I wrote about Los Angeles’ Abbot Kinny earlier this month, largely its connection to and abundance of art, bistros, shops, food trucks, vintage shops and high end shops. The restaurant scene is also buzzing on weekends and there’s no shortage of them along a three block radius where you can grab a drink at the bar or sit down inside or out (there are many patios). I tested out Primitivo Wine Bistro recently, which had an incredibly extensive wine menu, most of which were inexpensive in price.
Bottles ranged from $36 to $65, not bad for a trendy restaurant in a trendy neighborhood. They had wine offerings from as far away as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to more obscure ones from Portugal and Canada (yes Canada). You can also find Spanish, Austrian, Italian, Napa Valley and French wines on the menu – both red and wine, as well as a higher end offering. And for each dish, they suggest a wine that it will pair well which includes the price. No surprises at this little gem along Abbot Kinny.
The ambience is rustic and bohemian at the same time. Simple wooden tables line up the wall in the back room and small white candles give it some lure. It’s meant to be a tapas bar and they serve both cold and hot tapas but the cool thing is that unlike a lot of tapas bars, they serve entrees too.
Some of the cold tapas included salads: Arugula Salad with Shaved Manchego Cheese, Apples, Dates, Candied Walnuts & Hazelnut Vinaigrette, Romaine Salad with Boquerones, Shaved Parmesan, Croutons and Lemon-Parmesan Dressing, Golden Beet Salad with Orange Segments, Watercress, Feta Cheese and Orange Honey Vinaigrette, Chopped Salad with Chickpeas, Olives, Red Onions, Tomatoes, Feta Cheese, Finochionna Salami and Pepperoncini with Herb Vinaigrette, a Mezze Platter which includes Hummus, Baba Ganouj, Mahammara, Tzatziki, Spuma di Tonno and Taramasalata with Grilled Pita Bread (YUM), Strawberry Salad with Arugula, Blue Cheese, Toasted Hazelnuts, Prosciutto and Vanilla Bean Vinaigrette (they say try the Castello di Ama from Tuscany with this one) and lastly, the Kampachi Crudo with Gingered Mango, Shaved Fennel and Celery.
Some of the hot tapas include: Croquetas de Jamon y Queso (Black Forest Ham and Cheese) with Quince Aioli, (try the New Zealand Pinot Noir with this one), Tortilla España” – Spanish Potato and Onion Omelet with Salsa (Go Brava Ribera del Duero from Spain for this one) and Fried Calamari with Pesto Aioli (go with the Viognier, Domaine de Trienne from Provence) if you order this one.
We went to town with entrees and ordered the Apple Smoked Bacon-Garlic Crusted Salmon with Violet Mustard and a Warm Bean Salad with Roasted Shallot Vinaigrette dressing, Braised Chipotle BBQ Beef Short Ribs with Firecracker Coleslaw (try the Chocolate Block, South Africa with this one although I had a Shiraz/Malbec blend that was out of this world), and the Steak Frittes” – Prime Grade Culotte with Peppercorn Sauce and Garlic Scented Shoestring Potatoes.
Other options include a Half Roasted Chicken with Summer Carrots and Roasted Chicken Jus, Seared Diver Scallops with Rock Shrimp, Sweet Corn Risotto and Roasted Garlic, Paella with Saffron Rice, Chicken, Tiger Shrimp, Mussels, Chorizo and Peas and the Harissa Lamb Chops with Quinoa Tabbouleh, Tzatziki and Fresh Cilantro. Here’s the full menu to entice you even further.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
