best things i did/ate last week (week of october 12, 2015)(backhouse, petit trois, sake house, etc.)

(Week of October 12, 2015).
 

Karaage (fried chicken nuggets) at Backhouse.

I didn't have much planned for this week but it still turned out to be a pretty fun, food-filled week. Some highlights...

• I was invited to a mini concert at Sonos Studio on La Brea for JR JR (formerly the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.) so I took a music loving friend of mine.  (This was a perk for donating to KCRW - support your local radio station!!!)  It was fun to see Jason Bentley interview the band and enjoy some indie rock.   Hey it was free - who doesn't love free?  Afterwards we had a snack at Wirtshaus. The place always feels "sticky" to me and the only food I really like here is the schnitzel and brussel sprouts.  Everything else is a bit disappointing.  And the wine is always on the sweet side.  I really can't recommend this except for people who love beer.
• Happy hour with some girlfriends at Sake House where we ate and drank too much!  Always fun to see friends!  (See review here.) 
• Potluck for a 40th birthday party - fun in the sun with lots of food.  I made a baked fontina appetizer from the Barefoot Contessa cookbook - sooo tasty, but how can melty cheese be bad?
• Random impromptu date night with my husband at Backhouse Restaurant Sushi Robata Bar.  This is located in the same complex as emc seafood (on the 3rd floor).  While I still prefer the food at emc seafood generally, this is a nice alternative when emc is too crowded or when you are craving yakitori.  I thought the yakitori and gyoza were very tasty, and the service was very friendly.  There were also lots of huge tvs in the bar area in case you are a sports lover.
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  Shishito peppers - these had a major kick!

  
  
  

  

  Gyoza - very authentic and tasty.

  
  

  

  Variety of Yakitori - ribeye, bacon wrapped asparagus, quail eggs, chicken & green onions.

• Lunch with friends at Petit Trois.  As usual everyone else I know likes this place better than me.  It's probably because I don't love French food with its signature and heavy-handed use of butter, cream and cheese.  I also feel this place is a bit overpriced, but service is top notch.  Favorites are probably the chicken leg confit, the french fries and the burger.  However, I still prefer Bel Campo and In-n-Out for burgers since I don't really enjoy fancy burgers.

Omelet with cheese and chives - nice but very cheesy.

Potato Cake - tasty but lots of butter.

So after all this, what was the favorite thing I ate this week (besides my addictive granola and my mom's fried chicken)?  

 

My mom's fried chicken.

I'd have to say it's a tie among the yakitori at Backhouse, the spicy ramen thing at Sake House and the New York steaks we grilled up on Sunday!  I finally learned how to bake potatoes properly.  

Grilled New York Steak with roasted brussel sprouts, baked potato and corn.

The spicy ramen and rice cake thing at Sake House (again).