LAs hottest new restaurant is hiding in the unlikeliest of places and a humble fish dish is stealing the show

A nearly century-old church in Silver Lake has found new life as one of Los Angeles’ most unusual dining destinations, and a humble rainbow trout is quickly becoming the star of the menu.Sous Sous, located inside the newly opened Hotel Lucile, serves up a marriage of French technique and Southern American flavors beneath the soaring ceilings and stained-glass windows of a restored 1931 church.At the helm is Chef Patrick Costa, whose polenta-crusted rainbow trout has quickly become a signature dish, fitting for October, which is National Seafood Month.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story Costa says the restaurant’s menu draws inspiration from two historic port cities: Marseille, France, and Charleston, South Carolina.“The food here is a nice combination of two coastal port towns,” Costa told The California Post.The trout brings those influences together, beginning with a blackening seasoning featuring garlic, paprika, cayenne, fennel seed, coriander and other spices.Costa then adds toasted polenta grains, giving the fish a flavorful crust with a delicate crunch.The trout is lightly brushed with mustard, pressed into the seasoning mixture and cooked until the exterior develops a golden crust while the fish remains tender.“It’s really a nice way for some extra texture, some nuttiness and a little bit of sweetness,” Costa explained.The finished fish is served with a rich French-style beurre blanc sauce, brightened with lemon and finished with herb oil and Cajun oil.Costa believes the dish’s popularity comes from elevating an often-overlooked American staple.“I think trout is relatively underused,” he said, noting that it lacks the same recognition as salmon, cod or halibut.The restaurant occupies the former chapel of Hotel Lucile, a 25-room boutique...