Consuming LA

March 8, 2013 · 11:06 am

Big Taste in Little Tokyo

Little Tokyo is one of my favorite dining destinations in the city. There are only three official Japantowns in the whole country (the others are in San Francisco and San Jose) and just like the rest of Downtown, our Little Tokyo has seen amazing revitalization over the past few years. There are not only a slew of great Japanese restaurants of every variety, but a veritable smorgasbord of pre- and post-meal activities to entertain and amuse you, including museums and galleries, secluded Japanese gardens, interesting shops, and karaoke.

Of all the restaurants in Little Tokyo, my favorite is Aburiya Toranoko. It was opened only a couple years ago by the same owners as its next door neighbor, Lazy Ox Canteen, and is both a high-end sushi bar and izakaya (i.e. Japanese gastropub). The design of the restaurant is Ã¼ber-hip and modern; very urban with chandeliers and a giant colorful mural on a long brick wall.

If you’re with a large group, you’ll need to get a table, but if you’re dining alone or with only one companion, the beautiful polished wooden sushi bar is the place to be. There you can witness the formidable skills of talented and charming sushi master Seiji Nakano. If you can afford it, go with the omakase and let Chef Nakano be your guide. In terms of izakaya fare, the incredible Uni Goma Tofu (sesame tofu topped with sea urchin) is an absolute must-have. I also highly recommend the Sumiyaki (grills meats and fish on skewers), especially the Miso Black Cod and the Tsukune (chicken meatball). The Jidori Kara-age (fried chicken) is also excellent. For dessert, I love the Green Tea Pudding and the Chocolate Lava Cake.

Aburiya Toranoko is located at 243 So. San Pedro St., Los Angeles (Downtown).

Uni Three Ways (Kumamoto Oysters with Uni and Caviar, Uni Goma Tofu with Jellied Tuna, and Uni and Vegetable Tempura)

Tuna and Roasted Beets with Housemade Tofu Cheese and topped with Crispy Ginger

Jidori Kara-age (Fried Chicken)

Sashimi Carpaccio Plate with Tuna, Halibut, Sweet Shrimp, Giant Clam and Salmon

Tofu Dengaku with Miso Sauce and Grilled Vegetables

Assorted Sumiyaki (Miso Black Cod, Angus Beef, Tsukune, and Zucchini with Cherry Tomato)

Toro Sushi

Freshwater Eel Sushi Hiroshima Style

Green Tea Pudding

Mini Chocolate Lava Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

Mini Chocolate Lave Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

Sushi Master Seiji Nakano

It’s a Dog Eat Dog World

Like every great American city, Los Angeles has its fair share of wieneries; gastronomic temples dedicated to finely seasoned and cured processed meat cylinders served on long soft buns with a variety of condiments including mustard, relish, sauerkraut, onions, cheese and chili. Pink’s is the most famous in town, but hardly the best. Dodger Dogs are overrated. When I want a truly spectacular red hot — a juicy dog that snaps with every bite and explodes with flavor in my mouth — I head to one of my five favorites listed below.

Carney’s

#5 Carney’s (8351 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood and 12601 Ventura Blvd, Studio City). This dive restaurant in an old yellow train serves amazing hot dogs, including a spicy “New Yorker,” a traditional “Chicagoan” and a “Red Baron” with spicy mustard and red cabbage. If you like your dogs slathered with messy, meaty chili, there’s simply no better place.

Fab Hot Dogs

#4 Fab Hot Dogs (19417 Victory Blvd, Reseda) Well worth the drive to Reseda, Fab Hot Dogs are perfection. You can get grilled pastrami or BBQ baked beans on your dog and their speciality is a crunchy deep-fried “Bald Eagle Ripper” with housemade spicy mustard relish. It’s also well worth the risk to your arteries.

The Slaw Dogs

#3 The Slaw Dogs (720 N. Lake Ave, Pasadena; 19801 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills; 1355 Huntington Dr, Duarte) Their bacon-wrapped LA Street Dog topped with grilled peppers and onions, garlic mayo and pico de gallo is one of the best things ever. There’s also a Chicharron Dog with pork belly and kimchi and a Thai Dog with peanut curry satay sauce.

Vicious Dogs

#2 Vicious Dogs (5231 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood) The most fun and creative hot dogs in LA can be found here. I love the “Hot Chick,” which is bacon-wrapped and topped with mozzarella, chopped chicken tenders, ranch dressing and spicy Buffalo wing sauce. There’s even a hot dog with peanut butter and jelly.

Fritzi Dog

#1 Fritzi Dog (in the Original Farmer’s Market, 6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles) Newcomer Fritzi Dog has become my favorite hot dog place in the city. It’s truly gourmet and elevates the hot dog to a whole new level. Their eponymous dog served on a fresh soft pretzel bun (pictured above) is not only insanely delicious, but a work of art. I also love their juicy “Porker” dog served on a sweet and doughy “Parker” bun (they have buttery brioche and gluten-free buns as well). Best of all, you can get a tasting sampler of mini dogs to make your hot dog selection a little easier.

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7 Comments

Filed under Duarte, Mid-City, North Hollywood, Pasadena, Reseda, Studio City, West Hollywood, Woodland Hills

Tagged as Best Hot Dogs in LA, Best Hot Dogs in the Valley, Best Hot Dogs Los Angeles, Best Hot Dogs San Fernando Valley, Best Hot Dogs United States, Carney's Hot Dogs, Carney's Menu, Carney's Restaurant, Carney's Studio City, Carney's West Hollywood, Chicharron Dog, Fab Hot Dogs, Fab Hot Dogs Menu, Fab's Hot Dogs, Fritzi Dog, Fritzidog, Hot Dog Pretzel Bun, Hot Dog Stand Farmer's Market, Hot Dogs Reseda, LA Street Dog, North Hollywood Hot Dogs, Original Farmer's Market Hot Dogs, Peanut Butter and Jelly Hot Dog, Peanut Butter Hot Dog, Ripper Dogs Los Angeles, Rippers Los Angeles, Slaw Dogs Duarte, Slaw Dogs Menu, Slaw Dogs Pasadena, Slaw Dogs Woodland Hills, Slawdogs, Slawdogs Menu, The Slaw Dogs, Vicious Dogs, Vicious Dogs Menu

February 22, 2013 · 11:00 am

What the Fork?

I feel as if I’m channeling my inner-Don Draper as I down cocktails and feast on Clams Casino in the Mid-Century Modern digs of Littlefork, a great new restaurant that opened last month in Hollywood. Although its name sounds like a small town in Utah or the moniker bestowed upon some unfortunate child in Indian Guides, “Littlefork” actually refers to the diminutive three-pronged cocktail fork used to eat shellfish. It’s part of the restaurant’s theme; innovative and fun dishes inspired by the Atlantic Northeast, especially Boston and Montreal.

Chef Jason Travi’s menu consists of mostly small plates, with a strong emphasis on seafood. The aforementioned Clams Casino with Cracker Stuffing and Bacon is an absolute must-have, as is the Smoked Meats Poutine with Curds and Gravy. The Portuguese Mussels with Linguica, Beer and Chickpeas is one of the best mussel dishes I have ever eaten. I also recommend the Maple Eggs with Crispy Bacon (pictured above), the Clam Cakes with House Tartar Sauce, and the Apple Cider Braised Brussels Sprouts with Sage and Crispy Chicken Skin.

I’m hoping eventually they’ll be adding some version of fried whole-belly Ipswich clams to the menu, as well as my favorite New England dessert, Indian pudding with molasses and cornmeal. Until that happens, I recommend ending your meal with Littlefork’s Whoopie Pies with Marshmallow Fluff, although I’m pretty sure that’s not something Don Draper would eat. You’ll be channeling your inner-Sally Draper at that point.

Littlefork is located at 1600 Wilcox Ave., Hollywood. UPDATE: GOOD THINGS DON’T LAST FOREVER. LITTLEFORK IS CLOSED.

Pickled Vegetables (the amuse bouche)

Kettle Corn with Montreal Steak Spice and Maple Syrup

Crispy Oyster Sliders with Tartar Sauce and Pickled Hot Pepper

Smoked Meats Poutine with Curds and Gravy

Clams Casino with Cracker Stuffing and Bacon

Portuguese Mussels with Linguica, Beer and Chickpeas

Clam Cakes with House Tartar Sauce

Brisket with Three Mustards

Apple Cider Braised Brussels Sprouts with Sage and Crispy Chicken Skin

Whoopie Pies with Marshmallow Fluff

Buttermilk Maple Pie with Whipped Cream and Candied Orange Zest

Apple Cider Donuts with Apple Butter and Salted Caramel

Cocktails

Mid-Century Modernish

5 Comments

Filed under Hollywood

Tagged as Apple Cider Donuts, Atlantic Northeast Cuisine, Atlantic Northeastern Cuisine, Best Seafood Restaurants Los Angeles, Buttermilk Maple Pie, Calmcakes, Chef Jason Travi, Clam Cakes, Clams Casino, Don Draper, Fork Restaurant Hollywood, Fork Restaurant Los Angeles, Hollywood Seafood Restaurants, Jason Travi, Jason Travi Little Fork, Jason Travi Littlefork, Little Fork, Little Fork Cocktails, Little Fork Hollywood, Little Fork LA, Little Fork Los Angeles, Little Fork Los Angeles Restaurant, Little Fork Menu, LIttle Fork Restaurant, LIttle Fork Restaurant Hollywood, Little Fork Review, Littlefork, Littlefork Chef, Littlefork Cocktails, Littlefork LA, Littlefork Menu, Littlefork Restaurant, Littlefork Restaurant Hollywood, Littlefork Restaurant Los Angeles, Littlefork Review, Los Angeles Seafood Restaurants, Mad Men Food, Maple Pie, Portuguese Mussels, Sally Draper, Smoke Meats Poutine, Whoopie Pies

February 13, 2013 · 11:00 am

Birdy Num Num

As enchanting and rapturous as the kind of Japanese fairytale its name evokes, Hinoki & the Bird opened a few weeks ago in Century City. It’s the baby of chef David Myers (Comme Ã‡a and the late great Sona) and Kuniko Yagi of recent Top Chef fame. Located just down the street from the “Death Star” that houses CAA, Hinoki & the Bird has a style that you would expect of a hip Downtown or Venice restaurant, and not of staid and corporate-y Century City. Hinoki is a Japanese cedar tree and reclaimed wood is used extensively in the clean and modern interior. Seating is either in a beautiful enclosed patio or inside, sandwiched between the frenetic energy of an open kitchen and an impressively stocked bar.

Cocktails, such as the Gordon’s Cup (gin, muddled lime, cucumber, Szechuan pepper and salt) or the Griffith Park Swizzle (bourbon, mint, lime, bitters and absinthe), are a must. The food is Asian-inspired California cuisine. Almost everything I’ve eaten there so far has been excellent. Some of my favorites are the Beef Tartare with Pickled Jalapeno and Parmigiano, the Chili Crab Toast with Spicy Cucumbers and Coriander (pictured above) and the Salt & Pepper Marinated Calamari. Their Kale “Crispy and Raw” with Curried Almonds, Pecorino and Red Wine Vinaigrette is a delicious mix of colors and textures and one of the best kale salads I have ever eaten. I also love the Caramel Braised Pork Belly with Radish and Mustard Greens and the Miso Marinated Skirt Steak.

The desserts are incredible too, especially the Miso Mochi Rice Cream with Butterscotch and Togarashi and the Evo Parfait with Olive Oil Sable, Winter Citrus and Cinnamon Meringue. This is not surprising. After all, great fairytales always have happy endings.

Hinoki & the Bird is located at 10 Century Dr., Los Angeles (in Century City).

Spice Scented Nuts

Salt & Pepper Marinated Calamari with Ajwain-Tomato Jam

Crispy Marinated Chicken with Lemon Aioli

Beef Tartare with Pickled Jalapeno and Parmigiano

Lobster Roll with Green Curry and Thai Basil on a Charcoal-infused Bun

Caramel Braised Kurobuta Pork Belly with Radish and Mustard Greens

Miso Marinated Skirt Steak

Jidori Chicken

Grilled Winter Mushrooms with Sea Salt and Lime

Evo Parfait with Olive Oil Sable, Winter Citrus and Cinnamon Meringue

Miso Mochi Rice Cream with Butterscotch and Togarashi

Matcha Donuts & Koji Milk

Gordon’s Cup with Gin, Muddle Lime, Cucumber, Szechuan Pepper and Salt

A very cool space with lots of reclaimed wood and an open kitchen.

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Filed under Century City

Tagged as Best Restaurants in Century City, Caramel Braised Kurobuta Pork Belly, Caramel Braised Pork Belly, Caramel Pork Belly, Century City Restaurants, Chef David Myers, Chef Kuniko Yagi, Chili Crab Toast, Gordon's Cup, Hinoki & the Bird, Hinoki & the Bird Address, Hinoki & the Bird Hours, Hinoki & the Bird Los Angeles, Hinoki & the Bird Menu, Hinoki & the Bird Restaurant, Hinoki & the Bird Review, Hinoki and the Bird, Hinoki and the Bird Address, Hinoki and the Bird Hours, Hinoki and the Bird Los Angeles, Hinoki and the Bird Menu, Hinoki and the Bird Restaurant, Hinoki and the Bird Review, Hinokki and the Bird, Kuniko Los Angeles Restaurant, Miso Marinated Skirt Steak, Restaurant near CAA, Restaurants Near Century City, Top Chef Kuniko, Top Chef Kuniko Restaurant

February 10, 2013 · 10:49 pm

Plate It Again Sam

I love a good food fest, so I was happy to hear that LA Weekly’s annual food and wine event is back for a fifth year. It will take place on Sunday, March 3rd from 1-5pm, at the Peterson Automotive Museum. Previously called “The Gold Standard” before the departure of LA Weekly’s food critic Jonathan Gold, the yearly event is now known simply as “Plate” and it promises to once again be one of the top LA food events of the year. There will be unlimited tastings from more than 40 of the city’s best and most interesting restaurants and unlimited wine (in addition to beer and spirits) from over 30 top-shelf wineries curated by Downtown LA’s BUZZ Wine Beer Shop.

As far as these kind of events go, this one is relatively inexpensive. Tickets are $75 for General Admission and $95 for VIP Admission, which enables you to enter an hour earlier than the General Admission people and gets you a gift bag. If you’ve never been to one of these fun events before, this is a great one to start with. Some of my favorite restaurants, including Mo-Chica, Jitlada, Chichen Itza, Hungry Cat, Wurstkuche, and Philippe’s will be participating. A portion of the receipts goes to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank so you’re actually doing a good deed by filling your belly with delicious food and drinking lots and lots of wine.

You can buy tickets by going to LA Weekly’s website or by clicking here. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

UPDATE: Plate 2013 was a success! Here are a few highlights:

My hero Roy Choi announces the opening later this year of Chego, his gourmet rice bowl restaurant, in Chinatown

Gilberto Cetina from Chichen Itza served up Tacos de Cochinita Pibil

Ricard Zarate and Stephane Bombet from Mo-Chica and Picca were serving amazing food and talking about their new restaurant Paiche, which will open shortly in the old Mo-Chica space.

Ricard Zarate and Stephane Bombet from Mo-Chica and Picca were serving amazing food and talking about their now restaurant Paiche, which will open shortly in the old Mo-Chica space.

Ricardo Zarate’s Quinoa Salad with Roasted Vegetables and Miso Dressing was my favorite dish of the event.

8 Colorful Flavors of Pork from Korean restaurant Palsaik

Chef Jazz from my favorite Thai restaurant in LA, Jitlada, served up Spicy Chicken Curry.

Nguyen Tran from Starry Kitchen served Shrimp Chips with Grill Beef Bites in a homemade costume.

Where’s Spritle and Chim Chim? The event took place in the Peterson Automotive Museum.

Big Taste in Little Tokyo

It’s a Dog Eat Dog World

What the Fork?

Birdy Num Num

Plate It Again Sam

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