Restaurant: One Pico
Location: 1 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405. (310) 587-1717 (inside Shutters Hotel)
Date: June 10, 2017
Cuisine: American
Rating: Solid food, great setting
I don’t go to One Pico very often but I have a soft spot for it in my heart because it was here that my wife and I went on our first date.
So when our anniversary rolled around we decided to head back to the lovely white paneled room by the beach.
Tonight’s menu. I’m sure they’ve had several chefs since our first meal here!
When celebrating, you can never go wrong with Champagne:
From my cellar: 2006 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut. VM 97. Broad, ample and resonant on the palate, the 2006 Cristal dazzles with its pure richness and volume. Readers need to give the 2006 another 4-5 years in bottle, perhaps longer, as the wine appears to be shutting down a bit. Tasted next to the 2002, today the 2006 is a bit less opulent but just as intense, layered and deep. This is a fabulous showing.
Little gem caesar. parmesan croutons, red endive, white anchovies.
Rainbow cauliflower soup. apple curry madras. A little bit of heat and a distinct curry tone.
grilled country bread. Always good with soup!
Corn ravioli. piquillo pepper, lime yellow corn shoots, pecorino romano. Not a tomato sauce but a very Spanish tasting pepper puree.
Bucatini. Maine lobster, roasted tomatoes, capers, spicy Calabrian chili peppers. A touch of heat, plenty of meat.
Sea bass with a pesto puree. A nice crispy-skinned fish.
The dessert menu.
Bonus mini-tiramisu with a candle.
Salted Caramel Sundae. Candy Popcorn, chocolate brownie, and caramel ice cream. I should make a gelato with salted caramel, chocolate, and popcorn. This was a nice confection. Sweet, and good textural contrasts. Not sophisticated in flavor, but good.
Overall a very tasty meal at One Pico. It’s a great room too. Sure the prices are nice hotel prices, but they do a very good job.
