Downtown LA’s Classic Local Foods, Olvera Street, LA, CA by Charles Phoenix

Everywhere I travel, I always ask, "What's the local food here?" Seems every place has something edible they're known for, and our beloved downtown LA is no exception.

Among the classic downtown foods we enjoy on my "Disneyland" tour of Downtown Los Angeles, delicious eggrolls at Hop Louis, since 1941, fantastic French Dip Sandwiches at Phillipe's, since 1908, mouth-watering, fresh strawberry whipped cream cake from the Phoenix Bakery, since 1938, and tasty taquitos at Cielito Lindo, where they've been perfecting the recipe since 1934! And believe me, they've perfected it! I call these shredded beef-filled, rolled, deep-fried corn tortillas served with green chili sauce LA's original Olvera Street food...

"I Love You" Meatloaf by Charles Phoenix

Every holiday deserves its own very special meatloaf, and Valentine's Day is no exception… 

This classic tattoo/I Love Lucy inspired, savory dinner dish of deliciousness is the latest from the Charles Phoenix Test Kitchen …

Ketchup topped meatloaf for two, served on a bed of buttered mashed potatoes, decorated with fresh red, green and yellow bell peppers, brussel sprouts, grape tomatoes, carrot spikes and a crabapple !!! 

Go to HERE to watch how it's made...with love.

If you sneeze you will miss MY TWO CENTS by Leena Deneroff

Hungry and need to rest your weary feet after a jaunt at LACMA, the La Brea Tarpits or the Peterson Museum?  Feel like being an Urban Explorer?  Then follow me folks and we are on our way to some amazing modern soul comfort food.

 

If you sneeze, you will miss this place and that is something you do NOT want to do.  Tucked away in a mini-mall on Pico and Curson, you will find this little gem My Two Cents.  They are now coining this hood Wilshire Vista and lots of cool independent shops, cafes, and bakeries are beginning to emerge.  Allow yourself to explore East on Pico after you chow down and don’t miss brainworkshome.com .

But let me not digress!

Chef, and I do mean chef, Alisa Reynolds has hauled her butt back to LA  from NY to partner with her sister, Theresa Fountain, in this  cozy, fabulous food spot.  If you are looking for a place to call “home away from home’” this is it folks!  When Chef Alisa gets wind that it is your first time and she can break away from the line, she comes out and greets you saying “First Timer!”, in her robust ,cheerful voice and clanging whatever she can get her hands on.  And if you are as lucky, as we were, you might get some FREE FOOD, which is always my fave.  Now that’s what I call good hospitality.

So what do you eat here?  Or maybe I should say what don’t you eat here?

I must admit I have not yet eaten my way through the menu, but I’m on my way. I gotta watch my cholesterol so I went for the fried catfish, which is really pan sautéed, rolled in mulled cornmeal, no fillers.  All the fish is sustainably sourced, the chicken is organic and the meats are local and natural.

I went for the sweet potato pecan crumble and braised greens  as my sides, both of which are VEGAN.  The sweet potatoes are roasted with coconut, pecans and vegan butter.

I did bite into my friends fried, really fried chicken, drizzled with  bar-b-q sauce. I don’t know what she coated that little bird in, but my oh my.  Get some grits on the side here and you have died and gone to heaven.

My eyes then ate the fried oyster Po' Boy which the guy next to me was devouring .  I must admit, I could never eat it solo and it seemed to be no problem for him. I can promise you this, girl scouts honor, next time that puppy is a special on the board I’m in.

Should we or shouldn’t we go all the way?  Oh what the heck. Bring on the homemade peach cobbler, with 3 forks and let’s go girls.  All desserts are made daily by Theresa so be prepared to pig out.
 

All this coupled with BYOB and laughs and hugs from Chef Alisa make this a go to and go to again and again kind of place.

 

My Two Cents

5583 Pico Blvd

LA CA 90019
my2centsla@gmail.com
323-938-1012

Service Hours:

WED.THURS 12- 4:30 and 6-9  FRI.SAT 12-4:30 and 6-10

SUNDAY kickass BRUNCH 11-4  $15.00

SUNDAY 6-9 Grits N Gumbo Night $18.00 with LIVE DJ

Plan your visit find out What's Going On Nearby

 

CHRIS’ & PITT’S AT DUSK, BELLFLOWER, SOCAL

There’s something interesting around every corner, no matter where u go.

And the corner of Bellflower and Artesia Blvds, is no exception. For it is there that, snuggled in the vast sea of suburbia, sits one SoCal’s most precious places. Chris’ & Pitt’s BBQ. This Bellflower beauty isn’t just any old BBQ joint, oh NO! ‘Tis the greatest streamline, modern. faux log cabin BBQ diner joint on the planet.

 

This sensational showstopper has been serving up mouthwatering meats since 1949. I’m not sure when it got lavished with that spellbindingly brilliant log cabin coat of paint. Whenever it was, this is faux painting fabulousness like I’ve never seen before. Not to mention, that well lit, wrap-around signage, the pair of red wagon wheels, all those turquoise scalloped window frames, and that gorgeous glittering neon sign. The overall color theory is genius, too.

All that and ham, beef, pork and ribs too. What, specials for $9.95? That’s a small price to pay for this delicious piece of history. No matter how you slice it, Chris’ & Pitt’s Bellflower is priceless. Long may it stand! Now, please pass the BBQ sauce!

 

BTW, this charmer and dozens of SoCals other underrated, unknown and misunderstood architectural gems and jewels, will be celebrated like they never have been before in my ARCHITECTURE IN LOS ANGELES – Live Slide Show Performance

Sunday, Oct 12

in Los Angeles

 

CLICK FOR TIX AND MORE INFO

 

Think: Lost and Found Mid-Century Mod, Tiki, Googie, Theme Parks And Much More!

 

This one-night only show is your past and present guide to SoCal’s classic and kitschy drive-ins, coffee shops, supermarkets, bowling alleys, shopping centers, extreme houses, dingbat apartments, fast food stands, amusement parks, themed environments and more all in glorious color !!! … Be prepared for your local pride to swell!

 

Here’s to Chris’ & Pitt’s and YOU!

Charles Phoenix

Strawberry Blast-Off Cake, Charles Phoenix Test Kitchen by Charles Phoenix

Frankly, I spend more time that I would care to admit daydreaming new cake recipes to try in my trustworthy Charles Phoenix Test Kitchen.

Recently I’ve been thinking of a very pink strawberry cake. Something cheerful that would be prefect served to cake-loving friends and family celebrating the July 4th Holiday. So I marched to the nearest supermarket and filled the basket with all things strawberry; fresh strawberries, frozen strawberries, strawberry cake mix and strawberry ice cream. YUM!

And because everybody knows strawberries go SO well with cheesecake, I threw in one of Sara Lee’s finest, too.

El Paso BBQ in Tarzana

Good ol' American BBQ is often a matter of taste and style. Do you like it sweet, smokey, spicy? Do you prefer it Kansas, Missouri, Texas or Southern style.  And these are just a few of the variations out there. 

Cooking methods, sauces and rubs all play a role.  But I think the most important foundation for great Q is the quality of the meat.

The key to the food here is quality. The ribs are succulent, the brisket and the steaks are tender, salads are crisp and fresh.

Stouffer’s Mac and Cheese Food Truck by Valerie Mitchell

The Stouffer's Food Truck made a special stop in Santa Monica!

It was an absolutely gorgeous day to be outside in the Southern California sun. The truck parked on Ocean Avenue near Santa Monica Blvd. The skies were blue and the view of the Pacific and Santa Monica Pier were stunning. It was a lovely day for a comfort food lunch.

Rance’s Chicago Pizza in Costa Mesa by Valerie Mitchell

After visiting Illinois, Rance Ruiz dreamed of creating the perfect Chicago style pizza. He practiced and perfected his skills and his recipes for years before opening up his dream restaurant – Rance's Chicago Pizza.

I tried out the restaurant for the first time and loved the food. Obviously, I am not the only one who enjoys it. There was a steady stream of people coming in to eat at the restaurant and to pick up to go orders.

The House Salad was delicious. It's made with fresh ingredients and the salad dressings are handmade by Rance's mother. This salad would have been a satisfying meal on it's own.

House of Blues Crossroads Restaurant at Downtown Disney - Anaheim, California by Valerie Mitchell

Crossroads at House of Blues has a new menu created by Chef Aaron Sanchez who you may have seen on the Food Network. There are Southern classics and modern dishes including steak, seafood, burgers and vegetarian options.

Tasty Pastry at Les Noces du Figaro by Andrea Kirk

This expansive French Bistro seems like it was just dropped from the sky into the middle of the 600 block of  Broadway in Downtown L.A.  I spotted this place early on a Sunday morning and decided to stop in for breakfast (they open at 8am). The pastries were as good as they looked. It is next door to the Palace Theatre and a couple of doors up from Clifton's Cafeteria (still being renovated).  They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and have a full bar, lounge and outside dining area.  Plus the walk up counter where you can order pastries and other items to go.

DAMN IS THIS GOOD! SINGLE ORIGIN COFFEE AND SHORT CAKE AT THE ORIGINAL FARMERS MARKET by Leena Deneroff

Award winning pastry chef Nancy Silverton has done it again. YES this IS the woman who created and brought us the ORIGINAL La Brea Bakery and the concept of sourdough artisan breads! This time she has opened SINGLE ORIGIN and SHORT CAKE in one stall at the Original Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax.

Damn is this good! Everything about this place works. It is an open bar in the old Farmers Market setting. Pastries and baked goods are being made right in front of your eyes and each VERVE coffee is pulled to perfection…smooth, rich, and bold without being bitter.

Coffee choice is a no brainer for me. I am a cappuccino girl and I only sit at the bar and drink from the real and beautifully designed ceramic cups. 

The challenge is what to EAT or dare I say what NOT to EAT. Often I come for a coffee and force myself to walk away as I am working diligently to knock off a few pounds. But as we all know, all work and no play makes Jill a dull girl. Soooo here we go.

My two all time favorite things here are:
 

Lunch at Bear Pit BBQ by Andrea Kirk

Lamb sandwich on garlic toast

The Bear Pit has been around forever and draws a big crowd for their wood smoked meats with tangy "Missouri" style sauce. They even have lamb and duck in addition to typical bbq pork and beef.

Their sandwiches on garlic toast are very tasty - my favorite is the lamb. The chicken is my favorite for dinner - it is crispy and smoky and they don't sauce it up - you can add the sauce yourself. Use their regular sauce though, I like it better than the sweet sauce they serve with the chicken.

Sawdust on the floor, wooden tables and an outdoor patio provide the old school bbq joint ambiance.



The crispy quarter chicken makes a great light lunch.  The half chicken dinner is my favorite thing on the menu here.  It is basically wood smoked chicken that is finished in the fryer. I don't know any place making anything like this.

The Bear Pit
10825 Sepulveda Boulevard,
Mission Hills, CA 91345
(818) 365-2509
Website

What's to do Nearby:
San Fernando Valley CALENDAR
Mission San Fernando Rey De Espana
Nethercutt Museums