Osteria Mamma

There’s nothing better than having a meal made by mamma after a shitty day. I just wanted to drown myself in good food after spending an entire day with whiny colleagues. My friend, her husband and sister, and I headed to Osteria Mamma because that’s where mamma is now. It was disheartening to hear that Mamma and her family were forced out of Osteria La Buca, which I will no longer step foot in. I guess that’s why I don’t really want to know too much of the owners or the chefs because if there’s bad news, I will lose my appetite. Ignorance is bliss but then again if Hitler opened a restaurant everyone should know not to eat there. Mean people suck.

Enough of my rant, Osteria Mamma is right next to Larchmont Grill. There’s valet but I found parking on the side streets. It’s spacious and simple.

It's not as nice as Osteria La Buca but you don’t really care because the food is good and better. Mamma makes her own pasta. I wished I can make my own pasta. I bought a pasta roller once, but got paranoid that I didn’t wipe off all the grease, and returned it. The hippo can’t cook or clean, but she can it eat and drink! Unfortunately there’s no alcohol, and it’s not BYOB because someone complained about it. They’re in the process of getting their liquor license. Mean people suck.

We started off with the Quattro Stagioni pizza (“tomato sauce/black olives/artichokes/ham
mushrooms/mozzarella cheese”). I really should ask the waiter what the items are when it’s in another language…I had thought the pizza had all ingredients throughout the pie…clearly I was wrong.

I love Mamma’s pizza! The crust is thin, crispy, and not greasy.
Our next appetizer was the Crostini di Burrata (“Burrata crostini with black truffle and prosciutto”). This dish was on the pricy side; it’s $17.25 but so worth it! The burrata was fresh and just melts in your mouth.





I advised my friends that I was allergic to crustacean and octopus, so that’s what they ordered…argh. Note to self, only eat at restaurants with them if they don’t serve crustacean.

The sister ordered the Polipolata (“grilled Octopus, fresh celery, lemon, extra virgin olive oil and potatoes”).

She also ordered the special side dish: white asparagus. It was ok.

My friend had the Gemelli alla Vodka (“pink sauce, shrimp, vodka and peperoncino”). The shrimps are hidden under the pasta.

Her husband had the Trenette Nere alla Bottarga (“black squid ink trenette, organic cherry tomatoes, shrimp and bottarga”).

They loved their dishes. I had the Gnocchi del Boscaiolo (“cream sauce, baby green peas, ham andwhite mushrooms”). Oh. My. Gosh. Mamma’s gnocchi is AMAZING. The best and softest gnocchi I have had.

We managed to make room for the tiramisu. Delicious. Mamma gave us an extra tiramisu on the house. The cocoa is not dark chocolate. It was perfect.



I’ll definitely have to go back and try the Linguine alla Carbonara, Pappardelle al Fumo.

Thanks to Mamma for the wonderful meal and to Black Board Eats for saving me some buckaroos!

Address: 5732 Melrose Ave, LA, CA 90004
Phone#: (323) 284-7060
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Bludso's BBQ

This past Saturday I was down in Compton, the most desirable city in Los Angeles, to help out Compton Initiative. It’s an organization that plans to beautified Compton within forty years. I believe they do clean-ups quarterly if you’re interested in helping out the community. After leaving the home I was working at, I figured I support a local restaurant since it’s not every day that I’m in Compton. Sinosoul recommended Bludso’s BBQ.

I found other volunteers finishing up their meals so I guess I was at the right place. I got their two-meat combo meal – brisket and rib. The second your tongue touches the meat you’re in heaven.

Their brisket just melts in your mouth. I don’t know if they add crack to their sauce, but it is effing good!

The ribs were equally good. They had a lot of meat on the bone.

The meal came with two sides. I opted for Mac n cheese. It was one cheesy Mac n cheese. There was a glob of cheese once I got past the macaroni.

I got the collard green for my second side. It wasn’t bad, could use one less dash of salt. It came with the best ever corn bread I’ve had. Seriously.

The meal was gi-normous and cheap –think I spent $13. They don’t have a public bathroom but the staff was kind enough to let me use it as I guess most customers take their food to go. They do have a small counter with five or was it six stools if you can’t wait to eat it. I highly recommend you to eat the food right away.

I heart Bludso’s BBQ! I guess I’ll be making trips to Compton more often!

Address: 811 S Long Beach Blvd, Compton, CA 90221
Phone#: (310) 637-1342
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Ad Hoc

Can I have a drum roll please? I’ve finally dined at a Thomas Keller’s restaurant!!! Bouchon Bakery really doesn’t count since it’s just pastries and sweets and there’s no sit-down area. If Ad Hoc existed during Jesus’ life, He would have had his last supper there. After being crushed missing our reservation last, last Friday, we were determined to dine at Ad Hoc last, last Sunday. The funny thing about missing our reservation, and a blessing, was that Ad Hoc’s menu for that day was: Bibb Lettuce and Frisee Salad with Fried Barbeque Oysters, Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya, French Laguiole, and Lemon Pound Cake. I don’t like oysters, I’m allergic to crustacean, I have no clue what "Laguiole" is, and lemon desserts are not my favorite. Oh, God… has such a great sense of humor when He wants to teach me a lesson on patience…

Since Nat’s flight was at 8:50 and the drive back to SF was an hour, we arrived at Ad Hoc ten minutes before five when it opened. We didn’t have reservations, but they take walk-ins at the bar. Oh, I forgot to explain that Ad Hoc changes its menu every day. You can find their daily menus on Twitter or their website. They are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and on Sundays they offer bunch for $39. Apparently you can order the food a la carte at the bar, but we wanted the whole experience so it costs $49 for the pre-fixe dinner which is a bargain to Keller’s French Laundry $250 pre-fixe dinner (granted that has like 11 more dishes…).

I was so excited about dining at Ad Hoc that I took pictures of their parking lot and bathroom:

Only one bathroom for each sex!

I know, I know, I am such a dork, but it’s Ad Hoc! The restaurant is simple. Let me start over, the exterior is really ugly but that just made the interior nicer.

When you walk in you see the bar to the right.

I think there’s about 10 bar chairs? To the back / right back and left you had the dining areas.



The dress code is nice casual. We didn’t mind sitting at the bar.

Dan the bartender/server was very patient with me and allowed me to sample whatever wine I wanted—which was just what I needed in my system: more wine! He looked more of a beer drinker than a wino. I settled on the driest white wine, the Weirgut Schwarzebock Gruner Veltliner.

Geez, typing the wine’s name was just as hard as saying it out loud. The menu of the day was Little Gem Lettuce Salad, Grilled Pork T-bone, Beehive Cheese Co's Seahive, and Chocolate Pot de Créme.

As we waited for our salad, they gave us bread and butter. I was hoping that the butter would be flavored or creamier but I can’t believe it’s just butter.

The Little Gem Lettuce was delicious! I really enjoyed the fried shallots in the salad and also, the salad dressing was lightly drizzled.

The salad was a good light starter before the Grilled Pork T-Bones, which were insanely big!

I’m picky on how my pork is prepared, so I’ll admit it I was a bit nervous when I saw Grilled T-Bones. I usually eat Porky Pig in the form of bacon, ham, dumplings or cooked dry shredded pork. I am happy to report the Grilled Pork T-Bone was amazing! It was juicy and not fatty at all.

I loved the carrots and braised escarole. The flageolet beans w/ pickled cauliflower were not bad either.

The Beehive Cheese Co's Seahive and toasted brioche with raspberry jam helped cleaned the palate before the Chocolate Panna Cotta. Loved the cheese. I didn’t realized that Auntie Em’s Kitchen buys cheese from Beehive Cheese Co.

I got worried when I read the Chocolate Panna Cotta description: “marshmallow fluff and graham cracker crumble.” I’ve never cared S’mores. When it’s camping time and the kids are making S’mores, you will find me just eating the chocolate bar.

I was surprised to find the marshmallows were not as sweet as the marshmallows I’ve had in the past. It was not bad.

Nat barely made her flight but that's because I dropped her off and returned the car rental. As I was taking the elevator to the air train platform at the car rental building, a waspy couple complained about the stench of alcohol. I confessed that I was the wino who hung in Napa all day and that they would be smelling like grapes had they joined me. Some people just need to take a chill pill.

I had a blast at my friends' wedding, relaxing in wine country and dining at Ad Hoc was the perfect closing ceremony.


Address: 6476 Washington St., Yountville, CA 94599
Phone#: (707) 944-2487
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Bouchon Bakery

Last Saturday a companion and I squeezed a trip up to Bouchon Bakery before the wedding, after all we were in Thomas Keller’s land and it would be ashamed if a hippo doesn’t go.
There was already a line out the door but it wasn’t that bad because the bakeshop is really tiny, and the register is literally five steps past the door. Stepping into Bouchon Bakery is like a kid entering a toy store; you want everything. I’ve never been so indecisive in my life! I took a bunch of photos to share my pain with you…




After deliberating for fifteen minutes, I purchased the chocolate bouchon, Nutter Butter, seasonal croissant, and cheddar bacon scone. Since the 17th Annual Taste of Yountville was happening on Washington Street, I prolonged the wait of eating my Bouchon Bakery goods.

I shared the cheddar bacon scone with a few girls when we returned to the hotel from the wedding, and oh my goodness it was amazing! The scone disappeared within five seconds. The cheddar and bacon were evenly distributed.

The Nutter Butter disappeared the next day. I shared it with several people at a wine tasting. They say that chocolate is better than…well let me just say the Nutter Butter has replaced chocolate!


I saved the seasonal croissant for today's breakfast after all breakfast is the most important meal of the day! It was delicious despite being two days old!

After the seasonal croissant I scarfed down the chocolate bouchon. It was dense like a brownie without the chewiness. Amazing.

After paying for my goodies, I found out that I could have paid $1 for the chocolate bouchon instead of $3 as Bouchon Bakery participated in the Annual Taste….it was hiding off the street…smart…argh.

I purchased a chocolate chip cookie that had a slight burnt taste, and from Bouchon Bistro they offered this beef salami/pate served on a toasted baguette.

I don’t think it was the Terrine de Foie Gras de Canard as that costs $48.50 for 5 oz. and the sampler was only for one ticket –$1. I wasn’t a fan of it; I don’t do slimy texture.
The Bouchon Bakery most certainly lived up to my expectations! I need to find out if Beverly Hills’ Bouchon offers the Nutter Butter…

Address: 6528 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599
Phone#: (707) 944-2253
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