Ray’s & Stark Bar: Kubrick Dinner at LACMA

 

LACMA‘s latest exhibit highlighting Stanley Kubrick’s life and works opened last month. It’ll be exhibited until next June. I went to LACMA’s MUSE party on Halloween and enjoyed a meal at Ray’s and Stark Bar before touring the exhibition.

I loved how everyone in the restaurant was dressed for the Kubrick opening including this pair of servers who were dressed in their version of the twins from The Shining. They were in top form and would occasionally stand together– one would slightly smile as the other slightly frowned. Perfect.

To kick off the night, I tried a cocktail from the special drinks list that night but I would not be surprised if some of these would end up on the Fall list that just launched.

Thriller –  rye, spiced beet juice, Carpano Antica, bitters

It was such a beautiful, bloody red. I really enjoy beet juice drinks. I think they are savory and unusual in a cocktail.

 

We split a salad to start. We got the baby escarole salad with Fuji apples and walnuts. I liked the grain mustard dressing. It’s always nice to have food knowing some of the produce is grown on the premises.

 

Meet John Paul Romeo, one of the bartenders nominated for the Minty Hot Bartender.  Beside Stark Bar, you can catch him on DTLA, a new show on the Logo Network.

Bar Smith and Sommelier Paul Sanguinetti is also nominated. Cheer on the Stark Bar boys at the Minty 3rd Anniversary party on December 12 at One-Eyed Gypsy.

Not just blood sausage but Bloody Sausage. The blood sausage was arranged on a plate brushed with bulls blood beet puree. For serious? Bull’s blood? But it turns out it’s a type of beet. I’m guessing the same beet juice went into the Thriller cocktail making this a perfectly paired dish with that drink.

The sausage was soft and warm, what I’d imagine it’d be like to bite into something live…

 

 

The cheekily named spaghetti and meatballs was A Spaceball Came Out of My Guts. The large meatball dominated the suddenly seeming writhing spaghetti. It was a lovely and warming meal on the slightly chilly night.

We headed into the exhibit, rarin’ to go so we skipped dessert but the house-made Oreos are always a hit when the check comes. We did stop back at the bar for a nightcap. I tried the Clockwork Orange (bourbon, Amaro Montenegro, carrot juice, lemon, caraway and egg white) and it was delicious. I always like to end my nights with a sour or fizz cocktail.

 

 

See more pics from the Kubrick exhibit here.

 

 

If you’re heading to the exhibit, there is another Kubrick themed dining option. LACMA has organized RED, a pop-up dinner with Chef Jason Fulilove. The three-course meal includes admission. Check out this link for more info. These dinners are not part of Ray’s menu.

Ray’s & Stark Bar at LACMA

5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 – (323) 857-6180

 

© The Minty  2012