Restaurant Review
31 Dec 2014

Falafel Arax – Los Angeles (East Hollywood)

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Falafel Arax

Before diving into the best dishes of 2014 for my annual roundup, I have one final restaurant to review: Falafel Arax.

Falafel-Arax - East Hollywood - Los Angeles

The Astronomer, my mom, and I made our way here for dinner while Baby Girl was still stuck in the hospital. While we would’ve preferred to bring our sweetie home straightaway, we couldn’t have asked for better dining options around the hospital. We’re all about the silver lining around here.

Falafel-Arax - East Hollywood - Los Angeles

For well over 25 years, Falafel Arax has been dishing up Armenian delights in the heart of East Hollywood’s Little Armenia. Our dinner began with a requisite helping of beet-stained pickled turnips and potent pepperoncinis.

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Restaurant Review
29 Dec 2014

House of Pies – Los Angeles (Los Feliz)

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House Of Pies - Los Feliz - Los Angeles

Traditionally during Thanksgiving, The Astronomer and I drive to San Diego to feast with family. This year we spent the holiday in L.A. due to our little one being stuck in the NICU. After failing to score a reservation at Bouchon, our first choice, we opted for a Turkey Day celebration at House of Pies since it was located around the corner from the hospital. Plus, I’ve always been a little curious about the place.

House Of Pies - Los Feliz - Los Angeles

Opened in 1969, House of Pies is a family owned and operated Los Feliz institution. There was a serious line snaking out the restaurant’s door when The Astronomer and I arrived, but thankfully it was for folks picking up pies to go and not for those dining in. We were seated right away at a table by the window in the less-charming-and-cozy-than-anticipated dining room.

House Of Pies - Los Feliz - Los Angeles

All of House of Pie’s “Dinners” include a choice of soup or salad to start. I chose the salad with Thousand Island dressing. While the leafy greens were mostly limp, the possibly-house-made dressing had some zip!

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British
24 Dec 2014

Gettin’ Figgy (Pudding) with Good Girl Dinette

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Figgy Pudding

It’s the season for peppermint-, pumpkin- and gingerbread-centric sweets, but not for Good Girl Dinette‘s Diep Tran, who marches to the beat of a different drummer boy. At her Highland Park restaurant, it’s all about figgy pudding, the oft-overlooked and under-appreciated Dickensian delight.

Get your belly in the holiday spirit with my latest piece for the Los Angeles Times‘ Daily Dish: “Good Girl Dinette’s Diep Tran brings us all some figgy pudding.” Happy holidays and bon appetit!

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