I read the funniest quote in the Los Angeles Times just now in reference to how one influencer combats the negative reputation of food influencing:
“I always say ‘food blogger’ because it makes me feel better than ‘food influencer,’” Rodriguez says, seated at a table at Craft by Smoke and Fire, a restaurant client in Arcadia. “There are too many influencers trying to take advantage, so I don’t want to be intertwined with them,” Castro adds.
$10,000 for one Instagram post? How food influencers can make or break restaurants
Credible food blogger energy is definitely fueling this post…
I dined at Pijja Palace the first week it opened and have been smitten with the thoroughly delicious and awesomely chaotic Indian sports bar ever since. Owner Avish Naran and chef Miles Shorey are cooking up something decidedly different, and I can’t wait to see how the food and energy evolves over time.
On both visits to the palace of pijja, dinner started with a very strong, very cardamom-forward Old Fashioned ($16) made with Amrut Indian whiskey, jaggery, and cardamom bitters. My dining companion downed one too.
I am forever a member of Team Onion Ring (sorry, french fries), so the dosa onion rings ($9) coated in an urad lentil batter, deep-fried to a golden crisp, and served with a mango chutney were a must-order.
Also on the table was the saag pijja topped with a spinach and onion gravy, sharp cheddar, and homemade Goan sausage ($21).
The chaas dumplings ($22) arrived on a puddle of masoor lentils with crunchy onions and dill.
My favorite dish, and the whole world’s too (or so it seems on the internet), was the malai rigatoni ($19) with tomato masala, cream, and coriander.
Finishing with soft-serve — cookies and cardamom ($8) or malted chai — is definitely the way to go.
The Astronomer’s birthday prompted a return visit because he’s the biggest Indian food lover I know. He adored the creative cooking and fun vibe as much as I did.
First up was the green chutney pijja ($20) with a kasoori methi tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and green chile chutney.
Next came the green wings ($13) with jalapeno, cilantro, mint, and chives…
…and an order of okra fries ($8) with chile seasoning and lemon.
Though I wanted to order the dreamy rigs again, we broadened our horizons and had the tandoori spaghetti ($17) with smoked chile, garlic, and charred lime.
The juicy lamb kebab sliders ($15) came with Amul cheese and a laccha onion salad on a plushy roll.
And finally, a slice of the hush-hush banoffee pie.
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Pijja Palace
2711 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90026
One year ago: Agnes (Pasadena)
Two years ago: Slacker.
Three years ago: LA County Fair 2019
Four year ago: Mr. Champion – Arcadia
Five years ago: 2017 L.A. County Fair
Six years ago: Chim! Thai Street Food – Pasadena
Seven years ago: Pok Pok Phat Thai – Chinatown
Eight years ago: Union – Pasadena
Nine years ago: Lay’s Spicy Green Peppercorn Fish Flavor
Ten years ago: Le Chateaubriand – Paris
Eleven years ago: L.A. County Fair 2011: Deep-Fried Kool Aid, Indian Fry Bread, Monster Corn Dogs, and More!
Twelve years ago: Danger Dogs: Blurring the Line Between Work and Play
Thirteen years ago: Rosemary Apricot Bars
Fourteen years ago: Bún Thịt Nướng & Mít Luộc
Fifteen years ago: Wonder – Da Nang
Sixteen years ago: Becco – New York City