Sound Bites 15.0: TasteLA 2012

Dinner & Drinks

Favorite bites of the night (clockwise):

• Rustic Canyon's Grilled Loin Back Rib with cannellini beans & salsa verde
• Haven's Cola-Glazed Berkshire Pork with smoked creamed corn, Garrotxa cheese, thyme
• Chocolate Hazelnut (gluten free) and Blueberry Earl Grey Fonuts 
• Tom Bergin's BBQ Oyster

Labor Day Picnic

Favorite bites of the day (left to right, top to bottom):

• Sweet Rose Creamery's Bacon with Cinnamon ice cream sliders - okay, so I mostly ate the bacon and ice cream.  Still good!
• Huckleberry's chocolate mini cupcakes
• Bouchon's macarons and brownies
• Haven's Lamb Slider with leek onion jam, tzatziki, onion sprouts, rosemary bun

More Photos:
Cocktail Confidential
Dinner & Drinks
Labor Day Picnic

Fun. @ The Wiltern - 8/17

I was a little concerned about auto-tuning occurring at the show thanks to the overuse of it on Fun.'s latest album Some Nights (it's hard to tell if they did that to to be entertaining or if they were trying to be artistic).  Luckily, there was no need to worry because the only time I heard it was when the crowd continued singing it at the end of a song, which was amusing. 

The Wiltern provided a great environment for tracks that encourage group singalongs, such as Carry On, One Foot, and We are Young (which was a dream to hear live.  I was hoping Janelle Monáe would be a surprise guest, but the song still sounded amazing.  Surprisingly, I discovered this song on a blog and later began noticing it was being played everywhere.  Shows how little I listen to the radio).  The Gambler was sweetly dedicated to the parents of Jack Antonoff (guitarist).  Other notable tracks included whimsical Walking the Dog and At Least I'm Not as Sad (As I Used to Be), Queen-inspired All the Pretty Girls, and one of my favorites, Light a Roman Candle with Me (It sounds like a cute date...that I would like to be on...with the singer, Nate Ruess, who is rather attractive in person.  He looks like a younger Guy Pearce).  

I've never really seen a band black out all the lights after each song.  It was rather theatrical, like each song was a new act, and their intermission was a short cover of Oh What a Night, befitting of Ruess' voice.  Adding to the drama was more confetti than I've ever seen in my life during 60s rockish Bar Lights (which was never one of my favorites, but after hearing them cover You Can't Always Get What You Want, it made sense) and a balloon drop, ending the night with the epic Some Nights.  People were still singing the chorus on the way out.


High Note: 
Everyone there were hardcore fans.  They knew all the lyrics to songs off Fun.'s last two albums.  

Low Note:
Okay, not really that low.  Although, I got to hear most of my favorites, they didn't play Out on the Town, I Wanna Be the One, and All Alright.   

More: 
Set List (out of order)
Photos from

• Bored4Music
• BuzzNet

Reviews from

• OC Weekly
• Billboard
• Mxdwn 

“Somebody” Music Video - Jukebox the Ghost

Love the flash mob-iness of the video.  Great, catchy tune from Jukebox the Ghost.

Favorite Line:
"I don't want any heartbreak. I'm tired of the sound it makes"

Sound Bites 13.1: 1886 Bar @ The Raymond - Summer Cocktails

Since my last post, 1886 has become my favorite Pasadena bar and my go-to whenever a wedding ends early (there are A LOT of weddings in the spring and summer.  Also, why waste a good outfit?).  I love the food, cocktails, bartenders, atmosphere, and ease of parking.  So naturally, I was thrilled to reunite with HC and Fiona to try 1886's new summer cocktails.

Vacation Cocktails: 

• La Brigada - spicy chicharrón, smokey mezcal, homemade agave liquer, fresh pineapple and lime served over crushed ice with a shard of frozen coconut water. 
  When Lacey vividly described the inspiration behind this drink (a family trip to La Paz), I was instantly transported to Hawaii and all I could think was "this tastes like a luau..." and extra chicharrón please! 

  

  La Brigada / Tranquilizer (this cup is larger than it appears)

• Tranquilizer - overproof rum and Batavia Arrack with coconut and pineapple. 
  HC calls it a boozier piña colada.

Not for Kids:

• Strawberry Paleta - "pop shot" made using -300°F liquid nitrogen, fresh CA strawberries, cream and rum.
  I love this alcoholic dessert.  I'm glad we each got our own.  
• BBC - Bols Genever Basil Collins. 
  Reminds me of a soda...with my one of my favorite spirits.

Drinks on the Porch:

• Rosebud -  homemade hibiscus liqueur, Benedictine, fresh lime juice and Reposado tequila, topped with Fever Tree’s lite tonic water. 
  Everyone likes a pink cocktail, says Brady.  After having this and his version of a Cosmo (with hibiscus liqueur, people!), I concur. 
• Pimm's #6 - Karlsson's potato vodka and their summer Pimm's recipe topped with homemade sparkling lemonade.

  

  Pimm's #6 / Southern Belle Whistle

• Southern Belle Whistle - hand-crafted soda pop with fresh yellow peaches, floral, sweet black tea and 1886 Buffalo Trace bourbon. Sealed with bubbles in a bottle and served with a wedge of lemon.
  There's a time and a place for this and it's a warm late afternoon on 1886's patio.  

Something a Little Stronger:

• Xocolate - Reposado tequila, Italian vermouth, crème de cacao and a hit of Mexican mole bitters. 
  I was impressed by how chocolatey it tasted even though I knew it was all alcohol.
• Dutch Kills - Bols Barrel-Aged Genever, Italian vermouth, bitters and a dash of apricot liqueur.

Bites:

• Yellowtail Collar "Hamachi Kama" - miso glazed, soy sauce to dip, roasted shisito peppers. 
  We've had this before, but I don't know what they changed because this time it was downright addictive.  We were trying to pick every last piece of meat off the bone.  
  
• Crisfield Bay Soft Shell Crab - crispy blue crab with jerk sauce and seasoning.  

Song Pairing: 
Lilikoi - Paula Fuga


More: 
Better photos in Caroline on Crack's post

Mixtape 2.0: Ni Hao Hawaii

These are the songs we heard every day on Oahu's top 40 island station Island 98.5.  I have to say, island music is instantly relaxing.  This mix always puts me in a good mood. 

Ni Hao Hawaii Mix

1. I Feel So Good - Collie Buddz
2. It Will Rain (reggae remix) - Bruno Mars 
   So he usually sounds like he's crying when he's singing, and the chorus sounds like Adele's Chasing Pavements, but for some reason I never get tired of this remix.  He should really put out a reggae remix of his greatest hits.  I would buy that. 
3. Wade in Your Water - Common Kings
   Love the shoutouts to landmarks in Oahu.
4. Pumped Up Kicks (cover) - Cris Cab
   Just when I thought this song was overplayed, Cab put a twist on it and I actually like this version better.  I wish he would release an album of cover songs.  
5. Not Too Fast - Teki
   He's the island John Legend
6. Set Fire to the Rain (reggae version) - Adele
7. Give it Up - CRSB
8. Gotta Be - The Green
9. Get to Know You - Teki
   I love his silky voice so much I sprinkled the mix with his songs
10. Higher than the Clouds - Anuhea
11. Young Wild Free (reggae remix) - Inner Circle ft. I-Octane Bizerk
12. Somebody that I Used to Know (Jr Blender reggae remix) - Gotye
    WAY better than the original
13. All - Teki
14. Falling - Iration
15. All of the Lights (cover) - Cris Cab
16. You Da One - Rihanna
17. Waiting for You - Teki 

Food Pairing:
Soundbites 14.0: Oahu, Hawaii