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

Pie in Silver City--Worth the Drive

If the snowcapped mountains, crashing waterfalls, yellow-bellied marmots, and near isolation aren't reward enough for the harrowing 25 mile drive up the Mineral King road's 480+ curves, then the pie at the Silver City Store seals the deal. This store, established in 1930 and located at the 21st mile of the road, contains a small restaurant and the pies are the star of the show.

When we visited, we had our pick of lemon meringue, raspberry, razzle dazzle (raspberry, blueberry, blackberry), pecan, apple strudel, and a gargantuan apple. Choices change daily, and if you come too late you may miss your favorite--I ordered the last slice of apple around 4:30 PM. J went for the raspberry, just out of the oven that afternoon, so it hadn't quite set. Both had flaky, cinnamon-dusted crusts, heaps of fresh fruit, and not too much sugar. The apple could have stayed in the oven a smidge longer, but baking well at nearly 7000 feet is, I'm sure, a challenge.

Connie Pillsbury, the pie maker, waitress, cashier, short order cook, and co-owner of the Silver City Store and Cabins, has held down the fort for over 25 years and her family has owned property in the area for over 70. As we ate our pie, neighbors from nearby cabins popped in to say hello and catch up--Memorial Day is opening weekend for Silver City and the road into the national park. The Mineral King area, once home to a mining craze that went bust, only joined Sequoia National Park in the late 1970s, so many privately owned cabins still remain scattered along the road. During our four days in the park, I fantasized often about buying a cozy cabin of our own, on the condition, of course, that we'd have pocket money leftover for pie.

Getting Some Fresh Air

Off to Sequoia National Park for some much needed time communing with nature, enjoying chili, s'mores, and homemade granola. While I'm gone, read about yummy things at some foodblogs I've been loving lately: Superspark, What Geeks Eat, and Cook and Nifty Wench. See you Tuesday!

(this photo's actually from my trip to Yosemite last summer, but I'm hoping for some similar alpine lake action this weekend)

Colorado Wine Company with Caroline on Crack

If you live in LA and don't regularly read Caroline on Crack, you're missing out on much of what the city has to offer. This up-for-anything fellow blogger is as delightful in real life as she is on her blog--how many Angelenos that you know are excited about exploring a wine bar in Eagle Rock on a weeknight, even though they live in West LA?

Caroline, her roommate and I met up at the Colorado Wine Company last night for Wine Cellar Wednesdays--when in addition to their nightly wine by the glass selections, you can pick any bottle off the shelf and they'll pour it for you, no corkage. Sipping wine at this laid back spot is like visiting a friend's house--a very well-stocked friend. Lucinda Williams on the ipod stereo, the owners chatting up customers throughout the store with a few tables in front, darker bar in the back, local art on the walls. You can wander through the aisles of thoughtfully-selected bottles (many under $25), glass in hand, and select a few to take home with you, or just sit on a comfy couch and snack on some pita chips while sampling the nightly specials.

The store/bar does themed tastings on Friday, "Lazy Sunday Tastings", and Sangria Saturdays (click here for the full calendar). Except on the tasting days, you can order food in at the bar. They're open until 9 PM most nights, closed on Mondays, and only there until 5 on Sundays.

Colorado Wine Company
2114 Colorado Boulevard
Eagle Rock, CA 90041
(323) 478-1985

Getting Fraiche, Culver City

Memo to our waiter at Fraiche in Culver City: When working at one of the most talked about new restaurants in the city, you can't be shy. Now, I don't want you to hunker down next to us, scrawl your name in crayon on the table covering and call me darlin', but I do want you to meet my eye, refill my wine glass, and check in with us about the slow arrival of our food.

Fortunately, the food at Fraiche was knocking us out right and left, and we mainly forgot about Mr. Bashful. The latest opening in restaurant-crazy Culver City, the Fraiche kitchen is headed by husband and wife team Jason and Miho Travi, drawing on their collective experiences at Spago, Sona, Meson G and La Terza.

The LA Times critic calls the menu "rustic Mediterranean", I call it "all my favorite foods in one place." House cured guanicale? Farro salad with English peas? Rabbit-stuffed tortelli with fried artichokes and sage? Branzino cooked in parchment with clams, purple potatos and sweet corn? Rhubarb-hazelnut cake? If I were on death row, this'd be my last meal. Every dish was well-balanced and bursting with spring flavors (other chefs seem to agree--Govind Armstrong arrived for a bite at the bar toward the end of the evening).

And the prices? Extremely reasonable (entrees $22ish-$29ish, pastas $12ish-$16ish)--makes me cringe when I realize we've spent similar amounts at disasters like Dusty's.

In addition to an airy main room, Fraiche includes a large, street-facing patio, as well as a bar tucked away in the corner. At the bar you'll find specialty cocktails made with fresh juices as well as a different bar menu. You'll also find my pet peeve, a television, and as we ate our dessert in the elegant dining room, it was disconcerting to hear patrons cheering while watching the NBA playoffs. So, Fraiche: train your waitstaff, turn off the boob tube, keep that rhubarb cake on the menu, and I'll drive across town on a weeknight to see you again.

Fraiche
9411 Culver Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 839-6800

Um, There's a Pumpkin in my Pomegranate

On the way back to LA from a whirlwind Wisconsin wedding weekend, I had an extra minute in the Minneapolis airport to grab a snack. After a Saturday spent consuming copious amounts of M&Ms and wedding cake, I was in search of that ultra-elusive airport find: healthy edibles.

At first glance, Pomegranate + Blackberry Radiant Airforce Nutrisoda seemed just the ticket. No aspartame, no sodium, no caffiene. Full of health amino acids, vitamin D, and other antioxidants. And surely some pomegranate and blackberry parts, right? Wrong. Elderberry and Chokeberry juice color? Sure. Carrot and Pumpkin juice color? Yep. But the fruit for which the drink was actually named? Not according to the ingredients on the back of the can.

PS--What the heck is "juice color"? Anyone know what that means? How's it different than "carrot and pumpkin juice"?

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

Sweet Corn and Chipotle Salsa

Before mixing in the chipotles, jalepenos and cilantro.

At my BBQ last Saturday, every last morsel of this spicy salsa disappeared. I may have finally figured out the exact proportion of food per party attendee, but I like to think it's because it was addictively delicious. I know I was dipping a chip every 15 seconds. Uh-oh, maybe I was just a rude host and ate it all.

Smoky, sweet and spicy, chipotles (chee-POHT-lehs) are smoke-dried jalepeno chiles, and they're often canned in adobo sauce, which is made of spices, vinegar, tomato sauce and sometimes other chilis. These days you can find chipotles at most grocery stores in the Mexican food section.

I based this Sweet Corn and Chipotle Salsa on a recipe from The San Francisco Chronicle Cookbook, but I didn't measure a thing. Here's what to include, in proportions that suit your fancy: fresh or frozen sweet corn kernals, chopped & seeded tomatos, chopped red onion, chopped jalepeno peppers, chopped cilantro, chopped chipotles in adobo sauce, and a generous squeeze (or two or three) of lime. You can also add some salt if you like. This'll taste best if you let it sit in the fridge for an hour or two before serving.

Other yummy chipotle recipes:

Pumpkin with tomatos, tomatillos and chipotle chilis from Mental Masala
Chipotle meatballs from Simply Recipes
Roasted sweet potatos with chipotle-maple sauce from Gastronome
Chipotle chickpea salad from A Veggie Venture

The Skinny on Fatty's, Eagle Rock

Fatty's "sloppy joe" made with soy crumbles, aka textured vegetable protein.

Nothing says delicious like textured vegetable protein, or TVP for short. I first sampled this delicacy with my village host family while studying abroad in Zimbabwe, and had the chance to pay about $14 for it last Friday at the vegetarian restaurant Fatty's in Eagle Rock. Ah, the difference between vegetarians-by-necessity and vegetarians-of-choice.

As an unreptentant meat eater and lover of vegetables, I don't understand vegetarians' interest in fake meat. If you truly pine for the taste of meat, how can an overly processed slice of fake soy bacon suffice? Why not eat a delectable vegetable instead? And how do you justify your meat craving, if it truly is "murder"? Does eating vegan chicken nuggets make you a wanna-be killer? I should have asked the tables full of Occidental College professors and eastside hipsters sitting next to us.

Philosophical musings aside, I was somehow compelled to order the TVP-filled "sloppy joe" at Fatty's last Friday, and I actually enjoyed it. However, I think my enjoyment sprang forth from the buttery puff pastry "bun", the diced bell peppers and the spicy sauce, not the soy crumbles.

Fatty's veggie menu veers from other faux-meat dishes to pastas, pizzas and fondue, and many items can be made vegan. It also boasts a fairly substantial starter list that includes a favorite green of mine, sauteed cavolo nero, and hearty eggplant filled gougeres. Also, I wish I'd saved room for dessert, as the cotton candy called to me.

Though I poke fun at the veggie sensibility, Fatty's is a tasty, lovely spot with plenty of wines by the glass. The service could use a bit of polish--a group of six of us waited over 1/2 hour despite a reservation, and the waitress was quick to clear plates away, without asking, though I wasn't finished. Minor points in an overall pleasant evening, but for now, Elf Cafe holds the top eastside veggie honors in my book.

Fatty's
1627 Colorado Blvd
Eagle Rock, CA 90041 MAP
323.254.8804
Open Wednesday-Sunday for dinner only

Kumquat, Fennel and Blood Orange Salad

Did you know it's the peels of kumquat that are musky and sweet, while the inner flesh is on the bitter side? I didn't, as my only kumquat experience was in a kumquatini at the Hungry Cat, until I made the clemenquat salad from the book Super Natural Cooking a few weeks ago.

That salad pairs kumquats and clementines with thin slices of mild celery--while tasty, I wanted something with a bit more bite. Thinly sliced fennel did the trick, adding a licoricy crunch. Segments of a nearly-black blood orange, a quick vinaigrette of grapefruit juice and "fragrant and fruity" olive oil, salt and pepper finished this pre-dinner salad, making the sausage I was about to consume seem less artery-clogging.

The entire kumquat is edible, peel and all, making them perfect for slicing into all sorts of salads and desserts. Because of their delicate skins, I use a serrated knife to cut them which helps retain their shape. Here are some more kumquat recipes:

Kumquat compote from Seattle Bon Vivant
Kumquat salsa from Vanilla Garlic
Kumquat chutney from Fresh Approach Cooking

Downtown Delight: 7 Grand and Komasa Sushi

My Sazerac and the cigar list at Seven Grand Whiskey Bar

When I'm not cooking or saving the world, I read books. The downtown LA public library hosts quite the line-up of authors throughout the year, and Wednesday night's discussion between Kenneth Turan and Michael Chabon provided plenty of sophisticated conversation topics over sophisticated drinks when I met up with J afterwards, at Seven Grand Whiskey Bar. On this visit I drank from the specialty cocktail menu, sampling a signature New Orleans cocktail, the Sazerac--the bartender coats a glass with a few swirls of Pernod, then fills it with a shaken mix of rye, Peychaud's bitters, a splash of water and a drop or two of sugar, served up with an orange twist. Bracingly bitter, aromatic and dry, it's a perfect sipping drink. As on our previous visit, the talented bartenders were gracious and entertaining, though I wished they'd get rid of the TVs--if I really need to watch the game, I can go to a sports bar.

Of course, whiskey whets the appetite, so we followed our drinks with a late dinner at Sushi Komasa in Little Toyko. Since it was nearly 10 pm, the usual crowd waiting outside this spot was gone, and we could decide for ourselves whether the crowds were right. Though it won't replace our regular sushi joint, Hama, which sits right next door, Komasa has a lot going for it. First off, it's cheap! For $27 (no booze) we filled our bellies with fresh fish. Second, it has excellent crab and two interesting, tasty rolls--cooked eel with avocado and yellow tail with green onions.

Sushi Komasa
352 E 2nd St
Los Angeles, CA
213-680-1792

Another review of Sushi Komasa from Daily Gluttony.

Guess the Vegetable

Don't these colors make you smile? Who can tell me the name of these technicolor veggies?

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

Spring Peas, Onions, and Artichokes with Lemon Basil

Though the temperatures in Southern California have already jumped to summer (90! degrees today), the farmers' market produce is squarely centered in Spring. At the Sunday Hollywood Market, I filled my bag with baby purple artichokes, sweet peas, spring onions and lemon basil. They all made their way into a simple spring braise last night, pea pods and all.

The lemon basil was a find from one of the Asian vegetable stalls--I can't stop sniffing it in amazement, and am tempted to tuck a few sprigs behind my ear for day-long delight. The pronounced lemon flavor mellows the light basil undertones in the tender, small leaves. It would make a lovely simple syrup for cocktails or lemonade. In this dish, be sure to sprinkle the chopped basil on right before you eat to enjoy its full flavor. This is my entry for Meeta's Monthly Mingle, Spring is in the Air.

Spring Peas, Onions, and Artichokes with Lemon Basil

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 pint basket baby artichokes, trimmed and halved
1 lb sweet peas, trimmed (not shucked!)
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp water or stock
salt and pepper
6-7 spring onions, roughly chopped
large handful of lemon basil, roughly chopped

Heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add artichokes and saute until lightly browned, about 5-6 minutes. Add the peas, butter,water/stock, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and turn to medium low. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, until artichokes are fork tender. Uncover and stir in onions. Remove from heat, gently stir in lemon basil, and serve.

A Peek Inside Erin's Kitchen: The Fridge

Last week Sam asked, "what does your unedited fridge look like?" Um, a mess. The Franzia's for cooking--I know, I know, cook with wine you'd drink, but I'm a risotto making maniac and I don't want to open a bottle for a 1/2 c. every time. Elseware on the top shelf you'll find a sampling of today's farmers' market run in the form of cherries and baby artichokes, as well as leftover asparagus-sausage hash for tomorrow's lunch.


See those protein shakes in the bottom shelf of the door? Those belong to my apartment's previous tenant--they were there when we moved in--OVER TWO YEARS AGO. At this point, I think I need to leave them for the next tenant. To find out what else lurks in this messy masterpiece, head over to my flickr account.

Other foodbloggers fridges can be found here, here, here, here. here, here, and here.

On Imperfection: Mint Cream Filled Cupcakes

Mistake #1: Overfilling the cups in my mini-muffin pan, resulting in awkward shapes

Mistake #2: Not whipping my frosting to stiff, stiff peaks, resulting in runny buttercream

Mistake #3: Not pureeing my raspberries for the frosting, resulting in unsightly chunks

Mistake #4: Rushing the frosting of the cupcakes, resulting in a gloppy mess

You know what? It didn't matter one bit. I was so embarrassed to bring these mint cream filled vanilla cupcakes with raspberry buttercream to a picnic full of strangers, but as the guests gobbled them up, I realized I've been reading too many food blogs, forgetting about the real world of eating. These ugly suckers tasted delicious (and some folks even said they looked nice, though I think that's a stretch), and that's what matters.

The recipes come from the fabulous Cupcake Bakeshop -- a goddess of baked goods from the Bay Area. The raspberry buttercream recipe is here, while the vanilla cupcakes with mint cream is here. I used a mini-muffin pan and adjusted the baking time to 15 minutes. I also tweaked the mint cream a bit, so I'll give you my recipe--use the leftover syrup in a cocktail or drizzle on fresh strawberries.

Mint Cream

1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. water
Large handful of mint leaves, roughly chopped
1/2-3/4 c. freshly whipped cream

In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the sugar and water to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Ad the mint leaves, stir, and bring to a boil for a minute or two. Turn off the heat and let the syrup sit for 3-4 minutes. Strain syrup into bowl or storage container. Let cool.

Put the whipped cream in a small bowl. Pour 1/2 tablespoon of syrup down the side of the bowl (not over the middle of the cream) and stir vigorously. Taste. If you want more mint flavor, add another 1/2 tablespoon in the same manner, stirring vigorously. Repeat until you have the mint flavor you want.

360 Degrees of Los Angeles at the BonaVista Lounge

A view from the Westin Bonaventure Bonavista Lounge, Downtown LA.

Friday night J and I sat in a banquet hall full of corporate lawyers and dined on rubber chicken, all so we could listen to Al Gore speak about global warming. He was fabulous, but his inconvenient truths meant we were in need of a drink afterwards.

A spectacular glass-enclosed elevator ride from our banquet hall to the top of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown LA led us to the best view I've had of this city. Actually, make that views, plural, since the BonaVista Lounge rotates slowly, allowing you to catch every angle. The drink menu's full of frothy, fruity, expensive concoctions, but if you stick to the basics you won't break the bank. Besides, the comfy chairs and knockout view more than make up for the modest mark-up and the outdated decor. The friendly staff treat the fanny-packed tourists, young couples on first dates, and ironic hipsters with the same easy going manner and don't mind if you sit awhile after your drink is gone, just so you go the full 360 degrees, global-warming inducing tail lights glowing as far as you can see.

BonaVista Lounge
Westin Bonaventure Hotel
404 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 624-1000

There's valet parking below the hotel, which you can enter on Flower St, one block east of Figueroa. Be sure to get validation at the bar, though it's still not cheap.

Photo by Chickenscrawl

Cheesecake, Cheese Plates, and More

Don't you wish you had a slice of this cheesecake with pretzel crust and peanut butter right about now? Yeah, so do I. You can find the recipe here, as well as many other yummy creations by flickr user sashertootie.

As for cheese plates, the Vertical Wine Bistro in Pasadena puts together a nice one, with Cowgirl Creamery's Red Hawk triple cream cheese, one of my favorites. The wine list focuses heavily on flights but each flight wine is available by the glass as well.

Remember when I wrote my valentine to LA, highlighting Paris Baguette? Well I couldn't be happier that a new branch of this French-Asian bakery is opening within walking distance of my office, in the strip mall at the southeast corner of 6th/Alexandria.

Finally, Argentinian foodblogger Pip in the City makes me long for a return trip to Buenos Aires, especially her dulce de leche recipe. For now, Il Capo will have to do.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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