So this new little spot in Venice opened up not on Abbot Kinney, on Pacific actually, and it is such a huge hit. It exudes warmth and ease from the decor and lighting down to the the people: chill foodies with a bit of edge. And the food isn’t bad either. It’s wonderful, and I am not just saying that because my boyfriend hosts there. In fact, I should feel the opposite because I have dinner there at least one or two nights a week, or we bring it home, but the infatuation continues. I am fairly certain that I can safely say I will never tire of the simple yet simply amazing dishes. They are simply delicious. And I over use the word simply because simple is what the place is all about. The menu is a rotating compilation of family style plates with a bit of professional flare, courtesy of the chef, Jesse Barber, and a few choice delicacies such as braised octopus, rabbit rillette, and bread and tomato stuffed quail. It is not ostentatious and over priced, it is simply a good time.
For dinner this past Monday we had the pork chop, french fries, which are some how always the perfect degree of crispy and salty, the pilota risotto, and a glass of the Montesecondo. I had a bite of the chop with some of the corn and cooked peach and I thought I had died. The sweet peach, pork marinade, and corn bits were an excellent combination of familiar flavors. My choice of the pilota was in fact more like an italian fried rice than a typical risotto dish. It is not creamy and heavy, but rather light and punctuated by the garlic and bite of the tomatoes and shaved pecorino. Truly, it never gets old.
Now I have gone on at length and risked over selling it, and I haven’t even mentioned the wine and beer yet. So I will just say, the selective list focuses on small estate wines from the new and old world, and featured seasonal beers from lesser known breweries. A perfect compliment to the menu. There are some particularly interesting items that will broaden your palette: the Bengoetxe Txakolina white wine, the grapefruit beer, and the “no-longer-with-us” sour ale that-I-hope-comes-back are just some personal recommendations. I usually have a glass of the Tiphaine. Montesecondo, or Txakolina (pronounced Chacolina), but listen to your heart, your palette, and probably your server, and try what sounds good to you because you can’t go wrong. That’s my best advice. Boun appetito!
Dinkel Dines 