Improve Your ‘Taste’ on Tuesdays

There are so many things to love about summer in Southern California, and Chef Warren Schwartz at Santa Monica’s Viceroy Hotel just added another.

Tastes of Tuesday features small servings (tastes) of incredibly edible appetizers-size delicacies, from 5:30 – 10:00 pm, through September.

And by “delicacies” I don’t meant the sliders and chicken wings of usual Happy Hour fare. Oh no! We’re talking elk tenderloin topped with fois gras cherry butter (stunningly yummy); bacon-wrapped scallops (the big, fat, juicy kind) fire-cooked to perfection; pacific oysters with smoky sauce; grilled salmon; and a fire-roasted tomato in a bed of dandelion greens.

Featured small dishes may vary slightly from week-to-week, depending on what Chef Schwartz comes across at the Farmers Market. The 35 year-old LA native is a firm believer in seasonal, sustainable food, as served in the whimsically elegant Whist, located on the ground floor of the swank hotel.

He trained at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and worked in acclaimed eateries such as Lark Creek Inn, LA’s Patina and the Saddle Peak Lodge in Calabasas.

Warren says, "As chefs, we focus on fine food. Sometimes we can get a little stiff." I'd say he has found the perfect balance between quality and fun. His cuisine reflects of a traditional French foundation with an eye toward contemporary Californian eco-friendly gourmet - a masterful declaration of mouth-watering simplicity.(Oh, and did I mention he is kinda hot, to boot?)

With Tastes of Tuesday, Chef Warren aims to bring a satisfying culinary experience to the beautiful patrons mingling poolside, or in the private cabanas. Tuesday treats can also include shrimp ceviche, Caesar salad and gazpacho. And, dessert bites present pleasures such as green tea panna cotta with honey dew gelee; dark chocolate pot de crème and Harry’s Berries strawberry shortcake.

And, here’s the kicker, people. They are only $5 per order. Yes, seriously. Would I get your hopes up only to dash them? Only F-i-v-e D-o-l-l-a-r-s.

In addition to the gourmet nibbles, drink specials include summer cocktails such as Blue Raspberry Martini, and Key Lime Margarita. Yep. Those are $5, too.

Personally, though, I have to admit that I much preferred the Giggle Water cocktail, which I ordered from the lobby bar, Cameo. It was made with Absolut Pear, not too sweet, and, overall, a decidedly more sophisticated drink, which enhanced the wonderful food.

Photographer, Claire Barrett, and I stuck around for dinner at Whist (twist our arms), turning Happy Hour into Happy HOURS! One fascinating element on the menu that any wanderlust (like me) will truly appreciate, is Warren’s Culinary Journal, where shares his own globe-trotting experiences through cooking.

A whole page is dedicated exotic destinations Chef Schwartz has visited, and a dish typical of that region. After sharing a first course of maple-glazed pork belly with Manchego cheese and dried fruit compote (superb, I might add), we further indulged in a Turkish lamb dish called Patlican Musakkasi. It was so flavorful and satisfying, we almost didn’t have room for dessert. I said almost…

Being The Liquid Muse, of course, the boozy dessert was top choice. The Guinness Chocolate Cake topped with Baileys Ice Cream (formerly know as the Irish Car Bomb) was to die for. Ok – hold on… bad example. It was delicious. Leave it at that.

Stop by some Tuesday. After all, if you’re reading this, you are already a person of ‘taste!’ ;-)

Westside Tavern Opens

Once upon a time, on the sprawling streets of West L.A., it was difficult to find a decent cocktail – and the last place one would look was (gasp!) the mall. Well, its time to throw out the history books and start living the fairy tale – Westside Tavern has changed the way we think of drinking on the Westside.


Tucked inside the annex of Westside Pavillion (on street level, just below the movie theaters) is the sleek-yet-accessible, cavernous-yet-cozy, softly-lit-yet-not-too-dark Westside Tavern. Smiling faces greet patrons at the door; patrons sip and nibble happily at the long bar; friends gather around high-top tables in the lounge; and couples canoodle pre- or post- movie watching in the dining area. A more formal dining room, with a second bar, is just around a corner and available for private parties.

One of the most exciting reasons to visit Westside Tavern is the high-quality cocktail program. Respected Mixologist / Bar Consultant Ryan Magarian designed the program which highlight unique choices such as the Pepper Smash (spearmint, red bell pepper, dry gin and honey syrup) and the Blood Orange & Sage Gimlet (pressed sage & blood oranges, dry gin, lime juice and egg white). The menu also boasts classic cocktails such as the Sazerac, Blackberry Julep (served in proper pewter julep cups), Corpse Reviver No. 2, and the Martinez, among others. Most surprisingly each of the fresh-ingredient, mixology-driven cocktails are only $9! These drinks blow away many of the $16 cocktails found around town.

Admittedly, one of my biggest motivations to rush down on the first night to sample a few of these wonderful concoctions is Kylee Van Dillen – our very own “Girl Friday Happy Hour” columnist – who can be found behind the bar. Kylee is an expert at both making drinks, and explaining the fresh mixology concepts to guests, enhancing the experience for the professional cocktailian and the novice, alike. Ask for her, and treat her well.

And, speaking of “professional cocktailians,” I had the pleasure of pulling up a barstool next to fellow LA-blogger Caroline on Crack, who was also eager to be among the first Angelenos experiencing this new landmark on our culinary landscape. Caroline and I are birds of a feather – photographing everything before we take a bite or sip – so she didn’t mind when I asked for a shot of her scrumptious Cantaloupe Sour (dry gin, lemon & cantaloupe juices, Gary Regan’s No. 6 orange bitters and clover honey syrup), a must-try.

Just when things couldn’t get any better, another familiar face emerged – Chef Warren Schwartz – formerly at the helm of Whist in Santa Monica. Chef Schwartz is a master at taking simple comfort food and giving it some high-brow polish, or does he take high-end food and make it comfortable? Either way you look at it, he is renown for his eye toward sustainability and his skill in the kitchen. Warren also believes that quality can come at an affordable price. He explained that when eating at a new hotspot means shelling out $10 for valet, $15 per cocktail, then meal, wine and tip, the average person might go once to be able to say that they’ve eaten at “X” place, but they probably won’t go back. Chef says, “We want people to return to us again and again.”

On that note, I could not resist sampling an order of mussels, topped with chorizo and smothered in garlic ($13). The grilled ciabata bread and drizzle of flavorful creamy sauce made this appetizer a meal in itself. Caroline and her pal ordered the Grilled Portabella, Tomato & Burrata Sandwich ($14) as well as the copious Lamb French Dip ($16). For dessert, we indulged in a luscious Brown Butter Apple Pie ($9) large enough to share with the table next door!

I’m sure Angelenos will also appreciate another benefit of Westside Tavern - the free parking garage! So, friends, put away the fantasy book. Whether looking for the perfect dinner-and-movie date spot, or a fun night out with pals – the Westside Tavern is a dream come true.