CORKAGE

Went to Animal for a 'friends and family soft open' the other night.  Animal is the new L.A. restaurant from "the food dudes" (of Food Network's Two Dudes Catering ).  The dudes are definitely part of the Eat, Drink or Die family (check out their videos ), but despite that, everything about Animal was pretty damn good.   Love the neighborhood, love the casual vibe, love the fair prices, love the food.  To open a really fun bistro two doors up from Canter’s Deli on Fairfax seems like a brilliant idea, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they get really swamped, really soon. 

Two things were exceptionally memorable.  One was the house red wine for twenty bucks a bottle(!).  It's a Sangiovese from Sylvester in Paso Robles.  This wine just shone like the sun in your mouth.  High alcohol, a tiny bit hot on the palate, but mitigated by such a great zinginess, such a big, open spirit.  While a good Sangiovese from Italy strikes down on the palate with a beautiful and complex dryness, this wine was a big ball of dancing light.  And the classic Sangiovese cherry fruit was fully there.  Go and drink up!  (Alternative house red was a cab/merlot blend, also from Sylvester, which was solid but held no real excitement compared to the Sangiovese.)

And you MUST try the candy bar with bacon for dessert.  This is beyond inspired.  Nueske bacon crumbled on top of a thick, homemade chocolate bar.   I was really skeptical.  And then I was blown away.  Couldn’t stop talking about it.  Was wondering where the chefs came up with this dish.  I asked Chef Vinnie in the kitchen.  He said, “I like bacon with my chocolate.”  There you go.