Professor Gourmand — February 2024

I started February on January 31 at Boneyard Bistro so I could tell Ethan about The Girl and the Goat, and, besides, it had been three weeks. He looked at the menu, and he was impressed, and even more impressed by my account of the following Sunday’s dinner. I began my meal with the mini lobster rolls , with which I drank an Italian Dream cocktail — Wilde Irish Gin, olive oil washed Select Aperitivo, Italicus Rosollio di Begamotto — they were both perfection. Then, I had the Pan roasted Faroe Island Salmon with a grain mustard glaze, grilled asparagus, fennel-artichoke salad, citrus glaze, and radish slices with a glass of 2018 Grapesmith & Crusher Chardonnay — delicious. Becca, Cameron and Desiree were all there, but this guy DJ Dan was sitting between us, so communication was difficult. I closed with a Negroni of Botanivore Gin, Averna Amaro and Barolo Chinato, and Dan decided he had to come back to learn from me, since all he had been drinking was the Russian River double IPA Pliny the Elder. Ah, well. Teaching is good.

An aside. This is the rainy season in Los Angeles, and I don’t do well in the rain with my walker. So, this may seem disjointed, but I am for sure trying to stay dry. Friday night, Redbird. Three courses since there are a couple of new desserts on the menu. I haven’t yet figured out how fast I can get places with my walker, so when I missed the bus I was planning to take I called Redbird and said “8:45” and I arrived just after 8:30 as it was. They put out a “reserved” sign for me, so I sat down and immediately Tobin was there with a Brooklyn Negroni —…