Yai, More Thai

As much as the basil eggplant tofu at Thai Patio rocks my socks off, I decided it was time to explore the other options in Thai town. That and Yelping is just soooooo much fun and you find so many places to try.
Yai is an absolute hole-in-the-wall establishment, sharing a tiny lot with 7-Eleven (but don't park in their spaces, I hear you can get ticketed). There is plenty of street parking or even spots in front of Yai. You're certainly not coming here for ambiance, but the food is worthwhile, and goes great for takeout. Service is efficient and they are very helpful if you are torn between choices.
We got the Crispy Pork with Greens on Rice, which was tasty but not super adventurous. I mean, I absolutely wish I could get pork to be that crispy and succulent at home, but I suppose that when I'm craving Thai I want a little more bang and spice. Also, the ratio seemed to favor the rice more than the pork and greens.
We also got the Noodles with Ground Beef and Chili. This was wonderful- spicy, flavorful and had a nice amount of vegetables in it as well. We got it medium spicy, so I can only imagine that my ears would steam if it was any hotter.
The prices are low as to be expected so feel free to try something new, and I'll write more when I go back to try other things.

5757 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 462-0292
http://www.yelp.com/biz/yai-restaurant-los-angeles

Wurstküche and Trader Joe's sausage skillet

A non-sushi option in Little Tokyo: Wurstküche, a sausage and beer place with some unique options to choose from. You order at the counter then walk down a long corridor into a cavernous, dark space with long picnic tables and a bar, where they will bring your food out to you. They have the standards like bratwurst, but go for something crazier: Filipino Maharlika or Alligator, Pork&Andouille. Billy and I tried this place twice and I liked the Rattlesnake and Rabbit with Jalapenos and the Rabbit, Veal and Pork with White wine. I wasn't a huge fan of the Duck, Bacon and Jalapeno. You can also get a variety of toppings like caramelized onions, sauted peppers, etc.
The sausages are ok, but the Belgian fries are really damn good. The second time I went I was just accompanying Billy b/c I had dinner already, but the fries are too irresistible. Oh and the sauces! Blue Cheese Walnut and Bacon is delicious but too chunky, but the Chipotle Aioli is on point. They have a worthy selection of import beers on tap and bottled. And they have late hours which is a plus.
Shouldn't run you too high a cost, but at the same time, it feels a bit strange to pay this much for a glorified hot dog. I'll let you be the judge.

That being said, the specialty sausages at Trader Joe's are quite worthy competitors in my opinion (apple & maple syrup; spinach & fontina ($4 for a package of 4-5). An easy recipe I like to do when pressed for time and needing to serve some folks: slice up the sausages and saute with fresh spinach and diced onion. If using apple maple, then saute some diced apple in there as well. Feel free to add dried cranberries or top with feta or goat cheese. Serve next to fried potatoes or couscous or whatever sidedish you prefer.

800 E 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 687-4444

www.wurstkucherestaurant.com

New Orleans: Crawfish, brew-throughs, and beignets

NOLA is famous for their amazing food. Crawfish. Brew-throughs. Beignets.

When I went to Louisiana after graduation, the first thing we did was go to a local seafood restaurant. At that restaurant, there was all things seafood. You could order poor boy sandwiches (I never knew what they were). There were also fried pickles, which looked interested at the very least, but I did not try out of my fear of pickles. Or you can do what everyone else does, and get crawfish by the pound. Yes, crawfish!

Crawfish. The fried pickles are in the back.

The crawfish had to be eaten a certain way too. You held the crustacean with both of your hands, then you pinch and yank off the head. You rip apart the back of the shell, followed by the intestinal stripe across the back and the legs, upon which you pop into your mouth. It is VERY tasty and juicy. The only one complaint I have of them is sometimes their sizes are very small, making me question my efforts as I earnestly peel and shuck them. I must have eaten at least six pounds of crawfish during the four days I was there.


Next, the drive-in / drive-through daquiri stops. So apparently, alcohol rules are very lax in New Orleans. Lax to the point that there are daquiri shops all over Louisiana that you can either sit in and drink like at an old school fountain shoppe, or you can enter the DRIVE THROUGH and order a daquiri to go. Isn't this a novel idea?? The legislation for these stores require the daquiris to be served in a closed container, though, so the lady in the drive through will hand you a drink without a straw or a drink with the container shut. But still. The idea is mindblowing. Probably the best part of the whole venture is the deluxe daquiri containers. The biggest jug is a whopping 52 ounce container that is approximately the size of a watermelon. And apparently only the "manliest of men" get it, because it is a guaranteed brain freeze and intesely alcoholic night.

Brew throughs. Only in LA.




Finally, there is the legendary, world famous Cafe Du Monde, at the corner of the New Orleans sqaure. This is the GO TO place for Sunday morning breakfast. It is not an uncommon sight to see a line of 100+ people for a seat at this place, but fortunately service is quick, so the line is fairly brisk. We waited about 45 minutes in line. Cafe Du Monde is famous for their beignets. You get three fried donuts with each order, which is more than enough to fill you up for a pleasant morning. The donuts are warm, with a light sweetness in their spongy taste. It is served generously dusted with powdered sugar, and you may take soda or coffee with it. Best of all, the beignets are under two dollars, so it is completely possible to have an excellent breakfast complete with coffee for under five bucks! Coming from Los Angeles, this is very refreshing.




Food in the Big Easy = excellent

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.

Duke's Malibu

so I don't really go out and dine that much usually because I can be notoriously cheap when it comes to food, and I hate putting effort into dressing up, looking presentable, and driving out. but sometimes I do go out and eat at a nice place, and when I do, the results can be pretty pleasing. this morning I went to Duke's in Malibu, a restaurant participating in the DineLA promotion. it is merely twenty miles from USC, just up the Pacific Coast Highway, but when you are in the restaurant you seem to be in an entirely different location. Duke's prides itself on its Hawaiian food and its spectacular view, and every place in the restaurant gives you a gleaming, unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean, complete with sailboats, pelicans, and crashing surf on the shore.


the restaurant is a tribute to the late Duke Kahanamoku - famed surfer, swimmer, and Hawai'ian legend. the menu boasts a Hawaiian twist to typical food - lots of pineapple and mango influences on fish entres. we got the brunch buffet, which is an all-you-can-eat free for all of breakfast enticements. there were browned potatoes, eggs benedict, island eggs benedict, Hawaiian cerviche (which I encourage everyone to try, it was my favorite option), lox and bagels, and other breakfast fare. there was also a carved meat section, where you can order roast beef or ham, though I hear that the RB was a bit dry. one third of the food area was also exclusively devoted to dessert fare - mini scones, chocolate covered strawberries, tropical fruit, cookies, bars, etc.

I would say that Duke's is an experience that can only be found in LA. supposedly celebrities frequent it, and evaluating the young fashioned people at the restaurant, I believe it. it is quite tasty, and when I go to Hawai'i in April, I'm certainly going to be wondering if Duke's was a good represtation of original island fare.