Sunday Funday (Silver Lake)

I have always admired the neighborhood of Silver Lake: it houses the first small live music venue that I went to (for my friends from Oregon, the Parson Redheads) and it's also the home of the beautiful Silver Lake Reservoir that glistens under the sun. I've spent my fair share of time in Silverlake, using it as a way to get to Koreatown mostly. One day last year, I wanted to escape the routines of jogging at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, so I drove all the way out to Silverlake in order to jog around the reservoir. The change of scenery and the occasional inclines and declines were refreshing to both mind and the body. After the jog, I walked over to Lamill Coffee, and that's where I noticed that there were more to be appreciated in this neighborhood than just the reservoir and the convenience of getting to Koreatown.

Recently, I've gotten to know more about Silver Lake- like how my favorite model from Canada/ New York, who also makes music, comes here to record, and that Norah Jones stayed in Silver Lake for her session for her newest album. But that doesn't concern me as much as the fact that there are some really delicious restaurants around here, namely a ramen place, very conveniently called Silver Lake Ramen.

Located on Sunset Blvd., just past Silver Lake Blvd., the exterior is not so fancy... so much so that I actually didn't take a pic of it. But be assured, it's not the Bar Method building, the exterior of which is, in fact, super fancy. I used to come here all the time for Silver Lake Lounge, actually, and coming here brought back some good memories.

My sister and I came here on Sunday, with the kids in the care of their grandparents, for some quality sister-bonding time. Street parking was free on Sundays, but there is also a small lot right adjacent to the restaurant itself. The walk from the car to the restaurant was horrible only because there was a strong odor of trash. AND there were people eating outside from neighboring restaurants! How could you eat outside whilst smelling all that funky trash?
Anyway, the inside was nice and cozy, and that's all that really mattered... We were seated promptly by a really friendly waitress and given this simple menu to look at.

 

 

Though it wasn't necessary, we ordered an appetizer just because I really wanted to try this marinated chicken karage. It was a mixture of just enough amount of crispiness on the outside and moist on the inside. The sauce kind of killed the flavor though. 

karage

tonkastu spicy ramen\

 



the broth is extremely flavorful, but my sister's regular tonkatsu ramen tasted better.
the pork belly topping is a killer: super moist and melts in your mouth.

I'll definitely have to come back for a Sunday lunch. I like the atmosphere, and I don't have to drive all the way to Little Tokyo for a bowl of ramen anymore. Plus, I can get a really yummy cup of joe afterwards at Lamill and do a bit of shopping next door at LAMerch and at Yolk.



Silver Lake Ramen
2927 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
http://silverlakeramen.com/

Four Cafe, Eagle Rock CA

I love restaurants with seasonal ingredients; that means the food is guaranteed fresh and as tasty as possible, and the menu changes each season so there will always be something new. Whenever I need a really good salad-fix, Four Cafe in Eagle Rock always comes to mind. It's not always my first option though because their portions, even the half-portions, are humongous... and to me, this place is so "gourmet" that it's best left as a treat than a regular thing.

So today my sister and I treated ourselves with the summer salads of Four Cafe while the kids played at Peekaboo Playland just up the block.

half-portion Picado Salad with half-portion of Tofu (choice of protein)

(substituted cucumber and cherry tomatoes - mixed - with black beans)

 

 

half-portion Miso Chopped Salad with half-portion Organic Free-Range Chicken



I got these two salads and two iced passionberry black tea to share, but my sister ended up with the Picado and I ended up with the Miso. They were both super delicious, the Picado with fuller flavors than the Miso, due to the rather light vinaigrette dressing. But there were bits of what seemed like deep-fried onion (?) that added sweetness to the possibly-bland salad. The chopped greens was a good choice for the vinaigrette to thoroughly mix in, with flavors in every bite. The Picado's dressing was creamy and delicious; the tofu seemed to have been tossed in soy sauce and was surprisingly good (not a big tofu fan here.) I think I'll go with the Picado next time, while my sister tries the chimichurri burger.

Four Cafe
2122 Colorado Blvd  
Los Angeles, CA 90041
(they just recently opened up a new location)

Four Cafe- Fairfax

519 South Fairfax
Los Angeles CA 90036

 

fourcafe.net

"Tuesday Dinner"

"Tuesday Dinner" has become somewhat of a tradition for me. It all began about seven weeks ago when I first visited Heirloom LA's food truck parked outside of Everson Royce on Raymond in Pasadena, CA. Prior to my first visit, I inadvertently educated myself by becoming familiarized with the company Heirloom LA via Instagram. Mesmerized at some of the pictures of edible goodness and sometimes becoming puzzled at their event photos- because I didn't know what this company's objective was... clearly it wasn't a restaurant based on their numerous outdoor activities. It turns out they are a catering company based in Eagle Rock, CA, and they showcase their delicacies on a weekly basis in three cities via food truck: Silver Lake on Mondays at Silver Lake Wine (@silverlakewine on Instagram,) Pasadena on Tuesdays at Everson Royce (@evrowine,) and in Los Feliz at Barsdall Art Park (@barnsdall.)

I was educated very briefly in person on my first visit by a neatly dressed man after I got my first-ever "farm-to-table" meal about the mission of Heirloom LA. As I remember, this company utilizes locally-grown produces and grass-fed meats to make the most scrumptious, tasteful well-balanced flavors in superb presentation. The food spoke for itself, and I no longer needed an introduction from this well-groomed man from the truck who thanked my "follower-ship" with a complimentary panna cota (the dessert of the day.) Now, this kind of great customer service deserves a second visit. 

Anyway, my second visit turned into a third, then a fourth... and now, dinner at the Heirloom LA truck on Tuesdays has become a delicious tradition. 

My first meal from Heirloom LA- "Breakfast for Dinner" night. 

Complimentary panna cota. Thank you, Heirloom! You've got yourself a regular! 

Quite possibly the best thing I've ever had. Roasted pork belly with crispy polenta and treviso salad with accugatta sauce. Second Tuesday Dinner at Heirloom LA. 

Fast-forward to Tuesday Dinner #6- pappardelle with grass-fed meatballs. they make their own pasta, and this particular dish was phenomenal. 

I look forward to what's in store tonight, my Tuesday Dinner #7! 

Follow Heirloom LA 

on Instagram and Twitter: 

@heirloomla

www.heirloomla.com