Playa del Rey is the first community just north of LAX. To the south, the airplanes take off over the Ocean. To the North is a wetlands reserve that is threatened by developers. To the east new developments like Playa Vista are popping up. There is a lot of controversy with the proposed LAX expansion. But I don't think it will really happen because just north of LAX windstorms (aka Tornados) occur with not so rare frequency.
Driving west Culver Blvd (which heading east on it will take you to Culver City and the Sony Pictures Soundstages) takes you to this amazing beach town. It's a classic southern California beach town. An Italian restaurant with lots of neon. A bar called the "Outlaws". A place called "The Shack" subtitle: So California, Colorado, Hawaii. Colorado?!!!! What surfer moved east to the Rockies I wonder? Across the street at the quasi flat iron corner is the brightly painted yellow and blue Bistro Solei. I've noticed this place every time I've turned the corner to head south along the beach.
Last night, I went there with my Aunt Mary Pat and her soon to be husband Steve. We didn't know what to expect and we showed up just before 9pm hoping they would still serve us. It's true we were the last ones to leave the restaurant but the place was completely spectacular. I had a filet mignon covered in a brandy wine cream sauce. It was one of the most interesting sauces on the menu and I had to try it. It was amazing. The filet was so tender I cut it with my butter knife. The sauce was impeccable. It was delightfully creamy with subtle flavors. The accompanying vegetables were delightful. Mary Pat opted for the fish and chips which were crispy and flavorful. And Steve had the Poulet Dijonese. All of us were blown away by the saucy goodness. Since Mary Pat and Steve were going to Hawaii the next day and it was basically Steve's bachelor party (with 2 women) we convinced our waitress to let us order desert. Crepes Martinique folds chocolate mousse inside a crepe covered with raspberry and rum sauces. Totally Yum! My brain starts enumerating the list of people I have to bring to the restaurant - starting with my mom - who introduced a picky petulant child to chocolate mousse crepes 25 years ago.
Playa del Rey is barely 10 minutes from LAX. It's a completely hidden gem in an amazing location. The beach was more or less empty yesterday when I pulled up to explore and watch the airplanes take off. It was the cloudy overcast JuneGloom in LA. I'm not really surprised. I'm intimate with the marine layer that rolls into SF all summer. It was an interesting trick of the infinite, watching huge jumbo jets, long necked airplanes and smaller aircraft propelling themselves into the sky followed by a rocketing blast of sound as they blend into the nothing of the marine cloudcover.
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