![\"culver-hot\"](\"http:\/\/www.itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/culver-hot-300x224.jpg\" "\\"culver-hot\\"")
\nMINI FOOD FEST AT THE CULVER HOTEL<\/h1>\n
<\/p>\n
Since one of my many gigs is being the restaurant critic for the Culver City News, I just got to attend a fabulous private mini food fest at the Historic Culver Hotel in Culver City. (This is where the munchkins stayed during the filming of The Wizard Of Oz<\/em>.) It was a great way to celebrate the new year and administration, and turned out to be the party of the century! (And a great proto-type for a Superbowl one!)<\/p>\n Peter Dickinson, the Director of Food and Beverage for the Culver Hotel, (though, as far as I\u2019m concerned, he\u2019s WIZARD of that place!), turned this little foodie event into an extravaganza. He made it so much better than any of us could have ever imagined. Even the hard-to-impress Mr. X flipped for it. (Yes, he actually put in an appearance with me!)<\/p>\n Though the lobby lounge is a perfect party venue, (it features a bar, live music, and couch seating), and there\u2019s another long room on that level which is excellent for events, this was held on the mezzanine. As one guest put it, \u201cLove this room! It\u2019s intimate and cozy, yet classy\u201d with great acoustics. There\u2019s a private bar, four big couch booths, and room for at least the five round tables that were in use that night. Everyone was thoroughly comfortable there, no matter their age, gender, occupation, or even level of classiness!<\/p>\n Peter and company set-up the food in a gorgeous fashion, with each dish displayed creatively. And kept warm with a modicum of fire! You\u2019ll have to have your own party there to discover his secret.<\/p>\n It was catered by several Culver City restaurants (and Sky\u2019s, from the close-by Pico-Fairfax area), and there appeared to be a plethora of edibles. There was no possibility of running out of food, as happens too often at even the best of soirees.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what we devoured and (since I<\/em> loved it all<\/em>) some of the other attendees\u2019 comments (the ones in quotes), in no particular order–just make sure to read them all, or you\u2019ll miss out:<\/p>\n Culver Hotel<\/strong> –Smoked Salmon on Tomato and Caper Pancake with Horseradish Creme Fraiche & Turkey Sliders with Manchego, Heirloom Tomato, Pancetta and Smoked Chili Ketchup. Sky\u2019s Gourmet Tacos<\/strong>–Caramel Crunch Cheesecake & Pineapple Cheesecake. Hoagies And Wings<\/strong>–Lemon-Pepper Wings & Garlic-Parmesan Wings. Brunello Trattoria<\/strong>–Penne with Checca & Fusilli with Pesto Sauce & Pizza Bread. Pampas Grill<\/strong>–Fried Plantains & Cheese Bread. LaRocco\u2019s Pizzeria<\/strong>–Cheese Pizza. Samosa House<\/strong>–Potato Samosas. Golden China<\/strong>–Chicken Chow Mein. Sorrento Italian Market<\/strong>–Meatballs & Sausages & Garden Vegetable Salad & Rolls. Subway<\/strong> (24 hours!)–Assorted Giant Cookies. MINI FOOD FEST AT THE CULVER HOTEL Since one of my many gigs is being the restaurant critic for the Culver City News, I just got to attend a fabulous private mini food fest at the Historic Culver Hotel in Culver City. (This is where the munchkins stayed during the filming of The Wizard<\/p>\n
\nBesides providing the exquisite venue, the hotel added a touch of class with these \u201camazing,\u201d enormous, passed appetizers. People were especially \u201cthrilled\u201d to see the smoked salmon ones. I don\u2019t know how Peter thinks up these creative dishes!
\n9400 Culver Blvd. 310-558-9400 www.culverhotel.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\nBy popular demand (from people who\u2019ve had them before), these super-creamy cheesecakes served as one of only two desserts. (Trust me, no other ones were necessary with these around!) The Mexican food here is delicious, as well, of course. (I\u2019ve paid them several visits over the past couple of years, after discovering them at a gifting suite, of all places!) Even though there were signs stating each dish and where it was from, most guests had to double-check to make sure they were reading correctly–that \u201cthe best cheesecakes ever\u201d were from a taco restaurant! They may have to change their name to \u201cSky\u2019s Gourmet Taco\u2019s and CHEESECAKES!\u201d
\n5408 W. Pico Blvd. 323-932-6253 www.skygourmettacos.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u201cLove, love, love\u201d the \u201cawesome\u201d \u201ccrispy\u201d wings. The panel was split on which flavor they favored, lauding them both. (Shockingly for me, an anything- lemon eschewer, I loved the lemon ones.) They were also deemed the \u201cperfect party-size.\u201d With how many wings they so generously provided, there could have been ten times as many invitees.
\n11172 Washington Blvd. 310-839-0776 www.hoagiesandwings.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\nAgain, the guests loved both pastas. Mr. X said the checca was so delicious he \u201chad to go back for more!,\u201d which is quite the compliment considering the variety of goodies to choose from. We all loved that these were healthful sauces, so we could fill up on them without worrying about our diets. And have a chunk of the pizza bread, too!
\n6001 Washington Blvd. 310-280-3856<\/p>\n
\nAs this Brazilian churrascaria is one of the most popular eateries around, many of the guests instantly recognized the \u201cmelt-in-your-mouth\u201d plantains and \u201cunbelievably good\u201d cheese bread. I was so happy I wasn\u2019t wearing a tight outfit, so I could consume oodles of them. (But don\u2019t worry about the hotness of my wardrobe–my dress was short and my heels were high!)
\n3857 Overland Ave. Culver City 310-836-0080 www.pampas-grill.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\nEveryone agreed this pizza is \u201cjust like New York!\u201d No higher compliment can be paid to pizza, trust me. And the gracious owners, Paul and Sue, kept them coming hot and fresh all night. One guest from the Valley declared it \u201cthe best\u201d she\u2019s had \u201cin 20 years,\u201d and said it depressed her. When I asked why, she answered, \u201cbecause it\u2019s nowhere near my house!\u201d
\n3819 Main Street 310-837-8345 www.laroccospizzeria.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe vegetarians, especially, were thrilled with these delicious triangles filled with potatoes and peas, personal faves of mine. \u201cSamosas rock!\u201d is a typical comment I got about them. A special Indian sauce accompanied them, but wasn\u2019t even necessary because they\u2019re so incredible on their own.
\n11510 W. Washington Blvd. 310-398-6766<\/p>\n
\nSome \u201cwent nuts\u201d over these tasty noodles, and I agree. The chicken added the perfect texture. I\u2019ve been craving them ever since the party ended. I can see why it\u2019s one of their signature dishes.
\n9018 Venice Blvd. 310-559-0116 www.goldenchinaculvercity.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u201cWho knew a garden salad could be so tasty?\u201d It was the welcome complement to the \u201cunbelievable sausages\u201d and \u201cexcellent meatballs.\u201d Some chose to make their own little sandwiches with the fresh rolls, but lots of us just went to town commando-style.
\n5518 Sepulveda Blvd. 310-391-7654<\/p>\n
\nWho knew Subway had cookies??? The flavors are: double chocolate (my fave), chocolate chip, peanut butter, white chocolate macadamia, M & M, and Mr. X\u2019s favorite, oatmeal raisin. They seemed to get equal compliments. I saw several people trying to sneak them before they were even being offered!!! Something about these cookies channels one\u2019s inner child, I guess, which is a good thing.
\n3817 S. Sepulveda Blvd. 310-397-1515 www.subway.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"