Monthly Archives: August 2013
Paramount Studios Lot was the backdrop to the Los Angeles Time’s Opening Night of The Taste, a multi-day foodie-stravaganza. I was lucky to attend the opening gala, a more intimate gathering of tasters and tastemakers.
We braved the muggy 80˚ temps in the name of food and booze. Thankfully, the Beatles cover band, Britain’s Finest were spot-on in their impressions they took our minds off the heat long enough so we could raise our glasses of Stella Artois and sing out a chorus of Na Na Na Na’s during Let it Be.
Costume change! Older Beatles. She Loves You, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!
Of course many celebrated local food stars were in attendance. Mozza’s Nancy Silverton, L.A. Times Russ Parsons and Jonathan Gold, took pictures with fans while chefs like Ernesto Uchimura from Plan Check plated tasty treats for hungry guests.
Here’s a video recap of Opening Night!
The rest of the weekend’s line-up features various demonstrations, chef talks and tastings throughout the day.
Some standout events include:
FIELD TO FORK // SAT AUG. 31
Cadillac Culinary Stage
Cooking Demonstration featuring
Sherry Yard (Helms Bakery)
Cadillac Culinary Stage
Cooking Demonstration featuring
Michael Cimarusti (Providence/Connie & Ted’s)
12:45 – 1:30 p.m.
Cadillac Culinary Stage
Cooking Demonstration featuring
Nancy Silverton (Osteria Mozza/Pizzeria Mozza/Chi Spacca)
The Taste Bar Stage
Going Whole Hog: Tales from Masters of Competition BBQ with
Noelle Carter (moderator),
Ryan Chester (The Rub Co.),
Sylvie Curry (Lady of Q) and
Neil Strawder (Bigmista’s Barbecue)
9:15 – 10 p.m.
The Taste Culinary Stage
9:30 – 10:30 p.m.
The Taste Bar Stage
10 – 10:45 p.m.
Cadillac Culinary Stage
Cooking & Mixology Demonstration featuring
Kuniko Yagi and
Brandyn Tepper (Hinoki & the Bird)
For the full list of events and tickets, click here.
Cheers to another tasty year at The Taste!
I was recently listening to Good Food’s Evan Kleiman talk pie. She was chatting on my friend Lynn Chen’s awesome weekly food podcast (Ep. 10) and while listening, I remembered, how much I LOVE pie! Last year I stumbled upon KCRW’s Annual Pie Contest on accident while checking out art at the LACMA, and I was in nirvana!
Home cooks and professional bakers duke it out, bringing their best recipes. This year’s judges include an elite list of L.A.’s favorite food people. To name just a few: Hourie Sahakian from Short Cake, Susan Feniger of Border Grill and Street, LA Times food writers Russ Parsons, Jonathan Gold and Moby (in the Vegan category).
You have until September 1st to enter. Otherwise just go to enjoy the day on September 7th, maybe see some art at LACMA and have some PIE!
…
Here’s a re-post of my experiences at the pie contest last year:
Yesterday, I was suddenly craving a broccoli and mushroom quiche. So I decided to make one…
It was my first time whipping one up, and it turned out pretty darned tasty. Here’s the recipe I used here (substituting whole milk for evaporated milk because it’s all I had in the house). One might consider a quiche really just an egg pie. After all, it IS baked in the oven, it lives in a pie shell, and it contains various fillings. It’s savory and can be quite delicious.
Call it kooky, but I feel that my sudden urge to make a quiche was a kind of premonition for how the rest of my day would end up…
I was grazing by some contemporary art at the LACMA, when I suddenly remembered that the 4th annual KCRW Good Food Pie Contest was being held just outside the museum on the big lawn. My impromptu visit to the exhibits at LACMA, led to a spontaneous afternoon of pie tasting in the park! How wonderful!
I decided to saunter over to see if I could try a slice or two or five…
Hundreds of pie fans were mulling around with small paper plates grabbing samples of homemade pies. Family tested recipes of apple pies, chocolate and banana pies, blueberry and savory pies were among the various tents occupying Hancock Park just off 6th street across from the Levitated Mass site.
By the time I got there, about an hour after it had already started, many of the pies had been quickly gobbled up, but I managed to sample a few of the remaining (mostly apple) pies. (Note: do not try this on an empty stomach… can you say “sugar high!?” This I learned the hard way.)
Good Food’s Evan Kleiman announced the winners – a few of whom, swept the competition, cleaning up in multiple categories for fruit pie, nut, cream/chiffon/mousse and savory pies. They also had a special category inspired by Chris Burden’s Metropolis II installation at LACMA). If you haven’t yet seen this amazing mini-highway-city-like exhibit, well then you must be hiding under a levitated rock. (Get it? heh.) Do yourself a favor and check it out! It’s so cool and hypnotic to watch.
Anyway, back to the pies… The judges were numerous and included a variety of pie lovers (just to name a few) chef Michael Voltaggio, Russ Parsons (LA Times), Zoe Nathan (Huckleberry, Rustic Canyon and Milo and Olive) and of course, Jonathan Gold (LA Times).
Those wearing aprons proudly strutted their stuff across a concrete catwalk. They also got free membership into the museum.
Apron, game ON.
Such a fun event! I can’t wait for next year!
[This is a repost from September 9th, 2012]
122 S Atlantic Blvd · Monterey Park, CA 91754 · Neighborhood: Monterey Park
The old Open Door location in Monterey Park, is now Tokyo Fried Chicken Co. After five years of Open Door, owner and chef, Kouji Yamanashi is excited to launch TFCC — a secret recipe that took two years to perfect. Imagine, southern comfort food with Japanese inspired flavors. Set to open this Labor Day weekend, BYB has your sneak peak:
Here’s the scoop direct from the press release:
“TFCC offers their house recipe’s deep fried chicken with over 10 freshly made sides including: curry creamed corn, dashi braised collard greens, soy glazed carrtos with bacon and more. Plus with homemade spicy and regular ponzo for some fried chicken dipping goodness.
The fried chicken is brined similar to a Japanese karaage chicken – soy, ginger, and garlic but has rich crispness for a deep fried yet juicy chicken. The chicken is fried in rice bran oil for a light and less greasy, more flavorful taste.”
They’ll offer a wide selection of local craft beers including local L.A.breweries: Eagle Rock Brewery and Golden Road, the OC based: Bootleggers, The Bruery and from SD: Coronado and Lightning. Japanese imports include the craft beers; Echigo, Hitachino and Yona Yona.
While there, you might notice the trendy Hedley and Bennett aprons (below) and artsy sign work hand-painted by Peter Greco (above).
Grand Opening is Labor Day weekend August 30th! Save the date!
1146 Abbot Kinney Blvd · Venice, CA 90291 · Neighborhood: Venice
There’s a new pig in town and its name is Pork Belly’s Sandwich Shop. Opened just about a month ago on the trendy Abbott Kinney strip in Santa Monica, Pork Belly’s hopes to bring a little Southern BBQ flavor to the neighborhood. I was invited to sample a few of their signature sammies and check out the space. Read on for the review.
A Jersey boy who lived in Chicago for 7 years, sells apartment buildings by day and meat on the side. That’s Pork Belly’s co-owner Jon Swire. (pictured below right) “If I really wanted a chopped brisket sandwich, where am I gonna go? Our goal is to sell things that you can’t get anywhere else. I love BBQ, I love greasy food…. I always thought someday I might open a sandwich shop.” He brought in Chef Paul Mojica, (below left) and a competitive barbecue grill master, Eric Solcon to help steer the herd in the kitchen.
It’s a unique place indeed; sweet potato tater tots, tater tots smothered in brisket and melted cheese, deep fried pickles – if there’s a craving, this place will satisfy.
Their signature is the Belly Up, a smoked BBQ Pork Belly topped with homemade coleslaw on a brioche roll. It’s a tasty little bite and the flavors of the BBQ and the coleslaw are married together nicely.
The Chop is a brisket smoked for over 16 hours in an in-house smoker then chopped up into pieces. Prepared the same way as the BBQ Pork Belly with sauces and slaw, if you want something a little different, I’d recommend the Chop Melt which is the brisket combined with melted cheese and pressed on sourdough bread.
Much of the food is fried, so it may not travel well – eat it fast. I’m looking at you deep fried pickles and tater tots! These are always best eaten fresh. But that’s the idea, Jon says. Patrons order, get their meal in a little brown baggie ala school lunch style, and you even get a little cookie tucked inside – just like mom used to do for school.
Surprise!
You can either grab and go, or step up to the 3-inch ledge on the side of the restaurant’s main outside wall to chomp on your sammie. You’re standing in the alley, eating messy, greasy food, enjoying the good-looking neighborhood walking by — Pure Americana. Just make sure you are mindful of the cars rolling past you so no one runs you over or steals a tater tot from your sack.
I grabbed a drink from the fancy-mega-flavored-soda-machine with everything from Peach Fanta to a variety of Coke products.
When I asked Jon why they set up shop in this particular neighborhood, he quipped, “well, it’s the highest rent location we could find in LA, so we thought we set up here.” He was kidding of course. Though the rent may be high, “it’s a great community” he admits. It’s trendy and prime real estate, and the little sandwich shop is definitely visible from the street.
For the future? He says there are plans to open five more shops and they are looking into doing a truck. BBQ Brisket parked on my street corner? Follow that truck!
BYB Tip: Ribs are available Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Beverly Hills Triangle, Rodeo Drive · Neighborhood: Beverly Hills
In case you saw the herd of 1000+ elegantly dressed people lugging tables and chairs and picnic baskets across Rodeo Drive this past Wednesday and wondered if you happened upon a cult (yes, we all wore white), you would be very close in your assumption.
Consider it a food-loving cult. A gang off freaky foodies. A barrage of tailgating chic-picnic-partiers.
This group of food lovers and friends gathered to this “secret location,” some having been on a wait-list for months. Others knew somebody who knew somebody, and got a ticket into LA’s first ever Dîner en Blanc.
This fancy-pants (and crazy weird cool) tradition that all started in France 25 years ago has grown to various iconic locations worldwide including the plaza at Lincoln Center in New York, in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Boston and Sydney. It was only perfect that Los Angeles’ inaugural Dîner en Blanc was an the most elegant of locations, Rodeo Drive.
Our group met at the designated bus pick up spot in Santa Monica and drove down Wilshire Blvd., many of us trying to guess where the secret location would be… LACMA? The Getty?
Once we saw the blockades and white balloons we knew this would be the place. There was no car traffic and no pedestrian traffic (except for the occasional dumbfounded tourists). There were people in white… everywhere.
There are a lot of rules to this thing. You must wear white (no off white or beige), you must bring white chairs and your own 30″ table. You also can’t arrive late or not show up or are threatened with being revoked from the party – for life! (this happened to a friend of mine). Also, even though you pay $30 for your membership and bus fee, dinner is not included. It is up to you to BYOFood, and booze.
If it sounds like a pain in the ass… it kinda is. But once you are there, and see it set up in all it’s glory — food, music, dancing, friends — there is no denying the uniqueness of the occasion and you can’t help but feel that you are a party of something truly special.
To see how you can get on the list for the next one, visit their website.
317 S. BROADWAY · LOS ANGELES, CA 90013 · Neighborhood: Downtown
I recently had a foodie date at downtown’s Grand Central Market with my blogger pal Karena (You may remember her from our Filipino food tour videos). I hadn’t been back to GCM since the revamp so I was excited to try out a few of the new food spots!
Parking was tricky. The entrance is on Spring and there are a lot of one way streets, so I found myself going in circles until I could get to the entrance. Just a little tip, if you are staying for more than 90 mins I suggest you use a neighboring lot and pay the flat $5 as the price at the Grand Central Parking lot can get pricey if you linger in the market like I did!
Our first stop was at G&B which I knew from their previous pop-up at Sqirl in Los Feliz.
I just love their made in-house almond milk lattes. Today, I opted to try an iced sweet latte and Karena treated to some pastries – A flaky chocolate croissant and this pretty little donut. Both delicious!
We also got to sample a fizzy green tea concoction they are working on. Thanks for the bubbly, Sumi!
After our central perk, we walked about 30 yards to the freshly opened Horse Thief for some manly meat which smoke for 15 hours. A Texas style BBQ joint with casual outside seating (and a bar coming soon!) we had ourselves a protein packed lunch. Don’t forget the BBQ sauce!
We also said hi to co-owner Russell Malixi at Horse Thief. I apparently had no idea what to do with my right hand, so I did this.
After lunch, we strolled on over to check out the rest of the market. Too bad we were so full – The treats from Valerie, known for her tasty pastries and chocolates…
…and locally made Thai sausages at Sticky Rice looked so good! Ah, well… a reason to return.
After we parted ways, I decided to take a (30 second!) ride up the Angel Flight Trolley across the street just for fun. Karena told me that they built the trolley back in 1901 to connect Bunker Hill with Spring Street, shuttling the well-to-doers up and down the steep slope between Hill and Olive streets. [Tip: Show your receipt from the market for a free ride!]
The view at the top.
Until next time, Los Angeles!
12400 Wilshire Blvd · Ste 150 · Los Angeles, CA 90025 Neighborhood: Santa Monica
More and more it seems that restaurants in Los Angeles are being driven out of their neighborhoods because of crazy rent increases. When the rent got too damn high for Chef Jason Park at Maru in Valencia, he didn’t close his kitchen or hide in a box, he simply uprooted and set up shop at the former Sasabune location on Wilshire Blvd — a real score for the city of Santa Monica.
It’s somewhat of a hidden gem, although visible from the street, you might miss it if you’re not looking for it. The Korean Park, who was a Bio major at UCLA before switching to the culinary arts, credits his mother and Japanese-educated grandmother for his talents in the kitchen and culinary inspiration.
When I first met chef Park at his other business, Ramekin, an ice cream shop in Los Feliz, I was impressed by his passion and serious focus on flavors. I was excited to see how this translated to his full-service kitchen.
Like a lot of Santa Monica restaurants, the French-Japanese menu at Maru is seasonally inspired and market driven. Prices here reflect this. There are lots of different things on the menu for every palate and a real focus on quality.
Ok, so you decide you want to come for sushi, but dad doesn’t like fish? No need to flip out, chef Park proves he can master even the manliest meats – and beautifully too. The filet mignon – a simple, maybe even boring steak – that is until you scoop up the beautiful brandy, merlot glaze artfully decorated around your entrée. At first you don’t want to mess the pretty plating, so you try to eat daintily, but after a few bites you become ravenous as you think to yourself, “Mmm, this is damn good!”
The pork belly is fork tender and deeply flavored, marinated in a sake, soy braise with garlic infused black kale, marinated shallots and roasted tomatoes.
You can also get your veg on. A simple cherry tomato salad market-fresh and marvelous…
And for more exotic, daring eaters… The first week of their soft open, he offered live uni as a dinner special.
Chef Park is able to take a simple dish – risotto for instance, and mix things up nicely. Consider the shape, the savory tomato sauce, the crispy duck nestled inside and little morsels of mozzarella to surprise and appease your tongue.
I tried Maru on two occasions. First, I popped in during their boozy cocktail pop-up with cocktail chef Matthew Biancaniello (pictured below as chef Park looks on). Chef Park is always game for creative culinary collaborations — I like that.
The first time these two joined forces, they paired booze and ice cream at Ramekin. Both are really into local, seasonal produce so every time they get together it works really well.
Usually it takes a restaurant some time to get into a flow when they first open up, but Maru felt like a restaurant already comfortable in it’s stride. And it should. Chef Park’s previous restaurant of the same name was a hit with Valencia locals for 11 years!
*Officially open for business as of a few weeks ago, do note that they will be undergoing a sexy remodel and will be closed until then.
The menu is incredibly varied, complex, elegant and fantastic – their fish is flown in nightly from Japan. Check them out next time you are looking for a unique place for a special meal on the westside!
BYB Tip: There’s 2-hour validated parking in the parking structure off McClellan Dr.
Special thank you to chef Park, Jenni Hwang, Matthew Biancaniello, chef Nobu and all the awesome people at Maru for hosting me.
**UPDATE: Nov. 2015 – After a lengthy 1 year remodel, Maru has since reopened with a new look and new menu!
Check them out on their Facebook page.
214 South Main St · Los Angeles, CA 90012 · Neighborhood: Downtown
Sure, pancakes are not everybody’s thing. My brother for instance, hates them with a passion! But I, for some reason, have always loved them – breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Flapjacks, hotcakes, whatever you want to call them, for me, they are the kind of thing you can dress up or down, make sweeter (and more sinful!) with chocolate chips or perhaps pretend you were being healthy by adding blueberries or some sort of fruit on top.
This past weekend, LA Weekly threw a breakfast party all dedicated to my special friend, the pancake. A 3-hour long sampling of LA’s best breakfast gems? How could I resist!? Watch below for the recap and read on for details.
Curated by Good Food’s Evan Kleiman, guests got to sample tasty treats from all around LA. Standouts included coconut sticky pancakes and spicy prime rib from Chego, lemon soufflé blueberry pancakes from Brite Spot and corn poblano cakes with chicharron, choke, and egg from the forthcoming Bunker Hill Mexican joint, Pez Cantina.
Caffeine was well represented at the event – Handsome Coffee Roasters, Cafecito Organico and LAMill served up pour overs, cappucinos and cold brews for our morning wake up call.
I sampled some okonomiyaki, a delicious cabbaged-based Japanese “pancake” and the chefs from Gottsui on Sawtelle were surprised I knew what it was! Little did they know, I learned all about this tasty street snack from my pal Yoko Isassi’s Japanese cooking classes. 
Then the unthinkable happened… I met someone who had bigger hair than Backyard Bite! Vintage songstress Lynda Kay humored me with a photo for a side by side ‘fro comparison. I think she won by an inch! 
Not only was this event a great way to spend an afternoon eating and enjoying the great LA weather, a portion of proceeds benefited Project Angel Food which delivers meals to men women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life threatening illnesses throughout the LA area. A great cause!
Support local business by visiting these great restaurants in your local neighborhood.
Shout out to Amy Scattergood, Jennifer Swann and all the hard working people over at Squid Ink! Hooray for pancakes!
Maru · 12400 Wilshire Blvd · Los Angeles, California 90025
Everyone’s favorite LA cocktail chef, Matthew Biancaniello is at it again – this time at Jason Park’s freshly opened French-Japanese hybrid, Maru in Santa Monica. The farmer’s market loving duo, which are known for getting a little wild and crazy in flavor-town, are this time shucking it up for a night of Boozy Oysters. Read on for the details…
The evening will feature 8 different Oyster pairings with a few of the following:
- chipotle-infused mezcal with papalo-infused oil and salmon eggs infused with passion fruit
- rose Cocchi Americano with purple shiso granita
- japepeno, cotton candy
They will also be offering an uni-sake sweet corn ice cream for $9
Curious? You know you are.
Reservations aren’t required but highly recommended as Matthew’s events are known to sell out early…
When? Thursday, August 8th from 7pm-10pm
Where? Maru in Santa Monica: 12400 Wilshire Blvd · Los Angeles, California 90025
Why? Because you’re a food loving foodie and you just gotta!
To read about their previous (booze and ice cream) collaboration at Ramekin in Los Feliz click, here.
Here’s a shot of Park at Ramekin talking sweet stuff. If you have never been to his Los Feliz dessert shop… Read this and drool.
2100 E Cesar Chavez Ave · Los Angeles, CA 90033 · Neighborhood: Boyle Heights
I often refer to my own blog to jog my memory about a dish or place I have visited and today, while searching for my Guisados post, I… wait a sec… where is my Guisados post…??
Oh dear… It seems I haven’t written one. Geez, how have I NOT written a post on GUISADOS yet!? I have been going there since 2011, and raving to all who ask me which LA taco is my all-time favorite. THIS place.
I suppose since it is such a taco staple (in my head) I assume everybody already knows about it. Still I’ll indulge the few who don’t, and fill you in on LA’s (not-so) best kept taco secret. At the original Boyle Heights location (the one near Dodgers Stadium), you are met with a long line of locals, foodies, and in-the-know art-heads (it’s just a few minute drive from the Downtown Artist District, thus all the artist types).
Owner Armando De La Torre, is quite often at the restaurant and is most likely ringing you up or serving you tacos himself.
Ok, so what to order? Tacos of course! The taco sampler is your Go-To if you’ve never been before. You get 6 baby tacos with any meat of your choosing. I love the Cochinita Pibil and Mole Poblano. Choose your level of spiciness and get ready for the burn…
The word, “guisado”, in Spanish means stewed. Thus, all the meat here are slowly stewed in various seasonings and spices and that’s what makes them so darn tasty and unlike any other taco you’ve had. Even the veggie tacos are good. They are juicy and spicy and drippy and savory and finger licking-dripping-down-your-arm good.
If that wasn’t enough, the tortillas are freshly made in-house daily and are thick and chewy and probably some of the best tortillas I’ve ever had. Try it, you’ll see what I mean…
To drink, you can’t go wrong with the horchata or any agua fresca.
They opened up another location early this year in Echo Park (Hooray! It’s much closer to my house). This one has a cozy interior and hip back patio. The menu is virtually the same, save for their tamales, which are reserved for the Boyle Heights location only.
There’s a location coming soon to DTLA. Check out their website for details and updates!
Want to see what the Echo Park location looks like? Click on the picture below to watch the video… and “don’t forget your taco!”
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