belated food report from LA part 2.


day of amy's and my show opening, a big group of us (artist friends and their other halves, & the nice people from arrested motion) went to a nice izakaya dinner.

then the opening:

then to a bar :


i didn't get to take more pictures (of more food, more gallery visits),
nor did i take any pictures the next day,
which was our free day with friends after the opening.
it was fun to see friends nonetheless,
and excited to see some of them again next month!

belated food report from LA part 1.


this trip was rather short - 4 days, 2 of them flying - and hectic with a lot of driving to get a lot of work done.
first meal on our way driving up from long beach to santa monica
was our old favorite, spoon house - a japanese pasta house.
mushroom & uni pasta on top, and their house spaghetti with meatballs.
the spaghetti was really good, the sauce being tart and spicy.
mushroom & uni is heavenly... despite their raised prices.

then some furry bike in venice :

i wonder why you'd need to be so warm in LA.

then morning 2.

a mediocre breakfast somewhere in culver city.

sorry i've been so quiet lately.
it's been some tough times with a family member passing away suddenly
and being holed up sick at home and painting... T__T

been making fresh lemon/ginger/honey/echinacea tea,
and today aside oatmeal choc chip cookie - which don't go well together,
but still good.

having a rental car for a few days makes us go far and beyond!
well not really - we only went to a biking distance last night
after dropping the parents off - to sunnyside, queens.
spicy pork dish and soon dubu soup at natural tofu house,
then some simple groceries after.

a great vegan brunch with friends.
tofu scramble, hashbrowns, waffles, fruit salad, tempeh bacon,
bread with olive oil & honey, bowl-brewed coffee & company.
all so amazing.

i'd been craving this korean street food combo for the longest time,
and i finally got my wish today.

after dropping off a donation painting at the gallery,
stopped by kofoo for some tukboki with tuna kimbap & kimchi kimbap.
i dipped the kimbap into the tukboki sauce just like they do in korea on the streets.

all finishing with a great cup of latte at abraço.
i'm beyond satisfied.

i've been feeling under the weather (i guess it's the cold/flu season)
and have been in hermit mode.

stepped out today for lunch at lite bites,
they never disappoint, especially with the price.
portobello wrap on top, and philly cheese steak.

i've been fighting off a bug lately, and i think that makes me want simple food that's still comforting - homey food.
i had to return to ash box again today,
since i had no appetite or desire to think of a better place,
but it couldn't have been more perfect!

tomato on bagel with broccoli corn chowder,
and kimchi (again) egg with brown (germinated) rice.

obviously on a kimchi kick as of late.
found some super old, sour kimchi in the fridge,
so cooked it up and paired it with some chilled tofu.
amazing classic! :)

lunch at ash box cafe.
special tofu kimchi over their germinated rice,
and turkey sandwich.

ever so simple, but so good, wholesome & satisfying.

dinner at m shanghai.
mooshoo pork, tictactoe chicken (sweet shredded), and morning glory greens.
chinatown is definitely better but this is a damn good replacement, albeit expensive.

picnic at governor's island (after "the dig" - go check it out!).
and dinner at tasty hand-pulled noodles for dinner.
yummy & cheap, my favorite!

dinner at soy to cleanse the aftermath of the wrath
(= burger dinner last night at pink pony, undocumented).
we hadn't been back here in 5 years or so!

kenchin jiru(vegetable & broth soup), spicy tuna & avocado bowl,
curry rice & croquette, and black sesame tofu pudding for dessert.
they were all so good, just a little small in portion.

another meal at café mogador.
i got my old favorite, avocado sandwich,
but their burger is damn good - i even suspect they mix in lamb meat,
it tastes meatier than other burgers.
(although the burger i had later that day at pink pony killed me - not in a good way - both the richness and the portion was too much!)

i love all sandwiches i've tried so far at boneshakers,
but the merckx wercks is truly amazing & flavorful.

i found the kitties trying to share a tiny box.
must get them some beds for the winter!

first meal at an nhau, the long-waited new vietnamese on bedford.
the food was decent, the beef bún and the pho both.
except they were too pricey for the portion, and compared to chinatown.
unless i have a dire need for a bowl of pho, i will be defaulting with the bahn mi shop next door for my bún as well as the drinks.

birthday dinner at yokocho.


octopus sashimi (which wasn't raw, but still good).


yakitori skewers of beef tongue, chicken hearts, and duck w/scallions.


one of the best unagi-don (grilled eel bowl) we've had.



and spicy tuna sashimi & grilled yellow tail collar <3 br="">
then for some dessert a couple doors down at cha-an:



got two of my favorites, zenzai (top) and black sesame creme brulee (bottomw two).
that black sesame creme brulee might be my favoritest dessert - not too sweet, nutty, earthy, perfect with the ice cream & the crisp topping it.