Herringbone La Jolla

You guys..

yesterday was better than Christmas. 

Wanna know why?!

Aaaalright... I'll tell ya. 

Last night I was invited to attend friends & family night,

for a sneak peek of Herringbone La Jolla,

Brian Malarkey's brand new restaurant!

Obviously, I was beyond giddy when I received the invite from Enlightened Hospitality Group. 

I'm a huge fan of the man's work,

so to have a chance to check out his newest joint, before it even opens was a major treat.

The concept of this fifth culinary installment is based on an "ocean bazaar" theme. 

The kitchen is helmed by another Top Chef alum, Amanda Baumgarten,

who will be featuring ocean specialties from around the world,

as well as inventive surf and turf dishes.

Thomas Schoos did another amazing job,

transforming the La Jolla space into an old world bazaar. 

Ma favorite part?

The olive trees.

Yes.

Real life, 100-year-old olive trees, spread out all throughout the restaurant. 

The result is so beautiful,

my words or pictures just don't do it justice.

Signature Snake Oil Cocktails are designed to tickle your senses. Each drink is presented with a fragrance sample, urging you to seek out the different flavors (wood, floral, etc) with every sip. 

Aviation & The Peter Rabbit

Fanny Mae Oysters, British Columbia

Chilled Asparagus Soup

Smoked Trout & Toast

Squid, Chorizo & Black Beans

Love the feel of this open kitchen.. look closely.. yep, that's Brian, working hard!

Wild Mushroom, Treviso, and Taleggio Crust

Day Boat Alaskan Halibut: farro, oyster mushroom, meyer lemon and hazelnut

Happy as a clam after dinner.. wearing Zara blazer and shoes, Seven jeans, F21 sheer top, and Chanel bag.

What can I say, really, 

besides a big, giant THANK YOU for an awesome night. 

We were treated to an amazing seven-course dinner,

and more than a few cocktails on the house. 

The food was truly delicious,

the ambiance magical,

and the overall experience was one that I'll never take for granted. 

Herringbone officially opens to the public TODAY!

So what are you waiting for?

Go.. go make your reservation right now. 

I promise you won't regret it.