Monday, April 30, 2007

LA Favorites #7: Russ Parsons of the LA Times

Erin's Kitchen is leaving LA! Before I go, I'm asking Angelenos to share their favorite food spots--east to west, high to low. Want to share your favorites? Email me: erinskitchen [at] gmail [dot] com.

LA Favorites #7: Russ Parsons, LA Times food columnist, author of "How to Read a French Fry" and an intrepid farmers' market explorer.

How long have you lived in LA?
I've lived in Los Angeles since 1986.

What neighborhood do you call home?
Long Beach.

Quick--a favorite LA food memory. What's the first one that comes to mind?
Probably lunch at Citrus back in the day, with Michel Richard. But there are so many!

What food or drink does LA do best? And where can I find it?
Impossible to answer. tacos? dim sum? Japanese? hamburgers? "market food"?

Top three spots (restaurants, taco stands, stores, bars, etc) I should visit before I leave LA? What should I order?
For a fine meal, Providence--get the tasting menu with wine pairings. For Chinese, Triumphal Palace. For Mexican, probably La Huasteca in Lynnwood--get the chiles en nogada.

Disaster at Dusty's in Silver Lake

I should have known better. When talking local restaurants with my aesthetician, she was shocked I hadn't tried Dusty's--"it's really fab" she said. However, a knack for well-shaped eyebrows does not a restaurant critic make. To put it bluntly? Dusty's was disgusting.

Regular readers of Erin's Kitchen know I don't make a habit of skewering restaurants. Usually if I have a bad meal, I don't bother to write it up--there's too much good stuff out there to focus on, and perhaps it was just an off night. However, our Saturday night dinner at Dusty's was the worst restaurant meal I've had in ages--bad food, bad service, bad wine. I'd rather no one else have the yucky feeling of dropping $80 on such a sorry supper.

Our food was so bad we made up names for it: I had Moules Frights and J dined on Rubber Ducky. My mussels were mushy and flavorless, sitting in about 1/2 a centimeter of watery broth. I ate about 6, consoling myself with my overdone french fries. J's duck breast was cooked to death, rubbery and, like my mussels, flavorless. As I chewed (and chewed and chewed) a bite of his dish, I thought wistfully of the many perfectly servicable $14 duck breasts we'd enjoyed at Madame Matisse when it still did dinner, a full $11 cheaper than this pathetic affair which was accompanied by what had to have been frozen vegetables.

I might have actually sent my mussels back (something I never do, I think it's the Midwestern Protestantism in me), if I would have been able to catch our elusive waitress. She zoomed past our table ocassionally, always averting her eyes and never asking how things were. When I finally flagged her down, she barely broke stride, and snipped "Yeah" when I asked if we could get our check. Excuse me? I thought about chucking my industrial strength wineglass at her quickly disappearing backside, but instead I sucked up my courage to leave a bad tip (something else I never do) of 10%.

As we wandered out to the valet, we wondered about the people packing this restaurant. Who are they? Why, in a city of never-ending gustatory pleasures, are they willing to spend so much money on such crappy food and lackluster service? I guess I'll never know, because I'm certainly not going back to Dusty's to ask.

Dusty's
3200 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
323-906-1018

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Learning to Like Campari


My first sip of Campari was nearly my last. Vaguely recalling a Travel Channel show about Italy where the host lauded this herbal aperitivo, I ordered a glass at a bar, straight up. Blech. It was bitter beyond belief.

Thanks to my boss, however, I've been reintroduced to this Italian beverage in the form of a delectable cocktail featuring grapefruit and prosecco. J and I made a batch of Rainwaters (named after the boss, of course) this evening, a bracing coda to the first hot, sunny weekend of the spring.

The Rainwater

1 cup fresh grapefruit juice
a little less than 1/4 cup Campari
ice cubes
1 cup prosecco
2 lime wedges

In a cocktail shaker, shake, shake, shake the grapefruit juice, campari and ice cubes. Strain into two glasses. Split the prosecco equally between the glasses. Squeeze in your lime wedge, stir, and enjoy.

Prosecco photo by Ms. Tea, grapefruit photo by x-eyed blonde, and lime photo by darwinbell.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Super Tasty Super Natural Cooking

Quinoa-what? Amaranth-who? Wheat berry-huh? J's nose wrinkled when I first described the new cookbook from 101 Cookbooks' Heidi Swanson--Super Natural Cooking: 5 Ways to Incorporate Whole & Natural Ingredients into Your Cooking. My man likes his rice white, and in his defense, the few times I'd previously tried cooking with quinoa or other whole ingredients, the results were less than stellar.

However, Swanson's book ensures my crummy creations are things of the past. Her book shows you how to put whole ingredients to good use, without sacrificing flavor. She's not preachy (a fatal flaw of many health food nuts) nor does she encourage you to give up butter, cheese, or other dairy products that make life worth living. She just shows you how to use them better and pair them with super-healthy grains and vegetables in simple recipes; for example, her Risotto Style Barley and her Sweet Potato Spoon Bread. I will admit I'm not completely sold on the "use natural sweetners" chapter. I'd rather use the bad stuff (white sugar) in my cupcakes, but just make cupcakes less often. That said, I haven't actually tried any of the recipes in that section, so I should reserve judgement.

Best of all, her book helps you eat better on a regular basis, recognizing the difficulty of a healthy breakfast and lunch for working people, . This past week, I followed two of her time-saving tips and they made a world of difference. First off, I made her Sprouted Garbanzo Burgers, following her advice to cook a bunch, then store in the fridge for a weeks worth of lunches. These reheated beautifully, and I kept them interesting with different sides and veggies all week. Second, per her instructions, I whipped up a big pot of steel cut oats on Monday night and stored it in the fridge, making breakfast easy Tuesday-Saturday. Each day I nuked a serving in a bowl, swirled in some apple butter and some blackberries, scarfed it down, and was out the door in minutes, feeling like a super natural super star.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

LA Favorites #6: Caroline on Crack

Erin's Kitchen is leaving LA! Before I go, I'm asking Angelenos to share their favorite food spots--east to west, high to low. Want to share your favorites? Email me: erinskitchen [at] gmail [dot] com.

LA Favorites #6: The adventurous and charming fellow blogger Caroline on Crack. Looking for something fun and different to do in LA? She's your gal.

How long have you lived in LA?
I've lived here for a little over 14 years.

What neighborhood do you call home? Westsiiiide! More specifically, West L.A.

Quick--a favorite LA food memory. What's the first one that comes to mind? Eating the goat cheese fondue appetizer at Luna Park. It comes with Granny Smith apple slices and pieces of bread for dipping. So yum! And such sumptuous surroundings to enjoy it in.

What food or drink does LA do best? And where can I find it? Hmmm, a toughy. The great thing about L.A. is all the different cultures to be found here so there's not just one thing but in fact many. How's that for getting out of answering that question?

Top three spots (restaurants, taco stands, stores, bars, etc) I should visit
before I leave LA? What should I order? So many options! I have three to-dos for you. 1) Go for a hike around Griffith Park where you can get to a spot to overlook the city and take one last long look at it. Then grab lunch at the Alcove on Hillhurst where you can people watch the pretty Angelenos and enjoy a healthy meal. 2) If you're still around when the Hollywood Bowl starts again, you definitely have to go to a KCRW World Concert. Pick up a basket of goodies from Clementine's and a bottle of wine from Wine House and enjoy. 3) Go barhopping downtown. Try the chocolate martini at the Edison, enjoy a whiskey at Seven Grand and knock back a cocktail on the Golden Gopher patio where you can look up at the surrounding buildings.

palm tree photo by Eric Richardson, Caroline photo from her site.

Seven Grand Whiskey Bar: Downtown LA


"Welcome to the Seven Grand. I hope you have a good night."

Though I rarely go places with rude bouncers intent on blocking your entrance, it was refreshing to be welcomed so readily by the man at the door of the Seven Grand in downtown LA. The walk up the stairs to this new 2nd floor bar was equally delightful, as the artful displays of empty Makers Mark bottles, stuffed pheasants, and leather banquettes unfolded before me. Owner Cedd Moses, of Golden Gopher and Broadway Bar fame (both of which, like Seven Grand, have fab neon signage), knows good design.

Whiskey in all its forms takes center stage here--whatever your poison--bourbon, scotch, Irish whiskey, rye or even moonshine--you have plenty of choices, at many different price points ($7 & up). Mohawked bartender Pedro mixes a delicious rye Manhattan, though the Old Fashioned was a bit too orange-y for my taste. J took his drinks straight--opting for a single malt Bunnahabin, Eagle Rare 10 yr bourbon, and Black Bush Irish Whiskey (yes, his tolerance impresses me).

According to the bartenders, Seven Grand is still in the "soft opening" stage, though as Caroline on Crack noticed it's already generated quite a buzz. The official opening date is May 10, so get there soon while you can still grab a comfy stool at the bar--it was bustling when we visited, but there were plenty of seats. Also, if whiskey drinkin' makes you hungry, you can order pizza from a nearby spot--nothing spectacular, but perfectly passable. They also cater to the cigar-smoking crowd with a skinny patio and a well-stocked humidor. Grand indeed.

Photo by Eric Richardson, who tipped me off to Seven Grand in the first place.

Seven Grand
515 W. 7th St 2nd Fl (between Grand and Olive)
Downtown LA
(213) 817-5321
M-F, 4 PM-2 AM
Sat 8 PM-2 AM
Closed Sunday

Sunday, April 22, 2007

A Taste of Argentina in Pasadena: Il Capo

Alfajores? Check. Empanadas? Check. Chorizo? Yep. Malbec? Sure. Slow but charming service? Of course. All that, plus the Spanish conversations at the tables next door, and a late-ish dinner at Il Capo in Pasadena nearly felt like a cafe in Buenos Aires. Of course, the empanadas cost a couple bucks, not a couple of quarters, and the place was nearly empty by 10 pm, but it was as close as we've come to living the porteno life since we visited BA last fall.

This deli and cafe serves up huge portions of traditional Argentine fare--grilled meats, pasta dishes, and buttery-crusted empanadas. As fellow blogger Tableau Vivante noted, it's practically criminal that the excellent bread and tangy chimichurri sauce that starts your meal come free. The packed shelves along one wall display all sorts of Argentine treats, including useful frozen empanada crusts. But really, why make your own when the delightful folks at Il Capo will do it for you?

Il Capo
1001 E Green Street
Pasadena, CA 91106

Thursday, April 19, 2007

LA Favorites #5: Veggie Edition with Sean Bonner

Erin's Kitchen is leaving LA! Before I go, I'm asking Angelenos to share their favorite food spots--east to west, high to low. Want to share your favorites? Email me: erinskitchen [at] gmail [dot] com.

LA Favorites #4: Sean Bonner, the force behind the always entertaining blogging.la and the whole Metroblogging network

How long have you lived in LA? I moved to LA from Chicago in mid 2001, so almost 6 years now.

What neighborhood do you call home? Silver Lake definitely, I've been here for almost 5 of those years, which is actually longer than I've anywhere else in my life. And I can't imagine living anywhere else.

Quick--a favorite LA food memory. What's the first one that comes to mind? First time I got to the front of the line at Pinks, that smell is something you never forget.

What food or drink does LA do best? And where can I find it? Being Vegan I'm probably not the best one to critique all the LA has to offer, and most of my favorite items are from some other part of the world I'd feel bad suggesting they were done best here. The fried "chicken" fingers at Native Foods in Westwood are pretty fantastic, and definitely a SoCal exclusive.

Top three spots (restaurants, taco stands, stores, bars, etc) I should visit before I leave LA? What should I order? Paru's on Sunset - The mulligatawny soup. Orean's Health Express in Pasadena - The strawberry shake. Tuk Tuk Thai on Pico in Beverlywood - The Tom Kha Gai soup.

LA Favorites Bonus Round--
(Mostly) veggie recommendations from the Urb
an Epicurean: Elf Cafe (Echo Park) a vegetarian/vegan gourmet restaurant run by members of a band; Cliff's Edge (Silver Lake) serves eclectic food, sit in their exotic patio under a landmark tree and dine on dishes influenced by the Mediterranean and French cuisine; also in Silver Lake, at the Saturday Farmers' Market the friendly, muscled up chef at "Yummy You Love" serves deliciously rich savory and sweet crepes - don't let the Russian accent fool ya, he knows his crepes!; Fatty's gourmet and organic vegetarian restaurant (Eagle Rock), open only for dinner and well worth the wait; and Paru's (Hollywood) creates delicious Southern Indian vegetarian fare - must try their nut cake for dessert! The Avatars will be happy that you did (or at least watching you - their photos are everywhere!).

palm tree photo by Eric Richardson.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Springtime Sweet Peas


If you only have the patience for one round of shelling sweet peas this spring, do it for this recipe and this recipe alone: Springtime Panzanella (bread salad). Absolutely the best thing to come out of my kitchen in ages. Use the freshest peas you can find, and skip the olive oil in the dressing to allow the peas to shine.


Of course, there's another kind of pea that delight your eyes and nose but not your tummy--sweet pea flowers. A garden oasis in the city, Silver Lake Farms sells riotously colored $5 bunches of sweetpeas at the Silver Lake Farmers' Market each Saturday (they're also at the Echo Park market on Fridays, Atwater Village on Sundays and Little Toyko on Tuesdays). They also have bright ranunculus bouquets, also $5, usually with a sweet pea or two thrown in for good measure. The flowers, plus the warm demeanor of the ladies staffing the stand, are sure to make you smile.

green pea photo by cogdogblog, sweet pea photo from Silver Lake Farms site

Sunday, April 15, 2007

LA Favorites #4: David Lentz of the Hungry Cat

Erin's Kitchen is leaving LA! Before I go, I'm asking Angelenos to share their favorite food spots--east to west, high
to low. Want to share your favorites? Email me: erinskitchen [at] gmail [dot] com.

LA Favorites #4: David Lentz, chef at my favorite LA restaurant, The Hungry Cat

How long have you lived in LA?
I have lived in LA for 7 years.

What neighborhood do you call home? Laurel Canyon

Quick--a favorite LA food memory. What's the first one that comes to mind? That would have to be the farmers' markets...and how we base what we do around them...also the fact that we work w/ the farmers directly...the farmer benefit we did a few months ago was great...there was a huge outpouring and it was great to be a part of it and really help those guys out.

What food or drink does LA do best? And where can I find it? Ethnic food is great, moreso asian...but also true California cuisine...I'm biased, but Lucques is the place to go for someone that is visiting from out of town...it's totally based on what's in season.

Top three spots (restaurants, taco stands, stores, bars, etc) I should visit before I leave LA? What should I order? Hatfield's, Pace and Urasawa...Hatfield's--the food is great; Pace--the vibe is great and the food is good (real Laurel Canyon experience) and Urasawa--probably top 2 in the country as far as Japanese food goes (pricey though).

Strawberry Donuts @ the Donut Man

What better way to begin a sunny Saturday than a fresh strawberry donut from the Donut Man in Glendora, CA, a favorite Elvis haunt? As I went to bed Friday night, visions of a warm glazed donut, split, drowned in fresh strawberries and topped with a light strawberry syrup, not too sweet, danced in my head.

The other donuts, while not quite as showstopping, don't disappoint--both the tiger tail (chocolate twist) and the maple-glazed longjohn disappeared from our group quickly. The coffee's nothing special, and you'll want to fortify yourself before the drive anyway. Seating's minimal (a few cramped benches out front and on the side), and you may face a short line, but you can easily pass the time drooling over the window's contents.

This tiny 24-hour donut stand only has strawberries in season, so get yours soon--though if you miss them, peach season's around the corner--the Donut Man does those too!

The Donut Man
915 E Route 66 (Cross Street: Elwood Avenue)
Glendora, CA 91740-3608
(626) 335-9111

donut photo by pingpongdeath

Friday, April 13, 2007

Free Gelato This Saturday:
Bulgarini Gelato in Altadena


Bulgarini Gelato, recently highlighted in the LA Times and anxiously awaited by Chowhounds, celebrates its grand opening this Saturday (4/14) with free gelato from 12 noon - 8 pm. Yum!


Bulgarini Gelato

749 E. Altadena Dr.
Altadena, CA 91001

Photo from Bulgarini website.

LA Favorites #3: Jonah of LA Foodblogging

Erin's Kitchen is leaving LA! Before I go, I'm asking Angelenos to share their favorite food spots--east to west, high to low. Want to share your favorites? Email me: erinskitchen [at] gmail [dot] com.

LA Favorites #3: Jonah, founder of LA Foodblogging and creator of Digesty Los Angeles

How long have you lived in LA?
Since July 1999. I grew up in OC (Huntington Beach), went to school and worked in Santa Barbara for a while.

What neighborhood do you call home?
Santa Monica/Westside

Quick--a favorite LA food memory. What's the first one that comes to mind?
Well, the first real LA food memory I have is from when I was in 5th or 6th grade. My best friend's dad had closed a big business deal and wanted to take us all out to a special dinner. This is when I lived in Huntington Beach and we drove up to Little Tokyo. We ended up at Tokyo Kaikan (yes, the place where the California Roll was invented). I hadn't had sushi before and wasn't really interested in trying it but my friend's dad was doing all the ordering for us. I tried pretty much everything and when I thought I was full on sushi we moved to the main dining room where I was brought a personal hibachi grill to cook my marinated beef. Overall, it was this over the top (to me at that time) meal of foods and traditions that I hadn't been exposed to before. I didn't really get into eating sushi again for another decade, but that was a great introduction.

That's what LA dining is to me now, it's this open book of experiences that you can have just by driving to one neighborhood or the other.

What food or drink does LA do best? And where can I find it?
Hmmm, I am so bad at picking the best anything. If we are talking one type of food, I might lean towards sushi. No, scratch that, I'm going to say Mexican. And when I say Mexican, I mean all the individual regions. You can get generic Mexican in any town, but not many places boast regional Mexican cuisine like Oaxacan, Veracruz, etc. Actually, I'm not sure if there is any other city that has such an outstanding selection of Korean joints. Korean BBQ alone may be worth staying. I think what I'm getting at here is that LA isn't a city of "bests" it's a city of options and thank goodness for it.

Top three spots (restaurants, taco stands, stores, bars, etc) I should visit before I leave LA? What should I order?
Well, I'm fresh off a meal at Hatfield's and if you haven't given them a shot yet, definitely set aside a couple hundred dollars and enjoy a meal that is worth every cent. I had the duck and scallops, both excellent. My wife has the lamb though and it was like no other lamb I ever had because of the mint crust on the outside. Also, save room for dessert, we ordered two!

For something more reasonably priced, go to The Nook (make reservations). The food is fantastic and I like the communal aspect of it. The chicken and the albacore are good, but the best reviews I have had are for the pork chop.

For some cheap good eats and vegetarian goodies, try the Samosa Factory on Washington two blocks west of Sawtelle. The food rotates daily, but definitely get a samosa, then try at least three or four of the hot dishes.

palm tree photo by Eric Richardson.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Soup Swap and Lemon Cake

Not the soups we swapped, but who doesn't love pictures of soup?

How lovely after a long weekend of traveling to come home to a freezer full of four different homemade soups, just waiting for me to gobble them up. A few weekends ago I hosted a soup swap--each guest brings multiple containers of homemade soup and y'all exchange. Standing in the kitchen Tuesday night, it was hard to decide--Jill's carrot and red pepper? Kelly's split pea? Maybe Emily's Venetian bean and pasta? Or my everything-but-the-kitchen-sink minestrone?

Read about other soup swaps here and here.

It seemed silly to just swap soups and leave, so I also whipped up some tea and snacks. My favorite was the upside-down lemon cake -- a recipe from the LA Times that TunaToast brought to my attention (visit her site for a picture). The thinly sliced lemons carmelize wonderfully in the brown sugar-butter mix spread over the bottom of the pan. The cake part is light and flecked with vanilla bean and allows the lemons to shine.

Soup pictures, L-R, top to bottom: Lin Pernille, Virtual Erm, Virtual Erm, Nate Steiner, Atari, Gracinha & Marco, Rubyran, metalcowboy, Virtual Erm, Giovanni JL

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

LA Favorites #2: Jonathan Gold of the LA Weekly

Erin's Kitchen is leaving LA! Before I go, I'm asking Angelenos to share their favorite food spots--east to west, high to low. Want to share your favorites? Email me: erinskitchen [at] gmail [dot] com

LA Favorites #2: Jonathan Gold, LA Weekly restaurant critic, author of Counter Intelligence (wherein in addition to restaurant recs he describes his quest to eat at every restaurant on Pico Blvd between downtown and Santa Monica), LA food-lovers' guru, and [UPDATE 4/16] PULITIZER PRIZE WINNER!

How long have you lived in LA?
My entire life, minus the few years I spent in New York as restaurant critic for Gourmet.

What neighborhood do you call home? Pasadena.

Quick--a favorite LA food memory. What's the first one that comes to mind? I was just telling somebody this afternoon about the excitement surrounding the opening of Mon Kee in the mid-'70s, and dramatic it was to taste real Cantonese seafood. I was taken by the parents of my high-school girlfriend, and had salt-baked shrimp, steamed rock cod, a hot pot with chashu and fresh oysters, and ong choy with fermented bean curd, all at the same meal and all for the first time. Godhead.

What food or drink does LA do best? And where can I find it? Do you mean a lazy three-hour lunch on the patio at Spago or a chilidog with everything at Chroni's in East L.A., a Zombie at the Tiki Ti or a glass of old California Zinfandel on the patio at Michael's, the lardo pizza at Mozza or the green chile burrito at Lupe's, the tortilla soup at the Bel Air Hotel on a perfect summer afternoon or a bowl of birria at the Calle Primera Chalio's on a Sunday morning when the hungover mariachis are just getting back into gear? I can tell you that when I come back into town after being gone a month or two, the first places I go are Golden Deli, Ciro's, and Pie n' Burger.

Top three spots (restaurants, taco stands, stores, bars, etc) I should visitbefore I leave LA? What should I order? The Alameda Swap Meet on a weekend, which is the single most Mexican place in the United States, with literally dozens of food vendors. Take your pick: it's all delicious. San Pedro Fish Market in Ports o' Call - buy a dungeness crab or three and have them steam it, then buy a couple of beers and a big plate of grilled shrimp from the vendors outside, and watch the ships in the harbor. Save up your money, call well in advance, and have Piero Selvaggio plan a customized tasting menu for you at Valentino, with wines, which will cost a week's salary but will be worth it.

palm tree photo by Eric Richardson.

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Happy Spring!

Peep-topped cupcakes at Glaser's Bake Shop in NYC.


Candies and marzipan at the now closed ELK Candy Company down the street from Glaser's.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

LA Favorites #1: Evan Kleiman of Angeli Caffe

Erin's Kitchen is leaving LA! Before I go, I'm asking Angelenos to share their favorite food spots--east to west, high to low. Want to share your favorites? Email me: erinskitchen [at] gmail [dot] com

LA Favorites #1: Evan Kleiman, owner of Angeli Caffe and host of KCRW's Good Food

How long have you lived in LA?
All my life. I was born in Pico Rivera and grew up in Silverlake.

What neighborhood do you call home?
Now I live in mid-city near Olympic and La Brea

Quick--a favorite LA food memory. What's the first one that comes to mind?
Going to Thrifty Drug Store at Vermont and Hollywood for Open Face Roast Beef Sandwiches and Mashed Potatoes when I was a kid. Also Casa de Ybarra which used to be on Sunset in Echo Park. Yummy Mexican food.

What food or drink does LA do best? And where can I find it?
Best taco trucks and best high end cocktails.

Top three spots (restaurants, taco stands, stores, bars, etc) I should visit before I leave LA? What should I order?

-The taco truck that appears after 7pm at the southwest corner of Olympic and La Brea.
-Eat at the bar at Lucques and have a Cucumber Martini.
-Go to Surfas Gourmet Food and Restaurant Supply before the eminent domain kicks in and we no longer have it to depend on.

palm tree photo by Eric Richardson; Evan Kleiman photo from KCRW


Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Leaving Los Angeles

In a few short months I'll be leaving the palm trees and taco trucks behind for graduate school in New York City. LA's a place I never imagined I'd live (certainly not for 5 years!), and though it took me quite a while to like her, I know I'll miss her when I go. And I'll miss all you LA readers (and fellow foodbloggers) too--though perhaps y'all can check in for east coast dining tips when you're out that way.

I plan to pack as many food exploits as possible into my remaining time here, and I'm seeking input on what I can't miss. Starting tomorrow, I'll begin a series of LA Favorites, featuring various Angelenos' thoughts on what LA does best. To whet your appetite for the first installment, I'll give you a hint: it features a fab LA chef who champions our bountiful farmers' markets on her weekly radio show. Stay tuned!

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Soot Bull Jeep and The Prince

Since I began working in Koreatown nine months ago, I've been steadily increasing my Korean food knowledge, but had managed to skip the BBQ--a protein-packed, grill-it-youself feast never seems like a good lunch option. For a carnivore like myself, however, I couldn't stay away forever, and J and I spent Friday night with a plate of well-marinated, thinly sliced steak and a charcoal grill at Soot Bull Jeep. Coupled with a big ol' bottle of Hite, we were in heaven.

Our evening was made all the more enjoyable by the fact that we started the night a few blocks away at The Prince. This British-themed Korean pub, in the basement of an old stately building from the Ambassador Hotel era, is strange yet delightful. Though the curvy red banquets looked cozy, J and I sat at the horseshoe shaped bar, alternately watching the Clippers on TV and the perky young bartendresses flirt and share tequila shots with the silver fox to our right. Our bottles of Hite and OB (Oriental Beer) were accompanied by free chips and salsa that belied that fact that Eddie from Deep End Dining indulged in live octopus tentacles at this same spot.

After a couple beers here, we left our valet-parked car (only $2!!) and walked to Soot Bull Jeep. The smokiness of charcoal can be overwhelming at times, but repeating my childhood campfire smoke-deflecting mantra (I hate white rabbits! I hate white rabbits! I hate white rabbits!) and/or moving my chair around the table seemed to help. Fellow foodblogger Colleen Cuisine has a detailed write up on how to eat the meat here and includes helpful tips to mitigate the smoky effects.

Soot Bull Jeep
3136 W 8th St
Los Angeles, CA 90005
213.387.3865

The Prince
3198 W Seventh St
Los Angeles, CA 90005
213.389.2007

Soot Bull Jeep photo by madmojo and Hite photo by jfer