Gordon Ramsay at The London - West Hollywood, California

Address: 1020 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Items Ordered (DineLA):

• Lamb belly w/ Spanish chorizo, stewed gigante beans, jalapeno sauce
• Chanterelle mushroom risotto w/ sauteed scallop & quail egg
• Short rib served w/ Yorkshire pudding & bacon wrapped asparagus
• Tai snapper w/ coconut milk, shrimp curry broth over jasmine rice
• Lemon tart
• English sticky toffee pudding w/ mascarpone cheese & brown butter ice cream

Items Ordered (Afternoon Tea@Boxwood Cafe):

• Teas - rose w/ French vanilla & Mediterranean Mandarin teas
• Freshly baked scones w/ devonshire cream & lemon curd
• Sandwiches -black brioche w/ smoked salmon & cucumber, hummus w/ crisp shallots, curried chicken w/ golden raisins, roast beef w/ red onion marmalade
• Cakes - honey madeleine, L'opera cake, apple crumble, lemon meringue bar, fresh fruit tart

I tried to limit myself to only one DineLA restaurant in January, and luckily Gordon Ramsay's restaurant at The London did not disappoint. I thought every dish tasted amazing, except the lamb belly since it was a little too fatty, and I'm not a huge fan of lamb anyways. We should've gotten 2 orders of risotto instead. The creamy risotto was flavorful, the scallop cooked perfectly, and the quail egg added some richness--this was probably the best risotto I've ever eaten! The short rib entree was tender, and my tai snapper had a nice crispy skin, not to mention the Jasmine rice was fluffy and went well with the curry broth. I wish I could recreate this dish at home, it was so comforting and flavorful. The desserts were good, but definitely not the most memorable part of the meal. If you visit, definitely try the risotto option and Tai snapper--I'm still salivating over those dishes now!

Since we received $20 off a return visit, I thought it'd be a good idea to try their afternoon tea the 2nd time around. The scones had just the right amount of sweetness and weren't too dense. They were delicious with the lemon curd and cream. The savory sandwiches were interesting, but the breads were a little dry. The cakes were ridiculously cute, and my favorite from that plate was definitely the apple crumble since it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet. However, I wasn't impressed with the fruit tart since the cream tasted a little artificial and resembled something I could've purchased at the grocery store. I learned a lesson after having afternoon tea with my boyfriend...don't bring boys to tea, they will still be hungry after the miniature offerings! I guess Gordon Ramsay is a little warranted in his tirade against other chefs since I was pretty impressed with the dishes at The London. Try it and let me know if you agree.

--y

Three Broomsticks - Orlando, Florida

Address: 6000 Universal Blvd (Islands of Adventure) Orlando, FL 32819

Items Ordered:

• Cornish pasties
• Fish and chips
• Turkey leg
  
• Butterbeer & pumpkin juice
  

Where's the happiest place on Earth located?! Hints: it's in Orlando, there's a mouse involved, and magic is everywhere--it's Wizarding World of Harry Potter of course!! The food at Three Broomsticks was perfectly acceptable and the butterbeer and pumpkin juice were super delicious. The only way the food and atmosphere could've been more enjoyable was if it was actually made by house elves. Being at Three Broomsticks just makes me kind of sad that I'm an ordinary, magic-less Muggle. For anyone who's a Harry Potter fan, Wizarding World of HP and Three Broomsticks is a must visit!

-y

Waterloo & City - Culver City, California

Address: 12517 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90066

Items Ordered:

• Smoked salmon terrine, fried egg, sauce gribiche
• Brussels & bacon, balsamic vinegar
• Steamed mussels, red thai curry, lime, ginger, ciabatta
  
• Yukon potato gnocchi, braised beef ragu, tomato, spinach
• Homemade bourbon glazed donuts with cream and blueberry jam
  

Last time Connie suggested a restaurant, it became my new favorite love (aka the Tasting Kitchen) so when she suggested Waterloo & City in Culver City, I was excited to try this hip British gastropub. Victoria also visited on a different occasion, and although I stole her pictures, I have no idea what she thought of the food... All the side dishes/appetizers we tried were delicious. The smoked salmon terrine layered with potatoes and a fried egg atop had a nice smoky flavor and was not as mushy as regular pate, which I tend to avoid. Connie and I fought over the last bits and pieces of the crunchy brussel sprouts and crispy bacon pieces. I never understood why brussel sprouts get picked on as the vegetable that children hate, b/c all the versions I've tried are delicious, and Waterloo & City was no exception. The steamed mussels although well-cooked, could have been found at any Thai restaurant probably for cheaper. The gnocchi had a nice chewy consistency, but the beef ragu didn't taste that special. I suppose the gnocchi was only a disappointment b/c the other dishes we tasted that night were superb. We ordered the bourbon donuts to share, and I found them too sweet for my taste. I would probably try a different dessert and pasta on my next visit, but overall, I really enjoyed the food and atmosphere at Waterloo & City, and would likely take friends here for some beers and small plates to share.

--y


P.S. Only 3 more days until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows finale!!