Author Archives: Katherine Swanson

Taste

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Tonight I met up with fellow section 3 member Kelly for dinner at Taste. Kelly wanted the “Left Coast Contessa Dining Experience” so I decided that we should try Taste, which I’ve been dying to try for a while.

Taste has two locations in LA: one on Melrose and one in the Pacific Palisades. We opted for the Palisades location figuring traffic and parking would be better.

The lighting was very nice and we really liked the decor. It was trendy and nice. Lots of dark wood and rich browns. This would be a great date location.

Taste has a prix fix menu which I highly recommend. There are several options and the house wine is only $5 when you order off the fixe menu, which is an awesome deal. They even give you a mini decanter! The wine today was a Croatian Red.

Wine with dinner is always fantastic. Kelly and I decided that we would both get the two course option on the prix fix menu. I got an appetizer and an entree and she got the entree and a dessert. There was a lot of sharing.

Our pick for an appetizer was easy: White Truffle Butter Mac & Cheese with Mushrooms

This was awesome! The cheese was literally still bubbling when it came to the table. I actually liked the mushrooms which is odd because normally I am not the biggest fan of mushrooms. The sauce was also super truffl-ey which was nice. Sometimes “truffle” is thrown around and you can’t even taste it. Not a problem with this dish.

For entrees we picked the kabocha squash rissoto and Kelly ordered the crispy chicken paillard

The rissoto was not exactly what I was expecting. It had a really interesting flavor. I suppose I expect my rissoto to be creamier maybe? Not what I was expecting but still good.

The chicken was pretty damn good. Fried to perfection, arugula salad, potatoes (!) and red onion jam which was delicious. I love onions and potatoes. Can’t go wrong. This was my favorite entree. Good pick Kelly!

For dessert we were going to get creme brulee but the waiter insisted, insisted, that we get the bread pudding.We went with the expect recommendation.

I like bread pudding and I have to say that this one was pretty good. I could have gone for a little bit more ice cream but what can you do? There was some chocolate in the mix and it was pretty good.

Overall, we really liked Taste. Taste had a great vibe and is a wonderful place to get a nice longer dinner, catch up with a friend and have a nice glass of wine. Check out their website for special deals, which they have on most weeknights. I have to say that overall, Taste is a little bit more on the expensive side but not too bad for LA and with the special deals its not too bad. Kelly and I had a good time and she will definitely be making some more LCC appearances.

G&T

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Is there anything more summer appropriate than a Gin & Tonic on a hot day?**

Obviously the answer to this question is “no”.

When Catie came over yesterday we had to have G&T’s because it was a wonderfully hot summer day. I used the last drops of my Bombay Gin (from now on all Gin on LCC is Tanqueray) and I also used diet tonic. Tonic is actually quite caloric. There was lime for good measure of course.

And for mixing?

Swizzle stick that I got when I stayed at the Plaza in New York when I was 15! My mom saved and sent it when she converted my childhood bedroom to a guest room. Mixes the cocktails well every time.

What is your favorite Summer cocktail?

**Answering “a south side” cocktail would also be left coast approved 😉

Assembly Required

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Today’s lunch required some assembly…

Don’t you just love leftovers? It makes lunch so much easier. I just had to slice some tomato this morning and I was all ready for work. I noticed that I had gotten into buying my lunch far too often. This way I can save money and have something delicious to eat.

Ezekiel bread, goat cheese, tomato, and leftover salmon cakes. The salmon cakes made for a delightful and very hearty sandwich.

Much better than the typical wheat sandwich that I’ve been getting weekly with stale bread.

After work I ran 5 miles! I haven’t started 1/2 marathon training yet, but I’m feeling pretty confident about it. All a 1/2 marathon really is is the loop that I typically run about three times. I can’t do it right now, but if I work on upping my mileage and taking it slow I should be able to do it.

For dinner I had whole wheat pasta with broccoli, red onion and goat cheese. The recipe calls for ricotta but I really don’t like ricotta (its the only cheese I don’t love). Goat cheese was a wonderful substitute.

Yep, it was a hungry girl portion…

I deserve it after the long run. Tomorrow’s dinner will be a major treat! I am finally checking out Taste which I have heard is amazing. Can’t wait!

Dijon Salmon Cakes with Couscous

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As promised, something interesting on Left Coast Contessa!

Tonight Catie came over for our HBO night: True Blood, Hung, and Entourage. Can I just say True Blood is amazing? Franklin Mott is insane and I love it!

Before Catie some over I got cracking on Salmon Cakes, which is out of Augusts “Real Simple”. Combine in the food processor…

1 lb. of Salmon

Scallions

S&P then mix it up! Once you have mixed a little bit add…

Panko (shout out to Catie’s mom who gave me some!)

Dijon Mustard. Then combine in the processor. Mix until combined.

You take the material and make a came out of it. 1 lb of salmon will make 8 cakes (there are 2 cakes in a serving).

How good does this look?

Obviously, at this point you want to get a pan out and put some EVO in it.

Cook for about 2 mins on either side. While this is going on its a good idea to make some couscous. I made a Trader Joe’s couscous mix and I added cut up olives and basil. I also put a small dollop of goat cheese on the cakes, because goat cheese is delicious and why not?

The final product:

Fantastic! These salmon cakes are so easy to make and could be served so many ways! I already have a creative idea for my lunch tomorrow since Catie and I ate all the couscous.

One more glamor shot!

I also made cookies for work tomorrow! Get excited law clerks!

In other interesting news: school starts in one month. This summer is flying by! Today I pledged to myself that I would be seriously committed to reading a few books that I have wanted to crack all summer but still haven’t read. First is “Fly Away Home” which I started today. I am about 60 pages in. Then I want to finish “The Help”, “One Day” and “Poison Wood Bible”. Today I might have spent 2 hours at Borders. I started to read “The Lonely Polygamist”. I have to say that it was a page turner but that I didn’t buy it. I just don’t want to spend part of the rest of my vacation reading about a man having a mid life crisis. Strong female heroines ahoy.

Are you a planner?

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Because I am! I blogged the other day that I needed to go back to meal planning. Meal planning for me is essentially sitting down once a week before shopping and plotting out 4-5 meals that I want to have in the next week. Recently my meals have been fairly lame and I have been over buying at the farmers market and grocery store.

Today when I went to the farmers market I was ready!

So many wonderful things to come on LCC!

Early this morning I went for a run. It is getting HOT! I went for around 3 miles throughout campus at an easy pace. I had a lara bar before my run so after shopping I was getting hungry. Guess where I went?


Orange umbrella means Coral Tree Cafe.If you can go to Coral Tree try to sit outside on the porch because it is quite wonderful in the shade. Of course I started with a mint iced tea.

This time I ordered a Sicilian Panini which had panchetta (holy yum), mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and sun dried tomato. The sandwich also had eggs, was served on homemade bread, and came with potatoes!

You guys… this was really really good. I’ve shared my love of Coral Tree Cafe before, and I have to say that the love just keeps growing. I am not at all an egg person. I rarely eat eggs, normally opting for pancakes instead. This sandwich was fantastic and didn’t taste super eggey at all. I love panchetta and sun dried tomatoes so really there was nothing I didn’t like about this sandwich. The taste of the mozzarella, tomato and pepper really stood out. And the potatoes? There are no words.

Later I finished my shopping and am prepping to head out to Glendale. Catie and I are going out tonight. All the single ladies, all the single ladies….

-Left Coast

Set Your Intention

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You know what my favorite part of yoga is? Setting your intention for the practice. It always helps me get in the right mentality for the practice and sort things out. Here is what I sorted out today:

  • In life there are very few things we can control. When I let go of the desire to control the world around me I feel at peace.
  • Everyday we all do the best we can with what we have. I’m human, not super human.
  • Letting go of control allows me to let go of worrying.
  • Worrying does not equal control. So, then, why are we worried again?
  • I am so grateful for the beautiful city that I live in!

I snapped this shot as I was leaving yoga. How pretty is my city?

The light!

Yoga helps me see the beauty in every day. I am so grateful for it today.

Anyway, after yoga I got take away from California Roll Factory which has two locations: Beverly Hills and West LA. I hit the West LA location for some sushi take out. I just didn’t have it in my to make another “no sink” meal. And I am so glad I did because I came home to this:

HOT KITCHEN MESS YA’LL! The sink is being worked on… still being worked on? The cabinets were open when I got home, there was no note… I’m unsure if I can use the sink so I was very happy I had take away. Izzy seemed completely traumatized. Don’t worry she got some party mix for her troubles.

Then I got into my sushi… I got fresh water eel roll and shrimp tempura roll.

So glad I satisfied my sushi craving. Sometimes you just take to take it easy and get take out. This is life.

-Left Coast

Run Around

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Today was my first day back at running because post race running just didn’t happen this week. Despite my proclamation a few weeks ago, June gloom didn’t actually lift until yesterday. Thus it has been much hotter! With sun in the AM temps go up. When I went for my usual late run it was still in the 70’s which, according to Runners World will seriously slow down and stress your run. It was hard. I took a couple breaks at stop lights and tried to take it slow but it was not easy.  Whatever, it happens.

Then I came home and made dinner which was boring.

Clearly I have become complacent… I think I have to go back to meal planning which I have fallen off of since, ummm, finals? Literally, yesterday I was trying to think of a good, unique dinner that I made recently and I can’t think of one. Sad. I will resolve to be better.

Also, you know what a good pick me up is?

Citrus! Instant pick me up. I need more orange slices in my life!  In fact, I am off to have more now…

Exciting News!

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Dinner tonight was more of the same. However, I have exciting news. I went to the doctor today and I was weighed. I have officially lost 18 lbs since I moved to LA! Also, my blood pressure was described as “excellent”. For the past two years when I would get my vitals read my doc would always say that my blood pressure was a little on the high side so this is a welcome news! See what a little healthy eating and running can do?

Kitchen Crisis

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Last night I was greeted with a little surprise while doing the dishes: water gushing from under my sink. Ick. I decided that I cannot use my sink until this epic problem is resolved. This presented a small issue for dinner. I didn’t want to use the sink at all but I was hungry! I almost went to the prepared food section of Whole Foods. But then I thought, this is a challenge.

And who am I to turn down a challenge?

Thus, I produced this…

Ezekiel bread toasted, artichoke dip, spinach, radish, tomato paste, basil and goat cheese! This was DELICIOUS!

Wonderful!

I will be having this again (probably tomorrow if my sink isn’t fixed!)

After dinner I ran some errands and while I was out at Ralphs I picked up this…

Post race splurgage? Why not!?

One final note: Yesterday in my post race energy wave I did some home improvement. My mom sent me some great, cheap gold frames which I hung in my stairwell.

I cannot wait to add more! You like?