Hi Everyone,

I’ve asked Denise to post my notes on being in California for everyone. So It’s Mike Hafford here…and it’s 70 degrees in California now…that’s all I’ll say about that.

I made a few good food choices while was here and wanted to share them with you.

I had lunch at Mozza yesterday. I stumbled across it at around 11:30 while I was walking around. There was already a line at the door for the noon opening. I had recently read a NY times review of this place that is co-owned by Batali and Nancy Silverton so it was a stroke of luck that I just happened upon it. The best seats in the house must be the two bars because when the doors opened everyone rushed to a sit at the bar. The house was full by 12:15pm.

I started with butternut squash bruschetta with applewood bacon and dandelion greens. Absolutely fantastic. Reminded me very much of my grandmother who I used to drive around looking for fields of dandelions which we would pick and she would can, pickle or freeze and then cook with salt pork. I always wondered as a kid why we ate weeds for dinner.

I then had a pizzette with fresh goat cheese, leeks and sausage. Again – fantastic. The crust was thin, airy and crunchy. I didn’t know the house specialty was a chopped salad. I kid you not – this salad went to every table and seat. The couple at the bar next to me knew I was a newbie and shared some of theirs with me (along with a glass of their sparkling red wine). So simple but so delish. Iceberg, raddichio, aged provolone, strips of genoa, chickpeas and tomatoes with a basic red wine vinegarette. I don’t know if I was caught up in the moment but it was one of the best salads I have ever had.

I went to Comme Ca for dinner. I was alone and the house was packed so I waited for 40 minutes at the bar for a seat – well worth the wait. I had a frisee salad (the first time I had a frisee salad when the frisee was completely white). It had a smoked bacon vinegrette and was topped with a poached egg. It was seasoned just right and once the poached egg was broken it coated the frisee prefectly. I had the duck confit for my entree. It came with a red wine braised red cabbage over a pile of Spaetzle. The duck had a perfectly crispy skin and fell off the bone. I finished with brioche pudding and buttermilk ice cream which is a close second to Alba’s! I finished my dinner around 11pm and was too full for cheese…but I talked to the charcuterie who was very nice and spent a lot of time talking to me. He let me taste the triple cream french style brie and the manchego, as well as a few pickled veggies and meats. His station was right in the middle of the restaurant where he cut everthing to order. It looked like he was busy all night long. I saw a bunch of cheese and meat plates going out and they were all well presented and I thought the portions were generous…very suprising for LA.

Anyway sorry to ramble on about food – but I was quite pleased with my finds and wanted to share. I’ll post more from the road soon!

-Mike Hafford