I guess a graduation post is in order since I, you know, graduated. Graduation day itself was a surreal blur of hunger, boredom, denial, disbelief, etc. that I still can’t quite comprehend. Our speaker quoted R. Kelly and I saw John Goodman in the crowd…if that’s not indicative of the school I go to…After I walked across the stage I promptly peaced out of the ceremony even though it wasn’t over, because I was STARVING and even though my mom was kind enough to grab me a Jack in the Box breakfast sandwich, girl was starving. So, with the help of a quick Yelp search during the middle of my ceremony, I decided I wanted to get Mohawk Bend, which I have been meaning to try for ages and I figured it was casual and accommodating enough for my family’s eclectic mix of demographics…and I just wanted a beer or four—it’s a tasting flight, don’t worry.
I also engorged in both the fried avocado and fish and chips, which ended up being a lot of fried…but hey, it’s a celebration!
I also ordered the PBJ Pizza (pineapple, bacon, jalapeno…clever, no?)
Overall, a fairly satisfying meal that fit the criteria for the day. A big shout-out and thanks to my STUNNING mother for being there on my special day and for loving and supporting me entirely these last four years (and all the years of my life).
Jun 5May 25
One of the primary complaints about USC’s campus is its location. Situated in the middle of South Central, the good eats are slim, and the places that are tolerable are often packed. So it’s nice to travel to the land of our rivals, UCLA, located in beautiful Westwood. Complete with an In N Out, CPK, Whole Foods, and local gem Bella Pita, Westwood campus has it all—or at least a little more than our Fast Food Walk of Fame including McDonalds, Carls Jr., and Taco Bell, among many others. While I’ve come to appreciate USC’s sketchy digs, particularly the way they actually force me to leave my campus bubble and explore Los Angeles, UCLA has some awesome spots to offer. My personal favorites include build-your-own pizza bar 800 Degress from the guy who brought us Umami Burger, and Diddy Riese, a too-cheap-to-be-in-LA Ice Cream Sandwich shop where you can get two scrumptious cookies surrounding a GIANT scoop of ice cream for like…two bucks. What a steal. So if you ever find yourself in the UCLA area (boo!) those are two spots you can’t miss.
Apr 17
Oh, Ricky, we’ve missed you! After a scandalous run-in with the health department forced him to shut down his previous Los Feliz pop-up in his front yard (and subsequent outrage from Angelenos), cult favorite Ricky’s Fish Tacos is back in business! Now selling in a lot out of Chinatown, the familiar white tent, assortment of tables and chairs, deep fryers and buckets of batter is as good as ever. The fedora-wearing taco master still greets you with a smile and all the familiar offerings are still available—fish or shrimp (the occasional lobster) tacos topped with cabbage and a bevy of sauces. No word yet on a brick and mortar shop, though I did overhear some talk of a taco truck in the works.
Apr 16
LA finally gets a dose of BBQ! The guys behind Golden State Burgers have joined up with Bludso’s BBQ in Compton to bring you a classy, yet laid back, and totally delish BBQ experience in the middle of Los Angeles. Not being a full-fledged Texan, I don’t feel I have complete credibility here, but I have tasted some authentic Texas BBQ in Austin, and this comes pretty close. For the sake of convenience, Bludso’s Bar and Que will do until my next trip to the Lone Star State, but it’s never the same. A slightly judgmental waiter looked at two average-sized girls skeptically as we ordered beef brisket, ribs, pulled pork, cornbread, and mac n cheese, but we ate everything except for one rib. In other news, the Umami Burger super-franchise is expanding to the world of BBQ as well, collaborating with the guys from Hill Country Barbecue in New York, coming to Hollywood this summer. When will the madness stop???
Tucked beside the staircase leading to Thomas Keller’s high-end French bistro, Bouchon Bakery lures would-be diners with a rainbow of chewy macarons, glowing lemon tarts, enormous homemade Nutter Butters, and a flood of other cookies. The can’t-pass-up kouign-amann, Breton’s beloved “butter cake,” features more than 90 thin layers of dough baked into a dense, sugary blossom.
Croissants reign supreme at Maison Griaud, the Pacific Palisades restaurant from French chef and pastry master Alain Giraud. Whether au beurre or au chocolat, we haven’t tasted such flaky perfection since that layover at Charles de Gaulle.
See the original post from Los Angeles Magazine here
Apr 10
Best Bakeries - Los Angeles
Mar 28
1. Langer’s #19 pastrami sandwich
2. Soppressata Salami sandwich from Larchmont Village Wine Spirits & Cheese
Mar 21
1. The Rising Sun burger
2. Brandon about to indulge in a Drunken Monkey milkshake
In keeping with the burger theme (and in light of my recent spring break trip), I thought I’d share with you one of my Vegas staples—Holstein’s. Located in the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Holstein’s serves up a nomzy, reasonably priced burger (by Vegas standards) alongside spiked milkshakes and some of the best onion rings I’ve ever had. The Rising Sun burger, made with Kobe beef, teriyaki glaze and tempura avocado, was voted the best burger in Vegas. I’m partial to the Gold Standard made with bacon, goat cheddar cheese (yep, that’s a thing), and tomato confit. I can usually only eat half since I’m also trying to fill up on onion rings, beer, and a Drunken Monkey, a boozy banana and Reese’s milkshake. This meal is a must every time I come to Vegas (as sad as that is to say…I just love Vegas!), along with Secret Pizza, also located in the Cosmopolitan. Hidden on the third floor, the secret, unmarked corridor leads to by-the-slice pizza heaven, comparable with any slice I’ve ever had in New York. I suggest stacking a slice of the white pizza and a meatier slice (pepperoni and sausage, anyone?) and eating both at the same time.
Mar 21
Spring Break
Mar 11
1. Golden State
2. The Escondite (Fat Albert)
My quest for the perfect burger never ceases. Two of my newest finds include The Golden State, a tiny place near the Grove where they serve up a pretty decent burger and some top notch beers, and The Escondite, a divey bar in East Downtown that is known for their crazy burger combinations. We decided to test out Golden State when they were doing $4 burgers in honor of their four year anniversary-score! The burger is solid, not outstanding, but for four dollars I left satisfied. The Escondite is dark and loud, as any good dive bar should be, and the burgers are nuts. Mine was called the Fat Albert, topped with bacon and maple syrup, with GLAZED DONUTS INSTEAD OF BUNS. Sounds gross, but it was tasty (caution-may need to have consumed at least two beers before you agree with me). Brandon ordered the Captain Kangaroo, sandwiched with hash browns, a fried egg, and hot sauce. They also had a nice selection of unique beer I haven’t seen around other bars in L.A. which was an added plus. Live music was cool, but made it hard to hear. And the Aadams’s Family pinball machine just sealed the deal.
I also engorged in both the fried avocado and fish and chips, which ended up being a lot of fried…but hey, it’s a celebration!
