Food Love

Papa Barin flew into town today, and our first stop was for some foods at A-Frame.  An order of furikake kettle corn, baby back ribs and cracklin beer can chicken later...and we were stuffed and ready for the remaining trek from the westside back to Los Feliz.

Food Love

With the move to California, I was sure that I would never be able to find a place with Neapolitan pizza quite like the kind you find in New York (or, if lucky, in Europe).  I was proven wrong when I got the chance to try out Mother Dough's sausage pie.  A bit steep on the price range but totally worth the splurge.

Tengo hambre.

Ah, Mexico. 

You created a special place in my heart for agua fresca tamarindo and tacos al pastor.  As much as I had enjoyed my share of late night kebabs during the Euro-living days, I was never quite as enthralled at a carver whittling away paper-thin slices of meat off a spit until I was introduced to tacos al pastor at El Fogon in Playa del Carmen.

The food that would get me back to Mexico in a heartbeat?  The fresh seafood at El Camello Jr in Tulum.  While their fish, shrimp and octopus tacos were nothing to write home about, my life has been forever changed and no salsa and chips combo will ever top their stewed shark and corn chips.

I could have lived off the addictive shark stew/salsa and fresh guac alone with their corn chips.

Glorious, glorious ceviche mixto.

Food Love

Lavender Duck Confit sandwich at Sweetsalt Food Shop in Toluca Lake.

Sweetsalt is a quick 5 minute drive from the office - and I could probably spend all day there, trying each and every one of their menu options.  Thankfully for the people in line behind me, I quickly decided upon duck confit (blame my time in France for my continued obsession) sandwich on my first visit.  Looking forward to going back now that I am done with marathon training and can be a little more adventurous with my food choices!

What I've Been Doing & Not Blogging

Lots of running.

Family time in San Diego.

Quality time with friends in PA/NYC.

...and Mothers Day in South Carolina, which will be the subject of my next post.  Get ready blogoverse, I'm baaack!

Food Love

Lobsta Truck was over at On the Lot LA a few Mondays ago. Nabbed a lobsta roll with mayo, real cape cod kettle chips and a whoopie pie. YUM.

Food Love

Coolhaus LA never fails to appease regardless of what season it is. Hot? Come up with an awesome homemade cookie and ice-cream sandwich collaboration. Freezing cold? Pick one of their hot chocolate blends. Southern California bi-polar winter-spring? Hot chocolate floated with a scoop of ice cream!

Food Love

Round I: Tofu popcorn

Round II: Baos (Grilled tofu and panko fish in white, wheat & bibb lettuce options)

Round IIIa: Salted caramel macaron ice cream sandwich (from one of my LA favorites, Milk)

Round IIIb: Banana nutella bao

Katie and I checked out Take a Bao's Studio City location on Friday and indulged in a variety of their offerings as you can see from the photos above. We also got comped a napa salad (thank you to whoever in the kitchen accidentally made it) - which was also just as delicious, fresh and perfect component to our al fresco lunch on a warm sunny afternoon.

Food Love

Pasteis de nata. Carne de Porco à Alentejana. Oh, it's been far too long since my Lisbon trip and all the yummy Portuguese food. I'll have to make my way towards Sherman Oaks more often.
Muito obrigado, Natas Pastries!

Food Love

Aloha Fridays truck was over at Weddington Park for lunch today, woo hoo! I got the Ahi Tuna Shoyu Poke and boy, was it a great decision - they filled the container with yummy large chunks of fresh fish and greens.

Food Love

Find yourself out in the same whereabouts as the Get Toasted truck? My recommendation is to go for the Lechon.

Food Love

I love macarons. I love ice cream. Macaron ice cream sandwiches? Unbelievable. Milk offers a great amount of combinations - it's probably for the best that it doesn't exist around the corner from my apartment, otherwise I'd be there everyday.

Three Things

Last month, I dropped by Artisinal LA's Holiday pop-up shop in Pasadena and sampled all sorts of great food and drinks from local vendors. Everyone was super nice, and by the time I finished circulating the different tables, I emerged with a foodie high and even bigger appreciation for the variety of local businesses in the community.

Creme Caramels from Creme Caramel LA

Candy bacon from Cast Iron Gourmet

Organic spirits from Greenbar Collective

Food Love

Brisket taco topped with the roasted poblano and bbq sauces, cabbage & cheese from Salt Lick Taco Bar in Austin airport on my layover back from Tampa. Highly recommend stopping by if you find yourself in the right terminal!

Three Things

1. Magnolia Bakery's cupcake of the month is Snickerdoodle. I suggest everyone within reasonable distance to one of their bakeries go get one as soon as possible. It's also a super awesome coincidence that the (early) birthday celebrant's favorite cookie is Snickerdoodle.
2. Popbooth is one of my favorite apps on my phone. Highly recommend that you download it to your iPhone or iPad!
3. I can't say enough good things about the crew at Lola Gaspar in Santa Ana. We shared the cured chorizo flatbread, short rib mole and special ribs of the day - the cocktails and drink options were great, and I'd like to give kudos to Bartender Ed for introducing us to their homemade bourbon + tangerine wheat beer combo.
   

Food Love

I love almond croissants. I also love pain au chocolat. As the nice older baker gentleman at the Los Feliz Farmer's Market pointed out the other day to me, I shouldn't have to choose - I should just get a chocolate almond croissant from his stand. And so I did.

Localizing - Props sans photos

Unfortunately for my blog's audience, sometimes my hands are too busy stuffing my face with the food I eat to capture good documentation prior to the plate/coffee-cup/glass being cleaned.

• Black Market Liquor Bar (Ventura & Carpenter) - Ricotta gnudi. Order it.
  
• Cafecito Organico (Hoover & Bellevue) - One visiting friend this weekend exclaimed, "I've never had a coffee kick in this quickly" after a long night out in Venice.
  
• Tacos Delta (Sunset & Lucille) - Quick service and some ridiculous magic salsa paired well with a great fish and shrimp tacos combo plate.
• Eveleigh (W Sunset & Sherbourne) - I normally don't do oysters. This dining experience changed that. Served with a crazy champagne & black pepper granita. Mind blown. My other favorites included their hangar steak, burrata & heirloom tomatoes and duck rillettes.
• The Village Bakery & Cafe (Los Feliz & Garden) - Lemon-Rosemary-Almond-Olive Oil Cake is heavenly.
  

Food Love

Pistachio macaron from Bouchon Bakery in New York. Thomas Keller, you sir are amazing.

Food Love

Before I left Baltimore for New York, Allison and I did brunch at Miss Shirley's near Loyola College. She had the veggie egg tower, and I had the chicken fried steak on biscuits with gravy.

Food Love (& Localizing!)

Braised short ribs and poached eggs from Rockwell VT