Jun 2018

HiHo Cheeseburger – Santa Monica

HiHo Cheeseburger - Santa Monica

One of my favorite challenges as a parent is to integrate my three-and-half-year-old’s needs and wants with my personal needs and wants, wherever and whenever possible.

This past weekend, June desired beachside fun and sun, while I craved a really good burger, so we headed to Santa Monica, where all could be found in abundance.

HiHo Cheeseburger - Santa Monica

After spending the morning at the original Muscle Beach and then at Pacific Park, lunch was in order at HiHo Cheeseburger.  Opened last summer by a few folks also behind Sugarfish, HiHo serves grass-fed Wagyu beef cheeseburgers that have been garnering the heartiest of raves. Needless to say, expectations were primed sky-high.

HiHo Cheeseburger - Santa Monica

The Astronomer and I both ordered the Double HiHo Cheeseburger made with 1/3 pound of  house-ground, mustard-grilled beef ($6.95). The fixings included American cheese, ketchup, onion jam, lettuce, and house-made pickles, all on a house-baked bun.

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Jun 2018

Vietnamese American Dreams

Little Saigon, San Diego

Greetings from Little Saigon! I’m spending the week on location for a much-needed writing sabbatical. I’ll see you on the flip-side, and by that I mean next week, for our regularly scheduled blogging program 😉

May 2018

Bavel – Los Angeles (Downtown)

Bavel - Los Angeles (Downtown)

The Astronomer and I made plans to return to Bavel before we even took a single bite. The menu, a thoughtful collection of Middle Eastern fare reimagined by Chefs Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis, was chock full of so many intriguing-sounding dishes that there was no question that we needed to dine here again. And soon. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves now.

Bavel - Los Angeles (Downtown)

The Astronomer and I sipped a drink each as we narrowed down our list of wants. For me, the “Nebuchadnezzar” ($16), an old fashioned of sorts made with lamb fat bourbon, blue plum brandy, smoked ice, and grapefruit. The Astronomer had a beer.

Bavel - Los Angeles (Downtown)

To start, a duo of irresistible spreads served with equally irresistible house-made breads. The first to arrive was the “Foie Gras Halva” ($19), a smooth and rich paté prettied with date paste, black sesame, and coarse salt.

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