Foodie Joy at A-Frame

Because I'm starting to run short on new blog debuts, I'm joining forces with the absolutely fabulous @xoxoGG of a deliberate pace and @loveonthego of Los Angeles Burger Bracket, for a new collaborative tumbler which we'll debut early next year.   Still working out a few of the specific deets, but we kicked out our new alliance with a Roy Choi feast.

Roy Choi, the mastermind behind the great Kogi, and Chego just opened his newest venture, A-frame... a picnic inspired eatery taking over an old IHOP locale on Washington Blvd & keeping the signature A-Frame architecture.  He partnered with David Reiss of the Alibi Room (home to the permanent Kogi distribution center) and The Brig.

A-frame includes a full bar & extensive cocktail menu and a very share-able food menu.  People are encouraged to get their hands a little dirty, silverware is offered, but certainly not required.  They also don't take reservations to keep the pretension outside the door, and all tables are communal, so who knows who you could be rubbing elbows with!

We went with the Baby Back Ribs || air-dried with hoisin-chili glaze & sesame, Cracklin Beer Can Chicken || Peruvian-style with century egg, salsa roja & salsa verde, Peel-N-Eat Shrimp || kaffir lime leaf dried shrimp salt, cocktail sauce & citrus, Kitchen Fries || purple Okinawa sweet potatoes, yam, Korean sweet potatoes & kimchi sour cream w/ sea salt AND Fried Apple Pie || w/ Southern Comfort Caramel & cheddar ice cream for dessert!

What would I recommend out of our feast?  EVERYTHING. And get a few drinks while you're there as well... I had something called the Mainland || Pisco, Lilikoi, Lime, Egg & Cayenne Pepper which knocked my socks off.

Right now they're only open for dinner, but are hoping to include lunch service in the near future.  Food is served from 5pm - midnight & last call is around 1:30am. 

And if you're lucky... like we were, you can see Mr. Kogi himself wandering the restaurant making sure everything is in tip top shape. :-)


A-Frame
12565 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90066
(310) 398-7700
aframela.com‎

House of An's "Noodle-Off" + Great New Happy Hour Spot!!

OK, let's first start with the House of An's "Noodle-Off" Competition...  Celebrating the 30 year anniversary of Mama An's famous garlic noodles, which they still serve at their Beverly Hills mastery Crustacean, they held their first ever Noodle-Off competition at Tiato Garden Market Cafe in Santa Monica.

The winner received a $1,000 gift certificate to any of their restaurants & (more importantly) will have their prize winning noodles featured on all of the House of An menus! 

Five amateur chefs cooked their hearts out to a crowd filled with tons of foodie fans. From "Cheerful Noodles" (my personal favorite) to "Spicy Noodles with Fried Egg, Bacon & Kimchi" (because really, bacon just makes everything better) there were lots of different flavor palates to play with.  Tze Chan's "Asian Bolognese" won the "People's Choice" award, partially due to an excellent marketing technique... including adorable I <3 Asian Bolognese Flags, and Cecilia Fabulich won the grand prize for her "Fragrant Tinga Malaysia!" 

AND NOW ON TO THE IMPORTING THINGS LIKE DELICIOUS HAPPY HOURS!!

Tiato Garden Market Cafe has a wonderful Happy Hour from 4:30 to 8 P.M. on Thursday and Friday.

What does that mean?  $4 Brews /  $5 Wines / $8 Cocktails + an array of delicious foods at very assistant friendly prices.  And not just your requisite cheap-o beers, $4 Blue Moons, Firestones & Pilsner Urquells.

For food we went with the Spicy Tiato Nachos for $6 + Hawaiian Seared Tuna Tacos for $8.  The Nachos were a total hit IMHO, Spicy Chorizo, Salsa, & Queso Fresco... a little Asian flair on a Mexican dish... very Roy Choi-esq.  Plus the bite sized morsels of seared ahi tuna joy were heavenly!

I know I'm making this a new staple on the "where should we grab drinks" list.  Especially because they validate for FREE PARKING as well!  oh joy!  When you're there be sure to say hi to (and tip well) Bartender Brent.

Tiato Market Garden Café
2700 Colorado Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 866-5228
tiato.com‎

Guest Post: Solaroma Choco Cafe Line

Being a total foodie, and a chocoholic junkie (pretty much my entire suitcase coming home from Berlin was filled with the good stuff), I wanted to share what sounds like a truly scrumptious product with you guys.  I mean, really, who doesn't want to be bathed in chocolate-y goodness?  I know I do...

Product Review: Solaroma Choco Café Line

by Renee on November 15, 2010

I don’t know anybody on the face of this earth who doesn’t like chocolate. It’s just not possible! Just the sweet aroma of chocolate is enough to pick me up and put a smile on my face, and I know this is true for you too. Other than its irresistibly delicious taste, the benefits of chocolate have been known for centuries. Here are just some of the health benefits of chocolate:

• The smell of chocolate increases theta brainwaves, resulting in relaxation.
• Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine, a mild mood elevator.
• Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood.
• The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.
• Chocolate enhances the production of endorphins, which results in a feeling of pleasure.
  

These health benefits are exactly what Lorrie Hargis, creator of Solaroma Organic & Natural Cosmetics based in France, considered when creating her newest line of organic products “My Choco Café” ­– a collection of face and body products infused with organic chocolate, coffee, essential oils and other active ingredients. I recently had the pleasure of sitting with Lorrie to discuss her new My Choco Café line, and test out some samples. Let me tell you now, the products really are as enticing as they sound!

Four years ago, Lorrie came up with the idea to develop a line of chocolate products that not only worked on the body, but was also fun to use! With years of experience in natural health, Lorrie was able to take her knowledge of natural ingredients, extracts, and essential oils, and put it into cosmetics to create the delectable My Choco Café line. Lorrie created the product line in the South of France, where she lives with her family and grows organic plants such as Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, Lavender, and Rose – some of which are used in Solaroma products. For 30 years, Solaroma has provided organic health-conscious products throughout Europe, and now Lorrie is ready to bring these wonderful products to the USA! (See bottom of review for more information about where to find Solaroma products).

The line consists of three product elements: Body Delices – Body-care products; Visage Delices – Face-care products; and Aroma Delices – a unisex perfume. These products are made with organic chocolate extracts, rather than just artificial chocolate scent, so that your body gets the real benefits of chocolate rather than just the smell of it.

I was fortunate enough to be able to take home samples of the My Choco Café Body Delices and Visage Delices products to try out! Here are my favorites:
 
My Choco Café Body Scrub: As instructed by Lorrie (who knows best!), I started out with the Body Scrub – a delicious blend of Vitamin E and sunflower oil to hydrate the skin, organic fair-trade coffee grains from Mexico to give an exfoliating scrub, organic rich dark chocolate from the Dominican Republic, and essential oils of mint, lemongrass, vetiver, rosemary, cypress, and geranium to help increase circulation. The dark brown color of the scrub, along with the coffee grains, makes the Body Scrub look almost like a scrumptious frappuchino! But don’t worry, you won’t be temped to eat it as the smell is not overwhelming chocolately – the lemongrass and rosemary emanate the strongest, giving it an exhilarating and awakening scent. Now to the actual application – the scrub felt very invigorating on my skin. The fine coffee grains create a really wonderful exfoliating scrub that feels like its really working to remove dead skin, and the mint essential oil leaves an energizing and cooling sensation on the skin.
The Exfoliant Visage for the face contains the same active ingredients as the Body Scrub, but with less coffee grains so that it doesn’t damage the sensitive skin on your face by being too rough.

My Choco Café Peeling: This face-peel mask is an enticing chocolate-mousse color and consistency that is simply irresistible! As directed by Lorrie, I applied a thin layer on my face and let it sit for 5 minutes. As I sat there relaxing, I noticed the strong smell of lemongrass and the cooling sensation created by the green tea extract, both of which helped to awaken my senses. The My Choco Café Peeling is made up of organic dark chocolate, essential oils, green tea extract, pineapple and sugarcane extracts (to eat away dead skin), and blueberry extract to add powerful antioxidants. After letting it sit for 5 minutes, the peel was very easy to rinse off – I didn’t need to actually peel it off which I liked because it didn’t feel as if I was pulling off too much of my skin cells and natural oils. My face was left feeling smooth, moisturized, and refreshed, not to mention smelling delicious!


Being a newcomer to the organic movement, it is really comforting to know that I can trust Solaroma products for being truly organic. All Solaroma products are EcoCert  Certified – meaning they are thoroughly controlled and monitored by EcoCert (a control and certification organization, whose activities are governed accordingly by public authorities and legislation) for quality and integrity. On the label of each product, it tells you exactly what percentage of the product is natural, and what percentage is organic – all of which is rigorously tested, and audited by EcoCert. To learn more about EcoCert, click here.

There is so much that goes into working with organic ingredients in cosmetic products – quality control, testing, checking, and quarantining – to ensure that the ingredients are truly organic. This is often reflected in the price of the product, which tends to be high, but Solaroma’s My Choco Café line is actually very affordable for the high-quality that it is! Large tubs (100ml) are $39.95 each, and smaller tubs (50ml) are $29.95 each.

So where can you find scrumptious My Choco Café products? Right now they are only just arriving in the U.S. and can only be found in the Urban Oasis Spa in Bakersfield, as well as in select spas in New Jersey and New York, and will soon be available in a spa in Los Angeles! You can also order the My Choco Café line, as well as other Solaroma products, online from www.solaroma.com.

Happy Spa’ing!

By Renee Anzaruth via www.hiddenspas.com

Berlin: The Food

I could probably write a novella on the food experiences just from the quick 48 hour turnaround in the city, but to spare you all a mountain of reading, I'll keep this short and sweet.  My friend, salivating at my descriptions & accompanying photos of German food, lamented the fact that most don't consider Berlin to be the height of culinary art.  It's an interesting debate, one I could go on about for hours, but I think at the core there is a major difference between good food and art.  Where Spain, France & Japan excel in a combination of presentation, culinary advancement and complexity, other countries like Germany, Ireland and Russia capitalize on what they've always known how to do, and do it to perfection.  Meat and Potatoes.  It's a staple for a reason, they don't need to invent new creations, when what they have is already subliminally delicious.  

Starters: Instead of Lunchables, they have Antipasto Platters!  I could easily switch out processed ham & cheese for olives, feta and crackers any day!

German Chocolate is another one of their strong suits, and they've managed to combine flavors the likes of which I have yet to see pop up state-side.  Absinthe Chocolae?  Could be delicious, but the Green Fairy encased in dark rich decadence... the idea is simply divine.

I can't even review this because my lack of foresight to exchange a huge sum of Euro's at the airport got the better of me, but look at the size of those things!! I can only imagine the kind of Sea Otter joy I'd obtain by scooping out chunks of Lobster-y goodness.

Pumpkin soup.  Nuf said.

Ever since I was a child, I've been obsessed with Star Fruit.  Crunchy, a little bitter with a finish of clean sweet, and a fun shape to match, what's not to love?  Plus, paired with the lightest & fluffiest chocolate mouse, and Cappuccino parfait, this made for a perfect dessert platter.

Nic Nac's!  aka, my nickname that chased me around the elementary school playground.

There's nothing quite like a German Bratwurst, especially when it's eaten in a Christmastime Market out under the stars...

What's a trip to Berlin without Beer & Pretzels?  A failed trip, that's what.  Plus, the options for Mustard were Spicy or Sweet.  I know I'm a little caliente sometimes, but the Sweet totally won me over.  I even snuck a few packets in my purse to enjoy back home.

Potato Dumplings & Red Cabbage Slaw.  I wish I knew how to read German so I could have understood the menu fully, but to my understanding this was a heavy, rich dumpling, topped with a flaky, crunchy crust that worked really well with the sweet cabbage slaw, even if I could only eat a bite due to the high density factor. 

Blood Sausage.  This isn't for everyone, that's for sure.  But hey, you're not living if you haven't tried everything at least once in your life, right?  Plus it's said that our taste buds change every 7 years, so who knows, perhaps by the time I'm 28, I'll totally be in love with these suckers.

On the other hand, Deer Medallions wrapped in Bacon?  LOVE.  Anything wrapped in Bacon is pretty much a love, but these were tender and gamey, and packed just the right amount of punch with a sprinkling of pink peppercorns on top.

That's made out of chocolate.  I tried to lick it, but security got the better of me.

"Berliner Weisse mit Schuss: Himbeere" and "Berliner Weisse mit Schuss: Waldmeister"

And that brings us to the last of the culinary adventures... Beer with a shot of sweet joy.  Berliner Weisse is a pale, very sour, wheat beer brewed in Berlin & to cut the sour, they add a shot of syrup, either red or green which creates a flavor akin to drinking liquid jello.  A perfect way to end the whirlwind weekend trip! 

Would you like a free trip to Berlin?

A few weeks or so ago I was contacted by a research company, inquiring to see if I would like to participate in a focus group to provide my opinions to a car manufacturing company. The study was in Berlin, and participation included Airfare, 2 nights at a Hotel, All Meals, Sightseeing Tour, Market Research Experience and compensation for the weekend. It also departed the following Friday. 

So. I called. Because, why not?  What's life without a little adventure?

After leaving a few messages at various numbers, a lovely woman named Denise called me back... DENIS. No, but that would have been really cool. Anyway, Denise went through a series of qualifying questions, which I passed. I then asked why I was selected. So apparently in the fine print of purchasing a car, market research companies are allowed to obtain your data, and thusly my name appeared in their research data-bank. She could not tell me which company this study was for, for obvious confidentiality reasons, but assured me that this whole study was legit. She also told me that details would be emailed over the weekend.

Obviously I wasn't going to take her word for it, but after a few hours of research through the Better Business Bureau on the companies could produce no dirt, I got a little less skeptical, and a little more excited.

Then the weekend came & went with no emails. I got a call on Monday saying that the info would be sent out Tuesday.  My spidey senses started to tingle, and a shimmer of doubt encapsulated this almost too good to be true deal. 

But. Then on Tuesday the email came. And reassured me to about 90% that this was a bonafide excursion.  A full itinerary with reservations, contact information & detailed game plans... And you know how much I love itineraries! 

I did, just in case send out my travel details to my nearest & dearest so if by some chance I did get kidnapped and sold into slavery, they would at least have the details of my last where-a-bouts...

Friday November 12th

Depart LAX to Frankfurt @ 3:00PM.

Saturday November 13th
Arrive in Frankfurt Airport @ 10:55AM.
Transfer to Commuter Flight to Berlin @ 12:00PM
Arrive in Berlin @ 1:05PM!!

Transfer to Hotel - Holiday Inn City West

Lunch @ Hotel

Field Trip to KaDeWe Shopping Center

Dinner @ Trofeo Restaurant @ Meilenwerk Exhibition Center
"Here, surrounded by classy cars, you can enjoy international cuisine."

Sunday November 14th
Depending on my group...

3 hour clinic @ Messe Berlin GmbH

Lunch @ Bavarium Restaurant

City Sightseeing Tour through Berlin

Dinner @ Hotel

Monday November 15th
Depart Berlin @ 1:05PM
Arrive Munich Airport @ 2:15PM

Depart Munich @ 3:45PM
Arrive LAX @ 7:10PM

Home safe & sound.

They've also made it a point to note that beer & wine will be included with every meal. Lovely right?

So here goes... wish me luck!

xoxo
Niki

Weekend Docket: 11/19/10

I am 100% a failure for not realizing that this weekend was the Great Los Angeles Walk #5 on Caroline on Crack's list of Amazingness!  However, it falls on what happens to be the last day I can use my "Give a Day, Get a Day" Disneyland voucher before it expires... so Disneyland here I come, dashing the dreams of being able to complete the list by the end of 2010. 

But before that, it's Double Date Friday night with our mirror couple... where perhaps we might check out the Sanrio Small Gift LA (even though I went last night) for some silly Hello Kitty-esq photo opps.  This time I'll be ready and in costume!!  Plus, it'll give me another chance to squeeze some toys.  ;-). 

Saturday is obviously Disneyland... now I just have to figure out how to sneak into Club 33. If you don't know what that means, well I just feel sorry for you.

And Sunday... oh joyous hangover Sunday, we are finally getting a chance to check out EatPlay: Bottomless Mimosa's @ Palihouse plus a variety of lawn games.

$25 for all you can drink brunch + a selection of tasty palihouse treats?  Who could ask for more? 

Thursday, 11/18
The Serpentine Project

7:00 pm.
Fundraiser!! It's an organization founded by "Survivor" host Jeff Probst, The Serpentine Project empowers youth transitioning out of foster care to reach for their dreams by opening the door to possibilities. We accomplish this through personalized mentorship, life skills training, job shadowing and financial support. We strive to create capable and confident young adults who see themselves as their most valuable asset.  Suggested Donation $50 Bardot || 1737 N. Vine St., Hollywood www.theserpentineproject.org

Untitled(pie) Pop-Up Shop
7pm - 10pm
Julia Luke from the Hammer Museum and baker Sarah Williams present Untitled(pie), a Pop-up Pie Shop at the Machine Project, an art gallery on Alvarado in Echo Park. The temporary engagement features free tastings, DIY pie kits from Fruit & Flour bakery, and a gallery reception. Proceeds benefit the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Machine Project: 1200 North Alvarado Street http://machineproject.com/

Friday, 11/19

TRON Pop-Up Shop Opens!
10AM - 6PM
Just in time for the holiday shopping season, this six week-long retail destination for men and women of all ages will offer one-of-a-kind, limited-edition TRON merchandise at the café, retail concept shop, and art exhibition space.  Running through December 23rd, this is a one stop shop is a perfect place for your fanboy gift giving. Royal/T Cafe, 8910 Washington Boulevard, Culver City Tron Pop-Up Shop

"After Dark" Sunset Strip Pub Crawl
7:30pm - 12:30pm
Tonight, TTD continues its "After Dark" program with a nightlife tour of trendy and Classic Sunset Strip! Get special treatment at some of the area's most popular nightlife spots. No individual cover charges or long lines. Take a nap at work because it's going to be an exciting night.  Stops include Laugh Factory, Libertine, Saddle Ranch & Purple Lounge @ the Standard Hotel $15 Meet at Laugh Factory - 8001 W Sunset Blvd, - Los Angeles, CA www.thingstodoLA.com

Saturday, 11/20

5th Annual Great Los Angeles Walk from Downtown to Santa Monica
Start @ 10am 
Hundreds of Angelenos will hit the sidewalks this November for The Great Los Angeles Walk 2010 – the annual event that dispels the myth that “nobody walks in L.A.” For the fifth annual event, the Great Los Angeles Walk (www.greatlawalk.com) will return to where it all began: Wilshire Blvd. Participants will meet at downtown’s Pershing Square and proceed to walk the entire 15.6 mile length of Wilshire. The Walk is completely free. It is up to the participants to decide how much or how little of the walk they want to do. A selection of gourmet food trucks will be parked to feed hungry Walkers during the lunchtime break near LACMA.Everyone on the (actual) Great Los Angeles Walk 2010 will receive a copy of the Conservancy booklet from 2005 that describes dozens of landmarks along the boulevard. Pershing Square Downtown www.greatlawalk.com

Cupcake Camp LA
12pm - 5pm
The global “Cupcake Camp” phenomenon is finally coming to Los Angeles for a uniquely delicious charity fundraiser with a style befitting the showbiz capital of the world. Cupcake Camp L.A. will give local cupcake lovers a chance to sample creations from the region’s best commercial and amateur bakers, several of whom are planning to debut unique holiday-themed and wedding cupcakes.  If only I weren't going to Disneyland, I'd certainly be competing in this!  General admission tickets are $15 and kids five and under are $5. The Music Box Theater, 6126 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood http://cupcakecampla.bakespace.com/


"Bubbles & Big Reds" @ BottleRock
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Some of our favorite wineries will be featuring selections of "Bubbles & Big Reds" for your tasting enjoyment. We will be featuring more than 50 sparkling and red wines! Enjoy light appetizers and a $10 retail purchase credit along with the tasting. This is the perfect opportunity to receive great retail pricing on wines to serve at all of your holiday gatherings as well as start your gift shopping early! $25 per person (includes tasting, light appetizers, and $10 retail purchase credit) BottleRock - Downtown LA - 1050 S. Flower Street - Los Angeles, CA http://www.bottlerock.net/

LA Derby Dolls 2nd Annual Chili Cook Off
3pm - 6pm
There's a chill in the air and stomachs are growling all over town, so that can mean only one thing... It's time for the 2nd Annual LA Derby Dolls Chili Cook Off!!!  Some of the finest cooks in town will be competing to see who has THE BEST CHILI. The will be judges, there will be prizes and the Pope of Chili Town may make an appearance.  This cookoff is open to everyone, so spread the word. All proceeds go to benefit the LA Derby Dolls travel team, so your gluttony is for a good cause. It's $10 to eat all the chili you can (or until we run out) and if you think your chili is up to snuff, it's $20 to compete (entry fees will be put into a cash pot for the winners). If you want to eat, just show up to La Cita. If you want to compete, email bongjovi420 [at] gmail.com  $10-$20. La Cita, 336 S. Hill Street, Downtown LA Derby Dolls Chili Cook Off

Inaugural Harvest Beer Fest at the Echoplex in Silverlake
12pm - 7pm
Harvest Beer Fest is a craft beer, local food, and music festival promoting the responsible appreciation of craft beer and celebrating Los Angeles’ booming craft beer and foodie scene. The festival will feature a large list of carefully selected beers to taste, a small army of food trucks, as well as local musicians.  Proceeds of the Harvest Beer Festival will benefit the California State Parks and 826LA, a non-profit writing and tutoring center in Los Angeles. $30. Echoplex and the Echo, 1154 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles Harvest Beer Fest

Sanrio's "Kitty in Pink" Retro '80s Prom Party!
8:30PM - 11:30PM
Sanrio invites you to "Kitty in Pink" - a retro '80s prom party that will rock you like a hurricane! Get into the groove with rad '80s cover band the Reagonomics! There will also be a DJ and performances by the Yuki Shundo Dance Crew. Perm you hair, get out your shoulder pads and suit up in your best '80s prom gear. Costumes for the best dressed! Enjoy all the totally awesome Small Gift LA elements including the art show curated by JapanLA, product retrospective, pop-up shop, miniature golf, game booths, activities, retro arcade and a Ferris wheel that will be open for your enjoyment! $15 / ticket Barker Hangar 3021 Airport Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90405 http://www.sanrio.com/smallgift/la

...aand I'm back. With a homemade dinner from my boyfriend!

I don't have the energy to explain the whole Berlin situation quite yet.  But let's just say it was incredible, once in a lifetime, blah blah etc.  I'll get to those posts soon enough.  I'm still trying to mentally wrap my mind around the experience.  Plus, I need to taste test all the chocolate I brought back so I can write about it intelligently.  You know how it is.

What I do want to talk about is the delicious pizza my boyfriend made to celebrate me making it back safely with both my kidneys intact, and not being sold into a prostitution ring. 

Sauce-less White w/ Asparagus, Prosciutto & Arugula Pizza
Granted it came out more like a flat bread for lack of an ability to turn it into a circle form. 

• Pizza Dough
• 1 cup Ricotta
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 cup grated Mozzarella
• Steamed Asparagus
• Prosciutto
• Fresh Arugula

Once important lesson for next time... an important factor in dealing with Pizza Dough is to let it rest for a few hours before trying to stretch it out. Yep.  That would have been handy to know.

But otherwise, basically stretch out the pizza dough onto an oiled surface or wooden plate, top with ricotta first, sprinkle on the Parmesan, add on the Asparagus & top with the Mozzarella.  We added a few sprinkles of Salt & Pepper, Italian seasoning & rosemary.  Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

Take it out of the oven and top with the Prosciutto & fresh Arugula.  Serve warm. Preferably with a nice glass of Gewürztraminer!

I think perhaps (and this could have been a side effect from the poorly prepped dough) it was a little on the heavy side, so a light salad of sorts might work well to compliment the dish.  Perhaps a grilled melon & toasted pine nut side?  Mmm... that sounds good!

Thanks Smush for a lovely dinner :-).

Weekend Docket: 11/12/10

Most of you know by know that I'm shipping out to Berlin tomorrow for a weekend of... well, not really sure.  But, assuming I don't have my kidney's stolen or get sold into slavery I will share all my stories upon my return.  But until then, here's a little splash of weekend fun for all you people still stuck in the good ole USofA.

Friday, 11/12 & Saturday, 11/13

L.A. Tamale Throwdown

3pm, friday & saturday
Whether ensconced in a banana leaf or corn husk; full of pork or sweet corn; the tamale is probably the second-most-canonical foodstuff in L.A. (behind our beloved street-cart taco, naturally). At the L.A. Tamale Throwdown, vendors representing regions across Mexico will ply their wares and win you over with recipes gleaned from generations of abuelitas who surely knew best. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Rose Hills, 4255 Browne Ave. L.A. 3 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Free. http://latamalethrowdown.eventbrite.com/

Friday, 11/12

Swim with the Sharks "Dive In" @ LA Athletic Club
8PM - 10PM
Not everyone who wants to swim with sharks has to work for National Geographic. The most leisurely of the “Move To A Movie” events, Swim With The Sharks offers patrons the chance to leisurely float around on inflatable sharks in the Olympic sized indoor swimming pool, while watching one of the most horrifying oceanic terror films, JAWS. Guests can also lounge poolside and will be offered an array of ‘bloody’ cocktails and ‘small bites’ to chew on during the film. Cocktails include: Chum, a red sangria featuring fresh fruits, Rob Roy, named after lead actor Roy Scheider, and of course, a specialty Bloody Mary. $15/person (includes 1 cocktail voucher) Reservations: (213) 630-5255 431 West 7th Street Los Angeles, CA 90014
LA Athletic Club

Guelaguetza Tequila Tasting
7pm ~ 9pm
It's THAT time again... Guelaguetza Restaurant is throwing their monthly event, this time with FREE TEQUILA. That's right, Guelaguetza is teaming up with Meloza Tequila to bring you an unforgettable night to enjoy with your friends and loved ones. Once a month The Guelaguetza likes to present an opportunity to try more of their menu in a unique setting. Some of their most famous Oaxacan Mexican dishes will be highlighted to excite your palate. This time around the food will be paired with specialty drinks and shots, made by Meloza Tequila. Tickets are $45/person, which will include All-You-Can-Drink Meloza Tequila shots and mixed drinks, along with a NEW 5 course Tasting Menu from Guelaguetza Restaurant. Please call 213.427.0608 or 213-909-3237 for Reservations. Guelaguetza, 3014 W Olympic Boulevard, Koreatown http://www.guelaguetzarestaurante.com/

Saturday, 11/13

Sanrio’s I Heart Nerds Party
8:30pm ~ 11:30pm
Sanrio and Loungefly invite you to get your nerd on at the super fun "I Heart Nerds" party!  It is perfunctory that you will enjoy musical performances by 8Bit Weapon and ComputeHer, Yuki Shundo Dance Crew and costumes for the best dressed nerds.  Your nerds party ticket also scores you a free limited edition Hello Kitty nerds-themed crown and glasses! All the Small Gift LA elements including the art show curated by JapanLA, product retrospective, pop-up shop, miniature golf, game booths, activities, retro arcade and a Ferris wheel will be open for your enjoyment as well! Hungry nerds can chow down at the snack booths and food trucks! $15. Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica http://www.sanrio.com/smallgift

Derby Dolls LA: Fight Crew vs Varsity Brawlers
6pm
The L.A. Derby Dolls are the premier all-female, banked-track, quad-skating, rock 'n' roller derby league in Southern California. While their uniforms may be stylish and their names playful, the L.A. Derby Dolls are real athletes who skate a sport that is pure, unscripted and real. 1910 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA derbydolls.com/la

Sunday, 11/14

Derby Dolls LA: Baby Doll Brawl
6pm
It's double trouble with Back to Back Derby Dolls fun!  In case you missed them the night before, this is your second chance to see the rock 'n' roller girls brawl it out at their arena.  1910 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA derbydolls.com/la

BottleRock Culver City "Potluck Party" Benefit
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Recently Chef Andy lost his wife Christine to cancer. Please join us for a celebration of life and fundraiser in her honor!  We'll be dining on delicious food such as lasagna, pulled pork sliders, tuna tartare, artisan cheeses and of course dessert.  For those that don't want to miss football - don't worry we'll have it on. We hope you'll join us to support an important member of our BottleRock family and enjoy a relaxed afternoon with us.  Unlimited Wine, Beer & Food.  We will also be holding a raffle for fantastic prizes including an in-home dining experience from a "Top Chef" and gift certificates to premier local restaurants! $20 donation BottleRock - 3847 Main St - Cuiver City, CA Bottle Rock Info

Tuesday, 11/16

Hammer Conversations: Jonathan Gold & Bret Easton Ellis
7 p.m.
The writings of Jonathan Gold and Bret Easton Ellis may be drastically different in terms of topic, but both work to define our city in print. Their conversation at the Hammer Museum (free tickets will be available at the box office an hour before the event) will surely be a master class on L.A. culture. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; 310-443-7000 hammer.ucla.edu

Shaky Alibi

When recounting the machinations that transpired the evening before, especially if it's with a meLANcholy tone, it's imperative that you develop the perfect Shaky Alibi, in case you're ever called to the stand.  

Yay for inside jokes!  

That said, the Shaky Alibi, is more than just a good talk over a cup of coffee kind of locale.  It is home to the Liege Belgium waffle.  Which has already become, in just one visit, my new favorite waffle preparation.  I would describe the process, but their website does it much better...

"A cook of the Prince-Bishop of Liege Belgium invented the Liege waffle in the eighteenth century. The traditional recipe is a closely guarded secret and is smaller, sweeter and denser than the Brussels waffle. The waffle is made from a yeast dough rather than a batter and is coated chunks of Belgian pearl sugar that melt and caramelize creating a slightly crispy shell.

At Shaky Alibi, our authentic Liege waffles are simply delicious. Inspired by Agnes, my German born great grandmother who came from a family of bakers, each Liege waffle is served hot from the waffle iron and handcrafted to your desire. Whether choosing a traditional powdered sugar, fresh fruit, savory or one of our imported Belgian spreads, you’re sure to experience a taste sensation."

I went with the savory, black forest ham & gouda.  To die for.  My partner in crime went with the sweet, strawberries and a drizzle of chocolate.

While I do love the savory/sweet combo, I think next time I might need to mix it up with a little Speculoos, this amazing Belgian spread that's reminiscent of crumbled graham crackers in a yummy whipped paste.  Wonder how to mix that into a savory dish!

It's absolutely a coffee house, with only a counter versus a kitchen.  So don't expect the full breakfast spread if you're coming here... they're limited to waffles, made by the cup coffee & espresso, and what I've been told is spectacular ice cream, worthy of another trip. 


Shaky Alibi
7401 Beverly Blvd (at Martel)
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-938-5282
http://shakyalibi.com/