This post is really to fill the void while I continue to cheerfully procrastinate on the 2500 word Q2 SGV Rundown. Yup, it’s still in the works, I just can’t seem to finish it. And I kinda secretly don’t wanna share.
O. Mozza eluded us until a few months back. At the behest of The Fresser, we sauntered from Cube to Mozza after finding Cube’s stainless steel bar replete with winos one random night. That’s right. I walked. From a restaurant. To another restaurant. In Los Angeles. Do you all know how much I hate walking?
But it doesn’t end there. I walked some more, after opening Mozza’s front door, and plopped my arse right in front of grande dame of LA chefdom, Nancy Silverton herself. For the rest of the night, we watched Ms. Silverton chop, slice and plate her way through a dozen burrata servings. True story. You may now wonder why the word “reservation” is amiss from above narration.
Since that day, Mozza2go has opened, and I could care less. For $16, I’d rather stuff my face with a full size pie from Garage Pizza (or Bollini) matched to my own $8 bottle malbec. O. Mozza has a sense of austere reverence not replicated elsewhere in the Mozza empirelet. Big mama Silverton is watching, cooking, barely conversing with the diners. Hushed convo is omnipresent, starting with the servers gently whispering cocktails to the tender, ending at the quite musings happening throughout the “O”. The first night we were there, we sat next to George Abou-Daoud, owner of Delancey, Mission Cantina, Bowery, & apparently 2 more soon-to-open restaurants. It was odd because I totally didn’t recognize him even tho he mentioned he was a restaurant owner while talking to Ms. Silverton, and only was able to associate the name after seeing him a few days later at Taste of the Nation LA. Pardon the tangent & sorry for the name dropping. It’s not like I know the guy, I just like Bowery’s burger.
The famed grilled octupus was first shared, followed by burrata with speck and steamed mussels. Fresser had some pasta, but I was already quite fulfilled and awaited dessert. We didn’t mean to have the budino, but due to my inability to grasp English, I had misordered and ended consuming both the piccolo budino caldo di cioccolato and some Bombolini (err. Italian fried donuts, also available elsewhere in LA)
A month later, I repeated the short jog between Cube and Mozza. We were craving dessert, but the betsu bara wasn’t there to step up right away, a walk was needed. First I thought a budino could be quickly secured from M2Go, but at 10pm, the curbside pizzeria was closed. Then we went for the bling, the Big O. “Why yes, we do have a space for two”. For nearly an hour, we mused the worthiness of the $280 for 2 year deal at 24 Hour Fitness, the state of real estate market in Monterey Park, the effectiveness of the modern birth control pills, and degusted 2 perfectly portioned desserts: the apricot crostada and the rosemary olive cake with olive oil gelato. This encounter with the olive oil gelato inspired this rosemary olive oil ice cream recipe.
Aesops’ take home point: Don’t be a fool for pie, sit at O’s bars.
Osteria Mozza
http://www.mozza-la.com
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Comments ( 13 )
[...] Nothing stood out, from the absolutely mundane egg plant, to the equally tasteless octopus (see O.Mozza/Cube, Lazy Ox for superior versions), to the self-proclaimed “cassoulet” featuring [...]
Top 5 overrated meal of 2009 | sinosoul.com added these pithy words on Jan 15 10 at 4:09 pm[...] squid and veggies were warm and unmarred by char. If you like the grilled octopus at Cube, or the grilled cephalopod at Mozza, you will like Bastide’s octopus. This “course” was paired with the oysters, so [...]
Bits of Brilliance from Bastide, Opening Night. | sinosoul.com added these pithy words on Feb 11 10 at 1:31 pmLiz added these pithy words on Sep 10 09 at 9:30 amI have thrice attempted bar sitting in order to have the big O, and thrice been foiled.
WeezerMonkey added these pithy words on Sep 21 09 at 7:21 pmIs it really that hard to get a reservation? I had no problems on OpenTable. For a real table. Not the bar.
WeezerMonkey added these pithy words on Sep 21 09 at 7:22 pmOh, and it was only a week in advance. Maybe not even. Maybe just a few days in advance.
juma added these pithy words on Sep 22 09 at 7:14 amI found it really expensive and contrasted the warmer colors of Pizzeria, Osteria feltcold. The ingredients and quality was great, but the standouts where not the secondi. If I go back, it will be for their pasta tasting menu
juma added these pithy words on Sep 22 09 at 7:16 amI went last year, it felt like the wait on the phone reservation system was a longer wait than the time from call to table
tricerapops added these pithy words on Sep 22 09 at 8:28 amdigging the pics. to add to your tangent, i TOO enjoy the bowery burger and now i’m excited to see what will hold for us at mercantile once that opens.
H.C. added these pithy words on Sep 22 09 at 11:17 amI’ve never had trouble bar-sitting at either of the Mozzas — even when I brought along a party of 6.
But I guess the need for reservation depends on how time-crunched the diner is — unlike a certain taco truck, I have no qualms waiting a little while at a resto, esp. if there’s a bar
Diana added these pithy words on Sep 22 09 at 11:43 amWhile I am a fool for pie, my love is equally strong for the O Mozza. Sausage orecchiette, the righteous octopus, and those mozzarella bar marvels — yes, yes, yes, it’s all good.
Though sadly, I haven’t been wowed by their desserts (the bombolini, torta del nonna, apple borsellino). Maybe I try the olive oil cakes and ice cream next time…
TonyC added these pithy words on Sep 22 09 at 11:59 amD, the first round of desserts were no bueno, especially the “Italian” donuts. I believe Tavern has the same donuts as well? Versions from both restos are mediocre. However, the rosemary olive oil cake and the apricot crostada were just spot-on. Either that, or I was 1) drunk from Cube 2) wallowing in pre-marital bliss.
TonyC added these pithy words on Sep 22 09 at 12:06 pmjuma, as often is the case, I love starters much more than mains. Regarding pasta tasting – The Fresser said it’s great and I trust him completely. Except I know it’s too much of a carb fest for moi. Have you seen the Amaro Bar special for $35?
Food Fashionista added these pithy words on Sep 22 09 at 2:31 pmHi Tony – totally off the subject of the above, but where do you recommend for Shaved Ice – lots of condensed milk, red beans (very asian style) not the gross rainbow bright flavors? Thanks!!!
