Ink. - West Hollywood's Best Restaurant of 2014

October 23, 2014 Aimee Slade

In a city inundated with outrageous decor and underwhelming flavors, Ink is a much needed reprieve in the LA food scene and a must visit for anyone within a two hour radius. If you're a fan of Top Chef, you'll know that Ink is the home of not one, but two Top Chef stars - Owner and Executive Chef Michael Voltaggio who won season six and Sous Chef Mei Lin who is currently a contestant on season twelve. These two chefs are serious dynamite in the kitchen and create some of the most intricate and innovative dishes I've ever had.

Don't be fooled by the dim lighting and the absence of color in the decor, there is nothing boring or simple about this modern American eatery. The menu is made up of dishes to share, all served in mid-sized portions - you won't be leaving hungry. Between two people, I suggest ordering 3-4 smaller dishes to share, 1-2 main meat dishes and 2 desserts because they are damn good. Every dish was packed with flavor, creatively plated and made me wonder why food isn't this amazing all the time - what have I been doing with my life?!? My must order recommendations include the following:

Beef Tartare - the beef is so delicate and melts in your mouth like butter. It's not over thought - the quality ingredients shine and make for a great start to the meal.
Egg Yolk Gnocchi - sitting in a shallow pool of brown butter sauce, you'll find pillows of doughy potato pasta that have a hidden secret - when you bite down, a burst of gooey egg yolk emerges from the center.
Salt and Charcoal Potatoes - these are the most loved potatoes ever created. They sit for some ridiculous amount of hours brining in a bath of squid ink and salt water, then are dried and dusted with salt crystals - looking just like shimmery lumps of coal. To top it off, it is served with homemade sour cream and a spray bottle of black vinegar to add as desired. My mouth is watering just writing this.
Desserts: Mountain Yam and/or Apple - I tried to pick between the two and I just couldn't. Combine molecular gastronomy with familiar flavors and a twist of genius and you've got these blow your mind, delicious works of art. They were so good, we seriously discussed for a full ten minutes ordering one more because we couldn't get enough.

aquavit

sauvignon blanc, chamomile vermouth, lemon, honey, bee pollen

hamachi

shiitake escabèche, hazelnuts, kelp

beef tartare

hearts of palm, sea bean chimichurri, horseradish, rye

egg yolk gnocchi

mushroom brown butter, hen of the woods

pacific halibut

huitlacoche, corn-miso, black garlic

salt and charcoal potato

housemade sour cream, black vinegar

wagyu beef cheek

eggplant, golden raisin, shawarma spice

mountain yam

caramelized white chocolate, popcorn, coconut

apple

caramel, shortbread, burnt wood semifreddo

Type A Travel Guide to Newport, Rhode Island

October 15, 2014 Aimee Slade

It's up! Be sure to check out my full, all encompassing travel guide to Newport, Rhode Island with all of the Type A tips you need to plan a perfect vacation. If you've got questions or need some help with your travel plans, be sure to let me know. Happy Traveling!

Castle Hill Inn | Newport, Rhode Island

October 6, 2014 Aimee Slade

During our fall tour of New England, we spent two perfect nights at the Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island. We made this an absolute priority on our travel list because last January we ate at the James Beard House in New York City where guest chef, Karsten Hart, served us one of the most incredible meals of our life and it left us wanting more. My husband and I knew at that point that we were going to make the pilgrimage to the Castle Hill Inn, where Chef Hart works as the Executive Chef and we are so thankful we finally did. The Castle Hill Inn is one of the most picturesque, luxurious and overall delicious locations we've ever visited (seriously) and here's an overview of why.

The Hotel Itself is Magnificent

Every aspect of this historic Relais & Chateaux property is visually stunning. From the panoramic views of the Atlantic as you watch sailboats float by from adirondack chairs on the sprawling lawn, to the intricately preserved Victorian mansion built in 1875, The Castle Hill Inn is the gem of Newport and attracts world travelers and local elite to its beauty.

The Rooms

There are various accommodation options available, including rooms in the mansion, beach cottages and beach houses - all tastefully decorated to match. We stayed in one of the beach cottages, located on a private beach just a few minutes walk from the main house. The rooms have everything you need to be comfortable like sherpa blankets, organic toiletries from a local shop, rocking chairs on the porch and a quiet, secluded beachfront with full food and beverage service. There is not a luxury spared when staying at The Castle Hill Inn, ensuring you feel like royalty no matter what room you're in.

It's a Food Paradise

When breakfast includes lobster hash, afternoon tea is served with freshly made pastries and dinner is inventively created by Chef Hart, there is absolutely no reason to eat anywhere else in Newport. For forty-eight hours we ate breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks at The Inn and while we had the option to leave the resort we honestly didn't want to. This is arguably the best all around foodie spot we've ever visited, which is probably surprising considering it's a historic inn. But I'm not kidding when I tell you that every delicious detail of every meal is on point and will leave you craving more once you're gone. We never had a single dish that didn't scream AMAZING and we haven't stopped talking about each and every perfect bite. Oh and did I mention that Chef Hart is brilliant and is one of the best chefs we've ever encountered? Let me repeat for good measure - his flavor profiles and creativity are mind blowing and we overheard table after table praise his work as simply the best meal they've ever had. Overall - his food is damn good!