Author’s Note: Occasionally I have experiences that require more than a casual glance back in time. I have decided that these are details worth paying for. History is valuable, and so are those contemporary observations that inform my present writing. I will continue this trend of seeding the present with details for the past especially for my paying subscribers.
Dateline October 2018, DTLA
It is a joy and a privilege to give my first five star review in recent memory. Those familiar with my system know that excellent is four stars. Five stars is excellent plus showing me something I've never seen before. If I could give six, it would be for a place that does what I would do if I were in that business. So know that In Sheep's Clothing is a pinnacle place in Los Angeles.
The first thing you need to know is that this is the first place in LA that takes brewed tea seriously and I'm loving that. I was just griping a couple weeks ago, when I was looking for a lavender sage tea how awful it is that coffee has been so hip for so long, whereas my local Teavana (at Del Amo) has gone out of business. What a horrid state of affairs for loose leaf tea. Well don't get me started. Lo and behold the proprietors at ISC brew it up fresh and furthermore will serve it by the pot. Not only that, their Earl Grey Creme is sublime.
It is a rare treat that tea is served hot and you have absolutely no need for cream or sugar, and that it is served in proper ceramics. ICS goes Asian style where you have cups with no handles and can test with your palm if the tea is too hot to handle. My second selection was a funky black tea with a name that sounds like 'fury', a very satisfying tea with bass you can taste. There are at least five other selections. I can't wait to try them all.
In a proper cut glass, with properly large and transparent ice cubes, I was graciously served a very nice 12 year old Japanese whiskey. It was bright, rather like the Suntory I have at home but smooth in a way I don't generally get from such a sharp start. I hope they have the Yamazaki my next trip out.
I bet you're wondering about the music and the sound system.
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