Amy ScattergoodIt's time for another installment of Staff Meals Today, where we find out what ten different restaurants around town are serving their staffs.
Staff meals are interesting, a kind of culinary voyeurism, a window into the inner mechanism of a restaurant. Do they tell you anything about that kitchen? Maybe, maybe not. Last week Nobu served corned beef and cabbage. The week before, comme Ça served beef stroganoff. Accident, experimentation, leftovers: it depends. But remember, Josef Centeno (Opus, Lot 1, Lazy Ox Canteen) invented the bäco for a staff meal once at Meson G.
225 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 395-3200
Pork carnitas and pumpkin pie.
2. AOC Wine Bar
8022 W. Third St., L.A., (323) 653-6359
Spaghetti and meatballs; Caesar salad.
3. Bistro LQ
8009 Beverly Blvd., L.A., (323) 951-1088
Pork and beans.
1855 Industrial St., L.A., (213) 405-1434
Arugula salad with pears and candied hazelnuts; duck and fingerling potato hash enchiladas.
7458 Beverly Blvd., L.A., (323) 634-0700
Crispy chicken thighs with bamba rice; iceberg lettuce with bleu cheese.
1535 N. Vine St., L.A., (323) 462-2155
Fish and chicken gumbo; market salad with goat cheese.
1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (310) 399-5811
Rigatoni with salmon, cod and pork belly in a garlic cream sauce.
8. Sona
401 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A., (310) 659-7708
Duck breast with rice and a green salad (to Guns N' Roses).
9. Spago
176 N. Cañon Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 385-0880
Hong Kong-style steamed salmon with jasmine rice and steamed Asian greens.
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (310) 392-6644
Tagliatelle with Orata, parsley and Parmesan; green beans with hazelnuts and Argan oil; pork shoulder with applesauce and charred cippolini onions; Baked Alaska.
Guess The Tasting Kitchen wins this one.
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