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Food Porn Friday

Food Porn Friday | Ink. | Los Angeles

Boy are y’all in for quite a treat.

I’m seriously salivating as I sit to reflect on one of those perfect LA meals where your tummy is dancing with joy as your wallet is swimming in sorrow. Yeah dude, Melrose eats don’t come cheap these days, but that’s what you get for stepping into the sanctuary of my all-time FAVE Top Chef winner to date. Michael Voltaggio (one half of the famed bros) opened INK in West Hollywood late last year and I couldn’t wait to taste test why Bravo deems him the baddest mutha’ of the bunch.
 

Ink.

8360 Melrose Avenue | Los Angeles, CA 90069  | (323) 651-5866
Don’t know what it is about those ridiculously arrogant, culinary geniuses on the telly (Yes, Anthony Bourdain I’m talkin’ to you too)…gets me EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. *Le sigh* It’s true what they say; the way to a woman’s heart is clearly through her stomach. Peep it out below and tell me you’re not convinced of M.Volt’s brilliance by the time you get to the Burrata. Friggin’ AMAZEBALLZZZZZZZ!
Octopus, ink, shells, young fennel, and pimenton
(Above) Like crack. The smoky charred octopus couldn’t have been more salacious to smell, see, touch, taste, absorb in all its salted glory. Meaty, robust and reminiscent of the SoCal sea, one bite of this maritime monster and you’re immediately transported to Malibu dude. It’s that refined and for me, that’s reason enough to name your joint after just one dish. A++++++++
Foie gras, waffle, smoked maple, hot sauce
The boy HATES, I mean really abhors cold foie. He likes his charred and seasoned, crisp on the outside, gooey on the inside. You know, the old fashioned way. After just one fell swoop of this concoction, he is now officially a CONVERT. Good food transcends plates. Great food transcends palates. That dollop of smoked maple is just the touch of sweetness this dish deserves against the spicy hit of Sriracha and smooth velvety texture of the foie. My one complaint? Not enough waffle. It’s the most inexpensive item on this plate; can’t a sista at least get some more crunch just for kicks? Eh, I downed the foie without it anyways. Like buttah baby!
Burrata, trout roe, apricot, Persian saffron
The moist and meaty sweet apricot is really the PERFECT accoutrement to the mild tasting burrata cheese made from mozzarella and cream. I don’t know why anyone hasn’t paired it up this way before. Traditionally found in salads with tomatoes and basil, it was so refreshing to see a summer version of this chilled Italian cheese. Sweet from the fruit and salty from the fish eggs, THE perfect balance. Deconstructed it’s just peaches and cream, so simple, so succinct!
Mind you, I didn’t love everything we ordered…
Cuttlefish, green papaya, peanut-coconut cream, black lime: super mild, super bland
Did I mention this was cuttlefish, cousin to the squid, which by all accounts should have been fishy and pungent like us Asian peeps are accustomed to? Eh, next!
Poutine
Every time I dine out, I ALWAYS try to order the most questionable dish on the menu to really help develop my discerning palate. This time it was the Poutine. I’ve never even heard of this item before but the waiter insisted that it was simply a traditional Canadian mainstay, very hearty and robust, perfect for an aching hangover. SOLD! Michael’s version of poutine was made with chickpea fries and yogurt curds stewing in lamb neck gravy. If you’re Asian and you love Thit Kho Tau (the one with the eggs), you’ll lalallaallLOVE this stringy-meaty dish. So rich and flavorful, what I’d LOVE to eat on a rainy day in front of the fire. Its comfort food dressed up in the most kiddish way. I bet the little ones would die over this dish since those chickpea fries totally remind me of Vienna sausages!
Soft shell crab, tarragon mayo, caper, potato
Too much fried batter, not enough of what I paid to eat. Pass! Somebody save me!
Can we get a shot of that octopus again???
Yeah baby, if this doesn’t get ya, I don’t know what else will!

Know Before You Go

Ink. serves tapas style small plates at a higher cost average than most LA hotspots. About the same price as the Bazaar (also spearheaded by Michael Voltaggio, he’s the ISH dude!) but I’d say a bit more local and a lot less fou-fou. The perfect place to meet your friends for a light meal while still surveying the lot of gorgeously young and hip West Hollywood hunnies. Trendy takes $ y’all.*
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29 Comments

  1. Rosy (of Raindrops on Rosy) Reply

    haha you're right…this reminds me of the episode of south park where the men watch the food network but act like they're watching porn like "oh yeah paula what are you gonna put on that turkey oh f**k yeah!" haha food porn looks yummy!

  5. Style Porn Reply

    I'm sitting here pouring one out for foie gras, which is about to be banned in San Francisco. It's a loss almost too great to bear. But you know what isn't banned? Octopus. Thank god.

  7. Tecumseh Reply

    thank you so much! 😉
    this food looks delicious and amazing but I don't know I'd eat this, I rarely eat sea food ;P
    P.S. I follow your blog 😉

  23. Forever Fashion Reply

    First, thank you so much for your comment 🙂 It means so much to me.
    Well I'm gonna be honest with you Julie! These are really exotic plates for me! lol I have no idea if I would taste the first plate, not really a seafood girl, but the Foie gras with the waffle and smoked maple looks very good!! looks like dessert but I doubt it tastes like that! lol!
    talk to you soon! 🙂

    fashionqueen294.blogspot.com

  26. 20 York Street Reply

    Oh the poutine!

    that is certainly we as Canadians are proud of! Well, especially the French Canadians amongst us. I have to say, Michael's version just don't do justice. You don't chickpeas in that thing, use real fries!

    Come to Canada, I'll treat you! =)

    oxo,

    ML
    TWENTY YORK STREET
    Follow @20YS on Twitter : @20YS
    Follow @20YS on Facebook: TWENTY YORK STREET

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