Kogi Truck

So I tried the famous, trend-setting Kogi Truck! I arrived in Eagle Rock on a Tuesday evening one hour before its scheduled arrival. I was proud to be the fifth person in line. When the truck arrived, it took them over 15 minutes to set-up. The line was growing by the minute... When I get to the window, this is what I ordered: 1 BlackJack Quesadilla with BBQ Pork, 2 BBQ Spare Rib tacos, 1 BBQ Pork taco, 1 Chix taco, and an order of sliders! I was disappointed with the orange sauce on top of the tacos... a little too bland for me! However, the green sesame seed sauce on the quesadilla was really good... I could taste the hint of tomatillo in it! :) The meats were a bit too fatty which discouraged me from eating more. Again, maybe a good thing if I wanted to diet and not wait for weeks to plan my evening around the Kogi Truck. All in all, major disappointment! It reminded me of McDonalds; many eat there, but that doesn't mean it's good.

www.kogibbq.com

Tacos With a Flare

Why not? Lunch trucks are the new mobile cuisine! Komodo Food is the best by far. The tacos are rich with flavor and each with their own kick at the end. Beware of the Blazin' Shrimp tacos... those are extra spicy and the subtle slaw on top doesn't do anything to capture the heat!!! Did anyone say,'pork meatballs?" Ooooooooh yeah!!! Try them! They are nice and tender and the sauce is more than you hoped for. Your palate will thank you later!! Definitely try their version of the Arnold Palmer...its amazingly good! At first I thought it was the company, but no! The food had its own pedestal! Lunch trucks are changing the way we do dinner!

Canele

I revisited this quiant restaurant in Atwater Village... this little area bridges LA to Glendale or vice-versa. Not remembering how horrible the wait is, we decided to take our chances. It is highly recommended you call ahead or if you don't mind the wait, which on the weekend is roughly 45 minutes, there are trendy shops along the street and Kaldi coffee house just the next block over. Due to the long wait, we were given complimentary drinks! :) The menu: an array of mouth watering items mixed with just the right amount of comfort to sweeten the rest of the evening. Not having been there in a long, very long while, I ordered the dishes that made me go back--avocado citrus salad with grapefruit and lime as a starter and boeuf bourguignon with buttered noodles for my entree. My counterpart ordered bistro steak with sauce bordelaise, pommes anna and creamed spinach. Salad was excellent! I love the combination of fruit and veggies! I am sad to report the boeuf bourguignon was a disappointment. The dish should not have been as soupy as it was; it should have been reduced more. The beef broth in the dish was tasteless and although the boeuf was tasty, the overall presentation and flavor of the dish wasn't edible. On the other hand, the bistro steak was good. Let me say this again, the bistro steak was good! It was cooked medium rare and the sauce bordelaise with pommes anna was delicious. The texture of the meat was right on. The creamed spinach was a bit bland. Service was excellent and as expected in this very busy restaurant. I chose to end the dinner with their flourless chocolate cake and scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was every chocolate lovers high! This restaurant is perfect for a cozy dinner for two.


www.canele-la.com

3219 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
323.666.7133

Lamppost Pizza

This is one of the best pizzas I've had! My usual order consists of a Medium or Large Pizza, half pepperoni and onions (they don't have red onions though) and half pepperoni with pineapple or jalapenos and a side order of mozzarella sticks. The mozzarella sticks are not greasy and the batter they use is tasty. It may seem plain and simple and some of you might be wondering, "Every pizza place has that," but the flavor is totally different. Lets just say, when visiting this part of town, the selection isn't as bright as LA, but, when you find something good, you have to try it over and over! FYI: If ordering for delivery, you need to mention you need plates, napkins, pepper flakes and parmesan cheese or else they just won't bring it.


http://www.lamppost-backstreet.com/

Michelangelo Ristorante

Located next to Atwater Village, nestled in the Silver Lake area, is an italian restaurant too good to simply drive by. The layout is quaint and quite the charmer. Its indoor lighting is always perfectly dim adding the extra touch of romanticism in the air. If you prefer to dine al fresco, well, Michelangelo has that too. Although the patio dining furniture is not as tasteful as their food, the veranda like space is still cozy. About the food, let me see... it's great. The Rigatoni Bolognese is so good! The Penne All'Arriabata is a spicy, yet, palate entertaining and vegetarian alternative to the Bolognese. If you're wondering about the pasta, don't worry it is always al dente. Did anyone say dessert? Yep, try their Chocolate Tart or Semifreddo-chocolate, walnuts and a touch of brandy. Yummy! This restaurant always leaves you wanting to come back for more.

Address:
2742 Rowena Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90039

http://www.michelangelopizzeriaristorante.com