A Brit With A Chip On Her Shoulder... Oh Wait, It's A Fry

Fry? Frie? Fr-eye? Everyone's favourite indulgence regardless if we Brits call it a chip! Who needs carbs anyway?! Welcome to a fresh new spin on food folks and welcome to my new column - my name is Anna, I'm fresh off the plane from ye olde England and I'm about to blow your taste buds out of the Pacific Ocean. From tea parties with the Queen in Buckingham Palace Gardens, to molecular gastronomy at the Saatchi Gallery on the famous King's Road, we're bringing a culinary revolution stateside and we're waving our flag high.

I came to Los Angeles with one thing in mind - food, food, food.

In London the "street food" scene is incredible - I could genuinely eat at a different place every night and 'travel' from Peru to Tokyo in just a few bites. Without stepping more than a few meters from your front door you can eat beautifully, honestly and inexpensively, and this is what we're bringing to LA.

Over the next few months I'll be sharing with you tips, recipes and recommendations about how to bring a touch of British class to your home or party, but in the meantime I wanted to share my musings about my first culinary delight in the Santa Monica neighborhood.

Our new office is on sunny Montana Avenue, so naturally our first stop was the much heard about Locanda Portofino, the highly acclaimed friendly neighborhood Italian (with a killer burrata). What I love more than anything, and what our most loyal (and royal) clients demand of us in England, is to understated excellence, and boy does this place deliver that. They scored with every item on the menu, and couldn't help reminding us of their beating the Brits in the World Cup. Despite this, and even before the glass of chilled Amarone, I was enchanted; the fritto misto was both tender and bold -the mussels were perfection, just how I like my men, FYI -with a dreamy pasta and veal meatballs I went to bed dreaming about. The waiters were so charming that I was willing to forgive them of anything, even the world cup, - the owners Alberto and Florestano welcomed us with open arms and we'll be back soon - whatever the soccer score.

I wasn't allowed dessert (this is LA after all) so a smooth almond coffee at Kreation Kafe down the street finished off a perfect evening. I was impressed, very impressed. So now we have a challenge on our hands. Now, we're going to bring you the finest, tastiest and cutting edge tips for all foodies.

More 'London Baby'.

So if you need a few canapes (it's Brit for hors d'oeuvres - remember it now and you'll be ahead of the trend) for your shop launch, or a seated banquet for 500 in a beautiful estate, give us a call.

The Brits are here!

Fry or chips, London's calling- and the phone's ringing off the hook.

http://www.admirable-crichton.co.uk

Tel 310 806 5621