Well, that sounds lovely.
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Visits to Gjelina.
A pleasant solo lunch…
Vermentino
Smoked Trout, Arugula, Avocado, Citrus, Red Onions, Lemon, Olive Oil
Potato, Asparagus, Garlic Confit, Leek, Pecorino, Asiago, Lemon Zest
Gjelina is open all-day which is great. This day I had their abbreviated menu between 2:30p-4:30p.
Lunch on the patio for two…
Primitivo & Vermentino
Braised Black Eyed Peas, Soffritto, Tomatoes, Scallions, Black Lime
So far, my favorite dish at Gjelina—mostly because I was surprised at how much I loved it. I do love black-eyed peas, but ordered it largely because they’re rarely on menus now. Gjelicious version. Fresh (not dried) beans—nutty, slightly sweet, toothsome—bright from the olive-oil-laden soffritto, tomatoes, black lime, and salt. It lingered with me enough that I ended up recreating it (as best I could) for our customary New Year’s black-eyed pea dish.
Grilled Dragon Tongue Beans, Fermented Chili Romesco, Lemon, Belper Knolle Cheese
Anytime they serve vegetables topped with this combo of fermented chili romesco & belper knolle cheese I order it.
Braised Pork Meatballs, Tomato Sauce, Parmesan, Sourdough Toast
Hubs’ dish. I asked for an extra slice of that toast to sop up the olive oily, brothy soffritto in the black-eyed peas.
Passion Fruit Yogurt Panna Cotta
Best panna cotta I’ve had in a long time—maybe since Animal’s. Yep, Animal. The sweet, tart passion fruit sauce is delicious, but it’s about the consistency and texture of the panna cotta—Gjelina’s is perfection.
Lunch on the patio for two too…
Pinot Noir & Blanc de Morgex
Free bread… upon request.
Great for topping & sopping this…
Chanterelle Mushrooms, Sunchoke Sauce, Parmesan, Chives
LOVED. Perfectly cooked chanterelles, rich, creamy sauce of emulsified olive oil & cooked sunchokes, no dairy. So good!
Roasted Carrots, Yogurt, Orange Glaze, Chermoula
Carrots were a little under, but the yogurt w/orange glaze & chermoula was fantastic.
Guanciale, Mozzarella, Tomato, Castelvetrano Olive, Fresno Chili
Hubs parted ways with the meatballs this once to order pizza. Excellent choice.
Passion Fruit Yogurt Panna Cotta
I was gonna order the passion fruit tart for a change but they were out of it. I wasn’t mad.
I’m not as much of a chowhound as some of my FTC buds who regularly travel far and wide to eat good food, but I do find excuses to eat at Gjelina as much as possible.
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great post.
when you factor in long opening hours, ease of getting a reservation, big menu, reasonable price, fun wine list, etc. – gjelina is a strong candidate for my favorite restaurant in LA.
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Mine too.
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