I called the restaurant and many weeks are completely booked and they're basically almost totally booked until April. But, I was squeezed in for when I can come. I mentioned my food allergies. No problem and it was all written down. This is why, for decades I love eating here at home in L.A., as these types of food situations are seldom an issue.

One has to give a credit card number and if there's a cancelation, it has to be made 48-hours in advance. As for the menu, it's a 6-course tasting menu. I'll report back in the weeks to come.

Happy Travels!

"SeaUrchin on Feb 7, 14 at 9:52am
It looks like there is a nine course meal for seventy-five dollars but I wonder if there is a regular menu too. (Maude's"

No regular menu as it's not known what will be prepared that far ahead of time. The menu revolves around the selected fruit or vegetable of the month. Therefore I would highly recommend that if you have a favorite fruit/vegetable on their list that you book more than a month ahead of time to try to get in for that month.

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http://www.yelp.com/biz/maude-beverly-hills

Above are some reviews. As far as making the reservation, I had absolutely no problem and the woman on the phone was charming, wrote down my food allergies, and even squeezed me in on a day when they're booked.

Happy Travels!

I can't wait to read your report.

I'll keep you all posted. I can't wait for the experience!

Happy Travels!

That sounds amazing!!!

Typo correction: It's a 9-course tasting menu (not 6).

Happy Travels!

Guenmai, can't wait to read your report.

I plan to take in a note pad to take notes and jot it all down to report back.

Happy Travels!

OK. I've eaten at Chef Curtis Stone's recently-opened restaurant called Maude. It's located in Beverly Hills and opened to the public this month.

http://la.eater.com/tags/curtis-stone

http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydis...#axzz2tB4NqCKW

The menu of the evening was:

Lime Sorbet with tiny bits of citrus fruit ( beyond delicious)- That was the starter.

Oysters and Caviar (delicious although I've never been into raw oysters or oysters in general.)

Onion Bhaji- an Eastern Indian onion fritter- (beyond delicious)

Crispy mussel (I didn't have this one. Maybe it had something in it that I don't/can't eat.)

Garden Salad ( Pearl Onions buttermilk,nasturtium) I didn't have that one. I was prepared another dish.

Carrot Soup (smoked Parsnip, Orange, Serrano Ham and fried, sweet, carrot sticks) (beyond delicious)- I had it minus the ham.

Lobster-(crimson turnip, radish,brioche) I had that one, but don't totally remember it.

Terrine-(chicken,pain perdu,mustard) I didn't have that one.

Duck,Duck,Goose-(duck egg,smoked goose fat,swiss chard) I didn't have that one.

Snake River Farm's Beef-(beef cheek,broccoli, rosti) I didn't have that one.

Abbaye de Belloc-(mostarda,semolina crackers)- That one might have been at the end.

Lemon Curd (dulcey cremeux,yuzu,sorbet,hempseed)- I was prepared a lemon curd dish, but don't think it was this one.

And then at the end, each diner receives a jar of lemon curd and a mini brioche, shaped like a loaf of bread along with a copy of the evenings menu.

I had some dishes that were substituted for me:

Chef Salad with mixed greens and dried fennel and citrus fruit ( beyond delicious)

Caramelized Scallop-perfectly cooked

Then Chef Stone came out of the kitchen and asked if I'd like a sea urchin dish, so I said that it was fine. He prepared it and brought it over. It was raw sea urchin with artichoke and some other items and was very good.

Grilled Halibut- with a pureed green vegetable and rounds of grilled or maybe pan-fried potatoes-(really delicious)

Chef Stone brought me over some mini, orange, fresh-baked madelines(sp?) with a caramel dipping sauce. The people sitting next to me also had them. I was seated at the 5-seat counter that is attached to the open kitchen. I was more than happy to sit there and watch the chefs at work and explain each dish presented. At the tables, each dish was explained by the staff.

Lemon Curd with blood orange-chopped ice (a bit like shaved ice) and chopped up bits of shortbread-( beyond delicious)

Platter of one mini macaroon, some sort of mini citrus square, and a mini marshmellow-(really tasty)

Total with tax and tip-$96.47. The tip is already included when one receives the check.

As for drinks, I only had water. I don't drink and drive.

The service was great, the staff was super friendly, and Chef Stone was very personable. It felt like eating at a friend's house. There are only 25 seats.

I was called twice to not only remind me of my reservation, but to once again go over my three food allergies and the fact that I don't eat meat/poultry (by choice). When I arrived, I was warmly greeted and my food choices were discussed again so that I would have a really great dining experience of which I did. Thumbs up.

Will I return? Definitely. I plan to make another reservation before the tourist season.

Happy Travels!

Thanks so much for such great details, Guenmai! We will definitely try it one of these days. What a great dining experience you had.

The part about feeling like you are in a friend's home reminds me of L'Espalier in Boston back when it was in a townhouse in Back Bay. The front dining room was the house's LR and that was what I always loved about the place (aside from the heavenly food)---that feeling of being in a truly intimate space.

socialworker: You're welcome. I plan on calling soon to make another reservation. But, for those who like large portions of food, then this is not the place for them. It was just right for me as there were lots of small portions of food which is what I prefer.

Happy Travels!

Thanks Guenmai. Sounds like a good place to share a special event. Maybe Tracy and I will go for our anniversary this summer...I'll let her pay

FYI, here's a little write-up I did not AltaEats in Pasadena. We've dined here twice in the past month or so. Both experiences were terrific.

http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/Tom_...0_Entry_1.html

Maitaitom: AltaEats looks terrific. I'll definitely give it a try.

Happy Travels!

That's great that they made those accommodations for you, Guenmai. So many trendy places won't.

mlgb: It's seldom a problem here at home.

Happy Travels!

Thanks Guenmai, it sounds like a special dining experience. I'll go there later in the Spring and see what is offered.

Maitai I'll have to try your place too.

A few nights ago we went to Bizou in Sherman Oaks, it is a homey place too, very popular and the food is always very nice. Sanddabs of course or the monkfish. I like the atmosphere there, sort of French-ish. I just feel good when
I climb up their steps, they have good vibes as we LA-ians
may want to think.

I love Bizou, but the one here in Pasadena. I've been going to it ever since it opened many years ago. The Valley one opened later.

I have friends who live in, The Valley, but come to the one here in Pasadena as they've commented that they like this one better. I haven't tried the one in The Valley though. I did hold my Friday night, GTG welcome dinner, for the out-of-state group that flew in, at Bizou here in Pasadena and everyone absolutely loved it.

Happy Travels!

SeaUrhcin, Bizou is one of the places on Ventura that we pass when we go to visit DS and DDIL. We love all those places on Ventura from Sherman Oaks to Studio City! Your word vibe is perfect, b/c so many of those places have managed to hold on to what we (as non-locals) think of as a quintessential LA-ness. Sort of what we imagine it would have been like in the 50s, but meant as a high compliment! It is SO great that chains have not displaced those cool places.

Cafe Bizou in Pasadena is one of our go-to restaurants. Two Dollar corkage, and many times if we buy a cocktail they don't even charge us that. Good food at more than reasonable prices.