No. 186: SugarFISH (Downtown LA)

With all the sugarFISH downtown posts out there in the blogosphere, what else can I add to the conversation? I guess not much, asides from the fact that it was a surely worthy meal to conclude my seven-month vegetarian stint. As such, when their PR invited me for to check out this restaurant for a hosted meal, I scheduled my dinner right on November 1st (and yes, I stayed meatfree for breakfast & lunch that day.)

You can imagine how antsy I was getting when my dining partner Conbon was running late (ask her about the missed calls and "ARE YOU HERE YET?" text messages,) but it gave me some time to check out the contemporary urban-funk feel of the place, with the exposed concrete, globe-shaped ceiling lamps of various lengths and a topography map made of steel pipes (I first guessed it might've been Japan, but co-owner Emmanuelle "Lele" Massimimi clarified that it was of Tokyo Bay.)

Lele informed me that they were aiming for a "warm" atmosphere and while that shows with the soft white lighting & the blond wood furnishings, the concrete, exposed pipes & steel definitely gave off a cool vibe too. Not a bad thing, in my opinion.

Once Conbon arrived, we were sent on a speed-eating sushi frenzy!

It may not have been Lucy & Ethel @ the Chocolate Factory, but it was definitely faster than my usual rate of sushi consumption, thanks to their warm and incredibly delicious sushi rice that practically falls apart within seconds of arriving on the table.

Ones we had to eat even faster were their handrolls, wrapped in high-quality seaweed that's impeccably crispy & flavorful on the first bite but softens up in 10 seconds! I tried to get a shot of Conbon eating it since she was served first, but this was all I could manage before my hand roll arrived with Lele and the server basically telling me "Eat it now!" (in a more civil manner.) But even with the haste, Conbon and I savored every bite.

Also notable are their housemade condiments, from the vinegar for the sushi rice to the deft touch of ponzu sauces (original, yuzu and chili) on many of the sushi & sashimi we had. For the ones that came "naked," all that's needed is a light dab of soy sauce. It was a sublime experience to be able to taste the freshness and unique character of each fish, delightful accented - but never overshadowed - by the accompanying garnishes and sauces.

I haven't had a single piece that came close to mediocre, but my personal favorites included the giant scallop, sea urchin and sweet shrimp nigiri and the blue crab handroll, which obviously have different textures, mouthfeel and flavor nuances but all sharing a sweet-briny taste profile that really speaks to the seafood's quality and the pristine waters that they were caught or raised in.

Since there isn't much I can say about the food that hasn't already been mentioned by another blogger (and likely better worded,) here are some fun trivia tidbits I've discovered while conversing with Lele throughout the meal:

- Kazunori Nozawa personally selects the same seafood for both Nozawa and the sugarFISH restaurants around 5:30 a.m. daily, even Sundays (many suppliers take that day off - thus making it a generally bad day to go sushi-eating unless you want day-old seafood - but Nozawa's got connections and working relationships with the select few purveyors who do work on the supposed day of rest.)

- While the rice is made in small batches and is never more than 20 minutes old, for to-go orders they tend to use rice towards the latter half of its 20-minute lifespan since it can hold up to ponzu & soy sauces better without falling apart. Of course, given the ultra-short timeframe of the seaweed staying fresh, the hand rolls are not available to go.

- For those with small appetites but still want a taste a wide variety of sushi, their prix-fixe menus (including "the Nozawa") can be split. Items are available a la carte too so you don't have to fight for that one toro & blue crab hand roll.

- In keeping with the artsy, trendy vibes of Downtown LA restaurants, there may be DJ nights in the future for this sugarFISH -- though right now the playlist is a fairly interesting mix of contemporary adult tunes, Putumayo-esque world music with an occasional 80s and 90s pop flashback.

- Since I'm always intrigued by chefs, restauranteurs & foodies who stay fit - which Lele is - for my other blog, I found out that he was a former boxer and used to chase waves with his surfboard daily . . . along with two decades of restaurant experience in front AND back of house (a stark contrast to my pitiful five years.)

Moving onward, I will still have a mostly veggie-focused, and dare I say "vegivore", diet; but this was definitely a great re-introduction in the world of meat and should I get a sushi craving again, sugarFISH is definitely a top contender for me to get my fix.

More photos from my flickr here

SugarFISH
600 W 7th Street
Los Angeles
(213) 627-3000
Twitter

No. 183: Food Event Marathoner ~ Bacardi Tasting @ La Descarga & Fall Menu Sneak Peek @ Drago Centro

So here's the long awaited part two to my four day bender of tastings and events that started with Jonathan Gold's cocktail party & Savor the Season. Thankfully, the weekday events were intimate, shorter tastings that didn't test the limits of my stomach or liver (much.)

The Monday after Savor the Season, I was invited by Bacardi's PR folks for the U.S. release of their Reserva Limitada, their super-premium rum that's aged 10-16 years in mildly-charred white oak barrels. Along with tasting this rum with Eric (who also took the awesome photos for this event,) they've also brought along their global ambassador-mixologist David Cordoba to make a series of mini-cocktails using the traditional Bacardi line of rums (i.e. not the flavored ones, even if that was may have been my college tradition.) Naturally, it makes sense for an event like this to take place in La Descarga, a speakeasy-esque bar on the fringe of Koreatown & West Hollywood known for their rum collection, cocktails and cigars.

As for the Reserva Limitada itself, it had super-smooth and rich texture with a slight sugar-caney taste, and warm vanilla, honey and maple notes plus a tinge of pepper & clove spice. While at ~$110 a bottle it's not a rum I'd be buying anytime soon (particularly since my bar is devoid of any strictly-sipping spirits) I'm definitely open to ordering it at a bar or recommending as a "gift to impress" for friends.

Equally impressive (and far less expensive for me to emulate @ home) are the cocktails that Cordoba shook up, with the menu running the gamut from famous legacy cocktails like the Daiquiri, rum-swapped creations like the September Morn (a Clover Club with rum instead of gin) and contemporary drinks such as the San Miguel, combining their gold rum with orange blossom water, fernet branca and yerba mate tea.

My favorites of the set included the above September Morn, fruity and frothy like a smoothie (and with the pomegranate syrup I can say I'm detoxing while I'm toxing up!), and the Mayas Daiquiri, which combines their 8 year-old rum with lime juice, agave syrup and avocado. A simple spin to an ordinary cocktail setup (a spirit base, a sweetener & an acid) but Holy moly, what a delightful twist it was--the avocado added such a mesmerizing buttery note, it was like having a sweet guacamole (the ones where mangos or pineapples are switched in for the tomatoes.)

Needless to say, I left the event a little more well-learned about the Bacardi rums and how versatile it can be in mixology . . .

. . . which was a lovely lead-in to the event on Tuesday, an Autumn cocktail & bar bites preview @ Drago Centro with their PR, Esther and Lindsay. While I didn't run through the entire menu like the hardcore trio, I did enjoy two very lovely drinks: one being the Rimedio del Pazzo that combines Zaya rum with Cynar, sage, white peppercorns and citrus. I don't know about the alleged healing properties of peppercorns, sage or artichoky liqueur, but that herbacious concoction did cure my crazies of a hectic work day.

I followed that up with a Dazed & Confused, made with Casa Noble Crystal Tequila, Cherry Heering, Creole Shrubb liqueur, rosemary and Angostura orange bitters. Like the Rimedio, it's a complex, curiosity-inducing cocktail with a wonderful layering of flavors. A little fruity here, a little earthy there, an occasional kick of woodsiness from the rosemary.

And to go with our delicious drinks, tasty bar bites! I was especially impressed with the tempura-battered portabello fries ($5), which held their meaty texture & distinct earthy flavor (most mushroom fries I've had before tend to be bland & mushy since the shrooms themselves release a lot of moisture upon cooking, sogging up the fried coating & diluting its flavor.)

Likewise, the $9 cheese duo plate featured sizable hunks of a bleu and hard aged cheese (forgot to ask what kind, but it tasted like a cross between an aged cheddar and a parmigiano reggiano to me) with brighty and tangy dried apricots, glazed walnuts and grilled toast.

And with their bar menu featuring $5-6 drinks and affordable snacks all day long, you can count on me coming back for a nibble and a sip when I hit that part of downtown LA.

La Descarga
1159 North Western Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90038
(323) 466-1324

Drago Centro
525 S Flower St
Los Angeles, CA 90071-2200
(213) 228-8998
Twitter

No. 182: Food Event Marathoner ~ J Gold's Speakeasy Party & Savor the Season

As someone who like alternating nights out on the town with a day or two of resting & cooking at home, I surprised myself with four consecutive nights out of events and tastings (though to be fair, some invites came to me last minute and were just too good to pass up.) And what better way to follow up a marathon of outings than a marathoner post? Let's take off!

On Saturday, thanks to a last-minute win of 213 Downtown's twitter contest, I was able to get two passes into Jonathan Gold's 2nd Annual Union Station Speakeasy Cocktail Party (benefiting Zocalo Public Square, which puts on all sorts of provocative discussions & seminars to reinvigorate thoughtful dialogue in the modern world.) With five 213 bars making a signature cocktail and nine eateries serving up delectable bites, fun times were had by all as the alcohol kept flowing and the hors d'oeuvres kept coming out.

My favorite bites of the night included Rustic Canyon's burrata with black mission figs, roasted chestnuts, salsa and toast (so comforting & Christmasy!) still-in-transition Grace's melt-in-your-mouth squash flan with smoked sage jus and Street's Burmese melon salad with crisped coconut, peanuts and sesame-ginger dressing (cooling, refreshing and much needed as the space started heating up from the cocktails, the hot foods and the crowd.)

Of the drinks, being a gin lover I was partial to Varnish's Plymouth Fitzgerald, a simple concoction of Plymouth gin shaken with lemon juice and sugar, topped with Angostura bitters. Second in my heart was Cole's Pikesville Classic Manhattan with Pikesville Rye and Dolan Sweet Vermouth, though I was peeved my first Manhattan was prematurely bussed away (WITH MY LUXARDO CHERRY STILL IN IT) Of course, the natural solution is to get another!

After a little mingling with other bloggers and friends, chatting with the ever-gracious Jonathan Gold and his wife Laurie Ochoa, and a little dancefloor time, Matt, Esther (my Speakeasy +1 btw,) Caroline and I moved onto afterpartying @ La Descarga, where we enjoyed MORE drinks and Matt showed off his suave double cigar-puffing technique.

To cap off the night, K-town Karaoking & sharing a big heaping plate of dukkboki & ramen. Did I really sing "All the Small Things" and "Don't Stop Believing"? Of course I didn't, and there's no way (or person lucid enough) to prove it! Even if pictures suggest otherwise!

Getting home around 2:30 a.m. (thanks Matt for driving me back to the Gold Line station where I parked & metro'd,) I had all of four hours' sleep before getting up in time for a promised 7 a.m. canyon hike with my friend; 9 miles, 5 hours--I'll admit to not really feeling it at the start but once I soaked in the amazing views and scenery it definitely gave me a spring in my step.

And of course, all that hiking worked up an appetite (and made me feel less guilty) about Savor the Season that evening, taking place in the Lot Studios and benefiting Break the Cycle, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth to prevent & end domestic violence. I attended this two years ago in Downtown LA's Vibiana (soon to house Grace Restaurant!) and I definitely loved the venue move. The evening was warm, breezy and perfect for an outdoor tasting (though a few of the organizers readily admit to leaving their hands to Lady Luck and Mother Nature for this late October date and obviously thankful it wasn't one of those crazy days with record-breaking heat and pouring thunderstorms.)

Street was there again, this time with their famous finger-friendly pani puris, and other delectable treats include Stefan Richter's show-stopping liquid nitrogen passionfruit ice cream lollies, and some aahmazing fudge samples (and a fried chocolate raviolo) from Pasadena-based [AF]2.

Equally astounding were the wines served, including Lou on Vine's Lou pouring of A Donkey and Goat Syrah from a keg. Don't laugh, it tasted way more delicous that it looked (though my allegiance still lies with their Grenache Gris Rosé, a fragrant, refreshing blush wine I look forward to sipping every summer since my discovery.) For the bubbly-inclined, Girl Meets Grape' Bonnie Graves, who's been working with Savor the Season for four years, was there to pour tres-chic Comte de Dampierre's Brut des Ambassadors champagne. Crisp, apple-y with a touch of toast... and I'd imagine going VERY well with the shucked-to-order Carlsbad Luna oysters that Christophe Hapilllon had going on one booth over.

(yes, I said imagined... it was very tempting, especially when Kat was overtly savoring them in front of me. Maybe I should follow the way of that one vegan who occasionally enjoys oysters.)

Given my other going-ons for the days ahead, I took off from Savor before its final hour, but I definitely hoped the event itself and the silent auction raised lots of much-needed funds and awareness for Break the Cycle, and that Savor the Season will be just as picture- and palate-pleasing the next time around!

And with that, I got two events (and the official weekend) down, and two more to go in the days ahead. Stay tuned for part two of this four-day bender . . .

In the meantime, enjoy more photos from my flickr of the Union Station Speakeasy (& afterwards) and Savor the Season

Summer-perfect sips around town . . .

Maybe it's a case of the Mondays or maybe I'm feeling a bit thirsty right now, but I'm definitely reminiscing on some recent superb sips at some of favorite local watering holes, so I might as well share . . .

The Mole Ahumado by Joe Brooke at The Edison (though he originally toyed with calling it the Oaxacacaca) ~ made with mezcal, green chartreuse, creme de cacao and bitters. I know, creme de cacao evokes all sort of girly, super sweet, lightweight drinks (and I'm no stranger to "chocolate martinis" in my n00bier cocktail days) ~ but this is definitely what gives the drink its Oaxacan quality, between the smoky mezcal, the herbacious chartreuse and the cocoa flavors - it's literally a liquid molé, or the more chocolaty, less spicy cousin of Rivera's famous Barbacoa. This drink is not on the Edison's regular cocktail menu, which also has lots of delicious drinks (I think I've had almost all of them!) but if you happen to be at the bar on a slower night, give the bartenders some creative space and you may be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

Starr Strega Swizzle at the Roger Room - part of their new summer menu (Caroline on Crack got the full lowdown here), this refreshing combo features Starr African Rum, Strega liqueur, velvet falernum, passionfruit, lemon juice, topped with cracked cloves and mint sprig - it's sophisticated with layers of flavors and aromas (bright fruits with spices and with clean, slight rummy finish) yet incredibly easy-to-drink with its light, almost efferverscent feel. Of course, while readily quaffable, best to take your time with this one to savor its complex subtleties.

French Cowboy at the Gorbals - Bulleit Bourbon, Honey, Lemon, Sparkling Wine, another great warm-weather cocktail - bright, sweet and sour with just enough depth from the bourbon, this fizzy drink is great after a summer day out, a night of Artwalking, or even as an intro to whiskey drinks.

Last but not least, beers at The Bruery Tasting Room in Placentia - where I've been several times and was invited for their Two-year-old party in late May, debuting their anniversary bourbon-barrel aged "Coton" Old Ale. If you like their regular yearround offerings (e.g. Orchard White, Rugbrod and Saison Rue,) you'll definitely love coming to their tasting room, where those are served alongside their seasonal & special-edition beers (such as the bready & coconutty Humulus Rice in above photo.) And they definitely have fun with their beer experimentation, from the naughty sounding Melange #5 -- dubbed "Dirty Beaver Juice Weekend" and which I actually described as tasting "yeasty and musty" -- to the sexy, tasty Melange no Sechs that's brewed with rose petals and cocoa nibs for a red hue and a flowering, chocolatey flavor. Definitely worth a stop to enjoy some unusual brews, maybe buy a few bottles and fill a growler, or show your undying devotion with some merchandise. (here's their list of their current beers on tap, along with any food trucks stopping by)

The Edison
108 West 2nd Street
Los Angeles, CA‎
(213) 613-0000‎
Twitter

The Roger Room
370 North La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA‎
(310) 854-1300‎

The Gorbals
501 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA
(213) 488-3408
Twitter

The Bruery
715 Dunn Way
Placentia, CA
(714) 996-6258
Twitter

No. 166: Vegan Ramen at The Shojin (Little Tokyo)

Since entering my vegetarian phase, I thought for sure ramen was one of those things I'm just gonna have to give up -- between the slices of chashu and, more importantly, the meat-infused broth, there's no way I can get away trying to order a meatfree version at any noodle shop in town (at least not without the chef cursing me out in Japanese and hurling some hot and sharp kitchen apparatus in my direction.)

So you can only imagine my glee when I found out that Little Tokyo's Japanese macrobiotic oasis Shojin offers a vegan ramen! Even though I was mildly disappointed that they rotated out their tomato-avocado soba (one of my other faves there,) the prospect of being reunited with a hearty, slurpable bowl of ramen definitely got my salivary glands working overtime.

They offered several varieties, and I opted for the curious-sounding spicy sesame ramen, with a broth made with soy milk, miso and tahini and topped with red chili oil, braised seitan (in lieu of chashu), assorted vegetables (bamboo, mushrooms and scallions) and nori. And of course, egg-free noodles.

How did it taste? Pretty darn good! Most importantly, the vegan broth captured the comforting essences of its meat-based brethren and was rich and flavorful, thanks to the combo of the soy milk for the full body, the tahini for the oily nuttiness and the miso for the undeniably craveworthy umami. And it passed my test for a good ramen soup base (i.e. me slurping away long after all the noodles and toppings are long gone!)

The toppings were likewise top-notch, fresh scallions that I can never get enough of, meaty mushrooms and tender bamboo shoots, and well-prepared slices of seitan (I personally like seitan, though I know some are frightened by how much they resembled meat, and others don't care for their almost-but-not-quite meat texture -- at Shojin the closest approximation I can provide is a milder-flavored, thicker-sliced Oscar Mayer bologna.) As for the spice factor, the chili oil made it the equivalent of an Orochon #2 or 3 (which is about my Scoville tolerance anyways) -- though Shojin does also offer a Hot & Spicy Ramen that promises to be "very spicy" . . .

Now, would it fool me for a meaty ramen? Definitely not, but it was enjoyable on its own terms . . . and it's a great middle-ground dish for a mixed herbivore-omnivore crowd, with the former checking out a great animal-free spin of a classic Japanese dish, and the latter being able enjoy a very satisfying entreé that'll disarm their notion of vegetarianism/veganism as just eating rabbit food.

The Shojin
333 South Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013-1735
(213) 617-0305
Twitter

No. 161: Preview of Tonight's Radio Room at the Edison

Thanks to a media event last night, fellow bloggers, journalists and lil ole me (soon to be big ole me at the rate I'm eating & drinking vis-a-vis my recent lack of exercise) had a chance to preview the drinks served tonight's Radio Room at the Edison (along with an antipasti spread and some fab crab claws and shucked oysters by Christophe Happillon.)

Once again, I'm WOW'd by the creativity and craftsmanship that the guest bartenders have brought, with each cocktail leaving a distinct one-of-a-kind impression in my head that just makes me wanna pack my bags and head to these fellas' hometown bars to see what other impressive tricks they got up their sleeves. Alas, until then, there's the actual Radio Room tonight.

And just in case you or your wallet can't stomach all six of the featured cocktails that night ($14 each), here are my favorites that are definitely worth an order:

Vieux Cerde (pictured above) by Seattle's Zane Harris: A variation of the Vieux Carre using 12-year-old Irish whiskey, VSOP Cognac, Elisir M.P. Roux, bitters and a twist of orange; overall, it's a silkier, smoother version of the original--probably due to the ages of the two base spirits--that's still very aromatic with a complex bouquet of herbs and sweet spices. And like Vieux Carre, it's still packs a potent punch, but this one teases you a bit of sexy finesse first . . .

Good Morning, Vietnam by Simon Ford of NYC/London: A simple concoction of gin, ginger and Scottish orange marmalade, and it's really the final ingredient that makes all the difference! I occasionally use fruit jams and preserves as a cocktail sweetener myself, and it definitely gives it that special je ne sais quoi. In this drink the orange marmalade melded wonderfully with the spicy ginger and flowery gin, creating a cocktail that's wonderfully balanced and playful at the same time. Have a sniff and the floral-herbal notes of the gin come forth, and just as it touches the tip of your tongue and there's sweet-burn tingle from the ginger, and finally, the citrus-acid flavors are brought out as it runs down the sides and center of the tongue and into the throat.

Globo Rojo #2, also by Zane Harris: A great drink for both mezcal newbies and lovers, a strawberry-infused version is mixed with tawny port and finished with bitters. Again, a delightful balance, this time between the mezcal's smokiness, the port's vanilla, nutty notes and rich mouthfeel plus the sweet, juicy scent of the berries. It's the liquid equivalent of eating roasted strawberries covered in luscious milk chocolate.

The other three featured cocktails of the night have their own merits too (the ramp-infused Rite of Spring, a sweet, sour and spicy Infante and the fragrant, flowery Wild Orchid) so do bring a few buddies so you can give all the drinks a try and vote for (perhaps re-order) your favorites!

Last but not least, keep an eye out for the absinthe fairy and her cart too. Practically everyone who tasted the pineapple-absinthe shots loved it.

And here's another take of the preview event by Gourmet Pigs, e*star LA, ShopEatSleep and Thirsty in LA.

Radio Room at the Edison
108 W 2nd Street
Los Angeles
213.613.0000

Special Drinkventure #155: Radio Room at Edison (Downtown LA)

Even though I've been to the Edison's Radio Room several times, I've always been a bit hesitant to blog about the event since they're single-event affairs, and the performances, the guest bartenders and drinks made that night may not ever make an appearance again. But every time I go, I've been amazed by the cocktails du jour and the knowledgeable-yet-friendly bartends (even when juggling a nonstop frenzy of orders for most of the night) so I figure it's high time to officially endorse this monthly soiree, which I was fortunate enough to be invited to by their PR (though from how popular the event turned out, they probably don't need another plug from me!)

In its latest incarnation earlier this week, the Radio Room decided to showcase the drink-making skills of its incoming director of spirits, Joseph Brooke (who has been tending at Copa d'Oro and was the season 2 winner of LX.TV's "On the Rocks" bartending competition,) Brian Miller from NYC's Death & Company and Erick Castro of San Francisco's Bourbon & Branch and Rickhouse.

Between these three talented crafters, the drink menu of seven was a whimsical mix that really ran the gamut, covering quite a range of spirits and showcasing a broad spectrum of flavor profiles, from the fruity (but only mildly sweet) Kentucky Buck with strawberry puree, to the spicier Hispaniola with tea-infused rum and a sugarcane-ginger syrup, and a light, fizzy, refreshing (yet deceptively potent) Miss Behavin' with apple and pear brandies topped with a little bubbly!

The most memorable of the night for me, though, was the Porco Rosso; not only does the name remind me of my favorite anime legend, the drink itself (made with High West Rye, Aperol, Carpano Antica, bitters, citrus) was delightfully fragrant with sweet spices and orange, a rich, warming mouthfeel, and a velvety-smooth finish. A wonderful sleight-of-hand twist from the Rye Manhattan, and since this was Joe's creation -- I hope it'll make it onto the permanent drink list at the Edison, or at least him not minding a do-over when I return.

The entertainment of the night (which also changes with the Radio Room) was Portland's Vagabond Opera; since I'm even less adept to describe music than I am with food and drinks, I'll turn that over to my friend Hey Hey Scenesters! My brief take in a sentence: a rambuctious fusion of big band, cabaret and Monty Python's Spamalot -- not exactly danceable but it does get crowds riled up!

Speaking of getting excited, I was definitely thrilled to see seafood specialist Christophe Happillon happily shucking and serving up British Columbian Fanny Bay oysters near the back bar of the Edison. It was great to meet the famous Oyster Gourmet in person, listen to his excitement over the bivalve, and of course, sampling one of those delights (absolutely delicious on its own: sweet and meaty, with clean, briny liqueur!)

And while I do miss the earlier days of the Radio Room, a more intimate setting in the back bar when everyone can get a seat with a view of the show and a drink in their hand in a few minutes, this bigger version has an interesting, if different than original, vibe for it too, particularly the fresh infusion of energy and creativity from the guest bartenders and performers. So I'll still be back to check it out, and if mobs and potentially long waits are not your thing, try to come very early (half-hour before start time) or very late (45 minutes before end time.) Oh, and take mental notes of Caroline's observations and ordering advice.

Few more photos on flickr here

The Radio Room at The Edison (next one is on March 30th, with March 4th Marching Band performing)
108 W 2nd Street
Los Angeles
213.613.0000

A weekend of foodventures compressed into one day . . .

I've always been one to "Work hard, play hard" -- but when I get called in to work weekends that easily turns my mantra into "work hard, play hardER!" on the days I do have off. so that's exactly what I did this past Saturday, when I easily crammed 2-3 days worth of events and outings into one 24-hour period of fun, thrills and, of course, food.

My day actually started the night preceding, when I went to USC-LA Coliseum area to partake in the Nike+ Human Race 10K (disclosure: the Nike folks were actually going for more online/social media outreach this year, so they reached out to a few local influentials, including my friend Caroline on Crack, so as a blogger and plus-one I got hooked up with some dandy running gear – more on that on my much-neglected “other half” blog coming up.) The run was wild and crazy with over 8,000 peeps taking on 5K/10K in Central LA. Being packed as it was, I didn’t set a record for my run, but still did better than I expected (53 minutes for 10K, so approx. 8:30 a mile). It was great meeting fellow running bloggers Sonja of Active Foodie, Josh of FoodGPS, and Andy + Lisa of LAist (DianaTakesABite was also there staffing the shoe trials booth) And just to make this paragraph relevant to this blog, I also enjoyed the barbecue-flavored PopChips that were provided to runners -- wildly flavorful and not greasy at all!

A little snack and an abridged five-hour sleep later, I hauled my surprisingly-not-sore legs to Venice to meet up with Sonja, Caroline and her friend Mei-Mei at Gjelina. Having arrived in the Abbot Kinney area a little early, I decide to indulge in a post-run affogato at Intelligentsia. After one sip and one spoonful, I think espresso+ice cream should be a part of everyone’s well-balanced breakfast!

After that blissful drink, Caroline, Mei-Mei and I plopped our butts down at Gjelina (Sonja ran a little late). I’m not usually one to bag on restaurants, but what’s up with the attitude? From the curt hostess who sat us down in the most dysfunctional and fugliest table on the nearly-empty patio (turquoise, rusty AND wobbly) and not letting us switch to another four-top due to reservations (Caroline and I found that questionable, since she called a few days before and was told reservations allowed only for parties of six-plus.) And then there’s our fedora-wearing hipster waiter who was impatiently hovering around us early on while we waited for Sonja, providing abrupt replies to our questions interspersed with “are you ready yet?” and practically disappeared after getting the order down (I don’t believe he even checked up on our table.) Well, sorry if we weren’t celebrities or hobbits (I spotted Elijah Wood and Dominic Monaghan in semi-private area of the restaurant,) but a little TLC at the table goes a long, long way.

As for the food, it was on the OK-to-good range – nothing that I’d make a destination for. I got the chickpea and Israeli couscous stew with spiced yogurt and harissa sauces – more on the lunchy side of brunch but it satisfied my hunger and was a hearty-but-not-heavy dish. Sonja, Caroline and Mei-Mei got poached egg dishes, and the latter two’s were more liquidy than I expected (how bout giving the eggs a little wiggle and water drainage before slapping it on top of a bed of grits and mushrooms so they don’t turn into soggy-soup?) On a good note, I did enjoy my La Chouffe Belgian blonde ale – toasty aromas with flower undertones and a little spiciness on the mouth while being totally quaffable. But yeah, while I won’t totally write Gjelina off, it’s not a place I would actively recommend if my pals and I are looking for a place to eat (esp. for $30 for brunch!) … if anything, I might steer us towards Tasting Kitchen, Lemonade or 3 Square nearby.

Unable to resist the calls of the numerous food trucks staking their spaces Abbot Kinney, our group succumbed to Marked5 (five items on menu, $5 – including tax – for everything) and tried their Torakku Beef burger. I had a bite and thought it was alright but messy with the rice patties (though my lack of interest may be because I had a belly full of chickpeas, couscous, brussel sprouts and beer.)

Remembering the Royal/T Three Apples party going on that day, Caroline and I went to Culver City to check out the Hello Kitty craziness. It was a madhouse indeed… with all sorts of Hello Kitty and tokidoki merchandise (designers from both were there doing signings) and numerous collaborative/tribute art with other artists. But it was still fun look at the pieces, and Caroline bought some funky-punky items and we chilled later on with some iced teas at the café. But definitely one of the more chaotic exhibition openings I’ve been to and bummers we couldn’t get our stuff signed by Simone though.

Still having a bit more time to kill for the day, we opted for some beers and snacks at Library Alehouse – which I’m glad to finally visit so I won’t confuse it with downtown’s Library Bar anymore. Both of us got the $7 five-beer sampler and let our bartend, Danny, pick some of the four-ounce samples for us. Good stuff, I liked the Hazelnut Brown Nectar and Hop Head Red he picked – and of course I am pleased to sip on Allagash White (already gone by the time I took photo, heh) and Racer 5 IPA. Our dishes were also nice bar bites, I had the sesame-seared ahi tuna that was the perfect bite at the moment, very light and the wasabi and ginger went nicely with the hoppier beers. Caroline got the chipotle shrimp quesadillas; solid stuff, but I was floored by the ripeness of the tomatoes in the accompanying salsa.

Finally happy from food AND service, we headed to the beach to join up with our friend Siel a.k.a. GreenLAGirl for the Blogger Beach Clean-Up that she co-organized. It was great meeting up with fellow bloggers and put it towards something good, even if only for 20 minutes and Caroline, Yolanda and I only wound up getting two ice cream scoops’ worth of trash in that timespan. But it was nice to know that Santa Monica is actually a pretty clean beach, and that every little step counts toward making the planet a greener and healthier place to live. And of course, meeting all sorts of bloggers I already know (e.g. LAist's Zach Behren and Jennio) and a plethora of new ones.

While there was a happy hours afterparty for the beach clean-uppers at Pourtal, I decided to head east to check out the opening of the Giant Robot exhibition going on at Japanese American National Museum (free admission that day is a definite perk!) to check out the various Pop-Asian arts, from lighthearted cute to hauntingly dark. It was also nice seeing the rest of the museum too and to be reminded of United State’s own version of concentration camps during World War II. It seems like free drinks and food were being offered at the lobby reception, but I skipped 'cause of the lines and I already had other nosh plans.

Finally, supper time, and I already knew what I want to check out – the bar bites and dessert menus at Drago Centro, which has gotten good buzz lately. To start, I picked their mozzarella-speck-pepper-arugula rolls which just alright, and an amazing duck confit pizza that had a good amount of the fatty meat, not too shabby w three thin and crispy slices for just $4. I also tried one of their cocktails, the L'Erba Bleu - Buffalo Trace bourbon with fresh grapefruit sour. Sweeter and fruitier than my preference, I really can't complain since it's only $5 and I can see it being a decent gateway cocktail for someone who insist on not liking Bourbon.

The highlight of my meal definitely came with desserts, which I was very eager to try after reading LA Weekly's profile of pastry chef Jashmine Corpuz earlier this month. The la crostata di noci ($9) was heavenly -- a not-too-sweet walnut tart topped with parmesan gelato and crisp, surrounded with marsala syrup and grapes. I felt it was the perfect lovechild from the elopement of cheese and dessert courses. Pair it with the coffee-ish Old Rasputin Imperial Stout and you got one killer combo to end your meal with (and yes, I was tempted to DIY a beer float with the parmesan gelato, opted out of it--in hindsight I wished I asked the bar for a shotglass so I can do a mini version.)

And so ends my weekend-in-a-day. Despite the ups-and-downs encountered with the different events, overall it was fun and I'm glad it ended on a high note. After 13+ hours of being out and about (and I am not even counting the 2-3 hours in the Nike+ run) I'm definitely ready for a good night sleep and take my Sunday of work in stride.

Many more photos from my day here

Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea
1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA‎
(310) 399-1233‎

Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA
(310) 450-1429

Marked5 Food Truck
Various locations

Royal/T Cafe
8910 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA
(310) 559-6300

Library Alehouse
2911 Main St
Santa Monica, CA
(310) 314-4855

Drago Centro
525 S Flower St
Los Angeles, CA ‎
(213) 228-8998 ‎