MOZZA Osteria isn't worth the wait

Reservations must be made three months in advance for MOZZA Osteria and the Pizzeria.  Why?  I'm clueless.  The food is good, but not spectacular. With the economy in a recession, who knew this Italian hot-spot would be so popular, ecpecially because it is on the pricey side.  It's filled with the LA crowd.  People sit at their table glancing up at everyone who passes by, just in case its a celebrity.

My favorite dish at MOZZA Osteria was the Ribollita "Da Delfina."  What?  Its a vegetable soup than has been reduced to thickness and then Nancy Silverton's bread is added to make this dish an Italian delicacy.  Many know Nancy from LA Brea Bakery and years ago, the head pastry chef a Spago's.  Her bread at MOZZA is delicious.  No butter, olive oil or balsamic vinegar is served with it.  Just a silver platter with three varieties: White, Wheat or Whole Grain.  I'm a bread lover, so this could be my meal.  Our friend Mitch loved the Butter Lettuce Salad with hazelnuts, bacon, gorgonzola dolce and egg.  My husband ordered an appetizer from the Mozzarella Bar of  Burrata with marinated beets that were overpowered with horseradish.  Word to the chef, be dellicate with horseradish, a little goes a long way.

All the fish dishes were adequate.  My Pan Roasted Halibut con pepe verde was tasteless with the veal reduction sauce.  They offer a Pasta Tasting Menu with 7 different pastas for $69.  Add $50 more to include accompanying wines with the dishes.  It starts to add up if you include the $12 desserts.

Located on the corner of Highland and Melrose at 6602 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles.  For reservations call: 323-297-0100.

Elvis Lives in Camarillo

Walking into El Rey Cantina in Old town Camarillo, I did a double take when I met the owner, Allesandro Tromba. He looks just like the handsome, Freddie Prinze Jr. This entrepreneur opened his first restaurant in Ventura in 2008 and with much success, his second restaurant in Camarillo.

I sat down with Alessandro and his chef, Mario Gonzales for lunch to learn more about his two restaurants and to taste the Ahi Tostada. Crunchy tortilla chips and a slightly sweet and delicious salsa were served while we chatted.

Alessandro was raised in a restaurant in the evenings and weekends. His parents own the popular Giovanni’s La Bella Cucina and instead of getting a babysitter, they would bring Alessandro to work with them. He started by opening the door or customers, and then worked his way up to dishwasher, prep cook and busboy.

This personable young man enjoys people. While talking, he would excuse himself and greet every patron who entered El Rey with a warm smile. The décor is hp and eclectic. Crystal chandeliers, red booths and black velvet paintings of the King, Elvis Presley, line the rock-n-roll bar that serves over 100 different tequilas. Stevie Ray Vaughan sings out from a neon jukebox as our lunch is served.

Mario has been cooking since he was 15-years-old. Growing up in Colorado, he helped his grandparents grow and harvest vegetables and cook the fresh ingredients into wonderful meals for families and

friends.  As a young adult he worked as a bartender and chef in various restaurants across the U.S. before settling down in Ventura. The two met at the Ventura El Rey and Alessandro offered Mario a job to be the head chef in Camarillo.

As I look over the extensive menu with a “Ed Hardy” style Elvis skull on the cover, I noticed such delectables as Shrimp Taquitos with sundried tomatoes and goat cheese, a Grilled ahi sandwich with grilled pineapple, and a Mexican Cobb Salad with chicken, avocado, feta cheese, bacon bits, pumpkin seeds, black beans, tomatoes and roasted corn. All are under $10.

The Cantina fills up with young families early in the evening and later attracts a 20s to 40s crowd. Since Cal State Channel Islands University is nearby, this is becoming a favorite of the college crowd. Especially on Saturday evenings when El Rey offers live entertainment. Last weekend they had a rockabilly band and the week before a great 60s classic rock band.

Alessandro shared that his El Rey Cantina in Ventura is known for its late night bar crowd. One raucous evening a young woman removed her bra and tossed it up to one of the chandeliers. Other women have since been inspired to follow this idea. So far, the light fixtures in Camarillo are free of lingerie.

EL REY CANTINA - 2302 Ventura Blvd. Camarillo, CA 93010 - (805) 484-4433

El Rey Cantrina - 294 East Main Street, Unit C, Ventura, CA 93001 (805) 653-1111

BEST Casual Dining in Rancho Mirage

Piero's Acqua Pazza (Crazy Water) at The River in Rancho Mirage recently won numerous awards for it's food, atmosphere and service. My favorite dish is their delicious Lobster Pot Pie (see photo). The flakey crust covers a lobster soup filled with large chunks of lobster and fresh veggies.

This Happy place offers Happy Hour from 11 am to closing daily. Sit at the friendly bar and receive a special Happy Hour menu with prices up to 50% off the regular menu. Or sit out on the patio overlooking the water and choose from their 3-course Feast for only $19.95 (from 3 pm to 5 pm it's only $15.95). The menu features 4 different appetizers (minestrone soup, Caesar salad),7 entrees (sand-dabs, filet mignon in a peppercorn sauce, cheese ravioli) and 3 desserts (chocolate mousse cake, tiramasu, or a ice cream sundae). 71-800 Hwy 111, (760) 862-9800.

Trader Vic's at LA LIVE

Our South Seas experience started with friendly servers and a basket of warm Taro bread, water crackers, and homemade peanut butter with coconut cream. WOW! That's different from the traditional bread basket and more fun to eat.

For entrees we ordered the Sea Bass cooked in the Chinese wood fired oven, traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC to AD 20). Meats are cooked by the heat of the oven, not fire. The American Heart Association approves this type of cooking. The fish is served in a delicious Miso sauce. The Crispy Duck was prepared at our table. The waiter brought half a duck, moo shu pancakes, scallion, cucumbers, and hoisin sauce. YUMMY!

The BBQ veggie and Tofu Curry is a colorful presentation! It's a combination of potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, apples, red pimentos, onions and Trader Vic's own blend of madras curry powder. I cooled the heat with the tray of sunflower seeds, currants, cucumber, banana, coconut, chutney, chow-chow and tomatoes. TRADER VIC'S - 213) 785-3330. Located at 800 West Olympic Blvd. # A120, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Twenty/20 Restaurant in Carlsbad

The chef at Twenty/20, Reed Andersen, knew he would be a chef at the age of five. His braised short ribs with the Pinot Noir roasting Jus sauce and a scrumptious creamy polenta with steamed broccolini was divine.

Another favorite was the grilled Hawaiian swordfish with a sweet tomato gazpacho. The fish was rubbed with chili, coffee and cocoa and then grilled to perfection.

We also ordered the grilled wild salmon (see photo) with braised red cabbage, bacon, homemade spring pickles and slightly herbed spatzle. Our waiter recommended a “Boom-Boom” Syrah with the salmon. It went well with the short ribs too.

For dessert, a little tree with desserts as ornaments arrived. There was a little peaches and cream glass, cream Brule, berry cobbler, chocolate mousse, and tiramisu. Fortunately, the portions were small, so we didn’t feel guilty only taking one spoonful of each for a sweet tooth treat. (760) 827-2500, 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008

Los Gringos Locos - Crazy Good Guacamole

My favorite Mexican restaurant in La Canada is Los Gringos Locos, because I'm "locos" about the guacamole prepared tableside. It's the freshest guacamole in town. You choose if you want it mild, medium, or spicy.

I've heard so many people rave about the Kathy Hernandez Quesadilla Salad that I finally tried it, instead of always ordering a tostado. WOW, I love it. Imagine a thin cheese quesadilla with Romaine lettuce on top. Add tomatoes, onions, grilled chicken, avocado Pico de Gallo and served with a delicious creamy tomatillo dressing. Not too spicy, but has a little kick to keep you wanting more. Plus, when you order this salad, the owners donate $1 to La Canada schools.

The margaritas are also the best in town. It's a great place to see your friends, eat great Mexican food and walk out with a smile on your face.

Foodies and Wine Lovers Enjoy Palate

Inside an old Bekins storage building and among auto dealerships is Octavio Becerra's newest dining creation, PALATE. We were seated in the ultra-hip wine bar and served homemade bread with fresh butter decorated with herbs.

Our French waiter helped us order an excellent meal. He recommended a Pot of Tuna (like a tuna pate) served with crunchy bread and two 2.5 oz glasses of French White wine. Next, a large bowl with celery root, ham, pears and yogurt appeared. At first I thought the portion was extremely small, however the server had a glass milk bottle filled with hot celery root soup, herbs, cream, a touch of butter, salt and pepper. He slowly poured the warm milky contents into the bowl. It was creamy and satisfying. The fresh Halibut in a delicious ginger-carrot butter sauce was satisfying. Save room for dessert or a cheese plate featuring cow, goat, sheep and bleu & blue. Palate Food + Wine -933 South Brand Blvd.Glendale, CA 91204 (818) 662-9463