Wood & Vine

What is it to dream? In a town such as Hollywood the term can be defined and stretched across a library of personal statements and attitudes that would make even Britannica blush with envy.  Fingers crossed and breath held deeply, we have all wished, we have all dreamed. However, it is far-fetched to imagine your pinnacle of success or knight-in-shinning-armor would resemble simplicities in life such as a home or comfort of shelter. For close to 7,500 children in the Los Angeles area, this is the dream they have, while living the nightmare. 

In 1984 the Los Angeles Youth Network (L.A.Y.N.) was established with the idea and mission of ending homelessness among children, one at a time. Twenty – eight years later, this non-profit organization has not only lent a proverbial hand to homeless children, they have also provided guidance, shelter, food and understanding of what it takes to make it in society.  Internships are also offered for those that excel in the program. A hands-on experience that takes the fairy tale we have all seen on television and makes it a reality.

Wood & Vine partnered with the organization last year, initially donating total proceeds from Profiteroles (fancy ice-cream sandwiches) sold, then progressing to hiring L.A.Y.N interns to assist with various daily operations of the restaurant. From hosting, to assisting servers and running food, the L.A.Y.N interns have affected the general success of Wood & Vine. Not in sales or numbers of reservations, but more paramount measures that are too good to be placed in the same sentence as monetary growth. It is a simple idea that doesn’t even require a catchy tag-line – Helping out those that need help!

From March 25th to the 31st, Wood & Vine is challenging you as the local business or consumer to help out as well. “Cash For Kids.” If a dinner or brunch check is paid in cash, Wood & Vine will donate 2% of the total to the L.A.Y.N program. By paying in cash you will be doing more than simply supporting a great organization. You will be helping a child work towards living their dream.

Besides, you were going to eat that Chicken & Waffle anyway!

You know fryer and broiler and the cooler for chillin’.  

Stove tops and prep tables and the racks for the grillin’.

But, do you recall?

The most famous kitchen equiptment of all?

Wood & Vine Shiny-Shelled Waffle Maker, has a very silver glow.

And if you ever saw it, you would say that fuse has to blow.

All of the cooks and preppers, used to laugh and call it names.

“No trusting that Shiny-Shelled Waffle Maker, we cook with stuff that produces flames!”

Then one capacity-filled Friday night, Chef Gavin came to say.

Shiny-Shelled Waffle Maker with this batter I will thicken,

make me 1,000 waffles and I’ll top it with chicken.

Then how the kitchen loved it, as they shouted out with glee,

Wood & Vine Shiny-Shelled Waffle Maker,

now can you make 1000 and 3!!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM WOOD & VINE

Imagine this…. prohibition stood strong and still exists. It’s hard to comprehend the historical and pop-cultural magnitude. That would mean no Budweiser Frogs, memorable “best man” speeches or well, you fill in the blank. ” Happy Hour” would mean sitting in a room for 60 minutes and smiling with other coworkers – a strange celebration to end a work week.  And dancing? We are not even going to start. The Electric Slide, Locomotion and the ever-loved SHOUT!! are dishes best served not sober. NASCAR would be called “traffic class” and New Year’s Eve would be a non-factor to the lactose intolerant because of the traditional “milk toast” at  midnight.

Scary? Possibly. Thought provoking? Not sure, we started drinking before writing this piece. It’s for reasons like this however that we should applaud the 21st amendment and its place in history. It abolished the 13 years of prohibition and pioneered the art of mixology, and just an all around good time.

To celebrate the 78th anniversary of Repeal Day, December 5, 1933, Wood & Vine is offering 3 classic cocktails; the Bee’s Knees, the Brown Derby and the Moscow Mule for $1.00. Come by an enjoy history at historical prices. Please note, this deal is super secret. We don’t want the fuzz or Elliot Ness cracking down on us. Use the code word ” Repeal” to get this offer.

This week: Top nine things to look forward to this holiday season.    

9.) Treating yourself to the new fall version of the house-made potato gnocchi and forgetting about the subscription to Maxim your boyfriend thought was a great gift idea.

8.) The holiday office party. With over 4400 sq. feet, it is impossible for your boss to keep a constant eye on you.

7.) Sunday brunch. The only thing better than eggs, grits and chorizo sausage… eggs, grits and chorizo sausage, and a mimosa.

6.) Additional heaters on the patio. Does anyone have clothing for when it drops below 60? We don’t!

5.) GOLDEN RINGS

4.) Smore what? Everyone else can roast chestnuts, Wood & Vine does smores. Be sure to ask about it.

3.) After a sixth Sazerac, your credit card statement begins to seem more and more humorous.

2.) Spaced-out cows! Santa’s reindeer never had it so good. The beef we source frolic on a two-head-per-acre ranch. Take that, Rudolph!

1.) New Years Eve. 10….9….8….7, Wood & Vine is currently putting the finishing touches on the inaugural New Years dining arrangements. 6…5….4…3….2…… Stay tuned….. 1!

What is this place?  

Imagine if restaurants didn’t have signs. The customer would have to guess if they were at the right spot, like a game of Russian Roulette. Is this Pizzeria Mozza…or is it Chuck-E-Cheese? Is this a cool jazz bar…or is it a dimly-lit Starbucks? CLICK!

In reality, Wood & Vine  played this game for three months – It was like the NBA playoff’s of Russian Roulette. Unless you happened to be walking east on Hollywood Blvd.,checking your “hair-did” in the window, you may not have known we existed.

This was not a super shot at being the oober coolest of the oober coolest. None of us know R. Kelly and mass consumption of chicken & waffles keeps us from purchasing skinny jeans. The lack of signage was a good ole’ fashioned square-dance lesson in a round room, and the teacher was every company’s favorite drunk uncle – The City. It caused many sleepless nights, doubt and worries. All hope looked lost.

To help put this debacle into better perspective, we have utilized the services of Swedish pop sensations, ” Ace of Base” and their 1994 smash hit, “I Saw the Sign.” Much like the forever popular “Dark Side of the Moon/Wizard of Oz conspiracy, the “Ace of Base” lyrics and our struggles are strikingly similar.  So sit back, click play, dance if want too but definitely sing along as we break this thing down…. Maestro!

“I finally found you.” – Right off the bat, our words exactly. We knew the sign design that would fit Wood & Vine. We sang to our efforts.

“Under the moonlight, you would hardly recognize me.” – No kidding! We wanted to keep the sign simple – no flashing lights or neon, just a simple wood sign.

“Why do I bother, when you’re not the one for me.” – This would be the moment when we received the first sign. We began to draw straws to see who would enroll in Wood Shop classes to correct our disappointment.

“How could a person like you bring me joy.” – The City!

“For many years I wondered who you are.” – Um…The City!

Then, there is a little pep in the Swedish gals voice, there is excitement.

“I saw the sign, and it opened up my eyes. I saw the sign.” – We finally had what we wanted. The sign looked very cool. Our eyes were opened.

“Life is demanding without understanding.” – There was a lot going on elsewhere at Wood & Vine. This was a demanding task.

“No one’s going to drag you up to get in the light were you belong.”- We still needed approval to hang the sign. And there is not a ton of muscle from our end to do this task solo. We needed help!

Finally!!

“I saw the sign.”- Repeated over and over. The same thing we all did once the task was completed.

Now, Wood & Vine patrons can finally see the sign. Thank you Swedish pop sensations ” Ace of Base” for all the help explaining the story.

A new addition to the Wood & Vine Blogging experience… It’s the Wood & Vine Top Nine!

This week – Things you are missing if you have not visited Wood & Vine.

1.) The patio – One of the few places in Hollywood where the view of the stars isn’t on a marble sidewalk.    

2.) Friendly Atmosphere – If we wanted you to enjoy your time behind a velvet rope we would have put the bar on the street. The inside is much more interesting.

3.) Chicken & Waffles – We saw a license plate with a bumper sticker that read, “ Yes, I am a vegetarian… which is why I ask for extra maple-roasted squash on my W&V Chicken & Waffles.”

4.) Whiskey – Not just Jack Daniel’s! We invited his cousins to the party as well, and have the list to prove it.

5.) Specialty cocktails – You put sparklers and streamers on a kid’s birthday cake. How about a classic cocktail done right?

6.) Flexibility – Think of us as the “Human Pretzel” of customer service. No chairs, tables or stools are bolted down. Birthday’s, anniversaries or general celebration, we can make it work.

7.) Real tomato ketchup, Eddie? – Nothin’ but the best. Chef Gavin makes it from scratch using smoked jalapenos to add a little kick! Hand-cut fries anyone? 

8.) Happiness in a jar – If all else fails, there is always butterscotch pot’ de creme. You will not want to share it so ask for one spoon and we will play the bad guy. It’s nice!

9.) Buzz Aldrin – Yep! Buzz orbited Wood & Vine in April. While not the most gracious guest, the entire Wood & Vine Team still pulled for him on “Dancing With The Stars.” Shake it, Buzz! You are truly a Kardashian of the Space Program.  

Eventually, all things must begin. That was the thought process we had as February 19, 2011 got closer and closer. Wood & Vine had been completed, minus a sign, and only a few final “ok’s” from the city stood between us and business. The patio finally looked like a patio and we had plenty of matches to light the candles on all the tables. There was booze to stock and food to prep. Ownership had their outfits picked out and hair styling options solidified It was a true sight-to-see. Most importantly, friends and family from all over the map were in town awaiting, anxiously, to enjoy and celebrate this great accomplishment. 

Granted, there were a few moments on Friday, February 18, 2011, where it seemed like the party would have to be more of a general tour, but our speedy compadre’s at the LADBS didn’t leave us hanging. At 5:00 pm, we got news that all things mechanical, kitchen and fire were approved. It was time to party!

Even the cold rain could not make the night unsuccessful – we had dealt with the weather enough. The preparation we worked so hard to instill made it seem as though we were open for three months. Drinks were made, food was passed, it was truly a great night for Wood & Vine. One that was long in the making. Like most stories, thanks to technology, there is always a video version. Here is the chronicle of the construction process, from dusty chaos to a polished completion.

From the entire Wood & Vine Team, thank you  for hanging with us every step of the way.

Please note, the workers in this video are performing at actual speed. We encouraged them to work quickly so they could have their evenings free!

Let’s talk whiskey! Between the resumes, permits and piles of matchboxes, there needs to be “focus time” on the spirits of Wood & Vine – and we don’t mean locating Howard Hughes with a night-vision camera. Stocking a bar with all the flavors of choice can be as difficult a task as any.  The classic cocktail has the simple but precise elements that define early American-style consumption. Pink and fruity, served in a 96 oz. glass with sparklers is not what Wood & Vine is about. With that said, let’s bring on the rye!

Prohibition was a difficult time for the drinking man or woman.

Dance moves suffered horrendously and confidence was slumping. It was also a difficult time for rye whiskey. Even though we associate rye with Prohibition, (Al Capone was a fan of Templeton Rye), it was Prohibition that ended rye whiskey’s century old reign as king. Some Pennsylvania and Maryland distilleries did not re-open after Prohibition. Others were sold and relocated to Kentucky where ryes corn-based cousin, bourbon, took the title that is still held today. To the non-mixologists of the world the term rye doesn’t even ring a bell – makes sense, bartenders started replacing rye with bourbon in drinks like a “Manhattan” a few years back, before twitter, and have not stopped. Rye does have a more bitter, spicier and less full-bodied flavor to the sweeter bourbon, so it often misses out on being invited to the party.

However, Wood & Vine does not discriminate the mashes. The idea of certain classic cocktails is voided without rye whiskey on board.  We have researched this piece of distilled American History, tastings included, and have discovered several different ryes that are worthy of our shelves. These are a few we plan on serving;

Rittenhouse 100 – A popular rye whiskey, for price and taste. It is in the original “Pennsylvania Style” of rye distilling, keeping it’s original Philadelphia name. It has a spicy flavor with a bold, yet smooth finish.

Redemption – A mixture of different flavor. From evergreen, to clove and cinnamon, Redemption, 95% rye, has a spicy finish, often compared to the smoky Islay Scotch Whisky’s.

Sazerac Rye – A popular rye, known from the cocktail name. It has a sweeter taste with a spicy and peppery finish. Sometimes considered a dryer rye, it carries interesting flavors such as vanilla.

Old Potrero 18^th Century –  In an attempt to re-create the original whiskey of America, this rye was distilled in a small copper pot still from a mash of 100% rye malt. Rye was the grain of choice for America’s first distillers, and using a mash of 100% rye malt produces a uniquely American whiskey, with a real kick at 125 proof!

“ Just like E – Harmony, Wood & Vine can now say with passion and certainty, we have thousands of matches for you.” Wood & Vine Team – 2011

In the early days of September 2010, an order for matchboxes was made by Wood and Vine. Almost five months later that order arrived. There were multiple companies, sketches, pictures and cross continent confusion – many thought no records were kept and the memories would be erased.  They were wrong. This is the diary of what happened. This is how Wood & Vine got their matchboxes…..

DAY 1 – It has been a really busy day. Thirty-nine of the forty tasks have been completed, leaving the easiest for last. We are ordering matchboxes for Wood & Vine. A sketch of what we want has been created and sent to the manufacturer. We are keeping it simple, no blinking lights or moving parts; paper box with Wood on one side, Vine on the other. PRESTO! Excited to get this taken care of, quickly.

DAY 20 – Three weeks have passed and we have not heard anything from the matchbox manufacturer. If it wasn’t such a simple task, we would worry more. We went to Soi 56 for lunch.

DAY 22 – We called the company and were informed the designer of the matchboxes works out of China. Silly us! That was our second thought for the delay.

DAY 27 – We have finally received the template of our matchboxes. To everyone’s dismay, the designer did not follow the instructions of  what we wanted. Wood & Vine takes the blame. We have sent in a new sketch of the old sketch; Wood on one side, Vine on the other.

DAY 31 – The Chia Pet we bought for the office has already grown and lost its’ hair. Funny enough, we bought it the same day we ordered the matchboxes.

DAY 42 – News has not gotten much better on the matchbox front. The designer has messed up the font. Seeing the error in our ways, we sent in another picture of what we wanted. This time we used a cell phone camera with 8 megapixels. It’s very crisp.

DAY 45 - It seems we are on the same page as the manufacturer now. The matchboxes will be here soon. We have also bought our second Chia-Pet for the office – this one is a cow. Excited about these matches!!

DAY 60ish – We haven’t heard or received any updates on the matchboxes. On a side note, Halloween was a blast. We will send them correspondence tomorrow on the ETA of our matchboxes.

DAY 87 – No time to enjoy Thanksgiving Turkey. We have been aimlessly scouring the internet, news wires and Guinness Book of World Records for the headline, “ Chinese Man Keeps New Hollywood Restaurants Matchbox Order – Creates Life-Size Replica Of Hugh Jackman.” We have not found a thing.

DAY 92 – Morale is low for the Wood & Vine Team. Our frustration is beginning to show. We did Chinese take-out for lunch, five of us tried to order matchboxes.

DAY 96 – Not getting much better. We keep singing, “ Match Maker, Match Maker, make me a match!” over and over.

DAY 107 – While doing some Christmas shopping a guy asked me for a light. I started to cry.

DAY 122 – Happy New Year!! We decided to send an email to the manufacturer. It went a little something like this;

Dear Christine, happy new year.  I never heard back from you after we exchanged messages last week.  You seem very nice, but this is getting truly ridiculous.  In the time since we started working on this – Autumn, Diwali, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Kwanza, and Christmas have passed; the preponderance of National Basketball Association teams have played nearly 30 full length games across the country; historic tax legislation, the repeal of don’t ask don’t tell, and progressive nuclear arms policies have been ratified; and we have completed over $500,000 of construction work on our restaurant.  Please, for the love of God, help us.

DAY 125 – We have finally made contact! Our order has been processed and we should expect to receive it in 10 weeks. That’s 10 weeks.

DAY 125 1/2 – Have spent the second half of the day coming up with things that take 10 weeks to make. Here is what we have so far;

1. Foundation of a 7,000 sq. ft mansion

DAY 131 – Got thrown out of a screening for a new 3-d action film. Got a little upset and jealous when I saw the production time was 9 weeks.  Lets see them make matchboxes!

DAY 132 – Seeing how this is going nowhere, we have decided to use a New York- based company for our matchbox order. Fingers crossed!…….

This was the last entry to the diary. Not long after, comparatively speaking, an order of 5,000 matchboxes with the correct logo had arrived at Wood & Vine. There was joy, laughter and reflection. No one is quite sure what happened to the original manufacturer or their designer based in the China area. But, thanks to an anonymous Wood & Vine member, this information and events were chronicled. The story will live forever, the story of how Wood & Vine got their matchboxes. Their 5,000 matchboxes!