Pictured is Malibu Kitchen's turkey and brie sandwich. PHOTOS BY CHRIS BASHAW/22ND CENTURY MEDIA
'Give me what Phil had' at Malibu Kitchen
THE DISH
CHRIS BASHAW, Editor
Phillip Rosenthal, perhaps best known for his work writing for the television hit "Everybody Loves Raymond," enjoyed last year some of the best dishes the world had to offer on three continents for his new PBS show, "I'll Have What Phil's Having." Foodie exploits in the Tuscan countryside of Italy, the fast-paced city of Tokyo and tapas capital of the world Barcelona all eventually brought Rosenthal back to his "adoptive hometown," Los Angeles. And in a few miles east, Rosenthal found Malibu Kitchen. "Even as a food guy, I hadn't heard of some of the other places he was going to in LA when he was 8„last summer," said "kitchen owner Bill Miller said Rosenthal — who wanted to include Miller, Malibu Kitchen and a special sandwich in the show — approached him.
"He came in and told me he's doing his show in LA, and that he wanted to feature a sandwich of mine," Miller said. "I thought he was just going to come in and take a few pictures and leave, but he actually inter-viewed me and it elided up being a 10-minute thing." The sandwich Rosenthal wanted to feature was Malibu Kitchen's turkey and brie sandwich.
Overall warm in the hands, it's prepared with fresh, off-the-bone slices of turkey, melted brie cheese and homemade cranberry sauce 'kilning field greens on a rustic roll. "It might not seem like it's too unique in the sense that people know about this kind of sandwich, but the way we make it and the
bread and brie we use takes it to another level," Miller said, "along with the fact that Phil just went crazy about it and savors it in the show.
"The sandwich was one Miller never thought would become famous, but famous it apparently be-chine.
"People will just come in and say, 'Give me what Phil had,’’’ said Miller, adding that's a perfectly acceptable way to order the dish. "Even in the slow season, like now, we get anywhere between 10 or 12 people who ask for it and reference the show. On the weekend, we could be selling more than 20 or 25, which is a lot for us."
Other dishes not to miss:
Charcuterie and artisan cheese platter ($25-$40): A variety of cold meats and cheeses with an assortment of fine olives and crackers make this dish an sophisticatedly ideal party platter for small gatherings
The Kitchen Panini ($13.50): This dish features herbed, grilled chicken breast on a rustic roll with provolone cheese, pesto spread, roasted sau-teed tomatoes.
The Club Wrap ($12.50): This dish features oven gold turkey, bacon, guacamole, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and a pesto mayonnaise. • Ginger Bundt Cake (whole cake, $30): The smell of fresh ginger can linger a little while after this delicious cake is gone.