I wanted to take my friend out for dinner on his birthday and decided to go to a place neither of us had ever tried before. I decided on The Smoke House in Burbank. I had heard good things about it and passed by it hundreds of times but for some reason just never got around to stopping in.

On entering the restaurant I liked the somewhat dark yet inviting atmosphere. It reminded me of one of my favorite restaurants which I had actually considered for the evening. As we walked through the bar we noticed a table set up for happy hour, which included potato skins with lamb as well as a few other goodies. We passed on the happy hour offering and went straight for the menu.

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Let’s talk about what makes a good cupcake. In my opinion, a good cupcake is moist without being heavy, tender but not falling-apart soft. The frosting is flavorful, but not gum-achingly sweet. The ratio of cake to frosting is appropriate, and every mouthful provides an even taste of each. In a perfect world, every cupcake would be beautifully frosted and decorated, but as you and I both know, good cupcakes more frequently come from amateur kitchens helmed by the local PTA president.

We’ll pay upwards of $3 a cupcake for just a small bite of our childhood, a brief flashback to summer days and birthday parties. Who would have known that for just $2.75, you could have one of the greatest cupcakes in town?
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Enough with the hate.When a person is willing to go to blows over a cupcake bakery, I admit that I may have made a mistake. I’m not saying that I was wrong, because I still don’t believe Yummy to be the very best cupcake in town, but I may have been unnecessarily harsh.

Here’s what happened: a member of my tasting squad, enraged by my dismissive tone, demanded that I give Yummy Cupcakes another try. I refused, stating that the cupcakes were dry and the frosting too sweet. She scoffed at my refusal, unwilling to admit defeat. She even brought them to a small birthday celebration over the weekend, announcing to all who would listen how I’d publicly denounced the bakery. I had to taste the cupcakes again.

And you know what? It was good. Real good. The red velvet was moist and soft, and although there was still too much frosting for my taste, I liked it. The heavy cream cheese frosting left a thin coating on my tongue, but in a good way, a way that confirmed that they used real, full-fat cream cheese. Is it The Absolute Best Cupcake in LA? I’m going to stand by my original review and still say no it isn’t, but it really is a mighty fine cupcake and certainly worth the trek to either Santa Monica or Burbank.

Photo by jslander via Flickr

Good (the “microbrewery” on Sunset in Silverlake) should rename itself So-So. Actually they should rename it, “Our food is not very good but we have a fine beer selection and a parking lot.” At least that’s honest.

I’ve been to Good 3 or 4 times. Dinner and Lunch were so boring that my husband and I vowed never to go again. Sunday morning, we were desperate (we waited until 11:30, he was starving and I had a cold) and we thought that maybe breakfast would be safe. I wanted eggs and he wanted pancakes, how hard is that, right? Here’s the big hole in our logic: Good is all about the beer and who wants to guzzle a Shiner Bock with their waffles? Right? Am I right? The eggs and the pancakes were fine. Mediocre diner food at best, just like every other dish I’ve ever had there. One plus was that it was not busy. Another was that our waitress was really ‘good’.

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I use the word “dry” to describe many things – mostly deserts, white wine and my hair. It is a versatile word with many uses, but one that should never ever be applied to cupcakes. Unfortunately, I must. My Little Cupcake’s product in Studio City is a dry cupcake.

The downside of items that are baked fresh daily is that every once in awhile you get a few that just stood out too long. I could come up with a million excuses why - and I want to because the owner is just so friendly! - but it’s my personal opinion that a $3.00 cupcake (even if made in the early morning) should still taste pretty good at 1:30pm.

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Not having children myself, I can only guess at the joy a parent feels standing outside a glass-walled hospital nursery, cooing at their newborn. Since I have to guess, I’m going to guess it’s comparable to the anticipation a sweets-craving bakery customer feels walking into Brentwood’s SusieCakes.

Instead of the open kitchen you’ll find at Leda’s and Yummy, SusieCakes bakery is directly adjacent to the retail space just behind a glass wall. Employees frost cakes and mix batters with the dedication of Santa’s elves and Harlem Globetrotters-like flair. It’s a bakery and a show, with some tasty results.

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Yuca’s
2056 Hillhurst Ave.
Los Feliz, CA 90027
$

Money’s tight this Valentine’s Day. Even though it sounds as if the WGA strike may be over (finally! thank you!), I’m still not expecting reservations at Table 8, know what I mean? But good food doesn’t have to cost a fortune. On the off chance that my husband is reading my blog today, I’m going to throw out the big hint. A carne asada taco from Yuca’s and some Dos Equis will do the trick. Yeah, I know, I’m easy to please. Throw in some flowers or chocolate and I’ll be your Valentine.

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Well, ladies and gentlemen, the final gift-giving holiday of the winter season is upon us. This weekend marks the last two days during which you have 12 hours to peruse Los Angeles’s shops and boutiques to find a Valentine’s Day gift. It is never fun (or appreciated) to scurry around the city in traffic, trying to find a special something in the hours between clocking out and dinner.

Here, I’ve got a few suggestions, for the long-term ladyfriend:

Get in your car, drive to 4649 Russell Ave in Los Feliz, find parking, and run into Cake.

It is not a bakery. It is a delightful space filled with chic and wearable jewelry. Opened in 2000, the shop offers exclusively hand-forged jewelry that is subtle but spectacular. Not a single piece contains nickel or zinc, so a ring will never turn your friend’s finger green. All in all, these moderately-priced pieces will certainly impress.

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Well, ladies and gentlemen, the final gift-giving holiday of the winter season is upon us. This weekend marks the last two days during which you have 12 hours to peruse Los Angeles’s shops and boutiques to find a Valentine’s Day gift. It is never fun (or appreciated) to scurry around the city in traffic, trying to find a special something in the hours between clocking out and dinner.

Here, I’ve got a few suggestions, for the long-term ladyfriend:

Get in your car, drive to 4649 Russell Ave in Los Feliz, find parking, and run into Cake.

It is not a bakery. It is a delightful space filled with chic and wearable jewelry. Opened in 2000, the shop offers exclusively hand-forged jewelry that is subtle but spectacular. Not a single piece contains nickel or zinc, so a ring will never turn your friend’s finger green. All in all, these moderately-priced pieces will certainly impress.

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I heard it over and over again. “Yummy Cupcakes are delicious! The best cupcakes in Santa Monica.” Considering that there are three bakeries in a 4 block radius, that’s a bold statement, one that necessitates an investigation.

A visit to Yummy Cupcakes in Santa Monica yielded one classic vanilla cupcake with sprinkles, one chocolate with vanilla frosting, an “old school” chocolate cupcake with creamy filling and a quirky peanut butter flavored cupcake, complete with a dollop of the sandwich spread for garnish. One by one, my tasters and I sliced up the cakes, taking bites here and there while discussing the ratio of cake to frosting. The consensus:

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Tam O’ Shanter Inn

2980 Los Feliz Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90039
(323) 664-0228

Want to impress your shnookems this Valentine’s Day? I have the perfect place. Tam O’ Shanter’s on Los Feliz Boulevard! This is Los Angeles’ oldest restaurant, owned and operated by the same family in the same location since 1922. And, what a location! This place is so cute you’ll think you’re in Disneyland, without the crazy ticket price and the screaming children. Oh, and the food is better than those silly Mickey Mouse pancakes.

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Tam O’ Shanter Inn

2980 Los Feliz Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90039
(323) 664-0228

Want to impress your shnookems this Valentine’s Day? I have the perfect place. Tam O’ Shanter’s on Los Feliz Boulevard! This is Los Angeles’ oldest restaurant, owned and operated by the same family in the same location since 1922. And, what a location! This place is so cute you’ll think you’re in Disneyland, without the crazy ticket price and the screaming children. Oh, and the food is better than those silly Mickey Mouse pancakes.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]