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Grub Review - by Lessa McDonald

(Lessa is a 451Press writer at http://watchingrachaelray.com, http://watchingsurvivor.com , http://bigbrothercraze.com, and recently took a vacation - where she was delighted to be introduced to Betty, of Top Chef, Season Two, at her restaurant, Grub, in LA. What follows is the experience in her own words. Thanks for guest-posting, Lessa!)

Imagine my surprise, upon waking up one lovely October morning on my vacation, to discover that the first order of business was lunch! Ok, so not so much a surprise, since we slept in till noon, lolling about in the glow of the California sun, safely cooled by the best air conditioning this Alaskan could ever hope for. My surprise came in when we decided where to eat lunch, and my hostess, Erica, said “Let’s do Grub! You know, Baddabing Betty’s place?”

At which point I’m pretty sure there was a whole bunch of fan-girly squealing involved, because I am oh so mature like that.

Yes, it seems that my friends, who I was meeting in person for the first time after knowing them online for years, not only are fans of Betty from Top Chef Season Two already, but know her personally and eat at her restaurant at LEAST every other day! Betty Fraser & Denise Decarlo’s Grub was less then three blocks away. There was NO WAY I was going to turn down the chance to meet Betty in person!

I got the chance to see the menu before we went, as they do take out/delivery as well, and Erica had one in her drawer of menus. I’m pretty sure they never actually COOK, they just order - which was a-ok by me! First, I have to admit that the address made me laugh - being from Alaska, there is a city and umpteen streets named Seward - and Grub is located at 911 Seward Street in Hollywood. It was FATE that I go there, FATE!

The menu is exactly what you’d expect of the vivacious Betty we all grew to love on Top Chef - everything from Egg-Zactly, eggs prepared the way you want them, to Omelette Operas fit to make this fat lady sing. Add Friggin’ Amazin’ French toast, and Are You Yolkin’? egg sandwiches, plus feeling like a kid again cereal bowls - and Grub has enough breakfast comfort food to make even the pickiest eater smile!

We arrived for lunch, and the menu for that is more of the same! Grub in a bowl, Gubettes (appa-teasers), special grub, green grub, grubby sammies, plus dessert under this heading: “As we like to say… ‘If your ass can still fit through the door, then what the hell, order dessert.”

Quite honestly, before even setting foot in Grub, I was in love!

When we arrived and walked under the archway of plants and flowers, Betty herself was right there talking to some customers at a table. Erica wasted no time in telling her I was there from Alaska, and I got a face to face view of that awesomely happily infectious smile! Betty welcomed me to Grub, and chatted us up briefly before waving us to the outside table in the shade and promised to come back by in a while. They were busy, as they always are, but every person on the staff came by to say hello to Erica and Colby by name, and welcome me to Hollywood and Grub. The atmosphere is one of friends and family, and I instantly felt at home.

While we were deciding what to order (I wanted one of everything!), they dropped off a basket of raw veges and pretzels with dip to help tide us over. Erica told me with a big grin that for breakfast, they have the same basket, but it’s filled with a variety of kids cereal that we all know and love and eat on the sly by the handful - cocoa puffs, peanut butter crunch, lucky charms, etc! Beats the hell outa chips and dip, huh?

Erica decided to go for the macaroni and cheese, while Colby and I couldn’t resist the After School Special - Cheddar and Swiss Cheeses grilled to melting on Sourdough bread with dill butter and a cup of Creamy Dreamy Tomato Soup on the side - it was, in a word FANTASTIC. The soup was perfect, and there was so much cheese on the Sammie I wasn’t sure I’d be able to make my way through the whole thing! I gave Erica’s Macaroni and Cheese a taste too, and with it’s cayenne kick, I’d call it comfort food at it’s best! And Colby very much loved his homemade Ginger Ale he had to drink, too!

If only Grub delivered to Alaska…

Betty joined us at the table to make sure everything was A-ok, (it was!) and to tell us that she made cookies fresh that morning. Not just ANY cookies, but her Gramma’s famous chocolate chip cookies with the secret ingredient… crumbled up potato chips!

I know! It sounds weird, right? But it combines the two best things on earth - chocolate and salt! How could it go wrong? The answer, of course is that it CAN’T go wrong - they were FANTASTIC. The chips give just the right amount of crunch and the cookies were deliciously soft and gooey in the center and well, perfect! Try as Erica might though, she would NOT give up the recipe. Sigh.

Going to Grub was one of the highlights of my trip to California this time, and I encourage ANY of you - fans of Betty’s or not - to go catch breakfast, lunch or brunch at Betty’s! They cater (As you like it Catering), they book parties, and Betty told us they will soon add a liquor license in order to add to their beverage menu. Grub is THE place to be, and it’s made all the better by Betty’s infectious smile, and all out joy in making everyone feel at home - and, just because you want to know, the prices are not outrageous either!

Bottom line - I’d eat there every day if I lived close enough! If you’re in Los Angeles, go see Betty, and tell her Erica’s friend Lessa, from Alaska, sent ya! And don’t forget the cookies. You won’t be sorry!

Grub, top chef, restaurant reviews