To continue our adventure…After the Dalí exhibit, Allison and I crossed the street to go to see our friend James Panazzo at his Lawrence Asher Gallery Christmas party. Kris Kamm, our other friend, met us there too. You may remember James and Kris from the pig roast escapade.
James (center) and friends
LAG owner Steve Kramer with his daughter Jennifer (right) and family friend
I hadn’t seen the gallery’s latest show and was pleasantly surprised to see several wonderful dog works on display.
Allison, Kris and Me in front of The One by Kim Kimbro
Prey by Kim Kimbro
Artist Barry Baldwin with his intriguing English Girl statue.
English Girl close up
Eventually we felt a little peckish and Kris recommended we to go to Lou, a tiny wine bar nestled between a Laundromat and a Thai massage parlor near Vine and Melrose Ave.
Lou exterior
Because the windows and door are covered in fabric, I had no way of knowing that inside is one of the coziest, coolest restaurants in LA. With no reservations, we sipped some wine from the 25 wine-by-the-glass menu and hovered near the bar. I had the Lirac Syrah which was just right for a rainy night.
This is the entire restaurant. My camera doesn’t do justice to the low warm lighting, but you get the idea. It’s like being at someone’s dinner party.
Eventually seats opened up at the bar and we had the perfect spot to chat with owner Lou Amdur, to watch him meticulously pour his flights of wine, and to discover that he’s a former financial biz guy who always had a passion for wine and cheese.
Lou Amdur
I like wine too, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE cheese, so I was thrilled by this new find, not that I would ever doubt Kris, who is always on LA’s inside track. But…we all were a little disappointed with the food. The pig candy (bacon with savory/sweet seasoning) and the macaroni & cheese were cold. And the cheese board was bizarrely uninspired. Granted, by this time I was starving and anxious to inhale a hamburger (not on the menu) and the room was slammed with standing room only patrons. And there are many raves for Lou at Yelp. So maybe it was an off night. Plus, Lou was so nice and the place has such an inviting speakeasy feel, I would definitely go back. But I was glad I had the fixings for a turkey sandwich when I got home.
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