Month: April 2015

First of all, let me apologize for the quality of this photo. The room was dark, the BBQ kings were in the dining room, Roy Choi was near and I was sitting next to Drew Barrymore. I didn’t really want to disturb those around me with a flash.

Last Monday, I was lucky enough to snag one of the last reservations for the #AustinMidnightDinner pop-up at Animal in Los Angeles. Adam Perry Lang, who frequents the Jimmy Kimmel backlot in the warmer months, teamed up with Aaron Franklin of the famed Franklin BBQ in Austin, TX. They were both going to be at Animal in Los Angeles for a pop-up event thanks to Roy Choi’s movie Chef. The success of the movie has spawned several pop-ups in the last year, but this one was definitely the best to date! The fact that I didn’t have to go to Texas to experience Franklin BBQ is still so surreal! People wait hours and hours for his smoked creations, and I only had to drive an hour. My BBQ palate has expanded exponentially in the last couple of years, and I’m glad because I think it allowed me to fully appreciate this experience.

The meal was served family style. The tray placed between my boyfriend and I contained a flavorful potato salad with the most perfect hint of dill, a pickled veggie slaw, baked beans, the most perfect spiced corn-on-the-cob, and delish pickles! Most importantly, it also contained meaty sausage, moist pulled pork, and the best brisket I have ever had in my life. Seriously.

Believe me, I didn’t want to love it as much as I did. I wanted it to be hyped. I wanted to come out of it being like ‘OK, that was good. I’m glad we got a res.’ Instead, my thoughts were more along the lines of, ‘Wow. I can never eat BBQ anything from anywhere else again. Cool.’

If you have an opportunity to attend any future pop-ups involving Roy Choi, the guys from Animal, or any aspect of the movie Chef, I highly recommend it!

How did it take me this long to discover Carreras Cemitas? Why have I been living my life without  these Cemitas? Long story short, I read various articles talking about the La China Poblano truck from the pre-Kogi food truck days in LA, and then I read about the owners opening this place in an unlikely neighborhood of Long Beach. As soon as I found out this classic favorite of Jonathan Gold and Russ Parsons was right in my backyard, I had to give it a try, PRONTO!

I could only eat so much, so for now, I definitely recommend their “off-menu” tacos which you can get with any of the meats that they offer. The green salsa on the tables put these babies over the top! Of the amazing and numerous Cemitas choices, I’d go with the Carnitas for your first go around. It was delish and stuffed to the brim with Oaxacan cheese, avocado, onions, and a little spice. Click here to see the Anatomy of this Pueblan Sandwich!

I can’t wait to go back and update you all on their burrito game 😉

We love supporting local businesses, so when a new restaurant opened just a few minutes from our house, we knew we had to try it! I’m so glad we only waited a few days! Cesar’s Bistro on PCH in Long Beach serves “the new Latin American cuisine,” and there claims are warranted. They took a small space in an awkward strip mall, and turned it into an airy, artsy, and beautiful bistro. To top it all off, the service is impeccable. This family-owned operation makes sure that their employees are attentive, conversational, and know their stuff! The chef and various family members also come by to check in on you during your meal and truly appreciate the local support and satisfaction. And the food, oh the food!

We started off with the Caribbean Sweet Plantains topped with cinnamon and crema. I love plantains, but my dining companions not so much…until now. They loved these warm, sweet delights, but only wished we saved them for dessert.

These Fantastic Rustic Potatoes are truly FANTASTIC! With the choice of topping them with pulled pork or shredded chicken, I can highly recommend both! They are then topped with grilled onions, cheese, and a signature sauce. This a must for the table!

The empanadas are fresh and perfectly crispy. They have beef – potato, pineapple – ham – cheese, and sausage empanadas to choose from. Served with spicy mayo, these are another great addition to the table for everyone to share.

I apologize for the state of this Ropa Vieja Arepa. It was stuffed to the brim with pulled pork, grilled onions, and pineapple chutney! And, I mean stuffed! It couldn’t even stay presentable long enough for the photo! I have had a traditional arepa only a couple of times before and this surpassed them all! The corn cake arepa is the perfect thickness and tastes delicious!

This is a great addition to Long Beach and a new favorite of mine! I can’t wait to come back and try their breakfast menu, which looks equally delicious!

For more information, visit: http://www.cesarsbistro.com/