Telly Says "Eat Me!"

Diner Go-To

2010-07-15T00:55:00.001-07:00

Rueben Sandwich. Onion rings. Lots of mustard.

And at an LA institution nonetheless.

Happy Birthday to me

2010-07-15T00:50:00.001-07:00

It was my birthday right around the time I stopped posting. I know this because my birthday dinner at Animal, a meatlover's haven nestled in the heart of Fairfax, has been my "next post" for 9 months.

This meal was seriously miraculous.

Porkbelly with kimchi. Succulent.

Oxtail poutine. Complexity added to a traditionally simple dish.

Fois gras locomoco. Crazy fusion.

Balsamic ribs. They didn't fall off the bone - the bone just came out when you grabbed it. Decadent and delicious.

Of course whenever my father's in a good mood dessert always takes on a one-of-each approach. Here's the moist, dense tres leches cake. Pure bliss.

Animal's famous bacon crunchbar. That's right rich, dark chocolate and crunchy salty bacon in one bar. Unique.

Best. Donuts. Ever.

There were plenty more dishes but these were the stand outs.

Animal's minimal decor and reasonable prices make it great for dates, family and friends alike. But vegetarians and vegans beware. There's little for you here.

New Edition

2010-05-06T01:23:00.001-07:00

Looky what I found in my kitchen when I got home from SF.

Best drying rack ever. I love living like a grown-up.

2009-12-20T03:17:00.001-08:00

christmas eve we'll have a goose and see i'm thinking we should make some potatoes, kinda like frites, and then put some curds on them taters, then take that goose gravy and smother them potatoes

Just What The Doctor Ordered...

2009-10-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

YES! Bravo announced that they'll be picking up Top Chef Masters! What a treat (except for that awful Padma wannabe Kelly Choi)! Also everyone's favourite Canadienne, Gail Simmons, will be joining the already prestigious table of critics. Kudos Gail, and kudos Top Chef Masters!!

Special Specialty

2009-10-18T16:23:00.001-07:00

O&Co. Olive Oil Shop. Fillmore St, San Francisco.

Midnight Snack

2009-10-17T03:43:00.001-07:00

Chocolate Pudding Cup with Whipped Cream Tower. Indulgent.

Dinner For One

2009-10-13T19:36:00.001-07:00

Chicken, spinach and mushrooms in tomato sauce on a bed of arugula
with heirloom grape tomatoes.

Baby Blues BBQ

2009-10-12T18:05:00.000-07:00

After a screening of the frightening (and somewhat hilarious) Paranormal Activity my pals and I wanted to grab a drink and maybe some chow. Three of us, on separate occasions, by different people, had Baby Blues BBQ recommended to us.

This is a place with a great vibe and some pretty delicious BBQ. We all chatted and laughed over a few beers, some sloppy ribs and crumbly delicious cornbread.

I opted for The Deuce, which is a platter consisting of 1/2 a rack of Memphis style ribs, 5 of their BBQ shrimp (which were recommended to our table by some random cook who came out for no reason other than to tell us we should order the shrimp - they were delicious), cornbread and my choice of two from an extensive list of "fixins". It reads like a who's who of barbeque: collard greens, potato salad, baked beans, mac 'n' cheese, okra - fried and sauteed, mashed potatoes, stewed tomatoes, pork 'n' beans, etc. I opted for cole slaw and fried okra. At $22.95 this wasn't such a bad deal.
Top marks went to the honey butter - yes, HONEY BUTTER, that was served alongside the cornbread. It was a true showstopper. I also really appreciated that each table was equipped with its very own roll of paper towels. Not napkins. Paper towels.

Grade: B+

Ultimate Food Weakness

2009-10-07T00:34:00.001-07:00

Candy corn

Pink & Cheap Platter

2009-10-06T22:04:00.001-07:00

My cousin Sophia and I hosted a joint birthday party this last weekend. The theme was Pink & Cheap. One of the better party themes out there if you ask me. In addition to chili dogs (inspired by Pink's), steak tacos (medium rare and pink) and the famed toasting station (strawberry jam and pop tarts, anyone?) I served up this killer platter:

Pink wafer cookies, Homer Simpson donuts and Mother's Frosted Animal cookies.

Here's a look at the toasting station. It was a huge hit after-hours!

Reaping

2009-10-02T15:59:00.001-07:00

Yesterday's Trader Joe's buys. From left: herb salad mix, romaine hearts, baby carrots, dried bing cherries, organic whole wheat penne, organic whole grain quinoa, zucchini, vanilla almond milk, alfalfa sprouts, roma tomatoes, Ezekiel sprouted grain sesame bread (aka fitness bread), portobello mushrooms.

And all for only $34.

Afternoon Delight

2009-09-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

Lunch at Silverlakes's Town & Country Café. Roasted beetroot, carrots and garbanzo beans in cumin vinegarette, grilled veg in balsamic. Splendor.

More Perfect

2009-09-30T01:09:00.001-07:00

Remember when I told you I had that great midnight snack? Well allow me to one-up myself by showing you what I'll be enjoying tonight.

The man, the legend himself, Thomas Haas, the world's greatest chocolatier, brings us Dark Bark. Perhaps one of his finest creations Dark Bark is, as it appears to be a disc of his finest dark chocolate, adorned with juicy pieces of dried fruit (apricot, candied orange, fig, cranberry) and nuts (pistachio and almond).
Screw my grab bag concoction, this is the real deal.

He has an effect on me, Thomas. His confections, and everything he does, are held in the deepest chambers of my foodie heart. Thomas does only right and brings only sweet joy to the world. He is an inspiration, a machine in the kitchen (and on the mountain, apparently), and a joy of a man to call friend!

I'm breaking this one out in honor of Thomas, who makes me strive to be a better human every time I encounter him, in person or food form.
Warning: expect Dark Bark to last for one sitting and one sitting only.

Corn + Me = Love

2009-09-29T19:36:00.001-07:00

I've been thinking about cornbread for weeks now, so I just decided to bake some. Note the amazing molded pan!

Had all the ingredients at hand but the egg. That's what neighbors are for, right? I actually went next door to get an egg!

I spiced up the bread with some scallions, black pepper and red pepper flakes. Perfect with butter and sprinkle of seasalt.

It may not be fitness but it'll make a great dinner! I'm thinking cheese and some herbs for next time...

Food Hotties

2009-09-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

Jamie Oliver
king

Giada DeLaurentiis
my girl

Sam Talbot, Top Chef

the hot chef

Nigella Lawson
always a lady

Tyler Florence
the ultimate in adorable

Padma Lakshmi
hostess with the mostess

Bradley Cooper on Kitchen Confidential
enough said

Dreamcake

2009-09-26T00:10:00.001-07:00

How insane does this cake look?! That's a cake:frosting ratio a boy could write home about. Courtesy of Whisk Kid, this seems like something I might be trying soon. I'll let you know when/if.

New Acquisition

2009-09-23T18:25:00.001-07:00

Vefa's Kitchen by Vefa Alexiadou. Called "the bible of authentic Greek cooking" this goes along well with Phaidon's other bibles The Silver Spoon (Italian) and 1080 Recipes (Spanish). This puppy's still in the plastic and it's delivery was delayed a week due to back order, so please excuse me.

Food Weakness

2009-09-22T15:59:00.000-07:00

Red Vines.

Empty Plates

2009-09-20T04:15:00.001-07:00

Midnight Snack

2009-09-20T03:52:00.000-07:00

Do you think it's got a golden ticket inside??

Sadly no, but:

Yum!

This week's nut/dried fruit mix:
Raw cashews, pecan halves and brazil nuts
Dried cherries and cranberries.

Telly Says "See This"

2009-09-20T00:41:00.001-07:00

Anyone who knows this boy knows that a Streep flick is rarely missed. I was so delighted when I caught this picture today. What a movie! If you haven't seen this delightful Nora Ephron output treat yourself to some delicious film-going before its shelf life expires. Foodies and cinephiles alike will adore this simple yet thoughtful rom-com.

Save from the sometimes grating performance by Amy Adams (how many times does she say "Julia" in this movie?!) and the often poor writing for (and slobbish eating habits of) her on-screen hubby Chris Messina, Julie & Julia is an all-around enjoyment. Bright, funny and inspiring, this is a must-see!!

Food Weakness

2009-09-11T19:53:00.001-07:00

Nerds - need I say more?

Bottega Louie

2009-09-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

If first impressions make the grade then Bottega Louie scores 100%. The downtown LA restaurant, market, bar and patisserie is first and foremost a stunning space with a brilliantly executed concept. Up front you'll find the shop, selling everything from artisan salts and fine wines to brightly colored macarons and stuffed croissants. A long deli counter houses a variety if prepared foods (while visions of picnics dance in my head).

The vast white space (don't you just love tall ceilings??) continues with the bar on one side, dotted with a few little tables, and an open air kitchen on the other.

It's always a great touch to be able to see the inside of the kitchen, both for peace of mind and for great foodie gazing.

A barricade in the path: the hostess stand. The back half of the place houses the dining room. Packed tables of beautiful people, what more could you ask for?

Let's get to the food: the menu is classic. Pizza, pasta, sandwiches, poultry and meats cooked in various manner and an impressive list of side dishes, from sauteed spinach, roasted peppers and calamari to fennel & onions, peas & prosciutto and portobello fries. And all of it remarkably affordable.

Maybe you're wondering, like I was, "What exactly is a portobello fry?" Well, imagine, if you will (and I think you will), french fries, but instead of a potato it's strips of giant mushroom.

Yoooooowza!! No words. With a little watercress dip, divine.

Now, the ricotta, mozzarella, garlic and rocket Bianco pizza we shared was salivatingly (saliva tingly?) delicious but my main was perfection:

Look at this table! Does it get better than three perfectly grilled pork chops, a side of apple sauce and a dirty Tanqueray 10 martini? I think not, dear reader.

Top marks: Pork chops

Grade: Service docked some points from that first impression, but what a great spot! A-

Kogi BBQ

2009-09-06T02:14:00.001-07:00

Unless you've been living under a rock you've likely heard of Kogi BBQ, LA's twitterific Korean-Mexican fusion truck. If not, allow me to introduce you. The Kogi BBQ fleet, now three trucks strong, travels all over LA, from Torrance to Glendale, on a day-to-day basis, informing the public of their locales via everyone's new fave social network, Twitter (@kogibbq).

On weekends Kogi occupies the kitchen at Venice's Alibi Room. This is where I first enjoyed the delicious fare, but as my BFF Brendan was recently in town and we decided to hit up one of their trucks, the way it's meant to be. We accidentally arrived early , which was a blessing in disguise as it took no time for quite a line to grow behind us.

We kept it real by ordering two beef short rib tacos, two spicy pork tacos and their Kogi special, a spicy pork, Jack cheese quesadilla topped with Kogi's new salsa verde.

Doused with some sriracha, we couldn't help but down this shit asap.

Sure, there can be a wait and sometimes it's annoying to run around town after an arguably overrated taco truck, but Kogi is downright delicious. I love fusion and Kogi makes it right.

Top Marks: Black Jack Quesadilla

Grade: B

Dreams really do come true

2009-08-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

Coconut cake from Glendale's famous Porto's Bakery

Why I Love Summer

2009-08-21T19:57:00.000-07:00

Grilled portobellos, endives, bell peppers, onions, heirloom tomatoes, zucchini and squash. C'est magnifique!

Believe it or not

2009-08-13T14:19:00.001-07:00

I'm eating at Chili's...

Dirty & delicious

Sunday Dinner

2009-07-27T10:00:00.001-07:00

Last night Mamacita spearheaded what can only be described to as a fitness dinner for the family.

I took charge of the halibut. Made a nice rub of fresh garlic, peppercorns, salt, cayenne, crushed red pepper flakes, coriander seeds and oregano. Then smothered the fish in olive oil and set those puppies on the grill. Once grilled I doused them in fresh lemon juice and served. Halibut is always my favorite so I was happy to chow down!

There were three salads. Three!! One was just a basic romaine lettuce and veggie salad - a Kousakis family dinner staple.

My sister made up a delicious heirloom grape tomato and bocconcini salad, dressed with oil and balsamic.

And mom roasted some beets and tossed them with mixed greens, carrots, sweet corn and feta. I love roasted beets and how they bleed all over everything, including the white cheese! The sweet/salty combo of the beets and feta is unparalleled.

All in all it was a perfectly healthy, perfectly delectable meal.

Brite Spot

2009-07-26T21:41:00.001-07:00

Last night I very luckily happened upon Brite Spot, an amazing all-night eastside diner with an old school feel and an extensive and respectable menu. If you know me you know I love a late night diner run with all the trimmings. I also love fresh, real food. Brite Spot combines these two and proves to be is the cleanest dirty diner food I've encountered.

I devoured my bacon cheddar omelette (deductions for what looked and tasted like processed cheddar on my eggs) but top marks went to the banana cream pie.

Real banana. Real cream. Real crust. I can safely call this the best diner pie I've ever had. It didn't last long.

Brite Spot is a bit over-priced, but the authenticity of the food, the diversity of menu and the eccentricity of the decor truly make up for it. Echo Park location is a plus but parking can be difficult.

Grade: B-

Summer Cornucopia

2009-07-26T18:55:00.001-07:00

Decisions, Decisions

2009-07-24T14:16:00.001-07:00

Choices always bring out the neurotic in me.

I opted for halvsies:
Just when you thought it couldn't get gayer...

What's For Lunch at Crafty?

2009-07-21T11:25:00.001-07:00

Oh, you know, just some Ass Meat Mini-Wraps.

Home and Native Candy Land

2009-07-21T09:55:00.001-07:00

I could list a million things I love about going back to Canada but near the top of the list is the chocolate bars, known as candy bars south of the 49.

It's a magical place where peanut butter cups don't belong to Reese, they share his name; where Mr. Big is best friends with Oh Henry!; where Coffee is Crisp and where Caramilks are so h-core they eat Rolos for breakfast.

Perhaps it's nostalgia but, for me, I'm pretty sure it's actually the taste and quality that put. these treats a step above the crap we get in the US.

Top Marks: Wunderbar

Peasants' Rations

2009-07-21T09:33:00.001-07:00

A huge and integral part of the fitness lifestyle is the peasants' ration.

Eating enough to satiate the hunger but by no means indulging oneself is a fine art that dates back to the ancient samurai.

Room 907 and I have been subscribing to the peasants' ration credo for years now. Here is our latest light lunch:

Tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, oil, balsamic.

Midnight Snack

2009-07-21T09:19:00.001-07:00

Parmesan yam fries, Iron Chef: dipping sauce and a solid glass of white.

Mecca

2009-07-19T12:49:00.001-07:00

Whole Foods, West Vancouver

Life Lessons

2009-07-15T20:31:00.001-07:00

When I eat a bunch of bad stuff, say, for instance, a few handfuls of those great Hawaiian potato chips and three pieces of cake's worth of frosting, I think eating a bunch of salad or broccoli will "balance it out." What I really need to do is just stop eating.

Naan-Sequitor

2009-07-14T22:01:00.001-07:00

Food Weakness: Nostalgia Edition

2009-07-13T12:09:00.001-07:00

Mother's Circus Animal cookies.
Best frosted cookie in the biz.
One is never enough.

Malibu's Most Wanted

2009-07-13T09:49:00.001-07:00

Those of you who have not trekked out north on the PCH to Malibu Seafood should waste no time. Fresh, delicious and well prepared fish and shellfish await you. Top 3 seafood joints of my life, easy - this place is basically an institution. Menu is extensive, with lots of grilled and fried items. Patio seating exclusively with great views of the Pacific. BYOB but don't forget your corkscrew, there's no corkage here and you may get a nasty sneer from that elderly couple drinking the bottle of white when you ask for help. There's a little market, too, which sells just about everything on the menu. Great date spot, great out-of-towner spot, great post-beach binge spot. A little pricey but worth it. Parking is busy so find a spot on the highway. Try the clam strips - they're to die for (so much so they were sold out last night).

Alaskan Halibut (above) and Chilean Sea Bass. Delicious coleslaw.

Fried shrimp. Fish taquitos. Mmmm...

Food Weakness

2009-07-13T09:28:00.001-07:00

Onion Rings

Osteria Mozza

2009-07-11T00:48:00.001-07:00

I'd like to think that I have a pretty solid grasp on the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to restaurants. My recent trip to Osteria Mozza, Mario Batali's LA eatery, fell into a totally new category: the outstanding! This place really brings to light the difference between dining and fine dining. The entire meal was orchestrated beautifully, so much so that the one and only uncoordinated dual-server plate setting stood out like a sore thumb. Our salty and seasoned waitress was impeccable, the somalier was superb, the bussers were attentive and hardly noticable (the way it should be) and the decor, including the famed mozzarella bar, was simple, elegant and inviting.

Ok but enough about the "stuff" let's talk about the food. I am usually hesitant to go out for italian food, mainly because it's usually cheaper, healthier and tastier to just make pasta at home, but Osteria Mozza ain't your grandma's pasta joint. Not since a trip to Ming Tsai's Blue Ginger back in 2001 have I had cuisine if this caliber. The menu was crafted to near perfectlion, making every bite succulent and significant.

My four course meal started with a shared plate: an oozing, creamy burrata served with grilled bread slathered in olive oil.

This is what my share ended up looking like:

This dish was easily up there with the best cheeses I've ever eaten. A+

Next for me came the Coach Farm goat cheese ravioli
MotherFUCKER, was that good! The cheese was supremely silky, and what a difference homemade pasta makes! A

My main course was a no-brainer: pancetta-wrapped quail with sage and honey.
Forgive the subpar photograph as no image could ever do justice to this unparalleled dish. Two quails completely wrapped in salty-sweet meat on a bed of roasted radicchio, bathing in oil, balsamic and honey and sprinkled with perfectly fried sage leaves. The flavors married together wonderfully with a balance of savory and sweet I can't say I've ever enjoyed so much. This is one of those awesome dishes that highlights the quality of the ingredients and the simplicity of the method rather than the cleverness of the chef or the innovation of a technique. I found it to be extremely playful, very quaint and stellar in it's composition. The balsamic bath got to me a little at the end but that's only because I couldn't stop sopping up every last morsel on the plate. And I've come to the conclusion that I could eat fried sage happily for the rest of my life. A

Dessert brought many delights to our table. I can't quite remember what my dish was called, as by this point I was too enchanted by the wine and candlelight to retain anything but sense memories. A petite chocolate cake dusted with powdered sugar and surrounded by candied almonds was placed in front of me. The crowning piece de resistance was the single scoop of homemade bourbon gelato.
The gelato really took the cake (pun always intended). Sweet, creamy, salty, a little sour; an intriguing flavor indeed. The cake itself was good but not great but as the gelato melted into the warm nooks and crannies (ew, sorry) of the cake I got the point of it all. B

A solid dining experience all around, from valet drop-off to valet pick-up. If you've got the dough and your looking to get a couple Michelin stars under your belt this is a sure bet.

Overall: 4.5 stars

Sister's tagliatelle verde with lamb ragu

Brother's tagliatelle with wild boar ragu

Brother's leg of lamb

Father's halibut

My favorite dessert:
Sister's olive oil cakes with olive oil gelato and rosemary brittle.
Sweeter than you'd think. Truly superb.

Osteria Mozza's famous mozzarella bar.

Baby's First Food Job

2009-06-29T19:05:00.001-07:00

My friend Eryn knows I love to cook so when she got a little too busy to prepare a meal for the 20+ baby shower guests she was hosting at her house last Sunday she called me up and asked for my services. This was the first time ever that someone has offered to pay me money to cook food for them! I was so excited. It felt like a huge step in the right direction.

Eryn asked if I could make some mini Asian turkey burgers to go along with the Chinese chicken salad she'd ordered and the plans for the decor. For the record I do not like the concept of mini burgers, especially when they're called sliders!! Ew!

Here's why went down:
BURGERS
4.5 lbs ground dark turkey meat
1 ear white corn, off the cob
1 carrot, grated
3 green onions, diced
3 garlic cloves
1/2 tsp fresh ginger, grated
1 handful cilantro, leaves, no stems
3-4 tbs hoisin sauce
1 tbs sesame chile oil
1-2 tsp Chinese Five Spice
Salt & pepper

SAUCE
1.5 cups mayo
1 tbs hoisin
1 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs Mae Ploy chili sauce
1 clove garlic
Salt & pepper

FIXINS
24 French rolls or 16 hamburger buns
6-7 tomatoes, sliced
1/2 pineapple, sliced
1 head butter lettuce

Put the burger ingredients in a bowl (also I don't actually measure ingredients, I just sorta go with what I like, so please follow your heart).

Mix

Form into 24 small patties, or probably 16 large patties
I put them in the fridge overnight but you can get them right on the grill. Always, ALWAYS season before grilling. Grill 3-5 minutes per side, longer if patties are bigger. Shouldn't be more than 7-8 minutes a side.

Mix sauce ingredients together in a bowl. Assemble burgers, sauce and fixins on toasted buns.
They are delicious if I do say so myself. Again, following reipes exactly is for pussies so do whatever you feel, whatever you think works!

Bon appetit!

Food Weakness

2009-06-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

Anything Reese's!

Telly Says Must Have

2009-06-29T11:04:00.001-07:00

We all know there are plenty of kitchen gadgets out there, many of which are useful and some of which, well, I wonder why they even exist. But no kitchen is complete without one of the simplest of culinary tools, the mortar and pestle. I am the type of cook that likes to start from scratch with whole foods, nothing wrapped in plastic, nothing pre-sliced, so naturally my cupboards are stocked with as many whole spices as possible: cardamom pods, fennel seeds, peppercorns, cumin seeds, cinnamon sticks, you name it!

I love grinding up my own little spice concoctions! Mostly it's the smell that eminates from my little marble bowl that gets me, but I also love the feeling that I'm actually working in a kitchen. In this fast-paced, convenience-driven, touch-screen-tapping society using a little elbow grease has become something of a novelty, so I have no problem taking some time to do some smashing.

Last weekend was what can only be described as my first catering gig. I made some Asian turkey burgers for a friend's party. Rather than spend $4.50 in a jar of Chinese Five Spice I got a $3.50 jar of star anise (which was the only of the five I didn't already have in my spice drawer) and pounded out my own custom made Five Spice - black peppercorns, star anise, cloves, coriander seeds and cinnamon.

Not only was it cheaper but it was fresher and probably more delicious than the premixed. If you don't have one of these little treasures go out and get one! The one pictured above only set me back $25 at Sur La Table and it's very high quality, high performance and easy to clean. Whether you're making Chinese Five Spice, garlic paste or pesto (a namesake of the device itself) a fine mortar and pestle is a must have for any working kitchen.

God Bless...

2009-06-24T15:50:00.001-07:00

...the crafty truck sandwich bar!

1.5 avocados, mixed greens, tomatoes, horseradish mustard, roasted pepper spread, mayo and hot sauce all on toasted fitness bread.

Pasadena Farmers' Market

2009-06-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

My wonderful friend (and one of my first ever cooking companions) Dana was in town a few weeks back. She and I, along with a newly west-coasted Carrie Davis, decided to take a trip east one gloomy Saturday morning to visit the Pasadena Farmers' Market. It was a gem of a little trip. I gorged myself on free samples and basically had to resist the temptation to make love to a small pile of peaches. The fruits (and veggies) of our labor went into what turned out to be one hell of a picnic - fingerling potato salad, pickled beets and carrots, tomato and feta salad, wine, a park, and engaging conversation. What could be better?

Bon Appetit

2009-06-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

Hello dear readers,

As many of you know I am something of a self proclaimed foodie. Given the advent of my iPhone and this handy new blogging app I am hoping to bring to the world at large a greater understanding of how the Kousman looks at (and eats) all things food. From fitness to fatness, restaurants to bars, temptations and frustrations, it's all here. So when you're thinking about trying that new Korean BBQ you heard about or contemplating a second (or third or eighth) Oreo or whipping up a bangin' kick-ass new recipe, just remember - Telly Says Eat Me!