Category Archives: Hollywood

December 31, 2024 · 1:09 pm

The 10 Best Things I Consumed in 2024

This past year was a phenomenal food year in LA. So much so that it was quite a difficult task to pick just ten things for this list. But after much mulling over and agonizing, here’s my annual list of the ten best things I consumed and posted about during the past year. I suggest you make it your New Year’s resolution to try them all!

Maizhongo with Mushroom Mix, Hoja Santa, Chochoyotes and Huitlacoche

10. Maizhongo from Carnal Cocina Artesenal. Carnal serves the best Oaxacan Mexican food I’ve ever consumed, and this vegan mushroom dish is a particular stand-out.

Edna’s Sour Milk Cornbread with White Cheddar, Hatch Chile, Cultured Butter and Honey

9. Edna’s Sour Milk Cornbread from Dunsmoor. This Southern-inspired restaurant is one of my favorites in the city. Their cornbread is served hot in a cast iron skillet and is spectacular.

Beef Short Rib with Chili & Tamarind Dressing and Roasted Peanuts

8. Beef Short Rib from Cobi’s. I love this Southeast Asian fusion restaurant and their buttery short rib is in a league of its own.

Dan Dan Noodles with Sesame-Peanut Sauce, Chili Oil, Cucumbers and Crushed Peanuts

7. Dan Dan Noodles from Pine & Crane. If you’re not ordering this bowl of vegan awesomeness at my favorite uber-cool Taiwanese joint, you are massively missing out.

Dosa Onion Rings with Urad Lentil Batter and Mango Chutney

6. Dosa Onion Rings from Pijja Palace. There are many things to love about Silver Lake’s own Indian-Italian fusion hipster sports bar, but these insanely good onion rings are at the very top of the list.

Spicy Fusilli with Vodka Sauce, Basil and Parmesan

5. Spicy Fusilli from Jon & Vinny’s. This consistently excellent local Italian eatery with multiple locations (includiung a new one in Studio City) and its signature dish of perfect pasta have been around for a while, and for good reason. These spiral noodles in spicy vodka sauce are mouth-wateringly sensational.

Lechon Kawali Rice Bowl with Twice-cooked Pork Belly, Java Garlic Rice, Tomato Cucumber Salad, Pickled Green Papaya and Vinegar

4. Lechon Kawali from Kuya Lord. Chef Maynard Llera just won a prestigious James Beard Award for his exceptional Filipino cuisine, no doubt due in part to this juicy, crispy-skinned magnificence.

3. Sushi from Sushi Gen. People often ask me what my favorite sushi bar is in LA. This is it. Make sure to order the Albacore and Fatty Tuna. You’re welcome.

2. Pork Hui Tou Dumplings from Hui Tou Xiang. These are my favorite Chinese dumplings in the city. And if you don’t want to drive to San Gabriel for them, a second location of this incredible dumpling and noodle joint recently opened in Hollywood.

Wagyu Cheesesteak with Grilled Onions and Roasted Long Hot Pepper on a House-baked Sesame Roll

1. Wagyu Cheesesteak from Matū. At night, it’s a posh Japanese steakhouse. But at lunchtime (and only at lunchtime), at the bar, they serve a ridiculously amazing version of a cheesesteak on a fresh-out-of-the-oven sesame seed roll. It’s the best thing I consumed and posted about in 2024.

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Filed under Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Downtown, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Hollywood, Koreatown, Mid-City, San Gabriel, Santa Monica, Silver Lake, Studio City

Tagged as best dumplings in LA, best dumplings Los Angeles, best Filipino food in LA, best Filipino food Los Angeles, Best Los Angeles Restaurants, best onion rights LA, best onion rings los angeles, Best Restaurants in LA, best restaurants los angeles, best sushi in LA, Best Sushi Los Angeles, Cheesesteaks in LA, Cheesesteaks in Los Angeles, los angeles food blogs, must try food in LA, must try food los angeles, Oaxacan food in LA, Oaxacan food Los Angeles

December 31, 2021 · 10:29 pm

The 10 Best Things I Consumed in 2021

What can I say about 2021? In many respects, it was a little better than 2020. If this pandemic has taught me anything, it’s to not take anything for granted and to not forget to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. And on the subject of simple pleasure, here is my annual list of the ten best things I consumed and posted about this year. I hope you enjoy. Happy New Year!

10. Crispy Ramen Egg from Afuri Ramen. This is egg-ceptional.

“The Danny Boy” Porkstrami Sandwich from The Bad Jew stall at Smorgasburg

9. “The Danny Boy” Porkstrami Sandwich from The Bad Jew (at Smorgasburg). Some may say “oy vey” but I say “hooray” to this delicious pork pastrami that is certainly not kosher.

8. Chocolate Chess Pie from Goldburger. Checkmate!

Parmesan Crusted Halibut with Grilled Asparagus and Beurre Blanc from Porta Via

7. Parmesan Crusted Halibut from Porta Via. The math doesn’t always work, but in this case fish plus cheese equals awesome.

“The William Mae” Fried Chicken Tender Sandwich with HiHo Pickles, Organic Honey & Slaw Sauce and Purple Cabbage from HiHo Cheeseburger

6. “The Willie Mae” Fried Chicken Tender Sandwich from HiHo Cheeseburger. Who knew a chicken sandwich at one of LA’s top burger joints would be this amazing. HiHo is certainly no one trick pony.

Sticky Glazed Pork Shank with Shitake, Honeynut Squash, Hoison Mayo, Hot Mustard, Naan and Lettuce Cups from Girl & the Goat

5. Sticky Glazed Pork Shank from Girl & the Goat. Girl & the Goat is the best Chicago import since Cracker Jack, and this delectable take on on a Korean Ssam is my favorite dish on the menu.

4. Bacon-wrapped Dates stuffed with Parmesan from AOC. Chef Suzanne Goin has been serving these incredibly addictive, salty and sweet morsels for almost two decades and I have been consuming them for just as long.

3. Zucchini Chips with Herbed Yogurt from Greekman’s. Q: What is a zucchini’s favorite sport? A: Squash. The Zucchini Chips at Greekman’s are significantly better than that joke. In fact, they’re pretty f-ing amazing! Easily the best vegetable dish I consumed this year.

2. Trout Almondine from Petit Trois. I’m nuts about this dish!

1. Strawberry Donut from The Donut Man. These are slightly tart, wonderfully sweet and perfectly glazed. And the good news is you don’t have to drive all the way to Glendora anymore as they are now also made and sold downtown in Grand Central Market. It’s my favorite thing that I consumed and posted about this year.

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Zen and the Art of Fine Dining

One thing that you may not know about me is that I'm really into meditation. Between all the food adventures, I'm taking sound baths, silently repeating mantras, and aligning my chakras.

Auburn, an upscale restaurant which opened this past year in Hollywood, has a simple yet refined elegance that appeals to my zen-loving self. The modern decor is minimal with white walls, lots of natural light, and beautiful hand-crafted blonde wood furniture with clean lines.

The menu of New American cuisine lists twelve small plates of roughly equal size, from which you can select either four, six or nine courses with optional wine pairing for your own custom-designed tasting experience. Chef Eric Bost’s dishes are each beautifully composed and perfectly balanced, creating a blissful sense gastronomic harmony.

My favorites are the incredible Epoisses Cheese and Sunchokes with Seeds and Flowers and the superb Sonoma Duck Aged in Kogi with Mustard Greens and Roasted Figs. And while a dessert selection is certainly optional, I wouldn’t miss Pastry Chef Dyan Ng’s spectacularly tart and sweet Yogurt with Mushroom Caramel.

Auburn is located at 6703 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles (in Hollywood). Namaste.

Santa Barbara Abalone with Mitsutake Mushrooms, Kabocha Squash, and Broth of Bone Marrow and Roasted Chicken

HIramasa Crudo with Citrus Fern, Celery, Purple Radish, Blackberry and Fingerlime

Eggplant charred in the hearth with Puffed Grains, Black Garlic, Almonds and Onion Essence

Sonoma Duck aged in Koji with Mustard Greens and Roasted Figs

30 Day Dry-Aged Rib Eye with Oxtail, Turnips, Nori, Charred Grapes and Red Wine

Epoisses Cheese and Sunchokes with Seeds and Flowers

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Filed under Hollywood

Tagged as Auburn, Auburn Los Angeles, Auburn Restaurant, Auburn Restaurant Hollywood, Auburn Restaurant Los Angeles, Chef Eric Bost, dyan ng, Eric Bost, pastry chef dyan ng, tasting menus los angeles

December 31, 2019 · 12:21 pm

The 10 Best Things I Consumed in 2019

As 2019 draws to a close, it’s time to wax poetic on my 10 favorite things that I ate and wrote about this year. Here are the winners:

Mashed Avocado with Watermelon Radish, Sprouts, Grape Seed Oil, Red Pepper Flakes and Lemon on Pumpernickel from Alfred Coffee (it’s only served in the Silver Lake location)

10. Avocado Toast from Alfred Coffee. Although usually referred to as a vegetable, an avocado is actually a fruit. This fruit and bread combo is the best in the City.

Brown Butter Mochi from Porridge + Puffs

9. Brown Butter Mochi from Porridge and Puffs. “Aloha” is Hawaiian for hello, goodbye and love. I aloha this dessert.

Focaccia from Triple Beam Pizza (and served at Hippo)

8. Focaccia from Triple Beam Pizza. Saying that a delicious, can’t-get-enough-of-it food is “like crack” is the most overused expression in food bloggerdom. This focaccia bread is like heroin.

Sweet Corn Cappellacci with Funghi Misti and Fresh Thyme from Hippo

7. Sweet Corn Cappellacci from Hippo. Q: What does corn say when it receives a compliment? A: Aw, shucks. The Corn Cappellacci at Hippo is much better than this joke.

Iceberg Salad with Grilled Thick Cut Smoke Bacon and Danish Blue Cheese from APL

6. Iceberg Salad from APL. This is the first time a salad has made my annual list. But in all fairness, it’s basically a giant, thick slice of smoked bacon and gobs of incredible Danish blue cheese, accompanied by some lettuce.

4 (tie). Fried Chicken from Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken. Three words: Finger. Lickin’. Great.

Smokey Frid Chicken from Plan Check Kitchen + Bar

4. (tie). Smokey Fried Chicken from Plan Check Kitchen + Bar. Also finger lickin’ great.

3. Morning Bun from Tartine Sycamore. I agree with Ellen Degeneres who said “I don’t think I really need buns of steel; I’d be happy with buns of cinnamon.” While Tartine Manufactory closed this month, these awesome buns of cinnamon, caramelized sugar and orange zest can still be found in LA at sister restaurant Tartine Sycamore.

2. Pastrami Rueben from Freedman’s. I love Ruebens so much that I married one (although technically my wife’s maiden name is spelled Rubin). This Pastrami Rueben is not as good as my wife, but is pretty awesome nonetheless.

1 . Dry Aged Tomahawk Chop from APL. Smells like foie gras. Tastes like truffles. Costs a fortune but worth every penny. It’s the best thing that I consumed and wrote about in 2019.

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Filed under Downtown, Echo Park, Highland Park, HIstoric Filipino Town, Hollywood, Mid-City, Santa Monica, Silver Lake, West LA

Tagged as 10 best things to eat in LA, best 10 things to eat in LA, Best Restaurants in LA, LA's best restaurants

November 26, 2019 · 10:04 pm

Knives Out

In our youth-obsessed society, it’s nice to be reminded that many things get better with age. Wine, whiskey, leather boots and cast iron pans all improve as they mature, as do certain cuts of beef if they are “dry-aged.”

At APL in Hollywood, Chef Adam Perry Lang, whose monogram is the moniker of his marvelous steakhouse, knows a thing or two about dry-aging meat. Lang expertly ages his beef in a specially built basement refrigerator for months, producing steaks and chops which are extremely tender, smell like foie gras and have an incredible other-worldly flavor. This is a luxury item like truffles and caviar, with a price-tag to match.

APL also serves tasty chicken, fish and pasta, but unless you don’t eat red meat, you’re making a mistake by not getting the dry-aged beef. The other must-order dinner item is the Iceberg Salad with crumbled Danish blue cheese and a big, thick slice of grilled smoked bacon. It’s the best wedge salad I’ve ever consumed and the perfect intro to a magnificent meat fest. For lunch, APL serves some of the best BBQ in town.

APL is located at 1680 Vine Street, Los Angeles (in Hollywood).