Potatoes Au Gratin

Oysters And Burrata With Squash

I live on the east side of L.A. So for me a trip to the west side is equivalent to what the Donner Party experienced in 1846.

Occasionally I get suckered into making the epic adventure west of the 405 freeway. But I only oblige if there is good food or great company waiting for me there.

In this case there was both.

City Tavern is one of the many delicious, unpretentious gastropubs in Culver City. Friendly knowledgeable servers will guide you towards the perfect combination of food and drink.

Check out their menu here.

How not to cut an avocado.

I am typing this post with one hand. Why? Because a few nights ago I tried to add a little flavor to a bland veggie burger.

I recently purchased a big boy knife set from Wusthof. It turns out high end chef’s knives are sharp. Believe it or not, I know how to use a knife. However, in my attempt to slice an avocado in half I bounced my brand new, ultra sharp paring knife off of the pit and deep into my index finger. It was a clean cut. I look forward to filleting steak with this knife some day.

“Fuck.” I state with relitive calm.

I drop the avocado and it rolls into the living room. I manage to place the knife carefully on the counter and rush my bleeding hand to the sink. The blood makes a beautiful pattern on my black and white kitchen tile.

“This would make a really cool visual in a murder film.” I briefly think to myself as shock settles in.

“Oh boy, who is sober enough to drive to the ER?” Not a peep from Bapu. Fortunately my buddy Brayton volunteers and we all pile into the Yaris for a trip up to Verdugo Hills Hospital (there are closer hospitals, but I’m spoiled).

It turns out I am the second avocado related laceration for the ER that night. Now I don’t feel special at all.

14 stitchs later and no pain meds, I am writing this post from the couch. I wish there was a moral to this tale, but the only thing I can think of is: be careful with knives.

I’ll be back with more food related posts soon. I’m typing a little slower than usual.

Anybody else craving guacamole? Hmmmm, maybe I’ll make some for lunch.

fontina, tomato-chorizo relish, pickles

Smack dab in the middle of the most obnoxious stretch of the Sunset Strip stands an oaisis. Eveleigh is a quaint retreat from the traffic jam of expensive foreign cars that sits just a few feet outside.

The vibe in the place is young. The approach to the food is not pretentious. They focus on fresh local sources for their food. Every hipster foodie loves it when the wait staff describes the beauty of the farm that your duck confit was raised .

The meal started with grilled octopus, potatoes and a spicy aioli. Then brussel sprouts and bacon with a poached egg.

And then the burger… they had me at tomato-chorizo relish. The Eveleigh burger has certainly asserted itself as one of my top 5 favorite burgers in LA. Over all the meal was fantastic although it certainly helped that I throughly enjoyed the company too

Umami /uːˈmɑːmi/ is a savory taste which is one of the five basic tastes, together with sweet, sour, bitter, and salty.

Umami Burger is a chain of resturaunts in Los Angeles that has figured out how to use this flavor sensation to perfection.

What is it like biting into an Umami Burger? Falling in love, fireworks and  your first rock concert,  medium rare between two buns. If you are in LA, it would be a huge life mistake not to have one.

Grilled Cheese Tease

Organic Chicken Brest With Fresh Veggies

I know pretty much all of my posts so far have been about all my favorite junk food from my life experiences and travels. Well, it is has finally caught up to me. Now in my late twenties my metabolism has said,“Fuck you dude, I’m slowing down and you’re getting a belly.” Alright metabolism, touché. You want to play like that? Then I guess I will just have to go on a diet . Sigh.

Simply, diets suck. I am doing the Paleo Diet which means no carbs, dairy or grains. Pretty much everything I love has been cut out of my routine. I didn’t realize how depressing life is without cheese until now.

This diet has forced me to cook for myself more than usual and I am finding that to be very enjoyable. Pictured above is organic chicken breast with bell peppers, cilantro and broccoli.

So far I’m 4 days in and have dropped 5 lbs. Booyah metabolism!

Truffle Chicken and Tomato Bisque at Sweetsalt Foods

I LOVE my job. But occasionally I have to drag my ass out to Toluca Lake , do math and settle up my petty cash reports. This is not fun. However there is one reward for completing a pile of paperwork, and that is lunch at Sweetsalt Food Shop.  Chef Alex Eusebio of Top Chef Season 5 fame opened the perfect lunch spot.  Simple fresh sandwiches, salads and soups is what they do and they do it to perfection. On my most resent excursion to Sweetsalt I had the Truffle Chicken Sandwich and I talked my co-worker into the Shrimp Po’ Boy.  If you are a grilled cheese head like I am, you have to try theirs because well Gruyère and White Cheddar are soul mates. Avoid the line and show up after the lunch rush. Next time I am going to try the Buffalo Chicken Wrap… Drool…

Leo Beer. Chiang Mai, Thailand

There is nothing better on a hot muggy day in Thailand than a Leo beer. Cheap, refreshing and full flavored, this beer will soothe the pain from that Muay Thai fight you just lost.

Here is a tip so you don’t sound like a tourist. Singha beer is pronounced ”sing” the “ha” is silent.

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog. Echo Park

2 A.M. You have been at Gold Room sucking back several of the $4 PBR and tequila specials. (more details  on Gold Room in a forthcoming post) You catch your friend’s band at Lot 1 across the street and then finish off the night by dancing your beer and tequila soaked ass off at the Short Stop.

After last call you stumble to the street, hungry for something substantial to soak up all the cheap booze you have been pounding .

Fortunately you are in Echo Park, the land of the bacon wrapped hot dog. You can find a sweet little Mexican lady grilling up these hefty bundles of heartburn on virtually every corner. A mere $3 will score you a bacon wrapped dog, grilled onion, jalapeño , ketchup, mustard and mayo.

Tums not included.

The Best Fish Taco Ever. El Tesoro, SF

When it comes to Mexican food, there is a simple rule to follow. The sketchier an establishment looks, the better the food is.

This couldn’t be more true for El Tesoro Taqueria and Grill.  This tiny little grill is located inside a liquor store on Geary in the Tenderloin of San Francisco.  You can get a 40 of old English, tacos, crack and a lotto ticket all in one stop.

What makes it so delicious? Home made tortillas, fresh, spicy salsa, cheap tilapia and a sprinkle of dirty Tenderloin crack head energy.

My advice. Go to Hemlock Tavern on Polk. Enjoy the happy hour ($5 for a PBR and Shot of Jameson) then stumble down to El Tesoro for a fish taco that will blow your freakin’ mind!