Issue 19 — Wine Deals 🍾, Seafood 🦪 + Slowing Down at the Table 🥄
Scroll to the bottom for a wine discount, exclusive for friends of Bite Sized! (Basically we've made it.)
^ This Ravioles du Dauphiné dish from Cafe Chelsea keeps finding me on the internet and I wanted to make sure you saw it too. If you’re in NY, please indulge for me. More about it here.
H-Mart is rolling their eyes at Trader Joes new viral frozen kimbap. 👀
Grubstreet decided what LA restaurants are the most ‘New York’ — (Horses + Capri Club were obviously mentioned) Although I think the most New York spots are probably far lesser known.
Picklé is celebrating their 4th anniversary at Tactile Mountain 9/10 — sample pickles + kombucha, enter a pickle raffle, and shop fermented grab + go items.
Perlita Oysters will be popping up at Gorky 9/2. Eating oysters, shopping vintage, sipping a bloody mary? OK! 🦪
If you’re looking for new restaurants to check out, Mady mentions over 25 new hot spots in this tiktok! (I’ve only been to 9!)
Last week, Cafe Birdie announced a change in their biz model from full service to counter service. With no notice, they eliminated 9 servers, sending them away with 2 weeks severance. Birdie put out this statement. For obvious reasons, comments are turned off. ❌
I just had to mention the $22 Cactus Plant Flea Market x Erewhon smoothie 🌈 (ingredients: coconut cream, strawberry glaze, banana, matcha cream, yuzu co, sea moss, blue majik, oat milk, chlorophyll, lemon juice, mango, turmeric, orange juice, carrot juice and pineapple)
Jason Stewart had his with a slice of pepperoni pizza, and it brought up the question: Should smoothies be consumed on their own? Or is it okay to have them with food?
Fuck, it’s Little Fish on Fuck That’s Delicious! 🐟
In the latest ep, Action Bronson goes to YESS Restaurant + Anajak Thai — (both still on my list to try!) They also down a Little Fish fried sandwich in the car. (so 2020 pop-up of them). “If this sandwich had a jockstrap, McDonald’s filet-o-fish couldn’t hold it or wash it.” I think that means he liked it? Watch the whole video here.
Food-Art Studio, ANANAS ANANAS just launched a collection of food grade metalware, urging you to slow down at the table —
Together, Verónica + Elena create gorgeous edible installations and dining experiences that encourage audiences to interact with food in a multi-sensory and experimental way. They sprinted so our attempts at bread tablescapes + butter sculptures could walk.
Their first collection of objects titled Dos Puntos follows that same mission — to shift the focus, slow down time at the table, to be present and to create community.
Are the pieces approachable or affordable? Absolutely not. Do I want the entire collection? Yes.
“Until now tableware has traditionally been in similar shapes and forms across most cultures. With the introduction of these experimental pieces we aim to awaken a part of the mind that has not yet been exercised. Both sculptural and functional the designs imply that post use, the objects will live displayed out in the open rather than tucked away.”
View the entire Dos Puntos collection or more of their work here.
Recent Bites —
Villa’s Tacos — I planned to just grab one taco as a snack, and ended up getting a plate of 3, con queso. They started in HLP as a tented stand in their front yard, now have a permanent location and were just added to the Michelin guide. If you haven’t already, read about their sweet come up here.
Dudley Market — Raw fish + fries, a superior pairing. Dudley nails the details and practices restraint in the most artful way. A plate of fish, sliced pair and a smear of gochujang — perfection. Don’t sleep on their vege. This miso glazed squash with labneh was lovely.
Mai Tai at All Day Baby — I’m typically pretty sus when a bartender offers ‘their riff on a classic’ but this one was delish. Tart AF, and far from weak. A perfect drink to warm me up for restaurant trivia.
Shin’s Pizza (again) — For around $10, get a slice + a cold crunchy side. Definitely a new fave.
Little Fish — LF debuted a vegan version of their fried fish sandwich, so naturally I had to get one. Definitely the best filet-o-tofu out there. The lack of bass funk made me want extra pickles though, or a spash of malt vinegar would do. Enjoyed thoroughly with a liter of orange at Bar Bandini. So excited for them to have their own space!
Courage Bagels x Pia Baroncini Collab — This pic doesn’t do the bagel justice. the Burnt everything bagel was sooo crispy and savory, drizzled with Baroncini olive oil of course, bufla mozz, anchovy, crushed pepper and wild oregano. I really hope they keep something like this on the menu. 🤞
Also, Danielle put me on to Courage’s $3 mini bagels. (I added CCC + salmon roe because I love myself)
Hippo’s Wax Bean Salad: I crave this salad and will continue to order it, make it and share it. I cheat the recipe a bit with Nour’s OG Lemon Caper Dressing + Acid League Garden Heat ;) It’s pretty forgiving.
5 Wines to Try
I had a few friends share their favorite ($30ish) bottles…
Max (of Max’s Yummy Condiments and Certified Somm)
Donnhoff Nahe Estate Riesling Feinherb 2021, Riesling from Nahe, Germany
‘It’s not your fault you don’t like Riesling. In the 20th century, Riesling was portrayed as sugar-water (how dare they). Flabby, low in alcohol, and a gratuitous amount of sweetness destined Riesling to have abandonment issues. This is not Riesling today. Riesling expresses a different side of itself depending on where it's grown. Look towards Germany for the most iconic expression of the world’s most delicious white grape. Dönnhoff produces some of the best Riesling in the Nahe, and their entry level estate Riesling is available nationwide for around $20. Some tasting notes: ripe white peach, lemon, lime, white flowers, with refreshing high acidity.’ 📍 Spotted: K&L Wine Merchants in Hollywood, it’s pretty accessible.
Danielle (@abiteoflife, has never picked a wine I didn’t like)
‘Find yourself lucky if you can find this orange wine from Spain. Textural and savory - super complex. Lots of tropical citrus peach notes complimented by floral minerality. Round fruit, dense and wicked. This beautiful clay bottle lends a special touch and look on your wine rack.’ (The price ranges $35-50 depending on the year.) 📍You can get it here.
Andrea (Mas Vino Please, Natural Wine Girl / Non-Somm)
Bergerac Rouge by Barouillet | Grapes: Malbec, Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc.
‘A blend of a few grapes, this wine is a deliciously rustic take on a Bordeaux blend. Lots of red fruit and licorice, with subtle smokey tobacco at the end. If French cowboys existed, they would be drinking this.
Priced at $22(ish), its a great dinner party wine! Elegant enough to pair with a hearty meat dish, but also fun and laid back for post-dinner conversation.’
— O R —
En Su Piel by Garcia Perez | Grape: Macabeo
‘This skin contact Macabeo takes you to a sun-soaked sleepy Spanish village where all you’re expected to do is drink wine, eat jamon and take a siesta in the shade afterwards. It’s an orange wine that still feels fresh with lots of ripe summery fruits: melons, stone fruit, a little bit of almond. GREAT al fresco wine! And always around $22ish dollars!’ 📍You may find these at IlCaffe or Hi-Lo Liquor
Tal (Owner of Mazal and Certified Memer)
022 Luyt Gamay Blanc - 100% 'Gamay Blanc' aka Chardonnay
‘Truthfully, this wine is on the list as a crusade against Chardonnay's absolutely terrible reputation amongst our generation. This ain't your mom's buttery Chard. It has peppery character and genuine bounce that you wouldn't normally see in the classic French grape. She grew South of the border, WAY South in Chile's Maule Valley. A welcome surprise for every rebellious natural wine connoisseur, and a genuine slap in the face of that Napa Valley Chardonnay your mom had 1 too many glasses of at your college graduation party before she got testy about you and your 'useless' comms degree.’
📍Available at Mazal :)
Tal’s bottle of Gamay is usually listed on Mazal’s wine list for $66, but he is very kindly giving friends of Bitesized a deal — through September grab the bottle for $30 :) Go get yourself some hummus + bourekas and enjoy a bottle of Gamay! Offer runs through September. Cheers! 🥂
🔗 Last Week’s Most Clicked Link:
Sarah just made a super handy list of 100+ Coffee Shops sorted by neighborhood. ☕️
The way my stomach is growling rn 🫦
I need oysters & wine immediately