Where to eat in Hollywood

Hollywood is a great place to try restaurants by Celebrity Chefs and to experience the Los Angeles lifestyle. Here are my best recommendations:

1) Pizzeria Mozza by Mario Batalli --- What to order: This is my favorite pizzeria! We have been there on several occasions and every time is a great experience. We started with the Mozza Caprese Salad, which consists of burrata cheese, topped with roasted cherry tomatoes, basil pesto, and fresh basil leaves. It is pure heaven. The only thing missing was a piece of bread to soak off the wonderful pesto. I would strongly recommend you to order bread on the side (and I hope the chefs will soon start to offer us bread, instead of the dry breadsticks wrapped in paper).

Mozza burrata Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes and basil pesto

We shared this delicious Prosciutto di Parma, rucola, tomato, and mozzarella pizza. The crust is thick only on the edges, but in the middle, it is pretty thin. The prosciutto was silky and tasty, but the most pronounced flavor was the tomato. Delish!!!

Prosciutto di Parma, rucola, tomato, mozzarella

The Bittersweet chocolate tartufo was out of this world good. It was served with olive oil gelato, sea salt, and shortbread cookies croutons. The texture was dense and the flavor very rich. We shared it and it was enough indulgence!

Bittersweet chocolate tartufo with olive oil gelato and sea salt

 

2) Osteria Mozza by Mario Batalli ---What to order: If you want to dine at Osteria Mozza, you will need to make your appointment in advance. The restaurant is always busy, but it is worthy. We were first served a small appetizer: crostini with ricotta cheese, kalamata olives, and fresh basil. Then, we ordered the Burrata with leeks vinaigrette. The burrata was creamy and delicious, but the leek and the dressing were extremely salty. If you order this plate, tell them to go easy on the salt.

Ricotta cheese crostini with kalamata olives and basil chiffonade

Burrata with leeks vinaigrette and mustard breadcrumbs

My husband got the Maltagliati with wild boar ragu. The pasta was similar to lasagna sheets, the plate was rustic and hearty. He liked that the portion was apperizer-size, so he had more room for dessert.

Maltagliati with wild boar ragu

I got the Ricotta Gnudi with English Peas, green garlic, and funghi misti. The ricotta gnudi were soft and tender like a pillow. The creamy sauce under them was a perfect addition to the fresh flavors of the peas. Overall, a very light and tasty dish!

Ricotta gnudi with English peas, green garlic, and funghi misti

We almost always order the chocolate desserts and in Osteria Mozza, there was Cioccolato. So, without hesitation, we got a slice of heaven. It was bittersweet flourless chocolate cake, served with Perugian chocolates. Very delicate and elaborated chocolates!

Bittersweet chocolate cake with Perugian chocolates

Where to eat in Los Angeles

1. The Bazaar by Chef Jose Andres : What to order --- Sauteed cauliflower "couscous" (cauliflower puree, harissa, lemon, crispy quinoa, raisins, pine nuts, granada); Chipirones en su tinta (baby squid with own ink); Papas Canarias (salty wrinkled, with mojo verde); Boneless chicken wings, green olive puree. Try the desserts at the Patisserie. Hot chocolate mousse, hazelnut prailine, pears, pear sorbet was the best ever!




Papas Canarias (salty wrinkled potatoes with mojo verde)



2. Pizzeria Mozza by Mario Batali : What to order --- Birra Moretti Draft; Insalata mista (olive oil, lemon juice, salt); Pizza Funghi Misti (fontina, taleggio, thyme); Sweet ricotta cannoli filled with cherries and chocolate chips, drizzled with candied zest and Sicilian pistachios! The pizza had a crunchy crust, the cheeses melted beautifully. Excellent!



Sweet ricotta cannoli filled with cherries and chocolate chips

3. Gjellina (Venice Beach) : What to order --- Tecate Beer; Salad: Bloomsdale Spinach with Olive, feta, pinenuts and crouton; Pizza: Mushroom, goat cheese, truffle oil; Homemade Gelato: mint and chocolate; espresso. Very relaxing ambience, great location (Abbot Kinney Blvd), and tasty fresh food.

Bloomsdale Spinach Salad (olive, feta, pine nuts, croutons)

4. Surf and Sand Resort, Splashes Restaurant (Laguna Beach) : What to order --- Benton Farms Ham, cornichon, gruyere, dijon butter sandwich; Poached Shrimp, tender greens, avocado, enoki, Champagne salad.



Poached Shrimp Salad



5. Lucques by Chef Suzanne Goin : What to order --- The bread and the marcona almonds are delicious!; aFarro salad, spring vegetables (fennel, asparagus, radicchio, sweet pea shoots, feta cheese); Grilled cheese sandwich with lomo and chorizo, served with arugula & apple salad. Modern, sustainable! One of the best restaurants in the country!!!



Crusty bread, marcona almonds, etc




Farro salad, spring vegetables (fennel, asparagus, radicchio, sweet peas shoots), feta




Grilled cheese sandwich with lomo and chorizo, arugula & apple salad



6. BLD (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) by Chef Diana Stavaridis : What to order --- Lamb burger with feta cheese, tzatziki sauce & french fries; Seared Albacore Tuna with couscous vinaigrette and cilantro lime cream; Swirled Lemon Cheesecake, ginger graham crust, blueberry sauce, and whole pistachios. The burger was super juicy, the dessert was refreshing and lemony!



Seared Albacore Tuna with couscous



7. Tusca Restaurant (Hyatt Regency Hotel, Anaheim) : What to order --- Quartino of Red Wine; Beet Salad with Endives and Goat Cheese; Try the focaccia with trio of spreads: olive oil, white bean spread, and garlic butter; THE PIZZA: delicious crust, mixed funghi, and taleggio cheese; for dessert: warm lemon curd tart with blueberries and vanilla gelato. Very modern restaurant and delicious tuscan food!



Focaccia with trio of spreads





Pizza Funghi with taleggio cheese and quartino of wine

8. Anaheim White House by Bruno Serato : What to order --- The health conscious menu: beef carpaccio; balsamic salad in a rice paper shell; oven roasted beef tenderloin (with Dijon mustard); fresh fruits (blueberries and strawberries). Or Pasta Bolognese :)

The creative napkin

Balsamic salad in a rice paper shell

Oven roasted beef tenderloin with Dijon mustard

Pasta Bolognese

Fresh fruit (blueberries and strawberries)

9.  Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar (Disneyland, Anaheim, CA) : What to order --- Irish salmon with serrano ham chip, Brussels sprouts, romesco sauce, Marcona almonds, and micro parsley; Roasted half chicken with savoy cabbage, butternut squash, pearl onions, Dijon mustard, and chicken au jus; Deconstructed s'more: chocolate flourless cake, marshmallow brule, graham cracker ice cream, honey tuile; French press coffee. Really, the best restaurant in Disneyland!!!



Irish salmon with serrano ham chip




Roasted half chicken with savoy cabbage





Deconstructed s'more

 

10. Mr. Stox Restaurant (Anaheim) : What to order --- Ahi Tuna Nicoise with fingerling purple potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, and egg; Grilled Swordfish with curry-basmati rice; Alaska with chocolate ice-cream, merengue, and raspberry coulis.

Homemade bread

Ahi Tuna Nicoise with Purple fingerlings, egg, heirloom tomatoes



Grilled Swordfish with curry-basmati rice




Alaska with chocolate ice-cream, merengue, raspberry coulis



11. K'YA Bistro and Bar (Laguna Beach) : What to order --- Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato, Basil, and Balsamic Reduction Salad; Grilled Salmon Fillet with Arugula, Tomato Salsa, and Caper Vinaigrette; Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee with fresh berries!

Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato, Basil, and Balsamic Reduction Salad

Grilled Salmon Fillet with Arugula, Tomato Salsa, and Caper Vinaigrette



Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee with Fresh Berries



12. Mix Restaurant (Hilton Hotel Anaheim) : What to order --- Grilled salmon with pineapple-avocado salsa, served over basmati rice; Salisbury steak, served on top of mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy and steamed broccolini. This restaurant is not very extraordinary, but it is good if you happen to have a conference or a day in the Hilton Hotel. It has modern decor and plenty of tables.



Salisbury Steak on top of mashed potatoes over mushroom sauce




Grilled Salmon with pineapple-avocado salsa on top of basmati rice