Los Angeles Area

Tips for Dining, Eating, and Food Shopping in the Greater Los Angeles Area (including Orange County and Malibu)

1. DEFINITELY at Girasole on Larchmont and Beverly.... OMG, the Spinach Gnocchi in Butter andsage simply melts in your mouth. It is amazing. By far the best.

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   Joe Rock Dec 13, 2004 02:34PM

   1. re: Joe Rock

      If you don't mind a heart attack afterward, the gnocchi alfredo at Peppone is a little bit out of this world.

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      jcwla Dec 13, 2004 02:55PM
   2. re: Joe Rock

      I agree that Girasole has the best(depending on the day of the week)...and this Roman boy(50ish)has been looking for many years...however...they do not compare to those found in Italy...oh how I miss those cloud-like morsels served every Thursday when I was a boy!!...and during visits to the homeland. There is a lightness yet intensity of flavor that Italian nonnas(this was the only dish my grandmother would make served with butter and a simple tomato sauce or brown butter and sage and a light coating of Parmigiano Reggiano...otherwise she used a cook)can only achieve.
      
      Outside of Los Angeles there are two places the come the closest(I know...belongs on the California and SF boards)...and remember I have been looking for many years...one is in San Francisco at Ristorante Milano and the other is at Sacramento's Biba...both are very very good and IMHO worth a trip...which I make several times a year!!

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      TravelPath Dec 13, 2004 04:54PM

      1. re: TravelPath

         Ever had those pillowy soft homemade ones with butter and blackberry jam? First, Italian Francesca made the strawberry jam with pasta for dessert, then I tried blackberry jam on the potatoe dumplings. Marionberry the next time (Dickenson's is good). Nice to remember.

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         kc girl Dec 13, 2004 06:10PM

         1. re: kc girl

            I can't say I have ever had non-savory gnocchi...but you know what, sauteed with a litte butter and served with dollops of preserves sounds very good right now!!

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            TravelPath Dec 14, 2004 04:58AM

            1. re: TravelPath

               I'll do this when I have a craving for plum dumplings and no time to make my own potato dough. Though instead of using jam, I'll make a plum sauce which involves simply cooking sliced prune plums with a bit of water and sugar. Serve the sauce over gnocchi which has been sauted with butter and breadcrumbs. Oh, this is so good!
               
               A couple of times when I've made plum dumplings I've taken the extra dough and formed it into gnocchi - they turned out great!

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               coffeebeast Dec 14, 2004 04:32PM

2. The Ricotta Gnocchi in Oxtail Ragu at Rocca in Santa Monica is perhaps the most wonderful italian dish I've had all year. It is a primi, so the portion is small, but it's SO rich that with one of their salads, it's just enough...
   
   --Dommy!

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   Dommy! Dec 13, 2004 03:23PM

3. I think the best gnocchi in LA belong to Divino, on the other side of the cul-de-sac from Peppone's, in Brentwood just south of Sunset on Barrington Avenue. I've taken many Italian friends there and they agree. Divino serves their fluffy little pillows with a choice of four sauces: porcini, pomodoro, gorgonzola or chicken ragu. So many other good things to eat there I don't get them as often as I'd like, but when I do I'm never disappointed.

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   Cheflvr Dec 13, 2004 06:36PM

   1. re: Cheflvr

      I have them with the spinach sauce. Amazing.

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      cvc Dec 13, 2004 07:28PM

4. The recommendation of no less an authority than la bella Grubba is La Buca (Melrose, just west of Wilton). Fluffiest, tastiest gnocchi she's ever enjoyed -- & w their light mushroom sauce ... wicked good, really.

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   Mr Grub Dec 14, 2004 05:23PM

   1. re: Mr Grub

      100% agree.
      
      Mamma makes the best gnocchi at La Buca.
      
      All the other pastas are fresh and yummy too.

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      Pinder Dec 14, 2004 05:39PM

5. Has anyone here had the gnochhi at N9ne in Las Vegas? I wonder how they compare - I thought they were awesome!

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   torta basilica Dec 14, 2004 06:20PM

6. Any current/ newer suggestions?

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   kel Sep 30, 2006 12:20AM

7. Girasole's are out of this world - but not sure why they are called gnocchi - more like creamed spinach and butter heaven.

   For excellent normal gnocchi, I really love Ca'Brea. Soft and tender, and their meat sauce is really yummy.

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   Food Good Sep 30, 2006 12:25AM

8. Definitely Spumoni on Ventura and Van Nuys. Absolutely out of this world, especially if you get them Sicilian style with anchovies, olives, tomatoes... mmmm.

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   Das Ubergeek Sep 30, 2006 01:46AM

9. Best I've had other than in Milan is definitely Angeli Caffe on Melrose...always a special on the menu (different fillings)

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   dalberts Sep 30, 2006 02:43AM

10. Best I've had other than in Milan is definitely Angeli Caffe on Melrose...always a special on the menu (different fillings)

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    dalberts Sep 30, 2006 02:44AM