Potato Soup for Next Winter

Admittedly it is spring now, and I am long overdue in posting this recipe for Potato & Leek soup. But hey, now we'll be prepared for the next cold season. I first made this type of soup in Budapest one year ago, when it was still quite chilly, and I was so surprised to find out how simple it was that even I could throw it together. This is probably the first soup that has lessened my intimidation of cooking soups.

I used an amalgam of various recipes, but it's always really easy: saute garlic, diced onions and leeks if you have them (only the white & light green parts), then add sliced potatoes and cover with water or stock or broth. Let simmer, then mash, and add some cream or milk, season to taste (salt, pepper, rosemary?, paprika?, oregano/basil?).
Sorry folks, I guess I follow my grandmother's method of recipe providing: just enough of this, just enough of that, and the recipient sits there jaw-open wondering, "specifically, HOW MUCH?"

So here is a recap of a recipe I've pulled from:
4 slices bacon
1 Tbsp unsalted butter
3 leeks - white and light green parts only, cleaned and sliced thin
2.5 - 3 lbs. potatoes, scrubbed and sliced thin
chicken stock or water to cover
2 bay leaves
2 parmesan rinds (optional but a neat idea if you have them)
1/2 cup cream (probably less than 1/2 cup will do. Can also use milk, and read somewhere that you can try eggnog but haven't done so myself)
salt and pepper to taste

For serving;
shredded cheddar cheese
chopped scallions
sour cream
crumbled bacon
admittedly these toppings sound heart-clogging, but if anything, definitely use the chopped scallions!

The Gold Room

Technically this is a bar, but they serve tacos so I will stretch the justification. $1 tequila shots with $4 beer, endless peanuts, friendly waitresses (and busty, for you men out there), planets on the ceiling, and free tacos---what more could you want from a bar?! The tacos certainly don't match up to El Taurino, but FREE? did you hear that?

23rd St. Cafe

Eight months into living at my current apartment, I finally discover the cafe at the corner! Only 4 months left to enjoy the eclectic and delicious mix of American, Mexican and most importantly, Indian cuisine. To be honest, I've only had the Indian (tikka masala, chicken saag, and some cauliflower dish), but it's all been fantastic. The dishes come with rice, lentils, cucumber raita and naan, and for an economical&busy student, you can make it stretch for 2 meals easy. The ambiance inside isn't the best, but their tiny outside courtyard is really cute when it's sunny outside. You can almost forget where you are in LA, but good luck actually getting a seat outside--there are only around 3 tables.