Top Chef Masters * First Date Dinner

Bravo's 'Top Chef Masters' sizzle for 60 of our Matchmaking daters!

We had the pleasure of hosting Bravo's 'Top Chef Masters' and their world-renowned chefs for a very special, 'First Date Dinner'. See if our Matchmaking daters found love or fell in love with their dishes!
Top Chef Masters' - *First Date Dinner *

Written by: SpeedLA Dating & Matchmaking

Seduction: Salsa Style

There are few things more prevalent than Mexican food on the LA culinary scene -- except for maybe actors turned waiters who serve it. With options that run the gamut from tongue tacos served by trucks to high end fare created by culinary giants in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles offers more options for Mexican dining than the salsa bar at your favorite Baja Fresh. Of course, with so many restaurants to choose from, how does an enterprising suitor choose the best place to take a date? Simple. Think salsa.

If you're rolling in green, a la salsa verde, you can afford to go to the high end huevos and horchatas. Which means you should go directly to Frida in Beverly Hills. Do not pass go, but do collect $200, since you might need it to pay the bill. Recession aside, Frida is a fantastic date choice, with its soft lighting, bright colors and vibrant art-adorned walls giving you and your date plenty to chat about -- if, of course, the margaritas don't take care of that for you. The food is great, with beloved Mexican classics getting the requisite Beverly Hills facelift via the addition of some seriously high end touches. From pumpkin mole to salty ceviche, Frida is truly a treat for the eyes and the stomach -- if not the wallet.

If you're more into the chunky home-style salsas, then I've got one word for you: Loteria. Well, actually three words: Loteria Grill Hollywood. Sure, you could go a little more upscale and hit the one at The Grove Farmer's Market, but in my humble I-grew-up-in-LA-and-I-know-my-damn-tacos opinion, the Hollywood outpost of this Angeleno standby is where it's at. And by it, I mean the most amazing tacos, salsas, burritos and jalapeno margaritas (yes, jalapeno margaritas) this side of the taco truck. And the best part for us amorous Angelenos? It's one of the few restaurants in its part of Hollywood where you can walk right in, sandals a'blazin' and not be stopped or scorned by a burly doorman. Which makes it that much easier to clean up the tomatillo sauce you'll eventually end up spilling during the requisite foodgasm you're guaranteed at Loteria. Oh, and I've heard that whole 'honey, you can wear your basketball shorts and Rainbows to dinner' thing really gets a guy going.Of course, some people just want the classic -- spicy, savory, medium-heat salsa. Just exotic enough to tickle the tastebuds, but not too far fetched for a gringo to get their head around. That's where restaurants like El Compadre in Hollywood and Coral Beach Cantina in Malibu come in.
El Compadre's got flaming margaritas, massive take-it-to-work-for-lunch-the-next-day portions and a mariachi band to complement the whole Disneyfied "Desperado" thing it's got going on. The food is good, solid, stick to your ribs Mexicalifornian and the service is always more than solid. Just make sure you don't go on an empty stomach during peak dining hours, or you'll end up waiting at the bar while your date gives you the stink eye. Coral Beach Cantina in Malibu, on the other hand, is always worth the wait. With its lantern-lit patio and close proximity to a post-dinner walk on the beach, it's a great date option if you don't mind the drive. It also happens to be the home of the first word I ever read by myself -- 'burrito.' Even at age 3, I knew what I wanted at Coral Beach Cantina. Make sure you also try the enchiladas, smothered in sauce and sour cream, if they don't get your date to warm up to you, you're probably better off leaving him or her on PCH and going off in search of someone who really deserves to share your salsa.

Frida - Beverly Hills

Loteria Grill - Hollywood

El Compadre - Hollywood

Coral Beach Cantina - Malibu

Written by: Mollie Vandor - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger

Think Pink...Orange County Style

A shopping must-know for all the flirty girls out there - if you don’t know about Pink Ice, allow us to introduce you. Pink Ice is affordable fashion at its best. Based in Orange County, Pink Ice has been catering to sexy Southern Californian girls since the late 80’s. With locations as close to Los Angeles as Santa Monica, you don’t have to live in Orange County to wear the lifestyle...and you don’t have to be super rich either. The mission of Pink Ice is to allow fashion driven young women to be ale to access trendy, sexy and unique clothing at affordable prices. Not to mention, shoes and fabulous accessories!

Their hot spot on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica has been featured on several film and television productions and all Pink Ice locations are becoming well known for their outstanding reputation throughout Southern California, both for their inventory and amazing customer care.

This is a must stop shop for any ladies looking for that cute and flirty Date-Night outfit or looking to impress your first date this weekend! Their friendly and knowledgeable staff are there to help with any styling questions or advice - you simply can’t go wrong.

Visit www.pinkice.com for store locations and online shopping too!

Happy shopping daters!! xx

You Can't Beat The Rush

Alright girls, if mac and cheese, microbrews and buff bartenders sounds like your idea of heaven, then you need to book your next dinner date at Rush Street in Culver City. With its industrial-loft-meets-funky-flea-market-chic aesthetic and multi-tiered location in the heart of the chi chi side of Culver City, it's easy to dismiss Rush Street as just another sleek urban oasis for the post-work popped collar crowd. And, I'm not going to lie, the last few times I've been there, I have run into at least one popped collar every time. But, its brushed steel chicness belies a mind-blowing menu of updated comfort food classics that runthe gamut from luscious lamb lollipops to curried pumpkin ravioli, and of course, the aforementioned mac and cheese.

If that's not enough to lure you past the more-bark-than-bite girls at the door (who are actually sweet as pie, and have never once turned me away even when it's clear that my flip flops might be the only pair in the room), then just take a gander at the restaurant's extensive beer and liquor offerings. With a rotating selection of specialty brews on tap, a wine list that holds its own against the wine-focused Ugo across the street and bartenders that know their way around a bottle of Booker's, the bar at Rush Street is worth a visit alone.

If you can talk your way past the sentinels guarding the VIP section, I highly recommend checking out Rush Street's upstairs balcony and outdoor patio, both of which provide plenty of space to sprawl out and enjoy a plate of truffle fries or a pint of Delirium Tremens, not to mention a stripper pole tucked away in the back of the aforementioned balcony. Of course, you could also just hang out in the main restaurant area on the bottom floor, which turns into the closest thing Culver City has to a Hollywood-style see-and-be-scene club on the weekends, with DJ, dancing and all. Just make sure your date pops his collar properly first.

Rush Street - Culver City

Written by: Mollie Vandor - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger