Archive
for June, 2013
Echo Park: Vegan Curry Potato Tacos at Xoia
Jun 26 2013
I love potato tacos. A lot of people don’t, and I blame the overwhelming amount of bad potato tacos (soggy, bland, and uninspired) for misrepresenting the entire category. Perhaps my appreciation comes from the fact that I usually make mine at home, giving them an Indian twist with Chef Raghavan Iyer’s smoky yellow dal recipe. This way, I get to bypass most restaurant versions, though I am guilty of pigging out on the greasy bombs they serve over at El Acator #11 after a few drinks and under the cloak of night.
There is one potato taco that recently came onto my radar that actually gives its brethren a good name: the Mashed Curry Potatoes and Carrot Taco at Xoia Vietnamese Eats in Echo Park. This one gets it right for so many reasons. For one, the filling is flavorful thanks to the sweetness of the carrots and, of course, the savory curry, which really pops. The crunch factor is also spot on. The filling of a potato taco is unavoidably mushy, so a certain amount of crunch is necessary—the crispy tortilla and shreds of red cabbage are perfect for the task.
The finishing touches don’t miss, either. Vietnamese coriander, which is similar to cilantro, and a house-made sauce of Oaxacan crema, coconut milk and Sriracha add to the overall flavor. I think about these tacos a lot.
Not bad for $6.99.
-Valentina
Travel Bites: What to Eat on a Long Weekend in Baltimore, MD
Jun 21 2013
We recently found ourselves in Baltimore, Maryland for a wedding and decided to make a weekend of it. My husband spent some of his formative years in the city and was happy to get back. I’ve only been once before, but I was excited, too. Baltimore is a beautiful place, where an element of danger is always lurking-a nice neighborhood is always bordered by a scary one. Yet, it’s where north meets south, so it’s also more polite than other east coast cities, and you’re greeted by almost everyone you meet on the street.
Foodwise, there’s a lot to discover. We didn’t have a car, so we were relegated to places we could reach by walking and short bus rides. Still, we found plenty of good eats. Here’s the weekend wrap up:
Crabs, of course, are a must. We headed to Captain James’ Crab House with some friends. There, we ordered piles of crabs, which you choose by size (medium-jumbo), and I learned how to crack ’em like an expert. Okay, not really, but I learned a technique that I will, hopefully, master some day. The hush puppies and french fries were deep-fried goodness, the pitchers of beer icy cold. Oh, and Michael Phelps was there. 2127 Boston St., Baltimore MD, 21231
Keeping with the crab theme, I had the spectacular Crab Cake & Fried Green Tomato Eggs Benedict from Miss Shirley’s Cafe. My husband always turns up his nose at crab cakes served in LA restaurants, which I used to think was just snobby, but now I see the light. These were so flavorful and flaky. Add the southern charm of a fried green tomato, and, well, you can imagine. The restaurant, itself, with its inner harbor location and huge portions, would be a tourist trap if the food wasn’t so dang good. 750 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21202
Atwater Village, Los Feliz & Highland Park: 3 Good Veggie Sandwiches
Jun 12 2013
An Italian sub can be a glorious thing, but cold cuts aren’t for everyone. If you’re a vegetarian, or if you just prefer a meatless lunch now and again, finding a good veggie sandwich can be a task. Sometimes all you get is lettuce, tomato and cheese. Talk about blah. Still, there are some satisfying veggie sandwiches out there that demonstrate real deliberation and craftsmanship. Here are three good ones:
The Trails Cafe: The Avocado Sandwich and The Trails in Griffith Park is one of the best citywide. Thick chunks of ripe avocado, tomato, red onions, alfalfa sprouts and cheddar cheese are stacked high between two slices of sweet squaw bread. Mayo and soy bacon bits complement each bite. It’s the kind of sandwich that you miss when it’s gone, but the lavender shortbread cookies they sell are will console you. 2333 Fern Dell Dr Los Angeles, 90068
GIVEAWAY: 2 Tickets to Sunset & Dine June 13
Jun 07 2013
It’s been a while, but I have another giveaway! This one is for the 2nd Annual Sunset & Dine. The event will kick off the Oscars Outdoor summer movie screening program at Academy Hollywood (6322 DeLongpre Ave. in Hollywood), the outdoor amphitheater on the campus of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
If you win, you’ll get 2 tickets (they’re usually $30 a piece), which will get you free beer and wine, plus food from local restaurants, like Magnolia, The Cat & Fiddle, Doomie’s Home Cookin’, Fabiolus Cucina, Stella Barra, Village Pizzeria and more. They’ll also be screening “Sunset Boulevard”. Sounds fun, no? Event goes from 6-10 on June 13.
Here’s how to win:
- Follow Eastside Food Bites on Twitter or Facebook–if you’re already a follower, you’re good. If not, just click one of the corresponding buttons in the left hand corner.
- Comment below and let me know where you follow me (FB or Twitter), so I can check. Tell me your handle name.
- Enter by midnight Tuesday, June 11.
I’ll pick the winner (fair and square raffle style) on Wednesday morning and let you know who won by noon. If you don’t get back to me by 6pm that night, I’ll have to pick someone else. Once you’re confirmed, your name + 1 will be put on the guest list.
Easy as pie.
If you’d like to forgo the contest and buy a ticket, you can get yours here.
-Valentina
Highland Park: Good Girl Dinette Serves Breakfast!
Jun 04 2013
If there’s one thing Figueroa Boulevard needs it’s breakfast. There are some notable staples—Antigua Bread, Metro Balderas, La Fuente—but there’s no denying that some new blood is in order. That’s why I was intrigued when I heard that Good Girl Dinette is now serving breakfast! Owner Diep Tran says she labored over the new morning menu, and it shows. The meticulously edited “American diner meets Vietnamese comfort food” menu hits all the necessary sweet and savory notes while offering something novel to the complacent breakfast goer.
Ordering oatmeal at a restaurant is usually a mea culpa for eating three chili dogs the night before. Inspired by chè, a Vietnamese pudding, Tran’s Coconut Oatmeal isn’t useful for such self-flagellation. Steel-cut oats are made creamy and decadent with coconut milk and topped with sweet ginger maple syrup and crushed sesame seeds. The oats are soaked overnight, so they’re only minimally cooked, giving the dish a lightly grainy texture.
