fri 9 oct found us at the ucla vs usc women’s vball game w/ dogsitter and the mexican (affectionately known as KL and RM). i won’t blog about the ucla hot dog and popcorn but i will go on about some of the best fried chicken in the world. of course, koreans make it at a place called kyochon (and they have a prius with the kyochon logo splashed up both sides…cool. i want one.) the service was lousy this evening and we were all starving, but the flavor delivered. esp. since the last time i had this (which was also my first time and my only time) it was impressive but it was also take out picked up by JP and had lost something in her car.

we went for the signature wings in the sweet hot sauce and the “whole chicken” in the traditional garlic sauce and the rice crisped chicken strips (i didn’t know they had anything but wings). and, of course, 2 boxes of pickled daikon (you know, the stuff i’ll eat even when it’s rotten and insist to m and LCR that “it’s great!!!” yay for my iron stomach).

wings!

i barely had time to photo op the whole chicken before it was devoured

chicken strips!

*free* chocolate ice cream - nothing is ever *free*

kyochon | 3833 W. 6th St. Los Angeles, CA 90020 | 213.739.9292

and here we are again, steadily plowing our way through la restaurants via jgold’s 99 list. akasha rests in a cute little area of redesigned and gentrified culver city just a few steps from main st (where, of course, there is a farmers market on tuesday nights). on a previous stroll by this unassuming restaurant, we liked the menu and m again asked me out on a date (how sweet!…(is she being thoughtful or does she hate my cooking?)). this time, on 8 oct, we did the dinela menu because many of jgold’s recommended items could be found as part of the prix fixe. we were not disappointed. in fact, we repeatedly exclaimed how tasty it was (much to our surprise because eating out usually ends in disappointment…we can either make it better at home or the execution is poor, poor, poor). we liked appetizer and entree best, but even the pumpkin cheesecake and apple crisp were satisfactory.

akasha focuses on local, sustainable food and their execution was perfect. my pepper seared scallops had corn puree, grilled corn, frisee, niman bacon. m’s niman ranch lamb sliders had sheepʼs feta, wild arugula, tomato chutney. arugula is in my top five fave veggies (my tmobile fave five, so to speak). and it’s become a staple on modern burgers, with the most infamous version being the korean burger nazi’s version at father’s office. i had the barramundi (australian seabass – that must mean it’s not endangered) with romanesco zucchini & parmigiano-reggiano risotto, tomato, pine nuts, golden raisin, olive & caper relish. so simple yet, the flavors were so complex and different flavors came out at different times. mmmmm. m went with the beer braised shortribs (lots of shortribs being consumed these days…i love shortribs but recently they are either superb or horrendous) with crème fraiche potatoes, sautéed escarole, organic carrot fritte.

pics below taken without custom wb so everything looks yellow. lights were neither tungsten or fluorescent and i just wasn’t in the mood to tinker w/ my camera.

lamb sliders

scallops

barramundi

shortribs - i love the yam curls

pumpkin cheesecake

apple crisp

akasha | 9543 Culver Blvd 90232 | 310.845.1700

m asked me out on a date on 6 oct. we tried to catch room and board before it closed but no success so we sauntered over to beacon: an asian cafe – a place we’ve always wanted to try but just never got around to it. dinela was going on around this time, but we were not tempted by this prix fixe offering.

Avocado Salad: Tokyo Negi, Cilantro, Sesame Seeds
Miso Braised Shortribs: Kabocha Squash, Carrots, Cauliflower and Pearl Onions
Grilled Hangar Steak: Wasabi Relish, Olive Oil-Scallion Smashed Potatoes
Kushiyaki: Chicken Skewers, Shiso, Ume Paste
Beacon Bento Box for 2: tropical Fruit Jellies, Lemon Meringue-Raspberry Tartlettes Chocolate Mandarin Orange Truffles, Ginger Cookies, Coconut Macaroons

the start and finish were excellent: the avocado salad had mustard greens and radish sprouts (a favorite!) and the bento box was cute (as a web designer, i love the notion and organization of a bento box…and i love small portions of food…so cute) and satisfying. correction: it was ok. the meat was swimming in sauce and when that happens i always say: “someone is trying to compensate for something.” we probably will not go back to beacon, but it was good QT and we had fun taking pictures in the dark:

avocado salad

kushiyaki

hangar steak

braised shortribs

bento box

beacon: an asian cafe | 3280 helms ave 90034 | 310.838.7500

the reason we strolled along hollywood boulevard was because we suckered LCR into going out for crazy jonathan gold food with us again. this time, mexican, and in his ‘hood so he didn’t have to travel far. our gustatory exploration led us to loteria grill, a soaring modern space with skylights, a tequila wall, and five different agua frescas on the counter. i must admit, i was hesitant to go here at first. last year, we had loteria grill tacos at the “farmers market” at the grove, and i was less than impressed. m kept gently suggesting, she read the jgold description, and i happily acquiesced when i found out it was walkable from the theatre. (i can’t explain it, but don’t you ever get hesitant about something and then suddenly the hesitation goes away?…sometimes with prodding, sometimes not.) in a splendid example of eco-friendliness, loteria grill was also a walkable destination for LCR. and something happened that almost never happens: we arrived early and actually had to wait for someone else.

despite my disappointment with my previous loteria grill experience, i ordered the probaditas sampler (All 12 of our Tacos served on Mini Hand-made Tortillas). i wouldn't order it again, but it did give me a wide sampling of the different flavors offered. and the hand-made tortillas are good, but you can, obviously, get these without ordering tacos.

m ordered the fideo (sopa seca de fideos - Mexican Fideos Pasta) which was essentially a dry soup of noodles in sauce. (barcelona also has a fideo paella...i wonder if it is any relation?)

i wanted the nopalitos salad (Fresh Cactus paddle with tomato, Chile Serrano, Onion and Cilantro in a light lime Vinaigrette). had nopales in cancun and i'm addicted

which left LCR with huitlacoche: corn fungus

the problem with blogging too late is that i forget things. like what the corn fungus tasted like. i remember liking it, but can’t describe it. m says it reminds her of sea urchin. it’s probably nothing like sea urchin (not orange and doesn’t taste like sea water), but you catch her drift, yes? as you can see from the above photos we also partook in excellent guacamole. everything at loteria is “finished with Salsas, Guacamole, Chopped Onion, Cilantro, Queso Fresco or Crema Mexicana.” mmmmm, my kinda place.

i would be remiss if i didn't mention the chipotle chip dip. just as good as the harissa @ AOC. per m: i could eat it with a spoon. i think i did.

the second entree was enchiladas (De Pipian - In our Red Pumpkin - Seed and Peanut Sauce). came with excellent seasoned rice!

our third entree (which looks like a big burrito (not pictured-sorry…ran out of battery!)) was basically a big burrito. the homemade tortilla contained: Carnitas en salsa Morita – In a Spicy Chile Morita Sauce Served with slices of Fresh Avocado and Finely Chopped Onion and Cilantro.

last but not least, i had a beet + tuna (not the fish...) agua fresca

we finished up our meal with: Mexican-style ice cream studded with the sweet, curdled-milk cheese known as chongos

highly satisfied diners...we will come back again

loteria grill | 6627 hollywood blvd 90028 | 323.465.2500