My Fave Bites: Tasca's New $8 Happy Hour

Burrata y Jamon Serrano Crostinis

Tasca has long been one of my favorite wine bars, and one of the best kept restaurant secrets in Los Angeles.

Nestled off of 3rd street behind a vine-covered trellis, you'll find this Spanish-style wine bar. On any given night, there's a good chance that you'll find me esconced at the bar, either noshing with a friend, or my wonderful husband, or simply dining alone with my Kindle. To say that I love Tasca would be a major understatement.

From their excellent selection of wines (they'll taste you on anything on the menu to help you make your choice), to the casual Spanish tapas fare, which while not flashy, is always well-executed and satisfying, to the comfortable bar that spans the entire space and lovely outdoor patio, I love everything about it. It's the kind of place where you just want to hang out for hours and hours. And trust me, I do.

While there are many things to love about Tasca, their Happy Hour has always been at the top of my list. Even better, they've just relaunched it, with a much bigger menu and bargain $8 pricing for every dish on it. You won't find better food at this price anywhere in Los Angeles. Trust me, I know.

Pizza Bianca

Just check out the pictures--the Happy Hour food offerings include Pizza Bianca; Ahi Tuna Tartare; Mussels served in Saffron Broth with their famous fries; Burrata y Jamon Serrano Crostinis; Speck-Wrapped Dates; Gambas al Ajillo; and their Baby Artichoke Salad, which is hands down one of my favorite salads in Los Angeles. Period. And maybe in the country. I'm not kidding--I love it!

Baby Artichoke Salad

And all these dishes and many more and more are only $8 each!

Drink specials include a pitcher of sangria ($20); house red or white wine ($5); sparkling wine ($7); and a variety of beers ($3-$4). Also, a bargain.

Mussels in Saffron Broth with Fries

Even better, the happy hours themselves are very generous. Stop in Monday through Tuesday from 3pm-10pm, or Wednesday through Saturday 3pm-7pm.

Butternut Squash Agnolotti

I'm sure I'll be back at Tasca again before the week is out... Seriously, I might have a problem... addiction to Spanish tapas...

My Fave Bites: Pizzeria Mozza

Lazy Afternoon Lunch at Pizzeria Mozza

What can I say about Pizzeria Mozza that hasn't already been said?

Not much, that's for sure!

Yes, they serve up some of the city's best pizzas, fired in a wood-burning oven. Yes, the antipasti and insalate are to die for. Yes, the olive oil gelato garnished with sea salt must be tasted to be believed. Yes, everything is great here.

The food literally speaks for itself. Observe...

While Pizzeria Mozza is a fun spot for dinner, I much prefer if for a lazy late afternoon lunch, like the one that I had with my in-laws a few weeks ago.

We noshed on everything from the Asparagus with Speck & Parmigiano Reggiano; to the Mozza Caprese (my favorite incarnation of this dish) with thick rustic slices of fresh bread slathered with olive oil; to a multitude of pizzas.

We tried a smaller pizette laden with ricotta, fresh peas, leeks, and guanciale, as well as two classics: the Squash Blossoms, Tomato & Burrata pizza and the Egg, Bacon, Yukon Gold Potato pizza (literally, breakfast on a pizza).

This is truly one of the great restaurants in Los Angeles, and one of the reasons that the food in this second largest city has improved by leaps and bounds over the last many years.

Bravo to Nancy and Mario for crafting up such a bright light in the city of angels. If you haven't eaten here yet, now is the time!

My Fave Bites: 9021Pho

90210Pho Restaurant

If there's one thing that the L.A. dining scene is lacking it's good Pho, a Vietnamese soup usually made with chicken or beef. The soup includes noodles made of rice and is often served with bean sprouts, basil, lime, bean sprouts, and peppers that are added by the diner.

We're overrun with sushi joints, K-Town BBQ's, Thai shops, and Taco stands, but Vietnamese restaurants are far and few between. There's even been a ramen resurgence in greater Los Angeles of late (read about my addiction to Jinya Ramen).

My Fave Bites: Starry Kitchen - Where Rice Balls Rival Meatballs

Japanese Meatball Curry Banh Mi Sandwich

Starry Kitchen, the downtown LA brainchild of husband and wife team Nguyen and Thi Tran, didn't take the ordinary path to becoming a restaurant. It began as an underground eatery run out of their apartment in North Hollywood, proving once and for all that good things can indeed come from the Valley. Uh, like, whatever!

I first heard about their down-low shop through The A-Girl, my frequent dining companion and a friend of the couple. She raved about their food. At the end of their underground run, Nguyen and his "Kitchen Ninja" spouse were serving 50 to 60 people a night before the health inspectors shut them down (ah, government regulations). You can read all about it in this great LA Weekly article.

But don't fear--this story has a happy ending.

My Fave Bites: Peace Cafe in Honolulu, HI

Peace Cafe's Heart & Seoul

I'm back on the mainland and excited to share my Fave Bites from Honolulu. First up, is Peace Cafe, a restaurant specializing in vegan home cooking.

Vegan food is made without the use of any animal products (this includes eggs and dairy). Because I cook without dairy, a lot of my own recipes are actually vegan. It's an exceptionally clean and healthy way to eat, provided you ensure that you're getting enough protein (whole grains, tofu, nuts, beans), calcium, and B vitamins in your diet. And contrary to popular belief, animal-less food can taste great.

My Fave Bites: Jinya Ramen

Jinya's Tonkotsu Ramen

Hey Divas, I'm launching a new feature on this blog called My Fave Bites. I'll be posting pictures and writing about my favorite places to nosh.

This week's discovery is Jinya Ramen in Studio City! This is my new favorite ramen noodles shop, located in a strip mall in the Valley. This is recession eats at its best (a bowl of broth sells for under $10), and Jonathan Gold is also a fan (read his review here). This place has the sleek feel of a mall eatery, but with the food of a funky, little Tokyo shop. There are lots of indoor and outdoor tables, but on the rainy day I ventured forth for noodles, I opted for indoor seating.

My Fave Bites: Pinches Tacos (Plus Celebrity Chef Sighting!)

Pinches Taco Platter (Mole Pictured)

I've been meaning to write about Pinches Tacos, one of my favorite lunch spots in Los Angeles, for some time now. Chances are you've driven past the bright pink restaurant that's nestled right in the middle of the Sunset Strip. Maybe (in your possibly inebriated state), you've even contemplated pulling over for an emergency taco stop. (No shame in that -- I'm guessing they get a lot of late night business.)

My Fave Bites: Urban Belly (Chicago, IL)

Lamb & Brandy Dumplings

On my recent trip to Chicago, at the Chicago Foodie's urging, I had the good fortune to visit Urban Belly, Chef Bill Kim's modern take on a noodle joint. We drove out to the 'burbs and pulled into the parking lot of a strip mall (many of my favorite eateries are in unassuming locations like this one).

Ever since my trip to Japan, I've been on one hell of a noodle kick, eating more than my share of ramen, soba, and other noodle concoctions. All that said, Urban Belly has got to be at the top of my noodle-eating list.

My Fave Bites: 8oz Burger Bar

Suds And Sliders Sampler

It's true that on occasion, I don't feel like cooking.

This usually happens after I've tackled one a challenging supper project.  This week, it was Roasted Rack Of Lamb (from Healthy Family Farms, CSA) with mint-shallot vinaigrette (organic mint from the farmers market) served over jumbo cannellini beans ("runner" heirloom variety) that had braised in homemade chicken stock for close to three hours, and then been simmered down with sauteed onion, carrot, celery and thyme.  Lamb, mint and white beans are a classic combination. 

My Fave Bites: Park's BBQ

For a few weeks, The Chicago Foodie has been regularly traveling to the southland, a real boon for The Diva! I love eating out with her - she's adventurous, shares my passion for great food, and she's willing to be critical, too! The perfect dining companion. Just this week, we had a lovely dinner at Palate, one of my favorite LA restaurants and wine bars (click here for an earlier review).

A few weeks ago, she texted me with a special request: Korean BBQ! I adore Korean BBQ and after some consideration, I decided that we should try. Park's BBQ. Known for serving higher quality cuts of meat, it seemed like a smart bet.

My Fave Bites: The Gumbo Pot

For years, I've been hearing about The Gumbo Pot at The Farmers Market in Los Angeles as a bastion of classic Creole cooking, but I'd never been brave enough to go. No, it wasn't the spice keeping me away--rather the throngs of tourists and babies that populate The Grove shopping center, located right next to the Farmers Market. The most I'd endured was slipping grumpily into a movie at The Grove movie theater, and then racing away as quickly as possible.