Tragic Sandwich

Category: Restaurants and Food

  • What’s in a Name?

    Mr. Sandwich had his second surgery today, to separate the graft. The surgeon tells us that it looks like the grafts took 100%, which is a relief. It’ll be more of a relief when his pain goes away, and his stitches come out.

    While I was waiting to pick up his prescriptions, I had lunch at a nearby restaurant. The signage was a little confusing. Is it Amer’s Falafel? California Mediterranean Grill? Well, the menu clears this up: California Mediterranean Grill by Amer’s Falafel.

    I had the falafel plate (hey, falafel is right there in the name of the place!), which came with a vast number of tiny balls of falafel and three sides.

    The falafel was good, but the sides were the stars. The rice wasn’t particularly distinctive, but the avocado salad was delicious. What really stood out, though, was the hummus. Smooth, creamy, flavorful…this is the best hummus I’ve ever had. It was so good that I got a side order to go, so that I can have more over the weekend.

    The good news is that there are lots of places to get Mediterranean food in this area, which means that I can compare versions of hummus. But Amer’s Falafel has set the bar pretty high.

  • Hot Dog!

    The plan: to get lunch at the NomNom truck selling banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches).

    But it was not to be. Why? Because as it turned out, the truck wasn’t there after all.

    Fortunately, we were able to console ourselves with Spoc’s. No Vulcans here, just a small variety of hot dogs, sausages, and sandwiches. The regular hot dog and hot link passed muster; I thoroughly enjoyed my chicken, chile, and cilantro sausage (topped with grilled onions for only a little extra). All of the sandwiches were served on rolls from La Brea Bakery, adding an extra layer of texture and flavor to the meal. The fries were skinny and crispy, with just enough oil. And while I’m not generally a fan of the seasoned fry, these had just enough to give them a little punch.

    So will I go back to Spoc’s? To avoid it would be illogical. No matter how it’s spelled.

  • We’re Cooking with Gas

    Sandwich Père and Sandwich Belle-mere came to visit this weekend, and today Aunt and Uncle Sandwich joined us. As you might imagine, there was a lot of food.

    Friday night the four of us went to the Canoga Park Yang Chow. We’ve been to the Chinatown location several times, and were delighted to find that the closer location also has fantastic black bean sauce, as well as excellent dry sauteed string beans.

    Saturday morning found us at Vip’s, reputed to be John Wooden’s favorite diner. I’ve yet to see Coach there, but if he comes for the pancakes, then it’s clear that his expertise extends far beyond sports. (My favorite pancakes in L.A. are still at Rae’s Diner in Santa Monica, but Vip’s are worth repeat trips.)

    That evening, following a trip to the ER that turned out just fine, we ordered pizza from Brooklyn Pizza. One medium pepperoni and one medium Hawaiian later, we were sated. Another of our Westside favorites was The Coop, which had excellent New York-style pizza; Brooklyn Pizza seems like an excellent alternative.

    Today was a whirlwind of cooking, to meet a variety of dietary requirements and preferences. Fortunately, I was able to find a menu that met everyone’s needs. So what did I cook?

    For brunch:
    Sour cream coffee cake
    Scrambled eggs
    Bacon
    Sausage links

    For dinner:
    Rosemary-ranch chicken skewers
    Mashed potatoes
    Grilled bell peppers and onions
    String beans

    Why, yes, I am exhausted.

  • Joan’s and Juanito’s

    This morning I met a friend for coffee. But as it turns out, I was ravenous, so we turned coffee into breakfast. Our first choice was closed, so we walked a few blocks to Joan’s on Third.

    Joan’s has long been a source for gourmet foods, and now they have a large deli counter and breakfast service. We opted for oatmeal with brown sugar, bananas, and steamed milk (delicious) and a breakfast sandwich of scrambled eggs, bacon, and jack cheese (reportedly also delicious). Since we were there, each of us bought some splurgy gourmet items as well. I picked up a jar of almond butter, which I keep reading about in nutrition and diet articles; a bag of artisanal (yes) marshmallows with toasted coconut; and a bag of those fruit-flavored sugary things that I recall loving as a child (you know, the ones that were shaped like little orange segments, etc). Verdict: I still love fruit-flavored sugary things, but the marshmallows are a bit underwhelming. They’re lighter than store-bought, but they’re not as special as I hoped. If I want to upgrade my smores, I’ll focus on the chocolate.

    Due to some rather dramatic freeway congestion, I wound up driving home along surface streets. That took me past Taqueria Juanito’s, which I’ve been meaning to try for some time. Although the restaurant has a name which I find confusing grammatically, it is home to some really delicious asada tacos–tender and flavorful, but not so hot that you miss the flavors of the spices. Two of those and a small horchata, and I was out the door for under $5. That’s not splurgy, but it sure was good.

  • Yogurtland

    How many yogurt shops can there be? you wonder. And apparently the answer is that there is a fixed number, and it is lower than the number of sushi shops.

    Where once there was a Pinkberry near my office, now there is a Yogurtland. I’m sure it says something that Pinkberry, vanguard of the tart frozen yogurt movement, has closed a shop. But it also says something that it was replaced by another of its kind.

    So what’s so special about Yogurtland? Easy–it’s a DIY yogurt place. Pick your flavors. Have as much as you want. Add your own toppings. Pay by weight.

    Simple, no? Indeed. Also yummy, based on my experience this past weekend. I went for what amounted to extensive sampling in one cup: Vanilla Wafer Cookie and Cream, Toasted Coconut, Taro (no link? why no link?), and a few others that mysteriously don’t appear on their website. Top it off with almonds and walnuts, and it’s tasty but a little overwhelming. I don’t think I’ll try that many at once next time. But there will be a next time. If nothing else, I have to see how their tart flavors stack up.

  • My New Favorite Beverage

    Hawaiian Sun

    Delicious.

  • The Sandwiches Eat Food on Kauai

    One of the benefits of vacationing in a condo is that you have a kitchen. While I don’t harbor much interest in cooking while on vacation, I’m perfectly happy to buy bagels at the local Costco, and yogurt, hot dogs, and other items at my favorite markets in Koloa: Big Save and Sueoka’s. I even bought a T-shirt at Sueoka’s, as if it were a concert and not a grocery store.

    But we didn’t eat every meal in the condo, and naturally we made a point of visiting some old favorites. Upon arrival we had plate lunches at L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, and when dinner arrived it was time for calzones at Pizzetta. One evening we had a lavish and delightful meal at Plantation Gardens, which has become a Kauai tradition for us.

    On Friday, after snorkeling at Anini Beach but before leaving for Ha’ena and Tunnels Beaches, we paused for a bite at the Anini Beach Lunch Shak. It isn’t really a Shak, or even a Shack; it’s a lunch truck, serving a variety of tacos and burritos. I went for the fish tacos, and Mr. Sandwich had a kalua pig burrito. (This does not involve an entire pig, at least not at the time that you’re eating it.) Everything was good, but a little bland; the addition of the truly excellent salsa made it quite tasty. Dinner was actually breakfast-for-dinner at Lihue’s Oki Diner, which touts its pancakes and offers a variety of syrups (I opted for coconut). Verdict? Okay, but not amazing. I think their main strength is that they are open 22 hours on an island where most restaurants seem to close at 3 p.m. Our visit must have come at their slow time, because we were the only patrons, and we didn’t stay anywhere near 22 hours.

    Alas, the Camp House Grill in Kalaheo is closed, which means no more of their delicious pies. However, across the street is the Ohana Cafe, which makes excellent burgers, fries, and saimin. Note: a small bowl of saimin here is a meal, but we were really hungry. Then, by the end of our visit, we were really full. However, I did take home a slice of their ola pie, which is a Fig Newton crust filled with banana ice cream, peanut butter, and chocolate. Even lasting for two days, it was a little overwhelming–tasty, but with a lot going on. The answer, I think, is to concentrate on the main course, which they do really well; their menu is limited, but focused.

    Duane’s Ono Char Burger in Anahola is an institution. I opted for the teriyaki burger and a marionberry shake. I have no idea what a marionberry is, but I do know that it makes a great shake. The burgers were messy but good, and the fries were amazing.

    We had still more burgers at Kalapaki Beach Hut in Lihue. From the top deck you can see part of the bay at Lihue. You can also feed french fries to birds, although we probably weren’t supposed to do that. My conclusion is that, overall, Kauai is a good place for burgers. Especially teri burgers. I think I’m in love with them.

    Our last meal in Hawaii was at the Olympic Cafe. It’s open after 3, and we were in the middle of the aforementioned deluge. Service wasn’t fast, but it was friendly, and our meals (kalua pig burrito, kalua pig sandwich) were tasty and enormous. The result was that the restaurant was a nice place to while away both a rainstorm and a few hours before our flight–and we had a great view of the weirdly brown ocean.

    We also tried malasadas, a Portuguese donut (more spherical, no hole) at two locations: Hanalima Bakery and the Kauai Coffee visitor center. Both were good, but we determined that the best malasadas we had were on our last trip, at a stand outside the K-Mart. The secret? They were fresh, which takes a malasada from good to delectable.

    On the whole, we ate well. A little too well, I fear. But that’s vacation for you.

  • Day Trip – Palos Verdes

    In the spirit of increasing my familiarity with my surroundings, I’ve decided to take advantage of the “Day Trip” feature in the local AAA magazine.

    So yesterday my friend A and I set off for Palos Verdes Peninsula. Look at the map, and you’ll probably think “Set off? Why be so dramatic? It’s not far at all.” And you’d be right, except that distance and time bear no relation to one another on Los Angeles freeways.

    Magazine in hand, we headed down the 405. Except because neither one of us is all that great at blindly following instructions, we made our first stop in Torrance.

    If you like spices, you’ll love Penzey’s. I’ve ordered from their website any number of times, but I’ve never been to one of their stores. It turns out that one of the advantages of going to the brick-and-mortar location is the sample jars. Now I know what whole allspice looks like–and, based on a sniff test, I’ve decided that next time I order cinnamon, I’ll get the Vietnamese Cassia instead of the (really quite good) Chinese Cassia I have at the moment.

    Having smelled and purchased spices, food was on our minds. We had lunch at The Original Red Onion, a chain which I had not realized specializes in Mexican food (although if you really want a corned beef sandwich, you can get one there). I was glad to see that they offer dishes with ground beef, but I ordered the chile verde enchilada, which comes with pork, and was very tasty. A ordered and failed to finish what may have been the world’s largest burrito.

    From there, we headed to the peninsula itself. A and her husband were married at the Wayfarers Chapel there, on the southern side of Palos Verdes. The chapel and the views are striking, and it’s not hard to see why it’s such a popular location.

    Next up was the Malaga Cove Public Library, a Spanish-style building that was closed for the July Fourth holiday. However, we were able to see the small park and large fountain immediately adjacent; it looked like a nice spot to spend some time.

    With plans for a group viewing of “Public Enemies,” it was time to leave the cool, misty peninsula and head north into the (sweltering) San Fernando Valley. It was a really nice day, and I think we’ll probably try to do more of the AAA-sanctioned day trips, although I’m reasonably sure that we’ll wind up customizing those, as well.

    And maybe I’ll even come up with a Sandwich-based nickname for A.

  • Feasting in Chicago

    A week ago, Mr. Sandwich and I headed out for a long weekend in Chicago. As it turned out, getting there felt longer than the weekend. Why? Because there were tremendous thunderstorms in Chicago, leading to a series of ground stops and, for us, an ELEVEN HOUR LAYOVER in Phoenix.

    But we finally made it to O’Hare, and, at 3 a.m., to our hotel room. After a late breakfast at the Silver Stallion (sounds like a strip club, but actually home to very nice breakfasts), we spent Saturday evening and much of Sunday with family (the purpose for our trip was a 50th anniversary party, which was a terrific event). And then Sunday evening we drove into Chicago itself to have dinner at the Chicago Chop House. Dark, wood-paneled, lined with photos from the city’s history (we ate under the gaze of Ada and Minna Everleigh, Chicago’s most famous madams)–the Chop House had just the atmosphere we were looking for. It also had just the steaks we were looking for. The evening was a tremendous splurge, but the dry-aged New York Strip was worth it–as were the Four Cheese Potatoes Au Gratin and the Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce.

    One might think that such a meal would be more than enough for one evening, and one would be right (indeed, I was not interested in more food until about 2 p.m. the next day). But thanks to Facebook, I had discovered that one of my grad school friends, now living in Philadelphia, was also in town. So four of us met in downtown Chicago and walked up the Magnificent Mile to spend some time catching up at the Ghiradelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop. A tip: the Decadent Drinking Chocolate is aptly named. While we were sitting, I looked through the front window to see that across the street is Hershey’s Chicago. I wonder if sometimes the competition gets too fierce, leading to a chocolate rumble.

    The next day, we took the L (El? “El”? So many options) into the city so that we could board the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s excellent river cruise (hint: wear sunscreen–a week later, I’m still burned between the knee and the hem of my shorts). From there, we headed south through the downtown and then west past the soon-to-be-renamed Sears Tower to Lou Mitchell’s Restaurant. This Chicago institution is open for breakfast and lunch, with great skillet egg dishes and donut holes. It’s also the starting point for historic Route 66.

    That evening we met another friend and her children (the younger is my goddaughter) at Nancy’s Pizza in the suburb of Niles. The deep-dish Hawaiian pizza was excellent, and if I’d had a way to eat the leftovers, I’d have taken them. But we were scheduled on an early morning flight back to L.A., so we sent them home with our dinner companions instead.

    So we met our goals: spending lots of time with family and friends, touring the city, and eating iconic local meals. However, even though it was directly across the street from our hotel, we did not get to eat at Mr. Pup. Maybe next time.

    And now, for your viewing pleasure, a few photos in no particular order:

  • I Miss Tex-Mex

    Tex-Mex is a much-maligned cuisine. All I hear are sneers. “It’s unhealthy.” “It’s inauthentic.” “It’s got too much cheese.”

    Well, get over yourselves, Californians.

    Seriously, “unhealthy”? Hate you taken a look at those deep-fried tacos you can’t stop wolfing down at Tito’s Tacos? Because those things aren’t just loaded with fat. They’re a disgusting mess.

    “Inauthentic.” Huh? It’s regionally authentic. You’re just used to food from a different region. And apparently you don’t realize that authentic food is based on local ingredients–which is funny, considering how obsessed you are with living La Vida Locavore. Hopefully local ingredients explain your own obsession with red onions. (Why are they in everything? Please tell me, and then explain why you’d want them to be.)

    “Too much cheese.” Pretty big talk for the state that pays good money to brag about its happy cows.

    So cry me a river, and pass the fajitas. Which, by the way, are from Texas.