Thursday, April 8, 2010

Engagment Returns @ Ludobites at Royal/T (Culver City)



It's been a long while, but I think it's good to let everyone know someone's back. In the back of my mind, I probably was talking about myself, but alas someone bigger is getting that love. A larger presence who I think a lot of foodies are excited about is making a return engagement.

Yes... Ludo is back!

I'm sure there are skepticism being thrown out there about how food are getting to be the same. Such as why would food prepare by Chef Ludo Lefebvre is something to get excited about? Why the hype? Honestly, I can comprehend the initial waves of doubts that people may have. That is until they get a chance to actually come in and taste the food themselves. Many times often, they eventually would changed that tune and become one of the many converts.


VIP Table in the middle of the room!

To be quite honest, I needed to be initiated into this discovery by my good friend Gastronomnom who set up the first visit in the previous LudoBites visit at BreadBar. To get people acquainted about what LudoBites is and who Chef Ludo is, you probably will need to get some first hand knowledge before the obsessions and raves start kicking in.

For the shorter tale, it basically boiled down to be about one of the more creative chef in this fine city of Los Angeles who can create some of the traditional French fare and reinvented into one of his creative interpretation. One of the big kudo dish from my many visit at the BreadBar restaurant was a simple sandwich that not many people out there can replicate or captivate our taste buds.

4
Confit Pork Belly, Pickled Mustard, Vadouvan Apple, Frisee - $12

The dish was the Foie Gras Black Croque that have various ingredients that probably could have been done, but somehow no one other than Chef Ludo Lefebvre was able to perfect. The Foie Gras Black Croque seemed simple to make, but yet have all the intricacy of flavors all meshed into one component. In fact, many of his dishes in the menu which he boldly experimented have not only was successful in terms of taste, but also have people wanting to be amaze with anticipation of something new. I think that may be the reason why so many followers and believers in Chef Ludo have to come to expect.

Since then, I became one of the converts and started raving about that dish which was one of the many reasons I went back in three visits in the span of less than three weeks. Pretty amazing, ain't it?

5
Bread Soup, Poached Egg, Gruyere Marshmallow - $9

Chef Ludo have serve his creations in a modified restaurant which he set it up part time on what now the term is being called "pop-up" restaurants. This is where his restaurant would be temporary be stationed in a reserved location for a limited time, during which only dinner service are being served with his wonderful plates of different fusions he carefully crafted with many flavors blended into one plate of exquisite fine cuisine.

His 3.0 (Third limited engagement) of "LudoBites" was stationed at a cafe called Royal/T in Culver City.
Again, our fellow LudoBites fanatic Gastronomnom invited me again in another LudoBites outing with a few of the new Bloggers at the time, FoodForFel from the Food Ledger, The Minty, and Chef Austin from I'm Living to Eat. I spotted a few of fellow blogger friends as well who took in the big festivity that night such as Street Gourmet LA, Yutjangsah, E*Star LA, Sam, and Diana Takes a Bite.

What we experienced that night was extraordinary in that if you were not there, you really missed out. Those are the kind of moments you can wished you were there if you heard about it. For starters, the big draw that night was a marinated hanger steak served with a mole sauce. The weird arrangement would probably not go well if you heard it first hand, but after trying it and you'll be shocked to learn Chef Ludo was able to find a way to incorporate that mole sauce from a special Mexican recipe with special assistance from a very famous LA blogger, Teenage Glutster.

Mole sauce done the right way would have this sweet taste that goes well with savory items. For the life in me, I just never really thought it would go well with a piece of beef until I try it. Not only it made a believer out of me, but I was impressed at the numbers of tries that Chef Ludo experimented to make it work in his dishes.

There are other dishes that night that gained notoriety that night I should have revisited before the engagement of LudoBites 3.0 ended. Dishes such as a Foie Gras Beignet, Veal Udon with sesame seed miso and mushroom, or the Monterrey Squid with kimchee puree and a sheet of eggplant "paper".

The worst part is....I probably didn't do a good job of taking some of those photos because I was salivating to eat these wonderful creations. Then there is the funny part which was that LudoBites had set up a lighting tent was set up for anyone who wanted to take photos of their food at the corner of the restaurant. My only worries was that the food would get cold if I wanted to take photos of the food. Luckily, I was more interested in eating that night than taking photos. It doesn't happened often, but at those moments at that evening was one of those time.

3
Veal Udon, Kombu Dashi, Mushroom & Sesame Seed Miso - $13


 
6
Pistachio Rice Milk, Lemon Pound Cake on the side, Coffee Chantilly - $10


Obviously, the massive anticipation for the return for the 4th installment of this franchise is on full blast. In fact, I am sadly need to inform people that is sold out or fully booked in reservation until the last few weeks (those dates are blacked out from reservation). I'm already hearing the Ludo Fried Chicken (affectionately known as LFC by the fans) was making rounds in some special appearances before hand. Now I am ready for some new creative dishes that can be served out at a downtown LA location.

My visit to Ludobites 3.0 at Royal/T was a night I can't forget. Dishes that pretty much blow my mind. One of the very times where I probably was more interested in eating than taking photos of beautiful food. It doesn't happened often, but I can tell you that food are meant to be eaten and I was more than happy to reciprocate that thought. You can tell that the exciting new dishes that is in store for the LudoBites 4.0 will be greatly anticipated by yours truly.

Please do give a shout out to Ludo's wife, Krissy as she was more than happy to accommodate everyone that night and was willing to assist in making a memorable night for all diners. In fact, here's a Christmas photo we took courtesy of Krissy's help. Thanks again Krissy for the VIP table!!


LudoBites 3.0 at Royal/T Cafe
8910 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
Ludo Bites at Royal/T on Urbanspoon



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post note: Here is the info in case you want to make a reservation at LudoBites 4.0. Keep in mind, people do flake or cancel their reservation at the last moment. You can always be squeezed in when things happened. Please make the reservation online. I don't think you can call in to Gram & Papas to make reservation, so please try the online reservation or leave an email for stand-by.
Reservation can be online for dates from April 8 to May 28, 2010: click here

LudoBites 4.0 at Gram & Papas
227 East 9th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015