Author Archive
When a taco truck sticks around
If you enjoy taco trucks and are ever in the San Diego area, you must find Mexican Fiesta between Little Italy and Downtown on the corner of India and Beech. This is a walk up order from the window Mexican food place. I can’t call it a restaurant because you don’t go in to eat, you order from the window and walk away to enjoy some of the best Mexican food you’ll find north of the border. On my recent visit I went at 8:00 AM when they open and there was already a line. I had the popular breakfast burrito and for less than $3.00 was on my way to the water front to enjoy my meal by the sea.
I don’t know if this place was ever a taco truck, but I’ve been here and it has 2 things in common (1)It is about the same size as a taco truck and (2) there is always a line.
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- Great Mexican Food
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- San Diego Pier Art Sculpture
Olvera Street downtown Los Angeles
There are so many places to see in Los Angeles and I often travel using the rail system and depart from historic Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. Directly across the street from Union Station is Olvera Street, a pedestrian walk way with shops and restaurants a plenty.
If you are traveling by train through or to Los Angeles, make sure you give yourself an extra hour or so to take a stroll through this historic street.
Burger of the Year
GQ's Burger of the Year
GQ’s food writer recently named LA’s Umami Burger the 2010 burger of the year. I love burgers so off to LA I went to give this a try.
There are three Umami Burger restaurants in LA but I wanted the original at 850 South La Brea Ave. True to LA culture, even burger joints offer valet parking and at only $2.50 that’s a bargain.
LA has a habit of making celebrities of restaurants, if you’ve seen the lines outside of Pinks, a hot dog stand, you’ll know what I mean. Umami Burger is on the same path to stardom so expect a long wait because this is a very small restaurant.
A True Mexican Coke
On the menu are more than just the signature Umami Burger and if you go with a few friends order a couple different burgers and share. Get the sweet potato fries and a mexican coke that’s made with sugar not corn syrup. The Umami Burger comes with a cheese crisp, grilled mushrooms, caramelized onions, and their home made ketchup that is more like a flavored tomato paste.
The burgers here are cooked rare to medium rare so if you are squeamish about pink meat, ask for your burger to be well done. The bread used as a bun is a real treat and even though the burger looks big, it won’t fill you up like a 5-Guys burger.
This is a good burger joint, unique, and stylish. Go there for the experience and enjoy the food.
UPDATE – The beginning of the end for Travel Sites?
UPDATE–
With the recent news that Google has entered the travel reservation site race with the purchase of ITA, the power behind AA reservations and Kayak.com, it is a race to lock in long term contracts by various sites with airlines and Sabre. With Google’s portfolio of technology you can be sure travel reservations will be tightly integrated into their sites/systems. There are a lot of benefits for having a company like Google in this space but some in the industry will fight it. Read more about the Google Air Scare on The Post.
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Sites that offer multiple fare comparisons are seeing a shift in strategy from their “airline” and other travel partners. A good example of this recently is American Airlines flights being removed from sites such as Orbitz and Expedia. Sites such as South West Air have never been part of the travel site crave and has done well with their “no change fee” and “bags fly free” campaigns. While major airlines such as Continental, Delta, and American have relied heavily in the past on multi-channel distribution sites like Travelocity, Orbitz, and Expedia (the top three) this is starting to change as consumers continue to become more aware of their choices, limited flights to and from their destinations, and the ever shrinking airline industry. Plus it is so easy to jump from one site to another and compare prices individually.
Today when I search for flights I typically will start with a site such as Expedia or Orbitz (sorry Travelocity outsourced their call center to India a few years back and took jobs away from American’s in West Virginia and I’ve yet to use their service ever since) and do my basic search and get a baseline price, then I’ll jump over to the South West Airlines site and check to see if they service the cities I’m traveling to and then I’ll jump over to other airlines and do searches directly on their site versus what shows up in Expedia or Orbitz. With the move of removing AA from these sites, it isn’t that much of a stretch for me to also jump to the AA website and do my search there as well.
Travel sites recognized long ago they needed to diversify their offerings by including rental cars and hotel stays, however if the primary offering of air travel goes away, it is only a matter of time before these sites cease to exist as we know it.
Visit National Parks Free!
National Parks Service
Each year the National Parks open their gates and let visitors in for FREE! The fee normally ranges between $3.00 to $25.00 but on the dates below, simply wave and drive by the gate. Traveling doesn’t always need to include a hotel and restaurant so get out and see some of our natural wonders this year.
The dates for the free visits are:
Jan 15-17
April 16-24
June 21
Sept 24
Nov 11-13
Living in the Washington DC area means I’ll probably go to Great Falls or even Assateague Island on the Maryland coast. View the complete list of National Parks, courtesy of The National Park Foundation.
Mark your calendars and plan something fun at our National Parks.
I’d be interested to know what your favorite National Park is and why.
DC to Niagara Falls and then some
My travels recently took me on a road trip through the middle of Pennsylvania up through Buffalo NY and into Ontario Canada. When mapping out my trip I was excited at the opportunity to see some iconic places such as the Niagara Falls and the Zippo factory in Bradford PA.
This was going to be a road trip with limited stops so I needed to think through my options. First I needed to consider fuel consumption, traffic and biological pit stops. Rachel was also in on this trip and most certainly would have some input into when and where we would be stopping!
Google Maps says the trip would take just over 9 hours and we left on a heavy traffic day from Alexandria VA that caused serious delay. What should have taken 1 hour took 3 due to traffic and caused an unnecessary stop in Altoona, PA. I say unnecessary because Altoona, PA is just that. Skip it and push on to Bradford PA where you’ll be welcomed as a local, you’ll see the Zippo factories, and have some great grub at the Kennedy Street Cafe.
Image courtesy of The Great Signs Pool
Seriously, make a stop in Bradford, it is certainly “Iconic America” through and through. The Kennedy Street Cafe is a shotgun style row house that opens early and serves up some great homemade eats along with engaging conversation giving you recommendations on what else to see and do in the area. If you listen closely you can pick up the hint of a Fargo Accent to you know.
While in this part of the world it is mandatory to make a stop in Buffalo, NY – home of the buffalo wing. Stop and get some original wings at the Anchor Bar and check that box on your bucket list. Personally I like other various styles of wings but hey, it’s the original!
The Falls
Just north of Buffalo before crossing into Canada take the exit to Niagara Falls. Yes, it is true, the Canadian side is much better so bring your passport. Avoid parking in the Niagara Falls official park as they will charge you $15.00 or more to park, ouch! Street parking is not hard to find in the off season. Take a stroll and see the falls, they are really amazing.
After spending time in Niagara continue north where you’ll be in Canadian Ice Wine country and this is certainly worth stopping for if you have the time. Since it was after harvest we pushed on to our destination but I’m told the best time to visit is late summer and early fall when Ice Wine Making is in progress.
Our last stop for the road trip was a small college town called Guelph in Ontario Canada. While not on any “must see” lists it is home to some very unique and diverse cultures. It is also home to my fabulous sister-in-law, who is on our “must see” list. Cuisine will range from standard Canadian fare to Ethiopian, Indian, and Mexican. My favorite was the Woolwich Arrow Pub where local micro-brew beer is always on tap and the best Poutine you can find with a Bison Chili on top. They also have a Salt and Pepper Wing that is just exceptional. One of my favorite pictures taken on this trip was at the Woolwich and if you ever get there check out the Periodic Table poster on the wall. Another great spot in Guelph is the Penny Whistle Pub, which is a British Pub with fare that blends pub grub and Indian so yes, Curry Sweet Potato fries.
The entire trip north was done in 2 days but actual drive time was around 10 hours, not a bad road trip and I’m looking to map out other routes for future visits.
Los Angeles Part 2
The Hungry Traveler
The second part of my west coast adventure started at SEA-TAC where I was upgraded to 1st class on my flight to LAX. Let me give a huge shout-out to Alaska Airlines. Alaska Airlines must put their employees through the Trader Joe’s training program because they are so pleasant and enthusiastic. I travel a lot and when possible, I like to fly on Alaska Airlines because of 2 things. (1) If you check in early and it’s available, you can normally upgrade to 1st class for a small fee; and (2) even if you are not in 1st class you are treated very well by polite and helpful employees. Alaska Airlines did not pay for this endorsement, but hey, if they want to sponsor some of my trips, contact me!
The flight down from Seattle was perfect, it started with a Vodka Tonic (one of my favorites) and I had a grilled portabella mushroom, tomato, basil sandwich on a perfect bun that was warm and chewy inside with just a bit of crunch on the outside. A side of rice with mixed vegetables and the little extra dark chocolate dessert was sweet and delicate. A perfect meal for a 2 hour flight.
Landing at LAX was quick and getting to the curb for a pickup by my normal PershMan transport was seamless. I immediately headed out to the 405 where I was met with a parking lot full of cars and it took about 2 hours to make a trip that would normally be 30 minutes. If you drive in LA, you just get used to the traffic. For dinner that evening I settled on a trendy little place called Townhouse, which is located at the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Decent food but bad service. Go for a drink and some appetizers and leave it at that.
Hungry Traveler Grilled Chicken
The next day we opted to have a BBQ and several friends came over to enjoy the pool and some Jimmy Stewart BBQ! I love to cook and I’ve been working the grill since I was about 10. Sides of fresh vegetables and several margaritas made the evening fun, however, Rick Kunkler was there most of the evening and he made the conversations just flat out funny. A big shout out to Rick for laughing at my almost funny jokes!
The Biker Breakfast
Before heading to the airport one last stop was in order, Rock Store, for a healthy breakfast. This is a way, way, out of the way biker hang out that is probably one of the world’s most famous. Granted it was a bit cheesy showing up in a black car, but hey, the Hungry Traveler needs to eat! There is nothing more authentic than Rock Store for home style cooking like your grandmother makes. Located on Mulholland highway between Malibu and Calabasas, go there and grab a bite to eat and watch out for bike riding celebs all day long. Take it from me, it is better to show up on a bike otherwise drive down a bit and walk up. For breakfast, order the “biker special”.
Seattle or Portland? Why not both!
Recently my travels took me to Seattle and having been there a few times before I wanted to explore a bit, which lead me to the realization that Portland is only 2 hours south! Note to readers: I have been to Vancouver BC several times and decided Portland would be a good investment of time on this trip.
Photo courtesy of Cactus website
The DoubleTree hotel in SeaTac near the airport would be my hub for a few days because I was very fortunate to get a last minute deal there using the Priceline Negotiator at $65.00 a night (about half off). After checking in I asked about a local place that is both unique and trendy and the suggestion was West Seattle, Cactus on Alki. This is a true beach town with a lot of people walking around, enjoying the water and sunset, and just having a good time. They make fantastic margaritas and I’d suggest the Baja and ask them to add an extra jalapeno to spice it up a bit more. Try the butternut squash enchiladas, very unique. The locals can be distant at first to visitors but after a while, they warmed up to me. One in particular, Jimmy, who is a fellow foodie, was most helpful in recommending several downtown locations for future visits.
After a good nights sleep and a speaking engagement the next day I headed south to Portland where I arived within 2 hours. Traffic at the 5:00 PM hour is brutal in downtown but clears up quickly. If you are driving from Seattle, take the I-5 South, merge to the local I-405 Loop and take the Couch Street Exit, turn left at Couch Street and find parking anywhere along the next several blocks. This is the hip little area of Portland where you’ll find Blue Plate as well as Voodoo Donuts. I stopped in at Voodoo and stood in line for about 20 minutes to get a Maple Bacon and Old Dirty Bastard, both would have only be perfected by having a glass of milk.
Photo courtesy of Bob Hoever
This visit to Portland was fun because I got to hang out with a friend from Alexandria VA who happened to be visiting Portland and I finished the evening with a visit to Sandfords Bar and Grill just south of Portland’s downtown to meet up with an old friend who I hadn’t seen in 15 years.
Make the trip to the pacific northwest and check out Seattle and Portland, two great destinations.
Los Angeles Part 1
The Skyline View at the Roosevelt Hotel
Most people I know who have never been to LA don’t want to go. That is like saying you hate the taste of Coffee but have never had a cup. LA has so much to offer I encourage everyone to make the trek to LA LA Land and check it out. Get a hotel somewhere on a Metro Line and get out and about and see the stars or the palm trees.
On my most recent trip (Aug 20-25) I revisited places I had great culinary experiences in the past and one new one that I’d avoid in the future.
My first stop was at Cecil’s California Ribs, which is a BBQ joint on Ventura Blvd in the Sherman Oaks section of LA. For those of a certain age, Sherman Oaks is where the Brady Bunch lived and you still see houses like theirs. Cecil’s offers a more healthy version of BBQ without the sloppy fat or saturated fried foods here (fries being the only necessary exception). For example, I had the Beef Tip Tacos, which were medium slices of beef tenderloin with a smoky flavor paired with a chutney of tomatoes, onions, peppers, spices with lettuce and a few small tortillas. It is one of those meals that if you are hungry you want more but after you finish, you are satisfied.
Another stop on my trip took me to LA Live in downtown. LA Live consists of several restaurants/clubs and is a great place to hang out if you are attending a conference at the LA Convention Center. I went to the Conga Room one evening and unfortunately could not recommend this place. Although I had a good time and got taught the Samba by a professional dancer from Miami as my guide, the food was difficult to eat, not much flavor, and just bad. I love latin cuisine and had high hopes for this place, but Miami it is not so go to the ESPN Zone or Lucky Strike because you will have a consistently good meal that is editable.
Warm Olive Plate at The Bridge
My last stop took me to the famed Roosevelt Hotel where I’ve been on a few times and would recommend to anyone visiting Hollywood. This hotel is a bit of a maze inside but joe public can walk right in, ask for directions to the pool, and head out to the typical Hollywood scene. You may see models, rock stars, and actors (I saw Adam Goldberg on this visit) and the prices are reasonable. Have a drink at the Tropicana Bar near the pool. I recommend the Ginger Smash, 10 Cane Rum, Lime, Ginger, and a splash of Giner Ale. It’s not a Dark and Stormy but it is good!
Head up stairs to The Bridge for dinner. The food and service will always exceed your expectations and is a wonderful place to see and be seen, which can be a lot of fun. The warm plate of olives is a great value at $4.00 and is enough for 4-6 people, the toast topped with wild mushrooms will be unforgettable (3 pieces), and I enjoyed the prime rib, cooked perfectly with a bone marrow butter sauce. For wine I had a glass of the 1975 2007 Cabernet. This is not an expensive place to eat at just under $100.00 for three people and that included a few drinks however, the view is priceless! Enjoy.
View from The Bridge at Hotel Roosevelt
Dark and Stormy
Dark and Stormy
The Dark and Stormy is one of my favorite beverages to make at home because it is so easy. The drink has a rich history and Goslings Black Seal Rum is the original rum used in this drink. Goslings also makes a fantastic Ginger Beer and combining the two makes a perfect “Dark ‘n Stormy®”. Yes, Goslings has trademarked the term Dark n’ Stormy®.
Not everyone has access to Goslings rum or ginger beer and in fact, neither do I so I use my favorite dark rum, Barbancourt 8 year and a Trader Joe’s ginger beer to maky my dark and stormy. Caution, if you don’t like the taste of ginger, you probably won’t like a Dark and Stormy.
To make pour 1 1/2 oz dark rum in a high ball or tumbler glass filled with ice and top off with ginger beer, sip and enjoy.
I love eating with my hands
I don’t really love eating with my hands but if I’m at Madjet, then yes, I love it. Madjet is a little Ethiopian restaurant just a few doors down from the popular Dukem, which I’ll pass by any day to get to Madjet. This little owner operated restaurant is a hangout for the locals, typically has a soccer game on the TV and serves some of the best beef tips I’ve ever had. If you walk in and it is crowded, give it a few minutes as the tables turn pretty quickly. If you walk in and it is empty, give it a few minutes as it will be at capacity.
I typically don’t go to Ethiopian restaurants without an expert and for that I turn to my good friend Zewdi. She speaks the language, knows what is hot and what is really hot on the menu (which is important to some), and she makes the best Doro I’ve had the pleasure of eating. She is herself an expert of this fantastic cuisine.
On my most recent trip, I went with 4 other friends. The 5 of us split some beef tips, the vegetarian platter, and one of my favorites, Kitfo. Kitfo is sometimes raw and sometimes lightly cooked steak tartar seasoned with spicy chili powder and herbed butter sauce. We all ate happily (with our hands), shared some great conversation and when the check came fought over who should pay the $45.00 bill.
If you are in Washington DC, in the U Street Corridor and don’t want to eat another half smoked from Ben’s Chili Bowl, walk down another block a few doors past Dukem and have a great, inexpensive meal at Majet.
Majet Beef Tips - Photo courtesy of Julia Brault
Brunch at home
Brunch Platter - Click image to enlarge
When traveling I often do brunch on weekends so I can sample both lunch and breakfast in one shot. But when I’m at home, I often go for the quick yogurt and fruit then hit the street. However, about once a month, my wife and I put together a nice brunch platter and spend a few hours together sharing stories we’ve read in our magazines.
The platter on the right consists of smoked salmon, sliced tomatoes, chopped red onions, fresh basil leaves, fresh dill, cucumber slices, strawberries, blueberries, toasted bagles, juice, champagne, and not shown organic cream cheese with chives. Enjoy!
Carrot Cake
A close friend who I’ve known for over 8 years had only heard other friends talk of the cake. So a few weeks ago when she was having a dinner party featuring Ethiopian food, she invited me only on condition I bring the carrot cake. One of the guest’s comment: “thought you should know that the awesomeness will never be forgotten:)”. I’ve also had requests from Canada and as far away as Argentina.
So the moral here is, learn to do something you love, do it well, give it to others and if you are like me, keep the secret to yourself, i.e., no recipe provided because this is my special something!
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- Hand Grated Carrots
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- Cream Cheese Frosting
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- Carrot Cake
Crepes + Coffee = Cafe Bonaparte
Some people love crepes while others not so much. I guess I fall in the latter category. I can do with out thin pancakes for the most part. What I can’t live without is great food and coffee and Cafe Bonaparte certainly delivers on both.
My favorite spot is at the bar where I can have a little more space if it isn’t too crowded, plus you don’t have to wait if there is a seat available.
The coffee here is excellent and I recomend the various espresso they have. The Dulce Espresso starts out with a dulce laced cup and finished with whip cream. Their lattes can be considered art in some circles but the taste is what is important and they deliver.
Their crepes are filled with fresh ingredients. The Verona is filled with ground Italian sausage, caramelized onions, green peppers, and two cheeses, provolone and fontina. I honestly wanted to pick this up and eat it like a breakfast burrito as I almost did with the Florentine.
The omletes and other plates servered are filling and some would find it difficult to finish the entire meal, I know I do and I can eat!
The sweet crepes are enough for 2 so share. I’m not much of a sweets guy so I tend to go the savory route when it comes to crepes but if you must try one, go with the Dulce, which is filled with fresh bananas and Ducle de leche.
This has become a favorite of mine. It provides such an international flare and takes me back to Paris or Buenos Aires each time I walk in.
Celebrating Haitian Cuisine
Foodie Feast at Kora Restaurant
Haitian Embassy in DC needs volunteers
Haitian Painting by Casimir
If you’re looking for volunteer opportunities, the Embassy of Haiti and ServeDC are asking for volunteers to man telephone banks at the Haitian Embassy, 2311 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.
If you are able to offer mental health services and grief counseling, please contact the DC Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency at 202-272-6161.
Additional information on support and volunteerism can obtained by contacting the Haitian Embassy – Greater Washington Haitian Relief Committee is 202-241-3593.
Material donations, clothes, food, toiletry items can be dropped off at the Haitian Embassy, Sunday, 17 January 2010, 11am-4pm, 2311 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.
Additionally, on Sunday, January 17th from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM NOAH will be conducting a Survival Kit Drive at the Embassy.
Strength through Unity — L’Union fait la Force: A Service of Prayer for Haiti @ the National Cathedral Sunday, January 17th at 6:00 PM
Travel, Eating, Sightseeing, you can’t beat this with a stick
When traveling around the globe you sometimes have to do a lot of research on where to stay, eat, and what activities to do. If you plan to be in New Your City anytime soon, one great option is to do walking Food Tours NYC. You can combine your sightseeing experience with a walking food tours. Authentic local foods in the city’s most unique neighborhoods. Visit Zagat-rated shops and favorite essential restaurants native New Yorkers frequent in Greenwich Village, Lower East Side, SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown. Mark my words, NYC is a big city with a lot of eateries and places to see. Don’t get swindled into eating at an over priced deli or a fake Ray’s Pizza. Enjoy and if you are in NYC sometime, let me know where you ate and stayed.
No more salt @ The Majestic?
Seared Hake @ The Majestic
The Majestic has always been a staple for Old Town Alexandria foodies. Their open kitchen provides a window into the sometimes chaotic world of culinary art. The bar has always been filled with upper echelon whiskeys, bourbons, and rum. And the bar is where you can get one of the best lunch-time deals. For $13.00 you can select any item from their menu plus a non-alcoholic drink of your choice. Always in the mood for a good deal, this happens to be one of my normal lunch hot spots.
I typically go for the Royal Burger which comes with a Russian dressing and a side of fries. For the price you can’t beat it, not even at BGR, and this burger is better. However with the new year, I am opting more for salads and fish and this last visit was no exception.
On this visit, I had the Seared Hake, which comes on a bed of cauliflower, celery confit, Meyer lemon, and an olive tapenade. It appeared to be the most popular dish as my party of three plus the other three diners at the bar all ordered the same.
The fish was cooked perfectly causing it to flake as I cut into it with my fork and yet it was still moist . However the olive tapenade could have been a garlic tapenade as I didn’t see or taste olive but did have several whole garlic pieces. It appears the Majestic has taken to heart the many complaints of “salty” food as this dish was under-salted. I didn’t want to ask for salt as I didn’t see any handy but the individuals a few seats over had no such reservations and asked for salt after tasting their Hake. It is nice to see them cut back on the salt as we can always add more easily. The Majestic also makes their own flavored sodas, give the Lemon Lime one a try.
No bone to pick @ Bonefish Grill
Seared Tune at Bonefish Grill
Going with that healthy eating fish theme again, we spent an wonderful evening @ Bonefish Grill. For those looking to for a good happy hour place that is not a Pub or Sports Bar, give Bone Fish Grill a try. Get there early, they open at 4:00 PM and specials run till 6:30 PM but they have a $5.00 drink menu that lasts all night. You can’t go wrong with the house special wine selections either. I do prefer the Cabernet over the Merlot, but that is my preference for all wines for the most part. The appetizer menu is perfect for happy hour with a good selection for sharing with friends. The seared tuna is a favorite of mine and can be an appetizer (half order) or a main dish (full order). Make sure to rub the tuna through the chili sauce to get that little kick. I’ve only had 2 issues with Bonefish Grill, it can get crowded at the bar and the appetizer menu could stand to have more non-fried items.
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