EdIbLe LoS aNgElEs Part 9. The Tasting Kitchen
Even the Health Food Stalker enjoys a decadent meal here and there. My rule of thumb is to enjoy the decadence in association with sustainable, organic and local products. This is why The Tasting Kitchen is such an incredible place.
The Tasting Kitchen is on Abbot Kinney in Venice and is surrounded by lots of fun bars and good restaurants, but it still manages to stand out and draw attention via its large wooded entrance and interesting decor. The restaurant is very spacious and open, and the atmosphere is really inviting. The only dilemma with the space is that it gets loud really quickly, a problem that the manager said they were working on.
While this restaurant does not have lots of wheat/dairy free options on the menu, they do have a few selections that satisfy these needs and they are fantastic!
My waiter that evening, Alex, was extremely knowledgeable, explaining the menu in detail, and he was happy and willing to work with my dietary restrictions. He recommended some wonderful dishes and the meal was fantastic.
Because the restaurant focuses on local and sustainable ingredients the menu changes nightly. Therefore, you probably will not be able to enjoy the exact same meal that I did, but I am sure that your experience will be equally pleasurable.
I started with a wonderful salad of endive, hazelnuts and cherries, simply dressed with well-spiced vinaigrette, a dish of delightful olives, and a wonderful goat cheese that came with fresh nectarines and walnuts. They have a great cheese section on the menu and also offer charcuterie plates for sharing. For the entrée I ordered a Jidori roasted half chicken with the most AMAZING french fries. Let me tell you, these were not just any french fries; these fries had bits of fried garlic nestled in amongst the potatoes as well as some fried sage and fresh herbs. If you are going to indulge and eat fries, these are the fries to eat! I also ordered a vegetable side dish of roasted asparagus with pistachios. The portions were nice and small-ish, perfect for two to share.
This is a fantastic restaurant to take a date. The manager, Maxwell, was friendly and passionate about quality. He was also happy to speak about their excellent mixologist and the fact that they don’t use sugar to sweeten their cocktails. They also have an extensive organic wine list.
The staff at The Tasting Kitchen will really make you feel welcome. Ask for Alex when you make your reservation, he’s really wonderful, and GET SOME FRENCH FRIES. Did you ever think that you would hear the Health Food Stalker say that? They are really that good.