Spitz & Cafe Dulce, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles

Spitz - The Home of the Doner Kebab

As I mentioned in my last post (My Thoughts Over Time), I met friends for lunch in downtown LA. We stopped by Spitz on 2nd Street in Little Tokyo. I've never been (I always seem to stop at T.O.T.) and it was yummy! It's a bar/restaurant, good prices, fresh food, lots of options, and delicious sweet potato fries. Menu here.

The combo comes with a sandwich or wrap, beverage and fries or a salad. I got the super blurry Mediterranean Garden plate (lower left) (Hey, cell phone photos. And total tangent here: I'm excited to get the new Samsung 4 next month when my contract is up!)

Top photo (L-R): Spirulina churro, Sweet potato Roti, Green Tea donut
Bottom (L-R): Green Tea (donut filled with yummy light cream), Roti (super light and delicious, filled with a little sweet potato), Churro (it's chewy and fried...yum!)

Yes, I realize that I should have made the collage to correspond to the photo above it...but I wanted your mind to work. And I've gotten pretty good at cutting food into thirds with a plastic knife #lifeskills

After Spitz, we hit up Cafe Dulce in the Japanese Village Plaza (between 1st and 2nd Streets in Little Tokyo). OMG. This place is great. I come here a lot (check my instagram for proof).

Okay. My review for both places: Go.

Little Tokyo, Los Angeles
Spitz: Website | Yelp
Cafe Dulce: Website | Yelp

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Cafe Surfas Breakfast

Cafe Surfas, Culver City, California 

Friends Jenn of Justjenn Recipes and Jami of Night Baking met for breakfast at Cafe Surfas this morning...prior to some shopping at one of our favorite stores in Los Angeles! I've never had the breakfast at Cafe Surfas so this was a treat.

Pictured above: Delicious seasonal Blood Orange Blend fresh squeezed juice. Very refreshing.


I didn't get one this time, but if you visit, be sure to get the Lavender Lemon Bar from the Cafe. Soooooo delicious!


Breakfast Sandwich with bacon, egg, bread, cheese, tomato and more bacon. Jamie and Jenn got this toasted panini.


I ordered the Veggie breakfast sandwich on challah bread with roasted veggies and fried egg. In the store, I bought some parchment mini cupcake liners, non-French rolling pin, and whole wheat pastry flour. Let's see what I make with those supplies! Also, I got a discount with my KCRW Fringe Benefits card - always awesome to be a member of public radio.

Both breakfast sandwiches were under $10. Cafe Surfas has indoor and outdoor seating, WiFi, and water bowls for your doggie. It's a great place to start the day...before spending all your money in Surfas. :)

Cafe Surfas & Surfas Restaurant Supply
8777 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232

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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

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Craftsman and Wolves - San Francisco

Craftsman and Wolves - San Francisco

I just got back from a mini-break to San Francisco. I have a lovely time visiting friends and family...and eating and eating. I'm going to post about my visit shortly, but wanted to highlight a new place in the Mission: Craftsman and Wolves.

Located within walking distance of veteran Tartine in the Mission, this place adds to the major food scene in the Mission. It's near a cheese shop, soon-to-be chocolate shop, and Abbot's Cellar. Top right is a Cocoa Carrot Muffin - it's really moist.

My friend Sumi and I got six things...for TWO people! :) We just had to try as much as we could! Look at the beautiful pastries and baked goods. Besides, calories on vacation don't count, right? (Don't worry, we boxed up the leftovers)

Chocolate chip cookies (for the flight home...so beats airline peanuts) - don't remember the price, but the peanut butter one is $2.00. The Pain au Cochon $3.75 with cheese and ham is a flaky happy place.

The first thing you notice upon entering the simply designed cafe is the friendly staff. We went very early in the day before the breakfast crowd. Yes, I wake up early for bakeries. We picked our choices and they were plated. Seating includes a long table with stools and a bar (see first photo). The tisane tea $2.50 includes freshly picked spearmint and peppermint leaves...you can see the plant on the counter. Bottom right is a lovely Passion Sesame Croissant $3.50 - super delicious!

The brownie has caramel in the center. Oh, shut up and sit down. It's hella rich. My favorite was the tomato, strawberry and pistachio scone. Perfect combo of a bit savory and sweet. (Sorry, I don't remember all the prices and Sumi treated so I don't have the receipt, but most items were around $3-4 I believe. The Sandwiches are $9 and savory plates are $8-$11.)

Next time, we'll sample the sandwiches and savory plates...if we have any room left after eating pastries!

Craftsman and Wolves
Website : Facebook : Twitter
Yelp
746 Valencia St (between 19th St & 18th St)
San Francisco, CA 94110

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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!)

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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

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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

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Frying Fish and Eating in Little Tokyo

So, I haven't been just making and eating bundts this month! :) The other day, JustJenn, her kids and I went to Little Tokyo in Downtown Los Angeles for lunch at Frying Fish Sushi.

Frying Fish is one of the oldest places in the Japanese Village Plaza (between 1st and 2nd Streets). Two sushi chefs are in the center and a rotating stream of sushi goes round and round.


The prices are based on the color of the dish, and you just pile them up at your seat and they count them up.

You can grab anything off the conveyor belt, or ask for items from the sushi chefs. I ordered a tamago (egg) and the kids got their favorite tempura shrimp roll and just plain tempura shrimp. Kids, like adults, love fried food.


Here is Chef Kenny Yamada and a few of the plates we ate. I took the chef's photo and he gave me his card. Not everyday you get your sushi prepared by someone who's also a member of the Screen Actors Guild SAG. (Well, perhaps you just might in LA!)


The sushi isn't gourmet or rivals R23, but it's a fun time. Kids just love the conveyor belt and sitting at the bar. Lots of people in the restaurant were accompanied by children! Discover Nikkei interviewed the owner and has a set of photos.


After Frying Fish, we walked next door to Mikawaya for some mochi, mochi ice cream, and sorbet. They have it all. Mikawaya invented mochi ice cream! Opened in 1910, this place is a Los Angeles institution. I love all things mochi and always visit either Mikawaya or Fugetsudo for mochi while downtown.


Of course, we stopped at the Mitsuru Cafe in the same Japanese Village Plaza for Imagawayaki. These are pancakes filled with sweetened red beans. They are made in front of a window so people are always watching...you can find the place by the crowd. I can eat these everyday and never leave Little Tokyo without a visit. When warm, they are so delicious!


Our last stop was the Hello Kitty store and the trinket/J-Pop culture store where I found the perfect winter hat! Kawaii!

Japanese Village Plaza
Between 1st and 2nd Streets at Central, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles

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The Corner Place Korean BBQ (Los Angeles)

The Corner Place Korean BBQ

Los Angeles

Remember that crazy wedding dessert bar for Jun and David? Well, like they say, first comes marriage... UCLA Library School alums Socrates, Jun (plus one-to-be) and I went to eat in July. Sure, that just looks like a lot of food on the table... but Jun is eating for two.

Socrates and I are supporting our fellow librarian Jun during her pregnancy by being her Food Doula! Sure, why not? We love to get together to eat and I'm sure her son needs iron. Thus, The Corner Place Korean BBQ in Los Angeles.

It was my first time eating at this place and it was tasty. They give you a boatload of meat. I've had better cuts at other BBQ places, but this was a good deal. Find a photo of the menu (July 2011) here.

The other day, I downloaded the photos from my little Sony camera I keep in my purse. I noticed that they were all photos of food, Korean BBQ, the dog, more food, and more Korean BBQ. Sigh.


We ordered the beef tongue, beef and cold noodle in soup (large) and the lettuce tray. Yum! It was great hanging out with my friends and little baby-to-be.

Corner Place
2819 James M Wood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(213) 487-0968

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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

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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

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