Travel

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La Colombe, Frogtown, Los Angeles

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La Colombe, Frogtown, Los Angeles

2828 Newell St Suite 4. Los Angeles, CA 90039

La Colombe Frogtown Front

I Like Todd Carmichael, ever since I became addicted to his TV show Dangerous Grounds years ago. What lengths this man went to and where he went to get the planets best coffee is amazing. To this day I still watch the now canceled show reruns religiously on Pluto. I honestly believe this man wants to serve the best coffee on the planet to his customers and clientele.

I am here today in the downtown Los Angeles Frogtown area to go to his recently opened Coffee Roastery called La Colombe Frogtown. Small trendy glass box shaped building located in a residential neighborhood that you would never find without GPS. It sits at the end of a residential  street on a cul de sac where there is absolutely no parking, what little parking is on the street is takin by the residents. It took me 45 minutes of waiting for someone to leave in order to park.

Once inside its a pretty millennial yuppie little modern glass structure with seating inside and out. It has a glass view of their roaster and production area. They have several of there coffees for sale of which I bought there Ethiopia Yirgachefe Medium Roast, we’ll get back to that in a second.

The reason I’am here is to taste what I have been longing for a long time,Todd Carmichael’s La Colombe coffees. To start with I ordered a Medium drip of a San Salvador Medium Roast, as I was handed the coffee I looked down and was reminded I would have to pay on one of those swivel mounted registers created to shame you into a tip.

Now in my opinion I purchased a coffee at an already high price and was handed that which I was about to pay when the man behind the counter turns the screen, where upon is my coffee price along with how much I would like to tip. Would I rather 20-30-50 or 100% for my gratuity…..Man this pisses me off, and I used to fall for it …until recently when saw that at the bottom you can select ..other…. Which I now do….I left a $2.00 tip, which is fair, don’t you think?. When the man behind the register turned the screen back around and saw what he must have thought was a punny tip I got a snicker half laugh and a here’s your coffee buddy comment. Todd Carmichael is starting to lose his shine.

Calm down, Back to the coffee.

La Colombe Frogtown Inside

The San Salvador Drip I was served was burnt. You know when it has that taste of being overcooked or left on the warmer to long it arrived extremely hot. I had to let it sit for five minutes so I could take a second sip. When I did right off the bat I could tell it was way over burnt. So much so I could not distinguish any exceptional favor. It was no better than a bad blend at Dunkin Donut. Things seem to be really going down hill now.

As I mentioned before I bought a 8 oz. bag of Ethiopia Yirgachefe Medium Roast at $15.00 and did not even think of complaining because I had anticipated this for a long time. I took it home and the next morning we prepared it just right. I added a little cream which I always do and sat down in the living room for a taste.

After the first taste I knew something was wrong, it was terrible. I retraced all my steps again and the same, terrible. What could it be… I tried again and this time took out the cream and it was Better. Still not great but good with a light flavor and exotic taste.

Did this new Frogtown La Colombe live up to what I thought a Todd Carmichael owned coffee shop would be….No it did not…Not this time. Maybe next time at a different La Colombe my experience will live up to my expectation.

Atmosphere = 7

Service        =  3

Coffee         =  4

Food

Carnevino Restaurant – Las Vegas

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Carnevino Restaurant – Las Vegas

Mario Batali’s Carnevino in Las Vegas is a beautiful restaurant. Located inside The Palazzo near the Grand Canal Shoppes right off the main gambling floor. Its biggest feature is the millions spent on the interior. The carved bull in the main dining room alone is a work of art. Along the walls are glass cases filled with thousands of the best wines from around the world. White table cloths and tall ceiling and handcrafted wood works fill in the rest.

The Antipasti at Carnevino goes from Lamb Sausage to Duck Eggs to Mussels and more, very good yet very small portions . Prices 16-21$. The Itaiian sides also very good yet very small go from Ricotta and Egg Raviolo to Beef Tortelloni.

The dinner dishes serve Lamb, Fish, Poultry and Pork, but if your coming to Carnevino your coming for the Beef. According to Carnevino all their beef is “all natural BBL beef is hand selected and aged in our meat chamber by our man Adam Perry Lang. BBL beef is often beyond regular USDA prime standards for marbling and flavor and is hormone and antibiotic free. We rub all of our beef with sea salt, black pepper and fresh rosemary to get a delicious and slightly charred crust.”.

Carnevino4

We order the Dry Aged Bone-In Ribeye at 152$ for two people. It was a delious steak cut and prepared at the table. The char on the outside of the steak was perfect and the seasoning of just salt and pepper with a little olive oil was great. A fine steak. I would rate the steak at about a 7.

The dry aging did not really add any extra flavor to this steak nor make it any more tender. I have had as good or better at other steak houses in Vegas at half the price. For example even at the steak house at Circus Circus (laugh but any local knows that this steakhouse was voted best steakhouse in las Vegas for over ten years running) serves a ribeye that is more tender and just as big and just as well served at half the prices and it come with sides included. The steak at Carnevino seemed to be in the realm of say Ruth Chris. An excellent steak but twice as expensive as even Ruth Chris’s.

Carnevino6

What other attributes does Carnevino have that justify these Rich People only prices. Just one…The atmosphere of the dining room which is stunning.

If you come here for dinner and get a antipasti with a Pasta side and a Steak and a Bottle of Wine expect to pay with tip a minimum of 325$

Carnevino serves a fine steak in an amazingly beautiful room but is it worth the money……

no

On a 1 to 10 Carnevino gets a 7

S E A M O N S T E R

Sailing Around The World – Planning For Global Circumnavigation

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There’s something about sailing around the world that captures the imagination and inspires. For some, it’s the reason for learning to sail in the first place. Others only start to think about global circumnavigation as their skills and experience grow. Regardless of what motivates you to circumnavigate, one thing remains true. For most, it will
— Read on www.hashtagboatlife.com/sailing-around-the-world/