Bubble & Squeak

When I first walked into Eveleigh (“ever-lee”), I couldn’t believe this rustic-looking restaurant sat on the Sunset Strip. It was way too laid-back. The reclaimed and repurposed wood, the communal tables, the live lemon trees and the open-air dining room made me feel more as if I were in Napa than smack in the middle of the trendiest part of West Hollywood. That’s a good thing, by the way.

Open-air dining room

Bar area at Eveleigh

Perhaps the best part is that the food and drink are really good. It’s a great option for a lazy weekend brunch — I know, because I’ve had a couple of those here myself recently. Everything I’ve tried has been good, and some of it has been great. Executive Chef Jordan Toft, along with owners Nick Hatsatouris, Nick Mathers and Lincoln Pilcher, designed a menu reminiscent of their Aussie heritage but accessible to us good ol’ Americans.

The bubble and squeak (pictured above), which is traditionally made from leftovers, was punched up here with the use of some gorgeous kale (which I’m currently obsessed with), corned beef and potatoes topped with a scotch egg. This has great flavor and is a heavy dish, so I wouldn’t order this unless I was really hungry.

My favorite dish was the baked eggs with chard, shimeji mushrooms, goat curd and mizuna greens. The sourness of the curd was key to this dish. And since I have a thing for mini foods, the small eggs and mushrooms were pleasing to me visually. I’m such a sucker for mini foods!

Baked Eggs

The Seeded Granola topped with a scoop of frozen yogurt (literally plain yogurt that was frozen, not froyo) and blood orange segments was also very good. It was served with almond milk on the side, which I poured over the granola. The best part of this dish was the inclusion of black sesame in the granola, which reminded me of Chinese candies I grew up eating. My only complaint is the price of this dish: $10 for granola, yogurt and milk is a little steep.

Seeded Granola

Now, the cocktails. I tried a slew of drinks, almost all of them made with mezcal. David Kupchinsky, formerly of Comme Ça and The Tar Pit, designed the sophisticated cocktail program. I was impressed with Kupchinsky’s skills because I really liked his versions of the bloody mary and the gin and tonic, neither of which I’m normally a big fan of. The Bloody Sanchez at Eveleigh is made with mezcal instead of the traditional vodka, a decision I thought made a lot of sense, as the smokiness complemented the tomato and spices nicely. The tonic in the gin and tonic is house-made and is more tea-like than the clear versions you normally see, which gives it a unique herbal quality.

Gin and Tonic

The mezcal Old Fashioned was delicious, too. I couldn’t stop drinking it! And the Pimm’s Cup made with Pimm’s liqueur, cucumber, mint, lemon, blood orange and soda was also great. Just as I’m a sucker for mini foods, I’m also a sucker for blood orange.

Mezcal Old Fashioned

Pimm's Cup

The nonalcoholic drinks were tasty, too. The Cacao-Nut Date smoothie made with young coconut meat, coconut water, sweet cacao nibs, dates, cinnamon, vanilla stevia and vanilla hemp milk was a little too tasty — it was basically dessert in a glass and so substantial that it could have been a meal in itself. On the other hand, the Good Morning Sunshine juice, with kale, apple, orange, lime, ginger, mint, strawberry and fennel, was freshing and naturally sweet.

I liked this experience so much that when a friend asked about bloody marys, I suggested we go here, so I went back for a second weekend in a row and had the roasted portabello mushroom topped with burrata, vincotto, thyme and sourdough toast on the side. Though it didn’t look like much food, it kept me full for most of the day so this was a great value at $11.

So if you’re looking for respite after shopping amid the hustle and bustle of Sunset Boulevard, Eveleigh is a great option. Be on the lookout for patio seating in the near future, too.

Further reading: The Eveleigh: Liquid Brunch & Hangover Cures by Caroline on Crack

Note: The first meal discussed was hosted.

2004 Kentucky Derby. From photog1966 (Flickr).

I went to the Kentucky Derby four years ago. It was…an experience. Of course, my friends and I chose to go the cheap route and watched the race from Churchill Downs’ infield, which is nothing like what you see on TV. There are no rich people in oversize hats with mint juleps. The infield has mint juleps, too, but it’s more like Mardi Gras meets Nascar. But I digress. For those of you who are actually going to be in the Bluegrass State for this Saturday’s Derby race, here are some of my recommendations for where to shop, eat and sleep in Louisville.

• Sustain (Vogue Shopping Center, 3724 Frankfort Ave.) This boutique sells eco-friendly, sustainable and chemical-free products for you and your kids, pets and home. I have my eye on the phthalate-, BPA- and lead-free Laptop Lunch Bento Box.

• The Green Building (732 E. Market St.) The owners of this mixed-use building, a 110-year-old former dry goods store, are striving for LEED platinum certification. Housed within is 732 Social, a cafe from brothers Steven and Michael Ton who also own the James Beard Foundation Award-nominated Basa in Louisville. There’s also art gallery space, which is currently hosting work from Brooklyn’s Steve Keene.

• Cherry Bomb (960 Baxter Ave.) A cute vintage clothing store that also carries some private-label apparel.

• Ear X-tacy (1534 Bardstown Road) Awesome independent music store with tons of just about every musical genre you can think of. It has vinyl, too, of course. And music-related apparel upstairs. Ear X-tacy is great because the store really supports local independent music.

• Irish Rover (2319 Frankfort Ave.) Great Irish restaurant and pub with a welcoming, laid-back feel. Unlike some Irish pubs that serve food (Tom Bergin’s, I love you, but your food isn’t the best), the food at the Rover is excellent. And the owner, Michael Reidy, is actually from Ireland, so you’ll get some brogue with your Guinness.

• Jack Fry’s (1007 Bardstown Road) Best fish I’ve ever had, hands down. No joke. I cleaned my plate, and I rarely do that. I hear the lamb chops are great, too, though I don’t like lamb much.

• Seelbach Hilton (500 S. 4th St.) This four-diamond, four-star hotel (yes, such a place exists here) is the epitome of Southern opulence, with gold all over the lobby and public areas. The hotel even had a part in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” though it was called Muhlbach in the book.

For those of you staying in Los Angeles, here are some places that are marking the occasion. Go and enjoy the bourbon.

• South Santa Monica (3001 Wilshire Blvd.) The Southern-themed restaurant and bar is serving a special brunch and drink menu on Derby Day. The bar will be giving out prizes for the best dressed man and woman (ladies, plan on wearing your biggest, loudest, most flower-laden hat). And if you pick the trifecta, you’ll get $15 off your tab. From Caroline on Crack.

• Comme Ca (8479 Melrose Ave.) Why is a French brasserie serving $5 mint juleps all weekend? Because they’re delicious, that’s why.