somebody bring me mango sticky rice from Bulan Thai.
Archive for March, 2010
suckitsubway
Posted 29 Mar 2010 — by lolo
Category Eating OUT, Indian, Mexican, Miracle Mile, vegetarian
Category Eating OUT, Indian, Mexican, Miracle Mile, vegetarian
There are a few good lunch options near my work. If you’re anyone but me.
There’s Subway, which if you know me, you know I think smells like a public restroom.
There’s Quiznos, which smells like a public restroom, but toasted.
There’s an Indian buffet place that is basically stuffed inside a Thai massage parlor and always has a gang of thugs that look like this lurking in the back:
There was, for a brief period, Flourish Cafe, a good, but expensive, vegan spot. They recently closed, though, leaving me with nothing. Or so I thought.
Live music often makes me panic so typically I ignore the El Rey Theatre. Turns out I have been doing myself a disservice since they are home to one of my new favorite spots–Cowboys and Turbans, a super cheap, and ultra fast Mexican and Indian fusion restaurant.
Lunch is usually around $6-$8 and should keep you full pretty much all day, unless you are a bottomless pit.
The first time I got the spinach tofu tandoori burrito. Completely vegan and seriously delicious.
Immediately after lunch a food coma of Thanksgiving proportions ensued and I went into unibomber disguise so nobody would talk to me.
Now I alternate between the burrito and the naanwich (also spinach tofu), on wheat naan.
The little shreds on top that look like cheese are actually chic pea strips. Not everything is vegan here since they serve chicken and quesadillas, and masala cheese fries (!), but there are plenty of vegan options, including a coconut based masala sauce with no dairy.
From left to right are the masala, a super spicy red sauce and an equally spicy and maybe more delicious green sauce.
Once I went to the El Rey location for lunch and then, in an effort to be inconspicuous, went to the Silverlake location for dinner. The owner saw me both times. As we left after dinner, he looked at me and my date and said to us “see you guys later” and then pointed at me and said “especially you.”
Embarrassing, maybe, but not enough to stop me from going back for lunch the next day. And basically 3-5 times a week ever since.
ifyouknowyouknow
Posted 24 Mar 2010 — by lolo
Category Eating OUT
Category Eating OUT
I don’t even want to tell you where this is from because the last thing I need is for them to run out of bread because you got in line in front of me:
this one’s obviously mine since I would never get a “half” sandwich. Gimme a break.
So anyway, good luck figuring it out.
namastaywithme
Posted 23 Mar 2010 — by lolo
Category Cooking Crush, hot babe
Category Cooking Crush, hot babe
As my next cooking crush may I present the one and only Akhtar Nawab, of the former Elattaria restaurant.
Oops. maybe not the one and only.
Should we? Maybe take a? A bath in exotic spices?
Even if sometimes you’re a little fobby?
Yeah. I think we should.
solonggoodbye
Posted 18 Mar 2010 — by lolo
Category Eating IN, Italian, Pizza, West LA, vegetarian
Category Eating IN, Italian, Pizza, West LA, vegetarian
A few weeks ago I got email notification that Patty’s Pizza (gourmet take and bake) would be closing it’s retail location on Montana Avenue. Well, not exactly closing, but “relocating” to an online delivery service, that, much to my chagrin, will serve only West LA. If you live in Venice, Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey, Malibu, Pacific Palisades or even Beverly Hills, you are super lucky. And not just because you live in a nice neighborhood. But also because Patty’s pizza is really fucking delicious. I’ve had their soy cheese pizza and I would venture to say it is, without a doubt, one of the best vegan pizzas I’ve had in LA.
Pizzas range from $8 to $20 and can (and should) be ordered online from www.pattyspizza.com
I joked in an email with Christina, of Blaze PR, that I was tempted to pull an Elaine and order pizza from a mysterious westside address and just wait in front of their house (or in the janitor’s closet) till it arrived. I wouldn’t put it past me.
I missed their closing party but here are some shots:
See, you take ‘em home like this and bake ‘em and then when your friends come over you give Patty no credit and pretend you made it all from scratch and also grew the ingredients mostly. It’s the right thing to do.
You can also get their frozen pizzas at Bristol Farms (or the Trader Joe’s Brand Pepperoni Pizza is also Patty’s)
I don’t know if the above pictures do justice to how good this pizza really is. I’ll get my hands on some, even though it might be harder than it used to be, and I’ll show you how good that shit really looks and tastes in person. When I invite you over to taste the pizza I “made from scratch.”
predator
Posted 17 Mar 2010 — by lolo
Category Eating OUT, Mexican, Sky's Tacos, vegetarian
Category Eating OUT, Mexican, Sky's Tacos, vegetarian
Believe it or not, RFD isn’t the only vegan nachos sheriff in this town. Although it might be the nicest, buffest sheriff.
We like his partner, Sky’s Tacos, too.
overboard
Posted 16 Mar 2010 — by lolo
Category Eating OUT, Hollywood, Real Food Daily, West LA, vegetarian
Category Eating OUT, Hollywood, Real Food Daily, West LA, vegetarian
Recently I forced Billy into meeting me at Real Food Daily to eat some Not-chos with me. Naturally he was very suspicious of my intentions, prodding me to learn more about the meaning behind and ingredients within vegan Not-chos. Some things are just meant to be made with the real thing and I’m pretty sure he thought nachos fell into that category.
We ordered our Not-chos with vegan sour cream on the side. (If I think the real thing is gross, I don’t want the vegan version–I’m talking to you sour cream, cream cheese, mayo, and all other members of the gross white creamy things family. Keep your mind outta the gutter).
That left tofu taco mix, black beans, pico de gallo salsa, guacamole and the best cashew cheese I’ve ever had on top.
Turns out Billy liked the Not-chos.
This would have been a good time to wrap up the meal but….
He had the caesar wrap:
I had what felt like a flavor continuation of the not-chos, and what, ultimately, would propel me into a state of fullness unlike any I’ve ever experienced. Not a happy night.
I say this every time but…next time, just the not-chos.
itakeitback
Posted 12 Mar 2010 — by lolo
Category Akasha, Culver City, Eating OUT, vegetarian
Category Akasha, Culver City, Eating OUT, vegetarian
About a year ago I had a not so great dinner at Akasha–service was very slow, food was cold, and under seasoned. I passed the restaurant over and over throughout the year on my way to other, more delicious eateries, and not once was I tempted to give it another chance.
But last Friday I realized–hey, a lot of people like Akasha and it isn’t like they pulled a Kassava on you. They, unlike Kassava, deserve a second chance.
We were late for our reservation and they were nice about it. Akasha: 1. Judgmental Lauren: 0.
Great vegan options on the menu and lovely wine and cocktail list. Akasha: 11. Judgmental Lauren 8.
If you’re not following my point system I just gave Akasha an extra 10 points cause I like quinoa and Prosecco and gave myself 8 points for being funny.
Now it’s almost a tie, isn’t it?
We split a bottle of a nice Spanish Cava.
Then started with a very tangy, Spanishy Spinach salad with dates, kumquats, smoked almonds, and red wine vinaigrette. Ok fine, at this point, Akasha, I take everything back I’ve ever said practically. This salad was amazing and I want it everyday for 4 months until I get sick of it and just order another amazing salad off your menu.
For the love of God look at this shit!
Then, Lillian and I both ordered the quinoa with market vegetables and tamari grilled tofu (can also be ordered with orange-soy glazed chicken).
Joanna had the Beluga Lentils and Greens with black lentils, butternut squash, roast mushrooms, braised greens, and jalapeño pesto.
Eating vegan there is certainly cheaper–both entrees were $14 compared to some of the steak and fish choices ranging in the $20s.
Highlight of the meal was undoubtedly dessert. I am SO sick of restaurants that only have sorbet as a vegan dessert option. Take your lemon, mango and raspberry selection and stick it where you don’t wanna get poked.
Akasha actually had vegan gelato on the menu. Hallelujah. Seriously.
We had some sort of banana, peanut butter chocolate rainforest, chocolate combination that was so. mother. fucking. good.
This time I revise my opinion of Akasha. I’d like to put it in medium to heavy rotation so I guess Tender Greens and M Cafe aren’t the only sheriffs in Culver City anymore. At least not for me. One complaint still remains–kinda under seasoned. Akasha, meet salt. Salt, make yourself useful.
Afterward we headed to Mandrake to watch me take my shoes off and get down to the business of dj’ing with Andrew.
Here’s me with Joanna, Lillian and Kim after dinner. Kim wasn’t at dinner with us, but she was at the bar, and is one of my favorite people, which qualifies her to be in this post.
If you’re about to ask me if I dj, I don’t. I’m terrible at it, I play reggaeton even though nobody speaks Spanish, and this is my version of turntables:
Old and good friends came out, though, and they didn’t shame me for playing this shit:
The moral of the story is that some restaurants deserve a second chance. (NO, Kassava, not you. Ever).
Akasha: 20. Lauren: Humbled. I’ll be back.
partduewithmandrew
Posted 10 Mar 2010 — by lolo
Category Breakfast, Brunch, Eating OUT, Huckleberry, Santa Monica, Uncategorized, vegetarian
Category Breakfast, Brunch, Eating OUT, Huckleberry, Santa Monica, Uncategorized, vegetarian
Adventures with Andrew continued…
After our failed mission to eat our ways through the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market, we went to Huckleberry to pick up some brunch.
Huckleberry is a cafe and bakery in Santa Monica started by husband and wife team Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan (who you might recognize as owners of Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen).
Incidentally, Josh is also the big brother of Gabe, who I accompanied to prom in 11th grade.
Gabe still wrongly accuses me of making out with another guy that night. Good thing he doesn’t read my blog cause um….
here’s prom night:
Really good iced coffee and a latte:
We waited outside for our food and Andrew told me I’m very photogenic. Then he told me that means I present better on camera. Nice.
They now serve beer, wine and mimosas, automatically propelling them into a world of greatness.
They also have a bowl of MY HEAD in the deli case:
We didn’t eat there, even though the place had that perfect Sunday brunch energy–bright and airy with poached egg deliciousness floating around.
When we got out to Andrew’s car, look what was hanging on the mirror of the car parked next to his:
I didn’t even realize it was missing, but I thought it was pretty fucking miraculous I should find it given this story.
We took our food back to his place so we could watch the Lakers fight really hard to lose to the Magic.
Andrew ordered the green eggs and ham:
No, not that one. The one with La Quercia prosciutto, pesto and arugula on an English muffin:
I had the quinoa with spinach, sprouting broccoli and sunny side up eggs, minus the eggs:
Delicious.
They were also super accommodating about removing the eggs and even asked if I wanted other veggies added in to my meal when I told them I was vegan.
Good thing Andrew and I weren’t planning on making out during halftime:
A bold use of garlic, sure, but I can’t say it didn’t make my quinoa taste better than your less garlicky quinoa.
I want to go back and explore the deli case. And I also want to find out who I probably made out with at Gabe’s 11th grade prom. Call the 800 hotline if you have any hot tips.
openupyourmouth
Posted 09 Mar 2010 — by lolo
Category Breakfast, Eating OUT, Uncategorized, West LA, farmer's market
Category Breakfast, Eating OUT, Uncategorized, West LA, farmer's market
Sunday was very fruitful. I had plans with Andrew to hit up two westside farmers’ markets to compare their offerings–a showdown of west LA breakfast foods, flowers, juices, and other shit.
Also Andrew heard a rumor there’s a man on the Promenade who will make a bust of you, so naturally we were also planning on doing that.
First we hit up the MarVista Farmers’ Market off of Venice. Good thing we found it despite this misleading sign:
Andrew knew all the vendors cause I’m pretty sure they’re used to him stealing all the cheese sandwiches and housing all the pastries. This gem of a man overheard Andrew praising the muffins and hollered out, “You know ’bout my muffin!”
Andrew? Is this true? Do you know about this man’s muffin?? Do tell.
We started trolling the market for breakfast.
First stop, fresh squeezed OJ.
We bumped into a couple of Andrew’s friends and I bullied them into letting me photograph their veggie and beef/olive empanadas from this place:
We found a vegan vendor who sold things like mac ‘n’ cheese and lasagna but I was more in the mood for a breakfast burrito or something to that effect. Andrew didn’t shy away from sampling the food that was out, much like the food didn’t shy away from not moving itself out of the cup that housed it. Get in the hole, food! Are you too good for your hole?!
Then, while Andrew was stealing samples, I wandered over to these Oaxacans to get some horchata. They had a bunch of other mystical agua frescas that I probably should have tried in the interest of diversity.
Around this time I overheard a mom say to her son, “you need to open up your mouth and put some respect in it.” I don’t know if that’s the new, “I’m gonna wash your mouth out with soap,” but someone needs to tell mommy she sounds like Lil’ Kim.
Next Andrew got some french toast that confusingly looked more like French pancake, but whatevs…
In the interest of fairness in reporting, they only charged him $5 since apparently this was smaller than their normal French toast.
At this point I had some oj, some horchata and a bite of vegan salad in my tummy and I was trying not to act mad about how hungry I was in front of Andrew who is conveniently not vegan and can sample cheese long into the night. Ew.
On to the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market. You know, the one that’s on Saturdays.
whoops.
So….no showdown this time. Instead we headed to Huckleberry to grab some lunch.
I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow since I’m pretty sure this post combined with the cucumber pic below is enough stimulation for one day.