Picca Peru on Pico - hurry, before hipsters ruin it!

Picca Peru on Pico

 When Los Angeles Magazine names their Top 10 Best New Restaurants of the year, foodies scramble for reservations before it's booked solid for months. They're not desperate to sample the food so much as they want to say they've sampled it to the desperate.

Picca Peru was one of the restaurants named, and the small plates of exotic Peruvian comfort were as delicious as they were photogenic. Lots of raw fish, creamy hot sauces and serious magic with potatoes. So allow the photos to do the talking, until you can try it yourself. Which hopefully won't take too long, with the hispters clogging the phone lines and all.

First and Hope

Downtown's First and Hope is getting a lot of hype. Los Angeles Magazine showcased it in their Best New Restaurants issue.  It's a place to see and be seen. And hopefully not just by annoying hipsters.

I'll admit, I had never heard of it. When my girlfriend (who lives downtown) invited me to her vintage-themed birthday party at First and Hope, I assumed that was where her loft was. I brought booze. Imagine my surprise when her address led me to an unassuming strip mall. Imagine the hostesses' surprise upon seeing me lugging in a homemade hot toddie jar and a bottle of Champagne. We all had a good laugh. Well, more them than me; I was looking forward to a house party with gratis cocktails and snacks. Plus I like analyzing people by what magnets they stick on their fridge.

But it was worth it. The decor was crisp, the music was old-fashioned and Billie Holiday classy (a perfect backdrop to our party) and the signature cocktail list? Inventive, retro and fun to drink. But of course, any establishment associated with The Edison is sure to wow and make us nostalgic for "the old days" that we were too young to ever know anything about. 

Here's a smattering of lovelies...

RUSSIAN SPRING PUNCH
vodka, lemon, raspberry, and casis, splashed with a bit of bubbles

BLACKBERRY COBBLER
blackberry and champagne variation on this age old cocktail

CHAMPAGNE JULEP
champagne variation on the ultimate deep south classic- mint, sugar, and bubbles

ELLE FOR LEATHER
an elegant combination of scotch, lemon, vanilla syrup & a touch of effervescence

SEELBACH COCKTAIL
a blend of bourbon, orange liquer, bitters& bubbles, of course!

TEQUILA SUNRISE
a L.A. classic- tequila, cassis, grenadine, & fresh lime

This place is a must!