I wasn’t sure what to expect when I ordered the salchipapas ($6) on a whim while lunching with colleagues at Mancora Peruvian Cuisine in Alhambra. Tucked under the appetizers section of the menu, the salchipapas were described as “French fries and thinly sliced hotdogs topped with our variety of sauces.” I’d never encountered this Peruvian delicacy before, but knew immediately that I had to have them. Why yes, I am still eating my feelings. Also, I like the way salchipapas rolls off my tongue.
I started eating my feelings again this past week. The world is falling apart and I’m drowning my sorrows in fish sauce. On our drive back from procuring pigs’ feet and pork floss at the San Gabriel Superstore this past weekend (I told you I have been eating my feelings), Vernon, June, and I stopped in to Pho Hai Kieu for lunch.
The three-year-old restaurant run by Chi Minh took over the former Chung King space and specializes in northern Vietnamese favorites. Considering the busy road on which the restaurant sits, it is quite peaceful inside the dining room.
We shared a trio of dishes between the three of us, because over-ordering is our favorite thing to do as a family. I was most looking forward to tasting the banh cuon ($5.50), rice flour crepes stuffed with ground pork, ground shrimp, and scallions and served with fish sauce, cha lua (pork forcemeat), bean sprouts, cucumber, and fresh mint.
The stuffing, slightly different from my family’s go-to ground pork and woodear mushrooms, was heavy on the black pepper in a great way. The thin, slippery crepes magically held on to the fish sauce.
“Women and the Kitchen” is a three-part series that takes a closer look at the intersection of gender and LA’s restaurant culture with food historian Lara Rabinovitch, PhD at the Skirball Cultural Center.
Lien Ta of Here’s Looking at You kicks off the series on October 10. Then, on November 7, hear from Roxana Jullapat of Friends & Family in Hollywood. Finally, on December 12, Nyesha J. Arrington of Native in Santa Monica will share her stories. These candid conversations will cover their professional journeys, the politics of today’s restaurant kitchens, and their favorite things to cook and eat in LA. For more information and tickets ($25), click here.
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FAB(LA), an educational and inspirational workshop created by women for women in the hospitality industry, is happening on October 22 from 9AM to 7PM at Elysian in Frogtown. Fab is about connecting, sharing, and learning about the business of food and beverage.
Listen to speakers, experts in the business from across California and beyond including my favorites Lien Ta and Christina Gilmour, as they discuss important topics in the hospitality industry. Sessions include: “The Failure Club,” “Inspiring Strong Leaders and Creating Culture,” “Keeping HR Human, Legal & Resourceful,” and “Growth and Revenue Diversification in Your Business.” For more information and tickets ($225), click here.