New Cocktail List, New Bar Manager at Big Bar

Big Bar recently celebrated its first anniversary.  The cocktail bar within Alcove Cafe has generated a devoted following for its unpretentious atmosphere, quality cocktails, knowledgeable staff and fun vibe.  Signature events include a weekly mixtape mixology series and a Monday movie night in which movies are projected outside.

The new fall cocktail list debuted earlier this month at Big Bar and it includes twelve selections.  The Lonsdale (below) is made with Beefeater Gin, lemon juice, honey, apple juice and basil.  The apple juice holds all the elements of the cocktail together and binds them without too much sweetness or tartness.  The Lonsdale is a well balanced shaken fall gin cocktail that is more on the refreshing side.

The Night Nurse is a take on the rum old fashioned with Sailor Jerry rum, Smith & Cross rum, grenadine, velvet falernum and absinthe.  When I sampled it Appleton's Rum was substituted for the Sailor Jerry as they were out of it.  The Night Nurse is more spiritous and would be equally wonderful to enjoy in front of a fireplace or a porch on a cool Southern California evening.  The twist of lime peel brings out citrus notes.

The Iron and Wine is made with Zaya Rum, Benedictine, Dry Vermouth, Fernet Branca, and Angostura bitters.  This stirred cocktail has a very strong mouthfeel from the Benedictine and Fernet and is on the aromatic side.

The Harvest Moon tastes like the essence of Autumn.  The apple flavor is pronounced in the cocktail made with Laird's Applejack, Amaro Nonino, Lillet, apple juice, and Angostura bitters.  Think changing leaves, pumpkin pie and a sip of the Harvest Moon as Halloween and Thanksgiving season approaches.

In a changing of the guard, bar manager Juan Sevilla is departing the bar to move to New York and work at SoHo House.  The cocktail program will be managed by Dan Long and Eugene Lee (below), who have both worked under since the bar opened, so I anticipate that the momentum that Big Bar has been building will continue.

Tonight is Sevilla's final night and it coincides with a Screening of the 80s classic movie The Lost Boys.  So come to watch the movie, say goodbye to Juan and to try the drinks on the new cocktail list.  Sevilla assures me that he will be back in LA as the New York move is not permanent.  The full cocktail list is below the movie poster:

Big Bar Fall Cocktails:

Mamie Taylor: Famous Grouse Scotch, lime juice, ginger syrup, soda, Angostura bitters

Army & Navy: Bols Genever, Orgeat, lemon juice, nutmeg

Canela Sour: El Jimador Reposado Tequila, cinnamon syrup, lime juice, chocolate chili bitters, Angostura bitters

Remember the Maine: Old Overholt Rye Whiskey, Carpano Antica. Cherry Heering, Absinthe

Cinnamon Girl: Woodford Reserve Bourbon, St. Germain, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, cinnamon syrup, Angostura bitters, sparkling wine

Paloma: El Jimador Tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup, tonic water

Rum Diary: Bacardi 8 Rum, Del Maguey Mezcal Vida, agave, lime juice

Bo Diddley: Old Overholt Whiskey, Kings Ginger Liqueur, lime juice, honey, Angostura bitters, cucumber

Big Bar at Alcove Cafe: 1929 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Feliz.  Phone: (323) 644-0100.  www.alcovecafe.com/bigbar

Now Open: Mother Dough Pizza

Fans of Neapolitan pizza can celebrate a new addition to the LA scene, Mother Dough Pizza.  Mother Dough is named for the starter that contributes to the pizza dough.  According to the restaurant, "a piece of each day's batch [is saved and added] to the next day's dough mixture" and the term for this fermentation starter is mother dough.  The restaurant is located on Hollywood Blvd just East of Vermont Avenue and is across the street from Umami Burger and down the block from Bar Covell.

The menu is small with five pizzas, all of which use buffalo mozzarella, and and six starters.  The pizzas are made with imported zero zero flour and the dough is hand-stretched before being cooked for 60-90 seconds at 850 degrees in the wood-burning oven imported from Naples.  The Neapolitan style is thin crust and crispy.  The choices are: Margherita, Zucchini, Oven-Roasted Vine Tomatoes, Prosciutto and Arugula, and Sausage and range in price from $15 to $19.  There is a short wine list of about a dozen wines plus half a dozen beers, all imports or microbrews.

I ordered the Margherita Pizza ($15), which is always my tester pie at a new pizza spot.  The ingredients are: san marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil, aged parmigiano-regiano, extra virgin olive oil and sea salt.  The pizza was good but not great.  There was char as I expect with this type of pizza and oven, but a bit too much for my taste. The crust at the center of the pie is limper and chewier than ideal.  But the ingredients are great and the ratio of toppings to dough is as it should be.  I am hopeful and confident that as they get more use out of their oven they will gain experience and the pies will get better.  Do I think they will be a rival to Mozza?  No, but this is a much more casual operation and a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

The Burrata Salad ($11) above was a very nice iteration of the dish.  The portion is enough to be someone's lunch or for several hungry people to share as a starter.  The portion of burrata in particular was quite generous.  The heirloom tomatoes came in a variety of colors and the whole dish was plated attractively.  The salad was simply dressed and some sea salt was sprinkled on it.  I'd happily have this again.  The other appetizers include raw almonds, duck crostini, a charcuterie platter, olives and a mixed green salad.  

The pizza oven

There are currently two desserts on the menu: oven roasted pears with chocolate shavings, creme fraiche and hazelnut liqueur; and triple chocolate mousse with caramel sauce and lavender sea salt.

Mother Dough Pizza is located at 4648 Hollywood Blvd in Los Feliz.  Phone: (323) 644-2885.  Website: www.motherdoughpizza.com  Note: website not currently operational

Fall Cocktails at Dominick's

Monday night a phalanx of cocktail bloggers (including Caroline on Crack, e*star LA and ThirstyinLA) descended on the back bar at Dominick's to try the new cocktail list, which for the first time is shared by both Dominick's (West Hollywood) and its sibling establishment, Little Dom's in Los Feliz. The new cocktails were created by Nikki Sunseri of Little Dom's. We tried all of the new drinks:

The Scotch Leaf has Famous Grouse Scotch, Maple, Maple Bitters, Lemon, Egg White, Orange Peel.  This reminded me of the Japanese Maple, one of the signature drinks at the Roger Room (Yamazaki Scotch, maple syrup, lemon juice, egg white), and while it isn't up to that standard, is pretty darn tasty.  The froth of the egg white, the scotch and the maple all blend together seamlessly.

The garnish is anything but discreet on the Southside cocktail (above) made with Damrak Amsterdam Gin, Cucumber, Basil, Lemon and Simple Syrup.  With the cucumber it reminded me more of an Eastside than a Southside, but in any case it was refreshing and well balanced.  On the sweeter side of drinks I enjoy, but still recommended as the basil and cucumber cut the gin and simple nicely.

You may be shouting Ole once you take a sip of El Matador, which contains El Jimador Silver Tequila, Creme Yvette, Pressed Ginger, Simple Syrup and Lemon.  It is very light for a tequila-based cocktail although its pink color does not imply that it is simply a concoction for the fairer sex.  The tequila does not overpower the cocktail and you could find yourself drinking too many of these before you realize it.

The Italian 75 is a prosecco cocktail based on the classic French 75, containing Prosecco, Dimmi, Plymouth Gin, Simple Syrup and Lemon and served with a grapefruit peel.  The changes are the substitution of prosecco for champagne and the addition of Dimmi.

The cocktails above are all $12, with the exception of the Italian 75, which is $11.

The only beverage I tried that wasn't up to par was the Manhattan (not pictured), which was rather weak.  So stick to the drinks above and you should be a happy camper.

The back bar at Dominick's is very comfortable and seats about eight people max.  As part of a recent renovation they redid their side patio, which has a roaring fireplace and comfortable seating.  I'd recommend getting a cocktail at the front bar and relaxing outside by the fireplace or hanging out at the back bar which is open every day of the week except Monday evening.

Don't forget about the Sunday Dinner special which is 3 courses for $15, with bottles of red or white wine available for $12.  The prime seating area is the back patio, which is comfortable and relaxing.

Dominick's: 8715 Beverly Blvd, West Hollywood.  Phone: (310) 652-2235.  Website: http://www.dominicksrestaurant.com/

East Coast Happy Hour at Big Bar

It's hard living here in Los Angeles when 2 pm rolls around. Lunch is in the rearview mirror and happy hour is hours away. You may get a call from a friend back East headed home from the office while you head to the office kitchen to scrounge around for something to tide you over. No more. Now Big Bar in Los Feliz has an Eastern Standard Happy Hour beginning at 2 pm and running til 7 pm, Monday - Friday. Your choice of 2-3 cocktails are available for $7, draft beer for $5, wine $6 and food specials too.

So take the afternoon off and enjoy the fresh market beverages of bartender Juan Sevilla and his crew while your friends in New York or Boston trudge through the sleet and snow. The gentle prices will enable you to while away the afternoon as you think, "Who's laughing now?"

Big Bar: 1927 Hillhurst Avenue (Los Feliz). Phone: (323) 644-0100. Website: alcovecafe.com/bigbar

Lucifer's Pizza: The Devil Made Me Do It

Lucifer's Pizza proprietor Adam Borich does not look like a cast member of Comedy Central's Ugly Americans, the show about demons, zombies, vampires etc, although he does serve some devilish pies. Unlike my underwhelming experience at Antica Pizzeria, Lucifer's Pizza in Los Feliz exceeded my expectations. The shtick at Lucifer's is that you can get your pizza any spice level you like from zero to blazing.  (Note the chili pepper graphic below.)

Not only can you customize your level of spiciness but you can opt for Gluten Free or Vegan, which are great options when dining with friends with dietary restrictions.  Unlike some establishments (you know who you are), changes and modifications are politely accepted. Want to hold the bacon on the chicken basil pesto? No problem.

On a recent visit, my dining companions and I began with the margherita pizza.  The crust held up well, the sauce was flavorful and the cheese did not overwhelm the pie.  Overall a very good start to the meal.

We opted for gluten free for the Chicken Basil Pesto, which had chicken, sun-dried roma tomato, cashew nuts, basil pesto & black pepper (we nixed the bacon). This pie also had the "fiery" level of spiciness.  This was my first gluten free pizza and I'd be happy to eat another one if they are all like this.  I am a big pesto fan and the sauce was good and with the chicken and cheese on the pie, this dish was certainly a meal.

Overall the pizzas at Lucifer's were solid.  They get definite bonus points for offering the gluten free and vegan options, as it is great to see that in a restaurant that doesn't celebrate mock meat or absurdly healthy food.  The ambiance is just OK; it appeared that the majority of their business was takeout or delivery.  Would I rush across town from the westside for this pizza?  Not unless I was with my gluten free friends.  But if I found myself in Silverlake, Echo Park, Los Feliz etc, I'd happily encourage my friends to join me for a few pizza pies.  With its flexible menu including the option to raise the spice quotient up to satanic levels, Lucifer's is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Lucifer's Pizza: 1958 Hillhurst Avenue (Los Feliz). Phone: (323) 906-8603.  Website: luciferspizza.com

First Look: Bar Covell in Los Feliz

Bar Covell opened up earlier this month on Hollywood Blvd in Los Feliz, across the street from Umami Burger and Salaryman and just east of Vermont Avenue. Despite (or because of) its recent opening, it was comfortably full of customers sipping on beer and wine when I stopped by last week. Covell was opened by owner Dustin Lancaster, formerly of Cafe Stella and general manager/wine director Matt Kaner, formerly of Silver Lake Wine.

Kaner (pictured above) was there when I visited and he was excited about the launch and the upcoming addition of food to the menu. There are eight beers on tap and 8-10 wines available by the glass. The wine list is short and has a curated feel to it, with interesting selections such as a delicious Portugese rosé Vinho Verde. Matt commented that the entire bottle list is also available by the glass, a customer friendly touch.

Overall Covell has a comfortable vibe: this is not a place you need to get dressed up for and it has a worn-in coziness to it that feels authentic. The wall opposite the bar is covered with antique cameras, which look like something you might find in your grandparent's attic, only in better condition. The crowd was a mix of locals and folks from the westside and downtown who were curious to check out the new bar on the block.

Bar Covell: 4628 Hollywood Blvd, Los Feliz. Phone: (323) 660-4400. Website: barcovell.com Hours: 5pm - Midnight on Sunday - Thursday, 5 pm - 2 am Friday and Saturday.