Googling images of the word “watermelon” turns up a bunch of random and interesting pictures.
I found these amazing Vans, which I decided I must immediately get.
I also found this rad watermelon inspired dress from Reverse.
And a weird watermelon car, which I’d rather not explore further.
But then, I found something very odd: Square shaped watermelons. I don’t know why, but the image brought back vague memories of that horrifyingly disturbing hoax site of growing kittys in a jar about 10 years ago. Remember Bonsai Kitten? Ugh. So not cool.
Anyway, as I investigated further, I began to understand the practical applications of molding the shape of watermelons as they grow. Japanese farmers developed the idea of growing watermelons in jars so that they could then fit perfectly inside smaller Japanese refrigerators. They are stackable and also easier to ship out.
Weird. But oddly interesting.
Do you think this goes against the laws of nature, preventing these poor little watermelons to roam free and grow in the shape that they were destined to grow…? Or is it simply a smart, innovative idea?
What other square shaped food item would YOU eat? Or does the custom shaping of food simply weird you out?
Foodie Friday is a chance for a guest foodie to take the reigns and shout out to some of their favorite eats around the LA area. This week I chatted with writer, Anna Keizer.
Anna is a freelance copywriter and blog writer. Her blog is thechicagodispLAcement where she writes comical and thoughtful musings about what it’s like to be a Chicago-LA transplant navigating her way “through this foreign land of smog and movie stars.”
The thing I love most about her blog is that it’s so relatable. Especially so for mid-westerners who find themselves feeling a bit of that all too familiar LA culture shock.
Anna and I talked about where she goes to get that warm and fuzzy “Chicago feeling,” what inspires her around her local Culver City hood and where she goes to satisfy her vegetarian food cravings.
Anna and I compared notes over dinner…
Backyard Bite: Anna, you suggested that we dine tonight at Rush Street in Culver City. Why Rush?
Anna: It feels very much like a Chicago Bar. This is by far is the bar/restaurant I have frequented the most. It’s probably a psychological thing, just the connection… the name. Whether the food or the ambiance really is “Chicago-like” it’s a matter of opinion, but it has a mid-west essence. Honestly, I don’t think that there are any truly authentic Chicago-style places in LA because well, LA is so LA. I don’t mean that as a slam. Chicago is just Chicago and LA is just LA. They are very different. I will say that I do love that Rush lacks the pretentiousness of most LA gastropubs. The ambiance, the exposed brick walls, the heartiness of the meals – it just feels very “Chicago” to me.
BYB: When I first moved here, I ate at a bunch of places that “claimed” to have authentic Chicago-style deep dish. Have you had a good deep dish out here that you think comes close?
Anna: I like Masa in Echo Park for deep dish. I find the dough a little sweeter in taste than say, Lou Malnati’s or Giordanos, but it’s good. The ambiance there is a little grittier, more blue-collar maybe. As far as pizza places in general, I love Village Pizza in Larchmont. It’s more thin, New York style.
BYB: Any other quintessential Chicago spots?
Anna: I actually love that there’s a Portillo’s in Buena Park. It’s not that close, but I like that there’s one nearby.
BYB: Good choice! They are so classic to Illinois. It’s pretty random actually that they are out here in California, but I feel lucky to get to have one (sort-of) nearby. I’ve actually trekked out to Buena Park a few times just to get my Chicago dog fix. Took about an hour to drive from LA, but it was worth it… Wait a sec, aren’t you vegetarian?
Anna: Yes, I am! Back in the day, I loved their Italian beef sandwiches. Now I can only enjoy the fries and glorious smell (of the food).
BYB: Where do you like to veg-out around here?
Anna: I highly recommend Vardo in Venice. It’s a wine bistro and gypsy café. I went with a friend recently and I loved it. It has some great vegetarian options and beautiful décor.
BYB: Oooh, that sounds interesting. Where else?
Anna: Hmmm… I also love Thai food in general. One of my favorite places to go is Bulan Thai on Melrose. I like their sate, summer rolls and pad woon sen, which I get with veggie shrimp.
They recently replaced the M Café in Culver City with a Native Foods Café, I liked the M Café, but Native Foods also has great vegan food too.
BYB: I go to the M Café on Melrose just up the street from me in West Hollywood! They’ve got good macrobioticfood. I love their Salmon wrap!
Anna: Okay, I should also mention that I LOVE sushi! The Yen Sushi up the street on Pico is probably the location I frequent the most. The outside doesn’t look like much. It’s kinda divey but it’s very comfortable, low lighting and casual; A good local gem.
Subscribe to Anna’s hilarious blog thechicagodispLAcementwhere she posts weekly! She’s also available for hire for freelance writing gigs and copywriting assignments. Go writers!
445 S Figueroa St · Los Angeles, CA 90071 · Neighborhood: Downtown
As Summer 2012 reaches the midway point, quite a few restaurants are luring guests in with special happy hour menus and fresh cocktails. I was invited by fellow foodie and blogger, Cathy Chaplin to sample some of the latest eats off the Border Grill happy hour menu which began serving to the public last Thursday!
Just in time for Dine LA (some Happy Hour items are also featured on the Dine LA lunch or dinner menu), you can stop in and enjoy appetizers like Mushroom Ceviche, Peanut Mole Chicken Sopes and my favorites; Quinoa Fritters and Green Corn Tamales!
It had been a while since I last came to visit this area of downtown when the space used to be Cuidad. For those of you who don’t like change, you’ll be happy to find that the restaurant art is virtually identical to its Border Grill sister restaurant in Santa Monica. London artists, Su Huntley and Donna Muir as always do a clever job of embodying the fun, colorful personalities of Chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken through their art. The cartoon-like murals have a loud and in-your-face style. They are a great visual representation of Border Grill’s bold, cultural food.
On to the cocktails! The Gas·tron·o·mer and I pose with our drinkies.
One of my favorite cocktails of the evening was the Andean Stallion (2nd pic down). It is made with pisco, fernet branca, lime, agave and angostura bitters. It’s a strong drink that goes down smooth.
The other cocktail I can’t seem to get out my memory is the Fire/Water/Melon or “fiery water.” Oh man, this drink has got some delicious kick! It’s got pisco, watermelon, lemon and serrano chiles which make for a sexy burn. I loved it. (sorry no pic of this one, but it looks a lot like the Summer Santa – middle drink, below)
BYB Tip: If you find yourself in the downtown area this week, be sure to stop by Border Grill for Dine LA. After that, check them out for Happy Hour, lunch or dinner. It’s a great spot to chill and take to the edge off after work or entertain your family and out of town guests. PS- My mom approves.
Special shout out and thanks to Cathy Chaplin, Leah Ross and Megan Plaskow for inviting me to this fantastic sampling!
A few months ago I sampled some grub from Lidia’s Dominican Kitchen food truck for the Cooking Channel’s show Eat Street. The show takes audiences around the nation trying the best food trucks in each city. Here’s a clip of the Los Angeles episode which is now airing!
Note: Since this taping, the truck has been temporarily commissioned out of state. Check out their website for their latest return dates and info.
Some of the best restaurant suggestions I get are from my eating-partner-in-crime, my boyfriend, artist Jorge Oswaldo. (Yes, I know I’ve already written about his fantastic artwork in a previous post), but for reals yo, the guy truly inspires me! He is not only close to my heart, but close to my stomach as well– he knows what I like to eat!
Plus, seeing as how this weekly series, Foodie Friday is just getting started on the blog, I figure it would be a good idea to begin close to home.
Jorge’s recent artwork ironically, features a few food and beverage inspired influences. I hung out with him at his studio as we chatted about his art and local favorite food spots in the downtown Arts District and beyond.
Backyard Bite:Jorge, to start, can you tell us a little bit about your newest works and what they are about?
Jorge: The stuff I’ve been working on lately focuses on identity as its core theme. I first started with a “portrait” painting depicting the brands of products that I like to eat, wear and use [pictured above on right]. From there I started investigating what logos or brands my circle of friends and family were closely related with. People often reveal a big piece of who they are through the brands that they associate with, whether it’s consciously or subconsciously. I wanted to fuse those brands together and create unique juxtapositions that might inspire people to look at these familiar symbols in a different way. Pretty much every American can instantly identify these logos, which are essentially just shapes and lines.
BYB:One of my favorite new pieces you’ve done involves two of my guilty pleasures. Why did you use In-and-Outand Chick-fil-A as the subjects of your painting?
Jorge: This one was inspired by my friend James. I’ve been on this Americana kick lately and these are two very iconic restaurants that people have come to love, especially in LA. I noticed that oftentimes two competing companies, though they try to be different from each other, are essentially really pretty similar in many ways. In this case, two “healthy-ish” fast food chains are combined. I also did one with Coca Cola and Pepsi.
BYB:You spend A LOT of time in your art studio in downtown, Los Angeles. What are some of favorite places to go when you’re there?
Jorge: A lot of my friends had been telling me about this one taco joint in Boyle Heights, Guisados. Once I learned how close it was to my studio, I’ve pretty much been going there once a week. The décor is cool because they have a rotating wall of artists. It’s nothing fancy but it’s cool that they do that. The owners are not scared to write on their walls and get a little creative.
BYB: I agree! Quite possibly the best tacos I’ve had EVER. The place is so beloved by the community that it feels like it has been there forever (even though it’s only two years old). I don’t know anyone who’s tried it and didn’t like it. What do you like to get off the menu?
Jorge: I get the Mole taco and the Chicken Tinga taco. The Sampler Plate is also good if you’ve never eaten there and want to try a variety.
BYB: What’s your favorite coffee place downtown?
Jorge: Oh man, there are so many. Even though Urth Caféis the neighborhood favorite, I try to venture out. I like to get my iced coffee at Handsome.
BYB: Heh! Coffee purists. No sugar or flavorings or anything! I got scolded there once because I asked them if they had soy milk.
Jorge: Yeah, those guys don’t F*ck around. It’s good coffee, you don’t need to add anything.
BYB: Okay, so you’ve finished working on a piece and it’s late at night and you’re starved… Where do you go?
Jorge: I like Baco Mercat – they have both good food and cocktails. The Toron and The Original are my favorite sandwiches. Their Burrata comes with these really good, crunchy pita chips. At least, I think they are pita chips. Whatever they are, they are good.
BYB: Baco is also a great spot for lunch. They serve Stumptown coffee there too, don’t they? I think that’s what you told me once…
Jorge: Yeah, that’s good coffee too. I usually get the house made soda though; Baco Pop. I like the Ginger one.
BYB: Is there anyplace that has really great art on the wall that you like?
Jorge: I like Bottega Louie – ironically for its lack of art. The walls are pristine, white… and from an artist standpoint, I can actually appreciate that. There is so much visual stimulation everywhere you go, but here, you are forced to look at the the architecture, the building, the people or simply what’s on your plate in front of you. There was a lot of thought that went into the design of that place.
BYB: Haha, Bottega Louie was also mentioned in a previous Foodie Friday post as well! That place sure gets a lot of love.
Thanks for sharing some of your Foodie Friday finds with my readers, Jorge!
Jorge has been selected to be part of the 2012 Baker’s Dozen show at the Torrance Museum of Art. His works will be on view there from July 21st to September 1st.
7615 Beverly Blvd · Los Angeles, CA 90036 · Neighborhoods: Mid-City West, West Hollywood
These are not your grandma’s tacos.
You can call her “the other woman” or “big sister” to her petite predecessor Escuela who resides just yards away. Having opened about a year after the original taco joint, there is now an awkward case of new baby syndrome – everybody is paying attention to the new, cuter addition to the family, while the older kid gets the shaft. Listen carefully, you might actually hear the previous Escuela quietly whimpering on the corner, “don’t forget about meeeee.”
La Otra Taquería Escuela is the larger, sexier, other taco shop. One can wonder if (old) Escuela was simply meant as a tryout… I guess this new restaurant opening means that the neighborhood has passed the test. Tacos win! Tacos win!
Neighborhood residents were scratching their heads as to why restaurateur Steven Arroyo shuttered his crazy popular tapas restaurant Cobras and Matadors months ago. Last week, with the grand opening of La Otra, we found out why. Now open in Cobras place is a new taco joint – focusing on more standard Mexican fare but with a gourmet twist. They feature the classics; burritos, soups, salads, tostadas, tamales, a hamburger (?) and a whopping 12 gourmet tacos listed on their menu (including shrimp and lobster). There are also a sprinklings of fancier plates like a 1 ½ lb Maine lobster, a skirt steak and a chile stew.
Fans of Cobras are understandably disappointed to see yet ANOTHER taco shop in the place of its beloved tapas restaurant. PORQUE!!?? Though, as a savvy business owner and restaurateur, it makes sense that Arroyo would open up a taco place in our current economical climate. Taco shops are much cheaper to manage and maintain and the menu is basic and more lunchtime and family friendly. Tacos are easy to make, cheap and turn a higher profit – (especially when they are charging $6-$13 for two small tacos).
Here is the pancetta, jack cheese and avocado tacos. I enjoyed the combo, but the pancetta was a bit too salty for my taste. Still, it was good.
Maine lobster tacos. Definately not something you see at your everyday Mexican joint.
Being that La Otra is BYOB (for now) and open for both lunch and dinner (11 am-11 pm), it should get a decent amount of traffic. La Otra has got the casualness of Arroyo’s neighboring sandwich shop, Potato Chips and a few novelty menu items e.g. the lobster to lure the foodies.
Still the question remains, why have two, virtually identical mexican restaurants, on the same block, competing with one another? I’m not quite sure what is going to become of the smaller, original Escuela around the corner (now just open for dinner 6-11 pm). Hopefully it’ll change to a coffee and dessert joint or perhaps a cute little late night bar that just so happens to serve tacos too (one can only hope).
If I knew not of Cobras and the original Escuela around the corner, I probably wouldn’t be so quick to comparisons. I would simply find La Otra to be a cute, yet casual gourmet taco place good enough to enjoy simple neighborhood eats with friends.
That being said, come for lunch. Bring some wine. Enjoy the food. Bring your sugar daddy.
BYB tip: Don’t get confused by the literal translation: Taquería (taco bar) Escuela (school). …They don’t actually teach tacos here.
California has some of the best produce in the nation. If you’ve ever gotten the chance to visit any of the many neighborhood farmer’s markets and hand pick some fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, you know how rewarding eating fresh can be.
But what if you are a busy, busy person or happen to always forget when the farmers markets set up shop? What if you are a mom with your hands full and can’t make it out to the markets with your 20 kids in tow? What if you wanted to get farm fresh produce and support local farmers without leaving the comfort of your home or office? Well, guess what? You can!
My awesome friend (shout out Rima!) recently told me about her experience with Farm Fresh To You, a second generation, organic, family farm in California that delivers produce right to your doorstep. What’s better than great eats right in your backyard? How about on your front porch!?
I just had to try them out for myself, so the very next day, I went online and signed up for their bi-weekly service. Sign up was super quick. I entered in my personal information, set my food preferences and just like that, I was back to watching America’s Got Talent in 5 minutes flat.
I signed up for the $31 regular service, which included mostly veggies like baby bok choy and green peppers and a few fruits like avocado and plums. It’s the perfect amount for two people to share.
Less than a week later, they swooped in like ninjas in the night. I went to bed around 1 AM, and when I woke up the next morning at 8:30 AM there was a neat little box at my doorstep!
Here’s what was inside:
You can set custom preferences or omit foods you don’t like, but I personally love getting the surprise of perhaps a veggie or fruit or herb that I don’t normally cook with. That way, it forces me to learn a new recipe and discover something new!
You can never have too many veggies. Try them out for yourself!
BYB Tips: Get $10 off your first order when you use promo code 6164 and mention that Backyard Bite referred you (Amy Shuster).
Bring the family and have a picnic at the actual farm or take a field trip there during their seasonal festivals!
After writing up my thoughts on the food themed flick Dinner Rush, I decided wanted to follow it up with another post about food in movies. Being a filmmaker at heart, I get just as excited watching a good food film, as I do flipping through a cookbook or reading about a new restaurant in a review. With so many people close to my heart struggling with food related illnesses (obesity, diabetes, cancer), I wanted see which inspiring food films, Ted Talks and documentaries I could find that related to food and health. Through my researching, I found a ton of educational, beautiful and inspiring films. It’s quite interesting to see so many common themes regarding food and health. These films discuss food, art, spirituality and everything in between.
A thoughtful meditation on the art of perfection. Jiro Dreams of Sushi chronicles the life of an 85-year-old sushi master. His 10-seat, sushi-only subway station restaurant is the first of its kind to be awarded 3 Michelin stars.
An insightful examination of the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict humans can be controlled, or even reversed, by eating plant based, non-processed foods.
An incredibly detailed look inside the renowned Spanish restaurant, El Bulli. A film that’s both inspiring and beautiful to watch, Spanish chef Ferran Adrià (referred to as the Salvador Dali of the kitchen) allows the cameras to see inside his most intimate preparations for the following season’s innovative menu.
The now, super famous film in which documentarian Morgan Spurlock literally puts his life on the line to prove a point. He eats only McDonalds food every day for one month; you know what happens next…
Engaging insight of interviews conducted with leading nutritionists, naturopaths, scientists, M.D.’s and medical journalists who suggest scientifically verifiable solutions for overcoming illness naturally without the aid of prescription drugs.
Exposing the diet and weight-loss industry and the deceptive strategies designed to keep you eating the wrong things. Can you trust what you think you know about your food?
They say you are what you eat. Well, do you really know what you’re eating? This is the documentary film based off the controversial book that ripped the curtain off the American food industry. It’s the film that the food industry doesn’t want you to see. Watch with caution.
Michael Voltaggio, best known for his season 6 “Top Chef” win and his popular West Hollywood restaurants ink and ink.sack, was present for a little Q and A with audiences at the LA Film Festival. Moderated by KCRW’s Good Food host Evan Kleinman, foodies and fans alike came to view Voltaggio’s Artist in Residence movie pick, Dinner Rush (2000) and stayed to listen as the two chefs chatted about the film, and how its realistic depiction of restaurant “family life” pertained to their real working lives.
Voltaggio talked about the thrill and sometimes challenge of cooking for his guests and being able to have the “opportunity to either ruin or make someone’s day.” He talked about going out of his way to make sure that people with certain dietary restrictions get to have the same experience as a regular customer. The strangest request in one of his restaurants came when an elderly woman brought her own menu into the restaurant and asked him to make custom dishes for her and her six guests. The request was so bizarre, he was compelled to oblige her!
Showcased downtown at L.A. Live’s Regal Cinemas, the (somewhat dated) culinary-mob-dramedy takes place at a trendy Tribeca restaurant and throughout the course of the evening we see how the guests’ and employees’ lives are forever changed. The film cleverly touches on familiar themes; family, ambition, sacrifice, love and art. An inspiring film for Voltaggio, who first viewed it at the start of his career (15 years ago), he talked about the importance of having a great sous chef to have your back in the kitchen. In the movie, the ambitious Gordon Ramsey-dictator-like head chef is at odds with his #2 man for most of the flick. They do manage to put their differences aside for one pivotal moment, one of my favorite scenes in the film.
90% of the movie takes place within the walls of the restaurant over the course of one single shift. We are cleverly re-introduced to all the different types of “characters” who dine out on any given night; The notorious food critic, drooling foodies, the ecstatic couple excited to finally have gotten reservations, the pretentious food snob and in the case of this story, two Mafioso brothers who try to pressure their way into owning a stake in the popular restaurant. Throw in some comedy, lust, an estranged father-son relationship, and an unexpected murder and you’ve got yourself a movie!
Though important to the plot, the first and last scenes of the movie were a bit disjointed for me (they felt more like an episode of the Sopranos). Still the themes were nicely interwoven and I felt that the director did a clever job in making the restaurant feel like a character all its own.
Dinner rush definitely makes me want to pay a little closer attention to all the behind-the-scene kitchen whisperings during my next dinner outing!
Click here to listen to the full Q and A with Michael Voltaggio.
2771 W Pico Blvd · Los Angeles, CA 90006 · Neighborhood: South Los Angeles (K-Town)
One of my favorite family-owned gems is a Greek restaurant located in Korean town! It’s been providing home-style Greek food and serving the community for more than 60 years. In 1948, Papa Cristos started out as a market meant to introduce the foods and wines of Greece to Los Angeles. Twenty years later, (second generation owner) Chrys Chrys, better known as “Papa Cristo,” purchased the business from his father hoping to continue the family’s legacy and open up a full service Greek Restaurant.
With the help of his daughter Annie and other family members, Papa Cristos has become a beacon for the Greek community and locals who come regularly to lunch on heaping plates of lamb kebabs, falafel, dolmades and sizzling feta (my fave!). Their tzatziki sauce is pure goodness.
In addition to being a market and popular lunchtime restaurant, they also host their famous Big Fat Greek Dinners every Thursday night. Guests are invited to a prix fixe sampling of Greek wines, salad, freshly baked bread, two entrees, several side dishes, baklava and Greek coffee.
During your meal, you’ll hear live music from their Bouzouki player Petros, and watch some (PG) belly dancing to cap off the night. You’re not allowed to be shy here! Patrons are invited to come up and dance (she’s very persuasive). Here you can check out my wonky dance moves.
Papa Cristos is also great for catering events or hosting large parties. The night I was dining, there was a fraternity from USC taking up the entire back restaurant.
In case you were wondering, these boys were very well behaved.
With three generations involved (Grandma Annie, daughter (also) Annie, and cousin Mark), this place is truly a family-run establishment. On any given day, you will find them all cooking, serving and chatting with guests.
BYB Tip: “Like” them on Facebook and watch for regularly held contests, which might get you a free dinner for their Thursday night feasts or other fun goodies.
Thanks again Papa Cristos! I’ll see you again very soon!
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