Me so corny....

Growing up I thought all “American” food was pretty gross. My mother would make these elaborate Korean dishes that would infuse our house with intense gastronomically delightful aromas. On the other hand when my Dad would cook everything came out of a can or a box. I’m pretty sure the only spices my Dad knows are salt and pepper.

I definitely have a better understanding and appreciation for American food now. Sometimes I still get the unexpected pleasure of a new to me but classic American dish. Such a treat was presented to me a few nights back when I got an invitation to stay for dinner after a very satisfying sewing session. My sewing mentor and friend Sioban made a meal of truly comforting food. Roast chicken, mashed potatoes and where have you been all my life creamed corn.

This is the lovely Sioban.








I love that this was clipped from the newspaper.

Not the prettiest belle at the ball but I still swooned.

Amen for Ramen

For those of you who are like me in that:

1.) You were once a poor starving college student
2.) Are still poor but no longer a college student
3.) Trying to stretch a budget

Then you are probably familiar with Ramen. Those freeze dried noodles with the silver flavor packet that come in a plenty pack 20 for a dollar.

I spent many a time trying to fancy them up, adding an egg or frozen veggies maybe some cheese. There is a brilliant blog about all the wonderful things you can try to make with Ramen. http://www.mattfischer.com/ramen/

There are also the many Asian peers to Ramen, with fancy spicy flavor packets and thicker noodles, still freeze dried.

So when Konoe, my ultra-cute Japanese friend, made me dinner it, reminded me of my “fancy-fied” Ramen attempts. (Konoe is pronounced ko-know-ee)

What she made is called Hiyashi-Chuuka which basically translates to cold Chinese noodle. Its like Ramen came in a package but unlike Ramen the noodles are doughy and come vaccum sealed and the flavor packet is a liquid sauce. Ours came with a goma (sesame) flavored dressing.

This is Konoe's snack stash, too cute!

Dried squid: The beef jerky of the ocean.

Mmmmmm

Barley tea: barley still delicious even without the buzz.

Hiyashi-chuuka package

The Following is Konoe preparing the meal in sequence:

Those are not colored pencils, just the best chopsticks EVER!

And some green tea ice cream, just cause.

Konoe's dog Taco

1, 2 Cha Cha Cha

I think it’s fitting to celebrate life with food. So when my very good friends Mario and Maria, the most ridiculously cute couple I have the pleasure of knowing, wanted to take me to dinner to celebrate my Twenty-cough birthday I was ecstatic. When they told me they were taking me to Cha Cha Cha I was truly elated.

http://theoriginalchachacha.com/

Cha Cha Cha is nestled in the artsy/hipster community of Silverlake. Its innovative Caribbean/South American fusion cuisine has made this family restaurant a beloved part of the neighborhood for over twenty years.

What gets me most of all is that Ruth Reichl, a culinary rock god in my eyes, gave it an absolutely rave review upon its inception.

So yes a very happy birthday to me!!!

Jerk Pork shredded pork tenderloin grilled with a spicy jamaican jerk sauce.

Banana Boats plantain boats filled with ground beef and vegetables served with pina salsa.

Yucca Con Ajo (Fried Yucca) fried yucca served with mucho garlic.

Black Bean Tamales sweet corn tamales with black beans, tomatillo salsa and golden caviar


On a hot sunny day in California, this sangria and some ceviche; it's like glimpsing heaven.



Mario admiring the menu.

Maria <3

Good food and good friends I can’t think of a better way to celebrate being alive!

D'oh

Sorry it’s been so long since my last post... My camera was drenched in an unexpected down pour in my purse; stupid water bottle.

Watts Up?

I am a very big fan of farmers markets, and living in Southern California means that you can go to one everyday of the week if you so desired. I've scoured many a market hoping to catch a glimpse of a certain food network chef. I've heard of sightings every now and then, either at the Santa Monica farmers market or the Pacific Palisades. I know you're out there Giada.

If you're not into celebrity chef sighting and/or (shudder to think) don't want to get that involved with the food buying process there are also CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture) Where you can purchase a subscription to a farm that you can pick up at a designated time and location. These are a really great deal, as the price is set and you can get amazing fresh produce (that hasn't been frozen and shipped from who knows where) You can find one near you at http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

The one I found that was most practical for me, location and cost wise is in Watts at their local farmers market that they hold on Saturdays from 10am-2pm. It is located at S Central Ave & E 103rd Pl Los Angeles, CA 90002 I can pick up a box of 20-30lbs of fruits and veggies for a mere $15.00 from the South Central Farmers' Cooperative. DEAL!! (you must purchase on website before you pick up)

Watts Farmers Market :)

While I was in Watts I thought I would take advantage and see the Watts towers. If you happen to look up in Watts you will see the famed art/community/state landmark that is the Watts towers. The towers are a spectacle of one's man relentless desire to do something big and something great.

When I planned on going, I thought we would check out the towers, take a few pictures and be on our way. What we got was a treat that I so seldom get at other historical places I have visited before. While we mulled around outside of the art center taking pictures we were met by a nice gentleman who then proceeded to give the most eloquent and entertaining tour I have had the pleasure of being on in a long time. He introduced himself as being an artist himself and began to "paint a picture" of what a man named Simon Rodia, who wanted to leave his mark, and did. Did I mention that this tour was completely free!!

The Watts Towers Art Center (located next to the towers)

The scaffolding you see wasn't used in the original construction, the state is currently inspecting/making repairs. So there is a fence around the towers and surrounding walls right now, and no one is allowed to enter.

After visiting the towers we were famished and decided to get some local fare. So we asked our tour guide for a recommendation for good grub. He pointed us in the direction of the Watts community coffee shop which is an establishment that is part soul food part coffee shop. We headed on our way only to find that it was only open for breakfast, devastated we headed for another soul food restaurant and landed upon Bertha's. Bertha's is located at 1714 W. Century Bl. Los Angeles CA. 90047

Bertha's was good soul food. Good for the soul and definitely good for the tummy. They have a terrific lunch special which features different dishes each day of the week. For Saturday the lunch special consisted of fried chicken or Meatloaf. Gabe and I decided to get one of each and share. :)

Our lunch came with cornbread, moist and sweet, I swooned.

Fried Chicken and the sides it came with: rice with gravy, greens, and macaroni and cheese.

Did I mention that this was only $7.50

Meatloaf

Gabe picked his sides of: mashed potatoes and gravy, pinto beans with yams and macaroni and cheese.

Our lovely server Danielle

When I asked to take her picture she struck a pose and quickly stated "You want me to look fierce?" I'm still smiling from that.


Gabe and I decided that we should get our chores done....ugh. But while at the laundry mat I got another delightful surprise. A man walked by and said something in Spanish that I couldn't make out. He said it to everyone in the laundromat. I asked Gabe what was going on. "Do you want some corn?" Gabe asked. After some consideration (not a lot, actually more like a few seconds) we were out the door and into the parking lot .....

...where this guy was selling elote out of the trunk of his car!

Elote is a popular street food in Mexico. Its made up of roasted corn on the cob and various toppings most commonly and on the ones that we had: Mayo, cotijo cheese (Mexican Parmesan) and cayenne pepper.

Although I usually associate buying something out of the trunk of a car as something one ought not to do....this was really delicious!