Lucques not only made L.A. Magazine’s Top 75 Best Restaurants in 2008: it made number one. Yes, according to the publication, this Melrose Ave hot spot is THE best culinary destination in all of Los Angeles. This report came out just after we secured Lucques as our second location for a Sunsweet-inspired dinner (see my post on TRU for the first).
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not really L.A.-esque. I mean, I don’t have a teacup Chihauhau dressed in designer doggy-wear; I don’t know the latest B-list celebrity up-and-comers; and you probably won’t find me in line for the latest club openings, or any club opening for that matter. Nope, just not my cup of tea.
That said, Lucques is just the right amount of trendy and substance, centrally located on Melrose Ave. The space is comfortable and relaxed and the food is amazing. I think that anyone would find this restaurant welcoming and delicious.
Co-owners Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne have operated Lucques for more than 10 years. In 2006 Suzanne (whose resume includes a stint at Chez Panisse) received the James Beard Foundation’s Award of Excellence for Best Chef in California. Last month a group of us got to taste for ourselves. Here’s a sampling of some of the menu items that hit my palate that night:
Our first course started us off with a Blood Orange Salad with Arugula, Dates, Almonds and Parmesan. Unfortunately, my picture for this course didn’t turn out, but let’s just say that any salad with blood oranges is okay by me. Our second source was grilled Hawaiian tuna with farro, black rice and pickled raisins.
Next up we had liberty duck breast with turnip-parsnip gratin and sweet-and-sour prunes.
And for dessert we were treated to a walnut galette with candied orange zest and prune-armagnac ice cream. Yummmmmmmm.
Valentine's Day Events Preview
Even if February 14th means nothing more than “Thursday” to you, today’s blog entry is still a must. Also known as Valentine’s Day, this Thursday is full of fun for Sacramento residents looking to show a little love. Here is a sampling of Sacramento’s finest – for every palate and pocketbook. If you know of additional Valentine’s Day food events or special menus happening around town, please leave a comment and we’ll be happy to spread the word!
Exotic Valentine’s Day Feast
Friday, 5:30 — 10 p.m.
Maharani Indian Restaurant
$21.95 per couple
441-2172 (reservations required)
Spice up your valentine’s dinner with a taste of the Middle East from Maharani. Dinner for two includes wine, fresh bread, rice, vegetable samosa and your choice of sensually aromatic entrée.
Special Valentine’s Dinner at the Supper Club
Thursday Feb. 14, 6:30 p.m.
Make it a night to remember. This Valentine’s day will be unforgetable in the romantic setting of the Supper Club. You will fall in love with the six-course meal, each course paired with wine. $155 with selected wines, $120 without wines.
Raw Passion
Wednesday — Sunday
Nishiki Sushi
$60 per couple
This 5-course Japanese feast includes hot sake, soup and appetizers, tempura, rice and choice of sushi and teriyaki entrees. Also comes with green tea ice cream for dessert.
Dinner from David Berkley
Thursday — Saturday
$99 per couple
929-4422
For those who would rather snuggle up at home, this complete take-out treat for two includes appetizers, salads, entrees, side dishes and dessert, accompanied by flowers and champagne. It’s pricey, but the food is great.
Chocolate Fondue for Lovers on Valentine’s Day
(Demo-Style Cooking Class)
6:30 p.m. $30 Wine will be served; Must be 21 to attend.
With Jeremy Mosher, Whole Foods Cheese and Chocolate Specialist
This saucy class will feature 3 fabulous chocolate fondues with various dipping items: strawberries, bananas and a few other surprises. And chocolate fondue would not be complete without port and dessert wine. Caution: May include tantalizing Mayan Spices! A perfect class for couples, friends or singles.
Biba Restaurant
Four course special Valentine’s Day menu
$75 per person, plus tax and gratuity
Ella Dining Room
Special Valentine’s Day Menu
Dine Downtown Restaurant Week 2008
Downtown’s top restaurants come together for week of fine dining at an unbelievable price!
Through this Friday Jan. 18, local chefs from 22 of Downtown’s top restaurants will create special three-course dinner menus for only $30 per person at participating venues. It’s a great way to experience the best of Downtown Sacramento’s dining scene. We tried McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood on Saturday night and were quite impressed with both the quality, and quantity of food. Participating restaurants and pre-fixe menus can be found on the Downtown Sacramento Partnership’s Web site.
New Year's Eve Parties
Looking for ideas on how to bring in 2008? Below are a few parties hosted by some of my favorite local restaurants that will be creating special menus for the holiday. From dry-aged rib eye steak with potato-garlic gratin and chanterelle mushrooms to all-you-can-eat sushi, you are sure to find a destination to satisfy both your appetite for great food and a good time.
Skyline at Esquire Grill
On the 14th floor of the Esquire Building, Skyline will be Sacramento’s highest New Year’s Eve party. Brought to you by TrevorPresents and Paragary Restaurant Group, the evening will begin with a four-course menu created by award-winning chef Kurt Spataro. After dinner, make your way up to the 14th floor, which has been transformed into an exclusive nightclub for just one night. You can dance the night away surrounded by the beautiful night lights of Sacramento and, of course, enjoy a champagne toast at midnight.
Time: Dinner: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Dancing: 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Location: Dinner – Esquire Grill, 1213 K Street
Dancing – 14th floor of the Esquire Building, 1213 K Street
Price: $125 per person will get you dinner and entry into the party on the 14th floor. If you want to go for just the dinner or just the party, tickets are $75 per person.
For more information, call 448-8900 or click here
Eye Candy at Taro’s By Mikuni
Taro’s By Mikuni is offering all-you-can-eat sushi from 10 p.m. to midnight with a complimentary shot glass for a sake toast at midnight. There will also be a raffle for:
• Free Sushi for one year (Value $780)
• Flat Screen TV (Value $500)
• Snowboard (Value $500)
Time: 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Location: Taro’s By Mikuni, 1735 Arden Way
Price: $60 per person
For more information call, (916) 576-2641 x30 or click here
Restaurant 55°
In celebration of the past and the future, Restaurant 55° is inviting you to join them for an evening of great food, wine and friends. In addition to its regular menu, Chef Luc will prepare a special tasting menu for the evening, which can be paired with wines hand-selected by wine director Kassidy Harris.
Time: Seatings between 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Location: Restaurant 55°, 555 Capitol Mall
Price: $85 per person; $120 per person (with wine pairing) or $100 per person for a table of four (includes tasting menu and one bottle of champagne for the table)
For more information, call 916.553.4100 or click here
Stardust at Spataro
Stardust is an elegant New Year’s Eve celebration at Spataro Ristorante where you can enjoy an exquisite four-course menu created by chef Kurt Spataro, named best chef by Sacramento Magazine. You can also listen to the smooth sounds of Lee Diamond, singing all your favorite Sinatra and Dean Martin hits. Enjoy an after-dinner cigar and cognac in the Cigar Lounge. Then, dance the night away to music spun by DJ Stephen Katz and enjoy a champagne toast at midnight!
Time: Dinner 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. and dancing begins at 10 p.m.
Location: 1415 L Street
Price: $75 per person
For more info, call (916) 440-8888 or click here
Ella Dining Room
Our office celebrated the holiday season last week with an amazing lunch at Ella Dining Room. Being an office of foodies and the like, I was looking forward to an afternoon to enjoy the company of our office away from our busy desks, and experience one of Sacramento’s top restaurants.
The restaurant itself was alive with a full lunch crowd. And the décor (which I usually evaluate as much as the food) was fun and modern, yet inviting and comfortable. Our resident party planner (aka Kim Bedwell) must have called weeks ahead, because FH got the two large tables next to the open kitchen, where we could see the wood fire flames and some food preparation – definitely the best seats in the house.
Because we had a large group we were given an abbreviated menu; even with a short list, the choices were not easy to make. We started with the Fried Giant Rock Shrimp with Chili Aioli and Wood Oven Meatballs, Roasted Tomato Sauce and Sheep’s Milk Ricotta.
The next course was a choice between salad or soup (I choice the soup special, which as great) but in my view the highlight of the meal was the entrée. We had a choice between a Wild Mushroom Ravioli dish or a Seared Sea Bass with Dungeness Snow Crab (I don’t have the exact menu names, since much of our selections aren’t on their regular menu).
By foodie code, I must give special recognition to the Seared Sea Bass with crab- it was amazing. The sea bass cooked just right and the crab was just buttery enough to melt in your mouth, but still flavorful. Below is a picture of the ravioli, which also got rave reviews.
Our dessert options included: Warm Bittersweet Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Cake with Toasted Coconut Ice Cream OR Meyer Lemon Tartlet, Sweet Crème Fraiche and Blackberry Sorbet – both pictured below. I selected the chocolate option (usually do) and my favorite was undoubtedly the coconut ice cream.
I just glanced at the full menu, and am already looking forward to my next trip to Ella. Cheers and happy holiday eating!
Check out other blogger reviews of Ella Dining Room:
Edible Sacramento
MetroBlogging Sacramento
Tastes of Life
Midtown Guru
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