Trip to LALA 08

Back in january I went to visit Cbuck in LALA land; here's some pics of food and fun. One of the nicest parts was flying virgin america. very nice airline. 

L.A. Postcard, day 3

So I'm not much of a sports fan, but we got some expensive tickets to a Dodgers game. The seats were really good, but the best part of the "Dugout Club" is special access to the full restaurant and bar under the stadium that comes with it. Air conditioned and all the food is included in the ticket price. There were two or three buffets, made to order omelettes, ice cream, and a whole Dodger dog station. The Dodger dog is good. I take mine with kraut, relish and spicy mustard, thank you. For you sports fans, they won in the 12th inning.

After they game, we drove down Sunset and up Highway 1 along the coast for a bit. Ate some seafood at Gladstone's in Malibu. Had some enormous King crab legs that were awesome. Great view of the sunset if you request a table by the window, and they're right on the beach so you can walk off dinner.

L.A. Postcard, day 2

Now that the meetings are over with, time to get into town. After a visit to Amoeba Records, we ate at Magnolia on Sunset and had a decent light meal of apps and beet salad. The waiter got completely thrown when someone at our table ordered a Manhattan, because it wasn't on the drink menu. When I asked if they had Pimm's, he was really confused. We didn't mean to tax his brain just on the drink order. They did have some awesome metallic wallpaper. Bowery next door was probably the better place to eat, but as such, it was packed.

After dinner, we took a walk and a cab to Skybar at the hotel Mondrian. The weather was wonderful and there's a great view of the city from the deck. They said you have to be either a guest or have a reservation. But on a not too busy Tuesday night, they're not going to turn down paying customers.

Next time I'm in the area, I'd like to hang out in what I believe is the Echo Park area. It's between a mostly Hispanic neighborhood (where there look to be some great places to eat) and the more downtown area. There were lots of cool shops and restaurants and a Giant Robot store!

L.A. Postcard, day 1

Another West Coast adventure, this time starting in Arcadia, CA. Where's that, you say? It's north of LA and east of Pasadena. Deep in the 'burbs. Land of Office Depot and Starbucks. We got a recommendation from the people we were out there to meet with. The Claim Jumper sounded like kitschy fun – wagon wheels and such. But the food was bad. We should have known when they snickered as they gave us directions. Never trust a salesman.

I wanted to go to Din Tai Fung which I found via Chowhound. Renowned for their soup dumplings. Maybe next time. Not all my travel companions are adventurous eaters.

We all scream for ice cream... in a good brain freeze way

It's August in NYC; it's the best time to visit (crowd wise) but the worst time to visit (heat wise). Everyone leaves the heat to regroup for the fall. Being the starving artist type I can't really afford to leave. But I can afford to stay and eat ice cream. So eat ice cream I will. I only know a small number of ice cream places here so far (not counting the cold stone creameries, ben and jerry's, heshesy's, and dozens of baskin robbins... ech). No I'm talkin' neighborhood spots that cater to the few surrounding blocks and regulars.
So I though I'd post a couple of appreciations of ice cream joints I've been enjoying this summer over the next few days...

L.A., visiting friends out there over the 4th of July and was taken to a lovely little place called SCOOPS. I'ts a small, unrefined space next to a driving range and surrounded by alt-bike shops, thrift stores and several closed boutiques. Not to mention a shuttered restaurant the had an F rating from the health department (not really close to scoops mind you).
Run by Mr Tai Kim and famous already through many blogs and online reviews, this little gem offers $2.00 scoops and $1.00 refills of your cup while you are dining there. The refills are dangerous. Mr Tai loves to experiment I discovered. Some flavors there for the sampling: balsamic vinegar and strawberry, Goat Cheese Basil, Rosemary Creme Fraiche, Chocolate Orange, Foie grais and onion, pepsi pineapple sorbet... and bacon cream (mmmmm. The list goes on and they aren't stingy with the sample spoons so don't be shy.
Some of th flavors work better than others, so be sure to sample lots. I scooped on the strawberry banana.

SCOOPS is located at:
712 N Heliotrope Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 906-2649
Mon-Sat 12pm-10pm

next stop: NYC and the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory