Review: Paper or Plastik Cafe

5772 W Pico Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90019

paperorplastikcafe.com

Last weekend we took a nice long stroll over to the newest addition to the Picfair Village: Paper or Plastik Café.

I had passed by it on my way home from work one evening and the large glass windows and chic exterior beckoned to me. The café occupies the entire corner, providing a large, airy space for coffee drinkers. Not to mention the intriguing name and distinct New York feel, this café was a “must-visit” for the weekend.

We stopped by mid-morning on Sunday and the café was already in full-swing. The patrons are diverse – most notable are the throngs of ballerinas who stop by post-pirouette for a jolt of java. The dance studio next door provides not only customers, but a source of entertainment for café-goers.

If you wander up the central staircase, there is even a large glass window overlooking the dance studio, where coffee drinkers can perch on stools and enjoy their handcrafted espresso drinks while taking in a show. 

The husband and wife team, Anya and Yasha Michelson, have created a coffee drinker’s haven in Mid-City. Not only have they created an absolutely  charming café, but they know their caffeine: the espresso is selected by Intelligentsia alum Tony Konecny, while the coffee is courtesy of Intelligentsia and Ecco Caffe.  

Here is what Paper or Plastik has to say:

“Coffee culture dates back to the 14th century when Arabian coffee drinkers would gather at coffee houses, the social meccas of the their time, to exchange gossip, play backgammon, and listen to music. 

It is our distinct desire to participate in this long-standing cultural tradition. Paper or Plastik Cafe wants to re-introduce the role of coffee as a social pleasure. Our intention is to create a casual yet carefully curated environment that will serve its purpose as artistic center and social gathering point with extraordinary coffee as our nucleus. 

Our coffee meets Intelligentsia's esteemed Direct Trade criteria: it is of exceptional quality, it exceeds Fair Trade prices, and it is the product of sustainable social and environmental practices. We take pride in the relationship with our roasters and our mission is to serve only the highest caliber coffee.” 

Even the Salty Pup enjoyed it!

There is also a selection of sweets, provided by Cake Monkey Bakery and La Maison du Pain. We sampled the maple scone and the chocolate croissant. The scone was more like a dense, sweet cake, including a super-sweet maple frosting. It paired superbly with the rich, bold flavors of their iced coffee. The chocolate croissant, on the other hand, was scrumptious. It was layer upon layer of perfectly moist and flaky dough, with a chocolate filling that definitely sated my sweet tooth. 

Yum!

What Others Are Saying:

Daily Candy: http://www.dailycandy.com/los-angeles/article/88042/Paper-or-Plastik-Cafe-Opens-in-Mid-City

LA Weekly: http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/coffee/paper-or-plastik-opens-mid-cit/

Review: Salt's Cure

7494 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA

www.saltscure.com

Salt’s Cure is a brand-new bistro in the heart of West Hollywood serving up fresh California cuisine, with a new menu every day. They also have a deli case offering up some of their scrumptious creations! We went for brunch at Salt’s Cure last Sunday. Although they are definitely still ironing out a few wrinkles, overall we had a very pleasant experience.

The host was very friendly and although we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table (no reservations or call-aheads here!), he brought us each some water and kept us updated on our wait time. We were seated at a simple table covered in white butcher paper. 

The menu is featured prominently on a black chalkboard mounted high above the tables. The menu changes daily to reflect the freshest produce available to the chefs. An emphasis is definitely placed on California produced items – for example, they don’t serve maple syrup with their griddle cakes because, alas, California does not produce it. This is definitely a huge positive for the bistro, as it ensures that all of the produce is as fresh and flavorful as possible.

For brunch, they offered a variety of items: griddle cakes, fried oysters, steak & eggs, and a selection of tarts and pastries to name a few. We started with the lamb-liver pate, which was absolutely scrumptious!

It was rich, smooth and addictive. It was served with a whole grains of mustard as a garnish, along with crispy slices of warm bread and pickled radishes (yum!).  

Another wonderful thing about Salt’s Cure is that they hand-grind all of their coffee with an antique, hand-cranked coffee mill. They do this before each cup of coffee that they brew, which may add a few minutes before it arrives, but it makes a world of difference! As an avid coffee drinker, this was a huge plus for Salt’s Cure.

For our entrees, we both decided to order the “2 x 2 x 2”. This included two eggs, two slices of the best bacon I have ever eaten, and two pieces of chorizo sausage.

It was absolutely delicious! We could not get enough of the food. I also particularly enjoyed the biscuit with strawberry preserves that was served alongside this protein-fest!

We were too full for dessert, however their selection of pastries was mouth-watering. They offered a maple-walnut coffee cake, a plum tart, and Julia Child’s brownies! We definitely plan on stopping by to try these out soon.

One of my favorite things about Salt’s Cure is the openness of the entire restaurant – light floods in, waiters mingle with patrons, and the kitchen itself is right in the middle of the restaurant, so that you can watch as the chefs prepare your culinary creations!

If you plan on going, be prepared to wait for a table. Also, please bring your appetite! You will want to try everything on the menu, guaranteed! We cannot wait to stop back in and see what they are offering!

--

 

What Others Are Saying:

LA Weekly: “Salt’s Cure: Promising Start”

http://www.laweekly.com/2010-08-26/eat-drink/salt-s-cure-promising-start/

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Lemon Zest

Even if you don’t like Brussels sprouts, you are sure to love this dish! It is a nice blend of the slight bitterness of the sprouts, with the savory bacon and refreshing lemon. It's a great way to introduce sprouts, which are often underappreciated, into your meals.

2 T. extra-virgin olive oil

½ red onion, chopped

1 pound Brussels sprouts, quartered

4 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 t. lemon zest

1 T fresh lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onion and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the Brussels sprouts, and continue to cook over medium heat until they are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, and toss well to mix. Heat thoroughly for another few minutes, then serve.

Java Mud Pie

This was absolutely delicious! It consisted of my two favorite things: coffee and chocolate. It got that wonderful java flavor from both the ice cream and from the hint of coffee in the ganache. The crust was also exactly how it should be - crunchy, and not too thin. I also lightened the ganache a bit, so the chocolate topping is not too rich. It all balanced out quite nicely to create a superb ice cream pie!

Crust:
30 chocolate cookie wafers (I used Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers)
1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted

Ganache:
4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
1/4 C skim milk
1/4 C strong-brewed coffee, cooled
1 T unsalted butter, melted

1 quart reduced-fat coffee ice cream

Preheat oven to 350* F.

Place the cookies in the food processor. Process until the crumbs are about the size of a pea. Add the melted butter, and process until finely ground. Scoop the crumbles into a pie plate, press firmly. Bake for 10 minutes, then let cool.

After the crust has cooled, place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Transfer the ice cream from the freezer to the fridge so that it can soften.

To create the ganache, bring the milk and coffee to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. Place the chocolate in a small, heat-proof bowl, then pour the milk and coffee mixture over the chocolate, and let stand for 5 minutes. Add the melted butter and stir until smooth.

Remove the ice cream from the fridge and scoop into a bowl. Stir the ice cream until it is easily spreadable but not liquidy. Remove the pie plate from the freezer, and spread the ice cream over the crust in a single, smooth layer. Pour the warm (but not hot!) ganache over the ice cream. Freeze for 3 hours, then enjoy!

Oyamel

401 7th Street

Washington, DC

www.oyamel.com

What it is:

An upscale Mexican restaurant by Metro Center in Washington, D.C.

Why I like it:

Great margaritas, amazing atmosphere. Plus, they will make the guacamole at the table for you!

Recommendations:

Nopalitos

What it is:

"Baby cactus salad with tomatoes in a lime dressing"

Why I like it:

An interesting, and refreshing version of a salad. Plus, it's cactus!

Papas Al Mole

What it is:

"José Andrés’ favorite fried potatoes in a mole poblano sauce of almonds, chile and a touch of chocolate, topped with Mexican cream and aged cotija cheese."

Why I like it:

Mole + fries = awesome.

Queso Fundido con Tequila

What it is:

"Melted Chihuahua cheese flambéed with tequila and served with fresh hand made tortillas."

Why I Like It:

Two of my favorite foods: melted cheese and chorizo.

Chapulines

What it is:

"The legendary Oaxacan speciality of sautéed grasshoppers, served with shallots, garlic and tequila."

Why I like it:

At first, I was a little freaked out by the grasshoppers. After the first bite, though, I was sold. Incredibly savory!

Carnitas con Salsa de Tomatillo

What it is:

"Confit of baby pig with green tomatillo sauce, pork rinds, onions and cilantro."

Why I like it:

A well-balanced taco. Perfect combo of meat and onions.

Crabfest 2009

The Hungry Cat

1535 North Vine

Hollywood, CA

www.thehungrycat.com

**Happy Hour is Monday-Friday, 12pm-6pm

**Prix Fixe Lunches served Monday-Friday, 12pm-3pm

$20/person, includes appetizer, entree, fresh fruit, virgin beverage

Sunday night was the 5th annual Crabfest at The Hungry Cat, a seafood bar in Hollywood. Here were a few of the scrumptious treats we got to enjoy:

• Lump crab roll on a butter toasted bun with basil and aioli
  
• "The Pride of Baltimore" crab soup
  
• Pan roasted soft shell crab, corn, summer beans and pancetta
  
• Steamed crabs with Jean's marinated tomatoes and potato salad
  
• Peach crisp
  

Kaiten Sushi Daichan

11301 W. Olympic Blvd

Los Angeles, CA

What it is:

A sushi joint featuring a conveyor belt with plates of sushi!

Why I like it:
The sushi is well-priced, and fresh! The conveyor belt loops around the majority of the restaurant, featuring a constantly changing selection of sushi. If you don't see what you want, the sushi chefs can make suggestions or make something you request.
**1 hour free parking, with validation
**Plates are color coded according to price. They range in price from $2.50 - $5.75

Recommendations

Tango Balls
Spider Roll
Fried Philadephia Roll
Fried California Roll
Popcorn Lobster

BoHo Gastropub

Photo courtesy of www.bohorestaurant.com

6372 W. Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA

www.bohorestaurant.com

What it is:

A BOhemian HOllywood gastropub serving up delectable food with a great selection of rotating draughts

Why I like it:

A constantly changing menu (both of food and beers) keeps this restaurant experience fresh--you never know what is going to be on the menu!

**Happy Hour is Monday-Thursday, 4-7pm with all pizza and draught beers 50% off!

**Half Priced Tuesday Nights, 5pm-closing, with everything 50% off!

**Bottomless Cocktails (champagne, mimosa, bloody mary, screwdrivers and raspberry sunrise) with brunch, Sundays 11:30am-3pm

Recommendations

Asparagus Pizza

What it is:

Asparagus, leeks, mushrooms, goat cheese, truffle oil, and mozzarella, all on a thin, crispy crust.

Why I like it:

An appetizing gourmet pizza! Wonderful thin crust with a nice crisp, and none of the ingredients are overpowering. The goat cheese and asparagus make a great combo!

Baked Fennel Pizza

What it is:

Baked Fennel, applewood bacon, caramelized onion, and gruyere all on a thin, crispy crust.

Why I like it:

An appetizing gourmet pizza! Wonderful thin crust with a nice crisp, and none of the ingredients are overpowering. Plus, you can't go wrong with bacon!

Fried Oyster 'Po Boy' Sliders

What it is:

Fried Oyster ‘Po Boy’ Sliders, gougeres, tartar sauce, applewood bacon, arugula

Why I like it:

Bite sized and perfect for sharing, these 'po boy' sliders are true to the original, without being too greasy.

Mäni’s Bakery

*Photo courtesy of Eater LA

519 S. Fairfax

Los Angeles, CA

www.manisbakery.com

What it is:

A cute bakery and restaurant in the Fairfax district that serves up delicious, healthy food

Why I like it:

Good prices for an enjoyable dining experience. Plus, their entire menu has an index for foods which are vegetarian, vegan (or can be made vegetarian or vegan), gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, and egg free. They try to use less fat and more protein in classic American meals, three meals a day, seven days a week.

**Mondays-Fridays before 11am all breakfast entrees are $9.98

**Sundays-Fridays after 5pm you can get a burger, fries and a refillable drink for $9.98

Recommendations:

Eggs Benedict

What it is:

"We start with a freshly baked English muffin and two poached eggs. Between them goes your choice of turkey ham or spinach. Our house-made Hollandaise tops it off, and voila! A classic!"

Why I like it:

It's a healthy take on the classic brunch dish that fills you up without weighing you down. Well done!

Veggie Scramble

What it is:

"This colorful scramble is a combo of bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, green onions and feta cheese."

Why I like it:

It is a perfect balance of veggies and cheese, leaving me perfectly satisfied. I tried it with goat cheese, which was a tasty variation!

Huevos with Blackstones

What it is:

"Though they might sound heavy, our “blackstones” are healthy lightweights. Black Bean-Quinoa cakes between two poached egg whites and a bed of steamed spinach. Our homemade Ranchero Sauce seals the deal."

Why I like it:

It is a spice-tastic breakfast that is sure to wake you up! We have ordered it the past two times we've eaten at Mani's; it's that good!