Tapas and Wine Bar C, Japanese Restaurant, Los Angeles, CA

Tapas and Wine Bar C
428 East 2nd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 628-8877
Hours: 6:00 PM-2:00AM

GOOGLE MAP

A little place that I never would have heard of, but would certainly have been interested in seeing at least once, but luckily two of my friends took me there one night. This strange little wine bar is located on the southeast of 2nd, in a little mall with parking, though it will likely be full up, but there are various places to park in Little Tokyo.

Now for what makes this place special. It does have food, though we didn't try it, but it is mostly a wine bar (though they have mixed drinks and beer) with a huge selection, including most that can be had by the glass, but what makes it really special, is that the Japanese waitresses all dress in French Maid outfits. Yes you heard that right, FRENCH MAID OUTFITS!

Palermo Ristorante Italiano, Italian Restaurant, Los Angeles, CA

1858 N. Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 663-1178
Sun-Thu 11AM-11PM, Fri-Sat 11AM-1AM

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An excellent family style Italian restaurant with decent food and incredibly good service. After 7 PM you get free slices of their excellent Italian style pizza, and if you have to wait in line you can get cups of house wine for $1.50. They know how to make waiting kind, and they have a little store with Wine and Italian Sundries. The decor is homy, with a great painting on the wall, though the neon does make it not quite like home.

K&L Wine Merchants, Wine, Hollywood, CA

K&L Wine Merchants
1400 Vine Street
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 464-WINE (9463)
Hours: Mon-Sat from 10am to 8pm, Sunday from 11am to 6pm.

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My girlfriend and I had seen this place when they bought it, and that it was opening as we left the Arclight theaters each time, and had been excited to see it open, and even tried it on the first day. In fact I have been meaning to blog about it for sometime, but just never got around to it (though I did post about some of the wine I got there). This place is fantastic, with a knowledgeable staff, a huge selection, really good prices, and inexpensive wine tastings. Hollywood has really needed someplace like this for sometime, and I am so happy it is here now. Not only that, but the place was recently listed as one of the 10 best online retailers in Food and Wine magazine (June 2007), and is known for it's 2 excellent stores in Northern California, so you can't go wrong shopping here.

Victor's Liquor & Delicatessen, Delicatessen, Hollywood, CA

1915 N. Bronson Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90068-5601

(3230 464-0275

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This place is at the corner of Franklin and Tamarind Ave, and has a liquor store that makes great (if expensive) sandwiches, and is also a restaurant next door with again delicious sandwiches, though the prices are way too high. You have to experience the food though, it is pretty damn good, and the sandwiches are huge (though they should be from $10 to $15).

2005 Brander Chateau Nuef Du Pink, Santa Ynez, CA Ros

After a bottle of the excellent 2005 Torre Quarto Guappo Rose Puglia, Italy at the Hungry Cat, I tried a glass of this second excellent Ros

2005 Torre Quarto Guappo Rose, Puglia, Italy, Ros

We had a bottle of this excellent Ros

Marlborough Sauvingon Blanc 2002, Oyster Bay New Zealand, Wine

Of late I have become a big fan of Sauvingon Blanc's, for the fruity flavors, and lack of wood flavor. I had read about this wine in FODD AND WINE magazine, so I wanted to give it a try. This is a dry wine, but still with some enjoyable fruity flavors.

Berger 2005 Gr

The second bottle we picked up at our new wine store was an Austrian wine, since Kelly's sister Chelsea is a lover of Austrian wine from her trip to Europe. We were told this was similar to savignon blanc, which is a personal favorite, though I found it nothing of the sort. It seemed to have much more cabernet characteristics. I enjoyed it, but was hoping for more fruit flavor. Interestingly this comes in a 1 liter bottle.

Sofia Blanc de Blancs, California 2005, Francis Coppola

A new wine store opened near my house, and as soon as we saw it open my girlfriend and I decided to check it out, and we were quite happy with it, and will be returning soon, so we got a few bottles. This was the first we tried. I have had the Sofia 2004 while in Napa at the Coppola winery and it was my favorite of his wines, so I thought we should try the 2005, and I was not at all disappointed. This is an excellent sparkling wine, and well worth tasting.

Vueve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut Champagne

A delicious Champagne in a distinctive orange label, this is a label that has been around since 1772. Less expensive than some fine champagne's, this is still an excellent champagne, especially for the price. You will not be disappointed by the fine taste and excellent aroma.

Guenoc lake County Sauvignon Blanc 2005

This is a pretty inexpensive wine that is incredibly tasty, with a crisp fruity flavor. I never really liked Sauvignon Blanc until I had this wine, and now I am a total fan.

Yellow Tail Chardonnay 2004

A very tasty Chardonnay with a bit of a of a bite
to it, but you really can't beat it in this price range.

Emrich Schšnleber Nahe 2001 Monzinger Halenbery Riesling SpŠtlese, Germany, Nahe Region.

Had this excellent German Riesling at the Pinot Bistro in Studio City, not the least expensive, but well worth it and quite tasty. Had a very fruity taste, almost of apple juice, with no aftertaste, went really well with the meal!

Robert Mondavi Winery Pinot Noir 2004, Carneros

I have to admit it that horrible documentary called MONDOVINO made me interested in trying a Mondavi even if it is portrayed as the big monster. And I got a 10 discount on any bottle that was over $10 from Ralph's in their wine club, so I figure why not try a $20 bottle of Mondavi Pinot Noir. I have to admit I have not developed my palette for Pinot's yet. I mean I like them, but haven't figured out why people go so wild for them as of yet. That being said this is a good dry wine.

Sterling Vineyards, Calistoga, Napa Valley, California

Sterling Vineyards
1111 Dunaweal Lane
Calistoga, CA 94515
(800) 726-6136

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A gorgeous vineyard to visit with a tram car that takes you to the Winery at the top of the hill, and a self guided tour that isn't too impressive, then the taste of 5 wines. Not the best wine, but decent.

Behringer GewŸrztraminer 2004, Napa Valley, California

Picked this up at Ralph's as we had liked Gewrztraminer when in Napa valley, a sweet white wine, here in a brown bottle. Quite excellent and inexpensive.

Vittorio Sattui Johannisberg Reisling 2004, Napa Valley, California

Got my 3 bottles of this from the Winery, from which is the only place to get this excellent wine. You can order it from V. Sattui Winery What a great white.

Chateau Simard Saint Emilion 1995, Merlot

Picked this up at Victor's Liquors, asking for a $20-$30 red to go with Pizza, and was told this was too good for Pizza (and it was way too good for the pizza we got), and they were right. This was an excellent wine, and delicious.

Niebaum Coppola Winery, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California

Niebaum Coppola Winery

1991 St. Helena Highway

Rutherford, CA 94573

(800) 782-4266

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A gorgeous vineyard all the way around, without the most impressive wine though. Not bad, but not my favorite, but well worth checking out, and with some very cool memorabilia from Coppola's movie.

Beringer Winery, St. Helena, Napa Valley, California

Beringer Winery
2000 Main Street
St. Helena, CA 94574

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This is the oldest continually running Winery in Napa, since they made it through prohibition by making Medicinal and Religious wine. It was recently sold to Fosters, but is still run the same. The best tour we went on in the valley.