Archive for the '{swoon}' Category

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{swoon} Breakfast Sandwiches at The Parish

Published by Gastronomer on January 30, 2013 in Breakfast / Brunch, Downtown, Los Angeles and {swoon}. 6 Comments

Even though it’s highly frowned upon to set the alarm clock on Saturdays and Sundays at the Astro-Gastro household, certain compromises had to be made this past weekend in order to satisfy my irrepressible craving for The Parish‘s breakfast sandwiches.

Painful as it was to rise to the sound of angry and incessant beeps, one bite of Chef Casey Lane’s “Fried Chicken, Maple & Pickles” ($4) and the sacrifice seemed but a pittance to pay for a reward this delicious. Who needs restful shuteye when there’s crispy fried chicken topped with pitch perfect pickles in between warm, mustard-glazed biscuits to be had?

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{swoon} Carnitas Eight Ways at Metro Balderas

Published by Gastronomer on January 16, 2013 in Highland Park, Los Angeles, Mexican and {swoon}. 2 Comments

While the Mexico City-style cooking at Metro Balderas is appealing any day of the week, it’s especially enticing on Saturdays and Sundays when carnitas are on parade. Weekends here are dedicated to glorious piggy parts, lovingly fried in lard then slow-cooked and braised in natural juices before being tucked into a corn tortilla and garnished with diced onions and chopped cilantro.

The Astronomer and I warmed up with the maciza (shoulder) and the costilla (ribs), the least adventurous cuts of the eight on offer. The former was more or less a mound of pulled pork, while the latter was lean, mean, and caramelized. Next, we tucked into the cuerito (skin) and trompa (snout), deliciously gelatinous morsels that soaked up the braising liquid like a porcine sponge.

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{swoon} Lemon Ice Box Pie at Hart & The Hunter

Published by Gastronomer on January 9, 2013 in Dessert, Los Angeles, Mid-City, Southern and {swoon}. 9 Comments

I swooned for nearly four hours straight last Friday afternoon at The Hart & The Hunter, a southern-inspired eatery tucked inside the Palihotel. Following a savory start of smoked trout toast and a shaved Brussels sprout salad, my friend and the restaurant’s pastry chef Sarah Lange treated me to a parade of desserts, including this unforgettable lemon icebox pie.

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{swoon} “The Chronic” at Mom’s Burgers

Published by Gastronomer on December 19, 2012 in Burgers, Compton, Los Angeles and {swoon}. 5 Comments

Joyce “Mom” McLaurin opened Mom’s Burgers over three decades ago to bring simple yet immensely satisfying fast-food style fare to the neighborhood. Stroll up to the window to place your order, and then wait for a gentle tap on the Plexiglas window to signal when it’s ready to be picked up.

Waits can be a bit long since everything is made to order, so call ahead for a curbside pickup or better yet, bump to the slow jams blasting from the speakers or partake in an impromptu game of chess. Both work up an appetite quite nicely. Once the goods are in hand, grab a seat at one of the stools along the counter or at the umbrella-shaded tables hidden beside the building.

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{swoon} Pani Puri at Surati Farsan Mart

Published by Gastronomer on December 14, 2012 in Artesia, Indian, Los Angeles and {swoon}. 5 Comments

Tantalizing methai (sweets) and chat (snacks) are what it’s all about at Surati Farsan Mart, a stylish shop specializing in Gujarati-style nibbles since 1986.

On the methai side of things are a rainbow of confections constructed from sugar, nuts, and spices. The shop makes half a dozen varieties of barfi, sweet bites flavored with dried fruits and nuts. While these are all quite lovely, it’s the restaurant’s tremendous selection of chat that keeps me coming back time and again.

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