Side Dish: summer strawberries

Early summer (yes, we know it's now more than half over) means juicy, sweet strawberries in juicy, sweet treats. And of course, they're great straight from the basket.

A week or so after the strawberry rhubarb crumble from BLD (see May posts), JM, INK and TTO had a pre-late dinner nosh at the Village Idiot. The strawberry shortcake was excellent. The whipped cream complemented the slightly tart berries. With the cake--the perfect balance of cakey and crumbly--we sopped up all the light sauce.

side dish: The Village Idiot

We visited this surprisingly airy and sunny "gastro-pub" in February. It has a u-shaped bar and plenty of tables and booths lining the front windows. The service was slow; each step (sitting at one of the many open tables, getting the menus, having our orders taken, etc.) was excruciatingly drawn out.

We shared the pretty rock shrimp and scallion fritters as an appetizer. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and the mango(?) salsa complimented the fritter. JM indulged her craving with the pub burger and especially enjoyed the balsamic onion relish. INK's fish and chips could have been more flavorful, but was crisp and not greasy. Although she usually sticks to malt vinegar, INK enjoyed the tarter sauce, closer to an herbed mayonnaise. UE was satisfied with the catfish with black-eyed peas, greens and andouille sausage.

(For dessert--there's always room for dessert--we had the ever-pleasing red velvet cake at Dough Boys on 3rd.)

7383 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 655-3331; http://www.villageidiotla.com