Many thanks to Hayley, Ari, Pasea, Treehouse, and Lorea for hosting another fantastic Yelp Elite…read moreevent!
The evening started out at the Treehouse on PCH rooftop bar. What a great spot featuring stunning views and a uniquely decorated round bar as the centerpiece. The event was timed perfectly for us to all get checked in and enjoy the sunset, with Catalina in the background as clear as day. I was able to experience Yelp Bingo for the first time which was a great way for everybody to meet each other.
Complementary mini-cocktails were served, with mocktail versions also available by request. I enjoyed the each of the cocktails before seeing the menu first. It was a pleasant surprise at how good they were with no expectations up front.
Pink Flamingo (Del Maguey Vida Puebla Mezcal, Lime, Thai chili-Infused aperol, Palo Cortado, Watermelon, egg whites). This was absolutely delicious. I wasn't expecting mezcal at all, and the smokiness was at the perfect level. It had great complexity from all the other flavors that all went together so well.
HB Christmas (Ford's Slow Gin, apricot liqueur, lime juice, grenadine, egg whites). This one was also very good, with a sweeter profile and well balanced. Both drinks had a foam top which always wins bonus points in my book.
As the sun set, we enjoyed conversation from the comfort of couches in front of a nice warm fire pit which was perfect on a chilly evening.
After an hour or so, we headed downstairs to Lorea for a family-style dinner. The restaurant is an open-air space, but long rectangular heaters above run the length of the tables, keeping it nice and warm. There was great live music playing around the corner making the environment even more enjoyable.
A parade of appetizers came out shortly after we were seated. The Parker House rolls looked like cinnamon rolls, and were so soft and fluffy. The layers made them even more enjoyable to eat than standard rolls. The sushi platter was visually impressive and colorful. An interesting protein combination was waygu beef and crab, along with salmon and tuna, all served on a bite of crispy rice. I had the waygu and tuna which were very good. The Harvest Apple Salad was light and refreshing.
Dinner was served with their signature Laurel cocktail (Lavender-infused Absolut Vodka, orgeat, lemon, carmelized pineapple). It was light and balanced with a little sweetness.
Next came the parade of entrees. My favorite was the 32oz Tomahawk steak which was pre-sliced and cooked perfectly medium-rare. It was so tender and flavorful. My favorite sauces were the chimichurri and the peppercorn which was rich. The whipped potatoes were so creamy, it was almost like eating pudding. It was also served with popovers and asparagus. The whole fried fish was moist, flakey, and flavorful. I really enjoyed the mango salad on the side which was crisp and fresh. The grilled chicken was moist and the dish had a lot of different flavors on the plate, but the first two entrees were my favorites.
The side dish of roasted acorn squash really surprised me. The slices were buttery but it was brown butter which added a great richness and flavor I wasn't expecting. And the pomegranate seeds added some tartness to round out one of the best veggie side dishes I've had in a long time. I was happy to clean up both plates on our table.
You can't have three appetizers and three entrees without having three desserts! I love carrot cake and my eyes lit up when they came out with a plate of whoopee pie looking mini cakes and they were delicious. Another plate had two good sized espresso mini Basque cheesecakes. I'm not a big coffee fan but the flavor was light and I enjoyed several bites. The star of the show was the Apple Alchemy dessert. It is a very colorful plate, and then the bed of dry ice below is activated for a great smoke show. The different versions of apple flavor were great, and it was surprisingly light.
If this all wasn't enough, they also served us an after dinner digestif cocktail. The Velour Royal (Hine VSOP, Bailey's salted caramel Irish whiskey) is a little on the strong side with Cognac, but the salted caramel Irish whiskey adds some sweetness to tone it down. It was a great finish to a fantastic meal.
Service at both Treehouse and Lorea was excellent, with all staff being very professional and friendly at the same time. Both locations also had a certain classy feel that I really enjoyed. All of the food and drinks were excellent, and I really enjoyed the presentation of the food dishes. I'll look forward to returning to both places soon.
As always, it's nice to catch up with Yelpers I've met at other events, and to socialize with new friends. Thanks again for a great evening!