Tag Archives: California

Elote Man 

The Elote Man, Timoteo Flor de Nopal, has been turning healthy corn into a heart attack snack for 27 years in Lincoln Heights. For $1.50 you can get corn on a cob or a bowl of corn topped with a heaping spread of mayonnaise, generous drizzle of butter, even coating of Parmesan cheese, and a dust of chili powder. When you to try to eat the corn, it’s a game of balancing the newly gained weight of the corn, about half a pound, so it doesn’t lose to gravity. Don’t worry! This doesn’t scare people away. On warm summer nights, the lines can get long so go early before he runs out. He’s open from 9:30 pm until 1 am or until he runs out. It’s worth it for this heart attack concoction that will change the way you eat corn. You won’t be able to eat it any other way.

(2338 Workman St., Los Angeles, CA 90031– by the 99 cent store)

Churro Borough


What once started out as a food truck, Churro Borough is now brick and mortar in downtown Los Angeles. There is about a 30 minute wait but once you bite into this, you forget about it.

The concept is simple, ice cream sandwiched by churros, but mind blowing. The churros are made fresh so they stay crunchy with every bite.

You can sample from all the ice cream varieties before selecting one to go with your churro. They also offer a large selection of sorbet for those that are lactose intolerant, like me. I got the browned butter cookie sorbet and was very pleased.

For $4, it is pricey for its size (about the size of a palm) but makes it the perfect personal snack.

Can’t wait to go back for another bite!

Churros and ice cream. What a concept!

(1726 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027)

ad hoc + addendum

Posted in Napa Valley by

A summer favorite of mine is Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc Addendum. Open only in spring and summer from Thursday to Saturday 11 am to 2 pm, they serve boxed versions of Ad Hoc’s critically acclaimed fried chicken. It’s also a great alternative to try Ad Hoc if you can’t make it to their dinner only seating.

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The BBQ pork ribs falls off the bone easily. I love their moist cornbread. You won’t find it anywhere else. Thomas Keller sure knows how to make southern comfort food.

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When I came last summer, they only offered a boxed version of the fried chicken. They now offer a BUCKET of chicken. Fried chicken lovers, rejoice! Seasoned with salt and sprigs of fresh rosemary, this is the best fried chicken I’ve ever had. It’s moist and packed with flavor.

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Look for Addendum at the picnic area behind Ad Hoc.

(6476 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599)

KoJa Kitchen

Move out of the way ramen burger, rice patty burgers are in town. Koja Kitchen features a fusion of Korean and Japanese rice patty burgers. My favorites are the marinated kalbi (short rib), which is pictured above, or bulgolgi (brisket) sandwiches. The rice patties keep you full, and it keeps its shape throughout your enjoyment.

Normally sold in a food truck parked at the Truck Stop in the alley between Mission and First, they now have a brick and mortar shop in Berkeley. You can also pre order online for the Berkeley location. Below is a map of all their locations.

Swan Oyster Depot

Posted in San Francisco by

Swan Oyster Depot was established in its present location over 100 years ago in 1912 by four Danish brothers. They delivered fresh seafood throughout San Francisco using a horse drawn carriage. In 1946, they sold the business to the Sancimino and LaRocca family. Over time, the Sancimino children took over, and today they continue to run the business along with delivering fresh seafood throughout the city. Today the shop looks just like it did in the past. A long narrow seafood bar that seats only 18 with an antiquated register adding to its charm.

The oyster combo comes with oysters from around the world but I wasn’t able to catch the names. They were all very fresh and delicious, as acclaimed. My favorite were the small oysters due to their sweetness.

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Got their clam chowder bowl and crab cocktail. I would pass on the clam chowder. It was full of clam flavor but lacked body. I tend to like my clam chowder to be thick and filled with clams. The crab cocktail was delightful. Com’on it’s a bowl of shelled crab meat! 

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You can taste the freshness in the sashimi plate. It comes with salmon, tuna, yellowtail, halibut and scallops. My favorite were the sweet scallops. 

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Tip: Go early for there’s an hour long wait for a seat. Bring cash and lots of it. For two people, this meal can run up to ~$100.

(1517 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109)

Taylor Maid Farms

After the sad attempt at the Sonoma Hot Air Balloon Classic, I was in dire need of coffee having been up since 3:30 am. Taylor Maid Farms hit the spot with their lavender latte made from organic coffee. It had just the right amount of lavender to pair with your morning punch.

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I loved the decor of this place and was enchanted by the light fixtures.

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I do plan on going back to try their ginormous maple bacon donut.

(6790 McKinley Street, Suite 130, Sebastopol, California 95472)

Sonoma Hot Air Balloon Classic

Posted in Sonoma County by

Sonoma Hot Air Balloon is a small festival in Windsor, CA show casing a few hot air balloons. Sadly, on the day I attended, the weather wasn’t nice enough to fly the balloons, which sucked since I woke up at the crack of dawn and drove an hour to see them. Hopefully, it’ll be better next year. It surely did bring me back to my childhood memories.

“I taut I taw a puddy tat.”

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Spunky and the Purple People Eater

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Angry for some birds?

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Gang’s all here!

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(Keiser Park, 700 Windsor River Rd, Windsor, Ca  95492)

Pabu

This is the Pabu Boru. Made of vida mezcal, fresh orange, agave, yuzukosho, pepper. Served in a bowl lined with salt.

At first, it tastes like a light citrus drink, and then you are hit with an intensely smoky flavor. I loved the complexion of the drink bringing out the smokiness of the mezcal. It’s a new drink on their menu and a must try.

(101 California, San Francisco, CA 94111)