Meatless Monday Lunch: Huckleberry (Santa Monica)

Date: Monday, May 13, 2013

Restaurant: Huckleberry

Address: 1014 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica

Ordered: Marinated Peppers and Burrata Sandwich

Thoughts: I've written about the wondrous Marinated Peppers and Burrata Sandwich at Huckleberry before, so I won't bore you with the details once again. It's a perfect combination of simple ingredients, yada, yada... However, I wanted to give it a quick mention because it truly stands as one of the Southland's finest vegetarian lunch options. Not just is it delicious (pesto with just enough basil-ness, fresh olive oiled red peppers and burrata for days, all between two slices of Santa Monica's top and crunchiest baguette), but also the sandwich is incredibly filling. The prices may not be super economical at Huckleberry, yet they don't skimp on their servings. Between the large sandwich and a healthy portion of lightly-dressed greens, you don't leave hungry. And for someone like myself, a voracious carnivore the six other days of the week, that's exactly what I'm looking for come Meatless Monday lunches.

Did I Miss Meat?: Ehh. I don't think so.

LA's 5 Most Craveable Burgers

Aside from "Why are you staring at me, creep?," the question I am asked most frequently is, "What is your favorite burger in LA RIGHT NOW?" It's probably because I look like a guy who's digested a good amount of burgers (a.k.a. emerging waistline), but everyone wants to know. At least a few times a week. Sometimes multiple times a day. Local denizens want to know the best burger - but not simply the best burger in Los Angeles. No, no. They want the intel on the best burger in the Southland this very second. That's sort of how the city works though. Everyone wants to have their finger on the pulse to the latest and greatest. And apparently that extends to the burger arena.

For a long time, I had a very quick and confident answer to this query: LUCKY DEVIL'S on Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood. No doubt about it. LD's Kobe Bacon Bleu was the city's finest combination of burger, meat and cheese (as I noted in this here blog two years back). Then sadly (and without notification), they removed the burger from the menu. While their current burger offerings sound mighty attractive, I just don't see them living up to the Kobe Bacon Bleu. Similarly, running a close second for a while was the burger at Culver City's Beacon, a 1/2 lb meat behemoth with Nueske bacon, gruyere and a sweet soy glaze. I loved that burger so much that when the restaurant suddenly closed I wrote a haiku about it. Ah, memories...

So with two of my favorite LA burgers RIGHT THEN now six feet under, I think it's time to update my answer to the oft-asked query. But, also in typical LA fashion, I'm not really going to answer your question. Best burger in LA? Way too subjective. What I am willing to discuss and share are the burgers I crave most RIGHT NOW. Burgers that I enjoy, but due to distance and logistics I simply don't get to enjoy as much as I wish. The burgers that I think, if you try, you will crave as well. These hearty burgers stuck with me. But they didn't just stick to my gut - they stuck to my brain.

((Presented in alphabetical order because Los Angelenos are passive and I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings by picking a "winner." These are all winners...))

CALIFORNIA GRASS-FED BURGER at Cooks County (8009 Beverly Blvd, LA) - Cooks County is one of those restaurants with so many appealing and accessible options on their menu, the burger often finds itself overlooked. Hell, the name, 'California Grass-Fed Burger' screams boring and do not order me. Ignore this intuition and order the burger. The Cooks County burger is not a fussy one. Rather, a burger of spare ingredients, each meticulously chosen by the chef. The perfectly, but not over-seasoned patty. The white cheddar cheese just sharp enough. And the secret weapon: an expertly grilled red onion that really puts the burger over the top.

Photo Courtesy Haven Gastropub.

McCORMICK ALLEY BURGER at Burger Haven at Haven Gastropub (42 De Lacey Avenue, Pasadena) - Proof I adore this burger? It was #3 on my 2012's Top 12 LA Foodstuffs Under $12. That's pretty much my Oscars, so yeah, this burger rocks. I mean, look at that picture. The gastropub's house burger, The Haven Burger garners most of the accolades, but I'm telling you, go McCormick Alley. When I dare rush hour traffic to make the trek from Santa Monica all the way to Pasadena for a freaking burger, that says something. The burger's make-up: Paso Prime beef, aged Grifton cheddar, butter lettuce, raw onions and an apricot-bacon-stout jam all between a custom bun from O.C. Baking Company.

LAZY OX BURGER at The Lazy Ox Canteen (241 S. San Pedro St, DTLA) - People had been insisting I check out Lazy Ox's burger for a while. "It's the tits, bro!," I heard on more than one drunken occasion. A few months back I finally made it downtown with a couple friends and I must admit the group was divided on the burger. Half of us really enjoyed it; the others not so much. I, obviously, was amongst the former. That said, I agree with A Hamburger Today, and feel the tri-blend patty and assorted accruements would be greatly heightened by a better bun. Bun aside, the burger had a tremendous char and taste. Not to mention the fact the fries, with a delicious touch of dill, are maybe the city's top frites. They also come with two dipping sauces, which never sucks.

FUEGO at North End Caffe (3421 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach) - North End Caffe is one of my favorite lunch spots in all of Los Angeles. They make great sandwiches and stellar Belgian fries with a beautiful beach backdrop. I'll be honest though: I never considered ordering a burger there until I saw the Fuego featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." I am glad I gave it a shot though. Yep, the bleached blonde, spiky hair dude knows what he was talking about. A hefty beef patty comes with pepper jack and cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, avocado, salsa and house-made chipotle mojo. This all atop a crunchy baguette - which for a San Francisco native like myself, I feel I do not see used as a burger bun hardly enough here in SoCal. For the Fuego, no single ingredient stands out, but like a ragtag group of misfits, together they shine. The view probably kicks it up a few notches as well. A truly halcyon burger eating experience.

RUSTIC CANYON BURGER at Rustic Canyon (1119 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica) - For a very long time I resisted the urge to try the Rustic Canyon Burger. After all, it costs $18 and I really felt there was no way it could live up to the price tag. Obviously, I was wrong. The 80/20 Niman Ranch blend RC Burger -- topped with an onion fondue, housemade pickles, an herb remoulade, arugula and a sharp cheddar -- lives up to any hype you may have heard. At eighteen buckaroos though, it's not meant to be an everyday burger. It was created to be a special occasion burger. A burger to lust after. A burger to dream about. A craveable burger.


Honorable Mention: Pier Burger, the burger and fries pictured at the top of the post. Due to its proximity to my house, I eat there a lot. Thus, I don't really crave it persay. But it's a high quality burger under $5. [[Five questions with the owner of Pier Burger]]

You're Invited As The Buttermilk Truck Goes Mix and Retail on June 15th

With the LA food truck fad slowly fading into the sunset, it's no surprise that many of have gone brick and mortar. One of LA's original nouveau food trucks, the Buttermilk Truck, however, is steering in a different direction. Next month the popular breakfast truck will celebrate the launch of their Red Velvet Pancake mix and they want you and all your friends and enemies along for the fiesta.

Buttermilk will officially debut their mix (which can also be used for "red velvet cookies, brownies and waffles," so they say) at the Autry Farmer's Market at Griffth Park on June 15th from 8 am - 1 pm. Raffles, prizes and food specials are promised.

As someone who has had the Buttermilk Red Velvet Pancakes a time or too many, I can say (and you can see yourself in the picture below), they are no joke. Very dense, flavor-packed 'cakes. It will be interesting to see the home mix results.

Can't make it to the launch party? Don't sweat. Come this summer the mix will find its way to the Sur La Table and Surfas shelves near you as well as the Buttermilk website...

Meatless Monday Lunch: seed (Venice)

Date: Monday, April 22, 2013
Restaurant: seed
Address: 1604 Pacific Avenue, Venice
Ordered: San Felipe Tacos
Thoughts: I've always wanted to try seed. I was just intimidated. The place is not just vegan, but also macrobiotic. When you're carnivorous like myself, stepping into a vegan and macrobiotic joint can be really freaking scary. It felt like it was time though. One of the most difficult parts of Meatless Mondays has been going to my normal go-to restaurants, yet being unable to order my regular menu items. So, by going to seed, I would be leaving myself no choice whatsoever because everything on the menu is vegetarian. Upon arrival, glancing at the menu, I immediately thought, "This is by far the most attractive sounding vegan menu I've ever seen... Wonder if it's any good..." Although the veggie burgers all sounded intriguing, I decided to go with the San Felipe tacos - definitely a great choice. You get two sizeable and tasty tacos with corn-battered fried zucchini, cabbage, pico de gallo, salsa, guacamole and "ranch" dressing. I love fried zucchini, but this was my first time enjoying it in taco form. Helping deceive my rumbling stomach: it sort of conveyed a fried fish taco consistency. All the sauces were flavorful as well, especially impressive for a vegan and macrobiotic joint. It also came with a side of brown rice, which I topped with a side of their yuzu sauce. Overall, a very filling and satisfying meal. Definitely will return to try other menu items on future Meatless Mondays.
Did I Miss Meat?: Not really.

The 2013 Grilled Cheese Invitational Recap is Up, Yo!

The champion - photo by Aaron Horwitz 

BREAKING NEWS: The 2013 GCI recap is up at Los Anjealous.

Meatless Monday Lunch: Dan's Super Subs (Woodland Hills)

Date: Monday, April 15, 2013
Restaurant: Dan's Super Subs
Address: 22446 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills
Ordered: 13" "Pacific Coast" (Cheese & Avocado sandwich)
Thoughts: My blogging buddy Howard at Consuming LA is a Valley maven, so he's become my go-to guy for restaurant requests in the foreign region. I told him I had a meeting on a Wednesday in Woodland Hills, did he have any sandwich recommendations? He immediately suggested Dan's Super Subs - said it was the best sub shop in the Valley. He may be right. Having glimpsed at my fellow patrons' fare, if I had gone on a Wednesday as originally planned, it very much could have been the best sub shop in the Valley. Unfortunately, I got a flat tire on Wednesday and the meeting got rescheduled for a Monday. A Meatless Monday. Dan's Super Subs has a extensive and massive menu. There may be 70 sandwiches on the menu. They, however, only offer four veggie subs. So... it's fair to say a vegetarian sandwich is not an accurate gauge of DSS. My "Cheese and Avocado" sandwich? More like lots of cheese, some avocado. This despite the fact I ordered a FREAKING 13 INCHER. Still not a lot of avocado. The roll was tasty, the cheeses (provolone, cheddar, Swiss) quality and the added onions, tomatoes, crushed red pepper, balsamic and honey mustard added some flavor depth. I left full, but, hell, 13 inches of cardboard can fill you up. I definitely need to return on a non-Meatless Monday.
Did I Miss Meat?: More than ever.

2013 Grilled Cheese Invitational Recap and Pictures...

... will be up tomorrow on Los Anjealous.

For now, here's preview pictures of me eating grilled cheeses from the event. It's pretty hot stuff.

((Photos by Aaron Horwitz))

Meatless Monday Lunch: Lemonade (Venice)

Date: Monday, April 8, 2013
Restaurant: Lemonade
Address: 1661 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice
Ordered: New Mexican and Orecchiette marketplace salads
Thoughts: As someone who spends a healthy amount of my days parked in front of my laptop at the new TOMS store/coffee shop on Abbot Kinney, I am often perplexed by the lack of quick lunch options in the area. If it really is the coolest/most popular/most expensive street in the Soutland, then don't you think there should be hasty dining options for all those pedestrians? You would think so - but there isn't. Blame the astronomical rent. You basically have Abbot's pizza, Gjelina Take Away (which I adore, but due to popularity usually takes much longer than it should) and the soon-to-come Belly Up sandwich shop. And then there's Lemonade, which offers dozens of marketplace salads, sandwiches, soups, roasts, desserts and, of course, lemonades, to mix and match. Due to their overwhelming cafeteria-sized menu and a very seasonally rotated menu, I almost always end up at Lemonade. Usually I get a marketplace salad or two and a protein. This time, however, it was Meatless Monday - and I needed to find something to fill me up sans carne. After thoroughly reviewing the menu (literally stared at it for a good nine minutes), I decided on my current favorite seasonal salad, the New Mexican (chili roasted butternut squash, white corn and scallion ranch) and what appeared to be able to fill me up most adequately, the Orechiette (w/ cherry tomato, brocolini and feta cheese). Although I thoroughly enjoyed both salads -- especially after sort of combining them together and eating as one -- next time I need to get a third marketplace salad for MM. Obviously this was not Lemonade's fault in any way, just my underestimate of my burning hunger inside. That said, Lemonade, with a dizzying array of options, is a great Meatless Monday destination. Find one of their 11 local locations here.
Did I Miss Meat?: Yes.

Reminder: The 11th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational Next Saturday

Just a super friendly reminder: The 11th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational is a mere week away. This year's cheesy festivities go down next Saturday, April 20th, downtown at Los Angeles Center Studio from 11 am to 6 pm. Probably the most joyous day of the year, the GCI offers everything melty cheese and bread. It is a day where creativity shows no bounds. Sandwiches, music, haikus, everything. Grilled cheese, grilled cheese, grilled cheese.

Buy $12 tickets here.

And here's my coverage and photos for Los Anjealous of last year's event.


(((If you see me, say hello. We can share a... grilled cheese?)))

Meatless Monday Lunch: Mendocino Farms (Marina del Rey)

Date: Monday, April 1, 2013
Restaurant: Mendocino Farms
Address: 4724 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey
Ordered: Caprese sandwich and Curried Couscous side salad
Thoughts: Mendocino Farms is probably the most convenient Meatless Monday spot due to their expansive condiment options. Many may not know this, but you don't have to order off their menu. Actually, they enable you to make your own sandwich by choosing between dozens of cheeses, veggies and sauces. With so many different possible combinations, MF makes it easy to forget about meat for a day. The options are freaking endless. Last Monday though I was feeling lazy and not up to the task of assembling my own creation, so I went for their Caprese (local Gioia fresh mozzarella, tomato, house marinated red peppers, basil pesto, Scarborough Farm's greens and balsamic vinegar - on my go to Mendocino Farms bread, grilled rustic white). Certainly a solid Caprese, but not in the Bay Cities league, if you ask me. As for the side salad - well, it's awesome. MF's Curried Couscous (with Life's A Choke's Farm's roasted cauliflower and carrots) is probably my current favorite side salad in LA. Although at times a tad too oily, the just enough spiced salad is the perfect compliment to a subdued sandwich.
Did I Miss Meat?: Sorta.