There are some experiences that are so unique to Los Angeles that they question why people would choose to live anywhere else. In a town where the "power lunch" is a way of life, and deals are made in bathing suits on pool decks rather than business suits in offices, there's only one place to mix tinsel and town: Asia de Cuba, at the Mondrian Hotel.

Specifically, "Out of Office Fridays," which bring a special $5 food and cocktail menu, along with an unheard-of $5 valet parking rate to the Sunset Strip.

Influenced by Asian, Cuban, Latin, and Caribbean cuisines, this culinary journey will lead you from one exotic locale to the next as you find yourself gazing at one magnificent view after another. It could be the city below, the sun starting to set over the hills as the weekend starts to set in. It could be the bathing beauties at the pool, drinking their recession-friendly "SKYBAR Smash" cocktails from the bar of the same name.

A mouthwatering mixture of Makers Mark, juicy strawberries and a touch of lemon, shaken with a hint a basil to truly smash your taste buds with flavor is available for only $8 through the entire month of July.

We enjoyed the Coconut Mojito, featuring fresh mint and two kinds of Bacardi Rum. It even contained a swizzle stick of cane sugar and some coconut shavings, in order to touch on all necessary food groups.

The food was equally spectacular, including Kobe Sliders (made from Wagyu beef with caramelized sweet onions, reminiscent of our tacos from Nobu), and Tuna Sliders, which featured fresh tuna patties on a bed of spicy crispy ginger chips.

As the time slid by, and our chances of returning to work became very slim (this is "Out of Office Friday," after all), we had another round of drinks and some more tasty dishes from the menu, such as the Asian Spiced Pork Spare Ribs, with a sweet soy glaze, roasted corn and avocado salad, and red onion escabeche. The Asian Pesto Grilled Shrimp quickly followed, and were equally devoured, as were the lotus root chips that accompanied them.

For dessert, we had a dessert sampler to rival the Kenny Loggins Danger Zone Dessert Platter, and Mr. Loggins would certainly be "Playing With the Boys" with this one, since it featured everything from caramelized bananas to a brownie, some chocolate mousse, and ice cream. Our recently started P90X workout program would have to wait another day after this particular bad boy.

Soon the night had started to fall, and the chairs at SKYBAR had been folded up for the day. We closed on a birthday serenade from our waitress, Tammy Jo (and whose birthday it was, I can't quite recall), but as they say in business and life, you always go out on a high.

THE DETAILS:

Asia de Cuba at Mondrian
8440 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
323.848.6000

FRIDAYS
1:00PM-4:00PM
$5 FOOD AND COCKTAIL MENU

Story by Alex Storch.