Wurstküche

Wurstküche has been on my list for the longest time and I finally made the trip out to LA's Art District this past week for a taste.

First of all, following the directions on your GPS will lead you to the back door, and the backside of the building is unmarked and blanketed in a sea of vines. Entering through the back will take you directly into the dining room, which is illuminated sparsely by scattered lighting (like most LA restaurants, I've noticed) and dominated by long tables and benches. The walls are flanked by additional, more intimate, seating arrangements and a bar.

I made my way to the front and went straight for the exotics section ($7.50 per sausage) on the menu.

With rattlesnake & rabbit and buffalo sausages, and fries with white truffle oil glaze on queue, I went back to the dining room with my glass of La Chouffe and waited about 10 minutes before dinner was served.

The rattlesnake and rabbit, topped with caramelized onions, made the night. After getting through the tight casing, you are rewarded with a deliciously juicy sausage that is perfectly spiced. I am not one to eat spicy stuff and I could handle this quite easily, so if you're looking for a lot of kick from the jalapenos, you'd be disappointed. The buns could use a makeover though. It had a strong floury taste and made the meal dry.

The truffle glazed fries were pungent and huge. When consulting the cashier about which size, klein or groot, to purchase, all he could say was, "The large feeds two." But if you're not a big eater, it can feed at least three. At least it gave the opportunity to try two sauces. I didn't really care for the Thai Peanut, but the Sundried Tomato Mayo was a superb.

Wurstküche

800 E 3rd Street

Los Angeles, CA 90013

(213) 687-4444

Daikokuya [Little Tokyo LA]

Nothing sounded better than a steaming hot bowl of pho after a hilarious performance of Avenue Q at the Ahmanson. Since pho was closed, we visited what some consider the holy grail of ramen in Los Angeles, Little Tokyo's Daikokuya.

The JPop-vintage paraphenilia was complemented by a spattering of alternative LA hipsters and normal people keeping their cool. A refreshing departure from the traditional and a little raw on the edges.

I was surprised that there were only two ramens offered amongst a menu mostly of rice dishes, so of course we opted for the Daikoku Ramen combo with chicken-egg rice.

The broth was salty, mellow, and cloudy in appearance--exactly what I was looking for in a late-night snack. The noodles were thick and chewy and of course, you can never go wrong with an egg. Overall, the ramen was very satisfying and though I wouldn't be that quick to call it the best, it sure was damn good. The chicken-egg bowl didn't fare too poorly either.

Daikokuya
327 E 1st St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 626-1680

Fraiche [Culver City]

My first encounter with Fraiche on OpenTable revealed a curious fact: tables seemed to be booked out a week in advance. Though it had recently received a favorable review from LA Times critic Irene Virbila, even restaurants that are heralded nation-wide aren't that hard to get a table at.


My impression was that the restaurant was a humble bistro, but I soon learned the reason for its liveliness: Downtown Culver City. As I walked from the parking lot to the restaurant (no valet, free 2-hour parking), I realized that even lesser known restaurants were brimming with people who worked only a stones-throw away.

I started with a pale Beet Salad that was visually off-putting. I enjoyed the beets' muted sweetness played against the mature bitterness of mache and toasted hazelnuts. The bed of house-made ricotta lent a lightness to the dish and formed a backdrop for the other flavors to shine.

The remainder of the menu is universally pleasing, though options err on the side of tried-and-true classics. Entrees and pastas encompass a wide variety of proteins and preparations, ensuring that there is something for every palate. Both AH and I opted for dishes on the heavier side with him choosing the Steak Frites ($22) and me, the Braised Short Rib Pappardelle (~$15).

Of the two entrees, the steak fared better with a succulent cut of flat iron that was perfectly seasoned, marinated, and grilled. It was well executed, though only exactly as you would expect for steak frites. The pappardelle had good texture and the arugula made for an interesting contrast in the ragu. However, it also added an unpleasant aftertaste that tainted the otherwise fine braised short ribs. The waitress warned me that the dish would be salty and while it wasn't that bad, it was somewhat one-dimensional.

For dessert, we followed the crowd and ordered the Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta. The citrus granita and fresh raspberries punched up the flavors in the creamy panna cotta providing a crisp contrast in both flavor and presentation. Very good, highly recommended.

Overall, Fraiche is a good value, serving up solid food at reasonable prices, unseen in any restaurant that's located in a downtown. It lives up to its name, serving food with flavors that are simple, delineated and distinct.

Fraiche
9411 Culver Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 839-6800

In loving memory of Wat Thai

Wat Thai Temple North Hollywood, CA

I caught wind of Wat Thai's closing on the Chowhound boards and resolved to make it to what has been called LA's most authentic Thai food on its last weekend. My resolve was so strong that I even cut my San Francisco trip short to check it out.

My mom had cautioned me against wearing shorts and/or tank tops since I wouldn't normally be allowed to step foot in a temple so scantily clad. She failed to realize that this was the tragically hip LA and that the food stands only operate under the auspices of a religious institution--but come on now, we all know they're there to make a profit.

We were pretty distraught at first, since the compound was pretty deserted from where we had entered. A sigh of relief quickly overcame us at the first sight of civilization crowned under a pretty blue tent. While some were there for prayer, we were certainly there only to worship the gods responsible for the fiery curries, sweet satays, and pungent salads of Thai cuisine.

The currency of choice here is not the Baht, but instead tokens purchased in denominations of $.50, $1, and $2, which account for the majority of the under $5 dishes. The most expensive thing we got was the $5 mango with sticky rice, which is cut-to-order and as good as any mango-sticky rice I've ever gotten.

Hands down, the best dish was the Papaya Salad, which was proclaimed the best we've had yet. The sweet, sour, and spicy notes were perfectly balanced, while the salted crabs gave it a unique twist.

We also tried the Noodles, Fried Eggs, and Pad Thai from another vendor down the way. The noodles was just too hot to enjoy in the steamy valley and while I've had better pad thai for $.50 from a street stall in Thailand, this wasn't half bad. I ordered the eggs because they reminded me of Vietnamese bot chien, which is mostly made of rice cakes. Turns out my Thai dish was mostly made of fried eggs which were tossed with clams and served with a mild sauce that tasted like ketchup. It was okay, though I didn't want to finish the entire tray.

There were two booths selling satay, so we bought an order of chicken from each to compare them side-by-side. Americanized Thai food has taught us the Chicken Satay is normally dressed with peanut butter, when in reality all that satay really designates is a meat that grilled on a skewer. Both versions were smoky and tender with the difference in flavor (one was slightly spicier) being only a matter of preference.

One of the more interesting dishes were the Chicken Dumplings ($3), which were scented with peanuts and coconut. The skins were gummy and thin, which I enjoyed, though the filling was too sweet for a savory course.

Speaking of sweets, we also tried these crunchy wafer-like tacos, which were filled with various forms of coconut. A bit too sweet for my taste. Beverages were lacking with mediocre Thai teas, coconut juices and a logan juice that was decent at best.

I made the mistake of saving curries for last and was just too stuffed to eat another thing. It was a fun experience and it reminded me of Berkeley's own Thai Temple--an institution all on its own. It was good spending time with the family and if you've got some time on your hands, sign the petition to keep the weekend food stalls up and running!

Wat Thai Temple
12909 Cantara St
North Hollywood, CA 91605
(818) 780-4200

Porto's Bakery [Glendale]

Although we were right next door at Damon's for June's Yelp Elite event, we arrived five minutes after Porto's 7 o'clock closing. I wasn't about to let that happen a second time around and popped by on my way back from the Kwik-E-Mart down the street.

The demure storefront hides the megalithic 2-story party supply and cake shop that lie behind Porto's doors. Designed to handle downtown Glendale's lunch traffic, the bakery is divided into two sides with the left counter serving lunch orders for sandwiches and popular bakery items and the right being the full-service bakery. Just queue up if you're in line at the lunch counter, but remember to take a number if you're waiting on the bakery.

We started with a trio of strudels (guava cheese, apple and guava) whose pastry shells were slightly cookie-like and crumbled more than they flaked. The apples were generously dusted with cinnamon spice, though we couldn't taste the cheese in our guava-cheese strudel. The guava tasted firstly of sugar, but left a refreshing tart aftertaste in our mouths. We also tried one of the new Raspberry Kisses, which reminded me of the Verona cookies filled with raspberry jam. They're a little on the dry side, which begs for tea of milk and I will definitely go back to try the dulce de leche version, which I bet tastes like alfajores.

The Pan con Lechon, a roasted pork sandwich with garlic mojo and onions, was incredibly moist and flavorful, though there was too much meat and too little of everything else. When I did manage to get a bite of onion, the contrast was sublime. If they had used red onions marinated in lime, it would have been heavenly.

And lastly, the legendary Potato Balls, which lived up to the hype and so much more. The fluffy mashed potatoes are lightly fried and filled with a flavorful taco meat. I was already raving even before I discovered the seasoned ground beef, hiding like a buried treasure in the depths of the ball. At $.80 a pop, they are the ultimate comfort food.

Whether its breads, cakes, pastries, empanadas, sandwiches, or tarts, there are certainly enough options at Porto's to keep you coming back for more.

Porto's Party Store & Cake Gallery
315 N Brand Blvd
Glendale, CA 91203
(818) 956-5996

La Creperie [Long Beach]

For being the only creperie within reasonable driving distance from Orange County, La Creperie isn't horrible.

Belmont Shores + entrees under $15 + Parisian charm + struggling musician + no competing creperies = an instant formula for success.

La Creperie can credit part of its popularity from its trendy location on busy 2nd Street in Belmont Shores. It is one of the few casual sit-down restaurants that actually serves food with a side of ambiance, as evidenced by the recent amendment of "Bohemian Bistro & Bar" to the La Creperie name. There's live jazz on the piano or guitar seven days a week and the no reservation policy almost always ensures a wait.

On this particular Thursday night, we arrived at 7 and waited a solid hour (we were quoted 40 minutes) before our table for six was ready. At least the manager was attentive to our needs and kept us informed of potential tables and seating arrangements. Next time, I’d advise splitting up into smaller parties.

The savory crepes are made with buckwheat flour and almost always come slathered (bathed might be more appropriate) with a sauce (cream, tomato, pesto, broth). I am often overwhelmed by the excessive amount of fillings, but I suppose that when you are in America, you must eat as the Americans do.

My SO’s standby is the Carbonara, though I don’t have any favorites from the sloppy creations. I did, however, find a hidden crepe in the appetizer section called the Crepe Vendome, a combination of Brie, green apples, onion, and chicken. The combination of cheese and fruit made me think of France, though the mango and lime chutneys with sour cream just confused my palate. At least they weren’t swimming sauce.

I dont really have any quibbles with the dessert crepes, though you could probably toss strawberries and nutella on toast and have it be good.

It's not like the restaurant has much competition, so even a half-assed effort is better than none at all.

La Creperie
4911 E 2nd St
Long Beach, CA 90803
(562) 434-8499

Kwik-E-Mart [Burbank]

As a promotion for the new Simpsons movies, seven 7-Elevens across the country have been transformed into Kwik-E-Marts. Two of them are in Southern California and though I've driven by the Culver City location, I was determined to check out the bigger and better Burbank one.


The culinary institution that is 7-11 offered its usual assortment of gourmet hot dogs and nachos with a side of wit courtesy of The Simpsons marketing campaign.

Anyone setting foot inside the store must make an obligatory purchase of one the following four "Simpsons-inspired Products":

(1) KrustyO's Cereal


(2) The Official Pink Movie Donut


(3) Buzz Cola


(4) Squishee

The SO and I each needed a prop for the various Kodak moments scattered throughout the store, so we purchased items #2 and 4 and began a posed our hearts out with cardboard cutouts of Chief Wiggum, Marge, Homer, Ralph, and Apu.

The Coke Squishee was nothing more than a Slurpee in a Simpsons-inspired cup and the donut looked great in our photos. Its neon pink color would have made any bridesmaid skulk, while the two-part glaze and frosting combo warranted a visit to the dentist.

There are real live Apus manning the registers, though none of them told me, "Thank You, Come Again!" Not the most p.c. gimmick, but isn't that what makes the Simpson's so good in the first place?

While there are lines on the weekends, we were able to walk right in at 1:30pm on a Monday, though they were still doing brisk business with a packed parking lot. I may not be the most die-hard Simpsons fan, but I did get my 40-minute drive's worth in photos.

Kwik-E-Mart
1611 West Olive Avenue
Burbank, CA 91506