BISTRO LQ & Chef Laurent Quenioux

As I sat and contemplated what I believe to be a horrendous drive from the O.C. to the greater L.A. area dodging cars, sitting in traffic and stressing having to make my dinner reservation, I had no idea the ultimate destination was going to knock my stiletto pumps off my tootsies and leave me feeling extremely satiated and happy!

Ok…ok, tired of guessing as to where I ended up…well, the ‘ultimate destination’ for my lovely repast was “Bistro LQ” just shy of West Hollywood. Chef/Owner, Laurent Quenioux from Sologne, France (formerly of The Regency Club of Los Angeles, 7th Street Bistro in downtown LA and Executive Chef at Dodger Stadium in the 1990’s) opened this great dining spot in July of 2009. Chef Laurent’s philosophy regarding gastronomy is that food is, “an orgy derived from the alchemy of the flavors and the senses.” I concur whole heartedly! Now that, my friends, is a very passionate Chef!

Bistro LQ is well known for its superb cheese selections and condiments, handmade breads and extremely reasonable wine selections with many French reds and whites on the menu with a sprinkling of lovely sparkling wines. Bistro also has a handful of tasty artisan beers. For some odd reason (full moon maybe?) my dining party did not partake in the inviting cheese tray nor were we interested in the wines with a great price point. Maybe due to the fact that we brought wine from hubby’s cellar and savored those two bottles with our meal. How could one go wrong with a 1989 Margaux and 1990 Chapoutier Le Sizeranne Hermitage? Truth be told, upon our arrival we ordered a bottle of Louis de Sacy "Traditional" Champagne for a mere $70 and it was just lovely. Pure wine bliss!

A generous portion of sea urchin fillet sat boastfully atop my serving of “Sea Urchin Tapioca Pudding” partnered with a side of “Kumamoto Oysters in Yuzu Martini Gelee”. Come on, tapioca pudding with oysters and lemon flavors…ah duhh, DELICIOUS! The firm oceanic uni made a lovely meritage with my deeply flavored tapioca.

“Smoked Herring” anyone? Ours was served with Mousseline of Potatoes, Jerez Vinaigrette and Sautéed Quail Eggs. Once again, for the average American, eggs and bacon are the perfect combination…not if you are from Sologne, France. The herring had a subtle smokey flavor that kissed the quail egg with a gentle salty delightfulness. Fish and eggs my friends, fish and eggs!

My fellow foodies when was the last time you had “Black Scabbard in Caul w/Celery Root, Pomegranate Nage?” Yeah, I didn’t think so! For those of you who were wondering, black scabbard is a fish from the Atlantic Ocean that is very popular in Spain and the ‘caul’ adds moisture and more flavor to the fish. My black scabbard was extremely moist and full of flavor with an accompanying velvety pomegranate nage. Wonderful preparation and execution Chef Laurent!

I could go on and on explaining all the details about the many other savory dishes my dining group enjoyed together but I will not. But, I must mention the “Wild Boar Shank Tamales with Empanada” and the "Chukar Partridge" they are luscious treats to behold on your palate! Guess that means you will just have to trek on over to Bistro LQ and create your own personal dining extravaganza.

I will leave you with this…have some dessert! Ditch the diet for an evening…you won’t be sorry you did. The desserts are designed by Jun Tan and his desserts are to die for. Out of the four we tasted my favorite was the “Le Gateau” which is Chocolate Cake with Crème Anglaise and Whipped Cream. Although, the “Huckleberry Moussse w/Pistachio Cake and Beer Brittle” did tantalize my tongue. Need I say more? Surely I need not offer an explanation. Just leave it to your imagination and enjoy! More, give me more!!

Perhaps the nicest surprise of the evening was the cost. While not inexpensive, the prices are quite reasonable particularly considering the uniqueness, quality and amount of work involved in producing such gastronomy. My dining experience at Bistro LQ will make future drives out to the LA basin less daunting - I look forward to my next one.

Cheers!

Bistro LQ
8009 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 951-1088

Exceptional $Price$ Point
Open Daily Except Monday
Valet Parking Available
Unbelievably Reasonable Wine Selection

Olamendi's Monarch Beach

If an ice cold Bohemia, Organic Margarita or Hot Chocolate de La Selva with Organic Tequila sounds enticing, then you need to seriously consider tripping on down to “Olamendi’s Monarch Beach”. Better yet, forget the cocktail hour and go have a wonderful south of the border repast experiencing family recipes and dishes from the States of Jalisco and Veracruz. South Orange County is lucky to have Jorge and Maria Olamendi spoil us with tempting, spicy flavors from south of the border.

My maiden voyage to Olamendi’s had me feeling as if I had stepped back in time to old Mexico…a collage of Mexican culture which took over thirty years to collect is displayed throughout the restaurant from floor sculptures and wall photos to handmade furniture (made by Jorge himself). The only thing missing was the mariachi musicians serenading me with sultry, rich Mexican ballads.

Numerous visits to Olamendi’s have left me enchanted each and every time due to the fresh, very well prepared food overflowing with robust flavors! With a full bar, flat screen T.V. (for reviewing your favorite soccer game), fun cocktails, delicious food and pleasant service, how could one not have a nice dining experience? Olamendi’s has many signature margaritas to choose from and a favorite tipple of mine is the “Monarch Beach Margarita”. Slightly spicy, this cocktail is made with organic tequila, fresh jalapenos and fresh lime juice. Ay, caramba…es muy sabroso!! Yes folks, refreshingly delicious and not too sweet having the perfect blend of tequila and spice for my picky palate. In addition, you may also order a glass of red or white wine with the Olamendi’s private label.

I love garlic and avocado, therefore, when my “Pescado al Mojo de Ajo” arrived I was very pleased since my lightly battered fish fillet was smothered in tons of golden-crisp, sweet, caramelized garlic cloves and fresh sliced Haas avocados. I asked our lovely waitress Esmeralda to cancel the accompanying side of potato wedges that came with my dish and she replaced them with beautiful grilled ribbons of carrots and zucchini which were mounded nicely on my plate.

An old family recipe, the “Puerco en Mole Oaxaqueno”, is a heaping pile of moist pork chunks in a blend of eight different exotic chilies. My personal preference is a mole sauce that has more chocolate flavor with a hint of sweetness. At Olamendi’s the mole sauce is a little bit on the tangy side but tasty nonetheless.

A special order which is not listed on the menu is the “Enchiladas Rancheras” and you can request either cheese or chicken. The sauce for this dish is awesome and made with fresh tomatoes, red and yellow bell peppers, caramelized onions and chili peppers and is delivered steamy-hot to your table. Since this dish is made to order it takes a little longer to whip up but worth every fresh, palatable bite! If you are in the mood for a bowl of soup then you must order the “Albondigas Soup”, it is very yummy. This bowl of savory, handmade rice-meatballs comes with large chunks of potatoes, zucchinis and carrots in a hearty thick broth. Guys, the soup is only $5 for a bowl…eat up my friends!

The refreshingly, light “Olamendi’s Chef Salad” will satiate any vegetarian in town. A plate full of spring lettuce medley, thinly sliced fresh onion rings, cilantro, tomatoes, avocado and nopalitos (cooked diced cactus) is offered with your choice of Spicy Ranch Dressing or House Vinaigrette. This salad could be a great palate cleanser after a hearty Mexican feast. In addition, the "Grilled Shrimp Salad" is a shrimp lovers delight with its large portion of succulent crustaceans, tender avocado chunks and cherry tomatoes.
To satisfy a sweet tooth craving traditional “Flan” and “Raquellas” are available for your end of dining pleasure. The Raquellas is a flour tortilla which is filled with fresh strawberries or fresh pineapple then deep fried and sprinkled with sugar. WOW! Although I have yet to try this dessert, it sounds deliciously amazing…next time (followed by 30 minutes of intense cardio…yeow!). Whether you order dessert or not Olamendi’s treats you to a small plate of sliced churros and sweet, crispy tortillas chips which are drizzled with chocolate sauce and topped with a dollop of whipped cream.

I have had several other fines dishes at this restaurant and have been satisfied with all of them. *Welcome to Monarch Beach Olamendi’s and please stay a while!

Cheers!!

Olamendi’s Monarch Beach
8 Monarch Bay Drive
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 218-7394
Open Daily…CLOSED Tuesday
Opens at 11:30 and serves Lunch & Dinner
Great price point & tons’o’food (for great leftovers)

*Please note that there is an Olamendi’s restaurant in Laguna Beach which is owned and operated by Rosa another member of this large family. The Olamendi’s I refer to in this blog review is the Monarch Beach restaurant which is owned by Jorge and Maria.