The "B" Word Blog

Buttery Deliciousness

I'm not much of a morning person. I will get our of bed early only if there is a promise of good coffee and breakfast. One of my favorite destinations in the too-early morning hours of the day is Tallyrand. This restaurant holds many memories for anyone who has grown up in this town. Basically it's a Burbank landmark.

During my most recent visit I noticed a few "new" items on the menu. Each item had a little "NEW" star next to it, so my eyes and stomach were drawn in and I perused the new menu. I was with my boyfriend and he's always happy to eat, so I went ahead and ordered 4 new items. By far and away the Cinnamon Roll French Toast was the stand out new addition to an already great breakfast menu. Think about it, it's a cinnamon roll that is cut up into slices and made into french toast...what more could you ask for? The menu calls it "to die for." When I wake up early it feels a little like a slow death in the morning, but with this Cinnamon Roll French Toast to look forward to, I have to admit that it is in fact worth the early morning dying feeling.

Thanks Tallyrand for giving me a reason to wake up.

Garlic Lovers Rejoice!

Any restaurant with the word "Garlic" in the title is going to get my business (at least once) simply because I have been known to eat roasted garlic cloves by the fork-full.

I decided to check out Garlic Jim's website and see what they had to offer….and there it was, the Spinach Artichoke Pizza. This was a no brainer, I placed my order and waited patiently for the delivery guy.

This pizza was everything I had hoped for: large-falling-off-the-pizza pieces of artichoke, spinach peeking out of gooey layers of cheese, and bite size pieces of roasted garlic. It was like the bad-breath angels parted the clouds and starting singing right there in my living room. I had to get out a fork and knife to handle these generous toppings.

Then, I got my next pleasant surprise of the evening…the perfect crust. Now, sure, “perfect” is obviously subjective, and I know there are lots of different versions of what may be considered perfect crust. Apparently Garlic Jim and I had the same opinion on this matter. The crust was crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle. It was also seasoned just enough to distract me from the fact that I was just stuffing tons of carbs into my mouth, but not so much that I had to reach for my water after every bite. And to literally top it all off, there was a nice hint of cheese baked onto the outside of the crust (cue angels singing again).

Dessert & Wine, yes please!

Since it opened, I've been meaning to make my way to Third & Olive. I have heard nothing but rave reviews so I figured this would be a no brainer when it came to "Ya Gotta Try This" and I was not disappointed. The entire meal was fabulous, our server was knowledgeable and the dessert sang to my palate.

On this occasion, we ordered three different desserts and all were fabulous. The one that stood out and calls my name as I drive down Olive, is the Strawberrys Romanoff. This dessert is perfect for summer. Here's the description:

fresh strawberries marinated in orange liqueur, strawberry ice cream, chantilly cream

The first time it was delivered to our table it was missing the orange liqueur and the chef came out personally to correct the error. I appreciated that they were able to catch and correct the error before we even had time to pick up our spoons...and it was well worth the wait. This dessert paired perfectly with our Sav Blanc and tasted light and heavenly. It instantly became the table favorite.

If you like desserts on the fruitier side then you owe it to yourself to make a trip to Third & Olive. If you are a Chocolate fanatic, don't despair, they have a Warm Chocolate Truffle Cake and a Warm Croissant Chocolate Bread Pudding to tickle your fancy. 

Muff-a-lotta-sandwich

The toughest aspect of writing this entry on Honeydew is figuring out what to feature: Pinkberry-style frozen yogurt, organic salads, organic coffees and homemade lemonade (different flavor every day) and the made to order sandwiches...oh my.  But after talking with owner/chef Paul about the Muffeletta (a New Orleans original) I knew I’d found my “It” sandwich.

Done Honeydew style, the Muffeletta includes all-natural turkey, all-natural ham, Genoa salami, sharp cheddar, parmesan, aged provolone cheeses grilled and served on toasted sourdough (locally baked every day) with an olive tapenade, tomato, romaine lettuce, red onion and mayo.

And it’s good. Real good.

Besides the great taste, you might have noticed another theme in the above paragraph. Honeydew is Organic with a capital “O.” They use organic foods as much as possible which isn’t unusual but what does stand out is their use of Green food containers, coffee filters, cups, utensils, recycled paper napkins, cleaners and even uniforms. Even the tables are made with wood from renewable sources. Somehow all this seems to contribute to the great taste of the food as well. I felt good eating the sandwich, but I felt even better knowing that I was supporting a local do-gooder restaurant. The Honeydew Cafe has a great formula: serious organic + great taste. The Muffeletta is a perfect example of this great combination.

Sucker for Shrimpies

I always get the same thing whenever I go to Market City Caffe, the Pancetta Shrimp. If I’m super hungry I’ll get it as an appetizer and then another entrée as well, but more often I just get the Pancetta Shrimp and have it as my entrée.

This time out, I was trying to try new things, and find a new favorite, so I ordered a pasta dish, and had a bite of the entrées that my friends ordered. Not to my surprise, nothing could beat the Pancetta Shrimp. All my friends loved it. I found myself wanting more after the last bite and feeling vindictive whenever I saw someone else's fork lingering over my plate. Here's what the Market City Caffe menu has to say about the Pancetta Shrimp, “A Market City Caffe favorite since 1988. Jumbo shrimp marinated in balsamic vinegar and fresh basil, wrapped with pancetta and grilled.”

Okay, as if that isn’t good enough to inspire a ride in the car, here’s what they left out: the appetizer order comes with four of these scrumptious jumbo shrimp and they are all served on a bed of broccoli, tomatoes and olives that are all equally as delicious as the shrimp themselves…I never know what to eat first, or what to save for the end, because it is all so good.

Practice what I preach: “If it is a nice day, eat on a patio. If you are at Market City Caffe, order the Pancetta Shrimp.”

This would pull the Cookie Monster right out of re-hab.

With a name like Pizookie, how can you not be a little curious?

Well, I’ll be frank, even as a hard core Doritos connoisseur, with a love for all things salty and dip related, I enjoyed this cookie lovers dream. The Pizookie at BJ’s is a large cookie baked and served in a single serving pizza tin, that is topped with vanilla bean ice cream. Yes, it is as good as it sounds. Not too long ago, I had a craving. Not Doritos this time...I NEEDED a good cookie, and I knew that BJ’s was the only place that was going to do my craving justice.

Just read the description, “A freshly baked, hot out of the oven, rich and delicious cookie topped with 2 scoops of vanilla bean ice cream and served in its own deep dish. Your choice of chocolate chunk, white chocolate macadamia nut, peanut butter or oatmeal raisin walnut.” I mean, come on…really…it’s the mother of all cookie desserts. And if you just feel like having your dessert in your pj’s while watching a chick flick at home, call BJ’s, place the order over the phone, and pick up your gooey chocolate goodness at their curbside take out without ever leaving your car…how perfectly great does that sound!?!

To top it all off, BJ’s is open late: Sun-Thurs 11am-12am, and Fri-Sat 11am-1am. Thanks to BJ’s late hours all of the midnight cravings of Burbank can breath a little sigh of relief.

No more driving to Glendale

I used to drive to Glendale to get my Zankou Chicken fix. Thankfully, times have changed and I can now get all the Zankou my little heart desires right here in Burbank.

This Armenian chicken shrine has hands-down the best roasted chicken out there. The chicken is moist, the skin is crisped to perfection and to top it all off, Zankou has a garlic sauce that will easily make you become a devotee. Sure you can make chicken at home, but why spend all the time in the kitchen when you can have Zankou do it for you (and probably do it better). Here’s my family’s typical order: two chickens, four orders of the pita, one side of hummus and oodles of the garlic sauce.

One of the greatest things about ordering Zankou, as opposed to going to another fast food restaurant, is that the leftovers are just as good as the first time around, and easy to incorporate into the rest of the week. We’ve used the left over chicken in home made soup; the pita and hummus make for a tasty snack all by itself; and the (rarely) leftover garlic sauce can be used on any pizza or sandwich to liven things up.

I’m always surprised to find out that a friend of mine has yet to try Zankou, but I’m also excited to be able to introduce this deliciousness to them. It never disappoints, and it’s more finger-licken-good than any other chicken that comes to mind. This is a fast food that is easy, tasty, and better for you than any of it’s fried counterparts.

If You Like Pina-Coloda's...

I’ve been going to Acapulco since I was a tot here in Burbank. It is a very family friendly restaurant with good food and good service. But I was very excited to be over 21 when I got my drink the last time I visited. I asked the waiter which was the best Margarita on the menu…I explained that I’m not a big tequila drinker and I tend to prefer my Margarita’s a little on the fruity side to mask the tequila taste. He thought for a moment, then came up with the perfect answer: The Pinapple Margarita. The name alone sold me, I was super curious and my taste buds started to tingle with anticipation.

The Pinapple Margarita only comes in blended form (not over ice, like a traditional Marg). It was so good I just couldn’t remove from my lips. Each sip was a sip of summer and beaches. Pina Colodas can be a little sweet for me, but this margarita was more subtle than the average colada,  it was more like drinking a grown-up slushie. I could only taste a hint of the tequila, which was useful since I probably would have continued gulping without that little reminder.

In my book, the Pinapple Marg from Acapulco will go down (no pun intended) on my list of favorite summer drinks…and one of my favorite winter drinks-since it’s so good at reminding me of summer days. For the few fruity margarita fans out there, who feel my pain when it comes to tequila shots, I encourage you to give tequila another try…in pinapple slushie form.

Feel Better Food

The next time you are feeling a little under the weather, and all you want is a good bowl of brothy soup, don’t even think about microwaving some instant-mess, or having to chop up vegetables and do dishes!

I know exactly where you can pick up some dinner while wearing your pajamas.

The Tortilla Soup at El Pollo Loco was discovered in just this way. One evening, when I was feeling not so spectacular, my boyfriend offered to pick up dinner. He drove thru El Pollo Loco and saw the Tortilla Soup on the menu and decided to risk it by ordering me a bowl. Low and behold, it was excellent. The soup itself was chalk full of chicken, vegetables and plenty of soothing broth. They also give you separate little packages of Parmesan cheese, tortilla strips and fresh cilantro for garnishes. It was great that these things were packaged separately, because when it arrived everything tasted really crisp and fresh…the fresh cilantro in particular is my favorite garnish.

This soup hits the spot. Since that day, we have been known to serve it at dinner parties, as well as getting a bowl or two on cold nights to warm up. It is right for just about any occasion, and will certainly fill you up much better than some greasy appetizer.

So when your feeling low (or just in the soupy mood), give The Crazy Chicken a try, turns out he can do soup too.

The secret is out...

Yes, California Pizza Kitchen has Mac & Cheese on the kids menu…BUT DID YOU KNOW, that there is also an “adult” version?

No, this item is not listed on the menu, but you better believe that you can order it…and you should! The Mac & Cheese from CPK has been one of my little secrets for a number of years now. When ever I run into a Mac & Cheese enthusiast, they always have a recommendation for me as to where to find the “best” mac & cheese in town. I politely jot down their recommendation, but then I ask them to go try the adult mac and cheese at CPK and to email me and let me know what they thought. Without a single exception, the enthusiast always come back to me thanking me profusely (and sometimes cursing me) for intruding them to this addictive and undisputable champion.

It’s not “fancy” mac and cheese, in fact there’s nothing gourmet about it. I don’t know about you, but when I’m craving this kind of comfort food all I want is three things: for it to be filling, reliable, and so good that I can’t wait until my next craving strikes. CPK’s Mac and Cheese is so good that I’m sure they don’t put it on the menu simply because they want people to continue eating their pizza. Having the Mac and Cheese known by the public at large might create some kind of mass hysteria should they ever run out.

By publishing this article, obviously I’m willing to risk mass hysteria. The Mac and Cheese is just that good. People should know about it. It saddens me to think of how many M&C lovers have been going without. So go, be satiated my comfort-food-loving friends! You can thank me later…

Never had a Mojito? Blasphemy!

One of my favorite pastimes is going to a restaurant with a great patio and sipping on a tasty beverage with friends. Granville Café not only has a superb location on San Fernando (near the AMC), but it also has the patio, drinks and appetizers to boot.

My absolute favorite (after much empirical research) was their Berry Patch Mojito. If you’ve never tried a mojito then you’re missing out on one of the best summer drinks of all time. A mojito is traditionally made with rum, fresh mint, fresh lime, and a splash of soda water. The Granville Café has stepped this drink up a notch and added fresh berries to the mix. Not only is the presentation of this drink impeccable (it’s the kind of drink that people see from across the room and make a point to ask their waiter to bring them one as well), this drink also will bring you back to the Granville time and time again wanting another. It is sooo wonderfully fresh, light, and perfectly balanced (not too sweet, not too alcoholic, not too minty…just right). Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries are all muddled in with the fresh mint and lime to create happiness in a glass.

Other Granville concoctions I tried and loved: Tipsy Lemonade, Pearadise Martini.

Granville Cafe Happy Hour: M-F 4pm-7pm

-discounted mixed drinks, beer and wine

-discounted (delicious) appetizers