IN’s Bouquet of Dining Delights

By Joseph S. Amster

Spring is bursting out, and with it comes fresh thoughts for dining. After a late winter, the heaters and canopies are finally coming off local restaurants’ patios for patrons to enjoy Southern California’s famous al fresco dining. This edition’s appetizer is some of our favorite choices from recent reviews. For the main course, an interview with openly gay The Next Food Network Star runner-up Reggie Southerland. Finally dessert: a handy guide to all the best eateries Southern California has to offer. Bon Appetit!

Fabiolus Café Melrose

5255 Melrose Ave., Hollywood. (323) 464-5857

Fabiolus Café Sunset

6270 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood (323) 467-2882

If you appreciate the difference the freshest and highest quality ingredients can make in cuisine, a visit to the Fabiolus Café is a must. With many of their ingredients like tomatoes and cheeses imported from Italy, as well as pastas like gnocchi, a wide variety of ravioli, and others prepared on the premises, this is a restaurant that literally puts their money where their mouth is. Critic's picks include calamaretti fritti, radicchio ravioli, eggplant pecorino walnut ravioli, and grilled baby lamb chops. A traditional favorite for dessert is the semifreddo amarette.

Hawthorn's

2895 University Ave., San Diego (619) 544-0940

The original entrance to the historic North Park Theatre is now home to Hawthorn's, formerly known as Hawthorn & Fifth Restaurant. Now longtime fans and new theatregoers alike can enjoy tasty treats such as Korean Style short ribs and chateaubriand tamales. The menu has been slightly updated for the new setting while keeping all of the familiar favorites. Along with the new cosmopolitan additions, the steaks and chops menu is a mainstay. Elegant photos of the vibrant San Diego theater scene adorn the walls, making for a classy and comfortable environment to enjoy dinner and stay for a cocktail. The eclectic selections add to the list of reasons to come back for more. -- Russell Poncik

The Golden Bull

170 W. Channel Rd., Santa Monica (310) 230-0402

With over 50 years in business, the Golden Bull has seen a lot of history. It’s the kind of retro restaurant that was popular with the martini set in the '60s when it first opened, when a steak was a steak and men were men. Although the place has never fallen out of favor, this timeless cuisine has regained popularity (low carb, high protein) and the soft jazz, red leather booths, and fireplace ambience of the bar area is recommended. For those liking something on the lighter side, they also offer seafood specialties, chicken dishes, and pastas -- there is even a scattering of vegetarian dishes. The favorites reviewed include rumaki, surf and turf with a grilled lobster tail and a juicy, thick filet mignon, and the rack of lamb. Other steak choices include New York, prime rib, t-bone, Chateaubriand for two, and more. All entrées are served with soup, salad, and your choice of rice, french fries, and baked potato. Be sure to ask for the mocha ice cream pie.

Home

1760 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz (323) 665-HOME

If you're tired after a long day at work, just can't face another dinner of microwaved canned chili and are longing for a home cooked meal, just like mom used to make -- savory, lovingly prepared, nothing fancy, and big portions -- Home restaurant in Los Feliz fits the bill for a good square meal. With an extensive menu offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner, dining on their patio or in intimate dining rooms could become an addiction. The menu is chock-full with extensive burger offerings, 18 dinner entrées, Southern fried chicken, barbecue back ribs, hot turkey dinner, and rib eye steak. I couldn't resist the savory meatloaf. Desserts tempt with everything from a chocolate chocolate chip cake, chocolate banana cake, and mocha mud ice cream cake.

Lucy's El Adobe

5536 Melrose Ave., Hollywood (310) 462-9421

Restaurants come and go in L.A. -- last year's hip joint is today's for-lease sign -- but Lucy's El Adobe has been catering to everyone from movie and rock stars, Gov. Jerry Brown, and just plain folks for decades. Be sure to order Gov. Brown's favorite while there: the arroz con pollo. Other favorites include chile verde, chile rellanos, chile Colorado, gallina mole, chorizo, ropa vieja, carne asada de guacamole, steak picado, enchiladas, tacos, tostadas, tamales, and burritos All entrees also come with Lucy's soup (a light start to the meal, swimming with barley, lentils, corn, carrots, celery, and onion), salad with a light vinaigrette, your choice of corn or flour tortillas, and very creamy beans. Lucy's also has a full bar, and their margaritas are legendary (you can even order them by the pitcher).

Mariposa

155 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs (760) 322-9654

One of the newest restaurants to burst on to the Palm Springs culinary scene, for those who love Mexican food with flair, this spot is a must. A wide variety of appetizers and entrées are packed with flavor, making their cuisine a sensory delight. Recommended favorites include the Caribbean-influenced Mexi pot stickers, drunken salmon with buttery chipolte mashed potatoes, pollo pipian in a complex and smoky sauce with a hint of chocolate, and killer margaritas. Other menu choices include orange chile glazed pork tenderloin, Felipe's huachinago, camarones con arroz, and many traditional favorites.

Taste

8454 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood (323) 852-6888

Located in a former bungalow on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, Taste restaurant is a relative newcomer to the local dining scene. The choice of building speaks volumes for the restaurant’s cuisine -- deceptively simple, yet like the décor, stylish and elegantly restrained. Their selection of wines is impressive, and I recommend the Cinnabar Mercury Rising Meritage with its soft and complex flavor and fragrance. Recommended choices are the grilled romaine salad, butternut or roasted tomato soup, beef tenderloin arugula pizzetta, a very generous grilled New York steak, short ribs, and Parmesan chicken paillard. Be sure to save room for the berry cobbler.

Recipe for Fame

Local chef Reggie Southerland makes it to the finals on The Next Food Network Star.

By Joseph S. Amster

When Comfort Café's chef Reggie Southerland sent his audition tape to be one of the thousands considered for The Next Food Network Star, he had no idea how it would change his life. Being chosen to participate in the six-episode show was a mind-boggling whirlwind for the Silver Lake-based chef, but he made it to the finals, losing to Guy Fieri. With his outgoing personality and culinary talent, the cuddly and openly gay Southerland is poised for a successful media career and is starting his own online cookie company. We spoke to Southerland the day after the final episode aired.

What was the final episode of The Next Food Network Star like for you?

It was very, very emotional. The Food Network is very funny, because they try to surprise you with things. They brought my mom out from California, and it was just fantastic. I hadn't seen her in a while.

What was the best moment in the show for you?

When we did the “meet and eat” with TV Guide -- that was such a hurdle for me because I'd gotten up that morning, and that was the first time during the whole taping period that I felt like I really couldn't do it any more. I said to myself, “Just have fun today, no matter what.” At that point, it was a big deal, because we were the final four. I thought, “If you don't have fun and if you don't try to just be in this moment, then what would it all have been for?” I pulled myself together, had a really great time, and I thought the audience responded to me really well. For me, that was kind of a highlight, because it was my lowest of lows during that entire time, but I was able to pick myself up and move on with it.

What was it like to work with the Food Network chefs?

It was wonderful, because they were so generous and so giving of their knowledge and experience. They were funny and witty -- especially Rachel Ray, she was a hoot. The thing that helped me through this whole competition was that she said, “You're cooking your food, and they're your recipes, so that's half the battle. No matter what they write in the breakdown, you know how to cook this food.” So, I didn't have to worry about the food any more, the food was a given. When I got that mindset going, it was just a huge help that helped me through the rest of the competition.

My favorite Food Network chef is Alton Brown.

He's great. We were in the Chelsea fruit market, and I was doing my field piece. I was so concentrated on getting my lines down because they'd told us we had to write a script for the piece, so I was so in my head. He saw that I was struggling with it, and so he came over, snatched the script out of my hand, and left me out in the pool just wading. I was just like, “What am I supposed to do?” and he just looked at me and he says, “Stop using this”-pointing to his head -- “and start using this” -- pointing to his heart. I got myself together, and got through it just fine.

What's the most important lesson you took away from the show?

It's absolutely, positively, 100 percent OK to be exactly who I am at all times. It's what works for me.

Was part of being who you are being a gay man?

Being a gay man, being a black man, being a big man -- it's all of those things; because it's television, let's face it.

Did your being gay ever come up in the show?

No, it never did. I thought it would, and I was prepared if it did. You prepare yourself with answers or whatever, but it never came up.

What are you going to bring back to your restaurant from the show?

Being fearless in the kitchen -- throwing more boldness into the food. Bobby Flay and I had this running joke where he'd say, “Reggie you're big, and I want your food to be big and bold.” I'm learning to do more of that with the food at the café.

What are your plans for the future?

I've started a cookie company -- reggiescookies.com -- and it's in the early stages. I'm still looking for opportunities to do television work, and I'm going to pursue that.

When you did your audition tape, how far did you think you'd go?

I took it one day at a time. I've learned as I get older that if I didn't take it one day at a time, I'm easily overwhelmed, and I knew that this was too big for me to let it overwhelm me. So, I sent in the audition tape and got the phone call, and I kind of took each phone call as it came in from the casting people. When I got to New York, I thought “How the hell did I get here?” I really didn't think how far it would go. I knew I didn't want to be the first one eliminated. I was shocked at the positive response I got from the judges from the very beginning, just because I had no perspective on what I was doing because I'd never done it before. I was surprised that being who I am really worked for me.

What's the most important lesson you learned from your mother about cooking?

To have fun and not to take it all too seriously -- it's food, it's supposed to be fun. Food is supposed to nourish us and keep us going. I love having great food experiences just as much as the next person, but it's food.

Do you remember the first thing you ever cooked?

My mom helped me with it, and it was from the Betty Crocker Cookbook. I said, “Mom we have to make these pork chops.” She went out and bought them and she got them split in the middle just like in the picture. We stuffed them, cooked them, and I was just beside myself.

If you want to taste Reggie’s cuisine, the Comfort Café is located at 2520 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake. Give them a call at (323) 666-5616.

What’s Cooking?

Whether you're looking for the perfect Italian, Mexican, Japanese or American cuisine, or just a restaurant in your neighborhood, you’ll find it here.

American

The Abbey, 692 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 289-8410
Boathouse Restaurant, 2040 Harbor Island Dr., San Diego, (619) 291-8011
Barney’s Beanery, 8447 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 654-2287; 1531 3rd St., Santa Monica, (310) 656-5777
Brians’ American Eatery, 1451 Washington Ave., San Diego, (619) 296-8268
Catalina Bar and Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 466-2210
Choices, 740 E. Broadway, Long Beach, (562) 983-7001
Eatwell, 8252 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 656-1383; 3916 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake (323) 664-1624; 1013 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, (818) 243-5928
Elmer’s Pancake and Steak House, 1030 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, (760) 327-8419
Fiddler’s Green, 2760 Shelter Island Dr., San Diego, (619) 222-2216
The Flying Leap Café, 2538 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake, (323) 661-0618
Four Olives Café, 4276 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, (562) 595-1131
Green Tomato Restaurant, 4090 Adams Ave., San Diego, (619) 283-7546
Golden Bull, 170 W. Channel Rd., Santa Monica, (310) 230-0402
Hamburger Mary’s Bar and Grill, 8288 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 654-3800
Hamburger Mary’s, 415 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, (760) 778-6279
Hash House A Go Go, 3628 Fifth Ave., San Diego, (619) 298-4646
Home Restaurant, 1760 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz, (323) 669-0211
Hugo’s, 8401 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 654-3993; 12851 Riverside Dr., Studio City, (818) 761-8985
Look Palm Springs, 139 E. Andreas Rd., Palm Springs, (760) 778-3520
The Lumberjack Grille, 3949 Ohio St., San Diego, (619) 294-3804
Martinis Above Fourth, 3940 Fourth Ave., Suite 200, San Diego, (619) 400-4500
Hob Nob Hill, 2271 First Ave., San Diego, (619) 239-8176
Numbers, 8745 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 652-7700
O-Bar, 8279 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 822-3300
Patrick’s Roadhouse, 611 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, (760) 325-1551
Pipers, 222N. Western Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 465-7701
Plum Restaurant & Martini Bar, 241 E. Tahquitz Canyon, Palm Springs, (760) 322-0200
Tootie’s Texas Barbeque, 68-703 Perez Rd., Suite A-1, Cathedral City, (760) 202-6963
Uptown Grill of Palm Springs, 150 E. Vista Chino, Palm Springs, (760) 320-6116

Asian

Chan Dara (Thai), 310 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 467-1052; 11940 W. Pico Blvd., West L.A., (310) 479-4461; and 13490 Maxella Ave., Marina del Rey, (310) 301-1004
Chi Dynasty (Chinese), 2112 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz, (323) 667-3388
Electric Karma (Indian), 8222 1/2 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (310) 653-2121
Kabuki (Japanese), 1545 N. Vine St. (in the Sunset and Vine complex), Hollywood, (323) 464-6003; 3539 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena (626) 568-9310, and locations throughout the Southland
Niko Niko Sushi (Japanese), 10839 National Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 470-2661
Ono Sushi (Japanese), 1236 University Ave., San Diego, (619) 298-0616
Rice Jones (Vietnamese), 3687 Fifth Ave., San Diego (619) 291-1887
silk (Thai), 9907 So. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 553-1011
Sushi Zen (Japanese), 8163 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 656-9002
Todai (Japanese), 8612 Beverly Blvd. (at the Beverly Center), Los Angeles, (310) 659-1375
Wang’s In the Desert (Pan-Asian), 424 S. Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, (760) 325-9264
Wokano (Japanese), 8408 W. Third St., Los Angeles (323) 653-1998, 913 S. Figueroa St., Downtown, (213) 892-8999; 33 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, (626) 578-1818, and other Southland locatons
Breakfast/Lunch
Auntie Em’s, 4616 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 255-0800
Bagel Broker, 8718 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (310) 276-4884; 7825 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 931-1258
Hot Java, 2101 E. Broadway, Long Beach, (562) 433-0688
Kokomo Café, 6333 W. 3rd St., #120, Los Angeles, (323) 933-0773
More Than A Mouthful, 134 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, (760) 322-3776
Quality Food and Beverage, 8030 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (323) 658-5959
Wacky Waffles, 8226 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 654-2475
Wild Oats Café, 5630 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, (323) 462-0862

California

Blue Palms, 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 464-0808
Cravings Restaurant, 8653 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 652-6104
The Flowering Tree (natural foods), 8253 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 654-4332
Mark’s Restaurant, 861 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 652-5252
Oasis, 611 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 939-8900
Vermont Restaurant and Bar, 1714 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz, (323) 661-6163
Woody’s at the Beach, 1305 S. Coast
Hwy., Laguna Beach, (949) 376-8809
Caribbean
Cha Cha's, 762 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, (562) 495-4242
Jamaican Grill, 2943 E. Broadway, Long Beach, (562) 434-3311

Deli/Market

Bristol Farms, 9039 Beverly Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 248-2804
Canter’s, 419 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 651-2030
Gelson’s, 8330 W. Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 656-5580; 5877 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, (323) 464-7316; 2725 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake, (323) 660-0387

French

Crepes de Paris, 1731 University Ave., San Diego, (619) 298-7651
Le Petite Jacques, 13456 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 789-3575
La Poubelle, 5907 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, (323) 465-0807

Italian

Boscoso, 707 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, (760) 325-4002
Ego, 329 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, (562) 432-9718
Fabiolus Café, 6270 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 467-2882; 5225 Melrose Ave.., Los Angeles, (323) 464-5857
Giannino, 2630 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake, (323) 664-7979
Il Capriccio, 1757 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz, (323) 662-5900
Just Pizza Etc, 315 E. Arenas Rd., Palm Springs, (760) 416-2818
Lotza Mozza, 119 S. Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, (760) 325-5571
Marino, 6001 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 466-8812
Miceli’s, 1646 N. Las Palmas Ave., (323) 466-3438; 3655 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Hollywood, (323) 851-3344
Marco’s Trattoria & Pizzeria, 8136 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 650-2771
Panini Café, 8575 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 652-4441
Palermo, 1858 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz, (323) 663-1178
Pane e Vino, 8265 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 651-4600.
Spark Woodfire Cooking, 11801 Ventura Blvd., Encino, (818) 623-8883; 9575 Pico Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 277-0133
The Stinking Rose, 55 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 652-7673

Latin American

Bossa Nova, 685 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 657-5070; 7181 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 436-7999
Gauchos Village, 411 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, (818) 550-1430
Picanha,269 E. Palm Ave., Burbank, (818) 972-2100; 73-399 El Paseo, Palm Desert, (760) 674-3434
Rick’s Restaurant, 1973 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, (760) 416-0090

Mediterranean

Skewers, 8939 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 271-0555
MedGrill, 1263 University Ave., San Diego, (619) 683-2233

Mexican

Baja Betty’s, 1421 University Ave., San Diego, (619) 269-8510
Barragan’s, 1538 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 250-0382.
Casita del Campo, 1920 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake, (323) 662-4255
Cocina D. Sanchez, 3332 Adams Ave., San Diego, (619) 283-0355
Edgardo’s Café Veracruz, 494 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, (760) 320-3558
Lucy's El Adobe Café, 5536 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, (323) 462-9421
Margarita Grille, 70 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, (562) 437-4583
THE MEXICAN VILLAGE, 3668 W. Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 385-0479
WAHOO’S FISH TACOS, 6258 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles (323) 933-2480, and locations throughout the Southland