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Pacific Dining Car Looks to the Future
By Michael Hepworth

The venerable Pacific Dining Car steak house has been around since 1921 in Los Angeles and has a storied history of visits by the real power players in Los Angeles. Politicians, lawyers, business leader and celebrities still come on a regular basis for the privacy and ambiance, and it has also been the scene for many movies including Training Day and more recently, Street Kings more.

I was also able to glean some celebrity names of people who come fairly regularly when they are in town, and as expected they are some big ones like Johnny Depp, Jack Black,  Mayor Antonio Villaragosa and many more.

Much of the staff have been there for at least twenty years and it is also open 24 hours a day, serving a power breakfast that is popular with brokers, film crews, early morning risers and late night partygoers, although you will probably be looking at least $30 for a decent breakfast. This is because the food is sourced from the best vendors possible and a full meal consisting of at least four courses with drinks for two people, will set you back around $300, although the portions as you would expect are generous.

However saying that, you can start with the famous crab cakes made entirely of Blue crab meat that was so good that it didn’t feel like crab at all. The Heirloom Tomato Salad with blue cheese and aged balsamic vinegar was also serious business and was close to being a main course just by itself.

The 18oz. Rib Eye Steak was pretty impressive as well and was served with the house relish, creamed corn and creamed radishes. As succulent as you could wish for, although the veal dish my companion tried was a little too swamped and submerged with a lot of extra stuff such as onions.

Wines selected for the main courses were the Decoy Cabernet with the steak and a Green Valley Pinot Noir with the veal.

The challenge now for the restaurant is now to attract younger patrons who will fill the shoes of regulars who are dying off or have retired to the Desert, hence the idea being muted around to bring in some kind of music on the weekends. In my mind that would break the old world silent vibe that is a delight to an old fashioned diner like myself. If you like crowded and noisy restaurants then this is not the place for you.

Cocktails here are always doubles, and wines are served by the glass in an 8oz glass if you prefer it that way. It is also one of the few restaurants in Los Angeles to have a full time sommelier/maitre d', and Ehsan Mackani has that job and he is strictly a classic red wine man and actually frowned when I selected a sauvignon blanc to go with the appetizers. He knows his wine, will answer all or any questions you may have and is not afraid to share his opinion and steer you in the right direction.

1310 W.6th St, Los Angeles
310-483-6000
www.pacificdiningcar.com
By Michael Hepworth

​
What exactly is GRAND BRULOT I thought to myself as I opened the bottle for the first time just around the time this lockdown took effect. Well, Grand Brulot is listed as a VSOP Cognac Café and it can be used in Bloody Mary’s, Manhattans, Negronis, Martinis, spritzes and sidecars , just for starters. It is a blend of Ugni Blanc & Colombard that is crafted into 80 proof VSOP. Then 100% Robusta Ecuadorian coffee bean essence is extracted and blended with brandy to meld for a few months and finally, it is blended with the VSOP Cognac. There is also a whiff of peppermint, nutmeg and hot cocoa in the drink. The retail price is $42.99.

The idea for the drink was instigated in 2015 by John Bernbach who asked for the help of industry veteran Francisco Tonarely to investigate the potential of a cognac/brandy drink blended with coffee. Three year later in August 2018 Grand Brulot was launched. This cognac comes from the Tardy Cognac Group and the grapes come from its single estate. Grand Brulot also plays homage to a New Orleans specialty of the same name that is still served around town.  The name Grand Brulot was inspired by the famous French pirate Jean Lafite who helped New Orleans repel the British invaders in 1812. He would order coffee, pour cognac in the saucer, set it alight and mix it with the coffee.
Recipes:

THE RISE AND SHINE
2 oz Grand Brulot
Orange Twist

Just pour Grand Brulot over ice and the orange will highlight the flavors
of the spirit.

BRULOT BLACK MANHATTAN
1 oz Grand Brulot
1 oz Bourbon
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
3 dashes Orange Bitters

Bartender Todd Smith created this one. Stir all the ingredients together in
a mixing glass. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass with ice and garnish

with orange wheel.

FRENCH NEGRONI
1 oz Grand Brulot
1 oz  Sweet Vermouth
1 oz Campari

Build in a rocks glass over ice and garnish w/orange wheel.

GRAND BRULOT CAFÉ HOLIDAY
1 oz Grand Brulot
0.5 oz Crème de Cacao
3 oz Porter Beer or Stout
3 dashes of bitters

Throw cocktail ingredients between two cups a couple of times to mix
And ignite the foam from the beer. Pour into a highball glass over ice
And garnish with nutmeg.



www.grandbrulot.com
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