I’ve been getting ready for bikini season by pretty much eating my way through spring. But there’s a new amazing restaurant popping up on every corner of LA and well, everything tastes better than skinny feels!
A couple of weeks ago we had an impromptu date night at Kali, which opened just down the street from where we live. The chef is formerly of Cafe Pinot (and his underground dining club Kali Dining), and his partner was the former wine director of Providence. My point? Prepare for greatness. We called last minute and lucky for us, they squeezed us in for an early dinner, and thus began our five course tasting adventure.
Can’t you almost taste summer with the longer days?? I even put on a dress for the occasion, but kept to flats since we decided it would be more romantic to walk.
The decor is very minimalist—bright and airy, with a lot of natural elements, making the wow factor more about the creative plate presentation and food itself.
My favorite season is rosé season.
Though you can order a la carte, the tasting menu is one of the best values in town at $65 pp. 1st course was a potato tuile (chip!) sprinkled with black garlic and topped with a prawn. But the obvious takeaway here is that everything is better served on a stone.
Second course was a work of art—yellowtail crudo with citrus and pistachio oil.
Third course (and our favorite course) was the Wheat Berry “Risotto.” The black crisp on top is actually cheese and took the dish to another level.
Fourth course was the Duck Breast with carrots, honey and lavender. Gorgeous and fabulously floral with just a hint of sweet, we both agreed it was the best duck we’ve ever had.
The finale was a homemade meringue gelato, which is sprinkled with shaved candied egg yolk tableside. This ain’t your usual ice-cream, kids.
And I wasn’t lying. I did go back to Kali. For lunch with my friend Jessica. My rosé this time was in the form of a non-alcoholic Shrub with a sprig of rosemary.
“…Exquisite, Kali, great place to visit.”
Kali. 5722 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA. 323-871-4160
Take me back! (to kali)