sake, well drinks, draft beers, and house wine.  You might turn your head sideways, though, when you see the beer trio which features Sapporo, Asahi, and Hoegaarden.  Yes, Hoegaarden!  Apparently this Belgian wheat beer with slightly citrusy flavors pairs nicely with Asian cuisine.  I was always drinking it with brats so I never would have known!

Dinner that Feels Like Vacation

Of course, there was more to explore at Sashi than just happy hour.  When I walked into Sashi, I felt like I was taking a step out of the daily grind and into some sort of vacation spot.

Just inside the front door, the lounge stretched out in front of me.  To the left was the host stand and beyond that was a dining room and  sushi bar.  The lounge was arranged living room style with several pillow covered couches, low tables, and lamps.

As guests entered and left, they were greeted warmly by the staff.  Taking a look at the crowd enjoying the place, I noticed it was a pleasant mix of South Bay diners.  Some after-6 types were enjoying drinks at the bar with their ties loosened.  A family — complete with a toddler in a stroller — was relaxing on one of the couches while enjoying dinner.  The wall behind the bar, illuminated by a huge pink light, bathed everything in a warm, rosy glow.

Everything's Rosy at the Bar in Sashi's Lounge.

Diving Into Dinner

After a few moments of soaking in the vibe of the place, I met with Greg (one of the owners) and Jacqui (one of the managers).  They made me feel at home and put me in the care of Whitney, one of their top-notch servers.  I was a bit overwhelmed with the menu so I asked her about some of her favorites.  After a brief discussion, I put my experience completely in her hands and asked her to surprise me.  Little did I know, I was in for a treat!

I started off with a drink from their specialty cocktail menu.  Growing up as a kid in the south, I lived for those summer days where I could pick blackberries off the bush and eat them right away.  So it was without hesitation that I went with the Black Mamba ($12), a savory and sweet Grey goose cocktail with black berry, rosemary, and a hint of citrus.

The Savory and Sweet Black Mamba Martini.

To get into the meal, Whitney started me off with a small bite, the Gindara ($5),  grilled Alaskan black cod on a skewer, marinated in sweet miso.  The fish was tender, moist and had a wonderful grilled flavor.  The miso was almost plum-like and complemented the fish nicely.

Sweet Miso Marinated Black Cod

Next up was one of Sashi’s signature dishes, cripsy rice and spicy tuna.  After tasting it I realized that this crispy rice wasn’t the average snap, crackle, and pop!  The dish consisted of pan fried cripsy rice topped with spicy tuny and serrano pepper.  Pleasantly chewy and crispy at the same time, the texture of the rice was an experience by itself.  The heat of the mildly spicy tuna was rounded out by the serrano pepper for a one-two punch of subtle and then stronger heat.

Pan Fried Crispy Rice topped with Spicy Tuna and Serrano Pepper

The headlining entree was an out-of-this-world Rainbow Roll (price unavailable).  Wrapped in “tuna, salmon, yellowtail and fresh seasoned fish”, the roll might have come across like any other rainbow roll.  But it was the  crispy eel and cucumber inside the roll — instead of california roll style crab or shrimp –  that made this roll a stand out.

Rainbow Roll with Eel and Cucumber

Having trusted Whitney all this time to guide the meal, of course I put my faith in her for dessert.  She suggested one of her favorite dishes, a chocolate soufflé made from scratch.  Unfortunately it takes about 30 minutes to make and I wasn’t able to hang out much longer.  I  promised to come back for the soufflé and enjoyed another selection which was probably almost as decadent; a brownie served with green tea ice cream and passion fruit whip.

The brownie was moist and had a nice density.  The mild chocolate flavor was not overly sweet and gave way to the nuts inside.  Jacqi, the manager, mentioned that the nuts vary with the chef’s choosing and might be almonds, chashews, or macadamias depending on his selection.  What really set the dish off, though, was the passion fruit whipped cream and home made green tea ice cream.  The smooth and delicate ice cream and the light, airy whip, added a playful fruitiness to the already chocolaty and nutty dish.

Dessert Goes Nuts With a Brownie from Heaven.

Iron Chef?  Been There, Done That

Of course, I have to give a shout to the chef behind the menu at Sashi.  Taste a few dishes and you might think that Chef Makoto is worthy enough to cook in The Food Network’s Kitchen Stadium on Iron Chef. Well, you’d be right!

Chef Morimoto and Chef Makoto at Sashi*

Chef Makoto has served as Iron Chef Morimoto’s sous-chef in 13 battles on the Food Network.  When Morimoto comes to LA, he often visits Sashi to hang out with his protege.  Watch out for Makoto on Food Network as he takes on an Iron Chef in his very own challenge.

I have to extend a big thank you to Greg, Jacqui, Whitney, Chef Makoto, and the rest of the staff at Sashi.  I  had a wonderful time dining with you and look forward to returning soon.

* Photo credit for Morimoto/Makoto goes to Sashi MB. Food and beverages in this review were provided compliments of Sashi Sushi + Sake Lounge.

Subtle hint of things to come in the Manhattan Beach Target.

For the past couple months, Target stores in the South Bay have been shuffling stock from one part of the store to another, only to move it back a couple days later.  What’s all the fuss about?  They’re making room for groceries.

Target stores already carry many staple items like milk, bread, and canned foods.  The new mini-grocery sections will add fresh produce and additional frozen goods.

Signs around the Manhattan Beach and Gardena stores — both of which are in the middle of remodelling — report fresh groceries will arrive in April.  The Redondo Beach and Torrance stores are also adding new grocery section although construction has not begun at the Torrance location near Del Amo mall.  As for the two Carson locations, I haven’t been there in a while and wasn’t able to get anyone on the phone

“The Street” is saying that Target is adding groceries to its list of big-box-store items in an attempt to beat the on-going recession.  Others say that Target is trying to compete with Wal-Mart for more discount shoppers.  Granted, both of these articles are from 2009, but they still have some truth to them as household budgets continue to shrink and new grocery sections open in stores branded with a bullseye logo.

As for me, I’ll be happy I can get my contact solution, laundry detergent, and fresh fruit all in the same place.

Will a grocery section in Target make you more likely to shop there compared to a regular grocery store?  Knowing their marketing and pricing style, do you have any opinions on how Target’s grocery might compare to Wal-Mart’s or a regular grocery like Ralph’s or Albertson’s?

South Bay Target Stores

Target has several stores in the South Bay area.  These are the ones that I know have grocery stores coming to them.  Ask the manager at your local store if your neighborhood Target isn’t listed below.   Find more info online at Target.com.

Last July, Gordon Ramsay brought the crew of Kitchen Nightmares to Lido Di Manhattan for business as usual: to see what’s wrong with the place and fix it.  Along the way, of course, there would be tears and cuss-words of frustration along with cheers of triumph as the restaurant careened forward on the path to greatness.

Sadly, I didn’t get to see too much drama, but I did get to try some tasty food while getting a “behind the scenes” look at this neat show.  Follow this link for my review of that experience.  I’ll be sharing a review of the show as well.

Set your DVRs and keep an eye out for me.  I might be on screen for all of 15 seconds !  hahaha!

Lido’s episode of Kitchen Nightmares airs on Fox this Thursday, March 4 at 9 PM Eastern Time.

From what I gather via LA Weekly’s update, Lido will be having a viewing party for this event.  Click here for reservations and more information or call (310) 536-0730.

The setting inside Cafe Pierre was both cozy and classy. Their moderately sized dining room of 70 seats was filled with families sharing big plates, couples out on dates, and a big group of ladies jubilantly celebrating a birthday.

The gang's all here! Getting ready to dig in at Cafe Pierre

After our group was all present and accounted for, we got down to business sampling some exquisite French food. Actually, before the food there were cocktails! I opted for the Whiskey Smash, a refreshing mojito-like drink made with Jack Daniels, fresh lemon, fresh mint, and simple syrup. There were many more artisan cocktails on the menu that I’ll have to return for,

Whiskey Smash

As a sort of “pre-appetizer”, we dug into various jars of interesting ingredients. Among them were Duck Rillettes; Pig Trotters; a buttery and spicy Foie Parfait; a Head Cheese; and my favorite, a hand cut Beef Tartare.

Jar with head cheese and pickles on the side.

Appetizers followed and yes, there were some snails also known as escargots. They weren’t as garlicky as I hoped but were pleasing just the same with a wholesome, earthy flavor.

Another interesting starter was bone marrow. Served warm inside the bone, the seasoned marrow was a bit gelatinous. I’d never had bone marrow served that way so it was interesting to look at and sample.

Warm bone marrow served in the bone.

After the jars and appetizers, there were still entrees to explore. Each plate was placed in front of a diner and then shared with everyone family style. Among the entrees were Veal Breast and Veal Sweetbreads — which is neither sweet nor bread!

Fortunately, the plate initially given to me was the 70-Hours Beef Short Ribs, served with spinach, steak fries, and a tremendous red wine sauce. The meat was tender, flavorful, and slow roasted to perfection.

Braised short ribs with spinach and thick cut fries.

Entrees on the menu that I didn’t try — but look forward to going back for — are the Braised Rabbit and the Roasted Jiordi Chicken.

Of course, there was desert. We were served a phenomenally good chocolate bread pudding. After such a wonderful and adventurous mean, a few bites of desert was all it took to call it a night!

If you’re thinking of going to France for the food, save yourself the airfare and take a trip to Cafe Pierre. With a delightful mix of modern style and old-world charm, delicious French cooking is as close as Manhattan Beach Blvd.

Cafe Pierre

cafepierre.com
317 Manhattan Beach Boulevard,
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266-5316
(310) 545-5252‎

With all the talented journalistic folks that shared this meal with me, I’d be doing you a disservice is I didn’t offer you their views as well. Their details and pictures — some great pictures, in deed — are likely to include something I missed or failed to mention. Please take a look at these other reviews of our meal at Cafe Pierre:

E*Star LA
Shop Eat Sleep
South Bay Rants ‘n’ Raves
Food GPS
LA OC Foodie
Sinosoul
Weezer Monkey
LAist

On Saturday, February 20, Aykrod will be at the Manhattan Beach BevMo! store offering samples of Crystal Skull vodka, a Canadian made ultra-premium spirit known for its fancy bottle.  He’ll also be autographing the decorative bottles for folks that decide to buy the $45 liquor.

The distinctive glass bottles are modeled after the fabled “Crystal Skulls” and hold 750 ml of top shelf vodka.  Aside from the looks of the container, word on the street is the flavor of the beverage is that of a well crafted spirit with excellent traits.

Referring to the distillation process, their website says the vodka “is made with water from a deep aquifer in Newfoundland, Canada and a proprietary blend of specifically selected grains to give our Vodka a creamy and slightly sweet taste on the finish.”  Oh, they filter it through diamonds too.

Crystal Skull Vodka is available at BevMo! and online at BevMo.com for ~$45 per 750 ml bottle.

Dan Aykroyd Bottle Signing, Saturday, February 20, 2 – 4 PM at BevMo!

BevMo! Manhattan Beach
1700 Rosecrans Ave, Suite B
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

[photos courtesy of Baltimote Magazine and BevMo!]