Sandwich Shop
Verdict: Cat’s Pajamas!

Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm (will open weekend starting this spring!)
Address: 531 West 6th Street, LA, CA 90014
Phone: (213) 627-1508
Price: $
Website: www.SandwichShopLA.com

When my husband and I moved in to our place downtown, we met several of our neighbors, one of whom is Jimmy Kwon. Soon after getting to know Jimmy, my husband learned that his company had been ordering lunch from Jimmy’s shop, then La Baguette, for months. And everyone loved the food!

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It’s been a long and arduous wait for the best kept secret on the East Side.

Everyone’s favorite Osteria, La Buca, will be having it’s official re-opening this coming Monday!

Whooooo!

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$ - RUN to Colori (don’t walk) before they wise up!

HOME OF THE CIOPPINO! (big enough, Joe?)

Variety: even the manager doesn’t know the specials or the desserts until that night
Notable: food, service, atmosphere, location, price
Price: $ - go now before they wise up!
Delivery: small order 2 block radius / catering, anywhere
Verdict: KICK YOUR MAMA GOOD!
*They are still in the process of acquiring a liquor license, so b.y.o.b. and enjoy free corkage.

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It’s that time of the year again—the 40-day period that begins with soiled foreheads and ends with sighs of relief when Easter finally arrives. Oh, yes, Lent is here working its magic. Serious Catholics, among others, must adjust their eating habits over the 40 days; no meat is eaten on Fridays. What’s a carnivore to do when meat is verboten?

If you happen upon a California Fish Grill on a Friday night during Lent, or on a weekday during the daily lunch rush, you need look no further for a decent, reasonably priced seafood meal. Their menu is varied enough to please almost any seafood lover who is either unable or unwilling to foot the bill at places like Ocean Avenue Seafood or The Lobster. The ocean view at Gladstones and Neptune’s Net far surpasses what you’ll find at California Fish Grill. The food does not.

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It’s that time of the year again—the 40-day period that begins with soiled foreheads and ends with sighs of relief when Easter finally arrives. Oh, yes, Lent is here working its magic. Serious Catholics, among others, must adjust their eating habits over the 40 days; no meat is eaten on Fridays. What’s a carnivore to do when meat is verboten?

If you happen upon a California Fish Grill on a Friday night during Lent, or on a weekday during the daily lunch rush, you need look no further for a decent, reasonably priced seafood meal. Their menu is varied enough to please almost any seafood lover who is either unable or unwilling to foot the bill at places like Ocean Avenue Seafood or The Lobster. The ocean view at Gladstones and Neptune’s Net far surpasses what you’ll find at California Fish Grill. The food does not.

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After spending a year living in France, one ultimately cannot escape eating a lot of fromage or cheese as we like to call it back in the States. I lived in a relatively large Southern city named Toulouse where good cheese was so easy to find, it practically didn’t matter what you chose, it was always delicious.

With this in mind, it may seems obvious that cozy fondue joints were everywhere, offering a wide selection of Gruyere, Bethmale and Roquefort. Coming back to California, I found a shortage of quaint fondue places until I heard about The Melting Pot.

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Chez Nous
10550 Riveside Dr.
Toluca Lake
$$$

Classy without being pretentious. Live entertainment that makes your dinner more enjoyable. A desert menu that you actually want to save room for. All these things and more describe the warm and wonderfully inviting Chez Nous.

Since 1981 Chez Nous (pronounced “shay new” - French for “at our place / house”) has been busy serving up delicious dishes and making delightful deserts in their bakery. Neatly placed on Riverside Dr. in Toluca Lake, they are safely tucked away from all the hustle and bustle of the city.

With a vast menu, you’re welcome to come by for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Covering everything from appetizers to entrées, pizza to sandwiches, and salads to pastas; you’re sure to find many mouth watering dishes.

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Let’s say your cruising down Main Street in Santa Monica. And, let’s say you’re hungry or thirsty. If you can make it past that crazy homeless guy with the beard in front of Coffee Bean, duck into The Library Alehouse. This place is the main reason I regret moving away from the beach.

First off, it’s really awesome inside. Very cozy and dark with a nice, polite staff. If the weather’s nice, the back patio is cute. Just make sure they don’t seat you in the way back next to the bathroom. That bathroom door is the busiest door in Santa Monica. Must be all the beer.

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Puran’s is what I call stealth-organic. The food is healthy and organic but you wouldn’t know it unless you read the blurb at the bottom of the menu. And, seriously, who does that? So, it’s healthy on the down low, which is cool.

The place has a nice vibe. You can sit outside and stare at Albertson’s or you can eat inside, which is kind-of cave-like in a good way. It’s pretty rustic, with booths and concrete floors. You know, candles on the table and iron chairs…that whole thing. Construction paper and crayons on the tables make it seem a little less serious. It’s fun to sketch while waiting for your meal, unless you’re with my husband, the artist, who sketches whole cities in the time it takes me to draw a little stick guy with a hat.

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Wednesday is here once again, and you know what that means?

It means nothing, that’s what: I was fortunate enough to get salmonella poisoning while out of town. I don’t particularly recommend it.

So I’ll be up and kicking by next week, when I promise you we’ll be back with something astounding and revolting.

I went to lunch with three girlfriends, one of whom is 20 months old (hereafter referred to as 20-Mo), at Joy Mart Restaurant. Joy Mart is located within the Japanese Village Plaza Mall on 2nd Street at San Pedro. It sits next to a little rock sculpture and boasts a small patio area.

This was my second visit to Joy Mart, and both times the food was similar in quality. I even accidentally ordered the same dish both times. Identical quality and presentation. So, if consistency is high on your list of must-haves, Joy Mart is for you.

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Last night, I attended an Open House at Loft Appeal on 9th and Hill to meet Senior Lead Officer Mike Fernandez L.A.P.D. The food was provided by Calori Kitchen, thrilling me as I’ve been meaning to try their restaurant for a while. Almost everything that’s been written about Calori Kitchen bills it to be delicious.

The Meal: A buffet offering (remember it was an event) of mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette, bread with an unusual tapenade, steamed broccoli, pasta with meat sauce, pasta with veggies and marinara sauce. There were also some cookies and wines, but I think that was provided by Loft Appeal.

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