I think the Southern has been slowly dominating the LA region with their up and coming restaurants. I’m seeing more and more Cajun-Creole-inspired cuisine and I’m loving it. Especially this one that I’m gonna talk about.
The name of this New Orleans-inspired restaurant is rather interesting. The downstairs barroom (showcasing a wooden shuffleboard to give it that..ohhhh sort of feel) is the preux of the name and the upstairs formal dining area represents the proper. Preux & Proper. Kinda cool huh! So depending on what ambience you want, go up or down. And the upstairs branches out to an outdoor patio with lantern lights. And almost nested into a neighborhood tree, the outdoor seating area can give a romantic feel.
I never would have tried this place sooner if it weren’t for dineLA. Yes, there are still good finds from dineLA! There are more new restaurants participating every time! 🙂 and this place? Offering a freaking STEAL! (It was featured in Eater LA too).
So let’s get started!!! With some EtOH for the body.. 😉 We are already hitting it right off from the start if alcohol is included!! Yes please haha!
Here we have the Hibiscus Mule (hibiscus infused ketel one, aperol, ginger beer, citrus) AND French 75 (farmer’s gin, champagne, lemon) drinks to start off! Both drinks are very refreshing and light on the lips. These are the typical girl drinks I would always order. The Hisbiscus mule is like the Moscow mule but sweeter and cirtrus-y.
Our first appetizer is the Sunburst farms trout caviar (smoked trout rillettes, hoecake, Kentucky sorghum, chive, meyer lemon crema). This was probably my favorite dish out of all dishes!! Seriously? The appetizer is amazing!!! I cut it up in six slices and ate it like a mini pizza. The smoked trout was not too salty but the texture and taste reminded me of creamy tuna from my childhood. The hoecake reminded me of pancakes: really chewy and soft.
Our next appetizer was the Hokkaido bay scallop ceviche (celery leaf, lemon, green chiles, Cajun yucca chips). I’m going to be honest. This dish didn’t wow me (although still good), but it didn’t wow me. The scallops were fresh and the chips were crunchy? Not much for me to say about this one. Oh well!!!
I really liked the Black tiger prawn gumbo (okra, red laurel steep rice, tobacco leeks, blackstrap worcestershire, grilled bread). Of course, the chefs got to excel on their gumbo if they’re gonna call themselves Cajun-Creole based right??? It was extremely savory and juicy. The shrimps were cooked perfectly – not rubbery at all, but soft even!! So much packed flavors in this dish and the rice helped counteract the richness.
This dish is Roasted bone marrow (horseradish chimichurri, creole remoulade, pickled red onions, grilled bread). You could easily do one marrow wrong with your dressing. Preux & Proper took a risk at their chimichurri and creole remoulade and benefited tremendously from it!!! This dish turned out to be a pleasant creamy and fatty steal! Delicious all around and not one guilt from eating it. 🙂
Our first dessert was almost like a palate cleanser for me, especially after that bone marrow! It’s called the Coconut sorbet (toasted coconut, peanut butter biscotti). Super icey, very refreshing and comfortably light!
And we finally ended if off with the Pate a choux beignets (“bananas foster” dulce de leche). What is a Southern meal unless you end it with a beignet? Served fresh and hot, this dessert makes you want to eat bananas for forever!!! Very good, very puffy and not too sweet!
3-course meal, including drinks for… I wanna say $50? Not too bad for dining at a place like this!!! Especially for the ambience and with food company, can never ask for too much! I think next time I’m going to check out the preux barroom downstairs! Looks like a fun place to go with friends!
Every year, I am always hopeful that I’ll find a new restaurant to love from #dineLA 🙂 And I did! Sorry this was suchhhh a belated post from July, but better late than never!! And just in time for the next round of dineLA this fall or January maybe?
