Last week I wrote about Devon Espinosa and the new cocktail series at Breadbar. While we were hanging out at the bar, we also ordered food from Tasting Kitchen. I had heard some things about this restaurant but it’s somewhat rare I get over to the Westside so I relished this opportunity to tackle the menu.
The four of us ordered clams, green beans & burrata, fries, pork, fish and lamb. I also ordered the four oysters offered that night as my starter. I’m thinking maybe it’s time to go to the Westside more often. The Tasting Kitchen definitely had my attention with fine cocktails and great food.
I loved these fresh green beans. The sprinkle of hazelnuts took them over the edge of good to awesome.
Miss Veronica, a new Uncouth Gourmand, ordered the fries and clams. I’m a fan of clams and a fan of mussels and fries but never thought to order fries with clams. Ingenious! Read about her take on the night here.
I probably would have ordered the pork but I was feeling seafood-y so I opted for fish. I was secretly glad others ordered the lamb and pork which I got a bite of. Both were somewhat salty but as some might think, that’s called flavor!
My fish was just what I was looking for. The sauce, sides and firm fish kept my mouth busy for a while. I barely had time to talk (just joking).
My good friend Jen once told me about lambrusco and how it was Italian wedding wine because everyone drank the slightly fizzy sweet wine cold. I enjoyed my glass with dessert.
I pretty much will almost order something chocolate for dessert. This chocolate pudding cake with ice cream “building blocks” was the perfect way to end the evening.
The Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 392-6644









May 13, 2010 at 3:39 PM
[...] ordered the chocolate pudding cake. Having just had a version at the Tasting Kitchen, I was already pitting this cake against TK’s. Ford’s never had a chance. It was good [...]
July 29, 2010 at 4:37 PM
[...] day was even more fun sippin’ on cocktails made by master mixologist Devon Espinosa from the Tasting Kitchen. Michel Dozois was on hand with his marvelous Neve [...]
August 4, 2010 at 4:56 PM
[...] Devon at Tasting Kitchen [...]
October 6, 2010 at 3:31 PM
[...] Espinosa of The Tasting Kitchen, [...]
July 18, 2011 at 9:00 AM
[...] works at the Tasting Kitchen Wednesdays and Fridays through Sundays. He’s also there every other Thursday. I first met him [...]
September 9, 2011 at 8:29 AM
[...] I spotted Francois Renaud over at the Tasting Kitchen booth. He and Chef/Owner Casey Lane were serving up burgers with epoisse cheese. Oh, it was my [...]
September 26, 2011 at 6:58 PM
[...] The judges team announced their selections for the final two spots- Devon Tarby of Varnish and Justin Pike of Tasting Kitchen. Daniel's Faster Young Fruit Brian's Blues in [...]
October 12, 2011 at 6:15 PM
[...] Los Angeles. The finalists were Joseph Brooke of Next Door Lounge, Devon Tarby of Varnish , Justin Pike of Tasting Kitchen, Daniel Zacharczuk of Bar | Kitchen and Brian Summers of Harvard & Stone. As [...]
January 20, 2012 at 6:51 PM
[...] bars in LA whittled down to 8 then 4 then the final 2. We saw LA’s best bartender Justin Pike (The Tasting Kitchen) competing along with 3 bartenders from the Varnish; Eric Alperin, Chris Bostick, Devon Tarby, plus [...]