STOP at POP!

My history with Pop Champagne and Desserts dates back to Summer '08. I endured months of the Pop carrot dangling in front of me, with teases of it opening in August, then September, then...December! Good gawd....what is the hold up??!! Then...One fine day it opened and we (my twin (Terri) and I) POPPED in (no pun intended...ok, well maybe) and it was JA'DORABLE!!

I do love myself some Pop. And for all you Midwesterners, this place does NOT--I repeat, does NOT--showcase soda.

Away from the crowds on Colorado, the place is absolutely gorgeous. It has that old brick, unfinished floor and ceiling kind of look that I adore. However, it's the shiny stuff that really catches your eye. All the different types of chandeliers hanging from the ceiling make you want to be a better person and I can't get enough of the beautiful display cases full of your grandma's old artifacts that they use as tables for the high-back crush red velvet booths. Oh and I expected the music playing to be some french/italian bistro kind of music, but it was actually LIVE music,and not that top 40's garbage blaring out of the loudspeakers.

This is not a family restaurant as the name may suggest, rather it is a Champagne Bar as its corks announce. I think that it's the first true Champagne Bar in the area, am I wrong? Of course wine bars have been "popping" up like town hall meetings around these parts for the last few years but I am always ready to spring upon a Champagne and Dessert Spot!! OOO LA LA! I may not be the ultimate Francophile but I have to hand it to them, these beret loving, creme brulee making, people may just have something with this champagne thing.

Let me start off the review with a detective's observation and question, the restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays? What do they do with all the champagne they opened on Sunday, waste it? Maybe a touch, but I got permission to let you know an inside secret, Sunday Nights are the best night to go, we had a five flight sparkling and champagne selection for ($16). Good Gosh Ozzie and Harriet that's cheap, am I time traveling here?

Pop Champagne and Dessert Bar has placed the wonder of a child in me again. The creativity of the desserts and the presentation had me humming that mischievous tune of 'days gone by'...."Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar, Who me? It couldn't be!" Hahaha Now I have only been there a couple of times, but I have visions for this place. I think this place is ready to uncork some good times for everyone. It is a Sure-fire WINNER for anyone of the male species to bring a female!! She will think you are the MOST! It's the absolute BEST PLACE FOR A GIRLS NITE OUT! HANDS DOWN! It is ALL THINGS GIRLY! Plan a date, plan a birthday, take an out of town visitor, or just hang with your Sister!!

Now Here's a REEL Movie EXPERIENCE!

I AM RUINED!!! I will NEVER be able to see a movie the same again!!!

This place is "Movie Experience Extraordinaire!" If you want to score 100 "Cool Points" with anyone, treat them to a Gold Class Cinema Night (even if its just the movie ticket itself!) This place is BONA FIDE!

You first walk through the glass doors, down the carpeted stairs and into an entirely new world. You are greeted immediately by a concierge, and are seated in the exclusive lounge where you are given a menu to browse through. From the minute you open the glass door and look in, you feel like a whole new person – you feel like royalty. NO JOKE! The staff members attend to your every need and ensure that you completely understand the services they provide. They make you feel comfortable and are very friendly. After being escorted to your seat the waiters show you where the "call button" is, (yeah you heard me...the CALL BUTTON) which enables you to receive service during the movie for ordering food or drink, or blankets and pillows or whatever needs you may have. They also show you where the seat recline button is located and the secret side pocket to hide your coat or purse!!

There is little to no interruption when the waiters bring in food and drink, they are never in the way of the screen and the main time that you actually notice them is when they are attending to your needs, not anyone else’s. Once you are seated, it only takes a second for you to realise the level of comfort you are about to experience. The seats are incredibly soft and comfortable. They recline back so far that you’re almost lying down. The food is miles above standard popcorn-and-hot-dog fare, with options including crisp Maine lobster rolls w/ sweet Thai chili sauce and lemon aioli, house made chips with bleu cheese fondue, and a Waygu burger duo w/ applewood-smoked bacon and onion rings on a brioche bun, (which I've enjoyed both times I've attended) all of which are made specifically to be utensil-less, so you can easily eat with your hands. Gourmet Popcorn in 3 flavors, plus regular Hot Buttered Popcorn w/o that nasty "mystery butter" that we're accustomed to! "Gold Class adds another level of pixie dust to the whole experience of going out to the movies," It's an illusion of perfect comfort inside an already illusional cinematic world.

My advice: go on Tuesdays when the menu is half-priced!!! Park in the Fair Oaks garage because they validate. And if its your BIRTHDAY...definitely get over there... because your ticket is FREE if you take a friend. (Terri and I took two friends on our birthday and we each simply paid $11 for our tickets!!)

WE HAD A BLAST!!!!

At One Colorado: 42 Miller Alley; Pasadena; 626.639.2260

http://goldclasscinemas.com/

What A CATCH!!

HOLE. LEE. CRAP. These were easily...EASILY...the best fish tacos I've had this side of Ensenada, Mexico!!!

Normally, I might go into the details and tell you about the food. I'll skip that. I'm not eloquent enough of a writer to do Ricky's tacos justice. If he's there, do yourself a favor, stop reading what I'm writing and go. This will be the best thing you'll EVER get that's cooked from something that looks like a converted file cabinet. Just go. Seriously.

OHH EEEMMMM GEEEE. What are you doing still reading this? UGH! Fine, if you insist on finishing what I'm writing, I'll at least make it worth your while. Try the "Ricky's Special." It's a taco with both fish and shrimp ALL FOR $2 and a Half BuckS!!!

OHM JUS SAYIN'!!!
Now seriously, go!! Pay him for some tacos so maybe he can get that truck he's always dreamed of and maybe set up shop closer to me!!

He's at 4006 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90029 (Silverlake) on SATURDAY and SUNDAY ONLY from 12-4pm...but peep his twitter to make sure he's not running late!

GET TWO or THREE and take 'em to your friends....They'll LOVE you FOR-EVER!

Look for the Rainbow Umbrella and use Intelligentsia (a hot coffee spot) as a landmark!!

twitter.com/RickysFishTacos

OOHHHHH MOMMMMY!! Say it with me now....

IN THE KNOW.....NOW!

Ever been the one person in the crowd who hasn't gone to that "cool" spot? The one in your friend group who doesn't know about the birthday party? That one sad soul in the church who has yet to meet the cool new brother everyone is talking about in the foyer?
Well, that sad sad person used to be me...Until one Friday Night.
That was the day, when after several discussions, an episode of "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" and a birthday invite, that I was able to experience this thing everyone else in the LA foodie scene seemed to have already tried...Umami Burger.
(I pronounce it "OOH Mommy!" now!!)

And, much like the feeling one gets when meeting their soul-mate, I was not upset, nor bitter...I felt that it was worth the wait and that it happened exactly when God had deemed it appropriate. Because it was only on that Friday Nite, after a very interesting (albeit odd) day (sans paycheck), that I could have possibly appreciated the glory that was bestowed upon me on that overcast, cold, magical, satisfying evening. -sigh-The true test of a burger is the level of "juicy" it possesses. Umami is about as juicy as burgers get. In fact, after the first bite, the collection of savory juiciness rolled down my fingers and gathered on my plate! Evidence Enough! The flavors were all that the Umami burger promises. Their Truffle Burger was hands down the most delicious burger EVER. It trotted the line between juicy and greasy perfectly. It played with the maltiness of truffles and zest of garlic like it was Mozart. It combined light crunch of toasted bun with the seductive softness of well-marbled beef like it was performing some sort of MAGIC. It was just....awesome. Every bite exuded flavor and quality so consistently that it would make any other burger joint cower in shame.
Truffle Burger = Epic Win. In the words of the governator: "I'll be back."

I tried both the lightly beer battered onion rings and sweet potato fries with Roasted Garlic Aioli Sauce- PERFECTO! And washed it down with some Old Skool Grape Crush! 'member dat? The ladies at my table also raved about the Port & Stilton Burger, Umami Burger and Manly Burger, but we all knew far too well that asking for a bite was not going to be a good idea on this occasion. We all, diets and manners in tact, devoured our food between stories of dating mishaps and embarrassing blunders. So now, not only am I someone who is in the know about Umami, I vow to spread the gospel of what MANY call the best burger in town!! Love at First Bite!!

http://www.umamiburger.com/