Kendall’s Brasserie

A Trip to the New Paris with Kendall’s Brasserie Special Menus

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(Gerry Furth-Sides)  Ethnic cuisine menus these days incorporate local, fresh ingredients. French Kendall’s Brasserie not only does this famously, but also regularly honors the show-in-residence at the Ahmanson Theatre next door with special ethnic dishes on the menu.  Executive Chef Jean Pierre Bosc  is just the one to pull this off with classic flair that reflects both the distinctive touches he brings from his hometown in Lyon, France.

Kendall Brasserie’s bustling main dining room at dinner time before a show at the Music Center

Kendall’s  pre-theatre meal is hearty enough to be called brasserie fare, and yet light enough to have theatre goers dine there almost right up to show time.  We lingered as long as we could after our own meal, and were astonished at how this fully-booked main dining room emptied out almost all at once.  By ten minutes to curtain call, Kendall’s Brassierie was all but empty of staff and a few diners like us.

Kendall’s Brasserie at ten minutes before curtain call!

French Kendall’s Brasserie welcomes John Leguizamo’s “Latin History for Morons” with Mexican specialties this season.  The items wove seamlessly into the regular menu. 

Latin specialties in honor of the show include a cocktail and dishes.  The History Latina Margarita is prepared with Silver Tequila, Jalapeno, Agave, Lime Juice, Orange Wedge, and a Tajin Salt Rim.  This variation of a classic margarita brings added heat with the jalapeno twist, made more festive by the orange wedge.

The History Latina Margarita is prepared with Silver Tequila, Jalapeno, Agave, Lime Juice, Orange Wedge, and Tajin Salt Rim.

A Chilled Brentwood Corn Bisque, perfect for Indian summer evenings proves sublime, silky and cool. The cool flavors of mango, avocado and cucumber compliment the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake.  Cucumber slivers top the Crab Cakes, bursting with slabs of fresh crab, flash-fried for extra lightness

Chilled Brentwood Corn Bisque and Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, to honor the John Leguizamo show at Kendall’s Brasserie

While we were offered a look at the dinner menu, our warm, professional server, David, helped us pick out a wine.  He told us about the international restaurant staff, confirming even  more his interest and dedication to Kendall’s Brasserie and the Patina Group.

Server David helped us with the wine selection to go with our steak fritter and duck breast

And, oh the dishes that followed!  The Steak Frites ($39) , a 10oz prime flat iron steak, is prepared with Café de Paris butter, red onion marmalade and duck fat garlic frites.   The steak was prepared and served hot to perfection, tender with a chew and pink inside.

Steak Frites ($39) at Kendall’s Brasserie

Duck breast was equally superb, moist and flavorful with sand (baby) carrots, a condiment of the carrot greens,  cubed polenta croquettes and a carrot sour cherry sauce ($37)

Duck breast with sand (baby) carrots, carrot greens condiment, polenta croquettes, carrot sour cherry sauce

Arriving with the food at Kendall’s Brasserie. Could you ask for a more pleasant server?

Desserts are classic French and distinguished.  We were so satisfied after our main courses that we could have left happy and full.  But we found room when David brought us Kendall’s Brasserie’s Chocolate fondant dessert with Espresso sauce, pistachio ice cream.  Our favorites of coffee flavors and pistachio ice cream were key!

Kendall’s Brasserie’s Chocolate fondant dessert with Espresso sauce, pistachio ice cream

The  rustic, classic bread was pre-sliced and served with room temperature butter.  When I asked for a bread heel, or end, the server immediately brought  out a few warmed ones!  The kitchen make it into a another full basket-to go for us.  It was perfect for breakfast the next day as a reminder of the fantastic meal.

Kendall’s Brasserie knows “bread heels!” Brought to the table in a basket, the kitchen make it into a another full basket-to go for us

Our bread heels breakfast, a reminder of our wonderful Kendall’s Brasserie meal

congenial manager, Carlos, answer any questions and assures customers they are welcome after dinner

Chef Jean Pierre Bosc, the former owner of the now shuttered Cafe des Artistes and Mimosa, boasts a Michelin-star heavy history.  His own charcuterie menu plus dishes like a Cod Brandade Cake with piquillo pepper coulis and Marseille bouillabaisse have become signatures of his menu.

Chef Jean Pierre Bosc at Kendall’s Brasserie (see his post in our CHEF SPOTLIGHT section

How to Celebrate A Cultural Easter this Year

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Easter menu trends may be pointing toward more comfort food, the settings can also be more formal and still fun.  Judging from our meal at Maple in Descanso Gardens, we highly recommend any of the following offerings for this 2019 season.  

 Descanso Gardens’ Maple offers a special Easter brunch menu including the Belgian Waffle with fresh market berries, and the Aged-Cheddar Omelet with 2-year-aged Grafton and Vermont cheddar. Executive Chef Philip Mack adds his twist to the new culinary darling, Deviled Eggs, topping them with lemon/chive egg mousse, smoked paprika, and an applewood smoked bacon crumble.

Bloody Mary Crafted Cocktails of titos vodka, traditional red spicy or mild,lime, olives.

Squash Blobbonm Frittata with organic farm eggs, zucchini, tomato, goat cheese, goat cheese-stuffed blossoms, chipotle carrot hollandaise.

Espresso Toast on house-made banana bread, espresso mascarpone, puffed buckwheat

Keeping in the chick and egg there is the signature (buttermilk) Fried chicken and Beignets with herbed honey and delicate fried thyme

A lush dessert topped with fresh berries.

Descanso Gardens’ guided Spring Bloom Strolls (through cherry blossoms, flowering trees and other vibrant florets) will be held on Easter Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. You could not ak for a lovelier spring garden than this place this year.  It put everyone in the best of moods when we were there. As my friend pointed out, even the children were on their best behavior for nature.  There’s a park bench just waiting for you.

Price: $90 Adult | $45 Child for a Brunch Buffet

Food is art and art is food at LACMA’s Ray’s and Stark Bar

Price: $15-$16 a la Carte

Ray’s and Stark Bar at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) for Easter Brunch by Executive Chef Fernando Darin features three specials including Ray’s Eggs Benedict, Dark Chocolate Pancakes, and a Soft Egg Scramble Egg Toast with robiolina cheese, maitake mushrooms and pickled onions.   LACMA’s Boone Children’s Gallery next door offers a free, creative space where visitors of all ages are invited to explore the art of brush painting.

Explore Pacific Rim fare and Bowers Museum Culture at Tangata

Price: $55 Adult | $32 Child (under 10); Brunch Buffet with Coffee and Soft Drinks included; 11 AM-3 PM

Executive Chef Stefano Ciociola at Tangata has created  a regionally inspired brunch ranging from Southern Banana Fosters French Toast with Chantilly cream to northwestern Wood-Plank Roasted Salmon with herb crusted and lemon caper sauce.  Follow or precede your meal at  Bowers Museum’s Guo-Pei exhibit, showcasing couture fashion.

Fine-dining for Easter Brunch at Leatherby’s Café Rogue

Price: $49 per guest for 3 Courses

Leatherby’s Café Rogue, located inside the beautiful Segerstrom Center for the Arts (SCFTA) features Executive Chef Greg Stillman Easter Brunch menu.  Eethnic-inspired appetizers include a Loch Duarte Salmon Crudo followed by an entrée of Baked Egg Shakshouka. Desserts to cap off the meal include an Exotic Donut with tropical fruit and basil sauce or a Milk Chocolate Namelaka with passion sauce and caramel Chantilly.  On Easter Sunday, the highly-touted, technicolor Shen Yun is performing at SCFTA.

A French experience at Kendalls Brasserie 

Price: from $13 to $38 a la Carte  In France, while the Easter Bunny is starting to make a name for himself, traditionally cloches volantes, or “flying bells” brought treats for children. The Music Center Easter meal offers a la carte brunch specials from Executive Chef Jean Pierre Bosc like an Easter Frittata with seasonal mushrooms, asparagus, cherry tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil pistou, and Yukon gold potatoes. On Easter Sunday, the Tony Award®-winning musical Falsettos is showing at the Music Center.

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