Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Mo-Chica @ 514 W. 7th Street Downtown, Los Angeles




There's a great, energetic, urban vibe in the DTLA with the hustle of the street; sirens honking, trucks barreling down narrow corridors and people moving with a sense of non discriminant urgency.  Here, there's no blatant visual cues that you're in movie land, the streets have that gritty composition, the diversity of people have made me feel ever so comfortable and fit right in it urban anonimity...

And so continues my journey through LA's promising restaurants; this time, I venture into 
Mo-Chica, a Peruvian eatery by Chef Ricardo Zarate, based on Peruvian comfort food with a modern twist.  With the accolades to follow, it was imperative for me to investigate what Peruvian food was all about....


Monday, November 26, 2012

Umami Urban @ 1520 N Cahuenga Blvd. Los Angeles




For me, Umami Burger has now become my  all time favorite comfort food, a consistently awesome, soul nurturing Burger with a signature flavor housed in an inviting, casual atmosphere; current and hip enough for the clientele without the physical discomfort of the zeitgeist, aka  'prison cafeteria design'.

Umami Urban is located inside Space 15 Twenty, a boutique like modern day outdoor mini-mall offering mostly archaic, specialized yet unpragmatic knick knacks, (although I love Hennessey + Ingalls Bookstore and could spend the afternoon there). Very pretty and a good attempt at mimicking a Euro urban streetscape.

Friday, November 23, 2012

The Spice Table @ 114 S. Central Ave, Los Angeles





Cranking along with my LA food marathon, I had a chance to stop by one of my favorite haunts, Little Tokyo - an area in downtown that fascinates me.  It's like Japanese Food Disneyland, I can get any food I want there in obnoxiously decorated stores in close proximity....  Interestingly, there's a Singaporean/Vietnamese venue in the area that's received a lot of attention in the F&B world, The Spice Table by Chef Bryant Ng, who has been identified by Food & Wine Magazine as one of America's Greatest New Cooks.

















The restaurant is housed in a gorgeous building; it's an open warehouse interior with high ceiling, exposed brick walls with giant bird cage lighting fixtures and interior touches creating a incredibly romantic atmosphere.



Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Ink Sack @ 8360 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles




So, ever since that first season of 'Top Chef', there's been just an overflow of the 'larger than life', 'Chef as Rock Star/Foodie as Groupie' mentality which, as a willing participant, has the ability to transform even the most passionate gastronome into a jaded and effected Valley tween (btw...if we're so technologically advanced, why can't we TASTE what's on the TV...huh?) Apple, I presume you're on top of this....and please, spare me the entire olfactory spectrum, I do not need to know how fecund the garbage smells...just the yummies...



Monday, November 19, 2012

Baco Mercat @ 408 S. Main St. Los Angeles




Wow...listed in multiple publications as one of the 'Top Ten Best New America's Restaurants', as well as located in the every most food trending DTLA, I knew I had to go and check it out- it was the first stop on my gastronomical tour of glutton and excess..

Located in the Downtown Historic Bank District,  Baco Mercat has snatched some major primo real estate for it's digs; huge twenty foot high windows with an illustrious renovated interior, it oozes portent and delirious hipster vibe,  (cue to the tall, lanky, dandy dad in shades, feeding his baby micro greens with one hand and galaxy tableting in the other.....)   this is gonna be fun....


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin @ 255 Beachwalk, Honolulu





In Honolulu, there's an never ending opportunity to have Japanese comfort food; and what's always on my mind...Tonkatsu.  This breaded and fried pork cutlet is most definitely my favorite food in the world; it probably stems from my summers in Japan and seeing my grandparents will always be the fondest of memories.

My Grandmother was a excellent chef and a wizard in the kitchen, it's where I spent many a hot, muggy day with her in that ramshackle of a toolshed making and baking the most wonderful dishes; from Curry Stew and Yakisoba to French Pastries and Meat Pies, I was first introduced to
another world of flavors and thus began my passion
for knowledge and food. It was the inception of my palate.




Which is probably why I am a food blogger, I'm just ecstatic over the prospect of a meal. Because it's more than just nourishment, greater than it's entertainment value; to me, it's a celebration of interaction and an expression of love.  And for those who know and understand me inherently get it's importance.  So, I take from her a long family tradition; a service of taking care of family that I hope to pass onto my family and loved ones.  I feel sympathy for those who did not get to experience this love growing up, for it is the hearth that warms the soul.

My Grandma never used cutlets, instead she bought a whole Pork loin for her Katsu, marinated in her own secret recipe, it would come out like nuggets, extra crispy and delicious. I would make my own secret Tonkatsu sauce (which was just Tonkatsu, Ketchup and Mayo)  and we would sit down and have a real, multi-generational family meal, my most cherished memories of my childhood.

Rest in peace, Grandma.  We didn't always see eye to eye, but I love you nonetheless.  You will always be a part of me.


Sunday, November 11, 2012

Fukumimi Ramen @ 4680 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas





So another Japanese Ramen-Ya has graced this city and this time, it ain't in Chinatown! (in mini-mall Tokyo)  No this one is on East side by UNLV, where most of the students hang out. In any case, it just opened and once in a while, it's good to break away from the usual haunts (I still love you the best, Monta, but I wanna see what the others have to offer). Monogamy has no place in the F&B world when it comes to this glutton.

Fukumimi means 'Lucky Ear', and when I arrived at an off peak time period, the place was crawling with Japanese people (first good sign).  And the interior had a cheery and warm environment (aka, it actually looked like someone put some thought into it's design...I appreciate that)....good sign #2


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Thursday, November 8, 2012

Meat and Three @ 10940 Eastern Ave, Henderson







Whenever there's an opportunity to support a local business, I'm all in...and in this case, it's a no brainer; Chef Chris Herrin who has blessed us with 'Bread + Butter' has recently rolled up his sleeves and produced another F&B concept that is culinary dynamite.  'Meat & Three' is his latest creation, a new take on an American classic: Barbecue and sides, a concept resembling a modern gourmet picnic spread, evolving traditional comfort food with sophistication and quality (it reminds me of the food I used to get from my hometown NYC).  I couldn't be more excited about this new arrival for locals community!



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Trailer: 'Fifty Shades of Chicken' Cookbook



Do you trust me???

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Monday, November 5, 2012

Starbucks Bearista Photo 7: NYC

This is for my hometown: New York City...


You can't see it, but Joe is giving you the finger....Sandy!!!




Sunday, November 4, 2012

The Pineapple Room by Alan Wong @ 1450 Ala Moana Boulevard Honolulu, HI





The first stop on the culinary journey, I decided to try out a local celebrity chef's restaurant the Pineapple Room by Alan Wong.

The famous and most prolific chef to have emerged from Hawaii is Chef Roy Yamaguchi of the Roy's.  Not to be outdone, Chef Alan Wong has a just as big of an international name with the love of hawaii locals; with numerous accolades, he has captured the essence of Hawaiian regional cuisine with a contemporary twist and has received numerous prestigious awards including a top ten ranking in the fifty best restaurants in America.


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Friday, November 2, 2012

Pizza Arte @ 69 W 55th St, NYC




I love Pizza, it must be from growing up in the city; the wafts of baking crust and tomato sauce haunted me as I walked home from school.  My friend Danny and I would walk a block away to Broadway and get a small pie with Pepperoni and Sausage,  I would go cray cray with the condiments: Oregano, Chili Flakes, Parmesan and Garlic-I would be walking home with red blistering lips and breath of death...

Pizza has changed since then, often more authentic and 'gourmet', but it will always be a childhood comfort food.


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