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LA FOOD February 26 2010
So I got called out by one of my friends, Sam, a writer (her book just went on sale at Amazon), who used to live in Los Angeles, and now calls Ohio her home. She told me that I hadn’t blogged about food in a good minute, and she was right. Well here’s one…kind of different than my normal food posts, but about food nonetheless.
Jonathan Gold of LA Weekly just dropped his “99 Things to Eat in LA Before You Die” list - a comprehensive look at LA’s best food options ranging from Melrose Ave to the Valley, from fugu to fois gras. After taking the time to read through each suggestion, I realized that I’ve got a long way to go. 94 to be exact. There are the favorites that usually make this kind of list - Tito’s Tacos, Philippe’s French Dip, and Langer’s. And then there were some surprises like Kogi (blame the LA food truck craze, perhaps), Boiling Crab, and even Eva’s Lechon, where Gold writes about the amazing feat that is eating a roasted pig. Overall, I thought it was a pretty cool list that will inevitably result in me spending more money and expanding my palate. Plus, it’s all about LA. And you know I’m partial to that kind of stuff.
My favorite place for a burger on the Westside that made the list: The Apple Pan
And my go to spot after a late night made the list: Krua Thai
Then I read another article, this time from the LA Times, about how despite the rising amount of Filipino chefs, Filipino cuisine has yet to hit mainstream culture. According to the article, chefs use hints of Filipino cooking, but know that if they were to go fully into the recipe, it wouldn’t succeed. And that’s mainly because Filipino food just doesn’t fit in most restaurants’ menu. That’s fair, because I mean how does chicken adobo work its way into a French inspired menu, right? But at the same time, I hate that there isn’t that one good restaurant that reminds you of homecooked meals. I hope that will change in the future. And it may be with me (hint, hint).
My favorite Filipino dish: Kare-Kare
And my favorite Filipino dessert: Puto Bumbong
Apple Pan and Krua Thai photos by Anne Fishbein of LA Weekly
Filipino food photos by their respective owners