Dining Club, Los Angeles CA est. 2002

Underwater Thrills:Swimming With Sharks: Smart Conservation - Shark People Take Note

2010-08-19T16:32:00.000-07:00

Underwater Thrills:Swimming With Sharks: Smart Conservation - Shark People Take Note

Help one of my clients! A great cause--

2009-09-15T18:14:00.001-07:00

Antica Pizzeria, Marina Del Rey 8.4.09

2009-08-08T00:17:00.000-07:00

www.anticapizzeria.net

13455 Maxella Ave # 201
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292-8807
(310) 577-8182

Everyone LOVED it. I don't think there was a dissapointed tummy in the house. AND the GM was super nice and tasted wine with us.

I have to admit I would never go somewhere like this without the DC as it's in just about the worst location in LA. Not even a divey strip mall. It's in a gross marketplace mall. Like with an Aaron Bros. and everything. But man, the pizza was perfectly light and crispy, and soooo not filling. Great flavors. I went with the Quatro - even though I really wanted the Bianca. I should know better than to do that but everyone was getting it so, well... ya.

The death pose this evening is silly- something Jen and I conceived when no one was paying attention. I call it "Taxidermy, Italian Style"

Flaco's amazing invite:

Dining club members far and wide:

Join us at Antica Pizzeria this Wednesday night for authentic Neapolitan pizza and a full Italian menu.

Antica Pizzeria is certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana which establishes guidelines, training and certification for the preparation of true Neapolitan pizza. (Like you, I don't know if this is a legit thing or just another side activity for the Camorra.) To go to another U.S. restaurant that has the association's certification, you'd have to go to A16 in San Francisco, Tutta Bella in Seattle or La Pizza Fresca Ristorante in New York.

Some excerpts from an article in Forbes:

To date, only nine pizzerias in the U.S. have signed up with the VPN. And only one of those, La Pizza Fresca ("The Skeptical Chef"), is in New York City. In Italy, however, membership is higher, with over 50 in Naples and the surrounding area, as well as others scattered around the country. The association is dedicated to promoting Neapolitan pizza as the authentic and original pizza, through displaying the VPN logo, participating in fairs and competitions and, most importantly, by making pizza that abides by the rules they have laid down in their charter ("How To Make A Neapolitan Pizza").

Antica Pizzeria in Los Angeles, runs three-day training courses that cost $1,300 for chefs or restaurant owners who want to learn the art of Neapolitan pizza making without going to Naples.

Wed, Aug 5, 7:30pm

Antica Pizzeria

www.anticapizzeria.net

Please RSVP to me for you and anyone else you invite by Tuesday so we can let the restaurant know how many to expect!

13455 Maxella Ave (upstairs)
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292-8807

(310) 577-8182

Ample parking in structure and across the street.

Sarah's Yelp

2009-07-17T08:10:00.001-07:00

Here's the "too pricey for DC" list I got going on Yelp.

Recent reviews by Sarah May B.

What's this?

Soleil, Westwood for Moules et Frittes!

2009-07-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

This was one of the all-time most popular DC's -- with attendance somewhere around 25 people.

It was deeeliscious. The first time I ever had a moule - and definitely not the last.

1386 Westwood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: (310) 441-5384
Fax: (310) 441-5395

Here was the invite:

Hey foodies -

We're kicking off 2009 with a Belgian-style all-you-can eat mussels and fries "Moules Frites" event at Soleil Westwood on January 14!

www.soleilwestwood.com/events.html

What's not to like about the Belgian tradition of eating mussels and fries with good beer? If you don't think you're ready to "mussel down" don't worry: Soleil Westwood has all their regular menu items that night too. In fact, they're going to divide the table into a Moules Frites section and a section for everything else, and we need to give them a count before hand so they know how much of the mussels to have ready. Therefore, please state in your RSVP if you're having the Moules Frites that night or not and I'll call our info in to the restaurant a couple of days in advance.

Located three blocks south of Wilshire in the easy-to-park part of Westwood!

Soleil Westwood

1386 Westwood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: (310) 441-5384

Wednesday, Jan 14

7:30 p.m.

Please rsvp to Frank by Monday 1/11, and let me know if you are having the mussels and fries or ordering off the menu.

Educate yourself about mussels here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussel

(Scroll down to Mussels as Food for info on Moules Frites)

"You can lead a moule to water, but you can't make him frite."

- Arctic explorer J. Platter

AND we did a slight BYOB - so the bill was SUPER reasonable for what everyone ate.

DC FO LIFE.

Tlapazola, Gateway

2009-07-09T11:37:00.001-07:00

11676 Gateway Blvd, Los Angeles, CA - (310) 477-1577

This was perhaps the easiest and most uninspired death pose. A death by drowning sorrows...

Nonetheless a delicious DC.

We got one of most everything and it was interesting, though I wished there was more of a punch to some of the dishes, which on paper looked like the best meal of your life. Here's a sample of the menu:

Spinach Jicama Salad: Citrus salad dressing & pistachios.
Wild Mushroom Quesadillas: Cabbage with vinaigrette.

The tequila shots we did at this one made some members a little agressive. (ahem, flaco) That's what the agave does man.

Paco's on Centinela

2009-07-09T00:09:00.000-07:00

4141 S Centinela Ave Los Angeles, CA 90066 CA 90066

This was a Niraj nomination. Great guac and great margies.

I had a shrimp tostada that was way too big. I think most people got burritos or shrimp fajitas.

Definitely worth the dough, and very inexpensive. Lots of space too.

I would go back for sure.

Irish Times, Palms

2009-07-08T23:56:00.000-07:00

(310) 559-9648

Palms
3267 Motor Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90034
www.theirishtimesla.com/site.html

We all were going out on a limb here -- to want to eat irish food. I have to say i don't remember what i ate, except I know I drank some Stella.

I will say this: there were shepards pie's, beers, and fries.

And the death pose for the night: death by dartboard, took a lot of "acting" on my part. The dart tasted like an old quarter. Yeah....

Cafe Brazil, Venice

2009-07-08T23:49:00.000-07:00

"Death by Screwpull"... "After Sarah brought Charles Shaw to dinner, Frank had no scruples about opening a fresh bottle of red."
This was a great turn out for a DC and everyone got what they wanted. We all had to squish on the benches and most couldn't get up if they wanted to but it was a night of great conversation as I remember.

Versailles, Washington in Venice

2009-07-08T23:48:00.000-07:00

Here is Flaco's invite:

Hey folks,
If you want some Cuban food, like garlic chicken with plantains and wiretapping, come with us to:

Versailles Restaurant
10319 Venice Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034
310-558-3168

DC turns XXI:
Wed., May 21
7:30 pm

Versailles serves drinks as well - try their mojitos and margaritas.

See these reviews:
http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3710257337

but I can summarize for you - "great plantains!", "people get sick here," "people get sick here on more than one occasion" - hey, that must mean they like it or they wouldn't go back, right?

This is what Jared N. wrote in 2005 and folks, nothing's changed since 2005 except Fidel Castro's bunions.

Great Food...Nice Price...Big Servings
By Jared N. | Insider Expert | Rank: 6,008
The food here is flat out good. Period. It may seem a little of the ordinary being Cuban, but everything I've had from sandwiches to soups were outstanding. For those that never eat these types of more exotic foods, its like going on a flavor journey through unchartered lands. Many items are priced under $10 which is a very good value. The quality of the ingredients is good, but the uniquely Cuban flavor is what keeps me going back.

Posted 09/20/05 | Printable Version

Hope to see you there,

Flaco

Green Fairy Cruise through San Pedro's canals

2009-07-08T23:34:00.000-07:00

The one and only DC potluck. We rented a boat and sailed the canals during a full moon, and Sarah, (I) brought authentic Absinthe from Prague and Russia. We did the whole shabang: the lighting on fire, the sugar, etc. A near boat crash or two, but unfortunately no hallucinations.

Gorgeous moon though!

This is called "Death at the Docks". One of the other images was by far one of the most disturbing ever, and had to be deleted.

Sakura on Centinela, Culver City

2009-07-08T23:28:00.000-07:00

(310) 822-7790

4545 S Centinela Ave Los Angeles, CA 90066

Great sushi for super cheap. Very crowded though. And they sure give you a lot of rice with the sushi. I think everyone was very satisfied with the food they got. Get there early though. And don't go if you don't like vinegar-y rice.

The death pose for the night was a "death by Prius" as the Prius had just taken off in LA. Like pigeons only they carry yuppies.

DC rules Continued

2009-07-08T23:27:00.000-07:00

DC meetings are on the 2nd or 3rd Wednesday of the month.

For far distances, Sunday night DC's can be nominated. Core members are those who attend more DC's than not. Founding members are any of the original DC circa 2002. All new members must be brought in by an existing member.

Los Balcones del Peru in Hollywood

2009-07-07T22:43:00.000-07:00

One of the top 10 DC's of all time.

1360 Vine StLos Angeles 90028
(Btwn De Longpre Ave & Afton Pl)

The giant corn was the highlight, though it's a meal in itself. Ceviche was salty but yummy. The death pose was slightly forced ... death by decorative fountain. Yeah.

THE BALLED OF HOPPY MCGEE

By Frank Matcha

Flaco drank Peruvian brew

Blandro ate an Andean stew

But they all thought 'bout you know who,

An Old Core member tried and true

It was D.C. night at Los Balcones

Sarah said: "You got somecojones !

Throwin' this gig like a bunch of phoneys,

While Hop's back east watching the Tony's"

So Sarah got her Canon out

Said: "I'll try to die if you try to shout"

But Flac' and Blandro started to pout

For the Old Core buddy they were thinkin' 'bout

D.C. night didn't feel the same,

Though there weren't no one they could blame

But when the cold ceviche came,

They looked at each other and said: "This is lame"

Well this here's the ballad of Hop McGee

Sounds like a man, but it's ashe

One time we took to callin' her Rhee,

She'd eat in restaurants even with a B

Her motto was: good food comes first

But she was in a rut and that's the worst

For higher education she had a thirst

So finally the bubble burst

When the holiday party came around

She didn't go to Schatzi's, didn't wear a gown,

She said: "I'm skipping this two dog town"

And knocked out 36 applications without a frown

It took a hundred admissions counselors 200 days

To read through Hoppy's verbose essays

Describing Hoppy's complex ways

Of moving people from point B's to point A's

When the acceptances finally trickled in

She said: "I always know'd that I would win!"

Did her final Colby front desk spin,

Then picked the broken Power Ranger back up again.

She called Tajjar, said: "We're headin' East

I'm gonna' conquer that academic Beast,

With a 3.75 at least,

I won't be stopped by a little yeast

[That last line was in pretty bad taste

I wrote it down in too much haste

But I couldn't let it go to waste

Even though it's imagination-based]

So Hop and TJ hit the road

To travel to their new abode

But the truck doors opened and they dropped their load

Upon the highway on which they rode

That didn't matter none cause they were eastward bound

And their grimy belongings were soon enough found

By a good samaritan and his mangey hound

Who seemed to know their way around

But a few hours later their engine blew up

Outside the town where Hop grew up

And TJ tried hard not to throw up

At the bill for service the mechanic drew up

But that didn't matter, they were eastward bound

Till the pistons fried without a sound

And the carburetor started to pound

And their little Ford Mustang was downed

When they finally made the east seaboard

Tajar said: "Halleluja Lord!"

And gunned the motor of the Ford

Till the rebuilt engine roared and roared

Now Hoppy spends most every day

Urban plannin' her heart away

And all an Old Core friend can say

Is: "Do these gingham curtains make me gay?"

No, that's not what I meant to write

Since our friend Hoppy's taken flight

We eat most each and every bite

With just a little less appetite

But we hope one day we'll see Hop again

Around a dinner table packed with nine or ten

And we'll know that is the moment when

This Dining is a Club again.

Guelaguetza, Palms (warning - scary death pose)

2009-07-07T22:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.yelp.com/biz/guelaguetza-palms-restaurant-los-angeles

Delicious Oaxacan. Great service. Super cheap. And they let us bring our wine bottles in! Most of us got the darker mole, and Jen got some pork that was super well done and yummy.

This Death pose is pretty gnarly. It's a homicide. Death by Mole. Photographed by Flaco.

Wurstkuche, Artist District, Downtown LA

2009-07-07T22:24:00.000-07:00

http://www.wurstkucherestaurant.com/

This was the invite:

Hey DC-ers~
We have a super special DC plan but it's in the Downtown artists'
district, Japan-town adjacent, and we thought the best time to have
this would be on a Sunday due to LA's cursed traffic.
I know it sounds sacrilegious, but this place is worth it. It's one
of those places that you will be excited to talk about. I don't know
how to pronounce it, but it's called Wurstküche Restaurant and it
looks like an abandoned warehouse from the outside. Inside however, is
a mirage of freshly made exotic sausages and gourmet german beers!
(And yes Niraj, there are even a variety of vegetarian sausages!!!)
Be advised there are only sausages, with various toppings, and these
gigantic double battered fries. And about a thousand delicious
gorgeous beers, ginger beers, and many more non-alcoholic exotic
drinks.
Here's an example of what you might eat, just to get your motor running:
"I'll have the Austin Blues - (hardwood smoked pork, hot and spicy,
tri-pepper) topped with Caramelized Onions, and honey mustard, and a
side of double dipped belgian fries, with White Truffle Oil and
Buttermilk Ranch dipping sauces. Oh, and to drink i'll take a
Reissdorf Kolsch - (light crisp fruit 4.80% 16oz.)"

DC FO LIFE!

Hope you all are excited and into it--
Here's the where and when.

When: Sunday, May 24, 2009 7 pm

Where:
Wurstküche Restaurant
800 E 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 687-4444
www.wurstkucherestaurant.com

Hours:
Mon-Wed. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Thu-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

They don't take rez's and there is picnic style seating, but it's
pretty big so we should be cool-- Please RSVP though so we know who to
save seats for!

It was a hugely popular DC. And for good reason!! AND i had just gotten engaged that very day, so I had a big shiny rock to show off.

This is a pronunciation note from Henry:

"wurstkuche" (sausage kitchen - pronounced verst - koohchuh (the ch is really a hebrew-esque guttural back of the throat thing that's impossible to type out in english)) sounds awesome.

I would say my post-dining review is: AWESOME and take everyone you know there. The highlight for me - besides the Philippino sweet pork, was the different glasses that the beers come in. So cool-- one looks like a beaker.

This death pose was deemed "Sausage OD"

Cholada Thai, Malibu

2009-07-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

http://www.choladathaicuisine.com/cholada1.html
18763 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu, CA 90265

Tel. 310-317-0025

One of my favorite dining clubs for sure. Great food super fresh. I think I ate almost half of Gerald's curry powder shrimp, and Niraj ordered like ten orders of fried rice for the table. But all together top ten on the food scale.

This is the original invite for the night. I think everyone has gone back since!

Harold & Belle's French Creole, Watts

2009-07-07T22:14:00.000-07:00

http://www.haroldandbellesrestaurant.com/

This was a record low showing for a DC, but I think one of the most eventful. We had huge icy bloody mary's and fried chicken. Flaco and I split a blackened catfish I believe. And we were the only patrons not in our Sunday's best. Also - nicest host ever.

The death by pose was "Death by cocktail accessory" -- we didn't have a whole lot to work with...

Lares, West LA

2009-07-07T22:08:00.000-07:00

2909 Pico Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90405-2001
(310) 829-4550

This takes the cake as best death pose ever.

Lares was the first DC to have Ryan and Liz in attendance. The Mariachi band was getting mighty aggressive, so we used them the best way we knew how.

Over-all food reviews:

Yummy chips, great shrimp fajitas. They push those margarita pitchers on you so watch out. We went here to have a cheap DC for once, and everyone ended up paying around 36 bucks.

We all have recco'd this to many others however. Great Mexican.

"Murderachi"

Paru's Vegetarian Indian

2009-07-07T22:05:00.000-07:00

An oasis in Hollywood! Just about the nicest waiters we ever met. Death by pose, "Purse Strangling" was quite lazy as you can see. Leigh Harvey still holds a cigarette in her fingers.

PAST DC LIST

2009-07-07T15:24:00.000-07:00

*The boat DC on the Long Beach (Naples) canals

*Los Balcones, the Peruvian place in Hollywood - sometime in 2006

*Cholada Thai in Malibu - (10/11/07) - did we really do this one?

*Café Brazil on Venice - (4/16/08) - billed as DCXX

*La Dijonnaise in the Helms Bakery building

*Wharo Korean BBQ on Lincoln (what's the name Adrienne?)

*Bombay Bite in Westwood - (7/23/08)

*Paco's Tacos on Centinela - (10/15/08) - billed as "DC24"

*Guelaguetza on Palms - (11/19/08)

*Soleil Westwood - (1/14/09) - moules frîtes night, massive turnout

*Shamshiri Grill - (3/18/09)

*Wurstküchen downtown - date??

The Gardens of Taxco (2nd ever DC)
Beacon (3rd DC, Culver City)
Paru's Vegetarian Indian
Tlapazola
that garden tapas place on santa monica bl in weho (chosen by Ryan/Liz)

Chabuya on Sawtelle

Akasha in CC

the courtyard in Weho

Ugo in CC

Electric Karma in Hollywood

Hawaiian place in Rosemead?

DC 3: Beacon in CC

2009-07-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

Reviews,

We ordered one of everything. Adrienne at all desserts as I recall. Now I read we missed out on the best part which was the infused sake. I had some prawns that were amazing. Nothing of great note though-- but very pretty restaurant. Alas no death pose in existence at this point.

DC 1 : Rockenwagner, Santa Monica

2009-07-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

I am compiling a list of all past Dining Club meetings, with their respective death-poses.

Without further ado, the list. (DCers! Please send me any that you might remember that I missed!)

Rockenwagner

This was actually their original location in the Edgemar complex on Main. None o' that 3-square bull ish.

Review: lots of starch. NOT good for vegetarians. Love the picnic style tables. Mac and cheese was bomb.

Deathpose not in existence yet.

Did get the feeling we were the only people in the entire restaurant for the entire night. And portions were not allotted well. Nonetheless it was the very first diningclub.

From Flaco, Charter Member:

"At Rockenwagner the first night I remember the whole restaurant was pretty crowded. Especially the side room where we were eating at the communal tables for the special menu. Also, I remember showing up kind of early and seeing some of you (Sarah and maybe Adrienne, maybe Leigh) having a drink at the bar."

Ktown 1930 adventure, The Prince and Lowenbrau Keller

2009-07-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

K-town 1930

Begin the night at the Prince, the location of the Derby scene in Chinatown. We had fried chicken, lots of korean pancakes, some black cod, and lots of bizarrely sugar covered fries. Review: Rad location with lots to look at.

Get the chicken or nothing at all.

Desert location:

Lowenbrau Keller, the crazy statue chandelier german kooky old lady place that is now gone.

Review: Those were some of the angriest meanest old ladies ever, but they made some damn good chocolate cake.

Death pose: "Death at Lowenbrau" featuring the shoe of Adrienne K.

The History of the DC

2009-07-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

As we all know the DC has a long and interesting history, featuring the hautest and most exotic locales in LA county (and sometimes beyond). For the longest standing core members, we will all remember the origination of the death pose at the K-Town DC, specifically performed in front of the now closed dessert location, Lowenbrau Keller. I remarked to the crowd, "I've always wanted to die on film in a flurry of prosthetics and squibs-- like in a Michael Mann gun battle or something reminiscent of EvilDead2." To which Adrienne remarked, "Let's do it right now!" Hence the origination of the ceremonial post-meal death pose. The rules are that only what surrounds us can be used for props, and they should be as inventive as possible. We all recall the "I just died from alcohol poisoning..." (yawn.)