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Hollywood: Osteria Mamma Makes Me Respect Lasagna
Jan 19 2011
I’ve never really had much respect for lasagna. I blame it on the fact that I came of age in an era when it was perfectly acceptable to bring a tin of Stoffer’s to a potluck. Restaurant lasagnas, usually just assembled from jars and packages, never did much to help the cause either.
That’s not to say that I don’t eat it or enjoy it. But like an episode of Teen Mom, lasagna generally only appeals to me on the most base level. A very guilty pleasure of mine is the vegetable lasagna from Angelo’s in Alhambra, which is basically just a dish of sauce, cheese and a few veggies baked to bubbling-crispy-on-the-edges perfection.
Considering my history of lasagna derision, you can imagine my intrigue when I saw it on special at Osteria Mamma. I’ve been in love with “Mamma” Loredana Cecchinato’s cooking since La Buca was a hole in the wall, so I figured if anyone could clean up an Italian casserole, it’d be her. And it was. The lasagna at Osteria Mamma, like most of their dishes, impresses with its simplicity. The handmade noodles are thin and the ricotta is spread with restraint, giving the dish an almost delicate quality. The sweet sauce and meat keep it reasonably hearty.
All this is just proof of one thing: lasagna, I misjudged you.
P.S. As I was just saying in the comments, Osteria Mamma now has a liquor license, so while it’s more crowded, it’s also more lively. I think they’ve found their groove.
-Valentina
Things to Do This Weekend in LA: Pie & Beer, Eat My Blog Bake Sale, Holiday Cocktails and More Ideas
Dec 03 2010 My Candy Cane Cream Faux-reos for the Eat My Blog Charity Bake Sale this weekend.
There’s lots of stuff to do this weekend around LA—a few things on the Eastside and a few that require driving:
Eagle Rock: Pie & Beer is popping up at Eagle Rock Brewery on Sunday from 12-6pm. I Heart Pies will be selling their popular sweet and savory pie varieties, which all go great with handmade beers.
Echo Park: Stop by Allston Yacht Club for some holiday cocktails. They’re mixing up drinks with names like Figgy Pudding and The Accursed Fruitcake. You can read more about them here.
Maybe after, you can walk over to Xoia for some Bunrria, a new dish they’re debuting this weekend. Chunks of beef are marinated birria style and served in a rich beef broth with Bun noodles. You can garnish with onions, cilantro and salsa. They’ll even add a tortilla if you’re so inclined.
Downtown LA: Taste of Mexico is hosting a celebration of 200 Years of Mexico’s Cuisine at the Cathedral of Saint Vibiana on Saturday from 5-10pm. They’ll be food from the likes of Guelaguetza, tequila, mariachis and Oaxacan dance performance. Tickets are $100 at the door or $75 presale.
Hollywood: LA Street Food is teaming up with MAMA to host Less Mall More Melrose. Food trucks like Lobsta Truck and Me So Hungry will feed you while you shop for deals on Melrose, between Fairfax and La Brea.
West Hollywood: LA food bloggers and restaurants will be selling their baked goods in front of Tender Greens on Saturday from 10am-4pm. Menu includes: eggnog muffins, candy cane mashmallows, whoopie pies, bacon brownies and tons more. Plus, there’ll be dog treats! Proceeds go to Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Have a great weekend, and eat good stuff!
-Valentina
Hollywood: Inventive (and Boozy) Flavors at GelatoVino
Oct 05 2010
The sad fact is that you can’t get a scoop of Thrifty ice cream from Rite Aid at 11pm. I was lamenting this reality while leaving the Belle and Sebastian show at the Palladium on Sunday night when Josh said, “I know a place!” He then lead me to GelatoVino, the latest entry in George Abou-Daoud’s Sunset Blvd. restaurant corner, which includes Delancey (fun!), Tamarind Avenue Deli (delicious!) and Mission Cantina (eh…).
The small, purple-velvet-clad gelataria has two tables, an inventive assortment of flavors, and a wall of dessert wines for pairing. The vibe is very welcoming, and sampling is encouraged to help you choose from options like Campari, Butter Brown Sugar with Bacon, Bulliet Bourbon, Downtown Brown (beer flavor) and Earl Grey. The authenticity of these flavors is pretty stunning, even if some are a little much for a whole scoop.
