The Boardroom
Are you looking to find yourself in a turn-of- the-century Parisian speakeasy drinking alongside the Lost Generation’s great artists without sacrificing a paycheck or building a time machine? Then the BoardRoom’s elegant, yet casual, cocktail lounge is just right for you. Located just below the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, tucked away in a secret enclave of Kendall’s Brasserie, the BoardRoom is a blast to the Parisian past with modern accommodations complete with a painstakingly detailed decor of vintage, exposed light bulbs and dark turquoise walls that complement the light leather booths.The subdued and moody ambiance of a low-key exclusive lounge pairs impeccably well with the friendliness and hospitality you might find at your favorite local watering hole. You might not be brushing elbows with Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald or Ernest Hemingway, but you can sip on their namesake drinks crafted by Patina Restaurant Group and LA Cocktail Company’s mixologist Evan Charest and perfected by the BoardRoom’s head bartender Christina Russo. The two met during last year’s World Class U.S. bartending competition as West Coast finalists and found that they mixed as well as their drinks. Christina has worked the full gamut of bars – from dive to club to lounge. This is evident in her expertise. Looking for a specific taste, notes, strength or something new? She’ll whip up a drink just for you. Each night Christina pours her devotion into a wide range of finely tuned libations like the James Joyce, which packs a punch with a healthy shot of Irish Whiskey mixed with the exquisite Carpano Antica vermouth and black walnut bitters. A couple of these and you’re sure to be penning the next great, stream-of consciousness novel. If you’re rolling four to six deep after a captivating performance at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion then look no further than the punch bowls like the Virginia Woolf with champagne, St-Germain and Grey Goose muddled with blackberries and raspberries. If you’re looking for more variety then set course for the Triple Tipple — a 3-course cocktail tasting menu that periodically rotates its themes based on what’s in season and what’s playing on stage up above.To soak it all up Chef Jean-Pierre Bosc’s specialization in contemporary regional French dishes help bring balance to the cocktails. Having just returned from revisiting Lyon in France, Jean-Pierre has been refining dishes like the oxtail poutine which is next level Bourgeois pub grub that’s large enough to share with a friend or two, if you’re in the giving mood. For lighter finger food indulgences look to the uni deviled eggs filled with creamy, whipped yolks seasoned to perfection with the lingering taste of an ocean breeze. For larger appetites, the Black Market Burger with its juicy course ground patty stacked with Comte cheese and rich foie gras in a buttery brioche is an experience not soon forgotten. If you drop by on a weekend night expect live jazz music to provide a lush backdrop for a post-performance discussion, a Friday night decompression or brainstorming the next great American novel.
Written by Brian Chernick
Photographed by Jordana Sheara
