Alfredo's Mexican Food

One of my favorite small Mexican places in Burbank (el Mexicano) closed their doors earlier this year and my favorite machaca tacos became no more.  In it's place, a new Mexican place opened up - Alfredo's Mexican Food.

The whole place has changed from it's family-run stand -- the menu is no longer hand written but typed and printed, the tables and chairs have been updated, the kitchen was gutted and fixed, they have a bathroom and most importantly, they take credit cards now.

The reviews on Yelp are incredibly favorable even though there aren't many and every single one of them calls out the Carne Asada Fries.  In recent years, ever since food trucks became popular and gourmet, carne asada fries have been THE thing.  So I ordered them even though they were $8.  We also tried the carne asada tacos, cheese enchiladas, and carnitas taco.

The carnitas taco was super dry even when I piled on the salsa (green is spicier than red), I wasn't able to finish the taco.  The carne asada was just okay, it didn't have any particular flavor but it was tender, tasted like plain steak to me.  The Super Fries were huge. Easily enough to share or to feed two for a meal. They have carne asada, creme, guacamole and cheese.  I liked these but they weren't super amazing. They needed something more like jalepenos but the fries stayed crispy and the sour cream and guac really made it.

I am interested in going back and trying something else--like maybe the machaca or the chiliquiles but I don't think I'll be heading back anytime soon, there are many better places for tacos.





Alfredo's Mexican Food
911 N San Fernando Blvd
Burbank, CA 91504

Cafe Leila

While we were in Northern CA this weekend we met up with one of my greatest college friends for breakfast. She suggested we meet at Cafe Leila where they have breakfast but don't draw the crowds that are common for Sunday morning breakfast.

Cafe Leila is located on San Pablo which is a mixed shop street common to the city of Berkeley. While the street can be pretty crowded the cafe is an island of its own. It even has a free parking lot! The cafe is actually quite big despite the small looking front room. It goes back and back with a huge outdoor patio that we may have enjoyed on a warmer day.

The cafe was comfortable and had a smattering of customers - if everyone was concentrated in a small space it would've been crowded.

We ordered the Alex Breakfast and the California Omelet.  The Alex breakfast came with two eggs any style, bacon, toast, potatoes and fruit. The omelet came with an omelet (obviously) filled with tomatoes and avocado, cheese and garlic; toast, potatoes and cantaloupe.

The omelet was good with a good amount of filling. The potatoes had a nice "baked potato" feel served with green onions and sour cream.  The toast was ample and the coffee was hot.  The Alex breakfast also looked pretty good with an ample helping of fruit.

The conversation flowed and the cafe staff didn't mind us sitting around as long as we pleased.  I wish I could make this place my local coffee shop--but it's a little bit of a drive.

And FYI, Fry was not at the cafe.

Cafe Leila
1724 San Pablo Ave
Berkeley, CA 94702

Nick's Pizza

This weekend, my husband and I drove up to San Francisco for a wedding.  We stayed across the bay in Emeryville to continue our not-so-expensive weekend giveaway and be in proximity of all the different events we attended.  After we finally arrived around 7:30 pm on Friday night we decided to seek out dinner. Back on the road somewhere around where the 5 turns into the 580, we were wondering if it was possible to eat Sourdough pizza crust somewhere near our hotel. Upon arrival we decided to drive by Nick's (who came up when we searched for sourdough pizza) and Zachary's (who came up simply for pizza) - a place I've heard of since I am a Chicagoan.

When we drove past there was just one couple in Nick's, Zachary's on the other hand was packed with a crowd so thick it seemed like breathing would be hard.  We headed back to Nick's deciding to favor the high reviews rather than the surprisingly sparse population. We're glad we did!

What nice employees! Even though we were the only people in there we felt right at home. It wasn't weird like it is when you go to some places and are the only one at the tables. The employees seemed to be having a good time making food, preparing dough and chatting. They paid attention to us and knew if we needed something but they also left us alone so we felt like we were at home.  From the sound of it, it seemed like Nick's does a lot of carry-out and delivery. I loved the tables made from slabs of pretty wood. The decor was basic but colorful. A refrigerator in the corner held a water dispenser with cups on the side. They had Jenga to play while you wait.

At Nick's the menu changes every week. We ordered the pepperoni pizza which was probably the least unique of all the choices (besides just cheese). There was one on the menu with walnuts and squash blossoms that caught my eye - but I knew it wasn't for my husband.  I also added on a salad and dinner was about $25 - which is about the same price we pay at our favorite local pizza place in Burbank.

I loved the salad I got to start off the meal. It was a beautiful mix of fresh greens with plenty of small tomatoes on top. The dressing was balsamic Italian but also delicious.  We also got some walnuts - in the shell to eat while we wait. How fun!

The pizza was super hot when it came to our table. We ate all but two slices. I loved the tomato sauce which was fresh with actual bits of tomato visible with the spices and herbs (noticeable fresh basil flavor). The pepperoni was very smokey with a nice flavor and feel. I could've used a smidge more cheese but the full package was there.

After devouring the pizza we decided to have dessert too. Every time one of the employees answered the phone and said "Chocolate chip cookies?" I was sold!  I ordered a cookie which was warmed for me and came piping hot. My husband got the salted caramel chocolate mousse - fantastic! Leave room for dessert when you stop in or order for home.





Nick's Pizza
6211 Shattuck Ave
Oakland, CA 94609
Weekly Menu

Blossom Restaurant

For the last couple of weeks and the next four months I have been finding myself in Downtown LA on Tuesdays. I have dreamed of working in this unexplored area of Los Angeles and finding all kinds of new restaurants. Unfortunately, these first couple of weeks I haven't done that much exploring! Today, however I was excited to meet my Freshman year college roommate for lunch.  Forgoing our old favorite The Spaghetti Factory, we headed down the street to Blossom Restaurant for some quality Vietnamese food.

As usual, when I am eating out not with my husband I tend to lean toward places with foods he might not enjoy such as Asian or Indian foods. Sometimes I even go crazy and just get a weird sandwich!  In any event, when Melissa suggested Vietnamese I was totally game.

Blossom is right on the corner of Main just a few blocks from the courthouse where I have been spending my Tuesdays. It is definitely do-able if you are at Jury Duty in the general downtown area--particularly because Jury Duty lunch hours are absurdly lengthy. The restaurant has two storefronts with lots of indoor seating and a small outdoor patio that they pack tables into in order to get the best square footage from a small area.

While I've had Vietnamese food before, I was unsure about how to navigate the menu and what to choose. At first I was sort of thinking of ordering a crepe appetizer until I learned it would be more like an omelet. In the end, I ordered the shrimp curry. I was totally unfamiliar with Vietnamese curry and only hoped that it was closer to Thai than Japanese in variety.  My friend ordered a cold noodle dish with vegetables and eggrolls across the top.  I was a little jealous of hers when it came, but not after I tasted mine!

The food came to our table almost seconds after we ordered it--even before our drinks!  The curry had a great flavor with a little bit of a kick but nothing too spicy. It came with a generous ball of rice and was filled with shrimp, green beans, mushrooms and carrots in a green sauce.  I also had the Jasmine iced tea which was clearly freshly brewed possibly even from loose tea.  I never got a refill on my tea though and at $2.75 it's a little steep (no pun intended!).

The cold rice dish looked delicious as well and since she orders it almost every time, I imagine she thinks so too!  The ginger limeade she got to accompany her meal looked like a very dark iced tea and was obviously a powerful ginger flavor based on the color alone. Refreshing possibly, but definitely gingery!

The restauranteers were nice and helpful and the place was very reasonably priced. I will definitely be heading back to this place sometime soon!





Blossom Restaurant
426 S Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Big Daddy's Fire Grill

This year for my father-in-law's birthday, we headed to a new place in Pasadena that we'd only heard a few reviews about.  A casual burger place, Big Daddy's Fire Grill sits on the corner competing with the In and Out Burger and not much else nearby.

There is parking in a lot behind the restaurant and some street parking as well around the neighborhood.We arrived on a Friday evening around 7 and were able to grab a large table inside to fit our party of seven.  However, the patio looked like the real place to be and was crowded throughout the night.

Inside, the restaurant smells like a wood-burning fire. I thought bbq and was surprised that really wasn't the basis of the menu. The menu is vast and filled mostly with burgers and sandwiches. I decided to order the pork tenderloin sandwich instead of going with the typical burger but then I was tempted to make it a combo with some garlic fries.  Everyone else in my party ordered a burger of some kind or another except for one bratwurst.

There were mixed reviews on the hamburgers and bratwurst but I can only speak for the sandwich. Get the sandwich! The pork is slow roasted to tender perfection with rosemary and clearly the same wood-chip smell that is in the restaurant. You can taste the smokiness in the meat and it pairs well with the aoili. I didn't notice the garlic in the roll which is one of their signature items but I just loved the sandwich. I went on about it all night and by the end everyone was thoroughly annoyed that I ordered it and not interested in hearing more. The garlic fries were very garlicky but not as overpowering as the ones you get at Dodger Stadium. I thought it was a nice contrast but between the fries and the sandwich the meal was incredibly filling. I would've gladly shared the sandwich and just had a few fries from my husband's plate.






Big Daddy's Fire Grill
2122 E Foothill Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91107

Giamela's

Pastrami sandwiches aren't really a thing I was much familiar with before I moved to Burbank.  But right when I got here my father-in-law told me I must try one at the best place in town Giamela's.

I've been there lots of times since but I've never reviewed the restaurant!  I used to go to the place almost every weekend to get my pastrami fix.  We then switched gears and started going to Giamela's competitor Santoro's for sandwiches due to there being more variety.  While Santoro's does make a good sandwich, if I'm getting pastarmi I'm partial to Giamela's.

Giamela's sandwiches are huge. The small can easily be shared by two people.  The sandwich is best with everything except I don't usually get onions anymore if I'm going to be with people.  Everything includes a hearty white roll, cheese, mustard, a large helping of pastrami, tomatoes, pickles, a vinaigrette mix and some salt, pepper & spices.

I love how the cheese melts under the piping hot meat and becomes that texture between cooked and uncooked. The pickles have a certain bite to them that makes the sandwiches and they are cut in a large chunk adding a nice texture.  The meat is seasoned perfectly and it all goes so well together.  Eat it fast before the juice soaks into the bread. Don't even think about taking your sandwich to go.

Giamela's
216 W Magnolia Blvd
Burbank, CA 91502

Cash Only

99 Ranch Market

99 Ranch Market is an Asian Grocery store Joey and I ran across when we were making our Taiwanese pineapple cakes last year. This year, I took my friend Kristen to the store so that she could pick up some Asian snacks to take back to CT where she claimed there are no Asian stores.

If you've never been to an Asian Grocery Store, this is one to try.  99 Ranch market is huge and has a selection of produce I'm totally unfamiliar with (Jackfruit?). It also has a very robust fish counter where you can catch your own live crabs or pick up a few fish heads for your soup.  Besides the stranger sections, each aisle has something fun and different to offer--even for a not-so-adventurous eater like my husband.

We walked around the store and she loaded up her arms with all sorts of mochi and red beans.  I was a little more choosy since the store is still in driving distance for me.  The one thing I really wanted to get was the taro toast.  In some Asian bakeries they refer to sliced bread as toast. I don't know why but I sort of like it.  Taro toast is a light pink/purple color and it has a taro swirl in the center.  I first tasted Taro bread in a small bakery in Maui and ever since I've been searching for it everywhere.  It is such a nice flavor combination.

While I was in the bakery section, I was drawn to the hot food section of the store.  It was nearing lunch time and the other patrons were grabbing numbers left and right to get their lunch.  I took a number and bought two bbq pork buns. I do love pork buns and Kristen had never tried them.

These buns were cheap and gigantic. I felt like there wasn't really enough filling to round out the steamy bready outside so that it became a little bit dry to eat.  Kristen who had never had such a thing before declared it one of the best foods she's ever had.  If you've never had one either, try it because bbq pork buns are the best.  If you live in Seattle you can find these buns at Pike Place Market. If you live in LA area and don't find yourself in Van Nuys very much you can find buns like this at the popular convenience store Famima.

While 99 Ranch Market doesn't have the best ever bbq pork bun, it's passible enough for me and the excitement I get from roaming the aisles is enough to warrant a trip.





99 Ranch Market
6450 Sepulveda Boulevard  
Van Nuys, CA 91411

Cahuenga General Store

Joey & Jenny have long been members of a Wednesday lunch group.  I just joined the ranks recently but I understand they are always looking for somewhere new to eat.  This week, Jenny suggested a new place called Cahuenga General Store which is in North Hollywood but just 3 miles from where everyone works making it feasible for lunch.

Joey & I arrived at the restaurant slightly after Jenny & Vicky after a hard search for parking in the neighborhood.  Unfortunately, between them and us was the entire fire department.  The restaurant hit a slow down before we even ordered.

It took almost 30 minutes for Joey & I to get our food and our friends were finished already by that time.  The restaurant knew they were behind and we heard them telling people on the phone or that had just come in they were about 30 minutes behind.  We waited and waited and finally our sandwiches were ready.

We both ordered the fresh organic homemade lemonade which was tasty but a little price at $2.75. At least the drinks were big and in to go cups. The other sodas came in a can.

I had the Oscar Wilder sandwich was a chicken curry salad sandwich with cashews.  I liked the sandwich but the pieces of whole cashews were a little hard to bite in a sandwich, I would've preferred them to be crushed or mixed right into the salad.  The sandwich was a good size and came with a small salad of carrots, cucumbers and celery mixed with Italian seasoning.  It is always nice to have a small side no matter what it is to change the taste.

Joey had the breakfast sandwich that came on a croissant even though the girl at the counter suggested it came on a bagel or sourdough.  The eggs were scrambled and warm but the rest of the sandwich was cold which imparted a strange sensation to the taster.

Jenny had a roast beef sandwich that looked good and our other friend had the strawberry shortcake. The shortcake was store-bought pound cake layered with whipped cream and strawberries. It was reportedly good anyway.  I also tasted the chocolate chip cookie which was just okay, maybe a little bit stale or something.

I liked Cahenga General Store, the sandwiches were simple but came in endless combinations. Despite the slow service, I would go back there. I think it is the kind of place you want to try to get to at 11:45 AM right before the lunch time rush so you get in at the ground floor so to speak.

Cahuenga General Store
5510 Cahuenga Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601

Manhattan Beach Creamery

I only wish I had a picture...Last Tuesday my friend and I went to Manhattan Beach for the day.  It was a great place to visit--what a nice town.  On Tuesdays they have a small farmer's market that runs from 1-4pm in the parking lot/common area near the newish mall at the top of the town.  The market has a good mix of cooked foods and produce and when we stopped by at the end of the day, the prices were reduced to boot!  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to order the pupusa of my dreams (although so tempted) because we had filled up with an afternoon snack at Manhattan Beach Creamery.

I've been hearing about the MBC ever since I started telling people about the awesomeness of Fosselman's ice cream.  People raved about the rum raisin ice cream at MBC among other things. Not being a raisin fan, I followed the yelp suggestion and got a cookie ice cream sandwich instead.  I didn't even really take a look at the available ice cream flavors at first because the cookie sandwiches drew me into a happy place.  On second glance though they don't have any real unique flavors--just the usuals.

I chose a chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich filled with cookies & cream ice cream.  My friend got a classic CCC with vanilla ice cream and dipped in dark chocolate.  The cookies were soft and chewy but strong enough to hold up to the ice cream.  The ice cream was creamy and delicious and didn't really have that "i've been sitting in an ice cream sandwich for a while" texture that I don't like about pre-scooped ice cream most of the time.  I understand the dark chocolate dipped is a must have for next time.

The ice cream quality to me doesn't really match Fosselman's, but then again the sandwiches are pre-made so it might not be a good test.  The service is fast and mildly friendly and the prices are reasonable (they beat coolhaus by a mile...)

MBC is also known for their frozen banana selection and some of them looked good enough for me to forgo the ice cream altogether--but then I remembered I was there for the ice cream...

I will definitely be going back to MBC next time I am in the area.  I'm not sure I'd drive across town for it but then again, I've been known to do crazier things.






Manhattan Beach Creamery
1120 Manhattan Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Carmela Ice Cream

On Tuesday, my mom & I decided to explore the area and took our adventure off the beaten track of the freeway; driving from Burbank to Arcadia on the surface streets.  The adventure was a little long, taking over an hour with a slight detour when I missed a turn. On the way though we saw tons of cute areas and new neighborhoods. If we didn't have a destination in mind, we probably would've stopped at several interesting eateries on the way.  But the first stop in our mission was Din Tai Fung Dumpling House and it didn't disappoint.

After lunch we explored the Arboretum for over two hours. It was perfectly blooming and while there were other people there we didn't feel like the area was swarming with them because the park is so big.  The peacocks sure are loud though!

Arcadia was very hot today! After our long walk in the park we headed over to Carmela Ice Cream.  I was familiar with Carmela from when they appeared in a shiny silver truck at the Burbank Farmer's Market a few times.  When I learned their store was in Pasadena, I was a little disheartened because it is hard for us to pass up Fosselman's whenever we go that direction for dessert, but I figured I would try it out at some point.

Carmela isn't really near any part of Pasadena I've ever been before.  It's close to the 210 but in a neighborhood that seems to be primarily Armenian or...well I am not sure on the Ethnicity but it isn't the kind of walking neighborhood you'd expect a place like this to be located.  Carmela's main competitor is probably Mother Moo Creamery which is just to the East in Sierra Madre on the main drag.  I was sort of expecting the same neighborhood feel, but I guess they get their advertising by word of mouth instead of passerbys.

The employees at Carmela were incredibly excited about their ice cream.  They spouted off stories about their ingredients for each flavor and urged us to taste five different flavors before making our decision. I loved the little metal spoons they use for tastes and the old-fashioned feel of the ice cream makers mixing their craft right behind the counter.

The flavors change all the time based on what season it is as they tend to use ingredients in season at the moment to make their ice creams.  I tasted Classic Rocky Road, Salted Caramel, Strawberry Buttermilk, Lavender Honey, and Rose Petal flavors.  I ordered a double scoop consisting of Classic Rocky Road made with not even frozen at all walnuts (huge plus) and homemade marshmallows and salted caramel in a waffle cone.  It turns out that I could have gotten a single split-scoop and not ordered so much ice cream after all but still tasted two flavors. I think that is a good option because a double scoop gets a little big.  On the other hand, an extra scoop was only $1 more so I kind of felt like it was the best deal.

The ice cream is incredibly rich and really one scoop (which is actually two scoops) of the same flavor is a little bit too much of one flavor.  The waffle cone was perfect, lightly flavored, not heavy feeling and a perfect holder for the ice cream.  The rocky road was the best I've ever had, the salted caramel got tiresome after awhile and I wished for more chocolate.

I want to try more flavors and see those friendly people again so I am definitely going back.  Next time, I will get a split single scoop and maybe a cup or their ingenious waffle cone cups which come in a cup with a bit of waffle so you still get the cookie taste without having to worry about the meltiness surrounding the typical cone vehicle.





Carmela Ice Cream
2495 E Washington Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91104, USA

Otis Jackson's Soul Dogs

 Going to lunch with the family on a weekend is nothing short of a production. Everyone wants something different and is interested in trying something new but only if it will be good for everyone. Today we started our journey to EAT in NoHo, but it looked packed and decided since it was already 1pm it was better to go somewhere without a line.

Our second choice on our list was Otis Jackson's Soul Dogs.  The place gets 4 1/2 stars on yelp so it couldn't be terrible.  It's on Lankershim and the corner of Magnolia so it's right down the street from EAT.

We parked a little bit further away than our companions and so they were already ordering by the time we got to the restaurant.  At most places, ordering at different times wouldn't be a huge deal but at this place it kind of was.  The service was a little slow to begin with, you order at the counter and then someone starts working on your meal. All the food is prepared in a viewing area but it's not as quick as expected, especially with many things already pre-made.

The menu is a mixture of fully loaded hotdogs in a variety of combinations and fried chicken. On Sundays (like today) they also offer a few Chicken & Waffle combinations.

It took a long time for the line to move along and they were also fielding phone orders.  The staff was really nice but they just weren't fast with their order filling. The space where they prepare the meals is small probably allowing only 3-4 employees in the space so that won't help speed up.

All of my companions ordered a hot dog & fries - they got-- the bacon dog, the slaw dog, the snap dog & the chili cheese dog.  The hot dogs came loaded with the toppings and are a lot faster out than the other items but they are still a bit slow with that too.  Everyone enjoyed their hot dogs and were inclined to come back and try a new flavor next time.  The sweet potato fries looked amazing and were good but when compared to the regular french fries they took the backseat.  The regular fries are crispy and salty and just-right golden.

I didn't order a hot dog, instead I had my heart set on trying this crazy combination of chicken & waffles. I always thought the combination sounded crazy and excessive, but who I am to judge without first trying?  It took a long time for my food to come out which was sad because I was really hungry!  If we had all ordered at once, our food probably would've been closer together so this was partially our fault, but even my husband's hot dog came out first.  While I was waiting, I enjoyed my lavender sweet tea. I am not a huge fan of sweet tea but the lavender was a nice change and it sounded better than soda to me at the time.

After eating it, I still stand with my point that chicken & waffles is a little excessive. But these aren't the huge thick waffles I'm used to. The fried chicken wasn't the least bit greasy. It was a tiny bit dry in the center but not overly. I didn't love the chicken but it was passable.  But the waffle!  I would go back there every Sunday just to eat the waffle!  It was a perfect texture, thinner than any waffle I've ever had before. The little nooks held the melted butter and syrup perfectly. And then there was the spice. I think the waffle had nutmeg in it and maybe a little cinnamon making it a little more flavorful and oh so great!  I polished off every bit of that waffle and kind of wanted another one when I was done.

We all agreed we'd like to come back and try something different. I will take another waffle anytime but according to Soul Dogs it has to be a Sunday...





5166 Lankershim Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601
Map

800 Degrees

At the very last minute, we decided to jump on the bandwagon and go see the They Might Be Giants/Jonathon Coulton concert at UCLA last night.  As coincidence would have it, our friends were also attending the concert so we vowed to meet for dinner first.  My friend is good at reading about new places and then actually going to them so we headed over to the brand new 800 Degrees Quick Service pizzeria in Westwood.

Contrary to my memories of other trips to Westwood, finding street parking for $1 an hour was not actually very difficult.  Just be sure to read the signs!  We parked and headed to the restaurant with a line trailing out the door.  We left a lot of time so we waited in that line. It was about 5:30pm.  By the time we left the restaurant around 6:45 (yeah so not so much QUICK) the line was even longer, down the street, past Peet's Coffee and all the way to the corner.

The concept is creative.  People pick one of three base pizzas--the margherita ($6), the bianca ($5), or the marinara ($5) and then for $1/topping (with a few exceptions) can add on whatever interests them from the vast toppings list or stick with the very basic.  By the time you get to the end of the line and pay for your pizzas and salads and drinks; the pizza is out of the oven and ready to eat. Now there's the challenge of finding a table and getting all your food there, but once done, it's time to dig in!

The pizzas are about the size of a large dinner plate and if you weren't that hungry, you could definitely share with one other person--especially if you stop in at the burrata bar or add on a salad.

I ended up order the margherita with only the addition of pepperdews which are like slightly more acidic sweet peppers (really good!).  So my pizza was basil, tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, pepperdews, garlic and olive oil.  The pizza was really good. The dough is not crispy but instead a perfect kind of chewy.  It stood up pretty well to the toppings and the flavors were all there.

I also ordered from the burrata bar burrata with cherry tomatoes and pesto for another $5.  If you have never had burrata before I highly recommend it. It is a variety of fresh mozzarella that is creamier than the regular buffalo variety.  The cheese has a cream center that actually seems to flow out of it onto the plate. So good! Burrata can be found at stores like Bristol Farms for astronomical prices so you might as well get a $5 salad of it at 800 Degrees!

My husband ordered the marinara pizza that comes with sauce and herbs and no cheese as a base--you can of course add cheese on top them for $1 but he decided not to.  He said he didn't miss the cheese and enjoyed his pepperoni and bacon pie just as well.

There are a variety of salads and the burrata bar as far as sides all for about $5 each unless you get something special (like prosciutto).  They have sodas for $2 with unlimited refills and one of those new-fangled fancy touch-screen coke machines that you can use to make a variety of flavors on top of your favorite soda (like Cherry Coke Zero and Orange Mellow Yellow).  They also sell gelato if by some miracle you are still hungry enough for dessert when you are finished!

While the line was very long and the system doesn't seem as fine tuned as it could be, the resulting food is fantastic and I would say worth the wait.  Admittedly, they just opened a few weeks ago and $6 pizza is a great deal so these nearby college students are probably going to be crowding the place for a while.  When the major buzz dies down, or maybe on a weekday evening, I highly recommend stopping into Westwood for your own signature pie.





800 Degrees Pizza, Westwood Village
10889 Lindbrook Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Map

Mother Moo Creamery

On Friday night we took a surprise trip to Sierra Madre from a new artisan ice cream shop that opened this past July. Sierra Madre is the cutest town. It has that east-coast feel with old shops close together and offering walking distance restaurants and treats all together. The nightlife is slim but some of the restaurants still drew a crowd along with live music even at 9pm.

Mother Moo Creamery was still hopping at 9pm. The shop is sparse, with cement floors and a tiny ice cream freezer with one or two tables and a couple of chairs lined up against the wall on the sidewalk. It isn't really the place you want to sit and eat--but since the town is so cute you can take it to go and go for a little walk.

Mother Moo had about 8 flavors when we were there and they are constantly changing them so you can watch their Facebook page for more information. Since we went with a group I was able to taste several of the available flavors. I tasted salted chocolate, mint chocolate chip, strawberry and coffee cinnamon.

Salted Chocolate - really salty but kind of delightful if you have another flavor at the same time. Alone and near the end the salt becomes overwhelming

Mint Chocolate Chip - They use real fresh mint, so for anyone who loves fresh mint this flavor is for you! I don't really like mint much at all and fresh mint is way worse than the extract. This ice cream was too fresh and minty for me but others liked it a lot. This flavor was also really really soft so it melted fast and had more of a custardy feel almost like they didn't freeze it long enough

Strawberry - Good fruit to cream ratio, very solid

Coffee Cinnamon - This was mine so I ate the whole thing less a few tastes. By the end, I was getting kind of tired of the strong chewy coffee grounds littering the surface of the ice cream but I did like this to start off. The cinnamon flavor was strong too and I really liked the textures at first but I got tired of this ice cream as I went through my single scoop,

The scoops are served in small cups for one scoop, larger trays for two scoops or in fresh-made waffle cones in vanilla and chocolate. They have a few mason jars and a pitcher of water if you wait long enough to finish your choice inside the shop. They also sell jam and a few other odds and ends.

The verdict? The ice cream is good but the flavors we chose weren't our favorites. We'll go back again and try something different and maybe share a bit more so we don't get tired of flavors. The shop itself could be a little more homey but maybe they are going for a come in, eat out atmosphere anyway.

Mother Moo Creamery
17 Kersting Circle
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Map

Which Wich

There is a new sandwich shop in Burbank. It made it to the San Fernando Strip earlier this year and I've been wanting to try it ever since. The problem is that I already have a favorite sandwich shop in Burbank, and a second favorite, and there's a third one I kind of like...so I just haven't had room for another sandwich place in my life. But finally we decided to try it this afternoon.

Like The Counter, this sandwich shop has a bunch of brown bags on display where you pick your sandwich, bread and toppings before you get to the register. The bags are ordered by protein and then you use the provided red sharpies to add your bread, cheese toasted or not and other toppings and sauces.

I got the concept pretty quickly of filling out the bags but it seemed like a lot of people who came in for the first time were a tad confused by the system.

All of the sandwiches at the restaurant are the same price by size unless you add something extra like bacon or avocado. However, if you get a special sandwich like bacon, turkey and tomato combination that is listed on the bag the bacon comes with the bacon for free for the regular price.

I decided to start off by getting something I'd have at any other sandwich shop so that I could easily compare although I was very tempted by the Cuban specialty sandwich. I ordered turkey with avocado, cheese, tomato and deli mustard. I thought I also put on pepperocinis but I honestly don't remember if they were on there or not. The avocado was $1 extra but they made it worth my while by really piling it on the top.

I got the sandwich un-toasted and I thought he bread tasted fresh and chewy. My husband tried a sandwich that was toasted with ham, bacon and cheese. It won him over and he plans to take the sandwich card back there sometime and work his way up to 10 for a free one! This is a good substitute for Subway or Quiznos with some more fun options and lots of choice.

Which Wich is a small chain so if you live somewhere else in Southern California or in Arizona you should seek out your local branch for your next sandwich.

Which Wich
302 N San Fernando Blvd
Burbank, CA 91502
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Tarascos

This morning at 9 am I went to a Tamale Making class at Tarascos Mexican Restaurant in Silverlake. The class was actually rather short. A group of 30 of us or so sat around the dining area with bowls of masa, spices and fillings and made a few tamales each. After the tamales were made and the main instruction was over we opted to have our tamales steamed at the restaurant which was supposed to take about an hour to an hour and 20 minutes.

My friends and I decided to get our tamales steamed at the restaurant and ordered breakfast while we waited. At first I thought of just getting a few soft tacos but finally decided on huevos rancheros. Huevos rancheros was always my dad's favorite dish and somehow became mine the first time I tried it.

This huevos rancheros was actually rather healthy compared to some of the options out there. Usually it comes with fried tortillas, lots of cheese and piles of beans. This one though had one tortilla, just warmed, 2 fried eggs (over easy), a little red sauce, refried beans and some rice. I guess there was a little cheese maybe too. It was really quite delicious and filling. The eggs were perfectly cooked.

We also tried the salsas (knowing the restaurant also offers a salsa making class). They were good! The trio of salsas came with a thin tomatillo salsa, a creamy habenero salsa and a thick tomato salsa. The chips weren't the best but soaked in salsa they were fine.

The service was pretty good, the coffee was tasty, and the food was delicious. I'd like to go back for dinner sometime!

Tarascos

3319 W Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90026

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The Pizzeria

Las Vegas really isn't the cheapest place in the world. Food prices were really kind of crazy at all the different restaurants and we didn't really want to fall back on our favorite chains that dotted the landscape, but man, the prices were kinda outrageous at places. I thought the best deal on the strip were the people selling ice cold water for $1 on the bridges--I bet they make a tidy sum.

So, in search of a cheap lunch I happened to come across this place called simply "The Pizzeria." The reviewers on Yelp talk about the place as though it is a secret find--and it really does feel like that when you do find it. Like finding an old friend, the Pizzeria is hidden down a nondescript hallway on the third floor of the new Cosmopolitan Hotel.

This restaurant was a great find. The slices are fresh large slices of greasy NY style pizza for about $3.50 each. If you want a whole pizza you can get one for about $20, more with toppings. As we waited in the short line a piping hot meat-lovers pizza came out of the oven and replaced an old looking pizza on the counter--that they promptly threw away due to sitting too long. The sodas come in red plastic party cups like the fraternity boys hid beer in in college. I hear it's free refills, although I didn't test the theory.

The pizza I had was warm, floppy but crisp and a smidge too salty (but it was meat lovers, what are you going to do?). My husband--a true pizza connoisseur enjoyed his slice of meat lovers and the plain cheese, folding them like a pro and avoiding any drips or crumbs on the flimsy paper plate.

There is minimal seating space at the counters and a tiny bit to stand in, but you can always take your pizza out to the pool table or the business center where there's ample space. If you're craving something tasty and cheap the next time you're in Vegas don't miss The Pizzeria.

The Pizzeria, The Cosmopolitan Hotel

Las Vegas, NV

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Norcino Salumeria Cheese Bar "The Butcher"

The Market in Santa Monica Place opened just last month and it has already become an old favorite to me. I still can barely go in there without picking up a chocolate chip cookie--but that bakery is not the only thing that makes my heart swoon.

The Butcher, as it is called when you get a sandwich instead of a sampler at the cheese bar, is a fast favorite. Since day one they have adapted to their environment and now offer a small list of sandwiches that highlight their super-high quality meats and cheeses for about $8 each. I'd say that's a pretty standard Santa Monica lunch.

The speck, the proscuitto, the cheeses, the manners. The food is delicious and the staff is friendly and helpful. I've gotten two different sandwiches from this place and I can eat them even after I am full because of all the textures and flavors that meld together wonderfully.

If you are so inclined, you can also join the Butcher at the cheese bar for a cheese sampler or tastes of meat and a glass of wine. If you like anything enough, you can buy chunks of cheese and slices of meat to take home. This place is not to be missed.

The Butcher, The Market
3rd Floor
395 Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica, CA 90401
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Aurelie The Cookie Guru

I am a big cookie fan. Alright, you got me, I just love all desserts--but especially cookies. Whenever I went to the mall in my youth I would beg and beg my mom to buy me a cookie from Mrs. Fields. When each birthday came around I would hem and haw over cake or giant frosted cookie. And so I consider myself a bit of a cookie connoisseur, which means that when I saw a cookie stand in the middle of the newly opened Market at the Santa Monica place, I skipped over the massive lines for gelato (apparently they were offering a free scoop) and rushed on over.

Aurelie only sells chocolate chip cookies at this time, and that's just fine with me. The cookies were perched on cake plates with others coming right out of the oven. To compliment the cookies, you can buy a glass of milk--plain or flavored, soy, dairy or almond.

I purchased two cookies and a glass of the caramel milk. I had the caramel milk for lunch to accompany my sandwich from "the Butcher." It was the perfect mix of sweet and creamy. I loved how the flavors mixed together and I've never even thought about making caramel milk!

And then there were the cookies. Chewy chocolate chip cookies with delicious warm and giant chocolate chips melted on top and inside in delicious layers. I ate one and immediately wanted another...but I restrained myself. I have also tried several of their monthly flavors and they are usually delicious. This is my favorite place to go for a treat in Santa Monica now.

The lady in front of me purchased a dozen cookies to take and bake at home--and I would consider it, they were so delicious it is worth the price! Now I know where to go for my afternoon snack!






The Cookie Guru, The Market
3rd Floor
395 Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica, CA 90401
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Charlie Kabob

Charlie Kebab (chain)

Santa Monica Place Food Court, 3rd floor

$

Charlie Kebab is now my go-to fast lunch spot. It is a Persian restaurant with several made-to-order kebabs, rice, and other dishes. For a light lunch I like to order the lamb pita sandwich which comes with all the fixings. I omit mayo and add the yogurt sauce. The pita is absolutely crammed with meat and vegetables and really fills me up. I love the flavors and the quick service. They also have cups of water already prepared and are happy to serve those to you if you don't get a drink.

Atmosphere (outdoors on the patio of the food court, you can see part of the ocean over the buildings)

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Menu Variety (lots IF you like Persian or Greek food)

Cafe Bellagio

Cafe Bellagio

3rd & Santa Monica - The center of the street restaurant shop with the giant ice cream cone

$

I was really craving a sandwich for lunch today but my choices were slim. I didn't want anything fancy, or super greasy. Honestly I should've just brought my lunch..but I didn't, so I had to buy. I wandered down the street and came across Cafe Bellagio. I thought they only served gelato--but apparently they have a full lunch (and breakfast) menu. The restaurant has some indoor and some outdoor seats. The orders take a little bit of time to come out, but there is plenty of people watching while you wait. The food is pretty good--I couldn't taste the Giadineria that was supposedly on my sandwich but the plain ham and cheese was still delicious. The bread was really fresh and not the kind of panini that cuts up your mouth because it is too toasty. Cafe Bellagio is also a pretty good deal for lunch--mine was less than $10 for chips, a drink and the sandwich.

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