kris yenbamroong

Blackberry Chronicles: Miscellany

by whitney on October 15, 2011

Finally went back to Night + Market for some dineLA action! It was as delicious and extra spicy as always.  You know what’s fun? When you get to be the one that enjoys the very LAST bottle of something. This 2010 Clos Roche Blanche L’Arpent Rouge pineau d’aunis was scarce in LA and sold out lightning fast. So Kris, being the crafty genius he is, decided to order some from whatever was left in NYC. This was the last bottle he had. And he let me drink it! Many thanks.

If you aren’t already hip to the Salvadorean food game, hop to it! If you live in LA, I highly recommend getting your grub on at Atlacatl on Beverly Blvd. It is LEGIT. And 2 people walked out of there stuffed and with beers in belly for $15! Seriously.

Do you “like” Domaine LA on Facebook? You should. For many reasons, if not this one- every Thursday we post a photo of a wine label that one of us hates and one loves. Then you tell us if you are Team Whitney (clearly, the way to go at all times) or Team Jill. The label on the Domaine de L’Arlot below is one I really liked and Jill definitely didn’t.

As we were posting the photo, I looked down and realized I was basically a walking version of the bottle.

Speaking of Domaine LA, we had a guest chalkboard author last week! Josh Goldman aka @JoshtheSomm. He’s the main wine man over at the very newly opened ink. Can’t wait to go check it out!

Do you follow me on Twitter? Facebook? Do you even care? Maybe so, maybe no. I’m just giving you options!

UbriacaLA

by whitney on August 8, 2011

There’s this thing called UbriacaLA. It’s a wandering wine bar. It was thunk up by yours truly and Domaine LA owner Jill Bernheimer. If you don’t know, now you know. We “pop up” in various kick ass restaurants/licensed locations (gotta stay legal ya’ll!) with a boatload of wine. Then we pour all that unique and special deliciousness for whomever wants to enjoy it. As Jesse says, we “bring the juice to the people.”

Last night, we showed up at Night + Market. In a BLAZE of glory!

Not really. That stuff is meat. Not us. But, we brought stuff like this!

and this!

We challenged ourselves to create a list that didn’t include a single off-dry riesling- the typical played out/boring spicy Thai food pairing. Wanting to show everyone that there are a lot more exciting, interesting, exotic wines that can be successfully paired to this food, we rolled with some pink pet nat from the Loire, slightly oxidative Jura chardonnay, carbonic carignan from Alexander Valley and listan negro from the Canary Islands. Among others. The full list…

All of the wines were chosen specifically for the night’s Northern Thai street food menu. The star of the show- sausages! It was a sausage fest. For real. Literal.

Remember Kris? He brought back 3 grills from Thailand and wanted to use them! He decided to fire them up and do a special bbq on the back patio behind the restaurant. A perfect UbriacaLA situation. Done.

Coconut shells as fuel! Legit.

A good time was had by all on a patio in West Hollywood! But if you closed your eyes and took a bite, you woulda thought you were in Chieng Rai; take a drink and you’re in the Loire Valley! If only that were physically possible. If only.

If you missed it, here was the first time we ever touched down with all Italian wines at Salt’s Cure. If you are in LA and want to keep tabs on us and where we’ll be next, like us on Facebook.

Until then!

Blackberry Chronicles: Weekend Drinks

by whitney on July 18, 2011

It’s like my version of  the LA Times Weekend Eats! I mean, I ate too…but let’s just focus on the drinking. That’s what we do best here.

OK fine! I’ll talk about the food too.

I got all civilized and checked out Dudamel and Lang Lang bust out some classical music at the Bowl. Decided to bring a little sangiovese (with one of my favorite Italian labels ever) to go along with some simple salumi, mozzarella, tomatoes, olive oil, etc. A great wine. Thanks Jeff and Lisa!

This was the scene of all that listening and drinking pleasure.

There’s just something about a white suit jacket and an orchestra. Right?? Hot. PS- I totally stole your photo Daane. Grazie.

The following night, I finally got to go to Night +Market and meet Mr. Kris Yenbamroong. Oh, and chow down on some really good Thai food, including the best fried rice I’ve ever had (that stuff to the left of the wine below). Menu description of the rice: “kao kluk gapi: shrimp paste-seasoned rice with candied pork, shredded egg omelette, red onion, green mango, cilantro, bird eye chili.” Can I get an amen?

Night + Market has a great wine list but Kris wanted to me to bring some new stuff to try. I chose the 2009 Venier “La Gautrie” cabernet franc. It was capital A Awesome! Just look at that color. And only 11.5% alcohol!

I could have had 2 more bottles. By myself. I also brought the new TAMI grillo from Arianna Occhipinti and it was, unsurprisingly, great. Perfect as an aperitif and really delicious with the shrimp chips, actually.

All right. So, then…this happened.

Claire also made a contribution to the evening. She brought the most incredible fruit pie I maybe ever put in my mouth- fresh strawberries from Harry’s Berries, flaky butter crust and a ton of vanilla specked lemon verbena cream. GET. OUT. OF. TOWN.  We all ate feverishly and with wild abandon.

I doubt I will top myself next weekend with the eats and drinks, but I will certainly try.

What’s For Sipper, Kris Yenbamroong?

by whitney on July 15, 2011

Hello everyone! Introducing Kris, the chef/owner of Talesai and the still new-ish Night + Market. Go there to get your Thai street food on. For real. Kris is one talented young dude who has a healthy appetite for hip hop, the Loire Valley, bourbon and Arianna Occhipinti. I knew we were meant to be friends.

Name: Kris Yenbamroong  Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Current location: Los Angeles

Favorite summertime beverage: Budweiser in a can, cold water or either of the following slightly chilled: Jean-Paul Brun Beaujolais, Puzelat Telquel. Also anything pink from the south of France.

Favorite cocktail or spirit: Blantons neat. But if I’m at a dance party and feeling slutty, then vodka with anything will do (that’s right, I said it!). I’m not really into crazy drinks, bow ties or waist coats.

Favorite place to grab a drink: My restaurant–at least that’s where i can most frequently be found with glass in hand. I don’t like going out, and I hate people. But if I’m forced to go anywhere: Lou‘s never let me down and if I’m not feeling so high brow, I’ll take my butt to the Mandrake and drink some tequila shots with college girls. If we’re talking Paris, Le Verre Volé is the only way to go. I’d recommend it over Le Baratin and Les Racines– just my take.

Favorite toast: “We can run more than corners, B!

Favorite post-dinner quaff: Montenegro Amaro (before, after or sometimes in place of dinner), Borges 10 yr Malmsey.

Favorite food & beverage pairing: chieng rai grilled sausage and fried chicken (both my own) with Pierre & Catherine Breton Nuits d’Ivresse.

If you could travel to one region of the world right now for its food and/or drink where would you go? Pouillé / Touraine / Loire for the notorious Laurent Saillard‘s boudin noir, no question!

 

What’s for sipper? When i finish prep for dinner service, I’ll probably hit some Beckman grenache rosé then a glass of Muhlenhof portugieser. A few hours into service and I’ll switch to Singha. For the finale, I’ll polish off a half-drunk bottle of SP68 while watching episodes of something, naturally.

It appears, Kris,  that you also like Budweiser in a bottle. And that your friend REALLY likes it. A LOT.