A Final LA Favorites: Nancy's Living Large in LA

Erin's Kitchen has (almost) left LA! Before I go, I'm asking Angelenos to share their favorite food spots--east to west, high to low. Read previous LA Favorites, including recommendations from Jonathan Gold, Russ Parsons, Evan Kleiman and fellow foodbloggers here.


LA Favorites #12: Nancy of Living LArge

How long have you lived in LA?

5 years. I'm one of those cynical Midwest transplants who bags on LA until I go home one winter into sub-zero temps and freezing hail and decide, hey, it's not so bad after all.

What neighborhood do you call home?
WeHo! Love the 'hood, hate the meter maids.

Quick--a favorite LA food memory. What's the first one that comes to mind?
My first trip to a farmers' market in California. The farmers' markets out here just don't compare to anywhere else in the country. Some friends and I went to the one in Hollywood (near Ivar and Sunset) and gathered up some peaches, strawberries, grapes, plums, gouda cheese, salami, fresh bread, fresh-squeezed lemonade and headed up to Zuma Beach for a hike and picnic.

It's lunch time, you've got $20 bucks in your pocket, and traffic is magically non-existant. Where do you go? I head east on the 10 and stop at the first banh mi place that I see (probably Lee's or Mr. Baguette) and get a sandwich for lunch, one for dinner and one for lunch the next day. And I'll still have $10 left over.

Top three food or drink experiences I should have before I leave LA?
1. Getting ridiculously housed on wine at Bin 8945 one night and then curing your hangover with a big bowl of ramen at Daikokuya the next day. (That's two experiences, but they go hand-in-hand.)
2. Scoops (on Heliotrope and Melrose) for Tai Kim's extraordinary ice cream, gelato and sorbet. He's a genius with flavors - Raspberry Chimay and Kombucha Brandy have induced tears of happiness. True story.
3. At least one LA food event. Many of them feature great restaurants, and it's a chance to sample a lot of food from many different places as well as meet chefs. Events can be pricey, but the money often goes toward a charitable cause. Some of the biggies include Best of LA (Concern Foundation), Taste of the Nation (Share our Strength), Great Chefs of LA (Kidney Foundation), Savor the Season (Break the Cycle) and American Wine & Food Festival (Meals on Wheels). So eat up, it's a tax deduction!

LA Favorites #11: Pat Saperstein of Eating LA

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. Read previous LA Favorites, including recommendations from Jonathan Gold, Russ Parsons, Evan Kleiman and fellow foodbloggers here.

LA Favorites #11: Pat Saperstein of Eating LA, one of the first (and best!) LA foodblogs, full of great dining tidbits, particularly in the San Gabriel Valley

How long have you lived in LA?
My whole life - I grew up on the Westside and have been on the Eastside for 20-plus years now. I went to college in Northern California and have been here the rest of the time.

Quick--a favorite LA food memory. What's the first one that comes to mind? Going with my dad to Tommy's, Philippe's and the Luau when I was a kid.

It's lunch time, you've got $20 bucks in your pocket, and traffic is magically non-existant. Where do you go? I'd go to Baguette Express in San Gabriel, and for $20, I can probably take three friends with me and we can all get the special Cajun shrimp bahn mi and Vietnamese iced coffee.

Top three food or drink experiences I should have before I leave LA?
1--Drinks at Yamashiro. 2--pastrami sandwich at Langer's. 3--dim sum at Sea Harbour.

LA Favorites #10: Tableau Vivante, Farmers' Market Explorer

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. Read previous LA Favorites, including recommendations from Jonathan Gold, Russ Parsons, Evan Kleiman and fellow foodbloggers here.

LA Favorites #10: Tableau Vivante, a fab farmers' market explorer and foodblogger

How long have you lived in LA? I was born and raised in Pasadena. I moved to Maryland when I was 15 and stayed until my late twenties. I moved back to the LA-area in 2000 and don't have any plans to leave. If you ask any of my east coast friends, they'll tell you I never left. I've been a California girl all my life.

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Quick--a favorite LA food memory. What's the first one that comes to mind? Tasting Zankou Chicken for the first time. I had just moved back to the area and JJ was determined to fill me in on what he thought were the required flavors of LA (since I had essentially been absent from the LA food scene since my teens). The ever-extolled garlic sauce wasn't my first love though. It was their hummus.

What food or drink does LA do best? And where can I find it? The fun thing about LA is that no one food really describes the region best. The expansive cultural diversity here means we have access to the best of all worlds -- from Armenian to Mexican and all things Pacific Rim. Where LA stands out, in my humble opinion, is the base ingredients that go into those cuisines. We have access to some of the most amazing fresh produce here via our farmers' markets (yeah, like you didn't see that coming ;)). It's the quality of that produce that always brings me, and many local chefs, back to the market week after week. And where can you find it? Everyday, somewhere in LA, there is a farmers' market being held. Drink-wise, I'd recommend the lemonade at Hot Dog on a Stick or a Neopolitan Shake at In-N-Out.

Top three spots (restaurants, taco stands, stores, bars, etc) I should visit before I leave LA? 1--Sushi Gen in Little Tokyo. One of the best sushi restaurants in Los Angeles. Also a favorite with Japanese ex-pats. Let the chefs surprise you. Some of my most educational and delicious sushi moments have been at Sushi Gen. Counter seat if you can get one. 2--Zephyr Cafe in Pasadena. Their banana-nutella crepe and roasted red pepper panini are incredible. Cash only though. Also? Order their Tea Hee Hee. Iced tea with peach syrup. Mm! If it's a nice day, opt to sit out in the brick-lined patio near the apple tree. 3--Shin Sen Gumi Hakata Ramen in Rosemead. I took my sister there last night and she wishes she had one in San Diego. It's not Nissin. Fresh noodles done to your preference. Get the plain Hakata ramen (I like my noodles soft) with medium strength broth and light oil. Their seaweed salad is also delish. Fried chicken cartilage, too. Plus? It's dinner and a show. Sit at the counter.

palm tree photo by Eric Richardson

LA Favorites #9: Kristy Choo, Jin Patisserie

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 #9: Kristy Choo, pastry chef and owner, Jin Patisserie, my favorite place for tea and treats in Los Angeles.

How long have you lived in LA?
About four years, but before that I usually stayed for about three months each time.

What neighborhood do you call home?
Easy going, friendly and helpful neighbours--chic!! That is Abbot Kinney!!!

Quick--a favorite LA food memory. What's the first one that comes to mind?I love to eat Japanese food and I've realised that there are a lot of good small restaurants in LA that produce great sushi.

What food or drink does LA do best? And where can I find it? Root beer that comes in a black glass bottle but not sure where they are from. Food will be barbeque beef, you can find it at Manpuku in sawtelle.

Top three spots (restaurants, taco stands, stores, bars, etc) I should visit before I leave LA? Just two--Spago for lunch (asian inspired menu) and Tito's Tacos.

palm tree photo by Eric Richardson

LA Favorites #8: Lesley Balla of Eater LA

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 #8: Lesley Balla, Editor of Eater LA, home of the juiciest LA restaurant news and gossip. Click here to check out previous LA Favorites, including Jonathan Gold, Russ Parsons and Evan Kleiman.

How long have you lived in LA?
May 2001.

What neighborhood do you call home?
The 'dena.

Quick--a favorite LA food memory. What's the first one that comes to mind?
In n Out. I wasn’t really eating fast food anymore when I moved here. I heard it was different. Friends in Portland (where I moved from) told me it was the first thing I had to have. It was, and it ruined me forever (Just had it today, actually). Zankou plays a close second. I liked that Beck sang about it. I was broke. It was goooood.

What food or drink does LA do best? And where can I find it?
Sushi and Mexican food. I’m still searching for my favorite sushi spot, but that place J Gold wrote about this week, Hiko, is one of the best I’ve had so far. Mexican food: I had some killer carnitas tacos at Tonny’s in Pasadena. I really got into fresh, rustic Italian here, too. Angeli Caffe, Angelini, Mozza, even All’ Angelo. All tops. Admittedly, I’m still discovering and haven’t even scratched the surface myself.

Top three spots (restaurants, taco stands, stores, bars, etc) I should visit before I leave LA? What should I order?
Some of those I mentioned above. Water Grill and Providence for high-end seafood. Father’s Office for that burger. Stock up on some Central Coast (Paso and Santa Barbara Co.) small production wines. One sip and you’re right back in CA. Silverlake Wine, Moe’s in Brentwood and BottleRock will all have good recommendations.

palm tree photo by Eric Richardson

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.

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.

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 Urban 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.

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).

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.

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.

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

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!