Recently I was invited to try out a new restaurant in Culver City called Picalilli.
The restaurant boasts an amazing wine and beverage list to pair with their Cali-Asian cuisine with South-East US influences.
When stepping inside, you are treated to a very unique space with a lot of fun colors and different pieces of art that feels tropical meets the South. The dishes are adorned with moths to match some beautiful pieces of art on the wall we are seated against.
Over the course of dinner we tasted:
– Domaine D’Orfeuilles Vouvray Brut NV
– Le Mas de Flauzieres Gigondas 2017
– 1849 Anonymous Red 2017
– Mengler “Alegria Vineyards” Rosé of Syrah 2017
For the food we had:
– Brussel Sprouts with Korean Chili and Corn Nuts
– Hamachi Crudo with citrus pepercorn and glazed peanuts
– Octopus and Heirloom Tomato
– Bangkok Chicken Katsu
What I loved most was that each dish was so different, but at the same time felt very cohesive.
The brussel sprouts with the crunchy corn nuts was a perfect contrast and the hamachi with the citrus and slight kick was fabulous with the rose.
The pairing that I was most surprised about was how much I loved the Gigondas (primarily grenache) with the octopus. The savory black vinegar sauce was rich and really complimented the red fruit and dried herb notes in the wine. Not something I would have chosen for myself usually, but it was amazing to find a new, delicious pairing!
My absolute favorite dish was the Bangkok Chicken Katsu. It was perfectly fried with a delicious salad on top and a spicy pickled birdseye chili sauce on the side which is great if you like to choose your spice level. This dish went well with every wine we tasted, but I absolutely loved it with the sparkling Vouvray.
And for dessert, the banana bread pudding was so delicious and unique!! I loved the banana ice cream with the contrast of the crunch of the nillas.
Overall, we had a lovely experience with friendly staff, great atmosphere and an incredible selection of wines and food. Definitely a great new spot to check out!
Location: 3850 Main Street, Suite A Culver City, CA 90232
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 4:30-close
