Fraiche Happy Hour - Take 2

Several months ago I discovered the all night happy hour at Fraiche in Santa Monica. Sunday - Thursday from 5pm - close, Fraiche offers food and drinks at a more affordable price -- perfect for those of us that get off work late. I brought some friends visiting from Germany and we sampled a few more items off the menu. Here are some must-try items for under $10!

TRUFFLE BURGER, $8

Burger with onion fondue, boschetto, and truffle oil on a brioche bun. By far the best item on the menu, and far superior to Father's Office!

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Fraiche Happy Hour

Blog Note: Due to my recent relocation to a studio apartment in Santa Monica (!!!) and the expenses that follow, Culinary Therapy will be entering a period of finance-management. Don't fret dear readers, now that I'm mostly settled into my new digs my infrequent posts will be a thing of the past. This just means that I'll be sampling more happy hours and adding more recipe posts to the mix. 

Last week, my friend Jamie and I had a happy hour date at a restaurant I've been meaning to try, Fraiche in Santa Monica.  As I perused my new "happy hour finder" app, I discovered that not only is the hip foodie locale only a few blocks from my work, but they have a happy hour Monday-Thursday 5:00pm - 10:30pm, Friday-Saturday 5-6:30pm. As we settled in for some epic girl-time, we ordered a glass of their red and white house wines ($6) and took a glance at the menu.

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Pizza Al Tavolo - Attempt #1

You have already heard me gush over Italian pizza, but to be fair, that’s a very simplified title. Pizza has so many incarnations and recipes, split off into different cities that, for all intents and purposes, are still like separate nations. Though Italy was unified in 1860, each area has its own flair on language, art, culture, and especially in their cuisine. The pizza at Da Baffetto is very similar to Neapolitan pizza, a thin, crispy crust overflowing with fresh toppings, and is one of my favorites. Another such pizza is the pizza al tavolo, the pizza you can find anywhere in Rome. Flat and square, it’s usually snipped into thin strips with scissors an wrapped in paper for you to carry with you as you explore the city. 

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Pizzeria Da Baffetto, My First Love

 

Pizzeria Da Baffetto may be one of the most reviewed restaurants in Rome, perhaps even in Italy. Though it’s tucked away on Via del Governo Vecchio, one of the narrow, winding streets characteristic of Rome, Da Baffetto always has a line. Open from 6pm-1am, the trattoria is a family-style restaurant packed to the brim with tourists and locals alike, and the noise bursting from this little restaurant can be heard from down the street.

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