Gjusta

I drove past Gjusta twice without seeing it. There is no sign outside and you enter through the side lot.

It is worth finding.

Touting itself as a bakery, which is important as the most important element of a sandwich is the bread, but they do so much more.

They have cheese. And charcuterie. I love cheese and charcuterie.

I extra love fresh mixed ginger lemonade and they have it there.

But above all, what I love most, is a great environment and better company with which to share my meals. At Gjusta, you have to bring you own company, but they provide the rest.

LA’s Favorite Ice Cream Sandwich: Diddy Riese

I do not have survey data or comparative sales reports, and yet I have no hesitation in declaring Diddy Reise as LA’s favorite ice cream sandwich. It just is.

Located right next door to UCLA’s campus this little shop serves up your choice of ice cream flavors to be scooped up and squished between whichever freshly baked cookies you prefer.

For $2 per sandwich. These are confectioner’s quality at McDonald’s prices.

Just know that they only take cash and there will be a line.

There is always, I repeat, always, a line.

If you just want cookies, $4.50 gets you a dozen. Hawaiian shave ice with a scoop of ice cream inside? $2.

You cannot lose.

Alibi Room: because your first time in a bar should be with your Mormon aunt and uncle.

It makes sense that if you are 21 and have never been inside a bar before, your first time would be with your Mormon aunt and uncle.

My niece is not a party girl, or a Mormon. She is a pastry chef. A foodie of sorts. So when she came to visit us we took her out for good food. At a bar. I knew what I was doing.

This particular bar’s kitchen is the only stationary location (of which I am aware) to find the fare of the famed Kogi BBQ food truck. Same food, but with seating.I have extolled their kimchi quesadilla before but today i must praise the chilaquiles.

Mole, scrambled eggs, and chicken.  Heaven on a fried tortilla.

I must say that ordering the Korean BBQ tacos, quesadilla and the  chilaquiles at the same time and trying to eat it yourself is way too much, it is oh so tasty and still surprisingly affordable. If you don’t count the costs of overeating.

Donut Friend: your new BFF

The first thing you should know about Donut Friend, is when they are open. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday; 7am-10pm. Friday and Saturday they are open 7am to midnight. You need to know this because no matter where you live, you need to go to Donut Friend and it would be a shame to get there and find the doors locked.

Not that I know anyone who has ever done that, I’m just sayin’.

Once you are there, and they are open, you order just about anything you could ever want. They may even have things you didn’t know you wanted, but once you see it, now you want it.

For instance, we all know that we want a traditional donut filled with lime cream, topped with vanilla glaze and graham cracker crumbs. What I didn’t know I wanted was cream cheese, strawberry jam, and fresh basil inside a traditional donut, topped with vanilla glaze and balsamic reduction.

I’m a sucker for balsamic reduction.

Should you want to create your own concoction, you can. Not only can you, but the staff, at lest the ones who were there when I went, every time I have “went”, has been the sort of helpful folks who appear to like what they are doing when they are serving you sugary cakes topped with maple glaze and bacon.

Who wouldn’t be happy serving that?

 

 

I know, I know, vegetarians wouldn’t be happy serving that. But not to fear, if one is not only vegetarian but vegan, they got options for you too.

I do say “you” because I am not one. But some of my best friends are. Like Donut Friend. Donut Friend is one of my best vegan friends.

These plants are not donuts, they are decor. They have decor because they are located in Highland Park, which is newly cool, and to fit in you must have decor.

 

 

 

But you come for the donuts.

 

 

Edible Joy from a Food Truck.

I heard about Kogi from Anthony Bourdain. I met Anthony on Netflix and my first impression was that he tries a little bit too hard to be cool. I am of course a world authority on cool and Anthony’s overt efforts made me skeptical of his food recommendations. I normally prefer my food recommendations from people who have met me, which you cannot do via Netflix, but there was something about this particular recommendation that gave me pause.

Kimchi quesadilla.

From a food truck.

Okay. Rewind that a bit and I will happily listen to your cynical voice over laced with expletives just to find out where I get kimchi quesadillas from a food truck.

Kogi. You get them at Kogi. You get them, you smell them, you eat them, and your mouth explodes. It is a happy explosion. If you were to be rude and chew with your mouth open, the sound of singing angels would escape. Those angels would sing in both Korean and Spanish, neither of which I understand, but taste buds are apparently polyglots.

Mr. Bourdain. You were right. I apologize and you can say whatever you want however you want as long as you point me to places like Kogi.