The Hatfields are back.
Not that the Hatfields went anywhere.
It just sounds good, saying they're back right before we tell you about their new Downtown place.
It's called the Mighty, a corner nook for housemade pastas, breads bearing rotisserie meats and all kinds of sweet stuff from Quinn and Karen Hatfield, opening Monday in the shadow of the LA Times building in Downtown.
There's a lot of activity buzzing around this block. Reporters on the beat. Paper pushers trudging home for the night. Cops doing cop stuff. And then there's you and a date, easing the door open and entering this bright refuge of white subway tile looking onto an open kitchen. It's nice and you think you'll stay.
You'll start slowly with two glasses of Sonoma Viognier and a shared starter of meatballs pomodoro. Then your date will get something like the avocado-and-ricotta toast with pistachio dukah or the chicken bolognese with pumpkin, while you'll show your true colors and get the eponymous "Mighty" sandwich with fennel sausage and porchetta on housemade bread. Don't be afraid to let them show.
And speaking of housemade bread, you'd be remiss to bypass the small marble counter up front covered in pastries, this being a Karen Hatfield joint and all. So make sure to grab a slice of chocolate Nutella layer cake or chocolate chip rye cookie or something.
It'll be interesting, trying rye in solid form.