Andre's citizenship appointment, three eastside restaurants I'm loving, and the new Cookbook on Larchmont.

Plus, a bit of This & That.

My new favorite Eastside restaurants

For the first time in a very long time, I'm alone in LA, exploring the city with fresh (well-rested) eyes, discovering new places, and having some delicious and inspiring dining out experiences. During my third and final week here, I fell in love with three new restaurants that are special, not only for the fantastic food they serve but also for the overall energy and ambiance they embody.

DUNSMOOR - This is a perfect LA winter restaurant. When you walk into Dunsmoor in Eagle Rock right now, you feel like you're entering a holiday party you’re excited to be invited to. Inside a beautiful old bank building that sat empty for years, the interior is stunning, with soft candlelight flickering on long farm-style tables, colorful holiday lights twinkling all around, and festive greenery adorning big glass windows through which the night sky peaks in. The smell of comforting dishes wafting from the wood-fired hearth in the back invites you to sit and enjoy your meal. The southern-inspired food of Chef Brian Dunsmoor, like cornbread smothered in cultured butter and honey and a creamy, bitter chicory Caesar salad dusted with golden crunchy breadcrumbs, is just the kind of food you want to eat when the nights are cool and crisp.

Dunsmoor
3501 Eagle Rock Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90065
(make reservations)

BARRA SANTOS - A tiny Portuguese restaurant in Cypress Park, this magical spot transports you to a faraway European land, making you forget you just drove across town in rush hour traffic to meet your friend for a drink. The pink endive salad with toasted almonds, malvarosa cheese, oranges, and a smoked paprika sherry vinaigrette is one of the best salads I've had in a long time. Everything we ate, from the tuna crudo with Meyer lemon and orange to the charred cabbage with creamy white beans and bits of Iberico ham, was perfect...and the wine was fantastic, too. Time flew as we sat outside, sharing stories, catching up, and enjoying every last bite.

Barra Santos
1215 Cypress Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90065
(no reservations. opens at 4pm)

QUEEN ST. - The sister restaurant to one of my LA favorites, Found Oyster, this new spot in Highland Park is something special. With its wrap-around oyster bar, the interior space is charming and inviting, while the outdoor patio, with its twinkle lights and heat lamps is cozy even on a cool night. The daily selection of fresh oysters and crudo are not to be missed, but make sure you also order the tangy and tart sprouting broccoli with Calabrian chilis and breadcrumbs cooked on the wood grill. And, if you really want to go for it, get their take on Steak Frites, a big-eye tuna filet cooked on the wood grill and served with ponzu, chili garlic aioli, and a big pile of golden shoestring fries.

Queen St.
4701 York Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90042
(make reservations)

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Andre’s Citizenship Appointment

As with many things in Italy, especially anything bureaucratic, one quickly learns two things: not to be surprised if there are many bumps along the road and that, if you are persistent, there always does seem to be a way. For the past few months, the kids and I have been eagerly awaiting the confirmation of our citizenship appointment to submit our Jure Sanguinis (citizenship by blood descent) applications before our 90-day tourist visa period expires. While the government office is technically supposed to give you your appointment within the 90-day window, the timing here is loose, and things move slowly. So, as our travel visa limit quickly approached this past month, I was growing extremely concerned. I called my attorney to work on possible solutions so we would not be seen as overstaying our visa. Within hours of me reaching out to her in a panic, I received an email from the citizenship office telling me that in two days at 9am, I was scheduled for my appointment to submit the citizenship application for myself and the boys. Oh, the timing!