Waterloo & City - Culver City

After a summer day on the beach enjoying a few spliffs while listening to the sound of the crashing waves, it only seemed appropriate to indulge on some savory munchies and a lot of cold drinks at one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles: "Waterloo and City"

Waterloo and City is a gem in the heart of Mar Vista in an area where trendy restaurants are slowly taking over. There are so many choices for good food, even if you end up disliking "Waterloo & City" you'll find another great eatery to have exquisite drinks and inventive food.

One of the things I love about this place is that it's great for casual Happy Hours with friends at the end of a long day AND it's also a great location to bring somebody for a special date or to celebrate an event. The food at this gastro pub is to die for and the menu is constantly being updated with creative items that will make your head spin. One of the appetizers on the menu that night was "Bone marrow and sea urchin salad".

I walked in looking like a beach bum but we were still welcome with wide smiles from the friendly staff, and we sat down at one of the few remaining tables. We noticed that they now start their Happy Hours earlier on Sunday and you can now enjoy cheap drinks and succulent food form 3p-7p.

The menu had changed since the last time I had been there and it was even more mouthwatering. The first thing I wanted to order was the "Charcuterie plate" which is a French term that refers to a specific type of cured and fermented meat usually accompanied with bread, mustard and pickled cornichons. I browsed through the menu quickly and couldn't find my favorite appetizer but I did see an item called "Salumi plate" which I assumed was their new name for that awesome assortment of goodness but I wasn't quite sure. So....I asked our waitress: "Excuse me, What is a Salumi plate?" her response was: "It's Italian" ....errr....Thank you lady, I'm not sure I was asking for the origins of your new menu item, but I don't mind being educated even on Sundays so I restrained from making a wise ass comment and simply asked again: "What is it?". That's when I found out that my "Charcuterie plate" had just been renamed with its Italian version "Salumi plate". So I ordered it. We also ordered a wild mushrooms flatbread with truffle oil, some sweet corn Raviolis and a tuna tartare  I added a glass of their Happy Hour Wine on our order and sipped on my ice-cold water while waiting for our food to arrive.

The Salumi plate actually surprised me in a good way: It seemed like an upgrade from its previous version and "Charcuterie plate 2.0" was a great selection of cured meats. The raviolis were very sweet but it was an original recipe and we enjoyed every bite. The tuna tartare was fresh and well seasoned and the only mistake they made that night was the overcooked flatbread....I think it may have stayed in their oven a little too long. But after scraping off the cancerous parts of our mini pizza, we finished everything on the table. There are tons of other options that are both filling and indulging and I invite you to take a look at their website: http://www.waterlooandcity.com The presentation of all the dishes were outstanding and I would highly recommend that you try this place if you ever visit this neighborhood.

We left with a smile, a full stomach and a desire to go back there soon.

Menchie's - Culver City

You say Menchie's, I say Munchies. In the battle for the Frozen Yogurt market in Los Angeles, "Menchie's" has come out a winner for a lot of reasons.

First of all, this place is any Stoner's paradise. When other stores will offer you a free sample of your choice, Menchie's lets you pick up as many miniature sampling cups as you desire and you could technically "taste" every flavor there and fill up with frozen yogurt for free if you're not inclined to add toppings. But if you're still hungry after giving every flavor a proper try, gaze at the incredible variety of toppings they offer from fruits to peanut butter cups and grated coconut, and start making you own "Best frozen yogurt" ever (Try not to eat too many topping because I'm not sure you're really allowed to "sample" them. Even if you don't want to eat any yogurt because of your intolerance to lactose, you can still hit the toppings bar and fill your cup with some delicious treats and a variety of chocolate.

Now the sugar rush is not the only thing that's appealing to the average stoner: The pretty vivid colors in the store and the smooth colorful plastic spoons that we get to keep as a weird souvenir of our foggy trip to the ice-cream parlor all enhance this childish but rejuvenating experience.

You say Menchie's, I say: "Let's roll one so I can try to fill my cup with as many toppings as I possibly can and still manage to finish it all".

In other words: Menchie's is where we all hope we end up after we die. After meeting at the crossroads, maybe we should hit up the "Menchie's" by the heaven's gate....Duuuude!

http://www.Menchies.com

Couscous Salad and Merguez Sausages

Sometimes traveling to an exotic destination only takes a typical meal from another country and a lot of imagination. Since I don't lack imagination, the only thing I needed to feel like I was spending a summer day in the south of France was a typical Summer BBQ meal. A few days ago, a friend surprised me with this delicious diner: Merguez Sausages and a savory couscous salad (A.K.A Taboule) and I was overwhelemed with joy and gratitude.

A Merguez sausages is a spicy blend of lamb and beef with mediterranean seasoning, cilantro and harissa. They are hard to find in Los Angeles but most French people have their favorite spot they like to go to when they want to get their Merguez fix. However, if you've never tried them before and want to give them a try I would highly recommend: "Payless Internation Market" on Venice Bld and Westwood Ave (10817 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034). This store is a little gem in West L.A, offering a variaty of Halal meat (don't plan on buying any pork there"), Feta cheese from various countries, and cheap but flavorful fruits and vegetables.

Unfortuinately, the stash of charcoal bricks and our supplies of gas were both gone and we had to grill the sausages on the stove instead of the BBQ, which was a bit of a disappointment but roasting the merguez in the oven for about 5-10 minutes after cooking them was a perfect way to get the sausages crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

We enjoyed this diner with some good wine, we had a digestive spliff and I was esctatic when I had the chance to eat the leftovers the day after.

"Awash" - Los Angeles

 

I love to cook.

I love to open the fridge and wonder what ingredients I'm going to use for the next meal, I love picking the spices that will add flavor and colors to my gourmet concoctions, I love cooking with wine because it gives me an excuse to drink it during the process, I love creating new recipes and try them on some of my most daring friends, I love the surprised look on my guests' faces when they walk in the apartment and smell the delicious particles of goodness emanating from the stove and I love not having to wonder if the restaurant I'm in should be featured in the "Kitchen Nightmares" Series....However I do get lazy at times (or courageous) and after a long day of inhaling THC, I didn't feel like peeling, cutting and stirring....so we headed out to one of my favorite comfort food restaurant in Los Angeles: "Awash"

http://losangeles.menupages.com/restaurants/awash/

When I was first invited to go to this restaurant, I was a little apprehensive and I wasn't sure what "Ethiopian" food, but I was more than pleasantly surprised. The restaurant can be a little hard to spot the first time you go there but with the help of your favorite GPS system is shouldn't be too difficult. The dining room is fairly small and has little decoration but the incredible service, the outstanding food and the smile on the friendly waitress make up for it. I pretended to look at the menu because I always get the same thing when I go there but staring at the different food items on the menu is not only mouth watering but it's also inspiring. We ordered their "Vegetarian combo" (A staple dish of this Ethiopian restaurant) that includes split pea, lentils, spinash, potatoes and other goodies and we added a side of "Zilzil Tibbs" (long strips of prime tender beef seared over hot charcoal grill seasoned with garlic, black pepper and purified butter) which is one of their most delicious meat item. After adding a beer to the order, I made my way to the bathroom to wash my hands because if you didn't know this already, you eat everything with your hands in an Ethiopian restaurant (with the help of some Ethiopian bread called "Injera").

The sizzling meat came to our table a few minutes later and we devoured this entire meal in only a few minutes.

This is the perfect place to come with a few friends and share a few dishes with a few drinks.

"Versailles" - Culver City

Famoso Pollo Versailles - Versailles Famous Garlic Chicken

House specialty

juicy roasted half chicken marinated in our delicious garlic sauce garnished with sliced onions.

This Cuban restaurant has one of the most confusing name for a hungry stoner.  The first time I had diner there was for one of my birthdays with a friend from USC a few years ago, and when he told me to meet him at this place I thought I was going to a French restaurant and was quite surprised when I arrived there. However I was pleased with my first Cuban experience and have gone back there many times since then.

They have a very diverse menu with everything from marinated pork to Mahi-Mahi and the portions are so big you should really share it with a friend the first time you try it even if you have the munchies. 

So after smoking the early evening joint that celebrates the coming of another giant dinner, we called in our order of "Famoso Pollo" and after what seemed to be an eternity we managed to pick Moro as our side dish (It's the rice and beans cooked together with some spices). On the way back we stopped at the liquor store to buy some beer and a Mega Milllions ticket and started getting anxious as the smell of the chicken got to our nostrils.

Once we got back home, we jumped on the box and devoured its content. This chicken was delicious, and if you take it to-go make sure you dip your meat in the lemon and garlic sauce that will be at the bottom of your non-recyclable Styrofoam box. 

http://www.versaillescuban.com/

"Bay Cities" Deli - Santa Monica

If I were a rich stoner I would buy most of my groceries at this deli in Santa Monica where you can buy all kinds of products from Europe. There is amazing meat, fresh pasta, a large selection of wine, and all kinds of sweet and savory treats. The deli section has a selection of warm food and the sandwiches are so good I'm drooling just writing about it. There is usually a long line during lunch hours but they do prepare a few of their signature sandwiches in advance that you can just pick up from the counter if you need to be out of there fast. And if you decide to wait for your customized sandwich, you can grab a fresh loaf of bread to munch on while you wait. They have a delicious roasted tomatoes bread that you might accidentally finish before your sandwich is ready. No matter what, order the large one. Chances are you're going to be hungry after you smoke your digestive joint.

The most famous sandwich is the Godmother (Genoa Salami, Mortadella Coppacola, Ham, Proscituuo, Provolone). It's Delicious but after trying many combinations over the years I have found the perfect sandwich: It's the Caprese with Prosciutto. Every ingredient from the bread to the basil tastes fresh and the colors make you salivate as you unwrap the olive oil soaked sandwich. As the ingredients mix in your mouth, the combination of the melting prosciutto, the soft mozzarella and the crunchy bread becomes a pleasantly intense sensory experience. When I was done, I finished my meal with the Kinder that I bought at the cashier and drank my Orangina. It felt like I had just gone on a day trip to Europe.

http://www.baycitiesitaliandeli.com

Warning: Don't try to go on a Monday though, I have made that mistake many times!.... They are closed that day.

"Blue Dog Beer Tavern", Sherman Oaks

One sunny morning I woke up feeling a little sick after a night of munching on chocolate, cookies and cheese. I rolled the morning joint that was going to help my stomach feel a little better and then I received a text from one of my good friends who wanted to meet for lunch and since I hadn't seen her in a while I rolled another one and headed north to the forbidden valley.

We met at the "Blue Dog Tavern", a little restaurant right off the freeway at the intersection of the 405 and the 101. It has a nice outdoor patio with a beautiful view on the 405 and a gas station. It was a very warm day and I started getting dehydrated when I arrived so I ordered my beer before looking at the menu. After evaluating my options, glancing at the tables in the dining room and considering my sick yet starving stomach, I opted for a bacon cheeseburger with fries.

We sat outside in the burning heat of the valley and we started drinking.  The food came fast, \the burger was perfectly cooked and I had a hard time finishing my meal but I did....and I also finished my friend's salad.

After we left the restaurant we went for ice-cream in the nearby mall and I had a giant chocolate waffle cone filled with goodness. Needless to say I had to smoke another one to help my stomach recover from this indulging meal.

http://www.bluedogbeertavern.com/

"On the waterfront Café" - Venice

This weekend was beautiful and sunny and we enjoyed every minute of it from enjoying some time on the beach to eating great BBQ, it was filled with spring fun and peppered with savory munchies. After going to the Farmer's Market to eat crêpes we strolled down the boardwalk and gazed at the meditative activities along the bike path before getting to one of my favorite beer garden on the boardwalk: "On the waterfront Café"

We sat down at one of their long tables out on the patio where you inevitably meet other beer drinkers who have to share their table with you. They have great German beer and a diverse food menu with delicacies form Germany, Switzerland and the good ol' USA

Since we had just devoured a delicious lunch we decided to get a small snack with out drinks and opted for their giant pretzel that comes with a sweet honey mustard sauce. It is moist on the inside and crisp on the outside and should definitely be shared. This bar is great for people watching or to enjoy a sunset with a date.

Enter through the gift shop at "Royal-T" - Culver City

It's always nice when Livingsocial sends you an offer you would actually enjoy instead of a manicure in some obscure nail salon in Gardena. So when they had a special coupon for Royal-T, I didn't hesitate to jump on the offer since I really enjoyed going there in the first place.

After smoking a few joints during the morning, I jumped in the car to go get brunch on a Sunday, two days after buying the coupon. Needless to say, it wasn't the best idea since they had sold quite a few of these offers so there was a thirty minute wait before being seated. The good thing about this place is that it is not just a coffee shop. It's also an art gallery and has a fun gift shop with overpriced but unique items from around the world. The art is never great but it's a strange mix of pop art and modern art and is definitely catering to the younger crowds. After tripping out in the gift shop, we finally sat down and stared at the menu. My eyes were going back and forth between the delicious items on the menu and the delicious waitresses in the restaurant dressed in maid uniforms. I was drooling at one point but I don't know if it's because I was very hungry or very horny.

We ended up having their signature Tea:  "ROYAL/T MILK TEA" blend of black tea with rose petals, pieces
of fruit and vanilla, brewed in soymilk. You can share small pot with one person and it is an exquisite mix of spices (I usually don't like tea). We shared a Kobe Beef burger and a French toast with berries (They are made with brioche). They do have mimosas on sunday but we did not try any

Everything I've ever tasted there was good and the dishes are filling. Royal-T has all the ingredients of a cool spot for the local hipsters, and that's why I love it.

http://www.royal-t.org 

"Waitresses dressed in playful maid uniforms with a Lolita-esque touch, serve guests a menu of French- and Japanese-inspired cuisine with local California style."

Breakfast at "The Wood Café" - Culver City

You know I've been living in America too long when my drink of choice is Dr Pepper, when I dream in English, and when I wake up with a craving for biscuits and gravy for breakfast. This dish is usually easy to find at the small diners around town like Rae's or Pantry's and it always brings back good memories like the time my boss' wife cooked us breakfast before we hit the slopes during our trip to Mammoth (Warning: Eating too many biscuits before snowboarding makes it very hard to bend down to strap the bindings).

After discussing our options with my mother who is in Los Angeles for a short vacation, we decided to go to "Green Peas" which is a great restaurant in Culver City with great healthy and vegetarian options and orange or cucumber infused water. However, it seems like every time I try to take my mother to a restaurant, it's either closed on that day or it doesn't exist anymore. Do I learn my lessons? Do I call ahead to see if the restaurant is open? Do I try to make reservations? Nope.... "Green Peas" was being remodeled and we had to jump in the car again to look for another restaurant.

We ended up not far from there at "The Wood Café" in Mar Vista. It's a lovely restaurant with a fire pit outside for dinners and late drinks. Their breakfast menu was very enticing and the colorful dishes on the tables around me looked flavorful. The best part: they even offered a "Southern Biscuit" (eggs, biscuit, sausage and gravy). Their menu says (No Side) but strangely enough you do get a choice of potatoes or salad. After ordering my Arnold Palmer (Iced tea and lemonade for those of you who didn't know what that was) I started stressing out a little because my phone was slowly running out of battery (I never learn that lesson either) and I thought I wouldn't be able to take a picture of my delicious breakfast. As soon as my biscuits came, I took my pictures and started devouring my breakfast. It was probably the best biscuits and gravy I've ever had at a restaurant and the service was great (I ended up with two glasses of Arnold Palmer at the same time at some point when the waitress saw how thirsty I was).

For more information go to their website: "The Wood Café"

Redondo Pier Fish Market

Next time you go to Redondo Beach you have to stop at the pier. On the bottom floor next to the arcades is a small food court filled with small fish markets. I ended up at the "Quality Seafood" where you pick your own fish and they grill it or fry it for you with sides to choose from. (French Fries Garlic Bread, Macaroni Salad....). I chose to go with some sole and some Red Snapper. The marinade they throw on the fish before grilling it is delicious and they always cook it to perfection. There is every kind of fresh seafood you could possibly hope and even though the dining area looks a little run down it's some of the best seafood i've had around town. Plus it's affordable and there's a beer stand next to it offering cheap options too.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/quality-seafood-redondo-beach

Tornado Potato at the "High Times" Medical Cannabis Cup

I was at the Medical Cannabis Cup sponsored by "High Times" yesterday and had a fun time there. After getting our wristbands to access the "Medication Area" (Don't worry, if you don't have a prescription there's a doctor ready to help you out right in front of the security checkpoint) we got a giant hit of cannabis wax in our lungs and headed towards the food trucks. Having a food truck at a gathering of hundreds of stoners must be good for business and I'm sure that people had to fight for these golden spots. We tried to look for the smallest line before deciding to get in line for some "Tornado Potato". This food truck is genius in its own ways, it found a way to make potatao look even cooler than curly fries. They peel a whole potato in a way that it wraps around a stick and they fry it. There's not much to eat on there but it is visually enticing and the perfect munchies food. We chose the 'Tornado" that came with a sausage on the stick...so it was basically a hot dog wrapped with potato chips....and some Parmesan/garlic powder. It was surprisingly good but I would highly recommend trying one with the sausage if you end up at this truck because the regular Tornado seems like it would leave you wanting more.

"Enterprise Fish Company" Happy Hour - Santa Monica

Every time I leave this place, I get confused. Not because of the Pinot Noir that was served in big glasses, but because of how much the bills ends up being at the end of this so called "Happy Hour". However I do tend to come out very happy and It's always a feast of small appetizers that are original and include fresh seafood such as the steamed mussels and oysters. We did order six oysters and they fresh and easy to pull out of the shelf. It came with a garlic marinara dip and a butter sauce.

We also shared their famous traditional Ahi Poki. It's a salad made of cubes of raw tuna, onions, lettuce and roasted bell peppers. It's always a crowd pleaser and a great item to share. We stayed at the happy hour from 4pm to about 10pm (actually the happy hour on saturday goes from 4pm to 7pm and then starts again at 9pm to 11pm. The bartender refilled our glasses at a good pace and the waitresses were all adorable. The food came quickly and it was perfectly cooked.

A lady sitting next to me at the counter spilled her glass of red wine all over my crotch and my brand new favorite wool jacket, so I can't say it was the perfect experience but I was sharing these drinks with one of my best friends who was visiting from France, and catching up and sharing stories while drinking a full-bodied wine and eating Kobe beef sliders made me forget my pants looked like I played paintball again.

"Take a Bao", Studio City

life is all about new experiences, fun discoveries and fine dining. And even though I realize that this first sentence looks like a bad headline for a dating profile, I am always eager to try a new restaurant. So when a friend asked me if I wanted to try the new Vietnamese place that opened on Ventura, "Take a Bao", I immediately accepted.

We walked into the restaurant and were greeted by a friendly staff. We looked at the menu, dazed and confused, and had a hard time deciding what to get for our first experience there so we decided to share a few plates....and grab a beer of course.

After the cashier gave us a quick rundown of her favorite items, we chose the "lemongrass caramel chicken wings", the pork and leek potstickers and their chicken basil stir-fry (grilled chicken, udon noodles, chinese long beans, bok choy sum, thai basil, bean sprouts, finger chilies, garlic chives, scallions, sesame seeds, xiao xing glaz). She gave us a magnet with a number on it to stick to our table and we went out to the patio.

We waited for our order while sipping on the delicious seasonal draft beer that they offered that day and the first dish came relatively fast. The best item was by far the chicken wings. They were some of the best chicken wings I ever had, perfectly crispy, with a tasty marinade that doesn't overpower the taste of the chicken or make your lips burn so much that you end up crying like a five year old kid. However, these wings did not come with big breasted blond waitresses. The staff was professional and they even plated the main entrée in two separate bowls.

We sat outside on one of the windiest days of the year, so it was a bit chilly and the noodles ended up getting cold very fast so it probably wasn't as good as it was intended to be but It was lacing flavor and they definitely didn't put enough finger chilies in there. I was also not a big fan of the potstickers but go there for a beer and some chicken wings and you won't regret it.....except maybe when you find a piece of meat stuck in your teeth half an hour later.

http://www.takeabao.com/

"Bigfoot West", Culver City

I think I found my new favorite cocktails. Bigfoot has some specialty drinks that are unique and full of flavor served in mason jars. I tried the "Thirsty Crow", it's a mix of Rye whiskey, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, and ginger beer. It was a fabulous drink that was strong enough to give most people a nice enjoyable buzz, and the ginger beer gave it a nice kick. The "Bourberry" is another cocktail we tried, It had real strawberries, mint, lime, ginger beer and Buffalo Trace bourbon. This would be the girlie version of my drink but since I do love girlie drinks, I enjoyed this one as well. They even have a homemade "performance enhancing" herbal liquor if your stash of Viagra is running low. It is called the "Horny Goat Elixir", it is supposed to improve endurance, libido and mood and costs 25$ I have to admit that I did not try it but they say it is suitable for both men and women. Of course they also offer all the drinks that most reputable bars offer with a good selection of draft beers.

The interior design of the bar is also a must-see. It looks like you're having a drink in a cabin in the mountain far away from Los Angeles and the crowd is laid back. The music also tends to be eclectic. It goes from lounge music with a fast tempo to old french classics on weeknights but it is always great music. You can smoke on their outside patio where alochol is allowed.

Not only do I highly recommend this bar for any nights of drinking on the Westside, but I can't wait to try their other drinks. AND I can walk there from my apartment so there is nothing to worry about if I enjoy too many of their cocktails.

Lala's Grill

Yesterday two of my friends and I went to Lala's for Lunch. Lala's is an Argentinian restaurant with delicious marinated steaks (skirt, filet mignons, New-York Steak), a variety of deeep-fried appetizers including huge empanadas, and a homemade sangria that will put a smile on your face. There's an option for every budget and there are a few different locations around L.A. The portions are quite big which made me happy. They bring you a basket of bread to deep in a delicious garlic sauce while you look at the menu and you have to pace yourself with it or your appetite will be gone before you even get your food. There is a good wine list and the "entrana" (skirt steak) could have easily been shared with a friend. It was a little overcooked but the marinade makes the meat so tender that I didn't care. To top it off, the waitress turned this good meal into the perfect lunch by offering us a free dessert to share at the end of the meal (picture above). It was a delicious flan covered with a thick layer of caramel and a whipped cream so dense that you could cut it with a knife. Needless to say, it was the stoner's perfect meal.