MATSUDA

I'm currently house sitting for a friend on the Studio City side of Laurel Canyon/ The Hollywood Hills and I was feeling a little penned in. I decided to go get something to eat. Now, in my short 7 months living in LA I've realized that if there is anything Hollywood-ers hate doing it's going over the hill. So, I had no idea what was good in Studio City. Being the certified owner of a fancy android phone i figured I'd just pull up "Places" (an app that comes standard, with the DROID anyway.) I was very near (150 ft ) a sushi retauarant named, MATSUDA (11837 Ventura Boulevard).  In reading the reviews provided i noticed they were mainly praise for their great service, prices and "one of a kind Albacore" role. I am relatively new to sushi and never had I eaten "Albacore" before, but never one to shy away from a new dish i made my way the 150 ft to the right and sat down inside.

ALBACORE

The place looks exactly like every other small sushi restaurant in Southern California. Tucked into a strip mall with a light up sign and alot of windows. There is a sushi bar and about 10 tables. I sat down... and ordered the Lunch combo, Salad, Miso Soup, and two rolls (Albacore Role and Eel Roll) for 12 bucks?! i cant complain... but i wish i had known what i was getting myself into. My salad and soup came out within 2 minutes. They were pretty standard. The salad had some Peanut/ Satay dressing.  The Miso soup was fine... there were 3 or 4 small pieces of Tofu in it. I dont really like Miso Soup so i wasn't sweating it. Dashi just ain't my bag i guess.

SALAD = PEANUT-Y / MISO = DASHI-Y

Just as i finished the salad and had a sip of the Miso my sushi came out. Believe me when i say that the sushi itself looked like... Sushi at any other place...

FARTHEST: ALBACORE

NEAREST: EEL ROLE

Im not sure if it was just because it was lunch but I was severly underwhelmed. I guess i was also paying 13 dollars for all of this so i should really just stop whining. But once a spoiled brat, always a spoiled brat. And to be fair I had been eating at places that were recommended to me by people whose opinion i trust, not ... my droid. But im not going to take a long time on this... The albacore... was weird. I did not like the consistency. For my money the best sushi's are the ones that mix textures and flavors and use the wasabi and ginger to accentuate those tastes. I was using them to cover the taste/ texture and just get it down, i could only finish four pieces of the Albacore. The Eel on the other hand i really liked but an eel roll is pretty hard to screw up. So, i guess the moral of this story is - Never Again.  I wasn't a fan and probably won't go back, unless  extenuating circumstances present themselves ***. So save your money and go buy 10 Chocolate Croissants from Homeboy Bakery.


***I'm clawing myself down Ventura Bouelvard being chased by Zombie Communists in some post apocalyptic future and MATSUDA's "OPEN" sign is glowing in the window

The Roger Room

When closing the restaurant yesterday evening I asked my manager where I should go for a drink on La Cienega, she recommended  "The Roger Room". Having just got off work I rushed up the street and was stumped when I couldn't find it. I could have sworn she had said it was right here. After walking back and forth I noticed an unmarked door where a handful of smokers had congregated. Cigarettes, A tell tale sign of a house of sin. Where there's smoke there's fire. (pretty sure that doesnt make any sense) I rushed forward  past the unmarked door and into the bar.

RIGHT OUTSIDE

When you first walk into "The Roger Room" ( hidden on the corner of La Cienega and Oakwood) its as though you've been transported back to a big top circus in the 1920's to a watering hole where all the carneys retire to get hammered. 

The ambience is perfect for such a tiny bar. The walls are littered with depiction's of death defying circus acts, the lights are turned down low and glasses hang from racks attached to the mirrored ceiling. Its a very relaxing place with alot to look at. Which is always a plus for me. I find the more unique the more i enjoy the experience. 

The Bartenders are true 

mix-oligists, slinging drinks like nobodys business, chatting up the patrons and they wear suspenders! Who doesn't love suspenders? Upon pulling up to the bar i asked the bartender how long the place had been around. Apparently "The Roger Room" has only been around for a year and a half (before that it was "The Coronet") I asked him (Will) what he made best and he handed me a list of about 30 specialty drinks, "anything on this". The list itself was categorized by spirit. Being a gin drinker i went straight for the juniper juice. I ordered an "Old Sport", made with Caprock Gin, Black Tea infused Lychee Liqueur, Cucumber Juice and Lime Juice. Finished in just under a minute this drink is dangerous. I could hardly taste the gin but i was sure i saw the bartender measure out 3 jiggers (generally drinks take 2). It was delicious, the cucumber mixed with the lychee in a way i would never have thought of. Extra points for inGINuity! 

                                   The "Old Sport" with a death defying monkey attached!

Who knew Lychee Liqueur was so... not disgusting.

Seeing as nothing says man like a seafoam drink served up, I opted for something on the rocks as my next vice of the night. I decided to go with Whisky. After a bit of perusing the list-y  I decided on the "Thug" a drink made with Makers Mark, Baronjager Honey Liqueur, Lemon Juice and Spicy Habanero Bitters. Is your mouth watering yet? well allow me to let you in on a secret, It was dope sauce! a category reserved for only the finest drinks in all the land. Clearly the "Thug" was different than the "Old Sport" but Will gave me a suggestion "if you let the twist soak in with the honey and habenero things get real ridiculous delicious real fast".

The "Thug", ask for it super spicy. I dare you.

The only con for someone like me (limited income, struggling actor... poor) is that a specialty drink costs about 13 to 15 dollars and most of the medium shelf stuff goes for about 11. While they are delicious drinks and strong, i'll be saving this little gem for when i book my first series or for when my parents are in town. 

~BONUS POINTS~

 It was the first bar I've been to in LA that stocks "Youngs Double Chocolate Stout" (one of my favorites from when i was a young whippersnapper.) In a can but i've only ever gotten it in the states off draft at my parents place in VT.

Intelligentsia Coffee 12/27/10

So when i first heard of "Intelligentsia Coffee" all that i had heard was that it was a hipsters paradise. By that i mean there was delicious Java to be had but if you didnt look the part you'd get major attitude. not one to back down to the odd hipster, i strapped on my desert boots and my vintage nordic sweater and headed over there. In fact i write to you now from the bar. the place itself is right on the corner of Sunset Junction (3922 West Sunset Boulevard). I walked in preparing to be challenged by the barista. I ordered my latte and croissant and to my surprise the barista was incredibly nice, but i wasn't convinced. Preparing to pay I was sure I'd get an eye roll from the cashier dressed in something my grandmother would have died for in the 1950's.  BUT SHE WAS NICE TOO! My world was turning upside down!!! I received my latte (which had a bit of inspired Latte art) and my Chocolate Croissant and sat down at the bar. INTERNET WAS FREE?! this place was literally smacking me in the mouth at every turn!  i sat down. bracing myself for what i had heard was excellent espresso. I sat down... sipped... and... eh. It was good. but it wasn't excellent. Perhaps it had been hyped up by too many people. turning to the croissant it looked far to crisp on the outisde. but after taking a single bite, boy was i wrong. That croissant was melt in your mouth delicious. After inquiring a bit i found out it was actually baked off site at Homeboy Bakery. The music choice is great too. I knew every single song they played and just about 50% of them i said "Oh, i love this song!"... sorry lady sitting next to me. turns out it was pandora. 

All in All i had been duped by my own preconceived ideas of what "Intelligentsia Coffee" would be. 

But the Truth is, great service, great music, good coffee and a smile as i left.
You cant beat it.

... unless you have great coffee i guess.

                                          The View from the Line. twas about 15 people deep.

                                         The Chocolate Croissant from Homeboy Bakery 
                                            and my Latte from Intelligentsia Coffee.