Sunday, November 29, 2009

Royal/T Cafe (Three Apples: An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty/In Bed Together: Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City (Closed)

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 1

The first weekend after "Three Apples: An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty" opened at Royal/T Cafe in Culver City, my friend DP and I decided to stop by. She even "dressed up" for the occasion, wearing her Hello Kitty watch. :P Alas, it was not to be as the lines went out the door and down the block, on both sides. Insane!

Later that week, I came back with Weezer Monkey and her friend Glam. The "Three Apples" refers to Hello Kitty's weight.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 2

We weren't really there for the food. Well, we did plan to eat, but we were really there to check out the Hello Kitty madness.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 3

I own that Hello Kitty juicer on the second shelf, far left. I had the waffle iron but I left it upright on top of my fridge for display because if I'm going to own a Hello Kitty waffle iron, it must be displayed. Only, the top of a fridge is not the best place for such things. Shattered beyond repair. :(

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 4

These were teeny, tiny.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 5

Even celebrities love Hello Kitty. Paris Hilton wore the dress on the left, Lady Gaga the one in the middle, and Katy Perry wore the Hello Kitty outfit on the right.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 6

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 7

Weezer Monkey wore her Hello Kitty Goth necklace by Tarina Tarantino for our girly outing. Glam wore a Hello Kitty T-shirt. I guess I should've swapped out my usual purse for my Hello Kitty one too. Oh well.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 8

Royal/T Cafe is a restaurant and art space so the Hello Kitty stuff was displayed on the walls and in various rooms.

I love the photo below just because those ladies sure looked happy. Just women having fun out with their girlfriends.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 9

I (heart) nerds too.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 10

After about half an hour of waiting, our table was ready.

The pot of tea that came with our afternoon tea set. Wedgwood silverware. Fancy!

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 11

Hello Kitty's Kawaii High Tea. $25!

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 12

Hello Kitty-branded chicken and artichoke sandwiches, tuna tartare, and sushi.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 13

Hello Kitty plastic rings embedded in cupcakes, green tea flan, and a brownie.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 14

And the piece de resistance - a Hello Kitty cookie.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 15

So kawaii, or Japanese "cuteness" if you will.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 16

Of course, we knew the overpriced tea set wouldn't fill us up. So Weezer Monkey and I shared kobe beef sliders served with a quail egg, tomato chutney, and blue cheese with caramelized onions for $10. I liked all of them, but the blue cheese was my favorite.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 17

Glam decided to be healthy and ordered the grilled miso chicken salad for $10. I had a bite of the chicken and it was surprisingly juicy and flavorful.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 18

Weezer Monkey and I also ordered the Hello Kitty Super Yummy Waffles for $7. Yes. *Sniffle.* These waffles were what my Hello Kitty waffle iron made. Nothing special except for the shape. The foods we order just for our blogs...

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Royal/T is a Japanese cosplay cafe so the waitresses wore French maid costumes.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 20

More Hello Kitty madness.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 21

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 22

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 23

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 24

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 25

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 26

I've flown Eva Air and I never got any Hello Kitty stuff. :(

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 27

Can you see the Hello Kitty faces in the carnations?

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 28

Lady Gaga again.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 29

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 30

Shortly after, Weezer Monkey and I were back at Royal/T again for "In Bed Together: Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre." It was an interesting crowd. Older folks there for the art. Younger folks (mainly food bloggers) there for chef Ludo.

Hello waved Weezer Monkey, who was my +1 for the night.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 31

I don't have cable so I had no idea who Ludo was until Gourmet Pigs mentioned Ludo Bites at Breadbar earlier this summer. Blogger buzz built. I never went myself, but I was curious to see if his food was worth the hype.

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Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 33

Scallops, pineapples, and the black powder was black sesame maybe? It was good but I only got a small sample.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 34

Buckwheat crepes with goat cheese and bacon jam. Mmm.

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Just two bites of Ludo's food.

Then we wandered around to check out the exhibit. From Hello Kitty one week to this melange the next, the art is constantly rotating at Royal/T.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 36

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 37

Beef-wrapped asparagus. The rest of the appetizers were Royal/T's, not Ludo's food.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 38

Fries.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 39

Since the exhibit was called "In Bed Together," there was a photo opp with scantily-clad models. I waited in line so Weezer Monkey could have her picture, but opted out for myself. Just what would I do with a photo of myself and half-naked random strangers?

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Evidently, my prudish self was in the minority.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 41

Tuna tartare on wonton chips.

Royal T (Three Apples - An Exhibition Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty and In Bed Together - Art & Bites from Ludo Lefebvre) - Culver City 42

Weezer Monkey's photo in hand, we said our good-byes and went to Versailles Cuban Food Restaurant - Culver City for dinner. Lemon garlic roast chicken!

We were both directionally challenged. Even though I knew Versailles was nearby, I couldn't figure out how to get there from my Thomas Guide. Weezer Monkey was looking on her iphone's GPS. HC of LA and OC Foodventures, who decided to join us, left Royal/T after us and got there before us, while we were still sitting in my car trying to figure it out. :P

Royal/T always has rotating art exhibits. A normal non-Hello Kitty afternoon tea comes with more than a dozen varieties of tea. Food is generally between $10 to $15. Waitresses are always in French maid costumes, if that's your thing. And even if it's not, the food actually is pretty good.

Who else hit up Royal/T for Hello Kitty?
Weezer Monkey's way nicer photos of our evening.
Yeah Manh went the next-to-last day and waited in line for 3 hours before he could get inside!
Rants and Craves dragged her husband while she OD'd on the cuteness.

January 29, 2013 update: Sadly, Royal/T Cafe closed last year.

Royal/T Cafe
8910 Washington Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232-2326
310-559-6300
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

*****
1 year ago today, lahmajoun made by Mexican bakers at Abraham Partamian Armenian Bakery - Los Angeles (Mid-City).
2 years ago today, where I've eaten AKA I didn't know I was such a glutton and how you can be one too.
3 years ago today, Turkey Tetrazzini from my Thanksgiving turkey leftovers.
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3 comments:

  1. weezermonkeyJanuary 10, 2010 at 2:13 PM

    Whee! So much fun. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. vanJanuary 10, 2010 at 10:37 PM

    so sad i missed it :(

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wandering ChopsticksJanuary 12, 2010 at 2:05 AM

    Weezer Monkey,
    Yes, we have to do it again soon!

    Van,
    It was fun! Girly and a little over the top with the sheer amount of Hello Kittyness, but all good.

    ReplyDelete

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