Yummy for your tummy!

Palmeri

One of my very favorite restaurants, nestled in Brentwood’s Italian Row, PranzoLA brings you Palmeri!  Complete with a personable staff, full wine list, and authentic, delicious dishes, this restaurant is a star of Italian cuisine in America. 

Firstly, we ordered a delicious, crisp, stone fruit scented white from Sicilia.  As Palmeri boasts that they offer a “Taste of Sicily”, I found it only fitting to begin with one of this region's potent varietals.  Their bread basket, complete with red sauce and warmed goat cheese, proves to be a challenge to not completely annihilate before your appetizers arrive!  Today, we began with our favorite incarnation of my favorite salad, the Insalata di Carciofi.

This restaurant is the reason I fell in love with this salad.  Exceedingly simple and not on the menu, it consists solely of thinly sliced artichokes, lemon juice, a touch of oil and pepper, and strips of Parmigiano.  Yet, the abundance of flavors and contrast leaves you astounded that something so basic could be so wonderful.

Next, we shared the White Asparagus Salad and the Salmon, creating a light, refreshing meal that burrows into your memory.  I had never tried either dish at this location before, and I was certainly not disappointed.  My salad was delicious: poached white asparagus, spinach, crushed pistachios, and some chewy, radiant guanciale.  For those unfamiliar with guanciale, it is the pork cheek, and one of the most delicious preparations of the whole animal.  Anyone who likes bacon, prosciutto, or pancetta needs to invite this delicious cut into their diet.  Finally, topped with a little thinly sliced fontina and some unexpected white truffle oil, this salad showed me that sometimes, it’s best to try something a little out of your normal sphere.

Next, the salmon was spectacular.  Pan seared to a lovely medium rare and served with fresh, buttered vegetables and a pesto sauce, this dish satiated my exact craving for a flavorful, light, fish dish.  Every drop of sauce, fish, and even the parsnip stems were completely cleaned off of the plate.

Finally, we ended with the light and refreshing (in keeping with the theme) lemon tart, served with a lemon sorbetto and a pool of raspberry coulis.  Delicious and delicate, this dish satiated our sweet teeth and left us feeling relaxed and content.  Next time you’re looking for a stellar and delicious meal, go to Palmeri and come hungry!

Palmeri Ristorante

11650 San Vicente Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90049

(310) 442-8446

Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm

Friday & Saturday: 11am-11pm

Sunday: 5pm-10pm

Put a little Spring in your step.

Il Covo

    Welcome back to PranzoLA!  This week, I introduced myself to a lovely new restaurant in Beverly Hills named Il Covo.  I really didn’t know what to expect heading into this unremarkable structure, except for the fact that the name translates loosely into “Den of Thieves.”  With that image in mind, I entered the sun lit, sultry spot off of bustling 3rd Ave completely caught off guard.  One of the best patio sections I’ve seen in Los Angeles in some time accompanied by the many fireplaces and luxuriousness of the inside, you’re surrounded by the feeling of being in someone’s home rather than a restaurant.  They offer an unique Italian-American menu, a full bar, and cozy ambiance.  Combine that with great food, and you’ve got a perfect dining environment, which makes this a great date spot.  Although it was not a flawless meal, we had a delicious time at this little hideaway.

    First off, I was disappointed in the timing of our meal.  Everything came out at the same time, our appetizer conspicuously last, which is obviously unnecessary.  But once I had a couple sips of wine and began to eat, I relaxed and focused in on the task at hand.  I began with a zesty, light white, the Vermentino di Gallura, from Sardinia, which was a perfect accompaniment.  A basket of flatbread was brought out after we ordered our meal, which commenced the curious array of dishes we were about to be served.  Nice and hot, the flatbread was delicious, yet unusual for an Italian restaurant, which made it memorable.  But as everything did come out together, I’ll describe the meal in the order I would have preferred.

    Our opener was a choice off of an eventful list of crostini: Tuna with Radishes and Mint.  The tuna was high quality canned tuna, extremely typical and revered in Italian cuisine and a nice surprise to enjoy over here in America.  Unfortunately, the crostini came out differently than described on the menu, substituting black olives for the mint, but it was absolutely delicious.  Since it was the last to appear and I had already accepted the timing situation, I didn’t have a problem with the mixup or menu change or whatever happened there.  The bread was perfectly crunchy, the radishes crisp, and the tuna was smooth and delightful.

    Next up was the Artichoke Salad, one of my favorite Italian dishes and one I like to order when I’m out to a new restaurant that offers it.  They can turn out very similarly, but once you get an amazing one, it’ll keep you coming back for more.  This was an enjoyable version of this classic plate: raw artichokes, luxurious slices of Parmagiano, and a light, acidic dressing that brought out the brightness of the greens against the artichokes.

    The pizza we ordered was the special of the day and oh my, was it special. On a thin, almost naan-like crust, we were served a ricotta, mozzarella, heirloom broccolini, and green garlic pizza that was so original that I almost hesitate to call it a pizza.  Nice and firm with a cracker crust, the dough itself had a striking prominence of cumin that really offset the individual flavor in the toppings.  I was extremely impressed by this flatbread, I will definitely be coming back to try some of their other variations in the future.

    Finally, the real star of pranzo, we came to dessert.  It’s infrequent I order dessert.  I’m generally coerced by whomever I’m with to opt for a sweet closer to the meal, but today, I wanted it.  And it was a Sea Salt and Nutella tart with a Pistachio paste and Vanilla gelato.  Perfectly warm and flaky, this dessert stunned me into eating the whole thing before I even had a chance to put my spoon down.  The ratio of salt to Nutella, warm chocolate to cold vanilla, the crunch between the crust and pistachi, it was all just sublime.  I would undoubtedly come back just for this dessert, but maybe without people that expect me to share.

    Undoubtedly, this venture caught me off guard from the minute I decided to lunch there, but sometimes we need little reminders of how fun and delicious the unexpected can be.  Romantic yet personable, dim yet radiant, Il Covo offers an experience of contrast as well as a truly singular meal.

Il Covo 

 

8700 West Third Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 858-0020

Dinner is served:
6pm-11pm 7 Days a week

And so, it begins...

Sor Tino

     Ciao and welcome to PranzoLA, where I show you the tastiest Italian bites L.A. has to offer!  Sor Tino has been one of my favorite places for lunch for years now, and during my most recent visit, it’s easy to remember why.  Located right off of San Vicente in Brentwood’s Italian Row, Sor Tino is a divine, well priced, secluded little spot that will leave you anticipating your next visit.  I felt it only appropriate to give my first review to them, as it is a staple of Los Angeles’ Italian cuisine without needing to save up for weeks before choosing to dine there.

     Since I have been out of town for a number of years now, once I returned, I immediately scheduled a pranzo at Sor Tino.  Sor Tino has many reasons to keep you coming back for more; an extensive wine list, a daily changing specials menu, friendly service, and some of the freshest ingredients LA has to offer.  The many Italian waiters are adorable and this is a great place to practice Italian as most of them are fresh off of the boat.

    This week, I went for oldies but goodies.  I started with the magnificent Gavi di Gavi Black Label, a crisp, light ,and soothingly acidic white wine, variation of the Cortese grape.    It’s available on the more expensive side of their wine list, but the taste and amiability of pairing with multiple dishes is unbeatable.  Our first dish was a lovely insalata di carciofi (artichoke salad) with thinly sliced raw artichokes, frisee, long strands of parmasean, olive oil, and lemon.   This is a dish that is ridiculously simple and extremely flavorful.   Although there are plenty of restaurants that offer this classic Italian salad, this variation is healthy, delicious, and satisfying.

    For my Primi, I ordered the special soup, Lenticche, and the amazing, awe-inspiring, keep you coming back for more, Ravioli di Zaffrone.  The lentil soup was a first for me, but it certainly won’t be the last.  It was an extremely liquid soup, a rarity in the lentils division, and so flavorful that I probably only shared about two bites.  Full of broth and al dente lentils, along with minced potatoes, carrots, and onions, it is the perfect solution if you’re feeling under the weather, or just looking for something hearty and healthy.  The ravioli is a family favorite; my cousin Carmen doesn’t even look at the menu anymore.  It’s fresh, made from day-of pasta, stuffed with zucchini flowers, and presented with a sauce of cream, butter, and saffron.  It is also beyond words.  As a vegetarian option, it makes you feel satisfactory about annihilating your plate before anyone else even receives their food.  Even though it may not look like much, looks are assuredly deceiving, and finishing the meal is more of a feat than you may think.

    I kept dessert simple this time around, simply finishing the Gavi di Gavi and munching on a few generously bestowed biscotti, but Sor Tino is one of my absolute favorite LA Italian restaurants.  Blocked off from the road with big, beautiful, green bushes, the patio offers a serenity not easily found among the hustle and bustle of the city and a menu to rival that of any posh restaurant in town. Take the time to have a lovely pranzo here, you won’t be disappointed.

Sor Tino Restaurant

908 South Barrington Ave
Brentwood, CA 90049
Tel : 310 442 8466

Sunday ~ Thursday 11:30am ~ 10:30pm
Friday & Saturday 11:30am ~ 11pm