Category Archives: Food Finds

Top Picks For An Epic Foodie Weekend

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Copyright 2014 Tanaya Ghosh

Summer is still in full swing, with tastings and fun activities to suit everyone’s palates, from the fancy foodie to the laid-back luncher. This weekend alone happens to be gastronomically pleasing beyond belief!

Here are my picks for where to go and what to taste this weekend, from L.A. to the O.C.:

L.A. Food & Wine – The premiere foodie event– or actually, a series of events over four days… starting tonight! Renowned chefs from all over L.A. and the nation will convene to give us mouthwatering bites exploding with innovation and flavor through unique events such as Iron Chef Morimoto’s Asian Night Market, and Graham Elliot & Fabio Viviani’s Ultimate Bites of L.A. soiree. (Side note: I’m a big fan of Fabio Viviani since his Top Chef days, and he’s such a sweetheart each time I’ve met him, too. He even gave a shoutout to Tanaya’s Table last year! Who else is a Fabio Viviani fan??)

This is a can’t-miss shindig in the heart of downtown, if you’re willing to invest (quite) a bit more to get pampered at a luxe food event. I will say from the past few years covering L.A. Food & Wine that the experience you get is unparalleled, and you will have a memorable time!

Thes past posts here may help to show you the evolution of the event since 2011 (I was working & living in Hong Kong the summer 0f 2012 — the only way you can keep me away from this event is to send me to another country!):

L.A. Weekly Pancake Breakfast – I’m quite excited for this one, since brunch is my all-time favorite meal. Curated by KCRW’s Evan Kleiman, top restaurants around Los Angeles will serve their unique renditions of a classic brunch. Plus, there will be mimosas and more. Yum!

K-Town Night Market OC Block Party – Held at Angel Stadium in Orange County. Music and masses of people, plus traditional and Asian-inspired food will be served. With SIX (yes, six!) consecutive food events to cover over the course of these next four days, I’m still bummed I’ll be missing this one!

If you’re missing them but wish you weren’t, I will be covering a good portion of these, and will take you with me through the videos, photos and stories to come! It’ll be like you were right there with me, minus the calories ;).

BONUS: L.A. Times’ The Taste is the very next weekend, so pace yourselves, people! It’s yet another series of food events you don’t want to miss, right in L.A. From “Field to Fork” to “Sunday Brunch,” there are a ton of good eats that await! Get your tickets while you can, and prime your tastebuds for some serious fun ahead.

 

Celebrating National Hot Dog Month At DogHaus

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Were you, by any chance, aware that July is National Hot Dog Month? After doing a little fact-checking, I found that the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council even confirms this! It only makes sense, since summer is grilling season, right?

To celebrate, I had the opportunity to try DogHaus for the first time. I’d been meaning to try it for quite some time after hearing all the hype, so talk about perfect timing! DogHaus has even brought on chef and TV personality Adam Gertler as their Würstmacher, and I’d actually interviewed him back in 2012 (interview right here). This would be the first time I’d get to taste these creations… so naturally, all signs pointed to yes, let’s try this place already!

Copyright Tanaya Ghosh 2014

DogHaus has multiple locations around Southern California, and just recently opened its first franchised location in Canoga Park. I visited DogHaus Biergarten, located in Old Town Pasadena, and found it to have a unique vibe and a great selection of craft brews and knowledgeable staff to go along with its innovative dogs.

Biergarten Manager Tony Pereyra is a jack of all trades, even lending his bartending and event coordination skills to the Biergarten location’s success. He and most of the staff have worked at the space even before DogHaus came into existence, about 3 years ago. Tony sat down to chat with us, and explained that the uniqueness of the spot lends itself to the location.

Since it’s a bit off the beaten path (you have to enter through a side alley– pretty cool!), and not in your typical nightlife-filled area, I had to ask why they stayed open until midnight or 2 a.m., depending on the night. Turns out, late weeknights become impromptu industry nights, as staff from surrounding restaurants have made DogHaus Biergarten their go-to late night spot to mingle after-hours.

Now that’s a cool story and all, you might say, but how is the actual food? Here’s the lowdown on these uber-cool hot dawgs:

Copyright Tanaya Ghosh 2014

The “One Night in Bangkok” Dog

The “One Night in Bangkok” is one for the adventurous flavor-seekers, and for those who like a bit of heat on their dogs. If you’re bored with the traditional hot dog, this baby is for you. The juicy Thai red currywurst packs a nice amount of heat. The cucumber kimchi relish adds acidity to cut through the heartiness of the meat, the richness of the creamy cilantro aioli, and the saltiness of the crunchy peanuts sprinkled atop the dog. There are definitely some amazing Asian flavors packed between those sweet Hawaiian buns!

As an added bonus, the staff can readily suggest drink pairings, as the food and beverage menus influence one another to stay on top of the latest food trends. Tony recommended an IPA with this spicy wurst, as the bitter earthiness and subtle spicy tones would complement the flavors in the food. “The hops in the beer cool down the palate,” he explained with excitement. “At the end of the day, it’s all about product knowledge.”

Copyright Tanaya Ghosh 2014

The “Sooo Cali” Dog

The “Sooo Cali” Dog has some classic SoCal flavors lying between those two signature Hawaiian bread buns. On this all-beef skinless dog, you’ll find fresh tomato and buttery avocado slices, along with an aromatic basil aioli and some fried onions for a nice crunch. This hot dog, being one of the originals since the first DogHaus location, has won awards from the likes of L.A. Weekly a couple years ago.

Just a few months ago, chef Michael Brown joined the DogHaus team. Just to give you an idea of his culinary chops: he’s been involved with Red O’s opening, and has also served as executive chef at Google and the Nike World Headquarters before heading to the DogHaus to become culinary director. I can’t wait to see what’s next on their ever-evolving menu the next time I’m in Pasadena!

Copyright Tanaya Ghosh 2014

So much good stuff!

At this particular lunchtime feast, there were tater tots, French fries and coleslaw galore. So many sides, plus Tony insisted we try a couple happy hour items as well. So good! Let’s just say that if you came here a few times a week, every week, you still wouldn’t get bored anytime soon.

DogHaus Biergarten has late night happy hour from 10 p.m. to close, and Sundays truly are Sunday Fundays with an all-day, all-night happy hour. Happy hour favorites include the $1 burger sliders with white American cheese, caramelized onions and a dab of mayo (pictured above… and absolutely delicious).

The mini all-beef corndogs with a root beer and cornmeal batter are also a favorite come happy hour, along with great craft beers and more. You can check it all out here, or just stop by when you’re in the area. I definitely plan on going back soon, especially when I don’t feel like grilling in the heat!

Speaking of grilling season, some of my favorite toppings for DIY summer grilling include pickled red onions, sliced avocado with lime, Sriracha aioli, fruity Not Ketchup (so many great flavors!), or some good ol’ whole grain mustard with a zing. I’m always on the lookout for some interesting topping ideas, so if you have any go-to’s, feel free to holler. More summer finds to come!

Copyright 2014 Tanaya Ghosh

Around L.A: Bites From The DTLA Night Market

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The 626 Night Market, known for hosting events in the San Gabriel Valley akin to the original night markets found in Asia, has now come to Los Angeles. The first-ever DTLA Night Market was held at the lot across from Staples Center in the heart of downtown, with plenty of food and retail vendors, art and live entertainment.

Having covered past 626 Night Markets, the downtown L.A. event seemed to have a slightly different vibe, with more of a modern, eclectic selection of vendors as well as crowd, which also seemed to skew younger, at least during the time we were there on Friday.

The event was held June 20-21st, running from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. both nights. Quick protip: If you’re going to taste a variety of good food, it’s best to get there earlier in the day, to beat the rush. You’ll get dibs on the best items before they may run out, and also avoid long lines. If you’re going for the ambiance and more of the true “night market” feel, go in the evening when it’s bustling with more people, lights and live music.

With an artwalk, hookah lounge, beer garden, 97.1 AMP Radio DJ’ing onsite and more, the event had a lively vibe, with a diverse group of vendors offering a variety of different bites for purchase. Here are some of the top bites we tried:

Copyright 2014 Tanaya Ghosh

This red velvet mochi egg waffle comes from Puffect, a bakery that specializes in creating these unique crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside waffles that can commonly be found on the streets of Hong Kong. Some of my fondest street food memories in Hong Kong (I lived there one summer, and plan to share those adventures as well… so much good food!) involve these delicious treats. Puffect offers lots of creative takes on the classic egg waffle by creating flavored batters such as Thai tea and green tea, in addition to the red velvet variation. A host of add-ons can texturally enhance your egg waffle experience, as our mochi-studded dessert provided chewy pockets of gooey, starchy goodness.

Copyright 2014 Tanaya Ghosh

This special version of the original Ramen Burger is a collaboration with La Sriracha Macha, a Mexican-inspired version of the now-ubiquitous Sriracha sauce. The patty was good and all, but the ramen bun was unique and tasty, with an even texture throughout that held up well when repeatedly bitten into (unlike some other imposter ramen buns). The sauce added great flavor that made the entire thing juicier, with a little heat.

Copyright 2014 Tanaya Ghosh

Kalbi taco buns from Crasians had a “secret ingredient” which gives the traditionally soft bao a crunchy exterior when frying. I think it’s some sort of larger bread crumb flake, because it looked liked flaked coconut but didn’t taste like it. Delicious nonetheless.

Copyright 2014 Tanaya Ghosh

This anything-but-ordinary fried chicken sandwich was created by Formosa Cafe’s Brian Huskey (who is also a former “Top Chef” contestant). The crispy exterior and juicy interior of the chicken was accompanied by the refreshing coolness of the coleslaw, a sweet richness from the Okinawan purple potato, and a little kick of heat from the accompanying jalapeño yuzu sauce. All of these components joined forces to create one of the most well-balanced bites of the entire event.

Copyright 2014 Tanaya Ghosh

The newest item from Mama Musubi is the Currywurst rice ball. With a quality tidbit of Berkshire pork sausage and a dab of Japanese curry aioli, the flavors added a nice depth to the seasoned rice + seaweed base. I’ve had other rice ball variations from Mama Musubi, all of which have been varying degrees of tasty. Still, I’ve always felt that it’s a lot of rice for what you’re paying, and more importantly, for all the stomach real estate (as I like to call it) that it takes up during a food event. The rice is quite filling, and there’s a lot of it in proportion to the actual toppings. Still a pretty solid bite overall.

Copyright 2014 Tanaya Ghosh

Now, on to the uni cream and truffle oil tater tots from Lotza Tots. Rich, creamy, just the right amount of uni– which, by the way, is sourced straight from the Maruhide Uni Club… so you know their sea urchin is legit. These tots were quite rich as you’d expect, but Lotza Tots was kind enough to entice us with a special half-order. Flavor-wise, these tots were uni-tater perfection. True indulgence at its finest: a little deep-fried fair fare, topped with creamy class.

Copyright 2014 Tanaya Ghosh

Other interesting eats and drinks included spiked Amaretto boba by Boba 7, Hello Kitty and other character-inspired cupcakes by Mwokaji Cakery, liquid nitrogen frozen popcorn by NitroPop, and fried ice cream from Frio Frito. There was also watermelon-basil lemonade, ice cream sundaes in the form of potted plants, and much more to try! The first DTLA Night Market was certainly a hit. If you want to check it out for yourself, the next 626 Night Market series will be held in Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on the following Fridays and Saturdays, from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m:

  • July 18 & 19
  • August 15 & 16
  • September 12 & 13

For those who have only been to the 626 Night Market, the OC Night Market, or this past event in downtown, it’s safe to say you’ll experience a few new things at each location. For updates on the next event, check out the 626 Night Market website.

Copyright Tanaya Ghosh 2014

An In-Depth Look at ChocoChicken

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Chocolate plus chicken? At the time of ChocoChicken’s recent soft opening in Downtown L.A., I didn’t really know what that would equal. What thoughts does one conjure up in their mind when they hear of chocolate and chicken, and not in the mole sense? Wonder no longer, because if you haven’t gotten a chance to try it for yourself, here’s what the ChocoChicken experience is like:

Walking in, you’re greeted and get seated at a table (or at the bar) in the expansive space right in the heart of downtown. The fork and knife sit criss-crossed on a napkin, and the menu, which is minimal and focused is presented to you. Here it is, in all its glory– food on left, drinks on right– since they haven’t posted the menu on their website yet (and possibly may modify it before the grand opening):

Copyright Tanaya Ghosh 2014

ChcoChicken Menu 2

From there, I chose to order the chocolate breast piece combo, and chose the caramelized bacon biscuit and duck fat fries as my sides (of the two days I had visited, they didn’t have the white chocolate mashed potatoes nor the stuffed peppers available, morning nor evening… bummer).

ChcoChicken Combo

As you can see below, there is a dusting of the ChocoChicken cocoa spice on the duck fat fries, which were quite rich and on the softer side (vs. crunchy). Although the chicken itself was a bit small for the price (the combo is $13), the sides are quite heavy and make it a hearty meal, at least for me. The chocolate ketchup that comes with the fries is also tasty, and tangier than you may expect. It really does taste like a thick ketchup with unsweetened chocolate melted into it! Other sauces include a habanero-honey sauce, a miso-ranch sauce, and a more traditional gravy.

ChcoChicken Fries

The bacon biscuit had buttery layers, and these are especially known to have copious amounts of Paula Deen’s favorite ingredient to create the golden, uniquely moist interior. The bacon was not super noticeable, and if anything it was on the subtler side. I’d have loved to see a little more bacon in there, but it was still delicious, with a very slight sweetness. The honey butter it came with aso complemented the biscuit nicely.

Copyright Tanaya Ghosh 2014

On to the main event… the chocolate chicken! Although the name suggests that it would be quite sweet and chocolaty, the only hint of chocolate I got was from the deep cocoa flavor, and a very subtle sweetness. There are quite a few spices– 20, to be exact– in the crunchy coating, which add a nice depth of flavor to the chicken. The chicken itself is also super moist, as the Jidori chicken is brined for 36 hours. So, although I don’t think you’d immediately think of chocolate if you were to blindly taste it, it’s a craveable, unique and overall solid piece of chicken.

Copyright Tanaya Ghosh 2014

Although it makes sense once you taste ChocoChicken, to open such a seemingly outrageous concept with so much initial buzz takes guts… and Umami Burger founder Adam Fleischman’s credibility definitely helps. Fleischman’s partner, Keith Previte, gave me a little sneak peek into what’s in store for ChocoChicken. They plan to stick to their signature protein, but will be expanding the ways that the flavors of chocolate and chicken play off one another. Additionally, Previte revealed that “during football season, ChocoChicken will open at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and we also plan to add seasonal drinks and food items to the menu.”

With TVs inside and an L.A. Kings flag waving just as the city’s NHL team was about to win the NHL Stanley Cup, it’s clear that they’re excited to reach a sports-loving audience with their casual concept.

ChcoChicken Kings

With an innovative and solidly executed new concept, ChocoChicken represents what Tanaya’s Table stands for, in a sense. Taking seemingly eccentric flavor combinations and opening people’s minds to the harmonious possibilities that take the taste buds to another level. Taking something classic, like hearty comfort food, and elevating it to create something complex and unique is actually an art and a science. Which is a big part of why I personally love food, classic techniques and reinvention so much. Perhaps this is another step towards opening people’s minds to the positively unthinkable, in food and in life!

Hidden Gem: Eat Food Drink Coffee

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Although it may be a smallish suburban city, there are many things that Cerritos, CA is known for. For one, it’s got that really cool titanium-plated library with a shark tank, which was named one of the world’s 50 most beautiful libraries.

Of course, there’s always the Cerritos Auto Square that pretty much everyone in SoCal knows about as well. The Los Cerritos Mall, Cerritos Towne Center, and the Cerritos Performing Arts Center are also popular local destinations. Yet none of these involve one of the best secrets in Cerritos.

Okay, I lied. The hidden gem I’m talking about is Eat Food Drink Coffee, and it is located right next to the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. However, most locals who live right down the street are oblivious to this wonderful little cafe that feels like home away from home.

Eat Food Drink Coffee Ube Pancake 2

When I first discovered Eat Food Drink Coffee, I actually almost missed it. It is adjacent to an office building, contained to a smallish corner of the large, corporate-looking edifice. However, once you meander inside, it’s a whole new world of warmth and good vibes.

The service is stellar, and even though I don’t prefer disclosing right off the bat (if at all) that I write about food, they must have detected that we were food lovers, because they seemed to especially enjoy having us there… in a genuine way. Juan, our chef, delighted in the fact that we trusted him to choose the options that came with our meal, and personally brought the food out to us.

Eat Food Drink Coffee Ube Pancake 1

We had the ube (purple yam) pancakes, which are technically not on the menu, but I had heard about them and they were accommodating in making them for us. The uniquely purple pancakes had the subtly sweet, starchy and slightly vanilla-like flavor, so they were definitely made with plenty of the real stuff. Your first time trying them (be sure to ask for them!), don’t expect a fluffy interior so much as a cake-like texture, which actually goes quite well with the ube flavor. Delicious, and a must-try for ube lovers and curious foodies.

We also got a breakfast bagel sandwich filled with a fried egg and crispy bacon, which was the special of the day and came with a hot beverage. Seeing how our group was sharing different items, Chef Juan cut the sandwich into four pieces before bringing it out to us. Talk about personalized service!

Eat Food Drink Coffee Sandwich

Lastly, the turkey and crispy onion sandwich on ciabatta bread was the perfect lunch dish to end our meal. The soft ciabatta bread held together moist turkey slices, crisp lettuce, a zingy mustard and crispy crushed onion rings. The Hawaiian hazelnut boba (yes, they have boba too!) is another flavorful complement to your midday meal. They also have a few interesting crepes, such as the red velvet or the PB&J, which I personally have yet to try.

As Juan chatted with us, it was clear that he loves his job and enjoys making people happy with his food. It was also clear that this place needs to be put on the map, because most current customers are office folks who need to get in, get out and get on with their work… and thus can’t truly appreciate the cafe for all that it is. Additionally, after the new management took over the cafe in August, even the office folks have been skeptical to give them a try, due to past experiences with an old place in the same location. However, this new gem, tucked away in an unassuming business plaza, is truly worth seeking out.

Eat Food Drink Coffee Location

Eat Food Drink Coffee is located at 17785 Center Court Drive, Suite 185 Cerritos, CA 90703, and they even deliver. They are open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on select Saturdays during the same hours as the nearby Cerritos Farmer’s Market. My recommendation would be to call them at 562.402.4400 before coming if you’re hoping to catch them on a Saturday.

Trust me, you’ll be glad you tried it. Cerritos pride!