My dearest BFF, I owe you a heartfelt apology. I have mocked and ridiculed the areas of Burbank and Glendale which you now call home, all because I thought that you were leaving Sawtelle and all its ramen glory for something far inferior.
What you really did was go from great to greater, and Sweetsalt showed me in a single bite. You see, they have this Lavender Duck Confit Sandwich that drives me wild. The shreds of pulled duck are so tender they are unreal, and they have that just-right hint of gamey-ness that potentiates the lavender oil and honey inside. The gooey onions and goat cheese hit on so many levels, adding their smoother texture to a chewier ciabatta.
A rich breast of moist chicken composes the Truffle Chicken, a nuttier gruyere cushions the truffle aioli and embraces a wild mushroom blanket.
On the side, they offer a perfectly dreamy, not-too-creamy Butternut Squash Soup. It tastes like a garden after a warm shower, and it thaws all the coldness in my heart toward anything north of Hollywood.
The desserts are absolutely divine. Top chef sent Alex packing because they had no idea what he can do. Had they tasted the perfect crust and seen the razor-thin autumnal filling of the Honey Crisp Apple Galette, he may have won the season.
The Hibiscus Poached Pear and Almond Tart speaks for itself. The hibiscus is a soft breeze, and the pear is late-summer sweet and and the almonds add an earthy savor.
Sweetsalt is not as good as most things south of Hollywood; Sweetsalt is better. Their sandwiches are so much more than meat between bread, and they pack some real genius into their ciabatta. Plus there is one distinct and deal-breaking difference between Sweetsalt and Sawtelle: you can actually find parking at Sweetsalt.
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