Monthly Archives: June 2014

A Wicked Case of the Munchies

"Shorty" Hot Pot with Braised Galbi, Chestnuts, Dates, Taro,  Carrots, Turnips, Scallion and Sesame
It was sad to hear about the death this week of Casey Kasem, the iconic voice of “American Top 40” and, more importantly, Shaggy, the slouched hippie with a perpetual case of the munchies on “Scooby Doo.” If Kasem’s Shaggy was real and living in LA today, he would probably be hanging out at Pot, the newest restaurant from LA’s most popular chef, Roy Choi.

Located in the Line Hotel, LA’s new hipper-than-hip hotspot in Koreatown, Pot is the coolest, most happening dining scene in the city. The cuisine is Korean comfort food, which feels familiar but, at the same time, transcendent due to Chef Choi’s considerable talent and creativity. The restaurant’s name refers to hot pots, which are the specialty of the house and are served family-style on built-in table burners. But there are many other awesome offerings on the menu, which is in the form of a newspaper with an elderly woman smoking a giant doobie on the cover.

I recommend starting with a cocktail. Both the Kimchi Soju and the Curry Soju are unique, spicy and surprisingly good. The crispy-on-the-bottom Kimchi Fried Rice is an absolute must-have, as are the BBQ Spicy Pork and BBQ Spot Prawns. As for the hot pots, my favorite is the “Shorty” (pictured above), which has Braised Galbi, Chestnuts, Dates, Taro, Carrots, Turnips, Scallion and Sesame, although Shaggy would probably go for the “Boot Knocker” with Tofu, Instant Ramen, Spam, Corned Beef Hash, Spicy Pork Sausage, Rice Cakes, Fish Cakes and Chili Paste, especially after a day of solving mysteries and unmasking villains masquerading as ghosts and zombies.

Pot is located at 3515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles (in Koreatown).

Banchan

Banchan


Pickled Kimchi Radish

Pickled Kimchi Radish


Spicy Dried Squid

Spicy Dried Squid


BBQ Spicy Pork

BBQ Spicy Pork


Kimchi Fried Rice

Kimchi Fried Rice


BBQ Spot Prawns

BBQ Spot Prawns


"Redondo Beach" Hot Pot with Spicy Crab, Bean Sprouts, Sesame, Onions, Nira and Tofu

“Redondo Beach” Hot Pot with Spicy Crab, Bean Sprouts, Sesame, Onions, Nira and Tofu


"Jamaal Wilkes" Hot  Pot with Silky Tofu, Shrimp, Clams, Mussels, Kimchi, Scallion,  Pork Belly and Egg

“Jamaal Wilkes” Hot Pot with Silky Tofu, Shrimp, Clams, Mussels, Kimchi, Scallion, Pork Belly and Egg


Kimchi Soju

Kimchi Soju


In the ultra-hip Line Hotel in K-town

In the ultra-hip Line Hotel in K-town



Pot on Urbanspoon

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Filed under Koreatown

Chocolate Fried Chicken

CocoChicken

Although it sounds like a name for one of Hello Kitty’s friends, ChocoChicken is actually a bold new high-concept restaurant from Umami Burger founder Adam Fleischman and former fellow food blogger Sean Robins. It features a breakthrough culinary creation — Chocolate Fried Chicken. This is not chicken in mole sauce, but rather a tasty version of Southern fried chicken that has bittersweet chocolate infused in the batter. The chocolate taste is subtle, but definitely there.

There are also Duck Fat Fries dusted with Chocolate Seasoning, White Chocolate Mashed Potatoes which have been infused with Chocolate Chive Butter and, on the lighter side, Fresh Cut Vegetables served with Miso Ranch Dressing and dusted with Chocolate Spice. There is even sweet Chocolate Ketchup, which is particularly good with the fries. Pretty much the only things that are chocolate-free are the Monkey Bread Biscuits, which come in two varieties: Flakey Butter and Caramelized Bacon. Both are insanely delicious. As you might guess, their full bar features Chocolate Martinis, Chocolate Whiskey and Chocolate Tequila.

ChocoChicken is located at 403 W. 12th Street, Los Angeles (Downtown, near Staples Center). A second location will open shortly in Santa Monica.

Caramelized Bacon and Flakey Butter Monkey Bread Biscuits

Caramelized Bacon and Flakey Butter Monkey Bread Biscuits


Cup of Raw Crudite with Miso Addicted Ranch

Cup of Raw Crudite with “Miso Addicted Ranch”


Chocolate Fried Chicken

Chocolate Fried Chicken


White Chocolate Mashed Potatoes

White Chocolate Mashed Potatoes


Crispy Duck Fat Fries dusted with Choco Seasoning, and served with Chocolate Ketchup

Crispy Duck Fat Fries dusted with Choco Seasoning, and served with Chocolate Ketchup


Electric Chocolate S'mores

Electric Chocolate S’mores Whoopie Pie


"Frying 58" Cocktail with Gin, Grapefruit and Pineapple

“Frying 58” Cocktail with Gin, Grapefruit and Pineapple


Just a stone's throw from the Staples Center

Just a stone’s throw from the Staples Center



ChocoChicken on Urbanspoon

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Filed under Downtown, Santa Monica