The Sycamore Kitchen, Los Angeles

The Sycamore Kitchen

La Brea, near Third Street

Nothing like waking up and having a delicious meal with an dear friend. This morning, JustJenn and I went to The Sycamore Kitchen in Los Angeles for their pastries and breakfast. Karen and Quinn Hatfield, chef-owners of Hatfield's, opened The Sycamore Kitchen in 2012.

If you are in Los Angeles, you should wake up tomorrow and do this same. It was delicious!

Above, it's a buttercup ($2.75). Described to JustJenn as "It's like a croissant but with more sugar..." (that was an easy sell), it was light and flaky. My pick was the Blueberry Oat Bar ($3.25) filled with fresh blueberries and just the right amount of sweetness. The crust was perfect.

We ordered a few items from the Breakfast menu (until 11:30 M-F and 12:30 Sat/Sun). The Cinnamon brioche French toast, grated apple slaw, and whipped creme fraiche ($10) was sinful. It was quite rich and sweet. I could have that slaw on everything!

The Pork belly hash with roasted peppers and onions, russet potatoes, two fried eggs and spinach ($11.50) was delicious. The eggs were perfectly cooked. The savory dish was a nice balance to our almost-dessert french toast.

There are many more baked goods available...a return trip is definitely in our future. They have comfortable indoor and outdoor seating.

They also have a lunch menu that looks intriguing too. I want to try the Chinoix Salad with chicken, cabbage, apple, almond, puffed rice and muddled ginger vinaigrette, as well the sandwiches such as the Double BLTA with crispy and braised pork belly...next time!

They serve Stumptown Cold-brewed bottled coffee ($4.50) that Jenn picked up. I adore the bottle! And a little something for later? Of course! Salted Caramel Pecan Bobka Roll ($3.50).

The Sycamore Kitchen
(see their website for great photos, all my photos were just taken with my Droid phone)
Breakfast & Lunch (8-5 pm)
143 South La Brea (between Beverly and 3rd Street)
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Brodard Vietnamese, Garden Grove, CA

Brodard's Vietnamese Restaurant

I went to Brodard's Vietnamese Restaurant in Garden Grove, CA on Friday. The American Library Association's (ALA) annual conference is in town at the Anaheim Convention Center. Some 10,000+ librarians come to town with lots of cardigans.

We went to Brodard's Vietnamese in nearby Garden Grove. If you come to visit Disneyland or have a conference in Anaheim, you really need make your way to Little Saigon in the Santa Ana / Garden Grove / Westminster area of Orange County for something other than conference food. It was our first time at Brodard's. Reviewers either love or hate the sauce that accompanies their famous spring rolls. The spring rolls were very good and very tightly sealed (when I make them they are a floppy mess), but I found the sauce too sweet and used the basic fish sauce instead.

The service gets pretty ripped in Yelp, but I felt it was pretty typical of a fast-paced Vietnamese restaurant. We ordered, got the food and never saw the waiter again. If you want something, just raise your hand and get someone's attention. We talked for a long time and nearly closed down the place so it was great for us! :)

Brodard
Vietnamese Restaurant (Cafe next door)
Inside the Mall of Fortune
9892 Westminster Ave
Garden Grove, CA 92844
Yelp
Gastromony post (Thanks Cathy! Your post really helped us pick dishes!)

800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria - Westwood, CA

800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria

Westwood, Los Angeles

Pizza in about a minute. And it's not frozen, gooey, or something you got in the dorms. It's really good!

Adam Fleischman, creator of the very popular Umami Burger, came up with this place. You should read Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Jonathan Gold's review...by the way, he's a Bruin and will be at UCLA Alumni Day in May. The restaurant had the copy of the review taped to the window. It's a good review and I concur.

Left: I ordered the Pizza Marinara (tomato, garlic, oregano, olive oil - no cheese) $5.15 plus three toppings at $1 each - eggplant, mushrooms, and arugula that is placed on after the pizza is cooked. A big pizza for only $8!

Right: My friend Barbara got the Pizza Margherita (tomato, mozzarella, parm, olive oil and basil) $6.45 plus three toppings at $1 each - mushrooms, sausage, and broccolini that is charred in the wood burning oven then placed on top.

The set up is much like Chipotle...place your order and watch it being made by the staff. The oven is super hot (hum, wonder how they came up with the name ;) and it bakes the pizza in a minute. Sweet. They have a boatload of toppings including pine nuts, caramelized onions, pesto, feta, rosemary ham, bacon, and salame.

I found the pizza really delicious! Barbara enjoyed hers too...we both ate our entire pizza. There are many other topping combos I want to come back and try. The crust is thin and a bit chewy. If you want it more crispy, you can let them know (they have a little sign about it as you enter).

Next time, I'm going to get a salad ($4 - $5) and maybe some LA Creamery Gelato ($2.50). It was a good deal and the line does move pretty fast (especially when the pizza only takes 1 minute to cook!) Barbara and I were in Westwood right after the place opened and we skipped it after seeing the line...however, knowing what I know now, I would totally wait in the line. They also have this crazy awesome soda machine. You can get your Coca Cola with added flavors like Lime and Raspberry. And, they have Mello Yello!

If you are UCLA Bruin, the restaurant is in the former La Salsa and Togo's location. There is a Peet's Coffee next door now, and it's across the street from the Hammer Museum. You can park in the lot on Broxton for 2 hours free (before 6 pm).

After pizza, we went to the new Herb Ritts: L. A. Style exhibition at The Getty Museum. It was a beautiful day in Los Angeles. Postcard pretty and warm. Herb Ritts was such a talented photographer and artist...someone we lost too early to AIDS. When I worked at Project Angel Food, Herb Ritts was gracious enough to create an event photo for our annual fundraiser, Angel Art. I wasn't lucky enough to meet him, but have admired his work for years. If you are in Los Angeles, please go see the captivating works of Herb Ritts at the Getty - now through August 2012. 

800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria

10889 Lindbrook Dr

Los Angeles, CA 90024

More stuff you might want to see and read:

800 Degrees: website with menu

Jonathan Gold's review in the Los Angeles Times

Yelp folks arguing about stuff

LA Weekly sneak peak

David Schat's Bakery - El Segundo, CA

David Schat's Bakery, El Segundo, CA

This morning, the conversation between my friend JustJenn and I went something like this:

Ring Ring (Yes, young people, people still use phones to actually talk and not just text)

JustJenn: Free for lunch?
Me: Yes!
JustJenn: I need to eat something light...big dinner tonight.
Me: Hum...let me think.
pause
JustJust: Oh! I know! There's a bakery I want to try!
Me: Coming over.

Yes, when we think meal, we actually think bakery.

JustJenn and I went to David Schat's Bakery in El Segundo, CA. El Segundo is one of the South Bay beach cities, between Manhattan Beach and the LAX airport. If you've ever driven up to Mammoth, you may have visited Eric Schat's Bakery in Bishop...my parents always bring home Sheepherders bread. Each one of the Schat's Bakery's are independently owned and operated, but they have a long history of Dutch baking.

I'm excited to have Sheepherders bread in the Los Angeles area now...along with some delicious sandwiches and baked goods.

JustJenn and I both got the combo for lunch...

Classic Turkey Sandwich with fries, drink and a cookie, $12.00

Roasted Vegetable Panini (comes with cheese, but I opted out) with sweet potato fries, drink and a cookie, $11.75. I like that they use 1/4 sheet pans as serving trays!

Rose cupcake $1.50 (very good white cake cupcake). Mini Eclair & Mini Cream Puffs ($1.00 each) - they also have large size elcairs and cream puffs.

It's a small world! We ran into friends who were having lunch...and they totally didn't mind me taking a shot of their Roast Beef Sandwich and Grilled Cheese! (They are friends who understand food blogging - I got to show them my new camera too! :)

Finally, they sell some Dutch treats such as De Ruijter bread toppings. Holy smokes. I looked over, saw the boxes and I was transported back to the early 1990's. My UCLA roommate, Agnes is Dutch and we had a shelf of the chocolate sprinkles and anise and little pink & white ones in the apartment. She introduced me to Nutella...when you had to buy it at import stores. Oh, the Dutch and their bread. Delicious combos. Great memories.

Anyway, if you are in the South Bay (or have a crazy layover at LAX), I suggest stopping by David Schat's Bakery! They have a breakfast menu too...can't wait to try that! The staff was very nice, service was really fast and there is plenty of seating (outdoor seating area as well). There is street parking and they are next to a city parking structure.

David Schat's Bakery
131A W. Grand Ave., El Segundo, CA, 90245
Twitter :: Facebook

The Standing Room, Redondo Beach, CA

The Standing Room, Redondo Beach, CA

On Saturday, I was in the South Bay and decided to go for a walk. A long a$$ walk. I walked over 4 miles round-trip for the above sandwich. Although my legs were sore the next day (stupid Google maps walking directions had me walking up every damn hill in the area), it was totally worth it!


The Standing Room is just that. You stand. No sitting. All take away. It is a little open kitchen in the back of a liquor store in Redondo Beach, CA. There isn't a place to sit, but this park is across the street and you are only steps from the beach as well.


Yes, it really is in a liquor store. While my food was being prepared, I looked around. This is the first liquor store where I've seen brown rice, kimchi and Tokyo Teriyaki Nori sold. I took my lunch to the park across the street and rested my legs.


Sweet Potato Fries ($4.00). I wish these came out of a sweet potato fry vending machine...that I would install in my house. Look at how many you get!


This is the "Shortie" - braised short rib, caramelized onions, arugula ($7.50). Delicious meat that just falls apart. The roll was soft and super fresh.

There are so many more items on the menu. JustJenn had the dinner selection (see post here) and that looks great. I'll definitely be back...however, this time I might bring the car. There is parking in the front! :)

The Standing Room
Located in the Liquor Store
144 North Catalina Avenue (between Emerald and Diamond)
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 374-7545
Twitter

The Spice Table, Los Angeles

The Spice Table in Downtown Los Angeles

My friend Susan and I went to The Spice Table for lunch. This Southeast Asian restaurant "celebrates the culinary heritage of Chef/owner Bryant Ng (Singapore) and his wife Kim (Vietnam)." Thus, banh mi for lunch.

Located in a former Cuba restaurant in Little Tokyo (walking distance to the awesome Japanese American National Museum), across from the Japanese Village Plaza (get the imagawayaki) and next to the Yogurtland.

Next time, I want to get the chips! They have shrimp chips ($2) and spicy sweet-potato chips ($1.75)

The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. The menu is different for lunch and dinner - I will definitely want to come back for dinner and try the menu. They have an interesting way of saying no substitutions; the menu reads, "Changes and modifications are politely declined."

At the Spice Table (at least for lunch), you order at the front, pay and get a number. Wait staff brings your order to your table. I got the guava juice ($2.50) and my friend Susan ordered the Vietnamese Coffee ($3.)

Curried eggplant $7 - Pickled red onions and cilantro
 Although a little messy, this was really good. I'm pretty weak with the spices (I am Japanese American) so it was spicy to me.

Chicken Sandwich $7 - Lemongrass, pickled shallots, watercress, garlic mayo, scallions, peanut sauce
My friend Susan got that and I tried a bit. I like it but would get it again without the mayo.

Slaw $3 - napa cabbage, carrots, crushed peanuts, scallions, mint, fried shallots, pepper-lime dressing 
I really liked the slaw. I'm not a fan of regular cole slaw (too much mayo), but this was only lightly dressed and those peanuts just make it delicious.

And guess what is coming directly across the street? The Flying Pig's food truck's brick and mortar restaurant. I just hope they don't do any filming there...

Restaurant:

The Spice Table

114 S. Central Avenue (between 1st and 2nd Street in Little Tokyo)
Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 620-1840
Lunch menu - Dinner menu

CoCo Ichibanya Japanese Curry House Restaurant, Los Angeles

CoCo Ichibanya Curry House

When I want Japanese Curry, I head to the multiple locations of the Curry House. Or, I open the pantry and pull out a block of Curry. Those were my choices... until now!

CoCo Ichibanya Curry House just opened their first restaurant on mainland* United States (there are restaurants in Hawaii *updated)! And it is in Torrance in Southern California. Whoo hoo!

My friend Jun and I went to feed her baby. The baby in her tummy. Friend Socrates and I have decided to be Jun's Food Doula....or just make up any excuse to get together to eat before and after the baby comes!

Jun has been to CoCo Ichibanya at their Japanese locations, and even went there on her honeymoon! :)

Be prepared for the menu...it's all about building your own curry. You can change the size of your curry, the amount of spicyness, and add on everything under the sun. Both Jun and I agree that we will downsize our rice next time (I think that'll save you a few cents).

Jun's Eggplant Curry, made with Japanese eggplant. The base curry is $3.99 and the topping of eggplant is $2.00.

My Vegetable Curry. The base curry is $3.99 and the topping of vegetable is $2.00.

Be sure to add the pickled daikon (radish) fukujinzuke to your curry. It adds a great texture and taste. Extra curry powder is available.

We ordered the lunch set which includes a small salad and drink for $1.50 extra. The salad dressing choices are a sesame or a ponzu/soy dressing. I loved the sesame dressing!! The total bill for the two of us was $15.48 plus tax and tip.

I definitely want to visit again and try some of the other toppings. And I think I should visit both the Curry House and this restaurant in the same week to compare! You know, I'm a librarian. It's all about research, research. ;)

Restaurant:
CoCo Ichibanya Curry House
Yelp  ::  Los Angeles Times
2455 Sepulveda Blvd, Ste C (Corner of Sepulveda & Crenshaw Blvd)
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 294-5315

Mo-Chica Peruvian Restaurant, Los Angeles

 Mo-Chica Peruvian Restaurant

UCLA Library school pals Jun, Socrates and I went to Mo-Chica, Modern Peruvian Restaurant near the other school (aka USC) yesterday. OMG! Totally deliciousness. Both Jun and Socrates have been in the past, but it was my first visit...and not my last!

Mo-Chica is known for their ceviche and all the reviews are right. Their ceviche is the best! The potato salad was wonderful too...crab meat with potato, avocado and tomato.
Causa Del Dia peruvian potato salad of the day, $5.00; Ceviche Del Dia, $12.00

Oh yes. Mary had a little lamb. ;) This was my favorite dish. The lamb falls off the bone and all the flavors are rich and perfectly spiced. Our entrees all came with a small bowl of white rice. We shared the dishes family style. 
Seco De Cordero lamb shank, canario beans, salsa criolla, cilantoro beer sauce, $13.00

The fish of the day was red snapper...under quinoa risotto. Perfectly cooked fish!  
Fish of the Day, $14.00

I love the combo of french fries with beef in Peruvian food. Well, let's be honest, I can pretty much eat french fries with anything.
Lomo Saltado beef filet, salsa criolla, fried potatoes, $13.00

Yeah...we killed it. Everything was delicious!

1) Inca Kola   2) Cebada barley ice tea with herbs and ginger root  3) Chicha Morada purple corn
Drinks $2.00 each

My pals Jun and Socrates.... And, the big news is that Jun and her husband, David are expecting!!! (Remember the beautiful wedding and the crazy dessert bar?!) Congratulations Jun!!! She's due in October and I'm so excited!

Mo-Chica Peruvian
Located in the Mercado La Paloma
(Casual mall food court environment, but Mo-Chica has very nice wait staff)
3655 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90007
213.747.2141

Get Shaved Ice - Torrance location

Get Shaved Ice

Torrance, California Store

If you want to know where I'll be all summer, here is my new home. Get Shaved opened a new location in Torrance!

Get Shaved started as a mobile food truck and has a big following. JustJenn, her kids and I shivered in a parking lot one evening getting our fix of shave ice from Get Shaved and tacos from Kogi (of course, the shave ice came way before our tacos were ready so we had dessert first. No one complained :)

So when we heard about the new Get Shaved Torrance location, JustJenn and I knew we had to go! Her kids and I all got the small size (this is certainly big enough) with ice cream on the bottom and mochi balls. The mochi balls are placed on top and on the bottom. Yes, mochi balls all around. Delicious!

The menu has lots of flavors and varieties. We plan to come back and try all the different varieties! Research, research never ends. They have two machines, but the line was out the door and it was only about 65 degrees...it's going to be crazy this summer. They also serve ice cream sandwiches and shakes.

I got the Mac Nut ice cream (sooooo good) with lilikoi and orange creamsicle syrup and mochi balls. Jenn got a coffee ice cream with rootbeer and the kids got crazy combos of things like Hawaiian Punch, Bubble Gum and cookies & cream ice cream.

You can track the mobile truck on Twitter, or head to their stores in Northridge and Torrance. Shave ice is absolutely perfect for a hot summer day. Or cold night. Whenever. It's always delicious.

Get Shaved Ice
Torrance Store
1790 W. Carson St, Unit B (at Western, in the Ralphs Grocery Store Parking Lot)
Torrance, CA 90501
310-293-2523

Umami Burger, Studio City, CA

Umami Burger

After all the hype over the Umami Burger (see the press), I jumped at the opportunity to go with my friend Barbara. First, Barbara and I worked up an appetite by hiking the trail in Wilacre Park in Fryman Canyon for a little over an hour. Usually, Barbara and I hang out only on the hottest days of the year, but this time, the weather was pretty good ;).

Umami is your fifth taste "savory"...after the usual sweet, sour, bitter, salty. The name was coined by my peeps in Japan.

We both got the popular Umami Burger $10. It has house ground beef, caramelized onions, shiitake mushrooms, roasted tomato, Parmesan cheese crisp, and house made ketchup.

Barbara ate the Smushed Potatoes $4.50 (according to the menu: dutch yellow creamers , double fried) with roasted garlic aioli, and I devoured the Sweet Potato Fries $4.00 with Umami ketchup. The fries were topped with some brown sugar...so delicious.

The Valli location has a full bar with counter seats and a row of tables. The day we went, the music was way way loud. Damn, if you go to the bathroom, it's like being in a club. 

All burgers are cooked medium rare, unless you tell them otherwise. What is funny is that Umami opened this 5th location two doors down from the popular The Counter Custom Built Burger joint. And the waiter tells you, "You can't change anything on the burger...taking some from one type to another. You can remove items, but no substitutions." In other words, we aren't the Counter!

I thought the burger was very delicious...but I probably won't eat another one for a couple years as it is a hella lot of beef. Next time, I'm going to try the portobello or turkey burger. I was very hungry from the hike and ate the whole thing in one sitting...I'm not eating beef again for a month.

I'm pulling out the weather forecast and checking to see when the next heatwave is coming...then I know it's time to visit with my friend Barbara again! :)

Restaurant:
Umami Burger
5 locations in Los Angeles