Ludobites 6.0 @ Max

So here's the story....Just like most people...I DIDN'T get a reservation.

But mother nature + good friends are on my side that night, I got a tip from my friends saying that walk-in  had available space on opening night. So I drove about 100 mph (at least i think I was) + weaving through traffic from the big I to Sherman Oaks..and my compulsive & dangerous behavior was rewarded.

It was that kind of night..Insane? No...Hungry? Definitely.

(Just saying this in advance, I didn't have my camera and these are iphone pictures as that was the only camera I had with me. Both KevinEats & DarinDines have the better picture. Please refer to them)

As always, Ludobite have their very original, cute design menu. I really like this format. 

Mexican Mojito

This Mojito is gorgeous. Not too sweet, not too mild. It has the right mix of Tequila and mint flavor. 

Black Trumpet Mushroom Cappuccino, Creamy Butternut Squash

The soup has an excellent creamy squash flavor with "cold" black trumpet mushroom paste, which creates an interesting mix of flavor. The most interesting thing about this dish is that the mushroom paste is a bit cold, combined with the warm soup. As such, it creates a nice sensation in your mouth. Excellent start for the night.

Hamachi, Vietnamese Style
This Vietnamese style Hamachi is best described by thinking of what a nice Vietnamese Eggroll is without the lettuce and, instead of eggroll, a nice thick slice of Hamachi sushi. Nice Asian flavor combined with an excellent texture of the fish. My favorite is the lotus root. It provides that little bit of crunchiness. Another very successful dish from Ludo.

Barely Cooked Squid Noodles, Pad Thai, Prawn, Tofu
The squid is nice and tender, with a mix of grounded peanut. The flavoring is just flawless. The most interesting thing about this dish is the little white Miso paste. It doesn't carry too much flavor but it carries a "hidden" heat in which it hits you about 3 seconds later. Leaving you wonder where the heat comes from.( I actually spent some time digging for the heat)  - definitely one of my favorite dish of the night.

Poached Foie Gras, Green Lentils, Miso Broth, Turnips & Radish
This is actually my first time having Poached Foie Gras and it's definitely a different experience for me. My very first bite impression of this dish was totally different from my very last bite. And here's the story - The Foie Gras, just by itself and on my first bite, was really gamy. However, as I take more bites, the mixture of lentils, miso broth, radish and turnips creates a whole different set of flavor. I couldn't taste the gaminess at all as the Foie Gras blends in with the other ingredients. At the end, I really enjoy this dish. bon travail!

Mussels Velouté, Green Peppercorn, Pineapple, Fennel, Potato Paille
This is actually a very interesting dish as the mussels is turned into a soup with chunk of peppercorn and pineapple. The soup itself is creamy, yet light, but very flavorful. My seldom bite of pineapple with the peppercorn creates a very complex flavor inside your mouth. With the addition of the potato Paille (think of it as super thin potato fries) creates a nice complimentary flavor and texture in your mouth.

John Dory, Potato Herbs, Brocollini Flowers, Green Jalapenos Nage
The well cooked John Dory with the very earthiness flavor from the broth creates a semi-mommy's cooking and refined natural flavor in my mouth. My every bite of this dish reminds me the fresh ingredients and the great nature we have. Although I couldn't taste the Jalapenos, it is still a great dish in the absents of it. Absolutely delicious. Definitely one of the strongest dish of the night.

Pear, Hot Chocolate, Matcha Green Tea Broth, Mint
The poached Pear mixed really well with the Matcha green tea and mint. A bit light compared to the other dishes but serves a very good ending to this dinner. A very precise ending to such a great night of food.


Although I wasn't able to try the other dishes, however, judging from the dishes I've had, it serves as a very convincing evidence that Ludo has, once again, met & exceed some of my expectation. I'm looking forward to another visit and sample Ludo's creation. But for now, I'll need to run a couple more laps in preparation for that.