LONG over due

I've clearly done a horrible job of updating this blog on a frequent basis, but I've been so caught up with school that I haven't had time to write in here. I guess here's a quick and random summary of the places I've been to in the last month and a half. This might end up being a monster post.

Comme Ca - new French bistro on Melrose and La Cienaga; SH and I met up with JM there, but unfortunately, SH and I were completely hungover because we had spent the day getting plastered before the football game and then immediately suffering the aftermath. Comme Ca was beautiful, the interior had very clean lines with a simple black and white color scheme. Mirrors of various shapes and sizes hung on one wall, and to the right, there was a cheese bar. The bar and cheese menu was written in chalk boards across the wall (it was more elegant than I'm making it sound). JM and I split the mushroom risotto (DELICIOUS) and a three cheese plate. The cheese plate came with various dried fruits and nuts that complemented it. I think the cheese we got were a goat cheese, sheep (?) cheese, and a brie. I also ordered the French onion soup, which was really good. The only drawback to Comme Ca was that they overcharged my credit card by $24. I was not pleased. I called the restaurant ranting a few days later before they finally recredited my card. I can see why this restaurant is so popular, but it was rather pricey. Not really a restaurant I can frequent and not panic inside a little when I see my bank statement.

Cube - I finally went there! This Italian/cheese restaurant on La Brea is also a BYO, so I brought a Kiara Pecorino (recommended by the the wine connoisseurs at the Larchmont Wine and Cheese Store), and JM brought a red wine. I ordered the black truffle pizza because when it's this time of the year, I have a major weakness for truffles. It was rather disappointing though. I wish I had stuck with the ravioli I was also eying on the menu. Usually, when I go to restaurants and I can't decide between a couple dishes, I like to ask the waiter for his/her opinion. I figure that if he/she is a good waiter, then he/she would be able to formulate a well-informed opinion on the dishes. Our waiter just told me to get the truffle pizza since everyone else was getting pasta and that I should "go for something different." The cheese plate we ordered was really good though. It came with some jamon serrano, prosciutto (I love prosciutto), pate, and some dried fruits and nuts. I would come back here but only for the cheese and the fact that it's a BYO.

Little Next Door - JM, CA, DM, and I went here for brunch the other week. It's SOO adorable! It's this French cafe on 3rd street close to where Doughboy's is. Its parent restaurant is "Little Door," which is pricier, but Little Next Door is opened during the day for breakfast and lunch. It felt really authentic (the hostess and waiters were straight out of France), and had a very comfortable and Parisienne ambiance. It was well priced---not too expensive considering some of the dishes they offered. I ordered the jamon and arugula with two overeasy eggs, CA ordered the brioche French toast (apparently it was the "best French toast [he's] ever had"), DM ordered the goat cheese sandwich, and I completely forgot what JM ordered. The food was good, but the service was pretty slow. I guess that's more typical of European restaurants that really allow you to enjoy your food and good conversation.

El Carmen - I know I already wrote about El Carmen, but I just have to say, their guava margarita is AMAZING! RK and I could've drank those all night. It was like drinking juice.

Point Mugu - CA and I went hiking there about a month or so ago. It's pretty far, right past Malibu and into Ventura County. It was a moderate hike, about 6 miles, and the summit had a pretty steep ascent. At the top, we rested for a bit and while we were looking around, we saw a coyote. Going down the summit was super tricky, and I was absolutely convinced I was going to wipe out and tumble down. I didn't fall, but it took me a while to get down while CA just ran down it like it was nothing. I did end up wiping out later though, ha. Should've seen that coming.

What's the name of the game....

I'm getting worse and worse at maintaining this blog. I wanted to make it for so long, and I really enjoy it, but I never seem to find the time to actually sit down, collect my thoughts, and write it out.

Last Wednesday night was a BLAST. I love how random and last minute it was. SH was in town since school was canceled (because of the fires) and she had to pick up her parents at the airport the next day, so we decided to get dinner and have a night out.

We started out our night at Tinto, a recently opened wine and tapas bar on Santa Monica Blvd. From the second I walked in and took in the ambiance, I knew I was going to like this restaurant. It had brick walls, antique chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and mirrors lining the walls. SH had called to make a reservation at 7:30, and we were a little late but they still seated us promptly.

They started out by giving us 2 appetizer pieces that were on the house, and then some toasted pieces of bread with olive oil and finely chopped tomatoes on them. The appetizer pieces (sadly, the waiter said the name too fast for me to catch) tasted like a lump of potato with a hint of egg on top and bottom. It wasn't horrible, but it was nothing memorable. The bread was delicious. The tomatoes tasted fresh, had just the right amount of crisp, and the combination of the two was great.

We decided to order our drinks first, so SH started out with a glass of sangria (it was pretty good), and I ordered a glass of rioja. I had the waiter recommend the glass of rioja, and then later, I asked for a Spanish red wine that was similar to a Pinot Noir. He never told me the name of the wine, but they were both really good.

SH and I ordered 4 tapas: Setas al Ajillo, Almejas Salsa Verde, Vierias al Ajillo, and Croquetas de Jamon. They were all pretty tasty, but I thought the Vierias (scallops) seemed a bit undercooked. The taste of the ocean was a little too strong for me, but the garlic sauce it was in was delicious. I think I liked the Croquetas best. They tasted very rich, but they just melted in my mouth.

After dinner, SH and I headed over to Hamburger Mary's several blocks down for their legendary Wednesday Bingo Nights. We met up with MK there around 9 o'clock, and I honestly had the best time. It's in West Hollywood, so of COURSE it's drag queen bingo. It was $20 for 10 games, and the money goes towards charity.

We walked in, and they gave us our bingo sheets, markers for our cards, and an instruction sheet. It wasn't your typical game of bingo. There were certain numbers that had callbacks with them, so if the announcer yelled the number, you'd have to yell out the saying and vice versa. It was hilarious!! He'd start saying, "If you want to date Michael Jackson, you gotta..." and the whole restaurant responds by yelling "B-14!"

The first game was rather traditional. To get bingo, you needed to fill a row, a column, or a diagonal. As the games continued, there were new versions (some raunchy, some not) on how to fill our your card. It was GREAT.

When you were one spot away from bingo, you'd yell out, "IT'S ON!" and everyone around you would start yelling that too. I kept on thinking I was close to getting bingo when I wasn't haha. I'd yell out really excitedly,"IT'S OOON!" only to have MK correct me.

The winner of that Bingo game received a prize of some sort, and he or she would run around the restaurant while everyone threw their bingo cards at them. (SH was worried about the bingo cards hitting and injuring the winner because what happened if they got a cut from it and they were a hemophiliac? But then she quickly got over that concern as she eagerly aimed for the winner's face when throwing her bunched up bingo card hahaha.) If someone falsely yelled out bingo, then he or she would go on stage and were spanked by a paddle. SH tried so hard to get spanked, but no one heard her falsely yelling out bingo.

There was a table of about 4 or 5 gay guys who sat behind us and kept on laughing at us. The three of us must've looked really funny because we were so into the game. I wanted to win a round and run through the restaurant!

SH and I both got drinks at Hamburger Mary's, but it wasn't anything special or memorable. I think next time I'll just come here to eat some dinner like MK did and play bingo at the same time.

After bingo, SH and I went to El Carmen to check it out and grab a drink. She got her regular vodka tonic, and I got a strawberry margarita. I couldn't tell if my drink was just weak or strong but expertly made. I even asked for a more tequila and still didn't taste a difference. It was a cute place, but not good for meeting new people. I'd definitely come back with a group of friends just to eat, talk, and drink though. Always a good time. The bartenders kept on looking over, and they even carded us again though. Ha I guess SH and I must've looked young to them.

Afterwards, SH and I went to a new artsy bar in Culver City called Mandrake to meet up with JM. JM was supposed to come to Hamburger Mary's for a little, but she couldn't make it, so we saw her at Mandrake instead. It was such a cute little place! Definitely a very artsy crowd, but I was impressed by their selection of drinks (great beers). I ordered a Red Stripe beer and SM stuck to her trusty vodka tonic once again. We hung out, met some of JM's friends, talked to people there, and had a good time. In the back, there was a small art gallery turned dance room. They were playing oldies the whole time, and SH, JM, and I just had a lot of fun dancing.

I love it when I can go out with good friends, make the most of any situation or place we're in, and have a great time---those are the best nights.

Tomorrow night, SH, JM, and I hit up Comme Ca for late night drinks and food. I can't wait! It's supposed to be really good. Hopefully I won't be too tired after the football game.