My first blogger post on my LA food adventures is on a great little restaurant in the South Bay area of El Segundo- Jacksons Food and Drink. After posting hundreds of reviews of restaurants on review sites, the restaurant contacted me that i was invited to preview their upcoming new menu items!!!
I was very excited to be part of an intimate group of bloggers treated to such hospitality from the owner Chef Scott Cooper and his wife Sharon who dined with us along with Eric who coordinated the lovely dinner. It was a great experience to get to talk to Sharon about their background and to hear from Chef Scott the inspiration behind each dish we were being served. I was also delighted that fellow blogger hello kitty twin Jenn G was in attendance as well!
The soup came with roasted pasilla chiles which gave it a spicy kick (a little too spicy for me!) and queso fresco. I loved the corn kernels and bits of cheese that gave it a good heartiness. The soup was paired with a glass of Villa Sandi Prosecco wine which was a very nice light wine to start the evening.
Salad came next. Plated very nicely on a rectangular plate, the salad was packed with goodies.
Baby beets and greens, mandarin orange slices, candied pecans and goat cheese. The dressing was a very light citrus vinaigrette. I usually avoid goat cheese at all costs, so i was a little hesitant, but the cheese was absolutely the perfect choice- a creamy, light version of goat cheese that was more feta-ish rather than crumbly funk. Jackson has opened my eyes and made me a fan of goat cheese- gasp!!!
The wine pairing here was with a Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.
Before our third course, we were given an additional treat of Chefs creation of Tomato Soup.
He wanted a really tomato tasting soup- and very tomato-ey it was! Only a bit of chicken stock was added and dressed with lovely bites of light croutons and a dab of sour cream. It was a very thick soup, having the texture that would go great as a sauce for a pasta dish or dipping sauce for bread. I would buy cans of this and use it as a sauce if i could.
The first entree was a seared seabass dish served with braised and grilled fennel, and couscous. The sauce it was served with was AMAZING. Chef Scott mentioned he's a sauce guru and it showed in this very flavorful sauce. The couscous was a nice substitute for a rice side. It was flavored with garlic and was very delicious. The fish itself had a nice sear but didn't do anything for me if it was eaten alone. The fennel was i think soaked in a Pernod sauce which i didn't care for (not a fan of licorice flavoring).
This dish was paired with a lovely Flora Springs Chardonnay which was my favorite since it reminded me of a moscato.
The second entree was milk-braised pork chops- it came plated very different than what i had imagined in my head. The pork was very soft and served in chunks in a very rich homestyle gravy. A nice bed of creamy polenta gave the dish a very hearty, home cooked feel. I think a nice small side of vegetables would balance the heaviness of this dish if served as a full side main entree. The fried sage garnish was a nice touch. The pork dish was served with a glass of Clos du Val Pinot Noir (red).
The dessert was the item written on our menu that i was most curious about. The word BACON had popped out to me immediately, as i'm a big fan of bacon desserts! Chef Simon's creation of a crazy indulgent bread pudding was pretty awesome- almonds, bacon, toffee bread pudding topped with a maple whipped cream--- it was eye popping and button popping as we finished our meal with such a sweet treat.
On top of that, we were offered lattes and cappuccinos (Intelligentsia)!
Service from our server Wade and the wait staff was excellent. The restaurant itself is very beautiful. It has a very cozy feel without feeling cramped. We sat next to the warm fireplace at the long wood table, perfect for a nice small group. There is also a bar section where you can watch the game- ideal for a happy hour visit! Happy hour is M-F 4pm to 6:30pm. Weekday lunch starts at 11am and i hear that weekend brunch for the new year is in the works. You can check out their menu at their website www.jacksonfoodanddrink.com
I had previously come here on a whim after watching a movie at the Arclight Theatres next door. The miso cod fish, filet mignon risotto and tagliatelle pasta dish were yummy.
I hear the butternut squash soup is excellent!
Thank you @hellojacksons for a wonderful evening!!!
