The Church Key

The newest restaurant on the Sunset Strip is The Church Key, a modern American restaurant cheffed by Steven Fretz (Top Round, XIV). The spot specializes in playful, internationally-influenced cuisine, which is evident in everything from its roaming “dim sum” carts to its silverware stamped with cheeky phrases. I visited The Church Key on the eve of its opening last week for a preview dinner.

While the space itself looks industrial, the mix of sofas, armchairs and even chaise lounges lends a more casual vibe– almost like  you’re kicking back in the loft of a (very, very) cool friend.

What first caught my eye about The Church Key was its cocktail menu crafted by mixologist Devon Espinosa, who won my heart at Pour Vous. For The Church Key, Espinosa has created an eclectic menu of updated classics and even canned cocktails. Who needs bottles?

Shot in the Dark: Dolin Blanc, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Pineapple, Absinthe Rinse ($10.00)

Pink, frothy and sweet but still potent, the Shot in the Dark was one of my favorite drinks of the evening.

Fashioned Chai: Apple Jack Brandy, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Chai Syrup, Orange Peel ($10.00)

Harlequin: Bonal, Raspberry Gomme, Lime ($9.00)

Golden Lorraine: D’usse Cognac, Benedictine, Clover Honey, Lemon, Anjou Pear ($14.00)

This smooth, fruity drink was my favorite of the night. I sipped from Justin’s, then needed to order one of my own.

Fretzy: Alto Reposado, St. Germain, Reagan’s Orange Bitters, Grapefruit Peel ($10.00)

In addition to the items on The Church Key’s printed menu, there are also off-menu specials on “dim sum carts.” The server even stamps a card for you as with traditional dim sum when you order a plate off the cart.  

Falafel Croquettes with Truffle Tahini

Pig Ear Cheetos with fluffy guacamole

 

The only thing more impressive than the perfectly-captured Cheetos flavor is the surprising amount of work that goes into this dish. To make these bite-sized crisps, Chef Fretz presses together dozens of pig ears over night to create a thick block and then shaves them paper thin before frying them. I couldn’t stop eating these. 

Salt and Vinegar Brown Butter Popcorn

Fried Scallops with passion fruit gelee and peanuts

Hamachi with Lup Cheong

Lamb Belly “Pastrami”

The menu items are more sizable and meant for sharing because, let’s be honest, sharing small plates and getting two or three bites is a drag. 

Benton’s Country Ham with Fig Mostarda, House Pickles and Grilled Sourdough ($15.00)

Here, Tenneesee country ham is aged with salt and brown sugar and cured for ten months before being shaved tableside into a mound of porky goodness. I alternated between piling everything into a crostini and eating the components separately, and both methods proved equally tasty. 

Ahi Tuna Tartare with Pomegranate, Greek Yogurt, Cucumber, Pappadam ($15.00)

Justin, my seafood taste tester, enjoyed the Mediterranean influence imparted to this familiar dish.  

Frog Hollow Pear Salad with Manouri Cheese, Frisee, Black Walnuts, Poached Pear Vinaigrette ($12.00)

Despite the abundance of heartier options on the table, this sweet, refreshing salad with slivers of pears and wedges of creamy manouri cheese was so delightful that I nearly licked the plate clean. 

Crispy Pork Belly with Gochujang Glaze, Cashew Butter, Radish, Sesame ($13.00)

I appreciated the bite-sized pork belly’s unique preparation, which yielded a taste and texture that reminded me of char siu. 

Sunchoke Agnolotti with Beaufort Cheese, Chanterelles, Brown Butter ($13.00)

“Peking” Quail Stuffed with Red Rice, Apples, Parsnip Puree, Sansho Truffle Jus ($18.00)

This beautiful, glistening bird was not part of the preview dinner but was generously prepared by the chef at the request of my friend Darin of DarinDines. I teased Darin for going rogue with his special order, but this plump, perfectly lacquered bird turned out to be one of my favorite bites of the night. 

Tapioca-Crusted Tai Snapper with Broccolini, White Soy Vinaigrette, Rice Cake ($22.00)

My dining partners all raved about this snapper, which was crispy on the outside and delicate on the inside. 

Mixologist Espinosa has also crafted a menu of “Odder Pops,” boozy adult popsicles made with liquid nitrogen that riff on the Otter Pops of your childhood. 

Our awesome, photo-bombing server

It’s Not Easy Being Green and Yellow Polka Dot Bikini: our slushy, boozy “Odder Pops”

The Odder Pops signaled a tasty transition to dessert.

“Sticky Toffee Pudding” Date Cake, Toffee, Candied Orange ($9.00)

Moist, dense and sweet, the sticky toffee pudding was a winner, especially when topped with the accompanying creme fraiche whipped cream. “Sweet treat,” indeed!

Earl Gray, Black Sesame and Pumpkin Mini Creme Brulee

I can never say no to a creme brulee, and this trio hit the mark…

…so much so that our server hunted down another pumpkin one for me. Hellooooooo, gorgeous. 

I left The Church Key very full but also eager to return for the other menu items I’ve yet to taste. Thank you to The Church Key for a delicious visit!

*Food and drink were hosted.

The Church Key
www.thechurchkeyla.com
8370 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(424) 249-3700

Connie and Ted’s

For a taste of the East Coast in WeHo, drop anchor at Connie and Ted’s. The newly opened and hotly anticipated restaurant from Michael Cimarusti (Providence) pays homage to two things the chef/owner loves: his grandparents (the inspiration for the spot’s name) and East Coast seafood shacks. Lately, I’ve had lobster on the brain, so I set sail for Connie and Ted’s to satisfy my craving and catch up with my friend Lindsay and her brand new baby.

The weathered-looking sign out front evokes the salt air-battered shacks of New England, but the architecturally-intriguing restaurant is all LA.

The stars of the menu at Connie and Ted’s– lobsters and oysters 

Chef Cimarusti himself was in the kitchen slinging seafood during our visit.

Unsurprisingly, reservations here are a tough to come by, so we decided to go the walk-in route and arrive early, hoping to beat the dinner rush. Our plan worked perfectly; we put our name down at 6:30 and, within 20 minutes, were seated on the outdoor patio.

In terms of drinks, Connie and Ted’s offers an impressive array of craft beers (bottled and on tap) as well as a rockin’ cocktail list.

In fact, so rockin’ is the cocktail menu that ordering took some serious deliberation. I decided to go with the Catalina Eddy ($12.00), a refreshing blend of Jamaican rum, white demerara rum, housemade banana cordial, honey, and lime whose pure banana flavor was pretty remarkable. Tropical paradise in a glass.

I’m not much for shucking, but my two dining partners both enjoyed slurping down some oysters from the expansive raw bar (market price). The two of them oohed and aahed the most over the fresh, salty finish of the Luna oyster.

The Peeky Toe Crab Cake ($11.00) played perfectly to my crustacean-loving tastes. I was delighted to find this version positively jam-packed with crab meat rather than filler.

All three of us ordered a lobster roll, and it was a thing of beauty when they all hit the table.

Cold lobster roll served with a side of fries ($20.00)

Warm lobster roll served with a side of fries ($20.00)

Lobster roll enthusiasts are divided into two camps– those who contend that the best preparation is cold with mayonnaise and those who staunchly defend the warm version with drawn butter. In the interest of peace between the factions, Connie and Ted’s offers both. Both versions featured a hearty serving of plump and juicy chunks of lobster in a toasty roll, but, in the end, it was the buttery goodness of my warm roll that stole my heart. The crispy, extra salty fries were also standouts and would be a more than worthy counterpart to even the best burgers in the city. 

As with choosing a cocktail, zeroing in on just one dessert proved to be a formidable task. In the end, my sweet tooth opted for Strawberry Rhubarb Pie a la mode ($9.00) and was absolutely bowled over by its tart filling and crumbly crust. Bad things would happen if ever I sat down with this whole pie.

Connie and Ted’s is a place that I can’t wait to visit over and over again. I just can’t say whether I will actually try new things or heed the siren song of these same outstanding plates.

Connie and Ted’s
www.connieandteds.com
8171 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 848-CRAB