Feast of 5 Senses at Ludo Bites

I knew we were in for a memorable meal when first arriving at Ludo Bites after witnessing diners rolling their eyes back in a state of tasting ecstasy. Chef Ludo Lefebvre has opened up a guerilla style pop-up restaurant for a short time this summer at the Breadbar here in West Hollywood and we were very excited to experience his food after pouring over the daily menus online and watching him in action on Top Chef Masters a few weeks ago. Nothing prepared me for the explosion of flavors that each dish brought. It was truly the best meal I've ever had here in Los Angeles. His stunning cookbook Crave: A Feast of the Five Senses was my next purchase and I'm now reading it from cover to cover, learning how to combine some of the unusual flavors he achieves in the kitchen. Personable, handsome and very much a presence in the restaurant talking to customers, serving food and sharing cooking tips, we felt like family there. If you live in the Los Angeles area, I suggest making a reservation soon. He will open up shop at another yet-to-be announced location, so get on his email list. A special thank you to Omar Kalifornia for the beautiful photos.

From the top: Cantaloupe, Chorizo and Iced Cornichon soup, Grilled Hanger Steak w/beer emulsion, black sesame miso, potato chips and charcoal oil (YUM!), Heirloom tomato salad w/red onions & feta mousse, Fried chicken in duck fat w/mashed potato & fried herbs, Caramelized cod w/black pepper butter, eggplant chutney & grilled melon w/orange, Lighting with our iPhones: the Fois Gras chocolate cupcake w/candied bacon, almonds & maple syrup. Last two photos of my cousins Alicia, Eliza, Omar & myself with Chef Ludo.