This Friday, I want to tell you about some food dishes that I am OBSESSED with! Whether you like to go out to a nice dinner, a bar with friends, or sit at home and watch Law & Order SVU all night (no? just me?), I got something for everyone, so read on!
The “Calamari New Style” at J Trani’s in San Pedro, CA is absolutely the best calamari dish I’ve ever had! The lightly battered squid is fried and tossed with a sweet thai aioli, micro greens, and a balsamic reduction. It sounds simple, but the flavors taste so complex once they hit your taste buds. Even though this is on the menu with the appetizers, I usually order one for the table for everyone to enjoy and one for myself that I don’t have to share! It’s that good. If you’re not a complete selfish fatty like myself, enjoy this as an appetizer and order one of their delicious pasta dishes or pizzas for your entree; you won’t regret it!
If you’re not in the mood for a sit down, formal dinner, I suggest you visit the Alibi Room in Culver City, CA. This is a cool and casual bar with a fair drink selection, plenty of seating, a nice patio, and THE BEST BAR FOOD, EVER. Why is it the best bar food, you ask? Roy Choi of Kogi BBQ food truck, Chego, A-Frame, Pot, Commissary, and so much more, curates the menu. If you’ve ever visited Kogi or Chego, then get excited because this place will definitely have some of your favorites! My go-to are the Flaquitos: homemade refried beans and cheese sandwiched between two crispy corn tortillas, and then covered in red onion, salsa roja, and salsa verde. It’s light, delicious, and something I can recommend to my veggie friends.
And sometimes, you don’t feel like leaving your house at all. In that case, I highly recommend the Marinated White Fish Vera Cruz from Trader Joe’s. The fish is light with great flavors, and most importantly, easy to prepare! It’s marinated in a blend of olive oil, tomatoes, green olives, chiles, onions and capers. All you have to do is thaw and throw it in the skillet. I recommend cooking the fish almost all the way, then throwing in the other ingredients, so they don’t overcook. These make great fish tacos, burritos, or on a plate with some black beans and rice.