Latest posts from our Los Angeles expert:
The Vegetarian Top Three
Nouveau-everything Los Angeles sprouted vegetarian restaurants well before they became universally popular. Not just for the New Age set, these restaurants offer savvy and savory options for anyone looking for meatless cuisine and a departure from ho-hum filet mignon. Visitors to the city will commonly find vegetarian and non-meat entrees on the menus of most restaurants--even in steakhouses, where pasta and seafood dishes are usually prevalent.
| 1 |
Dine in or take out at this comfy spot that features Thai-oriented, family recipes and plenty of free parking. Specialties include orange chicken, yellow curry with tofu, fish with sweet chili sauce, and a wide assortment of curries, noodles, and rice. Dressings, sauces, and soy meats are all house made.
|
| 2 |
Located in Redondo Beach, The Green Temple is all about care and beauty--for its space, surroundings, and its food. You can choose from bowls of hearty soup, appetizers and small plates, combos, and entrees. Mexican vegetarian cuisine is another popular option. Legumes, soy products, nuts, grains, spices, and lettuce are all organic.
|
| 3 |
There's a second location in Sherman Oaks, but the Culver City site is painted green, giving it a more environmental kind of feeling. This is the real deal--all items are "certified organic, vegan, and raw." Fresh, made-to-order selections include house specialties like Pad Thai made from kelp and squash noodles with red peppers in a spicy peanut sauce.
|
Barbecue, Off the Beaten Path
Actually, anywhere in Los Angeles is off the beaten path when it comes to barbecue. But, being that it's L.A., you shouldn't be surprised that you can find (or invent) just about anything you want--including great barbecue. You won't have to jump on a plane (or pass through security) to satisfy any tangy, smoking, juicy, smothered-in-sauce, or dry-rubbed cravings. Just try one or all of our finds.
| 1 |
And, who is/was Dr. Hogly Wogly you ask? A favorite son from Tyler, Texas--also known as Johnnie Green, who founded his no-frills restaurant in 1969. All of meats are cooked slowly in a brick pit, after being cooked in "secret sauce." You get the secret sauce and the regular barbecue sauce--the more the better. Huge portions and choice side dishes are served.
|
| 2 |
Jeannie Jackson and her son, Bobby Johnson, have been serving their unique Memphis-style barbecue since 1998. Slow cooking is de rigueur, and woods used are mesquite, white oak, and pecan. Custom dry rubs and secret sauce add bite, and "every mouthful is tender as mother's love." Hey, can't beat that.
|
| 3 |
Missouri-style barbecue is the specialty of this San Fernando landmark. Dating from the 1940's when original owner, Ben Baier, set up a small barbecue shack, The Bear Pit has changed sites and ownership but adheres to the original recipes that incorporate slowly smoked meats and interesting side dishes.
|
Cupcake Comfort, Swirl, and Drizzle
We love our doughnuts, bagels, muffins, and croissants. But can anyone really admit to not loving a cupcake? Cuddly centers, oozing icing, sprinkles on top? Huh? Cupcakes, formerly relegated to the Betty Crocker era, are back on the A-list at parties for kids and adults. Even at wedding receptions. I tell no lies! No time or inclination to make your own? No problem. It's L.A., remember? The place where all things are possible. Two of our top cupcake creators await your visit: SusieCakes (www.susiecakesla.com); and Sprinkles Cupcakes (www.sprinklescupcakes.com).
| 1 |
Brentwood's feel-good SusieCakes features signature frosting-filled cupcakes in flavors like red velvet, peanut butter, chocolate mint, and luscious lemon. Chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, also. And, you got that right--the frosting is inside the little cupcake. Yum! You can also get bite-size cupcakes by the dozen, a variety of layer cakes, puddings, and other wonderful-to-eat items. Other branches are in Calabasas and Newport Beach.
|
| 2 |
Freshly baked in small batches all through the day, Sprinkles makes cupcakes from snazzy ingredients such as Madagascar Bourbon vanilla and bittersweet Belgian chocolate. And sweet-cream butter, naturally. Over 20 flavors of updated American classics include spiced pumpkin cake with cinnamon cream-cheese frosting; Madagascar bourbon vanilla cake with lemon coconut cream-cheese frosting; and spiced chai tea cake with chai-vanilla frosting. All are topped with trademark "dot" decorations (edible, of course). Other branches are in Newport Beach, Dallas, and Phoenix-Scottsdale.
|
Coffee Shops Unchained
Sure there are chain establishments on almost every corner of the city but going independent is easier than you think. You just need to know where to look (that's what I'm here for). Try one of these intriguing java houses with non-standard décor, creative vibes, a fine cup of coffee, and more.
| 1 |
A life-sized plaster cow in the window marks this homey neighborhood hangout that beckons customers to stay and play games or read magazines. Organic coffees and teas, smoothies, and fresh sandwiches are on the menu.
|
| 2 |
Tucked away off Santa Monica Boulevard, Café Balcony is easy to miss if you don't know where to look. Also, don't come for your morning caffeine fix since the place doesn't open until noon. Brews include the coveted Jamaican Blue Mountain.
|
| 3 |
This highly rated café and great people-watching magnet presents original art on the walls and also doubles as a used bookstore. Espressos, blended drinks, smoothies, and fresh juices are available for the thirsty, while wraps, quesadillas, sandwiches, and other fare quell hunger pangs.
|
| 4 |
Located in the Echo Park area, this atmospheric café offers a lengthy list of iced and hot drinks, smoothies and other blended beverages, and tasty wraps, sandwiches, and tortas. Events include live music, open-mike nights, art receptions, and multi-media presentations.
|
| 5 |
Experience some enigmatic indigenous culture along with some buzz-inducing specialty roasts from a family-owned plantation while ensconed in the community of El Sereno. Local artists are featured each month, and students and web-surfers appreciated the free wireless Internet access.
|
Ways We Celebrate the Fourth of July
As the Fourth draws near, families and friends anticipate the sky-filled fireworks that highlight the patriotic celebration. That, and the picnics, of course--backyard grills smokin' with ribs and corn-on-the cob, gobs of potato salad, fruity pies, hand-cranked (or maybe machine-cranked) ice cream, icy lemonade, and cold beer. In this nasty time that's bursting with out-of-control wildfires, please limit the fireworks to those held by the pros at parks, beaches, and other public places. Here are some off-the-beaten path choices.
| 1 |
The Castaic Lake Recreation Area presents food, music, swimming, games, pony rides, other fun, as well as a dazzling fireworks show. Charge is per person for walk-ins or by the carload.
|
| 2 |
In its 82nd year, the Rose Bowl's annual 4th of July celebration is a flashy spectacle with a thrilling fireworks show, a handful of the country's finest Drum and Bugle Corps, a family-fun zone, and barbecue and other fare.
|
| 3 |
Held on the CBS Studios lot, Studio City's 10th Annual Fireworks Festival offers filmland ambiance combined with classy fireworks, magic shows, musical entertainment, children's fun zone, and even free spray-on tattoos.
|
Donuts: When Cupcakes and Croissants Just Won't Do
Once it was croissants and muffins, then the breakfast/dessert trend turned to cupcakes. Before all that? It was donuts--sweet, gooey, toothy, cake-y, frosted, sprinkled, jelly and custard filled, deep-fried, sugar-rolled, colorful, yummy, hole-in-the-middle (usually) donuts. In a city the size of Los Angeles, where style changes minute by minute, the true-blue (or other colored) delights remain an unmovable force. French patisseries and cupcake bakeries, listen up: donut shops will always be amongst you in the form of well-known chains and small specialty stores.
| 1 |
The home to what is advertised as the original glazed donut, whose recipe dates from the 1930s, maintains a presence in the great Los Angeles and Orange counties.
|
| 2 |
Our original store in Westwood Village, California is located at 10948 Weyburn Avenue. You can reach us by calling (310) 208-8660 or by e-mail at stan@stansdoughnuts.com.
In business since 1965, this classic Westwood shop serves more than 75 varieties of donuts from old-fashioned buttermilk to gourmet varieties such as peanut butter filled with fresh banana and chocolate chips.
|
| 3 |
Located at the world-famous Farmer's Market, Bob's is a straightforward donut stand with a loyal following. In addition to the usual suspects, Bob's turns out donuts in the shapes of dinosaurs and kitty cats.
|
| 4 |
This Beverly Hills shop has put the "dough" back into donuts, a signal to its gourmet offerings: Bosc pear and banana fritters; Meyer lemon zest glaze; plain vanilla cake infused with Tahitian vanilla and nutmeg; and other unique treats.
|
| 5 |
Open 24 hours a day, this unassuming Silver Lake shop serves terrific donuts as well as inexpensive sandwiches. It's also an interesting place if you're in the mood to play chess until the crack of dawn.
|
Would You Like That Rare, Medium, or Well??
How about medium rare? Yeah, yeah, Los Angeles and much of California is synonymous with vegetarianism and healthy eating. But, few can deny the urge--perhaps, even the daily habit--of eating a good hunk of red meat. L.A. has steak and chop houses galore. We've given you just a handful, but they're definitely prime.
| 1 |
We like the Santa Monica location, but BOA also maintains branches in West Hollywood and Las Vegas. It's modern, cool, youthful-oriented, and anything but the stodgy steakhouses of yore. Appetizers include Table-Side Prime Steak Tartare and Kobe Beef Corn Dog, with surf-and-turf entreés that pair lobster or king crab legs with a selection of fine meats.
|
| 2 |
Opened in 1975, this celebrity hot spot is a see-and-be-seen kind of place. The classic ambience is perfect for enjoying sizeable portions of USDA prime steaks and chops, Italian specialties, premium seafood, and family-style side dishes such as creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. Downtown Los Angeles sports another branch.
|
| 3 |
Mastro's also has multiple locations in Southern California and Scottsdale, Arizona. This is a major splurge experience, so be prepared to fork up the Platinum Card along with the fine fare. Featured are lengthy menus of appetizers, salads, potato and vegetable dishes, USDC hand-cut crustaceans, and USDA hand-cut prime steaks and chops.
|
| 4 |
This stalwart Pasadena eatery has earned kudos for its contemporary setting, delectable menu, and fine wine list. Starters might consist of Sesame-Peppercorn Encrusted Ahi Noodle Salad with Ponzu, while USDA prime steaks include a 2-1/2-pound Porterhouse (supposedly, for two) and the New York cut that has been aged for 40 days.
|