LOS ANGELES… SAVOR: THE FOOD.
This finally brings me to Part 3 of my Los Angeles writings. The Food and the impact it’s had on me here in L.A.
I’m not quite sure when I became such a foodie. Actually I’m not sure when the term “foodie” even started. But what I do know, is I’ve always enjoyed great food, let alone the dining experience from the 80’s on. Maybe it was because my Mom took me around the world traveling, and I was exposed to so much culture, including their food. Maybe it was the early 80’s when I earned my drivers license and was able to go places on my own. Either way, my quest for new restaurants around the Los Angeles area began.
Nicole & I at The Magic Castle. Incredible food on top of the greatest entertainment in town. It’s great to be a member 😉 January 2015.
The 80’s were certainly the time for me to experience dining, as the L.A. scene was just starting to explode on the world map. I somehow managed to be around all the hip & great ones at the time. A trip down memory lane for some I’m sure. Places like… 385 North, Bono’s (Sonny‘s place), Border Grill, Chasen’s (oh that chili), City Restaurant, L’Ermitage, L’Orangerie, Michael’s, Monty’s Steakhouse, Patina, Perino’s, Rex Il Ristorante and Tommy Tang’s just to name a few. Some of them had been around for a bit, some had just opened, but they all seemed to be “thee place” during the 80’s.
The Coconut Crab Bisque at The Magic Castle, adorned with “AMA” for the Acadmey of Magical Arts, January 2015.
People seem to forget the little ways Los Angeles contributed to the food world back then. Not just “hip” and “in” places, but what was being created. Think about two chefs… Wolfgang Puck and Roy Yamaguchi. They both single handedly created true “Fusion” cuisine. Wolfgang was known for Ma Maison, but then started something called “Asian Fusion” and opened up Spago, the rest was history. Of course that lil’ other place he opened wasn’t half bad either, Chinois On Main. Then there was Roy, who’s idea of “Hawaiian Fusion” inspired him to open up 385 North. His major success led to what’s now the world’s hottest chain of that cuisine, Roy’s Restaurants.
Valentine’s Day but of course, as Nicole & I enjoy Morton’s in Beverly Hills, January 2008.
The 80’s were a time of chefs making their mark in Los Angeles. There’s too many to think of them all, but right off the top of my head, with some I’ve mentioned… Jonathan Waxman, Mary Sue Milliken, Michael Mc Carty, Michael Richard, Roy Yamaguchi, Susan Feniger, Wolfgang Puck and so on. Fast forward to now and the City Of Angels boasts many of the countries best places to grub, along with the now called “celebrity” chefs. Thanks to the influx of food cooking channels and shows, many of those chefs get even more exposure to their eateries here. Places like The Bazaar (Jose Andres), Black Market Liqour Bar (Antonia Lofaso), Campanile (Mark Peel), Craft (Tom Colicchio), Father’s Office (Sang Yoon), Firenze Osteria (Fabio Viviani), Ink (Michael Voltaggio), L.A. Farm (Stefan Richter), L.A. Market (Kerry Simon), London West (Gordon Ramsey), Maude (Curtis Stone), Ludo Bird, Petit Trois & Trois Mec (Ludo Levebvre), Scarpetta (Scott Conant), Smith House Tap & Grill (Angelo Sosa) and on and on.
Nicole & I attending a “Make A Wish Foundation” benefit at Morton’s in Beverly Hills, September 2008.
Los Angeles has been a city of great places to sit down and enjoy a meal, but many forget another ode to food it’s given the world, or at least made common place now… the Food Truck. For many decades food trucks took the term of food on the go to new heights, though often referred to as Roach Coaches, it didn’t take long for L.A. chefs to put there touch on them. One of the pioneers was Roy Choi, who in many ways is responsible for food trucks to be now considered Gourmet Trucks here in L.A., the good ol’ U S of A and around the world. His truck Kogi, showed other chefs the new median of exposing their food to people who might not normally get the chance to taste their food in a high-end restaurant. Now it’s basically common place for many great chefs to also have food trucks. Granted, here in Los Angeles, we are blessed with great weather through-out the year, which helps more trucks succeed here than in other parts of the nation; our bonus for sure. That’s why trucks like Bollywood Bites (Sanjay Patel), Border Grill Truck (Mary Sue Milliken & Susan Feniger), Buttermilk Truck (Gigi Pascual), Fist Of Fusion (Ronnie Lucido), Grilled Cheese Truck (Dave Danhi), Kogi Korean BBQ (Roy Choi), Komodo Truck (Erwin Tjahyadi), Ludo Truck (Ludo Levebvre), Ragin Cajun On Wheels (Stephen Domingue) and Sky’s Gourmet Tacos (Barbara Burrell) are just a few examples of the hot food truck scene of L.A.
Nicole & I along with Ragin Cajun Cafe owner, Stephen Domingue, and great friend Bo, July 2014.
Yet L.A. has always been the perfect place to grab a quick non-gourmet bite, especially those oh so wonderful hot dogs. And my three favs? That’s easy. Not the best to some, but there’s something about them to me. The first are Dodger Dogs. Yes, it has everything to do with the spot, and how can it not? A sunny L.A. afternoon, the palm trees in the background, a full stadium of people watching a Dodger game, and those grilled foot longs. They’ve always been Farmer John’s, and somehow, never taste as good at home as they do at the stadium. Second for me is Pink’s. Probably #1 on most people’s list. Let’s face it, a Pink’s Hot Dog, has a zillion choices it seems. Even waiting in line for an hour, doesn’t matter, worth it every time. They also turn a simple brand like Hoffy, into an almost gourmet dog. Of course those signature toppings don’t hurt, like the Bacon Burrito, Pastrami Swiss and Chili Tamale. Third for me? It has to be the bad boy of the group… Oki-Dog. I know, so it’s sooo bad, but we‘re all attracted to a little bad. I remember the very first Oki-Dog I ever had, and I’m not even sure it’s done the same way, but back then, in the mid 80’s… a flour tortilla, 2 hot dogs placed on it, then a scoop of chili, a mound of cheese, then a heap of pastrami. All of a sudden I’m craving that triple by-pass in the waiting meal, lol.
Nicole & I getting our “garlic” on at The Stinking Rose in Beverly Hills, March 2011.
Now you‘re saying how could I say so much about hot dogs and not talk about L.A. burgers? Yeah, another of my guilty pleasures. How can it not be when Los Angeles has so many burger choices? Home of some of the most known gourmet patties of meat to old fashioned, greasy favorites. The classic places are still my favs for this Angeleno… The Apple Pan (hickory smoked with Tillamook cheese & bacon), Bob‘s Big Boy (blue cheese & bacon), Capital Burgers, Hole In The Wall and both of the now closed All-American Burger (can you say Fast Times At Ridgemont High) and Hamburger Hamlet, new specialty places like Umami Burger and Stout, casual chains like The Counter and The Habit to the downright devilish ones of In-N-Out (Double Double with extra cheese & grilled onions), Fat Burger (chili-cheese, bacon & fried egg) and Original Tommy’s (chili, cheese & chopped onions).
The Stinking Rose’s Dungeness Crab & Prime Rib, only the large cut (28 oz), not with The Slab (36oz).
It’s not all about fast Food. As I mentioned I grew up traveling around the world. That lead me to really appreciate food from everywhere and another reason I love to eat around L.A. Let’s face it, Los Angeles, like New York, has more “cultural” influence than almost any other city here in America. It’s vast influx of people from around the world have shaped that influence on the food scene. From our neighbors to the South, Mexican immigrants have made their stamp on Angeleno cooking like no where else. Anyone who travels the States, and even the globe, always miss the taste of an L.A. Mexican restaurant. Then add in all our neighbors from the Far East and it’s no wonder Asian cooking has also made it’s stamp here for so long, especially when it comes to “fusion” cooking. L.A. has great, not just good, ethnic food because of the diversity of it’s residents. You can always sit down to a nice, inexpensive meal and experience cultural heritage, but you can also sit down to gourmet, foreign meals in L.A. more than elsewhere. Brazilian, Caribbean, Chinese, Ethiopian, French, German, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Jewish, Korean, Mexican, Moroccan, Persian, Peruvian, Spanish and Thai are just a sampling of the world’s dishes you can truly enjoy here.
A must stop while at the NAMM Show each year, Morton’s in Anaheim. With friends Bo, Carrie, Gabriela & Claudia, January 2014.
With so many choices of so many styles, you may ask… what are MY favorite restaurants to eat at? In alphabetical order, here are JUST a few, and I mean only a few, otherwise I could list an easy hundred. Beach Mex (El Segundo), Benihana (Beverly Hills, Santa Monica & Torrance), Club 33 (Disneyland), Houston’s (Manhattan Beach), Lawry’s (Beverly Hills), The Magic Castle (Hollywood), Morton’s (Beverly Hills & Anaheim), The Must (Downtown L.A.), Ragin Cajun (Redondo Beach), Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen (Downtown Disney), Stinking Rose (Beverly Hills) and Yamashiro (Hollywood).
Nicole & I enjoying a great night at Benihana’s in Beverly Hills with awesome friends, Nicole & Nathan, Michelle & Rah, January 2012.
In a nutshell when it comes to food, L.A. was the place, continued to be the place and is now the place more than ever. Casual or fine dining, on the go or a sit down, slow pace, newbie cook to legendary chef, American fare to world tasting… Los Angeles has it here, more than any where else. At least in this persons view.
The cute little Birthday photo’s Benihana takes, never gets old, September 2013 (photo courtesy of Benihana).