Weekend Review: Fraiche Happy Hour

Baby Beet Salad, Orange, Pistachios, Ricotta

I've had a great experience at Fraiche's Santa Monica location for dinner, so I decided to try it out for happy hour on Thursday. Their happy hour menu has seemingly typical bar food (pizza, burgers, steamed mussels), but with a major gourmet twist. The truffle burger and baby beet salad were delicious - although it's hard to find fault in anything with truffles or house-made ricotta cheese. But the even sweeter deal lies in the cheap prices, available all night Sunday through Thursday. Oh, and they poured me monstrous glasses of Pinot Grigio.

Truffle Burger

Kir Royales

I've fallen into a routine after work (get home, make dinner, play with my cats, watch some television, go to bed), so I decided to surprise my boyfriend with a cocktail hour before dinner. I tried out Ina Garten's recipe for cheese straws, which were deliciously addicting, and paired them with my favorite cocktail of the moment, kir royales. It was such a nice change of pace to unwind after work with a cold drink and hors d'oeuvres, and I think my dinner tasted extra-delicious after a few cocktails.


Kir Royales:

• Pour one tbsp. Crème de cassis* into the bottom of a champagne flute.
• Top with Champagne.**

Makes one cocktail
*Black currant liqueur. This can be found at liquor stores and some supermarkets.
**I like to use good Prosecco instead.